Colts 33, Buccaneers 14
In Indianapolis, Indianapolis' offense dominated the game and the clock in a win over Tampa Bay, while a revamped defense played as stingy as ever.
Kenton Keith ran for two scores and 121 yards in his first NFL start, and Peyton Manning threw two more touchdown passes as the Colts (5-0) headed into the bye week unbeaten for the third straight year.
Indianapolis kept the ball an astounding 38:15 and limited the Bucs (3-2) to eight yards rushing and 74 yards in offense in the first three quarters.
Chargers 41, Broncos 3
In Denver, San Diego handed Denver its worst home loss since 1966 by rediscovering its winning formula: hold onto the ball.
Reigning MVP LaDainian Tomlinson amassed 140 yards, including 73 on three receptions, and backup Michael Turner added 147 yards on 10 carries, highlighted by a 74-yard touchdown trot in the fourth quarter.
One week after committing four turnovers, the Chargers (2-3) had none in ending their three-game skid
Bears 27, Packers 20
In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Packers coughed up five turnovers and their chance to remain undefeated, blowing a second-half lead against Chicago.
Brian Griese threw the go-ahead touchdown to tight end Desmond Clark with 2:05 left. Brett Favre drove the Packers (4-1) to the Bears 31, but threw an incomplete pass and an interception in the end zone to end the game.
Ravens 9, 49ers 7
In San Francisco, Baltimore suffocated San Francisco on all but a few plays, and Matt Stover made up for the Ravens near-equal offensive ineptitude with three field goals in a win over San Francisco.
Former Ravens' defensive coordinator and now 49ers head coach Mike Nolan was unable to get the victory against his old team.
Steelers 21, Seahawks 0
In Pittsburgh, an injury-depleted Pittsburgh was still too much for Seattle.
The Steelers (4-1) didn't have their two best defensive players, their two starting wide receivers or much offense for the first half.
Ben Roethlisberger, scrambling and improvising without his usual receivers, finally led three successive lengthy touchdown drives highlighted by Najeh Davenport's runs.
Jaguars 17, Chiefs 7
In Kansas City, Missouri, Jacksonville held Kansas City to 10 yards rushing. The Jaguars (3-1), who gave up 282 yards in a season-opening loss, have not allowed more than 48 yards on the ground in any of the three games since, all wins.
Two-time Pro Bowler Larry Johnson was held to 12 yards on nine carries for the Chiefs (2-3).
The Chiefs avoided the shutout on the final play, Brodie Croyle's 13-yard touchdown pass to Sammie Parker.
Redskins 34, Lions 3
In Landover, Maryland, fullback Mike Sellers more than made up for the absence of Washington's top two receivers, and the Redskins ball-control offense kept Detroit's passing game off the field in a dominant victory.
The Redskins held the ball and wore down the Lions to keep alive a 70-year hex for Detroit in the nation's capital.
Sellers caught a pass for one touchdown and ran for another as the Redskins (3-1) made it 21-0 at home against the Lions since moving to Washington in 1937.
Texans 22, Dolphins 19
In Houston, Kris Brown kicked five field goals, including the winner on a career-long 57-yarder with 1 second remaining, to lead Houston over Miami, losers of eight straight.
Brown tied an NFL single-game record with three successful shots over 50 yards. He hit two 54-yarders earlier in the game for the Texans (3-2).
Giants 35, Jets 24
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, New York Giants rookie Aaron Ross returned the second of his interceptions 43 yards for a touchdown with just over 3 minutes remaining to seal victory over the New York Jets.
A week after getting 12 sacks against Philadelphia, the Giants had only one. But they intercepted Chad Pennington three times. The last was the most costly as the Jets were driving for a potential go-ahead score.
Pennington, who had good protection all game, threw a pass but Ross stepped in front of it and took off down the left sideline and into the end zone.
Panthers 16, Saints 13
In New Orleans, Carolina's Steve Smith fought through two tacklers to turn a short catch into a crucial first down, and John Kasay made a 52-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Panthers victory over New Orleans (0-4).
The Saints were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, but now their chances of even competing for a playoff spot are slim. Only the 1992 San Diego Chargers have fought back from an 0-4 start to do that since the NFL went to a 12-team playoff system in 1990.
Titans 20, Falcons 13
In Nashville, Tennessee, Vincent Fuller picked off a pass and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown as Tennessee overcame five turnovers to beat Atlanta.
The win allowed the Titans (3-1) to continue their best start since 2003, when they last reached the playoffs. But it couldn't have been uglier for a team coming off its bye as Vince Young matched his career high with three interceptions.
Atlanta (1-4) scored only 13 points off the turnovers and botched plenty of chances to win, including three missed field goals.
Cardinals 34, Rams 31
In St. Louis, Kurt Warner produced three touchdowns, one in his typical relief role and two more after Matt Leinart was sidelined by a collarbone injury, as Arizona beat St Louis.
Rod Hood returned an off-target pass by Gus Frerotte 68 yards for an easy go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals (3-2) won for the third straight season in their former home base.
Did not play: Cincinnati, Oakland, Philadelphia, Minnesota:
Monday game: Dallas at Buffalo,
International Herald Tribune
Sports
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
NFL, Travis Henry in court battle over drug test
Broncos running back Travis Henry, who has a four-game substance-abuse suspension on his record from 2005, is battling the NFL in court over a new drug test, one that could lead to a one-year ban.
ESPN's Len Pasquarelli says Henry is trying to block the league from testing his "B" sample, claiming that the league isn't allowing Henry's expert to be present for the test. League VP of public relations Greg Aiello confirms to Pasquarelli that the league is in court over the matter but declines -- as required -- to go into detail.
Pasquarelli on the circumstances that could lead to a one-year penalty: "Under the two-year policy, which essentially wipes a player's slate clean, Henry was scheduled to rotate out of the substance abuse program on Oct. 1. But his lawsuit to block further testing of his urine sample was filed Sept. 20, indicating that the positive test occurred before Oct. 1."
ESPN's Len Pasquarelli says Henry is trying to block the league from testing his "B" sample, claiming that the league isn't allowing Henry's expert to be present for the test. League VP of public relations Greg Aiello confirms to Pasquarelli that the league is in court over the matter but declines -- as required -- to go into detail.
Pasquarelli on the circumstances that could lead to a one-year penalty: "Under the two-year policy, which essentially wipes a player's slate clean, Henry was scheduled to rotate out of the substance abuse program on Oct. 1. But his lawsuit to block further testing of his urine sample was filed Sept. 20, indicating that the positive test occurred before Oct. 1."
Thursday, September 27, 2007
NFL NEWS
Inside information on Brett Favre-NFL columnist Rick Gosselin
Brett Favre is the greatest bad-weather quarterback in NFL history. It's ironic, then, that the greatest statistical moment of Brett Favre’s career will come Sunday in his personal house of horrors. You could say Minnesota was the land of 1,000 aches for much of the career of Brett Favre.
Michael Vick tests positive for marijuana
04:47 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 26, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal judge placed tighter restrictions on Michael Vick on Wednesday after he tested positive for marijuana.
Vick is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 10 after entering a written federal plea in August admitting that he bankrolled a dogfighting operation on property he owns in Surry County, Va.
Because of the postitive drug test, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson placed special conditions on Vick's release, including restricting him to his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and ordering him to submit to random drug testing.
The urine sample was submitted Sept. 13, according to a document by a federal probation officer that was filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
The home confinement will include electronic monitoring. Vick also was ordered to submit to random drug testing.
On Tuesday, Vick was indicted on state charges related to a dogfighting ring operated on his property. He pleaded guilty to dogfighting conspiracy charges in federal court last month.
Vick was placed under pretrial release supervision by U.S. Magistrate Dennis Dohnal in July. His restrictions included refraining from use or unlawful possession of narcotic drugs or other controlled substances.
Hudson's order on Wednesday also requires Vick to participate in inpatient or outpatient substance therapy and mental health counseling, if the pretrial services officer or supervising officer deem it appropriate. Vick must pay for the treatment.
Vick's attorney, Billy Martin, did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Brett Favre is the greatest bad-weather quarterback in NFL history. It's ironic, then, that the greatest statistical moment of Brett Favre’s career will come Sunday in his personal house of horrors. You could say Minnesota was the land of 1,000 aches for much of the career of Brett Favre.
Michael Vick tests positive for marijuana
04:47 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 26, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal judge placed tighter restrictions on Michael Vick on Wednesday after he tested positive for marijuana.
Vick is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 10 after entering a written federal plea in August admitting that he bankrolled a dogfighting operation on property he owns in Surry County, Va.
Because of the postitive drug test, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson placed special conditions on Vick's release, including restricting him to his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and ordering him to submit to random drug testing.
The urine sample was submitted Sept. 13, according to a document by a federal probation officer that was filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
The home confinement will include electronic monitoring. Vick also was ordered to submit to random drug testing.
On Tuesday, Vick was indicted on state charges related to a dogfighting ring operated on his property. He pleaded guilty to dogfighting conspiracy charges in federal court last month.
Vick was placed under pretrial release supervision by U.S. Magistrate Dennis Dohnal in July. His restrictions included refraining from use or unlawful possession of narcotic drugs or other controlled substances.
Hudson's order on Wednesday also requires Vick to participate in inpatient or outpatient substance therapy and mental health counseling, if the pretrial services officer or supervising officer deem it appropriate. Vick must pay for the treatment.
Vick's attorney, Billy Martin, did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Reggie Bush vs. Mario Williams Revisited
Last year at this time, many of us were bemoaning the fact that the Houston Texans passed on dynamic running back Reggie Bush and local hero Vince Young for defensive end Mario Williams. And with Williams not becoming a huge presence on his team's defensive unit during his rookie season, while Bush and Young were finding relative success with their respective teams, it seemed Houston's front office had made a mistake. A big mistake.
But through two games of the 2007 season, it looks like maybe the jury is still out on that decision.
That's partially because Williams has awaken this year and is playing much more like a top overall draft pick should. Through two games he's recorded just six tackles, but has two sacks, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Now those aren't exactly eye-popping numbers, but the former North Carolina State defender is becoming more and more of a factor on defense all the time. Meanwhile, Bush has done little in New Orleans this season, along with the rest of the Saints offense. Williams, in fact, has more touchdowns at this point than Bush, who has yet to score. Bush has rushed for a total of 65 yards over the first two games -- with a pedestrian 3.0 yards-per-carry average -- and has fumbled twice. I know this all too well because he is on one of my fantasy football teams. And he's killing me!
Young has continued to look like a guy who could develop into a winner, and there are some fans who will never forgive the franchise for not taking him. He's certainly got the look of a leader, but he hasn't exactly posted fantastic numbers himself. Anyway, the Texans offset passing on him by trading for veteran backup Matt Schaub, who has looked sharp through two contests and has built some early chemistry with wideout Andre Johnson.
Should Bush and Young eventually develop into superstars, it's certainly possible that the Texans could still come out of this looking like fools. But that outcome doesn't look nearly as certain now as it did last year at this time.
From James Alder
Thursday September 20, 2007
But through two games of the 2007 season, it looks like maybe the jury is still out on that decision.
That's partially because Williams has awaken this year and is playing much more like a top overall draft pick should. Through two games he's recorded just six tackles, but has two sacks, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Now those aren't exactly eye-popping numbers, but the former North Carolina State defender is becoming more and more of a factor on defense all the time. Meanwhile, Bush has done little in New Orleans this season, along with the rest of the Saints offense. Williams, in fact, has more touchdowns at this point than Bush, who has yet to score. Bush has rushed for a total of 65 yards over the first two games -- with a pedestrian 3.0 yards-per-carry average -- and has fumbled twice. I know this all too well because he is on one of my fantasy football teams. And he's killing me!
Young has continued to look like a guy who could develop into a winner, and there are some fans who will never forgive the franchise for not taking him. He's certainly got the look of a leader, but he hasn't exactly posted fantastic numbers himself. Anyway, the Texans offset passing on him by trading for veteran backup Matt Schaub, who has looked sharp through two contests and has built some early chemistry with wideout Andre Johnson.
Should Bush and Young eventually develop into superstars, it's certainly possible that the Texans could still come out of this looking like fools. But that outcome doesn't look nearly as certain now as it did last year at this time.
From James Alder
Thursday September 20, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Current NFL DALLAS COWBOYS Injuries
Dallas
P. Crayton -WR - Finger -day-to-day
T. Newman -CB -Heel -day-to-day
D. Free-T-Knee-day-to-day
G. Ellis-LB-Achilles-day-to-day
T. Johnson-DT-Suspension-Elig Nov 4
T. Glenn-WR-Knee-Out indefinitely
J. Ferguson-NT-Bicep-I-R
M. Gramatica-K-Hamstring-I-R
P. Crayton -WR - Finger -day-to-day
T. Newman -CB -Heel -day-to-day
D. Free-T-Knee-day-to-day
G. Ellis-LB-Achilles-day-to-day
T. Johnson-DT-Suspension-Elig Nov 4
T. Glenn-WR-Knee-Out indefinitely
J. Ferguson-NT-Bicep-I-R
M. Gramatica-K-Hamstring-I-R
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Favre throws 3 TD passes and makes NFL history
Brett Favre picked a almost perfect way to become the winningest quarter back in NFL history.
Favre threw his first 14 passes of the second half and threw 3 touchdown passes to rally the Green Bay Packers. a 35-13 victory over Eli Manning and the NY Giants.
Favre threw his first 14 passes of the second half and threw 3 touchdown passes to rally the Green Bay Packers. a 35-13 victory over Eli Manning and the NY Giants.
Friday, September 14, 2007
DALLAS COWBOYS
GO COWBOYS!!!
THE DALLAS COWBOYS ARE LOOKING GOOD THIS YEAR. MAYBE (FINGERS CROSSED) WE MIGHT MAKE IT TO THE SUPER BOWL.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS ARE LOOKING GOOD THIS YEAR. MAYBE (FINGERS CROSSED) WE MIGHT MAKE IT TO THE SUPER BOWL.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Week 1 games all sold out
All Kickoff Weekend games sold out For third year in row, lifting all TV blackouts
For the third consecutive year, all 16 games of the NFL’s Kickoff Weekend have sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling every game to be televised in the home-team market, the NFL announced Friday.
The New Orleans at Indianapolis game on Thursday night (Sept. 6) was sold out and televised by NBC’s Indianapolis affiliate WTHR-TV.
This will be the fourth Kickoff Weekend in NFL history to have blackouts lifted for all games. They were lifted on the weekends of Sept. 6-7 in 1998; Sept. 8, 11-12 in 2005; and on Sept. 7, 10-11 last year.
The NFL blackout policy states that games sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff can be televised in the home city.
For the third consecutive year, all 16 games of the NFL’s Kickoff Weekend have sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling every game to be televised in the home-team market, the NFL announced Friday.
The New Orleans at Indianapolis game on Thursday night (Sept. 6) was sold out and televised by NBC’s Indianapolis affiliate WTHR-TV.
This will be the fourth Kickoff Weekend in NFL history to have blackouts lifted for all games. They were lifted on the weekends of Sept. 6-7 in 1998; Sept. 8, 11-12 in 2005; and on Sept. 7, 10-11 last year.
The NFL blackout policy states that games sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff can be televised in the home city.
Monday, September 10, 2007
NFL SCOREBOARD WEEK 1
RAVENS 0 BENGALS 9
SAINTS 10 COLTS 41
CHIEFS 3 TEXANS 20
FALCONS 3 VIKINGS 24
EAGLES 13 PACKERS 16
BRONCOS 15 BILLS 14
DOLPHINS 13 REDSKINS 16
STEELERS 34 BROWNS 7
PATRIOTS 38 JETS 14
TITANS 13 JAGUARS 10
LIONS 36 RAIDERS 21
BUCCANEERS 6 SEAHAWKS 20
BEARS 3 CHARGERS 14
GIANTS 35 COWBOYS 45
PANTHERS 27 RAMS 13
CARDINALS 17 49ERS 20
SAINTS 10 COLTS 41
CHIEFS 3 TEXANS 20
FALCONS 3 VIKINGS 24
EAGLES 13 PACKERS 16
BRONCOS 15 BILLS 14
DOLPHINS 13 REDSKINS 16
STEELERS 34 BROWNS 7
PATRIOTS 38 JETS 14
TITANS 13 JAGUARS 10
LIONS 36 RAIDERS 21
BUCCANEERS 6 SEAHAWKS 20
BEARS 3 CHARGERS 14
GIANTS 35 COWBOYS 45
PANTHERS 27 RAMS 13
CARDINALS 17 49ERS 20
Sunday, September 9, 2007
COWBOYS WIN 45 TO 35
Wade Phillips threw a soft uppercut and smiled widely. He did it early, when his first gamble as coach of the Dallas Cowboys worked out -- then again in the closing minutes, following a touchdown that also made him let out a big sigh of relief.
Marion Barber got things rolling with an 18-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1, Terrell Owens added two highlight-reel touchdown catches and Tony Romo made up for an interception with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd for a 45-35 victory over the injury-depleted New York Giants on Sunday night.
Romo threw for a career-high 345 yards and four touchdowns, plus ran for another, helping the Cowboys match the most points they ever scored in four years under Bill Parcells.
"It was good to see we were able to put up so many points and keep attacking," Romo said.
However, Phillips' supposedly improved defense gave up 438 yards and lots of big plays, turning a potential blowout into a nail-biter.
"How about my offense, huh?" Phillips said with a laugh at the start of his postgame news conference.
Eli Manning showed Tiki Barber and all his critics that he can be a leader, overcoming knee injuries that knocked out sacks leader Osi Umenyiora and new starting running back Brandon Jacobs, plus a late 16-point deficit to make things interesting in the final minutes.
Manning threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Ward with 7:20 left that got New York within 38-28. After botching a 2-point try, the Giants got the ball back on Romo's only interception. Manning followed with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, their third connection of the night, to make it 38-35.
Hurd, getting key playing time because of Terry Glenn's injury absence, put Dallas comfortably back ahead by turning a slant into a long touchdown with 3:03 to go.
But Manning didn't return, sidelined by a bruised throwing shoulder, and the Giants were out of rallies.
Manning was 28-of-41 for 312 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. Burress caught eight passes for 144 yards.
Romo was 15-of-24 and produced touchdowns on five of six drives, starting from Marion Barber's dazzling score in the second quarter to a 47-yarder to Owens early in the fourth quarter.
Tight end Jason Witten had six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Owens caught only three passes, but scored on two of them. He had 81 yards, all in the second half.
"He really picked it up in the second half, didn't he?" Romo said.
New York started strong, silencing a sellout crowd swishing "Wade's Warriors" towels when Manning threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Burress on the game's third snap. But the Giants botched the extra point and were in trouble pretty much the rest of the game.
Dallas trailing 6-3 and facing fourth-and-1 from the New York 18, Phillips opted to go for a first down. The ball went to Barber, who led the NFC in touchdowns rushing last year, and his run was dazzling -- shaking a defender at the line, bouncing out to the right, shoving away a second defender, then diving headfirst toward the end zone from around the 5. A third defender hit Barber, flipping him over the goal line for the go-ahead score.
Cameras caught Phillips' reaction, one that would appear several more times.
There was the touchdown pass to Witten on the next drive, stretching the lead to 17-6, then Owens' first touchdown -- a diving one-hander -- to open the second half. Romo also danced in from 9 yards for the first TD rushing of his career.
Through it all, Manning kept New York fighting.
New York scored 10 points in the final 21 seconds of the first half, making it 17-16 at the break, thanks in part to a fumbled kickoff return by Dallas' Tyson Thompson. The Giants also were within 24-19 in the third quarter and kept clawing after getting down 38-22.
Michael Strahan did not start, but played plenty for the Giants only a few days after ending his long preseason holdout. He had five tackles and no sacks.
This game produced the most points in the long history of this series. Dallas also scored its most points in an opener since putting up 49 in 1971 -- the year the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl.
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports WriterSeptember 10, 2007
Marion Barber got things rolling with an 18-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1, Terrell Owens added two highlight-reel touchdown catches and Tony Romo made up for an interception with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd for a 45-35 victory over the injury-depleted New York Giants on Sunday night.
Romo threw for a career-high 345 yards and four touchdowns, plus ran for another, helping the Cowboys match the most points they ever scored in four years under Bill Parcells.
"It was good to see we were able to put up so many points and keep attacking," Romo said.
However, Phillips' supposedly improved defense gave up 438 yards and lots of big plays, turning a potential blowout into a nail-biter.
"How about my offense, huh?" Phillips said with a laugh at the start of his postgame news conference.
Eli Manning showed Tiki Barber and all his critics that he can be a leader, overcoming knee injuries that knocked out sacks leader Osi Umenyiora and new starting running back Brandon Jacobs, plus a late 16-point deficit to make things interesting in the final minutes.
Manning threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Ward with 7:20 left that got New York within 38-28. After botching a 2-point try, the Giants got the ball back on Romo's only interception. Manning followed with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, their third connection of the night, to make it 38-35.
Hurd, getting key playing time because of Terry Glenn's injury absence, put Dallas comfortably back ahead by turning a slant into a long touchdown with 3:03 to go.
But Manning didn't return, sidelined by a bruised throwing shoulder, and the Giants were out of rallies.
Manning was 28-of-41 for 312 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. Burress caught eight passes for 144 yards.
Romo was 15-of-24 and produced touchdowns on five of six drives, starting from Marion Barber's dazzling score in the second quarter to a 47-yarder to Owens early in the fourth quarter.
Tight end Jason Witten had six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Owens caught only three passes, but scored on two of them. He had 81 yards, all in the second half.
"He really picked it up in the second half, didn't he?" Romo said.
New York started strong, silencing a sellout crowd swishing "Wade's Warriors" towels when Manning threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Burress on the game's third snap. But the Giants botched the extra point and were in trouble pretty much the rest of the game.
Dallas trailing 6-3 and facing fourth-and-1 from the New York 18, Phillips opted to go for a first down. The ball went to Barber, who led the NFC in touchdowns rushing last year, and his run was dazzling -- shaking a defender at the line, bouncing out to the right, shoving away a second defender, then diving headfirst toward the end zone from around the 5. A third defender hit Barber, flipping him over the goal line for the go-ahead score.
Cameras caught Phillips' reaction, one that would appear several more times.
There was the touchdown pass to Witten on the next drive, stretching the lead to 17-6, then Owens' first touchdown -- a diving one-hander -- to open the second half. Romo also danced in from 9 yards for the first TD rushing of his career.
Through it all, Manning kept New York fighting.
New York scored 10 points in the final 21 seconds of the first half, making it 17-16 at the break, thanks in part to a fumbled kickoff return by Dallas' Tyson Thompson. The Giants also were within 24-19 in the third quarter and kept clawing after getting down 38-22.
Michael Strahan did not start, but played plenty for the Giants only a few days after ending his long preseason holdout. He had five tackles and no sacks.
This game produced the most points in the long history of this series. Dallas also scored its most points in an opener since putting up 49 in 1971 -- the year the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl.
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports WriterSeptember 10, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
McNabb, Offense May Need to Carry Early Load
It's a good thing for Eagles' fans Donovan McNabb is so certain he can regain his footing relatively quickly. And that has very little to do with the fact the Eagles' star quarterback is returning from a career-threatening knee injury.
With the defense seemingly sputtering from the very first snap this exhibition season, McNabb and company are being called upon to carry much of the load until the revamped unit can find its bearings. Just when that might be remains a matter of conjecture.
Even veteran defensive coordinator Jim Johnson doesn't seem quite certain what to expect from his unit heading into the team's opener at Green Bay. “We'll see what kind of football team we are,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We'll see how our linebackers are going to do, how healthy Jevon [Kearse] and people like that are. We'll see how this comes together this week, but I think it's still a work in progress."
Enter McNabb, tailback Brian Westbrook and wideout Reggie Brown. Though each of them played only sparingly during the preseason, the trio is now primed to take center stage in Philly's plans. But it all starts with McNabb.
Over the coarse of his eight-year career in Philadelphia, the veteran quarterback has passed for averages of nearly of 2,800 yards and 17 touchdowns a season. Before being forced to the sidelines with the knee injury after ten games last season, McNabb had nearly eclipsed both marks, striking for 2,647 yards through the air and 18 scores.
The Eagles will need that can of production and more if they are to escape some of the early pratfalls that may indeed doom their defense.
http://www.football.com
With the defense seemingly sputtering from the very first snap this exhibition season, McNabb and company are being called upon to carry much of the load until the revamped unit can find its bearings. Just when that might be remains a matter of conjecture.
Even veteran defensive coordinator Jim Johnson doesn't seem quite certain what to expect from his unit heading into the team's opener at Green Bay. “We'll see what kind of football team we are,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We'll see how our linebackers are going to do, how healthy Jevon [Kearse] and people like that are. We'll see how this comes together this week, but I think it's still a work in progress."
Enter McNabb, tailback Brian Westbrook and wideout Reggie Brown. Though each of them played only sparingly during the preseason, the trio is now primed to take center stage in Philly's plans. But it all starts with McNabb.
Over the coarse of his eight-year career in Philadelphia, the veteran quarterback has passed for averages of nearly of 2,800 yards and 17 touchdowns a season. Before being forced to the sidelines with the knee injury after ten games last season, McNabb had nearly eclipsed both marks, striking for 2,647 yards through the air and 18 scores.
The Eagles will need that can of production and more if they are to escape some of the early pratfalls that may indeed doom their defense.
http://www.football.com
Friday, September 7, 2007
Colts start season with a win over Saints
The Indianapolis Colts looked just as formidable on offense as they did when they won the Super Bowl last season. And even better on defense.
Shaking off a sluggish first half, the Colts outscored New Orleans 31-0 after intermission in Thursday night's NFL opener to beat the Saints 41-10.
Shaking off a sluggish first half, the Colts outscored New Orleans 31-0 after intermission in Thursday night's NFL opener to beat the Saints 41-10.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Cowboys, 49ers back among contenders
The rivalry truly began in the early 1970s with three consecutive playoff meetings, was bolstered by Dwight Clark's legendary touchdown catch in the 1982 NFC Championship game and hit its peak a decade later when the franchises faced each other in three conference title matchups.
Such history isn't forgotten at San Francisco 49ers headquarters when the Dallas Cowboys are discussed.
"The very first t-shirt I wore to a game said 'F*** Dallas' on it," said 49ers kicker Joe Nedney, who was raised in nearby San Jose. "My mom was not happy, but I went to a 49er game as a kid and my dad got me that shirt. I was about 10.
"That's pretty much when I decided I needed to start hating the Dallas Cowboys. I didn't know why, but the shirt pretty much said it all."
But in recent years, the majority of cursing by Cowboys and 49ers fans has been aimed toward their own teams.
Ever since San Francisco's 38-28 playoff victory over Dallas en route to winning Super Bowl XXIX in January 1995, the 49ers began a gradual slide that reached bottom in 2004 with a 2-14 campaign. Dallas rebounded from that 49ers loss by winning Super Bowl XXX the following season, but the Cowboys also started slipping and are 0-4 in the playoffs since 1997.
Yet entering this season, there is more optimism surrounding both clubs since players like Jerry Rice and Troy Aikman were donning 49ers and Cowboys jerseys respectively. Dallas and Philadelphia are considered the frontrunners in the NFC East, while San Francisco appears ready to push Seattle for supremacy in the NFC West.
"When the coaches are convinced and the players are convinced, the sky is the limit," Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "We have great players on defense. We don't have any holes. On offense, it's the same way.
"Now, it's all about how it's going to jell together during the season. Are we going to be high the first part and low the second part? Teams that get there are consistent the whole way through."
Nedney is just as optimistic about San Francisco's chances.
"This is my third year here and we just keep building on it every year and haven't taken a step back," he said. "You can just kind of tell with the guys and the way we interact with players and coaching staff, there are little intangibles starting to build that you need to have a championship team.
"Having been on enough teams (eight) in the league, I can tell when there's a locker room full of guys just playing football and a locker room full of players who belong to a team. We've got that here. I believe this team is going to get back to championship status here pretty soon."
First things first, though.
San Francisco hasn't reached the playoffs or even posted a winning record since 2002, which was Steve Mariucci's final season coaching the squad. Mariucci wasn't able to win a Super Bowl like predecessors Bill Walsh and George Seifert, but he did lead San Francisco to postseason appearances in four of his six seasons.
That was much more than the brain trust of coach Dennis Erickson and general manager Terry Donahue produced in their two seasons running the 49ers. The duo will be remembered as a disaster because of San Francisco's poor on-field performance and roster decisions. Running back Kevan Barlow and cornerback Ahmad Plummer were given lucrative contract extensions that never paid dividends and first-day draft picks were wasted on such busts as wide receivers Rashaun Woods and Derek Hamilton and defensive end Andrew Williams.
49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young, who is the only remaining member of San Francisco's last Super Bowl squad, said the low point of his 14-year NFL career came in 2004 when the 49ers' only two victories came against an Arizona squad that finished a lowly 6-10.
"Going through that whole year, it was hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel," Young said. "At the time, you really had to be a pro because it was easy to pack it in and not go out and give your best."
Young said Mike Nolan immediately began to change that culture after being hired to essentially replace both Erickson and Donahue in 2005.
Trying to recapture the club's glory years, Nolan said 49ers owner John York wanted to install a coach with power over both personnel and on-field decisions a la the late Bill Walsh during the 1980s. Nolan — whose father Dick was San Francisco's head coach from 1968 to 1975 — oversees a front-office staff that has subsequently revamped San Francisco's roster with better drafts and free-agent acquisitions.
That includes a wild spending spree this off-season to net Nate Clements, who became the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with an eight-year, $80 million contract, safety Michael Lewis and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain as well as the re-signing of standout running back Frank Gore to a four-year, $28 million extension.
Such moves could help the 49ers continue to rise in 2007 after improving from 4-12 to 7-9 in Nolan's first two seasons.
"I like to be in charge," Nolan told FOXSports.com after the team's final training camp practice. "It's not an issue of control, but you have to have control to be in charge. And although I hadn't done it before, John felt secure in offering me the job. If he envisioned what Bill had touched, I'd like to think I had the ability to touch those same areas.
"Now, it's certainly a long way to make it happen like with what Bill did. But at the same time, the structure in which we're doing things right now I would say is very similar to what he did."
The Cowboys are structured differently, with owner/general manager Jerry Jones and his staff handling front-office decisions. That helps explain why Jones was so willing to accept responsibility for Dallas' decline from being the NFL's elite franchise through the first half of the 1990s.
"The playoffs for me are not the issue," Jones told FOXSports.com during an interview at Cowboys headquarters in Irving, Texas. "I know they have to come first, but I've never thought about this team from a playoff contention standpoint. I've thought about it as a Super Bowl team.
"I've taken the risks in decision-making that give us a chance to be a Super Bowl team maybe more than what I thought another route might (entail). We haven't gotten it done and we've had some things really blow up in our face a couple of times. But the bottom line is I never thought we would be this long out of a Super Bowl."
Although the Cowboys are now on their fifth different head coach (Wade Phillips) in 11 seasons, Jones said his squad's biggest problem was establishing stability at quarterback. Jones said he expected Aikman to play "a minimum of four or five more years" before concussions and back problems forced him to retire after the 2000 season.
Since then, the Cowboys fielded eight different starters until finally settling on Tony Romo midway through the 2006 season. And even though he was voted to the Pro Bowl following a strong debut, Romo can hardly be considered a sure thing after he struggled with Dallas posting a 2-4 record in the final six games, including a 21-20 first-round playoff loss to Seattle in which he botched the hold on what would have been the game-winning field goal.
"Hopefully, we've got the kind of quarterback who can get us (to the Super Bowl)," said Jones, who has declined so far to sign Romo to a contract extension even though he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2008. "It singularly doesn't get you there, but the only success I've ever known we've had a top quarterback."
At least Jones can be certain that Dallas will field a top-notch defense orchestrated by Phillips, whose unit in San Diego produced an NFL-best 61 sacks in 2006. Like with Chargers strong-side linebacker Shawne Merriman, Phillips has the services of one of the league's top young pass-rushers in Ware and arguably as much overall defensive talent to work with as he did with San Diego.
Players also are happy Phillips has instituted a more aggressive 3-4 system than the one previously used under former head coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer "This scheme is heavily predicated on the outside linebackers getting pressure," Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James said. "The inside (linebackers) and D-linemen are moving around a lot more than before, so that hopefully creates negative plays in the backfield. That's what we've been missing — explosive plays on the defensive side of the ball."
Dallas and San Francisco aren't scheduled to play in the regular season. But the thought of meeting in the playoffs would bring the Cowboys-49ers feud into another generation.
"Growing up, that was the game you always looked forward to seeing," said 49ers fullback Moran Norris, a Houston native. "You've got two teams that have won a lot of Super Bowls, have a lot of history behind them and have had a lot of Pro Bowlers.
"If we keep it going, I'm sure it will be a game like it used to be back in the day."
Alex Marvez FOXSports.com
Such history isn't forgotten at San Francisco 49ers headquarters when the Dallas Cowboys are discussed.
"The very first t-shirt I wore to a game said 'F*** Dallas' on it," said 49ers kicker Joe Nedney, who was raised in nearby San Jose. "My mom was not happy, but I went to a 49er game as a kid and my dad got me that shirt. I was about 10.
"That's pretty much when I decided I needed to start hating the Dallas Cowboys. I didn't know why, but the shirt pretty much said it all."
But in recent years, the majority of cursing by Cowboys and 49ers fans has been aimed toward their own teams.
Ever since San Francisco's 38-28 playoff victory over Dallas en route to winning Super Bowl XXIX in January 1995, the 49ers began a gradual slide that reached bottom in 2004 with a 2-14 campaign. Dallas rebounded from that 49ers loss by winning Super Bowl XXX the following season, but the Cowboys also started slipping and are 0-4 in the playoffs since 1997.
Yet entering this season, there is more optimism surrounding both clubs since players like Jerry Rice and Troy Aikman were donning 49ers and Cowboys jerseys respectively. Dallas and Philadelphia are considered the frontrunners in the NFC East, while San Francisco appears ready to push Seattle for supremacy in the NFC West.
"When the coaches are convinced and the players are convinced, the sky is the limit," Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "We have great players on defense. We don't have any holes. On offense, it's the same way.
"Now, it's all about how it's going to jell together during the season. Are we going to be high the first part and low the second part? Teams that get there are consistent the whole way through."
Nedney is just as optimistic about San Francisco's chances.
"This is my third year here and we just keep building on it every year and haven't taken a step back," he said. "You can just kind of tell with the guys and the way we interact with players and coaching staff, there are little intangibles starting to build that you need to have a championship team.
"Having been on enough teams (eight) in the league, I can tell when there's a locker room full of guys just playing football and a locker room full of players who belong to a team. We've got that here. I believe this team is going to get back to championship status here pretty soon."
First things first, though.
San Francisco hasn't reached the playoffs or even posted a winning record since 2002, which was Steve Mariucci's final season coaching the squad. Mariucci wasn't able to win a Super Bowl like predecessors Bill Walsh and George Seifert, but he did lead San Francisco to postseason appearances in four of his six seasons.
That was much more than the brain trust of coach Dennis Erickson and general manager Terry Donahue produced in their two seasons running the 49ers. The duo will be remembered as a disaster because of San Francisco's poor on-field performance and roster decisions. Running back Kevan Barlow and cornerback Ahmad Plummer were given lucrative contract extensions that never paid dividends and first-day draft picks were wasted on such busts as wide receivers Rashaun Woods and Derek Hamilton and defensive end Andrew Williams.
49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young, who is the only remaining member of San Francisco's last Super Bowl squad, said the low point of his 14-year NFL career came in 2004 when the 49ers' only two victories came against an Arizona squad that finished a lowly 6-10.
"Going through that whole year, it was hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel," Young said. "At the time, you really had to be a pro because it was easy to pack it in and not go out and give your best."
Young said Mike Nolan immediately began to change that culture after being hired to essentially replace both Erickson and Donahue in 2005.
Trying to recapture the club's glory years, Nolan said 49ers owner John York wanted to install a coach with power over both personnel and on-field decisions a la the late Bill Walsh during the 1980s. Nolan — whose father Dick was San Francisco's head coach from 1968 to 1975 — oversees a front-office staff that has subsequently revamped San Francisco's roster with better drafts and free-agent acquisitions.
That includes a wild spending spree this off-season to net Nate Clements, who became the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with an eight-year, $80 million contract, safety Michael Lewis and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain as well as the re-signing of standout running back Frank Gore to a four-year, $28 million extension.
Such moves could help the 49ers continue to rise in 2007 after improving from 4-12 to 7-9 in Nolan's first two seasons.
"I like to be in charge," Nolan told FOXSports.com after the team's final training camp practice. "It's not an issue of control, but you have to have control to be in charge. And although I hadn't done it before, John felt secure in offering me the job. If he envisioned what Bill had touched, I'd like to think I had the ability to touch those same areas.
"Now, it's certainly a long way to make it happen like with what Bill did. But at the same time, the structure in which we're doing things right now I would say is very similar to what he did."
The Cowboys are structured differently, with owner/general manager Jerry Jones and his staff handling front-office decisions. That helps explain why Jones was so willing to accept responsibility for Dallas' decline from being the NFL's elite franchise through the first half of the 1990s.
"The playoffs for me are not the issue," Jones told FOXSports.com during an interview at Cowboys headquarters in Irving, Texas. "I know they have to come first, but I've never thought about this team from a playoff contention standpoint. I've thought about it as a Super Bowl team.
"I've taken the risks in decision-making that give us a chance to be a Super Bowl team maybe more than what I thought another route might (entail). We haven't gotten it done and we've had some things really blow up in our face a couple of times. But the bottom line is I never thought we would be this long out of a Super Bowl."
Although the Cowboys are now on their fifth different head coach (Wade Phillips) in 11 seasons, Jones said his squad's biggest problem was establishing stability at quarterback. Jones said he expected Aikman to play "a minimum of four or five more years" before concussions and back problems forced him to retire after the 2000 season.
Since then, the Cowboys fielded eight different starters until finally settling on Tony Romo midway through the 2006 season. And even though he was voted to the Pro Bowl following a strong debut, Romo can hardly be considered a sure thing after he struggled with Dallas posting a 2-4 record in the final six games, including a 21-20 first-round playoff loss to Seattle in which he botched the hold on what would have been the game-winning field goal.
"Hopefully, we've got the kind of quarterback who can get us (to the Super Bowl)," said Jones, who has declined so far to sign Romo to a contract extension even though he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2008. "It singularly doesn't get you there, but the only success I've ever known we've had a top quarterback."
At least Jones can be certain that Dallas will field a top-notch defense orchestrated by Phillips, whose unit in San Diego produced an NFL-best 61 sacks in 2006. Like with Chargers strong-side linebacker Shawne Merriman, Phillips has the services of one of the league's top young pass-rushers in Ware and arguably as much overall defensive talent to work with as he did with San Diego.
Players also are happy Phillips has instituted a more aggressive 3-4 system than the one previously used under former head coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer "This scheme is heavily predicated on the outside linebackers getting pressure," Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James said. "The inside (linebackers) and D-linemen are moving around a lot more than before, so that hopefully creates negative plays in the backfield. That's what we've been missing — explosive plays on the defensive side of the ball."
Dallas and San Francisco aren't scheduled to play in the regular season. But the thought of meeting in the playoffs would bring the Cowboys-49ers feud into another generation.
"Growing up, that was the game you always looked forward to seeing," said 49ers fullback Moran Norris, a Houston native. "You've got two teams that have won a lot of Super Bowls, have a lot of history behind them and have had a lot of Pro Bowlers.
"If we keep it going, I'm sure it will be a game like it used to be back in the day."
Alex Marvez FOXSports.com
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Kickoff
The NFL will kick off the 2007 season on Thursday, Sep. 6 when the New Orleans Saints travel to Indianapolis to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Colts. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
The NFL's free kickoff event, featuring performances from Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson and Hinder is located at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, Sept. 6. Gates will open at 3 p.m. John Mellencamp will perform later from the RCA Dome.
On NFL Network
Kickoff Week on NFL Network:
» Peyton Manning finally wins the big one with an MVP performance and you can watch the Super Bowl XLI encore on NFL Network on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. ET. The telecast also includes Prince's performance in the Super Bowl XLI halftime show.
» The 2006 Indianapolis Colts will be profiled on America's Game on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. ET on NFL Network. The story of the 2006 Colts is told through the eyes of Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday, narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland.
» The NFL's free kickoff event, featuring performances from Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, the rock band Hinder and John Mellencamp will be simulcast live on NFL Network on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET, preceding the Saints and Colts Kickoff game.
Live games on the NFL Network:
Indianapols at Atlanta, Thurs., Nov. 22 (8:15 p.m.)
Green Bay at Dallas, Thurs., Nov. 29 (8:15 p.m.)
Chicago at Washington, Thurs., Dec. 6 (8:15 p.m.)
Denver at Houston, Thurs., Dec. 13 (8:15 p.m.)
Cincinnati at San Francisco, Sat., Dec. 15 (8:15 p.m.)
Pittsburgh at St. Louis, Thurs., Dec. 20 (8:15 p.m.)
Dallas at Carolina, Sat., Dec. 22 (8:15 p.m.)
New England at New York Giants, Thurs., Dec. 29 (8:15 p.m.)
http://www.nfl.com
The NFL's free kickoff event, featuring performances from Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson and Hinder is located at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, Sept. 6. Gates will open at 3 p.m. John Mellencamp will perform later from the RCA Dome.
On NFL Network
Kickoff Week on NFL Network:
» Peyton Manning finally wins the big one with an MVP performance and you can watch the Super Bowl XLI encore on NFL Network on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. ET. The telecast also includes Prince's performance in the Super Bowl XLI halftime show.
» The 2006 Indianapolis Colts will be profiled on America's Game on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. ET on NFL Network. The story of the 2006 Colts is told through the eyes of Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday, narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland.
» The NFL's free kickoff event, featuring performances from Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, the rock band Hinder and John Mellencamp will be simulcast live on NFL Network on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET, preceding the Saints and Colts Kickoff game.
Live games on the NFL Network:
Indianapols at Atlanta, Thurs., Nov. 22 (8:15 p.m.)
Green Bay at Dallas, Thurs., Nov. 29 (8:15 p.m.)
Chicago at Washington, Thurs., Dec. 6 (8:15 p.m.)
Denver at Houston, Thurs., Dec. 13 (8:15 p.m.)
Cincinnati at San Francisco, Sat., Dec. 15 (8:15 p.m.)
Pittsburgh at St. Louis, Thurs., Dec. 20 (8:15 p.m.)
Dallas at Carolina, Sat., Dec. 22 (8:15 p.m.)
New England at New York Giants, Thurs., Dec. 29 (8:15 p.m.)
http://www.nfl.com
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Raiders quarterback shuffle
NFL_Czar's Blog
BY NFL_CZAR
Sep 04, 2007 7:49PM
With the agents for JaMarcus Russell still debating how to best guarantee $31 million to their client, Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin can’t seem to choose between Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper for Sunday’s start against the Detroit Lions.
We know that owner Al Davis prefers Culpepper as his quarterback. Consequently, Kiffin must be in McCown’s corner for now and that’s the reason for delaying any announcement.
During last week’s final cuts, Kiffin and Davis both seemed to get their way.
Davis, who makes the majority of the Raiders’ personnel decisions, allowed the coaches and personnel staff to pick Quentin Moses atop the third round and he got the final say by cutting the defensive end from Georgia. Receiver Alvis Whitted was perceived as a Davis player, but he got the ax, too.
And then there was guard Kevin Boothe, who graded out as the team’s best offensive lineman a season ago. Boothe didn’t fit Kiffin’s new blocking system and was released. And Boothe probably will end up helping the New York Giants.
If McCown gets the start against the Lions, we’ll know that Kiffin won the first big battle with his owner.
Denver pays Rice
Simeon Rice received $2.1 million to sign with the Broncos, who also guaranteed his base salary for this season, and the overall deal is slightly better than what his former team, the Tampa Bay Bucs, were offering before he was released.
However, it will be interesting to see how much Rice plays this Sunday. The Rams passed his shoulder during a physical, but they were leery that he really wasn’t ready to play. The Titans thought the same thing. Rice could end up earning almost $4 million if he hits some incentives.
Leftwich & Baltimore
Byron Leftwich makes sense for the Ravens, who definitely don’t believe in Kyle Boller anymore as the backup. The Ravens, because of their defense, remain a strong Super Bowl contender, and who really knows how much longer 34-year-old Steve McNair can stay healthy? Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome liked Leftwich coming out of Marshall, plus he knows all about him from Jaguars personnel man Shack Harris.
If anyone can fix Leftwich and make him a more accurate passer, it’s Ravens head coach Brian Billick. Now, the deal is whether or not Leftwich will agree to a contract that makes sense for Baltimore right now. This is a better opportunity for Leftwich than vice versa. I mean if he doesn’t sign with Baltimore, who really wants him?
Bulletin board chuckles
The big game this Sunday is Chicago at San Diego, and now the Bears are all hot that LaDainian Tomlinson picked the Bears to run through, past and over in his new Nike commercial. Well, L.T. claims he didn’t; it’s just that he vetoed the Patriots. Well, seriously, he should have allowed Nike to use the Patriots. No one really thinks of New England in the same breath, historically, with Chicago’s defense.
To hear the Bears getting mad about the commercial is pretty funny, too. Do you think Brian Urlacher would turn down a big check from Nike to do a commercial? L.T. took the money and ran. He may do that Sunday, too. I can’t imagine that Urlacher and Co. needed a commercial to get fired up about playing the Chargers and L.T. on opening day.
Finally, the bad news in Chicago is that Rex Grossman won’t have rookie tight end Greg Olsen (knee sprain) available as a reliable check-down receiver against the San Diego pass rush.
Simms and Tampa Bay
The Bucs were the only team to keep four quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster. Fourteen teams kept two quarterbacks while the rest decided on three. Seventeen backups have never started a NFL game and four of them have never thrown a pass in the NFL.
This is why the Bucs kept Simms. He has potential trade value, considering the NFL quarterbacking landscape. He may be fourth-string in Tampa Bay, but he could be viewed by a lot of teams to be better than their backup or third-stringer. Mentally and physically, Simms simply hasn’t looked himself this summer. But that doesn’t mean he won’t come around. And, who knows, if Jeff Garcia goes down in December, Jon Gruden might even turn to Simms if he’s still around.
When a team like Kansas City opts to sign Tyler Thigpen as a third quarterback, you know there is hope for Simms, and the Bucs may eventually do a trade.
Look in the mirror
Arizona’s Rod Graves, who drafted Buster Davis in the third round, said he was surprised the Florida State linebacker refused to sign with the team’s practice squad after being cut last weekend.
“It says something else about the player,” Graves said. “I certainly thought Buster was the kind of guy who would carry a chip on his shoulder and accept that challenge and want to prove that the decision to release him was a mistake.”
When evaluating players for the draft, Graves must make decisions on whether any player has the heart and mindset to succeed in the NFL. Graves can question Davis, but we can also question Graves to risking the 69th choice in the draft on a player who took the money and ran.
BY NFL_CZAR
Sep 04, 2007 7:49PM
With the agents for JaMarcus Russell still debating how to best guarantee $31 million to their client, Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin can’t seem to choose between Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper for Sunday’s start against the Detroit Lions.
We know that owner Al Davis prefers Culpepper as his quarterback. Consequently, Kiffin must be in McCown’s corner for now and that’s the reason for delaying any announcement.
During last week’s final cuts, Kiffin and Davis both seemed to get their way.
Davis, who makes the majority of the Raiders’ personnel decisions, allowed the coaches and personnel staff to pick Quentin Moses atop the third round and he got the final say by cutting the defensive end from Georgia. Receiver Alvis Whitted was perceived as a Davis player, but he got the ax, too.
And then there was guard Kevin Boothe, who graded out as the team’s best offensive lineman a season ago. Boothe didn’t fit Kiffin’s new blocking system and was released. And Boothe probably will end up helping the New York Giants.
If McCown gets the start against the Lions, we’ll know that Kiffin won the first big battle with his owner.
Denver pays Rice
Simeon Rice received $2.1 million to sign with the Broncos, who also guaranteed his base salary for this season, and the overall deal is slightly better than what his former team, the Tampa Bay Bucs, were offering before he was released.
However, it will be interesting to see how much Rice plays this Sunday. The Rams passed his shoulder during a physical, but they were leery that he really wasn’t ready to play. The Titans thought the same thing. Rice could end up earning almost $4 million if he hits some incentives.
Leftwich & Baltimore
Byron Leftwich makes sense for the Ravens, who definitely don’t believe in Kyle Boller anymore as the backup. The Ravens, because of their defense, remain a strong Super Bowl contender, and who really knows how much longer 34-year-old Steve McNair can stay healthy? Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome liked Leftwich coming out of Marshall, plus he knows all about him from Jaguars personnel man Shack Harris.
If anyone can fix Leftwich and make him a more accurate passer, it’s Ravens head coach Brian Billick. Now, the deal is whether or not Leftwich will agree to a contract that makes sense for Baltimore right now. This is a better opportunity for Leftwich than vice versa. I mean if he doesn’t sign with Baltimore, who really wants him?
Bulletin board chuckles
The big game this Sunday is Chicago at San Diego, and now the Bears are all hot that LaDainian Tomlinson picked the Bears to run through, past and over in his new Nike commercial. Well, L.T. claims he didn’t; it’s just that he vetoed the Patriots. Well, seriously, he should have allowed Nike to use the Patriots. No one really thinks of New England in the same breath, historically, with Chicago’s defense.
To hear the Bears getting mad about the commercial is pretty funny, too. Do you think Brian Urlacher would turn down a big check from Nike to do a commercial? L.T. took the money and ran. He may do that Sunday, too. I can’t imagine that Urlacher and Co. needed a commercial to get fired up about playing the Chargers and L.T. on opening day.
Finally, the bad news in Chicago is that Rex Grossman won’t have rookie tight end Greg Olsen (knee sprain) available as a reliable check-down receiver against the San Diego pass rush.
Simms and Tampa Bay
The Bucs were the only team to keep four quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster. Fourteen teams kept two quarterbacks while the rest decided on three. Seventeen backups have never started a NFL game and four of them have never thrown a pass in the NFL.
This is why the Bucs kept Simms. He has potential trade value, considering the NFL quarterbacking landscape. He may be fourth-string in Tampa Bay, but he could be viewed by a lot of teams to be better than their backup or third-stringer. Mentally and physically, Simms simply hasn’t looked himself this summer. But that doesn’t mean he won’t come around. And, who knows, if Jeff Garcia goes down in December, Jon Gruden might even turn to Simms if he’s still around.
When a team like Kansas City opts to sign Tyler Thigpen as a third quarterback, you know there is hope for Simms, and the Bucs may eventually do a trade.
Look in the mirror
Arizona’s Rod Graves, who drafted Buster Davis in the third round, said he was surprised the Florida State linebacker refused to sign with the team’s practice squad after being cut last weekend.
“It says something else about the player,” Graves said. “I certainly thought Buster was the kind of guy who would carry a chip on his shoulder and accept that challenge and want to prove that the decision to release him was a mistake.”
When evaluating players for the draft, Graves must make decisions on whether any player has the heart and mindset to succeed in the NFL. Graves can question Davis, but we can also question Graves to risking the 69th choice in the draft on a player who took the money and ran.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
College Exam for Football Players
Time Limit: One Month
1. What language is spoken in France?
2. Give a dissertation on the ancient Babylonian Empire with particular reference to architecture, literature, law and social conditions-OR- give the first name of Pierre Trudeau.
3. Would you ask William Shakespeare to (a) build a bridge (b) sail the ocean (c) lead an army or (d) WRITE A PLAY
4. What religion is the Pope? (a) Jewish (b) Catholic (c) Hindu (d) Polish (e) Agnostic (check only one)
5. Metric conversion. How many feet is 0.0 meters?
6. What time is it when the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 5? (a) Bed time (b) 5:00 (c) am or pm? (d) Happy hour
7. How many commandments was Moses given? (approximately)
8. What are people in America's far north called?
(a) Westerners (b) Southerners (c) Northerners (d) foreigners
9. Spell -- Bush, Carter and Clinton
10. Six kings of England have been called George, the last one being George the Sixth. Name the previous five.
11. Where does rain come from?(a) Macy's (b) a 7-11 (c) Canada (d) the sky (e) Prince
12. Can you explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity?(a) yes (b) no (c) He wasn't my relative
13. What are coat hangers used for?
14. The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem for what country?
15. Explain Le Chateliers Principle of Dynamic Equilibrium-OR- Just spell your name in BLOCK LETTERS.
16. Where is the basement in a three story building located?
17. Which part of America produces the most oranges?(a) New York (b) Florida (c) Canada (d) Europe
18. Advanced math.
If you have three apples how many apples do you have?
19. What does NBC (National Broadcasting Corporation) stand for?
20. The Cornell University tradition for efficiency began when (approximately)?(a) B.C. (b) A.D. (c) still waiting
*You must answer three or more questions correctly to qualify
1. What language is spoken in France?
2. Give a dissertation on the ancient Babylonian Empire with particular reference to architecture, literature, law and social conditions-OR- give the first name of Pierre Trudeau.
3. Would you ask William Shakespeare to (a) build a bridge (b) sail the ocean (c) lead an army or (d) WRITE A PLAY
4. What religion is the Pope? (a) Jewish (b) Catholic (c) Hindu (d) Polish (e) Agnostic (check only one)
5. Metric conversion. How many feet is 0.0 meters?
6. What time is it when the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 5? (a) Bed time (b) 5:00 (c) am or pm? (d) Happy hour
7. How many commandments was Moses given? (approximately)
8. What are people in America's far north called?
(a) Westerners (b) Southerners (c) Northerners (d) foreigners
9. Spell -- Bush, Carter and Clinton
10. Six kings of England have been called George, the last one being George the Sixth. Name the previous five.
11. Where does rain come from?(a) Macy's (b) a 7-11 (c) Canada (d) the sky (e) Prince
12. Can you explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity?(a) yes (b) no (c) He wasn't my relative
13. What are coat hangers used for?
14. The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem for what country?
15. Explain Le Chateliers Principle of Dynamic Equilibrium-OR- Just spell your name in BLOCK LETTERS.
16. Where is the basement in a three story building located?
17. Which part of America produces the most oranges?(a) New York (b) Florida (c) Canada (d) Europe
18. Advanced math.
If you have three apples how many apples do you have?
19. What does NBC (National Broadcasting Corporation) stand for?
20. The Cornell University tradition for efficiency began when (approximately)?(a) B.C. (b) A.D. (c) still waiting
*You must answer three or more questions correctly to qualify
Friday, August 31, 2007
FOOTBALL JOKE OF THE DAY
A guy walks into a bar with a dachshund under his arm. The dog is wearing a Jets jersey helmet and is holding Jets pom poms.
The bartender says,"Hey! No pets allowed in here! You'll have to leave!"
The man begs, "Look I'm desperate. We're both big fans, my TV is broken, and this is the only place we can see the game!"
After securing a promise that the dog will behave and warning him that if there is any trouble they will be thrown out, the bartender relents and allows them to stay in the bar and watch the game.
The game begins with the Jets receiving a kickoff. They march down field stop at the 30,and kick a field goal. With that the dog jumps up on the bar and begins walking up and down the bar giving everyone a high-five.
The bartender says,"Wow that is the most amazing thing I've ever seen! What does the dog do if they score a touchdown?"
"I don't know," replies the owner, "I've only had him for four years."
The bartender says,"Hey! No pets allowed in here! You'll have to leave!"
The man begs, "Look I'm desperate. We're both big fans, my TV is broken, and this is the only place we can see the game!"
After securing a promise that the dog will behave and warning him that if there is any trouble they will be thrown out, the bartender relents and allows them to stay in the bar and watch the game.
The game begins with the Jets receiving a kickoff. They march down field stop at the 30,and kick a field goal. With that the dog jumps up on the bar and begins walking up and down the bar giving everyone a high-five.
The bartender says,"Wow that is the most amazing thing I've ever seen! What does the dog do if they score a touchdown?"
"I don't know," replies the owner, "I've only had him for four years."
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Carolina Panthers 2007 Preview
From James Alder,
Remember how fashionable it was at this time last year to pick the Carolina Panthers to win the Super Bowl? That worked out well, huh?
Well this is largely the same team that entered the 2006 season with such high expectations. So where is all the love this year? Gone with John Fox's job security?
What's New?
The Carolina Panthers were a popular pick to be Super Bowl contenders in 2006, but struggles in the running game combined with a down year by quarterback Jake Delhomme led to a disappointing 8-8 record. The team didn’t do a whole lot, however, to kick-start this offense other than bringing in former Cleveland Browns line coach Jeff Davidson to take over as offesive coordinator.
The Panthers did scoop up former No. 1 overall draft pick David Carr after he was released by the Houston Texans. Carr, who never came close to living up to his lofty draft status, should be a solid backup to Delhomme, and could potentially push him if he struggles again in 2007.
With the safety position a major concern, Carolina traded with Chicago Chris Harris, who will likely start at strong safety. They also picked up journeyman Deke Cooper to add some depth and competition at free safety.
NFL Draft Picks
1st Round - Jon Beason, LB Miami (FL)
2nd Round - Dwayne Jarrett, WR USC
2nd Round - Ryan Kalil, C USC
3rd Round - Charles Johnson, DE Georgia
4th Round - Ryne Robinson, WR Miami (OH)
5th Round - Dante Rosario, TE Oregon
5th Round - Tim Shaw, LB Penn State
7th Round - C.J. Wilson, CB Baylor
Remember how fashionable it was at this time last year to pick the Carolina Panthers to win the Super Bowl? That worked out well, huh?
Well this is largely the same team that entered the 2006 season with such high expectations. So where is all the love this year? Gone with John Fox's job security?
What's New?
The Carolina Panthers were a popular pick to be Super Bowl contenders in 2006, but struggles in the running game combined with a down year by quarterback Jake Delhomme led to a disappointing 8-8 record. The team didn’t do a whole lot, however, to kick-start this offense other than bringing in former Cleveland Browns line coach Jeff Davidson to take over as offesive coordinator.
The Panthers did scoop up former No. 1 overall draft pick David Carr after he was released by the Houston Texans. Carr, who never came close to living up to his lofty draft status, should be a solid backup to Delhomme, and could potentially push him if he struggles again in 2007.
With the safety position a major concern, Carolina traded with Chicago Chris Harris, who will likely start at strong safety. They also picked up journeyman Deke Cooper to add some depth and competition at free safety.
NFL Draft Picks
1st Round - Jon Beason, LB Miami (FL)
2nd Round - Dwayne Jarrett, WR USC
2nd Round - Ryan Kalil, C USC
3rd Round - Charles Johnson, DE Georgia
4th Round - Ryne Robinson, WR Miami (OH)
5th Round - Dante Rosario, TE Oregon
5th Round - Tim Shaw, LB Penn State
7th Round - C.J. Wilson, CB Baylor
FOOTBALL JOKE OF THE DAY
First Football Game
A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. Afterward he asked her how she like the game.
'I liked it, but I couldn't understand why they were killing each other for 25 cents,' she said.
'What do you mean?' he asked.
'Well, everyone kept yelling, 'Get the quarter back!'
A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. Afterward he asked her how she like the game.
'I liked it, but I couldn't understand why they were killing each other for 25 cents,' she said.
'What do you mean?' he asked.
'Well, everyone kept yelling, 'Get the quarter back!'
WHOS YOUR TEAM?
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO POST ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE NFL TEAM AND WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GO TO THE SUPER BOWL. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR TEAM PICKS IN COMMENTS AND I'LL POST ABOUT THEM. THANKS
2007 NFL Schedule
From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Week by Week 2007 NFL Schedule
*All times Eastern
WEEK 1
Thursday, Sep. 6
New Orleans at Indianapolis 8:30 pm
Sunday, Sep. 9
Atlanta at Minnesota 1:00 pm
Carolina at St. Louis 1:00 pm
Denver at Buffalo 1:00 pm
Kansas City at Houston 1:00 pm
Miami at Washington 1:00 pm
New England at N.Y. Jets 1:00 pm
Philadelphia at Green Bay 1:00 pm
Pittsburgh at Cleveland 1:00 pm
Tennessee at Jacksonville 1:00 pm
Chicago at San Diego 4:15 pm
Detroit at Oakland 4:15 pm
Tampa Bay at Seattle 4:15 pm
N.Y. Giants at Dallas 8:15 pm
Monday, Sep. 10
Baltimore at Cincinnati 7:00 pm
Arizona at San Francisco 10:15 pm
CHECK BACK FOR WEEK 2 OF THE 2007 NFL SCHEDULE.
Week by Week 2007 NFL Schedule
*All times Eastern
WEEK 1
Thursday, Sep. 6
New Orleans at Indianapolis 8:30 pm
Sunday, Sep. 9
Atlanta at Minnesota 1:00 pm
Carolina at St. Louis 1:00 pm
Denver at Buffalo 1:00 pm
Kansas City at Houston 1:00 pm
Miami at Washington 1:00 pm
New England at N.Y. Jets 1:00 pm
Philadelphia at Green Bay 1:00 pm
Pittsburgh at Cleveland 1:00 pm
Tennessee at Jacksonville 1:00 pm
Chicago at San Diego 4:15 pm
Detroit at Oakland 4:15 pm
Tampa Bay at Seattle 4:15 pm
N.Y. Giants at Dallas 8:15 pm
Monday, Sep. 10
Baltimore at Cincinnati 7:00 pm
Arizona at San Francisco 10:15 pm
CHECK BACK FOR WEEK 2 OF THE 2007 NFL SCHEDULE.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Do you know Fantasy Football???
From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Fantasy football is generally a season-long competition played by football fans in which participants draft their own team and compete with teams built by others. Individual game winners are determined by points accumulated by players based on their real-life performance in a game on the same day.
Leagues A fantasy league is usually comprised of 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 fantasy teams, each drafted and operated by a different contestant. Each contestant (owner) takes turns selecting players until all predetermined roster slots are filled. Team owners are responsible for choosing a starting lineup for each game, signing replacement players, and making trades if they choose to do so. At the end of the fantasy season, generally the final weeks of the NFL's regular season, a playoff tournament will determine the league champion. The number of teams qualifying for the playoffs is determined before the season begins.
Team Roster The number of players on a fantasy football team varies from league to league, but generally includes at least two quarterbacks, three running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends, one kicker and two defensive units.
Lineups Each week, owners submit a starting lineup taking into consideration injuries, match-ups, and players on bye weeks. Lineup changes must be made prior to the start of each game in which the players in question are involved. If an owner fails to make adjustments in his starting lineup, it will remain the same as the previous week. The number of players on a team's active lineup varies from league to league. One of the more commonly used combinations of players includes one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, and one defensive unit.
Scoring There are variations in scoring systems, but many use the following system or something close to it: A touchdown results in six points for the scoring player. If the touchdown is the result of a passing play, the quarterback is also awarded the same.Field goals count as three points for the kicker. Some leagues offer more points as the field goals get longer. Generally, anything more than 40 yards counts as four points and anything more than 50 yards is awarded five points.Kickers also receive one point for extra points after touchdowns, and a player scoring on a two-point conversion receives two points.Offensive players can also pick up points based on receiving, passing, and rushing yardage. One of the more common formulas awards one point for every ten yards rushing, one point for every ten yards receiving, and one point for every 25 yards passing. Offensive players can also lose points by throwing an interception (-2) or fumbling the ball (-1).On defense, a team's score is based on how many points they give up, combined with bonus points for sacks, turnovers, and defensive touchdowns scored. There are a number of variations in scoring based on the number of points given up. Sacks generally add one point each to that score while turnovers provide two points each.A safety results in a two-point bonus for the defense.Some leagues include special teams play in the defensive score while many do not.
Trading Players Teams are allowed to trade players as long as the deal is submitted before a predetermined trading deadline. Most leagues offer a system that allows other owners to protest trades that are too lopsided in one team's favor to prevent team owners from working together to build one super team.
Waivers and Free Agency Any player that remains undrafted is classified as a free agent and can be signed by any team on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, if the addition puts a team over the roster limit, the owner must release one of the players on his roster.A player who is released is then put on waivers, generally for a period of three to four days. Until a player passes through waivers, he can be claimed by any other team in the league. If a player on waivers is claimed by more than one team by the time the waiver period ends, he is awarded to the team sitting the lowest in the standings at the time the claim was made.
Playoffs A playoff tournament is generally held the final two or three weeks of the regular NFL season, depending on how many teams are in the playoff field. Scoring is determined exactly as it is during the regular season with the winner of the contest moving on to the next round while the loser is eliminated.The league championship is held when the playoff field has been narrowed to two teams, with the winner being crowned as league champions.
If you have any comments or more info please leave comments now.
Fantasy football is generally a season-long competition played by football fans in which participants draft their own team and compete with teams built by others. Individual game winners are determined by points accumulated by players based on their real-life performance in a game on the same day.
Leagues A fantasy league is usually comprised of 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 fantasy teams, each drafted and operated by a different contestant. Each contestant (owner) takes turns selecting players until all predetermined roster slots are filled. Team owners are responsible for choosing a starting lineup for each game, signing replacement players, and making trades if they choose to do so. At the end of the fantasy season, generally the final weeks of the NFL's regular season, a playoff tournament will determine the league champion. The number of teams qualifying for the playoffs is determined before the season begins.
Team Roster The number of players on a fantasy football team varies from league to league, but generally includes at least two quarterbacks, three running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends, one kicker and two defensive units.
Lineups Each week, owners submit a starting lineup taking into consideration injuries, match-ups, and players on bye weeks. Lineup changes must be made prior to the start of each game in which the players in question are involved. If an owner fails to make adjustments in his starting lineup, it will remain the same as the previous week. The number of players on a team's active lineup varies from league to league. One of the more commonly used combinations of players includes one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, and one defensive unit.
Scoring There are variations in scoring systems, but many use the following system or something close to it: A touchdown results in six points for the scoring player. If the touchdown is the result of a passing play, the quarterback is also awarded the same.Field goals count as three points for the kicker. Some leagues offer more points as the field goals get longer. Generally, anything more than 40 yards counts as four points and anything more than 50 yards is awarded five points.Kickers also receive one point for extra points after touchdowns, and a player scoring on a two-point conversion receives two points.Offensive players can also pick up points based on receiving, passing, and rushing yardage. One of the more common formulas awards one point for every ten yards rushing, one point for every ten yards receiving, and one point for every 25 yards passing. Offensive players can also lose points by throwing an interception (-2) or fumbling the ball (-1).On defense, a team's score is based on how many points they give up, combined with bonus points for sacks, turnovers, and defensive touchdowns scored. There are a number of variations in scoring based on the number of points given up. Sacks generally add one point each to that score while turnovers provide two points each.A safety results in a two-point bonus for the defense.Some leagues include special teams play in the defensive score while many do not.
Trading Players Teams are allowed to trade players as long as the deal is submitted before a predetermined trading deadline. Most leagues offer a system that allows other owners to protest trades that are too lopsided in one team's favor to prevent team owners from working together to build one super team.
Waivers and Free Agency Any player that remains undrafted is classified as a free agent and can be signed by any team on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, if the addition puts a team over the roster limit, the owner must release one of the players on his roster.A player who is released is then put on waivers, generally for a period of three to four days. Until a player passes through waivers, he can be claimed by any other team in the league. If a player on waivers is claimed by more than one team by the time the waiver period ends, he is awarded to the team sitting the lowest in the standings at the time the claim was made.
Playoffs A playoff tournament is generally held the final two or three weeks of the regular NFL season, depending on how many teams are in the playoff field. Scoring is determined exactly as it is during the regular season with the winner of the contest moving on to the next round while the loser is eliminated.The league championship is held when the playoff field has been narrowed to two teams, with the winner being crowned as league champions.
If you have any comments or more info please leave comments now.
Fantasy Football Dos and Don'ts
From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Tips To Successfully Manage Your Fantasy Football Team
About Football has compiled some key tips to properly managing your fantasy football squad before, during, and after your fantasy draft. These fantasy tips should point you in the right direction and possibly give you a bit of an advantage over your opponents.
Do...
• ...use cheat sheets to prepare for your draft. Whether you make your own, use the ones here at About Football, or a combination of both, you need some kind of a plan on draft day. Drafting by the seat of your pants is not usually a formula for success in fantasy football.
• …participate in fantasy mock drafts in chat rooms or football forums. About Football has a special folder set up on the forum for doing just that.
• …build around your running backs
Generally, running backs are the most important position in fantasy football with the potential to put the most fantasy points on your scoreboard, so the best are usually the first players off the board.
• …make sure you know the basics of fantasy football,
the rules of the league, and system of scoring thoroughly before drafting your team. Different systems could lead you to draft differently.
• …pay attention to bye weeks when drafting your backups. It doesn’t make much sense to draft a backup quarterback who has the same bye week as your starter, now does it?
• …pay attention to the teams a player will face come playoff time. The object of the game is to win your league, not just make the playoffs, so to gain an edge on your opponents when the fantasy playoffs roll around – generally the last few weeks of the NFL’s regular season – it's important to know who they face and could be the deciding factor on draft day. Drafting a running back or quarterback who is facing notoriously weak defenses during those fantasy playoff weeks could give your team a huge advantage in the playoffs.
• …upgrade your starters when the opportunity arises. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but some players feel it is important to keep quality depth. However, in my opinion, any time you have the opportunity to improve the quality of your starting squad, it’s worth giving up the depth that will only help you during bye weeks and injury situations.
• …get lineup and trade advice from others not in your league. It always helps to get a second or third opinion before you pull the trigger on a trade or decide who to insert into your lineup. Again., About Football has a special folder set up on the forum for doing just that.
Don’t...
• …forget to update your lineup every week. One of the worst things you can do is to forget to update your lineup for the upcoming week. You could have an injured player in your lineup, or suppose your starting quarterback is on a bye week. Being short just one player can cost you a game, and that one loss could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs.
• …share your list of sleepers with other owners before the draft. If you want to be able to grab your sleepers at a time when they are a great bargain, don’t share your thoughts on who the rising stars at the various positions are.
• …draft your sleepers too early. They’re called sleepers for a reason. Make a projection of where you think you can reasonably expect to get them in the draft, and stick to it.
• …take strength of schedule into consideration when drafting a player. With the level of parity in the NFL, what looks to be a tough schedule at the beginning of the season often ends up not being the case, so don't knock yourself out trying to determine who has the favorable matchups.
• …trade star players while they are in a slump or off to a slow start. If you panic and start trading away players who are under-performing, you are not likely to get good value in return.
• …open trade negotiations with your best offer. As with any type of negotiation, you never start by making your best offer. Leave yourself some room to negotiate, and who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and have to give up less than you expected. If you start with your best offer, you’ll never know how cheaply you might have picked up a particular player.
• …abandon your team under any circumstances. In my opinion, this is one of the biggest sins you can commit when it comes to fantasy football. Don’t be a poor loser and abandon your team simply because they aren’t living up to your expectations. By not continually keeping your best squad on the field every week, you can adversely affect the playoff race by giving one of the teams in contention an easy victory.
Tips To Successfully Manage Your Fantasy Football Team
About Football has compiled some key tips to properly managing your fantasy football squad before, during, and after your fantasy draft. These fantasy tips should point you in the right direction and possibly give you a bit of an advantage over your opponents.
Do...
• ...use cheat sheets to prepare for your draft. Whether you make your own, use the ones here at About Football, or a combination of both, you need some kind of a plan on draft day. Drafting by the seat of your pants is not usually a formula for success in fantasy football.
• …participate in fantasy mock drafts in chat rooms or football forums. About Football has a special folder set up on the forum for doing just that.
• …build around your running backs
Generally, running backs are the most important position in fantasy football with the potential to put the most fantasy points on your scoreboard, so the best are usually the first players off the board.
• …make sure you know the basics of fantasy football,
the rules of the league, and system of scoring thoroughly before drafting your team. Different systems could lead you to draft differently.
• …pay attention to bye weeks when drafting your backups. It doesn’t make much sense to draft a backup quarterback who has the same bye week as your starter, now does it?
• …pay attention to the teams a player will face come playoff time. The object of the game is to win your league, not just make the playoffs, so to gain an edge on your opponents when the fantasy playoffs roll around – generally the last few weeks of the NFL’s regular season – it's important to know who they face and could be the deciding factor on draft day. Drafting a running back or quarterback who is facing notoriously weak defenses during those fantasy playoff weeks could give your team a huge advantage in the playoffs.
• …upgrade your starters when the opportunity arises. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but some players feel it is important to keep quality depth. However, in my opinion, any time you have the opportunity to improve the quality of your starting squad, it’s worth giving up the depth that will only help you during bye weeks and injury situations.
• …get lineup and trade advice from others not in your league. It always helps to get a second or third opinion before you pull the trigger on a trade or decide who to insert into your lineup. Again., About Football has a special folder set up on the forum for doing just that.
Don’t...
• …forget to update your lineup every week. One of the worst things you can do is to forget to update your lineup for the upcoming week. You could have an injured player in your lineup, or suppose your starting quarterback is on a bye week. Being short just one player can cost you a game, and that one loss could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs.
• …share your list of sleepers with other owners before the draft. If you want to be able to grab your sleepers at a time when they are a great bargain, don’t share your thoughts on who the rising stars at the various positions are.
• …draft your sleepers too early. They’re called sleepers for a reason. Make a projection of where you think you can reasonably expect to get them in the draft, and stick to it.
• …take strength of schedule into consideration when drafting a player. With the level of parity in the NFL, what looks to be a tough schedule at the beginning of the season often ends up not being the case, so don't knock yourself out trying to determine who has the favorable matchups.
• …trade star players while they are in a slump or off to a slow start. If you panic and start trading away players who are under-performing, you are not likely to get good value in return.
• …open trade negotiations with your best offer. As with any type of negotiation, you never start by making your best offer. Leave yourself some room to negotiate, and who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and have to give up less than you expected. If you start with your best offer, you’ll never know how cheaply you might have picked up a particular player.
• …abandon your team under any circumstances. In my opinion, this is one of the biggest sins you can commit when it comes to fantasy football. Don’t be a poor loser and abandon your team simply because they aren’t living up to your expectations. By not continually keeping your best squad on the field every week, you can adversely affect the playoff race by giving one of the teams in contention an easy victory.
Vick Pleads Guilty
From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Vick Pleads Guilty, Apologizes
As expected, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges related to dogfighting Monday, and now faces from one to five years in prison. He also stood in front of the media following the hearing a contrite, more humble figure than the man who just months ago declared publicly that he never goes to the Surry County property that was the focus of this investigation. Regardless of whether or not Vick's words are sincere, there will be those who believe his statements are nothing more than a man posturing for a second chance somewhere down the road. And there will be others who take him at face value and see a man who had to hit rock bottom before finally seeing the light. Good for him if it's true, although it's easy to be skeptical of conversions that take place at such convenient points. The following statement does nothing to calm the skeptic in me. It's interesting that Michael brings this up since the terms of his agreement require him to point the finger at others. And it's convenient that he has forgotten this comment he made back on April 27, shortly after the dogfighting case hit the media
"I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing."
I'm not sure how that's not pointing the finger, but whatever. Vick goes on to say:
"But in a sense, I think it will help, you know, me as a person. I got a lot to think about in the next year or so."
Coincidently, as luck might have it, it looks like he's going to have plenty of thinking time over the next year or two.
IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT POST YOUR COMMENT NOW.
Vick Pleads Guilty, Apologizes
As expected, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges related to dogfighting Monday, and now faces from one to five years in prison. He also stood in front of the media following the hearing a contrite, more humble figure than the man who just months ago declared publicly that he never goes to the Surry County property that was the focus of this investigation. Regardless of whether or not Vick's words are sincere, there will be those who believe his statements are nothing more than a man posturing for a second chance somewhere down the road. And there will be others who take him at face value and see a man who had to hit rock bottom before finally seeing the light. Good for him if it's true, although it's easy to be skeptical of conversions that take place at such convenient points. The following statement does nothing to calm the skeptic in me. It's interesting that Michael brings this up since the terms of his agreement require him to point the finger at others. And it's convenient that he has forgotten this comment he made back on April 27, shortly after the dogfighting case hit the media
"I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing."
I'm not sure how that's not pointing the finger, but whatever. Vick goes on to say:
"But in a sense, I think it will help, you know, me as a person. I got a lot to think about in the next year or so."
Coincidently, as luck might have it, it looks like he's going to have plenty of thinking time over the next year or two.
IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT POST YOUR COMMENT NOW.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Indianapolis Colts 2007 Preview
With no noteworthy veteran acquisitions and numerous free-agent defections of their own, the Indianapolis Colts face an uphill battle in defending their NFL championship.
With the game's best quarterback in Peyton Manning running things on offense, however, the Colts are sure to be in the running again. But will they have the defense to get over the hump in the playoffs again this season? Gone is linebacker Cato June, along with both starting cornerbacks, Jason David and Nick Harper.
So who's going to fill the gaps, who else is no longer around, and are the mighty Colts suddenly vulnerable?
Indianapolis Colts 2007 Preview
With no noteworthy veteran acquisitions and numerous free-agent defections of their own, the Indianapolis Colts face an uphill battle in defending their NFL championship.
With the game's best quarterback in Peyton Manning running things on offense, however, the Colts are sure to be in the running again. But will they have the defense to get over the hump in the playoffs again this season? Gone is linebacker Cato June, along with both starting cornerbacks, Jason David and Nick Harper.
So who's going to fill the gaps, who else is no longer around, and are the mighty Colts suddenly vulnerable?
TENNESSEE TITANS
From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Tennessee Titans 2007 Preview
We round out our trip through the AFC South with a report on the Tennessee Titans, whose miraculous turnaround over the second half of the 2006 season has expectations high this year for a potential playoff run. Much of that anticipation is because of quarterback Vince Young, who played surprisingly well in the clutch during his rookie season.
Heading into the offseason, the idea was to get Young more weapons to work with, but on paper, it looks like the team is worse off than last year. Gone are starting running back Travis Henry and leading receiver Drew Bennett. And not much in the way of veteran help was brought in to fill the needs created by their losses.
So what are the Titans going to do this year, and can Young continue to work his magic despite the losses? And just how much will Pacman Jones' suspension hurt?
Tennessee Titans 2007 Preview
We round out our trip through the AFC South with a report on the Tennessee Titans, whose miraculous turnaround over the second half of the 2006 season has expectations high this year for a potential playoff run. Much of that anticipation is because of quarterback Vince Young, who played surprisingly well in the clutch during his rookie season.
Heading into the offseason, the idea was to get Young more weapons to work with, but on paper, it looks like the team is worse off than last year. Gone are starting running back Travis Henry and leading receiver Drew Bennett. And not much in the way of veteran help was brought in to fill the needs created by their losses.
So what are the Titans going to do this year, and can Young continue to work his magic despite the losses? And just how much will Pacman Jones' suspension hurt?
Monday, August 27, 2007
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 2007 From James Alder,Your Guide to Football.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
The Dallas Cowboys 2006 season ended in perhaps the worst way imaginable when a bobbled extra-point ended the team's short stay in the NFC playoffs. But the good news is, the Cowboys appear to be a team on the upswing. A few significant changes, however, will directly affect this team in '07.
What's New?A new coaching staff is in town, led by former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who promises to bring a more aggressive approach to the team's defense. His prior record as a head coach, however, is less than awe-inspiring.
The Cowboys addressed their two biggest roster needs -- free safety and offensive line -- by signing veterans Ken Hamlin and Leonard Davis. And they traded in one aging statue for another by signing Brad Johnson to replace Drew Bledsoe as the backup QB.
The team also picked up tight end Adam Bergen from the Cardinals and offensive tackle Jim Molinaro from the Redskins.
Who's Gone?
The tenure of Bill Parcells was brief, and the club didn't ascend to the heights many anticipated when Tuna took over the team in 2003.But there's no denying this is a far more talented team than the one he inherited. The big question now is, can Phillips keep this franchise going in the direction Parcells had them headed?
The Dallas Cowboys 2006 season ended in perhaps the worst way imaginable when a bobbled extra-point ended the team's short stay in the NFC playoffs. But the good news is, the Cowboys appear to be a team on the upswing. A few significant changes, however, will directly affect this team in '07.
What's New?A new coaching staff is in town, led by former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who promises to bring a more aggressive approach to the team's defense. His prior record as a head coach, however, is less than awe-inspiring.
The Cowboys addressed their two biggest roster needs -- free safety and offensive line -- by signing veterans Ken Hamlin and Leonard Davis. And they traded in one aging statue for another by signing Brad Johnson to replace Drew Bledsoe as the backup QB.
The team also picked up tight end Adam Bergen from the Cardinals and offensive tackle Jim Molinaro from the Redskins.
Who's Gone?
The tenure of Bill Parcells was brief, and the club didn't ascend to the heights many anticipated when Tuna took over the team in 2003.But there's no denying this is a far more talented team than the one he inherited. The big question now is, can Phillips keep this franchise going in the direction Parcells had them headed?
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