Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Same Game Different Format


The NFL and NFLPA have agreed upon a new format for the annual Pro Bowl. It's a game that nobody really wants to play because of the threat of injury, but it gets good television ratings. That's all that really matters. The fans who watch the contest seem to enjoy it.

It has been criticized as being more of an exhibition game. The league wanted to do something different for next year and came up with a new format.

They will no longer have teams from the AFC and NFC. Fans will still vote for two teams captained by Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice. There will be a "fantasy football" format for putting the two squads together.

The rosters will be 43 players without any kickers. Their position will be taken by an extra defensive back There will be numerous rule changes, including no kickoffs. The ball will be placed on the 25 yard  after a scoring play and to start the half. Defensive coverage will aslo be altered. The rule changes sound like they will make the game more interesting.

It will be held the week before the Super Bowl which will preclude players from those teams attending. In the end, players will still bow out and some will get there only because of injuries to others. As long as the NFL makes money, they will be happy.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

A Big Date On September 12th


There is no doubt that Jets HC Rex Ryan is on a short leash this year. He needs to come up big if he hopes to retain his job for the 2014 season. His dismal offense from last year doesn't help his chances.

New GM John Idzik said that the starting quarterback selection will be a joint decision between him and Ryan. Mark Sanchez and rookie first round pick Geno Smith are competing for the role, but the final choice won't be made by the head coach.

When asked about this the other day, Ryan said that many head coaches don't have the final say in the 53 man roster. That might be true for many teams, but it shows how much power Ryan has relinquished.

The Jets need to start off the season with a win. If they show up with a record of 0-1 on September 12th for their Thursday night game with the Pats, the vultures might be circling overhead. A loss to the Pats could make things dicey.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Not Enough Fat


Players flunk their physicals and conditioning drills all the time at training camp. No team is immune to this. RB Joe McKnight of the New York Jets failed his physical initially, but passed it on a second attempt.

He had difficulty completing drills the other day and was forced to sit out some of the snaps. It turns out that his body fat was too low at 3.3%. The training staff wants him to get it up to 6%.

Players come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the biggest players have low rates of body fat. It can get too low and cause problems like it did in McKnight's case.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Koppen's Last Stand


Every team loses players to a season ending injury during training camp and exhibition games. It's a fact of life around the NFL. For some players, it's the last time they will ever be on the field. Careers end too soon for some. Veteran players get hurt and never make it back.

Will that be the case of Dan Koppen? The former Pats center was trying to make the Denver roster after becoming a starter last year in mid-season.

Koppen was involved in a 9 on 7 drill and went down in a heap during a play. He was carted off the field with an obvious injury which turned out to be a torn ACL.

Is this the end for Koppen? The 11 year veteran will be 34 next month. He was a 5th round pick by the Pats in 2003. He won two rings and played in three of big games.

Koppen is at the crossroad that so many players face. Not many get to play 11 seasons, but he faces a big decision about his playing future.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Specialist


Does it mean anything when Tim Tebow gets practice time as a running back and receiver. Will he get playing time in the first exhibition game? In the eyes of Belichick, Tebow is just another guy trying to find a  spot on the roster. Nothing is guaranteed.

I think Tebow will make the roster as a specialist. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on special teams. He is a highly regarded punt protector. At least he did that with the Jets.

Tebow won't be standing on the sideline with a clipboard.

Friday, July 26, 2013

A Possible Distraction


When Tom Brady met with the media yesterday he said it was time for the Pats to move on from the Aaron Hernandez situation. He is certainly right on that. Training camp has begun and opening day is right around the corner.

Can the team actually do this? There could be some explosive allegations coming out concerning team members who may have visited the apartment that Hernandez kept in Franklin. Who was there and what went on? Will players be subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury?

Investigators are keeping a tight lid on the situation. Coach Belichick mentioned that the team is looking into this. It might not be anything, but I think we will be hearing some names at some point. How will team officials react? Will this become an ongoing issue throughout the season? Only time will tell.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The Coach Speaks


I thought Coach Belichick did a great job addressing the Aaron Hernandez issue. It had to be done before training camp. I'm sure there will be those who think it should have been done sooner.

It was typical of the press to ask him questions that he couldn't comment on because of the ongoing legal process. They never seem to get it. They should know better, but they will always say that they are asking on behalf of the fans.

The comments on the talk shows were favorable. I'm not sure what else the Pats could have done in the drafting process when they selected Hernandez. The NFL is not made up of a bunch of choir boys. There is talk about the league examining tattoos on players at the Scouting Combine to see if they have any gang affiliation. I'm sure there are some legal issues there.

Nobody knows how the Hernandez situation will play out. You can be guaranteed that reporters will continue to badger Belichcik throughout the season with questions that he can't comment on.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Collecting His 12th Jersey


Kicker Bill Cundiff is a great example of perseverance. He was just signed by the Jets to compete for a roster spot. It was his 19th contract with twelve different teams.

His transactions are difficult to follow at times. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted player in 2002. From there he went to Tampa Bay, Green Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, San Francisco and finally to the Jets.

He has often been signed as a replacement. His constant releases resulted him being out of the league in 2007 and 2008. Pats fans will always remember him for missing a 32 yard field goal in the AFC Championship game during the 2011 playoffs. It sealed a win over the Ravens and sent the team to the Super Bowl.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Unwanted List


It looks like the Pats will struggle in training camp to have their main offense on the field. Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard and Julien Edelman will all start camp on the PUP list. It will cause them to lose valuable snaps with Tom Brady.

The team will be able to bring other players into camp to fill in for them, but they will probably be released at the end of camp unless things change for the worse with the three players. Many think that Gronk and Ballard will start the season on the PUP list, causing them to miss the first six games.

This will be one of the biggest challenges facing Coach Belichick during his tenure in Foxborough. If more players get hurt, things could get real dicey.

Monday, July 22, 2013

So Many New Faces


As training camp opens around the league, we see a dizzying amount of players on the 90 man roster. The Pats are no exception. Some of these new players will be on the final 53 man roster and contribute to the team. Others will try to live the dream for a few years before time and a younger player catches up with them.

The Philadelphia Eagles under new coach Chip Kelly are looking at a lot of players. Almost half of them have no experience with the Eagles.

It must be difficult for the coaches to get every name and number straight. It must be even more awkward for the players in the locker room who dress next to strangers.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Still Playing At That Age


The oldest players in the NFL tend to be kickers. Of the ten players with the longest service, six of them are kickers and one long snapper.

Adam Vinatieri of the Colts became the oldest player in the league with the retirement of Jason Hanson of the Lions. Vinatieri at 40 years and 7 months will be entering his 18th season and shows no signs of slowing down.

Kickers see less of the physical aspect of the game which contributes to their longevity. It's more remarkable to see LB London Fletcher of the Redskins still going strong at 38 years and 4 months.

In Atlanta, we see TE Tony Gonzalez at 37 years and 7 months still trying to get to the Super Bowl. Vinatieri has four rings to show.

No mater what position, these players defy the odds by still playing.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

No More Mr Jones


The Pats are following their trend from last year's group of free agent signings. They just released WR Donald Jones who they had signed to a three year contract a few months ago.

They will have a lot of bodies in camp, especially their two draft picks Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. They also have Michael Jenkins, Danny Amendola and a revolving door of others.

The timing might be coincidental, but Jones was due a bonus of $200,000 for reporting to training camp on Thursday. The Pats are never afraid to pull the trigger and release a player, especially if they can save money.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Millions Of Reasons To Complain


WR Victor Cruz just signed a 6 year/$46 million contract with the New York Giants. He has $15.6 million guaranteed, but that hasn't stopped him from talking about being the 18th highest paid receiver in the league.

Cruz has been one of the most productive receivers over the last two seasons and wanted to be paid accordingly. Since he was a restricted free agent, the Giants offered him a tender which he accepted before finalizing his new deal.

He is a fan favorite, but his comments come across as whining. He mentioned how he could have taken the tender and played out his final year in New York before becoming an unrestricted free agent. His success has lead him to endorsements that might not be available in other cities. He is making his money on the other end. He should quit complaining about his paltry millions because that gets old real fast with fans.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Man of Many Stops


When players retire, they often don't even get a mention on the sports page. QB Sage Rosenfels got one sentence. Yet, he was able to parlay his selection by the Washington Redskins in the 4th round of the 2001 draft into a career as a backup that lasted 11 seasons.

He is a great example of finding a niche as the guy ready to go if the starter gets hurt. His list of transactions makes you dizzy.

He lasted one season with the Redskins before spending 2002-2005 with the Dolphins. He found a home with the Texans from 2006-2008, the Vikings in 2009 and the Giants in 2010. He split time with the Giants and Dolphins in 2011 and made his last stop at Vikings training camp in 2012.

He had a total of 12 starts for his career and finished with 351/562 for 4,156 yards and 30 TD's. There is no spot waiting for him in Canton, but he certainly had a long career.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

What Will Bill Say?


The local sports talk shows have been buzzing about the start of training camp. Some callers feel that Coach Belichick owes the fans an explanation on why the team drafted Aaron Hernandez.

Robert Kraft recently voiced the feelings of the team. I don't know what Belichick could add. Some think that he should apologize, but I don't know for what. Teams are always taking a risk on certain players. There are some of them who walk the fine line of the law. Nobody could have predicted the Hernandez situation.

Belichick should probably not say his usual "I can only talk about the players who are here". On the other hand, I don't think he should be badgered by  the press. A simple statement should be sufficient

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

July 31st


I wonder how Robert Kraft and Coach Belichick feel about the latest with CB Alfonso Dennard. It appears that prosecutors will seek to revoke his bail after being convicted of assaulting a police officer.

Dennard dodged a major disaster after getting away with just a 30 day sentence that he can serve after the NFL season. Now, he faces jail time immediately. It's up to the judge.

Dennard's court appearance will cause him to miss time at training camp. They could take custody of him after his July 31st court date.

Will the Pats stick with him? It's getting very murky. It's not his first arrest. He was already on probation. The team's image is taking a beating, but their pass defense also did the last few years. Will they stick with Dennard out of desperation?

If he gets taken into custody, will the team release him and then say they were going to do it anyway.
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Monday, July 15, 2013

Delete Pic


The NFL Hall of Fame has a yearly contest for the best game action photo by members of the media. The winners are displayed at the Hall.

 A local newspaper photographer won the award in 2010 for one of Aaron Hernandez high-stepping into the end zone after leaving a Green Bay defender sprawled on the ground.

The photo has been pulled from the exhibit in light of the legal issues for Hernandez. I'm sure they made the call after a great deal of thought, but it has the support from the public.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Not A Role Model


Jets CB Antonio Cromartie said that he was irresponsible during this first few years in the NFL when he blew $5 million on cars, women and partying. He made this profound announcement during an interview on the NFL Network.

He could be the poster boy for bad decisions. After he was drafted in the first round by the San Diego Chargers in 2006, he signed a 5 year/ $13.5 million contract. He talked about spending $10,000 every weekend just trying to have a good time.

In addition to his current wife and four children, he has fathered eight children with seven different women. His child support was so far behind that he was given a $500,000 advance on his salary after the Jets acquired him in a 2010 trade.

Now, he feels he has matured and wants to help younger players avoid his mistakes. It's one thing to blow millions, but his reckless behavior brought eight children into the world who will grow up without much contact from their father,

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Is It Really A Sellout?


Tickets for the Pats home schedule will go on sale Tuesday. Fans can buy up to four per game. The team continues its sellout streak since the Kraft family bought the team in 1994. This will allow for all home games to be broadcast to the local fans.

Not all teams have the same ease at selling tickets. The Tennessee Titans put their home games on sale and only one fan camped out overnight. They have a streak of 144 home sellouts, but that should keep going in spite of having about 3,500 tickets for each game.

The NFL conveniently allows teams to purchase the remaining tickets 72 hours before the kickoff at 34 cents on the dollar. They often work with local media outlets and sponsors to ensure that the tickets get distributed in order to avoid a local television blackout.

Everyone is happy, especially the fans who want to stay at home and watch the game in the comfort of their living room. The sellout streaks continue, but they are often a fallacy. The Boston Red Sox have proven that over the years.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Noise On The Field


Every NFL team likes to think that their fans are the best. The Seattle Seahawks even flies their "12th Man" banner at all home games.

The Seahawks will try and prove just how loud their fans can be when they open their home season on Sept 15th against the 49er's. They will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the loudest noise ever recorded at 132 decibels.

With a coordinated effort, I have no doubt they will be able to accomplish their goal. However, I feel it will be a soft record because they were trying to do it rather than it being spontaneous.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

There Goes Dennard


The Pats will need to see how the latest legal incident evolves for CB Alfonso Dennard who was arrested for suspicion of DUI and other traffic violations near his home in Nebraska. He is already on probation and scheduled to begin a 30 day sentence on March 1, 2014 after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer. A conviction could revoke his probation and force him to begin his prison sentence earlier than March.

It seems like there is a dark cloud over the 2013 season even before training camp begins in two weeks. Players always get hurt in camp and during pre-season games. Hopefully, the team can get to opening day with the roster intact, but you never know.

By the time the final roster cuts are made, several players will end up on IR. The last thing the team needs is to lose a player to a jail sentence.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Betting On Six Games


Rob Gronkowski has started his rehab work on his back after his recent surgery. He is working with trainers on stretching and core strength. it will be weeks before he is able to lift weights and run.

Fans should realize that they will never get a true assessment of Gronk's progress at any time. That's the routine at Gillette. We don't know if he will miss one game or up to six.

If I had to bet money, I say he starts the season on the PUP list. That will cause him to be out for the first six games. With an injury like his, I think it's a normal expectation.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Cruzing With the Money


Victor Cruz got his contract extension from the New York Giants. It will be $46 million for 6 years with $15.6 million in bonus money paid over the next two seasons. This is a great accomplishment for an undrafted player who was viewed as not having much of a shot at making the team in 2010.

The Giants placed him on IR for his rookie season. He is being rewarded for two outstanding seasons over the last two years. It will keep him with the team through 2018.

Will he be with them for all that time and see all of the money? It looks like he will get a big chunk of it, but most contracts are redone after a few years to lessen the salary cap impact. I have no doubt that Cruz will have his redone at some point. It happens to almost every player who gets a big contract.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Downhill Real Fast


Robert Kraft finally admitted that the team had been duped and mislead by Aaron Hernandez. It was the first time anything of substance came from anyone in Foxborough. The team walks through a potential minefield by saying anything while the legal case is going forward.

He had some rather candid comments about his interactions with Hernandez. Things were wonderful last August when Hernandez gave a $50,000 check to the Myra Kraft Foundation after he signed his contract extension. It was an emotional moment for Kraft back then.

Things have gone terribly wrong. Kraft talked about doing a "team audit". That might be a good idea to see if they have any more potential situations. It's hard to do that because of privacy and personal rights issues.

Kraft said that that the team doesn't keep tabs on the players 24 hours a day.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Where To Now?


I commend the St Louis Tourism and Convention Authority for not committing $700 million in taxpayer guaranteed bonds to improve the Edward Jones Dome.

The St Louis Rams thought they could whine their way to get the venue they want. They keep threatening to move back to Los Angeles. There is talk about them being the London franchise after their rental contract for the Dome expires after the 2014 season.

They should not hold the city hostage. If they want to leave, they should find another city. I'm not a big advocate of moving franchises, but this one has all systems in place for a move after 2014.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Moving Some Merchandise


The Pats made a brilliant move when they announced the return policy for Aaron Hernandez shirts bought at the Pro Shop or on-line. The shirt must have cost over $100 and returned to the store this weekend.

As of 5pm today, over 1,200 shirts were returned for something of equal value. While people were in the store, they might have purchased more items. They might have walked around Patriot Place and spent money in the stores and restaurants.

Retail is all about foot traffic and moving merchandise. You can't sell if you don't have customers. It's a slow time of the year at the pro Shop before training camp.

Considering what the team paid for the shirt wholesale, they didn't lose a penny today. They made money.

Friday, July 5, 2013

No RedZone


The NFL has been looking at ways to enhance the game day experience for fans who buy tickets and show up.

One possibility is continuous broadcasting of the RedZone Channel during the game. EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville might be the first one to try it. They are installing two video screens in each end zone. At 17,626 square feet, each is more than a third of an acre.

There is a concern that the crowd reaction to watching the monitors could take detract from what's happening on the field. I totally agree with this. I hope Gillette Stadium never installs them.

I still believe in going to the stadium to watch the game. I try to take it all in. The cost of the ticket is another story.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Bill & Robert


Now that Bill Parcells is beg inducted into the Hall of Fame, he is reflecting on his career. It was a great one, but he said he would have liked things to end with the Patriots differently after the 1996 season. He lead them to a loss in the Super Bowl against Green Bay and then departed to coach the New York Jets.

Parcells and Robert Kraft both admit to having personality clashes back then. Kraft was a new owner and was trying to be involved. Parcells just wanted to "shop for the groceries".

Their marriage ended in a bitter divorce. He took Bill Belichick with him to the Jets. The Pete Carrol era was ushered in for three seasons before Belichick returned in 2000.

Parcells acknowledged he had a great team here that was on its way to doing something special. It all ended when Jets owner Leon Hess wanted Parcells to shop for the groceries.

What would have been different? Would Belichick have ever been involved with the Pats or just follow Parcells to the next job.

Parcells spent the rest of his career jumping to the Cowboys and Dolphins. He was never at any place for too long. Maybe that was just his style.

In the end, it worked out pretty good for Coach Belichick.




Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Maybe The Next OJ


The Aaron Hernandez story now has legs and will part of the daily news feed as appropriate. There will be numerous court appearances and stories coming out about his involvement in other shootings. This case is not going away any time soon.

It's unfortunate that negative behavior by a player dominates the news, but I think the murder charges brought this to a whole new level. Nobody knows where the other investigations will go. I don't think it's going to have a good ending.

I think Aaron Hernandez is destined to be a poster boy for bad decisions. If he beats the charges, he will need to out-OJ The Juice. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Chad Can Still Run Fast


Chad Johnson posted a video of himself running at 24 mph on a treadmill with a 2.5% incline. I'm not sure what that proves, but it was a response to the video of Arizona Cardinal speedster Robert Gill running 25 mph on a treadmill.

The posting referred to Johnson as "The 35 year old former NFL star". That says it all. He might still have his speed, but his playing days are over. He was a star once, but not any more.

A team could bring him into training camp, but he would never make the 53 man roster.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Waiting Forever


The Green Bay Packers have a very loyal fan base as indicated by the season ticket waiting list of 102,000. The recent renovation to Lambeau Field has added 7,000 seats to push capacity to 79,594. That allowed almost 5,000 names to come off the waiting list.

One of the fans was thrilled to get his tickets. He has only been waiting for 37 years. Many fans will never see tickets in their lifetime. They are waiting for a day that might never come.