Thursday, June 30, 2011

End of Law

It appears that the end has come for former Pats CB Ty Law. He indicated to reporters that he will probably submit his retirement papers once the new CBA is approved. He played the first 10 years of career with the Pats, winning three Super Bowls in the process.

He left after the 2004 season for two years with the New York Jets. He spent 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs before returning to the Jets for the 2008 campaign. He finished is career with the Denver Broncos in 2009. He sat out last season as no team offered him the right situation.

He said that he would like to sign a one day contract and retire as a member of the Pats. I'm sure this will happen once the CBA is approved.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Chad Still Hanging

Former 2006 2nd round draft pick Chad Jackson is trying to make his way back to the NFL
through a stint in the UFL

Jackson played two disappointing seasons with the Pats before his release. He was picked up by the Denver Broncos during the 2009 season and also spent time with the Buffalo Bills.

The Omaha Nighthawks have added him to their 10-man Reserve/Unsigned squad. These are "veteran street free agents" whose playing rights are owned by their respective UFL team. They will be part of the team's 70 man roster when UFL training camp opens.

Only time will tell if Jackson is more than just another UFL player who can't make it in the NFL.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Too Much Interest

I knew there had to be more to the story about the tax problems of former Green Bay packer guard Frederick "Fuzzy" Thurston. The story mentioned him owing the IRS $1.7 million in back taxes, penalties and interest.

The government is prepared to sell Thurston's championship ring from Super Bowl II in order to address his tax liability. They also want his ring from Super Bowl I as well as his NFL championship rings from 1958, 1961, 1962 and 1965.

Thurston played for the Packers from 1959-1967. He was part of the legacy teams of Vince Lombardi. Thurston, along with teammates Herb Adderly and Forrest Gregg, are the only three players in league history to win six championships.

Thurtson had been fighting the IRS for the last 28 years for failing to pay employee tax withholding from his bar and restaurant. The initial bill of $190,000 for the tax years 1978-1980 has ballooned to $1.7 million with penalty and interest charges.

Green Bay fans have created a Facebook page in support of a presidential pardon for Thurston.
At the age of 77, Thurston is involved in a battle that will not have a good outcome for him in the end.

Monday, June 27, 2011

A New Start To a Career

Most players never decide that they have played their last game. Some get released and never catch on with another team. Injuries tend to end most careers.

When the end comes, what do you do? What are the plans for one's future? We saw this in the case of Larry Izzo who excelled on special teams for the Pats during their three Super Bowl wins.

Izzo was a very durable player during his 14 year career. During a 10 year period from 1999-2008, he only missed one game.

He spent last season with the New York Jets after being released by the Pats. He was placed on IR late in the season because of a spine injury. Apparently, it was enough for him to think it might be time at the age 36.

It is very fitting to see that he was hired by the New York Giants as Assistant Special Teams coach. His playing career might have ended, but I think he will be a successful coach.

In my time as an observer of the team, he ranks with Mosi Tatupu on a two man list of great special teams players.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

A Bad Idea About the Schedule.

Many callers on sports talk shows come up with some crazy ideas. Today, I heard one of the dumbest.

This person wanted the NFC and AFC to only play games within their respective conferences. He was looking to go back to the pre-merger days when the AFL played its own schedule.

He was using this illustration to emphasis his thoughts about inter-league play in baseball. I like the idea of inter-league play. It allows fans to see teams they never would have before.

To think that the AFC and NFC would never play each other is a step in the wrong direction. It's too bad that the logistics of the schedule keep some Divisions from facing each other only every few years.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

More On Thursday

I have always preferred a 1pm kickoff on Sunday to watch the NFL. This year, the Pats will only have three games at that time. All of the other games will either be on at 4:15pm and 8:15pm on Sundays or Monday night at 8:20.

The league has their Thursday flex schedule of eight games on Thursday nights starting in November. These games are broadcast on the NFL Network and only viewed by those who have access to the cable channel.

Now, the league wants to have a full season of Thursday night games and solicit bids from the major networks for broadcasting rights. This will certainly add a great deal of revenue to the coffers. It's a no-brainer from a financial viewpoint, but I don't agree with playing games on Thursday night.

Many people probably agree with this, but in the end, it's all about the money. I'm sure there will be Thursday night football in the future.

I think the only reason they stay away from Friday and Saturday is because of college football needs their own time with the broadcast networks.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Close To the End

This is the closest it has been for a solution to the NFL labor problem. It really sounds like an agreement is coming together. Both sides have given up some of their key points. The 18 game season is dead for now. Team revenue will be counted differently.

The owners need 24 of the 32 teams to agree on a new CBA. I think the wild card could be the small market teams like Buffalo, Kansas City and Jacksonville. They could form a block to derail the agreement.

In the end, I think this thing will come together in the next week or so. With training camp five weeks away, it's about time.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Career Changing Injury

When the great saxophonist Clarence Clemons died the other day, one of the items that caught my eye was that he had a tryout with the Cleveland Browns in 1965.

Clemons played at Maryland State University from 1961-1965 with the former Jet great Emerson Boozer. Clemons was invited to the Browns training camp for a chance to make the team as a lineman.

Unfortunately, he was involved in a car accident the night before and suffered a serious knee injury that ended his football carer. He decided to pursue his music career and the rest is history with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Back For More?

A story in the Boston Herald indicated that Kevin Faulk has plans to play in 2011, assuming there is a season. He has stayed around town and rehabbed on his own. As a free agent, he does not have the use of the staff and facilities of the Pats.

At the age of 35 and with a host of young running backs, Faulk appears to be the odd man out. The lockout might work in his favor as he will be the most experienced player in the Pats offense. He would be an excellent mentor to the younger backs on the team. I don't see the team bringing back Sammy Morris or Fred Taylor.

If Faulk is healthy, I think he has an excellent Chance of making the team. If he doesn't play here, I think he could play for another team, given his level of talent and longevity in the league.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Getting To 100 Days

It close to 100 days for the labor problem with the NFL. I just read a report that indicated that each NFL city will lose $160 million in direct spending generated by the games. This includes hotel and meal taxes.

The town of Foxborough gets $770,000 from a tax on ticket sales. Restaurants at Patriot Place generate a hug amount of business on days when the public is allowed to attend practices.

There is a huge workforce that works at the stadium on game day. All of these people will lose this as a source of income.

A small group of owners, including Robert Kraft, have been meeting secretly with a group of players in an attempt to resolve this outside the courtroom. Something could develop next week as the owners are meeting as a group to conduct some of their usual league business.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Gossip Page King

Bret Lockett has been on the Pats roster for the last two seasons. The safety from UCLA was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He was released in the final cut of training camp. The Pats signed him immediately. He played in 10 games, mostly on special teams, before being placed on Injured Reserve in December 2009.

The 2010 season was a disaster as he suffered a chest injury during training camp and was placed on IR before the start of the season.

Although his career has been undistinguished, he is the focus of celebrity gossip after allegedly being involved with sexting Kim Kardashian. Apparently, this went on during a five month period.

Details are coming out piece-meal, but Kardashian said she has never met Lockett.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Sights on L.A.

Many cities go to great extremes to keep their professional sports franchises. Los Angeles, the second largest television market in America, has been without a team for 16 years and counting. It appears the only way to get a team is through the relocation of an existing franchise.

There are two problems here. Teams who want to leave are locked into long term lease agreements with their respective stadiums. It would cost a fortune, in many cases, to buy out the leases.

Los Angeles also has their own stadium issues. A number of groups have proposed a billion dollar stadium, but with out a team to use the facility, nothing ever happens.

AEG
Corporation, owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz, has proposed buying out the lease of any team wishing to relocate. Teams under consideration include St Louis, Jacksonville, Oakland, San Diego and Minnesota.

Naming rights for the $1.35 billion stadium have been set for Farmers Insurance. Things are falling into place except for team. No matter what happens, it could be about four or five years before a team ever plays in L.A.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Sacking the Lawyers

The three judge panel will not be giving a ruling on the NFL labor dispute until mid-July. If it goes against the owners, they can appeal it further. This will threaten the opening of the season.

The judges have strongly implied that both parties should reach an agreement. The sides have been meeting under a cloak of secrecy. Not much is know about any progress.

The only was for this to be resolved is to get it out of the hands of the lawyers. They have already done enough damage.

Monday, June 6, 2011

A Pain In the Neck

Teams need to be ready to move forward with the signing of players once football starts up again. Many teams face huge decisions with their roster.

The Indianapolis Colts need to deal with the future of free-agent Peyton Manning. If he signs the franchise offer, he will be paid $23 million, but will only have a one year contract.

I think both parties will be very guarded about their future. Manning just had his second neck surgery in 13 months. There is rumor that he got injured in the first game of the 2010 season. Nobody is talking about any long term implications to Manning's playing future.

The fact remains that Manning will be entering his 14th season.and will be 36. Age creeps up on guys in this league. The body takes a beating.

Coach Belichick always had the best quote: "Nobody plays forever in this league".

Friday, June 3, 2011

Two QB's With Different Careers

Former QB Ryan Leaf will forever be known as one of the biggest busts in the NFL draft. he was the number two overall selection in the 1998 draft after Peyton Manning. Draft "experts" battled back and forth over who was the better of the two signal callers back then.

The Indianapolis Colts rolled the dice and selected Peyton Manning. The rest is history as Manning marches towards his eventual induction into the Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, Leaf struggled from the onset with the San Diego Chargers. He was released after the 2000 season. he spent an uninspired season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 before he found himself out of football.

His post-football career included a drug offense involving hydrocodone. Things seem to be go better for him until he was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. He underwent surgery , but need radiation treatment as the growth was not completely removed. The tumor has wrapped itself around his brain stem and effect swallowing and shoulder movement.

Ryan leaf and Peyton Manning will be linked forever to the NFL draft. They ended on the opposite ends of the spectrum. I always wonder what caused the difference in their results.