The NFL is very forgiving for violations of its conduct policy. Former Pats WR Donte Stallworth is a classic example. Stallworth was suspended for the 2009 after pleading guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol. He served 30 days in a Florida jail.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell recently reinstated Stallworth for the 2010 season. The Cleveland Browns subsequently released him. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens to a 1 year/ $900,000 contract.
The family of the victim has an ongoing civil suit against Stallworth which will be ruled at some point in their favor.
Stallworth spent the 2007 season with the Pats where he caught 46 passes for 697 yards and 3 TD's He filed for free-agency after the 2007 season and was signed to a lucrative four year contract by the Browns.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Big Al Does It Again
Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis is known for doing things out of the ordinary. He fires coaches on a routine basis and trades player on a whim. The Pats have a history of trades with Davis going back to 2007 when they traded a 4th round pick on draft day for Randy Moss and this year when they sent Richard Seymour to the Silver and Black for their 1st round draft pick in 2011.
The Raiders announced the signing of veteran kicker Sebastian Janikowski to a $16 million, four year deal with $9 million guaranteed.
Janikowski is one of the better kickers in the league, but this observer feels the price is way too high in spite of the fact that 2010 might be an uncapped year. He was the 1st round draft choice for the Raiders in 2000. He broke the all-time team scoring record of 863 points, held by George Bland, in 2008.
In the 2009 season, he was one of only two kickers to have more than 6 field goals of greater than 50 yards. His 61 yarder against Cleveland was the 3rd longest in NFL history.
The Raiders announced the signing of veteran kicker Sebastian Janikowski to a $16 million, four year deal with $9 million guaranteed.
Janikowski is one of the better kickers in the league, but this observer feels the price is way too high in spite of the fact that 2010 might be an uncapped year. He was the 1st round draft choice for the Raiders in 2000. He broke the all-time team scoring record of 863 points, held by George Bland, in 2008.
In the 2009 season, he was one of only two kickers to have more than 6 field goals of greater than 50 yards. His 61 yarder against Cleveland was the 3rd longest in NFL history.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Givens Loses Lawsuit
When WR David Givens left the Pats as a free agent after the 2005 season, he thought he had scored a big payday. The Tennessee Titans signed him to a multi-year contract with a large signing bonus. He was injured midway in the 2006 season in a game against the Baltimore Ravens and never played again.
He brought a $25 million lawsuit in U.S District Court against the Titans alleging that the team withheld medical information about is knee and encouraged him to play in spite of the risk of permanent injury. He proceeded to suffer a career ending injury in the Ravens game.
His case was thrown out by a federal judge who ruled that Givens' claims were not independent of the terms of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Titans and the NFL Players Association.
The judge ruled that the case should go back to an independent arbitrator for a decision. This is the latest setback for Givens whose career fell apart after he left the Pats.
He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2002 draft. The Notre Dame product carved out a spot for himself on the team and was a valuable contributor on the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowl teams. He is the 25th all-time receiver in Pats history with 158 receptions for 2,214 yards.
He brought a $25 million lawsuit in U.S District Court against the Titans alleging that the team withheld medical information about is knee and encouraged him to play in spite of the risk of permanent injury. He proceeded to suffer a career ending injury in the Ravens game.
His case was thrown out by a federal judge who ruled that Givens' claims were not independent of the terms of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Titans and the NFL Players Association.
The judge ruled that the case should go back to an independent arbitrator for a decision. This is the latest setback for Givens whose career fell apart after he left the Pats.
He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2002 draft. The Notre Dame product carved out a spot for himself on the team and was a valuable contributor on the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowl teams. He is the 25th all-time receiver in Pats history with 158 receptions for 2,214 yards.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
These Guys Always Win
Ever year there is an enormous amount of lgambling action placed on the Super Bowl. This includes the legal stuff out in Las Vegas and the "illegal' betting done through bookies, social clubs and someone selling "squares".
The Nevada Gaming Commission announced that their casinos accepted $82.7 million in bets and had a net profit of $6.9 million. Not a bad take for a market that's out there.
No figures are available from the rest of the country. Nobody ever really talks about that.
With that in mind, Las Vegas odds makers have announced the opening odds for the winner of Super Bowl XLV to be played next year. The Pats were third at 10-1, behind the Colts 7-1 and Chargers 8-1.
The Saints are tied at 10-1 with the Pats, followed by the Cowboys, Steelers and Vikings all at
12-1. The odds will be adjusted throughout the off-season and during the 2010 season.
The Nevada Gaming Commission announced that their casinos accepted $82.7 million in bets and had a net profit of $6.9 million. Not a bad take for a market that's out there.
No figures are available from the rest of the country. Nobody ever really talks about that.
With that in mind, Las Vegas odds makers have announced the opening odds for the winner of Super Bowl XLV to be played next year. The Pats were third at 10-1, behind the Colts 7-1 and Chargers 8-1.
The Saints are tied at 10-1 with the Pats, followed by the Cowboys, Steelers and Vikings all at
12-1. The odds will be adjusted throughout the off-season and during the 2010 season.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Two Key Plays
Analysts seem to talk in cliches when discussing the key points of the game, but they are right on many counts. Special Teams and turnovers are two critical aspects of any game.
The Saints were trailing 10-6 against the Colts to open the 2nd half. They tried an on-side kick and recovered the ball. Apparently, they had been practicing the play for the last two weeks. Drew Brees lead the team in for a score and a 13-10 lead.
With six minutes to go in the game, it appeared that Peyton Manning might drive his team down the field and tie the game at 24-24. As they were trailing 24-17, this did not seem like an insurmountable task, especially with Manning at the wheel.
As he attempted to hit Reggie Wayne with a short pass, Tracy Porter picked it off and ran 74 yards in for a score which turned out to be the margin of victory, 31-17.
These two plays were among the biggest of the game. It's a really a simple game in the end. Focus on special team and don't turn the ball over. Here is Exhibit A.
The Saints were trailing 10-6 against the Colts to open the 2nd half. They tried an on-side kick and recovered the ball. Apparently, they had been practicing the play for the last two weeks. Drew Brees lead the team in for a score and a 13-10 lead.
With six minutes to go in the game, it appeared that Peyton Manning might drive his team down the field and tie the game at 24-24. As they were trailing 24-17, this did not seem like an insurmountable task, especially with Manning at the wheel.
As he attempted to hit Reggie Wayne with a short pass, Tracy Porter picked it off and ran 74 yards in for a score which turned out to be the margin of victory, 31-17.
These two plays were among the biggest of the game. It's a really a simple game in the end. Focus on special team and don't turn the ball over. Here is Exhibit A.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Is It Their Time?
There are so many great stories in today's Super Bowl. I love both teams. I've always been a Peyton Manning fan. We are watching one of the greatest players before our eyes. He makes history as he plays. Hating him is as stupid as doing the same to Derek Jeter. I don't get it. They are two of the best in their respective sports. A real "fan" doesn't hate greatness.
The Colts are certainly the favorites. I don't bet on games. I don't care about the spread or the over and under. The only reason I want to see the Colts lose is because it gets in the way of the Pats being the team of this decade.
The Saints have a wonderful story that you have to like. They resurrected the city of New Orleans from the depths of despair after Hurricane Katrina. The city will go wild, win or lose.
For those reasons, I'm looking for the Saints to pull an upset.
The Colts are certainly the favorites. I don't bet on games. I don't care about the spread or the over and under. The only reason I want to see the Colts lose is because it gets in the way of the Pats being the team of this decade.
The Saints have a wonderful story that you have to like. They resurrected the city of New Orleans from the depths of despair after Hurricane Katrina. The city will go wild, win or lose.
For those reasons, I'm looking for the Saints to pull an upset.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
It's Bill's Call
The Pats announced that Coach Belichick will not be hiring a defensive coordinator for the 2010 season. He will be "more involved" in the defense. This leaves the team without a coordinator for both sides of the ball.
Belichick is known as a control freak and one of the geniuses of the game. He also has one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL.
It was interesting to note that former defensive coordinator Dean Pees spent a great deal of his time up in the booth communicating with Belichick and his staff rather than being on the sidelines.
Many observers thought that Pepper Johnson, the long-time defensive line coach, would get the nod for the coordinator's position.
We always hear that the Pats employ a very complex "scheme". It takes players and coaches a long time to get up to speed.
This observer was surprised to hear that the coach will assume another duty. I hope it works.
Belichick is known as a control freak and one of the geniuses of the game. He also has one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL.
It was interesting to note that former defensive coordinator Dean Pees spent a great deal of his time up in the booth communicating with Belichick and his staff rather than being on the sidelines.
Many observers thought that Pepper Johnson, the long-time defensive line coach, would get the nod for the coordinator's position.
We always hear that the Pats employ a very complex "scheme". It takes players and coaches a long time to get up to speed.
This observer was surprised to hear that the coach will assume another duty. I hope it works.
He Will Play
Colts DE Dwight Freeny has been in the news all week leading up to the game tomorrow. He suffered a 3rd degree ankle sprain in the closing moments of the AFC Championship game. He actually hurt himself trying to pull back from hitting Jets QB Mark Sanchez. In the process, Freeny rolled his ankle.
Freeny is the anchor of the Colts defense. He has been getting treatment all week and has missed all of the team's practices.
There is much talk about whether he will play and how effective he would be. I believe he will be on the 45 man roster for the game. It's too big of a game to miss. There is always the possibility of doing more damage, but he may never get a chance to play in another Super Bowl. The stakes are too high. He will be on the field and play in some capacity.
Freeny is the anchor of the Colts defense. He has been getting treatment all week and has missed all of the team's practices.
There is much talk about whether he will play and how effective he would be. I believe he will be on the 45 man roster for the game. It's too big of a game to miss. There is always the possibility of doing more damage, but he may never get a chance to play in another Super Bowl. The stakes are too high. He will be on the field and play in some capacity.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Manning Connection
Peyton Manning is forever linked to the Pats during the Belichick era. He is the best QB they have faced. Peyton has been winning the battles in recent years.
The NFL has many fascinating stories of the players and coaches relationships. Any coaching staff becomes a series of people connected to one another throughout their career.
Peyton and his brother Eli are the sons of former Saint QB Archie Manning. He was part of the illustrious QB draft class of 1971 with Heisman winner Jim Plunkett being drafted #1 overall by the Pats. Archie Manning went #2 followed by Dan Pastorini at #3.
The draft would yield NFL Hall of Famers John Riggins, Jack Youngblood, Dan Dierdorf and Jack Ham. Joe Theisman lasted until the 4th round because he was threatening to go to Canada to play in the CFL. He played there for five seasons.
The Pats would draft DE Julius Adams in the 2nd round. In the 4th round they would trade their pick at which DE Lyle Alzado was drafted.
Archie Manning was a good soldier for the Saints, but played on terrible teams. He has the distinction of holding the NFL record for the worst winning percentage for a QB with over 100 starts at 35-101-3 26.3%. He had 23, 911 career yards on 2,011 attempts for 3,642 yards, 125 TD's and 173 interceptions.
In 1981, he was traded to the Houston Oilers for LT Leon Gray. Manning would play again in 1982 and part of 1983 before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings where he spent time before retiring in 1984.
The Pats traded Leon Gray to the Oilers prior to the 1979 season. The Pats claimed Gray on waivers in 1973 after the Miami Dolphins released their 3rd round pick during camp. He would team up with Hall of Fame LG John Hannah to lead a formidable running attack.
In 1978, the Pats set a team rushing record of 3,165 yards. The line was lead by Gray, Hannah, Bill Lenkaitis, Sam Adams and Shelby Jordan. TE's Russ Francis and Don Hasselbeck (father of Matt and Chris) were tremendous blockers.
Gray and Hannah are considered to be the best left side of the line in team history. The running back stable of five is similar to this past season only those guys ran better than now. They included Sam Cunningham with 768 yards, Horace Ivory 653, Andy Johnson 675 , QB Stve Grogan 539 on 81 carries and Don Calhoun 391.
Hannah and Gray held out for a new contract prior to the 1977 season. Although it was eventually resolved, Gray was not one of the Sullivan family favorites. After being traded to the Oilers in 1979, he was a starter until the Manning trade in 1981.
This observer notes that he remembers the controversy in 1971 of whether to draft Plunkett, Manning, Pastorini or Theissman. The draft was unpredictable back then!
The NFL has many fascinating stories of the players and coaches relationships. Any coaching staff becomes a series of people connected to one another throughout their career.
Peyton and his brother Eli are the sons of former Saint QB Archie Manning. He was part of the illustrious QB draft class of 1971 with Heisman winner Jim Plunkett being drafted #1 overall by the Pats. Archie Manning went #2 followed by Dan Pastorini at #3.
The draft would yield NFL Hall of Famers John Riggins, Jack Youngblood, Dan Dierdorf and Jack Ham. Joe Theisman lasted until the 4th round because he was threatening to go to Canada to play in the CFL. He played there for five seasons.
The Pats would draft DE Julius Adams in the 2nd round. In the 4th round they would trade their pick at which DE Lyle Alzado was drafted.
Archie Manning was a good soldier for the Saints, but played on terrible teams. He has the distinction of holding the NFL record for the worst winning percentage for a QB with over 100 starts at 35-101-3 26.3%. He had 23, 911 career yards on 2,011 attempts for 3,642 yards, 125 TD's and 173 interceptions.
In 1981, he was traded to the Houston Oilers for LT Leon Gray. Manning would play again in 1982 and part of 1983 before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings where he spent time before retiring in 1984.
The Pats traded Leon Gray to the Oilers prior to the 1979 season. The Pats claimed Gray on waivers in 1973 after the Miami Dolphins released their 3rd round pick during camp. He would team up with Hall of Fame LG John Hannah to lead a formidable running attack.
In 1978, the Pats set a team rushing record of 3,165 yards. The line was lead by Gray, Hannah, Bill Lenkaitis, Sam Adams and Shelby Jordan. TE's Russ Francis and Don Hasselbeck (father of Matt and Chris) were tremendous blockers.
Gray and Hannah are considered to be the best left side of the line in team history. The running back stable of five is similar to this past season only those guys ran better than now. They included Sam Cunningham with 768 yards, Horace Ivory 653, Andy Johnson 675 , QB Stve Grogan 539 on 81 carries and Don Calhoun 391.
Hannah and Gray held out for a new contract prior to the 1977 season. Although it was eventually resolved, Gray was not one of the Sullivan family favorites. After being traded to the Oilers in 1979, he was a starter until the Manning trade in 1981.
This observer notes that he remembers the controversy in 1971 of whether to draft Plunkett, Manning, Pastorini or Theissman. The draft was unpredictable back then!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Big Game
If you advertise, you can't mention the Super Bowl unless you have licensing agreement with the NFL.
Otherwise, you have to call it the big game. That's all we hear now. It's easier to talk about the big game rather than the Super Bowl and a lot cheaper.
Otherwise, you have to call it the big game. That's all we hear now. It's easier to talk about the big game rather than the Super Bowl and a lot cheaper.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Truth Comes Out
It's finally come out from an anonymous NFL source that Randy Moss played most of the past season with a separated shoulder. Naturally, the Pats had nothing to say about it. Moss bowed out of the Pro Bowl because of injury. The nature of the injury was disclosed by a third party. Players must participate in the game unless they are injured.
Moss was injured in the fifth game of the season against Denver. He caught one pass in the game for 36 yards. He appeared on the injury report for the next three games during which he caught 19 passes for 345 yards and four TD's.
The team pronounced him healed after that. Over the final eight games of the season, he caught 34 passes for 552 yards and eight TD's. He received a great deal of criticism for allegedly taking plays off and jogging through routes.
He played through a back injury during weeks 3 & 4. We may never know the extent of his injuries and the impact it had on his playing. Moss and the team continue to remain silent on the matter.
Statistically, he enjoyed a fine season with 83 catches for 1,264 yards and 13 TD's. Apparently this was not good enought for talk show callers who are now stirring this up all over again.
This observer feels that Moss gutted his way through the season and played as well as he could to help the team. Moss will always be dogged by his actions earlier in his career. They will stay with him even when he gets his bust at Canton.
Moss was injured in the fifth game of the season against Denver. He caught one pass in the game for 36 yards. He appeared on the injury report for the next three games during which he caught 19 passes for 345 yards and four TD's.
The team pronounced him healed after that. Over the final eight games of the season, he caught 34 passes for 552 yards and eight TD's. He received a great deal of criticism for allegedly taking plays off and jogging through routes.
He played through a back injury during weeks 3 & 4. We may never know the extent of his injuries and the impact it had on his playing. Moss and the team continue to remain silent on the matter.
Statistically, he enjoyed a fine season with 83 catches for 1,264 yards and 13 TD's. Apparently this was not good enought for talk show callers who are now stirring this up all over again.
This observer feels that Moss gutted his way through the season and played as well as he could to help the team. Moss will always be dogged by his actions earlier in his career. They will stay with him even when he gets his bust at Canton.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Not a Good Impression
Tim Tebow just concluded a great career at the University of Florida. He set a slew of NCAA passing records and won the Heisman trophy in 2007. Yet, he is in the cross hairs of critics and NFL draft gurus.
Many do not feel that he can play QB in the NFL. They think he might be better suited as a tight end. His arm strength has been criticized. Taking most of his snaps out of the shotgun has not endeared him to scouts since most offenses have the QB standing over the center. He has great running skills, but that is not suited for an NFL offense.
He played last Saturday in the Senior Bowl, the classic showcase of future NFL talent. He fumbled twice and completed 8 of 12 passes for 50 yards.
Before the draft, he will be turned inside out as everyone will be piling on feeling that he has no future at the position.
This observer feels that he might be a good pick in the third round. Anything higher than that is a potential risk.
Many do not feel that he can play QB in the NFL. They think he might be better suited as a tight end. His arm strength has been criticized. Taking most of his snaps out of the shotgun has not endeared him to scouts since most offenses have the QB standing over the center. He has great running skills, but that is not suited for an NFL offense.
He played last Saturday in the Senior Bowl, the classic showcase of future NFL talent. He fumbled twice and completed 8 of 12 passes for 50 yards.
Before the draft, he will be turned inside out as everyone will be piling on feeling that he has no future at the position.
This observer feels that he might be a good pick in the third round. Anything higher than that is a potential risk.
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