NFL News and Jabber

Dan Patrick and Keith Olberman are going to be reunited on NBC’s Sunday Night NFL coverage.  The duo originally worked together on a sports network called ESPN back in the day.  For those that remember these guys working together more than ten years ago, it should be entertaining.  Olberman has been doing time on MSNBC and had to deal with working with Bob Costas last season.  Networks tend to work hard to put together a good team for broadcasts and this should be a proven deal for NBC.  Read more

NFL News and Jabber

Happy Fourth of July everyone.  Now that we have that out of the way…we are only a couple weeks away from training camp.  Time flies, huh?  If that isn’t enough to make you think about it how about this?  We are less than a month (by a day) away from watching a pre-season football game.  That’s right.  The Hall of Fame Game between the Colts and Redskins lands on August 3rd! How sweet is that?  Let’s take  look around the NFL… Read more

NFL News and Jabber

It appears that Roger Goodell has come up with his latest way to shake up the NFL.  He has already made great improvements with the player conduct and shortening up the NFL Draft.  Now it sounds like the Commish wants to put his stamp on the outrageous salary that is demanded to sign the top NFL rookies.  Looking at Jake Long’s deal with the Fins it appears that it has ruffled Roger’s feathers a little… Read more

NFL Jabber News and Notes

Remember a couple weeks ago when we talked to that American football loving Brit, Adam?  He continues to make his rounds in promotion of his record setting vacation of taking in 35 NFL games in the 2008 season.  This week he has landed on the Canal Street Chronicles.  If you have any extra season tickets laying around make sure you give Adam a buzz! Read more

NFL Jabber | Old, New, Stiff Arming RB’s, and More

Chris Johnson is already raising eyebrows in practice for the Titans. Just wait until he is comfortable (seems to be what the staff and players are saying). Read more

NFL Free Agent Jabber 2/20/08

Ahh yes. Time for Free Agency rumors. This is what keeps us fueled this time of year, isn’t it? What NFL Jersey will these players put on?

The Colts have tagged Dallas Clark. You could see some interesting battle here. With the Suggs drama in Baltimore, is there an argument that Clark should be tagged as a WR? How often was he lined up in the slot compared to in next to the Tackle at TE?

If you have been under a rock when it comes to the NFL right now, the Ravens slapped a franchise tag on Terrel Suggs as a linebacker. What’s the big deal you ask? About $800,000 difference in what he would get if it was as a DE. Suggs argues that he played more than half of his snaps with his hand down. Who would have thought the Hokey Pokey could make such a difference if your left hand is in?

So it appears that the Patriots have made an offer to Zach Thomas. Considering everyone they have it could be the best place for him. Somewhere he can go and not have to play every snap. But when do they start getting younger?

From There is NO Offseason member TripleW64:

Why would they want to get older at that position? Seems to me they have enough aging veterans at LB. Kinda scary if you get younger at a position by adding a soon to be 36 year old, concussed LB.

Current ages:
Seau 39
Bruschi 34
Vrabel 32
Thomas 30

That is a very valid point. Who do they plan to keep? From the article linked above at the Miami Herald…

The Patriots are interested in Thomas because both of their inside linebackers — Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi — are free agents. Seau is 39 years old while Bruschi, three months older than Thomas, will be 35 during the 2008 season.

There likely isn’t a place in the NFL that could use an experienced MLB more than the New Orleans Saints. Thomas is in town today and the team is also going to visit with the ex-Panther, Dan Morgan. After CB, Linebacker is always mentioned as a need for the Saints in the offseason. Considering your two main targets at this point can’t seem to stay on the field the better option may be to look at the NFL Draft. A short term deal at the most would be the best move if they were to sign one of these guys and then draft a project. We all know they could sure use some leadership at the position.

There is plenty of interest for former Falcons TE Alge Crumpler according to his agent, Jason Williams…

Read more

3 Round NFL Mock Draft|Football Jabber

The Mock Draft has grown into three rounds! Here are the Top Ten and links to the rounds.

Round One | Round Two | Round Three

Round One
#1 Dolphins - Chris Long, DE, Virginia

Long becomes the anchor end for the Tuna’s new 3-4 defense. Although many may argue that Dorsey was the more worthy 1.01 choice, Dorsey would not make a good 3-4 NT. Thus the choice is Long.

#2 Rams - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

The Rams happily snap up Dorsey facilitating last year’s 1st round pick Adam Carriker to play more end. The Rams defensive line will be feared if Dorsey is the choice and Leonard Little can stay healthy.

#3 Falcons - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

The Falcons take the best player available and gamble that they will be able to grab a decent signal-caller later in the draft. With an aging Warrick Dunn and unproven Jerious Norwood as the components of a lackluster RBBC, Atlanta needs more of a power back than rookie Jason Snelling can provide. McFadden gives them a solid thunder and lightning running attack.

#4 Raiders - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

The Raiders take Sedrick Ellis to shore up their poor run defense. Ellis have been skyrocketing up the top 100 charts lately and one needs look no farther than his performance at the Senior bowl to find out why. Ellis will make an impact on a heavily regressing Raider defense.

#5 Chiefs - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

Word on the street is that Carl Peterson is feeling a bit of man-love for the BC pivot. Dwayne Bowe proved to be a pleasant surprise for the Chiefs last year and Peterson make look to grab a first round QB to get him the ball more often.

#6 Jets - Jake Long, OT, Michigan

The Jets grab Jake Long, the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft to bookend D’Brickashaw Ferguson. If Long pans out, the Jets may have one of the better offensive lines in the league for years to come.

#7 Patriots - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State

The Pats select Gholston to infuse some youth into their aging linebacker corps. Gholston will likely be moved to WOLB and I am betting that Adalius Thomas moves inside more often. Not that the Pats LB are ever stagnant anyways. This move is made in anticipation for the eventual retirement of Junior Seau and Tedi Bruschi.

#8 Ravens - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

Rumor has it that Johnathan Ogden will call it a career after this year. If that is the case, expect the Ravens to select Ryan Clady here. Clady has all of the makings of a franchise tackle and will be able to step in and take over for the former pro bowler, Ogden.

#9 Bengals - Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

The Bengals hand is forced to select a linebacker as injuries, suspensions and poor play had them signing guys off of the street last year. With lone bright spot Landon Johnson likely to leave via free agency and Odell Thurman expected to return to the team, the Bengals go with Keith Rivers as a more natural OLB fit to Lewis’ defensive scheme.

#10 Saints - Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami

The Saints are forced to upgrade a terrible secondary that was repeated torched throughout the season. It’s too early to cut bait with Jason David despite his poor play at CB last year so the Saints select Kenny Phillips to replace Josh Bullocks. Phillips’ good coverage skills will allow Roman Harper to play more in the box.

tag: NFL, Mock, Draft, Football, Sports, Rankings, Dolphins, Rams, Falcons, Raiders, Chiefs, Jets, Patriots, Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Round One, Round Two, Round Three

Day After Super Bowl XLII Jabber

The problem with calling something one of “The Greatest” is that it takes reflection. This game, the last drive, Eli’s amazing escape, David Tyree’s amazing catch, and the Giants defensive output will be looked back upon with deep toned voice overs for years to come as some of the greatest moments in football history.

Earlier in the week we did our Top Ten Super Bowls countdown. Given the scoring used to determine where those games ranked, the Giants and Patriots Super Bowl would have ranked Top 5 easily. That is without the underdog status and the Patriots 18-0 record coming into the game taken into consideration. That’s just on the game itself.

Ok, about Plaxico ticking so many people off. I wrote earlier in the week also that the Patriots were making just as much of a prediction by being so offended with the “How dare they think they can win” type of talk. I thought that Tom Brady’s take on it was legit. His concern was that Plaxico only had them scoring 17 points. At the time of reading it that made sense. Now he appears to have been bunched with the others. The YouTubers are already on it.

As I watch the Super Bowl I try to keep the MVP thing in mind. You can’t give it to a unit or I would say the Giants D. I was thinking that it should have gone to Justin Tuck with six tackles, five on them solo, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. That was until the 2008 version of “The Drive” in which Eli Manning put some distance between himself and the view of him just being Peyton’s pesky little brother. By the way, nobody can ever, EVER, complain to Peyton Manning that they have a younger sibling that follows them around and always has to do what they do.

About some other things. Jordon Sparks did a pretty good version of the National Anthem. Are they still lip syncing this? I just ask because she looked like she was going to pass out from being nervous before and after but her voice didn’t tremble a bit during.

It has been years since more than a handful of people have cared about Tom Petty. I’m thankful for the fact that I was behind a little on the DVR and could forward through most of it.

tag: NFL, Football, Super Bowl, XLII, Giants, Patriots, Plaxico Burress, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, David Tyree, Video, Sports, Football Jabber

Say Hello to a Real Patriots Fan

What are you watching today? Before the Super Bowl game I mean? My friend Dale is going to be watching all of the Patriot Super Bowl games today leading up to the game. Ya see, Dale has over 3100 NFL games on video (mostly on VHS not transferred over to DVD yet). More than 20,000 sporting events in all recorded in the last 20 years. Last I talked to Dale about the subject it sounded as if his house looks like the TV department at Best Buy with all the recording going on. If anyone from the NFL happens to read the Tribune in Northern Colorado we will see if they are serious about those “do not duplicate” warnings they throw at us.

I call Dale a real Patriots fan because he is the only one I knew was a Patriots fan before their first Super Bowl win. Sure, I know they are out there…but I had never met one until Dale. I feel his pain growing up in the same small town Iowa town full of NFC North fans and not following one of those teams, I am a Saints fan after all. Well, it’s almost the same except for the team he has pulled for all these years may eventually be considered, if not already, the best team to walk the face of the earth.

Well, enjoy your day Dale. Don’t forget to take in the Pats vs. Bears and Pats vs. Packers games today and remember where you came from.

tag: NFL, Video, Patriots, Fan, football, Sports

Football Jabber’s Top Ten Super Bowls

We are just days away from the biggest game of the year. The Patriots are up to becoming the first team to post a 19-0 record and the first team since the 72′ Dolphins to run the table. What better time to take a look back at the Top Ten Super Bowls played? Of course some of the games can be up for debate. Things taken into consideration were lead changes, comebacks, game deciding scores, and when the game was decided, among others things.

#10 Super Bowl III Jets 16- Colts 7

MVP: Joe Namath QB, Jets

What makes it great? I could catch some flack for this but this game barely gets in here. It bumped out the Niners and Bengals Super Bowl XVI and Joe Montana’s first MVP performance. The game wasn’t even close and the Jets were never threatened. That, however, is why it is looked at as one of the greatest Super Bowl (and Football) games in history. We all know about the guarantee. The Jets were 18 point underdogs. This is the game that showed that the AFL could hang with the big dogs, which gives us the NFL we have today.

#9 Super Bowl X Steelers 21- Cowboys 17

MVP: Lynn Swan WR, Steelers

What makes it great? The Cowboys went into the fourth quarter with a 10-7 lead. The Steelers scored four straight times with a safety, two field goals and capped it with a 64 yard from Terry Bradshaw to Lynn Swan. The Cowboys scored another touchdown with a little under two minutes to play but the game was decided. Lynn Swan becomes the first WR to be MVP. He only has four catches but he gained 164 yards and that TD mentioned above.

#8 Super Bowl XXV Giants 20- Bills 19

MVP: Ottis Anderson RB, Giants

What makes it great? The Giants come in as underdogs and they don’t have their starting QB. They go into the second half trailing 12-10. Halfway through the fourth quarter the Giants go up 20-19 on a Matt Bar field goal. The Bills have a chance to seal the deal but Scott Norwood’s filed goal sails wide right with seconds remaining. The Giants held a HUGE time of possession advantage having the ball over 40 minutes of the game.

#7 Super Bowl XIII Steelers 35- Cowboys 31

MVP: Terry Bradshaw QB, Steelers

What makes it great? The Steelers enter the fourth quarter with a small 21-17 lead. With half of the quarter scoreless the Steelers tack on two more scores with a Franco Harris run and Bradshaw to Swann TD pass. The Cowboys do not lay down and score on two Roger Staubach touchdowns in the last two and a half minutes of the game. Once again the Cowboys fall just short of beating the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

#6 Super Bowl XXXIV Rams 23- Titans 16

MVP: Kurt Warner QB, Rams

What makes it great? The Rams go into the second half with a 9-0 lead. Halfway through the third quarter Kurt Warner hooks up with Torry Holt for a nine yard TD pass. Trailing 16-0 the Titans begin their comeback and have three straight scores that tie the game. Kurt Warner hits Issac Bruce for a 73 yard TD with a little under two minutes to play. The last two minutes are some of the most exciting in Super Bowl history as the Titans drive down into scoring position. With six seconds to play and the clock running, Steve McNair hit Kevin Dyson on the three-yard line. Dyson appeared to be going in for the score when a hail marry of a tackle by Mike Jones stopped him. Dyson stretched for the score but time expired with the ball marked on the 1 yard line.

#5 Super Bowl XXXII Broncos 31-Packers 24

MVP: Terrell Davis RB, Broncos

What makes it great? The Broncos come into the game as underdogs. After giving up the first score to Green Bay, the Broncos score three times before the Packers score again just before the half. Going into the second half the score was 17-14 in the underdogs favor. The Packers tie the game up just minutes into the 3rd quarter. Within minutes of the end of the 3rd quarter and start of the 4th, the Packers and Broncos exchange blows with two more scores. In an act of desperation as the Broncos are driving for the winning score, Mike Holmgren says he lets the Broncos score so they could get the ball back. 1:45 later the game is over and John Elway has finally got that ring.

#4 Super Bowl V Colts 16-Cowboys 13

MVP: Chuck Howley LB, Cowboys

What made it great? This game is a good example of staying with it and not giving up. The Baltimore Colts had three interceptions and lost four (of five) fumbles to the Cowboys. They trailed from the first quarter, never having a lead in the first half. At the end of the second quarter the Colts trailed 13-6. The Cowboys were shut out in the second half. The Colts tied the game in the fourth quarter and then with five seconds left in regulation, Jim O’Brian hit a 32 yard field goal to win the game for the Colts.

#3 Super Bowl XXXVI Patriots 20- Rams 17

MVP: Tom Brady QB, Patriots

What made it great? The Patriots were 14 point underdogs. The largest spread since Super Bowl III when the Jets upset the Colts. The “Greatest Show on Turf” of the Rams were held to a field goal until the fourth quarter. Trailing the underdog Patriots 17-3 the Rams began a fourth quarter comeback when Kurt Warner ran a two yard TD in. With 1:30 left in the game Warner hit Ricky Proehl from 26 yard out to tie the game. As time expired Adam Vinatieri hit a 48 yard field goal to mark the biggest upset in the Super Bowl in over thirty years. In the times of 9/11 the Patriots were victorious.

#2 Super Bowl XXXVIII Patriots 32- Panthers 29

MVP: Tom Brady QB, Patriots

What made it great? The score was locked at zero until the final three minutes of the first half. The Patriots scored…then the Panthers…then the Patriots…then the Panthers, going into the half with the Patriots leading 14-10. The third quarter was another stalemate as neither team could find a way to score. Eleven seconds into the fourth quarter the Patriots started the electric final quarter of the season. The Panthers scored twice, taking a 22-21 lead. The Patriots struck back and added a 2 point conversion making the score 29-22. The Panthers would tie the game with just over a minute left when Jake Delhomme hit Ricky Proehl (yeah the one ironically mentioned at this point in game # 3 above). The Patriots, in Patriot fashion, drove down and kicked a winning field goal with four seconds left on the clock to take them to 2-2 in Super Bowls.

#1 Super Bowl XXIII 49′ers 20- Bengals 16

MVP: Jerry Rice WR, 49′ers

What made it great? Neither team could do more than a field goal in the first half. The teams exchanged another field goal each before the first touchdown was scored on a 93 yard kick return by the Bengals at the end of the third quarter. The underdogs were up 13-6 going into the final period. Joe Montana hit Jerry Rice for a touchdown within the first minute of the 4th quarter, the 49′ers first steps in the endzone in the game making the score 13-13. With just over three minutes left in the game the Bengals hit another field goal taking a 16-13 lead. From here, Joe Montana does what Joe Montana does. With 34 seconds left in the game, Montana hits John Taylor for the winning touchdown and the third ring for San Francisco.

As we go into Super Bowl weekend and the Patriots are well favored to defeat the New York Giants, hopefully I will feel like this list needs to be updated next week. Take a look at game #3…just ask the Patriots…you never know who can come out on top!

tag: Bills, Colts, Cowboys, football, Football Jabber, Giants, Jets, nfl, Rams, Rank, Steelers, Super Bowl, Titans, Top Ten, Broncos, Packers, Patriots, Panthers, 49′ers, Bengals

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