THIS & THAT..........THURSDAY
Well I'm back home now after a wonderful visit with our friends, Mike & Cindy, at the Grand Lake of the Cherokees, in Oklahoma. If you think it's strange that people who live on a lake visit another lake for a mini-vacation, it's about the people we went to see. They showed us such hospitality in their spectacular lake home, it should be featured on HGTV, it's so stylish without being even slightly ostentatious. Took relaxing boat rides to dinner twice & had some marathon domino games. I feel rejuvenated & ready to take on the regular season, remember, next Thursday evening, the college season kicks off with a TV doubleheader, South Carolina at North Carolina State & the nightcap, what should be a monster matchup, Oregon travels to the Smurf-blue field of Boise State. So here's the news.
Indy safety Bob Sanders, along with Dwight Freeney, the major playmaker on the Colt defense, will most likely start the season on the PUP list(physically unable to perform). If he does, Sanders will not be eligible to play for the first 6 weeks of the season. Then the Colts will have a 3-week window to activate him or he must go on injured reserve & be lost for the entire season. Indianapolis' defense has historically struggled without Sanders in the lineup. Fantasy footballers, keep it right here for the latest news before your draft.
I told you Saturday night Denver's backup QB, Chris Simms, appeared to have injured his lower leg, but there was no chatter about it. Now the Broncos' are saying Simms has a high ankle sprain & will be unable to play for 3-4 weeks.
WR Nate Washington of Tennessee has a hamstring issue severe enough to most likely miss at least the 1st two weeks of the season. The Titans signed Washington as a free agent to provide some 'deep speed' & start opposite Justin Gage. Now it appears rookie Kenny Britt will open the season as the starter in Washington's absence.
Charger OLB Shawne Merriman has sat out practice all week with a sore knee. It's the same knee that caused him to miss 13 games last season. The Bolts hope some rest will ease the pain & if not an arthroscopic procedure may be in order to correct whatever it is that continues to bother Merriman.
Seahawk starting center Chris Spencer looks to be out 4-6 weeks at the minimum with a quadriceps tear. Rookie Max Unger will move into the starting spot. Unger hasn't looked so great in 2 preseason games, tho I think he'll eventually become a quality NFL starter. The loss of Spencer coupled with Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones' absence with knee & back issues could spell trouble for 'Hawk QB Matt Hasselback. A timetable for Jones' return is still unknown.
Denver's #1 draft pick, running back Knowshon Moreno, is looking more & more like an observer on opening day. His sprained MCL should heal enough for him to practice by opening day, but he won't be in anything close to football shape. LaMont Jordan is also nursing injuries, so the lone healthy RB is Correll Buckhalter & with his history of season-ending injury, it's doubtful the Broncos want to count on him as 'the man' for more than a week or two.
If you are a fantasy footballer & you draft Denver WR Brandon Marshall, you should really get your head examined. This guy is quickly becoming the most disruptive player in the league. If the Bronco braintrust had any backbone, they would suspend Marshall without pay, the same way the Eagles did T.O. & Tampa suspended Keyshawn Johnson once upon a time. Once a player selfishly decides it's all about him, the team be damned, he looses the respect of his teammates, they simply won't trust him or cover his back. I watched a sickening display of Marshall's self-centered, immature behavior at a Denver practice yesterday on TheDenverChannel.com, ABC's Denver affiliate. When the Bronco players were in a running drill, Marshall walked, when there were passing drills, Marshall refused to catch the ball, simply knocking it to the ground & every time he got a ball in his hands, he it punted down the field instead of tossing it to the ball boys. His admitted lack of playbook knowledge has gotten him demoted from the 1st team & his antics in yesterday's practice got him sent home before practice began today. This guy is a cancer 1st year coach Josh McDaniel will have to stand up to or he will lose the respect of most of his team.
Jets' coach Rex Ryan has already named rookie Mark Sanchez as his starting quarterback for the regular season. Did you see Sanchez's scintillating performance Monday night versus Baltimore? I guess it was his 3 for 8 passing performance with a pick, a fumble & 2 sacks that convinced Ryan that Sanchez was his guy. To be realistic, the Jets are moving into a new stadium next year & they need some excitement to get fans willing to pony up PSL(personal seat license) money, to say nothing of the increased ticket prices that will certainly come next season. The Jets don't have much in the way of a wide receiver corp, so Sanchez will have to depend on the running game, especially early on in the season.
Don't be shocked if Chiefs backup QB, Tyler Thigpen, gets traded. Tho Baltimore, Carolina & Tampa Bay have been reported as interested in Thigpen, only Jacksonville has made an offer. The initial offer was a 6th round draft pick, but today, that was sweetened to a 5th round pick. The Jaguars have 37-year old Todd Bauman as their backup QB & playing behind their offensive line is a challenge that almost demands a very mobile quarterback like Thigpen. Both starting guards suffered early season ending injuries in '08 & haven't returned to form as yet. Tra Thomas, nearly 35, was signed to start at left tackle but then Jags drafted 2 tackles with their top 2 picks. It's all rather confusing, I look forward to watch this group in a couple of hours when their game with Philadelphia will be rebroadcast on the NFL Network.
I've told you over & over many teams are having difficulty selling out this year due to the tough economy. The Houston Texans, who have sold every seat to every game in the franchise's history, admitted today they have seats available for all 8 regular season games including opening day. I told you back in April this was going to happen & I hate being right this time.
Former Missouri Tiger, defensive lineman Evander "Ziggy" Hood, continues to be one of the most promising rookies in this preseason. Hood has three sacks in two games, 2 tackles for loss, one deflected pass & caused a fumble. Hood always played like his hair was on fire while he was a Tiger & he has brought that passion & all-out effort to Pittsburgh.
Edgerrin James signed with the Seahawks, a very smart move for Seattle. 'Edge' has been one of the most productive backs in NFL history & I think he's still got something left in his tank, especially since he won't have to shoulder the load. Julius Jones is the starter, but having a quality guy like James to back him up is just smart management.
Hey Chiefs' fans, remember cornerback Eric Warfield & his 3 DUI's? Make it 4. Warfield was sentenced to 1-3 years for his 4th DUI conviction in Lincoln Nebraska. Warfield played safety for the Cornhuskers & was a 7th round pick for Kansas City in 1998. He got DUI's in 2001, 2003 & 2004, served 10 days in jail & was later released by the Chiefs. He was reportedly doing a lot of charity work with children in Lincoln, now Warfield has certainly become an example of how not to live your life.
I haven't spoken much about the sexual assault civil lawsuit against Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger because I'm not interested in being a gossip site. I said I'd comment when there was something concrete to talk about. Numerous emails from the plaintiff's email account, released by Big Ben's defense team, would lead even the most skeptical person to conclude this woman created a lot of this story in her head. I won't go into all of the gory details, but one particular email sent almost 22 hours before the alleged assault occurred, stated her desire to be with Roethlisberger & maybe fixing his TV could get her an opening. In the plaintiff's lawsuit, she alleges Roethlisberger asked her to fix his TV & after entering his room & determining nothing was wrong with his TV, was assaulted. Another email proclaimed her pregnancy with Roethlisberger's baby two days after the alleged assault. I doubt this woman ever anticipated the defense team would ever go after her with such a vengeance, I don't think they're going to stop with a dismissal or a verdict for Roethlisberger, I think if it's found she completely concocted this story, they're going to humiliate her & her attorney.
Please, please, please, will African-American leaders stop comparing the plight of Michael Vick to Jackie Robinson or the new one, Martha Stewart. Philadelphia NAACP President, J. Wyatt Mondenshire, said today that Vick was being treated unfairly by fans, the media & animal activists. Mondenshire opined today "why is it fair for Martha Stewart to get out of prison & go right back to her mansions & flying on her private jets & Michael can't be treated equally?" ARE YOU SERIOUS MR. MONDENSHIRE???????? Their crimes are hardly comparable. Nearly all of her wealth was created by her. Her crime wasn't so abhorrent that she wouldn't be welcomed back on TV by most logically thinking people. She didn't spend money like a drunken sailor & be forced into bankruptcy like Vick. Her crime was she lied to government investigators, something Vick also did. But Vick brutally executed dogs by drowning, shooting & electrocution. He bred dogs to fight to the death & when they didn't, they got the death penalty from Vick himself. Ms. Stewart has featured her dogs on TV for years & they don't have to kill another animal to earn their keep. I believe Vick deserves a second chance, that's the way our system works, but please stop insulting our intelligence with these ridiculous comparisons.
One last injury note & it could be a very important one, Florida wide receiver, Carl Moore, may miss "significant time" after undergoing an undisclosed back procedure. The senior was counted on to help replace Percy Harvin & Louis Murphy, both NFL rookies. Coach Urban Meyer would only say the procedure dealt with "nerve issues & if he's lost for any time, it's bad". The remaining receivers on the Gator roster have almost no game experience.
Indy safety Bob Sanders, along with Dwight Freeney, the major playmaker on the Colt defense, will most likely start the season on the PUP list(physically unable to perform). If he does, Sanders will not be eligible to play for the first 6 weeks of the season. Then the Colts will have a 3-week window to activate him or he must go on injured reserve & be lost for the entire season. Indianapolis' defense has historically struggled without Sanders in the lineup. Fantasy footballers, keep it right here for the latest news before your draft.
I told you Saturday night Denver's backup QB, Chris Simms, appeared to have injured his lower leg, but there was no chatter about it. Now the Broncos' are saying Simms has a high ankle sprain & will be unable to play for 3-4 weeks.
WR Nate Washington of Tennessee has a hamstring issue severe enough to most likely miss at least the 1st two weeks of the season. The Titans signed Washington as a free agent to provide some 'deep speed' & start opposite Justin Gage. Now it appears rookie Kenny Britt will open the season as the starter in Washington's absence.
Charger OLB Shawne Merriman has sat out practice all week with a sore knee. It's the same knee that caused him to miss 13 games last season. The Bolts hope some rest will ease the pain & if not an arthroscopic procedure may be in order to correct whatever it is that continues to bother Merriman.
Seahawk starting center Chris Spencer looks to be out 4-6 weeks at the minimum with a quadriceps tear. Rookie Max Unger will move into the starting spot. Unger hasn't looked so great in 2 preseason games, tho I think he'll eventually become a quality NFL starter. The loss of Spencer coupled with Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones' absence with knee & back issues could spell trouble for 'Hawk QB Matt Hasselback. A timetable for Jones' return is still unknown.
Denver's #1 draft pick, running back Knowshon Moreno, is looking more & more like an observer on opening day. His sprained MCL should heal enough for him to practice by opening day, but he won't be in anything close to football shape. LaMont Jordan is also nursing injuries, so the lone healthy RB is Correll Buckhalter & with his history of season-ending injury, it's doubtful the Broncos want to count on him as 'the man' for more than a week or two.
If you are a fantasy footballer & you draft Denver WR Brandon Marshall, you should really get your head examined. This guy is quickly becoming the most disruptive player in the league. If the Bronco braintrust had any backbone, they would suspend Marshall without pay, the same way the Eagles did T.O. & Tampa suspended Keyshawn Johnson once upon a time. Once a player selfishly decides it's all about him, the team be damned, he looses the respect of his teammates, they simply won't trust him or cover his back. I watched a sickening display of Marshall's self-centered, immature behavior at a Denver practice yesterday on TheDenverChannel.com, ABC's Denver affiliate. When the Bronco players were in a running drill, Marshall walked, when there were passing drills, Marshall refused to catch the ball, simply knocking it to the ground & every time he got a ball in his hands, he it punted down the field instead of tossing it to the ball boys. His admitted lack of playbook knowledge has gotten him demoted from the 1st team & his antics in yesterday's practice got him sent home before practice began today. This guy is a cancer 1st year coach Josh McDaniel will have to stand up to or he will lose the respect of most of his team.
Jets' coach Rex Ryan has already named rookie Mark Sanchez as his starting quarterback for the regular season. Did you see Sanchez's scintillating performance Monday night versus Baltimore? I guess it was his 3 for 8 passing performance with a pick, a fumble & 2 sacks that convinced Ryan that Sanchez was his guy. To be realistic, the Jets are moving into a new stadium next year & they need some excitement to get fans willing to pony up PSL(personal seat license) money, to say nothing of the increased ticket prices that will certainly come next season. The Jets don't have much in the way of a wide receiver corp, so Sanchez will have to depend on the running game, especially early on in the season.
Don't be shocked if Chiefs backup QB, Tyler Thigpen, gets traded. Tho Baltimore, Carolina & Tampa Bay have been reported as interested in Thigpen, only Jacksonville has made an offer. The initial offer was a 6th round draft pick, but today, that was sweetened to a 5th round pick. The Jaguars have 37-year old Todd Bauman as their backup QB & playing behind their offensive line is a challenge that almost demands a very mobile quarterback like Thigpen. Both starting guards suffered early season ending injuries in '08 & haven't returned to form as yet. Tra Thomas, nearly 35, was signed to start at left tackle but then Jags drafted 2 tackles with their top 2 picks. It's all rather confusing, I look forward to watch this group in a couple of hours when their game with Philadelphia will be rebroadcast on the NFL Network.
I've told you over & over many teams are having difficulty selling out this year due to the tough economy. The Houston Texans, who have sold every seat to every game in the franchise's history, admitted today they have seats available for all 8 regular season games including opening day. I told you back in April this was going to happen & I hate being right this time.
Former Missouri Tiger, defensive lineman Evander "Ziggy" Hood, continues to be one of the most promising rookies in this preseason. Hood has three sacks in two games, 2 tackles for loss, one deflected pass & caused a fumble. Hood always played like his hair was on fire while he was a Tiger & he has brought that passion & all-out effort to Pittsburgh.
Edgerrin James signed with the Seahawks, a very smart move for Seattle. 'Edge' has been one of the most productive backs in NFL history & I think he's still got something left in his tank, especially since he won't have to shoulder the load. Julius Jones is the starter, but having a quality guy like James to back him up is just smart management.
Hey Chiefs' fans, remember cornerback Eric Warfield & his 3 DUI's? Make it 4. Warfield was sentenced to 1-3 years for his 4th DUI conviction in Lincoln Nebraska. Warfield played safety for the Cornhuskers & was a 7th round pick for Kansas City in 1998. He got DUI's in 2001, 2003 & 2004, served 10 days in jail & was later released by the Chiefs. He was reportedly doing a lot of charity work with children in Lincoln, now Warfield has certainly become an example of how not to live your life.
I haven't spoken much about the sexual assault civil lawsuit against Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger because I'm not interested in being a gossip site. I said I'd comment when there was something concrete to talk about. Numerous emails from the plaintiff's email account, released by Big Ben's defense team, would lead even the most skeptical person to conclude this woman created a lot of this story in her head. I won't go into all of the gory details, but one particular email sent almost 22 hours before the alleged assault occurred, stated her desire to be with Roethlisberger & maybe fixing his TV could get her an opening. In the plaintiff's lawsuit, she alleges Roethlisberger asked her to fix his TV & after entering his room & determining nothing was wrong with his TV, was assaulted. Another email proclaimed her pregnancy with Roethlisberger's baby two days after the alleged assault. I doubt this woman ever anticipated the defense team would ever go after her with such a vengeance, I don't think they're going to stop with a dismissal or a verdict for Roethlisberger, I think if it's found she completely concocted this story, they're going to humiliate her & her attorney.
Please, please, please, will African-American leaders stop comparing the plight of Michael Vick to Jackie Robinson or the new one, Martha Stewart. Philadelphia NAACP President, J. Wyatt Mondenshire, said today that Vick was being treated unfairly by fans, the media & animal activists. Mondenshire opined today "why is it fair for Martha Stewart to get out of prison & go right back to her mansions & flying on her private jets & Michael can't be treated equally?" ARE YOU SERIOUS MR. MONDENSHIRE???????? Their crimes are hardly comparable. Nearly all of her wealth was created by her. Her crime wasn't so abhorrent that she wouldn't be welcomed back on TV by most logically thinking people. She didn't spend money like a drunken sailor & be forced into bankruptcy like Vick. Her crime was she lied to government investigators, something Vick also did. But Vick brutally executed dogs by drowning, shooting & electrocution. He bred dogs to fight to the death & when they didn't, they got the death penalty from Vick himself. Ms. Stewart has featured her dogs on TV for years & they don't have to kill another animal to earn their keep. I believe Vick deserves a second chance, that's the way our system works, but please stop insulting our intelligence with these ridiculous comparisons.
One last injury note & it could be a very important one, Florida wide receiver, Carl Moore, may miss "significant time" after undergoing an undisclosed back procedure. The senior was counted on to help replace Percy Harvin & Louis Murphy, both NFL rookies. Coach Urban Meyer would only say the procedure dealt with "nerve issues & if he's lost for any time, it's bad". The remaining receivers on the Gator roster have almost no game experience.
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