CHIEFS CHANGE TACKLES, CHASE FINDS A HOME & MORE USC KARMA
One of my bigger whipping boys from the Chiefs offensive line, tackle Barry Richardson, was waived Sunday to make room for another tackle, Ryan O'Callaghan. Any guesses where O'Callaghan came from? Anybody guess New England? Yeah, that was way too easy. So what's his story? O'Callaghan went to Cal & was a 5th round draft pick of the Pats in the 2006 draft. He's big, 6-7 330 & looking at my notes from that draft, I'd say he'll be our starter on the right side. He started 7 games for the Patriots, one as a rookie & 6 in 2007. Both times he was subbing for an injured Nick Kaczur. O'Callaghan missed the entire 2008 season with a shoulder injury. He was replaced by rookie Sebastian Vollmer(a guy I wanted for the Chiefs) because he can sub on either side & O'Callaghan is strictly a right tackle. O'Callaghan may take a few weeks to get up to speed but eventually the Chiefs line should be; LT-Brandon Albert, LG Brian Waters, C-Rudy Niswanger, RG Mike Goff or Ike Ndukwe & RT-O'Callaghan. Which should be an improvement. The Chiefs put Mizzou tackle Colin Brown on injured reserve, basically stashing him for next year. He's the same size as O'Callaghan & his playing style is similar, good run drive blockers, can stalemate power rushers, but both have had difficulty with speed rushers. Both are a little top heavy, losing their balance more than they should. Perhaps Haley will put them on diets like he did with so many Chiefs, the team has already lost a collective 800 pounds.
Former Mizzou quarterback, Chase Daniel has found a new home, albeit temporary, with the New Orleans Saints. At least he'll be with a team that doesn't require a tall QB. Stater Drew Brees might be a half-an-inch taller than Daniel. Daniel cleared waivers & was put on the practice squad.
Speaking of practice squad players, the Minnesota Vikings assigned QB John David Booty & RB Ian Johnson to their practice squad. Booty was bumped from the active roster when Brett Favre was signed, plus Favre took his number. Ian Johnson, formerly of Boise State, was the kid who scored the winning 2-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma on the statue of liberty play. He then ran over to the Bronco cheerleaders, dropped to one knee in front of his girlfriend & proposed marriage. The 2 have been married for over a year.
Yesterday, former Oregon running back, LeGarrette Blount, asked coach Chip Kelly if he could call Boise State coach Chris Peterson & apologize for the meltdown he had after their game Thursday night. Blount called Peterson, they spoke for about 20 minutes & right after that call he received one from John Gruden. Gruden wanted to give Blount some ideas on how best to rehab his reputation. Blount is saying & doing all the right things, I sincerely hope he means them. His actions Thursday night were absolutely disgraceful. He looked like a thug, he was scary, especially when he wanted to go into the stands for a piece of a couple of his tormentors. I think the punishment fit the crime, he's played his last college football game. There needs to be consequences when people cross the line & Blount certainly crossed that line. I thought Bryon Haut, the Boise State player he sucker-punched, should have gotten a 2-game suspension for taunting Blount. Had Blount been able to control himself after punching Haut, he'd still be on the Duck's football team, just suspended for maybe 2 games, but when he struck two teammates, tried to go into the crowd & required 2 coaches & 3 police officers to restrain him, he was all done at Oregon. I was glad to see the Oregon administration didn't kick him out of school, the young man obviously needs counseling & some anger management. Keeping him with the team so he can practice & stay in shape was a good thing for Blount too. He just won't be able to play in games. Nice to see people like John Gruden taking an interest in this kid's life, he needs some people in his corner that he will respect & learn from, people that are capable of telling him "no".
And now, from the really weird police blotter. San Diego linebacker, all-pro Shawne Merriman, was arrested Saturday night in his home after the police were called by his girlfriend, Tila Nguyen, aka Tila Tequila of MTV fame. Well fame might be a little strong, she's probably had her 15 minutes in the spotlight. Anyway, police were called by Nguyen, she accused Merriman of battery & false imprisonment or kidnapping. I've seen it called both. According to police she was very intoxicated(really?) & she claimed Merriman grabbed her & held her down. This tattooed, admitted former gang member with the extra-large enhanced bustline couldn't speak a sentence without being bleeped on her show, she's really quite lovely. Merriman claims she was roaring drunk & he didn't want her to drive back home in this condition. The police took statements from several witnesses at Merriman's home, so the real story will come out most likely. I hated that he came back with a blue mohawk haircut this summer & now that I hear Tila Tequila is his girlfriend, I'm beginning to understand some of Merriman's actions. One more item on Merriman, if you've ever watched him introduced before a game or get a quarterback sack, he does what he calls "the lights out dance". A few years ago some Patriot players mocked him, doing the dance after they beat the Chargers in San Diego. Merriman & LaDanian Tomlinson were really offended by the Patriots doing what is apparently supposed to be a sacred Charger thing. I hesitate to go any further, this whole "dance" thing has a pretty high 'icky' factor. Anyway, Merriman told a writer at the Chargers last exhibition game, that if the fans didn't start filling all the seats, he wasn't going to do the dance when he was introduced. I guess that's fair warning to all those out of work San Diego football fans, better start using your unemployment checks to buy football tickets or Shawne isn't going to dance anymore. He's firmly grounded wouldn't you say? If there was such thing as an "out of touch" meter, Merriman's would be pegged 24/7.
I found out two of Mark Mangino's suspensions for Saturday's Northern Colorado game, were for actions during spring practices. Dezmon Briscoe's was for academic issues & defensive tackle Jamal Greene's was for "violation of team policies". Both have been reinstated.
From Sunday's Los Angeles Times, USC's true freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley, was asked what it was like to play in his first college game. He said "This is fun. This is easy. This what I was meant to do". The reporter incredulously asked if there was anything hard about the game & Barkley responded "The run up the tunnel at halftime, that was brutal". I think this kid is absolutely perfect for Pete Carroll, Trojan head coach. They can take turns mocking opponents, spouting all about their invincibility, just generally flexing their egos. The Trojans travel to Columbus Ohio Saturday to play Ohio State & it's all set up. USC is a touchdown favorite, they crushed San Jose State Saturday 56-3, while Ohio State struggled with Navy, barely winning 31-27. No way the Buckeyes can hang with the superior 'Men of Troy'. As ESPN's Lee Corso would say on "College Gameday" Saturday mornings, "not so fast my friend". This might be USC's karma comeuppance, here or October 3rd at Cal. There's a hell of a difference playing in the Colosseum in front of 60,000 friendly fans & traveling to the "Big Horseshoe" to play before 105,000 screaming Ohio State fans. Let's see the true freshman tell us it was easy after this game. If he does make it look easy & the Trojans win, I'll begin stretching so my foot will actually reach my big mouth.
Today's real name of the day; Tress Way, punter, Oklahoma.
Former Mizzou quarterback, Chase Daniel has found a new home, albeit temporary, with the New Orleans Saints. At least he'll be with a team that doesn't require a tall QB. Stater Drew Brees might be a half-an-inch taller than Daniel. Daniel cleared waivers & was put on the practice squad.
Speaking of practice squad players, the Minnesota Vikings assigned QB John David Booty & RB Ian Johnson to their practice squad. Booty was bumped from the active roster when Brett Favre was signed, plus Favre took his number. Ian Johnson, formerly of Boise State, was the kid who scored the winning 2-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma on the statue of liberty play. He then ran over to the Bronco cheerleaders, dropped to one knee in front of his girlfriend & proposed marriage. The 2 have been married for over a year.
Yesterday, former Oregon running back, LeGarrette Blount, asked coach Chip Kelly if he could call Boise State coach Chris Peterson & apologize for the meltdown he had after their game Thursday night. Blount called Peterson, they spoke for about 20 minutes & right after that call he received one from John Gruden. Gruden wanted to give Blount some ideas on how best to rehab his reputation. Blount is saying & doing all the right things, I sincerely hope he means them. His actions Thursday night were absolutely disgraceful. He looked like a thug, he was scary, especially when he wanted to go into the stands for a piece of a couple of his tormentors. I think the punishment fit the crime, he's played his last college football game. There needs to be consequences when people cross the line & Blount certainly crossed that line. I thought Bryon Haut, the Boise State player he sucker-punched, should have gotten a 2-game suspension for taunting Blount. Had Blount been able to control himself after punching Haut, he'd still be on the Duck's football team, just suspended for maybe 2 games, but when he struck two teammates, tried to go into the crowd & required 2 coaches & 3 police officers to restrain him, he was all done at Oregon. I was glad to see the Oregon administration didn't kick him out of school, the young man obviously needs counseling & some anger management. Keeping him with the team so he can practice & stay in shape was a good thing for Blount too. He just won't be able to play in games. Nice to see people like John Gruden taking an interest in this kid's life, he needs some people in his corner that he will respect & learn from, people that are capable of telling him "no".
And now, from the really weird police blotter. San Diego linebacker, all-pro Shawne Merriman, was arrested Saturday night in his home after the police were called by his girlfriend, Tila Nguyen, aka Tila Tequila of MTV fame. Well fame might be a little strong, she's probably had her 15 minutes in the spotlight. Anyway, police were called by Nguyen, she accused Merriman of battery & false imprisonment or kidnapping. I've seen it called both. According to police she was very intoxicated(really?) & she claimed Merriman grabbed her & held her down. This tattooed, admitted former gang member with the extra-large enhanced bustline couldn't speak a sentence without being bleeped on her show, she's really quite lovely. Merriman claims she was roaring drunk & he didn't want her to drive back home in this condition. The police took statements from several witnesses at Merriman's home, so the real story will come out most likely. I hated that he came back with a blue mohawk haircut this summer & now that I hear Tila Tequila is his girlfriend, I'm beginning to understand some of Merriman's actions. One more item on Merriman, if you've ever watched him introduced before a game or get a quarterback sack, he does what he calls "the lights out dance". A few years ago some Patriot players mocked him, doing the dance after they beat the Chargers in San Diego. Merriman & LaDanian Tomlinson were really offended by the Patriots doing what is apparently supposed to be a sacred Charger thing. I hesitate to go any further, this whole "dance" thing has a pretty high 'icky' factor. Anyway, Merriman told a writer at the Chargers last exhibition game, that if the fans didn't start filling all the seats, he wasn't going to do the dance when he was introduced. I guess that's fair warning to all those out of work San Diego football fans, better start using your unemployment checks to buy football tickets or Shawne isn't going to dance anymore. He's firmly grounded wouldn't you say? If there was such thing as an "out of touch" meter, Merriman's would be pegged 24/7.
I found out two of Mark Mangino's suspensions for Saturday's Northern Colorado game, were for actions during spring practices. Dezmon Briscoe's was for academic issues & defensive tackle Jamal Greene's was for "violation of team policies". Both have been reinstated.
From Sunday's Los Angeles Times, USC's true freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley, was asked what it was like to play in his first college game. He said "This is fun. This is easy. This what I was meant to do". The reporter incredulously asked if there was anything hard about the game & Barkley responded "The run up the tunnel at halftime, that was brutal". I think this kid is absolutely perfect for Pete Carroll, Trojan head coach. They can take turns mocking opponents, spouting all about their invincibility, just generally flexing their egos. The Trojans travel to Columbus Ohio Saturday to play Ohio State & it's all set up. USC is a touchdown favorite, they crushed San Jose State Saturday 56-3, while Ohio State struggled with Navy, barely winning 31-27. No way the Buckeyes can hang with the superior 'Men of Troy'. As ESPN's Lee Corso would say on "College Gameday" Saturday mornings, "not so fast my friend". This might be USC's karma comeuppance, here or October 3rd at Cal. There's a hell of a difference playing in the Colosseum in front of 60,000 friendly fans & traveling to the "Big Horseshoe" to play before 105,000 screaming Ohio State fans. Let's see the true freshman tell us it was easy after this game. If he does make it look easy & the Trojans win, I'll begin stretching so my foot will actually reach my big mouth.
Today's real name of the day; Tress Way, punter, Oklahoma.
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