DUCKS IN DUTCH, JIMMY'S A NO-THROW, STALLWORTH'S BACK & THE FASTEST 50-YEAR OLD ON THE PLANET
Chip Kelly, head coach of the Oregon Ducks, brought his team back from an embarrassing opening night defeat at Boise State to a Rose Bowl berth. He had to deal with the considerable fallout from running back LeGarrette Blount's violent outburst immediately after the Boise game & he did a terrific job in his rookie season as head man. His leadership abilities are being tested again, there are more Ducks in trouble. Early this morning, running back LaMichael James, was arrested & charged with 'assault-4, strangulation', a domestic violence charge & 'menacing'. Placekicker Rob Beard was recently beaten so severely, he required facial surgery & a 3-day stay in the ICU. Today, Eugene Police charged Beard with assault on a 19-year old woman. The charges state the assault resulted in the beating Beard absorbed minutes later. Also charged today was Duck teammate Matt Simms for assault. He is accused of retaliating against Beard's attacker, sending him to the hospital a few days after the first incident. Kelly has his hands full sorting these incidents out & dealing with possible long term affects of suspensions or dismissals.
For the first time in almost 30-years, the Kansas Jayhawks will no longer have their names on the backs of their game jersey's. New coach Turner Gill stressed it's what's on the front of the uniform,"Kansas", that counts, the Jayhawks are a team, not individuals. This is truly 'Old School' & I think it's pretty cool, plenty of the great traditional football powers don't plaster the surnames on their jersey's either, 'Bama, USC & Penn State are three that come to mind.
Former Notre Dame signal caller Jimmy Clausen won't work out at next week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis. As I told you in my previous post, many of the top prospects refuse to work out at the combine for various reasons. Clausen recently underwent surgery for a turf toe condition & running or throwing just isn't possible right now. He will travel to Indy tho, undergo a physical exam, take his Wonderlic Test & attend any & all requested team interviews. He will work out later this spring on campus as part of the Notre Dame Pro Day.
The Detroit Lions have done something I think deserves some recognition. They lowered the price of over 19,000 season tickets. The economy has been brutal in the state of Michigan, unemployment there is the highest in the nation. The Lions could sell all of their seats with a better team on the field, the ticket prices are some incentive, but the bottom line is winning.
Donte Stallworth signed with the Baltimore Ravens today. He was released by Cleveland last week after commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Stallworth. He pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in the death of a Miami man a little over a year ago. I've spoken my peace regarding Stallworth on these pages many times last year, so I won't go into it again but I believe a second chance is in order.
The Chargers are looking for another veteran running back in anticipation of the release of LaDanian Tomlinson. They plan to use Darren Sproles more, but another vet would be nice. They are said to be dangling cornerback Antonio Cromartie as trade bait. Two teams San Diego is said to be targeting are the Cowboys & Bills. Dallas has 3 running backs & the Chargers are interested in Tashard Choice. The Bills feel compelled to move Marshawn Lynch for a number of minor transgressions. Either would be excellent additions to the San Diego backfield.
So who is the fastest 50-year old on the planet? I would have to say former Redskin cornerback & 1st ballot Hall of Fame inductee Darrell Green is the guy. Green won the "NFL's Fastest Man" competition almost every year he was in the league, even in his late 30's. Green said recently he was timed in two 40-yard dashes less than a month ago & the times he ran are staggering for a 50-year old man. Green said he ran 4.46 & 4.44 in his two attempts. Considering Green ran sub-4.30 times for more than a decade, I'm going to believe Green can still pick 'em up & lay 'em down with the fastest.
For the first time in almost 30-years, the Kansas Jayhawks will no longer have their names on the backs of their game jersey's. New coach Turner Gill stressed it's what's on the front of the uniform,"Kansas", that counts, the Jayhawks are a team, not individuals. This is truly 'Old School' & I think it's pretty cool, plenty of the great traditional football powers don't plaster the surnames on their jersey's either, 'Bama, USC & Penn State are three that come to mind.
Former Notre Dame signal caller Jimmy Clausen won't work out at next week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis. As I told you in my previous post, many of the top prospects refuse to work out at the combine for various reasons. Clausen recently underwent surgery for a turf toe condition & running or throwing just isn't possible right now. He will travel to Indy tho, undergo a physical exam, take his Wonderlic Test & attend any & all requested team interviews. He will work out later this spring on campus as part of the Notre Dame Pro Day.
The Detroit Lions have done something I think deserves some recognition. They lowered the price of over 19,000 season tickets. The economy has been brutal in the state of Michigan, unemployment there is the highest in the nation. The Lions could sell all of their seats with a better team on the field, the ticket prices are some incentive, but the bottom line is winning.
Donte Stallworth signed with the Baltimore Ravens today. He was released by Cleveland last week after commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Stallworth. He pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in the death of a Miami man a little over a year ago. I've spoken my peace regarding Stallworth on these pages many times last year, so I won't go into it again but I believe a second chance is in order.
The Chargers are looking for another veteran running back in anticipation of the release of LaDanian Tomlinson. They plan to use Darren Sproles more, but another vet would be nice. They are said to be dangling cornerback Antonio Cromartie as trade bait. Two teams San Diego is said to be targeting are the Cowboys & Bills. Dallas has 3 running backs & the Chargers are interested in Tashard Choice. The Bills feel compelled to move Marshawn Lynch for a number of minor transgressions. Either would be excellent additions to the San Diego backfield.
So who is the fastest 50-year old on the planet? I would have to say former Redskin cornerback & 1st ballot Hall of Fame inductee Darrell Green is the guy. Green won the "NFL's Fastest Man" competition almost every year he was in the league, even in his late 30's. Green said recently he was timed in two 40-yard dashes less than a month ago & the times he ran are staggering for a 50-year old man. Green said he ran 4.46 & 4.44 in his two attempts. Considering Green ran sub-4.30 times for more than a decade, I'm going to believe Green can still pick 'em up & lay 'em down with the fastest.
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