BIGGEST CENTER EVER, 18-GAME SEASON APPEARS TO BE A LOCK, A FANTASY TIP, CHIEFS' QUIZ FOR YOU & ONE VERY IMPORTANT BRICK
NFL centers can range in size from 6'2 285(Casey Weigmann) to 6' 5" 325(Jamaal Jackson). But if you catch the Oakland Raiders Saturday night, you'll see the biggest center ever. Starter Samson Satele is dinged & Tom Cable intends to start rookie 3rd round pick Jared Veldheer. He is from tiny Hillsdale College in Michigan but he isn't tiny. Veldheer, measured at the NFL Combine this past April, is 6' 8 1/8" & 319 pounds. There are currently 4 centers in the league as tall as 6' 5", but not one taller. I liked Veldheer as a developmental prospect at tackle, but honestly, I never considered someone of his physical stature as a center. I won't miss this game on NFL network as they play their cross-the-bay rivals, the Forty-Niners.
The Vikings wasted no time in reinforcing their depleted wide receiver corps. Today, they acquired Miami's Greg Camarillo for an undisclosed player, believed to be former Chief cornerback Benny Sapp. Camarillo caught 50 passes in '09 & 55 the season before. With their leading receiver, Sidney Rice, shelved with hip surgery until mid-season & Percy Harvin missing most of training camp with recurring migraines, Minnesota was expected to go looking for help.
The Broncos injury bug strikes again. First round draft pick Demaryius Thomas re-injured the foot that he just rehabbed. This is the third time Thomas has missed practice time this year. Now Denver coach Josh McDaniels is saying Thomas might miss the season opener.
Tho it wasn't voted on at today's owners meeting in Atlanta, the 18-game season seems assured of passing. In fact there doesn't seem to be any real opposition to it. The reason owners didn't bring it to a vote was they now know it will easily pass but without a new CBA, what's the point? Until the NFL & the NFLPA agree on a new deal, very little will get done in the way of rule changes or something bigger, like the expanded schedule. If the owners want the 2 extra regular season games, they'll have to give the players association something, like expanded rosters. I think you'll see rosters increased to something like a 60-man roster, dressing 53 for games, plus an 8-9 man practice squad. Currently, teams carry a 53-man roster & dress 47 on gameday. They also have a 7-man practice squad. This could change as early as 2012.
I haven't played fantasy football since 1995, I found that betting on games & being a fantasy owner were a bad mix. You're rooting for a team to cover the spread but your quarterback plays for the opponent & you need him to have a big day. I didn't like it, but more importantly, my wife hated this conflict, so my tenure as a fantasy owner ended quickly. My knowledge of the different fantasy leagues is lacking & there are about 10 million fantasy owners, I went looking for a site that I could recommend. I found it yesterday, Fantasy Football Mastermind, it's about as cutting edge as I could find, their information is both timely & accurate, both excellent criteria for a fantasy website. Some of it is free, some of it is subscription, all of it is top notch with a group of superior writers. Give it a shot, type it in your URL www.ffmastermind.com, I can't get my bandwidth provider to accept it as a link, but trust me, it works.
Sports Illustrated has put together a list of the best player for every number in NFL history. Beginning with 00 & going to 99, they list a winner, a runner-up & several honorable mentions. Hey Chiefs' fans, your homework, show you accept it, is to email me your list of Chiefs who were chosen as winners & runners-up. Here's the only hint, 4 winners & 2 runners-up. Don't go looking it up, stay with the spirit of the quiz, how many can you get right? Send your answers in an email to me at rich@richsfootballreport.com
The NCAA is still investigating Lane Kiffin & his one year stint with Tennessee. He's been interviewed, former #1 recruit Bryce Brown(now enrolled at K-State) spent a couple of hours with investigators & now David Reaves is going to be grilled on Thursday. Who is David Reaves? Well he's the passing game coordinator at New Mexico. Still don't get the connection? Reaves is Kiffin's brother-in-law, the guy Kiffin left holding the bag in Knoxville. Kiffin didn't even tell Reaves he was fleeing west to USC, he & his wife saw it on the evening news, that's how they found out his was now an unemployed assitant coach. Nice huh? Think if there's anything bad to say about Kiffin, Reaves will keep it a secret, falling on his sword for his in-laws? Could be interesting, but in the end, if there is some dirt, sadly it will fall on Tennessee.
Also in Trojan news, new Athletic Director Pat Haden was on The Dan Patrick Show Tuesday morning & he was asked if he thought Reggie Bush should return his Heisman Trophy. USC returned the duplicate version to the Heisman Trust & rid the hallowed halls in Trojanville of any & all evidence that Reggie Bush ever played there. Haden said "if he had Pat Haden's soul, he'd return the award." The sad thing is Reggie feels about zero accountability for what he did to Southern Cal, unless the Heisman Trust revokes the award, Bush will never return the trophy.
Mizzou's leader among the returning pass catchers, Jerrell Jackson, suffered a broken bone in his left wrist two weeks ago. I told you then it was thought he would miss up to 2 regular season games. But as Jackson is already back on the practice field running, the question is how bad was the break & how soon will he return? Jackson admitted he had a small screw surgically implanted & that hastened his recovery. He also said he has "no doubt" he'll be ready for the Illinois game on September 4th.
I told you last week when I visited the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium, there were two large areas of brick pavers in the Founder's Plaza on the building's northside. About 75% of the bricks were dedicated to various people who were lifelong Chiefs' fans & even a few former players. I jokingly mentioned I might get a brick dedicated to me, I've been a lifelong Chiefs' fan, I went to the very first Chiefs' regular season game way back in 1963 & had Chiefs season tickets for decades. But realistically, what I really wanted to investigate was getting a brick dedicated to the three people who got me hooked on Chiefs' football, my dad, Bob Stewart, his best friend, Dick Layden & Dick's wife Betty. They had Chiefs' season tickets from the jump & never missed a game for decades. The Layden family & the Stewart family were as close as could be, my sisters & I spent many a Christmas with the Layden family, their kids & grandkids. We're still super close. This evening the Chiefs had an open house out at Arrowhead for the fans to see the "new" stadium. One of the Layden kids(she's nearly as old as me) & two of her daughters went out there tonight & they emailed this picture to me.
I was completely blown away, speechless when I saw the picture, it's a wonderful, loving gesture to three of the original Chiefs' fans. Three very special people in my life. My 81-year old mom is still a dyed in the wool Chiefs' fan as well, loyalty to this franchise runs deep in my family, as it does it the Layden-Nagel family. They still sit in the seats originally occupied by Betty, Dick & Bob. Words cannot describe how happy this has made me, it's a wonderful tribute & I have the Nagel family to thank. From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much.
The Vikings wasted no time in reinforcing their depleted wide receiver corps. Today, they acquired Miami's Greg Camarillo for an undisclosed player, believed to be former Chief cornerback Benny Sapp. Camarillo caught 50 passes in '09 & 55 the season before. With their leading receiver, Sidney Rice, shelved with hip surgery until mid-season & Percy Harvin missing most of training camp with recurring migraines, Minnesota was expected to go looking for help.
The Broncos injury bug strikes again. First round draft pick Demaryius Thomas re-injured the foot that he just rehabbed. This is the third time Thomas has missed practice time this year. Now Denver coach Josh McDaniels is saying Thomas might miss the season opener.
Tho it wasn't voted on at today's owners meeting in Atlanta, the 18-game season seems assured of passing. In fact there doesn't seem to be any real opposition to it. The reason owners didn't bring it to a vote was they now know it will easily pass but without a new CBA, what's the point? Until the NFL & the NFLPA agree on a new deal, very little will get done in the way of rule changes or something bigger, like the expanded schedule. If the owners want the 2 extra regular season games, they'll have to give the players association something, like expanded rosters. I think you'll see rosters increased to something like a 60-man roster, dressing 53 for games, plus an 8-9 man practice squad. Currently, teams carry a 53-man roster & dress 47 on gameday. They also have a 7-man practice squad. This could change as early as 2012.
I haven't played fantasy football since 1995, I found that betting on games & being a fantasy owner were a bad mix. You're rooting for a team to cover the spread but your quarterback plays for the opponent & you need him to have a big day. I didn't like it, but more importantly, my wife hated this conflict, so my tenure as a fantasy owner ended quickly. My knowledge of the different fantasy leagues is lacking & there are about 10 million fantasy owners, I went looking for a site that I could recommend. I found it yesterday, Fantasy Football Mastermind, it's about as cutting edge as I could find, their information is both timely & accurate, both excellent criteria for a fantasy website. Some of it is free, some of it is subscription, all of it is top notch with a group of superior writers. Give it a shot, type it in your URL www.ffmastermind.com, I can't get my bandwidth provider to accept it as a link, but trust me, it works.
Sports Illustrated has put together a list of the best player for every number in NFL history. Beginning with 00 & going to 99, they list a winner, a runner-up & several honorable mentions. Hey Chiefs' fans, your homework, show you accept it, is to email me your list of Chiefs who were chosen as winners & runners-up. Here's the only hint, 4 winners & 2 runners-up. Don't go looking it up, stay with the spirit of the quiz, how many can you get right? Send your answers in an email to me at rich@richsfootballreport.com
The NCAA is still investigating Lane Kiffin & his one year stint with Tennessee. He's been interviewed, former #1 recruit Bryce Brown(now enrolled at K-State) spent a couple of hours with investigators & now David Reaves is going to be grilled on Thursday. Who is David Reaves? Well he's the passing game coordinator at New Mexico. Still don't get the connection? Reaves is Kiffin's brother-in-law, the guy Kiffin left holding the bag in Knoxville. Kiffin didn't even tell Reaves he was fleeing west to USC, he & his wife saw it on the evening news, that's how they found out his was now an unemployed assitant coach. Nice huh? Think if there's anything bad to say about Kiffin, Reaves will keep it a secret, falling on his sword for his in-laws? Could be interesting, but in the end, if there is some dirt, sadly it will fall on Tennessee.
Also in Trojan news, new Athletic Director Pat Haden was on The Dan Patrick Show Tuesday morning & he was asked if he thought Reggie Bush should return his Heisman Trophy. USC returned the duplicate version to the Heisman Trust & rid the hallowed halls in Trojanville of any & all evidence that Reggie Bush ever played there. Haden said "if he had Pat Haden's soul, he'd return the award." The sad thing is Reggie feels about zero accountability for what he did to Southern Cal, unless the Heisman Trust revokes the award, Bush will never return the trophy.
Mizzou's leader among the returning pass catchers, Jerrell Jackson, suffered a broken bone in his left wrist two weeks ago. I told you then it was thought he would miss up to 2 regular season games. But as Jackson is already back on the practice field running, the question is how bad was the break & how soon will he return? Jackson admitted he had a small screw surgically implanted & that hastened his recovery. He also said he has "no doubt" he'll be ready for the Illinois game on September 4th.
I told you last week when I visited the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium, there were two large areas of brick pavers in the Founder's Plaza on the building's northside. About 75% of the bricks were dedicated to various people who were lifelong Chiefs' fans & even a few former players. I jokingly mentioned I might get a brick dedicated to me, I've been a lifelong Chiefs' fan, I went to the very first Chiefs' regular season game way back in 1963 & had Chiefs season tickets for decades. But realistically, what I really wanted to investigate was getting a brick dedicated to the three people who got me hooked on Chiefs' football, my dad, Bob Stewart, his best friend, Dick Layden & Dick's wife Betty. They had Chiefs' season tickets from the jump & never missed a game for decades. The Layden family & the Stewart family were as close as could be, my sisters & I spent many a Christmas with the Layden family, their kids & grandkids. We're still super close. This evening the Chiefs had an open house out at Arrowhead for the fans to see the "new" stadium. One of the Layden kids(she's nearly as old as me) & two of her daughters went out there tonight & they emailed this picture to me.
I was completely blown away, speechless when I saw the picture, it's a wonderful, loving gesture to three of the original Chiefs' fans. Three very special people in my life. My 81-year old mom is still a dyed in the wool Chiefs' fan as well, loyalty to this franchise runs deep in my family, as it does it the Layden-Nagel family. They still sit in the seats originally occupied by Betty, Dick & Bob. Words cannot describe how happy this has made me, it's a wonderful tribute & I have the Nagel family to thank. From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much.
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