MIZZOU BECOMING A MESS, TROJANS ASKED TO "GIVE IT BACK", LEINART OUT IN AZ & BRADFORD SHINES WHILE THE COLTS GET SMOKED
The Missouri football program has been pretty much squeaky clean under Gary Pinkel the past 10 seasons. But just days after starting linebacker Wil Ebner was charged with DUI, the Tigers' leading rusher the past two seasons, Derrick Washington, has been "suspended indefinitely" by Pinkel for "disciplinary reasons." After a full day of digging, it appears Washington was going to be charged in a June 7th assault on a Columbia woman. A Boone County judge issued a restraining order prohibiting Washington from having contact with the yet unnamed woman. She asked to file charges against Washington but after two extensions were granted to the DA, the charges were dismissed without prejudice. Washington has rushed for 1,901 yards the past two seasons, caught 55 passes & scored 29 touchdowns. Sophomore Kendial Lawrence will move into the starting spot.
Every preseason All-Big-12 team I've seen so far lists Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson as the 1st team signal caller. I'm having some difficulty with this, not because Johnson isn't a very talented QB, but because these national media-types who vote for these ridiculous all-conference teams before a game is even played, are somewhat out of touch. Johnson had off-season surgery on his throwing shoulder & has yet to throw at full strength in training camp. The season starts in nine days & he's already been declared the best QB in the conference?
The FWAA(Football Writers Association of America) has officially asked Southern Cal to return the Grantland Rice Trophy from their 2004 season. This is one of the so-called national championship trophies & it's the first to be recalled. USC AD Pat Haden said on Wednesday the school would ship the award back immediately. I have to believe the BCS folks will issue a similar request for their crystal trophy very soon.
Arizona Cardinal coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Wednesday Derek Anderson would start in Saturday's game with the Bears. Matt Leinart has been demoted apparently & there's even talk out in the desert he could be shipped out to Seattle to be reunited with his college coach, Pete Carroll. Leinart looked terrible the other night against Tennessee & Whisenhunt yanked him pretty quickly. After the game, a couple of Titan defenders intimated Leinart was tipping the plays pre-snap. Anyone knows there's a helluva drop-off from the now retired Kurt Warner, but it didn't take much time for Whisenhunt to banish Leinart to the bench. There have long been rumors that Leinart doesn't take the game seriously enough & some of his teammates don't think of him as a leader. One of those teammates is said to be all-world wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Did you get to see Sam Bradford's debut in Foxboro tonight? I caught the game on NFL Network & was really impressed. The Patriots are hardly a pack of stiffs, but the lowly Rams roared up & down the field most of the evening totaling 462 yards of total offense. Bradford was 15 of 22 for 189 yards, two touchdowns & a QB rating of 125. He took several hits, but the accuracy he showed at Oklahoma was apparent tonight. He was very cool under fire & did a decent job of sidestepping rushers in the pocket. In all the excitement of Bradford's performance was WR Donnie Avery, last season's leading receiver, sustaining what appeared to be a severe knee injury. New England's Tom Brady was outstanding as well completing 18 of 22 for 273 yards & 3 scores. Two rookie tight ends excelled in this contest, Rams 5th round pick, Michael Hoomanawanui(honest, that's his name) caught two TD passes & New England's 2nd round selection, Rob Gronkowski grabbed two touchdown passes as well. Another Ram who continues to have a good preseason is WR/PR Danny Amendola. He caught 5 passes for 50-yards & returned 3 punts for 50-yards. Amendola reminds me of Patriot WR Wes Welker. Both went to Texas Tech, both were undrafted, both are very small & both return punts as well as play slot receiver. If Avery is lost for the season, Amendola may become a receiver Bradford can trust. Once again the ancient "running back by committee" the Pats use came up short. Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris & Kevin Faulk, all 34-years of age, could only muster 28-yards rushing for the game. The Patriot defense didn't show up tonight, the Rams converted 11 of 17 on third down. If I were Bill Belichick, I would be concerned, this was the Rams. Another thing I saw in this game, once again, Ram DE Chris Long being no factor whatsoever. In three preseason games, Howie's boy has 3 tackles & zero sacks, QB pressures or QB hits. He was selected three picks before Glenn Dorsey in the 2008 draft, maybe that draft was over-rated at DT. I believe it was, New Orleans' snagged Sedrick Ellis in the 1st round & he has started ever since, he is the lone defensive tackle from that draft to excel. By the way, Rams kicker Josh Brown booted a 37-yard field goal with no time left to defeat the Patriots 36-35.
The Packers opened up a can of "whup-ass" on Indianapolis tonight inside Lambeau Field, pounding the Colts 59-24. Indy jumped out to a 17-7 lead behind the passing of Peyton Manning. But after the Packers covered a muffed punt in the endzone for the go ahead score, the rout was on. The Colts committed four turnovers, gave up five touchdown passes & two special teams scores. It wasn't pretty for Colt fans. Green Bay TE Jermichael Finley continues his outstanding preseason catching 6 passes for 85 yards & a score. Aaron Rodgers has an outstanding group of receivers & he looks deadly so far. If I knew CB Al Harris would be ready to go opening day & they had a bookend pass rusher to team with OLB Clay Mathews, the Pack would be my NFC Super Bowl pick without a doubt. They still might be.
Remember to submit your answers to the "Best Player for each Number" quiz. I asked which Kansas City Chiefs were considered the all-time best player to wear their specific number. I told you there were 4 winners & 2 runners-up. Please submit your answers to my email account: rich@richsfootballreport.com
If you want to read any of the 595 posts I've written for this site over the past 18-months, just click on the archives to the left & you can choose any or all.
Every preseason All-Big-12 team I've seen so far lists Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson as the 1st team signal caller. I'm having some difficulty with this, not because Johnson isn't a very talented QB, but because these national media-types who vote for these ridiculous all-conference teams before a game is even played, are somewhat out of touch. Johnson had off-season surgery on his throwing shoulder & has yet to throw at full strength in training camp. The season starts in nine days & he's already been declared the best QB in the conference?
The FWAA(Football Writers Association of America) has officially asked Southern Cal to return the Grantland Rice Trophy from their 2004 season. This is one of the so-called national championship trophies & it's the first to be recalled. USC AD Pat Haden said on Wednesday the school would ship the award back immediately. I have to believe the BCS folks will issue a similar request for their crystal trophy very soon.
Arizona Cardinal coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Wednesday Derek Anderson would start in Saturday's game with the Bears. Matt Leinart has been demoted apparently & there's even talk out in the desert he could be shipped out to Seattle to be reunited with his college coach, Pete Carroll. Leinart looked terrible the other night against Tennessee & Whisenhunt yanked him pretty quickly. After the game, a couple of Titan defenders intimated Leinart was tipping the plays pre-snap. Anyone knows there's a helluva drop-off from the now retired Kurt Warner, but it didn't take much time for Whisenhunt to banish Leinart to the bench. There have long been rumors that Leinart doesn't take the game seriously enough & some of his teammates don't think of him as a leader. One of those teammates is said to be all-world wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Did you get to see Sam Bradford's debut in Foxboro tonight? I caught the game on NFL Network & was really impressed. The Patriots are hardly a pack of stiffs, but the lowly Rams roared up & down the field most of the evening totaling 462 yards of total offense. Bradford was 15 of 22 for 189 yards, two touchdowns & a QB rating of 125. He took several hits, but the accuracy he showed at Oklahoma was apparent tonight. He was very cool under fire & did a decent job of sidestepping rushers in the pocket. In all the excitement of Bradford's performance was WR Donnie Avery, last season's leading receiver, sustaining what appeared to be a severe knee injury. New England's Tom Brady was outstanding as well completing 18 of 22 for 273 yards & 3 scores. Two rookie tight ends excelled in this contest, Rams 5th round pick, Michael Hoomanawanui(honest, that's his name) caught two TD passes & New England's 2nd round selection, Rob Gronkowski grabbed two touchdown passes as well. Another Ram who continues to have a good preseason is WR/PR Danny Amendola. He caught 5 passes for 50-yards & returned 3 punts for 50-yards. Amendola reminds me of Patriot WR Wes Welker. Both went to Texas Tech, both were undrafted, both are very small & both return punts as well as play slot receiver. If Avery is lost for the season, Amendola may become a receiver Bradford can trust. Once again the ancient "running back by committee" the Pats use came up short. Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris & Kevin Faulk, all 34-years of age, could only muster 28-yards rushing for the game. The Patriot defense didn't show up tonight, the Rams converted 11 of 17 on third down. If I were Bill Belichick, I would be concerned, this was the Rams. Another thing I saw in this game, once again, Ram DE Chris Long being no factor whatsoever. In three preseason games, Howie's boy has 3 tackles & zero sacks, QB pressures or QB hits. He was selected three picks before Glenn Dorsey in the 2008 draft, maybe that draft was over-rated at DT. I believe it was, New Orleans' snagged Sedrick Ellis in the 1st round & he has started ever since, he is the lone defensive tackle from that draft to excel. By the way, Rams kicker Josh Brown booted a 37-yard field goal with no time left to defeat the Patriots 36-35.
The Packers opened up a can of "whup-ass" on Indianapolis tonight inside Lambeau Field, pounding the Colts 59-24. Indy jumped out to a 17-7 lead behind the passing of Peyton Manning. But after the Packers covered a muffed punt in the endzone for the go ahead score, the rout was on. The Colts committed four turnovers, gave up five touchdown passes & two special teams scores. It wasn't pretty for Colt fans. Green Bay TE Jermichael Finley continues his outstanding preseason catching 6 passes for 85 yards & a score. Aaron Rodgers has an outstanding group of receivers & he looks deadly so far. If I knew CB Al Harris would be ready to go opening day & they had a bookend pass rusher to team with OLB Clay Mathews, the Pack would be my NFC Super Bowl pick without a doubt. They still might be.
Remember to submit your answers to the "Best Player for each Number" quiz. I asked which Kansas City Chiefs were considered the all-time best player to wear their specific number. I told you there were 4 winners & 2 runners-up. Please submit your answers to my email account: rich@richsfootballreport.com
If you want to read any of the 595 posts I've written for this site over the past 18-months, just click on the archives to the left & you can choose any or all.
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