"BIG HIT" PICS COME DOWN, COLTS MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE, T.O. PLAYS THE RACE CARD & SO WHO IS A "GUTLESS BATSTARD?"
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday afternoon the "big hit" pictures have been taken down from the NFLphotoshop.com website. Aiello said the site is maintained by an outside contractor, Replaystore.com & the photos were placed online without consulting with league officials. "We regret the mistake. The photos will be taken down & we will ensure that no photos of illegal hits will be authorized again" Aiello said. The site had also advertised a photo of Brandon Meriweather's helmet-to-helmet shot on Todd Heap. When it comes to really poor public relations, this one is a beaut.
Jacksonville signed another quarterback on Wednesday as Patrick Ramsey joined the Jaguars. Right now, it looks as tho David Garrard is out for Sunday, he didn't practice or even show at the training facility on Wednesday. Newly acquired Trent Edwards was in the trainer's room with his hand in a soft cast. So when the Jags come to Arrowhead, their QB's look to be Todd Bauman & Patrick Ramsey. The Chiefs made a personnel move to fill Alex Magee's roster spot after he was traded yesterday, Atiyyah Ellison was signed. The former 3rd round pick out of Missouri was drafted by Carolina, but has also played for Baltimore & Jacksonville. He started 6 games for the Jags last season.
The Jimmy Clausen experiment has been shelved for now in Carolina. Former starter Matt Moore has been reinstated as the Panthers' starting quarterback.
More QB injury news out of Tennessee as both Vince Young & Kerry Collins missed Wednesday practice. Young sustained a knee sprain in Monday night's win over Jacksonville & his backup, Kerry Collins, also sat out with a finger sprain of his throwing hand.
I told you Charger kicker Nate Kaeding has another groin injury & San Diego signed Kris Brown, former Steeler & Texan, to handle the kicking chores until Kaeding is healthy again.
Colt McCoy will start again for the Browns in New Orleans. He'll do so without right tackle Tony Pashos, who was placed on I.R. with an ankle injury. Cleveland also put DE Robaire Smith on injured reserve with a back ailment.
The injury news out of Indianapolis is not good. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, tight end Dallas Clark could be lost for the rest of the season with an undisclosed wrist injury. He has caught 384 Peyton Manning passes & 44 touchdowns in his Colt career. Schefter reported Clark has appointments for 2nd & 3rd opinions on his injury, which isn't a good sign. The bad news doesn't stop there, RB Joseph Addai might miss a couple of games after re-injuring his shoulder blade & sustaining a stinger that has left his hand numb. Jim Caldwell said Addai would be fine, he just needed rest. Punter Pat McAfee was suspended for one game by Caldwell after being arrested near daybreak Monday morning. McAfee was crawling out of a landscape canal when he was spotted by a private security officer who called the law. McAfee blew .15 on the breathalyzer, hence his one-game suspension. Too bad he wasn't on the Jets, they just look the other way on DUI's. With Indy's next seven games, Houston, at Philly, Cincy, at New England, San Diego, Dallas & at Tennessee, it's gonna be all hands on deck for their playoff run.
I'm constantly amazed at the people who get paying jobs with major internet sites. Peter Schrager, of FOXSports.com, posted his "Fearless Predictions" on their website & I gotta tell you, he's clueless. Not because he predicted the Chargers to beat New England, that could happen I guess, but it was the snarky comment "you know the Chargers aren't in any trouble, what will it take to win their division, a 6-10 record?" No Peter, more like 9-7 or 10-6 & with all the injuries the Chargers have, I don't see them repeating their 11-game winning streak from 2009 to finish the season. The most they could win now is 10-straight & with New England, Indy, Tennessee, Houston & a return match with the Chiefs, I doubt they will win more than 10-games. Maybe that will be enough to clinch the AFC West, maybe it won't. With all their turmoil & injuries, I think the Chargers may not make it this year. But whoever wins the division, they'll need more than a 6-10 record.
I'm not nor have I ever been a Terrell Owens fan, I think he's a great wide receiver, but he's even better at being a real knucklehead. He & Chad 85 have a show on Versus called the T. Ocho Show. Taping the show today, T. O. played the race card. His co-host downplayed some of Owens' accusations but they're out there regardless. Owens said the reason Ben Roethlisberger only received a 4-game suspension was because he is white. He complained Michael Vick wasn't able to play football "for years but Ben only got a month off cuz he's white." Michael Vick wasn't able to play football for years because he was in prison. Let's set the record straight O.K.? "Plus he got in that motorcycle wreck & got nothing for it." Owens said. Once again, to set the record straight, Roethlisberger wasn't charged in the motorcycle wreck. He's never been charged for anything. I doubt he's innocent in the second sexual assault investigation, but bottom-line, he was never charged with anything. Roethlisberger was suspended for a series of bad behavior. Michael Vick was convicted of federal crimes. It isn't always about race. With two games remaining on the schedule against Pittsburgh, this might not have been a real sharp thing to do, but Owens never let his team get in the way of personal notoriety.
I neglected to mention something I had never seen in all my years watching Nebraska football. In Saturday's loss at home to Texas, Husker wide receiver Niles Paul dropped three passes. After the last two he was booed rather lustily. Never thought I'd see that in Lincoln.
Mizzou defensive end Aldon Smith returned to full practice in pads on Wednesday paving the way for his return from a leg fracture in week 2 of the season. This is great news for Tiger hopes on Saturday night.
I noticed some strange lines today when I spent a little time actually examining all 65-games on which I can choose to wager. Notre Dame is a 7-point favorite at Navy, a team that has beaten the Irish 2 of the last 3 years & almost beat them in the third. Seems like too much. Arizona, minus starting QB Nick Foles, is a 6 1/2 point favorite over Washington. The 5-8 Huskies whipped the 8-5 Wildcats last season & beat Oregon State & USC this season. Another line that seems too high. Georgia is laying 4-points at Kentucky. The 3-4 Bulldogs have been favored in every game with less than spectacular results. Kentucky, 4-3, is coming off an upset of South Carolina & can be dangerous at home. Georgia plays Florida next week & could be looking ahead, I'm just sayin'.
I've quoted SI'com's Stewart Mandel many times here, he's one of my very favorite college football writers. From personal experience, I can tell you no matter what you write, no two people see it the same way. That's long been a sore spot with Mandel too. He printed this email today: "How do you have time to write articles between all your Gator bashing?" I loved his reply: "I work on them between Florida touchdowns, it gives me a good two to three hours of uninterupted work time."
Here's two guys I can't see having a beer together anytime soon. Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was formerly in the same position with the Atlanta Falcons, the Bengals opponent this Sunday. Zimmer was asked if he had fond memories of his year in Atlanta & since his only season there was working for Bobby Petrino, it wasn't a fond memory. Petrino walked out on the Falcons 6-games into the 2007 season without even a courtesy phone call to his assistant coaches. "He's a gutless bastard" Zimmer said, "quote that, I don't give a s**t!" When told they couldn't use the "B" word in print, Zimmer said "O.K. how about this? He's a gutless MF, I know you can use that." Anybody else get the impression Petrino better stay at Arkansas & not ever get NFL aspirations again?
Questions or comments? Email at rich@richsfootballreport.com or leave a comment at the end of any post.
Jacksonville signed another quarterback on Wednesday as Patrick Ramsey joined the Jaguars. Right now, it looks as tho David Garrard is out for Sunday, he didn't practice or even show at the training facility on Wednesday. Newly acquired Trent Edwards was in the trainer's room with his hand in a soft cast. So when the Jags come to Arrowhead, their QB's look to be Todd Bauman & Patrick Ramsey. The Chiefs made a personnel move to fill Alex Magee's roster spot after he was traded yesterday, Atiyyah Ellison was signed. The former 3rd round pick out of Missouri was drafted by Carolina, but has also played for Baltimore & Jacksonville. He started 6 games for the Jags last season.
The Jimmy Clausen experiment has been shelved for now in Carolina. Former starter Matt Moore has been reinstated as the Panthers' starting quarterback.
More QB injury news out of Tennessee as both Vince Young & Kerry Collins missed Wednesday practice. Young sustained a knee sprain in Monday night's win over Jacksonville & his backup, Kerry Collins, also sat out with a finger sprain of his throwing hand.
I told you Charger kicker Nate Kaeding has another groin injury & San Diego signed Kris Brown, former Steeler & Texan, to handle the kicking chores until Kaeding is healthy again.
Colt McCoy will start again for the Browns in New Orleans. He'll do so without right tackle Tony Pashos, who was placed on I.R. with an ankle injury. Cleveland also put DE Robaire Smith on injured reserve with a back ailment.
The injury news out of Indianapolis is not good. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, tight end Dallas Clark could be lost for the rest of the season with an undisclosed wrist injury. He has caught 384 Peyton Manning passes & 44 touchdowns in his Colt career. Schefter reported Clark has appointments for 2nd & 3rd opinions on his injury, which isn't a good sign. The bad news doesn't stop there, RB Joseph Addai might miss a couple of games after re-injuring his shoulder blade & sustaining a stinger that has left his hand numb. Jim Caldwell said Addai would be fine, he just needed rest. Punter Pat McAfee was suspended for one game by Caldwell after being arrested near daybreak Monday morning. McAfee was crawling out of a landscape canal when he was spotted by a private security officer who called the law. McAfee blew .15 on the breathalyzer, hence his one-game suspension. Too bad he wasn't on the Jets, they just look the other way on DUI's. With Indy's next seven games, Houston, at Philly, Cincy, at New England, San Diego, Dallas & at Tennessee, it's gonna be all hands on deck for their playoff run.
I'm constantly amazed at the people who get paying jobs with major internet sites. Peter Schrager, of FOXSports.com, posted his "Fearless Predictions" on their website & I gotta tell you, he's clueless. Not because he predicted the Chargers to beat New England, that could happen I guess, but it was the snarky comment "you know the Chargers aren't in any trouble, what will it take to win their division, a 6-10 record?" No Peter, more like 9-7 or 10-6 & with all the injuries the Chargers have, I don't see them repeating their 11-game winning streak from 2009 to finish the season. The most they could win now is 10-straight & with New England, Indy, Tennessee, Houston & a return match with the Chiefs, I doubt they will win more than 10-games. Maybe that will be enough to clinch the AFC West, maybe it won't. With all their turmoil & injuries, I think the Chargers may not make it this year. But whoever wins the division, they'll need more than a 6-10 record.
I'm not nor have I ever been a Terrell Owens fan, I think he's a great wide receiver, but he's even better at being a real knucklehead. He & Chad 85 have a show on Versus called the T. Ocho Show. Taping the show today, T. O. played the race card. His co-host downplayed some of Owens' accusations but they're out there regardless. Owens said the reason Ben Roethlisberger only received a 4-game suspension was because he is white. He complained Michael Vick wasn't able to play football "for years but Ben only got a month off cuz he's white." Michael Vick wasn't able to play football for years because he was in prison. Let's set the record straight O.K.? "Plus he got in that motorcycle wreck & got nothing for it." Owens said. Once again, to set the record straight, Roethlisberger wasn't charged in the motorcycle wreck. He's never been charged for anything. I doubt he's innocent in the second sexual assault investigation, but bottom-line, he was never charged with anything. Roethlisberger was suspended for a series of bad behavior. Michael Vick was convicted of federal crimes. It isn't always about race. With two games remaining on the schedule against Pittsburgh, this might not have been a real sharp thing to do, but Owens never let his team get in the way of personal notoriety.
I neglected to mention something I had never seen in all my years watching Nebraska football. In Saturday's loss at home to Texas, Husker wide receiver Niles Paul dropped three passes. After the last two he was booed rather lustily. Never thought I'd see that in Lincoln.
Mizzou defensive end Aldon Smith returned to full practice in pads on Wednesday paving the way for his return from a leg fracture in week 2 of the season. This is great news for Tiger hopes on Saturday night.
I noticed some strange lines today when I spent a little time actually examining all 65-games on which I can choose to wager. Notre Dame is a 7-point favorite at Navy, a team that has beaten the Irish 2 of the last 3 years & almost beat them in the third. Seems like too much. Arizona, minus starting QB Nick Foles, is a 6 1/2 point favorite over Washington. The 5-8 Huskies whipped the 8-5 Wildcats last season & beat Oregon State & USC this season. Another line that seems too high. Georgia is laying 4-points at Kentucky. The 3-4 Bulldogs have been favored in every game with less than spectacular results. Kentucky, 4-3, is coming off an upset of South Carolina & can be dangerous at home. Georgia plays Florida next week & could be looking ahead, I'm just sayin'.
I've quoted SI'com's Stewart Mandel many times here, he's one of my very favorite college football writers. From personal experience, I can tell you no matter what you write, no two people see it the same way. That's long been a sore spot with Mandel too. He printed this email today: "How do you have time to write articles between all your Gator bashing?" I loved his reply: "I work on them between Florida touchdowns, it gives me a good two to three hours of uninterupted work time."
Here's two guys I can't see having a beer together anytime soon. Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was formerly in the same position with the Atlanta Falcons, the Bengals opponent this Sunday. Zimmer was asked if he had fond memories of his year in Atlanta & since his only season there was working for Bobby Petrino, it wasn't a fond memory. Petrino walked out on the Falcons 6-games into the 2007 season without even a courtesy phone call to his assistant coaches. "He's a gutless bastard" Zimmer said, "quote that, I don't give a s**t!" When told they couldn't use the "B" word in print, Zimmer said "O.K. how about this? He's a gutless MF, I know you can use that." Anybody else get the impression Petrino better stay at Arkansas & not ever get NFL aspirations again?
Questions or comments? Email at rich@richsfootballreport.com or leave a comment at the end of any post.
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