PIOLI ANSWERS AUBRAYO FRANKLIN QUESTION, COLLEGE PLAYER WITH 49 PAIRS OF SNEAKERS, CHRIS JOHNSON MAY ASK FOR TRADE & IRENE ALTERS NYJ-NYG GAME SATURDAY
Chiefs' owner Clark Hunt & General Manager Scott Pioli spent a few minutes before Wednesday's big "Bash" answering questions submitted by season ticket holders. One of them was asking why Kansas City didn't sign former Forty-Niner nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin. Pioli made it sound as tho Franklin was never a consideration, "He comes from a defense where he plays in a 1-gap system, our nose tackles play in a 2-gap scheme." Franklin was later signed by the Saints to play both of their 4-3 tackle spots, the nose & the "under" tackle. The Saints feel like he can play both at a Pro Bowl level. Why not? The 8-year veteran is just coming into his prime & was easily the best nose tackle prospect in free agency. The Chiefs decided he can't play on the nose, so he wouldn't work on their roster. We'll see, I thought all along Franklin is an impact player in the middle of a defensive line.
In tonight's Carolina-Cincinnati game, Cam Newton didn't exactly light 'em up completing just 6 of 19 passes. Bengal rookie Andy Dalton fared much better with 11 of 17 & a touchdown. Dalton hit rookie WR A.J. Green for a 40-yard touchdown, but he had Green behind the defense twice & missed him both times. This was one of the question marks regarding Dalton's future as an NFL quarterback. Green was seemingly open on almost every passing play in the 1st half. He's going to be a great one.
The Dallas Cowboys are having a kicking derby in training camp. They have 4 placekickers in camp. Yes that is awfully crowded, but it's essential for Dallas to find a dependable kicker. Kai Forbath, Dan Bailey, Shayne Graham & David Buehler are all vying for one roster spot. The Cpwboys finished 3rd worst in field goal percentage last season & worst in the league over a 5-year span.
Kicker David Buehler spoke to the media on Thursday & frankly, he should keep quiet. Buehler, a kicker, thinks the league is going soft, "I think they're changing the rules too much. Football is getting kinda soft with Goodell making all the rule changes & everything. Just leave it the way it is." First off, Commissioner Goodell doesn't make rule changes, he can't by league rules. The competition committee discusses such rule changes & their committee will make a suggestion for a vote from all 32-yeams. Secondly, the guy's a kicker, he isn't out there hitting & being hit 90% of his snaps. Maybe if he went downfield to cover kick & really put a whack on somebody, then people could take him a little more seriously.
The Buffalo Bills sighed a collective sigh of relief Thursday after tests on defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, 3rd overall pick, doesn't have a serious calf injury. He will be listed as day-to-day. His lower left leg was tightly wrapped & Dareus walked around with crutches yesterday.
Terrelle Pryor & the Raiders agreed on a 4-yard contract. He will practice tomorrow but probably not play in their Sunday night game with New Orleans.
I told you the Colts "coaxed" Kerry Collins out of retirement to possibly start opening day if Peyton Manning's surgically repaired neck prohibits him from playing. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that "coaxing" cost Indy $4 million guaranteed. Collins is a pro's pro but not everybody is happy to have him aboard. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne made a few disparaging remarks about Collins, "hey, we're not vanilla, you can't learn this offense in two weeks, we were fine with what we already had." Welcome to Indianapolis Kerry.
I told you a few days ago four LSU players, including starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, got into quite a brawl last Friday morning in a downtown Baton Rouge bar. Four victims were beaten, one so severely, he suffered three fractured vertebra in his neck. Witnesses have told police Jefferson kicked this victim in the head while he was on the floor. The Baton Rouge Police obtained a search warrant for Jefferson's residence on Wednesday & what they dragged out of the house was surprising. Since Jefferson is accused of kicking one of the victims & he had shoe prints on his shirt, they were in search of sneakers. They hauled 49 pair out of Jefferson closet, forty-nine. How does a college football player buy 49 pairs of cross trainers? Why does he need that many? Strange, very strange.
After a brief face-to-face meeting on Thursday, Titans' running back Chris Johnson left town. He said they were a long way apart in contract negotiations. Johnson has yet to report to training camp. His next move might be to ask for a trade but Tennessee GM Mike Reinfeldt & coach Mike Munchak already stated they "would not trade their best player." Fantasy football owners all over the world are freaking out about Johnson's holdout, he's generally ranked as the 2nd or 3rd best player in all of fantasy football.
The Chiefs signed veteran tight end Anthony Becht on Thursday. The 10-year vet is mainly considered a blocker but he does have 185 lifetime receptions & 21 touchdowns. At 6' 4" & 270, he will certainly be the largest Kansas City tight end. Jake O'Connell's nagging injuries & persistent penalties may have him on the way out. Or it could be Leonard Pope.
Both Jamal Charles & Brandon Flowers sustained lower leg injuries during the "Bash" Wednesday night. It will be very interesting to see if either plays tonight.
Hurricane Irene is aimed at the Tri-State area back east & the preseason game between the Jets & Giants has been moved up from Saturday evening to 2PM Eastern time on Saturday.
In tonight's Carolina-Cincinnati game, Cam Newton didn't exactly light 'em up completing just 6 of 19 passes. Bengal rookie Andy Dalton fared much better with 11 of 17 & a touchdown. Dalton hit rookie WR A.J. Green for a 40-yard touchdown, but he had Green behind the defense twice & missed him both times. This was one of the question marks regarding Dalton's future as an NFL quarterback. Green was seemingly open on almost every passing play in the 1st half. He's going to be a great one.
The Dallas Cowboys are having a kicking derby in training camp. They have 4 placekickers in camp. Yes that is awfully crowded, but it's essential for Dallas to find a dependable kicker. Kai Forbath, Dan Bailey, Shayne Graham & David Buehler are all vying for one roster spot. The Cpwboys finished 3rd worst in field goal percentage last season & worst in the league over a 5-year span.
Kicker David Buehler spoke to the media on Thursday & frankly, he should keep quiet. Buehler, a kicker, thinks the league is going soft, "I think they're changing the rules too much. Football is getting kinda soft with Goodell making all the rule changes & everything. Just leave it the way it is." First off, Commissioner Goodell doesn't make rule changes, he can't by league rules. The competition committee discusses such rule changes & their committee will make a suggestion for a vote from all 32-yeams. Secondly, the guy's a kicker, he isn't out there hitting & being hit 90% of his snaps. Maybe if he went downfield to cover kick & really put a whack on somebody, then people could take him a little more seriously.
The Buffalo Bills sighed a collective sigh of relief Thursday after tests on defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, 3rd overall pick, doesn't have a serious calf injury. He will be listed as day-to-day. His lower left leg was tightly wrapped & Dareus walked around with crutches yesterday.
Terrelle Pryor & the Raiders agreed on a 4-yard contract. He will practice tomorrow but probably not play in their Sunday night game with New Orleans.
I told you the Colts "coaxed" Kerry Collins out of retirement to possibly start opening day if Peyton Manning's surgically repaired neck prohibits him from playing. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that "coaxing" cost Indy $4 million guaranteed. Collins is a pro's pro but not everybody is happy to have him aboard. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne made a few disparaging remarks about Collins, "hey, we're not vanilla, you can't learn this offense in two weeks, we were fine with what we already had." Welcome to Indianapolis Kerry.
I told you a few days ago four LSU players, including starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, got into quite a brawl last Friday morning in a downtown Baton Rouge bar. Four victims were beaten, one so severely, he suffered three fractured vertebra in his neck. Witnesses have told police Jefferson kicked this victim in the head while he was on the floor. The Baton Rouge Police obtained a search warrant for Jefferson's residence on Wednesday & what they dragged out of the house was surprising. Since Jefferson is accused of kicking one of the victims & he had shoe prints on his shirt, they were in search of sneakers. They hauled 49 pair out of Jefferson closet, forty-nine. How does a college football player buy 49 pairs of cross trainers? Why does he need that many? Strange, very strange.
After a brief face-to-face meeting on Thursday, Titans' running back Chris Johnson left town. He said they were a long way apart in contract negotiations. Johnson has yet to report to training camp. His next move might be to ask for a trade but Tennessee GM Mike Reinfeldt & coach Mike Munchak already stated they "would not trade their best player." Fantasy football owners all over the world are freaking out about Johnson's holdout, he's generally ranked as the 2nd or 3rd best player in all of fantasy football.
The Chiefs signed veteran tight end Anthony Becht on Thursday. The 10-year vet is mainly considered a blocker but he does have 185 lifetime receptions & 21 touchdowns. At 6' 4" & 270, he will certainly be the largest Kansas City tight end. Jake O'Connell's nagging injuries & persistent penalties may have him on the way out. Or it could be Leonard Pope.
Both Jamal Charles & Brandon Flowers sustained lower leg injuries during the "Bash" Wednesday night. It will be very interesting to see if either plays tonight.
Hurricane Irene is aimed at the Tri-State area back east & the preseason game between the Jets & Giants has been moved up from Saturday evening to 2PM Eastern time on Saturday.
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