THRILLING NFL OPENER ENDS AT THE 1, OKIE STATE POUNDS ARIZONA & MORE NFL NOTES
After watching the President, then Kid Rock, I was more than ready to hear Jordin Sparks sing a beautiful version of our National Anthem while surrounded by 75,000 fans holding up cards to resemble twin American flags. Cue the flyover & we were ready to rock.
After 76-points & 876-total yards, the NFL's opening season opener came down to one untimed down from the 1-yard line. Green Bay stuffed the Saints' Mark Ingram to preserve a 42-34 win in historic Lambeau Field. The game had everything, 6 touchdown passes, a punt return for a score, a record tying 108-yard kickoff return touchdown, superb quarterback play & the goal line stand at the end. It pained me to watch Green Bay rookie Randall Cobb run back a kickoff 108-yards for a score & a 32-yard catch & run touchdown. I wanted this guy so badly for Kansas City, but they went the Jonathan Baldwin route. Cobb is scary in the open field. Green Bay exploited safety Roman Harper, especially in the first half when it looked like he was on roller skates. Third & goal at the three, Jordy Nelson caught a TD pass as Harper fell down in the end zone. Third & 7, TE Jermichael Finley ran a skinny post for a 20-yard gain after Harper slipped. Cobb caught a 6-yard pass & burst right by Harper on the way to a 32-yard score. Finley spun Harper into the ground again just before half on a 13-yard gain.
Randall Cobb makes his 2nd Lambeau Leap
I have to give the Saints credit for staying in the game & finally mounting a drive with less than 2-minutes to play. With 3-seconds remaining, Drew Brees scrambled right & threw to Darren Sproles in the end zone. Packer linebacker Clay Mathews bumped Sproles going for the knockdown, resulting in a pass interference call. With the ball at the one, the Packer D-line submarined the New Orleans offensive blockers & Mark Ingram never had a chance. Four Packers came over the top & collided with Ingram, stuffing him in his tracks. This was a recurring theme tonight, when they had to, Green Bay's defense came up big.
Both quarterbacks were superb & Darren Sproles made the kind of impact the Saints hoped for when they signed him. The former Olathe North star had a 57-yard kickoff return & a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown. He also caught 7 passes for 75-yards. Missing DE Will Smith was huge, the Saints didn't mount a consistent pass rush, allowing Aaron Rodgers to pick the apart.
There was another game on Thursday evening, it was a rematch of the 2010 Alamo Bowl between Arizona & Oklahoma State, won by OSU 36-10. The verdict was the same last night, 37-14. The Cowboys ripped thru the Wildcat defense for a staggering 594-yards of offense. They out-rushed Arizona 197-51 plus the visitors had no answer for OSU wideout Justin Blackmon, but few do, he's such a weapon. Senior QB Brandon Weeden completed 42 of 53 & threw a pair of touchdowns to Blackmon who had 12 receptions. But it was running back Joseph Randle that was the game's best performer. He rushed for 121-yards on just 15 carries & caught 9 passes for another 99-yards. He too scored 2 touchdowns. Mike Stoops' team was no match for a BIG-12 team for the third time in a row. Shelled 37-14, tonight, 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl & skunked 33-0 in the 2009 Holiday Bowl by Nebraska. It's hard to watch this coach have meltdown after meltdown on the sidelines. He's so different from either of his coaching brothers in that regard. It doesn't get any easier for the Wildcats either, their next 3 games are against Stanford, Oregon & USC. Good luck with that.
Stoops was like this all night long He is constantly screaming at someone
During the 3rd quarter of the Arizona-OSU game, mega-booster T. Boone Pickens spent about 10-minutes in the ESPN broadcast booth discussing the future of the BIG-12 with Rece Davis. Pickens said something that might have been "breaking news" when stated the conference won't survive without "equality." He said "I learned tonight UT(Texas) has agreed to it but OU(Oklahoma) hasn't come around yet." Is that on the level? Can cooler heads keep this conference whole? He said we'd would know within two weeks what will happen & I think he's right. I'm just not as optimistic as he is. He also stated OU & OSU are a package deal, they have to stay together, whether it's in the BIG-12 or as a part of another conference(PAC-12). Considering Pickens has donated $168 million to the schools' athletic programs, I would imagine he's in on a lot of important discussions regarding conference realignment.
Sunday will mark 10-years since the 9/11 attacks. The league has a lot of synchronized ceremonies for each scheduled starting time. Giant flags, taps played in various locations, the league will drape itself in the American flag this Sunday. The NFL doesn't get involved with too many causes, so this is quite an undertaking league-wide for a most deserving remembrance. Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs ordered a pair of custom made red, white & blue shoes & gloves from Under Armour to wear this Sunday. The gear carries the "Never Forget" sentiment on the gloves. The league told him not to violate the uniform regulations or he could be fined. Briggs said "looks like I'm getting fined this week, cause I'm wearing this gear. By far the best fine I will ever pay." He also mentioned how the league allows pink shoes & gloves the weekend the league calls attention to breast cancer, another worthy involvement by the NFL. You can wear pink but not red, white & blue?????????? Do I need to say anything else?
Texans' running back Arian Foster didn't practice on Thursday, his hamstring strain wouldn't allow it. Coach Gary Kubiak said Foster's status would be a game-time decision. They will play the Manning-less Indianapolis Colts Sunday.
If you saw the Jets-Giants preseason game, you saw defensive end Justin Tuck walk off the field holding his right arm. He had a neck burner & was expected to play opening day. Tuck said yesterday, he's no better & playing Sunday at Washington might not happen. This will be quite a blow to the Giants as they are already down the other DE, Osi Umenyiora, DT Marvin Austin, MLB Jonathan Goff, OLB Clint Sintim & 2 cornerbacks, Prince Amukamara(broken foot-could play in 2-weeks) & Terrell Thomas. I liked the Giants as a possible division winner, but with so many key defenders sidelined for all or part of the season, I looked elsewhere.
The 21st ranked Mizzou Tigers play tonight at Arizona State. Just one thought, the Sun Devils have lost 11-consecutive games to ranked teams. Let's make it 12.
After 76-points & 876-total yards, the NFL's opening season opener came down to one untimed down from the 1-yard line. Green Bay stuffed the Saints' Mark Ingram to preserve a 42-34 win in historic Lambeau Field. The game had everything, 6 touchdown passes, a punt return for a score, a record tying 108-yard kickoff return touchdown, superb quarterback play & the goal line stand at the end. It pained me to watch Green Bay rookie Randall Cobb run back a kickoff 108-yards for a score & a 32-yard catch & run touchdown. I wanted this guy so badly for Kansas City, but they went the Jonathan Baldwin route. Cobb is scary in the open field. Green Bay exploited safety Roman Harper, especially in the first half when it looked like he was on roller skates. Third & goal at the three, Jordy Nelson caught a TD pass as Harper fell down in the end zone. Third & 7, TE Jermichael Finley ran a skinny post for a 20-yard gain after Harper slipped. Cobb caught a 6-yard pass & burst right by Harper on the way to a 32-yard score. Finley spun Harper into the ground again just before half on a 13-yard gain.
Randall Cobb makes his 2nd Lambeau Leap
I have to give the Saints credit for staying in the game & finally mounting a drive with less than 2-minutes to play. With 3-seconds remaining, Drew Brees scrambled right & threw to Darren Sproles in the end zone. Packer linebacker Clay Mathews bumped Sproles going for the knockdown, resulting in a pass interference call. With the ball at the one, the Packer D-line submarined the New Orleans offensive blockers & Mark Ingram never had a chance. Four Packers came over the top & collided with Ingram, stuffing him in his tracks. This was a recurring theme tonight, when they had to, Green Bay's defense came up big.
Both quarterbacks were superb & Darren Sproles made the kind of impact the Saints hoped for when they signed him. The former Olathe North star had a 57-yard kickoff return & a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown. He also caught 7 passes for 75-yards. Missing DE Will Smith was huge, the Saints didn't mount a consistent pass rush, allowing Aaron Rodgers to pick the apart.
There was another game on Thursday evening, it was a rematch of the 2010 Alamo Bowl between Arizona & Oklahoma State, won by OSU 36-10. The verdict was the same last night, 37-14. The Cowboys ripped thru the Wildcat defense for a staggering 594-yards of offense. They out-rushed Arizona 197-51 plus the visitors had no answer for OSU wideout Justin Blackmon, but few do, he's such a weapon. Senior QB Brandon Weeden completed 42 of 53 & threw a pair of touchdowns to Blackmon who had 12 receptions. But it was running back Joseph Randle that was the game's best performer. He rushed for 121-yards on just 15 carries & caught 9 passes for another 99-yards. He too scored 2 touchdowns. Mike Stoops' team was no match for a BIG-12 team for the third time in a row. Shelled 37-14, tonight, 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl & skunked 33-0 in the 2009 Holiday Bowl by Nebraska. It's hard to watch this coach have meltdown after meltdown on the sidelines. He's so different from either of his coaching brothers in that regard. It doesn't get any easier for the Wildcats either, their next 3 games are against Stanford, Oregon & USC. Good luck with that.
Stoops was like this all night long He is constantly screaming at someone
During the 3rd quarter of the Arizona-OSU game, mega-booster T. Boone Pickens spent about 10-minutes in the ESPN broadcast booth discussing the future of the BIG-12 with Rece Davis. Pickens said something that might have been "breaking news" when stated the conference won't survive without "equality." He said "I learned tonight UT(Texas) has agreed to it but OU(Oklahoma) hasn't come around yet." Is that on the level? Can cooler heads keep this conference whole? He said we'd would know within two weeks what will happen & I think he's right. I'm just not as optimistic as he is. He also stated OU & OSU are a package deal, they have to stay together, whether it's in the BIG-12 or as a part of another conference(PAC-12). Considering Pickens has donated $168 million to the schools' athletic programs, I would imagine he's in on a lot of important discussions regarding conference realignment.
Sunday will mark 10-years since the 9/11 attacks. The league has a lot of synchronized ceremonies for each scheduled starting time. Giant flags, taps played in various locations, the league will drape itself in the American flag this Sunday. The NFL doesn't get involved with too many causes, so this is quite an undertaking league-wide for a most deserving remembrance. Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs ordered a pair of custom made red, white & blue shoes & gloves from Under Armour to wear this Sunday. The gear carries the "Never Forget" sentiment on the gloves. The league told him not to violate the uniform regulations or he could be fined. Briggs said "looks like I'm getting fined this week, cause I'm wearing this gear. By far the best fine I will ever pay." He also mentioned how the league allows pink shoes & gloves the weekend the league calls attention to breast cancer, another worthy involvement by the NFL. You can wear pink but not red, white & blue?????????? Do I need to say anything else?
Texans' running back Arian Foster didn't practice on Thursday, his hamstring strain wouldn't allow it. Coach Gary Kubiak said Foster's status would be a game-time decision. They will play the Manning-less Indianapolis Colts Sunday.
If you saw the Jets-Giants preseason game, you saw defensive end Justin Tuck walk off the field holding his right arm. He had a neck burner & was expected to play opening day. Tuck said yesterday, he's no better & playing Sunday at Washington might not happen. This will be quite a blow to the Giants as they are already down the other DE, Osi Umenyiora, DT Marvin Austin, MLB Jonathan Goff, OLB Clint Sintim & 2 cornerbacks, Prince Amukamara(broken foot-could play in 2-weeks) & Terrell Thomas. I liked the Giants as a possible division winner, but with so many key defenders sidelined for all or part of the season, I looked elsewhere.
The 21st ranked Mizzou Tigers play tonight at Arizona State. Just one thought, the Sun Devils have lost 11-consecutive games to ranked teams. Let's make it 12.
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