Jul

3

Reports Say that Brett Favre is Close To Purchasing A Condo In Minneapolis

Posted by Matt Loede under Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings
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Favres Future Football
Yes, the clock continues to tick as to when Brett Favre and the announcement of him officially being a member of the Minnesota Vikings will be made. It appears that all the formalities need to still be finished off, and while the city of Minnesota waits to go out and buy their #4 jerseys, they are still going to have to be patient.

Today the Star Tribune reports that the QB could be on the verge of buying a place to stay when he’s playing for the Vikings in 2009, as they are reporting he’s going to be grabbing a condo in Edina, a rumor that’s been floating around for awhile.

The evidence that Brett Favre will end his retirement to play for the Vikings in 2009 is overwhelming. In fact, the only surprise will be if the quarterback decides his surgically repaired right biceps tendon has not healed sufficiently enough for him to return to the NFL. We received a tip last night about Favre settling on a condominium in Edina but that doesn’t appear to be a done deal.

Maybe that’s the last hurdle that needs to be crossed for Favre, as the Vikings and the NFL awaits for the team to call the press conference to make the news of the future Hall of Famer coming to town official.


Jul

3

Lions Director of Security Ricky Sandoval Passes Away at 49

Posted by David Gillikin under Detroit Lions, Off The Field News
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Ricky Sandoval, the Lions team’s director of security, died Thursday morning at Harper University Hospital in Detroit after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer that lasted more than three years. He turned 49 on June 30th and is survived by his loving wife, Gael.

Shortly after Sandoval was diagnosed in May of 2006, he and Gael formed “Team Sandoval,” a support group consisting of family, the Lions organization and his many friends and associates throughout the National Football League who also knew Sandoval from his days working with the San Francisco 49ers and with Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC), a company that once provided security services at Super Bowls for the NFL.

Gael chronicled Ricky’s fight and provided regular updates on their journey through www.rickysvictory.com, the official blog of Ricky & Gael Sandoval and Team Sandoval.

As a dedicated member of the organization, Sandoval touched virtually every person and every aspect of the team’s operations. He was hired as director of security in June of 2001, and for the past eight seasons he managed the team’s security operations. Sandoval handled all team security at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park, along with team security detail during road trips. During his time with the team, he served as the team’s liaison with local, state and federal law enforcement and public authorities.

A graduate of Arizona State University and a southern California native, he and Gael lived in Royal Oak, Mich.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Jul

3

A Bengals Fan Speaks Out to Steeler Nation

Posted by B.Clifton Burke under Cincinnati Bengals, Off the Cuff, Pittsburgh Steelers
1 Comment 

A Letter To Steeler Nation:

Steeler Nation,

First off, congratulations on winning your sixth Super Bowl Championship. I trust it still rests comfortably atop your collective mind. Secondly, I must say, I admire your obsession with your team. A Steeler fan seems always willing to display his or her loyalty anywhere in the world, at times creating awkward, even socially-damaging effects, yet one carries on undeterred.

And, thirdly, it is impossible to call you a group made up largely of bandwagoneers because you’re rarely absent from the playoffs and it’s hard to lose fan support when the team always wins. So there you have it.

Now, with all pleasantries aside, it’s time to speak of your team’s identity. What the universe should agree upon is that the Steelers are made up of defense and a running game—any dumbbell knows that. However, let’s not pretend that a central characteristic to your team’s success is not deception. Within the past six years, the Steelers have been the experts at the ol’ trickeration, often times at the Bengals’ expense–most notably in the dreaded playoff game of 2005; a play that sealed the fate of the Bengals’ season and still causes the venom to rise in the mouths of bitter Who-Deyers today.

And your defense is run by a man who predicates his whole philosophy on the slight-of-hand. One could produce an entire college thesis on the deceptive strategies of Dick LeBeau’s defenses. He’s always one step ahead of the league because he continues to trick everyone.

My beef, Steeler Nation, is that you assume that what you see unfold every year is due to sheer strength and determination, when there is something more cunning there, more conniving. I’m not at all saying that you’re dirty, I’m saying you’re sneaky. You want a sheer muscle team who socks you in your mouth? Try Baltimore. Pittsburgh will outsmart the Ravens, yes, but that doesn’t mean you’re tougher.

A feeble Bengals’ fan like myself has no defense to your many, many championships and your apparent sheer awesomeness. You need not even look in our direction when we simpletons from Southern Ohio & Northern Kentucky exercise our underdeveloped vocal chords about how maybe you’re the evil genius who wins in the end rather than the muscle-bounded hero everyone else was rooting for. That’s why we don’t like you, Steeler Nation; you’re Iago, you’re Gargamel, you’re Skeletor. I’d rather not face it either; I don’t blame you, but you suck. You must at least acknowledge, someday, and hopefully soon, that you suck.

Best of luck this season. Go jump off a cliff, just as soon as you can. I truly despise you. Hugs & Kisses.

Sincerely,

B. Clifton Burke

Jul

2

Redskins QB Campbell Still Bitter About Offseason Rumors

Posted by Matt Loede under Washington Redskins
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It’s been a tough offseason to be Redskins QB Jason Campbell, who has had to hear rumor after rumor about being replaced by one of a number of throwers.

The biggest rumor was the team going after now Bears QB Jay Cutler. It seemed like the Redskins were one of a small handful of teams that wanted Cutler bad, but in the end he went to the Windy City.

Then there was all the talk about the team drafting now Jets QB Mark Sanchez, who was the 5th overall pick. Sanchez is battling it out with Kellen Clemens to be the starter in the Big Apple.

Now Campbell’s job appears safe. But the anger still lingers from having to hear time after time about being replaced. He recently spoke to NFL.com about the bitterness he still has about almost being shafted by the club.

“You don’t just think about bringing in people like that unless you expect those people to play,” Campbell said. “I didn’t understand it. It didn’t make sense. You are down on the wrong person. Other stuff needs to be done and resolved before challenging me. Sure, a lot of quarterbacks have been through this in their careers.

“You have to look at it as sport, a business, a profession and understand there is competition all the time and nothing is in stone. No guarantees. But you still get mad deep inside. And how you handle that helps determine if you are going to make your career successful.”

Even former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs spoke out about Campbell needing to have thicker skin. Now GM Vinny Cerrato is speaking out about Campbell, saying that he’s not a shoe-in to be the teams franchise QB.

“As in, yet to be determined,” Cerrato replied when asked if the Redskins view Campbell as a franchise quarterback. “Hopefully, he is. We have talked honestly. It’s past and we are looking forward. We hope he can play 16 games like he played the first eight last year. Consistency throughout.

“I think he’s made a lot of progress. What he has done is take charge and be more vocal with the team. It showed in his offseason and in the camps. We want that. Absolutely. He’s more comfortable now in the second year of the offense. That should enable him to provide more leadership.”

Anyway you look at it, it’s a critical year for Campbell, who needs to step it up and have a big year for the team.

Jul

2

Arizona Trying to Get a Long-Term Deal Done w/ LB Karlos Dansby

Posted by Matt Loede under Arizona Cardinals
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Super Bowl XLIII Football

All the rumors about the Cardinals and signing players is about trying to get WR Anquan Boldin locked up, but as Scout.com reports, another player on the short list is LB Karlos Dansby.

While WR Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett’s contract demands are justified due to their tremendous performance, the Arizona Cardinals’ front office has every right to hold them to their current contracts. Both players have already received restructured deals after outplaying their rookie contracts and upping the ante every time further success is experienced is an unpractical business procedure for an NFL team.

Also working against Boldin and Dockett is the fact that they went through the same process a year ago, yet wound up being major contributors towards the Cardinals’ first ever Super Bowl berth. Arizona has focused its resources on other players this offseason, such as QB Kurt Warner and SS Adrian Wilson, and is still seeking a long-term deal for LB Karlos Dansby.

Dansby was slapped with the franchise tag for the second consecutive year and this could be his final season in the desert if a multi-year deal isn’t agreed upon.

Jul

2

Five Moves that Could Blow Up in the Chiefs Face

Posted by Shawn McAllister under Kansas City Chiefs
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Cowboys Zach Thomas Football
5. Acquiring Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel:

The acquisition of Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas will be high risk high reward for the Chiefs. Vrabel and Thomas will either be the good soldier, hard working leaders the Chiefs expect them to be or they will be the 09 versions of Donnie Edwards. Both players will be over thirty four when the season starts and players get injured a lot more frequently in the NFL once they cross the thirty year old thresh hold.

These acquisitions would have been perfect if the Chiefs would have added some depth to the line backing unit, but as it stands the Chiefs have all of their eggs in the basket of two past their prime linebackers. The Chiefs can ill afford to lose either of these players this season as they transition to the 3-4 defense.

4. Not signing a legitimate receiving threat to compliment Dwayne Bowe:

Tory Holt was a free agent so was Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens and Matt Jones who led the Jaguars in receiving last season. The Chiefs went after none of these players in the off season instead deciding to bring in thirty six year old Bobby Engram to play the slot receiver.

The Chiefs have needed a receiver to stretch the field and draw coverage away from D-Bowe for the past two seasons and with the loss of Tony G that need became that much more magnified. The Chiefs would be wise to get Matt Cassel one more established option in the passing game before the season starts Marvin Harrison and Matt Jones are still a available…..the Chiefs could use both players.

3. Retaining Damion McIntosh:

Keeping McIntosh was not a mistake he is a adequate and serviceable player, not brining in someone to take his starting spot or at least compete for it was. McIntosh played ok last year when he was not injured but he often times looked overmatched and not athletic enough to keep up with the more younger, faster defensive ends.

Reports out of Arrowhead during OTA’s had McIntosh playing with a lot less weight which should help with his knee issues and in some of the best shape of his career. Let’s hope so for Matt Cassel’s sake.

2. Trading Tony G:

I know Tony G was not the missing piece that was going to carry the Chiefs to the Super Bowl this season and the Chiefs were very lucky to get a second round pick for a thirty three year old tight end but with that being said the Chiefs passing game is in disarray and the Chiefs are starved for veteran leadership.

Who would have been a better mentor for this young receiving squad other than Gonzalez a future Hall of Famer? I am sure had the Chiefs kept Gonzalez, Matt Cassel would have been dialing up his number on third down this season…… Now who does he look to? Who does the defense have to worry about besides D-Bowe?

1. Switching to the 3-4:

I am not against the move to the 3-4 I just think this season the Chiefs are trying to fit a square peg in to a round hole. The Chiefs have spent the last three season drafting D-linemen high in the draft who fit the 4-3 cover two scheme.

Now a lot of these players are forced to play out of position, case in point second round pick from 07 Turk McBride who was drafted as a tweener defensive end or tackle is being asked to learn how to play linebacker. Glenn Dorsey is going to have to man one of the end positions despite his lack of ideal size for the position but maybe the biggest farce out of the 3-4 will be Tamba Hali’s switch to OLB Hali could not get around offensive tackles last season how is he going to cover a running back or tight end?

Jul

2

Fantasy Rankings: NFC East TE’s in 2009

Posted by Josh Satler under Dallas Cowboys, Fantasy Football, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
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Cowboys Steelers Football
The NFC East features talented tight ends across the board, and it all starts with Jason Witten down in Big D.


1. Jason Witten

Witten might be the best all-around tight end in the game today, and he and Romo have developed an awesome rapport over the past two and a half years.

In 2008, Witten finished with 81 catches for over 900 yards and 4 TDs.

And this year, T.O. is gone. True, the extra attention given to Owens will probably shift over to Witten, but the Cowboys have enough weapons to isolate Witten on linebackers and safeties, and he’ll still find ways to produce.

Expect a 1,000-yard season with between eight and 10 touchdowns.

2. Chris Cooley

Cooley is a very talented tight end who appears to be a notch below the top fantasy tight ends in the game today.

Last year, he finished with over 80 catches for 849 yards, but only managed one touchdown as the team had to learn Jim Zorn’s offense, which wasn’t the smoothest process.

In year two, expect things to get smoother for Cooley and quarterback Jason Campbell. Over 800 yards receiving and between six and eight touchdowns certainly seems within reach.

3. Kevin Boss

By the end of the season, it could be Boss who sits in the second spot on the list.

The rapidly improving third-year tight end could have a much larger role in the Giants’ offense with the offseason departures of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

In just his second year in the league, he more than filled the hole left by Jeremy Shockey by hauling in six touchdowns on just 33 catches.

This year, expect him to be more involved and finish with between 50-60 catches and six to eight touchdowns.

4. Brent Celek

Rookie Cornelius Ingram might end up being the starting tight end in Philly, but we think it’ll be Celek, who was a force late and caught 10 balls for 83 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game.

In just his second year in the league, Celek showed that he was able to exploit mismatches over the middle of the field and make the tough catch in traffic.

And as he and McNabb developed a nice chemistry in the postseason, look for it to carry over in 2009 with 600 yards and at least five touchdowns.

Draft Tip

Witten, Cooley and Boss are all starters on fantasy teams, and look for Witten to come off the board as early as round three. Cooley and Boss should be around after round six, and Celek will be there for the pickings towards the end of the draft.

One potential fantasy sleeper, who was not mentioned in this edition is Dallas tight end Martellus Bennett. The talented second-year player could make some noise, so make sure to remember him late on draft day.

Jul

2

Rosenhaus Trying to Get Interest for WR Burress

Posted by Matt Loede under Off The Field News
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Giants Burress Shot Football
The saga involving wide out Plaxico Burress continues, as the wide out still does not have a team, and there is not much of a buzz about where he’s going to end up.

There’s been rumors about the Bucs, Bears and Jets wanting him, but none of those teams seem to be in a position to step up right away and make a deal for him, more so until decisions are made by the league about a possible suspension.

Today the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Burress’ agent - Drew Rosenhaus, now is trying to do what he can to get teams interested. He’s a master when it comes to saying teams are interested in his client, when really they are not. Here’s the story:

Plaxico Burress’ agent Drew Rosenhaus is doing all he can to drum up business, reporting recently that five teams are now interested in Burress. Well, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have come out and said you can count them out. There was a report out of New York that the Jets may have cooled on the idea. If the Bears are not in play, Rosenhaus’ list just got trimmed in half, at least.

It seems at the end of the day teams are going to stay away until Roger Goodell makes a decision to suspend him or not. If he’s suspended for a longer length of time, teams may cool on him all together.

Jul

2

Bears Already Set to Give Cutler a Long-Term Deal?

Posted by Matt Loede under Chicago Bears
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QB Jay Cutler has not played a down yet for the Bears, but the team is convinced that they have their QB of the future in place. The belief is so strong that the Sun-Times reports today that Cutler might be getting a new deal from the team soon:

The Bears will look to do something long term with Jay Cutler, perhaps during the season. They’ll need to make that move in October probably in order to take advantage of the cap room and apply money to this season. It makes perfect sense. Yes, Cutler remains under contract for three more seasons.

But he has a $12 million roster bonus in 2012 that the team would probably like to avoid. Forget the idea of waiting to see how Cutler performs. They got him for the long haul and they’re going to invest in him for the long haul. But quarterback deals take time to put together. Why not start during training camp?

The risk of signing Cutler long-term is high, as who knows what attitude he’ll come in with, and what happens if he bombs in Chicago? The team has to make sure they are careful that they don’t put themselves too much in a hole if they sign him to a long-term deal and it doesn’t work out.

Jul

1

2009 NFL Rookies Show Off Their Other Talents

Posted by Matt Loede under 2009 NFL Draft, Future Stars
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The 2009 NFL Rookies prove to have amazing talent well beyond the football field.

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