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Browns Hire Former Vikings Coach Brad Childress to Run Their Offense

January 27th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Coaches Corner

The Browns have a new offensive coordinator – and he’s already pretty tight with coach Pat Shurmur.

Shurmur hired former Minnesota coach Brad Childress as his first offensive coordinator on Friday, reuniting two coaches who spent seven seasons together on Andy Reid’s staff with the Eagles.

Childress spent nearly five seasons with the Vikings before he was fired in 2010. He’ll take over a Browns offense that scored just 218 points last season, finished 29th in yardage, 28th in rushing and 24th in passing.

Click HERE to Read More at BROWNS GAB!

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Raiders Announce Dennis Allen as Their New Head Coach

January 27th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders

The Raiders formally announced Friday that former Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will be Oakland’s new head coach.

New general manager Reggie McKenzie decided earlier this week to hire Allen to replace the fired Hue Jackson as head coach. The two sides finalized the details Thursday. Allen will be formally introduced Monday.

Allen is Oakland’s seventh head coach since 2003. The Raiders have gone nine straight seasons without a winning record or a playoff berth, just missing out on the AFC West title on tiebreakers with an 8-8 record last season.

The 39-year-old Allen will be the first new Raiders coach to come from the defensive side of the ball since late owner Al Davis hired linebackers coach John Madden in 1969.

In his first season as coordinator in Denver, Allen helped the Broncos improve from allowing a league-worst 29.4 points and 390.8 yards per game to ranking 20th in yards (357.8) and 24th in points (24.4) this season on the way to an AFC West title.

Before serving as Denver’s defensive coordinator last season, Allen spent five years as a defensive assistant in New Orleans and also coached for Atlanta.

The Raiders are coming off one of their worst defensive seasons ever. Oakland had franchise worsts in touchdown passes allowed (31), yards per carry (5.1), yards passing (4,262) and total yards (6,201), while giving up the third-most points (433) in team history.

The Raiders joined this year’s Tampa Bay team as one of the four teams to allow at least 30 TD passes and 5.0 yards per carry in a season, a distinction last reached by the 1952 Dallas Texans. The Raiders also became the sixth team since the 1970 merger to allow at least 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing in a season.

The Raiders also set an NFL record last season with 163 penalties for 1,358 yards.

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Colts Irsay and Peyton Manning Release Joint Statement Stating All is Well

January 27th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Indianapolis Colts

It sounds like Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay have kissed and made up.

For now.

The Colts franchise QB and owner have released a statement, insisting they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed.

“We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us,” the two said Friday in a statement issued by the team. “Since 1998, we have enjoyed a great relationship, based upon mutual respect and trust. We have always been able to talk and address matters we’ve faced over the years, not just as owner and player, but as friends.

“We had a long talk today and we want to assure Colts fans everywhere that we are both committed to maintaining our close relationship and to working together through any challenges the future may bring.”

That would be welcome news to Colts fans, who first watched Manning publicly complain about the down-in-the-mouth atmosphere at team headquarters and then two days later saw Irsay call out his franchise quarterback at a news conference intended to focus on the new head coach.

Click HERE to read the rest on COLTS GAB!!

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Packers Rodgers Says He Can See Matt Flynn Winding Up in Miami

January 26th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in 2012 Free Agency, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins

Aaron Rodgers thinks the idea of backup quarterback Matt Flynn going to join Joe Philbin in Miami seems to make sense.

Rodgers on Wednesday told a Milwaukee radio station he sees the Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks as the “two top dogs” in the race for the talented backup, expected to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

This is based on a conversation with Flynn “in the last few days,” Rodgers said of his backup quarterback in Green Bay the past four years.

Rodgers on Wednesday told a Milwaukee radio station he sees the Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks as the “two top dogs” in the race for the talented backup, expected to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

This is based on a conversation with Flynn “in the last few days,” Rodgers said of his backup quarterback in Green Bay the past four years.

“I think with a talent like Matt, he would have success in just about any offense you plug him into,” Rodgers said. “I think you could see maybe a little bit more immediate success in an offense he’s very familiar with, so I think you have to look at Miami, obviously.”

As for the Seahawks, their general manager John Schneider knows Flynn from his time in Green Bay.

“John Schneider knows Matt and he’s pulling some strings up there with them,” Rodgers said. “I think that would be an opportunity for him up there. Those are probably, in my opinion, the two top dogs that would go after him. There’s got to be at least five or six teams who legitimately should take a look at Matt and see him being an immediate improvement over what they have at quarterback.”

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Colts Owner Jim Irsay Ticked About Comments Made by Peyton Manning

January 26th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Indianapolis Colts

Seems Colts owner Jim Irsay is none too happy about comments his (former) franchise QB, Peyton Manning said this past week, when Manning took the comments to the public.

Shortly after introducing new coach Chuck Pagano on Thursday, Irsay said Manning should have kept his thoughts “in the family.” When asked whether a decision on Manning was next, Irsay went into a long answer, calling Manning a “politician” and suggested he was “campaigning” publicly.

In an interview this week with The Indianapolis Star, Manning said morale at the team complex was “not the best.”

Irsay did not say whether the next move in Indy’s overhaul will be about Manning’s $28 million bonus, due March 8th. Instead, Irsay says the decision will be made solely on whether Manning is healthy enough to play.

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What Food Will be in Suites at Superbowl XLVI in Indy

January 26th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Media, Off the Cuff, Super Bowl XLVI

Provided by: TMZ

Celebs piling into Super Bowl XLVI (46 to non-Romans) luxury suites better bring their own grub if they want fancy finger foods … because TMZ has learned this year’s stadium menu is loaded with home-style comforts.

While the Giants and Patriots do battle at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis — Centerplate catering will dish up some Midwest favorites:

– Braised Buffalo Short Ribs featuring natural buffalo in a classic French braise.
– Heartland Farm Table platter with local veggie selections
– Chef designed Chicken Pot Pie

Basically, sushi lovers … stay home.

However, average joes in run-of-the-mill super expensive SB seats can get Indianapolis Shrimp Cocktails … which we’re told is legendary — despite Indy being landlocked.

Oh, and there’s a sweet consolation for the NFL teams that didn’t make it to the big game. All team owners get two giant bowls of M&Ms in their team’s colors.

Feel better now, Baltimore and San Fran?

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Art Rooney II Declines to Give the Real Answer About Bruce Arians’ Departure in Pittsburgh

January 26th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

Seems like there’s been more controversy about OC Bruce Arians not coming back with the Steelers, you really don’t know who to believe anymore. The Steelers (more so Art Rooney II) clearly at this point appears to have taken it upon himself to make the decision to get rid of Arians, but doesn’t seem ready to admit it.

Today, Bob Labriola on Steelers.com did an interview with Rooney II, and asked him point blank about the Arians situation, and if he anything to do with Arians not coming back.

“Bruce talked about retiring for a number of years now,” Rooney said. “We are looking to improve on offense and to have somebody in place for a number of years. I think it was time for a change. We are looking forward to moving on.”

Ok, but did you make the decision to fire him? Clearly that answer doesn’t give the whole story.

Arians said he had no choice but to retire after the team did not offer him a contract to come back for next season. He’s already talking to other teams, meaning that he still wants to coach in the NFL.

Rooney seemed to not want to answer how the process of Arians not being around played out. He basically said in so many words that it doesn’t matter how Arians ended up not being the Steelers OC anymore.

“The question of how we got here is not really relevant,” Rooney said. “The key now is that Mike (Tomlin) has begun the search for our next offensive coordinator. We will go through the process and interview the right candidates.”

The Steelers offense finished 12th in total offense (372.3 yards per game) and 21st in points per game (20.3) last year.

I’m not a fan of Rooney II getting too involved with this team. His dad and Dan Rooney never did, and I don’t think it really needs to change now. If Rooney fired him, he fired him – just admit it and let’s move on.

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Mr. Irsay Your Super Bowl Contest Winner Voted Twice!

January 26th, 2012

Andrew Auger

Posted in Indianapolis Colts, Off the Cuff, Super Bowl XLVI

I am deciding to use my platform as a writer to convey a message I can at least hope gets some attention, because well, I really wouldn’t mind another crack at going to the Super Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been recently extending opportunities to obtain free tickets (and from what I read the previous winners also had flight and hotel covered), to Super Bowl 46.

On his Twitter account on January 24th he extended the following contest:

Predict new Indianapolis Colts Head Coach,win 2 Super Bowl Tics! 1 guess only,u must guess by midnight tonight EST,Abby’s hatpick! GOOD LUCK

Long story short, I correctly predicted within the allotted time that Chuck Pagano would be the next coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

This morning the winner was announced, to my dismay but not my surprise, I was not the winner.

Abby found her hat!!! After digging all night/morning,she has picked @tmacadoecious!!! Congrats,Trent!!!

Of course I clicked on the profile of @tmacadoecious, I was curious to see just who had won.

When I looked through his recent twitter history, well I got kind of pissed off, and quite frankly if you were a potential winner in this contest you should be taking to Twitter to demand a re-hat

If you look at his Twitter page Trent has clearly submitted two separate votes at two separate times, one at 4:59 AM and one at 5:01 AM. Regardless of the fact they are for the same candidate the very rules of the contest state “1 guess only”.

I don’t know about you, but I can clearly see two submissions light as day, and that is a violation of the rules.

:Trent McBride @tmacadoecious

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@JimIrsay chuck pagano From Trent Mcbride:

Trent McBride @tmacadoecious

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@JimIrsay chuck pagano

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Mr. Irsay please do another hat pull to give someone who followed the rules of the contest an actual shot of winning. Even if it doesn’t result in my winning, a person who didn’t follow the simple rules of the contest should not be allowed to go over someone who correctly guessed the Head Coach and only submitted one vote during the allotted time.

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