Roethlisberger Returns

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice on Tuesday for the first time since the NFL handed him a six-game suspension in April for violating the league's "personal conduct policy". While Big Ben's relationship with the city of Pittsburgh has soured, his teammates are giving him plenty of public support. Receiver Mike Wallace was quoted as saying, "He's a man and everybody makes mistakes. I just feel like he's the leader of our team. Anytime he comes back we accept him for who he is." Video of his teammates below, courtesy ESPN:



And for further analysis, here's ESPN's Trey Wingo, Cris Carter, and Marcus Allen discussing what Ben has to do to regain the team's confidence:



Personally, I'm with the Steelers fanbase on this one, since this isn't the first time Roethlisberger has had questionable decisions. For further reading, here's the original FTRS post stemming from Ben's Georgia incident here.

NFL Draft 2010 Roundup

Photo courtesy Arrowhead Pride.

The 2010 NFL Draft was a thrill to see in its new format. Having the first round in primetime on Thursday was a ratings boon for the NFL and invigorates the fanbase. As some have pointed out, the second round picks now have more value to them as well, due to the extra time between rounds.

There are some teams that have an uncanny ability to draft well year after year. Baltimore and New England did just that this year, with Baltimore gaining 1st-round caliber talent in Texas DE Sergio Kindle and Alabama DT Terrence Cody. New England addressed most of its needs, traded like crazy in order to obtain more picks now and in future drafts, and still managed to come up with several potential studs. TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will give the Pats a good two-tight end set, since they use several multiple-TE formations. Other buzzworthy picks include receiver Taylor Price and linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Many teams this draft seemed to get a B grade from the draft prognosticators, but there were more than a few who had a good draft. Detroit and the aforementioned Ravens and Patriots had pretty good drafts, but here are my 5 teams that had a draft that really stands out:

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs grabbed Oklahoma standout DT Gerald McCoy and UCLA DT Brian Price with their first two picks. Price was outstanding as a Bruin and helped make that unit one of the best in the Pac-10. WR Arrelious Benn was one of the most coveted receivers in the draft and CB Myron Lewis helps upgrade the secondary after the defensive front got all the attention in the first two rounds. The Bucs had one of the worst punting units last year and upgraded with Brent Bowden.

New Browns QB Colt McCoy. Photo courtesy ColtMcCoyFans.org.

4) Cleveland Browns
The Browns made a heck of a gamble and it worked perfectly. Had it not worked, they wouldn't have been on this list. Their first three picks were all good picks, except for the fact that none of them were a quarterback. They upgraded at cornerback, running back, and safety, betting that Colt McCoy or Jimmy Clausen would be available in later rounds. Sure enough, Colt McCoy, the Texas QB, was available for the taking in the third round. Sixth-round pick Carlton Mitchell is an intriguing possibility considering the talent rating at such a late round (NFL.com had him at a 7.1).

3) Oakland Raiders
In recent years, the Raiders could be counted on for having at least one "huh?" moment in the draft. This year, the Silver & Black made some great picks, starting with Rolando McClain at linebacker. Bruce Campbell, the Maryland OT that some thought was going first-round, was available in the 4th. And to top it off, the Raiders upgraded their QB situation by trading for displaced Redskins QB Jason Campbell. I don't think they're playoff ready, but they certainly took a few steps towards that goal in this draft.

2) San Francisco 49ers
The Niners gave Arizona a run for its money in the NFC West this year, and with this draft class, may very well be the favorite. With first-round offensive line picks Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati, the running game will be even more of a problem for opposing defenses. I'm not quite sure if San Fran has addressed its receiver needs, but it's clear they want to pound the ball inside to win. The 49ers got USC standout Taylor Mays, who had a few words for his former coach, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Speaking of which...

Golden Tate, left, is now with the Seahawks. Photo courtesy the NY Times.

1) Seattle Seahawks
Hands down, the winner of the draft. Considering the Seahawks had a ton of needs, they did an outstanding job. The 'Hawks got a stud offensive tackle in Russell Okung to protect QB Matt Hasselbeck's blind side and safety Earl Thomas in the first round. Most would grade that well enough alone, but Seattle also got WR Golden Tate and upgraded their defensive front. Even Anthony McCoy, the USC TE who had off-field issues (tested positive for pot at the combine), could be a good pick given his college coach was Carroll. Then to top it off, they got RB's LenDale White, a former USC Trojan, and the Jets' Leon Washington. This team will be very interesting to watch in 2010.

As with any draft, there are always a few teams that, on paper, probably wish for a do-over. Some teams were hampered by trades that stripped picks (Chicago, Washington) while others just plain made some bad calls. Here are 3 teams that left me scratching my head:

3) Buffalo Bills
The Bills have lots of holes to fill, none more so than quarterback and offensive line. They waited until the 5th round to address the OL and the 7th round for QB. By that time, the premiere talent that can make a difference is gone and the QB they did pick up, Troy's Levi Brown is projected to be a backup at best. They did pick up some help on defense, but the fanbase has been disillusioned for some time and the Bills are often rumored as a team on the move to a different city. Stacking the backfield with C.J. Spiller, Marshawn Lynch, and Fred Jackson won't help make the team exciting like a solid quarterback would.

New Broncos QB Tim Tebow. Photo courtesy the Miami Herald.

2) Denver Broncos
This draft will go down as one of the Broncos' best...or absolute worst. They have some serious needs and this draft, at least on paper, didn't seem to address that much. First-round receiver Demaryius Thomas could be a star, but that's a few years off. Dez Bryant would have been a safer choice (drafted shortly after Thomas by Dallas), despite his off-field issues. I really like Tim Tebow, one of my favorite college players in recent memory, but I don't think he fits a need for Denver, nor do I think Denver fits him. He's third on the depth chart to start and considering the price it took to get him, Denver may regret the cost. Coach Josh McDaniels stresses high-character, but then goes and drafts CB Perrish Cox, who teams were skittish about drafting because of "character concerns". In short, it seems like the Broncos need a very clear direction for their team, and that's something a draft can't provide.

1) Jacksonville Jaguars
I generally don't vouch for the idea of grabbing players for the sake of selling tickets, but if there ever was an exception, Jacksonville is it. Jacksonville had the most TV blackouts last year because they didn't sell enough tickets for their home games. Like Buffalo, the fan base has been disinterested for some time and the player they draft with the 10th overall pick is Tyson Alualu? It's not that Alualu won't be a great player, but with that high of a pick, there's a certain amount of pressure and expectation involved. Plus, other higher-rated players were available and if the Jaguars wanted Alualu, they could have traded down and get more picks to fill places of need. Their defensive line needed help, but did it require four of the Jags' six picks when the linebacker, safety, and quarterback positions needed help?

And that wraps up the FTRS 2010 NFL Draft coverage. The meaningless preseason will be here before you know it.

McNabb Heading West?

Photo courtesy of the Lehigh Valley Express-Times / Associated Press.

There's a lot of speculation in the NFL that longtime Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will be traded to the Oakland Raiders for at least a second-round pick in this year's draft. It would be the end of an era in Philly as McNabb has been with the Eagles since 1999.

McNabb has certainly had a rocky time in Philly. First, his selection in the 1999 NFL Draft (1st round, 2nd selection overall) was booed by Philly fans because they wanted running back Ricky Williams, who later turned out to be a bust in New Orleans. Talk about a warm welcome. McNabb has made the Pro Bowl six times, led the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game five times and one Super Bowl where they lost to the New England Patriots on a field goal. Initially, McNabb had sub-par receivers to work with, but when the Eagles traded for hothead Terrell Owens for the 2004 season, the duo lit up the scoreboard. Finally, acceptance by the Philly fans, right? Nope, because they lost the Super Bowl that year. Then, in 2005, Owens publicly ripped McNabb over his Super Bowl performance and subsequent play. In 2006 and 2007, there were rumblings the Eagles would replace McNabb, who had had injury issues in those seasons. In 2008, the criticism continued with Eagles fans caling him a "choker" after losing in the NFC Championship Game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Photo courtesy the New Jersey Star-Ledger / US Presswire.

And to top it off, the Eagles are considering trading him to the Oakland Raiders, a team who hasn't had a winning season since 2002 and is known more for its crazy owner, Al Davis, and its bizarre fans in the Black Hole. Classy move, Philly. Is McNabb the best quarterback of his era? Certainly not, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have had better runs. But after those two, McNabb can be considered a top performer and maybe even a potential Hall of Famer, though winning a Super Bowl would greatly increase those odds. For Philly to treat McNabb the way it has for ten years then to ship him off to the wasteland that is the Oakland Raiders, #5 deserves better. Whether it be back in Philly or not, at least somewhere other than Oakland.

Roethlisberger and the Law Meeting Again?

Photo courtesy of SportsIllustrated.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is flirting with trouble again. In 2008, a woman accused him of rape in a Lake Tahoe hotel. Roethlisberger was never charged for the incident, but the alleged victim is suing him in court. Now, Roethlisberger is again accused of a sexual crime. This time, a 21-year-old college student named Amber Hanley accuses the Steelers quarterback of sexual assault at a nightclub in Milledgeville, Georgia, about two hours southeast of Atlanta. While the police are still conducting their investigation, Roethlisberger hasn't been charged.

Courtesy CBS News / Deadspin.com

The fact that this is the second time in two years "Big Ben" is being accused of a sexual crime is a disappointment, considering Roethlisberger's on-field success. You'd think after the first accusation, Ben might reconsider hanging out with single women in a bar or casino. The above photo, taken in 2006, doesn't help the Steelers quarterback's image problems either. In the court of public opinion, Roethlisberger is on very shaky ground. As a 28-year-old QB of a successful team, he needs maturity off the field to complement the leadership he's learned on it.

For more on the ongoing case, visit CBS News' Crimesider or ESPN.

Favre Falls Short Again

Photo courtesy of Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star-Tribune/NJ.com.

One of the ripple effects of the New Orleans Saints going to the Super Bowl is that the Minnesota Vikings, and by extension Brett Favre, are not. As a result, Favre will once again take lots of time and media attention while deciding if he'll return for another season.

You know it's bad when Sears makes fun of you...

Going on the Offensive

Photo courtesy of Reuters.

So the Super Bowl is set. It's the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New Orleans Saints in what is sure to be a showcase of two of the league's best offenses. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Saints QB Drew Brees (shown above) are statistically ranked 6th and 1st, respectively, amongst quarterbacks this season (passer rating). Receivers Marques Colston of the Saints and Reggie Wayne of the Colts are two of the best receivers in the game.

Defensively, both teams aren't known for their D. While they both have star defensive players (Dwight Freeney of the Colts, Darren Sharper of the Saints), the defenses as a whole can break down and give up the big score.


Photo courtesy of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

This Super Bowl has more character than people are giving it credit. First, the Colts are a likable team with one of the best players of this era in P. Manning. Many of the players from the Tony Dungy era (I consider Dungy to be the best coach of the modern era) are still there. Colts fans are some of the most passionate in the NFL. Yet, they won a Super Bowl in 2006, so the taste of a championship victory is still fresh.

As for the Saints, there's a reason why their nickname for the longest time was the 'Aints. Fans would be so distraught over the team's on-field performance they would wear paper bags over their head. Decades of disappointment for New Orleans went by as the Saints were consistent cellar-dwellers. Then, Hurricane Katrina happened, leaving the city battered and broken. Then, a new coach came in (Sean Payton), a new quarterback (Brees), a new running back (Reggie Bush), and a host of personnel changes have turned the Saints into a competitive team since Katrina. Simply put, this is uncharted territory for the Saints who are going to the first Super Bowl in franchise history (the franchise was established in 1967).


Photo courtesy of Michael Conroy/AP and NJ.com.

This Super Bowl, like last year's, pits a classic franchise against a perennial underdog. However, this year's should be a high-scoring shootout between the offenses. On paper, I think Indy has the better shot at winning, but it's hard not to root for N'Awlins, especially in light of Katrina. Either way, it should be a great game.

The AFC Playoffs are Here!

Yesterday, I covered the NFC side of the playoff equation. Today, it's the AFC's turn. Here are the playoff teams with seeding:


Photo courtesy of American Sports Blog.

1) Indianapolis Colts
Up until two weeks ago, the Colts were undefeated. Now, they don't look nearly as dominant after two straight losses. Quarterback Peyton Manning is the best in the league and receiver Reggie Wayne is an outstanding player, but what about the other guys? I wouldn't count the Colts out, but they're certainly not scaring anybody, unlike...

2) San Diego Chargers
...the Chargers, winners of their last eleven games. The Bolts are on a roll and have played some of the toughest teams in the NFL in that stretch (Dallas, Philadelphia, Cincinnati). The offense is playing extremely well, led by quarterback Philip Rivers. Probably the most well-rounded team in the AFC at this point.


Photo courtesy of The Red Zone Report.

3) New England Patriots
The Patriots are very banged up and are without stud receiver Wes Welker for the playoffs. The Pats still have Tom Brady and the best coach in Bill Belichick, but given their amount of injured players, I doubt a deep playoff run is in the cards for this team.

4) Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have struggled since the death of receiver Chris Henry and were non-existent on Sunday night against the Jets. They have the talent to reach the second round, but which team shows up: the one that dominated its division or the team that was shut out by the Jets?


Photo courtesy of FantasyPlayers.com

5) New York Jets
The Jets were out of the playoff picture until the Colts decided to put in their B team against them two weeks ago, then the Bengals rolled over Sunday night. They have a rookie quarterback who's prone to throw interceptions, but they have a top defense and running game. Very difficult to tell which team shows up.

6) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were very good at the beginning of the season, then stumbled to a 9-7 record and playoff berth. They have an excellent running game and a pretty good defense, but again as with the Jets, which version of the Ravens shows up? (Side note: The Ravens are the team that has Michael Oher, subject of "The Blind Side, so congratulations are in order for the young man. He may very well end up winning rookie of the year honors).

So, here are my AFC predictions:
3) Patriots defeat 6) Ravens (barely)
4) Bengals defeat 5) Jets

1) Colts defeat 4) Bengals
2) Chargers defeat 3) Patriots

2) Chargers defeat 1) Colts
Chargers go to the Super Bowl in Miami.

Super Bowl Prediction: Chargers defeat Cowboys. They did it in the regular season, albeit in a close game, and they do it again.

The NFC Playoffs are Here!

After another week of football, the NFL regular season has ended. Despite the crazy scenarios for the AFC, it eventually finished the way many had predicted, while the NFC shifted a tad. So here are the playoff teams for the NFC:


Photo courtesy of NowPublic.net.

1) New Orleans Saints
The Saints have clinched home-field up to the Super Bowl, should they advance that far. While playing in the Superdome is an advantage, the Saints have not played at a dominating level since they smoked the Patriots in late November. Also noteworthy, Steve Wyche of NFL.com wrote in his column that no team with a three-game losing streak going into the playoffs has won the Super Bowl. They have a chance to win the Super Bowl based on the team's immense talent, but will they be ready to compete at the high level required to eliminate another playoff contender?

2) Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota also has a home-field game and first round bye. Between Minny and New Orleans, the Vikings are the better team right now. Minnesota has a lot of older, veteran players desperate to get to the Super Bowl, none more than quarterback Brett Favre and the team is healthy at the right time. However, while Favre can be an asset, he can also be a liability since he has a knack for making risky throws. Another minus is that defensive end Jared Allen recently hasn't been the dominant force he usually is.


Photo courtesy of the Financial Post.

3) Dallas Cowboys
After the 'Boys shutout the Eagles yesterday to take the 3 seed, a date with the Eagles next week in Dallas seems easy, right? However, history suggests beating a team three times in a season is very difficult. In 2007, the Cowboys beat the NY Giants twice in the regular season, but were then beaten by the Giants in Dallas in the playoffs. That being said, the Cowboys are playing healthy and loose right now, especially after the team's first successful December in years. Getting that monkey off their back was huge for this team. Having the top defense (in terms of points allowed) doesn't hurt either.

4) Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals rolled over and played dead with the Packers on Sunday and get a do-over with Green Bay next week in Arizona. The Cardinals are playing similar to the Cards of last season, albeit with a better record (10-6 vs. 8-8 last season). Arizona played okay at home, but was excellent on the road (4-4 vs. 6-2), so going to another team's stadium doesn't spook the Cards. Plus, last year's Super Bowl contending team is nearly intact. That experience will help them.


Photo courtesy of UPI.

5) Green Bay Packers
While Green Bay has been playing excellent football as of late, the Pack are very banged-up defensively. What happens when they play the high-octane offenses of the Saints, Vikings, or Cardinals? Having said that, the Packers did have considerable defensive success at times during the season, but I think the farthest Green Bay can go is the second round.

6) Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have been in this position before (they were the 6 seed last year) and are still a dangerous team. They were winners of six straight prior to yesterday's shutout in Dallas. But can they beat the team that has had their number all season? If they do, look out.


Photo of Minnesota's Metrodome courtesy of ESPN.

So my NFC predictions are as follows:

3) Cowboys defeat 6) Eagles
4) Cardinals defeat 5) Packers

4) Cardinals defeat 1) Saints
3) Cowboys defeat 2) Vikings

3) Cowboys defeat 4) Cardinals
Cowboys advance to the Super Bowl in Miami.

The Eagles-Cowboys game will be on Saturday, 8pm ET/5pm PT on NBC while the Packers-Cardinals game will be Sunday 4:40pm ET/1:40pm PT on FOX. Tomorrow, I'll post my AFC predictions.

The Favre Drama Returns

Photo courtesy of NJ.com.

There's trouble in Minnesota as Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and Vikings head coach Brad Childress are feuding over recent play calls. The blame for this fiasco is entirely on Favre, who yet again, is causing problems with a coach. His relationship with his coaches helped end his time in Green Bay and New York. He breeds his own drama and acts as though his years of experience in the NFL give him a say in how to run a team. Childress is trying to do the right thing and resolve the issues privately, whereas Favre has a history of informing media outlets of internal problems.

Favre should take a page out of the Indianapolis Colts playbook. When the Colts ended their run at perfection, the starting players were pulled at halftime due to the head coach's decision. They may have disagreed with it, but they're resolving the matter privately and publicly supporting their coach. Since the Favre-Childress tussle is out in the public, the coach's authority is being undermined. Should the Vikings not do well in the playoffs, fans will look at this tussle as the event that derailed the season.

NFC Playoff Picture: A Matter of Seeds

Photo courtesy of Eagles blog Bleeding Green Nation.

The NFL season is a week away from ending and only three of the playoff seeds are locked down. Let's start with the NFC...

If the playoffs started today, the seeds would be:

Seed No. 1) New Orleans Saints (13-2)
As a result of the Minnesota loss last night, the Saints have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. However, they have lost two straight and are showing vulnerabilities, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Seed No. 2) Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)
The Eagles currently own the 2 seed, but the Cowboys, Vikings, or Cardinals could also claim this spot. If the Eagles beat the Cowboys in Dallas next week, then they have the 2 seed locked. Philly is playing well and is considered the team to beat in the NFC right now.


Photo courtesy of nflnewsworld.com

Seed No. 3) Minnesota Vikings (11-4)
The Vikings have lost three out of their last four games and lost the two seed last night. Quarterback Brett Favre is making more drama again, this time with Vikings coach Brad Childress. The Vikings can reclaim the two seed with a win at home against the NY Giants and a Philly loss against the Cowboys, but even if they get the Cowboys assist, I doubt the Giants will just roll over.

Seed No. 4) Arizona Cardinals (10-5)
The Cardinals are playing better lately and have been a stellar road team this year. That being said, if both Philly and Minnesota lose, the 2 seed is the Cardinals' to have. I'm not sure how advantageous having the 2 seed would be for Arizona given their road success, but I do think the Cardinals will make it to the second round of the playoffs. They host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.


Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News.

Seed No. 5) Green Bay Packers (10-5)
The Packers are locked into the 5 or 6 seed, so of the NFC teams, the Packers have one of the most predictable roads. Either way, they'll be playing on the road for the duration of the playoffs.

Seed No. 6) Dallas Cowboys (10-5)
The Cowboys have the 6 seed, but could jump up to the 2 spot if Philly, Minnesota, and Arizona lose. The surprise victory in New Orleans has really jump-started this team and given them the extra confidence to overcome the December woes of recent Cowboys teams. This team could go far in the playoffs, especially if they beat Philly on Sunday.

Tomorrow, the AFC playoff picture. If the NFC picture is a little fuzzy to you, wait 'til you see the AFC picture. What a mess.

School Semester is Over / Deja Vu in Dallas

Now that the school semester is over, I can comfortably resume posting here on FTRS. The last couple of months were thick with schoolwork as the semester was drawing to a close.

Prior to the Red Sox winning the World Series, there had been a saying thrown around online and elsewhere that "when the leaves fall, so do the Red Sox." Perhaps it should be re-phrased as "When snow falls in December, so do the Dallas Cowboys." The Cowboys worst nightmares of a failed December are coming true...again.


Photo courtesy of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard.

The Cowboys opened the month with a critical match in New York against the Giants, who had spoiled the opener of the Cowboys' new stadium in a close game. Motivation enough, right? After taking an initial 10-0 lead in the second quarter, the Cowboys went on to lose 31-24, thanks in large part due to terrible special teams play in the 4th quarter. Due to the Cowboys losing that game, it helped the Giants get closer to playoff contention and should the Cowboys deteriorate further, it could be the Giants going to the playoffs and the Cowboys staying home.

Then they played the San Diego Chargers yesterday in Dallas. Home-field advantage with 90,000+ fans in your favor, right? After tying it 10-10 in the third quarter, the Chargers surged in the 4th quarter to win 20-17. So much for home-field. The neck injury to star Cowboys linebacker in the 4th quarter made a huge difference, as the Cowboys had no pass rush. Without a pass rush, the opposing quarterbacks can sit in the pocket all day and throw with ease.


Photo of Cowboys head coach Wade Philips courtesy of WFAA-TV in Dallas.

But that seems to be the problem with this Cowboys team. One week, it's special teams, the next it's the pass rush, or lack thereof. The secondary has been an issue all year. The schedule-makers didn't do them any favors, either. Next week, they play the undefeated New Orleans Saints, which has a more explosive offense than San Diego, in New Orleans. Then, they play their rivals, the Washington Redskins, in DC and finally, they return home to play the Philadelphia Eagles, who are in first place in Dallas' division.

There are some teams constantly under a microscope. Some markets, like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, have multiple teams that receive year-round attention from the local press. Other markets have that one team that everybody follows closely. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Cowboys are two examples. The Los Angeles fanbase likes the Dodgers, the Kings, and the college teams in the area, but everyone loves the Lakers. Of the SoCal teams, only the Lakers receive wall-to-wall year-round coverage. Likewise, Dallas fans breathe football. If you play for the Dallas Cowboys, you're in a fishbowl. Much of this is due to the level of success in the team's history and with those past successes, expectations are bred of championships on a yearly basis.


Photo of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones courtesy of mkrob.com

Maybe Dallas' December woes are a result of the intense scrutiny that comes with being a Cowboy, maybe it's a case of "self-fulfilling prophecy" (i.e., if you tell yourself you're going to fail, you're going to fail), maybe it's a poor coaching effort on the part of Wade Philips. Whatever it is, until the Cowboys get a win in December, the talk of a December collapse will always come up. Should that win not happen this year, Wade Phillips can pack his bags. The Cowboys would have then gone 14 years without a Super Bowl title, and for a team called "America's Team", that's too long.

Social Lockdown in the NFL?

The NFL has recently announced that players will not be able to post Facebook or Twitter updates 90 minutes before kickoff and 90 minutes after the game, after the postgame interviews with the press. While this policy is well-intentioned, it may get a bit excessive, as was the case with the San Diego Chargers' Antonio Cromartie. He was fined $2500 by the Chargers for criticizing the food service at training camp on Twitter. The Miami Dolphins even went as far as to impose restrictions on spectators during training camp. Several other teams, including the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and the New England Patriots, have restrictions in place on the practice field.

Twitter is a great chat tool that can easily get misused. I think the Chargers' fining Cromartie was an over-step, while I understand the moves by the Colts and other teams banning Twitter and Facebook from the practice field. The NFL 90 minute policy, while seemingly a little excessive, is well intentioned. The players' focus should be on the game, not posting their latest status update.

A First-Class Patriot Retires

Photo courtesy of everyjoe.com blog "Squib Kick".

Tedy Bruschi, linebacker of the New England Patriots, has decided to retire after 14 seasons, all with the Patriots. It was partly because of Bruschi that I became a Patriots fan. He embodied a strong work ethic and overcame multiple challenges to be a role model for fans and fellow players alike. If I owned a Patriots jersey, I'd own Bruschi's before any other player's, including superstar quarterback Tom Brady.

Bruschi was drafted by the Patriots out of the University of Arizona in the mid 1990's. While a defensive end in college, the Patriots converted him to linebacker, a considerable challenge. He won 3 Super Bowls with the Patriots (2002, 2004, 2005), but suffered a mild stroke shortly after the 2005 Pro Bowl. Later that year, he made a full recovery and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

For more on this story, visit Mike Reiss' blog at the Boston Globe.

Collinsworth Moves to the Booth

Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News.

When the next season of NBC's Sunday Night Football debuts September 13, one household name will be missing. John Madden, famous for his "Boom!", telestrator drawing, and larger-than-life personality, retired earlier this year. Replacing him in the booth will be Cris Collinsworth, shown above. Of the NFL color analysts available, Collinsworth was one of the better choices. Some might say he's too plain for broadcast, but he just gives you straight-up commentary, a welcome relief from some other NFL broadcasting teams. For those that have played Madden NFL 09, you've already heard Collinsworth as the color commentator. Paired with Al Michaels, Collinsworth and SNF should be fine when the Bears and Packers square off on the 13th. Now, if only they could get rid of sideline reporter Andrea Kremer and her stupid, "no duh" questions, then SNF would be the absolute best NFL broadcasting team out there (them and FOX's team of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver are my faves).

Here's how Collinsworth sounds in Madden 09 (his voice is the first heard):

Just When You Thought He Would Retire...

Photo courtesy of FanIQ.com

...Brett Favre comes back. Favre signed a two-year deal, the second year is an option year, worth $10-12 million. Brett left his hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi this morning via private jet and arrived in the Twin Cities area a few hours later. He started practicing with the Vikings this afternoon, wearing his familiar No. 4. According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Favre has a slight rotator cuff tear in his right rotator cuff. Despite that huge risk factor, Favre has decided to return to the NFL.

I used to like Brett Favre in his Packer days. He is a gunslinger of a quarterback, taking chances that would work more often than not. Then, he waffled about retirement, again and again. His stats declined, his chances working less and less. Then he forced the trade to the NY Jets. After that one-year experiment, he waffled again in regards to retirement, even after his worst season. Now, we're back on the Favre carousel, with wall-to-wall media coverage to boot. Best of luck, Brett, but I can't say I'm rooting for you.

For more Brett Favre coverage, check out the videos at WCCO in Minneapolis. WCCO was one of two TV stations (the other in Hattiesburg) to initially report the story. Also, former Vikings receiver and current ESPN analyst Chris Carter had this to say on ESPN's "First Take" this morning:

Vick is an Eagle

Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.

On Friday, Michael Vick was officially introduced as the newest member of the Philadelphia Eagles. His contract is a two-year deal. The first year, Vick will be paid $1.6 million and the second year is worth $5.4 million. Also, his contract has $3 million in incentives. All told, he could receive as much as $10 million.

Does Michael Vick deserve to be in the NFL? It ultimately depends on your view of forgiveness. One can say, "He doesn't deserve the privilege of playing in the NFL for the awful things he did." True, he did some despicable acts of murder, but how long can one hold that against him? It's the same question posed against kids in juvenile hall, the unfaithful wife or husband, or any other case where someone or something is wronged. My family owns two cats and has owned dogs. I despise what Michael Vick did to the dogs he had, but I also know that I can forgive a man for his deeds. To quote Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."


Photo courtesy of OregonLive.com/Associated Press.

In terms of football, this is a peculiar move by the Eagles. Why take on the risk of having Vick on your team? It certainly took guts to sign him in spite of the public outrage over his past deeds. Why sign him when you have a franchise quarterback in Donovan McNabb? When I first heard of the signing, I thought, "Poor McNabb." When Philly drafted him in 1999, he was booed by Eagles fans for not being Ricky Williams, a star running back from Texas that eventually turned out to be a bust. There have been moments where the fan base loves Donovan, than weeks later, calls for him to be traded. Philadelphia sports fans in general tend to be among the most mercurial in the country, especially regarding Eagles football. How will they react to Vick? I sense that this may be the last season McNabb wears an Eagles uniform, or Vick will be traded next year. No way will those two be on the same team with the other offensive playmakers they have.


Photo courtesy of NJ.com

I'm glad Michael Vick has Tony Dungy, in the above photo, far right, as a mentor. Dungy was known as a coach that commanded his players respect in a far nicer way than other famous coaches like Bill Parcells or the New York Giants' Tom Coughlin. Dungy invested time into not only his players' skills on the field, but also their lives as a whole. Were it not for Dungy, I'd have serious doubts about Vick returning and succeeding in starting a new chapter of his life.

Swedish Foolishness in Beijing

Picture courtesy of The Telegraph (UK).

Earlier today, Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian won the bronze medal in the 84 kg competition in Beijing. In appreciation of winning the bronze, he threw it on the floor of the gym, walked out, and announced he was quitting the sport. He later said, "I don't care about this medal. I wanted gold." During his semifinal bout with eventual gold medalist Andrea Minguzzi of Italy, he had to be restrained by his teammates when the judges determined Minguzzi the winner. After the medals ceremony, he announced "This will be my last match. I wanted to take gold, so I consider this Olympics a failure.”

Abrahamian's lust for a gold medal consumed him. Most people would be okay with a silver or bronze and while they'd prefer the gold, they usually take it with grace and return four years later for another try at the gold. But not this Swede. He wanted the gold so bad that he convinced himself he had won it,even before the competition was over. He thought the gold medal was rightfully his. A preacher named C.J. Mahaney once spoke a sermon about conflicts and cravings, essentially saying that conflicts result when we crave something and we don't get what we want. Abrahamian is a perfect example of this craving.

As of this writing, the United States team leads all other countries with 15 bronze medals at these Games. Think they're going to give up their medals? While we all want the athletes to win gold medals, the silver and bronze are also worth having. After all, by having one of the three medals, you're considered one of the top three athletes in the sport. But Abrahamian isn't the only athlete with this behavior.

If we hold Abrahamian in disdain, shouldn't we hold major league managers like Lou Piniella and Ozzie Guillen who quarrel with umpires and throw tantrums in the same contempt? What about players who commit flagrant fouls on the opposing team in basketball and football? One can speculate as to how these players' pride swells up. Perhaps they grew up in an insulated environment (i.e. baseball games with no kept score) or were told from childhood they were destined for greatness (as some speculate the Chinese have done with their athletes). The world may, and rightfully so, hold utter disregard for Abrahamian, but he isn't the only one that considers everything but the gold, "a failure".