Pro Bowl Update

The Pro Bowl is on, does anybody care? Apparently not. Some of the players don't seem to care, Minnesota offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie was kicked out of the Pro Bowl completely for missing practices Friday and Saturday. His absence means that the NFC has only two tackles, Philadelphia's Jason Peters and the New York Giants David Diehl. These two will now have to play every offensive down unless they rotate in a guard. Everything that I've heard or read the past week about the Pro Bowl has mostly been full of apathy. After much complaining on my part about the Pro Bowl being the week before the Super Bowl, I understand the reason for the move. It was in part because of a lack of interest in the game the week after the Super Bowl. I don't think moving it has actually helped any. Not only is it practically a meaningless game, fourteen players other than McKinnie won't be playing. Seven players each from the Colt's and Saint's won't play because of the upcoming Super Bowl. At least if the game was being played in Hawaii, next week we might have some of those players. Well it doesn't matter what anyone thinks anyway. The NFL will do whatever it wants, including banning use of the words 'Super Bowl' in any advertising or now threatening to sue for printing 'Who Dat' on a shirt. Really what has this game come to? Are they going to charge fans royalties on what they chant at games. Now, we own that phrase so you have to pay us this much every time you say it. Well if anyone cares DeSean Jackson is having a good game. I suppose he actually enjoys being there. He has caught a touchdown pass from two different quarterbacks, Aaron Rogers and his Eagle's teammate Donovan McNabb. Matt Schaub had two first quarter touchdown passes for the AFC and in the third quarter they are tied at 24. Update...11:21 left in the third, Maurice Jones-Drew scores to put the AFC up 31-24. 5:09 in the third, Dan Carpenter kicks field goal AFC up 34-24 1:22 in the third, DeAngelo Williams rushes for a NFC TD, 34-31 11:43 in the fourth all tied up David Akers FG 34-34 5:59 Chris Johnson 2 yard TD run, AFC up 41-34


AFC wins 41-34

Which Comes First the Super Bowl or Pro Bowl?

The Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl just doesn't feel right. I get the idea, the world will be focused on Miami for the Super Bowl, why not point everyone there a week earlier.  I'm sure the city of Miami is loving this.  Not only does their local economy get a major boost from the Super Bowl, they get an extra week of visitors the week before.

 While the Colts and Saints players try to prepare for the biggest game of the year, Pro Bowl players are going to have a distraction.  Now these men are professionals, I'm sure they can handle it, but it can't help Super Bowl preparations.  What do the coaches who are trying to prepare for next week think about their star players being taken away this weekend?  The Colts players being honored this weekend will fly to Miami when they were supposed to have the weekend off.  The Colts president Bill Polian was quoted on an Indianapolis radio show describing the events as 'stupid'.  At least they won't actually participate in the game.  With Peyton manning and Drew Brees both starters for the AFC and NFC respectively, can you imagine the uproar if they actually took a snap and got injured?  That would make for an interesting week.  I suppose they are only honorary starters since they have a much more important game the next weekend.  Both Super Bowl teams have seven players each in the Pro Bowl.    

Super Bowl and Favre Watch 2010

The Super Bowl is set, Indianapolis and New Orleans survive to meet in Miami. The Jets did pose a threat to the Colts at least until after halftime. Mark Sanchez played a good game but he's not Peyton Manning. Manning's three touchdown passes helped the Colts rally from an eleven point first half deficit. The Saints won although they probably were not the better team Sunday night. Five Vikings turnovers will work in your favor. At the end of the first half when Reggie Bush committed the lone Saints turnover when he muffed a punt deep in his own territory it looked like the Vikings were poised to take control. However Bret Favre decided to return the favor and give up a fumble of his own. With the game tied and the clock ticking late in the fourth quarter Favre threw a careless interception to blow a shot at a field goal attempt. Of course the preceding penalty for twelve men in the huddle didn't help either. So the Super is set on to the next topic, Bret Favre's next retirement. The questions have already started. Will he stay or will he go? Can he handle another year? last yeas he said he couldn't but eventually changed his mind for another shot at another title. Teammates have said they enjoyed playing with Favre and they want him back even if it means he'll skip training camp. His post game comments would lead one to believe he was ready to retire. Although we have seen this before. We can expect Bret to go back and forth a few times before he finally makes a decision. When he makes a decision public he might still change his mind too. If he does retire what does it mean for the Vikings? Will they be back to the same quarterback situation as before Favre or do they draft another? Well either way they will probably be okay. The Packers and Jets both found life after Favre. There are a few decent quarterback prospects in this years draft so start scouting because this might just be the year he really retires.

Trades and Contracts and Conspiracy Theorys...

Michael Crabtree finally signs with the 49ers. The same morning this is announced we hear Cleavland has traded Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets. Just a few weeks ago there is news that San Fransisco is accusing the Jets of tampering with Crabtree. Coincidence? I think not. Somehow I think these two events are connected. I haven't been able to find what event happened first. On Tuesday there was news that Crabtree and his agent were meeting with 49ers executives. Then sometime early Wednesday morning they finally come to an agreement. I'm wondering if the Jets went after Edwards because Crabtree was meeting with the 49ers or if Crabtree decided to sign because he thought the Jets would no longer be interested. The Jets wanted to get a big play threat, and either receiver fits that description. Edwards will probably make a quicker impact because of his experience. Of course if they were talking with Crabtree or his agent that would be highly frowned upon. We will probably never know if there was any connection but it does make you think.

Remember the Titans?

Anybody remember the Titans? Starting the season win less is a sure fire way to make people forget you. This was supposed to be 'the year'. After a playoff run last season there were high hopes for this year's team. With this start you have to wonder if Titans fans are looking for Detroit on the schedule. Oh never mind, Detroit has a win already so that wouldn't be a guarantee. It looks as if the loss of Albert Haynesworth has hurt immensely. Where did that awesome defense go? Oh yeah, to Washington. What a difference one man can make.

However overall this was supposed to be a better team. All of the pieces were fitting into place for a Super Bowl run. Well, so much for preseason hype.

You've got to wonder what about Vince Young in all of this. Is he the man to turn it all around? Did the coaching staff do the right thing giving Kerry Collins the starting job when Young went out? Last year turned out pretty good, this year is just awful so far. Coach Jeff Fisher is adamant that Collins is the starter and he is not going to make any personnel changes. Well withIndianapolis and New England coming up he had better find some way to spark this team. find some way to get some of last seasons magic back or things are going to get very unfriendly in Nashville.

Seahawks get Houshmandzadeh

T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the Seattle Seahawks agreed on a five-year contract, according to media reports Monday.

Citing unidentified sources, ESPN.com, The NFL Network and the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported on their Web sites that the former Cincinnati Bengals receiver’s deal is for $40 million and includes $15 million in guarantees.

His agent, Kennard McGuire, did not respond to repeated text messages, e-mails and calls to his cell phone and office on Monday.

The 31-year-old Houshmandzadeh has caught 204 passes in the last two seasons. Seattle didn’t have a wide receiver catch more than Bobby Engram’s 47 last season.

The Seahawks had seven injuries at the position while sliding to a 4-12 finish in 2008.

Houshmandzadeh teamed with Chad Johnson to give the Bengals one of the best receiving tandems in the NFL in 2005, when the Bengals had their only winning record in the last 18 years.

While Cincinnati’s offense disintegrated in the last three years, Houshmandzadeh emerged.

A dependable possession receiver, Houshmandzadeh caught 90 passes in 2006 and tied New England’s West Welker for the NFL lead with 112 catches in 2007. He made his first Pro Bowl appearance that season.

With quarterback Carson Palmer sidelined by an elbow injury and the offensive line struggling last year, the Bengals had the worst offense in the league. Houshmandzadeh was its best player, catching 92 passes with four touchdowns.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AtOB3lv55ScuLqpxArdgM6FDubYF?slug=ap-seahawks-houshmandzadeh&prov=ap&type=lgns

Favre Retires Again

NEW YORK (AP)—Brett Favre informed the New York Jets on Wednesday he will retire after 18 seasons, ending a record-setting career in which he was one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks.
The 39-year-old instructed agent James “Bus” Cook to tell the team of his decision, six weeks after Favre’s only season with the Jets ended in disappointment as New York failed to make the playoffs.
In an e-mail to ESPN, Favre said he has no regrets about ending his career in New York and praised owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and fired coach Eric Mangini.
“Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding,” Favre said in the e-mail. “My teammates—Thomas (Jones) and Kerry (Rhodes) included—were a pleasure to play with. Eric could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I’m honored to be given that chance.”
Running back Jones and safety Rhodes were critical after the season of Favre and his performance. The Jets went from 8-3 to missing the playoffs. Favre threw nine interceptions as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch, and a torn right biceps might have contributed.
The Jets did not immediately comment on Favre’s decision.

Favre retired last March but quickly changed his mind and a bitter divorce with Green Bay ensued. He was traded to the Jets in August and was a Pro Bowl selection despite an overwhelmingly disappointing season that cost Mangini his job. New York hired former Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to replace Mangini, and he, along with Johnson and Tannenbaum, repeatedly said they wanted Favre to return.
Instead, Favre spent several weeks after the season at his home in Kiln, Miss., away from football before deciding to retire—again.
Favre had two years left on his contract and was due $13 million for next season.
If this is indeed it for Favre, he leaves the game with a slew of records, including career touchdown passes (464), completions (5,720), yards passing (65,127), regular-season victories (169) and interceptions (310).
The three-time NFL MVP also holds the mark among quarterbacks with 291 consecutive starts, including the playoffs, despite playing through several injuries throughout his career.