NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - 08/09 Season

[Imran Siddiqui]

Continue from here:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...0&pagenumber=1

[Zopperoni]

HA:



From: http://www.holytaco.com/2008/08/19/h...y-quarterback/

[-Jrabbit]

They could have stopped after "the brain of Rex Grossman." Rex could also challenge in the tiny hands category.

[Lord Avalon]

Yeah, it's preseason, but apparently the Browns starters imploded:

Peter King, MMQB - Tu ed.

The problem with preseason football, other than the fact it's preseason football, is you never have any idea what it means. Never. Having said that, I am questioning all the love I've thrown the Browns way this off-season. It would impossible not to, after being in the house for the first 17 minutes -- which took about four days -- of Cleveland's preseason loss to the Giants here Monday.

Keep in mind that in the second preseason game, the starters usually play a quarter, or a little more than a quarter. Or 17 minutes, roughly. So this wasn't the 78th guy on the roster screwing up for 17 minutes. It was the third, and 11th, and 15th.

In the first 17 minutes, the Browns fell behind 30-3. Derek Anderson was off-target and inaccurate on even the dumpoffs, screwed up a handoff with Jamal Lewis (looked to be equal blame on both sides) that the Giants picked up and ran for a touchdown, felt pressured constantly behind a line that's supposed to be very good, and finally got steamrolled into a concussion on a vicious Osi Umenyiora sack 90 seconds into the second quarter. The special teams were so awful I don't know where to begin. Maybe on the worst two consecutive plays in preseason history in the first quarter -- a punt Dave Zastudil kicked into his own blocker, Travis Thomas. Followed by Zastudil's free kick that Domenik Hixon ran back 82 yards for a touchdown -- and he was touched by exactly one Brown. The secondary, particularly under-pressure corner Eric Wright, was strafed by Eli Manning for a touchdown and a 53-yard interference penalty when he was badly beaten by Sinorice Moss. Cleveland had 128 yards of penalties, 15 coming when linebacker Andra Davis took a wild swing at a Giant after a play.

And Josh Cribbs injured an ankle. I don't know how long he or Anderson will be out.

Other than that, Mr. Crennel, how did you like the play?

"We didn't have enough poise,'' Crennel said. "We're not very good right now.''

A few things worry me about Cleveland now. The secondary, obviously. The Browns knew it was going to be a work in progress, especially at corner with young starters Wright and Brandon McDonald. They've got to get Shaun Rogers (shoulder) back healthy, which he should be for the opener so he can push the pocket and help take the pressure off the corners. Rogers and Corey Williams containing the rush is a worry, because we haven't seen them do it yet (though Rogers was stout early against the Jets last week) and the Browns gave up 4.5 yards a carry last year. And Anderson simply has to be more accurate than he was late last season (he completed 53 percent in his five December games), particularly with a rush in his face. That was troublesome Monday.

"What do you think?'' I asked Phil Savage, the Browns GM, outside the Cleveland locker room when the debacle was over.

"I don't know,'' he said. "You never know. It's preseason.''

True. But I sure hope the Browns have a big drawing board. They need to get back to it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ail/index.html

[ramseya]

how bout that Domenik Hixon? Two Rec. TD's and a Return TD. Good job by the guy who was previously best known as the guy who temporarily paralyzed Kevin Everett.

[Zopperoni]

Gene Upshaw: Dead at 63

Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw has died. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63.

Source: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...o&confirm=true

RIP

[SlowwHand]

NFL players union chief Upshaw dies at 63
Former Oakland Raiders legend, Hall of Famer had pancreatic cancer

Michael Conroy / AP file
Gene Upshaw, executive director of NFL Players Association, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
BREAKING NEWS
The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63.

Upshaw’s death was announced by the NFL Players Association, which he headed for a quarter century.

[snoopy369]

Wow... wonder what's going to happen to the collective bargaining agreement now.

[rah]

I'm sure it's still valid.

[snoopy369]

I mean the upcoming CBA discussions, silly.

[Lord Avalon]

RIP.

[SlowwHand]

Merriman evaluating options

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who has missed more than a week of practice because of a sore left knee, said he has ligament damage and is evaluating his options, including the possibility of undergoing season-ending reconstructive surgery.

The trouble is "a loose ligament and (I'm) waiting to get more info on what I need to do," Merriman said in an e-mail to the North County Times on Thursday night.

Merriman told the San Diego Union Tribune he has a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The All-Pro linebacker underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage five months ago but has had persistent pain in the knee during training camp. He traveled this week to Birmingham, Ala., so the knee could be examined by Dr. James Andrews, who performed the operation.

The Union-Tribune reported that Merriman was in New York on Thursday to see another specialist and was considering seeing a third on Friday to determine when or if he would play this season.

Merriman last played in the Aug. 9 preseason opener against Dallas and has not practiced since then.

"It's finding out what do I need to fix, what I need to do," Merriman told the Union-Tribune. "If it's left up to me, I want to play football. I can't stand sitting out."

Chargers coach Norv Turner said he hoped Merriman will be able to play on Sept. 7 when the Chargers open their regular season against the Carolina Panthers.

"I think he can be close to 100 percent and get back with some real good rehab work," Turner said. "He's been doing a great job with it and I think he just needs some more time right now."

[snoopy369]

Hmm, it's the Snoopy Fantasy Curse striking again... I think I drafted him the day he got hurt

[SlowwHand]

It's a sick feeling whenever you see someone go down and not get back up.

Texans WR Williams has movement after leaving on stretcher

Associated Press

IRVING, Texas -- Houston Texans receiver Harry Williams fractured a vertebra Friday night and is facing spinal surgery after being hit in the head during a collision with a teammate.

Williams temporarily lost movement in his arms and legs but later "regained almost normal neurologic function" after being taken from the field on a stretcher and hospitalized, Texans team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said in a statement.

Williams was expected to have surgery this weekend to fuse two vertebrae. The operation was to be performed by Dr. Drew Dossett, one of the Dallas Cowboys' team physicians who is a nationally recognized spine surgeon.

Williams, who was trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return by the Cowboys, was face down on the field when the play ended. Medical personnel immediately called for a stretcher and the game was delayed for about 10 minutes while they tended to Williams.

Lowe's statement said Williams started regaining feeling in his arms and legs on his way to the hospital. Texans coach Gary Kubiak sounded upbeat after Houston's 23-22 loss.

"He's got movement throughout his body," Kubiak said. "All the feedback I'm getting is that Harry will be fine."

Williams' face mask was removed and his head was immobilized when he was strapped to the stretcher and taken to an ambulance.

Williams was hurt after he reached and unsuccessfully tried to tackle Isaiah Stanback. After Williams slid off the runner and was falling to the ground, he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson, who was also trying to tackle Stanback. Ferguson got up and had no apparent injury.

The play occurred about 3 minutes into the game, on the ensuing kickoff after Houston capped the opening drive with a field goal. Stanback's 44-yard return set up the Cowboys for a touchdown.

Williams spent most of last season on the Texans' practice squad, playing in only two games. He is considered a long shot to make the team as a receiver, but has been one of Houston's best special teams players in the preseason.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Wow. Osi Umenyiora and Jason Taylor both carted off with knee injuries on the same preseason night.

[Ben Kenobi]

Merriman should be fine.

I don't get all the hoopla saying he will never play again.

Wishful thinking?

[ramseya]

The crazy thing is that even with Strahan's retirement and this Umenyiora injury, the Giants are STILL deep at DE with Tuck, veteran Renaldo Wynn, and the option of moving Kiwanuka back to DE.

[SlowwHand]

Giants are a lot like the Bears. Good defense, good running for the most part, but not overall as good as the Bears. The rest they plug in. When Phil Simms is your recent QB of note, that's a problem. A) Length since departure and B) He wasn't great by any means, he was just the best they've offered up lately, as in the last couple of decades.

[ramseya]

Sloww:

Good defense, good running for the most part, but not overall as good as the Bears.

Good running?

Cedric Benson: 3.4 yards/carry.
Brandon Jacobs: 5.0 yards/carry.
Derrick Ward: 4.8 yards/carry.

Jacobs got only 6 more carries yet racked up 335 more rushing yards. Hell, Derrick Ward had only 125 carries to Benson's 196 yet Ward had only 72 less yards.

[SlowwHand]

Uh, no. More along the lines of Gale Sayers, Walter Payton and even Neal Anderson.

If you're going to quote me, quote all of me. Don't take one sentence out of context. Dumbass.

[Lord Avalon]

Merriman deciding whether to play or have surgery

Updated: August 23, 2008, 11:20 PM ET

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman said Saturday he has two torn ligaments in his left knee and has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.

Merriman said he has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. He said doctors agree that he needs surgery to repair the damage.

"It could be career-threatening if I did [play]," Merriman said. "It's a possibility. That possibility is still open."

A course of action has not been decided. Merriman, who will consult with a doctor in Miami early next week before making a decision, has been told reconstructive surgery would keep him out for the 2008 season. Another option is a less-invasive surgery that would allow him to play at some point in the season.

"They've all said the same things about the injury," Merriman said. "[They're] kind of surprised that I've been playing with it up to this point."

The Chargers open the regular season Sept. 7 against the Carolina Panthers. Merriman wants to play this season.

"That's first and foremost," Merriman said. "That's what I want to do. That's why this decision is even out there still and not already made, because I want to play, period. The question is what should I do? How long should I play with it?

"It's a thousand different options at this point and I'm just trying to make the best one."

Merriman left the team Tuesday to seek opinions from other doctors, a trek that included a visit with renowned surgeon James Andrews on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala. He said he is seeking as many opinions as he can for a reason.

"I'm just trying to make the best decision possible for the team and for my career," Merriman said.

Coach Norv Turner has remained optimistic all week that Merriman will be able to play this season. He again expressed that hope Saturday.

"Right now, in talking to him, his mind-set is he's doing everything he can to get ready for Carolina, our opener," Turner said. "He just wants to get a little bit more information on his knee."

Merriman has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons. He has 39½ sacks in that span, more than any other NFL player.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3550426

With two torn ligaments, why risk your career?

[SlowwHand]

He won't. Not if he has any brains at all, which is in doubt.

[SlowwHand]

Aug 24, 5:38 PM EDT


Falcons make rookie Matt Ryan their starting QB

By GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Matt Ryan will be the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback this season. The No. 3 overall draft pick was chosen Sunday by first-year Falcons coach Mike Smith, who indicated that Ryan will likely play just the first series of Atlanta's preseason finale Thursday night at Baltimore.

The Falcons, who went 4-12 last year, host Detroit to begin the regular season on Sept. 7.

Ryan began training camp last month second on the depth chart behind Chris Redman, but the rookie was poised enough in a preseason win Friday over Tennessee to win the job.

The former Boston College star completed 15 of 21 passes for 102 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He directed a touchdown drive on his last series, the first possession of the third quarter, when Brian Finneran caught a 1-yard TD to give the Falcons a 10-3 lead.

[ramseya]

Sloww:

the rest of the paragraph you were just talking about Phil Simms. It had nothing to do with runningbacks.

But as you requested:

Giants are a lot like the Bears. Good defense, good running for the most part, but not overall as good as the Bears. The rest they plug in. When Phil Simms is your recent QB of note, that's a problem. A) Length since departure and B) He wasn't great by any means, he was just the best they've offered up lately, as in the last couple of decades.

Good running?

Cedric Benson: 3.4 yards/carry.
Brandon Jacobs: 5.0 yards/carry.
Derrick Ward: 4.8 yards/carry.

Jacobs got only 6 more carries yet racked up 335 more rushing yards. Hell, Derrick Ward had only 125 carries to Benson's 196 yet Ward had only 72 less yards.

[Ben Kenobi]

With two torn ligaments, why risk your career?

Norv will sit him if that's the case.

Merriman figures the Bolts could go all the way this year. Wouldn't you want to ride the trip all the way to the Super Bowl?

[SlowwHand]

It does have to do with the Bears. Neither have had a QB of note lately. That was my point.
Good defense, good RB, no QB or WR. Are we on the same page yet? Do we need a bouncing ball to allow all to follow along?

[snoopy369]

The Bears don't have a good RB (or didn't last year anyway) and didn't have a good defense; they had a couple of quite good WRs.

The Giants didn't have a good RB, had a quite solid QB, a somewhat better defense (last year), and better WRs, but both teams had solid WRs really.

So, no, they don't share much in common...

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by snoopy369
The Bears don't have a good RB (or didn't last year anyway) and didn't have a good defense; they had a couple of quite good WRs.

The Giants didn't have a good RB, had a quite solid QB, a somewhat better defense (last year), and better WRs, but both teams had solid WRs really.

So, no, they don't share much in common...

Giants lose Umenyiora for season Story Highlights
Osi Umenyiora will miss the season with a knee injury
The defensive end is one of the top defensive players for the Super Bowl champs
Umenyiora was hurt in the Giants preseason game against the Jets




Osi Umenyiora tore his lateral meniscus in Saturday's preseason game.
AP





EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- With the retirement of seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan, the job of repeating as Super Bowl champions was going to be difficult for the New York Giants.

Now it might be near impossible with the news that fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora is out for the season with a knee injury.

An MRI on Sunday showed that Umenyiora tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee in a preseason game against the archrival Jets on Saturday night.

The two-time Pro Bowler will have surgery on Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. The recovery period is about four months.

Dr. Russell Warren, the team surgeon, never discussed a non-surgical option, coach Tom Coughlin said.

"My number one concern is about Osi," Coughlin said in a telephone conference call on Sunday. "I did talk to him on the phone a short while ago and told him that he is in everyone's thoughts and prayers."

The devastating report came less than 24 hours after the team had thought it had caught a break in the wake of the second-quarter injury, which happened when Umenyiora's foot seemed to stick to the turf as he tried to beat Jets tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson to the outside.

Umenyiora was carted off the field with what the team described as a locked knee. X-rays taken during the game revealed no ligament damage. An MRI on Sunday found the torn meniscus on the 26-year-old who led the team with 13 sacks last season.

"It was obviously the news that I did not want to hear," Coughlin said. "But after listening to the explanation and Dr. Warren's thoughts on it, I am convinced that this is the right procedure and the right way to go."

The combination of the injury and Strahan's retirement leaves the Giants very thin at defensive end.

Coughlin said the team is considering all its options, with the most obvious being enticing the 36-year-old Strahan to come out of retirement.

Strahan retired in June, ending a 15-year career highlighted by the Giants' stunning Super Bowl victory over the unbeaten New England Patriots.

Coughlin recently talked with Strahan about his new career working on Fox's pregame NFL show on Sundays.

"The only thing I talked with Michael about was his new challenge, moving forward in his new assignment and he was very excited about that," Coughlin said.

Agent Tony Agnone said the Giants have not contacted him to ask about Strahan, who is out of the country on vacation.

"Obviously, he loves the Giants and obviously he is working for Fox," Agnone said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "Right now he is relaxing and getting ready for his Fox gig."

Strahan missed all of training camp last season while mulling retirement. He reported to the team a little more than a week before the season opener and played well.

However, he trained while thinking about retirement last year and was in good shape.

The Giants open the season on Sept. 4 against the Washington Redskins.

Justin Tuck has replaced Strahan at left end. Replacing Umenyiora at right end will not be easy. He has had 401/2 sacks over the last four seasons. His team-high 13 sacks last season was highlighted by a franchise-record six against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 30 at Giants Stadium.

Coughlin has three choices to replace Umenyiora. He can start either Renaldo Wynn, the veteran free agent who was signed in the offseason, or second-year pro Dave Tollefson, who played well late last season in a backup role.

The other option would be to move strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end. He was switched to linebacker last year so the team could put its best 11 players on the field.

"I haven't talked to any of the players or to Kiwi or anyone this afternoon and until I do that, I will just refrain from any thoughts about what might happen within our team," Coughlin said.

Coughlin said losing a player in a preseason game is difficult.

"I think the number one thing that brings frustration, anxiety, and knots in your stomach, all the things that go along with the injury to the players which do not allow your team to function as it is presented on paper," Coughlin said. "Those types of things are very difficult for coaches, no matter what age you are."

This is gonna hurt the Giants

[ramseya]

Come back Strahan!

Tuck/Kiwanuka will be a capable DE pairing... only problem is now we'll need another OLB which we didn't really have to begin with.

[SlowwHand]

Brandt: Bolt-ing to the NFL?

Could Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt make the jump to the NFL? Put it this way: If Tex Schramm and I were still running the Cowboys, we'd be in Jamaica right now waiting for Bolt's plane to land.

I have no doubt.