NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - The Offseason

[Japher]

Thems some good LBs. Vrabel is a tough sob

[SlowwHand]

Altercation after Cowboys car flag removed in D.C.

10:12 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Police say a man was punched in the face after grabbing a Dallas Cowboys flag from a car in downtown Washington.

D.C. police Lt. Eric Hayes says someone snatched the flag from a car as it was stopped in traffic Tuesday evening and apparently threw it to the ground.

Police and witnesses say that by the time the man crossed the street, someone exited the car and struck him in the face before driving away.

Police say the incident may have been motivated by team loyalty, or the motorist might not have wanted anyone to touch his car. Police say a man was taken from the scene to be treated for a bruised forehead.

Take that, jackass.

[Lord Avalon]

Next report will be Cowboy fan in DC finds car up on blocks.

[Lorizael]

Cowboy fans shouldn't be in DC, dammit. Traitors.

[Grandpa Troll]

Maurice Jones-Drew was one of the most productive running backs in the league the last three years, totaling 6,003 all-purpose yards and scoring 40 touchdowns despite splitting time with Fred Taylor.

With Taylor now out of the picture, the Jaguars expect even more from Jones-Drew.

His new deal proves it, too.

Jones-Drew signed a five-year, $31 million contract Wednesday with Jacksonville that includes $17.5 million guaranteed.

"It really was a matter of wanting more Maurice," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We want Maurice on the field more often. We believe he's a feature guy and it's his time. We're excited about that."

Jones-Drew replaces Taylor, who parted ways with Jacksonville in February as the franchise's all-time rusher. Taylor, who signed with New England after getting released, ranks 16th in NFL history with 11,271 yards. The Jaguars believe Jones-Drew is capable of filling the void.

"I'm very confident this is the type of young man that will go out and continue to display the things that have made him so popular to begin with," Del Rio said. "He's gonna get plenty of work. We're excited about getting him the ball more often.

"We were doing the best that we could as a staff of recognizing the talent and paying the respect to Fred while he was here and couldn't wait to get Maurice in the game. Now, he's our guy."

Jones-Drew has 2,533 yards rushing and 1,408 yards receiving since Jacksonville made him a second-round draft pick in 2006. He has averaged 4.8 yards a carry, 9.5 yards a reception and been at his best in goal-line and short-yardage situations.

He rarely fumbles, has few dropped passes and has a knack for making big plays and scoring touchdowns. He has become a leader in the locker room and a fan favorite because of his fearlessness, friendliness and flair for turning negative plays into first downs.

"I still love the game," Jones-Drew said. "I'm going to play the way I play. Nothing's going to change. You see some guys get paid and they kind of shut it down. That's not how I was raised, that's not how I ever played the game before. I'm going to continue to play and work hard and do everything I can to help this team win."

Jones-Drew led the team with 824 yards rushing last year, ranked second with 62 receptions for 565 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He was one of the few bright spots on a team that was hampered by three key injuries along the offensive line and chemistry issues in the locker room.

The Jaguars struggled to a 5-11 finish, and players eventually pointed fingers at receiver Jerry Porter and cornerback Drayton Florence. The two signed huge free agent contracts before the season, then did little to merit the money.

Team owner Wayne Weaver responded by cleaning house. He parted ways with longtime personnel director James "Shack" Harris and several assistant coaches and then released Porter, Florence, Taylor and defensive end Paul Spicer. He also released troubled receiver Matt Jones and chose not to re-sign several free agents, including linebacker Mike Peterson, left tackle Khalif Barnes and receiver Reggie Williams.

Weaver vowed to be more frugal in free agency this time around, but remained committed to signing Jones-Drew to a long-term deal.

"It's an opportunity with Maurice to kind of reward one of our own, someone who's performed on and off the field," general manager Gene Smith said. "I don't have a son, but if I did, Maurice would be someone I would love to have as a son.

"He's done the right things in the community, has passion for his profession and presents himself as one of the faces of our franchise."

[Grandpa Troll]

Former NFL player Travis Henry has signed a plea deal with prosecutors in which he admits to a single cocaine conspiracy charge in exchange for two other charges being dropped.

Under a plea deal filed with the court Tuesday, the 30-year-old Henry will admit to conspiracy to possess at least 11 pounds of cocaine with intent to distribute the drug.

If U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull accepts the plea, Henry faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, $4 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

Henry and co-defendant James Mack, 29, of Bow Mar, Colo., were arrested in Denver in October, after authorities in Montana found six pounds of marijuana and about 6.6 pounds of cocaine that the pair allegedly supplied.

The government said Henry trafficked cocaine between Colorado and Montana and that one of his associates had delivered six pounds of cocaine to Billings on prior occasions.

In exchange for Henry's guilty plea, prosecutors said they would drop two counts of cocaine distribution that each carried another 10-year minimum in prison.

Henry's lawyer in Denver, Harvey Steinberg, did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Mack also has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, although details have not been revealed. His sentencing is set for April 23.

Henry was cut by the Denver Broncos in June after playing one season of a four-year, $22.5 million contract.

In the government's offer of proof in his drug case, federal authorities quote an informant who described Henry as the "money guy" in the cocaine conspiracy.

[Grandpa Troll]

Buffalo's search for a backup running back continued Tuesday with former Indianapolis starter Dominic Rhodes taking a free-agent visit, a source told FOXSports.com. With 538 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 152 attempts last season, he had almost equal production to Colts starter Joe Addai. Rhodes, 30, started four games last season when Addai was sidelined by injuries. Rhodes, 30, has enjoyed a solid eight-year NFL career despite being undrafted out of tiny Midwestern State. An 1,100-yard rusher as a rookie, Rhodes started all 16 regular season games for Indianapolis during its 2006 Super Bowl-winning season. The Bills began seeking a free-agent running back long before the NFL announced a three-game conduct suspension for starter Marshawn Lynch and backup Fred Jackson began boycotting the offseason workout program because of unhappiness with his contract.

If it happens, Buffalo could be a massive threat, of course the team would have to be out of Jail and be allowed to play

[ColdWizard]

Take that, jackass.

Organization of thugs with a fanbase to match

When are they signing Plaxico, Sloww?

[SlowwHand]

Who are they?

[Japher]

Madden retires To focus full time on video game and sausage franchises

[Ming]

Yeah... I saw that story breaking just a bit ago, and actually was surprised. God knows he's old enough, but it still looked like he enjoyed what he was doing. I hope he's not sick.

[Supr49er]

There are rumors that he's coming back to the Raiders in a consultant/management position.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/04/16/john-madden-retires

[Grandpa Troll]

Yeah... I saw that story breaking just a bit ago, and actually was surprised. God knows he's old enough, but it still looked like he enjoyed what he was doing. I hope he's not sick.

Legendary NFL broadcaster John Madden has made his last call.

NBC announced the former coach's plans to retire Thursday morning. Though he spent the last three years working NBC's Sunday night NFL game, he served as an analyst on all four major television networks since retiring as the Oakland Raiders coach in 1979.

"It's time," Madden said. "I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

Known to many for his annual "Madden NFL Football" video game, the 73-year-old Hall of Famer's final game was February's Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

After beginning his coaching career as an Oakland linebacker coach in 1967, he was promoted to head coach two years later. At 33, he was the American Football League's youngest coach. He retired after winning the Super Bowl, and joined CBS the next season.

Famously afraid of flying on planes, he traveled to most games by a specially-equipped bus.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Ming, to me he was Mr.Football, I allways enjoyed his interaction and his famous X's and O's

I kinda felt bad when Pat Summerall retired, as they allways worked together so well

I was reading your post in that BK commercial thread, about your company being involved years ago in an advertisement that didnt fair that well.

I was thinking all through the years, Madden as done so much, I understand of the fraility of human life, I do hope he has not gotten anything wrong, other than just wanting to slow down

John Madden, thanks for the memories

[Imran Siddiqui]

Unlike Favre, he'll stick to his word.

Madden

[ColdWizard]

Who are they?

They are the Cowboys. What other team likes to sign gun-toting jackasses?