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

[Grandpa Troll]

Buffalo Bills fullback Corey McIntyre has been arrested in Florida on accusations he fondled himself outside a Port St. Lucie woman's home.

The incident allegedly happened about two months ago, but the 29-year-old McIntyre was arrested Thursday and charged with exposing sexual organs.

A spokesman for the Port St. Lucie Police says a woman claimed the player knocked on her window during the act, then fled. Police later spotted him on a bicycle.

The charge is a misdemeanor and required a warrant for his arrest, which led to the lag time until McIntyre was jailed.

McIntyre's agent, Brett Tessler, says his client is "guilty of absolutely nothing" and looks forward to proving the accusations false.

The player is free on $10,000 bond.

[Grandpa Troll]

The Indianapolis Colts used one succession plan to replace Tony Dungy. Now, new coach Jim Caldwell is implementing his own succession plan to complete his staff.

Team president Bill Polian told an Indianapolis radio station Friday that assistant head coach Clyde Christensen will become the new offensive coordinator and Pete Metzelaars will take over as offensive line coach following the retirements of Tom Moore and Howard Mudd.

"The main cogs in terms of operating the program are in place, have been in place and we're prepared to do this," Polian told 1070-The Fan during a morning radio program. "It does not come as a shock to us. It's just a transition that we would rather not have made, but we knew full well that it was likely we were going to have to."

The team has made no official announcement about the changes, and Polian did not respond to an interview request from The Associated Press.

Shuffling staff members in May is unusual, but when league owners approved changes to the coaches' pension plan earlier this year, the 67-year-old Mudd and 70-year-old Moore were almost forced into retiring. Otherwise, they would have lost some of their retirement benefits.

The retirements are the latest in a line of offseason changes, but these two moves could have the most dramatic effect on the Colts' offense.

Moore has been the only offensive coordinator three-time MVP Peyton Manning ever played for in the NFL, and has a long history of coaching Hall of Fame-caliber players and directing productive NFL offenses.

He coached receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth during the Steelers' dynasty in the late 1970s, and receiver Cris Carter in Minnesota. In 1994, Moore left the Vikings for Detroit and helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher in Barry Sanders and the first set of teammates to ever catch 100 passes in a season -- Herman Moore and Brett Perriman.

In Indy, his teams often ranked among league leaders in points, produced 1,000-yard runners and a passing attack that was among the league's best.

Mudd also had a distinguished career that started in San Diego and took him to San Francisco, Seattle, Cleveland and Kansas City before he came to Indy. He constructed a Colts offensive line that annually ranked among the league leaders in protecting the quarterback.

Both coaches joined the Colts in 1998, Manning's rookie season.

"It is a very sad situation where economic issues and procedural issues, to some extent, forced them to take this action," Polian said. "We will miss them greatly. They're terrific guys, they're good friends, they're legendary coaches."

The transition may not be as challenging as it appears.

Christensen joined the Colts as a receivers coach in 2002, staying on Dungy's staff after six seasons in Tampa Bay. He also served as Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator in 2001, and has now had seven seasons to learn Moore's system.

Caldwell also followed Dungy from Tampa Bay to Indy in 2002, was promoted to assistant head coach in 2005 and associate head coach last year before replacing Dungy in January. Caldwell coached Manning during all three MVP seasons.

Metzelaars has been on the Colts' staff the last five seasons. He has served as Mudd's assistant on the offensive line and replaced Mudd for two weeks last season when Mudd had surgery to ease the pain from a previous hip replacement procedure.

Metzelaars spent 16 seasons in the NFL with Seattle, Buffalo, Carolina and Detroit, during part of Moore's tenure with the Lions.

Still, losing Mudd and Moore is a hit Polian did not want to take.

Especially after making a host of other changes this offseason.

Besides Dungy's retirement and Caldwell's promotion, the Colts have new defensive and special teams coordinators. In February, they released Marvin Harrison, the franchise's career receiving leader, and last week the team announced that the jobs of longtime player personnel director and several others in the team's scouting department were eliminated in restructuring.

Now, they must replace two more cornerstones.

"They're the best at what they do, and we will miss them greatly, but we were prepared for this to happen," Polian said. "We've been dealing with this almost since Feb. 1. We will have a smooth transition, but we will miss them greatly."

Does anyone have any knowledge of this Christiansen?

[Grandpa Troll]

Former Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden is replacing Tony Kornheiser on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast team. Kornheiser cited a fear of flying in his decision to leave after three years.

The network said Monday that Gruden will be in the booth with Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski when the show starts its 40th season this fall.

"If I could handpick a replacement of a football guy, I would cast a net and drag in Jon Gruden," Kornheiser said in a statement released by the network. "He is the two things you most want -- smart and funny -- and has the two things I don't -- good hair and a tan."

Gruden led the Bucs to the 2003 Super Bowl title but was fired after this past season after his team lost four straight games to miss the playoffs. He worked as a guest analyst this year with the NFL Network during the draft and scouting combine.

"To join Mike and Jaws in the booth and to work alongside this top-notch team is going to be a real thrill," Gruden said.

Gruden will make his debut with ESPN with a preseason game on Aug. 13, a Super Bowl rematch between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kornheiser will continue to appear on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," and is relieved it doesn't require air travel.

"My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true," he said. "When I looked at the upcoming schedule it was the perfect storm that would've frequently moved me from the bus to the air."

Gruden was an NFL head coach the past 11 seasons, with the Buccaneers (2002-08) and Oakland Raiders (1998-01). He had a 100-85 record, leading his teams to five division titles.

His best season came in 2002, when the Buccaneers went 12-4 and then beat the Raiders 48-21 in the Super Bowl. Gruden was 38 at the time and the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.

Gruden began his NFL coaching career in 1990 when San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren hired him as an assistant. When Holmgren was hired to coach the Packers in 1992, Gruden became his wide receivers coach.

After three seasons, Gruden went to the Eagles as an offensive coordinator, and in 1998 became coach of the Raiders at 34.

I like it, I was never a fan of Tony Kornheiser or Dennis Miller before him for announcing Football.

Hope this works out well

[-Jrabbit]

I predict disaster, but at least Chucky is a football guy.

Tirico and Jaws are fine. WTF is wrong with a 2-man booth?

[Lord Avalon]

I liked Miller better than Kornheiser, but would have preferred a football guy to either, I think.

Dunno why they don't go with 2. Maybe because back in the day, they had success with Cosell, Meredith & Gifford?

[Ming]

It's all about "entertainment" and making the game special... I think it's all crap. They haven't really had a good person dream team in a long time. Now that the game is on cable, and a sports network to boot... they should do it like everybody else does, and go with just two in the booth. Tirico and Jaws are just fine. And personally, I would love to hear even more from Jaws.

[Grandpa Troll]

It's all about "entertainment" and making the game special... I think it's all crap. They haven't really had a good person dream team in a long time. Now that the game is on cable, and a sports network to boot... they should do it like everybody else does, and go with just two in the booth. Tirico and Jaws are just fine. And personally, I would love to hear even more from Jaws.

Same here Ming

Jaws is very qualified and both work well together

[Zopperoni]

NFL, Comcast reach long-term carriage agreement for NFL Network



PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK – Comcast Corporation and the National Football League announced today that they have reached a new, long-term agreement regarding carriage of NFL Network and complete settlement of all outstanding legal disputes. The carriage agreement consists of a broad array of video content, including the live (24/7) Network, video on demand for Comcast’s Digital Classic cable customers, and the ability to offer the NFL’s RedZone Channel when it is created.

Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will begin repositioning NFL Network from the Sports Entertainment Package to its Digital Classic level of service with a full launch by August 1, reaching nearly two-thirds of the company’s total digital customer base. In addition to NFL Network’s in-studio shows, commentary and live-game broadcasts, Comcast’s Digital Classic customers will now have access to a robust suite of NFL content On Demand, including game highlights, game replays, the “best” of NFL Films, players and coaches interviews, local team highlights, and other NFL programming whenever they want a piece of the action.

"We are delighted to have come to an agreement with the NFL,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation. “Our goal has always been to provide our digital customers with access to the NFL’s unique content and, working together, we have struck the right balance between value and distribution on a variety of viewing platforms. We are looking forward to bringing the NFL’s programming to our customers just in time for the start of the NFL season.”

“We are very pleased that NFL Network and other NFL content will be widely distributed in millions of more homes on Comcast’s service,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We look forward to having NFL Network’s coverage of training camps and the preseason showcased this summer on Comcast. NFL Network is the only TV channel devoted exclusively to football 24/7, 365 days a year.”

The NFL and Comcast will take immediate joint action to discontinue pending legal actions before the Federal Communications Commission and a New York state court.

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

[Tuberski]

Doesn't help us Time-Warner customers though.

ACK!

[Ming]

About fricking time... I saw no reason to buy the Upgraded sports package from Comcast just to get a few NFL games. Year one, they gave it to us as part of our normal package... after that, they wanted more money. No way was I going to pay it.
Now, at least they are doing the right thing.

[rah]

YAAAAAAAY

[Lord Avalon]

In other NFL Network news....

From Peter King's MMQB/TE:

Do not invite Gruden and NFL Network czar Steve Bornstein to the same event anytime soon, or ever. Bornstein wants to wring Gruden's neck. The NFL Network is furious with Gruden for jilting the network after he'd verbally agreed to a deal to work there. The former Bucs coach had been very good on the NFL Network, colorful and opinionated, at the NFL scouting combine and the NFL draft, and the network had finalized everything but the signature on the paper for Gruden to begin working there immediately. In fact, he was slated to be at NFL Films this week to begin his job full time. But ESPN swooped in, offered Gruden the Monday night seat vacated by Tony Kornheiser (how convenient), and Gruden took it.

The NFL Network planned to put Gruden on the air all season, then move him to the Thursday night football booth alongside Bob Papa, replacing Cris Collinsworth. Now it's back to ground zero in its search for a voice to pair with Papa.

One of the reasons the NFL Network is so steamed, I'm told, is that no one from the Gruden camp called Bornstein to tell him. In many cases like this, the league might work with its TV partners to tell them, "Hey, hands off,'' or "Play fair here,'' but that didn't happen here. ESPN got to Gruden too fast.

Now there are two people who should have been NFL Network stars this fall -- Gruden and ace reporter Adam Schefter -- who will instead work for ESPN. And the NFL Network is not pleased about the defection of either one.

[flash9286]

It's all about "entertainment" and making the game special... I think it's all crap. They haven't really had a good person dream team in a long time. Now that the game is on cable, and a sports network to boot... they should do it like everybody else does, and go with just two in the booth. Tirico and Jaws are just fine. And personally, I would love to hear even more from Jaws.

I liked Tony in the booth. He brought much needed levity, although his gushing over Brett Farve got annoying. Jaws is ok, but he takes the game too serious.

Of all the NFL announcers I probably like Aikman the best.

[Ming]

Gee... let me see... I can be on the "World Leader for Sports" or the far less viewed young puppy NFL Network... TOUGH CHOICE! Until you had his signature/agreement, he was fair game. Tough luck... HAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAA

[Ming]

I liked Tony in the booth. He brought much needed levity, although his gushing over Brett Farve got annoying. Jaws is ok, but he takes the game too serious.

Of all the NFL announcers I probably like Aikman the best.

I didn't mind Tony per say... And I've always liked him on PTI. But the three men in the booth thing never really worked with him. I respect his opinions, but he always seem like the odd man out during the broadcasts. They all kept falling over each other, and it just never clicked.

And I like Jaws because he is serious, and very knowledgable. While sports is an entertainment... I want to hear stuff from the color guy that I don't really already know. You know the announcers aren't adding anything when you have friends over watching the game, and you and your buddies are saying the exact same thing seconds before the color guy. Nobody breaks down film better than Jaws... I learn stuff from him all the time.