tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61904517951588675352024-11-08T06:55:09.170-08:00rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-26560711464522080592010-11-05T01:14:00.000-07:002010-11-05T01:14:00.261-07:00 <P>According to a study by The Wall Street Journal, the panels on network NFL pregame shows can spend over 10 percent of their airtime engaging in fits of collective laughter.</P><P>An <A href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304173704575578501003840096.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Sports_RightTopCarousel_1">analysis of the Week 5 pregame programs</A> showed that Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Curt Menefee and <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2579/">Michael Strahan</A><A class=ysp_playernote_icon id=ysp_playernote_nfl.p.2579 href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2579/news">(notes)</A> of FOX spent two minutes, 22 seconds laughing together during their 20 minutes on air. That was more than triple the amount of time spent laughing by the CBS crew of Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Greg Gumbel, Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe, who clocked in at a meager 43 seconds.  </P><P>FOX beat CBS in forced laughter? That's a monumental upset on the scale of The Miracle on Ice, Appalachian State over Michigan or Rocky knocking out Drago. I know Terry Bradshaw is bad (he laughed for 92 seconds during the show), but the team of Marino, Sharpe and Esiason are like a murderer's row of phony laughers. I'd have guaranteed that they were more prone to bursts of contrived guffaws. Just listen to them:  </P><EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/9g3pttNPSTE?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&start=34 width=480 height=385 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED></P><P>(Yes, that's from a different year, but you get the gist.) </P><P>I'm going to call Week 5 a statistical outlier and implore The Wall Street Journal to look at more data before coming to any conclusion. I'd do it myself, but that would mean I'd have to watch both the FOX and CBS pregame shows and I don't know if I'm emotionally able to make that sacrifice. </P><P><A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Redskins-star-Laron-Landry-and-his-nine-s?urn=nfl-280667">Laron Landry-like handshake</A> to <A href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/28/the-fox-pregame-shows-fake-laughs-as-much-as-you-think/">PFT </A></EM></P>Related: <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/players/Michael+Strahan/nfl.p.2579">Michael Strahan</A></P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-FOX-pregame-team-spends-10-percent-of-its-sh?urn=nfl-280722" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-8665629099308713912010-11-04T20:49:00.000-07:002010-11-04T20:49:00.692-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-32132955-1288796949.jpg" border=0> </P><P><A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4262/">Randy Moss</A><A class=ysp_playernote_icon id=ysp_playernote_nfl.p.4262 href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4262/news">(notes)</A> will be taking his talents to Nashville.</P><P>Despite his lack of production, <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-mossbehavior110210">boorish behavior</A> and the fact that his on- and off-field antics forced two teams to part ways with him in the span of 26 days, Moss was deemed an acceptable risk for Jeff Fisher and the Titans, who claimed the receiver off waivers late Wednesday afternoon. Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean was <A href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101103/SPORTS01/101103067/2215/SPORTS/Titans+win+waiver+claim+for+Randy+Moss">first to report the news</A>.</P><P>[<STRONG>Photos:</STRONG> <A href="http://yhoo.it/dfwb5o">Latest images of Randy Moss</A>]</P><P>Tennessee was No. 22 on the NFL's waiver order (which goes from worst record to best), meaning 21 other teams passed on the chance to bring Moss onto their team.  </P><P>In Tennessee, Moss will join <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7752/">Vince Young</A><A class=ysp_playernote_icon id=ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7752 href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7752/news">(notes)</A> and a decimated receiving corps that just lost last week's breakout star, <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9294/">Kenny Britt</A><A class=ysp_playernote_icon id=ysp_playernote_nfl.p.9294 href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9294/news">(notes)</A>, to a minor injury. The Titans will pick up the remainder of Moss' $6.4 million contract, which expires at the end of the year. </P><P>Moss was cut on Monday by the Vikings after a tumultuous weekend that began with him insulting a restaurant owner during a team meal. In Sunday's loss to his former team, the <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nwe/">New England Patriots</A>, Moss <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/How-Randy-Moss-quitting-on-a-play-indirectly-led?urn=nfl-281576">quit on a play</A> and then blasted coach Brad Childress in a <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Randy-Moss-goes-rogue-in-postgame-press-conferen?urn=nfl-281371">bizarre, postgame press conference</A>. The decision to waive him was made hours later, while Moss was still in Boston after <A href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/02/moss-informed-vikings-he-wasnt-flying-back-with-team/">reportedly demanding</A> that he be allowed to stay in the city following the game.  </P><P>[<STRONG>Watch:</STRONG> <A href="http://yhoo.it/cId6ro">Funny song tribute to Moss</A>]</P><P>After his release, Moss was placed on waivers, where teams ranked in order of worst record had a chance to make a claim. Because he's viewed as a short-term rental, not a long-term investment, Moss was bypassed by teams with first dibs on him. The belief: There's no upside in bringing Moss to a rebuilding project. (This could explain why the <A href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/stl/">St. Louis Rams</A>, a team considered to be favored to land Moss, passed on him. Why ruin everything Steve Spagnuolo has spent the past two years building?) </P><P>His upside made him hard to resist for a team with playoff aspirations and a solid organizational structure like the Titans. It was always believed that the team willing to gamble on Moss would have to have a strong head coach, and there are few head coaches in the league better suited to handle a diva like Moss than Jeff Fisher. </P><P>The Titans have a bye this week. Moss should make his debut with the team in Miami on Nov. 14. </P><P><STRONG>Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:</STRONG> <BR>• <A href="http://yhoo.it/9g6poD">Notorious NBA trash-talker crosses the line</A> <BR>• <A href="http://yhoo.it/a5nvAU">What Brett Favre looked like in high school</A> <BR>• <A href="http://yhoo.it/bvYX6i">MLB champion Giants celebrate in San Francisco</A> </P>Related: <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/players/Kenny+Britt/nfl.p.9294">Kenny Britt</A>, <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/players/Randy+Moss/nfl.p.4262">Randy Moss</A>, <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/players/Vince+Young/nfl.p.7752">Vince Young</A>, <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/teams/New+England+Patriots/nfl.t.17">New England Patriots</A>, <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/teams/St.+Louis+Rams/nfl.t.14">St. Louis Rams</A>, <A href="about:/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/teams/Tennessee+Titans/nfl.t.10">Tennessee Titans</A></P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tennessee-Titans-claim-Randy-Moss-off-waivers?urn=nfl-282200" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-35015054945336573432010-11-02T09:10:00.000-07:002010-11-02T09:10:00.177-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-51804452-1287184167.jpg" align=right border=0>In 2009, there may not have been a faster man on any NFL field (Chris Johnson excepted) than New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis(notes). Week after week, he took the game's biggest and best burners and shut them down completely. And though he is currently recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him off the field for two games and limited him last Monday night against the Vikings, Revis is still zooming by just about everyone else.</P><P>Problem is, he's now doing it on America's highways and byways. </P><P>According to the Associated Press, Revis was ticketed Friday morning for driving 80 mph in a 40-mph zone on the Eisenhower Parkway in New Jersey as he was on his way to a team meeting at the Jets' facilities. Revis was recognized by the officer who stopped him, but says that he will not fight the ticket. </P><P>"I mean, I'm not a speedster," Revis said. "I don't do that. I was a little late for work and I was just trying to get here to work. You face the consequences when you speed and that's what happens ... I'm a citizen, so I've got to follow the rules as well as everybody else."</P><P>Jets head coach Rex Ryan was not impressed by his star cornerback's new need for speed. "We can all take notice of it," Ryan told the media. "Obviously, you've got to slow down. He was running late, that's not an excuse. You'd hate to see him or anybody be careless where you put somebody else at risk, put yourself at risk, and that's a reminder for all of us." </P><P>Ryan had most likely figured out that most self-appointed moralists and ethical experts (yes, we mean you, Mr. Dungy) will tack this onto the team's eventful season off the field and use it as just another example of Ryan's inability to impose the people discipline. But -- and this is in no way excusing Revis putting himself and others in danger -- if Ryan really ran such a loose ship, why would Revis have been busting his butt trying to get to that meeting on time?</P><P>Revis is currently listed as questionable for the Jets' next contest in Denver. It will be Ryan's decision as to whether Revis plays (he was probably back too soon against the Vikings) against Kyle Orton(notes) and the NFL's most dynamic passing offense. We assume that others will handle the transportation to the Mile High City. </P>Related: , Darrelle Revis, Kyle Orton, New York Jets</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Revis-still-the-fastest-just-not-on-the-fiel?urn=nfl-277365" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-91758788348834537732010-11-02T05:01:00.000-07:002010-11-02T05:01:00.391-07:00 <P>A small sampling of opinions from sports Twitterati on the ugly, turnover-filled battle of attrition between the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears: </P><P>@dcsportsbog: "This might actually be the worst football game I've ever seen." (Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post)</EM></P><P>@sportsguy33: "I'm not kidding -- this Redskins-Bears game is so bad that I think it just gave Troy Aikman a concussion. Is that possible?" (Bill Simmons, ESPN)</EM></P><P>@chrismottram: "This is the ugliest, most bizzare organized football game I've ever seen." (Chris Mottram, SB Nation)</EM></P><P>@andyhutchins: "Every single Redskins-Bears play has me giggling. This is both the best and worst football game ever." (Andy Hutchins, SB Nation) </EM></P><P>@FO_BBarnwell: "Electric football looks more like the real thing than Bears-Redskins." (Bill Barnwell, Football Outsiders)</EM></P><P>@chaztopher: "The first time the Bears and Redskins played they ended in a 7-7 tie in 1932. Suffice it to say, that game featured better offense." (Me)</EM></P><P>Think we're overreacting? Take a look for yourself:  </P><P>The final tally: nine turnovers (six for Chicago, three for Washington), six sacks, a combined 17 percent conversion rate on third downs, multiple delay-of-game penalties; ugh, it was brutal. It says something about the NFC when these two teams were leading their respective divisions two weeks ago and are threats to make the playoffs. </P><P>Cutler shone the dullest, throwing four interceptions to DeAngelo Hall(notes), none of which were caused by much more than the quarterback's own incompetence. On the bright side, Bears fans can be happy that he made it through the game without spiking himself.</P><P>Washington ended up winning the game 17-14, although the 'Skins didn't "win" as much as they "lost less."  </P>Related: DeAngelo Hall, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Redskins-Bears-and-the-worst-football-game-I-v?urn=nfl-279444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-26419333713388488382010-11-02T02:00:00.000-07:002010-11-02T02:00:02.237-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-575663426-1288021500.jpg" border=0></P><P>Before the 2010 season started, it was presented as a fait accompli</EM> that the San Francisco 49ers would win the NFC West. A dominant defense, the theory went, would propel an up-and-coming offense to the upper tiers of the league, and head coach Mike Singletary's motivational style would be the glue that held it all together. Of course, there was some concern about quarterback Alex Smith's development, but under the right circumstances, maybe this 49ers team could be a Super Bowl contender like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the 2007 New York Giants -- the defense and run game would lead the way, and the "game manager" quarterback would follow.</P><P>Needless to say, the 49ers have flipped the script. Their 1-6 record is the NFC's worst, and they have only themselves to blame -- the formerly winless Carolina Panthers got off the schneid against Singletary's team with a 23-20 win on Sunday. And that allegedly great defense was upended by the quarterback/receiver combo of Matt Moore(notes) and David Gettis(notes).</P><P>Singletary, who's always been about the big soundbite, tried to stay positive after the loss. "There's no doubt in my mind that somehow, someway, we will regroup and keep fighting," he said. "We will make a season of it. And I still believe we can go to the playoffs. I still believe we can get those things done. We just have to get the right things in place, and go from there."</P><P>That echoes the recent proclamation by team president/owner Jed York that the 49ers still had what it took to make a playoff run. But now, it's coming out that there are serious rumblings and grumblings about the job Singletary's doing. Team sources told Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that York and his father, John, have expressed displeasure about the coaching to their "inner circle." </P><P>Singletary was signed to a four-year contract after his interim performance in the 2008 season, but the 49ers are in a bit of a pickle here. It was thought that this season would finally erase the effects of years of bad hiring and personnel decisions, and the franchise is still trying to work out the logistics of a new stadium. Alex Smith is a free agent after this season, and it's quite possible that Singletary's tough-guy shtick has worn thin with his players. Having fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye and engaged in multiple sideline confrontations with Smith in the last few weeks, Singletary seems to be losing his grip on the team. </P><P>The 49ers travel to London this week; they're facing the Denver Broncos on Halloween night at Wembley Stadium. If they lose to the Broncos, who were just poleaxed by a Raiders team that provided San Francisco's only win this season, the subsequent bye week would give the Yorks the time they need to put a suitable replacement plan in place. And at 1-7, what else should they be doing?</P>Related: , Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Halloween-in-London-The-end-for-Mike-Singletary?urn=nfl-279630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-91329311223304299892010-11-01T21:39:00.000-07:002010-11-01T21:39:00.242-07:00 <P><IMG hspace=8 src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-665442637-1288025919.jpg" align=right border=0>Fake Jon Gruden breaks down the fantastic Monday Night Football matchup between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys:</EM></P><P><STRONG>On Eli Manning </STRONG>-- "Let me tell you, this guy is cool, calm and collected. That's why I call him 'The Cucumber.' He's a Super Bowl MVP and has the New York Giants leadin' the NFC East. He's like a hammer and the rest of the league is his rock."  </P><P><STRONG>On Tony Romo(notes) </STRONG>-- (Gruden leans forward precariously on his stool, knuckles white from gripping the table so hard.) </EM>"You talk about Tony Romo; this guy is without a doubt one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League. He's completin' 70 percent of his passes. It's so much fun to call plays when you have a guy at quarterback like this. You say, "can you run this play," and he'll say, "hey, I can do whatever you need." My kinda guy." </P><P><STRONG>On Tom Coughlin </STRONG>-- "Hoo boy, this is one dude you don't wanna mess with. He's a tough cookie. An old-school disciplinarian. On time is too late for this guy! You've gotta show up five minutes early in Tom Coughlin's world! If you had to sum up the head coach of the New New York Football Giants in three words: Discipline. Poise. Order. Discipline."</P><P><STRONG>On Jerry Jones</STRONG> -- "What an owner, one of the best in the history of sports. This new stadium is so amazin' that they call it the Palace in Dallas. You know, they're gonna have the Super Bowl here in February. And all Jerry Jones wants to do is get his Cowboys to that game. And you know what? I think he has the team this year to do it."  </P><P><STRONG>On Miles Austin(notes) </STRONG>--<STRONG> </STRONG>"Miles Austin isn't just one of the most underrated football players in the National Football League, he might also be one of the best. This guy can do it all. Run the go route. Block the C-gap. Go over the middle. Here's a young man who can penetrate and get into that spot. Nobody really talks about him but, believe me Jaws, he can play. Miles Austin is a true football player. I love that guy." (Note: But not as much as MJD.)</EM></P><P><STRONG>On Hakeem Nicks(notes)</STRONG> -- (Gruden emits a long whistle, as if to say, "that guy there is special.")</EM></P>Related: Miles Austin, Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Fake-Jon-Gruden-breaks-down-Giants-Cowboys-Monda?urn=nfl-279664" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-88230501771654514012010-11-01T16:39:00.000-07:002010-11-01T16:39:00.771-07:00 <P><IMG hspace=8 src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-295130488-1288028390.jpg" align=right vspace=8 border=0>It's not often that the same team has the league's best offense and the league's best defense. But, using total yards as our statistical guideline, the NFL currently has a team doing just that.</P><P>So who is this powerful juggernaut? Who's that lighting up the scoreboard, locking down opposing offenses and putting pants-wetting fear into the hearts of every overmatched team in the league?</P><P>Well, no one. Because the team that's dominating the statbook is the San Diego Chargers, and they're not very good. They scare no one, except for the guy in charge of counting how many times they fumble each week.</P><P>It's really quite amazing. The Chargers offense leads the NFL in yards per game, yards per play, first downs per game, passing yards, average yards per pass attempt, and passing first-down percentage.</P><P>Defensively, they're first in yards allowed per game, 20 yards better than anyone else. They give up 4.2 yards per play, also best in the league.</P><P>And here they sit at 2-5.</P><P>Why? Well, rather than tell you that they've lost 12 fumbles, their minus-7 turnover ratio is 31st in the league and that their special teams are broken in nearly every way, I think it's best if we highlight individual plays and instances from their season. Let's go through the list. I think you'll enjoy it if you hate the Chargers.</P><P>• Gave up a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against Kansas City.</P><P>• Fumbled at their own 13-yard-line, resulting in a Kansas City touchdown three plays later.</P><P>• Gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same half, to the same guy, against Seattle.</P><P>• Turned the ball over five times against Seattle.</P><P>• Allowed the Raiders to block two of their punts, both in the first five minutes of the game, both resulting in Oakland scores.</P><P>• Fumbled at Oakland's 1-yard line.</P><P>• Fumbled again inside Oakland's red zone.</P><P>• Fumbled once again in Oakland territory, this one picked up by Oakland and returned for a touchdown.</P><P>• Had a field-goal attempt blocked against St. Louis. Kicker Nate Kaeding(notes) injured himself on the play.</P><P>• Turned the ball over against New England when receiver Richard Goodman(notes) caught a pass for a first down, set the ball on the ground and got up without having been touched by a defender.</P><P>• Turned the ball over again as Jacob Hester(notes) failed to pursue a backwards pass that was not completed.</P><P>• A potentially game-tying 45-yard field-goal attempt turned into a 50-yard field-goal attempt after a false start, which was then doinked off the upright.</P><P>And that's how you can dominate on both sides of the ball and still suck. This lesson has been brought to you by the 2010 San Diego Chargers.</P>Related: San Diego Chargers, People Not Doing a Great Job</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/How-to-be-great-and-awful-at-the-same-time-by-N?urn=nfl-279682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-49004406826846008962010-11-01T13:27:00.000-07:002010-11-01T13:27:00.356-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-20958982-1287979425.jpg" border=0></P><P>SEATTLE, Wa. -- Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll called his team's 22-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals "interesting," but the real point of interest is a Seattle franchise that has made over 200 transactions this season, and somehow still stands at 4-2, atop the NFC West. They've already matched the win total for the pathetic 4-12 season of 2008; one more victory and they'll have matched 2009's total as well. Full-scale changes of this magnitude don't generally precede surprising win totals, but the Seahawks aren't focusing on the here and now. "It's great to get the win, and we had a lot of fun in the locker room about it, but we have so much room for improvement. Offensively, we ran the football okay; we're getting better. We probably lost 60 or 70 yards (on penalties) in this game, maybe that's not right, but it seemed like it on the couple of penalties on the edge that don't need to happen." </P><P>Carroll knows two things full well. First, that his team left at least three touchdowns on the field. Second, these are not your big brother's Arizona Cardinals.</P><P>If anyone out there still questions the Hall of Fame credentials of one Kurt Warner(notes), a quick glance at the post-Warner version of the Cards should put that to rest. After Warner's retirement following the 2009 season, head coach Ken Whisenhunt was left with a grab-bag of signal callers in two different categories: underperforming veteran mediocrities (Matt Leinart(notes), Derek Anderson(notes)) and rookies for whom, as the Doors once sang, "the future's uncertain, and the end is always near" (John Skelton(notes), Max Hall(notes)). Leinart played his way off the team, Anderson played his way onto the bench, and Hall, an undrafted free agent from BYU most famous for being the nephew of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White, climbed his way up from fourth on the depth chart to get his first start last week against the New Orleans Saints. Beating the world champs was a thrill, but the unfriendly confines of Seattle's Qwest Field and a Seahawks defense more than ready for anything Hall threw at it combined to perplex Hall beyond any chance of victory.</P><P>Hall finished his game with four completions on 16 attempts for 36 yards, and interception, and a quarterback rating of 13.5 before he was pulled in the third quarter following a head hit from defensive end Chris Clemons. Seattle's defenders deflected or defenses at least five of Hall's passes, with rookie Walter Thurmond(notes) (who started for the injured Kelly Jennings(notes)) making his case against a team that could only complete short stuff against him. Anderson replaced Hall and started out hot, completing his first four passes and then falling apart when he was forced to play catch-up, finishing 8 of 17 for 96 yards.</P><P>Not that Seattle's offense was that much more effective - especially in the red zone - but defense and special teams stepped up once again in ways that have been unfamiliar in recent years. Arizona fumbled four times and lost all four, and two return fumbles had the Seahawks starting drives on the Cardinals' 11- and 16-yard lines. On those two drives, Seattle lost 17 yards on six plays, predominantly on a befuddling series of penalties that began with 11:09 left in the third quarter. Tight end Cameron Morrah(notes) was busted twice on consecutive plays by referee Jeff Triplette's crew for holding, taking the ball from the Arizona 13-yard line to the 33. Kicker Olindo Mare(notes), who actually made nine field goals in his game, had to be content with the fact that only five of them counted due to various penalties.</P><P>Arizona's defense could take some credit for those stops. "We have a little something about trying not to give them six points, give them three, try to keep them out, especially in the red zone. We kind of take pride in that," defensive tackle Alan Branch(notes) said.</P><P>But as Arizona nose tackle Bryan Robinson(notes) concluded, moral victories don't count in the standings. "I feel just as bad as our offense feels right now ... I think we gave up like 150 yards rushing today; that doesn't sound too impressive to me. And then, Pete Carroll called off the dogs at the end - that was a classy move by him."</P><P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-639407255-1287979680.jpg" align=left border=0>"Beast Mode" did continue to a degree, with running back Marshawn Lynch(notes) continuing his physical style and finishing up with 89 yards on 24 carries and longest run of 39 yards. Lynch continued to surprise with his ability to bounce outside on zone slides, though he humorously accused this writer of "stereotyping" him with such notions.</P><P>"Why? Why would they be surprised? They made an assumption," he said jokingly. "Why are you making me one-dimensional? No, it's just a read, you know. If everything is clogged up inside, why not run outside? It's just basically what the defense gives you; you've just got to capitalize on it."</P><P>The biggest star of the day on offense, both literally and figuratively, was receiver Mike Williams, whose story of reclamation continues at a breakneck pace. He led all receivers on both sides with 11 catches on 16 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown in which he seemed to defy the laws of physics in the way he could adjust his body to the ball and stay on bounds in the end zone.</P><P>"On the sidelines in front of us on a back-shoulder throw; a great one," Carroll said. "Down in close, there was another great grab with guys all over him. He played tough, he played physically, and he came through in a big way. That's becoming a really solid aspect of our offense, and I'm really fired up for Mike."</P><P>But of course, Mare took the day's honors overall. Kicking is a game of mindset to a great degree, and the man who was thrown under the bus a year ago by former head coach and current broadcaster Jim Mora brought that mindset to this game.</P><P>"The good thing for us is (after all the penalties) is that you keep getting reps on that hash, so you can kind of get into a groove ... I guess it's like a quarterback throwing a lot - you get in a rhythm," Mare said. "It's no different for us. We get that feeling and that confidence. I just do my job and don't worry about anybody else. We can just get it going."</P><P>That's a pretty good summary of a Seahawks team that continues to win improbably and unpredictably, with a seemingly ever-changing cast that requires a program at all times. The concept of "winning ugly" is a canard -- in this NFL, you take wins however you can get them. Especially when you're finding your way on a team that's seen so few of them recently.</P>Related: , Cameron Morrah, Marshawn Lynch, Kurt Warner, Derek Anderson, Max Hall, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Seattle-s-opportunism-derails-flailing-Cardinals?urn=nfl-279466" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-83112034170141908842010-11-01T09:23:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:23:00.322-07:00 <P>Referee Gene Steratore said he didn't award the Miami Dolphins the football after Ben Roethlisberger's(notes) controversial fumble on Sunday because there wasn't "clear evidence of the [Dolphins] recovering the ball." Well, Gene, here are some crystal-clear pieces of evidence for you:</P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-770177284-1288038793.jpg" border=0></P><P>The ball is loose and there are three players in this screenshot that appear to have a chance at the ball: No. 58 Karlos Dansby(notes), No. 59 Ikaika Alama-Francis(notes) (middle) and No. 94 Randy Starks(notes) (right). All those players are wearing white jerseys. You can see Roethlisberger to the right of Alama-Francis, crouched down at the goal line.  </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-56293133-1288038837.jpg" border=0></P><P>Two Dolphins have their hands on it; Alama-Francis and Starks. Pittsburgh's Flozell Adams(notes) has now seen the ball and is jumping over Alama-Francis in an attempt to grab it. Roethlisberger is even more out of position before, but his hand is making a stab at it.  </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-878097878-1288038846.jpg" border=0></P><P>Now, chaos. Pittsburgh's Jonathan Scott(notes) (No. 72) is in on the scrum too (his is the white-gloved hand adjacent to Alama-Francis' helmet. If only there were a picture taken from a different angle to see what was really going on underneath. </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-610192695-1288038916.jpg" border=0></P><P>Thank you, Alan Diaz of the Associated Press. Alama-Francis has the ball, while Starks' black-gloved hand is also on it. All of the other Steelers are out of position to get it. Roethlisberger's hand is on Starks' arm. No shot that Big Ben recovered that fumble.</P><P>Pretty clear the Dolphins ended up with the ball, right? Perhaps, but it's not indisputable. If this was the only evidence, Steratore was right to award the ball to the team that fumbled it. But it's not the only piece of clear evidence. The biggest one is below: </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-372926574-1288038855.jpg" border=0> </P><P>As we pointed out Sunday, the Dolphins came out of the pile with the ball. I drew a helpful circle in case that you, like Gene Steratore, couldn't see the ball.</P><P>There it is. Clear as day. Steelers fans will say that the play was over, so it didn't matter who recovered the ball. Nonsense. Steratore didn't say that he gave Pittsburgh the ball because the play was over, he said he did it because there was no evidence to suggest it didn't recover the ball. Well, there's your evidence.</P><P>Regardless, as you can see in this picture, other officials are sorting out the mess in the pile while Steratore rushed to rule it a touchdown. They were still involved in the play. You know the players involved were fighting for the ball like it was still alive. What else did Steratore need? </P><P>The Dolphins got hosed on that call. Steratore didn't lose them the game; they did a good job of that on their own by failing to get in the end zone on two drives in the first quarter that started inside the Pittsburgh 25. But the officials didn't help matters by chickening out and falling back on the rulebook instead of applying common sense.  </P><P>H/T to The Daily Dolphin and my old Churchill Observer colleague, Ben Volin, for the idea for this post.</EM> </P>Related: Ben Roethlisberger, Miami Dolphins</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Five-clear-pieces-of-evidence-to-prove-Miami-rec?urn=nfl-279758" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-32057064190232138272010-11-01T05:54:00.000-07:002010-11-01T05:54:00.772-07:00 <P>All week, the NFL focused on the danger of players hitting players. After a frightening incident in New Orleans, the league may be forced to consider the danger of players hitting officials.</P><P>During punt-return coverage in his team's loss to the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints special teamer Courtney Roby(notes) plowed into a member of the chain gang while in a full sprint. Al Nastaci, who was standing a few feet from the field while holding a first-down marker, fell hard to the ground after Roby shoved him with both hands. The official appeared to hit his head in the process. </P><P>He was immediately attended to by medical personnel and was wheeled out of the Superdome on a stretcher after a 15-minute delay. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Nastaci was diagnosed with a mild concussion and will remain hospitalized overnight. He is expected to be fine.   </P><BR><P>Roby was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for running out of bounds. It wouldn't be surprising if he and his NFL peers received a memo this week on the proper places to run during kick returns. </P>Related: Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Saints-player-injures-chain-gang-official?urn=nfl-279436" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-77492243067198423222010-11-01T00:56:00.000-07:002010-11-01T00:56:00.103-07:00 <P>The advantages of putting on a live show, like "30 Rock" did Thursday night on NBC, is that you can pepper in timely jokes like ones about Chilean miners, FOX News and certain text-message sending quarterbacks:    </P><EMBED src=http://www.hulu.com/yahoo/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fwatch%2F184792%2F30-rock-live-show-east-coast/embed/i601mad2ZJtxFBzPq9j17A/271/282 width=512 height=288 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess="never" allowFullScreen="true"></EMBED></P><P>All right, that's not bad. And it's good to see the ol' misprounouncing-Brett-Favre's-name joke is still getting laughs in writer's rooms 13 years after "There's Something About Mary."  </P>Related: Brett Favre</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Brett-Favre-was-mocked-in-live-episode-of?urn=nfl-277358" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-30961067818744757632010-10-31T20:32:00.000-07:002010-10-31T23:01:59.535-07:00<b>Seattle at Chicago --</b> You have Matt Forte(notes) on your fantasy team? Start him, but not for his gains in the running game. The Seahawks have one of the best run defenses in the NFL (as do the Bears), but no back is more efficient and effective when it comes to pass-catching than Forte in Mike Martz's offensive system. The Bears will go deep, but they'll also look to dump it off with all their protection issues, and Forte is the primary safety valve. Seattle looked extremely vulnerable to screens against the Rams two weeks ago, but end Chris Clemons should have a monster day against the Bears' pathetic offensive line. <br /> <b>Miami at Green Bay --</b> The Packers will have Aaron Rodgers(notes) for this game, but they may not have the version of Rodgers that throws red zone touchdowns - according to Football Outsiders' numbers, no pass defense is better in the scoring area than the Dolphins. Mike Nolan's new-look defense is great against #1 and #2 receivers, but vulnerable to tight ends. With Jermichael Finley(notes) out for the season, look for Rodgers to try and find rookie Andrew Quarless(notes) in key situations, and for Mike McCarthy to exploit inside passing matchups in different ways.<br /> <b>San Diego at St. Louis --</b> There is no other place to begin here than to talk about San Diego's atrocious special teams. The Bolts have already allowed six touchdowns in just five games through their special teams units, and things don't look to get much better anytime soon. They're going through long-snappers like mad, and the Rams do have some good return options - most notable with receiver Danny Amendola(notes). <br /> <b>Baltimore at New England --</b> The Ravens finally have the passing game to challenge the Pats' young defense (or any other defense), and Ray Rice(notes) returned to his studly ways last week (for which this fantasy team owner is extremely grateful). The real problem with the Ravens these days is in a surprising area - on the defensive side of the ball. We already know that the pass defense is vulnerable, but Baltimore is allowing 4.2 yards per carry and the defense has given up four plays of 20 yards or more on the ground. Could it be a sleeper day for BenJarvus Green-Ellis(notes)?<br /> <b>New Orleans at Tampa Bay --</b> The Saints must find ways to create formation diversity without Reggie Bush(notes) and Pierre Thomas(notes) in the lineup. Without Bush, the bridge between the backfield and the receiver corps was broken, and the loss of Thomas takes away further screen and pass-blocking options. The Bucs are figuring out how to score points on offense, and young quarterback Josh Freeman(notes) appears to be relatively impervious to pressure, so it may be on Sean Payton and Drew Brees(notes) to avoid an upset in the Big Ex-Sombrero. <br /> <b>Detroit at New York Giants --</b> The Lions are running a ridiculous amount of shotgun - two out of every three snaps, according to Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders. That may be their only shot against a Giants defense that is playing waaaaay off the hook these days. It isn't just the sack totals - the G-Men are also playing extremely well against the pass and run. <br /> <b>Atlanta at Philadelphia --</b> With Kevin Kolb(notes) in the picture this week, expect the Falcons to use their under-the-radar pass rush to make the young quarterback move out of the pocket. Last week, end John Abraham(notes) abused Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas(notes), and the Eagles' line has been a problem all season. King Dunlap(notes) will replace Jason Peters(notes) as the guy whose responsibility it is to keep Abraham under control. Ouch. Perhaps the most important injury situation to watch today is Michael Vick's.(notes) Will Carroll, the best in the business at this kind of thing, indicates that betting on Vick this week is a fool's errand. <br /> <b>Cleveland at Pittsburgh --</b> Oh, brother. While Colt McCoy(notes) prepares to undergo a debaclization that will make what Ndamukong Suh(notes) did to him in the Big 12 Championship look like a series of love taps, watch for a #1 receiver on the Steelers' roster to finally make an impact upon Ben Roethlisberger's(notes) return. To date, Hines Ward(notes) and Mike Wallace(notes) have each been targeted 19 times, and Wallace may be the best first target against Cleveland's very toasty secondary (seriously -- was safety help&nbsp;abolished in the state of Ohio?)<br /> <b>Kansas City at Houston --</b> Matt Schaub(notes), meet Brandon Flowers(notes). The Chiefs' cornerback is absolutely in For Real mode, and appears ready to take his place alongside Revis and Nnamdi on the short list of actual (you'll pardon the expression) shutdown corners. If the Chiefs had any sort of passing game to exploit that iffy Houston secondary, it would be smart to pick an upset - as it stands, we'll just say that Schaub should be very careful, and the Texans should probably run the ball a bit more this week.<br /> Related: , Ndamukong Suh, Mike Wallace, Josh Freeman, Danny Amendola, Jermichael Finley, Brandon Flowers, Matt Forte, Pierre Thomas, Kevin Kolb, Aaron Rodgers, Reggie Bush, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, New York Giants<br /> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Last-minute-previews-The-early-games?urn=nfl-277494" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-28505554200018633292010-10-31T17:05:00.000-07:002010-10-31T17:05:00.407-07:00 <P>No matter what's said during the week, the games are where everything becomes real. And for quite a few individuals, things are becoming far more real in this 2010 NFL season than they would like. This is perhaps most true for Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler(notes), who threw an embarrassing four picks to Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall(notes) in a 17-14 Bears loss, which tied an NFL record by one defensive player in a game. It's an astonishing feat, really -- Hall may be slightly overrated because his on-field sense doesn't generally match up to his athleticism, but he will put together the occasional big day. Hall talked with Kara Henderson of the NFL Network after the game and simply discussed the fact that Washington defenders knew they'd get opportunities with Cutler throwing the ball around. What was surprising under the circumstances was Cutler's response in his postgame presser:</P><P>"I've played against [Hall] before -- there's no reason to shy away from him. That's hard to say after throwing four picks at a guy, but if we had to play him tomorrow, I'd go at him every time." That was Cutler's response to the valid question: "Why did you keep throwing Hall's way, when he was picking off everything in his area?" It's true that Hall isn't exactly Brandon Flowers(notes) or Darrelle Revis(notes), but this goes beyond hubris on Cutler's part. Easy enough to give a perfunctory answer about how Hall played a great game, and "the breaks just didn't go our way," blah blah blah ... but this? </P><P><STRONG>Photos:</STRONG> See more images of Jay Cutler's miserable day</P><P>The fact that Cutler would</EM> go at Hall every time helps explain part of the reason he struggles (and the Bears struggle with him). Like any quarterback with a great arm, he's obstinate to a degree about the things he can do. But the Bears' offense is in freefall with its offensive line issues and overall underperformance, and at a certain point, it makes sense to reel it in and go with a safe game plan until everyone can get their heads together. </P><P>The Bears managed 61 rushing yards on just 13 carries from Matt Forte(notes) and Chester Taylor(notes) -- an impressive level of per-carry efficiency -- so why didn't they go more to the rushing attack? Because offensive coordinator Mike Martz is just as obstinate about his own aerial game plan. In a game where your team is never down by more than three points, and your quarterback is imploding, why on earth wouldn't you bring the chaos back down to earth for a while?</P><P><STRONG>Photos:</STRONG> Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari, and other athlete/celeb couples</P><P><STRONG>Other popular stories on Yahoo!:</STRONG> <BR>• Video: NFL official injured by player during punt return <BR>• Investigation launched into death of U.S. swimmer <BR>• Video: Golfer nails hole-in-one in playoff to win tournament <BR></P>Related: Matt Forte, Brandon Flowers, Darrelle Revis, Jay Cutler, DeAngelo Hall, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Jay-Cutler-needs-a-little-reality-therapy?urn=nfl-279578" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-56325581519629970962010-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:002010-10-31T12:15:00.283-07:00 <P><IMG hspace=8 src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-649467750-1287245658.jpg" align=right border=0>Jesse Holley(notes) is going from reality TV to the NFL after getting promoted from the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad to the team's active roster. </P><P>In the summer of 2009, Holley was the winner of the Michael Irvin-hosted reality show "4th and Long." His reward for outlasting 11 other competitors on the Spike TV program? An invitation to Dallas Cowboys training camps. Once there, Holley made the most of the opportunity; scoring a touchdown in a 2009 preseason game and playing well enough to make the practice squad, where he remained until getting promoted this week. </P><P>He's expected to be active in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings and contribute on special teams.  </P><P>Irvin is happy for him. He told ESPN:</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="11"><P>"He's a hard working guy. Even doing the show, we had guys who did well, but when I was trying to find the right guy, [who] fit the situation, not physically gifted, but fit a situation. The way he practices is always good. That's how he's earned coach [Wade] Phillips' respect. It's not anything I did on the show. I gave him an opportunity, he had to go earn that." </P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Though the "Cowboys sign reality show star" sounds like a situation ripe for a punchline, Holley's rise to the NFL isn't exactly a rags-to-riches story. It's not Vince Papale in "Invincible" or Rudy getting a sack for Notre Dame.</P><P>Holley has a solid, if unspectacular football pedigree. He played college ball at North Carolina, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors as a sophomore. After going undrafted, he played on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad for three months in 2007 and then was on the roster of the CFL's BC Lions for a short time. After getting released there, he signed up to be on Irvin's reality show. </P><P>Though he's a rookie who's never played a down in a real NFL game, Holley might be able to give Tony Romo(notes) and Wade Phillips some advice on how to win a championship. In 2005, Holley was a walk-on on the the North Carolina basketball team that won the national title. </P>Related: Tony Romo, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Cowboys-sign-winner-of-Michael-Irvin-s-reality-T?urn=nfl-277422" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-88636456533387153492010-10-31T07:16:00.000-07:002010-10-31T07:16:00.910-07:00 <P>David Bowens(notes) had two interception returns for touchdowns in the Cleveland Browns stunning upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. But the highlight of his day was the Jordan-esque leap into the end zone on his first return: </P><P>via the must-follow screengrab site 30fps:</EM></P><P></EM><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-468761579-1288022890.jpg" border=0></P><P>By "Jordan-esque" I clearly meant Jordan Farmar. </P><P>Whoever comes up with the best caption gets a special tribute during our "Monday Night Football" live blog later Monday evening. </P>Related: Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/C-a-C-David-Bowens-prances-into-the-end-zone-on?urn=nfl-279648" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-42576959514141411602010-10-31T03:05:00.000-07:002010-10-31T03:05:00.382-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-986315426-1287165598.jpg" border=0></P><P>Well, an armchair quarterback at the very least. That's the story coming out of Jacksonville and the Florida Times-Union, as the wife of Jacksonville Jaguars' actual quarterback David Garrard(notes) gave team offensive offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula a few new ideas for the offensive playbook at a recent birthday party for the Garrards' son. Said David Garrard: </P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="7"><P>"I said, 'Here's a great time to tell the coaches what you've been trying to tell me.' She was laughing with them and joking with them, and they know Mary. They know how she is and the competitor she is. It was more joking than anything. She knows I like to move around and run around a little bit more. She was just saying we've got to see that some more and see you running around a little bit. Not that she was coaching up our coaches or anything."</P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>[<STRONG>Photos:</STRONG> See David Garrard in action]</P><P>Through Week 5 of the 2010 season, the Jags rank 19th in Football Outsiders' passing efficiency metrics, and Garrard is 13th in quarterback rating (90.1) -- he's thrown nine touchdowns and six picks to date. He's also taken 12 sacks, which might be the real reason Mrs. Garrard wants her husband to roll out more often -- maybe he's too banged up for that Saturday "honey-do" list?</P><P>[<STRONG>Gallery:</STRONG> The glamorous wives and girlfriends of soccer stars]</P><P>No word on how seriously Jacksonville's coaches took the suggestions, but considering the fact that Jacksonville's offense won't rival Indy's or Houston's for overall explosiveness anytime soon, perhaps another voice would be welcome. If Mary Garrard can correctly identify "Goalline Empty Right F Short Key All Fade" or "I Right Tight Close Goalline Fake 18 HO Force QB Keep Pass Left" (she'd probably like that one, as the idea is for the quarterback to roll out), we say that it's time to give her a shot.</P><P><STRONG>Other popular stories on Yahoo!:</STRONG> <BR>• One coach leads two different teams at the same time <BR>• Football father's airplane stunt could land him in prison <BR>• Serious accusations leveled against Roger Federer </P>Related: Jacksonville Jaguars</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/David-Garrard-s-wife-Future-Jaguars-assistant-c?urn=nfl-277298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-40927811066080147062010-10-30T22:26:00.000-07:002010-10-30T22:26:00.415-07:00 <P>A controversial goal-line ruling helped Ben Roethlisberger(notes) and the Pittsburgh Steelers eke out a win on Sunday over the Miami Dolphins.</P><P>With 2:30 remaining in the game, Roethlisberger, playing his second game since returning from suspension, fumbled on the goal line with his team down two points. It appeared that the Dolphins recovered in the end zone. But upon replay review, referee Gene Steratore awarded the ball back to the Steelers because he couldn't conclusively determine that the Dolphins had ended up with the ball, even though a Miami player handed the football to an official. </P><P>The Steelers received the ball on the 1-yard line and kicked what would be the game-winning field goal on the next play. </P><P>Where to begin? </P><P>1. There are two incontrovertible facts about this play: Roethlisberger fumbled the ball. A Miami Dolphins player emerged from the pile and handed the ball to an official. (It's not shown in the video.)  </P><P>[<STRONG>Photos:</STRONG> Ben Roethlisberger takes the field </P><P>2. In case you missed the wording, here's a full transcript of the explanation from referee Gene Steratore:</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="12"><P>"After review it has been determined that prior to the ball crossing the goal line, the runner did lose possession of the ball. However, by rule in replay, two aspects of this play must be available to be viewed. Not only did we have to view the fumble being a fumble, we also have to have clear evidence of the team recovering the ball. After review, we do not have clear evidence of the defense recovering the fumble, therefore Pittsburgh will have the ball, fourth and goal at the half-yard line. Miami will not be charged with a timeout and the clock will start on the ready for play." </P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>That's 109 words to explain a fumble in the end zone. The entire Gettysburg Address was only 272 words. </P><P>[<STRONG>List:</STRONG> The worst calls in sports] </P><P>3. Those last few sentences were a fancy way of saying "I have no clue who ended up with the ball." Ben Roethlisberger said after the game that he had the ball but an official told him to give it up. Dolphins coaches insist their players had the ball. (Roethlisberger also thought he crossed the goal line, so consider the source. And it looked like he was in one of the worst positions to grab the fumble.) </P><P>4. Steratore interpreted the replay review correctly.* That's the only thing he and his crew didn't screw up on this play. </P><P>* Since the ref couldn't tell who recovered, the ball goes back to the team that fumbled the ball. </P><P>5. The worst mistake was the line judge signaling a touchdown. It was a fumble, he missed it. Stuff like that happens. But because a touchdown was signaled, the other refs failed to monitor the ensuing scrum from the fumble. True, the play is "dead" once the signal goes up, but in recent years the refs have been instructed to keep a play alive even after a dead ball in case there's a questionable call on the field. Even though the play was ruled a touchdown, the fact that the ball was on the ground means the officials should regard the play as live. Steratore didn't. That was mistake No. 2. </P><P>As the teams were fighting for possession, the ref walked to the 5-yard line and began explaining that the play was ruled a touchdown.</EM></EM> Why the rush? What was his hurry? Sort it all out and then rule a touchdown. </P><P>[<STRONG>Rewind:</STRONG> Referee behind Super Bowl loss now admits errors]  </P><P>6. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said the ruling was a "screw up" in his postgame press conference. </P><P>7. Steratore took the easy way out. Instead of using common sense to make a ruling that would be deemed controversial, he fell back on the safety of the rule book to get out of having to make a difficult call. A Dolphins player ended up with the ball. It's not a big leap of faith to say that he was the one who recovered. Unfortunately, common sense isn't something in which the NFL rule book often deals. </P><P>8. Pittsburgh still had three timeouts, so even if the Dolphins got the ball on their own 20, there was plenty of time for the Steelers to come back and win the game. Also, Miami had plenty of time to score after the Pittsburgh field goal. They went four-and-out on that drive. Steratore didn't help matters, but Miami's loss was a joint effort. </P><P>9. It won't please Dolphins fans to know that Steratore is a Pittsburgh native.  </P><P><STRONG>Other popular Sports stories on Yahoo!:<BR></STRONG>• Huge football players face elevator scare <BR>• College football team leaps to the top of standings <BR>• Unique MLB player assured of World Series ring <BR><STRONG><BR></STRONG></P>Related: Ben Roethlisberger, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Controversial-goal-line-replay-review-aid?urn=nfl-279435" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-10768932546676367342010-10-30T17:46:00.000-07:002010-10-30T17:46:00.342-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\nfl feed\ept_sports_nfl_experts-343844855-1288017830.jpg" border=0> </EM></P><P>"We're the best team in the NFC. Yeah, I said it. We're excited." -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris, after his team's last-second victory over the St. Louis Rams.</EM></P><P>The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may very well be the best team in the NFC. I don't think they are, or that the question even matters given that choosing the best team in that mediocre conference is sort of like picking the tallest of Snow White's seven dwarfs. But I suppose it could </EM>be true. </P><P>Or not. The four teams the Bucs have defeated have a combined record of 8-18. They needed a last-second touchdown pass to beat a Rams team that had recently lost 44-6 to the lowly Detroit Lions. The team's rushing attack still relies on Cadillac Williams, his rickety knees and his 2.5 yards per-carry average. And for all his future potential (and there's a ton of it), Josh Freeman(notes) is still a 22-year-old quarterback.</P><P>Last year, Raheem Morris took over a team that was bottoming out. He's righted the ship already and turned the Bucs into a respectable team on the rise. His squad could contend for a playoff spot this year and might be a piece or two away from truly contending in 2011 and beyond. But they're hardly the best team in their division or in the state of Florida, let alone in the entire NFC. </P><P>Coaching is about more than X's and O's, there's also some expectation management involved. The Bucs play four of their next five games on the road and then return home for games against two division leaders (Atlanta and Washington). That 4-2 record could turn into 6-7 real quick. There wouldn't be anything wrong with that; Morris and the Bucs have already exceeded their win total from the entire 2009 season and, in doing so, have outperformed expectations. No need to be setting new ones when things are going so well. </P><P>I love that Morris says stuff like this, it's so much better than the normal coach speak we hear from guys like Bill Belichick and Andy Reid. For his sake though, keep those thoughts in the locker room. </P>Related: Josh Freeman, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Raheem-Morris-says-Bucs-are-the-best-team-in-th?urn=nfl-279604" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-91927994894088531772010-10-30T10:42:00.000-07:002010-10-30T10:42:00.295-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-431781914-1287247139.jpg" align=right border=0>NFL analysts break down games and offer their takes on players, coaches, and events, That's their job, and if they hurt some feelings along the way in their analysis, that's just too bad. Part of the business. But when does that cross the line? Perhaps when someone perceived as an expert analyst takes those things on the field and extrapolates them to infer things about the character of a player or coach. And when former Colts and Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy isn't clogging the bestseller lists with his books on mentor-leadership, he's created quite the little amateur (and we do mean amateur) psycho-analysis business based on what he sees in public. </P><P>We've already seen this when Dungy passed judgment on Rex Ryan as a person and coach based on one string of F-bombs in HBO's "Hard Knocks" show. Now, Dungy has decided that it's appropriate to question the leadership abilities of quarterbacks based on their tendency to throw interceptions. On last Sunday's NBC pre-game show, Dungy said that if Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo(notes) wants to be a team leader, he has to stop turning the ball over so often. This after Romo threw three picks in a loss to the Tennessee Titans. Now, I'm not exactly sure what leadership and turnover rate have to do with each other, so I thought I'd go to the numbers. </P><P>Among the quarterbacks with the highest single-season interception totals, you will find the following names: George Blanda (several times), John Hadl, Fran Tarkenton, Ken Stabler, Sid Luckman, and Brett Favre(notes). Now, we may quibble with Lord Favre's actions on and off the field at times, but question his ability to be a team leader when he's on his game? No, thanks. You want to question the leadership abilities of anyone else on that list, Coach? Go right ahead and say that George Blanda wasn't a leader. We'll want to be over here when the lightning strikes. </P><P>How about the career interceptions list? Leaders and tough guys all over that top 10. Blanda, Favre, Tarkenton, Hadl, Dan Marino, Y.A. Tittle ... and some guy named Johnny Unitas. Please, let me know when Tony Dungy has the guts to say that Johnny Unitas was not a leader. I'll want to DVR that one.</P><P>Games with high interception totals have to be taken into context. Sometimes, they absolutely indicate that a quarterback is having a lousy day (or career). But as often as not, a guy who stays in long enough for a bunch of picks and doesn't get pulled by his coach is trying frantically to make a comeback, or otherwise snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. And if that concept doesn't meet with Dungy's perfectly organized little world, where everyone can be compartmentalized into little boxes based on what he thinks people should do, that's just too bad. </P><P>The real problem is that Dungy is making these value judgments with the smallest bits of evidence - he hadn't even watched "Hard Knocks" before he said that he wouldn't hire someone like Rex Ryan, and he certainly doesn't know enough about Romo and the Cowboys to know whether the quarterback is a leader or not . Perhaps Dungy's advice to teams needing better quarterbacks would be, "Inherit a situation where Peyton Manning(notes) is already there and ready to be great," since that's just what Dungy did in Indianapolis. </P><P>Stick to the game analysis, coach. Your Xs-and-Os are pretty good. The head-shrinking and character judgments? Not so much. </P>Related: Tony Romo, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Is-it-time-for-Tony-Dungy-to-shut-up-about-perso?urn=nfl-277420" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-12515290037168440802010-10-30T06:24:00.000-07:002010-10-30T06:24:00.777-07:00 <P>The NFL has become a passing league in recent seasons — that’s been evident in Week 7. Check out the huge numbers that quarterbacks posted in the first set of afternoon games:</P><P><STRONG>Matt Ryan</STRONG> vs. Bengals: 299 yards, 3 TDs<BR><STRONG>Carson Palmer</STRONG> at Falcons: 412 yards, 3 TDs<BR><STRONG>Ben Roethlisberger</STRONG> at Dolphins 302 yards, 2 TDs<BR><STRONG>Ryan Fitzpatrick</STRONG> at Ravens: 373 yards, 4 TDs<BR><STRONG>Joe Flacco</STRONG> vs. Bills: 250 yards, 3 TDs<BR><STRONG>Kerry Collins</STRONG> vs. Eagles: 276 yards, 3 TDs</P><P>There were a few other good performances from quarterbacks as well. Unfortunately, <STRONG>Drew Brees’</STRONG> 356 passing yards and two touchdowns were overshadowed by the fact that he also threw four interceptions in a shocking loss to the Browns.</P><P>With quarterbacks thriving, a number of wide receivers also put up huge numbers. </P><P><STRONG>Kenny Britt</STRONG> vs. Eagles: 7 catches, 225 yards, 3 TDs<BR><STRONG>Roddy White</STRONG> vs. Bengals: 11 catches, 201 yards, 2 TDs<BR><STRONG>Lee Evans</STRONG> at Ravens: 6 catches, 105 yards, 3 TDs<BR><STRONG>David Gettis</STRONG> vs. 49ers: 8 catches, 125 yards, 2 TDs</P><P>Aside from these monster performances, five other wideouts (<STRONG>Jordan Shipley</STRONG>, <STRONG>Chad Ochocinco</STRONG>, <STRONG>Steve Johnson</STRONG>, <STRONG>Marques Colston</STRONG>, <STRONG>Hines Ward</STRONG>) also put up 100-plus yards. </P><P><STRONG>– Michael Fabiano</STRONG></P><P>Want daily fantasy football advice? Follow me on Twitter!</P>Posted in: Fantasy   </P><P><IMG height=50 alt="Join the Discussion" src="/widget-fans.png" width=615 border=0> </P><BR><br /><p><a href="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/10/24/quarterbacks-wideouts-ruling-the-roost-in-week-7/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-64003580837931925772010-10-30T02:09:00.000-07:002010-10-30T02:09:00.244-07:00 Posted: October 24th, 2010 | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Todd Heap, Week 7 inactives</P><P>Ravens TE <STRONG>Todd Heap</STRONG> will return to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Bills.</P><P>Heap suffered a neck injury last week after taking a vicious hit in the Ravens’ loss to the Patriots. He practiced Friday and was listed as questionable on Baltimore’s final injury report. </P><P>“It was a tough week, but I’ll be ready to go,” Heap told The Baltimore Sun on Friday. </P><P>For the Bills, NT <STRONG>Kyle Williams</STRONG> (ankle) will be ready to go after not participating Friday and being listed as questionable. Also, LB <STRONG>Aaron Maybin</STRONG> is inactive, but the former first-round draft pick wasn’t listed on the team’s injury report this week. </P><P><STRONG>Full inactives lists:</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>Bills</STRONG><BR>Levi Brown (No. 3 QB)<BR>CB Terrence McGee<BR>LB Keith Ellison<BR>LB Aaron Maybin<BR>OL Ed Wang<BR>OL Cornell Green<BR>DE Alex Carrington<BR>DE John McCargo</P><P><STRONG>Ravens</STRONG><BR>No No. 3 QB<BR>WR David Reed<BR>WR Donte’ Stallworth<BR>S Ken Hamlin<BR>S Tom Zibokowski<BR>LB Tavares Gooden<BR>OT Scott Kooistra<BR>DT Arthur Jones<BR>DT Lamar Divens</P>Posted in: News   </P><P><IMG height=50 alt="Join the Discussion" src="/widget-fans.png" width=615 border=0> </P><BR><br /><p><a href="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/10/24/ravens-te-heap-set-to-play-vs-bills/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-3109612316924133052010-10-29T22:33:00.000-07:002010-10-29T22:33:00.500-07:00 <P>Referee Gene Steratore said he didn't award the Miami Dolphins the football after Ben Roethlisberger's(notes) controversial fumble on Sunday because there wasn't "clear evidence of the [Dolphins] recovering the ball." Well, Gene, here are some crystal-clear pieces of evidence for you:</P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-770177284-1288038793.jpg" border=0></P><P>The ball is loose and there are three players in this screenshot that appear to have a chance at the ball: No. 58 Karlos Dansby(notes), No. 59 Ikaika Alama-Francis(notes) (middle) and No. 94 Randy Starks(notes) (right). All those players are wearing white jerseys. You can see Roethlisberger to the right of Alama-Francis, crouched down at the goal line.  </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-56293133-1288038837.jpg" border=0></P><P>Two Dolphins have their hands on it; Alama-Francis and Starks. Pittsburgh's Flozell Adams(notes) has now seen the ball and is jumping over Alama-Francis in an attempt to grab it. Roethlisberger is even more out of position before, but his hand is making a stab at it.  </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-878097878-1288038846.jpg" border=0></P><P>Now, chaos. Pittsburgh's Jonathan Scott(notes) (No. 72) is in on the scrum too (his is the white-gloved hand adjacent to Alama-Francis' helmet. If only there were a picture taken from a different angle to see what was really going on underneath. </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-610192695-1288038916.jpg" border=0></P><P>Thank you, Alan Diaz of the Associated Press. Alama-Francis has the ball, while Starks' black-gloved hand is also on it. All of the other Steelers are out of position to get it. Roethlisberger's hand is on Starks' arm. No shot that Big Ben recovered that fumble.</P><P>Pretty clear the Dolphins ended up with the ball, right? Perhaps, but it's not indisputable. If this was the only evidence, Steratore was right to award the ball to the team that fumbled it. But it's not the only piece of clear evidence. The biggest one is below: </P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-372926574-1288038855.jpg" border=0> </P><P>As we pointed out Sunday, the Dolphins came out of the pile with the ball. I drew a helpful circle in case that you, like Gene Steratore, couldn't see the ball.</P><P>There it is. Clear as day. Steelers fans will say that the play was over, so it didn't matter who recovered the ball. Nonsense. Steratore didn't say that he gave Pittsburgh the ball because the play was over, he said he did it because there was no evidence to suggest it didn't recover the ball. Well, there's your evidence.</P><P>Regardless, as you can see in this picture, other officials are sorting out the mess in the pile while Steratore rushed to rule it a touchdown. They were still involved in the play. You know the players involved were fighting for the ball like it was still alive. What else did Steratore need? </P><P>The Dolphins got hosed on that call. Steratore didn't lose them the game; they did a good job of that on their own by failing to get in the end zone on two drives in the first quarter that started inside the Pittsburgh 25. But the officials didn't help matters by chickening out and falling back on the rulebook instead of applying common sense.  </P><P>H/T to The Daily Dolphin and my old Churchill Observer colleague, Ben Volin, for the idea for this post.</EM> </P>Related: Ben Roethlisberger, Miami Dolphins</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Five-clear-pieces-of-evidence-to-prove-Miami-rec?urn=nfl-279758" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-84628657056266773212010-10-29T18:37:00.000-07:002010-10-29T18:37:00.948-07:00 Posted: October 24th, 2010 | NFL.com Staff | Tags: New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Jabari Greer, Week 7 inactives</P><P>Saints CB <STRONG>Jabari Greer</STRONG>, who has been nursing an injured shoulder and didn’t participate in practice this week, has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Browns. </P><P>Saints LB <STRONG>Scott Shanle</STRONG> (hamstring) also will sit out after being limited in practice and listed as questionable.</P><P>As for the Browns, DE <STRONG>Kenyon Coleman</STRONG> (knee), who was limited in practice this week and listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report, will suit up.</P><P><STRONG>Full inactives lists:</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>Browns</STRONG><BR>QB Seneca Wallace<BR>WR Mohamed Massaquoi<BR>QB Jake Delhomme<BR>RB James Davis<BR>OL Steve Vallos<BR>OL John St. Clair<BR>TE Alex Smith<BR>DE Jayme Mitchell</P><P><STRONG>Saints</STRONG><BR>CB Tracy Porter<BR>RB Pierre Thomas<BR>RB Reggie Bush<BR>CB Jabari Greer<BR>LB Scott Shanle<BR>T Charles Brown<BR>TE Tory Murphy<BR>DE Junior Galette</P>Posted in: News   </P><P><IMG height=50 alt="Join the Discussion" src="/widget-fans.png" width=615 border=0> </P><BR><br /><p><a href="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/10/24/saints-cb-greer-to-sit-out-vs-browns/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-62559528237900862922010-10-29T14:26:00.000-07:002010-10-29T14:26:00.069-07:00 <P><IMG src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Watching NFL Football Online\shutdown nfl\ept_sports_nfl_experts-639729479-1287506684.jpg" border=0> </P><P>On Monday night, a terrible football game got a better rating than an excellent baseball playoff game, and to listen to some in the sports media, you'd think this was the biggest injustice since [choose your own gross historical injustice]. </P><P>Bill Simmons -- "If this piece of crap NFL game doubles the rating for a terrific playoff baseball game, the 'America's pastime' label is dead."</P><P>Deadspin's Barry Petchesky -- "Explain yourselves, America. I want you to tell me why you watched Monday Night Football last night. And don't you dare say 'Oh, I don't care about the Rangers or Yankees.' I know damn well no one cares about the Titans or Jaguars." </P><P>CNBC's Darren Rovell -- "Horrific Monday Night Football game OUTRATES Game 3 of ALCS. MNF gets 7.2 overnight on ESPN. Yanks-Rangers gets 6.5 on TBS."</P><P>I'm not sure which surprises me more: the outrage or the surprise. Anyone who thought a baseball game on TBS would outrate football on ESPN was either waxing nostalgic or doesn't pay attention to television ratings. This can be summed up in one simple math equation -- football > baseball. (And one more: ESPN > TBS. I watched "Seinfeld" reruns every night, but I still can't remember which channel TBS is on my new cable guide. Not many casual TV viewers are stumbling upon TBS to find the ALCS.)  </P><P>The whole thing sounds exactly like the "I can't believe NBC got rid of Conan O'Brien" dust-up from earlier this year. Most of the people complaining about Conan getting screwed were the ones who ignored his show in the first place. I was on Team Coco, but how many times did I tune into his show after the first week? If it wasn't zero, it was awfully close to it.</P><P>Simmons is doing the same thing here. He's aghast that baseball does a worse rating than an awful football game, but in the past four months he's written a column about the NFL 13 times, compared to just once for baseball. (And that was titled "Is the honeymoon over for baseball?") Deadspin is all football all the time, and for good reason: People. Like. Football. More. We all know this, it's been true for years. Why does one night of ratings generate so much surprise?</P><P>More importantly, why should it matter to anyone besides television executives? This is America, people. Watch what you want to watch.</P><br /><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Bad-football-beat-good-baseball-in-the-ratings-?urn=nfl-278223" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190451795158867535.post-62777336129597083462010-10-29T11:20:00.000-07:002010-10-29T11:20:00.553-07:00 Posted: October 24th, 2010 | Adam Rank | Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, LaMarr Woodley, Jason La Canfora, Week 7 injuries 2010</P><P>NFL Network insider <STRONG>Jason La Canfora</STRONG> reports that Steelers LB <STRONG>LaMarr Woodley</STRONG> is battling a hamstring injury and is on the sideline against the Dolphins. Woodley is questionable to return. </P><P><STRONG>UPDATE:</STRONG> Woodley told La Canfora that his injury was just a tweak and that he is “definitely a go for next week.” </P>Posted in: News   </P><P><IMG height=50 alt="Join the Discussion" src="/widget-fans.png" width=615 border=0> </P><BR><br /><p><a href="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/10/24/steelers-lb-woodley-has-hamstring-injury-is-questionable/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>rays4990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06404389604982133151noreply@blogger.com0