Pacman a Cowboy

 

Tennessee and Dallas made a deal yesterday to send Pacman Jones to the Cowboys for a 4th round pick in Saturday’s NFL Draft. If Jones is reinstated for the 2008 season, Dallas will also send a 6th round pick to the Titans in next year’s draft.

The Cowboys and Pacman also agreed on the terms of a 4 year deal when the cornerback is cleared to play.

You know, I am not really surpised that Dallas picked him up. The Cowboys need help in the secondary and a little bit of drama goes a long way.

Will it work out? Stay Tuned.

Chad Johnson+ NFL in LA= Mountains Out Of Molehills

photo from losangelesfootballstadium.com

The week’s hottest topics in the NFL excluding the draft is undeniably Chad Johnson’s latest trade demands and another attempt to bring a football team to Los Angeles. What I’m trippin on is how difficult these situations are potrayed to be. To me, it seems as if  the Bengals and the league are  making mountains out of molehills.

Since December, Ocho-Cinco’s been hollering about wanting out of Cincy. He is laying it out there like carpet that he was determined not to be a Bengal in 2008. The Bengals repeately said that the team will not trade their wide receiever.  The Bengals are typical  for saying that because if Chad goes, they are screwed on the field and in their wallets. Not only will the Bengals take a huge salary cap hit, they will be missing an important part of their team.  On the other hand, If they keep Chad, he will continue to raise hell and be a bigger distraction which will be detrimental to the Bengals’ season.

According to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad endlessly talks to him about the drama and problems that the flamboyant pro bowl reciever is having with the team. In a recent interview, Houshmandzadeh beleives that the team should go ahead and give Johnson what he wants.  I agree with T.J. because, if Chad is still with the Bengals next year, he will be a bigger problem than he is now. He would probably have a horrible season on purpose or anything!

The Bengals should just try to work out a draft day deal between Chad and other teams, and call it a day. Cincy’s passing game is still solid with Houshmandzadeh, and free agent pick up Doug Gabriel can and will step up to give T.J. some help. The Bengals should try to improve their defense anyway. Chad Johnson don’t want to be a Cincinnatti Bengal anymore. Let it go and let him go.

Los Angleles Laker and King minority owner, Edward Roski announced plans for a new stadium 20 miles east of Los Angeles in the City of Industry.  Roski said that the 75,000 seat stadium would be privately funded, and will be a part of an entertainment complex including a high end shopping mall.  I’m not in L.A. but I support this latest proposal.

I support it first and foremost for the fact that Roski is using private funds instead of tax dollars, and a stadium along with the mall will help create more jobs  for Industry. I also like the concept of the stadium being built into the existing hillside as opposed to building above ground.

Getting a team to play in this stadium should’nt be hard at all. Its simple really. I say this because the NFL have been whining and crying about returning to the nation’s second largest market for 13 years. There are some teams with stadium  and support issues. How hard is it for one of those team to follow through with moving instead of using LA for leverage for a new stadium?   The Bills, Jaguars, Vikings, and even the Saints could wind up moving. If I was a betting woman, I would say the Vikings would more than likely move. I say this because the team and the State of Minnesota have been at odds for new stadium for years. They just wont build them a stadium. Instead, their focus is on the Twins new facility and the Golden Golphers new football facility. The bridge collapsing made matters worse.

Even Viking owner Zygi Wilf offered to buy some property in downtown Minnapolis but the state legislature decided to sit on that idea. The growing frustration of the Vikings’ brass on this issue can very well drive them out of Minny.

If the league want at team in LA so bad, there is always contraction. The new team whoever it may be, can play in the Colisseum until the new stadium is built.

 

Steve McNair Retires After 13 Seasons

 

“There is no greater warrrior or player with a bigger heart than Steve McNair. He came into this game and gave it everything he had. He can now walk away with his head held high”  -Ray Lewis

One of the NFL’s toughest decided to call it a career today.

Baltimore Ravens QB and 2003 NFL Co-MVP Steve McNair announced his retirement from the league in a 1:00 press confrence at the Ravens’ Owing Mills, MD headquarters. McNair basically said his body and mind were not in agreement; that mentally he could return for one more year but his body had enough.

McNair joins Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young as the only quarterbacks that passed for more than 30,000 yards and rushed for more than  3,500 yards during their careers.

While those numbers were impressive, Steve McNair will be remembered first and foremost as one of the toughest men in NFL history. In his 13 year career, McNair made 80 appereances on the injured list. McNair’s former Titans teammate, Eddie George said that “You name an injury, Steve had it and he still showed up. Not only did he show up but he played extremely well.”

Right now, the Baltimore Ravens will have to find a way to fill the void left behind by Air McNair. Mel Kiper and Co are talking about Matt Ryan possibly falling to the number 8 spot or Baltimore trading up.  Another name beign thrown around in the mix is Delaware QB Joe Flacco. While the Kyle Boller experiment was a bust, I believe Troy Smith is capable of making a huge push for starter. Then again, there is always free agency.

 

Brett Favre Retires after 17 Years!

As everyone know by now, Packers QB Brett Favre decided to call it a career today as he announced his retirement this mornning.  We also know that he’s been toying and flirting with the ideal of retirement for four years. Every offeseason in recent years was all about Favre’s long and drawn out decisions.

After the year that he just had, I thought that the 2008 season would probably be his last. I, along with many others, guessed wrong.  In my opinion, Favre don’t have a thing to hang his head about. He has absolutely nothing to prove to anyone. He was a three time league MVP, a Super Bowl Champion, and hold every significant throwing record in the books. During the last season, Favre told the critics to “get thier big”.  He proved to those critics and to himself that he is still a great quarterback after three mediocre years before. Favre left it all on the field,and no one should criticize him for that!

The only issue I have with Favre retring today of all days is the fact that this was on the heels of the Patriots re signing Randy Moss for $27 million over three years. We all know that Favre’s been vocal about the Packers’ passisivity in free agency.  The last time the Packers were heavy on their free agent game, was in 1993 when they acquired Reggie White from the Eagles, and that was eons ago. Favre was frustrated with that, and rightfully so.

This morning, the good old folks at ESPN talked this into the ground, and they are still talking.  They at first thought that Favre was just salty because the Packers’ brass did not make a play for Moss.  Favre left a voice message on Chris Mortensen’s phone saying that his decision to retire did not have a thing to do with Randy Moss, and that it had everything to do with “being tired”.

All evening, I heard “Why would he leave now when the NFC is in their hands”.  That line of thinking is assinie and baseless and Favre knew it too.  While the NFC is still considered the weak confrence, there are still some competitive teams like Dallas,  Giants, the Bears, The Saints are honing thier defense. Bottom line, the only guarantee that you have in the National Football League is that the league don’t, won’t, and never will give a hot buttered damn about you when you hang up the cleats, pads and jersey for good.

So for those reporters that’s questioning why he retired now, marinate on this: After the Bears lost Super Bowl XLI,  you thought that they would return as a contender in ‘07, but they ended up sucking. If Favre had a bad year in ‘07 or if he returned for ‘08 and had a mediocre year, you would have said that he stayed a little bit too long.  Just save it!

As for Skip Bayless, man you sounded foolish today-talking about Favre returning and unretiring.  The rest of you that agreed with Bayless’ logic, sound just as foolish.  I dont see Brett Favre pulling a Junior Seau.  The man said he’s tired, just leave it at that. Dry your eyes, you can still live vicarously  through Tom Brady, Tony Romo, and the Mannings! 

Red Zone’s Free Agency Rundown

  

  

I am on the late, late ,late show with the blog and I have been trying to keep up with this year’s offseason moves.  In my opinion, the Browns, Eagles, Saints and Falcons are the ones that are making sensible moves so far.

Philly got their man in Asante Samuel. The move will add more strenght to the Eagles saging secondary.  The addition of Donte Stallworth will definitely make Cleveland better even playoff bound.  The Saints are doing everything they can to make their defense stronger. With the addition of Jonathan Vilma, the Saints are well on their way of accomplishing their goal.

While those acquestions were great, I like Atlanta’s signing of Michael “The Burner” Turner the most. While Moss, and Marion Barber are receiving the most press in free agency, Turner is the steal thus far. While subbing for LT, Turner made good on the opportuniy given and now, he will be the starting RB for a team in turmoil.

A big WTF goes out to the Patriots though. Their D is old and Sameul was one of the few strong spots on that unit. NE did not franchise him, did not work out some sort of a deal before hand, and lost him to Philadelphia.  They recently resigned Teddy Brucchi.

Now, the word is Randy Moss is frustrated with the Pats’ offers, and he is entertaining his options.

And this is all in the first week.

We still have to consider the Chad Johnson and McNabb issues.

SPYGATE: THE TRUTH

Like I said in my previous post, the reason why this “Spygate” controversy is bigger than what it was in week one has little to do with football. This all boils down to politics and revenge.  This is how I see things:

In my opinion, Senator (and Philadelphia Eagles Season ticket holder) Arlean Specter does not really care much about the league destroying the Patriots’ tapes, this issue goes beyond that.  The investigation is really about the league’s antitrust exemption, an issue that Specter have been rallying against for years.  The antitrust matter is pressing for Senator Specter becuase he accepted $153,600 in campaign contributions from Comcast Cable and its affiliates, and Specter promiced that he will support legislating ending the NFL’s Anti-trust exemption.

 Currently, Comcast cable is in a nasty dispute with the NFL over a deal concerning the NFL network. If the exemption is lifted, networks like Comcast would benefit because the teams will have the opportunity to negoiate their own cable deals. It seems as if the Eagles would chose Comcast because the cable company is a sponsor of the team.  Since the Anti-trust is still standing, Comcast is losing out on some serious dough.

This isnt the first time that Spector butted his nose into NFL business. He sought to have his beloved Eagles and the league investigated for anti-trust violations over their handling of T.O. three years ago. 

In the spygate drama, Spector found another way to stick it to the NFL.  He jumped on the bash the Patriots bandwagon. He had motive  to do so because his Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX. He is betting on the Patriots to go down so the Eagles could somehow benefit from this scandal. Most important, Spector sees this spygate mess as his best opportunity to end the Anti-Trust exemption and clown the league.

Nothing will warm the cockles of Senator Spector’s heart more than to see the NFL and Roger Goodell embarrased and clowned, believe that!

Rams Sue Patriots

Yesterday, I learned that former Rams S Willie Gary filed a 100 million dollar law suit against the New England Patriots, team owner Robert Kraft, and head coach Bill Belichick for the alleged taping of Rams practices before Super Bowl XXXVI.

I dont know what to make out of this but  if the U.S. District Court continues with this, watch the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers and even the Jets file lawsuits of thier own.

In my opnion,  the lawsuit is pointless and all it is doing is givng this “story” more legs. If Gary and the Rams felt so passionate about this matter, why didnt they do this six years ago?  They are only coming out with this because it is open season on the Patriots. When New England lost the Super Bowl,  the whole “Spygate” matter intensified.

This is pointless beacuse winning that suit may give the Rams and Gary some money but the fact of the matter is they cannot and will not get the Lombardi trophy.  This may not even go to trial.

As far as Spygate as a whole is concerned, this goes beyond football.

Check out the next entry.

The Saga Of Chad Johnson

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80691a57

Ever since two weeks before the Super Bowl, Bengals WR Chad Johnson has been in rare form. He’s been criticizing his team and holding up the jerseys of other teams. I even believe he was trying to persuade Bill Parcells to sign him at one point.

Now, here he is at the Pro Bowl actin a fool. Now, the media wants to know why he on this tear.  It is obvious that Chad is trying to force a trade.  The Bengal Brass was trying to save face and say that they are not going to trade their star receiver, and that everything is okay. But deep down things are not okay!

Johnson has been unhappy with his team way before they playoffs. I saw the signs of frustration in their game against San Francisco. I saw Ocho-Cinco all up in the face of Carson Palmer. I saw Ocho-Cinco pouting and sulking on the sidelines game after game.

Johnson isnt really pissed about the money and accolades. He is pissed because the Bengals are not winning. He’s upset that the Bengals are regressing and it seems as if his teammates except for a few don’t care.  Bottom line: Chad wants to win and he feels that he can’t win with his team.

Since the Bengals’ brass said that they will not trade Johnson, the wide receiver is trying to force a trade or release buy raising hell.  At the Pro Bowl, he shoved a PR rep, declined an interview with ESPN, and gave a strange interview with the NFL Network.

In the interview shown above, Chad implied that a prominent source undermined him by leaking negative stories. Well, so thats where the stories about Chad being locker room poison are all about. I see what he’s saying because the negative stories will make it harder for Chad to go elsewhere.

 So with this said, what do you think will happen to Ocho-Cinco? Will he…….

A) Get the trade he wants

B) Patch things up with Marvin Lewis and the organization as a whole

C) Get suspended under the league conduct policy

D) Retire

STUNNER: GIANTS UPSET PATS!

Photo by  Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

The New York Giants shocked the world last night when they  beat the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.  Saying that the Giants played one hell of a game is an understatement.  Eli Manning played nearly flawless and controlled football. New York’s D applied the pressure to Brady and sacked him 5 times. The win was well deserved.

Now, I am not a fan of New England and I was hoping that they would have gotten beat sooner, but I have to take my hat off to them for the regular season they had.   I was actually rooting for them  for two reasons. A) I have a bias for AFC Teams B) I got into it with my on again off again over this game.

For years, I always thought  that the AFC is the toughest confrence to play and  win in and I still do. Watching those teams in that confrence is what makes the game exciting in my opinion. Even the weakest teams are tough. Tonights loss by New England does not change the way I feel about the AFC!

Sadly, I could not enjoy NE getting their big because of reason B! Now the Red Zone isnt the place for my personal shit but I will make an exception today. My on and off again is a Giants fan. I favored New England for that very reason because I’m my own woman and he couldn’t stand me with an opposing opinion. He would call me bitter, hostile, a hater when it isnt even like that! I guess he didnt get the memo that people disagree sometimes and Just because you have an opposing view regrardless of the strength of that view, it doesnt make you bitter or a ‘hater’. Yeah I talked shit! No different than what  other football fans do!

Unfortunately Brady, Moss, AD, and Rodney couldn’t bail me out! So, before I could say congrats, here he come, yapping, and yapping and yapping some more. So things got heated.  He wanted me to apoligize for running down his team.  I said I wasn’t apologizing for anything!  I dont grovel or back down!  So we went at it!

So congratulations to the Giants and all of their fans except for one!

Spygate Revisited!

 On Super Bowl eve, there are reports circulating about the Patriots spying on the Rams before New England’s first Super Bowl Win. The timing of this revelation is impeccable. Why didnt the media reveal this during the incident with the Jets? Is this a case of scrapping up something to broadcast or write about? If it isnt that, Could it be that the media is turing their backs on the Patriots?

At first, I thought it was  about the Jets being sore losers until it was revealed that the league launched the ‘Spygate’ investigation.  It is known that each team in the league have tired to gain an extra advantage but I guess the taping is where it stops. 

If the Patriots win today, will the game and the rest of the games they won be under review?

We will see at 6:00!