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2009 First Round Draft Order

2009 First Round Draft Order
12/29/2008
FOR USE AS DESIRED
12/29/08

DETROIT HOLDS FIRST PICK IN 2009 DRAFT

The Detroit Lions will make the first choice of the 2009 National Football League Draft on April 25-26. The order of the 2009 Draft was announced today by the NFL.

The Lions’ choice will be followed by the St. Louis Rams picking second and the Kansas City Chiefs third.

Draft-order ties are resolved by the cumulative record of each team’s opponents. The team with the weaker opponents receives drafting priority.

Within a tied segment, non-playoff clubs are given priority over playoff clubs. Priority of playoff clubs within a tied segment will be based on their advancement in the playoffs, but they will not drop out of their tied segment unless they participate in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl champion will select 32nd and the runner-up 31st.

Clubs involved in two-club ties will alternate positions from round-to-round. In ties that involve three or more clubs, the club at the top of a tied segment in a given round will move to the bottom of the segment for the next round, while all other clubs in the segment move up one position. This rotation continues throughout the draft.

2009 FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER

#
Club
Win
Loss
Tie
Percent
Strength of Schedule
Opponents' Record
1.
Detroit
0
16
0
.000
.559
143-113-0








2.
St. Louis
2
14
0
.125
.533
136-119-1
3.
Kansas City
2
14
0
.125
.537
137-118-1








4.
Seattle
4
12
0
.250
.498
127-128-1
5.
Cleveland
4
12
0
.250
.572
145-108-3








6.
Cincinnati
4
11
1
.281
.553
141-114-1








7.
Oakland
5
11
0
.313
.520
133-123-0
8.
Jacksonville
5
11
0
.313
.537
137-118-1








9.
Green Bay
6
10
0
.375
.504
129-127-0








10.
San Francisco
7
9
0
.438
.447
114-141-1
11.
Buffalo
7
9
0
.438
.453
116-140-0








12.
Denver
8
8
0
.500
.457
117-139-0
13.
Washington
8
8
0
.500
.479
121-132-3
14.
New Orleans
8
8
0
.500
.496
127-129-0
15.
Houston
8
8
0
.500
.518
132-123-1
16.
San Diego *
8
8
0
.500
.516
132-124-0








17.
New York Jets
9
7
0
.563
.471
120-135-1
18.
Chicago
9
7
0
.563
.475
121-134-1
19.
Tampa Bay
9
7
0
.563
.480
123-133-0
20.
Detroit (from Dallas)
9
7
0
.563
.498
126-127-3
21.
Arizona *
9
7
0
.563
.486
124-131-1








22.
Philadelphia *
9
6
1
.594
.514
131-124-1








23.
Minnesota *
10
6
0
.625
.504
129-127-0








24.
New England
11
5
0
.688
.480
123-133-0
25.
Atlanta *
11
5
0
.688
.459
117-138-1
26.
Miami *
11
5
0
.688
.461
118-138-0
27.
Baltimore *
11
5
0
.688
.521
132-121-3








28.
Philadelphia (from Carolina) *
12
4
0
.750
.488
125-131-0
29.
Indianapolis *
12
4
0
.750
.498
127-128-1
30.
New York Giants *
12
4
0
.750
.502
127-126-3
31.
Pittsburgh *
12
4
0
.750
.525
133-120-3








32.
Tennessee *
13
3
0
.813
.459
117-138-1

* Subject to playoffs

MARYLAND’S JORDAN STEFFY AND NEVADA’S LUKE LIPPINCOTT RECEIVE STUDENT HUMANITARIAN AWARDS AT ROADY’S HUMANITARIAN BOW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARYLAND’S JORDAN STEFFY AND NEVADA’S LUKE LIPPINCOTT RECEIVE STUDENT HUMANITARIAN AWARDS AT ROADY’S HUMANITARIAN BOWL

The award, recognizing community service excellence for players in the annual WAC, ACC bowl game matchup

BOISE, Idaho -- Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy and Nevada-Reno running back Luke Lippincott were honored with the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame’s Student Humanitarian Awards, Saturday at the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl Humanitarian Awards Dinner. The award, recognizing community service excellence for players in the annual WAC, ACC bowl game matchup, is sponsored by the Idaho Sports Medicine Institute.

Steffy and Lippincott were voted by their teammates to receive the honor and were presented with the award by former NFL quarterback Jeff Kemp, who delivered the dinner’s key note address on “greatness” at the Boise Centre on the Grove.

Steffy, a senior from Leola, Pa. (Conestoga Valley HS), was recognized for his Children Deserve a Chance Foundation (www.childrendeserveachance.com), which aids underprivileged and disable youth. The foundation, which Steffy forged while attending high school in Leola, Pa. has raised more than $50,000 in 2008.

Lippincott, a senior from Salinas, Calif. (Palma HS), gives his time to a variety of charities, elementary schools and hospitals in the Reno area. His efforts are the driving force behind the team having already completed 1,800 hours of its 2,000 hour annual community service goal.

In the bowl’s 12-year history, 26 student-athletes have been named to the annual award recognizing excellence in community service.

The annual Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl gets underway at 2:30 p.m. MST, Tues., Dec. 30 at Bronco Stadium on the Boise State University campus. The game is televised live on ESPN.

About The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame

The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (www.SportsHumanitarian.com), located on the Boise State University campus in Idaho, recognizes individuals and organizations from the world of amateur and professional athletics who, through their humanitarian efforts, distinguish themselves as role models in the community. Over 40 sports-humanitarians have been enshrined in Boise including tennis great Arthur Ashe, Major League Baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, NFL coaching legend Tom Landry, the NBA's David Robinson, soccer great Pelé and the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Hall was the inspiration behind Boise’s Humanitarian Bowl and its Humanitarian Awards program annually recognizes exceptional community-focused organizations and leaders from Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NCAA College Football and other organizations. The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is open weekdays to visitors and humanitarians of all ages.

Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl

Student Humanitarian Award Recipients



2008 Maryland Jordan Steffy (QB), Nevada-Reno Luke Lippincott (RB)

2007 Georgia Tech Tashard Choice (RB), Fresno State Clint Stitser (PK)

2006 Miami Khalil Jones (WR), Nevada-Reno Matt Hines (DT)

2005 Boise State Lee Marks (RB) / Alex Guerrero (DT), Boston College Dan Berglund (LB)

2004 Virginia Davon Robb (OT), Fresno State Jamal Jones (FB)

2003 Georgia Tech Nate Curry (WR), Tulsa James Kilian (QB)

2002 Boise State B.J. Rode (QB), Iowa State Lane Danielson (WR)

2001 Clemson Nick Eason (DT), Louisiana Tech John Simon (RB)

2000 Boise State Matt Strohfus (FB), UTEP Jeff Seeton (OT) / A.J. Sheppard (DB)

1999 Boise State Jeff Udvarhelvi (TE), Louisville Anthony Byrd (OT)

1998 Southern Miss Lee Roberts (QB), Idaho Joel Thomas (RB)

1997 Cincinnati Fred Ward (DT), Utah State London McBride (WR)

Football Reporters Online Teams up with Southwest NY Restaurant For Super Bowl Party and Live Broadcast from NYC’s World Financial Center


For Immediate Release
Annrose Fumai-Chachkes
Director of Marketing Operations
Football Reporters Online
571-251-0798
Snapshot@footballreportersonline.com
www.footballreportersonline.com
Football Reporters Online Teams up with Southwest NY Restaurant For Super Bowl Party and Live Broadcast from NYC’s World Financial Center
Listen at www.Blogtalkradio.com/Football-Reporters
Hicksville, NY-December 12th 2008: Today Football Reporters Online (FRO) Announces their Live Super Bowl XLIII (43) Broadcast. The Staff of FRO will be Live on the Air from SouthWest NY, Located at 225 Liberty Street in the “#2” World Financial Center building from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday February 1st. This is a first for FRO and our Radio Host Website Blogtalk radio, as no single broadcaster has ever attempted a 3 hour show in any format, much less an on-location show. “We continue to be a sports media company of firsts,” says FRO’s Managing Partner, Dr. Bill Chachkes. “In 2007 we worked with Sports Business Simulations to bring fans of the NFL Draft the “First Ever” streaming Audio and Video of the Draft (13 Hours across two days) SBS’s CEO and FRO’s blogging partner Zennie Abraham will be a contributor to the show via remote live from Tampa, which is the site of this years’ contest.
Also visiting with us live from Tampa will be FRO’s Scouting Director and Contributor to the Black Athlete Sports Network Michael Ingram, and Giants Insider.com’s Ken Palmer (whether the NY Giants are playing or not).
Joining Dr. Chachkes from the “Front Window” of the restaurant as Co-Hosts will be: noted author Wil Mara, who is currently writing a series of Books for St. Martins Press set in the back offices and Locker rooms of the NFL, and John ”JK” Kelly, Jon “Wags” Wagner, and Ralph Garcia, who are all senior contributing writers. Mr. Kelly Covers the NY Dragons of The AFL and The Giants for WFUV Fordham University Radio, Mr. Wagner is also a contributor to CAA Zone.com, and Mr. Garcia covers The ACC, SEC, and The NFL’s AFC and NFC south divisions for FRO, as well as High School football In Nashville Tn. for various local outlets. Producing the show as she does for each “Live on Location” effort will be the talented Slavica Milosevska, who also doubles as FRO’s Senior investigative writer/reporter.
“Those who take the opportunity to join us in person won’t just enjoy the best Southwestern cuisine on the east coast, they will be treated to the “best football radio show they ever heard” said Dr. Chachkes. There will be plenty of giveaways just for showing up, including 3 copies of the “Gridiron Guide to the NFL Draft.” our new Annual Draft Publication. There will also be a Trivia contest (NFL Style) and a live “Ask the Experts” segment for those joining us in person. For the latest updates between now and Super Sunday, check the front page of our website:
www.footballreportersonline.com

THE BLACK ATHLETE SPORTS NETWORK'S ALL – HBC – UNIVERSE TEAM

THE BLACK ATHLETE SPORTS NETWORK'S ALL – HBC – UNIVERSE TEAM
By Michael – Louis Ingram
Black Athlete Sports Network/ Football Reporters Online
 
As we head into bowl season in college football and the NFL playoffs loom over the horizon, it's time to take a step back and recognize former and current players in a unique tribute.
For the past six months, I have been working on this compilation of talent for two specific reasons. One, when you refer to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on the gridiron, the first thought most lay people conjure up is that of Grambling State University.
The contributions by its great Hall of Fame coach and teacher, Eddie Robinson, are second to none; which brings us to the second reason: so that, respectfully, the world can know the HBCU universe does not rotate around the Black and Gold sun of Grambling State.
Every HBCU has long radiated its own special light, and their input into professional football's "Good Book of Bad" has so many "John Henrys" singing their names, it puts the Declaration of Independence to shame.
Now we know All – Star teams are always lightning rods for conversation; who was badder than whom and "How could you leave off this guy?" are about as expected as eight in the box on third and short.
But (with a lot of help from some friends and colleagues) we came up with not just a first, second and third team.
Because the dearth of talent coming from Black schools is so firmly etched in the fabric of pro football, we are unveiling the creation of 11 full All – Star teams; offense, defense and special teams complete with an all – Universe bench (taxi squad) which will ultimately bring you to those who we feel are the best of the very best – for an even dozen full squads in all.
My BASN colleagues, Editor – in – Chief, Tony McClean, my fellow Sports MCs Chris "Professor K" Murray and Wendell "MC Good Foot" Simpson and Finley "Doc" Pinkard, Big Play Football's main man Lloyd Vance, Staff Writer and host of Blog Talk Radio's hit talk show, "The Batchelor Pad" L.A. Batchelor, Dr. Bill Chachkes of footballreportersonline.com and some very special guests will chime in as they will also throw their two cents into the pot!
We will also roundtable on some of these picks and their worthiness in terms of consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – in America and as well as our neighbor to the north and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, located in Hamilton, Ontario.
 
THE BENCH:
The HBC – Universe bench is a 66 man – squad that was compiled of players who have played in every known professional sports league: NFL, CFL, the old American Football League, the Arena Football League, the United States Football League (USFL), the All – American Football Conference (AAFC), and NFL Europe (nee the World League of American Football).
A six – man "taxi squad" for each of the 11 teams with two significant selections, a bench coach and Honorary HBC – Universe member was chosen.
QBS: JOE "747" ADAMS, FLORIDA A&M; MATTHEW REED, GRAMBLING STATE; BRUCE EUGENE, GRAMBLING STATE; JOHNNIE WALTON, ELIZABETH CITY STATE; PARNELL DICKINSON, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE; DAVE WEBSTER, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M;
(Super Scout's notes: Webster led Prairie View to the Black College Championship in 1958; Walton was a solid starter during his career in the USFL; Eugene's strong arm was matched and surpassed by his stronger intellect, as his 41 out of 42 on the ballyhooed Wunderlich test should have had him under center playing in the NFL if they were as consistent about what is required to play the position as their bullshit about who can't play the position)
RBS: PERRY HARRINGTON, JACKSON STATE; MIKE COLLIER, MORGAN STATE; HENRY DYER, GRAMBLING STATE; CLEO MILLER, ARKANSAS – PINE BLUFF; DERRICK NED; GRAMBLING STATE
(Super Scout's notes: Although Harrington never made significant waves in the NFL, he will always be remembered as the man who broke the great Walter Payton's rushing record at Jackson State)  
TE: CHAD FANN, FLORIDA A&M; THORTON CHANDLER, FLORIDA A&M; GREG LATTA, MORGAN STATE; MORRIS STROUD, CLARK ATLANTA; ALVIN REED, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M; CHARLEY FERGUSON, TENNESSEE STATE
(Super Scout's notes: Until the selection of seven foot lineman Richard Sligh by the Oakland Raiders, Stroud, at 6'10" was the tallest position player in the old AFL)
WRS: CHARLIE BROWN, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE; COREY BRADFORD, JACKSON STATE.;  DWIGHT SCALES, GRAMBLING STATE; SCOTTY ANDERSON, GRAMBLING STATE; NATE SINGLETON, GRAMBLING STATE
(Brown was a two – time Pro bowl receiver with Washington; Bradford was part of the expansion roster of the Houston Texans)
LINEMEN: QASIM MITCHELL, NORTH CAROLINA A&T; MIKE ST.CLAIR, GRAMBLING STATE; LAWRENCE TERO "MR.T", PRAIRIE VIEW A&M; BOOKER REESE, BETHUNE – COOKMAN; BENNIE ANDERSON, TENNESSEE STATE; KWAME KILPATRICK, FLORIDA A&M; DEXTER NOTTAGE, FLORIDA A&M; ELVIS FRANKS, MORGAN STATE; CHARTRIC DARBY, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE; FRANK MOLDEN, JACKSON STATE; BOB BROWN, ARKANSAS PINE – BLUFF; ELEX PRICE, ALCORN STATE; ROBERT "BIG BIRD" SMITH, GRAMBLING STATE; MARQUES DOUGLAS, HOWARD; CLETIDUS HUNT, KENTUCKY STATE; ROBERT MATHIS, ALABAMA A&M; ANTHONY COOK, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE; CLEVELAND ELAM, TENNESSEE STATE; CHARLES PHILYAW, TEXAS SOUTHERN; RUBEN STUDDARD, ARKANSAS PINE – BLUFF; MANNY SISTRUNK, ARKANSAS PINE - BLUFF
(A little mix of fame and infamy with the additions of Tero, Studdard and Kilpatrick; you decide what belongs to whom)
 
LBS: LOUIS GREEN, ALCORN STATE; SIMON SHANKS, TENNESSEE STATE; MARCUS WINN, ALABAMA STATE,; LES BARLEY, WINSTON – SALEM STATE; ROBERT TAYLOR, GRAMBLING STATE
DBS: FAKHIR BROWN, GRAMBLING STATE; GENE ATKINS, FLORIDA A&M; TONY STARGELL, TENNESSEE STATE; OLIVER CELESTIN, TEXAS SOUTHERN; RUFUS BESS, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE; GREG WESLEY, ARKANSAS PINE – BLUFF; DWAINE CARPENTER, NORTH CAROLINA A&T;ANTOINE BETHEA, HOWARD; MEDGAR EVERS, ALCORN STATE; TIM WATSON, HOWARD UNIVERSITY; TONY STARGELL, TENNESSEE STATE
(In addition to everything else in his brief but distinguished life, Evers excelled on the gridiron and ran track as a Brave)
STS: MIKE COLLIER, MORGAN STATE; CALVIN MUHAMMAD, TEXAS SOUTHERN; DARIAN BARNES, HAMPTON; ALPHONSE DOTSON, GRAMBLING STATE
BENCH COACHES: ERNEST JONES, ALCORN STATE; GEORGE RAGSDALE, NORTH CAROLINA A&T
HONORARY HBC – UNIVERSE CONTRIBUTOR: P/PK GENE MINGO*
*(I specifically wanted to honor Mingo because he was the first Black specialist to excel in football. In 1960, Mingo led the AFL in scoring his rookie season for the Denver Broncos, and as a placekicker/halfback and punt returner was a one – man scoring machine, leading the league in points scored in 1962.
Born in Ohio, Mingo's opting for military service may have taken college out of the equation, but not his desire to excel.)   
The Countdown      
 
For the teams, I went with a 26 – man roster, for offense, defense, specials and the head coach, applying the same variables as the bench, with extra consideration for league awards and longevity.
 
ELEVENTH TEAM
HEAD COACH – JAMES CARSON, JACKSON STATE
OFFENSE
QB - CONNELL MAYNOR, NORTH CAROLINA A&T
OL – DAMION COOK, BETHUNE – COOKMAN;
OL - COURTNEY VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS PINE – BLUFF;
OL – DWAYNE WHITE, ALCORN STATE;
OL - LAWRENCE SMITH, TENNESSEE STATE;
OL - JOHN BROWN, N. CAROLINA COLLEGE
TE – ALVIN REED, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
WR – ALFRED JENKINS, MORRIS BROWN
WR – AL DENSON, FLORIDA A&M
RB – RONNIE COLEMAN, ALABAMA A&M
RB – LEWIS TILLMAN, JACKSON STATE
 
DEFENSE
DL – EZZRET ANDERSON, KENTUCKY STATE
DL – PEPPI ZELLNER, FORT VALLEY STATE
DL – JIM OSBORNE, SOUTHERN
DL – LAWRENCE PILLERS, ALCORN STATE
LB – MARLO PERRY, JACKSON STATE
LB – ISSAC KEYS, MOREHOUSE
LB – GUY PRATHER, GRAMBLING STATE
DB – FRANK WALKER, TUSKEGEE
DB – JAMES HUNTER, GRAMBLING STATE
DB – ISSAIC HOLT, ALCORN STATE
DB – NICK FERGUSON, MORRIS BROWN
 
SPECIALS
PK/P – CARLOS LEECH, SOUTHERN
KR – CARLOS PENNYWELL, GRAMBLING STATE
PR – WALLACE FRANCIS, ARKANSAS – PINE BLUFF
ST- CHRIS BURKETT, JACKSON STATE
 
Next Time: We roll with Teams #10 and #9; and if you think there's some great talent out here already, wait until we continue up the ladder to Number One!
 
michaelingram@blackathlete.com
mike@footballreportersonline.com
Lions Raiola Unapologetic to Rude Fans

December 9, 2008

By Slavica Milosevska-Senior Investigative Reporter-Football Reporters Online

The Detroit Lions have been the butt of most jokes these days. Fans may have gone too far in expressing their annoyance with the team by making personal insults. When is enough, enough? Dominic Raiola drew that line when he responded to fans' verbal abuse by making lewd hand gestures in Sunday's game where the Lions, now 0-13, lost to the Minnesota Vikings 20-16. "I'm just so frustrated. I'm tired of being a doormat. For people to just talk to us how they want to talk to us, I'm just not gonna put up with that anymore," asserted Raiola.

When asked if apologetic about the foul gesture on Monday, there was no regret. "I wish everybody out there came into the film room and watched the film, watched the effort put out there. And, yeah, everybody makes mistakes, everybody messes up - and I'm talking for everybody right now - and, yeah, they're paying customers. But we're trying to put some wins on the board and give them something to cheer about. And I don't know what to say, other than what I said yesterday." Raiola also stated, “I don't take one thing back."

The Lions may be the first team of all time to lose all 16 games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently the only team to have lost every game in a season; however, this was in 1976 when there were only 14 games. On Sunday, the Lions were in the same position as in 2001, 0-12 facing the Vikings at home, but that year they had their first victory of the season in game 13.

Raiola believes he is targeted by fans because since he has been on the team as of 2001, the Lions stats have worsened. “I’m just tired of hearing it coming at just me,” expressed Raiola. “It’s coming at me because I’ve been here for years. I’ve been through the losing. Me, Jeff and whoever else are the head of the losing.”

Raiola may be fined for his actions. According to NFL spokesman Randall Liu, the league will look into the situation. Other NFL players have been fined for similar behavior.

This year Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior was fined $7,500 for making an obscene gesture to Cleveland Brown fans when they celebrated a teammate's injury. St. Louis Rams lineman Richie Incognito made an offensive gesture to a television cameraman during practice also in 2008. San Fransisco kicker Joe Nedney was also fined $7,500 for making obscene gestures in 2007. Micheal Vick was fined for flicking off fans in 2006, and in his last season, he was fined $10,000 by the NFL then donated $10,000 for lewd gestures to the fans.

NFL MVP Watch

12/09/08
NFL MVP Watch
By Michael Porpora for Football Reporters Online

The NFL season thus far has been a roller coaster ride with inconsistent play around the league. As a result of this inconsistent play and no clear cut player emerging as an elite player among the rest, I believe that if the season were to end today, the Giants offensive line should be named, as a collective unit, MVP of the NFL.

As a cohesive unit, the Giants offensive line is the most dominant in football and has led them to the best record in the NFC. They have clinched the NFC East title which is arguably the toughest division in football, with three games still remaining on their schedule. With the leading rushing attack in the NFL averaging over 154 yards per game on the ground, they could be considered the best we’ve seen in quite some time. They are also averaging 4.9 yards per carry and have 20 attempts of 20 yards or more, which are both tops in the league. One of the most unbelievable games of the year for the Giants has to be the game against the Ravens in which they ran for over 200 yards. The most amazing part of that statistic is that the Ravens hadn’t allowed as much as a 100 yard rusher in over 20 games let alone 200 yards on the ground. With the unpredictable play that we’ve seen thus far, the one constant has surely been the Giants offensive line, who has given Eli Manning a great deal of time to throw in the pocket and a three headed running attack that ranks first in the league. The leading candidates for this years MVP has to be Kurt Warner and Drew Brees. They are undoubtedly having great years statistically but the Arizona Cardinals are playing in the weakest division in football and have had some hiccups along the way, one of which was a lackluster performance against the New York Giants. Additionally, the New Orleans Saints will most likely miss the playoffs and it seems a bit unrealistic to hand over the MVP award to a player on an underachieving team that should be in the playoffs but just couldn’t muster up enough wins.
The offensive line of the New York Giants have been together for almost 5 consecutive years and began to hit their stride late last season and have never looked back. The Giants are the best team in football with the best offensive line, and a not too shabby defense as well. To me the Super Bowl once again must go through New York.

Failed expectations and a lack of team energy lead Bowden to resign at Clemson

Failed expectations and a lack of team energy lead Bowden to resign at Clemson
By John Kelly-Senior Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

If all of America were to read Tommy Bowden’s eulogy following his resignation it probably would say “Bowden a man who could recruit the athletic studs to exceed expectations but could never seem to fire them up to fulfill them”. In the middle of his tenth season after being routed by Alabama and back-to-back conference losses to Maryland and Wake Forest Bowden decided to step down.
In an earlier Clemson article I wrote in July I stated that if the tigers failed to win the ACC Title then Tommy Bowden’s seat could combust into flames.
Clemson went from ACC favorite and National title dark horse to a team in turmoil within 6 games. Receivers coach Dabo Swinney will be taking the headset for the remaining games.
I was a possible believer along with the great Brent Musberger on the first Saturday that Clemson could be a dark horse National title candidate. The question all people are asking how did it get so ugly so quickly for the Clemson Tigers after most people penciled them in as the ACC favorite?
Well the definite calling card had to be the Alabama game in which the Tigers were thumped 34-10 and lacked any cohesiveness on the sideline. I know that Alabama team is now current ranked 2nd in the nation and no one expected them to rise so quickly but, it was that game alone that told the nation that Tommy Bowden and the Tigers were on separate wavelengths.
The most disappointing part of their opening game was not on the scoreboard but the mood of the players throughout all four quarters. They seemed in shock and had their heads down the whole game like an emotionally broken mutt. Coaches were yelling at them and they were jabbering back.
Even when C.J. Spiller took the opening kickoff of the second half 98-yards to pay dirt it seemed like the Clemson sideline was energized but never fully enthused.
Bowden departs Clemson with a 72-45 record including 43-32 ACC. He also made 8 bowl appearances and received ACC Coaching of the Year honors in 1999 and 2003.
To make matters worse after Wake Forest Bowden benched Cullen Harper and named high touted Quarterback Willy Korn starter, this was the last straw for Tiger fans.
C.J. Spiller claimed he liked Bowden but never felt that he truly motivated his teammates game in and game out. In the end Spiller pointed out that the players in the end they were not buying into his system. Spiller was also displeased that Bowden refused to utilize his talented backfield every other play and got away from running the football with the success that both Davis and Spiller had on the field in previous seasons.
"He was yelling at us to be leaders and it wasn't working. He did all he could to motivate us but guys weren't buying into what he was saying. And he said a lot of the same things over and over again” said Running Back C.J. Spiller. "He let the offensive coordinator [Rob Spence run the show and we got away from me and James Davis. I think part of the problem was when he benched Cullen” Spiller said.
It seemed like his team was the class of the ACC at certain points while looking like underachievers at other points.
His exit marks 10 years of a Jekyll and Hyde team that seemed to be on the cusp of being an elite team but never seemed to take the next step. With recruits decommitting and James Davis, and C.J. Spiller playing on Sunday’s next year it is going to be a tall order for the new Clemson head man to get the team rolling in the right direction again.





Another Thursday Night Football reporters online show and another Jam Packed 90 minutes of football talk.

This weeks Guests: Former University of Toledo and CFL Star QB Chuck Ealey, the subject of a PBS documentary this month, and Former Miami Dolphin DB Liffort Hobley will Join us, as well as your questions from the Mailbag and the Chat Room, and our game of the week picks. join os on Blog Talk radio at


www.blogtalkradio.com/football-reporters

Giants hang on for win in Philly

Giants hang on for win in Philly
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner Football Reporters Online

There is no doubt in my mind that the New York Giants left everything they had on Lincoln Financial Field tonight. Could it have gone any better for Coach Tom Coughlin and the Big Blue? It could have, but they will take the 36-31 win on the road to raise their record tom 8-1.

Just as the Giants fought hard tonight, so did the Eagles. After Eli Manning threw an early interception, Desean Jackson scored the opening points of the game on a direct snap and 11 yard rush to the pylon. However, New York scored the next 17 points to carry a 10 point lead into the second quarter. Most of the first half was a pitched battle between the two teams defenses. After Philly scored off another Giants turnover (a fumble by Brandon Jacobs), New York got another score to end the first half on the second of John Carney’s 3 Field Goals, bringing the half to a close at 20-17.

Both teams got tougher on defense in the third quarter, trading TD’s to bring the score to 27-24, but you could sense that something was going to give on way or another. After the Giants stretched the lead back to 6 with Carney’s third field goal, the Giants forced the Eagles into a 3 and out. On the ensuing Punt return Dominik Hixon took it to The Yard for a 73 yard TD, but due to a holding penalty, the score was nullified. With the Giants starting the the Philly 40 yard line, they were still in a good position to get a score, and they did just under 3 minutes later with the Brandon Jacobs TD. With the score at 36-24 The Eagles drove down the field one more time to score and close the gap to 36-31, but a final drive would be stopped by a Giants defense that has given up little this season.

Held in check for most of the night again, Plaxico Burress managed only one catch for a 17 Yard TD early in the Game. Kevin Boss had 6 catches for 69 yards and a TD, and Armani Toomer had 5 catches for 53 yards. Jacobs was the big offensive star for New York, with 22 carries for 126 yards and 2 TD’s. The Giants face the Baltimore Ravens next, a team which always seems to Give NY fits. Yet, the Saga continues….

Giants Handle Cowboys-almost have clear shot at division title

Giants Handle Cowboys-almost have clear shot at division title
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner Football Reporters Online

The New York Giants could have had the collapse of the decade. They could have fell apart. They could have played down to their competition as they did against the Browns, Bengals, and countless other teams over the years. Instead they came out and played “their game” against Dallas yesterday in the meadowlands. They established the run early, and although they had a few turnovers, and a few penalties more then normal, but in the end they finished the game up on the Cowboys by 21 points. They also moved to a 7-1 record, a half game ahead of all other challengers thus far in the NFC.

The Giants formula for success thus far has been a continuation of what they did late last season. Play solid defense, and establish the running game to open up the passing lanes. It doesn’t hurt that the kicking game has been so good over the last few years, with Jeff Feagles as the Punter and first Lawrence Tynes, and now John Carney placekicking. The Offense hasn’t been this good since the 60’s when Y.A. Tittle had Gifford, Shofner, Rote, and Morrison to throw to. While there are plenty of Current Giants to throw to, it’s the Earth (Brandon Jacobs) Wind ,(Derrick Ward), and Fire (Amahd Bradshaw) to run the ball that is the difference in this team since late last season.

But who is this 2008 Giants team really? Do they have what it takes to win the division, conference, and get back to the Super Bowl let alone win it for the second year in a row? Lots of obstacles stand in their way. First, there is the Eagles, who just refuse to die at 5-3, even though they are 0-2 in the division. Then, trailing close behind the Giants is Washington, who is 6-2, the only difference is the opening night loss to the Giants. Even Dallas, who just lost to NY yesterday, is still only 5-4 and coming up on their bye week. Carolina & Tampa in the South (6-2 & 6-3 respectively), Chicago in the North (at 5-3), and Arizona in the west,(also 5-3) are all competitive as well. Even Atlanta is 5-3, but like Dallas is 0-2 in their division.

If the Giants fall into a late season slump like they did in 2005’s playoffs or in the second half of the 2006 regular season, then you will hear the cry for Couglin’s head again. People are starting to claim that the Giants are the team to beat. I say I’m glad they aren’t letting the press clippings get to them. They almost blew it big time against The Bengals, and had a meltdown against the Browns. Now comes the big Sunday night match up with the Eagles. They will have to prove that they are the team to beat again.

Dante Culpepper to the Lions Rescue

Culpepper to the Lions' Rescue

November 3, 2008

By Slavica Milosevska for Football Reporters Online

31-year old free-agent Dante Culpepper has agreed to sign a two year contract with the Detroit Lions after taking a physical because he felt the team was most suitable for him. Culpepper was contemplating retirement in September when he had a hard time getting signed in the NFL. It had been rumored since July of 2008 that the Lions were interested in bringing the three-time Pro Bowler aboard.

Culpepper was the Minnesota Vikings' fourth Round draft pick back in 1999 and became the starting QB in 2000. In exchange for a second round draft pick, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2006, then in 2007, he played for the Oakland Raiders under a one-year contract.

Despite the Lions' track record and losing streak (0-8), Culpepper has optimism about the team's potential and hopes to bring them their first victory this season. Since Jon Kitna was placed on injured reserve, Dan Orlovsky has been the starting quarterback.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be visiting Detroit for their November 9th game.

GANG GREEN FACES BIG TEST IN BUFFALO

GANG GREEN FACES BIG TEST IN BUFFALO By TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online-10-31-08

The Jets have not played consistently in any phase of the game so far in 2008. At 4-3 however, they have given themselves a chance to gel by winning enough games to now sit only one game behind both the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, both at 5-2. Alot has been made about Brett Favre's mediocre play, and the confused playcalling on offense. While much of it may be true, the Jets, an organization that often times has their backs against the wall before Thanksgiving, rolls around to Orchard Park this time with a chance to really get in this AFC East race.

The Bills are led on offense by RB Marshawn Lynch and deep threat WR Lee Evans. QB Trent Edwards has had some good games this year but is not a threat to throw for 300 yards every Sunday. The Buffalo Defense is tied for 5th in TDs given up but ranked somewhere in the middle in most every other defensive category.

For the Jets, the keys will be the same. Favre has to make good decisions, better decisions than it appears ha has in recent weeks, although Eric Mangini on numerous occasions has cited the Jet wideouts for being at fault for some of the picks. The Jet ground game, now including home run threat Leon Washington , has to be part of a balanced offensive game plan and not disappear for a half, as it has a few times.

The Jet defense has struggled yardage wise the past two weeks against struggling offenses in Oakland and Kansas City. Nonetheless, Chris Jenkins , who spearheads the defensive line and has been a big factor in the much improved run stopping will be challenged all day by Lynch and backup Fred Jackson. With Jet corners Dwight Lowry and Darrele Revis facing the difficult task of keeping up with speedster WR's Evans and Roscoe Parrish, the Jets will have to break down Edwards pocket quickly and force long pass routes to be altered.

A win and the Jets will go to 5-3, a record that other Jet teams in the past who've had more talent and have played better for much of 4 quarters, have not been able to grab. It's an opportunity that they have given themselves not by playing great football all year, but by winning.

JETS CHIEFS BETTER BE A NO BRAINER

JETS CHIEFS BETTER BE A NO BRAINER-By TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online

With the painful overtime loss in Oakland now in the Jets rear view
mirror, Gang Green set their sights on a severely hampered old friend.
Former head coach Herm Edwards comes to town with his awful 1-5
Kansas City Chiefs, without star RB Larry Johnson (suspended for team
conduct) and featuring third string QB Bobby Thigpen. This is beyond a
must win. This is a game the Jets need to win as well as start to grow
in. The passing game needs to get on track. Dustin Keller needs to
become a weapon, especially with the apparent injury to Brett Favre's
security blanket Bubba Franks. The defense needs to shut down the
Chiefs second and even third string offense, and take control of a
of game the Jets can't lose if they want to see the playoffs
first hand in January.

After starting 0-2 KC somehow found a way to win at home against
Denver before losing both starting QBs, Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard.
They then tried but failed to deal legendary TE Tony Gonzalez at the
trade deadline and now have to live with the emotionally unstable LJ.
To sum it up, they are a complete mess. The only weapon besides
Gonzalez, WR Dwayne Bowe, has not had 100 yard receiving game yet
this season. The club was shut out two weeks ago in Carolina. 30th
total offense in the league this year. Now that 's WITH LJ and their
top two QB’s!


Let's be honest here. Losing to them would be devastating. A pure sign
that the Brett Favre experiment has failed on the field, regardless of
how many number 4 jerseys have been sold off the field. It cant even be
a possibility.

For the Jets, this Sunday cannot be about struggling to beat a team
like the Chiefs. This HAS to be about playing well, and winning well. It
has to be about the passing game finding a rythym. About Dustin Keller
starting to emerge as the first round pass catching threat he's
supposed to be so he can really contribute as the bigger games start
to creep up on the schedule. It has to be about a defense NOT pulling
a traditional Jet move by letting a back up like RB Kolby Smith have a
huge game on the ground. It has to be about making QB Tyler Thigpen
look not like Len Dawson, but like Thigpen. The Jets need to take hold
of this game and not let go.

Otherwise they are no different than a team run by Chad Pennington or
Kellen Clemens, the choices Jet fans had to wish for up until August.
The only difference between the 3-3 the Jets are now with Favre and
the same record they might also have with Pennington or Clemens now,
is that the potential for alot more offensive firepower rests with
Brett's arm and his ability to stretch the field. It's time the Jets start
To show why Favre was brought here. This game against the Chiefs is
the perfect opportunity to start kicking that vison into gear as we head
towards a crucial stretch.

Another Thursday F.R.O. Show


This week we will bring you the first of our NFL Draft Prep Shows at Football Reporters Online. This one will be on Small School Prospects. We will also have Fordham University Rams Head Football Coach Tom Masella Joining us to talk with us about some of his young prospects, Most notably Kicker Adam Danko, who hit the winning Field Goal This past Saturday in the contest against Yale (a 12-10 slugfest), Defensive End Ryan Mehra, OT Justin Sarabaez, and WR Richard Rayborn, as well as an opposing Coach's view of Yale's RB Mike McLeod. The show can be heard live at 9pm eastern at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Football-Reporters
The Show is Hosted By FRO's managing Partner Dr. Bill Chachkes and this week's Co-Hosts are FRO's college football reporter John Kelly, and FRO's Scouting Director and Host of the Popular "Sports MC's" Broadcast on The Black Athlete Sports Network, Mike Ingram.

Photo: a Visibly Dejected Yale RB Mike McLeod during the final moments of Yale's Loss to Fordham

FOR DALLAS, THE WADE AND TONY SHOW BETTER START NOW

FOR DALLAS, THE WADE AND TONY SHOW BETTER START NOW
By T.J. Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online.

The Dallas Cowboys once 3-0, appeared headed for a collision course with the Giants for the rights to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl next February. What we all tend to forget is, in the NFL, each week is it's own season. Weeks are cumulative as much as they are separate. The landscape drastically changes as star players get injured. As favored teams get upset unexpectedly. Week 4 was way too early in this or any season to be describing anybody as undoubtedly Super Bowl bound. The Cowboys were no different. From pre season Super Bowl expectations to early questions about the head coach and the clubs balance on offense. From the Pacman Jones saga to the Tony Romo injury, then to the Roy Williams signing. This chain of events has left the Cowboys on a road headed not for Disneyworld, but for disaster instead. Only Wade Phillips and Tony Romo can save them before these Cowboys soon fade into the sunset.

Having come off a 13-3 season in which the Boys had seen their franchise quarterback Tony Romo blossom into a star, a season that saw the exit of Julius Jones and the entry of Felix Jones to compliment the hard nosed RB Marion Barber, there was clear reasons as to why many thought the Cowboys were the team to beat heading into 2008. Those expectations certainly soared after a string of convincing early season wins that left the club 3-0 and feeling awfully good about themselves. What ensued the following three weeks however was spotty play in losses to Washington at home and Arizona on the road. That mixed in with a close win against a winless Bengal team at home. Questions were beginning to arise as to whether there was enough balance in the offense. Was Felix Jones, a threat to score on any play, getting enough touches? The loss to Washington, the Boys first loss of the year brought the club down to earth. Made experts and even the team itself recognize that it was not invincible. This should not have been a news flash for anyone following the Cowboys closely. For a team loaded with talent, the trick has always been finding a way to make it all work together. Even more so, finding a way to get through the tough games. Games played on days where all phases of the game are not running on all cylinders.

What could be fairly noted from a distance is that where we are now as far as the Cowboys go began in January during the '07 playoffs. Wade Phillips ability to be an effective game changer on THOSE type of days first came into question as the Cowboy’s head coach when the Giants beat them at home last year in the playoffs. Home field advantage throughout the playoffs was wasted. Now I can't pinpoint exactly WHY that game was Phillip's fault from an X's and O's point of view, but it just was. In the same way that Jim Mora was the reason why the pre Tony Dungy Colts lost playoff games at home. In the way Rich Kotite was just going to lose playoff games with Buddy Ryan's Eagles. Because THOSE types of games require a quality head coach who can pull you out of a tight game late in the contest. It's an energy thing. A how you cry yourself on the sidelines thing. Some guys have it, most don't. Take nothing away from Tom Coughlin, Eli and the Giants. Their magical run will be one for the ages. At that time though, Dallas was still the team to beat, and the better team. It was Phillips job to help win THAT game as much as it was Marty Schottenheimers' job to beat New England the year previous while owning home field advantage as well for his 14-2 Chargers. That Charger loss erased their terrific regular season in the same way that Giant loss last year made everyone forget that the Cowboys were 13-3.

Phillips often times has the look and the body language of a less informed spectator. One who enjoys football but doesn't follow it enough to enjoy the idiosyncrasies of it. At times confused by the rulings on the field, other times pumping his fists like a season ticket holder, Phillips carries himself more like a safe bet than a difference maker to the naked eye. Phillips was according to many, the perfect answer to Bill Parcells and his tough love approach to the sidelines. He took over a Parcells built team that could have, and well, possibly did, run on autopilot last season. That's because the true test for Phillips will be this year. It will be now. 13-3 was Bill Parcells team that Wade was borrowing. The playoff loss was Wade's team. The always-aggressive Jerry Jones built this 2008 version to be faster and stronger. The turmoil and the escape route out of it are on Wade Phillips. Fair or not. These next few weeks will be HIS contribution to a team rebuilt by both Parcells and Jones, then taught by Parcells. For better or for worse. Wade Phillips needs to make his presence felt right now.

Now, whether it is fair to blame Phillips or Offensive coordinator Jason Garret this season for the early inability to find a balance in the offense and a routine place for Felix Jones in the backfield may be unfair. The Super Bowl winning Colts of 2006 struggled scoring early in their championship season as they made the switch from a passing dominant to a more balanced offense with rookie RB Joseph Addai. The Cowboys, although winning early in 2008, were still looking to find their balance. They'll have to wait a month now in order to find it for a stretch run that they hope still exists. Felix Jones is out for a month and Romo as of today is still sidelined. Dallas has a bye in week 10. 4-3 and on the brink of fading in the NFC East to the 5-1 Giants, a quick fix however is in order. The time is now.

Let's backtrack for a bit to before the Cardinal game two weeks ago. Pacman Jones and yes, I'm calling him Pacman not Adam (sorry Adam), didn't help team morale by finding himself in the principals office once again before the game. His suspension, given Jerry Jones sticking his neck out in risking the reputation of the franchise by acquiring the troubled star despite the rap sheet, through off the teams rhythm. Just like even the smallest family dramas always do. Let's not, however, make Pacman the scapegoat for an offensive line that allowed Tony Romo to get hit after every pass attempt that day, eventually breaking his pinky. Combine a Dallas team still looking for role definition, with the Pacman saga and add to the mix an explosive Arizona offense seething form a loss to the Jets a week earlier (where both defenses resembled a two hand touch parking lot game) and what you had was a good old Desert trap. The template for an upset. The train was slowed by the defeat and slightly running off the tracks. Yet it was about to be derailed a day later.

Now, the Cowboys play on the field: the pass blocking, the pass defense and the Pacman effect would have come into question a lot more after the Cardinal loss had the Cowboy Crisis not trickled down to Tony Romo. His broken pinky became the clubs primary source for concern the Monday after the loss (News of Felix Jones' partially torn hamstring soon followed). Without Romo, the Dallas version of Tom Brady, both for his throwing arm and emotional worth to a quality team, how would the Boys continue to be an imposing threat? With the pedestrian Brad Johnson on his way to replacing Super Hero Romo, questions began to arise instantly as to how the Cowboys could navigate through this trauma.

While the media looked to TO and other voices in the locker room that Tuesday for answers to the biggest question in Cowboy land since whether Jessica Simpson affected Tony Romo's play down the stretch in 2007, Jerry Jones went out and bought Detroit Lion star WR Roy Williams at the deadline. A team that already had problems spreading the ball around to TO, Jason Witten, Marion Barber and Felix Jones had now added a fifth star to the mix. All to be led for the time being by Johnson, a 40 year old guy whose throwing style is more Phil Simms than it's ever been Roger Staubauch. It would be hard to fault Jones for his desire to improve the talent on his roster. Hopefully he has considered how Williams will fit with a team that always appears to be hanging on a thread with regard to the notion of TEAM CHEMISTRY.

Then yesterday. A complete drubbing in St Louis to the Rams. The Rams? Don't give me that Jim Hasslet stuff all right? Ok I'm happy for Hasslet, a Saints castoff. There's a new energy there in St. Louis. There should be. Scott Linehan's teams would lose by college scores every week 52-14, then 49 -10. Who in their right minds could get excited about getting destroyed every week? That tenure was ridiculous and over thank god. With Hasslet, Stephen Jackson has had back-to-back monster games. Regardless, these were once the pitiful winless Rams going against the once Super Bowl bound Cowboys. Yet by the end of the day, the Rams elevator was going up at the same time the Boys raced their elevator down towards the ground floor at mock speed. The Cowboys' pre season and early season expectations started out way too high for a team to land at a place that has left them 4-3 and two games out of first place in a division they were convinced was theirs to begin with. The question is how many more Sundays can the Cowboys afford like the last one? They are not in the forgiving NFC South. There is little to no room for error in the NFL's toughest division.

The Cowboys are in major crisis mode. They CAN however, be rescued. Two people and two people only can rescue the Boys. Without them BOTH throwing out life preservers to the rest of the crew at the same time, the ship will sink. Guaranteed. Wade Phillips and Tony Romo have to save this team. Now. Nobody else can do it. Not TO. Not Marion Barber. Not Jerry Jones chewing the team out like he did after the disaster in St Louis. Not Roy Williams, too new to the zoo to have the clout. It's got to be the Wade and Tony show. Like it's been the Bill and Tom show in New England for years. Like it isn't the Bill and Tom show now and hey, just look at that mess up there in Foxboro for proof that it takes two. Matt Cassel? Yeesh.

Wade Phillips has to step up and show us that he can manage a crisis by keeping divisive personalities like TO in check while creating a groupthink motto his players will buy into and rally around. He has to do it before they break off into smaller self-ruling factions. Phillips needs to oversee shrewd game plans and sign off on key in game moves that steal a win or two while his team finds its swagger again. He doesn't have be either brains behind the game plan or sign off on the right one. The head coach's reputation will be connected to whatever plays out on the field, so it better be good. It better translate into wins. Dallas is not St Louis, where 2-4 has suddenly turned into the feel good hit of the fall. Winning is everything in Dallas. Winning hides dysfunction in a place where negativity always waits for the perfect losing streak in order to come in and ruin the team like a cancer.

Secondly, Tony Romo HAS TO START NEXT WEEK at QB. Broken pinky or not, the Cowboys have lost an emotional edge that playing behind their field leader provides. Romo at 75 percent will be more useful to Dallas than 40-year-old Brad Johnson will ever be at 100 percent. His efficiency as a passer will diminish, but he'll still be able to extend play in the passing game and find open receivers. He'll have his security blanket Jason Witten close by and have Marion Barber running hard to keep defenses honest. He'll bring the threat of a deep ball back to the offense, accurate or not. Romo will force the defense to play the whole field again. He has no choice.

It's getting late early. Tampa Bay, The Giants and Redskins are next up for the Boys and I can assure you, chomping at the bit. Dying for the chance to get after Dallas while they are licking their wounds. If Wade can outsmart 'em and Romo can provide the spark, everything else could once again fall into place. On the flip side, if Phillips gets exposed as nothing more than a yes man, nothing more than a nice guy figurehead over the coming weeks, the inmates will soon begin taking over the asylum. If Romo waits until after the bye to resume playing, he'll be healthy, but the Cowboys 2008 season will be over.

Football Reporters Online Show 10-16-08


It's Thursday, and that means it's another episode of the Football Reporters Online Show On BlogTalk Radio. Joining us Tonight will be Jennifer Smith, The Executive Director of the Gridiron Greats Assistance fund. We will Discuss the Ongoing Health Care Crisis among Senior retired NFL Players, and what the Fans can do to support this worthy cause. The show can be heard at 9Pm Eastern Time at:

Cowboys Double Blow - Roger Goodell Suspends PacMan Jones; Tony Romo Out For Four Weeks

This is on NFL Network as I write this. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Dallas Cowboys Defensive Back Adam Pacman Jones for four weeks and then Goodell would review the case. On top of that, Cowboys QB Tony Romo is out for four weeks with a broken pinky finger.

More later...

BALANCE OF POWER: A SHIFT AT THE TOP

BALANCE OF POWER: A SHIFT AT THE TOP By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online

Before the season most would say the elite teams in the league are the Pats, Colts, Chargers, Jaguars and Cowboys. Ask someone now and you’ll probably hear Giants, Cowboys, possibly the Redskins, Titans & Panthers and maybe even the 2-3 Eagles. While it’s only been five games and certainly with a healthy Tom Brady the Pats would still be the premier team in the league, the shift is occurring and it’s landing mainly in the NFC East.

Watching the Colts, their problems go far deeper than a rusty Peyton Manning. They are unable to run the ball, can’t protect Manning and can’t stop anyone. They could easily be 0-4 if not for some terrible play calling by the Vikings and the unbelievable lack of judgment by Sage Rosenfelds. Age is starting to catch up to their offense. The Jaguars are not as imposing on defense as they’ve been in past years and are battling a host of injuries. The Chargers are the wild card. They are off to another slow start but without question have the talent to jump back to the top of the league if they get their act together.

The Giants have made the transition from a team that got on a great roll to a great team. They have an emerging quarterback, exceptional line play on both sides of the ball and what appears to be a never ending array of weapons. The emergence of Jason Campbell has vaulted the Redskins to the top of the conference, coming off road wins against the Cowboys and Eagles.

The NFC East has three emerging stars at quarterback and an elder statesman still playing at a high level. The recipe is there for this division to dominate the league over the next five years. Unfortunately for them, one will definitely not make the playoffs which will make the rest of their divisional games a must watch.

While the overall depth of quality teams in the conference still favors the AFC, the super bowl favorites now reside in the NFC. The AFC has won eight out of the last eleven super bowls. Look for those numbers to start changing.

Win or Lose Notre Dame’s Tradition and Energy every Saturday give any fan the

Win or Lose Notre Dame’s Tradition and Energy every Saturday give any fan the
true feeling of College Football
By John Kelly for Football Reporters Online

Attending a Notre Dame football game is more than just seeing two teams
square off; it carries the feelings of a religious pilgrimage. While it sounds crazy
let me explain and with Touchdown Jesus as my alibi, why you will be moved
enough to take a trip there.

The pregame festivities build up your energy before Kickoff. After you get off
that small prop plane at South Bend Airport or off the Indiana Tolls you see the
Golden Dome. The shine given off the dome right there is silently yelling, “brace
yourself”. Check into the hotel pick up an Irish Sports Report and a jersey from
the memorabilia store and get to campus. Your pilgrimage is about to begin.

Friday is where the all the pregame festivities begin. The pep rally in the Joyce
Center is almost always sold out so make sure you have a ticket. Then sit back
as you hear the band rock all the great Notre Dame songs Rakes of Mallow,
Victory Clog, and of course the best fight song in the land the Notre Dame
Victory march. The band is not the only one bringing the house down; the
students are wild and rock the Joyce Center.

The pep rally is just an appetizer to game like atmosphere you will feel on Saturday. Hopefully you have picked up the chants and songs and hopefully your Irish Jig is upkeep when Rakes of Mallow plays.

Each pep rally is filled with special guests that pump you and the team up for
Saturday. Famous distinguished guests have been Tom Lasorda, Lou Holtz,
Digger Phelps, and yes the great one Wayne Gretsky.

You better grab some coffee from Perkins down the road because your Friday is
not over yet. At midnight the drumline rocks out the Notre Dame tunes late into
the night and the entire town can hear the crowd around them as the Notre
Dame Fight Song is played and the chant of this year’s 2008 squad, “Crank me
up”.

Now go back to your room because I know it is late for you Mr. Casual sports
fan. You’ll need to be up bright and early before Kirk, Chris, and Lee even start
Gameday because the campus is a site to see. You arrive on campus and in the
middle is the house Rockne built with 80,000 seats.

Then there take your picture behind Touchdown Jesus and if you’re with your family a group picture will be memorable forever and cut costs on this year’s Christmas picture.

Now it is close to noon right next to the Golden Dome is the Basilica, which is a
gorgeous on a crisp fall day. Go in there and say a prayer hoping for an Irish
victory. If you’re not an Irish fan, check out the whole basilica and be sure to
take some photos.

Now get up quickly because the players are doing their traditional walk to the
stadium after their mass. You can literally stand inches away from them and
chant their names. I gave Armando Allen a high five and he gave me a nod back.

Then the last thing to do before you inhale those three delicious bratwursts
provided by the student barbeques is see the band play at Bond Hall. They belt
out again the Notre Dame Victory March, Rakes of Mallow, and Victory Clog. The
sound can be heard throughout campus. Also you better get a decent spot
because there are 5,000 people on the grass around Bond Hall watching,
clapping, and singing the melody to each and Notre Dame song the band plays.
Oh yeah they also give you a hint of what they are playing at halftime.

Ok you have done the pregame experiences, had some bratwursts, a couple of
beers, and now it is 15 minutes before game time and it is time to enter Notre
Dame Stadium (Or what I like to call Mecca). Now the PA announcer comes on
and the crowd goes bonkers and then the Golden Shine off the sun catches your
eye and you see the Irish run out of the tunnel to a Roman Coliseum type roar.
Do not forget to boo the opposing team and make them feel uncomfortable.

Now sit on these tight benches and in the words of Charlie Weis “Shut up when
the Irish are on Offense and when they are on defense make a lot of noise.”

Win or Lose the end of the game is one of the prettiest and tight nit moments
most college football fans throughout the nation miss after the final whistle
blows. Grab a shoulder and be prepared to sway back and forth to Notre Dame’s
Alma Mater and see a crowd of 80,000 follow you in unison.

Well, as you leave the stadium get a couple more pictures of the stadium and
field the ushers are great and will take the photo for you. That is my only advice as I hope you have experienced a great weekend. If you’re an NFL fan well then football continues into Sunday. If your just a casual sports fan hopefully this great the will definitely be embedded in your mind when your plugging away on Monday.

On a side note the Purdue game I went to this year made my cousin’s brother-
in-law’s day and he normally is not into college football. If he can have a smile
then any person who goes there can be moved just as much.

If you know A Notre Dame alum I suggest you ask for the tickets and come on a
Pilgrimage to the Mecca of College football.

Freshman Phenoms Julio Jones, A.J. Green, and Michael Floyd boast the best freshman receiver class since 2002

Freshman Phenoms Julio Jones, A.J. Green, and Michael Floyd boast the best freshman receiver class since 2002

By John Kelly for Football Reporters Online

It has been six years since we truly saw freshman receivers steal the scene in
College Football. Pittsburgh Freshman Larry Fitzgerald, an unknown player from Minnesota, dazzled us with a spectacular diving catches including one in the Insight bowl versus Oregon State. Reggie Williams hauled catches in double coverage while, taking several short slants to the house versus Oregon. USC’s Mike Williams made an effortless one-handed catch that was on numerous College Gameday highlight reels. In 2004 Deshawn Jackson breathed life into Berkley for the first time since the SDS was doing sit ins in the 60’s. He became an instant weapon for the Golden Bears as a punt return specialist and a consistent home run threat. Last year Michael Crabtree reeled in over one hundred catches and the Blinkoff Award to boot.

Some freshmen receivers seem to make impacts before others and while others gain national attention. The last six years has only seen one really steal the show and the others make an important impact. Freshman receiving studs tend to crash the college football party every year now, none compare to the class of 2008. This class is set to make an instant offensive impact quicker than any other freshman receiving class.

We look at the 5 star rival’s receivers and hope to see them make an immediate impact every college football season. Since 2003 most top Rivals receivers have been busts, kicked off teams, or just disappeared. For every playmaker like a Deshawn Jackson there is a Patrick Turner who is a bust in my estimation after being ranked the #1 receiver by rivals in 2004. Fred Rouse was the #2 rated receiver in 2004 according to rivals and was thought to carry a game emulating Randy Moss. He ended up being kicked off Florida State’s football team and transferred to UTEP.

So why are the three top wideouts from the 2008 recruiting class so special
opposed to the other past successful and disappointing blue chip receivers?
Well 5 weeks into the season all three have scored a touchdown and they all
look like the future go-to playmakers in their respective offenses.

While Julio Jones and Michael Floyd scored during the first week of the season , A.J. Green finally put himself on the map in Tempe versus Arizona State catching 8 balls for 157 yards and a touchdown. His impact is huge for Matthew Stafford and Knowshawn Moreno and the Bulldog offense.

Michael Floyd had 7 catches for 87 yards and a TD versus Michigan State in the loss and his impact along with Golden Tate makes Jimmy Clausen’s job a lot easier in South Bend. Floyd is only a freshman and I knew after
watching him in the high school All-America game he would be turning heads already. He is shaping up to be the next great Notre Dame receiver since the days of Derek Mayes. He will only get better which is an issue for opposing secondaries who already are being smoked by him thus far. Plus this week versus Stanford he had another 100 yard game compounded by burning a Pac-10 track star champion for a 48-yard touchdown bomb.

Julio Jones clips in Alabama’s fall practices had multiple you tube hits and he finally got into the end zone in his first game against Clemson. He is definitely the real deal in Tuscaloosa. He also was big in their upset win over Georgia a week ago as he hauled in two touchdown catches. Alabama’s strong ground attack will lead to more one on one opportunities for him. His combined size and speed are the best out of the three and do not be surprised if he is a Blinkoff Award nominee this year.

All three players are first round draft picks to me in the 2012 draft and can aid certain NFL teams with an impact receiver (Are you listening New York Jets or Baltimore Ravens). All three have the ability to take a short pass the distance, catch the fade route, and burn you deep on a fly pattern.

Floyd reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald and it is not because he hails from
Minnesota. If you watched the Michigan State game he can go up and get the ball from anywhere. He has the speed to burn you deep but his ball skills and receiving instincts are what separate him from Green and Jones.

Outside of AJ Green’s circus catch last week I have yet to see Julio Jones make a catch like that but I am confident he can. Speaking of A.J. Green he is mix between Randy Moss and a Chad Johnson with the speed to burn you deep, the ability to make a catch from anywhere on the field, and the athleticism to make major mismatches with even the best corners in the league.

Floyd is getting comparisons in the South Bend Tribute to Terrell Owens but it is Julio Jones to me that best mirrors the mold of a T.O. At 19 he has enormous strength and speed to be a mismatch against any corner in the land. Like Floyd he also likes to go out and rip the ball down from opposing corners. By playing in the SEC he will face top defensive competition like A.J. Green week in and week out which will help him develop a lot more. He is the biggest physically of the three and his strength now and in the future will allow him to muscle smaller and athletic cornerbacks that cover him. By the end of his Crimson Tide career he will be the next freak of on the outside.

The next three seasons are only going to get better if you’re a Bulldog, Irish, or Tide fan and these three look to provide many memorable moments.

Buying Into Team Concept Resulting In Big Results For Big Blue

Buying Into Team Concept Resulting In Big Results For Big Blue-By Jon Wagner for Football Reporters Online-10-8-08

It took the New York Giants the majority of the 2007 regular season to buy into what its coaching staff was selling. We all know how that story panned out for New York, with an unlikely run to a Super Bowl title over the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The Giants didn’t even look like a playoff team, let alone an eventual NFL champion, in the earlier part of the 2007 campaign.

The point at which the Giants are at now, defending their 2007 title with a perfect 4-0 start in 2008 (extending their regular and postseason winning streak to eight consecutive games), clouds recollections of the Giants’ very humble beginnings last season.

Revisiting those early stages of what has become the Giants’ tremendous team growth, provides a great deal of perspective. The Giants began last season 0-2, allowing 80 points in their first two games; after winning seven of their next eight games, the Giants and Eli Manning were about as dreadful as they could be in getting wiped out at home, 41-17, against the Minnesota Vikings; and, after losing a key December game at home (in which they came in favored) to the Washington Redskins, in December, the Giants found their slim playoff chances hanging by a thread, down 14-0 after the first quarter in Buffalo, in a must-win game.

That’s the point at which everything finally clicked for the Giants, who they haven’t looked back since. That’s when Brandon Jacobs ran for two touchdowns (en route to a 143-yard rushing day) to tie that game in Buffalo; when Kawicka Mitchell stepped up with a huge play, returning an interception 20 yards to put the Giants ahead of the Bills to stay; when Eli Manning finally began to prove, in any conditions (even in rainy and windy Buffalo that day) that he could be the leader the Giants had waited for, four years; and, that’s when the Giants learned what they had in Ahmad Bradshaw, who ran for an 88-yard touchdown and a career-high 151 yards to clinch the win over the Bills, and ultimately clinch the Giants’ playoff chances, touching off what became one of the greatest late-season runs in sports history.

What followed of course was the narrow, confidence-building, well-played loss to New England at home, the Giants’ final loss (excluding the 2008 preseason) to date, before the Giants’ magical road playoff run to a title.

Manning’s confidence and level of play soared. The defense finally practiced on the field what Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was preaching, and the rest of the Giants bought in to Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s ideals of personal sacrifice and “team first” concepts.

The Giants of course, have gotten where they are today because they have talent both on their roster and throughout their coaching staff. However, last season’s 18-1 Patriots also had a world of talent, yet as 14-point underdogs in Super Bowl XLII, it was the Giants who emerged as unexpected champions.

Why? Because the Giants mixed their talent with all of the other ingredients needed to overcome injuries and adversity -- maximum effort, heart, true team play, and surprising heroes picking up the slack for the Giants’ stars whenever called upon.

When Jeremy Shockey went down for the season with a leg injury in the aforementioned Washington game, Kevin Boss stepped in more than adequately for the remainder of the season, including his key, late 45-yard reception in Super Bowl XLII.

And, of course, we all know the remarkable catch that David Tyree made, despite being able to count the number of catches he had previously made in 2007 on the same right hand that incredibly affixed the football to his helmet as he acrobatically fell to the ground.

So, is it any wonder that after their amazing Super Bowl run, even after the retirement of Michael Strahan and the huge season-ending injury of Osi Umenyiora, that the Giants continue to not miss a beat?

Because of their team-first attitude, a collective willingness to prove all naysayers wrong, and the uncanny ability to effectively plug seemingly anyone into holes created by injuries or other circumstances, the Giants have simply refused to let such personnel losses translate into any additional losses to their opponents.

Given the track record since December, it should come as little surprise that the spot of the man who caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII (Plaxico Burress, of course, sitting out last week serving a one-game team-imposed suspension), was filled in on Sunday (a 44-6 crushing of the Seattle Seahawks) with Domenik Hixon catching four balls for a career-high 102 yards and a touchdown, and by Sinorice Moss catching the first two touchdowns of his professional career.

The Giants’ schedule will get much tougher this season, it will be a long and winding road back to another possible Super Bowl title, and the Giants may not repeat as champions. However, the smart pick says that because they have defined the word “team” since December, the Giants will at least have a great chance of getting back to the top no matter what other obstacles are placed in front of them.

SEC Roundup 10-8-08

SEC Roundup
By Ralph Garcia SEC Insider-10-8-08

Vanderbilt 14 Auburn 13

As Vanderbilt took the field Saturday they looked around to find a packed house. Black and gold were everywhere the naked eye could see. The noise level was at pitch not heard here in decades. ESPN's College Gameday was here to hang out for the game. It was an official welcome to the big stage for the “Dores”. Only thing left was to go out on the field and get it done. Within a 60 second span it was 13-0 Tigers. Then at the end of the half Vandy scored to turn the momentum. In the second half Auburn would score no more. Their ever faltering spread offense could muster nothing. QB McKenzi Adams came off the bench to spark the comeback that put Vandy at 5-0 for the first time since 1943. They beat Auburn for the first time since 1955. Auburn was held to a little more than 200 yards of offense. Their QB's were sacked five times by five different players. Holding on to a one point lead with 2:16 to play Vandy had to punt. In came Brett Upson and his kick went 55 yards to the Tiger 3. One play later Myron Lewis picked off a Chris Todd pass and the celebration was on. A school known for its brain would now be recognized for its brawn. No longer are they be the doormat or joke of the SEC. Now they are wearing targets and other teams better take aim. This was for the long suffering fans, the boosters who never gave up, the fans that have been faithful for so long. Ah, but this is the SEC folks. The question of which conference is the best keeps being asked. If you watched Vandy's win then you should ask that question no more.

Elsewhere:
Tennessee 13 Northern Illinois 9
Nick Stephens goes 10-17 for 153 yards and a touchdown. The running game fell short with 75 yards on the ground. What was supposed to be a blowout almost ended in an upset. UT's offense could not move the ball and they better get it right soon.

Alabama 17 Kentucky 14

Glen Coffee ran for 218 yards but Alabama needs the late 24 yard field goal to get past Wildcats. Tide improves to 6-0.

S.C. 31 Ole Miss 24
QB Chris Smelley throws for a career high 327 yards go with three touchdowns. Rebels are held to a second half field goal. Crucial mistakes keep S.C. in East race.

Florida 38 Arakansas 7
AT&Tebow finishes 17-26 for 217 yards and two touchdowns to go along with an interception. Jeffrey Demps runs for 103 yards in the romp. Chris Rainey had a spectacular 75 yard run for a score. Win helps Gators stay half game behind East leader Vanderbilt.

Raiders Davis Fires Kiffin by Phone

Raiders’ Davis Fires Kiffin by Phone (I guess smoke signals would have taken too long) By Dr. Bill Chachkes for Football Reporters Online

So what makes this time different from the last? Davis said he had the goods on Kiffin and that his conduct was detrimental to the Raiders organization, to the coaching staff and players, and to Davis personally.
“I had to let him Go” Stated Mr. Davis. Sounds like wall street letting go of a few billion and saying Opps, we messed up. It seems like they have messed up plenty of times before. What is Davis’ Excuse this time? “I Hired the wrong guy”, and “he’s A flat out Liar” was his answer. So then what was his excuse for Mike Shanahan? Norv Turner? Jon Gruden? all now successful with other teams. Two of them, Turner and Shanahan even in the same division.

Who will save the Raiders now that the silver is mottled with rust? Not Interim head coach Tom Cable. Not this mystery off-season hiring of an exec who will bring the Raiders back. “We’ll get back, the Raiders will be back” said Davis, who surely would be better off in a nursing home right now then at the Raiders offices. Al, please hang it up. You are hurting the poor Raiders fans, and the people of Brooklyn NY where you are from.

NFL DRAFT Remains in NYC for at least 2009-but no movement on NFL network coming to CableTV

NFL DRAFT Remains in NYC for at least 2009-but no movement on NFL network coming to CableTV

If you look at the NFL.com Website you can clearly see that The dates for the Draft are posted (April 25th and 26th 2009) and Listed as "Radio City Music Hall" in NYC.
In the past i had said i felt it should be moved around some. But after talking with Fans the last two drafts i have done an about face. Maybe the NFL should sign a long term agreement with Radio City (oh, but that would mean they'd be going back on their word and Jumping back into bed with Radio City's owner "the Evil(yeah right) James Dolan of Cablevision). The clear fact is that the NFL Owners are the ones keeping the fans from having the NFL Network (and even the Sunday ticket) on Cable, and not James and Charles Dolan. Ask NFL Brodcast comm. chair Jerry Jones(the same one who owns the Cowboys) why they are trying to get Cablevision into court to force them to carry the channel on Basic cable? Because not all that many people are running out to get Directv or dish network (or even Fios) so fast...So i'm Glad the Draft will stay in NYC for at least one more year, and on Cable TV Via ESPN G_d Bless Chris Berman's Voice...

DRAFTING STRATEGY: PREMIUM POSITIONS V. SKILL POSITIONS

DRAFTING STRATEGY: PREMIUM POSITIONS V. SKILL POSITIONS
By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online

In recent drafts some teams don’t focus as much on the premium positions (QB, DL, including pass rushing linebackers & OL) but rather look for skill players with great athletic ability or for hybrid type players who can create mismatches. Additionally many teams seem to be drafting more need based than value based. There are more than a couple of ways to win in the NFL but the greatest chance for success comes from focusing your resources on the premium positions. A team cannot have an 8-10 year run of high level football, like the Colts, Eagles or Pats, without a great quarterback, the ability to protect that quarterback and disrupting the other team’s quarterback. You can have a couple of good years and even win a super bowl but you have no chance at a dynasty. Aside from giving you the best chance to win those positions are premium in that they have longer shelf lives than the skill positions.

There is no prevailing wisdom on which positions are most likely to produce a bust in the NFL. Every position has produced top picks that have busted and late round picks that have become great. I used to hear that drafting a quarterback in the top five and having him bust will set the franchise back five years. I don’t buy it. Most of the teams in the league have learned to manage the cap well and can overcome a bad selection much quicker. The important thing is not to let a bad selection cloud your judgment during a later draft. The Bengals, with a history of ineptitude, didn’t allow the failure of Akili Smith to dissuade them from drafting Carson Palmer.

In a league littered with injuries, contract disputes and salary cap issues, I don’t agree with the idea of using a top draft pick on a lesser quality player because there’s a need at that position. You can never have enough depth in this league. Regarding quarterbacks, the reality is too many teams seem content to move forward with average or below average players at that position. Not having a dire need for a player at a specific position doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an attempt to improve it, particularly if it can be done at a premium position. Furthermore I am a believer that competition brings the best out of athletes. When you have a quality guy at a position and you use a high draft pick for a player at the same position chances are it will motivate the first player.

In this year’s draft the Raiders could have selected Darren McFadden or Glen Dorsey. If they weren’t concerned about Dorsey’s health they should have drafted him. Last year the much criticized Texans did the right thing by picking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. The explosive skill players excite the fans but ultimately are less important when it comes to winning.

A PERSPECTIVE ON EARLY SEASON QB INJURIES

A PERSPECTIVE ON EARLY SEASON QB INJURIES
By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online

As soon as it was confirmed that Tom Brady was done for the year there was an apparent comparison to the Vinny Testaverde injury in 1999. Not to compare Testaverde to Brady but each team was favored to win their conference and each lost their QB for the season in the first half of the first game.

There is a distinct difference between the two scenarios. The Jets came into the 1999 season looking for their first super bowl in thirty years, coming off a tough loss to Denver the previous year in the AFC championship game. Elway chose to forego a potential three-peat and retired leaving the Jets as the AFC favorites. The season shattered with the Testaverde injury and no proven backup on the roster. By the time Parcells made the move to Ray Lucas it was too late to get into the playoffs. In essence the Testaverde injury ended the short Parcells era and pushed the franchise back into a struggling state.

For the Patriots this is another challenge to a team that has dominated the league for the last seven years. During this run they have already banked four super bowl appearances and three wins. Not to say they wanted this to happen but the coach and the veteran players on this team (Seymour, Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, Faulk, Light, etc.) have to be intrigued by the prospect of winning without Brady. Regardless of this season’s outcome the Patriots are still in the middle of their run with no end in sight.

The Vince Young injury created an opportunity for the Titans. The Titans made the playoffs last year in spite of Vince Young not because of him, with Young’s struggles continuing in the first game of this year. After an exceptional rookie year the league has caught up to Young, proving again that for a QB in the NFL your legs can only take you so far. There is no question that before the injury the Titans were going to have to consider pulling Young for Collins at some point this year if the struggles continued. It didn’t take long for Coach Fisher to say that Collins is his QB as long as they are winning Without speculating on Young’s emotional state and whether or not that is what prompted Fisher’s comments it is clear that they’re patience was running thin with Young.

The Chiefs need to move on from the Brodie Croyle experiment. Even if Croyle can play at this level he is too injury prone to rely on. The Chiefs should pick in the top five and Matthew Stafford should be the only guy on their first round draft board.

Alex Smith’s injury ended any hopes of him living up to his draft status with the 49ers. Starting another unproven quarterback there was a hope that Smith would have one more crack at being the guy. Now Smith’s season is over, he’ll likely be cut in the offseason and will probably be lumped with the high pick QB busts (Couch, Leaf, Akili Smith, Shuler, Mirer).

Kyle Boller going down with an injury just pushed forward the inevitable of Joe Flacco starting. Even if healthy, Troy Smith was only going to be a short stop-gap for the Ravens. The Ravens are again trying to figure out a position they never seem to have success with.

Eagles WR Jackson Learns the Hard Way

Eagles WR Jackson Learns the Hard Way

September 16, 2008

By Slavica Milosevska for Football Reporters Online

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson made what was probably one of the “most stupidest” moves in the NFL against the Dallas Cowboys last night, however it was not the move that ultimately cost them the game 41-37.

In the second quarter, Jackson would have scored a touchdown after a completion by Donovan McNabb but arrogantly threw the ball back before actually crossing the goal line as if he just made points. The play was challenged by the Cowboys, and it was ruled a dead ball. The Eagles retained possession starting from the 2-yard line from which Brian Westbrook subsequently scored.

“I felt when I caught the ball, it was a deep pass and thought I was in the end zone,” stated Jackson. “But I learned from that and just keep going. The biggest thing was Westbrook got in there and scored for us. It wasn’t like it was a turnover or anything like that, but definitely, I learned from it. It was just one of those things, I was overexcited, just young and trying to have fun is the biggest thing. I’m kind of mad at myself because I could have had a touchdown, but I just kept playing.”

Despite Jackson's poor decision, he is the second player in NFL history to record more than 100 receiving yards in this very first two games. Don Looney accomplished this 68 years ago and was also an Eagle. Jackson has six catches for 110 yards under his belt.

Injury report week 2

Week 2 Injury Report -- Wednesday
Week 2, 2008, 09/10/2008
FOR USE AS DESIRED
From NFLMedia.com 9/10/08

JAMES EDGES CLOSER TO 15,000

Arizona Cardinals running back EDGERRIN JAMES has amassed 14,967 scrimmage yards in his career and needs 33 yards to become the 14th player in NFL history to reach 15,000 scrimmage yards. Since entering the league with the Indianapolis Colts in 1999, James has rushed for 11,707 yards and added 3,260 receiving yards.

Following is a list of injured players for Week 2 Games (September 14-15):

(For updated practice information on Denver, Oakland, San Diego and Seattle please check NFLmedia.com Thursday morning)

ATLANTA FALCONS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

ATLANTA FALCONS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Alex Stepanovich (back)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Coy Wire (ankle)

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring), QB Jeff Garcia (ankle), G Davin Joseph (foot)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Warrick Dunn (not injury related), WR Joey Galloway (not injury related), WR Maurice Stovall (back)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Matt McCoy (groin)



BALTIMORE RAVENS at HOUSTON TEXANS

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (fibula), QB Troy Smith (illness), CB Fabian Washington (neck)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Yamon Figurs (hamstring), DT Kelly Gregg (knee), RB Willis McGahee (knee), S Ed Reed (neck)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Jason Brown (ankle), T Jared Gaither (ankle), TE Todd Heap (back), CB Corey Ivy (ankle), CB Chris McAlister (knee), RB Le'Ron McClain (ankle)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
DE Stanley McClover (knee)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Ahman Green (foot), DT Travis Johnson (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Mark Bruener (hamstring), WR Jacoby Jones (back), CB Antwaun Molden (hamstring), G Chester Pitts (ankle), T Ephraim Salaam (knee), T Eric Winston (ankle)



BUFFALO BILLS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

BUFFALO BILLS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
TE Derek Fine (hand)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB John DiGiorgio (back), WR Roscoe Parrish (ribs)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Matt Murphy (shoulder)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
C Brad Meester (biceps)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT John Henderson (not injury related), DT Derek Landri (quadricep), WR Troy Williamson (thigh)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Uche Nwaneri (knee), WR Jerry Porter (hamstring), CB Scott Starks (pectoral)



CHICAGO BEARS at CAROLINA PANTHERS

CHICAGO BEARS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
T Chris Williams (back)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Lance Briggs (ankle), DT Tommie Harris (ankle), KR Devin Hester (foot), T John Tait (groin), CB Nathan Vasher (shoulder)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Na'il Diggs (shoulder), QB Matt Moore (fibula), TE Dante Rosario (foot), T Travelle Wharton (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Chris Gamble (knee), WR Ryne Robinson (knee)



GREEN BAY PACKERS at DETROIT LIONS

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
G Josh Sitton (knee)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Brandon Jackson (concussion), C Scott Wells (back), CB Charles Woodson (toe)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Atari Bigby (bicep), T Chad Clifton (knees), DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee), RB Ryan Grant (hamstring), WR Ruvell Martin (finger)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR James Jones (knee), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring)

DETROIT LIONS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Paris Lenon (knee), LB Ernie Sims (ankle), QB Drew Stanton (right thumb)



INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Dallas Clark (knee), DE Dwight Freeney (not injury related), WR Roy Hall (knee), DT Ed Johnson (not injury related), G Mike Pollak (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), DT Daniel Muir (knee), TE Jacob Tamme (ankle)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Jeff Saturday (knee)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Madieu Williams (neck)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Artis Hicks (elbow), RB Maurice Hicks (foot)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Tarvaris Jackson (knee)



MIAMI DOLPHINS at ARIZONA CARDINALS

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Practice Report
Wednesday No injuries to report

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Jerame Tuman (hamstring)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Alan Branch (ankle), DT Gabe Watson (knee)



NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at NEW YORK JETS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Sam Aiken (knee), TE Benjamin Watson (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Jabar Gaffney (knee), WR Randy Moss (back)

NEW YORK JETS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
WR David Clowney (shoulder), K Mike Nugent (right thigh)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB David Barrett (shoulder), WR Laveranues Coles (thigh), DE Shaun Ellis (hand), WR Marcus Henry (calf), CB Justin Miller (foot)



NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Marques Colston (thumb), LB Scott Fujita (knee), CB Randall Gay (illness), S Roman Harper (hamstring), DT Antwan Lake (groin)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Troy Evans (ankle), RB Deuce McAllister (knee), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), LB Mark Simoneau (back), RB Aaron Stecker (hamstring), DT Brian Young (knee)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Khary Campbell (thigh), TE Chris Cooley (quadricep), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Kareem Moore (hamstring), CB Fred Smoot (hip)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Malcolm Kelly (knee), CB Shawn Springs (calf), LB/DE Jason Taylor (knee)



NEW YORK GIANTS at ST. LOUIS RAMS

NEW YORK GIANTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Mathias Kiwanuka (ankle), CB Terrell Thomas (hamstring), K Lawrence Tynes (left knee)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Jonathan Goff (back)

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Jacob Bell (hamstring), WR Drew Bennett (foot), P Donnie Jones (right knee), DE Leonard Little (hamstring)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Donnie Avery (knee), RB Travis Minor (thigh)



OAKLAND RAIDERS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Practice Report
Wednesday Practice not complete

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
QB Brodie Croyle (right shoulder)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Napoleon Harris (knee), S Jarrad Page (back)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR William Franklin (knee)



SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at DENVER BRONCOS

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Practice Report

Wednesday
Practice not complete



DENVER BRONCOS



Practice Report


Wednesday
Practice not complete



SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Eric Heitmann (shoulder), CB Donald Strickland (knee)



SEATTLE SEAHAWKS



Practice Report


Wednesday
Practice not complete



TENNESSEE TITANS at CINCINNATI BENGALS

TENNESSEE TITANS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Jacob Ford (chest), RB Quinton Ganther (hamstring), DT Albert Haynesworth (concussion), QB Vince Young (knee, hamstring)

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Kyle Cook (illness), S Dexter Jackson (thumb), CB David Jones (head), S Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring), DE Frostee Rucker (foot)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Brandon Johnson (hamstring), CB Johnathan Joseph (hamstring), S Nedu Ndukwe (knee), DT Jason Shirley (heel), DT Pat Sims (toe)



PITTSBURGH STEELERS at CLEVELAND BROWNS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Ben Roethlisberger (right shoulder), T Marvel Smith (groin), CB Deshea Townsend (foot), WR Hines Ward (not injury related)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Sean Jones (knee), TE Martin Rucker (knee), WR Donte' Stallworth (quadricep)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Joshua Cribbs (ankle), LB Kris Griffin (elbow), G Rex Hadnot (knee), S Brodney Pool (concussion), T Ryan Tucker (hip)



PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at DALLAS COWBOYS on Monday night

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Practice Report (The Eagles did not practice on Wednesday. The below practice participation designations are an estimation)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Victor Abiamiri (wrist), WR Reggie Brown (hamstring), WR Kevin Curtis (hernia)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Sean Considine (hand)

DALLAS COWBOYS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Sam Hurd (ankle), G Kyle Kosier (foot)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Miles Austin (knee), CB Terence Newman (groin), LB Anthony Spencer (knee)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Marion Barber (rib), WR Isaiah Stanback (shoulder)


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