Gossip and Rumours
NFL 2011 Draft Tonight!
Apr 28th
Despite all the uncertainty, the appeals, the grumping and grumbling, one thing was never in doubt is that the NFL Draft would be going ahead. And here we are.
The top prospects have been tweeting all week about their time in NYC and all seem to be looking forward to it. Speculation has been as wild as it always is and I’m sure they’ll be a lot to second guess come tomorrow morning. All eyes are on the main QB targets like Blaine Gabbert, Cam Newton and Jake Locker but expect to see linemen having their names called early and often.
In the UK hours, the Panthers are on the clock at 1am Friday morning. Video overage is on ESPN, radio on Radio 5 Live and text at nfl.com, Yahoo! Sports and several other places that I’m sure you can find.
Craig, Tom and I have completed our own personal draft boards and we’ll be seeing how we got on for the 1st round over the weekend and grading accordingly.
Enjoy the draft!
If the Play-Offs started today… week 12 edition
Nov 30th
Let’s take a look at what would happen if the season had just finished and teams are preparing for Wildcard Weekend.
The AFC First…
The New York Jets and the Baltimore Ravens have the bye weeks. Both teams have been on top form, with the edge probably going to the Jets, though they’ve been in some close games.
In the Wildcards we have the New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs. In both wildcard instances, the visiting team has a better overall record than the division winners and will fancy their chances. The East and North in the AFC are looking very strong indeed. More >
Don’t Ask Derek Anderson Why He Was Laughing
Nov 30th
Look, some things are only funny at the time, just don’t ask Derek Anderson what they are…
Dallas Cowboys Forget to Renew Dallascowboys.com
Nov 10th
So the Dallas Cowboys had another problem to add to their growing list this week. They forgot to renew their own domain name!
As website owners we thought this was quite funny, I bet their IT people are feeling some heat though.
Catch the full story here -Yahoo News
LaDanian Tomlinson… Sorry, But I’m Not Drinking The Kool-Aid
Oct 21st
A lot has been made of LaDanian Tomlinson‘s apparent return to form this season. After leaving the Chargers after a largely productive 9 years, he’s now a Jet and seeing game time, and putting some yards up like the LDT of old.
But let’s take a closer look… let’s take a look at his stats and compare them to last year’s starter over the same timeframe:
| Games | Carries | Yards | Avg | TDs | |
| LaDanian Tomlinson, 2010 to date | 6 | 93 | 490 | 5.3 | 5 |
| Thomas Jones, 2009 Weeks 1-6 | 6 | 96 | 481 | 5 | 6 |
So let’s be honest: He’s not doing any better than Thomas Jones, who was released, and both players had their numbers boosted by playing the Bills. There is a very strong case that LDT’s production this year is largely a result of the system; that he’s at a team much more set for the run than the pass, with lineman ready for it, indeed an entire club ethos of running it “up their ass”. In fairness, Thomas had some bad games in that timeframe, against the Titans in particular, but he was productive in others including 100+ yard games in 4 of the 6 divisional matchups.
More >
NFL UK Wembley – The Big Question
Oct 18th
So, the big question on everyone’s lips right about now is WWhat is going to be waiting for us in our seats?” What do you mean no? Ok, so it is one of the last questions, but if you have been to any of the Wembley games to enjoy the NFL in the UK then you must admit that the flags have played a big part in building the atmosphere over the last two years.
Bucs' Flags at Wembley
I’m not sure if the flags are paid for by the ‘home’ team, both teams, Wembley, the NFL, or NFL UK, but whoever pays for them has given the UK NFL fans some great souvenirs to remember this yearly treat by.
The 2010 NFL Wembley game could be a little different, budgets may well be tight, the 49ers may well feel there is not a lot to cheer at the moment too. One thing is for sure though, the UK NFL fans do a great job at getting behind the home team. Us Brits love to support the underdog and San Francisco have a great following here too, so it should be an amazing crowd.
I for one can’t wait to get there and be in the company of so many NFL fans, not just UK NFL fans, but the whole mix of nationalities we saw last year. There is truly something for everyone at the International Series.
Somewhere in the UK there are people who know the answer to the original question though, if you are one of them then please tell us what the palns are. There may even be a beer in it for you, and at Wembley beer prices that is quite a reward!
Image Credit: Not Enough Megapixels
Who’ll Be The Last Undefeated Team In 2010?
Sep 28th
With week 4 of the NFL 2010 season upon us already, there is a surprisingly small number of teams that remain unbeaten at this point. Just three. Even more surprising is the three teams that it is: The Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears.
Who’s the most likely to keep a zero in the L column for longest?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Have Beaten: Falcons, Titans, Buccaneers
Next Three Weeks: Ravens – Bye – Browns
Kansas City Chiefs
Have Beaten: Chargers, Browns, 49ers
Next Three Weeks: Bye – at Colts – at Texans
Chicago Bears
Have Beaten: Lions, Cowboys, Packers
Next Three Weeks: at Giants, at Panthers, Seahawks
Tiny Tony v Mini T-Rex
Aug 9th
Ok, I know what you are thinking this is kind of a no news story. In fact I could probably post it on Yahoo ‘news’ and get it as the headline story it is so irrelevant (‘Something happened…what?’). Well, maybe so, but it has not escaped my attention that there is a large population of UK NFL fans which are well…..part of the large population! I am not saying there is anything wrong with that. I am also part of that growing community.
In the AFC East there has been a battle going on behind the scenes. For the last couple of years there has been a struggle between the the Jets and the Dolphins head coaches. Not only to topple the long dominant New England Patriots from the top spot but also seemingly how much pie they can hide away before and after their touchline tangles.
Both coaches have bought a new way of thinking and playing to their respective teams, but both left fans feeling that they didn’t want to see their coaches in too much stress, because, well, the stress looked like it might kill them.
Fear not Jets and Phins fans, this years off-season has not only been a training ground for new talent, but also for the emergence of a couple of familiar but slightly healthier looking top men. Rex T-Rex Ryan opted for (or maybe was told to have) a band fitted to help end his obesity and has lost over 40lbs. Sparano on the other hand took the natural path, and though I am not sure how much he has lost, I would estimate the same amount after seeing him at recent press conferences. Impressive weight loss figures for both of the big men
So, it seems like there is a new physiological war between two great coaches this year. Yards on the field and inches around the waist. By the end of this season we may see less of the blood red faces on the touchline. Good for them I say, a geat example for the rest of us. Lets just hope none of their power is hidden within their ample guts and it is not a case of you need a big hammer to drive a long nail (as my Dad used to say 
) More >
JaMarcus Russell … Bust Again
Jul 6th
Honestly, I don’t like having continual goes at this guy but he really does make it very easy. And images like this one will not help any chance he has of getting his career on track any good at all.
If he has problems, then I hope he gets help. If there was ever a man that needed good advice – JMR is the one. This may be a wake-up call for him and though I’ve been mean in the past, I wouldn’t wish him harm or trouble. And not just because he’s bigger than me. He’s done as a footballer, but hopefully not as a person.
So Long Moose and Bruce
Jun 11th
With the average NFL career being less than four seasons, when someone’s spent 14 years they deserve a mention.
Muhsin Muhammad retired yesterday. He leaves the game ranked 20th on career receiving yards and having spent the vast majority of his year with one team, the Carolina Panthers. He was selected in the second round of the 1996 draft. This year’s second round pick – Jimmy Clausen – was just 8 back then.
Take care Moose, be well.
14 seasons you say? Isaac Bruce will see your 14 and raise you 2 additional season. Likewise the 20th career placing… Bruce is 3rd on the all time career yards and spent thirteen years with the Rams, helping them to Super Bowl victory for the 1999 season.
After two years a 49er, he retires a Ram. His club will honour him by retiring the number 80 in the game against Carolina later this year.
Again, be well.
Image Credit (Isaac Bruce): Jachdeja
Image Credit (Mushin Muhhamad): pnther60
Video Credit: LilMike1309