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NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 9 Weeks To Go
Aug 31st
Andrew is taking a much earned break this week, so I’ll be stepping into his flip flops. I can’t believe that we only have 9 weeks to go. The NFL coming to the UK is always exciting and Wembley holds some great memories for me since we first saw the Dolphins play the Giants there in 2007.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers edged a preseason win against the Raiders this weekend. While the Raiders seem much improved, this was the kind of game that the 49ers needed as it proved a good test and exciting stuff (including a 57 yeard field goal from the Raiders).
Back up Quarterback David Carr looked cool and calm during his time in the game and put his marker on the position. Adams also made an impressive put return to claim a touchdown.
Aubrayo Franklin has been signed as a franchise player and returned to camp after holding out for a deal. Travis LaBoy is also making great progress and could be a player worth watching this season.
NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 10 Weeks to Go
Aug 23rd
So with just under 10 weeks until we get to see if 15 Tebow is the most visible jersey at Wembley Stadium or if the NFL’s UK fans aren’t as sold on him as most of the US.
Denver Broncos
Brandon Stokley has been showing his worth as a vet. I’ve liked him since I signed him a few years ago in a Madden franchise and he was then, and remains today, a solid 3rd down receiver. But he’s not Demaryius Thomas.
Jarvis Moss should be back soon, once his hand can have its cast removed. He might be back for the Steelers this weekend.
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Second Look 2010… AFC
Aug 21st
It’s been a while now since we at MacTalksNFL.co.uk took our First Looks at the AFC divisions. With pre-season getting going, let’s take a look and see if there’s anything to make us re-consider our positions.
Does the road to the Superbowl go through here?
Graham is on holiday, so this is down to Andrew and Craig. Let’s start with the AFC East…
Favre Back, Harvin Out For Now
Aug 20th
We’re sure you’ve heard that Brett Favre is back, almost certainly for his final year (his words, we’re not hanging our collective hats on that bet). He joined training camp earlier this week and will be a Viking until a last minute interception puts them out of the playoffs.
More seriously, after making it back to training after condolence leave Percy Harvin left the field yesterday in an ambulance after suffering a heavy migraine. Harvin has struggled with migraines for a long time now, and it’s speculated that they have been brought on by stress but the fact is that there can be many causes that start them.
Percy Harvin is an exciting young player to watch and the Vikings and the NFL as a whole are better when he’s playing so we with wish him all the best and hope to see him back soon.
NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 11 Weeks to Go
Aug 16th
So pre-season is underway and last night the 49ers beat a soft Colts and the Broncos lost against the Bengals. Both games were away, so the rookies won’t get their first taste of Candlestick Park or Mile High until next week.
With just 11 weeks until these NFL teams grace the UK’s shores we’re still watching with interest. But apart from the first games, what else has happened?
San Francisco 49ers
I spoke last week about the rookies coming good in the offensive line. Not such good news it that centre Eric Hietmann has broken his leg and could miss up to 8 weeks.
On the other side of the ball Scott McKillop is probably out for the season after tearing his ACL. Rookie NaVorro Bowman will hope to continue to improve to get play time with Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis, who was last season’s Alumni Linebacker of the Year. Staying on Defence, Taylor Mays has been moving slowly up the depth chart and may break the first team in the next few weeks. He’s one to watch in the pre-season games.
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Second Look 2010… NFC
Aug 12th
It’s been a few weeks now since I made my initial predictions for the forthcoming NFL season. The pre-season is essentially underway and the teams and players have been hard at camp.
I’ll be taking a Final Look just before the regular season starts, and we’ll all be making our predictions at that time too. So with not much having happened (really) in the last two months, this is just a checkpoint to see if I want to move any teams about and to remind everyone how we see things at the moment.
NFC East
Well, this remains a hard division to call and not just as my team are here. The Cowboys were unspectacular against the Bengals in the Hall of Fame game. But it’s hard to read much into any of the early pre-season games. Things have been very quiet from the Giants, which leaves me a little nervous and the Eagles are full of themselves at the moment.
In all honesty, I get the feeling I could place these four teams in any order and it would make sense. So no movement for now.
No New Deal For Revis… Yet
Aug 10th
The saga continues as Darrelle Revis continues to sit out of training camp demanding a new deal to make him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. I can’t help but think Revis is throwing his dummy out of the pram a little here.
He is still in his rookie contract, which he signed and had no problem signing at the start. He is guaranteed $1million this year, and apparently by sitting out he has waived a clause in that contract guaranteeing him a hefty $20million over the last 2 years of his contract. If reports are to be believed he is currently getting fined $16,523 a day for every sit out. Surely he is the one worse off here? More >
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 
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NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 12 Weeks to Go
Aug 9th
What’s been happening this week for the two NFL teams bound for the UK later this year?
Denver Broncos
Elvis Dumervil
If he is lost for that long, then he’s a massive loss to the Broncos who will miss his pass rush, and the situation is further compounded by the injury that’s so far kept lineman Darrell Reid out of training. Hopefully it’s not as bad as it seems.
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Fantasy Football Hints and Tips #2 – Players to Avoid
Aug 6th
In the second instalment in this series on Fantasy Football, I’ll be looking at players to avoid in the early rounds this year… for one reason or another. There will basically be 2 kinds of player in this category. First, let’s start with those who will miss the start of the season (or even more).
Vincent Jackson – I love Vincent Jackson. The guy is a great player and has won me many a fantasy game over the years. He’s usually my first receiver pick in the draft, that’s how much faith I have in him when he plays. Unfortunately this season he has a 3 game suspension. On top of that he has refused to sign his tender as a restricted free agent, and rumours are flying around that because of this we might not see him play even after his suspension finishes. I hope not, because he is talented and a great guy to watch play. If it was up to me I’d be leaving him to the free agency wire and keeping a close eye on how events unfold.
Santonio Holmes – Santonio Holmes, fresh from a move to the New York Jets from the Pittsburgh Steelers, is joining a very, very good team. It’s just a shame he won’t be playing for the first 4 games. Usually you’d see Santonio go in the first 3 rounds of a draft, and rightly so. He is a solid receiver and will get you points. But missing 4 games AND a bye week means 5 total weeks of zero production. If you see him still there in the later rounds then by all means grab him as a bench warmer for half the season, but don’t waste a good pick in getting him early.
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