Team News
Myron Rolle – Now a Titan
Apr 30th
Earlier in the year I looked at Oxford student Myron Rolle and his chances of getting drafted for the NFL this season.
I am very pleased that he is now a Tennessee Titan! There have been people who have questioned his commitment, but his answer on his own web site was –
“Where my classmates were drinking at the pubs at 1:30 in the morning or traveling to different parts of the EU, I was working out, training, going to sleep, resting my body, making sure I was ready to compete. I love this game. I love this sport, and I want it to be my vocation for the next 10 years.”
I was secretly hoping that he might end up at the Dolphins, but never mind. Lets hope that the Titans make the trip to London soon so that we can see him play.
So Long Jason Campbell, Be Well
Apr 26th
It’s been a tough time for former Washington Redskins’ quarterback Jason Campbell. His days were numbered from the moment Donovan McNabb came over to the burgandy side (and I’ll be talking about that another time). He signed his tender, but no-one really expected him to stick around. In fact, the only real surprises have been how long it took and the price that the Redskins got for him.
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Big Ben Suspended
Apr 21st
No not the bell, the player. Roger Goodell has spoken, and handed a six game suspension to the Steelers’ quarterback whose name has been surrounded with allegations and rumours for the second off-season running. Citing the personal conduct policy, the Commissioner stated in a letter
“there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans.”
Ouch.
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Previously ‘Fast’ Willie Parker now a Redskins too…
Apr 3rd
The Washington Redskins continue their rebuilding with experience (which is the kinder way of saying it) with the addition of Willie Parker at running back.
The former Steeler saw his playing time diminish in the 2009 season as injury and Rashad Mendenhall took their tool. Can he still contribute? My feeling is yes, in a supporting role. But he’s (another) back on the team that won’t be in his 20s by the time the season ends. But you’d have to think that between them Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker have something to bring to the party.
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Damn, That’s One Sexy Redskin
Mar 17th
Sexy Rexy Redskin
Not much I can add beyond the headline really. With The Todd being released, we needed a good backup to Jason Campbell (assuming he’s the starter) and I suppose we could do worse…
SR has apparently signed a one year deal so Shanahan is keeping his options open. With the 4th pick at the upcoming Draft there’s a lot of people thinking that the Redskins will take a quarterback (Sam Bradford if available, or Jimmy Clausen). We watch with interest.
Image Credit: iammeltron
More Free Agency Moves and Signings
Mar 15th
To start with we’re back to New York. Less than a week after releasing Thomas Jones (who has since signed with the Cheifs) the Jets have added LaDanian Tomlinson to the line-up. He’s got a fair deal to be a backup and although I think Jones was a better option, they’ve got LDT for a lot less than Jones was due. It would essentially be a crime not to use this as an excuse to post Electric Glide as unlike running backs that never gets old.
Carrying on with aging running backs, Larry Johnson is now a Redskin. He’s signed a surprisingly sensible 3 year deal that makes things interesting and has certainly improved the squad. If we can sort the line out, we might be able to actually make some yards now. Will Montgomery has resigned in this area.
Johnson has 2 years on Portis, but considerably less mileage. Hopefully he can contribute.
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Free Agency Begins… Big Signings Start
Mar 7th
This year’s Free Agency period has started, and players are on the move big time already. Here are some of the moves that have caught our eye so far…
Nate Burleson to the Lions. This is either a stroke of genius or a real stretch, but Stafford needs receiving options. They’ve also added Kyle Vanden Bosch to their defensive line.
Karlos Dansby is now a Dolphin. Miami have made several changes already on the defensive side but Dansby would be a good addition in any case. They’ve also signed Chad Pennington for another year who is a good option as a backup.
In New York, the Jets and Giants have both improved their secondaries with Antrel Rolle joining the Giants and Antonio Cromartie heading to the Jets. Rolle becomes the highest paid safety in NFL history in the process.
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NFL Scouting Combine: Important Scouting Tool or Media Circus?
Feb 25th
The NFL combine is coming up this weekend in Indianapolis. Invited players will be measured, weighed and then run through a variety of drills and exercises, while NFL scouts and staff look on and take notes.
It’s worth noting that going into the combine, most teams already have their draft boards about 90% done. A big combine workout performance shouldn’t affect a player’s draft stock. This is a change from the past, mainly because there are a lot of workout wonders who just don’t make it in the NFL. Teams are starting to realise that if you base your draft decision on workouts that actually have little to do with playing football, you are dooming yourself to failure.
Longhorn Colt McCoy
Look at Vernon Gholston. A workout wonder at the combine, he was talked about possibly going first overall to the Miami Dolphins or second overall to the St.Louis Rams, but ended up going sixth to the NY Jets. In his first two years, Gholston has played 379 snaps and blitzed on 207 of those. Out of those 207 blitzes he has just 11 QB pressures and one QB hit, with no sacks. Effectively he is only getting pressure once every 18 or so times he rushes the QB. That’s just terrible, especially for such a high draft pick.
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LDT Released by the Chargers
Feb 23rd
In a move that surprised precisely no-one, the San Diego Chargers have released LaDanian Tomlinson. This saves them a $2M roster bonus that was due last month and with Sproles becoming a free agent after being Franchised last year… we all new this was coming.
To me there are fewer things sadder in the NFL than the way Running Backs deteriorate so suddenly. Sure, it happens in other positions but these guys are often key and important players that are highly visible. More >
Bengals sign ex-Jag Matt Jones
Feb 14th
There’s been a lot of redemption and second chances right across the league for a long time, but morese – it seems – than ever recently. Someone who probably does deserve it (because he’s not been that bad really…) is Matt Jones, previously of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jones was released at the end of the 2008 season by the Jacksonville Jaguars when two ‘substance abuse-related’ arrests. These were the cherry on top of a string of offences and poor discipline and all sorts of issues about his character.
The mind really boggles at players who have chances most would dream of, who then try their hardest to mess it up completely. The Cincinnati Bengals have managed their fair share of troubled players and will be hoping that they’ve got a bargain for next season here. Jones, who turned down the Titans, will be looking to play well, keep his nose clean and then get paid the year after.
And let’s face it… if Michael Vick can find a place and not be booed too much in Phili, then there’s hope for every player who’s trying to carve something out.
Image credit: micheal e finley