National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Franchise player designations were announced today for the 2009 National Football League free agency signing period that begins on February 27. A club can designate one “franchise” player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player’s club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year as of April 17; or 120 percent of …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Defense wins championships, of course. And if you’re in the playoffs, chances are you’re playing it pretty well. Like the Philadelphia Eagles. In a 23-11 NFC Divisional Playoff win over the N.Y. Giants this afternoon, it was the Eagles’ defense that stepped up to the challenge of stopping the NFL’s best rushing offense en route to the NFC Championship game next week at Arizona.
For all the deserved hype that was the Giants’ “Earth, Wind and Fire” (running backs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw) this season, the Eagles had other ideas. Sure, Brandon …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
N.Y. Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was taken to court in handcuffs, then posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges today after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a nightclub last week. He was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a sentence of at least 3.5 years in prison. As Plaxico awaits his next court date March 31, the Giants aren’t sure what action they will take against him. The NFL said it was monitoring developments. And NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it would be an …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
After a heart-to-heart with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about a hit on Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, it was announced today that New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork will not be suspended by the league. But he will be fined. We’ll have to wait until Friday to find out the exact amount, but Vince seemed pretty satisfied with the outcome:
“I think both sides were happy. He got a chance to hear my side of my story of how I approach the game. I got a chance to hear what he had to say about …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
By the time the N.Y. Giants took the field, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect after my experience with the Patriots. And as a result, I feel I had a better session with the G-Men. As much as Tom Brady was getting most of the attention for the Pats, Giants QB Eli Manning and DE Michael Strahan were pretty much split in their popularity for New York. Both of them appeared to handle the adoration very well. Michael seems to thrive on his popularity. And he’s usually joking and …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
There’s a Manning in the Super Bowl again this year. But this time, it’s younger brother Eli’s turn as he led his N.Y. Giants to a 23-20 overtime win against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. Yes, Eli Manning led them. It was the Giants’ 10th straight road win and once again, Eli took charge by managing the football game and not making mistakes. He was 21 of 40 for 254 yards with no touchdowns, but also no interceptions. There is so much to be said for not turning the …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
It’s a one-game season for the teams in this weekend’s Conference Championship games. Win and you’re on your way to sunny Glendale, AZ for Super Bowl XLII on February 3. Lose and it’s the sudden beginning of a long offseason. “Our whole season is at stake and so is theirs,” says New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in describing his AFC Championship Game against the San Diego Chargers. The same can be said for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

Both games are rematches of Week …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The N.Y. Giants lost two of their final three games to end their 2007 National Football League season. Naturally, that doesn’t seem like a very good way to head into the playoffs. But just like instant replay — upon further review, the G-Men actually found their groove during that time. Running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for a ridiculous 294 rushing yards in a 38-21 come-from-behind win at Buffalo (I was working that game). And QB Eli Manning came into his own the following week in a narrow loss to the …read more

The N.Y. Giants gave themselves and their fans an early Christmas present. Yesterday’s 38-21 win over the Buffalo Bills means the Giants will be playing postseason football. They earned it on the ground as human wrecking ball RB Brandon Jacobs and rookie RB Ahmad Bradshaw combined for a whopping 296 yards rushing. Brandon is a behemoth at 6′4″ and 264. And when he ran away from a fast Bills’ defense on a 42-yard TD run, my fellow writers and I watching from the press box looked at each other in disbelief. This tandem was unstoppable. If they can continue this …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips had his players sign a “no-penalty pledge” this week, promising to play smarter and avoid dumb mistakes. Take LB Kevin Burnett for example. His 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for standing over and taunting N.Y. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs last weekend cost the Cowboys three points (and lightened Kevin’s wallet by $5,000). In a tight game, a mistake like that could be the difference between a win and a loss. Coach Phillips said:
“I want their word that they’re going to try to do the right thing. That’s my …read more