The San Diego Chargers made a verbal commitment to quarterback Philip Rivers when they let Drew Brees escape to New Orleans three years ago. Today they made a financial commitment, giving Philip a six-year contract extension good for $92 million ($38.5 million is guaranteed). Clearly, this is the quarterback of the future for the San Diego Chargers.
The deal makes sense. Philip is one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL and his 36-18 record (including the playoffs) proves it. So the Bolts were determined not to let him get away. And they put him in a happy place for …read more

N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning signed a six-year, $97 million contract today, thus making him the National Football League’s new highest paid player. The deal includes $35 million in guaranteed money and is worth a whopping $41 million over the first two years.
First of all, no NFL player is worth that kind of money. But if I had to give it to someone, I wouldn’t give it to Eli Manning. I don’t think he’s the NFL’s best player (assuming the best player should make the most money). Sure, he led the Giants to a Super Bowl win two seasons ago …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
Here is the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals; Drew Brees, Saints; Eli Manning, Giants
RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Michael Turner, Falcons; Clinton Portis, Redskins
FB: Mike Sellers, Redskins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals; Steve Smith, Panthers; Roddy White, Falcons,
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys; Chris Cooley, Redskins
T: Jordan Gross, Panthers; Walter Jones, Seahawks; Chris Samuels, Redskins
G: Chris Snee, Giants; Steve Hutchinson, Vikings; Leonard Davis, Cowboys
C: Andre Gurode, Cowboys; Shaun O’Hara, Giants
DEFENSE
DE: Justin Tuck, Giants; Julius Peppers, Panthers; Jared Allen, Vikings
DT: Kevin …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre (880,833 votes) ranks second overall, while N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning (821,852 votes), Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (767,817 votes) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (673,710 votes) round out the top-five. Here is the list of Top-Ten vote-getters for the 2009 National Football League Pro Bowl:

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brett Favre, N.Y. Jets
Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Larry …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Brett Favre’s N.Y. Jets jersey is the hottest selling NFL jersey right now. Here’s how the rest of the top ten shake out. These are the top-selling jerseys on NFLShop.com from April 1-Oct. 15, 2008:

Brett Favre, New York Jets
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Eli Manning, New York Giants
Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys

The only surprise on the list was Jason Witten. I didn’t see him as being that popular. And where is Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco? Or Reggie Bush?
Source: …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
Here’s the new Reebok NFL Equipment commercial that features 20 NFL players, the most to ever appear in a single TV ad. Look for Eli and Peyton Manning, Kevin Boss, Jerricho Cotchery, Greg Ellis, Matt Hasselbeck, Madison Hedgecock, Chad Johnson, Thomas Jones, Mathias Kiwanuka, Nick Mangold, Laurence Maroney, Jeff Saturday, Bo Scaife, Derrick Ward, DeMarcus Ware, Ty Warren, Benjamin Watson, Reggie Wayne, and Vince Young. The products? Each player is wearing his team’s NFL Equipment Speedwick Tee and Reebok HexRide Rally II kicks. Football is back. Nice.
Source: Reebok

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Eli, Peyton and Archie Manning threw the ceremonial first toss at a Chelsea football tournament for fathers and children yesterday. The Manning fam held their reunion at the NERF Father’s Day Football Throwdown to help city residents celebrate their fathers. Said Peyton:
“This has been special — with Eli here in New York, and my dad and older brother Cooper in New Orleans and I’m in Indianapolis, we’re not together as a group very often. And so this has been a special time, and throwing the football is something that we used to do …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
In his first public comments since breaking his leg last December, N.Y. Giants TE Jeremy Shockey pointed his finger at his team for the offseason speculation about his future and reported unhappiness:
“The statement I would like to make about the Giants and the speculation in the offseason is that whatever happens between the upper management, lower management, the owners, any management, is going to (stay) between ourselves. Unlike the Giants, I am going to be quiet. They have released multiple things about myself, and if you look back into the media (reports), there …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
NFL brothers Peyton and Eli Manning were on American Idol’s “Idol Gives Back” tonight. From the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, they introduced a video about their hometown of New Orleans where kids are still effected by Hurricane Katrina. In the video, Peyton and Eli visit with the kids and talk to them about their lives. “Idol Gives Back” has been recognized as a life-changing program, earning praise from many of the world’s best known figures. Last season, “Idol Gives Back” raised over $76 million for charity and garnered a prestigious Governor’s Award Emmy. …read more