When I glanced at the second quarter score of the Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints game this afternoon, I was shocked but convinced the Dolphins—with a 24-3 lead—were for real and had found a way to put the brakes on the NFL’s highest-scoring offense. I reasoned that the Saints were, perhaps, not the same explosive team outside the friendly confines of the New Orleans Superdome. Then I quickly gathered my senses, remembering how quarterback Drew Brees and company rallied for 17 points in the 4th quarter to beat the Buffalo Bills four weeks ago.
So why wouldn’t they do the …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year today. Drew was a great choice. All he did was re-write the Saints’ record books this season. He became just the second player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season and he had a team-record and league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Naturally, he spoke of team first:
“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards). I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
With the NFL’s trade deadline fast approaching (October 14), one potential deal that is gaining momentum is Kansas City Chiefs perennial All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez to the N.Y. Giants. It makes sense. Tony’s not getting any younger. He’s done his time in K.C. and it’s fairly evident the schizophrenic Chiefs are in a rebuilding mode (although Chiefs offensive lineman Adrian Jones and I discussed this as kind of bogus last week). The Giants could use a TE and red zone threat to replace Jeremy Shockey (who was traded to New Orleans, of course) because …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Great story on New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey (”Shockey’s Revenge!” as told to David Fleming) on the cover of the new ESPN Magazine (11.19, September 22). Outspoken as always, you’ll hear what J was thinking as he watched his former N.Y. Giants team win Super Bowl XLII without him.
Source: ESPNtheMag.com

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Bad news for New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston. He had surgery on his left thumb yesterday and will be out 4-6 weeks. Marques tore a ligament after taking a helmet-first hit to his hands from Tampa Bay Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber last Sunday. Head coach Sean Payton assessed the damage to his top receiver:
“He has a left thumb that he had a procedure done on yesterday. It’s a ligament in his left thumb and basically the surgery was to stabilize the thumb. It’s going to take some time. He had that done yesterday. It’s …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
ESPN.com blogger Pat Yasinskas watched New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey and quarterback Drew Brees working overtime together after both team practices today. Some speculation is that Jeremy is lobbying for passes to be thrown his way. Or that maybe he’s making a conscious effort to be a good teammate. Either could be true, but I think it’s more likely that:

Jeremy needs the extra time getting to know the Saints offense.
Jeremy needs more time to “bond” with his quarterback. Every QB throws the ball differently and the extra time spent with Drew …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
The N.Y. Giants traded disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints today for second and fifth round picks in next year’s NFL Draft. I expected this trade to happen back in April, so it’s really no surprise the deal finally went down. It’s just a couple months later than I envisioned.
The Giants proved they could win without Jeremy last season as they steamrolled through the playoffs while he watched from the sidelines on crutches. His displeasure with his contract and affinity for stirring the pot in New York made …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