National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

It didn’t take long for the Cincinnati Bengals to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Today, they added former N.Y. Jets receiver Laveranues Coles to their roster with a four-year, $28 million contract. Although I really can’t understand why anyone would want to play for the Bengals, Laveranues was genuinely excited to be with the team, who released this statement from LC:

“The Bengals were very aggressive right from the start in talking to us, and when a team makes you feel really wanted, that’s a factor you’re not going to ignore. They said, ‘Let’s get this worked out,’ and we did. I’m excited. I’m coming off a pretty good year, but I know I can do better. Anytime you come into a situation with a quarterback like Carson Palmer, you’re going to think you can bump up those numbers a little more.”

Laveranues has been around. He’s definitely in the latter stages of his NFL career. In fact, this will be his 10th season. But I think he’s got 50-75 receptions in him this year playing alongside Chad Johnson and catching passes from Carson Palmer. The Bengals are supposedly going to make a stronger commitment to the running game this season, but Laveranues gives them the solid #2 receiver they’ve been used to with T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He’s not Housh, but he’ll do his job and do it well.

Source: Bengals.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bengals Sign Laveranues Coles

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

N.Y. Titans Jets quarterback Brett Favre has thrown a lot of touchdowns (448 to be exact) in his career. But he never threw six in one game. Until today. Brett went off on the Arizona Cardinals defense in a wild 56-38 win this afternoon. He started 1-of-4 passing, including a poorly thrown interception, but he rebounded in a big way. Not only did he throw six touchdowns (three to Laveranues Coles, two to Jerricho Cotchery and one to Dustin Keller), but he completed passes to eight different receivers (24-of-34, 289 yards) in the lopsided win. It was just what the Jets needed after last week’s dismal loss to the Chargers on Monday Night Football and Brett was pleased with his team:

“I’m proud of this team and the way we battled today, especially after last week. We knew the offense could score a lot of points. I think it shows the potential of what this team has. It’s just one game, but it’s a great start.”

It’s actually just three quarters. The Jets didn’t score in the first quarter, believe it or not. After watching this game, I am starting to get the feeling that Brett Favre is settling in to a comfort level with this offense. If the Jets can get their running game going (they’re near the bottom of the league statistically and only had 89 yards rushing today), they could be a very dangerous and potentially explosive team.

Source: NewYorkJets.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brett Favre Throws Career High Six TDs

Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett is just one of many fantastic stories of courage and achievement that make up the 2007 class of The Ed Block Courage Awards.

It’s well-known that Kevin suffered a spinal cord injury covering a kickoff in the Bills’ season opener against the Broncos. The injury was life-threatening, but the outstanding work of the Bills’ training staff and team doctors saved his life. Kevin was told that he may never walk again. Through hard work and determination not only was he able to walk again, he was able to visit his teammates in Buffalo before their last home game of the year against the New York Giants.

Kevin is just one of many great stories of courage in this year’s class. Baltimore Ravens CB Samari Rolle gathered the courage to return to the football field after being diagnosed with epilepsy. Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones was honored by his teammates for returning to action after suffering a season ending foot injury. When Kevin spoke at the Lions Courage House dinner, he told the crowd of a different hero. His stepfather, who had the courage to take-in Kevin, his brothers and sisters, and his mom when he was young. And how his real father was shot and killed when he was eight years old.

This year’s class also boasts three playoff quarterbacks. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia, and Seattle Seahawks back-up QB Seneca Wallace will all represent their teams. Listed below are all the 2007 winners:

• Arizona Cardinals, Bertrand Berry
• Atlanta Falcons, Alge Crumpler
• Baltimore Ravens, Samari Rolle
• Buffalo Bills, Kevin Everett
• Carolina Panthers, Mike Rucker
• Chicago Bears, Tommie Harris
• Cincinnati Bengals, Reggie Kelly
• Cleveland Browns, Gary Baxter
• Dallas Cowboys, Jay Ratliff
• Denver Broncos, John Engleberger
• Detroit Lions, Kevin Jones
• Green Bay Packers, Chris Francies
• Houston Texans, Anthony Weaver
• Indianapolis Colts, Ryan Lilja
• Jacksonville Jaguars, Greg Jones
• Kansas City Chiefs, Eddie Kennison
• Miami Dolphins, Andre Goodman
• Minnesota Vikings, Chad Greenway
• New England Patriots, Steve Neal
• New Orleans Saints, Roman Harper
• New York Giants, Amani Toomer
• New York Jets, Laveranues Coles
• Oakland Raiders, Justin Fargas
• Philadelphia Eagles, Montae Reagor
• Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger
• San Diego Chargers, Darren Sproles
• San Francisco 49ers, Eric Heitmann
• Seattle Seahawks, Seneca Wallace
• St. Louis Rams, Dane Looker
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jeff Garcia
• Tennessee Titans, David Thornton
• Washington Redskins, Marcus Washington

I’ll be posting more on these stories here at EMQB and talking with some of the players for the BPR NFL Podcast leading up to the award ceremony March 11. In the meantime, check out my interview with Cleveland Browns DB Gary Baxter.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Kevin Everett Highlights Courage Awards