Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
‘Tis the season for firings and hirings. And the first head coaching vacancy is now upon us. It didn’t matter that the Baltimore Ravens won their final game of the 2007 season. In finishing 5-11, eight games worse than last year’s 13-3 mark, the Ravens fired head coach Brian Billick today. This news comes less than a year after Coach Billick signed a contract extension through 2010 and just a couple weeks after he made an announcement that he would return to coach the Ravens in 2008. So this comes as quite a …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Tarvaris Jackson is living every quarterback’s dream. Because of the Minnesota Vikings’ superior running game (Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor) and every opponent’s refusal to get beat by it, TJack is seeing a lot of single safety, cover three defensive looks that should allow him to flourish in the passing game. Cover 3 schemes are susceptible to short, timed passes and should be relatively easy to diagnose. Should be. In a 20-13 MNF win against the Chicago Bears last night, Tarvaris proved he still has a lot to learn, making some poor decisions …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
I hate to see things like this, but Minnesota Vikings DE Ray Edwards has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Because of the confidentiality surrounding the policy, it wasn’t made public what the substance was. The suspension is effective immediately. Ray is eligible to return to the team after the December 30 season finale against Denver and could play if the Vikings make the playoffs, which I believe they will. Vikings head coach Brad Childress wasn’t pleased:
“It’s disappointing, but there are policies in place and our players have …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Minnesota Vikings WR Troy Williamson was notified by the team this week that he will have one game check taken away for missing three practices and last Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers to attend the funeral of his maternal grandmother. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Troy left the team October 29 (players day off) and returned two days ago for a grand total of eight days away from the team.
Here’s my take. I think the Vikings could have used more sensitivity in this matter. I understand this is a …read more