Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
If you were making plans to watch Super Bowl XLII on February 3, you should adjust your schedule because the game has been moved to one week from today, November 4, when Peyton Manning and the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (31-7 over Carolina today) host Tom Brady and the undefeated New England Patriots (52-7 over Washington). I’ll go on and on about this game all week, but this is the Super Bowl, my friends. There will be no game bigger or better than this one — unless, of course, these two teams should meet …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
We’re just a couple days away from the historic first regular-season NFL game played outside of North America. The game between the Miami Dolphins and N.Y. Giants lacks a tremendous amount of excitement with the Dolphins coming in at 0-7. But Commissioner Roger Goodell made some interesting comments about digital media today at “Sport 2020 – The Changing Face of the Global Sports Industry” conference from the Landmark Hotel in London:
“We will connect with more fans globally through digital media. Digital media expands the potential for communicating about our game and with our …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
With over 2,300 all-purpose yards and a single-season record 31 touchdowns, LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers was honored as the 2006 NFL MVP. And due to his many charitable efforts and off-the-field activities, LT was also co-recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man-of-the-Year Award along with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Furthermore, he set several league records, including the single-season scoring record and reaching 100 career touchdowns faster than anyone in history.
This season, LT has his eyes on yet another NFL milestone. By rushing for 1,200 yards, he can …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
One of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, New England Patriots DB Asante Samuel, returned to his team yesterday, ending a month-long holdout. The Patriots applied the franchise tag to Asante in February, guaranteeing him a one-year, $7.79 million contract. But it prevented him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. He missed much of training camp when he and the Pats failed to agree on a long-term contract by the July 17 deadline. After that date, he could only re-sign with the Patriots for one year. And while the ink is not dry on this …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
After drafting JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders assumed their quarterbacking questions had been answered. They had found the face of their franchise. Three games into the preseason, they still don’t know who their starting QB will be.
With JaMarcus still at an impasse in contract talks, Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and Andrew Walter (in no particular order) have been given the chance to win the starting spot. Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin said:
“This competition, as I said a long time ago, it’s going to …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Just hours after Michael Vick filed a plea agreement, admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely without pay. The Commissioner said he would review the suspension after all the legal proceedings had run their course.
Michael acknowledged bankrolling gambling on the dogfights, but denied placing bets himself or taking any of the winnings. He also admitted that dogs who were not worthy of the pit were killed “as a result of the collective efforts” of himself and two co-defendants. But Michael …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Michael Vick filed his plea agreement in federal court today, admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls. He denied ever betting on the fights, though. He says he only bankrolled them. Then again, who knows what to believe because he initially said he had no involvement whatsoever. Michael is scheduled to formally enter his plea Monday in U.S. District Court. He signed the plea agreement yesterday.
The statement said that when the kennel’s dogs won, the gambling proceeds were generally shared by Michael’s three co-defendants — Tony …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Tiki Barber, the much-ballyhooed and recently anointed (for reasons unknown to me) god of football broadcasting, raised doubts about Eli Manning’s leadership ability in his outspoken debut as a halftime analyst for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. He described Eli as being “uncomfortable” when it came to motivating teammates, adding:
“Sometimes it was almost comical the way he would say things.”
The next day, Eli shot back with:
“I could have questioned his leadership skills last year — calling out the coach, retiring in the middle of the season — that he’d lost the heart.”
Tiki was wrong …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Cleveland Browns rookie QB Brady Quinn looked sharp in his preseason debut against the Detroit Lions last night. After missing 11 days of training camp, Brady had a lot of catching up to do. He didn’t play in the first preseason game. And although he entered this game late in the 4th quarter, he nearly rallied the Browns to victory with two late touchdown passes. His final stats were 13-of-20 for 155 yards in the final 9:20. Before Browns’ fans get too excited, though, we must remember a couple things:

Brady was playing with …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Fellow Pitt grad Darrelle Revis ended his lengthy holdout with the New York Jets and signed a six-year, $36 million contract. The paperwork was 47 pages long and was described by his agent as “very complicated,” “sophisticated,” and “unique.” Like any rookie who signs late, Darrelle is way behind. He missed 22 practices — including yesterday’s single practice — and the team’s preseason opener last Friday against Atlanta. But he’s expected to step in and help fill one of the Jets’ biggest needs. Veteran Andre Dyson started every game at left cornerback until …read more