Legendary NFL broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden announced his retirement today. Obviously, it was a sad day for everyone who has enjoyed his unique brand of analysis and commentary since 1979. John’s style was as unique a voice as professional sports has ever seen. If you include his time as head coach of the Oakland Raiders (1969-1979), I can’t ever remember pro football without him.
John spoke briefly about his decision today:
“You know at some point you have to do this — I got to that point. The thing that made it hard is not because I’m …read more

It’s about time someone signed Jeff Garcia. Today, the Oakland Raiders agreed to terms with Jeff on a one-year deal. Considering the fact that he started 11 games last season for the Tampa Bay Bucs, he’s an impressive insurance policy for the Raiders behind incumbent starter JaMarcus Russell. In fact, if JaMarcus should falter, I have every confidence Jeff can step in.

As far as free agent QBs are concerned, I was very surprised to see Jeff continue unemployed this far into the offseason. I mean, last season he had 2,712 yards passing, a 90.2 rating and 12 touchdowns to just …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The NFL announced its 2009 Kickoff Weekend primetime television schedule today — including a Monday night “AFL 50th” doubleheader — and the Thanksgiving Day national TV tripleheader.
In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This September 10 at 8:30 PM ET on NBC, the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers will host the AFC South champion Tennessee Titans, who had an NFL-best 13-3 record last season. The Sunday night primetime game (8:30 PM ET) on NBC will feature a division …read more

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It is with great sadness that the search and rescue mission for NFL players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, and former South Florida football player William Bleakley, has come to an end. The Coast Guard covered 24,000 square miles in three days and were unable to find these men. Coast Guard Captain Timothy Close said if there were any other survivors, they would have been found. Nick Schuyler was the only survivor on the boat and while he has been mostly unable to offer much information because of his condition in recovery, he did tell …read more

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NFL players Corey Smith (Detroit Lions) and Marquis Cooper (Oakland Raiders), and former University of South Florida football player William Bleakley, are still missing after their boat was found capsized off the Florida Gulf Coast today. The Coast Guard found the boat and one of its passengers, Nick Schuyler, also a former University of South Florida football player. Nick is in serious but stable condition at Tampa General Hospital. After finding him, the Coast Guard has now been able to narrow their search, but these men have been officially missing for nearly 48 hours so …read more

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Two NFL players — Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper — are reported missing off Florida’s Gulf Coast in a fishing boat. Corey and Marquis (and two other men) were on a 21-foot vessel that left Clearwater Pass for a fishing trip yesterday morning, but they didn’t return as expected according to the Coast Guard today. They’ve been missing for nearly a day in choppy seas. No distress signal was ever received from the missing craft. The search continues.
Source: NFL.com

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Oakland Raiders interim head coach Tom Cable was named the team’s official head coach today (he’ll be introduced at a presser tomorrow). Coach Cable went 4-8 after replacing Lane Kiffin last season, including winning his last two games against Houston and Tampa Bay. Apparently that was all the proof owner Al Davis needed to make his decision even though it comes over a month after those final victories and subsequent interviews with Kevin Gilbride (N.Y. Giants) and Winston Moss (Green Bay Packers).
This is not a surprise. I think keeping coach Cable is the only …read more

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Adam “Pacman” Jones appeared on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” this morning, being interviewed by Stephen A. Smith. He had a similar interview with CBS Sports’ James Brown yesterday and said he expected to be employed by an NFL team next season — maybe even with the Dallas Cowboys. I think Adam is being extremely optimistic. Unless the Oakland Raiders come calling, I don’t think any other team is that nuts for a pretty average, troublemaking cornerback/kick returner. Maybe the UFL is interested?

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The opponents for all 2009 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team’s home and away matchups was issued yesterday by the NFL. The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games)
The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games)
The four teams from a division in the other conference on a …read more

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Apparently so desperate for a head coaching position is Jim Fassel, he resorted to sending a handwritten letter (nice touch) to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis expressing his respect and admiration for Mr. Davis and his desire to obtain the worst job in the National Football League. Uggh. I can’t understand why anyone would want to put themselves through the torture of attempting to accomplish the seemingly impossible — which is making winners out of the modern day Oakland Raiders under 79-year-old owner Al Davis. If Coach Fassel is hired in 2009, he’ll be the …read more