National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Forget seconds. How about thirds? That’s the appetizer on the National Football League Thanksgiving menu this Week 13 of the NFL season — three Turkey Day servings of football, followed by a whole lineup of games on Thanksgiving Sunday and Monday. Even the players will be in their easy chairs. Like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning:

“I remember watching Thanksgiving games as a kid. Even in high school and college, and now in the NFL, you practice, you come home and you watch Thanksgiving football.”

Football has been a part of my Thanksgiving Day for as long as I can remember. Whether I’m relaxing with my family at the Outer Banks of North Carolina or home for the holidays in snowy Pennsylvania (like this year), you can bet we’ll have all three games on — even if in the background during dinner. Thanksgiving Day has always been about family, food and football. I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. Here’s what’s on the pigskin platter:

TENNESSEE TITANS at DETROIT LIONS (CBS, 12:30 PM ET): Fans will see two of the top rookie rushers in the league in Tennessee’s Chris Johnson (second among rookie RBs with 833 yards) and Detroit’s Kevin Smith (fourth with 599 yards). Kevin has consecutive games of 96, 112 and 86 yards. The 10-1 Titans are smarting from their first loss to the Jets last week. “It was a great run,” says Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher. “We’ve got to win our next game.” With a win and an Indianapolis loss, the Titans take the AFC South.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at DALLAS COWBOYS (FOX, 4:15 PM ET): The final Thanksgiving game in Texas Stadium, where some of the most memorable NFL games on the holiday have been played (Cowboys Thanksgiving record in the stadium: 21-14). The Cowboys look like they’ve regained their early-season swagger. The Seahawks will have to bottle up receiver Terrell Owens, who comes off his second-best career yardage day — 213 yards on seven catches. “He’s still got it,” says Cowboys QB Tony Romo. Whatever.

ARIZONA CARDINALS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (NFL Network, 8:00 PM ET): The QBs are riled! And that’s not good for the DBs. The Cards’ Kurt Warner, after Arizona lost to the Giants on Sunday, says, “We can play with anybody if we eliminate the mistakes.” A win and the Cards capture the NFC West. QB Donovan McNabb, benched for the first time in his career Sunday, is still the starter for Philly. “Sometimes you have to step back to step forward in a positive way, and Donovan will do that,” says Eagles coach Andy Reid.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Thanksgiving 2008

Two receivers who want to play for the Dallas Cowboys will be on the opposing sideline tomorrow when the Cowboys host the Cincinnati Bengals. Chris Henry was added to the active roster today after serving a four-game suspension. He is eligible to play for the first time this season. And Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson, who spent most of his offseason blabbing about how he wanted to play for anyone except the Bengals (but especially the Cowboys), will get his chance to run around on the Texas Stadium turf. He even said he was going to kiss the star in the middle of the field:

“If I score Sunday, I love Dallas so much, I’m going to take my helmet off, get a fine and kiss the star ….. OK, when I score, I’m going to take my helmet off and kiss the star. Can I do that?”

I don’t know, can you? It’s certainly not a given. After four games, he only has 11 catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. The antics of Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco and Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens will probably be enough to satisfy the price of admission. But you also have a possible matchup between oft-troubled Dallas DB Adam Jones and the aforementioned oft-troubled Chris Henry (who used to be oft-troubled teammates at WVU). It should be an interesting day. I doubt it will be much of a game. But fun to watch.

Source: Bengals.com, Dallas Morning News

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cincinnati Bengals Activate Chris Henry, Ocho Cinco Plans to ‘Kiss the Star’ in Dallas

This story was too stupid to pass up. Besides, I’m curious to see how much money I can make from having a post with Jessica Simpson’s name in the tags.

Anyway, it’s been mentioned on more than one occasion that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s crappy performance against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday (in a 10-6 loss) was because his girlfriend pop star Jessica Simpson was in Texas Stadium watching. If that’s the case, the Cowboys should start looking for a new QB. Which stinks because they just paid this one $67.5 million. Even WR Terrell Owens said Jessica should stay away:

“Right now, Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite — in this locker room or in Texas Stadium ….. With everything that has happened, obviously the way Tony played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel like she’s kind of taken his focus away.”

Please tell me TO is saying this tongue-in-cheek. Tony Romo is no more bothered by having Jessica Simpson in the building than he is having head coach Wade Phillips on the sidelines. He’s a professional athlete and (supposedly) one of the best QBs in the NFL. If he has a bad game, it isn’t because his girlfriend is watching. Is this junior high school? Besides, wasn’t she at the Green Bay game the week before? I rest my case.

One more thing. Who cares who Tony Romo is dating? Really. Who cares?

(Note: Actually, I’ll tell you who cares. Get over to jessandashlee.com and tell Leora that the EMQB sent you.)

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Is Tony Romo Bothered by Having Girlfriend Jessica Simpson at His Football Games?