The bulging disk is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s back seems to be better. That’s if the team’s recent OTAs are a reliable indication. Matt is essentially playing against air with non-contact practices against his Seattle teammates. But his injury is apparently a thing of the past. According to The News Tribune in Tacoma, Matt’s release is “so consistent and the spiral so tight, he resembles a baseball pitcher with perfect ‘command’ of all his pitches.”
Even with the impressive collection of healthy receivers the Hawks have on staff (T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, Deon Butler, Billy McMullen), having a …read more

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,’ …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Seattle Seahawks won the T.J. Houshmandzadeh sweepstakes today. The receiver-depleted Hawks offered Housh five years for $40 million with $15 million guaranteed and beat out the Vikings and Bengals (be serious) for his services. I think T.J. is definitely worth the money. He’s proven that on the field with 372 receptions over the past four years. No other player has caught more passes. He’s a bigger body receiver than his 6-1, 200 pound frame would indicate. He’s a guy who isn’t afraid of the middle of the field. He catches everything thrown at him. …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Finally, the other guys. After two weeks of going against teammates in training camp, all NFL clubs will be able to see a real, live opponent this weekend. It’s the first full weekend of NFL preseason football, bookended by nationally televised games tonight and Monday night.
Tonight – New Orleans at Arizona (ESPN, 8 p.m.) New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who has completed the most passes for the most yards in the NFL over the past two years, thinks there is always room for improvement — by himself and his team. He wants to get back …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
It was like icing on the cake for Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson’s incredible rookie season. AD walked away with Pro Bowl MVP honors today after ripping through the AFC defense for 129 yards and two TDs in the NFC’s 42-30 win. It was the first 100-yard rushing effort since Marshall Faulk (180 yards) and Chris Warren (127 yards) reached the mark in 1995. This award was on the heels of AD’s being named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year last month. And I learned that he brought every Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman …read more