In case you didn't know, I maintain a blog for the Tampa Tribune / TBOnline covering the NFL called Pigskin Preacher. You can find a link to that blog listed in the right hand column if you ever want to check it out. I copied this PP post here because it mentions a friend of many of ours. Love ya, Rob!
No one is sadder about Tom Brady's season ending injury than NFL and network execs who were salivating to broadcast the Brett Favre versus Tom Brady game this weekend. Brett Favre versus Matt Cassell doesn't sound quite the same, now does it?
No lights-out dance for Shawne Merriman this year. Just lights-out. Let me say this: I'm so glad he opted for the surgery. He is far too talented a player to have risked this ending his career. I look forward to that dance for years to come.
Just when Chunky Soup decided to end their ad campaign involving player's moms, a new players-mom-star-in-the-making has stepped up. Titans QB Vince Young's mom took to the microphone yesterday to ask the press and the fans to play nice where her son is concerned. "He's hurting inside", she said. How many millions is he being paid to hear a few boos? Would give me indigestion as well. Mom, give him a bowl of soup and a good pep talk. Thicken his skin a bit and send him back to work to earn a part of that paycheck.
Hey, while I'm picking on Vince, how about this: Young is going AWOL, Matt Leinart is lost somewhere in Kurt Warner's shadow, and Jay Cutler is quietly becoming one of the top four or five QBs in the NFL. Hmmm. Which team do you suppose got the right guy in that 2006 draft?
Ocho-Cinco Oucho! We all wondered why the Bengals number 85 jersey still read C. Johnson this past Sunday. The receiver formerly known as Johnson was now legally and legitimately Chad Ocho-Cinco. What's up? Had the team's equipment stitcher lost their needle and thread? I have the answer. You hear it here first: The NFL's licensing department and their partners at Reebok have thrown a little monkey wrench at the newly monikered C. J. (or C. O. if you prefer). Seems that before they will approve a name change on the Bengals number 85, Chad will have to purchase from the NFL and Reebok their remaining stock of licensed jerseys with the C. Johnson on them. That, they estimate, should only be about $4 million dollars worth of shirts. Oucho. Oopso. Now, were I Chad's PR guy, I would point out that he could offer up the $4 million, and demand that the NFL deliver each and every shirt to homeless or needy people everywhere. At least that way he would rest assured that his former name was on the minds (and backs) of a great cause.
Here's something that I think is commendable: The Colts are going to cut D-Lineman Ed Johnson after his arrest on drug charges earlier this week. Team President Bill Polian addressed this issue saying Johnson had exhausted his second chances with the team. Polian specifically mentioned that Coach Dungy has a set of conduct expectations in his remarks. I tell you it takes real character for an organization to give a player a second chance, and then to say enough is enough when that point comes. With Johnson, that point comes after the Colts made the Bears running game look magnificent, and with the likes of Adrian Peterson on tap this week, and Fred Taylor next week. The Colts are a principled organization.
I'm principled too. Last week my friend Rob warned me that he would dent my forehead if I referred to his beloved Giants as representing New Jersey again. He pointed to the "NY" clearly embossing their helmets. "New York!", he cried. Well, I'm going to lean on my principles - first to be as honest as I can be with my NFL ruminations, and secondly to rely upon my trust that Rob is far too good natured a man to actually dent a preacher.
So let me get to what you've come looking for, my "didn't-the-preacher-call-the-Griese-thing-right, be-nice-to-me-Rob, and trade-you-my-C. Johnson-shirt-for-an-Ocho-Cinco" picks for week two: Panthers over Bears, Bengals over Titans, Packers over Lions, Jaguars over Bills, Chiefs over Raiders, Colts over Vikings, the East Rutherford Giants over Rams, Saints over Native Americans, Seahawks over 49ers, Bucs over Falcons, Cardinals over Dolphins, Chargers over Broncos, Texans over Ravens, NYFavres over NECassells, Steelers over Browns, Cowboys over Eagles.
Don't forget to check out my 2008 NFL Preview. Drop in and see how your team will fare this season. Then tell me I'm wrong. I dare you. (Just don't dent me.)
Darin, you're correct, I am far too good-natured to actually dent your forehead... however, if I were you, I'd watch where you park that Mustang! Acidents happen, my friend! GO NY GIANTS!!!
Love, Rob
Posted by: Rob | September 11, 2008 at 09:13 PM
You are tooooo cool.
:)
Gib
Posted by: bigdadgib | September 28, 2008 at 11:48 PM