Who has the remote control?
So the Bills and Browns are off Sunday so this is today's TV fare: Assuming you can pick your own tripleheader, vote for three events to watch.
November 16, 2008
November 05, 2008
NFL midseason report
Check out our look at the first half of the NFL season in Wednesday's Buffalo News. We had out awards in several areas like the first half MVP, the top offensive and defensive rookies, the top coach, the biggest surprises and disappointments.
Fair warning, don't expect to see any Bills recipients because quite frankly there weren't many people worth mentioning. Whether you agree or disagree, give the story a read anyway. Hope you enjoy it.
---Allen Wilson
October 31, 2008
October 28, 2008
What economic crisis?
The country is in an economic crisis but that did not stop the New York Jets from holding an auction for personal seat licenses to the 620 best seats in the house at their new stadium, which is under construction. The Jets earned more than $16 million by selling the licenses. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably would sniff at that as chump change. The average winning bid for the seats was $26,000. Bidding lasted for nine days online. There were 2,000 PSLs up for sale, so fewer than half of those available were sold. We'll see how the economy impacts Jones' PSL sales. The Cowboys had the advantage of starting their sales back around December. The price ranges for PSLs at the Cowboys new palace, which opens next season, are: $16,000, $35,000, $50,000, $100,000 and $150,000.
---Mark Gaughan
Big Pat's status
If it's true - as reports indicate - that ex-Bill and current Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams is going to be suspended for four weeks for taking a diuretic, I don't believe he used it to mask steroid use. Williams always has been naturally strong. He always has been 335 pounds - or more - since he entered the NFL. Adding weight or strength has never been an issue with him. Taking weight off? I can believe that. NFL players generally get weighed every Thursday during the season. They're subject to a fine if they don't meet the targeted weight. I could see Williams taking extra measures to try to get his weight down. But he's a solid citizen. I can't see him having any need for performance enhancing drugs.
---Mark Gaughan
October 22, 2008
Harrison & Morris
No team compensates for injuries better than New England, but coach BIll Belichick has his hands full with the loss of safety Rodney Harrison for the season. The Pats already were struggling to compensate for the loss of cornerback Asante Samuel, The Pats get St. Louis at home this week and visit Indy next week leading up to the game against Buffalo on Nov. 9. Meanwhile, the Pats could have a bigger problem at running back. Lawrence Maroney is out for the year. His replacement, ex-Bill Sammy Morris, hurt his knee Monday night and was not around in the locker room today in Foxborough, Mass. Morris is a good player who has had trouble staying healthy in his career. If he's out this week, that would leave BenJarvus Green-Ellis (that's one person), Kevin Faulk and fullback Heath Evans as the backs on the roster.
---Mark Gaughan
October 20, 2008
UB's Scott shines
For those UB fans who don't have the NFL Sunday Ticket package you probably missed former Bulls defensive end Trevor Scott sacking quarterback Brett Favre twice, including once in overtime during Oakland's win over the New York Jets. With two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess out with a triceps injury, Scott came off the bench on passing downs and made the most of the opportunities.
"If you told me about 10 to 15 years ago that I would be sacking Brett Favre, I would have told you you're full of crap,'' Scott said in Monday's San Francisco Chronicle. "All week I was thinking I've got to get Favre. How cool would that be if my first sack in the NFL is against Favre?' I kept attacking, kept attacking and finally got to Brett.''
Scott, the Raiders' sixth-round draft pick last April, has impressed his team by displaying the pass rushing skills that made him a standout at UB. The Raiders rotated Scott into the game regularly to do what he does best: Get after the quarterback, even one of the greatest of all time. Scott's second sack gave the ball to the Raiders' offense, which drove for the winning field goal.
"(Farve) never got comfortable back there because of Trevor Scott,'' defensive end Kalimba Edwards told the Chronicle. "That was a big play (in overtime) for a young rookie.''
Injury update
Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio (leg) and right guard Brad Butler (strained knee) were undergoing evaluations on Monday after suffering injuries during Sunday’s game.
DiGiorgio, who was injured during a punt return and was carted off the field, had an MRI Monday, while Butler strained his left knee early in the game and returned briefly but was unable to finish. Coach Dick Jauron said today he won’t know the extent of either injury until practice on Wednesday.
---Rodney McKissic
October 19, 2008
October 14, 2008
Never boring in Big D
Leave to the Dallas Cowboys to overshadow the Tony Gonzalez situation by being the subject of the two biggest NFL news of the day.
They just lost cornerback/problem child Adam "Don't Call Me Pacman" Jones, who was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for at least four games because of a scuffle Jones had with his bodyguard in a hotel bathroom last Tuesday. Raise your hand if you are NOT surprised. The Cowboys knew they were playing with fire when they brought Jones in and not they're being treated for burns. Owner Jerry Jones is just another in a long line of people who think they can change a troubled athlete. But "Pac'' is a habitual offender and obviously can't change his ways. The Cowboys should do themselves a favor and just cut ties with the guy.
While still reeling over the Jones suspension, the Cowboys recovered in time to pull off the only blockbuster trade of the day: Getting wide receiver Roy Williams from Detroit. A first-, third and sixth-round draft pick is a pretty steep price, but Jerry Jones has been coveting Williams since the offseason. The benefit is Williams is a young, athletic playmaker who gives the Cowboys another big-time receiving weapon opposite Terrell Owens. The question is how Owens will handle losing catches to Williams? T.O. is already complaining about not getting the ball enough.
This move is a clear indication that Jerry is determined to win a Super Bowl. It's also a message to coach Wade Phillips that anything less than a Super Bowl will cost him his job.
---Allen Wilson
October 10, 2008
Bye-week blues: Pats or Chargers?
The Bills have the week off so who do you watch this week?
It looks like not much to choose from on TV.
Here's your Five-Dog TV lineup:
Sunday
1 PM, 4, NFL: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets in the Time-Warner/WIVB Rabbit Ears Classic.
1 PM, 29, NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
4 PM, 29, NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals.
8:15 PM, 2, NFL: New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers.
Monday
8:30 PM, ESPN, NFL: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns.
With the Chargers coming here next Sunday to play the Bills, we're picking their game with New England to get your opinion.
October 06, 2008
NFL to review hit on Edwards
The Arizona Republic says that Cards strong safety Adrian Wilson likely won't find out until Friday if he'll be fined for the hit that knocked Bills quarterback Trent Edwards out of Sunday's game.
League officials are looking at how Wilson took Edwards to the ground. Wilson's tackle will be evaluated for possibly violating the rule called "Unnecessary acts against a passer."
---Rodney McKissic
October 05, 2008
October 02, 2008
Train wreck Travis
Former Bills coach Gregg Williams once said about ex-Bills running back Travis Henry: "I don't want to say he's dumb ... Let's just say he doesn't over think.''
Henry obviously doesn't think at all if allegations are true that he tried to make a cocaine and marijuana transaction during a federal sting operation. It was just a year ago this week that Henry was leading the NFL in rushing as a member of the Denver Broncos.
Henry has made one mistake after another in his life, whether it is failing drug tests or fathering nine children with nine different women. He was already suspended by the NFL for a year for another positive drug test.
It's sad to see a young man throw away everything, but he knew the consequences of his actions. Now it looks like he'll have a long time behind bars to actually THINK about his poor decisions.
---Allen Wilson
September 29, 2008
Buffalo's Graham on SNF's 'horse trailer'
Turner-Carroll graduate Corey Graham was on the field for the biggest play of the Chicago Bears' 24-20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night, earning him a spot on John Madden's "horse trailer."
Frequent viewers know that Madden's player -- or players -- of the game get honored by having their picture posted on the trailer, which is actually a production truck that travels to each game. Madden honored all 11 players on the field for the goal-line stand, during which Alex Brown stopped Correll Buckhalter on fourth-and-goal late in the fourth quarter.
Graham, who started last week's game ahead of Nathan Vasher due to personnel matchups, had two tackles. He came off the bench for some quality playing time, particularly when Charles Tillman left with a shoulder injury.
On the goal line play the University of New Hampshire product appeared to be guarding against a play-action pass before heading into the pile. As the play ended, he raised his arms in the air (see photo).
Note to NBC: If you're going have a fun gimmick like this horse trailer player-of-the-game thing, it might be a good idea to have it featured on the Sunday Night Football site . Unless I missed something (and after 30 minutes of google-ing I sure hope I didn't), it's nowhere on a site that is filled with a ton of gobbledygook.
---Keith McShea
Photo: Travis Haughton/Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Ill.)
September 16, 2008
Stop the showboating
Maybe it's me and my old-school upbringing coming to the surface, but nothing has become more annoying in sports over the past several years than the constant showboating among athletes without any respect for the game, their opponents or themselves.
Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson made a complete fool of himself Monday night after catching a 60-yard pass and flipping the ball behind him before reaching the goal line. What should have been an easy touchdown against the Cowboys turned into a fumble. The Eagles scored on the next play, but it was one of the NFL's all-time brainless blunders.
To make matters worse, it also cost me a win in my fantasy league.
But what was he thinking?
I understand that showboating is nothing new. I remember former Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson spraining his knee after jumping for style points while spiking the ball. Every kid in the neighborhood imitated Oilers return man Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. But at least they scored before they celebrated.
Nowadays, you see cornerbacks throw a party after making a tackle after a 20-yard gain with their teams trailing by three touchdowns. Peerless Price for years made a scene every time he caught a pass no matter the gain or the score. Jeremy Shockey catches a 4-yard slant, gets drilled over the middle and reacts like he won the lottery.
It's one reason I always liked Thurman Thomas. When he scored, he handed the ball to the official and jogged back to the sideline. He acted like someone who had been in the end zone before and would be back again. And rather than turn my head away from the TV in disgust, I actually paid closer attention to him.
--- Bucky Gleason
September 04, 2008
Curse of the 1999 quarterback class
In case you haven't heard, quarterback Dante Culpepper filed his retirement papers with the NFL. He is the lastest member of that once-fabled 1999 quarterback draft class to flame out, joining Tim Couch, Akili Smith and Cade McNown. At least Culpepper actually did something in the NFL. He had some very good years in Minnesota. His best was in 2004 when he had 39 touchdown passes and finished second to Peyton Manning in the NFL MVP voting. And for a 260-pound quarterback Culpepper was always a threat as a runner.
However Culpepper was never as good again. Acting as his own agent, he argued for more money. He also lost Randy Moss to Oakland and then suffered a career-threatening knee injury in 2005.
But I think Culpepper could have had some success in Miami if he didn't rush back on the field the following year. He showed flashes last season in Oakland, but he was not the same player.
Culpepper isn't retiring because he was a man without a team. But that was his choice. Green Bay and Pittsburgh offered him one-year contracts, but he didn't find them suitable. So Culpepper is retired. It was good while it lasted.
---Allen Wilson
September 01, 2008
James is a Jag
It didn't take cornerback Will James to find a new job. James signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, just two days after the Bills cut him. I thought James would make the team, even if that meant keeping six cornerbacks. But ultimately the Bills couldn't afford the extra body. Besides, Ashton Youboty clearly outplayed James, who is better in zone coverage than man to man.
It must say something about the state of the Jags' secondary that they brought in James. Of course, when you're in the same division as Peyton Manning and the Colts, the more cornerbacks you have the better.
James will get a chance to show the Bills what they could have had when the Bills travel to Jacksonville one week from Sunday.
---Allen Wilson
Jehuu makes Jets practice squad
One local name we forgot to mention during our blog on locals making NFL rosters was running back Jehuu Caulcrick of Clymer. The former Michigan State star was one of the New York Jets' final cuts on Saturday. However Caulcrick was signed to the Jets' eight-man practice squad on Monday. The Jets are pretty set at running back right now, but Caulcrick could get called up if Thomas Jones or Leon Washington sustained an injury. For now though, Caulcrick gets a chance to practice with the team and work on improving game.
---Allen Wilson
August 30, 2008
Locals make the cut
Orchard Park native Jon Corto wasn't the only player with Western New York ties to make an NFL roster.
Buffalo's Corey Graham gets a second season with the Chicago Bears. You may remember I indicated in an earlier blog that Graham was one of the standouts of training camp and has a chance to be the Bears' No. 3 cornerback. Grand Island native Brett Kern is the new punter for the Denver Broncos. Kern was one of the nation's best punters at the University of Toledo.
As my colleague, Rodney McKissic, wrote on our Campus Watch blog, former UB linebacker Ramon Guzman and center Jamey Richard made the Indianapolis Colts roster and defensive end Trevor Scott is an Oakland Raider. It's the second year for Guzman, who is a standout on special teams. Richard's cause was helped by the knee injury suffered by Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, who is out at least six weeks. Richard will back up fellow rookie Steve Justice. Scott probably will spend most Sundays on the inactive list, but that could change if No. 2 defensive end Kalimba Edwards' knee injury is more serious than the Raiders believe.
There was some bad news on the local front. Lockport's Daren Stone was released by the Atlanta Falcons, who drafted him in the fourth round last year. Stone backed up Lawyer Milloy last year and was supposed to be groomed as Milloy's successor. Apparently, the Falcons have other plans for the position now.
---Allen Wilson
Warner over Leinart
The Cardinals have picked Kurt Warner to start at quarterback over Matt Leinart. I don't like it. If the organization had enough conviction to pick Leinart 10th overall in 2006, how does he not start this season as No. 1? Don't get me wrong. I'm not crazy about Leinart. Not a real quick delivery. Doesn't have any kind of Jim Kelly competitiveness, by my estimation from afar. But you picked him 10th overall. Warner is 37. The rationale, no doubt, lies in the fact coach Ken Whisenhunt came on board in 2007. He didn't draft Leinart. He's not a Leinart guy. It's not on his resume. This is the problem with losing teams - the revolving door in the front office means the roster just keeps churning over and over. There's no continuity. The problem has been the same this decade in Buffalo, which is why they need to stick with the current program.
---Mark Gaughan
Ocho Cinco
Meanwhile, in BengalLand, diva receiver Chad Johnson legally has changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. Why do some diva receivers have to go to such great lengths to call attention to themselves? Meanwhile, the Bengals welcomed back problem child receiver Chris Henry last week, who they previously had cut for running afoul of the law too many times. The whole atmosphere surrounding the Bengals just seems bad. It's the ultimate team sport, and the Bengals are far from the ultimate team. Somehow, when the going gets tough this season, the Bengals will underachieve, which is a shame, because with a quarterback like Carson Palmer, they should have be a playoff team every year.
---Mark Gaughan
Bengals cuts
The Bengals will release veteran running back Rudi Johnson and veteran right tackle Willie Anderson, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer and ProFootballTalk.com. This has to be a bit discouraging for Bengals fans, given they were two well-liked veterans. Anderson was asked to take a pay cut and refused. He was due to make $3.15 million this year as the backup to Stacy Andrews. That's a ton of money for a 13-year veteran who's a backup. But he would provide great insurance on the Bengals' line. I do not see the Bills making a play for Anderson on the free-agent market as a hedge against Jason Peters. I'm guessing Anderson can get more than $2 million, maybe $3 million, on a one-year deal from somebody, and I don't see the Bills paying that money, either, given how much they have tied up in the O-line already.
---Mark Gaughan
August 29, 2008
Hope from Goodell
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was on the Dan Patrick Show today and offered a real glimmer of hope for shortening the preseason. As we wrote last night, the hurdle is how does Goodell get the players union to accept playing two more real games? They're going to want more money.
Goodell argued today that they are, in reality, getting paid because they get 60 cents on every dollar. So if more regular season games bring in a bit more money (from television, sponsorships, concessions and tickets), the players' take will go up.
Said Goodell: "I think there’s a misunderstanding here because they are paid. The reality is they get 60 percent of our gross revenues, and all of those preseason revenues are included in that calculation. They’re getting paid, so any increased revenue that we get by doing this, if there was, they would share six cents out of 10 cents off the top. I think they’ve got a pretty good situation from that standpoint. So I believe they are getting paid – we’re just cutting the checks over a 17-week period rather than a 21-week period."
I don't think the players will totallly buy that argument. Gene Upshaw said earlier this summer that the players would definitely demand more money. However Goodell added another piece to his argument.
"In my prior discussions with the Players Association and with Gene Upshaw in particular, he had expressed interest in it," Goodell said. "He would like to know how the players are going to benefit from it. As I stated just a minute ago, they would really benefit from this from the standpoint of the fact that they would get 60 percent of increased revenues. That’s to their advantage. I also believe that we would really engage in some serious dialogue here with respect to minimizing what happens in the off-season leading up into the preseason, and also, the likelihood is that this could, from a player’s standpoint, lead to expanded rosters. From a union standpoint, it’s not very often that you see new jobs being created in labor-management negotiations."
Increasing roster size. There's a breakthrough element to negotiations that could sway the players' lawyers. It's probably not going to happen in the next two years. The NFL's TV deals run through 2011. It's hard to see it happening until a a new collective-bargaining agreement is signed. But there is hope for a measure all football fans would welcome.
---Mark Gaughan
August 28, 2008
Don't count on it
While tonight's game is an endorsement of shortening the NFL's preseason, fans should not hold their breath for this popular idea to happen. The NFL Players Association won't agree to adding another real game without getting a greater share of the revenue. The players get 59.5 percent this year. If they're going to play 18 regular-season games, they're going to want a raise -- to 62 percent? Or 65 percent? The owners are never going to let that happen. I don't see an easy solution to this problem.
---Mark Gaughan
August 27, 2008
What is he thinking?
According to numerous reports San Diego Chargers All-Pro linebacker Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman is planning to play this season despite four different doctors advising him to have season-ending reconstructive knee surgery. I know Merriman is a tough guy and loves playing football, but he's obviously not thinking straight.
With torn posterior and lateral collateral ligaments, the knee is unstable and it's hard to push off or move laterally. More important, Merriman could further damage his knee by tearing other ligaments, or worse, damage the knee joint beyond repair. The Chargers have a shot to win the Super Bowl this year, but that is not worth risking a career and quality of life. That's what Merriman would do if he tries to play.
What I don't understand is why the Chargers haven't stepped in and told Merriman to have the surgery. Surely his long-term health means more to the club than any short-term gain. Besides, it's doubtful he would be very effective even if he played.
Merriman is a great young player. He's the closest thing I've seen to Lawrence Taylor from the standpoint of combining incredible size (Merriman is 6-5, 270 pounds), strength and speed at outside linebacker. I would hate to see Merriman foolishly play Russian roulette with his career. Shut it down, Lights Out! Please!
---Allen Wilson
Bullet Bob
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Bob Hayes is once again on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is one of two finalists (defensive end Claude Humphrey is the other) chosen by the Seniors Committee. It's a travesty Hayes is not enshrined already. You could make a very strong argument that he is the biggest omission from the Hall.
The media voters annually snubbed Hayes, who passed away in 2004 (for the record, News reporter and HOF voter Mark Gaughan supports Hayes' induction). Many people blame Hayes' time in prison on drug charges. Others point to some of his sub-par performances in the playoffs. And voters can't get over the image of Hayes jogging downfield with his hands down his pants during the 1967 Ice Bowl game in Green Bay (He wasn't the only one doing that. He was the only one shown on camera).
The Hall of Fame rules clearly state that players be judged on what they did ON THE FIELD, not off of it. A lot of holier than thou voters seem to ignore that. Also, Hayes' shouldn't be penalized by his performance in a few games. In fact, he had more good playoff games than bad ones.
The HOF is for people who left an indelible mark on the sport. Bullet Bob, who was the 100-meter gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, changed the game with compelling speed that struck fear in the hearts of opposing defenses. The NFL used to play strictly man to man in the secondary. But Hayes, who averaged 20 yards per carry during his career, couldn't be stopped one on one. His big-play ability made teams develop zone defenses to contain him. Many of those same coverages are being used in the NFL today.
One voter told me when assessing who is worthy of the HOF, he asks himself this question: Can you write the history of the NFL without him? Well, there is no way that the history of the game can be written without a chapter on Hayes and the impact he had on the sport.
Here's hoping an egregious error is corrected in February so Hayes can take his rightful place among the immortals of the NFL.
---Allen Wilson
Richard's opportunity
Former University at Buffalo center Jamey Richard probably was going to make the Indianapolis Colts anyway, but a knee injury suffered by Colts Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday likely cemented a roster spot for the rookie. Richard has gotten a lot of playing time during the preseason with mixed results. But the Colts like his potential and versatility (he can play guard, too). Fellow rookie Steve Justice is the favorite to start if Saturday misses regular-season games as expected, but Richard could get playing time if Justice struggles.
Another former Bulls, linebacker Ramon Guzman, is battling for a roster spot. He made it last year on the strength of his play on special teams, and that may give him the edge again this season.
---Allen Wilson
August 21, 2008
Stability takes a loss
The NFL lost a giant of the game today with the death of Gene Upshaw, Hall of Famer and executive director of the NFL Players Association. Without getting into the big picture of Upshaw's impact on the game, the timing is probably -- with an emphasis on probably -- not good for football fans. This throws a cloud of uncertainty over negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement, which are due to take place throughout the fall and winter. If a compromise is not struck by March 2009, then the chances of a labor stoppage increase, because then the league will enter the last year with a salary cap. That activates a bunch of new salary cap rules that probably make it a bit harder on both sides to reach a compromise. We'll have to wait and see who fills the void in the NFLPA leadership.
---Mark Gaughan
August 11, 2008
Pressure on Jets
More Brett Favre commentary? Why not? It's the Summer of Brett (apologies to George Costanza). I'm far from sold on the Jets this year. I think it's going to be a tough transition to get Favre functioning at an efficient level early on for the Jets. Then I look at their schedule, and the first three weeks are at Miami, home vs. New England and at San Diego. If the Jets get their doors blown off vs. New England and San Diego, there will be a dark cloud over the Jets and the dream of a great season will be shattered. The Jets' schedule will allow them to rebound, but if they're an ugly 1-2 after three weeks, I don't see them having a playoff year. If the Bills get blown out by New England, most observers will think it's business as usual and the Bills are trying to squeak into the playoffs as a wild card anyway. If the Jets get blown out ... I just see the prospect of an ugly, disjointed situation. ... The last time Favre played the Pats? It was a 35-0 New England win in Green Bay in 2006.
---Mark Gaughan
Niners sign Spikes
San Francisco picked up former Bills LB Takeo Spikes and it doesn't sound like he's going there to be a backup. The Niners released Brandon Moore and indicated Jeff Ulbrich will serve as Spikes backup in their 3-4 defense. Now that the Niners have Spikes and Patrick Willis, they could very well have the strongest set of starting inside linebackers in the league.
The signing reunites Spikes with former Bills corner Nate Clements.
---Rodney McKissic
August 08, 2008
Hardy has company
James Hardy has not been the only rookie wide receiver to get bit by the injury bug during training camp. More than half of the nine receivers drafted in the second round have missed practice time due to injuries. No wonder no receivers were taken in the first round.
Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly of the Washington Redskins won't play against the Bills on Saturday because of hamstring injuries. Kelly also had arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday and will miss at least two weeks. Redskins coach Jim Zorn was critical of his rookie wideouts, suggesting that their injuries were the result of them coming into training camp out of shape. In fact, past injury issues were one reason teams shied away from Thomas and Kelly.
---Allen Wilson
August 07, 2008
Packers OK without Favre
I'm sure members of the national media that fawns all over Brett Favre won't agree, but I don't think the Green Bay Packers to fall off that much. Even with the 38-year-old Favre, they fielded one of the NFL's youngest and most talented teams. Favre got too much of the credit for the Packers' success last season. He deserved praise, but his supporters act as if he did it all by himself.
The Packers put a very good offense around Favre, who benefited from a good offensive line, strong running game and an underrated but very talented corps of receivers. He also was backed up by a top-flight defense that returns most of its best players. Aaron Rodgers doesn't have to be like Favre. He just needs to limit mistakes and make the plays that are available.
I think the Packer players are going to rally around Rodgers and try to prove to the world that they can win without No. 4. Look for Rodgers to throw for over 3,000 yards and 18 to 22 touchdowns while leading the Packers to another NFC North title.
---Allen Wilson
Bye-bye Pennington
As expected, the Jets have released quarterback Chad Pennington, who became expendable when the Jets traded for Brett Favre. I've always liked Chad Pennington. He doesn't have much of an arm, but he's smart, accurate and a good leader. He also has been a winner, leading the Jets to three playoff apearances since 2002. But he has never been able to put together two healthy seasons in a row. That's why the Jets drafted Kellen Clemens two years ago. The Jets have been looking for a reason to dump Pennington, and now they had a reason.
I hope someone picks him up. Rumor has it that the Dolphins and Vikings might be interest. He's not dependable enough to be a starter anymore, but he'd make a good backup for a team that needs experience at the game's most important position.
---Allen Wilson
Brett is a Jet
The AFC East just got a lot more interesting with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre being traded to the New York Jets. The move doesn't shift the balance of power in the division as the New England Patriots are still at the head of the class. That fact makes a trade to the Jets a bit perplexing since Favre would have had a better chance to win at division title in Tampa Bay.
But Favre makes the Jets relevant again. The Jets spent about $140 million in free agent contracts this offseason, a clear indication they are thinking playoffs and a lot more. Adding Favre to the mix is sure to raise expectations to ridiculous levels in the New York-New Jersey area.
I still think the Bills are better, but the Jets have closed the gap this offseason. If nothing else, Favre will make Bills-Jets games far more interesting than they've been in years (for the record, Favre is 2-3 all-time against the Bills).
Any success the Jets have with Favre will depend on how much he has left. You'd think he never had a bad year the way the national media fawns over the guy. But he was mediocre in the two years (47 interceptions to 38 touchdowns) prior to his great 2007 season. Keep in mind, too, that Favre will be 39 this season, an age when most NFL quarterbacks have been put out to pasture. He also has to learn a new offense and get familiar with new teammates.
So the Jets are taking a big chance here. If Favre comes close to last year's performance, the Jets will contend for a playoff spot. If he flops, the Jets will be ripped by the New York media for trading for an aging quarterback who doesn't know when it's time to quit. But given the state of the Jets' quarterbacking in recent years, maybe Favre is a gamble worth taking.
One last note: The Jets had Favre as the highest rated player on their draft board in 1991, but didn't have a first-round draft pick. The Atlanta Falcons selected Favre early in the second round, one pick before the Jets, who settled for quarterback Browning Nagle. Eighteen years later, the Jets finally got their man.
---Allen Wilson
August 06, 2008
Reining in unruly fans
The NFL's code of conduct will give well-behaved fans something to shout about.
John Hickey/Buffalo News
The NFL on Tuesday announced a new code of conduct for fans. The league says fans will be ejected and banned from stadiums for violating the conduct rules.
The rules include bans on:
* Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal.
* Drunkenness and signs of alcohol impairment that result in irresponsible behavior.
* Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
* Interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field.
* Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.
* Verbal or physical harassment of fans from the opposing team.
These rules should be welcomed by the Bills fans who have been harassed by drunk and otherwise disorderly spectators at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The question is, how well will the new policies be enforced, at The Ralph and at other stadiums around the league? A code of conduct is nice, but without active enforcement at the stadium it won't be worth the paper it's printed on.
---Greg Connors
July 31, 2008
Ransom money?
The Green Bay Post-Gazette reported today that the Packers have offered Brett Favre $20 million to stay retired. Maybe this is a naive reaction, but presming it's true, I'd have a hard time accepting that if I were Favre. It's ransom money. And for what? So that his legacy remains as a Packer? In the long view, he's always going to be remembered as a Packer. Did it tarnish Joe Namath's legacy that he spent part of the last year of his career on the field for the L.A. Rams? No. Ditto for Joe Montana, who had a couple good years in Kansas City. Athletes have a very hard time walking away from the limelight. That's true for 99 percent of them. It's a great gig being a star athlete. Who would want to quit it? It's why Muhammad Ali couldn't quit. So if Favre wants to play his last year somewhere else, the Packers should trade him and get it over with.
---Mark Gaughan
July 26, 2008
No brainer for No. 4
Maybe I'm crazy, but I hope for Brett Favre's sake he's only using the Jets as leverage to get favorable contract terms with Tampa Bay. Is there any real choice between these two teams. The Jets, even with Favre, will be massive underdogs against the Patriots. If you can't win your division, you really do not have great Super Bowl hopes (the Giants' win in February, notwithstanding). The top AFC teams look so much stronger than the top NFC teams. The Bucs play in a wide-open division. Yes, New Orleans is pretty good, but they can't compare with the Pats. Favre would be in a complete comfort zone with Jon Gruden as his offensive coordinator/head coach. I think it's an obvious decision: Tampa.
---Mark Gaughan
July 18, 2008
Giants don't gouge
The New York Giants released the cost of their personal seat licenses for their new stadium, and owner John Mara deserves a bit of credit for not gouging his customers the way in which Jerry Jones has done in Dallas. The cost of the PSLs for Giants season-ticket holders will range from $1,000 to $20,000, with more than half at least $5,000. Expensive. But nothing like Dallas, where the PSLs range from $16,000 to $150,000. Dallas' new palace opens in 2009. The Giants' new stadium opens in 2010. The money from the PSLs in New York - expected to be $371 million - will go toward one third of the cost of building the new stadium. Of course, the Jets will have a similar PSL setup, which should fund another third of the building.
---Mark Gaughan
July 17, 2008
Shades of the Rockpile?
Maybe the Indianapolis Colts should take a page out of the Bills' marketing plan and create a true "Rockpile" section in Lucas Oil Stadium. The upper reaches of War Memorial Stadium, for those who remember going to Bills games there, had many partially obstructed-view seats all along the sidelines, due to the posts holding up the roof. The good news sitting up there is you had some limited protection from the rain and snow. The bad news is many fans had to lean around the posts to see the field. At Indy's new field, there are four posts fairly high up in the four corners of the upper deck that obstruct the view of a limited number of seats. Seems like they should have just removed the seats and carved out four spots as a standing area or a spot for small concession stands. The Bills help open the new stadium in a preseason game Aug. 24. That date is two days shy of six weeks after the knee surgery Manning underwent this past Tuesday. Manning is on the shelf four to six weeks.
The Indianapolis Star wrote a story about the obstructed stadium seats in Wednesday's editions. The link: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/NEWS/80716028
Here's a photo from the Star:
---Mark Gaughan
July 14, 2008
Dream on, Bills fans
I was at my barber shop over the weekend and all the guys were dreaming of the possibility of Brett Favre coming to Buffalo. It's a nice fantasy for Bills fans to contemplate, but don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Acquiring Favre is one thing, but you have to take into account the salary the Bills would have to pay him. Favre is going to demand big bucks, probably more than the Bills can afford given they still have to take care of Jason Peters and Lee Evans, among others.
The Bills' situation is not that different from the Packers'. Like Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, Trent Edwards has spent the entire offseason preparing to be the Bills' full-time starting quarterback. He's young and can wait another year, but his potential as the long-term solution would remain a mystery if he is sitting behind Favre for a year or more.
As my esteemed (and well-rested) colleague, Mark Gaughan, said in an earlier post, great quarterbacks are hard to find. Would the Bills consider Favre if the Packers let him go? You bet they would. I just don't see him in a Bills uniform.
---Allen Wilson
Favre landing spots
After some vacation time, we're back in the blogosphere, and what better place to start than at L'Affaire de Favre. While Brett Favre has put the Packers in a tough spot by waiting until last week to definitively express his desire to play this year, the Pack braintrust should consider how hard it is to find a great quarterback. Regardless of how promising unproven Aaron Rogers might be, Green Bay should ride the Favre career for another year, if possible. Favre, it would seem, holds the best cards in this disagreement. All he needs to do is show up at Packers camp and let them try to use him as the No. 2 QB. There's no way that could last. So if the Packers are ready to turn the page, where might they be able to send him? There's no way they would deal him to Minnesota or Chicago, two teams that could use him. He could reunite with Mike Holmgren, but the Seahawks have a good starter in Matt Hasselbeck. Can't see that happening. He can't go to a rebuilding team; that makes no sense. So that leaves the Jets, Ravens, 49ers and Bucs. I'd say the Bucs make the most sense, if he's going to be dealt.
---Mark Gaughan.
July 03, 2008
Favre's second guess
It looks like Brett Favre's retirement was a bit premature if recent reports are correct. As a fan, I wouldn't be bothered to see him come back. He's great for the game and he was still at the top of his game when he decided to hang up the cleats. But on the other hand, Favre needs to stop toying with the emotions of Green Bay Packers fans. For the past several offseasons they have been on pins and needles wondering if Favre is going to keep playing or not. The Cheeseheads were already trying to come to grips with life without Favre and now that he's got the itch to play again.
Maybe Packer fans are getting their hopes up for nothing. There is no guarantee Favre will play again and it he did, it's quite possible he'll do it for another franchise. Keep in mind, the Packers have been preparing for Aaron Rodgers to take over at quarterback. The Packers would have a PR disaster on their hands if they let Favre play elsewhere. But this situation is not fair to Rodgers, who has been waiting for years to be a starter. Obviously, anyone in their right mind would choose Favre over Rodgers. But I don't think Rodgers would be happy going back to the bench.
Favre should not have retired so soon after the season anyway because it was a decision based on emotion and not well thought out. Apparently his family is pushing him to keep playing. I don't know if he's coming back, but he needs to make a decision one way or another so everyone can go on with their lives. Quite frankly, I'm tired of Favre's offseason act.
Should Favre come back or should he stay retired? Give us your responses.
---Allen Wilson
Goodell barking up wrong tree
NFL Commish Roger Goodell wants a pay scale for rookies to avoid giving big contracts to guys who haven't played a down. It's a good idea (the NBA's system has worked for years), but I doubt the players' union will go for it. Union chief Gene Upshaw loves the way things are because he thinks the big money top drafts are getting will benefit veterans who will negotiate new contracts. The current situation is partly the fault of the owners who gave the players 60 percent of revenues in the last collective bargaining agreement. Now the owners are opting out of the CBA and want a new one drawn up. Rookie salaries are going to be a major sticking point when the league and players' union negotiate a new labor deal. For more on this issue, check out my column in Thursday's paper.
---Allen Wilson
June 24, 2008
Bad quarterbacks
A good website to check out records of any individual player, particularly skill position players, is pro-football-reference.com. It also has a blog section, and recently blogger Chase Stuart compiled a statistical analysis of the worst quarterbacks of all time. Three players on his top 20 list played for the Bills - Dan Darragh, Gary Marangi and Mike Taliaferro. Marangi had one of the most amazingly bad days ever for a QB. In the 1976 Thanksgiving Day game in which O.J. Simpson rushed for 273 yards in Detroit, Marangi was 4 for 21 for 29 yards with one interception for a passer rating of 19.7. The week in a home loss to San Diego before 41,701 (you know who you are), Marangi was 8 of 30 for 83 yards with three picks for a passer rating of 0.0. Ah, the really, really bad old days.
Here's the list: 1. Kim McQuilken. 2. Rick Norton. 3. Bud Schwenk. 4. Stan Heath. 5. Dan Darragh. 6. George Izo. 7. Kent Nix. 8. Davey O'Brien. 9. John McCarthy. 10. Ryan Leaf. 11. John McCormick. 12. Randy Hedberg. 13. Boley Dancewicz. 14. George Herring. 15. Gary Marangi. 16. Bill Mackrides. 17. Mike Taliaferro. 18. Craig Whelihan. 19. Scott Bull. 20. Tommy Wade.
McQuilken played for Atlanta from '74 to '77 and with Washington in '79. In 26 appearances, he completed 39 percent of his passes with four TDs and 29 interceptions.
Here's the link: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=545
---Mark Gaughan
Upshaw on open books
The NFL and the NFL Players Association will be trying to make headway this summer and fall on making modifications to the labor agreement that runs through 2011. Upshaw has maintained he wants to see the books of NFL teams before he's convinced the current labor deal is as bad for the owners as they say. I think that's a reasonable request, although I doubt it will happen. Here's Upshaw on that subject in a lengthy story on the economics of the game from the Philadelphia Daily News.
"There's a lot we would need to see and digest and believe," Upshaw told the Daily News. "It can't just be the same reporting package that [each team] sends to the league. Because they lie."
The financial records of the Green Bay Packers are available, and for 2006 the Packers reported a profit of $18 million.
"If you look at the Packers' financials from a year ago, they made $18 million," Upshaw said. "The league says, 'Well, that's an anomaly. They're different.' Yeah, they're different. But $18 million is $18 million. Any company would love to make $18 million. You've got a stadium and franchise increasing in value every year. You've got your payroll pretty much set. And you're able to make $18 million in profit? Not a bad deal."
---Mark Gaughan
The link to the story: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080624_NFL_players__owners_could_be_in_for_long_labor_dispute.html
June 23, 2008
Harris gets $10M average
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris signed a contract extension worth $10 million a year over four years in the past few days. Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald hit the $10 million mark earlier this spring. I think the Bills might have to get to $9 million or more to re-sign left tackle Jason Peters.
---Mark Gaughan
June 19, 2008
Bears attack offensive?
Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith says his team has no plans to sign a veteran running back in the wake of the release of Cedric Benson. For now, the prospective starting running back for the Bears is Tulane rookie Matt Forte. The prospective starting receivers are Brandon Lloyd and Marty Booker. The prospective quarterback is Rex Grossman. Bears season ticket holders will want to stay in their seats for all return plays (with Devin Hester carrying the ball), then head to the concession stands when the offense takes the field.
---Mark Gaughan
June 16, 2008
Boldin still not satisfied
There are plenty of NFL players unsatisfied with their contracts heading toward training camp later this summer. One who remains worthy of attention is Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin. He did not show up at any of Arizona's voluntary workouts but did show up for the mandatory minicamp this month. The Cards' own website reports that Boldin remains unsure about whether he will report to training camp on time. Boldin has three years to go on his contract, and the Cards have maintained they have no interest in dealing him. However, with Larry Fitzgerald making $10 million a year on the other side of the offensive set, speculation remains the Cards might consider it. I think it would be crazy for them, since it would neuter their offense. They don't have enough depth at receiver to get away with it. Nevertheless, it's something to keep an eye on.
---Mark Gaughan
June 10, 2008
Strahan worthy of HOF
Now that Michael Strahan has retired after 15 great years, this question must be asked: Is he a Hall of Famer? My guess is yes. He was one of the most dominant pass rushing defensive end in NFL history. He's fifth on the career list and he owns the single-season sacks record holder, though the achievement is tainted by Brett Favre's gimme sack. Still that doesn't diminish how great Strahan was. He played most of his career on the left side of the defensive line. Most top pass rushers line up on the right side. Imagine how many sacks he would have gotten if he was rushing from the quarterback's blind side. Helping the Giants win the Super Bowl should have clinched his induction.
I won't put Strahan behind Deacon Jones, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White and Bruce Smith on my list of greatest pass rushers. However, Strahan is the only one in this group whose production didn't slip over time. In fact, 79.5 of Strahan's 141.5 sacks came after the age of 29. The 36-year-old also was dominant in the Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
One criteria to getting into the Hall is this question: Can you write the history of the NFL without including a particular player? Strahan's career was certainly one for the NFL history books.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2013 is shaping up as one of the best ever with Strahan joined by Favre, DT Warren Sapp and most likely Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden.
---Allen Wilson
June 09, 2008
Brady fine in Foxboro
It appears a wire service took some comments from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady out of context last week. In Saturday's Buffalo News, there was a short item stating that the ankle injury Brady suffered late last season still was bothering the NFL's most valuable player. Not so. Observers at Pats minicamp said Brady looked good and was rolling out and throwing the ball 60 yards on a line. Brady was poking fun at himself when asked about the health of his ankle. Said Brady: "The ankle feels great. It feels really good. I've been able to do pretty much everything. I'm still slow. I still can't jump. I still don't lift very much, that hasn't changed." Brady meant that he always has been slow and he never has been able to jump. During some back-and-forth discussion about the Celtics, Brady was asked what kind of basketball player he was in high school. Said Brady: "I was a ball hog. I was ball hogging forward who couldn’t jump. I was a big 2. I didn’t pass much."
---Mark Gaughan
June 04, 2008
Pats' curious signing
It seemed like a curious signing last week when the New England Patriots picked up right tackle Oliver Ross. He's 33 and spent the past three seasons with Arizona. He has 58 starts over 10 seasons. Now we have a better idea why the Cardinals reject was added. The Boston Globe reports today that Pats right tackle Nick Kaczur was arrested in April for being in possession of illegal prescription painkillers and then cooperated with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in a sting operation that ended with the indictment of his alleged drug supplier. Ryan O'Callaghan is the Pats' No. 3 offensive tackle, or was before Ross' arrival.
---Mark Gaughan
June 02, 2008
Travis jettisoned
The Denver Broncos released ex-Bill Travis Henry for what they called "a lack of commitment" today. It's too bad. Travis is a genuinely nice guy who just has messed up in his career. Denver was the perfect place for him because the offense is so running back-friendly. If he had gotten in Mike Shanahan's good graces, he could have had four 1,000-yard seasons there and hit 10,000 rushing yards for his career. Not now.
---Mark Gaughan
May 27, 2008
Taylor and Chargers
A deal by San Diego to eventually acquire Miami defensive end Jason Taylor makes plenty of sense. The Chargers have a championship-caliber team and could use another piece to get them past New England in the AFC. If Miami had a competent quarterback or had a strong hope of having a winning record, there's no way team President Bill Parcells would be looking to throw Taylor overboard. But by the time the Dolphins get really good, Taylor will be too old to make much impact for Miami. So it's easy for Miami to make an example of him and vote him off the island. The Dolphins also probably have the luxury of waiting well into the summer before making a decision and seeing if they can get a good offer. If a contending team suffers a key injury, it might be enticed to sweeten the pot to get Taylor.
---Mark Gaughan
May 21, 2008
Boldin not showing
At this late date a trade is likely out of the question, but it's interesting to note that Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin is sitting out spring practice with the Cardinals because he wants a contract extension. If the Cardinals had been open to a deal before the draft, I think the Bills wanted to make a push for Boldin. The Cards made Larry Fitzgerald the highest-paid receiver in the league earlier this offseason, and it's questionable whether they will be willing to invest even more in Boldin, who still has three years left on his contract. We'll have to see if Boldin is willing to forego any salary by missing mandatory practices in June.
---Mark Gaughan
May 20, 2008
Owners opt-out of deal
As expected, the NFL owners voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association today. The owners are not happy that they are paying out 59.5 percent of all league revenues to players. This means the players probably are headed for a showdown in March 2009. If the two sides can find a compromise by then, there will be labor peace and an extension of the current salary-cap system for long into the future. If not, the threat of a work stoppage looms larger, because 2009 would be the last year with a salary cap, and the cap rules would be altered for '09. Obviously, with the league reaping close to $7 billion in revenues a year, there is plenty of room for compromise. I think the likeliest scenario is the league will get the players union to accept a minor give-back. The players need to agree to share some amount of the cost of the debt the league has incurred, largely through the construction of stadia. The union won't accept a big give-back, but they could accept a small one and get away with it because the issue is so complex it should be easy to get the players to go along with it. This would allow the owners to save face a little. If the owners insist on a major give-back by the union, there will be a work stoppage. Gene Upshaw contends that the owners have enough money - with their 40.5 percent - go go around if they would just share it a more effective way. He has a good point.
---Mark Gaughan
May 15, 2008
Double standard?
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's call for the NFL to hire an independent investigator to look into the Spygate scandal apparently are falling on deaf ears. The NFL reportedly don't believe there is any reason to spend any more time on this issue, but it's clear Specter is not going to stop his pursuit of this case.
What is interesting about this is how the NFL always says that organizations have to be held to a higher standard than their players. If that's the case, why did guys like Pacman Jones, Chris Henry and Odell Thurman get long suspensions and Bill Belichick and the Patriots only got fined and lost a draft pick? I'm not saying the suspensions of those players weren't justified. It just seems that their punishment was a little harsher than the penalties levied against the Pats. But that's just one man's opinion. What's yours?
---Allen Wilson
May 13, 2008
Moving on from Spygate
As we told you in our column on Tuesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has essentially closed the Spygate case. After meeting with former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, Goodell determined the video tapes Walsh had only confirmed what Goodell already knew about the Patriots' stealing defensive signals. Goodell wanted to see tape of the Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl, but Walsh didn't have it.
The only new ground broken were claims by Walsh that certain players (he named names) scalped Super Bowl tickets and the Patriots had a player on injured reserve practicing. Both are finable offenses if true.
Obviously Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is going to try and keep this issue on the front burner, but I get the sense that his motives are purely political (one of his major campaign contributors is multi-media giant Comast, which is feuding with the NFL). He met with Walsh Tuesday after Walsh left Goodell's office. Specter will make some comment condemning the NFL for trying to bury the issue, but unless Walsh tells him something he didn't tell Goodell, I don't know how much farther Specter can take this.
As far as the NFL is concerned, the Spygate scandal is over. Personally I'm glad. We have all ripped the Pats as cheaters, but the NFL is not taking those Super Bowl titles away. So it's time to move on and turn our attention to next season. Maybe you feel differently. Whether you do or don't, give us your thoughts.
---Allen Wilson
May 09, 2008
SEC Rules
The Southeastern Conference is the top training ground for the NFL. The SEC led all conferences in drafted players this year with 35 and has seen 696 players drafted since 1990. Second is the Big 10 with 610 drafted players since 1990. The Pac 10 is third at 605. This year the SEC had four players taken in the top 10 -- Arkansas' Darren McFadden (No. 4), LSU's Glenn Dorsey (No. 5), Florida's Derrick Harvey (No. 8) and Tennessee's Jerod Mayo (No. 10). The Pac 10 had 34 players drafted this year. The Big 12 had 29. The Big 10 had 28.
---Mark Gaughan
May 07, 2008
Carolina high on Moore
One team that was on the list of potential suspects to be interested in J.P. Losman at the start of the offseason was Carolina, because aging starting quarterback Jake Delhomme is coming off an injury. The Panthers, however, have stood pat at QB, which is a big vote of confidence in No. 2 man Matt Moore, who was an undrafted rookie out of Oregon State last year. Moore got good coaching in college from Mike Riley. Bills coordinator Turk Schonert said last year that Moore showed excellent pocket presence in college. He's someone to keep in mind in the later rounds of a fantasy draft.
---Mark Gaughan
May 05, 2008
Taylor and Tuna
The relationship between new Dolphins President Bill Parcells and star Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor is a fascinating and somewhat comical one to watch from afar. Last week, the Miami Herald reported that Taylor was slightly miffed by the fact he showed up at Dolphins headquarters and got the cold shoulder from Tuna, who allegedly was watching film in his office and didn't bother to look up to greet Taylor. Taylor, meanwhile, is doing a great job in the hit TV show Dancing with the Stars. He's among the final five couples, and seems to have legitimate prospects post-football in the Hollywood film industry. The betting here is Parcells will come around because Taylor is too good to throw off the boat. However, if some contending team has an injury problem in preseason and wants to give Miami a decent draft choice (second round?) you can bet Miami will think about it. Here's an interesting link to the Miami Herald on the latest with Taylor's dancing prospects. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/columnists/dan_le_batard//story/521050.html
---Mark Gaughan
May 03, 2008
Joe D's son trying out
The son of Bills Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure is trying out in the minicamp with the Cleveland Browns. Tod DeLamielleure, a 5-foot-10, 240-pound linebacker, was among 54 players invited to Cleveland's rookie minicamp. Tod DeLamielleure, 29, had a tryout with the Bills and Panthers but did not get a camp invited from those teams. He last played football five years ago in NFL Europe.
---Mark Gaughan
April 26, 2008
The NFL Draft: Round One
31) New York Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
6:35: Phillips was the top high school defensive player in the nation three years ago and seemed destined to be selected in the Top 10, but has slipped in the minds of some scouts. He can be undisciplined on the field and get caught out of the position, but he has the ability to blossom into a Pro Bowl S in time.
---RM
30) New York Jets: Dustin Keller, TE. Purdue
6:30: Traded into this spot from Green Bay. Needed a skilled position player and elected to pick Keller, a smooth athlete with great hands. Now all the Jets need is a QB.
---RM
29) San Francisco: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
6:20: Good fit in the 3-4 defense because he's a big nose tackle. But the offense was terrible and there were plenty of good still position players left on the board.
---RM
28) Seattle Seahawks: Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC
6:17: A little surprising, but Jackson is a versatile pass rusher. Seahawks needed help at TE, but Jackson can get to the QB. ... Niners are up next and could use a LB.
---RM
27) San Diego Chargers: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
6:13: Better suited for the Cover 2 scheme but has good straightline speed and has nice cover skills.
---RM
26) Houston Texans: Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech
6:08: Brown is an outstanding athlete with quick feet and athleticism to pass protect on the left side, but his strength is an issue. ... The Chargers need help at S but also need a backup RB.
---RM
25) Dallas Cowboys: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
5:59: The Cowboys now have two good young CBs in Pacman Jones and Mike Jenkins. After adding Felix Jones the Cowboys are going to recieve a lot of gold stars when draft grades are handed out on Monday.
---RM
24) Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
5:51: Well, Young has a playmaker, but not the one he probably wanted. But LenDale White will run between the tackles and Johnson, who can fly, will work the edges. Maybe the Titans don't plan on throwing the ball much.
---RM
23) Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
5:44: Best athlete left on the board and the Steelers snap up Mendenhall, who is good at running between the tackles. ... Tennessee needs to find QB Vince Young someone to throw the ball to and Texas teammate Limas Sweed is a playmaker.
---RM
22) Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
5:39: Great pick and probably the best RB in the draft after McFadden. Some scouts don't like his size, but the kid averaged 9.0 yards a carry which led the SEC. This is a home run all the way for the Cowboys.
---RM
21) Atlanta Falcons: Sam Baker, OT, USC
5:30: Falcons got this pick in a trade with Redskins. The Falcons got a QB in Matt Ryan and now has someone in Baker to protect him. Two years ago, Baker had Top 10 potential but slipped with a so-so year last season.
---RM
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneer