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The Tim Tebow phenomenon is apparently over in Denver as Peyton Manning has informed his agent to negotiate a contract to sign with the Broncos – meaning Tebow likely will be traded by the team.
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A contract between the two sides is expected to be a formality. Broncos vice president of football operations John Elway and Manning first discussed the parameters of a five-year, $95 million contract during their March 9 meeting in Denver, the first time the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback visited a team during his free agency. Manning also visited with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. It was long thought that Manning wanted to stay in the AFC because that way he wouldn’t “block” brother Eli from reaching another Super Bowl with the Giants.
Denver is expected to trade Tebow now – he’s a Jacksonville native and would help that struggling franchise fill seats. However, the Jags drafted Blaine Gabbert in the first round of last year’s draft and recently signed former Dolphin Chad Henne to be his backup.
This obviously affects the quarterback situations in all those other cities. Tennessee will move forward with Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker – Hasslebeck would have been released if Manning had signed there. The Cardinals now will keep Kevin Kolb. The Dolphins also lost out on free agent Matt Flynn. San Francisco’s Alex Smith visited Miami but now the 49ers will make a huge play to keep him. If he stays, as expected, Miami no doubt will take a quarterback with its first-round pick in April’s draft.
If you are wondering, the Broncos do not face the Colts in 2012 barring a miracle playoff matchup. In fact, Denver doesn’t face any of the teams that Manning visited (or Eli’s Giants). The Broncos do face Manning’s archrival in Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Denver was 8-8 this past season but won the AFC West.
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A contract between the two sides is expected to be a formality. Broncos vice president of football operations John Elway and Manning first discussed the parameters of a five-year, $95 million contract during their March 9 meeting in Denver, the first time the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback visited a team during his free agency. Manning also visited with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. It was long thought that Manning wanted to stay in the AFC because that way he wouldn’t “block” brother Eli from reaching another Super Bowl with the Giants.
Denver is expected to trade Tebow now – he’s a Jacksonville native and would help that struggling franchise fill seats. However, the Jags drafted Blaine Gabbert in the first round of last year’s draft and recently signed former Dolphin Chad Henne to be his backup.
This obviously affects the quarterback situations in all those other cities. Tennessee will move forward with Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker – Hasslebeck would have been released if Manning had signed there. The Cardinals now will keep Kevin Kolb. The Dolphins also lost out on free agent Matt Flynn. San Francisco’s Alex Smith visited Miami but now the 49ers will make a huge play to keep him. If he stays, as expected, Miami no doubt will take a quarterback with its first-round pick in April’s draft.
If you are wondering, the Broncos do not face the Colts in 2012 barring a miracle playoff matchup. In fact, Denver doesn’t face any of the teams that Manning visited (or Eli’s Giants). The Broncos do face Manning’s archrival in Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Denver was 8-8 this past season but won the AFC West.
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Tebowmania now moves from the Mile High City to the biggest media market in the world as the Denver Broncos on Wednesday traded quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets for 2012 fourth- and sixth-round draft picks. Denver will send a seventh-rounder back to New York.
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Tebow was a cultural phenomenon last season in leading the Broncos to the AFC West title and a wild-card playoff win after taking over as the starter early in the season for Kyle Orton when Denver was 1-4. Tebow led a few miraculous fourth-quarter comebacks and his jersey was easily the No. 1 seller in the NFL. However, Tebow was also the NFL’s lowest-rated passer and Denver shifted to a conservative, run-first offense to combat Tebow’s inaccuracy.
The Broncos signed Peyton Manning on Tuesday, thus leaving no room for Tebow in the new offense that will be designed for Manning. There was a rather limited market for Tebow, the former Heisman winner at Florida. But the Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins and Jets emerged as the four most-likely candidates. Jacksonville was thought to be the favorite as Tebow is from that area and is still a legend in the Sunshine State after helping lead the University of Florida to two national titles and becoming arguably the most popular college football player ever.
The Jets of course have Mark Sanchez as their starter but likely will use Tebow in change-of-pace situations like in a Wildcat package that is favored by head coach Rex Ryan and new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Plus Ryan wants to get back to a run-heavy, ground-and-pound attack and that’s one thing Tebow can do as well as almost any quarterback in the league. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound Tebow rushed for 660 yards last season. His 20-yard TD run with 58 seconds remaining sparked a 17-13 Week 11 defeat of Sanchez’s Jets in Denver last year. The Jets also believed that Tebow would be a positive influence in a locker room that had become fractured in the wake of last season’s disappointing finish.
But let the rumors of a quarterback controversy begin in New York. Tebow's enormous popularity could turn into a distraction, especially for Sanchez. Plus Sanchez has been questioned publicly by teammates and his 55.3 completion percentage a year ago wasn’t much better than Tebow’s 46.5 percent. Two weeks ago, however, the Jets gave Sanchez a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension.
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Tebow was a cultural phenomenon last season in leading the Broncos to the AFC West title and a wild-card playoff win after taking over as the starter early in the season for Kyle Orton when Denver was 1-4. Tebow led a few miraculous fourth-quarter comebacks and his jersey was easily the No. 1 seller in the NFL. However, Tebow was also the NFL’s lowest-rated passer and Denver shifted to a conservative, run-first offense to combat Tebow’s inaccuracy.
The Broncos signed Peyton Manning on Tuesday, thus leaving no room for Tebow in the new offense that will be designed for Manning. There was a rather limited market for Tebow, the former Heisman winner at Florida. But the Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins and Jets emerged as the four most-likely candidates. Jacksonville was thought to be the favorite as Tebow is from that area and is still a legend in the Sunshine State after helping lead the University of Florida to two national titles and becoming arguably the most popular college football player ever.
The Jets of course have Mark Sanchez as their starter but likely will use Tebow in change-of-pace situations like in a Wildcat package that is favored by head coach Rex Ryan and new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Plus Ryan wants to get back to a run-heavy, ground-and-pound attack and that’s one thing Tebow can do as well as almost any quarterback in the league. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound Tebow rushed for 660 yards last season. His 20-yard TD run with 58 seconds remaining sparked a 17-13 Week 11 defeat of Sanchez’s Jets in Denver last year. The Jets also believed that Tebow would be a positive influence in a locker room that had become fractured in the wake of last season’s disappointing finish.
But let the rumors of a quarterback controversy begin in New York. Tebow's enormous popularity could turn into a distraction, especially for Sanchez. Plus Sanchez has been questioned publicly by teammates and his 55.3 completion percentage a year ago wasn’t much better than Tebow’s 46.5 percent. Two weeks ago, however, the Jets gave Sanchez a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension.
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The New Orleans Saints were one of opening Super Bowl Bovada betting favorites for the 2012 season at 10/1 – the Super Bowl also is in New Orleans next February – but now New Orleans will have to play the upcoming year without head coach Sean Payton as he was suspended for the season in the wake of the bounty scandal that rocked the NFL. That has moved the Saints' Super Bowl odds to 12/1.
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In addition, the Saints were fined $500,000, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games and fined $500,000 himself, assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt was hit with a six-game suspension without pay and the team will lose its second-round draft pick in the 2012 and 2013 drafts (New Orleans was already without a first-round pick this year). Payton’s suspension, also without pay, is effective April 1 for one year.
The NFL revealed earlier this month the findings of a lengthy investigation into a Saints "bounty" program that gave thousands of dollars in payoffs to players for hits that knocked opponents out of games. The program, administered by then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, reached its height in 2009, the season the Saints won the Super Bowl. Williams, now the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, has been suspended indefinitely – Commissioner Roger Goodell will review his case after the 2012 season.
Up to 27 Saints players reportedly took part in the bounty program; linebacker Jonathan Vilma allegedly offered any teammate $10,000 to knock Vikings QB Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Vilma, the heart of that Saints defense, and other players certainly also will face suspensions. However, the NFL Players Association formally requested that the league not the players until the union had completed its independent investigation, which is underway.
It’s not yet clear who will now be the team’s head coach but it could well be former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired by St. Louis last year but hired by the Saints as the defensive coordinator to replace Williams. The Saints still also must sign QB Drew Brees to an extension after putting the franchise tag on Brees.
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In addition, the Saints were fined $500,000, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games and fined $500,000 himself, assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt was hit with a six-game suspension without pay and the team will lose its second-round draft pick in the 2012 and 2013 drafts (New Orleans was already without a first-round pick this year). Payton’s suspension, also without pay, is effective April 1 for one year.
The NFL revealed earlier this month the findings of a lengthy investigation into a Saints "bounty" program that gave thousands of dollars in payoffs to players for hits that knocked opponents out of games. The program, administered by then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, reached its height in 2009, the season the Saints won the Super Bowl. Williams, now the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, has been suspended indefinitely – Commissioner Roger Goodell will review his case after the 2012 season.
Up to 27 Saints players reportedly took part in the bounty program; linebacker Jonathan Vilma allegedly offered any teammate $10,000 to knock Vikings QB Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Vilma, the heart of that Saints defense, and other players certainly also will face suspensions. However, the NFL Players Association formally requested that the league not the players until the union had completed its independent investigation, which is underway.
It’s not yet clear who will now be the team’s head coach but it could well be former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired by St. Louis last year but hired by the Saints as the defensive coordinator to replace Williams. The Saints still also must sign QB Drew Brees to an extension after putting the franchise tag on Brees.
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From a football standpoint, pissing off your NFL future (quarterback Mark Sanchez) to make a free agent smash (QB Tim Tebow) in your NFL present doesn't make much sense.
From a bettor's standpoint however, this might not be a bad idea. The New York Jets are currently 25/1 to win the 2013 Super Bowl, and they have as good a chance as any second-tier squad to shock the NFL and take football's biggest prize.
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The reason for the Tebow trade is simply what the coaching staff has realized about Mark Sanchez, he is not the next Tom Brady, he's not even the next Philip Rivers. He's a second-tier quarterback who needs a strong team on both sides of the ball to be effective. And even then it takes a little luck once the playoffs begin.
That lucky piece is Tebow. The Jets plan on playing Tebow up to "20 snaps" per game. And that is because he can do two things for Sanchez and this offense:
1. Open up the run game. Like most scrambling quarterbacks Tebow helps the running game with defenses focused on stopping his running ability. Jets coach Rex Ryan got his team to the playoffs two years straight with a tough defense and a running game that would dominate time of possession. If Tebow can help the Jets burn clock, it will help their dominant defense, which, for the Jets, has proven to translate into wins.
2. Tebow Time. Sorry, but there's no Sanchez time for a reason. Tebow can barely throw, but he has some "higher power" on his side when it comes to those clutch moments. Having Tebow slot into the game for those moments can help confuse defenses at the very least. Perhaps even helping Sanchez pull off a little Tebow magic himself when called upon. The Jets lost some heartbreakers last year, including one contest to the Tebow led Denver Broncos, having a closer like Tebow will help cover those moneyline bets.
Although the Bovada Sportsbook doesn't have regular season OVER/Unders, it is very possible the Jets can be a solid bet when it's Tebow Time come the 2012-2013 season.
From a bettor's standpoint however, this might not be a bad idea. The New York Jets are currently 25/1 to win the 2013 Super Bowl, and they have as good a chance as any second-tier squad to shock the NFL and take football's biggest prize.
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The reason for the Tebow trade is simply what the coaching staff has realized about Mark Sanchez, he is not the next Tom Brady, he's not even the next Philip Rivers. He's a second-tier quarterback who needs a strong team on both sides of the ball to be effective. And even then it takes a little luck once the playoffs begin.
That lucky piece is Tebow. The Jets plan on playing Tebow up to "20 snaps" per game. And that is because he can do two things for Sanchez and this offense:
1. Open up the run game. Like most scrambling quarterbacks Tebow helps the running game with defenses focused on stopping his running ability. Jets coach Rex Ryan got his team to the playoffs two years straight with a tough defense and a running game that would dominate time of possession. If Tebow can help the Jets burn clock, it will help their dominant defense, which, for the Jets, has proven to translate into wins.
2. Tebow Time. Sorry, but there's no Sanchez time for a reason. Tebow can barely throw, but he has some "higher power" on his side when it comes to those clutch moments. Having Tebow slot into the game for those moments can help confuse defenses at the very least. Perhaps even helping Sanchez pull off a little Tebow magic himself when called upon. The Jets lost some heartbreakers last year, including one contest to the Tebow led Denver Broncos, having a closer like Tebow will help cover those moneyline bets.
Although the Bovada Sportsbook doesn't have regular season OVER/Unders, it is very possible the Jets can be a solid bet when it's Tebow Time come the 2012-2013 season.
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The NFL will allow teams to accept advertisements for casinos and other state-licensed gambling-related establishments during the next two seasons.
Those ads can appear only in game programs, on local radio broadcasts and in the upper bowl and inner concourses of stadiums.
The league told the 32 clubs on Thursday that the change in policy will allow such advertising on a limited basis from casinos in their markets. After the subject was discussed at last month's owners meetings, the league reviewed how other sports handle casino advertising, did fan research, analyzed likely impact of recent gambling-related legislative developments and surveyed all 32 franchises.
Read more: NFL allowing limited casino ads | Fox News
Those ads can appear only in game programs, on local radio broadcasts and in the upper bowl and inner concourses of stadiums.
The league told the 32 clubs on Thursday that the change in policy will allow such advertising on a limited basis from casinos in their markets. After the subject was discussed at last month's owners meetings, the league reviewed how other sports handle casino advertising, did fan research, analyzed likely impact of recent gambling-related legislative developments and surveyed all 32 franchises.
Read more: NFL allowing limited casino ads | Fox News
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Here’s one guarantee I can make about the 2012 NFL season: the highest-rated Week 1 game, at least on Sunday, will be when Peyton Manning makes his Denver debut at Pittsburgh on Sept. 9 in prime time. Of course, that’s also a rematch of last season’s wild-card game when Tim Tebow led the Broncos to an upset over the Steelers.
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The 2012 schedule was released on Tuesday night. We already knew that the Super Bowl champion New York Giants would host the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, Sept. 5 – the usual Thursday opener was moved up a day because President Barack Obama will make a speech on Sept. 6 at the Democratic National Convention.
The TV networks love Manning, as in Week 2 the Broncos will play on Monday night at Atlanta. It’s the only indoor game of the regular season for Manning, who of course made his living inside while with Indianapolis. Overall, the Broncos (12/1 on Bovada to win the Super Bowl) are scheduled for five prime-time games. Seven of Denver's 10 games outside the division are against playoff teams from last season.
The Giants (16/1 to repeat) will have trouble just returning to the playoffs as they have the NFL’s toughest schedule according to 2011 opponents’ win percentage. Eli Manning and Co. must face all three teams it beat last year in the NFC playoffs -- Week 6 at San Francisco, Week 12 at home against the Packers, Week 15 at Atlanta. In addition, New York faces four other playoff clubs from a year ago: Week 9 vs. the Steelers, Week 10 at Cincinnati, Week 14 vs. the Saints, and Week 16 at the Ravens. The G-Men will become the first team in NFL history to play on a Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday night in the same season.
The NFL’s easiest schedule belongs to the New England Patriots (8/1), but that’s not necessarily a good thing – the team with the easiest schedule has missed the playoffs the past five years. The Pats did have the second-easiest schedule in 2011, went 13-3 and reached the Super Bowl before losing to the Giants. No team that has lost the Super Bowl since 1990 has come back the next year and won it. The Pats, who don’t face the Giants in the regular season, have an AFC Championship Game rematch at Baltimore in Week 3. Tom Brady gets to renew his rivalry with Manning in Foxboro on Oct. 7. The Pats play St. Louis in London in Week 8.
Starting in Week 2, there will be a Thursday game every week through Week 16 and the first one is a great one: Chicago Bears at Green Packers on the NFL Network. It’s a tough turnaround for Green Bay (13/2 Super Bowl favorite), which has to face San Francisco (10/1) four days prior. The Bears, meanwhile, open at home against rebuilding Indianapolis and No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.
The Monday night opening doubleheader features Bengals at Ravens and Chargers at Raiders. The Thanksgiving Day matchups this year are Texans at Lions, Redskins at Cowboys and Patriots at Jets.
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The 2012 schedule was released on Tuesday night. We already knew that the Super Bowl champion New York Giants would host the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, Sept. 5 – the usual Thursday opener was moved up a day because President Barack Obama will make a speech on Sept. 6 at the Democratic National Convention.
The TV networks love Manning, as in Week 2 the Broncos will play on Monday night at Atlanta. It’s the only indoor game of the regular season for Manning, who of course made his living inside while with Indianapolis. Overall, the Broncos (12/1 on Bovada to win the Super Bowl) are scheduled for five prime-time games. Seven of Denver's 10 games outside the division are against playoff teams from last season.
The Giants (16/1 to repeat) will have trouble just returning to the playoffs as they have the NFL’s toughest schedule according to 2011 opponents’ win percentage. Eli Manning and Co. must face all three teams it beat last year in the NFC playoffs -- Week 6 at San Francisco, Week 12 at home against the Packers, Week 15 at Atlanta. In addition, New York faces four other playoff clubs from a year ago: Week 9 vs. the Steelers, Week 10 at Cincinnati, Week 14 vs. the Saints, and Week 16 at the Ravens. The G-Men will become the first team in NFL history to play on a Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday night in the same season.
The NFL’s easiest schedule belongs to the New England Patriots (8/1), but that’s not necessarily a good thing – the team with the easiest schedule has missed the playoffs the past five years. The Pats did have the second-easiest schedule in 2011, went 13-3 and reached the Super Bowl before losing to the Giants. No team that has lost the Super Bowl since 1990 has come back the next year and won it. The Pats, who don’t face the Giants in the regular season, have an AFC Championship Game rematch at Baltimore in Week 3. Tom Brady gets to renew his rivalry with Manning in Foxboro on Oct. 7. The Pats play St. Louis in London in Week 8.
Starting in Week 2, there will be a Thursday game every week through Week 16 and the first one is a great one: Chicago Bears at Green Packers on the NFL Network. It’s a tough turnaround for Green Bay (13/2 Super Bowl favorite), which has to face San Francisco (10/1) four days prior. The Bears, meanwhile, open at home against rebuilding Indianapolis and No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.
The Monday night opening doubleheader features Bengals at Ravens and Chargers at Raiders. The Thanksgiving Day matchups this year are Texans at Lions, Redskins at Cowboys and Patriots at Jets.
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Only the NFL can make an event out of the release of it’s 2012 schedule. We’re sure NFL futures speculation is sure to come next.
Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season is sure to satisfy bettors when it finally kicks, but no game is more exciting than Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. The Steelers are known for being a hard hitting team so kudos to the NFL for protecting Manning’s neck by putting him in the lion’s den.
But before Sunday night the season officially kicks off with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants facing off Thursday night on NBC. This year the NFL is giving its fans Thursday games all season, with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears facing off Thursday night in Week 2. The other Thursday night game is on Thanksgiving on NBC: New England at the New York Jets, Tebow's new team. Earlier that holiday, Houston is at Detroit, then Washington at Dallas.
Two Sunday games will be played outside the United States. St. Louis hosts New England on Oct. 28 in London, while Buffalo hosts Seattle on Dec. 16 in Toronto.
The wild-card weekend is Jan. 5-6, followed the next weekend by the divisional round, then by the conference championships on Jan. 20, The Super Bowl is Feb. 3 in New Orleans, televised by CBS.
Currently, NFL Futures have the Packers at 13/2 odds to win the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII.
Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season is sure to satisfy bettors when it finally kicks, but no game is more exciting than Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. The Steelers are known for being a hard hitting team so kudos to the NFL for protecting Manning’s neck by putting him in the lion’s den.
But before Sunday night the season officially kicks off with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants facing off Thursday night on NBC. This year the NFL is giving its fans Thursday games all season, with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears facing off Thursday night in Week 2. The other Thursday night game is on Thanksgiving on NBC: New England at the New York Jets, Tebow's new team. Earlier that holiday, Houston is at Detroit, then Washington at Dallas.
Two Sunday games will be played outside the United States. St. Louis hosts New England on Oct. 28 in London, while Buffalo hosts Seattle on Dec. 16 in Toronto.
The wild-card weekend is Jan. 5-6, followed the next weekend by the divisional round, then by the conference championships on Jan. 20, The Super Bowl is Feb. 3 in New Orleans, televised by CBS.
Currently, NFL Futures have the Packers at 13/2 odds to win the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII.
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If you are wondering why the NFL is cracking down so hard on concussion-inducing hits and plays in the league, it’s because the league is facing many lawsuits from former players who claim the league knew of the extreme risk of concussions in the sport and their lifetime effects and did nothing about it until recently.
Unfortunately, many NFL players in their post-career have suffered brain trauma and other problems that have led to very short lives or even apparent suicides, including Feb. 17, 2011, when former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson shot himself in the chest. Duerson even left a note saying he wanted his brain studied for symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a trauma-induced disease common to NFL players and others who have received repeated blows to the head.
Well, another reported suicide of a former player has rocked the league and it’s the biggest name yet: 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when eligible in 2015.
Oceanside, Calif. police have confirmed that Seau, who made his name as a San Diego Charger, died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Police are investigating his death as a possible suicide. Police reported that a woman, who indicated that she was Seau's girlfriend, called police at about 9:35 a.m. Wednesday saying that she had returned home and found Seau unconscious in a bedroom suffering from a gunshot wound. A hand gun was found near the body and life-saving measure were performed, but were unsuccessful. According to TMZ, Seau sent text messages to his ex-wife and his three children on Tuesday telling them that he loved them.
The 43-year-old Seau was a Pro Bowler for 12 straight seasons in San Diego (a franchise record) and a 10-time All-Pro. He was chosen fifth overall in the 1990 NFL draft after a stellar collegiate career at USC. Seau played with the Chargers through the 2002 season (leading the Bolts to the Super Bowl in the 1994 season), spent 2003-2005 with the Miami Dolphins and then signed with the New England Patriots in time for the 2006 season in hopes of getting an elusive Super Bowl ring. In New England's perfect regular season of 2007, he played in all 16 games and started four.
Seau first retired after that 2007 season, only to come back and play in 2008 and 2009 with New England before finally leaving the NFL for good. He never did win a Super Bowl. Seau was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame last November and amassed 545 tackles, 56½ sacks and 18 interceptions in his 20-year career. Oddly, he is the eighth member of the 1994 AFC champion Chargers team to have died already.
Unfortunately, many NFL players in their post-career have suffered brain trauma and other problems that have led to very short lives or even apparent suicides, including Feb. 17, 2011, when former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson shot himself in the chest. Duerson even left a note saying he wanted his brain studied for symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a trauma-induced disease common to NFL players and others who have received repeated blows to the head.
Well, another reported suicide of a former player has rocked the league and it’s the biggest name yet: 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when eligible in 2015.
Oceanside, Calif. police have confirmed that Seau, who made his name as a San Diego Charger, died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Police are investigating his death as a possible suicide. Police reported that a woman, who indicated that she was Seau's girlfriend, called police at about 9:35 a.m. Wednesday saying that she had returned home and found Seau unconscious in a bedroom suffering from a gunshot wound. A hand gun was found near the body and life-saving measure were performed, but were unsuccessful. According to TMZ, Seau sent text messages to his ex-wife and his three children on Tuesday telling them that he loved them.
The 43-year-old Seau was a Pro Bowler for 12 straight seasons in San Diego (a franchise record) and a 10-time All-Pro. He was chosen fifth overall in the 1990 NFL draft after a stellar collegiate career at USC. Seau played with the Chargers through the 2002 season (leading the Bolts to the Super Bowl in the 1994 season), spent 2003-2005 with the Miami Dolphins and then signed with the New England Patriots in time for the 2006 season in hopes of getting an elusive Super Bowl ring. In New England's perfect regular season of 2007, he played in all 16 games and started four.
Seau first retired after that 2007 season, only to come back and play in 2008 and 2009 with New England before finally leaving the NFL for good. He never did win a Super Bowl. Seau was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame last November and amassed 545 tackles, 56½ sacks and 18 interceptions in his 20-year career. Oddly, he is the eighth member of the 1994 AFC champion Chargers team to have died already.
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At one point, the New Orleans Saints were among the favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII next February in their home Superdome – no team has ever hosted a Super Bowl in their stadium. But the bounty scandal fallout continues to rock this team and the latest came on Wednesday when star linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the heart and soul of the Saints defense, was suspended for the entire 2012 season. New Orleans is now 16/1 to win the Super Bowl on Bovada’s NFL futures odds.
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Of course the Saints are already without head coach Sean Payton for the season, GM Mickey Loomis for the first eight games, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for the first six games for their roles in the bounty program – Vitt will become interim head coach when he is reinstated. And now in addition to Vilma, defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (now with the Packers) was suspended eight games, defensive end Will Smith four games (still with New Orleans) and linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Browns) three games. Look for all the players to appeal (and possibly look into legal remedies), but Commissioner Roger Goodell didn’t change any of the previous Saints suspensions upon appeal.
The Saints obviously expected a lengthy Vilma suspension as they signed linebackers Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne this offseason. Vilma reportedly offered his defensive teammates $10,000 to knock out Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game three seasons ago. And in the playoff game before that, he offered the same amount to knock out Cardinals QB Kurt Warner – and Warner was viciously hit in that game and never played again.
Vilma is the quarterback of that Saints defense, calling out the formations, and had 54 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions last season. Smith was second on the team with 6.5 sacks and had 35 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He will be able to return in Week 5 against San Diego. He misses games vs. the Redskins, at Panthers, vs. Chiefs and at Packers.
The suspended players, except for Vilma, are allowed to take part in their teams' offseason and preseason activities. Vilma's suspension begins immediately and will end after the Super Bowl.
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Of course the Saints are already without head coach Sean Payton for the season, GM Mickey Loomis for the first eight games, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for the first six games for their roles in the bounty program – Vitt will become interim head coach when he is reinstated. And now in addition to Vilma, defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (now with the Packers) was suspended eight games, defensive end Will Smith four games (still with New Orleans) and linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Browns) three games. Look for all the players to appeal (and possibly look into legal remedies), but Commissioner Roger Goodell didn’t change any of the previous Saints suspensions upon appeal.
The Saints obviously expected a lengthy Vilma suspension as they signed linebackers Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne this offseason. Vilma reportedly offered his defensive teammates $10,000 to knock out Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game three seasons ago. And in the playoff game before that, he offered the same amount to knock out Cardinals QB Kurt Warner – and Warner was viciously hit in that game and never played again.
Vilma is the quarterback of that Saints defense, calling out the formations, and had 54 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions last season. Smith was second on the team with 6.5 sacks and had 35 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He will be able to return in Week 5 against San Diego. He misses games vs. the Redskins, at Panthers, vs. Chiefs and at Packers.
The suspended players, except for Vilma, are allowed to take part in their teams' offseason and preseason activities. Vilma's suspension begins immediately and will end after the Super Bowl.
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It’s more than two months until NFL training camps open, but already the Baltimore Ravens have received crushing news that reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs likely will miss the 2012 season with a torn Achilles' tendon.
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Suggs, who is a hybrid linebacker/end, either suffered the injury playing basketball or while working out (depending on which report you believe) and will have surgery next week. That type of injury usually requires nearly a year of rehabilitation, so Baltimore is expected to be without Suggs' stellar pass-rushing skills for the entire season. If it’s not a full tear, then Suggs could play this season. He will see a specialist early next week.
The 29-year-old won Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 after finishing with a career-high 14 sacks, 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions. Three times last season Suggs had three sacks in a game, and he was the only NFL player to record at least five sacks, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles.
Behind Suggs, Baltimore’s defense was No. 3 overall in the league and a big reason why the Ravens went 12-4, won the AFC North title and reached conference championship game. The Ravens are 16/1 on Bovada’s NFL futures odds to win Super Bowl XLVII this February in New Orleans.
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said he learned of the injury on Monday. Thus it was good fortune that Baltimore took former Alabama All-American outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw early in the second round of last week’s draft. However, he was expected to replace outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, who left for San Diego via free agency. Candidates to take over Suggs' spot thus could also include Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle (a 2010 second-round pick) and Michael McAdoo.
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Suggs, who is a hybrid linebacker/end, either suffered the injury playing basketball or while working out (depending on which report you believe) and will have surgery next week. That type of injury usually requires nearly a year of rehabilitation, so Baltimore is expected to be without Suggs' stellar pass-rushing skills for the entire season. If it’s not a full tear, then Suggs could play this season. He will see a specialist early next week.
The 29-year-old won Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 after finishing with a career-high 14 sacks, 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions. Three times last season Suggs had three sacks in a game, and he was the only NFL player to record at least five sacks, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles.
Behind Suggs, Baltimore’s defense was No. 3 overall in the league and a big reason why the Ravens went 12-4, won the AFC North title and reached conference championship game. The Ravens are 16/1 on Bovada’s NFL futures odds to win Super Bowl XLVII this February in New Orleans.
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said he learned of the injury on Monday. Thus it was good fortune that Baltimore took former Alabama All-American outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw early in the second round of last week’s draft. However, he was expected to replace outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, who left for San Diego via free agency. Candidates to take over Suggs' spot thus could also include Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle (a 2010 second-round pick) and Michael McAdoo.
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2006/12/07
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NEW YORK -- After receiving a promise from players that the game will be more competitive, the NFL will hold the Pro Bowl Jan. 27 in Honolulu, a week before the Super Bowl.
Commissioner Roger Goodell had made it clear that canceling the game was a possibility after the uninspired play of this year's 59-41 AFC victory. After discussions between the league and the players' union, the NFL announced Wednesday that Aloha Stadium would host the Pro Bowl for the third straight year.
It will be the 33rd Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
"The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii," NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson said. "We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season's game."
The Pro Bowl was held in Hawaii from 1980 to 2009. In 2010, the NFL moved the game to the week before the Super Bowl for the first time, and it was held in Miami, site of the Super Bowl that year. The Pro Bowl returned to Hawaii for the 2011 and 2012 games but remained one week before the Super Bowl.
"The players believe that the Pro Bowl is an important tradition," NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth said. "We worked hard with the league to make sure the best players in the NFL are honored for their achievements on the field."
News of the Pro Bowl's return was met with praise by Hawaii tourism officials and Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Both Abercrombie and Mike McCartney, chief executive of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, hinted the state plans to deepen its ties to the league by helping it establish relationships in Asia -- a continent with several major markets for tourism to the Aloha State.
"Beyond Hawaii's shores, we look forward to assisting the NFL in expanding upon their relationships in Japan, and help them to establish a presence in China -- both important markets for Hawaii tourism," McCartney said.
McCartney said the relationship of more than 30 years goes beyond the Pro Bowl game itself, and both the state and the NFL would work on improving the overall experience.
"Hawaii looks forward to building upon our long-standing relationship with the NFL Pro Bowl well into the future," McCartney said.
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Commissioner Roger Goodell had made it clear that canceling the game was a possibility after the uninspired play of this year's 59-41 AFC victory. After discussions between the league and the players' union, the NFL announced Wednesday that Aloha Stadium would host the Pro Bowl for the third straight year.
It will be the 33rd Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
"The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii," NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson said. "We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season's game."
The Pro Bowl was held in Hawaii from 1980 to 2009. In 2010, the NFL moved the game to the week before the Super Bowl for the first time, and it was held in Miami, site of the Super Bowl that year. The Pro Bowl returned to Hawaii for the 2011 and 2012 games but remained one week before the Super Bowl.
"The players believe that the Pro Bowl is an important tradition," NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth said. "We worked hard with the league to make sure the best players in the NFL are honored for their achievements on the field."
News of the Pro Bowl's return was met with praise by Hawaii tourism officials and Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Both Abercrombie and Mike McCartney, chief executive of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, hinted the state plans to deepen its ties to the league by helping it establish relationships in Asia -- a continent with several major markets for tourism to the Aloha State.
"Beyond Hawaii's shores, we look forward to assisting the NFL in expanding upon their relationships in Japan, and help them to establish a presence in China -- both important markets for Hawaii tourism," McCartney said.
McCartney said the relationship of more than 30 years goes beyond the Pro Bowl game itself, and both the state and the NFL would work on improving the overall experience.
"Hawaii looks forward to building upon our long-standing relationship with the NFL Pro Bowl well into the future," McCartney said.
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2012/04/08
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CAPTIONBy Christopher Hanewinckel, US PresswireThe recent tragic death of 20-year NFL veteran and Hall of Fame-bound LB Junior Seau has focused a great deal of attention on brain trauma and the impact on NFL players' lives post-football.
Some media have additionally looked at a more troubling situation which may affect many more players -- how ill-equipped today's NFL players seem to be for their transition into retirement. This is a sad phenomenon of the past 25 years. Prior to the 1990s, the vast majority of NFL players prepared themselves for careers when their playing days were done. The advent of multi-million dollar contracts were only just evolving. As hard as it is to fathom, as late as 1975, most NFL players were making less than $75,000 per year.
The NFL offseason in the 1970s and 1980s was truly that -- an offseason. Players had the time and energy to pursue other business ventures and even return to school to obtain their college degrees. Many of those players used their connections in their team's community to develop business relationships. The interactions at club and charitable endeavors allowed relationships to foster with the local business community. All of which provided valuable launching pads to post-NFL career opportunities, and in many cases, soft, successful landings.
The NFL player of the '70s and '80s ended their regular season in December and the Super Bowl was played in mid-January. The players did not return to the football complex until July. Players either stayed and established roots and careers in their team's city or many returned to college as their home. From my days with the Miami Dolphins, I remember players like Nick Buoniconti using that time to get his law degree or Doug Swift to get his medical degree.
As the 1990s approached, and the NFL was feeling the aftereffects of its battle with the USFL, the players began to benefit with increased salaries. The final settlement of the lawsuits over the Collective Bargaining Agreement in 1992 also brought new financial prosperity to the players. Unfortunately, in many ways, it also brought year-round training and organized offseason on- and off-field preparation. Teams started to require onsite offseason workouts, classroom sessions and more and more on-field activities during the winter and spring. The NFL offseason, which once ran from January to late July, shrunk to early February to late June/early July.
The NFL initiated programs to encourage players to continue their education, obtain internships in business and broadcasting and explore entrepreneurial endeavors. As great as the NFL's business management and entrepreneurial programs at Harvard Business School and Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania have been, quite frankly, they accommodate fewer than 5% of the players. Unfortunately, over the years, far too few have taken advantage of these programs, along with the league's broadcasting boot camps.
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By now most people know the story of Brian Banks, the former USC recruit convicted and later exonerated of rape after serving five-plus years in prison.
ESPN-com's Rick Reilly paints the picture of Banks, who is still hoping for his shot in the NFL:
It's not every day that the Washington Redskins call up a man convicted of rape and ask him if he'd agree to a one-day workout, but it happened Tuesday.
Oh, and the Kansas City Chiefs called Tuesday, too. And the Miami Dolphins. And they were three days behind the Seattle Seahawks, who will work him out on June 7.
Why are all these NFL teams eager to check out a convicted sex offender, a man who served five years in prison and wore a GPS ankle bracelet for another five?
Because Brian Banks didn't do it.
A judge in Long Beach, Calif., threw out his kidnapping and rape conviction last week after looking at a videotape of his accuser admitting she lied. After 10 years, he was suddenly a free and innocent man.
"My mouth hurts from smiling so much," Banks told me Tuesday night. "Unbelievable."
Banks was 16 in 2002, the bluest of blue chips out of Long Beach Poly High School, an NFL feeder if there ever was one. He'd already been offered a full-ride scholarship at USC by then-coach Pete Carroll.
But on a summer day that year, he and a girl named Wanetta Gibson decided to go make out in a stairwell at school. When they came out, she accused him of rape.
No semen traces in the rape kit. No witnesses. And yet Banks' attorney insisted he cop a plea, saying his size, age and race would mean a sure conviction of 40-plus years. He said no, no, a hundred times no and finally, reluctantly, yes.
Banks got six years. He served 62 months.
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ESPN-com's Rick Reilly paints the picture of Banks, who is still hoping for his shot in the NFL:
It's not every day that the Washington Redskins call up a man convicted of rape and ask him if he'd agree to a one-day workout, but it happened Tuesday.
Oh, and the Kansas City Chiefs called Tuesday, too. And the Miami Dolphins. And they were three days behind the Seattle Seahawks, who will work him out on June 7.
Why are all these NFL teams eager to check out a convicted sex offender, a man who served five years in prison and wore a GPS ankle bracelet for another five?
Because Brian Banks didn't do it.
A judge in Long Beach, Calif., threw out his kidnapping and rape conviction last week after looking at a videotape of his accuser admitting she lied. After 10 years, he was suddenly a free and innocent man.
"My mouth hurts from smiling so much," Banks told me Tuesday night. "Unbelievable."
Banks was 16 in 2002, the bluest of blue chips out of Long Beach Poly High School, an NFL feeder if there ever was one. He'd already been offered a full-ride scholarship at USC by then-coach Pete Carroll.
But on a summer day that year, he and a girl named Wanetta Gibson decided to go make out in a stairwell at school. When they came out, she accused him of rape.
No semen traces in the rape kit. No witnesses. And yet Banks' attorney insisted he cop a plea, saying his size, age and race would mean a sure conviction of 40-plus years. He said no, no, a hundred times no and finally, reluctantly, yes.
Banks got six years. He served 62 months.
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The BC Lions are coming off a dream season in which they won the Grey Cup in their own stadium, and entering the 2012 campaign they're sitting as the co-favorites on the CFL futures to repeat as the league champions.
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The Lions went 11-7 both SU and ATS during the regular season in 2011, ending up in a three-way tie for the best record in the West. BC asserted themselves in the playoffs, however, first getting past the Eskimos 40-23 in the Western Final and then knocking off the Blue Bombers 34-23 at BC Place to win the 99th Grey Cup.
And on the lines to win the 100th Grey Cup this season the Lions are currently sitting with the Stampeders and the Tiger-Cats as the 9/2 favorites at Bovada. The other two Western clubs are farther down that list, with the Eskimos at 8/1 and the Roughriders at 9/1.
BC got their preseason schedule underway with a bang last week, blasting the Roughriders 44-10 at home as starting quarterback Travis Lulay went 7-of-11 for 72 yards passing in limited action. Mike Reilly did most of the damage for the Lions in that contest, throwing for 189 yards and three TDs, while Andrew Harris ran for a score.
Lulay was the Grey Cup MVP last season, and he threw for 4,815 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during the regular season in 2011. Harris won the Most Valuable Canadian award at last year's championship game.
The Lions close out their preseason schedule with a game in Edmonton on Thursday night this week, and their regular-season slate gets underway on June 29 with a home game against the Blue Bombers.
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The Lions went 11-7 both SU and ATS during the regular season in 2011, ending up in a three-way tie for the best record in the West. BC asserted themselves in the playoffs, however, first getting past the Eskimos 40-23 in the Western Final and then knocking off the Blue Bombers 34-23 at BC Place to win the 99th Grey Cup.
And on the lines to win the 100th Grey Cup this season the Lions are currently sitting with the Stampeders and the Tiger-Cats as the 9/2 favorites at Bovada. The other two Western clubs are farther down that list, with the Eskimos at 8/1 and the Roughriders at 9/1.
BC got their preseason schedule underway with a bang last week, blasting the Roughriders 44-10 at home as starting quarterback Travis Lulay went 7-of-11 for 72 yards passing in limited action. Mike Reilly did most of the damage for the Lions in that contest, throwing for 189 yards and three TDs, while Andrew Harris ran for a score.
Lulay was the Grey Cup MVP last season, and he threw for 4,815 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during the regular season in 2011. Harris won the Most Valuable Canadian award at last year's championship game.
The Lions close out their preseason schedule with a game in Edmonton on Thursday night this week, and their regular-season slate gets underway on June 29 with a home game against the Blue Bombers.
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After stumbling at the end of last season the Winnipeg Blue Bombers still managed to make it to the Grey Cup game – which they lost to the B.C. Lions. The Blue Bombers will look to put together a more consistent campaign in 2012 and get back to the title game. Get early CFL odds for the season at Bovada.
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Winnipeg began the 2011 season with seven wins over their first eight games, but with just three wins over their final 10 games of the campaign they ended up with a 10-8 record – although they were a better option ATS at 11-5-2 on the season.
The Blue Bombers, though, still managed to end up in first place in the Eastern standings, and they got past the Tiger-Cats by a 19-3 score at home in the Eastern Final. That set up Winnipeg on a date with B.C. in the Grey Cup game, which they ended up losing 34-23.
On the Grey Cup odds at Bovada heading into the season the Blue Bombers aren't among the top favorites to win the championship; at 5/1 on those lines they're behind the 9/2 co-favorites from B.C., Calgary, and Hamilton. The other two Eastern clubs, Montreal and Toronto, sit at 11/2 and 13/2, respectively, on those Grey Cup futures.
The Blue Bombers got off on the right foot in their preseason opener last week, winning 22-10 on the road against the Alouettes on the strength of five field goals and a rushing score from Bloi-Dei Dorzon. Winnipeg starting QB Buck Pierce sat out the contest.
Winnipeg will close out its preseason schedule on Wednesday night at home against Hamilton, and their regular season will kick off on June 29 with a Grey Cup rematch in British Columbia against the Lions.
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Winnipeg began the 2011 season with seven wins over their first eight games, but with just three wins over their final 10 games of the campaign they ended up with a 10-8 record – although they were a better option ATS at 11-5-2 on the season.
The Blue Bombers, though, still managed to end up in first place in the Eastern standings, and they got past the Tiger-Cats by a 19-3 score at home in the Eastern Final. That set up Winnipeg on a date with B.C. in the Grey Cup game, which they ended up losing 34-23.
On the Grey Cup odds at Bovada heading into the season the Blue Bombers aren't among the top favorites to win the championship; at 5/1 on those lines they're behind the 9/2 co-favorites from B.C., Calgary, and Hamilton. The other two Eastern clubs, Montreal and Toronto, sit at 11/2 and 13/2, respectively, on those Grey Cup futures.
The Blue Bombers got off on the right foot in their preseason opener last week, winning 22-10 on the road against the Alouettes on the strength of five field goals and a rushing score from Bloi-Dei Dorzon. Winnipeg starting QB Buck Pierce sat out the contest.
Winnipeg will close out its preseason schedule on Wednesday night at home against Hamilton, and their regular season will kick off on June 29 with a Grey Cup rematch in British Columbia against the Lions.
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Quarterback Travis Lulay led the B.C. Lions to the Grey Cup title last season, and he is the preseason favorite on Bovada’s CFL player props to lead the CFL in passing yards and touchdown throws in the 2012 season, which kicks off Friday night.
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Lulay is a 28-year-old from Oregon who has been with the Lions for three seasons and a starter in the Canadian Football League for just one. And last year, Lulay was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player after throwing for 4,815 yards (second in the CFL) and 32 touchdowns (tied for first). He is the 2/1 favorite to lead the league in yards this season and the 9/4 co-favorite to again lead in TD passes.
Lulay played collegiately at Montana State and left in 2005 with a handful of school records that included 10,724 career passing yards. He first signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2006, got released and re-signed by the same team on two other occasions, spent a year in NFL Europe and some time with the New Orleans Saints before he signed with the Lions as a free agent three years ago.
Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo is the all-time passing leader in the CFL and led the league in yards last year with 5,251 while tying Lulay with 32 TD passes. Calvillo is the 5/2 second-favorite to lead the CFL in yards this season and the 9/4 co-favorite with Lulay to lead in TD passes.
The favorite to lead the league in rushing yards is Toronto’s Cory Boyd at 9/4. He finished second in rushing yards a season ago with 1,141. Montreal’s Brandon Whitaker led the CFL with 1,381 yards on the ground and is at 3/1 to win that category in 2012. The Alouettes’ Jamel Richardson is the favorite to lead the CFL in receptions (5/2) and receiving yards (also 5/2) this year. He led the way in both in 2011 with 112 catches for 1,777 yards.
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Lulay is a 28-year-old from Oregon who has been with the Lions for three seasons and a starter in the Canadian Football League for just one. And last year, Lulay was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player after throwing for 4,815 yards (second in the CFL) and 32 touchdowns (tied for first). He is the 2/1 favorite to lead the league in yards this season and the 9/4 co-favorite to again lead in TD passes.
Lulay played collegiately at Montana State and left in 2005 with a handful of school records that included 10,724 career passing yards. He first signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2006, got released and re-signed by the same team on two other occasions, spent a year in NFL Europe and some time with the New Orleans Saints before he signed with the Lions as a free agent three years ago.
Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo is the all-time passing leader in the CFL and led the league in yards last year with 5,251 while tying Lulay with 32 TD passes. Calvillo is the 5/2 second-favorite to lead the CFL in yards this season and the 9/4 co-favorite with Lulay to lead in TD passes.
The favorite to lead the league in rushing yards is Toronto’s Cory Boyd at 9/4. He finished second in rushing yards a season ago with 1,141. Montreal’s Brandon Whitaker led the CFL with 1,381 yards on the ground and is at 3/1 to win that category in 2012. The Alouettes’ Jamel Richardson is the favorite to lead the CFL in receptions (5/2) and receiving yards (also 5/2) this year. He led the way in both in 2011 with 112 catches for 1,777 yards.
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The BC Lions are the defending champions and the Grey Cup favorites on the CFL futures at Bovada, but the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Calgary Stampeders are right behind them on that list with the regular season getting underway on Friday night.
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The Lions were listed at 7/2 on the Grey Cup odds at last update, with the Tiger-Cats second on those futures at 9/2 to improve on their 2011 season results this time around. Hamilton managed to upset Montreal in their playoff opener last year before falling to Winnipeg in the Eastern Final.
And Hamilton has some new weapons at its disposal this season as it guns for a Grey Cup title, with quarterback Henry Burris now in the fold along with wide receivers Andy Fantuz and Samuel Giguere. The Tiger-Cats are also the +175 favorites to win the East.
The Stampeders are third at 5/1 on the current Grey Cup futures; they lost to the Eskimos in their first-round playoff matchup last year after putting up a solid 11-7 record (10-7-1 ATS) during the regular season. Calgary sits at +200 to win the West, behind +125 B.C.
The middle tier of Grey Cup contenders according to the oddsmakers at Bovada are then Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg, with the Alouettes at 11/2 on those futures and the Argonauts and Blue Bombers both at 6/1. Montreal (+225), Toronto (+350), and Winnipeg (+350) all trail favored Hamilton on the odds to win the East.
The Eskimos and Roughriders then round out the Grey Cup futures list at Bovada at 9/1 odds to win the league's 100th title this season; Edmonton is back at +450 to win the West, with Saskatchewan at +500.
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The Lions were listed at 7/2 on the Grey Cup odds at last update, with the Tiger-Cats second on those futures at 9/2 to improve on their 2011 season results this time around. Hamilton managed to upset Montreal in their playoff opener last year before falling to Winnipeg in the Eastern Final.
And Hamilton has some new weapons at its disposal this season as it guns for a Grey Cup title, with quarterback Henry Burris now in the fold along with wide receivers Andy Fantuz and Samuel Giguere. The Tiger-Cats are also the +175 favorites to win the East.
The Stampeders are third at 5/1 on the current Grey Cup futures; they lost to the Eskimos in their first-round playoff matchup last year after putting up a solid 11-7 record (10-7-1 ATS) during the regular season. Calgary sits at +200 to win the West, behind +125 B.C.
The middle tier of Grey Cup contenders according to the oddsmakers at Bovada are then Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg, with the Alouettes at 11/2 on those futures and the Argonauts and Blue Bombers both at 6/1. Montreal (+225), Toronto (+350), and Winnipeg (+350) all trail favored Hamilton on the odds to win the East.
The Eskimos and Roughriders then round out the Grey Cup futures list at Bovada at 9/1 odds to win the league's 100th title this season; Edmonton is back at +450 to win the West, with Saskatchewan at +500.
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Quarterback Travis Lulay and the powerful B.C. Lions will try to follow up their impressive Week 1 showing by laying a beatdown on another East team, as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats roll into Vancouver for a Friday night (10:00 pm Eastern) clash with the Lions in this weekend’s marquee matchup on the CFL betting odds.
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Lulay completed 17-of-25 passing attempts for 233 yards and a touchdown as the Lions dominated the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-16 in Week 1 action on the odds, including five completions for 105 yards to standout veteran WR Geroy Simon who became the CFL’s new all-time leader in receiving yards.
Hamilton was pummelled 43-16 by Saskatchewan in their opener, which marked the Tiger-Cat debuts of QB Henry Burris and SB Andy Fantuz, and they’ll be looking for a much better performance in Vancouver against the defending Grey Cup champions on Friday.
Burris connected on 28-of-39 passing attempts for 284 yards but was unable to throw a touchdown pass, while Fantuz’s impact was minimal with five receptions for 49 yards. Rookie RB Chevon Walker started in place of veteran Avon Cobourne and scored the only major for Hamilton on an electrifying 89-yard run. 2011 CFL rookie of the year Chris Williams caught nine passes for 109 yards.
Hamilton won both games outright as underdogs last season, defeating B.C. 42-10 at Ivor Wynne last October after beating the Lions 39-31 in Vancouver last July.
Elsewhere in Week 2 action around the league, Winnipeg is at Montreal to take on the Alouettes in an all-East matchup on Friday night (7:00 pm), Calgary visits Toronto to battle with the Argos on Saturday afternoon (3:00 pm), and Edmonton tangles with the West rival Roughriders in Saskatchewan on Sunday night (7:00 pm).
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Lulay completed 17-of-25 passing attempts for 233 yards and a touchdown as the Lions dominated the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-16 in Week 1 action on the odds, including five completions for 105 yards to standout veteran WR Geroy Simon who became the CFL’s new all-time leader in receiving yards.
Hamilton was pummelled 43-16 by Saskatchewan in their opener, which marked the Tiger-Cat debuts of QB Henry Burris and SB Andy Fantuz, and they’ll be looking for a much better performance in Vancouver against the defending Grey Cup champions on Friday.
Burris connected on 28-of-39 passing attempts for 284 yards but was unable to throw a touchdown pass, while Fantuz’s impact was minimal with five receptions for 49 yards. Rookie RB Chevon Walker started in place of veteran Avon Cobourne and scored the only major for Hamilton on an electrifying 89-yard run. 2011 CFL rookie of the year Chris Williams caught nine passes for 109 yards.
Hamilton won both games outright as underdogs last season, defeating B.C. 42-10 at Ivor Wynne last October after beating the Lions 39-31 in Vancouver last July.
Elsewhere in Week 2 action around the league, Winnipeg is at Montreal to take on the Alouettes in an all-East matchup on Friday night (7:00 pm), Calgary visits Toronto to battle with the Argos on Saturday afternoon (3:00 pm), and Edmonton tangles with the West rival Roughriders in Saskatchewan on Sunday night (7:00 pm).
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When this season began the Saskatchewan Roughriders were rated dead last at longshot 9/1 odds to win the Grey Cup on the CFL futures at Bovada. After just two weeks of action on the CFL betting odds those same Roughriders are now ranked in a tie for second on the Grey Cup futures at 11/2 odds, they’re unbeaten both ATS and SU, and focused on a Week 3 showdown at home against the powerful B.C. Lions with first place at stake in the West. B.C. is a 3-point favorite on Bovada’s CFL football odds.
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Saskatchewan is coming off a 17-1 stifling of the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 2, after pounding the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-16 back in Week 1. It doesn’t take a particle physicist to figure out that adds up to a combined aggregate score of 60-17, and conclude that the Roughriders are firing on all cylinders in the early going.
British Columbia, meanwhile, has opened up the 2012 season as the defending Grey Cup champions with a 33-16 romp over Winnipeg back in Week 1 before holding off Hamilton last week in a tight 39-36 victory that featured a combined 811 yards of total offense, including 147 yards rushing on just 13 carries by Lions RB Andrew Harris.
Last year the Lions rolled into Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field in Regina for two games in less than a month and covered easily both times, winning 42-5 in late September and 29-18 in mid-October. Prior to those results, they also covered at home with a 24-11 victory in August in Vancouver. This time around, expect QB Darian Durant, WR Weston Dressler and RB Kory Sheets to generate some real offensive momentum for the home side against the Lions.
Elsewhere in Week 3 CFL betting action, Thursday night has Calgary at Montreal (7:30 p.m.), with Winnipeg at Edmonton on Friday night (9 p.m.), and Toronto paying a visit to hostile Hamilton territory to tangle with the Tiger-Cats on Saturday night (7 p.m.).
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Saskatchewan is coming off a 17-1 stifling of the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 2, after pounding the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-16 back in Week 1. It doesn’t take a particle physicist to figure out that adds up to a combined aggregate score of 60-17, and conclude that the Roughriders are firing on all cylinders in the early going.
British Columbia, meanwhile, has opened up the 2012 season as the defending Grey Cup champions with a 33-16 romp over Winnipeg back in Week 1 before holding off Hamilton last week in a tight 39-36 victory that featured a combined 811 yards of total offense, including 147 yards rushing on just 13 carries by Lions RB Andrew Harris.
Last year the Lions rolled into Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field in Regina for two games in less than a month and covered easily both times, winning 42-5 in late September and 29-18 in mid-October. Prior to those results, they also covered at home with a 24-11 victory in August in Vancouver. This time around, expect QB Darian Durant, WR Weston Dressler and RB Kory Sheets to generate some real offensive momentum for the home side against the Lions.
Elsewhere in Week 3 CFL betting action, Thursday night has Calgary at Montreal (7:30 p.m.), with Winnipeg at Edmonton on Friday night (9 p.m.), and Toronto paying a visit to hostile Hamilton territory to tangle with the Tiger-Cats on Saturday night (7 p.m.).
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The Bears, who had two third-round picks in this draft (thanks to the Greg Olson trade to Carolina last year) have been looking forever for a big, No. 1 receiver to help Cutler out. It was presumed the Bears would take a receiver with their first-round pick in this year’s draft but now they could look elsewhere. The 6-foot-4 Marshall instantly gives the Bears’ offense, now under first-year coordinator Mike Tice, a big-time playmaker. Chicago hasn't had a receiver with a 1,000-yard season in nine years.
Read More: Brandon Marshall a Super Bowl Piece for Chicago Bears? | Gambling Beat News