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With plenty of entertaining options to choose from during this week's slate of NFL action, this slideshow offers a glimpse at some of the juiciest matchups from around the league.
As football fans, we’re forced to sit and wait around for months until football season arrives. Well once it finally gets here, it seems to fly by faster than LeSean McCoy racing down the sidelines for a touchdown. Believe it or not, after this week, most teams will officially be one quarter of the way through an entire NFL season.
Considering the speed in which things are moving, it’s important we try to soak up as much of the excitement as we possibly can. Hopefully this slideshow helps with that.
Pictures: What to Watch for in NFL Week 4 | Bleacher Report
As football fans, we’re forced to sit and wait around for months until football season arrives. Well once it finally gets here, it seems to fly by faster than LeSean McCoy racing down the sidelines for a touchdown. Believe it or not, after this week, most teams will officially be one quarter of the way through an entire NFL season.
Considering the speed in which things are moving, it’s important we try to soak up as much of the excitement as we possibly can. Hopefully this slideshow helps with that.
Pictures: What to Watch for in NFL Week 4 | Bleacher Report
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2006/12/07
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Seattle, Denver, New England and Kansas City remained unblemished.
The rest of the NFL remained unbelievable.
Cleveland beat Cincinnati? The Browns were supposed to be cooked a couple weeks ago when they traded running back Trent Richardson to Indianapolis and promoted third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer to starter. Now, they've won consecutive games and just knocked off the best team in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is winless? Yes, the Steelers lost in London to Minnesota, 34-27. It was the first win of the season for the Vikings.
"We are in uncharted territories and the water is dangerous right now," Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "So we have to stick together and get out of it. Right now, you could say we're the worst team in the league. That hurts."
Not so fast. The New York Giants can stake their claim to that title. After Sunday's 31-7 defeat at Kansas City, one Giants player was feeling so adrift he even turned to reporters for a potential remedy.
"If y'all find some answers, let me know," defensive end Justin Tuck said to those gathered around his locker. "I'm willing to try anything and everything."
Anything and everything. That's an accurate description of what happened around the league in Week 4.
Detroit scored four touchdowns and four field goals against Chicago in a 40-32 victory over the Bears. Jay Cutler came into that game with a 7-1 record against the Lions and one interception in those eight games. Sunday, the Chicago quarterback had three interceptions and a fumble.
The Bears rallied down the stretch, but they could never fully recover from giving up so much ground in the first half, when they fell behind, 30-10.
"There are no moral victories, but I thought our guys played tough for the last 30 minutes of that game," Bears Coach Marc Trestman said.
No moral victories? There are certainly morale victories, and that's what San Diego accomplished by beating Dallas at home, 30-21. The Chargers, who typically fold like origami at the end of games, avoided fatal mistakes and outscored the Cowboys in the second half, 20-0.
Like the Chargers, Seattle was similarly, well, half-hearted.
After falling behind in the first two quarters, 20-3, the Seahawks shut down Houston in the second half and collected a major character-building victory. They are notoriously weaker on the road, and they were missing three starting offensive linemen — among them Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung and Pro Bowl center Max Unger — and yet Pete Carroll's players got the job done.
The touchdown that forced overtime was a 58-yard interception return by Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.
Carroll said that on that pick-six "it was like the world stopped for a second there because he had the ball in his hands and no one in front of him, and we had practiced exactly that."
If practice makes perfect, Peyton Manning and the Broncos sure have practiced a lot. In blowing out Philadelphia, 52-20, Denver scored the most points in franchise history and pushed its regular-season winning streak to 15 games, each by at least a touchdown.
Comeback Cardinals
Seattle wasn't the only team to dig its way out of a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. So did Arizona in its 13-10 victory at Tampa Bay.
The Cardinals trailed, 10-0, in the fourth quarter before rallying. Patrick Peterson had two interceptions in the final period, the first setting up Carson Palmer's 13-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald, and the second clinching the victory that sent the Buccaneers to 0-4.
The NFL is hard to figure out - latimes-com
The rest of the NFL remained unbelievable.
Cleveland beat Cincinnati? The Browns were supposed to be cooked a couple weeks ago when they traded running back Trent Richardson to Indianapolis and promoted third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer to starter. Now, they've won consecutive games and just knocked off the best team in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is winless? Yes, the Steelers lost in London to Minnesota, 34-27. It was the first win of the season for the Vikings.
"We are in uncharted territories and the water is dangerous right now," Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "So we have to stick together and get out of it. Right now, you could say we're the worst team in the league. That hurts."
Not so fast. The New York Giants can stake their claim to that title. After Sunday's 31-7 defeat at Kansas City, one Giants player was feeling so adrift he even turned to reporters for a potential remedy.
"If y'all find some answers, let me know," defensive end Justin Tuck said to those gathered around his locker. "I'm willing to try anything and everything."
Anything and everything. That's an accurate description of what happened around the league in Week 4.
Detroit scored four touchdowns and four field goals against Chicago in a 40-32 victory over the Bears. Jay Cutler came into that game with a 7-1 record against the Lions and one interception in those eight games. Sunday, the Chicago quarterback had three interceptions and a fumble.
The Bears rallied down the stretch, but they could never fully recover from giving up so much ground in the first half, when they fell behind, 30-10.
"There are no moral victories, but I thought our guys played tough for the last 30 minutes of that game," Bears Coach Marc Trestman said.
No moral victories? There are certainly morale victories, and that's what San Diego accomplished by beating Dallas at home, 30-21. The Chargers, who typically fold like origami at the end of games, avoided fatal mistakes and outscored the Cowboys in the second half, 20-0.
Like the Chargers, Seattle was similarly, well, half-hearted.
After falling behind in the first two quarters, 20-3, the Seahawks shut down Houston in the second half and collected a major character-building victory. They are notoriously weaker on the road, and they were missing three starting offensive linemen — among them Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung and Pro Bowl center Max Unger — and yet Pete Carroll's players got the job done.
The touchdown that forced overtime was a 58-yard interception return by Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.
Carroll said that on that pick-six "it was like the world stopped for a second there because he had the ball in his hands and no one in front of him, and we had practiced exactly that."
If practice makes perfect, Peyton Manning and the Broncos sure have practiced a lot. In blowing out Philadelphia, 52-20, Denver scored the most points in franchise history and pushed its regular-season winning streak to 15 games, each by at least a touchdown.
Comeback Cardinals
Seattle wasn't the only team to dig its way out of a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. So did Arizona in its 13-10 victory at Tampa Bay.
The Cardinals trailed, 10-0, in the fourth quarter before rallying. Patrick Peterson had two interceptions in the final period, the first setting up Carson Palmer's 13-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald, and the second clinching the victory that sent the Buccaneers to 0-4.
The NFL is hard to figure out - latimes-com
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It has not been a good season for Josh Freeman. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback has been demoted after a three-game stretch and the Bucs even asked him to watch their most recent game from a suite at Raymond James Stadium. This happened after Freeman was declared inactive prior to the Buccaneers’ 13-10 loss to Arizona, in which rookie quarterback Mike Glennon threw two game-changing interceptions. Freeman, the team’s first-round pick in 2009, has asked to be traded or released.
Things got even stranger on Monday, when a report from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen revealed that Freeman was a Stage 1 participant in the NFL’s drug program. Mortensen’s report indicated that Freeman has a temporary use exemption for a prescription drug that would otherwise be outside the boundaries of the NFL’s substance-abuse policies. There are three stages to the program, and a player’s status is dependent on several factors. A Stage 1 status does not automatically indicate that Freeman ever tested positive for any banned substance without an exemption.
As Mortensen reported, teams perhaps interested in Freeman as a trade asset are allowed to know his standing in the league’s drug program only if he is one strike away from a suspension. Freeman has never tested positive for a banned substance, based on the exemption. Thus, the “league and player sources” who gave the information to Mortensen were violating Freeman’s confidentiality rights.
In response to this, Freeman issued a Monday statement through his agents explaining the report, and his participation in the program. Pro Football Talk was the first to post it.
Let me be very clear. I have NEVER tested positive for any illegal drugs or related substances. Further, I have agreed to take, and have PASSED 46 NFL-regulated drug tests over the last year and a half.
Since the confidentiality of my medical status has been publicly violated, I am choosing to address this matter so that grossly erroneous assumptions about me do not persist. Like millions of Americans, I have ADHD and I have been prescribed and permitted to take medication to treat this condition for the entirety of my NFL career. Well over a year ago, I took a different medication for the same condition (Ritalin rather than Adderall) , and to assure everyone that the error was a one-time mistake, I agreed to be voluntarily tested in the “NFL Program”. Since that time, I have taken and passed all 46 drug tests I’ve been given, which test for every drug and banned substance imaginable. I agreed to allow such testing to be done at my workplace (team facility) because I spend all of my time there and I have nothing whatsoever to hide or be embarrassed about.
Unfortunately, it appears that some people who may have noticed the testing at my workplace have made hurtful and incorrect assumptions and chosen to disseminate inaccurate and very disturbing information. It is a shame that when times have gotten tough, people have chosen to attack the character of others, rather than supporting each other. I remain dedicated and focused to being the best quarterback I can be and to help a team win a championship.
There is no indication who released this information.
Buccaneers' Josh Freeman explains participation in NFL's drug program | Audibles - SI-com
Things got even stranger on Monday, when a report from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen revealed that Freeman was a Stage 1 participant in the NFL’s drug program. Mortensen’s report indicated that Freeman has a temporary use exemption for a prescription drug that would otherwise be outside the boundaries of the NFL’s substance-abuse policies. There are three stages to the program, and a player’s status is dependent on several factors. A Stage 1 status does not automatically indicate that Freeman ever tested positive for any banned substance without an exemption.
As Mortensen reported, teams perhaps interested in Freeman as a trade asset are allowed to know his standing in the league’s drug program only if he is one strike away from a suspension. Freeman has never tested positive for a banned substance, based on the exemption. Thus, the “league and player sources” who gave the information to Mortensen were violating Freeman’s confidentiality rights.
In response to this, Freeman issued a Monday statement through his agents explaining the report, and his participation in the program. Pro Football Talk was the first to post it.
Let me be very clear. I have NEVER tested positive for any illegal drugs or related substances. Further, I have agreed to take, and have PASSED 46 NFL-regulated drug tests over the last year and a half.
Since the confidentiality of my medical status has been publicly violated, I am choosing to address this matter so that grossly erroneous assumptions about me do not persist. Like millions of Americans, I have ADHD and I have been prescribed and permitted to take medication to treat this condition for the entirety of my NFL career. Well over a year ago, I took a different medication for the same condition (Ritalin rather than Adderall) , and to assure everyone that the error was a one-time mistake, I agreed to be voluntarily tested in the “NFL Program”. Since that time, I have taken and passed all 46 drug tests I’ve been given, which test for every drug and banned substance imaginable. I agreed to allow such testing to be done at my workplace (team facility) because I spend all of my time there and I have nothing whatsoever to hide or be embarrassed about.
Unfortunately, it appears that some people who may have noticed the testing at my workplace have made hurtful and incorrect assumptions and chosen to disseminate inaccurate and very disturbing information. It is a shame that when times have gotten tough, people have chosen to attack the character of others, rather than supporting each other. I remain dedicated and focused to being the best quarterback I can be and to help a team win a championship.
There is no indication who released this information.
Buccaneers' Josh Freeman explains participation in NFL's drug program | Audibles - SI-com
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The NFL Players Assn. wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFL's substance abuse program.
NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said Tuesday, "We are sufficiently concerned about what we've heard to begin an investigation."
Freeman said in a statement released by his agent late Monday that he voluntarily entered the substance-abuse program and submitted to random testing more than a year ago after he mistakenly took Ridalin instead of Adderall to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The Buccaneers benched the fifth-year pro last week after Freeman played poorly in the team's first three games, all losses. The quarterback believes someone within the organization leaked information about him being in the league's drug testing program.
Coach Greg Schiano said he was "absolutely not" the source for an ESPN report that Freeman is in Stage I of the substance-abuse program.
Freeman's statement, released through agent Erik Burkhardt, said he has passed all 46 drug tests he's taken for the league since entering the program.
The quarterback said he is "prescribed and permitted to take medication" to treat ADHD for the entirety of his NFL career and that he has never tested positive for "any illegal drugs or related substances."
Locker out a few weeks
Tennessee quarterback Jake Locker will miss a "few weeks" with a sprained hip, and the Titans say they are encouraged by the news from a second MRI exam.
The Titans released a statement Tuesday with the update, but did not say how long the quarterback will need to recover.
Coach Mike Munchak had dismissed reports Monday that Locker would miss at least a month and possibly up to eight weeks, saying everyone was just "guessing." He said they needed the second MRI exam because Locker had swelling in his hip.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday for the Titans (3-1) against Kansas City (4-0), and Tennessee has not made any roster move yet to add another quarterback to the roster. Rusty Smith already is on the practice squad, but the Titans would have to release someone else to promote him to the roster in a move that would not have to be made until Saturday.
Etc.
San Francisco strong safety Donte Whitner was fined $21,000 for his hit on St. Louis wide receiver Chris Givens in the 49ers' victory Thursday. Whitner said he would appeal. ... Minnesota Vikings Coach Leslie Frazier says he wants to see how Christian Ponder's injured ribs progress through the bye week before he makes a decision on a starting quarterback. Frazier spoke Tuesday, two days after backup Matt Cassel helped engineer the Vikings' first win of the season, a 34-27 victory over Pittsburgh in London. ... One of the NFL's worst defenses added a pair of players when defensive end Jarvis Jenkins and outside linebacker Rob Jackson returned to the Washington Redskins' roster after their four-game suspensions. ... The New York Jets have released wide receiver Ben Obomanu, and are considering other options to help offset injuries to Santonio Holmes and Stephen Hill. ... With C.J. Spiller's left ankle still sore, and Fred Jackson set to play with a brace on his injured left knee, the Buffalo Bills' third-string running back Tashard Choice is ready in reserve for Thursday's game against Cleveland.
Josh Freeman was in NFL's substance abuse program - latimes-com
NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said Tuesday, "We are sufficiently concerned about what we've heard to begin an investigation."
Freeman said in a statement released by his agent late Monday that he voluntarily entered the substance-abuse program and submitted to random testing more than a year ago after he mistakenly took Ridalin instead of Adderall to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The Buccaneers benched the fifth-year pro last week after Freeman played poorly in the team's first three games, all losses. The quarterback believes someone within the organization leaked information about him being in the league's drug testing program.
Coach Greg Schiano said he was "absolutely not" the source for an ESPN report that Freeman is in Stage I of the substance-abuse program.
Freeman's statement, released through agent Erik Burkhardt, said he has passed all 46 drug tests he's taken for the league since entering the program.
The quarterback said he is "prescribed and permitted to take medication" to treat ADHD for the entirety of his NFL career and that he has never tested positive for "any illegal drugs or related substances."
Locker out a few weeks
Tennessee quarterback Jake Locker will miss a "few weeks" with a sprained hip, and the Titans say they are encouraged by the news from a second MRI exam.
The Titans released a statement Tuesday with the update, but did not say how long the quarterback will need to recover.
Coach Mike Munchak had dismissed reports Monday that Locker would miss at least a month and possibly up to eight weeks, saying everyone was just "guessing." He said they needed the second MRI exam because Locker had swelling in his hip.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday for the Titans (3-1) against Kansas City (4-0), and Tennessee has not made any roster move yet to add another quarterback to the roster. Rusty Smith already is on the practice squad, but the Titans would have to release someone else to promote him to the roster in a move that would not have to be made until Saturday.
Etc.
San Francisco strong safety Donte Whitner was fined $21,000 for his hit on St. Louis wide receiver Chris Givens in the 49ers' victory Thursday. Whitner said he would appeal. ... Minnesota Vikings Coach Leslie Frazier says he wants to see how Christian Ponder's injured ribs progress through the bye week before he makes a decision on a starting quarterback. Frazier spoke Tuesday, two days after backup Matt Cassel helped engineer the Vikings' first win of the season, a 34-27 victory over Pittsburgh in London. ... One of the NFL's worst defenses added a pair of players when defensive end Jarvis Jenkins and outside linebacker Rob Jackson returned to the Washington Redskins' roster after their four-game suspensions. ... The New York Jets have released wide receiver Ben Obomanu, and are considering other options to help offset injuries to Santonio Holmes and Stephen Hill. ... With C.J. Spiller's left ankle still sore, and Fred Jackson set to play with a brace on his injured left knee, the Buffalo Bills' third-string running back Tashard Choice is ready in reserve for Thursday's game against Cleveland.
Josh Freeman was in NFL's substance abuse program - latimes-com
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The NFL and the NFLPA don't agree on everything, but they can come together when it comes to the confidentiality of the league's substance-abuse program. Information concerning Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman's status in the program came out publicly on Monday, and the NFL wants to find out how. On Wednesday's edition of NFL Network's "Around the League Live," NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the league plans to investigate the leak, per a source informed of the matter. Rapoport added that it's standard league procedure to investigate such leaks to find out how information became public.
A violation of the collectively bargained Intervention Policy could result in a fine between $10,000 and $500,000, Rapoport said.
NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith also said Tuesday that he wants to investigate how information about Freeman's status became public knowledge.
In a written statement, Freeman addressed the report that he is in stage one of the league's drug program.
Bucs coach Greg Schiano said he was "absolutely not" the source of the information. The team reportedly told Freeman not to attend a team meeting on Tuesday, but Freeman was back on the field with the team on Wednesday.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello addressed the issue in an email to Around The League. "We do not believe it is appropriate to comment, but the confidentiality provision of our drug program is critically important and a breach of that confidentiality by any party is a serious violation of our collectively bargained policy," Aiello said in a statement.
The Buccaneers currently are in their bye week. The timing is fortunate because it allows the team to spend the time necessary to address the issue. Don't be surprised if Freeman is no longer in the building next week, one way or another.
Josh Freeman drug program leak to be probed by NFL - NFL-com
A violation of the collectively bargained Intervention Policy could result in a fine between $10,000 and $500,000, Rapoport said.
NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith also said Tuesday that he wants to investigate how information about Freeman's status became public knowledge.
In a written statement, Freeman addressed the report that he is in stage one of the league's drug program.
Bucs coach Greg Schiano said he was "absolutely not" the source of the information. The team reportedly told Freeman not to attend a team meeting on Tuesday, but Freeman was back on the field with the team on Wednesday.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello addressed the issue in an email to Around The League. "We do not believe it is appropriate to comment, but the confidentiality provision of our drug program is critically important and a breach of that confidentiality by any party is a serious violation of our collectively bargained policy," Aiello said in a statement.
The Buccaneers currently are in their bye week. The timing is fortunate because it allows the team to spend the time necessary to address the issue. Don't be surprised if Freeman is no longer in the building next week, one way or another.
Josh Freeman drug program leak to be probed by NFL - NFL-com
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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, in an email to 10 million names in its database Thursday, highlighted the league's safety programs and new emphasis on safety in youth football.
The letter came a day after two excerpts from a new book -- "League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth" -- detailed what authors Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru claim was the NFL using its power and resources to downplay the effects of concussions on NFL players.
In his letter, Goodell said the NFL is committed "to deliver the game that the fans love and the safety that players deserve." He also wrote that "we will continue to find ways to protect players so they can enjoy longer careers on the field and healthier lives off the field."
The 1,000-plus-word letter comes on the heels of excerpts of "League of Denial," which ran on ESPN-com and in Sports Illustrated. The book claims that the NFL used its power and resources to discredit independent scientists and their work, that the league cited research data that minimized the dangers of concussions while emphasizing the league's flawed research and that league executives employed an aggressive public relations strategy designed to keep the public unaware of what league executives really knew about the effects of playing the game. It says the NFL's stance on concussions began under former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who left office in 2006, but continued under Goodell, his successor. The book claims that the NFL underplayed concussions despite paying out $2 million in disability benefits in 1999.
The health of former players and the league's previous scientific exploration formed the basis of a lawsuit filed against the NFL by more than 4,500 former players. The players charged that the league's Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee conducted fraudulent research to hide the connection between football and brain damage. On Aug. 29, the NFL and the former players settled the lawsuit for $765 million.
In the letter, Goodell wrote that "there have been numerous safety-related rules changes going back decades: from the 1970s when we eliminated the head slap, to the 80s when we eliminated clubbing, to the 90s when we increased protection for defenseless players, to the 2000s when the horse collar tackle was made illegal. When we identify dangerous techniques, we adopt rules to eliminate them."
He added: "Our commitment goes beyond the NFL. We know that our actions influence college, high school, and youth football. It is part of a shared responsibility to protect the future of our game. We are especially proud of our partnership with USA Football this year to successfully launch 'Heads Up Football,' a program designed to ensure that coaches are trained and certified in proper tackling techniques as well as concussion and hydration education."
He concluded by writing that "Football will remain the hard-hitting, physical sport that you love. And we will continue to be vigilant in seeking ways to make the game even better and safer. The future of football is brighter, bigger, better, and more exciting than ever" and thanking fans for their support.
"League of Denial" will be released Tuesday by Crown Archetype.
Roger Goodell emails NFL fans about league safety - ESPN
The letter came a day after two excerpts from a new book -- "League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth" -- detailed what authors Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru claim was the NFL using its power and resources to downplay the effects of concussions on NFL players.
In his letter, Goodell said the NFL is committed "to deliver the game that the fans love and the safety that players deserve." He also wrote that "we will continue to find ways to protect players so they can enjoy longer careers on the field and healthier lives off the field."
The 1,000-plus-word letter comes on the heels of excerpts of "League of Denial," which ran on ESPN-com and in Sports Illustrated. The book claims that the NFL used its power and resources to discredit independent scientists and their work, that the league cited research data that minimized the dangers of concussions while emphasizing the league's flawed research and that league executives employed an aggressive public relations strategy designed to keep the public unaware of what league executives really knew about the effects of playing the game. It says the NFL's stance on concussions began under former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who left office in 2006, but continued under Goodell, his successor. The book claims that the NFL underplayed concussions despite paying out $2 million in disability benefits in 1999.
The health of former players and the league's previous scientific exploration formed the basis of a lawsuit filed against the NFL by more than 4,500 former players. The players charged that the league's Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee conducted fraudulent research to hide the connection between football and brain damage. On Aug. 29, the NFL and the former players settled the lawsuit for $765 million.
In the letter, Goodell wrote that "there have been numerous safety-related rules changes going back decades: from the 1970s when we eliminated the head slap, to the 80s when we eliminated clubbing, to the 90s when we increased protection for defenseless players, to the 2000s when the horse collar tackle was made illegal. When we identify dangerous techniques, we adopt rules to eliminate them."
He added: "Our commitment goes beyond the NFL. We know that our actions influence college, high school, and youth football. It is part of a shared responsibility to protect the future of our game. We are especially proud of our partnership with USA Football this year to successfully launch 'Heads Up Football,' a program designed to ensure that coaches are trained and certified in proper tackling techniques as well as concussion and hydration education."
He concluded by writing that "Football will remain the hard-hitting, physical sport that you love. And we will continue to be vigilant in seeking ways to make the game even better and safer. The future of football is brighter, bigger, better, and more exciting than ever" and thanking fans for their support.
"League of Denial" will be released Tuesday by Crown Archetype.
Roger Goodell emails NFL fans about league safety - ESPN
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One of my former players, Chris Hayes, called me this week. He had a good career, seven years, as a special-teams player with the Packers, Jets and Patriots, and we’ve stayed in touch since he left the game in 2003. The first thing he said to me was, “Coach, where have the special teams gone?”
I knew exactly what he meant. When Chris played, the nucleus guys on your kicking teams used to get 20 to 25 plays a game, maybe as many as 27. Now, they might get five to eight … five plays a game on which special teams can make an impact the way they used to. That claim takes some explanation, because obviously players are out on the field for many more plays in the kicking game than five. And I will explain it.
But here’s the simple way to look at it. Matt Prater kicks off for Denver. Obviously, with that explosive offense the Broncos have, he’s going to be kicking off a lot. But through four games he’s had 25 touchbacks and only eight kicks returned. That, obviously, stems from the rule the NFL put into play in 2011—moving kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line. Prater kicked for Denver in 2010 too. He had only 20 touchbacks all season then. In 2010 he had 63 percent of his kicks returned. This year, only 24 percent of his kicks are being returned.
Is that good for the game? I don’t think it is.
Now let’s look at the other side of the ball for the Broncos. Their kick returner, Trindon Holliday, is one of the most exciting players in football. We all saw him light up Baltimore in the playoffs last year. And he’s got two special-teams touchdowns (one kick return and one punt return) already this year, with the rules as restrictive as they are. Even more amazing? Holliday has had a chance to return three kickoffs this season; the rest were touchbacks. So this play that gets stadiums going crazy and can change the momentum of a game in an instant (one of his three returns was a 105-yard touchdown), this play that gives Holliday a chance to make an NFL Films memory, has been mostly eliminated. Three kick returns for Holliday in four games.
Is that good for the game? I don’t think it is.
We’re in the entertainment business, and the league has taken away a lot of the entertaining plays.
I’ve got an idea to make Trindon Holliday and Devin Hester and the new kid in Minnesota, Cordarelle Patterson, impact players again—every Sunday. But let’s get to the crux of the matter first.
I understand why the NFL wanted to make some of the rules changes it has made on special teams. It’s not just the kickoff rule, where the NFL was trying to eliminate some of the big collisions that caused concussions and neck and back injuries. It’s also the rule protecting the center on extra points and field goals. Now you can’t line up over the center and crash into him before he’s able to protect himself. And you can’t push the pile either, creating the kind of force on the interior blockers on extra points and field goals that wasn’t good for the health of centers and guards. I get the rules. And I don’t want to damage football. But, with the kickoff rule, what I never understood is how the league could go from A to Z without trying some intermediate steps to make sure the excitement of the kickoff stays in the game.
Think of erasing players like Tasker, Parmalee and Izzo from football history. That’s a very big loss for the sport.
The byproduct of this is something no one seems to be paying attention to. Teams aren’t emphasizing special teams in the past two or three years when they fill out their rosters, for a very simple reason: There aren’t enough impact plays in the course of a game for a coach and general manager, when they’re cutting the roster, to keep a guy who may be nothing more than a backup at a certain position but who would be a great guy covering kicks or blocking punts.
What I worry about when I see the diminished impact of special teams on NFL games today is this: Would Steve Tasker or Bernie Parmalee or Larry Izzo have had careers in football today with these rules? Steve’s one of the best special-teamers of all time, and Bernie and Larry aren’t far behind. Think of all the games they won, or had huge impacts on. And think of erasing them from football history. I just think that’s a very big loss for the sport.
I knew exactly what he meant. When Chris played, the nucleus guys on your kicking teams used to get 20 to 25 plays a game, maybe as many as 27. Now, they might get five to eight … five plays a game on which special teams can make an impact the way they used to. That claim takes some explanation, because obviously players are out on the field for many more plays in the kicking game than five. And I will explain it.
But here’s the simple way to look at it. Matt Prater kicks off for Denver. Obviously, with that explosive offense the Broncos have, he’s going to be kicking off a lot. But through four games he’s had 25 touchbacks and only eight kicks returned. That, obviously, stems from the rule the NFL put into play in 2011—moving kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line. Prater kicked for Denver in 2010 too. He had only 20 touchbacks all season then. In 2010 he had 63 percent of his kicks returned. This year, only 24 percent of his kicks are being returned.
Is that good for the game? I don’t think it is.
Now let’s look at the other side of the ball for the Broncos. Their kick returner, Trindon Holliday, is one of the most exciting players in football. We all saw him light up Baltimore in the playoffs last year. And he’s got two special-teams touchdowns (one kick return and one punt return) already this year, with the rules as restrictive as they are. Even more amazing? Holliday has had a chance to return three kickoffs this season; the rest were touchbacks. So this play that gets stadiums going crazy and can change the momentum of a game in an instant (one of his three returns was a 105-yard touchdown), this play that gives Holliday a chance to make an NFL Films memory, has been mostly eliminated. Three kick returns for Holliday in four games.
Is that good for the game? I don’t think it is.
We’re in the entertainment business, and the league has taken away a lot of the entertaining plays.
I’ve got an idea to make Trindon Holliday and Devin Hester and the new kid in Minnesota, Cordarelle Patterson, impact players again—every Sunday. But let’s get to the crux of the matter first.
I understand why the NFL wanted to make some of the rules changes it has made on special teams. It’s not just the kickoff rule, where the NFL was trying to eliminate some of the big collisions that caused concussions and neck and back injuries. It’s also the rule protecting the center on extra points and field goals. Now you can’t line up over the center and crash into him before he’s able to protect himself. And you can’t push the pile either, creating the kind of force on the interior blockers on extra points and field goals that wasn’t good for the health of centers and guards. I get the rules. And I don’t want to damage football. But, with the kickoff rule, what I never understood is how the league could go from A to Z without trying some intermediate steps to make sure the excitement of the kickoff stays in the game.
Think of erasing players like Tasker, Parmalee and Izzo from football history. That’s a very big loss for the sport.
The byproduct of this is something no one seems to be paying attention to. Teams aren’t emphasizing special teams in the past two or three years when they fill out their rosters, for a very simple reason: There aren’t enough impact plays in the course of a game for a coach and general manager, when they’re cutting the roster, to keep a guy who may be nothing more than a backup at a certain position but who would be a great guy covering kicks or blocking punts.
What I worry about when I see the diminished impact of special teams on NFL games today is this: Would Steve Tasker or Bernie Parmalee or Larry Izzo have had careers in football today with these rules? Steve’s one of the best special-teamers of all time, and Bernie and Larry aren’t far behind. Think of all the games they won, or had huge impacts on. And think of erasing them from football history. I just think that’s a very big loss for the sport.
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2006/12/07
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It changes sometimes weekly, even daily, occasionally hourly. It's been Denver. It's been Seattle. San Francisco was a candidate. Or Indy. For the moment, there is just one best team in the NFL, and it's none of them. It's the Saints, and a big reason why is a long-haired, fist-pumping, potbellied man named Ryan. The Other Ryan.
Earlier in his career, Rob Ryan was sometimes more flash than substance. I always believed he liked being on TV more than in an opposing quarterback's head. All of that seemed true, and it was wrong. What was accurate was that he got a raw deal in Dallas when the Cowboys fired him last season. Ryan used 14 different starting lineups due to injury when in Dallas—only one other team used more. This led to Ryan using 449 lineup changes, the most in football.
The Saints are the best team in football primarily because of head coach Sean Payton. The reason right after that is their defensive coordinator. It could be argued he was the biggest free-agent signing this past offseason, of any coach or player. I wouldn't make that case—hello, Andy Reid—but it's not a totally ridiculous notion. The New Orleans defense has transformed into something more effective than it's ever been, beyond even what Gregg Williams did during the Bountygate and Super Bowl days. That's because Ryan has kept similar aggressive philosophies but also established an almost settled nature to this defense. A maturity to it that we haven't seen from them. In fact, in many ways, what Ryan is doing is more impressive because he's not relying on blitzing alone.
They can blitz you, but they can also cover you. Stuff your run. Be patient. Be intelligent. Be nasty. They adapt and morph like a cell enveloping an invader. The team hasn't blitzed as much as you think all season, but against Chicago in Sunday's 26-18 victory, they blitzed constantly. They can do almost anything.
Their game against Chicago was typical Saints this season. Drew Brees and the freakish Jimmy Graham will get the headlines, but the offense struggled early. The defense didn't. It sacked Cutler twice and held Chicago to a single first down in that opening quarter. With six minutes left in the first half, the Bears had only 51 yards of total offense. That allowed New Orleans to hang in there until Brees and the Michael Jordan at tight end got going.
As a candidate for the NFL's best team, Denver is outstanding, but let's be real. They should have lost, but Tony Romo choked again. The Broncos looked vulnerable, and I know you'll say they're missing some key pieces, but look at what Ryan is doing.
Last year, the Saints allowed the most yards in NFL history. This year, they are in the top 10 in most key categories despite losing six starters either temporarily or permanently before the season even began. That includes the formidable Will Smith. Then Ryan, over the course of the first two weeks, lost four more starters—Tyrunn Walker, Brodrick Bunkley, Patrick Robinson and Tom Johnson—for at least some time. It was a bloodbath.
The Saints kept going even as the offense got all of the attention. Ryan keeps going even though his brother gets all of the headlines.
My belief: The Saints are one of only a few defenses that can slow Peyton Manning, and this is why they are the best in football now. Brees could pick apart that Denver defense (Romo did), and while Manning would get his, it wouldn't be easy. Remember what I said about the Saints' intelligence: They wouldn't be stupid enough to blitz Manning constantly, and they'd still find some way to get to him (the Cowboys did).
The Saints are also a remarkable story. They were obliterated by Bountygate, by losing Payton for the season, and by their defense all of last year under Steve Spagnuolo, who was awful. They are a new team, and they are in many ways better.
Dallas is good. The Chiefs are good. The Colts are excellent. The Broncos are great. The Saints are better than all of them.
Thanks to the big man with the flowing hair and big brain who has remade the defense.
Rob Ryan, New Orleans Defense Elevating Saints to NFL's Best Team | Bleacher Report
Earlier in his career, Rob Ryan was sometimes more flash than substance. I always believed he liked being on TV more than in an opposing quarterback's head. All of that seemed true, and it was wrong. What was accurate was that he got a raw deal in Dallas when the Cowboys fired him last season. Ryan used 14 different starting lineups due to injury when in Dallas—only one other team used more. This led to Ryan using 449 lineup changes, the most in football.
The Saints are the best team in football primarily because of head coach Sean Payton. The reason right after that is their defensive coordinator. It could be argued he was the biggest free-agent signing this past offseason, of any coach or player. I wouldn't make that case—hello, Andy Reid—but it's not a totally ridiculous notion. The New Orleans defense has transformed into something more effective than it's ever been, beyond even what Gregg Williams did during the Bountygate and Super Bowl days. That's because Ryan has kept similar aggressive philosophies but also established an almost settled nature to this defense. A maturity to it that we haven't seen from them. In fact, in many ways, what Ryan is doing is more impressive because he's not relying on blitzing alone.
They can blitz you, but they can also cover you. Stuff your run. Be patient. Be intelligent. Be nasty. They adapt and morph like a cell enveloping an invader. The team hasn't blitzed as much as you think all season, but against Chicago in Sunday's 26-18 victory, they blitzed constantly. They can do almost anything.
Their game against Chicago was typical Saints this season. Drew Brees and the freakish Jimmy Graham will get the headlines, but the offense struggled early. The defense didn't. It sacked Cutler twice and held Chicago to a single first down in that opening quarter. With six minutes left in the first half, the Bears had only 51 yards of total offense. That allowed New Orleans to hang in there until Brees and the Michael Jordan at tight end got going.
As a candidate for the NFL's best team, Denver is outstanding, but let's be real. They should have lost, but Tony Romo choked again. The Broncos looked vulnerable, and I know you'll say they're missing some key pieces, but look at what Ryan is doing.
Last year, the Saints allowed the most yards in NFL history. This year, they are in the top 10 in most key categories despite losing six starters either temporarily or permanently before the season even began. That includes the formidable Will Smith. Then Ryan, over the course of the first two weeks, lost four more starters—Tyrunn Walker, Brodrick Bunkley, Patrick Robinson and Tom Johnson—for at least some time. It was a bloodbath.
The Saints kept going even as the offense got all of the attention. Ryan keeps going even though his brother gets all of the headlines.
My belief: The Saints are one of only a few defenses that can slow Peyton Manning, and this is why they are the best in football now. Brees could pick apart that Denver defense (Romo did), and while Manning would get his, it wouldn't be easy. Remember what I said about the Saints' intelligence: They wouldn't be stupid enough to blitz Manning constantly, and they'd still find some way to get to him (the Cowboys did).
The Saints are also a remarkable story. They were obliterated by Bountygate, by losing Payton for the season, and by their defense all of last year under Steve Spagnuolo, who was awful. They are a new team, and they are in many ways better.
Dallas is good. The Chiefs are good. The Colts are excellent. The Broncos are great. The Saints are better than all of them.
Thanks to the big man with the flowing hair and big brain who has remade the defense.
Rob Ryan, New Orleans Defense Elevating Saints to NFL's Best Team | Bleacher Report
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2006/12/07
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29893
NFL owners are expected to vote Tuesday on providing league funding to the Washington Redskins for renovations to FedEx Field, two people familiar with the situation said.
The Redskins declined to provide details, but one of the people with knowledge of the matter said the $27 million renovation includes seating modifications, wi-fi, ribbon boards (a form of stadium signage) and a Hall of Fame expansion.
The league contributes to teams’ stadium construction and renovation projects through its G-4 funding program. Such funding must be approved by the owners.
The owners are scheduled to meet Tuesday in downtown Washington.
Have a Redskins question? E-mail Mike Jones at [email]mike-jones@washpost-com[/email] with the subject line “Mailbag question” for him to answer it in The Mailbag on Tuesday.
What’s ahead: ● The Redskins resume practicing today at 1 p.m. Sunday’s game is 8:30 p.m. Sun. Oct. 13 at Dallas.
Redskins might get NFL funds for $27 million FedEx Field renovation
The Redskins declined to provide details, but one of the people with knowledge of the matter said the $27 million renovation includes seating modifications, wi-fi, ribbon boards (a form of stadium signage) and a Hall of Fame expansion.
The league contributes to teams’ stadium construction and renovation projects through its G-4 funding program. Such funding must be approved by the owners.
The owners are scheduled to meet Tuesday in downtown Washington.
Have a Redskins question? E-mail Mike Jones at [email]mike-jones@washpost-com[/email] with the subject line “Mailbag question” for him to answer it in The Mailbag on Tuesday.
What’s ahead: ● The Redskins resume practicing today at 1 p.m. Sunday’s game is 8:30 p.m. Sun. Oct. 13 at Dallas.
Redskins might get NFL funds for $27 million FedEx Field renovation
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2006/12/07
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Roger Goodell grew up a Redskins fan in Washington, says he never considered the nickname derogatory and believes their fight song, “Hail To The Redskins,” is part of their proud tradition.
But with the outcry for the team to change its nickname — which Native American groups say is a racial slur — becoming louder by the day, the NFL commissioner appears ready to listen.
On Tuesday, Goodell said the league has accepted the Oneida Indian Nation’s invitation to meet. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for Nov. 22 at the NFL offices in New York, but now it is expected to be held earlier, either in New York or at the Oneida Indian Nation’s base in Verona, N.Y.
“Whenever you have a situation like this, you have to listen and recognize that some other people may have different perspectives,” Goodell said Tuesday at the NFL owners’ meetings in Washington. “And clearly there are cases where that’s true here. We need to listen and carefully listen and make sure that we’re doing what is right long-term.”
Goodell didn’t know whether the Oneida Indian Nation has requested that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder attend the meeting. Snyder has shown no indication that he will change the Redskins name, and ultimately it’s his decision.
President Obama recently said that if he was the owner of a team and knew the name was offending a sizeable group of people, “I’d think about changing it.”
He also said, “I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things.”
Goodell’s reaction: “I don’t speak for the President and wouldn’t dare to do so. But he is acknowledging there are different views and that people should listen and people should think clearly about what they do.”
MORE PLAYOFF TEAMS?
The league is considering the addition of two playoff teams to bring the number to 14, seven per conference, in conjunction with reducing the preseason from four to three games. Goodell said any change would not come until 2015 at the earliest.
If there are seven playoff teams per conference, only the top seed would get a first-round bye. There would be three games per conference on the first weekend. Goodell said there could be two each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or three each on Saturday or Sunday.
Goodell said the NFL must make sure the regular-season games are “incredibly important each week,” but at the same time, if “expanding the postseason would allow other teams to get into the dance and they have the potential of going on and winning the Super Bowl, that’s a good thing for fans, it’s a good thing competitively. . . . Indianapolis, Minneapolis and New Orleans are the finalists to host Super Bowl LII in February of 2018. The next four games are in New York, Arizona, San Francisco and Houston.
Read more: NFL will meet with Oneida Indian Nation to discuss Washington Redskins name - NY Daily News
But with the outcry for the team to change its nickname — which Native American groups say is a racial slur — becoming louder by the day, the NFL commissioner appears ready to listen.
On Tuesday, Goodell said the league has accepted the Oneida Indian Nation’s invitation to meet. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for Nov. 22 at the NFL offices in New York, but now it is expected to be held earlier, either in New York or at the Oneida Indian Nation’s base in Verona, N.Y.
“Whenever you have a situation like this, you have to listen and recognize that some other people may have different perspectives,” Goodell said Tuesday at the NFL owners’ meetings in Washington. “And clearly there are cases where that’s true here. We need to listen and carefully listen and make sure that we’re doing what is right long-term.”
Goodell didn’t know whether the Oneida Indian Nation has requested that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder attend the meeting. Snyder has shown no indication that he will change the Redskins name, and ultimately it’s his decision.
President Obama recently said that if he was the owner of a team and knew the name was offending a sizeable group of people, “I’d think about changing it.”
He also said, “I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things.”
Goodell’s reaction: “I don’t speak for the President and wouldn’t dare to do so. But he is acknowledging there are different views and that people should listen and people should think clearly about what they do.”
MORE PLAYOFF TEAMS?
The league is considering the addition of two playoff teams to bring the number to 14, seven per conference, in conjunction with reducing the preseason from four to three games. Goodell said any change would not come until 2015 at the earliest.
If there are seven playoff teams per conference, only the top seed would get a first-round bye. There would be three games per conference on the first weekend. Goodell said there could be two each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or three each on Saturday or Sunday.
Goodell said the NFL must make sure the regular-season games are “incredibly important each week,” but at the same time, if “expanding the postseason would allow other teams to get into the dance and they have the potential of going on and winning the Super Bowl, that’s a good thing for fans, it’s a good thing competitively. . . . Indianapolis, Minneapolis and New Orleans are the finalists to host Super Bowl LII in February of 2018. The next four games are in New York, Arizona, San Francisco and Houston.
Read more: NFL will meet with Oneida Indian Nation to discuss Washington Redskins name - NY Daily News
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2006/12/07
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29893
Welcome to the Chicago stop of the NFL’s "Hypocrisy Across America Tour."
The NFL, whose sport causes brain damage, paid off a bunch of former players who have brain damage without admitting it contributed to the brain damage. Anyone who believes the NFL is, well, brain damaged. Just because the NFL didn’t admit to guilt doesn’t mean it’s innocent.
In keeping with the NFL’s hypocrisy about player safety concerns, here comes a Thursday night football game at Soldier Field. I’ve written it before, but here’s a chance for Chicago to see up close how laughable Roger Goodell’s safety blather is.
The Bears and Giants played on Sunday. Players contend that participating in a game is like being in a car wreck. It’s hard enough to recover in seven days, and here they are, being ordered to play after about a half-week. Bodies can’t possibly recover in three days, no matter who walks away from which accident. Aching bodies lead to mental mistakes, such as the loss of technique, and that can lead to injuries. We’ve already seen it lead to consistently bad football.
Coaches are demanded to put players in position to succeed. The NFL puts players in danger and acts as if nobody’s noticing.
And then puts it on TV.
Thursday games were a Thanksgiving thing. They were played once a year by four teams. It was hard for teams then, but it was a blip, Then the NFL created its own network. The NFL needed programming, so it ordered a full slate of Thursday night games, no matter the ridiculous physical toll or embarrassing quality of the product. Does that sound like a league that cares about player safety?
Roger Goodell and NFL owners are all about money. Everything else is acceptable collateral damage, and that includes massive body counts. And that’s fine. Just admit it. Don’t lie to people. You’re here for the cash.
All that gobbledygook about player safety is an attempt to avoid more lawsuits while suckering gullible parents into keeping the players coming. If the NFL was seriously concerned about player safety, it would close shop. The game itself promotes brain damage in players, but Goodell and his ministers of propaganda believe the gullible fans are the brain-damaged ones.
"League of Denial,'' the brilliant “Frontline’’ documentary on concussions that aired Tuesday night on PBS, should’ve raised your hate level over the despicability of Goodell’s league and Paul Tagliabue’s before that. The NFL refused to admit the game caused brain damage even though its retirement board linked football to dementia more than a decade ago and sat on it.
And then the league worth nearly $40 billion refused to admit guilt while buying off the injured, enfeebled and brain-damaged former players for a mere $765 million.
If it wasn’t football’s fault, then how did an overwhelming number of former players become so enfeebled so alarmingly young? If playing football didn’t cause brain damage, then how did almost every brain studied reveal the telling chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
Several irretrievably unbalanced players who delivered concussive blows with their heads, most notably former Bear Dave Duerson and ex-Charger great Junior Seau, made sure to shoot themselves in the chest. Even suicidal players knew the NFL was full of it.
“League of Denial’’ reignited my rage against the lying, conspiring NFL. There had to be some way for the league to act like adults and admit the game could damage people. Play at your own risk. Be on TV. See America. Make a living.
But no. The NFL refused to admit anything. Despicable. The league’s original fraudulent approach seemed to begin and end with finding a quack willing to offer preposterous lies, or at least preposterous propaganda that made the NFL look like a closet of clown shoes.
Now, the NFL is committed to studying the long-term effects of damage the game can do. It wants a long time to study it. A looooooonnnnnnngggggggg time. Maybe longer than any potential plaintiff might live.
The NFL allegedly has studied this for decades. It is still studying it. Study, study, study. The NFL will continue to study, no matter that conclusive and damning studies already exist. The NFL still will be studying it when your kids have kids, and the NFL will be studying it when those kids are smart enough not to let their kids play football.
But still, the NFL will study, study, study. This should remind you of President Richard Nixon’s Watergate policy of deny-deny-deny. Oily, oily, oily. Shameful, shameful, shameful.
Look, it’s simple: The NFL commissioner and owners are like zombies --- soulless monsters who eat brains because that’s the only way to stay alive.
The NFL zombies are stopping in Chicago this week. It’s part of the "Hypocrisy Across America Tour." Make yourself at home, guys: Deny some obvious truth while turning brain cavities into ATMs.
Steve Rosenbloom: NFL must think we're all brain-damaged - chicagotribune-com
The NFL, whose sport causes brain damage, paid off a bunch of former players who have brain damage without admitting it contributed to the brain damage. Anyone who believes the NFL is, well, brain damaged. Just because the NFL didn’t admit to guilt doesn’t mean it’s innocent.
In keeping with the NFL’s hypocrisy about player safety concerns, here comes a Thursday night football game at Soldier Field. I’ve written it before, but here’s a chance for Chicago to see up close how laughable Roger Goodell’s safety blather is.
The Bears and Giants played on Sunday. Players contend that participating in a game is like being in a car wreck. It’s hard enough to recover in seven days, and here they are, being ordered to play after about a half-week. Bodies can’t possibly recover in three days, no matter who walks away from which accident. Aching bodies lead to mental mistakes, such as the loss of technique, and that can lead to injuries. We’ve already seen it lead to consistently bad football.
Coaches are demanded to put players in position to succeed. The NFL puts players in danger and acts as if nobody’s noticing.
And then puts it on TV.
Thursday games were a Thanksgiving thing. They were played once a year by four teams. It was hard for teams then, but it was a blip, Then the NFL created its own network. The NFL needed programming, so it ordered a full slate of Thursday night games, no matter the ridiculous physical toll or embarrassing quality of the product. Does that sound like a league that cares about player safety?
Roger Goodell and NFL owners are all about money. Everything else is acceptable collateral damage, and that includes massive body counts. And that’s fine. Just admit it. Don’t lie to people. You’re here for the cash.
All that gobbledygook about player safety is an attempt to avoid more lawsuits while suckering gullible parents into keeping the players coming. If the NFL was seriously concerned about player safety, it would close shop. The game itself promotes brain damage in players, but Goodell and his ministers of propaganda believe the gullible fans are the brain-damaged ones.
"League of Denial,'' the brilliant “Frontline’’ documentary on concussions that aired Tuesday night on PBS, should’ve raised your hate level over the despicability of Goodell’s league and Paul Tagliabue’s before that. The NFL refused to admit the game caused brain damage even though its retirement board linked football to dementia more than a decade ago and sat on it.
And then the league worth nearly $40 billion refused to admit guilt while buying off the injured, enfeebled and brain-damaged former players for a mere $765 million.
If it wasn’t football’s fault, then how did an overwhelming number of former players become so enfeebled so alarmingly young? If playing football didn’t cause brain damage, then how did almost every brain studied reveal the telling chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
Several irretrievably unbalanced players who delivered concussive blows with their heads, most notably former Bear Dave Duerson and ex-Charger great Junior Seau, made sure to shoot themselves in the chest. Even suicidal players knew the NFL was full of it.
“League of Denial’’ reignited my rage against the lying, conspiring NFL. There had to be some way for the league to act like adults and admit the game could damage people. Play at your own risk. Be on TV. See America. Make a living.
But no. The NFL refused to admit anything. Despicable. The league’s original fraudulent approach seemed to begin and end with finding a quack willing to offer preposterous lies, or at least preposterous propaganda that made the NFL look like a closet of clown shoes.
Now, the NFL is committed to studying the long-term effects of damage the game can do. It wants a long time to study it. A looooooonnnnnnngggggggg time. Maybe longer than any potential plaintiff might live.
The NFL allegedly has studied this for decades. It is still studying it. Study, study, study. The NFL will continue to study, no matter that conclusive and damning studies already exist. The NFL still will be studying it when your kids have kids, and the NFL will be studying it when those kids are smart enough not to let their kids play football.
But still, the NFL will study, study, study. This should remind you of President Richard Nixon’s Watergate policy of deny-deny-deny. Oily, oily, oily. Shameful, shameful, shameful.
Look, it’s simple: The NFL commissioner and owners are like zombies --- soulless monsters who eat brains because that’s the only way to stay alive.
The NFL zombies are stopping in Chicago this week. It’s part of the "Hypocrisy Across America Tour." Make yourself at home, guys: Deny some obvious truth while turning brain cavities into ATMs.
Steve Rosenbloom: NFL must think we're all brain-damaged - chicagotribune-com
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
This Sunday’s game in Denver between the 0-5 Jaguars and the 5-0 Broncos is anticipated to be a mismatch of historic proportions. This week The MMQB is exploring what it’s like for the Jaguars to be the NFL’s biggest underdog ever, whether there’s hope for the season—and the future—in Jacksonville, and how the Jags and the league’s other winless teams might turn things around. Read the entire series, and check back each day this week for more.
In Week 4, the Eagles faced the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Philadelphia had nine days rest. The Broncos were coming off a Monday night game.
The spread: Broncos, an 11.5-point favorite.
“And we couldn’t find anyone—anyone—to bet on the Eagles,” says Jimmy Vaccaro, a Las Vegas bookmaker since 1975 who is currently the vice president of sports marketing at the South Point Hotel and Casino. “The general public picked up on Denver before we did.”
By now it’s no secret: Peyton Manning’s undefeated Broncos are Super Bowl favorites.
So what happens this Sunday, when they face the 0-5 Jaguars?
“It’s the perfect collision,” Vaccaro says. “You’re going to see the highest point spread in NFL history.”
The Broncos opened the week as a four-touchdown favorite against the lowly Jaguars. After all, Manning & Co. scored more points last Sunday (51) than the Jaguars have all season.
Which leads to an interesting trend in Vegas. The Broncos covered the spread in four of their first five games, and likely would have done so against the Cowboys last Sunday had they played for a touchdown instead of milking the clock and kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired. “The more Denver continues to win, the more a liability they become to books in town,” says Jay Rood, the MGM Resorts Sports Director.
It’s reminiscent of another undefeated team: The 2007 Patriots.
New England began that season 9-1 against the spread. So Vegas upped the ante. In Week 11, the Pats were 25-point favorites against the Eagles—the NFL’s biggest spread since 1976, and the second largest of alltime.
Of course, there were other factors at play: With Donovan McNabb injured, A.J. Feeley was scheduled to start at quarterback for the first time all season; the game was in Foxborough; and the Eagles were a middling 5-5. The Pats were averaging 41 points a game; only one opponent had come within 16 points.
“I was going to go down swinging,” Feely says. “I knew that was the only way we were going to beat those guys.”
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson dialed up an aggressive game plan, Philadelphia went for it on fourth down in the first quarter and even attempted an onside kick in the second. Feeley, who threw for 345 yards and finished with three touchdowns and three interceptions, admitted he threw some riskier passes than he might have in a normal game.
Of the 10 largest point spreads in NFL history, the favorites covered just twice.
Did the Patriots cover? Not even close. They won, 31-28, largely because of two second-half interceptions by Asante Samuel.
Here’s the thing about heavy favorites: they rarely prevail in a blowout. Of the 10 largest point spreads in NFL history, the favorites covered just twice.
“No matter how bad the Jaguars are this season, they’re still an NFL team,” Vaccaro says. “You’ve got guys playing for their contract. Plus, once the team gets a big lead, maybe they back off a little bit. You take Manning out of the game.”
In other words, banking on a rout is far from a sure thing.
Experienced bettors will take the underdog, Rood says, “Historically that’s been the case.”
Jaguars-Broncos game among NFL history's biggest point spreads | The MMQB with Peter King
In Week 4, the Eagles faced the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Philadelphia had nine days rest. The Broncos were coming off a Monday night game.
The spread: Broncos, an 11.5-point favorite.
“And we couldn’t find anyone—anyone—to bet on the Eagles,” says Jimmy Vaccaro, a Las Vegas bookmaker since 1975 who is currently the vice president of sports marketing at the South Point Hotel and Casino. “The general public picked up on Denver before we did.”
By now it’s no secret: Peyton Manning’s undefeated Broncos are Super Bowl favorites.
So what happens this Sunday, when they face the 0-5 Jaguars?
“It’s the perfect collision,” Vaccaro says. “You’re going to see the highest point spread in NFL history.”
The Broncos opened the week as a four-touchdown favorite against the lowly Jaguars. After all, Manning & Co. scored more points last Sunday (51) than the Jaguars have all season.
Which leads to an interesting trend in Vegas. The Broncos covered the spread in four of their first five games, and likely would have done so against the Cowboys last Sunday had they played for a touchdown instead of milking the clock and kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired. “The more Denver continues to win, the more a liability they become to books in town,” says Jay Rood, the MGM Resorts Sports Director.
It’s reminiscent of another undefeated team: The 2007 Patriots.
New England began that season 9-1 against the spread. So Vegas upped the ante. In Week 11, the Pats were 25-point favorites against the Eagles—the NFL’s biggest spread since 1976, and the second largest of alltime.
Of course, there were other factors at play: With Donovan McNabb injured, A.J. Feeley was scheduled to start at quarterback for the first time all season; the game was in Foxborough; and the Eagles were a middling 5-5. The Pats were averaging 41 points a game; only one opponent had come within 16 points.
“I was going to go down swinging,” Feely says. “I knew that was the only way we were going to beat those guys.”
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson dialed up an aggressive game plan, Philadelphia went for it on fourth down in the first quarter and even attempted an onside kick in the second. Feeley, who threw for 345 yards and finished with three touchdowns and three interceptions, admitted he threw some riskier passes than he might have in a normal game.
Of the 10 largest point spreads in NFL history, the favorites covered just twice.
Did the Patriots cover? Not even close. They won, 31-28, largely because of two second-half interceptions by Asante Samuel.
Here’s the thing about heavy favorites: they rarely prevail in a blowout. Of the 10 largest point spreads in NFL history, the favorites covered just twice.
“No matter how bad the Jaguars are this season, they’re still an NFL team,” Vaccaro says. “You’ve got guys playing for their contract. Plus, once the team gets a big lead, maybe they back off a little bit. You take Manning out of the game.”
In other words, banking on a rout is far from a sure thing.
Experienced bettors will take the underdog, Rood says, “Historically that’s been the case.”
Jaguars-Broncos game among NFL history's biggest point spreads | The MMQB with Peter King
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Last month, Brett Favre's agent, Bus Cook, turned heads when he said the former All-Pro quarterback still could play in the NFL.
The crux of Cook's argument centered on the assessment that Favre is in the best shape ever. There were analogies to "blacksmith's arms" and all-too-precise weights and body fat percentages.
Favre told USA Today's Lindsay Jones this week that he is, in fact, in great shape. But don't expect a comeback.
"I am (in shape), but I am no way considering playing," Favre said.
In the article, focusing on Favre's post-NFL life, the former quarterback discussed how content he is as an assistant coach at Oak Grove High School in his home state of Mississippi.
"The stress level was much, much more (when I played)," Favre said. "The demands are, don't get me wrong, I want to win, but it's not a job."
Just because Favre is coaching teenagers doesn't mean he's lowered his standards. Oak Grove senior quarterback Kirk McCarty, who is throwing for more than 300 yards a game, relayed some great Favrian lines:
"Every play there is something he can coach on. Even on my touchdown tonight, he says, 'Great touchdown, but your football was terrible.' I hear that a lot," McCarty said, laughing. "Sometimes, if I'm having a bad day, Brett will be like, 'You know what, Kirk, your footwork is terrible, just take a play off.' He doesn't warm up at all, and it comes right in there and throws it 60 yards."
It sounds like retirement suits Favre just fine.
Brett Favre in great shape, not mulling NFL comeback - NFL-com
The crux of Cook's argument centered on the assessment that Favre is in the best shape ever. There were analogies to "blacksmith's arms" and all-too-precise weights and body fat percentages.
Favre told USA Today's Lindsay Jones this week that he is, in fact, in great shape. But don't expect a comeback.
"I am (in shape), but I am no way considering playing," Favre said.
In the article, focusing on Favre's post-NFL life, the former quarterback discussed how content he is as an assistant coach at Oak Grove High School in his home state of Mississippi.
"The stress level was much, much more (when I played)," Favre said. "The demands are, don't get me wrong, I want to win, but it's not a job."
Just because Favre is coaching teenagers doesn't mean he's lowered his standards. Oak Grove senior quarterback Kirk McCarty, who is throwing for more than 300 yards a game, relayed some great Favrian lines:
"Every play there is something he can coach on. Even on my touchdown tonight, he says, 'Great touchdown, but your football was terrible.' I hear that a lot," McCarty said, laughing. "Sometimes, if I'm having a bad day, Brett will be like, 'You know what, Kirk, your footwork is terrible, just take a play off.' He doesn't warm up at all, and it comes right in there and throws it 60 yards."
It sounds like retirement suits Favre just fine.
Brett Favre in great shape, not mulling NFL comeback - NFL-com
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I like the NFL team is the Chicago Bears, favorite player is Julius Peppers, which players which team you like?
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marke0322 wrote:
I like the NFL team is the Chicago Bears, favorite player is Julius Peppers, which players which team you like?
NFL is not my drill, I love tennis!
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Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers slowly put to rest all that talk about Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts ' offense.
It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline.
Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night.
"I wasn't sure who the Colts were playing this week all the ads I saw," Rivers said, noting that all the pregame buzz surrounded the Colts (4-2), not the Bolts (3-3).
Rivers expertly guided a balanced offense on three scoring drives of at least 74 yards while rebounding from a three-interception performance in a dismal loss at Oakland.
That, and a lot of dropped passes by Colts receivers, kept Indianapolis (4-2) from taking a two-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC South.
The Colts didn't even score a touchdown. All their points came on three field goals by Adam Vinatieri .
A week earlier, Luck helped rally the Colts to a 34-28 victory against Seattle.
"We knew if we didn't turn the ball over and we sustained drives, which we did - we had some 12, 14, 16-play drives - that we'd give ourselves a chance to win," Rivers said.
"We didn't go into the game saying `Let's play ball control,' Rivers added. "We wanted to score as many points as we could. We didn't score that many, but we did sustain drives. I thought Keenan Allen stepped up big. They were doubling Gatesy ( Antonio Gates ) a lot, and Danny Woodhead stepped up big. The offensive line was great. That's the way we need to be able to run the football. If we can mix the run in, we got a chance."
Luck had no real chance against the Bolts because of two long drives in the second quarter that helped contribute to the Chargers dominating the time of possession 38 minutes, 31 seconds to 21:29.
Allen got behind safety Delano Howell and cornerback Vontae Davis on a post route for the TD, completing a 12-play, 74-yard march that took 6:14 and gave San Diego a 7-3 lead. It was Allen's second TD catch of the season.
Novak's first field goal capped a drive that went 79 yards in 17 plays in 7:58. The drive was kept alive when cornerback Greg Toler was whistled for illegal contact for pushing receiver Lavelle Hawkins out of bounds on third-and-6 from the Chargers 45.
Luck then completed four straight passes to move the Colts into Chargers territory before Coby Fleener dropped a pass at the 25. Luck scrambled for 6 yards and threw an incompletion before Vinatieri kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
On the Colts' only other possession of the second quarter, Darrius Heyward-Bey dropped what likely would have been a long touchdown pass down the right sideline.
"We stunk on third down today," Luck said. "A lot of credit to their defense. I think we made our fair share of mistakes, but I think it's what they did. If we can't convert third downs and drives continually stall like that, it's a short rest for our defense and no points for us, so it's a bad combination."
Novak also had field goals of 33, 34 and 50 yards, with the final one coming with 1:55 left. Vinatieri had kicks of 30, 50 and 51 yards.
Chargers cornerback Derek Cox snuffed out Indy's final chance when he intercepted a pass that was tipped by receiver Reggie Wayne with 1:07 to play.
Rivers was 22 of 33 for 237 yards and no interceptions. Luck was 18 of 30 for 202 yards.
Wayne got his 1,000th career reception in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard pass from Luck. Wayne had five catches for 88 yards, giving him 1,001 for his career. He passed Hines Ward (1,000) for eighth place on the NFL list.
"It's a great honor," Wayne said. "It's a humbling experience to be in an elite class with a bunch of guys who have helped pave the way for guys like myself. I wish it was more of a greater celebration. I would rather take the `W' than any accolades."
The Colts opened the game with a flea-flicker, with Trent Richardson taking the handoff and tossing the ball back to Luck, who completed a 35-yard pass to Wayne. The drive bogged down at the Chargers 11, leading to Vinatieri's 30-yard field goal.
San Diego established its running game with 147 yards. Ryan Mathews ran for 102 yards on 22 carries for his first 100-yard game of the season.
There were family ties in this one: Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano beat older brother Chuck, the Colts' coach.
"Give John Pagano the credit he deserves," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "He did an outstanding job of getting these players ready. It's him and the rest of the whole defensive staff."
NOTES: Chargers WR Eddie Royal left with a toe injury in the second quarter but returned later in the game. ... Chargers LG Johnnie Troutman was injured in the second half and also returned. ... Colts ILB Jerrell Freeman sustained a concussion in the first half.
Read More: Colts vs. Chargers - 2013-10-14 - NFL Football Score - SI-com
It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline.
Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night.
"I wasn't sure who the Colts were playing this week all the ads I saw," Rivers said, noting that all the pregame buzz surrounded the Colts (4-2), not the Bolts (3-3).
Rivers expertly guided a balanced offense on three scoring drives of at least 74 yards while rebounding from a three-interception performance in a dismal loss at Oakland.
That, and a lot of dropped passes by Colts receivers, kept Indianapolis (4-2) from taking a two-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC South.
The Colts didn't even score a touchdown. All their points came on three field goals by Adam Vinatieri .
A week earlier, Luck helped rally the Colts to a 34-28 victory against Seattle.
"We knew if we didn't turn the ball over and we sustained drives, which we did - we had some 12, 14, 16-play drives - that we'd give ourselves a chance to win," Rivers said.
"We didn't go into the game saying `Let's play ball control,' Rivers added. "We wanted to score as many points as we could. We didn't score that many, but we did sustain drives. I thought Keenan Allen stepped up big. They were doubling Gatesy ( Antonio Gates ) a lot, and Danny Woodhead stepped up big. The offensive line was great. That's the way we need to be able to run the football. If we can mix the run in, we got a chance."
Luck had no real chance against the Bolts because of two long drives in the second quarter that helped contribute to the Chargers dominating the time of possession 38 minutes, 31 seconds to 21:29.
Allen got behind safety Delano Howell and cornerback Vontae Davis on a post route for the TD, completing a 12-play, 74-yard march that took 6:14 and gave San Diego a 7-3 lead. It was Allen's second TD catch of the season.
Novak's first field goal capped a drive that went 79 yards in 17 plays in 7:58. The drive was kept alive when cornerback Greg Toler was whistled for illegal contact for pushing receiver Lavelle Hawkins out of bounds on third-and-6 from the Chargers 45.
Luck then completed four straight passes to move the Colts into Chargers territory before Coby Fleener dropped a pass at the 25. Luck scrambled for 6 yards and threw an incompletion before Vinatieri kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
On the Colts' only other possession of the second quarter, Darrius Heyward-Bey dropped what likely would have been a long touchdown pass down the right sideline.
"We stunk on third down today," Luck said. "A lot of credit to their defense. I think we made our fair share of mistakes, but I think it's what they did. If we can't convert third downs and drives continually stall like that, it's a short rest for our defense and no points for us, so it's a bad combination."
Novak also had field goals of 33, 34 and 50 yards, with the final one coming with 1:55 left. Vinatieri had kicks of 30, 50 and 51 yards.
Chargers cornerback Derek Cox snuffed out Indy's final chance when he intercepted a pass that was tipped by receiver Reggie Wayne with 1:07 to play.
Rivers was 22 of 33 for 237 yards and no interceptions. Luck was 18 of 30 for 202 yards.
Wayne got his 1,000th career reception in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard pass from Luck. Wayne had five catches for 88 yards, giving him 1,001 for his career. He passed Hines Ward (1,000) for eighth place on the NFL list.
"It's a great honor," Wayne said. "It's a humbling experience to be in an elite class with a bunch of guys who have helped pave the way for guys like myself. I wish it was more of a greater celebration. I would rather take the `W' than any accolades."
The Colts opened the game with a flea-flicker, with Trent Richardson taking the handoff and tossing the ball back to Luck, who completed a 35-yard pass to Wayne. The drive bogged down at the Chargers 11, leading to Vinatieri's 30-yard field goal.
San Diego established its running game with 147 yards. Ryan Mathews ran for 102 yards on 22 carries for his first 100-yard game of the season.
There were family ties in this one: Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano beat older brother Chuck, the Colts' coach.
"Give John Pagano the credit he deserves," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "He did an outstanding job of getting these players ready. It's him and the rest of the whole defensive staff."
NOTES: Chargers WR Eddie Royal left with a toe injury in the second quarter but returned later in the game. ... Chargers LG Johnnie Troutman was injured in the second half and also returned. ... Colts ILB Jerrell Freeman sustained a concussion in the first half.
Read More: Colts vs. Chargers - 2013-10-14 - NFL Football Score - SI-com
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Through six weeks, the NFL's Thursday night schedule hasn't yielded much in the way of watchable football. Aside from the Broncos' season-opening 49-27 beatdown of the Ravens, we've been subjected to some pretty dreadful performances. But the bigger issue, at least for 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin, is that the short turnaround could mean players are more susceptible to injuries.
“There are some things that just don't make sense to me,” Boldin said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “I mean if you're so concerned about player safety then why do you have every team in the league playing on Thursday night when they just competed on a Sunday, knowing how difficult it is for guys to get back to being healthy after playing on Sunday? Guys really don't feel like they're back till probably Thursday or Friday to prepare for that next week.”
The easy answer to Boldin's question: Expanding the brand, exposure and, ultimately, money.
And while Boldin says that the league has made strides in some areas -- like having neurologists clear players before they can return to the field following a head injury -- he also thinks some of this is about the NFL "covering their butt."
“The league can say they're doing things to protect guys, but I'm not one of the guys buying it,” he said.
This is a variant of another argument: If commissioner Roger Goodell is serious about reducing injuries, how does he reconcile that with conversations about going to an 18-game regular-season schedule?
You can find the answer to that question above, too: Expanding the brand, exposure and, ultimately, money.
Boldin: If NFL concerned about safety, why have Thursday football? - CBSSports-com
“There are some things that just don't make sense to me,” Boldin said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “I mean if you're so concerned about player safety then why do you have every team in the league playing on Thursday night when they just competed on a Sunday, knowing how difficult it is for guys to get back to being healthy after playing on Sunday? Guys really don't feel like they're back till probably Thursday or Friday to prepare for that next week.”
The easy answer to Boldin's question: Expanding the brand, exposure and, ultimately, money.
And while Boldin says that the league has made strides in some areas -- like having neurologists clear players before they can return to the field following a head injury -- he also thinks some of this is about the NFL "covering their butt."
“The league can say they're doing things to protect guys, but I'm not one of the guys buying it,” he said.
This is a variant of another argument: If commissioner Roger Goodell is serious about reducing injuries, how does he reconcile that with conversations about going to an 18-game regular-season schedule?
You can find the answer to that question above, too: Expanding the brand, exposure and, ultimately, money.
Boldin: If NFL concerned about safety, why have Thursday football? - CBSSports-com
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Former NFL player Irving Fryar and his mother were indicted by a New Jersey grand jury Wednesday on charges they conspired to steal more than $690,000 through a mortgage scam.
In announcing the indictment, prosecutors said Fryar and his mother, Allene McGhee, engaged in a ‘‘sophisticated mortgage fraud scam’’ by allegedly having McGhee submit false information to obtain five loans on her home within a six-day period. The two were indicted on counts of conspiracy and theft by deception.
The 51-year-old Fryar, of Springfield, N.J., is pastor of a church he founded and the head coach of the Robbinsville High School football team. His 72-year-old mother lives in Willingboro. The former wide receiver played for four NFL teams between 1984 and 2000, including the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles.
‘‘It’s disappointing that someone with an illustrious career in professional sports who now is a minister and coach in the community is charged with this crime, but he must face justice like anyone else,’’ Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said.
Authorities said Fryar and McGhee provided wage information on her loan applications, falsely claiming she earned thousands of dollars a month as an event coordinator for Fryar’s church. Fryar himself allegedly received or spent more than $200,000 of the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, they said.
Fryar and McGhee also allegedly made just a few payments on four of the loans, and those banks eventually wrote the loans off as losses, authorities said.
‘‘This is not a case in which Fryar and his mother simply omitted or misstated information on loan applications,’’ Hoffman said. ‘‘This indictment alleges that they engaged in an elaborate criminal scheme that was designed to defraud these banks of hundreds of thousands of dollars.’’
It wasn’t clear Wednesday whether the pair have attorneys. The Associated Press left messages for Fryar at the church and school. A spokeswoman for a Red Bank-based law firm that once represented Fryar said she did not know if the firm was handling this case. A phone number for McGhee could not be found.
© Copyright 2013 Globe Newspaper Company.
Former NFL player Irving Fryar indicted in NJ - News Local Massachusetts - Boston-com
In announcing the indictment, prosecutors said Fryar and his mother, Allene McGhee, engaged in a ‘‘sophisticated mortgage fraud scam’’ by allegedly having McGhee submit false information to obtain five loans on her home within a six-day period. The two were indicted on counts of conspiracy and theft by deception.
The 51-year-old Fryar, of Springfield, N.J., is pastor of a church he founded and the head coach of the Robbinsville High School football team. His 72-year-old mother lives in Willingboro. The former wide receiver played for four NFL teams between 1984 and 2000, including the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles.
‘‘It’s disappointing that someone with an illustrious career in professional sports who now is a minister and coach in the community is charged with this crime, but he must face justice like anyone else,’’ Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said.
Authorities said Fryar and McGhee provided wage information on her loan applications, falsely claiming she earned thousands of dollars a month as an event coordinator for Fryar’s church. Fryar himself allegedly received or spent more than $200,000 of the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, they said.
Fryar and McGhee also allegedly made just a few payments on four of the loans, and those banks eventually wrote the loans off as losses, authorities said.
‘‘This is not a case in which Fryar and his mother simply omitted or misstated information on loan applications,’’ Hoffman said. ‘‘This indictment alleges that they engaged in an elaborate criminal scheme that was designed to defraud these banks of hundreds of thousands of dollars.’’
It wasn’t clear Wednesday whether the pair have attorneys. The Associated Press left messages for Fryar at the church and school. A spokeswoman for a Red Bank-based law firm that once represented Fryar said she did not know if the firm was handling this case. A phone number for McGhee could not be found.
© Copyright 2013 Globe Newspaper Company.
Former NFL player Irving Fryar indicted in NJ - News Local Massachusetts - Boston-com
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The NFL season is in high gear — a fact that pleases the roughly 64 percent of Americans who watch football. The season rolls on despite the now constant news about concussions in the sport.
The recent and the book by the same name claim that for years the NFL had denied and covered up evidence linking football and brain damage. Is the concussion conversation challenging this country's deep love for the game?
Apparently, not very much. Open a magazine, turn on a TV, and the new NFL ad campaign , "Why do you love football?"
"It doesn't matter if you're a coach or parent, player or fan. If you love football, now's your chance to tell your story. Go to togetherwemakefootball-com. If you're story's chosen, you could end up at the Super Bowl, just like I did," a boy says in one ad.
Whether intended or not, the ads have also helped blunt severe criticism facing the NFL in recent years. There was the massive concussion lawsuit pitting thousands of former players against the NFL — the league's potential liability was enormous. And League of Denial was poised to hit TV screens and bookstores, more darkness.
But a week before the season started, the NFL . And by the time League of Denial aired last week on PBS, many more football fans were answering why they loved football, rather than questioning the violence in the game. Last Sunday, football love was in full bloom at the On Deck Sports Bar in Portland, Ore. On Deck has 34 television sets, each one labeled with a specific game so that NFL birds of a feather can flock to the same screen.
In a booth, in front of the TV labeled "Denver vs. Jacksonville," John Moretti sat in his bright orange Broncos sweatshirt nursing a beer, waiting for kickoff and explaining why concussion news doesn't cloud his sunny days.
"I definitely read about it, have concerns about it, you know. I do have empathy — not really pity, but empathy — for the players who get hurt," Moretti says. "But then again, it's the life they've chosen, and they get paid very well for it."
With so much media attention on the harmful effects of a violent game, some fans are staking out comfort zones that allow them to stay connected. Moretti, for instance, thinks big hits add to the excitement of football and don't come close to the mayhem of mixed martial arts.
"Really, if you want to think violence, I'd say climb into a ring, in an MMA ring and, you know, take fist to the body, knee to the body, feet to the body, until somebody basically isn't moving," he says.
Most NFL players do move after taking a hit, even a big one. For concussion researchers, that's not really significant. They're finding that even the most innocuous contact can do harm. But for fans like Erin Kilpatrick, a veterinarian parked in front of a Seattle Seahawks game at On Deck, it means she can keep enjoying the game she grew up watching with her father and grandfather.
"I would say if it happened more often ... like in really violent movies, I might stop watching. As long as it doesn't look intentional, then I would say they're just out there, they're playing a sport, it happens," Kilpatrick says.
Football love is hard to kill. Mind you, fans are getting an assist from the league during this time of increased concussion awareness. And it makes sense — the fruit of that love is an estimated $10 billion in annual NFL revenue.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made player safety a priority. He's enacted new rules and frequently talked about changing football's culture. It helps appease the fans, says former Denver Broncos tight end Nate Jackson, but remains a tough sell for players.
"You're sitting in these meeting rooms watching film of your game or your practice," Jackson says. "Roger Goodell's not in those meeting rooms. Your coach is the one who's leading those meetings, and he's telling you in no uncertain terms what it takes to be on the team and to have a job on the team. And that is bringing that man to the ground by any means necessary — laying that shot that he'll remember."
Jackson when Cleveland linebacker Willie McGinest "nearly decapitated" him in a 2008 game. No hard feelings, though. Every football player accepts the violence, says Jackson — most of the time.
"There'd be times, laying in bed the night before a game, when I'd have this kind of morbid vision of myself getting hit and collapsing into just a pile of bones. My whole entire skeleton just crumbling," he says. "And it was this flash that would come into my mind and then I'd shake my head and say, 'What are you doing, Nate? Come on, focus. Focus.' And I was OK."
Jackson has been out of pro football for four years. He loves watching games and writing about them — his is called Slow Getting Up. He calls pro football players the best athletes on the planet, engaged in a beautiful dance. For most fans, that beauty outweighs the treachery. For now.
NFL Fans Weigh Impact Of Players' Head Injuries : NPR
The recent and the book by the same name claim that for years the NFL had denied and covered up evidence linking football and brain damage. Is the concussion conversation challenging this country's deep love for the game?
Apparently, not very much. Open a magazine, turn on a TV, and the new NFL ad campaign , "Why do you love football?"
"It doesn't matter if you're a coach or parent, player or fan. If you love football, now's your chance to tell your story. Go to togetherwemakefootball-com. If you're story's chosen, you could end up at the Super Bowl, just like I did," a boy says in one ad.
Whether intended or not, the ads have also helped blunt severe criticism facing the NFL in recent years. There was the massive concussion lawsuit pitting thousands of former players against the NFL — the league's potential liability was enormous. And League of Denial was poised to hit TV screens and bookstores, more darkness.
But a week before the season started, the NFL . And by the time League of Denial aired last week on PBS, many more football fans were answering why they loved football, rather than questioning the violence in the game. Last Sunday, football love was in full bloom at the On Deck Sports Bar in Portland, Ore. On Deck has 34 television sets, each one labeled with a specific game so that NFL birds of a feather can flock to the same screen.
In a booth, in front of the TV labeled "Denver vs. Jacksonville," John Moretti sat in his bright orange Broncos sweatshirt nursing a beer, waiting for kickoff and explaining why concussion news doesn't cloud his sunny days.
"I definitely read about it, have concerns about it, you know. I do have empathy — not really pity, but empathy — for the players who get hurt," Moretti says. "But then again, it's the life they've chosen, and they get paid very well for it."
With so much media attention on the harmful effects of a violent game, some fans are staking out comfort zones that allow them to stay connected. Moretti, for instance, thinks big hits add to the excitement of football and don't come close to the mayhem of mixed martial arts.
"Really, if you want to think violence, I'd say climb into a ring, in an MMA ring and, you know, take fist to the body, knee to the body, feet to the body, until somebody basically isn't moving," he says.
Most NFL players do move after taking a hit, even a big one. For concussion researchers, that's not really significant. They're finding that even the most innocuous contact can do harm. But for fans like Erin Kilpatrick, a veterinarian parked in front of a Seattle Seahawks game at On Deck, it means she can keep enjoying the game she grew up watching with her father and grandfather.
"I would say if it happened more often ... like in really violent movies, I might stop watching. As long as it doesn't look intentional, then I would say they're just out there, they're playing a sport, it happens," Kilpatrick says.
Football love is hard to kill. Mind you, fans are getting an assist from the league during this time of increased concussion awareness. And it makes sense — the fruit of that love is an estimated $10 billion in annual NFL revenue.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made player safety a priority. He's enacted new rules and frequently talked about changing football's culture. It helps appease the fans, says former Denver Broncos tight end Nate Jackson, but remains a tough sell for players.
"You're sitting in these meeting rooms watching film of your game or your practice," Jackson says. "Roger Goodell's not in those meeting rooms. Your coach is the one who's leading those meetings, and he's telling you in no uncertain terms what it takes to be on the team and to have a job on the team. And that is bringing that man to the ground by any means necessary — laying that shot that he'll remember."
Jackson when Cleveland linebacker Willie McGinest "nearly decapitated" him in a 2008 game. No hard feelings, though. Every football player accepts the violence, says Jackson — most of the time.
"There'd be times, laying in bed the night before a game, when I'd have this kind of morbid vision of myself getting hit and collapsing into just a pile of bones. My whole entire skeleton just crumbling," he says. "And it was this flash that would come into my mind and then I'd shake my head and say, 'What are you doing, Nate? Come on, focus. Focus.' And I was OK."
Jackson has been out of pro football for four years. He loves watching games and writing about them — his is called Slow Getting Up. He calls pro football players the best athletes on the planet, engaged in a beautiful dance. For most fans, that beauty outweighs the treachery. For now.
NFL Fans Weigh Impact Of Players' Head Injuries : NPR
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Although many dismiss the notion of an overseas NFL franchise, I certainly do not. Commissioner Roger Goodell is intent on growing the game beyond our domestic borders, starting in London. More importantly, NFL owners—in case you haven’t been paying attention—care deeply about creating and capitalizing upon every possible revenue stream. Playing a game or two abroad is not maximization of that income. Owners start to see dollar signs from entry into the European market and beyond.
Yes, there will be logistical, operational and competitive challenges with a London team, but we are talking about a league approaching $10 billion in gross revenue. Simply, these issues can be worked out. My perspective is one of experience: I served as the first general manager of the Barcelona Dragons in the NFL-backed World League. In my opinion, solving the logistics of a potential NFL team in London would be a cakewalk compared to the NFL’s maiden voyage in Europe more than 20 years ago.
‘Do you speak Barcelonan?’
In 1991, I was a few years into a career as an agent when I was presented an interesting opportunity. I was negotiating a contract for client Chris Doleman with Vikings general manager/part-owner, Mike Lynn.
When we finished negotiating Doleman’s contract, Lynn lit up a cigarette (one of a dozen he smoked in our two-hour meeting), eyed me closely and asked: “Do you speak Barcelonan?”
I thought this was an interesting question. “Does that mean Spanish?”
“Yeah, Spanish.” (It turned out he was wrong; Catalan is spoken in Barcelona.)
“Yes, I speak Spanish.” I took it in high school; I could fake my way through.
“How would you like to be the general manager of the Barcelona Dragons?”
“The what?”
“We’re starting a league overseas. We’re going to spread football around the globe. It’s going be bigger than the NFL!”
I enjoyed the agent business (I would later return to it) but could not pass up the opportunity at a very young age to run a professional football team, albeit one in a minor league in another country. Three months before opening day on ABC television and with no coaches or players, I became general manager of the Barcelona Dragons.
Goalposts in the corners
After being turned down by some top NFL assistant coaches, such as Tony Dungy, who was intrigued but not by moving to Spain, I hired former Boston College coach Jack Bicknell. Within a week, we drafted 80 players, had training camp in Florida, cut 40 players (some with Spanish heritage) and boarded a plane to Spain. Instant football team!
When we arrived in Spain, our marketing director proudly announced: “Andrew, for our opening game we have sold 173 tickets!”
“How many does the stadium hold?”
“40,000.”
“That’s not good.”
“Don’t worry. In Spain, everyone walks up.”
Thankfully, the night before our game, we were allowed to have the team run around at halftime of an FC Barcelona game with the public address announcer promoting our game the next night (or at least I think that’s what he said). Those five minutes in front of 100,000 people, combined with our handing out tickets to whomever we met, resulted in 18,000 fans for our opening game, clearing the 15,000 number we had targeted. On to the game.
Our first touchdown was a seam pattern to the tight end, who broke three tackles en route to an exciting 70-yard touchdown. I jumped for joy, but the stadium only had a murmur of muted golf applause. Hmmm. Then our kicker came on and kicked the extra point and … the crowd went nuts!
American football, for the fans that came, was a diversion, a curiosity far different than their passion for soccer. They cheered at all the wrong times, did “the wave” and sang “Ole” throughout the game. They just wanted to have some fun. So we made it a party.
We changed our entire marketing approach from selling American football to selling an American event. We sold hot dogs and hamburgers; we brought over marching bands and Frisbee dogs; we blasted American rap music at every stoppage of play. I hired two NFL cheerleaders to teach the women of Barcelona to dance as they did, creating “Las Chicas Del Dragons.” They became more popular than the team and were booked throughout Spain.
Logistically, there were some obstacles. When the goalposts were first installed at the stadium, they were mounted in the corners of the end zones. The laundry service ruined our uniforms countless times. Getting equipment out of customs always required some negotiating and a greased palm or two.
Perhaps the biggest obstacles were food and lodging. We could never get enough food. The hotel staff constantly complained, They eat so much; they are too big! We put night tables with a pillow on top at the end of each bed so players’ legs wouldn’t flop over. And dealing with the wives and girlfriends visiting players while navigating the new Spanish girlfriends (and one wife) was a full-time job in itself.
To borrow a U.S. Navy tagline, the Barcelona Dragons experience was not just a job, it was an adventure. However, Barcelona was then and London is now.
London and the logistics
Even back in the World League 22 years ago, the sophistication of American football fans at Wembley Stadium was vastly greater than what we experienced in Barcelona. When we played in the inaugural World Bowl in London (against the London Monarchs), it was very similar to playing in front of an American audience, just with some English flair.
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