Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 108 (Saturday, August 9th)
|
Sign Up For Free Newsletter
85,000+ Mailing List |
Introducing the 2008 Titlecraft starting lineup: Born from the idea that people play for more than just money, a Titlecraft® is a fully customizable reason to win. You choose everything, from the type of wood on the trim, to the commissioner's signature on the ball. It's everything you want in a fantasy football trophy. So go on and check out the site at: theultimatetrophy.com. |
Hi Folks,
Welcome to Sunday. It'll only be a few more weeks and these Sunday mornings will be filled with regular season NFL games. It's almost here. In the meantime, we've got plenty of news and notes for you so let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. NYJ - Favre Draws Applause At Practice - To Start Next Preseason Game2. NYJ - QB Clemens Understands Role Change
3. HOU - Texans RB Green Injures Groin
4. ARZ - WR Boldin To Return To Practice
5. OAK - WR Walker Says He Is Committed To Raiders
6. SF - QB O'Sullivan, 49ers Quarterbacks Unimpressive
7. OAK - RB Bush, Raiders Running Game Impressive In Victory
8. City Of Cincinnati To Pay Former Bengal $500,000
9. NYJ - Jets TE Schable Released From Hospital
10. SD - RB Tomlinson Listed With Sore Groin But Is Fine
11. PIT - Steelers Sign QBs Leftwich And Culpepper
NYJ - Favre Draws Applause At Practice - To Start Next Preseason Game
Source: AP
Brett Favre got a standing ovation from an overflow crowd that went to great lengths to get a good look at the New York Jets' newest quarterback Saturday. He was cheered again when he completed his first pass of practice.
Jets coach Eric Mangini said Favre will start next Saturday against the Redskins in the team's preseason home opener.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Favre appears to be having a lot of fun with this. He said he didn't feel like the Packers wanted him in Green Bay. He won't have to worry about that in New York at least for now as the mayor and the city seem thrilled that he's there. But he also harbors no illusions about why he's there. Winning is everything.
"The pressure is just building," he said Friday. "The attention I've gotten since I've been here has been overwhelming. The bottom line, as we all know, is to win games. That's what I'm here to do."NYJ - QB Clemens Understands Role Change
Source: AP
"It's a change," Jets QB Kellen Clemens said. "One minute, you're in a quarterback battle and the next minute, it's completely different. There are two ways to look at this. You can get down about it or turn it into a positive. I get to pick the brain of a future Hall of Famer. That chance doesn't come along too often."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We say that things move fast and this certainly seems to be the case for Clemens and Chad Pennington. Clemens is taking the only attitude he really can here trying to make the best of it.
HOU - Texans RB Green Injures Groin
Source: John McClain, Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans starting RB Ahman Green was injured on his first carry of the preseason. Green caught a short pass from QB Matt Schuab on the Texans first offensive play and limped off the field with a groin injury. Green did not contribute much last year after an early injury.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
It's Deja Vu for Texans fans here with Green getting hurt early. Let's hope it's not serious - we'll know more soon. In the meantime, the team wants to see what they have in Chris Taylor, Darius Walker, Steve Slaton and Chris Brown.
ARZ - WR Boldin To Return To Practice
Source: Mike Tulumello, EastValleyTribune.com
Arizona Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin should return to practice with the team on Sunday. Boldin has missed all of training camp with a sore hamstring but had worked out in the pregame routine Thursday and HC Ken Whisenhunt said that Boldin "feels good."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Great news for Boldin and the Cardinals and QBs Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner. They'll likely ease him back into the flow of things but all in all, things are looking up.
OAK - WR Walker Says He Is Committed To Raiders
Source: Bill Williamson, ESPN.com
Oakland Raiders WR Javon Walker has said he is fully committed to the organization and that he is no longer considering retirement. "I want people to know why I thought about it, but I also want it to go away, too," he said. "But people need to know I am fully committed to this team. I will not leave. I am very excited about the season."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Even with Walker saying this, I just can't feel good about Walker. He doesn't look like anything special in camp. Whether it's attitude or physically, he just doesn't seem to have it. I'm shying far away from him at this point and will let someone else roll the dice on him.
SF - QB O'Sullivan, 49ers Quarterbacks Unimpressive
Source: Associated Press, ESPN.com
The San Francisco 49ers' quarterback battle is still undecided as all three of the team's quarterbacks struggled in their loss Friday night to the Oakland Raiders. QB J.T. O'Sullivan committed two turnovers on the team's last two possessions and QB Shaun Hill added an interception earlier in the game. Alex Smith finished 5-9 passing for 51 yards. The 49ers turned the ball over four times as a team.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Ugh. Not exactly what the coaching staff was looking for here. The way these guys are going, the quarterback that sees the fewest snaps may be the guy that looks best. Let's see how practice goes this week and how the game plays out next week but this could be a drawn out affair as the team tries to pick a QB.
OAK - RB Bush, Raiders Running Game Impressive In Victory
Source: Associated Press, ESPN.com
In his first football action in two seasons, second year RB Michael Bush was impressive in the Oakland Raiders exhibition win over the San Francisco 49ers. Bush ran for 27 yards including a five yard touchdown run and added 29 yards through the air. Bush is still behind RB Darren McFadden and RB Justin Fargas on the depth chart. McFadden ran for 48 yards and Fargas ran for 25 in the victory.
"I'm very pleased with Michael," coach Lane Kiffin said. "He looked really good. I think we have something special with those three running backs."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Good to see Bush perform well after having a tough time the last couple of years. That's a loaded backfield though with McFadden and Fargas ahead of him. It'll make it tough for Bush to stand out likely, but it's a great spot for the Raiders.
City Of Cincinnati To Pay Former Bengal $500,000
Source: Associated Press, ESPN.com
The city of Cincinnati will pay former Bengals DT Matthias Askew $500,000 to settle a lawsuit in which Askew alleged unlawful arrest and excessive force. The player claimed that the arrest caused his release from the Bengals, which prevented him from earning a contract extension. Askew is now in training camp with the Washington Redskins.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Chris Henry should call Askew's attorney...
NYJ - Jets TE Schable Released From Hospital
Source: Associated Press, NFL.com
TE A.J. Schable of the New York Jets was released from a Cleveland hospital a day after leaving the field on a stretcher after a helmet to helmet collision in the team's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.
"He does have movement in his arms and legs," coach Eric Mangini said after the game. "That is extremely encouraging."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Good news for Schable. Always a scary moment to see a player leave the field on a stretcher. Wishing him a full recovery.
SD - RB Tomlinson Listed With Sore Groin But Is Fine
Source: Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune
The Chargers will hold out RB LaDainian Tomlinson in the preseason game and will list a "sore groin" as the reason. He is fine though according to Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune. Technically, teams can only hold out injured players for preseason games as they charge regular season ticket prices. But the Chargers are going with the wink wink approach here.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Tomlinson sitting out a preseason game is certainly not news. Just didn't want anyone to worry if they saw the groin injury story.
PIT - Steelers Sign QBs Leftwich And Culpepper
Source: Sporting News
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free agent QBs Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper. The two will compete to be the backup to starter Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers had a need at QB after backup Charlie Batch broke his collarbone in the teams opening preseason game.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This makes perfect sense. How both these guys were unemployed this late in the year seemed surprising to me. Charlie Batch probably won't be the last QB that's injured. Taking the top backups off the market is a smart move for the Steelers. Plus it fills their need for a backup to Roethlisberger.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Sunday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J