Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 17 (Saturday, May 10th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Sunday to you. Hope you're into a good weekend. It's a little bit of a slow news day but we still have a few for you that you'll want to keep up with. Let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. OAK - RB McFadden Learning The Next Level2. STL - OT Pace Looking Healthier
3. ATL - Rookie QB Ryan Gets Over First Practice Jitters
4. BAL - Ravens Rowdy At Practice
5. Herschel Walker Reveals He Has Multiple Personality Disorder
6. NYG - Rookie WR Manningham and QB Woodson Nursing Injuries
7. Field Surfaces Undergoing More Research
8. CIN - WR Johnson's Endorsement Deals Still OK For Now
9. TEN - WR Mike Williams Making Most Of Opportunity
10. DEF - NYJ - Brother Of Jets S Abram Elam Fatally Shot
OAK - RB McFadden Learning The Next Level
Source: Josh Dubow, AP
Darren McFadden burst through the middle during a drill and slowed up as he reached the secondary only to be scolded by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp for not running hard for 40 yards.
Tom Rathman got on McFadden's case another time when he carried the ball back to the huddle with his elbow not tucked in close to the body to secure the ball. The NFL education of McFadden began at the Oakland Raiders rookie minicamp this weekend, when the fourth overall pick in the draft got his first taste of professional football. McFadden said Saturday he noticed the difference from college as soon as he was handed pens, a highlighter and a notebook with his playbook. McFadden gets to work with rookies this weekend before joining the rest of the team later this month.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Mr. Dubow writes an interesting article about adjusting to life at the pro level.
"It's good to get a few things so that you can understand and get the concept of it," McFadden said. "Once you get the concepts of the first part of it, it's a lot easier to catch on to the rest of it when they throw it at you." We think he'll be just fine.STL - OT Pace Looking Healthier
Source: AP
Two injury-plagued years haven't hurt Orlando Pace's sense of humor.
The Rams' former Pro Bowl tackle said on Saturday during the second day of St. Louis' minicamp that he is feeling good and looking forward to training camp. "I'm just getting ready for training camp," said a smiling Pace, who missed three camps earlier in his career when he was designated as a franchise player. "I'm not going to complain about missing some of training camp, but we'll see what the doctors say." Pace tore a labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder on a routine block in the 2007 season opener against Carolina. He missed the rest of the season. That injury came after he tore his left triceps in Week 10 at Seattle in the 2006 season and going on injured reserve.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
A healthy Orlando Pace changes this offense in a big way. Everyone magically gets better when Pace is healthy. The trick will be keeping him healthy this year so let's keep our fingers crossed.
ATL - Rookie QB Ryan Gets Over First Practice Jitters
Source: Charles Odum, AP
Rookie QB Matt Ryan is the future, and Saturday's two practices gave the former Boston College star his first opportunity to prove that future can begin in his rookie season.
"I thought Matt threw the ball well out there," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Like anybody going out there on his first practice, I thought he was a little bit nervous and had some jitters." The jitters were obvious to others, including veteran receiver Brian Finneran, who is making a comeback from two knee surgeries. One of Ryan's first passes was an unimpressive completion to Finneran. "I caught it, but I knew he probably was not happy with the way that first one came out," Finneran said, adding he was impressed that Ryan walked up and promised the next pass attempt would come with more authority. "The next one was gorgeous," Finneran said. "He made up for it."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Ryan is glad I'm sure to have this one out of the way so he can get on with the business of becoming a pro QB. He's facing a ton of pressure to be successful early and it might be too much to expect from the young man. We'll see more this summer.
BAL - Ravens Rowdy At Practice
Source: David Ginsburg, AP
The Baltimore Ravens are doing more than merely fighting for jobs at their first mandatory minicamp under new coach John Harbaugh.
They're fighting each other, too. Nearly all 85 players in camp were involved in a squabble Saturday that began when offensive tackle Oniel Cousins and defensive tackle Amon Gordon threw punches after running back Allen Patrick was taken down hard on a burst up the middle. All the players surged toward the middle of the field, and it was nearly two minutes before peace was restored. "Guys are competing, so tempers flare a little bit," Harbaugh said.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
New coaches, new jobs, and a 5-11 season last year will put everyone in a feisty mood.
Herschel Walker Reveals He Has Multiple Personality Disorder
Source: Charles Odum, AP
The early reports that Herschel Walker's new book would reveal he has lived with a multiple-personality disorder sparked a wave of surprise and even disbelief from many who know the former football star.
Family members, including Walker's father and brother, said they had no hint he had a multiple-personality disorder. Walker's former University of Georgia coach, Vince Dooley, also was surprised Walker has been found to have what also is called dissociative identity disorder.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Interesting news from Walker. He seems to be dealing well with it and we wish him the best.
NYG - Rookie WR Manningham and QB Woodson Nursing Injuries
Source: Yahoo Sports
Receiver Mario Manningham and quarterback Andre' Woodson were sidelined by injuries Saturday during the New York Giants' minicamp for rookies and free agents.
A third-round draft pick from Michigan, Manningham suffered a hip flexor on his left side running a pull-up pattern early in the morning workout. Woodson pulled a quad muscle in his left leg a short time later. The injury happened as the sixth-round draft pick from Kentucky was scrambling to his left during an 11-on-11 drill.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Not a big deal but disappointing for these rookies.
Field Surfaces Undergoing More Research
Source: Jessie Bonner, AP
Artificial surfaces have been around since the 1960s, first installed in the Houston Astrodome and called Astroturf. Those original playing surfaces were essentially a synthetic carpet laid over a thin rubber pad installed over a slab of concrete. Stadium turf now consists of individual blades of polyethanol fibers woven into a padded backing filled with sand or rubber, sometimes a mixture of both.
"It looks and plays like natural grass," said Stanley Green, president of the Pennsylvania-based Sprinturf company, which announced a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in February. Manufacturers claim the synthetic fields are cheaper to maintain and safer for players. But Dr. Michael Coughlin, co-chairman of the NFL subcommittee on foot and ankle injuries, contends the new playing surfaces may create more of a risk for ankle and foot injuries. "We have some preliminary information that leads us to believe that there may be a higher injury rate on the newer infill surfaces compared to grass," Coughlin said. Researchers are scheduled to test the device in Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas this summer.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
As usual, there are two sides to the story. Usually told with the slant that benefits your side financially. Stay tuned to this but expect owners to continue stressing safety for the players they've invested lots of money in.
CIN - WR Johnson's Endorsement Deals Still OK For Now
Source: Joe Kay, AP
Chad Johnson's dustup with the Cincinnati Bengals hasn't hurt his multimillion-dollar endorsement deals so far, but his long-term prospects could suffer if things get ugly.
The high-profile receiver is threatening to sit out the season if the Bengals don't trade him. The Bengals have refused and called his bluff, telling him to go ahead and stay away if that's how he feels. Sitting out would cost Johnson his $3 million salary for 2008. It also would force advertisers to scramble. "He's a football player," said Kevin George, vice president and general manager for Unilever's deodorant division. "We want him playing football. He gets more coverage when he's on the field."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Let's be clear on this - Chad Johnson is all talk when it comes to his threat to sit out. It's not going to happen. No matter how much posturing he does between now and then. So that means his endorsement deal will likely be just fine.
TEN - WR Mike Williams Making Most Of Opportunity
Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said WR Mike Williams is plenty talented to play. It's simply a matter of him being in good enough shape to contribute.
"He's an amazing talent. For a big man to run like he runs," Heimerdinger said. "He's got great hands and he's run real good. The problem with Mike is he's got to be able to do it more than two days in a row. He's got to get in shape and make sure that he's here. Talent-wise, he's very talented and can do a lot of good things. "With a talent like that, I think any offense can use it, but he has to be in shape and he has to be able to run more than two outs in a row. I've never been a guy that rotates a lot of wide receivers." Williams still isn't exactly where he wants to be weight-wise _ he says he's around 242, but he's closing in on his goal. "I want to see if I can get to my S.C. weight of 235 or 230," Williams said.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
With a new offensive coordinator, Williams will have a bit of a blank slate. And that's a good thing for him. Will he finally produce? That's the big question. I do at least like what I'm hearing from Williams and his coaches. And it's been a while since I've been able to say that.
DEF - NYJ - Brother Of Jets S Abram Elam Fatally Shot
Source: Yahoo Sports
The older brother of New York Jets safety Abram Elam was fatally shot, the third sibling in the family to die by gunfire since 1987.
Riviera Beach police officers were called to the scene of a shooting at about 12:35 p.m. Friday, and found Donald Charles Elam shot in the lower back, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office news release.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Footballguys offers condolences to the family and friends. Tough news to hear.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great rest of your day and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J