2010年12月1日星期三

Only human: Javon Walker's twin comeback quests

Everybody loves a good comeback story, and few in today’s NFL are so in need of a bounce-back from ill fortune and bad reputation than wide receiver Javon Walker; because of that, the well-publicized report of Walker’s considered retirement was an unfortunate one.It's sad that Walker’s attempt at a fresh start was set back somewhat by the ugly incident in Las Vegas earlier this summer. It's sad that Walker felt he was playing so badly in the preseason that he wanted to hang up on a dream at just 29 years old and forfeit $11 million rather than play 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
a game. And saddest of all is perhaps that this larger-than-life persona of the professional athlete may not perform the miracle we expect from our heroes.Unfortunately, any inconsistent play on the part of Walker has to do with that unfortunate happening of New Year’s Day 2007 when then-Denver Broncos teammate Darrent Williams died in a drive-by shooting with Walker present. In the first four years of his professional career, Walker’s problems were of a strictly football variety; while earning something of a bad reputation for defending himself against a few inflammatory remarks from his old quarterback, Green Bay's Brett Favre, his skills were all under control with both teams, culminating in a 2006 season which had Walker running up 15.7 yards per reception on the way to 1,084 yards. Carrying a ton of baggage, Walker played half a season as half a player in 2007, and the Broncos were willing to trade the suddenly troublesome receiver for pennies on the dollar, but couldn’t. Pumped to join the Raiders and seeing opportunities to avenge his perceived mistreatment by an AFC West rival, things looked positive for Walker again.Sadly, though, there was the Las Vegas weekend in June. Foolish, decadent partying activity or no, Walker surely didn’t deserve the senseless beating he took at the hands of a couple of lowlifes in the morning’s wee hours. Though reports out of Raider camp do not generally share the opinion of Walker’s self-assessment, one wonders if Walker is feeling the effects of the damage to the eye area he suffered. Or even post-traumatic stress disorder.About seven years ago, I was covering sports for a weekly newspaper when a figure high in stature and rife with self-destructive tendencies was screwing up his life again. The parameters of Darryl Strawberry’s self-abuse was as different from Walker’s as was his sport, but Strawberry was suffering just as much from a damaged inner self as Walker and many more everyday folk. At that time, I interviewed Dr. Chris Stankovich, a sports psychologist then (and still) employed at the Champion Athletic Consulting psychology clinic in Columbus, Ohio. As a professional athlete, said Stankovich, “you live in a fishbowl. When you have unlimited resources, you can get yourself into trouble.” Little has changed with this aspect of the American sports world since Strawberry played with the Mets, and those “unlimited resources” do not include superhuman reserves of psychological strength.Why are we (and even more so, mainstream media) so fascinated with the ills of high-level athletes, celebrities and the like? Perhaps because the fallibilities and vulnerabilities make them appear real again; despite the fact that fans even use the first-person plural “we” in speaking of the team, maybe failure makes the hero more self-identifiable. Further, maybe sometimes it does us sports fans good to be reminded that those who are habitually called “huge,” “larger than life,” and sometimes even “godlike” Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
are ultimately just people.We will probably never learn what exactly Al Davis said to Walker in getting his man back on the field (and perhaps in turn back to a winning position in the game called life), but if Walker does manage to feed heartily from the owner's words, he’ll owe Davis a lot more than $11 million; he’ll owe him an intangible that is, as the old commercial might say, “priceless”: A fair estimation of his own self-worth as a person.Everyone loves a comeback and RF365 is no exception. Here’s to hoping Javon Walker comes back in both his games.Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game! (17)

Norv Turner Al Davis

While members of the notorious "Black Hole" would almost certainly place Coach Norv Turner on the electric chair at this point in the season, Turner is fortunate enough to only be sitting on the hot seat right now. Jumping to a disappointing 0-3 start, the Black Hole now has the luxury of 36 Bettis White Jersey
cheering for a team looking to dig themselves out of their own deep hole. To do so, Norv Turner and staff must first look to the old clich? "Practice makes perfect."Following a disappointing 2003 outing featuring a 4-12 record, owner Al Davis looked to re-staff his club with a veteran head coach and a defensive coordinator whose football genetics were equivalent to George W. Bush's presidential genetics. Yet, with Norv Turner as head coach and the son of Buddy Ryan, Rob Ryan, at defensive coordinator, the Raiders improved by only one win. At this point in the 2005 season, staring at an 0-3 record, both Turner and Ryan are facing an uphill battle to retain their jobs.Where to start? Practice. The team's training sessions may provide the only realistic circumstance in which Norv Turner and staff will truly be able to control their team. Perhaps teaching punt returner Chris Carr when to call a fair catch and when to back away from the ball would have saved a touchdown in the Raiders week two loss against division rival Kansas City. The Chiefs touchdown that followed this inexcusable turnover added seven points to the Kansas City score; ironically, the Raiders lost by six. Special Teams coach Joe Avezzano may also want to pay attention to Sebastian Janikowski, whose 42.9 percent kicking accuracy just barely edges out the Eagles team percentage of 40. Note: The Eagles have had multiple kicks attempted by 245-pound linebacker Mark Simoneau.Granted, Oakland has 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
already faced both of last year's Super Bowl participants on their own turf in just three weeks - marking the first time this has ever occurred in NFL history. But when it comes to excuses, long-time owner Al Davis shows little sympathy for losers - right now the are losers, all excuses aside.

Stuart Schweigert Derrick Gibson

Stuart Schweigert and Derrick Gibson: Two names that are certainly far from eye-catching at first glance. Yet looking beyond their names and primarily at the performance of these two safeties, it is very easy to understand why both of these young players won over starting jobs in the 2005 offseason.Prior to 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey black jersey
the 2004 NFL Draft, free safety Stuart Schweigert was asked, "What three words best describe you?" Schweigert responded, "Charismatic, very hard worker and determined." That day, Schweigert was selected by the with 67th pick of the 2004 draft. This selection was far from a reach, as Schweigert was the recipient of numerous accolades at Purdue. In each of his last three seasons, Schweigert was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award and was repeatedly recognized as one of the finest safeties in college football by respected sources such as The Sporting News and Associated Press. Schweigert's 17 pass interceptions also surpassed Purdue's previous record of 11 interceptions held by greats Don Anderson and Rod Woodson. Already this season, Schweigert has proved how much of an asset he is on the playing field. He has already been a part of two of the biggest defensive plays Oakland has had this year. In their home opener against Kansas City, Schweigert recovered a fumble with just 5:03 left in the fourth quarter trailing by just six points. In the subsequent week at Philadelphia, Schweigert forced a fumble on the Oakland five-yard line, saving a touchdown in a game that they were already trailing by seven points. Unfortunately, Oakland was unable to turn either of these big plays into victories.Alongside Stuart Schweigert, in his fifth year at strong safety, is Derrick Gibson. Drafted in the first round out of FSU in 2001, Gibson, like Schweigert, was placed into a starting roll in his second year in the NFL. In his first two years as a starter, Gibson was often criticized for his inability to generate big plays. Making matters worse, Gibson was sidelined for the entire season last year with a severe shoulder injury. In his return, Gibson seized his job back from journeyman Marques Anderson and has yet to look back. In Oakland's first victory of the season against the Dallas Cowboys last week, Gibson led the Oakland defense with eight tackles-six of 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
which were solo. He also was on the delivering end of what was perhaps the biggest defensive play of the game-a fourth quarter drive-ending sack on quarterback Drew Bledsoe for a loss of 14 yards. Oakland went on to win the game 19-13.Look for these two young "no-name" safeties to make a name for themselves this season. Through four games, they have already stepped up their play immensely, helping their youthful secondary to find a consistency that has been lacking since the days of cornerback Eric Allen.

2010年11月30日星期二

Gil Haskell Seattle Seahawks

On Tuesday, Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator Gil Haskell admitted that he was interested in coaching the . He intimated to reporters that he would be interested in meeting with Al Davis about the vacant head coaching position. If Davis obliges, that means that both of this year's Super Bowl offensive coordinators will be in the running for the job.The have struggled mightily, since letting Jon Gruden pack his bags and head to Tampa Bay in 2002. They've fired two coaches since Gruden's departure. The first was Bill Callahan, who succeeded in guiding the Raiders to the Super Bowl in his first year, but was run out of 36 Bettis Black Jersey
town after a disastrous 4-12 campaign in 2003. The second was Norv Turner, who turned in two horrific seasons as the helm and failed to show any improvement despite having the services of two high profile free agents in Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan.Gil Haskell is a very attractive option for the . He is the architect of the league's highest-scoring offense (28.2 ppg) while being credited with the development of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander during his six seasons with the Seahawks.

2010年11月25日星期四

With focus elsewhere, should re-sign Newberry

Over the past two seasons, the Oakland Raiders’ secondary has ranked eighth and first against the pass. The Raiders are one of just three teams to finish in the top ten in passing defense in both 2006 and 2007.You certainly wouldn’t guess that by looking at the way the 2008 offseason has played out thus far, though.First, the Raiders went out and picked up free safety Gibril Wilson from the New York Giants; that will cost them $39 million over the next six years. Then, they 4 Brett Favre White jersey
slapped a one-year, $9.45 million franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Now, according to ESPN, Atlanta Falcons’ defensive back DeAngelo Hall will be awarded a seven-year, $70 million deal once he’s traded to Oakland.That’s $118,450,000 spent on the secondary in less than one month.In the meantime, the offensive line -- considered to be a much bigger concern heading into this offseason -- has gone by mostly unnoticed to this point.Earlier this month, the Raiders signed OT Kwame Harris to a three-year, $14 million deal, making him the only new addition to the O-line. Oakland also re-signed right tackle Cornell Green on March 6; however, seven days prior, they lost nine-year starter Barry Sims.That means Oakland -- thus far -- has three of five definite starters from ‘07 returning: RT Cornell Green, RG Cooper Carlisle and LG Robert Gallery. At left tackle (Sims’ old spot), possible replacements are the 25-year-old Harris and second-year lineman Mario Henderson.The odd position out is center, where 31-year-old Jeremy Newberry started 14 games last season. The former San Francisco 49er inked a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Raiders a year ago, which makes him a free agent this offseason. If he doesn’t re-sign with Oakland, the job would likely go to soon-to-be-fifth-year player Jake Grove, who has started 34 games at center for the Raiders.Grove has given up 10 sacks and committed 15 penalties since entering the NFL in 2004. Although, in 2006 -- his first full season as a starter -- the 300-pounder gave up 7? sacks and a career-worst six penalties. Thus far, Grove hasn’t shown he can stay consistent at center for a full, 16-game season.Newberry has, however.The 315-pounder has earned two Pro Bowl bids for his play at center (2001 and 2002), and played well enough last season to deserve a longer contract with Oakland. In 14 starts last year, the veteran lineman gave up just two sacks for a loss of 10 yards.Despite their spend-happy 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
tendencies this offseason, however, the Raiders still haven’t negotiated a contract to bring Newberry back next year. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Antioch, Calif., native has already received contract offers from the Buccaneers and one other team. But it was also added that Newberry “hasn’t signed elsewhere and has said he wants to remain in Oakland.”At this point, Al Davis should give Newberry what he wants. And then the 78-year-old team owner can move onto “bigger” things. Like getting Pacman Jones.

2010年11月24日星期三

And cause the layers to fit better coverage for the bills

Sorry, Toronto. The city finally gets to a non-championship Rough Riders League this weekend, and has the type of team home team the Buffalo Bills could not implode or be incredibly pathetic. While the fans have set up, the players must take part aside the misery in an event that happens in the face of the Miami Dolphins. After the parade is over, and has held the prime minister and the police, Buffalo is the task of trying to stop a division rival, for once not to run around avoiding fragmentation of Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
Miami game in a row I left active. The best hope for limiting the legislation, which the Dolphins attack is a percentage, is the fact that Prime Minister corner Terrence McGee is now 100 percent healthy enough. It was perhaps about two-thirds to three quarters of the energy in these teams first meeting that led to the regular force Dolphin WR Ted Ginn Jr., literally, almost 27 percent of its profits accumulate this season, in which an afternoon. Ginns 175 meters a day is even more impressive when he manage only 651 for the entire year, including days off. But the fact is that McGee completely cured and possession of two healthy knees means Ginn will have trouble incredible two games against Buffalo this season. It is not to blame if Ginn is to use new quarters, as Chad Pennington has completed 65.4 percent of 2,008 tests, a percentage which is only good in common when it comes to the audience, which is historically correct, is. Before he was stopped a difficult task, also was sacked 21 times this season, a small amount, but not so alarming, and attract the best conditions for the bills to your target audience, rather than try to go on the offensive. In particular, the key to the defense has safety devices McGee and Jabari Greer beginning of questionable or poor rookie Leodis McKelvin might encounter tasks. Leaving the players to implement even deeper into the reserve to the efforts to load, but the advantage is that the safety net will lead Buffalo receiver stick close range, quick tips and other current models look. A precautionary area of the two men deep offer primary care with a dog license and a cover for his opponent. Also to play theres no better place in Tampa-style defense in a dome.
And cause the layers to pass reporting better results for the calculations, the exchange of football a long way to healing the wounds of the Terrance and Phillip back off if they were caught, then by bombing the residence of the Baldwin brothers, Royal Canadian Air Force .
For competitions, the results are claimed good for the home team, passing curious Canadians care, trying to deny vigorously Buffalo secondary, while the harassment of Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
the beneficiaries.
dramatic case, the defense raises a different purpose to: A win is probably not the invoices for the playoffs, he could try to do a show for their fans something distant and to win a PR battle. Ontarionites convince neighbors to play football is the purpose of an exciting journey, and play solid angle is fun to see, let alone an effective way to stop the Dolphins.

2010年11月23日星期二

Green Bay is about 120 miles from Milwaukee

Bills fans are still skeptical of positive comments on the rest of the team in Buffalo, but the only one to offer, and offered a little more than wild speculation is the head of the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell speech Chautauqua, New York, last week in which he reiterated the company online, that he sees the bills to stay where you are in the Toronto series, help allay this goal to the fans, sure, now that the final solution of dueling franchises is still far away.
Ultimately, the games are Canada to hire a way to neighbors in the same interests. Theres has been played regularly outside the United States a great deal about the fact that competitions bills north, for the first time an NFL team. But that has to do more with Buffalo in peace on the border as anything else, the next major city to be in a foreign country, where residents can a wrong turn to take and end up in the first igloo of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
Ministers, the children's home of John Labatt Constable, or fortress.
By comparison, Green Bay is about 120 miles from Milwaukee, more than the trip from Buffalo to Toronto, and nobody cared about the Packers in motion for decades that all the team played several games in the main city of Wisconsin. Although the situation is eccentric Green Bay prevents property that it changes matter by a whim of a billionaire, the truth is that far from home has games the same goal, namely, the fans who win live on the footpath along the regular stage .
At the same time is the best way to kill this issue, Toronto, a team that can compete with the bills, not really her nature. Animosity is the key to all sports and hard for two groups of NHL fans who each other more than the Sabres fans despise and leave to find with this model of mutual contempt as a football project would be a blow for a league should try to to expand regional conflicts.
There are many fans along the QEW to divide between the franchises. It would also be a possible game against the Toronto club in Orchard Park each year for the Bills a chance to earn additional money with the price level, because it is a premium for high notes in particular that the fans are willing to pay fed can charge.
All this being said, Toronto is not likely to get a new computer. The expansion is also unlikely that this is not desired, two franchises would not have currently 100 players on the lists will soon be worthy of the NFL, let alone draw conferences and symmetry of divisions off balance.
In addition, Los Angeles still has his team, which was ultimately found by means of two bills unchanged squad. But football would be much better with loyalty conflict between Buffalo and Toronto have a team of people from New York sold or trouble, or ignore. Fans do not just embrace the Ravens Cleveland.
As with Coca-Cola and Pepsi both its profile and its capital, which is issued by each other's throat 80, an increase, the transfer of a computer that does not mobilize Ontario Buffalo fans two new clubs and already established for the exchange and the good league. You are looking for an organization with a lukewarm fan base to send permanently by the office to establish a presence in a huge city and glamourous create a perfect measure of hostility with his new opponents hated a little south.
Meanwhile, the situation is not perfect. Rogers Centre still feels the game with teams of the most despised enemy this year, as Ralph Wilson Stadium atmosphere for the setting of Miami is perhaps the best in the world on any day of the game of the season.
And, of course, the real key to the Buffalo Bills complain to avoid the survey, a small market and instead try to build the energy to a larger market, while discouraging, is there is no reason why not adapt and develop the city, even if the change was sometimes a bit slow when it has not stopped. Many think Buffalo is stuck, they should remember that the best way to stay poor to think that he never got rich.
But Goodell comments seem to confirm the best view on 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
the situation, namely that the invoices are doing what they can with what we have now in order to promote interest and cash.
It is easy to believe the conspiracy charges in Canada games fall only a test of a permanent change, but his words should assuage some of the nervous paranoia, even if they are just words. Goodell next step is to find a way to your own team in Toronto by a third, so the competition and hatred between them and the change can be found to get started.