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Witchita Fall's Ward Commits to OU

post from Oklahoma Sooners Football Blog on 01 April 2008 11:07:00 PM. © Oklahoma Sooners Football Blog

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners add verbal commitment WR Eric Ward: Rider wide receiver Eric Ward verbally committed Saturday to play football for the University of Oklahoma. The junior still has his senior season to play for the Raiders and he would join the Sooners in the fall of 2009. "The timing was right, and when I went there it felt like home," Ward said of his decision to commit early. "And it's not too far away from home, so my family and friends can still come see me play." Ward, a 6-1, 195-pounder, is a two-year starter at wide receiver for the Raiders where he has 77 catches for 1,390 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 206 yards on 28 carries and five touchdowns. He also has a kick return for a touchdown. He helped lead the Raiders to a 12-win season in 2007 and to the Region I-4A championship game where they fell to Everman 21-19. His numbers for the 2007 season were 55 catches for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns; 14 rushes for 108 yards and four scores; and a kick return for a touchdown. (Times Record News)

Previous Post:
Sooners Add '09 Verbal Commitment

Related:
Oklahoma Sooners Recruiting Page

Read The Full Article:
http://www.gnextinc.com/ousoonersblog/2008/04/witchita-falls-ward-commits-to-ou.h
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Raiders Sign C Wade

post from Raiders Gab on 01 April 2008 08:50:00 PM. © Raiders Gab

Only weeks ago Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders were being heckled for signing outrageous deals, wasting cap and forgetting to sign what they needed: a Center. To reconcile with the hecklers, they Raiders signed free agent C John Wade on Monday. The former Bucc will fill the whole in the Raiders’ offensive line and also bring experience to the often-confused Raiders offensive line. Wade started every game for Tampa Bay during his three season stay. In his career, he’s started 106 of his 126 games in the NFL since being drafted in 1998.

The Buccaneers website says about Wade:
“Athletic and talented center who has been a consistent performer in his four seasons with Tampa Bay? Has demonstrated leadership and discipline along the offensive line since joining the Buccaneers in 2003? A physical presence in middle of the offensive line? Well-conditioned athlete who has started every game for the past two seasons (2005-06)? Also has seen action at guard during his career? Has played in 110 career games with 90 starts? Started five career playoff games (one with Tampa Bay and four with Jacksonville)? Signed with Tampa Bay on March 10, 2003 after spending his first five years (1998-02) with the Jacksonville Jaguars? Originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick (148th overall) of the Jaguars during the 1998 NFL Draft.”

Read The Full Article:
http://www.raidersgab.com/2008/04/01/raiders-sign-c-wade/

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Is Opening In Green Bay a Good Thing for the
Minnesota Vikings

post from Daily Norseman on 01 April 2008 07:29:49 PM. © Daily Norseman

Yesterday, as mentioned on this very site, it was announced that the Beloved Purple would spend the first week of their 2008 season travelling to Green Bay to take on the Packers. Some people like the idea of playing Green Bay early on. . .some others, like Pacifist Viking aren't quite so keen on it.

Personally, I think it IS a good thing for Minnesota that this is the game that begins their season. Yes, like most of you, I hate waiting for Monday night games, but that one minor quibble aside, this works out pretty well for the Vikings all in all.

For starters, the game at Green Bay was one of the few games on the Vikings' schedule where bad weather could, potentially, have been a factor. Ignoring the obvious fact that Minnesota plays all their home games indoors, here's what their road games look like:

New Orleans - Indoors
Jacksonville - Weather shouldn't be a concern here
Tennessee - Possible weather problems here, depending on how late in the season we're talking about
Tampa Bay - Maybe some rain, which would only help us anyway.
Arizona - I really don't see weather playing a role here.

That leaves our three divisional road games against Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay. Detroit plays indoors, so no issues there, and I'm thinking that the weather in Green Bay shouldn't pose any problems. That leaves the game in Chicago, and I have a feeling that that one's going to end up being in December for just the reasons I've mentioned already. The league wouldn't go all year without giving Minnesota one bad weather game. . .would they?

So, we get the advantage of playing in Green Bay before the "tundra" becomes "frozen," which is pretty nice.

In addition, the timing couldn't be better, quite frankly. The Packers are going to have a guy making his first start. . .provided he can even make it through the pre-season healthy, which might be a stretch. . .that will be making his first ever NFL start in prime time against a major rival in the shadow of Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers is going to have a world of expectations on him, despite the fact that the starting QB on the opposite sideline will be the better quarterback.

Yes, as of this moment, 1 April 2008, I'd definitely take Tarvaris Jackson over Aaron Rodgers as my quarterback. Here are a few people I'd also start at quarterback for the Vikings, if they were available, ahead of Aaron Rodgers:

-Tito Jackson
-Jermaine Jackson
-Reggie Jackson
-American Idol's Randy Jackson (Yo, dawg!)
-Mahalia Jackson
-Jackson Browne

Oh, and one of my co-workers has a son named Jackson. I'll call that one a toss-up, on account of the fact that said son is only two years of age. However, I will say that he's significantly more durable than Rodgers is.

But yes, all the focus and all the pressure and all the expectations will be on Green Bay, despite the fact that the only real thing that gave Green Bay any sort of advantage announced his retirement last month. There are a lot of people that feel that the Packers won't skip a beat. . .believe me, I almost feel bad for those people.

Almost.

So yes, all things considered as they stand right now, I like our chances of starting off 1-0 and, quite possibly (depending on who Detroit plays), finishing the first week of the 2008 season in sole possession of first place in the NFC North. . .it would be a nice first step on the Vikings' path to the 2008 NFC North division championship.

What say you, ladies and gentlemen? Feel free to discuss things right here!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.dailynorseman.com/story/2008/4/1/182950/4315

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Forget McFadden: Dallas Cowboys' plan is about
Romo

post from Cowboys football blog on 01 April 2008 06:15:08 PM. © Cowboys football blog

This off-season for the Dallas Cowboys isn't about Darren McFadden. It's about Tony Romo. If it were about McFadden, the Cowboys would trade up to the top five of the NFL draft to land the all-time leading rusher at Arkansas,...

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cowboysfootballblog.com/2008/04/forget-mcfadden.html

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Lito Sheppard's future in limbo

post from Eagles football blog on 01 April 2008 06:09:01 PM. © Eagles football blog

The Eagles acquired Detroit Lions Pro Bowl receiver Roy Williams yesterday in exchange for cornerback Lito Sheppard, and head coach Andy Reid declared that he now has the team to beat in the entire NFL. It was so much easier...

Read The Full Article:
http://www.eaglesfootballblog.com/2008/04/lito-sheppards.html

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Bears' Mark Bradley ready to be No. 1 receiver

post from Bears football blog on 01 April 2008 06:06:00 PM. © Bears football blog

No one has promised Mark Bradley anything, but the Bears' second-round pick in 2005 believes he will be the team's go-to receiver in 2008.

"In my eyes, I'm that confident that I'm the No. 1 guy," Bradley said at the Walter Payton Center on Saturday while participating in a reading incentive program for kids along with Garrett Wolfe. "That's what they drafted me for in the second round, to be the No. 1 guy. I've just had some injuries and some minor setbacks. Now I'm recovered and ready to be that guy." Continue

Read The Full Article:
http://www.bearsfootballblog.com/2008/04/bears-mark-brad.html

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Picture of Jeff George at practice

post from Stampede Blue on 01 April 2008 05:41:57 PM. © Stampede Blue

Just in case you're still in shock that the Colts are re-signing Jeff George, here's a picture of the newest (and oldest) Colt throwing the pigskin at practice:

I know the picture is a little hard to make out, so I took the liberty of zooming it in for you:

Oh well, everyone likes Kent Graham a whole lot better anyway.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/story/2008/4/1/164157/1875

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NFL Tables Hair Length Rule, Passes Defensive
Radio in Helmet

ESPN's John Clayton reports that the NFL has tabled the rule brought forth by the Chiefs, making it illegal for a player's hair to cover their name. I'm guessing this will get tabled again in May.

One piece of good news is that a defensive player will now be able to wear a radio in his helmet starting next season. This will hopefully reduce the possibility of another "SpyGate" occurring. The measure passed 25-7, and am anxiously going to await explanations from the following seven teams:

Green Bay
Oakland
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Seattle
Tampa Bay
Washington

I'll write the Raiders off as Al Davis being Al Davis. But look at the other 6 teams. They are all in the NFC. I'm guessing teams in the AFC have a more vested interest in getting this passed, since they are more likely to play a team that has been caught "spying."

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/story/2008/4/1/141011/3669

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Falcoholic Pick In The SB Nation Mock Draft: Jake
Long

Long-winded title with Long results. Ha!

So yeah, as you can see over at Mocking the Draft, I selected Jake Long for the Falcons. He was the popular choice, the smart choice and a fantastic building block, so I pretty much had to take him.

The question then is who you'd like me to pick in the second round, and I'd like as much input as possible. We're at least a week away from that, but keep it coming so I can ponder my options.

Thoughts?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thefalcoholic.com/story/2008/4/1/12556/22912

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Lewis, again, reiterates that Chad Johnson is
going nowhere

Marvin Lewis spoke. While you sat on the edge of your seat for some Chad Johnson fodder, you'll note that most of what he said was status quo. There were some interesting comments.

"Unfortunately Chad put himself in that situation," Lewis said. "A lot of people who really had an affection for him fan-wise and people around the league see him in a different light and that's unfortunate. Some of the things he's gone on record and said one way or the other he's going to have to deal with them one way or the other."

There's always been a group of fans that haven't really cared for Chad. Mostly his antics, but some have questioned his abilities as a receiver -- i.e., take away the deep ball and what do you have? During that time, I've defended Chad -- his antics, his celebrations, his jawing, his mid-week comedy routines, his announcement that he's "Ocho Cinco", etc. I'm one that Lewis grouped inside a large class of people that are now turning their backs to Chad not wasting their time defending him. It is what it is and Lewis is right. He put himself in this position.

This is what I found most interesting: "We've been dealing with this inside for over a year and we'll be prepared to move on," Lewis said.

I know what some of you are thinking -- my mind drifted there also. Why didn't we do something about that? Mend fences. Trade. Whatever. Admit it, you were thinking that.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/story/2008/4/1/114959/9334

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