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Catching Up: Who's Out This Week Against Detroit

post from Dawgs By Nature: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 11:33:18 PM. © Dawgs By Nature: Front Page Posts

A lot has gone on since the disaster against the New York Giants, but altogether I think we came out a lucky football team. We could've had a quarterback with a separated shoulder, a safety with a career-threatening concussion, and a stud kick returner out for a portion of the season. Instead, we're only going to be forced to rest some guys up until the team's Week 1 contest versus the Dallas Cowboys.

As far as our game this Saturday (4:00 PM EST start time) against the Detroit Lions though, here are the players who have all but been ruled out, and who will be replacing them:

QB Derek Anderson-----> QB Brady Quinn
RB Jamal Lewis----------> RB Jason Wright / Jerome Harrison
WR Braylon Edwards---> Not yet disclosed
WR Joshua Cribbs-------> WR Syndric Steptoe
OL Ryan Tucker-----------> Not applicable
DT Louis Leonard--------> DT Ahtyba Rubin
LB Willie McGinest-------> LB Alex Hall (rumored)
S Brodney Pool------------> S Mike Adams

RB Jamal Lewis won't be trucking through defenders against the Lions, as he will sit out with a pulled hamstring.

In case you're counting, that could very well be seven starters right there (five for sure). All of the injuries were known about immediately following the Giants game or beforehand, except for the ones to Lewis and McGinest. In case you missed the news yesterday, Lewis pulled hamstring and McGinest pulled a groin during the Giants game. (Late note: according to the OBR, Leonard will be out with a foot injury)

Now, for some more positive news: who will play. Head coach Romeo Crennel and other sources have all but confirmed that the following players will be ready to face the Lions:

FB Lawrence Vickers
WR Kevin Kasper
TE Brad Cieslak
DT Shaun Rogers
LB Leon Williams

The biggest addition to that list? Well, physically, it's Rogers -- but I'm referring to significance: Kevin Kasper. After Travis Wilson failed to take advantage of a starting opportunity last week, Kasper finally made his long-awaited return to practice a day or so ago and is looking to get back into the thick of things before it's too late. If Kasper has a huge game Saturday, I wouldn't rule a roster spot out for him just yet.

One final note to catch up on: Crennel is deciding not to sign another quarterback after Anderson's injury. That means the team is down to just two quarterbacks. Many fans originally speculated that Anderson may have suffered a significant shoulder injury when he was driven into the ground against the Giants, but Crennel shot that rumor down today:

''I know nothing about a shoulder,'' Crennel said. ''I said a hand because he fell on his hand as well as his head. The concussion is the thing we're dealing with. He just got a bruise (on his hand); he put a Band-Aid on it.''

As for how the protection broke down on the play, left tackle Joe Thomas offered some insight:

''They kind of caught us in a blitz and we didn't pick it up correctly. We had leakage on the front side and the back side. When you have that, the quarterback's got no place to go.''

The Browns will only play Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey on Saturday, but they are auditioning for in-house quarterbacks in case of an emergency. Among the candidates are P Dave Zastudil, TE Darnell Dinkins, TE Brad Cieslak, LB Kamerion Wimbley, LB Shantee Orr, LB D'Qwell Jackson, S Sean Jones, S Nick Sorensen, WR Efrem Hill, and WR Syndric Steptoe. I think Zastudil and Dinkins would be the favorites to play quarterback -- and to prevent an injury to a starter, I'd use Dinkins. According to the Plain Dealer, Dinkins was once the fourth quarterback on the Giants' roster.

Poll

Should the Browns have signed a pure third-string QB for a week or so?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2008/8/21/598766/catching-up-who-s-out-this

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NFL.com Report On Gene Upshaw's Death

post from The Falcoholic: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 10:59:50 PM. © The Falcoholic: Front Page Posts

NFL.com Report On Gene Upshaw's Death

Adam Schefter reports on the untimely death of Gene Upshaw.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2008/8/21/598771/nfl-com-report-on-gene-ups

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R.I.P. Gene Upshaw, 1945 - 2008

post from Daily Norseman: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 10:53:58 PM. © Daily Norseman: Front Page Posts

As you've all heard by now, the dominant football story of the day has been the sudden passing of former Raider and NFL Players Association head Gene Upshaw at the age of 63.

Upshaw was an outstanding offensive lineman for the Silver and Black from 1967 to 1981. During that fifteen season stretch, he was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and won two Super Bowls, one of which came against the Beloved Purple (Super Bowl IX). Over the course of his career, he started 207 consecutive games, an outstanding number for an interior lineman. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Had Gene Upshaw simply ridden off into the sunset after his playing days were over, he would have been known solely as one of the greatest guards in the history of the NFL.

However, where Upshaw really made his mark was as the head of the NFLPA, a post he took over in June of 1983, a mere two years after his retirement from football. While he may have had a few shortcomings as a union leader, he's left an indelible mark on the National Football League, as he was a part of negotiating Collective Bargaining Agreements with the league in 1977, 1982, and 1993 (as well as all of the extensions that were negotiated in between).

But the most important mark, in my opinion, was what Upshaw did after guiding the NFLPA through the 1987 player strike (during which we got the abomination that was replacement football). Two years after the strike in 1989, the NFL implemented a limited form of free agency known as "Plan B." Finally, when the CBA was negotiated again in 1993, Upshaw fought the league until full-fledged free agency was included as part of the deal. As we've seen in the 15 years since then, the players have prospered so much from Upshaw's hard work that the owners chose to opt out of the CBA early as a result.

Whoever the next head of the NFLPA is, they're going to have some mighty big shoes to fill.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Gene Upshaw on this somber occasion.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.dailynorseman.com/2008/8/21/598747/r-i-p-gene-upshaw-1945-200

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Indianapolis Colts new alternate logo. Tip to
Bullard47. What do you think OneMore suggested a...

post from Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 09:52:53 PM. © Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts

Articlephotos_5c20080821024257421

Indianapolis Colts new alternate logo. Tip to Bullard47. What do you think? OneMore suggested a different sort of logo (hehe).

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/8/21/598711/indianapolis-colts-new-sec

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Indianapolis Colts new alternate logo. Tip to
Bullard47. What do you think OneMore suggested a d...

post from Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 09:52:53 PM. © Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts

Articlephotos_5c20080821024257421

Indianapolis Colts new alternate logo. Tip to Bullard47. What do you think? OneMore suggested a different sort of logo (hehe).

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/8/21/598711/indianapolis-colts-new-sec

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Indianapolis Colts new alternate logo. Tip to
Bullard47.

post from Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 09:52:53 PM. © Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts

Articlephotos_5c20080821024257421

Indianapolis Colts new alternate logo. Tip to Bullard47.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/8/21/598711/indianapolis-colts-new-sec

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The new news on Peyton Manning's knee

post from Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts on 21 August 2008 09:49:31 PM. © Stampede Blue: Front Page Posts

Folks, I don't think posting a story from a well known and reputable source like Mike Lombardi is akin to "freaking out" over Peyton Manning's knee situation. We can sit hear and call Mike Lombardi names, berate him, and even take a few pot shots at his mom (just for gits and shiggles). But the truth is Lombardi is a very well connected guy, and unlike Mike Florio, Lombardi does not have a reputation for making stuff up. He stated some very specific things in his column, and had the courtesy to respond to one of our own contributors (UFanforreal) that his story is "100% correct."

We can choose to believe or dismiss Lombardi's claim. That's out right. But let's not tear down the man just because he's made this claim. If Lombardi's story turns out to be utter BS, then that will seriously damage his reputation both within league circles and on the net. He seems to care about his rep. If not, why would he start up a new site like The National Football Post? If the site gets an early rep for making crap up, no one will trust it or link to its stuff. So clearly, Lombardi has a lot riding on this.

I'm of the mindset that we should all just play this out. We'll get a firm idea of just how healed Peyton Manning is next week. I've stated my expectations, and said that if those expectations aren't met that it will be then, and only then, that I get really, really pissed. Right now, I'm content to wait it out and see what happens.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/8/21/598683/the-new-news-on-peyton-man

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Waiting for Lito

(Written by Samuel Beckett) link

A country road. A tree.Evening.

Sean, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it with both hands, panting.
He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again.
As before.
Enter Mickey.
SEAN: (giving up again). Nothing to be done.
MICKEY: (advancing with short, stiff strides, legs wide apart). I'm beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I've tried to put it from me, saying Mickey, be reasonable, you haven't yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle. (He broods, musing on the struggle. Turning to Sean.) So there you are again.
SEAN: Am I?
MICKEY: I'm glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever.
SEAN: Me too.
MICKEY: Together again at last! We'll have to celebrate this. But how? (He reflects.) Get up till I embrace you.
SEAN: (irritably). Not now, not now.
MICKEY: (hurt, coldly). May one inquire where His Highness spent the night?
SEAN: In a ditch.
MICKEY: (admiringly). A ditch! Where?
SEAN: (without gesture). Over there.
MICKEY: And they didn't beat you?
SEAN: Beat me? Certainly they beat me.
MICKEY: The same lot as usual?
SEAN: The same? I don't know.
MICKEY: When I think of it . . . all these years . . . but for me . . . where would you be . . . (Decisively.) You'd be nothing more than a little heap of bones at the present minute, no doubt about it.
SEAN: And what of it?
MICKEY: (gloomily). It's too much for one man. (Pause. Cheerfully.) On the other hand what's the good of losing heart now, that's what I say. We should have thought of it a million years ago, in the nineties.
SEAN: Ah stop blathering and help me off with this bloody thing.
MICKEY: Hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel Tower, among the first. We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late. They wouldn't even let us up. (Sean tears at his boot.) What are you doing?
SEAN: Taking off my boot. Did that never happen to you?
MICKEY: Boots must be taken off every day, I'm tired telling you that. Why don't you listen to me?
SEAN: (feebly). Help me!

MICKEY: I can't, we're waiting for Lito.
SEAN: (despairingly). Ah! (Pause.) You're sure it was here?
MICKEY: What?
SEAN: That we were to wait.
MICKEY: He said by the tree. (They look at the tree.) Do you see any others?
SEAN: What is it?
MICKEY: I don't know. A willow.
SEAN: Where are the leaves?
MICKEY:It must be dead.
SEAN: No more weeping.
MICKEY: Or perhaps it's not the season.
SEAN: Looks to me more like a bush.
MICKEY: A shrub.
SEAN: A bush.
MICKEY: A?. What are you insinuating? That we've come to the wrong place?
SEAN: He should be here.
MICKEY: He didn't say for sure he'd come.
SEAN: And if he doesn't come?
MICKEY: We'll come back tomorrow.
SEAN: And then the day after tomorrow.
MICKEY: Possibly.
SEAN: And so on.
MICKEY: The point is?
SEAN: Until he comes.
MICKEY: You're merciless.

Read The Full Article:
http://blackandgoldpatrol.blogspot.com/2008/08/waiting-for-lito.html

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Ranking the most obnoxious SEC fans

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution, columnist Mark Bradley gets ready to kick off the 2008 college football season by throwing his hat into the ring and ranking the most obnoxious football fans in the SEC.

12. Mississippi State: The only time State fans get really upset is when you make fun of their rustic town. I know this from experience. But you know what? If I?d have been a Starkvillian and read what I wrote back in 2005, I?d have gotten ticked, too.
...
5. Arkansas: It was over the top for Hog fans to file Freedom of Information requests to gain access to Houston Nutt?s cell phone records, but it was over the top in an amusing way. One word of warning: Don?t try that stuff with Bobby Petrino. He?ll just up and leave.
...
1. Florida: Gator fans didn?t become obnoxious when Steve Spurrier started beating everybody. They were obnoxious when their team couldn?t win the SEC to save its life. And for all Floridians still irked by Georgia?s celebration, here are two words to Google: Gator Flop.

I bet the comments get interesting on this one.

View the original post or comment on Ranking the most obnoxious SEC fans...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/fanblogs/~3/371352059/007690.php

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Greatness Among Us

"The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are their worst.?

Martina Navratilova

ESPN had a poll for all NFL teams to establish each frachise's best all time player and then, the greatest player of all time in the league. The offering for Our New Orleans Saints is not impressive, nor is it what anyone would have expected. The winner was not gracious wearing his laurels either.

The results were revealed August 18th. The link to vote is here

Our measure of greatness is wrapped around what Aristotle said.
"Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind."

Aristotle

76,803 votes with more than 50% going to BOBBY HEBERT?!!? WHAT!!!!!!??
Buddy D is turning over in his grave so Bobby can kiss his .............
WHAT???!!!???

This guy who defected to the Falcons after holding out during the peak of the Dome Patrol Years for more money is the greatest Saint to don a jersey. This guy who slanderously has been called the "Father of the Who Dat Nation" who wore red and black and flapped his wings at us? Morten Andersen wore red and black and never pissed off people on the Gulf Coast and down the bayou the way this coullion has.

On WWL radio today in the discussion of this very topic, Bobby Hebert said, "Heck, Archie ain't even the best quarterback in his family. He shouldn't be considered." Coullion, yeah, that's gentle. Hebert went to the Pro Bowl once in his career. He went AS A FALCON in 1993 and was behind Aikman and Favre.

No, not this easy-living radio talk show host. Sorry, WWL radio. The greatest of Our New Orleans Saints had to have suffered and achieved greatness here, in the Black and Gold, not elsewhere. Clear nominations from THIS blog:

Archie Manning's career with Our New Orleans Saints was one immense highlight film. Archie's antics made Brett Favre's flying by the seat of his pants look like an IBM staff meeting. Archie was sacked setting an NFL record. Archie played with the worst cast of characters anyone could find in the early seventies. Having fought off serious injury, he kept coming back for more until the team got somewhere - 8-8. Archie never left the team. The team dealt Archie to Houston for Bum's prized lineman Leon Gray. We all were shocked that day. It was like a death in the family. People stood around mouths opened, dumbfounded.

Rickey Jackson was the first and flashiest of the Dome Patrol to join Our New Orleans Saints. Rickey often wore towels with various intimidating sayings, drawings, etc. Rickey Jackson is known as the City Champ in New Orleans. From 1981 his rookie season until 1993 when Our New Orleans Saints respectfully "let him go" to San Francisco to win his Super Bowl XXIX, Rickey made an impact on the field and in families in the community. Rickey had the intensity everyone had to respect. In his entire career, he missed only 2 games due to injury, an auto accident in 1989. He played the greater part of that season with a wired jaw- and still recorded 7 1/2 sacks. That is when Rickey got the heavy facemask. He has been on the Hall of Fame ballot for the past eight years and passed over everytime. All of his greatness on the field, all of his troubles in child support - he still can make the grab at greatness where all others on the ESPN list fall short if he clears up the child support issue.

Why didn't ESPN put Morten Andersen on the list?

Perhaps Bobby Hebert IS more deserving?

Deke Bellavia said there is a vast difference between good and great. We can all nod in agreement with the Amite native.

"Great men stand like solitary towers in the city of God."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read The Full Article:
http://blackandgoldpatrol.blogspot.com/2008/08/greatness-among-us.html