Mr. Goodell remembers Gene Upshaw

THN is proud to welcome Mr. Goodell for another guest post, this time in response to Gene Upshaw's tragic passing.

Between Bernie Mac and Gene Upshaw this must have been a very trying time for you peo ? err ? the world of sports and entertainment.

This is a time for honoring Gene Upshaw. I?m not a good writer and believe that tributes should be left to the professionals. His legacy should speak volumes for him. So I am going to step aside and give Gene his day. After a few words from me, of course.

I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on Gene Upshaw. I was just the humble son of a senator, Charles E. Goodell, the first time I saw the Raiders play the Chiefs. Now, as the son of a senator, we had the best television money could buy in those days. So you could get a real great view of the game. In fact, my dad invented the flat screen television.

My admiration for Gene carried all through his playing career, which much like mine, consisted of being the very best. I was a three sport star at Bronxville High School. I was the captain of the football, basketball and baseball team. I also was named the athlete of the year. This excellence in athletics allowed me to have a great relationship with Upshaw. When you are a great athlete like I am and Gene was, there is an unspoken bond between us.

Whenever I regaled Gene with stories of my athletic prowess you could see Gene?s eyes glaze over as he, no doubt, was probably trying to visualize my stunning red hair flowing underneath my leather helmet. Or maybe my blue steel gaze I often gave to the pitcher.

I was certainly something.

I remember one time, Gene was talking about how the Raiders became the first Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl. I told him a yarn about how I hit into a run-scoring 4-3 put out as Bronxville High?s baseball team avoid the cellar for the first time in my four years there.

We did have the love for sports. And when I look up at that photo here, my favorite one of us, I can?t help but recall all the good times I put Gene in his place when I suspended every player who ever crossed me. Those were good times.

I?m sure as Gene looks down on us right now, he really, really misses me.

Read The Full Article:
http://thehaternation.blogspot.com/2008/08/mr-goodell-remembers-gene-upshaw.html

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Pacman will start at cornerback vs. Texans

Adam Pacman Jones is getting a fresh start in more ways than one with the Dallas Cowboys. Jones will start at cornerback on Friday night when the Cowboys host the Houston Texans at Texas Stadium. Jones will replace rookie Mike...

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http://www.cowboysfootballblog.com/2008/08/pacman-will-sta.html

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Preseason Game #3: 49ers at Chicago Bears

  vs. 

Date: August 21st, 2008
Time: 5:00pm PST
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Records (2007): 49ers (5-11) Bears (7-9)
ScoresandOdds.com Spread: Bears -3.5; Over/Under 36.5; Money Line: 49ers +160, Bears -180 - And if you're betting on preseason football, I suggest visiting this site.
Weather: 75 degrees, 50% chance of showers, wind SSE 4 mph
TV Broadcast: Fox - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver, Chris Myers
Radio: 107.7 The Bone, 680/1050 KNBR - Joe Starkey, Gary Plummer, Rod Brooks
Spanish Radio: KIQI 1010-AM, KATD 990-AM - Fernando Arias and Ambrosio Rico
Bears Coverage: Windy City Gridiron

Injuries
49ers: Out - WR Arnaz Battle, WR Bryant Johnson, WR Ashley Lelie, S Lewis Baker, G David Baas, RB Michael Robinson, G Adam Snyder, T Jonas Jennings ; Gametime Decision: CB Tarell Brown

Bears: Out - T Chris Williams, G Terrence Metcalf, TE Desmond Clark

The Bears struggled last season but are still a defensive force to be reckoned with.  This is might be the most important game of the preseason considering we'll see the most playing time for the first teamers.

The 49ers have plenty of issues to resolve but they are definitely starting to get some answers.  Even as an "Alex Smith guy," I think the best bet right now is for J.T. O'Sullivan to have a solid performance and lock down the #1 job.  He's spent the most time with the first team offense and has hopefully developed some nice chemistry.  And if he struggles, well hopefully Smith has a good performance.

One quick unrelated point, I've gotten interest from 6 folks for our 4th and final Niners Nation Fantasy Football League.  If you aren't in a league and haven't let me know of your interest, either leave a comment in the game thread or email me at ninersnation@gmail.com.  I'd like 6 more people to make it a 12-team league so hopefully we can get 6 more folks.  And remember, there WILL be prizes (and not just a front page post!).

As always, if you feel like joining the conversation, click on "Sign Up" on the top left side of the front page, or "Sign Up" at the bottom of the comments for this thread.  Either way, your opinions and insights are greatly appreciated and welcomed.

I'll be back with a recap late tonight or early tomorrow.

GO NINERS!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ninersnation.com/2008/8/21/598542/preseason-game-3-49ers-at

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Saints at Lions Primer -- Palmer led offense is
slow

WHO: New Orleans Saints (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
SB NATION: Canal Street Chronicles
WHEN: August 23, 7:35 p.m.
WHERE: Cincinnati, Ohio
MEDIA: Television coverage will be conducted by the local team of Paul Keels and Anthony Munoz on Channel 12 (Cincinnati), Channel 22 (Dayton), Channel 45 (Dayton), Channels 6 and 28 in Columbus, Channel 36 in Lexington and Channel 41 in Louisville. The game will be rebroadcast on Fox Sports Net Ohio at midnight. Same radio coverage as always.
US?: We'll be on the site, talking, chatting, drinking, eating, etc.
SERIES: Of six pre-season games, the Bengals have only won one (1-3 while in Cincinnati). On the other hand, during the regular season, the Bengals are 6-5 against the Saints -- including a three-game winning streak.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy, high of 91, low of 70 with a 20% chance of rain. [Weather.com]
NFL.com: Game Center

Injuries: Marvin Lewis has already determined that the Bengals will be without their two starting wide receivers and Andre Caldwell is still in a boot after suffering turf toe and Marcus Maxwell is gone for the season.

Interesting Note: Of all the AFC North teams heading into pre-season week #3 (all of whom played two games), the Bengals have scored the least amount (30) and given up the second most (44). Actually, Jacksonville, Miami and New England are the three teams that have scored less points than the Bengals in the AFC.

Match-up: While they won't be technically facing each other, an interesting dynamic exists. The Saints made a trade during the NFL Draft that put them ahead of Cincinnati, in position to draft Sedrick Ellis -- the Bengals #1 target. Instead the Bengals sat at #9 and drafted Ellis' teammate Keith Rivers.

Last Time: The last time the Bengals played the Saints, the Saints won the first-half 17-12 while taking the game 27-19. The leading rusher was Jeff Rowe (20 yards) while the leading passer was Doug Johnson. So, that's why we lost. Seriously.

Notes About Pre-season

Of eight possessions run by the Carson Palmer led first-team offense, five have ended in three-and-out, a blocked field goal, interception and a 14-yard touchdown to Ben Utecht. I'm not picking on Palmer here, just pointing out that Palmer is my key in judging our first-team offense because, you know, he's in the game. So let's recap.

Drive Result Notes 1 (Packers) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 2 (Packers) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 3 (Packers) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 4 (Packers) 14-yard TD pass, Palmer to Utecht   5 (Lions) Interception Interception: Chad in the air, juggled the pass and landed on his elbow, knocking shoulder out of socket. 6 (Lions) Blocked FG Possession went 11 plays, gaining 50 yards. The 46-yard Field Goal was blocked after Peko blocked out, Levi Jones blocked in, allowing a gap for the blocked kick. 7 (Lions) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 8 (Lions) Three-and-out Five-yard loss on first play, short pass to Chris Perry.

More Notes About Pre-Season

• Opponents are converting 45% of their third down conversions this pre-season. That's actually a higher percentage of conversions allowed than any regular season during the Marvin Lewis era.
  • 2003: 41% (85/206)
  • 2004: 37% (80/218)
  • 2005: 43% (81/190)
  • 2006: 42% (88/211) -- 35% in pre-season (19/54)
  • 2007: 43% (86/201) -- 35% in pre-season (18/52)
• Ratings by the Bengals top-three quarterbacks
  • Carson Palmer, 55.7
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick, 109.0
  • Jeff Rowe, 44.7
• Kenny Watson is the only running back with a yard-per-carry average (5.5) higher than 4.0.
• No Cincinnati Bengals defender has more than one sack or interception.

Position Battles?

Wide receiver is murky, at best, but clearer for this game. Antonio Chatman and Chris Henry -- provided he's allowed to play -- would be the team's likely starters with Jerome Simpson and Glenn Holt working out that #3 spot. If Henry can't go, then Holt would be the likely starter opposite of Chatman.

Now that fullback Jeremi Johnson is gearing up to play Saturday, Daniel Coats is suddenly worried. If Jeremi performs like he's capable, then Coats would likely be demoted to the second full back -- which, in reality, doesn't exist on most NFL teams, including the Bengals. His life as a tight end in Cincinnati is essentially nonexistent. Unless he packs an impact during the next two games, Coats could be cut. Look at it this way, the Bengals had ample reason to cut Jeremi Johnson, and never did.

Marvin Lewis on Bobbie Williams at Center: "Yes, we saw enough of Bobbie at center." From my point of view, it would seem that the Bengals are content with Eric Ghiaciuc at center, Williams at right guard and Stacy Andrews at right tackle. Otherwise, the Bengals would be using the Jurassic Line as much as possible to seal up communication issues and work on blitzing linebackers. In a sense, we can put that to rest for now and label Eric Ghiaciuc as the team's starting center. Granted, Ghiaciuc's role has never been at risk -- at no time did he hear or expect the Bengals to use Jurassic as their primary offensive line. Still, that fantasy was always hard to shake off.

Jeff Rowe has seen significant time compared to Jordan Palmer. There's no reason to believe, at this point, that Palmer will unseat Rowe for the number three quarterback spot.

This is just my personal opinion, but Rudi Johnson should be listed as the team's number three running back. Make sure you read that right. I don't mean third-down back, I mean the third running back behind starter Chris Perry and Kenny Watson. I'd be too concerned that his hamstring could replicate 2007.

We'll keep hammering away, but that's all I got for now.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2008/8/21/598518/saints-at-lions-primer-pal

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Saints at Bengals Primer -- Palmer led offense is
slow

WHO: New Orleans Saints (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
SB NATION: Canal Street Chronicles
WHEN: August 23, 7:35 p.m.
WHERE: Cincinnati, Ohio
MEDIA: Television coverage will be conducted by the local team of Paul Keels and Anthony Munoz on Channel 12 (Cincinnati), Channel 22 (Dayton), Channel 45 (Dayton), Channels 6 and 28 in Columbus, Channel 36 in Lexington and Channel 41 in Louisville. The game will be rebroadcast on Fox Sports Net Ohio at midnight. Same radio coverage as always.
US?: We'll be on the site, talking, chatting, drinking, eating, etc.
SERIES: Of six pre-season games, the Bengals have only won one (1-3 while in Cincinnati). On the other hand, during the regular season, the Bengals are 6-5 against the Saints -- including a three-game winning streak.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy, high of 91, low of 70 with a 20% chance of rain. [Weather.com]
NFL.com: Game Center

Injuries: Marvin Lewis has already determined that the Bengals will be without their two starting wide receivers and Andre Caldwell is still in a boot after suffering turf toe and Marcus Maxwell is gone for the season.

Interesting Note: Of all the AFC North teams heading into pre-season week #3 (all of whom played two games), the Bengals have scored the least amount (30) and given up the second most (44). Actually, Jacksonville, Miami and New England are the three teams that have scored less points than the Bengals in the AFC.

Match-up: While they won't be technically facing each other, an interesting dynamic exists. The Saints made a trade during the NFL Draft that put them ahead of Cincinnati, in position to draft Sedrick Ellis -- the Bengals #1 target. Instead the Bengals sat at #9 and drafted Ellis' teammate Keith Rivers.

Last Time: The last time the Bengals played the Saints, the Saints won the first-half 17-12 while taking the game 27-19. The leading rusher was Jeff Rowe (20 yards) while the leading passer was Doug Johnson. So, that's why we lost. Seriously.

Notes About Pre-season

Of eight possessions run by the Carson Palmer led first-team offense, five have ended in three-and-out, a blocked field goal, interception and a 14-yard touchdown to Ben Utecht. I'm not picking on Palmer here, just pointing out that Palmer is my key in judging our first-team offense because, you know, he's in the game. So let's recap.

Drive Result Notes 1 (Packers) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 2 (Packers) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 3 (Packers) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 4 (Packers) 14-yard TD pass, Palmer to Utecht   5 (Lions) Interception Interception: Chad in the air, juggled the pass and landed on his elbow, knocking shoulder out of socket. 6 (Lions) Blocked FG Possession went 11 plays, gaining 50 yards. The 46-yard Field Goal was blocked after Peko blocked out, Levi Jones blocked in, allowing a gap for the blocked kick. 7 (Lions) Three-and-out No penalty, no plays with yards lost. 8 (Lions) Three-and-out Five-yard loss on first play, short pass to Chris Perry.

More Notes About Pre-Season

• Opponents are converting 45% of their third down conversions this pre-season. That's actually a higher percentage of conversions allowed than any regular season during the Marvin Lewis era.
  • 2003: 41% (85/206)
  • 2004: 37% (80/218)
  • 2005: 43% (81/190)
  • 2006: 42% (88/211) -- 35% in pre-season (19/54)
  • 2007: 43% (86/201) -- 35% in pre-season (18/52)
• Ratings by the Bengals top-three quarterbacks
  • Carson Palmer, 55.7
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick, 109.0
  • Jeff Rowe, 44.7
• Kenny Watson is the only running back with a yard-per-carry average (5.5) higher than 4.0.
• No Cincinnati Bengals defender has more than one sack or interception.

Position Battles?

Wide receiver is murky, at best, but clearer for this game. Antonio Chatman and Chris Henry -- provided he's allowed to play -- would be the team's likely starters with Jerome Simpson and Glenn Holt working out that #3 spot. If Henry can't go, then Holt would be the likely starter opposite of Chatman.

Now that fullback Jeremi Johnson is gearing up to play Saturday, Daniel Coats is suddenly worried. If Jeremi performs like he's capable, then Coats would likely be demoted to the second full back -- which, in reality, doesn't exist on most NFL teams, including the Bengals. His life as a tight end in Cincinnati is essentially nonexistent. Unless he packs an impact during the next two games, Coats could be cut. Look at it this way, the Bengals had ample reason to cut Jeremi Johnson, and never did.

Marvin Lewis on Bobbie Williams at Center: "Yes, we saw enough of Bobbie at center." From my point of view, it would seem that the Bengals are content with Eric Ghiaciuc at center, Williams at right guard and Stacy Andrews at right tackle. Otherwise, the Bengals would be using the Jurassic Line as much as possible to seal up communication issues and work on blitzing linebackers. In a sense, we can put that to rest for now and label Eric Ghiaciuc as the team's starting center. Granted, Ghiaciuc's role has never been at risk -- at no time did he hear or expect the Bengals to use Jurassic as their primary offensive line. Still, that fantasy was always hard to shake off.

Jeff Rowe has seen significant time compared to Jordan Palmer. There's no reason to believe, at this point, that Palmer will unseat Rowe for the number three quarterback spot.

This is just my personal opinion, but Rudi Johnson should be listed as the team's number three running back. Make sure you read that right. I don't mean third-down back, I mean the third running back behind starter Chris Perry and Kenny Watson. I'd be too concerned that his hamstring could replicate 2007.

We'll keep hammering away, but that's all I got for now.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2008/8/21/598518/saints-at-lions-primer-pal

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Marcus Maxwell lost for the season

Last year, it was linebackers. This year, it's receivers. On what's the fourth blow to the pre-season wide receiver roster, the Bengals announced today that Marcus Maxwell will miss the entire 2008 season after it's believed that he "suffered a muscle injury Tuesday during practice." Maxwell will likely clear waivers and land on the team's injury reserve.

Chad Johnson banged his shoulder up and now speculation is that he may not make opening weekend. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is still nursing his hamstring (or sandbagging his injury until opening weekend), and Andre Caldwell's foot is in a boot after suffering a foot sprain against the Lions.

For this Saturday, the Bengals will be down to Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt, Jerome Simpson, Clyde Logan, Maurice Purify and Mario Urrutia. It's not clear if Henry will play Saturday.

Makes the signing of Chris Henry that more relevant, doesn't it?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2008/8/21/598509/marcus-maxwell-lost-for-th

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Gene Upshaw passes away at 63

Former Oakland Raider and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw has passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Whatever you think of his role in the NFLPA and as an Oakland Raider, Upshaw certainly led a varied and distinguished career in the NFL.

Upshaw was a 7-time Pro Bowler and won a pair of Super Bowls in a 15-year Hall of Fame career with the Oakland Raiders.  During his playing career, Upshaw was a key member of collective bargaining negotiation all the way back in 1977.  Following his career, Upshaw was named executive director of the NFLPA in 1983, his role up until his death.

I have my own opinions on Upshaw and the NFL Players Association as I'm sure many of you do.  If you feel like expressing those opinions, please keep them as respectful as possible considering the circumstances.  I'd say if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it, but I think people can express even negative opinions in a respectful way.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ninersnation.com/2008/8/21/598447/gene-upshaw-passes-away-at

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Stacy Andrews is still not the heir apparent

The problem with projecting Stacy Andrews the heir apparent to Willie Anderson is that Andrews isn't signed beyond this season. And with the going-rate of quality tackles in the league today, you have to believe that the Bengals may struggle to sign Andrews to a long-term deal -- which, in reality, they have been. It's not that the Bengals won't be able to afford it; rather they're interpretation of value is often different than what other high-paying teams may consider. On the other hand, as the salary cap expands, so do the chances of signing Andrews.

Even though Anderson is signed through 2011, it's highly unlikely that he'll see it to the end; either through retirement or simply the team waiving the second best offensive tackle in franchise history (sorry, I'm biased... Willie is my guy). Furthermore, Levi Jones' deal grows a decent amount after 2009 while Andrew Whitworth also sees a constant $3 million number. This brings a cautious mind forward, wondering if the Bengals will add to the increasing value of the team's offensive linemen we have signed long-term. Of course, the key to figuring out a player's impact against the cap is the bonuses signed that protract throughout the lifetime of the contract -- which is added to the base salary (and is not always made available).

The follow is a chart of what the offensive line is scheduled to earn (dollars are in the millions, in case you needed that bit of instruction):

  Willie Levi Bobbie Whit Stacy 2008 $3.15 $3.0 $2.0 $.6 $7.455 2009 $2.7 $3.0 $2.4 $2.2 -- 2010 $3.2 $3.75 -- $3.0 -- 2011 $3.45 $4.55 -- $3.25 -- 2012 -- $5.0 -- $3.185 --   -- -- -- $3.4 --   Eric G. Collins Kooistra 2008 $927,000 $295,000 $605,000 2009 -- $385,000 $620,000 2010 -- $447,000   2011 -- $555,000  

The Bengals claim that Andrews, Houshmandzadeh and Shayne Graham are their priorities to get deals done before becoming unrestricted free agents after this season. While it's speculated that Houshmandzadeh is staging his own silent protest, and Andrews is under a heavy cap-hitting franchise deal, any growth on Graham's deal is quiet (though he's the most likely free agent to re-sign with the Bengals... but that's just a guess).

Poll

Do you feel confident that the Bengals can sign Stacy Andrews to a long-term deal?

• Yes
• No

  0 votes | Results

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2008/8/21/598431/stacy-andrews-is-still-not

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RIP Gene Upshaw

Gene Upshaw, 1945-2008

Eugene Thurman 'Gene' Upshaw, Jr., Hall of Fame offensive lineman, Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion and long time president of the National Football League Players Association died this morning, four days after a sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Gene was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1967 AFL draft out of Texas A&I, now Texas A&M-Kingsville, the same school that would produce Darrell Green 16 years later. A center in college, the Raiders and coach John Rauch moved Gene, wearing uniform number 63, to left guard, a position he would keep for 15 years, earning seven Pro Bowl appearances, playing in ten conference championships (three were AFL Championships before the still new Super Bowl) and three Super Bowls, winning two. After a career in which Gene started 207 of 217 total games and became the first and still only man to play in a Super Bowl in three different decades, Gene retired from the NFL after the 1981 season.

Two years later and one year after the 1982 players' strike cut that NFL season from 16 games to nine, NFLPA executive director Ed Garvey stepped down and, in 1983 Gene became the new president of the NFL Players Association. Over the next 25 years Gene guided the union through labor strife, ushered in the era of free agency and established a long term if uneasy peace between the players and owners.

In recent years Gene had come under pressure from players for being too close to the NFL owners and commissioner and was in the midst of running for reelection as NFLPA president while dealing with the controversial matters of a proposed NFL rookie salary cap and financial and medical support of former players.

Gene is a member of the 1987 Hall of Fame class, ironically the year of the NFL's last player strike, after which the owners decertified the NFLPA as a union, this lasted until the newly designated professional association could pursue an antitrust suit against the league to force nearly unfettered free agency, at which point the NFLPA was re certified.

Gene always thought about and did what was best for the game of football and despite the recent downturn in Gene's image with both fans and players, there is no disputing that Gene Upshaw is one of the most important and influential people in the history of the National Football League.

Gene Upshaw was 63.


New York Times story of Gene's death
Washington Post Mark Maske | Jason La Canfora
NFL.com obituary
Gene Upshaw Wikipedia page
Pro Football Hall of Fame Bio



Gene Upshaw as a player, left guard for the Oakland Raiders from here.

Read The Full Article:
http://curlyr.blogspot.com/2008/08/rip-gene-upshaw.html

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Joe DeLamielleure Is Sleeping Easier

Gene Upshaw, Executive Director of the NFL Player’s Association and aspiring breaker of Joe DeLamielleure’s neck, died yesterday from pancreatic cancer.  He had only been diagnosed with the disease on Sunday evening.  That’s like two and a half freaking days.I was never much of a fan of Upshaw as a union honk, mainly because in [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.green-bay-packer.com/2008/08/21/joe-delamielleure-is-sleeping-easier/

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