After 14 years of quarterbacking the Patriots, Bills and Cowboys, Drew Bledsoe decided to call it quits this week. Of course, by now you’ve seen or read one of the 12,832 articles regarding his announcement, plowed through his career stats, and listened to both sides of the much debated argument on whether or not he qualifies for the Hall of Fame.
I won’t rehash all that stuff, I just want to ask one question: how will you remember him?
Our next draft preview is for the San Diego Chargers, and how could I NOT give this assignment to someone from the Glorify the Past website? Back in January, when we had our little skirmish, it was an eloquent comment by desertboltfan (a.k.a. Todd Cantrell - hey, someone brave enough to use their real name!) that paved the way to peace in our time (or at least between our sites). Todd has been gracious enough to put together a preview for TalkingNFL, so I respectfully give the floor to the G.T.P. faithful for the day.
(Note to Schrutebag if you’re reading, although I’m sure you’re not: this is the way opponents should apologize and shake hands after a fight; not that half-assed attempt you made to The Big Lead on the air Monday. We all know you only did it because your handlers told you to, and the public opinion of you & your act will continue to look like this for the duration of your tenure with the W.W.L.. Once a Schrutebag, always at Schrutebag…)
Sorry for the rant tangent - on with the Chargers preview!
If you’re not sure about all the hype that goes with this potential #1 pick, then just check out this clip of the former LSU quarterback playing against Ole Miss:
(Tracey, if you’re reading this, better get that cold shower ready…)
Don’t concern yourself with his decision to throw the ball into double coverage (keep in mind they were down by 13 late in the 3rd quarter). Focus more on the pure athletic ability, and how he casually slings the rock over 50 yards.
I mean, if Chad Pennington tried that, his arm would fly off.
YouTube, NFL Draft, JaMarcus Russell, norman humans can’t do that
Neither the Cincinnati Bengals nor the Tennessee Titans have had a pleasant off-season to date. Well, looking on the bright side, at least they’ll both be saving some cash this season…
NFL.com is reporting that Commissioner Roger Goodell has informed Adam Jones of the Tennessee Titans and Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals that they have been suspended without pay. Chris Henry was suspended for the first eight games, while Pacman gets to take the entire year off (insert your own, ‘gonna be tough to make it rain now’ joke here…).
The Commish did not leave room for misunderstanding in his letter to each player, either:
“Your conduct has brought embarrassment and ridicule upon yourself, your club, and the NFL, and has damaged the reputation of players throughout the league. You have put in jeopardy an otherwise promising NFL career, and have risked both your own safety and the safety of others through your off-field actions. In each of these respects, you have engaged in conduct detrimental to the NFL and failed to live up to the standards expected of NFL players. Taken as a whole, this conduct warrants significant sanction.”
He concluded with, “bad player! That’s a VERY - VERY - BAD player!!”
Obviously, something needed to be done here. The level of violence, arrests, and cross-dressing incidents by league players has reached an apex this off-season, and with these suspensions, Mr. Goodell sends his message loud and clear.
However, one counter-point. In the rush to yell, “serves them right!” and “this type of behavior is completely uncalled for,” let’s take a moment and realize that the NFL is filled with players that perform violently on the field of play, and that some of them are going to have trouble finding the ‘on/off’ switch in every day life. I’m not condoning either player’s behavior, but let’s not act all shocked when a football player gets arrested. This type of thing has been going on for quite sometime in the National Football League - it’s the ugly underbelly nobody likes to talk about.
More importantly, let’s hope Jones and Henry don’t use this spare time to go after each other a la 2Pac and Biggie Smalls. That would be bad.
Hopefully, they use this time constructively & try turning themselves around. Hey, it’s never to late…
Just over 20 years ago, one player physically assaulted an opposing team’s General Manager in the head after a playoff game. Know where he is now?
General Manager of the Detroit Lions.
That could be you someday, Pacman! (Oh, like he’d be any worse…)
NFL, Roger Goodell, Suspension, Travis Henry, Pacman Jones, the hammer falls
We’re going back to the 2005 draft, with the New England Patriots selecting 32nd at the end of the first round. Since they’ve just won their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years, the ESPN analysts are falling (and stuttering) over themselves praising the genius of Belichick & Co. (and rightfully so…)
And who do the Pats take in the first round? Logan Mankins, an offensive guard from Fresno State that hardly anyone had going in the 2nd round, let alone the 1st.
The clip is worth it for the 5+ seconds of stunned silence that immediately follows the pick. Not willing to take the Patriots juggernaut to task, leave it to the Cowhide Connoisseur to sum up the pick with his own brand of eloquence and panache:
“You’re with me, master of the obvious.”
YouTube, NFL Draft, New England Patriots, 2005, Chris Berman, Poet Laureate
Our Lions draft preview is brought to use by the honorable Judge Smails; Root Administrator for the Lions-fans.com web forum. The Judge enjoys German beer, stinky cheese, spicy beef jerky, and former Catholic school girls (though not necessarily in that order…).
He also unearthed a great fact from a past Lions draft that I had never heard before, involving the New England Patriots. So crack open a Fresca, and enjoy!
It’s your honor, your honor (heh, heh…)
As most of you know, I almost never post on the weekends. The weekend is a time for rest and relaxation (or hookers and cake, depending on the mood). However, there’s been a battle raging between mainstream media and the blogosphere over the last few days that I just had to chime in on…
You’ve probably heard about it by now. The storm of controversy concerns ESPN radio host Colin Cowherd, who on Thursday morning encouraged all his listeners to visit the sports blog The Big Lead at the same time. This effectively blew up The Big Lead (a very good blog, by the way - not like this piece o crap), and kept the site out of commission for over a day.
Our first TalkingNFL team preview has been written by the lovely Ms. Tracey! Tracey is a fellow 451press blogger, and a damn good one at that. Her Beauty website, Hot or Not Beauty is one of the Top 10 visited sites in the 451press network. She’s also the writer for the Shopping website Shoe Boxers. These are both great sites for you to forward to your wife/girlfriend when they start yelling at you for spending too much time reading TalkingNFL…
(Yep, right off the bat I’m turning the site over to a lady. Why? Because I’m all about equal rights and women who love football. Besides that, as you all know, chicks dig me…)
Without further ado, Tracey’s thoughts on the Oakland Raiders, who have the #1 pick in the draft…
I was all set to get everyone caught up on the latest news, like Roger Goodell cracking down on bad player behavior, and Asante Samuel pulling a Lance Briggs. But instead, constant reader, I’ve decided to bring you links to the latest pictures and videos of the first round of NFL Cheerleader auditions.
Why? Because I love you all, dammit - that’s why!
San Diego Chargers (best looking one in the group is #21 in the slideshow. How appropriate…)
Arizona Cardinals (scroll down for video)
Best of luck to you all, ladies. For those that get cut, I’m available for counseling (among other services).
First, a hearty thank you to those who emailed me a submission for the TalkingNFL Draft Preview Contest. I’ve gotten some inspired stuff all ready (the first preview will run on Friday), and hope to receive many more entries before the April 13th deadline. Please send your team preview to talkingnfl@hotmail.com
The following teams are officially spoken for:
- Oakland Raiders
- Detroit Lions
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- San Diego Super Chargers
(By the way, I’ve pulled a complete 360 on the Super Chargers song - as TheFranchise commented when I originally ripped it, “it’s so bad it’s good!”)
So if you’re a fan of any other team, get those entries in to make sure you’re team gets a write-up, and give yourself a chance at the grand prize! A brand new…uh…well…I still don’t know what it is yet. I think I’ve got an old OJ Simpson autographed football lying around somewhere. Anyways, good luck!
(Oh, and if you’re more concerned about the tax deadline than writing a slapstick draft preview for a $2.99 website, then I’ve got one question; what the hell is wrong with you? Get your priorities straight and write me a preview, bitch.)
I’m posting this video for one reason only: as a warning to all my readers that believe it or not, there are some really, really strange people walking amongst us. Let’s all be careful out there…
(Note: It’s worth going to YouTube just to see the 2 comments posted underneath. I keep waiting for everman123 to respond with, “No, dude, you don’t understand. What I MEAN is…”
NFL Draft Preview with Kittens, aka, I’ve never slept with a girl before
There are times when I wonder if I’m being too much of a smart-ass for my own good when I rip on certain aspects of pro football. Then the league pulls not one but two Viagra-sized PR boners within 24 hours, and I say, ah screw it - these knuckleheads have it coming…
Today, I’ve been paid in brand new twenty dollar bills stopped by to tell you that TalkingNFL is holding a contest that could put YOU on the front page!
Sports blog dedicated to following all things related to the National Football League, the best damn professional sports league in America.
Including (but not limited to):
Hot teams, Mediocre teams, Really bad teams, Players, Cheerleaders, Coaches, GM's, Owners, Controversies, Rumors, The playoff picture, The Super Bowl, (...did I mention Cheerleaders all ready?), Free agency, The draft, League history, The media, Game day observations, Tailgating
All that, and, uh….beer. Though not necessarily in that order. Oh, and cheerleaders, too. We like cheerleaders.
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