Archive for July, 2011
I’m so happy the NFL season is under way. No sport is as exciting as football to me. This season especially is more exciting then any other. With the lockout holding everything up teams are going at a frantic pace to get everything in order. I have been at a frantic pace as well. So many things to buy before the season starts. Got to have an NFL cap, a Denver Bronco flag to hang by my American Flag. I even ordered some NFL car floor mats for my truck. I want to get some NFL rugs for inside the house but have not convinced my wife of that yet. Maybe my horses would like those in the barn which may be where I’m sleeping if I buy any more stuff. Hey, you only live once so you might as well enjoy it.
Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots is at it again, signing players with questionable histories. He has been very good at this in the past. Rodney Harrison, Randy Moss and Corey Dillion were all unhappy players with bad reputations from not getting along with others or being dirty players. They all worked out for New England. Belichick has just signed Chad Ochocinco a receiver from the Bengals to a three year contract. Ochocinco who is very outspoken and Belichick have formed a good friendship though they are very opposite. This should work out for both of them. Then there is Albert Haynesworth. Not a team player, a guy who quits on plays and who will not be missed by the Redskins. Haynesworth had a year long feud with Mike Shanahan, the head coach of the Redskins. Showing up over weight and not wanting to play in a 3-4 defense after signing a huge contract is not a person I would want. He is going to play the 3-4 in New England as well, so you have to wonder why they traed for him. Belichick did not give up much for him so I suppose the upside is greater than the downside. We’ll see if either one the these players will buy into the ” Patriot Way”, team first approach. If not, the Patriots will just be out some NFL apparel outfitting these guys to play some football.
It’s time to release the Tebow in Denver. With Orton still in town it cannot begin. All the buzz in Denver is about Tebow becoming the starting quarterback and Orton being traded to the Dolphins. Orton has been a very good quarterback for Denver, 41 touchdown passes against 21 interceptions. But as good as he has been, he does not stand a chance against Tebows good looks and winning smile even if Tebow has not proved himself yet. The brain trust at Dove Valley has always liked Tebow better than Orton even if they have said Orton comes in as the starter. They have just been saying that so he becomes better trade bait. To bad McDaniels gave Orton that 8 million contract because it becomes harder to trade him.
So don’t waste you money on a Orton NFL jersey (not many of you have) because he will be gone soon and the Tebow era will begin. Training camp starts for the Bronco’s this morning at 8:50. It must be pretty uncomfortable for Orton to show up knowing that he isn’t wanted and his era here has ended. He deserves better than this.
Matt Leinart the number 10 pick in the 2006 draft will play football for Pete Carroll again. Carroll the head coach of Seattle agreed to terms with the Heisman Trophy winner who will sign with the team Friday, which is the first day teams can sign free agents. This will be the third NFL helmet logo Leinart has worn, he has been a bust in Arizona and with the Huston Texans. Matt Hasselbeck turned down a one year deal to stay in Seattle so this could be a very good deal for Leinart. There is no guarantee for him because the Seahawks have Charlie Whitehurst and Travaris Jackson on the roaster.
This could be the break Leinart needs, being reunited with his head coach from USC. Pete Carroll thinks he can get this done with Leinart. We’ll see, maybe the trird time is a charm.
All you NFL players, it’s time to go back to work. If you’re a signed player, rookie, undrafted player or unrestricted free agent, it’s time to put on you NFL luggage tags and get back to your team. This is not only good for the players and all the office workers but is even better for the regular folks who make a living working during the season. I’m talking about the guy that slaps mustard on your dog, the person who pours your overly expensive beer and all the other worker bee’s who make a living because football is played. The millionaires and billionaires could have withstood a longer lockout but the common guy would have been hurt really bad. I don’t think they came up in the negotiations, but I’m glad they get to have their jobs back.
With Roberto Alomar entering the Hall of Fame he will be the first player to enter wearing a Blue Jays cap. Alomar was with the the Blue Jays when they won the 1992 and 1993 World Series. Alomar is only the thirded Puerto Rican to enter the Hall. Alomar has 10 Gold Gloves playing second base which is a record. He was also a switch hitter who batted a career .300. He was also a 12 time all star. His most forgettable moment was in 1996 when he got into an argument with umpire John Hirschbeck and spit on him. Get your MLB caps for the Blue Jays now because with Alomar going into the Hall, sells will be picking up for that team.
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton the number 1 draft pick would have made more money than Aaron Rodgers if not for the work stoppage. Much of it would have been guaranteed. Money for 1 round draft picks will be drastically reduced with the new agreement. Not a bad thing for the franchises, considering JaMarcus Russell the quarterback from Oakland was the biggest bust of all time. Five year deals like his can cripple a franchise for a very long time. Now they must prove they can be a super star in the league to get super money. Now all draft picks will have the chance to sign 3 year deals with guaranteed money. I want a job like this, I’ll put on an NFL jersey for even less than they get.
Gene Upshaw did a deal for the player that was oh so sweet the owners just had to opt out of it. Once thought of agreeing with the owners to much, he is now looked at as someone who was very much for the players. The NFL is one business that works like a business in every way. Most everyone involved, owners, coaches and players are multi millionaires.
Just think, wouldn’t it be nice to be a player and work about 6 months a year and do 18-16 games a year and make millions of dollars. Most of these players make more in one game than many of us make in a lifetime. Wish I had some talent that paid me that much. 4 years work and I’ retired. Players vote soon on the CBA and my bet is they will be putting on their NFL jerseys in about a week.
Will there be an NFL settlement today or very soon. The owners will be in Atlanta to vote on a new CBA. Hopefully the NFL’s four month lockout will end and we can get down to some football. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to start waving my NFL flags. When the settlement is reached, things will get very busy. Teams must sign new draft picks, sign undrafted players and go after veteran free agents. All this must be done in about a weeks time.
It’s time for some football, time to get training camps going, time to think of the fans who without them there is no football, no billionaires and no millionaires.
Let’s play some football
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