Nfl Football - Football Betting

2005-11-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

O'Hara garners title with team play
By KEITH McSHEA
News Sports Reporter
11/7/2005

Reggie Garner scored all three touchdowns for the Cardinal O'Hara football team as the Hawks won their first Monsignor Martin Association League A playoff championship. But his most important role Sunday afternoon may have been that of decoy. --football gambling--

While St. Mary's players kept their eye on O'Hara's sophomore standout, a host of Hawks helped move the Town of Tonawanda school to its first title since 1985. O'Hara completed its dethroning of St. Mary's as the Catholic league's small school champion with a 20-6 victory before about 800 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. --football gambling--

Garner, a quick 5-foot-8, 170-pound back, scored three touchdowns in the second half, but those short runs finished off drives that featured a host of Hawks. While Garner finished with 55 yards on 22 carries, senior Justin Vogt ran eight times for 43 yards, senior Enrico Wilkins ran six times for 49 yards and sophomore Jackie Feggans had 10 carries for 40 yards. --football gambling--

"We just told the kids that if we're going to do this, we're going to do it together, that we just needed to stick together as a team," coach Angelo Sciandra said. "They were keying on Reggie. We just started to get Jackie and our fullbacks going and kind of use Reggie as a decoy and it worked well for us." --football gambling--

O'Hara ended its season at 9-1 and won its sixth Monsignor Martin League A championship. The Hawks also won titles in 1963, 1964, 1980, 1984 (shared with St. Mary's) and 1985. St. Mary's (7-3) had been the only team to win the League A playoff championship in the event's three-year existence. O'Hara beat St. Mary's, 3-0, to claim the regular-season championship, ending the Lancers' 24-game league winning streak. --football gambling--

"It's just a feeling you can't explain," said senior lineman Dave Meadows, who had five tackles, forced a fumble and made all three of his sacks in the fourth quarter. "Coach said that it's going to be all team. We just came out as a team. And we played like a team and we won as a team."
Feggans also added eight tackles and a sack while freshman Shaquille Dudley had six solo tackles. --football gambling--

St. Mary's had taken a 6-0 halftime lead behind a 5-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Nate Casillo and great two-way play by junior linebacker Brad Gibson. --football gambling--

O'Hara went ahead on the first drive of the second half. Wilkins, Vogt and Feggans all had carries, most of them going up the middle as St. Mary's kept an eye on Garner on the outside. Freshman quarterback Angelo Sciandra, son of the Hawks' coach, gained a big first down on third-and-3 by taking a keeper to the right side 6 yards to the St. Mary's 3. On the next play, Garner burrowed over right tackle for the touchdown. --football gambling--

Meadows, Vogt and Feggans all had great defensive hits as St. Mary's went three-and-out on its next two possessions. Garner starred on the Hawks' next drive, earning two first-down runs before an easy 1-yard score on third-and-goal - thanks to a nice offensive line push - and the Hawks led, 14-6, with 10:17 left. --football gambling--

Meadows made two great stops on St. Mary's next drive, including a stuff of Casillo on fourth-and-1 at the St. Mary's 30. Garner's third TD was a 2-yarder with 2:50 to play.e-mail: kmcshea@buffnews.comAdditional photo on Page D9 and on Picture Page on C12.--football gambling--

2005-11-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Bledsoe Quiets Critics At Halfway Points

Bob Phillips
Dallascowboys.com Staff Writer
October 31, 2005 6:21 PM

IRVING, Texas - Drew Bledsoe heard the doubters when he left Buffalo last winter. He heard them when he reunited with Bill Parcells in Dallas this past March. -NFL Football-

And despite his fast start to the season, Bledsoe's critics resurfaced during the Cowboys' 13-10 loss to Seattle on Oct. 23, when his interception late in the fourth quarter set up Josh Brown's game-winning field goal as time expired. -NFL Football-

But the 33-year-old Bledsoe responded with another impressive performance Sunday against Arizona, leading the Cowboys to a decisive 34-13 victory and a 5-3 record at the season's halfway point. -NFL Football-

Bledsoe (2,019 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions) leads the NFC with a 97.4 quarterback rating and is on pace to break the Cowboys' single-season record for most passing yards (3,980) set by Danny White in 1983. The Cowboys went 12-4 that year and lost to the L.A. Rams in the wild-card playoff round, 24-17. -NFL Football-

Not much for the doubters to doubt after eight games. -NFL Football-

"None of the doubters were wearing No. 11," Bledsoe said. "I've always believed in my ability to play this position and with the way that this team is playing, I expect to continue it at a fairly consistent level. And honestly, in a lot of instances from the first half of the season, I expect to play better down the stretch." -NFL Football-

Parcells said he was never concerned about Bledsoe's physical ability before the season, but he didn't know exactly where his heart was after 12 NFL seasons. That changed in the Cowboys' preseason game against the Seahawks. -NFL Football-

"We went along for a few series and didn't move the ball too well, as I remember," Parcells said. "I remember him coming out there and saying to me, 'OK, we got to get this going here now.' And he wasn't just talking about it, he was determined about it. And then we drove down for a touchdown, and I kind of saw a little something there that I liked." -NFL Football-

Aside from his "glaring blemish" two weeks ago in Seattle and a few botched snaps along the way, Bledsoe has given the Cowboys a solid return on their three-year, $14 million investment. -NFL Football-

"I always have extremely high expectations for myself," Bledsoe said. "Right now with the way that guys are playing around me in terms of protection and guys getting open for me, I really feel like what I'm doing is simply executing my job. The more consistent I can be in executing my part of the puzzle, the better we're going to be." -NFL Football-

2005-10-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

NFL News And Notes: Week 7
By: Bob George/BosSports.net

The Patriots need to win Sunday night. Time to bring back Scott Norwood and hope that he shanks another kick wide right at just the wrong time. One kick was his ruination, and it simply isn’t fair. But Patriot Nation has seen the other side of the coin for the last five years. You gotta stand and deliver, Scott, plain and simple. Norwood boots one to about the five-yard line, this time straight down the middle. -NFL Football-

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf can talk tough all he wants. Now he has to act tough and clean house at the top. -NFL Football-

And do it now, not wait until the end of the season. Why make the fans suffer any longer with this lousy bunch of coaches? -NFL Football-

Bill Parcells going after that assistant reminds us all of that marvelous fight a few years back between Buddy Ryan and Kevin Gilbride, when both were coordinators with the old Houston Oilers. If either fight had been allowed to go forward, the old man kicks the tar out of the young man in either scenario. -NFL Football-

Is LaMont Jordan that good or is the Buffalo run defense that bad? -NFL Football-

Whatever the case, Corey Dillon, please take note. -NFL Football-

The Falcons had the Jets dead and buried, and they let them back into the game. Good thing for the Atlanta folk that the Jets just plain stink. -NFL Football-

Romeo Crennel, Lovie Smith, Marvin Lewis, Dennis Green, Tony Dungy and Herman Edwards all owe a great debt of gratitude to civil rights icon Rosa Parks, who passed away on Monday. The work is not yet done, but her inspiration and her courage will live on for eternity. -NFL Football-

Geek of the week: It was fun watching Parcells trying to defend his actions. Did it make you laugh? -NFL Football-

Ty Law is with a far poorer team, but we all can rest easy as his family is no longer starving right now. -NFL Football-

Stop whining about the Patriots. They’re in first place and can still look forward to a two seed in the playoffs. -NFL Football-

What Eli Manning needs to do is to show that he can win big games better than his brother can. Then start calling him great. -NFL Football-

The 49ers are perhaps a bigger mess than the Vikings. -NFL Football-

And no, Houston is not the worst team in the NFL. But they’re close. -NFL Football-

The kind of bust they’re making for Joey Harrington is not the kind he will get someday in Canton, Ohio. -NFL Football-

Troy Brown would do a better job in single coverage than Duane Starks. -NFL Football-

Between a city in need of rebuilding and a city which could give a rip over football, the Saints ought to stay put in San Antonio. -NFL Football-

Pittsburgh showed Cincinnati that they aren’t ready for prime time just yet. -NFL Football-

Kansas City didn’t complain about playing Miami on Friday instead of Monday because they couldn’t wait to get their hands on them. -NFL Football-

Hey, a ten-point win on the road and two extra days off to boot. Good deal, Chiefs. -NFL Football-

Back to school: USC getting dropped down to number two is further proof that Division I college football is a total joke until it finally gets a playoff system in place. -NFL Football-

If the Patriot defense comes around, it will be with Tedy Bruschi, but not because of him. -NFL Football-

Chicago has been known to party hardy when their teams (Bears, Bulls) win the whole thing. What happens if the White Sox win their first title in 88 years? Yeesh. -NFL Football-

Take away his running skills, and where would Michael Vick be on anyone’s depth chart? -NFL Football-

Someone came up with this tidbit: it was the first time in NFL history that five separate ten-point fourth quarter leads had been blown in one weekend. Call it playing copycat with Tom Brady’s late game heroics. -NFL Football-

Nice to know that fire alarms are so useful. At Philadelphia, false fire alarms went off followed by recorded announcements to evacuate. Not one single person left the stadium. Guess they need to actually see a fire before they split, huh? -NFL Football-

It doesn’t look good when San Diego looks invincible against the Patriots, but then loses to the last two teams the Patriots beat in 2004. -NFL Football-

Don’t put any crowns on the heads of the Colts just yet. They still have Foxborough on their travel itinerary this year. -NFL Football-

The Patriots could go sub-.500 and still win the division, that’s how bad the AFC East is this year. -NFL Football-

Dan Koppen cannot sing. But Matt Light can. Nothing like a karaoke to bring out latent talents in your faves. -NFL Football-

Remember him: Bobby Moore broke in as a talented wide receiver for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. Two years later, he wound up in Buffalo with a new team and a new name. He spent one season in Buffalo before moving on to a seven-year stint with the Vikings. He would eventually land at NBC Sports and become a broadcaster of some repute. Cardinals know him as Moore, but you all know him as Ahmad Rashad. He would ultimately become more famous for his outlandish marriage proposal to Phylicia Ayers-Allen (female lead on The Cosby Show, and she said yes) than his unbelievable game-winning touchdown catch for Minnesota against Cleveland in 1980. Such is life. -NFL Football-

Howard Cosell once said that Wellington Mara had “a personality like wet cement”. -NFL Football-

The rest of mankind might think a little different. The venerable owner of the Giants, who passed away on Tuesday, was the last living link to the beginning days and years of the NFL. His dad Tim bought the Giants in 1925 and moved them to New York, and built the Giants into the cornerstone franchise it remains today. For the NFL to survive over the long haul, the league had to succeed in New York. Thanks to the Maras, it did, and the league is now the preeminent sports concern in the nation today. -NFL Football-

That is why, among many other things, the league got a great deal poorer on Tuesday. The Mara family is right up there with the Halas family in helping to found this great league, and Wellington’s passing is the end of an era in professional football. He was a treasure, and all who appreciate this great game of NFL football will miss him. -NFL Football-

2005-10-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

QB Tim Rattay traded from 49ers to Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers braced for life without Brian Griese on Tuesday, acquiring Tim Rattay from the San Francisco 49ers to back up young quarterbacks Chris Simms and Luke McCown. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Griese injured his left knee during Sunday's 27-13 victory over Miami, however the Bucs still haven't commented publicly on his condition or said how long he will be sidelined after helping them to a 5-1 start.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
``We're getting some more analysis,'' general manager Bruce Allen said. ``He's still on the team. He is wanting to play. We're hopeful that he can. But we're going to get the proper medical opinion.''-- NFL --
-- NFL --
Allen declined to discuss specifics of the injury, which occurred when Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas rolled into Griese's leg, or what doctors have told the team about the quarterback's status.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
What's clear, though, is Griese will be out for a lengthy time. -- NFL --
Simms replaced him against the Dolphins and will have two weeks to prepare for his first start of the season because Tampa Bay has a bye this Sunday. -- NFL --

The Bucs sent what was believed to be a sixth-round draft choice to the 49ers for Rattay, a six-year veteran who lost the starting job in San Francisco after four weeks to No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
Allen said the Bucs explored the prospect of acquiring Rattay during the offseason and were excited to find he was available before the NFL trading deadline of 4 p.m. Tuesday. -- NFL --
To make room on the active roster, the team released rookie fullback Rick Razzano.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
``We feel he'll be a great fit for our team,'' Allen said. ``He'll come in and be our No. 3 quarterback. It gives us some great insurance and a feeling that we can sleep at night that we have a bona fide NFL starter.'' -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Simms and McCown, like Rattay a former standout at Louisiana Tech, have made a combined six starts as pros -- all last season when Simms made two for the Bucs and
McCown started four as a rookie in Cleveland.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
Rattay, a seventh-round pick in 2000, started nine games last season and beat out Smith in training camp this year. But he performed poorly after an opening victory over St. Louis and was benched by coach Mike Nolan.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
Rattay has played in 32 games with 16 starts. He has completed 356 of 586 passes (60.8 percent) for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He has a career passer rating of 81.6. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
``He was the best quarterback we thought could help us right now,'' Allen said. ``And the fact that he has experience allowed us to look at enough tape ... we feel very comfortable we know what we're getting.'' -- NFL --
-- NFL --
At Louisiana Tech, Rattay started 33 games, finishing second in NCAA history with 12,746 yards passing. He was the third player in NCAA history with more than 100 career touchdown passes.-- NFL --

2005-10-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

HUMBLE ONE: Tossing around tidbits of football information

By RON HOBSON

There are times when I amaze even myself when it comes to dispensing hot football information to my loyal supporters.

That’s right, lovers of football knowledge, the Humble One is a constant conduit of gridiron tidbits, which is why he has been uncanny in the selection of NFL winners. If you notice in all your pudgy penman’s matchups, little nuggets of important facts are sprinkled liberally.

We have given you the edge with such insider information as the number of times the Buffalo Bills have suffered losses after having pizza at the pre-game meal. It may be important to know that Peyton Manning’s house cat attacks him after every loss.

But there are times, however, when too much knowledge is not a good thing.

I remember when my man Cheeves went to the hospital to have an operation. I went to visit him after the surgery.

‘‘How do you feel, my good man?’’ I asked caringly.

Cheeves looked up. He was a bit groggy.

‘‘I’m O.K, but I didn’t like the four-letter word the doctor used in the operating room,’’ said Cheeves.

‘‘What did he say?’’ I asked.

‘‘Oops.’’

There are some things you just don’t need to know. But Cheeves is now fit and happy. He remains one of the Humble One’s biggest fans because he knows he’ll always get the 411 on theNFL every weekend in this space.

New England at Atlanta

The Pats have won their last 10 games against NFC opponents and have not lost back-to-back contests since 2002. Those are positive facts. But there is something wrong with this team right now. That they are ranked last in theNFL in rushing yards after the first quarter of the season is alarming. That the defense has given up the most points in the AFC is alarming. The Falcons are 3-1 and QB Michael Vick will start. This could be a very tough match for the New England defense.
—Falcons by three

Miami at Buffalo

When the season started, the Bills were being talked about as contenders and the Dolphins were a long way from being any good. Well, the Bills are 1-3 and will be starting veteran backup Kelly Holcomb at quarterback after J.P Losman engineered only three touchdowns. Miami is 2-1 and leads the division. The Dolphins are coming off a bye week and they’re 10-6 after bye weeks since 1990. Miami still has a top defense, which will be able to stuff the Buffalo offense.
—Dolphins by three

Chicago at Cleveland

This is a battle of have-nots. The Bears do have a nice defense, but they’re 1-2 because they can’t score points. Ditto for the Browns. Both teams had last week off and worked on their weaknesses. They could work from now to Christmas and it won’t make any difference until they get better players.
—Browns by one

Baltimore at Detroit

These are just run-of-the-mill clubs that won’t be in the postseason. The Ravens, 6-2 in their last eight games against NFC foes, beat the Jets last Sunday but scored only 13 points in doing so. The Lions had a great chance to beat the Buccaneers but booted it away, as they usually do. They have a shot at winning at home this Sunday; quarterback Joey Harrington is 3-1 in Detroit’s last four home games.
—Lions by two

New Orleans at Green Bay

The cupboard is bare in Green Bay, which is fresh out of players and Brett Favre can’t carry things anymore. The Packers are 0-4 but did make a try at a comeback Monday Night against Carolina. New Orleans, 2-2, showed well against the Bills last week in San Antonio, the Saints’ temporary home for half their home games.
—Saints by six

Tennessee at Houston

The Titans are 1-3 and Houston 0-3, but the teams have different problems. The Texans swept the Titans last year, but Houston quarterback David Carr is not as good now as he was a year ago. Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher goes after his 100th victory; he earned his first career win in Houston when he took over the Oilers in 1994.
—Titans by three

Tampa Bay at N.Y. Jets

Vinny Testaverde makes his first start for the Jets since he last quarterbacked them in 2003. The soon-to-be 42-year-old is up against it, but the Jets are banking on his getting them a win they need so desperately. The Jets are 1-3 and slipping fast. The Bucs are 4-0 and have been riding Cadillac Williams’ rushing game each week. The rookie back is second in the NFC in rushing. That makes Brian Griese a more effective passer.
—Bucs by seven

Seattle at St Louis

Talked to some Seattle fans this week and they are glum. They so thought they had a wagon, but the Seahawks are 2-2 and lost in OT to the Redskins last Sunday. Now these two teams are tied for first in their division; the winner gets a nice edge. The Rams were beaten up by the Giants and just don’t look sharp.
—Seahawks by one

Indianapolis at San Francisco

The Colts are the new darlings of the AFC. They aren’t putting up gaudy offensive numbers, but they are winning with a balanced ball club. They can play defense, which is why they’re 4-0. San Francisco starts a rookie quarterback. It’s all about the future now for Mike Nolan. He’s getting them ready for next season this season.
—Colts by 10

Carolina at Arizona

The Panthers have won eight of their last 12, but they run hot and cold. They looked poor against New Orleans and great against the Patriots. They’re 2-2 and have to start playing consistentfootball . The Cardinals beat San Francisco in Mexico last Sunday with Josh McCown starring at quarterback. But the Panthers have too much on defense.
—Panthers by six

Philadelphia at Dallas

The Eagles have won 25 of their past 29 division games. Coach Andy Reid is 10-2 against Dallas. Donovan McNabb is playing well, but he is not totally injury free. That can be a factor down the road. The Cowboys are 2-2 and are capable of upsetting any team. Drew Bledsoe is playing his best, but last week the Cowboys lost to the Raiders and that’s not so good. They wake up this week with a surprise.
—Cowboys by three

Washington at Denver

The Redskins look to go 4-0 for the first time since Joe Gibbs was coaching the team in 1991 (they started 11-0). But is this Redskins team that good? They are getting good work from Mark Brunell at quarterback, but how long will that last? The Broncos are 3-1 and coach Mike Shanahan is 16-4 against NFC clubs at home.
—Broncos by seven

Cincinnati at Jacksonville

This should be an entertaining Sunday night game. The Bengals are 4-0 for the first time since 1988 when they went on to play in the Super Bowl. It looks as if quarterback Carson Palmer is stepping up as one of the fine new quarterbacks. He certainly has the targets and that helps. Jacksonville lost to the Broncos last week and looked sad in the process.

—Bengals by three

Pittsburgh at San Diego

This is a great Monday night game. We saw the Chargers beat up the Pats last week. They can be a very good team when they get into stride. The Steelers had last week off and claim the have solved some of the problems they had against the Patriots, their only loss. How can the Steelers stop LaDainian Tomlinson? The Pats couldn’t do it.
—Chargers by three

Last week: 10-4
Season: 32-26

2005-10-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

McNair returns to Titans practice

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 29, 2005) -- Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair practiced, but did not take part in all drills as he recovers from a sore right foot. - NFL Football -

McNair said he didn't even notice that his right foot had been stepped on in last week's 31-27 loss to St. Louis until halftime. But he said he felt good. - NFL Football -

"I just wanted to rest it for a day. I came out there, did something today and felt pretty good. Tomorrow I'll do more, probably all the team (drills). I just wanted to rest. I didn't want to take a chance of going out and getting it even more sore," McNair said. - NFL Football -

The Titans added defensive end Travis LaBoy to the injury report as questionable with a groin injury. Coach Jeff Fisher said LaBoy strained his groin during practice Sept. 28.

But receiver Drew Bennett, who missed practice Sept. 28, was back on the field the next day with his sore foot. - NFL Football -

Linebacker Peter Sirmon (right knee) and defensive end Albert Haynesworth (left knee) did not practice. Fisher said Haynesworth, who sprained his knee on Sept. 18 against Baltimore and missed last week's loss at St. Louis, has enough experience that he could play without practicing.

2005-09-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

ABC, ESPN join NFL Hurricane Relief Telethon

(Sept. 15, 2005) -- ABC Sports and ESPN are joining the National Football League for an unprecedented NFL fundraising telethon on Monday, Sept. 19, to benefit the recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America and ESPN's Chris Berman will co-host the telethon, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET and throughout the games from ABC's Times Square studio in New York City.

Current and former NFL players will be on hand at the studio to answer calls and accept pledges. Scheduled to appear are: current New York Jets Chad Pennington, Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet; and Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Mike Haynes, Steve Largent, Ronnie Lott, Art Shell, Jackie Slater and Bart Starr. Also slated to participate are: Jamal Anderson, Ottis Anderson, Carl Banks, Mark Duper, Mark Gastineau, Michael Jackson, Robert Porcher, Bruce Smith and Gene Washington. ABC's Regis Philbin will also visit the studio telethon. During the telecasts, other ABC celebrities and ESPN commentators will be involved.

Donations will benefit the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, which former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton are leading. The fund serves as an umbrella organization for three special funds established by the governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to assist in the long-term recovery plan for those states.

The telethon will culminate the NFL's "Hurricane Relief Weekend" (Sept. 18-19), and elements of the event will be incorporated throughout the primetime NFL doubleheader on ABC Sports and ESPN that evening -- New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints (7:30 p.m.) and Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (9 p.m.).

The Giants vs. Saints game -- which moved from the Louisiana Superdome to Giants Stadium in the aftermath of the hurricane -- kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ABC with a taped interview with the former presidents. The New Orleans and New York television markets will see the game in its entirety on ABC. The rest of the country will see the regularly scheduled Redskins-Cowboys Monday Night Football game at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, while also having the option to watch the conclusion of the Giants vs. Saints telecast on ESPN. Viewers with cable programming will have the choice of watching either game on ABC or ESPN. The telethon will continue on both ABC and ESPN until the conclusion of the second game.

"We appreciate the leadership of ABC and ESPN in helping us turn this particular Monday night into far more than a primetime football doubleheader, making it part of the overall Gulf Coast relief effort," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

ESPN and ABC Sports president, and co-chair, Disney Media Networks, George Bodenheimer said, "This telethon, the NFL, our people, our media assets across Disney -- are all coming together to rebuild for those who have lost so much. It's great football, and more important, it's helping people."

Jamie Reynolds, ESPN senior coordinating producer, who will oversee the telethon production, added, "This is one of our more technical undertakings with up to four network feeds and maintaining the telethon throughout each telecast. Our goal is to navigate the network feeds and integrate the telethon, ultimately serving the fan with both the games as well as driving donations to this worthy cause."

During the NFL Kickoff Weekend, ESPN's Sunday Night Football and ABC's Monday Night Football included special mentions of the planned "Hurricane Relief Weekend" telecast. The telethon will be promoted across ABC and ESPN's multimedia assets, including the television networks, ESPN and ABC Radio, ABC owned stations, ESPN.com and abc.com, and ESPN The Magazine.

ESPN will provide viewers with the telethon call-in number and other details beginning Sunday morning with Sunday NFL Countdown at 11 a.m. ABC's Good Morning America and LIVE! with Regis & Kelly will also highlight the telethon during their Monday shows. The NFL will promote the event throughout its "Hurricane Relief Weekend" across its multimedia platforms.

2005-09-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for some football? TV sure is
Steve Kroner

For people who simply cannot get enough of the NFL, there are two options -- the NFL Sunday Ticket "SuperFan" package on DirecTV and NFL Network "On Demand" through Comcast digital cable -- that should go a long way in satisfying the thirst for highlights and stats, everything from A (Atlanta Falcons) to Z (Miami defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina).

One of the main attractions of the NFL Network "On Demand" feature is a four-letter word: free. Comcast digital-cable subscribers don't have to pay anything more to receive the NFL Network programming.

That programming ranges from market-specific offerings (in the Bay Area, that means 49ers and Raiders fare) to shows with league-wide appeal.

For the fan interested in 32 teams, the offering that most likely will get his or her attention is "Weekly Replay." Scheduled to be available at 12:01 a.m. Mondays, "Weekly Replay" provides about 12 minutes of highlights of each Sunday game (and, as the schedule dictates, games played Thursday and/or Saturday).

For the fan who filters things through either red-and-gold or silver-and-black glasses, there is "Local Replay," which will have highlights of each 49ers and Raiders game available throughout the season. In other words, if in late November you want to review the Raiders-Patriots opener, you can access clips of that game on "Local Replay."

As of Saturday, the NFL Network "On Demand" page for a San Francisco digital-cable customer listed three sections: 1) 2005 NFL Preview, which had season-preview features of 3-4 minutes for every team; 2) NFL Network Xtra, which had programming ranging from NFL Network's signature show, "NFL Total Access," to a three-part series on the Miami Dolphins' cheerleaders; and 3) Local Zone, which one would assume is where the 49ers' and Raiders' "Local Replay" editions will be found.

Local Zone also provides NFL Films shows featuring the Bay Area teams. The three offerings available Saturday: the highlight film of the 1976 Patriots-Raiders playoff game, the highlight film of the 1977 Raiders-Colts "Ghost to the Post" playoff game and a highlight film of a November 1985 Broncos-Raiders matchup listed as "DEN vs. OAK."

Those three offerings indicated two "lacks" in Local Zone at that point: one, programming about the 49ers and two, a sense of history. That's because a 1985 Broncos-Raiders game should be listed as "DEN vs. L.A." Or, more accurately, it shouldn't be offered in a Bay Area Local Zone.

In any event, DirecTV subscribers who purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket package (access to all the morning and afternoon Sunday telecasts costs $280 for the season) can acquire the "SuperFan" upgrade for an additional $99.

One key component of the "SuperFan" tier is called "Game Mix," which provides a checkerboard-like screen with eight telecasts. Customers who have interactive receivers can click on one of the eight telecasts to get that game full-screen, then can click back to the eight-telecast checkerboard.

Another intriguing feature of the "SuperFan" option is the "Red Zone Channel," which provides highlights throughout the day and switches to possibly dramatic moments in various games. One drawback, though, is only Fox games get the "Red Zone" treatment; CBS games aren't part of the deal.

"SuperFan" customers also receive "Short Cuts" on Mondays and Tuesdays. These are versions of entire games; with almost all non-action trimmed, the "Short Cuts" last 20-30 minutes.

So, say, on Dec. 19, the "Short Cuts" version of the 49ers-Jaguars game could have everything from A (49ers defensive tackle Anthony Adams) to Z (Jacksonville long-snapper Joe Zelenka) in 25 minutes.

Briefly: Blackout restrictions still apply to Sunday Ticket subscribers; in other words, if a Raiders game is blacked out in the Bay Area, Sunday Ticket subscribers won't see it, either. ... The Monday news conferences of Raiders head coach Norv Turner and 49ers head coach Mike Nolan will get live TV coverage this season. At noon, Comcast SportsNet (digital-cable Channel 400 in the Bay Area) has Turner's conference from Alameda. At 12:30 p.m., KBHK (Channel 44) airs Nolan's conference from Santa Clara.

2005-08-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

Saunders: Now that Altitude's on scene, Fox flirts with more football

The arrival of Altitude means that Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain has changed its attitude.

The concentration, more than ever before, is on football.

With the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche gone from the local FSN operation, the obvious fall and early-winter option was to provide additional gridiron action and crank up more localfootball studio shows. - College Football -

As in past years, Fox Sports Net will have extensive coverage of college games, including Big 12 Conference and Pacific-10 Conference action.

This will be supplemented by local coverage, including the Colorado State-Nevada contest, two University of Northern Colorado games and several University of Colorado contests, depending on Big 12 contracts. - College Football -

New in-studio college programs include Football Playbook (premiering at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday), focusing mainly on CU, CSU, UNC and the Air Force Academy.

Also scheduled is Big 12 Instant Replay, premiering at 9 a.m. on Sept. 10.

Reruns of key games are also part of the local FSN schedule. If you miss Saturday's CU-CSU contest on TBS, FSN Rocky Mountain will repeat it - at 4:30 p.m. Sunday after the Colorado Rockies-Los Angeles Dodgers contest. - College Football -

And then there's football nostalgia, with Home Team Classics, a currently airing series designed to bring back memories for CU fans.

Hosted by Larry Zimmer and featuring former CU players, the 90-minute program mixes filmed highlights with comments by the players. Airing today (12:30-2 p.m.) is CU's 46-39 overtime win against Missouri on Oct. 9, 1999. - College Football -

And yes, FSN Rocky Mountain has been infected with Broncomania.

Local sports programmers operate under a rule of thumb: When in doubt of what to air, go to the Broncos.

New local Broncomania programs include Broncos Preview (6:30 p.m. Friday, premiering Sept. 16), hosted by Dave Benz and CBS 4's Gary Miller; and Broncos All-Access (6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12), a replay of the postgame show that airs on CBS 4 along with sound bites from Mike Shanahan's Monday news conference. - College Football -

Will audience ratings and sponsor interest support this accelerated grid coverage?

A lot depends on the success of the local teams - and the popularity of the Nuggets and Avalanche on rival Altitude.

BRONCOMANIA (CONT.): It's obvious that CBS 4 is an avid cheerleader for the Denver Broncos. But on Saturday night, CBS' Phil Simms went one team better - being a cheerleader for both the Broncos and Colts.

Early on, Simms had high praise for Denver's defense, indicating it had found a way of controlling Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. - College Football -

Later, Simms put the cape of invincibility around Manning, who picked the Denver defense apart as he had done in previous meaningful contests.

Sure, game situations change.

But Simms' main drawback as an NFL analyst is that he too often uses absolutes rather than cautionary opinions that would allow him to go with the flow of the game.

• Question for CBS 4's Vic Lombardi: During a Broncos wrap-up show in the 10 p.m. Saturday newscast, Lombardi made reference to the "channel of champions." Was he referring to his employer? - College Football -

AROUND THE DIALS: The Roger Federer Invitational, also known as the U.S. Open, begins today with USA cable airing coverage throughout the day and evening hours all week. CBS' coverage begins this weekend.

• As the gang on the Monday night NFL telecasts ask, "Are you ready for some football?"

The college season begins with a deluge of 27 televised games, starting with Oregon at Houston (5 p.m. Thursday, ESPN2) and ending with Miami-Florida State (6 p.m. Monday, ABC-Denver's 7).

In the middle is TBS' Saturday (1:30 p.m.) coverage of Colorado State and Colorado.

• Last week I vented my dislike of ESPN Hollywood, the sports network's glitzy showbiz series. I wasn't alone. National Nielsen ratings report the ESPN2 series averaged a 0.15 rating for the first week, down 35 percent from the mixed bag of sports coverage the channel had been offering in the half-hour 4 p.m. weekday time period. - College Football -

• ESPN's Lee Corso thinks he has an answer for just about everything related to college football. His latest suggestion: Move Colorado to the South Division of the Big 12 and Oklahoma to the North. His reasoning: The loser of the annual early-season Texas-Oklahoma rivalry would still have a shot at higher national honors by winning one of the Big 12 divisions.

• Am I the only one to note that the NHL, an indoor sport, will be covered this season on the Outdoor Life Network?

2005-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Death underscores football's dangers

Shortly after 300-pound lineman Al Lucas broke his neck during an Arena League game and died in April, Paul Tagliabue and Gene Upshaw sat down to discuss whether anything more could be done to prevent deaths in their game.
The NFL commissioner and the head of the players' union decided that, at the top level of football, all possible precautions were already in place.
The death of Thomas Herrion, an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, demonstrates that, sometimes, "all" isn't enough. - NFL Football -
Herrion, who collapsed after a game in Denver on Saturday night, had been on the San Francisco and Dallas practice squads and played in Europe this past spring as he strived to make an NFL roster. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Herrion was of average size for his position — perhaps below it in a league where a vast majority of offensive linemen weigh more than 300 pounds.
He had passed stringent physicals just to be allowed to compete for a job, including stress tests. When he collapsed in the locker room after Saturday night's game, trained medical personnel were there immediately and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Three hours later, the team announced that he had died. - NFL Football -
The cause of Herrion's death awaited the outcome of an autopsy.
"We have done everything medically we could do," Upshaw said Sunday. "We have doctors trained in emergency medicine, in heart problems and other specialties standing by at every game. It's not just internists. It's people who know what to do in every emergency. It just wasn't enough.
"This is the second time this year we've lost a player, and that's two too many."
But he added that physicals can't catch everything, noting the case of Tedy Bruschi, the New England Patriots linebacker who had a stroke on Feb. 16, 10 days after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four seasons.
"He had a hole in his heart and might have played with it for years. No one ever noticed it," Upshaw said. - NFL Football -
Since the death of Minnesota offensive tackle Korey Stringer four years ago, the NFL has increased its medical vigilance in training camp. Many teams, for example, have avoided practicing in the midsummer afternoon heat and many have ended two-a-day practices in pads after coaches began to realize the stress that can place on big bodies — even those in prime condition from year-round workout programs.
It has been common this summer, for example, for teams to work out in the early morning and then not again until the evening on days when they practice twice. Many of them follow those two sessions a day with just one practice the next. Those kinds of precautions have been the norm since Stringer, a 340-pound Pro Bowl tackle, died of what was later determined to be heatstroke during Vikings camp in 2001. - NFL Football -
Even before then, the presence of trained medical personnel has helped save lives. On Dec. 13, 1997, Detroit linebacker Reggie Brown injured his spinal cord during a game. He stopped breathing on the field, but doctors and paramedics resuscitated him. Brown was forced to retire from football but has been able to lead a normal life. - NFL Football -
In Herrion's case, he was playing at the end of the game, then went back to the locker room with his teammates. After 49ers coach Mike Nolan addressed the team, Herrion collapsed.
"The things that happen in this crazy sport," said Upshaw, a Hall of Fame guard who weighed about 255 pounds when he played for the Oakland Raiders from 1967 to 1981. "We're all saddened by it. Any time you lose a player, it hurts every one of us."

Dave Goldberg, Associated Press

2005-08-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Division I football has its own 'Head Start' program
An increasing number of top football players are opting for freshman English over the high school prom. The question: At what cost?

One of the most trying times in the life of a football player is the transition from high school to college. The pace of the game is faster; the players are bigger and stronger. Add to that the football classroom sessions with phone book-sized playbooks, the academic course load and the social scene, and freshman orientation can quickly turn into disorientation.
For a small but growing minority of freshmen players, the college football training camps getting under way across the country won't be their first introduction to the rapid pace of college life.
According to a USA Today study this spring, 34 players from Bowl Championship Series Conference schools graduated from high school early and enrolled in college in January. That number has more than doubled in the past three years. - NFL Football -
Those players started their academic and athletic careers six months before the majority of their peers set foot on campus. They took a full academic load, participated in the team's strength and conditioning program and in spring practice.
This trend of getting a head start on college is not altogether new. Academically advanced students have done it for years, but it has become a more popular trend in college football the past five years. - NFL Football -
In 2002, 15 players did it. A year later, the number climbed to 26. A year after that, it grew to 35. - NFL Football -
"I see the trend growing more and more," said Terry Smith, the head football coach and athletic director at Gateway High School in Monroeville. "Everyone is recruiting sooner. Guys are much more mature than what they were 15 years ago. All these guys have personal trainers now. They're working out harder, getting bigger, faster and stronger."
Smith speaks from personal experience. His stepson, Justin King, was one of three Penn State recruits to get a head start this winter and spring. Highly touted receiver prospect Derrick Williams and tight end Francis Claude were the others. - NFL Football -

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

2005-08-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

Getting to know Norm
First-time coordinator Chow not afraid of NFL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It's Saturday morning in the Titans team complex and offensive coordinator Norm Chow is sitting at his desk, a million details already fighting for his attention by 9:45 a.m. His first full week of NFL training camp is over and Chow is plowing on, while explaining for the umpteenth time why the most celebrated collegiate offensive coordinator ever would leave the powerful Southern Cal program for the all-consuming lifestyle of an NFL assistant coach.
"I'm not being boastful, but so you win another national title,'' said Chow, an integral cog in the Trojans' consecutive national championships in 2003-04. "If I'm 29 or 30, that's great. But I'm getting close to 60 years old and I was finally in the position where I could move on and take a chance with life.''
To some, Chow and the Titans are taking a chance on each other. After 32 seasons in college football, Chow, 59, is one of the most intriguing rookie coaches in NFL history. Between his stops at BYU, North Carolina State and USC, Chow's track record for offensive success is spectacular: three national titles, three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, three times named assistant coach of the year, and a personal stamp on eight of the NCAA's 30 career passing-efficiency leaders.
Some risk, huh? Maybe every NFL team would be fortunate to take such a gamble.
"I don't think he's a risk,'' said Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, the former USC defensive back who lured Chow away from Pete Carroll's Trojans staff after four seasons in SoCal. "Football is football. I just wanted to be sure he wanted to take this step. He had some questions, and we had to sit down and get them answered together.''
Chow wanted to know mostly about NFL defenses, Fisher said. How sophisticated are they? How much more time do they take to prepare for on a weekly basis and how varied does an NFL offense have to be to counter a typical defensive game plan?
"He wanted to see what we were doing,'' Fisher said. "He wasn't awfully concerned about the salary cap or the personnel here. He just wanted to see NFL defenses, and how they looked. One of the first things he said to me was 'I'm attacking two or three coverages in college, in a 20-hour week.'
"But once we sat down, watched tape and got a feel for what teams are doing defensively, he said, 'Let's do it.' Because it's just ball. The difference in his mind was just the speed and athletic ability at this level. But you have it on your side of the ball, too.''
Chow doesn't mind the scrutiny he knows will come with making his NFL debut at age 59. His career path has never been typical -- 27 years spent at BYU alone. And as a Hawaiian native of Chinese descent, he has always tended to stand out in the coaching profession, where Asians are virtually non-existent.

CNN/Sports Illustrated

2005-07-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

Truth and Rumours

So does first-round pick Cedric Benson, who now is the only unsigned player of the Bears' six draft picks. With an extra week of training camp and an extra exhibition game, expect negotiations -- classified as amicable and professional -- to last as long as another week.--Chicago Tribune - NFL Football -

Thomas Jones didn't mind carrying the football in the 100-degree heat at Sunday's first Bears training camp practice at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. He hopes he keeps getting the football, and it certainly won't hurt his cause if first-round draft pick Cedric Benson continues to hold out.--Daily Southtown - NFL Football -

The Lions have resumed their courtship of cornerback Ty Law. Law, a free agent released by New England in February after 10 seasons and three Super Bowl championships, will meet with the Lions' management and coaching staff today.--Detroit News
Terrell Owens and Corey Simon may not be there, but the rest of their Philadelphia Eagles teammates definitely will be, along with many thousands of their fans and their expectations.--The Express-Times - NFL Football -

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards, safety Brodney Pool and quarterback Charlie Frye were unsigned as of late Sunday night. Sixth-round pick Andrew Hoffman, a defensive tackle from Virginia, also was unsigned. --Akron Beacon Journa - NFL Football -l

Ricky Williams did not speak with the media camped across the street from the Dolphins' facility when he arrived in his blue sport utility vehicle Sunday. He did indicate to staffers that he would talk today during a late-morning news conference. The certainty of that news conference is tenuous, however, because coach Nick Saban had not approved it as of Sunday afternoon. Williams will be eligible to participate in all of Miami's preseason practices and games but must sit out the first four games of the regular season while serving an NFL suspension for violating the league substance abuse policy. Under that policy, Williams must submit to random drug tests throughout training camp and the season. He is expected to undergo his first drug test by this afternoon. --Miami Herald - NFL Football -

Marquee free agent signing David Terrell has brought a good attitude, but he looked like a plodder next to the rest of the Pats receivers at minicamp. Tom Brady will probably do everything he can to build a rhythm with his former Michigan teammate at camp.--Boston Herald - NFL Football -

The top three wide receivers on the Cardinals' depth chart are the main and maybe only reason people are excited about the offense. Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson are young, have great size and have good to great hands. But are they essentially the same type of player? That's not a bad thing, but in a three-receiver offense, you need your go-to guy (Boldin), possession receiver (Fitzgerald) and a deep threat. Johnson, who reportedly ran 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash entering the 2003 draft, has yet to show that he can fill that spot in the offense. --Arizona Republic - NFL Football -

Individually, Chad Johnson has reached the NFL's summit with three straight 1,000-yard seasons and two straight Pro Bowl trips. Now his sights are set on the Mount Everest of daytime television -- "The Oprah Winfrey Show." "I've been watching her all my life. My mom watches her. My grandma watches her. What she's accomplished, there aren't even words for it. That's what I'm trying to do, but in my own way. She networks real well. I don't have that network ability, so I need that networking person who can help me out in whatever way possible because I don't get that here. All I get here is football. So Oprah, call me." - NFL Football -
Dayton Daily News

2005-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

NFL going international
Regular-season game in Mexico just the start

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- The NFL emphasized Friday that its first regular-season game abroad this year may be just the start of a broader international push.
The league "is going to look at all of the markets that have indicated an interest in doing this around the world: several in Europe, Canada, Asia," Roger Goodell, the league's executive vice president, said at a news conference to talk about the Oct. 2 game between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, the first regular-season contest outside the United States.
Goodell re-emphasized what commissioner Paul Tagliabue said when he announced the project: that if the game here between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers is a success, the league might "look to play an international game, maybe on an annual basis, and rotate that around to some of the markets that have an interest globally." - NFL Football -
But the league wants to know first how the game goes in North America's largest metropolis, one that has hosted five NFL preseason games. The first of those set a league attendance record of 112,376 in 1994 when the Dallas Cowboys met the Houston Oilers. - NFL Football -
Attendance this year can't top 105,000 because of modifications since then to Azteca Stadium.
The stadium's 7,200-foot altitude has helped make Azteca difficult for visiting soccer teams, including the U.S. national team in games against Mexico. In this case, San Francisco safety Tony Parrish said: "The altitude is going to affect both teams the same."
Goodell said the league will have to cope with teams' home-game stadium commitments. "We do the scheduling and most of the leases recognize that," he said, but acknowledged, "those will be issues we'll have to address as we look to how we expand this series if we find that this is the right way to do it." - NFL Football -
Mexico was chosen for the first game partly because it has the largest NFL fan base outside of the United States and regularly televised games have created loyal fans of the Cowboys, 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers, among others.
The country also has a national collegiate league and the NFL sponsors a national touch football series for youths. - NFL Football -
The Cardinals are the home team, in part because they stand to lose little from their home gate. The team, which is moving into a modern new stadium last year, often is lucky to fill half the seats at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., its home field. - NFL Football -
Associated Press.

2005-07-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Heisman by Brandon MellorJuly 11, 2005

What would you think if you saw a commercial on TV that showed an actor playing a college football player that lines up at the wide receiver spot, makes a quick move off the line of scrimmage, spins past two defenders and makes a miraculous catch, all while glimpses of a video game flashed periodically through the video?
No doubt you would think it's a pretty cool commercial if you are any kind of college football fan.
Now what if I told you that the wide receiver in the commercial was donning the garnet and gold uniform of the Florida State Seminoles and the war chant was playing in the background? What if I told you that in addition to periodically flashing glimpses of a videogame, it also showed glimpses of tomahawks beings placed on a gold FSU helmet? And then what if I told you that the periodically glimpsed at videogame was the newest in the great line of EA Sports' college football series, NCAA Football 2006? And finally, what if I told you that in this given commercial, there's a voice over ideally in sync with the action of the footage that says: "Hello fear. Hello guts. Hello passion. Hello double team. Hello highlight reel. Hello Heisman."
Well, if you are anything like me, you would think it is hands down, bar none, without a doubt the greatest/coolest/best commercial in the history of the universe.
And so, my obsession with EA Sports video games -- namely (I mean only) the NCAA football series and the Madden NFL series -- has grown to an all-time high thanks to this unbelievably flattering piece of marketing that they have bestowed upon this world and my university.
Now we are not talking about a healthy obsession like the one I have with Carmen Electra, for instance (ladies, all you Carmen look-a-likes contact me ASAP), but an obsession that has me counting down the days until this year's game comes out -- thank the good Lord up above that it's this Tuesday July 12.
It's an obsession that had me driving around Tallahassee Friday, seeing if I could work my charm on helpless store clerks to persuade them to sell me the game early -- sadly it didn't work. Yeah, I know that it's pathetic but I have to feed the need.
So as I continue to count down the hours until the game comes out, I can only sit and watch the commercial over and over again via the remarkable entity that is the Internet. Any company that can do FSU justice like that and combine my two obsessions (this game and FSU football) deserves my money, but alas they were already going to get it anyway. Schoolwork beware, you are about to be neglected.

Brandon Mellor

2005-07-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Trey, try again
Rookie escaped from obscurity by training hard

As he prepares to make his CFL debut, Trey Young has thought plenty of the man who helped keep his football dreams alive. - NFL Football -
Yet the coach Young has in mind has nothing to do with football.
After graduating from the University of Montana in 2002, Young's playing options were limited by his size. The Calgary Stampeders linebacker took a job in public relations at the university and kept working out on campus in hopes of catching a break.
It was there assistant track coach Brian Schweyen offered to teach Young the finer points of running. - NFL Football -
The 25-year-old learned how to break off the ball, change direction and fly to an open spot on the field.
Since coming to Calgary as a free agent, Young has impressed Stamps defensive co-ordinator Denny Creehan with his quickness.
"Brian kept me going, just being out there with him," said Young, who will play linebacker tomorrow against Winnipeg in place of George White, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
"He would have me doing sprints on the track and then come in and do some field work. It was just me but the motivation was there to have somebody help out.
"At first, I was doing all my training on my own. He saw me in the gym and said, 'Hey Trey, I'll help you out.' - NFL Football -
"I said, 'Is it free? I can't afford you now.' It worked out well. I told him I would look out for him once I got a real cheque. I'm happy here and this is a great chance."
Young had an impressive college stint at Montana, winning the Div. I-AA national title in 2001 and following that up by being named Big Sky Conference MVP and Grizzlies top defensive player the next season.
His smaller stature -- generously listed at 6 ft., 210 lb. -- had NFL scouts looking past him.
Creehan isn't worried one bit about throwing Young into his complicated defence.
"He's young and there will be some growing pains but if you saw him in the Saskatchewan exhibition game, as soon as he went in, he picked up an interception, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery," said Creehan. "He's really a good player, very talented."
GET OUT THE WALLET: Getting the starting nod against Winnipeg is a costly move for OL Godfrey Ellis. The Stampeders offensive line has instituted a fine system every time one of their names appears in the media. - NFL Football -
Being quoted by the media costs you $5, while a photo is worth the same. The fines could be waived if the player isn't talking about himself but that hasn't happened with Ellis, who's receiving plenty of press about his first CFL start in replacing left tackle Alexandre Gauthier.
Head coach Tom Higgins likes the idea of the lineman having some fun.
"This is costly for Godfrey," Higgins said. "It's in jest and it's not big dollars but someone like him who's not making a lot of money, this will hurt."
Fellow rookie John Comiskey will dress in the roster spot for Gauthier. Just so we don't play favourites, the other o-linemen playing this week are Jamie Crysdale, Jay McNeil, Jeff Pilon, Taylor Robertson and David De La Perralle. - NFL Football -
FIELD GOALS: DL Demetrious Maxie was named lineman of the week for recording two sacks against Toronto ... Ottawa QB Kerry Joseph and Toronto LB Michael Fletcher were the top offensive and defensive players, respectively ... RB Ronney Jenkins (hamstring) is iffy for tomorrow's game. If he can't go, expect Tony Stallings to get the call. CB Ben Kelly (hamstring) is out and Jacoby Shepherd will take his roster spot.

IAN BUSBY

Calgary Sun

2005-06-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

NFL Player Robbed At Gunpoint In Local Neighborhood

A member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002 Super Bowl championship team was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night while visiting family in Detroit, Local 4 reported.

Dwight Smith, a 26-year-old defensive back, now with the New Orleans Saints, had just returned from a market to a home in the 15000 block of Quincy Street on the city's west side when the incident occurred.

Police said a car pulled up in front of the home at about 11 p.m. while Smith and several others, including children, were on the porch and in the yard.

A man exited the vehicle with an assault rifle and ordered Smith to remove his jewelry, according to police.

"A car came speeding down the street. He opened up the door while the car was still moving and he got out the car with a gun and he pointed a gun at Dwight," said a witness, who asked to remain anonymous.

The witness told the station that Smith removed two chains from his neck, a watch and a bracelet and placed it on the ground.

The man then told a woman who was in the car to pick up the jewelry from the ground. The two fled the scene with about $100,000 in jewelry and $4,000 in cash, police said.

Smith has returned to Florida while witnesses continue to assist police with the investigation, the station reported.

Nfl Fantasy Football

2005-06-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Symposium to prepare rookies for NFL life

On June 26, the NFL will kick off its ninth annual Rookie Symposium. The four-day orientation will introduce the 2005 NFL Draft class to life in the NFL before the rookies report to training camps.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (June 24, 2005) -- On June 26, the NFL will kick off its ninth annual Rookie Symposium. The four-day orientation will introduce the 2005 NFL Draft class to life in the NFL before the rookies report to training camps.
The program will include presentations, videos and workshops about the operation of the NFL and the challenges its players face. Interactive video learning -- during which each rookie uses a hand-held device to answer questions about the day's themes -- will be used again this year.
"This helps the rookies get off to a good start with regard to the new lifestyle they are about to enter," said NFL vice president of player and employee development Michael Haynes, a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback. "The lessons learned at the Rookie Symposium help players develop personal and professional goals that will sustain them during and beyond their playing careers."
The symposium's agenda consists of topics such as personal finance, life skills, personal conduct, life as a rookie, media policy, substances of abuse, personal experiences, family issues, player development, football operations, NFL security, success in the NFL and life after football.
Speakers this June will include members of the NFL league office and clubs, the NFL Players Association, professionals in specialized fields, and current and former NFL players who have experienced first hand the difficulties inherent in some of the topics covered.
The rookies also will take part in the third annual NFL Youth Football Clinic at the Symposium on the second morning in West Palm Beach. At this event last year, the rookies tutored and ran through drills with 200 local area youths.