Nfl Football - Football Betting

2005-11-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

Westbrook's new deal worth nearly $25M extension
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Updated: Nov. 7, 2005, 1:52 AM ET

While the acrimony between recalcitrant wide receiver Terrell Owens and the Eagles continues, Philadelphia has made peace with one of its other star offensive performers.--football gambling--The Eagles on Sunday signed running back Brian Westbrook to a five-year contract extension that runs through the 2010 season and is worth slightly less than $25 million. It includes bonuses between $9 million and $10 million. This spring, Westbrook signed a one-year restricted free agent qualifying offer for $1.43 million. --football gambling--

"I'm glad to have an opportunity to continue my career in Philadelphia," Westbrook said in a statement Sunday. "I've worked very hard to put myself in a position to receive a long-term contract and I'm glad the Eagles have recognized my talents and dedication to this team." --football gambling--

Without the extension, Westbrook would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season. In what is projected as a very lean free agent pool, Westbrook might have been one of the most coveted players in the market. --football gambling--

"As I've said many times before, Brian is a big part of this offense and a big part of this team as a representative on and off the football field," coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "I really believe both the player and the team benefit from each other." --football gambling--

Securing Westbrook, who is clearly a key to the Eagles' offense, has been a priority for team president Joe Banner. But until recently, the numbers were not right, and the sides had a difficult time defining the financial market for a player who is not the prototype franchise-type running back. --football gambling--

A sticking point in negotiations had been Westbrook's compensation over the first three seasons of the deal, valued at $16 million. The Eagles had been offering $7 million to sign and $14 million over three. "In the end, we are happy that we were able to secure a contract that keeps Brian in Philadelphia and rewards him for his outstanding contributions to the Eagles organization," said Westbrook's agent, Fletcher Smith, who, along with CSMG partner Kennard McGuire, has negotiated major deals in the past year for Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, Rams left tackle Orlando Pace, and Jaguars defensive end Reggie Hayward totalling more than $37 million. --football gambling--

The contract will be forwarded to the league office Monday, which is the NFL's deadline for being able to push much of the salary cap impact into this year. Philadelphia, which entered the weekend about $10 million under the cap, has plenty of room to spare. --football gambling--

Arguably the NFL's top salary cap manager, Banner is adroit at such in-season extensions. And because he almost always assures the Eagles have sufficient cap room to complete such extensions, they have become an annual event, it seems. Talks with Westbrook have been ongoing and were ratcheted up in recent days. --football gambling--

Westbrook, 26, has been the subject of much scrutiny in Philadelphia because the feeling is that he has not gotten enough carries in an Eagles offense heavily skewed toward the pass. Two weeks ago, the former Villanova standout publicly acknowledged that the team needed to lean more on the running game, and that he needed more "touches" in general. --football gambling--

ick in the 2002 draft, Westbrook is regarded as one of the NFL's premier all-around backs. He began his career primarily as a return man and third-down back, but became the full-time starter in 2004. --football gambling--

In 50 appearances, including 30 starts, Wesbrook has carried 418 times for 1,922 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 158 receptions for 1,544 yards and 11 scores. Westbrook has 78 carries for 304 yards and one touchdown in seven games this season, along with 39 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns. --football gambling--

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here . Michael Smith contributed to this report.--football gambling--

2005-11-02T09:56:00.000-08:00

Jones: No time for Saints decision

Cowboys owner says other problems take precedent

"We have to address the basic situation for the people of New Orleans and the conditions there," the Dallas Cowboys' owner said Tuesday. "There's no solution today that's acceptable." -NFL Football-

The Saints have been based in San Antonio since being driven from New Orleans in late August by Hurricane Katrina. They have been practiced in San Antonio and played some home games there at the Alamodome and in Baton Rouge, La. -NFL Football-

Their "home opener" was played at the home of their opponent, the New York Giants. -NFL Football-

Saints owner Tom Benson has not commented on the team's future. -NFL Football-

The team has a contract to play at the Superdome through 2010, but could opt out by Nov. 29 under certain conditions. The building was badly damaged by Katrina. -NFL Football-

But there have been reports Benson would like to move the team to San Antonio and has been talking to city officials there. He also fired executive vice president Arnold Fielkow, an outspoken proponent of keeping the team in New Orleans. -NFL Football-

On Monday, commissioner Paul Tagliabue attempted to quash the San Antonio talk. -NFL Football-

"The Saints are Louisiana's team and have been since the late '60s when my predecessor Pete Rozelle welcomed them to the league as New Orleans' team and Louisiana's team," Tagliabue said. "Our focus continues to be on having the Saints in Louisiana." -NFL Football-

Jones, in New York to introduce Sheryl Crow as the halftime entertainer for the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day game, said he would have no objection to an NFL team in San Antonio even though Texas already has teams in Dallas and Houston. The Cowboys have a strong fan base in San Antonio and trained there in the past. -NFL Football-

But he emphasized that he's not pushing for it. -NFL Football-

"Football has been an inspiration to people who have other troubles," Jones said. "There are problems throughout New Orleans and Louisiana. We owe to those people not to take football from them." -NFL Football-

2005-10-31T12:14:00.000-08:00

Q&A with John Feinstein: What Really Goes on Inside the NFL

October 31, 2005

For his new book, Next Man Up, John Feinstein persuaded the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens to give him unfettered access to all aspects of the team, from executive management down to towel-boys. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Feinstein. "For as long as I can remember, the National Football League has had an aura around it," he writes, describing the boundless enthusiasm for football that prompted him, as a child, to spend all of Super Bowl III pacing back and forth in front of the television. More recent evidence of the passion Feinstein brings to his work came last month during a radio broadcast of a Naval Academy football game. Feinstein, who had been a color commentator with Navy for nine years, reacted to a non-call by officials with a decidedly un-journalistic exclamation: "Fucking referees!" Shocked by his own words, he immediately took himself off the air, offered to resign (Navy refused) and went back on to apologize to viewers. -NFL Football-

The upfront style with which Feinstein handled the gaff—winning him praise from fellow journalists and allowing him to resume his job—also comes through in his books. The sportswriter made his name with A Season on the Brink, a behind-the-scenes account of the Indiana Hoosiers' 1985-86 season that provoked a harsh reaction from fiery head coach Bobby Knight, and has since not shied away from treating his subjects honestly. It is a quality, he says, that renders figures like Knight more sympathetic, whether they like it or not. It also sells books: Season on the Brink began with an initial run of 17,500 and has sold over a million copies to date. -NFL Football-

We spoke with Feinstein about the difficulties of keeping one's emotions out of the public eye and asked him what he'd learned from getting an inside look at a company as secretive as the NFL. -NFL Football-

The Book Standard: Your comment during the Duke-Navy game is something lots of fans were probably thinking. Does that make you feel any better about it? -NFL Football-

John Feinstein: Saying that was inexcusable. It was one of those out-of-body experiences, where you look around and think, "Who said that?" And everybody in the booth was staring at me. When you're on the radio, frustration is for fans. I was frustrated about a lot of things that day, but there's no excuse for what I did. It's not like it was my first time on live radio. -NFL Football-

TBS: You've now written several books in which you become very intimate with a team. Is it hard to remain objective when you are so close to your sources for such a long period of time? -NFL Football-

JF: I try to look at myself as an outsider on the inside. That was the view I took with Season on the Brink. It would be a lie to say you remain completely detached. Regardless of the subject, you bring some kind of bias to it and you need to be aware of your biases to be fair. The irony of Season on the Brink and Knight's reaction, was that if I'd just written him a love letter, the book would have sold 12 copies in Indiana and that would have been it. But because [I] showed both sides of him, it gave the book credibility—but it also gave Knight credibility. -NFL Football-

TBS: How did you end up doing this project? -NFL Football-

JF: I really wanted to do [a book on the] NFL at some point because it is such a cultural monolith in our country. I could have gotten a media credential and shown up all over the country, and gone right through until the Super Bowl. But because there is such limited access for the regular media I didn't think I could have discovered much more than someone reading a daily newspaper. -NFL Football-

TBS: Why is the NFL so secretive? -NFL Football-

JF: Because they can be. I'm not saying that to be a wise-guy. When one coach says, "No one can talk to my [assistant coaches]," and he’s successful, then everybody copies that. -NFL Football-

TBS: Is it just an extremely well-run business? -NFL Football-

JF: The NFL is run with cut-throat efficiency. You have these guys signed to make sure players' socks aren't too high; or that the towels aren’t too long; or that they’re wearing the right color shoes; or that everyone is going to get in line, and say the same things, and do the same things and sound alike. -NFL Football-

TBS: In discussing the NFL’s clout in the book, you mention that ESPN’s Playmakers, a racy TV drama about players' off-the-field lives, was taken off the air at the league's request. Having lived through a season with real NFL players, can you tell us if Playmakers is accurate? -NFL Football-

JF: It's accurate in the sense that everything portrayed has happened at one time or another, not just in the NFL but in all of professional sports. Do professional athletes womanize? Yes. Do professional athletes use drugs? Yes. Do professional athletes sometimes hit their wives? Yes. Do professional athletes sometimes get women knocked up? Yes. But that happens in society too. If I had been [running] the NFL I wouldn't have blinked at it. But the NFL wants you to believe that players spend their entire careers doing United Way commercials and digging people out from the rubble of New Orleans. -NFL Football-

TBS: Ray Lewis, one of the Raven's stars, went on trial for murder several years before you began the book. Why do you think the team stood by Lewis (who was eventually acquitted of all but an obstruction of justice charge) when the accusations were so serious? -NFL Football-

JF: My sense is that the people who run the team believed that Ray did not commit murder, and that was one reason why it wasn't hard for them to stand behind him. And as happens with every great athlete in every city, the people are going to stand behind him unless there's video evidence. But what resuscitated Ray is that he is such a great football player. He came back and continued to build his legacy as a linebacker. He is absolutely the unquestioned leader of that football team. -NFL Football-

TBS: Out of all your sources—players and management—who was your favorite? -NFL Football-

JF: Frequently the people I tend to get close to aren’t the big starts. For some reason, in football I have always gotten along well with offensive lineman. -NFL Football-

TBS: Why offensive linemen? -NFL Football-

JF: Maybe because what they do is so unglamorous. The only time they get noticed is if they get called for a penalty or give up a sack, and I think it gives them a different approach to the game. They’re not doing it for the glory, because there is no glory.

2005-10-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

NFL Moves Chiefs-Dolphins Game to Friday Night
Officials Look to Beat Hurricane Wilma's Arrival in Florida
NEW YORK (Oct. 20) - --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs was rescheduled to Friday night to beat Hurricane Wilma's arrival in Florida.The game will begin at 7 p.m. Friday instead of Sunday afternoon, which is about when Wilma is expected to hit Florida's southwestern coast.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said broadcast and television details were being worked out.--- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
It's the third time since the start of the 2004 season that the Dolphins have rescheduled a home game because of a looming hurricane. Last year's home opener against Tennessee was played a day early because of Hurricane Ivan, and the Dolphins' Week 3 game with Pittsburgh was pushed back 7 1/2 hours by Hurricane Jeanne.--- nfl ---
--- nfl ---

2005-10-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

Jags get LB Winborn in trade with 49ers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 7, 2005) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired linebacker Jamie Winborn from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.

Winborn started two of the 49ers' three games this season and had 13 tackles and a pass deflection. Last week, Winborn cleaned out his locker and left the team after coach Mike Nolan abruptly announced plans to trade him. Winborn had lost his job to converted defensive end Andre Carter. - NFL Football -

In four-plus years with San Francisco, Winborn had 156 tackles, nine sacks and three interceptions. - NFL Football -

The Jaguars released defensive tackle Martin Chase to make room for Winborn.

"It was an opportunity to acquire a linebacker who's a good player and fits our system," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "It wasn't anything that was too costly or too difficult to pull off."

Del Rio wouldn't commit to Winborn becoming a starter when he begins workouts with the Jaguars next week, but said he would get a spot with the club's special teams.

"We see him as a guy who's played well, has started, so he has experience, has speed and can help us on (special) teams," Del Rio said. "We'll let him grow into a role." - NFL Football -

2005-09-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

Chargers O-line takes blame

Everybody’s trying to figure out what happened to the San Diego offense that bulldozed through the league last year, but can’t seem to produce more than a cloud of dust this season. The Chargers’ offensive line know where to point the finger.

”We take full responsibility for (them) touching our quarterback and not giving [LaDainian Tomlinson] enough chances to do what he can do once he gets past the line of scrimmage. I think we failed in that regard,” said tackle Roman Oben. - NFL Football -

It won’t be easy to improve up front with left guard Toniu Fonoti out for at least a week after undergoing surgery to repair his broken hand. Fonoti played with a cast last Sunday against Denver, but he was pulled out in the fourth quarter because of ineffective play. It could be a telling statistic that San Diego put up 14 points in the first half and only three in the second, as Fonoti’s injury worsened. He will be replaced by Kris Dielman, a third-year converted defensive lineman.

It’s been a long time

They aren’t accustomed to wearing the collar, but when oddsmakers label the Patriots as underdogs, they usually make it pay. New England goes to Pittsburgh today as a rare 3-point dog, the first time they’ve been on the receiving end of the handicap since November 7 of last year. And you have to go back even further to find the last time the Pats have lost as underdogs. That was the first week of the 2003 season, when they were blown out in Buffalo as 1 ½-point dogs. - NFL Football -

The defending Super Bowl champs are 5-0-1 as underdogs since that loss in Buffalo, but they will have problems keeping that streak alive against a tough Steelers defense. New England’s normally balanced offense hasn’t been able to get the run working this season. They ran it only 16 times last week in the loss to Carolina for a miserable 39 yards.

”We`ve got to find a way to run the ball better and obviously when we pass it, we need to execute better in the passing game, which is the role and responsibility of everyone on the offense,” says a still-confident Tom Brady. “It starts with me. That`s where I like it.”

Happy, but hurting, together

To quote use a euphemism from Forest Gump, Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens are “like peas and carrots” again. They’re hooking up for big plays on the field and talking and laughing on the sidelines – unfortunately for anyone who took the Eagles –8 against the Raiders, they also took a trip to the doctor’s office together. Both players missed Wednesday’s practice with injuries – McNabb with a bruised chest and a strained groin and Owens with an abdominal/groin injury – but they put the pads on again on Thursday. McNabb says he and his No. 1 receiver will play today, but he isn’t sure if the injuries will slow him down. - NFL Football -

"I`d love to say no, but I don`t know personally," he said. "Not to say that I was favoring my chest or favoring one side of my body or whatever, but when you`re in the game, you pretty much just go all-out. You just give all that you have, energywise, throwing your body around, whatever it may be to help the team win. And it was a game we definitely needed. I gave all that I had. You come out a little sore, but you rest up and get ready for this game."

Another significant Eagles casualty from last week’s game was place kicker David Akers. He hurt his hamstring during a kickoff and had to sit out most of the second half, while linebacker Mark Simoneau. The Eagles don’t yet know if Akers will be ready to go for today, but they’ve enlisted professional help if he is not. They signed Todd France to the practice squad this week, a kicker who’s been through fourNFL training camps and two seasons in Europe, but never seen the field in a regular season game. - NFL Football -

2005-09-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

Brunell will start for Redskins in Week 2

ASHBURN, Va. (Sept. 12, 2005) -- Mark Brunell will start for the Washington Redskins on Sept. 19 against the Dallas Cowboys, retaking the quarterback job from Patrick Ramsey.

Brunell came in to lead a season-opening victory against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11.

Coach Joe Gibbs had prepared for nearly a year for Ramsey to be the 2005 starter, but the coach changed his mind after Ramsey was intercepted once and fumbled twice against the Bears before leaving with a mild neck injury. - NFL Football -

"This is something that is extremely hard," Gibbs said. "You don't like doing this. I don't. Sometimes you don't chart the circumstances or what happens -- it just happens. Certainly it wasn't the plan I had going in, but sometimes plans change, and I think you do the best you can in dealing with it." - NFL Football -

Brunell was the opening-day starter last year after winning a training camp competition over Ramsey, but he had the worst season of his career with stats that ranked near the bottom of the league. Brunell, who signed a seven-year contract after being traded from Jacksonville, was booed heartily and replaced with Ramsey in the ninth game. A few weeks later, Gibbs said Ramsey would be the 2005 starter.

But the 35-year-old Brunell appeared rejuvenated during training camp this year, outperforming Ramsey in all four preseason games and giving Gibbs confidence to make the switch.

"I know a lot of people would disagree with this, and I understand that," Gibbs said. "For me, personally, I felt like it was a decision that I had to make. I think we've got a situation where two quarterbacks can win ball games for us. ... I know this is something that Patrick doesn't agree with -- he's a very competitive guy -- but it's something we're going to have to work through."

Ramsey left the 9-7 victory with a sprained neck when he was hit by linebacker Lance Briggs on a blitz in the second quarter. Ramsey was well enough to return at halftime, but Gibbs stuck with Brunell for the rest of the game. - NFL Football -

Ramsey and Brunell had similar stats for the game -- with one huge exception: Brunell led three scoring drives, while Ramsey led three drives that stalled with either a fumble or an interception. Gibbs has shown little tolerance for turnovers this season, something he backed up Sept. 11 by yanking Antonio Brown as the kickoff returner after Brown fumbled the opening kick of the second half.

Ramsey completed 6 of 11 passes for 105 yards, but his first drive ended with an overthrow that was picked off by Nathan Vasher. Ramsey fumbled on third down on his second drive, but teammate Jon Jansen recovered to turn a potential turnover into a punting situation. On his third series, Ramsey understandably lost the ball when Briggs popped him. Still, Ramsey's 52-yard completion to Santana Moss was longer than any pass play the team had all of last season. - NFL Football -

Brunell was 8-for-14 for 70 yards, more methodical and mistake-free. His biggest play was a 36-yard pass-interference penalty that negated an interception. He led drives of 43, 47 and 63 yards, but they ended in field goals instead of touchdowns.

A quarterback controversy always seems inevitable on a team that produced Sonny Jurgensen vs. Billy Kilmer, Jay Schroeder vs. Doug Williams and Heath Shuler vs. Gus Frerotte. But no one expected the issue to come to a head after only one game. - NFL Football -

It turns out Ramsey was injured just enough to open the door for Brunell's return.

"Mark did the thing that a backup is supposed to do -- go in and play well and keep himself on the coach's mind," guard Ray Brown said.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2005, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

2005-09-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Patriots` drive for three is overshadowed by player death, Saints` travails
Associated Press

This should be a glorious year for the NFL.

So far, it`s been anything but.

The death of San Francisco`s Thomas Herrion after an exhibition game in Denver on Aug. 20 put football in perspective. So did Hurricane Katrina, which drove theSaints from New Orleans and left them, for the time being, in San Antonio, Texas, looking for a place to play. Their ``home opener`` against the Giants will be played in Giants Stadium.

That perspective was lacking for most of a preseason dominated by the squabble between Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles, a sideshow that took up so much attention it annoyed everyone from commissioner Paul Tagliabue to Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis.

Then Herrion, a backup offensive lineman trying to make the 49ers, collapsed and died after that preseason game, a far more somber moment for theNFL than Owens` predictably erratic behavior.

Finally came the hurricane, which drove the Saints out of town to eventually settle in San Antonio, although where they will play this season remained a question. Tagliabue conceded that they probably won`t get back to New Orleans this season, but also pointed out that the loss of life and rescue efforts are far more important thanfootball - the league donated $1 million to relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the season will indeed start on schedule.

What it will likely be about is:

- The New England Patriots, perhaps the best constructed team in any sport, seeking to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.

- Glamorous stars in their prime: Manning, Tom Brady, Julius Peppers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ed Reed, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper.

- Veteran stars (Brett Favre, Lewis, Priest Holmes, Curtis Martin, Michael Strahan) and rising stars (Antonio Gates, Ben Roethlisberger, Jonathan Vilma). One veteran who tried to keep going, 42-year-old Jerry Rice, retired just before the start of the season after spending training camp with Denver. He quit after 20 years with 38NFL receiving records.

- Key players coming off injuries or absences such as Titans QB Steve McNair, Jets QB Chad Pennington and Miami RB Ricky Williams. Or big names in new locales: Randy Moss in Oakland, Kurt Warner in Arizona and even 42-year-old Doug Flutie returning to New England.

- A league at the top of the sports world with a new multibillion dollar television contract already complete and, perhaps soon, an extension to the labor deal. That`s in contrast to the problems of other leagues: steroids, strikes, declining television ratings.

- The promise of intriguing rookies, ranging from San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith, the first player taken in last April`s draft, all the way down to a fourth-rounder, Brandon Jacobs, a 260-pound running back for the New York Giants who has been brilliant in the preseason.

Still, all that has been almost totally ignored. Even the Patriots seem just an afterthought to a lot of media outlets, most prominently a certain cable sports network where it`s all T.O. all the time - with daily up-to-the-minute reports on Owens, who has monopolized the airwaves since his heroic performance in the Super Bowl nearly helped the Eagles overcome the Patriots. He wants a new contract; he`s criticizing McNabb, he`s in camp, he`s out of camp, he`s defying his coaches ...

But New England`s Richard Seymour, Pittsburgh`s Hines Ward, San Diego`s Gates, the New York Jets` John Abraham and Green Bay`s Bubba Franks also were camp holdouts, and hardly anybody knew about it.

Gates agreed to a six-year contract after he was put on an NFL suspension list by the Chargers, meaning he will miss the season opener - a screwup of major proportions by both the player or his agent and the team.

But always the spotlight got back to T.O.

``It has as much effect on the league as a summer firefly will be gone this September,`` Tagliabue says, perhaps in frustration with what has become the ultimate media circus.

Still, T.O. has overshadowed what has seemed to be overwhelming interest in the NFL in the preseason: 60,000 fans in Green Bay for a scrimmage between the Bills and the Packers; 18,000 more in Foxborough for an evening workout by the Patriots (and yes, the Red Sox were playing that night); a capacity 4,000 fans in the stadium in Mankato, Minn., for Vikings scrimmages; an average of 1,300 for Bills scrimmages in Rochester, N.Y.; 7,000 fans in Thousand Oaks, Calif., on the opening day of Dallas` camp there.

``There are soldiers fighting in Iraq right now that love the game of football,`` Lewis said. ``They don`t want to turn the TV on every day and listen to the Philadelphia Eagles and Terrell Owens` saga. We`re covering the Philadelphia Eagles more than we`re covering the New England Patriots and they`re the Super Bowl champions.``

Indeed they are, with a team that apart from Brady and Seymour seems able to plug in interchangeable parts and win. If they do it again, they become the first to win four Super Bowls in five seasons.

They won`t talk about it, of course. Coach Bill Belichick won`t allow it, to the point that the most innocent allusion to three straight by Brady early in camp was excised from the transcript of his chat with reporters.

Nor will it be easy.

In the offseason, the Patriots lost both coordinators to head coaching jobs: Charlie Weis (offense) to Notre Dame, Romeo Crennel (defense) to the Cleveland Browns. That`s the normal reward/penalty for winning, and it leaves a void.

``It`s not the same camp without Charlie yelling at us,`` jokes wide receiver Deion Branch, the MVP of last February`s 24-21 Super Bowl win over the Eagles.

But replacing them may not be a joke. The offensive game planning has been taken over by a four- or five-man group headed by Belichick, a defensive specialist, and including Brady, who could be one of the few QBs of the modern era to call his own plays.

More important could be the absence of linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who suffered a mild stroke shortly after the Super Bowl and has decided to sit out the season. His loss was compounded when Ted Johnson, the other inside linebacker, retired after a series of concussions.

For now, that leaves a key component of the 3-4 defense in the hands of journeyman Monte Beisel and 35-year-old injury-prone former Pro Bowler Chad Brown, who has played outside most of his career.

Challengers to the Pats?

Buffalo and the New York Jets could be contenders in the AFC East, although the Bills will go at quarterback with J.P. Losman, who threw all of five passes as a rookie last season. Jets QB Pennington is coming back from rotator cuff surgery on his throwing arm.

Pittsburgh was 15-1 last season, but lost at home to the Patriots in the conference title game.

The Steelers won`t win 15 again as teams try to exploit some of the inexperience Roethlisberger showed in the playoffs after going 13-0 in the regular season. Baltimore, with Lewis seemingly revived in the return to a 4-3 defense, should challenge the Steelers in the North, and Cincinnati is improving slowly.

Indianapolis, with Peyton Manning coming off a record 49 touchdown passes, is the heavy favorite in the South.

They became even more dangerous when they signed defensive tackle Corey Simon, let go by Philadelphia after he declined to sign a franchise tender (Owens beware - the Eagles have no fear of letting go high-provile players). Simon will join Dwight Freeney as an impact player on a defense that has suffered in the past because most of the team`s salary cap allotment has gone to offense.

The other problem is beating the Patriots, The Colts, who play indoors, have been knocked out of the playoffs in Foxborough the last two seasons and have lost six straight to New England and 10 of 12 since Manning has been the quarterback.

San Diego, a surprise 12-4 last season, probably won`t do that again in an improved AFC West, where Oakland has added Randy Moss from Minnesota, which tired of his antics. The Chargers also will be without Gates for the first game because they suspended him and reported it to the league a day before he ended his holdout.

The NFC once again seems to have far fewer good teams.

The Eagles are the class of the NFC despite the Owens saga: his holdout, his exile from camp after an argument with coach Andy Reid, and his silent return. But look for Carolina and Peppers, which reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago, to rebound from a spate of injuries to compete with Michael Vick and Atlanta in the South.

Minnesota looks like the class of the North, with Green Bay and Favre fading and Detroit rising. The Vikings might, in fact, benefit by the trade that shipped Moss to Oakland - addition by subtraction, especially in chemistry.

The West, won by Seattle at 9-7 last season, again looks like a fight among the average: the Seahawks, St. Louis and an improved Arizona, with San Francisco at the bottom.

In fact, the bottom is where the three new coaches are - that`s why they got their jobs.

The 49ers, with Mike Nolan taking over, will start a rebuilding job. The Browns now have Crennel, who has been cleaning house, and Miami hired former LSU coach Nick Saban and welcomed back Williams, who sat out last season and will have to sit out the first four games this year for a drug suspension.

Still, this is the NFL and one key injury can change every prediction.

Except the fact that T.O. will do something to grab attention again.

``We take it day to day,`` Eagles safety Brian Dawkins acknowledged the day the cantankerous receiver returned to practice. Who knows what will happen any time - now, next week, before Game 5?``

``I just wish the best for him, that he can somehow get it together and understand life,`` says Deion Sanders, still working as a nickel back for Baltimore. ``He`s a good guy.``

A lot of people might thing otherwise. Starting with Andy Reid.

2005-08-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Rams in Midseason Form With Win Over Lions

LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

DETROIT -- While the St. Louis Rams were in midseason form, the Detroit Lions were in a funk. Marc Bulger accounted for two touchdowns, Isaac Bruce had 85 yards receiving and a score, and Steven Jackson ran for 108 yards and a TD to lead St. Louis to a 37-13 exhibition victory over Detroit on Monday night. - College Football -

"It's time to go now," St. Louis coach Mike Martz said. "It's time to get ready to play the season."

Bulger said the Rams had a game plan for the first time this month.

"We treated this like a regular-season game," Bulger said. "Whether they did or not, who knows?"

The Lions took the game seriously, but seemed to have many of the same problems they've been having. - College Football -

"There are no excuses for a game like this," Detroit coach Steve Mariucci said. "I thought we were very fired up and ready to go, but it just didn't happen on the field.

"It's alarming."

The game was similar to the last one featuring the Lions on national television in prime time, a 35-0 setback against St. Louis on Oct. 8, 2001.

"It is tough to swallow a game like this, when we had a showcase to show how good we are," said tight end Marcus Pollard, one of Detroit's additions in the offseason.

Detroit has lost an NFL-high 48 games the past four years, while the Rams have been a playoff-caliber team since winning a title. - College Football -

With crisp passing and Jackson's running, the Rams (2-1) led 21-6 at halftime, a score Mariucci said would be important entering the game.

Bulger was 11-of-14 for 167 yards, threw a TD pass and ran for a 7-yard score, untouched on a sneak. Jackson ran for 64 yards on his first of 14 carries, and scored on a 3-yard run. Bruce had five receptions, including a 31-yard TD catch. - College Football -

A pass rush from all angles stifled Detroit's first-string offense, which hasn't scored a TD in three preseason losses.

"I have been saying all along that as long as our offensive line protects the quarterback and the defensive line plays well, this will be a goodfootball team," St. Louis' Torry Holt said. "I think we displayed that."

The Lions' starters finally got into the end zone, but two linemen were called for holding, negating the TD. Detroit ended up settling for Jason Hanson's second field goal late in the first half. - College Football -

Joey Harrington was 9-of-18 for 106 yards, and Kevin Jones had 38 yards rushing on nine carries.

"It was just one of those nights where things kind of piled on top of each other," Harrington said. "We missed blitz pickups, we missed throws and we missed routes. When you get into a funk like that, it's tough to break out."

As impressive as St. Louis was, it was more pleased two of its players appear to be healthy after scares.

Cornerback Terry Fair had full feeling in his extremities and never lost consciousness after spraining his neck when his head struck Jones' thigh on a tackle. - College Football -

Fair, motionless face down on the turf for several minutes, was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field late in the first quarter. As the cart approached the tunnel, the former Lion lifted his right arm and put his thumb up. He was taken to Henry Ford Hospital, where he was to stay overnight.

"We feel very fortunate and blessed it wasn't anything more serious," St. Louis coach Mike Martz said. - College Football -

After jumping offside and blocking an extra point, Lions safety Terrence Holt ran into Jeff Wilkins. The standout kicker limped to the sideline, but was healthy enough to kick field goals later in the game.

Notes:@ St. Louis RB Arlen Harris (concussion) and S Jerome Carter (Achilles strain) left the game. ... Lions SS Kenoy Kennedy (hamstring) and LB James Davis (wrist) were hurt during the game while LB Wali Rainer played despite injuring his back in a traffic accident on the way to the game. ... Detroit LB Teddy Lehman (knee) was inactive for the game and is expected to miss the final preseason game at Buffalo. - College Football -

Associated Press.

2005-08-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

US: Brewers to bid for NFL rights
Source: just-drinks.com editorial team

A bidding war is expected to claim the rights to be the “Official Beer” of the National Football League (NFL) in the US.
Two brewers are thought to be in negotiations with the NFL, the current incumbent Coors and rival Anheuser Busch.
The NFL is reported to be looking for a sponsor for when Coors current contract runs out. Coors Brewing signed a US$300m, five-year deal in 2002. But the contract gives the NFL the option to negotiate for a new sponsor after four seasons.
The winning bidder would hold the to use the NFL shield, playoffs and Super Bowl logos in advertising and promotional efforts.

2005-08-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

NFL Preseason Preview - Philadelphia (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)

A battle for Keystone State pride will be the feature attraction at Heinz Field on Monday night, when the Pittsburgh Steelers play host to the Philadelphia Eagles in the initial preseason outing for both teams. Both the Steelers and Eagles come off terrific seasons that ended with their share of heartbreak. Pittsburgh stormed to an NFL-best 15-1 record during the 2004 regular season, but fell short of their Super Bowl goal with a 41-27 home loss to New England in the AFC Championship. - NFL Football -
Philadelphia reached a bit further, breaking a three-game losing streak in NFC Championship games by taking down the Falcons before falling to the Patriots, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX. In addition to beginning their season on a positive note, Andy Reid's club will be looking to avenge a humiliating 27-3 loss to Pittsburgh during the 2004 regular season. - NFL Football -
The big story for the Eagles won't be the players that are on the field, but the one who isn't, Pro Bowl wideout Terrell Owens. Owens was suspended by the team following a verbal altercation with head coach Andy Reid last Wednesday, and won't return to training camp until Wednesday of this week. Owens has been engaged in a much-publicized contract dispute with the Eagles throughout the offseason. - NFL Football -
Also not in uniform will be Owens'' would-be fellow starting receiver, Todd Pinkston, who was lost for the season to a ruptured Achilles early in training camp. Second-round draft choice Reggie Brown (Georgia), and 2004 backups Greg Lewis and Billy McMullen stand to gain the most from the absences of Owens and Pinkston. Throwing the passes to the wideouts will be Donovan McNabb, who will yield to new backup and former Lion Mike McMahon, followed by longtime backup Koy Detmer. Defensively, Philadelphia will be minus the services of end Jerome McDougle, who was shot during a robbery attempt on the eve of camp and could miss the start of the season. - NFL Football -
Like the Eagles, Pittsburgh will also take the field on Monday without its two starting receivers of 2004. Plaxico Burress signed a free-agent deal with the New York Giants in the offseason, and leading wideout Hines Ward is embroiled in a contract dispute of his own. Former No. 3 receiver Antwaan Randle El and offseason addition Cedrick Wilson, a former 49er, will likely see time with the first unit on Monday. Bill Cowher and company have also suffered at least one significant injury on either side of the ball, with running back Duce Staley and linebacker Joey Porter both out for the next month with knee injuries. Of those that will play, fans will be most eager to see quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who comes off a stellar first season that earned him NFL Rookie of the Year honors. - NFL Football -
Roethlisberger is likely to be followed by veteran Tommy Maddox and third-string candidates Charlie Batch and Brian St. Pierre in the lineup. Staley will be replaced in the backfield by Jerome Bettis, who should see limited action before yielding to backups Verron Haynes, Willie Parker, and rookie Noah Herron (Northwestern).
Philadelphia holds a 16-14-1 edge in the all-time preseason series, with Pittsburgh narrowing the advantage with a 27-21 road victory prior to last season. The Eagles also lead the regular season series, 45-27-3, though Andy Reid's club dropped the last such installment of the rivalry, 27-3, at Heinz Field during the 2004 campaign. - NFL Football -

Tony Moss, NFL Editor
Sports Network

2005-08-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for some football?

"Your life changes in August."
Or so says the promo for "Madden NFL 06," the mega-popular football video game that goes on sale tonight at midnight at several Indianapolis locations.
In its 16th year, the Madden series has sold more than 43 million copies. Last year alone, it sold more than 6 million. - NFL Football -
This year's version promises more emphasis on the quarterback and more unusual passing techniques, said Philip Smith, game adviser at Game Stop on West 86th Street. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb graces the cover.
"I just wish it was Peyton Manning," said Smith. The store's manager, Kevin Walter, said he expects more than 100 people to come in at midnight to snatch up the game. Almost 200 have placed it on reserve. - NFL Football -
The game retails for $49.99.
While you're waiting for midnight to strike, here's some more Madden news: Today is the first day of open registration for the Madden Challenge, a nationwide tournament that pits the best players against the wannabes. The Challenge stops at Castleton Square Mall on Oct. 22.

Candace Johnson

2005-07-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Alex Smith Agrees to $57M Deal With 49ers

Now that Alex Smith has come to terms, look for many other NFL first-round picks to follow suit. Quickly.
The top overall draft choice agreed to terms Monday on a six-year, $57 million deal with the
San Francisco 49ers. The quarterback from Utah will receive a guaranteed $24 million, according to a lawyer familiar with terms of the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity.
That hefty contract will affect the numbers for other first-rounders. The bar has been set.
Next up could be running back Ronnie Brown, chosen just after Smith by the
Miami Dolphins. - NFL Football -
"Our people are doing an outstanding job of trying to get the business end of this done," new Dolphins coach Nick Saban said. "But I think this is a circumstance that we don't have total control on, based on timing."
With training camps opening this week, timing is crucial for the valued rookies. Holdouts generally mean little production from the newcomers in their first NFL seasons.
San Francisco avoided that scenario. Smith, represented by Tom Condon — who also worked out Eli Manning's deal with the Giants as the 2004 first pick — got $4 million more guaranteed money than Manning. Smith's deal is expected to average $8.25 million compared to about $7.5 million for Manning. - NFL Football -
Next up for Smith: challenging Tim Rattay for the starting quarterback job with the 49ers, who finished 2-14 in 2004 and have gone consecutive seasons without making the playoffs for just the second time since 1980.
Smith, who left Utah after his junior season, led the Utes to their first BCS bowl win, a victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. They finished 12-0 and were ranked fourth in The Associated Press poll. - NFL Football -
Two other first-rounders signed Monday: defensive tackle Mike Patterson with Philadelphia, and offensive lineman Logan Mankins with New England. They were the last two players selected in the opening round in April.
While the Dolphins wait for Brown to reach a contract agreement, they welcomed back wandering running back Ricky Williams. - NFL Football -
Greeted with hugs from teammates and cheers from fans at the Dolphins' first training camp practice under new coach Nick Saban, Williams apologized for how he left the team a year ago.
"There were things about life that I wanted to explore outside of football, and I had never had the chance," Williams said. "I realize by making that decision, I affected the team in a negative way and upset a lot of fans. - NFL Football -
"I'm very regretful that people were hurt in the process of me doing that. I do realize that to a lot of people it comes off as being very selfish. So I do offer an apology to all the people who were negatively impacted."
Williams must sit out the first four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. So bringing in Brown is even more critical. - NFL Football -
"He's got to wait until the business part of it gets straightened out," Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor said. "I think everyone understands why he's not here. It's part of the game."
Elsewhere in the NFL on Monday:
• The Cardinals will move their training camp from Flagstaff, Ariz., because of a virus outbreak on the Northern Arizona University campus. No decision had been made on where the camp will be located; players are scheduled to report Sunday. - NFL Football -
"The overwhelming concern obviously was the health and well-being of our team," said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations. "Despite what have been extraordinary efforts on the part of everyone at NAU to accommodate our team, in the end, even the slightest risk of exposure was something we cannot chance."
• Michigan cornerback Marlin Jackson, the Colts' first-round selection, could be close to a deal.
Jackson's agent, Doug Hendrickson, said: "It sounds, from the tone, like they want to get something done and we want to get something done, so we've just got to come together and get a fair deal. I think something will get done." - NFL Football -
Indianapolis expects Jackson to start.
• Less optimistic were the Bears concerning top pick Cedric Benson. The fourth pick in the draft out of Texas, the running back's agent, Eugene Parker, has not spoken with the team since the start of training camp.
"We're certainly on top of this," GM Jerry Angelo said. "We're very motivated to get him into camp. We made a very, very strong offer — something we felt should have gotten it done. Obviously, they didn't think that. We have to respect their side, obviously. We'll just wait and see what the next step is." - NFL Football -
• Previous starter Peerless Price found himself behind second-year wideout Michael Jenkins on the Falcons' depth chart.
When quarterback Michael Vick took the first snap of team drills, Jenkins and Dez White were the starting receivers. Price and Brian Finneran were on the second unit. Top pick Roddy White has not yet signed. - NFL Football -

BARRY WILNER,
AP Football Writer

2005-07-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Athletes working pits of NASCAR

After Bob Dowens finished playing college football, he turned pro. But not in the NFL -- in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Once a defensive back at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Dowens, 28, is now a professional tire carrier in a NASCAR pit crew. At Evernham Motorsports, based near Charlotte, the stock-car racing team for which Dowens works, pit-crew members practice five days a week. A pit coach studies videos to hone their footwork and hand speed. A trainer has them lift weights and run sprints. - NFL Football -
"This is a professional sport as far as I'm concerned," Dowens said recently, drenched in sweat after a morning workout. "It's 95 degrees out, and today we were running an obstacle course. This is as tough as any football practice." - NFL Football -
Years ago, mechanics who worked on race cars during the week simply did double duty on Sundays in the pits. Nobody thought about athletic fitness, and beer bellies were OK. The crew was too busy during the week welding and machining to practice pit stops.
Today, teams like Evernham look increasingly for college athletes whose strength and speed can save precious tenths of a second in a race. One of Dowens' teammates, jack-man Ed Watkins, was a 300-pound offensive lineman at East Carolina University. The Chip Ganassi Racing team's pit crew includes baseball players from Wake Forest University; football players from Wake, the University of Kentucky and UNC Chapel Hill; and a hockey player from Dartmouth.
Top tire-changers -- the guys who air-wrench lug nuts off and on -- can make $100,000 a year. The average at Evernham is about $60,000. Dowens figures he'll be a bit over that, with bonuses, this year. - NFL Football -
Twenty years ago, pit crews were doing pretty well to change four tires in less than 30 seconds. Today, taking more than 16 seconds can be disastrous.
A car going 200 miles per hour covers nearly 300 feet in a second, so a half-second advantage in the pit can put a driver ahead two or three spots. "In our world, two seconds is a lifetime," says Evernham's pit coach, Greg Miller, 33. - NFL Football -
A pit crew consists of seven men: A front-tire changer, another for the rear; front- and rear-tire carriers; a man who jacks the car up, and two gas men with an 11-gallon can.
At Evernham, Miller expects tire changers to remove five lug nuts in 1.2 seconds. The jack man should haul his 25-pound aluminum jack from the car's right side to the left in 3.8 seconds. For tire carriers like Dowens, the key is the time it takes to "index" a 60-pound tire, or get it from resting on the ground to mounted on the car. Seven-tenths of a second is acceptable.
After getting a degree in sociology at Fairleigh Dickinson, in Madison, N.J., in 2001, Dowens started looking for a job. His gridiron abilities caught the eye of Ray Evernham, a NASCAR executive who had just started his own team. He is related to Dowens by marriage and had seen him in action. "Bob was the kind of guy we look for -- strong, fast, mentally tough," Evernham says. - NFL Football -
That brought Dowens under the tutelage of Evernham's coach, Miller. A former fitness trainer with a master's degree in physiology, he thought he could combine his profession with his love of NASCAR and joined a team in 1998. At Evernham, Miller keeps a thick binder with details of every practice and race-day pit stop of the three crews he coaches, with times of each man's tasks, the car's position entering and leaving the pit.
Last year, Miller added a full-time strength coach. It's paying off. At 5 feet 10 inches, Dowens weighs 190 pounds, 20 pounds less than in his football days. The 6-foot-3-inch Watkins is a buff 230. In May, an Evernham crew came in second in a NASCAR pit competition. Two weeks later, a different Evernham pit crew took the title and shared $75,000 in bonus money.
One Thursday, in an Evernham shop, sparks flew from screeching grinders and welding torches as mechanics prepped a dozen Dodge Chargers. Four large windows revealed an adjacent room where Dowens and his teammates were doing their own body work, pumping dumbbells, riding exercise bikes, stretching. - NFL Football -
Later, they met at the practice pit outside. A few yards away, on a stretch of grass, stood four orange cones left out from running drills. A red Charger roared into the pit. In a flash, Watkins had the car's right wheels off the ground. Air wrenches whined as tires rolled away. The crew shifted to the left side and suddenly it was over.
The seven team members then gathered around Miller and a video screen. The time, 14.30 seconds, was OK. Miller watched the video frame by frame and then spotted something: One tire carrier had his feet too far apart, which left him using only his arms, not his legs, to index the tire. The next two attempts were better. The fourth was clocked at 13.57 seconds.
Better. But racing is the pursuit of perfection. - NFL Football -
"We're still leaving a little on the table," Miller said.
Amount of time tire changer is expected to remove five lug nuts from tire. Amount of time the jack-man is expected to move a 25-pound jack from one side of the car to the other. Amount of time tire carriers have to move a 60-pound tire from resting on the ground to mounted on the car.

NEAL E. BOUDETTE
Wall Street Journal

2005-07-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Gamecock Football Program Partners With Reebok
Carolina agrees to multi-year deal with official provider of the NFL

Columbia, S.C. - The University of South Carolina football program and Reebok have agreed to a multi-year deal effective immediately in which Reebok will provide the Gamecocks with performance footwear.
As the official outfitter of the NFL, Reebok is a name well-known in football circles. Every player in the NFL is outfitted with NFL Equipment Apparel, designed and engineered by Reebok.
"We are real excited to have Reebok be our shoe supplier," Head coach Steve Spurrier said. "Reebok does all the NFL teams' apparel and shoes and for us to be associated with them, it is a tremendous compliment and honor that they think so highly of the University of South Carolina and they also want to be associated with us. We look forward to many years with Reebok."
"Reebok is a leader in the industry and we are excited about this partnership," South Carolina Senior Associate Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst said. "Reebok has a tremendous relationship with both the NFL and the NBA, and we look forward to working closely with them as the Steve Spurrier era begins at South Carolina."
"Reebok is proud to be associated with The University of South Carolina and its storied football program. We look forward to extending our positioning in football by providing the Gamecocks with performance footwear of the highest quality during this exciting, new Spurrier era," said John Lynch, Reebok vice president of sports marketing.
The excitement continues to grow for the South Carolina football program since the arrival of Steve Spurrier last November. Since his hiring, it was announced that the Gamecocks' first three games will be televised nationally, the Garnet and Black Spring Game was televised nationally by ESPN2 and ESPNU, Spurrier appeared as a guest on ESPN SportsCenter's Sunday Conversation and was also featured on ESPN2's Cold Pizza. In addition, he was featured on The Golf Channel's Top Shelf Wednesdays.
Spurrier owns the highest winning percentage in the history of the Southeastern Conference. During his 12 years at Florida, he led the Gators to six outright SEC Championships and the 1996 National Title.
Reebok International Ltd. (NYSE: RBK), headquartered in Canton, Mass., is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment under the Reebok, Rockport, CCM, Jofa, Koho and Greg Norman brands. Sales for 2004 totaled approximately $3.8 billion. Reebok can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.reebok.com.

USCsports

2005-07-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Green is headed to Hall of Fame
Longtime News columnist, writer is honored for his work covering pro football.

Jerry Green, a retired Detroit News columnist and writer, has won the 2005 Dick McCann Memorial Award for long and distinguished career reporting on professional football, and will be inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame.
"Outstanding -- well-deserved," said Tom Lewand, chief operating officer for the Lions. "I'm from the Detroit area, and had the good fortune of reading Jerry Green as I grew up. I learned a lot of what I know about the Detroit Lions from reading Jerry Green. Everybody in Detroit can take pride in having one of the best and longest-serving sports journalists in America."
Green's remark when reached by a News reporter Monday was perfectly typical.
"How'd you get stuck with this?" he asked. "This is worth about two inches."
Green, 77, is one of only five journalists to have covered every Super Bowl, a streak he will keep alive by reporting on the 40th game at Ford Field in February, even though he semi-retired last September. - NFL Football -
"This was long overdue, and it's the capstone of Jerry's career," said Washington Times writer David Elfin, president of the Pro Football Writers of America, whose 300-plus members vote on the award. "When I called Jerry and told him the news, he had to compose himself a minute on the phone. It brought tears to his eyes.
"One thing we all admire about Jerry is, he always carries himself like a beat guy, never walking around with his nose stuck in the air. You'd never know he covered the Wimbledons and everything, all the major events he did. He's just a hard-working guy."
Green's name will be engraved on an honor-roll plaque in the Canton, Ohio, hall beside some of the greatest journalists in sports history. - NFL Football -
That list includes Arthur Daley and Dave Anderson of the New York Times, John Steadman of the Baltimore News-American, Cooper Rollow of the Chicago Tribune and Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated.
"Jerry will receive his award at our annual Civic Dinner (Aug. 6) during Enshrinement Weekend," said Joe Horrigan, vice president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Four thousand of his closest friends will be there (in Canton) to see Jerry receive his award and the players being enshrined receive their gold jacket."
In another Michigan touch, Green's award will be presented by a Pro Football Writers Association board member, Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY, a Detroit native and Michigan State graduate.
Since the late 1970s, Green has represented Detroit as one of the Hall's 39-member selection committee. - NFL Football -
He also serves on the nine-member seniors subcommittee that chooses candidates who played at least 25 years earlier.
Dan Marino, who played from 1983 to 1999 for the Miami Dolphins, and fellow quarterback Steve Young, who played for 15 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 49ers, will be enshrined the night Green receives his award, along with deceased old-timers Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman.
Pollard -- like Green, a Brown University alum -- died in 1986. He was the first African-American inducted into the college Football Hall of Fame, the first to play in the Rose Bowl, the first to play quarterback in the NFL and the first black head coach in NFL history. Pollard coached the Akron Pros and two other NFL teams as well. When the league imposed a ban on blacks that lasted from 1934 to 1946, he waged a one-man campaign to force the NFL to reopen its doors to blacks. - NFL Football -
Friedman, who died in 1982, was a Michigan graduate who played for four teams between 1927 and 1934, including the Detroit Wolverines, and was considered the NFL's first great passer.
They're all the kind of player Green wrote about during his half-century in journalism, the last 41 years with The News. He covered hockey and horse racing, pro baseball and college sports, even a rodeo once. But it was always pro football, Green has said, that defined him as a journalist.

Fred Girard / The Detroit News

2005-06-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

NFL notebook: Patriots sign kick returner Morton

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots signed kick returner Chad Morton yesterday. Morton, 28, injured his right knee last year and appeared in six games for Washington. He was released earlier in the month.

The 5-foot-8, 203-pound Morton has three career touchdowns on kick returns, including two in the same game in 2002, when he played for the New York Jets.

Morton averaged 26 yards per kick return and 12.8 yards per punt return that year.

Last season, Morton averaged 22.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns and 6.2 yards on 13 punt returns before damaging a ligament in his knee against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 31.

The world-champion Patriots didn't disclose terms of the contract in a news release. The Boston Globe reported Morton received a one-year deal worth $600,000 and can make another $600,000 in incentives. New England also announced the signing of guard Bryan Anderson, a free agent, and two draft picks, linebacker Ryan Claridge of UNLV and quarterback Matt Cassel of USC.

By The Associated Press and Bloomberg News

Nfl Football News

2005-06-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

Nike-W&M link pulls stars to camp

WILLIAMSBURG -- Sunday's visit by Tom Brady was par for the course at William and Mary's Colonial All Pro Football Camp.

Over the past several years, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Michael Vick, Barry Sanders, Steve McNair, Darrell Green and Junior Seau have made appearances as guest counselors at the Tribe's camp. Jerome Bettis was there yesterday.
How does W&M draw the brightest NFL stars? With Nike's help.
The link is George Balanis, formerly W&M's basketball coach (1974-77) and now Nike's regional collegiate manager. Balanis still lives in Williamsburg. With the blessing of football coach Jimmye Laycock, Balanis asks Tribe football players to test new Nike shoes and equipment that haven't hit the market.
"The kids at William and Mary are so smart, they can tell you the corrections you have to make," Balanis said. "They give very good feedback."
In exchange for the information W&M's players supply, Balanis sees to it that a few NFL players who are under contract to Nike -- and obliged to make appearances on behalf of the company annually visit W&M's Colonial All Pro Football Camp. -- John O'Connor

Richmond Times-Dispatch