[clear - refresh] ---NOT QUITE A MOP, NOT QUITE A PUPPET--- [created by may, modified by johnny b]
ABOUT ME:
Home to a half Mexican who now lives in Silverdale, WA and who supports the Hawks, Sonics and Mariners along with the alma mater (WSU). I also post wacky links, pictures of insanely hot women and what have you (if you don't want to read my ramblings), so enjoy.


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designs


Monday, November 24, 2003
Well, the refs screwed up again and could have cost us the game.

I wasn't really paying attention to the call since I was freaking out over whether they should punt or not, but it sounds like they made a big mistake. Not as big as the "phanton touchdown" by Vinny Testaverde, but still, it was a rather shitty call.

Until next time, enjoy these rumors hot and fresh out of the kitchen:

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-A league source said Vikings head coach Mike Tice is still seeking a contract extension, but talks are not ongoing about a new agreement for the young head coach, who is one of only a handful of head coaches to earn less than $1 million annually.

-There has been some early speculation that the Redskins might be one of the primary suitors of free-agent-to-be DT Warren Sapp.

-We hear that while the Falcons’ players aren’t talking about the possible departure of head coach Dan Reeves, who is rumored to be on the chopping block after the season, there is a feeling in Flowery Branch that change is on the way.

-Broncos LB John Mobley got some good news concerning the bruised spinal cord that shelved him for the year in late October. Doctors told him he does not need surgery and can begin working out again after his neck brace is removed on Dec. 1. He admitted that a comeback attempt seemed doubtful if he had to undergo surgery, but now his goal is to be a part of the offseason program next spring.

-One league scout was not at all impressed by the recent play of rookie ORT Courtney Van Buren, a massive third-round pick out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, whom the Chargers had no intention of pressing into action until injuries to Vaughn Parker and Solomon Page forced their hand. Undrafted rookie OG Phil Bogle, starting at right guard for San Diego, also failed to garner much in the way of positive feedback from the scout.

-The Chargers lost their only source of veteran leadership in the secondary when S Kwamie Lassiter was placed on injured reserve last week with a torn MCL in his right knee. But all is not lost, because the Chargers now can get rookie Terrence Kiel into the starting lineup. Kiel, despite being burned by Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe in Week 11, has opened some eyes in San Diego, not only with his physical play but with his discipline. “He’s not just a knockout artist or a kamikaze guy that comes flying up there,” Chargers general manager A.J. Smith told PFW. “He’s not just coming in out of control, looking for that big hit, like a lot of the young guys do.”

-QB Mark Brunell is now running the scout team as the Jaguars’ third-string quarterback.

-Although Colts LB David Thornton has played well in replacing departed free-agent LB Mike Peterson, we hear that he plays with so much abandon that he often takes himself out of the play.

-A team insider revealed that the Colts will try to upgrade the MLB position in the offseason.

-Although the Yankees surprisingly placed Drew Henson on their 40-man roster, we hear that Oakland, Green Bay and particularly Pittsburgh are interested in making a trade should the Texans’ draft choice abandon baseball.

-A controversy at running back for the Cardinals might be avoided now that it appears the team would really benefit by Emmitt Smith starting to share the load with Marcel Shipp, who has noticeably worn down the last few weeks. We hear the best-case scenario would be for Shipp and Smith to start sharing the RB load equally — an arrangement both backs are said to be genuinely comfortable with for the time being.

-We hear Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis had hoped to see more out of first-round WR Bryant Johnson by now. McGinnis was particularly irritated by a pass Johnson let slip through his hands early in the Week 11 loss in Cleveland, with the ball ending up as an interception.

-The Seahawks are expected to keep a close eye on second-year LB D.D. Lewis, a late scratch for the Ravens game because of sciatic nerve problems. Lewis has been a valuable performer this season both in the nickel defense and on special teams. He made a game-high 11 tackles in place of the suspended Anthony Simmons in Seattle’s 35-14 victory over Detroit.

-Vikings sources said defensive coordinator George O’Leary was interviewed Monday for the head-coaching position at Central Florida. O’Leary has been publicly noncommittal about his interest in the job but said he will not leave the Vikings during the season to fill any other position. O’Leary met with UCF athletic director Steve Orsini, who was at Georgia Tech during O’Leary’s tenure at the Atlanta-based school.

-Lions WR Charles Rogers said team doctors are likely to give him two weeks’ notice when they feel he is ready to go. As of Sunday’s game at Minnesota, Rogers had not received the go-ahead from the Detroit medical staff. Speculation within the club remains that Rogers has a chance to play Dec. 7.

-The Bears are pleased with the performance of OLT Mike Gandy, but Chicago is considering pushing Gandy back inside to his natural OG position next season. OT Marc Colombo is likely to be used on the right side with an upgrade planned at the OLT spot. A large part of the team’s lack of offensive verticality has to do less with skill-position personnel and more with its exterior pass protection.

-Team sources who were once sure that Bears head coach Dick Jauron would be fired have acknowledged the embattled head coach could be back in 2004. The trigger in this scenario would be Jauron agreeing to fire many or all of his assistant coaches.

-Insiders say the Falcons better not expect the same kind of buzz that they had around the team last summer any time soon because the fans in Atlanta are fed up with the team failing to string together winning seasons.

-Look for Buccaneers RB Thomas Jones to get more work in the coming weeks because he has impressed head coach Jon Gruden with his willingness to play his role and make the most of his chances without complaining about his playing time.

-Patriots CB Ty Law admitted that his ankle, which he sprained earlier this season and which nagged him incessantly through much of the first half, will be the type of injury that will bother him the rest of the year. Law had thought that the team’s bye week would have given the ankle enough time to heal, but it is still swollen.

-The Jets are expected to make a serious number of cuts on defense in the offseason, especially at linebacker. However, LB Marvin Jones could be the veteran to survive the cuts, with Mo Lewis and Sam Cowart being shown the door. Jones would cost about the same against the salary cap whether the team kept him or released him, so the Jets may decide to hold on to him in order that he can groom a youngster in the middle.

-Of all the offseason moves the Redskins made, the best value has been DE Peppi Zellner, who has made a big impact on special teams and has done a great job sliding inside to tackle in the team’s nickel package.

-There is talk that the Redskins could release LBs Jesse Armstead and Jeremiah Trotter in the offseason. If they did, it would be more of the team sending a message than it would be for salary-cap relief.

-Although post-surgery complications with OG Rich Seubert, the Giants’ best lineman before he got hurt, left him in the hospital for 20 days, his status for 2004 should not change.

-Giants head coach Jim Fassel did not call him out by name, but the guilty party of a missed block on a 1st-and-goal against the Eagles was rookie TE Visanthe Shiancoe.

-Giants defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn is a candidate for the University of Arizona gig, but he is not considered a favorite — Mike Stoops is.

-Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said the reason ORT Ryan Young was benched against the Patriots in Week 11 was because Young “was not functioning well.”

-Expect the Eagles to keep RB Brian Westbrook as their punt returner and WR James Thrash as the kick returner.

-Although they are not saying it publicly, we hear the Eagles’ coaching staff is not thrilled with CB Bobby Taylor, who played against a doctor’s wishes in Week Seven and hasn’t played since. Now that he is sidelined again, some around the team feel Taylor, a free agent next offseason, does not want to jeopardize his health again by playing hurt.

-Cowboys RB Troy Hambrick has said he would be fine with accepting a lesser role in the offense. There are some who feel that he might take on more of a jack-of-all-trades, Richie Anderson-like role next season.

-Although Eagles rookie DE Jerome McDougle said he was “overwhelmed” in his first extended action against the Giants, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was thrilled with McDougle’s quick progress. Expect Johnson to give McDougle about 30-35 snaps a game for the rest of the season.

-We hear Bengals RB Corey Dillon seemed as happy as he had been in some time in the week leading up to Cincinnati’s game at San Diego. There is a feeling that Dillon is starting to buy into head coach Marvin Lewis’ program.

-Bengals CB Jeff Burris, who has impressed Marvin Lewis with his intelligence, was seen coaching the defensive backs last week. It’s the feeling of one Bengals source that Burris, who has missed the last two games with a concussion, will make a good assistant coach one day.

-The agent for Bengals RB Rudi Johnson says his client wants to stay in Cincinnati and won’t have any problems sharing carries with Corey Dillon. Peter Schaffer told PFW that he hasn’t talked to the Bengals about a new contract for Johnson, a restricted free agent after the season.



etch-a-sketched by john at 7:11 PM