[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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* m a y s t a r *
designs


Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Rob: Thanks for the motivation, beeeeyotch. I've got some ideas and hopefully they come through.

Just finished watching The Sopranos. I tell ya, this show is brilliance personified and I hope to get a satellite dish or cable box so I can get HBO for the season premiere on March 7. All four seasons are out on DVD now, so go catch up. It is well worth your time and effort.

In other TV news:

After months of hiatus, Dave Chappelle's "Chappelle Show" returns with 13 new episodes filled with innovative, ground breaking sketches and guest performances from Common, DMX, Ludacris and Erykah Badu.

Similar to last season, Chappelle will present skits punctuated with his own brand of humor. In this season's sketches, Dave conducts a "Racial Draft" to determine Halle Berry, Tiger Woods, Mariah Carey and Wu Tang Clan's ethnicity, provides an alternative look at Fox News' "Fair and Balanced reporting and encounters a family whose last name happens to be "ni99ar."

In addition to a new season, COMEDY CENTRAL Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment is scheduled to release "'Chappelle's Show': Season One Uncensored" DVD on Tuesday, February 24. The set includes the first season's 12 episodes, audio commentary by Chappelle and 30 minutes of deleted bloopers. The DVD also contains a bonus 20 minute version of "Ask A Black Dude" featuring Paul Mooney.

Chappelle's Show's new season premieres this Wednesday, January 21 at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. This season will also include performances by Cee-Lo, Lil Jon and The Eastsideboyz, Timbaland and Magoo and Anthony Hamilton.

w00t. Enjoy these NFL rumors and I will get draft rumors posted soon.


-Don't be shocked if the Redskins are one of the leading suitors for Titans free-agent DE Jevon Kearse. The team has also been connected to Bucs DT Warren Sapp, who is also a pending free agent. Owner Daniel Snyder loves to sign big-name players, and that won't change with Joe Gibbs as coach.

-A source close to the Ravens says CB Chris McAlister wants nothing more than to be back with Baltimore and is even amenable to the Ravens placing the franchise tag on him for a second consecutive offseason. However, in a perfect world, McAlister would prefer to sign a lucrative contract extension, we're told.

-While Cardinals FS Dexter Jackson proved to be a quality addition to the team both on and off the field this season, we hear he did sometimes rub some of his teammates the wrong way with his constant references to the way things were done when he played for the Buccaneers.

-Add 49ers unrestricted free-agent WR Tai Streets to the Lions' shopping list. Detroit head coach Steve Mariucci wants to be a guarded investor in the free-agent market but considers Streets an underrated receiver who would benefit both QB Joey Harrington and WR Charles Rogers. The Lions will first decide whether to move Rogers from flanker to split end, a move Mariucci has considered for months.

-Although it will greatly depend on the personnel with whom he has to work, look for new 49ers defensive coordinator Willy Robinson to consider using a 3-4 defense a lot more frequently. Robinson was most recently the secondary coach in Pittsburgh, which has used a 3-4 base defense for a long time.

-Our sources believe the Niners have pretty much decided that first-round-pick Kwame Harris might be better-suited as a right tackle rather than a left tackle at the pro level.

-After watching a steady stream of players whom he liked exit from Seattle (RS Charlie Rogers, P Jeff Feagles, PK Rian Lindell), we hear that, more than anything, recently fired Seahawks special-teams coach Pete Rodriguez was just ready for a change.

-Word is there are some at Rams Park who wonder if the fact WR Torry Holt was miked during pregame drills before the team's playoff loss to the Panthers proved to be too much of a distraction. After playing lights-out all season, Holt disappeared in the Rams' last two games.

-The odds aren't good that S Jason Sehorn will return to the Rams next season. Sehorn struggled mightily this past season with a foot injury that really appears to have slowed him down.

-The Packers and Calgary Stampeders of the CFL hope to settle a contract dispute over 6-7, 336-pound OL Steve Morley. The Packers signed Morley to a three-year contract, but the 22-year-old prospect's rights may belong to the Stampeders. Calgary claims Morley, who received a $150,000 bonus from Green Bay, is signed through next season.

-The Vikings have asked WR Randy Moss to take it easy for a month to recover from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Moss could have played in the Pro Bowl, but a past snub made it easy for Moss to withdraw from the game. The Vikings anticipate Moss being at full health by March.

-Saints WR Joe Horn is saying that his comments criticizing the front office for letting WR coach Hubbard Alexander go is water under the bridge and, given time to reflect, he is looking forward to working with new WR coach Jimmy Robinson.

-The way we hear it, the Saints believe they have the pieces in place to reach the playoffs next season and are counting on the frustration of the past two years to serve as motivation for the 2004 season.

-Sources say the Buccaneers franchise is at a crossroads with the addition of general manager Bruce Allen because the front office could be fractured if the transition to Allen's leadership isn't handled delicately.

-We're told new Falcons head coach Jim Mora will be given considerable input in personnel decisions because Mora is seen as less of a control freak than former head coach Dan Reeves was, and the Falcons are more willing to consider a fresh point of view.

-Alex Gibbs, who served as assistant head coach and assistant OL coach in Denver last season, is feeling recharged at 63 years of age, which could ultimately hurt the continuity of the Broncos' offense. Gibbs, who retired three years ago before being coaxed back into a part-time role by Mike Shanahan, has been vital in maintaining the Broncos' line as one of the best units in the league over the years. The Broncos, happy with Rick Dennison handling the OL duties, allowed Gibbs to seek full-time employment, and at presstime he was expected to land with the Falcons.

-Although no one will argue that Shawn Barber wasn't a significant upgrade for the Chiefs' LB corps with his speed and coverage skills, sources say he was in position to make a lot more plays than he did, especially behind the line of scrimmage, but missed tackles prevented him from finishing the job.

-The Chargers and new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will be faced with an interesting schematic decision this offseason. Phillips prefers a 3-4 defense, but the Chargers have been a 4-3 team since their inception. Phillips said he plans to adjust based on the roster's personnel, but you may be able to tell which way the Chargers are leaning based on how they draft in April.

-Despite many other pressing needs, the Redskins reportedly are intrigued by two Miami (Fla.) underclassmen FS Sean Taylor and TE Kellen Winslow Jr. with the No. 5 pick in the draft.

-It's not likely that the Cowboys will offer free-agent CB Mario Edwards anything more than a nickel-back salary. The team could look to upgrade the position through free agency, but it's hoping that Donald Mitchell, who missed the season after coming over from Tennessee, could vie for a spot there too.

-Adding a No. 3 receiver in light of WR Tim Carter's struggles last season could be a high priority for the Giants this offseason.

-Despite rumors to the contrary, there is almost no chance that DE Bruce Smith will return to the Redskins next season. A source close to the team says that the chances of Darrell Green returning to the team in a coaching capacity are similarly slim, though Green could assist the team in some kind of advisory role in the front office.

-The Eagles want to re-sign OG Bobbie Williams, but with Jermaine Mayberry likely to return to full strength next season, it's unlikely the team can keep Williams around by paying him a backup's salary. If Williams does leave, don't be surprised if the team drafts a lineman on the first day of the draft.

-A source close to the Steelers says TE coach Ken Whisenhunt is the favorite to replace the departed Mike Mularkey as offensive coordinator, though OL coach Russ Grimm will also get consideration for the job.

-Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has said the team will work on its RB depth in the offseason. A source close to the team says that's as good an indication as any that Corey Dillon's time in Cincinnati is done, as there is no depth problem if he's still around. The Bengals have already added journeyman RB Skip Hicks.

-A source close to the Browns tells PFW former LB coach Clancy Pendergast did not get along well with some of Cleveland's players. In short, we hear the team was not disappointed when Pendergast was named the Cardinals' defensive coordinator. Former Redskins defensive coordinator George Edwards has been hired to replace Pendergast.

-Bills general manager Tom Donahoe believes his new head coach, Mike Mularkey, will remedy what he admitted was one of the team's biggest problems under Gregg Williams, a lack of mental toughness. Donahoe also believes that the new staff will be more able to put the team's star players, such as QB Drew Bledsoe, who really struggled last season, in better position to succeed.

-Don't expect the Dolphins to fly through their myriad roster problems right away. They have a ways to go before addressing the numerous roster bonuses due players this offseason and likely will take their time formulating a strong strategy now that their personnel hierarchy is in place.

-The Dolphins' next order of business, and possibly the biggest order of the offseason (with a decision on restricted free agent-to-be Adewale Ogunleye a close second), is what to do at quarterback. Miami doesn't have to worry only about the starting job. It has to decide if it is comfortable with throwing young Sage Rosenfels in as the No. 2, making pricey Brian Griese expendable.

-The Patriots are comfortable with their primary backup at offensive guard, Russ Hochstein, who was thrown into the fire last week vs. the Colts after Damien Woody went down the previous week with a knee injury. We hear Hochstein has made great strides, particularly in the weight room, building up his strength and becoming a better run blocker in the process. Team observers say Hochstein's strength lies in his pass-blocking skills, but the Nebraska product is well-rounded enough to fill Woody's shoes, albeit temporarily.

-The Jets gave head coach Herman Edwards a two-year contract extension through the 2007 season that also reportedly gives Edwards a substantial raise.

-Wondering what led to that brief sideline spat between Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore and QB Peyton Manning in the divisional playoff game against the Chiefs? Manning called a play to have TE Marcus Pollard block Chiefs LB Shawn Barber without realizing that Pollard had left the game with an ankle injury. As a result, Pollard's replacement, the much smaller WR Brandon Stokley, missed the block, and Barber stuffed RB Edgerrin James for a five-yard loss.

-Sources have indicated that the Jaguars' draft priorities are to select a pass rusher and a shutdown corner. However, with WR Jimmy Smith getting up in years, they will also look to add a wide receiver.

-Head coach Jack Del Rio surprised those close to the team by firing WR coach Larry Kirksey. Kirksey coped with a rookie quarterback and a four-game suspension to Jimmy Smith, his No. 1 wide receiver, and helped midseason acquisitions Troy Edwards and Kevin Johnson adjust to a new scheme. Some claimed that Kirksey and Del Rio did not see eye-to-eye, while another source speculated that Kirksey was blamed for the ineffective play from offseason acquisitions J.J. Stokes, Donald Hayes and Matthew Hatchette, all of whom were released during the season.

-Some officials suspect that co-MVP Steve McNair, concerned with winning the award and then living up to the awards expectations, pressed down the stretch.

-We hear that Titans restricted free agents Justin McCareins and Drew Bennett could become hot commodities during the offseason. Because Bennett is a former undrafted free agent, the Titans cannot receive a compensatory draft choice if another team signs him.

etch-a-sketched by john at 8:52 PM