[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.


FAVORITE LINKS
My Place Of Biz
Miss Eva
MISTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ROSSER!
Mr. T! He Don't Pity No Fool, Dig?
Mr. Spaulding
Mr. Gonzo
Mr. Rampsberger
Pop Life
HEART PUNCH'D!
Flux Blog
Oh NO THEY DIN'T!
Support Your Weed Carrier
U.S.S. Mariner
Sports And Bremertonians
Kissing Suzy Kolber
Superficial
Cake And Ice Cream
Oh, Word?
Young, Black and Fabulous
SuperSonic Soul!
Sports Filter
Nah Right
FIRE JOE MORGAN!
Football Outsiders
College Football News
All Music
The Breaks


* m a y s t a r *
designs


Tuesday, December 27, 2005
HAVE A MERRY SEAHAWKMAS



Dear Santa,

Thanks for all the great presents this year, but what I (and many, many other Hawk fans) still want is a Super Bowl win.

Hopefully you have one located in your sleigh somewhere for us.

Thanks,
-John

I'll be posting end of the year stuff later in the week. For now, NFL RUMORZ~!:

The word out on the street among scouting types is that Niners V.P. of player personnel Scot McCloughan probably wasn’t bluffing last week when he said he preferred to trade the team’s No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft in exchange for more bodies, even if USC RB Reggie Bush was available with that pick.

Titans sources tell us that WR Bobby Wade, picked up off waivers from Chicago, has a chance to earn a position with the club for next season if he can overcome his fumbling problems and show consistency as a receiver.

The decision to draft RB Kevin Jones in the first round wasn’t unanimously approved by the Lions’ front office. In fact, at least one scout warned in his report on Jones that injuries might be a hurdle for him throughout his career. Yet some team observers view Jones’ sluggish year as a sophomore slump, and both the QB and OL positions share the blame for the club’s failure in the running game.

Team observers in Jacksonville told PFW that QB Byron Leftwich is a long shot to play again this season after breaking his left ankle on Nov. 27. Comparing the injury to the ankle injury suffered by Terrell Owens on Dec. 19, 2004 — Owens pushed himself to return for Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6 — they say Leftwich is on a similar timetable. That means the second round of the playoffs would be the earliest he could return.

Colts PK Mike Vanderjagt isn’t a lock to return next season. A free agent likely to be the best kicker available, the loose-lipped Vanderjagt doesn’t rank as a priority for the Colts this offseason.

The Packers might be more inclined to bring SLB Na’il Diggs back next season after projected 2006 starter Brady Poppinga tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee vs. Detroit on Dec. 11. Diggs, owed $2.3 million in base salary and a $600,000 roster bonus next season, tore the medial collateral ligament in both knees at different times in ’05. The Packers consider rookie Roy Manning and WLB Robert Thomas good enough to bring back, but not starting material at this point.

At 6-0, 207, rookie RB Ciatrick Fason isn’t built like a bowling ball by any means, but Vikings head coach Mike Tice wants to use Fason more down the stretch because he runs big and isn’t easy to bring down. Tice compared Fason to former NFL RB Leroy Hoard.

Jaguars LCB Rashean Mathis has been a bit of a puzzle this season. At times, Mathis shows signs of becoming a No. 1, shutdown-type cornerback. He can also struggle, as he did in giving up two touchdowns to Colts WR Marvin Harrison in Week 14. Mathis spent extra time working on technique after the Colts said they noticed Mathis had a habit of squatting as a receiver comes out of his breaks. Twice, including a 65-yard touchdown, Harrison beat Mathis on stop-and-go routes.

The Bears wanted to give WR Bernard Berrian the opportunity to replace WR Bobby Wade as punt returner before shopping for a replacement. Among street free agents the Bears will consider are former Texans RS J.J. Moses and ex-Cowboys WR Peerless Price.

Raiders RB LaMont Jordan has proven to get better as he finds a rhythm with more carries, which would seem to justify his complaints to head coach Norv Turner about a lack of emphasis on the ground game.

One underrated player who sources believe is deserving of more notice is Broncos FB Kyle Johnson, who is not only a great blocker but also owns reliable hands that have earned QB Jake Plummer’s trust in clutch situations.

Although he is a steady factor in the passing game and always manages to bounce up after some vicious hits, the Broncos still tend to get frustrated at times with TE Jeb Putzier’s run blocking, although we’re told he continues to improve in that area.

Several head coaches, including Washington’s Joe Gibbs and Kansas City’s Dick Vermeil, have made it a point to mention how Chargers rookie DE Luis Castillo has stood out during film sessions. Although his statistics may never adequately display his impact, Castillo’s energy and run defense have been noteworthy.

Although it’s still believed that Chargers QB Drew Brees can be disrupted with inside pressure because of his lack of height, he has thrown deep down the middle of the field much better this season than in the past.

Patrick Surtain has been solid in his first year in Kansas City, but he has not had the impact the Chiefs were hoping for at the CB position. A less-than-spectacular pass rush ­hasn’t helped. The Chiefs would also like to see more consistency from safeties Greg Wesley and Sammy Knight, who have made some big plays but also give up their share.

On the Niners’ free-agent front, word is that two definite re-signing priorities are ILB Derek Smith, widely considered the team’s steadiest performer this season aside from PK Joe Nedney, and WR Arnaz Battle, whom the team likes a lot, even though he’s had a real hard time staying healthy this season.

Niners head coach Mike Nolan on veteran DE Bryant Young, who made a surprisingly quick recovery from a knee injury that initially looked like a season-ender: “Bryant is one of those guys that is a warrior when it comes to working and want­ing to play. That’s why you try to search out as many guys like that as you can get.”

Among the front-office types being rumored for a possible high-level job with the Rams, we’ve heard the names of former Miami exec Rick Spielman, former Falcons exec Ron Hill and, most interestingly, current Buffalo GM Tom Donahoe — if he’s let go by the Bills.

Though WR Chris Chambers certainly has played like a top receiver during the recent four-game stretch in which he grabbed 33 passes for 494 yards and four TDs, we hear that the Dolphins will use the rest of this season to evaluate the WR position and determine if Chambers, who’s still good for a drop a game, can be a trusted No. 1 receiver. Also, the word is that WR Marty Booker could be a cap casualty.

We hear that the Dolphins will shake up their offensive line this offseason, with C Seth McKinney and OT Stockar McDougle likely on the way out. While McKinney boosted his stock after showing improvement during his second season as a starter, McDougle has been a disappointment with several poor performances.

Look for B.J. Askew to be the Jets’ fullback next season, with nine-year veteran Jerald Sowell likely a salary-cap casualty this offseason.

Texans PK Kris Brown was devastated after badly missing a 31-yard field goal at Tennessee in Week 14. The kick, which would have sent the game to overtime, was Brown’s fifth miss of the season. “I told him, ‘What you did today is like Tiger Woods missing a cut,’ “ Texans special-teams coordinator Joe Marciano told PFW. Marciano said he arrived at the Texans’ facilities the next day at 6:20 a.m. to find Brown sitting in front of his locker with a cup of coffee. “He said to me, ‘I couldn’t sleep. I wish we could play today because I want to get it out of my system,’ “ Marciano said.

Browns CB Leigh Bodden has positioned himself to be a major Cleveland contributor in the years to come. The 6-1, 190-pound Bodden, an undrafted free agent signed during Butch Davis’ tenure as Browns head coach, held his own vs. Bengals WR Chad Johnson in Week 14. With Bodden eligible for restricted free agency after the season, look for the Browns to do everything they can to keep him, according to a team observer. “He’s been competitive throughout the course of this year and has been making plays on the ball,” Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said of Bodden. “… He doesn’t seem to let anything bother him too much. As a corner, that’s the way you have to be.”

The smart money in Baltimore is that Ravens RB Jamal Lewis will receive the franchise tag in the offseason and be shopped around the league. However, we’re told the Ravens still believe he can be productive and will be open to bringing him back in 2006.

Texans RB Domanick Davis is battling a nagging knee injury that isn’t considered serious. Davis has had the knee drained, and rest is thought to be the best cure for the ailment.

A positive sign for the Bengals’ defense is the continued improved (and disciplined) play of the linebackers vs. the run, according to a team observer. DT Shaun Smith has also fared well filling in for injured DT Bryan Robinson (foot).

Speculation about Jim Haslett’s future with the Saints swirled last week as Haslett denied reports that he had told owner Tom Benson that he planned to resign after the season. We hear Haslett has indicated that he will push for a contract extension. If Haslett isn’t granted the extension, he may consider walking away from the final year of his contract and take a year off before deciding his next move.

Saints DE Darren Howard will be inactive for the remainder of the season. The Saints said Howard’s bad knee and bad attitude are the reasons for the move. Howard said the knee is fine and that he is being punished for his pending free agency. We hear that the Saints want to evaluate their options for next season and are giving rookie Jimmy Verdon an increased role. Howard, who has only 3 1/2 sacks after posting 11 last season, has been upset ever since he lost his starting spot to second-year DE Will Smith.

Word out of Atlanta is that Ronnie Heard’s promotion to the starting spot at free safety has given the secondary a physical presence that it sorely lacked with Bryan Scott as the starter. Heard still misses a few tackles, but not as many as Scott did.

Indications from meetings last week between NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw and Saints players are that the Saints will be back at their suburban New Orleans training facility next season, which was unharmed by Hurricane Katrina, and that they will split their eight home games between Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge and the Superdome in New Orleans. However, we hear that Saints owner Tom Benson may fight to keep the team in San Antonio for next season.

There was a misleading report out of Dallas that TE Jason Witten had voided his contract and could opt out as a restricted free agent. In fact, the Cowboys hold the option for the fourth year of the deal, which is tantamount to a first-round tender for a restricted free agent. Sources say Witten is not going anywhere.

Redskins special-teams coach Danny Smith, criticized much of last season, deserves credit for the job he has done with his units, missing KRs Ladell Betts and James Thrash, PK John Hall, P Tom Tupa and coverage ace Mike Sellers for various stretches but keeping the special teams very competitive all year.

The Giants, happy to hear the NFL’s projected salary cap for 2006 will be between $92 million and $95 million, can turn their offseason attention toward re-signing DE Osi Umenyiora to a long-term pact. The Giants project to be at about $89 million heading into the offseason and have no must-keep free agents, save perhaps DT Kendrick Clancy, who will command major money.

The Eagles threw a lot at recently signed CB Donald Strickland, who handled nickel duties in his first game and should continue that role this season. He was called upon to blitz a few times, and the team likes his toughness and skills.

The Cowboys have an interesting long-term project in DE Junior Glymph, signed off the Falcons’ practice squad. Glymph has intrigued Bill Parcells, who thinks the player might turn into a good weak-side end with his height and athleticism.

etch-a-sketched by john at 1:17 AM