[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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Saturday, September 23, 2006
YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN







So I'm listening to the radio the other day at work, and this girl calls in to say it's her birthday.

The DJ says it's his birthday too, so they sing to each other and all that.

Then he mentions that another person shares their birthday.

"Who?" she says.

"Lita Ford," the DJ says.

"WHO??" the girl says.

It was all I could do to not throw the radio at the wall.

I'm pretty sure she was young, but how the hell does anyone not know who Lita Ford is? It's Lita F'N Ford! The rock chick that was a member of one of the greatest jailbait bands in rock history? The "Kiss Me Deadly" video? The "Close My Eyes Forever" video??

Goddamnit, I'm too old to have an angry old man moment. You kids do your fucking homework.

Have some NFL rumors and I'll holla at ya in a minute.

-Perhaps more remarkable than the nine tackles that Lions rookie WLB Ernie Sims recorded in his NFL debut was the fact that he called his effort “average.” We’re told that’s precisely the kind of attitude Rod Marinelli’s new regime is hoping to instill in the Lions’ locker room.

-Our Falcons sources compare DT Grady Jackson to NBA legend Dennis Rodman. Rodman could dominate a game without scoring a point, and Jackson can influence a game without making a tackle or recording a sack.

-We’re not suggesting at all that the Seahawks might be thinking about cutting the cord with WR Darrell Jackson down the road now that Deion Branch has been added to the receiving corps. However, it’s worth noting that Jackson remains far from happy with his current contract, which included oral promises for improvements that he feels have yet to be met. Suffice it to say, Branch has given the Hawks flexibility at the WR spot if Jackson’s contract eventually becomes a big issue.

-We hear that Jets PK Mike Nugent had a terrible warm-up prior to the Week One game at Tennessee, and that was weighing on his mind as he missed a point-after kick and two chip-shot field goals. While the Jets aren’t looking to replace the 2005 second-round pick, they also are keeping their options open, bringing in Paul Edinger, Owen Pochman and Tyler Jones for tryouts. Word is the tryouts were intended to be a wake-up call for Nugent, who was handed the job in the first days of training camp. He responded positively in Week Two, making both PATs and his only FG try.

-We hear that the emergence of young WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith could very quickly diminish the role of WR Tim Dwight, who has been sidelined by a thigh injury. With Cotchery returning punts and Smith also capable of special-teams duties, we hear that Dwight’s status on the team is tenuous.

-Ever the good soldier, Bills FS Troy Vincent will rehab his injured hamstring in Buffalo and continue to work with the team’s young defensive backs, despite the fact that his future with the Bills is likely coming to an end. While it was announced that Vincent was placed on injured reserve, we hear he’ll likely be waived/injured as soon as he’s healthy — within 4-6 weeks — and would become a free agent. He could then sign with any team other than Buffalo. A contending team may be interested in Vincent at that time, which would be Buffalo’s way of thanking the 35-year-old for his exemplary service.

-Look for Kevan Barlow to take over as the starting running back for the Jets as soon as he is more comfortable in the offense. Derrick Blaylock struggled as the No. 1 back in Week One, gaining only 36 yards on 19 carries and appears to be more of a change-of-pace guy.

-Patriots CB Ellis Hobbs provided blanket coverage on Bills WR Lee Evans in Week One, following Evans all over the field and limiting him to two catches for 25 yards. Word is Hobbs’ performance was something the Patriots hadn’t seen from a corner since Ty Law was entrenched as the No. 1 corner.

-It’s a good bet the sprained medial collateral ligament that Niners OLG Larry Allen suffered in Week One might have snapped had he not been wearing a knee brace — a Mike Nolan mandate, we’re told, for all of the team’s offensive linemen.

-Although the Niners are quite pleased with the early play of free-agent addition Walt Harris as their starting right corner, we hear they remain concerned about his ability to continue playing at the same level come December.

-With first-round pick Manny Lawson as the ringleader, our Niners sources tell us the team’s current rookie crop is the closest-knit group they’ve seen in years.

-Until he learns to block better, we hear it’s a good bet Rams third-round TE Dominique Byrd will remain on the inactive list. Both tight ends ahead of Byrd on the depth chart — fellow rookie Joe Klopfenstein and Aaron Walker — have done a much better job of blocking.

-Is there an underlying tension between Cardinals head coach Dennis Green and the team’s personnel department? You have to wonder after hearing Green recently compliment the Seahawks on their penchant for making “any kind of move they want to make” following Seattle’s trade for Deion Branch. Green has complained about the Cardinals’ lack of depth more than once recently, and there are some close to the team who interpreted his remarks as an indirect dig at the Cardinals’ front office, which still has somewhere between $8 million and $10 million in salary-cap space at its disposal.

-Looking for an unsung contributor on the Colts? Our sources tell us versatile second-year DT Darrell Reid more than fills the bill. In addition to backing up Raheem Brock at right tackle, Reid has done a nice job taking over Robert Mathis’ role on special teams, displaying a rare ability for a tackle to get down the field on coverage. He also can be inserted into the Colts’ offense as a fullback in short-yardage situations.

-While Lions WR Mike Williams has worked himself into the best shape of his career and has strung a few solid workouts together, he was inactive for a second straight week. We’re told he still needs to prove that he’s willing to put forth the effort on a daily basis.

-In his debut, Packers rookie MLB A.J. Hawk failed to impress. Our sources in Green Bay described him as virtually invisible in the Week One loss to Chicago, with the exception of a couple of meaningless blitzes late in the game. We hear that he took on blockers sufficiently at times but got blown up on others. Hawk did contribute seven tackles in Week Two.

-The Green Bay trade for RB Vernand Morency was designed to add a third-down pass catcher to the backfield in the mold of former Packer Tony Fisher. Last year’s leading rusher, Samkon Gado, who was shipped to the Texans in the deal, did not offer that skill set. We hear that the Packers are looking for an eventual successor to starter Ahman Green, but Morency doesn’t look like the guy.

-We’re told there is definite room for improvement on the right side of the Vikings’ offensive line, manned by ORG Artis Hicks and ORT Marcus Johnson. A second-round pick in last year’s draft, Johnson struggles and plays without confidence at times, and the team is waiting for him to grow into his athleticism.

-The Vikings clearly want RB Chester Taylor to carry the load, but we hear he would not have seen a career-high 31 carries in Week One if backup Mewelde Moore’s knee had been 100 percent healthy.

-One of the few positive aspects for the Raiders to take away from the embarrassing loss to the Chargers in Week One was the play of backup DT Terdell Sands, who figures to play a more prominent role in the DL rotation.

-Word out of Denver is that DE Courtney Brown’s balky left knee isn’t responding well, and it might be a significant amount of time until he gets back on the field. Brown, who had previously undergone microfracture surgery on the same knee, had arthroscopic surgery Aug. 9 to alleviate swelling that formed during training camp. There is no structural damage, and he originally was expected to return for Week One, but soreness persists, leading to some reluctance from Brown, who has been through a host of knee problems.

-While on the physically-unable-to-perform list, RB Priest Holmes cannot participate in any team functions with the Chiefs, but head coach Herman Edwards admitted last week that he has not even spoken to Holmes since training camp, which came as a mild surprise to some close to the team. “He’s away from the scene right now,” Edwards said. “That’s kind of the agreement we have with him.”

-Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan indicated he will continue to rotate RBs Tatum Bell and Mike Bell, though playing time is not expected to be determined beforehand. Instead, Shanahan prefers to go with the hot hand.

-Athletic rookie CB Antonio Cromartie, currently playing the nickel role, has seen more action as a kick returner in practice of late, but head coach Marty Schottenheimer isn’t ready to commit to him in that role just yet, despite the fact he’s more explosive than current KR Michael Turner. Cromartie has been impressive on the punt-coverage team, along with WR Kassim Osgood.

-The Chargers’ defense has gotten a lot of publicity, but a key ingredient to San Diego’s overall success, according to sources, has been FB Lorenzo Neal. The 14-year veteran still brings a physical presence in paving the way for RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Neal doesn’t play with the same balance he once did and gets caught lunging too much, but he plays hard and still has the power and knowledge of angles to move people.

-Although some fans who sat through Week One’s 23-10 loss to Cincinnati would disagree, head coach Herman Edwards insists his offense, labeled too conservative by critics, has not changed much from the high-powered version of the previous regime. He was adamant in his defense of the offensive game plan during a media session last week and, throughout training camp, insisted that the dominant system run by former offensive coordinator Al Saunders, now in Washington, will not be altered much by new coordinator Mike Solari, formerly the OL coach.

-Word out of Kansas City is that it might not be wise to expect QB Trent Green to return to the Chiefs’ lineup until Week Five vs. Arizona, as he continues to recover from a severe concussion suffered in the season opener.

-We’re told part of the improvement of the Falcons’ defense can be credited to young LBs Demorrio Williams and Michael Boley because they are far more disciplined this season and have stuck to their assignments.

-Atlanta’s new tandem of SS Lawyer Milloy and FS Chris Crock­er has impressed observers. Milloy is coming up into the box and filling his gaps to help support the run defense, and Crocker, with his CB speed, has been fabulous in deep coverage.

-According to our Panthers sources, Carolina’s beefed-up defensive line is equipped to stop power running teams and not finesse rushing attacks like the Falcons, who totaled 252 rushing yards in Week One. Massive DTs Maake Kemoeatu and Kris Jenkins looked tentative against Atlanta’s undersized O-line, known for its chop-blocking.

-While Jordan Gross remains the Panthers’ most talented offensive lineman, we’re told not to expect a smooth transition as Gross moves from right to left tackle. Gross started at left tackle in 2004 but struggled because he wasn’t quick enough to handle top defensive ends. Gross returned to his natural ORT spot in ’05 and flourished. But he’s being forced back to the left side after starter Travelle Wharton suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week One.

-Our Panthers sources tell us LB Mark Fields would like to return to the NFL, preferably with Carolina. Fields missed the 2003 season while he battled Hodgkin’s disease. He returned to action in ’04 and even made the Pro Bowl. But before the start of last season, Fields learned the illness had returned, and he sat out the season. With MLB Dan Morgan’s latest injury setback, the Panthers might be interested in bringing back the 33-year-old Fields.

-The Bucs’ decision not to re-sign veteran QB Brian Griese in the offseason is coming back to haunt them. We hear struggling starting QB Chris Simms would have benefited from a competition with Griese in training camp. The current stable of backup QBs in Tampa — rookie Bruce Gradkowski and veteran Tim Rattay — don’t pose much of a threat to Simms’ starting status.

-Saints DT Brian Young had a career-high three sacks in Week One after not recording a sack in 16 starts last season. We’re told Young credits Sean Payton’s training camp for getting him in the best shape of his career.

-Look for WR Joe Horn possibly to have a reduced role in the Saints’ offense. Horn is the Saints’ only proven wideout, but we’re told new QB Drew Brees has plenty of confidence in rookies WR Marques Colston and RB Reggie Bush as first receiving options. Brees also has confidence in WR Devery Henderson, who has had trouble holding on to passes in the past.

-RB Fred Taylor had six catches, tied with WR Reggie Williams for the team high, in Jacksonville’s Week One win over Dallas. Our Jaguars observers were pleasantly surprised by Taylor’s effectiveness in the passing game since he’s battled dropped passes throughout his career.

-Don’t be surprised if Ravens WR Mark Clayton posts unimpressive numbers in more than a few games this season. Clayton is third in the pecking order among the Ravens’ targets behind WR Derrick Mason and TE Todd Heap.

-Our sources tell us that a couple of tips from former NFL special-teams coach Frank Gansz Sr. have gone a long way toward improving the form of Ravens rookie P Sam Koch. Frank Gansz Jr. is the Ravens’ special-teams coordinator.

-The way we hear it, while Steelers SS Troy Polamalu admits he’s been bothered by shoulder pain, Polamalu is not one to ask out of the lineup, and he’s been able to play through it.

-As active as Browns TE Kellen Winslow was in the offense in Week One (eight catches), one source close to the club believes he should have been even more involved in the offense. It speaks to Winslow’s impressive return from injuries that kept him out for most of 2004 and all of 2005. Winslow contributed four catches in Week Two.

-At least one Steelers observer was surprised by the team’s decision to cut QB Omar Jacobs from the practice squad, given that Jacobs had flashed some ability, if not the greatest handle on the Steelers’ offense, in the preseason.

-A source close to the Bengals notes the team’s more businesslike approach this season, a trend that has continued throughout Marvin Lewis’ tenure. One last Bengals note: The team is used to WR Chad Johnson’s antics by now, and we hear his playful boasting isn’t raising many eyebrows.

etch-a-sketched by john at 10:51 AM