Archive for the ‘Rumors’ Category
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27
Mar
2010
JaMarcus Russell weighs in at 290 pounds!
I used to think this photo was altered for comedic effect ... now I'm not so sure
Adam Schefter is reporting that QB JaMarcus Russell reported to the Oakland Raiders facilities yesterday, tipping the scales at 290 lbs. Apparently this is part of Al Davis’ new and exciting plan to have Russell run the Wildcat offense from the Left Tackle position. Schefter tweets:
Two people reported that Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell returned to Oakland and tipped the scales at 290 pounds. At least he was under 3 bills.
This news comes in stark contrast to earlier reports that the former #1 overall pick was working hard to transform his body, and was said to be in much better shape this year. Russell, who at 6′-6″ was listed at 260lbs on last year’s roster, was by many accounts pushing 300 during the season. And if this latest report is true, it appears that Russell is doing everything he can to solidify his place in history as the NFL’s biggest all-time draft bust.
Way to go, JaMarcus. Nevermind that $68 million you’re being paid. Whatever you do, don’t drive past that In-N-Out on your way home and hit the gym for a few hours.
10
Mar
2010
Must be that time of year: McNabb to Niners story a fake
Earlier today, a very suspect ESPN link (with a flood of typographical errors), suggested that Donovan McNabb had been traded to the San Francisco 49′ers. The story is a fake, but has generated significant buzz online.
Here’s a screen grab of the story before it was pulled down, and Shutdown Corner has a breakdown of just how poorly executed this fake story was.
Please: they misspelled “Donovan McNabb” and “San Francisco” in the headline. Can we get a proofreader, people?
1
Dec
2009
ENCORE: Simpson’s Back Just in Time to Ruin Everything
There is little denying that this December 2007 shimmy changed the course of history:
After losing to the Eagles that day, Dallas went on to play very poorly in a loss to the Giants in the 2007 playoffs and suck crotch-apples in 2008. Many are of the view that the biggest distraction that the Cowboys eliminated this offseason wasn’t T.O., Pacman, or Tank, but Jessica Simpson. Well, guess what Cowboys fans:
What better way to exact revenge against Tony Romo and sabotage a perfectly good run by the Cowboys than to go after Romo’s favorite new target, Miles Austin? While there are no reports that Austin and Simpson are actually dating yet, the mere prospect of it can threaten the precarious balance Dallas seems to have found as they enter what has historically been their toughest month.
25
Nov
2009
Brady Quinn’s girlfriend could knock you out
Alicia Sacramone would automatically become the Browns 2nd best Linebacker (Original Photoshop/hack job: ArtieFufkin)
The video below is from 2007, but it suddenly became relevant again with the news that Browns QB Brady Quinn is dating Olympic Gymnast Alicia Sacramone.
You may remember Sacramone as the sassy, thickly built, silver-medal-winning gymnast who stole your heart Beijing 2008. I remember her from my dreams, and thanks to this video, from my nightmares:
TheDarkHorse has already said that Sacramone would automatically become the Browns 2nd best Linebacker. And if her sweet lovin’ had anything to do with Quinn’s 300-yd, 4-TD performance last week, Mangini had better get this girl a locker. They can use all the help they can get.
4
Sep
2009
Derek Anderson to the Patriots?
As mentioned earlier today, we’ve been hearing chatter regarding a series of potential trades in the National Football League–including one that may permanently end the QB debate in Cleveland.
In the wake of the Cutler debacle, there was talk about Josh McDaniels pursuing a trade with the Browns for QB Brady Quinn. It never went down. Meanwhile, speculation about a Derek Anderson trade dates back to January 2008.
Tonight, on the eve of the 2009 season, the New England Patriots are without a solid backup for Tom Brady. With only two quarterbacks on the roster, something has to change.
There’s chatter all over the grid that Mangini’s decision to sit both Quinn and Anderson last night had a purpose: resting Quinn for the starting role in Week One, and positioning Anderson for a trade that will happen over the next 48 hours. People speculate that the Browns and Pats couldn’t be talking–the Belichick/Mangini feud would prevent that, right? Nonsense. If the deal makes sense for both coaches and both teams, the trigger will be pulled.
While Derek Anderson is far from perfect, he’s young with a cannon arm, and may appeal to Belichick in the same way Vinny Testaverde did in 1993, when Belichick made the decision to release Bernie Kosar, much to the horror of the entire city. (People forget that Vinny wasn’t even healthy when Bernie was cut, but he figured into the coach’s plans for 1994, and he helped lead the Browns to an 11-5 season and their most recent playoff win–over Bill Parcells and the Patriots, of all teams.)
Derek Anderson recalls, in some ways, the imperfect--but dangerous--skillset of Vinny Testaverde.
People ripped on Vinny for his perceived lack of intelligence–and his knack for throwing costly interceptions. Belichick loved his arm, and fawned over his athleticism. Inherent to Anderson are some of those same strengths and weaknesses–when he thinks too much, and gets tight, he suffers. When he’s loose (we’ve said before that he should drink about three beers before every game), the guy just guns the ball all over the field. Anderson can be frustrating beyond comprehension–but he’s downright dangerous when he’s on. Besides, he’s toiled on a team that’s been in flux since the Reagan era. What would happen to Anderson under the guidance of Belichick and the Patriots? It’s a scary thought.
DEVELOPING…
3
Sep
2009
NY Giants private jet lands in Colorado = interest in Brandon Marshall?
The NY Giants private jet is definitely on a runway. Somewhere. Could be Jersey for all we know. (Photo: fm1043thefan.com)
UPDATE: Mike Garofolo of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that the appearance of jet with a NY Giants logo on it on Wednesday had nothing to do with Brandon Marshall, and that the Giants have never used a team plane in personnel matters:
In talking with folks in the know Thursday, I’m told the plane was not there as part of a meeting between any team officials and Marshall. Plus, a team spokesman said the Giants do not own a private plane.
So, there you go.
____________________________________
OK, take this for what it’s worth, but Sportsradio 104.3 The Fan in Denver posted this cell phone photo of what they’re claiming to be the NY Giants private jet on the runway of Jefferson County Airport in Colorado on Wednesday.
The presumption here is that this means the Giants are talking with the Broncos about WR Brandon Marshall, and that a possible trade deal is imminent. While Denver head coach Josh McDaniels remains adamant that they aren’t talking to anyone about trading Marshall, it’s clear that Marshall wants out, and the Broncos would do well to at least get something in return for their troublesome star.
Most recently, the rumors were that Denver was in talks with the Jets, and that they wanted LB David Harris as part of the deal. Which begs the question, since the Jets and Giants share a stadium, do you think the Jets might also be borrowing the Giants plane for this trip?
Look, this is nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor, and until there’s official news of a contract, there’s not really much to say here. But if the Giants do have interest in Marshall, I would be very surprised. It would go against everything Jerry Reese and the Maras believe in terms of the type of person they want for their ball club. They didn’t just cut one headache (Burress) to replace him with another.
12
Aug
2009
VIDEO: Does Jerry Jones wear a rug?
Far be it for us to suggest that the most egotistical and narcissistic owner in the NFL might resort to artificial tactics to improve his appearance … you don’t need us for that. But in addition to the freakish amount of plastic surgery the Cowboys owner has undergone, this new video casts serious doubt on the authenticity of Jerry Jones’ hair follicles.
You be the judge:
9
Jun
2009
Going for broke in Minnesota
One intriguing crumb of the terminally dumb storyline around Brett Favre’s courting of the Minnesota Vikings: Favre would open the season facing his former coach, Eric Mangini, in the Dawg Pound. (I said “crumb”.)
There’s been a fair amount of speculation that Favre and Mangini (a) didn’t get along; (b) were best friends; (c) aren’t speaking to each other; (d) named children after each other, etc. Some have pointed fingers at Favre for helping to end Mangini’s career with the Jets. Mangini and Favre have taken the high road on this one, both have moved on, and there’s realistically very little drama here.
(I can’t believe I’m dedicating space to the Favre Saga, but…) The Vikings are falling into a boring, seen-from-a-distance trap here.
While Favre superficially thrusts Minnesota onto the map (through increased, yet unearned media exposure [see Dallas Cowboys]), his presence puts a young Vikings team on hold for a year [see 2008 N.Y. Jets].
If you’re head coach Brad Childress, do you have the luxury of time?
Under Childress, the Vikes have finished 6-10, 8-8, and 10-6: that’s solid progression. Childress, today, sits at .500, with 24 career wins and losses. With the (increasingly competitive) NFC North up for grabs, would you latch on to a 19th-year quarterback in this pivotal season?
Childress is looking beyond what most of us know. He grew up in the West Coast offense, influenced heavily by Andy Reid and, by default, Mike Holmgren. These are men who see incredible value in Favre’s ability to engineer the West Coast attack, no matter his age.
Experienced head coaches have been known to gravitate toward end-of-career, wisdom-filled quarterbacks. Moreover, what are the alternatives? Childress may counter the (now annual) Brett backlash by arguing that a 50-year-old Favre is better than the ragtag, wandering motley crew of John David Booty, Sean Glennon, Tarvaris Jackson, and Sage Rosenfels.
Per ESPN, if the 39-year-old Favre doesn’t agree to play for Minnesota by week’s end, the deal could be off. If that happens, there’s been talk (or rumor) that the Vikings might pursure Browns QB Derek Anderson (not recent talk, mind you). If not Anderson, someone else may find their way into the Vikings’ fold.
Bottom line: That Childress is going after Favre, surgery and all, does not suggest confidence in Minnesota’s current state of affairs on offense.
Tarvaris Jackson (7) and John David Booty (4) may need to wait another year to win the hearts and minds of football fans everywhere.
8
May
2009
Rumor: Braylon Edwards to Giants Talks Not Dead
Could Edwards still end up snagging a trade to the Giants?
BigBlueInteractive is reporting that a “legitimate source” with knowledge of the situation has said that the Browns and Giants are still in talks to make a trade for WR Braylon Edwards.
Site owner Eric Kennedy quoted his source earlier today on the site message board as saying:
“The talks are still on. The Browns are being cheap right now and have no interest in re-signing Edwards to a big deal. They are willing to take low compensation. They are asking for a conditional next year (high as a 3) and Danny Ware and Mario Manningham (who Mangini wanted badly for the Jets). They were asking for these same two players before the draft, but the feeling is they can get NY to bite now that they got Nicks and Brown in the draft.”
“(I do not) know the status of the Giants response to this offer.”
Keep in mind that this is nothing more than a rumor, but if the Giants can get Edwards for their 4th WR (Manningham), 3rd RB (Ware) and a conditional pick, I’d say they have to pull the trigger on that deal.
Either way, we can now put this alongside Brett Favre in the category of off-season drama that won’t seem to go away.
BONUS LINK
ESPN’s John Clayton picks his 10 best off-seasons in the NFL
2
May
2009
PETA Denies Plans To Do Ads With Vick
Dogs everywhere are training to exact their revenge on Vick upon his release from prison
HOORAY for common sense! USA Today reports that PETA has denied that it has any plans to do public-service advertisements with Michael Vick after the disgraced quarterback is released from prison.
Yesterday’s reports that PETA was in discussions with Vick to be a spokesman for the group were refuted in a statement issued late Friday:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it withdrew any offer about doing the ads after a U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Vick’s dogfighting operation found “he enjoyed placing family pets in the ring with fighting pit bulls and that he laughed as dogs ripped each other apart,” according to Dan Shannon, the group’s assistant director of youth outreach and campaigns.
Whew. My head was starting to hurt from the stupidity of that idea. Then again, PETA doesn’t exactly have a sparkling reputation in the animal rights community, so it wouldn’t be an altogether surprising move on their part.
