30
Aug
2011
Coach Payton tells PFT that kickoffs could vanish from football
Sean Payton sees a future where kickoffs might be kicked out. (Cox Sports TV)
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton spoke with ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio on Tuesday about the future of kickoff returns.
Payton understands that fans — and many players — are miffed about kickoffs moving from the 30 to the 35, effectively reducing chances for big kick returns. He also knows that with the information the league had about injuries, kickoffs were a central target for change.
“Then you have to be able to take steps, so that 10 years down the road when someone is asking you, ‘Hey at this time, when you knew it was such a dangerous play and you continued on with the kicks from the 30 — and now you have someone who is seriously injured.’”
Payton acknowledged that kickoffs could eventually vanish from the landscape of football.
“Sitting in on John Madden’s coaches committee, and discussing this topic, this is a tough one, in regards to trying to reduce collision speed. There are a number of things you can do offensively and defensively, but when it comes to kicking that ball and these guys are running down the field (at) a pretty good rate of speed, even if they have a five-yard start as opposed to, last year, the 10-yard start. I wouldn’t be surprised, Mike, if down the road that’s where it was headed. Unless we come up with some good answers. And that’s the trick.”
Payton is clearly not on board with the league removing onside kicks.
PFT did the hard work on this one, so here’s the link to the story.
24
Nov
2010
Wednesday NFL notebook: Redskins’ Portis to IR; High-ankle sprain for Browns’ McCoy
It's that time of year: Turducken time. (Source: AP)
¶ Jason Reid of The Washington Post reports that Redskins running back Clinton Portis has been placed on season-ending injured reserve by the team. Portis has been nagged by a groin injury for weeks, and the team has, in general, been nagged by Portis’ inability to stay healthy. I think we’re seeing his final days in D.C.
¶ Mlive.com is reporting that Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best, battling a toe injury for most of the season, practiced Tuesday and is expected to be ready to go for Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots. Defensive end Cliff Avril, on the mend from a hip injury, practiced and also should play. Not sure it’s enough to topple Brady and the Pats, but the Lions have seen improvements in their passing game, and New England’s defense has issues. I think this game might be closer than some think.
¶ The Tennessee Titans have not barred quarterback Vince Young from the team’s facility following Sunday’s mindmelt, but was asked to leave a team meeting Monday, according to The Tennessean, citing sources familiar with the situation. The newspaper states that Young was “visibly upset,” but left without issue.
Fisher and Young had it out Sunday following the team’s overtime loss to the Titans. As Young walked away, he told Fisher, “I’m not running out on my teammates, I’m running out on you.”
This seals Randy Moss as the NFL’s good-luck charm of the year.
¶ Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports that Eric Mangini told reporters during his Wednesday press conference that rookie quarterback Colt McCoy has a high-ankle sprain. Mangini said it’s different in scope than the sprains suffered by Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, and that McCoy is determined to get back as quickly as he can.
Mangini said “we’ll see” if McCoy can return this week.
Delhomme will get the majority of reps in Wednesday’s practice, a strong indicator he’ll get the nod against his former team, the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Mangini said he likes Jake’s familiarity with the Panthers in this spot.
Sidenote: What about their familiarity with Jake?
MORE SOON
26
Nov
2009
Live Game Blog: Thanksgiving Day Edition
mmmmm .... Turducken. (Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/Getty Images)
Thanksgiving annually means 3 things: 1) awkward family gatherings 2) overeating/drinking and 3) football. Guess what we’ll be doing today?
As has become tradition, the Cowboys and Lions will be hosting turkey day games … off against the Packers and Raiders respectively (hint: neither of these games will be interesting to watch). But John Madden is no longer a part of the festivities, and in looking at the banner pic above, we can’t help but miss the ol’ son of a gun around this time of year.
This year we also get an extra night game courtesy of the NFL Network, and I – ArtieFufkin – will be attending the Giants/Broncos game this evening in Denver, and will try to report back with images and tales of whimsy from the game.
In the mean time, here is Adam Sandler’s classic “Thanksgiving Song” to get you in the holiday spirit. All of us here at ReadAndReact hope your Thanksgiving is filled with joy and cheer!
And if you can sneak away from the family for a moment, feel free to post your gameday thoughts and follow today’s NFL action in the comments section.
24
Apr
2009
Polamalu and Fitzgerald are on Madden NFL 10 Cover
This year, it's all about the hair
Here is the official cover for Madden NFL 10 from EA Sports, featuring Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald.
I stopped playing Madden after the Sega Genesis days, so I may be a little out of touch here … but based on everything I learned from TV & movies, by now I thought we’d have a full virtual video gaming experience with 2000 yard fields, jet packs and rocket footballs.
The newest version of Madden features something called “Fight for every Yard” technology, which means absolutely nothing to me. There are way too many buttons on the new controllers, and the whole Wii thing just scares me. I guess that means I’m old.
Check out more of what the EA press release had to say after the jump …
16
Apr
2009
BOOM! John Madden Retires from Broadcasting
Image source: CORBIS
The most widely recognized football broadcaster of our generation is calling it quits. John Madden - the original master of the telestrator, Hall of Fame coach, patron of the Turducken, video game mogul and shameless brand spokesperson - is retiring from calling football games after 30 years in the broadcast booth. Madden’s tenure as color commentator alongside Pat Summerall defined NFL football for over 2 decades, and his everyman style of announcing put the technical aspects of the game into a language all fans could relate to.
Madden is a football icon, and it’s going to be strange not hearing his voice on Sundays.
Check out 10 Classic Clips of Madden on Uncoached … and here are a couple more of my faves, after the jump:
