Hallelujah. It's been a long 6 months for most of us. Sure there's the draft, and there's Free Agency, and hey, Brett Favre did his bit to keep things interesting. Once we even watched CFL, things were that desperate.
But nothing compares to seeing the NFL live - even in a preseason game.
Tonight the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins will contest the Hall of Fame matchup in Canton, Ohio. The game follows the induction of Darrell Green, Art Monk, Gary Zimmerman, Thurman Thomas, Andre Tippett, and Fred Dean into the Hall of Fame in Canton. That ceremony was held yesterday.
It's easy to doubt the value of preseason games to players - seeing as how most starters will play a quarter at most - but to the average fan (or manic obsessive like wide-right), there is nothing like the excitement that starts to build around this time of year.
For UK viewers, the game is live on Sky Sports 2 at 1am.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Friday, 1 August 2008
Panther Smith Clocks Teammate
News reaches us of a scrap involving Carolina's mercurial Wide Receiver Steve Smith, and teammate Ken Lucas during a Friday practice session.
According to AP, Lucas left the field with an ice pack over his eye, after Smith had to be pulled off the Cornerback by second year Linebacker Jon Beason. Smith was ejected from practice by coach John Fox, and was later seen speaking to Lucas at the behest of fellow WR Muhsin Muhammed.
The team has yet to release a statement on the issue, though Smith has already served a 1 match suspension in 2002 for attacking another teammate during a film session. We think that any action the team takes now may be slightly different, however, as Smith essentially holds the key to whether Carolina can make the playoffs in 2008.
According to AP, Lucas left the field with an ice pack over his eye, after Smith had to be pulled off the Cornerback by second year Linebacker Jon Beason. Smith was ejected from practice by coach John Fox, and was later seen speaking to Lucas at the behest of fellow WR Muhsin Muhammed.
The team has yet to release a statement on the issue, though Smith has already served a 1 match suspension in 2002 for attacking another teammate during a film session. We think that any action the team takes now may be slightly different, however, as Smith essentially holds the key to whether Carolina can make the playoffs in 2008.
Favre could stay retired
Wow.
News has broken that in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder, Brett Favre is seriously considering the team's offer of a $20m package that would see him not play in the NFL again. The package is now also said to hold a lifetime role for Favre within the organisation.
The news is unexpected, to say the least. Favre seems set on playing, and has even indicated to Werder that he wants to play - if not with the Packers - for another NFC North team. In his own words:
- Brett Favre via Text to ESPN's Ed Werder
Favre is obviously comfortable with the division, and in fairness to him, has played against the Vikings, Bears, and Lions enough to know that he can beat them. The chance to stick it to Green Bay's front office is also a factor.
On the other hand, this latest development seems to indicate that Favre perhaps misses the day to day involvement with football, rather than simply playing. He has always thrived on the banter and cameraderie of the locker room, and it has lifted him out of some major personal issues in the past. Perhaps that lack of a safety blanket has left him fearing that he could slide into obscurity. In any case, it seems that Favre was not entirely honest when he said he was '100% committed to playing' this year.
Favre has to be careful here. On the one hand, it would be a tremendous compromise for both sides, allowing the acrimony of recent weeks to be buried. On the other hand, he must be clear that he is not accepting the $20m for financial reasons, but because he wishes to be involved with the team in an active way.
News has broken that in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder, Brett Favre is seriously considering the team's offer of a $20m package that would see him not play in the NFL again. The package is now also said to hold a lifetime role for Favre within the organisation.
The news is unexpected, to say the least. Favre seems set on playing, and has even indicated to Werder that he wants to play - if not with the Packers - for another NFC North team. In his own words:
I still want to play in this division for obvious reasons, which I made clear to management. If they won't let me play in Green Bay, let me play against you.
- Brett Favre via Text to ESPN's Ed Werder
Favre is obviously comfortable with the division, and in fairness to him, has played against the Vikings, Bears, and Lions enough to know that he can beat them. The chance to stick it to Green Bay's front office is also a factor.
On the other hand, this latest development seems to indicate that Favre perhaps misses the day to day involvement with football, rather than simply playing. He has always thrived on the banter and cameraderie of the locker room, and it has lifted him out of some major personal issues in the past. Perhaps that lack of a safety blanket has left him fearing that he could slide into obscurity. In any case, it seems that Favre was not entirely honest when he said he was '100% committed to playing' this year.
Favre has to be careful here. On the one hand, it would be a tremendous compromise for both sides, allowing the acrimony of recent weeks to be buried. On the other hand, he must be clear that he is not accepting the $20m for financial reasons, but because he wishes to be involved with the team in an active way.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Something is about to hit the fan in Green Bay...
...and that thing is Brett Favre.
According to multiple sources, Brett Favre has chartered a plane to fly to Wisconsin from his Mississipi home and show up at Packers Training Camp tommorow. The move is likely in response to the Packers (frankly insulting) offer to pay him $20m to stay home for the next ten years, as reported this morning.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel revealed earlier that the team would consider trading Favre to the Bears, Lions or Vikings only as 'a last resort'. This differs from Favre's previous statement last week, which seemed to indicate that a trade to the Vikings was inconcievable.
Either way, the team is on the ropes now, and it's likely that the Vikings will get their man in the next few days. With Roger Goodell poised to intervene if the camp turns into a circus, the Packers know that the only way of getting adequate compensation for Favre may be to cut a deal with one of the two teams that they would least like him to play for.
For what it's worth, Favre is unlikely to accept a deal to Chicago. The whole offense is in dire need of help, and if he wishes to go out with a bang, the Bears would not be a logical choice. Apart from on-field issues though, Favre will be aware that it would be seen as one in the eye to the fans that supported him for 15 years in Wisconsin.
On the other hand, it would provide the maximum 'revenge' factor possible to the Packers as an organisation...
According to multiple sources, Brett Favre has chartered a plane to fly to Wisconsin from his Mississipi home and show up at Packers Training Camp tommorow. The move is likely in response to the Packers (frankly insulting) offer to pay him $20m to stay home for the next ten years, as reported this morning.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel revealed earlier that the team would consider trading Favre to the Bears, Lions or Vikings only as 'a last resort'. This differs from Favre's previous statement last week, which seemed to indicate that a trade to the Vikings was inconcievable.
Either way, the team is on the ropes now, and it's likely that the Vikings will get their man in the next few days. With Roger Goodell poised to intervene if the camp turns into a circus, the Packers know that the only way of getting adequate compensation for Favre may be to cut a deal with one of the two teams that they would least like him to play for.
For what it's worth, Favre is unlikely to accept a deal to Chicago. The whole offense is in dire need of help, and if he wishes to go out with a bang, the Bears would not be a logical choice. Apart from on-field issues though, Favre will be aware that it would be seen as one in the eye to the fans that supported him for 15 years in Wisconsin.
On the other hand, it would provide the maximum 'revenge' factor possible to the Packers as an organisation...
Legendary safety Lynch walks
Broncos fans waking up this morning do so to the news that safety John Lynch, a lynchpin (No pun intended) of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl 37 winning team has walked from Denver.
"I'm going to explore all of my opportunities," Lynch said Wednesday night, according to the Rocky Mountain News. "Is it retirement? Maybe. Is it playing for another team? Maybe. Mike [Shanahan] has given me the opportunity to explore that and that's what I'm going to do. But I won't be playing for the Broncos."
Stanford alum Lynch has previously outlined his interest in media work once he retires, and has not been seeing time in nickel and dime packages whilst in camp this summer.
Wide-Right believes that as a safety turning 37 this September, Lynch may have one season left in him, but will it be at a time befitting his talent? We don't see him joining fellow vet Terry Glenn in Miami - that said, playing in the AFC East on the Patriots aging defence could prove an interesting proposition for him. The Pats have a poor secondary at the minute, and the ability he still has, along with the opportunity for players like Brandon Merriweather to learn from arguably a future HoFer could prove too tempting for both the Pats and Lynch.
"I'm going to explore all of my opportunities," Lynch said Wednesday night, according to the Rocky Mountain News. "Is it retirement? Maybe. Is it playing for another team? Maybe. Mike [Shanahan] has given me the opportunity to explore that and that's what I'm going to do. But I won't be playing for the Broncos."
Stanford alum Lynch has previously outlined his interest in media work once he retires, and has not been seeing time in nickel and dime packages whilst in camp this summer.
Wide-Right believes that as a safety turning 37 this September, Lynch may have one season left in him, but will it be at a time befitting his talent? We don't see him joining fellow vet Terry Glenn in Miami - that said, playing in the AFC East on the Patriots aging defence could prove an interesting proposition for him. The Pats have a poor secondary at the minute, and the ability he still has, along with the opportunity for players like Brandon Merriweather to learn from arguably a future HoFer could prove too tempting for both the Pats and Lynch.
$20m to stay home?
That's allegedly what Packers GM Ted Thompson has offered Green Bay 'nuisance' Brett Favre over 10 years to retire, shut up, and let them get on with business including offering their starting running back a contract befitting one, as opposed to the undrafted running back contract he is on.
Favre to accept? Do future hall of famers accept bribes to make life easier for teams that are playing hardball? No, and this is likely to light a fire under #4 in his determination to obtain a trade. That said, maybe, just maybe, Thompson figures that if he annoys Favre enough, he'll take a trade to wherever the Packers see fit.
Beyond the realms of possibility? Possibly, but the way the Favre situation is being played out rule NOTHING out.
Favre to accept? Do future hall of famers accept bribes to make life easier for teams that are playing hardball? No, and this is likely to light a fire under #4 in his determination to obtain a trade. That said, maybe, just maybe, Thompson figures that if he annoys Favre enough, he'll take a trade to wherever the Packers see fit.
Beyond the realms of possibility? Possibly, but the way the Favre situation is being played out rule NOTHING out.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Glenn a Dolphin
So we were wrong about Glenn - after listing a bunch of possible playoff teams we could see him on, he ends up meeting with the Dolphins, who according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram are very high on him, and see the injury prone receiver as a better bet in the slot than Derek Hagan who was one of the 'phins' best players offensively last year after Ronnie Brown went down.
Glenn remains susceptible to injuries (Otherwise the Cowboys wouldn't have waived him), but can at least provide some leadership on what is in truth a very young offence.
Glenn remains susceptible to injuries (Otherwise the Cowboys wouldn't have waived him), but can at least provide some leadership on what is in truth a very young offence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
