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Chad Pennington won’t save Miami
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I’m a big fan of Chad Henne, both as a Dolphin, and previous Michigan Wolverine standout. He’s clearly the longer term in Miami, however the mighty South Beach brass think otherwise. Coach Tony Sparano has chosen to sit down Henne this week versus the Tennessee Titans.
His replacement is Chad Pennington. Yes, a viable choice-just not your future in South Beach is the issue.
Pennington just seems to always throw the best interception, on the most heartbreaking times. Just ask Jet fans that endured some bad passes, that result in a stab-me-in-the-eye form of emotional turmoil.
Leave the child alone, Sparano. You’re having problems leading the crew now that Parcells is alleged to be creeping out the back door quietly.
Chad is just not rad.

Cam Newton ready to push himself
Posted by: | CommentsBefore signing off on the decision to draft Cam Newton No. 1 overall, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson invited the former Auburn quarterback to his home and pulled out a letter from a fan. A day after the Panthers gambled that Newton does have the drive to be a franchise quarterback, Newton stood at a podium on Friday in a crisp gray suit and blue tie and vowed not to be outworked.
Sporting a wide smile and oozing confidence, Newton met with reporters at his new place of employment Friday as he embarks on a quest to shed negative labels and overcome intense scrutiny to lead the Panthers out of the NFL’s basement.
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That was certainly the case as Newton paraded around Bank of America Stadium as the highest draft pick and likely the riskiest in the Panthers’ 17 seasons.
The questions surround his off-field problems at Florida, his father’s alleged pay-for-play scheme during his recruitment and how he’ll adapt from a spread offense at Auburn to a pro-style system where reading defenses is more difficult.
The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Heisman Trophy winner certainly did that at Auburn. He threw 30 touchdown passes and rushed for 20 more in the Tigers’ 14-0 national championship season. In comparison, the Panthers scored 16 offensive touchdowns in two more games in 2010.
Fans boo Roger Goodell
Posted by: | CommentsFootball fans got their first chance to be heard directly by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday night and they didn’t mince any words. A wave of boos echoed through Radio City Music Hall before the 2011 NFL draft started as Goodell took the stage, followed by a chant of “We want football!”
Goodell, at the podium, looked up into the balconies, saying, “I hear you. I agree with you.” But fans didn’t ease up.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the commissioner and the league expected the fans’ frustration.
George Chaung, who works for an investment bank in New York, said he didn’t boo Goodell because he understands the negotiations are complicated and “each side has its points.” But he also understands why the fans booed so heartily.
Paul Cavallo of Staten Island agreed this was the fans’ opportunity to make their case.
Goodell came out again, smiling, to announce the Carolina Panthers’ No. 1 pick, Cam Newton. “Welcome to the 2011 NFL draft,” he said, nearly drowned out by the fans. The commissioner earned his first cheers a second later, when he added, “Let’s get back to some football.”
On Friday morning the NFL players can report
Posted by: | CommentsAt least for now, the NFL has told its teams and players to get back to football.
The league assured teams and players they could resume some of the normal day to day football operations beginning Friday, including voluntary workouts at team facilities, meetings with coaches and going over playbooks as told twice in three days by a federal judge that its 45-day lockout was illegal.
The league also promised to distribute detailed procedures for signing free agents, making trades and other roster moves. That memo, the league said, will likely come Friday and spell out the timing for the start of the league year.
The guidelines were released a few hours before the NFL draft, where teams were still allowed only to swap picks, not players. New players in particular will benefit from the new guidelines.
Things are far from normal, however. On a day members of the Tennessee Titans showed up to find two armed guards at their locked-up facility, the NFL pressed forward with the legal fight in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.
The league wants a temporary stay of Nelson’s decision to lift the lockout so it can argue that it should be overturned altogether. The players were told to respond to the league’s motion for a stay by 1 p.m. ET on Friday, and the NFL’s reply to that is due Monday morning.
Jason Hunter of the Broncos was stabbed
Posted by: | CommentsIn Detroit on Wednesday the Denver Broncos defensive end Jason Hunter was stabbed and taken to a local hospital for treatment. His agent said the wound wasn’t life-threatening. Detroit Officer Dan Donakowski confirmed the 27-year-old Hunter was stabbed, but police didn’t have any additional information, including where the incident took place, who was responsible and Hunter’s condition. The hospital wasn’t disclosed.
Hunter was knifed in his left shoulder and other media reports in the area said Hunter was stabbed by his girlfriend.
The Broncos released a statement saying the team was looking into the matter and hopes Hunter “makes a quick recovery,” but that out of respect for his privacy, it wouldn’t comment further.
It’s not clear how Hunter’s stabbing will affect his playing career. Team doctors are in contact with the physicians who treated Hunter in Detroit, Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth said.
Walker did not return messages left by The Associated Press seeking more details of the stabbing, which came only days after police in Florida, said Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a former Broncos player, was stabbed with a kitchen knife by his wife, who said she was acting in self-defense.
Hunter’s stabbing is the latest difficulty to face the Broncos, who in recent years have dealt with the drive-by slaying of cornerback Darrent Williams, running back Damien Nash’s fatal heart attack and receiver Kenny McKinley’s suicide.
DeMaurice Smith says that NFL broke the law
Posted by: | CommentsDeMaurice Smith said Tuesday he’s happy a federal judge lifted the NFL’s lockout, but he’s upset the league has created a state of turmoil by allowing players to show up at team facilities, but not use their weight rooms. He said he’s been told that some teams gave their strength and conditioning coaches the day off Tuesday, a move he called “petty.”
When asked if players should be allowed to work out, Smith said, “It’s really a question of what’s the law of the land and whether the NFL will comply with it.”
The Chicago Bears told kicker Robbie Gould that he “could not work out until clarification comes from the judge’s ruling.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said any player who shows up at team facilities will be allowed in and “treated courteously and with respect.”
There was an exception Tuesday afternoon, however, as Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty worked out in the team’s weight room and spoke to head coach Tom Coughlin and other staff members.
Jets players said they were granted access to the facility, but they described it as a scene from “The Shining” — closed doors and empty hallways. Players said they saw no coaches and were told they couldn’t work out because there was no supervision.
Left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who has a league-high $750,000 workout bonus, said his appearance should count toward the bonus even though he couldn’t work out.


