Yardbarker: Rex Grossman

SNF Live-Blog: Eagles @ Bears, 2nd Half

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:07:34 -0500

Philadelphia: In Donny We Trust.

Akers kicks off to Danyel Manning, who comes out to the 28 yard line. A quick three and out punctuated by an incompletion to Marty Booker, and Brad Maynard will punt again. DeSean Jackson lets it bounce, and it heads back to the 6, where it's downed.

Donny Mac talks about his homecoming to Kanye West in the background. He throws to Brown for an eight-yard gain, while John and Al ramble on about baseball. Correll Buckhalter rumbles for 24 yards out to about the 45. McNabb throws a pick to Kevin Kane -- who returns it all the way to the Eagles' 10 when Buckhalter tackles him -- and Buckhalter's hurt, which the Eagles do not need with Westbrook out.

On 2nd down, Orton throws and it's picked in the end zone. Eagle ball, back at the 20.

Blackhawks, winners? huh? - Not a Blackhawks Fan
What the hell is McNabb talking about? The Cubs and Blackhawks have the longest championship droughts in their sports - the Bulls have sucked since MJ - the Bears have been living off one year for two decades. A town of winners? my ass. - Gibbon Jockey

Lorenzo Booker rushes up the middle for a couple yards, and I bet there's a rush on both Yahoo and ESPN to pick him up off waivers. Jackson drops the 2nd and six pass, as Andrea Kremer tells us Buckhalter's got a lower back contusion. 3rd and six is incomplete, and the Eagles will punt it away -- Hester picks that sucker up and runs backwards to get it. He's out at the 2.

Rex Grossman has a grin on his face, is warming up, and as we speak, is bribing Lovie with (muffle muffle muffle garble) to get in the game after that Orton pick. - SSReporters

This game almost demands a Sex Cannon appearance. Forte loses two on the carry, and the Bears are at their own 1 on 2nd down. Orton's pass got knocked down by either Gocong or Omar Gaither. 3rd down rush goes nowhere, and Maynard punts from the back of his end zone. DeSean Jackson brings it back to the Bears' 35.

Lorenzo Booker just got pasted by Lance Briggs on that 2nd down pass. 3rd and 13 -- and it goes to Selleck, the tight end. Not enough for the first, but enough to get Akers out there, maybe?

Between Booker, Buckhalter and Westbrook, don't you think science could create one running back who could stay healthy for 16 games plus playoffs? Isn't this what the Philadelphia Experiment was all about? - Rob in WI

All my RBs are hurt, so I have to throw on every down. After all these years, Andy Reid finally can execute his perfect game plan. - JG

After seeing the shot of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore next to him, all I can say is Gale Sayers needs to find a new posse. - Jim Williams

Akers' kick bounces off the upright, no score.

"There's your doink." - Al
"That's a doink." - John

And we go to break on "You Dropped a Bomb on Me", which I'm fairly sure is the Gap Band.

That's how many turnovers by Orton the past few plays? Trent Cole smacks the ball out of his hands and Omar Gaither picks it up. Philly ball on the Chicago 28.

FUMBLE...and now "Orton Hears A Boo" - Jim Williams

+1 fish, 2 fish, red fish, blue fish.

Donny Mac converts the latest third down by hitting Jason Avant. He then hits Celek for another six yards. Shovel pass to Avant near the first down marker at the Bears' 3, and it is a first down.

No catches for Hank Baskett so far? Kendra Wilkinson is disappointed. McNabb aims for Baskett, but it's incomplete and thrown into double coverage. D-Mac covers up after tripping on his lineman's foot. 3rd down pass is incomplete, busted up by Nathan Vasher. Let's see if Akers can actually hit this kick.

Up and good, 21-17, Bears.

Akers kicks to Hester, and he busts it all the way to midfield when Akers busts him in the gut for a tackle -- losing his helmet. Orton hits Greg Olsen for three yards. Forte pushes for three more. Bears wind up punting, Jackson fair catches at the 17.

Next week: The Glove vs. Silky Garrard, in that hub of football known as Jacksonville.

After a Jackson catch, it's 3rd and 3 for the Eagles on their own 24. The pass to Brown is broken up. PUNTING IS WINNING!

Hester gets tackled at the Chicago 35 on the punt. Kevin Jones suffers a bout of FUMBLEITIS, and it's Philly ball again. That's three or four Chicago turnovers, right? Al says four. Buckhalter's back, and he rushes outside for four yards. Jackson gets the handoff on the next play and rushes all the way to the Chicago 15.

Hunter Hillenmeyer destroys McNabb on that 1st down, as someone blew a blocking assignment. Buckhalter gets back to the 20, 3rd and 15 now. Short gain to Avant, and here comes Akers again.

With all the Bears turnovers and punts, and the Eagles throwing on every down this game might not be over until sunrise. - JG

Most of find this to be rapidly declining football. The Browns and Bengals, however, find this to be championship calibur play. - Jim Williams

"They're going to try and knock the Eagles out of field goal position." - John

The Bears 24 yard line? Really? - SSReporters

Kick is up and good, 21-20, Bears.

Chicago starts on its 41 yard line and I'm going to say this drive will end in a pick this time.

SNF Live-Blog: Eagles @ Bears, 1st Half

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:09:08 -0500

Brian Urlacher caught you a delicious bass. (The site I found the pic at describes it as a "King", but of course, I'm gonna use a movie line.)

I have the Eagles winning a low scoring game. There is nothing less exciting than having to watch the Bears offense work. At least when Rex Grossman was under center, you had something to watch for (in the inevitable dumb pick or two per game.)

The Eagles will start at the 20, and Brian Westbrook isn't in today with that bum ankle. McNabb's first is incomplete to the back-up TE (the one who isn't L.J. Smith.) 2nd down means not much, and Danyel Manning sacks Donny Mac on third down. Sav Rocca punts it, bouncing away from Devin Hester at the Chicago 41.

Orton hits Rashied Davis inside the Philly 30, Matt Forte gets seven more on the next play to get within the 20....and Orton rifles it to Greg Olsen for the TOUCHDOWN!

That was Sex Cannon-esque right there.....although they are gonna challenge it....what??? No flag?? I guess so. 7-0, Bears.

WTF?? Where did that offense come from? Is Neckbeard drunk or something? - Rob in WI

Plasma power, son. Plasma power.

Philly brings the ball back to their 28 on the kickoff. After a false start, Correll Buckhalter gets a few yards on first and 15. McNabb fires a bullet to DeSean Jackson. That thing looks like it makes hands hurt. 1st down after a gain of 23. Buckhalter brings out a screen pass past midfield to the Bears' 48. Reggie Brown gets five more after the catch for another 1st.

Sneaky, sneaky, end-around for DeSean Jackson, who sweeps around to the Bears 18. McNabb goes for it over the middle to the TE Schobel (?), who gets walloped by Mike Brown while trying to make the catch. Not much for Buckhalter on 2nd and 10. Donny Mac airs it to Jackson right in the back of the end zone, TOUCHDOWN. Kick by Akers is up and good, 7-7 tie.

Did I say something about this being a defensive game? Not right now, anyway. And that's very sneaky (or cliche) of you, NBC: using Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle."

I'll say this much - love or hate the bears - you gotta admit their defense brings the lumber in the first quarters. Wow those boys can hit.

of course, they don't do much about protecting the endzone, but at least they hit.... - Gibbon Jockey

Sheldon Brown would like to speak up for the Eagles also delivering blistering hits. Twice.

Matt Forte starts with a short rush, and 2nd down will now move back 5 yards. Forte gets 13 of those back and then picks up the first down on the 3rd down carry. The ball's now out at about midfield. A short pass to Hester gets across midfield. Orton misses Forte on the sideline, and here comes the first punt of the game from Brad Maynard. DeSean Jackson is back to receive.

He fair catches at the 20. Jon Runyon gets flagged for the first time in 24 games, which Al and John apologize for jinxing (they mentioned it when they talked to Andy Reid last night.) McNabb hits Jackson for another first down; the next pass is incomplete to Buckhalter. Not much for Buckhalter on the rush, it's 3rd and 10 from the Philly 30. Alex Brown and Israel Idonije get the sack. Rocca punts all the way to the Bears 30; Hester fair catches, but there's a flag.

This looks like the 15-yard variety of roughing the kicker on Charles Tillman -- but there's an illegal formation on Philly, so they offset and they kick again. Hester brings the second punt out to the Bears' 45.

AA, what are the odds of NBC throwing in "Waltzing Matilda" as bumper music after a punt by the Eagles' Aussie punter? I hope they're not THAT cynical. - Jim Williams

We'll be on the lookout for that.

How does a personal foul and illegal formation offset? I thought the PF trumped the other penalty? - Rob in WI

A flag on each team on a play negates the other automatically, regardless of severity.

Forte starts with a rush and the Bears will get 15 extra yards thanks to a face mask. Orton skies one a bit too high for Hester (well, it looks like it went right through his hands.)

That prompts John to say, "Maybe there's a reason he was a corner." 3rd and 11 brings the first Eagles sack of Orton tonight, and Brad Maynard will be punting again. Jackson goes out of bounds at the Philly 12.

"There's Donovan's mom, she came to the hotel last night and made dinner for the whole team." - Al
"I must say, I had some of that meal." - John

(a bit later)

"She didn't make any soup, though, huh?" - Al

Three and out for the Eagles, here comes Rocca. Good coverage by the Eagles keeps Hester from advancing past his own 45. Forte gets two yards; Orton then gets sacked by Chris Gocong. By the way, Al and John, I know Gocong said "Cal Poly San Luis Obispo," but the university freaking hates that.

Jets-Chargers Aftermath

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:11:43 -0500

As predicted here, the Chargers blew out the NY Bretts last night on MNF. Here are my takeaways of what we learned from the game.

> The bloom is coming off the Favre rose pretty quickly, really. San Diego had three picks last night (two of them from the Sainted One), and could have had a couple more. The thing about Favre's picks is that they really don't all come from the man trying to force things or going for big plays; he throws picks of every variety, really, which is something you have to do if you are going to throw more of them than any other QB that has ever played.

In the first quarter, with the game in the balance, Thomas Jones comes out in the flat, then turns the pattern upfield. Favre throws five yards behind him, and Antonio Cromartie makes a great break on the ball but can't make the catch. It's an easy pick-six if he brings it in, but it goes in the scorebooks as just an incompletion.

Now, if a rookie QB makes that play, it's part of the learning curve. If Tarvaris Jackson or Rex Grossman makes that play, it's grounds for benching. Brett Favre? It's part of the whole package, baby. One question: why?

Either he doesn't know the playbook -- at which point, um, you can and should take him to task for being unprepared and/or moronic -- or he simply made a glaring physical or mental mistake. Or, and this is really the crux of the biscuit, maybe he's just not very accurate anymore, even in the short game, which is where most of his passing happens now.

The Jones ball wasn't even a pick, but it was just awful on every level. The MNF guys all took the opportunity to polish Cromartie's knob, and he is a pretty great young corner, albeit a big gambler. But what they missed is the biggest reason why, if Brett Favre is the quarterback of a team that you care a lot about, you better have a lot of other good things going on with your team.

> San Diego might still win the West -- eventually, Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have to stop being Brady to Moss, don't they? -- but I don't see the window of opportunity looking very wide for this team any more.

Without Shawne Merriman, they don't get enough push (even when the game was close and the Jets had abandoned the run) on defense, and the secondary, while good, isn't great -- Jammer is reliable but not a shutdown guy, Cromartie will bite on pump fakes and take bad lines, and the safetys don't do enough.

But the most telling point about the Chargers is the coverage teams. Kickoff and punt coverage is an early indicator of a team's talent pool. If your team is covering these well (without using starters), it means that the back-ups are athletic and have the building blocks in place to be productive players. When they don't cover, it means that the tail end of your roster is being staffed by reaches and draft busts who have the gig because they couldn't find anyone better.

Now, the Jets do have outstanding kick returners. Leon Washington is among the top five in the NFL at it, and they had Jerricho Cotchery bust a big one when Washington was gassed in the fourth. The Chargers also were kicking off all night, thanks to the porous Jets secondary and a good night for QB Phillip Rivers. But the Chargers threw in the towel on it at one point (squib kicks, pooch kicking), and that was with a kicker (Nate Kaeding) who usually is good for putting some distance into his kickoffs.

Since the Chargers have the very dangerous Darren Sproles returning kicks, and Kaeding and Scifres doing good work with their own feet, there are very good individual performers on the Charger special teams. No one is going to think that they will lose because of them. But I'm here to tell you, it ain't necessarily so. I've watched enough Eagle Football under the Reid Era to know... if your coverage teams are costing you yards every game, that eventually comes back to haunt you.

> In the fourth quarter, with the game officially into Pump Your Stats Mode (and who says that real football doesn't care about fantasy?), the Jets went into a spread offense with no RB at all (so much for that canny pick of Thomas Jones on my part in too many leagues) and moved the ball. Given the situation of the game and their need to get Saint Brett up to speed with the offense somehow, this made all the sense in the world, and if the Jet defense had shown up at all, they might have found themselves in a game late.

But in going for two down two scores, the spread went from useful to downright silly. After three consecutive Charger penalties on pass plays, the ball was at the half-yard line. The play call then wasn't a plunge into the line, an inside draw handoff, or even a simple Favre sneak. Instead, it was another pass, this one incomplete. Was head coach Eric Mangini still paying attention, or does he not trust his team -- with a physical offensive line that they spent big bucks on (Alan Faneca, Damien Woody) -- to not get a half yard?

> I don't watch college football, so maybe I'm missing something here. Three games into a pro career is hardly the time to break out the fork.

But, um, Jets fan? If this guy in the Vernon Gholston jersey is a football player, I'm an airplane. And that was after he got his very first professional tackle (yay! in only his third game!) and recovered a fumble. Let's just say that your video montage of draft pain just got a little longer...

> I realize this last point is blasphemy, but if I was a Jets fan last night, I was more scared -- and well, you can add much before that -- when Sproles had the ball in his hands, not Tomlinson.

Maybe LdT is still coming back from injury and rust, and maybe Sproles is never going to be a guy you can give the ball to 20-25 times a game, considering that he's all of three inches taller than me. But he's got a burst that the reputed #1 RB in all of football just doesn't have any more.

Having said that, I'd still give you Thomas Jones for him in trade. Quickly.

NFL Punchlines: Jay Cutler MVP Talk? Already?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:04:18 -0500

Remember Tony Zendejas? Well, he looks like he is in a little bit of trouble. (Seattle Times)

Making Lane Kiffin answer questions about his job status everyday is a form of torture that Al Davis takes great joy in being the cause of. (SacBee)

Brian Westbrook is officially listed as day-to-day, but his status for Sunday is still up in the air. (Philly Inquirer)

Fantasy owners are back to guessing who to start from the Jacksonville RB tandem every week after both Jones-Drew and Taylor rushed for over 100 yds vs the Colts in week 3. (Orlando Sentinel)

It has been a tough first part of the NFL season for these three former USC QB's. (OC Register)

Jeremy Shockey will miss 3-6 weeks with a sports hernia. (Times-Picayune)

It looks like the Broncos were the beneficiaries of another missed call by an official late in the game vs the Saints this past week. (Times-Picayune)

After suffering a ruptured spleen vs the Cowboys, Al Harris' season could be in jeopardy. (Journal Sentinel)

Matt Schaub will remain the starter for the Texans. (Houston Chronicle)

William Clay Ford Jr. (the owner of the Lions' son): "The fans deserve better. And if I had the authority, I would have fired the general manager." (Detroit Free Press)

Jay Cutler for MVP talk is starting already. (Denver Post)

Bye weeks are the true test of the depth of a fantasy team. (Dallas Morning News)

Did you give up on the Palmer-Housh connection? Shame on you. (Cincy Enquirer)

The sister of Rex Grossman was robbed at gunpoint in her garage last Friday. (Chicago Trib)

Panthers rookie LB Dan Connor will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. (Charlotte Observer)

Trent Edwards has people in Buffalo drinking the kool-aid. (Buffalo News)

Ellis Hobbs is not pleased with the fact that the fans left the stadium early during Sunday's blowout at the hands of the Dolphins. (Boston Globe)

Jason Taylor will miss Sunday's game vs the Cowboys with a calf injury. (Baltimore Sun)

Dawan Landry was released from the hospital and is expected to return sometime this season. (Baltimore Sun)

The Monday Football Column :: Week 2

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:41:40 -0500

"Not sure if you saw me on Best Damn Sports Show Period last week, but I was there. I think right now, John Sally is one of the best, IF NOT THE BEST alternative sports talk show co-hosts going. I still think Rob Dibble is the most valuable, though." - Sean Salisbury

Experts agree: Aaron Rodgers has some Scott Hunter in him

With 328 yards passing and three touchdowns, Rodgers improved his season totals to 42 of 60 for 506 yards and four touchdowns. He also has 12 rushes for 60 yards and a score. He's 2-0 as a starter, and the first Packers quarterback to begin his starting career at 2-0 since Scott Hunter in 1971. Scott was the successor to the legendary Bart Starr and thankfully did not name any of his children Stuart. For obvious reasons, I hope Rodgers' success continues. He has some Scott Hunter in him and that can only lead to more big things down the road. All four of Aaron's touchdown passes this year have been Hunter-like throws, Hunter-esque, if you will.

While Aaron Rodgers has some Scott Hunter in him, he also has a little bit of Adam Wainwright and Joe Mather in him as well.

The team Rodgers tore apart has the worst defense this side of St. Louis. The Lions have been out-rushed 441-111 and have been out-attempted in rushes 72-33. On average, opponents gain six yards every time they run the ball. That damn Mike Martz and his hatred for the running game. Detroit has also yielded eight sacks and allowed 12 3rd down conversions in 25 attempts.

Desperate Eli Manning makes left-handed throw, looks "special"

That St. Louis team fell to 0-2 on the season and 7-22 in their last 29 under Scott Linehan. The good news for St. Louis is that Josh Brown connected on a 54 yard field goal -- two of them, in fact.

That's right Scooter. Three points are better than two, and definitely better than one. Without question, three is better than zero.

Anyway, the Rams have been outscored 79-16, out-gained 963-367 and the defense allows 7.4 yards PER PLAY. I JUST WROTE IN CAPS TO ADD EMPHASIS. THAT MEANS TEAMS, ON AVERAGE, GET A FIRST DOWN EVERY TWO PLAYS. STILL WRITING IN CAPS BECAUSE THAT IS AN EMPHATIC STATISTIC. (Note: later today Josh Bacott will continue the very neat trend of describing what it's like to be a fan of the worst team in the world.)

As for the Giants, they've won 12 straight games on the road, including the Super Bowl. At one point Sunday, Elisha Manning was in the grasp of a Rams player and was forced to throw a completion left-handed. Joe Buck was quick to point out that it was a "Favre-esque" throw and the highlight shows repeated as much. Essentially, if you throw the ball and look retarded, you look like Brett Favre.

Marc Bulger promises to see out of helmet in Week 3

Intelligent Panthers realize DeAngelo Williams sucks, change it up a little

In a day filled with comebacks, Carolina rebounded from a 17-3 third quarter deficit after giving the ball to rookie Jonathan Stewart 13 times in the 2nd half. Stewart finished with 77 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, while Williams had less than half that on 11 rushes. Stewart only The Panthers are 2-0 for the first time since 2003, the year they went to the Super Bowl.

After the game, an ecstatic Jake Delhomme voiced his pleasure about the return of Steve Smith for Week 3, "I'm excited to have our rocket back!" The funny thing is, Delhomme had just removed his jock in the locker room and was holding his penis in his hand.

The non-Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, had a Bears quarterback syndrome lapse when he was called for intentional grounding in the 4th quarter and constantly overthrew open receivers. It was vintage Grossman, Jim Miller, Cade McNown, Craig Krenzel, Mike Tomczak, Steve Walsh, Henry Burris, Kordell Stewart, Rick Mirer, Moses Moreno and Shane Matthews.

Titans flawlessly execute ceremonial ass-sniffing ritual

Super-intelligent Raiders realize Darren McFadden is real good

Had it not been for an injury to the normally solid Justin Fargas, the Raiders wouldn't have gotten 164 yards and a touchdown from Darren McFadden. Not to be forgotten was Michael Bush's 90 yards and a touchdown, which helped the Raiders to 300+ yards rushing. Kansas City has lost 11 games in a row and is 0-2 for the third straight season under Herm Edwards. They also had three pass attempts from wide receiver Marques Hagans, who was cut by the Rams at the end of preseason. Jesus, the Chiefs are terrible.

In response to the rift between Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and head coach Lane Kiffin, the Monday Football Column has obtained a written transcript of the conversation between the two following Sunday's victory:

"F**k you, Lane."

Coked-up Nick Saban found wondering on Redskins sideline

Gunsling too much for Laveraneus Coles in Jets loss

Through two games, Coles has four catches for 77 yards. I think part of the problem is that he's not accustomed to Favre gunslings after spending years catching soggy Chad Pennington throws. This theory was put on display during the Jets' opening drive when Coles let a first down catch slip right through his hands. Going from Pennington to Favre is akin to Jason Varitek catching Tim Wakefield and then Josh Beckett ... ... ...

Inner monologue: I wish people would compare online writers with other online writers, just as the media does for the athletes they cover. If that happened, we'd all agree that the previous paragraph was a "King-like" synopsis and "Peter King-esque".

Seahawks play very little Seafence in loss to 49ers

The upset special of Sunday was the 49ers overtime victory in Seattle, where the Seahawks normally dominate. JT O'Sullivan had the first 300 yard passing day for San Francisco since Tim Rattay in 2004 and Isaac Bruce had the first 100 yard receiving day since Antonio Bryant in Week 2 of 2006. The victory had Martzian imprints throughout and not just the positives: O'Sullivan was sacked eight times. Sometimes I think Mike Martz is so hard on quarterbacks and leaves them out to dry because he never succeeded as one in high school and college. Unfortunately for Seattle, they didn't "get the ball and score" in overtime.

Hey, you, you remember that? You remember the time Matt Hasselbeck said that in the playoff game and they, and they lost. That was, that was awesome.

Norv Turner vows to egg Ed Hochuli's house; not intimidated by muscles

The bush-league moment of Sunday occurred twice over in Denver. First, Chris Chambers had the ball stripped by Champ Bailey in the opening quarter, even though replays showed Chambers' elbow was clearly down. The replay booth was "malfunctioning" at the time, so the call couldn't be overturned. In the final minute of the game, Jay Cutler fumbled the ball in what was originally ruled an incomplete pass. Replays showed Susan Sarandon's husband Tim Dobbins recovered the fumble, but because Ed Hochuli blew the whistle, the Broncos retained possession.

What, I ask, is the point of instant replay of you can't overturn a blown whistle? Isn't that the point of instant replay? Norv Turner does not approve, "It was clearly a fumble. Ed came over, the official, and said he blew it. And that's not acceptable to me. This is a high-level performance game and that's not acceptable to have a game decided on that play."

Two plays later, Cutler threw a touchdown pass to Eddie Royal and converted a two point conversion for the win. The tan one gambled and it paid off. Said he, "Sometimes you have to go with your gut. I just felt like it was a chance for us to put them away. I didn't want to count on the coin flip. I wanted to do it then, and obviously it worked out."

Translation: "Our defense played like crap and I knew we had no right to win that game anyway. Ed Hochuli gave us that game. It's clear he's intimidated by the artificial bronze radiating from my insides."

Despondent Romeo Crennel tears ACL and MCL just to fit in

At 0-2, the Browns have played below expectations and Clevelanders are starting to worry that 2007 was a fluke. I don't think to be the case because Cleveland's defense was pretty bad last season the team didn't make the playoffs. The offense will surely improve with time, but I wouldn't count on a playoff appearance in '08.

That said, I think Romeo Crennel needs to stop being a pansy and let one of his players hit him in the knee. Tom Brady tears his ACL and MCL and what happens? The Patriots go 2-0. Charlie Weis tears his ACL and MCL and what happens? Notre Dame destroys Michigan and improves to 2-0. Romeo Crennel has two healthy knees and what do you know, the Browns are 0-2.

I realize there aren't too many things healthy about Romeo, but he needs to sack up and quit being a ninny-poo. If nobody wants to injure you, may I suggest fasting for three days. Your leg will be jacked in no time.

The Monday Football Column is written by Patrick Imig. He had no idea Crennel's leg was white. Email him at patrick@joesportsfan.com

Imagine having a disease that only a few people in the world know about, and even fewer people have. 13-Year Old Champion, Josh Rusnock -- Needs your help.

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:33:33 -0500

Dean, Here is the story I wrote about 13 year-old Josh Rusnock of Freeland, Pennsylvania for an edition of the Standard Speaker newspaper. I'm so sorry about that missed attachment. Here it is. And everything you said is fine. I will be more than happy to pass the news on to Josh's mom. Please let me know if you need anything further and I would be more than happy to assist you. Josh is such a good kid and it's become part of my mission as well to find every avenue of help for him and his family. Like I said, please let me know if there's anything more you need. Thanks So Much And Take Care- Imagine having a disease that only a few people in the world know about, and even fewer people have. By BOBBY MASO Staff Writer Imagine being at a crossroads in life, preparing for the transition from boy to young man, yet not being able to do common things like spending time with friends, playing football in the backyard or even riding a bike. That is the life 13-year-old Josh Rusnock of Freeland lives every day. On the surface, Josh looks like an average teenager. He loves most sports, and watching some of his favorite teams, the Houston Rockets of the NBA, the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and the Boston Red Sox. He also enjoys spending time on his uncle's fishing boat where the two like to talk about, what else? fishing. But under his smile and quiet demeanor is a world hard for most to fathom. Josh's condition, a degenerative nervous system disease known as leukodystrophy, often makes it hard for him to go to the bathroom unassisted or climb the steps inside his home. His hands shake so hard sometimes that if he were holding a glass of soda, the drink probably would spill all over his lap. As hard as it is to imagine, it's even harder for Josh, his mom, Rachael, and their family to live through day after day. Rachael has taken Josh to numerous doctors. Some of them are in awe of the rare condition, while others, including a doctor from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, have traveled the world, to places like Amsterdam, where the majority of cases exist, just to learn more about leukodystrophy. Now, Rachael, along with her friends at the Tresckow Fire Co., are preparing for a benefit dart tournament, silent auction and bake sale to be held Sept. 13. They're hoping to raise enough money so that she can purchase a vehicle large enough to accommodate a power chair that Josh will receive next month, something he needs just to get around. His mother is hoping that the community can help by donating money or items that can be sold at the auction. "Right now, all this is for is to raise enough money for Josh so that I can get a van or a vehicle big enough for his chair. And what we're really looking for are food donations, like buns or pierogies, or items for the auction. Whatever anybody can give would be so appreciated, you have no idea," Rachael said. She explained that the disease has taken a lot out of Josh, whose life "used to revolve around the Freeland YMCA. Now he's forced to stay inside and can pretty much just play video games." Leukodystrophy comes in many forms and closely resembling multiple sclerosis, thus causing many victims to be misdiagnosed. The disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system by disrupting the growth or maintenance of the myelin, a fatty "white matter" that protects and insulates the body's nerve fibers. It's a progressive disease that usually gets worse as time goes on. There are about 70 documented cases of leukodystrophy worldwide, and as of now, there is no cure. "There are 34 different types of leukodystrophy, but Josh displays symptoms of all of them, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly which one he has," Rachael said. Josh began showing signs of the disease at age 4 but was not officially diagnosed until he was 10. All the while, Rachael has been taking Josh to doctors and specialists all over, causing the medical bills to mount and making it impossible to buy the van. "It's gotten so bad that we've actually moved in with my mother in Weatherly because she has a bathroom on the first floor, so Josh won't have to go upstairs. Sometimes, he has to crawl on his hands and knees if he has to go to the bathroom, it's been so bad lately. It's just very difficult," Rachael said. To help ease the family's financial burden, a special account has been set up at Bank of America, where anyone can make a monetary donation to the Joshua Michael Rusnock Medical Fund. Donations can be made at any Bank of America branch, and Rachael said all are appreciated. Josh's mom and other siblings, brother John, 15, and twin stepbrothers Trevor and Derek Remak, and his other relatives hope that spreading the word about leukodystrophy will help others who might be experiencing similar health issues but do not know they have the disease. "I just want to help spread the word because it's very possible that someone else might have this and not know it," Rachael said. "Like I said, it took Josh's doctors a long time to figure out what it was and I'm thinking that there might be others out there who are suffering the same way Josh is, and might be diagnosed with something else because a doctor is unfamiliar with leukodystrophy. I just don't want anyone to have to go through this." Anyone interested in donating toward the Sept. 13 benefit can contact Jennifer Coxe at 570-427-3329 or by e-mail at jen3329@verizon.net. Donations can also be made by calling the Tresckow Fire Hall at 570- 455-5701. bmaso@standradspeaker.com Bobby Maso Standard Speaker Newspaper 21 North Wyoming Street, Hazleton, Pa. 18201 570-455-3636 Ext. 3588 bmaso@standardspeaker.com Click here for more information on Leukodystrophy >>> http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/leukodystrophy/leukodystrophy.htm Events coming up for Josh; CHINESE AUCTION & BAKE SALE 9:00 am to 5:00 pm To make a donation contact Jennifer Coxe @ 570-427-3329 DART TOURNAMENT Teams are still needed Registration at 11:00 Contact Rich Contrady 570-455-5701 To benefit Joshua Rusnock Saturday, September 13th, 2008 Treskow Fire Hall 26 East Oak Street, Treskow A variety of food will be available for purchase.

Rex Grossman: Teaching kids the importance of untimely turnovers

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:38:26 -0500

Believe it or not, the prop these school children seem so enamored with actually is an ad for milk. And the "3-A-Day" is implying number of glasses of milk and not amount of costly turnovers at inopportune times. Go figure.

Rex Grossman: Teaching kids the importance of untimely turnovers

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:38:26 -0500

No Love For Bears Week 1

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:28:41 -0500

The blogging community doesn't appear to be giving the Chicago Bears the opportunity to take the field without condemning them to a week 1 loss. The Colts blog Naptown's Finest has done a preview of the week 1 match up and feels pretty confident that the Bears offense sucks and the Colts can run the

Detroit Lions 2008 season preview: On second thought...

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:26:56 -0500

If you visited SideLion Report while I was still blogging for Fan Sided (if you were wondering, there are some problems with their network redesign, but MVN is busy designing the "new" TWFE. You'll be the first to know when the move is imminent.), you may have seen the Detroit Lions season preview I wrote for Yardbarker. I did the best I could, given the restrictions in length and format.

But there was the unavoidable issue of having to write it so damn early in training camp. It went live after the first exhibition. I had to assume a few things, and guess at others. The Lions have also made a few unforeseen personnel moves. If I was writing the preview today, I might come to different conclusions. In other words, as is the right of chicks and bloggers everywhere, I reserve the right to change my mind.

So I've changed my mind about a few things I wrote in the preview. I've posted the Yardbarker original, with my new/changed/WTF commentary below each section.

Let's preview away...

Team MVP:

Quarterback Jon Kitna.

Anything the Lions will try to accomplish on offense will revolve around their bible thumping QB. He can put up the numbers, as 8000+ yards the past 2 seasons attest. But the reasons I call Kitna the Lions' MVP are due to the intangibles.

The Lions success or failure this season fully depends upon the health of Kitna. The backup QB situation is dire. With the unproven Dan Orlovsky, and the even more unproven Drew Stanton, who's yet to play a regular season game, behind Detroit's Holy Roller, Detroit's season ends if they have to take the reins for a significant amount of time.

Say what you will about Kitna, he's an average QB at best, a turnover waiting to happen, tries to do too much given his limited talent, they are all true. But something else is undeniably true. Kitna is the acknowledged leader of the Detroit locker room. Head coach Rod Marinelli backs him unconditionally. Kitna brings a swagger and confidence the team desperately needs. This team would follow him anywhere.

To put it simply, with Jon Kitna under center, the Lions have at shot at a decent season. Without him? The Lions would be in the hunt for the 1st overall pick.

Big Al: There's no change in my opinion when it comes to Jon Kitna. The Lions will go as far as he can take them. I can only hope we see more of the Good Kitna, than the Bad Kitna.

Good Kitna: Plays within himself, thus keeping turnovers to a bare minimum. A team leader who may be the toughest player, pound for pound, on the Lions. I know it's a cliche', but Kitna more effective when managing a game, rather than forcing the action.

Bad Kitna: When he forces things, really, really bad things happen. Will go for the high risk, low percentage play, when a lower Takes unnecessary risks when throwing, and running with, the ball. If he gets hurt while taking one of those risks (making like a running back, diving headfirst, rather than sliding)

Break-Out Player:

Defensive tackle Shaun Cody.

For a player whose career has been almost as disappointing as the "career" (term used loosely) of his USC classmate, Mike Williams, the Lions are expecting big things out of the 2005 2nd round pick. On a team devoid of defensive playmakers, and in desperate need of a tackle capable of giving an inside push; Cody has the talent to develop into that player.

Cody was motivated ordered by Marinelli to come into camp at the lightest weight of his career, 295 lbs, hoping the extra speed will mean extra sacks. (Not a hard feat when you have 1.5 sacks total...in 3 seasons) The playing time is there for him as well in '08, as former starter Shaun Rogers was traded to Cleveland. Everything is in place for Cody to have a big season.

There's one more reason for my picking Cody as the Lions' breakout player. He's in the walk year of his contract, and playing for a new long-term deal. Cody does not want to leave money on the table, so expect big things from a player who has only shown flashes of his considerable potential.

Then expect the Lions to vastly overpay to keep him in 2009.

Big Al: OK, I'm going to tell you guys something, but keep it on the down low. When I went with Cody, I was going for Sports Illustrated's patented "Make an outrageous, attention getting prediction in order to generate extra attention." I picked an out of the blue player for shock value. Plus there was a little voice telling me Cody just might just step up his game with it being his walk year, ala Cory Redding.

After watching 4 exhibitions, it's obvious Cody isn't stepping up anything, let alone his game. He's going to play, but will be pushed by the Lions' 2 interior d-lineman draft picks Andre Fluellen and Landon Cohen.

So the Lions' true breakout player in 2008 is going to be Megatron, Calvin Johnson. The was a man amongst boys during his limited exhibition action. CJ makes everyone around him better, especially Kitna and Roy Williams. Kitna can throw jump balls, harking back to Scott Mitchell throwing Herman Moore circa 1994-1997, knowing Johnson is going to come down with the ball 99 out of 100 times. Williams is going to get beatable single coverage as CJ gets double teamed.

If he (and for that matter, Kitna) can avoid injury, Johnson is going to have a 1300+ yard, 10+ TD, All-Pro style year. I'd definitely call that a "breakout" season.

Biggest Disappointment:

Matt Millen avoids getting fired...AGAIN.

Players and coaches come and go, the losing records don't, but there is always one constant. Matt Millen. Millen's tenure in Detroit has historically bad, legendarily bad. If there was a Hall of Fame of bad, Millen would be a charter member, in on the first ballot. He's been the sort of bad that will be talked about for generation after generation of Lions fans. When the apocalypse hits, the only things to survive will be cockroaches and Matt Millen.

Yet he does just enough to keep his job as GM and President of the Detroit Lions. What that is, I have no idea. Unfortunately, I see no reason to believe the '08 season will be any different. We fans know the drill. The Lions will struggle, but Millen will somehow convince octogenarian owner William Clay Ford he's "this close" to turning things around.

Then the never ending Detroit Lions circle of pain begins anew.

Big Al: Wouldn't change a thing. I don't care if the Lions make the playoffs, even win the Super Bowl. MILLEN. MUST. GO. He can take Stan "Not so special teams" Kwan with him.

Fantasy Stud:

Running back Kevin Smith

I know you would expect me to pick a wide receiver, either Calvin Johnson or Roy Williams, but I just can't do it. Why not? Because the turnover machine known as Jon Kitna is throwing to them, they'll split opportunities, meaning you won't get the consistent week to week production you do from a back and the Lions are committing to the run this season.

Why Kevin Smith? When the defacto number one back is Tatum Bell, you know the Lions 3rd round pick from Central Florida is being groomed to carry the load at running back, much sooner than later. With Marinelli and new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto vowing to revamp Mike Martz's pass first, last and always offense into a more ground oriented attack, expect Smith to have the best all-around season by a Lions back since Barry Sanders retired.

I'm not saying Smith is the next coming of the greatest back ever, but he's the most promising young running back the Lions have had on their roster since Barry's heyday. Trust me; Smith will be a middle round sleeper fantasy pick.

Big Al: I wasn't bullshitting anyone, I genuinely thought Smith would make for a great middle round FF pick, get you something close to 1100 yards and 8 TD's. That would be a great #3 RB or a swing W/R player. I even took my own advice, and took Smith as my 3rd running back in the one money league I'm in, The Ghosts of Wayne Fontes Blogger Invitational. (I did hedge my bets, grabbing Earnest Graham a round earlier. Hell, I went RB heavy, with Steven Jackson, Ryan Grant, Graham, Smith and Fred Taylor, as if you wanted to know...) Then the Lions had to go and sign Rudi Johnson. "Poof!" went my fantasy sleeper dreams.

Smith still should have a nice season, and I think the Lions success depends upon it. But it won't be as big, fantasy points-wise, as first expected. We all know the Lions are going to use Rudi Johnson as a co-lead RB with Smith, for better or worse, thanks to Rod Marinelli's fetish for veteran players. I'm leery of that strategy, as Johnson has been in decline for 2 seasons now.

Offensive Outlook:

The last two seasons, with Mike Martz in charge of the offense, the Lions would often have games with rushing attempts in the single digits. A dozen rushes in a game would be considered Martz's "committing"" to the run. That's going to change in 2008. With Colletto now calling plays, the days of giving up on the run before the game even started are over.

With the passing offense being scaled back, Jon Kitna may not throw for 4000 yards again, but won't throw 20 picks either. With less to do, and a more conservative mindset, he should be a much more effective QB.

The strength of the Lions offense still revolves around the wide receivers, but rather than Johnson and Williams being used as decoys (explaining why Shawn McDonald was the leading receiver in '07), the Lions plan on using the run to set up the pass. A foreign notion in Detroit, I know. They will then look to break games open by throwing to their talented wide outs, but only after softening defenses with the legs of Smith.

Big Al: Nothing I've seen so far changes my opinion...too much. The Rudi Johnson signing actually confirms it. The Lions are going to run more than last season, as Marinelli has laid down the law. Then again, if the Lions averaged 12 rushes a game, they would literally be running the ball more. If the exhibition season is any indication, 25-30 rushing attempts seems to be the Lions' goal. Sounds like a solid plan to me, especially if Johnson can find the fountains of youth and health.

Regardless of what Marinelli would prefer, the passing game, riding on the arm of Kitna, and the hands of Williams and Johnson, is what will make or break the Lions' season.

To really "make" the season, it's going to be all about the offensive line. The fact 1st round pick Gosder Cherilus is still backing up the overpaid Jeff Backus and the underwhelming George "Insert any joke referring to yellow flags, stupid penalties and/or snap counts here" Foster is not a good sign for the o-line. In fact, it's a MASSIVE FUCKING RED FLAG!

I want to buy into Marinelli's and Jim Colletto's revamped offense. But the o-line gives me pause...and a rug burn on Kitna's back.

Defensive Diagnosis:

There were big changes made in the Detroit defense this past offseason. The Lions, sick and tired of tackle Shaun Rogers and his overweight and under performing ways, traded the former Pro Bowler to Cleveland for Leigh Bodden. Bodden immediately became Detroit's best cornerback. That trade spurred the rebuilding of the defensive backfield, accomplished by the signing of 3 former Buccaneers (CB Brian Kelly, S Kalvin Pearson and S Dwight Smith) in free agency.

Linebacker Ernie Sims led the team in tackles, and is considered Pro Bowl material as an outside linebacker. He'll be joined by 2nd round pick Jordan Dizon, who is your prototypical Tampa Two middle linebacker, small and fast. Marinelli is loathe to give much responsibility to rookies though, meaning Dizon may move outside while the incumbent, the better suited to special teams Paris Lenon, remains as a weak link in the Lions defense.

The defensive line will be anchored by tackle Cory Redding and end Dewayne White, though it'll take more than one player to replace Rogers. They took 3 d-linemen in the draft, in hopes of plugging the might big hole left by the trade. In fact, the Lions may end up keeping 10 linemen, as Marinelli likes a deep line rotation, keeping his players fresh.

Going into the 3rd season of the Tampa Two, Rod Marinelli's job depends upon the defense improving. He was hired for the Lions job much thanks to his defensive guru reputation in Tampa. We've yet to see it translate on to the field in Detroit.

Big Al: From what I've seen to this point, the defensive backfield changes have been for the better. Much, much better. The defensive line is deep. 11 damn linemen deep, which is insane depth chart, and has the Lions short handed at a couple of other positions. The question I have is, if you have to keep that many linemen, how many are really any good?

Other than Ernie Sims, linebacker is, as always, a question mark. Jordon Dizon is a backup, and Paris Lenon is starting. Anyone else see something wrong this this picture? Lenon is not a starting MLB on a playoff team. I hope Marinelli realizes it sometime this season, the sooner, the better.

"Red Letter" Game:

Tennessee Titans on Thanksgiving Day

In Detroit, Thanksgiving Day is our Super Bowl, our only day to shine. It's been the only game nationally televised in recent years, a game the entire city and state points towards. With a relatively soft early schedule, with a win on Turkey Day, the Lions could be midst of a playoff run. The more likely scenario will be similar to '07, when a Thanksgiving Day loss accelerated what was becoming a massive late season collapse. But hey, it's our Super Bowl!

Big Al: Until further notice, or when we have better football team, Detroit's Turkey Day extravaganza is our Super Bowl,

But if you read the post below, I called the Lions opening day game in Atlanta a "must win." If they lose, the entire season could implode before it even has a chance to get off the ground. Atlanta is an extremely beatable team, and if the Lions want to keep what support they have with the fanbase, they need to take advantage of that fact.

Sounds like a "red letter" game to me.

Projected Record/Outlook:

Best case, 9-7. Worst case, 5-11. My projection? 7-9, and out of the playoffs.

The Lions '08 season could parallel '07 - Start fast, finish slow. Much like last season, the schedule has set up Detroit for an easy first half, with a second half full of playoff contenders. The Lions have yet to develop the depth to seriously contend, and if Kitna misses any significant time? It'll get real ugly.

If Kitna remains healthy, I think the Lions can hang around on the periphery of the wild card race, till a season ending stretch (at the Colts, home against the Saints and at Green Bay, where the Lions haven't won since the Majik-man days) ends their year on a 0-3 streak.

Big Al: The 4-0 exhibition record is meaningless. A 7-9 out of the playoffs finish still sounds about right. The Lions aren't getting much help from their draft class yet, and depth remains a major issue. The o-line, running back, linebacker and special teams are big time question marks. The Lions just don't have enough impact talent to to be considered anything more than playoff pretenders. They are getting better, but just aren't good enough to be anything more than disappointing...again.

Parting Smack:

It's tough, almost impossible in fact, to talk smack as a Lions fan, but...

Green Bay Packers: Didja hear about FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! FAVRE! I've never seen a franchise and fan base let themselves be lead on and on and on, all due to the whims of an attention whoring drama queen demigod who craves camera time more than anything else on the planet...Even winning. If the Packers think they can win without the love child of John Madden and Peter King under center, more power to them. Of one thing I'm sure. With no Mr. I Can't Make Up My Damn Mind, there's no way the Packers will get another chance to choke in the NFC title game.

Big Al: The Packers are still the best team in the NFC North, even without "Mr. Traded To The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets." Aaron Rogers is no "Mr. How In The Hell Is Favre Pronounced Far-ve?" but he's good enough to lead them to the division title.

Chicago Bears: If there is team with a worse QB situation than the Bears...Oh yeah, the Vikings! I'll get to them in a second. I only need to say 2 words about the Bears: Rex Grossman. Here are 2 more: Kyle Orton. What else is there to say? Other than the Bears expect their non-existent running game to be turned around by a Detroit reject, the gimp known as Kevin Jones, who would still find a way to suffer a season ending injury if fields were covered in pillows and the NFL made all hitting illegal. Whatever happened to Thomas Jones? I know! He was traded away because the Bears thought the bust known as Cedric Benson was a legitimate NFL running back...

Big Al: The Bears have no QB or receivers. The running game is dependent upon a rookie and a Lions reject. The Bears' defense is going to have to both shut out the opposition, and do all the scoring, to have any chance at winning. Not exactly a recipe for success.

Minnesota Vikings: The starting QB in Minnesota is Tarvaris Jackson. Let that sink in for a moment. Not Michael, Jermaine or Tito. Not Reggie, Jesse or Andrew. Tarvaris Jackson. Not even Adrian Peterson can make up for that much of a handicap. It must make Vikings fans pine for the likes of Joe Kapp. What I can't figure out is Brad Childress saw Jackson flail about up close all last season...Only to make him the starter again in '08. Even Bears fans can say, "At least our QB situation isn't as bad as the Vikings!"

Big Al: Peter King thinks Tavaris Jackson can lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. Uh...If you say so. The Vikings make the title game only if Jackson's on the bench, and Adrian Peterson handles the ball on every snap. Hey, if you have a better idea, I'm sure Brad Childress would love to hear from you. Too much caffeine obviously does weird things to one's mind. Lay off the Starbucks, dude. It's making you write certifiable bullshit.

I'm ready for the Lions to take the field in anger, folks! Let the ~~suffering~~ season begin!

A Look At The Opponent: Bears Offense

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:55:57 -0500

Over the next few days leading up to the big game, I will look a little into the opposing team and see what the fans think about their players. I'm starting with the Chicago Bears offense, which has hit a major rough patch recently. Quarterbacks Roster Kyle Orton Rex Grossman Caleb Hanie My Take: This

Check Out The All American Touchdown Derby Before The Sign Up Deadline Expires!

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:37:48 -0500

Have you guys seen this new fantasy game? It's only $10.00 to play for the entire 2008 NFL season and they're giving away $10,000 in prizes all season long. The Game Is Simple: $10,000 in Prizes Pick 10 NFL QB's Most Touchdowns THROWN Wins TD's Updated Daily Expert QB Analysis Quarterly Contests Fun & Easy To Play Betus.Com Give Aways Awesome game & site: www.passitdeep.com

The Legend of Hanie Grows in Chicago

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:11:40 -0500

At the beginning of the 2008 training camp the Chicago Bears had no idea who would be the third string quarterback. On a team where quarterbacks change or get injured on a moments notice, having three quarterbacks on the roster is a high priority. I speak for every Bear's fan when I say not drafting

List of Bears Draft Busts Grows

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:47:11 -0500

A while ago I wrote a post on the top 10 draft busts by the Chicago Bears in the past 20 years. That list may need to be amended as the Bears cut several draft picks to make the 53-man roster. Most notably, 2007 second round draft pick Dan Bazuin and 2007 third round pick Michael Okwo. Bazuin was

Chicago Bears: Is Unsolvable Mystery a Strong Enough Word?

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:06:57 -0500

The Chicago Bears are going to be mediocre, everybody knows it. They have quarterback issues, wide receiver issues, running back issues, offensive line issues, defensive issues. Basically, they have issues. However, could everything they need to be strong be sitting on the bench? At the quarterback position, I know some of you are thinking that I really think that Caleb Hanie is the answer, and he may be a great option a few years down the road when Kyle Orton is tired of being knocked on his ass because of the horrible offensive line. www.rawsportsblog.com