Yardbarker: Randy Moss

All the Favre That’s Fit to Favre - Brett’s a New Yorker Now

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:20:42 -0500

In the end it was the New York Jets…not the Tampa Bay Bucs, not the Chicago Bears and not the Minnesota Vikings. For a conditional 4th round draft pick, The Other New York team will have the privilege of lining up with Brett Favre behind center. Why are the Jets doing it? They're clearly feeling pressure to win, what with the rival Patriots dominating their division, and the Giants dominating the New York headlines (and winning the Super Bowl in case you hadn't heard). So the Jets have gone on a spending spree. They beefed up their offensive line with Alan Faneca, snagged a linebacker in Calvin Pace, and helped their running game by grabbing former Viking FB Tony Richardson. They also signed a tight end Mr. Favre is familiar with - Bubba Franks. The Favre trade guarantees the Jets parity in the headline wars with the Giants (especially now that news-maker Jeremy Shockey is gone to New Orleans). It gives them offensive credibility. It makes for a great story two times a year when Favre faces off against Tom Brady and Randy Moss (Favre never got Moss in Green Bay like he wanted but now he's at least in the same division with the Freak again). And what did they give up? A 4th that becomes a higher pick only if the team and Favre reach certain benchmarks. It can become a 1st if the Jets make the Super Bowl with Favre taking 80% of the snaps. Not a serious sacrifice. As for the Packers…they at last got rid of whiny, waffley Brett Favre, the human headache. They never have to deal with another second of retirement speculation. They've spared themselves the pain of a declining Favre trying desperately to hang on. Packer fans should be grateful - they get to remember Brett as he was. We never had to watch Marilyn Monroe get old and saggy, and Packer fans won't have to see Favre end up on his knees, shellshocked, like Y.A. Tittle. Granted, it's sad that Favre's last pass as a Packer had to be a season-ending interception…but in a way it's fitting too. Yes it was failure, but it was magnificent failure…he went down shooting his load like a gunfighter at noon. So what if he's still playing football somewhere else? The Jets won't play in Green Bay again until 2012. Packer fans have been spared the sight of Favre walking onto Lambeau's turf in an opposing uniform. The organization took good care of their tender cheesehead sensibilities. And more importantly, the Packers will never have to see Favre in purple. How desperate were they to keep that from happening? They put a poison pill in their trade agreement with the Jets - if New York turns around and trades Favre to the Vikings they'll have to surrender 3 first-round picks. The pill specifies the Vikings. Still think there was ever a realistic chance of him going to Minnesota? It would never have happened. The PR nightmare was bad enough as it was - for Favre to end up in purple would've been Apocalyptic. The resolution was far from perfect but the Packers and their fans should be able to live with it. And the Jets should enjoy Brett Favre - at least until he starts acting like a bastard again.

Tournament Style Vote Off ( Day 4 ) -- NFL QB's -- Up now -- J.Garcia vs. A.Rodgers -- Pick the Winner

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:41:23 -0500

This is a simple tournament style vote off. What you do here is vote for the best QB of the pair that is up at that time. This is a tournament so vote for the top paring first the next match up will begin after 15 total votes, the first to 8 votes, or the leader at the 24th hour, whichever comes first. Then move to the next pairing on the list and so on till the list is complete and then we start round two which I will post with the new match ups. I will Post the new match ups every day till we crown the CHAMPION. Lets be friendly and honest here is the match up. The NAMES in CAPS are the winners of that match up move on to the next round. When you see a pairing with a CAPS winner move down to where there are two QB's in lower case letters and that is the one we will be voting on at that time. When the next round comes out it will be posted the same as this one but with round 2, then 3, then 4 and so on till we have our two SUPER BOWL QB's. Only vote for the one in session. Let's keep it friendly, and tell your friends we are here and lets make this fun for everyone. Now in session is: J.Garcia vs. A.Rodgers --- J.CAMPBELL defeats T.Jackson --- (11-2) --- J. CAMPBELL WINS T.ROMO defeats M.Hasselback --- (8 - 6) --- T. ROMO WINS P.MANNING defeats T.Brady --- (9 - 7) --- P. MANNING WINS B. FARVE defeats A. Rodgers --- (7 - 6) --- B. FARVE WINS E.MANNING defeats P.Rivers --- (9 - 7) --- E.MANNING WINS D.MCNABB defeats C.Palmer --- (8 - 2) --- D. MCNABB WINS D. ANDERSON defeats V.Young ---(12 - 4)---D. ANDERSON WINS B.ROTHLESBUGER defeats T.Edwards -- (8 - 0) -- B. ROTHLESBUGER WINS J.Garcia vs. A.Rodgers --- IS NOW IN SESSION K. Warner vs. J. Kitna R. Grossman vs. D. Garrard J. Cutler vs. J. Delhomme D. Brees vs. M. Bulger J. Russell vs. M. Schuab A. Smith vs B. Cryole

Pats Vs. Ravens: 5 Keyz to Victory

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:11:28 -0500

OK, I know it's the preseason and having a "Keys to Victory" story is kind of pointless since a victory doesn't really matter. After all, the Colts have lost 13 of their last 15 preseason games and they've done just fine (if you don't count the postseason, of course).So, instead, here are five things to keep an eye on Thursday night when the 2008 Pats kick off their preseason schedule versus the Ravens. 1. Nobody Get Hurt! Seriously, the Pats could lose 70-0 and I really wouldn't care as long as no one got injured. Okay, maybe I'd be a little concerned if they lost that bad, but nothing can derail a team faster than a preseason season-ending injury to someone important. We have no choice but to leave this one in the hands of the Football Gods, so I'm going to stop writing about it for fear of bringing on any kind of curse or jinx. Just pray someone upstairs isn't looking to punish us for last year. 2. Battle of the Back-UpsSo far, neither Matt Cassell, Matt Gutierrez, nor rookie Kevin O'Connell have been exactly lighting it up in camp, but Thursday night will be a chance for one of them to pull away from the pack (I hope). Early indications are that Tom Brady, as well as many other vets, will have the night off. In a perfect world, Cassell would lead a couple touchdown drives with zero instances of tucking the ball and running because he doesn't want to risk throwing an interception. Stuff like that is fine if you're Vince Young; if you haven't started a game since high school and want to prove you're a viable NFL backup, not so much. I wouldn't complain if Kevin O'Connell flashed some kind of brilliance, either.3. Bring the Pain, RooksThis could be the first time in a long time that rookies see significant minutes on defense once the regular season rolls around. But first they've got to prove they've got what it takes to play in an NFL game. By all accounts Jerod Mayo has been living up to expectations in practice. He's fast, physical, and seems to be grasping Bill Belichick's complicated defense. Meanwhile, Terrence Wheatley has also impressed despite getting lit up from time to time by Randy Moss (show me an NFL corner who doesn't).As for the rest of the rookies, like Shawn Crable, Jonathan Wilhite (who probably won't play after pulling up lame Monday night), Gary Guyton and Vince Redd, among others, this will be a chance to see who the "gamers" are. All will surely get significant playing time. And don't call any of them Shirley.4. We Need an O-line Depth ChargeAs I've touched on constantly the last week, my biggest concern for the 2008 Patriots is the offensive line. Matt Light, Stephen Neal and Ryan O'Callaghan are all probably out. The extent of each of their injuries in unknown, but the Pats have been scrambling to sign journeymen tackles so that can't be a good sign. Especially when every opponent this year will try to their best to get pressure on Brady the way the Giants did, though none of them have the talent of the G-men's defensive line.So the play of the current makeshift line, especially in the early offensive series, will be something to watch. Billy Yates and Wesley Britt need to show they are capable starters or at the very least could fill in until everyone gets healthy…if everyone gets healthy, Belichick willing.5. Free Agents Fitting In?Fernando Bryant has thus far looked capable of taking Asante Samuel's place at cornerback, now we'll see if that translates into the game. Linebacker Victor Hobson has been fairly quiet, and has been passed by Mayo on the depth chart according to some observers. But he's an NFL vet and we know he can play at this level. It will be interesting to see his play compared to Mayo once the action is live.Other Individuals to Keep an Eye On:Matthew Slater – universally described as an "explosive" kick returner, he'll need to show that explosion Thursday night if he's going to make the team.Chad Jackson – of course "The Chad" makes this list; Patriots fans are going to watching him like a hawk all preseason. He'll take some punt returns, but it will hard to judge his performance at receiver with the backup quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Still, he needs to do something to show he's ready to contribute this year.Sammy Morris & Lamont Jordan – these two could be fighting for a job, though I tend to believe both will make the roster. Regardless, both will need good games to ensure that.Antwan Spann – he's been having a great camp; that must translate into the game if he's got a shot at making the roster.Tank Williams – Belichick will most likely keep the newly installed defensive wrinkles under wraps for the preseason, but it will be interesting to see if Tank takes any reps at linebacker like he has been doing in practice.We'll be back this weekend with a full analysis of how all this mess plays out Thursday night. Until then, Go Pats! PatriotsPropaganda@gmail.com

This Just In...Green Bay Packers Beat The Raiders for Laughing Stock Of The NFL

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:07:10 -0500

As we all know the Brett Favre circus has not left the minds of Green Bay management, players and fans. And with his arrival to training camp with a welcoming fit for the Beatles, we know this topic is still up-in-the-air and going no where soon. Nonetheless, what we do know is Packer Nation and their 50/50 on Favre's return is just bru-ha-ha. When push comes to shove the Green Bay fans and management want Favre running out of the tunnel and throwing the first pass of the regular season. Let's face it... www.rawsportsblog.com

2008 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:36:54 -0500

Tiered wide receiver rankings for the 2008 fantasy football season.

Fantasy Football Sleeper Rankings - Running Back Sleepers

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:34:55 -0500

So I will quit wasting your time and let you absorb everything that we at Bruno Boys Fantasy Football have to throw at you when it comes to sleepers and undervalued running backs heading into 2008. Ranking System: The higher the "Snooze Alarm" Ranking, the more sleeper value the player has. To see who makes our list, click below...

Fantasy Football Roundtable - "Who Would You Rather Own in 2008"

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:52:48 -0500

It's that time of the year again folks. It's August, and that means fantasy football drafts will be in full swing starting this weekend! I bet alot of you reading this article will be drafting within the next 7-10 days, and we wish you the BEST of luck. With that being said, we want you to dominate your fantasy football draft in 2008, so Bruno Boys Fantasy Football writers Marc Caviglia, Chris Ziza and Larry Joseph give you their expert analysis on which players they are targeting heading into 2008.... Reggis Bush or Maurice Jones-Drew Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh Reggie Wayne or Randy Moss Jeremy Shockey or Kellen Winslow and more.....

Training Camp Postcards, Part 2 of 6: AFC East

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:48:45 -0500

As you may or may not follow, SI.com has dispatched "10 writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country" and is featuring their reports throughout August in their Training Camp Postcard segment. Here at HHR, we prefer to look at actual postcards sent by players to their loved ones, as opposed to Peter King drivel. Today, we take a look at what's going on in Florham Park, NJ/Hempstead, NY (Jets), Davie, FL (Dolphins), Foxboro, MA (Pats) and Rochester, NY (Bills) from a player's perspective.

THINGS I LEARNED TODAY -- TAVERN TALK

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:10:52 -0500

Patriot Linebacker Jerod Mayo is going to be a very good three-down player for the Patriots. His ability to learn the scheme will enhance his production. He will make a huge difference in the Pats defense this year. Prior to the draft, I graded Mayo as my best linebacker because I was not sure that Keith Rivers could impact the game on third down.

The Broncos will miss Brandon Marshall in the first three games of the year. Denver opens with a killer schedule: at Oakland, home against the Chargers, and then home versus New Orleans. I expect Darrell Jackson to fill the role. If he can be more consistent, he might be a huge sleeper this year.

Willis McGhee's knee does not like the way new coach John Harbaugh is practicing. When a knee is swelling from practice this early in camp, there may be trouble all year. Ray Rice is going to get his chance.

I wish someone would pay for Hall of Famer Fred Dean to get his Super Bowl ring back. I have the same one and without him, I would never be able to cherish that moment.

Every time there are trade talks and rumors coming from Green Bay, they never quite seem right. This I know for a fact.... When I was working at the Hotel California, the same type of stuff was floating around about Randy Moss and talks with Oakland. Someone out there has bad sources in Green Bay.

I believe Brad Childress and the Vikings. I doubt the Packers would ever call them.

Miami's depth chart does not mean a single thing -- they will be making changes throughout the preseason and it will remind some of a hockey game with all the line changes. Most teams' preseason depth charts are more acts of confusion than a means for clearing up things.

How can Aaron Rodgers beat out Favre? Rodgers has never played and would have to work with a 50% Green Bay playbook. Favre has played and will run a sophisticated scheme and system. There is no competition.

The answer is "Yes." Someone asked me if Raheem Morris, the defensive back coach of the Bucs, is head coaching material. Personally, I have never seen him coach. However, I have heard from people I respect and they regard him very highly. He has even managed to get Phillip Buchanon to at least attempt to tackle, and that alone is a miracle.

Shawn Andrews is battling depression and has decided to come to camp on Friday. There is no better medical care than what the NFL offers, and it's good he is in camp. He can get the help he needs so that he can deal with what he's enduring. I feel very badly for Shawn, but he should have let the Eagles help him earlier. He could have saved himself $200,000.

Fantasy Football Positional Rankings 2008 - Wide Receivers

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:22:35 -0500

An in-depth look at the top 49 wide receivers going into the 2008 season.

8/3 - Fantasy Football Training Camp Notes

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:59:25 -0500

Pre-season should be used as crunch time for preparing for a fantasy football draft. You have already downloaded the 2008 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets, you have formulated a plan and you are studying everything that is fantasy football news related. You need to be on top of things, so remember to always check in with the Bruno Boys and Training Camp Talk, where you will find the up to date fantasy news around the NFL. So click on the link below to read what the Bruno Boys have to say about some of the most talked about NFL players...

Fantasy Football - Getcha Popcorn Ready

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:38:14 -0500

Training camps are in full swing. Groins are being pulled, HOF quarterbacks are being bribed to retire and it 's about that time to start thinking about your fantasy football draft. We're going to focus on round one in particular and will share with you thoughts on who you should be targeting with the top 12 picks...

Out of Bounds: Everybody Gets a "Do-Over"

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:06:13 -0500

We all make mistakes in life, and at times we're given a "do-over". I'm back with ALLHipHop.com this week with my thoughts on some people who have made the most of their"do-over's", and some who need to make the most of their "do-over".

Browns' Edwards has caught on to what it takes

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:06:53 -0500

BEREA, Ohio - Quinn Clarke was wearing a maize University of Michigan cap and the No. 17 Wolverines jersey of his hero. But the grinning 8-year-old boy wanted Braylon Edwards to autograph something else. "You really want me to sign your head?" a startled Edwards asked during a private meet-and-greet with Quinn's family Thursday afternoon inside the Cleveland Browns' fieldhouse. Quinn reaffirmed the request, removing his hat to reveal a skull left bald from the ravages of chemotherapy. Edwards graciously obliged, inking his name atop Quinn's noggin. The bonding between the two doesn't end there. While the commitment and sacrifices required for NFL stardom can't compare to the physical and emotional strength needed to battle a life-threatening ailment, Quinn and Edwards do share a common trait: perseverance. Originally diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2, Quinn has beaten the disease before and received encouragement from Edwards toward doing so again following a recent recurrence. As for Edwards, the wide receiver's challenge was overcoming some of the obstacles that others atop his draft class couldn't. After a breakthrough campaign last season, Edwards is the only top 10 selection from 2005 to have reached the Pro Bowl. Four of those picks — running back Cedric Benson (Chicago, No. 4), cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones (Tennessee, No. 6), and wide receivers Troy Williamson (Minnesota, No. 7) and Mike Williams (Detroit, No. 10) — are no longer on the team that drafted them. Four others — running backs Ronnie Brown (Miami, No. 2) and Cadillac Williams (Tampa Bay, No. 5) and defensive backs Antrel Rolle (Arizona, No. 8) and Carlos Rogers (Washington, No. 9) — have suffered serious knee injuries. And the biggest bust of all was the player chosen first: San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith, who is fighting for a starting job this season against NFL Europa alumni Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan. "Alex shouldn't have been the No. 1 overall pick," Edwards said when asked to reflect upon his draft class. "That was a situation where (the 49ers) were desperate for a quarterback." Edwards offered more candid thoughts on why the other picks flopped. Edwards said Williamson "never was proven (in college). He was a guy who ran extremely fast at the (NFL Scouting) Combine, so that put him on the radar." Edwards also pinpointed Mike Williams' weight problems as the reason he is currently out of football. "At this level, you can't play at 250 pounds at receiver," Edwards said. "It's not going to happen." For two seasons, the Browns wondered what would happen with Edwards. He too suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament as a rookie and generated more headlines for his immaturity than on-field exploits. Edwards defied head coach Romeo Crennel in 2006 by attending a Michigan-Ohio State football game in Columbus, causing him to arrive late for yet another team meeting on the eve of a Cleveland-Pittsburgh match-up. Edwards publicly chastised Browns coaches and teammates for his modest productivity even though he was dropping too many passes. Cleveland's 10-22 record in 2005 and 2006 after he experienced so much team success at Michigan further compounded the problem. Browns general manager Phil Savage praises Crennel for working closely with Edwards to improve his shortcomings without trying "to really crush his spirit like some coaches would have." "We just sat down and had talks about different things — how to act, what's important, priorities," Crennel said. "To his credit, he listened. He understood that I do know a little bit about what I'm talking about. "A rookie, when they come in, they don't know as much as they think they know. He understands now if he concentrates on football and does the good things there, other things will happen for him." Crennel's advice started paying dividends in 2007. Surrounded by much better offensive talent — which he volunteers as the biggest reason for his own improvement — Edwards stopped yapping and started producing. He registered 80 receptions for 1,289 yards on a Browns team that went 10-6. Edwards also had 16 touchdown catches, finishing behind only New England's Randy Moss in that statistical category. Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, who played with the Patriots last season, said Edwards and Moss share some of the same traits. "He's got a big body and he's fast," Stallworth said of the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Edwards. "You get a lot of guys who are tall but really don't know how to use their bodies. He definitely does. He puts himself in position between the ball and (defensive backs). He's able to out-jump a lot of guys." Stallworth invokes Moss' name to motivate Edwards during practice. "If he drops a ball or anything, I always mess with him and tell him, 'Randy wouldn't do that,'" said a laughing Stallworth, a close friend of Edwards since 2005. "But Braylon usually doesn't make too many mistakes. Just as long as he continues working hard, he's going to be one of the great players for a long time." Edwards' confidence in his NFL future — "The groundwork for the cake is laid," he said. "Now, I just have to put the icing on it." — can come across as arrogant. But Edwards' actions off the field belie that persona. Besides his interaction with children like Quinn Clarke, Edwards made a $1 million donation in 2007 toward helping 100 Cleveland-area eighth-graders receive a college education. Edwards, 25, also has increased his public profile this offseason through numerous media appearances and is emerging as a team leader. "It feels good," he said. "It's something I always imagined myself doing and a role I've always wanted. I just have to uphold my end of the bargain and do what I'm supposed to do on and off the field. Just continue to be a positive reflection of the Browns as opposed to a negative one."

Fantasy Sports Girl: Training Camp Preview - Patriots

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:14:53 -0500

Fantasy Sports Girl Lorraine is back with a look at the Patriots as they head into training camp this year.