NFL cutting staph

by | Mar 13, 2009 | NFL Random Thoughts

No, no, the National Football League isn’t cutting more employees. They did a good chunk of that last month.

This month two infectious disease experts inspected seven NFL facilities (those of the Ravens, Browns, Dolphins, Saints, Jets, Eagles and Redskins) and found that the incidence of MRSA (otherwise known as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureas, or staph infection) is low and steadily declining, according to the Associated Press, via Sporting News.

Okay, I admit it. I wouldn’t have written this one if not for the opportunity to get clever with the headline … and my guess is that I amused myself more than anyone else. If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to start your own blog.

Nonetheless, this was becoming serious business a couple years ago when several teams were having these incidents pop up. The Browns, for instance, had at least six players stricken in recent years, including Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards.

The report written by these doctors is being distributed to each of the NFL clubs and their medical staffs.

Carry on, good soldiers. When football players miss games it should be as a result of broken bones and torn ligaments, not unsanitary conditions in the locker room.

Delaware governor introducing sports gambling bill

by | Mar 13, 2009 | NFL Gambling

In an effort to help stimulate his state’s economy, Gov. Jack Markell has reportedly announced plans to introduce a bill sometime soon that would legalize sports gambling in Delaware.

The bill would allow people to put down parlay bets on sporting events and it would be the first time in 30 years that sports betting would be legal anywhere east of the Mississippi River. It could be legal by the time the big gambling season, also known as the National Football League, starts up in September.

Understandably, the bill has supporters and detractors. Eric R. Bodenweiser, a 50-year-old resident of Georgetown, DE, told Delaware Online: “To me it’s a moral thing: Gambling is a sinful thing. I’m sorry that the government has gotten involved in it as we have.”

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Jaguar Jones-Drew’s stock just keeps rising

by | Mar 9, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, Fantasy Football

When I was short a running back late last season one of the guys I tried to acquire was Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones Drew.

The guy had a rough opening to the season, as he continued sharing time with 87-year-old Fred Taylor and the team’s offensive line fell victim to a ridiculous spate of injuries and mediocre play.

But as the season wore on, Jones-Drew got stronger and as he has done throughout his career, he continued to be a touchdown machine, scoring 15 in 2008 despite starting just one game and touching the gall just 212 times.

Jones-Drew was already likely to improve upon his numbers in 2009 just based on the likelihood that the offensive line would be more healthy (center Brad Meester missed time with a biceps injury and guards Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams missed all but the season opener due to injuries and backup Richard Collier had his career ended by a gunshot wound shortly before the season started).

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Jettisoning Owens makes Austin possible Cowboys fantasy sleeper

by | Mar 9, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, Fantasy Football

I’ve been trying for a few days now to figure out the fantasy ramifications for Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans and other Buffalo Bills now that they’ve picked up Terrell Owens. Sure, Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed weren’t cutting it as number two wideouts, helping make Evans one of fantasy’s most frustrating potential stars.

But Owens’ history, admitted or not, of being a jagoff of a teammate makes me nervous that the youngster Edwards could get rattled and curl up in the fetal position on the 50 yard line.

Hopefully he’s stronger than that, but it leaves me with no idea yet how to look at the Buffalo Bills’ skill players heading into the middle of free agency. I’ll leave you with a link to ffchamps.com, where Anthony Maggio, whom we occasionally contact for insight and who also writes the blog Punting Baxter, wrote an extensive piece outlining his thoughts on Owens’ contributions.

One person in Dallas I think might be an overlooked beneficiary of Owens’ departure is little-known Miles Austin.

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T.O. to Tennessee?

by | Mar 5, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, NFL News

If early media coverage of the Terrell Owens saga proves accurate it seems the brash former Cowboy, Eagle and 49er wide receiver might have trouble finding his next suitor.

Stephen A. Smith on ESPN News Thursday night indicated that Owens would like to play for Indianapolis, the New York Giants or New England. He cited no sources in his report, however, so it’s uncertain to me whether he was saying so based on solid information or just guessing where T.O. would like to play.

And the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network’s further reporting, courtesy of Chris Mortensen, indicated that all 16 NFC teams and 14 AFC teams have said they have no interest in signing the enigmatic receiver, cut loose officially by the Dallas Cowboys Thursday.

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