Tatum Bell took Rudi Johnson’s boxers?

by | Sep 3, 2008 | NFL ... something

Detroit Lions running back Rudi Johnson says Tatum Bell, who was released to make room for the former Bengal, took two of his bags containing boxers, cash and credit cards.

The Lions have the incident on tape. Bell says he grabbed the bags by mistake, thinking they were another former teammate’s belongings.

Johnson, according to ESPN.com, doesn’t believe Bell’s version of the events.

Strange situation. Johnson doesn’t plan to involve the authorities. A female friend of the former teammate’s returned the bags – sans the contents – to the Lions’ practice facility.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who might be close to returning the Lions to competence, declined to comment on the situation for ESPN. Probably wise. They might be onto something good this season – they’re probably a step or two short of the playoffs yet, but they could push or even nudge slightly past .500 this year. And if youngsters like Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith fulfill their potential, the Lions might make the news for more than luggage theft.

Vegas, here we … are

by | Sep 3, 2008 | NFL Gambling

LAS VEGAS – Well, Zoneblitz.com has hit the road.

The patriarch of the Zoneblitz.com family and Tony and I landed at about 1 p.m. Las Vegas time and quickly caught a cab to the Golden Nugget, which will be home base for the next four days. I’ve got my last fantasy auction on Friday but much of the rest of the week will be spent playing Blackjack and analyzing some sports bets for Sunday.

The week got off to a rough start. Tony and I both took a beating at Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel, Fitzgeralds Casino and the Four Queens Resort and Casino. At press time Dad was still out there trying to make sure we had enough cash for dinner … okay, it’s not that bad.

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Flacco may not be ready but he’s starting

by | Sep 1, 2008 | NFL News

Joe Flacco might not be ready to start at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens when the season starts this Sunday but it looks as though he’s going to be the guy by default.

Troy Smith and Kyle Boller have been fighting injuries leaving Flacco to take the helm. Mike Preston, a veteran columnist for the Baltimore Sun, says the rookie is getting more acclimated to the speed of the game but still isn’t ready to start in a real game.

On the upside, Preston reports that the team’s young offensive line and running back Ray Rice have been improving, looking more and more ready. Still, for a rookie quarterback from Delaware to be ready to start in his first real pro game is a stretch. It brings back memories of guys like Tim Couch and David Carr, who started early, got killed and never became the quarterbacks they were projected to be.

The two saving graces might be overall low expectations for the offense and an opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, who seem to be more in money-saving mode than winning-mode these days.

Best of luck to Flacco. But also, get well soon to Troy Smith.

Fantasy football draft number … five, I think

by | Aug 31, 2008 | Fantasy Football

Sick of our football drafts yet?

I had the second-to-last one this morning. This one was an online yahoo.com draft format league filled primarily with some guys on the east coast. The best part going into this season is that I’m coming off of back-to-back championships. This one was filled with surprises.

Round 1 – LaDainian Tomlinson

I drew the second pick in this draft and was dreading making the choice between Adrian Peterson and Brian Westbrook again when the guy with the first pick threw me the first curveball – he took Westbrook, whom I would likely have chosen myself. Tomlinson is the obvious number one pick, in my opinion, so getting a chance to grab him here, I think, clinched the steal of the draft.

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Bengals cut Johnson; Perry to start

by | Aug 30, 2008 | Fantasy Football

What a difference a year makes.

ESPN.com is reporting that Chris Perry will start at running back for the Cincinnati Bengals after the team terminated the contract of Rudi Johnson.

The move puts the exclamation point on a fast and dramatic fall for Johnson who, prior to 2007, had three seasons in a row with more than 1,300 yards rushing.

Hamstring injuries hampered Johnson last season and he was held to 497 yards. He came to camp, according to ESPN.com, in great shape this season. Perry is more of a receiving threat, but the move confuses me a little bit because Perry has been injury prone during his three-year career. Anyone owning Perry should grab some depth with Kenny Watson.

Meanwhile I’m not fully convinced that Johnson is done. A team like Seattle might find a guy like Johnson, playing rejuvenated and with a chip on his shoulder, a worthwhile risk.

ADD: Wow. The Bengals not only lopped Rudi Johnson but Willie Anderson, a starting tackle for a dozen years, as well. Anderson suffered through an injury-plagued season last year and lost his job to Stacy Andrews during camp. He declined, according to CNNSI.com and other media reports, to take a pay cut on Saturday to remain with the Bengals.