Lessons from the Titans-Raiders game

by | Aug 15, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL News

I didn’t catch the first quarter of the Tennessee v Oakland game Friday night but it only took a quarter to learn two lessons.

First, Tony Siragusa is one of the worst sideline reporters in the history of football. He stands on the sideline making stupid wisecracks and adds nothing to the Fox broadcasts, just like two or three years ago when the only difference was that he did the same thing only louder.

Second, damn, Chris Johnson is fast. The Titans’ Lightning to Lendale White’s Thunder doesn’t appear to have the softest hands when it comes to catching the ball. But whether it’s running outside or busting up the middle the fastest rookie at the 2008 NFL Combine in Indianapolis (4.24 40-yard dash) translates that speed to the field well.

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48,434? Toronto should be thrilled

by | Aug 15, 2008 | NFL Random Thoughts

The Buffalo Bills preseason game in Toronto against Pittsburgh drew an announced crowd of 48,434 at Rogers Centre Thursday night, roughly 20,000 more fans than the Toronto Argonauts‘ last home game drew.

Reports indicate that many of those seats were discounted and as many as 15,000 might have been given away for free. And some fans were chanting “the Bills belong in Buffalo” and “Argos” as fans tailgated and then headed to the game.

But overall organizers disappointed by the turnout need to remember that this was a meaningless preseason game played primarily between two teams that featured players who will be backups at best and grocery baggers in most cases by the time the regular season starts in less than a month.

If there were really 48,434 fans on hand to watch the game – even if many were there to watch the Steelers, who played in the NFL last game in Canada nearly 50 years ago – they should be thrilled. It’s still the NFL in Canada, it’s not the main sport north of the border and it’s still drawing fans for a game that doesn’t mean squat.

The December game featuring the Bills and Miami Dolphins will be a far better measurement of fan interest in the NFL. I think it’s still questionable whether or not Toronto will ever end up being a legitimate candidate for NFL expansion or relocation. But the same could be said for Los Angeles. I think under the circumstances the city represented itself well in this first foray.

McNabb looks good, Delhomme looks … rushed

by | Aug 14, 2008 | Fantasy Football

While the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles wait out a lightning delay in Charlotte it’s a good time to make some fantasy football observations about two quarterbacks coming off of injury seasons. During the first 10 minutes of play Donovan McNabb looks reasonably sharp.

He’s connected with four receivers mostly on short routes hitting them in stride and letting them run after the catch. One such play went to Brian Westbrook on first down. He caught a three or four yard pass and turned it into a 14 yard gain. McNabb also hit rookie DeSean Jackson with an 11-yard catch along the sidelines on one third down.

After going 10 for 13 for 97 yards with a touchdown last week against Pittsburgh McNabb appears to be in regular season form. Fox Sports also talked during the pregame show about how McNabb and coach Andy Reid spent more time talking this offseason allowing McNabb to go into the season not only more physically healthy than he has been since tearing an ACL in 2006 but also mentally healthy.

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Report: Vikings McKinnie to miss four games

by | Aug 14, 2008 | NFL News

While the Minnesota Vikings had a solid offseason the team has been hit by some bad news during the first few weeks of camp.

First, starting defensive end Ray Edwards missed several practices with back issues. Then in the first preseason game, special teams guru/backup linebacker Heath Farwell and backup defensive end Jayme Mitchell suffered season-ending injuries.

Starting safety Madieu Williams was next as it was reported earlier this week that the free agent signee would miss up to six weeks with a neck injury.

Now Sirius NFL Radio is reporting that starting left tackle Bryant McKinnie is likely to get a four-game suspension for his role in a brawl outside a Miami nightclub in February. McKinnie has pleaded not guilty to the offense but the commish isn’t bound by legal decisions in deciding how players will be disciplined according to the league’s personal conduct policy.

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