Smith suspended two games

by | Aug 2, 2008 | NFL Breaking News

The Carolina Panthers have suspended wide receiver Steve Smith for the first two regular season games after Smith cold-cocked teammate and fellow-starter Ken Lucas, according to Fox Sports Radio and other media reports.

Smith broke Lucas’ nose, according to coach John Fox, according to the Associated Press. Smith will play in preseason games and practice with the team again starting Monday.

Had to happen. Hurts the team early on but if the Panthers hadn’t acted they A) run the risk of losing the locker room and B) let Smith think he can get away with these antics. The Panthers will likely be better off in the long run but they were a borderline playoff team before this – if they open 0-2 it doesn’t help the team’s cause – or Fox’s.

Panthers’ Smith beats crap out of teammate

by | Aug 1, 2008 | NFL Breaking News

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith was sent home from training camp after beating the crap out of cornerback Ken Lucas while the two were on the sidelines with their helmets off.

According to the Associated Press, it took linebacker Jon Beason to pry Smith off of Lucas, who ProFootballTalk.com reports may have a broken orbital bone.

Three-time Pro Bowler Smith, one of the highest-paid and most successful wide receivers in the NFL, received anger management training after clocking teammate Anthony Bright during a film session in 2002. He was fined and suspended for a game that time. Unlike Bright, Lucas is a starter.

General Manager Marty Hurney told the AP the team would handle the fight internally. Coaches often love it when there’s some spunk shown during practice, but we are guessing this isn’t the kind of thing they’re looking for.

Charchian chimes in on Fantasy Football 08

by | Aug 1, 2008 | Fantasy Football

I consider myself a fairly capable fantasy football player and I’ll put my history up against that of nearly anyone else. But a couple seasons ago I was stumped. I entered the championship game on a roll, having won seven of nine matchups including my semifinal game a week earlier.

But during that game my running backs were decimated with injuries and I was left with little more than waiver-wire options to stock my lineup with for Championship Sunday.

I had a couple ideas but thought I could use some additional guidance – so for the first time ever I emailed the guys at Fantasy Football Weekly, billed as the longest-running show on KFAN-AM radio in the Twin Cities (the show starts up again this Saturday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. central time and is podcast-able shortly afterward by clicking “Fan on Demand” at www.KFAN.com).

Paul Charchian, co-host of Fantasy Football Weekly and now founder of LeagueSafe®, and his colleagues recommended I pick up and start both Ron Dayne and Michael Pittman, one at running back and the other in a flex-position. They scored 18 and 9 points respectively helping me to a 64-63 win that netted a nice championship check and bragging rights over a group of east coasters wondering why a country bumpkin from the midwest was even in their league.

A few weeks ago Charchian noticed a post on this site and when contacted by Zoneblitz he graciously agreed to answer some questions and share his thoughts on what to expect during the season ahead.

(more…)

Henry only suspended four games

by | Jul 31, 2008 | NFL News

Chris Henry, who missed the first eight games of last season after being suspended for various legal issues, has been suspended for the first four of this season.

He can play in the final 12 – if he can find a team to sign him, according to the Associated Press. The Cincinnati Bengals released him after he was accused of punching a University of Cincinnati student and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

The jury in the case couldn’t come to a verdict resulting in a mistrial. But to this point it appears as though Henry may have worn out his welcome in the NFL – there have been few reports of him getting tryouts. He’ll likely get a shot somewhere eventually, but as far as naming an NFL Douchebag (or is it douchbag?) of the Decade it’d be a tight vote between Henry, Adam “Don’t call me Pacman” Jones and Michael Vick.

Carter working out with Miami? Really?

by | Jul 31, 2008 | NFL Breaking News

Remember Quincy Carter?

Yeah, the guy Jerry Jones fell in love with a few years ago?

Apparently the Miami Dolphins aren’t happy with the quarterbacks they have in camp. The Palm Beach Post and other publications are reporting that they are working out the 30-year-old Carter, who has been out of the league since 2004.

Coach Tony Sparano told the paper it doesn’t mean he’s unhappy with John Beck, Chad Henne and Josh McCown (and why would he be unhappy with that trio of current and future stars?). How does Carter, whose previous stints include failure in the Canadian Football League and struggles with drugs – both during and after his NFL years – warrant another NFL shot when guys like Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper are without jobs? Just curious.

Not that guys who struggle with drugs don’t deserve a second chance – they do. The bigger issue, in my eyes, is that when he played before – drugged or not – he was a mediocre NFL quarterback … at best.