Top pick long destined for right tackle?

by | Jul 7, 2008 | NFL News

Apparently the Miami Dolphins and other league experts are starting to wonder if top draft pick Jake Long would be better suited to play right tackle instead of left tackle.

Nobody is doubting that Long will be a solid-to-excellent tackle wherever he ends up. But NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock says Long struggled in college some against the top speedy pass rushers with NFL skills while projecting that he can be a star road grader of a right tackle. He went as far in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel as suggesting that the Dolphins keep Vernon Carey at left tackle for awhile as Long adjusts to the rigors of the NFL.

Zoneblitz endorsed taking Long as the top pick in April, figuring that if there is no clarity as to who the top pick should be it’s hard to go wrong solidifying yourself in the trenches. And while it would be better if Long developed into a franchise left tackle, if he’s better on the right side and solidifies himself as a stud run blocker, the Dolphins will still be better off.

(more…)

Favre “coming out” of retirement???

by | Jul 2, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL Breaking News

In perhaps the least stunning news of the offseason, Brett Favre has apparently been in touch with the Green Bay Packers about “coming out” of his retirement.

First of all, we predicted this when he announced his retirement back in March that Favre would quarterback the Packers to a comeback win over Minnesota at some point during the 2008 season.

Second, he has only missed a couple mini camps. Since it’s only been four months and he typically misses a couple of those anyway, it hasn’t been long enough to call it “coming out” of retirement.

(more…)

Taylor nixes Packer talks

by | Jun 23, 2008 | NFL News

When he was being ignored by the higher-ups in Miami and appeared destined to stay stuck with the Dolphins in 2008 it was easier to feel for defensive end-linebacker Jason Taylor. However, when his posse leaked to the media his lack of interest in going to Green Bay because the market isn’t big enough he risked losing some goodwill.

Sure, the Packers reside in middle America. And sure, Brett Favre retired this offseason, making the season ahead much more murky.

But this is a team coming off a 13-3 season during which it surprised the league by reaching the NFC Championship game. Aaron Rodgers, while unproven, comes with a decent enough pedigree to think the team will at least be competitive during the season ahead.

(more…)

Vikings to Super Bowl? Dr. Z. says so

by | Jun 20, 2008 | NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

As mentioned more times than you probably care to read Zoneblitz is operated by a pair of homegrown Minnesota Vikings fans. That’s been more frustrating than joyous for the past six or seven years but you’ve got to stick with your team, don’t you?

Anyway, if Dr. Z at Sports Illustrated is right we Minnesotans might finally get our payoff this year. He’s pegged the Vikes to knock off Dallas, New York, New Orleans, and all other comers to grab the NFC berth in the big game.

(more…)

How about Assclown? Or Douchebag?

by | Jun 18, 2008 | NFL Random Thoughts

So, Pacman Jones wants to cut ties with his troubled past. How’s he going to do it? Anger management counseling? Distancing himself from some of his posse? Taking the stripper pole out of his living room (Actually, I suppose if I were him I’d leave that there, since he’s less likely to be arrested cavorting around with strippers in his own house)?

No. But Adam Shefter of the NFL Network is reporting that he’s planning to publicly ask media members not to refer to him as Pacman anymore.

Well, problem solved. What a fantastic solution to his legal problems of the past. There’s no way he’ll be getting arrested anymore now that he wants to be known simply as “Adam”.

My favorite part of this AOL posting on the subject is where the commenters say they quit calling him Pacman in favor of Douchecanoe and/or Inmate 6841324 long ago. They beat me to the punch in better fashion than I could have written it myself.

Dude. Do yourself a favor and stay as far away from the media as you can. Stay out of the spotlight. Stay away from the cameras. You’ve gotten enough chances now where people are going to bait you and they aren’t going to care about your efforts to change – especially when they ring as hollow as trying to erase everything away by changing your friggin’ name.

It appears as though you’re going to get your second, err, seventh chance to succeed in the NFL and, disappointingly enough, you are going to get to do it with the team you wanted to, the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t know that anyone is actively going to root against you and hope that you fail, but you’ve done nothing to engender anyone’s goodwill either. On ESPN a couple months ago you still looked like you were in denial and if I were in Vegas I’d be betting that you can’t do it.

You don’t want to be known as Pacman anymore? More power to you. But Adam, you’ll always be Assclown Jones to me.