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.

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What the #$%^ was Walker thinking?

by | Jun 17, 2008 | NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

I don’t want this post misinterpreted. I’m not arguing in favor of physical violence against anybody nor do I have any respect for thugs who acquire things not through buying them but by beating the hell out of their fellow man and taking it.

But what in the hell was Javon Walker thinking in Las Vegas early Monday morning hanging around with $3,000 in cash and more than $100,000 worth of jewelry?

Various media outlets are reporting details surrounding the events of the evening that might have led to Walker getting his beating. Among other allegations is that Walker was at the Body English nightclub inside the Hard Rock Café into the wee hours of the morning and that he may have had another party earlier in the weekend where he engaged in spraying champagne in the direction of other patrons. (more…)

Specter of Spygate is over

by | Jun 17, 2008 | NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

Rest easy, NFL. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has given up his dream of a Congressional inquiry into Spygate, the “scandal” that rocked the 2007 NFL season creating controversy around the New England Patriots’ 16-0 regular season.

Specter, who has to have better things to do than worry about what is going on on NFL sidelines during games, told the Philadelphia Daily News in a statement picked up by other media outlets that his judiciary committee “has too much to do” and he’s “gone as far as I can.”

Apparently the demands of fighting a war, fixing health care, the national deficit, an ongoing presidential election, crumbling national infrastructure, environmental concerns, $4 per gallon gas prices, and Congress’ 11 percent approval rating are more important than Spygate. Good that he finally came to that realization. (more…)

Browns Already in Perilous Position?

by | Jun 11, 2008 | NFL News

**UPDATE** The Browns actually went ahead and cut LeCharles Bentley today.  Apparently Hank Fraley & Rex Hadnot are just too good.

Andy has already gone on the record as saying he thinks the Browns will be a team to watch in 2008.  I have pulled out my political talking head hat, and said I think they will regress from 2007–while also admitting that they may still win their division (I am not impressed with the AFC North).

Now comes news that WR Joe Jurevicius may not be ready to start the season, as he’s become the SIXTH player on the team in four years to contract staph.  Seriously, I know they’re taking steps to prevent it, but they might want to step up those efforts.

On the surface, this news seems to have little impact, fantasy wise or otherwise–Jurevicius started 12 games and caught 50 passes with three TDs last season, but is expected to be the #3 WR this season since Donte Stallworth was signed.

Still, this one scares me a little bit–Jurevicius likely was a calming veteran presence in the huddle for the Browns, and a positive role model for some of the receiver corps to look up to, given their tendency to flap their gums. 

And, I’m guessing that the 3rd WR would see the field a lot in Cleveland, in an effort to keep guys out of the box and free up some room for Jamal Lewis.  Now, it appears that the Browns will likely enter the seasno with Joshua Cribbs (who recently admitted that his having the dropsies during practice was due to his not being focused enough), Travis Wilson, or something called Syndric Steptoe filling the role.

On the positive side for the team, LeCharles Bentley was cleared to practice this week, after missing two seasons due to a torn patellar tendon suffered on the first play of training camp after signing a six-year, $36 million contract on the first day of free agency in 2006.  He then had three subsequent surgeries, to deal with the staph infection that followed.

Of course, there’s now bad blood between him and the team–so no one is sure where he’ll play–guard or center with the Browns, or maybe for someone else.

For his sake, let’s just hope his slip of the tounge when asked about it wasn’t prophetic:

”Zero doubt, absolutely I will be playing somewhere, starting in ’09. ’08, sorry. You know what I meant.”

 

Benson gives Bears reason to cut him

by | Jun 9, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL News

Move Matt Forte higher on your fantasy football draft lists.

Cedric Benson has officially joined Curtis Enis and Rashan Salaam as recent Bear busts at running back. The Bears finally had enough of his lack of production coupled with his offseason antics, which most recently included his second alcohol-related arrest in a month.

The first time he was on a boat and denied being at fault. Instead of keeping his nose clean in an effort to strengthen his credibility, Benson was arrested Saturday, June 7, this time for drinking and driving in a car.

“Given the incident last month, it was a particularly bad decision. I have no excuse for this lack of judgment. Though I strongly believe that I am not guilty of any crime, I realize that the public and the Bears organization hold me to a higher standard,” Benson said in a statement picked up by media outlets.

Well, in all likelihood Benson will get off on these two drinking offenses with little repercussion and he’ll sign with another team. But I think the Bears were looking for a reason to get rid of him anyway. I think Matt Forte should shoot up fantasy draft lists, not into the first round or two, but definitely into the second- or third-tier of backs. He potentially jumps to the top of the list of rookie backs with a chance to make a significant contribution.

And Benson, well, Benson probably blew his best chance at being an NFL feature back. His value was limited before he got cut. At this point he’s a late round draftee if at all.

Jeff Garcia Should Talk to Matt Birk

by | Jun 7, 2008 | NFL News, NFL Rumors

Another piece from Yahoo! Sports (taken from ProFootballTalk, where we saw it earlier this week, but weren’t in a punchy enough mood to bother writing about), Jeff Garcia is STILL whining about his contract situation.

A few of his quotes:

“If it doesn’t work itself out, if a contract is not presented as far as a renewal to finish my career, then I will seriously think about what my alternate options may be. And it may come to not playing football anymore.”

“I feel like when you mistreat people there comes a time when it doesn’t matter how much you are paid, it’s going to lead to some drastic decisions.”

“It would be really difficult to go through this season and not have something done before the season.  I would like to see the appreciation put out there.”

Yeah, it must be tough to get paid $2 million a year to play in 13 games a year, put up some ok numbers, and head home early after getting tossed aside in the first round of the playoffs by a wildcard team.

Someone needs to take Jeff aside, and make him understand that he’s lucky to have that starting job in the first place–he had one ok half-season after Donovan McNabb went down in Philly, after two miserable seasons in Cleveland and Detroit, and many considered him washed up.  And even now, he hasn’t played a full season or thrown 20 touchdowns since 2002, nor has he averaged over 200 yards a game since 2003, his last in San Francisco.

Yeah, having better wide receivers would help his numbers, but that’s not going to change drastically at this point of the season.  If he’s there, he might have another decent year like last year.  If he’s not, Brian Griese or Chris Simms could probably do about the same–without the whining.

Until the next season, of course.