Latest Favre Rumor Just a Marketing Ploy?

by | Jun 9, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, Business of Football, NFL Rumors

The latest rumor (other than ESPN’s update tonight that the Vikings have suspended their pursuit of Favre–presumably until tomorrow, when they wake up and start again) is that Favre’s family and friends have booked a block of rooms at the Midway Motor Lodge near Lambeau Field for the weekend of the Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 1

Every report of this story that I’ve seen has been accompanied by the mention that this COULD be a sign that Favre has told those close to him that he is returning.

But what if it isn’t?  What if a really clever manager or bellhop just started the rumor to drum up some publicity for the Midway Motor Lodge?  Get some early reservations going, and hope that people don’t cancel in time, or decide to make the trip even if Favre stays retired?

Or, another possibility–what if Favre has actually decided NOT to come back, and he’s been in touch with the Packers, and that’s the weekend they’re finally going to retire #4?

OK, admittedly, neither of those scenarios seem real plausible–but neither does the idea that family & friends booking a block of rooms means he’s 100% coming back, if you ask me.

Until we finally hear something direct from Brad Childress or Favre himself, all of these reports–NFL Network, ESPN, etc–they are all 100% speculation, in my eyes.  And speculation that I could care less about.  After all, it’s only about two and a hlaf months until our first fantasy draft…

George Wrighster Gets It – CBA Must Be Extended

by | Apr 10, 2009 | Business of Football, NFL Rumors, Welcome

While Martellus Bennett maybe shouldn’t be given a forum to express his latest thoughts & wisdom, another NFL player maybe should be getting the attention of NFL fans, players and owners.  Jaguars TE George Wrighster wrote on his YardBarker blog today about how the collective bargaining agreement needs to be extended, for the good of the game.

If the CBA isn’t figured out soon, the NFL could be looking at a 2010 season with no salary cap–which Wrighster points out will be bad for the owners AND the players, as a whole.

Some players, such as Karlos Dansby, have been spouting off about the money they expect to receive in 2010, thanks to the uncapped year.  And a player like Dansby might actually see some extra cash, if they draw the interest of a team like the Washington Redskins, who will likely (continue) to spend maximum dollars in an effort to finally win something under Dan Snyder.

But many more teams, like Wrighster’s Jaguars, will be much more likely to take advantage of the lack of a salary floor–meaning they will spend much less than the $111 million that they are required to spend on salaries in 2009.  This will lead to a dynamic more like Major League Baseball, where you have big market teams spending anywhere from 2 to 10 times as much as smaller market teams.

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Seahawks Ugly Alternate Jersey Revealed

by | Apr 2, 2009 | Business of Football, NFL ... something, NFL Rumors

UPDATE: Apparently this was an April Fools Joke that just didn’t get publicized until April 2nd.  I think the joke should be on the Seahawks–make them play in green!  Upon further review, it should have been obvious it was a joke–the Seahawks are amongst the teams advocating the annoying trend of monochrome uniforms, so for this to have been real, they would have needed green pants as well.  That would have been AWESOME!

The Seatlle Seahawks new alternate jerseys were leaked on Deadspin this morning–presumably not a late April Fools joke.  I have to agree with Deadspin as to the jersey’s being hideous–why would you put the blueish-grey stripes on a beautiful green jersey like that?

Seahawks New Alternate Jersey

Seahawks New Alternate Jersey

I’m not a real fan of the trend of jamming so many blocks of colors and Nike swooshes onto jerseys–most of the jerseys teams are switching to these days are hideous, and belong in the arena league (where the “modern” look seemed to originate).

But I actually kind of like the green Seahawks jersey–it would be better without the blue sleeves–but then again, I also list the Buccaneers old creamsicle orange jerseys in my top 5 all time football uniforms.

Tony’s Top 5 “Ugly” Football Uniforms:

5. Houston Oilers powder blue jerseys

4. Buffalo Bills red helmet, blue facemaks combo

3. New England Patriots red jerseys with Pat the Patriot

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers creamsicle orange jerseys and winking pirate…

1. Orlando Thunder flourescent green jerseys–had to be painful for opponents to look at during games.

What are some of the other best all time football uniforms out there?

Cutler and Shanahan to Washington?

by | Apr 1, 2009 | NFL Random Thoughts, NFL Rumors

After 10 days of stomping his feet, holding his breath and not returning phone calls Jay Cutler finally got his way. Denver owner Pat Bowlen announced Tuesday that he’d try to accommodate his spoiled quarterback’s desire to be traded.

The snot-nosed quarterback apparently decided again to not return phone calls or text messages from Bowlen and coach Josh McDaniels.

Roughly one-quarter of the league has reportedly been linked to the brat, err, Cutler talks. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, visiting the Dan Patrick Show, said his best guesses for Cutler’s destination would be the New York Jets and then the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco (assuming Cutler doesn’t have issues with Matt Stafford’s parents getting divorced), Cleveland, and Jacksonville were also mentioned by Yahoo Sports and other outlets.

The rumor I like best so far? Cutler to Washington with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan to follow, possibly next season.

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Rich Eisen: Cutler to be traded on draft day

by | Mar 13, 2009 | 2009 Trades, NFL Rumors

While trying to get some work done for the day job I was listening to the Dan Patrick Show on the radio. During his weekly discussion with Rich Eisen of the NFL Network, the latter host indicated that he believes Jay Cutler will be traded by the Denver Broncos in a draft day deal.

Cutler, he says, simply isn’t going to be able to get over the perceived slight from head coach Josh McDaniels, who either listened to offers or floated Cutler’s name in trade talks involving Matt Cassel last month.

Eisen said the Broncos could use Chris Simms, if they had to. He didn’t predict a destination for Cutler, though he indicated that Minnesota and Detroit were two teams he said would be foolish to not at least inquire. Eisen named a couple more potential trade partners that I didn’t catch.

I still think Cutler is being a baby and that Denver would be foolish to make such a deal. He’s still young and even if he’s peaked, he’s still among the better quarterbacks in the league right now.

But if it’s going to become a distraction I can see why McDaniels might think the better move would be cutting the cord and moving on. I guess time will tell.

Seahawks coach-to-be could jump ship

by | Dec 2, 2008 | NFL Rumors

Something called the Washington Huskies Examiner and the Web site ProFootballTalk.com are both reporting that Jim Mora could be the next head coach of the Washington Huskies.

While the Seattle Times reported a month ago that he wouldn’t be a candidate, rumors persist that the former Atlanta Falcons coach might in fact be the guy.

Why is this noteworthy? Well, the assistant head coach/defensive backs coach of the Seattle Seahawks had already been pegged to be the successor to Mike Holmgren, who has already announced that he is leaving the Seattle Seahawks to take at least the next year off.

And the Seahawks may have paid the price for making that announcement prior to the season. While the team has been plagued by injuries, there is some evidence that naming a “head coach in waiting” can turn the current team off from playing for the current guy.

Don Banks at sportsillustrated.cnn.com points at the Indianapolis Colts (Jim Caldwell will replace Tony Dungy when Dungy leaves) and Dallas Cowboys (Jason Garrett will replace Wade Phillips when Jerry Jones gets his next itchy trigger finger) as teams in addition to Seattle that all have underachieved to some degree during the season.

The Colts and Cowboys have turned it around enough to get into contention. But an AFC executive told Banks “I can’t recall one, but in the history of the league has there ever been a situation , where there’s a coach, and a coach in waiting and that team has had a productive season?” the executive asked rhetorically. “I really don’t think so. I don’t remember one. There has to be something to all three of these teams struggling in this situation. How can it not be at least a factor?”

So, while injuries have helped derail the Seahawks this season, they also potentially partially wasted a the year in hopes that Mora would take over next year only for him to potentially jump ship before coaching a game?

I’ve got to think that if this comes to pass this strange “coach in waiting” trend might slow a bit. And I’ve also got to think that perhaps these are some of Jim Mora’s true colors starting to shine through … again.