Raiders Could Cut '06 First-Round Pick, Michael Huff
In the months and days leading up to the 2006 NFL Draft, most folks who know about such things figured Texas safety Michael Huff to be a top-10 pick. In looking back through the '06 draft mags, Pro Football Weekly and ESPN had Huff going seventh to the 49ers, and The Sporting News had the Lions taking him with the ninth selection.
In the end, the Raiders -- a team with needs, well, at just about every position -- drafted Huff seventh overall. And that, in all likelihood, was the highlight of his professional career. Huff started every game in '06 and '07, but only managed seven starts last season. In three years, he has 191 tackles and 17 passes defended but just one interception.
In their '06 draft issues, The Sporting News compared Huff to Troy Polamalu and ESPN pegged him for an Ed Reed-type player. If nothing else, just more proof that projecting how college stars will fare in the NFL is more art than science. Huff has been so underwhelming, in fact, that there's a good chance he'll be out of work in a few weeks.
The Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones writes: "Though the team gets S Tyvon Branch back, [Rashad] Baker proved valuable. The team is likely to cut S Michael Huff, something he also expects. Branch's return could mean the Raiders would let Justin Miller walk with little resistance."
Looking at the names the Raiders passed over to take Huff is mostly pointless, but it's the offseason -- we've got time. On Draft Day '06, Matt Leinart seemed like a reasonable choice because nobody actually expected Andrew Walter do be anything more than a NFL backup. Turns out, that could also be Leinart's ultimate fate too. But Oakland could've had Jay Cutler, Haloti Ngata, Antonio Cromartie, Santonio Holmes, DeAngelo Williams or Joseph Addai -- all players who would've contributed immediately.
But again, this isn't to point and gawk in the general direction of the Raiders' front office, but to highlight how things might've been different had Oakland passed on Huff. Although, to be fair, these are the Al Davis All-Stars we're talking about -- maybe nothing would've changed.
(c) 2009 AOL LLC
Tillman name lives on, enters Hall of Fame conversation
TAMPA -- Pat Tillman was a seventh-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. But though the 1997 Pac-10 defensive player of the year at Arizona State entered the NFL with little fanfare, he managed to become a three-year starting safety for the Cardinals and made a franchise-record 224 tackles in 2000.
Tillman famously turned down a multimillion-dollar contract offer from Arizona after the 2001 season to enlist in the Army and join the elite Rangers in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2004, a victim of a friendly fire incident that was initially covered up by the Army.
For their part, the Cardinals have retired Tillman's No. 40 jersey, placed his name in their Ring of Honor and dedicated the Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza, which surrounds University of Phoenix Stadium and stands as a tribute to the fallen safety and soldier.
Tillman's story of sacrifice has become an inspiration to many. Renowned more for his heart and will on the field than his limited physical gifts, Tillman's name has nonetheless surfaced with more frequency when it comes to Hall of Fame discussions.
CLASS OF 2009: Six chosen for Hall of Fame
NBC analyst and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth floated the sentiment while broadcasting the Cardinals' wild-card victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 3.
"He's gonna come up this year for a Hall of Fame vote," Collinsworth said at the time. "And if Pat Tillman doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame, who does? Here's a guy that turned down millions of dollars, a three-year, $3.6 million deal, to go fight for our country. I hope that that is the vote that they will take. This guy is the very essence of what we all hope the NFL and its players will ultimately be."
Tillman, who was never an All-Pro nor ever elected to a Pro Bowl in his four-year career, has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2006. He has never received serious consideration from the committee, which elected six new members for enshrinement Saturday after its annual deliberations
But Collinsworth strongly defended the case for Tillman during Super Bowl week despite the argument that his credentials as a player are not worthy of immortality even if his courage and sacrifice are worthy of far higher honors than a bust in Canton.
"I think there's Pat Tillman, and (then) everybody else," Collinsworth says, believing Tillman's name should be elevated above other Hall of Famers such as O.J. Simpson, who was recently convicted of several felonies, robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon among them.
Asked if Canton should construct a special display for Tillman but stop short of giving him full induction - thereby making a distinction between Tillman's on- and off-the-field contributions - Collinsworth doesn't waver.
"I know I'm in the minority on this, but I can't even rationalize the argument against it. The more I hear that, the more passionate I get," he says, noting that the Hall stands for those who have "made a significant mark" on the NFL and that its membership includes non-players, such as former commissioner Pete Rozelle, who made lasting contributions to the league.
Tillman's memory clearly lives on strongly with his former team.
"I think he's looking down right now, and he's really excited for us," Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said earlier this week before the team's Super Bowl XLIII showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. "And the second thing, he's really ticked off that he's not down here getting ready to play in the Super Bowl."
Strong safety Adrian Wilson, the longest tenured Cardinal, played alongside Tillman when he was a rookie in 2001, Tillman's final season in the league.
"Pat's memory will never die with the Arizona Cardinals," says Wilson, who assumed Tillman's starting role in 2002. "He's definitely a Hall of Fame Cardinal player."
But for some, like Collinsworth, Tillman is far more than that.
"You can't tell me (Tillman's) not one of the most 200 important people in the history of the league," says Collinsworth. "If you ask me to tell the story of the National Football League, one of the stories I'm gonna tell you is the Pat Tillman story."
Copyright 2009 USA TODAY
Can Steelers contain Cards' Fitzgerald?
Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald is the best player in football right now. Is there even an argument for anyone else?
And no doubt there are at least a few residents of Pittsburgh rooting for the former Pitt star in Super Bowl XLIII. All Fitzgerald has done is rack up 419 yards receiving this postseason, which is a record. He had nine catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC championship game against the Eagles. He has eight TD catches in his last five games and 11 in his last eight, plus five consecutive 100-yard games.
Stud.
So while Anquan Boldin drew the early headlines for his childish behavior, there is a reason the Cards gave Fitzgerald a lucrative new contract before the season and not Boldin.
"He's breaking some of Jerry Rice's records," Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor said (he will draw the primary assignment on Fitzgerald). "From what he's displaying week in and week out, yeah, he's one of the best in the world."
"He's come through, and he's made plays," Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. "I just think great players are judged by how they play in big games, and these have been the three biggest games of his career to this point, and in each one, I think he's played better."
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL, and they allowed a whopping 22 fewer yards through the air than any other team in the regular season. Yes, the Steelers permitted only three teams to throw for 200 yards, none reached 300 and two were held below 100 yards. Yes, the Steelers have allowed only two 100-yard receivers since Week 4.
Remember that he had 11 catches for 123 yards in the Cardinals' 21-14 victory over Pittsburgh during the 2007 regular season.
"He's probably the best I've ever seen with ball skills and extension at the ball," said Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. "You know how they say basketball players play taller than they are? This guy is like 7-feet tall at the ball."
(c)2008 WagerWeb
It's Black Sunday for Browns fans
Black Sunday was first the mother of all dust storms in 1935 and years later a movie about terrorism at the Super Bowl.
But here and now it's forever connected to an even more horrific event, Sunday's Pittsburgh-Baltimore AFC Championship Game.
No need to hide the women and children for what you knew was coming Sunday. Hiding the 12-pack from the husbands was a far better strategy and one best carried out early.
9 a.m.: You awake to Ozzie Newsome in your morning paper saying Baltimore's success could easily have happened here if not for the team moving out of town. Thanks for that thought.
Newsome said the decisions that made Baltimore a winner came before the bankrupt Modell needed an influx of cash to stay alive. The argument is supposition from all angles.
Let's just say the Modell who was here borrowed big money to sign Andre Rison. That's a double indictment that hardly portends a Super Bowl trophy in the offing.
9:30: The only thing depressing you more than Newsome's opinion on that is his simple take on the factors involved in success in the AFC North, especially late in the season when the weather turns ugly, because this one everybody knows to be so obviously true.
Running the ball and stopping the run.
"If you can't control the line of scrimmage, then you're going to have trouble winning," he said.
The Browns' NFL rankings since they returned in 1999:
Rushing offense: Chris Palmer (31st, 30th); Butch Davis (31, 23, 20, 23); Romeo Crennel (25, 31, 10, 26).
Rushing defense: Chris Palmer (31, 29); Butch Davis (29, 27, 23, 32); Romeo Crennel (30, 29, 27, 28).
It's hard to deny the Browns have been the movable force and the resistible object.
11 a.m.-noon: Consider other coaching hires and wonder if Randy Lerner got it right this time.
New guy in Tampa, 32-year-old Raheem Morris, introduced to the media Saturday. Asked to explain his offensive philosophy.
Says, "We're going to score . . . touchdowns. That's what we're going to do."
What's this "touchdown" thing he's talking about? Make a note to check Dictionary of Football Terms.
12:30 p.m.: Browns get a mention on ESPN. What? The Eric Mangini hire? A GM update?
No, it's Tom Jackson talking about Donovan McNabb and how he has to ignore outside expectations to get to a Super Bowl and win one. Where's the Cleveland connection?
"You can't suffer from Tim Couch Syndrome where, 'I'm so concerned what the fans think, I can't play football,' " says Jackson.
The syndrome most often on minds here: the "We Could've Had Donovan McNabb Instead of Couch Syndrome."
2 p.m.: At least Terry Bradshaw makes you feel better about your hairline.
2:20: Air time for Cal Ripken, Colts great Lenny Moore, even Baltimore native Carmelo Anthony talking up the Ravens' defense.
"Bring it on, Pittsburgh," said Anthony.
2:25: Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan gets time, too. Did the Browns tap into the same DNA mother lode that produced Buddy Ryan's and Rex Ryan's juggernauts? That's the hope for the day.
4:30: It's certainly not in the weather forecast. Game time two hours away. Check weather.com one last time. Still no dust storms on the horizon.
(c)2009 Cleveland Live, Inc
Philadelphia Eagles Beat Giants 23-11 to Reach NFC Title Game
Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The Philadelphia Eagles advanced to the National Football Conference championship game after beating the defending Super Bowl champion and top-seed New York Giants 23-11.
Donovan McNabb rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and threw a 1- yard score to tight end Brent Celek for Philadelphia amid wind gusts as high as 16 miles per hour (25 kilometers per hour) and freezing temperatures at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The sixth-seeded Eagles (11-6-1) will play at Arizona on Jan. 18 for the right to go to the Super Bowl after the Cardinals upset the second-seeded Carolina Panthers 33-13 yesterday.
"This is beautiful," McNabb said in a televised interview after the game. "The city of Philadelphia is buzzing, the team is buzzing. We're looking forward to going to Arizona, where it's a little warmer than it is here."
All three teams with byes entering this weekend's National Football League playoffs lost, with both of the top conference seeds failing to advance.
Later today, the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) host the San Diego Chargers (9-8) in an American Football Conference divisional playoff. The winner will host Baltimore Jan. 18 in the AFC title game, as the sixth-seeded Ravens knocked off the Tennessee Titans yesterday 13-10.
McNabb Passing
McNabb completed 22 of his 40 pass attempts for 217 yards and was also intercepted twice. Giants quarterback Eli Manning was held to 163 yards on 14-of-28 passing. Manning was also intercepted twice, including a first-quarter interception that was returned by Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel to the 2-yard- line, setting up McNabb rushing touchdown.
Three field goals by John Carney and a safety accounted for all of New York's scoring, though Carney also missed two field- goal tries. The Giants finished 12-5 this season.
Philadelphia's David Akers made all three of his kicks, breaking Gary Anderson's NFL record with 17 consecutive field goals.
(c)2009 BLOOMBERG L.P.
Falcons' Cinderella season ends in desert
Glendale, Ariz. -- The Falcons' improbable climb from NFL doormat to the playoff penthouse suite ended here in the desert Saturday.
Arizona's small but quick defense throttled Atlanta's offense in a 30-24 victory in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs at University of Phoenix Stadium.
"I'm disappointed," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Our whole football team is disappointed with the outcome of the football game today, but we are not discouraged."
The Falcons finished their Cinderella season 11-6. The Cardinals advanced in the playoffs with a 10-7 record. The Cardinals will now face either the New York Giants or the Carolina Panthers.
Just a year removed from losing quarterback Michael Vick to a federal dogfighting investigation and coach Bobby Petrino with three games left in the season, the Falcons shocked so many and ended their four-year playoff drought.
It was a season where the ball usually bounced the Falcons way, as they won one game in the final 11 seconds and silenced critics with road victories at Green Bay, San Diego and Minnesota.
But against the Cardinals, the ball bounced against the Falcons.
The Falcons' normally steady offense committed two costly turnovers (three total) that the Cardinals weaved into 14 points. The offensive line had trouble creating room for running back Michael Turner and gave up three sacks and a safety.
Matt Ryan, who was named the league's offensive rookie of the year last week, threw two interceptions. Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards during the regular season, was held to 42 yards - which tied a season-low - on 18 carries.
"It just seemed like they had guys everywhere," Turner said. "They crowded the line of scrimmage. It seemed like they knew what play we were about to run and then guys were just there waiting on me."
Perhaps most troubling for the Falcons was that their defense. They could not hold the worst rushing attack in the league and could not get a stop in the final 4:15 to get the ball back for the offense.
But the season, by any measure, certainly has to be considered a success.
All the moves that first-year general manager Thomas Dimitroff made seemed to work. Coupled with the ability of Smith to communicate and rally the team, the Falcons put together a surprising season, while in the midst of "retooling."
But in this playoff appearance, their first since the 2004 team reached the NFC championship game, the Falcons did not get off to one of their trademark fast starts.
The key play came early in the second half.
Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Docket pushed guard Harvey Dahl all the way back into the handoff. Turner never got the ball as it bounced into hands of Arizona safety Antrel Rolle, who returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-17.
Dahl was not the only linemen to have a rough day. Tackles Todd Weiner, Sam Baker and Tyson Clabo all gave up sacks.
"They did a very good job controlling the line of scrimmage," Smith said.
The offensive line wasn't the only unit to have a rough outing. The Cardinals passed for 271 yards on the Falcons secondary.
Both of their Pro Bowl receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, impacted the game with touchdowns. Fitzgerald caught six passes for 101 yards. Boldin caught two passes for 72 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown on which he was injured with a left hamstring strain.
"It's frustrating to make it to the playoffs and make mistakes," cornerback Chris Houston said. "But last year we were 4-and-whatever. This year we are 11-6. We have come a long way. Next year, we have positive things to look forward to. In the big picture, we are such a young team and we'll be back next year."
Some of the veterans took the defeat pretty hard.
"I'm in this thing to win it right now and obviously we came up short," linebacker Keith Brooking said. "I thought we had a team that could do what nobody else thought we could. This is tough."
The season seemed to rejuvenate some of the older players, who had to battle through last season's three-ring circus.
"It's been fun and I think guys will look forward to next season and that's not always the case," Weiner said. "Sometimes you just have that sour taste in your mouth."
Smith wasn't ready to reflect on the Falcons season.
"We plan on being back in this situation," Smith said. "We want to remember how this feels."
Copyright(c) 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bengals WR Ocho Cinco inactive for second game because of hamstring injury
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was inactive for the Cincinnati Bengals' final game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs because of a hamstring injury.
The Bengals also were missing receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who had a bad back. The Bengals' offense was missing six starters from their opening game roster.
Ocho Cinco missed the last two games because of the injury, suffered in practice. It concludes a subpar season for the former Pro Bowl receiver - 53 catches for 540 yards and four touchdowns. He also missed one game as punishment for a confrontation with a coach.
Running back Chris Perry was inactive with a groin injury. Perry lost his job to Cedric Benson during the season and doesn't appear to fit in the Bengals' long-term plans.
mcall.com
|
