1821

I think this might be getting blown out of proportion because it’s Blount. I mean, I read something the other day that so-and-so lead the Niners for most fights during training camp, but the actual altercations never made the news.

Still, I’m no longer upset that he chose to snub the Niners and sign with Tenessee. Anthony Dixon looked better last Sunday anyway, and has none of the baggage.

1822

It’s definitely getting blown out of proportion, but shouldn’t Bount himself be extra-cautious about his behavior? It makes me wonder if he does have a self-control problem.

1823

It was dumb, but not a big deal. TC fights are very common. In this case, the guy had lost his grandmother over the weekend (and was excused from practice for a few days to go to the service, etc.). He had just gotten back and was probably pretty emotional. The DL were trying to rip his helmet off (there’s that stop the play rule in effect!), like they had done the play before. One of them is elbowing him repeatedly if you watch the video. One of the OL took exception and started pushing guys on the defense. Blount didn’t get involved at first, but then it looks like Bahkriati says something to him that set him off. He took like one punch/slap at the guy. It was no big deal, really. I do agree that he shouldn’t do it since all eyes are on him, however.

1824

He definitely played well in that preseason game; but there’s a reason why Pete Carroll (and no one else) was willing to give him a shot at training camp, even though he’d been out of football since 2007. Not taking away anything from Williams, as he’s certainly making the most of that opportunity, but no one else wanted him. For years.

1825

There’s no doubt that Carroll’s previous relationship with Williams played a role in why he got another shot. But if he wasn’t taking advantage of that shot, he would have been cut by now. Carroll gave Reggie Williams another NFL shot but cut him before camp even started when it was clear Reggie wasn’t taking advantage of the opportunity. Caroll cut LenDale White just a month or so after trading for him despite previous history because he decided that White wasn’t giving them a full effort even though it leaves the Seahawks with a pretty questionable group of running backs. Carroll just traded Lawrence Jackson, a former first round pick that played under Carroll at USC, because they decided he wasn’t a good fit for what they are doing. All of those examples make it hard to argue that Mike Williams is still around for any reason other then that he’s showing something on the field. A lot of people laughed at the signing, for good reason, when it happened. A lot of national observers are not laughing about it anymore because they see that Mike Williams is taking advantage of the chance Carroll gave him.

1826

If you think pre-season football is boring look for a rebroadcast of the Bills Colts game on NFL Network or catch the highlights on SportsCenter. This game was awesome.

1827

A beer is just a beer, unless an alcoholic is drinking it…

1828

Apparently the Seahawks interest in getting WR Vincent Jackson from the Chargers is heating up; they’ve apparently been given the ok to talk to him about a contract, which suggests the two teams have already agreed on the basic terms of a trade.

I don’t know if I really like the idea. Honestly, many Seattle fans are justifiably gunshy about acquiring yet another big name wideout after the Branch and Housh deals failed to pay off. It also makes you wonder what the team thinks about the talent they have at the position. Plus Jackson has had off the field issues and faces a three game suspension from the league when he does sign or report. On the other hand, he would give them a deep threat receiver they haven’t had in a long time.

1829

How is Hasselbeck at the long ball? Whitehurst is anyone’s guess. Jackson excels as a downfield threat, and Rivers was great at putting the ball up for him.

1830

Yeah…

1831

The Redskins should just cut him. I know they are trying to make a point, but they are paying him way too much to have him be in Shanahan’s dog house all season and barely play, which is where this is heading if they keep him.

1832

Yeah, he doesn’t seem interested in getting that point (which as far as I can see is, shut up, keep your head down and practice hard, and do what the coach tells you). I’d cut him.

1833

So while it’s not quite a level of “bring it on, Madden Curse!”-level of confidence, I do feel a lot better about the backup QB situation for the Saints. Ramsey isn’t quite the just shoot me scenario Brunell was, and Chase Daniel looked positively studly vs the Texans (mostly 2nd stringers).

Special teams is still an abortion, though :(

1834

thanks, Larry. That’s what this thread needs: more updates about your favorite teams and less Favre/Haynesworth drama. So, who is the rookie on your favorite team that will surprise people if he gets on the field? Or will be a future star, despite not being a high pick? In other words, who is the sleeper, the value rookie for your team this year?

I’ll start with Alterraun Verner, a CB from UCLA. All this kid has done is make plays in training camp. He’s close to an INT per day, and the Titans aren’t doing ANY two-a-days this year, so he’s had a great showing. He might even sneak in and take that CB job opposite Courtland Finnegan. He fell a bit in the draft after a slow 40 time (4.5-4.6, IIRC), but had 13 INTs in college. Ballhawk type who might lack the deep speed to make it in the NFL but seems to have the instincts.

Your turn.

1835

Is the San Francisco defense that good, or does Minnesota’s o-line just plain suck?

1836

Here’s the update on my favorite team: the Bills are still terrible, and always will be.

1837

OK, here’s the skinny on the Lions two weeks into the preseason:

2009: all you had to do to stop the Lions was put two or three DBs on Megatron (Calvin Johnson) – this was especially true later in the season after Stafford, TE Brandon Pettigrew, and RB Kevin Smith were benched for injuries. As for the Lions defense, our 2nd round draft pick (33rd overall), safety Louis Delmas, turned out to be fricking awesome; the rest of the D, not so much. Overall, we won two games, which was infinity% more than '08, so wooot!

2010: Offense – Stafford is healthy, and, thus far, looking confident and effective in the pocket. Besides Megatron, the Lions added WR Nate Burleson, TE Tony Scheffler, and RB Jahvid Best as viable targets; plus, Pettigrew (the 20th overall pick in the '09 draft) is looking healthy again, and WR Bryant Johnson is is showing signs of life after a dud '09 season. In short: no more triple-teaming #81. Oh, and two games into the preseason, Jahvid Best is showing flashes of game-breaking quickness – “I’m not saying he looks as good as Barry, but…” is the sort of hopeful comment on the lips of many a Lions fan at this stage.

Defense – With Suh, Williams, and Vanden Bosch, our defensive line is shaping up to be a MONSTER. Our linebackers are shaping up to be ADEQUATE. Our secondary is shaping up to be TERRIBLE again – particularly worrisome is Delmas’ nagging groin injury which he’s had for… quite a while now. They keep saying he’ll be fine by the start of the season, but he ain’t been hitting the field much; he’s pretty much the only bright spot in the secondary.

From everything I’ve read about him, I can’t help but think that signing Kyle Vanden Bosch may have been the smartest move the Lions made during the offseason – while he’s a capable DE, it sounds like his lead-by-example intensity and veteran leadership is having a major, major effect on the attitude of the team, and especially the Lions D – I’ll be stunned if he’s not a team Captain this year.

I’m feeling really, really optimistic about my team’s trajectory; Schwartz is proving to be a solid head coach, and things really seem to be starting to gel under his leadership this year. As for team management, I really, really wanted the Fords to clean house after they finally canned Millen – I was ticked when they made Millen underling Martin Mayhew the GM. But, it turns out that he’s one of the best GMs we’ve had in ages – his offseason moves have been solid across the board – from trading Roy Williams to Dallas (ha ha!), the past couple drafts, and the trades and signings this past offseason, he’s doing a fucking awesome job.

Overall, if the offense stays reasonably healthy, I’m thinking the Lions should be extremely fun to watch this year – should have lots of back-and-forth, high-scoring roller coaster games. I suspect our weaknesses on defense will keep us under .500, but, I’ll confess to hoping we might actually make it to eight wins this year (that’s a hope, not a prediction :)

1838

I’m honestly hoping they’re the worst team in the league this year so they can draft Jake Locker and make a big push for finally rebuilding. The one bright spot in their two pre-season games so far has been C.J. Spiller, who has shown a couple glimpses to someone like me who doesn’t follow college football, why he earned the nickname Thriller.

I watched the Lions Broncos game this morning and when I saw best I thought that he, more than any rookie running back I can remember, already looked like an NFL running back. It’s impossible to know if he can keep it up for 16 games, but he should be tons of fun to watch.

1839

Talisker’s so optimistic you just want to hug him.

1840

I know. I mean, I’m expecting at most an 8-8 season with the Redskins. Even though my team at least smells the playoffs every so often, I still have zero belief they’ll be any good this year. Or next.

I can’t imagine being a Bills or Lions fan and having any optimism whatsoever…