Buffalo @ New England
To say this game will prove to be a difficult match up for the Bills is putting it mildly. The Patriots are highly motivated this season with the return of Tom Brady, who has proven on the practice field and in preseason that he is ready to go and has shaken off any rust that may have accumulated over his time off. The addition of Fred Taylor to an already plentiful platoon of running backs should keep the Bills defence’s hands full and vulnerable to the passing game. To make things tougher for the Bills, the Patriots have bolstered their much disciplined defence this year with the additions of Derrick Burgess, Shawn Springs, and Leigh Bodden. The Patriots defence may be older, but this is typically not a problem on opening week.
Trent Edwards and the Bills offence are not going to have it easy in this one. The suspension of Marshawn Lynch (weeks 1-3) is sure to hurt the team, even though Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes have proven to be adequate backups. Everyone in Buffalo has been itching to ask one question, is your popcorn ready? We all know that T.O. has his kernels popped, but are
Posted by mattythebulldog | Posted on 06-09-2009
Category : Around the League
Tags: Chargers, Merriman, Patriots, Raiders
Merriman Arrested- Chargers fans don’t need this
With only days before the NFL season begins, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested Sunday. Merriman was accused of choking and restraining his girlfriend, reality TV star Tila Tequila. Police responded to a call around 4 a.m. to Merriman’s house in Poway, north of San Diego, after a woman called to say she was choked and thrown to the ground when she tried to leave. Tequila was taken to a hospital, her condition was not immediately available, while Merriman was released from jail this morning on bail.
Oakland trades away 1st round pick for Pats Seymour
The Patriots received a first-round draft choice in 2011 for the 29 year old Richard Seymour. Seymour is in the final year of the four-year extension he signed in 2006. He was due to make $3.685 million but the Raiders will no doubt try to lock him up long term. The Raiders are looking to get good fast, where the Patriots want to get younger. This season New England has had a bit of a youth movement, trading away Mike Vrabel and Seymour and losing Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi to retirement. Of all the stupid trades the Raiders have made over the years (Randy Moss for a 4th round pick) this deal for Seymour is a smart one and should add instant leadership to the Raiders defense.
Posted by Mike Rodriguez | Posted on 05-09-2009
Category : Around the League, Oakland Raiders
Tags: cuts, Raiders
NFL teams need to make their final cuts today in preparation of the start the regular season. With each team carrying 10 to 20 extra players during the preseason and 32 NFL teams needing to make a 53 man roster, there are a lot of unhappy athletes this Labor Day weekend that find themselves jobless.
One of the biggest names cut today was Jeff Garcia, backup in Oakland. Garcia’s signing with the Raiders made no sense. Wanting to find a team where he could start, Garcia the 39 year old veteran QB signed with Oakland in April, but with Jamarcus Russell making monster coin after being selected first overall in the 2007 draft, you had to figure the Raiders weren’t about to bench a top pick they had signed to a 6 year 68 million dollar deal. The Patriots are light are QB and may try to sign Garcia to a back up role.
For some reason this year, it seems a lot of teams are willing to run with an unbalanced roster, not wanting to release quality players. When injuries become a factor more minor trades might begin to happen. The Buc’s are carrying 4 QB’s where the Patriots have only 2. Other strange rosters moves include the Eagles with 7 WR’s and a lack of TE’s where as the Panthers cut 2 extra guys so they can go shopping for a few needs. Other surprises were 07 second-round pick RB Chris Henry not making the Titans roster and reality star Jesse Holley being cut by the Cowboys.
Posted by Mike Rodriguez | Posted on 23-07-2009
Category : Oakland Raiders, Previews & Forecasts
Tags: 2009 Preview, Raiders
Oakland Raiders 2009 Preview
The Oakland Raiders are one of the NFL’s disaster franchises and there are few reasons to believe anything will change this coming season. The Raiders removed the interim tag from head coach Tom Cable and are betting that he’s the right decision long term, they signed Jeff Garcia to further confuse their quarterback situation and made questionable draft and free agency moves. Their Super Bowl odds are among the lowest in the NFL and since they are a complete mess from head to toe, many pundits would say those 75-to-1 odds are accurate.
Offseason Transactions
Aside from bringing in Garcia, the Raiders did little to address their many weaknesses. They surprised a number of times, such as when they cut ties with their quality safety, Gibril Wilson, or when they drafted lesser-known wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey ahead of Michael Crabtree.
One good pickup might be the addition of veteran linebacker/defensive end, Greg Ellis, who should help the team’s pass rush. Also, the addition of Lorenzo Neal should pave the way for Darren McFadden’s first 1000-yard season.
Posted by Diesel | Posted on 28-01-2009
Category : Around the League
Tags: Raiders
Raiders Enable Cable
The grass is always greener on the other side, well at least that’s how Al Davis used to see it. After constantly shuffling the deck, Al Davis and the Raiders organization look to finally take steps in the right direction by letting Tom Cable remain coach of the Oakland Raiders. Cable was an interim coach for the Raiders with a 2-4 record, but ended the season strong and impressed many with his aggressive play calling and attitude with the players. In our opinion, Tom Cable is exactly what the Raiders need. In the last couple weeks of the season the Raiders were able to move the ball on the ground and looked some what united as a team for the first time in years.
