[NFL Draft] Nebraska corner Fabian Washington benched 19 times on Monday.
[AFL] The Nashville Kats' first touchdown came when fullback Dan Alexander worked his way into the end zone with a move that can best be described as Spiderman attempting to break dance. "I’m pretty good at getting my hand down to keep myself from falling on my face when I’m trying to get low," he said. "I was lucky enough to get my hand down on that one and give myself a little extra push to get into the end zone."
The Kats however, lost again, this time 40-32 to Las Vegas. (OurSportsCentral.com)
[NFL Draft] Richie Incognito had his MRI come back negative, but he may not be able to workout at his originally scheduled Pro Day, which was March 6th in Tempe, Arizona, where he had been training. (NewOrleansProFootball.com)
02/27/05
[NFL Draft] Inside the League reports Incognito measured in at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds at the NFL Combine. In the 40-yard dash, he was clocked at 4.75 and 4.87 seconds. (KFFL.com)
[NFL Draft] Offensive lineman Richie Incognito ran between 4.90 and 4.95 in the 40, but may have suffered a strained left knee during the positional drills. There was no formal announcement, but he was taken for an MRI after the on-field drills portion of the workout. He could be seen shortly after returning from the hospital walking around the hotel, so there does not seem to be any structural damage.
[NFL Draft] RB Thunder Collins, who played in the Las Vegas All-Star Classic three years ago, has been in attendance the past few days with the hopes of earning an opportunity to workout for an NFL team in the near future. His most recent workout numbers include 4.28 in the 40, 16 reps of 225 pounds, 38" vertical, 10'3" broad jump and 7.01 three-cone drill, which were done while working out with renowned trainer Chip Smith at CES. He currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and can be contacted through his representative, Elite Sports Management.
[Etc]Among the players Elite Sports Management has working out, at upcoming Pro Days is Nebraska linebacker Ira Cooper. The date is set for March 8th.
[NFL Combine] From DraftShowcase.com, "Richie Incognito ran a 4.90 but sprained his knee and did not finish today." Incognito was one of only four linemen to run under 5.0.
[NFL Combine] Incognito is quite an offensive lineman, and he's got quite a last name. His ancestors came to America from Italy and couldn't speak a word of english. They get to Ellis Island and the people who work with immigrants couldn't communicate with them. So for their last name, they wrote "Incognito." The rest is history, and this young man is certainly not "going incognito" at the combine. He's got lots of player personnel buzzing about him. (Gil Brandt of NFL.com)
02/25/05
[NFL Combine] From DraftShowcase.com, "Richie Incognito did 29 reps and will do the full workout." Incognito measured in at 6'3", 305 lbs.
[NFL Combine] Cornerback/return man Fabian Washington will be doing a full workout with his group over the next few days, as he expects to run in the low 4.3 range here at the Combine. (NewOrleansProFootball.com)
[NFL Combine] TFY Draft Combine Preview noted "Barrett Ruud must prove his athleticism" and "safety Josh Bullocks could stake a claim in the first round with a good showing".
[MLB-Angels] Angel fans spent as much as three hours in line for an autograph from outfielder Garret Anderson or first baseman Darin Erstad, who, by the way, says he's fine with the team's recent name change.
"I've been an Angel all my life," Erstad says. "I'm still an Angel." (USA Today)
[Carolina Panthers] Veteran safety Mike Minter said his agent was meeting with Panthers officials this week in Indianapolis, site of the annual scouting combine.
The elder statesman of the Panthers' defense wants to extend his deal, which will provide short-term salary-cap relief and likely keep him here the rest of his career. But even though the two sides are talking about a big deal, Minter laughed and said he wasn't sure if agent Craig Domann was huddling with general manager Marty Hurney today or Thursday."There are some good indications," Minter said. "I think once they sit down something should get done. We have a lot of other issues to deal with right now before they get to me. I'm not up against the clock."Minter was referring to wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who needs to restructure and extend his contract or he'll be released before he's due a $10 million roster bonus March 1. (The Herald, BuzzFans.com)
[Detroit Lions] The Lions are continuing to talk to center Dominic Raiola about re-signing before the March 2 deadline. The Lions are also talking to some of the team's other free agents, like right tackle Stockar McDougle, but it appears Raiola's deal could be the first one completed. (MLive.com)
02/20/05
[AFL-Nashville] An overmatched Nashville Kats team dropped their third consecutive game on Saturday, 62-49 to the New York Dragons at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
"We're just not coming together right now," RB/LB Dan Alexander (nine carries, 35 yards and a touchdown) said. "We're making too many mistakes. We're busting assignments with people trying to do their own thing. As a team we're just not playing well together. We have the talent and we're close, but we're just not there."
[Buffalo Bills] Both LG and C are concerns to varying degrees for the Bills who may look to free agency. Dominic Raiola is among the free agent options. (BillsZone.com)
02/18/05
[Chicago Bears] With RB Anthony Thomas a lock to leave town for an opportunity to start elsewhere, the Bears will at least consider signing a solid backup, knowing Thomas Jones is unlikely to make it through an entire season healthy.
The current free-agent list (at running back) is impressive, although many of the top players might not make it to market before they're re-signed by their current teams. The Seahawks' Shaun Alexander and the Colts' Edgerrin James are the marquee names, but they aren't the only talent available. The Eagles' Correll Buckhalter and the Jets' Lamont Jordan will both attract interest. (Daily Herald)
[Seattle Seahawks] PK Josh Brown is entering the final year of his contract with the Seahawks. He is set to make $380,000 in base salary for 2005 and is set to be a restricted free agent following the season. (KFFL)
[Houston Texans] PK Kris Brown is entering the final year of his contract with the Texans. He is set to make $1.3 million in base salary for 2005. (KFFL)
An article about Stanford's PA man Steve Frost noted that Steve's younger brother, Scott, is "making a crack at his own broadcasting career".
A voice behind Stanford’s calls
[Free Agency] Don't be surprised if Eagles free-agent RB Correll Buckhalter lands with Buffalo. If the Bills, as expected, trade RB Travis Henry, they'll be looking for a solid backup to Willis McGahee, and Buckhalter would be just that. Keep in mind Tom Modrak and Marc Ross, two members of the Bills' front office, were with the Eagles when they drafted Buckhalter. (Sporting News)
Alumni Spotlight: Roger Craig
02/15/05
[NFL Europe] After being drafted by Hamburg, Crouch admitted that he wanted to be "on the field, and be physical and hit" as a safety.
He added: "I am really excited to come and play for a brand new organization and with the great athletes in NFL Europe. I am a very competitive guy, and I want to win games over there. I just can’t wait to meet the players and coaches who we are going to win with."Despite Crouch’s eagerness to play in the secondary, coach Jack Bicknell would not rule out adding some wrinkles to the Sea Devils offense that would take advantage of his athleticism and experience on offensive plays too. "There is always a chance that we could use Eric Crouch at quarterbacks for a trick play or a goal line play," Bicknell revealed. "He has proven himself to be the best player in the nation at any position. He is tough, quick. This league allows players to prove how good they are, to prove that the NFL needs them. Each of the 13 years I have coached in NFL Europe I look forward to helping kids to achieve what they can in the NFL."
[CFL] Barron Miles has been with Montreal since his rookie year in the CFL, but defensive back is expected to fetch big money on the free agent market. (CBC)
[Nashville Kats] FB/LB Dan Alexander ranks second in rushing in the league with 61 yards (3.4 yds per carry). (Press Release, OurSportsCentral.com)
[Cincinnati Bengals] The work of special teams coach Darrin Simmons is just one example why head coach Marvin Lewis wants to keep this staff together. Indeed, if there is one specific area that shows how far and how fast the Bengals have come since Lewis’s arrival, it is special teams.
Despite a raft of injuries, Simmons finished off the Bengals’ historic climb from last in 2002 to No. 7 in the NFL in 2004.But Simmons believes a major reason for the Bengals rising 18 spots is rookie free agent punter Kyle Larson. Larson logged a gross average of 42.2 yards per punt and 35.5 net one season after veterans Nick Harris and Kyle Richardson combined to average a 39.5 gross and 32.2 net."It shows it was a good move," Simmons said. (Bengals.com)
02/14/05
[NFL Europe] NFL Europe's newest club, the Hamburg Sea Devils, drafted quarterback-turned-defensive back Eric Crouch in the 7th round of the 24-round Allocation Draft. Crouch was allocated to the NFLE by the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite being drafted in the 7th round, the pick of a former "college superstar" was the main story on the Sea Devil's website(Hamburg-Seadevils.de). Hamburg replaced the now-defunct Scottish Claymores in the 6-team league; five of the six teams are based in Germany.
Meanwhile, Crouch's former teammate Dahrran Diedrick (allocated by Washington) was assigned to the Rhein Fire.A third allocated Husker, K Chace Long (San Francisco) will be assigned to a club later along with other kickers and punters.Aside from the assignment and the allocation draft, there is also a free agent draft for players without an NFL affiliation. This year no Huskers were chosen in the Free Agent Draft.
02/13/05 - Pro Bowl] Packers RB Ahman Green, playing for the NFC, had five carries for 25 yards, all in the first half, and a special-teams tackle. (Packers.com)
[NBA-Chicago] The Bulls reacted to the expected news of placing nobody in the All-Star game with a shrug - and a booked vacation to Mexico.
What's perhaps the only surprising omission from All-Star weekend is Eric Piatkowski again getting overlooked for the three-point shooting contest.The veteran guard is a career 40 percent shooter from that distance and is tied for fourth in the league at 44.9 percent, although he does have far fewer attempts than the six players selected.Told that Minnesota's Fred Hoiberg, the league leader in three-point percentage, didn't get invited either, Piatkowski smiled."There you go," Piatkowski said. "The thing is if you want to go ahead and have the best shooters in there, (the league) knows who the best shooters are. But they want to have the biggest names in there."Seattle's Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovich, Phoenix's Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson, Denver's Voshon Lenard and Philadelphia's Kyle Korver will participate in the contest to which Piatkowski never has been invited. (Chicago Tribune)"Every year they've had an excuse for me why I can't be in it," Piatkowski said. "Attempts hurt me this year, I'm sure."
02/07/05 - Super Bowl] The 49ers announced that six players were allocated to NFL Europe for the 2005 season, among them was recently signed kicker Chace Long. Long had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2003, but spent the majority of his post-collegiate career in the NIFL, most recently with the Omaha Beef. (49ers.com)
AFL-Nashville] Nashville FB/LB Dan Alexander scored two short-yardage touchdowns, though the Kats lost to the New Orleans VooDoo 59-34. Alexander had 10 yards on 5 carries while also catching 1 pass for 15 yards; as a linebacker he had 2 tackles. (KatsOnline.com)
02/04/05
AFL-Arizona] After scoring a touchdown in his first AFL game, WR Wilson Thomas found the endzone again in Week 2- but this time it came on defense. Playing catch up for much of the game, the Rattlers appeared poised to pull off a huge comeback, when a pressured QB Joe Hamilton threw a pass right into the outstretched arms of the rookie Thomas, who scampered 20 yards for the score. That brought the Rattlers to within five (39-34), but they would get no closer. Orlando won the game 51-40.
02/02/05
How did Ty Law from the New England Patriots and Correll Buckhalter from the Philadelphia Eagles warm up for the big game? With a "Super Grill-Off."
[AFL] Dan Alexander carried much of the load on opening night when the Nashville Kats played the Columbus Destroyers. His first rushing touchdown was the epitome of second effort as he backed up several times and broke multiple tackles before bouncing off the wall into the end zone. This is the first such collision I’ve ever seen where the wall lost – the wall panel actually appeared to be dented where Alexander slammed into it.
"The arena walls are something you’ve got to deal with," he said after the game. "I’ve got to learn to get it up field, because if you let it get stretched outside you’re going to end up in the wall." (ArenaFan.com)
02/01/05
[Philadelphia Eagles] Although they've relished the opportunity to fire back at Freddie Mitchell this week, the Patriots insist they don't need any extra motivation to get ready for the Super Bowl. One former player says a kick in the rear end doesn't hurt. Wide receiver Irving Fryar, a five-time Pro Bowler who spent part of his 17 years with the Patriots and Eagles, said he once used derogatory comments by Cris Collinsworth to motivate himself during the final decade of his career.
While working as a commentator for NBC in 1990, Collinsworth - also a former Pro Bowl receiver - said Fryar was past his prime. Fryar proved him wrong and went on to play 10 more seasons in which he surpassed 1,000 yards five times and earned four trips to the Pro Bowl. "Collinsworth said I was washed up and I would never play another year in the league. That's only because he played seven years," Fryar joked. "He said I was washed up and would never play again. Well, I used that for the next 10 years. I would work out and think about what Cris Collinsworth said. I would run, I would work out, and I would think about what Cris Collinsworth said. I would put his face on everyone else."It wouldn't mess with me on the field because I was focused. It was my preparation off the field and my motivation to get on the field, my motivation to get up in the morning, my motivation to get up in the morning, because somebody thought I was going to fail. Somebody thought I couldn't do it. Somebody thought they were better than me. Somebody was talking trash." (AP)
[San Diego Chargers] Toniu Fonoti is rounding out into Pro Bowl form and a survey of scouts at the Senior Bowl left them baffled as to why he was left off the Hawaiian roster. But the big Samoan also has said Chargers offensive line coach Hudson Houck "has been like a father to me." (SDBoltReport.com)