Judge Rebukes NFL Move Of StarCaps Case To Federal Court
Williamses Walk
With a state trial scheduled to start Monday, the NFL’s last attempt to avoid trial was rejected by a federal judge. The case involving Minnesota Vikings Kevin and Pat Williams got a rebuke from a federal judge who said the action “borders on the abuse of process.”
U.S. Judge Paul Magnuson issued a three-page order after the NFL asked the federal court to take the case, scheduled for trial Monday in front of Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson. The ruling means the case will go on as scheduled.
Magnuson said the NFL’s action seemed “calculated only to avoid trial on the merits.” The NFL spent months unsuccessfully arguing the case should be heard in federal court. Magnuson and the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals already said no.
At the trial, the Williamses will try to prove the NFL is at least their partial employer so they can recover damages related to positive test results for taking a banned substance.
The league suspended the defensive tackles for four games each in late 2008 for taking bumetanide, a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. The players went to court and won the right to continue playing while their legal case played out. The NFL has a strict liability policy that holds players responsible for what goes into their bodies. But the Williamses argued that Minnesota law gives employees an opportunity to explain the innocent use of an otherwise banned product and that the NFL didn’t allow them to explain their use of StarCaps.
If Johnny Cochran is reading this I could still use further understanding of all that is transpiring. You help would be appreciated Johnny.
Final Eight Plan Will Restrict Top NFL Teams From Pursuing Free Agents
Est. 1920
This year free agency for the top eight NFL teams will be a whole lot different from years past and may hinder those clubs in the pursuit of signings that would help them get over the hump. This is due to a deadline that passed in which no agreement was reached between the players and owners reps concerning labor negotiations thus making the upcoming season an uncapped season.
This year fans cannot assume that New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens or the San Diego Chargers can just sign whatever player they want in this years off-season. Because of the riff in the labor negotiations this has caused league-imposed financial restrictions on how those teams will be able to accomplish their off-season goals by limiting them in their pursuit of free agents. This more than likely will leave those executive vice presidents and general managers to be more stand offish come the opening of free agency March 5.
Here is the NFL’s explanation of the limitations the “Final Eight Plan” has on those teams that reached the divisional round of the playoffs and their restrictions in free agency.
During the Final League Year, the eight clubs that make the Divisional Playoffs in the previous season have additional restrictions that limit their ability to sign unrestricted free agents from other clubs. In general, the four clubs participating in the championship games are limited in the number of free agents that they may sign; the limit is determined by the number of their own free agents signing with other clubs. They cannot sign any UFAs unless one of theirs is signed by another team.
For the four clubs that lost in the Divisional Playoffs, in addition to having the ability to sign free agents based on the number of their own free agents signing with other clubs, they may also sign players based on specific financial parameters. Those four only will be permitted to sign one unrestricted free agent for $5.5 million (estimated) or more in year one of the contract, plus the number of their UFAs who sign with another team. They also can sign any unrestricted free agents for less than $3.7 (estimated) million in year one of the contract with limitations on the per year increases.
In the case of all final eight teams, the first year salary of UFAs they sign to replace those lost cannot exceed the first year salary of the player lost with limitations on the per year increases.
A lockout may or may not happen but it’s effects will be felt in a playing season.
Minnesota Vikings Fans Want Brett Favre To Return
Keep The Streak Of 309 Alive
Minnesota Viking fans want Brett Favre to give one more year and aren’t dancing around the subject. That’s cause a group on Facebook reaching over 84,000 has secured enough donations to purchase a spot on an electronic billboard in Favres hometown of Hattiesburgh, Mississippi letting him know they want him back.
So how does the people of Mississippi feel about about the move by the fans wanted their favorite son to play another year? Well Gerald Watts of Petal said that he thought Minnesota fans where class act and Mitch Brent of Hattiesburg said that Favres “proven he can play as good as any quarterback in the league.”
The Facebook group’s founder, Jay Tappe of Minneapolis, said he started the group because he was crushed after the roughing up Favre received during the Saints game on Jan. 24, and wanted to turn the disappointment into something positive and a day later only had about 6,000 fans. The group now is gaining about 10,000 members a day since then.
Fans and group members talk about Favre, and are asked to donate at least $1 on a separate Web site to help pay for the billboard. Now that the billboard is reality the extra money donated will go to Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, a breast cancer support and awareness organization.
Brett Favre Bruised & Battered
Bus Cook, sports agent to many of the NFL’s top quarterbacks but most famously released these photos (the first is of his ankle and the second of the hamstring) Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre after the NFC Championship game in which he was consistently knocked around like a rag doll.
The Favre haters obviously had a field day with the outcome but we are talking about a 40 year old that kept getting up and was available for the next play. 309 consecutive starts (including playoffs) at quarterback should at least buy you a little room in the toughness department.
Minnesota Vikings Bryant McKinnie Kicked Off Pro Bowl Team
Embarrassing
Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie has been kicked off the NFC Pro Bowl squad after missing four of five practices, attending just one team meeting and missed the team photo.
McKinnie has been using his Twitter account to let the world know that he has been enjoying the Miami nightlife. Leaving the NFC Pro Bowl roster with just three tackles on its roster. McKinnie’s still has received his game check for being named and attending the one practice.
If guys who are making their first Pro Bowl aren’t taking it serious are we?
HUGE TV Numbers For AFC & NFC Championship Games
Est. 1920
The NFC Championship game on FOX was of blockbuster magnitude as the New Orleans Saints thrilling overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings drew a 33.3 overnight and approximately 57.9 million viewers, which would be the second best NFC Championship average viewership of all time, behind only 1982’s Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers (“The Catch”) matchup that produced a 68.7 million viewers.
The NFC Championship game on FOX Sunday night was well above last years Arizona Cardinals/Philadelphia Eagles game which only produced 38.4 million viewers and it 33 o.3 overnight is up 5% from New York Giants/Green Bay Packers on FOX in 2008 (31.7) and . Ratings peaked at a 39.4 from 10:00-10:30 PM.
The Vikings/Saints is the most-viewed television program of any kind, excluding Super Bowls, since the series finale of Seinfeld in 1998 which saw 76.3 million.
The game did not dominate in all markets though, in Buffalo the NFC Championship game was actually outdrawn head-to-head by Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC, with Extreme Makeover drawing a 35.8 and the game drawing a 32.1.
CBS on the other hand did not post as great as number compared to FOX however did draw the highest overnight rating for the AFC Championship game in 16 years and saw 46.9 million actual viewers.
The Indianapolis Colts come from behind win over the New York Jets drew a stellar 28.4 overnight rating on Sunday afternoon, up 4% from San Diego Chargers/New England Patriots on CBS in 2008 (27.4).
The 28.4 overnight is the highest for the AFC Championship Game since Buffalo Bills/Kansas City Chiefs in 1994 (29.5) on NBC. Additionally, the 28.4 is the highest overnight for any NFL telecast on CBS, excluding Super Bowls, since the network resumed airing NFL telecasts in 1998. Ratings peaked at a 32.0 from 5:30-6 PM.
Minnesota Vikings Announcers Have A Great Question For Brett Favre
Vikings announcers Paul Allen and Pete Bercich like pretty everyone watching yesterday couldn’t believe their eyes when Brett Favre was intercepted in the final seconds of the NFC Championship game. I love the line “this is not Detroit man, this is the Super Bowl”…classic.
General Larry Platt, Creator Of “Pants On The Ground” Visits Minnesota Vikings
Visanthe Shiancoe & "Pants On The Ground" Creator
I for one had no idea who General Larry Platt was till a day after watching the Minnesota Vikings skull drug the Dallas Cowboys 34-3 last weekend. The whole “Pants on the Ground” only came into my world after watching Vikings quarterback Brett Favre do the rendition in the locker room after the game.
I thought Favre was being original and came up with on his own or with some help of a fellow Vikings player. Oh no, I was wrong and it turns out it comes from an American Idol participant named General Larry Platt.
Well the Vikings loved it so much that they invited Platt to a team meeting for a meet and greet and to perform the song. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie recorded and posted the performance by Platt (click here). Platt’s 15 minutes of fame doesn’t end just there as he will even be on the Vikings sideline of the NFC Championship game down in New Orleans. No word if they have discussed bringing him to Miami if they beat the Saints.
Prince Supposedly Creates Vikings Song
Supposedly Prince has released a song about the Minnesota Vikings according to MyFoxTwinCities.com. However I believe this to be a fake because I can’t believe my man Prince would go this low and how does MyFoxTwinCities have all the lyrics but not all of the song?
With that said, they report that Prince said he “saw the future,” went home that night after watching the Vikings skull drugged the Dallas Cowboys and wrote the song “Purple and Gold.”
Here are the lyrics they say he wrote (but again where is the rest of the song is what I would like to know)
Purple and Gold Lyrics
the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots touch down
we r the ones who have now come again
and walk upon water like solid ground
as we approach the throne we won’t bow down
this time we won’t b denied
raise every voice and let it b known
in the name of the purple and gold
we come in the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the truth can b told
long reign the purple and gold
the eyes say ready 4 battle
no need 4 sword in hand
we r all amped up like a rock n roll band
ready 2 celebrate every score
ready 2 fight the elegant war
ready 2 hear the crowd roar
that’s what we came 4
and so much more
in the name of the purple and gold
r spirits may b tired
r bodies may b worn
but since this day is r destiny
r history – that’s y we must b
4ever strong as the wind that blows the Vikings’ horn
in the name of the purple and gold
CHORUS
New York Jets Already Selling Super Bowl Gear
WTF
It seems that the confidence of head coach has trickled all through out the New York Jets front office and team shops as the Jets have begun selling AFC Championship and Super Bowl gear.
Are the Saints, Vikings or even the Jets opponents the Colts jumping the gun as well and the answer is no.
2009 ALL-SGE-NFL Team
Est. 2009
The 2009 regular season of NFL has ended and just a few weeks away from the Super Bowl and that means Sports Grind Entertainment is handing out it’s first ever All-SGE-NFL Team. The 2009 All-SGE-NFL Team takes in several factors and wins and losses is not one of them but such factors as on the field performance, consistency, detrimental to the team and or big game impact. Off the field issues are not even considered.
2009 ALL-SGE-NFL Team:
OFFENSE
- Quarterback – Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: Brees beat other worthy quarterbacks in 2009 because he help lead the Saints to their best record in franchise history (13-3). He also completed a league best 70.6 of his throws and a league best 34 touchdowns while failing to tenth in attempts. Brees finished sixth in the league in yards with 4,388 and only tossed 11 interceptions.
- Running Back – Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: Johnson is only the sixth player in NFL history to ever finish with 2,000 yards while adding another 500 yards on the ground. He finished the season with 14 rushing and 2 receiving touchdowns on the year.
- Running Back – Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens: Rice is the first player in league history to lead his team in both rushing and recieving. His 1,339 rushing yards where good enough for sixth in the league and had 11 runs over 20 plus yards to bring his yards per carry to 5.3. Rice also caught a team high 975 yards.
- Offensive Tackle – D’Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets: Ferguson protected the blindside of a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez that saw him touched 21 times, which as a team was good enough for fourth with 53 hits. He was part of an offensive line that cleared paths for a league best 2,756 yards of rushing.
- Offensive Tackle – Michael Roos, Tennessee Titans: Roos early on protected the blindside of Kerry Collins and then later on Vince Young to give up only 15 sacks upon the year as a group and allowing both quarterbacks to get touched a combined 44 times. Roos was also apart of an offensive line that helped Chris Johnson become only sixth man in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards.
- Guard – Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints: Evans helped form an umbrella for Brees to sit back and pass for 4,388 yards and pushed way for at least 5 Saints players to score within the red zone of within 5 yards.
- Guard – Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota Vikings: Hutchinson like Evans helped Brett Farve one of the oldest quarterbacks in the league enough time to pass for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns. Hutchinson also created enough holes inside the red zone for Adrian Peterson to rush for 14 touchdowns within 5 yards.
- Center – Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis Colts: Saturday is defiantly an extension of the league most audiblized quarterback in Peyton Manning. He rebounded after missing four games last year that almost pushed him into retirement to play a full 16 games with only 2 false starts.
- Tight End – Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers: Gates lead all tight ends with 1,157 yards while only finishing fifth in receptions. He also finished with a league best 61 first downs providing sure hands and sure yardage when needed the most. Gates average of 14.6 yards a catch was also a league best amongst tight ends.
- Wide Receiver – Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys: Austin came into the season fighting for the third spot on the Cowboys roster for receivers instead finished the season as the number one option for quarterback Tony Romo, in the first four games he caught a total of 5 passes. He finished with 1,320 yards which was good enough for third overall and finished in the same place overall with his 11 touchdowns. Austin also finished second with catches of 20 yards or more and third of 40 yards of more.
- Wide Receiver – Andre Johnson, Houston Texans: Johnson reached the 100 reception plateau in 2009 and finished first overall with 1,569 yards. He was good for at 98 yards a game and was accountable for 69 first downs. Johnson lead the league in 22 receptions of 20 yards or more and finished second with 9 receptions of 40 yards or more.
- Kicker – Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers: Kaeding attempted 35 field goals and made 32 of them with his misses coming from 41, 43, 55 yards, two of the three misses came in victories. He was also 51 out of 50 extra points with his only miss being a block that came in a victory.
DEFENSE
- Defensive End – Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers: Peppers finished with 10.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions while returing one for a touchdown. He also had 42 tackles, 36 of them being solo and 7 pass deflections where all among the league leaders in all caterogies.
- Defensive End – Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings: Allen finished with a league best 14.5 sacks for defensive ends and recorded 51 tackles, 43 of them being solo. He also had 5 forced fumbles and 1 interception while deflecting 5 passes.
- Defensive Tackle – Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys: Ratliff had the best season amongst defensive tackles in all of the league with 40 tackles and still created 6 sacks. He also block a field goal attempt and forced 2 fumbles.
- Defensive Tackle – Tony Brown, Tennessee Titans: Brown had 38 tackles on the year with 28 of them being solo. He also had 5 sacks on the year while forcing 3 fumbles in role thought to be lost with Albert Haynesworth signing with Washington.
- Linebacker – Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos: Dumervil lead the league with 17 sacks a turn around from the previous year were he only had 5. He also finished with 49 tackles and 42 of them being solo.
- Linebacker – Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers: Willis lead the league with 152 tackles and 114 being solo while creating 4 sacks. He had 3 interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. Willis went on to deflect 11 more passes and force 3 fumbles.
- Linebacker – Brian Cushing, Houston Texans: Cushing only a rookie went on to record 133 tackles to rank sixth among linebackers. He had 4 sacks and one he created for a safety, 4 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. The rookie wasn’t done as he created a league leading 14 pass deflections.
- Cornerback – Darrelle Revis, New York Jets: Revis held Andre Johnson, Randy Moss (twice), Marques Colston, Torry Holt, Terrell Owens (twice), Steve Smith, Antonio Bryant, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Chad Ochocinco to under 35 yards. He still was able to pick off 6 passes and return one for a touchdown.
- Cornerback – Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers: Woodson created 9 interceptions on the year and returned 3 for touchdowns. He also came up with 2 sacks and 4 forced fumbles while being moved all over the field in a new 3-4 system in Green Bay.
- Safety – Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills: Byrd a rookie was picked on a lot this year as team tried to test him by going over the top he made them pay recording 9 interceptions. He is a hard hitting free safety that had 45 tackles.
- Safety – Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints: Sharper had been thought to be over the age instead found himself in all the right places and right times in collecting 9 interceptions. He returned 3 interceptions for touchdowns.
- Punter – Shane Lechler, Oakland Raiders: Lechler punted the ball 96 times for 4,909 yards a league best 51.1 average every time his leg touched the ball. He had zero of his kicks blocked and zero returned for a touchdown. Lechler pinned 30 of his punts inside the 20 yard line.
- All-Purpose – Josh Cribbs, Cleveland Browns: Cribbs is the definition of all purpose. He had 20 receptions for 135 yards and 1 touchdown, rushing the ball 55 times for 381 yards and 1 touchdown, and in the return game he was used as kickoff and punt returner. He also had 452 yards and 1 touchdown on punt returns and 1,542 yards returning 3 for touchdowns on kickoff returns. Cribbs total yardage for every aspect he touched the ball was 2,510 yards with 6 touchdowns.
- Head Coach – Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals: Lewis Bengals finished the 2008 season 4-11-1 and was 1-7 on the road to rebound in 2009 and win the AFC North Division 10-6 and go 4-4 on the road. His team in 2008 allowed 364 points and only managed to put up 204 compared to 2009 when his team held opponents to 291 points and scored 305. Lewis and his Bengals also endured the loss of wide receiver Chris Henry who was tragically killed in season. His Bengals are also the first team to overcome the HBO Hard Knocks curse and produce a winning season in which they where filmed.
No Keith Brooking, You Are Classless
Your Classless
“I thought it was classless. I thought it was B.S. Granted, we get paid to stop them, but we had zero timeouts left. I didn’t think there was any call for that.”
That’s what Dallas Cowboys Keith Brooking had to say about Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings after they scored a final touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys gave up the ball on downs at their 37-yard line with 5:26 remaining, and the Vikings threw three passes on a six-play drive. The final one was an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe on fourth-and-3 with 1:55 remaining.
Stop being a pussy Brooking. Your right it is your job to stop them and you didn’t, the Vikings where just playing football.
Are they suppose to stop trying to advance the ball because your beaten and upset, no, so stop being a pussy about it and this is a Cowboy fan saying this.
Your comment was classless.
Brett Favre & Pants On The Ground
The Dallas Cowboys no doubt dropped their pants to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings 34-3 but how about the awkwardness of pants and on the ground and all sudden number 4 slaps the hell out Jared Allen’s ass?
Brett Favre Starter Commericals
When I think of Starter I can’t help but remember the DJ Jazzy Jeff Starter hat commercials, I miss them.
Green Bay Packers Charles Woodson Wins Defensive Player Of The Year
2009 D Player Of The Year
Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson won the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Woodson got 28 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL, doubling the number of votes for New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Woodson, 33, tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, and his ability to play a wide variety of roles was a critical component of the Packers defensive revival under new coordinator Dom Capers. A defense that struggled in 2008 that improved to second in overall defense, first in interceptions (30), takeaways (40) and turnover margin (plus-24) under the new 3-4 scheme.
Woodson also had 63 unassisted tackles and 18 assists, according to the Packers, plus 21 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one recovery, two sacks for 18 yards and three quarterback hits.
The award makes Woodson the first Green Bay player to win it since Reggie White in 1998, and just the second Packer in the 36-year history of the award. Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner, is the first cornerback chosen top defensive player since Deion Sanders in 1994.
Denver linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who led the league in sacks, and New Orleans safety Darren Sharper, who tied with Woodson for the interceptions lead and also ran back three for scores, each got three votes. Minnesota end Jared Allen received the other two votes.
Minnesota Vikings Percy Harvin Wins NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year
Little Phenom
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver/kick returner Percy Harvin was voted NLF Offensive Rookie of the Year, receiving 41 votes from the nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher was second with six votes.
The 22nd overall draft pick out of Florida, Harvin had 60 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns; rushed 15 times for 135 yards; and returned 42 kickoffs for 1,156 yards and two touchdowns, one covering 101 yards. He tied with the Colts Austin Collie for most catches by a rookie and set Minnesota’s single-season franchise record for all-purpose yardage with 2,081.
Harvin is the sixth Vikings player to win the award, joining Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss (1998), Sammy White (1976), Chuck Foreman (1973) and Paul Flatley (1963).
Also receiving votes this season were Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Maclin, Denver running back Knowshon Moreno and Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace, each with one.
Jim Mora Fired From Seattle Seahawks After One Season
Seattle Loses A Timeout
Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, Jr. has been fired. Mora lasted just one year as the Seahawks head coach, a season in which the team went 5-11 and finished third in the NFC West.
Mora took over a 4-12 team, and this year’s squad was decimated by injuries and had to endure a general manager leaving during the year. He previously went 27-23, including 1-1 in the playoffs, in three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Seahawks have already called for permission to interview assistants Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator of the Vikings as well as rumor of USC’s head coach Pete Carroll.
I wonder if Mora will have a certain San Antonio sports radio host come to his defense after being just fired in one year like he proclaimed he would for Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris?
Cowboys vs Giants Is Highest Rated FOX Game Of The Year
Est. 1920
The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys combined to draw massive numbers for the second time this season.
The Cowboys/Giants game drew an 18.9/35 overnight rating on FOX. The 18.9 overnight is the highest of the season for an NFL telecast on any network, topping the previous high of 18.3 for the Week 8 Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers game on NBC for the Sunday Night Football.
The Cowboys have been involved in four of the top games of the season, including their earlier meeting with the Giants, which aired on NBC.
Sunday’s telecast drew the highest overnight for a regular season NFL telecast on a single network since New England Patriots/Indianapolis Colts in 2007 (22.5), and the highest for an NFL telecast on FOX since Giants/Cowboys in 2006 (19.1).
NFL Ending $100 Milli Revenue Sharing
Est. 1920
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined $100,000 in September for violating a gag order by suggesting that revenue sharing was on its way out. Turns out, he was only tipping the owners hand.
The NFL announced that the were canceling $100 million per year in revenue sharing payments that benefit small market teams. The move could impact the flow of money to potential free agents and the competitive balance of teams.
Revenue sharing is considered a critical component of the NFL’s pending collective bargaining talks since the owners exercised an option in May 2008 to terminate the deal after the 2010 season. The NFL Players Association will challenge the move with an NFL arbitrator, claiming owners can’t terminate the revenue-sharing model without the union’s approval because it was adopted into the 2006 labor agreement and that doesn’t expire until March 2011. Owners are countering that it only pertains to salary-capped seasons; 2010 is scheduled to be uncapped.
Approximately eight to 12 lower-revenue teams have qualified on a yearly basis to draw from the supplemental pool. The $100 million fund is part of $6.5 billion in revenues shared by all clubs.
If you don’t remeber Jones comments where made while doing an interview intended to support Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf’s quest for a new stadium.
“Right now, we are subsidizing this market,” Jones said. “It’s unthinkable to think that the market you’ve got here, with 3.5 million people, and have teams like Kansas City and Green Bay subsidizing this market. That will stop. That’s going to stop. That’s called revenue sharing. That’s on its way out.”
Iraqi Detainees Torture Wisconsin Soldiers Over Brett Favre
That's Rough
Apparently, Viking fans aren’t the only ones taunting the people of Wisconsin over the resurgence of Brett Favre.
The 32nd Brigade, a Wisconsin National Guard Unit in charge with keeping watch over detainees in Baghdad began hearing taunts from the detainees over Favre. It started when troops there started to decorate their military camp in Packers colors and that Favre enjoying early success, they began insulting their cheesehead captors about the former quarterback.
“They know Favre by name,” said First Lieutenant Tim Boehnen, who is from New Richmond, Wisconsin. “One of the big words they know now is shenanigan. They’ll constantly talk about ‘Favre shenanigans,’ ‘He’s so good for the Vikings,’ and ‘The Packers have got to really feel bad about that one.’ “
For Boehnen, it’s hard because he already hears from his own family about the green and purple rivalry.
“My family lives on the other side of the border, so when we get together, we always talk about Viking-Packer disputes, as if it’s not intense enough without the Favre situation.”
Jared “Mullet Militia” Allen Badass In Barber Chair
“We have chest hair even if it’s shaped like a heart, which is pretty tight but yeah that’s the whole lifestyle of the mullet.”
or
“If someone asks if you want extra mayonnaise, you have to say ‘yes’. ‘Cause that’s part of it.”
Jared “Mullet Militia” Allen is a comedic beast.
NFL Players Use Steroids Too & His Name Is Joselio Hanson
96 Yards Return Against Dallas
NFL players use steroids too and this time his name is not Shawne Merriman or anyone involved in the StarCaps case, no it’s Philadelphia Eagles corner-back Joselio Hanson, who has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s steroid policy.
Apparently Hanson feels the the letter of the NFL law doesn’t apply to everyone when he texted reporter Geoff Mosher of DelawareOnline, “I’m just going to say that the NFL don’t treat players the same.”
A reference, to the ongoing StarCaps case that reached a congressional subcommittee last week. Minnesota’s Pat and Kevin Williams, along with New Orleans’ Charles Grant, Will Smith and former Saint Deuce McAllister, tested positive for StarCaps, a weight-loss drug that contains bumetanide, a substance that is banned by the league’s drug policy.
The league attempted to suspend the Williamses, whom were then allowed by a federal appeals court to fight their suspensions in a state court. The ruling allowed the Williamses to continue playing while the case remains unresolved. The NFL subsequently announced that it would not immediately enforce suspensions for Smith or Grant, saying that it would be unfair to do so while the Williamses were allowed to continue playing.
The news comes at a bad time for the Eagles who also announced that corner-back Ellis Hobbs would be placed on the IR with a neck injury, Hanson has 29 tackles and one interception so far in 2009.
Favre’s Homecoming Draws In High Numbers, But Not Huge
Take That Ted
Brett Favre’s homecoming drew big ratings on Sunday, but perhaps not quite as high as expected.
NFL coverage featuring the Vikings’ win over the Packers drew an 18.3 overnight rating on FOX, it doesn’t set any ratings records for the heavily hyped game. In 2007 alone, three regular season games drew an 18.4 overnight or higher and that does not include the Patriots/Giants game in Week 17 of that season, which aired on three separate networks. In 2006, a Giants/Cowboys game on FOX drew a 19.1 overnight rating.
In Minneapolis/St. Paul, the Vikings’ win drew a 47.0/76 rating. Meaning 76% of local households with televisions in use were tuned to the game, while (45.0/70) 70% in Milwaukee.
Brad Childress Goes Drag Queen On Team Plane
On the team flight back from Pittsburgh after a 27-17 loss, head coach Brad Childress decided the best way to loosen up the team was to enter into his craigslist night life attire or maybe he was meeting Marv Albert at the airport and was trying to save a little time.
