NFL Wild Card Saturday Live Blog

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans  4:30 (NBC - Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock, SR: Alex Flanagan)

Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints  8:00 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, SR: Michele Tafoya)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO LIVE BLOG!

NFL Wild Card Weekend Schedule

The NFL Playoffs are back, and I guess it will be more relaxing because the Eagles are not playing.  Also, more depressing.  Anyway, here is the schedule with announcers.  No surprises, but I post this anyway because I like having this handy resource available.

Saturday, January 7

# 6 Cincinnati Bengals vs. #3 Houston Texans  4:30 (NBC - Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock, SR: Alex Flanagan)
# 6 Detroit Lions vs. #3 New Orleans Saints  8:00 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, SR: Michele Tafoya)

Sunday, January 8

#5 Atlanta Falcons vs. #4 New York Giants  1:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, SR: Pam Oliver and Chris Myers)
#5 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. #4 Denver Broncos  4:30 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)

RIP Dougie

The Dougie is dead. Let us mourn.



Rest in Peace, Dougie. April 12, 2010 - December 5, 2010.

Poor Performance Causes Shanahan To Bench McNabb; Put In Rex Grossman. Seriously

And this is what happened on Sexy Rexy's 1st play in the game.



Game-clinching touchdown.......for the other team.

Donovan McNabb is a free agent at the end of this season and he will be wise to do whatever it takes to make sure he plays for the Minnesota Vikings next season. The Vikings, in turn, will be wise to do whatever they can to make sure Donovan McNabb is their QB next season. McNabb does not thrive in places like Washington where there is a dearth of talent at the skill position. He can't make no-names look great like Brady in Belichick's system or Peyton Manning can, but he can be very good for a team with some great weapons and an excellent running game, like Minnesota has. If people have brain cells, McNabb will be a Viking next season.

Also of note, I think that is the hardest I have ever seen Rex Grossman "throw" a football.

Eagles Week 2 Recap: Phew

Another bullet recap!

• Well that game was certainly closer than it ever needed to be.  It was a terrible, sloppy, messy, ugly game that the Eagles were probably lucky to win.
• I said last week that if I was forced in a corner and I could only have one of Kevin Kolb or Stewart Bradley back, I would choose Stewart Bradley.  This game proved me right.  Michael Vick was competent (more on him later).  Omar Gaither at middle linebacker was a walking disaster (again).  A guy whose lone asset is his speed, somehow looked slow out there.  The difference Stewart Bradley makes is only apparent when Bradley is in there.  The Eagles missed him so hard.  So so hard.  Bradley is not the answer to every defensive woe (Ernie Sims had a few bad plays as well), but he will go a long way in answering a lot of them.
• Michael Vick played very well today.  The Detroit secondary is admittedly awful, but you still need to connect with the plethora of open WRs, and with the exception of a few rare cases, Vick did that.
• Those that bash Kolb are quick to point out that Kolb's 2nd game was against a bad team in Kansas City.  What is the difference between what Kolb did against KC last year and what Vick did in Detroit today?  Why can't you judge Kolb on that game but you can judge Vick as the team's savior based on this game?
• Riley Cooper may have the face of an angel, but dude, you can't pull a Hank Baskett on an onside kick like that!
• DeSean Jackson is very fast.
• Jahvid Best is also very fast.  And someone who should be right square in the middle of the "rookie of the year" discussions at the end of the season if he keeps this up.  Omar Gaither may be complete shit and Best may have run over said shit, but the guy can elude tacklers and outrun pretty much anyone he wants to.  Color me impressed.  Also, Ron Franklin must be pleased his efforts were not in vain.
• Brent Celek needs help with his blocking.
• Owen "Runaway Beer Truck" Schmitt may not be as good as Leonard Weaver, but he looked competent as a blocker and he caught a few passes.  Not too bad for a guy who was unemployed last Sunday.
• As soon as Reggie Wells learns the playbook, he needs to get in the game and help this offensive line.  They need all the help they can get.
• Donovan McNabb played well against the Texans, but on a 3rd and 10 in overtime at the Texans 35 yardline, he overthrew a deep ball.  That overthrow resulted in Graham Gano missing a 52-yard field goal.  The ensuing drive would be the winning drive for the Houston Texans.  Outside of that throw, though, McNabb did have a decent game like McNabb can have.  But he still has not proved to me is a take-charge leader and the Eagles were wrong to trade him.
• The Eagles are at Jacksonville next week.  Andy Reid said pre-game Kolb would start.  Stewart Bradley passes his concussion tests and is likely to start as well next week.  Jacksonville does not boast a strong secondary and MJD is a beast.  To say I am interested in how each of them fare is an understatement.  Prove me right, Kevin and Stew!

2010 NFL Season Week 2 Live Blog: Criminal

"The hunger coming over me, as I learn to hide the agony, to make a final remedy, to close the door once and for all."

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE WEEK 2 LIVE BLOG

NFL Week 2 Schedule

Well, Week 1 was a typical Week 1. Lots of sloppy and low-scoring games with some exciting finishes. Week 2 is the week where teams finally seem to click on all cylinders and we can get a slightly better (though still not great) idea of which teams are gonna be fine, which ones won't be fine, and which ones may have had a bit of an aberration in Week 1, for better or worse. That is, unless the game you are watching will pit one team whose starting QB is concussed against a team whose starting QB separated their shoulder. For what it's worth, the Eagles still list Kolb as the projected starter on their website, though whether or not he will be medically cleared to play and start won't be known until Friday at the earliest. CBS has the double header this week, NBC gets the chance to felate over the Manning Brothers for 4 and a half hours, so without further ado here is the Week 2 schedule! (all times eastern; games I get are in bold)

Map of who gets what Fox game.

Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys 1:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers 1:00 (Fox - Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, and Jim Mora, Jr.)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons 1:00 (Fox - Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions 1:00 (Fox - Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan)

Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos 4:05 (Fox - Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders 4:05 (Fox - Ron Pitts and John Lynch)

Map of who gets what CBS early game

Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings 1:00 (CBS - Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans 1:00 (CBS - Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots)
Buffalo Bills vs. Green Bay Packers 1:00 (CBS - Spero Dedes and Randy Cross)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 (CBS - Bill Macatee and Rich Gannon)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns 1:00 (CBS - Don Criqui and Steve Beuerlein)

Map of who gets what CBS late game

New England Patriots vs. New York Jets 4:15 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)
Houston Texans vs. Washington Redskins 4:15 (CBS - Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. San Diego Chargers 4:15 (CBS - Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker)

Sunday Night Football

New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts 8:20 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

Monday Night Football

New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers 8:30 (ESPN - Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden)

Some Eagles News, Notes, And Draft Commentary

With all of the playoff hockey going on right now, the NFL Draft this Thursday has gotten a bit lost in the shuffle of things. But alas, the Eagles resumed their wheeling and dealing today, finding themselves in the midst of a three-way deal that saw them give up a 5th round draft pick while getting a starting linebacker, Ernie Sims. From ESPN.com

The Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions have pulled off a three-way trade, with the Lions obtaining former Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler and the Eagles receiving ex-Lions linebacker Ernie Sims.

The Eagles sent a fifth-round pick in this week's draft to the Broncos, while Denver sent its seventh-round pick to the Lions to complete the trade on Monday.

In 59 career games, all with the Lions, Sims has been credited with 420 tackles including 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception. He was credited with 49 tackles last season.

"Ernie Sims is an impact player at the linebacker position," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He brings a lot of energy to our already energized defense. We are looking forward to adding him to our team."

In the simplest form, the Eagles just traded a 5th round draft pick for a proven starting linebacker. Thus it goes without say that this is a massive steal for the Eagles and a great trade for them. Sims was a bit nicked up last year, true, but it was felt by many that he was not a good fit in Detroit's system whereas he will be much better for the Eagles. Of course, that trade leaves the Eagles with 10 draft picks for the 2010 draft (but they still have 5 in the top 87 in a very deep draft class), so the question naturally becomes what to do with them. The Eagles first pick is #24 overall and there are a lot of enticing options. Adam Schefter tweeted the following earlier today: "Packers, Eagles have expressed interest in trading up to 10-12 range. But it could depend on how board falls. Good prospects everywhere."

I'm not going to argue with him because as I mentioned above, this is a very deep draft class. The Eagles 2 glaring needs above all else are S and CB. The Eagles have what it will take to trade up in this year's draft, but if they do it, it will be for the right person.

In this case, there is only one right person the Eagles can trade up for: Eric Berry. Will he make it down to 10 is a mystery but if you are the Eagles, you have to do everything in your power to trade up for Eric Berry. He is your guy. You may have to go up higher than 10 to 12, but you have to make sure that you get your guy, and Berry is the Eagles' guy. The other options, if you are sticking in the 10-12 range is Earl Thomas, but 10 to 12 might be too high for him. Besides, he is at best unpolished, and the Eagles need someone who can come in and start for them now. That guy is Tennessee Safety Eric Berry. I would not be majorly pissed if the Eagles end up with Thomas, but if they have a chance to get Berry, they need to get him. Actually, if the Eagles do trade up with Berry still on the board and they draft Earl Thomas instead I will cry tears of great sorrow.

Berry is the only guy the Eagles I would like to see the Eagles trade up for, that being said, given Schefter's range, it does seem like it might be too low for Berry but too high for Thomas. I do worry that the Eagles might actually thinking about trading up for......(*gasp*) Joe Haden. Joe Haden is nothing but hype and if the Eagles take a chance and draft him I will cry great tears of sorrow.

Now if the Eagles don't trade up (likely the smartest thing if you don't get Berry), I see two very good possibilities at #24. The first one is the guy who I see as one of, if not the, best cornerback in the draft, Kyle Wilson. Now he's a CB who I would love to see in midnight green and a CB that I think can come in and start playing right away. Another option that I really like at #24 is Mike Iupati. The Eagles do need an offensive lineman, and when it comes to OL, I have a literal hard-on for him. He will likely be available at 24 if the Eagles elect not to trade up for a DB.

As far as draft day itself goes, yes, there will be a live blog of the entire NFL Draft, but on Thursday, I have a problem. The draft starts at 7:30. The Flyers play Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at 7:00. What will happen is I will watch the 1st period of the hockey game, flip to ESPN and/or NFL Network (I have not decided what network's coverage I am watching yet) just in time to see Sam Bradford in a Rams uniform, then flip back and forth like a madman between hockey game and draft until the hockey game ends and I can focus solely on the draft.

The Detroit Lions Have Gone From Being Like Dating Whoopi Goldberg To Being Like Terrorists In Amsterdam

Believe it or not, as bad as Chris Myers is as a sideline reporter, when it comes to doing play-by-play, he is even worse. And while he has already proven himself a master of the bad on-air zinger, yesterday, he even took that honor to another level never seen before. Listen in disbelief as he compares the Lions defensive line to terrorists in Amsterdam! I kid you not.



Well then! That was, um, uncomfortable to listen to.

Like I said numerous times, I'm not in the business of calling for a job over one bad joke, but I think Myers' entire body of work this year may just warrant a pink slip from the booth, signaling a not so sad end to an awful career in play-by-play announcing.

While this probably is not the spot to offer commentary on airline security, like I've said before I have traveled all over the world and that includes one time catching a connecting flight in Amsterdam earlier this decade (a few years after 9/11, IIRC). The ironic part about it is the security we faced there was the toughest and most stingiest that I can ever recall. They had one person ask us at least 10 questions about who we were, where we were, what were we doing there, and where are we going on top of all of the other security stuff that you normally see at airports post-9/11. I don't know what happened in the case of the failed Christmas attack and I am not suggesting anything, but iot is kind or ironic that the security that I always thought was some of the best in the world, be the security that nearly allows the next terrorist attack on this country.

But alas, I shall end this post by saying that Chris Myers, you sir, are an idiot.

Chris Myers raises terrorist joke alert level to red (Deadspin)

2009 NFL Preview: Detroit Lions

By 49er16:

The 2008 Detroit Lions made a lot of people happy, sad, and depressed. If you ever listen to the Jim Rome Show, you will know it has been Jim's dream to see a team run the tables backwards. And that is exactly what happened. The Lions went 0-16 last season to become the first team in history to go 0-16. And the Lions want their fans to relive that experience.

The Ford Family finally made the right decision and dumped Matt Millen as their general manager and then they dumped Rod Marinelli as their head coach. In related news, the Detroit News finally dumped Rob Parker after this awkward question he asked Marinelli. It was that kind of season in Detroit.

But like the other NFL teams, the Lions get to start all over again. This year though their is an entire new coaching staff and a new quarterback and a new beginning for the Detroit Lions. But there has been a new beginning in Detroit since the team traded Bobby Layne. The Lions though keep plugging away and maybe this is their year.

Coaching Staff: I remember hearing a long time ago that offensive or defensive line coaches don't make great head coaches. And guess what Rod Marinelli was? Yep he was a defensive line coach. He's a great line coach, but he lacked the vision to be a great head coach and it showed in Detroit. Well he's out and Jim Schwartz is in.

Schwartz comes from Tennessee where he was the defensive coordinator for the past ten years. It's not known yet if he has the vision to be a head coach, but that hasn't stopped him from bringing in a great coaching staff. One of the complaints about Marinelli was his coaching staff, specifically his choice for defensive coordinator his son-in-law. Schwartz though seems to be different and he brought in a top coaching staff. Schwartz brought in Scott Linehan as the offensive coordinator. While Linehan was a disaster as the Rams head coach, but he was an accomplished offensive coordinator before. He also brought in Gunther Cunningham to run the defense. Cunningham brings experience and intensity to the Lions defense. Schwartz has definitely impressed with his coaching hirings.

Who will Quarterback?: Right now Daunte Culpepper will most likely be the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season. Culpepper has lost weight and he reunites with his former offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Culpepper's best years in Minnesota was when Linehan was the offensive coordinator. So while they look to recapture their past glory, the team can ease Matthew Stafford into the starting lineup.

Will Jeff Backus Ever Step up?: Backus was drafted out of Michigan in the first round of the 2001 draft. While Backus has played every game and rarely complains. But he has been a below-average left tackle who has never came close to a Pro Bowl. Backus signed a long-term deal in 2006(thanks Millen) but he has never played up to the contract. The Lions will need him to step up to protect Culpepper's and Stafford's blindside. But he hasn't been able to step up in eight years and probably won't step up this season.

The Draft: You'd would think the Lions would use the draft to improve their offensive and defensive line's. Instead the Lions drafted a quarterback, tight end, and safety with the first three picks. The Lions eventually drafted a defensive and offensive lineman, but in a draft with depth at those positions and Detroit needing help in that area of the field, they swung and missed at the opportunity. You could tell Matt Millen doesn't work in Detroit anymore, by the Lions not choosing a receiver in the first round.

Schedule: The Lions drew an easy schedule, the only problem though is the Lions don't play an easy game until week eight. They play Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Green Bay in the first eight weeks. By the end of the season Detroit has to play in San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Baltimore. So the schedule might not be as easy as they thought.

Video: Here's a tribute to the 0-16 Lions.



Prediction: 4-12, 4th NFC North. While I do expect the Lions to improve, I don't see them winning more than four games. Their schedule is tougher than expected and they have to break in a new coaching staff and eventually a new quarterback. The Lions will improve, but there is no where to go but up from a 0-16 record.

And With The #1 Pick In The Draft, The Detroit Lions Have Signed.......

........Quarterback Matthew Stafford; University of Georgia. Yep, that's right. The Lions and Stafford have agreed to a 6-year, $41.7 million deal. Via ESPN.com

According to a source, Stafford will receive a six-year, $41.7 million deal that could be worth $78 million if he achieves all of his playing incentives. The source also said he will receive $41.7 million in guarantees. That tops the $41 million in guarantees Albert Haynesworth received from the Washington Redskins.

Stafford would have to make the Pro Bowl each year to get to $78 million, so he has a better chance to make $72 million. In order to receive the full $41.7 million in guarantees, Stafford has to play 35 percent of the downs as a rookie or 45 percent in later years of the contract

Well way to ruin the drama! Although I do not think that there was much doubt that the Lions were going to choose Stafford. The real drama will undoubtally come with where on earth does Mark Sanchez wind up. But as far as Stafford goes, let's see if he can do what all Detroit Lion QBs failed to do last year......win a game!

Detroit Lions Unveil New, Tougher Logo And Uniform; Scares Fans Into Believing This Will Make Them Good Again

So your team just went 0-16 and your team did not make any big moves in free agency. Now, what, do you think, is the best rememdy for this to get football fans in Detroit excited about their new team? By officially doing something that has been rumored more than anything else over the off-season. What once distant dream of the Lions has finally become a reality that will salvage the franchise? They unveiled a new logo! And new uniforms! That'll get the fans excited! It's days like this that I only dream I was a fan of such a great franchise like the Detroit Lions. So you want to see what this new logo and new uniform looks like....well, here you go.....

The helmet.....



The uniforms....



And the actual logo itself....



I believe again! The Detroit Lions will actually be a good team and even though he is no longer with them, Jon Kitna's annual 10-win guarantee will finally come true for them this year. And it's all because of this new logo and uniform!

In all seriousness, though, if the Detroit Lions do not make a big bang in the draft on Saturday, seeing as they epic failed at coercing anyone to join their mess of hopeless losers football franchise, they could easily end up experiencie 0-16 Part 2 this upcoming season.

Lions' new logo has fangs, flowing mane (The Detroit News)
New Detroit Lion logo features fiercer, leaping Lion (Comcast.net)

I Think I Know Who The Lions Are Taking With The First Pick Of The Draft...

Okay, so I'm not breaking anything major here, but it is looking more and more that with the first pick of the draft, the Detroit Lions will select Matthew Stafford. What makes me so certain? Well the Lions traded their only quarterback with remote credibility, Jon Kitna, to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for cornerback Anthony Henry. Via NFL.com:

The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions swapped veteran players on Saturday, resulting in new addresses for cornerback Anthony Henry and quarterback Jon Kitna.

The Cowboys acquired a veteran backup for starter Tony Romo in Kitna, who started four games for the Lions last season before being placed on injured reserve with a back injury in October. Kitna was deemed expendable by the Lions, who renegotiated the contract of Daunte Culpepper and also own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys had a need for a backup when they released veteran Brad Johnon on Thursday. Kitna is due a $1 million roster bonus March 3.

So either they're going to draft Matthew Stafford, or it's back to Dan Orlovsky. And we all remember Dan Orlovsky...



And one last thing, going back to the article that I cited, I'm confused. Who is Brad Johnon? This article says he was a Dallas QB that was released, but I've never heard of him. They had a veteran QB named Brad Johnson, who won a Super Bowl a several years ago with Tampa Bay, but I could not tell you the first thing about Brad Johnon? Is he any good?

Update: The hilarity never ends! Dan Orlovsky has just signed a contract with the Houston Texans. Frankly, I'm surprised that no one in the CFL wanted him. He'd be great there.