The Good Notes from Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Morning Practice

I’ve said it before, but let me say it again: You will remember the name LeSean McCoy.

The Harrisburg, PA native was electric in individual drills, as well as team drills. He showed that he has very soft hands and very good vision when running between the tackles, especially for a rookie.

On several occasions McCoy would start heading inside, and just that quickly would change direction and bounce to the outside, leaving even the starting defense left doing the Lord’s Prayer.

The kid idolized Barry Sanders growing up, which isn’t surprising because he moves just like him. At one point, he even pulled a signature Barry Sanders move. Making a cut his feet came out from underneath him, but he just put a hand down, gathered his feet, and kept moving.

Another guy looking like he belongs with this team today is Brandon Gibson. He’s a big guy who could make a really good possession receiver in this league. He turned some heads in this morning’s practice with his surprising soft hands and deceptive speed.

Some heads that were turning include the great Ray Didinger and Merril Reese, who were checking him out next to me from the sidelines.

He played in the west coast offense at Washington State, but was forced to switch to the spread during his senior year and played on a poor team (2-10). As Reese commented on Gibson, “He probably was pressing a bit in Mobile (Alabama, site of the Senior Bowl), and it caused a bad week and a bad game, making his stock drop.”

Gibson could be a diamond in the rough of this draft class.

Some other young guys who looked good were Danny Amendola, Eldra Buckley, Kyle Eckel, Cornelius Ingram, and Dimitri Patterson, a rookie free agent.

Patterson, a corner, played very physically with the receivers and was not afraid to bump and shove them a bit. In a one-on-one against Hank Baskett, he would have been called for pass interference, but it was great to see him getting physical with him anyway.

Later on a slant, run and caught by Brandon Gibson, Patterson finished the play by giving him a nice shoulder check and getting Gibson’s jersey a little dirty.

 

For the bad side of this morning’s practice, check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

32 Teams In 32 Days: Buffalo Bills

Enter Owens.

The Buffalo Bills took a chance by signing Terrell Owens to a one year deal. It’s not a risk of skill, but a risk of distraction. We all know Owens has got the skill of any receiver in the league(38 touchdowns in the past 3 years), but he always has the biggest mouth of any player in the league. But if he can shut his mouth, and just go out there and play, the Bills could have one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.

After a 7-9 record, we could see the Bills are just a step away from the playoffs. They brought in some good players during free agency, but also lost some key players. While the Bills have one of the strongest passing attack’s in the league, they also have some questions on their offensive line with the losses of starters Jason Peters and Derrick Dockery.

Offseason Acquisitions:

Added:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB.

Drayton Florence, CB.

Geoff Hangartner, OL.

Seth McKinney, OL.

Terrell Owens, WR.

Dominic Rhodes, RB.

Pat Thomas, OLB.

Losses:

Angelo Crowell, OLB.

Derrick Dockery, OG.

Melvin Fowler, C.

Jabari Greer, CB.

Teddy Lehmen, LB.

JP Losman, QB.

Duke Preston, C.

Robert Royal, TE.

Jason Whittle, OG.

The Bills lost one of the best tackles in the league by trading Jason Peters to Philadelphia. Jabari Greer, Angelo Crowell and Derrick Dockery were also key losses, but were replaced via free agency or the draft.

Draft Picks:

1(11). Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Draft Grade: B

1(28). Eric Wood, OL. Draft Grade: C

2(42). Jairus Byrd, CB. Draft Grade: B

2(51). Andy Levitre, OL. Draft Grade: C+

4(121). Shawn Nelson, TE. Draft Grade: B+

5(147). Nic Harris, LB. Draft Grade: B

6(183). Cary Harris, CB. Draft Grade: B

7(220). Ellis Lankster, CB. Draft Grade: C+

• Aaron Maybin and Eric Wood will replace last years starters that moved on and should be early starters and their position.
• Jairus Byrd will help replace Jabari Greer at nickle-back.
• Andy Levitre will add depth to the Bills offensive line that took a blow this offseason.
• Shawn Nelson could start as a rookie after the loss of Robert Royal. Could be a big steal here. Better pass-catcher then blocker.
• Nic Harris will provide depth at linebacker.
• Cary Harris and Ellis Lankster will provide depth at cornerback.

Draft Grade: B-

Breakout Player:Trent Edwards, QB.

 

• It’s time for Trent Edward to step up. If he can’t be more productive with all the weapons he has, Edwards could be looking for a new job next year.

The Buffalo Bills added Owens, but lost a lot of key players during free agency. They could have a lot of rookie starters, especially on the offensive line. They started off the year strong last year, but finished pretty weak. If they can get the form the had at the beggining of last 2009, they could be a dangerous team this year.

Projected Record: 10-6

 

 

 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Burn Midnight Oil, Sign Josh Freeman

Quarterback Josh Freeman reported with his teammates to One Buccaneer Place this morning and is minimally $10 million richer.

The Buccaneers burned some midnight oil and got Freeman’s contract done, well, right around midnight, Thursday/Friday.

ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the five-year deal has guaranteed money of $10.245 million and could be worth $26-$36 million over the life of the contract.

Players were scheduled for physicals today, some were afforded the distinction of modeling the 1976 uniforms to be worn at the team’s “throw-back” game on November 8 against the Green Bay Packers.

The team will induct its only Hall of Famer, Lee Roy Selmon, into the newly-founded ring of honor at halftime of that game.

Practice starts Saturday with two sessions, the morning session at One Buc Place, the evening session at Raymond James Stadium.

Let the fun begin. 

Buccaneers Burn Midnight Oil And Sign Freeman

Quarterback Josh Freeman reported with his teammates to One Buccaneer Place this morning and is now minimally $10 million richer.

The Buccaneers burned some midnight oil and got Freeman’s contract done, well, right around midnight, Thursday/Friday.

ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the five-year deal has guaranteed money of $10.245 million and could be worth $26-$36 million over the life of the contract.

Players were scheduled for physicals today, some were afforded the distinction of modeling the 1976 uniforms to be worn at the team’s “throw-back” game on November 8 against the Green Bay Packers.

The team will induct its only Hall of Famer, Lee Roy Selmon, into the newly-founded ring of honor at halftime of that game.

Practice starts Saturday with two sessions, the morning session at One Buc Place, the evening session at Raymond James Stadium.

Let the fun begin. 

Cowboys Fans You Needn’t Explain Yourself to Fraudulent Scum

I’ll be the first to tell you as a die hard fanatic of the Dallas Cowboys, I have never, ever had to justify myself or the Cowboys, to the likes of jealous human scum, yet when I’m reading the boards. There you are still talking to these morons.

Why?

Do you not realize that fraud haters live off jealousy of the Cowboys. Oh I assure you that statement is 100% true. Why else would they need to continue to talk about them so much?

Don’t believe me, check the boards. at some point you will find something that is related to Dallas, adding comment after comment. Showing you just how jealous these frauds really are.

My point?

As fans of America’s Team you don’t need to talk to them, who in the hell are they? I find it is much better to talk to your own kind, even if your own kind can at times be idiots themselves. But it is a lot better than dealing with fraudulent scum whome you know are nothing more then piles of human waste.

Nick Mangold Speaks: An Interview with the New York Jets’ Pro Bowl Center

There aren’t many opportunities in life for a 6’4”, 300-pound offensive lineman to go unnoticed; it simply doesn’t happen. Yet, on a stormy July afternoon in lower Manhattan’s lavish Tribeca Grand Hotel, Nick Mangold effortlessly blended into a crowd of video game lovers whose attention rested solely upon UbiSoft’s Holiday lineup.

Despite towering over everyone in attendance, the New York Jets’ Pro Bowl center proved to be no match for the multitude of demos and previews UbiSoft brought with them.

Mangold played a secondary role to Panasonic’s high-definition plasma displays, featuring Assassin’s Creed II, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Red Steel 2, RUSE, and much more.

On the surface, the former first-round pick looks like he’d be more comfortable with an axe and flannel shirt in the middle of a forest. But the long blond hair and grizzly beard can only camouflage his jovial charisma for so long.

Within minutes, he’s encouraging everyone in close proximity to have their mind-blown by the uniqueness of the hotel’s restroom before they leave for the day.

The afternoon was one of palpable anticipation. While UbiSoft’s upcoming Holiday titles received well-deserved interest, any sports’ fan could tell Mangold’s mind was with football, the Jets, and the beginning of training camp in Cortland, NY.

The man appeared absolutely focused. The video games serve only as a momentary distraction for No. 74 as he makes his necessary adjustments prior to an arduous month of practice and preparation.

Discussing everything from Madden ratings to his arrival in New York following the Kevin Mawae era, Mangold makes it abundantly clear that, no matter what, football comes first.

Angel Navedo: What are your feelings on traveling to Cortland for training camp?

Nick Mangold: I’m excited. I’ve never gone away for training camp. This is my first time—high school, college, and pros—I’ve never gone.

AN: What about when camp was held in Hofstra?

NM: Well, I lived five minutes from there. If we had two hours at night, I was able to run home and catch dinner or something. Being four hours away from home is a whole new beast that I haven’t really wrapped my whole head around.

AN: You were invited to this UbiSoft Holiday Preview event. Do you consider yourself to be technologically savvy?

NM: I like to. I don’t know where I measure up to everyone else, but I like to believe I’m gadget and tech friendly. I’m a Blackberry guy.

AN: That hurts my feelings.

NM: (Spots my iPhone) But I’m an iPod Touch guy! The iPod Touch is awesome. I think it’s a great device for games and messing around. But for dealing with emails and everything, I pick Blackberry—with the actual keyboard and everything—hands down.

I can bang out a page-long email while I’m sitting, doing whatever. Touch screens, you know, I got fatter fingers. It’s not my thing.

AN: It definitely took some getting used to for me.

NM: I even tried the Storm. I’m just not a touch screen guy at all. I love it for playing games and stuff, but I keep them separate. If that requires me to carry two different things, I live with it.

AN: Given the love for technology, would you say it’s a hobby or a passion?

NM: (Contemplates for a moment) I gotta say hobby. Football is my passion. Tech, it’s like, right above a hobby. I love dealing with surround systems at home, messing with speakers and stuff like that.

AN: Always wanna go a little bit louder, huh?

NM: Yeah, always wanna go a little bit louder. I always wanna add more speakers somewhere. In college, I wired it so we had speakers outside on our porch. When we first got there, my roommate was like, “There’s no way you could pull that off.” I was like, “No, I’ll figure it out.”

It’s just one of those things. I always like messing with stuff. It’s not a passion, but its right below there—in between passion and hobby.

AN: Being a gamer is pretty big for you. I know you attended the Halo 3 launch party, too. How deep does this run for you?

NM: [The first] Halo you didn’t have online, right?

AN: Yeah. That’s the one where you needed to hook it up through a LAN connection.

NM: Right. We did that in college. My friend had a two-bedroom apartment and both of the guys had good TV’s. So we’d bring the Xbox over to his house, hook them up, and we’d play in different rooms. We were playing it all the time.

AN: Would it be safe to say you’re more into the Xbox than Playstation?

NM: I’m a 360 guy, I am. I have a PS3, but I was sold on Xbox because of Halo. That made the decision for me. Grand Theft Auto was another huge one, so I always had a Playstation around. Now they have it for Xbox—which is awesome—but that always kept me playing a little bit of the Playstation.

AN: Since there’s no more need for a LAN connection, do you find yourself playing online at all?

NM: Yeah.

AN: Ever let anyone know who you are?

NM: Sometimes, but it depends. I was at a grade school and we were talking to a bunch of fifth graders. I gave them all my gamertag, which—in retrospect—was probably a bad idea, but we had fun with it that day. I kept it. I’ve had the same one for about five years now.

AN: Yeah, 800 credits to change it is rough.

NM: (Exhales) Yeah. I’m not changing it.

AN: Are you a Madden player at all?

NM: Yeah, I am a little bit. I play more games like Assassin’s Creed, Halo, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty. Madden, for me, it’s not an escape. It’s what I do for a living.

AN: I hear you.

NM: Every once in a while I’ll play Madden or NCAA to become an offensive coordinator. I sit out there and just go five-wide all the time, change all the hot routes.

AN: But I thought linemen liked to run block? You wanna go out into pass protection?

NM: (laughs) Not my five offensive linemen. I don’t listen to them. Just like every other offensive coordinator, we’re just gonna throw the ball.

AN: What about the rating system? The whole thing this summer with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and DeAngelo Hall complaining about their Madden ratings is something you have to hear often in the locker room, right?

NM: Some guys are worried about it. You can hear it sometimes. There’s always some sort of arguing going on with whose Madden rating is higher than the others. I don’t care; I’ve never really looked at it.

AN: Oh, okay. If you did, I imagine you’d be glad to know you don’t have to worry about it. You’re the second highest rated center in the league, behind Kevin Mawae.

NM: Well, that’s awfully nice to know. There’s another “Thank you” note I gotta send out. But it’s something I’ve never really looked at or wondered about. I’ve heard too many people with the arguing, “Watch me! I should be a 76, not a 74!” I wonder, does it really matter?

But some people do care about it; there are some guys on the team who are passionate about what their Madden ratings are.

AN: Now, you were drafted as an immediate replacement to Kevin Mawae after he was released. How did you handle coming in knowing you’d be filling a role he defined?

NM: It was difficult coming in and having that kind of a player here before you. You have that hanging over your head. But I do appreciate Kevin. I’ve talked to him a couple of times when we play each other.

But he really set up the center position in New York. People really know about it because of Kevin and what he was able to do. I appreciate him alerting people to the position.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to follow in his footsteps, and hopefully give the fans something less to worry about having me in there.

AN: I don’t know how much you’ve spoken with Mark Sanchez since he’s been in New York, but there’s a belief that he faces a similar dilemma following Brett Favre. Is that realistic?

NM: I don’t know how it works with quarterbacks, but I imagine it could be something like that. But, you know, with Brett, it’s different.

Kevin had been here so long that he built up that fan base. Brett had a fan base because he’s Brett, me being one of them. I grew up watching him. But it’s not like he had the die-hard group following him after an eight-year career in New York.

AN: It’s definitely not Green Bay.

NM: Yeah, it’s a little different situation coming in.

AN: Say it’s an actual game day, what are you doing to psyche yourself up before the game?

NM: I pride myself on being a controlled-aggressive person. I’m not banging my head against the locker before a game. I’m more focused on who I’m going against and what I have to do. I’m slowly amping it up.

If you get all amped up at 8:00 in the morning for a 1:00 game, you’re spent by 10 and your day is ruined. I try to keep it mellow. I let the cold ball of nervousness that sits in your stomach grow so it explodes after the first play. Then you have all that energy throughout the game.

AN: Now, you said you think about the person you’re going up against. With training camp coming up, the next month will be spent lining up against Kris Jenkins for most drills. What’s it like going up against him, then facing the rest of the league?

NM: Going against Kris is horrible. I have to do it every day, sometimes two times a day, and it’s miserable. People that play against him—unless they’re in the division—only have to worry about him one Sunday.

I have to worry about him for a whole month, and then some during the season. It’s miserable.

AN: It sounds agonizing.

NM: He’s a great player. Going against him every day has helped me, especially last year. Being able to go to the Pro Bowl was due to his help, because going against Kris, you gotta be on top of your game every day. That was huge when going against everyone else in the league.

AN: So everybody seems a little bit easier after him?

NM: (laughs) Not everybody! But some people, yeah.

AN: Do you still see areas where you can improve when you watch yourself on game film?

NM: Oh yeah. There’s a ton of stuff. It’s amazing, you look at it and you’re like, “I don’t know how I got by doing that horrible of a job.” You look at it, and there’s times where you’re like, “Why would I do that?”

That’s a big focus of the spring and making sure I’m doing all the right things exactly at the right time. I think it’s great having Brandon [Moore] and Alan [Faneca] next to me. With their kind of combined experience around me—something like 20 years—it’s been great being able to bounce things off them.

AN: Brandon Moore was released momentarily at the start of the offseason. I know you have to deal with the business aspect of the game, but what was it like when you thought you’d be losing one of your guys on the line?

NM: It was tough. Brandon was here when I got here, you know? He’s been a great friend, and a great player next to me who’s helped me out a ton. That one-week period that he was gone was tough. I wondered, how am I gonna deal with him not being in the locker room?

But then we resigned him, and all was right with the world again. Having us five together for another year is going to be huge in making our game—pass and run—that much better.

AN: That chemistry is critical.

NM: Oh yeah. It’s huge.

AN: Given the wealth of experience around you, how much of an impact do you feel a coach has in cultivating a player’s talent?

NM: Well, it all depends on an individual player, first and foremost. But—especially in my situation—having Coach [Bill] Callahan come in, with the knowledge he had on offensive lines and offensive systems, was a huge help to my success. I try to give him credit every time that I can.

Having a good coach is huge. If you have a guy telling you exactly what you need to do and how to do it—and then you can be coachable and do it on the field—you have a great opportunity to do well.

AN: Do you feel like there’s somebody poised to have a breakout season this year?

NM: I haven’t really thought of that. Going through the spring, I’ve been more focused on the offensive line. We did well last year, so I would say the offensive line is poised to have a huge year. Being together for another season, we’re hopefully doing the right things.

AN: So, if everything works out, you feel like you guys can definitely open it up for the running backs again?

NM: When you have Leon [Washington] and [Thomas Jones] running, you don’t need to open it up that much. They get the job done. Having those guys back there and knowing that if you give them an extra inch, they’re gonna break it. Those guys back there are fantastic.

AN: It definitely sounds promising. Thanks for your time, Nick. I really appreciate it.

NM: Not a problem.

Detroit Lions Roster Takes Shape As Camp Begins

Friday, July 31—the date set for the beginning of Lions training camp at the Allen Park Headquarters, just outside of Detroit.

A wrap up of some news and notes from recent days (along with the obligatory comments).

• Draft picks signed: Matthew Stafford (April 25), Louis Delmas (July 30), DeAndre Levy (July 28), Derrick Williams (July 30), Sammie Lee Hill (July 30), Aaron Brown (July 17), Lydon Murtha (July 28), Zach Follett (July 20), Dan Gronkowski (July 25)

• As of 11:30 AM, July 31, Brandon Pettigrew remains unsigned. Tom Leward reports the deal is almost finalized. At Noon, Pettigrew officially becomes a holdout but the sides are extremely close.

It’s great to hear that the draft picks have signed. All signs point to Pettigrew being a stand up guy so any selfishness seems unlikely. The reason for his upcoming “hold out” is basically waiting for other chips in the draft process to fall—along with the i’s to be dotted and the t’s crossed.

 

• Recently the Lions lost out on defensive tackle, Hollis Thomas who signed with the St. Louis Rams. 

Although Thomas would have certainly shored up the Lions’ run defense for this season, the 35 year-old has a bit of an injury problem and also has served a suspension for steroids. Either way, this signing would have had no long term impact on the Lions franchise.

 

• The Lions have also worked out free agents, DJ Hackett (WR), Cleo Lemon, Brooks Bollinger, and Craig Nall (QBs).

Of the four workout players, DJ Hackett has the most capability of seeing the field. At 28, he has the physical tools one looks for in a WR but injuries have slowed him. He has never played a full NFL season.

 

• The Lions signed CB William James

A pure depth signing, James has great size and good athleticism but most of his upside is behind him. James should back up each outside cornerback position and allow Eric King to focus more on the nickleback position.

The wildcard in this scenario is Keith Smith. If Smith shows he can be fill in as an average starter in case of injury, James could find his usefulness short lived.

 

• Eric Hicks (DE), Rudolph Hardie (DT), Tra Battle (S), Antone Smith (RB) were all released.

No real news here. Hicks was a workout body because he knew Cunningham’s system. Hardie will find himself as a camp body or back in Canada. Battle and Smith both have bonafide talent but lack NFL size.

 

Why Michael Vick Is a Perfect Fit As a Jacksonville Jaguar

Written by Daniel Wolf

As the Michael Vick circus continues, everyone and their grandmother are trying to predict where he might end up.

There have been many solid arguments for a few teams, but here is a new one to bring to the table.

Vick is a perfect fit in a Jaguars uniform.

You might be thinking, “Why would the Jags want him?”

The answer is quite simple: current quarterback David Garrard is playing to retain his job this year and a little competition never hurts.

This is not to say that Garrard is a horrible quarterback, but he cannot play at a consistent level and everyone from the general manger to the head coach to the fans know this.

Whether or not, Vick can actually compete at the higher level will remain to be seen, but still having a guy with the talent that Vick has cannot hurt.

Especially if the Jags want to utilize the Wildcat formation.

Can you even imagine Vick lining up behind center with Maurice Jones-Drew behind him?

That is a very dangerous combination.

Vick may also be a good fit to catch some passes, as a wide receiver, for the Jags since they constantly have receiver issues the last few seasons.

Another reason that Vick would be a perfect fit in Jacksonville is the fact that he will fill seats at the stadium during home games.

The Jags are having trouble filling seats and that is evident to all, since you can see all the empty seats that are just covered up so it won’t look as bad during games.

Vick could probably fill those covered seats.

In conclusion, no matter what team lands Vick, he will draw huge crowds (of fans and activists) and it will be a media frenzy.

 

Inside the NFL: The News and Notes from All the NFC Teams

A look at this week’s news involving NFC teams. Check out which rookies have come to terms with their teams, and which ones are still unsigned going into training camp.

Arizona Cardinals: WR Anquan Boldin, who was unhappy with his contract last season, showed up to training camp for the Cardinals and plans on staying away from the topic. He claims whatever happens with his contract situation will be in the hands of his agent and that he just wants to focus on playing football.

Atlanta Falcons: According to a report from FalconInsider.com, the team has signed first-round draft pick DT Peria Jerry to a five-year deal. The deal is expected to have a maximum value of $13 million, with $7 million guaranteed. Jerry spent two years as a starter at Ole Miss and was the 24th overall pick in the draft last April.

Carolina Panthers: With training camp approaching Sunday, the team’s only unsigned rookie is CB Sherrod Martin, who was selected in the second round. Earlier this week, the Panthers signed DE Everette Brown from Florida State and DT Corvey Irvin from Georgia.

Chicago Bears: WR Earl Bennett showed up to training camp on Thursday with a chip on his shoulder to prove the doubters wrong about the team’s wide receivers for the upcoming season. Bennett looks to have a breakout season after learning Ron Turner’s system and reuniting with his former college teammate, QB Jay Cutler.

Dallas Cowboys: Rumors had been swirling that the team was interested in signing WR Matt Jones. However, according to his agent, Dave Butz, the team is no longer interested in signing him. Jones was released from the Jacksonville Jaguars in mid-July.

Detroit Lions: The team has come to terms with S Louis Delmas. The safety from Western Michigan signed a four-year deal, but the terms of the contract have not been disclosed. Remaining unsigned from this year’s draft class include TE Brandon Pettigrew, WR Derrick Williams, and DT Sammie Hill.

Green Bay Packers: The only player remaining left unsigned from this year’s draft class is DT B.J. Raji from Boston College. On Thursday, the team signed OLB Clay Matthews III from Southern California.

Minnesota Vikings: Other than the announcement of QB Brett Favre, DE Kenechi Udeze announced his retirement after attempting a comeback from leukemia. In 51 games with the Vikings, he recorded 11 sacks and 117 total tackles.

New Orleans Saints: On Wednesday, the team signed fourth-round pick S Chip Vaughn and fifth-round pick P Thomas Morstead, with each player receiving a four-year deal. However, the team has yet to sign its top draft pick, CB Malcolm Jenkins.

New York Giants: On Thursday, the team reached agreements with second-round picks OLB Clint Sintim and OT William Beatty. The only unsigned player from this year’s draft class is first-round pick WR Hakeem Nicks.

Philadelphia Eagles: The main story in the City of Brotherly Love this week came as a sad one, as the team lost their long-time defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson, to cancer. The 68-year-old defensive mastermind was diagnosed with melanoma back in January after a Divisional Round matchup against the Giants in the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers: WR Michael Crabtree remains the only rookie unsigned for the 49ers as training camp is set to begin this weekend. According to a report from CBSSports.com, the Wide Receiver from Texas Tech is nowhere near reaching the type of deal he is looking for.

Seattle Seahawks: The team has agreed to terms with OT Max Unger, signing him to a four-year deal that guarantees him $1.95 million. The team’s only unsigned draft pick is fourth-round pick LB Aaron Curry.

St. Louis Rams: On the eve of training camp, the team signed OT Jason Smith, the second overall pick in this year’s draft. The Offensive Tackle from Baylor signed a five-year deal that can max out close to $62 million, with $33 million guaranteed.

This article was originally posted on FantasyPros911.com

Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for www.NFLTouchdown.com and is a columnist at FantasyPros911.com

You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Eagles_FanVoice.

Why the UFL Will Actually Make the NFL Better!

I have uncovered something amazing, something apparently no one has caught on to yet. That is simply this, the UFL will actually make the NFL better.

Does anyone remember the XFL? Well, the brainchild of WWE owner Vince McMahon only lasted one-and-a-half seasons, but it made a massive impact on the NFL, yet we don’t even realize it.

We remember the cheerleaders in the hot tubs and things like that from the XFL, but people forget they had a few thing entertainment-wise that could easily transition to the NFL.

Before the XFL, coaches and players were not miced up at all. They may have some type of mic on the sidelines because of the interviewers and cameras, but nothing more than that.

The XFL miced up players, coaches, and had huddles miced up to a tee. We never saw this kind of coverage on TV, which was something a lot of the football fans liked. Also, they had camera angles never before seen in a football game.

What they did was make the overall game coverage better, and it was far superior to the NFL’s coverage. While the best football was indeed in the NFL, and the marketing was far better there too. People don’t realize that the entire game coverage for the NFL massively improved after the XFL.

While the entire league turned out to be a big bust, they added so much to the game, and for that we have to thank them. Without Vince McMahon making this league, we may still have poor game coverage.

 

Now, what will the UFL actually contribute?

People forget that when the XFL was around, the NFL had NFL Europe. This was the place where the NFL sent players they were not sure about, yet thought they had talent they could use.

People such as Kurt Warner and Adam Vinatieri came from there, and I personally think both will be NFL Hall of Famers.

So realistically, the XFL was around only to rival the NFL, which was not smart for business.

The UFL can actually be the place where NFL players who don’t get their chance to shine can go. It is also the place where NFL rejects can go to show the NFL what they missed out on.

If the player shines, they can be signed by an NFL team the very next year or even sign in the middle of the year considering the UFL’s schedule ends in the middle of the NFL’s season.

People like JP Losman have already made their way to the UFL, mainly because he is not getting his chance to shine in the NFL for his former team, the Buffalo Bills.

Who can blame him?

If a team will offer him a starting job, why stay on a team where you are sure to be the backup?

Now we have the possibility of seeing Michael Vick in the UFL this season considering most NFL teams are not likely to take a chance on him this year. If a team were to sign him, he probably woudn’t start and would probably only come into the game from time to time, if at all.

If he were to go to the UFL, he would probably start right away. This does not mean he would play very well, but it would be better than playing on some practice squad in the NFL and never being able to show he is as good as he was two years ago.

It is also possible Plaxico Burress would sign with them when he gets out of jail, too, so the UFL to me is the proving ground for football players who wouldn’t get their chance in the NFL or their second chance that the NFL won’t give them without proof of how good they are.

The NFL needs to know what they are missing, and if a league is willing to come out and show them, then why not?

What they are doing is helping the NFL, no player will turn them down if they come calling for a nice contract and sure starting job. It is more money and more exposure, so it is obvious a player would go.

So the UFL will keep getting players in, and they will be sort of like NFL Europe was in a sense that NFL teams can scout talent from there and pick out the best people, especially ones they need for their team.

Say a key player gets hurt in the middle of the season, well, because UFL’s season ends in the middle of the NFL season, it would be perfect for a team to go and grab a person they need to plug into their team.

If that player does well, then they would get a nice contract from that team. Or they would go to another team that could use them in the NFL. If none of that happens, they can always go back to the UFL. So it is a win-win for the players.

The UFL will help out the NFL a lot, and I feel we need to keep them around to do so. Now, what they should do is play in the spring. It wouldn’t force them to compete with the NFL games, which means higher ratings.

Also, people who love football would like to see it more. If a league is on TV, they will watch. So to me, the UFL should not be a rival to the NFL, more so another league that goes out and plays and does not have to worry about beating the juggernaut NFL head to head.

It is sort of like pro-wrestling.

While pro-wrestling is not a sport, more-so sports entertainment, they get it.

See, there are three wrestling promotions on TV today in the WWE, TNA, and ROH. The reason why all are still around and are not dying to the big boys of the WWE is because they are on TV on different nights or times, therefore they are not really competing with each other.

While the UFL would seem to be smart to go on TV different nights during the fall, it wouldn’t work for them because most TV Networks have fall lineups. The best nights would be on a Saturday or Sunday.

But if football is already being played, it would be impossible to compete well with the other football games. Which is why they would be better of coming on during the Spring when there is no football on TV and they have clear slots to work with on TV for most nights usually.

They would not compete and lose ratings and money then, therefore keeping them around. Both can coexist and help each other if they don’t try to compete head to head.

However, no league can compete with this one.

Sorry NFL and UFL, you have no chance with this new league coming in.

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