National Football Post Diner News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 AUG 2008

QUOTE OF THE DAY…. “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days that you feel good.”  — Jerry West. 

FROM JEFF DARLINGTON OF THE MIAMI HERALD… Henne entered the game after Chad Pennington, who completed 2 of 4 passes for 27 yards, started the first two series. At first, it seemed as if Henne’s regressions would cause for a discouraging end to a solid training camp for the rookie. Then, he turned it on. Henne started his first half with two sacks, a fumble and an incomplete pass — but finished the same half nearly perfect. He completed 11 of his next 12 passes for 108 yards and a beautiful touchdown throw to the back of the endzone to tight end Sean Ryan. ”I thought it was outstanding,” Sparano said. “I thought he showed a lot of poise at the end of the half. That was a real solid drive.”

I mentioned it yesterday, but when the Dolphins hired Bill Parcells, they spent $4 million a year to get a “PROGRAM.”  Part of the Parcells program is to have a quarterback who will work hard, lead the team, and be an extension of the coaching staff.  Drafting Chad Henne was the right move.  He will be the cornerstone of a rebuilding project that will take less time than many might expect.  When the Fins traded Jason Taylor to the Skins, I mentioned that the Dolphins would have a better record this year then the Skins and after the preseason I am even more certain about that prediction. 

FROM RICH CIMINI OF THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS… As expected, Eric Mangini turned the last tune-up into a showcase for the second- and third-stringers, many of whom will be sweating out the final roster cuts tomorrow. The most prominent player on the field - certainly the one with the biggest paycheck - was rookie Vernon Gholston, who finished a disappointing preseason with another hollow performance. The Jets’ top pick, appearing in 46 plays at outside linebacker and defensive end, was credited with three quiet tackles. Gholston had no sacks and no quarterback pressures, with only one impact play - he forced backup right tackle Winston Justice into a holding penalty.  Another way to look at Gholston’s night: He made fewer tackles than wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, who made four stops in his NFL debut at cornerback.  “I’m still learning,” said Gholston, making the transition to linebacker from defensive end. “It’s a slow process, moving to a new position. You’re going to hit a few bumps, but I’m getting better.”

I watched Gholston last night and he is not playing well right now.  What is most alarming is his inability to come off blocks without explosion or to play the game with any physicality.  Coming out of college, he did not in my opinion have one- step quickness.  He has to run his feet to generate power—much like a boxer who needs to “wind up” to throw a power punch.  Gholston is poor rusher, playing right into the lineman.  As a dropper, he has no chance.  If he is in coverage, he is a HUGE liability.  The question the Jets should be asking themselves is, “How are we going to dress him on Sunday?”  He is not a special teams player and won’t be on the field as a rusher with the defense.  Difficult to imagine drafting a player the sixth overall, he is not a quarterback, and he does not offer any help on Sunday.  Marques Murrell is so much better, and if the Jets cut him he will get claimed.    

FROM JOHN MCCLAIN OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE… Thursday was a special day for Texans receiver Harry Williams. Williams got out of his bed at Presbyterian Hospital-Dallas and walked for the first time since suffering the career-ending injury to his spine against the Cowboys on Aug. 22 and undergoing surgery to fuse the second and fourth vertebrae Sunday. “It was hard, and I’m still weak, but I’m making great progress,” Williams, 26, said. “I have to take things one day at a time.” feel so blessed right now,” Williams said. “I feel so loved.” Sometime next week he’ll return to Houston to begin rehabilitation at the Medical Center. “I can’t wait to get back to see my guys,” said Williams, who has been in almost constant contact with players and coaches since the injury. “They call me a lot. I don’t know what I’d do without them. “That shows what football’s all about — camaraderie and relationships that’ll last for the rest of your life. It shows we’re a family, and we’re going to stick by each other no matter what.”

This is great news and I am sincerely happy that Williams has turned the corner.  His comments here are genuine and honest.  Football is about being a part of the team, about building relationships and friends for the rest of your life. 

FROM TOM SILVERSTEIN OF THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL… If Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy were hoping for some kind of sign - any kind of sign - that would tell them whether rookie quarterback Brian Brohm was ready to become Aaron Rodgers’ backup this season, they got it Thursday night at Lambeau Field. In the worst of his four exhibition game performances, Brohm showed during a 23-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans that the Green Bay Packers would be taking a major risk going into the regular season with him as the No. 2. Excuses will be made for poor protection and broken routes, but the bottom line is that Brohm continued a downward trend in his play and showed despite his status as a second-round draft choice that he is not ready for prime time. He finished the exhibition season with a passer rating of 45.2 and led the offense to three points in 17 series.

After watching last night’s game, even as stubborn as Ted Thompson may be, he has to concede and try to get involved with Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms.  Thompson’s Packers are too talented a team to leave themselves barren at the backup quarterback position.  Their answer is not Daunte Culpepper, but moving to get involved with Simms or taking Brooks Bollinger if the Vikings decide to keep Booty. 

FROM MIKE PRESTON OF THE BALTIMORE SUN… McGahee not on market. McGahee’s name has been tossed around the NFL as possible trade bait, especially because several teams are interested in running backs. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he has heard the talk and that McGahee is not and has not been on the market.

It would be very hard for Ozzie to trade MCGahee, considering what he paid in terms of money and draft picks to acquire him.  And with the lack of depth and talent right now at quarterback, the Ravens are going to need two backs to help carry the load in the running game.  I am not a huge fan of Willis as a runner, but the Ravens need him right now. 

FROM MICHAEL WILBON OF THE WASHINGTON POST… Zorn, by the way, believes deeply in preseason and says so. He says he believes the games are rehearsals, that the preseason enables coaches to learn about their players, and that the development of young players can take place only in the laboratory of games. “I think preseason’s valuable, I really do,” he said. But he and his staff will have to reassemble the pieces without any more games in what is now a normal NFL work week his first as a head coach in the regular season. What’s he going to do, call Ralph Friedgen and invite the Terrapins to Redskins Park for a scrimmage?  The guessing game starts now, of course. When the season opens Thursday, will the Redskins more closely resemble the team that won its first three games, or the team that has looked like a raggedy junior varsity the last two? Were they really that bad against Carolina and Jacksonville, or just tired of an unnecessarily long five-game preseason that could drain the life out of anybody?

Jim Zorn had that look on his face last night, one that makes you wonder if he suddenly realized what he had gotten himself into becoming a head coach in the NFL.  His game management was poor at the end of the half, allowing the Jags to run the clock down to kick a field goal.  At some point the Redskins are going to figure out, you need a “PROGRAM,” that there are no easy solutions.  Randomly selecting players and spending huge sums of money won’t work. Since the uncapped year, the Skins are in the bottom third of wins.  The Skins will pay huge money for coaches and players, but they need to place resources into an infrastructure of player procurement.  Jerry Jones figured it out, hiring Parcells to establish a foundation.  Every team in the NFC east has a “PROGRAM” except the Skins and each one of those teams are hoping the Skins never figure out that they need one.

FROM MIKE REISS OF THE BOSTON GLOBE… Once the season starts, it’s a whole new ballgame; we know that,” coach Bill Belichick said. “What counts is how you play in the regular season. That’s what matters. It doesn’t mean that the individual performances and group performances and how you execute plays isn’t important. It is important, and that leads to your execution at a later point in time, but I’d say that’s what you gain from preseason. The fourth exhibition game, in particular, generally is one in which both teams are looking to escape healthy, and in that case, both teams won. The defending champion Giants, who open their season Thursday against the Redskins, didn’t play quarterback Eli Manning, receiver Plaxico Burress, and defensive end Justin Tuck. The Patriots played without a spark last night, which is pretty much the way they’ve played throughout the preseason. Once again, they put up little resistance on an opponents’ opening drive, surrendering points for the fourth straight game (two touchdowns, two field goals).

Preseason is about being able to view sections of your team and know what you need to improve upon.  It is absolutely critical to be honest with yourself about the way you evaluate players and what you actually have, and then to be able to make the tough choices.  I suspect the Patriots will make a few surprising decisions and do a few things to improve their team before the start of the season.  There is no way the Pats will stay the course.  They will do whatever they think is in their best interest.  I can guarantee you they will be working hard over the weekend to improve their team.  One thing about NE, they are not afraid to make a tough decision.

FROM STEPHEN F. HOLDER OF THE ST. PETE TIMES… The Bucs seem to have their quarterback quandary mostly figured out, at least judging by Thursday’s personnel decisions. Luke McCown — Thursday’s starter — the presumptive third-stringer and Chris Simms on the way out.  McCown was an efficient 5-of-5 for 52 yards, including a 28-yard strike to Cortez Hankton, ending the quarterback’s preseason on an upswing after some rockier outings. For Simms, he had an uneven 9-of-15 performance, netting 71 yards with a sack and an interception in playing much of the second and third quarters. It was almost certainly his last action in a Bucs uniform, with all indications pointing to his release Saturday, when NFL rosters must be trimmed to the final 53 players.

The Bucs have to make a move with Chris Simms.  I am certain they can get a few teams interested in making a trade.  The key for the Bucs is to create a “supposed” market and gain more than they were offered on draft day.  Simms’ contract will not cause problems in terms of trading, so this should be a smooth transition and hopefully occur over the weekend.  I do expect to see some trades over the holiday weekend.  The personnel action is really going to pick up.  Don’t be shocked when you see some name players getting cut.  Many teams do not want the restriction of having to guarantee the entire year of a veteran player.  Having flexibility in your cap with the players is critical.

FROM RICK ALONZO OF THE ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS… The Vikings are focused on trying to get a stadium built in Minnesota and have turned down overtures to meet with a billionaire developer who would like an NFL team in Los Angeles, a team official said.  Ed Roski Jr. wants to build an $800 million stadium in City of Industry, Calif., in hopes of luring a team. Roski has made attempts to meet with the Vikings and owner Zygi Wilf in recent months, said Lester Bagley, Vikings vice president of public affairs/stadium development.  “Mr. Roski’s been talking to NFL teams and team owners about their development in California,” Bagley said Thursday. “They have knocked on our door, but we have declined. We’ve not had a meeting or discussion with Mr. Roski. All of our updates have come through the league. Our intention is to resolve the issue in Minnesota, but clearly they’re out proactively seeking a team.” In April, Roski reportedly identified the Vikings and six other teams that might move to the Los Angeles area for his new stadium. The other teams were New Orleans, Buffalo, Jacksonville, San Diego, Oakland and San Francisco.  Speaking before Minnesota’s exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys, Bagley said the Vikings “feel some momentum” in their quest to build a new stadium and are focused on those efforts.

The last team to move to L.A. from Minnesota was the Lakers and I really don’t see the Vikings moving.  The Vikings fans are tremendous.  There have to be some solutions between state and local governments about the Vikings.  Every time I visit Indy, I wish I could show the politicians the value of building a downtown stadium, what it does for the local economy.  Indy is a booming town because of that dome.  The action downtown is alive, the restaurants are plentiful, and the economy seems to be rolling along well.  San Francisco rebuilt in a bad section of town by building Pac Bell Park and that project revitalized the city.  Minneapolis is a great city and they need to find a way to make it work because it is clear the Vikings want that as well.   

FROM STEVE DOERSCHUK OF THE CANTON REPOSITORY… Just when Brady Quinn got hot, Romeo Crennel pulled the plug.  Starting in place of injured Derek Anderson, Quinn quarterbacked the Browns to a 10-0 lead in his only two series against the Bears on Thursday night.  Quinn went 7-of-9 for 65 yards and a 96.8 passer rating, taking his last snap with a minute left in the first quarter.  Crennel had said Tuesday that Quinn would play “maybe a half.” Or maybe not.  Quinn was relieved by Ken Dorsey on the Browns’ third series. Dorsey finished the night.  Crennel did not get deeply into his reason.  “After (Quinn) looked pretty decent,” the head coach said, “we took him out.”  Nor was Crennel effusive on whether he knows if Derek Anderson will be ready to face the Cowboys: “Nope.” Some insiders were surprised Crennel didn’t take a longer look at Quinn.

The Bears have to be worried, that even in a meaningless game their defense got torched once again. The Bears defensive starters need a ton of work.  It was good for Quinn to work the ball down the field and raise his average per attempt significantly higher.  The Browns system of offense is impressive.  Rob Chudzinski is an excellent play caller and the Browns offense works regardless of who is in the game.  If the Browns win this year, I am sure Chudzinski will get some head coaching interviews.