Eight In The Box

Awesome. We didn't want Matthew Crappord anyway. With the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select: Andre Smith, Left Tackle from THE University of Alabama.

Dave- Good call, but you never know, the Lions might select a punter with the first pick, trade for Grossman, and then sign Rasheed Wallace to play tight end.

I still think Hester made some big plays last night, besides the double move he put on that safety from the Saints.

He is going to develop.

Coach- I admit he made some nice catches last night in the 3-step passing game, but let's not crown him just yet as the next best thing since Bud Heavies...

You really think he would have caught that ball between defenders? He's not at that level yet.

Don't know if he ever will be to be honest.

I will be the first to admit that T.O. is again destroying a team and its quarterback--but now, it is my team.

I think we should cut him loose after the season.

You mentioned his age, add in the major distractions, and he is not worth the money or time.

Find a young receiver of bring in Ocho Cinco... at least he can produce to go along with his mouth.

T.O. has been a major bust this season. Time to move on Jerry.

Good thoughts Romo...

Not a bad idea for something to write about for this afternoon, since my brain is fried, and all I want to do is go to XMas parties and drink other people's beer.

Maybe Stafford can do like Eli and just refuse to play for them, it worked for him. If he plays another year in college he might not be #1 overall next year and could cost himself a bunch of money. If he is still #1 overall Detroit will probably still be the one in line to get him...or worse. Oakland? St. Louis?

Dallas' D has stepped it up a notch since Wade took over the play calling. He gets enough blame for other stuff so he should get some credit for that.

Romo4mvp,
Just say NO to Ocho!! I just want to know who the unnamed "current Cowboy player" is that Mosely keeps quoting. Whoever that is (assuming it is even a real person) is the one making inflammatory comments. None of the rest of the stuff that has been quoted is really that big of a deal. Just a bunch of media hype. ESPN has a slow news day so they get Werder to try and stir up something. Its patently obvious.

Bad Math on your part....Plaxico's 110,000 12-paks would equal 1,320,000 beers. If you meant 110,000 beers, that would get you 9,166.7 12-paks. Either way, Plaxico was 'paking' a little too much that night, and should drink as much as he can since they don't allow you pack much of anything into prison...I suppose.

Just go ahead and pop open a cold one already

David-It depends where you live when you do the math of the 12-packs....

Either way, there is a lot of Bud Heavies you can buy with 1 milly....and even more Busch Light cans.

Bill- Can't just yet...have to work a little while longer before I call it a day.

Fortenbaugh runs a tough ship here at The Post

Hey Matt;

Instead of just jumping on the anti T.O. bandwagon, why don't you do some critical evaluation of the story. Isn't it a little surprising to you that all the most critical comments in the ESPN story are unsourced? Isn't it a little suspicious that the WWL breaks this story after TO decides he doesn't want to answer questions from Ed Werder anymore?

Isn't it a little strange that all the WWL talking heads are raking TO across the coals for participating in a meeting with his offensive coordinator, and NOT airing this alleged dirty laundry in the media. Isn't it notable that the WWL is just SPECULATING on the topic of the meeting with Garrett? I know this is just a blog, but why is no one looking into the extremely shoddy and again, UNSOURCED, nature of the WWL report?

Scoot- You bring up some good points, but I have to believe that ESPN is just doing their job--creating controversy.

"Un-named sources" are still sources.

Plus, I really don't care enough to figure out what is really going on with T.O., because I would have to write a story everyday to keep up with that guy.

However, I have a column coming out this afternoon that addresses T.O. in general, because he is pure entertainment--entertainment that needs to go.

I appreciate the comments... Too hard to not make fun of the guy.

Look forward to reading it Matt

B Roo- I'm just saying that if you can deal with the mouth of Ocho Cinco, he might be able to help us win.

The Steelers don't need Fast Willie to win anyway. They can plug in Moore and be the same team.

Hester is never going to be more than a deep ball guy who cant catch.

The great thing about an unnamed source is just that, its unnamed and unverifiable. Ed can say that his journalistic ethics prevent him from identifying his source. We have no idea if the unnamed source is even real. And in this case, it appears that ESPN has a motive to CREATE controversy, and may have stepped over the line.

Scot,
You are right on with that. Otherwise what would they be reporting? Cowboys Receivers Meet with Offensive Coordinator. Oh my goodness! Shocking! Muckraking reporter asks T.O. if he's jealous of Witten and he answers "no, I'm not jealous of nobody". Good Lord Stop The PRESSES! Romo asked if its a distraction to the team and he answers "no, I'm glad he wants the ball I'd rather play with a guy like that who practices hard everyday and wants the ball than somebody who doesn't want the ball". Earth shattering news!!

Time to bring in unnamed "current Cowboy player" to say something that we can make a story out of.

If a receiver complaining about not getting the ball and yelling at his QB, coaches, media and anyone that will listen to him ruins a team then Irvin better give back those 3 rings. If Dallas misses the playoffs it won't be because of any of this crap.

This isn't just a matter of ESPN potentially blowing something out of proportion (which is to be expected). I think a serious investigation needs to made into the issue of whether Ed Werder is just making this sh*t up. How is it that no other news organizations have been able to find similar quotes from other Cowboy sources? How is it that the local papers didn't have a whiff of this?

On top of it all, you have motive by Ed Werder. I think the real story here is going to be the complete breakdown of journalistic ethics at ESPN. Maybe Florio will pick up the ball and run with it.

Still, 9,166 beers is a "brewer's case" per day for a year. Even if your slimming down to the 64 calorie amber-colored carbonated water your taking 1,600 calories from beer alone, double that if your on the Heavies. I can live on that.

Matt Bowen must be in a hurry to get out of the office today. Only bits I am intereested in are the beer and the blackout.

I couldn't imagine a blackout for a Pack game, even the NFL Network games are shown on NBC regulare.

Scot- Just thought you should know that an "un-named source" broke the Watergate story....

Jero- A couple more blown leads and 5-11 seasons will get some blackouts up in GB

Jero- I you have suggestions, I am always open for discussion on what you think it is relevant NFL news.

Right, but responsible journalists usually confirm facts given them by the "unnamed source." Ed Werder hasn't done that in this case. It's all WWL spin. Fact of the matter is that J. Witten essentially denied that he thinks T.O. is upset about ball distribution. JJ has denied there is a problem, Wade Phillips has denied there is a problem, and every other Cowboy player has essentially said there isn't a problem. Strange that not one other Cowboy is willing to confirm this "rift" with any other news source. The source of the inflammatory quotes is known to Ed Werder and Ed Werder alone.

What is the over/under on Rasheed Wallace setting a new NFL record for unsportsmanlike conduct in his stint as Lions TE?

Nah Romo, if the recently retired-from-the-NFL Matt Bowen put his name on the season ticket list for Lambeau he'd be about 70-75 years old, and on a fixed income before he'd see them. I had gone to games back in the late 80's/early 90's and Lambeau saw few no-shows... that number shot up during the third quarter.

Matt Bowen, like any blog 100% of the content is rarely relevant to 100% of the audience. Appologies for that comment, as the writer you have to stay current and topical. Keep up the good work.

Jero-

I agree you guys have great fans, but don't try and put yourself up on the mountain top when your team in brutal.

Romo - what Jero is meaning is that the Packers sort of have a captive audience due to the nature of their market. Even when they suck, people still go to the games, they still watch the games, it's more of an integral part of life in these parts than pro football is in most markets. It's not about putting anyone on a mountain top or criticizing anyone, they're just our team, whether they're good or whether they suck rocks. There are churches in WI that specifically time their masses to ensure all members can make it home in time for the noon game - and they were doing this long before Brett Favre ever went to college. It's part of the culture - the Bears have it too, to some degree and some of the other old teams but most newer teams really don't seem to have that as much.

Bowen - never mind Stafford... I heard a rumour that every single collegiate prospect is considering staying in college to avoid being drafted by the Lions!

If Plaxico's 110,000 twelve-packs equals 9259 beers, then each one of Plaxico's beers contains 2281 fluid ounces, about 2.2 cubic feet of beer in a single beer stein. Don't lift -- the beer weighs almost as much as the punter!

Love it!

lol...if Stafford really is withholding going to the pros because of that, I would shy away from drafting him.
It shows a fear of adversity, that he is already intimidated by the challenge of resurrecting a CITY.
thats not what you want from your quarterback.

Give Stafford to us. We will take him in Chicago, along with T.O., Ocho Cinco, and Julius Peppers--if they are available.

But, our cheap owner will draft some scrubs instead.