FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE AT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST….

Someone brought this to my attention and I feel like this is one area I do need to address for my own credibility, dignity, self-respect and for our site, The National Football Post.  The article below appeared in ProFootballTalk written by the owner, Mike Florio.  I have never talked to him, as I do not respect the manner in which he is constantly used by his sources to be a mouthpiece for their own interests.  I do know which Raider source is using Florio for his agenda and have heard the gossip transpire first hand. 

I have maintained my distance from his site as I like football much more than I like gossip.  For someone with no experience in the NFL or in any sports league, his personal attack was perpetrated with the recklessness that defines his site.  His is the type of gratuitous malice that the National Football Post strives to avoid in our pursuit of rich content unburdened by agendas and pettiness.  Yesterday, amid his unabashed praise for Al Davis (the ONLY person on the web, in print media, or on television who can be found taking that viewpoint) and his negative comments about people like Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, and myself, Florio wrote the following:

“It wouldn’t surprise us to learn that Lombardi gave Belichick an unsolicited head’s up about Moss, which then contributed to Belichick’s ultimate pursuit of him.  If that happened, it technically wouldn’t be tampering by the Patriots.  It would be an act of treason by Lombardi against his employer at the time, but it wouldn’t be tampering by the Patriots.

This comment screams of ignorance.  As Florio would know if he had any genuine experience, to get a team interested in making a trade there has to be some form of selling the player before the transaction may actually happen.  This exchange occurs with every team and in every trade ever made in the NFL.  Had Mike Florio ever actually had experience in being part of a trade in the NFL, he would know this was not an act of treason but acting like an NFL executive.  When I traded wide receiver Doug Gabriel to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick the prior year, does Florio believe I told Belichick that Gabriel couldn’t play prior to commencing the trade?  It is hard to know the point that Florio was trying to make.

This story is typical of the type of stories thrown up on that site as “news,” such as his story last summer that Randy Moss might get cut, before he went on to score 23 touchdowns.  And since he never mentions our site nor links our breaking news we assume he will never read this story.  If that is the case, we hope he understands our intent here is not to engage in a war of words, but simply to defend against a baseless accusation.

Now that we have cleared that up, we move on to the football items....

1.     I loved the fact that Chris Johnson got voted rookie of the month.  My thought when I read that was that Joe “The Tipper” Fortenbaugh should be fantasy draft guru of the month.  No one was pushing Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, or Steve Slaton harder than our own Tipper. 

2.     I would have a hard time believing that the Skins can come into Philadelphia and win on the road without Shawn Springs playing corner.  I know I have been wrong about the Skins this year, but what was clear to me watching tape yesterday was the fact that I have NEVER seen Springs play any better in his entire NFL career. 

3.     I watched the 49er defense yesterday and continue to be amazed at the play of Patrick Willis.  He is all over the field and extremely productive.  But the 49ers cannot be too happy with the play of Justin Smith.  From what I gather watching tape, he does not seem to be the rusher they had hoped he would be for them.  He does not pressure or dominate for the amount of money they spent on him.  He needs to step up his game. 

4.     When I watch the 49er offense, I am not sure who is a better receiving tight end, Delanie Walker or Vernon Davis.  Walker looks like the more complete player.  Davis really struggles to be effective in the blocking, run, and protection aspects of the game. 

5.     With Big Ben missing another practice, I am sure he will find a way to play.  The biggest question is, who will play on the line for the Steelers this week in Jacksonville?  Here is the report from the Steelers web site. 

There hasn’t been any decision who will start at right guard for Kendall Simmons, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a ruptured Achilles. Darnell Stapleton and Trai Essex are both in the mix, but Stapleton has seen more reps with the first team this week. “He has more recent history at the position in terms of practice,” said Tomlin. “Trai has been concentrating on swing tackle. Both guys will get work. We haven’t made a final decision there. We really don’t have to until Sunday night.” 

Amazing that Max Starks cannot break into the line-up and move Willie Colon over to guard.  At some point, Starks needs to earn his pay check.