NFL FanHouse

10 Quarterback Battles Worth Watching

Calvin Watkins — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Broncos, Browns, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Jets, Lions, Raiders, Vikings, NFL Analysis

We're entering a dark period of the NFL life right now. Nothing is going on. Players and coaches are on vacation. With that we look at 10 quarterback situations worth looking at before training camps start in late July, because, well, it's always about the quarterback.

1. Detroit. Matthew Stafford vs. Daunte Culpepper.

The situation: It's the same old argument. Do you start the rookie or the veteran? The No. 1 pick of the draft is Stafford, but the vet with a chance to win a few games is Culpepper. Stafford is the future but you don't want to damage it. For every Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco there's a Ryan Leaf and Vince Young.

Solution: Start Culpepper and wait until 2010 for Stafford.

10 Quarterback Battles Worth Watching originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently, Fans Shouldn't Expect NFL Players to Be Perfect

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:35:00 EST

by Ryan Wilson

Filed under: NFL Police Blotter, NFL Fans

Last month, NFL Network's Jamie Dukes argued that it was "hypocritical to say [Brett Favre] should stop playing because you think it's time for him to stop." Never mind that no one has ever argued that. Instead, most fans -- even those with just a casual interest in the sport -- would prefer Favre not fake retire every offseason. I don't think that's asking for a lot.

Dukes is back. The just-concluded NFL Rookie Symposium prompted Dukes to writes that, "... there is an expectation among the populous that NFL players are supposed to be perfect because they were given the right to play football. THAT NOTION IS LUDICROUS!"

Apparently, Fans Shouldn't Expect NFL Players to Be Perfect originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cris Carter, Motivational Speaker, Breaks it Down for NFL Rookies

Ryan Wilson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:05:00 EST

by Ryan Wilson

Filed under: NFL Fans

If the television thing doesn't work out for Cris Carter, he's got a future in motivational speaking. Carter was the final speaker at this week's NFL Rookie Symposium, and his message was what you might expect -- don't do drugs, don't fall for groupies, don't start a dog-fighting enterprise, so on and so forth -- but his delivery was what made it memorable.

It was part overdramatized reality teevee, part televangelist. No mention of living in a van down by the river, however. Either way, I think he got through to almost everybody.

Cris Carter, Motivational Speaker, Breaks it Down for NFL Rookies originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phillip Buchanon Tries to Save the Lions

Calvin Watkins — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST

by Calvin Watkins

Filed under: Buccaneers, Lions, NFC North, FanHouse Exclusive

What possess a man to leave one team that finished third in its division for another that didn't win a game the previous year?

Well, we asked cornerback Phillip Buchanon the other day why he left the Bucs, who finished third in the NFC South, for the Lions, and his answer was simple.

"I did want to stay in Florida," Buchanon said. "Tampa was going in a different direction and I truly feel like I'm still a starter, and Detroit was one of the teams that was actually there. There were a few other teams, but Tampa was taking their time and I didn't want to wait. You either want me or you don't."

Phillip Buchanon Tries to Save the Lions originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Colt Brennan Plans to Prove in the Preseason That He's a Starting QB

Michael David Smith — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Redskins

To veteran NFL players, the preseason is a necessary evil, a four-game stretch in which they get paid peanuts (relatively speaking) and just hope they don't get hurt. But to young players trying to prove themselves, the preseason can represent a major opportunity. And Redskins backup quarterback Colt Brennan says he's going to make the most of that opportunity.

Colt Brennan Plans to Prove in the Preseason That He's a Starting QB originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calvin Pace, Another NFL Drug Cheat -- Where's the Outrage?

Dan Graziano — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: Jets, NFL Media Watch, NFL Analysis

Not to pick on poor Calvin Pace, who claims today to be the latest NFL victim of those sneaky, nefarious over-the-counter supplements, but come on here, people. At what point is it fair to start calling out the NFL on the performance-enhancing drug issue? This guy's no superstar, but he's an important player on a New York team. The baseball equivalent would be somebody like Ryan Church on the Mets or Hideki Matsui on the Yankees. Imagine if one of those guys had been suspended today for steroids? Would ESPN even think about leading SportsCenter with anything else?

More Coverage: Pace Suspended 4 Games

Calvin Pace, Another NFL Drug Cheat -- Where's the Outrage? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CFL's Arland Bruce Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson With TD Celebration

Will Brinson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:15:00 EST

by Will Brinson

Filed under: NFL Fans, NFL Media Watch, NFL Video, CFL

Kerry Joseph (no, not that Kerry Joseph)* Arland Bruce leads a relatively obscure life as a wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts; such is life in the CFL. But something tells me Mr. Joseph* Bruce will be getting a little more attention soon. You see, the CFL is currently reviewing a recent touchdown celebration in which Joseph* Bruce honored Michael Jackson by pretending to be buried. See for yourself and then we'll debate!

CFL's Arland Bruce Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson With TD Celebration originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Mailbag: Free Agents, Hot Seats and Aaron Curry Man Love

Dan Graziano — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West, NFL Mailbag

Send your NFL questions (along with your name and location) to NFLFanHouse@gmail.com. Each Thursday, we'll answer the best -- or, if nothing else, most entertaining -- in our NFL Mailbag.

Excluding Brett Favre, which remaining free agent can play the biggest role in 2009?

The easy answer (INCLUDING Brett Favre!!) is Plaxico Burress. He's a high-ceiling, high-impact wide receiver. You saw the way the Giants' offense missed him at the end of 2008, and we've seen a handful of teams express interest in him -- even though nobody knows if he's going to play in 2009. If he is allowed to play, he's your answer. But it looks increasingly likely that he'll be suspended for at least part of the season, if not all. So in the non-Burress division, I have three veterans who could make an interesting impact in the right situation:

NFL Mailbag: Free Agents, Hot Seats and Aaron Curry Man Love originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terrell Owens: Michael Jackson Dance Contest Winner

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:15:00 EST

by Ryan Wilson

Filed under: Bills, NFL Fans

It seems like everybody has a distinct memory of what Michael Jackson meant to them, particularly those of us in our 30s, who grew up listening to him. For me, it was convincing my parents to buy the "Thriller" album (33 RPMs!), and listening to it for hours at a time on our sweet Curtis Mathes all-in-one home entertainment system that looked a lot like this.

For a college buddy of mine (who shall remain nameless to spare him the shame of what I'm about to write) it was probably attending breakdancing classes as a chubby preteen while sporting one sparkly glove and a backpack stuffed with his Cabbage Patch Kid. (Amazingly, he now holds down a full-time job and spent very little time in therapy.)

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And for Terrell Owens, the enigmatic NFL wideout currently with the Bills, it was a Michael Jackson dance contest. Via BuffaloBills.com's Chris Brown:

Terrell Owens: Michael Jackson Dance Contest Winner originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Players Have Fantasy Football Draft

Matt Snyder — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EST

by Matt Snyder

Filed under: Fantasy Football, NFL Fans

Among the most tired arguments against fantasy football are that people playing it need to "get a girlfriend" or "get a life." First of all, as an avid fantasy football player, I'd like to point out that my wife probably wouldn't appreciate it if I got a girlfriend. Secondly, when seven well-known NFL players play, how can you really question if it's "cool" while comparing it to Dungeons and Dragons? Just get over yourself and try it before knocking it. It's fun.

Mini-rant aside, NFLplayers.com held an 8-team draft last week, pitting Leon Washington, Roy Williams (Cowboys WR), Ronnie Brown, Robbie Gould, Matt Forte, Cato June and DeAngelo Williams against one lucky fan. Let's see how they did.

NFL Players Have Fantasy Football Draft originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UFL Players Will Make Slightly* Less Than NFL Counterparts

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

by Ryan Wilson

Filed under: UFL

Good news: those players lucky enough to make a UFL roster will get paid (and by the looks of it, I suspect training camp will be a lot like little league tryouts: you show up, you get a uniform).

Bad news: salaries are approximately one-tenth what an undrafted second-year NFL player will pull down next season. The UFL is offering one-year, $35,000 contracts. (By comparison, the Steelers' Patrick Bailey, a special-teamer entering his second season after signing as a free agent out of Duke, will make roughly $385,000 in 2009.) Added bonus: there will be a chance to earn an extra $15,000 through incentives. So, right, somebody's getting a Kia Rio.

UFL Players Will Make Slightly* Less Than NFL Counterparts originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donte' Stallworth May Have Been High on the Potgrass at Time of His Accident

Will Brinson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST

by Will Brinson

Filed under: Browns, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

Donte' Stallworth, in terms of how he will be treated by the American justice system, has moved past his crimes. He settled his DUI manslaughter case with the Reyes family -- and news that leaked out late last night might provide a pretty good reason as to why he settled so quickly.

Turns out that Stallworth, in addition to having imbibed in some alcohol before hitting Reyes with his car, also allegedly had marijuana in his system.

Donte' Stallworth May Have Been High on the Potgrass at Time of His Accident originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All Hail Roger Goodell ... Or Else: A Look At the NFL Personal Conduct Policy

Stephanie Stradley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST

by Stephanie Stradley

Filed under: NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

As reported earlier, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports cites sources suggesting that Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress could be sitting out for a long time, due to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's concerns about their legal matters.

Though the happy talk from the NFL is that the personal conduct policy is working (Donte Stallworth's victim notwithstanding, I guess), the players are not terribly comfortable with a system that has no specific rules and has no neutral arbiter.

All Hail Roger Goodell ... Or Else: A Look At the NFL Personal Conduct Policy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charlie Batch: '100 Percent Chance' of 2011 Lockout

Dan Graziano — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: NFL Fans, NFL Analysis

The union's message to its players as the collective bargaining negotiations begin is coalescing. Union head DeMaurice Smith told FanHouse last month that he believes the owners intend to lock out the players in 2011. And according to Pro Football Talk, citing a "league source," Steelers QB Charlie Batch told rookies at the league's rookie symposium that there's a "100 percent chance" of a lockout that year.

Smith seems to have a solid handle on the media/message part of his job. He wants it made clear, to the players and the public, that any threat of a work stoppage is coming from the owners' end. The owners are the ones who opted out of the current CBA. The owners are the ones refusing to share the finanical information Smith is requesting. And if there's no football in 2011, it will be because the owners decided to lock out the players, NOT because the players went on strike. It is crucial for Smith to communicate this message to the players, because he believes it is crucial for the players to communicate it to the public.

Charlie Batch: '100 Percent Chance' of 2011 Lockout originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony Romo: Terrell Owens Is a Great Player Who's Hard to Replace

Michael David Smith — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:30:00 EST

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Cowboys

Terrell Owens said last week the Dallas Cowboys got rid of him to make him a scapegoat for Tony Romo's failure to become a leader. But when Romo was asked this week to respond to Owens' comments, he declined to get into a war of words with his highly volatile ex-teammate.

Tony Romo: Terrell Owens Is a Great Player Who's Hard to Replace originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LenDale White: I Won't Be Fat Again

JJ Cooper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:15:00 EST

by JJ Cooper

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

LenDale White doesn't look like the LenDale White we're used to seeing. White told The Tennessean that he's weighing in at only 229 pounds this offseason, way short of the 260 he's weighed at times throughout his pro career.

A 230-pound White should still be big enough to move the pile, but he may actually be able to make a couple of guys miss for a change, too. But there is the question of White's motivation, which is brought up in Jim Wyatt's story.

LenDale White: I Won't Be Fat Again originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vick's No Longer Working in Construction

JJ Cooper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:01:00 EST

by JJ Cooper

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Police Blotter

Michael Vick's construction job didn't last for long.

Needing a job to meet his house arrest requirements and with the NFL currently blocked as an option, Vick had started working construction last month in Hampton, Va. But he's left that job to start working for the local Boys and Girls Club. Although it's not exactly clear what he'll be doing with the Boys and Girls Club, they said he'll be working on health and fitness with the kids.

Vick's No Longer Working in Construction originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Santonio Holmes Puts on Weight, Has Big Plans for 2009

Ryan Wilson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:15:00 EST

by Ryan Wilson

Filed under: Steelers

When the Steelers drafted Santonio Holmes three years ago, he was arrested twice before training camp. An inauspicious start for a player new to an organization with a history of avoiding guys with "character concerns."

Now, almost five months removed from his Super Bowl MVP performance (and, for the record, eight months removed from his last arrest, although the charges were later dropped), Holmes seems more focused than ever on his day job. Maybe he has matured, or maybe Hines Ward has rubbed off on him. Or maybe both, given his current physical state.

Santonio Holmes Puts on Weight, Has Big Plans for 2009 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Marshall Has Wanted Out of Denver for Quite Some Time

Josh Alper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West

When rumors about Brandon Marshall leaving the Broncos started percolating, most people assumed that the wide receiver wanted a trade because he was either unhappy about his contract or unhappy that the team traded quarterback Jay Cutler to the Bears. Those may both be valid, but he started dreaming about a departure from the Rockies long before either of those issues came to the forefront.

The first inklings of Marshall's desire occurred way back in 2007, although he didn't make them known to any member of the Broncos front office. Pro Football Talk unearthed a copy of the police report from an incident of suspected DUI, which featured Marshall's colorful initial trade request.

Brandon Marshall Has Wanted Out of Denver for Quite Some Time originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Athletes Feeling Effects of Recession

Michael David Smith — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:53:00 EST

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Browns, Packers

It's easy to scoff when you hear about a former professional athlete who's struggling financially. Aren't these guys all millionaires? If they haven't saved enough for retirement, isn't that their own fault? But the current recession hasn't spared pro athletes, and increasing numbers of them are finding themselves in dire financial straits.

Ex-Athletes Feeling Effects of Recession originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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