Should we start the "Vince Young Season Ending Injury Watch" now or wait till regular season? The Titans QB made his debut on the cover of America's Favorite fake football game today..Madden '08.
But as Spiderman taught us, with great power comes great responsibility. Previous Madden Coverboys have found themselves faced with the challenge of staying healthy for the duration of their Madden Game Reign. In 2003, cover athlete Michael Vick broke his leg just one day after the game hit the shelves. Similar cases of "dumb luck" (aka gris gris) struck previous Madden Models Marshall Faulk and Donovan McNabb.
Needless to say, we'll keep you in our prayers #10!
Madden Madness (a.k.a. Curse Countdown 2007)
It Is SO On!
Check out Reggie & Peyton in NBC's NFL Countdown Commercial.
Gotta love Reggie's attempt at southern twang!
The Fujita Monologues
It's been nearly a week since the Saints took that wet and wild trip to a water park that left two players injured. Now starting Saints Linebacker Scott Fujita is ending "water-gate" so to speak and revealing how he ended up with a heel injury that forced him to miss the team's preseason game.
Fujita fessed up in an interview with S.I.'s Peter King:
"So there was a lot of talk about who could beat the great champion Scott Fujita on the water slide. There was a lot of trash-talking back and forth, just good, fun team stuff. When it was time for me to go, I really had a good slide going, and the slide wasn't long enough. I probably went 20 feet further than the end of it and slammed feet first into some 2-by-4s. Luckily, my foot went right through it because I was going so fast. Who knows how bad the injury would have been if the wood didn't break.
"So I go crashing through the fencing, and there's just silence for a few seconds. I was OK, but a few seconds later, my foot was throbbing. It turns out I hurt my plantar fascia in my right heel. And right now, still, I'm having trouble putting my full weight on the heel."
Fujita is expected to make his triumphant return within a few days.
The Chicks' recommendation: Save that competitive edge for the field.
And to Coach Payton, how 'bout we opt for a more low key team bonding experience. A day of beer and porn on the couch ain't never hurt nobody!
Bald Eagle
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Courtesy: philadelphiaeagles.com
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb will be sportin' a new do at tonight's Monday night matchup against the Ravens. Helmet hair wouldn't have been an issue even if McNabb hadn't whacked his bush. That's because Eagles Coach Andy Reid sidelined the QB for the preseason opener in Baltimore. Donovan gets to give his knee a little more healing time and the Eagles get to see what their top draft pick Kevin Kolb is working with.
Also getting some key playing time tonight is Olympian/Model/Wide Reciever/Hottie Jeremy Bloom. Bloom spent his rookie year with the Eagles on injured reserve.
As for our take on Donovan's ode to Kojak...anything beats his Buckwheat look of a few years back.
Bills vs Saints a.k.a "Points Schmoints"
Here's the good news: Unlike Game 1, Game 2 in no way looked like an NFL team versus it's cheerleaders.
Bad news: The first stringers couldn't "take it to the house" in their two trips to the red zone. And there are still troubling signs the secondary needs to tighten it up.
The final score of last night's exhibition game: Bills 13 Saints 10. But let's keep it real. Do we really care who wins or loses these scrimmages? It's really all about player performances and how well our starters are "seizing the moment" during their limited time on the field. Besides, the Bills needed that confidence boosting win a hell of a lot more than the Saints did.
This game did yield some noteworthy, if not praiseworthy performances. Below the Chicks break down some Saintly highlights and sinful lowlights from the Bills v Saints extravaganza.
Saintly: The Saints definitely showed signs that their high powered offense is intact, if not improved. Drew Brees started the game 10/11 on completions. Reggie Bush showed his versatility as both a brilliant back, go-to-receiver, and all around stud.
Sinful: Olinde Mare's blocked 37 yard field goal in the first trip to the red zone.
Saintly: The Defense didn't just suit up, they actually showed up. The aggression we yearned for in Canton reared it's head in the dome. There were a couple impressive defensive stands, particularly on the Bills second possession. DT Antwan Lake got in a good bat down. Charles Grant was all over the place. Even second stringers like Troy Evans got his number called a few times for sacks and pressure on the QB.
Sinful: Does Jason David think the wide receivers have cooties?
He appeared to be playing a cover 2 defense even though there was no man-to-man coverage from the corners on the receiver.
Chicks Translation: He gave the the receivers way too much breathing room, denying himself an opportunity to play for the ball.
Saintly: Rookies like Antonio Pittman and Lance Moore, who played like men with a burning desire to play an integral part on this team.
Sinful: Special teams play by Lance Moore that forced the Saints to start drive from their 1 yard line.
Saintly: QB Tyler Palko's confident performance
Sinful: QB Tyler Palko not being able to lead team into the end zone on Saints final drive.
Overall, definitely more noteworthy positives than negatives from this preseason performance. Continue working out the kinks boys. Come opening night, we hope to leave Peyton for once wishing he was Eli.
Friday Night Lights
There’s no denying it; the Saints looked as flat as Mischa Barton's chest during their preseason debut. But we all know the team’s energy level will be much higher tonight because they are playing in front of fired up Saints fans. Fans, mind you, who’ve been waiting seven long months to cheer their boys on in the Dome.
The coaches expect to see intensity on the field and playmaking around the ball. They want players to get more experience with timing on routes in a game situation. But because it’s preseason, they are also concerned about avoiding injuries. So we won’t see the starters in for too long but there are many players who have a lot to prove on the field as they joust for recognition and the promise of permanent roster spots. Below the Chicks break down tonight's "what to watch."
Fat Chance: Defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy (#92) was moved up to the first string this week taking over for Hollis Thomas (#99). Thomas, last year’s sizzling run stuffer, seems to have stuffed his face with too much home cooking in the off season. He’s been battling weight and conditioning issues since training camp started, meriting some not-so-favorable comments from Sean Payton. Clancy was signed as a free agent in June and played last season for the Arizona Cardinals. This is his chance to show Payton and defensive coordinator, Gary Gibbs, that he is finally ready to be a starter after being the second string guy in Arizona and Pittsburgh. It may be difficult for him to achieve a starting position if Thomas can do a quick turnaround and regain his girlish figure of last season. But Clancy has the opportunity to make a very favorable impression as long as Thomas is out of Payton’s good graces.
A Nickle of Quarterbacks- The Saints have five – count ‘em – five quarterbacks on their roster right now after signing Matt Baker on Tuesday. Baker who will be wearing (big surprise) #5 adds to the competition for the spot behind Drew Brees. There’s no way that all of these guys are sticking around so look out for fireworks from the second quarter on as Baker, Jason Fife (#11) and Tyler Palko (#3) try to prove their mettle and push 13-year veteran Jamie Martin (#10) out of their way.
Feel the Burn: Even though it was only the first preseason game, it was hard not to have that “Here we go again” feeling watching right cornerback Fred Thomas (#22) floundering and left cornerback Mike McKenzie (#34) meandering all over the field as they got stung early and often by the Steelers offense. Safeties Jay Bellamy (#20), Josh Bullocks (#29) and Kevin Kaesviharn (#43) did not inspire confidence either. Strong safety Roman Harper (#41), a spark plug of the secondary, is coming back this week for the first time since the sixth game of last season following his lengthy rehab from an ACL tear. Harper’s return could fire up his teammates and spur them to a better performance than last week. But look for this group to remain under the harsh glare of the microscope with coaches, press and fans all preseason if their play doesn’t improve.
Just for Kicks: Punter Steve Weatherford (#7) rocked the Superdome in the playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles after evading a tackle as he went to punt the ball and sprinted for a much needed first down. Weatherford was thought to have a firm grip on the job before training camp started but former Pro Bowler Chris Hanson (#6) has performed well so far. Payton dubbed the competition between Weatherford and Hanson as “wide open” and announced that Hanson will punt in the first half and Weatherford in the second on Friday night. Weatherford needs to rock the house again during preseason or Hanson may just MMMBop him out of a gig.
Also on the must watch list: Wide Receivers Robert Meachem (#17) and Lance Moore (#16), running backs Antonio Pittman (#24) and Pierre Thomas (#23), and linebackers Mark Simoneau (#53) and Brian Simmons (#51).
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