Hey Chicago Bears fans....The newly launched football website for women, TheFootballGirl.com, just did a pretty good interview with Adelwale Ogunleye.  He talks reaction to the Gaines Adams ick-up and seems to be chomping at the bit for his upcoming unrestricted free agency during the uncapped year...He also talks about his perfect lady and whether he's had any Prince Hakeem from Coming to America moments, being Nigerian royalty and all.

 

Check it out:  http://thefootballgirl.com/multimedia/podcast.html

 

 

When you watch an NFL game, or even a college game for that matter, and compare it to ten years ago, the difference is night and day. Thanks to Tom Brady, he and many other high profile NFL quarterbacks are being protected from big hits. It has changed the game immensely, and in my opinion it has changed for the worst. This is a hot topic, and I am here questioning football injuries, but I am questioning the injuries no one is talking about it. In college football there have been more ACL tears than ever before. The NFL has also taken a hit from ACL injuries, but also from Achilles tendon tears. Why? Is it just by coincidence? I think not. As a football player, and any other athlete for that matter, the bigger, stronger, faster you are, then you have a better chance of success. This is common knowledge. Now you have defensive lineman that weigh over 300 pounds and can run 4.8 forty times, and in some instances faster than that. Just super human abilities. Are athletes putting on too much muscle and weight that their joints can’t handle it? Players put so much strain on knees and ankles that maybe players are getting to big and strong that their bodies can’t support it. Right now the sport is trying to figure out concussions, and that’s all well and good. But, as important as concussion research is, I think doctors need to take this into account. Some of these injuries are ending player’s carriers, but what can you do? Is there anything you can do? Or is it just coincidence?

I am not sure if this is the right place or not. But I don't know another way to reach dev's.

Nothing is quite as annoying as when I am typing out a comment reply than someone posts a new comment and the thread shifts. I am no longer looking at the box I was typing the comment into. But a competly new comment someone else posted. Is their anyway to have it auto refresh but have it not jump all around. It used to do this. 

This is quite annoying problem that a lot of people have talked to me about. Especially in game threads where there might be hundreds of comments. 

Yes I said it!.(well sort of) I am a total soccer fanatic, but I had to post this track and field  story the about 18 year old 800 metre World Championship Gold medalist,  South African,  Caster Semenya. Remember  her? News leaked out (initially via  the Australian telegraph newspaper) that tests have revealed that Semenya is "Intersexed".

South African Caster Semenya winning the women's 800 metres finals at the World Championships in Berlin,Germany.

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I just want to respond Charles Robinson's (Yahoo Sports) article..."Right risk at right moment for Pats". Before I go

too far I want to apologize for the mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, format, etc.

that I'm sure to make. I've never written a response to anything in my life but for

some reason I feal inspired to finally do so days before my forty second birthday.

 Here in New England we've had nine or so years to become quite familiar with Mr. Belichick's

"Blueprint". And no matter how sad that I find it to be so, fortune does favor the bold. You did point

out however that New England has drafted poorly in recent years, so I ask with that in mind

is it a good idea to exchange a prov-en commodity for another disappointing lottery pick ?

And the whole age thing, in your article you have two paragraphs that are nothing more than

a recipe of thirty something year old ingredients of an 18-1 team. If I'm not mistaken

that's pretty good. It's just unfortunate when and where they acquired the numeral one in the right hand 

column. If it would have happened earlier in the season there would have been a bunch of

old men (thirty-something) with the problem of having to wear another one of those heavy

rings. So for them I guess it worked out for the best.

 If you log onto the Patriot's website you will find it hard to not to notice the flashing ads promoting the sale of Tedy

Bruschi jerseys. I think it's great ! I'm a big Brewski fan. I just feel that five or so

years from now I should be logged onto that site and reaching for my credit card to

purchase a number 93 jersey. I realize that no one would be interested in paying me for my "Blueprint" but if

they were I'd hand them a list of young talent sprinkled with a heaping handful of veteran

leaders.

 

With less than two weeks of preseason action left, the two hottest topics in the NFL are: the comeback of Michael Vick, and Bret Favre signing with the Minnesota Vikings. With over half of training camp left, Bret Favre signs with his former team’s divisional rival, the Green Bay Packers. Many "experts" are calling Favre the savior for the franchise, and how he will lead this team to the promise land. Now with reports coming from the Vikings camp that the team is split. This could spell c-a-t-a-s-t-r-o-p-h-y for the season. Michael Vick appeared earlier today in a hearing.  Hold on… he did not do anything stupid or illegal. He applied for bankruptcy, and got 20 million dollars to pay back his debt. Then made it in time (the hearing was in Virginia) for the preseason game in Philadelphia for his first live game in over two years.  Let’s start with Bret Favre. Let’s look at the timeline of since his departure from Green Green Bay. He retires in the spring. He is teary eyed and was very emotional. Three months (give or take) later he signs with the New York Jets, in time for training camp. Many questions were made after a few years of waiting till the last moment to decide whether or not to rejoin the team for that season. Again, Favre waited and the Packers wanted no more of the "Favre drama". They were willing to pay him twenty million dollars to not play. Favre did not want the money. He wanted to play. So he found a team that wanted him. He was an immediate impact player for them. Through the first eight games, Favre looked like the savior, or the second coming of Joe Namith. But, in the NFL, there are sixteen games. Favre injured his throwing shoulder that would require surgery in the off season. Still, Favre played whether or not it was best for the team or not. Favre’s numbers really dipped after this point. The Jets early on, beat teams they, on paper, were not better than. Then, they lost to teams that had no business beating them.  Favre threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and reports that Favre was on his own island in the locker room. He rarely spoke in the locker room. He was non-existent. The Jets ended up missing the playoffs, and Favre retired yet again. This spring, the Minnesota Vikings had an interest in Favre. Brad Childress and Favre were together in Green Bay. Childress reached out to Favre. Favre thought about it and decided against it. This was right before training camp started. Then three days before the second preseason game, Favre flies into Vikings camp and signs a two year 25 million dollar contract.  Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels were competing for the starting job. They had been there all through the offseason and OTA’s and training camp. Favre, who has openly admitted in the past that he doesn’t like practice, also stated that he knows the offense because it is the same as what he ran in Green Bay. What it looks like, is that Favre didn’t want to practice. So the deal and plan was made for Favre to come in late and play. Jackson was promised to start the second preseason game. Once Favre signed three days before the game, Favre got the start. So with three days of practice Favre went out with his "teammates", and went one of four for four yards. Jackson took over after the second series and went 12-15 for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Reports have come out about the division in the locker room. How would there not be? If a guy came in halfway through training camp and started right away without practicing, there would be lots of problems. Favre said he isn’t here to make friends but to win. But before you can do that you have to win over your locker room. Childress has divided his team. You have the best running back and offensive line in the NFL, not to mention a top defense in the league as well. The Vikings have created a huge problem in their locker room. There was no need to go out and get a big mane player. Just a guy to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson and to throw the ball 25 times a game. But instead, they have one of the biggest "schisms" in the NFL.

 

Michael Vick had his first action in nearly three years. Vick still had the zip on his throws. He still doesn’t have his feet under him. The biggest mistake will be to take Donovan McNabb away from the field, or from his quarterback position. Vick needs to re-learn how to play. He is learning in a great place with no pressure to play. Vick will want to play, but there is no guarantee that he will even be allowed to play this season. If he does, you can’t force Vick in the game. The other night there was too much running on and off the field. You have to have a formation or package to play him. It was a very unorganized. But none of it mattered because it was a test run. It was a dress rehearsal. Once they are on stage under the lime light, it has to be organized, and keeping the offense flowing is a must. I doubt Michael Vick will get his second year option. By the end of the season Vick will be looking for a new team, a team looking for a starting quarterback.

 

LEATHER HEAD FBS TOP 25

Rankings based on final performance of each team in specific statistical categories, coupled data comparing the number of returning starters for each team.  There is no polling of opinion, only statistical comparisons.  Total Points each team received from preseason data is within parenthesis.

Rank PreSeason Aug. 30, 2009

1. FLORIDA GATORS (1676)
2. TEXAS LONGHORNS (1478)
3. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (1358)
4. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (1321)
5. IOWA HAWKEYES (1314)
6. OLE MISS REBELS (1308)
7. PENN ST NITTANY LIONS (1307)
8. OKLAHOMA SOONERS (1306)
9. GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (1290)
10. CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (1289)
11. OHIO ST BUCKEYES (1273)
12. TCU HORNED FROGS (1251)
13. GEORGIA BULLDOGS (1224)
14. SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (1223)
15. UTAH UTES (1155)
16. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (1127)
17. ARIZONA WILDCATS (1110)
18. RUTGERS SCARLETT KNIGHTS (1096)
19. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (1095)
20. BOISE STATE BRONCOS (1082)
21. BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES (1080)
22. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (1072)
23. KANSAS JAYHAWKS (1059)
24. PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (1059)
25. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (1042)

The weekly rankings will not be static, and wil be solely based on performance data, wins, and strength of schedule.  The better a team performs on the field versus a quality opponent, the better his ranking will appear week after week.  This ranking does not have any bias based on team favorites.  This is based solely on the facts.

Be sure to follow the weekly  updates and predictions on game outcomes. 

Leather Head

"I am not a role model!" Remember when Charles Barkley uttered those words during a Nike commercial in 2003? Is he right? There are those that would argue that Barkley, along with all paid athletes are role models. They are in the public eye and they have a responsibility to the people who watch them, especially the youth, to set the proper example. Who said that is how it is suppose to be? This weekend, Tiger Woods had back to back average rounds of golf and decided not to face the media. Should he have? Is it his responsibility to? Is it the money that they make that obligates them to be who we look up to?

So you are a kid growing up practicing your jump shot. You make the varsity team, next you get a scholarship and finally you are in the NBA. Time to act wild and crazy, right? Well, I would argue that athletes don't behave themselves because they are worried about people emulating them. They are more worried about what the corporate sponsors will have to say about their conduct. Because if Madison Avenue isn't happy, you don't get paid. That leads us back to what do athletes owe us?

When I stand outside after a game and a player is going out to their car and I want an autograph, does he owe me one? What if he doesn't give me an autograph, is he a jerk? I think it is hard for any of us to say what an athlete's obligation is to us, the fans. I mean, we do ultimately pay their salary, but does that get us some type of credit that the athletes need to continuously pay against? So next time you walk out of your office and on your way to your car, imagine people rushing up to you and asking for your autograph. Or what about when you make a mistake at work and get chewed out by the boss, are you ready to tell the office about it? Sometimes we do look at athletes as larger then life. True, they do make a great amount of money, but as Barkley said, "I'm not a role model. Parents are role models. I get paid to reek havoc on the floor!"

Comments....love 'em!

With another Yankees-Red Sox series concluded this past weekend in Boston, it made me wonder. Have we lost all rivalries in sports? I think perhaps free agency has a lot to do with it. The same guys aren't on the same teams for their whole careers, heck, they sometimes sign with the team that is considered its former teams rival. But I really wonder if rivalries exist anymore or for that fact, matter anymore. When was the last time you heard anything juicy about a Dodgers-Giants series? What about a Celtics-76ers game? Remember when Bears-Packers games meant something?

Now I know everyone is going to say that there are still rivalries alive and strong today. The first example I will get will be Lakers vs. Celtics. Yea that was a good rivalry in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Sure they played in the 2008 NBA Finals and they play twice a year, but is there that real hatred for one another? Like in 1984 when Kevin Mchale knocked Kurt Rambis to the ground. Now I'm not advocating violence in order to be considered a rivalry, but there needs to be a general dislike for the other team to take a normal game or meeting to the next level.
Red Sox vs. Yankees is another one someone might point out. There really hasn't been any meaningful, hatred games since 2004. But even in that series, nothing crazy happened like in 2003 when, ring the fight bell, Pedro Martinez and Don Zimmer went at it. Sure Sox fans don't like Yanks fans and vice versa, but when Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon can come over from the Red Sox t0 the Yankees and Bernie Williams can be in serious contract talks with the Red Sox, that doesn't mean that the hatred is still alive.
Packers vs Bears, aww yes one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. When was the last time you cared about a Packers, Bears game? Rivalries also have to affect the national level, not just the local level. That's why Jets-Dolphins, Cubs-Cardinals and Spurs-Mavs don't reach the rivalry level. I honestly think that in pro-sports, the rivalry is dead. College sports is another story. Let me know what you think! Posted by Christopher Walenta

Top striker secures deal worth £2.5 million a year with English Premier League club Arsenal National team target-man Nicklas Bendtner has extended his stay at Arsenal through to 2014, according to UK newspaper The Sun. The 21-year-old will reportedly earn...

National team target-man Nicklas Bendtner has extended his stay at Arsenal through to 2014, according to UK newspaper The Sun.

The 21-year-old will reportedly earn £2.5 million (21.5 million kroner) a year.

With the pre-season £25 million (216 million kroner) sale of forward Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, Arsenal has given Bendtner the opportunity to prove he can be a top scorer in one of the world’s toughest football leagues.

Bendtner’s game has come alive since Adebayor’s departure. It had a challenge for head coach Arsene Wenger to fit the big lanky Dane’s unorthodox style into the starting line-up when Adebayor was playing.

Arsenal also got rid of unhappy defender Kolo Touré in the off-season, and Wenger believes he now has a ‘united’, healthy club that can win the league title.

Although Bendtner has played well of late, he did not score in Arsenal’s last two victories, a 2-0 win against Scottish side Celtic in the Champions League and a 6-1 thrashing of Premier League club Everton.