Taking aim at Vick

Good read by John Clayton about the NFC South. Clayton accurately surmises that the rest of the NFC South will be looking to take down Atlanta in order to win the division. An excerpt from his article:

"The Falcons were the best run-stopping team in the division last season and finished eighth overall in the NFL. Being the best running team and also being the best run-stopping team enabled the Falcons to win the NFC South, a very interesting division in that each team seems to have an edge on the other. The Panthers, despite a talented defense, don't matchup well against the Falcons. The Falcons usually have trouble with the Saints. The Saints usually have an edge on the Bucs."

Clayton is just dead wrong here about the Falcons having the best run defense. Stats might suggest that the Falcons dominated against the run, but that would probably be because they led in so many games they forced teams to go to the air. Plus the Falcons defense was abused for EIGHT rushing touchdowns when they played the Chiefs.

I would provide a further breakdown of the article, but since I'm at work I don't have the time. Damn the Man, always bringing the working guy down.

Cap Cut Casualties

Tomorrow, June 1st, is the beginning of the next round of cuts by NFL teams to make the salary cap. There are three Bucs on the hot seat.

RB Charlie Garner

T Todd Steussie

G Matt Stinchcomb

It's no coincidence that all the players targeted to be cut are on the offense. All three players were projected to be starters last season, but with the influx of young talent, all are considered expendable. Garner's starting job was taken last season by Pittman, and the addition of first round draft pick Carnell Williams sealed Garner's fate.

Steussie and Stinchcomb's starting positions have been taken over by younger offensive linemen (i.e. Chris Colmer and Anthony Davis). Additionally, the Bucs need to make salary cap room to sign their rookies. The potential cuts are all part of a larger trend which involves Gruden recreating the offense by bringing in young players that fit into his offense. As a result we're looking at one of the youngest starting offenses in the league this year, as opposed to one of the oldest offenses last year.

What is the Most Competitive Division in Baseball?

This is a pretty close call be between the AL East and the NL East. There are a lot similarities between these two divisions. Both divisions have been won year in and year out by the same team (Yankees and Braves). In the last two years the wild card team from each division has gone on to win the World Series (Marlins and Red Sox). Here are the standings for each division:

AL East
1. Baltimore 31-19
2. New York 27-23
3. Boston 27-23
4. Toronto 27-23
5. Tampa Bay 19-32

NL East
1. Atlanta 28-22
2. Florida 27-21
3. New York 26-25
4. Washington 26-25
5. Philadelphia 24-27

What surprises me the most about these standings, besides Baltimore's first place standing, is how well Toronto and Washington are doing in their respective divisions. Who would have guessed that Toronto would have the same record as New York and Boston at this point in the season? They lose their best player, Carlos Delgado, in the off-season and they have guys like Shea Hillenbrand, Eric Hinske and Roy Halladay carrying the team.

Additionally, it appears all the Expos/Nationals needed was a change of scenery. Well that and not having to fly 3,000 miles for a home game. The Nats have some talented young guys (i.e. Jose Guillen) and are getting outstanding play from their veterans (I'm talking about you Vinny Castilla).

Right now, the NL East gets the nod, barely, as the more competitive division. And that's mostly because the fifth best team in the NL East (Philadelphia) is better than the 5th best team in the AL East (Tampa Bay). But I think the AL East will become more competitive as the season rolls on. Since the AL wild card is gonna come out of the Central or West divisions the teams in the AL East are gonna be in a dog fight for the top spot for the next couple of months. There's really no telling which team, Baltimore, Boston or New York will end up with the pennant.

The teams in the NL East don't have the same kind of pressure on them to win the pennant. The second best team in the NL East has a better chance of winning the wild card (of course San Diego's recent rise could potentially throw a monkey wrench in this idea). Any way, I think it's a safe bet to say that Atlanta and Florida will be competing for the NL East pennant at the end of the season but that which ever team finishes in second place will still get in the playoffs. I don't see the other teams in the NL East competing with Atlanta and Florida after the All Star break. It will be interesting to check out the standings for each division in another couple of months.

Jersey Sales

The following is a recent list of the best selling jerseys in the NFL:

1. Randy Moss, Oakland Raiders
2. Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons
3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
4. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Ben Roesthlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
6. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
7. Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants
10. Tiki Barber, New York Giants
11. Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers
13. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns
14. Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings
15. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
16. Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
17. Jake Plummer, Denver Broncos
18. Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys
19. Curtis Martin, New York Jets
20. Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears
21. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
22. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
23. Cedric Benson, Chicago Bears
24. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
25. David Carr, Houston Texans
352. Ron Mexico, Atlanta Falcons

Some things that jump out at me. It's funny to see Carnell Williams in the top ten ahead of other draft picks such as Ronnie Brown and Alex Smith. I'm surprised to see Mike Alstott at #11 considering he's hasn't been the same player he once was the last 2 seasons. I would really like to see the actual number of jerseys sold. Of course it's no surprise that the Moss jersey is #1, considering it's been bought by every rapper on the face of the earth.

And by the way, Ron Mexico is not really the 352nd best selling jersey, since, as we all know, the NFL refuses to sell Ron Mexico jerseys. Damn fun killers.

It's all about the "U"

In the last couple of years, the University of Miami has become famous for putting it's players into the first round of the NFL draft. This offseason, the "U" has become synonymous with everything that is wrong with sports. Miami alums from Ray Lewis to Drew Rosenhaus to Sean Taylor have put the "me" in team.

Let's start with Kellen "I'm a fucking soldier" Winslow. He's talented, he's competitive, but he let his ego potentially ruin his career. How else do you explain how someone who has little experience on a motorcycle decides to pop wheelies at speeds of 35 mph? Did Winslow not get the memo from former Bulls point guard Jason Williams? I'm guessing that Winslow spends the rest of his life regretting his decision to ride that motorcycle. But let's move on to another tight end out of Miami.

Jeremy Shockey was chastised by his teammate and quarterback Eli Manning for not attending the Giant's minicamp. Manning wanted Shockey to come to New York to work on the timing between the two. Shockey, ready to prove he's a teamplayer, stopped by the Giant's practice facility for ONE day before jetting back to Miami. When asked to explain his actions Shockey said, "I'm just trying to do what's best for me." But at least Shockey returned Manning's call.

Sean Taylor is so busy in Miami that he can't even bother to return his hall of fame coach's calls. All Joe Gibbs wants is an explanation for why Taylor is the only player NOT to participate in Redskins offseason workouts. Does Taylor want more money, is he unhappy with his role in the 'Skins defense, or is he simply an selfish and immature player? Until Taylor returns that phone call we are only left to assume. But lets move on to an MVP who is quite clear on what he wants.

Ray Lewis wants a new contract with a $50 million signing bonus. Never mind that Lewis has four years left on his current contract. Never mind the Ravens need to focus on resigning Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis and Ed Reed. Never mind that no team in their right mind would give Ray Lewis a $50 million signing bonus. But the me first attitude is not just limited to Miami players.

Drew Rosenhaus, Miami alum and agent to the stars, has taken selfishness to new levels this offseason. You want a new contract, call Rosenhaus. You want more money, call Rosenhaus. You want to alienate yourself from the fans, call Rosenhaus.

For years Miami alums have made a name for themselves as the most talented players in the NFL. NFL teams knew they could rely on Miami graduates to produce when they reached the pro level. Now NFL teams can rely on players from the "U" to demand more money in the middle of their contracts, to skip offseason workouts and spread the me-first attitude through the locker room. Hey coach, you still want that Miami player on you team?

Players give movie credibility?

The Tribune ran a hype article for "The Longest Yard 2" yesterday which is inappropriately tiled "Players give movie credibility." That's kinda like saying Vanilla Ice gives the "Surreal Life" credibility.

Rick Harmon attempts to say that the former NFL players in the movie give it an air of reality despite the fact that those players are Bill Romanowski, Michael Irvin and Brian Bosworth. One highlight (lowlight?) from the article.

" 'The toughest thing for me honestly was not being me,' Irvin said recently during a conference call. 'I am Michael Irvin. I spent the first 38 years of my life making sure as I came up from this little neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale everyone knows who Michael Irvin is. Now I had to spend these next six months making sure everyone forgets who Michael Irvin is and that I sell Deacon Moss.' "

Irvin never ceases to amaze, he refers to himself in the first person thrice. I'm just waiting for him to start using the royal we.

Romo was just about the worst player the movie could have used, a guy who most likely took steroids, and was known for taking cheap shots. Oh yeah, he also payed a former teammate $415 K for ending the guy's career by punching in the face and breaking his eye socket. You know what on? On second thought, I'm pretty sure this article is a practical joke by the Tribune.

For a good review of this movie check out this article by Bill Simmons. If I'm going out to the movie theaters this weekend, I'm going to see Cinderella Man or Madagascar.

And on a final note, check out this nugget of late night humor featuring Triumph the Comic Insult Dog and Star Wars fans. Consider this a bit of revenge for the week of the geek we all had to go through last week.

Where's Glazer?

Len Pasquarelli reports on Glazer at the owners' meetings in Washington:

"One of the comic-relief elements of the league meetings was watching the British media, represented considerably in Washington, try to track down reclusive Tampa Bay owner Malcolm Glazer for any comment on his pending purchase of the Manchester United soccer club. Their intrepidness was only feebly rewarded. Glazer, who apparently entered the meeting most days through a back entrance (one member of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl bid committee suggested the Bucs owner was ferried to the meeting level in a freight elevator one day), is a tough guy to nail down. Even when he appeared at the news conference after his city's bid for Super Bowl XLIII was chosen, he declined to answer queries about the Man U situation."

It seems like the British media are figuring out what the Tampa Bay media have known for awhile, the Glazers are infamously unavailable to the media.

The NFL does not have a problem with Malcolm Glazer's purchase of the Manchester United, but it does have a problem with his relationship with gambling. Writes Pasquarelli, "League rules prohibit an owner from having a stake in a casino. But Glazer apparently did a reasonable job of addressing concerns in that area, although there is still some work to be done."

article here

It Aint' Easy Having Green

Word out of Washington is that commissioner Paul Tagliabue is having trouble brokering a new deal between the big market clubs and small market clubs. The argument essentially comes down to whether teams should have to share local revenues.

I can see both sides of the argument here. Why should teams such as Buffalo or Indianapolis be punished simply because they don't have as big of an argument as Dallas or Chicago? But on the other hand why should a team be forced to share revenue it earns from stadium naming rights, when a team such as Green Bay refuses to name their stadium? This essentially comes down to an argument about which types of revenue are fair to share.

It's essential that the NFL owners figure out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by the end of the 2006 season. The current CBA lasts until the end of the 2007 season, but the salary cap agreement runs out for the 2007 season. That would mean the 2007 season would be played without a salary cap. And it would be next to impossible to get the player's union to agree on a salary cap without the owners giving up a lot more than they would like to.

On a final note, the player's union originally agreed to a salary cap in exchange for the owners agreeing to institue free agency.

Interesting Read

Solid article by Lee Bromfield that is worth reading (http://bucpower.com/bromfield40.html).

Its a fairly humorous article, at least it's funnier than my writing (but then again that's not that hard). I especially enjoy his top five "Cadillac" Williams headlines.

He also makes an interesting point regarding rookie reciever Larry Brackins.

"Generally fourth rounders and onwards are longer shotes to succeed, but 6ft 4 receivers with speed are at a premium in the NFL, and Brackins has the tools and the small college 'chip on his shoulder' type background to make it go. Lets hope so anyway."

I think that the rookie receiver out of Utah, Paris Warren, will make a bigger impact this season than Brackins. Warren has far more experience, and is coming from the best offense in college football last year. Brackins is still largely an unknown, who, while talented, has yet to prove he can play with the big boys.

Weather Smeather

There has been a lot of talk that Tampa won the 2009 Super Bowl because it has superior weather to Atlanta. While that is true, it is not the primary reason the bay area won the right to host the 2009 Super Bowl. The primary reason is the Glazers and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl committee where able to put together a package that trumped every other city's Super Bowl package.

If the owners could be scared off by bad weather then they wouldn't have agreed to hold the Super Bowl next year in Detroit, and they wouldn't have conditionally agreed to hold the 2010 in New York. The following is a list of average temperatures (in Farenheit) in February.

------------------ AVERAGE HIGH --------- AVERAGE LOW

DETROIT .............. 36 ............................... 22

NEW YORK ........... 42 ............................... 29

ATLANTA ............. 57 ................................ 37

TAMPA ................. 72 ................................ 54

To be honest when I was first making this list I expected Atlanta to be much closer to Tampa, than it was to New York. Instead it's right in between New York and Tampa. All the same, Atlanta is an indoor stadium, and Falcons owner Arthur Blank has proposed building a giant indoor atrium at the main entrance of the Georgia Dome.

Essentially, the Super Bowl experience would be insulated from the potentially harsh weather which could hit Atlanta in February. Additionally the freak ice storm that hit Atlanta in 2000 (the last time the city hosted a Super Bowl), was just that, a freak storm. The average low in Atlanta is above freezing (which is 32).

If weather did play a factor in Tampa's Super Bowl bid, it would have more to do with the owners desire to play golf than the conditions affecting the game. As I have mentioned before each owner was given an Arnold Palmer signature putter (which according to PGA.com is worth $119 for each putter) and each team was allowed its own golf tournament.

And finally, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl committee offerred $1 million in game day expenses which exceded any other teams offer. And Bryan Glazer gave an effective presentation to the other owners, which convinced many to vote for Tampa. The Tampa Bay Super Bowl committee and the Glazers are the ones who deserve the credit for bringing the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay. They where able to put together a package that, before the decision on Wednesday, was not regarded as the favorite. But in the end they pulled through with a victory for the bay area.

Another corner?

The Bucs have expressed an interest in meeting with cornerback R.W. McQuarters who was recently released by the Bears. Currently, McQuarters is meeting with the Giants and Redskins, and, assuming he doesn't sign with those teams, he will begin a tour of Florida.

McQuarters would be the 3rd corner at best, which means he would only play in nickel situations on defense.

How it went down

I know the next Super Bowl in Tampa Bay is not for another 4 years but I'm pretty excited about the news all the same. As an article in the Tribune points out Super Bowl week is basically a huge party for the city and football fans. It's a chance for a city to show off (or in the case of Jacksonville humiliate its self) and make an impression on people who are not familiar with the area. For that one week in February the media (not just the sports media) will descend on the bay area, and show the rest of America what they think of Tampa Bay. Here's hoping things go smoothly.

Anyway, out of the four cities up for the Super Bowl, it came down to a close decision between Atlanta and Tampa Bay:

"When Houston was knocked out in the first ballot, there was mild surprise because the Miami-Fort Lauderdale bid had been considered the longest shot, considering the 2007 game already has been awarded to Dolphins Stadium.

"South Florida was eliminated on the second ballot, leaving Tampa competing against Atlanta and aggressive Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

"Neither region received the required 21 votes on the third ballot, so it went to a simple majority, and Tampa was selected as Super Bowl host for the fourth time, and first since 2001."

I still don't think the bay area's weather was enought to convince the NFL owners, and more likely the extra incentives the Tampa Bay Super Bowl committee offered where what convinced many owners to change their minds in the end.

Still no word on if Mons lap dances were promised

It's amazing the things that the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Committee offered to "sweeten its bid":

- Each NFL club was promised its own individual golf tournament, which means there will be 32 golf tournaments at 32 courses Super Bowl week.

-Each NFL owner was given an Arnold Palmer signature putter.

-an exclusive Saturday night party at Busch Gardens, where each team has 150 invitations.

Additionally, the Glazers, represented by Bryan Glazer did a great job of lobbying the other owners. This is a slap in the face for all the local writers (Joe Henderson and Daniel Ruth) who accused the Glazers of not working hard enough for the area's Super Bowl bid.

"Each owner had five minutes to speak. Atlanta's Arthur Blank and Houston's Bob McNair went long, and some said their approach bordered on browbeating. Bryan Glazer talked concisely, effectively. The owners applauded. 'Bryan hit a home run, no doubt,' said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission."

Link to article here: http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGBMDX3F69E.html

Super Bowl 2009 in Tampa Bay, Mons Venus Dancers ecstatic

The Houston Chronicle reports that Tampa Bay has pulled off the upset and has been chosen as the site for the 2009 Super Bowl over Houston and Atlanta.

I was dead wrong on this one, as it turns out that the Tampa Bay Super Bowl committee's ONE MILLION DOLLAR in game day expenses offer was able to knock out the competition.

"I'm surprised Houston was knocked out because they made a great presentation." Tennessee Titan's owner Bud Adams said."I'm surprised Tampa got it. It doesn't make sense. I'm in Houston's corner all the way and Houston had the best bid."

Bay Area's Last Ditch Super Bowl Effort

In what can only be described as the Tampa Bay Super Bowl committee's last roundhouse punch before being knocked out of the competition, the Super Bowl delegation offered to give the NFL ONE MILLION DOLLARS in game day expenses. None of the other cities competing (Atlanta, Houston, Miami) is offering $1 million.

As I've said before the selection comes down to weather (Tampa Bay) vs $150 million improvements to a stadium (Atlanta). If the owners are willing to hold the Super Bowl in Detroit next year in exchange for a new stadium in Detroit, then they will have no problem holding the 2009 Super Bowl in Atlanta.

Additionally, some owners are upset at Glazers Manchester United takeover, which will negatively affect Tampa Bay's Super Bowl bid. (of course, reports are that Glazer has been actively calling other owners to lobby for the area)

All this being said, Tampa Bay's Super Bowl chances will increase a hundred fold next year, after the eventual Super Bowl in Detroit debacle when Tom Brady is stranded in a Detroit strip club by a snow storm and the Ron Mexico Falcons go on to win the Super Bowl.

Whiny Rooney

Steelers owner, Dan Rooney is unhappy with Glazer's purchase of the Manchester United according to story in the Tribune.

" 'I'm in the football business,' Rooney said, 'and I believe our principle sport should be the National Football League. The NFL is the greatest league there is ... what are you looking for? Is he [Glazer] going to give full time to operating the Buccaneers? That's the issue. He might say, 'I'm going to send my son over there,' and it may work. You say am I concerned? Yes.' ''

On the other hand Cowboys owner Jerry Jones praised Glazer's purchase, "I'm very impressed. They are impressive and have been since they've been in the league. They're outstanding owners who do it both on and off the field, in my mind. I give them A-pluses.''

NFL spokesman, Greg Aiello says the NFL has no problem with Glazer's takeover of the Manchester club or the way Glazers debt is structured. He does have a problem with Glazer's possible connection with gambling.

Link to article here: http://bucs.tbo.com/bucs/MGB5IIN159E.html

You know this gambling thing? Not cool.

Says the NFL to the Glazers. The NFL officially asked Glazer to explain his connection to Las Vegas casino owner Adelson. NFL policies strongly discourage owners from having any connection to gambling.

The FoxSports article quotes Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams:

" 'I asked him how much time he's going to spend over there, and he said, 'Not too much.' ' When it was pointed out that Glazer's takeover has met with hostility among United fans in England, Adams said: 'That's why maybe he's not going to go over there very much.' "

So for the record, the Manchester United fans hatred directed towards Glazer is good for Bucs fans since it means Glazer will be state side more often, and therefore concentrating on the Bucs more.

More hot air in DC

In case you haven't heard the owners are meeting in DC this week to mull over several subjects, chief among them the new CBA, horse-collar tackles, and the location of the 2009 Super Bowl.

Word is the horse-collar tackles have been banned from the NFL, which is completely idiotic. Somebody tell the owners we're talking football here, as in, it's a contact sport people are gonna get hurt.

I don't think are horse-collar tackles are malicious, as hitting a guy in the head or neck, which are illegal. Or even as malicious as chop blocks, which the Denver "can Elway unretire?" Broncos have used with success for many years.

My bold prediction about the 2009 Super Bowl, Atlanta's going to win this little competition. My guess is the owners are a little annoyed that Glazer is planning to build a casino, and will punish him accordingly. That leaves Atlanta, Miami and Houston. For reasons I have explained earlier, Atlanta is the clear favorite.

I think Manchester fans are pissed

The following is a sound clip of Manchester United fans chanting, "Malcolm Glazer, he's gonna die." http://850thebuzz.com/sound/manu.wav

This is one of those things that I crack up everytime I listen to, just because I would have loved to see the fans planning the chant beforehand.

Nigel: I dare say Pip, we need a catchy chant to rouse the chaps to action. Do you have any suggestions?

Pip: Hmmm, how about, he's gonna die, he's gonna die, Malcolm Glazer, he's gonna die?

Nigel: Genius!

Cummings Weekly Dose

I'm pretty sure Cumings writes about a dozen articles on the same topic, but fools his editors by changing the wording around for each "new" article. His latest is about Anthony Davis and the depth in the linebacker corp.

Cummings also reports on cornerback Juran Bolden (whom I never even heard of before I read this article) :

"He'll work as a nickel back for the Bucs, who usually move RCB Ronde Barber into the slot in those situations. Some believe Bolden's skills are best suited for safety, and he could get some time there if the team runs into injury problems. If Bolden can avoid giving up the big play, he'll prove to be an upgrade over Mario Edwards."

Also, he thinks Charlie Garner will be cut despite having recently restructured his contract. The Bucs would take a $1.25 million hit against the cap by keeping Garner around for another season.