SB Nation - Joey Harrington

Revisiting the Arizona Cardinals Past With The Detroit Lions

Andrew602 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:02:36 -0000

Before the last two seasons the Cardinals had made it a regular occurrence to face the Detroit Lions during the regular season. From 2001-2007 the Cardinals and Lions have squared off with the average score being Cardinals 24.7, Lions 26.5. The Cardinals have currently lost 2 of 3 and face the Lions who have only won 3 out of the last 34 games. Let's take a look down memory lane to see the Cardinals previous 6 games with the Lions.

Dec 8th, 2002: Cardinals 23, Lions 20

It was a game between two losers, as the 3-9 Lions traveled to Arizona to face the 4-8 Cardinals. It wasn't the most exciting of games but it did involve a 4th quarter comeback by Jake Plummer. The game went to OT where Robert Porcher recorded a QB hit that was intercepted by Chris Claiborne who returned it 30 yards into FG position. A facemask penalty was called on Porcher and Cardinals TE Freddie Jones, making the penalties offset and both teams replayed the down. The Cardinals got into FG range where they eventually kicked the FG for the win in OT.

Sep 7th, 2003: Cardinals 24, Lions 42

The Cardinals opened the season at Detroit, where rookie Anquan Boldin made a name for himself setting rookie debut records with 10 catches and 217 yards. The new-look Cardinals featuring Jeff Blake and Emmitt Smith weren't enough for the Lions high-scoring offense. The Cardinals turned the ball over 3 times and Joey Harrington threw 4 touchdowns which eventually set the tone for the Cardinals 4-12 season.

Dec 5th, 2004: Cardinals 12, Lions 26

The Cardinals traveled to Detroit for the 2nd year in a row, where Cardinals fans were waiting to see what 7th round pick John Navarre would do at quarterback. That question was answered when he threw 4 interceptions in the first game of his career. The part that hurt more was that the Lions had lost 5 in a row before this game and many thought the Cardinals would be favored to win. That turned out to be wrong when Lions rookie running back Kevin Jones ran for 196 yards - ouch.

Nov 13th, 2005: Cardinals 21, Lions 29

At Detroit, the Cardinals were once again not able to beat the lowly Lions who were currently on another losing skid(2). Kurt Warner started in place of Josh McCown, and threw for 359 yards, but only had 1 touchdown on the day. The Cardinals could only run for 38 yards and scored their 1st rushing touchdown of the season, while allowing 157 rushing yards to the Lions. This was the Cardinals third straight loss at Detroit and was their last appearence there until this season.

Nov 19th, 2006: Cardinals 17, Lions 10

The Cardinals played the Lions for the first time at University of Phoenix stadium with rookie Matt Leinart at quarterback getting his first NFL win. Leinart threw 233 yards and 1 touchdown while also running in a touchdown. The Cardinals were on their own 8 game losing streak and getting this win helped them ~~revive their season and make the playoffs~~ break their 3 game losing streak to the Lions and finish the season 5-11.

Nov 11th, 2007: Cardinals 31, Lions 21

Yours truly attended this game to watch the Cardinals lay a beating on the Lions after making their previous five games too close. Kurt Warner had 259 passing yards and 3 touchdowns as the Cardinals out-gained the Lions 319-245 in total yards. The Cardinals held the Lions to -18 rushing yards while forcing 5 turnovers in what would be the last time these two teams met.

If you're noticing a tendency here it's that the Cardinals haven't won in Detroit in this past decade no matter how bad the Lions have been. Obviously the Cardinals should be tremendously favored to win the game, but after the ugly loss we were forced to watch last week, who knows which Cardinals team will show up on Sunday.

Opponent History: Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins

sireric — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:15 -0000

Buffalo Bills (3-7) vs Miami Dolphins (5-5)
Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 1:00 PM EST
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

The Buffalo Bills have begun to play division opponents for the second time. The first meeting this year had the Bills heading into Miami with high hopes for the season, while the Miami Dolphins had just lost Chad Pennington for the year and were still without a win. We all know how that match-up ended.

Chad Henne, he of the too-small helmet and scrunched up forehead, leads the Dolphins into Buffalo this week. The last five meetings at the Ralph after the jump.

Sunday, October 17, 2004: Bills 20, Dolphins 13
Drew Bledsoe. Jay Fiedler. Need I say more about the suck involved in this game? Both sides got a touchdown and two field goals out of their offenses, but the difference was a Takeo Spikes pick-six. The Bills' D came to play in this game, recording five sacks along the way. Aaron Schobel (2.5), Ron Edwards (2.0) and Pat Williams (0.5) did the honors. Other than that, there isn't a whole lot to tell.

Sunday, October 9, 2005: Bills 20, Dolphins 14
The score and date looks eerily similar to the year before. This time, the Bills jumped out to a 17-0 lead on the strength of a Willis McGahee one-yard touchdown run, an Eric Moulds touchdown from Kelly Holcomb, and a Rian Lindell 24-yard field goal. Gus Frerotte led the Dolphins back by hitting Will Heller and Randy McMicheal for scores to bring the Fish back to within three points. Lindell would hit his second field goal of the day to cap the scoring and help preserve the win for Buffalo. Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney each had a sack in this game.

Sunday, December 17, 2006: Bills 21, Dolphins 0
J.P. Losman tossed three touchdown passes, one each to Robert Royal, Josh Reed, and Lee Evans. That was more then enough scoring, as the Bills' defense shout out the Cleo Lemon/Joey Harrington lead Dolphins offense. Schobel and Kelsay proved yet again that they are only effective against the Dolphins by getting another half-sack each.

Sunday, December 9, 2007: Bills 38, Dolphins 17
The Bills jumped out to a 21-0 lead thanks to a George Wilson fumble return for a touchdown and not one but two Trent Edwards-to-Robert Royal touchdown passes. Samkon Gado put the ball in the endzone for the Dolphins twice, but those scores sandwiched a Lindell field goal and an Evans touchdown catch. Evans would catch one more to continue his dominance over the Dolphins. Both Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch rushed for over 100 yards in this game. Being that Cleo Lemon was at QB for the Dolphins, this was of course a good day for the Bills' D numbers-wise. Four sacks and two interceptions (one each by Donte Whitner and Terrence McGee) added to the eight fumbles by the Dolphins. Of course, the Bills were only able to recover 3 of those 8.

Notice a pattern? The first two games had the Bills playing the Dolphins almost a year apart to the day and winning by almost identical scores. The second two have the Bills winning by identical margins (21) almost a year to the day apart. The dates are also the same - 17 and 9. Weird.

Sunday, December 7, 2008: Dolphins 16, Bills 3
The Bills' first-ever regular season game played in Toronto gave the Canadian fans quite the show. The Bills had almost nothing on offense that day, gaining only 163 total yards. J.P. Losman was the Bills leading rusher with 53 yards. Of course Losman offset his rushing prowess by getting sacked 4 times...

A Long Look at Jake Locker, Pro Quarterback, After a Brief Look at Jake Locker, Amateur Quarterback

John Morgan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:57:37 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

I was not agog over Jake Locker, but he does have a quick release.

Browse more photos »

I watched Jake Locker with some interest this Saturday. Locker has surpassed Taylor Mays as the local athlete Seahawks fans most desire. This is not a comprehensive review of Locker. I tuned out after the game became lopsided. Like Rodney Hudson, this is just my early impressions and opinions.

Locker is known for his athleticism. He is purported to have 4.4 speed. I highly doubt he does. Michael Vick didn't run at the 2001 NFL Combine, but LaDainian Tomlinson did. He ran a 4.42. 4.4 speed for a quarterback is very uncommon. At that same Combine, the top forties among quarterbacks belonged to Quincy Carter and Mike McMahon, 4.55 and 4.54 respectively. Locker profiles a little like McMahon.

McMahon was stuck on a terrible Rutgers team. He started midway through his freshman season and was hurt his junior season. His offensive line was thought awful. The Scarlet Knights won 8 of McMahon's 31 starts. Locker has won 6 of 24. That line, the surrounding talent, and the game situations McMahon faced justified his poor counting stats to some scouts. He never completed 50% of his passes for a season and threw 52 interceptions to only 41 touchdown passes. Locker has completed 51.7% of his passes for his career and has 27 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. McMahon clearly had the speed, but he wasn't a great rusher. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry his senior season. Locker has averaged 4.53 for his career, but only 2.8 this season.

I ran upon McMahon by accident. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2001 draft. McMahon started midway through his rookie season for the eventual 2-14 Marty Mornhinweg led Lions. It might seem a given the Lions rot, but they were 9-7 the season before, 8-8 and playoff bound the season before that, and both seasons post-Barry Sanders. Mornhinweg has since established himself as a top offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was able to get production from Charlie Batch. Batch completed 58.1% of his passes that season and had 5.1 adjusted net yards an attempt. McMahon completed 46.1% of his passes, threw for 4.1 adjusted net yards an attempt and suffered a staggering sack percentage of 15.4%. The Lions line might have been bad, but when the eminently sackable Batch posts an 8.8% sack rate behind the same line, it says something when his replacement nearly doubles it.

McMahon never went on to success. The tools that scouts drooled over were undermined by his poor quarterback skills. His completion percentage and sack rate did not rebound in the pros, they got worse. He continued to throw interceptions at a rate well above his ability to throw touchdowns. Taking a long-shot flier on McMahon in the fifth was not the move that ruined Matt Millen, but every game McMahon started, Millen's Lions were expected to lose. McMahon finished his Lions career 1-6 and his professional career 3-11. Millen never did get his quarterback. He drafted Joey Harrington and got Joey Harrington. Harrington completed 55.2% of his passes at Oregon and 56.1% as a pro.

The point of this lengthy aside should be obvious. It is very hard to see Locker as a pro prospect when he has played very poorly in college. The synthesis of Locker and his surrounding talent is difficult to split. How do we apportion credit and blame? Like McMahon, Locker is believed to have a spotty to bad offensive line, but the sacks kept coming when McMahon hit the pros. A recent study by Pro Football Reference found sack percentage is the stat that is most consistent among quarterbacks changing teams. The next most consistent is completion percentage.

That shouldn't surprise anyone. As I detailed with Seneca Wallace, a quarterback can create much of his own pressure. Locker creates pressure. He is hyper-vigilant of the pass rush and begins to pace in the pocket, scramble or roll out even when pressure is not applied. Against Oregon, he ran into a sack on a three man rush. The Huskies had kept a blocker in and every Duck pass rusher was double teamed. Locker wasn't sitting in the pocket and the rush was somewhat disruptive, but no Duck was free or even closing on him when he decided to escape right and right into the defensive end.

He hasn't shaken that first instinct to run, but is stuck in a middle ground where he doesn't run decisively and doesn't stand in the pocket and pass. He makes some curious reads and does not show consistent accuracy. Locker has a nice mix of touch and arm-strength, but those are secondary abilities, of little worth before a quarterback has mastered pocket-presence, read and accuracy.

The Husky skill position players are ok: Certainly not the class of college, but not punishingly bad. The Husky's line is pour but not porous. Locker had time in the pocket on most snaps, not enviable time, but time enough to pass. He made throws with all the zip, touch and placement of a pro, but never consistently. His quick release is his best asset. Locker has a compact, ball-over-ear throwing motion. He doesn't wind up or expose the ball and it's out fast enough to hit receivers before the defensive back can respond. That's a great skill and one that will serve him well in the pros, should he make it that far.

Locker should return for another season. Mock draft boards are mercurial because change attracts readers. Husky homers eat up Jake Locker soaring up draft boards. October mock drafts are made to inspire links, not to reflect reality. Locker's foot speed is likely as trumped up as his prototypical height. 6'3" hasn't been prototypical for a decade. 6'5" is prototypical in the modern NFL. 6'3" is adequate. Locker is nevertheless an interesting mix of tools. If he ever learns to play quarterback, his ability to rush could complement his pass abilities like it has Donovan McNabb. He isn't Michael Vick and he won't run away from pro linebackers anticipating a run. I doubt he has true 4.4 speed and his moves are pedestrian for a pro quarterback.

He is at least a season from learning to play quarterback at anything close to the pro level. He exhibits major red flags: pocket presence, decision making and consistent accuracy. Any one could undercut him as a pro. Locker must first prove he can be a great college quarterback before Seattle fans envision him a great Seahawks quarterback. As he stands today, Locker is more Mike McMahon than Steve Young. Matt Millen suffered after drafting McMahon in the fifth. Tim Ruskell would look like quite the Millen if he dared draft Jake Locker in the first.

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Preseason Wrap-up: Can We Build a Team That Can Beat the Raiders? Yes We Can!

Sugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:00:22 -0000

I understand how important this last preseason game was for roughly 20-30 players per team. I do. For some it was the difference between making the 53-man roster or getting cut. For others who were relatively certain of their impending unemployment, it was a chance to get on tape for potential future employers. For coaches, it was one last look at a few players they may try to retain on the practice squad. But for just about everybody else (in the world) these games were simply painful to watch.

As a Redskins' fan, I of course watched the game against the Jaguars intently and hung on most every play. But as I watched the games around the league, I found myself losing interest quickly as penalty flags rained down on my living room as if Pacman Jones himself were throwing them.

To write a recap of each game would be worse than having to read Peter King rate every latte he has ever drank. So instead, this week I thought I would put my preseason watch-a-ton to the test. Every team has made their final cuts. I will attempt to build a 53-man roster from all the players released by the Saturday deadline. This may include some players who ended up on the practice squad, but you'll have to excuse that. After all, even though I did watch pretty much every preseason game played in the last month, my knowledge of certain teams' backups probably doesn't go much further than guys who should rightfully land on the practice squad. This already feels like a poor man's version of Madden fantasy draft. I get to decide who I am going to keep and at what position they will play. My ultimate goal: a 53-man roster capable of beating the Oakland Raiders final 53-man roster. Our team name: Sugartime Ballers. At the end, you'll get to vote on whether you think the Ballers can take down the Raiders. The first picks after the jump...

QB (3): Jeff Garcia, Joey Harrington, Chase Daniel

This team is going to have a questionable offensive line, so I am going to need a veteran quarterback capable of escaping pressure and getting rid of the ball. I watched as much of the Raiders' preseason as I could stomach and to me it seemed like Jeff Garcia was the quarterback that gave them the best chance to win now. My guess is that they sensed that too and decided that going with a guy staring down 40 years old would be the nail in the coffin for the JaMarcus Russell era, at least from a confidence perspective. Joey Harrington (cut by the Saints) is experienced in the art of art of hand signaling, which is what I want in my backup QB. Plus he is a great pianist so he can play getaway music on the piano as Jeff Garcia is running fro his life behind whatever offensive line I can put together. Chase Daniel gave it a good run in D.C., but failed to be named as the 3rd quarterback when the team decided to go with nobody instead (ouch).

RB (5): Dominic Rhodes, Anthony Alridge, Ian Johnson, Fui Vakapuna, Isaac Redman

It struck me as a little odd when the Bills jettisoned Rhodes. With Lynch out for the beginning frames of the season and Fred Jackson a little dinged this preseason, I figured a veteran like Rhodes would have value for that team. Alridge just barely missed being the last running back kept by the Redskins and adds speed out of my backfield. Ian Johnson is a young buck that got bounced by the Vikings. I have a soft spot in my heart for this guy after watching him have such a great career at Boise State, not to mention the now famous Statue of Liberty play against Oklahoma a couple seasons ago. Vakapuna is a guy I picked because I need a blocking fullback and I have been watching HBO's Hard Knocks this season featuring the Bengals. He is a big, athletic dude, and we are going to need a Samoan presence in the backfield on this team. Redman had a great preseason in Pittsburgh but the numbers game beat him. We are lucky to have him and Vakapuna muscling up in our backfield.

TE (4): Leonard Pope, Alex Smith, Bear Pascoe, Garrett Mills

The Cards cut Pope and the Pats cut Smith. Both are capable receivers that understand the position well. Bear Pascoe was on the 49ers squad and I remember hearing his name for the first time late in the game against the Raiders I think. He was described by his college coach at Fresno State as the "most devastating blocker" they had ever seen. He started out there as a quarterback. He blocked 6 kicks on special teams, and keeps his edge by participating in rodeos. He's an old-school kind of player and on my team he will play an old-school role: Iron Man. At 6'5", 250+ lbs, he will never leave the field. Our wildcat offense will be called the "Wild Bear" formation and we will direct snap it to him. He will rush the passer on defense and he will line up all over the field on offense. His importance on this roster almost necessitated adding a 4th tight end to help carry the load at the position, and Mills, fresh off the Vikings roster, will fit in nicely. The Raiders will not have a chance.

OL (9): Damien McIntosh, Tony Pashos, Andrew Crummey, Kynan Forney, Jeremy Bridges, Scott Burley,Justin Geisenger, Mike Butterworth, Mark Wilson

McIntosh (Chiefs), Pashos (Jaguars), Crummey (Bengals), Forney (Chargers), and Bridges (Redskins) are my starting five. Burley (Redskins), Geisinger (Panthers), and Butterworth (Falcons) are my backups. Burely went to University of Maryland and has been hanging around the league the last two years. Geisinger is a journeyman lineman who spent a season with the Redskins but has also been a member of the Bills and Titans. The Raiders gave Mark Wilson his walking papers, but he has had steady employment as a backup since 2004. Mike Butterworth made this team because I simply ran out of guys that I really knew much about...and I love maple syrup on pancakes.

All of my starters would likely be welcome on most squads in the league after a few weeks when teams are all of a sudden hit by injuries and become starved for guys who have played before. Forney was a huge shock getting cut by San Diego. He might be one of the two or three best players on the Ballers.

WR (6): Keary Colbert, Robert Ferguson, David Tyree, David Patten, Trent Shelton, Steve Sanders

Ferguson (Falcons), Colbert (Lions), and Patten (Browns) have all been unfortunate members of previous unfortunate fantasy teams of mine. So they owe me. Hard to argue against Tyree (Giants). He can start on special teams and catch balls with his helmet. With Bear Pascoe behind center, he might have to catch a few wild pitches. Shelton (Redskins) should make their practice squad and Steve Sanders (Cardinals) was great on Beverly Hills, 90210.

DL (8): Shaun Smith, Alex Buzbee, Ryan Boschetti, Darryl Richard, Rob Jackson, Tommie Hill, Matthias Askew, Terrance Taylor

The Patriots drafted Richard last April, and that is pretty much good enough for me. I recall Tommie Hill made a huge play late in the first Monday Night game against the Panthers, scoring a touchdown with no time left on the clock. Not being good enough for the Giants defensive line does not necessarily make you bad. Rob Jackson and Alex Buzbee both got cut from the Redskins so I have seen plenty of them and are comfortable with them as backups. Boschetti got dumped by the Raiders--can't remember anyone listing their personnel decisions as better than...well, anyone's. Shaun Smith was a shock to get sent home by the Lions. He is definitely good enough to anchor the Ballers' defensive line. And Terrance Taylor was a 4th round pick for the Colts. I am little surprised to see him gone from there, but we will not ask too many questions and scoop him up.

LB (8): Tim Crowder, Zach Thomas, Rocky Boiman, Khary Campbell, Bruce Davis, Jeremy Leman, Robert Thomas, Cody Glenn

Crowder should have cracked the Broncos' Final 53. Our squad will benefit from the veteran presence of Zach Thomas, who might not really have ever been realistically in the Chiefs' plans. Rocky Boiman has been around, most recently ending his second stint with the Titans. He has a ring from the Colts' Super Bowl victory and his experience will be put to good use for the Ballers. Khary Campbell is a special teams standout that did not make the last cuts in Houston. Bruce Davis was a huge underachiever for the Steelers. Here's hoping he can turn it around for the Ballers. Leman (Panthers) was a guy who I thought played well enough in the preseason to stick. I guess that is why my phone isn't ringing off the hook to become anybody's GM. Thomas and Glenn were both waived by the Skins. Thomas has plenty of experience in the league and Glenn (while still an odd draft choice by Vinny Cerrato--read: "wasted draft choice") is a raw player from the Nebraska Cornhuskers' program.

DB (8): Deltha O'Neal, Brian Russell, Brian Williams, Bernard Pollard, Corey Lynch , Deangelo Smith, Corey Ivy, Lendy Holmes

O'Neal (Texans), Williams (Jaguars), Russell (Seahawks), and Pollard (Chiefs) are my starting defensive backs (first two are CB's, second two will man the safety positions. Smith (Cowgirls), Lynch (Bengals), Ivy (Browns), and Holmes (Redskins) round out our scrappy secondary.

P: A.J. Trapasso - Any guy who takes aim for a $40 million video board in a preseason game, ESPECIALLY one bought by Jerry Jones, gets a spot on my team.

K: Brandon Coutu (Seahawks) - The 'Hawks kept this guy on their roster all season last year behind Olindo Mare in the hopes they could trade him. He has a hell of a leg and will get a shot from another team very soon.

Give Me the Numbers, Stat!

27-17, Ballers over the Raiders. Bear Pascoe has 78 yards rushing, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 blocked field goal and 3 sacks. Jeff Garcia runs in for the other TD and throws the ball straight into the owner's box where Al Davis is sitting. Davis sues the NFL.

Next week at this time, we will be through the first weekend of meaningful football. Imagine...four quarters without any fourth-stringers (God willing). The season of excessive penalty-calling is over. Let the games begin. We'll see you back here on Tuesday--with nary a mention of any battles for the backup long snapper position.

Poll

Can this team I have constructed beat the Raiders today, on a neutral field, with a run-heavy offensive philosophy behind the Iron Man Bear Pascoe?

Yes, handily

164 votes

Maybe 51 times out of 100

142 votes

Maybe once in a 100 tries

51 votes

Not a chance

42 votes

399 votes | Poll has closed

New Orleans Saints Announce Roster Cuts

Saintsational — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:06:59 -0000

The Times-Pic has just released the full list of New Orleans Saints players who were cut today. Including Joey Harrington and Adrian Arrington, whose names were released earlier today, those players are:

Position	Player
WR	Courtney Roby
WR	Skyler Green
WR	Matt Simon
RB	P.J. Hill
RB	Herb Donaldson
LB	Anthony Waters
DT	DeMario Pressley
G	Tim Duckworth
CB	Danny Gorrer
DT	Early Heyman
TE	Martrez Milner
TE	Jermey Parnell
DE	Paul Spicer
G/T	Anthony Davis
T	Michael Brown
C	Digger Bujnoch
G	Nate Bennett
S	Chip Vaughn placed on IR

The only surprises here are the release of Paul Spicer, DeMario Pressley and Anthony Waters. Can't say we didn't see Chip Vaughn being placed on IR. He's just missed too much time for a rookie this pre-season. Chris Reis, Jonathan Casillas, Buck Ortega, Leigh Torrence and Rod Harper all survived the cut and have made the squad.

Here's a look at how the 53-man roster looks now:

Offense

*Position*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*
QB	Drew Brees	Mark Brunell
RB	Pierre Thomas	Reggie Bush	Mike Bell	Lynell Hamilton
FB	Heath Evans
WR	Marques Colston	Robert Meachem	Lance Moore	Devery Henderson	Rod Harper
TE	Jeremy Shockey	Darnell Dinkins	Buck Ortega	David Thomas
C	Jonathan Goodwin	Nick Leckey
G	Carl Nicks	Jamar Nesbit	Jahri Evans
T	Jammal Brown	Jon Stinchcomb	Zach Strief	Jermon Bushrod

Defense

*Position*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*	*Player*
DE	Will Smith	Charles Grant	Bobby McCray	Jeff Charleston	Anthony Hargrove
DT	Sedrick Ellis	Kendrick Clancy	Remi Ayodele
LB	Jonathan Vilma	Scott Fujita	Scott Shanle	Jo-Lonn Dunbar	Jonathan Casillas	Troy Evans	Marvin Mitchell
CB	Jabari Greer	Tracy Porter	Malcolm Jenkins	Randall Gay	Leigh Torrence
SS	Roman Harper	Pierson Prioleau	Chris Reis
FS	Darren Sharper	Usama Young

Special Teams

*Position*	*Player*	*Player*
Kicker	John Carney	Garrett Hartley
Punter	Thomas Morstead
Long Snapper	Jason Kyle

You'll notice the depth chart contains Will Smith, Charles Grant and Garrett Hartley, all three of whom are suspended for the first four games of the season. They will not count against the 53-man roster during those games, so at least two players (David Thomas was brought in) will need to be signed to take their place in the interim. It appears the Saints are light at the defensive tackle spot so I would hope to see one of those signings be used on that position.

Poll

Which player cut surprises you the most?

DeMario Pressley

136 votes

Paul Spicer

295 votes

Joey Harrington

98 votes

Adrian Arrington

208 votes

Anthony Waters

55 votes

Danny Gorrer

4 votes

796 votes | Poll has closed

Miami Dolphins 10 @ New Orleans Saints 7: Who Dat Say!?

Saintsational — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:00:40 -0000

Twitter

DougTatum Outstanding performers: Thomas Morstead, Jo-Lon Dunbar, Rod Harper, Anthony Hargrove

DougTatum Disappointing efforts: Joey Harrington, Malcolm Jenkins and the third-string offensive line. Joey never had much time

wwltvsports Miller's injury is of the Achilles variety. Will get checked tomorrow. But it doesn't look promising.

JeremyShockey home thinking about my teammate BILLY MILLER! Hes more than a teammate hes a true friend.GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEPS. he will bounce bk

jeffduncantp Nothing official but I'm hearing Billy Miller tore his Achilles tendon. Players I talked to afterward sounded like they'd lost him for good.

SupaFreak69 I like to give a big thank u to the saints organization for trusting and believing in me...a sober and troublefree camp. Thank u lord.

Linkage

Photos: Saints and Dolphins battle it out at the Dome Thursday night - Times-Pic

Handwerger: Miller's injury not good, but it doesn't doom Saints' season - WWLTV

Saints fall to Miami 10-7 in Dome - WWLTV

"We just have to wait and see where he’s at tomorrow," Head Coach Sean Payton said. "… But it is a position of some concern. We’ll see. We have to pay attention to it."

-Sean Payton, on Billy Miller

"I thought defensively we did some real good things tonight," Payton said. "We weren’t able to sustain any drives offensively. I thought we were sloppy with penalties and struggled to protect."

-Sean Payton

"It was nice to see Rod Harper make a play later in the second half for us to get back in it," Payton said. "But obviously, we have to play better offensively."

-Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints tight end Billy Miller exits with injured Achilles tendon - Times-Pic

"I've got good strength now, so hopefully it's not as bad as it could be,"

-Billy Miller

"I felt like I made some plays (in the preseason). Obviously the two returns were pretty good, but really at the end of camp you never feel like you made enough plays," said Harper, who lamented the fact that he struggled on offense early in Thursday's game. "Hopefully in their eyes, I made enough of them."

-Rod Harper

"That was one of the biggest adrenaline rushes I've ever had, because I've never done that,"

-Thomas Morstead, on kicking off

Anthony Hargrove has found home as New Orleans Saints tackle - Times-Pic

"He's pretty good," Saints linebacker Scott Fujita said. "He's a high-motor guy and he's such a good athlete. When you combine those things, you're going to see him make big plays. He's disruptive."

-Scott Fujita, on Anthony Hargrove

"It was good to get all the work in," Hargrove said. "I was thankful the coaches kept me in there so long. After having the year off, I need the work, and it helps my conditioning."

-Anthony Hargrove

"I'm feeling good inside, and the coaches say I'm moving good there, so I'm happy," Hargrove said. "I'm all for doing anything I can to help the team. I get more comfortable every day."

-Anthony Hargrove

"I thank God every day for this opportunity," Hargrove said. "I was lying in my bed in my hotel room (Wednesday) night, looking out the window at all the buildings downtown and thinking about where I was a year ago at this time looking out the barred windows (of a detention/treatment center). I know I can't get too cocky or too arrogant.

"I love this team and the coaches. I just hope they have plans on keeping me around."

-Anthony Hargrove

Lynell Hamilton's closing argument to snag roster spot with New Orleans Saints impressive - Times-Pic

"I hope so," Hamilton said after accounting for 122 of the Saints' 234 yards of offense. "I'm the kind of person who puts it all in God's hands. I'm just going to continue to try to get better and let the chips fall where they may, and keep my trust in God."

-Lynell Hamilton

"I wish I could've helped my team more, maybe put some points on the board and helped my team win," he said. "We did some things right, but we did some things wrong. It's still a learning process."

-Lynell Hamilton

New Orleans Saints lose final preseason game 10-7 against Miami Dolphins - Times-Pic

"Defensively we did some real good things tonight," Payton said. "Offensively we struggled. We weren't able to sustain anything offensively. We were sloppy. Obviously we'll have to play better offensively."

-Sean Payton

"We'll know more tomorrow," Payton said. "Right now it's too early. We're already a little dinged up at that position with Darnell Dinkins out (ankle/foot). So that's a concern."

-Sean Payton

"Credit him," Payton said. "He's taken advantage of the opportunity. I was encouraged with the play he made tonight."

-Sean Payton, on Rod Harper

"It was a middle return, and I tried to hit it as quick as possible,"

-Rod Harper

"Let the chips fall where they may,"

-Lynell Hamilton

"That's part of football," Harrington said. "You've got to make the plays when they're presented to you. Sometimes they come within the offense and sometimes you have to create them on your own. It was just one of those games. I don't even worry about (making the team). That's what I've said all along. I'm not thinking at all about down the road."

-Joey Harrington

Saints Close Out Preseason Against Dolphins - New Orleans Saints official website

"We were sloppy in a few phases and that bothered me,"

-Sean Payton

"I thought Morstead was outstanding tonight," Payton said. "It was good to see him continue to develop. He did a lot of good things tonight."

-Sean Payton

Miami Dolphins finish pre-season play perfect for first time in 11 years - Palm Beach Post

"We did what we didn't do last week, which is sustain drives," guard Justin Smiley said. "We played football the way we're supposed to. Was it always pretty? No. There's things we can take from this and learn from. This next week is a really big week for us."

-Justin Smiley

"We had some plays for Teddy (Ginn) early in the game, but the coverage didn't dictate that and we checked out of them,"

-Tony Sparano

Miami Dolphins ready for prime time after perfect preseason - Miami Herald

``You saw a little more continuity, and that's what you should see,'' quarterback Chad Pennington said. ``I'm glad we had this test.''

-Chad Pennington

``The preseason is all about building chemistry and building timing,'' Camarillo said. ``We're getting there. We made some good plays, but there's also some plays that we can still get better on.''

-Greg Camarillo

NEWS: GameDay Live - MiamiDolphins.com

"I thought Henne did a good job. He had a better week of practice this week," said Sparano, who kept the first team offensive line and skill players on the field with Henne in the second quarter. "I just talked to him before the game a little bit and told him to relax and have some fun. I thought he did a good job with that and made some good throws early, got into a little bit of a rhythm early and I thought moved the team pretty well."

-Tony Sparano

"The biggest thing was making smart decisions and we got that drive down there, which helps your confidence and builds it up," Henne said. "I think it's a big key to get that first completion underneath your belt. That really gets everything going, gets the rhythm going and you feel good about yourself."

-Chad Henne

"To hold a team offensively to no points and that few yards, regardless of who's playing was big for us," middle linebacker Channing Crowder said. "We just showed that we're a good team and that we're going to be a team to be reckoned with this season. ... We're clicking as a defense, clicking as an offense and making plays. Everybody knows the games don't count but it just shows you where you're team and it shows you that we're playing together well."

-Channing Crowder

"It was a really good play that he made out there," Sparano said. "It was good to see us force a turnover and get off the field. I remember (General Manager) Jeff Ireland showing me a play there and our scouts showing me a play with Sean making a very similar interception like that. I believe it might have been against Wyoming or somebody like that and he made an almost similar to play to that and you could see his ball skills show up right there."

-Tony Sparano

"I think (the extra weight) will help in the long run, once I find that perfect number I want to play at," said Taylor, who is the NFL's active career sack leader with 120.5. "Before it was always a little different when I was going 243 or 242, but now that number will change a little bit based on the position and the role I have to play. It's good that I can maneuver my body around a little bit right now and I think I'm closer to where I want to be right now. Playing this position is a lot different. You have to be able to move around and play in space."

-Jason Taylor

"It was a great pass from Chad. There wasn't much space to put it in there and he put it right on the money," Camarillo said. "I just tried to come up with a play for him. It felt good, especially because we got to sit back and watch the replay a couple of times before they actually called it in. It's always good to make a play early. It gets you going for the rest of the game."

-Greg Camarillo

"For me, I put one out there was a little risky really," Pennington said. "I felt good with the ball placement of it and I felt like he would make the play and he did. I think that shows the type of trust that I have in him and the chemistry that we're gaining and trying to regain because it has been a revolving door. We've been rotating a lot of guys and working with a lot of guys in camp and now we're starting to hone in on the core guys that are going to be making plays for us on Sunday so it's important."

-Chad Pennington

Video

Jeff Duncan's video log from the New Orleans Saints-Miami Dolphins exhibition game (Sept. 3, 2009)

Supposed Stafford Infatuation Junkie

DrewsLions — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:30:36 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

4 months ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford passes against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of an exhibition NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 in Detroit. Stafford passed for for 114 yards and a touchdown in a 27-26 win.(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Disclaimer: Since the Cleveland game, POD has been flooded with the ageless Stafford vs. Culpepper debate. And since I've been dubbed head cheerleader for the Matt Stafford fanclub (which is probably fair enough), I thought I'd use my time to debunk the myth that I am blindly for everything Stafford. There is rhyme to my reasoning and method to my madness for wanting him to start this season.

When I fully realized that Detroit would undoubtedly receive the first pick in the draft, Matt Stafford became an item of fixation. Not him personally, but the prospect of taking a quarterback with the first overall pick. He just happened to be the one that seemed most qualified for the job. You see, I have this inherent belief that a football team can never truly be great without the leadership and execution, week-in and week-out, of a great quarterback. Sure, it's quite possible for a team with a stout defense or solid running game to have a good season or even take home a championship. But the reality is, those teams quickly fade away and become the one-hit wonders of the NFL. Perennial winners and dynasties have one thing in common... a great quarterback. I was excited about taking another stab at getting ours and trying to get past our decades long bout of mediocrity and inconsistency.

Knowing that we had the opportunity to take Stafford, I quickly learned everything I could about him. I found as much Georgia game footage online as I could and tried to assimilate some sort of position and comfort about the potential pick. The more interviews I saw, the more I liked him. The more I learned about his past and what he's accomplished at the high school and collegiate levels, the more it got me excited about his potential as a quality NFL quarterback. Sure, there were things about his game that were troublesome. I think you'll find that with every college quarterback when the microscope gets turned on. But by the time the draft talk started heating up, I was already on board.

From that point on, backing Stafford has burgeoned into this strange realm of embattlement for me ... one I inherited (and quite frankly asked for) because of my strong stance on the pick and my passion for putting forth my own viewpoint. When I began to push for the Lion's to take him, never did I realize that I was putting myself on the frontlines of what would become a major point of contentiousness amongst Lion fans. First, it was the heated Stafford vs. Curry debate. Then came the "sit him" or "not sit him" deliberation, which has subsequently blossomed into an all-out Culpepper vs. Stafford "who's the best quarterback" war. I naïvely thought that most fans would be excited to get a chance to add a good quarterback to the roster. That hasn't proven to be the case... and with good reason. We've been burned too many times in the past and it was simply the want and desire for fans to see things done right this time. Drafting a quarterback seemed less like building a foundation and more like a PR stunt. So don't get me wrong, I completely understand the other side of the argument. Building a foundation before getting a quarterback makes perfect sense to me too. It's just comes down to being an opportunity cost thing for me. You pay now or you can pay later. You only have so many high draft picks and you can't get every foundational piece to rebuild an 0-16 franchise in a single year. My feelings have been and will always be that if you do not have a good quarterback and have the opportunity to take one, don't pass that opportunity. This of course, depends on the player value for the position and team needs and all those other variables mixed in. I'm not trying to refuel the draft philosophy debate, just trying to clearly expose the inside of my mind for all of you.

Now we come to the present. Stafford is clearly coming off a dismal performance and here's Drewslions, still on the bandwagon and still wanting him to start the regular season, right? Yes, I am and yes, I do. But let me explain why... and I'll take my time with this because I want to be completely transparent with my thoughts. For too long, I think I've given the impression that I dislike Culpepper and have chosen a side in this battle. That is simply not the case. I'll be the first to admit that I'll take a shot here and there at Culpepper, but it is almost always in jest or an attempt (usually a feeble one) at tongue-in-cheek humor. For me, it simply comes down to an ideal; how to treat the quarterback position so it puts this team in the best position to win both now and in the long-term. So let me add another disclaimer here... this is my viewpoint and it is not necessarily correct, just what I personally feel would be best for this club. I think it's been extremely well documented on this site (because of the wealth of football knowledge that the POD regulars have brought here) that if history tells us anything about highly drafted quarterbacks, it's that there is no one right way to cultivate a franchise quarterback. So here are my thoughts on this...

Thought #1: The Historical Myth of Quarterback Cultivation

We've all argued back and forth about quarterback who have played right away and succeeded and those who have failed. We've discussed at length the proponents of sitting a young quarterback and both sides show examples of failure and success. The only logical conclusion that can be drawn by looking at history as a control in the experimentation of deciphering what is the best way to cultivate a quarterback is that there is no logical conclusion. I believe the reason is that there are simply too many complex variables involved. Each quarterback is a unique individual with a specialized skill-set going to a different team and each of those teams are in their own special place in time with a different scheme, coaching staff, training staff and group of players in place. How can you honestly compare any two highly drafted quarterbacks to each other? In my mind, you can't. There are just too many differences in each unique circumstance to draw any type of logical conclusion. This is why I don't think Stafford should be pigeonholed into any historical category. He is Matt Stafford, with only Matt Stafford's skill-set and he is in Detroit for the 2009 NFL season. That situation is different from every other quarterback in NFL history... including Joey Harrington's. This, of course, isn't a reason to start Stafford. It's just the first reason why I think Stafford can't be ruled out as starter.

Thought #2: Practice Makes Perfect

The other main element behind the classic "sit him or start him" debate is from what framework you feel a quarterback gains the most experience. Is it from watching and film study or is it from actual game time experience? Again, it's a point of view. The problem is that this isn't a classic quarterback battle between two veterans. It's experience versus potential with Culpepper and Stafford. There is a completely different dynamic to this and one that is much harder to gauge. There is no doubt that Culpepper has more experience and is going to show that on the field. But there is also no doubt that Stafford is the Lion's future... this point is absolute and without argument. Stafford is going to make mistakes, that's part of the growing and maturation process. If you choose to play the rookie, you choose to allow him to learn by making mistakes. That is why I was so frustrated at the outpouring of calls to sit Stafford because of one performance. How can he be allowed to become a good quarterback if he is not given the opportunity to make mistakes? I know we'd all like to believe he is Bobby Layne incarnate, but he is not. We'd all love to see him just light it up on every play he is on the field. But sadly, that's not going to happen no matter how good he will eventually be. He has to learn by making mistakes and the only way for him to do that is by being on the field.

Ultimately, this comes down to a decision of possibly sacrificing more consistent play by Culpepper for the greater good of Stafford's experience. To be honest, that might not be a very meaningful difference in the win-loss column. The reasoning for that is that I think we are still a year or two away from "P-Word" contention and both quarterbacks will have their struggles behind center with this team. With that, I choose experience for Stafford and allowing him to grow over a more stabile, conservative offense behind Culpepper. Again, that's not right or wrong... just my opinion.

Thought #3: When the Pressure is On

The other main element to this debate deals with pressure of various types. There is pressure for a young quarterback to learn the playbook and to become a good teammate. There is pressure to show a presence in the huddle and leadership qualities. Those are mental pressures and fragile-minded players may have a tough time coping with those in their rookie year. There is also a physical pressure... as in an NFL-caliber blitz. It's one thing to have collegiate-level players coming at you and quite another to have Shawn Merriman or Troy Polamalu charging at you full speed, trying to tear your head off. These mental and physical hurdles are no doubt a challenge for any rookie player and even more so when you play quarterback. It takes a special player to be able to rise above those pressures as a rookie.

But there is one other element to pressure that I think is quite often forgotten in this debate. Most opposed to Stafford starting will contend that until the team around him is better, there is no good that can come of putting him in a less-than-optimal situation and allowing him to get his psyche bruised - therefore, ruining him by playing him before he is ready. That theory in general appears sound and there are a lot of quarterbacks that appear to be a product of this type of handling. But if I may, I'd like to interject an additional wrinkle to this theory. Is there more pressure for a quarterback to play and learn when the team around him is not very good or when the team around him is a contender? Let's look at this a little deeper. If Detroit expectations are relatively low... which they are this year... will Stafford be allowed to make more mistakes and learn with fewer consequences compared to when expectations are high and the pieces around him are in place? When everyone else is ready to contend for a "P-Word" spot and he is getting his first start, who is the pressure really on? See, this is why I want to see him come in and grow with the team from the onset of the rebuilding process. If he comes in this year and stinks up the joint, so what? The rest of the team is still learning and stinking it up too. However, the more pieces that get into place before he plays, the pressure is on him to perform immediately. Granted, he will learn on the sidelines as well... just not as much as he will on the field... in my humble opinion anyway.

Thought #4: If You Can't Handle the Heat...

My last thought here before I wrap up what has become a much longer article than I set out to write, deals with Stafford's mental make-up. This, I believe, is the one key element to whether or not a quarterback can be successful in his rookie year or maybe even if he can be successful at all in the NFL. It's a tough thing to judge, too. Teams spend countless hours trying to find out whether a quarterback will rebound or collapse when the heat of a game gets cranked up. You look at the two quarterbacks from last year, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco - the poster boys of the new "start ‘em as rookies" campaign. Each was in a very different situation with a very different team. Can't really compare the two situations and therefore, you can't really compare either to Stafford. But I think the common element was mental toughness. They had the ability to pick up the playbook easily. They formed a quick, tight bond with teammates. They showed early leadership abilities. And most importantly, they showed flashes of ability on the field from the onset of camp. Stafford has done the same. The Lion's selected him because of his many spectacular physical gifts, but more importantly, for his mental toughness and cool, collected demeanor.

Stafford is capable of starting this year. Will he make mistakes? You betcha. Will some of them be really bad ones? Absolutely. Is Daunte Culpepper a better quarterback at this moment in time? Ahem... most likely. But does that mean that starting Daunte is clearly in the best interest for this team today, tomorrow and for the next ten years? In my opinion, no. Again, I am in the camp of trading a little now for the greater good of tomorrow in the hopes we can become a perennial NFC North powerhouse. I think Stafford is more than capable of starting this year. If I didn't, I would bow out of this debate, concede the starting spot to Culpepper and gleefully cheer him on as our quarterback (which I will anyway if he wins the job). But I think that Stafford is capable of handling the job right now and because he is the future, let him learn and grow with the men he needs to bond with right now. Let him have an active investment in turning this franchise around. Let him make mistakes... huge ones. Let him learn to rebound from those mistakes and get mentally tough. Let him become the face of the franchise, because regardless of what everyone thinks, he's already been crowned.

Quarterback Competition Heats Up

Saintsational — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:10 -0000

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

4 months ago: New Orleans Saints quarterback Mark Brunell (11) passes during a scrimmage at the club's NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. The Saints held an afternoon scripted scrimmage. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

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While Drew Brees was out of town this weekend dealing with the recent death of this mother, Saints fans got an all too realistic look (not literally) during the Black & Gold scrimmage of what life might be like without the greatest quarterback in the league. I shudder just thinking about it, really. The truth is as long as Brees is healthy, the battle for the spot behind him is fairly meaningless. But in the event of what would be a worst case scenario - a season-ending injury to Drew - who will be considered...[Dr. Evil voice] Number Two?

The great news is that both Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington are capable options. Harrington has plenty of experience as a starting quarterback in the NFL, though much of his play could be considered sub-par. However, an argument could be made that his lack of on-field success is due to the poor talent around him. Mark Brunell, on the other hand, is a proven veteran with three Pro-Bowls and nine seasons as a starter. Though the retiring of Brett Favre (finally!) makes Brunell the oldest active quarterback in the league, he's still got what it takes to lead an offense.

So far the news from training camp regarding both quarterbacks has been positive. They each took advantage of Drew's absence during Saturdays Black & Gold scrimmage, Brunell in particular, while Harrington was the star of Friday mornings practice. So who will be deemed worthy of being Drew Brees' Number Two? Brunell is currently running with the second team during practice and I personally feel that's the way it should and will remain. His experience and track record of success make him the obvious choice as second in command. But does Harrington have a chance to beat out Brunell this summer? Who do you think should be taking snaps in the absence of Brees? Will the Saints even keep three quarterbacks? Let's hear your thoughts. Talk it out.

Poll

Who do you think should be the Saints second in command?

Mark Brunell

357 votes

Joey Harrington

214 votes

571 votes | Poll has closed

Hate Fest 2009

Hap Glaudi's Ghost — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:15:10 -0000

Oh, you probably thought I was gone or perhaps Dave sent me away and you would never have to deal with my angry female Saints fan rants again. Not even. I just took a little break from writing because my bosses at work expect me to do actual work and really what can you write about during mini-camps anyway besides, "New defense looks awesome in shorts!"; "Drew Brees still sexy as hell and $#%^& awesome!"

Yawn.

So now I'm back and once training camp starts there will be plenty more chances for you to say how much you loathe me. Fantastic right? This brings me to my topic this week: Hate.

Sure, pretty soon you'll be reading about storylines to watch during camp or five breakout players for 2009. I have my own list: Possible players/Saints coaches that by the end of 2009 we'll hate so much we'll wish they'd go missing, die or get traded to the Lions because of all the pain they'll inflict upon us during the upcoming season. This list doesn't mean I think 2009 will suck but there will be at least one or two Saints players/coaches whose craptastic play we'll be going crazy over, even if the Saints have an awesome season. Does Fred Thomas in 2006 ring a bell? Let's dive right in and see who we might hate come the fall.

#7 Gregg Williams

He's the answer! He's going to make the defense aggressive and it's going to be attack, attack, attack! Or instead of sacks and interceptions, it will be 75-yard touchdown bombs and the Saints will be back to needing to score 40 points to win games. The double G will stand for "Get Gone."

#6 Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington

These guys make the list only because if something happens to Brees we'll take all our frustration out on these two clowns and every time they suck we'll think of how the Brees injury ruined the season and our Sundays. Just the thought of Joey taking an actual snap in a game where the Saints aren't up 42-0 gives me a seizure. If either of these guys plays more than a handful of plays the season is done and by December our hate will grow so large and powerful it might threaten civilization as we know it. I don't even like talking about Piano Joey or 80-year-old Mark actually playing. Let's move on before I get so sad I eat a cheesecake or something.

#5 Jason Kyle and Kevin Houser

Before Houser went and torched his Saints career by being the point man for a Ponzi Scheme...(cough cough)...I mean tax credit investments...he went nine years without screwing up a long snap. The second after Jason Kyle #$#@% up either a Saints field goal or punt snap for the first time this decade you'll be cursing Kyle, Houser, Louisiana Film Studios and Sean Payton for letting this mess happen in the first place. I will personally blame Houser only and he'll move to #1 on the all time list if the snap screw-up happens during a playoff game. Dear God this scenario seems like it's inevitable. If the Saints need a field goal to win a huge game you know this exact thing will cross your mind. See, don't you hate Houser just a little more now?

#4 Reggie Bush

Sure, you don't hate him now, but if the Saints are 8-6 and Pierre Thomas is blowing up while Bush starts bitching about his touches, you'll tell him to go to the bathroom and touch himself. Or if he gets injured yet again we all may decide to be done with Reggie.

#3 Darren Sharper

He's all new, cute, cuddly and shiny now but don't think you can't learn to hate him just like you did Josh Bullocks,Kevin Kaesviharn, and Roman Harper. Oh, look Steve Smith just caught another 50-yard bomb on third and 25! I guess Darren Sharper isn't a savvy veteran but a washed up old man who needs to be put in a home. You might even start to miss Josh Bullocks. Ok maybe not.

#2 Jeremy Shockey

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Not if you go another season without catching a touchdown! If the Saints don't win big and Jeremy isn't catching a ton of balls, expect him to meltdown. It's what he does. Of course Brees will put him in his place but listening to Shockey mouth off every week will get old, especially if the Saints are fighting for a playoff spot. Someone please explain why exactly we needed "Mr. Can't Drink While Poolside" again?

#1 Sean Payton

That NFC title game season is getting harder to remember, Sean. Let Payton get cute late in a key game and have it go "Boom goes the Dynamite" and suddenly we'll hate him. Three years with Drew Brees and no playoffs and I'll organize "Payton Hate Fest 2010." I'll be the chairwoman. I'll make signs and start a Facebook page and tweet till my thumbs fall off.

Saints video to make you wish that opening Sunday would get here already!

After such a hate-filled, negative column I want to leave you with some chills. This is the CBS opening to the Saints-Vikings playoff game from 1987. Oh sure, it ended badly but if Jimmy the Greek interviewing Al Hirt and Pat Summerall voicing over the intro during the classic CBS music doesn't fire you up then you have no soul. Oh, and watch CBS flash the stat (At the 7:43 mark) that in 1987 the Saints blocked eight kicks. Are you #@$% serious!? That's a kick every other week. And they scored on seven of them! If a team did that this year ESPN would devote an Outside the Lines to figure out how. Just forget the ending and enjoy!

List FAIL: ESPN's Aaron Schatz

Nestor — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:02:27 -0000

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

The Posterboy of Over-Rated/Over-Hyped NFL Busts

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Jason King is not the only writer from the traditional media (or the new media) who is cobbling together stupid lists during the long off season of football and basketball. Guess the summer months when everyone is bored out of their minds (baseball doesn't cut it for everyone) writers are under pressure to produce content which results in laughable lists penning Just$C* as a "tradition rich" hoops program. Thankfully for Jason as mentioned at the beginning he is not the only one coming up with joke lists this summer.

WWL's Aaron Schatz tried to come up with a list of "25 most over-rated" players in the NFL from this past decade. Here is how the list went from 10 to 9 (which is posted in an Atlanta Falcons message board):

10. DeAngelo Hall
9. Dante Hall
8. Stephen Alexander
7. Ty Law
6. Reggie Bush
5. Adam Vinatieri
4. Jamal Lewis
3. Chris Chambers
2. Michael Vick

And the number 1 guy in Aaron's "list". A familiar name for all of us:

1. DeShaun Foster: Foster is the platonic ideal of a boom-and-bust running back, who breaks one or two highlight runs a game and then spends the rest of the time leaving his unfortunate quarterback in second-and-9 after second-and-9. Once a year he had a huge game against the Atlanta Falcons, and convince everybody he was a good NFL starter for another 12 months. According to Football Outsiders numbers, he was below replacement level in four out of six seasons. He only managed 4.3 yards per carry (average for running backs) in two seasons, and had no year with more than three rushing touchdowns. In 2007, Foster (3.5 yards per carry) had 100 more carries than DeAngelo Williams (5.0 yards per carry). Good luck explaining that one.

Huh? Riddle me this. How can Foster be the most over-rated player in the NFL from last 10 years considering he was not a top-10 pick? Wait a minute. He was not even a top-20 pick. Oh wait. What's that? Apparently he wasn't drafted in the entire first round. Foster if you can remember was drafted in the second round, after his college career ended abruptly over allegations over driving an SUV. Not only that he also had to battle through a number of injuries. Still he did what he could and considering where he was drafted did pretty well with the Carolina Panthers.

Meanwhile, somehow Reggie Bush is well bellow Foster. Unlike Foster, Bush never had to suffer the consequences of alleged extra benefits (in Bush's cases it involved hundreds of thousands of dollars (alleged) extra benefits going to his family members which would be illegal under NCAA rules), and rode into NBA with LeBron James like hype without producing anything close to match it.

Of course, the names glaringly missing from that list include players such as Alex Smith (I say that as a Niners fan), Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, Matt Leinart, and to be fair Cade McNown (my favorite Bruin QB of all time).

So the question before publishing this kind of garbage list on a major national network such as ESPN, does it go through some kind of editorial process exercising common sense knowledge? I get it. It's a slow time. So one of the main reasons to write up list pieces like this is to kick up some dirt and get a conversation going. But does that really mean people can get away with writing something that is so dumb?

GO BRUINS.