SB Nation - Brooks Bollinger

NY Jets @ New Orleans Saints: Game Preview

Saintsational — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:00:35 -0000

NEW YORK JETS (3-0) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-0)

SERIES

	JETS	SAINTS
SERIES LEADER	Series tied, 5-5
STREAKS		4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Ryan: 0-0	Payton: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 24-17 vs. Titans	W 27-7 at Bills
LAST GAME	11/27/05: Saints 21 at Jets 19. New Orleans QB Aaron Brooks throws for 3 TDs to hold off late rally by New York QB Brooks Bollinger & snap 6-game losing streak.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/4/01: Jets 16, Saints 9. New York DE John Abraham records 4 sacks to lead Jets defense, which totaled 8 sacks & 3 turnovers, holding New Orleans to 246 total yards.
BROADCAST	CBS (3:05 PM CT): Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf. SIRIUS: 121 (NYJ), 123 (NO). XM: 105 (NO).

STATS

PASSING	Sanchez (R): 49-83-606-4-2-87.7	Brees: 67-97-841 (2C)-9 (1L)-2-118.1 (1L)
RUSHING	Jones: 48-181-3.8-2 (T3C)	Bell: 45-229-5.1-1
RECEIVING	Cotchery: 18 (T3C)-285 (3L)-15.8-1	Colston: 15-195-13.0-3 (1L)
OFFENSE	315.0	438.0 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	+3 (T2C)	+4 (T3C)
DEFENSE	256.0 (2C)	312.3
SACKS	Harris: 2	Grant: 1.5
INTs	4 tied: 1	Sharper: 3 (T1L)
PUNTING	Weatherford: 40.7	Morstead (R): 46.5
KICKING	Feely: 22 (7/7 PAT; 5/5 FG)	Carney: 30 (2C) (15/15 PAT; 5/6 FG)

NOTES

JETS: Club aims to start season 4-0 for 1st time since ’04 & seeks 2nd consecutive win at NO…QB MARK SANCHEZ (1st round, No. 5) can become 1st rookie QB to start and win team’s 1st 4 games of season in Super Bowl era. Recorded 1st career rush TD last week. Aims for 4th consecutive game w/TD pass…For career, RB THOMAS JONES averages 102.6 rush yards per game when he has 20+ att. Has 4 rush TDs in past 3 against NFC. Teams are 31-14 (.689) when he records 20+ att…WR JERRICHO COTCHERY is averaging 95 receiving yards per game (285 total) in ’09 & posted season-high 108 receiving yards last week…TE DUSTIN KELLER averages 15.6 yards per catch in ’09…Defense ranks 2nd in NFL allowing 11 points per game (Denver, 5.3)…LB DAVID HARRIS registered 1st career INT last week. Leads team in tackles (21) & sacks (2) in ’09…S ERIC SMITH posted 1st INT of ’09 last week…DT KRIS JENKINS has 19 career sacks vs. NFC… Since ’01, Jets lead NFL with 11 KR-TDs…

SAINTS: Lead NFL with 120 points, most by team in 1st 3 games since 1968 (Dal., 132)…QB DREW BREES leads NFL with 118.1 rating & 9 pass TDs. Since joining NO in 2006, leads NFL with 14,751 passing yards, 97 TDs & 25 300-yard games. In past 23, Brees has 15 300-yard games (65.2 pct.)…RB-PR REGGIE BUSH has 25 career TDs (13 rush, 8 rec, 4 PR) & is only player in team history to score via rush, rec. & PR. RB PIERRE THOMAS rushed for 126 yards & 2 TDs last week. Has 11 TDs (8 rush, 3 rec.) in past 8. RB LYNELL HAMILTON scored 1st career TD last week…WR MARQUES COLSTON has 7 TDs in past 6. TE JEREMY SHOCKEY has 435 receptions since 2002, 3rd most in NFL among TEs. WR DEVERY HENDERSON averages 21.4 yards per catch in career. Had 30-yard TD in last game vs. NYJ…LB JONATHAN VILMA played 4 years with NYJ & was selected to Pro Bowl & named Defensive Rookie of Year. S DARREN SHARPER leads active players with 57 INTs. DE WILL SMITH had sack in last meeting. Had sack & 1st career INT last week.

Jets Do Their Talking on the Field

John B — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:16:14 -0000

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

Browse more photos »

The Jets are in first place all by themselves. They did a lot of talking all week, and they backed it up.

Tom Brady said he does his talking on the field. Today he said for one week at least he's the second best quarterback in the division. The rookie totally outplayed the first ballot Hall of Famer.

The Jets said the Patriots aren't the dominant team in the East any more. They might come out on top when all is said and done, but they are in for their fight of their lives.

Mark Sanchez played a stellar second half.

The defense played a great game all day. They made Tom Brady look like Brooks Bollinger. Without some questionable calls early, the Pats may have only scored 3 points. Also, Darrelle Revis is the best corner in football.

We'll have more tonight with the official recap.

Favre Delivers Big Ratings for ESPN

Anthony21 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:00:05 -0000

Here in the Twin Cities, it's sometimes difficult to get a feel for how much of a buzz the Vikings are creating around the country. But there's no mistaking the message sent by Monday night's ratings: Brett Favre remains a huge draw. The ratings were so big, ESPN put out a press release just to brag a little (h/t: Access Vikings)...

Last night’s preseason telecast of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, a 17-10 victory for the Minnesota Vikings over the Houston Texans, earned a 6.0 rating, representing an average of 5,943,000 households (7,918,000 viewers – P2+), making it ESPN's most-viewed NFL preseason game ever and its highest-rated since New England-Dallas on Aug. 12, 1996 – 6.6 rating.

ESPN's MNF game was the most-viewed program of the night (broadcast or cable) among households, viewers, all key male demos, Adults 18-34, and Adults 18-49. Additionally, ESPN was the No. 1 network for the night (broadcast or cable) among households, viewers, and all key male and adult demos.

Take that, repeat episodes of House, How I Met Your Mother, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent! You just got Favre'd. And when the regular season arrives, the viewerships are only going to get bigger.

What's nice is that those who tuned in were hardly disappointed -- despite the fact that preseason football underwhelms approximately 99% of the time. We saw Adrian Peterson bust a huge touchdown, Favre appear at or near regular season form, and the old guy make a block that Texans fans have been fuming about today.

Indeed, on Monday, the Minnesota Vikings established their presence on the big stage and won't be leaving for quite some time. They'll be under more scrutiny than they have in years (with schism-gate being just the first product of this scrutiny) -- but as Vikings fans, we're in for one helluva season. On a completely unrelated note, I enjoyed watching the favorite NFL reporter of Daily Norseman (Adam Schefter) make an awkward halftime appearance alongside Chris Berman and Cris Carter. A strange studio panel put together by The Worldwide Leader.

I found this amusing: On the way home from Houston, Visanthe Shiancoe snapped a picture of Phil Loadholt squeezing into a seat on the team's airplane. I also found this amusing: Brooks Bollinger is now a Detroit Lion. With him and Glenn Holt filling the final two pieces of the puzzle for the Lions offense, I just don't know how our guys will be able to compete with Detroit when they travel to Ford Field in mid-September.

Drew Stanton to Have Surgery; Lions Sign Brooks Bollinger

Sean Yuille — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:57:48 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

3 months ago: Detroit Lions quarteback Drew Stanton throws against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter of an exhibition NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Browse more photos »

Drew Stanton just can't seem to make it through an entire preseason healthy. In his rookie season, Stanton suffered a knee injury and was placed on the injured reserve. The injury probably wasn't serious enough that Stanton had to go on the IR, but that's what the Lions decided to do with him. Then, after playing well in the first couple of preseason games last year, Stanton suffered a freak injury on the last snap of practice, hitting his thumb on a helmet.

Yesterday we found out that Stanton had an MRI done on his left knee, and today we learned that he will have arthroscopic surgery on it (done by Dr. James Andrews). The injury will likely keep Stanton out for "several weeks," but the Lions aren't going to put him on the IR just yet, instead waiting to see what happens.

In the meantime, the Lions have signed quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Offensive guard Terrence Metcalf was released to make room for Bollinger, who will probably see significant playing time on Thursday despite only having a couple days to learn the playbook. Bollinger worked out for the Lions last month alongside a couple other free agent quarterbacks, likely just in case a situation like this happened. That is why it's good to be prepared.

Bringing a veteran QB into camp

shake n bake — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:02:34 -0000

Last year with Peyton Manning on the PUP the Colts brought in a pair of veteran backups, Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen. Now with Jim Sorgi out 2-3 weeks they may bring an experienced QB in again. There are still a few Quarterbacks with NFL experience remaining unsigned.

Free Agents

UFL (I don't know if there is an arrangement for the NFL-UFL on the poaching of their talent, but it's unlikely any of these guys will give up a starting UFL job for a few weeks in an NFL camp).

Brooks Bollinger (Orlando)

Quinn Gray (New York)

J.P. Losman (Las Vegas)

Jump for more info on the vets

Gus Frerotte (FA) last seen replacing a struggling Tarvaris Jackson and starting 11 games for the Vikings before a back injury took him out of the lineup. He completed 59.1% of his passes for 2,157 yards, 12TDs with 15 INTs for a QB Rating of 73.7 and ANY/A of 4.3.

Drew Henson (FA) most notable for sharing time with Tom Brady in college. Henson both thrown an NFL touchdown and has a major league hit. The downside being that he's thrown just 20 NFL passes (only 2 over the last 4 seasons) and had only 9 MLB at bats.

Craig Nall (FA) the long-time backup has the impressive statistic of more years in the league (9), than games played (7). He has played well in his few appearances holding a career QB rating of 123.8 over 48 attempts.

Marques Tuiasosopo (FA) A second round pick of the Raiders, Tuiasosopo has played just 13 games (2 starts) in 8 seasons, and hasn't posted a season with less INTs than TDs or a QB rating over 51 since his (4 attempt) rookie year. Awesome name though.

Cleo Lemon (FA) Lemon started half a season in Miami in 2007 playing well enough for an ill advised 3 year, 9 million dollar contract from the Jags, who cut him after just one year.

Brooks Bollinger (Orlando) Bollinger has played a handful of games as a backup since a mediocre half-season starting for the Jets with 56.4% completion, 1,558 yards, 7TDs, and 6INTs for a rating of 72.9 and 4.1 ANY/A

Quinn Gray (New York) We all saw Gray last year, through the first 3 preseason games he looked like the best QB of the 3 headed backup committee. Over the last two he threw 4 INTs to 1 TD and completed under 40% of his passes. He eventually caught on with the Cheifs where he had 8 very good pass attempts.

J.P. Losman (Las Vegas) The 2004 1st rounder couldn't stay healthy and regressed as a passer after a pretty good 2006 season. With Trent Edwards emerging as a viable starter and outplaying Losman, J.P. was given the boot.

Very slim pickings, Where for art thou Josh Betts? (actually he is available)

Lions Sign Will James and Lydon Murtha, Release Three

Sean Yuille — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:47:16 -0000

As preparation for training camp continues, the Lions made quite a few changes to their roster today, headlined by the signing of free agent cornerback William James. The Lions also confirmed that they have signed draft picks DeAndre Levy and Lydon Murtha. To make room on the roster for the three players, running back Antone Smith, defensive end Rudolph Hardie, and safety Tra Battle were released.

Will James, who actually played for the University of Michigan for two years (then as Will Peterson), was a member of the Jaguars, so I'm guessing James Harris is behind this move. Jacksonville released James in June, and the Lions brought him in for a workout yesterday. 24 hours or so later, he became a Lion.

James is entering his ninth season in the NFL, and the Lions are his fifth team. He started out as a New York Giant in 2001 and joined the Eagles in 2006. James spent only two seasons in Philadelphia, as he became a Bill during the offseason a year ago. After being released during the final round of roster cuts, he joined the Jaguars, where he played in 8 games. On average, he has only played in around 9.5 games a season. That is mainly due to him playing in only 10 games combined in 2003, 2005, and 2006, but the last two years he has played in 22 total games.

On top of signing James, the two draft picks, and releasing three players, the Lions also brought in quarterbacks Cleo Lemon, Brooks Bollinger, and Craig Nall for a workout. Before training camp begins, the Lions obviously want to make sure that there isn't a free agent backup QB they have missed out on. I expect them to stick with Drew Stanton as the third-string QB, but the Lions may very well see a need to add a player to the competition.

Around the NFL: FAVRE!, Eli Manning's Money, and the UFL draft

Brandon — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:00:24 -0000

Packer practices start up again on Monday, so there isn't much Packers' talk except to waste digital ink speculating on when S Nick Collins might get a new contract or why there haven't been any contract talks with WR Greg Jennings. (Hint: It doesn't matter because they aren't free agents and neither player is going to hold out).

QB Brett Favre is "pain-free" but endurance and stamina is the issue. Vikings' fans have resigned themselves to the eventual Favre signing and have moved on to the question of whether it's time to release QB Tarvaris Jackson.
QB Eli Manning's agents expect Eli's next contract will make him the highest paid player in the NFL. He had a great 2007 postseason and 2008 was a very good follow up. But he's definitely in that 2nd tier of QBs that deservedly don't get any MVP talk (along with QB Aaron Rodgers). The big difference is that Manning has had a few seasons to develop and this is his ceiling, while Rodgers should continue to improve.
The new professional football league for has-been and never-was players, the UFL, had their initial draft this week. A couple former Green Bay Packers were drafted. NT Fred Bledsoe hung around the practice squad the last couple seasons. S Marviel Underwood was a promising 2005 draft choice until he blew out his knee during the 2006 preseason. A couple former Wisconsin Badgers were drafted too; NT Wendell Bryant was a 1st round bust in Arizona a few years ago, and QB Brooks Bollinger had spent the past few seasons with the Jets, Vikings, and Cowboys. They even found a former UW-La Crosse football player; DB Jeremy Unertl.

Former Cardinals Wendell Bryant, Oliver Celestin and Bo Schobel (Among Others) Find New Home in the UFL

Hawkwind — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:48:34 -0000

The upstart United Football League held it's innagural 'draft' last night and each of the four teams selected the rights to 24 players. Now this doesn't necessarily mean these guys have agreed or committed to playing in the league but it means that if they do decide to enter the UFL, the team that drafted them holds their rights. The league is contacting the players and hopes that they will be able to announce contract signings in the upcoming weeks.

The list of players that were drafted is littered with a handful of noticeable names like Adam Archuleta, Brooks Bollinger, Chris Perry, Jermaine Wiggins, LaBrandon Toefield, Cecil Sapp and Marcus Fitzgerald (Larry's younger brother). There were also several players with Cardinal ties including former first round bust Wendell Bryant, safety Oliver Celestin, defensive end Bo Schobel, linebacker Brandon Moore, quarterback Shane Boyd and I'm sure there are one or two others that I missed. Celestin and Schobel were with the Cardinals as recent as last year during training camp and Celestin actually played in two games with the team before being cut to make room for Stephen Spach. Overall the league didn't make any significant waves like drafting Michael Vick or some other troubled NFL star as many predicted. Former Cardinals receiver David Boston also didn't hear his name called even though he was on the initial list of 'draft hopefuls.' Each team already had 20 players "protected" (which is what likely became of Boston) before the draft so effectively each of the four teams (New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, and San Francisco) have 44 players assigned to them with an expectation that rosters will be set at 50 for the regular season (six games played over 8 weeks with the Championship Game played the Friday after Thanksgiving).

The league says that the rosters will be tweaked during July and August as players are cut from NFL training camps and they hope to kick off their regular season in October. Their games will be televised on the Versus network but at least former Cardinals coach Dennis Green won't be too far away in San Francisco.

Obama's Economic Stimulus Plan Works! Former Redskins Adam Archuleta Finds a Job (with UFL)

KevinE — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:15:15 -0000

Does Jennifer Walcott's Dad Own A UFL Team? I'm not sure either, but the UFL draft was held last night and many former "big" name NFL players were drafted, most notably, our beloved Adam Archuleta. Bruce from Baltimore Beatdown must be so proud!!! I don't know the details of the contract, but the former bust Redskin was drafted by the Las Vegas TBDs, coached by Jim Fassell (Gene Hackman) and QB'd by...wait for it...J.P. Losman! The first thing that comes to mind for me with the UFL is Shane Falco.

Other notables drafted, so you can get a jump up on your UFL fantasy team, are: Jermaine Wiggins, Labrandon Toefield, Brooks Bollinger, Chris Perry, and BJ Sams. I'm not gonna lie, I'm really disappointed Jeff George is not on the list.

Images via media3.washingtonpost.com, a.espncdn.com

The Universal Football League is Here. . .Feel the Excitement!

Gonzo — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:09:07 -0000

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, professional football's latest attempt to compete with the National Football League will be kicking off their season in October 2009, and they held their premiere draft for the league last night. Each of the four franchises (Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, San Francisco) selected 24 players to build their franchise around, and there are a few names on the list that should be fairly familiar to Vikings fans.

If you want to base your NFL cheering preferences on which team has the most former Vikings on the roster (at this point, anyway). . .it looks like the Orlando franchise is the one for you. Among their new additions are QB Brooks Bollinger, S Mike Doss, and TE Jermaine Wiggins. They aren't the only Viking alumni in the new league, however. Former Vikings' coach Denny Green will be the head coach of the San Francisco franchise, and former Vikings' defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell will be the head coach in Las Vegas (Jim Haslett and Jim Fassel will coach Orlando and Las Vegas, respectively).

The other former Vikings player in the UFL at this time is DB Oliver Celestin, who I know spent a season or two on the practice squad with the Vikings, but I'm not sure he ever made the big club. Marcus Fitzgerald, the younger brother of Larry that the Vikings took a look at after the draft, is a member of the San Francisco roster. With only about half of each team's 50-man roster filled out to this point, I'm sure we'll be seeing more Minnesota alumni popping up in the league as they progress towards their kickoff in October.

I'm not sure how wise an idea it is to try to go head-to-head with the NFL during their season, but the UFL might be worth a look. With only four teams for now, there won't be a lot of match-up variety or anything, but if they're successful in their first season, I'm sure there will be more to come. No other league has been successful in America, however (see also: the USFL, the XFL, the WLAF), and the odds are certainly against the UFL at the start.