Seven & Out – Week #13

Seven & Out – Week #13

By Michael – Louis Ingram Director of Scouting Services/Associate Editor Football Reporters Online

BASN/FRO



PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO) – We devote this issue of 7&Out to the Cincinnati Bengals; the NFL’s most improved team (and Tiger Woods’ unofficial favorite squad).

Cincy’s former Puddy Tats have some serious growl goin’ on, and are poised to win their division; but while Big Cats can maul you (as our favorite Cablinasian found out) a little pussy can REALLY hurt you!

Alright, new shooter comin’ out…



For the first time in NFL history, there are two 12-0 teams in the same season. The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, who clinched the AFC South last week, improved to 12-0 with a 27-17 win over Tennessee. The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS reached the 12-0 mark for the first time in franchise history with a 33-30 overtime victory at Washington. With the win, New Orleans also clinched the NFC South.




(This is one time when the South should rise, according to the talent of the aforementioned teams).




The Colts have now won 21 consecutive regular-season games, tying the 2006-08 New England Patriots for the longest streak in NFL history.



(But don’t mention that head coach who’s responsible for it. Jim Caldwell is Coach of the Year – or you can get rid of the fucking award – forever).




Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE has now played in 283 consecutive regular-season games, passing Vikings legend JIM MARSHALL for the longest consecutive game streak in NFL history by a non-kicker/punter. New York Giants punter JEFF FEAGLES has played in an NFL-record 348 consecutive regular-season games, including today’s 31-24 win over Dallas.



(And as the League gets a collective hard-on behind this, why isn’t Jim Marshall in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?)




The CINCINNATI BENGALS improved to 9-3 with a 23-13 win over Detroit. The Bengals’ nine victories are an eight-win improvement over last season (1-10-1) through the first 12 games. Cincinnati is tied with the 1963 Oakland Raiders (0-12 in 1962; 8-4 in 1963) and the 1999 Indianapolis Colts (2-10 in 1998; 10-2 in 1999) for the best win improvement through 12 games from one season to the next in NFL history.




(I did! I did see a Puddy Tat!!! Bengals have earned their stripes).




Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING threw for 270 yards and one touchdown in the Colts’ 27-17 win against Tennessee. Manning has 3,685 passing yards and 25 touchdowns this season. He is the first player all-time to pass for at least 3,500 yards in 12 consecutive seasons and is also the first player in NFL history to throw at least 25 touchdown passes in 12 seasons in a row.




(In or out of Peyton’s Place, Manning is a joy to watch; and Drew Brees couldn’t carry his left testicle).




Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 113 yards in a 27-17 loss against Indianapolis. Johnson leads the NFL with 1,509 rushing yards and became only the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 1,500 yards in his team’s first 12 games. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN, WALTER PAYTON and O.J. SIMPSON and former Denver running back TERRELL DAVIS as the only players to accomplish the feat.




(Now those are REAL yards – see how many tailbacks show up with 1500 after 14 games and you’ll see what I’m talkin’ about).





San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON rushed for a touchdown in the Chargers’ 30-23 win against Cleveland. Tomlinson, who has scored 150 total touchdowns (135 rushing, 15 receiving) in 137 career games, is the fastest player in NFL history to reach 150 total TDs. Tomlinson joinedJERRY RICE and EMMITT SMITH as the only players to score 150 career touchdowns...




(In spite of his front office’s efforts to further disrespect him. LT, that’s the way to tell A.J. Smith to kiss dat black azz).




Tomlinson rushed for 64 yards against the Browns and has 12,321 career rushing yards. He passed MARSHALL FAULK (12,279) and Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN (12,312) to move into eighth place all-time.




(Hopefully L.T. will be moving on to an organization that actually appreciates him).





New England wide receiver RANDY MOSS had 66 receiving yards in the Patriots’ 22-21 loss at Miami. Moss has 1,058 receiving yards this year and joined JERRY RICE (14) as the only players in NFL history to record 10 1,000-yard seasons.




(A modicum of consistency, skill and talent; imagine what numbers he really could’ve put up if Oakland had a team when he played there!)



And as always, once the point is established, roll a seven – you’re gonna crap out!



mike@footballreportersonline.com

Seven & Out – Week #12

Seven & Out – Week #12
By Michael – Louis Ingram
BASN/FRO
 
PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO): We interrupt this Seven & Out to throw down on some thanks -and some giving; and a reminder that there is a place for all God’s creatures – right next to the mashed sweet potatoes, collard greens and gravy!!!
 
(Burp – excuse me);
 
Okay, hand me a napkin – new shooter coming out…
 
 
DUELING DUOS:  A record that hadn’t been topped since 1964 was surpassed twice on Sunday.  The Chicago Bears tandem of wide receiver JOHNNY MORRIS (77) and Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end MIKE DITKA (59) combined for 136 catches through the first 10 games of the 1964 season.  In 1995, the Detroit Lions wide receiver duo of HERMAN MOORE (73) and BRETT PERRIMAN (63) equaled that total.
 
(Somewhere Wayne Fontes is smiling; and the police are still looking for Scott Mitchell – for stealing that money that should’ve gone to getting Barry Sanders some real help!)
 
 
 
During the Indianapolis Colts’ 17-15 win against Baltimore in yesterday’s 1:00 PM ET game, wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE (76 catches through 10 games) and DALLAS CLARK (65) combined for eight catches, establishing a record of 141 combined catches through the first 10 games of the season.
 
(Everyone knows he’s good; but no one ever says how great Reggie Wayne really is!)
 
 
Later on Sunday, the New England Patriots wide receiver combo of WES WELKER (79) and RANDY MOSS (63) combined for 20 catches in a 31-14 win over the New York Jets in a 4:15 PM ET contest, giving the pair 142 combined receptions through 10 games to surpass the hours-old record set earlier in the day by Wayne-Clark.
 
 
(If he hasn’t already, Welker should name his first/next kid Randy)
 
 
The most combined receptions by teammates in the first 10 games of a season in NFL history:
 
TEAM
PLAYERS (RECEPTIONS)
COMBINED REC.
2009 New England Patriots
WR Wes Welker (79) & WR Randy Moss (63)
142
2009 Indianapolis Colts
WR Reggie Wayne (76) & TE Dallas Clark (65)
141
1964 Chicago Bears        
WR Johnny Morris (77) & TE Mike Ditka (59)
136
1995 Detroit Lions
WR Herman Moore (73) & WR Brett Perriman (63)
136
2007 Cincinnati Bengals
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (76) & WR Chad Ochocinco (59)
135
1994 Minnesota Vikings
WR Cris Carter (77) & WR Jake Reed (58)
135
 
 
 
MANNING STREAK CONTINUES:  Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING passed for 299 yards against Baltimore.  Manning, who has 3,171 passing yards this year, has now thrown for at least 3,000 yards in 12 consecutive seasons, the most to start a career in NFL history.
 
 
(The best just keep getting better…)
 
 
SUCCESS ON THE ROAD:  Three teams successfully defended their undefeated road records yesterday to improve to 5-0 away from home: Arizona (21-13 win at St. Louis), Indianapolis (17-15 win at Baltimore) and New Orleans (38-7 win at Tampa Bay). 
 
 
(Give Arizona credit for doing a 180 degree turnabout on road games; they’ve gone from terrible – to terror…)
 
 
With three 5-0 road teams, the 2009 season is now tied for the most ever.  There have been three other seasons in which three teams started 5-0 on the road (1983, 2001, 2007).  All three of this year’s 5-0 road teams are in first place in their respective divisions.
 
(But I see only one of those teams in Miami come February – The Indianapolis Colts)
 
 
DRIVE TIME UPDATE:  Sustaining drives on offense has long been an indicator of NFL success.  This year, the top five NFL offenses in yards per drive have a combined record of 40-10 (.800).  Four of those five teams currently sit atop their respective divisions – Indianapolis, New England, New Orleans, and Dallas.
 
 
The NFL’s two remaining undefeated teams, the Colts (36.9 yards per drive) and Saints (34.7), rank first and third in the category.
 
 
The top NFL offenses in average yards per drive in 2009:
 
TEAM
AVG. YARDS PER DRIVE
RECORD
Indianapolis Colts*  
36.9
10-0
New England Patriots*   
36.2
7-3
New Orleans Saints*  
34.7
10-0
Pittsburgh Steelers
34.2
6-4
Dallas Cowboys*  
34.0
7-3
* Division leader
 
 
 
T-WHOA!:  Buffalo wide receiver TERRELL OWENS posted a season-high 197 receiving yards in the Bills’ 18-15 loss at Jacksonville.  Owens’ 98-yard touchdown reception, the longest in team history, gives him 25 career 50-yard touchdowns from scrimmage (rushing or receiving), tying him with Pro Football Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE for the fourth-most in NFL history.
 
 
(Yet we know scumbags like Skip Bayless constantly lobby against Owens and his inevitable first ballot inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Again – the man has never committed any criminal offense, but is made a caricature by the likes of invertebrates like Bayless & Ed Werder, who Owens said was a straight up liar; and was not proven to be wrong; one can only imagine the discussion in that smoke-filled room!)
 
 
The players with the most 50-yard touchdowns from scrimmage (rushing or receiving) in NFL history:
 
PLAYER
50-YARD TDs
Jerry Rice
36
Randy Moss*
27
Lance Alworth
27
Terrell Owens*
25
Lenny Moore
25
* Active
 
 
 
 
WHAT A CATCH:  New England wide receiver WES WELKER had 15 catches for 192 yards in the Patriots’ 31-14 win over the New York Jets.  Welker has 302 receptions in his first 40 games with the Patriots and is the first player in NFL history to record 300 catches in the first 40 games with a new team.  The previous record for the most receptions in a player’s first 40 games with a new team was 269 by Denver’s LIONEL TAYLOR. 
 
The players with the most receptions in their first 40 games with a new team (rookies and veterans):
 
PLAYER
TEAM
RECEPTIONS
WR Wes Welker
Patriots
302
WR Lionel Taylor
Broncos
269
WR Anquan Boldin
Cardinals
259
WR Terance Mathis
Falcons
239
RB Marshall Faulk
Rams
228
WR Tom Fears
Rams
228
 
 
 
 
(Here’s the unfairness in it all; some fantasy football asswipe will make a case for Welker as a HOF receiver; but won’t do the research to make a similar argument for Harold Carmichael, Harold Jackson – or Lionel Taylor).
 
 
 
As always, gang – once the point is made, don’t throw a seven – or you will…crap out!
 

Seven & Out – Week #10

Seven & Out – Week #10

By Michael – Louis Ingram-Associate Editor/Director of Scouting Football Reporters Online/ Contributing Writer-Black Athlete.com

 
PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO): The teams are approaching the top of the stretch, and as always, it will be not a matter of how one starts; but how one finishes.
Meanwhile, let’s get back to rollin’ those bones. Alright, shooter - the point is 10;
 
The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS defeated the St. Louis Rams 28-23 and improved to 9-0 for the first time in franchise history.  The Saints have scored an NFL-best 331 points, the fourth-most by a team in the first nine games of a season in NFL history.
 
 
(As the legions of fantasy fondlers masturbate at the sound of his name, I can’t find fault with 9-0; however, I can find fault with a contemptible punk like Drew Brees, who had the nerve to say the Old School retired players who helped him become a millionaire didn’t matter. With the overall offensive talent the Saints have, just about any QB could be successful with them now. So point blank – win some games in December, and a playoff game or two, and then we’ll talk. Until then, fuck Drew Brees - and the hobbyhorse he rode in on!)
 
 
Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 132 yards in the Titans’ 41-17 win against the Buffalo Bills.   Johnson, who leads the NFL with 1,091 rushing yards and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN (1963) and Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON (2007) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and average 6.4 yards per carry in a team’s first nine games of a season.
 
 
(We love Chris Johnson and the way he plays; but we have issues with the mainstream press ignoring Vince Young going 3-0 since reclaiming the starting spot; not, mind you, at the behest of head coach Jeff Fisher, but team owner Bud Adams. Hmmm - maybe the bird flipped by Adams after the victory over Buffalo wasn’t for the Bills’ fans after all).
 
 
San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 31-23 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tomlinson recorded his 145th and 146th career touchdown and surpassed MARCUS ALLEN (145) for the third-most touchdowns all-time (JERRY RICE, 208; EMMITT SMITH, 175).  Tomlinson, who now has 12,145 career rushing yards also moved into 12th place for most rushing yards all-time.
 
 
(And, while Tomlinson is still being unappreciated in San Diego, Andy Reid and the Eagles continue to bitch up in prime time with their spineless approach on offense; I would rather have my defense go first and 10 from the opposition’s one yard line with no points scored than kick a fucking 8 yard field goal! Meanwhile 24 carries and two rushing touchdowns for L.T. and a game where Donovan McNabb threw for 450 yards, a career record – but still loses the fucking game - Lies, damn lies – and statistics; need I say any more?)
 
 
Arizona quarterback KURT WARNER threw two touchdown passes in the Cardinals’ 31-20 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.  Warner, who now has 200 touchdown passes, reached the mark in his 118th career game, becoming the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. 
 
 
(While Warner is a good guy, let’s remember that the throw means nothing – without the catch. Give Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston and Ben Patrick some love, too!)
 
 
Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE passed for a season-high 344 yards in his 300th consecutive start (including postseason) in a 27-10 win over the Detroit Lions.  Favre’s 344 yards are the third-most passing yards in a game by a 40-year old quarterback in NFL history.  He trails only Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON (409 on October 26, 1997) and VINNY TESTAVERDE (355 on September 12, 2004).
 
 
(While Favre continues to rack up accolades, we know it took Testaverde at least a decade before he became a successful pro quarterback, and Moon was a star walking in the door.  As Minnesota seeks to fine-tune their potential for post-season success, they would do well to remember that #4 may make the noise, but #28 does the damage. Forget Adrian Peterson – and you can forget Miami; no matter how much swashbuckling is done).
 
 
Buffalo rookie safety JAIRUS BYRD registered his eighth interception of the season today against Tennessee.  Byrd has an interception in five consecutive games and is one of only two players since 1970 with an interception in five consecutive games in their first season in the NFL.  The other was Kansas City’s ERIC HARRIS in 1980 (six in a row).
 
 
(With all the noise made about young talent on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of defensive talent is taking a back seat due to the lack of publicity. Byrd has already proven to be a skilled ball hawk as a Buffalo Bill {like father, like son, right Gil?} and is a likely free agent prize-in-waiting should he remain healthy in a couple years; and Byrd is my front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Don’t let this one get away, Mr. Wilson!)
 
 
In a 41-17 win over Buffalo, Tennessee Titans head coach JEFF FISHER became the 10th head coach in NFL history to coach 250 career games (regular and postseason) with one team.  The Titans’ victory gives Fisher 136 wins for his career, tying him with Hall of Famer HANK STRAM for 20th all-time.
 
 
(They should subtract the 21 games Vince Young has won; since Fisher never wanted him quarterbacking his team in the first place. Rest assured, if he’s going to win any more games for the Titans, it will be with Young under center, if he knows what’s good for him).
 
 
 
Well, as always – once the point’s established, if you throw a seven, you’re gonna crap out!
 
 

 
mike@footballreportersonline.com