This is funy. Profootballtalk reports on a different side of ESPN's Len Pasquarelli and that Todd Pinkston's available
NEWS FLASH -- STINKSTON ON THE BLOCK
Less than a week after we posted a 48-second radio spot in which ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli nearly threatens to throw down with Penner and Mac of WFNZ in Charlotte after they dissed Eagles receiver Todd Pinkston, the P-man is once again declaring his man-love for the pad-wearing scarecrow by making a cannonball splash with the news that Pinkston and agent Joe Segal have received permission to seek a trade.
Stop the freakin' presses, baby. Stinkston is available!
The story isn't only on the ESPN.com NFL page, but as of this posting it's smack-dab in the middle of the ESPN.com front page. (Len now owes someone in the editorial department a huge favor.)
And Len takes his devotion to Pinkston and Segal to new heights by suggesting that "[a]t least two of the three receiver-needy franchises would likely view Pinkston as a starter, if he is healthy."
Would "likely" view Pinkston as a starter? "Likely"? (Gee, who's the source on that?)
Pinkston is expendable because the Eagles have acquired receiver Donte' Stallworth. And as Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported on Tuesday's Total Access, Pinkston will likely be cut unless the Eagles suffer an injury elsewhere on the depth chart at the wideout position.
We've already received a flood of e-mails from readers, who based on our past reports can see right through what Len is doing. He's trying to help out his pay Joel by propping up a Segal client whose NFL career is quickly swirling down the drain.
Pinkston? A starter? That's almost as funny as hearing Joey Sunshine say that college quarterbacks turned receiver can only be successful if they're short.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Patriots Play Hardball with Soft Handed Branch
Walter Anaruk
Field Position Sports Media
http://www.fieldposition.com
The Patriots are really sticking to their guns. They have given top receiver, fan favorite, and former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch permission to seek a trade. Now, given their restrictions on the trade, they obviously have no intention of letting Deion go. Instead, they have set the asking price at a first or high second-round draft pick. To make the deal even harder to consummate, they've given Deion to the end of the week to find a trade partner willing to offer the Patriots and acceptable deal. Clearly, Branch is meant to go nowhere.
Despite the best efforts of the front office in Foxboro, there are plenty of suitors for Branch. The Eagles were a top contender for Branch's services until they secured Donte Stallworth for a conditional fourth round draft pick and LB Mark Simoneau. The Bears were in the running for the speedy but completely and utterly handless Ashley Lelie but lost out in the three way trade consummated by Denver, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. The Bears sorely want a weapon to compliment Mushin Muhammad. Branch would easily become the primier receiver for the Bears. But the Bears are unwilling to part with a high draft pick. The Patriots plan is working.
Is any of this a suprise to anyone? Does the name Ty Law ring a bell? The Patriots also got done waxing the Washington Redskins, a playoff team last season, in a 41-0 shutout embarassment of a non-game. The fact that it is preseason my lessen the significance but not the strength of the message.
The Patriots are saying to Branch:
"We can win against anyone, anytime, anyway ... and with ANYONE."
Tom Brady is angry. Fans are angry. Branch is pragmatic, classy, and diplomatic about the whole situation. But the Patriots 'valuation' methods aside, isn't a receiver of Deion Branch's caliber worth more than a measley $1.05 million he earned last year? Especially when you consider that he only made that much AFTER a $500,000 incentive escalator almost doulbed his salary?
The Patriots are going to find that less and less of their players are going to buy into their team concept when the team elects to pay some players and play hardball with others. The point isn't that the Patriots should pay everyone more than their worth. But the point is that when some one is performing at a certain level, they deserve to be paid at that level. Especially when they've lived out the majority of their undervalued contract without complaint. This is not Terrell Owens holding out after one year into a $49 million deal.
For those who are saying that Branch is under contract and should just play, keep in mind that no contract in the NFL is guaranteed. The team can cut any player, any time, anywhere. The hold out is a player's only bargaining tool.
So the stand off is under way. Branch and Belichek/Pioli are standing on opposite sides of the street staring one another in the eye. Who will flinch? I hope it's the Patriots. I hope they can realize that you can't treat players like so many Topps trading cards and then tell them they are part of 'the family' and should buy into a 'team concept.' It's hypocritical and dehumanizing. Pay the man what he's worth. All hold outs are not created equal.
Field Position Sports Media
http://www.fieldposition.com
The Patriots are really sticking to their guns. They have given top receiver, fan favorite, and former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch permission to seek a trade. Now, given their restrictions on the trade, they obviously have no intention of letting Deion go. Instead, they have set the asking price at a first or high second-round draft pick. To make the deal even harder to consummate, they've given Deion to the end of the week to find a trade partner willing to offer the Patriots and acceptable deal. Clearly, Branch is meant to go nowhere.Despite the best efforts of the front office in Foxboro, there are plenty of suitors for Branch. The Eagles were a top contender for Branch's services until they secured Donte Stallworth for a conditional fourth round draft pick and LB Mark Simoneau. The Bears were in the running for the speedy but completely and utterly handless Ashley Lelie but lost out in the three way trade consummated by Denver, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. The Bears sorely want a weapon to compliment Mushin Muhammad. Branch would easily become the primier receiver for the Bears. But the Bears are unwilling to part with a high draft pick. The Patriots plan is working.
Is any of this a suprise to anyone? Does the name Ty Law ring a bell? The Patriots also got done waxing the Washington Redskins, a playoff team last season, in a 41-0 shutout embarassment of a non-game. The fact that it is preseason my lessen the significance but not the strength of the message.
The Patriots are saying to Branch:
"We can win against anyone, anytime, anyway ... and with ANYONE."
Tom Brady is angry. Fans are angry. Branch is pragmatic, classy, and diplomatic about the whole situation. But the Patriots 'valuation' methods aside, isn't a receiver of Deion Branch's caliber worth more than a measley $1.05 million he earned last year? Especially when you consider that he only made that much AFTER a $500,000 incentive escalator almost doulbed his salary?
The Patriots are going to find that less and less of their players are going to buy into their team concept when the team elects to pay some players and play hardball with others. The point isn't that the Patriots should pay everyone more than their worth. But the point is that when some one is performing at a certain level, they deserve to be paid at that level. Especially when they've lived out the majority of their undervalued contract without complaint. This is not Terrell Owens holding out after one year into a $49 million deal.
For those who are saying that Branch is under contract and should just play, keep in mind that no contract in the NFL is guaranteed. The team can cut any player, any time, anywhere. The hold out is a player's only bargaining tool.
So the stand off is under way. Branch and Belichek/Pioli are standing on opposite sides of the street staring one another in the eye. Who will flinch? I hope it's the Patriots. I hope they can realize that you can't treat players like so many Topps trading cards and then tell them they are part of 'the family' and should buy into a 'team concept.' It's hypocritical and dehumanizing. Pay the man what he's worth. All hold outs are not created equal.
Katrina - Bush Says Government Will Better Respond; What About New Orleans?
President Bush says that the United States' government will better respond to hurricane disasters in the future, but what about today? New Orleans is a total mess.
I just saw Spike Lee on The Charlie Rose show, and it was a great interview. Of course it was about his documentary on the government's response to Katrina. Lee said that "someone should be thrown in jail" for the mess the government left down there to this day.
President Bush, perhaps?
I just saw Spike Lee on The Charlie Rose show, and it was a great interview. Of course it was about his documentary on the government's response to Katrina. Lee said that "someone should be thrown in jail" for the mess the government left down there to this day.
President Bush, perhaps?
2006 Emmy Awards - Video Of "Lost" Opening
The 2006 Emmy Awards was notable for this opening segment that mocked the plane crash that was the basis for the story line of "Lost."
Since it happened right after a major plane crash, many questioned NBC's wisdom in producing it.
Here it is:
Since it happened right after a major plane crash, many questioned NBC's wisdom in producing it.
Here it is:
Raiders Try USC's Darnell Bing At Outside Linebacker - Randy Johnson For Press Telegram
This is one reason why the Raiders Defense is younger and faster -- moving the former safety to linebacker. Check out the video on Bing at USC.
Darnell Bing changing his spot
Raiders like what they see in rookie 'linebacker'
By Randy Johnson, Special to the Press-Telegram
NAPA - He was a two-time national champion at USC, a menacing strong safety known for big plays and bigger hits.
Now he's a rookie fourth-round draft pick fighting for playing time with established Oakland Raiders veterans, and he's being asked to learn how to play outside linebacker on the fly.
Welcome to the National Football League, Darnell Bing.
So does he drift back to his Pop Warner career in Long Beach or high school days at Poly to remember how to play the position?
Nope, he can't.
"I've never played linebacker before in my life," Bing said with a smile following a recent training camp practice at Redwood Middle School, in the wine country that is Napa Valley.
"It's just another challenge for me to go out there and go hard and compete."
Still, Raiders coach Art Shell is pleased with Bing's progress in learning the new spot.
"Darnell, like all the rest of the guys, is working his tail off to become a better football player," Shell said. "He's making the transition from strong safety to outside linebacker in a big way. I expect good things and big things from him down the road."
Bing has been working
Darnell Bing of Poly High played safety with USC, but he has been moved to linebacker with the Oakland Raiders in his rookie season in the NFL.
(Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)
with the second-team defense in recent workouts, shucking his No. 20 college jersey for a more linebacker-like No. 59.
And while his listed dimensions of 6-foot-2, 230 pounds made him a really big safety at USC, they leave him as one of the smallest linebackers on the Raiders' roster.
But, football is football, and Bing is adjusting well according to linebackers coach Don Martindale.
"I think he's doing a great job and he's right on schedule," said Martindale. "Each day he gets better, and anywhere he makes a mistake he comes back and corrects it. He's doing a heck of a job for us. He's a good, tough, physical kid."
While at Poly, Bing was named to numerous national teams, including the prestigious Parade All-American team in 2001, and was a part of three CIF Division I championship teams that combined to go 39-1-1.
He was also named to the first team of the Press-Telegram's Dream Team and Best in the West team.
At USC, Bing was a First-Team All-American and All-Pac 10 Conference pick with the Trojans in 2005. He returned four interceptions for 119 yards last season, including one score, and recorded 50 tackles.
As far as his own assessment of making the switch thus far, Bing was more reserved.
"It's going pretty good. I'm making some plays here and there, and I'm getting my keys down, so I'd say it's going pretty well."
Though a position change may be an uncomfortable proposition for most incoming players, Bing was perhaps more NFL-ready based on who he practiced against every day at USC.
Bing lined up against fellow 2006 draft picks like Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, as well as Titans rookie running back LenDale White.
"Of course. They're all wonderful players, so I'd say being at 'SC helped a lot," he said.
Darnell Bing changing his spot
Raiders like what they see in rookie 'linebacker'
By Randy Johnson, Special to the Press-Telegram
NAPA - He was a two-time national champion at USC, a menacing strong safety known for big plays and bigger hits.
Now he's a rookie fourth-round draft pick fighting for playing time with established Oakland Raiders veterans, and he's being asked to learn how to play outside linebacker on the fly.
Welcome to the National Football League, Darnell Bing.
So does he drift back to his Pop Warner career in Long Beach or high school days at Poly to remember how to play the position?
Nope, he can't.
"I've never played linebacker before in my life," Bing said with a smile following a recent training camp practice at Redwood Middle School, in the wine country that is Napa Valley.
"It's just another challenge for me to go out there and go hard and compete."
Still, Raiders coach Art Shell is pleased with Bing's progress in learning the new spot.
"Darnell, like all the rest of the guys, is working his tail off to become a better football player," Shell said. "He's making the transition from strong safety to outside linebacker in a big way. I expect good things and big things from him down the road."
Bing has been working
Darnell Bing of Poly High played safety with USC, but he has been moved to linebacker with the Oakland Raiders in his rookie season in the NFL.
(Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)
with the second-team defense in recent workouts, shucking his No. 20 college jersey for a more linebacker-like No. 59.
And while his listed dimensions of 6-foot-2, 230 pounds made him a really big safety at USC, they leave him as one of the smallest linebackers on the Raiders' roster.
But, football is football, and Bing is adjusting well according to linebackers coach Don Martindale.
"I think he's doing a great job and he's right on schedule," said Martindale. "Each day he gets better, and anywhere he makes a mistake he comes back and corrects it. He's doing a heck of a job for us. He's a good, tough, physical kid."
While at Poly, Bing was named to numerous national teams, including the prestigious Parade All-American team in 2001, and was a part of three CIF Division I championship teams that combined to go 39-1-1.
He was also named to the first team of the Press-Telegram's Dream Team and Best in the West team.
At USC, Bing was a First-Team All-American and All-Pac 10 Conference pick with the Trojans in 2005. He returned four interceptions for 119 yards last season, including one score, and recorded 50 tackles.
As far as his own assessment of making the switch thus far, Bing was more reserved.
"It's going pretty good. I'm making some plays here and there, and I'm getting my keys down, so I'd say it's going pretty well."
Though a position change may be an uncomfortable proposition for most incoming players, Bing was perhaps more NFL-ready based on who he practiced against every day at USC.
Bing lined up against fellow 2006 draft picks like Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, as well as Titans rookie running back LenDale White.
"Of course. They're all wonderful players, so I'd say being at 'SC helped a lot," he said.
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