Tuesday, September 12, 2006
9-11 Video Of Planes Crashing Into World Trade Center
I know this is hard to see, but how the World Trade Center came to end is now a part of our history -- a large part.
Seattle Tuffs Out A Win Over The Lions
The Lions have some of the same pass blocking problems faced by the Oakland Raiders. But they have a stout defense and a more creative passing system.
Brown's FGs carry Seahawks over Lions
NFL.com wire reports
DETROIT (Sept. 10, 2006) -- The Seattle Seahawks got to celebrate at Ford Field -- seven months too late.
On the turf where Seattle lost the Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Josh Brown kicked a 42-yard field goal on the last play of the game to lift the Seahawks to a 9-6 victory over the Detroit Lions.
When the game ended, the Seahawks jumped around, hugged and shouted.
"I'm ready to pass out. That's fun," Brown said on the field after a teammate jubilantly lifted him off the ground. "This is exactly the way I would like to start the season."
Perhaps only a kicker could enjoy a game with five field goals and no touchdowns.
The defending NFC champions, who led the NFL in scoring last season, put together a key drive when they needed it after a sluggish day behind a shaky offensive line.
Seattle started the game-winning drive at their 20 with 3:13 left after Lions' new coach Rod Marinelli decided against a long field-goal attempt.
Maurice Morris set up the game-winning kick with a 17-yard run, one of his three carries, spelling last year's league MVP Shaun Alexander.
Seattle defensive end Bryce Fisher said it was not an ugly win.
"I've never seen one," Fisher said. "It's like an ugly baby -- you never see one."
The Lions blocked two field-goal attempts in the first 17½ minutes of the lackluster game to give them a chance to pick up a surprising victory in the season opener.
Despite two blocked FGs, Josh Brown celebrates the game-winner as time expired.
Marinelli, a head coach for the first time at any level, said he didn't regret his late-game decision that many will second guess.
The Lions drove to Seattle's 37, but Marinelli chose to punt instead of allowing Jason Hanson to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Nick Harris then sailed the punt beyond the end zone.
"We were playing dominating defense at that point and I was hoping to back them up again and get another shot," Marinelli said.
Hanson acknowledged that it's a tough call for a coach to make.
"I'd like to think I can step out there and make a 55-yarder, and if I do, we have a good chance to win," Hanson said. "But if I don't, they only need one first down to get into field-goal range."
On Detroit's previous two possessions, Hanson made it 6-all with a 37-yard field goal with 7:05 left after being short on a 52-yard kick that he said was tipped at the line.
Marinelli spent the previous 10 seasons coaching Tampa Bay's defensive line and coached the unit in place of Joe Cullen, who was arrested twice recently on suspicion of drunken driving and because police say he was driving nude. Cullen will be back to coach in the next game at Chicago, Marinelli said.
Detroit's defensive front gave the Seattle's offensive line problems, perhaps because it missed Steve Hutchinson, who signed with Minnesota as a free agent.
The Lions sacked Matt Hasselbeck five times, hurried him a few more times and knocked him around on several other attempts. Detroit also limited Alexander to 51 yards on 19 carries. Hasselbeck was 25 of 30 for 210 yards.
"It's not good enough," Marinelli said. "I'm not interested in just playing hard and well."
Detroit's Jon Kitna, who replaced Joey Harrington, was 21 of 37 for 229 yards and was booed at times for making poor throws.
"We will be fine on offense," Kitna said. "We'll score and hold up our end."
Harrington, the third pick overall in 2002, was traded in the offseason to Miami.
The Seahawks got off to a rough start with two blocked field goals and a fumble on their first three drives. Shaun Rogers knocked down Seattle's field goal on the opening drive, the eighth blocked field goal of his career, and James Hall blocked the other attempt
Hanson put the Lions ahead 3-0 on their first possession with a 44-yard kick.
The Seahawks tied the game midway through the second quarter on Brown's 20-yarder and his 51-yard field goal at the end of the half put them ahead 6-3.
Brown's FGs carry Seahawks over Lions
NFL.com wire reports
DETROIT (Sept. 10, 2006) -- The Seattle Seahawks got to celebrate at Ford Field -- seven months too late.
On the turf where Seattle lost the Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Josh Brown kicked a 42-yard field goal on the last play of the game to lift the Seahawks to a 9-6 victory over the Detroit Lions.
When the game ended, the Seahawks jumped around, hugged and shouted.
"I'm ready to pass out. That's fun," Brown said on the field after a teammate jubilantly lifted him off the ground. "This is exactly the way I would like to start the season."
Perhaps only a kicker could enjoy a game with five field goals and no touchdowns.
The defending NFC champions, who led the NFL in scoring last season, put together a key drive when they needed it after a sluggish day behind a shaky offensive line.
Seattle started the game-winning drive at their 20 with 3:13 left after Lions' new coach Rod Marinelli decided against a long field-goal attempt.
Maurice Morris set up the game-winning kick with a 17-yard run, one of his three carries, spelling last year's league MVP Shaun Alexander.
Seattle defensive end Bryce Fisher said it was not an ugly win.
"I've never seen one," Fisher said. "It's like an ugly baby -- you never see one."
The Lions blocked two field-goal attempts in the first 17½ minutes of the lackluster game to give them a chance to pick up a surprising victory in the season opener.
Despite two blocked FGs, Josh Brown celebrates the game-winner as time expired.
Marinelli, a head coach for the first time at any level, said he didn't regret his late-game decision that many will second guess.
The Lions drove to Seattle's 37, but Marinelli chose to punt instead of allowing Jason Hanson to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Nick Harris then sailed the punt beyond the end zone.
"We were playing dominating defense at that point and I was hoping to back them up again and get another shot," Marinelli said.
Hanson acknowledged that it's a tough call for a coach to make.
"I'd like to think I can step out there and make a 55-yarder, and if I do, we have a good chance to win," Hanson said. "But if I don't, they only need one first down to get into field-goal range."
On Detroit's previous two possessions, Hanson made it 6-all with a 37-yard field goal with 7:05 left after being short on a 52-yard kick that he said was tipped at the line.
Marinelli spent the previous 10 seasons coaching Tampa Bay's defensive line and coached the unit in place of Joe Cullen, who was arrested twice recently on suspicion of drunken driving and because police say he was driving nude. Cullen will be back to coach in the next game at Chicago, Marinelli said.
Detroit's defensive front gave the Seattle's offensive line problems, perhaps because it missed Steve Hutchinson, who signed with Minnesota as a free agent.
The Lions sacked Matt Hasselbeck five times, hurried him a few more times and knocked him around on several other attempts. Detroit also limited Alexander to 51 yards on 19 carries. Hasselbeck was 25 of 30 for 210 yards.
"It's not good enough," Marinelli said. "I'm not interested in just playing hard and well."
Detroit's Jon Kitna, who replaced Joey Harrington, was 21 of 37 for 229 yards and was booed at times for making poor throws.
"We will be fine on offense," Kitna said. "We'll score and hold up our end."
Harrington, the third pick overall in 2002, was traded in the offseason to Miami.
The Seahawks got off to a rough start with two blocked field goals and a fumble on their first three drives. Shaun Rogers knocked down Seattle's field goal on the opening drive, the eighth blocked field goal of his career, and James Hall blocked the other attempt
Hanson put the Lions ahead 3-0 on their first possession with a 44-yard kick.
The Seahawks tied the game midway through the second quarter on Brown's 20-yarder and his 51-yard field goal at the end of the half put them ahead 6-3.
Vikings Beat Redskins As Tom Cruise Watches
Tom Cruise was the guest of Redskins owner Dan Synder
Vikings outkick Redskins late 19-16
NFL.com wire reports
LANDOVER, Md. (Sept. 11, 2006) -- Two days before his 38th birthday, Brad Johnson was the one handing out a very nice present. In the locker room, the quarterback gave the game ball to new head coach Brad Childress, whose mission to transform the Minnesota Vikings is off to a winning start.
Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal with one minute remaining gave the Vikings a 19-16 victory against the Washington Redskins. For now, Childress has at least some temporary bragging rights over Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs.
"I am tremendously humble and was a little emotional after the game," Childress said. "I'm just happy for those guys in the locker room. ... They faced a lot of adversity tonight. It was an away game, a Monday night, Hall of Fame coach -- I'm just pleased with what they accomplished."
Johnson deserved much of the credit himself for doing what he has been doing throughout his NFL life: win, win and win some more.
He has won an impressive 61 percent (66 of 109) of his starts with four teams in his 15-year career -- including two years with the Redskins. He completed 16 of 30 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown, and kept bailing out his team, completing 10 of 15 passes on third down.
"That's Brad," center Matt Birk said. "He's just so smart, and he's obviously crafty to have played in the league this long."
The loss subdued a Washington crowd that turned the stadium into a sea of fluttering red, white and blue as they waved American flags to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Big things are expected of the Redskins this year, a confidence reflected in an attendance of 90,608 that set a new record for the largest stadium in the NFL. Even Hollywood made an appearance: Actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were guests of owner Dan Snyder, who has recently entered into a partnership with Cruise's production company.
Nothing in the sideshow helped the Redskins win. They did have a chance to send the game to overtime after Longwell's kick, but John Hall -- who has struggled with leg injuries for the past two years -- was wide left with a poorly hit 48-yard field goal attempt with 12 seconds remaining.
"There were some plays, yards and even some touchdowns that we left on the field," said Mark Brunell, who was 17-for-28 for 163 yards. "How far off we are I'm not quite sure yet, but I do know that we're a throw away, a block away and a run away from really doing some good things tonight."
Childress has vowed to change the culture of a Vikings team that was belittled last year following the infamous "Love Boat" party involving several players. He made a statement before the game by deactivating safety Dwight Smith, who was cited for indecent conduct two weeks ago.
Marcus Robinson beats Carlos Rogers for a 20-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
"A win is always good," receiver Troy Williamson said. "It's going to be even greater for Coach Childress."
Chester Taylor, the Vikings' free-agent signing from Baltimore, rushed 31 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, upstaging Clinton Portis' surprise return for Washington. Portis, who spent the week downplaying his chances for the game because of a shoulder injury, entered the game late during the Redskins' first drive and finished with 39 yards on 10 carries and scored his team's only touchdown.
A game that had no turnovers was decided with a winning Vikings drive that began at Minnesota's 33 with 5:34 remaining. A 13-yard pass to Williamson converted a key third down, and 15 yards were added to the play when Redskins safety Sean Taylor grabbed Williamson's face mask.
From there, Taylor carried five consecutive times to the Washington 13, forcing the Redskins to use all their timeouts before Longwell's winning kick.
The Vikings become the 10th road team to win in the NFL's opening weekend, the most in Week 1 since 1983, when there were 12 road winners.
"That just shows how battle-tested we are," said Minnesota safety Darren Sharper, who saved a touchdown by knocking the ball out of Santana Moss' hands in the end zone late in the first half. "That's what coach has expressed to us all camp -- he wants a hardened unit."
The Redskins sputtered as they unveiled a new offense designed by assistant coach Al Saunders. Saunders' arrival meant Gibbs wasn't calling plays for the first time in his head-coaching career, and the attack relied heavily on laterals and screens, making for some odd stats. At halftime, a receiver, Moss, led the team in rushing, while a running back, Ladell Betts, led the team in receptions.
"I think, obviously, we'd like to have more points," Gibbs said. "I don't think anybody in there from an offensive standpoint is satisfied."
Vikings outkick Redskins late 19-16
NFL.com wire reports
LANDOVER, Md. (Sept. 11, 2006) -- Two days before his 38th birthday, Brad Johnson was the one handing out a very nice present. In the locker room, the quarterback gave the game ball to new head coach Brad Childress, whose mission to transform the Minnesota Vikings is off to a winning start.
Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal with one minute remaining gave the Vikings a 19-16 victory against the Washington Redskins. For now, Childress has at least some temporary bragging rights over Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs.
"I am tremendously humble and was a little emotional after the game," Childress said. "I'm just happy for those guys in the locker room. ... They faced a lot of adversity tonight. It was an away game, a Monday night, Hall of Fame coach -- I'm just pleased with what they accomplished."
Johnson deserved much of the credit himself for doing what he has been doing throughout his NFL life: win, win and win some more.
He has won an impressive 61 percent (66 of 109) of his starts with four teams in his 15-year career -- including two years with the Redskins. He completed 16 of 30 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown, and kept bailing out his team, completing 10 of 15 passes on third down.
"That's Brad," center Matt Birk said. "He's just so smart, and he's obviously crafty to have played in the league this long."
The loss subdued a Washington crowd that turned the stadium into a sea of fluttering red, white and blue as they waved American flags to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Big things are expected of the Redskins this year, a confidence reflected in an attendance of 90,608 that set a new record for the largest stadium in the NFL. Even Hollywood made an appearance: Actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were guests of owner Dan Snyder, who has recently entered into a partnership with Cruise's production company.
Nothing in the sideshow helped the Redskins win. They did have a chance to send the game to overtime after Longwell's kick, but John Hall -- who has struggled with leg injuries for the past two years -- was wide left with a poorly hit 48-yard field goal attempt with 12 seconds remaining.
"There were some plays, yards and even some touchdowns that we left on the field," said Mark Brunell, who was 17-for-28 for 163 yards. "How far off we are I'm not quite sure yet, but I do know that we're a throw away, a block away and a run away from really doing some good things tonight."
Childress has vowed to change the culture of a Vikings team that was belittled last year following the infamous "Love Boat" party involving several players. He made a statement before the game by deactivating safety Dwight Smith, who was cited for indecent conduct two weeks ago.
Marcus Robinson beats Carlos Rogers for a 20-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
"A win is always good," receiver Troy Williamson said. "It's going to be even greater for Coach Childress."
Chester Taylor, the Vikings' free-agent signing from Baltimore, rushed 31 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, upstaging Clinton Portis' surprise return for Washington. Portis, who spent the week downplaying his chances for the game because of a shoulder injury, entered the game late during the Redskins' first drive and finished with 39 yards on 10 carries and scored his team's only touchdown.
A game that had no turnovers was decided with a winning Vikings drive that began at Minnesota's 33 with 5:34 remaining. A 13-yard pass to Williamson converted a key third down, and 15 yards were added to the play when Redskins safety Sean Taylor grabbed Williamson's face mask.
From there, Taylor carried five consecutive times to the Washington 13, forcing the Redskins to use all their timeouts before Longwell's winning kick.
The Vikings become the 10th road team to win in the NFL's opening weekend, the most in Week 1 since 1983, when there were 12 road winners.
"That just shows how battle-tested we are," said Minnesota safety Darren Sharper, who saved a touchdown by knocking the ball out of Santana Moss' hands in the end zone late in the first half. "That's what coach has expressed to us all camp -- he wants a hardened unit."
The Redskins sputtered as they unveiled a new offense designed by assistant coach Al Saunders. Saunders' arrival meant Gibbs wasn't calling plays for the first time in his head-coaching career, and the attack relied heavily on laterals and screens, making for some odd stats. At halftime, a receiver, Moss, led the team in rushing, while a running back, Ladell Betts, led the team in receptions.
"I think, obviously, we'd like to have more points," Gibbs said. "I don't think anybody in there from an offensive standpoint is satisfied."
San Diego Chargers 27, Oakland Raiders 0 - Monday Night Football
Chargers dominate Raiders 27-0
NFL.com wire reports
OAKLAND, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2006) -- LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman made Philip Rivers' job easy.
In his first NFL start, Rivers didn't do much more than hand the ball off and watch his defense dominate. He didn't have to: Tomlinson carried 31 times for 131 yards and one touchdown and the Chargers handed Oakland its second home shutout in a 27-0 victory against the Raiders.
"It was exciting," Rivers said. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time. ... I've said before, I don't care if I have to hand it off 50 times or throw it 50 times, as long as we win."
With much of the focus on Rivers as he replaces Drew Brees, Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer put the game in the hands of Tomlinson and his defense, spoiling Art Shell's first game back as Raiders coach.
"I was shocked," Shell said. "We didn't play well, as you could tell. We didn't have the intensity level that the San Diego Chargers did. I didn't get us prepared for this game."
San Diego beat the Raiders for the sixth consecutive time and shut them out for the first time in their past 90 regular-season meetings. When the Chargers won 44-0 in 1961, Al Davis was an assistant coach with San Diego.
Tomlinson showed little sign of rust after sitting out the entire preseason, topping 100 yards rushing in the second quarter. He has 837 yards rushing in his past six meetings with Oakland.
"When you have a young quarterback, you run the football a lot," Tomlinson said. "You don't ever want to put a young quarterback in a situation to make a turnover unless you have to. We played conservative and our defense was playing well so we had to ride our defense."
Rivers, who spent his first two seasons as a backup, went 8-for-11 for 108 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates in the fourth quarter that made it 20-0.
The Chargers ran the ball on 48 of 59 plays, and Rivers threw only two passes to wide receivers.
"That was dictated by the score," Schottenheimer said. "If I had Dan Marino, I would have done the same thing. Everything he was asked to do, he did in a winning fashion."
The Chargers' victory capped an opening weekend in the NFL in which 11 games were won by visiting teams, the most on opening weekend since 1983, when 12 teams did it. The Raiders joined Green Bay and Tampa Bay as home teams who failed to score in their openers as they had no answer for Merriman and the Chargers defense.
Merriman, the NFL’s top defensive rookie last season, had three of San Diego's nine sacks and the Chargers held the Raiders to 129 yards in Brooks' first game as quarterback. Brooks, who went 6-for-14 for 68 yards, was replaced in the fourth quarter by Andrew Walter.
"It was just a tough outing. They played better than us," Brooks said. "We're going to get better."
Shell was brought back to Oakland to turn the Raiders around after the worst three-year stretch in Davis' more than four decades with the franchise. But after one game it looked like the same old Raiders, who won 13 games over the past three seasons.
No matter where Aaron Brooks turned, Shawne Merriman seemed to be there.
The Raiders was shut out for the first time since a 30-0 loss to Kansas City on Dec. 7, 1997, and they hadn't been blanked at home since losing 17-0 to Denver on Oct. 4, 1981.
"They were getting kind of frustrated because we weren't giving the quarterback enough time," Merriman said. "They didn't have as much time to throw the ball as they wanted to. We made Aaron Brooks make decisions that he didn't want to make."
The Chargers ran the ball eight of nine times on the opening drive, with the only pass going to Tomlinson, as the Chargers moved 51 yards to set up Nate Kaeding's 47-yard field goal.
Tomlinson ran 58 yards on the first play of the second drive and capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.
Rivers didn't throw a ball to a receiver until the third drive, when he connected with Keenan McCardell on an 18-yard pass on third-and-8. Kaeding missed wide on a 42-yard field goal attempt, but Nnamdi Asomugha was called for running into the kicker and Kaeding made good on his second chance from 29 yards to make it 13-0.
The Raiders offense was booed by the sellout crowd only 12 minutes into the season. The revamped offensive line failed to create any running lanes for LaMont Jordan, who had 20 yards on 10 carries, or to protect Brooks.
Oakland's leading receiver in 2005, Jerry Porter, was inactive for the game as his standing on the team has dropped after demanding a trade at the start of training camp. He joked on the sidelines as the Raiders struggled to move the ball.
Brooks didn't even attempt a pass to Randy Moss in the game’s first 25 minutes. Moss had four catches for 47 yards.
NFL.com wire reports
OAKLAND, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2006) -- LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman made Philip Rivers' job easy.
In his first NFL start, Rivers didn't do much more than hand the ball off and watch his defense dominate. He didn't have to: Tomlinson carried 31 times for 131 yards and one touchdown and the Chargers handed Oakland its second home shutout in a 27-0 victory against the Raiders.
"It was exciting," Rivers said. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time. ... I've said before, I don't care if I have to hand it off 50 times or throw it 50 times, as long as we win."
With much of the focus on Rivers as he replaces Drew Brees, Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer put the game in the hands of Tomlinson and his defense, spoiling Art Shell's first game back as Raiders coach.
"I was shocked," Shell said. "We didn't play well, as you could tell. We didn't have the intensity level that the San Diego Chargers did. I didn't get us prepared for this game."
San Diego beat the Raiders for the sixth consecutive time and shut them out for the first time in their past 90 regular-season meetings. When the Chargers won 44-0 in 1961, Al Davis was an assistant coach with San Diego.
Tomlinson showed little sign of rust after sitting out the entire preseason, topping 100 yards rushing in the second quarter. He has 837 yards rushing in his past six meetings with Oakland.
"When you have a young quarterback, you run the football a lot," Tomlinson said. "You don't ever want to put a young quarterback in a situation to make a turnover unless you have to. We played conservative and our defense was playing well so we had to ride our defense."
Rivers, who spent his first two seasons as a backup, went 8-for-11 for 108 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates in the fourth quarter that made it 20-0.
The Chargers ran the ball on 48 of 59 plays, and Rivers threw only two passes to wide receivers.
"That was dictated by the score," Schottenheimer said. "If I had Dan Marino, I would have done the same thing. Everything he was asked to do, he did in a winning fashion."
The Chargers' victory capped an opening weekend in the NFL in which 11 games were won by visiting teams, the most on opening weekend since 1983, when 12 teams did it. The Raiders joined Green Bay and Tampa Bay as home teams who failed to score in their openers as they had no answer for Merriman and the Chargers defense.
Merriman, the NFL’s top defensive rookie last season, had three of San Diego's nine sacks and the Chargers held the Raiders to 129 yards in Brooks' first game as quarterback. Brooks, who went 6-for-14 for 68 yards, was replaced in the fourth quarter by Andrew Walter.
"It was just a tough outing. They played better than us," Brooks said. "We're going to get better."
Shell was brought back to Oakland to turn the Raiders around after the worst three-year stretch in Davis' more than four decades with the franchise. But after one game it looked like the same old Raiders, who won 13 games over the past three seasons.
No matter where Aaron Brooks turned, Shawne Merriman seemed to be there.
The Raiders was shut out for the first time since a 30-0 loss to Kansas City on Dec. 7, 1997, and they hadn't been blanked at home since losing 17-0 to Denver on Oct. 4, 1981.
"They were getting kind of frustrated because we weren't giving the quarterback enough time," Merriman said. "They didn't have as much time to throw the ball as they wanted to. We made Aaron Brooks make decisions that he didn't want to make."
The Chargers ran the ball eight of nine times on the opening drive, with the only pass going to Tomlinson, as the Chargers moved 51 yards to set up Nate Kaeding's 47-yard field goal.
Tomlinson ran 58 yards on the first play of the second drive and capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.
Rivers didn't throw a ball to a receiver until the third drive, when he connected with Keenan McCardell on an 18-yard pass on third-and-8. Kaeding missed wide on a 42-yard field goal attempt, but Nnamdi Asomugha was called for running into the kicker and Kaeding made good on his second chance from 29 yards to make it 13-0.
The Raiders offense was booed by the sellout crowd only 12 minutes into the season. The revamped offensive line failed to create any running lanes for LaMont Jordan, who had 20 yards on 10 carries, or to protect Brooks.
Oakland's leading receiver in 2005, Jerry Porter, was inactive for the game as his standing on the team has dropped after demanding a trade at the start of training camp. He joked on the sidelines as the Raiders struggled to move the ball.
Brooks didn't even attempt a pass to Randy Moss in the game’s first 25 minutes. Moss had four catches for 47 yards.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Raiders Should Fire Offensive Coordinator Tom Walsh - First Shut-Out Since 1982
FLASH: "Greatness Of The Raiders" may come to an end this season.
I've said this before,...
I attended the ESPN Monday Night Football telecast of the game between the Oakland Raiders at the San Diego Chargers. The only thing more horrible than the performance of Raiders offense was the racist young blonde man sitting next to me in Section 239, Row 6, Seat 11, and who had an issue that I was even sitting next to him, placing his knee in my space several times until I asked him to stop. I could have had him ejected from the Oakland Coliseum, and someone should have done the same for Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator Tom Walsh.
All of the problems I pointed to weeks earlier were there in full view once again for all to see. The Raiders were clobbered 27 to nothing and at home.
The result was nine -- count them -- nine sacks and the first shut-out of the Oakland Raiders at home since 1982.
People will rag on Robert Gallery, but it's not his fault at all. It's the offensive coaching staff -- the 1960s and 1970s offense with its "retreat" pass blocking techniques just doesn't work at all.
Terrell Owens Returns But Cowboys Lose To Jacksonville
T.O. played well, but he can't play defense for the Cowboys. Jacksonville was clearly the better team on this day.
Jags rally to ruin Owens' Dallas debut
NFL.com wire reports
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2006) -- Terrell Owens gave the Dallas Cowboys almost everything they wanted in the season opener: big plays, a touchdown and no surly behavior.
Byron Leftwich threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, Fred Taylor had 115 combined yards and the Jacksonville Jaguars spoiled Owens' much-anticipated Dallas debut with a 24-17 win Sunday.
"I was hoping he wouldn't even score a touchdown," said Taylor, who also had a 3-yard TD run with 3:13 to play.
Owens made his presence felt early and late. It was just too early to hurt the Jaguars and too late to help the Cowboys.
He finished with six receptions for 80 yards and a score, but the Jaguars held him without a catch through much of the second half. Still, Owens keyed all three of Dallas' scoring drives, including a 21-yard TD reception with 1:54 to play that cut the lead the 24-17.
Jacksonville recovered the onside kick and was forced to punt. The Cowboys got the ball back with 51 seconds to play, but Drew Bledsoe 's third-down pass was intercepted by linebacker Mike Peterson.
Byron Leftwich keyed the Jags' comeback, passing for one TD and running for another.
It was Bledsoe's third interception of the game and gave the Jaguars their ninth opening-day win in 12 seasons.
"Too many mistakes," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "We had our chances. We just couldn't get it all together there."
Dallas missed several chances, most of them early.
They scored on their first two possessions -- a touchdown and a field goal -- and were looking to make it 17-0 in the second quarter. But Bledsoe overthrew Owens, who was wide open near the goal line.
The Jaguars kicked a field goal on the ensuing possession. Then, instead of running out the clock after a holding penalty with less than two minutes to play in the first half, Bledsoe tried to throw downfield and was picked off for the first time.
Four plays later, Leftwich found Reggie Williams in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown that tied the game. Williams appeared to push Anthony Henry's head down before the ball arrived, but officials didn't throw a flag.
"Once we let them hang around, we started making mistakes and that's the story of the game," said Bledsoe, who 16-of-33 for 246 yards and was sacked twice.
Dallas had several other key miscues:
- Owens had a 25-yard reception negated in the third quarter by an offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Anthony Fasano.
- Jason Witten had a 10-yard TD catch nullified by offensive pass interference late in the third quarter. He pushed Rashean Mathis just before the ball arrived.
- Shaun Suisham, subbing for injured place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt, missed a 36-yard field goal two plays after Witten's penalty. The kick bounced off the right upright.
"I don't like coming in and starting with a loss, but by no means are we down on ourselves," said Owens, who said all the right things following his debut.
Owens was the catalyst for all three scores.
He had two catches on Dallas' opening touchdown drive and helped set up a field goal on the team's second possession. He ran a simple slant pattern on Dallas' first play from scrimmage, beat Mathis and gained 13 yards. He jumped up, slapped Bledsoe's hand and returned to the huddle with a big smile.
On the next possession, Owens drew extra coverage that allowed Jones to run wide open down the sideline for a 39-yard reception, setting up Suisham's 32-yard field goal.
"I thought he got us started pretty well early," Parcells said. "Made a big catch there at the end and gave us another chance. That's about it. It's disappointing. It really is."
Owens, benched by Philadelphia for the final nine games last season after griping about his contract and bickering publicly with quarterback Donovan McNabb, was released in March and signed with Dallas four days later. He missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, but vowed to be ready for the opener.
And he was, as the game started to look like it would become the T.O. Show. But the Jaguars adjusted and held Owens to just two catches in the second half while putting constant pressure on Bledsoe, who threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
"He was not about to run out there on my Jaguar," defensive tackle John Henderson said, referring to Owens' famed pose on the Dallas star when he played with San Francisco.
Jags rally to ruin Owens' Dallas debut
NFL.com wire reports
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2006) -- Terrell Owens gave the Dallas Cowboys almost everything they wanted in the season opener: big plays, a touchdown and no surly behavior.
Byron Leftwich threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, Fred Taylor had 115 combined yards and the Jacksonville Jaguars spoiled Owens' much-anticipated Dallas debut with a 24-17 win Sunday.
"I was hoping he wouldn't even score a touchdown," said Taylor, who also had a 3-yard TD run with 3:13 to play.
Owens made his presence felt early and late. It was just too early to hurt the Jaguars and too late to help the Cowboys.
He finished with six receptions for 80 yards and a score, but the Jaguars held him without a catch through much of the second half. Still, Owens keyed all three of Dallas' scoring drives, including a 21-yard TD reception with 1:54 to play that cut the lead the 24-17.
Jacksonville recovered the onside kick and was forced to punt. The Cowboys got the ball back with 51 seconds to play, but Drew Bledsoe 's third-down pass was intercepted by linebacker Mike Peterson.
Byron Leftwich keyed the Jags' comeback, passing for one TD and running for another.
It was Bledsoe's third interception of the game and gave the Jaguars their ninth opening-day win in 12 seasons.
"Too many mistakes," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "We had our chances. We just couldn't get it all together there."
Dallas missed several chances, most of them early.
They scored on their first two possessions -- a touchdown and a field goal -- and were looking to make it 17-0 in the second quarter. But Bledsoe overthrew Owens, who was wide open near the goal line.
The Jaguars kicked a field goal on the ensuing possession. Then, instead of running out the clock after a holding penalty with less than two minutes to play in the first half, Bledsoe tried to throw downfield and was picked off for the first time.
Four plays later, Leftwich found Reggie Williams in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown that tied the game. Williams appeared to push Anthony Henry's head down before the ball arrived, but officials didn't throw a flag.
"Once we let them hang around, we started making mistakes and that's the story of the game," said Bledsoe, who 16-of-33 for 246 yards and was sacked twice.
Dallas had several other key miscues:
- Owens had a 25-yard reception negated in the third quarter by an offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Anthony Fasano.
- Jason Witten had a 10-yard TD catch nullified by offensive pass interference late in the third quarter. He pushed Rashean Mathis just before the ball arrived.
- Shaun Suisham, subbing for injured place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt, missed a 36-yard field goal two plays after Witten's penalty. The kick bounced off the right upright.
"I don't like coming in and starting with a loss, but by no means are we down on ourselves," said Owens, who said all the right things following his debut.
Owens was the catalyst for all three scores.
He had two catches on Dallas' opening touchdown drive and helped set up a field goal on the team's second possession. He ran a simple slant pattern on Dallas' first play from scrimmage, beat Mathis and gained 13 yards. He jumped up, slapped Bledsoe's hand and returned to the huddle with a big smile.
On the next possession, Owens drew extra coverage that allowed Jones to run wide open down the sideline for a 39-yard reception, setting up Suisham's 32-yard field goal.
"I thought he got us started pretty well early," Parcells said. "Made a big catch there at the end and gave us another chance. That's about it. It's disappointing. It really is."
Owens, benched by Philadelphia for the final nine games last season after griping about his contract and bickering publicly with quarterback Donovan McNabb, was released in March and signed with Dallas four days later. He missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, but vowed to be ready for the opener.
And he was, as the game started to look like it would become the T.O. Show. But the Jaguars adjusted and held Owens to just two catches in the second half while putting constant pressure on Bledsoe, who threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
"He was not about to run out there on my Jaguar," defensive tackle John Henderson said, referring to Owens' famed pose on the Dallas star when he played with San Francisco.
YouTube - Lonelygirl15: Response To Renetto
Renetto posted this video, which I made a response to below:
Renetto:
Me:
The point is that online advertising is a huge industry that's influnced online video, infusing it with a new source of revenue and encouraging players large and small to make entertainment that will draw large numbers of viewers and thus ad revenue.
Renetto:
Me:
The point is that online advertising is a huge industry that's influnced online video, infusing it with a new source of revenue and encouraging players large and small to make entertainment that will draw large numbers of viewers and thus ad revenue.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Amanda Congdon Has A New Gig; What Is This??
Whatever former Rocketboom host Amanda Congdon's doing now, her blog doesn't reveal the details. But from this photo, it's obvious she's resurfaced in front of someone's camera, somewhere. We'll stay tuned.
Steelers Beat Dolphins Thursday Night Sept 7th - Video
I expected the Dolphins to win this game; I must admit I underestimated the Steelers ability to win with Charlie Batch. But he made the throws to win; here's one of them.
Steelers excel in fourth, beat Fins 28-17
NFL.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH (Sept. 7, 2006) -- Miami coach Nick Saban had the red challenge flag in his hand, hitched it forward and back, and couldn't seem to let it go in time. Maybe the Dolphins should flag their own coach for a costly delay.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller chugged his way down the sideline on an 87-yard touchdown pass play midway through the fourth quarter, fill-in QB Charlie Batch 's third scoring pass of the game, and the Super Bowl champions beat the Dolphins 28-17 in the NFL's first game of the season.
"It seemed like it took me forever to get there," Miller said.
For good reason.
Video highlights
Charlie Batch threw three TD passes to lead the Steelers to a 28-17 victory over the Dolphins.
56k | 300k
Postgame press conference
56k | 300k
Miller's score shouldn't have stood -- TV replays clearly showed his foot out of bounds between the 1 and 2-yard lines. However, Saban hesitated to throw his flag, which fell to the turf sight unseen as referee Walt Coleman watched the extra point kick. That meant the Steelers didn't have to try to get the ball into the end zone from short yardage.
Asked if he got in, Miller said, laughing, "Touchdown. Yeah."
Saban apparently thought he could throw the challenge flag at any time before Jeff Reed kicked the extra point, but no official saw him -- and thus, no replay. And no Dolphins upset, either, even though the Steelers didn't look particularly sharp in their first game that counted since the Super Bowl -- despite Willie Parker 's 115 yards rushing, Miller's 101 yards receiving and Batch's first three-TD game since Nov. 18, 2001, with Detroit.
"They said they didn't see it," Saban said. "Whose fault is that?"
Saban explained that assistant coaches in the press box first had to watch the replay before notifying him whether to challenge.
"We can't challenge something until we see it," he said. "When we saw it, I threw the flag. It was well before the kicker kicked it. The official said he didn't see it, and when he said he didn't see it, there was nothing he could do. That shouldn't happen."
Miami, down 21-17 at the time, had a chance to come back. But new quarterback Daunte Culpepper was intercepted on consecutive series, with linebacker Joey Porter scoring on a 42-yard return with about three minutes left.
"We knew we had put them in a situation where they had to pass the ball. I had my chance to make the play and I made it," Porter said.
Porter was so excited, he ran to the sideline and kissed coach Bill Cowher on the cheek -- the Steelers' first known sideline smooch since Cowher planted one on Kordell Stewart during a 1997 comeback victory in Baltimore.
The Dolphins, trying to build off the momentum of their six consecutive victories to end last season, never led until Ronnie Brown scored on a 5-yard run to make it 17-14 in the third quarter. Marty Booker, sidelined with what appeared to be a concussion in the first half, came back to make a 50-yard catch of Culpepper's pass, aided by safety Tyrone Carter's slip, to set up the score.
Charlie Batch fit in just fine, filling in for an injured 'Big Ben.'
"We were definitely in the driver's seat. We needed to stay focused and finish the ballgame out," said safety Renaldo Hill.
Culpepper was mostly effective in his first start for the Dolphins, until his late-game mistakes. He also was intercepted by Troy Polamalu immediately after Miller's catch put the Steelers up. Culpepper finished 18 for 37 for 262 yards.
"In this league, you can't turn the ball over in the fourth quarter," Culpepper said. "I'm better than that. We're better than that."
The Steelers also overcame a costly mistake when Batch fumbled Jeff Hartings' snap at the Miami 1 and Will Allen recovered, keeping the Dolphins in the lead temporarily.
For the first 2 1/2 quarters, the Steelers looked much like they did in the Super Bowl seven months ago -- without Ben Roethlisberger, of course. The quarterback made an unexpectedly fast recovery from a June motorcycle crash, only to need an emergency appendectomy on Sept. 3 that kept him out of his fifth game in two seasons.
"I walked in here Sunday and had no idea I would be the starter," Batch said. "But I always tell myself, 'When you go in there, don't be the guy who takes a step back, keep things going offensively without changing the game plan.' And I think I was able to do that."
Just like in that 21-10 win over Seattle in the Super Bowl, there was a Hines Ward touchdown catch, a long Parker run and a favorable call from an official, helping the Steelers go up 14-7.
Ward, who sat out the preseason with a sore hamstring, caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Batch late in the first half. Parker used his speed to get loose on a 32-yard run to the Dolphins 35, and cornerback Andre Goodman drew a 23-yard pass interference call on Cedrick Wilson. Goodman started because of Travis Daniels' ankle injury.
Batch, making his first season-opening start since 2001 with Detroit, looked rusty for two drives, only to settle in and throw a 27-yard scoring pass to Nate Washington to finish off a 75-yard drive early in the second period. It was the first regular-season catch for Washington, a 2005 free agent from Tiffin University whose only other career reception came in the AFC title game.
Batch was 15 for 25 for 209 yards.
Miami couldn't get a running game going until the second half -- at one point, Brown had 11 yards on nine carries -- but tied it the game at 7 when Wes Welker's 47-yard punt return set up Brown's 2-yard run.
The Steelers unveiled their five Super Bowl championship banners during a pregame show highlighted by fireworks and an in-stadium concert, but the mood in Heinz Field wasn't entirely celebratory.
A moment of silence was held minutes before the opening kickoff for the late Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor, who was buried earlier in the day. O'Connor died in office last week of brain cancer. His son, Corey, was introduced to the crowd.
Steelers excel in fourth, beat Fins 28-17
NFL.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH (Sept. 7, 2006) -- Miami coach Nick Saban had the red challenge flag in his hand, hitched it forward and back, and couldn't seem to let it go in time. Maybe the Dolphins should flag their own coach for a costly delay.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller chugged his way down the sideline on an 87-yard touchdown pass play midway through the fourth quarter, fill-in QB Charlie Batch 's third scoring pass of the game, and the Super Bowl champions beat the Dolphins 28-17 in the NFL's first game of the season.
"It seemed like it took me forever to get there," Miller said.
For good reason.
Video highlights
Charlie Batch threw three TD passes to lead the Steelers to a 28-17 victory over the Dolphins.
56k | 300k
Postgame press conference
56k | 300k
Miller's score shouldn't have stood -- TV replays clearly showed his foot out of bounds between the 1 and 2-yard lines. However, Saban hesitated to throw his flag, which fell to the turf sight unseen as referee Walt Coleman watched the extra point kick. That meant the Steelers didn't have to try to get the ball into the end zone from short yardage.
Asked if he got in, Miller said, laughing, "Touchdown. Yeah."
Saban apparently thought he could throw the challenge flag at any time before Jeff Reed kicked the extra point, but no official saw him -- and thus, no replay. And no Dolphins upset, either, even though the Steelers didn't look particularly sharp in their first game that counted since the Super Bowl -- despite Willie Parker 's 115 yards rushing, Miller's 101 yards receiving and Batch's first three-TD game since Nov. 18, 2001, with Detroit.
"They said they didn't see it," Saban said. "Whose fault is that?"
Saban explained that assistant coaches in the press box first had to watch the replay before notifying him whether to challenge.
"We can't challenge something until we see it," he said. "When we saw it, I threw the flag. It was well before the kicker kicked it. The official said he didn't see it, and when he said he didn't see it, there was nothing he could do. That shouldn't happen."
Miami, down 21-17 at the time, had a chance to come back. But new quarterback Daunte Culpepper was intercepted on consecutive series, with linebacker Joey Porter scoring on a 42-yard return with about three minutes left.
"We knew we had put them in a situation where they had to pass the ball. I had my chance to make the play and I made it," Porter said.
Porter was so excited, he ran to the sideline and kissed coach Bill Cowher on the cheek -- the Steelers' first known sideline smooch since Cowher planted one on Kordell Stewart during a 1997 comeback victory in Baltimore.
The Dolphins, trying to build off the momentum of their six consecutive victories to end last season, never led until Ronnie Brown scored on a 5-yard run to make it 17-14 in the third quarter. Marty Booker, sidelined with what appeared to be a concussion in the first half, came back to make a 50-yard catch of Culpepper's pass, aided by safety Tyrone Carter's slip, to set up the score.
Charlie Batch fit in just fine, filling in for an injured 'Big Ben.'
"We were definitely in the driver's seat. We needed to stay focused and finish the ballgame out," said safety Renaldo Hill.
Culpepper was mostly effective in his first start for the Dolphins, until his late-game mistakes. He also was intercepted by Troy Polamalu immediately after Miller's catch put the Steelers up. Culpepper finished 18 for 37 for 262 yards.
"In this league, you can't turn the ball over in the fourth quarter," Culpepper said. "I'm better than that. We're better than that."
The Steelers also overcame a costly mistake when Batch fumbled Jeff Hartings' snap at the Miami 1 and Will Allen recovered, keeping the Dolphins in the lead temporarily.
For the first 2 1/2 quarters, the Steelers looked much like they did in the Super Bowl seven months ago -- without Ben Roethlisberger, of course. The quarterback made an unexpectedly fast recovery from a June motorcycle crash, only to need an emergency appendectomy on Sept. 3 that kept him out of his fifth game in two seasons.
"I walked in here Sunday and had no idea I would be the starter," Batch said. "But I always tell myself, 'When you go in there, don't be the guy who takes a step back, keep things going offensively without changing the game plan.' And I think I was able to do that."
Just like in that 21-10 win over Seattle in the Super Bowl, there was a Hines Ward touchdown catch, a long Parker run and a favorable call from an official, helping the Steelers go up 14-7.
Ward, who sat out the preseason with a sore hamstring, caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Batch late in the first half. Parker used his speed to get loose on a 32-yard run to the Dolphins 35, and cornerback Andre Goodman drew a 23-yard pass interference call on Cedrick Wilson. Goodman started because of Travis Daniels' ankle injury.
Batch, making his first season-opening start since 2001 with Detroit, looked rusty for two drives, only to settle in and throw a 27-yard scoring pass to Nate Washington to finish off a 75-yard drive early in the second period. It was the first regular-season catch for Washington, a 2005 free agent from Tiffin University whose only other career reception came in the AFC title game.
Batch was 15 for 25 for 209 yards.
Miami couldn't get a running game going until the second half -- at one point, Brown had 11 yards on nine carries -- but tied it the game at 7 when Wes Welker's 47-yard punt return set up Brown's 2-yard run.
The Steelers unveiled their five Super Bowl championship banners during a pregame show highlighted by fireworks and an in-stadium concert, but the mood in Heinz Field wasn't entirely celebratory.
A moment of silence was held minutes before the opening kickoff for the late Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor, who was buried earlier in the day. O'Connor died in office last week of brain cancer. His son, Corey, was introduced to the crowd.
Kansas City's Trent Green Hit By Cincinnati's Robert Geathers and Injured
This was a nasty blow and there was no flag on the play. I can't believe it, but I saw it.
Chiefs' Green taken off field on stretcher
NFL.com wire reports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sept. 10, 2006) -- Kansas City quarterback Trent Green was taken from the field by stretcher after laying motionless following a brutal hit by Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Green, who had started 80 straight games, went into a feet-first hook slide when Geathers charged in and appeared to hit Green's head with his shoulder. Green's neck snapped back hard into the turf and he lay motionless for a few moments. He then was taken off on a stretcher, with an attendant holding his hands under Green's helmet.
There was no penalty on the play.
Chiefs' Green taken off field on stretcher
NFL.com wire reports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sept. 10, 2006) -- Kansas City quarterback Trent Green was taken from the field by stretcher after laying motionless following a brutal hit by Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Green, who had started 80 straight games, went into a feet-first hook slide when Geathers charged in and appeared to hit Green's head with his shoulder. Green's neck snapped back hard into the turf and he lay motionless for a few moments. He then was taken off on a stretcher, with an attendant holding his hands under Green's helmet.
There was no penalty on the play.
YouTube - Lonelygirl15: Zennie's View
( Click here for the latest exchange in the discussion)
As you may know, there's a lot of opinions expressed about the revelation that Lonelygirl15's not "real." Well, I've got a different take on the matter. I think what Creative Artist Agency -- the alledged producers of Lonelygirl15 -- has done is a model for other vloggers.
Here's my vlog:
As you may know, there's a lot of opinions expressed about the revelation that Lonelygirl15's not "real." Well, I've got a different take on the matter. I think what Creative Artist Agency -- the alledged producers of Lonelygirl15 -- has done is a model for other vloggers.
Here's my vlog:
Saturday, September 09, 2006
YouTube - Lonelygirl15's A Team, Not A Girl, With Connections To CAA
It's all over the Blogsphere. Bloggers are complaining about the revalation that "Lonelygirl15" is not in fact a lonely 15 year old girl named "Bree," but a team of people supposedly with connections to the mighty Hollywood ad agency Creative Artists Agency. "Hell's Handmaiden, a blog on conspiracies , gave the story a light. Flak Monkey blog reports on the betrayal some YouTuber's are expressing. Bravesgirl5 -- undoubtely an Atlanta Braves Fan -- posted this video reponse reporting the news about Lonelygirl15:
Wow.
Here's a link to the Lonelygirl15 Forum that Bravesgirl5 referred to. You can see the ire expressed over the message left by the show's creators.
Also, others on YouTube have responded to Bravegirl15's video. Here's one of the videos, by ThespianImprov:
But this video by Renetto is funny because he's really upset about it:
I can report that our video blog show, Kate On Sports, is real in that we explain that it's produced by Kate Troecher and myself. I can't say that I'm surprised that Lonelygirl15's a fake because I always thought there was more to the production than this person. I didn't care. It was a great -- oh, is a cool -- entertainment tool.
But I do think a real person would have more popularity. CAA missed the boat.
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