Wake Forest (!), Michigan, UC Santa Barbara, Catholic Women's University - Wow. College Athlete Initiation Photos and Stories Hit The Internet

The outing of hazing rituals continues. (That's a tame photo of members of the UC Santa Barbara Women's Lacrosse Team.)

It appears the UC Santa Barbara Lacrosse Women's Lacrosse Team had a great time at their initiation in 2004. How do I know? Because the photos of it are here!

They have something in common with the University of Michigan's Men's Lacrosse Team, but they're a lot tamer.

But Wake Forest's Women's Volleyball Team had a heck of a party this year. It had women bound to a post with colored pencil writing all over their bodies. You can see that page of photos here.

That's a pict of members of the James Madison Women's Club Soccer Team before things got dark -- because of blindfolds.


And Catholic Women's University is anything, but! These women got a male stripper and did some stuff that's -- well, take a look with a click here.

Elon University's Men's Baseball Team seems to think having their guys sport bras and chuck vats of some kind of weird drink -- or maybe it's just beer -- is a cool thing. Take a look here.

Badjocks.com has a full report on all of these activities; it's where I got the links. I found out about all of this while reading the Chicago Sun Times.

What's going on? Well, nothing that's not happened before, with one difference: it can be recorded and reported quickly and easily.

So now, we're seeing the World as it really is.

The New MacBook - In Black!

Well, I've got to get a new MacBook, even though I've got an i-Book G4. It's time for two computers. Besides, it comes in black.
I wonder if Steve Jobs is having a Next flashback? Maybe the next i-Mac will be in the shape of a black cube.

That would be cool.

No, the "2001" Black Monolith would be a better form.

Titans QB Steve McNair Testifies Before Arbirator; Decision On June 1 - AP and NFL Wire

Steve McNair testifies; decision expected by June 1
NFL.com wire reports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 16, 2006) -- An arbitrator heard more than seven hours of testimony on whether the Tennessee Titans breached quarterback Steve McNair's contract by barring him from working out at the team's headquarters.

McNair, who parked his sport utility vehicle in the lot for visitors and not the players' gated area, left the hearing along with agent Bus Cook without making any comment.

Richard Berthelsen, general counsel for the players' union, said arbitrator John Feerick hoped to return a decision by June 1. The union argued that McNair should be allowed to work out or be released.

"Every player has a right, we believe, to be on club property to participate with his teammates. That's the only place where a player is protected in terms of if he's hurt and gets his salary," Berthelsen said.

"For a team to say, 'You can't be on our property because we don't want to have that risk,' then the risk is unfairly shifted to the player."

The Titans want protection from the potential liability of an enormous salary-cap hit if McNair is hurt, or they want a new, cheaper contract to reduce that cap number. The team issued a statement expressing confidence the arbitrator understands the issues in the case.

"We will not issue any further comment on the issue until a decision has been rendered," the statement said.

Negotiations between the Titans and Cook have been nearly nonexistent. Cook worked out a deal with Baltimore last month after being given permission to talk with the Ravens during the NFL draft. A trade fell through when the Titans said Baltimore's offer was insignificant.

The Titans drafted Texas quarterback Vince Young with the No. 3 overall pick.

Berthelsen said McNair testified he would prefer to remain with the Titans until he decides to retire. The 11-year veteran was the NFL's co-MVP in 2003, has won more games for this franchise than any other quarterback and led the Titans to the playoffs in four of five seasons through 2003.

Most of the hearing was spent with the Titans cross-examining McNair about his offseason workout habits, according to Berthelsen.

"It was mainly irrelevant things like, 'You weren't here much in the past, were you? So why do you want to be here now?' But it wasn't really to the point," Berthelsen said.

Asked if the Titans appear to want McNair back, the attorney said:

"It's a pity a player who has meant as much as he has to this franchise being told in his 11th year he can't be on club property, especially since he's under contract. I can't think of a player who's done more for this franchise. It is a shame that things have come to where they've come."

The Titans must either rework McNair's remaining year or release him to create enough salary-cap space to sign their rookies. They traditionally don't begin signing rookies until July.

Both McNair and his agent have said the quarterback is healthy enough to play another three or four years. But he has missed 10 games over the past two seasons because of injury, and the Titans have shown no inclination to take expensive risks with veterans.

Tennessee released Eddie George, the team's all-time leading rusher, in July 2004 only after the running back declined a pay cut and asked to be waived.


AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Fomer Raiders QB Rich Gannon Flies Down To Tampa To Help Coach Jon Gruden With Chris Simms - Tampa Times

Gannon puts hurtful past aside to aid Bucs QBs

By JOANNE KORTH, Tampa Times Staff Writer
Published May 17, 2006

Ex-NFL quarterback Rich Gannon, right, in town to help Bucs quarterbacks, chats with Jon Gruden, his former coach.
TAMPA - Retired quarterback Rich Gannon still hasn't gotten over the beating the Bucs gave his Raiders, and him especially, in Super Bowl XXXVII. Nor has he forgotten the hit by Derrick Brooks that essentially ended his career.

But he's here to help.

Honest.

Gannon, who ran Jon Gruden's version of the west coast offense with precision in Oakland, is spending two days in Tampa tutoring the Bucs' crop of young quarterbacks. Gannon attended meetings and a light practice Tuesday and will do so again today as the team continues with offseason workouts.

"It's good to be here and good to get a chance to work with the quarterbacks a little bit," said Gannon, who played 18 seasons before retiring in August 2005.

"Jon asked me to come down and talk to them a little bit and share some things that have helped me play the position over the years. You pick up valuable tips and keys that can help these guys, I hope. I'm happy to do that."

Gannon has more NFL experience than the five quarterbacks on the Bucs bloated offseason roster combined. Starter Chris Simms, whose father, Phil, was a Super Bowl MVP, values Gannon's insights because Gannon excelled in Gruden's offense.

"It's awesome," Simms said. "If there's anybody who's perfected this offense in the last 15 years, you'd probably say him and Steve Young. It's just tremendous to hear his view on things and I look forward to picking his brain because he has so much to offer."

Gannon, 40, played three seasons under Gruden in Oakland and three under Tampa Bay quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett when Hackett was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City in the 1990s. Those ties were enough to overcome any discomfort he felt being at One Buc Place.

"I walk in the building and there's pictures of me getting sacked in the Super Bowl," Gannon said. "It will always be a sore spot. ... But it's funny, I was just showing Monte Kiffin my notes from the game. I told him it's unfortunate we couldn't get to some of this stuff because of the way the game went."

A journeyman until he signed as a free agent with Oakland, Gannon was an instant success with Gruden. He threw for more than 3,400 yards and went to the Pro Bowl three straight seasons. In 2002, Gannon was named league MVP for leading the Raiders to the Super Bowl, but they were soundly beaten by the Bucs with Gruden on the opposite sideline.

Gannon retired because of a neck injury sustained in a regular-season game against the Bucs in 2004 during a helmet-to-helmet collision with linebacker Brooks. Gannon was scrambling for positive yardage and slid into Brooks. He never played again.

Gannon said he has no intention of reviving his playing career as a veteran backup for the Bucs or in becoming a coach, prefering the schedule of his current job as CBS analyst to an 80-hour work week.

Among the points Gannon is emphasizing with Simms, Luke McCown, Tim Rattay and sixth-round pick Bruce Gradkowski is the importance of staying healthy. A big part of that is knowing when, and how, to scramble, something that made Gannon effective.

"Your biggest value to a football team as a quarterback is lining up under center every Sunday," said Gannon, citing the durability of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Brett Favre. "That's really your value to a football team, to be a consistent performer and be a guy who takes care of himself physically and mentally, a guy who understands not only his strengths but also his limitations."

Impressed with Simms' physical tools, grasp of the system and command of the huddle, Gannon suggested Simms could round out his game by becoming more elusive in the pocket.

"Adding that dimension to his game can certainly help him," Gannon said. "If it's a point of emphasis, something you work on during the offseason, it's usually something you do better with the following season, whether it's taking care of the football, not turning it over, or helping your football team by pulling the ball down on a couple occasions and maybe running for some first downs. That can make him a more complete player."

In sharing insights gained during his 18 NFL seasons, Gannon was glad to return favors to Gruden and Hackett for the positive impacts they had on his career. He drew the line, however, after a rainy morning practice when he was offered dry clothing.

"They tried to slip some Super Bowl stuff on me," he said. "I thought that was a little bit much."

Mike Holmgren Reportedly Commits To Seahawks Through 2008 - Seattle PI

Mike Holmgren deal imminent
He commits to Hawks through '08

By DANNY O'NEIL
SEATTLE P-I REPORTER

Most of the suspense over Mike Holmgren's future was sapped last week when he said he wanted to keep coaching the Seahawks beyond 2006.

The rest will evaporate when the team announces the two-year extension of his coaching contract, which could be as soon as today.

Holmgren and the team agreed to terms of a two-year extension, according to a source. The news was first reported by the Tacoma News Tribune.

Holmgren has one season remaining on the eight-year, $32 million contract he signed to come to Seattle from Green Bay in 1999. The two-year extension goes through 2008. The terms of the extension, including salary and whether there are any exit provisions, were not known late Tuesday.

The deal formalizes what became clear over the course of last week: Holmgren didn't want questions about his coaching future hanging unanswered over the upcoming season. The team already made it clear it would like to extend Holmgren's contract.

Holmgren acknowledged last Thursday he wanted to stay, and by that time his agent, Bob Lamonte, had been to Seattle at least twice to meet with Seahawks officials and do the heavy lifting in negotiating an extension. Lamonte did not return phone messages on Tuesday.

In the months since the Seahawks' Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh, Holmgren talked to reporters at different points about the process of introspection before deciding his future. He said he had asked the team for a little time to decide on what he wanted.

His short-term plans were never in doubt because he had a year remaining on his contract.

Seattle's regular-season record is 63-49 in Holmgren's seven seasons as head coach. The Seahawks have made the playoffs four times -- including the last three seasons in a row -- and in 2005 set a franchise record for regular-season victories (13) and reached the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.



Holmgren has a 2-4 record in playoff games with the Seahawks.
The question was what he wanted beyond the 2006 season. After all, he came to the Seahawks as the top man in the football food chain. He had the two-pronged job of coach and general manager and the biggest paycheck of any NFL coach.

He lost the general manager's responsibilities after the 2002 season. It was the first demotion of his career and it stung.

In many ways, the 2005 season was a vindication of some of Holmgren's personnel choices as general manager. After all, his handpicked players were the foundation for the league's highest-scoring offense. He traded for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who made the Pro Bowl. He drafted Shaun Alexander, who was named the league's Most Valuable Player, and left guard Steve Hutchinson, who was named to his third Pro Bowl.

At the league's annual owners' meetings in March, Holmgren admitted there was still an itch to try his hand as general manager again. That fueled speculation about whether Holmgren wanted more responsibility than would be possible in his current job. The Seahawks hired Tim Ruskell as president in February 2005.

Holmgren also talked of his wife's hope that the Seahawks would win the Super Bowl, allowing him to ride off on a white horse as the first man to coach two different teams to Super Bowl victories.

Holmgren took the Packers to consecutive Super Bowls after the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Green Bay defeated New England in Super Bowl XXXI, and then lost to Denver in Super Bowl XXXII.

If he stays for the length of the contract extension, Holmgren will get three more chances to return to the Super Bowl.

Layover At OHare Airport

I'm in the O'hare Hilton and it's after midnight. I arrived here from Atlanta, where I was visiting Mom for about over two weeks. Then I needed to get back to Oakland and so thought I could wait stand-by -- big error. I made it as far as Chicago, then got bumped from flight after flight. Maybe the 6:30 AM holds a prayer?

I went to a cool bar that's like walking into a 1940s variety show and speakeasy, and in the Hilton. Poor marketing. The O'Hare Hilton does nothing to sell you on this place. You have to walk in and see it.

So, I sat at the bar with some guys from Canada. They didn't know each other. I was having a great conversation with a guy named Ian. So another guy -- who was pretty drunk -- decides he's gonna by me a glass of wine; I accept (would not say no, unless I'd had too many; this was just one). But after a while, as I'm leaving, he starts into a statement: "Well, I don't care if you're black or white, I like ya. Ya know, black..."

My response was "That's between you and your therapist." I didn't give him time to finish. I just paid my bill -- well I was already in the process of paying it -- got up and left. And no, I didn't have that wine he offered.

Why is it that some white men in bars -- it's happened too many times to avoid the generalization -- have to go into racial conversation after they've had a few? What's up with that? It's really sick. I mean here I was thinking "This is a well-adjusted man," and then....Poof! Not!

I think -- well, let me put it this way: I don't care what the reason is, just put the kabash on it.

It happens way too often and I'm developing a zero-tolerance for it. And if you're white and female and see this and do nothing to stop it, you're no better. This is crazy. If I stopped to list the number of times this has happened -- in detail -- you'd puke. It even happened on the plane ride from Atlanta to Chicago. The guy I was sitting next to was well-meaning, but just launched to a commentary on blacks and interracial dating. Once I causally explained that racism is considered to be a mental illness and why this was, he chilled his words a bit and we were back on a good coversational course..

I was happy I slipped the "therapist" line in. It fit.

EA Sports Sued Over Madden NFL Game Feature - I Know The Person Who Filed The Suit; He Has A Case

I just saw this web information while in search of something else:

"EA sued over Madden feature

Electronics Arts, the world's largest game publisher, is finding itself in a legal battle over one of the features of its popular Madden NFL 06 game. Pernell Harris, owner of Virtual Jam, has sued the game maker over breach of contract and confidentiality violation.

According to Harris, he met with EA in 2003 to discuss some ideas he had concerning a football game titled Heart of a Champion. In the game, players take a high school athlete from the preps to the pros, making sure they get passing grades and even picking their parents to assure an optimum gene pool.

Legal papers flew when Harris noticed some of these features were included in this year's edition of Madden NFL 2006. Harris is seeking unspecified damages, restitution, and lawyer's fees.

EA doesn't seem bothered by the allegations. A company spokesperson told Reuters, "We have read the complaint and the allegations are completely without merit."

Madden NFL 2006 was released in August, and is one of the top-selling games of the year."

Actually, the EA spokesperson is wrong. I know the person who fied suit. In fact, I just wrote about him. He's ex-24 star Pernell Harris.

EA sports isn't taking Harris seriously and I believe it's for a set of reasons that boil down to race and style. Pernell's African American, and not of the style one would associate with a game-making geek. That's less true for me. But the point is that's no reason for EA to doctor the truth, yet that's what they did.

Pernell showed me the evidence EA presents as valid: an email they gave to his attorney that's obviously doctored in such a way that the contents of some email was placed on another sheet of paper, but leaving off the date the email was written and the email adress. This email is suppose to show that the person Pernell talked to who was with EA gave the other staffers some idea but before he met Pernell. But the trouble is the email has no real date on it -- it has a doctored one. Some content was copied onto another sheet of paper, and the paste job is obvious.

In other words, you know what an email looks like when it's printed out. It's got not only the information you need, but all of the other code information, too and a date that doesn't appear in memo form. Microsoft outlook's date stamp doesn't appear as if it were a form letter. This doctored paper does.

EA should be ashamed. They basically think Pernell and his attorney can be had by a simple shop job like that. Fortunately, Pernell has friends who understand how the game works, and -- as a game maker -- I'm one of them.

EA should stop haging with Tiger Woods and pay attention to this case. Pernell has a gripe, and EA's statements to the contrary are without merit. That I can state, because someone in their office is playing fast and loose with the truth.

Stay tuned.

NFL / Disney Collaboration Produces "Invincible" - Video Of Press Conference For Movie

As part of the events for NFL Draft week in New York, a press conference was held at Gustavino's and on "Invincible", a new Disney movie about Vince Papale, a walk-on who became a star for the Philadelphia Eagles. Mark Walburgh (who plays Vince), Papale, Grer Kinnear (who plays Dick Vermiel), and producers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray (The Rookie) are in this, as are the NFL's head of marketing, Phil Guarascio.

I was part of the media covering this event, and so arrived a bit early. With few people around, I decided to get some scenes of the set up before the press conference. After it, I was able to talk with Guarascio and one of the film's producers, Gordon Gray.

Here's the video:

A Walk In New York From Chelsea Piers To Gustavino's In The Queensborough Bridge

While I was in New York City for the NFL Draft, I decided to take a walk to Gustavino's from the NFL Draft luncheon at Chelsea Piers. Because it was a warm late April day, and I had about 20 blocks to go, I hailed a cab. While in the cab, I spotted some bald guy in a top-down Mercedez driving with a dog almost on the steering wheel. Finally, I got to this neat place called Gustavino's which is built into the base of the Queensborough Bridge.

All of this is on video here:




What I like most about the video is New York City: the noise, the architecture, the feel of the World's Greatest City.

Sen Barbara Boxer Calls For End To NSA Spying Program - Oakland Tribune

Boxer rips into NSA at Mills graduation
Senator says U.S. security agency's phone spying must be halted
By William Brand, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE Sunday, May 14th, 2006

OAKLAND — The National Security Agency telephone spying program must be stopped, Sen. Barbara Boxer told graduating students Saturday morning at the Mills College commencement.

"If our government begins spying on our telephone conversations without any reason, then the terrorists have already won — because we will have lost the essence of America. If we allow this to continue ... we will have lost what makes us free," Boxer said.

Later, Boxer, D-California, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, spoke to reporters about the vast telephone project.

Lee said she intends to introduce a resolution of inquiry in Congress. "We want to know whose phones were involved and we want the administration to give us reasons for that," she said. "The problem is, we justdon't know what the facts are right now and we need answers."

Boxer told reporters that the Senate will have its first opportunity to inquire into the NSA project when Gen. Michael Hayden appears before a Senate committee over his nomination to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

"Gen. Hayden has a lot of questions to answer; we have to be very challenging," Boxer said.

Hayden is believed to be the architect of the operation, which involved searching phone calls made by millions of Americans for patterns relating to terrorists.

Boxer said she believes the operation clearly violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. "People are not allowed to be searched without a proper warrant issued by a judge," she said.

She said she believes if the operation had been taken before a judicial panel for approval, a warrant would not have been granted.

Asked about the Iraq war, Boxer said America needs to withdraw, starting by sending National Guard troops home to their families and jobs. "The fact is, our presence in Iraq now is nonproductive. Our presence is feeding the insurgency."

When you have Iraqis saying it is better that you leave, it is time


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to go, she said.

Boxer, the Mills commencement speaker, drew cheers from the moment she arrived.

Mills President Janet Holmgren awarded her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and noted that Boxer has been a courageous advocate for the rights of women, children and families. "She sponsored the Violence Against Women Act and shepherded it through Congress," she said. "As Democratic chief deputy whip, Ms. Boxer is poised to be the president of the United States, don't you think?"

Graduates — 217 women received bachelor's degrees and 194 men and women received master's and eight were awarded doctorates — stood and cheered.

Boxer, 65, is in her third term in the Senate. She was elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors in 1977, then served in Congress from 1983 to 1992. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1962 with a B.A. in economics.

Holmgren told Boxer she would like the Mills podium, which she had shortened so the senator would not have to stand on a box as she often does at speaking engagements. Both Boxer and Holmgren stand 5 feet tall.

She said Boxer demonstrates that if your goal is to change the world and make things better, size is not important.

Lee, a 1973 Mills graduate, introduced Boxer. She noted that when set out to run for the state Assembly in 1989, Boxer backed her strongly when she was unknown.

"If the White House and the administration were run by a woman like Barbara Boxer, we'd be in greater shape than we are today," Lee said.

Reggie Bush's New Orleans Press Conference Reveals How USC Prepared Him For The NFL

What's fascinating to me is the degree to which college football is -- at it's highest levels -- just like pro football in practice, preparation, and schemes. The idea that the NFL is "a whole 'nother level' is fading somewhat, as former NFL coaches from Bill Walsh when he was at Stanford, to Pete Carroll at USC and Bill Callahan and Charlie Weis at Nebraska and Notre Dame are bringing the pro game to the NCAA.

Much of the results of that evolution are evident in this May 13th New Orleans Saints Press Conference, after Bush's first rookie mini-camp.


TRANSCRIPT: Reggie Bush
May 13, 2006, NewOrleansSaints.com
May 13, 2006 – 8:07 pm

Q: Was it your groin that you tweaked today in the first practice?

A: "No it was my hamstring. It is all right. I just tweaked it a little bit stretching, ironically. It will be fine with a couple of days of good rehabbing. It will be fine it is nothing major."

Q: Will you be able to do something tomorrow?

A: "I hope so. I am looking forward to it. I have to talk to the trainers and the coaches and see how they feel and if they want me to or if they don't want me to. As far as I am concerned I am ready to go."

Q: Have you had problems with your hamstring before?

A: "No, not at all."

Q: You did it stretching today?

A: "Yeah I was stretching today and just tweaked it stretching. It was a little weird."

Q: Was it frustrating not being able to go?

A: "Yeah it was it was frustrating sitting out there. I couldn't be in there and I wanted to be in there and just learning."

Q: In the time you were out there practicing. What did you think?

A: "It felt good. I was real happy to be there. I was just happy to be back to football. It has been a while and I was excited to be out there playing football again and it felt good. I was a little rusty but it will come with time."

Q: What do the think the biggest adjustment will be from college football to the NFL?

A: "I don't think there is a major adjustment other than just adjusting to the whole NFL experience. The level and obviously the game play and game speed are different. I think adjusting to that and other than that I think that is it. Just adjusting to that and just preparing myself for the different mentality."

Q: Having won the Heisman Trophy and all of the success at USC and being the number two pick in the draft. Do you think the coaches are going out of their way to make you feel like you are just another rookie?

A: "As far as I am concerned I am just another player. I am just another guy trying to prove myself again. That is the type of person that I am. I always feel like I have something to prove no matter what level it is and no matter what I have accomplished. I am always going to feel like I have something to prove and I think that is where it helps me be successful just keeping that mentality."

Q: What was your impression of how Coach Payton runs practices after going through today?

A: "A lot similar to what Coach Carroll use to do with the way we ran practices at USC. Obviously, Coach Carroll is a former NFL head coach so he has a lot of experience with that. For me it was nothing different it was very similar to the way we ran practices at USC."

Q: Do you think that is an advantage for you?

A: "I think so. Yeah. It is funny you said that because I was thinking it. I feel I had an advantage just being familiar with the way practice was run and the style and the tempo of practice."

Q: How important to you is it to have your contact done and be there for the first day of training camp?

A: "Very important. I told my agent I wanted to be here in camp on time and whatever it takes I want to be in camp on time. I don't want to get caught up in holdouts and things like that. I think it is important to start off on a good foot and a good note and not only with the team but with the city."

Q: How different is the terminology between here and what you had at USC?

A: "It is similar in certain respects in some of the plays and some of the ways they run their schemes are similar, very similar. Obviously some of the terminology is different but I think the scheme and the way they call plays are similar to what we were use to at USC."

Q: What do you think will be the most effective way to use you in this offense?

A: "Coach Payton and I have had a chance to talk and they are planning on using me in similar ways to how I was used at USC, giving me the opportunity to make plays from the receiver position, running back, and returning punts and kicks."

Q: If the league does not allow you to wear number five. Have you chosen another number?

A: "I haven't chosen a number but I am looking forward to it. Obviously I would love to be able to wear number five but if I don't I understand. I know there has been a rule for years before I got to this point and gotten here. It is something that I would like to happen but if it doesn't there is no loss and no worries."

Q: Do you have fall back number or a leader in the clubhouse?

A: "No, not right now."

Q: Is getting a player with your ability more of a challenge for the coaching staff?

A: "I don't think it will be that challenging. Just put me out there and let me make plays. I don't know as far as I am concerned I know the coaching staff is very excited to have me here as well as I am excited to be here and be able to help this team turn this program around and be able to make plays from different spots on the football field."

Q: Today was mostly rudimentary and you were mostly in a one-back set. Do you think that is just the start and they have not even scratched the surface to what they can do with you?

A: "Yeah, definitely we have not even scratched the surface yet with what the coaches are going to do with me in the offense. We are just getting started it is only day one today of minicamp. It is still early, still very early and we still have a lot of stuff to learn and a lot plays to learn and all of the different terminology to learn. It is still early."

Q: What do you make of all of the attention you have received in New Orleans already and do you enjoy it?

A: "I do enjoy it and the way the city has embraced me and welcomed me has been crazy for me. To be here, and like I said I am so excited to be here, from day one since I got here the city and the coaching staff and the player have welcomed me with open arms."

Q: Have you spoken with Deuce McAllister yet? And how do you envision the two of you sharing the ball?

A: "I haven't had a chance to directly speak with him. I know most of the players will be here starting Monday with workouts so I am pretty sure we will get a chance to sit down. I am looking forward to playing with Deuce. I hear he is a great person and a great running back. I have seen him play and I know what he is capable of and like I said I think I can help take some of the pressure off of his shoulders and bring some more fire power to this offense."

Q: Have you spoken to the Hornets Chris Paul? Do you think with the two of you up and comers in each of your leagues help bring some attention to this community?

A: "I haven't had a chance to talk to him but I know a lot about him. I watched him in college and he is a great player and I am a big fan of his."

Q: Is there a ballpark number you are telling your agent to ask for in order to sign a deal?

A: "No, nope, not at all. I haven't told him a particular number. We want to see if we can get the best deal obviously but I know the Saints are more than happy to have me here and we are looking forward to working together and not working against each other."

Q: How deeply involved are you in the negotiations?

A: "We talk very often about the negotiations and how the process is going. The past couple of days I haven't had a chance to talk to him because I have been kind of busy but we talk often about it."

Q: Has there been any progress?

A: "Yeah, I am confident that we will get this contract done on time and as soon as possible and be in camp on time."

Q: Have you had a chance to grasp what you really mean to this city and the rebuilding process? One fan described it as a divine intervention it that a little weird to you?

A: "Yeah, it is a little weird but it is something that I am looking forward to doing. I am looking forward to helping turn this city around and bring something exciting back to this city. Obviously I am aware of all of the devastation that took place here in the last year or so. I am excited about the opportunity to be able to turn this city around and like I said bring some happiness back to the city."

Q: Do you think you have a chance to establish a connection with the city that not a lot of rookies do?

A: "Yeah I do. We are already taking part in community service projects. We are helping put back together a football field. I forget the name of the field but it is one of the oldest fields here and we are going to put Astroturf on it so it gives the teams a chance to play on it. We are also adopting an autistic school which was going to be shut down and we are going to help donate money through adidas and through the NFL and we are going to donate some money to keep the school open."

Q: Have you had a chance to go tour the area?

A: "I did. When I got drafted and flew down here we had a chance to go tour the ninth ward where the hurricane hit. It is pretty devastating and it gave me a sense of what I was playing for and not just football team but a city that was looking for us to bring some happiness back."

Q: What did you see?

A: "Just complete destruction. It looked like a war zone. I saw trucks flipped over, houses on top of other houses, just all kinds of chaos. I can just envision what happened and what they were going through. For me I think it was good to see that and good to know what ultimately this team is playing for."

Q: After the way everything has played out over the last couple of months was it good to just get back out there?

A: "Yeah it was. Like I said I was excited to be here today and get back to football and just doing what I do best. I love playing football and it felt good to be back on a team and back around other football players and coaches and the smell of the grass and all of that. It was good to be back on the football field today and I am looking forward to it."

Q: Do you think you will get a lot of opportunities as a kick returner?

A: "I don't know. I hope to get as much opportunity as I would like and as available but I don't know and it is up to the coaches. It is still very early on in day one of minicamp so we haven't even gone through the official training camp yet so we will see as time goes on. We will see how much my role will play on this offense and on this team."

Q: Is the heat a little different here instead of California?

A: "Yeah I am already aware of that part but today was beautiful and it reminded me a lot of southern California. I am aware of the humidity and all of that but that is not going to effect me at all."

Q: Did Pete Carroll give you any advice heading into the pro game?

A: "Coach Carroll really just talked to us about how similar it is to the way we did things at USC like I said before. Our practices and a lot of the things we did are very similar to the NFL level. He said that it is a business and you have to have that mentality and there a lot of things done different at the NFL level than from the college level. The game is faster and there is more responsibility placed on your shoulders so a lot things like that."

Oakland Raiders QB Kerry Collins Remains Unemployed As Of This Date - CBS Sportsline's Clark Judge

According to Clark Judge over at CBS Sportsline, Kerry Collins' best days may be behind him. He's still an unaquired free agent. He counted $12 million against the Raiders salary cap, and it's unlikely, given the flood of younger quarterbacks on the market, that a veteran with only a strong arm and a habit of making turnovers in important situations will be selected.

That written, Collins unfortunate disadvantage is that he's not played in a short, ball control offense. He's been the victim of coaches who were 1) in love with his arm, and 2) not the most innovative play designers.

Mobilty is not really his problem. He's perceived as "immobile" by the fans of the teams who place him in "old-school," Sid Gilman-drop-back passing offenses.

Nothing against that foundation of the modern game, but it's easy to instruct a defense to stop it.