Bengals roll to 44-31 win over Bills
NFL.com wire reports
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (Aug. 18, 2006) -- Shortly after the game was over, Chad Johnson announced in the Bengals locker room the Buffalo Bills couldn't stop him.
The NFL officials, well, that's another story.
Johnson, the always colorful receiver, scored his first touchdown this preseason in Cincinnati's 44-31 win over the Bills. Yet there was one thing missing: the touchdown dance.
Johnson's bid to do something -- anything, without drawing a flag that would hurt his team -- was denied by an official under the NFL's new rules severely limiting post-TD celebrations. He pleaded with the ref immediately after his 9-yard catch, even offering to pay his fine for keeping the flag in his pocket.
Keiwan Ratliff and the Bengals defense pestered the Bills offense all evening.
"I was asking him to let me celebrate, that's what that was, I'm sure you guys knew that," Johnson said. "But he told me not to. 'Get off the field.' Just like that."
It didn't matter much: There was enough high-scoring entertainment to keep most fans interested in a mean-nothing game.
Johnson, sporting his new golden mohawk haircut, had five catches for 73 yards in less than a half of playing time, helping Cincinnati (2-0) produce the third-most points in a preseason game in team history -- and most since a 45-0 win over Tampa Bay in 1977.
The Bengals defense did the rest, forcing four turnovers in the first half, returning two of them for touchdowns on Dexter Jackson 's 72-yard fumble return and Keiwan Ratliff 's 26-yard interception return.
"Tonight was a fine example of people running to the ball and trying to make plays," Jackson said. "We're not where we need to be, but we're on that road."
The Bills (0-2), coming off a 14-13 loss at Carolina last weekend, had a mixed outing. The 44 points they allowed is the fifth-most by a Bills team in preseason, and most since a 45-14 loss at Chicago in 1985.
The bright spot for Buffalo was Willis McGahee, who had nine rushes for 88 yards, including an electrifying 61-yard touchdown run on a power sweep to the left. It was an impressive glimpse of a player who arrived at training camp 15 pounds lighter and eager to erase what had been a disappointing season last year.
"It felt real good man, like the monkey off my back," said McGahee, who was limited to five touchdowns rushing last season after scoring 13 in 2004. "I think we took a step forward."
The same cannot be said of J.P. Losman, who had an up-and-down outing in his first preseason start after coach Dick Jauron named him the front-runner for the No. 1 job this week.
Losman finished 7 of 11 for 134 yards passing, but lost two fumbles and an interception, leading to 13 Bengals points. His worst pass was a quick out intended for Josh Reed, which was intercepted by Ratliff, who jumped the route with 6 minutes left in the second quarter.
Losman responded on the next possession, hitting Lee Evans in stride up the right sideline for a 46-yard touchdown.
"It was unacceptable," Losman said. "There was some good and some bad. I think the bad is very correctible."
"He's got to protect the football," Jauron said. "We've got to be forcibly patient. We've seen him perform. He's got a strong arm. ... Sometimes, he holds the ball too long. But we'll just keep working and moving forward."
Losman, the second of Buffalo's two 2004 first-round picks, has been locked in an offseason-long competition for the starting job with journeyman Kelly Holcomb and Craig Nall.
The Bengals have quarterback questions of their own, specifically who will be the No. 2 behind Carson Palmer. Anthony Wright continued to show signs of improvement in making his second preseason start.
Wright finished 9 of 19 for 99 yards and a touchdown in the first half, which ended with the Bengals ahead 27-17.
Third-stringer Doug Johnson went 8 of 14 for 133 yards and a touchdown, and also scored on a 4-yard bootleg while playing the entire second half.
Notes: When Johnson didn't celebrate, Bengals OG Bobbie Williams wondered if the receiver was saving it for the regular season. Informed the official stopped Johnson, Williams laughed, and said: "Well, at least he's listening now." ... Bills CB Eric King left the game because of back spasms. CB Troy Vincent was held out because of a strained hamstring. ... Bengals OT Willie Anderson was held out because of a hamstring injury.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Pamela Sue Anderson For PETA on KFC - Video
In this video, super star sex symbol Pam Anderson uses her star power to bring attention to the way KFC treats the chickens it uses to make its product.
After this, you'll think twice about Colonel Sanders.
After this, you'll think twice about Colonel Sanders.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Matt Leinart Spotted At Pussycat Lounge In Scottsdale, Az
In his recent article, Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver notes that new Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart was spotted at the Pussycat Lounge in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Pussycat Lounge -- not your typical strip club -- hosts such notables as Jamie Foxx and Mike Tyson, who was reported to have grabbed some woman's butt.
Man, dude likes to party.
Remember, Matt was seen earlier this year at a Playboy Party in Atlanta.
Michael Sliver On Kurt Warner's Ride, And Other Matters
Over the year's Sil's written some pretty funny openings to his work, and this one's certainly in the top 20. It's about Kurt Warner, who Mike Silver (of SI) is picking to have a great year -- didn't he do that in 2005?
Anyway, part of it comes from his good relationship with Warner, who lights up with a smile when he hears "You know my friend Mike Sliver." The other portion is that Warner's finally got the right mix of talent and scheme to do some real damage, not to mention a two-time national champ in Matt Leinart behind him.
But back to my point. This is the opening of the article:
"When Kurt Warner utters the words "Pimp my ride," do you:
a) break out laughing;
b) search for hidden cameras; or
c) take a boxy Ford van and turn it into a tricked-out vehicle that will seat the Arizona Cardinals quarterback's family of nine, complete with rims, tinted windows and iPod ports?
The answer, when you are the folks at West Coast Customs -- the company featured in the brilliantly named MTV show featuring some of the world's most accessorized automobiles -- is definitely "c" and probably all of the above.
..For the rest, click here:
Maurice Jones - Drew Video From First NFL Game
Fresh from being wrongly accused for a crime, UCLA's Maurice Drew, drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars -- who now goes by the name Maurice Jones-Drew -- had a great first NFL game against the Miami Dolphins. Preseason, yes, but it's still a great game and features his 55yd catch-and-run for a TD.
President Bush's Wiretaps Snuffed Out By Judge - "Tricky Dick" Accusations Forthcoming
I just saw this Washington Post article (click on the title) where President Bush's secret wiretaps were deemed unconstitutional by a Federal Judge. The trouble is this activity -- an unconstitional one -- has gone on for several years.
What happens to those out there who may have been the target of such efforts and were wrongly accused of a crime? And did President Bush do this to Democratic Party activists?
This opens a new can of worms, but it's also evidence of how the Bush Administration has acted in a very dangerous way that seemed to paint the picture of a president who believed he was above the law.
I know the reason's tied to 9/11, but that seems to be used as a kind of nice excuse for going a little beyond what's really appropriate in this matter.
This wil further the claim that George W Bush has more in common with Richard M. Nixon, than with Bill Clinton. I write this because I know he and Clinton are friends, but I see Bill as more nuanced in his approach.
Andrew Young's Right; His Comment Isn't Racist, Just Race Concious
Former Amabassor Andrew Young had stepped down from serving on a Wal-Mart sub-committee after making remarks that were seen as racially offensive.
This is what he said:
"In the Sentinel interview, Young was asked about whether he was concerned Wal-Mart causes smaller, mom-and-pop stores to close.
"Well, I think they should; they ran the `mom and pop' stores out of my neighborhood," the paper quoted Young as saying. "But you see, those are the people who have been overcharging us, selling us stale bread and bad meat and wilted vegetables. And they sold out and moved to Florida. I think they've ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it's Arabs; very few black people own these stores."
Now the unfortunate fact of modern America is that many black communities have corner stores ran by people who are generally either Mid Eastern or Korean, and in the past some were Jewish as well. That's a fact. Now even today in Oakland, I can show you examples -- many in number -- of stores that are owned by persons such as those Mr. Young pointed out and do have substandard food and produce. In many cases the inventory hasn't been properly turned over in several months. But with that, the prices are up to three times higher than at a larger chain.
On top of all that, I've never seen one of these stores hire anyone black -- ok, once. That's it.
What Andrew Young pointed to is a fact and he should not be shunned for publically pointing to a problem that needs to be adressed by economic development officials around the US.
Moreover, people have to learn the difference between a racist remark and one that's racially concious. I do agree that Andrew Young should have nuanced his expression of the problem. I think what he should have said is "we need to adress the problems of store quality and price and employment where one ethnic group not African American establishes a store in a black neighborhood."
That would have -- or should have -- gone down better.
How To Get Raiders WR Randy Moss Open - Part One
I've been so critical of Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator Tom Walsh's approach , I figured it was only fair to place my own ideas out there.
Here's how I would solve the Raiders offensive line problem and get famed wide receiver Randy Moss open all at the same time.
Then formation here calls for a personal grouping of really three wide receivers and one back, but the third wide receiver plays flanker (Z) in the play, and Randy Moss is three-and-a-half-yards behind the weakside tackle where the fullback would normally be.
We place Moss in motion to the wide weakside before the snap of the ball. This forces the defense to 1) reveal its overall coverage and 2) place a slow defender -- more than likely a safety on first down -- on the fleet Moss. But this manuever also forces the defense to spread out to get Moss, thus leaving a nice passing lane for the tight end, who runs a five-yard out pattern. This second receiver in the pattern set will see the ball most of the time.
Note that Moss has an option to run either a fly pattern against man coverage or a kind of skinny post (break at 12 yards) into the seam of a three-deep defense, should the safety already be back in that position. It's not logical to try to run by the safety; we take our chances with the idea that we can drill our QB to make the throw on time to Moss should he chose to run the skinny post. We also chose the fly as the base pattern, in case the defense makes the mistake of not accouting for Moss in motion out of the backfield.
But Moss and the tight end open up the short middle for the halfback who runs a simple pattern to about 12 yards over the ball. There's nothing fancy here. The idea is to exploit the chance that between the free safety either covering the deep post or "spliting" the field and the middle linebackers moving into short hook zones or rushing the passer, that area will be open.
Finally, the Flanker runs a fake drive pattern, then turns and moves into what I call a "sweet spot" between the two deep zones post and corner and just over the hook zone. The Flanker's the fourth receiver.
The line blocking is zone-push: the linepeople don't give ground and instead push the defenders to keep them at bay. The strong guard is "uncovered" and so watches for the inside linebacker first and then the outside linebacker blitz. If the outside linebacker rushes, the guard slides out to get the defender. If both linebackers rush, the guard plays inside and the QB throws the hot pass to the halfback, who should be wide open.
The QB takes five steps-- three big and two small -- reading the weak safety and the middle linebackers as the drop back is taking place. Then once taking a hitch step set, looks to one, and if not open, then two, and so on...
In this case, the split end "Y" is a decoy that runs a pattern to basically shield the Flanker and then spread the defense wide and to the sideline, perhaps bring the free safety that way depending on the coverage. But a variation of this would have the split end as the primary receiver.
This can be the bread and butter play for any offense, but it's best use is to create a mismatch for Randy Moss. As for the o-line, we solve the problems they have faced by 1) QB and receiver timing and 2) an aggressive blocking style more like the run.
Banarama - Cruel Summer Video
This is one of my all time favorite songs. I never tire of hearing it, and it's still hard to believe it's 23 years old. But Banarama's still going strong; their most recent album's called "Drama."
Black Velvet - YouTube Video With Alannah Myles
If you thought the timeless rock song Black Velvet was a product of The Wilson Sisters -- as I did -- you're flar wrong. The amazing voice behind this classic is of none other than Alannah Myles. Take a look and give a listen here:
Here are the lyrics (according to Songfacts, it's about Elvis Presley, but I thought it was refering to black men in the South, or an African American man she knew -- wishful thinking):
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
Mama's dancin' with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for
Chorus:
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Up in Memphis the music's like a heatwave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
"Love me tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?
(Solo)
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
If you please, if you please, if you please
Here are the lyrics (according to Songfacts, it's about Elvis Presley, but I thought it was refering to black men in the South, or an African American man she knew -- wishful thinking):
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
Mama's dancin' with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for
Chorus:
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Up in Memphis the music's like a heatwave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
"Love me tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?
(Solo)
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
If you please, if you please, if you please
Junior Seau May Join New England Patriots
Just three days after giving a stirring speach that he was graduating and not retiring from the Miami Dolphins, and the San Diego Chargers, and
The NFL, Junior Seau may graduate alright, right to the New England Patriots.
It's not suprising given that Seau remarked that no one wanted him, so he got out.
Well, no one asked the Pats.
NY Giants Crush KC Chiefs 17-0
The Chiefs have not yet played at home.
Manning, Giants sharp in win over Chiefs
NFL.com wire reports
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Eli Manning and the New York Giants showed flashes of offense they'll need to repeat as NFC East champions. They also showed Herm Edwards how much work his Kansas City Chiefs have left to do.
Manning threw for one touchdown and set up another and the Giants starters and backups dominated in a 17-0 preseason victory over Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, spoiling Edwards' return to Giants Stadium.
"We came out here and played very well," Manning said. "The defense did a great job of getting us good field possession on the first series and we were able to run the ball, throw the ball and convert third downs."
The Giants did just about anything they wanted in outgaining the Chiefs 309-111 while holding the ball for more than 37 minutes.
If the game showed anything, it was that the Giants (2-0) have the talent to repeat in the NFC East and that Edwards, the former Jets coach, has a lot of work ahead to get the Chiefs (0-2) back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
"We've done this two weeks in a row," Edwards said matter of factly. "I flat out told the guys it wasn't a good job coaching, and you just can't play like that against a team that went to the playoffs last year. We have to hurry up and rally now."
Edwards led the Jets to three playoff appearances in five seasons, but he was ushered out after a 4-12 mark last season. In taking the Chiefs job, he promised to shore up their porous defense.
No such change was evident against the Giants.
Eli Manning was effective in limited action for the Giants.
Manning shredded Kansas City for touchdowns on two of the first three drives, capping the first with a 5-yard toss to Amani Toomer and handing off the Brandon Jacobs for a 1-yard plunge on the third series.
The other drive probably would have resulted in points had not Jeremy Shockey and Tim Carter been hit with consecutive holding penalties in Chiefs territory.
Defensively, New York limited Trent Green (4-of-6 for 32 yards) and halfback Larry Johnson (4 carries for 8 yards) to two first downs in two series before turning things over to the backups. The Chiefs only got into Giants' territory once in the game, getting to the New York 40 on their second series.
"Is it time to panic?" Green asked. "No, but I definitely think there has to be much more of a sense of urgency on the starters part."
Manning finished 11-of-14 for 80 yards playing for the first time this preseason with all 11 starters from the offense that scored 422 points last season.
Manning spread the ball around extremely well, hitting Toomer, Plaxico Burress and Carter with two passes each. Tiki Barber, appearing for the first time, ran five times for 22 yards and caught a pass for nine more.
Shockey, who missed the preseason opener with a concussion, caught one pass for 10 yards and cleared out the middle on the short touchdown pass to Toomer.
"I'm excited we have something to build on," Shockey said.
In the second-quarter drive, Manning used a no-huddle offense to move New York 52 yards in eight plays without all starters in the game. Jacobs had a 14-yard run on the second play of the drive in which the Giants had only one third-down play: Jacobs' touchdown run.
Kansas City never threatened.
"Last week we didn't come out the way we wanted," Giants safety Gibril Wilson. "This week we came out flying."
The game also marked the return of quarterback Rob Johnson to NFL action for the first time since December 2003. He missed the last two seasons with an elbow injury that required surgery.
The 33-year-old Johnson, who the Giants signed in May, replaced Manning midway through the second quarter and played five series, completing 7 of 14 passes for 62 yards. The 10-year veteran put up points on his last drive, taking New York 65 yards for a 31-yard field goal by Jay Feely on the final play of the third quarter.
"I'm not satisfied," Johnson said. "I have a lot to improve on."
The most serious injury in the game was a sprained knee sustained by Giants starting center Shaun O'Hara. He will have an MRI on Friday, but he was not concerned.
"I'll be back working at Albany," O'Hara said, referring to the team's training camp site.
Manning, Giants sharp in win over Chiefs
NFL.com wire reports
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Eli Manning and the New York Giants showed flashes of offense they'll need to repeat as NFC East champions. They also showed Herm Edwards how much work his Kansas City Chiefs have left to do.
Manning threw for one touchdown and set up another and the Giants starters and backups dominated in a 17-0 preseason victory over Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, spoiling Edwards' return to Giants Stadium.
"We came out here and played very well," Manning said. "The defense did a great job of getting us good field possession on the first series and we were able to run the ball, throw the ball and convert third downs."
The Giants did just about anything they wanted in outgaining the Chiefs 309-111 while holding the ball for more than 37 minutes.
If the game showed anything, it was that the Giants (2-0) have the talent to repeat in the NFC East and that Edwards, the former Jets coach, has a lot of work ahead to get the Chiefs (0-2) back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
"We've done this two weeks in a row," Edwards said matter of factly. "I flat out told the guys it wasn't a good job coaching, and you just can't play like that against a team that went to the playoffs last year. We have to hurry up and rally now."
Edwards led the Jets to three playoff appearances in five seasons, but he was ushered out after a 4-12 mark last season. In taking the Chiefs job, he promised to shore up their porous defense.
No such change was evident against the Giants.
Eli Manning was effective in limited action for the Giants.
Manning shredded Kansas City for touchdowns on two of the first three drives, capping the first with a 5-yard toss to Amani Toomer and handing off the Brandon Jacobs for a 1-yard plunge on the third series.
The other drive probably would have resulted in points had not Jeremy Shockey and Tim Carter been hit with consecutive holding penalties in Chiefs territory.
Defensively, New York limited Trent Green (4-of-6 for 32 yards) and halfback Larry Johnson (4 carries for 8 yards) to two first downs in two series before turning things over to the backups. The Chiefs only got into Giants' territory once in the game, getting to the New York 40 on their second series.
"Is it time to panic?" Green asked. "No, but I definitely think there has to be much more of a sense of urgency on the starters part."
Manning finished 11-of-14 for 80 yards playing for the first time this preseason with all 11 starters from the offense that scored 422 points last season.
Manning spread the ball around extremely well, hitting Toomer, Plaxico Burress and Carter with two passes each. Tiki Barber, appearing for the first time, ran five times for 22 yards and caught a pass for nine more.
Shockey, who missed the preseason opener with a concussion, caught one pass for 10 yards and cleared out the middle on the short touchdown pass to Toomer.
"I'm excited we have something to build on," Shockey said.
In the second-quarter drive, Manning used a no-huddle offense to move New York 52 yards in eight plays without all starters in the game. Jacobs had a 14-yard run on the second play of the drive in which the Giants had only one third-down play: Jacobs' touchdown run.
Kansas City never threatened.
"Last week we didn't come out the way we wanted," Giants safety Gibril Wilson. "This week we came out flying."
The game also marked the return of quarterback Rob Johnson to NFL action for the first time since December 2003. He missed the last two seasons with an elbow injury that required surgery.
The 33-year-old Johnson, who the Giants signed in May, replaced Manning midway through the second quarter and played five series, completing 7 of 14 passes for 62 yards. The 10-year veteran put up points on his last drive, taking New York 65 yards for a 31-yard field goal by Jay Feely on the final play of the third quarter.
"I'm not satisfied," Johnson said. "I have a lot to improve on."
The most serious injury in the game was a sprained knee sustained by Giants starting center Shaun O'Hara. He will have an MRI on Friday, but he was not concerned.
"I'll be back working at Albany," O'Hara said, referring to the team's training camp site.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Philadelphia Eagles Drop One To Balimore Ravens 10-20
Ravens rally past Eagles for 20-10 win
NFL.com wire reports
BALTIMORE (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Standing in a corner of the Philadelphia Eagles locker room, Correll Buckhalter flashed a wide smile as he spoke excitedly about playing in the NFL again.
"Everything in the past is in the past," he said, referring to knee injuries that forced him to miss three of the past four seasons. "It's a new beginning for me."
Playing for the first time this preseason, Buckhalter ran 48 yards with a shovel pass from Donovan McNabb to set up the Eagles' lone touchdown in a 20-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
The final score didn't spoil the fun for Buckhalter, who has not played in the regular season since 2003. He is vying to be the backup to Brian Westbrook, who missed the game with a leg injury.
"It feels great to be back. I feel very blessed," Buckhalter said. "I put a lot of hard work into this, and practice makes perfect. I stayed calm throughout the process before getting on the field, and that helped me. I made no mental errors and followed my assignments."
Especially on his catch-and-go from McNabb. Buckhalter eased past the several blitzing linemen, then worked his way downfield before being tackled on the 1. He enjoyed less success carrying the football, however, gaining eight yards on five tries.
"I thought he did some good things," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It was good to get him in there, and he had the long screen play. I thought after that he was a little bit tired. We'll do a little more with him next week."
Buckhalter's spectacular play accounted for nearly half of McNabb's 97 yards through the air on 6-of-10 passing, all in the first half.
Down 10-3 at halftime, the Ravens got a 43-yard touchdown run from Musa Smith to pull even. Matt Stover kicked a 30-yard field goal later in the third quarter to give Baltimore (1-1) its first lead, and Kyle Boller threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Devard Darling with 13:34 left.
Ravens quarterback Steve McNair, who ran for a touchdown in his only series last week, couldn't get Baltimore into the end zone in 30 minutes of play. He went 14-for-18 for 148 yards and no interceptions.
Steve McNair looked good but managed just three first-half points.
"We did a good job from the 20 to the 20, but we've got to finish now," McNair said.
Darling finished with five catches for 121 yards, including a 42-yarder. He's seeking to earn a job as Baltimore's third wide receiver, and this performance didn't hurt his chances.
"Those are the kind of plays we've been waiting to see Devard make," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
Working with a no-huddle offense, the Eagles (1-2) scored on their opening drive after Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle was called for pass interference on the first play from scrimmage. Six plays after the 35-yard penalty, David Akers kicked a 43-yard field goal.
After Baltimore punted, the Eagles benefited from another penalty during an 80-yard drive that produced a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
On third down at the Philadelphia 22, McNabb threw an incomplete pass. But Ravens linebacker Bart Scott was called for illegal contact away from the play, and McNabb completed a 21-yard pass to L.J. Smith before connecting with Buckhalter.
Buckhalter gave credit to the offensive line, but the play wouldn't have worked if he didn't show the speed and footwork that characterized his play three years ago.
"For him to come back and bounce back this strong," McNabb said, "we cheer for him. He can gain some confidence from this and be able to move on."
After Buckhalter was stopped at the 1, McNabb threw a touchdown pass to Reno Mahe.
The Ravens answered with a 15-play drive that consumed more than nine minutes and produced a 30-yard field goal by Stover.
Late in the half, Baltimore moved to the Philadelphia 23 before Jevon Kearse hit McNair in the pocket, forcing a fumble that was recovered by safety Brian Dawkins. Ray Lewis then forced Mahe to fumble at the Philadelphia 42.
The Ravens moved to the 17 with 18 seconds to go, then inexplicably ran on a third-down play without any timeouts left. The clock ran out before they could try a field goal.
NFL.com wire reports
BALTIMORE (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Standing in a corner of the Philadelphia Eagles locker room, Correll Buckhalter flashed a wide smile as he spoke excitedly about playing in the NFL again.
"Everything in the past is in the past," he said, referring to knee injuries that forced him to miss three of the past four seasons. "It's a new beginning for me."
Playing for the first time this preseason, Buckhalter ran 48 yards with a shovel pass from Donovan McNabb to set up the Eagles' lone touchdown in a 20-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
The final score didn't spoil the fun for Buckhalter, who has not played in the regular season since 2003. He is vying to be the backup to Brian Westbrook, who missed the game with a leg injury.
"It feels great to be back. I feel very blessed," Buckhalter said. "I put a lot of hard work into this, and practice makes perfect. I stayed calm throughout the process before getting on the field, and that helped me. I made no mental errors and followed my assignments."
Especially on his catch-and-go from McNabb. Buckhalter eased past the several blitzing linemen, then worked his way downfield before being tackled on the 1. He enjoyed less success carrying the football, however, gaining eight yards on five tries.
"I thought he did some good things," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It was good to get him in there, and he had the long screen play. I thought after that he was a little bit tired. We'll do a little more with him next week."
Buckhalter's spectacular play accounted for nearly half of McNabb's 97 yards through the air on 6-of-10 passing, all in the first half.
Down 10-3 at halftime, the Ravens got a 43-yard touchdown run from Musa Smith to pull even. Matt Stover kicked a 30-yard field goal later in the third quarter to give Baltimore (1-1) its first lead, and Kyle Boller threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Devard Darling with 13:34 left.
Ravens quarterback Steve McNair, who ran for a touchdown in his only series last week, couldn't get Baltimore into the end zone in 30 minutes of play. He went 14-for-18 for 148 yards and no interceptions.
Steve McNair looked good but managed just three first-half points.
"We did a good job from the 20 to the 20, but we've got to finish now," McNair said.
Darling finished with five catches for 121 yards, including a 42-yarder. He's seeking to earn a job as Baltimore's third wide receiver, and this performance didn't hurt his chances.
"Those are the kind of plays we've been waiting to see Devard make," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
Working with a no-huddle offense, the Eagles (1-2) scored on their opening drive after Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle was called for pass interference on the first play from scrimmage. Six plays after the 35-yard penalty, David Akers kicked a 43-yard field goal.
After Baltimore punted, the Eagles benefited from another penalty during an 80-yard drive that produced a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
On third down at the Philadelphia 22, McNabb threw an incomplete pass. But Ravens linebacker Bart Scott was called for illegal contact away from the play, and McNabb completed a 21-yard pass to L.J. Smith before connecting with Buckhalter.
Buckhalter gave credit to the offensive line, but the play wouldn't have worked if he didn't show the speed and footwork that characterized his play three years ago.
"For him to come back and bounce back this strong," McNabb said, "we cheer for him. He can gain some confidence from this and be able to move on."
After Buckhalter was stopped at the 1, McNabb threw a touchdown pass to Reno Mahe.
The Ravens answered with a 15-play drive that consumed more than nine minutes and produced a 30-yard field goal by Stover.
Late in the half, Baltimore moved to the Philadelphia 23 before Jevon Kearse hit McNair in the pocket, forcing a fumble that was recovered by safety Brian Dawkins. Ray Lewis then forced Mahe to fumble at the Philadelphia 42.
The Ravens moved to the 17 with 18 seconds to go, then inexplicably ran on a third-down play without any timeouts left. The clock ran out before they could try a field goal.
"Security Moms" Are A Figment Of The Republican Imagination
I saw this howler of an article on Washingtonpost.com that "Security Moms" -- married women with kids -- were leaving the GOP in droves according to polls.
Well, I've got news: they were never there.
There's this really annoying tendency to pare down anyone who voted for George Bush in 2000 and 2004 as a solid support of him and the GOP. Well, no. First, you've only got two real choices for President -- the Greens and Independents (flaky by the name) have not advanced a really viable candidate. So it's either one guy or the other.
George Bush voters just liked him better than Al Gore and even more so that John Kerry.
Let us remember it was Joh Kerry who made the crack about marrying up to his wife, not George W. I was at a Bay Area Democrats event attended mostly by white women between 21 and 60 -- about 30 percent with kids -- and all let out a collective groan when Kerry made that slip of the tongue. I could see votes slipping away right them.
The Security Moms just plain don't like George W any more. I mean they voted for him but that never translated into support. Let's not forget that as long as the GOP remains white male dominant in its policies -- like abortion -- it will never ever capture the vote of every married woman with kids and this fact will remain as more and more women enter the workforce and take on traditional male roles. The GOP's demise -- or change -- can be seen in demographics.
Then signal is clear: welcome to the 21st Century GOP -- deal with it!
Matt Leinart To Start In Second Quarter Of Pats Game This Weekend
Never been to an NFL game? Matt? Wow!
Newly signed Leinart to play 2nd quarter
NFL.com wire reports
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Aug. 16, 2006) -- Matt Leinart finally gets to see his first NFL game against the New England Patriots -- from under center.
The Arizona Cardinals plan to play Leinart at least a quarter, Cardinals coach Dennis Green said.
"He'll go in the second, and then John Navarre will go in the third,"
Kurt Warner and the Cardinals first team will play the first quarter. Then the rookie from Southern California, who ended a two-week holdout by signing a six-year contract late Aug. 14, will attend a pro game for the first time.
"I've never been to an NFL game," Leinart said, "and my first game I'm going to be playing in. It's pretty cool."
He has taken extensive reps with the second team since arriving at the training camp, which ends Aug. 17 at Northern Arizona University.
"I was a little surprised," Leinart said of his early work in practice. "They were throwing me in there almost every time it seemed like. But it was good. I thought I threw the ball pretty well."
Green said that while Leinart has not been around to work on the entire Arizona offense, he arrived in time to focus on the game plan for New England.
"There are a lot of things we have done that won't be a part of the game this week," Green said. "The things that are going to be part of the game this week Matt Leinart will have a very good knowledge of, so I think he'll go out and play well."
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Bruno Kirby Of "When Harry Met Sally" Dies at 57
This report by Niki Finne makes you understand how short and precious our lives are. Click on the link to read it. Here's an except below:
From AP: Bruno Kirby, the veteran character actor who co-starred in When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers has died at age 57 in Los Angeles from complications related to leukemia, according to a statement today from his wife, Lynn Sellers. He had recently been diagnosed with the disease. "We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from Bruno's fans and colleagues who have admired and respected his work over the past 30 years," his wife said. "Bruno's spirit will continue to live on not only in his rich body of film and television work but also through the lives of individuals he has touched throughout his life."
From AP: Bruno Kirby, the veteran character actor who co-starred in When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers has died at age 57 in Los Angeles from complications related to leukemia, according to a statement today from his wife, Lynn Sellers. He had recently been diagnosed with the disease. "We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from Bruno's fans and colleagues who have admired and respected his work over the past 30 years," his wife said. "Bruno's spirit will continue to live on not only in his rich body of film and television work but also through the lives of individuals he has touched throughout his life."
STEELERS-DOLPHINS KICK OFF NFL SEASON With RASCAL FLATS - NFL
From NFL Media.com
STEELERS-DOLPHINS KICK OFF SEASON
ON NBC ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Pittsburgh and Miami Anchor "NFL Opening Kickoff 2006 Presented by Sprint"
Special Preceding Game
The journey to Super Bowl XLI begins on Thursday night, September 7.
That night, the NFL will kick off its 2006 season when the Super Bowl XL champion PITTSBURGH STEELERS host the MIAMI
DOLPHINS at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The game will be televised by NBC in its return as an NFL television partner.
Each year, the previous season’s Super Bowl winner hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the next year. The Steelers will begin defense of their Super Bowl crown against a team that won its final six games of 2005.
The kickoff of the 2006 season will be accompanied by musical performances in two cities.
RASCAL FLATS will help kick it off with a performance at Heinz Field as part of "NFL Opening Kickoff 2006 Presented by Sprint"
-- a half-hour pregame special on NBC at 8:00 PM ET.
The performance is part of a two-city football kickoff and music celebration that will honor the Super Bowl champion Steelers and look ahead to Super Bowl XLI on February 4 in South Florida.
The nationally televised pregame event also will include the singing of the national anthem at Heinz Field by MARTINA MC
BRIDE.
In South Florida, DIDDY and CASSIE will perform from a specially designed stage on South Beach in Miami as part of a
free concert. Also performing on the beach will be TEGO CALDERON, DJ RIZ and the Miami Dolphins’ cheerleaders.
There also will be a series of community events in South Florida in the days leading up to NFL Kickoff 2006, including youth clinics and other activities.
Vikings Koren Robinson In Chase WIth Police At 120 MPH...
Minnesota Vikings Koren Washington was arrested on what will be his third DUI, according to the NFL Network. What is not reported in the Wash Post link is that Koren Robinson was driving at a speed so fast, police couldn't clock him. They lost him in chase for a bit, so they went by their own car's speed: 120 MPH. But even with that, Robinson still eluded them.
If you're wondering what Robinson was driving, it was a BMW, proving that even with a drunken pro athlete behind the wheel, it's still the Ulimate Driving Machine.
Israel Is Giving Its Position To The UN; Question Of Hezbollah's Strength Is Wrongheaded
The Wash Post reports on Israel's pullout of Lebannon and to the UN's force. But Chris Matthews of "Hardball" asked if Hezbollah had been weakened.
I think that's the wrong question. It seems to compare the organization to a standing army; the simple fact that such a query would develop shows how little we Americans really "get" the Arab / Israel conflict. Hezbollah represents a force in what is more a holy war than a common nation to nation battle. Thus, it's more a movement than an army.
Take a look at this video. Yes, it's totally anti-Hezbollah, but it underscores my point of how severe the differences are and why we as Americans must be careful.
I think that's the wrong question. It seems to compare the organization to a standing army; the simple fact that such a query would develop shows how little we Americans really "get" the Arab / Israel conflict. Hezbollah represents a force in what is more a holy war than a common nation to nation battle. Thus, it's more a movement than an army.
Take a look at this video. Yes, it's totally anti-Hezbollah, but it underscores my point of how severe the differences are and why we as Americans must be careful.
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