Rodney Harrison: Brett Favre Is “Selfish”

Often voted NFL’s dirtiest player, the now retired Rodney Harrison is hitting hard in a new way.

Harrison sacked Brett Favre on the Dan Patrick Show calling the quarterback “selfish.”

“Each and every off-season bringing so much attention to himself. It’s just really a disappointment to hear that time and time again…If you’ve been in the league 13, 14, 15 years or so you know if you want to play. The circus shouldn’t have to go on for three to four years. It’s just a disappointment.”

Favre is expected to come out of retirement for the second straight season, this time to join the Minnesota Vikings.

Last summer, the first time Favre came back, the “Favre saga” lasted for week after week.

After 16 seasons in a Green Bay Packers uniform, Favre was traded to the New York Jets after deciding he wanted to come out of retirement. The Packers had already committed to young Aaron Rodgers and did not welcome Favre to come back and be the starter. Therefore, Green Bay was forced to trade the then 38-year-old to New York.

With the Jets in 2008, Favre threw for 3,472 yards with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He experienced shoulder soreness late in the year, but said it wasn’t affecting him.

The Jets collapsed at the end of the season, missing the playoffs and Favre once again retired.

After the Jets released Favre from their roster, rumors swirled that he was considering returning. The only questions were: Do the Vikings want him? Will his shoulder be OK?

The first answer is yes. The second is still undecided.

Favre had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago, and has been throwing with minimal pain since.

Favre admitted on the HBO show, Joe Buck Live, that he was going to return if his shoulder was OK.

Reports lately say Favre and the Vikings have agreed to a deal in principle so it’s only a matter of time now before it’s official.

Harrison is upset because he feels Favre is continuously putting attention on himself and it’s keeping attention away from other people who are doing good things.

“Then the media they’re just so caught up and in love with Brett Favre… It’s ridiculous because a lot of guys are doing good, positive things in the National Football League and those keep things keep getting overlooked.”

The Favre circus continues another year. It can be annoying at times but it’s certainly entertaining!

Lombardi Trophy heading to Pittsburgh!!!

The Pittsburgh Steelers are now the winningest franchise in NFL history as the only team to win six Super Bowl championships!

Roethlisberger celebrates his 2nd Super bowl championship

The Steelers won their sixth in Super Bowl XLIII, over the Cardinals 27-23 with a late comeback capping off arguably one of the most exciting championship games in league history!

Early in the game the Cards came out flat and Pittsburgh quickly went up 10-9.  But late in the 2nd quarter trailing 10-7, the Cardinals had the ball inside the Steeler 5 yard line about to take the lead.  Instead, NFL Defensive Player of the Year LB James Harrison of the Steelers picked off a Kurt Warner pass at the goaline and returned it a Super Bowl record 100yds for the score as time ran out in the half.  The remarkable return had the black and gold heading into the half with a 17-7 lead.

The Steelers extended there lead having a 20-7 lead in the 4th quarter.  It looked like Mike Tomlin’s Steelers were going to easily pull away with victory.   Kurt Warner and company had something else in mind.

With 7:33 to play in the final quarter, Kurt Warner connected with favorite WR Larry Fitzgerald on 3rd and goal from the 1yd line for a Touchdown!  The score closed the Cards within 6.   After an Arizona punt that downed

One of Larry Fitzgerald's two 4th quarter TD's

Pittsburgh inside the 5 yard line, and a Steeler penalty that occured in their own endzone for a safety, Arizona all of a sudden were within four!

With under 3 minutes to play and trailing 20-16, Warner once again connected with Fitzgerald for a 74 yard TD to take the lead!  But did they leave too much time for Ben Roethlisberger and company?

Unfortunately for Cardinals fans the answer is yes.  Roethlisberger led his team on a Tom Brady like drive which concluded with a Touchdown pass in the back corner of the endzone to eventual game MVP Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds to go!

Santonio Holmes catches the game winner!

The league’s #1 defense finished it off forcing a Warner fumble with 5 seconds left.  With one Roethlisberger kneel down, the Pittsburgh Steelers are world champions!

Super Bowl Predictions!

Well, its that time of year again.  Super bowl time!  I can’t believe this year has gone by already.  Seems like we were just talking about Peyton Manning getting off to a bad start, and whether or not Matt Cassel could fill Brady’s shoes.  But the road is coming to an end.  There are just two surviving teams remaining.  Arizona and Pittsburgh.

Some called them the worst team in playoff history.  They say they are being disrespected.  They’re trying to shock the world.  They are, the Arizona Cardinals.  It was just a couple years ago, back in Super Bowl XL, when now Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt was calling the plays from the Pittsburgh sidelines in the big game.  Now he’s on the other side, against his old team.  Does Whisenhunt and also former Steelers assistant Russ Grimm, know enough of the Pittsburgh tendencies for their team to pull out the upset?

Or will second year head coach Mike Tomlin of the Steelers get his ring?  The Steelers are the heavy favorites in the game, but there are also a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon and rooting for the underdogs.  The underdog mentality has worked for many teams in the past.  Teams like the ‘01 Patriots and especially last seasons New York Giants. But we’ve also seen our fair share of favorites pull out the victory in the big game.

Coming in the Cardinals strengths has been their passing game.  They ranked dead last in the run however in the regular season.  But since the start of the playoffs, Edgerin James and company have turned on the fresh legs and have been quite successful on the ground.  But you can’t argue with the talents of Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona receiving corps.  Fitzgerald has already broken the great Jerry Rice’s record for yards in a playoff run and he’s still got one game left!  Scary….

To counter that powerful offense the Cards bring to the table, Pittsburgh has the league’s number one defense.  For years the saying has always been “defense wins championships.”  There’s  no better example than last year’s big dance as the Giants defense shut down and upset the greatest offense to ever hit the field.  If anyone can shutdown Larry Fitz, its the Steeler’s secondary.  With Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend roaming that secondary not to mention Ryan Clark and the great Troy Polamalu, the Steelers do in fact have a chance to at least slow down Fitzgerald and Boldin.  However, Steve Breaston could play a big role as the number three receiver for Arizona.

Its gonna be a good one.

My predictions:
A lot of people are saying this is going to be a blowout. I agree. However, most are saying it will be in favor of the Steelers. I disagree. I think the Cards will get the job done big time. I think right from the start, the Cards will have more energy, more motivation and just come out looking and playing better. Arizona will have a 10-3 first quarter lead. After 2 quarters, the Cards will lead 27-6. But coming out of the half, the Steelers will start to look a little better. They’ll come out and close within 27-16. But after that, its all Cardinals. I think Steve Breaston is going to have a game of a lifetime. Pittsburgh will be so worried about Fitz and Boldin, they’ll forget about Breaston and even Jeremy Urban. I also think you’ll see a lot of screens to Hightower and J.J. Arrington. The Cards defense will also play fantastic. Roethlisberger will look like an average QB. By the end, it’ll just be ridiculous how out of sync the Steelers offense is. It’ll look like the Bengals offense, nothing that should be playing in the big game. Cards win 40-23. Kurt Warner retires after the game.

What do you think?

Edwards Out as KC Head Coach!

“You play to win the game.” once said by former Jets and Chiefs headcoach Herman Edwards.  But after two awful seasons in Kansas City, Edwards didnt do enough winning, and as a result, he’s out as KC’s head man.

Edwards couldn't get the job done in KC. Will the next coach have more success?

Kansas City had a record of 15-33 under coach Edwards in the regular season. They lost their one and only playoff game during that stretch.

This firing was expected by many after new GM Scott Pioli joined the team January 13th.

“Since my arrival last week, Herm and I have had several conversations as part of my overall evaluation of the football operation,” Pioli said in the statement. “After careful consideration, Clark and I felt that it was best to make a change.”

Edwards joined the team after coaching the New York Jets from 2001-’05. But his rebuilding efforts fall short of expectations.

“This was not an easy decision,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. “Herm is an outstanding football coach and a man of integrity. We appreciate his leadership over the past three seasons, and we wish him all the best in the future.”

Edwards knew that there was a chance this would happen after 2008 ended at 2-14.

“There is not a more gracious family in all of professional sports than the Hunts,” Edwards said in a statement released by the team. “To the players and coaches who worked so hard for our team, I appreciate their efforts. This is going to be a very good football team. The support of Chiefs fans across the country has been tremendous. They are truly passionate about their football team.”

Despite the embarrassing record, the players remained loyal and confident in their coach.

“A coach’s main job is to make sure a team is prepared,” Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters, one of the Chiefs’ few veterans, said shortly before the team ended its season. “There is no doubt that this team has been well prepared every week. Herm and the coaches can’t go onto the field and make plays. That’s up to the players, and that’s just something we haven’t done this year. In no way do I think Herm is responsible for our record.”

The 2008 season was full of disappointment and injuries. Edwards lost his starting quarterback on opening day, and his backup not too long afterwards.  Third-stringer Tyler Thigpen showed some promise at times, but clearly was not ready to take charge of the team. Injuries also attacked the linebackers, defensive backs, and the offensive and defensive lines both.

Star runningback Larry Johnson also missed a few games as he was suspended by the team for a few games because of off the field issues.

With this firing, the NFL will see 11 headcoaching changes this offseason, a league record.

Kansas City is rumored to be chasing after Iowa University head coach Kirk Ferentz, Arizona cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.  Ferentz spent the 1993-95 seasons as offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns.  Current Kansas City GM Scott Pioli was also a part of that team over those seasons.  Todd Haley worked for former Cowboys coach, and Pioli’s father in-law Bill Parcells in Dallas.  Parcells, now GM of the Miami Dolphins with Pasqualoni as defensive coordinator. Former Super bowl winning coach with Pittsburgh Bill Cowher has also drawn interest from the Chiefs.

Over the next couple of weeks, the Chiefs will have some tough decisions to make.  And whoever the successor for Edwards is, he will have quite a challenge ahead of him.

Cowboys reality show….T.O. not the star???

Seems lately the Dallas Cowboys are more like a reality show rather than a football team.  From T.O. wanting the ball, and accusing Jason Witten and quarterback Tony Romo creating plays for each other, to Pacman Jones its a lot like something you’d see on one of those T.V. shows right?  Well now the Cowboys get a reality show for real. Yes, for real, just this time with a different “star”.

NFL hall of fame WR Michael Irvin will host the show

Former Dallas Cowboy widereciever, and hall of famer Michael Irvin, will be the host of the new reality show in which 12 contestants will compete for a chance to make the Cowboys training camp roster. The contestants will include 6 receivers and 6 defensive backs.

“I don’t know if you can walk upon any group of guys that wouldn’t say they dreamed of playing in the NFL when they were playing in their front yard,” Irvin told The Associated Press on Thursday. “So we’re going to take a group of guys from their front yard, dwindle them to one and give that guy the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The Cowboys have confirmed they will give one of their 80 camp roster spots to the winner of the show. This new show has yet to recieve a title, but will air on Spike TV in the spring. Dallas opens camp in July.

“We want someone who will have a real opportunity to make the team,” Irvin said. “You could’ve played college ball and had to give up for some reason,” he said. “You know how many stories are out there of players who for some reason or another had to walk away from the game. … We want to find those guys.”

The show, hosted by Irvin, will include judges.  These “judges” have yet to be named but may consist of team owner Jerry Jones and former Cowboys players.

“I don’t see how you can make this a negative for the Dallas Cowboys,” he said. “We all talk of doing good things for the community, for people, giving people opportunities. Jerry has stepped up and said, ‘OK, let’s do it.”‘

So the reality show that is the Dallas Cowboys continues.

McNabb harassed by fans again….Cards fans

Donovan McNabb is pretty used to getting harassed by Eagles fans.  They blame him for losing games, and not winning championships.  Heck, they booed him before he even put on an Eagle jersey.  But this time its the Arizona Cardinals fans doing the damage.

McNabb sacked by the fans

Thursday leading up to the NFC Championship game vs. Arizona, McNabb discovered a Cardinals flag hanging in his yard of his Chandler, AZ. home.  He laughed it off and actually left it hanging.

On Saturday he found a carboard box in his driveway with “Go Cards” written on one side and “Beat Philly” on the other. Once again McNabb found it funny and left it.

But it was no longer seen as a joke when McNabb discovered the cheers burned into his lawn.  The burns cost an estimated $2,000 of damage.

Rex Perkins and Ryan Hanlon later admitted to the pranks.

“When they decided to get diesel fuel out and start damaging the yard, they crossed the line,” Chandler police Sgt. Joe Favazzo said.

Jets turn to Rex

The New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan have agreed to a 4-year deal for Ryan to replace Eric Mangini as the Jets new head coach.

Can Rex Ryan bring a championship to the Jets?

Three weeks ago the Jets fired Eric Mangini after a late season collapse saw the team go from leading the AFC East, to watching the playoffs from home. Yesterday Rex Ryan was announced to be the new head coach.  Ryan comes over after spending the last 10 seasons with Baltimore.

“We got the right man for the job,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement.

Ryan, 46, will be introduced with his new team at a 10 A.M. EST. news conference on Wednesday.

“It’s been a dream of mine to become a head coach in the NFL,” Ryan said in a statement. “Coming here to the New York Jets, where my father once coached and was part of the Super Bowl III staff, is fantastic. I look around at the facilities and the people they have in place and see a first-class organization. I’m just proud to be part of it.”

Ryan comes from a football background.  His father, former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, and twin brother Rob Ryan, who was recently hired by Eric Mangini with his new team in Cleveland.

“I think it’s a gain for them and a loss for us, but it’s well-deserved,” Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said. “It was a long time coming.”

The hiring comes a day after the 11-5 Ravens were eliminated from the playoffs following a 23-14 loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

Under Ryan as Defensive Coordinator the past four seasons, the Baltimore defense ranked in the top six in run defense including second to Pittsburgh in 2008. They also led the league with 34 takeaways this past season.

The Jets job will be a challenge for Ryan.  He’ll take over an inconsistent defense, ranking 29th overall against the pass, and 18th in points allowed in ‘08.  Another question to be asked is who will be quarterbacking his ship?  Will to be 40 year old Brett Favre comeback for another season?  Or will Ryan have to make a decision on a younger player at the position?  There are many questions to be answered, but many believe Ryan is the right guy for the job.

Superbowl Matchup Decided!!!

Who would’ve thought just a couple weeks ago, after the New England Patriots put a stomping on the Arizona Cardinals 47-7, that it would be the Cards in the superbowl and the Pats sitting at home?  Not many you can bet on that.  But the 9-7 Cardinals have played the underdog card throughout the playoffs with upset after upset and they remain on the road to glory.

Kurt Warner will be playing in his 3rd superbowl in the last 10 years. Will he get his second ring?

That road is shared with just one team now….The Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Steelers beat their division rival Baltimore 23-14 in a tough, physical, defensive battle.  Despite the Ravens closing within 2 in the fourth quarter, the Steelers remained in control of the game.  Troy Polamalu picked off Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco in the 4th to stamp their ticket to Tampa.

“They did it tonight the way we’ve done it all year,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game. “We’ve got a very humble group, a very selfless group.”

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt will be going up against his old team.

“I mean, I’m glad we’re playing in it, but the reason I’m here is because of my time with Pittsburgh,” Whisenhunt said, “and I am very grateful for that.”

Santonio Holmes played a big part in the Steelers AFC Championship run.

“We got our old coaches. We all won a Super Bowl here with the Steelers together,” linebacker James Farrior said. “I’m sure they’re going to be coming after us to get this one.”

Who will be the next Super bowl champion?  We’ll find out Sunday, Feb. 1st 2009.  Should be a hell of a ball game!

Coaching Carrousel Continues

Friday:   Jon Gruden out of Tampa, Jim Haslett eliminated from candidates for Rams. Saturday: Tampa Bay introduces Raheem Morris as head coach, and St. Louis announces Steve Spagnuolo as their new coach.

It didn’t take long for the Buccaneers to decide who they wanted to replace Jon Gruden. It shocked everyone when the Glazer’s pulled the trigger on a Gruden firing Friday evening.  But the hiring of Morris was no surprise.

Morris, 32, spent the 2008 season as defensive backs coach under head coach Jon Gruden and Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.  But when Kiffin decided to leave Tampa for Tennessee University to join his son Lane, the former Raider coach, Morris was promoted to Defensive Coordinator.  But just a couple weeks later Morris finds himself not preparing for the defense, but preparing for his first NFL head coaching job.

“It’s really hard to even imagine right now. It’s all happened so fast,” Morris said. “I’m so fired up. I’m happy to initiate our plan. I can’t wait to get going.”

The Denver Broncos and other teams with head coaching vacancies this offseason were interested in Morris.  Morris actually interviewed with Denver before they hired Josh McDaniels.

Mark Dominik was hired as GM to replace Bruce Allen who was also fired with Gruden on Friday.

Saturday also was a career changer for Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as he was announced to be the next head coach of the St. Louis Rams.  The Rams transition of head coaches didn’t go as smoothly as it did for the Bucs.

Scott Linehan was the coach in St. Louis coming into the 2008 season.  But after an 0-4 start, Linehan was relieved of his duties in favor of former New Orleans head man Jim Haslett.  Haslett quickly won his first 2 games and nearly beat New England in his 3rd. However, after that it was all losing, and St. Louis was back to the way they started the season….winless. They finished the season 2-14, 2-10 under Haslett.

Spagnuolo, 49, wil try to get the Rams back to their super bowl days from earlier in the decade.  Spagnuolo knows a thing or two about winning a Superbowl as he stirred up the defensive gameplan that shut down the greatest offense in NFL history, the New England Patriots, to beat them in Super bowl XLII 17-14 stopping an undefeated run.

Can Spagnuolo turn around a sorry St. Louis football team?

Spagnuolo was said to have turned the Giants Defense from good, to great.

“He did a great job in his two years with the Giants,” Coughlin said. “We’ve been very, very aggressive on defense, and we’ve been able to have two very successful years back-to-back. Steve has made an outstanding contribution to our team, and we wish Steve and Maria (his wife) all the best.”

The new St. Louis head coach will be introduced on Monday at noon EST in a press conference.

“We considered some very qualified and outstanding candidates for this position, but we kept coming back to Steve Spagnuolo.” Rams general manager Bill Devaney said in the statement.

“Steve has been on some outstanding defensive staffs during his 10 seasons in the NFL,” Devaney added. “He represented what we were looking for when this process began.”

Peppers wants out of Carolina

Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers says he will not sign a long term deal with the team.  Peppers, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 26th, has spent all 7 of his NFL seasons with the Panthers.  The four time probowler grew up in Bailey, NC.

The reason to want out of his hometown state?  The former 2nd overall pick says he believes the Panthers defensive system is not for him.  According to his agent, he wants to play in a 3-4 defense, Carolina uses a 4-3.

Where will the 29 year old Peppers play in 09?

“He loves the state of North Carolina. His family is there. The easier situation for him would be to stay in Carolina,” Peppers’ agent, Carl Carey, said Saturday. “But the decision that he faced was, do I stay in Carolina and perhaps never reach my full potential? Or do I open myself to the possibilities to finish my career elsewhere? He chose the latter.”

Now you ask what can the Panthers do to keep their star Defensive End?  The only thing the could do is place the franchise tag on him.   But doing that would mean the Panthers would have to give Peppers a one-year deal worth $16.7 million. And Peppers also could decide to hold out.

“I am seeking new challenges that will allow me to grow, develop and reach my personal potential on the football field,” Peppers said. “I strongly feel that making a move at this time is in my best interest. I appreciate the entire Panthers’ organization and am thankful for the seven seasons I’ve spent with the team.”

Peppers finished the 2008 season with 51 tackles and 14.5 sacks.  One of his better seasons statistically.  We’ll see what happens in the coming months.