Two big names on the move?
By Jeff Christian
Published: January 17, 2009
With NFL coaches coming and going, teams positioning themselves for the road to Tampa and this year’s Super Bowl, some questions remain about some of the game’s top players.
It was reported earlier this week that the Dallas Cowboys may be in talks about releasing Terrell Owens, while the San Diego Chargers are said to be exploring the possibility of releasing running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
First of all, if the Cowboys release, or trade, Owens, that would be the first step in destroying the team.
It’s true, many people don’t like Owens - especially Redskins fans - but one thing is for sure, he is a big time player.
He runs his mouth when he shouldn’t and he also drops passes when he shouldn’t. But take Owens away from the Cowboys and who do they have for Tony Romo to throw to?
Roy Williams has been a bust so far for the Cowboys since coming over from Detroit and if Dallas fans are looking to the draft, the best wide receiver coming out of college, Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech, will not last out of the first five to 10 picks in the upcoming draft.
It has been reported Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis wants Crabtree to play for the Raiders. They have the No. 7 selection in this year’s draft.
Crabtree, however, may not last that long. If not Andre Smith, an offensive lineman from Alabama could go to the Raiders.
So who will Dallas turn to?
There is no one available that is even close to being as talented as Owens. Dallas has the offense to win, it just needs to tweak its defense which allowed 22 points a game last year.
And after the defense is fixed in Dallas, the Cowboys need to find a real backup quarterback just in case Romo goes down… again.
As for Tomlinson, his days in San Diego seem to be over.
After eight years as one of the top running backs in the game, Tomlinson had his worst season this past year rushing for only 1,100 yards. This comes just two years removed from Tomlinson setting a new single-season for touchdowns with 31 – 28 rushing.
He scored 186 points that season.
Tomlinson did not play last week in the Chargers loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a toe and groin injury.
The future for the Chargers must be Darren Sproles, who will become an unrestricted free agent after the Super Bowl.
Sproles gives the Chargers life on kickoff and punt returns, as well as in the backfield. He has explosive speed and although he was bottled up against the Steelers, he ran wild against the Indianapolis Colts in their first-round playoff game.
So if Tomlinson is released from San Diego, where could he go?
The Cowboys have Marion Barber and Felix Jones, so they are out.
But what about the Washington Redskins?
Clinton Portis is unhappy and most fans are unhappy with him. He has become the Redskins’ version of Terrell Owens and when a player starts coming out in public and ripping his head coach, it’s time for a change.
What if the Redskins trade Portis to a team for draft choices? It is know the Redskins don’t handle the draft very well, but if the Skins could come up with a few more draft picks, maybe, just maybe they could use them wisely.
Trade Portis and then either sign a Tomlinson as a free agent if he is released, or trade with the Chargers if that is the way San Diego lets him go.
Head coach Jim Zorn will have his back up against the wall this coming season with Bill Cowher still available to take over for an NFL team.
It seems Cowher has weathered this year’s storm of coaching vacancies and will be a hot topic of discussion during and after the 2009 season.
So, with that said, Zorn will be looking for a spark to jump-start his team and Tomlinson could very well be what he needs to do just that.
SPEAKING OF COACHING MOVES, could you believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Jon Gruden?
Tampa has missed the playoff four out of the last six years, but Gruden is the winningest coach in Bucs’ history and led them to a Super Bowl win in 2003.
The ‘what have you done for me lately?’ formula must have kicked in.
It looks as if Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, 32, will be named as the Bucs’ new head coach.
St. Louis and the New York Jets are still looking for a head coach.
Next to be fired? It could very well be Herman Edwards in Kansas City.
AND FINALLY, did you see the lame publicity stunt Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl pulled earlier this week?
He acted as if he was going to change his name from Ravenstahl to Steelerstahl since the Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting the Baltimore Ravens tonight in the AFC championship game.
Ravenstahl went as far as to halfway fill out the petition needed to change his name at Civil court, but did not pay the $108 fee needed to see it through.
Ravenstahl was reacting to callers to local sports radio shows saying he should change his name.
Today’s winners… Arizona will beat Philadelphia in a shootout and in another close one, the Pittsburgh Steelers will fall short in their bid to beat the Baltimore Ravens for a third time in one season.
This year’s Super Bowl, Arizona vs. Baltimore.
Published: January 17, 2009
With NFL coaches coming and going, teams positioning themselves for the road to Tampa and this year’s Super Bowl, some questions remain about some of the game’s top players.
It was reported earlier this week that the Dallas Cowboys may be in talks about releasing Terrell Owens, while the San Diego Chargers are said to be exploring the possibility of releasing running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
First of all, if the Cowboys release, or trade, Owens, that would be the first step in destroying the team.
It’s true, many people don’t like Owens - especially Redskins fans - but one thing is for sure, he is a big time player.
He runs his mouth when he shouldn’t and he also drops passes when he shouldn’t. But take Owens away from the Cowboys and who do they have for Tony Romo to throw to?
Roy Williams has been a bust so far for the Cowboys since coming over from Detroit and if Dallas fans are looking to the draft, the best wide receiver coming out of college, Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech, will not last out of the first five to 10 picks in the upcoming draft.
It has been reported Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis wants Crabtree to play for the Raiders. They have the No. 7 selection in this year’s draft.
Crabtree, however, may not last that long. If not Andre Smith, an offensive lineman from Alabama could go to the Raiders.
So who will Dallas turn to?
There is no one available that is even close to being as talented as Owens. Dallas has the offense to win, it just needs to tweak its defense which allowed 22 points a game last year.
And after the defense is fixed in Dallas, the Cowboys need to find a real backup quarterback just in case Romo goes down… again.
As for Tomlinson, his days in San Diego seem to be over.
After eight years as one of the top running backs in the game, Tomlinson had his worst season this past year rushing for only 1,100 yards. This comes just two years removed from Tomlinson setting a new single-season for touchdowns with 31 – 28 rushing.
He scored 186 points that season.
Tomlinson did not play last week in the Chargers loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a toe and groin injury.
The future for the Chargers must be Darren Sproles, who will become an unrestricted free agent after the Super Bowl.
Sproles gives the Chargers life on kickoff and punt returns, as well as in the backfield. He has explosive speed and although he was bottled up against the Steelers, he ran wild against the Indianapolis Colts in their first-round playoff game.
So if Tomlinson is released from San Diego, where could he go?
The Cowboys have Marion Barber and Felix Jones, so they are out.
But what about the Washington Redskins?
Clinton Portis is unhappy and most fans are unhappy with him. He has become the Redskins’ version of Terrell Owens and when a player starts coming out in public and ripping his head coach, it’s time for a change.
What if the Redskins trade Portis to a team for draft choices? It is know the Redskins don’t handle the draft very well, but if the Skins could come up with a few more draft picks, maybe, just maybe they could use them wisely.
Trade Portis and then either sign a Tomlinson as a free agent if he is released, or trade with the Chargers if that is the way San Diego lets him go.
Head coach Jim Zorn will have his back up against the wall this coming season with Bill Cowher still available to take over for an NFL team.
It seems Cowher has weathered this year’s storm of coaching vacancies and will be a hot topic of discussion during and after the 2009 season.
So, with that said, Zorn will be looking for a spark to jump-start his team and Tomlinson could very well be what he needs to do just that.
SPEAKING OF COACHING MOVES, could you believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Jon Gruden?
Tampa has missed the playoff four out of the last six years, but Gruden is the winningest coach in Bucs’ history and led them to a Super Bowl win in 2003.
The ‘what have you done for me lately?’ formula must have kicked in.
It looks as if Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, 32, will be named as the Bucs’ new head coach.
St. Louis and the New York Jets are still looking for a head coach.
Next to be fired? It could very well be Herman Edwards in Kansas City.
AND FINALLY, did you see the lame publicity stunt Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl pulled earlier this week?
He acted as if he was going to change his name from Ravenstahl to Steelerstahl since the Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting the Baltimore Ravens tonight in the AFC championship game.
Ravenstahl went as far as to halfway fill out the petition needed to change his name at Civil court, but did not pay the $108 fee needed to see it through.
Ravenstahl was reacting to callers to local sports radio shows saying he should change his name.
Today’s winners… Arizona will beat Philadelphia in a shootout and in another close one, the Pittsburgh Steelers will fall short in their bid to beat the Baltimore Ravens for a third time in one season.
This year’s Super Bowl, Arizona vs. Baltimore.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:33 AM
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