The free agent frenzy has been fast-paced and only a few impact players remain unsigned. I wanted to do a "Top 10" list but could only come up with seven.
Top 7 Remaining FA's
1. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: Quite possibly the only game-changer on this list. He carried Arizona through the playoffs and looks like he has a couple more years in him.
Update: Warner re-signed with Arizona, as expected. looks like Matt Leinart has clipboard duties for the next two years.
2. Igor Olshansky, DT, Chargers: A solid contrubutor on the defensive line in a league lacking solid defensive linemen.
Update: Olshansky signed with the Cowboys.
3. Bryant McFadden, CB, Steelers: Quiet and dependable, perfect qualities in a cornerback.
Update: McFadden quietly signed with the Cardinals. A great move for Arizona.
4. Jabari Greer, CB, Bills: An underrated cog in the Bills' D.
Update: Greer inked a deal with the Saints, a team in desperate need of help in the secondary.
5. Byron Leftwich, QB, Steelers: A perfect backup quarterback.
6. Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets: Coles unbelievably turned down a $6m deal from the Jets. He'll regret that in a few weeks.
Update: Coles signed a 4-year, $28m deal with the Bengals. Maybe he wasn't crazy after all.
7. Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens: A legend in his own mind.
Update: Lewis re-upped with the Ravens.
I think six of the seven players listed will return to their teams with Coles being the exception.
Showing posts with label Kurt Warner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kurt Warner. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl 43 - Running Diary
Background
The stage is set for what figures to be the most riveting Super Bowl in history... or the exact opposite. The Steelers-Cardinals matchup is about as exciting as shopping for fine China, but at least we are in good company. There are five of us in our apartment, my fiance (MK), my buddy (CG), his girlfriend (KMo), me, and the fifth wheel (BigMac). [Note: BigMac isn't actually the fifth wheel, but I will take it upon myself to make him feel as awkward as Sally Hawkins during her Golden Globes acceptance speech for the next four hours.]
Betting Interests
My wallet could certainly use a Steelers victory of somewhere between one and six points. My official pick for the game: Steelers 27, Cards 24. BigMac took Santonio Holmes (12-1) to win MVP.
The Game
5:59PM ET: Matt Millen just picked the Cardinals. I feel good about my chances.
6:08: Our first shot of Anquan Boldin. He looks disgruntled already.
6:13: No matter what happens during the game, we can all take solace in the fact that pitchers and catchers report in two weeks.
6:18: BigMac suggests "Sully" could have landed the plane at the Teterboro Airport but figured if he pulled off a successful water landing, he and his crew get field-level seats at the Super Bowl. Everyone nods in agreement.
6:20: Both females in attendance agree the Steelers look more "ghetto." Ghetto wins Super Bowls.
6:38: An impressive five minute drive to get the game started. 7-0. High fives all around. [Note: We snuck in an over 46.5 right before kickoff.]
6:41: On second thought, the play and are high fives are reversed. 3-0 after a field goal by Jeff Reed, whose hair is a joke. He must have boy band tryouts after the game.
6:52: Early lead in the "I Can't Believe My Company Wasted $3m on That" Race: Toyota.
6:53: First catch by Santonio Holmes gets Big Mac excited. 25-yarder.
6:55: Big Ben badly underthrows Nate Washington. Should be 14-0.
6:56: Holmes' second catch of the night actually brings BigMac out of his seat. 5-yard gain. He's now singing San-san-san-ton-io to the tune of No-no-no-to-ri-us. Good times all around.
7:06: Doritos, the early leader for advertiser of the day.
7:09: Steelers continue their march down the field and take a 10-0 lead.
7:15: Zzzzzz....
7:22: Huge pass play from Kurt Warner to Boldin followed by a great catch by Delaware alum Ben Patrick makes the score 10-7. Back on a good pace for the over.
7:35: Zzzzzz....
7:50: As one of the most boring first halves in Super Bowl history is coming to an end, Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison returns an interception 100 yards for a score. Steelers lead 17-7. It certainly should have been 14-10 Cards. An incredible play... which also happens to put us on pace for the over.
8:00: Early leader for Super Bowl MVP: James Harrison. Best commercial of the day: Doritos snow globe.
8:09: Beijing-esque fireworks, Max Weinberg on drums, and Paul Schaeffer on the piano. Everyone's confused, but The Boss is looking great.
8:18: Good move: The Boss reworking the worst lyrics of all time (throw that "speedball" by you)
8:19: Bad move: The Boss letting Steve Van Zandt speak to a national audience.
8:30: Kurt Warner comes back out for the second half.. still wearing his patented throwing hand glove.
9:08: We're back after some technical difficulties directly related to buffalo chicken strips being served. Steelers lead 20-7.
9:14: Omar Epps is younger than Kurt Warner. Cool fact.
9:17: If I needed a car, I'd get a Hyundai.
9:17: Cash4Gold commercial brings down the house. Doesn't top the snow globe but anytime Ed McMahon and M.C. Hammer star in the same commercial, people take notice.
9:22: Arizona threatening to get back in the game. Warner is currently 7-7 on the drive.
9:26: Arizona storms back. Warner throws a fade to Larry Fitzgerald who was very quiet until now. The Cards are hanging around like a bad rash. 20-14. 7:33 left in the 4th. Over not looking so good.
9:27: Brenda Warner is a LOT more attractive than I remember from a few years back. Amazing what hair can do for you.
9:52: The teams trade possessions and the Cards pin the Steelers at their own 1-yard line.
9:53: NBC commercials encouraging fans to vote for the game's MVP. None of the eight contenders is named Santonio or Holmes.
9:57: Holding in the endzone. Safety. 20-16. All the momentum swinging towards the Cards.
10:00: Two plays later, a quick strike from Warner to Fitzgerald (the new MVP favorite), 64-yards to the house. Cards lead 23-20 with 2:37 to play. The only good part about this is that the Steelers have plenty of time to mount a drive and send the game to OT. Buckle up.
10:03: Steelers commit another holding penalty and face 1st and 20 from their own 12-yard line with the season and Lombardi Trophy on the line.
10:05: Big Ben to San-san-san-ton-io, 14 yards.
10:07: Big Ben to Holmes, 13 yards. BigMac getting excited again.
10:11: Three plays later, it's Big Ben to Holmes again for a 40-yard completion. Forget OT. The Steelers might win this in regulation.
10:14: After a touchdown slips through Holmes' hands on 1st and Goal, Holmes hauls in a 6-yard reception by dotting the i's and maintaining possession. What we once thought was impossible (Holmes for MVP), is looking like a sure thing. Best of all, we hit the over, the Steelers lead by between one ond six points, and the score is looking eerily similar to my pregame prediction. Steelers lead 27-23.
10:22: A valiant comeback attempt falls short as Warner fumbles the game and season away. Steelers win 27-23. Now we wait for the MVP to be named.
10:30: As NBC comes back from commercial, the camera zooms in on Big Ben, Mike Tomlin, Dan Rooney and Dan Patrick on the platform. No Santonio in sight.
10:32: Joe Namath hands the Steelers the Lombardi Trophy.
10:35: NBC goes to commercial; BigMac unthinkably decides to leave. The four of us remain in stunned silence.
10:38: Dan Patrick announces that Santonio Holmes has in fact won the MVP Award for Super Bowl 43.
10:44: We sit back and agree that the game and evening could not have gone any better. Our wallets agree.
10:45: We make plans to watch the Pro Bowl on Sunday.
10:45:01: We come to our senses...and realize no one actually watches the Pro Bowl.
The stage is set for what figures to be the most riveting Super Bowl in history... or the exact opposite. The Steelers-Cardinals matchup is about as exciting as shopping for fine China, but at least we are in good company. There are five of us in our apartment, my fiance (MK), my buddy (CG), his girlfriend (KMo), me, and the fifth wheel (BigMac). [Note: BigMac isn't actually the fifth wheel, but I will take it upon myself to make him feel as awkward as Sally Hawkins during her Golden Globes acceptance speech for the next four hours.]
Betting Interests
My wallet could certainly use a Steelers victory of somewhere between one and six points. My official pick for the game: Steelers 27, Cards 24. BigMac took Santonio Holmes (12-1) to win MVP.
The Game
5:59PM ET: Matt Millen just picked the Cardinals. I feel good about my chances.
6:08: Our first shot of Anquan Boldin. He looks disgruntled already.
6:13: No matter what happens during the game, we can all take solace in the fact that pitchers and catchers report in two weeks.
6:18: BigMac suggests "Sully" could have landed the plane at the Teterboro Airport but figured if he pulled off a successful water landing, he and his crew get field-level seats at the Super Bowl. Everyone nods in agreement.
6:20: Both females in attendance agree the Steelers look more "ghetto." Ghetto wins Super Bowls.
6:38: An impressive five minute drive to get the game started. 7-0. High fives all around. [Note: We snuck in an over 46.5 right before kickoff.]
6:41: On second thought, the play and are high fives are reversed. 3-0 after a field goal by Jeff Reed, whose hair is a joke. He must have boy band tryouts after the game.
6:52: Early lead in the "I Can't Believe My Company Wasted $3m on That" Race: Toyota.
6:53: First catch by Santonio Holmes gets Big Mac excited. 25-yarder.
6:55: Big Ben badly underthrows Nate Washington. Should be 14-0.
6:56: Holmes' second catch of the night actually brings BigMac out of his seat. 5-yard gain. He's now singing San-san-san-ton-io to the tune of No-no-no-to-ri-us. Good times all around.
7:06: Doritos, the early leader for advertiser of the day.
7:09: Steelers continue their march down the field and take a 10-0 lead.
7:15: Zzzzzz....
7:22: Huge pass play from Kurt Warner to Boldin followed by a great catch by Delaware alum Ben Patrick makes the score 10-7. Back on a good pace for the over.
7:35: Zzzzzz....
7:50: As one of the most boring first halves in Super Bowl history is coming to an end, Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison returns an interception 100 yards for a score. Steelers lead 17-7. It certainly should have been 14-10 Cards. An incredible play... which also happens to put us on pace for the over.
8:00: Early leader for Super Bowl MVP: James Harrison. Best commercial of the day: Doritos snow globe.
8:09: Beijing-esque fireworks, Max Weinberg on drums, and Paul Schaeffer on the piano. Everyone's confused, but The Boss is looking great.
8:18: Good move: The Boss reworking the worst lyrics of all time (throw that "speedball" by you)
8:19: Bad move: The Boss letting Steve Van Zandt speak to a national audience.
8:30: Kurt Warner comes back out for the second half.. still wearing his patented throwing hand glove.
9:08: We're back after some technical difficulties directly related to buffalo chicken strips being served. Steelers lead 20-7.
9:14: Omar Epps is younger than Kurt Warner. Cool fact.
9:17: If I needed a car, I'd get a Hyundai.
9:17: Cash4Gold commercial brings down the house. Doesn't top the snow globe but anytime Ed McMahon and M.C. Hammer star in the same commercial, people take notice.
9:22: Arizona threatening to get back in the game. Warner is currently 7-7 on the drive.
9:26: Arizona storms back. Warner throws a fade to Larry Fitzgerald who was very quiet until now. The Cards are hanging around like a bad rash. 20-14. 7:33 left in the 4th. Over not looking so good.
9:27: Brenda Warner is a LOT more attractive than I remember from a few years back. Amazing what hair can do for you.
9:52: The teams trade possessions and the Cards pin the Steelers at their own 1-yard line.
9:53: NBC commercials encouraging fans to vote for the game's MVP. None of the eight contenders is named Santonio or Holmes.
9:57: Holding in the endzone. Safety. 20-16. All the momentum swinging towards the Cards.
10:00: Two plays later, a quick strike from Warner to Fitzgerald (the new MVP favorite), 64-yards to the house. Cards lead 23-20 with 2:37 to play. The only good part about this is that the Steelers have plenty of time to mount a drive and send the game to OT. Buckle up.
10:03: Steelers commit another holding penalty and face 1st and 20 from their own 12-yard line with the season and Lombardi Trophy on the line.
10:05: Big Ben to San-san-san-ton-io, 14 yards.
10:07: Big Ben to Holmes, 13 yards. BigMac getting excited again.
10:11: Three plays later, it's Big Ben to Holmes again for a 40-yard completion. Forget OT. The Steelers might win this in regulation.
10:14: After a touchdown slips through Holmes' hands on 1st and Goal, Holmes hauls in a 6-yard reception by dotting the i's and maintaining possession. What we once thought was impossible (Holmes for MVP), is looking like a sure thing. Best of all, we hit the over, the Steelers lead by between one ond six points, and the score is looking eerily similar to my pregame prediction. Steelers lead 27-23.
10:22: A valiant comeback attempt falls short as Warner fumbles the game and season away. Steelers win 27-23. Now we wait for the MVP to be named.
10:30: As NBC comes back from commercial, the camera zooms in on Big Ben, Mike Tomlin, Dan Rooney and Dan Patrick on the platform. No Santonio in sight.
10:32: Joe Namath hands the Steelers the Lombardi Trophy.
10:35: NBC goes to commercial; BigMac unthinkably decides to leave. The four of us remain in stunned silence.
10:38: Dan Patrick announces that Santonio Holmes has in fact won the MVP Award for Super Bowl 43.
10:44: We sit back and agree that the game and evening could not have gone any better. Our wallets agree.
10:45: We make plans to watch the Pro Bowl on Sunday.
10:45:01: We come to our senses...and realize no one actually watches the Pro Bowl.
Monday, January 19, 2009
NFL Memos and Championship Game Observations
Memo
Attn: Kurt Warner
Please take the glove off your throwing hand. You play all your home games in 80 degree weather. Man up.
Signed,
All NFL Fans
++++++++++++++++
MemoAttn: All Defensive Backs not named Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu
When returning an interception or fumble, rules permit you to protect the ball with two hands and/or to run out of bounds.
Signed,
All NFL Fans
++++++++++++++++
Memo
Attn: Coaching Staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Save yourselves the countless hours of video watching. If you want to stop the Cardinals offense and win the Super Bowl, triple team Larry Fitzgerald. It's not complicated.
Signed,
NFL Fans with a gambling interest in the Super Bowl
++++++++++++++++
Other Thoughts and Observations
--Kevin Curtis is incredibly underrated.
--Three bone-headed moves (among others) by Andy Reid during yesterday's NFC Championship Game that warrant mentioning:
- With 1:48 left in the first half and his Eagles facing 3rd and 14 from their own 36, Reid called timeout. Why? No sane individual can figure that out. The chance of converting from that distance on third down are slim (approximately 13%). What happened? The Eagles failed to convert on third down and were forced to punt. The Cardinals marched down the field and kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired.
- After scoring a touchdown to cut their deficit to 24-12 with 4:08 left in the third quarter, the Cardinals committed two penalties on the extra point. The Eagles were well aware they would eventually need a two-point conversion. Why not send the offense back on the field to go for two from the 1-yard line instead of waiting for later in the game when they have to try from the 2-yard line?
- After cutting the lead to 24-19 with 0:49 left in the third quarter, Reid chose not to go for two. Why? Again, only Andy knows. To add insult to stupidity, David Akers missed the extra point. Obviously, Reid could not have possibly imagined a missed PAT, but it should never have gotten to that point.
--Andy Reid's Offseason Priorities
- Get a clue how to manage the clock paying special attention to the last two minutes of each half.
- Learn when to go for two.
- Talk to your kids. / Be a better parent.
- Eat less. / Exercise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
