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DEVIN'S FIRST FOUR RETURNS  THE ROAD TO THE 2007 NFL DRAFT STARTS NOW!!! TOP 25 QUARTERBACKS/RUNNING BACKS AVAILABLE FOR NEXT APRIL'S DRAFT AVAILABLE NOW ON KACSPORTS NFL DRAFT PAGE |
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TOP STORIES - DECEMBER 13, 2006 Get your NFL football tickets now at TickCo. They have all team Cardinals tickets, Cowboys tickets, Packers tickets, Colts tickets, Patriots tickets, Titans tickets and more. Get your Super Bowl tickets here! NEW BLOGS!!! ARTHUR'S NOT-SO BLANK CHECK, KARMA COMES BACK TO BITE ELI MANNING, AND BCS ACTUALLY GETS IT RIGHT... NEED WIN TO MAKE PLAYOFFS???? Week 14 fantasy rankings are here. MAKE THIS YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!! I've delivered the past two weeks with FIVE STONE-COLD MEGA-LOCKS, compiling a 4-0-1 record. Can you afford to go to the window without my info any longer??? Get all my Week 14 NFL picks in DEGENERATE CENTRAL.  THE 1 BILLION DOLLAR STADIUM: When opened in 1971, Texas Stadium was futuristic and ahead of it's time, one of the first NFL stadiums to offer luxury boxes plus the foresight not to be a multi-purpose stadium, unlike way too many stadiums of that era. Even today, the Dallas Cowboys future home does not look outdated - at least until seeing the renderings of the 'new Texas Stadium'. The trademark sunroof (which has always given the original it's uniqueness) remains, only this time it has a retractable cover, along with end zone panels that can be opened weather permitting. Oh, and there's also a 60-foot video board above the field, which I don't like. I worry too much about those boards in basketball/hockey arenas crashing down - but then again it could just be a crushing hit from Roy Williams. There's another rendering from the outside showing one enterence with a giant Miller beer logo and two giant beer bottles, so it sounds likes the advertising revenue is already coming into place (Dr. Pepper for the other entrance???). One other thing, it's said that the silverly glare of the stadium will be enough to make everyone squint. One billion dollars, at least you know it's going to blow Lambeau Field away. You can look at the complete renderings hereGORDON'S EXPECTING: After his mid-week November 7 wedding to model Ingrid Vandebosch, Jeff Gordon did not hide his hand - proclaiming that the new couple was planning to start a family, soon. Sounds like it was already a done deal even then - Gordon's website site announces today that the happy couple are expecting, with the due date in early July. Says Jeff, 'We're obviously very excited. Christmas came early for us this year. This is a very special gift for us – one that we're both looking forward to. Ingrid and I can't wait to be parents. We've known for a little while, but we couldn't wait any longer to share the good news with our friends and fans' Gordon announced his engagement back in June, the couple had been an item for some time before that. A bigger story down the road is that there are whispers that Gordon may retire from NASCAR sooner rather than later, as in perhaps the next 2-3 years. Meanwhile, things have been eerily quiet on the Tiger Woods/Elin Nordegren pregnancy front. THINGS NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR LAMAR HUNT: We now learn that AFL founder and Chiefs owner has taken the dreaded turn for the worse, and that Lamar Hunt is now fighting for his life in a Dallas hospital, with friends and family of the 74-year-old pioneer of the modern NFL 'hoping for miracles'. Hunt has battled cancer for several years and never left the hospital ever since being admitted the day before Thanksgiving. Doctors have since discovered that the cancer has since spread, and Hunt has been under heavy sedation since last week. TOP NHL ROOKIE HAS CANCER SURGERY: Partial disclosure comes out on Bruins rookie center Phil Kessel, who underwent cancer surgery and is 'on the road to recovery,' according to an agent. It was said over the weekend that the #5 overall pick of this past years draft had been seeing a doctor over a 'non-hockey' related issue. The agent has not disclosed the nature of Kessel's cancer. NFL NETWORK TO OFFER 'FREE WEEK': What Lamar Hunt could have used a few weeks back - The NFL has offered one free week of its network programming to two cable TV operators who do not carry the channel in hopes of breaking a long-standing deadlock. Commissioner Roger Goodell tells The Associated Press that the week of Dec. 24-30 would be offered as a 'ree view'for customers of Cablevision and Time Warner Cable, two of the nation's largest cable carriers. The NFL Network would be offered on the expanded basic levels of the two carriers. That week would include two college bowl offerings, including Rutgers Texas Bowl date v. Kansas State. The Texas Bowl not being available to many viewers in New York has become a contentious issue because on the heels of Rutgers breakthrough 2006 season. Time Warner says they are 'looking into the proposal', so don't hold your breath on the channel even being available that week, as TW continues to play hardball.  TW ACCUSES DIRECTV OF FALSE ADVERTISING: A bitter dispute between cable and satellite TV over the broadcast of NFL games has intensified, with Time Warner suing DirecTV over what they consider deceptive trade practices. The lawsuit claims DirecTV lied about the accessibility of NFL broadcasts in an attempt to pry away customers from Time Warner. Among other things, DirecTV is accused of telling customers that the December 30th Giants/Redskins game would not be available in the New York area unless they subscribe to DirecTV. In reality the NFL Network game will be carried by local stations in the New York and D.C. markets. The lawsuit also accuses DirecTV of making similar claims about upcoming football broadcasts in advertising aimed at people in Green Bay, Cincinnati and other cities whose teams were due to appear on the NFL Network. TROY NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY-ON HEISMAN??? Troy Smith decided to ship his Heisman Trophy home because airport security would not allow the Ohio State quarterback to carry it on the plane Tuesday. Says Ohio State's SID, 'We decided to have it shipped. That's much easier. How times have changed. Eddie carried it on the plane and put it in the seat next to him.' It turns out that Eddie George's transport with the trophy back in 1995 did not go so well - the bust got stuck in an airport X-ray machine, breaking off the tip of one finger and bending back the middle finger, that might be an unique pose.BOB GAINEY THANKS RESCUERS FOR 'EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS': Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey and his other three children thanked rescuers Tuesday for their efforts in trying to find daughter Laura, who was swept off her ship and into the Atlantic Ocean Friday. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended it's aerial search for Laura on Monday night, a decision that all but extinguished hopes the 25-year-old woman would be found alive. There had been some hope because Laura was wearing protective clothing, was a strong swimmer, and the water temperature was 68 degrees. Less than two weeks ago, the Picton Castle set sail from Nova Scotia on a six-month tour that would take it to the Caribbean. Gainey, a crewmember, was responsible for certain watches and instruction of volunteer trainees. GAINEY'S BEEN THROUGH TOUGH TIMES BEFORE: Wife Cathy Gainey died of brain cancer in 1995 at age 39. Soon there after, teenage Laura Gainey fell into drug dependency, and would soon visit two rehabilition center. Described as a 'tomboy' during her youth, Laura would get her life back together, attending an acting school in British Columbia before finding her 'natural high' on the high seas.YET ANOTHER UM TRAGEDY: North Miami Beach police are studying surveillance video, looking for clues in the shooting of a former University of Miami basketball player Bradley Timpf, who parlayed his degree and connections into a successful chiropractic career. Timpf, 32, was gunned down in his Cadillac outside a North Miami Beach restaurant Sunday night as patrons dined inside. Police say Timpf had left the restaurant moments before he was shot. A bystander tried to revive Timpf after he was shot, but to no avail. Police are said to be trying to enhance a 'very, very grainy' video of the shooting. The suspect is still at large.  NFL WEEK 14... TOMLINSON - IT'S LIKE PLAYING MADDEN ON RETARD LEVEL!! Please excuse the non-PC reference. In an unprecedented tear in NFL history, LT has now scored 26 touchdowns (and thrown for another) in just the last nine weeks. If you're not leading your fantasy league, it's probably for simpling not being able to draft LT with one of the three first overall picks. Now the all-time single-season record holder with 29 touchdowns, Tomlinson now has his sights squared on the 46-year old single-season scoring record. The unique aspect of that record is that Paul Hornung did that compiling 176 points in a 12-game season back in 1960, he was the Packers placekicker along with his normal halfback duties - now that would be the fantasy season to end fantasy seasons!!! SAINTS GET ANOINTING OIL FOR ONE WEEK: How good would a Philip Rivers v. Drew Brees pairing play out the first week in February?? Brees throws for nearly 400 yards passing to ten different receivers in Saints 42-17 throttling of the Cowboys. Also interesting point made by Al Michaels regarding the alarming increase of halftime pyrotechnics. Al said 'it's stupid in any stadium' and 'doubly stupid in indoor stadiums' (Texas Stadium partially qualifies). Al concludes his rant by saying 'I'm only going to say this once, hopefully one of these days this doesn't lead to a disaster' Yeah, I'm beginning to wonder where the fire marshalls have been on this one, I don't want to imagine an explosion followed by thousands stampeding towards the exits - great point Al. SIX-PACK DEVIN: Lovie Smith comes up with very bright idea, use Devin Hester on kick-offs. No fair, he takes two to the house, the second when the Bears were playing FOR AN ONSIDE KICK. Chicago clinches first round bye.FANTASY HORSE RACING THE NEXT BIG THING??? Actually the ponies are the original fantasy sport - YOU BET ON THE HORSES!!! Win, place, show, exacta, pick-six, etc.. So horse bettors may not need it, but cable channel TVG is beginning a year-long horse racing 'fantasy league' starting this month. Players draft horses, jockeys and trainers for their virtual stables, everything but having to smell the manure. TVG, whose channel reaches 20 million households, has created tvgfantasy.com for leagues starting December 26. The channel already allows consumers to bet online, by phone and even through their TV remote controls in the 12 states where such betting is legal. And to quote the USA Today article 'For the first time ever in fantasy leagues, players will be able to watch action that could literally lead to one of their starters getting euthanized.' Now that's an added bonus, fantasy NASCAR owners have not even had to deal with that for nearly six years. Actually I'm surprised a bettor didn't euthanize Barbaro himself at Pilmico before the vets got to him.  DAUGHTER OF HABS GM FEARED LOST AT SEA: A 'well-loved' volunteer crew working on a Nova Scotia ship who was swept overboard during an Atlantic storm has been identified as the daughter of Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey. Laura Gainey, 25, was washed off the rear deck of the vessel by a huge wave a 9:30 p.m. Friday approximately 475 miles southeast of Cape Cod. A massive search has been underway since with the U.S. Coast Guard participating, but as of mid-day Sunday Gainey has been in the water 33 hours without a lifejacket. The water is considered relatively warm (I would imagine nothing close to tropical however) in the area, but the possibility of survival before succumbing to hypothermia is considered to be 36 hours max. The senior captain of the ship says Laura Gainey is an enthusiastic volunteer on the vessel and is known to be very fit, and a good swimmer. Meanwhiile, Bob Gainey has passed on his duties as Habs GM to an assistant while awaiting word on his daughter's fate.HEAVYWEIGHTS BRAWL DURING WEIGH-IN: British fighters Audley Harrison and Danny Williams got into a brawl Friday at the weigh-in for their heavyweight rematch. Here's the best part, it's said that there was more action between the fighters during the weigh-in than in their entire 12 rounds last year. That bout ended in a split-decision as judges were absolutely torn that they had to decide on someone. The 35-year old Harrison, a former Olympic gold medalist, did end up winning Saturday's scheduled bout with a third-round KO. Says Harrison afterwards, 'They don't give away Olympic gold medals. I can fight," said Harrison. In 2007 I will win the world title, in 2008 I will be undisputed.'  YET ANOTHER BENGAL CAGED - EIGHT PLAYERS ARRESTED ON THE YEAR!!! Something like 11 if you include Chris Henry's multiple offenses. Just a question - how many more of these before coach Marvin Lewis' job is in jeapordy, forget the won-loss record. Now cornerback Deltha O'Neal proves that he likes to drive drunk and it shows, and is arrested at a checkpoint early Saturday morning, I think this team does it's best work between midnight and 4 AM - is it getting to the point that the cops are just waiting for Bengal players now??? The two-time Pro Bowl player had a blood-alcohol level of 0.10, becoming the second player arrested since the team's last game last Thursday night (think they've had too much time on their hands??). In another development, Houston police have tacked on a drug charge on Reggie McNeal's arrest, this after finding a cigarette that contains an antihistamine that is sometimes used as a sedative. McNeal will have to skip practice to go to court next week. COACH 'TURNS BACK' TIDE, STAYS AT WVU!!! Reports earlier in the day had Rich Rodriguez accepting an offer at the University of Alabama which would had seen his salary double but the heat on him quadruple. Now the life-long West Virginian has told his team that he is STAYING, his announcement getting a standing ovation from his squad. Word is Rodriguez will get a nice bump in pay from, WVU - but perhaps not what was being offered at Alabama. Doesn't matter, Rich makes a very wise move giving Bama the 'shaft', he will always be popular in Morgantown while every post-Bear Bryant coach with the exception of Gene Stallings (and Dennis Franchione who had the foresight to get out while the getting was good) has pretty much seen their careers implode in Tuscaloosa. Meanwhile Tide Nation is calling for some more heads, most notably Athletic Director Mal Moore who is going to have to settle for second (actually third or fourth) best. This guy trying to find a coach is like me trying to get a date.BRAZILIAN CATFIGHT!!! We can't wait for this to appear on Youtube - Brazilian women handball players threw punches and pulled each other's hair in a brawl that forced a national championship semifinal to be abandoned. Television images showed lumps of hair on the court after the match between Metodista and Guarulhos, contested in more ways than one on the outskirts of Sao Paulo. Trouble first broke out with five minutes left when two players began arguing after a foul. Others joined in and a fight broke out but play eventually resumed with six players sent to the sin bin. A more serious brawl erupted in the waning seconds when a Guarulhos player pulled an opponent's hair, pushed her in the back and then bitch-slapped her. That player replied with a punch to the face, which basically cleared the benches. SCARY NASCAR PRACTICE WRECK: Greg Biffle dislocated his right shoulder in a vicious accident during tire testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and was unable to attend a Busch Series banquet in Florida Friday night. Biffle was injured Thursday when his car blew a tire, causing him to hit the wall between turns 1 and 2. The accident broke the fuel pump and caused his Ford to burst into flames. Kyle Busch, the other driver at the test, was trailing Biffle at the time of the accident and helped Biffle escape the fiery scene. The practice was held so Goodyear could determine which kind of tire to bring to the Las Vegas track for the March, 2007 race - the racetrack was reconfigured, adding 20 degrees of banking this past summer. PETTITTE SIGNS WITH YANKS - ROCKET NEXT??? Let's stop this crap already - Pettitte signs $16 million contract for next year (too much - I guess that makes Zito $20 million per), and leads to immediate speculation that Roger Clemens might return to the Yankees as well. Clemens might agree if he's allowed to pitch his home games from his living room back in Texas on his wii system. ANOTHER SPORTS FIGURE DEAD AT AGE 47!!! First the equestrian rider, then ex-Husker Andra Franklin - and now this, I guess bad things do happen in three's - especially if you are 47 years old. Former Giants shortstop Jose Uribe has died after a car crash in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican National Police say Uribe's sport utility vehicle crashed about 3 a.m. on a highway about 30 miles west of the capital, Santo Domingo. Cause of the crash was under investigation. Uribe is survived by his second with, with whom he had four children. Uribe's first wife died shortly after childbirth some years back - in all it is said that Uribe fathered AT LEAST 14 children. Three people dying at 47 in the space of 24 hours, beyond coincidence.  YAHOO! IN BIG TROUBLE OVER FANTASY FOOTBALL??? A firm representing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has sued Yahoo! over his likeness in a promotion regarding a fantasy football game. If successful, it may spell huge trouble for the corporation - as that ad also featured LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Jeremy Shockey, Randy Moss, and Steve Smith - that is a pretty deep-pocketed crew, what if just two or three (let alone all five) follow 'suit'. The logos were all airbrushed out, but you definitely know who they are when seeing the ad. Traditionally, companies in the fantasy sports business, run VERY generic photos of athletes - often outdated images of semi-pro or CFL players - or a partial photo of a much lesser Major League player with the team markings airbrused out. At left is an example of a much more generic promo. I'm guessing this one gets settled out-of-court at some point, especially if the other five players get involved. INTERESTING POINT MADE ON ROTOWORLD: Fantasy sports site notes Yahoo! has a fantasy football license from the NFLPA and that NFLPA holds licensing rights whenever six or more players are used, which would mean Brady would have no case. Still I wonder if Brady's suits asked the agents of the other players first... |
2003 NFL DRAFT PROFILES
