Horse Tracks 5/19/09

by Douglas A. Lee on May 19, 2009 5:43 AM MDT in Horse Tracks Comment 29 comments

Horsetracks_new_medium

DB - Broncos TV's latest player interview features Alphonso Smith from the day of his introductory presser. Like Knowshon, Smith comes off as an extremely intelligent young man; more well-spoken than most of the people I work with, quite frankly. Unfortunately, I can't get the direct link to work, so I'll send you to the video page again.

VP - Broncos D-Lineman Carlton Powell tells his hometown paper that he's up to 315 pounds and expects to compete for the starting nose-tackle position.

OTH - In a commencement address at St. Bonaventure, CNN's Wolf Blitzer says a college showdown with future Broncos legend Floyd Little convinced Blitzer to try something other than football.

J - Old friend Reggie Hayward is relieved to not have been one of the Jaguars' offseason cuts.

CT - Bears OC Ron Turner hopes to pick the brain of Mike Shanahan to help him learn how to best utilize Jay Cutler's skills.

KCS - The Chefs hit the practice field for the first time as a full squad in '09; Adam Teicher has details and quotes.

KCS - As with their earlier mini-camp, Brian Waters and Mike Vrabel skipped out on Kansas City's practice. Waters had requested a trade or release on February, but reasons for Vrabel's absence have not been made public.

KCS - Here are videos of Chefs QB Matt Cassel and head coach Todd Haley speaking to reporters after practice.

KCS - Some notes on Cassel, including his jersey number (7). It'll be interesting to see if that's based upon any specific players, like perhaps The Greatest Ever (Honestly, that would suck, because I don't want to have to like the guy).

SDUT - Kevin Acee's notes from Dolts practice focused upon backup tackle Brandyn Dombrowski.

SFG - David White previews Jokeland's upcoming OTAs.

NFL - The Ravens have agreed to a one-year deal with former Pats WR Kelley Washington.

NFP - The salary cap has risen another $1 million more than previously thought last week. Andrew Brandt explains.

NFL - Terrell Owens was seemingly unfazed by all the hoopla surrounding his arrival in Orchard Park.

NFL - Brownies return-man extraordinaire Joshua Cribbs is holding out of mini-camp.

NFL - Chuckie is replacing Tony Kornheiser on the Monday Night Football broadcast team.

NFL - Legendary Iggles DC Jim Johnson has taken an indefinite leave from the team for cancer treatments.

NFL - The current owners meeting should result in a site for the 2013 Super Bowl and possibly a vote on expanding the regular season.

FOX - DeMaurice Smith will meet the NFL owners for the first time today as the NFLPA's executive director.

Y! - According to Smith, veteran players feel no ill will toward the big bucks their newly-drafted counterparts and teammates receive.

NFL - Stillers LB James Harrison is apparently too important to accept an invitation from the President of the United States of America.

TSN - Albert Breer wonders if Jay Cutler will step up and become a true leader in Chicago.

ESPN - Nobody seems to know what's really going on with Brett Favre. In other words, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

FOX - Alex Marvez looks at the issue of pre-free-agency tampering.

NFP - Mike Lombardi considers the situations of Plaxico Burress and Michael Vick.

NFP - Matt Bowen also takes a look at Plex and his current mess.

NFP - Bowen tries to match up five remaining veteran free-agents with new teams.

NFP - Wes Bunting looks at the top senior wideouts for the 2010 NFL Draft.

1 recs | Comment 29 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Mornin nyc, Thank You For Horse Tracks...

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on May 19, 2009 6:52 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

by CoastalBronco on May 19, 2009 7:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Find

The story about Wolf Blitzer avoiding a meeting with Flloyd Little.

Growing older is not for sissies. Jack Palance

by bradley on May 19, 2009 6:54 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

"I saw a really big guy running at me, a really really big guy".

When Floyd Little was drafted by the Broncos he was 5’11" and weighed 185 lbs. Wolf’s eyes must have seen another back but his mind must have converted the “story” to Floyd Little.

by sfboggsz on May 19, 2009 8:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Really big guy"

If you have ever seen Wolf in person, you would know that 5’11" and 185 would seem “really big” to him.

by DCbroncfan on May 19, 2009 9:51 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks NYC

With the 12th pick, the Broncos select Knowshon Moreno - Roger Goodell
That'll move the chains - Andy Samberg

by KaptainKirk on May 19, 2009 7:05 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Cheers NYC

That Powell article is great reading, I love the start that perfectly sums up what being a Bronco fan has been like since 8-5 in Mid December.

by mikebirty on May 19, 2009 8:08 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good morning NYC

Thanks a lot!

We don't devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks. - Calvin

by solace on May 19, 2009 8:08 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Great news feed once again.

Thanks NYC!

by bodieiscool on May 19, 2009 8:44 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Carlton

There was a lot of guessing as to what position Thomas and Powell would play with The Transition. It’s interesting that both have decide to compete for the NT position. The Broncos went from having just Ronald Fields and a few other bodies to having a real competition, a lot of possibility for a great big man to rise, but no guarantees.

If Powell or Thomas can make the transition, then the Broncos defense will finally have the central key and will surprise a lot of people.

On the downside, at the time of the draft, I had both competing for DE jobs. What does that do to our DE depth? I hope one of these CFAs (Davis or Pedeau….) steps up.

by Eyecore13 on May 19, 2009 9:24 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry but

I am going to have to put the ixnay on the Pedeau nick… sounds too much like pedo… :)

How about calling him Cleaux? (pronounced CLAW)

There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.

by Jeremy Bolander on May 19, 2009 9:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's fine

No nickname intended. I was just too lazy too look up how to spell it!

by Eyecore13 on May 19, 2009 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would make his fans Pedeauphiles!

by Velveeta on May 19, 2009 6:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Suppose

That just because these guys are competing for the NT position, it won’t prevent the coaches from deciding to move one of them back to DE.

Wouldn’t it be crazy awesome to have three 320 pounders up front?! Assuming that their the best players to fill those roles, of course.

by Eyecore13 on May 19, 2009 10:12 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

see my thought is we are ok at DE

just because dumervil and crowder can stand up doesnt mean they will always line up that way

http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif

"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"

Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on May 19, 2009 11:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

thank god

Tony Kornheiser is fine on PTI, but he’s such a caricature on MNF. I’m not sure how Gruden will do, but is can’t be any worse than Kornheiser or Dennis Miller

by lolcopter on May 19, 2009 9:45 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Gruden won me over on draft day

he had to get warmed up, but a gave him an overall grade of an A for the weekend. I doubt he derails the coverage into petty asides and banal blurbs like Korny did, and a coach’s knowledge (especially one as good as Gruden), is worth its weight in gold…

There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.

by Jeremy Bolander on May 19, 2009 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amen.

According to Kornheiser, if it happened west of I-95 it wasn’t worth talking about, unless you are going to insult it. I have lived in NY for 7 years of my life, and he is most of the negative stereotypes of New Yorkers rolled up in one. Technically, I don’t think he is even from NYC, I think that he is from a small town or city west of NY. Regardless, I guess the people in the tri-state area love him, but I don’t think the rest of the country appreciates his crass sense of humor. I can’t remember if it was Dennis Miller or Tony Kornheiser who in a pregrame build up said something to the effect that “We are here in Denver, Colorado and (while they showed a picture of a a mountain goat) that is a mountain goat and there isn’t much else here.” It was so offensive. Those mountains are our pride and joy. I couldn’t believe that the network didn’t issue some apology. Sheesh, even if you are a city person, who can’t appreciate the beauty of the Rockies? I have dreaded every week of listening to that mindless yapping idiot Kornheiser on MNF. Gruden should be a change for the better.

by Orange Crush II on May 19, 2009 12:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Cassel is a fan of Craig Morton?

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on May 19, 2009 10:37 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Picking the brain of Mike Shanahan. Maybe it is just me, or it is because it is the Bears, but I find it interesting that they basically spend a ton to bring in a player and then admit they need help in figuring out how to use him. I guess it is like me and tools, I buy the tool and then have to ask what it can do, probably not the best way.

I can understand picking the brains of individuals regarding offensive scheme but picking the brain of someone to figure out how to use the guy you just bought for a ton raises my eyebrow. I could be overly critical but I just wonder…

Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.

by Kfustud on May 19, 2009 10:47 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought the same thing when I read that

They need Shanny’s advice on how to use JC???? Shanny’s response should have been something like, “call at least 35 pass plays per game and kiss his butt every step of the way”.

If we could have just screwed another head on his shoulders, he would have been the greatest QB who ever lived.

by c_style on May 19, 2009 2:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

OC is not up to the challenge

Ron Turner and Lovie Smith are in over their collective heads when it comes to QBs. Somewhere during the past 20 years the Bears have completely lost the ability to evaluate, draft, and develop quarterbacks. Imo, the best option for the Bears is to fire Ron Turner and hire Mike Shanahan as their OC. If Cutler is going to develop into the franchise QB that they bet the farm on, they better figure out what they need to do to support him. Cutler will need the very best OC and QB coach. This will be no place for on the job training.

by rocko1 on May 19, 2009 4:49 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, NYC.

That Michael Vick article has a wicked debate going on.

"Man of few words, aren't you?"

by Tempestuous Binary on May 19, 2009 10:48 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks once again, NYC . . .

I got a kick out of Blitzer’s story, about getting out of the way of the “larger” Floyd Little. It’s funny because Little was only 5’11", 195 lbs.

Also, more disparaging of Orton, this time by Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. I think he knows better; he’s just placating some of his readers. I responded to him (LarryB, #49), FWIW. It’s amazing how so-called “experts” do not take into consideration Chicago’s inferior receivers, O-line, runnning game, and pass defense, and the fact that Orton was effectively only a second-year QB (on the field). But that’s not the topic here.

One has to wonder at Vrabel’s absence from practice. Maybe he took one look at the Chiefs then caught the first plane back to New England. lol

Never argue with a fool, lest you take on his appearance. - my daddy

by AZDynamics on May 19, 2009 11:54 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Can someone please clarify...

what happened with Jeremy Bates. I have read countless articles in the MSM and several posts on this site that say Bates was fired. The Cutler article in the Tribune says the same thing. I thought Bates left to take the USC position after McD announced he would be calling the plays. I can not find a single article from when Bates left suggesting that he was fired. He quit, plain and simple. Am I wrong? What did I miss?

BTW-Thanks, NYC, for all of your hard work!

by blackhillsbronx on May 19, 2009 2:54 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Bates left "voluntarily"

after McD announced that he would be calling the plays next year. See here.

by SlowWhiteGuy on May 19, 2009 9:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he was fired

Maybe Laid off or told that they weren’t going to renew his contract, but not fired. He probably should have been, but Mr. Bowlen has more class than that.

With the 12th pick, the Broncos select Knowshon Moreno - Roger Goodell
That'll move the chains - Andy Samberg

by KaptainKirk on May 19, 2009 3:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Glad to hear Calton Powell is bulking up

Nolan obviously saw something he liked in the first minicamp. This is the reason we did not really draft any Dline help. We have some very good players right now and we brought Baker, Davis and EP in through CFA and these guys should have been drafted. If you went on Talent alone Baker could have went in the 2nd or 3rd round. I think our D line is going to surprise a lot of people this year

by gnarlybroncodude on May 19, 2009 5:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs