Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris joined the “Cover Two Podcast” on Tuesday and made a few things clear: He intends to win the NFC South, LeGarrette Blount deserves to get the ball as much as possible and that his dubbing of his team as “Youngry” stemmed from a mistake.
Thank goodness. I’ve been on Morris ever since I heard the “youngry” stuff in training camp, knowing he could be a little more creative than that.
“I got that up-north accent and I was talking real fast at a press conference and was trying to say young and hungry,” Morris said. “It all got caught up as a tongue twister.”
What came through loud and clear was Blount’s message after a Week 1 loss that he needed the ball more. He had 71 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns in Week 2, including the winning score in a come-from-behind victory over the Vikings.
“We’ve got to get him his touches,” Morris said. “Sometimes I have to look at LeGarrette Blount and say that was my fault because we didn’t get you the ball enough this game.”
In our Twitter segment, co-host Bucky Brooks responds to being called on the carpet by a fellow media member about a column he wrote early this season on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
We also were joined by Chicago Tribune Bears beat writer Vaughn McClure, who explained that Jay Cutler’s weekly beatings aren’t simply a result of poor offensive line play. The Bears aren’t going to get to the playoffs unless they change some of their offensive philosophy as well, according to McClure.
Tony Softli, a former personnel executive for the Rams, said on the latest Cover Two Podcast that RB Steven Jackson‘s quadriceps injury will keep him from playing in Monday night’s game against the Giants, according to a team source.
“Steven Jackson is week to week,” Softli said. “He will not play this week against the Giants on Monday night, which is a big loss for them.”
A team source said Jackson’s status doesn’t look optimistic, but it’s too soon to tell if he’ll be able to suit up against New York. If Jackson can’t play, Cadillac Williams would start. Williams filled in admirably Sunday after Jackson got hurt, rushing for 91 yards on 19 carries and adding 49 yards on five receptions.
Cover Two also debated on who would end the season with better numbers between QBs Philip Rivers or Tom Brady; all the reasons why Aaron Rodgers will be in their company by the end of the season — and why Cam Newton hasn’t completely arrived.
Co-host Bucky Brooks continued his weekly segment on what scouts are saying about top college prospects. We also introduced our new Twitter segment, spawned by a hot tweet from @Datboywolf.
The Texans beat the Colts in the 2010 season-opener with Peyton Manning. The odds seemingly would be better for Houston on Sunday when it kicks off the season against Indy — minus the injured Manning.
Texans outside linebacker Mario Williams isn’t so sure about anything being easier.
“We’re approaching it the same way. We’re going to get their best shot,” Williams said. “They’re going to give that to us no matter who is at quarterback. We’re going out there to prepare as we normally would. We have to focus on ourselves. If we don’t play our ball and focus on what we’re supposed to do, we’re going to have a hard time against anybody.”
Williams also provides some personal perspective on expectations this season: “It’s been six years of ‘almosts’ for me,” adding that’s it’s all or nothing in 2011 for the Texans.
We also introduce a new segment to the Cover Two Podcast in which co-host Bucky Brooks, a former NFL scout, gets the scoop from team insiders about college prospects and how NFL evaluators view them. This will be a recurring segment, so if you want to find out why a player who is putting up huge stats at Boise State but isn’t viewed as a top draft pick, be sure to listen.
Mike Triplett, the Saints beat writer for the Times-Picayune, offers some great insight into Thursday’s opener against the Packers and how coach Sean Payton gets defenses on their heels.
We also examine some of the high- and low-profile season-openers and throw up some “West side” love for the podcast and Brooks’ wardrobe, which is straight-up L.A. OG.
Adam Rank & I brought back our NFL.com pal, Elliot Harrison, to talk about whether the Niners and Titans are spending their money wisely by bringing back their respective franchise running backs in these pass-happy days of the 21st century. We also yap about which boxer from the “Rocky” movies would win in a tournament, and continue our search for the team that’s had the greatest collection of runners in NFL history.
Why? Well … when I refer to “Tailback U,” I trust you know I’m talking about USC, the alma mater of legendary collegiate runners like O.J. Simpson, Mike Garrett, Charles White and Reggie Bush. The title “Linebacker U” is synonymous with Penn State thanks to guys like Jack Ham, Shane Conlan, Lavar Arrington and Paul Posluszny (although Miami, Ohio State and USC might want to debate that point). Stanford, Maryland, Miami and BYU have all laid claim to being college’s “Quarterback U” -– and Miami of Ohio is known as the “Cradle of Coaches.”
So then, how is it we don’t have an NFL equivalent for such categories? Shouldn’t there be a “Quarterback Franchise,” a nominal honor given to the NFL team with the greatest lineage at a given position? (That last question was rhetorical.) It’s time to figure this thing out, position by position, by using the NFL Playoffs format (four division champs and two wild-card teams per conference).
Today, let’s tackle … the running backs. But first, a few philosophical questions to address as we establish the ground rules:
How many running backs per team should be counted?
On one hand, a team like the Chiefs should be rewarded for their unusually deep roster of strong RBs over the decades. On the other hand, younger franchises like Jacksonville would have an unfair disadvantage — in spite of a good collection of RBs in its short history -– if we were to count, say, the top 10 runners in each franchise’s history. So -– in an effort to strike a balance –- we’ll go with four RBs per team (at least until the playoffs).
Should we include RBs who played in the first half of the 20th century?
I don’t think so. Accuse me of being an ageist, but I’m just following the lead of all the old timers who refer to the 1958 NFL Championship as “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” because it brought the previously fringe sport of pro football to prominence. By definition, then, nothing that came before that game counts. However, in order to avoid a call from Gil Brandt reprimanding me for ignoring the NFL’s pioneers, I’ll make this concession: Every team will get to add a fifth RB from any era to their roster for our postseason.
How exactly are we deciding who the best RBs from each franchise are?
As it turns out, most of the names that should be included are self-evident. You and I might disagree on a player here and there, but — like Luke Skywalker trying to blow up the Death Star -– some things you need to do on feel.
Alright, so here’s how the standings shape up (with each playoff team’s fifth RB in parentheses):
AFC EAST
x – BILLS – O.J. Simpson, Thurman Thomas, Joe Cribbs, Cookie Gilchrist, (Travis Henry)
JETS – Curtis Martin, Freeman McNeil, Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell
DOLPHINS – Larry Csonka, Ricky Williams, Tony Nathan, Mercury Morris
PATRIOTS – Sam Cunningham, Jim Nance, Tony Collins, Corey Dillon
Synopsis: Buffalo barely beats out the Jets on the strength of their killer duo, Juice and Thomas, plus a very strong No. 3, Cribbs, who derailed his promising career with the Bills by going to the USFL. New York has good depth thanks to the AFL combo of Snell and Boozer, but Martin & McNeil can’t stick with Buffalo’s top two. Csonka and Morris (plus Jim Kiick) dominated in the early 1970s, but the Dan Marino Era –- during which the Dolphins ran only four running plays –- effectively ended Miami’s chances. For the first time in a decade, New England finds itself at the bottom of this running back-rich division.
AFC NORTH
x – BROWNS – Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Mike Pruitt, Kevin Mack, (Marion Motley)
y – STEELERS – Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Barry Foster, Willie Parker, (John Henry Johnson)
BENGALS – James Brooks, Corey Dillon, Rudi Johnson, Pete Johnson
RAVENS – Jamal Lewis, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Priest Holmes
Synopsis: Cleveland has Brown … not to mention a great No. 2 in Kelly and some very good –- if not great –- physical runners in Pruitt & Mack. Pittsburgh’s Harris is too often forgotten when history’s best RBs are discussed, but when he retired he was the second-leading rusher in NFL history; and Bettis — currently with the league’s sixth-most career rushing yards -– is soon to join Franco in the Hall of Fame. Cincinnati’s quartet is surprisingly strong from top to bottom, but there’s not a true legend among them. For a young franchise (yeah, we’re considering the Ravens a separate entity from the Browns), Baltimore had some talented runners, including one-time 2000-yard man Lewis and the 2011 breakout superstar Rice. Still, the Ravens can’t rival the division’s two best teams.
AFC SOUTH
x – TITANS – Earl Campbell, Eddie George, Chris Johnson, Lorenzo White, (Mike Rozier)
y – COLTS – Edgerrin James, Lenny Moore, Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, (Lydell Mitchell)
JAGUARS – Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, James Stewart, Natrone Means
TEXANS – Arian Foster, Domanick Williams, Vontae Leach, Steve Slaton
Synopsis: Tennessee benefits from its Lone Star origins with Campbell, plus George and CJ2K, both of whom can claim to being the league’s best back in at least one NFL season. The names Faulk and Dickerson look great, but keep in mind that the better parts of both players’ careers occurred somewhere other than Indianapolis. Jacksonville’s MJD is putting together a HOF career, but for now is no better than the franchise’s second-best RB behind Taylor. Houston -– the league’s newest team -– not surprisingly might also be the worst.
AFC WEST
x – CHIEFS – Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Christian Okoye, (Ed Podolak)
CHARGERS – LaDanian Tomlinson, Chuck Muncie, Natrone Means, Paul Lowe
RAIDERS – Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Mark Van Eeghen, Clem Daniels
BRONCOS – Terrell Davis, Floyd Little, Otis Armstrong, Sammy Winder
Synopsis: None of Kansas City’s four selections had exceptionally long runs in a Chiefs uniform, but Allen was a revolutionary at the position and the other three from the group won a rushing title. Muncie was paradoxically successful in the Air Coryell years and Means had a moment in the sun during San Diego’s run to Super Bowl XXIX, but the Bolts come up short because LT, the franchise’s best RB ever, chose to sit out the franchise’s (second) biggest game ever. Considering the Raiders’ rugged mystique, Oakland seems a little underwhelming -– but maybe things would feel a lot different if Bo could’ve stayed healthy for a few more seasons (and quit baseball). Denver is another “what if,” as in, “What if Terrell Davis didn’t have that knee injury?” … but of course, he did have that knee injury, and the Broncos don’t have a whole lot of quality RBs besides him.
We’ll cover the NFC side — then the playoffs -– soon. In the meantime, tune into the podcast for the aural experience of a lifetime.
Joe Namath, known for transcending the game on pure personality, got his fame education early on during the shoot for his 1965 rookie card while being laid up from knee surgery before the season.
“I was in the hospital for eight days and lost 27 pounds when in walks Jets media director, Frank Ramos, carrying shoulder pads, a jersey and a football,” said Namath. “He just looked at me lying there and said, ‘Joseph, the show must go on.’ “
Namath's rookie card that was shot in a hospital corridor after knee surgery.
And so it began.
Ramos and the photographer dragged him out of bed, propped him up against a wall and snapped the iconic shot.
Namath, who was in New York Tuesday to promote Topps football cards, and specifically their “Super Bowl Legends” collection, is regarded for elevating the sport with his flamboyant style and gregarious character – not that it was always easy for him.
“Growing up the youngest with three brothers and a sister, I joke that I was 15 before I found out that my name wasn’t ‘shut up,’” said Namath, who added that the family dynamic kept him humble along with his Alabama coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, who wouldn’t let his players speak to the media until they were seniors.
He had to learn fast after being drafted as the highest paid player at the time, making a then record $427,000 and packing for NYC.
Before his rookie season even began, Sports Illustrated posed him in Times Square and placed him on their cover, which prompted his nickname after offensive tackle Sherman Plunkett picked up the magazine, studied it for a minute and then yelled across the locker room with a big smile, “Ole Broadway. Broadway Joe!”
He eventually lived up to the moniker of course, but it took a little adjusting for Namath who was sensitive to the press in the beginning.
“I used to get so teed off at the criticism that I stopped reading about myself for my own peace of mind,” said Namath. “But I was at dinner early on with Jets president Sonny Werblin and his actress wife, Leah Ray, and I was angry about something that was written and she just said, ‘Oh honey, it’s show business.’ I yelled back, ‘No it’s not. It’s football.’ She just sweetly looked over and responded, ‘What do you think football is Joe? It’s entertainment.’ “
Fast forward 44 years to his hopeful heir apparent, Mark Sanchez, who uses the negativity as his own personal blackboard material by keeping a blown up Daily News article with the headline “Broadway Schmo” framed on his bedside after a particularly hapless loss to the Bills his rookie year.
“Sure, I guess it can be a motivator for some guys but it wasn’t for me,” said Namath. “It depends on the animal.”
Namath is more comfortable in his own skin now more than ever, even letting HBO cameras trail him for six months for a documentary set to premiere in January 2012 — although he’s still a little hesitant about what comes out of his mouth.
“It’s been a little scary,” said Namath of the experience. “I’m as truthful as I can be and afterward I think, oh no why did I say that? I worry about offending people, but the footage is candid and real if anything.”
Namath has stepped up his exposure recently Joe being Joe means he is even more free these days by tweeting throughout Jets, revealing his penchant for cheerleaders — and wet ones particularly, which has drawn attention to his unabashed honesty.
He also does postgame web shows on broadwayjoe.tv with infectious enthusiasm for his old team, although he’s a little worried about their chances.
Namath described the Jets’ 17-3 preseason win over the Giants Monday as “an ugly game.” He’s concerned about the lack of depth in the Jets offensive line, as well as Sanchez working out his timing with new receivers, blaming the work stoppage for the latter problem.
And for someone who so famously made “the guarantee” going into Super Bowl III, how does Joe Willie feel about Rex Ryan‘s repetitive guarantees about bringing home a title with Gang Green?
“It’s a coaching style and Rex’s players love him,” said Namath. “Plus they made it to two AFC Championship games so excuse me, but how can anyone say he shouldn’t do that? The actions are close to backing up the words.”
And with that, he was up and being rushed into a SUV across town to tape “The Late Show with David Letterman” — his umpteenth media appearance of the day, which included the NFL Network.
But this was all well and good by him since, as Namath knows ever since his first schooling when he was dragged out of his hospital bed, the show must go on.
If the season started today, and your only guide to which quarterback you would take was based on preseason play, who ya got: Michael Vick, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford or Drew Brees?
It’s hard to pull off a blind sample like that, but my co-host Bucky Brooks and I let you know who is balling right now and who could have his team in play once the postseason comes around on the most recent edition of the Cover Two Podcast.
So who ya got?
Probably not Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne, right? Well, say what you want, but Henne has looked like a totally different quarterback the past two preseason games and Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero explains why. Salguero also lets it rip on whether he’s buying into Henne and how much of a difference Reggie Bush makes.
We all believe Miami’s defense is going to be really good, but not because it has the top cornerback tandem in the NFL. Sorry Vontae Davis, but we like your confidence. We also like the confidence Bills rookie defensive tackle Marcell Dareus displays during his appearance.
Darius (foot) also updates us on his health and whether he’ll be ready to go Week 1. More importantly, he keeps it real on how much joy Alabama coach Nick Saban brought to the game.
Former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson has listed Poway, Calif., home for sale, and if we can take up a collection, we could probably raise the $5,210,000 needed to purchase the place.
Although, I think we can get that price down to $5 million in this economy. Or, in other words, if every reader who has ever left a negative comment on one of my Pick Six columns donated a buck, we could get that place by next week.
The five-bedroom, nearly 10,000-square foot house is rather stunning when you look through all of the pictures (and you can do that here). You need to see it to believe it.
You know what the house reminds me of the most — one of those houses that they rent to hold those MTV “The Challenge” shows.
Packers WR Don Hutson (left) during his playing days, and Ellen DeGeneres on Friday at Saints practice (Courtesy of the New Orleans Saints).
Ellen DeGeneres joined the Saints at practice Friday in Oxnard, Calif., and with the NFL being a copycat league, the Falcons immediately brought in Conan O’Brien, the Buccaneers added Jimmy Kimmel and the Panthers signed Jay Leno.
Oh, the poor Panthers. They still can’t catch a break.
You might ask why DeGeneres was at practice in the first place – perhaps teaching them some dance moves? DeGeneres, a native of Metairie, La., has long been one of the most visible and vocal Saints supporters. In fact, Saints QB Drew Brees gave DeGeneres’ mother a pair of Super Bowl tickets two years ago.
And yes, I know entirely way too much about this.
The key question I have: Why is she dressed like Hall of Fame and ex-Packers WR Don Hutson?
Dave and Rank bring in Zach “The Blue Horseshoe” Rosenfield of Accuscore.com for a division-by-division forecast of which teams are playoff bound. Spoiler alert: the Bengals do not figure into that equation.
With only a fortnight left ’til the season kicks off, Dave and Rank welcome NFL Network/Atlanta Falcon/Florida State Seminole/good guy Jamie Dukes to the studio to kibbitz about Peyton Manning and the Colts’ QB situation, Chris Johnson’s future in Tennessee and the Miami Hurricanes’ mess.
The fellas also throw a pity party for a couple of deserving NFLers. You know who else deserves a pity party? Anyone who doesn’t listen to this show.
Seattle wide receiver Mike Williams made one of the more remarkable comebacks to the NFL last year, grabbing 65 catches after being out of football for two seasons. His maturation and recognition of what nearly cost him his career are among the subjects he speaks to on the Cover Two Podcast this week.
Williams discusses his lingering toe injury that has limited him in the preseason, how his role is being impacted by the additions of Sidney Rice and Zach Miller as well as the quarterback competition between Charlie Whitehurst and Tarvaris Jackson. To Williams, the starter has already been decided.
You’ll also want to hear his take on who he thinks could be an inspirational breakout player like he was last season. It’s not a Seahawks player and Williams’ take is pretty moving.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Kerry Collins points to several things, namely starter Peyton Manning might not be ready to start the season and that current backup Curtis Painter isn’t up to the task. There is something bigger and more important, though, in regard to the team that my co-host Bucky Brooks and I point out.
Brooks gives his take on Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson being back on the field after having seizures early in training camp and how he could make a huge difference in the “Dream Team’s” defense.
Lastly, if you had to choose: Fred Jackson or C.J. Spiller; Kevin Kolb or Colt McCoy; Tramon Williams or Brent Grimes; Whitehurst or Jackson, who do you want? Hear what we have to say on the Cover Two Podcast.
Carolina’s top pick Cam Newton made his first start of the preseason Friday and even though he didn’t exactly light it up against the Dolphins, it’s his job to lose. At least according to Bucky Brooks and me on our latest Cover Two Podcast.
Will Jaguars rookie QB Blaine Gabbert join him in the starting lineup Week 1? We asked Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio, who was non-committal. He did offer up this riveting compliment of veteran David Garrard‘s performance Friday against Atlanta: “He was okay.” That was pretty much it. Del Rio did have some promising things to say about his defense, which is something he couldn’t say about his last few defenses. In fact, you might get a kick out of what he did say.
D. Orlando Ledbetter, the Falcons’ beat writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also joined us on Cover Two and kept it real about the offensive line’s play against the Jags. If you’ve never had the pleasure of dealing with D-Led, you will when one of the NFL media’s most colorful journalists breaks it all down, including his take on his favorite team from childhood — the Cleveland Browns.
Brooks is riled up about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell transferring Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor‘s five-game suspension by the NFL. I also have some pretty zesty thoughts on Baltimore coach John Harbaughsomewhat apologizing for adding a late touchdown in a preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. There was no need to, especially since coaches are always telling us about how much the preseason doesn’t matter.
And if you’re still reeling about the recent news coming from “The U,” you won’t believe who we might have spotted in one of the pictures of alleged debauchery.
Dave and Rank discuss the Eli Manning and Terrelle Pryor stories, then welcome NFL.com fantasy guru Michael Fabiano in-studio to break down their recent Experts League fantasy draft and breakout/bust candidates. Dave also charges Fabiano with a violation of the Fan Conduct Policy.
Careful handling this podcast, ‘cause it’s red hot.
Hide the women and children. Based on NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks’ training camp report on the Raiders in our most recent Cover Two Podcast, the fans of the Silver & Black might get a little worked up.
Carolina Panthers LB Thomas Davis kicked off the show by invoking the “worst-to-first” refrain about his team’s chances in the rugged NFC South. It’s happened nearly every season in the division, so don’t think he’s crazy. Davis said the defense will hold things down while the offense gets up to speed. He also said that rookie QB Cam Newton is a prototype well ahead of his time. Someone call George McFly.
I also had the skinny on recent training camp stops with the Eagles, Panthers and Jets and drop the names of a few players no one is talking about who could emerge as surprises. All are receivers, and two are rookies.
We also get the inside scoop on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from beat writer Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times. Holder really breaks down the decision to let MLB Barrett Ruud walk in free agency and the risk the team took by doing so. He also brings up the catch phrase coined by Raheem Morris – “Youngry” – that the Bucs hope catches on.
Then again, when Morris hears my take on the term he might be “Yangry.”
In case you hadn’t heard, the Hall of Fame induction party for Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanderswas “off the chain”, as the kids would say. Nelly and Snoop Dogg were awesome. Or at least that is what I heard. I declined my ticket, as I would instead put $3 into the jukebox at Buffalo Wild Wings in order to download the Allman Brothers Band entire “Eat a Peach” album (and a few Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes, too), much to the delight of my Canton, Ohio brethren (now that was a party).
In any event, we scored some photos and we want you, the NFL.com user, to provide the captions.
My caption: “Sure, Nelly, it may be getting hot in herre, but you couldn’t wear a nicer T-shirt?”
My caption: “A Snoop Dogg appearance has not seemed this out-of-place since “Old School.” Or maybe, “Hi, this is Snoop Dogg for Century 21, and do I have a three-bedroom condo for you.”
Yes, I am embarrassed for myself. But you can catch Snoop’s tribute to Primetime right here.
Sidelines What are NFL players and coaches doing when they’re not at work? From community events to appearances on shows like Dancing With the Stars and everywhere in between, NFL.com offers a sideline pass to see what’s happening off the field.
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