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SIDELINE ARCHIVE Unnecessary Hits To The Pocket / Upset: BYU October 17, 2008 Romo's Pause / Seattle Seahawks October 15, 2008 Weekend Prep: Red River and More October 10, 2008 College Football's 'Crossroads' Weekend October 9, 2008 Gramatical Error October 7, 2008 Turning The Page September 30, 2008 So Cal 'Quizzed — But Who Will Answer? September 26, 2008 3rd Tuesday Panic Button / Forté Yard Dash September 23, 2008 Two and Oh; Oh and Two September 22, 2008 No More NCAAffeine September 11, 2008 Week 1 College Football September 6, 2008 How To Spell Heisman / Chad Ocho Cinco September 1, 2008 Why the Favre story STILL won't go away August 18, 2008 Olympic Notes / Ricky's Still Relevant August 14, 2008 Committee Meetings August 9, 2008 Let the QB Battles Begin August 8, 2008 Slinging The Slinger — More Favre August 6, 2008 Welcome to the 2008 season July 28, 2008 Plus One May 27, 2008 Draft: The Morning After April 28, 2008 Draft: Thinking the Unthinkable April 25, 2008 Draft: Ready For The Long Haul April 23, 2008 Sofa–bound Sport April 16, 2008 Post–Winter Wonderland April 11, 2008 Six Impossible Things February 4, 2008 Brady's Misdirection Play February 3, 2008 Colorful Language January 23, 2008 Let the Romo–bashing begin: Dallas lost January 14, 2008 Bowl Bites: The Wrap January 10, 2008 All About The Coaches January 1, 2008 Bowl Bites 3 and A Communication Breakdown December 29, 2007 Bowl Bites 2 December 27, 2007 Bowl Bites 1 December 23, 2007 The Empty Chair - Coach Situations Vacant December 22, 2007 For Some, The Playoffs Are Now December 15, 2007 A Certain Lack Of Welcome December 13, 2007 Unrelated Notes November 29, 2007 Two Thanksgiving thoughts November 22, 2007 Halftime: NFC November 9, 2007 Halftime: AFC November 8, 2007 London, Part 2 / A Tale of Two Chads / A Game of Intimidation November 4, 2007 Damp Squib / Other London Notes October 29, 2007 Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em / Dolphins – The Aftermath October 23, 2007 The Dolphins Did What? October 18, 2007 Notes on the Defenses October 13, 2007 Habits to be Broken October 12, 2007 Overtime October 13, 2007 This Week's Starters October 6, 2007: USF: Covering The Spread / Fantastic Football September 27, 2007: Grossman: The Final Act? / McNabb, the Epilogue September 24, 2007: Eagles QB in Slight Controversy September 21, 2007: Leftwich's Parting Gift to Jacksonville? / Boos cruise September 18, 2007: Notre Dame M.I.A. September 16, 2007: Looking Beyond NFL Wk. 1 September 12, 2007: Best Hope For Heisman September 10, 2007: Coaching Hot Seats / AP Poll Feeling ’Appy September 7, 2007: The NFL’s Prime Cuts September 5, 2007: Michigan Falls to Killer Apps September 3, 2007: Look Out Couch / The Taint's On You, Bud September 1, 2007: |
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SPORTS SIDELINE 
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale The Morning After Well, it was quite a wild party, wasn't it? Like any good party, the specifics are a little hazy. Highlights are connected by more general, half–remembered impressions, plus the occasional incongruous flashback of the headier moments which somebody will probably end up regretting. It'll take a while to sort it all out, so bear with me. I remember the Longs arriving, and that nice Matt Ryan, of course, but then there's the more surreal moments, like that young athlete dancing with the septuagenarian in the funny glasses. Did that really happen? Then all the wide receivers turned up late, and the Eagles and Titans ignored them — I forget why. And why do I seem to remember the Colts collecting centers the way Imelda Marcos collects shoes? Draft Notes The six player–invitees to the event didn't have to wait long in the green room (or blue room according to the decor), being the first six players picked — the first time this had ever happened. Denied hours of the usual spectacle of an anguished twenty one year–old in close–up, we had to find our entertainment elsewhere. If only running back Rashard Mendenhall had been there in person. Think of the emotional pay–off that could have been enjoyed when he slipped past the Detroit Lions (yeah, too obvious for them) and ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were to be one of the winners for the weekend — as long as you didn't examine their actual needs too closely — supplying haven to three skill position stars other teams were cruelly overlooking: Mendenhall, WR Limas Sweed and QB Dennis Dixon. I'm not sure what the Steelers are going to do with Dixon, who was once a Heisman hopeful, but with the advantage of being five time zones ahead of the East Coast, let me be one of the first to say 'Slash' (be warned, that idea's quickly going to sound like a stuck record of "Matt Ryan represents the end of the Michael Vick era" proportions). The main theme of the draft appeared to be trades, frequently away from the talent. It became so virulent on day one that I started to wonder if everybody was trying to save their money for some future uncapped season (as if). Tracking the trades eventually became more complicated than tracking the selections. At one stage, the Browns ended up acquiring their own sixth round pick from Philadelphia — they promptly used it on a receiver, which was at least more than the Eagles seemed inclined to do. Donovan McNabb wasn't the only QB who must have been feeling a little depressed by proceedings. John Beck, Miami's second round pick last year, can't be sensing good job security after Michigan's Chad Henne landed with this year's second round pick. In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers has barely caught breath since Brett Favre retired, and he already has Brian Brohm and national championship–winning Matt Flynn heading his way. No pressure or anything. Oh yes, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now officially have five quarterbacks. Perhaps they could send one to Kansas City. Everybody keeps telling me the Chiefs had a really good time, but as far as I can see, they had two first round picks and they've still got Brodie Croyle as their starter. Odd. Of course, it's all a bit of a blur at the moment. I'll be back when my head clears. |
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