I always wanted to be a knuckle dragger :angel: :moo:

Four weeks on the glandular fever absense count for me. It was better than working, although I had a miserable boss who I detested at the time.

Erm, back on topic...

More injury news from the NFL.

NEW ORLEANS -- Marques Colston, the New Orleans Saints' top receiver during the past two seasons, had surgery on his left thumb and will miss four to six weeks.

There is a lot going down right now in the NFL - the injury list this week should be interesting.

I'm sticking with Brees though, even without one of his weapons.

Awww cock, he's my star fantasy receiver. AND Brees is my QB.

I take it all back, Tom... ;)

So, who hated my blog on the ACL with me trying not to bring the bias in.

The blog was fine, Paul. I'm just not that interested in the mechanics of an injury. Bad injury, out for season - it's all I need to know!

I would have made it Pats-biased but thought I would look at other blogs and they sort of go into the dynamics of stuff so thought I would as well to see what its like.

Blogs are personal - write what you want to write about.

OK chaps. I'm interviewing Jason Brisbane today, the British guy who's just signed up for the Chargers practice squad.

Any questions you think I should ask? Obviously, I'm going to focus on how he got the opportunity, what inspired him to become a footballer, what his family think.

Is there anything you would want to ask him? :D

Would really be interested to hear his views on the NFL outside the States i.e. In the UK especially? Where does he think these International series games are taking the sport? Are we heading towards a future European NFL franchise?

Following on from davematt, Ask him if he could see a division being put outside of North America maybe in Europe or possibly other countries around the globe.

Ask him who his inspiration is within his position.

Who does he think is the best player playing in his position in the NFL (Hes a linebacker right?)

Yup :p

Good questions. Will ask him them, keep them coming :D

Adding onto the above, in a similar vein - how does he think the Chargers fans would react to a game across the border, like the Bills fans have had to suffer?

What does he think of the 2 game pre-season/18 game regular season suggestions being floated around recently?

And the nice cliched question - if you could change one thing in the NFL, what would it be? If he says he'd change his name to Ocho Cinco, I'll buy you all a beer. :D

Think the best one is simply what made him want to be a footballer?

Obviously back in the UK, football is hardly considered a sport and it will be interesting to hear exactly how he started playing? Did he move over to the States at a young age, or did he grow up in the UK?

Its obviously quite a unique situation as not many NFL players come from the UK! Although the Giants have a few :)

What made him not want to play a girly sport like "soccer"? :D

Whats the interview for??? If english publication then ask What soccer team he supports of course.

Ask him what team he plays as when he plays madden!

Of course.

We're now looking at the possibility of interviewing all five English players currently signed up for NFL practice squads. It's aimed at a British magazine.

I'll make sure to ask him about soccer. Amazing story for him though, he's gone from playing at Finsbury Park to having the opportunity to play at the Qualcom Stadium in six months. Obviously he'll find it tough - but who knows! :D

What english soccer players would make good kickers? :D

I think David Beckham unofficially broke the kicking record last year :D

I have done my final blog for the week.

As a warning, it is my patriots-based one so apologies for that. But I would be grateful if you could give me my thoughts. It is long but it could have been much longer.

Thanks all.

I wont be on here for about 3 hours I think, dont worry this time I havent died ;)

patrioteagle.blogspot.com

Paul, not wishing to make your signature any longer, but it might be worth sticking your blog URL on there too :D

Ask him to sign up and post on here.

He could delete plenty of the crap in it, though :D

I read it Paul. It is a decent summary and you make a reasonable case but the fact is that somewhere along the line Cassel is going to have to move the chains and go 80+ yards in 2 minutes with 1 timeout.

Can he do it? Maybe, no-one knows. The NE coaches might not even know but they have little choice now.

For NE this year, an appearance in the wild-card play-off matches would be a success. Anything else would be beyond dreaming.

I'm not knocking your enthusiasm, but you need to be realistic. Yes, I know the Pats did it before with Brady but when he was put in, how many Pats fans thought he'd take them all the way? You could've counted them on one hand, I promise you. Right now, the situation is the same, IMO.

A 9-7 season and a loss in Pittsburgh/Indy/Jax/SD in the wildcard play-off would not be a disaster. In fact, should we be fortunate enough to get Jax or maybe even the Bills, we might go one step further. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...

Some great questions already said here fellas for Jason Brisbane. Look forward to hearing his replies

Done the sig for you all.

Saxon, everything you say is true, but as said we have a high-quality offense, if Cassel fails in the next two games, we then have the early bye week luckily. We then have the chance to examine O'Connell who has played since high school and was drafted in the 3rd round. It wouldnt surprise me to see Gutierrez getting worked out more and more since he is now in the Practice Squad.

It aint over until its over :D.

Also looking forward to the Brisbane replies, looking around sites for him, it looks like a quick rise to the top.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The mother of Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young said he indicated he doesn't want to play football and is "hurting inside and out."

Felicia Young said in Wednesday editions of The Tennessean that her son is tired of all the negativity he's faced after being booed during a 17-10 win Sunday over Jacksonville. On Monday, Jeff Fisher sought police help to help find Young in what the Titans coach later said was a misunderstanding.

Vince Young revisited

In May, NFL.com Senior Columnist Thomas George sat down for a candid conversation with Vince Young, who said he had considered retirement after his rookie season.

"I really thought long and hard about it," Young said. "There was so much going on with my family. It was crazy being an NFL quarterback. It wasn't fun anymore. All of the fun was out of it. All of the excitement was gone. All I was doing was worrying about things." More "What would you think, if you were tired of being ridiculed and persecuted and talked about and not being treated very well, what would you do? What kind of decision would you make?" Felicia Young said. "He may not want to deal with it (all), but you have to get to that point before you make that decision first.

"But we're not talking about football right now. We're talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing."

The phone number for Young's home is unlisted, and his agent, Major Adams, did not answer his cell phone on Wednesday morning. The Titans did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

This isn't the first time that Young has talked of wanting to quit football. He told a NFL.com senior columnist Thomas George last spring that he thought of retiring after his rookie season, a statement he said later was taken out of context.

The No. 3 pick overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, Young won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and followed up by helping the Titans reach the playoffs last season with a 10-6 record. He has been criticized for his passing struggles, with nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2007.

His mental state has been in question since being booed Sunday after his second interception during the Jacksonville game. He didn't want to go back into the game until prodded by Fisher.

He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee four plays later and could be out for up to four weeks. Fisher said Tuesday night he is only ruling Young out for Sunday's game at Cincinnati.

Titans add QB Simms

With Young out, the Titans signed former Bucs QB Chris Simms on Wednesday.

Chris Simms, QB
Tennessee Titans

Career stats:
G/GS: 19/15
TD/INT: 12/17
Yards: 3,087
Comp. pct.: 59.1

Young didn't go to the team's offices Monday and postponed his MRI exam until Tuesday. He met with a psychologist at his home Monday along with Fisher and another team official.

Four hours of uncertainty followed Monday night when Young left his home without his phone, prompting someone at his home to call Fisher. He called police to help find the quarterback and had a meeting late Monday night with Young and police crisis negotiators at the team's headquarters.

Young later drove home.

Felicia Young said her son needs some space.

"It is hard, all he is going through right now. He's hurting inside and out," she told the newspaper.

"But he will be fine if people are prayerful and help my baby boy out. He is a young man. He just needs a lot of love and support."

Good luck Vince - you'll be fine and come back stronger.

That must have been some booing in all honesty. I hope he is fine and recovers, its just a game. Some people take it too far. Hopefully Vince will find help and it sounds like his mother is a good influence on him and can turn his career and his life back on track.

Lot's of pressure on young player's shoulders. I feel for him - money is great but it's not the answer to everything.

Just spoke to Jason - top bloke.

He's a fan of the Bronco's - so it'll leave him a bit torn this weekend when the Chargers play them :D

Did you mention us :D

Nah - I only had 10 minutes with him - hopefully get the chance to talk to him again in the next few days though.

Oh, and he's a QPR fan - but he doesn't really like soccer much.

Rob, Paul and Ben -- Loving the blogs. Keep it up!

Ah, Denver... my future home town. I'll probably be a regular at Mile High once I'm there. Will get me away from the whinging missus at least one day a week...

Good news for Nookiebear and Saxoneagle. The Jets and Saints are picked to win in the Metro's Tipster column. :clown:

They've made it a "tasty treble" with San Diego to win in Denver. Not so tasty if you include two road teams in it if you ask me. The Metro Tipster might be worse than Purewinners.

Purewinners was a legend on here. The worlds worst tipster.

And Chargers who lost last week to beat a team that destroyed the Raiders who appear to be competing with the Rams for last.

Good blogs Rob, hadnt read them before. :D

1/8th of all Starting QBs are now down and out, with all the other injuries, was it rustyness or just bad luck this time round.

Griese starting for the Bucs ahead of Garcia this week

Hey, don't knock the Broncos. Yeah, the Raiders were awful, but Denver looked really dangerous on both sides of the ball. Their D-line brought pressure from everywhere, their committee of running backs (Young, Hall, Pittman) all played well, Eddie Royal looks a hell of a talent and Jay Cutler placed nearly every pass inch perfectly. And they'll have Brandon Marshall back this Sunday.

They could be a real dark horse this season.

I wasnt knocking them, I think I may have put them down a bit more than I meant too. From what I saw, Cutler may be one of those pushing towards that elite group of QBs. You have the Top 3/4 of Favre, Brady and Manning and McNabb as well I suppose. You then have the group of Cutler, Garrard, Eli, Rivers, Palmer and Roethlisberger. Although a couple of them are ahead of the other few. You also have the younger generation or those that are getting their chances in Ryan, Flacco, Rodgers and a few others as well.

Boom boom. :D

Watched some of NFL Gameday last night and I'm very impressed with the two Rookie quarterbacks that won in their debut games.

Slightly difficult week on the survival front. Not a whole lot of strong performances that you can trust from week 1, but I don't think Seattle will slip up at home to San Francisco so I've gone for them.

Can someone remind me what the pool address is? I can't remember it (or my username/password for that matter).

www.office-pools.com I think.

Some people take things too far...

http://www.believemerch.com/products

You need to chill out Paul. Try smkoing a joint or two later.

For the 22nd time, I hate this site. The navigation makes no sense at all. As a whole every page looks like it escaped from a Geocities site built in 1998.

Everything to Yahoo next year, yes?

I'm not Kevin Faulk :D, but that shirt does take the piss and Pollard is supposedly upset about his name being used on them shirts without permission from the Chiefs, his agent or himself

Everything to Yahoo, but we keep the MSN/FOX league running as well as a keeper league.

Well, next year I won't be around but I will keep my FOX team going and just keep the same team every week to see how it does!

I'll be back for 2010 though.

Cheers - that's my blog update for tomorrow sorted. :p :o

:p Glad to be of service.

And Saxon, we'll run you a team for 09 on Yahoo anyway, we can sign you up and do all the stuff and you get what you get in the draft.

That way, we will all be involved in it and no-one gets left out (Ben,Swanny,Latvian etc)

Teeheehee...

http://www.theonion.com/content/news...or_season_with

Cassel may look like a pig, but he is hilarious in interviews and him and Wes Welker make a great comedy duo live on air.

Excellent... :love:

I'll probably be around for the draft but we're planning on disappearing off the face of the planet by September 09 :)

So who do I have to argue about Patriot plays with?

Yourself, like always :D

I have a dilemma. I'm going to the game next week and as I've spent $200 on a ticket, the offset was that my missus could tag a trip home onto her training course in October which is costing her the equivalent.

She now has training in Chicago in November and thinks I should go with her. My response was "great, I can go and see a Bears game". Her response was that it was too expensive and we are supposed to be saving for travelling.

So, my dilemma, what should I buy for her as bribery for her to let me go to the Bears game? (She said if I go to something "inside", she'll come too but I've been to see the Bulls and Blackhawks before...) :D

(The week after, the Bears play in Lambeau but I think asking if I can fly to Wisconsin is REALLY pushing it...)

Decisions decisions ... to be fair I've never wanted to visit the States, never interested me. But to catch a sporting event, I'd be very tempted more recently ...

Saxon - how about a new hoover or something? :o :D

You've never wanted to visit the States? :eek:

When we're living over there, I'll invite you over and take you to a match :D

Oh, and if she cleaned, it would be a f*cking start...

Nope, see enough on the box all the time ... :) But now that I'm starting to get back into the NFL, I'd like to experience a game ... so by all means, give me a shout. I'd be more than happy to see the Pats ... :D

Oh, I know what you mean fella .. .:grrr:

I won't be living anywhere near New England so it probably won't be the Pats!

Ah .. bad planning then ... :D

Second greatest nation in the world.

(Canada is #1.) :lux:

Bleurgh. :D

Any concerts on when you're visiting that she might like?

Blue Man Group are in Chicago, I might send her to that!

No posts in this thread for nearly two hours, what is wrong with the world.

You haven't been here Paul :o

Do you mind, I hadnt posted in 12 posts :D, It was you and saxon banging on about nothing ;)

:D ...

Paul, do you know when do I get those two players back in my roster?

Tomorrow or Saturday at the latest, probably tomorrow.

Love this image, all our teams are on there I believe.
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008..._logos_589.jpg

Thanks Paul, wrong thread I know but thought I'd catch you while y ou're around ;)

That's quality ... Romessica - what are they thinking? :D

The Rams one is funny ...

By the way, I got Mrs JM to chose her team this evening seeing as the kids were on about their Bears and Phins. She has gone for the Eagles!!! Her choice, but interesting we play each other on Monday night ... :)

EAGLES, EAGLES.

I like the Jags and the Chargers one, maybe I just like Cartoon animals :)

I guess she chose half right but wrong sport ... :D

The Rams one is class. :D

That was pure luck that I found it. Its brilliant, I think its 17 teams represented, wish they had some of the others that could be funny as well.

Paul, that's the sort of stuff you should have on your blog. Really good and if you use it first I can't steal it for mine, like I plan to. :o

I've just read up to date on your blog Ben - good work.

I was going to do a week 2 preview this week but given that I won't be around to comment on it on Monday, I can't be bothered... so my next update will be AFTER week 3 now. :(

I'm looking forward to the games as a neutral this weekend seeing as the Cowboys take on Philly on Monday ....

Christ, the Jets are 1.5 points favs over the pats all because of brady being out :D

I really dont get why they put the spreads like that. Its unlikely its going to be a tie or have one point in it.

But, the spread started at 3.5 to the Jets and so much money has gone on the Pats it has moved in two. The teams havent changed, so why should the spread change in all honesty?

That said 23-14 to the New England Patriots.

Id still take the pats -7 points! I think its a steal, shame I have no spare cash laying around!

It means a lot of money has gone on the Pats. The spread moving is Vegas's way to trying to keep the books even.

Apparently the Cowboys-Eagles line opened at Cowboys -9 for twenty minutes, then quickly moved to Cowboys -7. Same deal, i.e. not many people think the Eagles will go to Texas and lose by 10.

The half points are basically to avoid pushes, i.e. if the Cowboys are 7 point favourites and win 24-17 it is a push and stakes are returned.

I'm going. I have a poor record of anything good happening when I go to US sporting events. Seriously. Want me to list them?

Saints @ Browns - Frye throws an 80 yard TD pass with the first play of the game. Called back for holding. No TDs until the 4th Q after that. Dull.

Vikings @ 49ers - No TDs all game

Colts @ Ravens - The Colts hammered the Ravens in the first Q. It rained. Most of the crowd left by half-time. I left early and missed Troy Smith throw his first NFL TD. I saw it on the TV back in my hotel room.

Pistons @ Lakers - Kobe who? Scored 2 points in first 3 periods.

Athletics @ Yankees - 3 runs in first innings, I believe. Final score 2-1 Yankees. 8 innings with barely a hit.

Rays @ A's - First seven innings, 1 run. Missus got bored so we left. 8th inning, Rays score three off two errors, A's get one back in ninth. We were on the train back to the city.

Nationals @ Blackhawks - Not a big fan of hockey but the Nationals were rated as a pretty good team. The Blackhawks hammered them in a very one-sided contest.

Spurs @ Bulls - all the big names on the Spurs team, a decent enough Bulls team at home. Another blowout. At least Deng played.

So there. Don't think I've seen a top quality, close match yet in any sport.

I vaguely remember you mentioning this. That was Washington wasn't it, so it was the Capitals, not Nationals?

Probably the best game I ever saw was a Braves-Rockies game where the Braves came from 4-0 and 5-1 down to win 6-5. And not that it was high quality, but a Dolphins-Oilers game in 1991 where Sammie Smith fumbled as he was jumping over the pile for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown in the closing minutes. :veryangry

Sorry, yep it was the Capitals... shows how much I care about hockey ;)

Well done Mrs JM :love: :lux: Does she support Kent CC as well :p

Daren't ask!

You want an Injury List, this is an injury list

1/4 of the Broncos players are on the Injury List, and I thought Belichick took the piss out of it.

Injury report: Chargers

Out
LB Shawne Merriman (knee) injured reserve
T Marcus McNeill (neck)
C Nick Hardwick (foot)

Questionable
CB Antonio Cromartie (hip)
RB LaDainian Tomlinson (toe) :D

Probable
TE Antonio Gates
DT Jamal Williams

Injury report: Broncos

Out
RB Ryan Torain (elbow)
C Tom Nalen (knee)

Doubtful
LB Louis Green (hamstring)

Probable
LB Boss Bailey (ankle)
QB Jay Cutler (knee)
DE Elvis Dumervil (finger)
DE Ebenezer Ekuban (back)
WR Darrell Jackson (ankle)
S Marquand Manuel (thumb)
QB Patrick Ramsey (knee)
DT Dewayne Robertson (knee)
WR Eddie Royal (ankle)
DT Marcus Thomas (ankle)

Not a game for the 1st team-ers on either side, then? :D

Actually, ignore that, I will blog on this and my funny picture thing in the morning.

As I have discovered that the Ravens have 17 on the Injury List. Most of these are probable, and I really dont think that the other teams take these seriously due to the fact that you can (basically) lie on them (no slander or libel or anything there is there) :D

I had all the thoughts in my head for the IR blog, so I have done it. Some facts may be right, some may be wrong, but I am tired and that is my excuse for being stupid.... for now anyway.

Great news (for me, anyway!): the wife is allowing me to go to the Titans and Bears match in Chicago :lux:

I mentioned Titans and Vince Young and she agreed and even wanted to come with. She might change her mind about football in Chicago in November... :D

I then dropped in the fact that the Bulls were playing too and on the Saturday night they are playing the Cavs with LeBron... she ASKED if we could go to that, too. SHE ASKED ME!

Sometimes, just sometimes, I love my wife :D :lux:

:moo:

PS - I'll be back online Thursday with reports from the Mets game tomorrow and the Pats game on Sunday. :lux:

:moo:
(my new signature)

Greetings everyone from Baltimore!

Off to see the Orioles tonight then the big one on Sunday - Skins v Saints.

Can't wait

Telly over here is going crazy about Vince Young. He was apparently talking suicide to his shrink and had a gun in his car, but it was unloaded

Hope the fella is ok

Will report back after I see those SKins!

Git. ;)

THE PR who is looking after my group is now taking me to see her nine-year-old son play American football. Should be great fun :)