Archive for January, 2008

Popularity of National Football League

American football has started to gain popularity all over the world and is actively promoted by the National Football League by sending football players as ambassadors to Europe, Japan, Mexico etc  in order to even more popularize America’s most favorite sport. The most famous football competition the Super Bowl is broadcast to almost all the nook and corner of this world with the latest advancements in technology. The International Federation of American Football is the body that is governing the National football League and the American Football organizations all over the world.

The National football League has spread its wings to countries like Canada, Mexico, Japan as well as European countries. There are plenty of NFL review sites and fan club sites that are available on the internet wherein the latest news, profile of the leading stars, online tickets, photos, videos and articles are posted for the fans to get up to date information of the activities of NFL. The Super Bowls have added lot of fun and frolic to viewing the game and the television viewership for the game is also on an upward curve. The tactics of the NFL players both in offense and defense has also changed over the years and the new playing concepts have also contributed to the rising popularity of the game worldwide.

Eagles DE Cole to replace Kerney in Pro Bowl

Trent Cole has been named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Seattle Seahawks end Patrick Kerney will sit out the game with a shoulder injury. Cole is the youngest Eagles’ defensive end to earn a Pro Bowl. Cole comes off a season in which he ranked sixth in the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks. Cole notched 103 tackles this past season and he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after a 3 1/2-sack performance against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. Cole was voted Defensive Most Valuable Player by his Philadelphia teammates

Falcons’ new defensive co-ordinator leaves South Carolina

Brian VanGorder left South Carolina to take the same job with the Atlanta Falcons.VanGorder spent last year as the Falcons’ linebackers coach.  Steve Spurrier hired him as co-ordinator last month during Week 15 of the NFL season.The Falcons hired Mike Smith as head coach on Wednesday. Smith replaced Bobby Petrino, who abruptly left the Falcons last month after just 13 games of a 4-12 season.VanGorder has held six jobs with four teams over the last five years.Petrino lost his defensive co-ordinator on Thursday when South Carolina hired him in the same capacity.Ellis Johnson left Petrino’s staff after just four weeks.

Packers mixed youth and wins

Mike McCarthy made a commitment to youth when he became coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2006. McCarthy stuck to it through the bad times.  He lost eight of his first 12 games but didn’t panic. With five of his nine draft picks in the starting lineup, the Packers won their final four games of the 2006 season to finish at .500. Green Bay expected to be a playoff contender in 2007.  McCarthy kept nine of his 2007 draft picks and 10 rookies total. He started three rookies in the season opener and the Packers went on a 4-0 tear to propel themselves to the top of the NFC North. Green Bay stayed there all season, finishing as the second seed in the NFC playoff bracket with a 13-3 record. That rookie class combined to start 31 games .

Brady recovering from sore foot

Tom Brady is recovering from a sore foot suffered in Sunday’s win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game. New England Patriots star quarterback was seen limping on his day off.Player wearing what appears to be a walking cast.The report stated that during his weekly radio show, Brady did not deny that he suffered some sort of injury during the San Diego game.Brady also told the Boston Herald that the injury would not keep him out of the Super Bowl.Brady, a three-time Super Bowl winner, enjoyed the best season of his career this campaign as he tossed a league-record 50 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions.

Dolphins poised to hire more Cowboys assistants

The Dolphins  will return with some assistants for new head coach Tony Sparano’s staff, and ousted Dolphins coach Cam Cameron could be on the verge of joining the Baltimore Ravens as their next offensive coordinator.Three Dallas Cowboys defensive assistants the Dolphins have had their eye on will become available Tuesday. Their contracts expired at the end of business today.The Cowboys reportedly have offered extensions to keep secondary coach Todd Bowles, linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers.Any or all could be officially reunited with Sparano as soon as Tuesday. Sparano was the Cowboys assistant head coach and offensive line assistant .As for the offensive side of the ball, longtime Bill Parcells associate Dan Henning has emerged as a candidate to be the next offensive coordinator.


More important to Pittsburgh than many knew

 Mike Tomlin announced that defensive end Aaron Smith might be out for the season because of a torn bicep muscle.  Tomlin’s initial suspicions were confirmed correct later. First came a 21-point defeat to the New England Patriots. A lot has been said about Pittsburgh’s offensive running game and how it dictates the team’s performance.  the Steelers were third in the NFL in rushing ‘D’ in 2005 and ‘06, and they were first in ‘04.  Pittsburgh was once again third in the NFL in that department.  And Aaron Smith was a major reason why.

Cromartie’s speed will be on display

Prime space is given to the exploits of LaDainian Tomlinson. He is the face of the San Diego Chargers. There is the ball he carried into the end zone for his 100th career touchdown, which required just 89 games. No one in NFL history has reached that mark quicker.  While Tomlinson will forever be part of Chargers lore, many of his records perhaps will be broken.   He had a third of the team’s league-leading 30 interceptions during the regular season, and has one of the Chargers’ three picks in the playoffs. The sad part is San Diego coach Norv Turner knows Cromartie’s interception against Peyton Manning in last Sunday’s divisional playoff win over the Colts will never get the credit it deserves because a questionable holding call against Eric Weddle nullified an 89-yard return for a touchdown.

Cal’s Jackson to enter NFL draft

Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson probably didn’t surprise anyone Tuesday when he announced he will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft.Jackson is expected to be selected in the middle of the first round of the draft in April. Jackson said he was still wrestling with his choice Tuesday morning.Jackson’s abilities were reviewed by NFL personnel evaluators, and it was determined he would be a first-round pick.  Some online mock drafts have Jackson going 16th or 17th. Jackson said he hasn’t paid much attention to draft projections, but the feedback from NFL personnel played a big part in his decision. He said he looks forward to demonstrating his skills at the NFL Combine in February and at Cal’s Pro Day in March. Jackson said he had to sort out opinions from family members

Bid to ban Broncos’ ticket rules has fans

Broncos fans would be able to sell their season tickets for any price they can fetch and to whomever they please under a bill sponsored by Sen. Lois Tochtrop. The Thornton Democrat said the bill was prompted by the Broncos’ crackdown last year on fans who were selling their season tickets online or through brokers. Fans selling their tickets through newspapers, the Internet or any other media could face losing their season tickets, the letter said. Tochtrop said the policy means even people trying to sell their tickets to neighbors or through the office bulletin board could lose their season tickets.