Channing Crowder is Ready to Unretire
By Gayle Saunders
Follow Him on Twitter
Could defensive coordinator Mike Nolan be the reason for someone to unretire? In the case of retired Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, that would be a yes.
Crowding recently told the Atlanta Journal Constitution he wants back in if the Atlanta Falcosn will have him next season.
“I’d love to play in Atlanta,” Crowder said. “Nolan is my guy.”
Crowder said that he even reached out to Mike Nolan via text.
“I told him if he needs a better linebacker let me know,” Crowder said. “He texted me back and said ‘I’ll keep in touch.’ “
Crowder had the opportunity to play under Nolan for one season while he was defensive coordinator with the Dolphins. Crowder also made it known, that the reason for his sudden retirement was due to the birth of his son, and now he’s ready to make a comeback.
However playing for the Dolphins is not something he is planning to do.
He had some harsh words for his old GM in Miami Jeff Ireland when he spoke with NFL.com
“Jeff Ireland “is not a good person.”
Crowder actually grew up in Atlanta and attended Atlanta’s North Springs high school. I’m sure he welcomes a reunion with the city of Atlanta as well with Mike Nolan.
Vick returns to Atlanta for the first time as a starter
Marion Barber: A No Go vs. the Falcons
By Gayle Saunders
Follow Him on Twitter
We have good news for the Atlanta Falcons and bad news for the Bears. Espn.com is reporting that backup running back Marion Barber will be held out of Sunday’s opener with a calf injury
Bears Head coach Lovie Smith spoke on Marion
“Marion Barber is getting better,” . “He won’t play this week.”
Recently the Bears kept Barber out of Friday’s practice. Barber hasn’t practiced with the team since he injured his calf against the Titans on Aug. 27
In the first two preseason games he had 20 carries for 94 yards. 45 of those yards came against the opener against the Bills. He sustained an injury on a short yardage run in the 1st quarter against the Titans.
According to offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the team will miss Barber’s skills as “a violent runner.”
“He’s a guy who can certainly jump cut and do all those things,” Martz said. “But he’ll take a defender on, too, and break tackles. He’s kind of a complete back in that way.”
With Barber a no go Bears will look to Kahlil Bell. During the preseason he’s averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
“Great opportunity [for Bell], you have to be ready,” Smith said. “Kahlil has been in [this] position before. He’s a pro. He’s had a good camp. There’s a reason why he’s on our football team right now, and if you’re a backup, this is the time that you want. If your number is called, the team expects us to have a running back in that position that can get the job done.”
All World TE Tony Gonzalez hints at retirement
By Gayle Saunders
Follow Him on Twitter
With a lockout looming, that could mean two things for the Atlanta Falcons…no football for the superbowl contenders next season …and having to say good-bye to all world tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Gonzalez had ideas of hanging it up after the Falcons loss to the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs in January, however he knew in his heart that this team was loaded with talent and ready for a Super Bowl run in 2011.
The Atlanta Falcons tight end is just keeping it real with him self and his 35 year old body. He feels great physically, but with a lockout that would force him to take a year off from football and he isn’t sure if his body could handle the year away.
Gonazalez said Tuesday in a sitdown interview with Rich Eisen on “NFL Total Access.”
“That would be the only reason I would more than likely not come back,” Gonzalez said. “If we miss the whole season and I have to sit out a year, I just think, at 35, sitting out a whole year of football and waiting for it to come back, I just don’t know if my body could. I just want to be smart about it.”
Gonzalez has two years under his belt with the Falcons and still holding on to the idea of playing his third year with the team.
“We got a good football team, that’s the first reason,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a great opportunity to go out there and handle some unfinished business.”
Eric Weems TD return vs Buccaneers
Redemption Song: Vick Returns To ATL For Autograph Signing
Current Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and former Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick were some of the big names that attended the 2011 Sportacular Show at the North Atlanta Trade Center this weekend.
Jason Heyward, John Smoltz, Julio Teheran, and C.J Spiller were just some of the other big names that attended the signing this weekend.
Vick was welcomed with open arms as fans lined up to get his autograph as well as pose for pictures. Fans were happy to see the positive things Vick has done for his life. Fans were pleased with the excitement he brought back to the NFL this 2010 season.
Jon Bon Jovi: I want to be an NFL owner
By Gayle Saunders
Follow Him on Twitter
Well known rocker, Jon Bon Jovi wants to make it known to the NFL world that he wants to be an owner sooner rather than later.
Bon Jovi has spoke to Falcons owner Arthur Blank to talk about owning up to 15 percent of the team. Bon Jovi said in a statement on Tuesday, however the Falcons have not spoken on the matter as of yet.
“Since helping to establish the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football team — from its inception through our 2008 championship season — I have always made clear my desire to someday enter the NFL,” Bon Jovi said through spokeswoman Tiffany Shipp.
Blank acknowledged earlier media reports that Bon Jovi was considering becoming a minority owner for $150 million. But just prior to the Super Bowl kickoff, the team cited confidentiality as the reason it declined to discuss the possible deal.
While at the Falcons playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Bon Jovi was dressed in red and black on the sideline. He posed for a picture with former Falcon Warrick Dunn, who already owns a portion of the Falcons.
Gary Anderson missed kick Morten Andersen epic kick
Eric Weems Epic Kickoff Return Vs Packers
NFL Playoff Race Shaping up
By Jeremy Schloss
Follow Him on Twitter
What do the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, and the Kansas City Chiefs all have in common? If the playoffs started today, all of these teams would be part of them. If you can find an NFL expert who had all of these teams leading their respective divisions, they have definitely earned their money this year.
What makes the NFL so great is the parity from year to year. Let’s take a closer look at how the playoff picture looks, three quarters of the season down.
NFC:
Over the last decade or so, the National Football Conference has taken a back seat to the mighty AFC. Over the past 7 years, we’ve only had 2 teams from the NFC take home the championship trophy, the Giants in 2008 and the Saints just last year. Even in 2008 though, the AFC Pats were a heavy favorite going into the game. In 2010 it seems, the AFC reigns supreme again. Just look at any of the NFL analysts power rankings, it’s dominated by the AFC powers. Despite all of this, there are some great teams in the NFC and they should not be over looked come January.
If the playoffs started today, the 9 –2 Falcons and the 8-3 Bears would have first round byes, with Atlanta grabbing home field throughout. We would also see the 5-6 Rams and the 7-4 Eagles hosting 1st round playoff games. Green Bay and Tampa would grab the last playoff spots and with the wild cards. That is ‘if” the season ended today. The good news for the rest of the NFC is that there are five big weeks left in the season.
At 9-2, it seems the Falcons are the surest bet to stay a playoff team. With a surging New Orleans though, winners of their last 4 games, there is no guarantee the Falcons will even win their division, let alone keep home field advantage. The Saints next two games are at Cincinnati and then hosting the Rams, so both very winnable games for a team starting to resemble last years championship team. The schedule gets much tougher for them when they travel to Baltimore and host the upstart Bucs. The big date to circle is the Monday night match up in Atlanta in week 16. This game very well might decide who takes home the division. Currently undefeated at home, the Falcons will look to any advantage they can to take on the defending champs. Meanwhile, Atlanta has a much more manageable schedule going down the stretch, with two games still left with the 1-10 Panthers, making the game vs. the Saints, a must win for N.O.
Over in the NFC North, the Chicago Bears are the surprise leader of the pack after week 12. Even with a better record, and a win over the rival Packers in week 3, Green Bay still seems to be the talk of that division. The Bears have quietly won 4 straight with what looks to be a very winnable game in Detroit next weekend. The schedule takes an ugly turn after that though, with games against the Jets and the Pats, along with a road game against the newly energized Vikings. Week 17 sees them traveling to Green Bay which very well might not only decide who wins the division, but who is playoff bound. The Packers schedule isn’t much easier either, with games left against the Pats and Giants.
The NFC east sees two teams with identical 7-4 records, the Eagles and the Giants. The Skins’ are hanging around with a 5-6 record and have 2 games left against the Giants so it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see them playing in January, but they would most likely have to win out to have a legit chance. Besides the 2 games against the Skins’, the Giants have dates at home against the Eagles and at Green Bay and Minnesota. It would seem NY would have to go at least 3-2 in these games to have a shot at the post season. Meanwhile, Philly still has 2 games left against a suddenly competitive Dallas Cowboys, so there is no easy road for any NFC team headed into the stretch run. Sunday night, December 19th against the Giants, looms very large for both of these teams in establishing which will take the division, and possibly the only playoff spot coming out of the once mighty NFC east. Interesting side note, the Vikings play three possible playoff teams from week 14-16. Without anything else to play for, Brett Favre might be motivated to play role of spoiler to end his career. New interim coach, Leslie Frazier, also would like to win some games down the stretch to secure his coaching job next season, so it would seem this team is not one that will lay down for anyone in the upcoming weeks.
Finally we get to the Wild Wild NFC West. With the Rams and Seahawks currently sitting at 5-6, there is a more than legit chance we can see a .500 team in the playoff mix. With a convincing win Monday night against the Cardinals, the 49’ers find themselves only 1 game out of the race. The news of Frank Gore being done for the season with a hip injury is a major blow to the suddenly relevant 49’ers though, as you would be pressed to find a guy a team relies on more on the offensive side of the field. The Rams, Seahawks and Niners all play each other in the last 5 weeks so this race is far from over. Seattle seems to be sliding with losing 4 out of their last 5 games, their lone win coming against lowly Arizona. Week 17 has the Niners hosting #1 pick Sam Bradford and the Rams, which very well might decide who plays another week. Given the Rams ability to get the job done in St. Louis this season, and San Francisco’s inability to win on the road, seems the Rams have an edge to give their fans their first post-season birth in quite a number of years.
Predictions:
NFC South 1st round bye: Atlanta Falcons (home field)
NFC North 1st round bye: Green Bay Packers
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC West: St. Louis Rams
Wild Card: N.O. Saints
Wild Card: Chicago Bears
AFC:
We seem to have a bit clearer picture over in AFC as four teams have a fairly solid hold on playoff spots. At 9-2, the Jets and Patriots seem to only have the division and a 1st round bye to play for. Baltimore and Pittsburgh also look like a lock heading into the post season with 8-3 records. The race for both divisions and even home field advantage should be a good one, highlighted by the huge Monday night game next week with the Jets traveling to Foxboro. The Pats end the season with a tough stretch of games starting at Chicago, hosting G.B., at Buffalo, which is no longer a gimmie, and hosting Miami. It doesn’t get much easier for the Jets as they have to play at both Pittsburgh and Chicago in week 15 and 16. With only 1 other AFC team with 7 wins, both teams look safe to play past week 17. Baltimore ends the year with games against Houston, Cincinnati, and Cleveland so 11 wins is a strong possibility. Next Sunday night sees them squaring off against the Steelers in what will most likely lock one of them up for a playoff spot. The Steelers won the first meeting by a field goal back in early October in Pittsburgh, so the Ravens will look to even the score at home where they have yet to loose this season.
The AFC South is where things get really interesting. All four teams are separated by only 1 game. The surprising Jags lead the division but the Colts are right there with them at 6-5. Jacksonville has a very favorable schedule down the stretch with games against Tennessee, Oakland, Washington, and Houston. The Week 15 match up against the Colts in Indy, will most likely play a huge factor on which of these teams we see in the postseason. The Colts have a manageable schedule down the stretch as well and at this point can only get healthier, so one would think the pressure is all on them, as anything but a trip to the playoffs spot would be a disappointment for Peyton Manning and company. Tennessee and Houston are both still in the mix for a playoff spot in this division at 5-6. Both seem to be heading in the wrong direction however, with the Titans losing 4 straight and are reduced to starting a rookie 6th rounder at QB, all the while dealing w/ the Vince Young controversy. Meanwhile Houston has lost 4 out of their last 5 and has Philly and Baltimore the next two weeks. Indianapolis and Jacksonville should have destiny in their own hands it would seem.
The AFC west should be one of the more interesting playoff races down the stretch. The surprising Chiefs are holding on to a 1 game lead with a 7-4 record, but the surging Chargers seem poised to make one of their late season runs. San Diego has won four straight and with Phil Rivers playing as good as anyone in football right now, combined with a team getting healthier and Rivers phenomenal December track record, San Diego seems to be on the fast track for another playoff run. Home games left against Oakland and San Fran and ending the season against the struggling Bengals and Broncos only further the Chargers chances. KC does have a fairly manageable schedule as well down the stretch including home games against Denver, Tennessee, and Oakland. The Week 14 showdown in San Diego, could very well decide this division. Oakland currently sits at 5-6 but after losing 2 straight and a sudden inability to run the ball, makes this team a long shot to get back to the playoffs after a long absence.
Predictions:
AFC East: 1st round bye: N.E. Patriots (home field)
AFC North: 1st round bye: Baltimore Ravens
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC West: San Diego Chargers
Wild Card: NY Jets
Wild Card: Pittsburgh Steelers
The last five weeks of football promises to be an exciting one with so many teams still in the playoff hunt. No team currently leads their division by more than a single game so all bets are off as to how the playoff picture will shape up.
