Archive for May, 2009

Jansen says he’s set to join Lions after physical

Jon Jansen’s search for a new team lasted less than a day.

Jansen said Friday, the same day the offensive tackle was cut by the Washington Redskins, he will sign a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions if he passes a physical.

“After taking care of things Monday, I’m very excited to show I’ve got more than one year left in my career,” Jansen said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “The Lions were the No. 1 team I wanted to sign with because it brings me back home, and it gives me a chance to be one of the guys to turn things around.”

Jansen, who is from Clawson, Mich., is set to join the NFL’s first team coming off an 0-16 season.

“I’ve been a right tackle my whole life, but I just want to compete for a job anywhere from right to left tackle,” he said. “I’ve even played center, so wherever they need help, I’ll be ready to do my part.”

Jansen insisted he can still contribute after injuries took a toll on his career.

He started all but one game over seven seasons after being drafted from Michigan a decade ago, but didn’t play in 2004 or in 2007 and was limited to 11 starts last season.

Jansen had two years remaining on a five-year, $23 million contract extension he signed two years ago.

He was released after a morning meeting with owner Dan Snyder, front office chief Vinny Cerrato and coach Jim Zorn. Jansen and his wife were flown in Snyder’s plane from their offseason home in Michigan to Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.

“He means a lot to me, truly,” Zorn said. “He’s been a tremendous part of this program. I didn’t want to just call him up and go `Hey, I’m cutting you today.”’

When Jansen said he wanted to keep playing, the Redskins granted him his release.

Jansen started 122 games for the Redskins, validating his nickname “Rock” by missing only one snap in his first five seasons while playing close to Pro Bowl level.

A ruptured Achilles’ tendon in 2004, two broken thumbs in 2005, a torn calf muscle in 2006, a broken ankle in 2007 and a sprained knee in 2008 kept him off the field and hindered his skills.

Jansen temporarily lost his starting job to Stephon Heyer last year, but returned for this year’s offseason workouts and organized team activities determined to show he could still play at a high level.

“He was going to prove to everybody that he could make the Pro Bowl and be an All-Pro player, and that’s what we were hoping for as well,” Zorn said. “At the minicamp and the OTAs, I didn’t see that.”

Jansen, however, questioned the timing of the Redskins’ decision.

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Tom Brady weighs in on NFL future

Tom Brady is a few pounds heavier and wearing a knee brace he would rather do without. The Patriots quarterback also is back on the field with a new outlook on his career.

Meeting with the media for the first time since suffering a devastating knee injury in last year’s season opener, Brady said Thursday he is still rusty but has moved on from the injury with a new appreciation for football. “The reality is in this sport, you really never know. …Any day could be your last day in football,” Brady said after Patriots practice yesterday in Foxborough. “You come out and it’s a very physical game and I think you’re just grateful for having a chance to compete in practice and be on a team and having a great job.

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NFL | Tom Brady practices with New England

Quarterback Tom Brady practiced with the New England Patriots for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opening game.

Brady and nearly the entire team participated Tuesday in the first of four days of organized team activities, Patriots spokesman Stacey James said.

The only media access for this week’s sessions is Thursday. James said Brady threw some passes.

Brady, 31, had surgery on his left knee Oct. 6 and a subsequent operation for an infection in the knee.

There have been numerous signs the league’s 2007 most valuable player would be ready for the season opener Sept. 14 against Buffalo.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Brady said he has no pain or restrictions in his movement when he runs and cuts.

He was quoted as saying that he is “as confident as anyone could be that I’ll be ready to play, back to playing normally, when the season starts. I’ve done everything I could to push myself, sometimes too hard. Right now, I’m doing everything. Literally everything.”

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Brady’s Back

After missing last season with a knee injury, New England Patriots QB Tom Brady is back on the field for the team’s organized team activity this week.

The Over/Under win Total for the Pats next season is 11.5.

For more information check out Football odds.

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Titans Chris Johnson wants to win NFL rushing title, MVP

The only rookie voted to the Pro Bowl in 2008, the Tennessee running back wasn’t happy when he lost the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award to Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. Johnson called the voting bogus, even though Ryan led an 11-5 team to the playoffs and the running back finished a distant second. Now Johnson is setting his sights a little higher for his second season: Lead the NFL in rushing. And oh yeah, league MVP. “I want to be the best,” Johnson said Friday. “I never set a goal to be like, ‘I’m going to set my goal this high so if I get close, it’ll still be good.’ I set my goal as high as I can set it, so I want to accomplish that. When I set my goal for offensive rookie of the year, I was upset. That’s why I said it was bogus. When I set a goal, I really want to accomplish it.” ept that award away from quarterbacks over the past decade. Steve McNair was the last player with Tennessee to be named MVP, and he shared that award with fellow quarterback Peyton Manning in 2003.

The last running back from this franchise to be named MVP was Earl Campbell in 1979 – the Hall of Famer’s second NFL season with the then-Houston Oilers. Titans assistant coach Earnest Byner never talked about his personal goals when he played. But he said he has talked with Johnson often about what the running back wants to do. “I try to set the bar as high as he likes and try to push him to that,” Byner said. “With having those goals, it’s going to take a special effort. But it also takes a special man. It’s probably going to take some adjustments in some o

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Monday Night Football – Tony Kornheiser is Out; Jon Gruden is In

On May 18th, Monday Night Football booth was about to go through another re-shuffle.

Tony Kornheiser, an ESPNer for years, decided he wanted out of the booth, at least that’s the way it’s being pitched to the public. That said, Kornheiser is well known for his fear of flying and this was the main reason used for his decision not to continue. It does appear this was in fact the case, While TK was supposed to be the funny, irreverent one, and at times he was, his presence never seemed to click.

The big question obviously was who will take his place…and the answer is ex-coach Jon Gruden.

This is a real upgrade, at least at first pass. Kornheiser sparred with Ron Jaworski, spewed off scripted pieces that came across as scripted and often meandered away, far away, from the game. That won’t be the case with Gruden. The intense, dynamic Gruden should add insight and support to the booth that has been missing for a while now. He can break a play down and let people know what to expect on the next play, series, quarter, etc.

Yes, Gruden is looking to get back on the sidelines with another coaching gig, but this is a good, no make that great, place to hang around while waiting for the right coaching spot to open up.

The sports betting community will continue on the same regardless of who is in the booth, but there will be betting prop plays posted up at online sportsbooks in the coming weeks. Bettors will be able to wager on many Monday Night Football items, including of course a focus on the new kid on the block.

Monday Night Football odds:
The Monday Night Football lines are up on the board at SPORTSBETTING.com for Week 1, featuring a Monday Night doubleheader with Buffalo at New England and San Diego at Oakland.

The Patriots are10-point favorites in their game vs. Buffalo. The Chargers are a 6.5-point road favorite vs. the Raiders.

We can look forward to Gruden, who has a Super Bowl on his resume, to be outspoken and honest in his analysis of personnel, plays and performances.

Kornheiser fans don’t worry, you can still catch him five days a week on PTI, his ESPN show with Michael Wilbon.

The online sports betting for the NFL football gambling games and Monday Night Football’s new booth gets going with the start of NFL pre-season in August. NFL pre-season lines will be posted in the coming months, so keep an eye out.

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WR Prospects Test Positive

If you are planning on placing some NFL draft props, particularly ones involving Florida WR Percy Harvin, you might want to know that Harvin and North Carolina WR Brandon Tate have tested positive for marijuana sources told foxsports.com.

Harvin was expected to be taken in the first-round in this Saturday’s NFL draft.

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Chiefs Send TE Gonzalez To Atlanta

The Kansas City Chiefs have traded Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a selection in next year’s NFL draft–ESPN is reporting that the pick will be a 2010 second-rounder.

Sources tell ESPN that a new deal has been reached between Atlanta and Gonzalez.

The Falcons are hosting the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the 2009 NFL regular season and are 4-point home faves in early.

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Taylor Made For Miami

The Miami Dolphins welcomed back a familiar face today when they signed DE Jason Taylor to a one-year $1.1 million deal, reports ESPN.

Taylor cited the need to be with family as the main reason for his return to the Dolphins.

Miami is listed as a 4-point road underdog for its Week 1 regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons.

For More information on NFL check out sportsbetting.com.

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Trojans’ Sanchez A Wanted Man

While Georgia’s Matt Stafford is expected to be the first quarterback taken, there is increasing interest in USC QB Mark Sanchez.

The New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns are amongst the teams that could take the Trojans’ QB.

Sanchez is listed at -200 to be taken between first and seventh.

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