Here are some of the recent headlines from the NFL:
Denver Broncos
Mike Shannon has named Bell as his starting running back entering the Broncos first preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Friday.
Although a Bell was figured to be named starter, not many people thought it would be Mike Bell, an undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona. The young man has surpassed Tatum Bell (no relation) and Ron Dayne on Denver’s depth chart with his work ethic and physical style of running.
Mike Bell, however, has turned heads with his toughness. Bell rushed for 3,163 yards and 17 touchdowns at Arizona, but as recently as last week said he was just hoping to land a job.
Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler from Vanderbilt is moving up the depth chart in Denver. Cutler is now the No. 2 ranked quarterback on the Broncos’ depth chart.
Buffalo Bills
Also making headlines early this week is that the Buffalo Bills released three-year starter Jeff Posey on Monday.
Posey became expendable after losing his starting position to Angelo Crowell in team minicamps early this offseason. Crowell played so effectively in place of the injured Takeo Spikes last season that the Bills kept him in the starters roll following the ’05 season.
Posey will catch on somewhere, however, as his veteran leadership will be wanted in some NFL city. He recorded his best season in 2003 while registering 64 tackles, 5 ½ sacks and four forced fumbles for Buffalo.
Pittsburgh Steelers
In the stupidity section of NFL headlines comes Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive lineman Barrett Brooks, who allegedly fled from police on his motorcycle over the weekend.
The 34-year-old backup lineman for the Super Bowl champions was charged with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed and other traffic violations Sunday. He was taken to Allegheny County Jail, according to Pittsburgh police Sgt. Dennis Washington.
Police said Brooks drove recklessly around a police car and didn’t stop, causing officers to chase him for about five minutes. Brooks also drove through a red traffic light and a stop sign, Washington said.
Brooks wasn’t intoxicated, but wasn’t wearing a helmet while on his motorcycle, police said.
Let me get this straight, Brooks wasn’t wearing a helmet? In the aftermath of the Ben Roethlisberger situation just a few short months ago, how can you be so utterly dumb? And to say that you weren’t fleeing is just as stupid. What were you doing than Brooks, pretending to be the invisible man for a new comic book movie?
Dallas Cowboys
On the injury front, the Dallas Cowboys have been without their two marquee names at wide receiver. Terrell Owens has been sidelined since last Wednesday when he tweaked his hamstring.
Terry Glenn also sat out practice Monday with blisters affecting his toes and feet. The Cowboys also announced today that they are working out former Eagles’ wide receiver Freddy Mitchell in camp this week.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota lost starting strong safety Tank Williams for the season. The free agent from the Titans fractured his knee while performing a back pedaling drill Vikings camp during last Saturday’s practice.
It marks the second time that Williams, 26, has sustained a serious injury to his left knee. In 2004, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament after starting the first nine contests and missed the balance of the season. He returned in 2005, started all 16 games, and registered career highs in solo tackles (65) and total tackles (83).
Dwight Smith, just signed after New Orleans’ released him just recently, will be the starter alongside of Pro Bowl free safety Darren Sharper.
