Category: NFL (Page 391 of 1282)

      David Anderson chats with The Scores Report

      July 16, 2010 /
      HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver David Anderson #89 of the Houston Texans avoids a tackle by safety Kevin Kaesviharn #26 of the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium on November 23, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

      Do a YouTube search of Texans’ receiver David Anderson and what usually pops up first is his imitation of Conan O’Brien’s “String Dance” following a touchdown against the Bengals in 2009.

      That’s usually not something a player wants to be known for, but after chatting with him while he was on break from football at Manhattan Beach, we get the impression that David doesn’t mind.

      During our 15-minute chat, Anderson was kind enough to fill us in on what to expect this year out of the Texans, including what players he believes are in store for breakout campaigns. We also shared a few laughs after he found out that a fantasy publication ranked him No. 125 out of 125 receivers for the 2010 season and what transpired immediately before he called us, when he and his mother had to go to the pound after their dog ran away. (He was amused, although she wasn’t.)

      For more on David, check out his Twitter page, whiteout89.

      The Scores Report: Hi, this is Anthony.

      David Anderson: Hey, this is David Anderson calling in.

      TSR: Hey David, how are you, man?

      DA: I’m good. I’m sorry, man – my mom lost her dog and we had to go to the pound.

      TSR: Oh, no! Is everything all right? Did you find her dog?

      DA: Yeah, it’s not the most gracious place to be – the dog pound.

      TSR: I bet. How long did it take you to come up with that excuse for being late for our interview?

      DA: No, no! We just found it – it’s my mom’s golden retriever, Houston. Now I’m all set – I promise!

      TSR: (Laughs) I’m just giving you a hard time!

      DA: (Laughs)

      TSR: How has the offseason been?

      DA: It’s going, It’s going. This is my last trip – I’m at Manhattan Beach right now. It’s kind of like my favorite beach, so I’m out here for about a week to workout and train and then it’s back to Houston.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Interviews, NFL

      Bears nab Unga, Cowboys select Price-Brent in the NFL supplemental draft

      July 15, 2010 /
      SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 6: Harvey Unga #45 of the BYU Cougars runs with the ball during their game against the Washington Huskies on September 6, 2008 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The Cougars defeated the Huskies 28-27. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

      It took seven rounds before the two most popular players in this year’s NFL supplemental draft were selected, but BYU running back Harvey Unga and Illinois defensive end Josh Price-Brent eventually found homes.

      The Bears selected Unga in the seventh round of today’s draft and the Cowboys took Price-Brent in the same round. The Bears and Cowboys will each have to forfeit their seventh round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft.

      Unga rushed for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009 while becoming BYU’s all-time leading rusher with 3,455 yards. He earned first-team All-MWC honors following the season, although on April 16, 2010, he voluntarily withdrew from the school after violating its honor code.

      The Rams were rumored to have been interested in him as a potential complement to running back Steven Jackson before the draft. But Unga wasn’t able to contribute in any offseason practices due to an ankle injury and St. Louis’ interest cooled off. He’ll now join Matt Forte and Chester Taylor in a crowded backfield in Chicago.

      Price-Brent totaled 71 tackles, five sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in his two years as a starter with the Illini. But he was declared academically ineligible this past spring and also spent 30 days in jail for a DUI last year. Scouts like his size, but his strength has been a question mark after he only had 31 reps on the bench during his private workout. That was the lowest amount of reps by a defensive tackle over 295 pounds that was invited to this year’s scouting combine.

      That said, he’s a good fit in Dallas (who runs a 3-4) because he’s projected as a nose tackle at the next level.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      I guess Brett Favre is going to drag this thing out even longer

      July 15, 2010 /
      Greg Lewis (L) and Brett Favre, both of the Minnesota Vikings, accept the award for best play at the 2010 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 14, 2010. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

      While accepting the award for “Best Play” at Wednesday night’s ESPYs, Brett Favre didn’t speak in past tense when he mentioned the Vikings. Just based on that, one could make the assumption that he’s coming back in 2010.

      Of course, assuming anything when it comes to Favre’s retirement decision is like assuming Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger are going to keep their hands to themselves when they go club hopping on a Friday night. (What? Too much?)

      Apparently Brett isn’t done with his annual tap dance routine and has decided to prolong this agonizing situation even more by not fully committing to his return.

      From ESPN.com:

      “It starts with the ankle,” Favre said in an interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm backstage at the ESPY Awards. “I can walk fine, but you don’t walk in football.”

      Favre said that he is still not completely healthy. “I guess at 40 I may never be,” he said.

      Favre said he thought his recovery from ankle surgery — this Friday will mark eight weeks since the operation — would have been quicker.

      “I had hoped it would have been a little bit better at this point,” he said.

      “I would love to play and be the best I can possibly be,” he said. “That’s what I’m working toward right now.”

      Favre had hoped to make a quicker decision on a return this time around, but that didn’t happen.

      “It’s not desire,” Favre said.

      If he hadn’t bobbed and weaved so many times throughout the years when it came to whether or not he would return for another season, I’d almost respect the fact that he didn’t want to definitively say he’s coming back. But seeing as how he loves to drag his feet when it comes to making decisions, I find everything he said above utterly annoying.

      As I’ve stated many times on this blog over the past couple of months: he’s coming back. If he weren’t, you would have seen more panic out of the Vikings this offseason, most notably from Brad Childress. But Childress’s wait-and-see attitude is a clear indication to me that he has always known that Favre is coming back.

      Let’s just hope Brett doesn’t get any ideas from LeBron and host a one-hour special to announce his decision.

      External Sports, NFL

      Steve Smith back by Week 1?

      July 15, 2010 /
      CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 20: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers breaks free upfield against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium on December 20, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora is reporting that the Panthers are hopeful receiver Steve Smith (broken arm) will be back for their final preseason game. According to La Canfora, Smith is making good strides in his recovery and he should return by Week 1 of the regular season if he can’t play in Carolina’s final preseason game.

      It’s an understatement to say that the Panthers need a healthy Smith in order to compete this season. It’s good that his injury has opened the door for Armanti Edwards, Brandon LaFell and Dwayne Jarrett to get more reps this offseason, but Matt Moore and the Panthers’ passing game couldn’t survive without Smith.

      Edwards has turned heads in OTA sessions this summer, but he’s only a rookie and it’ll take time for him and LaFell to grasp the nuances of being a pro receiver. Most rookie wideouts struggle with route running in their first season, so without a veteran presence like Smith in the lineup to help take the pressure off, they’re likely to fail over the course of an entire season.

      But if La Canfora’s report is correct, then the Panthers have nothing to worry about in regards to Smith’s injury. He’ll be rusty upon his return, but having him healthy and playing in Week 1 is the only thing that matters at this point and it appears like that scenario will become a reality.

      External Sports, NFL

      Chris Johnson reiterates that he’s not playing until he receives a new contract

      July 15, 2010 /
      LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: NFL player Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans winner of the Best Breakthrough Athlete Award poses in press room during the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images for ESPY)

      While appearing at the 2010 ESPY’s on Wednesday night, Titans’ running back Chris Johnson made it known that until he receives a new contract, the team can expect him not to show up for training camp next month.

      From the Nashville Tennessean:

      When ESPN reporter Erin Andrews asked Johnson how contract negotiations were going, Johnson offered this reply: “The contract negotiation, it’s at a standstill right now. I’m just praying right now, hopefully by the time camp comes we’ll have something worked out. If it’s not a long-term deal, just have something to get me to play this year.’’

      Andrews then asked what kind of timetable Johnson was looking at: “It’s all up to Tennessee to be honest with you,’’ Johnson said. “Whenever they’re ready to get me into camp, they’ll do something. And when they do something, I’ll be proud to be there and get with my teammates.’’

      Johnson had a separate interview session with ESPN reporter Colleen Dominguez, when he said, “We’re losing time right now, so hopefully within the next week or two we can come around and can agree on something.’’

      Dominguez then asked him about conflicting reports on whether he would report to camp: “It depends on the Titans,” Johnson said. “If they pay me, I’m in camp. If they’re not, I’m not in camp.’’

      There’s really only one way this situation will go down: the Titans will pay Johnson, but it’s not going to be what he’s asking for. At least not right now, anyway.

      The Titans are hamstrung by the “30 percent” rule, so they can’t break the bank for him and they don’t want to either, seeing as how he still has three years left on his rookie contract. But they’re going to have to give him some sort of raise or else they risk having their best player proceed with a nasty holdout.

      I don’t see one side caving in. I see an eventual compromise that will work for this season and then talks between the two parties resuming once the new CBA deal is signed.

      External Sports, NFL

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