Football Blog

Boise State Graduate and Green Bay Packers fullback Korey Hall puts on kids football camp.

Bodybuilding.com teamed up with Korey to supply everyone with some camp shirts. The kids had a blast and really enjoyed being able to learn and play with a pro like Korey.

A message from Korey Hall:

Thanks to bodybuilding.com for sponsoring our football camp. It was a great way for kids in the surrounding areas to compete in a free camp and have the opportunity to learn from quality coaches and players. We were able to provide these young athletes with valuable skills on and off the field. Hopefully the camp will be a success in many years to come.

- Korey Hall

Have you ever thought to yourself, "dam T.O. is one amazing athlete". How does he do it? Here are a few videos so you can see a little bit how T.O. stays on top of his game.

Check out this awesome Bears coverage from Yahoo Sports

Bears Team Report
Yahoo! Sports

Inside Slant

Judging by the way Jay Cutler’s(notes) passes traveled from his right hand to his intended receivers, almost as if connected by a clothesline, the Bears’ new quarterback is already getting in sync with his targets, but that’s just part of his role as the new field general.

“A quarterback’s got to be a coach on the field,” Cutler said after his first OTA practice Wednesday (May 20) at Halas Hall. “And you’ve got to get the best out of every single player. It’s a delicate process. I can yell at some guys, and you can lightly push other guys. It’s a tiptoe act. I’ve got to feel out the guys and kind of see what their pressure points are and how much you can push them, and that’s going to come in time. I’ve tried to do as much on the field and hang out off the field with these offensive guys and just get a feel for what makes them tick.”

The on-the-field stuff doesn’t figure to be a concern. Of Cutler’s first 40 or so passes, only one ball hit the ground, and that was a drop by Rashied Davis(notes), his only one of the day. Most of the routes were being run against air, but even on throws to the far sideline or 50 yards downfield, receivers rarely had to break stride, and they never had to wait very long for the ball.

“His arm strength is incredible,” Devin Hester(notes) said. “The first couple days (during voluntary workouts) everybody’s eyes were wide open and saying, ‘Wow.’ We’re getting used to it.”

Even on the deep balls, Cutler doesn’t need to put much air under his throws to get them there, like the one he flipped 60 yards in the air to Hester behind the secondary in seven-on-seven drills.

“He’s got a lot of velocity on it, and there’s not a lot of trajectory,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. “The ball gets there in a hurry. Just his arm strength, I’ve never been around anything like that before, and he’s shown very good accuracy the little bit I’ve been around him.”

That’s the idea, and that’s why the Bears gave up their own starting quarterback, Kyle Orton(notes), two first-round draft picks and a third-rounder to get Cutler. Bears receivers have already learned that his passes arrive with plenty of giddy-up on them.

“It takes a little time to adjust,” Turner said. “They know they better get their head around and get their hands up because that ball’s going to be there. Receivers want that, coaches want that, everybody wants that.”

And they all expect Cutler to provide it, which is fine with him. The 26-year-old has been making the rounds of the city’s hot sports spots and maintaining a busy social schedule, so he’s aware of the great expectations that arrived with him from Denver.

“I knew coming into it,” he said. “Anytime a team wants to make a trade like that and give up what they gave up, it’s going to be a lot of pressure, a lot of high expectations, and I welcome it. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a good challenge. I’ve got a lot of time to work with the guys and get ready for Game 1.”

Leading the Bears to a victory in that one would shoot Cutler’s popularity through the roof. The opener is a Sunday night against the Packers in Green Bay.

Vick has been released from prison finally, but unlike most felons released from federal prison he gets to go home instead of a halfway house. Not a bad deal having to stay at your mansion instead of a halfway house.

He will have on an electronic monitoring device aroung his ankle so his movements will be watched by the feds.

But honestly who would care if there were on house arrest if you lived in a house like Vicks?

Check out his article to find out more about Vicks return home.

Michael Vick returns to Va. home from prison
By Associated Press

HAMPTON, Va. — Suspended NFL star Michael Vick arrived at his Virginia home in a car with blackout curtains this morning after being released from federal prison to begin home confinement and try to resume his pro football career.

Four cars pulled up to Vick’s five-bedroom brick home at the end of a cul-de-sac at about 8:25 a.m, about 28 hours after he left Leavenworth, Kan. The caravan was led by a black Kia Sedona with curtains in the back and sunshields on the front side windows. Vick was in the Sedona, along with his fiancee, Kijafa Frink, said Chris Garrett, a member of Vick’s support and legal team.

“He’s happy to be reunited with his family,” Garrett said 10 minutes after the cars arrived.

Prior to the statement, a man had gotten out of the lead vehicle and moved aside orange cones blocking the driveway, then the Sedona drove into a garage on the side of the house and out of sight of the street. The other three cars followed into the driveway. Two men, presumably security guards who were part of the traveling party, stood in the driveway and three others took up posts near the front door as though to prevent anyone from approaching. The guards also walked around to the back yard, checking the in-ground pool area surrounded by a wrought-iron fence for intruders.

Vick spent 19 months in federal prison after his conviction for financing a dogfighting operation. Once released at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Vick traveled the 1,200 miles in about 28 hours to get to the home, which he will share with Frink and their two children — the youngest of whom, London, was born just before he went to prison.

He will spend the next two months under home confinement wearing an electronic monitor and working a $10-an-hour job as a laborer for a construction company. He’s scheduled to be released from federal custody on July 20, and then faces three more years of supervised probation.

Vick’s construction job is part of his probation, and he will find out more about the restrictions he faces in home confinement when he meets with his probation officer Thursday or Friday, a meeting that could take place in Vick’s home. He also will be equipped with an electronic monitor.

His ultimate goal is a return to the NFL. Chief among his challenges is rehabilitating his image and convincing the public and Commissioner Roger Goodell that he is truly sorry for his crime, and that he is prepared to live a different life.

“It goes beyond, ’Has he paid his debt to society?’ Because I think that from a legal standpoint and financially and personally, he has,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said at an NFL owners’ meeting Wednesday.

Part of Vick’s problem was the company he kept, Blank said, and weeding out the bad influences and associating with people who have his best interests at heart will be a key to redemption and a possible return to the NFL.

“There’s the expression ’you are what you eat.’ To some extent, you are who you hang with too, and that does have an effect on lives for all of us,” he said.

Vick’s NFL future remains a mystery, but former Falcons receiver Roddy White says his teammate should be allowed to return to the league.

“Mike’s already paid his dues,” White said Wednesday. “He wants to play football. I think if he gets reinstated before the season, there’ll be a couple of teams that will be after him and give him a chance to play.”

Vick has said he will partner with the Humane Society of the United States assisting the animal rights group in a program to eradicate dogfighting among ubran teens.

Billy Martin, one of Vick’s attorneys, said Wednesday that his client wanted to work the humane society because “they were probably one of the harshest critics (of Vick) pre-indictment.”

Martin added that it’s time for Vick to stop talking about what his plans are.

[ Read More ]

Wildcat offense might be Michael Vick’s ticket back to NFL
By Dan Pompei / Chicago Tribune

When Michael Vick cashes the first paycheck from his NFL comeback, perhaps he should offer a percentage to Dan Henning and David Lee.

The Dolphins assistants have been credited with the latest offensive mini-craze in the NFL: the Wildcat.

And the Wildcat, it seems, is Vick’s ticket back into the league.

The Chicago Tribune spoke with four front-office executives and two offensive coordinators about Vick, who was released from prison last week. Each said Vick was not an option for his team. But they agreed Vick could fill a role with another team as a "package player" in the Wildcat.

With his combination of speed, passing skill and athleticism, Vick would be the ultimate Wildcat weapon. An NFC offensive coordinator pointed out Vick is probably a better passing threat than any of the players who ran the scheme last year, and every bit the runner.

The Falcons used Vick in a package that was similar to the Wildcat starting in 2006. It didn’t get as much notoriety only because the Falcons didn’t give it a cute nickname, and it was perceived as an offense that was unique to Vick.

"The Wildcat offense will guarantee him an opportunity because he can come in and contribute quickly in a specific package without a lot of learning," one NFC general manager said.

As a personnel director pointed out, Vick probably will have no off-season to learn a complicated playbook. He might not be reinstated by the league until August. And then he could face a suspension at the start of the regular season. So he really isn’t a viable candidate to be a starting quarterback.

Even as talented as Vick is, or was, he should not be expected to immediately pick up where he left off. He has not played in a game that counted since December 2006, so there is concern about his skill level, his conditioning and his timing.

"Two years away from it, and he might not be the same athlete," the general manager said. "If he loses 10 percent, he’ll still be an above-average athlete. But he won’t be a deluxe athlete."

The aging process might be cruel to the soon-to-be 29-year-old because his game is so dependent on speed and quickness. "His best asset is his legs," said an NFC West front-office man. "If he loses that, he loses what he is. His problem as a passer always has been accuracy. Either you have it or you don’t, and he doesn’t. He’s not accurate. So he needs to have that dimension of running the ball."

At the very least, Vick should be given a grace period in which he can re-acclimate to the game.

"No matter how gifted you are, you can’t just stroll off the street after two years away and get back to where you were," a second general manager from an NFC team said. "It could take a while."

The Wildcat could ease Vick back in the game. He wouldn’t be under the same kind of scrutiny as he would be as a starting quarterback.

"I think you think about him as a package guy," said the NFC offensive coordinator. "Maybe he’s not even listed as a quarterback."

Quick hits: Jon Gruden is John Madden — plus blue eyes and blond hair and minus 100 pounds and 28 years. He will be a great addition to "Monday Night Football."

[ Read the Full Article ]

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Refrigerator Perry was released from the hospital after a month long stay.

He was being treated for the rare nervous system disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Fans will always remember The Fridge for his 9 year NFL career which included becoming a Super Bowl XX Champion with the 1985 Bears

To leartn more about William Perry click here.

GO BEARS!

For all you football fans the preseason isn’t too far away. One game I can’t wait to see in preseason is the Bears vs Broncos.

For many reasons this will be a good game but the biggest thing I think everyone will have on their mind is Jay Cutler playing his old Broncos. The Bears have made some significant changes this year such as adding Pro-bowl QB Jay Cutler. They have also expanded their receivers line up and are very confident in the promising young wide receivers, not to mention Hester and Cutler will make a great duo.

Cutler received a rousing ovation at his introduction at the annual Bears Expo, but Lovie still insists the Bears will still rely on thier defense and special teams just as they have the last few years.

With everything shaping up for the Bears this could turn out to be a great season for Bears fans.

For a look at the Bears full schedule for 2009 click here.

Animal-rights activist meets with Michael Vick
The disgraced quarterback might join the Humane Society in its campaign against dogfighting.
By Sam Farmer, Los Angels Times

As one of the country’s leading animal-rights advocates, Wayne Pacelle never imagined he would be here — eye to eye with Michael Vick, engaged in a heartfelt and productive conversation with the disgraced quarterback.

But Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, made two trips in the last month to meet with Vick in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. Vick, who has served 23 months for his involvement in a dogfighting conspiracy, is expected to be released as soon as Wednesday to begin serving two months of home confinement.

"Nobody was tougher on Michael Vick than we were," Pacelle said today in a telephone interview. "I did not imagine 23 months ago that I would be sitting opposite from Michael Vick at a small table and contemplating the idea of him joining our campaign against dogfighting."

Pacelle said he has not been in contact with the NFL about the situation, and that his organization was contacted by the quarterback’s representatives. He and Vick tried to meet once in April but could talk only on the phone because of logistical problems. They met face to face on Pacelle’s second visit.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it clear that Vick’s only possible path back to playing in the league is by showing sincere remorse.

"Michael’s going to have to demonstrate to myself and the general public and to a lot of people, did he learn anything from this experience?" Goodell said today at the league’s meetings in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. "Does he regret what happened? Does he feel that he can be a positive influence going forward? Those are questions that I would like to see when I sit with him."

Goodell did not give a timetable for meeting with Vick except that it will not occur until at least July 20, after Vick has completed his sentence.

Pacelle said he did not talk specifics with Vick about how he might participate in an anti-cruelty campaign, but that it would probably involve public-service announcements, participating in youth programs and the like.

"There are no successful dog fighters; it is a dead-end activity," Pacelle said. "More than anybody, he can tell the story about how it set him back in his life in a very dramatic way."

Who Will Start for the Broncos in 2009?
By: Ryan Ayars

With all of the surprising changes and moves that highlighted this year’s offseason reports, the Broncos’ training camps look to be quite exciting.

There are a bunch of new names on Denver’s roster this year.  For some new players, training camp symbolizes the start of a new career. For others. it’s just another long day under the Colorado sun.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the current and possible starters for each position for the 2009 campaign.  Part one of this two part series, will focus on the offensive side of the team.

Quarterback

The leader of the pack.  The brains behind the brawn.  The “Big Cheese” as they would say in Green Bay.  The quarterback is the most important position in football.  No other player touches the ball as much as the quarterback and who ever has the ball, has the power.

For the Denver Broncos, there are three new faces at quarterback; Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, and rookie Tom Brandstater.

As of now Kyle Orton is the front runner to be this year’s starter.  Orton is a good game manager and positive locker room personality.  As long as he stays level headed and follows the coach’s plan, he should do just fine as the starter this year.

Chris Simms is definitely a dark horse in this competition.  He has an NFL pedigree and played very well in his first years at Tampa Bay.  However, Simms suffered a season-ending injury in game three of the 2006 season, in the form of a ruptured spleen.  Simms hasn’t been the same since.  Could a change in scenery restart his career?

Tom Brandstater was a sixth round pick in this year’s draft.  He has a lot of upside and will look to compete for the second string spot in this year’s Bronco offense.  However, it’s more likely that he will become the third string quarterback and walk the sidelines with a clipboard this year.

If he doesn’t show any potential, the Broncos will send him to the practice squad and give him another chance to show up next year.

Offensive Line

Offensive line has always been a source of constant production for the Broncos.  Their zone blocking scheme has become the scourge of the NFL, with many challengers and champions.  Regardless the perception is of this scheme, it works.  McDaniels looks to capitalize off of the success of the zone blocking scheme and infuse it into his own spread offense scheme.

May 11, 2009
Bears agree to terms with tight end Michael Gaines
By: Larry Mayer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Monday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with tight end Michael Gaines.

The 6-4, 277-pounder has appeared in 73 games with 41 starts in five NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2004-06), Buffalo Bills (2007) and Detroit Lions (2008).

Gaines is a strong inline blocker who’s athletic enough to also line up at fullback. He is similar in playing style to ex-Bears tight end John Gilmore and could fill the same type of role.

“It’s an unreal moment for me right now, just because of who the Bears are, what the organization is and the winning tradition,” Gaines said. “It feels good in that aspect.”

Gaines has caught 79 career passes for 810 yards and 5 touchdowns. Last season he had 23 receptions for a career-high 260 yards and 1 TD in 16 games with six starts for the winless Lions.

Gaines, who entered the NFL in 2004 as a seventh-round pick (232nd overall) with the Panthers, was also drawing free-agent interest from the New York Jets. But he chose to sign with the Bears, even though he will be behind Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen on the depth chart.

“I never thought I’d be playing for Chicago because of the situation they have,” said Gaines, a 29-year-old Central Florida product. “But this is a privilege that they see me in so many different ways.

“The Bears had a plan for me. You can’t beat that when people have a goal and a plan mapped out for you at your position. If you put both [the Bears and Jets] together and looked at them on paper, the Jets made sense. But like I said, the Bears had a plan for me and there was just something about Chicago.”

As everyone has heard by now the Bears have a new QB in the line up and his name is Jay Cutler.There are big hopes for the Bears and Cutler going into this year. With the amazing speed of Hester and the Arm of Cutler seom huge passing yards are expected, but the Bears are gonna have to pick up another receiver to have a little mixture on the field.

Chicago gave up its 1st and 3rd round picks to get Cutler but still have 8 draft choices to make and feel they can get 3 starters out of those choices. The Bears have the No. 49 pick as well as 7 other picks between round 3 and 7 and will focus specifically on those spots as the Draft approaches.

As the Draft approaches every Team will be working double time checking out their prospects and making lists of players they will look for and working all angels to get information that is credible to help with these decisions.

All we can really do now is wait in anticipation as the draft approaches.

Demetrius Byrd, Former LSU receiver and NFL prospect, is in intensive care after a car crash in Miami on Sunday. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Reports say Byrd was on his way to church Sunday Morning when he was involved in the accident.

Byrd was expected to go in Day 2 of the NFL draft as rated as the 13th best receiver in the draft.

White Team Wins Big in 2009 Boise State Blue and Orange Game
Courtesy: Becca Faulds, BroncoSports.com

BOISE, Idaho –  The Blue team dominated the first half of play, but the White team’s defense and trickery pushed them ahead as they defeated the Blue team, 14-10, in Boise State’s Blue and Orange Game, Friday.

It seemed as if the first quarter could have gone scoreless, but the Blue team was able to put points up on the board as Kyle Brotzman kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:35 left on the clock. The tough defensive play continued, but the Blue team managed to score the first touchdown of the game when wide receiver Titus Young caught a 13-yard pass from Kellen Moore to end the first half.

Despite being down 10 points entering the second half of play, the White team began to fight its way back as it scored its first touchdown of the game as Mike Coughlin connected with wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker on a 26-yard pass.

The biggest play of the spring came when the White team regained possession late in the fourth quarter.  Down three with less than four minutes to play, Coughlin pitched the ball left to Matt Kaiserman, which was reversed to wide receiver Austin Pettis who threw up an 85-yard pass to Shoemaker for the game winning touchdown.

For the Blue team, Moore connected on 10-of-16 passes for 106 yards while Drew Hawkins was 4-of-10 for 57 yards with two interceptions. It was running back Jeremy Avery that led the Blue offensively with 57 all-purpose yards, while safety Winston Venable tallied six tackles. The Blue team totaled 231 offensive yards on the day, with 163 passing and 68 rushing.

Defense was key for the White team as defensive back Cedric Febis led the team with seven tackles. Corner back Jamar Taylor and defensive lineman Jarrell Root each picked up an interception. While Pettis had the longest pass of the day (85 yards), Coughlin went 7-for-13 for a total of 81 yards. Overall, the White team passed for 166 yards and ran for 57 to bring its game total to 223 offensive yards.

The Blue and Orange game marked the end of spring workouts for the Broncos and will return to the gridiron for fall camp as they prepare for the 2009 season. Boise State will open its season against Oregon on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 8:15 p.m.

The Chicago Bears are looking to do things right this year and many people are very pleased with what we have seen so far.

When you hear the name The Chicago Bears most fans think DEFENSE, well this year guess what, they are going to have an offense as well.

The Bears started off by picking St.Claire from the Browns, who by the way is a monster and probably eats dirt for breakfast, lunch and dinner topping off with a raw elephant.

Then the Bears pull off signing the 25 year Broncos QB Jay Cutler and picking up Orlando Pace.

Now they find out they will have five nationally televised primetime games, that’s awesome.

If only we can add another receiver to the mix, opposite of Hester, the Bears are going to have a line up that looks good enough to really have a great season.

Most doubt a Super Bowl this year but then again not many people expected the Giants or the Cardinals to make it the Super Bowl, much less have the Giants win.

Go Bears, we love you!

NFL extends deal with DirecTV; Sunday Ticket to be available on broadband

NFL.com Wire Reports

The NFL announced an agreement to extend DirecTV’s rights to carry NFL Sunday Ticket on Monday. DirecTV will continue to have exclusive television rights to air the package of Sunday afternoon games through the 2014 season.

The agreement also significantly broadens the reach of NFL Sunday Ticket by enabling NFL fans that can’t receive DirecTV satellite service to get NFL Sunday Ticket via broadband. This service will begin no later than 2012.

In addition, the NFL will offer fans (also no later than 2012) a new "Red Zone Channel" that shows crucial live action cut-ins of all Sunday afternoon games starting at 1 p.m. ET and continuing through the conclusion of the 4 p.m. ET games. The "Red Zone Channel" will be available to cable, telco and satellite systems, wireless devices and online.

"We are pleased to extend a partnership with DirecTV that has complemented and supported our broadcast television packages for 15 years," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We are looking forward to having the Red Zone channel on cable and other media platforms as well as showing NFL Sunday Ticket via broadband to the homes that cannot get satellite. This new content enhances our tradition of being the most pro-consumer, widely available sport on television."

Among the new features for fans are:

» Red Zone Channel: Subscribers who do not have DirecTV will have access to the "Red Zone" channel through local cable systems or telco, satellite systems and Internet providers. This special channel has been part of NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV the past four seasons and will continue for those subscribers. It provides live look-ins and real-time highlights from every Sunday afternoon game starting at 1 p.m. (ET) through the late afternoon games. The channel switches from game to game and airs live action when a team is in the red zone (inside the 20-yard line) and poised to score. A host also provides real-time scoring and fantasy updates.

» NFL Sunday Ticket on Broadband: Fans who live in areas where DirecTV’s service is not available, such as apartment buildings or in residences with poor sightlines to a satellite signal, will be able to purchase a new NFL Sunday Ticket broadband package.

DirecTV customers who purchase NFL Sunday Ticket™ and the SuperFan™ package receive all Sunday afternoon games in HD; a "Game Mix" channel with up to eight games on one screen; the Red Zone Channel; the SUPERCAST™ service that streams every live NFL Sunday Ticket™ broadcast to laptop computers and the NNFL Sunday Ticket™ Mobile service that delivers up-to-the-minute highlights and soon full-length games to cell phones, pda’s and other wireless devices.

DirecTV also announced it has extended its carriage agreement with NFL Network, which will continue to be offered in DirecTV’s "choice" package.