[NFL] American Football 2008 #2 Training camp

quote:

Op zondag 10 augustus 2008 22:50 schreef Tazmaniac het volgende:
Hard Knocks

quote:

Veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes, who was cut by the Eagles in March and who since has drawn scant interest on the open market, reportedly is heading to San Francisco.

The Niners have cut former starting linebacker Brandon Moore, and Spikes reportedly is due to arrive at the team’s training camp on Sunday to take a physical.

Spikes has played for the Bengals, Bills, and Eagles.

quote:

The Steelers signed Byron Leftwich to be their backup quarterback, choosing him over Daunte Culpepper after bringing both veteran quarterbacks to training camp today.

Leftwich (6-5, 242) and Culpepper (6-4, 260) each passed physicals in Pittsburgh this morning and reported to training camp in Latrobe for individual workouts while the Steelers debated which quarterback to sign.

The move to sign Leftwich, a former No. 1 pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was necessitated when Charlie Batch, 33, broke his right collarbone in Friday night's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, a 16-13 victory.

Batch will have surgery tomorrow that will keep him out a minimum six weeks.

quote:

At the owners meeting in May, the quality of the league's preseason was discussed, specifically how some preseason games are a poor reflection of the NFL product. Commissioner Roger Goodell is keeping the issue in the news, most recently telling reporters at Bengals camp that the league is "actively evaluating" whether to add a regular-season game and cut the preseason from four games to three. Goodell then took it one step further, saying he also wouldn't rule out 18 regular-season games and only two preseason contests.

quote:

Op maandag 11 augustus 2008 02:50 schreef LeChiffre04 het volgende:

[..]

quote:

Bobby Engram will miss the next 6-8 weeks after cracking a bone in his shoulder during Seattle's preseason opener.

Willis McGahee is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee as soon as Monday. Recovery generally takes 2-4 weeks, which would put Week 1 of the regular season in doubt.

quote:

The Minnesota Vikings will be without one of their big-name free-agent signings for an extended period.

Safety Madieu Williams could miss as many as six weeks because of a neck injury, according to multiple sources. That means he would be out for at least the first three games of the regular season.

It's a setback for a pass defense that finished last in the NFL in 2007 and was counting on having a top-notch cover safety in Williams for all 16 games.

quote:

THE next Super Bowl is really going to rock. This year, Tom Petty rocked the halftime crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. But Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 in Tampa will feature Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, sources said. "He was just confirmed," a spy added. "Little Stevie (Van Zandt) has already rented out the Hard Rock Café for a party." A Boss rep didn't return calls or e-mails.

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 augustus 2008 19:04 schreef Guard het volgende:
Och Bertje Huppelkei, alweer een jaar met vergane glorie als half time act....

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 augustus 2008 19:16 schreef Terreros85 het volgende:


Willen er al mensen voorspellingen doen voor dit seizoen?

quote:

The Oakland Raiders agreed to terms on a contract with Adam Archuleta on Monday in a move to add depth to their defense.

quote:

The Ravens have signed four-time Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal, adding much-needed versatility and experience to their backfield.

Neal, 37, has been the lead blocker for a 1,000-yard rusher for 11 straight seasons.

This is Neal's seventh NFL team and second stint with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. He was Cameron's starting fullback for four seasons when both were with the San Diego Chargers (2003-06).

Neal was released by the Chargers in February, just one season removed from being the league's highest-paid fullback.

quote:

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn said he wants to be traded or cut so badly that he has "contemplated" restructuring or forfeiting part of the $2.5 million in guaranteed base salary he's owed.

"I'm even contemplating giving some money back to further this thing along," the disgruntled wide receiver said Tuesday. "I'm ready to get it solved and move on. The longer I stay here, the worse it's going to get."

quote:

Op woensdag 13 augustus 2008 18:35 schreef Plastic_Power het volgende:
[ afbeelding ]

quote:

Somewhere, deep inside EA's corporate headquarters, marketing executives have my picture framed on the wall. Or at least I think they do, as it seems every advertising decision designed to fuel the Madden hype machine targets my individual weaknesses. It's like they ask, "What will Roark fall for next?" and then stick that on the front of the box.

You see, each year since 2005, I've sworn I wouldn't get the new Madden. After all, I was still enjoying the great NFL 2K5, and was going to cast my vote against license exclusivity by withholding a purchase of EA's football juggernaut. However, each year since 2005, Madden's found its way into my home and onto my TV. Like my weaknesses for a good milkshake or piece of Batman memorabilia, I can't seem to avoid the spell a virtual John Madden casts.

Part of it is the updated rosters. There's something about getting "official" rosters that trumps the homebrew versions needed to keep 2K5 fresh. I like seeing the new draftees, complete with player photos and correct (usually) body types and playing styles, or checking out how traded players look in their new uniforms.

I think most of all though, it's the "shiny new car" aspect of each new Madden that makes me buy in: the new cover athlete, the special editions, new modes, slick graphics.

Also, I am a sucker for the list of new features, despite the legendary practice of removing them temporarily. Superstar mode? Ate it up the first year. The weapon system? I liked the clean and clear way to view mismatches -- despite the effects on gameplay. Even the radio guy was somewhat unique upon first playthrough. I guess I like trying new things, and when new features are listed as a number -- like this year's 85 -- I feel I must try them all. It's like a checklist and I don't want to miss one.

Friends have also convinced me to buy the game in the past. Last year, a friend (finally) got an Xbox 360. His first game, of course, was Madden 08, so I bought it so we could someday play online. He forgot to mention that he didn't have Live, or even broadband Internet in his new house.

I think most of all though, it's the "shiny new car" aspect of each new Madden that makes me buy in: the new cover athlete, the special editions, new modes, slick graphics. I get swept up by viewing trailers or full games, and playing the demo. Each of these feeds my appetite for a new football game, and the machine rolls right over me as I lap up each piece of information. And then, annually, like a recovering addict, I fall back into the old routine, until I am mindlessly standing at the video game counter with Madden in-hand. And, like so many vices, it's consistently left me feeling empty and disappointed.

Back in the fall of 2005, I grabbed Madden 06 for my new Xbox 360. It was my first sports game on the new console, and I couldn't wait to see virtual football in high definition. It also had my favorite player on the cover, so it couldn't be bad, right? Like the 2005 Eagles season, the game was a disaster. It was like an extended tech demo -- it impressed friends who came over, but had little replay value, especially outside of the multi-season Franchise mode.

Madden 07 was a similar negative experience; however, last year was the worst, as I had high hopes for an improved experience. For the first time, I went to the store on launch day; I even contemplated picking it up at midnight, which was extra crazy considering only months before I had (once again) sworn off Madden for good. After throwing and picking a combined nine interceptions in one half, I had finally had enough. This was it, the final time, never again.

Throw in the special, ultra-premium-20th-anniversary-new-and-improved-collector's edition -- "Now with NFL Head Coach!" -- and my wallet hand is trembling.

Yet, here we are again, in the midst of full-speed, all-out Madden hype: countdown clocks, Broadway Brett trailers, feature lists, and forum buzz. That exec must have looked at my picture when he pushed for improved presentation, adaptable AI, improved graphics -- all things sure to make me cave in once again. Throw in the special, ultra-premium-20th-anniversary-new-and-improved-collector's edition -- "Now with NFL Head Coach!" -- and my wallet hand is trembling.

However, thus far cooler heads have prevailed. I haven't pre-ordered it. And I have no plans to get it this week or next. After all, I've been burned enough by the unexpected glitches, missing features, and half-finished presentations. The free homemade rosters for 2K5 look pretty good this time out, and none of my friends are pressuring me this year.

So, to Mr. Executive, I say "tear down my picture!" I've learned my lesson (x3). Your gimmicks won't do it this time.

Well, until more impressions start rolling in from the community; followed by a phone call from my Internet-less friend...

quote:

Cincinnatti Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, addressing several topics Wednesday on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, playfully suggested that while he likes following Michael Phelps in the Olympics, he's a better swimmer than Phelps.

"The problem with Michael Phelps is there's no competition where he is," Johnson said. "Now if he came to where I'm from, which is the inner city, Liberty City (in Miami), I was the three-time Charles Hadley Pool champ." When co-hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon chuckled, Johnson said, "Don't laugh. ... I know a couple people who could beat Michael Phelps right now. Seriously, I'm telling you. And I'm one of them."

quote:

Op donderdag 14 augustus 2008 16:26 schreef Playmaker het volgende:
Hij is werkelijk zo gek als een deur, maar je blijft lachen met Ocho Cinco:
[..]

quote:

Op donderdag 14 augustus 2008 16:26 schreef Playmaker het volgende:
Hij is werkelijk zo gek als een deur, maar je blijft lachen met Ocho Cinco:
[..]