2010 NFL Training Camp and Preseason Thread

[Montana Moe]

The player everyone in Saints camp is talking about is U of Miami TE Jimmy Graham. He's a converted basketball player that has made some spectacular plays starting in minicamp and continuing through this week.

With Shockey always being a little dinged up, or dehydrated , it is good to know that there may be another weapon available for the best QB in the game...

The most influential Saint may be the waterboy, heat index was 117.6 today in Metairie.

[Jesse834]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

The player everyone in Saints camp is talking about is U of Miami TE Jimmy Graham. He's a converted basketball player that has made some spectacular plays starting in minicamp and continuing through this week.

With Shockey always being a little dinged up, or dehydrated , it is good to know that there may be another weapon available for the best QB in the game...

The most influential Saint may be the waterboy, heat index was 117.6 today in Metairie.

His mom is a real piece of . Good to see the kid doing well.

[Montana Moe]

Very true, here's an article about his young life:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...oughness040810

Try as he may, there is no blocking out the memory of him falling asleep in the backseat of his mother’s car when he was 11 years old, then waking up at a group home to find his mother signing the papers to give him away, his older sister crying and yelling for his mother not to do it.

There’s no forgetting his mother leaving after dropping off his clothes and belongings in a pair of garbage bags. Or the picture etched in his mind of him trying not to cry that night as he stayed in a room with two boys who were both at least two years older. Or how he was beaten again and again by the other boys, all of them older and some well on their way to delinquency...

“I was in bed for like four days after that,” said Graham, who has never met his real father even though he’s named after him. “I called my mom to tell her. ‘Mom, I’m really hurting.’

“ ‘Sorry, I can’t do anything for you,’…” Graham said, mimicking his mother’s response and then hanging up an imaginary phone.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Trojan 97, are you the diehard Texans fan? I can't remember if it is you or not.

Anyways if you are, what are your expectations for this season? Every year it seems people think Houston will take that next step but they haven't yet.

That would be me. I can't tell you how nice it is to finally be asked "Do you think they'll take the next step to be an elite team?" as opposed to "A Texans fan!?!?! What are you a sucker or something..."

Anyways, to answer your second point first. Despite various analysts calling for them to rise up and make the playoffs the last few years, I simply don't think the Texans have had the personnel or the right attitude to take that next step. They should have made it last year but had a bizarre combination of fumbling running backs, missed field goals (many at the end of games), and a general lack of "killer" mentality (ie. Chris Brown fumbling into the endzone with 2 minutes left against Tennessee which would have tied the game, not scoring on 3 tries from the 1 against Arizona with seconds left on the clock that would have tied the game also). The fact they had seven losses and only one was by more than eight points (in week one) is fairly telling of the team they were, talented (against a fairly weak schedule) but just too inexperienced to have developed a true killer instinct. I will say though, the way they closed out (an admittedly depleted) New England in week 17 with the season on the line was unlike anything I've ever seen from a Texans D. It's obvious they learned something along the way, now they just need to carry it over with them to the new season.

Looking ahead to this year? They have the hardest schedule in the NFL, they face the Chargers, Cowboys, Jets, Ravens, Eagles, Redskins, Broncos, Chiefs out of division which is going to be extremely tough. Cushing is suspended the first month which hurts, getting off to a good start will be huge for the team and without him the D takes a step back.

Barring injury though, this is a playoff team. Schaub is Schaub and his injury "concerns" are way overblown, Arian Foster closed out the season as the starting RB and has received praise from Gary Kubiak so far in camp for his mature attitude and performance, he seems cemented in the starters spot. Ben Tate and Slaton have looked good also. The Texans have suddenly gone from no depth at RB to a potential 3 headed monster, if Slaton rectifies his fumbling issue, he is going to be dynamite as a third down back. O-line will be a bit of a weak spot again but Antoine Caldwell seems ready to step in full time at RG which is an immediate upgrade to the bums they had filling in when Chester Pitts went down last year. It's almost a certainty that the o-line will be better from what they had last year as they were getting literally nothing out of them at many points in the season and couldn't run the ball because of it. Owen Daniels in on the PUP list, no real word about his status for opening day, not looking great at the moment though. Jacoby Jones took a big step last year and has come into camp acting like a veteran (which is huge cause Kubiak has always flirted with releasing him given his immaturity) the coaches seem extremely impressed by him and he may even push Kevin Walters for the #2 spot.

Defensively, Bernard Pollard seems to have taken the title of defensive leader away from Demeco Ryans and Mario Williams. You could see it coming last year as the season progressed and he has really embraced it this year, so far he's easily the most talkative and intense player on the field. It's great to see him bring that attitude to the team as the Texans have been "nice guy" team for far too long. Mario Williams has a bad hip which is a little nerve wracking but the rumours of Aaron Schobel coming in would really ease any concerns there. Rookie DT Earl Mitchell has been great so far. DT Frank Okam is an unmotivated, useless twat who is about to "not care" his way out of the NFL. Linebackers look great as always and the secondary looks pretty good minus Kareem Jackson who is getting burned on a daily basis, I'm not too worried at the moment as he's lining up against Andre Johnson but if it continues later on in camp the Texans will have some tough decisions. CB Antwaun Molden is finally healthy and looking great so far, he's the most likely replacement should it get to the point with Jackson.

I feel the Texans will either have a GREAT year (ie. 12-4/11-5) or flounder again to a 8-8ish type record. The depth is finally there for the team to withstand the usual injuries that occur over the course of the season, now it's just a matter of executing rather than making excuses.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by KTown

They do, that is why they get fined for holding out.

The question isn't 'are they held to contracts' it's 'why should they be held to contracts when the owners aren't'? The fact that they are fined has nothing to do with it.

This isn't a question of the legality of a holdout or where it fits with the CBA, it's more about how players who hold out are painted as greedy and selfish but teams who axe a guy 2 years into a 5 year deal are perceived as making smart business decisions. Guess what? Players are businessmen too.

[Pagal4321]

YAY, some Favre news!!

Jay_Glazer

Favre has told teammates he will NOT play this season, citing wear and tear on his body. Team is hoping he will change his mind

JuddZulgad

Brett Favre began telling Vikings officials last night he will NOT return for a 20th season. </SPAN>

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

YAY, some Favre news!!

Jay_Glazer

Favre has told teammates he will NOT play this season, citing wear and tear on his body. Team is hoping he will change his mind

JuddZulgad

Brett Favre began telling Vikings officials last night he will NOT return for a 20th season. </SPAN>

This coupled with the news of Sidney Rice, Vikings fans can't be happy with what is happening to their offence.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by Trojan97

This coupled with the news of Sidney Rice, Vikings fans can't be happy with what is happening to their offence.

Well except for the fact that I don't beleive Favre. He did the exact same thing last year.

[Jesse834]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Well except for the fact that I don't beleive Favre. He did the exact same thing last year.

And the year before that and so on. I believe he will play until he is in a
wheelchair.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Well except for the fact that I don't beleive Favre. He did the exact same thing last year.

Brett wouldn't do that.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Jesse834

And the year before that and so on. I believe he will play until he is in a
wheelchair.

I can't remember him doing it this close to the season though. Did he?

[transplant99]

I can see this being it for him...with the way that ankle looked after the NFC championship game and the subsequent surgery.

There is no reason for him to say he isnt coming back this late in the summer if he isnt, because he had all the time he wanted to make that decision which is his right.

Maybe the itch gets to strong again in a few weeks and the Vikes beg him to come back which changes his mind, but no doubt his body has to be feeling 18 years in the league.

Simply one of the best football players to ever put on the pads.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Sowa

I can't remember him doing it this close to the season though. Did he?

Not sure when he decided to return last year...but i know Vikes camp breaks in 10 days.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

As far as Broncos camp goes, just remember this name....Eric Decker.

What's his pros and cons?

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Joborule

What's his pros and cons?

This is based on me watching him in college. Great Hands, good blocker, deceptive speed (still not a burner though), willing to take punishment, injury prone (well he was injured for part of his last 2 seasons).

[d_phaneuf]

ya I would put the chances Favre starts week 1 at 99%

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Joborule

What's his pros and cons?

Pros: Size, intelligence, strength, hands

Cons: Coming off a major injury

It is not a coincidence that he is wearing #87.

[Jesse834]

Found this interesting.

There there was, however, one very interesting sight on the sidelines. At around 10:35, kicker Ryan Longwell, Favre's closest friend on the team, was seen talking on a cell phone on an idle field. Was Longwell getting a consoling call from Favre? Or at least the final word? Is Favre indeed going to announce he isn't coming back?
Answers to these questions and others later.

http://blogs.twincities.com/Vikings/...cial-word.html

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Jesse834

Found this interesting.


http://blogs.twincities.com/Vikings/...cial-word.html

Speculation like this is really such horrible journalism, it's pretty pathetic really. He could've been talking to his family, his buddies from high school, a nuclear arms dealer, or the ghost of Elvis.

[Pagal4321]

Ryan Longwell is one of the closest members of the Vikings to Brett Favre, with their relationship going back to their long run together in Green Bay. They spoke on Tuesday morning, and Longwell says retirement never came up.

"I talked with Brett and haven't heard that. He didn't tell me that," Longwell said via the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I don't know where the reports came from, but he certainly hasn't said that to me."