January 30, 2009
I just got back from Roger Goodell’s state of the league address This may sound like a Carson Daly moment, but I could listen to Goodell answer questions all day. He’s a great public speaker and lets you know exactly where the league stands on a matter, even if you have to translate the legalese. Some highlights from the proceedings
Goodell had some very interesting things to say about overtime. While only 30% of overtime games historically have ended on a first drive goal, he says that number has risen to 47% recently. He says the competition committee needs to look at that whether that is dangerous, especially considering how improved kickers are.
Goodell discussed possibilities like moving the kickoff forward or just starting with the ball on the 20-yard line so that teams have to earn their way down the field. He says the league will discuss it all this off-season and he expects a recommendation from the committee by the end of March.
The league will not revisit the blackout policy, no matter how poor Detroit plays. Owners may bring up the possibility of taking away the Detroit Thanksgiving game, but he didn’t really comment on that.
Plaxico Burress wasn’t suspended already because he’s not a repeat offender.
Continue reading "Goodell on overtime rules and more" »
Turning to more important subjects than x-rays, I talked to Edgerrin James about his beautiful white Lamborghini purchase. First of all, James seems like the most relaxed dude on the planet. Even his saunter to his presser podium was relaxed, taking five minutes to go 100 feet. Long speed was always an issue with him.
Edge was happy to answer any question, but half of his answers started with, “It’s just football.” He said he won’t be remotely nervous for the game, and I believe him.
The only negative thing he had to say all day was that the “sweet” Bucs facility need more pictures of Tony Dungy, because, “that’s my guy.”
I brought up the Lamborghini purchase, and Edge perked up. I love so many things about the move – getting it parked outside the team hotel for his arrival is a classic memory for the team. And when I park at the team hotel, James’ car is just hanging out like my rented Pontiac, for everyone to see.
James has tested out the car some this week, and seems impressed. I asked if he’ll let any of his friends drive it too.
“My inner circle, we’ll make it work.”
When asked why he bought this particular car, James says it's partically because he doesn’t like to drive much.
“Lamborghini is a special car, it’s rare. It’s a car that nobody has. It’s one of those cars you don’t drive all the time. I don’t like to really drive that much, so it’s perfect for somebody like me. You don’t have to drive it all the time.” Then came the line that cracked me up, “Less is more, you know?”
Yes, less is more when you buy your first Lambo. I finished by asking if he would have bought the car if he didn’t make the Super Bowl.
“Why are all y’all here? It’s the Super Bowl! It makes sense to get it here. It’s a fun week. Why not?”
Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin spent part of their day issuing non-denial denials to Mike Florio's report that Big Ben underwent an x-ray on his sore ribs Wednesday. This morning, ESPN's bottom line going across their Austrailian Open coverage and Mike and Mike confirmed the report.
In typical ESPN style, they didn't credit Mike Florio or mention who from ESPN has confirmed the report. "Ben Roethlisberger underwent a second x-ray Wednesday on the rib injury he suffered in the AFC championship game," simply ran across the bottom line.
Again, Roethlisberger is clearly well enough to play and probably play well. But Pittsburgh's odd refusal to recognize this story makes it appear they don't want it to become a bigger story.
January 29, 2009
I spent the day talking to both teams, scrambing to get to the Steelers in time to be shut down by Ben Roethlisberger, omitted from a quote sheet, and then trying to overcome a computer meltdown. I'll get Edge's thoughts about his new Lambo, my long chat with the grestest strength coach ever, John Lott, and my fawning Tulane Mewelde Moore love tomorrow. For now, it's another column for NBCSports.com. My last until Sunday! Here was the Larry Fitzgerald column I filed last night. And for all you Steelers fans out there, a writer can appreciate Kurt Warner and Fitz without "hating on" your team! After talking to Moore today, it would be cool to see him get a ring. Both of us couldn't think of a Green Wave that has one.
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The mood in Tampa has shifted dramatically today. The fans have arrived en masse. I got dinner last night with a few other writers near our hotel, and saw every possible ESPN personality at the restaurant. No one bugged them at all - that would not be possible tonight. The relatively empty downtown has been haunted only by media schlubs with an embarrasing pass dangling around their necks for the last five days. Now it's jamming. It's also raining, which is bad luck for the Coors Light girls who were scheduled to appear at the outdoor pool bar downstairs in our hotel. (No, I wasn't going to go. Yes, you can see the pool from the elevator, which is a nice bonus.)
January 28, 2009
James Harrison, who I have tried to stay away from all week because he frightens me, was not an admirer of any particular football player growing up. In fact, he doesn't really like sports.
"I really didn't watch sports. I still don't watch sports. I go home and I watch cartoons 24/7. I couldn't tell yu what's on ESPN or NFL Network or whatever it may be. Like this right here? I won't see this. I don't have a favorite cartoon but I have a group of cartoons that I like to watch like Adult Swim, Family Guy, American Dad and stuff like that. Or I can go old-school with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and a little bit of Pink Panther." (Agreed that you don't want too much Pink Panther.)
For some reason, this makes Harrison more terrifying to me.
While we're on the subject of Harrison, I got one oddly revealing tidbit from Steelers LB Lamarr Woodley. He said he expected Harrison to have a lot of coverage responsibilties in this game, while Woodley rushed the passer more. The news just sorta slipped out in the middle of a rant, so I don't think he's planting intentionally wrong seeds.
Because I'm a dink (Great Curran-ism), I didn't put this video up on the blog until now. To put a nice little bow on our media coverage, here's a look at the biggest eaters on both teams. Sadly, the cheesburger under the arm story did not make the cut. We were robbed.
Enjoy the video while I think up Lambo questions for Edgerrin James tomorrow.
Wake up call is bright and early for the reporters covering the Cardinals. (I call us "B team.") On Wednesday and Thursday, we scurry over to their team hotel before 8AM to hear Ken Whisenhunt and a star player (Kurt Warner today) talk alone for 15 minutes each. They get off easy: the rest of the players are stuck with us for 45 minutes after that, seated at folding tables spread out underneath an outdoor tent. Six players get a podium during that time. I'll be using some of the material later for a longer story, but here are some general impressions from the morning.
The politics of who gets a podium is fascinating. They try to spread out the podium love during the week, but superstars like Warner and Larry Fitzgerald need the protection. Anquan Boldin hasn't had a podium in two days, including yesterday when over ten players did! It's not a big deal, but it's weird for a two-time Pro Bowler. If the Cardinals were at all worried about Boldin's story turning negative this week, they know now that it won't. He has been the picture of team-first talk and genuinely doesn't seem annoyed with his contract situation or the team. His tolerance for repeating inane questions is rather high.
Antrel Rolle is not a morning person, yawning repeatedly before I sidled up to talk to him. He had an interesting comment about the change in leadership by Adrian Wilson's this year, saying Wilson was unapproachable in the past. "He wasn't too player-friendly before," Rolle said.
That may be the first time in history a player was called out for not being 'player friendly."
I talked to Wilson again today and can see how he would give off that vibe. He has a laser-like intensity that could rub people the wrong way, but his love for football shines through if you listen. When the other guys showed up in suits Monday, Wilson had on a hoodie. He doesn't care much for appearances and said he turned off his phone the night Arizona won the NFC Championship so he could focus on the Super Bowl. That's how we want our athletes to be.
One local TV guy, completely disregarding everyone at the table this morning, shoved a "boom mike" in Wilson's face and asked him to speak up. Wilson said "this is how I talk. And I was talking to this dude," gesturing to me.
I loved it; the other writers loved it. (The local TV species that assumes they can just cut off any reporter if they have a camera so they can ask 'How crazy is all this attention?' is the most vile I've met down here.)
Wilson says he "idolizes" Troy Polamalu and is his ability to cover ground in the secondary. Both Wilson and Polamalu say they watch tape of each other during the off-season to improve.
I'm doing a piece on Larry Fitzgerald and everyone seems to agree his practice habits have improved quite a bit over the last two years. Fitzgerald and Ken Whisenhunt think he's better after the catch because his routes are more precise, giving him more separation and room to run when he makes a catch. Fitz also keeps mentioning how much faster he is after losing 15 pounds.
Because I'm a dink (Great Curran-ism), I couldn't figure out how to get our video embed code to work in this blog admin ... until now! To put a nice little bow on our media coverage, here's a look at the biggest eaters on both teams. Sadly, the cheesburger under the arm story did not make the cut. We were robbed.
Larry Fitzgerald addressed reports Wednesday morning that he would be willing to restructure his contract to help keep Anquan Boldin.
"I don't know where that came from,” Fitzgerald started, but then didn’t exactly shoot down the reports.
"Someone asked me if I'd be willing to do something to help the team and I said absolutely. ... This is an amazing feeling and I'll do anything I have to do to get back to this point."
Fitzgerald is a very honest and open interview subject. He answered a question about helping the team; of course he wants to. Whether that’s feasible or necessary is another question.
Fitzgerald’s agent Eugene Parker, probably isn’t in love with the topic being out in the ether so publicly. Ultimately, Parker will have the biggest say here and would probably prefer that these conversations not go on during Super Bowl week.
It’s also worth pointing out that Arizona has a lot of cap room. They have every reason to want to keep Boldin happy, and NFL.com’s Adam Schefter cites league sources that believe Boldin will be happy to stay if the Cardinals give him a sufficient offer.
And why shouldn’t they? Boldin is a highly productive player in his prime, who is far more of a team leader than his recent reputation would suggest. We’ll hear plenty of Boldin rumors early in the off-season, but the most likely endgame is that he’ll return to the Cardinals.
January 27, 2009
"It seems like he knows what you’re doing before you know what you’re doing."
That quote seemed to sum up what I heard about Kurt Warner at Media Day. We've all heard the biography of the man so much, what makes him special as a performer gets overshadowed. I tried to break down what makes Warner great in on the field a column today over at NBCSports.com. (Do check it out, won't you. My pretend reporter week is now complete with a feature. Woo.)
Warner is defined by his accuracy, toughness, decisiveness, and smarts. Warner's signature play would be one where he recognizes a blitz, gets rid of the ball quickly, and hits his receiver in stride. Let them make the play. But don't take my word for it.
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