Category Archives: AFC West
Bengals were the winners of the Palmer trade
Mike Brown worked one of the best deals in Cincinnati Bengals history when he traded quarterback Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders for their 2013 first round draft pick. With that pick the Bengals addressed a specific need on defense by picking up Dre Kirkpatrick.
The Bengals will also have a first or second round pick in 2014 based on the outcome of the Raiders record this season. Former head coach, Hue Jackson (a wide receivers coach with the Bengals from 2004 – 2006) worked this transaction personally with Bengals owner Mike Brown.
Next in line: 5 teams Los Angeles should court next
Yesterday it was announced that the Minnesota Vikings are staying in Minnesota for good. The Minnesota Legislator passed a Bill toward a new stadium and Vikings fans can now rejoice and celebrate the biggest win in Franchise history.
Denver Broncos helmet, uniform concept design
Charles Sollers, a photographer from Missouri for Rivals.com has created a new concept design for the Denver Broncos helmets and uniforms.
Also featured are the new Nike Pro Combat uniform designs by Brandon Moore. Could you imagine Peyton Manning or Von Miller wearing this?
By now you have probably seen some of Sollers work as he also has provided numerous images of college helmets and uniforms.
Brandon Moore is a graduate of Full Sail University with an Associates of Science degree in Graphic Design. He specializes in logo design and branding.
Football, a game of violence
Football is a very violent game that many of us love to play and love to watch. You have to have a strong will to play the game. Football is not a game for the weak of heart, evidenced by Junior Seau the former San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots linebacker. Injuries are a big part of the game. The injuries come along with the violence. Some folks play the game and never have a problem either physically or mentally. Then there are some players that have retired because of shots taken while playing, concussions, necks, knees, ankles, and some have even been paralyzed.
Kansas City Chiefs helmet, uniform concept design
Charles Sollers, a photographer from Missouri for Rivals.com has created a new concept design for the Kansas City Chiefs helmets and uniforms.
By now you have probably seen some of Sollers work as he also has provided images of college team helmets and uniforms.
As Nike takes over the NFL uniforms there were little changes made, but could you imagine Dwayne Bowe wearing this?
NFL take two: What happens when the cheering stops?
I am no longer an NFL player, now what do I do with my life? No more practices, no more sitting on the training table nursing this injury or that injury. No more sitting in the film room watching film of this week’s opponent. Running out of the tunnels to thousands of cheering fans is no more. I only hear the cheers in my head. There are those former players that handle it well, and then there are the ones that do not handle being “Normal” after their careers in the limelight are no more.
Marcel Reece: Player profile
Marcel Reece, fullback for the Oakland Raiders may be the first in a new movement of multi-use fullbacks.
The 6’3”, 250 lbs. Marcel Reece played wide receiver at the University of Washington and tallied 761 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season.
He also holds the Huskies’ record for longest play from scrimmage with a 98-yard reception against Arizona.
Then UW Head Coach Tyrone Willingham may not have known that he was sitting on a future pass-catching fullback in the NFL, or he may have changed his lineup to give first-year starter Jake Locker more closely positioned playmakers.
Junior Seau, goodbye “Buddy”
Today the world found out the tragic news that the beloved and respected man known as Junior Seau was found dead at the age of 43.
Uncharacteristic for a linebacker in the NFL, it seems like everyone enjoyed Seau and the way he played. Not only his teammates and opponents, but the fans also seemed to migrate towards him. Teammates in Miami, New England, and San Diego all remember him as a great player, leader, and friend.
Most importantly, he was a ground breaker for young men of Polynesian decent. He came from a home where he and his siblings literally slept on the floor of a one car garage, to becoming one of the most talented athletes to ever come out of the San Diego area. Seau’s accomplishments at Oceanside High School, California, in football, basketball, and track earned him a scholarship to play football for the prestigious University of Southern California. After a rough start to his career at USC due to academic inadequacies, he went on to don the number 55 jersey for the Trojans (a jersey that is worn by a player considered to be a future NFL star) and become a first round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1990. Since his time at USC, there have been many great players of Polynesian descent to leave their mark at the university in the wake of Seau’s greatness. Names like Troy Polamalu, Rey Maualuga, and Lofa Tatupu to name a few have all gone on to vault the program to greatness en route to promising NFL careers.
2012 NFL Draft: Grading the first round
1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford
Buffalo is still trying to replace Jim Kelly, Miami is still trying to replace Dan Marino, Cleveland has needed a Quarterback forever, yet somehow the Colts get fortunate enough to go from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck without the down time that teams usually go through after losing a Hall of Fame Quarterback. Grade: A+
2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III – QB, Baylor
The Redskins traded their second-round pick and three first-round picks (2012, 2013 and 2014) to move up four spots. Many may think that maybe too much but it’s not when your in a quarterback driven league. The Redskins will be a playoff contender thanks to this move and will surprise people this season because of it, the Quarterback carousel in Washington is over and now the challenge becomes, can Griffin survive the NFC East? Grade: A+
2012 NFL draft: Chargers need a player like Courtney Upshaw
After doing nothing the previous year, the San Diego Chargers upgraded the linebacker core by adding Jarret Johnson but are still missing a pass rushing specialist.
Alabama linebacker, Courtney Upshaw, may be the player they are searching for.
Upshaw was highly scouted as a high school prep star and now once again by the 2012 NFL Draft.
2012 NFL draft: Broncos could add Brockers to defensive line
The Denver Broncos have had a successful off season and odds are they will look at the defensive side of the ball to fill some gaping holes.
DT, Michael Brockers could be the next first round pick to join Von Miller and the Denver defense.
Brockers of LSU is one of those names we could hear continue to move upwards before draft day as many scouts are calling him the most complete DT in the draft.
NFL rewind: John Elway leads the Broncos on ‘The Drive’
From the time we were young many of us have fantasized about leading our team to a big victory when the odds are against us and hope is all but lost. Whether it’s a three-point buzzer beater, a homerun in the bottom of the 9th, or the game winning touchdown as time expires, these vivid images have been relived over and over on empty fields and basketball courts as solo conductors orchestrate the perfect symphony play after play.
