The Philadelphia Eagles have informed running back Brain Westbrook, after eight seasons with the team. Westbrook rushed for 5,995 yards, caught 496 passes for 3,790 yards and has scored 68 touchdowns. Westbrook is the Eagles career leader for yards from scrimmage. In recent seasons injuries have plagued the dynamic running back. The Eagles will save $7.5 million by releasing Westbrook, which he is due next season.
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The San Diego Chargers have released running back LadDanian Tomlinson. Tomlinson has been with the team for nine seasons but his numbers have declined over the past few seasons. He had been expecting that he would be released. Tomlinson rushed for 12, 490 yards, scored 138 rushing touchdowns, caught 530 passes and scored 15 passing touchdowns in his nine years as a Charger. Tomlinson was a former first round pick, and only ran for 730 yards last season.
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After months of discussion St. Louis Rams owners Chip Rosenbloom and Luicia Rodriguez have agreed to sell the team to Shahid Khan. Khan is the President of Flex-N-Gate Corporation, which is an auto parts manufacturing company based in Urbana Illinois, and with $2 billion dollars in annual revenue. Khan will purchase 60% of the team owned by Rosenbloom and Rodriguez who inherited the team from their mother Georgia Frontiere after she passed away. As with any NFL sale, the NFL owners must approve the sale. Khan will purchase 60% which will make him the majority owner. Currently Stan Kroenke owns 40% of the team it is currently unknown where he will retain his share, if not NFL sources say that Khan is likely to purchase 100% of the team which would make him the sole owner. Khan has been described as an avid Rams fan who has attended many home games in St. Louis, and is committed to keeping the team in St. Louis.
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The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Superbowl XLIV to win their first Championship with the franchise’s first Superbowl appearance. The Colts were up 10-0 in the first quarter, the Saints were able to march down the field to get two field goals in the second quarter. The second half opened up with surprises. What was the turning point of the game was Saints head coach Sean Payton called for an onside coach at the start of the second half, which resulted in a touchdown and the Saints took the lead. After a couple of lead changes in the second half the play that sealed the Saints victory was when Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw a pass intended for wide receiver Reggie Wayne and Saints cornerback Tracy Porter stepped in front and intercepted the pass and returned it for a 74 yard touchdown.
Drew Brees was the Superbowl MVP who threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns. His 32 completions tied a Superbowl record for the most completions in a Superbowl also held by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in Superbowl XXXVIII.
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Superbowl XLIV is here finally after two weeks of predictions and speculation we finally get to sit back and watch football. We are hopefully in for a good show of two great quarterbacks, and two teams who can score a lot of points. One thing that is being overlooked in the shadow of the Peyton Manning and Drew Brees is the impact of what the impact of the running game will be. The Saints run the ball really well with their multiple back options, and the presence of their backs in the passing game is what makes their offenses so dangerous. The Colts have been streaky this season in stopping the run ranking only 24th in the league in run defense and just as in past seasons they always seem to find a way to step it up in the postseason. This post season they have only allowed 3.6 yards a carry and 86.5 yards over the last two games.
The Saints have so many different weapons which has not been as prevalent since the The Greatest Show On Turf with the St. Louis Rams. The Colts secondary should not focus on a couple of their options or they will get burned.
The Colts have the matchup advantage when passing the ball because when you look at the NFC Championship Game against the Vikings, Favre was able to find options down the field despite the immense pressure. Manning should be able to have the same success. Double teaming the Colts receivers would be a mistake. The Saints defense will try to put pressure on Manning and try to win the one on one matchups.
This leads me to the big key for both of these teams in this game. The key to winning Superbowl XLIV will be defense, and creating turnovers or lack there of. Both of these offenses are extremely dangerous and score a lot of points. The only way to take either Brees or Manning out of their game, and disrupt their rhythm is to put pressure on them and create turnovers.
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Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith lead the list of inductees for this years hall of fame class. The leagues all time leaders in receiving and rushing were announced the Saturday before the Superbowl, a game which both of them won three times. The other inductees include Dick Lambeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, Russ Grimm, and Ricky Jackson.
Next years first year eligible list includes Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis, and Deion Sanders.
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Peyton Manning is the ultimate student in the game today. The extra week off gives Manning an extra advantage. The key with Manning is that every time he has struggled this season, he eventually figures it out and is able to expose the opposing defense. This was prevalent in the AFC Championship game against the Jets. Manning struggled early on while he tried to figure out Rex Ryan’s defense but he eventually figured out what he was throwing at him and in the second half Manning put on a clinic.
The Saints will apply pressure as they have done against opposing offenses all year. Especially against the Cardinals Kurt Warner and the Vikings Brett Favre. Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams has already stated in the media he plans on putting a few “remember me plays on Peyton Manning.” The key to the Saints defense is that they need to create turnovers. They do blitz a little too much. They need to be smart and not get to blitz happy.
Drew Brees vs. Colts Defense
When you talk about the Colts people usually do not talk about the Colts defense. In the two post-season games the Colts defense has not allowed a single point in the second half. The Colts defense can be described as a style that applies quick swarming style to the opposing team. The key here is that the with their best player Dwight Freeney questionable to play. Even if he does play the swollen ankle will slow him. Brees should be able to get the ball downfield to Marcus Colsten who is coming off a disappointing NFC Championship Game with only one catch.
X-Factor: Reggie Bush
The X-factor in this game is Reggie Bush. He has been inconsistent all season. He has had a few games where he has had break out performances such as his game he had against the Cardinals the Saints he will be tough to contain. If he can be effective in the return game it should benefit help the Saints offense, and put more pressure on the Colts defense.
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Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney has a ligament tear in his right ankle, which could keep him out of the Superbowl. Freeney is officially listed on the team’s injury report as questionable. Freeney confirmed the situation on Media Day and told reporters, the swelling is down from what it was a week ago, and is hopeful the swelling continues to decrease as the week goes on. Freeney said the ultimate decision on if and how much he will play would be the coaching staffs decision. The Colts are game planning as if Freeney will not play. Freeney missed all four of the Colts practices last week.
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ve hired Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator. This hiring ends the search for the Bears who have gone through many candidates to replace (). Including former Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates who worked with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler when he was in Denver. Bates was hired by the Seattle Seahawks, when Pete Carroll was hired as head coach. Bates served under Carroll at USC for one season.
Martz spent the last season as an analyst on NFL network. Martz was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams when they won the Superbowl following the 1999 season. Martz was head coach of the Rams when he hired Lovie Smith as defensive coordinator and went to another Superbowl following the 2001 season but lost to the New England Patriots.
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Kurt Warner officially announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. Warner was an undrafted free agent signed by the Green Bay Packers in 1994 and was later released that summer. Warner worked at the Hy-Vee grocery store for $5.50 an hour, while hoping to get another NFL opportunity. He played Arena Football with the Iowa Barnstormers 1995-1997 Warner signed with the St. Louis Rams in 1997 towards the end of the 1997, and was allocated to NFL Europe and played with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe during the 1998 season. Warner made the backup quarterback of the Rams in 1998 and then became the starter when Trent Green went down with a season ending injury during a preseason game. That season Warner lead the Rams to a 13-3 record, League MVP and a Superbowl win over the Tennessee Titans, Warner earned Superbowl MVP for the game. Warner won his second league MVP award in 2001, and led the Rams back to the Superbowl, and lost to the New England Patriots.
Warner was injured for the most of 2002, and in 2003 he only started one game in a loss to the New York Giants where he suffered a concussion, and was sacked six times. Warner was released by the Rams and replaced by rookie Eli Manning after nine games. In 2005 Warner signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was the starter part of the time-sharing time with Matt Leinart. Warner became full time starter again for the 2008 after beating out Leinart for the starting position. That season Warner led the Cardinals to the Superbowl and a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Warner won the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award for his on and off the field accomplishments including his First Things First Foundation Christian charity.
Warner’s Accomplishments
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