I'm slowly losing track of how many times I've written now - all I know is that life in the NFL never ceases to change from week to week. Lets check out what's happening "Stateside!"
Indianapolis really took charge of the newsreel this week as Marvin Harrison's "off field activities" are spilling over into the team - namely - Peyton Manning. Harrison has been questioned by Philadelphia police about an April 29 shooting in his home town. According to reports, a 32-year-old man was shot in the hand and a 2-year-old boy sustained a cut when a car wind screen was shattered by a stray bullet. "Six of the bullet casings found after the April 29 shooting near a car wash owned by Harrison came from a gun he owns, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported recently." and that's why they want to haul Harrison in for questioning. ***More to the point....why does Marvin Harrison need to buy a car wash??..It can't be for money..maybe he needed his car cleaned and went a little overboard??*** We can all hope that this small story doesn't develop into the kind of Michael Vick fiasco and bad press the NFL took before the start of last season, because indeed Harrison is another superstar. He is still an amazing NFL receiver and hugely talented, however when all's said and done - he's a senior and a guy his game and with that much to lose - should know better than to get involved with things like that. QB Peyton Manning has refused to comment on Harrisons case and simply said to press officials "I didn't have a whole lot of reaction to it because I hadn't talked to anybody personally about it. I've been around long enough that until I hear from somebody that really knows what's going on, I don't give it a lot of merit." Credit where it's due - Manning speaks a lot of sense - and he doe still have huge respect for his former number one receiver [Harrison sustained an injury last season and it was left up to Reggie Wayne to take over that role] As for the rest of the colts, well Harrison has told them that he was not involved in the shooting, according to The Indianapolis Star. And as for the head coach, Tony Dungy simply said "Regarding Harrison's off-field issues, We'll see how that plays out and when all the facts come out we'll address them."......You know this situation is a testament to how good the quality of players and coaches there are within thee Colts. They refuse to be distracted and are concentrating solely on their training camps. I'm sure the entire team is behind one of their star players and he will be back at full strength next season.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile....up in Washington, here have been some trades going on...we've seen a great Kick returner in Jerome Mathis depart and the signing of DE J.T. Mapu. I must say Mathis is one of my favourite kick returners simply for his style. He's a quiet guy, never really has many moments to remember, he's very different from the Devin Hester's of the league. He works hard to gain solid returns every time he sees a lane. Kudos to the kid, he'll be valuable wherever he goes. As for Mapu, well the guy had 65 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in four years at Tennessee. So he hasn't exactly been productive during his time in the NFL, well now he has the chance to prove himself!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On The Clock...
QB, Drew Brees will be the starter - good accuracy and poise in the pocket and one of the better guys in the league at "threading the needle" and putting the ball where only his receiver can get it. So those are the good points, - now the bad - Well don't expect him to run the length of the field or even for a first down, and don't expect him to move out of the way of a bull rusher - he's got great pocket presence but lacks mobility - was a bit of a problem last year, I can see how some of the better receivers may not have had as productive a season as they would want, but this is only a minor point. My only other hang up about him is his decision making - namely - deep balls. He does seem to throw most of his interceptions deep and its because he hasn't spotted a lurking safety, double coverage or just a different route being run - he needs to work on that.
HB, This is a tough one, anyone who knows me will know i have a bad time choosing which RB I favour in New Orleans, but after months of decisions i'll go with Reggie Bush. Now Entering his third year in the NFL he's had a few "problems" adjusting to the hits of the NFL, and in his hared carries with Deuce Mcalliser last season, Bush coughed up the ball 8 times! I can see him improving this season though, training and adjustment will allow him to use his blistering speed and agility to great affect - he only ever really uses his speed in the open field, but is his agility which carried his past the line and through the holes. Flaws? - Well he's still a rookie at heart - vision will continue to develop and i can't wait to see him when he's a well rounded H-Back. Superstar in the making - and after Deuce McAllister's injuries - we should see a lot more "Reggie" time this season.
CB, Does it boil down to Jason David being so short and slow? Not really...Mike Mckensie is doing great in his job at CB, which means pressure is diverted to the weakness in the defence and its very clearly Jason David. He is so dependant on Safety help its unbelievable - so they decided to get rid of him and bring in a patriot in the form of Randall Gay. A great pick-up for the team, a perfect fit and he'll do wonders for the defence. Maybe in a few years he can be a mentor and help to bring in either Jason Craft..speeeeed!...or Usama Young - He's 6ft. Oh and By the way...they also really need to let Fred Thomas retire..a 34 year old corner back is not what he was in his youth. Former good player, lacks value now though.
DL, Defensively the saints were never poor, and its because of the Line - the pressure the line gets on the opposing QB is sometimes enough to stop that deep ball which could easily beat Jason David. Now the saints have added Sedrick Ellis to this line and wow he's a show stopper! This line should be good this season - Will Smith and Charles Grant back in top form can be as good as any pass rushing DE's if they wish to be. Good season for these guys.
And To Finish...
Indy Newsreel, Washington cuts
Release Jerome Mathis!..Now he tuts!
Oh, when the saints go marching in
How I want (Reggie) to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
And when Jason David refused to shine
And when Jason David refused to shine
Lord, how I want (Randall Gay) to be in that number
When Jason David refused to shine
Some say this world of trouble,
Is the only one we need,
But I'm waiting for that morning,
When the new world is revealed.
NFL Lateral Collateral
NFL Conga Chaos
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