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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Donte’ Stallworth of the Cleveland Browns today that he is suspended indefinitely without pay from the National Football League, effective immediately.
Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter to Stallworth:
* “The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable. While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.”
* “The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies. Either provides me with full authority to take appropriate disciplinary action against you, including a fine or suspension without pay, and to impose appropriate conditions on your continued participation in the NFL. In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.”
* “There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league. Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately. In due course, we will contact your representatives to schedule a meeting with you, after which I will make a final determination on discipline. Pending my final determination, you will not be permitted to visit the club’s facility or participate in any team activities.”
* “Everyone associated with the league derives tremendous benefits from participating in our game and from the extraordinary support we receive from the public. With these benefits comes, among other things, the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a lawful and responsible way, with no entitlement to or expectation of favorable treatment.”
Under NFL policies, all NFL employees recognize that alcohol-related violations of law will not be tolerated and that they will be held accountable over and above any sanctions imposed by a court of law. This accountability to the NFL for alcohol-related violations of law includes discipline in the form of major fines and suspensions without pay. The level of discipline is significantly increased in cases involving aggravating circumstances and/or repeat offenses.
In addition to a comprehensive testing and treatment program for substance abuse, the NFL and NFL Players Association have extensive education and prevention resources available to players and all other league and club employees. One of those resources is a "safe rides" program used by most clubs to provide players and other employees with alternative means of transportation if they have consumed alcoholic beverages. Commissioner Goodell notified all clubs earlier this year that there will be increased emphasis on addressing DUIs and other misconduct.
Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter to Stallworth:
* “The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable. While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.”
* “The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies. Either provides me with full authority to take appropriate disciplinary action against you, including a fine or suspension without pay, and to impose appropriate conditions on your continued participation in the NFL. In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.”
* “There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league. Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately. In due course, we will contact your representatives to schedule a meeting with you, after which I will make a final determination on discipline. Pending my final determination, you will not be permitted to visit the club’s facility or participate in any team activities.”
* “Everyone associated with the league derives tremendous benefits from participating in our game and from the extraordinary support we receive from the public. With these benefits comes, among other things, the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a lawful and responsible way, with no entitlement to or expectation of favorable treatment.”
Under NFL policies, all NFL employees recognize that alcohol-related violations of law will not be tolerated and that they will be held accountable over and above any sanctions imposed by a court of law. This accountability to the NFL for alcohol-related violations of law includes discipline in the form of major fines and suspensions without pay. The level of discipline is significantly increased in cases involving aggravating circumstances and/or repeat offenses.
In addition to a comprehensive testing and treatment program for substance abuse, the NFL and NFL Players Association have extensive education and prevention resources available to players and all other league and club employees. One of those resources is a "safe rides" program used by most clubs to provide players and other employees with alternative means of transportation if they have consumed alcoholic beverages. Commissioner Goodell notified all clubs earlier this year that there will be increased emphasis on addressing DUIs and other misconduct.
Anotar y aguantar
En un encuentro donde ambas defensas no cumplieron una buena tarea, Jabalíes se llevó la victoria en su visita a Corsarios por 20 contra 14. Cuando la ventaja de 20 tantos parecía definitoria los porcinos se relajaron y debieron aguantar como pudieron los embates contrarios. El WR Patricio Romero Prandi cumplió una destacada actuación a lo largo de todo el encuentro opacando la sorpresiva aparición del RB Germán Douineau como alternativa al juego aéreo corsario.
La pretemporada de la tripulación negra había dejado una victoria y una derrota, evidenciando cierto desconcierto defensivo pero un gran juego de pases basado en su mariscal desde esta temporada titular Juan Manuel Sesto. La vuelta del TE Guillermo Herrera tras una lesión en su rodilla que le costó toda la temporada 2008 le daba al coach Cesar Liatti una nueva carta ofensiva; de todas formas una buena defensa secundaria podía llegar a ser una pesadilla.
Y es precisamente uno de los rasgos más débiles de la defensa de Jabalíes, el actual subcampeón del Football Americano de Argentina. Sin embargo, a su favor tenían al RB "recordman" Martín Spada, quien se hace fuerte en sus corridas, punto débil de los apoyadores corsarios. Pero no solo de acarreos vive la manada rojiblanca, ya que la figura del QB Federico Schwarztman comienza a cobrar notoriedad partido a partido, aprovechando la cantidad de jugadores que sus rivales acostumbran a colocar en la caja.
El inicio de las acciones fue sorpresivo para los espectadores acostumbrados a los continuos pases cortos de la ofensiva corsaria. Las corridas por el centro de Douineau permitían darle una variante más segura. La primera serie ofensiva terminaría en un intento de gol de campo de 38 yardas a cargo de Rodrigo Zagni que se iría abierto a la izquierda de la "H". Del lado porcino no había sorpresas, ya que Spada era el arma fundamental. De hecho, una corrida de 26 yardas del MVP 2008 dejó a su equipo en la yarda 1 rival, desde donde el FB panameño Darwin Flores Goulart se lanzó al endzone para abrir el marcador. Desde allí los del parche en el ojo no lograron recuperar el nivel ofensivo, en tanto la visita se regodeaba aprovechando al máximo la figura de su corredor estrella.
Antes del final de la primera mitad y en 2do intento desde la yarda 25 contraria Schwarztman lanzó un pase a la izquierda del endzone donde Romero Prandi esperaba el balón; parecía un balón fácil de deflectar para el CB Sebastián De Negri pero en su afán de interceptar no logró cambiar la trayectoria del ovoide facilitando enormemente la recepción para touchdown. La conversión de dos puntos fue exitosa gracias al pase de Schwarztman al TE Nelson Medici. El tanteador al final de la primera era desalentador para los locales: 14 - 0.
En el tercer cuarto mostró una mejoría considerable en el juego defensivo de Corsarios, quienes lograban bajar las yardas por acarreo de Spada. Encajonados, los porcinos debieron despejar pero a la hora de recibir en su propia yarda 28 Alfredo Fruscella tocó el balón causando un muff que recuperaría Jabalíes. En el 1er intento Schwarztman lanzó un pase válvula a Spada quien alcanzaría las diagonales tras correr en paralelo a la línea lateral izquierda.
Desde allí la relajación por los 20 puntos de ventaja atentó contra la causa jabalí y permitió que los locales se acercaran en el marcador. Una distracción defensiva fue explotada al máximo por Sesto quien desde su propia yarda 36 logró un gran acarreo por el centro sin siquiera ser tocado. El descuento sumaba dramatismo al comienzo del cuarto final. El regreso a la posición de corredor de Douineau fue fundamental ya que su potencia y buen finteo eran lo que necesitaban para avanzar las cadenas. En 2do intento Sesto lanzó un buen pase a De Negri quien buscaba la redención y tras recibir en la yarda 4 esquivó a tres contrarios que intentaron tacklearlo para luego ingresar sin problemas a la zona final. La conversión de dos puntos exitosa gracias a la atrapada de Herrera dejaba a tiro del empate a los de la pata de palo. Sin embargo, restaba solo un minuto de juego y los rojiblancos no tuvieron sobresaltos para cerrar el cotejo con un puñado de acarreos.
Un comienzo con el pie derecho para la franquicia presidida por Federico Buenamaison, que sin embargo deja un mensaje de alerta. El exceso de confianza con la ventaja en el marcador es un lujo que no pueden darse, sobre todo contra una buena ofensiva como la pirata, aún cuando en esta oportunidad no pagaron el costo. Por su parte, Corsarios mostró una alternativa a su juego aéreo que puede darle mayor seguridad a la hora de atacar. La cuenta pendiente sigue siendo la defensiva, que no logra detener los acarreos rivales.
Por Mariano Viotto
En un encuentro donde ambas defensas no cumplieron una buena tarea, Jabalíes se llevó la victoria en su visita a Corsarios por 20 contra 14. Cuando la ventaja de 20 tantos parecía definitoria los porcinos se relajaron y debieron aguantar como pudieron los embates contrarios. El WR Patricio Romero Prandi cumplió una destacada actuación a lo largo de todo el encuentro opacando la sorpresiva aparición del RB Germán Douineau como alternativa al juego aéreo corsario.
La pretemporada de la tripulación negra había dejado una victoria y una derrota, evidenciando cierto desconcierto defensivo pero un gran juego de pases basado en su mariscal desde esta temporada titular Juan Manuel Sesto. La vuelta del TE Guillermo Herrera tras una lesión en su rodilla que le costó toda la temporada 2008 le daba al coach Cesar Liatti una nueva carta ofensiva; de todas formas una buena defensa secundaria podía llegar a ser una pesadilla.
Y es precisamente uno de los rasgos más débiles de la defensa de Jabalíes, el actual subcampeón del Football Americano de Argentina. Sin embargo, a su favor tenían al RB "recordman" Martín Spada, quien se hace fuerte en sus corridas, punto débil de los apoyadores corsarios. Pero no solo de acarreos vive la manada rojiblanca, ya que la figura del QB Federico Schwarztman comienza a cobrar notoriedad partido a partido, aprovechando la cantidad de jugadores que sus rivales acostumbran a colocar en la caja.
El inicio de las acciones fue sorpresivo para los espectadores acostumbrados a los continuos pases cortos de la ofensiva corsaria. Las corridas por el centro de Douineau permitían darle una variante más segura. La primera serie ofensiva terminaría en un intento de gol de campo de 38 yardas a cargo de Rodrigo Zagni que se iría abierto a la izquierda de la "H". Del lado porcino no había sorpresas, ya que Spada era el arma fundamental. De hecho, una corrida de 26 yardas del MVP 2008 dejó a su equipo en la yarda 1 rival, desde donde el FB panameño Darwin Flores Goulart se lanzó al endzone para abrir el marcador. Desde allí los del parche en el ojo no lograron recuperar el nivel ofensivo, en tanto la visita se regodeaba aprovechando al máximo la figura de su corredor estrella.
Antes del final de la primera mitad y en 2do intento desde la yarda 25 contraria Schwarztman lanzó un pase a la izquierda del endzone donde Romero Prandi esperaba el balón; parecía un balón fácil de deflectar para el CB Sebastián De Negri pero en su afán de interceptar no logró cambiar la trayectoria del ovoide facilitando enormemente la recepción para touchdown. La conversión de dos puntos fue exitosa gracias al pase de Schwarztman al TE Nelson Medici. El tanteador al final de la primera era desalentador para los locales: 14 - 0.
En el tercer cuarto mostró una mejoría considerable en el juego defensivo de Corsarios, quienes lograban bajar las yardas por acarreo de Spada. Encajonados, los porcinos debieron despejar pero a la hora de recibir en su propia yarda 28 Alfredo Fruscella tocó el balón causando un muff que recuperaría Jabalíes. En el 1er intento Schwarztman lanzó un pase válvula a Spada quien alcanzaría las diagonales tras correr en paralelo a la línea lateral izquierda.
Desde allí la relajación por los 20 puntos de ventaja atentó contra la causa jabalí y permitió que los locales se acercaran en el marcador. Una distracción defensiva fue explotada al máximo por Sesto quien desde su propia yarda 36 logró un gran acarreo por el centro sin siquiera ser tocado. El descuento sumaba dramatismo al comienzo del cuarto final. El regreso a la posición de corredor de Douineau fue fundamental ya que su potencia y buen finteo eran lo que necesitaban para avanzar las cadenas. En 2do intento Sesto lanzó un buen pase a De Negri quien buscaba la redención y tras recibir en la yarda 4 esquivó a tres contrarios que intentaron tacklearlo para luego ingresar sin problemas a la zona final. La conversión de dos puntos exitosa gracias a la atrapada de Herrera dejaba a tiro del empate a los de la pata de palo. Sin embargo, restaba solo un minuto de juego y los rojiblancos no tuvieron sobresaltos para cerrar el cotejo con un puñado de acarreos.
Un comienzo con el pie derecho para la franquicia presidida por Federico Buenamaison, que sin embargo deja un mensaje de alerta. El exceso de confianza con la ventaja en el marcador es un lujo que no pueden darse, sobre todo contra una buena ofensiva como la pirata, aún cuando en esta oportunidad no pagaron el costo. Por su parte, Corsarios mostró una alternativa a su juego aéreo que puede darle mayor seguridad a la hora de atacar. La cuenta pendiente sigue siendo la defensiva, que no logra detener los acarreos rivales.
Por Mariano Viotto
Sin margen de error
Arrancó la Temporada Regular 2009 y Tiburones se toma las cosas muy en serio. En su visita al campeón reinante Cruzados, el cardumen rojinegro dio una verdadera clase de cómo aprovechar los errores contrarios y se impuso por un categórico 40 - 12. El receptor y apoyador Fabio Garibaldi fue la figura del partido, con dos intercepciones devueltas para touchdown para cerrar el encuentro y varias recepciones claves.
El batallón verde llegaba a este partido con su plantilla completa y con el debut del LB mexicano ex Diablos del Sol de Aguascalientes Rodrigo González Piña, en sustitución de su compatriota ya héroe y pieza clave de la franquicia Raúl de la Rosa. Tras una buena pretemporada donde ganaron sus dos partidos de manera agónica, pero mostrando un buen juego asociado sobre todo en el ataque aéreo, los pupilos de Luis Jiménez buscaban comenzar la defensa del título con el pie derecho.
Del otro lado del emparrillado estaban los escualos, que con solo dos incorporaciones venidas del Draft, saltaba al campo de juego con la confianza en su pico máximo tras su buena pretemporada con solo un objetivo en la mente: comenzar su camino al tercer Tazón Austral de su historia.
La primera ofensiva fue para los locales, quienes intentaron renovar intentos con las corridas del RB Nicolás Crespo. Sin embargo, un error en una corrida del opción del QB Thomas Haberl en la yarda 22 rival le permitió al CB Mariano Smilansky recuperar el ovoide y devolverlo para touchdown. El desconcierto ofensivo del batallón recién comenzaba, mientras que la visita solo se preocupaba en avanzar el balón. Los pases y las corridas del mariscal Fernando Falluca no encontraban oposición en una defensa que parecía no entrar en partido. En 2do intento desde la yarda 22 contraria, Falluca lanzó un buen pase por el centro a Smilansky quien esperaba libre de marca en la zona de anotación. El fin del primer cuarto llegaba y la ventaja de 12 - 0 parecía difícil de remontar.
Fue un cambio de lados pero para nada de panorama. La ofensiva cruzada seguía haciendo agua mientras que los escualos atacaban sin piedad utilizando su arma predilecta, al RB Tyler Woods. Pero fue nuevamente el juego aéreo el que rindió frutos: Falluca envió un pase al endzone, esta vez a la izquierda donde esperaba Fabio Garibaldi, quien permitiría ampliar la ventaja de los visitantes. De a poco y con trabajo muy duro de sus corredores, los dueños de casa comenzaron mover las cadenas, y ya en 3er intento en la yarda 8 rival Haberl encontró los brazos del WR Hernán Bongiovanni quien convertiría la anotación dándole un poco de incertidumbre al marcador en el entretiempo: 18 - 6.
En la segunda mitad Cruzados manejó los hilos del encuentro en los primeros minutos, llegando incluso a un nuevo descuento repitiendo la fórmula Haberl - Bongiovanni pero esta vez con un tremendo misil lanzado por el mariscal desde la yarda 37 propia que fue atrapado en la yarda 2 por el receptor que luego se zambulliría en la zona final. Para colmo de males Tiburones perdía a Falluca por una lesión en su mano haciendo saltar al campo a Allan Kotliar para suplirlo. Si bien tuvo un comienzo dubitativo no tardó en levantar su nivel, a tal punto que logró un buen pase corto a Smilansky quien por izquierda se liberó de la marca y recorrió las 25 yardas que lo separaban de las diagonales. Por primera vez en el partido la anotación extra de dos puntos era exitosa, gracias al pase de Kotliar a Garibaldi.
El tanteador de 26 - 12 comenzaba a parecer muy lejano para los locales, que aún así no se dieron por vencidos en sus intenciones. Sin embargo, no estaba en los planes cruzados la gran tarea defensiva de Garibaldi quien devolviera para touchdown una intercepción en su propia yarda 37 de un pase a la izquierda lanzado por Haberl desde la yarda 36 verde. Con una desventaja de 20 puntos y ya promediando el cuarto final, Haberl volvió a intentarlo y... ¡¡Deja vu!! Garibaldi interceptó un idéntico pase por izquierda devolviendo el balón para abultar aún más el marcador. La conversión de dos puntos fue exitosa dejando un 40 - 12 sorpresivo en lo previo.
El triunfo de Tiburones por semejante distancia fue merecido desde todo punto de vista. Los escualos demostraron que aprovechar los errores rivales allana la mitad del camino. La baja de Fernando Falluca es significativa, pero los escualos demostraron tener un reemplazo de calidad en el joven Allan Kotliar. En el vestuario de enfrente, Cruzados deberá mejorar la imagen dejada en el campo de juego, además de mejorar su labor defensiva sobretodo en la línea de apoyadores. De lo contrario, la ida de Raúl de la Rosa será más costosa de lo esperado.
Por Mariano Viotto
Arrancó la Temporada Regular 2009 y Tiburones se toma las cosas muy en serio. En su visita al campeón reinante Cruzados, el cardumen rojinegro dio una verdadera clase de cómo aprovechar los errores contrarios y se impuso por un categórico 40 - 12. El receptor y apoyador Fabio Garibaldi fue la figura del partido, con dos intercepciones devueltas para touchdown para cerrar el encuentro y varias recepciones claves.
El batallón verde llegaba a este partido con su plantilla completa y con el debut del LB mexicano ex Diablos del Sol de Aguascalientes Rodrigo González Piña, en sustitución de su compatriota ya héroe y pieza clave de la franquicia Raúl de la Rosa. Tras una buena pretemporada donde ganaron sus dos partidos de manera agónica, pero mostrando un buen juego asociado sobre todo en el ataque aéreo, los pupilos de Luis Jiménez buscaban comenzar la defensa del título con el pie derecho.
Del otro lado del emparrillado estaban los escualos, que con solo dos incorporaciones venidas del Draft, saltaba al campo de juego con la confianza en su pico máximo tras su buena pretemporada con solo un objetivo en la mente: comenzar su camino al tercer Tazón Austral de su historia.
La primera ofensiva fue para los locales, quienes intentaron renovar intentos con las corridas del RB Nicolás Crespo. Sin embargo, un error en una corrida del opción del QB Thomas Haberl en la yarda 22 rival le permitió al CB Mariano Smilansky recuperar el ovoide y devolverlo para touchdown. El desconcierto ofensivo del batallón recién comenzaba, mientras que la visita solo se preocupaba en avanzar el balón. Los pases y las corridas del mariscal Fernando Falluca no encontraban oposición en una defensa que parecía no entrar en partido. En 2do intento desde la yarda 22 contraria, Falluca lanzó un buen pase por el centro a Smilansky quien esperaba libre de marca en la zona de anotación. El fin del primer cuarto llegaba y la ventaja de 12 - 0 parecía difícil de remontar.
Fue un cambio de lados pero para nada de panorama. La ofensiva cruzada seguía haciendo agua mientras que los escualos atacaban sin piedad utilizando su arma predilecta, al RB Tyler Woods. Pero fue nuevamente el juego aéreo el que rindió frutos: Falluca envió un pase al endzone, esta vez a la izquierda donde esperaba Fabio Garibaldi, quien permitiría ampliar la ventaja de los visitantes. De a poco y con trabajo muy duro de sus corredores, los dueños de casa comenzaron mover las cadenas, y ya en 3er intento en la yarda 8 rival Haberl encontró los brazos del WR Hernán Bongiovanni quien convertiría la anotación dándole un poco de incertidumbre al marcador en el entretiempo: 18 - 6.
En la segunda mitad Cruzados manejó los hilos del encuentro en los primeros minutos, llegando incluso a un nuevo descuento repitiendo la fórmula Haberl - Bongiovanni pero esta vez con un tremendo misil lanzado por el mariscal desde la yarda 37 propia que fue atrapado en la yarda 2 por el receptor que luego se zambulliría en la zona final. Para colmo de males Tiburones perdía a Falluca por una lesión en su mano haciendo saltar al campo a Allan Kotliar para suplirlo. Si bien tuvo un comienzo dubitativo no tardó en levantar su nivel, a tal punto que logró un buen pase corto a Smilansky quien por izquierda se liberó de la marca y recorrió las 25 yardas que lo separaban de las diagonales. Por primera vez en el partido la anotación extra de dos puntos era exitosa, gracias al pase de Kotliar a Garibaldi.
El tanteador de 26 - 12 comenzaba a parecer muy lejano para los locales, que aún así no se dieron por vencidos en sus intenciones. Sin embargo, no estaba en los planes cruzados la gran tarea defensiva de Garibaldi quien devolviera para touchdown una intercepción en su propia yarda 37 de un pase a la izquierda lanzado por Haberl desde la yarda 36 verde. Con una desventaja de 20 puntos y ya promediando el cuarto final, Haberl volvió a intentarlo y... ¡¡Deja vu!! Garibaldi interceptó un idéntico pase por izquierda devolviendo el balón para abultar aún más el marcador. La conversión de dos puntos fue exitosa dejando un 40 - 12 sorpresivo en lo previo.
El triunfo de Tiburones por semejante distancia fue merecido desde todo punto de vista. Los escualos demostraron que aprovechar los errores rivales allana la mitad del camino. La baja de Fernando Falluca es significativa, pero los escualos demostraron tener un reemplazo de calidad en el joven Allan Kotliar. En el vestuario de enfrente, Cruzados deberá mejorar la imagen dejada en el campo de juego, además de mejorar su labor defensiva sobretodo en la línea de apoyadores. De lo contrario, la ida de Raúl de la Rosa será más costosa de lo esperado.
Por Mariano Viotto
En la segunda y última fecha de pretemporada, el primer partido será entre Osos Polares y Corsarios, los dos colistas del torneo disputado el año pasado. Le siguen dos encuentros que reeditan las finales de 2007 y 2008: Legionarios frente a Tiburones y Cruzados contra Jabalíes.
Osos viene de dar una buena imagen frente a Tiburones el sábado pasado, pese a caer 14 a 13. Una primera mitad que dio una pauta del crecimiento que puede tener la ofensiva polar en este 2009. Por su lado, Corsarios alternó buenas y malas, destacándose el rendimiento del novato Fabián Serlik y algunas marchas interesantes del QB Juan Manuel Sesto, quien se encuentra en su primer año iniciando como titular en la posición.
En el segundo turno, Legionarios intentará mantener el nivel ofensivo de cada año pese al constante cambio en la posición de mariscal de campo. La combinación Mionis-Ferrero produjo tres touchdowns y el juego por tierra funcionó, pero la defensa tuvo una floja actuación en la segunda mitad. Mientras, Tiburones mostró muchas dudas en su primer encuentro, aunque cuando la ofensiva se encendió lograron poner puntos en el marcador.
Para cerrar la jornada, el campeón reinante Cruzados intentará sostener el buen nivel de la primera fecha, sobre todo del lado ofensivo. La cuenta pendiente pasa por la defensiva secundaria. En cuanto a Jabalíes, la "fórmula Spada" (último MPV) mantiene su eficacia habitual. No obstante, será una buena oportunidad para el conjunto porcino de continuar la búsqueda de más variantes aparte del corredor estrella y el WR Patricio Romero Prandi.
http://www.faarg.com.ar/noticia/229
Osos viene de dar una buena imagen frente a Tiburones el sábado pasado, pese a caer 14 a 13. Una primera mitad que dio una pauta del crecimiento que puede tener la ofensiva polar en este 2009. Por su lado, Corsarios alternó buenas y malas, destacándose el rendimiento del novato Fabián Serlik y algunas marchas interesantes del QB Juan Manuel Sesto, quien se encuentra en su primer año iniciando como titular en la posición.
En el segundo turno, Legionarios intentará mantener el nivel ofensivo de cada año pese al constante cambio en la posición de mariscal de campo. La combinación Mionis-Ferrero produjo tres touchdowns y el juego por tierra funcionó, pero la defensa tuvo una floja actuación en la segunda mitad. Mientras, Tiburones mostró muchas dudas en su primer encuentro, aunque cuando la ofensiva se encendió lograron poner puntos en el marcador.
Para cerrar la jornada, el campeón reinante Cruzados intentará sostener el buen nivel de la primera fecha, sobre todo del lado ofensivo. La cuenta pendiente pasa por la defensiva secundaria. En cuanto a Jabalíes, la "fórmula Spada" (último MPV) mantiene su eficacia habitual. No obstante, será una buena oportunidad para el conjunto porcino de continuar la búsqueda de más variantes aparte del corredor estrella y el WR Patricio Romero Prandi.
http://www.faarg.com.ar/noticia/229
Are you ready for some more football?
The hope of the fledgling United Football League is that fans not satisfied with just prep, college and NFL football have room in their schedules for more pigskin action on a weekly basis.
The upstart UFL plans to have professional teams in Orlando, New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas with their underlying premise being to serve booming, football-starved areas untapped by the NFL.
The league has assembled an impressive management team, features the financial backing of Wall Street investor Bill Hambrecht, former Google executive Tim Armstrong and Paul Pelosi (husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) and has already secured a stable of proven NFL coaches.
Even as a league that will try to complement and not antagonize the all-mighty NFL, the UFL is trying to make it where so many have failed before. The AFL, World Football League, USFL, Arena Football League, NFL-backed World League of American Football and the XFL attempted to give fans more football through the years. But none are in business today.
Can the UFL stand the test of time and stay the course, even in a horribly slumping national economy? The UFL's leaders certainly think so.
"We're funded very well and we have all of the elements in place," UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said.
"People who love football will see that the quality of our product will be better than what most people think of developmental football," Huyghue continued. "And the coaches that we've hired should speak to the quality that we'll have. Jim Fassel and Dennis Green aren't coaching in the Arena Football League. And we're built to attract some great talent because the NFL doesn't have room on all of its rosters."
The UFL is planning to play a six-week "premier" season with a championship game being held on Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas. (That championship game could move to Orlando's Citrus Bowl in the near future, Huyghue said.) Games will be played primarily on Thursday and Friday nights to avoid going head-to-head against the NFL and college football. Huyghue said the league hopes to avoid the conflict with high school football by hosting games in their stadiums and conducting clinics with area coaches.
The rosters will be stocked primarily of players cut from NFL rosters or stuck on practice squads. Huyghue (pronounced "Hewg") sees the league as an opportunity for fans and players alike. Tickets will have a $20 average price point, making the games relatively affordable compared to NFL games. Team salary caps will range from $12 to $20 million, much less than the $115 million NFL rosters.
Huyghue knows a thing or two about start-up operations. He was the first general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and he helped the franchise reach the AFC title game in just two seasons. Huyghue also began his own representation firm and he's worked as an executive for the NFL.
He is confident that the UFL can survive even in bad financial times because of the league's sound business plan.
Said Huyghe: "Our owners are financial people who are very credible and look at this first and foremost as a business model that makes sense. They're not just doing this for kicks. I think that speaks volumes as to why our league is going to be different than the others."
Credibility in coaches
The UFL took a major step in building some credibility as a professional football product when it landed four coaches with strong NFL ties.
Jim Haslett (Orlando), Fassel (Las Vegas/Los Angeles), Green (San Francisco) and Ted Cottrell (New York/Harford, Conn.) have worked previously in the NFL as head coaches or top coordinators.
Haslett was previously a head coach in New Orleans and was the interim head coach of the St. Louis Rams for the final 12 games of last season after Scott Linehan was fired. Haslett, the 2000 NFL coach of the year, hired former Orlando Predators coach Jay Gruden, brother of ex-Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden, as Orlando's offensive coordinator, and Haslett is promising to bring an exciting style of play to Central Florida.
Haslett is excited that Orlando's franchise has territorial rights to players from the NFL's NFC and AFC South Divisions, meaning some of the team's players will be instantly recognizable to fans of the Bucs and Jaguars. And Haslett has big plans to fill the roster with talent from the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes.
"There will be guys out there like Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme who fell through the cracks," Haslett said. "There are a lot of young guys out there on the street who are good enough to play in the NFL, but they don't get the opportunity for one reason or another. Our league will give those players a chance."
Fassel led the New York Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, one they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. He has a history of working in football's developmental leagues. Back in his playing days as a journeyman quarterback, he threw the final pass in the World Football League before it folded and he coached briefly in the USFL before it met a similar fate. A strong structure and realistic goals will keep the UFL from going under, Fassel said.
"We're not looking at this as a minor league. We're our own league and we're going to have very good players," he said.
Green, a head coach in the NFL with Minnesota and Arizona, has become somewhat of a strong mouthpiece for the league, throwing his support behind what he thinks will eventually be a wildly popular venture. He points to players such as Warner, Super Bowl MVP James Harrison and David Patton as examples of players who went undrafted, yet eventually became stars in the NFL. Those overlooked players, Green said, will get their first chances to shine in the UFL in years to come.
And Green thinks it's important that the UFL will play in the fall.
"Americans like baseball in the summer, basketball in the winter and playoffs in the spring and football in the fall," he said. "We just think there is plenty of room for high school football, college football, the NFL and the UFL."
Cottrell is the posterboy for the "league of opportunity," as Huyghue calls it. Cottrell long established himself as a top defensive coordinator, but he was never able to secure a head coaching job in the NFL. He was somewhat emotional when he talked about that opportunity finally coming in the UFL.
So this "league of opportunity" boils down to giving fans another opportunity to see professional football. Will they embrace it? UFL officials certainly are hoping so.
"There was a poll taken a while back that asked if fans would be interested in the NFL if it expanded to 10 more cities and almost unanimously those fans said, 'Yes,' " UFL chief operating officer Frank Vuono said. "We want to be able to bring that kind of football to fans who aren't already in NFL markets. We're confident this is going to work."
Additional Facts
History of pro football in Orlando
Professional football and Orlando haven't always been a winning combination. Here's a look at the history:
TEAM: FLORIDA BLAZERS
Year: 1974
League: World Football League
Result: The Blazers made it just one season in Orlando before being relocated to San Antonio.
TEAM: ORLANDO RENEGADES
Year: 1985-86
League: United States Football League
Result: The league showed some legitimate promise and lured some stars away from the NFL, but the league eventually folded. The 1985 Renegades were just 5-13 and coach Lee Corso was the biggest star on the team.
TEAM: ORLANDO THUNDER
Year: 1991-92
League: World League of American Football
Result: The thing most memorable about this charter team of the WLAF: Those hideous lime-green uniforms.
TEAM: ORLANDO RAGE
Year: 2001
League: X-treme Football League
Result: The league created jointly by WWE founder Vince McMahon and NBC died a horrible death after just one season. Some would argue that was too long. Orlando's team did start the season 6-0 under head coach Galen Hall and quarterback Jeff Brohm. This article was written by John Denton and appeared in Florida Today.
The hope of the fledgling United Football League is that fans not satisfied with just prep, college and NFL football have room in their schedules for more pigskin action on a weekly basis.
The upstart UFL plans to have professional teams in Orlando, New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas with their underlying premise being to serve booming, football-starved areas untapped by the NFL.
The league has assembled an impressive management team, features the financial backing of Wall Street investor Bill Hambrecht, former Google executive Tim Armstrong and Paul Pelosi (husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) and has already secured a stable of proven NFL coaches.
Even as a league that will try to complement and not antagonize the all-mighty NFL, the UFL is trying to make it where so many have failed before. The AFL, World Football League, USFL, Arena Football League, NFL-backed World League of American Football and the XFL attempted to give fans more football through the years. But none are in business today.
Can the UFL stand the test of time and stay the course, even in a horribly slumping national economy? The UFL's leaders certainly think so.
"We're funded very well and we have all of the elements in place," UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said.
"People who love football will see that the quality of our product will be better than what most people think of developmental football," Huyghue continued. "And the coaches that we've hired should speak to the quality that we'll have. Jim Fassel and Dennis Green aren't coaching in the Arena Football League. And we're built to attract some great talent because the NFL doesn't have room on all of its rosters."
The UFL is planning to play a six-week "premier" season with a championship game being held on Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas. (That championship game could move to Orlando's Citrus Bowl in the near future, Huyghue said.) Games will be played primarily on Thursday and Friday nights to avoid going head-to-head against the NFL and college football. Huyghue said the league hopes to avoid the conflict with high school football by hosting games in their stadiums and conducting clinics with area coaches.
The rosters will be stocked primarily of players cut from NFL rosters or stuck on practice squads. Huyghue (pronounced "Hewg") sees the league as an opportunity for fans and players alike. Tickets will have a $20 average price point, making the games relatively affordable compared to NFL games. Team salary caps will range from $12 to $20 million, much less than the $115 million NFL rosters.
Huyghue knows a thing or two about start-up operations. He was the first general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and he helped the franchise reach the AFC title game in just two seasons. Huyghue also began his own representation firm and he's worked as an executive for the NFL.
He is confident that the UFL can survive even in bad financial times because of the league's sound business plan.
Said Huyghe: "Our owners are financial people who are very credible and look at this first and foremost as a business model that makes sense. They're not just doing this for kicks. I think that speaks volumes as to why our league is going to be different than the others."
Credibility in coaches
The UFL took a major step in building some credibility as a professional football product when it landed four coaches with strong NFL ties.
Jim Haslett (Orlando), Fassel (Las Vegas/Los Angeles), Green (San Francisco) and Ted Cottrell (New York/Harford, Conn.) have worked previously in the NFL as head coaches or top coordinators.
Haslett was previously a head coach in New Orleans and was the interim head coach of the St. Louis Rams for the final 12 games of last season after Scott Linehan was fired. Haslett, the 2000 NFL coach of the year, hired former Orlando Predators coach Jay Gruden, brother of ex-Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden, as Orlando's offensive coordinator, and Haslett is promising to bring an exciting style of play to Central Florida.
Haslett is excited that Orlando's franchise has territorial rights to players from the NFL's NFC and AFC South Divisions, meaning some of the team's players will be instantly recognizable to fans of the Bucs and Jaguars. And Haslett has big plans to fill the roster with talent from the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes.
"There will be guys out there like Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme who fell through the cracks," Haslett said. "There are a lot of young guys out there on the street who are good enough to play in the NFL, but they don't get the opportunity for one reason or another. Our league will give those players a chance."
Fassel led the New York Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, one they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. He has a history of working in football's developmental leagues. Back in his playing days as a journeyman quarterback, he threw the final pass in the World Football League before it folded and he coached briefly in the USFL before it met a similar fate. A strong structure and realistic goals will keep the UFL from going under, Fassel said.
"We're not looking at this as a minor league. We're our own league and we're going to have very good players," he said.
Green, a head coach in the NFL with Minnesota and Arizona, has become somewhat of a strong mouthpiece for the league, throwing his support behind what he thinks will eventually be a wildly popular venture. He points to players such as Warner, Super Bowl MVP James Harrison and David Patton as examples of players who went undrafted, yet eventually became stars in the NFL. Those overlooked players, Green said, will get their first chances to shine in the UFL in years to come.
And Green thinks it's important that the UFL will play in the fall.
"Americans like baseball in the summer, basketball in the winter and playoffs in the spring and football in the fall," he said. "We just think there is plenty of room for high school football, college football, the NFL and the UFL."
Cottrell is the posterboy for the "league of opportunity," as Huyghue calls it. Cottrell long established himself as a top defensive coordinator, but he was never able to secure a head coaching job in the NFL. He was somewhat emotional when he talked about that opportunity finally coming in the UFL.
So this "league of opportunity" boils down to giving fans another opportunity to see professional football. Will they embrace it? UFL officials certainly are hoping so.
"There was a poll taken a while back that asked if fans would be interested in the NFL if it expanded to 10 more cities and almost unanimously those fans said, 'Yes,' " UFL chief operating officer Frank Vuono said. "We want to be able to bring that kind of football to fans who aren't already in NFL markets. We're confident this is going to work."
Additional Facts
History of pro football in Orlando
Professional football and Orlando haven't always been a winning combination. Here's a look at the history:
TEAM: FLORIDA BLAZERS
Year: 1974
League: World Football League
Result: The Blazers made it just one season in Orlando before being relocated to San Antonio.
TEAM: ORLANDO RENEGADES
Year: 1985-86
League: United States Football League
Result: The league showed some legitimate promise and lured some stars away from the NFL, but the league eventually folded. The 1985 Renegades were just 5-13 and coach Lee Corso was the biggest star on the team.
TEAM: ORLANDO THUNDER
Year: 1991-92
League: World League of American Football
Result: The thing most memorable about this charter team of the WLAF: Those hideous lime-green uniforms.
TEAM: ORLANDO RAGE
Year: 2001
League: X-treme Football League
Result: The league created jointly by WWE founder Vince McMahon and NBC died a horrible death after just one season. Some would argue that was too long. Orlando's team did start the season 6-0 under head coach Galen Hall and quarterback Jeff Brohm. This article was written by John Denton and appeared in Florida Today.
The New York franchise of the upstart United Football League doesn't have an official name or an official home yet, but team officials know which fan base they hope to draw:
New Yorkers. People from Long Island, Westchester County and the five boroughs. This article was written by Andy McCullough and appeared in the Star-Ledger
"We will be playing somewhere in the city," said Bill Mayer, the new owner of the New York team, "so you don't have to go across the river."
Catering to football fans in New Jersey? Not so much. Both Mayer, UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue and New York head coach Ted Cottrell reiterated Monday at a news conference here to announce Mayer's ownership. The four-team league will start its inaugural season on Oct. 8. The other franchises will be located in Las Vegas, Orlando and San Francisco.
And the New York team will be in New York.
"You don't have to go across the river," said Cottrell, an NFL assistant for more than 20 years and a former Jets defensive coordinator. "You don't have to go across the Lincoln Tunnel. You don't have to go across the George Washington Bridge."
"We just think that that's really where our market is," said Huyghue, a former executive with the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I think that's where people really want to have some ownership in a football franchise, that will never feel that way about the Jets or Giants."
In the next "two to three weeks," Huyghue said the league would officially announce where the teams would play. Mayer, a co-founder of private equity investment firm Park Avenue Equity, mentioned Citi Field and Hofstra University as possible venues. Then he pointed toward the back of the room and UFL chief operating officer Frank Vuono.
"I have been told," Mayer said, "that if I mention names with any degree of certainty that Frank is going to cut my tongue out."
Humor helps, because the league may need it. The UFL enters a faltering economy with a product that league officials say cannot compete with the National Football League.
Upstart football leagues, both renegade and developmental, have been crashing and burning for years. The World Football League failed in the 70s, the United States Football League failed in the 80s and Vince McMahon's XFL failed in 2001 after its inaugural season. In 2007, NFL Europe disbanded. Last December, the Arena Football League announced the 2009 season was canceled.
But the UFL aimed to learn from the laundry list of mistakes that other leagues made, Huyghue said.
For one, the league does not hope to compete with the NFL. Games will be aired on Thursday nights on Versus and will feature players that couldn't stick on NFL rosters.
For another, the league is stocked with NFL experience. Former NFL head coaches will run the other three teams: Former Giants head coach Jim Fassell will coach Las Vegas, Jim Haslett will coach Orlando and Dennis Green will coach San Fransisco.
And Cottrell, the New York coach, is no stranger to this area. He ran the Jets defense for three years before being fired in 2003. He has since been fired from defensive coordinator jobs in Minnesota and San Diego. Monday, Cottrell expressed excitement about the opportunity with UFL and described the league as a vehicle to create jobs for everyone from the players to the parking lot attendants.
"We need this, in more ways than one," Cottrell said. "To get people working, get money generated for people, for husbands and wives to feed their kids." This article was written by Andy McCullough and appeared in the Star-Ledger
New Yorkers. People from Long Island, Westchester County and the five boroughs. This article was written by Andy McCullough and appeared in the Star-Ledger
"We will be playing somewhere in the city," said Bill Mayer, the new owner of the New York team, "so you don't have to go across the river."
Catering to football fans in New Jersey? Not so much. Both Mayer, UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue and New York head coach Ted Cottrell reiterated Monday at a news conference here to announce Mayer's ownership. The four-team league will start its inaugural season on Oct. 8. The other franchises will be located in Las Vegas, Orlando and San Francisco.
And the New York team will be in New York.
"You don't have to go across the river," said Cottrell, an NFL assistant for more than 20 years and a former Jets defensive coordinator. "You don't have to go across the Lincoln Tunnel. You don't have to go across the George Washington Bridge."
"We just think that that's really where our market is," said Huyghue, a former executive with the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I think that's where people really want to have some ownership in a football franchise, that will never feel that way about the Jets or Giants."
In the next "two to three weeks," Huyghue said the league would officially announce where the teams would play. Mayer, a co-founder of private equity investment firm Park Avenue Equity, mentioned Citi Field and Hofstra University as possible venues. Then he pointed toward the back of the room and UFL chief operating officer Frank Vuono.
"I have been told," Mayer said, "that if I mention names with any degree of certainty that Frank is going to cut my tongue out."
Humor helps, because the league may need it. The UFL enters a faltering economy with a product that league officials say cannot compete with the National Football League.
Upstart football leagues, both renegade and developmental, have been crashing and burning for years. The World Football League failed in the 70s, the United States Football League failed in the 80s and Vince McMahon's XFL failed in 2001 after its inaugural season. In 2007, NFL Europe disbanded. Last December, the Arena Football League announced the 2009 season was canceled.
But the UFL aimed to learn from the laundry list of mistakes that other leagues made, Huyghue said.
For one, the league does not hope to compete with the NFL. Games will be aired on Thursday nights on Versus and will feature players that couldn't stick on NFL rosters.
For another, the league is stocked with NFL experience. Former NFL head coaches will run the other three teams: Former Giants head coach Jim Fassell will coach Las Vegas, Jim Haslett will coach Orlando and Dennis Green will coach San Fransisco.
And Cottrell, the New York coach, is no stranger to this area. He ran the Jets defense for three years before being fired in 2003. He has since been fired from defensive coordinator jobs in Minnesota and San Diego. Monday, Cottrell expressed excitement about the opportunity with UFL and described the league as a vehicle to create jobs for everyone from the players to the parking lot attendants.
"We need this, in more ways than one," Cottrell said. "To get people working, get money generated for people, for husbands and wives to feed their kids." This article was written by Andy McCullough and appeared in the Star-Ledger
With Patriots, activity is highly organized
Patriots players have a long walk through the lower levels of Gillette Stadium to their practice fields, passing the visiting locker room before hooking a left toward the loading dock, then making their way outside to climb 40 steps.
On a day like last Tuesday, when the Patriots held an organized team activity open to media members, a continuous flow of blue (defense) and white (offense) jerseys could be seen scaling those steps.
For the players, it is a time to collect thoughts before entering their outdoor office.
"Once you step on that field, it's all business," fourth-year linebacker Pierre Woods explained. "That field is your domain, like the paint is for Shaq or Dwight Howard - if you're under there, they're going to dunk on you. So when that horn sounds for practice, it's on."
The Patriots scheduled 12 organized team activities this offseason - the final session is Tuesday - but what exactly takes place during an OTA?
Fire up the horn and recap the Patriots' session from last Tuesday:
11 a.m.
As media members arrive on the field, players are stretching. The defensive players are on one side of the 50-yard line, the offensive players on the other. Strength and conditioning coaches Mike Woicik and Harold Nash pace through the lines, blowing whistles when it's time to switch up the stretch. The players aren't in pads - that is prohibited - so there will be no contact in the session.
11:15 a.m.
The stretching period ends and the offense stays on the near practice field, the defense hustles to the far field. The offensive skill-position players do agility work such as lifting their legs over blue bags on the field, while the offensive linemen - all 16 of them - work with coach Dante Scarnecchia. The defense stays together as a unit, as they appear to be working on a specific package.
11:18 a.m.
All players break down into their specific positions for more individualized instruction, although quarterbacks and running backs stay together. For special teams, the finer points of blocking and defending a gunner on punt returns are stressed.
11:23 a.m.
All skill-position players on offense come together again, with Tom Brady working with pass catchers on specific routes. Quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien tutors No. 2 quarterback Kevin O'Connell on the far corner of the field, with O'Connell throwing to developmental receiver Terrence Nunn while working on a three-step drop. The defense is still working on the opposite field - the defensive backs/linebackers on one side, the defensive linemen on the other.
11:28 a.m.
The offensive linemen join the skill-position players on one field and the defensive linemen join defensive backs/linebackers on the other. The full-unit focus now seems to be on the running game, and the blocking schemes up front for the offensive linemen, tight ends, and even the receivers. In turn, the defense works on run fits (filling the proper gaps) and technique.
11:43 a.m.
A horn signals the start of a special teams session, which means first-year coach Scott O'Brien takes center stage to direct the punt-return team. While it's easy for reporters to spot returners Joey Galloway, Wes Welker, and Kevin Faulk standing deep on the field, O'Brien seems to be more focused on the blocking in front of those returners. Brady and receiver Randy Moss get in one-on-one work on the other field.
11:49 a.m.
The special teams session ends and the offense and defense split up again. The offense looks to be working on passing in the red zone, while the defense appears to be defending the pass in the red zone. The linemen stay off to the side with their position coaches, as the red-zone work is seven-on-seven.
11:55 a.m.
The offense and defense come to the same field for seven-on-seven work in the red zone. Long snappers Nathan Hodel and Jake Ingram work on the other field.
12:04 p.m.
More special teams work. Punt returners attempt to catch punts with a football already tucked away in their grasp.
12:09 p.m.
Another breakdown, with the offense going to one field, the defense to the other. Stephen Gostkowski is attempting field goals on the far side of the field, kicking toward narrower-than-normal goalposts.
12:15 p.m.
The offense and defense come back together for more seven-on-seven work, to practice what they previously worked on against competition. The defense is focusing on substitution packages as the ball is placed on the 18-yard line. Chains and a down marker on the sideline are used for the drill. Brady makes a bullet of a throw to Moss, while on the run, that turns out to be one of the highlight plays of the session. On the other field, O'Brien, the special teams coach, is clocking the snap-hold-kick field-goal operation with a stopwatch.
12:25 p.m.
The Patriots finish the practice with 11-on-11 work, the offense and defense coming together to piece together the parts of what they worked on throughout the practice. The 11-on-11 work ends with field goals.
12:40 p.m.
Players jog on the near field, signaling the end of their practice. The lesser-experienced players who didn't receive as many repetitions stay behind for some reps.
For a newcomer like linebacker Paris Lenon, who spent the last three seasons with the Lions and four years before that with the Packers, the crispness and decisiveness was expected.
"There is not a lot of talking here," he said. "They're all about business." (source Boston Globe)
Patriots players have a long walk through the lower levels of Gillette Stadium to their practice fields, passing the visiting locker room before hooking a left toward the loading dock, then making their way outside to climb 40 steps.
On a day like last Tuesday, when the Patriots held an organized team activity open to media members, a continuous flow of blue (defense) and white (offense) jerseys could be seen scaling those steps.
For the players, it is a time to collect thoughts before entering their outdoor office.
"Once you step on that field, it's all business," fourth-year linebacker Pierre Woods explained. "That field is your domain, like the paint is for Shaq or Dwight Howard - if you're under there, they're going to dunk on you. So when that horn sounds for practice, it's on."
The Patriots scheduled 12 organized team activities this offseason - the final session is Tuesday - but what exactly takes place during an OTA?
Fire up the horn and recap the Patriots' session from last Tuesday:
11 a.m.
As media members arrive on the field, players are stretching. The defensive players are on one side of the 50-yard line, the offensive players on the other. Strength and conditioning coaches Mike Woicik and Harold Nash pace through the lines, blowing whistles when it's time to switch up the stretch. The players aren't in pads - that is prohibited - so there will be no contact in the session.
11:15 a.m.
The stretching period ends and the offense stays on the near practice field, the defense hustles to the far field. The offensive skill-position players do agility work such as lifting their legs over blue bags on the field, while the offensive linemen - all 16 of them - work with coach Dante Scarnecchia. The defense stays together as a unit, as they appear to be working on a specific package.
11:18 a.m.
All players break down into their specific positions for more individualized instruction, although quarterbacks and running backs stay together. For special teams, the finer points of blocking and defending a gunner on punt returns are stressed.
11:23 a.m.
All skill-position players on offense come together again, with Tom Brady working with pass catchers on specific routes. Quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien tutors No. 2 quarterback Kevin O'Connell on the far corner of the field, with O'Connell throwing to developmental receiver Terrence Nunn while working on a three-step drop. The defense is still working on the opposite field - the defensive backs/linebackers on one side, the defensive linemen on the other.
11:28 a.m.
The offensive linemen join the skill-position players on one field and the defensive linemen join defensive backs/linebackers on the other. The full-unit focus now seems to be on the running game, and the blocking schemes up front for the offensive linemen, tight ends, and even the receivers. In turn, the defense works on run fits (filling the proper gaps) and technique.
11:43 a.m.
A horn signals the start of a special teams session, which means first-year coach Scott O'Brien takes center stage to direct the punt-return team. While it's easy for reporters to spot returners Joey Galloway, Wes Welker, and Kevin Faulk standing deep on the field, O'Brien seems to be more focused on the blocking in front of those returners. Brady and receiver Randy Moss get in one-on-one work on the other field.
11:49 a.m.
The special teams session ends and the offense and defense split up again. The offense looks to be working on passing in the red zone, while the defense appears to be defending the pass in the red zone. The linemen stay off to the side with their position coaches, as the red-zone work is seven-on-seven.
11:55 a.m.
The offense and defense come to the same field for seven-on-seven work in the red zone. Long snappers Nathan Hodel and Jake Ingram work on the other field.
12:04 p.m.
More special teams work. Punt returners attempt to catch punts with a football already tucked away in their grasp.
12:09 p.m.
Another breakdown, with the offense going to one field, the defense to the other. Stephen Gostkowski is attempting field goals on the far side of the field, kicking toward narrower-than-normal goalposts.
12:15 p.m.
The offense and defense come back together for more seven-on-seven work, to practice what they previously worked on against competition. The defense is focusing on substitution packages as the ball is placed on the 18-yard line. Chains and a down marker on the sideline are used for the drill. Brady makes a bullet of a throw to Moss, while on the run, that turns out to be one of the highlight plays of the session. On the other field, O'Brien, the special teams coach, is clocking the snap-hold-kick field-goal operation with a stopwatch.
12:25 p.m.
The Patriots finish the practice with 11-on-11 work, the offense and defense coming together to piece together the parts of what they worked on throughout the practice. The 11-on-11 work ends with field goals.
12:40 p.m.
Players jog on the near field, signaling the end of their practice. The lesser-experienced players who didn't receive as many repetitions stay behind for some reps.
For a newcomer like linebacker Paris Lenon, who spent the last three seasons with the Lions and four years before that with the Packers, the crispness and decisiveness was expected.
"There is not a lot of talking here," he said. "They're all about business." (source Boston Globe)
NFL Player Care Program to Offer Coordinated Care and Financial Assistance.
The National Football League today announced a new spine treatment program for retired players.
The latest in a series of NFL initiatives addressing the quality of life needs of retired players, the NFL spine treatment program makes available spine specialists at five medical centers across the country to evaluate and treat spine-related conditions. The program, part of the NFL Player Care Plan, is available to retired players vested under the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle pension plan.
The five participating medical centers, selected for their expertise, high-quality service and reputation are: Mt. Sinai (New York, NY); The Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA); UCLA Health System (Los Angeles, CA); University of California, San Francisco; and Washington University (St. Louis, MO).
Each medical center provides an orthopedic spine surgeon who serves as a program director and coordinates the services of a team of health care professionals in the evaluation and treatment of the former players. The team includes a neurosurgeon and a physiatrist.
Interested players can contact the Player Care Plan to connect with the appropriate program director who may initiate a course of treatment.
Players who cannot afford treatment may apply to the NFL Player Care Foundation for a grant to cover some or all of the costs of treatment.
Retired NFL players may also find additional information on medical and benefits programs at http://www.nflplayercare.com/.
The National Football League today announced a new spine treatment program for retired players.
The latest in a series of NFL initiatives addressing the quality of life needs of retired players, the NFL spine treatment program makes available spine specialists at five medical centers across the country to evaluate and treat spine-related conditions. The program, part of the NFL Player Care Plan, is available to retired players vested under the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle pension plan.
The five participating medical centers, selected for their expertise, high-quality service and reputation are: Mt. Sinai (New York, NY); The Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA); UCLA Health System (Los Angeles, CA); University of California, San Francisco; and Washington University (St. Louis, MO).
Each medical center provides an orthopedic spine surgeon who serves as a program director and coordinates the services of a team of health care professionals in the evaluation and treatment of the former players. The team includes a neurosurgeon and a physiatrist.
Interested players can contact the Player Care Plan to connect with the appropriate program director who may initiate a course of treatment.
Players who cannot afford treatment may apply to the NFL Player Care Foundation for a grant to cover some or all of the costs of treatment.
Retired NFL players may also find additional information on medical and benefits programs at http://www.nflplayercare.com/.
If Michael Vick is too toxic for the NFL, he may have another option. This article was written by Jay Greenberg and appeared in the New York Post
"It's not a gimmick for us," said Michael Huyghue, Commissioner of the United Football League, a Thursday night endeavor (appearing on Versus) that will debut this fall in four cities, including New York. "We polled fans on our Web site and did a Twitter poll and while there was clearly some opposition from animal lovers, more than 80 percent said we are a country of second chances.
"Maybe the NFL is not the right platform because that would be giving him too much too quickly, but a six-game tune-up to the NFL might be the vehicle. We have had no direct conversation. They are obviously aware of our interest."
The UFL, which largely will exist to bring teams to non-NFL markets, is aware that it can't do just Orlando and Las Vegas, two of its four debut franchises.
"Can't play without New York," said Huyghue, who yesterday introduced William Mayer, co-founder of Park Avenue Equity and a former Jets season ticket holder who tired of the trip to the Meadowlands, as owner of a yet-unnamed New York franchise that will play "East of the East River."
Mayer said that could be Citi Field (the San Francisco team has confirmed they will play at the Giants' AT&T Park) or Hofstra Stadium. Wherever the unnamed New York franchise plays, ticket prices will average a family-friendly $20 during an opening six-game season that will culminate in a Thanksgiving-weekend championship game in Las Vegas.
"New York's two teams are in New Jersey and there are 100,000 fans combined on those waiting lists, so I don't think there's a shortage of fans in this market," said Huyghue.
New York's UFL squad, to be airlifted for Year One games from a central camp in Casa Grande, Ariz., and coached by former Jets' defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, will play one contest in Hartford as a test for a franchise there.
Each owner committed $20 million for two seasons of what Huyghue, a former executive with the Jaguars and Lions, describes as a lean, mean operation (cap of $6-20 million per team, all players assigned by the league) that is determined not to get clotheslined by the unsustainable ambitions that felled the WFL, USFL and XFL.
"Players who perform will benefit from a performance pool and make about 50 percent of our cap," said Huyghue. "Even our lowest paid players will make the same salary as an NFL practice squad player and have a chance to go back to their roster at the end of our season." This article was written by Jay Greenberg and appeared in the New York Post.
"It's not a gimmick for us," said Michael Huyghue, Commissioner of the United Football League, a Thursday night endeavor (appearing on Versus) that will debut this fall in four cities, including New York. "We polled fans on our Web site and did a Twitter poll and while there was clearly some opposition from animal lovers, more than 80 percent said we are a country of second chances.
"Maybe the NFL is not the right platform because that would be giving him too much too quickly, but a six-game tune-up to the NFL might be the vehicle. We have had no direct conversation. They are obviously aware of our interest."
The UFL, which largely will exist to bring teams to non-NFL markets, is aware that it can't do just Orlando and Las Vegas, two of its four debut franchises.
"Can't play without New York," said Huyghue, who yesterday introduced William Mayer, co-founder of Park Avenue Equity and a former Jets season ticket holder who tired of the trip to the Meadowlands, as owner of a yet-unnamed New York franchise that will play "East of the East River."
Mayer said that could be Citi Field (the San Francisco team has confirmed they will play at the Giants' AT&T Park) or Hofstra Stadium. Wherever the unnamed New York franchise plays, ticket prices will average a family-friendly $20 during an opening six-game season that will culminate in a Thanksgiving-weekend championship game in Las Vegas.
"New York's two teams are in New Jersey and there are 100,000 fans combined on those waiting lists, so I don't think there's a shortage of fans in this market," said Huyghue.
New York's UFL squad, to be airlifted for Year One games from a central camp in Casa Grande, Ariz., and coached by former Jets' defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, will play one contest in Hartford as a test for a franchise there.
Each owner committed $20 million for two seasons of what Huyghue, a former executive with the Jaguars and Lions, describes as a lean, mean operation (cap of $6-20 million per team, all players assigned by the league) that is determined not to get clotheslined by the unsustainable ambitions that felled the WFL, USFL and XFL.
"Players who perform will benefit from a performance pool and make about 50 percent of our cap," said Huyghue. "Even our lowest paid players will make the same salary as an NFL practice squad player and have a chance to go back to their roster at the end of our season." This article was written by Jay Greenberg and appeared in the New York Post.
Anunciados los partidos y horarios de inicio del campeonato del mundo junior IFAF 2009 que se jugará en el Pro Football Hall of Fame.
El Fawcett Stadium albergará cuatro partidos de fútbol americano los días 27 de junio y 1 de Julio. Los partidos por las medallas se disputarán el fin de semana del 4 de Julio. Llegan los equipos provenientes de ocho países a Canton, OH.
La Federación Internacional de Fútbol Americano (IFAF) ha anunciado el calendario y las horas de inicio de los partidos del campeonato del mundo junior IFAF 2009.
El torneo inaugural presentará equipos de cuatro continentes y de ocho naciones - Alemania, Canadá, Francia, Japón, México, Nueva Zelanda, Suecia y los Estados Unidos - y se jugará en el Fawcett Stadium, en el Pro Football Hall Of Fame en Canton, Ohio, del 27 de junio al 5 de julio.
El equipo número uno, Canadá, abrirá el histórico torneo enfrentándose a Nueva Zelanda a las 10 AM del sábado 27 de junio, seguido de un choque que tendrá como participantes al equipo número cuatro Japón y el actual campeón europeo Alemania a la 1 PM. El número tres México se medirá con Suecia a las 4 PM antes de que los ocho equipos participantes sean presentados en la ceremonia oficial de inauguración a las 7 PM. El primer equipo nacional junior de los Estados Unidos jugará con Francia a las 8 PM en el partido que cerrará la completa jornada inaugural (todos los horarios son hora local E.T. de E.E.U.U.).
El miércoles 1 de julio, los dos equipos que perdieron los partidos Japón-Alemania y Canadá-Nueva Zelanda se enfrentarán a las 10 AM, seguidos a la 1 PM de los equipos que perdieron los partidos México-Suecia y E.E.U.U.-Francia.
Los equipos ganadores de la primera ronda de partidos avanzarán a las semifinales. Así, los vencedores de los partidos Japón-Alemania y Canadá-Nueva Zelanda por un lado jugarán a las 4 PM y los equipos ganadores de México-Suecia y de E.E.U.U.-Francia jugarán por otro lado a las 7 PM.
Los equipos derrotados en los dos primeros partidos del miércoles se enfrentarán el sábado 4 de julio a la 1 PM para disputarse la séptima posición. Los equipos vencedores en los primeros dos partidos del miércoles jugarán por el quinto lugar a las 4 PM.
Los equipos que hayan perdido las semifinales del miércoles se disputarán la medalla de bronce el 4 de julio a las 7 PM.
El partido por el campeonato en el primer Campeonato Mundial Junior IFAF 2009 comenzará en el Fawcett Stadium el domingo 5 de julio a la 1 PM entre los ganadores de las semifinales del miércoles.
Las entradas para el primer Campeonato Mundial Junior IFAF 2009 están disponibles en www.jwcfootball.com o llamando al teléfono 1-800 574-5874. Las entradas de acceso para toda la jornada tienen un precio de $10; las entradas reservadas para los doce partidos del torneo tienen un precio de $50.
Los detalles del paquete completo de viaje están disponibles en http://www.usafootball.com/jwc/tickets o llamando al teléfono 413-247-7678 (llamadas internacionales) o 888-310-4255 (U.S.A continental y Canadá).
Schedule
Saturday, June 27
* 10 a.m. Canada vs. New Zealand
* 1 p.m. Japan vs. Germany
* 4 p.m. Mexico vs. Sweden
* 7 p.m. Opening Ceremony
* 8 p.m. United States vs. France
Wednesday, July 1
* 10 a.m. Loser from Japan-German vs. loser from Canada-New Zealand
* 1 p.m. Loser from Mexico-Sweden vs. loser from United States-France
* 4 p.m. Winner from Japan-German vs. winner from Canada-New Zealand
* 7 p.m. Winner from Mexico-Sweden vs. winner from United States-France
Saturday, July 4
* 1 p.m. Seventh-place game
* 4 p.m. Fifth-place game
* 7 p.m. Third-place game
Sunday, July 5
* 1 p.m. Championship
Seeds for the IFAF Junior World Championships
1, Canada
2, United States
3, Mexico
4, Japan
5, Germany
6, Sweden
7, France
8, New Zealand
El Fawcett Stadium albergará cuatro partidos de fútbol americano los días 27 de junio y 1 de Julio. Los partidos por las medallas se disputarán el fin de semana del 4 de Julio. Llegan los equipos provenientes de ocho países a Canton, OH.
La Federación Internacional de Fútbol Americano (IFAF) ha anunciado el calendario y las horas de inicio de los partidos del campeonato del mundo junior IFAF 2009.
El torneo inaugural presentará equipos de cuatro continentes y de ocho naciones - Alemania, Canadá, Francia, Japón, México, Nueva Zelanda, Suecia y los Estados Unidos - y se jugará en el Fawcett Stadium, en el Pro Football Hall Of Fame en Canton, Ohio, del 27 de junio al 5 de julio.
El equipo número uno, Canadá, abrirá el histórico torneo enfrentándose a Nueva Zelanda a las 10 AM del sábado 27 de junio, seguido de un choque que tendrá como participantes al equipo número cuatro Japón y el actual campeón europeo Alemania a la 1 PM. El número tres México se medirá con Suecia a las 4 PM antes de que los ocho equipos participantes sean presentados en la ceremonia oficial de inauguración a las 7 PM. El primer equipo nacional junior de los Estados Unidos jugará con Francia a las 8 PM en el partido que cerrará la completa jornada inaugural (todos los horarios son hora local E.T. de E.E.U.U.).
El miércoles 1 de julio, los dos equipos que perdieron los partidos Japón-Alemania y Canadá-Nueva Zelanda se enfrentarán a las 10 AM, seguidos a la 1 PM de los equipos que perdieron los partidos México-Suecia y E.E.U.U.-Francia.
Los equipos ganadores de la primera ronda de partidos avanzarán a las semifinales. Así, los vencedores de los partidos Japón-Alemania y Canadá-Nueva Zelanda por un lado jugarán a las 4 PM y los equipos ganadores de México-Suecia y de E.E.U.U.-Francia jugarán por otro lado a las 7 PM.
Los equipos derrotados en los dos primeros partidos del miércoles se enfrentarán el sábado 4 de julio a la 1 PM para disputarse la séptima posición. Los equipos vencedores en los primeros dos partidos del miércoles jugarán por el quinto lugar a las 4 PM.
Los equipos que hayan perdido las semifinales del miércoles se disputarán la medalla de bronce el 4 de julio a las 7 PM.
El partido por el campeonato en el primer Campeonato Mundial Junior IFAF 2009 comenzará en el Fawcett Stadium el domingo 5 de julio a la 1 PM entre los ganadores de las semifinales del miércoles.
Las entradas para el primer Campeonato Mundial Junior IFAF 2009 están disponibles en www.jwcfootball.com o llamando al teléfono 1-800 574-5874. Las entradas de acceso para toda la jornada tienen un precio de $10; las entradas reservadas para los doce partidos del torneo tienen un precio de $50.
Los detalles del paquete completo de viaje están disponibles en http://www.usafootball.com/jwc/tickets o llamando al teléfono 413-247-7678 (llamadas internacionales) o 888-310-4255 (U.S.A continental y Canadá).
Schedule
Saturday, June 27
* 10 a.m. Canada vs. New Zealand
* 1 p.m. Japan vs. Germany
* 4 p.m. Mexico vs. Sweden
* 7 p.m. Opening Ceremony
* 8 p.m. United States vs. France
Wednesday, July 1
* 10 a.m. Loser from Japan-German vs. loser from Canada-New Zealand
* 1 p.m. Loser from Mexico-Sweden vs. loser from United States-France
* 4 p.m. Winner from Japan-German vs. winner from Canada-New Zealand
* 7 p.m. Winner from Mexico-Sweden vs. winner from United States-France
Saturday, July 4
* 1 p.m. Seventh-place game
* 4 p.m. Fifth-place game
* 7 p.m. Third-place game
Sunday, July 5
* 1 p.m. Championship
Seeds for the IFAF Junior World Championships
1, Canada
2, United States
3, Mexico
4, Japan
5, Germany
6, Sweden
7, France
8, New Zealand