Other Stuff 05.03.2006....

[Angry Pope]

Here is a story on....

Where Are They Now: Ben Davidson: Image, humor everything for 'Big Ben'
Hulking ex-Husky became a big star

By DAN RALEY
P-I REPORTER

Ben Davidson used to bring down quarterbacks and the house. He delivered punches and punch lines. In or out of uniform, he had great timing.

At 65, the former Oakland Raiders icon and almost-forgotten Washington Husky is two inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter, and no longer terrorizes everyone as this cleverly invented football villain, a persona that could have been pulled from the comic books or pro wrestling.

The natural comedian just keeps people laughing wherever he goes. He's good at it.

Last Friday, Davidson turned up at Renton's Yankee Grill as guest speaker and a year-late inductee for the Northwest Football Hall of Fame luncheon, an event attended by a half dozen of his 1960-61 Rose Bowl teammates and one-time Raiders running mate Otis Sistrunk, among others.

Explaining why he was absent when honored by the group 12 months earlier, "Big Ben" quipped in his trademark growl, "I think I had a paid deal somewhere else."

For the next half-hour, a room full of people sat mesmerized as Davidson recounted his football career, putting a humorous spin on each stage.

He didn't play the game in high school. He didn't pull on a uniform until 1957, when he was attending two-year East Los Angeles College in his old neighborhood. The son of an LAPD officer wasn't exactly sure what to do on the field until an opponent clipped him from behind, and he reacted in a manner that might have gotten him arrested by his father. At least that's the way he tells it.

"I reached into his helmet and there was his head, his face and right under my thumb I felt something like an eye socket," Davidson said of his football debut. "I gouged his eye a little. He screamed and ran off the field. That's when the light bulb went on in my head and I said, 'I can do this.'

"I think that's when I became a Raider."



Actually, Oakland was still three years away from landing a pro team and using silver helmets that sported the black decal of a man wearing an eye patch.

Davidson joined the Huskies first and did more sitting than playing for a pair of victorious Rose Bowl teams. During two seasons in Seattle, he rotated between the second and third units. He started just two UW games, one as an injury fill-in. He was tall and skinny back then, barely resembling the 6-foot-8, 280-pound behemoth and four-time Pro Bowl player he would become.

Somebody noticed the potential lurking inside the huge frame, because Davidson was drafted higher than any of his fellow Huskies, going in the fourth round to the New York Giants. Even as a substitute player, he was an All-Coast honorable mention pick.

He never felt slighted or overlooked at the UW. It just wasn't his time yet.

"I never looked at it that way," Davidson said. "I didn't play high school football, so I had a late start. I was young, too. I came out of high school when I was just 16, out of college when I was 20."

He also was selected for the college all-star team that annually played against the reigning NFL championship team in Chicago. He remembers riding around that city on the L train with another physically imposing pro prospect, 6-9, 300-pound Ernie Ladd.

"People thought killers were on the loose in the subway," Davidson wisecracked.

The pros still weren't sure what they had. He was traded in training camp and spent his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers. He was waived, and played the next two years for the Washington Redskins.

After he was cut again, the Raiders claimed him. The franchise and player were meant for each other. He was an extroverted personality joining an already unruly cast of characters. For the second of his eight seasons in the Bay Area, he showed up with a handlebar mustache when facial hair was frowned upon around the league. Since 1965, he's never been without it.

His football timing was always perfect. With the Packers, he appeared in the '61 NFL title game. With the Raiders, he played in Super Bowl II. Against Joe Namath, he was credited for breaking the cheekbone of the high-profile quarterback when Oakland teammate Ike Lassiter was responsible, and his reputation took off.

Namath had publicly complained that the Raiders were a bunch of cheap-shot artists before playing them. He got leveled for it. Yet all anyone remembered from that game was a classic photo taken by Life Magazine -- one of Davidson throwing a forearm and knocking the helmet off of the New York Jets quarterback, a visually compelling yet far less lethal play.

"Isaac did it, but I got all the publicity," Davidson said. "Isaac figured if the stupid reporters had got it right, he would have been doing the Miller Lite commercials, not me."

The TV and movie cameras couldn't resist Big Ben. Once his football career ended unceremoniously with the WFL's Portland Storm in 1974, he made his cinematic debut in the movie "M*A*S*H." He appeared in another film, "Conan The Barbarian." He turned up on countless TV shows, among them "Charlie's Angels," "Fantasy Island," "Dukes of Hazzard," "Happy Days" and "CHiPs."

Davidson's greatest exposure came as a popular character on Miller Lite beer commercials, which featured pro athletes in humorous situations. He made 27 of these ads. He was identified so strongly with the beverage that corporate outings were encouraged, and he turned that into another job that mushroomed. He's been to every state except Delaware and a long line of countries pitching beer.

Today, Davidson lives near San Diego with his wife of 45 years, Kathy. They met in a UW accounting class. They raised three daughters, one of whom lives in Bothell. They've dabbled in real estate ever since he took his '61 NFL title game bonus check of $5,194.78 and invested it in a South Seattle apartment building.

Davidson looks trim and healthy. He walked away from football with a sense of humor and his body fairly intact. He wisely used the Oakland image as a shield.

"Playing for the Raiders was pretty safe," he said with a sly smile. "People knew if they did something to you, something might happen to them."

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of the different personalities we have had on our team...


Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=273HvjlVbN8&search=howie%20long)

[Angry Pope]

Here is a tribute to our Raiders....

Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=j1ZpH8sB5O8&search=oakland%20raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Here is the story and the video of our comeback from a 24-0 deficit on Monday night against the Chargers in 1982....


Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=vqvrwagHw3g&search=oakland%20raiders)

November 22, 1982

Raiders Stun Chargers 28-24 on 'Comeback Monday'

Tradition, continuity, a sense of history--these are meaningful things to owner Al Davis and the Raider organization. Building their great record, first in Oakland, then in Los Angeles, and finally back in Oakland, the Raiders have utilized the rock-solid foundation of past glories as a roadway for the future.

Pro football fans had become aware of the Raiders come-from-behind tradition primarily through televised games featuring the Silver and Black as they dominated pro football.

The Raiders had opened the '82 league season on the road, first downing the San Francisco 49ers in Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 12, by a 23-17 score. The next Sunday, the Raiders had traveled to Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium to crush the Falcons, 38-14.

Then came a bitter 57-day NFL players strike that stretched until late November. The NFL had been forced to cancel weekends of league play. Scrubbed for the Raiders had been four home games and four more on the road.

Finally, on Monday night, November 22, 1982, the Raiders would make their league debut. The opponent would be a long-time division rival- - the San Diego Chargers. For this 45th meeting between the Raiders and Chargers, the Raiders were 2-0-0 in '82 and the Chargers were 1-1-0.

The Raiders were the undisputed "Kings of Monday Night Football," with an incredible record of 18 wins and one tie against only two losses in the 21 games they had played in this prime-time national television series that had changed the viewing habits of an entire nation since its inception in 1970. But one of those two Monday night losses had come the year before at the hands of the Chargers, 23-10, in San Diego.

The wide-open Charger offense, tutored by head coach Don Coryell and quarterbacked by talented Dan Fouts, got on the board first--and often--in the opening half.

San Diego went in front 3-0 on a field goal by one-time Raider draft choice Rolf Benirschke. Later in the first period, the Chargers stretched their lead to 10-0 on a 29-yard scoring pass from Fouts to wide receiver Dwight Scales.

The Chargers scored twice more in the second stanza on short runs by Chuck Muncie. The crowd grew restless--and with considerable reason. For the Raiders now trailed 24-0 and had never previously overcome a 24-point deficit. But just before the half, the Raiders' offense came to life, as did the Coliseum crowd.

After a missed field goal by Chris Bahr, the Raider defense quickly got the ball back for the offense when future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ted Hendricks recovered a Charger fumble on the San Diego 17-yard line with only 1:19 left to play in the first half. Quarterback Jim Plunkett passed to rookie running back Marcus Allen for 11 yards. Allen fumbled the pitchout on the very next play but fortunately made the recovery, losing six yards. Plunkett passed to Allen again for 11 yards. Finally, with 42 seconds left, Plunkett scrambled free from a San Diego rush and popped a short pass to tight end Todd Christensen from one yard out, to bring the Raiders within 17 points at halftime. Chargers 24-Raiders 7.

Head coach Tom Flores--himself a veteran of Raider comebacks as a player, assistant coach and head coach--rallied his squad at halftime.

"Among other things, I reminded them that this was Monday Night Football with the eyes of an entire nation on us," recalls coach Flores. "Monday Night magic--I don't know what it is about it. We're very proud of our Monday Night record. Monday Night Football brings out the best in us." Early in the third quarter, a sack of Fouts by Ted Hendricks shut down a San Diego series. After the punt, the Raiders took over on their own 36. Jim Plunkett found Christensen open over the middle on consecutive gains for 11 and 12 yards. Kenny King then carried four times for 24 yards, setting up a Marcus Allen three-yard burst inside for the touchdown to cut the San Diego lead to 10 points, 24-14.

Dan Fouts came back, firing but Odis McKinney, playing as the fifth defensive back in the Raiders "Pirate" coverage, forced a fumble by San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow on a screen pass, with defensive lineman Ruben Vaughan gaining possession for the Silver and Black. King and Allen shared the rushing duties as the huge Raider front line of center Dave Dalby, guards Mickey Marvin and Curt Marsh and tackles Henry Lawrence and Bruce Davis began to dominate the line of scrimmage. A middle trap sprung King for 21 yards, and then Allen swept right for six yards and the touchdown at 2:23 left in the third quarter. The Chargers now led by only three, 24-21.

Booming punts by the incomparable Ray Guy kept San Diego at bay, as did the play of the alert secondary of corners Lester Hayes and Ted Watts, safeties Mike Davis and Burgess Owens and extra DB's Odis McKinney, James Davis and Vann McElroy. A sack by Ruben Vaughan snuffed out a San Diego threat. Then a missed field goal gave the Raiders the ball on their own 20 with 9:55 left to play.

Plunkett marched his forces goalward, beginning with a 14-yard completion to Cliff Branch, followed by receptions by Todd Christensen for 24 and 13 yards. An end-around by super-swift wide receiver Malcolm Barnwell netted 14 yards. Two plays later fullback Frank Hawkins slanted over from the one to put the Raiders ahead--finally--28-24. But there was still nearly six minutes remaining.

An interception by rookie safety Vann McElroy with 1:56 showing on the clock shut San Diego down again. A series of runs by King and Allen took time off the clock. San Diego got one final play, but corner Lester Hayes batten down Fouts' last effort to get the ball to Charlie Joiner in the end zone. The frenzied Coliseum crowd roared approval as their Raiders had come from 24 points down to score a 28-24 victory in their very first home league game.

In the noisy, crowded dressing room after the game guard Mickey Marvin, a veteran of the Super Bowl XV win two years earlier said, "We've gained some fans who have now learned not to leave before the end. With us it often goes down to the wire. The Raiders have been doing this for a long time, since before I came in 1977."

Kenny King summed the win up by saying, "I definitely think we won ourselves some fans in our new home. I sow some of the other NFL games that were on TV yesterday, and I don't think they compared at all to the game we gave the fans out here tonight. I think this was one of the better Monday night games they've ever had on."

One of the better games, perhaps, but just one more in the Raider tradition of classic comebacks. Home or away, Sunday, Monday, Thursday or Saturday, day or night, outdoors or indoors--classic comebacks like this are part and parcel of the undeniable greatness of the Raiders.

[CrossBones]

Here is a tribute to our Raiders....

Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=j1ZpH8sB5O8&search=oakland%20raiders)Well in those days Tatum and Akinson really layed the wood. I think most of it is illigal now but in those days all was fair in love and war. And when the Raiders took the field it was a friggin' WAR! ;)

[Angry Pope]

Here is the story and the video to our game "The Sea Of Hands"....

Hit it here... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2NR71Ep_3o&search=oakland%20raiders)

December 21, 1974

Raiders Drown Dolphins 28-26 in ‘Sea of Hands’

The venerable Curt Gowdy, NBC Sports top play-by-play telecaster for many years, called the 1974 AFC Playoff Game between the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins "the greatest game I have ever seen." Gowdy's long-time television partner, Al De Rogatis, agreed completely. The 52,817 present at the pre-Christmas Sunday in the Oakland Coliseum knew they had witnessed an extraordinary event. Forty million television viewers shared their opinion.

Under head coach Don Shula, the Miami Dolphins had been to the last three Super Bowls--an NFL record at that time. They had won the last two Super Bowls. In 1974 the Dolphins had won the AFC East title with an 11-3 record. The Raiders captured the AFC West crown with a league-best 12-2 record. In the eight games played against the Miami team since the series began in 1966, the Raiders were presently 6-1-1. John Madden was 1-1 as head coach for the Raiders in league and postseason games against the Miami Dolphins under Don Shula.

Don Shula and John Madden would become the only NFL head coaches to win 100 league games in their first ten years on the job. But in this AFC Playoff Game only one of these outstanding coaches could emerge victorious.

The radio station carrying the Raider games in the Bay Area had promoted the game as one for which fans should wear black, carry black and wave black. The Coliseum was an ocean of black with kids waving black pennants and towels, local priests waving black cassocks and even a few of the more fervent female fans waving black bras in the breeze.

"I have never heard any louder cheering in the Coliseum than when we came out to be introduced," said long time Raider executive Al LoCasale. "The stadium left the ground." But the filled Coliseum went silent in an instant. Miami wide receiver Nat Moore took the short opening kickoff on his own 11-yard line, starting up field, broke to his left and went unstopped and untouched to the end zone.

Fifteen seconds off the clock, 89 yards on the field and Miami ahead, 7-0.

The score stayed that way until the Raiders got the ball for the second time in the second quarter. Quarterback Ken Stabler opened with a nine-yard toss to wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff. Marv Hubbard, out of the fullback spot, slammed inside for five. Next, Stabler passed over the middle to Hubbard for nine more. Then halfback Clarence Davis went over left tackle for ten. The big powerful, machine-like Raider offensive line of Art Shell, Gene Upshaw and Jim Otto -- a trio of future Pro Football Hall of Famers -- plus George Buehler and John Vella, was taking it to the Dolphins. Three plays later halfback Charlie Smith, a 9.4 sprinter as a collegian, streaking down the middle, pulled clear of the man-to-man coverage of the outmatched Miami linebacker, reached up and pulled in a perfect pass from Stabler to complete a 31-yard touchdown play. Raiders 7 -- Miami 7.

Staying primarily on the ground, with Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Benny Malone alternating as ball carriers, Miami came right back to put three points on the board on a 33-yard field goal by Garo Ypremian with 1:01 remaining in the half. Miami left the field leading 10-7 at the game's midpoint.

Oakland began another march with 11:43 to go in the third quarter with Stabler to Biletnikoff for the first 20 yards. On the next play, the "Snake" went long to Biletnikoff from 40 yards out. A marvelous leaping catch along the right sideline at the goal line, but the official on the scene signaled, "out of bounds". The Raiders then moved in closer. From the 13, Stabler again went wide right to Biletnikoff along the sidelines, just inside the endzone. Dolphins' corner Tim Foley was draped all over Biletnikoff, but Fred reached up with one hand, fought off Foley, pulled the ball in and stayed barely in bounds to record a brilliant touchdown for Oakland. Raiders 14 -- Dolphins 10.

A 29-yard interference call on the third-and-seven aided Miami's return when their superb wide receiver, Paul Warfield, beat the coverage, going into the left corner for 16 yards and a touchdown. But big defensive end Bubba Smith got a hand into the path of Ypremian's point-after attempt to keep the score at Dolphins 16 -- Raiders 14.

At the start of the fourth quarter Miami again moved into Oakland territory. When slowed, the Dolphins had to settle for a 46-yard field goal, upping their lead to five, at 19-14.

With 4:54 left in the game, the Raiders took possession on their own 17-yard line. First Stabler went right side to Biletnikoff for 11 yards. Then came the big strike -- a trademark of the feared Raiders vertical passing game. Stabler passed to Cliff Branch on the left side on the Miami 27. Branch went to the ground to make the catch, but being untouched by Dolphin defenders, Cliff popped upright and ran away from the surprised defensive backs to complete a 72-yard scoring play. George Blanda was true on the extra point. Raiders 21 -- Dolphins 19, with 4:37 to go. The Raiders had gone 83 yards in just 17 seconds.

Quarterback Bob Griese brought Miami back immediately, as the fans went bananas in the Oakland Coliseum. With 2:08 remaining to play, Benny Malone swept right end, got free outside, ducked under a couple of tackle attempts along the sideline and bounced 23 yards to give Miami the lead again 26-21.

Ron Smith brought the kickoff back 20 yards to the Oakland 32. Stabler went to the Raider sideline during the mandatory two-minute warning time out to review strategy and options with coach John Madden. The Raiders, trailing by five, needed a touchdown. They had 68 yards to travel, two minutes on the clock to make the trip and all three time outs left. On first down Stabler went to tight end Bob Moore for six. Plenty of time left -- no reason to force the ball deep as of yet. After a short run, the Raiders went back to Biletnikoff on two consecutive plays for 18 yards along the right sideline and 20 yards breaking across the middle from right to left. With just one minute to play, Stabler hit Branch on a quick out to the right for four yards. Then reserve wide receiver Frank Pitts picked up a first over the middle, bobbling the ball up in the air, but regaining possession before being downed on the Miami 14. Clarence Davis ripped over left guard for six yards. The Raiders then used their final time out.

On first-and-goal from the eight, Stabler dropped back looking for Biletnikoff. At that moment Fred was tightly bracketed. The Miami rush was closing in. Finally, with defensive end Vern Den Herder clinging to his legs, pulling him down, Stabler looped the ball toward the left side of the front of the end zone where running back Clarence Davis was working his way back to give his quarterback a target. In a "sea of hands," Davis outfought a crowd of white-jersied Dolphin defenders to come down with the ball and go to the turf clutching the football to his chest in clear, sole possession. The crowd went wild, completely raving wild. Couples kissed for the first time in years. People pounded on their Coliseum neighbors. It was a scene out of a movie script that would probably be rejected as "too far-fetched." But this was reality. This was pro football at its best. This was Raiders football -- great players, great coaches, great plays and great games.

The Raiders were now ahead 28-26 with only 24 seconds left. On Miami's second play after the subsequent kickoff, linebacker Phil Villapiano intercepted a last-gasp Bob Griese pass at the Oakland 45. Marv Hubbard used up the clock on two runs to the left. Final score: Oakland Raiders 28 -- Miami Dolphins 26. The Raiders, classic comeback, had scored twice in the final four minutes and 37 seconds to move forward to another AFC Championship Game.

"This has to be the toughest loss I've ever suffered," said Miami coach Don Shula, "The Raiders are a great credit to professional football," he added. "They needed touchdowns to win and they got them."

[CrossBones]

Damn Benedict..you're getting my blood pumping.

I remember clearly where I was during that game. I remember being so depressed when Miami ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

But that truely was one of the greatest games in NFL history. Thanks for sharing!

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of our Super Bowl win against the Redskins....

Hit it here... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFSYBw8_Prc&search=oakland%20raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Huff's stepbrother...

Missouri free-agent safety Marcus King, a graduate of Irving Nimitz and the stepbrother of former Texas star and Raiders first-round pick Michael Huff, signed a deal with the Cowboys. As a senior, King intercepted three passes and scored two touchdowns.

[Angry Pope]

Here is how Woodson's contract is structured...

Posted May 03, 2006


By Pete Dougherty


The Green Bay Packers had to pay Charles Woodson almost like a designated franchise player this year to get him to sign a seven-year deal this week.

Woodson, 29, became the biggest free-agent signing in Ted Thompson’s two years as the Packers’ general manager. He agreed to the contract last week, but the sides didn’t officially announce the deal until Monday.

According to a source with access to NFL salary information, Woodson’s deal includes about $10 million in first-year pay for Woodson, plus a meaningful incentives package in future years if he stays healthy, which he hasn’t for three of the last four seasons.

On paper, Woodson’s seven-year is worth $37.1 million plus a weekly $56,000 45-man roster bonus he can earn every game from 2007 through 2012. However, considering Woodson’s age and the structure of the contract, the deal more realistically is for probably three years. If looked at as a three-year contract, it’s worth $15.5 million plus up to nearly $1.8 million maximum in roster incentives, and if viewed as a two-year deal it’s worth $12.253 million plus up to nearly $900,000 in roster incentives.

That’s a lucrative deal for a player with imposing talent who nevertheless carries more than the usual risk for high-priced free agents because of his recent injury history. Woodson went to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons (1998 to 2001) but has missed 19 games the past four years combined because of shoulder and knee injuries, and a broken leg last year.

The Packers had to out-bid the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign Woodson and had almost unlimited salary-cap room this year in structuring the front-loaded deal.

This structure will pay Woodson $9.9 million this year but allows the Packers to cut him at any time without serious salary-cap consequences in the future if he encounters serious injury problems or has his performance diminish.

The $9.9 million Woodson will make this year in bonuses and salary is similar to the $10.53 million the Raiders paid him as their designated franchise player in 2005.

The new deal pays him a $4 million signing bonus plus a $4.35 million roster bonus, a $1.5 million base salary, and a $53,000 workout bonus. That gives him a salary-cap figure this year of about $6.7 million.

Next year, Woodson will receive a $1 million roster bonus, due the 10th day of the league year, plus a base salary of $1.25 million, and a $100,000 workout bonus. His $1.25 million base salary is guaranteed against injury, so if he gets hurt and the Packers cut him in the offseason because of the injury, they still must pay him the $1.25 million. If they cut him simply for poor performance, they won’t owe him anything. However, the relatively low salary and roster bonus makes it unlikely the team would cut him after only one season for any reason.

Woodson also will receive a substantial reward if he stays healthy in each of the final five years of the deal. From 2007 until the final year of 2012, he’ll receive a $56,000 roster bonus each week he’s on the team’s 45-man game-day roster. That means he can make $896,000 a season if he’s activated for every game. He also can earn a $100,000 workout bonus each season from 2007 to 2012.

His remaining base salaries are $3.25 million in 2008; $4 million in 2009; $5 million in 2010; and $5.5 million in 2011; and $6.5 million in 2012.

Woodson also has incentives and escalators for making the Pro Bowl. Any season he’s chosen outright for the Pro Bowl, he’ll receive a $100,000 bonus, and more importantly, his base salary the following season will increase $1.5 million. If he makes the Pro Bowl as an alternate, he’ll receive a $25,000 bonus and his salary the next year does not change.

[Rupert]

Looks like Charles can earn a pretty penny if he performs and stays healthy. Not a bad deal, but far from what he was reportedly looking for.

It gives him a huge incentive to stay on the field. So do you think he'll be sticking his nose (or his legs) into the pile as often as he has in the past? I don't. He's going to be looking out for #1, and that's his contract figure. I wouldn't be surprised to see him have 1 or 2 more Pro Bowl seasons within the next 3 seasons. Unfortunately, doing so might make him a cap casualty, especially later in the contract. I still say he's going to shoot for a Pro Bowl or 2 over the next 3 seasons. It's fiscally responsible.

[Angry Pope]

Here is how each player was drafted relative to the position they play...




Quarterbacks Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Vince Young 1 3 3 Titans QB Texas
Matt Leinart 1 10 10 Cardinals QB USC
Jay Cutler 1 11 11 Broncos QB Vanderbilt
Kellen Clemens 2 17 49 Jets QB Oregon
Tarvaris Jackson 2 32 64 Vikings QB Alabama State
Charlie Whitehurst 3 17 81 Chargers QB Clemson
Brodie Croyle 3 21 85 Chiefs QB Alabama
Ingle Martin 5 15 148 Packers QB Furman
Omar Jacobs 5 32 164 Steelers QB Bowling Green
Reggie McNeal 6 24 193 Bengals QB Texas A&M
Bruce Gradkowski 6 25 194 Buccaneers QB Toledo
D.J. Shockley 7 15 223 Falcons QB Georgia



Running Backs Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Reggie Bush 1 2 2 Saints RB USC
Laurence Maroney 1 21 21 Patriots RB Minnesota
DeAngelo Williams 1 27 27 Panthers RB Memphis
Joseph Addai 1 30 30 Colts RB Louisiana State
LenDale White 2 13 45 Titans RB USC
Maurice Drew 2 28 60 Jaguars RB UCLA
Brian Calhoun 3 10 74 Lions RB Wisconsin
Jerious Norwood 3 15 79 Falcons RB Mississippi State
Leon Washington 4 20 117 Jets RB Florida State
P.J. Daniels 4 35 132 Ravens RB Georgia Tech
Jerome Harrison 5 12 145 Browns RB Washington State
David Kirtman 5 31 163 Seahawks RB USC
Wali Lundy 6 1 170 Texans RB Virginia
Lawrence Vickers 6 11 180 Browns RB Colorado
J.D. Runnels 6 26 195 Bears RB Oklahoma
Cedric Humes 7 32 240 Steelers RB Virginia Tech
Quinton Ganther 7 38 246 Titans RB Utah



Wide Receivers Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Santonio Holmes 1 25 25 Steelers WR Ohio State
Chad Jackson 2 4 36 Patriots WR Florida
Sinorice Moss 2 12 44 Giants WR Miami (FL)
Greg Jennings 2 20 52 Packers WR Western Michigan
Devin Hester 2 25 57 Bears WR Miami (FL)
Travis Wilson 3 14 78 Browns WR Oklahoma
Derek Hagan 3 18 82 Dolphins WR Arizona State
Brandon Williams 3 20 84 49ers WR Wisconsin
Maurice Stovall 3 26 90 Buccaneers WR Notre Dame
Willie Reid 3 31 95 Steelers WR Florida State
Michael Robinson 4 3 100 49ers WR Penn State
Brad Smith 4 6 103 Jets WR Missouri
Cory Rodgers 4 7 104 Packers WR Texas Christian
Jason Avant 4 12 109 Eagles WR Michigan
Demetrius Williams 4 14 111 Ravens WR Oregon
Will Blackmon 4 18 115 Packers WR Boston College
Brandon Marshall 4 22 119 Broncos WR Central Florida
Skyler Green 4 28 125 Cowboys WR Louisiana State
Domenik Hixon 4 33 130 Broncos WR Akron
Marques Hagans 5 11 144 Rams WR Virginia
Jeremy Bloom 5 14 147 Eagles WR Colorado
Mike Hass 6 2 171 Saints WR Oregon State
Jonathan Orr 6 3 172 Titans WR Wisconsin
Delanie Walker 6 6 175 49ers WR Central Missouri State
Adam Jennings 6 15 184 Falcons WR Fresno State
Jeff Webb 6 21 190 Chiefs WR San Diego State
Ethan Kilmer 7 1 209 Bengals WR Penn State
Todd Watkins 7 10 218 Cardinals WR Brigham Young
Bennie Brazell 7 23 231 Bengals WR Louisiana State
Devin Aromashodu 7 25 233 Dolphins WR Auburn
Ben Obomanu 7 41 249 Seahawks WR Auburn
David Anderson 7 43 251 Texans WR Colorado State
Kevin McMahan 7 47 255 Raiders WR Maine


Tight Ends Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Vernon Davis 1 6 6 49ers TE Maryland
Marcedes Lewis 1 28 28 Jaguars TE UCLA
Joe Klopfenstein 2 14 46 Rams TE Colorado
Anthony Fasano 2 21 53 Cowboys TE Notre Dame
Tony Scheffler 2 29 61 Broncos TE Western Michigan
Leonard Pope 3 8 72 Cardinals TE Georgia
Dave Thomas 3 22 86 Patriots TE Texas
Dominique Byrd 3 29 93 Rams TE USC
Owen Daniels 4 1 98 Texans TE Wisconsin
Garrett Mills 4 9 106 Patriots TE Tulsa
Jason Pociask 5 18 150 Jets TE Wisconsin
Jeff King 5 23 155 Panthers TE Virginia Tech
Quinn Sypniewski 5 34 166 Ravens TE Colorado
Charles Davis 5 35 167 Steelers TE Purdue
T.J. Williams 6 33 202 Buccaneers TE North Carolina State
Tim Massaquoi 7 36 244 Buccaneers TE Michigan
Marques Colston 7 44 252 Saints TE Hofstra



Tackles Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

D'Brickashaw Ferguson 1 4 4 Jets T Virginia
Winston Justice 2 7 39 Eagles T USC
Daryn Colledge 2 15 47 Packers T Boise State
Marcus McNeill 2 18 50 Chargers T Auburn
Andrew Whitworth 2 23 55 Bengals T Louisiana State
Jeremy Trueblood 2 27 59 Buccaneers T Boston College
Charles Spencer 3 1 65 Texans T Pittsburgh
Eric Winston 3 2 66 Texans T Miami (FL)
Rashad Butler 3 25 89 Panthers T Miami (FL)
Jahri Evans 4 11 108 Saints T Bloomsburg (PA)
Joe Toledo 4 17 114 Dolphins T Washington
Guy Whimper 4 32 129 Giants T East Carolina
Quinn Ojinnaka 5 6 139 Falcons T Syracuse
Jonathan Scott 5 8 141 Lions T Texas
Brad Butler 5 10 143 Bills T Virginia
Tony Moll 5 33 165 Packers T Nevada
Kevin Boothe 6 7 176 Raiders T Cornell
Jeromey Clary 6 18 187 Chargers T Kansas State
Charlie Johnson 6 30 199 Colts T Oklahoma State
Pat McQuistan 7 3 211 Cowboys T Weber State
Terrance Pennington 7 8 216 Bills T New Mexico



Guards Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Davin Joseph 1 23 23 Buccaneers G Oklahoma
Taitusi (Deuce) Lutui 2 9 41 Cardinals G USC
Paul McQuistan 3 5 69 Raiders G Weber State
Max Jean-Gilles 4 2 99 Eagles G Georgia
Isaac Sowells 4 15 112 Browns G Indiana
Rob Sims 4 31 128 Seahawks G Ohio State
Willie Colon 4 34 131 Steelers G Hofstra
Ryan O'Callaghan 5 3 136 Patriots G California
Chris Kuper 5 29 161 Broncos G North Dakota
Michael Toudouze 5 30 162 Colts G Texas Christian
Tre' Stallings 6 17 186 Chiefs G Mississippi
Tyler Reed 6 31 200 Bears G Penn State
Dan Stevenson 6 36 205 Patriots G Notre Dame
Zach Strief 7 2 210 Saints G Northwestern
Fred Matua 7 9 217 Lions G USC
Kili Lefotu 7 22 230 Redskins G Arizona
Will Montgomery 7 26 234 Panthers G Virginia Tech
Mark Setterstrom 7 34 242 Rams G Minnesota
Tony Palmer 7 35 243 Rams G Missouri
Aaron Merz 7 40 248 Bills G California


Centers Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Nick Mangold 1 29 29 Jets C Ohio State
Ryan Cook 2 19 51 Vikings C New Mexico
Chris Chester 2 24 56 Ravens C Oklahoma
Jason Spitz 3 11 75 Packers C Louisville
Greg Eslinger 6 29 198 Broncos C Minnesota
Marvin Philip 6 32 201 Steelers C California
Chris Morris 7 6 214 Raiders C Michigan State
E.J. Whitley 7 16 224 Cowboys C Texas Tech
Jimmy Martin 7 19 227 Chargers C Virginia Tech


cont'd...

[Angry Pope]

cont'd....

Defensive Ends Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Mario Williams 1 1 1 Texans DE North Carolina State
Kamerion Wimbley 1 13 13 Browns DE Florida State
Tamba Hali 1 20 20 Chiefs DE Penn State
Mathias Kiwanuka 1 32 32 Giants DE Boston College
Darryl Tapp 2 31 63 Seahawks DE Virginia Tech
Chris Gocong 3 7 71 Eagles DE Cal Poly
Frostee Rucker 3 27 91 Bengals DE USC
Jason Hatcher 3 28 92 Cowboys DE Grambling State
Victor Adeyanju 4 16 113 Rams DE Indiana
Elvis Dumervil 4 29 126 Broncos DE Louisville
Ray Edwards 4 30 127 Vikings DE Purdue
Rob Ninkovich 5 2 135 Saints DE Purdue
Parys Haralson 5 7 140 49ers DE Tennessee
Julian Jenkins 5 24 156 Buccaneers DE Stanford
Mark Anderson 5 27 159 Bears DE Alabama
Brent Hawkins 5 28 160 Jaguars DE Illinois State
Jeremy Mincey 6 22 191 Patriots DE Florida
Melvin Oliver 6 28 197 49ers DE Louisiana State
James Wyche 7 5 213 Jaguars DE Syracuse
Stanley McClover 7 29 237 Panthers DE Auburn
Dave Tollefson 7 45 253 Packers DE Northwest Missouri State


Defensive Tackles Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Haloti Ngata 1 12 12 Ravens DT Oregon
Brodrick Bunkley 1 14 14 Eagles DT Florida State
John McCargo 1 26 26 Bills DT North Carolina State
Claude Wroten 3 4 68 Rams DT Louisiana State
Dusty Dvoracek 3 9 73 Bears DT Oklahoma
Gabriel Watson 4 10 107 Cardinals DT Michigan
Domata Peko 4 26 123 Bengals DT Michigan State
Barry Cofield 4 27 124 Giants DT Northwestern
Orien Harris 4 36 133 Steelers DT Miami (FL)
Kyle Williams 5 1 134 Bills DT Louisiana State
Anthony Montgomery 5 21 153 Redskins DT Minnesota
Jesse Mahelona 5 37 169 Titans DT Tennessee
Jon Lewis 6 8 177 Cardinals DT Virginia Tech
Babatunde Oshinowo 6 12 181 Browns DT Stanford
Montavious Stanley 6 13 182 Cowboys DT Louisville
Johnny Jolly 6 14 183 Packers DT Texas A&M
Kedric Golston 6 27 196 Redskins DT Georgia
LaJuan Ramsey 6 35 204 Eagles DT USC
Le Kevin Smith 6 37 206 Patriots DT Nebraska
Fred Evans 7 4 212 Dolphins DT Texas State
Titus Adams 7 12 220 Jets DT Nebraska
Chase Page 7 17 225 Chargers DT North Carolina
Rodrique Wright 7 18 226 Dolphins DT Texas


Linebackers Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

A.J. Hawk 1 5 5 Packers LB Ohio State
Ernie Sims 1 9 9 Lions LB Florida State
Chad Greenway 1 17 17 Vikings LB Iowa
Bobby Carpenter 1 18 18 Cowboys LB Ohio State
Manny Lawson 1 22 22 49ers LB North Carolina State
DeMeco Ryans 2 1 33 Texans LB Alabama
D'Qwell Jackson 2 2 34 Browns LB Maryland
Roger (Rocky) McIntosh 2 3 35 Redskins LB Miami (FL)
Thomas Howard 2 6 38 Raiders LB Texas-El Paso
Abdul Hodge 3 3 67 Packers LB Iowa
Anthony Schlegel 3 12 76 Jets LB Ohio State
Jon Alston 3 13 77 Rams LB Stanford
Clint Ingram 3 16 80 Jaguars LB Oklahoma
James Anderson 3 24 88 Panthers LB Virginia Tech
Freddie Keiaho 3 30 94 Colts LB San Diego State
Gerris Wilkinson 3 32 96 Giants LB Georgia Tech
Leon Williams 4 13 110 Browns LB Miami (FL)
Stephen Tulloch 4 19 116 Titans LB North Carolina State
Jamar Williams 4 23 120 Bears LB Arizona State
Terna Nande 5 4 137 Titans LB Miami (OH)
Brandon Johnson 5 9 142 Cardinals LB Louisville
Tim Dobbins 5 19 151 Chargers LB Iowa State
A. J. Nicholson 5 25 157 Bengals LB Florida State
Omar Gaither 5 36 168 Eagles LB Tennessee
Keith Ellison 6 9 178 Bills LB Oregon State
Ryan LaCasse 7 11 219 Ravens LB Syracuse
Tim McGarigle 7 13 221 Rams LB Northwestern
Charles Bennett 7 33 241 Buccaneers LB Clemson
Spencer Toone 7 37 245 Titans LB Utah
Anthony Cannon 7 39 247 Lions LB Tulane
Kevin Simon 7 42 250 Redskins LB Tennessee


Defensive Backs Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Michael Huff 1 7 7 Raiders DB Texas
Donte Whitner 1 8 8 Bills DB Ohio State
Tye Hill 1 15 15 Rams DB Clemson
Jason Allen 1 16 16 Dolphins DB Tennessee
Antonio Cromartie 1 19 19 Chargers DB Florida State
Johnathan Joseph 1 24 24 Bengals DB South Carolina
Kelly Jennings 1 31 31 Seahawks DB Miami (FL)
Jimmy Williams 2 5 37 Falcons DB Virginia Tech
Daniel Bullocks 2 8 40 Lions DB Nebraska
Danieal Manning 2 10 42 Bears DB Abilene Christian
Roman Harper 2 11 43 Saints DB Alabama
Cedric Griffin 2 16 48 Vikings DB Texas
Bernard Pollard 2 22 54 Chiefs DB Purdue
Richard Marshall 2 26 58 Panthers DB Fresno State
Tim Jennings 2 30 62 Colts DB Georgia
Ashton Youboty 3 6 70 Bills DB Ohio State
Anthony Smith 3 19 83 Steelers DB Syracuse
David Pittman 3 23 87 Ravens DB Northwestern State
Eric Smith 3 33 97 Jets DB Michigan State
Darnell Bing 4 4 101 Raiders DB USC
Calvin Lowry 4 5 102 Titans DB Penn State
Ko Simpson 4 8 105 Bills DB South Carolina
Nate Salley 4 24 121 Panthers DB Ohio State
Alan Zemaitis 4 25 122 Buccaneers DB Penn State
Pat Watkins 5 5 138 Cowboys DB Florida State
Dawan Landry 5 13 146 Ravens DB Georgia Tech
Greg Blue 5 17 149 Vikings DB Georgia
DeMario Minter 5 20 152 Browns DB Georgia
Marcus Maxey 5 22 154 Chiefs DB Miami (FL)
Charlie Peprah 5 26 158 Giants DB Alabama
Reed Doughty 6 4 173 Redskins DB Northern Colorado
Josh (Bernard) Lay 6 5 174 Saints DB Pittsburgh
Alton (Dee) McCann 6 10 179 Lions DB West Virginia
Tyrone Culver 6 16 185 Packers DB Fresno State
Drew Coleman 6 20 189 Jets DB Texas Christian
Marcus Hudson 6 23 192 49ers DB North Carolina State
Antoine Bethea 6 38 207 Colts DB Howard
Derrick Martin 6 39 208 Ravens DB Wyoming
Cortland Finnegan 7 7 215 Titans DB Samford
Justin Hamilton 7 14 222 Browns DB Virginia Tech
Jarrad Page 7 20 228 Chiefs DB UCLA
Willie Andrews 7 21 229 Patriots DB Baylor
Gerrick McPhearson 7 24 232 Giants DB Maryland
Justin Phinisee 7 27 235 Buccaneers DB Oregon
Demetrice Webb 7 28 236 Jaguars DB Florida
T.J. Rushing 7 30 238 Colts DB Stanford
Vickiel Vaughn 7 46 254 49ers DB Arkansas


Punters Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Sam Koch 6 34 203 Ravens P Nebraska
Ryan Plackemeier 7 31 239 Seahawks P Wake Forest



Placekickers Drafted in 2006

Name Round Pick Player Team Pos College

Stephen Gostkowski 4 21 118 Patriots K Memphis
Kurt Smith 6 19 188 Chargers K Virginia

[Angry Pope]

Here a few more pictures....

Boothe... (http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/corn/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/a-boothe_allivy.jpg)

Howard.... (http://2006.otcdraft.com/images/players/thumbs/ThomasHoward.jpg)

McMahan.... (http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper322/stills/lu6f4j74.jpg)

[Angry Pope]

Here is a story on Ahmad Brooks ....

Trying to lift NFL stock

After dismissal from Virginia, Brooks eyes the supplemental draft

BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER May 5, 2006


If you're looking for Ahmad Brooks, you won't find him in Charlottesville.

Brooks, a former all-ACC linebacker, is no longer attending classes at the University of Virginia. His home for the past month has been an Atlanta suburb, where he's training and trying to raise his stock in the eyes of NFL teams.

"He's doing great," said trainer Chip Smith, the founder and president of Competitive Edge Sports in Duluth, Ga. "He's doing everything that we ask him."

In January, after weighing his options, Brooks announced he'd put his NFL dream on hold and would return for his senior season at U.Va. He didn't make it to spring practice. Virginia coach Al Groh said in late March that, for unspecified reasons related to "focus, commitment, dependability," he'd dismissed Brooks, Tony Franklin and Vince Redd from the team.

Neither Brooks nor his family has spoken publicly about his dismissal. But Brooks has hired an agent, Greg Williams of Raleigh, N.C., and hopes to be selected in the NFL's supplemental draft this summer. To that end, he's living at a Duluth hotel near the Competitive Edge facility and working out daily with Smith, who's trained hundreds of NFL players, including linebacker Brian Urlacher and Keith Brooking.

For about five hours each day, Brooks runs, lifts and performs linebacker drills under the tutelage of Smith. Brooks' training partners include NFL linebackers Nate Wayne (Lions) and Hannibal Navies (Bengals), and they're also acting as mentors, Smith said.

Brooks isn't in great shape. Even so, his rare blend of size, speed and athleticism remains dazzling. "These veteran players who are with me, they watch him move and say, 'Wow,'" Smith said.

"If somebody will give him a shot and he'll walk the straight and narrow and stay focused on being a football player, I think he could be a Pro Bowl player as a rookie . . . He's got a long way to go, but I tell you, he has all the tools to be a great one."

As a senior at Woodbridge's Hylton High, Brooks was USA Today's prep defensive player of the year. He led the Cavaliers in tackles as a true freshman in 2003 and again in '04, when he was all-ACC and a Butkus Award finalist.

Brooks, who stands 6-4, played at about 262 pounds in 2004. He hasn't been that light since. In March 2005, Brooks had knee surgery, and he ballooned in the months that followed. Brooks missed much of last season because of knee, ankle and back injuries, and the extra weight didn't help.

"That was one of the negative things that I think caused his demise at Virginia," Smith said. "When he got hurt, he didn't rehab like he should have and put some weight on."

Smith declined to say how much Brooks weighed when they started training together. Brooks, who has a nutritionist overseeing his diet, has dropped about 12 pounds since then, Smith said, and the "goal probably is to have him between 260 and 265. At that weight, he's probably going to be as athletic as any linebacker I've worked with."

In the wake of Brooks' problems at U.Va., NFL teams have questions about his work ethic, his passion for football, his ability to keep his weight down and his character. Those around Brooks know it will take time for him to rehabilitate his reputation.

"For now, the most important thing is for him to work out and be ready," said Williams, Brooks' agent. "I certainly believe he'll get an opportunity somewhere. It's just a question of being ready to take advantage of that opportunity when it comes."

[Angry Pope]

Here is a familiar name...

Ticats sign three at D

By Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
(May 5, 2006)

Depth for the defence.

That's what the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will announce today with the signing of three for the D.

Former Detroit Lions' defensive back Rod Babers will be at McMaster for the Cats training camp in two weeks.

Babers, a 5-foot-9, 192-pound Houston native, joins the Ticats after spending the past two seasons with the Lions, where he played in seven contests.

A former three-year starter with the University of Texas, Babers was drafted in the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2003 NFL draft.

Also joining the black and gold is former Oakland Raiders' linebacker Bobby Brooks. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Fresno State grad played 36 games for the Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brooks also starred with the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe.
And import linebacker Corey Dodds made the most of his appearance at a Ticat free agent camp last month.

The Cats inked the 6-3, 220-pound University of Utah product and free agent after a solid showing at the camp.

In his senior year Dodds started all 12 games for the 2004 Fiesta Bowl champions, a team that finished 12-0.

"These are three solid football players that we are excited to have join the Tiger-Cats," Cats GM Rob Katz said.

"Rod, Bobby and Corey have a great opportunity to showcase their skills in training camp and give us more depth and competition on defence."

[Angry Pope]

The Rookie Pool Allotment has been setup....

Notes: Diving into the money pool
Packers have highest rookie cap allotment

By TOM SILVERSTEIN

Posted: May 4, 2006

No team will have more salary cap money to devote to their rookies than the Green Bay Packers.


"We've got more people to sign," general manager Ted Thompson said Thursday.

Green Bay had a league-high 12 draft picks, including top-five selection A.J. Hawk, so the National Football League allocated the Packers $6,647,633 under the 2006 rookie salary cap pool, according to a source with access to NFL Players Association salary data.

The Packers will need every penny of allotment to fit Hawk and the 11 others under the rookie cap. Last year, the No. 5 pick, Tampa Bay running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, had a first-year salary cap number of $2.327 million, and salaries are expected to increase at least 10% this year.

So, more than a third of that cap allotment will go toward Hawk's deal.

The Packers easily had the most selections in the draft despite starting out with just seven picks on Saturday. Through a series of trades, Thompson accumulated five additional picks and wound up selecting one player in the first, two each in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds and one in the seventh.

Seven teams tied for the second-most number of picks with 10, and one of them, the New York Jets, fell just short of the largest rookie salary cap allotment.

The Jets received $6,631,295 million, followed by Tennessee ($5,844,517), San Francisco ($5,646,962), Houston ($5,390,902), Buffalo ($5,366,937), New Orleans ($5,220,174), St. Louis ($4,880,531), Cleveland ($4,876,144), Baltimore ($4,762,876) and New England ($4,617,429).

The lowest allotment was to the Atlanta Falcons ($2,069,514), who had just five picks and no first-rounder.

The rookie pool is determined by assigning a salary cap value to each selection in the draft with the first pick receiving the highest value and the last pick the lowest. Last year, the Packers had 11 selections and the No. 24 pick in the first round and were allocated $4,483,150 for their rookie salary cap.

The allotment is the maximum amount of salary cap dollars a team can spend on its rookie class. The rookie cap is not separate from the overall salary cap and exists only to put a limit on the amount a team can spend on rookies.

As of Thursday, the Packers were $12.36 million beneath the 2006 salary cap. The $6.647 million they are allowed to spend on rookies will come out of that $12.36 million figure.

[Rupert]

Brooks was a good player for us. He was mostly a backup. It seemed obvious we wanted more from someone playing the Mike, which he was best suited for. I think he had stints at Will and Sam but never really brought what the organization wanted. I don't know why.

Personally, I thought he could have been a solid but unspectacular starter. Sometimes it's better to have players like that on your team filling roles while other players are boom-or-bust. The solid players are the glue to keep the thing together while the boom-or-bust guys have their ups and downs. A team of boom-or-bust types might never gel at the same time leaving you what we've seen from the Raiders recently.

Gruden went heavily toward the solid but unspectacular guys and hoped to fill in with boom players. It's a solid strategy that neither Callahan nor Turner cared about adhering to. The draft has made it obvious Art Shell is bringing that mentality back.

[Angry Pope]

Andre Rison in trouble....

Rison loses NFL pension in child-support case

GENESEE COUNTY
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Friday, May 05, 2006
By Ron Fonger
bmickle@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6317

GENESEE COUNTY - Former Pro Bowl receiver and Flint Northwestern star athlete Andre Rison has lost his NFL pension to pay for past-due child support in Michigan.

A court-appointed receiver said Thursday that he has won more than $64,000 in pension funds to help pay down a child support debt here of about $100,000 owed to ex-wife Tonja Rison of Southfield and their two children.

David Findling, the Royal Oak attorney appointed to recover Rison's assets in the county, provided a copy of the check from the NFL Players Second Career Savings Plan dated April 19.



"There have been a lot of ongoing things to try to recoup the money that is owed to Tonja Rison," Findling said.

"One of the ways we can do this is by taking someone's pension."

The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Rison's attorney, David A. Kallman of Lansing.

Findling was assigned by the county's Probate Court to find Rison's assets in 2002, and for years the former NFL star and his representatives have claimed he did not have the money to pay child support debts here and in Georgia to Raycoa Handley, a Flint native who is the mother of two of Rison's other children.

Rison last played for the NFL's Oakland Raiders, but he starred for the Atlanta Falcons and in the Super Bowl for the Green Bay Packers as well.

He came back to play in the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts before leaving football.

He has been jailed over criminal charges tied to his child support problems in Georgia and Michigan.

Findling said Rison has few if any remaining assets but is owed money by the Raiders.

"My powers are limited to property or assets in Michigan," he said, but "the NFL does business here," making the domestic relations order to tap the pension legitimate.

Randall Kessler, an attorney who represents Handley, said he expects to register orders in Michigan to secure some of the pension money for the $50,000 owed in Georgia.

"Congratulations to the receiver for doing a good job," Kessler said. "He still owes a lot of money to us. There's definitely still a debt here."

Kessler said the last he was aware, Rison was trying to sign a contract with an arena football team.

[Angry Pope]

Here is a picture of Ben Davidson that I should have included earlier....

Hit it Here... (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0Je5xYxiltEuAQBiaijzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBsNXZtZnJ jBHNlYwNwcm9mBHZ0aWQDSTk5OV83Mw--/SIG=12i4qrali/EXP=1146936241/**http%3a//images.absolutenow.com/poster/Ben_Davidson/10108299.jpg)

[Angry Pope]

Here are some pictures from minicamp.....

Hit it here... (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060505/capt.307304b4b21e4b4fac9cb1620c7c488c.raiders_mini camp_football_cams108.jpg)


Hit it here... (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060505/capt.88c0ac9412d14619a9ce355d0378c97f.raiders_camp _cams109.jpg)


Hit it here.... (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060505/capt.5c63d434703647398585e06db4de281f.brooks_chanc e_football_cams102.jpg)


Hit it here... (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060505/capt.63d0e6556d6d4537abe5a8bfc0691334.raiders_camp _cams104.jpg)


Hit it here... (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060505/capt.95aa1383fa844de6912ef2056443557f.brooks_chanc e_cams103.jpg)


Hit it here... (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060505/capt.fca4bd4204a34a7a95597d22796ccc67.brooks_chanc e_cams101.jpg)

[Angry Pope]

Here is a better view of the rookie pool allotment....


Rookie allocations


Following are the 2006 rookie pool dollars allocated to each NFL team, the maximum in aggregate cap space that clubs can spend on their draft choices and undrafted free agents:

Team Picks Rookie pool

Green Bay 12 $6,647,633
N.Y. Jets 10 $6,631,295
Tennessee 10 $5,844,517
San Francisco 9 $5,646,962
Houston 7 $5,390,902
Buffalo 9 $5,366,937
New Orleans 8 $5,220,174
St. Louis 10 $4,880,531
Cleveland 10 $4,876,144
Baltimore 10 $4,762,876
New England 10 $4,617,429
Oakland 7 $4,504,263
Philadelphia 8 $4,256,970
Tampa Bay 10 $4,213,367
Detroit 7 $4,121,438
Arizona 7 $4,100,955
Denver 7 $3,853,423
Pittsburgh 9 $3,852,681
Dallas 8 $3,786,517
San Diego 8 $3,724,681
Minnesota 6 $3,708,617
Cincinnati 8 $3,688,985
Carolina 8 $3,673,327
N.Y. Giants 7 $3,523,882
Kansas City 7 $3,394,243
Indianapolis 7 $3,157,508
Miami 6 $3,023,638
Chicago 7 $2,899,270
Jacksonville 6 $2,871,527
Seattle 6 $2,830,866
Washington 6 $2,241,339
Atlanta 5 $2,069,514
Total 255 $133,382,411

[Angry Pope]

Here is how it works if you are interested....

Green Bay's allocation slightly more than Jets'

Len Pasquarelli



Never mind the no deal option that is part of television's new favorite catch-phrase.


During last weekend's NFL draft, Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson was all about the art of the deal, maneuvering his way through four trades on Saturday, including the one that sent disgruntled wide receiver Javon Walker to the Denver Broncos, and another swap on Sunday afternoon.


The draft board bargaining netted Thompson and the Packers, who consummated three trades in a frenetic 20-minute stretch of the second round alone, a league-high 12 selections after starting the lottery with only seven choices. Thompson's machinations turned an original three first-day selections into five picks in the opening three rounds -- one in the first round and two each in the second and third stanzas.


And the staggering Green Bay draft bounty has now turned into the league's biggest rookie allocation pool for 2006.


Green Bay has a rookie pool of $6.647 million, slightly more than the New York Jets, who at $6.63 million also earned one of the largest allocations in league history. Their rookie pools are nearly 60 percent higher than the league average of $4.168 million. Then again, with 22 choices to sign between the two franchises, the Packers and Jets have a lot more work to do.


"We've got more people to sign," Thompson told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, stating the obvious.


And the Packers have more money with which to sign them. The allocation of $6.647 million is roughly $500,000 more than San Francisco, awarded the highest rookie allocation in 2005, received last spring. The 49ers had the top pick in the draft last season, along with 10 other selections. Green Bay's allocation was boosted not only by having exercised more choices than any franchise in the league this year, but also by the selection of Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk with the fifth overall pick in the draft.


The rookie pool is essentially a cap within a cap. It represents the maximum that a team can spend, in terms of salary cap room, to sign its draft choices and undrafted college free agents. A team's rookie allocation is part of, not in addition to, its overall spending limit. The cap ceiling for 2006 is $102 million per team, so the Green Bay rookie pool represents 6.5 percent of that.


Green Bay is approximately $12.4 million under the cap limit.


The formula for deriving each team's rookie pool is regarded as Byzantine even by the most astute team officials, and is basically a function of how many overall choices a franchise makes and where those picks are slotted in each round. The Packers had top five choices in just two of seven rounds and top seven picks in only three rounds. But for all his moving up and down the draft order, Thompson rarely dropped below the top half of any stanza. That element, and the sheer volume of selections, created the lofty rookie pool allocation for the Packers.


The large allocations awarded the Jets, San Francisco ($5.646 million) and Buffalo ($5.366 million) were indicative of the fact those were the three franchises with multiple first-round selections.


In all, there were eight teams this year that amassed 10 or more selections each and, of that group, only the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Bucs ranked outside of the top 10 in rookie allocation funds. There are seven teams with rookie pools of $5 million or more and 14 franchises were awarded allocations higher than the league average of $4.168 million.


The Atlanta Falcons, who exercised a league-low five choices and did not have a first-round selection, were awarded the lowest allocation, just $2.069 million. Four other teams received pools of less than $3 million.


From a leaguewide standpoint, the total allocation of $133.38 million is an all-time high and it represents a 5 percent bump from the 2005 pool, with that rate of increase holding steady for the past two years. Before that, the rookie pool had been fairly "flat," with increases of just 2 percent.

[Angry Pope]

Other minicamp photos here....

Hit it here.... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=24957)

[CrossBones]

Other minicamp photos here....

Hit it here.... (http://www.raiders.com/fanzone/galleryPhoto.jsp?contentId=24957)Hey I thought Bing was going to be #58? :o

[Rupert]

Shows you what Bing knows. :eek:

[Angry Pope]

An article on Brooks and some camp stuff...

May 5, 2006, 5:09PM

QB Brooks Gets Shot at Job in Oakland


By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Randy Moss jogged by Aaron Brooks between drills and slapped him a low five. He greeted Brooks in the locker room with a friendly welcome and 'what's up?'

Moss later caught a few nice passes from his new quarterback, too.

"Being a quarterback and being on the same team and in the same offense as he is, it just brings a smile to your face," Brooks said Friday following the Oakland Raiders' morning minicamp practice. "Because he can make the weakest quarterback the best.

"To have an opportunity to play with a receiver who's as talented as he is, you've just got to embrace it and try to do everything you can to get him the ball but not try to overdo it."

Owner Al Davis brought in Brooks last month to replace Kerry Collins, and Brooks will get the chance to win the top job come training camp in July. With that title comes the demanding chore of turning around an underachieving offense.

If Brooks becomes the starter as expected, that first will mean finding a way to get more out of stars such as Moss, LaMont Jordan and Jerry Porter.

While Moss dealt with nagging injuries for much of last season, Collins and fired coach Norv Turner were criticized for not getting the most out of Moss in his first season with the franchise. He had only one multi-touchdown game and finished the season with 60 catches for 1,005 yards and eight TDs.

Brooks, who had started 82 straight games before being benched by New Orleans for the final three games of 2005, looked comfortable right away in silver and black.

On one play, he handed off to Jordan, then later made a nice pitch to Raiders' 1,000-yard rusher Jordan. Brooks easily hit Moss on an out route before nearly getting picked off by cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Moss seemed to be enjoying himself, too. Looking healthy and as fit as ever, he hollered in delight at one point.

"Yeah! Let's do it, Adi!" he yelled toward tight end James Adikisson.

Coach Art Shell, who Davis hired again to take Turner's place more than a decade after firing him following a 9-7 season, is already running a tight ship _ something his players appreciate considering many say this team has lacked discipline in recent years.

Brooks expects to be an outspoken leader for Oakland, which lost its final six games and eight of nine overall to finish at 4-12 and with one fewer victory than in Turner's first season.

While the defense made strides, the Raiders' offense struggled and didn't live up to the hype of being the high-powered unit many expected it to be.

Now, Brooks is determined to help change things. He received a vote of confidence when Oakland passed on the chance to draft USC's Matt Leinart with the seventh overall pick in last week's draft, going instead with Texas safety Michael Huff.

"Aaron is a competitor, he's got a strong arm," offensive lineman Barry Sims said. "It will be exciting to have someone in there who's got some mobility and some leadership. He's a good quarterback and we're excited to have him in here."

The 30-year-old Brooks spent the past six seasons with the Saints after playing for Green Bay in his first NFL campaign in 1999, but had a sour ending in New Orleans after questioning whether the organization was headed in the right direction.

It wasn't an easy year after the Saints became homeless in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina.

That left Brooks as one of few capable quarterbacks left on the free agent market this offseason.

"It's over with. We had three games left," he said. "If that's their decision, I'm fine with it. They did what they felt was best for the organization. I'm moving on. I'm glad to be a Raider. New Orleans is New Orleans and it's back there in the past. The only thing I've got left there is a lot of memories, a lot of friends, teammates and a house that I'm trying to sell."

The Raiders scored only 51 points with just six touchdowns in their final five games.

When the Raiders cut Collins, Shell was left to consider Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter.

Tuiasosopo has just two starts in his five-year career. Walter, a third-round pick out of Arizona State last year, didn't play as a rookie and had groin surgery this offseason. He threw for 85 touchdowns and 10,617 yards during his college career.

Both Tuiasosopo and Walter plan to challenge Brooks _ and both took snaps with the No. 1 unit Friday.

"I come in thinking I'm going to have to compete anyway," Brooks said. "Nothing is given."

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video on Art's coaching....

Here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guz1_RZrzGQ&search=art%20shell)

[Angry Pope]

The new guys give their first impressions....

First Impressions

May 5, 2006


This past Thursday, The Oakland Raiders welcomed their 2006 NFL Draft choices for the start of the Raiders three-day mandatory mini-camp. So far, these seven rookies have been subjected to meetings, practices, playbook study, photo opportunities, media scrutiny and more.

The Raiders first round draft choice, 7th overall, safety Michael Huff is very excited to be here. "I'm very excited, just to be here and put on the Silver and Black, I just want to get out there and practice," Huff said. He is also excited to be wearing number 24 for the Silver and Black, "It means a lot, Hall of Famer Willie Brown wore the number, for me to wear this number is special." When it comes to the Raider Nation, Huff knows that they are the best fans and have strong support for their team, "They're the best fans in the world, coming to the Black Hole and playing every Sunday is going to be fun."

LB Thomas Howard, second round choice, is also excited about being a part of the Raider Nation, "I'm feeling good, it's good to get around the organization and meet some new faces. It's all part of the process, I'm excited about the process, and I am ready to get to it," Howard said.

Raiders third round pick OL Paul McQuistan knows the history of the Raiders coaching staff and is ready to be a part of this organization, "It's exciting, to get coached by some of the best coaches and go out there and win some games," McQusitan said.

LB Darnell Bing, the Raiders fourth round pick, says "It's a wonderful feeling, just growing up and watching the Raiders here and there, it's a wonderful thing just to be here." Bing's goal as an NFL rookie this year is to start some games and become a top defensive rookie.

His new teammate OL Kevin Boothe also expressed his excitement and knowledge of the Silver and Black, "It's great to come to a franchise so rich in tradition...who would have thought five years ago, that I would be in The Oakland Raiders facility right now," Boothe said.

Raiders seventh round pick C Chris Morris knows all about the Commitment to Excellence of the Raiders. "I heard about that Commitment to Excellence, it's something historic, and not a lot of people like the Raiders, they know it's a tough group and I am ready to join that. People fear them, and now they are going to fear me," Morris said.

Mr. Irrelevant, WR Kevin McMahan, said he was in tears when he got the call as the last pick of the 2006 Draft and did not believe it to be true. "It's an unbelievable feeling, I really can't even explain it, I didn't even believe it at first, I thought someone was playing a prank on me, when I saw my name come across the screen, I put my head down and tears started to come to my eyes," McMahan said.

All seven of the Raiders Draft choices seem to be ready for the challenges ahead and cannot wait to get out on the field to prove to the Raider Nation that they belong on this team.

[Angry Pope]

Ticket sales....

According to a Raiders official, the club expects to exceed its season ticket total of approximately 30,000 of a year ago but it doesn't appear as if there will be a huge increase after the club took over ticket-selling duties from the now defunct Oakland Football Marketing Association.

As part of the agreement when the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, the independent OFMA handled sales of tickets for Oakland home games, sales of which were supposed to help repay a bond for renovating the stadium.

[Angry Pope]

Danny Clark had a birthday party today....

Hit it here.... (http://dannyclark55.com/birthday.htm)

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of Danny Clark knocking down a lineman....

Hit it here... (http://dannyclark55.com/danny_clark_video.htm)

[Rupert]

Was that Gibson cleaning up the RB with Sapp? Yes it was. Clark pancaked that guy though.

[Angry Pope]

Here is some news on Howie...

05/07/2006

It’s a night for celebrations at Villanova


By BOB GROTZ bobgrotz@aol.com

VILLANOVA -- Players filed in from all over the country, from Howie Long of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Brian Westbrook and Brian Finneran, of the NFL’s Eagles and Falcons. From head coach Andy Talley, who helped resurrect the Villanova University football program in 1985, to 1960s running back and NFL star Billy Joe, the Wildcats huddled Saturday night to celebrate 109 years of running, passing and tackling on the Main Line.

Jimmy Murray, the 1952 freshman who would distinguish himself as general manager of the Eagles, pulled out his favorite passage.


"Jim Thorpe was asked if the game between Carlisle and Army was not the toughest game he ever played," Murray said to a full house at the Villanova Room. "He said, ‘Not by a long shot. The hardest game I ever played with the Carlisle Indians was against Villanova. I never in all my career struck a team that played the game the way they did.’

"That," Murray continued, "is the essence of Villanova football."

Long, the NFL on Fox TV analyst and big screen star told the gathering how he arrived on campus as a 225-pound tight end -- from Cardinal O’Hara -- and exited a man. Long, 46, recorded 84 career sacks and made eight Pro Bowl appearances for the Oakland Raiders, helping the club to a Super Bowl title.

"So much of who I am today was defined by my time here at Villanova," Long said. "I honestly believe if fate had taken me in a different direction in 1977, I’m not sure I would be standing up here for any other university having been able to make a living doing what I do, now talking about football on TV."

The first season of Wildcats football as a varsity sport was 1894. Since then the program made five bowl game appearances, played in the NCAA Division I playoffs six times and had 22 players named first-team all-American.

More than 100 Wildcats played professionally most recently Westbrook, a Pro Bowl performer with the Eagles, and Finneran, annually one the Falcons’ top receivers. Both won the prestigious Walter Payton award given the top offensive player in Division I-AA football, Westbrook in 2001, Finneran in 1997.

Talley won the Eddie Robinson Award as the nation’s top I-AA coach and the FCA/GTE National Coach of the Year laurel in 1997.

"I think the most rewarding thing about this is we were able to bring back 250 former players that have such a great feeling about Villanova football," Talley said. "From as far back as the 1940’s into the 2000’s, it’s a homecoming of sorts. It’s an opportunity for them to come back and know they’re still a part of the Villanova family and we still care about him."

Joe, 65, and Joe Rogers, 82, who played for the Wildcats in the 1940s, shared their football stories with the Villanova Football Gridiron Club.

Joe remembered a game against a Navy team that had a running back with "thick legs" name Joe Bellino.

"He put six touchdowns on us," Joe said. "But I met President (Dwight) Eisenhower that day. I got to say hello to him. That’s probably the only good thing that happened that day."

Talley couldn’t hold back the laughter on that one.

Talley, nodding toward Rogers, the oldest football alum at the dinner, thought the tradition made his job bringing back football after it was cut out of the budget in 1981 significantly easier.

"Villanova always had a great football tradition and that helped us a great deal when we came back," Talley said. "We had a Howie Long. We had a Mike Siani (No. 1 pick of the Oakland Raiders). It wasn’t like we were building something out of the blue. And I think the national exposure has been really helpful to our program especially with Brian Westbrook playing in Villanova. I think the fact that Westbrook and Finneran are playing in the NFL is one of the reasons scouts are looking at our players.

"Division I-AA football is education first, football second. But it’s nice to see we can do both."

[Angry Pope]

Here is something on Taj from Corkran....

DT Anttaj Hawthorne struggled in his adjusting to the NFL after a standout collegiate career at Wisconsin. That led to his being released at the end of training camp. However, the Raiders saw enough potential in Hawthorne that they re-signed him during the season and ultimately elevated him to the 53-man roster after an injury sidelined starter Warren Sapp. Hawthorne has decent size and strength, but he is isn't as strong as the Raiders' other tackles. His best asset is his speed and quickness. He needs to improve his overall technique and get stronger before he realizes his potential. Just the same, the Raiders envision Hawthorne developing into a player who becomes part of the defensive line rotation, though he isn't expected to start this season.

[Angry Pope]

Blanda highlights....

Tap it here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNIIWwAq3RY&search=blanda)

[Angry Pope]

NFL Network to do college games as well...

NFL Network will be giving colleges a try

5/7/2006


The NFL is getting into the college football business.

The league's NFL Network will announce today that it's picked up its first college bowl game — the Insight Bowl — and will add other college-related programming this season. "We're broadening our scope to include all football," spokesman Seth Palansky says, saying the network might add more bowls "where it makes sense."

This is the latest tactic to get the 30-month-old NFL Network, now in about 35 million households, into more homes. Its big move was eight late-season prime-time NFL games this season, giving up what probably would have been more than $400 million annually if those games had been shopped to an outside network.

And it's already flexed its muscle by showing up at NFL venues — staging its own Super Bowl pregame show and NFL draft coverage — that used to be exclusive events for other networks.

The league also gave itself exclusive access to cover its annual scouting combine and decided this season, for the first time, some NFL games will be rebroadcast on weeknight TV exclusively on the NFL Network.

But now the league is going after games where it doesn't own the balls. This fall the NFL Network will begin airing college coaches' midweek news conferences, will unveil its own Saturday college football highlight show and will add the Senior Bowl all-star game.

John Junker, president of the Insight and Fiesta bowls, says there was "strong interest" at ESPN in keeping the Insight Bowl. The bowl, played in Tempe, Ariz., and tentatively scheduled for Dec. 29, gets the sixth bowl pick from the Big 12 and Big Ten.

Junker, asked Sunday if he questioned how quickly the NFL Network's household reach can grow as the Insight Bowl gives up exposure in more than 90 million households on ESPN: "The NFL Network can answer those questions with an exclamation point."

And Junker is succinct on whether marquee bowls, such as the Fiesta, could end up on the NFL Network: "The sky's the limit."

College football would welcome another potentially big-time bidder chasing its TV rights. Says Kevin Weiberg, commissioner of the Big 12, "Competition is a good thing."

And Weiberg says he's not worried about doing business with the pros. He says ABC/ESPN, the leader in college football TV and owned by Disney, obviously has a "profit motive. And I don't view the NFL as being different."

The NFL Network, he suggests, is just another channel: "I really view it as nothing more than another distribution platform."

[Angry Pope]

Here Sam Williams draft profile...

Sam Williams

Position: Outside Linebacker
College: Fresno State
Height: 6-5
Weight: 244
Hometown: Clayton, Calif.



ANALYSIS

Positives: Tall and rangy player with good straight-line speed … Shows the range to drop back in pass coverage, using his change-of-direction agility to make plays working in space … Solid tackler who will face up and wrap up ball carriers with force … Flashes good hand usage to avoid low blocks … Brings his hips and displays sudden moves coming off the edge as a pass rusher … Special teams standout who serves as the jumper on field goals and extra points … Has made improvements in the weight room, adding 45 pounds to his frame since his freshman year.

Negatives: Lacks the raw power needed to consistently defeat blockers … Allows the opponent to get into his chest too much and needs to develop better hand extension to keep the blockers off his body … Seems a step slow recognizing the play … Must do a better job of mirroring the tight ends in the short area, as he fails to redirect, allowing too much cushion while losing containment … Tends to overrun plays and fails to break down action when working in zone coverage … Needs to push himself harder in the weight room … May be too tall to sink his hips and stay low in his pads in order to be effective defending the pass.

CAREER NOTES

A talented linebacker who came into his own as a junior … Rangy, quick defender who was one of the team's best leapers, doubling as a key member on special teams as the jumper on opposing field goals and extra points … Recorded 145 tackles (93 solo) with 4 sacks for minus-19 yards and 13 stops for losses of 36 yards in 45 games.

2002 SEASON

All-Western Athletic Conference honorable mention … Played in 10 games, starting nine (first two at weakside linebacker before moving to the strong side) … Recorded 60 tackles (37 solo) with 6 stops for losses of 11 yards and 3 quarterback pressures … Intercepted a pass and deflected 6 others … Also recovered a pair of fumbles.
Wisconsin - Set up a score when he advanced a fumble recovery 6 yards … Deflected a pass and had 7 tackles (5 solo) with a pressure.
San Diego State - Made 8 tackles (4 solo) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage and a pair of pressures.
Oregon - Switched to strongside linebacker, responding with a season-high 11 tackles (8 solo).
Oregon State - Made a solo tackle, but suffered a separated right shoulder on a fumble recovery.
Rice, Colorado State and Southern Methodist - Did not play (shoulder).
Boise State - Came off the bench to post 8 tackles (7 solo) and deflect a pass.
Hawaii - Returned to the starting lineup with 4 tackles and a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Nevada - Batted away 4 passes, intercepted another for a 2-yard return and was in on 3 solo tackles.
San Jose State - Followed with 10 tackles and 2 stops for losses.
Louisiana Tech - Brought down tailback Joe Smith for a 2-yard loss and made 6 tackles.
Georgia Tech (Silicon Valley Bowl) - Did not play … Ruled ineligible by the WAC office, which cited a new rule that athletes must earn at least six credits per semester in order to remain eligible.

2001 SEASON

Played in every game, starting the final seven at weakside outside linebacker … Recorded 61 tackles (42 solo) with a pair of sacks for minus-7 yards and 4 stops for losses of 11 yards … Caused a fumble.

2000 SEASON

Played in 10 games as a reserve outside linebacker, seeing action mostly on special teams … Recorded 16 tackles (7 solo).

1999 SEASON

Played in 11 games, collecting 8 tackles (7 solo).

1998 SEASON

Redshirted as a freshman.

INJURY REPORT

Missed the 2002 Rice, Colorado State and Southern Methodist games after separating his right shoulder vs. Oregon State.

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS

4.71 in the 40-yard dash … 320-pound bench press … 475-pound squat … 310-pound power clean.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Clayton Valley (Clayton, Calif.) High … Recorded 138 tackles (79 solo) and 5 interceptions (two were returned for touchdowns) as a senior … Also had 10 deflected passes and a pair of blocked PATs to help lead the team to a 9-3 record (the school's best in a decade) … First-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League … Second-team all-state selection by Cal-Hi Sports and a SuperPrep All-Far West Region selection … First-team All-Bay Area by the Oakland Tribune and named to the San Francisco-Metro All-Star team by the San Francisco Examiner … Named Clayton Valley High's "Mr. Defense."

PERSONAL

Sociology major … Son of Joann and Sam Williams … Born July 28, 1980 … Resides in Clayton, Calif.

[Angry Pope]

An article by Barry Sims...

The Lowdown On Offensive Linemen

Like most football fans, you were probably glued to your TV set for hours at a time watching the NFL draft. It seems like it’s been so long since the Super Bowl, anything that gets us thinking about football is a good thing.

While watching the draft, you may have noticed the announcers giving you scouting reports on various offensive linemen. Since we offensive linemen don’t usually have game film of us throwing touchdown passes or sacking the quarterback, I thought I would go through some of the scout terminology for offensive linemen.

1) “He can shuffle, slide and mirror.” As a tackle, so much of what you do is based on balance and leverage. This term refers to a guy’s ability to move his feet to stay in balance and in between the defender and the quarterback. At the NFL Combine, they have something called a mirror drill. That’s when they set up two cones about five yards apart. A defensive player lines up against an offensive lineman in a pass protection stance. As the defensive lineman moves from side to side, the offensive lineman has to shuffle his feet while maintaining his stance to stay with him. We’ve been doing the same drill since high school. Only at the Combine, the players are a foot taller, about 100 pounds heavier and much faster.

2) “He’s a natural knee-bender.” Linemen usually bend in one of two ways: at their waist or at their knees. Bending at your knees is far more difficult but far more effective. If you bend at your waist, it’s really easy to lose your balance. When a defender puts his body on you, he can feel which direction your weight is leaning. If you bend at the waist and you’re even slightly off balance, a defensive player will push you in that direction and he can put you on the ground. If you bend at the knees, it’s much more difficult for a defender to get leverage. When I do clinics, I teach kids to get in the proper position. If they feel really uncomfortable doing it, chances are they’re in the right position.

3) “He can punch.” A punch in linemen’s terms is the initial jolt you give a defender with your hands to slow his momentum. Think of the defender as a boxing opponent who’s bearing down on you. The punch would be like a jab that you would use to slow down your opponent’s forward progress and stunt his momentum. The faster you can get your hands on a defender’s chest, the better blocker you become. If I get my hands on a defender’s shoulder pads consistently, he’s in for a long day.

4) “He’s got nastiness.” Scouts love a guy who finishes things. A guy with nastiness will drive his opponent into the ground. He’ll physically dominate on every play because he enjoys the contact and the competition. Players hate playing against guys who are nasty. Nasty players are relentless and you have to be more focused than ever against them. On the line, a little nastiness goes a long way.

5) “He’s a master technician.” When they describe a guy as a technician, it means he does all of the above things well and a whole lot more. So much of what we do is technique. Everyone is strong and fast in the NFL. That’s why we have to rely on such things as balance and leverage. The strongest guy in the league will get tossed on his butt every time if his opponent uses his leverage against him. A master technician usually doesn’t have that problem. Because his body is always in balance, it’s difficult to gain an advantage on him. People described D’Brickashaw Ferguson as a great technician. So much so that the NY Jets took him instead of Matt Leinart. It’s great to see offensive linemen getting some love. You can have the best quarterback in the history of the world on your team. If you don’t have five guys who can block for him. You’ll never be able to se what he can do.

[Angry Pope]

Mike Davis' son has a tryout with Tampa Bay...

Maybe it will help tryout cornerback Mike Davis from Arizona State that his dad Mike Davis was a longtime cornerback for the Oakland Raiders. Perhaps tryout safety Quentin Burrell of Notre Dame will benefit from the fact he is the great grandson of legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson.

[Angry Pope]

From Gruden....

Stanford rookie defensive tackle Julian Jenkins said he was inspired by being assigned No.99 for the minicamp. "I don't know if he'll wear 99," Gruden said. "I'm going to be pretty selective whoever I give that number to. If I get married again, (Warren Sapp ) will be my best man. I love that guy."

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of the AFC Wildcard game against the Houston Oilers in 1980...

Hit it here... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAGYSDQ-Rtw&search=oakland%20raiders)

[Angry Pope]

Chiefs against us in 1970...

Hit it here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EKXw3V--8Y&search=oakland%20raiders)

[CrossBones]

Here is a video of the AFC Wildcard game against the Houston Oilers in 1980...

Hit it here... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAGYSDQ-Rtw&search=oakland%20raiders)I was at that game with my Dad. One of my fondest memories. The first Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl in NFL History! ;)

[Angry Pope]

A video of our highlights throughout the years....

Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=AspXjBJeVn8&search=raiders)

[CrossBones]

You know what? Peploe say Stabler couldn't throw the ball deep, didn't have a strong arm...BS. take a look at that clip and you'll see some nice passing from the Snake!

[Angry Pope]

Here is Jano kicking a FG in college....

Hit it here... (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2000/nfldraft/players/video/janikowski_sebastian.mov)

[Angry Pope]

Here is Porter playing receiver and safety in college...

Hit it here... (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2000/nfldraft/players/video/porter_jerry.mov)

[Angry Pope]

Here is a video of the AFC Championship game in 1976 where we beat the Steelers...

Hit it here... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=p2DqRBuA1Ak&search=raiders)

[Angel]

Chiefs against us in 1970...

Hit it here.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EKXw3V--8Y&search=oakland%20raiders)
:p Nice video AP!

[Angry Pope]

I don't know how the date on it...


What Happen To....

George Blanda

Q: What was it like playing for the Silver and Black?

George Blanda: It was a great experience for me coming from a team similar when I came from the Bears. It was a tough, hard-nosed team. Playing for the Raiders was a thrill because I was on my last leg, I was 40 years old when I went to play with the Raiders. We had a lot of new people coming in at the same time, Daryle Lamonica, Willie Brown and Tom Keating. We had a great chemistry and we started a great tradition because we started winning immediately and we went 13-1 that season and went to the Super Bowl.

Q: What was your greatest memory of playing for the Raiders?

George Blanda: The game that I remember the most was playing against Cleveland in 1970. We were down 20-13 and I came in and we got a touchdown and then we got a field goal in the last three seconds. We scored 10 points in the last minute to win the game and we won 23-20. We had a lot of great games that I can remember, I remember Lamonica throwing a lot of long bombs to beat Kansas City 41-7.

Q: Who were your coaches and how did they help you succeed in your professional career?

George Blanda: John Madden was quite a coach to play for, he was very dynamic. He was interesting, articulate and a great motivator. He would get up and analyze what to look for and how to look for things with the same intensity as he does on television today.

Q: Who were some of your favorite teammates?

George Blanda: I liked everyone of them, we had 36 guys on the team back then and for us to all to pull together and win it made it a lot of fun. Pete Banaszak was one of my closest friends on the team, we lived close together so he and my wife were close. Daryle Lamonica, Fred Biletnikoff and Gene Upshaw were also close friends, I wouldn’t exclude anybody on the team though they were all good friends.

Q: Do you still talk with former teammates?

George Blanda: I run into some of them from time to time, I saw Ben Davidson and Otis Sistrunk at a golf tournament. I see Ted Hendricks and Pete Banazak quite often. I get to visit with a lot of former teammates when I go to Raider games as well.

Q: How did you become a member of the Raiders?

George Blanda: The Oilers released me and I think most teams thought I was retired. Mr. Davis picked me up once I was put on waivers and that’s the way it happened.

Q: What do you do now since you have retired?

George Blanda: I live in Chicago for six months and in Palm Springs for six months so I play a lot of golf. I enjoy going to the race track to watch the horses run from time to time and my wife and I travel quite a bit. I still love to go to games. I probably watch as much football as anybody except for coaches, I really love to watch the games.

[Angry Pope]

Jerry Rice to enter College Hall Of Fame....

Gagliardi, Ric highlight Hall of Fame divisional class

Associated Press

MORRISTOWN, N.J. - NFL great Jerry Rice and college football's all-time winningest coach, John Gagliardi of St. John's University in Minnesota, were among seven new members to join the divisional class of the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

The group, to be enshrined at the hall on Aug. 11-12 in South Bend, Ind., also includes defensive back Kevin Dent of Jackson State, quarterback John Friesz of Idaho, receiver Ronnie Mallett of Central Arkansas and coaches Dick Farley of Williams (Mass.) and Vernon "Skip" McCain of Maryland State.

The divisional class considers players and coaches from NCAA Divisions I-AA, II, III and the NAIA.

Rice starred at Mississippi Valley State from 1981-84, finishing with 310 career receptions, 4,856 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns. Drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, he was selected for the Pro Bowl 13 times, won three Super Bowls and broke virtually every receiving record. His NFL totals exceed 1,500 receptions, 22,000 receiving yards and 200 touchdowns.

Gagliardi has a 432-118-11 record at Carroll College (Mont.) from 1949-52 and St. John's University from 1953-present. His 57 coaching seasons tie him with fellow Hall of Famer Amos Alonzo Staggs for most seasons coached. Gagliardi's teams have won four national championships and 27 conference titles. Only two of his teams had losing records, and none since 1967.

A three-time Sheridan Black College National Defensive Player of the Year, Dent led the nation in interceptions in 1986 and currently ranks among the top 25 in NCAA Division I-AA history with 21 career picks.

Friesz twice led the nation in passing and received the 1989 Walter Payton Award as Division I-AAs National Player of the Year. With over 10,000 career passing yards, he ranks among the top 20 in Division I-AA history. He played 10 seasons in the NFL.

A three-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference selection, Mallett shattered numerous receiving records, many of which he still holds. Among them: single-game receiving yards (242), career touchdown receptions (30) and career receiving yards (2,649).

Farley posted a 114-19-3 record between 1987-03 at the Division III school. Williams did not have a losing season on his watch, recording 128 consecutive games without back-to-back losses. His .849 win percentage ranks sixth among coaches in all divisions.

McCain had a 102-21-5 mark from 1948-63 at Maryland State, which during that span was a football power among historically black colleges. His teams won four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and never had a losing season. He is one of only 28 coaches in college football to have a winning percentage greater than .800 among those who have coached at least nine seasons.

[CrossBones]

Nice finds AP. You're on a roll today!

Thanks as always for al lthe great information. This is marvelous! :D

[Angry Pope]

John Madden, one nice guy....

Bumping into an NFL legend

By R.B. HEADLEY
Times Sports Editor

Between the NFL draft and swirling controversies about Denver's Ashley Lelie suggesting he may sit out a season, I've realized football is never out of season because stories like these always get headlines.

It also reaffirms just how interesting conversations with pro athletes can be, especially when it's a childhood hero...

"Did you ever consider a Sumo wrestling career? You lost how many playoff games to the Pittsburgh Steelers? Did you ever secretly go double-dating with the Denver Broncos' "Barrel Man"? Who styles your hair? Do you even comb your hair? Are there any other TV jobs available for well-rounded, football-obsessed blithering media geeks?"

Those were just a few questions racing through my mind as I sped (only about 60 MPH) through another lovely rural mountain town. Forget the silly stop signs. Forget the one stop light or occasional frightened child. I've always admired the friendliness of local residents, but there was no time to exchange all those "You're No. 1" signs being flashed in my direction.

Nothing was stopping me from meeting NFL coaching legend, video-game guru and my personal fitness role model....the great Mr. John Madden.

Believe it or not, Big John almost didn't get the pleasure of meeting me. It was just another typical Tuesday morning at the old nuthou...uhh, newspaper.

News reporters were pursuing hard-hitting stories and trading insults. Editors created wonderful eye-catching page designs while muttering about something called a deadline.

Meanwhile, I was stuck on some silly transitional phrase and wondering whether anyone brought doughnuts. My "concentration" was suddenly broken by one of those annoying ringing telephones.

"Hey, honey!!" the managing editor said to either his wife or some female fan. "What?! He's really here? I guess that's worth checking out."

Great. The local beer-truck driver had accepted an offer to replace me. Oh well, I already most of my stolen pens and survival food (synonym for extra Twinkies) packed in a spare box. Time to head for the door...

"Hey, Headcheese (another professional name), someone spotted the Madden Cruiser in the Arby's parking lot. So get out of here."

While hustling/stumbling into this familiar food haven, I expected to see a large crowd hovering around the infamous former Oakland Raiders coach.

Instead, there was only a small group of rather large men -- including one super-sized fellow sitting alone in his own personal booth. This scruffy individual slumped over something resembling a chicken sandwich as I can identify almost any food within 100 meters.

No Super Bowl rings or Fox-TV apparel were on display. Yet I instantly recognized this companion of most good weekend couch potatoes...

"Uhhhh, Mr. Madden? I'm from the local newspaper. I'd like to take your photo. I'll try not to bother you too much."

I politely crouched...whoops, lost my balance. I politely TRIED to crouch in front of this TV celebrity to take a handsome profile shot...

"HEY!!! WHAT THE HE....(synonym for coach Barnett's last three games at CU)!!

The legend known as Madden had suddenly looked up to reveal a very irritated face. Kind of like the Raiders logo without an eyepatch.

However, my dog-eat-dog journalistic attitude allowed me to still try and take that picture...

"HEY!!! What do you think you're doing!?!"

Chicken particles and other unsavory items were nearly dribbling from Big John's mouth. The other large men quietly chuckled, especially when his next line stung worse than a loose hot meatball that bounces off your bare belly...

"You come over here and bother me! Then you say you aren't going to bother me! Then you START BOTHERING ME AGAIN!!"

I promptly retaliated with several seconds of impressive, word-free brainlock. My only thoughts were "Wow, I finally meet one of my favorite people from the world's all-time greatest game..and now he's going to drop-kick me like the 1960s Denver Broncos."

At that moment, the Emmy award-winning broadcaster must have realized I was crumbling faster than Ricky Williams' fantasy league value. He almost smiled and mumbled something like "at least sit down here and let me finish eating."

I offered another blank stare as Madden removed the top bun from his sandwich and plopped it on a tray.

Could once-in-a-lifetime meetings get any better than this?

Finally, after noting my disturbing fixation on half-eaten meals, Big John decided it was time to strike up some semblance of a conversation.

We began discussing a variety of topics from football to last week's football action to movies about football to whether I excelled at football (yow, had he been drinking something other than Mr. Pibb?).

However, the ice was broken and I even became brave enough to mention how his despicable Raiders had mutilated my beloved Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.

It turned me into one bawling, blabbering idiot -- a process which (of course) has never been repeated during these past 30 years of Viqueen fandom.

"You should have started crying in the second quarter," a totally unsympathetic Madden remarked. "Your guys never had a chance against us."

Come on, 32-14 was one of the Vikings' closest Super Bowls ever.

Anyhoo, I offered a few nervous giggles and calmly devoured two of his curly fries. Moments later, the now friendly Madden provided a brief tour of his famous Madden Cruiser. Big-screen TV, full-sized kitchen, satellite technology to pick up any football telecast....not a bad way to travel!

Finally -- as our quality time drew to a conclusion -- I offered some emotional farewells like "ride safely, buddy, and I'll see you when I'm covering the NFL someday."

Long awkward pause.

"Yeah, right...sure, good luck."

[Angel]

Dang it AP......hard to beat you to anything about the Raiders!! ;)