Dec 31 2004
The gang at PantherInsider.com is trying to get the word out to Panthers fans to show their love for Muhsin Muhammad and keep him from bolting to another team. Details are at the end of this interview with Muhammad himself.
Dec 31 2004
There are so many quality players on the Pittsburgh Steelers this season that it’s hard to pick just one to be the most valuable. At least, that’s what I think. The Steelers themselves, however, thought the decision was pretty damn easy. They voted linebacker James Farrior their MVP.
There was at least one dissenting vote, however, and it belonged to Farrior. He voted for running back Jerome Bettis.
“When they did choose me,” Farrior said, “I was a little surprised because I really think that (Bettis) is the heartbeat of the team right now. He has been an inspiration for everybody on this team. His leadership and what he brings to the game every week is really an inspiration for everybody.”
But those are the qualities that set Farrior apart from the rest of his teammates.
“He has been the leader of the defense and a productive player and performed at a very high level all year long,” Cowher said.
Farrior, the defensive captain, leads the Steelers with 118 tackles, the third time in his eight-year career that he surpassed 100. He also has four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight passes defensed, four sacks and four interceptions (one that he returned for a touchdown).
Dec 31 2004
Carolina Panthers wideout and Tecmo Bowl sensation Ricky Proehl is pondering retirement after 15 seasons in the NFL.
Proehl, 36, has one year remaining on his contract. He said he believes his body could withstand at least one more season, but he doesn’t know if his mind would be ready for another training camp.
“It’s something that gets harder every year to prepare yourself,” Proehl said. “Training camp’s tough for me, at my age. But it’s something that I’ve thought about a long time ago, that I’d never make a decision right after the season.”
Proehl, who played at Wake Forest and lives in Greensboro, said it’s also difficult being away from his family for a large part of the year.
Proehl said two years ago the only team he wanted to play for was the Panthers so he could be close to home. And that hasn’t changed.
Dec 31 2004
That’s what Ravens Chris McAllister told reporters yesterday. Looks like the year is ending on an even better note than I thought…
Coach Brian Billick has repeatedly denied a division among players, and some players believe the change in chemistry is just a result of losing, but McAlister is sure there is more to it.
“It’s something I’ve noticed personally,” McAlister told the Sun. “Maybe other people have and won’t say nothing about it. It is what it is.
“Even if we were going to the playoffs, it’s not a healthy situation. That’s the bottom line.”
Dec 30 2004
Not everyone will remember the late Reggie White as a “man of goodness.” Some remember an entirely different man…
Dec 30 2004
Y’know, Steve Largent and Jerry Rice were men about this sort of thing…
Dec 30 2004
ESPN.com’s Michael Smith writes in this article about Muhsin Muhammad’s signature end zone dance: the crossover.
It goes like this: Since Muhammad’s so big into hoops, whenever he scores, he makes figure eights with the football through his legs, as if dribbling a basketball crossover-style.
“Just the mentality of the crossover, man,” Muhammad said, “when you’re coming down the court and the guy’s looking you in your eyes, and you cross him over, it sends a message that the guy’s feeling good about how he’s playing.”
Muhammad’s been feeling it for, oh, two months or so. He’s squeezed a really good season into his last nine games, catching 64 passes for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s been the hottest receiver in the league the last seven weeks, helping spark Carolina’s 6-1 run with 48 catches for 820 yards and 10 scores, while posting two 10-catch performances.
Dec 30 2004
The South Carolina papers are a lot kinder to the Panthers these days than the Mississippi papers are to the Saints…
Weren’t these Saints supposed to be a major playoff contender? After all, the offensive weaponry was stocked complete with an athletic quarterback, Pro Bowl wideout and a dynamic running back. Sure, the defense was a little suspect, but the coaches assured us that those problems had been solved.
Here we are, 16 weeks later. Let’s take a look at the scenario. We have a team clinging to their playoff lives, coach Jim Haslett clinging to his job, and Saints fans clinging to a faint hope.
Somebody along the line forgot their lines in this script.
Dec 30 2004
Yeah, we kind of already knew that Tommy Maddox would start at QB, but Bill Cowher just wanted to keep the rest of us in suspense until after yesterday’s practice.
Ben Roethlisberger has bruised ribs, but the injury is not too serious, and he should be 100% for the playoffs. Big Ben also doesn’t think Terrell Suggs, who will be known in this blog from now on as “that bastard Terrell Suggs,” should be fined for his late hit on the rookie in the last Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game. Said Roethlisberger, “I don’t think he did anything dirty. He drilled me into the ground, which didn’t feel too good. But I don’t think it was anything illegal. He’s a great player, he’s a Pro Bowl player and you don’t expect cheap things coming from a guy like that.”
Geez, everybody has to acquit those Ravens linebackers…
Dec 29 2004
Boy, you gotta hand it to the genius at AP who came up with this insightful headline…
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