Cowboys Stadium guide reaches 500 times showing fans around, showing off TVs, suites

 Tours started at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium a year ago this week and have attracted more than a half-million people.

 In that time, no one has given more tours than 44-year-old cheap Dallas Cowboys  jerseys fan Barry Browning of Arlington. He conducted his 500th tour Wednesday, the first anniversary of his first public tour at the stadium.

Team officials said he's the first guide to hit that milestone.

Browning leads tours at the stadium three or four days a week, when he's not working as a self-employed personal trainer. Here are some of his highlights from his first year at Cowboys Stadium.

FIRST TOUR

Tour guides practiced with Cowboys employees and former Texas Stadium guides for several weeks before the opening last summer. But Browning said he wasn't nervous his first time out with a real tour group. That one was organized by his mother's travel group.

"I knew every person that was in the group of about 50, so I wasn't the least bit worried if I accidentally told them the wrong number of TVs," Browning said.

COMMON QUESTIONS TOUR GUIDES WON'T ANSWER

How much do the suites (or seats) cost?

"Unfortunately, that's something we don't provide," Browning said. "It's very, very complicated."

And it's often very, very expensive. The best seats require a $150,000 payment just to get the right to purchase tickets there for 30 years.

Browning said he refers those questions to the ticket and suite sales staff, although some guides will point out that $29 standing-room-only tickets are available for games.

COMMON QUESTIONS TOUR GUIDES WILL ANSWER

Browning said toilets and televisions are at the tops of people's minds when they first see the stadium. The ubiquity of the TV screens and the overall scale gets them thinking, he said.

wholesale Dallas Cowboys Jerseys Stadium gained a great deal of fame for its world-record video board hanging above the field, but it also has 3,000 other TV screens. Browning also tells visitors that there are 1,600 toilets in the stadium, about 60 percent of them for women.

"They really get a kick out of that, especially the ladies," Browning said.

MOST MEMORABLE TOUR

He worked at a private corporate event in the fall and led a tour group that included two discount Dallas Cowboys Jerseys cheerleaders and players Martellus Bennett and Jay Ratliff. Browning said the cheerleaders and players added their observations about what happens at halftime and post-game. They also compared the new stadium to the now-demolished Texas Stadium.

Besides being informative, it also turned out to be an especially entertaining tour, Browning said.

"Martellus Bennett is one of the funniest people you'll ever meet," Browning said. "He would actually raise his hand just like a little school kid would do, and he would ask a question."

FUNNIEST QUESTION

"A lady asked me where the yellow line was on the field," Browning said. "Her husband heard her, and he looked at me, and we both chuckled."

Browning explained to her that the yellow line is computer-generated for the benefit of people watching on TV.

OUT-OF-TOWN TOURISTS

Browning said tour groups are packed with international travelers, from New Zealand to Netherlands to the Caribbean islands.

"On almost any tour, you have people from out of the country or at least out of the state," he said.

In some cases, Browning said, he had to explain football since some on the tour weren't familiar with the sport. He noticed, though, that foreign rugby players are often intrigued by the stadium.

"They get a kick out of seeing the goal posts and going down on the field and kicking a football around," he said.

FAVORITE FEATURES

People on the tour tend to be particularly impressed by the giant video board, movable glass end zone doors and plush suites. Browning said he takes groups through either a 32-seat or a 42-seat suite.

Adults want to know how they could get into that suite on game day. Children sometimes have a different take.

"The kids are real cute," he said. "They always say, 'Where is the bedroom?' They think it's an actual apartment."

 

DeMarcus Ware Says Longer Season Will Shorten Careers

Here's what's happening around the National Football League on Thursday, June 24, 2010:

• Add Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware to the growing list of players lining up against Roger Goodell's proposed 18-game season.

Ware told ESPN Radio in Dallas that an extended season will shorten players' careers.

"18 games. That's a lot of games," he said on the Galloway and Company show. "People don't realize. We already have five games in the preseason this year plus 16 regular season. If they're trying to take away two games from the preseason and add them to the regular season, there are going to have to be a lot of changes.

"It's a lot of wear and tear on your body too. A guy like me though, I like to play football, so I'm ready for it ... When you think about it, people and just players in general can barely make it through a regular season. When you two more games to it, it's going to just make it even longer. We've already got 53 guys on the roster. You're going to have to bring in extra guys for help, to be honest.

"This is a different kind of sport. This is not basketball. It's not baseball where you can play 100 games. We only have 16 games because of how brutal it is on your body. You have to look at that. People will probably have shorter careers because of that."

Ware also spoke on a number of other issues, including Albert Haynesworth and Dallas' decision to let his good friend Flozell Adams go.

• Devin Hester has reached out to recently retired WR Isaac Bruce to help him get a handle on new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz's complex offense, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

''I called him a couple of weeks ago, and we talked about it,'' Hester told the paper. "We'll get on a field, watch some film and everything. I can't learn from anyone better."

Bruce earned four Pro Bowl selections running Martz's "Greatest Show on Turf" offense in St. Louis. He scored 48 TDs in the seven seasons Martz was either offensive coordinator or head coach and helped the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl

"It's just a perfect fit," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "I can see why a guy like Devin would reach out to a guy like Isaac."

Transaction Wire

• New England agreed to a two-year extension with linebacker Gary Guyton. The contract, including a signing bonus, will top $2 million.

• The Ravens signed veteran cornerback Walt Harris to a one-year deal. Harris, 35, is entering his 15th NFL season. He missed all of 2009 with an ACL injury.

Injury Ward

• Seahawks wide receiver  cheap T.J. Houshmandzadeh jersey has been limited to individual drills as he continues to work back from a knee injury, The News Tribune reported. cheap Deion Branch  jersey was also held out of team drills -- he's dealing with the after-effects of his own knee injury.

49ers mini-camp, training camp schedules announced

The San Francisco 49ers have announced their schedule for the three-day mini-camp session this weekend, starting tomorrow.

Thursday: Afternoon practice at 4:00 p.m.
Friday: Morning practice at 10:30 a.m.; afternoon practice at 3:30 pm.
Saturday: Morning practice at 10:30 a.m.; afternoon practice at 3:30 pm.

The team also announced that for training camp, rookies must report to camp on July 30. The veterans are required to report the next day. The first training camp practice is scheduled for August 2. The rest of their training camp schedule will be announced at a later date.

After practice today, head coach Mike Singletary spoke with the media. One highlight was Singletary's overall impression of the OTAs, saying that he was pleased with what he has seen. Singletary also confirmed that cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer and Nate Clements will be at mini-camp. Linebacker Manny Lawson and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin are not expected to be in attendance.

===

 

Opening Statement:
"All I can say is I'm pleased overall with how the [Organized Team Activities] have been going. With the progression of it, I think we got a lot of learning done. Obviously, we have a lot more work to do. I thought our offense got better, I thought Alex did a great job of having a command of the offense and executing the offense fairly well. I thought the receivers did a good job. The O-line continues to progress. I think [offensive line coach] Mike Solari is doing a great job, he and [assistant offensive line] Coach Brown. On the defensive side of the ball, our D-line is working. Our linebackers, it was great to see [LB Patrick] Willis back in the mix. It's a work in progress, but I think we'll get better."

On whether third down is a focus for him this year:
"I think it's one thing to me - 'Well, we didn't do as well on third downs,' but first downs, second downs, third downs, everyone you get, you want to execute. That's kind of how I'd look at it. A lot of people have different philosophies about that. I just think you get everything you can on every down. You just execute and let the play take care of itself."

On whether the issues on third down were related to first downs:
"Obviously, yes, but the point I'm trying to make is if you are continuing to get first downs, when you have a second down, you execute. I believe every play on offense should be a good play and the thing that I want us to do is not concentrate so much on third down that we forget the first and second downs. I want to play every down as if it's our last, and execute each one. That's where I want to go."

On whether anything changes heading into the minicamp:
"No, I just think it's the basic progression. We want to make sure that it's a constant build to where we want to go. Right now with the OTAs, we want to make sure there are some things that we want to get reps on offense and defense so that once we get into training camp mode, we can do it faster. We can play faster. So basic progression is what we are striving for."

On whether NT Aubrayo Franklin or LB Manny Lawson will be here for minicamp:
"As far as I know, I have heard that Aubrayo will not be here, which does not bother me one bit. Manny is not here, does not bother me one bit. Those guys are working. They are doing what they need to do. I'll see them when I see them."

On whether Lawson will be fined for not being here:
"I don't want to get into all that. I'll just say if Manny's not here, I know he's working."

On whether he's concerned that TE Vernon Davis has too much going on in his life outside of football:
"Maybe he needs it. Some people need to stay busy. Some people need to do a lot of different things. Some people can. I'm not one of them, but whatever suits him, as long as he's doing what he needs to do, taking care of business, I'm fine."

On whether he sees the commitment on the field:
"Absolutely."

On how Franklin's absence affects his contract and whether he's not concerned about him being here:
"No, I'm not. I know he'll be here when it counts"

On some of the things that he was less than satisfied with during OTAs:
"There are too many things that I could stand here and say, 'Well, I wasn't pleased with this, I wasn't pleased with that.' I think the focus is to come out here and get better, so I'm always looking at, 'What are we doing to get better?' So, it's kind of hard for me to look back at the things I don't like. I know I get the feel when I'm looking at it. The most important thing on the offense was to gain some consistency, was to get a flow for Alex to continue to have a command of the offense so they are operating and they executing and that's what I'm beginning to see more and more."

On T Anthony Davis and G Mike Iupati's progress:
"It's going to be an up and down process. We're out here, once again we have no pads on. Right now, they're trying to learn. They're trying to learn the offense. Once we get into training camp we'll have a much better idea where they are because now you've got to play fast. You have to respond to what's in front of you. It's not enough to just know what to do, you have to know what to do and you've got to go fast. So, we'll know more on that once we get into training camp."

On after seeing the depth at cornerback and whether they have to revisit CB Dre Bly and see what's out there:
"I think it's a work in progress, I really do. I think [CB] Karl Paymah, he came here, he's a guy that has a lot of potential and hopefully between now and the end of training camp he can take that potential and make it something real. [Tarell] Brown continues to work his tail off and it's just a matter of technique. We've got a couple of young guys, the [Phillip] Adams kid, I think he's working, the [Tramaine] Brock kid, I think he's working. It's just been an opportunity for them to get more reps. It's good to see them respond and good to be able to see them get that many reps."

On whether there is any urgency to get another cornerback:
"What we have is what we have. I think we're ok with what we have."

On how he would assess QB David Carr's progress:
"I thought he was doing pretty good until that last pass. I think David is doing just fine. I think he's a guy that's continuing to learn the offense. He's a guy that is a smart guy and I think in time he will show why we got him."

On whether there are any specific things he will be looking for in minicamp:
"No, I'm not. The other veterans that are coming in, whoever they might be, whether it's [CB] Shawntae [Spencer] or [CB] Nate [Clements], it will be good to see them. I'd like to see how much better the defense looks once they're in. It's close to being the full 11 there. The competition is good. I just want to continue seeing our guys learn it and work together and work more and more into the execution mode of doing it exactly right. That's what I want to see going into the minicamps."

On whether Shawntae Spencer and Nate Clements will be at minicamp:
"As far as I know. That could change, but as far as I know, they'll be here."

On the two-minute drill and how happy he was with the offense scoring the touchdown:
"It depends on what you're a fan of. If you like the defense, not good. If you like the offense, good. I think the offense did OK. I think [QB] Alex [Smith] did a nice job of finding the open receivers. I think the O-line did a good job with communication and the protection was good. I think overall it was good. We had the one mental breakdown on defense. We've got to look at that and make sure that we address that. Somebody blew a fuse back there. But overall it was OK."

On him having a goal of not saying as much to the officials this year:
"I mean that. It's full seriousness and I mean that."

On whether it was because he was penalized:
"No, it had nothing to do with anything else or anything the league did or anything that anybody said. It's just that I tell my players I don't want them arguing with the referees. So, if I'm telling them I don't want them to do it, then I need to lead by example the same way. It's as simple as that. Bottom line is it doesn't accomplish anything anyways. All it does is really tick me off. I'll just leave that to the ref."

Entertainment News

 A collection of Nashville's top music stars and athletes got together earlier this week for the annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge at the city's Greer Stadium. The game, which raised money for a number of local charities, featured an impressive roster, including Joe Nichols, Carrie Underwood and Julianne Hough.

A handful of local athletes also turned up for the game, including the Tennessee Titans  Cortland Finnegan and Eugene Amano, and the Nashville Predators' J.P. Dumont and Wade Belak.

"I think if you take this game seriously, and start looking at it like competitively, I guess is the word I'm looking for, then things usually go haywire and so, my goal today is just to not look like a total dork or fall down or do something incredibly embarrassing," Nichols said of the event, which took place Monday night.

The annual event supports Nashville Children's Alliance, Mercy Ministries, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It has raised over $2 million dollars in its twenty-year run.

"I think I could probably put one out of this park or arena or whatever they call these things," Belak said before knocking one out of the park. "I haven't played in eight years. I wasn't a big ball player, and I will be tonight though."

Top Ten Greatest Buckeye Defensive Backs

In our ongoing series we have already looked at the following positions: wide receiver; linebacker; and, offensive line.  All were stocked with great players, but it could be argued that Ohio State has been even stronger at defensive back, producing many All-Americans and future NFL  jerseys stars.  Let's tick off TSB's top ten:

10. Ray Griffin - Considering that his older brother, Archie, was the only two-time Heisman winner in history, it would be easy to forget what an excellent career Ray had at corner.  His best moment came in '75 when Griffin picked off Rick Leach which set up the winning touchdown against Michigan.

9.  Tim Fox - This hard hitting safety was a team captain, and an All-American at OSU before going on to a fine NFL  jerseys  career.

8.  Neal Colzie -  Some fans remember Colzie best for his dynamic punt returns, but he was a wonderful corner who picked off 15 passes during his college career.

7.  Chris Gamble - One of the best two-way players in recent history, Gamble was a good receiver, but a great shut down corner.  He may not have won as much hardware as some Buckeye defensive backs, but few have come up with as many key plays as Chris did during the 2002 National Championship season.

6.  Shawn Springs - Possessing incredible speed, Springs made playing corner look easy, starting 37 straight games.  He was the Big Ten defensive player of the year in '96 before being the third player taken in the NFL draft the following spring.

5.  Malcolm Jenkins - His arrival at OSU was without great fanfare, but Jenkins found the field as a true freshman, and went on to have a tremendous career playing corner and safety equally well.

4.  Mike Sensibaugh - Part of the super sophomore class that won a National Championship in '68, this safety from Cincinnati had a nose for the ball, intercepting 22 passes in his college career.  He later went on to become an All-Pro with Kansas City.

3.  Antoine Winfield - At 5'9", 175, Winfield was fearless, playing the pass and run with equal dexterity.  After winning the Thorpe Award, Antoine was a first round draft pick and developed into an All-Pro NFL corner.

2.  Mike Doss - The only three-time All-American to play DB at Ohio State, Doss was a wicked hitting safety who packed over 200 pounds on his 5'10" frame.  After toying with going pro early, he returned for his senior season in 2002, and his leadership was one of the keys to bringing the crysal trophy home to Columbus.

1.  Jack Tatum - Immortalized in Buckeye lore, no defensive back in football history could strike fear in opponents quite like Jack Tatum.  "The
Assassin" came to OSU as a running back, but was quickly converted to safety, where he hit like a linebacker.  After helping leading the Bucks to a National Championship, Tatum went on to become a five time Pro-Bowl player with the Oakland Raiders. 

Many other defensive backs who donned the Scarlet and Gray were also considered including Ahmed Plummer, Donte Whitner, Damon Moore, Garcia Lane, Tim Anderson, Will Allen, Todd Bell, and Kurt Coleman.  Who did we miss?

Torrington Barbershop A Shrine To Love Of Sports

A spot where one can debate the relative merits of quarterback Carson Palmer while taking a little off the top.

"I had all this at my house," Rusty Winget said, owner and operator of Rusty's All-American Barber Shop in downtown Torrington. "When we bought this shop, it was my wife's idea, she said I should take it all down there. I think she wanted to get it out of the house."

Indeed, literally every wall, floor and ceiling tile are layered and plastered with baseball, basketball and football memorabilia. Baseballs signed by his favorite player, Pete Rose, vintage Wheaties boxes, baseball and football jerseys signed by past and present day sports heroes; all of it in a grand display of sports worship.

"These stadium seats came out of Riverfront Stadium," Winget said, motioning to four numbered seats across from the barber chairs.

"I grew up in Cincinnati Bengals, and the Reds and Bengals are everything," he said. "My mom would give us 5 bucks, we would catch the bus and drive downtown and get a ticket and we would sit in the top two rows of the stadium. I grew up in those seats."

Pointing out two more towards the back of the shop he said, "These two are from Mile High."

A Torrington basketball jersey signed by this year's state championship team is one of the recent additions for a man who wasn't always clipping away at customers' hair. The 49-year-old began his life as a barber in Torrington in 1997 after years of working as a landscaper.

A 1982 Eastern Wyoming College graduate, he decided he needed an occupation that didn't depend so heavily on the elements.

"I wanted a job where I could work anytime I wanted to, whether it rained or snowed, whether it was hot or cold," he said.

So he decided to become a barber and attended barber's college in Colorado Springs, coming home on the weekends to be with his family.

"I hated that down there," he said. "You couldn't make a left hand turn, so many people. My rent was more than my house payment up here. We didn't have any money, and I'm tryin' to go to school. My goal was to make two dollars in tips in the morning that way I could go across the street and have a Wendy's Single and a Frosty." ''But it was worth it. Everyone has to go through it."

Though his shop is overflowing with sports artifacts, he said there's plenty more at his home; a Johnny Bench jersey and lots of classic Big Red Machine memorabilia.

"Everything here has a story, but this is the best thing I got," he said, pointing to a toilet seat bearing a Nebraska logo. "I'm not a big Nebraska guy, and everybody asks me where's all your Nebraska stuff' so I got the toilet seat here"

Trash talk aside, the one-time city kid has grown to love small town life.

"Torrington is a great place; it's really treated me well," he said. "Coming from Cincinnati I didn't think I'd like a small town as much as I do. I love to hunt and fish, if I'm not following my kids around attending their events."

A former high school baseball player, Winget saw, or most likely didn't see, his aspirations of being a ballplayer dashed early on. "My vision went early in life. I played center field, and you've got to be able to see the ball, and I'd run and that ball would be like" He smirks as he mimics himself chasing an elusive ball in all directions.

The Wingets have four children, all of them involved in some type of sporting competition at one time or another: Katie, 24, Tucker, 22, Michael, 17, and Wyatt, 14.

"Yeah, we're a baseball family," he said. "We get the camper out every summer and we just travel from game to game, and that's what we do." A game or two in Cincinnati, perhaps, might even be in order.

NFL: Corey Wootton Has Second Chance With Chicago Bears

You never wish injury upon a player.

But Corey Wootton's ACL tear in the 2008 Alamo Bowl may ultimately be a blessing in disguise for both himself and the Chicago Bears.

Wootton, who was the 109th pick in the draft, recently agreed to a four-year contract with the Bears. Considering he would have likely been a first or second round pick a year ago, Chicago might have pulled another mid-round steal.

During Wootton's 2008 campaign with Northwestern, he racked up 10 sacks en route to an All-Big Ten Team selection. With a 6-foot-7, 280-pound body, his speed and power were a nightmare for opposing offenses.

His efforts helped the Wildcats make it to the Alamo Bowl—but that's as far as he would go in 2008.

He worked hard to get back into football shape in time for the 2009 season. At Big Ten Media Days in July, he assured reporters he would be back at full speed by the time Towson came to Evanston.

But it became clear he wasn't even close. He didn't record a single defensive statistic against Towson.

Through the first few games, head coach Pat Fitzgerald had to field questions about his star defender's health. Each time he would say it takes time to recover psychologically from such a serious injury, and he was sure Corey would be back to his normal self soon.

Wootton finished 2009 with 21 tackles and four sacks, compared to 42 tackles and 10 sacks in 2008. His production declined, and as a result he slipped to the fourth round.

The Chicago Bears did not just draft him for the local tie. Wootton played an entire season without aggravating his previous injury, so he's not bound to be injury-prone for his entire career.

The physical tools are all there. Even when he was double-teamed during every game in 2008, he still found his way to the quarterback.

He has a similar skill set to Mark Anderson: quick off the snap, savvy in the backfield, and a nose for the quarterback. Depending on how he performs in training camp and the preseason, he could be a feasible backup for Anderson.

A lot depends on Wootton's development. Even in the 2010 Outback Bowl, he did not seem as fast as he was in 2008. There's no room for timidness in the NFL jersey.

He has to give it 100 percent when he puts on a Bears uniform, regardless of injury concerns.

"Potential" is a word often thrown around when discussing draft picks. Wootton is a different story. He has tangible results of his brilliance. The only problem is those monster stats are from 2008.

It's 2010, and Soldier Field is a quick 30-minute drive down the Lake Michigan shore from Ryan Field, where he made Big Ten Offensive Coordinators tremble.

With potential mentors like Julius Peppers and the aforementioned Anderson, Wootton has a great opportunity to flourish with a team that has playoff aspirations. He has a chance to prove to the league and himself that his best days are not behind him.

It's time for Wootton to Bear Down.

Cowboys quarterback Romo ends US Open bid

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo withdrew from a US Open golf championship sectional qualifier Monday after weather delays pushed the event into conflict with his NFL team commitments.

Romo was one of 36 players vying for two US Open berths in the 36-hole sectional qualifier at The Club at Carlton Woods north of Houston.

He was four strokes off the lead after 18 holes, firing a one-under 71 in his first round.

The NFL star opened his second round with a quadruple bogey and had played three holes when poor weather halted play for the second time.

With the second round due to finish on Tuesday he withdrew because of Cowboys commitments.

Last month Romo passed up a chance to qualify for the Byron Nelson Championship on the US PGA Tour because it conflicted with the Cowboys organized team activities.

There was no conflict on Monday, but the Cowboys resume organized team activities on Tuesday with a training minicamp scheduled for Friday through Sunday.

"It was fun, it was enjoyable and I made a good run at it," Romo said. "It's exciting to be competing, it's fun to teach yourself lessons on the golf course about sports in general.

"I took away a few things that I'm going to use in football, so that's a positive in that respect."

Romo survived a playoff on May 20 to reach the sectional qualifier. But he said he said he doesn't expect to pursue golf as a second career.

"It's hard for me to think about doing something else at a high, high level," he said. "It's fun to go out here on a day and compete and try and win on a day. But I don't know if I could put in the time that would be needed to play or compete at that level, day in and day out."

2010 NFL Preview: Chicago Bears

 

The Bears are a complete mess. Their leader on defense is having it out with the team's legends (Not surprising given the name of this site, but I support the legends).

As far as their fantasy outlook, they are perhaps the most volatile bunch in the league. Cutler and Forte could emerge or they could disappear into the fantasy wasteland.

 

Fantasy Playoffs Schedule:  Extremely Difficult
First up in Week 14 is the New England Patriots. They are playing at home so weather could be a factor. Next up is the Minnesota Vikings on the road. They won't have to deal with the elements, but they will be facing back-to-back Super Bowl contenders.

 

The road doesn't get any smoother in the fantasy championship game as they return home to face the Jets.

 

 

Five Star Fantasy Options
None

 

Four Star Fantasy Options
Jay Cutler — I know he's not loved around the league or by fantasy owners, especially after he threw 26 interceptions last year, but he is a talented Quarterback. Mike Martz was brought in to improve the offense, and I think Cutler will be the main benefactor.

 

Greg Olsen — I know Tight Ends don't excel in Martz's offense, but when has he had a TE of Olsen's caliber? He had Vernon Davis, but that was before he emerged. Olsen followed a 54 catch, 574 yard, 5 TD sophomore season with 60 catches for 612 yards and 8 TDs. He remains the Bears' best option in the passing game, and he will be utilized.

 

Three Star Fantasy Options
Matt Forte — Forte was one of the major disappointments last year, but I think Chester Taylor's presence will help. Taylor is a crafty veteran who will help show Forte the ropes. He will also take away some of the pressure on Forte making him a more effective runner.

 

Two Star Fantasy Options
Chester Taylor — Assuming Forte holds onto the starting gig, Taylor only makes for a decent backup RB or flex option. He can do it all. Run, catch, block. His work ethic could win him the starting job at some point, which kind of makes him a 2.5 star guy.

 

Devin Aromashodu, Earl Bennett, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox — The Bears have four capable receivers. Unfortunately there isn't much separating them. Hester had the most catches and yards. Knox had the most TDs. Aromashodu had an explosive finish. Bennett was #2 in catches and yards. Hester is probably the safest bet. Aromashodu has the most upside. While all four should be owned in most deep leagues, I wouldn't want any of them as anything more than a 4th or 5th WR.

 

 

Bears Defense/Special Teams
The arrival of Julius Peppers and the return of big-mouth Urlacher should make them a viable option again. They play the Lions twice, the Bills, and the Seahawks. Unfortunately they draw the Vikes twice, the Pack twice, the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Patriots.

Did Eric Mangini Tip His Hand in a Certain Cleveland Browns Quote?

Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini has always been the type of coach from whom it was nearly impossible to get any information, at any time of the year. Recently, his tune has changed a bit.

Perhaps it is President Mike Holmgren being very open and honest with the fans and media that has changed the once-secretive Mangini.

Or perhaps Mangini himself knows that he needs to lighten up, in order to keep his job with the Browns past 2010—and to keep himself in the NFL, period.

No matter what the real answer is, Mangini is now a changed coach when it comes to being open and honest with the media.

According to CBSSports.com , Mangini told reporter Marty Gitlin that he is very impressed with the versatility of all of his linebackers thus far.

"It's great to have guys who can play [inside or outside]," said Mangini to Gitlin. "You may not have to carry an extra inside or outside linebacker. You can shift guys to those spots and maybe carry an extra receiver."

Did Mangini just tip his hand with regards to what the Browns plan to do over the next several months at wide receiver?

In the ongoing debate about either adding or not adding a veteran receiver to help the Browns' young group, this little quote from Mangini may be a clue that the Browns will indeed add someone before the regular season begins.

Many in Browns nation have said that adding a veteran impedes the progress of the younger guys. There is also the issue that teams rarely carry six receivers on their roster.

Or perhaps Mangini was just saying this to feed the fire of the ongoing debate.

Whatever the case is, thanks Eric for giving us writers, reporters, and bloggers something to write about to continue the wide receiver debate through these slow news months of summer.

Gunslinger Romo takes on look of a marksman

IRVING, Texas The Dallas Cowboys' last game was four and a half months ago.

The 2010 season starts in a little more than three months. If Cowboys fans are in need of a little off-season cheer, tight end Jason Witten has a tidbit relating to quarterback Tony Romo.

"He just continues to get better," Witten said.

Wade Phillips also likes what he sees. The Cowboys are in their third week of organized team activities, and the head coach knows that the quarterback is in command of the offense.

"Tony's very comfortable," Phillips said. "Just seeing him out there very comfortable at his position and his stature within the team as far as leadership is concerned. I think he feels like the other guys are going to look up to him and he'll say or do the right things as far as leadership."

Romo has made good use of previous off-seasons, and he continues to work on his technique, footwork and balance during training sessions.

"For me personally, I look back at each year and assess what I did good, what I did poorly and what areas I need to improve in to go to the next level as a quarterback," Romo said. "I'd like to think that every year that's gone by, I continue to improve."

While there is little doubt that Romo has become a more refined quarterback, his statistics have been remarkably consistent.

He became the starting quarterback six games into the 2006 season. In the nearly four full seasons since, Romo has averaged 290, 263, 265 and 280 passing yards per game, respectively.

His passer rating has been 95.1, 97.4, 91.4 and 97.6.

The major statistical improvement was last season when he had only nine interceptions. That was even fewer than the 13 he had when he started only 10 games in 2006. He had 19 in 2007 and 14 in 13 games in 2008, in which he missed three games with a pinkie injury.

Phillips said the coaching staff wanted Romo to work on decision-making last off-season and that Romo has "continued to do those things we ask him to do and concentrate on those.

"We don't see the looseness that we saw, which helps him to progress to other things," Phillips said. "He spent a lot of time on that last year and it paid off. Now he feels comfortable."

Romo said Tuesday that he has another area of his game he is working on, but he doesn't want to talk about it right now.

"I'm pretty excited about something I worked on that will help tremendously in certain situations," he said. "I'm excited. It's going to be fun. It's always about improving and just getting better from year to year, and that's just another step in the process."

In his first full year as a starter in 2007, Romo set a Cowboys record with 4,211 yards passing. He surpassed that last year with 4,483. With the addition of rookie receiver Dez Bryant, Romo may have a chance to set another record in 2010.

"He's really confident and he's starting to bring out the best in his other receivers," Witten said. "Playing that set we had (Tuesday), you look out there and see Dez, Roy (Williams) and Miles (Austin) and you can't help but to get excited."

Phillips said that Romo was particularly sharp Tuesday.

"He does a great job of moving around and throwing the ball, and he seemed to get better and better at that even in the pocket," Phillips said. "When he gets out of the pocket, he's really dangerous.

"(Tuesday) he made a great throw to Miles out of the pocket and he made a great throw to Sam Hurd in the pocket, but he was moving around. He can go back and set up and throw it as good as anybody. And he moves around well and finds people well, but now he's moving around finding them and putting it right on the money."

The bottom line for the Cowboys is the quarterback is playing loose and confident. Even in the off-season, that's good news for any team.

 

Blackhawks Are on a Roll in Stanley Cup Finals

The Flyers have all kinds of reasons to be nervous going into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday in Philadelphia, and all kinds of reasons to be confident.

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They lost the first two games of the series to the Chicago Blackhawks, but narrowly and on the road. Both recent history and distant history suggest that the Flyers can readily climb back or that the Blackhawks could let their 2-0 lead slip through their fingers.

"If you're asking if this team can overcome obstacles or overcome adversity, we're so far beyond that," Coach Peter Laviolette told reporters in Philadelphia on Tuesday, noting that at one point this season the Flyers were 29th over all in the N.H.L. standings.

"I don't think you get to this point in the season where you're 29th at Christmas and not be able to overcome adversity," he said, ticking off the Flyers' high points: their playoff qualification on the regular season's last shot; their rally from a three-games-to-none deficit against the Boston Bruins in the second round of the playoffs; and their bounceback from season-long injury epidemics.

"This team is capable," Laviolette said. "I'm 100 percent confident that this team is capable."

The Flyers take heart in the closeness of the first two games: a 6-5 last-goal-wins display of pond hockey Saturday; and a 2-1 loss Monday that required a superb third-period performance by Chicago goalie Antti Niemi to stave off a Philadelphia onslaught.

"We're still feeling good about it," said Flyers forward Danny Briere, who, like Laviolette, said the Flyers "outchanced" the Blackhawks in Game 2. "Obviously, we would rather be up 2-0 or even 1-1, but we've been in the same situation before, and we believe we can come back. We believe in our team."

That is the optimism part, but there is also cause for nervousness.

The Blackhawks, for example, are working on a seven-game road winning streak. There is also evidence that Laviolette has been outcoached by the Blackhawks' Joel Quenneville.

One reason for Chicago's Game 2 victory was a brilliant stroke of intuition from Quenneville on the face-off immediately after Marian Hossa's goal, which gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead late in the second period.

Quenneville, counterintuitively, put the big fourth-line wing Ben Eager out on the first line alongside Jonathan Toews and Dustin Byfuglien. The low-scoring Eager, skating in place of the glamorous but undersize sniper Patrick Kane, struck for what turned out to be the winning goal 28 seconds later.

Quenneville said after the game that Eager is strong on the forecheck, and "hopefully he creates a little bit of space."

Quenneville's brief but effective first-line adjustment stood in contrast with Laviolette's first-line tinkering, which did not work at all. He dressed Dan Carcillo to skate on the Flyers' first line alongside Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in Game 2, and although Carcillo, nicknamed Car Bomb, certainly stirred things up physically, the Flyers got off only three shots in the first period.

Carcillo was dropped to the third line for the rest of the game (perhaps his accidental flattening of Carter had something to do with it), and with Simon Gagne back in his accustomed place on the top line, the Flyers' offense improved. In the third period Gagne scored the Flyers' only goal, which raises the question of how well they might have done if Gagne had played the whole game on the first line.

These are reasons for the Flyers to be nervous — but there are reasons for the Blackhawks to be nervous after, in the words of Chicago's Dave Bolland, stealing the first two games.

Chicago is the 34th team to win the first two games of a best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals at home. Of the 33 previous teams to do so, 31 went on to win the Cup — but the two teams that failed were last year's Red Wings and the 1971 Blackhawks.

After blowing their two-games-to-none advantage, the '71 Blackhawks held a 2-0 lead halfway through Game 7 at a humid Chicago Stadium. Fog rising from the ice caused goalie Tony Esposito to lose Jacques Lemaire's routine slap shot from the red line, and the Montreal Canadiens rallied to win, 3-2, a result that still haunts Chicago hockey fans.

Then there is the intimation of bad luck for the Blackhawks, who have lost five straight Cup finals since winning in 1961.

On Sunday evening Kane and his family, who are from Buffalo, ate dinner at a Chicago restaurant. Also at the restaurant, according to The Chicago Tribune, was the former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy, who went over to Kane's table to wish him well.

Levy, of course, was the Bills' coach when they lost four straight Super Bowls.