Friday First and 10

Let the Jamaal Charles hype train begin...


I'm leading the charge here folks. This man is dangerous. I also love the comedy value with the Star Wars type theme of this highlight. Oh, YouTube!

Oh, Ricky you're so fine....
Growing up in Missouri, we didn't have fine displays of college football talent readily available to us on Saturdays. When the Big 12 formed, I was blessed with Texas Longhorn football and names like Priest Holmes and Ricky Williams. It now appears that Ricky's run is over, literally. Word is he failed a drug test and will not be reinstated by the league.

Vick sells "house of hell"
Ok, that's my nickname for it and it probably won't catch on. However, Vick did list and sell the house today. Selling the house makes it look like Vick is distancing himself from the actions there, but to me it looks like he's getting rid of evidence and relocating the kennel.

Richard Seigler is a P-I-M-P
But he's a now unemployed one. The steelers cut the LB today after an arrest warrant was issued, supposedly for three counts of felonies, including pandering and living off of the earnings of a prostitute. Umm... good for you, Richard.

Umm... yeah, what we really meant was....
The Eagles today pulled a true "oops" moment by saying they weren't married to rookie QB Kevin Kolb and could trade him. Nothing like giving the rook some confidence. I wonder if McNabb complained to Congress the changes that could be made.

Oh, Mr. Random cell phone caller
Please call me back, this time leave a number. Thanks.

Thursday morning (hangover)

No, not me....
Only in Tennessee can you get a DUI for letting a drunk guy drive your car. Poor Steve McNair. I can't wait to see the commish rule on this one. I like this law for the right reasons, but I'm a short drive from Tennessee and this terrifies me. This is the anti-DD rule.

Vick on a "short leash"
Talk about your puns gone wrong. Arthur Blank says that his troubled QB is on a short leash, while new HC Bobby Petrino says Vick must, "prove himself to me". I bet they are really glad they traded Matt Schaub right now. Hello, Joey Harrington. Brian Brohm in '08 is a nice campaign slogan. Be sure to check out the article from Don Bank's on CNNSI.com on Vick's friends ratting him out.

This is why I'm hot
We keep hearing that Antonio Cromartie has been the sensation of Chargers mini camp. Cromartie was a favorite of the blog's while at FSU (remember the Miami game?) and we can't wait to see him become one of the premier cornerbacks/return men in the game.

BWilliams tells karma to "F" off.
Ok, he didn't really, but he did take #81, previously worn by Terrell Owens, Rashaun Woods (ugh) and Antonio Bryant. Good luck with that Brandon.

Bills cut, Manny cries
The now infamous crier, Manuel Wright, was cut by the Bills already. Teams don't make cuts before camp starts. This is pretty impressive. I had the chance to interview Manny at a former site, it was a unique experience all the way. I feel bad for the guy though, everyone knows him as the crying football player that missed a year with clinical depression. Now he's unemployed.

Hump Day's Here

Ronnie Brown, the next Ironhead Heyward?
Ronnie Brown has appeared quite rotund at mini-camp this week, sparking debates about what he has been doing since January. With Lorenzo Booker also on the team now, Brown might be best served by getting off his toosh and doing some cardio.

McNabb Pissed
I probably would be too, but leaders don't talk to the media about problems. If you're so great, you have nothing to fear Oh Fragile One. Our theory is that McNabb needs to actually complete a full season (and not choke in the Super Bowl) before he can be comfortable enough to cry about draft picks. What's next, J.P. Losman whining about Trent Edwards?

Pay day for 89
Panthers wideout Steve Smith gets paid large and is now paid as a top 5 receiver, something he has been for a while now. Hopefully they've found a quarterback that can get him the ball now. What is the over/under on when David Carr becomes the starter? Week 4?

Bonds Watch: 745
For those that don't know this, I've been a Barry Bonds fan since I was a little guy. I know you want my opinion as a white, middle-class media guy so here goes: Until he tests positive, he's clean. I'd rather look into why Roger Clemens mysteriously misses 50 games per season now.

Back to football....
Spring games are behind us, so let the arrests begin. Nebraska stud wideout Maurice Purify was arrested Saturday night in Lincoln on two counts of assault and one count of resisting arrest. Two questions: What the hell was he thinking, and can you get two counts of resisting arrest? Don't they just taser you after the first resist?

This is too bad, I had Purify as a top wide out for the '08 draft.

Damien Nash was clean
Autopsy reports show the former Denver running back did not have drugs in his system when he died after a charity basketball game. I was an acquaintance of Nash's during his time at the University of Missouri and was shocked to here he had passed. It's a relief to those of us that knew him and to the sporting community that he died of natural causes, but the grieving is not over in any way, shape or form.

Kris Jenkins eats Warren Sapp?
Sapp famously lost 50lbs this off-season in an effort to renew his playing abilities. Jenkins has gained 50lbs in an effort to be cut or traded. I'm calling all my former co-workers in STL right now to say "I told you so".

Tuesday Morning Quickies

Green Watch
People keep telling me this Trent Green deal is going to happen, and frankly I don't see it. The Chiefs have dug in on this one and those of us that know Carl Peterson can attest to the fact that if he doesn't want to do something, he simply won't. I would not be surprised to see the NFLPA get somewhat involved here.


Early 2008 Favorites
Now that the 2007 draft is gone, I've started to look at the '08 class. Two of my favorite players thus far are WR Keenan Burton (Kentucky) and CB Antoine Cason (Arizona). Cason may have been the first cornerback taken had he entered the 2007 draft. Burton is an electric athlete that is going to make a ton of big plays with QB Andre Woodson. Of course I have to note my early infatuation with Hawaii QB Colt Brennan. But please remember, last year at this time I didn't like LaRon Landry at all and thought Calvin Johnson may be a touch slow off the line. Funny how things change when you study.

Ironic Notes from Mini Camp
New Oakland Raiders WR Mike Williams is making a huge impact so far in the Bay... he's already hurt. For those of us that hoped Williams would turn it around under former USC coach Lane Kiffin, it's not starting out well for Williams.

Another fantastic nugget from Raiders camp is that Warren Sapp supposedly lost 50lbs in the off-season. That is a six-year old people. If he weren't the most out of shape defender in the league last year, people would be throwing up some red flags about his ability to drop weight so quickly.

No real surprise here: Ashley Lelie and Darrell Jackson are both missing camp because of injury. Ask around the league 49ers, these guys don't like to practice.

More later.......

Welcome

Welcome to the Matt Miller blog on New Era Scouting. I'm really not sure what you'll find here, other than my daily thoughts on the world of football. I'll hope to keep this updated daily, probably in the afternoons, and keep you fresh with news not on the website.

This is really a test run for us. Be sure to check Dan Kadar's blog out at www.newerascouting.com/blog.