March 2008 - Football Wiretap
Ex-Teammate: Giants Happy To Not Have Shockey
Are the Giants better off without Jeremy Shockey? One of his former teammates believes so.
"I've been there, I've been in that locker room, I know how guys feel, I know how people in that organization feel," Tim Hasselbeck, a Giants backup quarterback in 2005 and 2006, said yesterday on the "Mike and Murray Show" on Sirius Satellite Radio.
"People there are relieved he's not around. There's this big stink about he's on injured reserve. How come he's not on the sideline supporting his team? Let me tell you something, they don't want him there. They're going to say all the right things, 'Oh yeah, we'd love to have him around' and all that stuff because he's their teammate, he's under contract next year and you can't do that. But when they're talking to people and it's not necessarily being reported they don't want him around. He's a distraction."
Upshaw Says Players Ready To Strike
Gene Upshaw indicated that the players are prepared to go on strike if the owners opt out of their current deal.
"If they want to get out of the deal, there's nothing we can do about it," the executive director of the NFL Players Association said Thursday before the union's annual Super Bowl news conference. "But we'll be prepared."
Tennessee Judge Dismisses Charges Against 'Pacman'
As reported by the Associated Press, a Tennessee judge dismissed misdemeanor charges against Pacman Jones on Thursday, agreeing with a prosecutor that the Titans' cornerback has been punished enough with his legal trouble over the past year.
Brady's Ankle Not Listed On Injury Report
Despite receiving more attention that any other body part in the world over the last week, the "sprained" ankle of Tom Brady was not listed on the Patriots' injury report when it was released late Wednesday night, according to ESPN.
Brady was listed on the report but with a shoulder injury. He took part in the team's full practice on Wednesday.
MCL Sprain Will Sideline L.T. For Six Weeks
LaDainian Tomlinson was diagnosed with a second-degree MCL sprain early this week, a source told ESPN.com.
It will take at least six more weeks to heal, according to Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon.
"The doctor said this is the type of injury that would seriously hamper LaDainian's ability to cut or push off the leg," Condon said. "His quadriceps muscle had already atrophied one inch. He absolutely can't play in the Pro Bowl and there shouldn't be any question as to why he couldn't go when [the Chargers] played New England."
Packers' Favre Isn't Sure About Playing In 2008
Brett Favre told ESPN on Wednesday that he hasn't decided whether or not he'll return to the field next season despite numerous reports that he plans to return in 2008.
"I haven't decided yet," Favre told ESPN. "We just played a little over a week ago. I'm going to take a few more weeks. Our coaching staff is coaching in the Pro Bowl next week. When they get done, [Coach] Mike [McCarthy] and I . . . we'll just discuss it more in a couple weeks."
NFL Expected To Announce Annual Bills' Game In Toronto
Commissioner Roger Goodell was expected to announce plans Friday for the Bills to play an annual regular-season game in Toronto starting this year, according to an Associated Press report.
The announcement, to come during Goodell's State of the League Address, would make the Bills the first team to play annual regular-season NFL games outside the US.
49ers Promote Tollner To QB Coach
The Associated Press is reporting that the 49ers made Ted Tollner their QB coach Wednesday, promoting the assistant who gave a boost to the club's offense late last season.
Tollner's new title also includes a designation as "assistant to the head coach," Mike Nolan.
Rams Name Saunders Their New O-Coordinator
According to a Yahoo.com report, the Rams named Al Saunders their new offensive coordinator on Wednesday. He was fired by the Redskins after two seasons in the same position.
This will be the second go-around for Saunders in St. Louis. He was an assistant with the team from 1999-2000 under Dick Vermeil and was on the staff that guided the Rams to their first Super Bowl victory after the 1999 campaign.
McGahee Makes First Pro Bowl
Baltimore running back Willis McGahee was named to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday after San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson withdrew because of injury, according to the Associated Press.
The selection is his first.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be going to the Pro Bowl, especially when your peers have a say in the matter," McGahee told the AP. "It is a goal that I have had for a long time, and I am going to enjoy every second of this. To be going with three other Ravens is also special. They always told me the first Pro Bowl is always the most special. I can't wait to share this with my teammates."
Brady On Plax Prediction: Only 17 Points?
"We're only going to score 17 points?" Tom Brady told the Associated Press on Wednesday regarding the 23-17 New York victory that was predicted by Plaxico Burress. "OK. Is Plax playing defense?"
Indianapolis To Make Bid For 2012 Super Bowl
Indy lost out to Dallas in their bid for the 2011 game last year.
Pats Forced To Wait Until Free Agency To Re-Ink Moss
It appears that WR Randy Moss will re-sign with the Patriots, but they will have to wait until the free agent period.
Plaxico Predicts 23-17 Giants' Win
Just days after declaring that New York's receivers are better than New England's, the Giants' Plaxico Burress told the New York Post that his team will win the Super Bowl on Sunday, 23-17.
Agent: Browns, Crennel Agree To Two-Year Extension
Romeo Crennel had two years remaining on a five-year deal he signed in 2005.
Brady Admits Injury, Says He'll Be Fine
Tom Brady told Newsday that he will, without a doubt, be ready to play in the Super Bowl this weekend.