MARTINSVILLE, Va. --On Lap 128, Kyle Busch ran into the back of Brent Raymer who spun in front of Busch, forcing him to slam on the binders and come to a halt. After the caution flew, Busch, Ron Hornaday and a number of other drivers came down pit road for gas and tires. That handed the lead to Dennis Setzer, ahead of Ron Hornaday, Brendan Gaughn, Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner and David Starr. Setzer then held on through numerous restarts and survived a green-white-checker finish to to win the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway and put his Duck Head Footwear/Aquadock Dodge Ram into victory lane. The victory was the first for Dodge (and Bobby Hamilton Racing) since the late Hamilton won at Mansfield in 2005, and the truck Setzer won in is co-owned by Hamilton's widow, Lori.
"The emotions are running high right now," Lori Hamilton said. "We always said after Bobby passed away that if we could build it, then we'd do it in honor of him."
Setzer prevailed in a single-file restart. For him, winning at a track where he and Bobby Hamilton dueled also was special.
"I ran second to Bobby the year he won the championship," Setzer said. "We fought like heck all year as far as racing goes, but we were probably as good of friends off the track. We never had a harsh word with each other any time during the year."
The race, run on a cold, overcast day after the teams practiced in heat and sunshine Friday, was dominated by 15 cautions that slowed the pace for 82 laps, and caused the race to go three extra laps for a two-lap sprint to the checkered flag. It was Setzer's 18th career victory in the series and third at Martinsville.
Ten years ago this weekend Bobby Hamilton won The Winston Cup event at Martinsville in the Morgan McClure Motorsports Kodak sponsored Chevrolet. Perhaps Setzer's win today was written in the stars.
Text by The Associated Press, Tom Jensen of TruckSeries.com, Small Town Girl and 14Falcons
Dear 14Falcons, I am sorry I was not able to collect Mr. DeAngelo Hall and bring him back to the North Pole with me on Christmas eve. However, through my magical abilities, I have been made aware that he may be sent flying as far north as Buffalo for you. There should be plenty of thin ice there for him based on my experience. I hope this makes you feel better. Happy New Year.
Your old friend,
Santa Claus
"I heard on Sirius NFL radio that the potential for (J.P.) Losman (and a third round pick) For Deangelo Hall is very high. Sirius made it seem like it was actually a 50-50 chance. ... Sniper Kn9, Buffalo Bills message board member
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Bills quarterback J.P.. Losman wants out of Buffalo, unhappy with how he lost his starting job to rookie Trent Edwards during the 2007 season. Losman's agent, Gary Wichard, told The Associated Press on Friday that his client would prefer to be traded, but added Losman would play out the final year of his contract if necessary. Wichard said he has not yet spoken to the Bills because the team is seeking a new general manager after Marv Levy stepped down earlier this week. Whether the Bills choose to keep Losman, Wichard said he didn't see any chance of Losman remaining with the team after next season.
"That ship has sailed, my friend," Wichard said. "Hopefully, they do something this year. And if not, we'll just walk away after next year."
Wichard said he spoke out now because he knew how unhappy his client is. He said he and Losman didn't want to air their views during the season so not to cause a distraction to the team. Losman declined numerous interview requests over the final weeks of the season, and also after Bills players cleaned out their lockers on Monday after a 7-9 finish, in which Buffalo missed the playoffs for a franchise record eighth consecutive season.
"I give him credit for handling this thing the way he has," Wichard said. "But at the end, he said, "I'm out of here.'"
The Bills were not immediately available for comment. Bills owner Ralph Wilson has previously said the team has not made a decision on Losman's future, and didn't rule out the possibility of the player returning for one more year. Noting the number of starters injured this season, Wilson told The AP last month that it might be important for the Bills to keep two experienced players.
Losman showed promise in leading the team to a 7-9 finish in 16 starts last year (2006). Losman also finished 13th in the NFL with a 89.7 passer rating. In eight appearances this season, including seven starts, Losman finished with slightly better numbers than Edwards. Losman completed 63.4 percent of his passes and finished with a 76.9 rating, as opposed to Edwards, who had a 56.1 completion percentage and 70.4 rating. Losman was the second of Buffalo's two first-round picks in the 2004 draft. Losman was awarded the starting job in February 2005, a move that led to veteran Drew Bledsoe being released.
Drop him up on the north pole on some of that thin ice that I keep hearing about.
"I can't do this no more," (DeAngelo) Hall said. "I won't do this no more, let me say that. I will not be a part of a losing team another year, no matter what I got to do, no matter who hates me, whatever. I won't be a part of a losing team again, not if I can help it. "
Hall remains an outspoken critic of (former Head Coach Bobby) Petrino, who resigned ... after just 13 games and left for Arkansas. Despite missing the Pro Bowl team ..., Hall insists he's more upset that the Falcons are in disarray after (Team Owner Arthur ) Blank fired (former Head Coach) Jim Mora and replaced him with Petrino. Hall, a former No. 8 overall draft pick, grew so tired of what he described as an unapproachable attitude from Petrino that he still doesn't regret their sideline fight in Week 3. Hall also believes he was justified to carry a poster of imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick onto the Georgia Dome field two weeks ago.
"You've got to understand, too, that this is a new generation, a new kind of player," Hall said. "The rah-rah, threatening (approaches) don't really work no more ."
No DeAngelo, you don't understand. It's about submission and respect. Sometimes you have to let others call the shots, do what your told and keep your mouth shut.
And the kicker?
"I don't think it's come to, 'Get me out of here right now,"' Hall said. "I wouldn't say that, but it's just that the offseason ... (is) definitely going to be interesting to see who we bring in, what free agents are available to go after, what draft picks we make to try to get better."
No, Deangelo, let me use what you call your persistent willingness to be "brutally honest." It's come down to we need to get you out of here right now. We will be going after free agent cornerbacks curently playing for Oakland and Seattle, and trading your sorry #### for whatever we can get for it.
Bill Parcells will not be joining the Atlanta Falcons as head of football operations. Parcells turned down the position, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Wednesday in a statement. Parcells was considering an offer to join the team's front office as vice president of football operations, a role that would put him in charge of finding the next coach for a team rocked by the suspension and imprisonment of Michael Vick and the sudden resignation of Bobby Petrino. That move, which left Blank angered and put president and general manager Rich McKay's job in peril, led to Blank offering Parcells the job to run the franchise's football operation Tuesday. The announcement that talks broke down with Parcells leaves the makeup of the Falcons' front office, and their search for a replacement for coach Bobby Petrino, in question.
Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay's future with the team appeared uncertain if Parcells came aboard. McKay has held ultimate authority over football decisions since 2003.
Blank added that the Falcons remain committed to "looking at every option for building a championship-caliber team for our fans. I have stated we will leave no stone unturned in doing so, and this effort is one example of that. We will continue down the same overall path, proceeding with plans to hire a general manager and a head coach. We will identify and consider every strongly viable candidate for these positions, with the goal of hiring the best. Rich McKay remains President of the club and will retain general manager responsibilities until a new GM is hired."
McKay will serve as a liaison to the NFL and help the Falcons with their bid to get a new stadium and other business dealings. McKay was unavailable for comment.
It was the second setback for Blank since Petrino quit. Before pursuing Parcells, he reached out to former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher late last week but was informed that Cowher did not want to return to coaching until at least 2008.
Roddy White and four other Atlanta Falcons were fined by the NFL for violating uniform regulations with tributes to Michael Vick during last week's Monday night game. After scoring a touchdown, White displayed a "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt under his jersey. He, along with tight end Alge Crumpler and cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Chris Houston, were fined $10,000 each. Crumpler, Hall and Houston all wore black eye strips with written tributes to Vick, which the league called "displaying an unauthorized personal message." Wide receiver Joe Horn was fined $7,500 for pulling up White's jersey to show the black T-shirt with handwritten white lettering.
I can't believe that Atlanta fans are split over this. It sucks and is like a cancer ruining the team in my opinion. I say trade all five of these guys and get rid of the bad attitude. We must start all over from the ground up.
I hate to bring race up, but it is so obvious, and that is part of what's sad too. Have we not come in farther than this? Sadly, no.
Unfortunately we can not ignore it when we rebuild. To do so would be folly. The next coaching staff will have to deal with this by not only bringing in better athletes, but also by bringing in men with more character and integrity. The new Falcons must understand that political correctness is often a necessity.
It doesn't matter what color someone is. But in order to clear the air in Atlanta, it must be clear that Vick's behavior is totally unacceptable and that any actions appearing to condone his behavior are likewise unacceptable. Support your friend in private. These so called public statements of support aren't helpful, are easily misconstrued, are dividing the team and overall they are detrimental to the Atlanta Falcon franchise.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
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