NFL preseason schedules are not even two games old, there are still 23 days until the season begins for real, and yet there is plenty of action in camps around the country, some of it even on the field. Most of the usual suspects are up to most of the usual shenanigans, a fact which should come as a surprise to exactly no one. A few examples:
1) Randy Moss: The Oakland Raider receiver, who in the past was famously quoted as saying, "I play when I want to play," discovered Monday night that he might have to revise his remark. Moss was removed from the Raiders' preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings after just one catch. Apparently this was one he still wanted to play in, as he threw his helmet, criticized his coach, and generally acted like, well, Randy Moss. His new statement - "I play when I want to play, unless of course, I can't play."
2) Terrell Owens: He's still not practicing with the Cowboys, and insists he has to be 100% in order to participate in any workouts. It's now been twelve days and counting since Owens worked out with the team, and head coach Bill Parcells is losing patience. "We need to see something here pretty soon," said Parcells. "He has missed a lot of work." Terrell Owens doing his own thing; who would have imagined it? At least he won't be a distraction to the Cowboys.
3) Ashley Lelie: The Broncos wide receiver is still holding out, and Ben Maller of benmaller.com makes a great point. At the current rate he is piling up fines for not honoring his contract, by September 15, which is midway between Denver's first and second games, Lelie could conceivably return "and play the rest of the season for free." His fines would have eaten up his entire 2006 salary of $700,000, proving that nearly three-quarters of a million dollars doesn't go nearly as far as it used to.
4) Deion Branch: The Patriots top receiver is in the midst of his own holdout, demanding a restructured contract. He has amassed over $280,000 in fines, and neither he nor the New England management seem ready to budge, bringing up the obvious question: If Branch and Ashley Lelie go out to lunch, who picks up the check?
5) Practically every NFL team: Hope springs eternal, and if you don't believe it, all you have to do is check out some of the quotes attributed to players from different NFL teams: Donovan McNabb of the Eagles - "We are a Super Bowl team." Tiki Barber said the Giants were a championship caliber team, ditto Mark Brunell of the Redskins, and why not? Everyone's undefeated. What better time to raise hopes for the season than now, before things can start to go wrong?
Meanwhile, not 24 hours after Dennis Green criticized Matt Leinart for not coming to terms on a contract yet, the first-round pick is signed, sealed and delivered. Green must be wondering why he didn't speak up weeks ago. The beat goes on.
Hey everyone, I know it must seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, but it's nothing like that.
I've been busy writing - two full-length novels so far, plus over a dozen short stories - and working hard to try to get an agent. If you are curious and have a few minutes, check out my website, www.allanleve rone.com.
If you're a literary agent or if you know one, by all means contact me! In the meantime, I'll be here when I can - love this forum - and as always, thank you for checking out my blog, especially considering how many great ones you could be reading instead....
