Dallas' Spotlight is on #11, Roy Williams

Dallas’s spotlight shines brightly on Roy Williams.

A 1^st round pick, a 3^rd round, and a 7^th round pick. That’s what Dallas gave up for Roy Williams, not to mention the six-year, $54 million contract….good gawd.

For those of you who don’t know the value of draft picks, I’ll put it this way: If we were at our high school lunch table, that’s like me giving you my tater tots, and you give me your crispy chicken, Veryfine juice, and honey bun.

Not so fair now is it?

Now with the emergence of Miles Austin and drafting Dez Bryant, Cowboys fans everywhere are saying the same thing. Either Roy Williams produces, or moves on. He’s being paid way too much to just get on the field and collect checks. Without a single practice in pads, Cowboys fans are already asking to see Dez Bryant start along with Miles Austin rather than Roy Williams, so the spotlight, and rightfully so, is on Roy. Not to mention, his mouth is not helping the matter at all.

“You know, last year around this time we were throwing and catching and it wasn’t very good. Just to be quite honest with you, we were missing balls, and bad throws and drops and all that in the offseason that carried over to the season. But this year, we’re connecting like Montana and Rice.”

Seriously Roy? Montana and Rice? Until you have a ring, a trophy, or hell, even a Pro Bowl, you shouldn’t be allowed to compare yourself to Jerry Rice. Ever.

The best scenario in Roy’s season is if he becomes a solid #2 wideout. Because lets face it, he’s probably the third best receiver on this team. There’s Witten, then Austin, then maybe Williams. Roy is like salt and pepper, not the group, the condiment. He is not the main course, he just makes them better. Witten and Austin, they’re your steak and baked potato. Roy is just there to help. Catch my drift? You can’t just serve salt and pepper; nobody is going to that dinner party. You better have some substance, something you can count on, something that you know everybody will enjoy, not just salt and pepper. If your steak and potatoes suck, salt and pepper won’t make everything ok.

Nobody is building a team around Roy Williams’ skills, unless we’re talking about a college team. So he needs to stop talking like he’s the #1 wideout on the team until, he at the very least, produces like it. In a league where you can’t touch the receivers, you’d think a big receiver like him would benefit from these new rules, but he hasn’t done so, at least not with the star on his helmet.

You give up 3 picks, $54 million, all for some salt and pepper….you better produce soon Roy, or we’ll be talking about #88 lining up with Austin, and #11 jerseys will quickly find the clearance rack.

Haynesworth Being Sued In Paternity Suit.

Source: NBCSports.com

Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is being sued by a pregnant woman who claims that he is the father of her unborn baby and that he is refusing to support her financially.

The New York Post reports that Silvia Mena, described as a "Brooklyn exotic dancer," is nearly four months pregnant and claims in papers to be filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court that Haynesworth has refused to have any contact with her after learning she was pregnant in February.

"Haynesworth has abandoned the pregnant Silvia Mena," the court papers say. "He has refused to provide any emotional or financial support of Silvia Mena or his unborn child."

Her lawyer, Salvatore Strazzullo, told the Post, "This man is worth millions. She has had to apply for Medicaid to take care of her pregnancy."

Well, I guess refusing to show up to OTAs lead to Haynesworth getting frisky with exotic dancers. Now we know what he has been doing with all of his free time.

Spotlight: Washington Hopes All Fall on #5

Washington’s Spotlight Shines On: Donavan McNabb

On December 17^th, 2009, The Skins announced that they signed Bruce Allen as their new general manager.

On January 5^th, 2010, the Skins then hired Mike Shanahan after firing Jim Zorn.

Then on April 4^th of 2010, the Skins traded away two picks to acquire Donovan McNabb from their division rival Eagles.

And that’s when the Redskins Nation erupted in joy.

Twitter feeds, Facebook statuses, and text messages alike, all started firing away that night when it was announced as breaking news all over ESPN, NFL Network, Fox5 in D.C., hell, anywhere possible as an inter-division trade of this magnitude almost never happens. The most recent that I can remember is when the Patriots traded Drew Bledsoe to division foes, the Bills.

Instantly, Donovan became the star that the Skins fans believed would be able to bring stability to the position, and hopefully increase the number in the wins column. McNabb instantly became the spotlight of this franchise.

Jason Cambell, who I feel never got a fair shot in Washington, is now being replaced by a Pro Bowl player who has been to the playoffs, conference championships, and the big game; The Super Bowl. Bruce Allen and Dan Snyder have to be focusing on the experience of McNabb to bring this team out of the bottom of the NFC East. He has been on teams with no name receivers (Where is Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston now?), so this Washington team, who has no true #1 WR right now, does not necessarily scare him away. McNabb is a veteran by all means of the word.

The biggest weakness on this team (as stated here at the Beast) is the offensive line. The one thing that Mike Shanahan has to be hoping for is that McNabb still has his quick decision making abilities. It goes without saying that opposing defensives will be licking their chops at a chance to face one of the worst offensive lines from last year, hoping for a shot at McNabb. This is a league where you can’t touch the quarterback, you think the likes of Demarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora wouldn’t love a fair shot at a playcaller, let alone an inter-division rival? McNabb better be able to make decisions before the snap, and deliver the ball quickly or else he may be on his back more than he’d like.

Speaking of McNabb and being sacked, the biggest question is his durability. And I’ll go ahead and say it now, McNabb will NOT finish all 16 games this year. Take your passion out of it. Take your bias out of it, your alliance, your fanatic tendencies, and use your football knowledge. You know, regardless if you’re an Eagle fan, Skins fan, or whatever, that McNabb is not a durable quarterback.

It’s hard to argue that the Eagles offensive line that McNabb had for the past 11 years is/worst than the line he just inherited, because it isn’t. No matter how good Trent Williams plays as a rookie left tackle, we all know the rest of the line flat-out sucks. Take your hope and wishes out of it, they suck.

I’m gonna get a text or response from a Redskin fan that says, “But we signed whatshisname and we believe he’ll do well.”

Well I believe in the tooth fairy, what they hell do our beliefs have to do with it?

I like to deal with facts and figures, and the fact is that the Skins allowed 46 sacks last season, third most in the league. Combine that with the fact that McNabb has only finished a season four times in his 11-year career, and you have a big liability there under center.

McNabb has everyone’s eyes on him, and the globe will soon see if he can deliver to this franchise that was a bottom dweller in the NFC East.

Vick Still Wants to Start

From: www.philly.com

A year after his release from prison, Michael Vick is probably worth less now - in terms of football value - than he was after serving 18 months for dogfighting crimes.

The quarterback, who received hardly a nibble from other NFL teams this off-season as the Eagles dangled him on the market, said that the tepid interest did not come as a surprise.

"Actually, I understood because I'd been out of football," Vick said Monday after a workout at the NovaCare Complex. "I didn't play behind a center for three years. I know how good I am. The [Eagles] coaches know how good I am. I know I could have landed some place, but it wasn't meant to be."

Instead, Vick is the backup to newly christened starter Kevin Kolb, also a first-time attendee Monday at this set of workouts. It's a role the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 draft and former Falcons starter has had little experience in.

Last year, fresh out of prison, he was the third-string Wildcat wild card. This year, he's moved up the depth chart but may play even less.

"Being a competitor, you always want to start," Vick said. "I know in my future that's there for me. I'll be a starter in this league again. Right now, I'm just having fun honing my skills."

When Vick signed with the Eagles last August, he said one of the reasons he chose Philadelphia was so that he could learn under the tutelage of coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. For the most part, however, he received the Cliff Notes version.

To start with, Vick was out of shape. And when the season commenced, he saw very few repetitions in the Eagles' traditional offense. After the season, he let the coaches know he wanted to start. And then he let the rest of the league know he wanted to start as well as he campaigned for a trade.

Despite those few missteps, Vick spent the bulk of the off-season in the area, working out and learning the Eagles' West Coast offense.

"My skills are back," Vick said. "I'm ready. I'm faster than I've ever been before. I'm quicker, light on my feet. So I guess somebody missed out this time around. But I'll make it work here, and they'll see."

Earlier this month at minicamp, Reid said that "you see his quickness and speed back." But does that matter in this offense? More than gauging his athleticism, the Eagles will use the following three weeks of workouts to measure Vick's understanding of their scheme.

He may still be vital in the Wildcat role, but Vick's duties - as they are - are much different than they were a year ago. What if Kolb gets hurt or is a complete bust? Can the Eagles risk injury by throwing their backup out on the field for six to 12 spread option plays a game?

There is still the perception that Vick won't even make it to the season opener, that he will eventually be traded and old faithful Jeff Garcia will be reacquired as the No. 2 guy. The Eagles, however, have already made a financial commitment, having paid $1.5 million of Vick's $5.25 million salary.

"I expect to be here," Vick said. A year ago May 21, Vick was released from Leavenworth federal prison. He said that he didn't have the date circled on his calendar, but it was an anniversary he did not forget.

"I celebrated the anniversary. Well, I didn't celebrate," Vick said. "But I thought about it and it brought back a lot of memories, how far I've come on and off the field."

He still has a ways to go.

"When I get back to [practicing more], I'm going to be dangerous," Vick said. "That's all I can say. I'll be dangerous."

Weakness Series: Skins Need Soldiers in the Trenches

We’d all like to think our teams are perfect. Fans love to bring up the stats that make their teams sound great. Fans are quick to bring up their five Lombardi trophies, three Super Bowl wins with three different quarterbacks, defeating an undefeated team on the grandest stage of them all, or dominating the NFC for half a decade. However, we all know deep inside that our teams have big weaknesses going into the 2010 season. This series will bring to light the biggest concern for the teams of the Beast. Today, we talk about with;

The Redskins: Pre-training camp rank in the East: #4

Weakness: The O-Line

Many seem to think that Washington, a 4-12 team in 2009 that failed to win a game in the NFC East, is vastly improved and no longer is overwhelmed with weak spots on its roster. I tend to disagree. They still look like the NFC East’s bottom feeders to me.

I am not fond of the Redskins’ wide receivers, but do recognize that there is upside with younger wideouts such as Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas. Depth here is a worry as there isn’t anyone resembling a No. 1 receiver in the group.

The situation at running back is worse. Mike Shanahan has a great reputation of getting excellent production from ordinary running backs in his scheme, but I contend that Clinton Portis, Willie Parker and Larry Johnson are all over the hill and used up.

While these two positions are problematic, they might be even more glaring if the line is not vastly improved. Once again, I have my doubts. Using the fourth pick in the draft on a very talented left tackle, Trent Williams from Oklahoma, certainly made a lot of sense. But the rookie is far from a sure thing and, despite his immense talents, doesn’t have a lot of college experience on the left side. And there is no getting around that he is a rookie. This is just a hunch, but I am betting that DeMarcus Ware, Trent Cole and the Giants’ slew of defensive ends are not losing sleep knowing that they have to face Williams twice during the 2010 season.

Last year, the Redskins' pass blocking was poor while the run blocking was atrocious. At left guard and center respectively, it looks pretty certain that Derrick Dockery and Casey Rabach will return as starters. Dockery is a good pass-blocker and the left side of the line certainly does have potential, but Dockery needs work in the running game. Plus, he isn’t exactly the small, quick lineman that we have become so accustomed to seeing in Shanahan’s scheme. Rabach is about as ordinary as they come at the pivot, but isn’t a young player, so a decline might be imminent.

At the two spots on the right side, there will be competition for the starting roles and a combination of Stephon Heyer, Mike Williams, Artis Hicks and Chad Rinehart will get the nod. Heyer was among the worst starting offensive linemen in the league last season. Williams isn’t much better and doesn’t move well enough to recover in protection. Rinehart remains somewhat of an unknown and might be primed to come into his own, but banking on that doesn’t seem prudent considering what he has shown to this point. Hicks is versatile and was a solid signing considering the situation up front for Washington, but he has proved to be more of an ideal sixth lineman as opposed to starting material.

By the way, Donovan McNabb isn’t the most durable quarterback around and as noted above, there are some serious pass-rushers in the NFC East. If the Redskins don't get the line tightened up, McNabb could be in for a long season.

Weakness Series: Philly has Corner issues

We’d all like to think our teams are perfect. Fans love to bring up the stats that make their teams sound great. Fans are quick to bring up their five Lombardi trophies, three Super Bowl wins with three different quarterbacks, defeating an undefeated team on the grandest stage of them all, or dominating the NFC for half a decade. However, we all know deep inside that our teams have big weaknesses going into the 2010 season. This series will bring to light the biggest concern for the teams of the Beast. Today, we start with;

The Eagles, Pre-Training Camp ranking: #3 in the East

Biggest Weakness: Cornerback

The Philadelphia Eagles have revamped their roster -- out with the old and in with the new. This could be a transition year for Philadelphia, but this is an exceptional organization and looks to have fortified its roster in many spots. While the Eagles might not be an elite contender, I don’t expect this team to turn into a losing organization in 2010.

The Eagles had a wealth of draft picks, but didn’t address their cornerback need until the fourth round, despite sending starter Sheldon Brown to the Browns prior to the draft. They did improve their stable of pass-rushers, and obviously that should help the cornerbacks in coverage.

Marlin Jackson, a cornerback in Indianapolis, was signed in free agency. If second-round pick Nate Allen can grab a hold of the starting free safety spot, Jackson could once again get reps at corner, but he is coming off a serious injury and wasn’t the quickest or fastest cover man to begin with. Safety is probably his best fit at this point. Asante Samuel is set as one starter and is a very good player. He makes plenty of big plays, but he is also a liability against the run and can be too risky at times.

The other candidates to play opposite Samuel and as the top option as the nickel corner are Ellis Hobbs, Joselio Hanson, Macho Harris and fourth-round pick Trevard Lindley. Hobbs is undersized, but feisty and fast. Hanson and Harris haven’t shown themselves to be starting material, and Lindley is not very physical. In addition to being a rookie, he is coming off a serious injury.

Things could be worse at corner, no question about it, but it does seem safe to say that the Eagles' opponents are going to dictate matchups by utilizing three- and four-wide receiver sets and making Philadelphia put average backend players on the field while shuffling front-seven talent to the sideline. With their talent at the wideout position, the Cowboys and Giants should particularly look to this strategy against their divisional rival.

Phillip Daniels Clarifies His Remarks on Haynesworth

From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/

We're a bit late with this, but it's worth passing along. You'll recall last week, Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels made some interesting comments about Albert Haynesworth, who's skipping the team's voluntary offseason activities. He made those comments to Jason Reid and also Mike Wise, who wrote a column that was strong on opinion but didn't hang everything on Daniels.

Later in the week, Daniels visited the team's official message board, ExtremeSkins.com, and said that when talking with reporters, players' words can get "twisted in so many ways."

Daniels didn't deny any specific quotes and there's nothing to gain by parsing words and going back and forth on this, but we did want to share it so you can see that Daniels apparently clarified the remarks he made to Reid and Wise and had some nice things to say about Haynesworth.

Here's Daniels' message board post, which was published Friday night. (And a hat-tip to Redskins blogger Matt Terl, who wrote more on this topic.

"Just wanted to drop in and say that I have read a lot of the comments on here and some of the fans on here really do believe everything that they read. Articles tend to leave things out and when you talk general stuff sometimes it comes out a different way. I am not upset with Albert at all, but the whole team would love for him to be here with us getting ready to win a championship. When a reporter asks a question, we answer it, but sometimes that answer is twisted in so many ways.

"None of the good stuff you say ever comes out in the article. They chop your words as they see fit and in the best way to sell papers or go public. Albert is a key part of the team, and he will be ready to go. Just wanted to clear things up a little for the people who believe everything that writers put out there. Like the old saying goes: Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see."

It's also worth checking out Dan Steinberg on the D.C. Sports Bog. He quoted Daniels from an appearance last week on Lavar Arrington's show on 106.7 The Fan, in which Daniels had both good and bad to say about Haynesworth. I don't think it's twisting anyone's words to say that Daniels likes Haynesworth but wishes he were around Redskins Park right now.

"As teammates, we take him in with open arms," Daniels told Arrington and co-host Chad Dukes. "He's part of this team, he's one of our guys, he's a guy that plays hard and a guy that can help us win. We can't worry about the other side of things, how the coaches feel about the situation or how the media feel about the situation. We take him in with open arms.”

"You know, he's a good dude. You be around him, you go out to lunch with him, you go out to eat with him, he's a great dude. Right now, being 4-12, coming off a 4-12 season, you just want your guys here and let's change this thing, that's all. And not to say it won't change if he comes late, but that's the only thing. The coaches and everybody been trying to negotiate to get him in here and show him the playbooks and do all the things they need to do. I just think he needs to show a little bit in return and get in here and help them out here, and help the team out, and learn this system and let's do it. I mean, I know he don't want to play in a 3-4, but it is what it is, you've got to. You're not going anywhere, so you've got to just come in and play."

Weakness Series: Who is Phillip Dillard?

We’d all like to think our teams are perfect. Fans love to bring up the stats that make their teams sound great. Fans are quick to bring up their five Lombardi trophies, three Super Bowl wins with three different quarterbacks, defeating an undefeated team on the grandest stage of them all, or dominating the NFC for half a decade. However, we all know deep inside that our teams have big weaknesses going into the 2010 season. This series will bring to light the biggest concern for the teams of the Beast. Today, we start with;

The New York Giants; Pre-Training camp rank- #2 in the Beast

Weakness: Middle Linebacker

You sit back and watch Peyton Manning approach the line of scrimmage; he then looks across the field to 11 men who would each like to take a clean shot at the league’s poster boy at any given moment. He quickly waves his arms, pats his helmet, and slaps his thigh to change the play, change a route, or change his protection (sometimes, all three at the same time).

What the announcers usually don’t point out is that there’s a guy on the defense doing the same thing, the middle linebacker.
I’m a huge fan of watching Peyton Manning call his audibles against the Ravens just to see Ray Lewis do the exact same thing in retaliation across the line of scrimmage. It is a game of chess in an otherwise physical and brutal sport. The middle linebacker is responsible for making sure the front seven (defensive line and linebackers) are all where they’re suppose to be (in most defenses, one of the safeties lines up the secondary).

With Perry Fewell taking over as defensive coordinator, it was obvious that Antonio Pierce was no longer going to be with the Giants. Fewell’s defense concentrates on the linebackers to be more free-flowing and stresses speed and quickness, attributes that a 31-year old Antonio Pierce no longer posses. Not to mention, in Fewell’s scheme, the middle linebacker (MLB) is responsible for covering some of the most athletic players in the NFC Beast. Players such as Jason Witten, LeSean McCoy, Felix Jones, and Brent Celek pose obvious problems for the smashmouth style that Pierce has because of their quickness and versatility.

We told you here at the NFC Beast Blog that the Giants obviously wanted Rolondo McClain in the draft, and the Raiders stole him before he fell to New York (did anyone hear the chorus of boos during the draft coverage when that happened? New York fans were going crazy). So instead, the Giants got help along the defensive line, but waited until the fourth round to draft a MLB in Phillip Dillard out of Nebraska. Although the job looks like it’s going to be his until someone beats him out, you have to question the Giants’ faith in a young fourth rounder to hold one of the most important positions on defense.

This is a Giants team that started off 5-0 last season, only to lose four straight and finish 2009 at 8-8. The defense allowed the third most points scored in the NFL with 427, a stat that any New York fan will want to forget (The only two worst teams were the Rams and the Lions. And NOBODY wants to be compared to them).

I don’t want to overstress the importance of the MLB position, but in a division where every offense seems stronger than last year, you better have someone that can produce at that position. The Giants have put all their eggs in the Phillip Dillard basket, much like they did last year with their young wide receiver core. They were right last year, but let’s see if they will go two for two.

Weakness Series: Dallas has Kicker problems

We’d all like to think our teams are perfect. Fans love to bring up the stats that make their teams sound great. Fans are quick to bring up their five Lombardi trophies, three Super Bowl wins with three different quarterbacks, defeating an undefeated team on the grandest stage of them all, or dominating the NFC for half a decade. However, we all know deep inside that our teams have big weaknesses going into the 2010 season. This series will bring to light the biggest concern for the teams of the Beast. Today, we start with;

Cowboys, Pre-Training Camp ranking: #1 in the East

Biggest Weakness: Kicker.

One can very well argue that the free safety position is the biggest weakness in Dallas. They plan on starting Alan Ball at that position now that Ken Hamlin has been released. But Cowboy fan, I challenge you this; tell me what 12 games Hamlin played last year and the four that Ball played. Now tell me what the difference was.

Can’t think of them can you?

Now that you’re done googling it, you see that there was no huge difference with Ball’s play. So lets stop poking at that guy. Cowboy fan, you and I both know that the kicker position is the huge red flag on this roster.

Last year’s NFC East laughing stocks were both Cowboys at one time or another, Nick Folk and Shaun Suisham, the latter being a former Redskin as well. The two were combined 20 for 31 with the Cowboys, both missing chip-shots during the regular season, and both are now off the roster.

Dallas turns to two unproven kickers to fill the vacancy and hopefully help Cowboys fans with their kicker sorrows that they were given last season. David Beuhler is the front runner for the position, a former USC Trojan that was drafted purely because of his kick off power, leading the league in touchbacks. I’m not sure why Wade Phillips and Jerry Jones believe in this guy though. This is the same kicker that Nick Folk beat in a field goal competition during last year’s bye week that led Folk to keeping his job…momentarily that is. Beuhler also hasn’t attempted a single kick in the NFL.

Connor Hughes, a Newport News native, was brought in during the offseason to compete with Beuhler. The former Philadelphia Soul kicker was undrafted in 2006 where he was signed and soon after released by both the Saints and Steelers. Hughes as well hasn’t attempted a NFL kick, and by the looks at the team’s first Organized Team Activity (OTA), he might not even make the roster by the time of training camp.

Dallas obviously needs help at this position, hence why they brought in Chris Boniol, a former Cowboys kicker from the 90s, as a consultant. It’ll be interesting to see if Boniol can somehow mold Beuhler into a true place kicker, but until then, Dallas better hope for touchdowns as field goals, and maybe even extra points, won’t come easy.

Haynesworth Feels "Deceived" by the Redskins

We’ve all been to that job interview, where you really want the job, so you lie to get it. You tell them you’re going to do things that you know you have no intentions of doing. It usually sounds like this;

“Will you work nights and weekends?”

“Of course I will.”

“How about long shifts and holidays?”

“That’s fine with me, I don’t like seeing my family anyways.”

OK, maybe a little exaggerated. But then after you get the job, you don’t do any of what you promised. Well, that’s what the Redskins have done to Albert Haynesworth; at least, that’s his side of the story.

Haynesworth told NFL Network’s Jason La Confora (a poor man’s Adam Schefter), that when he was signed to the Redskins, he was promised he was going to have the opportunity to attack the quarterback. The Redskins even considered trying to bring in Haynesworth’s old defensive line coach in to aid in that.

But now things have changed. Now, in the 3-4 scheme, Haynesworth will be asked to take on blockers rather than attacking. He’s going to be asked to fill holes rather than pass rushing. With the changed in schemes, Haynesworth is quoted as feeling “deceived”.

News Flash Haynesworth: You’re getting paid $100 million to do this job.

For all those of you reading this (yes, my four readers lol), take your yearly salary, multiply it until you hit the age of 65….now look how far away your life’s income is from Haynesworth’s salary.

So for $100 million, I’ll take on blockers, I’ll fill holes, and I’ll wash the dishes and empty the trash.

Grow up Haynesworth. Things in life change, and for $100 million, you shouldn’t complain.

Dallas Cowboys OTA notes

Keep these things in mind when you hear about OTAs; even though the players are playing hard, there are no pads. Nobody is getting hit out there, this isn’t a true measuring stick to how good a player will do in the season. This is the equivalent of you and your buddies running routes in the backyard at the neighborhood cookout. You’re trying, but still not giving everything you got.

That being said, here’s a few quick hits about Dallas’ first OTA:

Notable players who did not come out to the team’s first voluntary workout are: wideout Patrick Crayton, and defensive end, Marcus Spears. However, Spears was excused, and plans on showing up for tomorrow’s OTA. Crayton on the other hand has been vocal about not getting a fair shot to win the second or even third wideout spot on the team now that Dez Bryant has been drafted.

Some of you might know that Dez Bryant was pretty impressive at the rookie workout a few weeks back, I wasn’t overly surprised since he was out there against 7^th round picks and undrafted rookies. However, he looked just the same today at OTAs when being matched up against pro bowl corners, Terrence Newman and Mike Jenkins. ESPNDallas.com’s Calvin Watkins and Dallascowboys.com’s Josh Ellis both mentioned a play where Terrence Newman was forced to hold Bryant and interfere in order not to get beat by the young rookie. Mike Jenkins said that Bryant is going to be ready for week one.

Speaking of Jenkins, of wideout Roy Williams, he stated that Roy was “On fire” today. Williams has lost some weight, and according to dallascowboys.com writer, Rob Phillips, he is sporting a new stance off the line of scrimmage that should help with his explosion at the snap.

Some shuffling in the Dallas Cowboys offensive line this morning as they released backups Cory Procter and Duke Preston. They then played Montrae Holland as the second team guard, and Kyle Kosier as the backup center. Doug Free was with the first team offense at left tackle, and Alex Barron was with the second team at left tackle. But Barron quickly stated to the media that he still has the mindset to start with the first team come the regular season.

Felix Jones and Marion Barber split carries with the first team offense.

Jason Hatcher started at left defensive end with the absence of Spears.

Wade Phillips said that second year player, Jason Williams is competing for the nickel linebacker spot with rookie Sean Lee. This spot is now vacant since Bobby "Barbie" Carpenter was traded.

That’s all the notes I got for now, I continue to gather info as the day goes on.

Stock Watch; Orakpo Up, Crayton Down.

From Espn.com

Falling

Patrick Crayton, Cowboys wide receiver: He's always had excellent hands, and just when you count him out, he'll deliver with a punt return for a touchdown. Unfortunately for Crayton, though, he's getting caught in a numbers game.

With the addition of Dez Bryant and the eyesore that is Roy Williams, there might not be a place for Crayton on this roster. The Cowboys love second-year wideout Kevin Ogletree and he comes at a better rate than Crayton. The DeSoto, Texas, native has been skipping voluntary workouts in recent weeks while he hoped the Cowboys could find a trading partner. But teams probably will wait until Crayton is released before acting.

He'll head into training camp as a safety valve for the club. Tony Romo wants Crayton back, but there's a decent chance it won't happen. And if the Cowboys go ahead and release Crayton, I think they'll eventually regret the move.

Crayton's played in big games and he's willing to fight for balls across the middle. He would make some team an excellent third receiver or possibly a No. 2. I'm a little surprised the Dolphins haven't made a play for Crayton. Bill Parcells loves Crayton's toughness.

Rising

Brian Orakpo, Redskins outside linebacker: I spoke with Orakpo two weeks ago and he was thrilled to be working with new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. He had 11 sacks while playing linebacker and defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.

Haslett told a local television station that Orakpo probably rushed the passer 200 times last season. He expects that number to be closer to 600 in 2010. I don't think there's a player on the team who will benefit more from the scheme change than Orakpo. The guy has no business dropping back in coverage. He needs to be hunting quarterbacks at all times.

Forget Albert Haynesworth's whine festival. Orakpo's the best player on this defense. And Haslett will build around him. I think 16 sacks would be a pretty reasonable goal. Doug Free better be watching film as we speak because Orakpo could be his worst nightmare.

Keith Brooking has Knee Surgery

From Espndallas.com

By Calvin Watkins

GRAPEVINE, Texas _ Cowboys inside linebacker Keith Brooking underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee three weeks ago and will miss portions of the organized team activites at Valley Ranch which start on Monday, according to a source.

Brooking, who enters his second season with the Cowboys, most likely will be ready for training camp at the end of July and possibly for the mandatory minicamp in June.

With Brooking out, it allows second-round pick Sean Lee and last year's third-round selection Jason Williams to get more reps at the inside linebacker position.

Haslett Plans on Blitzing Orakpo....A LOT

Jim Haslett just finished coaching the UFL's Florida Tuskers last season. This man loves to coach, hands down.

That, and he loves to be active, a total 180 degree flip from old Redskins defensive coordinator, Greg Blache.

Blache was said to be very serious at practice, still respected, but very serious. In his spare time, Blache liked to hunt and relax. Recreational sports like fishing calmed Blache down, gave him time to enjoy with his friends from his hometown.

Not Haslett. He says he can't sit still. He works out, two times a day sometimes, just to keep moving. He does lawnwork, whether that means mowing it, planting seeds, or simply breaking out the blower so his son can play baseball at their St. Louis home.

Just look at his coaching history, bouncing around from team to team, to even the UFL. He just purely can't sit at home on his coach relaxing. He HAS to be involved.

But coaching style and personality isn't the only change. The Skins are changing their overall defensive scheme to a 3-4 defense. As if the announcement wasn't good enough for you, they have been spending the last few weeks, bulking up their three-man front to get ready for this change.

The 3-4 outside linebacker is a key for the pass rush, a position that Brian Orakpo, going into his second season in the NFL, was volunteering to play his rookie year. So what does Haslett plan on doing with Orakpo? Straight from his interview with nbcwashington.com;

Why Haslett thinks the 3-4 defense will benefit the Redskins: "Just the unknown of where you’re coming from, who’s blitzing, who’s not blitzing. You can just do so many things out of it that you can’t do out of a four-man line. Now, if you got great four-man line people, then you play that." He adds, "There’s no reason you can’t go 3-4, 4-3. I’ve played in both, coached in both, been successful in both. I think its just the type of players you have. I think the cornerstone of the team on defense is Brian Orakpo. He had 11 sacks last year, rushed 200 some times. In this defense, we’ll rush 600-700 times.""

Wait....600-700 times?! So Haslett plans on rushing him at least three times more than his remarkable rookie season. Get ready opposing offensive lineman, Brian "OrSackpo" is on his way.

L.T. is Still "Master of His Domain"

As we all know by now, LT has been charged with having sex with a minor.

If that wasn't creepy enough for you, his lawyer then claimed that the two didn't have sexual intercourse, but rather that the alleged victim only committed, "Clinton Acts" for Taylor.

Disgusting, I know.

Now L.T.'s defense has changed, most likely because they figured out that ANY sexual acts with a minor, still carries the same penalties. Regardless of what the act was, and sexual contact is all under the same umbrella.

That being said, according to TMZ.com (I know, it's sad I'm using them as my source when I usually have Adam Shefter or Chris Mortensen as my backup. Sorry) L.T. claims that he was masterbating to the minor.

I'm soooo sorry if you just ate and decided to read this. It makes me sick too. But, I just wanted to deliver the word on the former Giant and hall of famer. Sad to see someone fall so far...

Barron Looks a Lot Like a Former Cowboy

Lets stop with the Alex Barron talk for just a second.

Yes, he started the majority 74 games in St. Louis in his 5 year career there at left tackle. But he also reminds me a lot like someone that Dallas just released.

He showed a big downside in blocking faster defensive ends, giving up seven sacks last year, and was flagged for a league-high 15 penalties as well.

Dallas fans, who does that remind you of?

Although most Cowboy fans were happy to see Flozell “False Start” Adams be released. Let’s not jump on this bandwagon just yet until Barron shows that he can leave his penalties behind him like he told the Dallas Star-Telegram. “It won’t be a problem here.” He said. “I’m ready to get this thing going.”

When Barron’s agent, Roosevelt Barnes was asked about Barron’s problems, Barnes blamed it on the St. Louis franchise and the losing ambiance that is in the air in the Midwest city. He sites that Barron has gone through a number of head coaches, coordinators and line coaches, and believes a new stable environment will help Barron excel.

Whatever the case may be, Barron understands he is competing against Doug Free for the left tackle position. A position, like stated earlier in my Redskins-Giants rivalry review, is very important to the quarterback. We all remember the playoff game against Minnesota where Romo was consistently harassed due to Free’s inability to block Jared Allen.

As we near training camp, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Barron win the starting position and Free be Dallas’s “swing player”, a backup that can play both left and right tackle. This should be an interesting battle for arguably the second most important position on offense.

Rivalry Series, Skins vs Giants; The Hit That Changed Football

The NFC East is known for a lot of things. They have a history of success with nine Superbowl championships between the four teams. The games have been some of the most intense and exciting games that any fan, of any team would enjoy watching. But maybe more than any other division, they have some of the most storied rivalries. Today we continue the rivalry series, breaking down memorable moments in the Redskins/Giants rivalry…

I’m really not sure what it is about these two teams, but for some reason, in a division filled with hatred, bitterness, and anger, this feud flies completely under the radar.

Even when I ask Giant and Redskins fans, some who even live in the opposing team’s area, they don’t rank this one within the top half of rivalries in the NFC East. And I guess there’s good reason for that.

With most rivalries in the East, there’s a story, a backdrop, a series of events that lead to the feud. But not this one. There’s only a handful of memorable games, instant classic plays, or moments you won’t forget.

However, in this feud, you have one of the most memorable moments in NFL history. Most of you already know what I’m talking about.

It was more than 20 years ago, Monday Night Football, New York visiting Washington at RFK Stadium. Lawrence Taylor, pro-bowl linebacker (and petifile…but that’s a different story), came along the blind side of Redskins’ Quarterback Joe Theismann and delivered a hit that snapped Theismann’s right leg. A hit Theismann never saw coming, and has never seen since.

He, nor Taylor, has viewed that replay.

Lawrence Taylor may be one of the most feared defensive players in the NFL’s long history. You can easily put him up there with Deacon Jones, Reggie White, and Ronnie Lott. Not saying LT was the best, but MOST FEARED. Possibly, by players and fans alike. And on that play, was the only time I’ve seen L.T. show compassion on the field. Because after he delivered the hit, he immediately popped up and waved towards the trainers to get on the field for Theismann. He then looked at Theismann who was obviously hurt, he placed his hands on his head in shock, as if he couldn’t believe what he just did.

From Washingtonpost.com

"People break legs all the time in football. It involves the cracking of a bone, but most times, you can't see it," said Dan Dierdorf, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman who later became a "Monday Night Football" analyst and was watching the game on TV. "That night, what you saw was so graphic, and when you watch something that's so far out of the normal, you just gag, but you almost can't help watching it again and again."

You’d think a hit like this would leave a bitter taste in Skin fans’ mouths, thus sparking a huge feud that would rival the Cowboys-Redskins feud. I mean if you ask any Cowboy fan that hates the Eagles why they feud, 9 out of 10 of them will probably bring up Michael Irvin’s injury ending at the turf of the Vet.

I spoke with a good friend of mine, Jason Bonnette, who is a lifetime and die hard Redskin fan about the feud. And he made sure I knew that this wasn’t just another game, that he definitely hated the Giants.

“Let me tell you why I hate the Giants,” He began, and I already knew this was going to be good. “Thiesmann was the NFL MVP in 1983 and one of the most legendary Redskins QB’s of all time. But it [The L.T. play] was more effective at making L.T. the most feared defender of all time then it was a blow to the skins.”

Jason continues to speak on how the Redskins continued without their hall of fame quarterback, “Two years later in ’87 the Hogs went on to lead the Redskins to the greatest Super Bowl victory of all time when they won 42-10 over the Denver Broncos. The only thing threw all of the Redskins Super Bowl wins was the Hogs.”

And that is very true; the Redskins relied very heavily on their offensive line throughout the late 80s into the 90s. The offensive lines, nicknamed The Hogs for those of you living under a rock, were a staple in the Redskins’ offense for years upon years. Jason concluded reminding me, “that his lit the fire for one of the most heated rivalries of the 80s.”

We often forget that the Cowboys often struggled in the 80s, especially the late 80s. Meanwhile, the Eagles were a coin flip every year as far as if they were going to be a playoff contender or not. So his statement does indeed hold true that in the 80s, this was one of the more heated feuds in the NFL.

It’s a hit that we’ve seen dozens of times as it was a play that changed the course of history for the NFL. It made one man into a monster, ended one man’s career, and made every team in the league concentrate on the blind side of their quarterback. Not many franchises or rivalries carry a play that has affected so much, but if there was one division that can alter the NFL as we know it, it would be the NFC East.

Below are some games in this rivalry’s past that you may’ve forgotten until now:

Oct. 27, 1991: Redskins Beat Defending Champs to Move to 8-0

After an inspiring Super Bowl run in 1990, the Giants — under the direction of a new head coach, Ray Handley — came out flat in 1991, entering a late October tilt at the Meadowlands with a 4-3 record.

The Redskins gladly took over as the best team in the division, rolling to a 7-0 start behind quarterback Mark Rypien. For the Giants, this game was an opportunity to put their slow start behind them. For the Redskins, it was a chance to snap a six-game losing streak to the Giants and legitimize themselves as the team to beat.

Spurred on by the Sunday night crowd, the Giants took a 13-0 halftime lead. But that would be all for the defending champs, as Washington thoroughly outplayed them in the second half in a 17-13 comeback win.

The Redskins were on their way to a Super Bowl season, capped off by a 37-24 triumph over Buffalo. The Giants were on their way to an 8-8 season.

Nov. 23, 1997: With First Place at Stake, Teams Tie

In a Sunday night game for control of the N.F.C. East, neither team proved worthy. This 7-7 tiewas memorable, but only because of its listlessness and sheer bizarreness. The teams combined for 22 punts and 6 turnovers, and missed three potentially game-winning field goals in overtime.

The game’s most memorable moment came courtesy of Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte, who, after scoring a second-quarter touchdown, leaped and head-butted the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium retaining wall in awkward celebration. The maneuver gave Frerotte a strained neck, but has provided comedic fodder for football fans ever since.

The game ended when a 54-yard field-goal attempt by Redskins kicker Scott Blanton fell short as time ran out in overtime. The kick would have been shorter if not for a boneheaded personal foul penalty a few plays earlier on receiver Michael Westbrook, who removed his helmet while protesting a call.

It was an appropriate ending to an inept night of football. But by not losing, the Giants had done what they had to. Three weeks later, they clinched the division at home against Washington.

Oct. 30, 2005: Giants Win One for the Duke

On the Monday before this game, Wellington Mara, the Giants’ longtime owner, succumbed to lymphoma at the age of 89. That Friday, Tiki Barber, who was at Mara’s bedside close to his death, led his teammates into St. Patrick’s Cathedral to honor him.

Two days later in the Meadowlands, Barber took a handoff on the first play from scrimmage and scampered 57 yards. It was a sign of things to come: Barber went on to rush for 206 yards in a 36-0 Giants rout.

It was a fitting tribute to a deeply respected patriarch of the Giants and the league. Mara was instrumental in ushering in the N.F.L.’s revenue-sharing system — eschewing what many thought were his own interests as the owner of a big-market team — as well as in brokering the N.F.L.’s merger with the A.F.L.

The blowout over the Redskins moved the Giants to 5-2 on the season, positioning them for the first of three (and counting) straight playoff appearances under Tom Coughlin.

Dec. 30, 2006: Barber Carries Giants to the Playoffs

Entering the final game of the 2006 season, the Giants were a broken team, both physically and psychologically, having lost six of their last seven games to turn a 6-2 start into a 7-8 record.

Despite everything, they had a chance to make the playoffs with a win over Washington at FedEx Field. And Tiki Barber –- in what would have been the last game of his career had the Giants lost –- singlehandedly carried them there.

In a performance for the ages, Barber rushed for a franchise-record 234 yards while scoring three touchdowns. And while the rest of the Giants continued their bumbling play, they were able to hold on for a 34-28 victory.

The next week, the team was put out of its misery in a loss to Philadelphia in Barber’s last game.

Sept. 23, 2007: Giants Resuscitate Season with Goal-Line Stand

The Giants were 0-2 and trailing the 2-0 Redskins at halftime, 17-3, on the road. What were the odds of the Giants winning the Super Bowl?

Things couldn’t have been bleaker, but the Giants — displaying, for the first time, a resilience that would characterize their team — stormed back. They took a 24-17 lead late in the game to set the stage for the season’s pivotal moment.

With 58 seconds left, the Redskins had first-and-goal at the Giants’ 1-yard line. But in the nick of time, the Giants’ maligned defense, which had surrendered the most points in the league over the first two games and seemed on the verge of choking away the third, seized the moment.

After stonewalling the Redskins for three plays in a row, the G-Men sealed the game when Justin Tuck knifed through the line to slow running back Ladell Betts, allowing the Big Blue D to converge on him to preserve the win.

The Giants were alive and well. And though the season would have its ups and downs from that point forward, it certainly ended well.