John Madden Retires!

Its a sad day for the football world. Just hope the Madden football games don't stop.

Legendary sports broadcaster John Madden is retiring after over 30 years in the business.
NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announced the news Thursday morning, calling Madden "the most honored broadcaster in sports television history."

NEW YORK - April 16, 2009 - NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announced today that John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and the most honored broadcaster in sports television history, has decided to retire from broadcasting. Madden issued the following statement today:

"It's time. I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and my five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not..."

"It's been such a great ride... the NFL has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion - it still is. I appreciate all of the people who are and were such an important part of the most enjoyable, most fun anyone could have... that great life with the teams, the players, the coaches, the owners, the League... my broadcasting partners Pat and Al... the production people and the fans...is still great... it's still fun and that's what it makes it hard and that's why it took me a few months to make a decision."

"I still love every part of it - the travel, the practices, the game film, the games, seeing old friends and meeting new people... but I know this is the right time."

John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and the most honored NFL broadcaster of all time, has served as the game analyst for "NBC Sunday Night Football" since 2006. Madden, who has won an unprecedented 16 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality, is renowned by football fans nationwide for his ability to analyze the details of the game with wit, candor and an inimitable style. Madden has been an NFL broadcaster for 30 years. On February 1, Madden earned rave reviews and critical acclaim in his final game, the 11th Super Bowl he called - Super Bowl XLIII on NBC.

Source: Huffington Post

NFL To Release 2009 Schedules Tonight

The NFL will release the 2009 schedules tonight on the NFL Network at 7p.m. John Clayton got a hold of the schedule and compiled a strength of schedule list.

2009 TEAM-BY-TEAM STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
1. Miami Dolphins
2. Carolina Panthers
3. New England Patriots
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Buffalo Bills
7. New York Jets
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. New York Giants
11. Dallas Cowboys
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
13. Indianapolis Colts
14. Tennessee Titans
15. Houston Texans
16. Washington Redskins
17. Kansas City Chiefs
17. San Diego Chargers
19. Denver Broncos
19. Oakland Raiders
21. Detroit Lions
22. Cincinnati Bengals
22. St. Louis Rams
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. Cleveland Browns
26. San Francisco 49ers
27. Arizona Cardinals
28. Baltimore Ravens
29. Pittsburgh Steelers
30. Green Bay Packers
31. Minnesota Vikings
32. Chicago Bears

NFL signings

The Raiders have signed QB Jeff Garcia as the backup for next year. Garcia will return to California to help lead the Raiders to winning football and to help mentor young JaMarcus Russell. Knowing Garcia's history he will not be happy with a backup role so watch out for a QB competition in Oakland.

On the other side of the country Kellen Winlsow as agreed to a 6 year 36 million dollar extension with the Tampa Bay Bucs. This deal will make Winslow the highest paid tight end in NFL history. I dont know about you but I dont see this one time pro-bowler being worth all of that money, but only time will tell.

Cutler To The Redskins?

The Denver Broncos finally gave up on this game of "he said, we said" and have agreed to let Jay Cutler go. As most of you know Cutler and Bronco management have been fighting ever since new coach Josh McDaniel came aboard and was thinking of bringing Matt Cassel along with him. The Denver brass announced that they would trade Cutler to any interested team, which in this case be many. Cutler would be a nice fit for such clubs as Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Jets, Bears and maybe even the mighty Redskins? (ya never know)

The DirecTV/NFL Monopoly Continues

DirecTV will continue to have the exclusive television rights to the National Football Leagues 's NFL Sunday Ticket package through 2014, according to a joint release from DirecTV and the NFL.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but media reports have DirecTV paying the NFL $1 billion a year for the rights to the package, up from the current $700 million a year.

Man this is the reason I can't get rid of my damn DirecTV. DirecTV needs to hurry up and get On-Demand and some damn 24-hour music channels. This is some bullshyt.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The NFL has released the games for kickoff weekend and Thanksgiving. Looks like T.O. is already paying dividends for the Bills since they will be featured in primetime on ESPN against the Patriots.

Kickoff weekend
Sept. 10
Tennessee at Pittsburgh
NBC-8:30 p.m.

Sept. 13
Chicago at Green Bay
NBC-8:30 p.m.

Sept. 14
Buffalo at New England
ESPN-7 p.m.

Sept. 14
San Diego at Oakland
ESPN-10:15 p.m.

Thanksgiving
Nov. 26
Green Bay at Detroit
FOX-12:30 p.m.

Nov. 26
Oakland at Dallas
CBS-4:15 p.m.

Nov. 26
N.Y. Giants at Denver
NFL Network-8:20 p.m.

In related news, the NFL is considering expanding the NFL season to 18 regular season games and eliminating two of the preseason games. I don't really like that considering the injuries you would have deal with. Its hard enough to make it to the postseason without injuries with 16 regular season games.

Mike Vick to play in Las Vegas???

As most of you may know, there is a new football league slated to start this year and somewhat compete with the NFL. The United Football League will feature teams from Las Vegas, Orlando, San Fransisco and already have former NFL coaches such as Jim Hasslett, Denny Green, and Jim Fassel on board.

Well as far as Vick is concerned there are rumors out there that the UFL is trying to lure the Falcons QB into this upstart league for at least the first season. This would make sense for Vick to get some practice time in and give the UFL some needed PR as he will be released from prison in May, but will most likely not be able to play in the NFL until 2010. Stay tuned for more on the Vick news...

For more info. on the UFL click http://www.ufl-football.com/

The NotForLong League

In a some what surprising move, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired head coach Jon Gruden and their gm, Bruce Allen. Which as the headline says, the NFL is definitely the NOT FOR LONG league! Check out ESPN for the story.

Miami Nice

The NFL Pro Bowl and Super Bowl will be held in Miami in 2010 a week apart from each other. Since 1980 the Pro Bowl was held in Hawaii a week after the Super Bowl. However, next year they will be moving the Pro Bowl to Miami to hold it between the week of the conference championships and the Super Bowl. Book you rooms now cause Miami is going to be off the hook for those two weeks. *gets on knees and prays the Cowboys get to the Superbowl next year*

The Agony of Defeat

So the Cowboys lost in humiliating fashion to the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday in a win and in game for the playoffs. Dallas Superbowl aspirations are put on hold for another year while they will be forced to answer some tough questions about their QB, head coach and offensive coordinator. Also, the Redskins lost yesterday to the 49ers to end their once promising season at 8-8. They have the same tough questions to answer as the Cowboys. Here are some other noteworthy things that happened in the league as we head into the postseason.

-Jets lost to Miami; Pennington gets his revenge, Jets fire coach, Parcells is a genius and will Brett Favre be back

-Chargers make the playoffs and Denver crash and burn

-Vikings win NFC North with help of resurgent QB Tavaris Jackson; Bears defense crumbles in the hands of the Texans

-Browns fire Crennel

-Lions went 0-16 for the first time in NFL history; needless to say they fired their coach

Since the Cowboys are out the playoffs, I hope that somehow the playoffs would be cancelled so I won't be forced to watch another team hoist the Lombardi trophy this year. Oh the pain! (Jerry please get Jimmy Johnson on the phone now!)

If You Need A Gun, You're In The Wrong Place

Those are the words from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when asked on his thoughts about the Plaxico Burress situation. I have to agree on the commish on that one. Plaxico just signed for about $35 milli if I recall correctly and he's in the club playing with a damn gun. WTF? Hire security, bring the party to your house or something. Its only a few weeks left but Plaxico is racking up the votes for the DLR's Bama of the Year award.

CAN YOU BELEIVE THIS DUDE HERE????

This dude Donovan McNabb a.k.a. "The Throw Up/Choke Artist" is now sticking his chest out because of a win yesterday in Philadelphia. I was just thinking maybe he wasn't the one doing that interview two weeks ago that said and I quote "I never knew that an NFL Professional Football Game could end in a tie. Duh!!!!! Or is this the same person who got bench just last week because he continued to throw interception after interception... Now I won't go as far as to say the dude is sorry or anything like that. Not great for sure.. But okay if you need a QB on you team. HELLO Detroit/Chicago???? But shouldn't you be more consistant before you start stroking your own ego? The Eagles are only (6-5-1) which pretty much guarantees no Playoff hopes this year.

Gone but not forgotten!!!

As the holiday approaches and families come together DLR takes time to remember Sean Taylor, who was slain in a robbery gone wrong a year ago. Condolences to his biological family and his Redskins family. Who knows what would have happened with Sean and LaRon Laundry playing for years to come. Man we will never see this guy in his prime because of some hatin azz shyt by some young bucks. We all need to stop the craziness!

We will never forget this dude (tears forming in my eyes).

RIP SEAN TAYLOR!

PLAYING WITH FEAR

A year after Sean Taylor's murder, NFL players still live in fear. Clinton Portis has stressed how life has changed for him since the tragic death of Sean Taylor. Living in fear is now a part of his life. NFL players across the league have expressed there concerns about life in todays NFL. With a steady flow of cash when the economy is doing poor, NFL players are now bigger targets than before and surely not for just an autograph. Read more here...

T.O WHO??? ROY WHAT???

THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS have signed free agent cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a one year contract!!! This makes an already POTENT secondary even more potent!! WOOOOOOOO!! LET'S GO REDSKINS!!!

"What to watch in sports" Thursday Edition

Check out these games for Thursday night action!!!!

Thursday, Nov 6
College Football-
Maryland at VA Tech (espn@7:30pm) "Looks like the Terps are bowl bound but they also have a chance to win the ACC....who'd a thunk it?"

NBA-
Philadelphia at Orlando (tnt@8pm)
Houston at Portland (tnt@10:30pm)

NFL-
Denver at Cleveland (nfl network@8pm) "This is what Brady Quinn has been waiting for and why the Browns went so high in the draft to get him. Can Notre Dame produce another great QB?"

Doomsday in Dallas

Looks like another year of hoping to win a Playoff game if they can make it to the playoff. "PLAYOFFS... PLAYOFFS... What are you talking about PLAYOFFS!!! They might not even make the playoffs. How fast the so called mighty can fall. Once projected as Superbowl contenders the Dallas Cowboys are starting to look more like Pretenders. We will see in two weeks when QB, Tony Romo, returns with RB. Felix Jones to play the 6-2 possibly 7-2 or 6-3 Washington Redskins. If the Redskins beat the Cowboys again this year, Washington can say they put the Dallas Cowboys out of the playoffs this year. For more on the agony of Dallas....

"What to watch in sports" Weekend Edition

Welcome to this new weekly DLR segment which will post the must see games of each weekend.
Of course you know the biggest game in the DMV area will be the The Washington Redskins vs the Texas Cowgirls (SMH) Sunday @ 4:15pm. So be sure to tune in every Thursday to find out which games are a must for your weekend viewing pleasure!!!

Friday, September 26-
College football- Connecticut at Louisville (espn2@8pm). "Fill of football on Friday"

Baseball- Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee (espn@8pm). "With the baseball season winding down the Brewers need to win to stay in the playoff hunt."

Saturday, September 27-
College Football-
Maryland at Clemson (WDCA20@12pm) "Come on Terps"
Tennesse at Auburn (cbs@3:30pm)
Alabama at Georgia (espn@7:45pm)
Illinois at Penn State(abc@8pm)

Boxing-
Shane Mosley vs Ricardo Mayorga (hbo@10:30pm) "Uh..I guess I may watch"

Sunday, September 28-
NFL Football
Greenbay at Tampabay (fox@1:00pm) "Battle of the Bays" (Always wanted to say that..Ha)
Cleveland at Cincinnati (cbs@1:00pm) "Gets no play on my tv, but still NFL"
REDSKINS at COWBOYS (fox@4:15pm) "The rivalry says it all, and if not see paragraph above"
Philadelphia at Chicago (nbc@8:15pm) "last game before work"

Monday, September 29-
Baltimore at Pittsburgh (espn@8:30) "Hard hitting rivalry should be a good one"

Some decisions come back to bite you in da azz...

Shawne Merriman is headed to the dreaded IR for the rest of the year as he prepares for season ending knee surgury. If you remember he had the choice of having surgery before the season started but he decieded to "rough it" and play with two partially torn tendons in his knee. Now his season is over. Nukkas always got to show how hard they is, SMH. Check out the latest from ESPN.COM

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The NFL season begins tonight with the Washington Porkskins...I mean Redskins take on the defending Super Bowl Champions New York Giants. It should be a good one between bitter NFC East rivals. LORD FOOTBALL HAS RETURNED.