NFL Jabber: Stiff Arming RBs and More

Chris Johnson is already raising eyebrows in his practices with the Titans. Just wait until he is comfortable (seems to be what the staff and players are saying). The Tennessean caught up the rookie RB.

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"Johnson said the veterans have already given him a nickname: Speedy. In the two practices open to media last week, he lined up as a running back and receiver in a variety of spots. On several plays near the goal line he caught screen passes and scooted into the end zone. He also fielded punts."

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Years ago, when I was a personal trainer, I worked at this YMCA where they hid the free-weight room and its animals in the basement. “Yeah, we have one...but they stay down there...” is what they would tell prospective members on tours.

That is kind of the way it seems that some of the Official NFL Team Sites are about their message boards. I remember a time when the Official Boards were closing down because of unruly members (Saints and Panthers come to mind).

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, the Giants are being pretty damn cool to their message-board members. They are giving the fans a chance to write up a story on their memories of the great Giant Season that was 2007. They then choose some of the stories to be posted on the Official Giants site. Pretty cool Giants...pretty cool.

Nobody seems interested in Shaun Alexander. Bill Williamson at ESPN’s Hashmarks takes the time to point out that the Broncos don’t even want him. Why would the Broncos want him? They could have slipped a few more bills than the Bears did to Robbie Gould and made him a decent RB. They should be just fine with what is on the table with Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and the latest rookie RB, Ryan Torain. Look for interest from both Alexander and teams raise the closer the season is. No rush right now.

John Tomase at The Boston Herald takes a look at the Patriots RB stable.

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"KEY STATS: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And by that measurement, Maroney showed last season that he has what it takes to be an above-average starting NFL back. He had five 100-yard games last season, and four of them came from Week 15 on, including back-to-back 122-yard efforts in the playoffs."

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Over at Canal Street Chronicles they would like some help in picking the four WRs for the Saints to keep along with Colston.

Do we reeeeeaaaly need to already be talking about Terrell Owens going to the Raiders next year?

Marion Barber had no idea that he had a rule names after him. Barber’s tribute to the classic RBs with a stiff arm are more likely to be met with a yellow flag now. 15-yards worth.

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“Then, I’m going to use the elbow,” Barber said, jokingly, before adding, “I didn’t even know. I’m going to have to read up on it. So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?”

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Mark Cuban goes in-depth explaining the salary cap, and why the NFL owners opted out of the CBA (while thumbing through his rolodex looking for friends to start up a league).

Pro Football Reference grades Ten Years of NFL Drafts. They always give me a stat fix!