This is as real as it gets folks

I am sure you saw the tape of “Kramer “doing his comedy routine and lost his professional cool and went ballistic on a black gentleman because of his comments about the show not being funny.

Which he had every right to do so, just as the comic had every right to work as a professional and would like a little respect from the audience. I am sure everyone would agree, that if someone came to your job and told you how poor of a worker you are and you are doing a shitty job you might have done worse and maybe even use physical force. I found this on the Internet and though I need to share it to broaden people horizons about people acting hypocritical towards each other.Please try to be civilized and think about this deeply before you comment.

Were you ever in that situation when you had to be a racist?

You can only be honest with yourself and in your heart you know if you did or did not, you dont have to tell us if you feel ashamed.

Someone finally said it. How many are actually paying attention to this?

There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, Native Americans, etc. and then there are just Americans.

You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me “Whiteboy”,”Cracker”, “Honkey”, “Whitey”, “Caveman” and that’s OK.

But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towelhead, Sand-Nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink you call me a racist.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

You have the United Negro College Fund.

You have Martin Luther King Day.

You have Black History Month.

You have Cesar Chavez Day.

You have Yom Hashoah

You have Ma’uled Al-Nabi

You have the NAACP.

You have BET.

If we had WET(White Entertainment Television) we’d be racists.

If we had a White Pride Day you would call us racists.

If we had White History Month, we’d be racists.

If we had any organization for only whites to “advance” our lives, we’d be racists.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that?

If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships, you know we’d be racists. There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US, yet if there were “White colleges” that would be a racist college.

In the Million-Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.

You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you’re not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.

You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug-dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.

Why is it that only whites can be racists?

Weight gain means lower gas mileage

10/25/2006, 4:49 p.m. ETBy LINDSEY TANNER The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Want to spend less at the pump? Lose some weight. That’s the implication of a new study that says Americans are burning nearly 1 billion more gallons of gasoline each year than they did in 1960 because of their expanding waistlines. Simply put, more weight in the car means lower gas mileage.

Using recent gas prices of $2.20 a gallon, that translates to about $2.2 billion more spent on gas each year.

“The bottom line is that our hunger for food and our hunger for oil are not independent. There is a relationship between the two,” said University of Illinois researcher Sheldon Jacobson, a study co-author.

“If a person reduces the weight in their car, either by removing excess baggage, carrying around less weight in their trunk, or yes, even losing weight, they will indeed see a drop in their fuel consumption.”The lost mileage is pretty small for any single driver. Jacobson said the typical driver — someone who records less than 12,000 miles annually — would use roughly 18 fewer gallons of gas over the course of a year by losing 100 pounds. At $2.20 per gallon, that would be a savings of almost $40.

Outside experts said that even if the calculations aren’t exact, the study makes sense.

“If you put more weight into your car, you’re going to get fewer miles per gallon,” Emory University health care analyst Kenneth Thorpe said Wednesday.

The same effect has been seen in airplanes. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that heavy fliers have contributed to higher fuel costs for airlines.

The obesity rate among U.S. adults doubled from 1987 to 2003, from about 15 percent to more than 30 percent. Also, the average weight for American men was 191 pounds in 2002 and 164 pounds for women, about 25 pounds heavier than in 1960, government figures show.

The study’s conclusions are based on those weight figures and Americans’ 2003 driving habits, involving roughly 223 million cars and light trucks nationwide.

Schnide,Shnide,Scheid Whatever It Is Get Off It

Once again your faithful fan planted himself in front of the television and hoped for a bargain Monday Night Football. I really wanted to see what the hype was all about in regards to a new stadium and I was impressed. Well spent $450 million to put a new bird in a new cage. Cards being 1-4, even though being at home did not look promising since they were playing the number one team in the NFL Chicago Bears. The atmosphere right from the start favored Arizona with the noise level that would match any stadium in the nation. It looked like a giant pizza spread with sauce and a few patches of sausages here and there representing the Bear fans. The roof was open and the birds were ready to fly, and fly they did. To everyone’s surprise they shut out Bears in the first half leading 20-0 with Leinart throwing for two TD’s and defense with 4 turnovers. I am sure everyone in America including the players themselves never imagined being up by 20 on the only undefeated team left. I hung out before running to the fridge to see the Jay-Z video (YAWN). Looked liked just another semi educated rapper that got together with some powerful Jews and learned the corporate ropes, but that is another article all together. Besides listening to Tony Kornheisers babble, who most likely couldn’t make the girls cheerleading squad in high school, tell me about football.

Back from the fridge and looked like I didn’t miss much at all, same people still rambling on about things that have nothing to do with the game or football. What a team they have assembled. I can get passed the two ladies doing the sideline interviews with players. I mean, since they have so much experience playing the game of football or paying with football players why wouldn’t you hire two lovely women to work “the sideline”. Anyway here comes the second half and this is where the bird’s wing broke .

Mr. Green started to work the clock without realizing there is still 30 minutes left in the game. I am not sure why you would go away from a game plan that gave you a 20-0 lead and start running the ball with a running back is known to fumble in key situations. Gee, you think Colts let go of a 1000-yard rusher because they hate to run?

                                       Gms     Fumbls

1999 Indianapolis Colts 16        8

2000 Indianapolis Colts 16       5

2001 Indianapolis Colts   6        3 
2002 Indianapolis Colts 14       4

2003 Indianapolis Colts 13       5 
2004 Indianapolis Colts 16       6

2005 Indianapolis Colts 15       2 
2006 Arizona Cardinals   6       1

TOTAL                           102    34

As you can see there is a history of Mr. James fumbling in key situations which is about roughly 30% of the time. Not the guy you want running the ball when you are trying to run out the clock. Green as a coach has been known for his conservative nature and maybe that is the reason why he is in Arizona and Vikings are 3-2. I wish he had put some of that anger on the field and channeled it to his player rather then the press after the game. I don’t think green will be with Cards next year, mostly because of his decisions made during the Bear game. This was a perfect chance to show the fans that there is hope with a new QB and some star additions on the team birds will fly some day. Instead they turned into salmon that was too weak to make it up the stream and got eaten by the big bad Bear.

NFL’s Seven Deadly Sins

They are the lessons of avoidance that are supposed to keep us on the path. Stay virtuous, live right and avoid the seven deadly sins: Lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, envy, pride and sloth.Applied to the NFL landscape, they are merely seven vices that shape the league and fill the sports pages. And believe it or not, each year they shape the Super Bowl chase. So in honor of the vices that sort out the pretenders and contenders, we give you a list of teams that have committed sins that are bound to shape the postseason.

Starting with everyone’s favorite …

The sin: LUST (otherwise known as unwholesome morality)
The sinner: Cincinnati BengalsWe know about all the arrests (six different players in the last year), the league discipline (Odell Thurman dismissed for the season), and the recent benching of wideout Chris Henry (leader in the clubhouse with four arrests in the last 12 months). What we don’t know is how all of the off-the-field issues are going to come home to roost. But for those who are seeking a good example, Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots was a perfect illustration.

Cincinnati has issues against good running teams, resulting in its standing as the league’s 26th-ranked rush defense. Only the Titans and Jets have given up more rushing touchdowns (eight apiece) than Cincinnati (seven), and no team in the league has surrendered more first downs via the run (39). What does that have to do with Cincinnati’s offseason problems? It has plenty to do with the loss of Thurman, who was the team’s leading tackler in 2005. His improvement was supposed to accentuate the run-plugging abilities of offseason addition Sam Adams.

Without Thurman, the Bengals have been reduced to a group of chase and tackle linebackers – a significant problem when you consider the strength of several Super Bowl contenders in the AFC – San Diego, Baltimore and New England – will be the running game. Worse yet, the season-ending injury to David Pollack had already left their overall depth at linebacker thin, and losing Thurman (who also had five interceptions last season) takes away another playmaking element. Clearly, the margin of error for Cincinnati’s players has shrunk off the field. The only question now is whether the uncontrolled lusts of some of guys like Thurman and Henry will cost them too much on it.

The sin: GLUTTONY (otherwise known as overindulgence)
The sinner: Atlanta FalconsNot to beat a one-dimensional horse, but the Falcons’ current dominance in the running game is going to become a problem. Maybe not now or through Week 17, but when the playoffs come around, someone is going to solve the option attack that has lit up opponents to the ridiculous tune of 234.2 yards per game. Yes, for the third straight year, the Falcons are leading the league in rushing. And for the third straight year, they are trolling the depths of the league in passing offense (31st overall), after finishing 27th and 30th the last two seasons.

We can celebrate the Falcons’ vaunted defensive aggression all we want. Certainly that and the running game should be enough to vault Atlanta into the playoffs once again. But the single-dimension offense promises to be the franchise’s postseason undoing yet again, just like it was in the 2004 playoffs. It should be remembered that Atlanta destroyed St. Louis en route to the NFC championship game, rolling up 327 rushing yards. Then the Falcons encountered a defense that had one goal: hem in quarterback Michael Vick and the running game, and force the Falcons to throw the ball. The result? Atlanta rushed for 99 yards, and Vick completed 11 of 24 passes with one interception and no touchdowns. Oh, and the Falcons lost 27-10.

And yet, somehow, this postseason might be different? Not likely. Not with two of the league’s best rushing defenses, Chicago and Seattle, expected to stand in the way. And not with the Falcons already showing in the loss to New Orleans that when they fall behind and need to move via a passing attack, the results aren’t pretty. Perhaps the answer is a quarterback rotation with Matt Schaub. It sounds unconventional and far-fetched, but so is winning a Super Bowl while relying on the option attack.

The sin: GREED (otherwise known as overriding need for wealth)
The sinner: Indianapolis Colts

Greed ended the partnership of Manning (left) and former teammate James.

Quarterback Peyton Manning called it a bittersweet day when he lost running back Edgerrin James this offseason. And yet, when James was asked why he left Indianapolis, he intimated that it really came down to one thing: The Colts weren’t willing to pay him. Why? The team was already looking at being cap strapped with a massive amount of cash tied up in Manning, wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, defensive end Dwight Freeney and defensive tackle Corey Simon. The spectacular amount of cap room invested in those players meant James couldn’t be afforded.

Now, all those players should keep their checkbooks in mind when they are struggling to establish a running game while facing their most difficult Super Bowl trek in years. Yes, business is business. That’s understandable in this league. But there is a reality for highly-paid superstars in the salary cap era, too. If you truly want a ring, you have to be willing to forgo some of your own financial gains if you want your franchise to retain some cornerstone teammates. If Manning wanted to win a Super Bowl, he and some of those other stars should have found a way to free up the cap space to keep James a Colt while the Super Bowl window is still open the next 2-3 seasons.

Consider this: James is going to make roughly $5 million a season the next three years. Meanwhile, the extension Manning signed in 2004 pays him roughly triple that – about $15 million annually. Maybe it’s inconceivable to expect a player to take less than his maximum value for the good of the team. But New England quarterback Tom Brady (ahem, three time Super Bowl winner) did it when he signed for about $8 million less in guaranteed money than Manning, and almost $11 million less than Michael Vick.

The sin: WRATH (otherwise known as vengeful feelings toward another)
The sinner: New England PatriotsPerhaps wide receivers Doug Gabriel and Troy Brown, and tight end Ben Watson will be able to fill the void left behind by Deion Branch. But clearly, the Patriots’ passing offense is feeling the pains of the offseason beef that ended with a divorce from Branch. Say whatever you want about financial logic and rules. The bottom line: the Patriots have plenty of acreage under the salary cap and could have afforded to keep Brady’s favorite target without destroying the precious balance of the franchise’s checkbook. Instead, the team took a hard line stance and basically told Branch they didn’t think he was worth what the open market would dictate.

Make no mistake, the Patriots took it personally when Branch held out. And the suggestion that he pursue a trade was a vengeful ploy that blew up in their face. It certainly wasn’t the first financial low blow attempted, either (see: Lawyer Milloy’s last-minute release in 2003). The reality is, every offseason there is some kind of tiff with a player who wants to be paid. Disagreements that tend to end the same way: with New England incurring its roster-trimming wrath and talent leaving in a huff.

In reality, the Patriots came with an unnecessary iron fist this offseason and alienated a valuable player. Branch was a Super Bowl MVP who also happened to be the team’s most dependable receiving option, and whose impact was bigger than just numbers. You can bet New England’s militant fallout with Branch has plenty to do with Brady posting arguably his least efficient four-game stretch in his career. And you can bet his loss will loom large when key plays are needed for a Super Bowl run, too.

The sin: ENVY (otherwise known as an insatiable desire for love or success)
The sinner: Dallas CowboysYou can look at this two ways: the endless need of Terrell Owens to be in the spotlight, or Dallas’ desperate attempt to inject itself back into the league’s hype machine. Make no mistake, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has no regrets about the buzz of controversy that has swirled around his franchise since acquiring Owens. Dallas is relevant and entertaining again, just like it was during the ongoing soap operas that marked the Jimmy Johnson/Barry Switzer eras. But by tying themselves to Owens, the Cowboys have cast their lot with a player who has shown unparalleled and destructive jealousies throughout his career.

Forget the attempted suicide/accidental overdose/rogue publicist fiasco. Owens’ need for attention was a problem from Day 1, with the gristmill churning release of his book on the eve of training camp. The donning of the Tour De France style jersey during training camp; skipping voluntary workouts in the offseason; oversleeping and missing meetings – it has all perpetuated an ongoing circus of attention that Owens and the Cowboys have embraced.

But we know the end of this story. Whether it’s Drew Bledsoe’s recent comments that Terry Glenn is the best receiver he’s ever thrown to – or something else along the way – the marriage between Owens and Dallas is due to fracture. It may be in the form of the typical T.O. sideline tongue lashing. Or it may be with Parcells walking away from the drama this offseason. The only question is whether the Cowboys can win a Super Bowl in spite of the circus they craved, because it certainly won’t be because of it.

The sin: PRIDE (otherwise known as Vanity)
The sinner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Porter (center) and the Steelers might have become too cool for their own good.

Remember the blue collar, hard hat mentality that typified the Steelers? It’s fading. If you haven’t noticed, the Steelers spent the offseason loving themselves on multiple levels. There were the “we’re-too-smart-for-our-own-good” personnel moves like failing to complete a trade for bruising back T.J. Duckett in favor of finding a short-yardage guy within the roster (the attempt failed). And lest we forget, at a time when every team in the league had red-flagged draft prospect Santonio Holmes, the Steelers tabbed him as the guy who would soften the loss of wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (it might take a few seasons).

But for real moments of vanity, you had to hear coach Bill Cowher’s mocking comments of Cincinnati’s “Who Dey” chant, or see Joey Porter’s “I’m the biggest badass you ever met” sunglasses routine at the White House ceremony. And of course, there was Ben Roethlisberger’s bulletproof biker mistake. Roethlisberger’s accident and lack of work with his receiving corps in the offseason are costing Pittsburgh plenty. Not to mention the defense’s consistent woofing during games, something that seems to have become an outgrowth of Porter’s pre-game routine at the 50-yard line.

What made Pittsburgh great last season was that it stuck to its core run-first belief and developed a sense that it was an underappreciated team. Values that were supposed to stick after the Steelers made the mistake of integrating a pass-first mentality in 2002 and 2003. Cowher vowed to always remember the core values once Roethlisberger became the starter. And for two years, Pittsburgh made good on the promise. Now? The Steelers are 11th in the league in rushing and Roethlisberger has thrown 71 passes in his two starts (including an unthinkable end zone interception from first and goal on the Cincinnati 6-yard line). Hype, glitz and woofing won’t deliver another Super Bowl. Core blue collar values and discipline will.

The sin: SLOTH (otherwise known as laziness)
The sinner: Chicago Bears? Baltimore Ravens? Philadelphia Eagles?It’s hard to say there can be anything lazy about an NFL player or franchise, but at the end of the season, complacency and a penchant for sitting stars always seems to cost someone.

Last year, look no further than the Indy’s Manning, who threw a grand total of 14 passes his final two regular season games, then sat through a bye week in the playoffs and came out looking terribly rusty against an aggressive Pittsburgh defense. The same could have been said for Chicago, which sat quarterback Rex Grossman in the regular season finale against Minnesota – despite the fact that he had only two games (and one start) under his belt.

The Bears paid dearly for that mistake, with Grossman going 17-of-41 passing and looking out of synch in a home playoff loss. And guess what? Chicago might be the biggest candidate for this sin yet again, considering they play in the NFL’s weakest division and have a schedule that could lead to 13, 14 or even 15 wins and a cruising mentality heading into the postseason. There’s no telling which teams will lock up their playoff berths the earliest and then start getting overly protective with their players. But you can count on it happening. And if there is anything to be learned from history, it’s a sin that will surely alter the Super Bowl chase.

Best Review About The Monday Night Football Contest

 

By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.

After watching a lot of film on both the Falcons and Saints, talking to coaches and scouts and following preseason practices, here are some key things to watch in their Monday night game (ESPN 8:30 p.m. ET). Atlanta Falcons • Atlanta’s rushing numbers in their first two games — 558 net yards on 91 rushes — are simply mind boggling, considering they don’t have a marquee offensive lineman. They do have a good fullback in Justin Griffith, but they have an undersized back in Warrick Dunn and don’t have great blocking downfield.A big reason for their success is quarterback Michael Vick, who is still a threat every time he touches the ball. He is also doing a much better job of using the threat of the run to set up the pass. Dunn is a perfect fit in the Falcons’ zone blocking schemes that require only one cut. As long as they keep running the ball, it will keep their defense off the field and Vick from forcing the ball in the passing game. • The new stretch option play with Vick worked well against a veteran Tampa Bay defense. While it is a fairly basic play, it is lethal because of Vick’s and Dunn’s speed and running ability. Vick simply takes the snap and has the option to give it to Dunn or keep it himself. What makes it tough on defenses is that the two guys run in opposite directions. This is a play that Vince Young ran well at Texas, but how long will it take for NFL defenses to adjust to it? • An individual matchup that may fly under the radar this week is Atlanta left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy versus New Orleans right defensive end Will Smith. Although Gandy is an aging veteran, he has played really well in pass protection in the first two weeks and has been a stabilizing influence for this unit. The NFC South has quality pass rushers at RDE and the LOT position is very important. • When you watch the Falcons’ run game on film, it is easy to be impressed with their zone blocking schemes, especially on inside runs. On almost every run play between the tackles, the Falcons get double team blocks on both defensive tackles and get a great push, making it tough for the LBs to scrape and get off those blocks. • A big challenge for the Saints’ defense is defending Vick when he is on the run. They are an aggressive defense that likes to pursue, but the best way to play against Vick is to stay in a contain mode and guard against the cutback run. They must also be prepared to flow fast if he doesn’t cut back against the grain. It is a tough assignment for any defense. • Another big factor in Vick’s early success is the fact that he is running the option offense out of the shotgun formation. It gives him a lot of room to see the defense and make decisions. Even though Vick may run this offense only 20 snaps a game, it is so unusual that defensive coordinators spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for those 20 plays, which takes away from preparation for the other 40 to 50 snaps. • The Falcons are starting to incorporate RB Jerious Norwood into the running game as a nice changeup to Dunn. Norwood gives them some physical, inside running, which sets up Dunn for outside runs. The Saints are very active on defense, but they are not very big and physical. They depend on one-gap quickness and penetration to have success, and the Falcons’ offensive line should be able to get a big body on defenders and move them out of the hole. An underrated player in this run game is Griffith, who does a nice job as a lead blocker and is also excellent in pass protection and blitz pickup. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield. • A fun individual matchup to watch is Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall versus New Orleans wide receiver Joe Horn. Hall is developing into a shutdown corner. While he can outrun the veteran Horn, he is not big and physical. Horn will look to push off to get separation on quick crossing routes and hitches. Drew Brees will have to be smart in this matchup and not force the ball to Horn, who will want the ball often in this national spotlight. Hall can jump routes and take chances because he has the ability to recover if he makes a mistake. This may be a frustrating night for Horn and I think Brees may have to look elsewhere for success in the passing game. • Reggie Bush could have a significant role in this game as a receiver out of the backfield. If Horn is neutralized by Hall, he may become a little bit of a decoy by running vertical routes and clearing out some zones for Bush. If he lines up in the backfield, Bush will likely be covered by a linebacker and that is a matchup he will win every time. We know that New Orleans likes to put Bush in motion or play him in the perimeter, but when he is in the backfield he has a much better chance to get the individual matchup he likes. The Falcons might counter with Hall covering Bush at times, which is a great athletic matchup. • This Atlanta defense may be for real. We know that ends John Abraham (who won’t play) and Patrick Kerney are excellent edge rushers, and Hall is becoming a true shutdown corner, but where they get my attention is up the middle. They have two physical tackles in Grady Jackson and Rod Coleman, which allows middle linebacker Keith Brooking to fly to the ball without a lot of contact. Behind Brooking they have two physical safeties — Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker. It is tough for offenses to attack the inside of this improving defense. New Orleans Saints • When you break down Brees on film, the first thing you examine is his arm strength and the velocity of his passes because of his shoulder surgery. He looked good against Green Bay a week ago. He threw an excellent deep ball with a lot of air, and his intermediate passes had decent zip and excellent accuracy. He is also taking hits and responding well. He has a good command of this offense and is the face of this team.• Speaking of Brees, a big play in the second quarter typifies the intelligence and grittiness that makes him such a good leader. He threw a 26-yard TD to WR Devery Henderson, set up by a great double pump that froze corner Ahmad Carroll, allowing Henderson to get behind him. Brees also made a perfect throw. However, what most fans didn’t realize is the play before the TD, Carroll went to the ground with leg cramps and muscle spasms. Brees saw it and knew he had a good one-on-one match on the outside. He went right after Carroll one play later for the touchdown. • The right side of the Saints’ defensive line — tackle Bryant Young and end Will Smith — has combined for five sacks in the first two weeks of the season, and the Saints are playing solid overall run defense. They have given up only 74.0 yards per game on the ground in the first two weeks, but they have not seen a run offense like the Falcons. This is a defense that is overachieving and playing smart football (only two penalties versus Green Bay) • The Saints are opening up the passing game to stretch defenses and set up the run game. Brees is doing a great job of recognizing positive individual matchups. Against Green Bay, the Saints had six receivers catch a pass for 20 yards or longer. We think of Brees as a QB who excels in a short passing game, but his ability to go vertical with good touch makes this offense much less predictable. • One reason the Saints may be playing so well on defense so far is they put a premium on conditioning in training camp and this is a unit that is in good physical shape. The other reason is they are using a rotation, not only in their defensive line, but also in their back seven. They are playing a lot of different defensive packages and appear to be fresher in the fourth quarter than opposing offenses. • It is imperative for the Saints to run the ball well this week against an aggressive and athletic Atlanta defensive front seven. Last week, they only ran the ball 22 times against Green Bay. They must control the clock on offense and keep the Falcons’ offense off the field. They cannot afford a lot of three-and-outs or they will let this game get out of control early. • The Saints will play some Cover 2 schemes versus the Falcons. On paper, this is a good defense against Vick, as there are seven defenders sitting in coverage facing Vick, in position to come up and contain him. However, because the Atlanta running game is so good right now, the Saints will be tempted (and possibly forced) to bring at least one safety in the box in run support, creating a huge matchup problem versus tight end Alge Crumpler. He can beat most safeties or linebackers in coverage, and can exploit the middle of the field, especially if Vick freezes the Saints’ defense with his option reads. The Saints love to play downhill on defense, but Atlanta has so many offensive options with Vick, the Saints may be forced to be less aggressive. • Brees is doing an excellent job of spreading the ball around and managing the game. He gets the ball to his best playmaker in Horn, but also knows how to incorporate rookie Bush into the offense. He is also not afraid to get the ball to his other receivers such as Marques Colston and Henderson. Brees takes what the defense gives him and his best feature may be his composure under pressure. He is the perfect guy right now to lead this team. • Brees will face a Falcons defense that may try to blitz him and force him throw on the move, which is not his strength. However, he does process information very quickly and has a quick release. The key will be to get the ball out faster than usual and the passing game on Monday night may consist of more short passes, quick slants and hitches. • A very tough matchup for the Saints is Atlanta DT Rod Coleman versus the interior of New Orleans’ offensive line. Coleman is one of the most dominating inside penetrators in the NFL and is an excellent pass rusher for a big man. If he gets a good inside push, it will negate Brees’ ability to step up in the pocket, forcing him to move sideways. Controlling Coleman is critical, because he can totally take over a game at the line of scrimmage. Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called “The War Room.”

They Were Called “Aint’s”, Which Saint Will Come To The Dome?

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The game is so big, it’ll require two stadiums.

Two NFL commissioners will be there.Two internationally renowned rock bands will play in the Louisiana Superdome shortly before kickoff.

And two 2-0 teams will take the field while nearly 70,000 fans purge a year of post-Katrina frustration with howls almost loud enough to blow the dome’s new galvanized steel roof right off.

Saints players and coaches are well aware of all this, and they’re trying not to think about it too much.

“The evening’s only special if you win it,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “We’re seeing a good team come in here in Atlanta. … We’re going to have to have a good week of practice, and all the other stuff is stuff that we can’t control and we just want to make sure it doesn’t become a distraction.”

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said more than 500 credentials have been issued to media outlets from around the world — from Sky Sports to Al-Jazeera — and that ESPN is sending a crew of several hundred to build up it’s coverage of the “Monday Night Football” telecast.

Because the dome is sold out for the season, there’s no place in the stands to set up an overflow press box as has been done in past Super Bowls, so a couple hundred media members will have to work out of the adjacent New Orleans Arena and watch the game on TV.

Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who played a leading role in making this game happen when New Orleans’ future in the NFL seemed in doubt after the storm, is expected to attend, along with his successor, Roger Goodell.

U2 and Green Day will play during pregame ceremonies. Former President George H.W. Bush is slated for the coin flip, although he may not receive quite the welcome of another Bush — the running back named Reggie, who’ll be making his home debut in the refurbished dome.

This is a tough ticket. On the Saints’ Web site, season ticket holders who have decided to resell their tickets on a team-approved exchange program are asking $690 for upper deck seats, more for premium seats.

“Could this game be any more hyped up or bigger than it already is?” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “We all know what it is, but the way I’m approaching this week is: It’s a football game and we need to win it. That’s it.”

While opening 2-0 on the road is always an accomplishment in the NFL — and something the Saints have never done since being founded in 1967 — the teams they beat this month are winless. Those games were played in pleasant late-summer weather in Cleveland and Green Bay and the results remained in doubt until past the two-minute warning.

Atlanta is a regional rival that has long given the Saints fits. Many in New Orleans remember well that the Saints’ worst loss ever, 62-7 in 1973, came at home at the hands of the Falcons.

And Atlanta appears to be the stronger of the two teams this year. In games against Carolina and Tampa Bay, the Falcons have yet to allow a touchdown while outscoring their opponents 34-9.

With a strong offensive line and quarterback Michael Vick always a threat to run, Atlanta has rushed for 558 yards.

“This is a respected team we’re playing,” said Saints receiver Joe Horn, long a crowd favorite in the Superdome both for his play on the field and his outgoing manner off it.

Horn remembers well what the dome was like on its best days, and he anticipates a spine-tingling scene when the fans welcome back the team that wears their city’s symbol, the fleur-de-lis, on its gold helmets.

“Once I get in there, I’m sure there’ll be some emotions flowing, but mentally you have to be prepared to play the football game,” Horn said. “If the emotions can make you focus more, it will help you, but sometimes heartfelt emotions can keep you away from having your mental edge, sharpness. I hope the emotions that flow make us focus more on the game and the job at hand.”

Brees has never played in the Superdome. Still, he has immersed himself in the local culture since moving here this year, buying an historic house near Tulane University, dining at renowned restaurants and even taking a ghost tour in the French Quarter.

So while he preaches the need to focus on the Falcons, he can only hold out so long before gushing about the larger, transcendent nature of Monday night’s game.

“It’s huge — just to show that this city is very much alive and that people are excited to be here and there’s no doubt in their mind that this city’s going to come back better than ever,” Brees said. “It’s just even more motivation for people to bring back tourism and come down here and spend money here and the government and the NFL to put money in this region, because it’s such a special place.”

Does Brent Need A Beating or Something?

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California formally complained that ABC-TV’s Brent Musburger revealed privileged information in play-by-play commentary during Saturday’s game against Nebraska.

The university sent a letter to ESPN, which oversees sports programming on ABC, saying Musburger, with less than 10 minutes to play and the Trojans leading 21-10, began describing how USC quarterback John David Booty lets receivers know he has spotted a certain kind of coverage.

“John David told us that his signal when he finds one-on-one and they’re coming, it’s that ‘hang loose,’ that familiar sign you’ve seen surfers use,” said Musburger, referring to the sign where the thumb and little finger are raised.

USC sports information director Tim Tessalone sent a formal complaint to ESPN/ABC game producer Bill Bonnell on Monday and sent a copy to the Pacific-10 conference office.

“We’re supposed to be partners in this, but this is certainly going to make us think twice about trying to help them have as good a broadcast as possible,” Tessalone said. “What he did was unconscionable.”

Last Friday, announcers and producers met with coaches and star players as part of their game preparation. During the meeting, there was discussion about how a replay of the Ohio State-Texas broadcast showed Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith tapping the top of his helmet to let receiver Ted Ginn Jr. know he’s noticed one-on-one coverage.

Booty was asked if Southern California had a similar signal, and Booty told Musburger about his “hang loose” signal.

“We are very mindful of what we learn in pre-game meetings in terms in what is appropriate for broadcast and what is for our background. We’re sorry this led to an unfortunate misunderstanding, which was never our intention,” ESPN said in a statement released by spokesman Josh Krulewitz.

Musburger said in a statement late Monday that the network regretted the confusion.

Asked about Musburger’s on-air revelations, USC coach Pete Carroll said with a laugh, “Just wondering what they’re going to tell us next. I’m not worried about it. There’s a million signals, a million ways to do it.”

HIV/AIDS Needles hidden under gas pumps

In Florida and other places on the East Coast a group of people are putting HIV/AIDS infected and filled needles underneath gas pump handles, so when someone reaches to pick it up and put gas in their car, they get stabbed with it. 16 people have been a victim of this crime so far and 10 tested HIV positive. Instead of posting that stupid crap about how your love life will suck for years to come of you don’t re-post, post this. It’s important to inform people, even if you don’t drive, a family member might, and what if they were next? CHECK UNDER THE HANDLE BEFORE YOU GRAB IT!!! IT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE! Tell as many people as you can about this serious issue!!!!

Steal of draft? How about Saints’ Colston?

NEW ORLEANS – Marques Colston’s rise from little known Division I-AA prospect to one of Drew Brees’ go-to receivers has been so sudden, even his coach couldn’t see it coming.

“If we loved him we would have drafted him in the third round or the fourth round, so we liked him,” Saints coach Sean Payton said of the seventh-rounder out of Division I-AA Hofstra. Payton’s eyes were smiling as if he’d just been dealt 21 at a blackjack table.

“We thought he had all those tools that are necessary and yet there’s that uncertainty as to all the other things. So I’m excited about a young player.”

Colston made four clutch catches in the Saints’ season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. All came on third downs — three for first downs, the other for New Orleans’ only touchdown.

He was not even certain to make the roster on draft day, yet Colston strolled calmly from the end zone after his first NFL touchdown. His veteran quarterback was the one who looked like the excitable rookie, leaping up to smack the 6-foot-4 receiver on the helmet and shoulder pads.

 

HUT, HUT, HUT, OUCH YOU STABBED ME!!

GREELEY, Colo. — The University of Northern Colorado’s reserve punter was arrested Tuesday, accused of stabbing his rival in his kicking leg.

Mitch Cozad, a sophomore from Wheatland, Wyo., allegedly attacked starting punter Rafael Mendoza in a parking lot in Evans on Monday night, Evans police Lt. Gary Kessler said.

Mendoza, the Bears’ first-string punter from Thornton, was treated and released from the North Colorado Medical Center Monday night. Coach Scott Downing said Mendoza will not punt for UNC in Saturday’s game at Texas State University.

“I don’t know how long he’ll be out because I haven’t talked to the doctor,” Downing said.

Cozad, Mendoza and freshman Zak Bigelow had been in a three-way race for the starting punter’s job in preseason training. Mendoza has averaged 37.6 yards per punt on nine punts in the two games so far this season.

Cozad is facing second-degree assault charges and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a bond hearing. He was suspended from the team, evicted from his residence and expelled from school on Tuesday, The Greeley Tribune reported.