Saturday, 5 April 2008
|
| Rookie RBs David W. 02:23:23 |
| | Anyone still looking in here? 
Years ago, I learned about Shaun Alexander in this newsgroup ... many said
he was the best rookie RB that year, despite being drafted 4th among that
group (in the 1st round) ... I'm wondering who you might think is the best
this year, regardless of the team they go to ... I'm in a keeper league, so
RBs are about the only rookies worth taking, and they don't have to be great
immediately.
A guy who will not be taken in the 1st round who I like so far is Matt
Forte' ... there are rumors the Bears are interested, so if he goes there in
the 2nd or 3rd round, I would not be surprised if he beats out Benson ... he
was MVP of the Senior Bowl, which doesn't mean much since Tony Hunt won that
honor last year ... but I'm not going to get McFadden or Mendenhall where I
pick, so I'm looking for someone who may produce okay this year, then be
worth a keeper spot for the following year.
Another player I am curious about is Kevin Smith ... the only negative I see
so far is his ridiculous number of carries last year (450) ... if LJ broke
down last season, I'm wondering what this guy will do ... do you think he's
worth a late round pick as a possible keeper?
Thanks for any input ... Dave
|
| |  2 answer | Add comment |
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
|
| Top Metro Areas over 300,000 for CFL expansion Ricco23 03:51:09 |
| | Highest Exsisting Team Metro-Area (ranking) Exsisting Stadium &
seating Census Population-2006
1) Re-instate Renegades! Ottawa-Gatineau, ON-QC (4) Frank Clair -
30,000+ 1.1 Million
CIS- Ottawa GeeGees / QJFL- Ottawa Sooners, Ottawa Jr.Riders &
Cumberland Panthers
2) CIS- Univ. of Laval Quebec (Levis), QC (7) Le Peps
Stadium - 18,500+ 715,000
3) CIS- Western Univ. London, ON (10) TD Waterhouse-
Exp-16,000+ 457,000
CJFL- London Beefeaters
4) CIS- St. Mary's Univ. Halifax, NS (13) Huskies Stadium- Exp-
10,000+ 372,000
MFL- Halifax Shockers & Dartmouth Knights
5) CJFL- Victoria Rebels Victoria (Saanich), BC (15) Royal Athletic
Park- Exp- 9,000+ 330,000
6) CIS- Univ. of Windsor Windsor (Lakeshore), ON (16) Windsor Stadium-
6,000+ 323,000
CJFL- Windsor AKO Fratmen
Other Metro-Areas;
X) TOO MANY TEAMS IN ONTARIO! (With Toronto/Hamilton/Ottawa and perhaps
London & Windsor)
Kitchener (Cambridge, Waterloo), ON (11) 451,000 (50 km to
HAMILTON!)
St. Catherines - Niagara (Welland), ON (12) 390,000 (50 km to
HAMILTON!)
Oshawa (Whitby, Clarington), ON (14) 330,500 (25 km
to TORONTO!)
|
| | 18 answers | Add comment |
Sunday, 30 March 2008
|
| NFL rule changes -- rejected -and- under consideration Observer 08:38:54 |
| |
---
March 27, 2008
http://www.star-telegram.com/329/story/548610.html
---
Excerpts:
The NFL's competition committee has called
a timeout on any timeout rule.
Owners meet next week in West Palm Beach,
Fla., to vote on several proposed rules changes,
including allowing wild-card teams with better
records than division winners to host postsea-
son games.
But the competition committee is making no
proposal for a rules change that would outlaw
last-second timeouts before late field-goal
attempts.
...
Owners will have plenty of things to discuss
during their three-day meetings, including:
o Prohibiting players from covering their
names on the backs of their jerseys with
long hair or dreadlocks. It is a proposal
submitted by the Chiefs, whose running
back Larry Johnson pulled down Steelers
safety Troy Polamalu by his hair last year.
"It doesn't mean players have to cut their
hair," McKay said. "It means they'll have
to keep the hair under their helmet. There's
a big difference there."
o Eliminating the forceout rule. Receivers
would be required to get both feet in
bounds for a reception. Fifteen receivers
benefitted from the NFL's forceout rule
last season, failing to get both feet in
bounds but awarded the catch because
they were "forced out" by a defensive
player.
o Expanding instant replay to include field
goal reviews. Dawson hit a 51-yard field
goal on the last play of regulation in a
game against Baltimore. The ball glanced
off the left upright, landed on the support
behind the crossbar and caromed forward
through the uprights. The field goal was
ruled no good and then reversed, tying the
game. Officials ultimately got the call cor-
rect, but replay would have eliminated any
doubt.
o Allowing the winner of the coin flip to defer
to the second half.
o Eliminating the 5-yard penalty for a facemask.
Players still would be penalized 15 yards for
twisting, turning or pulling the facemask.
o Allowing one player on the defense to have
a speaker in his helmet. It would allow for
defensive coaches to communicate their sig-
nals verbally instead of using hand signals.
Quarterbacks currently are the only players
allowed to have communication devices in
their helmets.
o Creating a moratorium of five to seven days
before free agency. Teams legally would be
allowed to talk to agents of potential free
agents and negotiate contracts before the
official beginning of free agency.
--- end excerpts ---
|
| | 12 answers | Add comment |
|
| This group is dead I think Jack 01:29:44 |
| | Is this group dead or what? I mean, except for the spam. If there's
another serious footy group, please let me know. And I don't mean
AFANA's web site either. The problems with their captchas system that is
supposed to do away with spam and such is almost totally useless for
legitimate users that want to post there. Tried to let them know my
thoughts on their feedback page, but that was useless as well. If anyone
knows how to get in touch with Rob DeSantos (if he's still running the
site), let him know he's got problems. Maybe Rob is checking in here
from time to time. If so, email me Rob at radioman521@verizon.net to
discuss problems.
--
Jack N2MPU
Proud NRA Life Member
change nyob.com to verizon.net for email
|
| | 1 answer | Add comment |
Friday, 28 March 2008
|
| 3-4 Defense : Short History + Best All-Time 3-4 Defense Players Observer 05:53:11 |
| |
---
March 27, 2008
by Ron Borges, Pro Football Weekly
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFL+Features/2008/34defense.htm
---
Excerpts:
Like many innovations, the advent of the
3-4 defense in the NFL came more out of
necessity than inspiration.
"I think one reason teams went from the
'40' (defense) to the '30' was it became
harder to find effective defensive linemen,"
Hall of Fame DT Merlin Olsen said re-
cently. "That became especially true with
the liberalization of the holding rules in
1978."
"I came into the league in 1962, when the
4-3 was the only defense being played.
In 1974, we (the Los Angeles Rams) faced
the New England Patriots, who were the
first team to move to the Oklahoma (3-4)
defense, but as I began covering the NFL
for NBC in 1977, I saw more and more
teams switching to the '30.' When I ended
my TV announcing career in the early 1990s,
I saw the trend reversing back."
"I think the 3-4 was successful early because
it was simply different than what offensive
coordinators had seen. It forced new block-
ing schemes, and anytime you do something
different, you can take an offense out of its
comfort zone."
...
Although Joe Collier had used a 3-4 package
in Buffalo in the 1960s and was one of its
first advocates in pro football, it was not the
base defense there. That did not happen until
former Oklahoma head coach Chuck Fair-
banks arrived in New England in 1973. A
year later he switched the Patriots to the aptly
named "Oklahoma" defense, and the Houston
Oilers quickly followed suit at the urging of
then-Oilers defensive coordinator Bum Phil-
lips.
Thus began a trend that would take over defen-
sive football for nearly 20 years.
Phillips had to first convince Oilers head coach
Sid Gillman to abandon the 4-3 tradition, but
that task was made easier for him after Houston
traded with the Chiefs to obtain the prototypical
nose tackle of that era, Curley Culp.
Culp arrived with nine games to play and was
immediately dominant. Soon, so was the Oilers'
defense, and before long the 3-4 was sweeping
through pro football. But as with any scheme, it
also had its weaknesses, and in the opinion of
Hall of Fame DT Dan Hampton, the biggest was
the toll it took on the three down linemen.
"In my view, teams go with the 3-4 because they
cannot find enough good big guys," Hampton said,
echoing Olsen. "If all you have is players who are
6-foot-4, 245 pounds, you're going with the 3-4,
but they cannot seem to stay with it because you
cannot underestimate the beating your three line-
men take in the 3-4. They are at such a disadvan-
tage that they don't last long.
"The 3-4 is a simple premise. You have your front
seven, and you're going to get a helmet on a helmet,
but that is not what the reality is. Offenses are go-
ing to double the nose tackle play-side every time
and try to double the defensive end play-side if
they can. They cannot allow that defensive end to
get inside leverage. If that happens, then the tackle
has to just seal him and the inside linebacker comes
in and makes a form tackle.
"So it's an interesting scheme, but it's like nitrous
oxide. You get the benefits of messing up an of-
fense, but it does not last and sometimes ends up
breaking, usually body parts of your nose tackle
and your ends."
In other words, it's a defensive front that is physic-
ally and mentally demanding because the linemen
must be both stout and unselfish, taking on blocks
to free up the linebackers behind them. And those
linebackers, especially on the inside, have to con-
trol their gap and make the bulk of the tackles
against the run. That is why, over time, even the
3-4 defenses began to seek ever bigger men, both
on the nose and at inside linebacker.
...
Hall of Fame DT Merlin Olsen: "I never knew
why, but most defensive coordinators love line-
backers. It doesn't matter if it's a 3-4 or a 4-3.
They put big guys in a place so the linebackers
could make plays. With the 3-4, that is even more
pronounced because the defensive line is a sacri-
ficial lamb for the linebackers to get the plays and
the glory."
Within six years after Fairbanks introduced the
3-4 in New England, it had been adopted by more
than half the NFL teams (16 of 28 teams in 1980).
That grew until by 1985, 23 of the league's 28
teams ran the 3-4 as their primary defensive front.
That was the high point for the 3-4, which went
into a slow decline.
In 1992, 15 teams ran the 4-3 as its base defense
and only 13 used the 3-4, the first time in 12 years
that there were more 4-3 defenses in the NFL than
3-4s.
The number continued to dwindle until by 1996,
even the Patriots had abandoned it, despite the
fact it remained the defense favored by their head
coach, Bill Parcells.
The falloff continued until by 2001, only the Steel-
ers were still using the 3-4 as a base front, as they
had since 1982. That was the nadir for the 3-4,
which is now undergoing a bit of a renaissance.
Four teams (Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore and New
England) employed the 3-4 in 2002, and it has
continued to regain popularity, with 11 teams
using it primarily this year while 21 remain in
the 4-3 mostly.
Despite this resurgence, it is clear that the 3-4
era began in 1974 and reached its peak from
1980-1992.
Who were the best of the practitioners of the 3-4?
That is open to debate. So John Turney, the well-
respected researcher and historian who is a mem-
ber of the Pro Football Researchers Association,
polled a panel of 45 former NFL players and
coaches with intimate knowledge of the 3-4 era
and asked them to name an all-time 3-4 front
seven.
Here are the selections:
---
DRE Lee Roy Selmon
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(21 votes)
Notes: Nine seasons, seven Pro Bowls, four-time
NFLPA NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year.
...
Selmon was the first player ever drafted by the
Buccaneers. If every choice had worked out as
well, the franchise's history would be quite
different.
Selmon was the 1979 Associated Press NFL
Defensive Player of the Year after recording
11 sacks and 117 tackles. He led that team to
the NFC title game, in which the Buccaneers'
defense did not allow a point in a 9-0 loss to
the Los Angeles Rams.
Selmon remains the team's all-time sack leader
and its single-season leader with 13, as well
as holding the club record for forced fumbles.
Personnel guru Mike Giddings says of Selmon,
"No one had better lateral movement. He could
speed- or power-rush the passer."
On July 29, 1995, Selmon became the only Buc
ever selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
---
NT Curley Culp
Kansas City Chiefs / Houston Oilers / Detroit Lions
(18 votes)
Notes: Fourteen seasons, six Pro Bowls, 1975
Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA)
Defensive Player of the Year.
...
Culp combined unusual strength with tremendous
leverage, which he developed as a collegiate
wrestler. Culp won the 1967 NCAA heavyweight
title and two years later became instrumental in
the Chiefs' dominance of the Vikings in Super
Bowl IV when Hank Stram put him head-up on
C Mick Tingelhoff in a four-man front known as
a "stack over."
Tingelhoff wasn't strong enough to handle Culp,
and the resultant problems not only helped destroy
Minnesota's offense but also have been credited
for the advent of the 3-4 in the NFL.
Culp's greatest years at nose tackle came in Hous-
ton, where he made the Pro Bowl four times (1975-
78).
...
---
DLE Howie Long
Oakland Raiders
(19 votes)
Notes: Thirteen seasons, eight Pro Bowls, 1989
NEA co-Defensive Player of the Year, 1985 NFL
Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year, NFLPA
AFC Defensive Lineman of the Year (1984, 1985).
...
According to arguably one of the most intense
offensive linemen ever to play the game, "Howie
Long's intensity set him apart. That and the phy-
sical nature of his game. He was awesome." So
said Hall of Fame OG John Hannah of Long, the
second-highest vote getter from the panel among
defensive linemen.
"When the Raiders went to the nickel (defense),
he'd be over me, so I know about his game. He
had a strong rip (move), and when he plowed
it, he could push you to the quarterback. He was
so strong. And to be great at both end and tackle
is really something else."
Long was inducted into the Hall of Fame seven
years ago after a 13-year career in which he
went to the Pro Bowl eight times.
...
---
ROLB Lawrence Taylor
New York Giants
(41 votes)
Notes: Thirteen seasons, 10 Pro Bowls, AP Defensive
Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986), five-time
NFLPA NFC Linebacker of the Year.
...
Taylor is regarded as a seminal performer in the
history of the game at outside linebacker. Former
Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden has
said of Taylor, "He changed the way defense is
played; the way pass rushing is played; the way
linebackers play; and the way offenses block
linebackers."
After that, what more is there to say? Taylor
played 13 years in the NFL and started every
game he ever played (184), finishing as the
second all-time leader in sacks at 132 when
he retired. That total does not include another
9 sacks he had as a rookie in 1981, before
that statistic was officially kept.
In 1986, Taylor was named the NFL's Most
Valuable Player after piling up 20 sacks,
105 tackles, five passes defended and two
forced fumbles.
He was Rookie of the Year in 1981 and made
the Pro Bowl a record 10 straight times between
1981-90.
Taylor's combination of quickness, speed,
power and aggressiveness made him, in the
opinion of Pro Bowl pass rusher Kevin Greene,
"the prototype for an outside linebacker in a 3-4.
We were all chasing L.T."
...
---
RILB Harry Carson
New York Giants
(33 votes)
Notes: Thirteen seasons, nine Pro Bowls, NFLPA
NFC Linebacker of the Year (1978, 1979).
...
Carson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006,
capping a 13-year career in which he reached the
Pro Bowl seven straight times between 1982 and
1988.
Carson was a punishing tackler and physical run
defender who aggressively took on blockers but
was also quick enough to get into coverage, where
he intercepted 11 passes during his career.
...
Carson was also considered the heart of the Giants'
defenses that led the team to two Super Bowl vic-
tories. Although Lawrence Taylor was the dominant
figure in that New York defense, Kevin Greene said,
"I believe everyone in the league knew that Harry
kept that defense together and going strong. He was
the leader. L.T. was doing stuff on the side, which
was OK, but Harry was the run stuffer, the pounder.
I can't believe he was passed up all those years for
Canton."
---
LILB Randy Gradishar
Denver Broncos
(31 votes)
Notes: Ten seasons, seven Pro Bowls, 1978 AP
Defensive Player of the Year.
...
Gradishar averaged 204.9 tackles per season
in his 10-year career in Denver and forced 33
turnovers (20 interceptions, 13 fumble recov-
eries).
Despite being undersized at only 233 pounds,
Gradishar made plays with quickness, intelli-
gence and aggressiveness. He was nimble both
mentally and physically, and the combination
led him to the ball more often than nearly any
of his peers.
...
---
LOLB Andre Tippett
New England Patriots
(22 votes)
Notes: Eleven seasons, five Pro Bowls, 1985
NEA co-Defensive Player of the Year, NFLPA
AFC Linebacker of the Year (1984, 1985, 1987),
NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year (1987).
...
Tippett finished with more than twice as many
votes as any other outside linebacker other than
Taylor and is considered, along with Hall of
Famer Dave Wilcox, as the game's best pure
strong-side linebacker.
Unlike most pass rushers, Tippett always rushed
from the strong side, where he was covered by
both a tackle and tight end.
He produced 100 sacks (seventh all-time when
he retired and third among linebackers), despite
being used sparingly as a rookie and missing a
full season in his prime to a pectoral injury.
His 0.66 sacks per game is fourth all-time among
linebackers.
In 1984 and '85, Tippett had 35 sacks (18 in
'84 and 16 in 1985), the highest two-year sack
total by a linebacker in history.
...
--- end excerpts ---
|
| | Add comment |
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
|
| Re: Ottawa : Here we go again V&S 20:33:35 |
| | It's expected that the latest deal will involve a franchise fee of at least $3.5 million and likely more because revenues from the five- year, $75 million TV deal that starts this year will now be split nine ways instead of eight. It's also expected the team will have to post a $3.5 million security bond and show a bank balance of $4 million.
I thought the Ren's were suspended so why the franchise fee?
IMHO, just move the 'cats there or to Quebec City. The GTO can barely
support 2 teams as it is now.
|
| | 4 answer | Add comment |
|
| Goal Line Blitz Tom Test 08:57:21 |
| | is a web-based American Football MMORPG. We've written a custom football
simulation engine to provide you with the ultimate football experience on
the web.
Do you love fantasy football? Ever wished you could play with the pros? Join
other football fans from around the world in building the player and team of
your dreams, right here.
Player Management
-Create a custom player, at any position on the football field, and assign
any name you want
-Train your player from the ground up to be the type of player you want
-Gain experience from playing games to improve your player's abilities
-Sign with teams from around the world and negotiate your contract
-Create custom signature equipment
-And much more!
Own a Team
-Manage every aspect of a football team
-Set ticket and concession prices
-Improve your stadium with new seats, sections, and amenities
-Sign, cut, and trade players
-Set game-by-game strategy
-Play to win the league championship
-And much more!
http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=64615
|
| | 2 answer | Add comment |
Sunday, 23 March 2008
|
| Sources: CFL quietly confident about another return to Ottawa Sharpsh00ter 19:01:53 |
| | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ottawa/2008/03/19/5053196-cp.html
The CFL is quietly optimistic it will soon be returning to Ottawa, according
to sources.
Two sources said Wednesday that the CFL continues to negotiate with an
Ottawa group headed up by Jeff Hunt, the owner of the OHL's Ottawa 67s.
Neither source would confirm a report in a national newspaper on Wednesday
that a deal to award Hunt's group a conditional expansion franchise for 2010
was close, but each agreed that talks have progressed very well since Hunt
confirmed in September he was heading up a group of local investors that was
interested in a CFL expansion franchise.
Hunt's group also includes three high-profile Ottawa businessmen: Roger
Greenberg, chairman and CEO of Minto Developments: John Ruddy, the president
of Trinity Development Group; and William Shenkman, chairman of Shenkman
Corp., another local property development company.
Hunt didn't immediately return a telephone message Wednesday.
CFL spokesman Jamie Dykstra said the league had no comment on the nature of
its negotiations with the Ottawa group.
This marks Hunt's second attempt to land a CFL franchise for Ottawa. Last
year, Hunt was part of the Golden Gate Capital group that was regarded as
the front-runner among three bids to land a CFL expansion franchise for
Ottawa. But Golden Gate was forced to withdraw from the bidding after a
prominent group member was diagnosed with intestinal cancer.
One major hurdle still remaining for Hunt and his partners, though, is a
stadium. Last year, the city of Ottawa recommended the lower tier of the
south-side stands at Frank Clair Stadium be demolished due to structural
concerns. Hunt's group has reportedly been working with civic officials on a
redevelopment plan for Lansdowne Park, where is where Frank Clair Stadium is
located.
Ottawa major Larry O'Brien didn't immediately return a telephone message
Wednesday.
The two sources said while Hunt and the CFL still have some matters to
attend to before reaching an agreement, they're both confident the two sides
will ultimately secure a deal that will see the league formally announce a
return to the Canadian capital within the next few weeks.
This would mark the CFL's third time around in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Rough Riders enjoyed a long and storied history in Ottawa. Formed
in 1876, the franchise captured nine Grey Cups, including three between 1960
and 1970.
But years of questionable ownership finally caught up to the franchise,
which ceased operations following the '96 season. The CFL returned in 2002,
this time as the Renegades.
The Renegades began amid much fanfare in Ottawa, however it wasn't long
before the club began losing millions amid ownership questions. Bernie
Glieberman, a Detroit businessman and former owner of the Rough Riders, came
aboard with co-owner Bill Smith but the two walked away from the club rather
than cover a projected $6-million operating loss, forcing the league to
mothball the franchise in 2006.
The Renegades players were then allocated for a CFL dispersal draft.
Quarterback Kerry Joseph was selected first overall by the Saskatchewan
Roughriders. Last season, Joseph captured the CFL's outstanding player award
(the first Rider to do so since '76) and led Saskatchewan to the Grey Cup
title, just the club's third ever and first since '89.
Earlier this month, the Roughriders dealt Joseph and a 2010 third-round
draft pick to the Toronto Argonauts for offensive tackle Glenn January,
defensive lineman Ronald Flemons, a 2008 first-round pick and 2010
second-round selection.
|
| | Add comment |
|
| Councillors applaud potential return Sharpsh00ter 19:00:43 |
| | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ottawa/2008/03/20/5058376-sun.html
City councillors are excited about the possibility of another CFL franchise
coming to Ottawa.
Sun Media was first to report last fall that four city businessmen, local
developers Roger Greenberg, John Ruddy, William Shenkman and 67's owner Jeff
Hunt, were looking at partnering to bring a CFL franchise to Ottawa.
"I love it. All I have to say is that I love it," said River Coun. Maria
McRae, who is a football fan and has been a big supporter of bringing
football back to the nation's capital.
Bay Coun. Alex Cullen applauded the notion of the CFL making a return to
Ottawa, but is cautious after the Renegades failed after only four seasons.
"It would be good for the city, but I'd like to see the nature of the deal
because we don't want to get burned," he said.
|
| | Add comment |
|
| Back in CFL Hunt Ottawa on the radar again Sharpsh00ter 18:59:52 |
| | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ottawa/2008/03/20/5058366-sun.html
Improvements to a broken-down building and an agreement the would-be tenants
can live with appear to be all that's standing in the way of Ottawa fielding
another CFL team in the 2010 season.
A local power group fronted by 67's owner Jeff Hunt that is backed by
wealthy developers John Ruddy, William Shenkman and Roger Greenberg is
expected to be granted a conditional franchise for the nation's capital next
week.
The franchise fee, previously a contentious point, is "something we're
trying to work through," Hunt said yesterday. "It's one of the issues we
feel very comfortable with at this point."
More minor details are to be addressed at the convenience of those involved
in the deal-making process.
"Are we close?" Hunt asked. "Yes, I believe we are.
"There are a lot of components to any conditional franchise," he added.
"We're just going through all the details that need to be dealt with."
The CFL refused comment yesterday.
Construction crews will have some work to do at Frank Clair Stadium before
it can house a CFL team and its fans.
Late last summer, city engineers discovered fractures in the lower
south-side stands and had them condemned. Along with the tearing down and
rebuilding of the structure, further upgrades are required.
"There are about 10 reasons why football hasn't been working in this town,"
Hunt told PROFIT magazine in November. "Five of them have to do with that
stadium."
Yesteday, Hunt said: "Frank Clair Stadium is in need of extensive repairs,
and not just those necessary after the condemnation of the south-side
stands. I think it's widely acknowledged there's been a need of a
modernization of the stadium for many years.
"Extensive renovations are needed to make it suitable."
Interested in purchasing and redeveloping the Lansdowne Park area, Hunt said
his group doesn't need to own the facility or the property to proceed with
plans for securing a team. It just needs a workable arrangement.
He said discussions with the city about Frank Clair Stadium would take place
after the formalization of the deal with the CFL.
"We would have felt it to be premature to approach the city with maybes and
scenarios," said Hunt. "There are no have to's. I think we need an
arrangement to give us a viable business model. I really am not comfortable
discussing this in any more detail because we still have work to do with the
CFL."
Landing a franchise sooner rather than later would only be of benefit to the
group's efforts, both on and off the field.
PRE-EMINENT FRANCHISE
Hunt, who marketed the 67's into one of the pre-eminent Canadian junior
hockey league franchises, first became interested in expanding his business
to include the CFL back in 2006. His involvement with Gold Gate Capital
ended, however, when the investment firm's main money man took ill and
backed away.
Still keen on using the 67's infrastructure to build a football team that
could survive and thrive, and tantalized by images of a state-of-the-art
Frank Clair Stadium with luxury suites, Hunt hooked up with three of
Ottawa's top real estate moguls in Greenberg, the chairman and CEO of Minto
Developments Inc., Ruddy, the founder and president of Trinity Development
Group and Shenkman, chairman of Shenkman Corp.
Improvements to a broken-down building and an agreement the would-be tenants
can live with appear to be all that's standing in the way of Ottawa fielding
another CFL team in the 2010 season.
A local power group fronted by 67's owner Jeff Hunt that is backed by
wealthy developers John Ruddy, William Shenkman and Roger Greenberg is
expected to be granted a conditional franchise for the nation's capital next
week.
The franchise fee, previously a contentious point, is "something we're
trying to work through," Hunt said yesterday. "It's one of the issues we
feel very comfortable with at this point."
More minor details are to be addressed at the convenience of those involved
in the deal-making process.
"Are we close?" Hunt asked. "Yes, I believe we are.
"There are a lot of components to any conditional franchise," he added.
"We're just going through all the details that need to be dealt with."
The CFL refused comment yesterday.
Construction crews will have some work to do at Frank Clair Stadium before
it can house a CFL team and its fans.
Late last summer, city engineers discovered fractures in the lower
south-side stands and had them condemned. Along with the tearing down and
rebuilding of the structure, further upgrades are required.
"There are about 10 reasons why football hasn't been working in this town,"
Hunt told PROFIT magazine in November. "Five of them have to do with that
stadium."
Yesteday, Hunt said: "Frank Clair Stadium is in need of extensive repairs,
and not just those necessary after the condemnation of the south-side
stands. I think it's widely acknowledged there's been a need of a
modernization of the stadium for many years.
"Extensive renovations are needed to make it suitable."
Interested in purchasing and redeveloping the Lansdowne Park area, Hunt said
his group doesn't need to own the facility or the property to proceed with
plans for securing a team. It just needs a workable arrangement.
He said discussions with the city about Frank Clair Stadium would take place
after the formalization of the deal with the CFL.
"We would have felt it to be premature to approach the city with maybes and
scenarios," said Hunt. "There are no have to's. I think we need an
arrangement to give us a viable business model. I really am not comfortable
discussing this in any more detail because we still have work to do with the
CFL."
Landing a franchise sooner rather than later would only be of benefit to the
group's efforts, both on and off the field.
PRE-EMINENT FRANCHISE
Hunt, who marketed the 67's into one of the pre-eminent Canadian junior
hockey league franchises, first became interested in expanding his business
to include the CFL back in 2006. His involvement with Gold Gate Capital
ended, however, when the investment firm's main money man took ill and
backed away.
Still keen on using the 67's infrastructure to build a football team that
could survive and thrive, and tantalized by images of a state-of-the-art
Frank Clair Stadium with luxury suites, Hunt hooked up with three of
Ottawa's top real estate moguls in Greenberg, the chairman and CEO of Minto
Developments Inc., Ruddy, the founder and president of Trinity Development
Group and Shenkman, chairman of Shenkman Corp.
|
| | Add comment |
Saturday, 22 March 2008
|
| Re: Free-kick after fair catch John Peterson 05:50:18 |
| | I don't think I've *ever* heard of this rule. I see that Rob Brionas (while
with the Titans) last attempted it in 2005. Dunno how I missed the
highlights of that one -- surely it would have been plastered on ESPN.
I'm not even sure I *understand* the rule after checking Wikipedia. How
does this differ from a field goal attempt? Is it the case that the ball is
spotted on the line (rather than hiked to a holder), and the opponents must
be at least 10 yards back? I can see where that *might* be advantageous in
certain situations (like for a really long FG attempt).
"Fred Goodwin, CMA" <fgoodwin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:96e4a229-83e1-4c17-9412-f67d2369e844@d62g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
I had no idea it has been attempted so many times -- I've heard of the rule, but have never seen a free kick attempt after a fair catch -- I don't even remember the Chan Gaily episode mentioned in the wiki article: This guy ("Travis") wrote the Wiki article and he has some interesting articles on his blog re: the free kick after a fair catch: Monday, September 25, 2006 Another fair catch kick attempt denied attempt-denied.html> Monday, July 17, 2006 NFL fair catch kick attempts attempts.html>
|
| | 22 answer | Add comment |
Friday, 21 March 2008
Monday, 17 March 2008
|
| Should the Cats hold or trade the #1 pick??? Sharpsh00ter 18:33:43 |
| | What do you think? Should they go for a Canadian DB or deal it off for
another import?
SS
|
| | Add comment |
|
| Don't everybody talk @ once Sharpsh00ter 18:32:48 |
| | Hey is anybody still alive out there?
SS
|
| | 4 answer | Add comment |
|
| AJ Broncofan 13:46:39 |
| | Aren't there any new Kiss shirts for this tour?
I haven't been able to find any! lame.
|
| | Add comment |
Sunday, 16 March 2008
|
| J.I. Albrecht Dies Sharpsh00ter 04:45:29 |
| |
J.I. Albrecht, one of the Canadian Football League's sharpest recruiters of
playing and coaching talent, has died at the age of 77.
During a 50-year career in football, the St. James, N.Y., native brought in
Marv Levy to coach the Montreal Alouettes in the 1970s and named slotback
Michael (Pinball) Clemons as coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 2000.
He was the prime builder of an Alouettes team that won Grey Cups in 1970,
1974 and 1977, where he brought in linebacker Wally Buono, now coach and
general manager of the B.C. Lions, and slotback Larry Smith, now the
Alouettes president.
"He was a very good evaluator of talent," said Smith, who Albrecht selected
with the top pick in the 1972 CFL draft. "He looked at the character of the
player as well as the talent.
"And when he liked you, he was very loyal. Maybe loyal to a fault with some
players."
Albrecht's son Dean said his father died Tuesday in a Toronto nursing home.
Albrecht suffered a stroke in 2002.
"He hasn't been well for a couple of years," said Dean Albrecht. "He didn't
have any giddy up, so it was difficult for him to do anything. And he was so
active before."
Albrecht had front-office stints with the Alouettes, Argonauts, Ottawa Rough
Riders and expansion Shreveport Pirates and he also spent time in the NFL,
the NCAA and Canadian university football.
In 1984, he led a group that hoped to put a CFL expansion team in Halifax
called the Atlantic Schooners, but his main backer pulled out when
government financing didn't come through for a new stadium.
His greatest success was in Montreal, where he joined the Alouettes in 1970
as personnel director under GM Red O'Quinn and with legend Sam Etcheverry as
head coach. Albrecht took over as GM for the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
Smith recalled how Albrecht brought in 17 rookies in 1972 who, as well as
himself and Buono, included future stars such as Dickie Harris, Dan Yochum,
Glen Weir and Junior Ah You. He also brought Heisman Trophy winner Johnny
Rodgers to the CFL.
But disputes with coaches and management led to his being fired by the
Alouettes and Levy took over as GM in 1974.
"As a scout, he was No. 1," said Smith. "He aspired to be a GM, but that's a
different skill set.
"I don't think he ever made that transition successfully. He was very
opinionated. Once he got his mind on something, he went for it. But he was
always fair to me."
Buono said Albrecht first contacted him even before he joined the Alouettes
and the two stayed in touch over the years.
"He was perceived at times as being a gruff, old-school football guy, but I
guess that's how it was in those days," said Buono. "But as he got older you
saw a different side of him.
"He was very proud of the players who had done well. He was one of those
guys who, if he discovered you and signed you, he stayed close to you."
After a season with the New England Patriots, Albrecht moved on to Toronto
as GM in 1976, where he brought in stars like Anthony Davis and Wonderful
Monds.
When Smith later became commissioner of the CFL, he set Albrecht up to work
as a consultant with the Glieberman family, who owned the Rough Riders, in
1992 and 1993 and then became the Pirates' vice-president of football
operations in 1994.
During a second stint with the Argos in 2000, Albrecht named Clemons as the
team's head coach and he went on to make CFL history in 2004 when he became
the first black head coach to win a Grey Cup.
Albrecht also started a short-lived football program at University College
of Cape Breton and spent several years in Halifax, where he had a radio
show.
In addition to his failing health in recent years, Albrecht also endured
personal tragedy as his oldest son Rod committed suicide during Christmas in
2006. Two years ago his second wife Kathryn - they were separated - died of
cervical cancer.
The funeral is set for Friday in Toronto.
|
| | Add comment |
Friday, 14 March 2008
|
| No one mentions "the" retirement? David W. 02:27:13 |
| | Warren Sapp retires, and no one cares (other than Raider fans)? Oh, maybe
it's due to that "Favor" guy.
|
| | 2 answer | Add comment |
|
