Project Football

Drew Brees: The Big Man In The Big Easy

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Drew Brees the big man, in the big easy is considered by many experts to being one of the best current National Football League quarterbacks. Brees is a five time Pro Bowl selection, a three time National Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, the 2008 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XLIV.

Brees in College

Brees played his college ball at Purdue University in which he led the Boilermakers to the 2001Rose Bowl and a Co Big Ten Championship. At Purdue Brees finished fourth in the 1999 Heisman Trophy ballot and was also a finalist for the Davey O’ Brian Award. He was also named an Academic All American and earned a degree in industrial management.

Chargers

Following Purdue, Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the spring of 2001. While in San Diego Brees led the Chargers to the 2004 AFC West Title and a 12-4 overall record. Brees was selected to the 2004 Pro Bowl and was named 2004 Comeback Player of the Year.

Saints

Brees signed with Sean Payton’s New Orleans Saints in 2006. Brees led the Saints to the Playoffs in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009 and Brees was awarded the NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, 2008, 2009. Brees also was an All Pro selection in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

On The Road With The Dallas Cowboys

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

On the road with the Dallas Cowboys could refer to many things in their history, but nothing is as unusual as the curse that has followed them over the years. It is about the color of thier jerseys and is something that has been debated for some time. The tradition was begun by Tex Schramm in 1964, but he still claims that he does not believe in the curse and that it was only to let fans see the opponents colors at home games.

When on the road they their offical blue jerseys that go with their uniforms, but at home games the Cowboys wear their white jerseys. They were the first to start doing this in the NFL, as it was an unofficial rule that home teams had to wear their colored jerseys. Over the years the blue jerseys had become known as jinxed, due to their many loses when they wore them.

Since 1970 the league rules have been modified and home teams can choose their jersey colors. Other teams like the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins have followed in suit with Dallas on this issue. Perhaps there really is a curse on the Dallas Cowboys blue jerseys.

The Who’s Who List Of The NFL

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The NFL is an interesting league. Unlike many other sports, superstars do not necessarily run football but rather well balanced team with above average players can win Super Bowls and be successful. With that said, there are still players in the NFL that who are considered super stars and are the most well known players in the league due to their abilities and success in the NFL. Along with the pioneers who brought the NFL to a mainstream league, modern day superstars in the NFL are some of the most recognizable public figures in sports.

There are a few past NFL players whose names are still as popular as the first day they stepped on a field. Almost every football fan remembers or has heard of Jerry Rice. After his lengthy career he holds countless NFL records and three super bowl rings. Rice is considered arguably the greatest player in history. On the defensive side of the ball, Dick Butkus now has an NFL trophy named after him that is awarded to best linebacker after every season. He finished is career with 1,020 tackles in just nine seasons. For younger generations, there are a few current NFL players that can compliment the name of “who’s who”.

In current NFL play, there are numerous players that have great reputations and are well known. Currently playing quarterback for the New England Patriots is Tom Brady. He has been in the league since 2000 and has tons of NFL records and has already won three Super Bowls. He was drafted 199th overall in the 6th round which makes him one of the greatest draft picks of all time. On the defensive side of things, Ray Lewis is one of the most popular defensive players. Known for his role as intimidator on the field, Lewis has spent all of his 15 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He lead the Raven’s to the 2001 Super Bowl title and won MVP of the Super Bowl.

There are many more players, both past and present that can make the list of who’s who in the NFL. More players are making strides in becoming all time greats and in no time, there will be a new list of the NFL’s greatest players.

A Few Facts: Hines Ward

admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you watch his old footage on satellite channels from http://www.direct.tv or catch reruns of his games on network TV, you’ve got to admire the man, the myth, and the legend that is Hines Ward. Besides his recent stint on Dancing With the Stars, here are a few of the notable facts you need to know about the pride of Georgia…
Though Hines Ward won the Heisman Trophy for the University of Georgia he was drafted 98 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hines had absolutely no touchdowns his rookie season.
Hines played the position of Quarterback for his high-school team and had over 1500 yards through his high school years.
Hines’ descent is a mixture of African American and Korean.
When he was a rookie with the Steelers, Ward was tasked with returning kicks.
Hines stayed in state for school and attended college at the University of Georgia becoming one of the school’s most famous football players.
Bet you didn’t know all those fun facts about Hines Ward! Keep an eye out for Ward’s dancing prowess on ABC this season.

The Top Ten NFL Players Of Tomorrow

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Every season, football has a handful of players who enjoy “breakout” years. These players eventually fall into three categories: “One-hit-wonders,” “Veteran pros,” and “Hall-of-Famers.” Here are ten young players who have the potential to join the latter group.

Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco, has already been named to the Pro Bowl each season. Green Bay TE Jermichael Finley’s knee injury prevented him from playing in the Packers Super Bowl triumph, but no one doubts his future success. QB Tim Tebow, Denver. Some still complain about his mechanics, but Tebow is smart, athletic and most importantly, a winner. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis. Bradford had a splendid rookie season, leading the Rams to the playoffs. Jon Beason, LB, Carolina. Beason quickly became the defensive leader of the Panthers, and is a perennial Pro Bowler. Matt Ryan, Atlanta QB. “Matty Ice” just continues to get better. Jarrod Mayo, LB, New England. Already a standout for the demanding Bill Belichick, Mayo has a promising future. WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh. Already one of Roethlisberger’s favorite targets, expect his numbers to increase. LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay. Consistency and excellence are his trademarks. WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco. His skills and talent are unquestioned. Now if only the 49ers had a steady QB.

The Top Ten NFL Players Of Today

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When you are putting together a list of the ten best players in the NFL, there are a couple of names that automatically come to mind: Tony Brady, Peyton Manning and Troy Polamalu. After that, though, things get a little bit tough.

When it comes to offense, you may need to put Aaron Rogers up there. He has his Super Bowl, and week after week he has the stats to back it up. And how about Phillip Rivers? While the Chargers didn’t make the playoffs last season, he did lead the league in passing yards. And while we are at it: can you leave Drew Brees out of the equations either?

Outside of quarterbacks, Chris Johnson and Stephen Jackson make good candidates, as do Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Bowe and even Larry Fitzgerald. And not to leave defense out of of it: you can choose from Hines Ward, DeMarcus Ware, and of course Clay Matthews. What about kickers with ice water in their veins? Can you really leave out Devon Hester who is the most dangerous kickoff threat in the league, or Adam Vinatieri, who is the best high pressure kicker of all time? It’s a debate that is not easy to solve.

The Top Ten NFL Players Of The Past

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

NFL history is full of heroes, but there are only a handful who dominated the competition to such an extent that they can be called the greatest of all time. These are the top ten NFL players of the past:

1. Jerry Rice – No player was greater at his position. He holds every major receiving record, most by a mile.

2. Lawrence Taylor – The most feared defensive player of his generation re-defined the linebacker position.

3. Joe Montana – Pro football’s greatest quarterback, he won four Super Bowls without a loss.

4. Dick Butkus – This terrifying brick wall of a linebacker was the face of a bygone era.

5. Barry Sanders – Gave fans the most thrilling runs the game has ever seen.

6. Johnny Unitas – 47 straight games with a TD pass remains an unbroken record.

7. Regge White – A 13-time Pro Bowler, second on the career sacks list.

8. Jim Brown – Led the NFL in rushing in 8 of his 9 seasons.

9. Deacon Jones- The original sack machine, before stats were kept for sacks.

10. Bronko Nagursky – Three-time champion and a member of the first football Hall of Fame class.

A One Man MVP Race

www.projectfootball.net — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Though 2010 NFL MVP award isn’t officially handed out until season’s end, but perhaps no secret has been worse kept in NFL circles since Patriot opponents’ defensive signals circa 2007. Of course, the undisputed most valuable player is the very quarterback under center during the “Spygate” controversy, is the former 2007 MVP winner, Tom Brady.Amid a season of turmoil from ranging from the high profile departure of number 1 target Randy Moss to teen-idol hurled stones at the quarterback’s haircut, the steady hand of Tom Brady has delivered the football methodically, accurately and prolifically, racking up the NFL’s highest quarterback rating at an astounding 111.0. Though Brady has had past seasons in which he exceeded his yardage total, accruing just 3,900 through the air (“just” is a relative term, with a hint of sarcasm), what impressed most onlookers was the mistake free football Brady displayed down the stretch. Brady threw a league low 4 interceptions over the course of 16 regular season games, marred only be 2-interception performances in week 2 and week 6, leaving the final 11 weeks of the season entirely pick free. In the meantime, Patriot wide receivers have had no problem hauling in touchdown catches as the tight spirals elude defensive backs, as Brady connected for a league leading 36 6-point strikes.To recap, no quarterback tossed more touchdown passes, nor did any quarterback throw fewer interceptions, truly a career year in an already storied career for Tom Brady.With all due respect to Comeback Player of the Year, Michael Vick, who is on record as supporting his own MVP candidacy, Mr. Brady’s individual efforts, not to mention leading his team to a league-pacing 14 wins, are quite simply unparalleled by his peers.

Vick v. Kolb

www.projectfootball.net — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:28:47 +0000

Fortunately for the electrifying quarterback with well documented legal issues, this conflict in hand is merely a matter of time on the field not time on the bars. It’s been a season of highs and lows already for both Eagles quarterbacks. First, Kolb was named starter, only to go down with injury and have Vick, a former Pro Bowler and highest paid player in the league, step in a perform swimmingly in his absence. After the impressive showing, coach Andy Reid stepped in to say Kolb was indeed still his starter and Vick would return to the bench upon Kolb’s clean bill of health. Reid reverse his train of thought only days later, naming Vick the starter, citing shaky line play Vick could work around with his fast-churning, side-stepping rubber legs. Midway through his first official start with both quarterbacks fit for activity, Vick found himself sidelined with a rib-cartilage injury. When Vick recovers, who will take snaps under center? Only Andy Reid knows for sure, if he’s even made up his mind.Vick looked better than his old self in weeks 1 through 3, combining for 6 touchdowns through the air, 1 through the ground and zero interceptions, good for a quarterback rating of 108.8 on the season. On the other hand, Kolb’s most recent two starts in lieu of the injured Vick were perhaps the more than stellar, with his dispatching of the Falcons secondary perhaps the most impressive game by an Eagles QB this season, amassing 326 passing yards and 3 touchdowns to 1 INT. Sacked just one time behind new left tackle starter King Dunlap, Kolb showed why he was set to start the season atop the depth chart when given ample time to throw. So the question remains, if Reid’s original decision hinged on Philly’s inability to protect their quarterback, could improved line play and continued solid numbers from Kolb send Vick back to the sidelines after what looked like a full-fledged comeback to stardom? Only time will tell, not necessarily weeks ticking off the season rather the seconds it takes the pass rush to converge on green and white winged field general.

Steal of the Draft

www.projectfootball.net — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:10:55 +0000

Seven weeks into the season, perhaps it’s a little early to start looking ahead to the future, but considering games this season constitute 100 of these individuals young careers, the sample size seems more than adequate. The NFL has already felt the impact of the class of 2010, perhaps so than even Mel Kiper’s most ingratiating dreams would allow. So who’s ahead in the polls at this point in the season? Let’s take a look.

Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams Obviously the first pick of the draft can’t be a steal, however, Rams fans will largely ignore such a technicality. Though there have been plenty of rookie mistakes so far in the season, and many more likely to come, Bradford has the rams playing .500 football, quite the accomplishment for anyone who has followed the state of the franchise over the past few seasons.
Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions Through the first two weeks of the season it looked as if Best might run away with the ROY honors, covering the first 40 yards in just over 4 second pace. As the season has progressed, however, Best has slowed down, if not in terms of foot speed in terms of productivity. After 2 TDs in week 1 and 3 in week 2, Best has been held without a score since. Not to mention, his yards per carry has dipped to 3.2. Though he still remains a viable threat out of the backfield, the big play has eluded him in recent weeks just as he so often sidesteps defenders. Overall, however, he has proven to be quite the asset to the Lions offense with a late first round pick.
Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots Leave it to the Pats to find the season’s most prolific receiver in 4^th round. A tight end in name only Hernandez has been used in several different looks, already racking up significant yardage totals, even if he hasn’t yet found pay-dirt. With Moss gone and the Pats lacking in explosive offensive threats, look for Hernandez to get even more touches going forward.

Longshot: Danario Alexander, St. Louis Rams Last year’s leading receiver in college football is finally back from knee surgery after injury risks forced him to go undrafted. He already seems to have a nice rapport with 1 on this list, to the tune of 4 catches, 72 yards and TD in his week 7 debut. The talent and work ethic are certainly there, but will he see the targets?