Exclusive New England Patriots Spy Video Stolen From NFL

So, that's how they do it...hmmm.

McKay failing as GM...again

McKAY MUST GO

Some Internet hack has set
forth on SporingNews.com the case for Falcons owner Arthur Blank to follow
coach Bobby Petrino's resignation with a

termination of President and G.M. Rich McKay.

Viewing it all objectively,
it's a no brainer. Someone needs to be accountable for the various and
significant embarrassments that the franchise has experienced in the past
year.

That someone is McKay.

And the passage of time will,
we believe, vindicate the notion that McKay should be removed from his
position. Because we're convinced that, unless he can persuade his
former lieutenants Jerry Angelo and Tim Ruskell to take demotions to come to
Atlanta, the Falcons are going to continue to be uncompetitive.

But, for now, McKay will get
to hire his third head coach. The first one stoopidly ran his mouth
about coaching at his alma mater. The second one had an apparent flaw
of character. Though no one could have spotted the specific outcomes
of the Mora and Petrino eras without a crystal ball, folks who know how to
read people likely would have detected something via the vetting process
that would have stirred up a visceral concern about whether either man was
the right man for the job.

Then again, McKay also thought
it would be wise to give $37 million in guaranteed money to a
one-dimensional quarterback with a sense of entitlement so strong and so
warped that it prompted him to engage in an illegal and inhumane gambling
operation for six years.

Technorati Tags: McKay, Bucs, Falcons

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Bucs Gruden, not Dungy to join Elite company

TAMPA - Bucs coach Jon Gruden's
name is not always mentioned among the NFL's coaching elite, but his
resume makes a strong case for some well-earned recognition.

If Tampa Bay defeats Atlanta at home on Sunday, the Bucs will clinch
the NFC South. In addition, Gruden will claim his fifth division title
since 2000; he won division crowns in Oakland (2000-01) and Tampa Bay
(2002, 2005).

New England coach Bill Belichick currently has the most success with seven titles since 2000. Philadelphia's Andy Reid, Indianapolis' Tony Dungy, Seattle's Mike Holmgren
and Gruden will be tied at five after this season, assuming Tampa Bay
and Indianapolis win their divisions. The Patriots and Seahawks already
have clinched their respective divisions.

"I would rather win that second Super Bowl," Gruden said. "You want
to qualify for the playoffs, and you want to have a chance to compete
for a championship. I try to keep myself very shallow with these guys.
The pressure and all that stuff, everybody can handle.

"We've just got to take a good look at what we can do to improve,
keep improving and stay on the gas pedal in terms of improving. That's
what I'm most interested in."

Gruden is tied with John McKay (1979, 1981) with two division titles with Tampa Bay. Dungy had one (1999).

Although Gruden is only one victory from another title, his
reflection on the latest accomplishment will not occur until after this
season.

"It's hard to win. There are a lot of teams that have not won a
division title in 10 years, 20 years," Gruden said. "You want to
qualify to win your division and make the playoffs and get a home-field
playoff game. It's a great step getting to the only bowl game in our
business.

"I try not to get too deep or analytical with it. We need to win a
football game, and every game we've won has been hard-fought and
well-contested. We've got to find a way to win one more game."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/14/sp-gruden-in-elite-company-with-next-division-titl/


Thanks Anwar. Who 'd thunk a fellow named Anwar would have a better grasp of what local football fans want to read? Me, that's who. Seems many of the local scribes are more interested in whatever negativity they can spin and spew. We want upbeat and entertaining information. Doh!

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Gruden, Gruden Gruden!

By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

TAMPA - There could have been no greater sign of Tampa Bay's emerging unity than after last week's victory against New Orleans.

The players never gave up despite trailing by three points with less than four minutes remaining. Defensive line pressure forced Reggie Bush's bad toss on a reverse. Coach Jon Gruden showed faith in his players and went for it on fourth-and-1 with two minutes left. Backup quarterback Luke McCown then threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to forgotten tight end Jerramy Stevens to give the Bucs a 27-23 victory.

After the win, players in Tampa Bay's locker room unified for one exhilarating chant:

"Gruden! Gruden! Gruden!"

The show of support was from a group of players that loves their coach for believing in them. It's a group of players that has learned to believe in themselves and trust each other.

And most importantly, it was from, finally, a "team."

"That was awfully nice of those guys and whoever started the chant. It was probably my son," Gruden said. "We have a lot of interest in the same thing and these guys mean a lot to me. I think they know that, but I also expect a lot out of them. I think they were just happy as a staff that we showed confidence in our football team and let them go out there and do the things they are capable of doing.

"It was flattering, but I tried to put a stop to that as soon as possible. It's the players that are getting it done, and it will be the players who get it done if we are going to continue to win."

Tampa Bay's team concept has evolved primarily because of injuries.

Running back Earnest Graham emerged after Cadillac Williams was placed on injured reserve and Michael Pittman suffered a severe ankle injury. Left tackle Donald Penn evolved after Luke Petitgout's injury. Fullback B.J. Askew stepped in for Mike Alstott, who went on injured reserve in the preseason. Cornerback Phillip Buchanon has made 10 starts because of Brian Kelly's injuries. Gaines Adams has adequately replaced Greg Spires at defensive end. Maurice Stovall has become a special teams standout since Torrie Cox was placed on injured reserve. And McCown stepped up when quarterback Jeff Garcia could not play last week.

"With the attitude of Coach Gruden and the coaching staff and the work they put into preparation every single week, and how they come to work and give an all-out effort, for players not to match that in some way would be an extreme letdown - to our coaching staff, to our team and to this city," Garcia said. "I believe that players have been hungry for the opportunity to play ... and they're taking a no-looking-back attitude in a sense that they're trying to make the most of it."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/08/sp-gruden-gruden-gruden/?sports-bucs


A rare positive attitude by the local Tampa Bay area press about the Bucs. Props to Anwar.

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Murdoch's Way: Buying pols with book deals!

The halls of Washington and their lobbyists...who's representing you?

According to two former F.C.C. officials, Mr. Murdoch’s chief in-house lobbyist at the time, Preston Padden, confronted Mr. Hundt’s chief of staff at a meeting at a coffee shop near the agency’s headquarters. Mr. Hundt (the F.C.C. chariman at the time) would not be able to “get a job as dog-catcher” if the F.C.C. took away a single News Corporation television license, Mr. Padden warned, they said.

clipped from www.nytimes.com Murdoch Reaches Out for Even More In the fall of 2003, a piece of Rupert Murdoch’s sprawling media empire was in jeopardy. Congress was on the verge of limiting any company from owning local television stations that reached more than 35 percent of American homes. Mr. Murdoch’s Fox stations reached nearly 39 percent, meaning he would have to sell some. A strike force of Mr. Murdoch’s lobbyists joined other media companies in working on the issue. The White House backed the industry, and in a late-night meeting just before Thanksgiving, Congressional leaders agreed to raise the limit — to 39 percent. One leader of the Congressional movement to limit ownership was Senator Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi. But in the end, he, too, agreed to the compromise. It turns out he had a business connection to Mr. Murdoch. Months before, HarperCollins, Mr. Murdoch’s publishing house, had signed a $250,000 book deal to publish Mr. Lott’s memoir, “Herding Cats,” records and interviews show.

Murdoch's Way: Buying pols with book deals!

The halls of Washington and their lobbyists...who's representing you?

According to two former F.C.C. officials, Mr. Murdoch’s chief in-house lobbyist at the time, Preston Padden, confronted Mr. Hundt’s chief of staff at a meeting at a coffee shop near the agency’s headquarters. Mr. Hundt (the F.C.C. chariman at the time) would not be able to “get a job as dog-catcher” if the F.C.C. took away a single News Corporation television license, Mr. Padden warned, they said.

clipped from www.nytimes.com Murdoch Reaches Out for Even More In the fall of 2003, a piece of Rupert Murdoch’s sprawling media empire was in jeopardy. Congress was on the verge of limiting any company from owning local television stations that reached more than 35 percent of American homes. Mr. Murdoch’s Fox stations reached nearly 39 percent, meaning he would have to sell some. A strike force of Mr. Murdoch’s lobbyists joined other media companies in working on the issue. The White House backed the industry, and in a late-night meeting just before Thanksgiving, Congressional leaders agreed to raise the limit — to 39 percent. One leader of the Congressional movement to limit ownership was Senator Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi. But in the end, he, too, agreed to the compromise. It turns out he had a business connection to Mr. Murdoch. Months before, HarperCollins, Mr. Murdoch’s publishing house, had signed a $250,000 book deal to publish Mr. Lott’s memoir, “Herding Cats,” records and interviews show.

Bucs vs. Lions preview

Game 7 Preview: Lions
Published: October 19th, 2007
By Bucstats.com weblog

Five Things You Didn't Know About The Lions

1. Lions rookie guard Manny Ramirez is really tired of being asked how he balances his football and baseball careers. But coincidently, he doesn't give a shit how the season turns out, either.
2. Rod Marinelli once wrestled a bear. A real bear, not a furry gay guy. As far as I know. Hey, I'm not here to judge.
3. Shaun Rogers is being sued by a stripper who accuses him of groping her. Isn't that kind of like a waiter suing Rogers for asking for more ketchup?
4. Chris Cooley of the Redskins actually thanked the Lions for giving up in the second half of their game last week. The Lions would have responded to this criticism, but it seemed like too much work.
5. Lions defensive line coach Joe Cullen was arrested in August for "suspicion of indecent and obscene conduct" because he was driving around nude. I'll give you the keywords, and you write your own joke: crankshaft, drive-thru, DUI, Explorer, Matt Millen, spare tire, stick-shift, tailpipe.




Had to post this here; that's pretty funny! Lol