Roger's Silver Hammer

Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network is reporting that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is going to be suspended by the NFL League Office for 6 games with the possibility of it being reduced to 4 games. The reduction is conditional. The conditions have not yet been released.

The trade for Byron Leftwich made it apparent that the Steelers knew about the suspension and were preparing for a long haul.

The Steelers' organization can now move on to preparing to play football. When Roethlisberger returns, the media frenzy will be a distraction.

Until then, the Steelers are continuing to let the Roethlisberger trade rumors fill air time. I have a feeling that Roethlisberger could be wearing a Raiders uniform by the end of this weekend. Ben would fit in nicely there.

Then again, I "had a feeling" that Donovan McNabb wouldn't be traded. That's why I make the big money.




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McNabb Trek II: The Wrath of Mayock

Watching this Donovan McNabb trade rumor fiasco unfold has made me think. Where is the voice of reason in all this wild speculation?

Pro Football Talk has put out a blog basically apologizing for jumping on every “he said/she said” lead. Read it. Laughter will ensue.

In steps Mike Mayock, of the NFL Network, as the voice of reason. I don't have a link or source (because the NFL wants you to riot until you have the NFL Network on your cable or satellite provider), but I will give you the key points to... um... well, his point.

1.Donovan McNabb only has one year remaining on his contract.  So if he doesn't sign an extension, no team is going to give up a second round pick that will be a good player with a cheap four year contract.

2.Donovan McNabb would prefer to hit free agency and dictate money and situation, like possibly being Brett Favre's replacement in Minnesota (they like them old there).


In conclusion: the Eagles don't want to give McNabb away.  As much as everybody likes Kolb's potential and Vick's athleticism, McNabb has been a consistently high performer at the most important position for 11 years. You don't trade that away for a fourth or fifth round pick who might not even make your team. From the other teams' perspective, you don't give away talented young cheap labor for a guy who is only going to be on your team for one season. McNabb won't be traded.

I admire the Eagles organization because they run their franchise with a lot of efficiency. This one has been handled with a type of sloppiness I'm not used to seeing from the Eagles.


 



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Reputation Sapped

Ladies and gentleman, I have some breaking news. Bad things can happen while you are out "in da club" (50-cent pun fully intended).

Just ask Warren Sapp after being falsely accused of choking, punching, and slapping around a female "acquaintance" after a night of hanging out on February 6, 2010.  He was then thrown in jail and was "suspended" from his duties as a television host for the NFL Network.

Two days ago he was exonerated of all charges, and the NFL Network was going to meet with his agent. I don't know if the dropping of the charges is going to remove the stain from Sapp's reputation, fair or not.

I'm not suggesting that people can no longer go out and have a good time. I just want to know: what happened to the old saying "beware of the company you keep"?

They say things come in threes, first Ben Roethlisberger, now Warren Sapp. Who's next..............Adam "Pacman" Jones?

Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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McNabbed?

Donovan McNabb has no reason to want to leave the Eagles, but apparently they are ready to deal him according to several sources.

While it is reported that the Rams have offered their second round pick in this April’s draft for the star quarterback, that report was quickly denied by Rams General Manager, Billy Devaney. Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network also reported that the Rams were out of the running, but that the Raiders, Bills, and Cardinals were in the mix.

Apparently McNabb is hoping to go to a contender (says “Cardinals” while pretending to cough) but has no leverage in the deal. The Raiders are the team reportedly showing the most interest, but the Rams hold the draft picks with the most leverage.  If you are the Rams and your offensive line lets pass rushers through like turnstiles, why would you want an injury prone quarterback that is making a ton of money and going to be 34 this season? The solution seems stop-gap at best.

For now McNabb is floating in the space between the team he is on not wanting him anymore and not having a team that actually is willing to pony up enough to make him “feel wanted”.

AWWWWWKWARRRRD!

Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.everymorningqb.com.