Polls

RSP Readers Poll: 2011 NFL Season – I have great readers and I’m curious about your takes heading into the 2011 NFL season. Since I’ve spent all summer giving my takes on the NFL, now it’s your turn to share yours.  Below are 15 questions.

Reads, Listens, Views

Comprehensive list coming soon…well, not as soon as I hoped. Let’s shoot for spring 2012.

A Walk on the Wild Side Opinion pieces of mine that I delivered for my weekly segment “A Walk on the Wildside,” at The Audible on Thursday nights at 10pm EST.

Addiction – 12-step programs tell people that the first step towards fixing a problem is admitting that you have one. Well folks, I have a problem. While I’ve read that a lot of men have this very same addiction. I want each and every one of you out there to understand something. I’m admitting my problem not out of a selfless desire to help others. I’m doing it because I have low self-esteem and I have grandiose visions of using this segment as a bully pulpit to wallow in my problems for your entertainment.

The Unwritten Rules of Football (and Life) – Perhaps the most popular  editorial piece I’ve written.

NFL and FBS Politicking – Two days after this segment, the University of Illinois and Northwestern came to their senses after enormous media exposure in the days preceding  game at Wrigley Field to implement a stopgap safety measure. Not that my take sparked it…

2011 NFL Free Agency– Welcome back to Take a Walk on the Wildside, otherwise known as the place where I get free license to pick on Cecil Lammey and not get my ass kicked. Not that I’m a scrawny guy. I’ve got the slight height and reach advantage on Big Mex and depending on what Cec is doing, conditioning might be a push. However, Lammey has the nut-job factor. You know, like Curly in the Three Stooges episode where he’s the boxer whose lights stay on despite all vestiges of rationality leaving the house (seven-minute mark)  whenever he hears Pop Goes The Weasel…

Miscellaneous

Why I Like Jay Cutler – Sunday Night Football announcer Al Michaels used the sanitized term “laconic” to describe Jay Cutler. Let’s be honest, the media generally thinks of him as a bore and they dislike working with him. It’s exactly why I like that if he’s going to be an ass he’s at least doing the job all the way.

Quick Post: Cam Newton, Shades of Steve McNair – Steve McNair is my favorite player of all time. Cam Newton reminds me a lot of McNair for his poise, pocket presence, and accuracy. The sky is the limit for Newton.

A Case for Canton: William Andrews – William Andrews legendary run through Ronnie Lott was a part of a recent conversation I had with NFL Films producer Greg Cosell. When I listened to Cosell’s thoughts on Andrews and added that to the litany of fans who revered the Falcons runner’s skill it only validated the most obvious of thoughts: Why isn’t William Andrews enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Five Bold NFL Predictions – I don’t get a chance to sit at the local bar and talk football very often because I’m always writing about it. At the moment I’m feeling like having a long neck on a stool. Since I can’t, I’m at least going to imagine what I would be talking about with a friend of mine if the subject of the NFL came up during our conversation. Pull up a stool and order a drink.

A RB Wishlist for the Arizona Cardinals – The greatest disappointment of the football weekend had to Cardinals RB Ryan Williams tearing his patellar tendon in Friday’s preseason game against the Packers.The immediate questions beyond Williams’ career is that of Arizona’s running back depth.  If the Cardinals have done due some diligence with their scouting, here are 10 lesser known runners on the bubble with other teams that I believe could contribute if they don’t land a Choice or another known name.

Eye-Catching NFL Tweets: NFL Preseason Week 1 – Randall Cobb, Denarius Moore, Dion Lewis, and Kendall Hunter are all discussed here.

Eye-Catching NFL Tweets From Camp 8/8 – Jacquizz Rodgers, Marques Colston, Mikel LeShoure, and Dwayne Harris are all topics of conversation in this segment.

Eye-Catching NFL Tweets from Camp 8/7 – Steve Smith (Carolina), James Starks, Montario Hardesty, and Jeremy Ross.

Hall of Fame Induction Day Preseason Tweets 8/6 – Blaine Gabbert, Tarvaris Jackson, Lance Kendricks, and Denarius Moore.

Eye-Catching NFL Tweets from Camp 8/4 – Derrick Mason, Kevin Boss, Tiki Barber, Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, and Dez Bryant.

Eye-Catching NFL Tweets from Camp 8/3 – Blaine Gabbert, Zach Miller, Osi Umenyiora, Eddie Royal, and Ryan Mathews.

Eye-Catching NFL Tweets from Camp 8/2 –  Randall Cobb, Julio Jones, Jarred Fayson, and A.J. Green.

In Perspective: Marshall Faulk Defensive Back???– Every year the draft brings rookies into the league and many of the prospects have question marks about their game. Pick a player and there’s a criticism: too short, too light, too slow, not muscular enough, didn’t play well against top competition, came from a lesser program, you name it. This is why I love YouTube as a football fan. With Marshall Faulk heading to Canton this August, I wanted to check out his highlights at San Diego State.

An Unexpected Visit With Family (And a Visit to the NFL Hall of Fame) – I don’t think I’m wrong to say that for most of you there’s a sense of a familial connection to many of the players in Hall of Fame. It might not be a connection by blood, but the legends and heroes of our youth has created a deep and everlasting bond. Realizing that this was a golden opportunity, I made it a priority on the way home.