NFL Newslinks: It’s NEW YEAR!

Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by Jesse in NFL Newslinks

It’s a new year, so it seems a batch of NFL Newslinks is long overdue. Here is a list of things that are happening as we approach the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Let the coaching carousel continue.

• LaDanian Tomlinson has lost it completely. Not only is he a shell of his former self, but he’s releasing corny music videos too?
• The Giants have formally approached Jim Haslett about their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
• The Redskins have reportedly offered Broncos RBs coach Bobby Turner a spot on their staff, with the title of “associate head coach.”
• The Packers have denied the Bears permission to interview QBs coach Tom Clements for Chicago’s offensive coordinator vacancy.
• SI’s Peter King reports that Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio is making calls to potential staff members in anticipation of leaving Jacksonville for USC.
• As anticipated, the Seahawks named Pete Carroll head coach. Carroll speaks out about his return to pro ball.
• Andy Reid says Donovan McNabb will be back as the starting Philly QB next season.
• Evidently the Seahawks reached out to Tony Dungy to guage his interest in becoming the team’s president.

Spit on the Star

Posted on 07. Jan, 2010 by Jesse in Video

The Dallas Cowboys’ star is one of the most recognizable symbols in all of sport. It’s seen it’s fair share of action (cue Terrell Owens/Emmitt Smith/George Teague highlight circa 2000), and is again the focus of action leading up to this Saturday’s playoff showdown with the Eagles. The video is right here, and you’ll enjoy it. The sadistic part of me does wish, however, that Owens were playing in the game this weekend.

After all, he did have stints with both of clubs, and has a propensity for spitting…

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

Right?

Shanny to Skins: A Change you can believe in?

Posted on 06. Jan, 2010 by Jesse in Articles

Well, it’s official. After days of speculation, the Redskins have announced that Mike Shanahan will take over football operations and serve as coach of the team. ‘Skins owner Dan Snyder wasted little time firing Jim Zorn (was Zorn forced to ride on the wing of the plane after Washington’s week 17 collapse?), and Snyder has found a capable replacement. But will this marriage work?

Certainly, a once-proud franchise like Washington should have a stellar coach. Let’s forget the Norv Turner experiment, the Saban debacle, the one-year turn of Marty Schottenheimer or the Steve Spurrier disaster. Lets especially forget that this club also gave Richie Petibtbon a year at the helm back in ‘93. Yeah, Richie-freaking-Petibtbon. Realistically, Washington’s leadership (in NFL coaching circles AND in congress) has been especially weak on a highly frequent basis in the past few decades. A familiar theme is emerging; Washington needed a change.

Shanahan comes to town with an air about him. He’s not Joe Gibbs, but Shanny does own two Big Rings. Still, questions do lurk about Shanahan himself. Last season’s collapse in Denver revealed many holes in his staff, and his leadership came into question. Shanahan detractors will point out that since John Elway’s retirement, Shanny has won just one playoff game. Despite this post-season gloom, Shanahan can build a juggernaut offensively, and thus excitement in Washington is justly deserved. But will Shanahan’s change in leadership turn this underachieving group around?

Some people have blamed Daniel Snyder for the Redskins’ recent troubles, and it’s easy to see that logic. Snyder is the perpetually meddling owner of an annoying kind… with an air of elitism, his franchise has been anemic of late. The Hogs of yesteryear have faded, and this group needs a collective snout lift. Snyder does put his money where his mouth is though, and thus his fans can’t complain too badly. Still, will Danny Boy actually be able to stay out of Shanahan’s way? We’ll see.

This won’t be the first time in recent memory that leadership in Washington comes espousing change. But is change in and of itself a guarantee things will get better? Only time will tell.

Obviously ‘Skins fans are ready for something different.

A new season is upon us…

Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by Jesse in Blog

When we started this site back in July, we didn’t really know what to expect. Having run a different fantasy football related site for five years, we knew we wanted GoHuddleUp.com to be different. The hopes were grand. In retrospect, probably too grand. I’m a full-time student, with a family, and I work (as a painter) to pay my bills. Still, my passion has always been to let my voice be heard. Unfortunately, like the snow in Minnesota has piled up this winter, my real responsibilities piled high this fall. Such business has precluded me from being able to spend time on GHU.

Nevertheless, a new season is upon us. It’s a new year. NFL playoff time is here, and my favorite team (Vikings) has a real chance to win the Super Bowl. With such newness comes renewed hope.

I promised myself long ago that I wouldn’t make New Year’s resolutions any more, because I’m just no good at them. Instead, I’m trying to focus more on the things that really matter to me and let the other things fall away. As a result, I’m going to try to be more active over here on GHU.

We’ll see how things go. Either way, it’s going to be an interesting couple of months as the NFL season concludes.