All Laced up NFL Preseason Week 1

I am not the biggest NFL fan, and of course their decision to deny the Dallas Cowboys (insert lifelong fan here) a symbolic gesture on their helmets to the city's fallen police officers, makes for more disdain.  However, it is preseason week and the start of some gridiron.

As my friend reminded me today, "preseason doesn't count.  Bad rehearsal, good performance.  That's the rule in dance and football."  I am also reminded that there are scores and outcomes.

So here are some highlights from Preseason Week 1:

Dallas 24  Los Angeles 28 

Dolphins 27  Giants 10 (shout out to Dan Thomas)

Lions 30  Steelers 17

Cleveland 11  Packers 17

Tampa Bay 9  Eagles 17

Saints 22  Patriots 34

JAX 13  Jets 17 (come on Jags you had the ball 33:49 - 26:11)

Texans and 49'ers play tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET.  San Francisco has dominated this match up in 2013 and 2014, but a year ago the Texans came out on top 23 - 10, but remember this is just a rehearsal for the performance.  Happy preseason week 1 NFL fans!

Whose shoes did the 2016 draft fill?

With the NFL Draft complete, whose shoes did your favorite team fill?

There were a whopping 15 quarterbacks selected in the 2016 draft, and if you want to see which college laced up the most shoe spots, then look no further than Ohio State. The Buckeyes contributed 12 players in the first 4 rounds.

Derrick Henry went in the second round to the Tennessee Titans, and he will be the second pair of Heisman shoes following in the footsteps of Marcus Mariota for the Titans.

Who continues remains to be seen as we move through the training and preseason phase, but lots of teams will be lacing up some new talent on the field this year for an exciting 2016 season.

We are back!

Check out our new and improved website www.sportsfundamental.com and visit our Leather Laces and Places tab for our new events calendar (all times are Eastern Time).

Our college football countdown clock is available on our home page, just scroll down and sigh... it is still a long way until game time.

Great to be back after some time off and look forward to providing you new points to ponder.

NFL kickoff tonight

It's almost that time of the year again as preseason football kicks off tonight with the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings facing off in Canton, Ohio.

The preseason opener will be televised on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET from the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. And, while rumor has it we will not see much of the veteran starters for either team, it's still football and it's Sunday Night Football.

Preseason schedules run for four weeks, so catch the opener tonight and tune in for the games to see how your team shapes up for this years road to the Super Bowl.

2014 - 2015 Season's Best Plays: Watch and You Decide

Here are 16 minutes of last season's best plays in college football.  How many did you see live?

Watch and decide if these highlights are your BEST plays!

Ladies just a little something to TIDE you over until Nick Saban is on the sidelines again.  Keep your heels high and your standards higher.  It's a long hot summer, but kickoff time will be here before you know it.

Predictions for this year's NCAA teams?

Packers vs Cowboys - What's your Game Day tradition?

It's Game Day!  Best Wishes to the Packers and Cowboys Fans as we march towards the Super Bowl.

What will you be doing to honor your team today?

Comment on your favorite food, gear and rituals that make up your Fandom!

Dolphins Hire Dennis Hickey as GM

Photo courtesy Boris Balaban

In offseason reports the Miami Dolphins have hired Dennis Hickey as their General Manager.  Hickey, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of player personnel, was offered a second interview this past week.
n offseason 

Nick Caserio director of player personnel with the New England Patriots had been extended a second interview, but passed on the position.

Brian Gaine, the Dolphins assistant general manager, and Lake Dawson, the Titans VP of player personnel were also on the short list of candidates for owner Stephen Ross.

Speculation was high yesterday that Caserio would be the choice, but he along with Dawson reportedly did not see their future in Miami.

Now the real job begins of finding talent to fill the roster for the Dolphins who finished 8-8 in the 2013 season.  A good start would be an offense that protects QB Ryan Tannehill who was sacked 58 times this past season.

Texans top NFL 2014 Draft Order

Photo Credit:  BleacherReport.com

With the NFL entering the Wild card round of the playoffs, teams now have acquired their spot in the 2014 NFL Draft.  Topping this years list is the Houston Texans followed by the Rams, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders to round out the Top 5.

The NFL Draft is set for May 8th in New York but only 20 of the 32 teams have an established draft order.  The 12 spots that remain will be arranged as playoff season continues and teams drop from the march to the Super Bowl 2014.

According to several sources including an article from CBS Sports, Miami native and Louisville Cardinals' Teddy Bridgewater is likely to go in the first round.

Much of the speculation is fueled by Houston's loss to the Tennessee Titans in week 17 including two interceptions thrown by current QB Matt Schaub.  While Schaub's contract was extended last year through 2016, a draft pick could be the least expensive route for Houston to make the QB change, unless they take a possible cap relief hit at a cost of millions.

TOP TEN DRAFT ORDER:

1.  Houston Texans

2.  St. Louis Rams (Redskins)

3.  Jacksonville Jaguars

4.  Cleveland Browns

5.  Oakland Raiders

6.  Atlanta Falcons

7.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8.  Minnesota Vikings

9.  Buffalo Bills

10. Detroit Lions

Got Heisman? Jameis Winston Wins

Charles LeClaire:  USA Today Sports

Florida State QB Jameis Winston became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy since the Downtown Athletic Club started the annual award in 1935.

The 19 year-old Winston was selected from a group of candidates last night that included a not so close second place voting finish by Alabama's quarterback AJ McCarron, and last year's winner Johnny Manziel who is slated to announce his future football plans prior to the Aggies bowl game.

Other candidates were QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois, RB Andre Williams, Boston College, RB Tre Mason, Auburn, QB Bryce Petty, Baylor, QB Derek Carr, Fresno State, QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State and RB Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona.

While controversy surrounded the season for Jameis Winston due to earlier accusations from an incident last December, the Florida State Seminoles are undefeated and headed to the BCS National Championship game with Auburn.  As late as Friday his accuser's attorney, who cannot seem to let a closed case go, requested an independent investigation of the Attorney Generals Office investigation and the Tallahassee Police Department.

According to the article an e-mail statement from a spokesperson for Florida's Governor Rick Scott (R) stated the following, "The state attorney's office and FDLE did a thorough investigation of this case and they concluded that no further action on this matter is required."

Winston who passed for 3,820 yards and 38 TD's this season may soon have another reason to celebrate if the NOLES win the title.  Congratulations to this year's winner of the Heisman Trophy and to all the candidates who made the ballot!

Ron Burgandy interviews Peyton Manning

Check out Ron Burgandy's interview with Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning.  The Anchorman sequel starring Will Ferrell, Anchorman 2:  The Legend Continues is slated for release December 18th in theaters.

The Broncos are 10-2 in regular season play.

Video rant responds to NFL ban of gun dealer Super Bowl Ad

In a recent article we reported the NFL's ban for a Super Bowl ad submitted by gun dealer Daniel Defense.  Here is a video response to this action and the "hypocrisy" of the NFL.  Please note this video contains explicit language.

WARNING:  Video contains explicit language

Cowboys win on Thanksgiving: Feel like cheering?

Dallas vs Oakland part of NFL Feast for Thanksgiving

If you need some NFL as your Thanksgiving tradition here are today's lineups:

Green Bay vs Detroit  12:30 p.m.  Tip:  Packers will play Matt Flynn at QB

Oakland vs Dallas  4:30 p.m.  Tip:  Cowboys are on a roll - enjoy dessert

Pittsburgh vs Baltimore  8:30 p.m.  Tip:  Ravens win at home, 4-1 this year

FOX, CBS and NBC will air the above games so Happy Thanksgiving and viewing!

Football Quotes for Fans of THE Game!

"Being in politics is like being a football coach.  You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important." - Eugene Mccarthy-

"Football is a game played with arms, legs and shoulders but mostly form the neck up."  -Knute Rockne-

"Football is an incredible game.  Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."  -Tom Landry-

"I don't know any other way to lead but by example."  -Don Shula-

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death.  I assure you, it's much more serious than that."  - Bill Shankly-

"We are inclined to think that if we watch a football game or a baseball game, we have taken part in it." -JFK-

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."  -Vince Lombardi

"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."  -Vince Lombardi-

NFL Sunday Cowboys & Lions Oh My!

Cowboys Fans: Better to laugh than cry, well maybe?

Cowboys fans like myself are having another QB reality check as we struggle with our fearless leader on the field, Tony Romo.  And, like Giants fans we have to channel our displeasure right down to the passing arm.  After all, as the saying goes it is better to laugh than to cry, well maybe?

Here are this week's prize winners for poking fun at Romo and the Cowboys.  Cheer up fellow fans, somethings gotta give, and be thankful we are not 0-6 like our NFL neighbors to the north.

Just remind Romo to aim for the stars, not the feathers this week.  It's all in good FUN!

Cowboys and Raiders in Preseaon NFL game tonight!

The Dallas Cowboys take on the Oakland Raiders tonight in NFL Preseason football at 10:00 p.m. ET (9:00 p.m. Central) in Oakland.  While the game will be blocked for west coasters, you can watch live on the NFL Network.

Dallas is sporting a victory over the Miami Dolphins as they ready for game 2 in preseason play.

For game details and a poll to choose your favorite team to win, check out the b/r bleacher report article for the latest information.  No secret here, this girl is going with Big D to win!

Monday night event at Sun Life Stadium showcases Dolphins scrimmage game

Phin Fans lined up early for general admission seating Monday night at Sun Life Stadium in Miami to watch the Dolphin's scrimmage game.

The free admission price, and a long summer break, roused die-hard fans out to tailgate and watch the Dolphins run a series of drills and scrimmages.  22,876 fans attended Monday night's event which included pre-game entertainment by the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders and lots of fanfare excitement.

photos courtesy of Boris Balaban

QB #17 Ryan Tannehill took to the field first, and impressed fans during his second offensive round showcasing the Phins running game and short pass completion.  Tannehill connected for a total of three touchdown passes to give fans something to cheer about.

photos courtesy of Boris Balaban

#2 Brandon Fields whose career average stands at 46.4 yards per punt according to one source delivered consistent kicks throughout the game.  His 64 yard punt that landed well into the end zone brought a round of applause from fans.

Fans enjoyed some impressive plays from special teams, but most were less impressed with former Oregon State player QB #8 Matt Moore.  From our seats the fun to watch guy was #7 QB Pat Devlin. You might remember Devlin as a former Penn State, and Delaware transfer player who holds the Pennsylvania high school passing record.

Pat Devlin faces defense

Devlin faced some tough defensive plays that included a sack from Dion Jordan, a round 1 draft pick for the Dolphins.  Jordan has made the news for the Phins by being selected to play special teams.  In an article Jordan who plays defensive end was quoted about his role,

"It's something to say about you... Me personally, I started on all special teams in high school, even in Oregon.  And I started on defense.  I love to compete."

Thanks to the Dolphin's players who signed autographs after for fans, coach Joe Philbin and the Dolphins management for a fan oriented night of football.  The Dolphins play Tampa Bay Saturday, August 24th.

Sunday FUNday

Brandon Flowers Charity Weekend in Delray Beach, FL