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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

NFL and Obamacare: Will fans go on strike?

Conservatives view Obamacare as

fiscal train wreck

According to a recent article on twitchy.com HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius plans to use the NFL for promoting Obamacare leaving some conservatives to voice their objections on twitter.

In an article the site remarked that Obama had earlier mentioned the NBA as a vehicle for promoting national healthcare, but Sebelius it appears wants gridiron action to push her enrollment message.

Sebelius was quoted in an article from The Hill stating, "We're having active discussions right now with a variety of sports affiliates" about both paid advertising and partnerships to encourage enrollment.

All of this is part of an advertising and public relations palooza coming in the next few months as more aspects of Obamacare take effect in 2014.  At the same time conservatives are continuing their stance on the economic issues facing Americans when another massive entitlement program takes place.

A recent meme photograph on social media perhaps sums up the opposition of Obamacare and its highly objectionable, long-term economic effects expected by conservatives.  Meanwhile it looks like Monday Night Football and the NFL just opened up the door to politics, and perhaps a strike of a different kind:  players in - viewers out.

NFL Notebook

Leather & Laces NFL Notebook

-Running back Marcus Lattimore has signed a four-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

-St. Louis RB Isaiah Pead violated the NFL's substance abuse policy and will be suspended for the first game of the 2013 season.

-Mike Adams OT for the Pittsburgh Steelers was stabbed during a robbery attempt.  He is expected to make a full recovery after stomach surgery, but will be sidelined for six to eight weeks due to the injuries sustained from the attack.

-Mike Goodson faces another paternity suit filed recently in Houston.  Given his history of legal issues are the Jets up for a long three-years?  Maybe the $6.9 million will be incentive to perform.

-Former New York Jets scout Eric Mangini will join the 49ers as an offensive consultant.

-Hang on fans you will have airtime Sunday, August 4th at 8:00 p.m. on NBC when the Miami Dolphins play the Dallas Cowboys so mark your calendars.  Any preseason predictions?

Mark Duper post Dolphins career includes 2013 arrest

Mark Duper arrested in March

Mark Duper once again finds himself surrounded by controversy, when in March of 2013 he made headlines after an arrest for allegedly attacking his 17 year-old son in an exchange at his Jacksonville, Florida home.

The incident witnessed by former Dolphins defensive end Hugh Green according to the Florida Times Union led to the arrest.  Duper was released on $5,000 bail after reportedly attacking his son three times.

According to the article Green stated Duper attacked the 17 year-old when he:

"picked him up several times and slammed him to the ground," causing him to lose consciousness.

Dubbed 'Super Duper' during his career with Miami, he incurred a 30 day suspension in 1988 after he violated the substance abuse policy by skipping a scheduled drug test.  The league considered his refusal to take the test as positive for drug use, and placed him on suspension.

After leaving the Dolphins Duper found himself once again involved with drugs.  In May of 1994, Duper and his brother-in-law, Brian Briggs, were charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy as part of a sting operation in Pompano Beach, Florida.  He was later acquitted claiming entrapment.  He admitted his drug addiction in a statement after the 1995 trial, calling it a "disease".  Duper could have faced 10 years in prison if he had been convicted.

Duper joined the Dolphins in 1982, and played 11 seasons as wide receiver.  His NFL career included 511 passes for 8,869 yards and 59 touchdowns while playing with football great Mark Clayton during the Marino era.  In 2001 Duper was hired as an assistant coach by Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, but the school with little comment abruptly changed their hiring decision.