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They Called Him Assassin Tatum Dead at 61

Darryl Stingley, above, never recovered from a collision with Jack Tatum in Aug. 1978, remaining in a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.

Former Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum died Tuesday at age 61 of a heart attack. He had battled diabetes and other illnesses for years. Tatum, who had 37 career interceptions, played 10 seasons in the NFL , nine of them with Oakland, and went to three Pro Bowls and won one Super Bowl.

But he is best remembered as the man who paralyzed New England Patriots WR Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game. Stingley, who over the years would regain some limited use of his body, spent the rest of his life in a wheel chair until he died in 2007. Tatum never apologized nor ever spoke to Stingley after the incident. Stingley’s former QB Steve Grogan just couldn’t forgive the man for that.

“I have a hard time trying to find something nice to say,” Grogan said about Tatum. “That bothers me because I’m not like that normally. You may talk to guys that played with him, and they might tell you he was greatest teammate in the world and everybody loved him.

“The circumstance that we were involved with, just the way he handled it, that will never come out of any of our mouths or minds.”

“When something like that happens and you can’t apologize for it, go out and write a book to make money and try to get famous off the incident, that’s just not right,” Grogan said. “I thought he handled it very poorly.”

Tatum, who wrote three books called “They Call Me Assassin”; “They Still Call Me Assassin” and “Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum” once suggested that he and Stingley have a live televised reconciliation to promote one of his books.

It never came to be, although Stingley as late as 2003 told the Boston Globe he would welcome a visit or call from Tatum that didn’t have a commercial agenda attached to it.

“If he called me today, I’d answer,” Darryl Stingley said. “If he came to my house, I’d open my door to him. All I ever wanted was for him to acknowledge me as a human being. I just wanted to hear from him if he felt sorry or not. It’s not like I’m unreachable. But it’s not a phone call I’ll be waiting for anymore.”

NFL Hall of Fame writer John Clayton wrote in his remembrance of Tatum that his behavior toward Stingley likely kept him from the Hall of Fame.

Photo credit: Ron Riesterer/The Sporting News/ZUMA Press

NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady receives congratulations from coach Bill Belichick near the end of the Patriots' 35-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. With the victory, the Patriots won the AFC East - AP Photo

Before the start of the Pro Bowl on Sunday night, the NFL announced it’s 2000s All-Decade team.

For those of us who are New England Patriots fans, there are six former or current Patriots that were selected to the team. They are listed in red.

Here’s a look at the whole team.

Quarterback: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
Fullback: Lorenzo Neal
Running Back: Shaun Alexander, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson
Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens
Tight End: Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez
Offensive Tackles: Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, William Roaf
Guards: Larry Allen, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Will Shields
Centers: Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae

Defensive Ends: Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor
Defensive Tackles: La’Roi Glover, Warren Sapp, Richard Seymour, Kevin Williams
Linebackers: Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis, Joey Porter, Zach Thomas, Brian Urlacher, DeMarcus Ware
Cornerbacks: Ronde Barber, Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Charles Woodson
Safeties: Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Darren Sharper

Punters: Shane Lechler, Brian Moorman
Punt Returners: Dante Hall, Devin Hester
Kickers: David Akers, Adam Vinatieri
Kick Returners: Joshua Cribbs, Dante Hall

Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy

2009 NFL All-Pro Team

All-Pro team voting
Offense
Position Player(s)
Quarterback Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 36
Running backs Chris Johnson, Tennessee, 50
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 17
Fullback Leonard Weaver, Philadelphia, 24
Wide receivers Andre Johnson, Houston, 44
Wes Welker, New England, 20
Tight end Dallas Clark, Indianapolis, 25
Offensive tackles Ryan Clady, Denver, 30
Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 18
Guards Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota, 31
Jahri Evans, New Orleans, 28
Center Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets, 31
Defense
Position Player(s)
Defensive ends Jared Allen, Minnesota, 45
Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis, 36
Tackles Jay Ratliff, Dallas, 29
Kevin Williams, Minnesota, 24
Outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil, Denver, 46
DaMarcus Ware, Dallas, 37
Inside linebacker Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 49
Cornerbacks Charles Woodson, Green Bay, 48
Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets, 48
Safeties Darren Sharper, New Orleans, 46
Adrian Wilson, Arizona, 29
Special teams
Position Player(s)
Punter Shane Lechler, Oakland, 48
Placekicker Nate Kaeding, San Diego, 27
Kick returner Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland, 45

2010 NFL Playoff Matchups

NFL Playoffs

With the New York Jets trouncing the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night, the 2010 NFL playoff picture is all set.

AFCIn the AFC:

  • 1. Indianapolis Colts (14-2) – First Round Bye
  • 2. San Diego Chargers  (13-3) – First Round Bye

Wildcard Round

Saturday, Jan. 9

5. New York Jets (9-7) at 4. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6), 4:30 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Jan. 10

6. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) at 3. New England Patriots (10-6), 1 p.m., CBS

Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 16

Baltimore Ravens at 1. Indianapolis Colts, 8 p.m., CBS

Sunday, Jan, 17

New York Jets at 2. San Diego Chargers, 4:40 p.m., CBS

NFCIn the NFC:

  • 1. New Orleans Saints (13-3) – First Round Bye
  • 2. Minnesota Vikings (12-4) – First Round Bye

Wildcard Round

Saturday, Jan. 9

6. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) at 3. Dallas Cowboys (11-5), 8 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Jan. 10

5. Green Bay Packers (11-5) at 4. Arizona Cardinals (10-6), 4:40 p.m., FOX

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Saturday, Jan. 16

Cardinals  at 1. New Orleans Saints (13-3), 4:30 p.m., FOX

Sunday, Jan. 17

Dallas Cowboys  at 2. Minnesota Vikings (12-4), 1 p.m., FOX

AFC & NFC Conference Championships

Sunday, Jan. 24

New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts 3 p.m., CBS

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints, 6:40 p.m., FOX

Super Bowl XLIV:

Sunday, February 7th

Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saints

Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla at 6:25 PM on CBS

Note: Schedule will be updated as times and games are announced

2010 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters

2010 NFL Pro BowlThe 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters were announced on Tuesday night and the Minnesota Vikings have an NFL-high of eight players selected, five of which were chosen to start. The Indianapolis Colts had an AFC-high of six players, five of which were chosen as starters

This year the Pro Bowl will take place a week before the Super Bowl so it’s quite possible we’ll see some changes to the roster. The game will be played on January 31, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Land Shark Stadium in Miami. Super Bowl XLIV will be held a week later in Miami as well.

After sending two players to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii last season, the New England Patriots are sending four players to Miami. They are quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Wes Welker, offensive guard Logan Mankins and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. Mankins and Wilfork were chosen as starters for the AFC.

A full look at the rosters after the jump.

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New York Jets Caught Cheating

Eric Mangini and Brett Favre - AP Photo

“Oh what tangled webs we weave, when we practice to decieve”.

That in a nutshell appears to be the motto of the NFL’s new cheaters, the New York Jets. The once holier than thou football team has been caught doing what they publicly despised.

They cheated.

In an interview with the Minnesota media last week former Jets QB Brett Favre revealed that some where around Week 10 or so of the 2008 season the Jets were aware of his torn biceps muscle due to a MRI by the team physician. Favre went onto say he encouraged the team to rest him for a few weeks to let his arm rest.

This isn’t a case of a team playing with an injury report and saying a player was probable all week only to declare him out on gameday. Oh no, this was a malicious deception crafted by former head coach Eric Mangini, VP Mike Tannenbaum and the clubs coaching, medical and front office staff. This was the known circumvention of a rule designed to protect the integrity of the game.

The NFL looked into Favre’s claim and found it to be truthful and fined the team, Tannenbaum and Mangini a total of $125,000 which to me wasn’t steep enough. The Jets cheated plain and simple and the punishment needs to fit the crime.

2009 NFL Predictions

With the NFL kicking off tonight its time for the annual picks as the road to Super Bowl XLIV in Miami rolls out in front of us. So away we go:

AFC EAST

  1. New England Patriots
  2. Miami Dolphins
  3. New York Jets
  4. Buffalo Bills

AFC NORTH

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers
  2. Cincinnati Bengals
  3. Baltimore Ravens
  4. Cleveland Browns

AFC SOUTH

  1. Tennessee Titans
  2. Indianapolis Colts
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Houston Texans

AFC WEST

  1. San Diego Chargers
  2. Denver Broncos
  3. Kansas City Chiefs
  4. Oakland Raiders

NFC EAST

  1. Philadelphia Eagles
  2. New York Giants
  3. Dallas Cowboys
  4. Washington Redskins

NFC NORTH

  1. Green Bay Packers
  2. Minnesota Vikings
  3. Chicago Bears
  4. Detroit Lions

NFC SOUTH

  1. New Orleans Saints
  2. Atlanta Falcons
  3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  4. Carolina Panthers

NFC WEST

  1. San Francisco 49ers
  2. Arizona Cardinals
  3. Seattle Seahawks
  4. St. Louis Rams

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Vick Shows Remorse In Philly Arrival

081409_PHILADELPHIA_PA_New Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick looks towards Eagles Coach Andy Reid during a press conference at the NovaCare complex in South Philadelphia on Friday, August 14, 2009. Today the Philadelphia Eagles introduce controversial quarter back Michael Vick to the media. ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS

With the return of Michael Vick to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles I want to weigh in on this.

I’m really proud of Vick in how he handled himself this morning at the press conference. He was truly contrite and remorseful and it showed. It will be far from easy for him as he returns to the league.

Public opinion in Philly is mixed and it surely won’t be easy on the road but Vick has some tremendous support.

Tony Dungy would not be involved if he didn’t believe in Michael Vick. Dungy is an incredible person and without him this may not have happened this quickly.

People make poor decisions, I know I have, and need to show they deserve a second chance. I believe Michael Vick has done that and has earned this opportunity and I hope people everywhere see the rehabilitated man and not the awful deeds in his past.