Preseason: Bengals vs. Packers

Sorry for the delay. We've been having bad weather around here. I don't like being online during an electrical storm.

The Bengals looked great. I think they can win the division. They are real contenders this year. The trouble with the Steelers is that they've lost too many key players and Big Ben is questionable.

The Packers looked like they've packed it in. The only thing Favre can do this year is break records. I hope Arliss Beach makes the team. It's good to see a local boy do well.

Finally! Some Writing News

Yes, this is more than a football blog. This is actually a writing blog. My first paid article, "Using Message Boards Effectively" was just published in Inkspotter News. Go to http://inkspotter.com to subscribe (I believe it's free) and read the article in the August 2006 newsletter.

Speaking of football, the Jags OL needs work. Fred Taylor was the shining star of last night's preseason game against the Bucs. The defense was magnificent, except for those stupid penalties. They showed Leftwich being carried by Marshall's OL again. It's shown in every televised Jags game. Great publicity for the upcoming Marshall movie.

Also, what's up with Greg Gumbel? He couldn't even tell when the Bucs made a two point conversion. The Bucs looked good. Their OL was weak, but not as bad as the Jags. Chris Simms rocked. I wonder if dad Phil worked with him in the off season.

Preseason: Steelers vs. Eagles

Vertigo. That's what Ben Roethlisburger said last night that he now has at times since the accident. If I were the steelers, I'd be concerned. What if one of those times happens on the field. It didn't happen last night, but Big Ben looked rusty. Coach Cowher said he was ready. It's hard to argue with someone wearing a Super Bowl ring. We'll see.

Preseason: Dolphins vs. Panthers

I was shocked to see Markus Vick returning kicks for the Dolphins. He did a good job, but why isn't he a quarterback?

The Panthers looked sharp. I think they'll win the division, barring major injuries.

The Dolphins look better this year. Culpepper made good throws. He should be quicker since he lost a lot of weight. However, the defense is old. It's questionable how they'll stack up as the season progresses.

Preseason: Cowboys vs. Saints

As usual, TO dominated the show, even though he wasn't there. My view on it is simple. Just let him play. Why start something for games that have no meaning? If he causes Dallas to lose, then rip him. Wait til he does something. On TO, I think he's been bashed too much. He was right to demand the Eagles recognize the 100 TDs last season. That they didn't was classless. Like Jerry Jones said last night, TO works hard and performs on Sunday. That's what counts. He's right. Look at Miami and Ricky Williams. He got along with everyone, but couldn't stop dope. Who hurt their team more - TO or Ricky?

At least ESPN toned down that Tony Tony Tony segment. The music was muted and the plays weren't interrupted this week.

Preseason: Seahawks vs. Colts

The Colts seem to have the running back position shored up. Rhodes did a good job, as well as Addai.

The Seahawks should win their division. However, they need more work if they want to advance in the playoffs. They had too much trouble with the Colts first stringers.

Preseason: Chargers vs. Bears

Kudos for the Chargers for practicing and signing autographs for the troops.

Jim Nantz and Phil Sims were back this week to call the action. Good job as usual.

Rivers looked good for the Chargers. Better than I expected, actually.

The Bear's defense, especially Urlacher, is good to go for the season. They won the game for them last night. I'm not so sure about Grossman. This was his second poor performance. Maybe the Bears should slip in Brian Griese as the starter.

Preseason: Giants vs. Chiefs

Since JB moved to CBS, FOX has replaced him with Curt Menefee. When Terry Bradshaw became the lead guy last week, the comedic element disappeared. With Curt in as moderator, Bradshaw can do what he does best.

On to the game. The Chiefs are in trouble. Herm Edwards has his work cut out for him. The defense didn't hustle. They stood around while the Giant receivers ran around.

Eli Manning looked good. I liked Jared Lorenzo from UK looked good too. I liked him at Kentucky. He and Arliss Beach were the stars of a poorly coached Wildcat team. When will the fans there decide they want to win and do something about the coach?

Preseason: Raiders vs. Vikings

I really miss the old ESPN crew. Mike and Joe were good last night, but the booth would be better with just those two. Tony was funny at times, but that goofy music interrupting the game before Tony answered viewer questions was unneeded and took away from the plays on the field.

The Raiders need a new starter. Walters is a better fit for Randy Moss than Brooks.

For the Vickings, Jackson looked sharp. He'll be a great backup to Brad Johnson.

Preseason: Bengals vs. Redskins

I want to wish Clinton Portis a speedy recovery. That was a fantastic play he made during the interception that was marred by a shoulder injury. The Redskins, now I think are in a lot of trouble. If Portis is gone for any large amount of time during the season, I predict they'll be last in the division.

The Begals looked good, even with Palmer out. The main problem I saw was the offensive line. No wonder Palmer didn't play. The protection was weak. Wright was running for his life way too often.

Jerome Bettis did a great job announcing. His comment about the Ravens getting McNair too late was insightful. Why didn't anyone else think of it? On the other side of the spectrum was the behavior of the Bengal fans. I can understand them booing when Bettis held up his championship ring and put it on in front of them. But to keep on booing him showed no class.

Preseason: Patriots vs. Falcons

Yawnnnn! It was hard to get into the game with those dull as dish water announcers. I sure hope Jim Nance and Phil Simms are back for next week's preseason game. The Pats were rusty, but I think they'll get it together for the season.

When I wasn't bored, I noticed that the Falcon's have gotten a good kicker for the season. (The names here escape me. I was reading a magazine and the newspaper during the game.) Several receivers shone. Michael Vick will be good this season if he's not having an outbreak. (Fox Sports reported this summer that Vick settled out of court for giving a girl genital herpes.)

Preseason: Colts vs. Rams

I was sorry to see JB gone from Fox. It was never mentioned where he went. Since he always did the half time interviews for NFL Europe, that might explain why it wasn't televised here if he was already gone.

The Colts really need to get rid of Sorgi. Shawn King did a good job and should be Peyton Manning's backup. Both teams appeared rusty, although Viniteri did a good job and Manning was good once he got started. For the Rams, Jackson looked great at running back. Look for him to have a great season. I was also impressed with Ram backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. I think he's capable of starting for another club.

Thoughts on the Return of NBC Football

I was really impressed with the professionalism of last night's Hall of Fame game. As usual, John Madden and Al Michaels did a wonderful job. I did miss the theme music and I felt that the graphics were hard to read. I prefer the scores at the top of the screen, not the bottom.

The Raiders have a long way to go. Their special teams looked good and Janikowski was back in his top college day form. However, their first string couldn't compete with the Eagles' first string players. McNabb was on fire. It didn't even looked like he had returned from an injury. I wish I had seen more of Moss. His name wasn't even called in the booth.

It's Finally Here!

Pro Football finally starts tonight at 8 pm EST. As you'll find out, I'm a football fan. I watch all the games on network TV. Tonight is the Hall of Fame Game, the Eagles vs. the Raiders on NBC . They'll be interviews with the inductees, too like John Madden, Troy Aikman, and Warren Moon.

I wish NFL Europe had been televised here this year. I don't understand why it wasn't.

I'm interested in seeing Randy Moss of the Raiders perform. He seems to have gotten his act together off field. He helped host a 1996 reunion of the Marshall University championship team and has opened a fruit drink business in West Virginia. He's a great player and it's nice to see a player from Marshall succeed.

One Down, Two to Go

Yesterday I finished reading Creepers by David Morrell. It was a real page-turner. I can see why it won the Stoker Award. I have two more books remaining from the prizes I won from the former Hellnotes trivia contests - Pandora by Anne Rice and Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear by Ed McBain.

Publication Announcements

My untitled scifaiku (haiku with a science fiction theme) and my halibun "History Repeating" is now available to be heard on CD. You can hear them on Kuanta, the special edition of Scifaikuest. Please go to http://www.genremall.com to purchase your copy.

The lastest edition of Afterburn SF is live. Go to http://afterburnsf.com to go on great adventures without leaving your computer.