WVUFootball29

Yes they are, nearly unrecoverable. a lot of skill and even more luck are the only way to survive those

Guess they'd be right at home in the Rockpile?

Only one I've heard mentioned before. 707's are pretty solid planes

How would that be different than any day on the wall?

Damn Al Gore and his Global Warming

yeah awacs is a 707. Don't remember hearing about that crash I remember just after high school I worked for US Airways in Jamestown. We had 19 seater Beechcraft turboprops for our puddle jumpers, one night one hit a goose during a landing. Put a hole in the wing about the size of a football and took out an engine. Landed the plane with no incident, but I had to wait for the mechanics from DuBois PA to arrive before I could go home for the night...was a loooong night

Well, I'm sitting in the Denver airport waiting for my plane to depart. I got to see quite a bit colorado and parts of New mexico and wyoming on this trip. Here is a quick synopsis of the rest of my trip: We left Farmington and headed north to Telluride, the roads were pretty good and Lizard Head pass was clear and a beautiful sight to see. From Telluride we headed to Grand Junction then over to Glenwood Springs and Aspen and stayed the night in Glenwood. We hit up the brewery there for out 3rd in 3 nights. Great food and beer there, highly recommend it. From Glenwood, we heading across I70 into Golden then went north through Ft. Collins and all the way up to Laramie Wyoming. We hit up a brewpub there called the Library. this was a really fun bar with good house brews and some really fun people. After we left Laramie, we headed back towards Denver and spent the evening downtown at Wynkoop. This place was a good as everyone said it was. The beer was great and the "scenery" was very appealing. I found out from one of the bartenders that Pearl St. in Buffalo is owned by the same company that owns Wynkoop. All and all I had a great time in Colorado and I'm hoping with a little luck my fiance and myself can find work out here.

highly unlikely...this is more a business trip. my buddy is making sales calls and I'm scouting for places to possibly relocate to. Plenty of snow out here in the mountains though. wolf creek ski resort looked pretty good when we went by there today.

Well we made it to durango from pueblo today via wolf creek pass. No luck getting a hotel in telluride so we took a drive down to farmington NM to stay the night then heading back to telluride and on to grand junction tomorrow

Suggs would probably be a DE in teh 4-3. He's listed as a DE on scouts.com

those are my favorites

thanks for the info guys. In pueblo tonight, looking for some food, probably going to find some mexican. Heading west tomorrow, definitely going to check out Boulder and downtown Denver near the end of the week. Not sure if I'm going to get back to Col Springs Bullpen, but it was a really pretty town from what I saw

There is plenty of talent to be had, the toughest part is convincing them to come to bflo. Hopefully the Bills can find a player or two to compliment their draft picks and take a step forward in 09

Hey Guys, Leaving for Denver in a few minutes and going to spend the next week in about 5 different cities. Going to be in Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Telluride, and Fort Collins for sure. Anyone have any advice on places to eat or bars to visit? Any info would be much appreciated.

Well ESPN is reporting now that Matt Cassel has been franchised by the Patriots*. This looks to be an insurance move in case Tom Brady does not make adequate strides with his rehab this offseason and reports are right now that he is clearly behind schedule. It also makes you wonder if perhaps NE* is looking to field offers for both and would deal the one away that brings them the most value this offseason? Its possible, especially because NE* seemed to be very upset with Brady going with a different doctor and then having complications.

I'd take Gresham or Jason Smith in this scenario

Williams and Winfield should have never been allowed to leave Buffalo. Both are very talented players and their departures really hurt our defenses. Winfield might have been a bit small, but the dude can play. He hits like a linebacker and always seems to be around the play. Williams was a force to be reckoned with on the inside and having him next to a guy like Stroud would make this line much better even with Schobel still being injured.

Right now I'm torn between Cushing, Brown and Selvie. I'm going to have to give the upper hand to Brown, but I think its too early for any of my 3 to come off the board. I'll take a trade down with someone who wants Bradford

Sorry this installment has taken so long to get posted. It was a very busy weekend for me, but anyways on to the 2009 Free Agent Linebackers. OLB Bart Scott (Ravens) Far and away the best LB on this list, I highly doubt Scott leaves the Ravens. Going into his 8th season in 2009 Scott has tallied 433 tackles and 16 sacks. Outside of 2006, Bart has not had more than 4 sacks in a single season. He is coming into the prime of his career and I’m sure he’ll get a very lucrative deal from the Ravens. Michael Boley (Falcons) Right behind Scott is Michael Boley. In just 4 seasons in the NFL Boley has quietly tallied 330 tackles, 6 sacks and 5 INTs for the Falcons. Looking for his first big payday, it’s possible to see Boley leave to join the highest bidder. However, it looks like the Falcons are a franchise on the rise and he might stick around to see how far they go. Leroy Hill (Seahawks) Another solid LB looking for his first big payday, Hill has comparable stats to Boley. However, Hill does have some durability concerns with him as he has not played in all 16 games in a season yet in his career. Still, Hill had 7.5 sacks in his rookie season in 2005, but has only 6.5 across the last 3 seasons. With the Seahawks looking to make some front office/coaching changes, it might be possible to see Hill take off for greener pastures. Angelo Crowell (Bills) Missed the 2008 season due to a knee injury that required surgery just prior to the Bills opener. Many fans believed this was the end of Angelo in Buffalo. However, Crowell has recently stated that he would be interested in returning to the Bills in 2009. With the Bills thin at LB, it would be hard to believe that Buffalo lets him walk. Marques Harris (Chargers) San Diego’s version of Keith Ellison, Harris is a special teams gunner and pass rush specialist. Began his collegiate career at Colorado, but transferred to Southern Utah after his junior year. Harris was also a star wrestler and baseball player in the state of Colorado. Clark Haggans (Arizona) Former Steeler that followed Ken Wisenhunt to Arizona, Haggans is a reliable LB that brings a veteran presence to the field. Best utilized as a pass rush specialist, Haggans has 33.5 sacks in his 9 year career. Haggans has not seen a lot of playtime in Arizona and might be looking for a team that would give him more playtime. Willie McGinest (Browns) One of the greatest 3-4 pass rush specialists of all time, McGinest has stated that he will retire at the end of 2008. McGinest has been slowed by injuries while in Cleveland and has only recorded 8 sacks in 3 seasons with the Browns. McGinest finishes his career with 86 career sacks and 401 tackles. Keith Ellison (Bills) RFA A speedy undersized OLB, Ellison has been thrust into the starting defense in each of his 3 seasons with the Bills. 177 tackles and 2 sacks in 3 seasons Ellison should get a decent qualifying offer from Buffalo and remain with them through 2009. Rashad Jeanty (Bengals) RFA Jeanty is a lot like Keith Ellison as he has been thrust into the starting lineup for Cincy. However, Jeanty really seemed to come into his own in 2008 recording 96 tackles for the Bengals in 15 starts. Cincinnati should probably retain him through 2009. DD Lewis (Seahawks) Mostly a reserve LB throughout his career, Lewis might be looking for a new home in 2009 depending on what the Seahawks do in regards to coaching and management. Shantee Orr (Browns) Well traveled veteran LB, who has mostly been a reserve throughout his 6 seasons in the NFL. Will probably be looking for work come spring time. Darryl Blackstock (Bengals) I had high hopes for Blackstock coming out of Virginia in 2005. However, things just haven’t quite turned out as planned. Blackstock was suspended 4 games for violating the league’s Steroid policy. Sadly, the steroids weren’t much of a help as Blackstock has only recorded 64 tackles in 4 seasons with the Bengals and Cardinals. Gilbert Gardner (Bears) Another well traveled vet, Gardner played on two teams in 2008, the Lions and Bears. However, due to injuries only appeared in 3 games in 2008. Typically a backup and special teamer, no one knows where Gardner will surface in 2009. Gary Stills (Rams) One of the better DE’s to come out of West Virginia University, Stills made his mark in the NFL as a tweener DE/LB and Special Teams ace. Stills was released by Baltimore early in 2008 and promptly signed by St. Louis where he appeared in 14 games. Stills will be 35 going into next season, but can still contribute somewhere in 2009. Sam Williams (Raiders) Has played 6 seasons with the Raiders and tallied a total of 99 tackles. Mainly a reserve and special teams player Williams is a large LB at 6’5” 260lbs. Will probably compete for a roster spot somewhere in 2009. MLB Ray Lewis (Ravens) The very heart and soul of the Ravens’ defense, Lewis is by far one of the greatest MLBs of all time. A natural born leader Lewis makes nearly every player around him that much better. He has played his entire 13 year career with the Browns/Ravens organization and will definitely retire a Raven. Karlos Dansby (Cardinals) One of the best young LBers in the game, Dansby is looking for his big payday. With things looking up in Arizona, I would find it hard to believe that the Cardinals would let one of their best defenders go this offseason. In 5 seasons with the Cardinals, Dansby has amassed 444 tackles, 24.5 sacks and 9 INTs. My bet is that the Cardinals lock him up for a longtime. Jonathan Vilma (Saints) Vilma was traded from the Jets after an injury and not fitting in well with Mangini’s 3-4 defense and had one of his best years starting all 16 games for the Saints and racking up 132 tackles. Vilma will draw a lot of interest this offseason and will be looking to cash in on his previous success. Mike Peterson (Jaguars) One of the leaders of the Jaguars defense, Peterson has some issues with head coach Jack Del Rio this year and may be looking for a change of scenery. At 32 Peterson will probably looking for somewhere to finish his career on a high note. He would be a welcome addition to any LB corps in need of veteran leadership. Channing Crowder (Dolphins) Crowder is coming of a career year with the Dolphins and will be looking for his big pay day this offseason. While it is highly unlike that Parcells and the Phins will let him slip away, Crowder is going to draw plenty of interest this offseason and will probably see a ridiculously large offer sent to him. Would like prefer to stay with a 3-4 defense since that is where he has seen the most success. Eric Barton (Jets) A solid ILB/MLB looking for what could be his last big contract, Barton maybe looking for a new team in 2009 with the firing of Mangini. A very reliable tackler, Barton typically tallies over 100 tackles per season. He does have a tendency to take bad penalties sometimes. Takeo Spikes (49ers) Spikes never really returned to form after his Achilles’ injury, but he did record his best season since 2004 by recording 96 tackles for the 49ers. At age 32, Spikes will probably be looking for somewhere to finish off his career and I’d be surprised to see him leave San Francisco. Andra Davis (Browns) Andra Davis was one of the bright spots for the Cleveland defense in 2008 recording 90 tackles and starting all 16 games for the Browns. He appears to perform best as a 3-4 ILB and will probably stay put in Cleveland if Mangini is hired. Nate Webster (Broncos) A well traveled reserve LB who found his way into the starting role in Denver, Webster is a very average LB. Doesn’t really stand out as a LB and it’s hard to say where he will be in 2009. My guess is somewhere with a Cover 2 style defense Paris Lenon (Lions) Underrated MLB that has flown under the radar in Detroit, Lenon has started 16 games in each of the past 3 seasons with the Lions, and has tallied over 100 tackles in each of the past 2 seasons. I guess that would be easy to do though in Detroit when the offense doesn’t really spend much time on the field. Could be a great pickup for a team looking to sure things up at MLB. Ryan Nece (Lions) A reliable veteran, Nece has spent time with the Buccaneers and Lions since 2002. Typically a reserve, Nece has been a serviceable starter as well. Could be a decent pickup for a team needing a reliable vet to fill out their LB spots. John Digiorgio (Bills) RFA Had a career year stepping in for the injured Paul Poszlusny in 2007 recording 113 tackles and 2 sacks for the Bills. JD was placed on IR after the 6th game of 2008 after tearing his ACL. JD has shown remarkable talent and drive for an UDFA out of Saginaw Valley State. Should still be a Bill in 2009. This list was compiled using Scouts.com, KFFL.com, and footballsfuture.com as a reference. If any of the players listed have signed an extension, please say so. Out of the players I’ve listed, I think Lenon would be a great addition to the Bills. He’s pretty versatile as a LB playing all 3 positions as a pro, but I think he’s best suited as a MLB. Yes, I know Poz is there, but personally I think he might be better on the outside, just my thoughts. I also think Crowell should be re-signed, especially if no one from outside of the Bills is brought in and he’s willing to comeback at 100% under Jauron and company. Looking strictly outside, I would make a run at Michael Boley if he is willing to leave Atlanta. If he continues to develop like he has over the past few seasons, he could be a solid starter in this league for years to come. (QBs previously discussed here http://www.stadiumwall.com/index.php?showtopic=80614 OL is next topic)

Collins is tricky, If the Titans win it all, they may stay with him, but they've got a lot of money wrapped up in Vince Young being the franchise QB so I guess it all depends. Also, while the Titans were winning, Collins did little more than manage the game and if you look at his stats you'll see almost any QB could achieve those numbers. Simms is also in Tenn and might stick around, especially if Young is the man they go with next season Garcia, I know a lot of you guys like him but I dont see him with much football left and he isn't the kind of guy who likes being on the bench. Fitz looks to have solidified himself in Cincy, but you never know as Cincy has a tendency to flop their #2 Qbs around I'm going to do the LBers next, was hoping to get to that today, but instead was stuck running errands and wedding planning. Yay I should have that one up tomorrow afternoon

Not alot of places to get wasted and throw things at politicians in Buffalo...

Brainfart... i remember all the crap with him and the billboard in NYC. I think the Heisman and Unitas awards were the only ones he didn't win.

His car might have been in the shop

People have been calling Ralph out for years....he just can't hear you

2009 NFL Free Agent Breakdown For the rest of the week I’m going to be posting the current Free Agents at each position and giving analysis. Today we start with FA QBs (Italics represent RFA) Charlie Batch Batch was always a serviceable backup wherever he went, but never quite got the job done to be a permanent starter. When Big Ben went down in Pittsburgh, Batch played well and helped keep his team afloat. A collarbone injury in the preseason ended his chances in 2008. He’s 34 and probably doesn’t have a whole lot of time left in the NFL and could be an adequate reserve QB, especially if the Steelers can keep Leftwich as their #2. Brock Berlin Has never really stayed in one place too long as a QB. Transferred from Florida to Miami in 2001 and has played for 3 different NFL teams. Once a highly touted HS prospect, Berlin never lived up to expectations in college and has flown under the radar in the NFL. He’s a camp QB that will probably never see any real playing time in the NFL. Kyle Boller Brian Billick’s golden boy and another highly touted prospect that never lived up to the hype. Boller was injured in the first preseason game of 2008 and was placed on IR. While he may never live up to starter expectations, I think he could find his niche as a reserve somewhere in the NFL in 2009. Brooks Bollinger Decent QB at Wisconsin during his playing days, although maybe he should have signed with the LA Dodgers instead of electing to play football. Bollinger’s pro career hasn’t really panned out very well either. He is currently on his 3rd NFL roster and will probably still be a free agent come training camp time. Todd Bouman Journeyman QB who has shown flashes of potential but has never really caught on anywhere. Currently a member of the Ravens, Bouman will likely be looking for employment in 2009. David Carr Had Carr started his career anywhere rather than the expansion Houston Texans, things might have been different for the Fresno grad. Carr played behind one of the worst offensive lines ever assembled in NFL history and was sacked over 76 times in his first season alone. Currently the #2 QB with the Giants, there might be a team or two that will give Carr as starting shot in 2009. Matt Cassel Can Bill Belichick really do no wrong when drafting QBs? Although Cassel struggled in the preseason and early weeks of 2008 after Tom Brady went down. Cassel helped lead NE* to an 11-5 record and became the second 11 win team in NFL history to miss the playoffs. While it is argued that the only reason Cassel excelled was because he was on the Patriots* with guys like Moss and Welker to throw to, Cassel brought some tools to the table that NE* didn’t have with Tom Brady, like mobility at the QB position. Cassel rushed for 251 yards and 2 TDs in 2008, as well as throwing for 3,615 yards and 21 TDs and only 11 INTs. Cassel will be the big winner in the FA lottery and only time will tell if Cassel has all the tools to be an NFL QB or if he was just a product of the system in NE*. Kerry Collins Another Journeyman QB that has roamed around the NFL, Collins has found ways to win as the starter. At 37 it is highly unlikely that he’ll be a starter in 2009, but depending on how well the Titans perform in the playoffs, you never know with Collins. Would be a solid pickup for any team need a veteran QB. Bruce Eugene The “Round Mound of Touchdown” as he was called at Grambling, Eugene is an UDFA already on his second NFL roster. Eugene has spent time with the Saints, Saskatchewan of the CFL, Berlin and Frankfurt of NFL Europe and now Tampa Bay. Hasn’t really shown progress in his career and will probably be out of the league after 2008. Ryan Fitzpatrick Took over the starting role in 2008 after Carson Palmer went down with an elbow injury. Fitzpatrick, a Harvard grad, played fairly well for a failing Bengals team. While he has shown flashes in his career, Fitz looks to be nothing more than a career backup at QB. Charlie Frye Like Brady Quinn, Frye was to be the hometown boy to save the Browns franchise. After being named the starter in late 2005, Frye was traded to Seattle after his very first game of 2007 and is now the 3rd QB there. Frye might warrant a look as a backup QB and possible competition for a starting job in 2009. Jeff Garcia Like Collins, Garcia is an aging journeyman QB who has had some success wherever he has played. Currently the starter for the Tampa Bay Bucs and will turn 39 in February, Garcia may need to ponder retirement after this season. He hasn’t thrown over 20 TDs, 3,000 yards, or started an entire season since 2002. Could be an ample backup QB on a team looking for a veteran presence. Rex Grossman Never lived up to expectations in Chicago and has since been replaced by Kyle Orton as the starting QB. Grossman, like many Florida grads just hasn’t gotten the job done in the NFL and like those before him will probably be relegated to a reserve job in 2009. Joey Harrington Heisman winner that never got the job done, however that can be expected from a QB forced to start his career with the Detroit Lions. Joey never got his footing in the NFL even after moving on to teams like Miami, Atlanta, and now New Orleans. Not sure if Harrington will be on an NFL roster in 2009, but if he stays in New Orleans, he might have a successful career as a pianist in a jazz club. Drew Henson Henson became Jerry Jones’ attempt to find a Tom Brady when he signed with the Cowboys in 2004. Henson was drafted in 2003 by the Houston Texans but elected to play baseball instead. Neither professional Baseball of Football really seemed to work out for Drew. He may become camp fodder for 2009, or perhaps could try his hand at basketball? Byron Leftwich Everyone remembers the famous play where Leftwich’s teammates carried him down the field as Marshall tried to beat Akron. It was from this play that many NFL scouts began to clamor over his leadership and guts. However, the injury was merely a foreshadow of what was to come. Leftwich has always been injury plagued as an NFL QB. However, he seems to have found his called as Big Ben’s backup in Pittsburgh. JP Losman Once the toast of the town by many Bills fans that ran Drew Bledsoe out of town for him, Losman found himself being run out of town as Bills fans began to gush over the next big thing at QB in Trent Edwards. Losman seemed to have all the tools to become an NFL star coming out of Tulane, but never really found a way to use them in the NFL. Will probably get a few looks from other teams in 2009, perhaps San Francisco or somewhere else on the West Coast. Jamie Martin Another career journeyman, Martin will probably find his way onto an NFL roster in 2009 when injuries start to pile up. Luke McCown See above. JT O’Sullivan From nobody to starter, back to nobody in one season, JT’s career seemed to go through its lifespan in one season. JT will probably find his way into camp with some team in 2009. Dan Orlovsky A career backup thrust into the starting role in 2008, Orlovsky found himself running for his life and sometimes out the back of the endzone. Orlovsky has already said he would like to return to Detroit and help turn the team around, but it appears he’ll be out of luck as the Lions organization is cleaning out a lot of the mess left behind from Matt Millen. Patrick Ramsey Another Tulane prospect that never really quite cut it in the NFL. Ramsey’s career in Washington didn’t go well, partly because Steve Spurrier thought he could play SEC football in the NFL. Ramsey played for the Jets in 2006 and then moved to his current position sitting behind Jay Cutler in Denver. While it’s highly unlikely to see Ramsey competing for a starting job in 2009, I’m sure he’ll land somewhere as a reserve. Chris Simms Just when Simms finally seemed to be getting his career on track, a lacerated spleen derailed him and he’s never been the same since. Simms might be worth a look for someone looking to build a QB competition in 2009. Brian St. Pierre Career 3rd stringer, St. Pierre has bounced around the league. He may or may not catch on somewhere in 2009. Marques Tuiasosopo Many colleges didn’t see Marques as a QB prospect, but Washington gave him an opportunity. Drafted in the second round by the Raiders, Tuiasosopo never made an impact as a QB. Has seen very little playing time over his career, it’s a surprise that he is on an active roster to begin with and we shall see what 2009 has in store for him. Kurt Warner Finally took the starting job away from Matt Leinart and has led the Arizona Cardinals to their first playoff appearance in 10 seasons. Named the starting QB for the NFC Pro Bowl roster, Warner will draw attention as a starter in 2009. However, if the Cardinals play well in the playoffs, I would find it hard to believe that they will let him walk away. Anthony Wright Currently on IR with the New York Giants, Wright is another one of those, “Have Arm will Travel,” QBs that has never really caught on anywhere in the NFL. A career backup with a few starts under his belt Wright might find a spot on a roster somewhere in the NFL in 2009. Now, if Buffalo was looking to bring in a veteran QB off this list, I would take a look at Kerry Collins. Depending on what the Titans do, he might be available and would be a good backup to Edwards and someone you could rely on starting a few games if need be. For the most part though, there isn’t much to go around when it comes to FA QBs in 2009. Leftwich will probably stay put in Pittsburgh, Cassel is going to get huge money thrown at him, and I doubt Garcia leaves Tampa unless Gruden leaves.