NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

While it seems the buzz over the upcoming one day owners meeting in Dallas on Tuesday is all about the city of New Jersey/New York getting the Super Bowl in 2014, Peter King of SI reports today that the new Overtime reform will also be talked about, and there’s a shot they could vote it into play for the regular season as well.

On the overtime reform vote that could happen at the one-day NFL spring meeting in Dallas Tuesday: The modified overtime system, which guarantees a possession for both teams in overtime barring a touchdown or safety on the first possession, was approved for the playoffs-only at the NFL meetings in Florida two months ago. Now there’s a push to get the system in for the regular season in 2010 too.

I’m told if the vote doesn’t happen, it’ll be more because Roger Goodell doesn’t want to inflame passions with the players as negotiations for a new CBA hang in the balance than because of all the other reasons being floated. I’ve heard them all over the past few days — that a vote may not be called because the Competition Committee and Goodell don’t have the votes to pass it, that the network TV partners aren’t enchanted with the possible delays, especially in the Sunday afternoon games (there’s some truth to this), and that some teams feel they’re being rushed into something (there’s less truth to that).

I think fans would love to see the playoff OT reform be put in place for the regular season, but my guess is it won’t happen till at least next season.

For those of you that have read the site for awhile, you may be aware that my first published book – titled “100 Things Steelers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” has been in the works for quite a few months. We’ve run a few of the chapters here on the site, and so far have gotten a pretty positive response.

Well, I am happy to report that the book, which is set to arrive in stores on September 1st, is officially available for pre order on Amazon.com as well as on Borders.com. The price on Amazon is a bit cheaper at $10.17 for pre-order, which is close to $5 off the retail. On Borders the book is being sold via pre-order for the retail price of $14.95.

We will have a lot more info on the book, as well as an official website that is in the works promoting the book as well. And of course here on NFL Gridiron Gab we will have some giveaways of copies as well. In the meantime, grab a copy for yourself of your favorite Steeler fan!

Amazon.com Pre-Order Link

Borders.com Pre-Order Link

Dwayne Bowe – why do you open your mouth?

The Chiefs former #1 draft choice has once again spoken, putting his foot in his mouth during a recent tidbit in ESPN the Magazine, where in a feature called “Postcards from the Edge,” he spoke about a reported incident in San Diego where he talks about some of this teammates having girls in their room the night before a game against the Chargers.

“My rookie year, we were playing in San Diego,” Bowe says. “You hear stories about groupies hanging out in hotel lobbies, but some of my teammates had it set up so there was a girl in every room. The older guys get on MySpace and Facebook a week before we go to a city; when a pretty one writes back, they arrange to fly her in three or four days in advance. They call it importing.

“Younger guys don’t have the money to do it,” Bowe added. “Anyway, these girls had the whole top floor. They know everything about us — first and last names, sisters and brothers, salary. This one girl was talking to me like she’d known me for years. ‘Hey, D-Bowe, how’s Grandma?’ I’m like, ‘How do you know my grandma?’ She knew that I talk about her every time I’m interviewed for a story.

“I told her I had a girlfriend, but she didn’t care. She was wearing my jersey, sitting in my lap, making it look like we knew each other. Then she took a picture and put it on Facebook. That almost got me in trouble.”

Now the Chiefs and their upper brass cannot be too happy about these comments, as it makes the team look awful in the public eye, and the players in the locker room look terrible with things like said about them.

Bowe may be right in the incident, but what’s the use in having this come out now? The Chiefs actually beat the Chargers in the game the following day, so if Bowe is trying to say that the reported ‘ladies incident’ the night before the game affected the team, then he probably doesn’t remember they won the next day.

Kent Babb, the Chiefs beat reporter from the KC Star, appeared on NFL Radio Saturday and spoke about the incident, stating that Bowe is starting to be known more for his mouth than his play. “He’s not a bad guy,” Babb said. “But your starting to remember his issues more than his play.”

Last season Bowe had 47 catches for 549 yards and four touchdowns. He also was forced to sit for four games late last season after violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances. He hasn’t lived up to the hype since being the 23rd pick overall in 2007, and the interview with ESPN isn’t going to make him any more liked in the Chiefs locker room.

“He’s going to have to get his act together asap,” Babb said. “I don’t think he thinks that much before he speaks.”

You can say that again. Does he realize the impact he may have not only on his own team, but what is perceived about NFL players as a whole with making statements like that? While no one is naive enough to think that NFL players can’t and have not gone out and had ‘relations’ with a female on the road, coming out and making statements like Bowe did is simply a big no-no.

The question now is what exactly is going to come of Bowe? And, are the Chiefs close to thinking that it’s time to cut their losses with the wide out who has been in most people’s eyes a bust?

From the NFL’s point of view, are they going to look into the situation? Can they even at this point for something that happened years ago? Probably not, but a much closer eye could be kept by league officials when players take to the road.

In the end, Bowe needs to grow up, keep his mouth shut, or no team is going to want him and his tattling ways on their club.

Kyle Orton is in a tough spot for the Broncos entering 2010, as with newly acquired Brady Quinn in town, and Tim Tebow being the golden #1 draft pick, Orton seems to be a QB for the short time only in Denver. Even after he helped lead the Broncos to a hot start in 2010, Orton was made as a scapegoat when the team missed the playoffs.

Now the Denver Post reports that the QB was indeed on the trading block this offseason, but that the Broncos for now would have been trading their best QB.

Multiple NFL sources say the Broncos let it be known this offseason that Orton was available. Perhaps that time has passed. A Broncos source said Orton is not on the trading block.

Based on the Broncos’ first offseason practice that was open to the media Monday, any deal involving Orton would be a trade involving their best quarterback.

There’s no question that Orton should be the opening day starter unless he gets hurt. Quinn has been a bust in Cleveland in his short period of time there, and it sounds from all reports that Tebow is at least two years away from being a legit starter in the NFL.

So with that, the Broncos may have been quick to want to pull the plug on Orton, but they made the right move keeping him, and he should be their starter when the season kicks off.

Pro Football Talk reports that the decision for former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook to resume his career is going to come down this week in terms of where he’s going to play:

Brian Westbrook surprisingly has plenty of options for where to play in 2010. Now that he’s found suitors, it’s time to make a choice. Westbrook is expected to make a final decision this week on whether to join the Rams, Broncos, or Redskins, according to Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Dispatch.

Some will automatically eliminate the Rams, but they have the most familiar offense for Westbrook and a clear role behind Steven Jackson. The Redskins have a crowded backfield, and may not be able to guarantee a roster spot.

If we had to guess Westbrook’s choice, we’d pick the Broncos.

The Broncos could be the choice, but Washington to me is going to be the place that offers him the most money, which 9 times out of 10 is the deciding factor. The Rams could step up if they think Steven Jackson isn’t going to carry the load without getting hurt. I think the Skins will be the choice, also in the mix there is the chance for Westbrook to team up again with Donovan McNabb and play his former team twice a season.

The NFL is talking apples, and who knows, maybe a little snow when it comes to having a Super Bowl in New York in 2014. The Giants/Jets new Stadium is one of the favorites come election day to hosting Superbowl XLVIII, and they only need 14 more votes to make it happen.

“Doing it in New York is the right thing for a lot of reasons,” Kraft told the Daily News last week. “I’ve been going to Patriots game for 50 years up here. I personally believe all football should be played outdoors. Our league was founded on winter football with the Ice Bowl. Our sport is about resilience, mental toughness, adjustments. I think it will be a great experience for the fans. A memorable experience.”

Kraft also believes a New York Super Bowl will send a message to the world that New York is back in business after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“We are with you,” Kraft said. “All of America is with you. This would be good for the country. It’s good for America. It’s good for the NFL. It says, “Whatever challenges, we are resilient people. We’re back and we’re doing things.”

The Giants and Jets shouldn’t have a hard time picking up the rest of the votes. Or will they? They have $500 million at stake, with that being said, here’s all that’s being considered throughout the league.

New York has their three votes already, Giants, Jets, Patriots. The rest is viewed this way, New York can safely say Falcons, Eagles, Cowboys, Browns, Chargers, Packers, Vikings and Broncos are a safe bet. They still need to convince, Texans, Steelers, Bills, Cardinals and Ravens to get the rest of the votes for 2014 Superbowl.

Even with five of those teams they only need to get the attention of six others, including, Bengals, Bears, Jaguars, Colts, Titans, Chiefs, Redskins, Lions, Panthers, Packers, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams, and Dolphins with hopes that South Florida gets thrown out in the first round.

With New York being questionable for not only their weather, the AFC and NFC co-hosting is bringing up another issue. The Bill Belichick spy game he was playing in broad daylight in 2007 in the Giants Stadium, imagine if he got the whole place to himself legally.

Luckily the final say of practice facilities are up to the NFL. Pheww that was close.

Will the Rooney family vote against the Mara family come election day?

Will playing in the snow or cold weather prevent a few league owners to say “yes” instead of “no”

They say they have taken everything into consideration for game day. But will they be able to convince the rest of the league owners that Superbowl XLVIII should be played in the Big Apple?

With questions circulating about the weather and who is game and who is not, will all be answered and released as NFL owners go to polls at the league meetings Tuesday in Dallas.