NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Steven Jackson is a work horse.  Anyone who watched the Rams last year knows this.  And anyone who watched the Rams last year knows that the Rams need someone to take a little bit of the weight off of Jackson's shoulders in the run game.  The only problem is: Steven Jackson does not want help.  Jackson said this to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"Having a veteran at this point of the game now, I don't know if it's as big a concern as everyone is making it to be," Jackson said Wednesday. "I feel great physically. The younger guys are coming along just fine. And if we continue to stay healthy, I don't think it'll be a concern."

Steven Jackson sees no need for a additional veteran back like Brian Westbrook.  Westbrook is the only high profile running back free agent available at this point in the season.  After the various cut-down days, the Rams might try to make a change, but not at this point.

Steven Jackson knows his role on the Rams in 2010 and is embracing it.  He knows he is the veteran leader and the star of the Rams.  If the Rams are going to win in 2010, everything will have to go through Jackson.

The P-D article goes even further to name Chris Ogbonnaya the favorite for the backup running back spot.  Which means that Ogbonnaya should start and get most of the carries with the first team offense in the preseason opener Saturday night.

It's NFL preseason!

This is where it all begins, fans will get a feel for the first team offense and defense.  For the rookies and rookie free agents this is there time to make some positive impressions.  The game is featured on ESPN, Thursday night!

The Carolina Panthers led by head coach John Fox, finished 8-8 last year. Gone is QB Jake Delhomme (signed with Cleveland) and the team is moving forward with Matt Moore and seeing how their second round pick Jimmy Clausen progresses.  Carolina continues to have a great rushing attack with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Along with the veteran playmaker WR Steve Smith, the team drafted receivers Armanti Edwards and Brandon LaFell. Consistent defense will be an important goal going into 2010, as last year they struggled against the run. To help improve they drafted Eric Norwood, LB and Greg Hardy, DE.

What to look for:

Flacco to Anquan Boldin: We've been waiting the offseason to see this combo in action. The first reception!

Ravens Secondary: The Ravens secondary continues to be a topic of conversation. As of now Chris Carr and Fabian Washington may not play. Coaches will be looking to see how Travis Fisher responds as a starter.

Ravens D-line: The Ravens have some new editions to their defensive line. Cory Redding, DT, acquired during the offseason should give a boost to the defensive front. Many will be interested in rookie Terrance Cody, DT.  Terrell Suggs has dominated in training camp.

Kicking Competition: Shayne Graham & Billy Cundiff.  It was reported that both will be alternating kicks during the game.

Players to track:

Oniel Cousins: Should be starting at right tackle.

Jameel McClain, LB has been playing in the first team offense.

Paul Kruger, DE. We'll get to see how quick his motor is with the extra bulk he put on in the offseason.

Donte Stallworth, WR: Still has the speed, he hasn't played a game in over a year.

Punt Returns: Who will be the returner? Zbikowski?, Clayton? rookie WR David Reed?

Rookies to Track:

Prince Miller, CB, an undrafted free agent from Georgia. The coaches are hoping Miller can be an impact player to help the battered secondary.

Terrance Cody, DT: Let's see if he draws a doubled team.

Ed Dickson, TE: We've heard great things about this young prospect.

Notables Out for Baltimore:

Jared Gaither (back)

Chris Carr (hamstring)

Ed Reed (hip-neck)

Domonique Foxworth (PUP – ACL)

Brendon Ayanbadejo (PUP – leg)

*Ben Grubbs (Probable)

*Fabian Washington (Game-Time Decision)

Notables OUT For Carolina:

CB Chris Gamble (knee)

WR Steve Smith (PUP- arm)

RB Jonathan Stewart (PUP-foot)

http://www.panthers.com/news

The Giants have a really good problem: They have too many receivers. Last year, they didn't have enough. Well, the times they are a-changin' (I've always wanted to use that in a sentence. It's up there with "I rest my case!" and "That's a wrap!". But I digress). There are eight receivers fighting for 5 or 6 spots. For the sake of this exercise, we'll say the Giants are taking six receivers.

4 of these receivers are guaranteed. Smith, Nicks, Manningham and Barden have their names etched in stone. It's the other two spots. Four receivers for two spots. They are: Derek Hagan, Sinorice Moss, Tim  Brown and Victor Cruz.

On the depth chart, it reads like I just wrote: Hagan, Moss, Brown and Cruz. But depth chart does not reflect training camp performance.

I really think this is Sinorice Moss's time to be released. He's done nothing. He's hurt now. It's his time. There are more talented guys behind him.

That leaves 3 guys for two spots. And, problem is, all these guys have had great camps. Really great camps. Derek Hagan, who's an ace special teams gunner, has really improved his hands. Tim Brown is short–5-6, if that–but the undrafted rookie from Rutgers gets open, holds onto the ball and has been really good on punt returns. A Darren Sproles-lite, they can use him in a lot of packages. Victor Cruz, the Paterson, NJ native, has had some great practices. The 6-1 undrafted rookie from UMASS has also received some great praise from Tom Coughlin:

"Victor Cruz! What do we need anybody for? We've got Victor Cruz. How about the plays he made this morning, huh? I'm serious. He's made some outstanding plays. Yesterday, he was going by people out here. Hey, it would be a great thing, just keep adding to the group."

Pretty high praise. To be honest, I'm torn.The fifth and sixth receiver are mainly special teams guys. And with Hagan being a great gunner and Brown showing a lot of promise at punt returner, they could be the lucky two. Still, do you risk losing Victor Cruz by trying to put him on the practice squad? Decisions, decisions.

Tell me what you think. Who should be the last two receivers to make the team: Moss, Hagan, Brown or Cruz.

Wow, what a great hour of television.

I think they should rename the show the "Rex Ryan Show."

Uh oh, I think I just gave VH1 an idea for a reality show.

Rex was without question the star of the show and he didn't disappoint.

Good thing this show is on HBO, or else we would all still be hearing the bleep noise in our heads.

In Rex's first speech about team expectations he dropped a staggering 11 curses and he didn't stop there.

The show obviously focused on the Darrelle Revis holdout, but didn't beat it to death like the newspapers do.

They showed the much talked about meeting at Roscoe diner, though the cameras were not inside for the actual meeting. They did catch Tannenbaum's comments after.

"They haven't said one thing that i agree with at all… We're so far apart I feel like a failure… I feel like we've tried everything… I wish i had another card to play here… A one-year deal… A four-year deal… A 10 year deal."

It was depressing to watch, and it finally sunk in with me that we might be without our best player for a long time. Though, still a little part of me believes this is partly a publicity stunt for Revis to get his name out there and for Hard Knocks.

Some other notes and highlights:

• HBO decided to use Eminem's "Not Afraid" as background music as the Jets took the practice field for the first time. As if I hadn't heard that song enough.

• The coaches laughing at readers suggestions for a caption for a picture posted from ESPN's AFC East blog. My favorite was Vernon Gholston got a sack.

• Tannenbaum after Santonio Holmes makes an impressive catch in practice: "Number 10, man who traded for him? That's a smart son of a b**ch that guy was."

• It was funny watching Kevin Basped and Aaron Kia knowing they were going to be cut. Although they spent probably a little too much time on them. That was the only time when I felt the show lagged. This should also end all the speculation that Basped will end up on the practice squad. It looks like his NFL career is over before it ever started. Also this quote by Rex won't do much to help Aaron Kia find another job. "This 76 (Kia) is awful, oh my god is he bad."

• I loved the coaches looking at the video of outside linebackers coach Jeff Weeks locker, showing that he had tanning spray.

• Possession of tanning spray is a $5 fine as is running without your shirt on.

• Bart Scott calling Sanchez "Nacho" had me in stitches.

• If Mark Sanchez can't cut it at quarterback, maybe the Jets should convert him to wide receiver. Or maybe just switch his hands with Braylon's

• Mark Sanchez has learned to slide! The crowd cheered and he took a bow.

• Joe Namath showed up to camp. He had his collar popped and his shorts up to his nipples. When he suggested that the quarterback's change their hands when they take a snap, the coaches and players seemed to be just yessing him.

• Kris Jenkins is one scary dude. Seeing him in those goal line drills, I would be terrified to go up against him.

• Tannenbaum took a spill as he fell backward trying to field a punt. Rex made sure the cameras caught that.

• It seems like the position battle they will focus on will be the one at fullback, if you can even call it a competition. Tony Richardson and John Connor are both virtual locks to make the team, so I don't know what the production crew was thinking. Though, the praise kept coming for Connor. He looks like a definite keeper.

• The look on Bart Scott's face when players were using a leg roller in the locker room was priceless.

• L.T. caught a 70 yard touchdown on the first play of the inter-squad scrimmage.

• All this action and yet we have yet to or barely heard from Shonn Greene, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, D'Brickasahw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, and David Harris, among many others.

• I was also surprised that they didn't mention the left guard position battle. Hopefully the will focus on it as the show progresses.

Top 5 Rex Ryan Quotes

5. "Last year, hey we were under the radar that's a good place to be. F**k that the best place to be is when expectations are high."

4. "Revis? Where are you?" (knocks on door) "I wish. Come home, Revis. Come home."

3. "Great job. We're right where we wanna be. No question about that. Enjoy this time, get away from it. No matter what your doing, it's better than my f**king vacation. I'm cruising the Baltic with my in-laws and sh*t."

2. "This will be some light reading for you. It's every negative article they wrote about us. Just a little poop material."

1. "Hey, guys, we don't have Revis in this building right now." "Does it matter that Revis is not here? Goddamn, he's pretty f**king good. He's pretty good, OK? But you know what guys? It isn't about one guy, its about leading the league in f**ing wins."

Next Week:

On the next episode of Hard Knocks look for the camera to be on special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, Mark Brunell, and wait for it…Vernon Gholston.