NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Byron Leftwich was supposed to be the franchise QB the Jaguars were waiting for. Instead, while the team had some success with him under center, it was basically four years of .500 football as the team went 24-20 in those seasons.

It still hurt the former first-round pick none the less when he was let go late in training camp before the 2007 season, and now, he’s letting loose on the team that he felt screwed it all up.

“The Jaguars really f–ked up that situation,” Leftwich recently told CBSSports.com. “We had a good group of players and the team let them all go. They let us all go. If they had been more patient, we could’ve done big things in Jacksonville.”

Leftwich tried to catch on with a couple teams after his release from the Jags, and it wasn’t till he landed with the Steelers before the 2008 season that he found any success – as a backup. A ring then took him to the Bucs for one bad year, before he landed back with the Steelers after a deal this past offseason.

“This is the first place where you feel like family,” Leftwich said. “This is where I want to spend the rest of my career. That’s what I mean by football paradise. This is football paradise. There is no B.S. here like other places. People tell you the truth here. They don’t lie to you. I don’t ever want to leave.”

Maybe next time he has the chance, unlike after 2008, he’ll think better of it.

The Miami Dolphins will go into their second pre-season game with something to prove. Their first team offense failed miserably in the torrential downpour in Miami during their first exhibition game against Tampa Bay.

The team has been practicing all week, and working on perfecting the many mistakes that were made during the game.

Head coach Tony Sparano made it clear to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero today in his press conference that starting quarterback Chad Henne will most likely be playing the whole first half of this Saturdays game.

I think probably Henne's going to go, I'd like to take Henne into the half," Sparano said Thursday. "I got a play count particularly in my head right now, that would take him through the first half, but if you hit that play count a little bit earlier I might take him out. If we move the ball and had some success and he hit that play count and I felt good about it, I think I might do that. Unless there was a two minute situation before the half hanging there that I feel like he might need or something like that. Right now I'm thinking that he's going to go the first half of the game and then we'll see how it trickles down. I'd imagine at this point Tyler [Thigpen] would get in there and we'd see where we are.

With that statement, there comes a little bit more information. Sparano has said that this game will be used as a checkpoint for those looking to make the roster, and for the "fringe" players that are competing to stay in camp, and with the team. But after hearing what Sparano stated today, it sounds that those players will only have the second half to prove that they can contribute to the team. I cannot imagine Sparano keeping in Henne without his first team offense behind him.

Here are some of the sights I will be looking for on Saturday night:

• Henne needs to show me that his accuracy has improved over the off-season. We failed to see that during the first pre-season game, and in all honesty, it is not fair to judge a quarterbacks overall play in those kind of weather conditions. Henne will have the whole half to show everyone what he has worked on all off-season.
• I want to see how Joe Berger and the rest of the interior line performs as well. Much has been said over the past 24 hours on the seemingly finished competition between Jake Grove and Joe Berger for the starting center spot. I'm going to be looking for whether Grove can make a statement in this game, and possibly prove the doubters wrong.
• Vontae Davis was picked on for a 30 yard completion to rookie receiver Mike Williams last week. This is the same story as last year. Can Davis prove that he has indeed improved, and that those chunk yardage plays won't happen in his coverage?
• One of the Fins bigger problems last week, and something the fans, and some of the media noticed, were the numerous missed tackles on both special teams, and by starting free safety Chris Clemons. Sparano has come out this week and announced that the starting job for the free safety position is still open. But is it really? If Clemons can wrap up, and put on a better tackling performance, you can expect Clemons to be announced the starter for Week 1 next week.
• Brandon Marshall and his case of the dropsies has been the main headline this week, so he in undoubtedly looking for redemption in this weeks game. Show the doubters wrong "South Beach Beast"!

The Dolphins have a lot to show, but some of those things will not be the Wildcat formation, or some of the exotic blitz packages that Mike Nolan has infused into the team this off-season.

Final Prediction:

Dolphins will pull out the game in the end. I foresee them having a much better, and deeper roster than the Jags. This game is all about proving that they are indeed the better team though. They had trouble doing that last week against the Bucs.

We always enjoy input from our fans, and tonight got the following email from a fan who must have been taking in the Eagles-Bengals game on FOX, and had to say the following about the announcing crew that was made up of Kevin Harlan and Daryl Johnston.

Here is what he had to say about the crew that seemed more interested in the Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco love fest than calling the game:

All the announcing stinks. I am so sick of being talked to like I'm stupid. I want the announcer to tell me what is happening!!!! When did they ever get the idea that I care what they think? And to second guess every play is amatuerish. When I started turning the sound off I found myself much more immersed in the game. I remember players better as well as the plays because there is no stupid distraction from a guy who thinks his job is to talk constantly. I could go on and on with plenty more but I have made this comment for a constructive purpose.

There must be others out there that feel as I do and turn off the sound, no???? What we miss is the stadium and crowd noise. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE can we get the sounds from the stadium, public address etc. on another channel or on the internet without the professional announcers who lately have made all sports not about the game but about themseslves. Lets get this done!!!!!!!!

While there are announcing teams that I do enjoy, there are more that I would have to say are becoming more and more annoying, and that are looking more for their time on celebrity gossip mags than making sure they call the game the right way. Keep it coming NFL Gridiron Gab readers, and we will continue to publish your thoughts on announcers in the game today and make our voices as fans heard.

The New York Giants have plucked a name with considerable pedigree, (both positive and negative) away from the Philadelphia Eagles today, agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Shawn Andrews.

The terms of the contract call for Andrews to earn a maximum of $32.5 million over five years; only $250,000 of that money is guaranteed at this point.

He will make $1.5 million this season in base salary.

Andrews was once considered an elite offensive lineman, having made the Pro Bowl three straight seasons from 2005-2007 and being named first team All-Pro in 2006 as well.

Since then he has had well documented injury issues and concerns about his personal life. He departed from the Eagles organized activities in June of 2009; eventually he missed 17 days of Eagles training camp, citing depression issues.

He ended up starting the first two games of the season, leaving during a 41-37 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a sore back.

That injury ended his 2008 campaign, and despite having surgery in the off-season, he re-injured his back before the 2009 season and was placed on Injured Reserve.

Now he finds himself suiting up for his former rival after the Eagles released him this off-season.

If can give the Giants just 70 percent of the caliber of play he showcased in Philly, they will have found an absolute steal.

If his back acts up again, or he loses his passion for the game again, or his depression causes him to miss reps in training, or, or, or… Well, lets just suffice to say that's why the big man remained team-less until training camps began to wind down.

Confirmed through General Manager John Schneider, the Seattle Seahawks have begun discussing contract terms with San Diego Chargers hold out Vincent Jackson.

This is a huge development, Chargers General Manager AJ Smith declined to comment on the situation, but the Seahawks brass has stated they have begun the necessary communication about compensation that could lead to a trade very soon.

The wavering on whether AJ Smith will trade Vincent Jackson has gone back and forth all off season long. His stance now appears to be firm on trading him because he doesn't see Jackson ending his holdout at any time this off-season.

When dealing with Brandon Marshall, the Seahawks never got as far as discussing contract terms with him. For those who want to see V-Jax in Seahawks blue, this is beginning to look much more promising then the Marshall fiasco.

More on this as information becomes available.

The 2010 preseason rolls on as the Bengals host the Eagles tonight at Paul Brown Stadium. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM. The game will be televised nationally on Fox, but is still blacked out in the greater Cincinnati area as a non-sellout.

The Bengals (1-1) are only four days removed from their last game, a 33-24 win over Denver. The Eagles are 1-0 after beating Jacksonville last Friday, 28-27.

For the Eagles, it's the dawn of the Kevin Kolb era. After trading Donovan McNabb to the division rival Redskins, and letting go of long-time tailback Brian Westbrook, the birds are looking to the future. Coach Andy Reid has reloaded the roster with young talent all over the team, with high expectations for playmaking wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. The team also has Michael Vick, and will use him in various sets as a wildcat/option QB.

The Bengals want to build upon Sunday's win with more consistency from the first teamers. Head Coach Marvin Lewis will no doubt be looking for more discipline from the first string defenders and fewer penalties. Lewis has indicated that he'll play the starters longer this week, treating it like the 3^rd preseason game it is (even though the team has five this year). Look for the first teamers to play through the first series of the third quarter.

As I've mentioned before, winning the game will be secondary to the coaches. Their primary objectives will be to avoid injuries to players and get good tape for player evaluation purposes.

Here are a few things to look for during the game:

T.O. Re-union, part II: For the second time in two weeks, Terrell Owens will face a former team. Owens played with the Eagles in 2004 and 2005, participating in Super Bowl XXXIX.

The Passing Offense: Carson Palmer and the receivers looked much better against Denver than they did versus the Cowboys. Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley had nice games, and CP was able to get both T.O. and Chad some action. If the team can build upon the Denver game with another good outing, fans may start to quell their angst that reached a fever pitch in the playoff loss to the Jets.

WR Derby: We all know that Owens and Ocho are the top two pass catchers on the roster, and at this point it's safe to say that Shipley is a shoo-in. Beyond that, the water gets really muddy. Antonio Bryant has yet to play, and rumors have begun circulating that the team may release him. Andre Caldwell, considered the top slot receiver going into camp, was running with the 2's and 3's lately and hasn't looked all that impressive. His kick returning hasn't improved either. Jerome Simpson, Matt Jones, and Dez Briscoe are grinding, while Quan Cosby is pushing everyone. I'm starting to think that Bryant or Caldwell will be gone in favor of Simpson and Cosby.

Michael Johnson, Linebacker: The Michael Johnson experiment continues Friday. The team will be looking for more pressure on QB's from the converted DE with the freakish frame.

Geno!: Fourth-round DT Geno Atkins has become a folk legend in two preseason games with 3.5 sacks and disruptive play up the middle. Can he keep it going? I sure hope so.

Punt Return Battle Royale: Jordan Shipley had the biggest play of the Dallas game with a 63 yard punt return. He added a 21-yarder against Denver. Great, huh? Except that was only the third best return last Sunday. Adam Jones and Quan Cosby had big returns last week, making the top punt returner spot the most hotly on the roster.

More Rey In The Middle: The Bengals gave Rey Maualuga several snaps at middle linebacker last week. Look for more of the same Friday. The team is working him in there as an eventual heir to Dhani Jones, and to allow more flexibility on defense, with Brandon and Michael Johnson making big plays. Maualuga was a middle 'backer in college, and should be comfortable eventually transitioning there.

Kicker Battle: The good news is that Shayne Graham is gone. The bad news is that we have yet to see any substantial kicks from Mike Nugent. Nugent kicked two extra points last week, leaving all four field goal attempts to his competition, Dave Rayner. Rayner hit 3 of the 4, missing his first shot from 44 yards out. Most observers saw Nugent as having the inside track for the job, but injuries have stunted his progress, allowing Rayner to shine (no pun intended). Nugent will need a big game to catch up in this roster scrum.

Andre to Play?: For the first time this season, we may see Andre Smith suit up and take some snaps. The overweight former first-rounder has been cleared to practice, and with injuries to 3 other tackles, Smith might be pressed into action, ready or not.

With just four days between games, the Bengals didn't have a lot of time to prepare. The game plan should again be vanilla, but the starters will play longer to work on timing and technique. The offense will get a good test against Philadelphia's 4-3, and the defense will be challenged by Philly's short, west-coast passing attack. Michael Vick should add an extra dimension of complexity for the defense, forcing the kind of discipline defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer expects.

Who-Dey! Enjoy the game…

It’s game two of the preseason, and the Steelers will take their show on the road to the Meadowlands to play the Giants, who beat the Jets in their preseason opener.

The Steelers won’t have to deal with Eli Manning, who is out for the Giants, and they should have Ben Roethlisberger under center, who didn’t play last week. Here are some things to look for this week as the Steelers look to go to 2-0 in the preseason.

1. When will Ben play?

Last week Mike Tomlin and company decided not to play their franchise QB, but it’s already been said he will see time under center this week for the black and gold. The question will be – when will we see him. Tomlin said he’s not sure when Ben will play, but based on the fact he’s been with the #1’s all week, it would be a surprise to not see him start.

2. Will Flozell Redeem Himself?

Last week the Steelers newest OL was beaten badly a couple of times, and while he’s still getting use to play at RT, it was a bad night against the Lions for the former Pro Bowler. The team doesn’t seem concerned, but you know it had to eat at Adams all week to see him get beat up. We’ll see if he can get back on track and look better this week.

3. Can Dixon and Redman Stay Hot?

Both QB Dennis Dixon and RB Issac Redman had big games Saturday vs the Lions, some thinking that Dixon earned himself the starting role while Ben is sat the first four weeks of the 2010 season. I don’t think he’s quite there yet, but his stock is rising. Same with Redman, who showed again why the coaches need to keep him on the active roster this season. This will be a good test for both to see if they can keep playing well two straight weeks.

4. The Debut of Jason Worilds

The Steelers second round pick will finally get a shot Saturday to show what the hoopla is all about. The LB didn’t play in game one due to a hammy injury, but reports say he’ll get plenty of playing time vs the Giants. The team is counting on him to be the 3rd OLB, but can’t just hand him that role till they see what he can do, and that process starts vs New York.

5. Kick Returns

The team wants to see what rookie WR Antonio Brown can do this week handling kickoff and punt returns, which should be interesting seeing how he steps up after last weeks outing in which he caught a 68-yard TD vs the Lions in the 4th quarter. The team wants to see the kick return game improve, and Brown’s night vs the Giants could give the team a better perspective on the position.

Follow  Matt Loede on twitter.com @mattnflgg.

The Vikings got some good news, as wide out Percy Harvin is back with the team after an overnight hospital stay following a migraine attack. Harvin was on the practice field Friday morning in light workout clothes. He exchanged handshakes and hugs and chatted with coaches before going inside the team's practice facility.

Harvin was taken away from Winter Park by ambulance Thursday after getting sick on the field. It was a sobering scene that led the Vikings to stop practice early. Harvin has missed all but a handful of practices since training camp began.