NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The Competition Committee recently voted to force teams to get approval from the NFL to turn their turf a new color. I put together a pic of what the field at M&T Bank Stadium might look like if the Ravens changed it to purple. As far as I know, the Ravens don’t have an all purple uniform possibility.

Brian Orakpo is not a happy camper these days. The Redskin pass rusher is speaking out about an ESPN.com piece this week about the “Top 10 pass rushers in the NFL.”

The article was votes from a panel of eight NFL experts. The thing that got to Orakpo was that he wasn’t mentioned once in the entire piece. Orakpo wasn’t even in the top 17 of NFL pass rushers.

The Redskin took the social media field to express his displeasure over the voting. He tweeted the following about the list, telling everyone to get out of his way for the 2011 season.

BTW I seen some list rankin the top 10 pass rushers and left me off. F*** THEM im gonna kill the league next season HTTR

Orakpo’s 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons is more than the number 8 guy on the list, Julius Peppers, as well as the guy at number 7 John Abraham.

Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery is expected to be ready for training camp this summer after undergoing back surgery last month to repair a disc problem, a source told the New York Daily News on Wednesday.

Cotchery confirmed to ESPN that doctors shaved off a piece of a disc that was pressing against a nerve February 3rd.

“It wasn’t a good feeling,” Cotchery said. “It was pretty painful. I wouldn’t want any football player to have to go through that.”

Cotchery appeared in 14 games for the Jets last season, starting five. He finished with 41 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season and was second on the team with 12 catches in the playoffs.

Cotchery missed two games in Weeks 11 and 12 because of a slight groin tear.

Mike Brown has once again proven to us that he should never, EVER, utter a spoken word to a reporter, microphone, or tape recorder.  Doing so only re-confirms the notion that he is either totally misguided, or colossally stupid.

History suggests the latter.

Despite the facts that we elucidated recently about Palmer (unmotivated, meek, diminished skills), Brown refuses to discuss even the remotest possibility of dealing the 31-year old quarterback.

"I haven't talked to any other team about him and I have no plans to trade him." Sith Lord said.  He also gave Reedy this little gem: "I don't see any opportunity to get what I consider to be value."

This despite a pile of teams lining up for his services including Seattle, San Francisco, Arizona, Minnesota, and Miami.

Instead, Brown holds to the self-induced fantasy that Palmer will not only come back, but become the leader the franchise needs and return to pro-bowl form.

The guy likes to gamble, gotta give him that.

Click HERE for the Rest

According to GQ Magizine, Oakland Raider fans are the 4th worst in American sports.. WHAT ?? They just lost MY subscription…If I had one, I mean.. According to the article, Raider fans are "Hell-raisers, gangbangers, and inveterate knife-lickers all of whom firmly believe that skipping town for an away game is well worth the parole violation." YIKES.. First off, my parole was up a while ago, so I am good on that.. Secondly, and more importantly, how does passion and pride amount to being a "bad" fan??

Because of this supposed image problem Raider fans have, the article says it may be causing some of the away team's fans to stay away from Oakland when their team plays the Raiders. It also may be causing some members of the Raider Nation who have never been to a game to stay away from Oakland as well. PLEASE.. Has the writer of the article ever been to Cleveland Browns Stadium when the Browns play the Steelers? It is no different there or at any other NFL stadium when rivals play each other.. Since returning back to Oakland in 1995, the Raiders have had over 60 % of their home games blacked out. Compare that to a team like Buffalo, who have had only two blackouts since 2006. Both teams have struggled to win games, but only the Raiders have struggled to sell out those games. Somehow this article is saying that McAfee doesn’t sell out because of RaiderNation..

Click HERE to read the rest

The Titans have scheduled a private workout for Nevada standout quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a league source confirmed. Kaepernick has also worked out for the 49ers and has a private workout scheduled with the Miami Dolphins at the end of the month. Kaepernick is the lone quarterback in Division I history to pass for over 10,000 career yards and also rush for 4,000 yards. Directing a spread-option offense called the Pistol, Kaepernick is the only quarterback to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season three times.

“I had a chance to see him last summer at Peyton Manning’s Passing Academy,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said during a conference call. “I spent three days watching the kid throw the ball with Peyton and Eli. He’s got a huge arm. He’s a great athlete, and he’s got a big frame. The kind of guy you want to buy into. He’s the kind of guy that’s going to rise a little bit. A lot of people thought he was a third, fourth, fifth-rounder heading into the season. Now, he’s probably a second round type of guy.”

New kickoff start would benefit Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff

As reported, "NFL kickoffs will take place at the 35-yard-- not the 30 – under a modified proposal passed by team owners Tuesday at the league's annual meeting. However, touchbacks will remain at the 20, and teams still will be allowed to use the two-man blocking wedge."

Will New Kickoff Start Alter The Game?

One of the most exciting plays on Sunday is watching a kick return for a TD. The idea behind the proposed kickoff change revolves around player safety.   Would this new rule alter the game? Field position is critical and there would be more touchbacks with kickoffs from the 35 yard line.   This rule change will most likely limit opportunities for the premier kick returners in the game.

Former NFL safety Matt Bowen, National Football Post, discussed the rule change when it was being proposed. "…let's discuss the possible rule change of kicking the ball off from the 35-yard line. A major phase of the game that teams rely on for field position that could be minimized. The simple question: is it worth it?"

Bowen goes on to say, "I applaud the league for trying to limit the amount of injuries we see, but don't make a rule change that impacts the overall quality of the game. You know what you signed up for as a player when you line up on kickoff coverage. It isn't pretty, but it is part of the game."

After watching the tape of an interview he did with Comcast SportsNet, Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver has apologized for comments in which he said owners treated players “like slaves” according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Weaver’s comments echoed those made by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

"We as players want to make a statement that you know what, we love playing for you all, we love your owners, you know? We love you guys very much, but at the same time we need to see some equal opportunity here and stop treating us basically like Adrian Peterson said, like slaves," Weaver said Tuesday night.

After initially defending his remarks in a stream of tweets early this morning, Weaver’s tone changed after he said he saw the video.

“Hey everyone I’m here in therapy an I have seen the recording of the interview. And I will have to say that I’m very disappointed in the whole interview an the comments I made.

“I first want to apologizes for the bad choice ode words, and using the word slavery. Now, that I have seen it, I will say that it was hard for me to watch and after thinking about it, I’ve come to the conclusion that I represented my family, friends and organization the wrong way. I’m sorry for those words I used and if I offend anyone, please forgive me.

“To all my fans whom I’ve disappointed I’m sorry.”

The Miami Herald today points out that the Fins may have to pay the piper over the incident where QB Chad Henne spent time with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll last month.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that the Fins are one of five teams that are under investigation and could face a fine for improper contact between coaches and players during a postseason dead period.

"The commissioner sort of rather strongly suggested that one team in South Florida might have crossed the line," NFL executive counsel Jeff Pash said. "Beyond that, I don't know."

Henne stated on accident that he and Daboll chatted about football related topic the Fins Cup Pro-Am at PGA National last month. Article XXXV of the former CBA (which was in place until March 4 states, "players are not permitted to participate in organized workouts, practices or meetings of any kind."

Former Giants great and HOF linebacker Lawrence Taylor made an appearance on Fox News Channel Tuesday talking about his court proceedings. Taylor chats with FOX News Channel's Studio B anchor Shepard Smith about what comes next for the former Giants star.