Joe Nedney Should Beef Up His Security. NOW.

This tribute clip from a deranged Titans fan is either the funniest or most terrifying video ever (see: 0:56 in). Someone should keep an eye on our boy Joe since he's scored 40% of our points over the past two seasons.

Mixed Feelings - Chargers 16, 49ers 13

UPDATE- Recaps of the scrimmage from The Merc, SFGate, Maiocco (Press Dem), and Official Propaganda.

Scrimmage 4 is over and we made it through without any significant injuries. Jay Moore and Adam Snyder have ankle issues they need to get through but our starting lineup is healthy going into the season. So we can be thankful for that. With that said, this was not a good way to head into the regular season.

Let's cover the bright spots first:
*Isaac Sopoaga - He has made HUGE strides this preseason and has learned how to play the 2-gap role demanded of a 3-4 nose tackle. The play tonight where he held his block and then nailed the ball-carrier (though it wasn't LT) for a loss was a perfect play and gives me a lot of hope going into the season. Platooning him and Aubrayo Franklin should keep both fresh and also adds some depth to a critical position.
*Delanie Walker looks like a good complement to Hep V and provides some nice speed off the bench.
*Thomas Clayton ran someone over while looking like Frank Gore Lite. He probably saved himself a spot on the team tonight but let's see if he makes the 53 man roster.

Little nuggets of joy like that are great - if your starting quarterback isn't in the process of absolutely shitting the bed.

I had a similar reaction while watching tonight's game

*Alex Smith looked awful tonight. A pick and a fumble straight out of 2005.
*I'm still not sure if Tully Banta-Cain actually is a pass rusher or just has a cool name.
*Shawntae Spencer got dominated by a backup QB-to-WR combo for a 40-yard TD.
*Hep V put on more theatrics after a first down in a preseason game than 80% of TO's celebrations.
*Our fourth-string rookie back may have gone from a weekend cut to backing up our All-World tailback because Mo Hicks and Michael Robinson didn't step up.

In short, the whole "working out kinks" thing didn't quite happen according to plan. I'll be interested to hear Nolan's take tomorrow. In fairness the last two games have been against two of the best defenses in the NFL. The last two games have made it clear we aren't ready to hang with the big boys. Thankfully we're swimming in the NFC West kiddie pool. But at some point the excuses and over-rationalization has to stop. An in jury-free preseason is a win. Now we, the fans, get to see what these guys are really made of.

Under Pressure

It's been several years since the 49ers have had any expectations going into the season. The end of the Donahue Regime was marred by ridiculous draft choices (1st round picks included one-name busts Rumph, Kwame, and Rashaun) and personnel moves that threw us even deeper into cap hell (Ahmed Plummer and Kevan Barlow anyone?). As a result, the team put together two of the worst statistical seasons EVER in 2004 and 2005.

But as the New Era rolls on, the Niners are getting a lot of love. Maybe too much love. Hot on the heels of its power rankings, ESPN.com released its expert picks yesterday. Of the 16 "experts", 6 have the Niners going to the playoffs (either as the division winner or a wild-card), 2 have Nolan winning Coach of the Year, and 3 see Patrick Willis coming in as the Defensive RoY. This kind of "trendy, off-the-wall-pick" love from the national press is the same sort the Cardinals have gotten the past couple seasons...only to get completely punked, exposed, and embarassed on national TV.


While some of the ESPN folks like our chances, the folks over at SI are a little less bullish on the team's prospects. The bottom line is everyone knows this team is better than last year, but no one knows how much better. Even the players themselves won't know until they play a full, meaningful game. The pressure of expectations, both from outside and within the franchise, is building. It's time to handle them, step up, and meet the challenge.

(If you can't get enough Freddie Mercury or need a laugh, whatever the reason, check out this clip. Say what you will about the guy, but people loved him.)

ESPN Gives 49ers Middle-of-the-Pack Love

Opening the year at #16 in ESPN's Power Rankings is not too shabby. I guess the big surprise is that the Niners are a spot ahead of the Lambs (#17). Here's to getting back into the single digits. It's been a loooooooooong time.

Frank Gore Is Going to Be Angrier Than Normal

For some reason (maybe because he gets paid to do it), Peter King has decided to rank the top 500 NFL players and provide reasons for the top 300. Before every NFL player and fan rips him several new assholes, let me first commend Mr. King for his audacity. This is the kind of bold journalism that only a few NFL writers (you taking notes Don Banks?) would even attempt. It essentially ensures that every player outside the top 50 will be pissed off leading to plenty of awkward interviewing moments during the upcoming season. Kudos Mr. King, you magnificent bastard.

"Now Peter, I know you want to make out with me but I don't find jowls attractive."

Now let's get down to business. Looking through it quickly we see the following 15 Niners listed in the Top 500:

Nate Clements (#49) - The fifth-ranked corner and in the top 50 overall. Hard to argue with that. But Nnamdi Asomugah (#46) higher than him? Come on.
Frank Gore (#71) - [stunned silence] I'm coming back to this one.
Hepatitis V (#163) - Too busy sculpting his guns to notice there are 7 TEs higher than he is. He needs to stay healthy and move up this year.
Alex Smith (#209) - 25th-ranked QB? That puts him in the lower tercile. Unbelievable. He will show the league that he's better than this.
Brandon Moore (#235) - Would probably willingly move down to #501 if it got him back in the starting lineup. And I don't see Derek "Cyclops" Smith anywhere on this list. Hmmmmmm....wonder if Moore will be back?
Patrick Willis (#253) - Can't argue until he plays a real snap in The League.
Darrell Jackson (#311) - All people remember about him are his health, including a chronic case of "the dropsies " he had in Seattle.
Jonas Jennings (#326) / Larry Allen (#421)/ Eric Heitmann (#469)/ Justin Smiley (#497) - Offensive linemen are happy when ANYONE notices them. And the only starter from last year not named on the list is Kwame. I know - I was shocked too.
Bryant Young (#359), Walt Harris (#370) - Defensive vets too old/secure to really care. They're like 14 year-old dogs that want to lie in the sun and not be bothered.
Michael Lewis (#397)/ Manny Lawson (#465) - At this point is anyone even reading besides me?

There are so many glaring "WTF?!?" moments as you go down the overall list, but the one that got me was when I got to #71. The main knock on Gore has been his health and whether he was a one-year wonder. He already runs angrier than Owen Wilson's H and coke dealers, so what do you think this kind of disrespect is going to do for his game? Nolan should just tape a giant #71 in Gore's locker each Sunday morning, menacingly glare at the other sideline as FG goes for 175 a game, and remember to thank King in his Coach of the Year acceptance speech.

"Ken Whisen-who? I'm wearing a suit bitch. You KNOW I mean business!"

Basically King has made himself an even more important judge of skill among NFL players as they claw to move up his list for next preseason. Outside of salary and rings, Madden ratings are the biggest thing players compete on. Now they have King's List to fight over.

"I appreciate your call, I really do. This is the motivation I need to step up my game a little more and have a great season. So thank you." -Rodney Harrison to Peter King

Rodney Harrison, Frank Gore and a whole lot of other players probably feel the same way. I think its actually a good thing King insulted our best player - someone should should send him a thank you note.

What Happened to Actually Making Predictions

The world's smartest football analyst, ESPN Page 2's Greg Easterbrook, released his NFC preview that is actually more of a recap of last season. Leave it to a historian and political scientist to look back to 2006 for his 2007 column. There are only 248 season prediction columns left before opening night. Hopefully someone actually puts a stake in the ground at some point.

Throwbacks Back for Good?!?!

UPDATE - Here is an online petition that people are starting to link to: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/BringBackTheThrowbacks/
It's old but still open so go ahead and sign away if you like the classic look.

Now that would be sweet. Apparently Nolan was mum on the whole idea but alluded that the sickest jersey in sports may be coming back. We know we're going to get to see them at least twice - once for the throwdown with the Cards on Opening Night and once on a date to be determined. But seeing it every Sunday would be something else.

As all the truly Faithful should know, our current unis are loosely based on the throwbacks (from the 1940s) that we wore in 1994 for the run to the Super Bowl - 13 friggin' years ago. But the "new" throwbacks would be the ones we wore during the Glory Years in the '80s and '90s (modeled by Alex Smith above - TD to Jerry Rice not included). This is a much better idea than the proposed helmet change from 1991 that was announced on the 10pm news and retracted at 11pm after every person between from Portland to San Luis Obispo threatened Eddie D's life. For good reason. Now we just need the Pats and Broncos to bring back their old helmets and all will be well.

(More sweet throwback helmets here. You know you're getting old when throwbacks are what you grew up with...)

Don Banks is a Eunuch and Other Fun News

Great work from fearless powerhouse, Don Banks of SI.com. His predictions for the season came out today. These picks could have been made by a two-legged dog banging its nose against a keyboard. Or Miss Teen South Carolina (video here in case you've been living under a rock):

Actually no - Miss Teen SC has less usable skill than the two-legged dog. That two-legged dog learned to play hopscotch like a motherfucker and Miss Teen SC is still a complete retard. Anyways, Banks' prediction for the Niners typifies his cowardly calls: the offense is better and the defense is going to have to adjust. Wow. What a bold prediction.

Other news:
*Joe "The Phenom" Staley officially won the starting job from Kwame. Good news - we won't get screwed out of multiple big plays this year. Bad news - I need to find a new whipping boy.

*Last scrimmage against the Chargers on Thursday (kickoff at 7pm PT). Thankfully Gore will be held out despite wanting to play. Hopefully his pent-up rage is unleashed on Adrian Wilson and the Cardinals in exactly 13 days, 1 hour and 38 minutes from the moment I type this (who's counting?).

Starters Lose a Vacation Day

Looks like General Nolan is going to make the starters play at least a series against the Chargers in Scrimmage #4. This makes total sense. Let's work out our kinks against a team that is definitely worse than the Bears. Oh wait, the Chargers are the second-best team in the NFL based on Vegas odds. Clearly any kinks are going to have to wait to be worked out until 9-10-07.

Also looks like the regular season is getting close since Darrell Jackson's hamstring is tightening up. Hopefully it's nothing but that can be a nagging injury. Personally, I'm getting ready to track his rise and fall on the injury report for the next 20 weeks.

And lastly, for the nostalgic, here is a ridiculous clip of Bo Jackson from Tecmo Bowl.



Whoever took the time and effort to do this, record it, and post it to YouTube should be given a Congressional Medal of Honor, The Decider's Cross of Valor, a lollipop, or whatever else they're handing out these days.

Encylopedia Brown and the Case of Lance Briggs' Lambo

UPDATE 2 - DOUBLE HOLY CRAP!! Turns out it was indeed Briggs that crashed his car. That just means Tom Brady's still got a reckoning coming.

UPDATE - HOLY CRAP! The Onion says that Encyclopedia Brown was found dead 4 years ago. Guess this case is going to go down as an unsolved mystery.

A black 2007 Lamborghini Roadster (MSRP: $350,000) registered to Lance Briggs was found wrecked and abandoned on a Chicago highway this morning. It is unclear who was driving at the time. Some rogue apparently thinks its ok to destroy exotic cars.

If someone asked me who I think is responsible for this atrocity and gave me the following options

A) Lance Briggs B) Michael Vick
C) Satan D) Antonio Bryant

I would be completely stumped. Michael Vick is apparently more unpopular than Osama bin Laden now, which shows we Americans can really keep things in perspective. Satan is a pretty sensitive guy (evidence here) so I don't think he's capable of this. Antonio Bryant has expertise on disastrous career decisions with a Lamborghini, but only in muted colors like "Oro Adonis". Lance Briggs only owns the car so it couldn't have been him. I'll go with E) Tom Brady, because too many good things are happening for him these days - he's due for a fall.

"Shawne Merriman is going to wipe this douchey look off my face in Week 2."

Other dark horse suspects include Eddie Griffin and Stefan Eriksson.

Basically it boils down to this: Lance Briggs is innocent because he wasn't in, around, or near the wreck. There's a lesson for all you kids: if you get in an accident, the right thing to do is flee into the dark of night. Hey, it worked for Batman and he's a hero.

And Then There Were...Seventy-Five

The roster whittling begins with Marcus Maxwell and Roderick Green the notable names that won't be joining the team this season. Both are victims of improved depth at wideout and linbacker.

The team needs to get down to 75 payers by Tuesday and 53 by the start of the season. Don't be shocked to see some surprise names and/or fan favorites on the chopping block over the next week or two. That is the high price of an improved team.

Let's Take A Step Back

"But to me this performance was telling and I’m worried - very worried. What about you?"
-49er Huddle

So you fair-weather asshats and worrywarts that read 49er Huddle, it's time to start worrying?!?! I can't tell who's worse - the author or the commenters. Unacceptable and they should consider themseves on notice from the True Faithful. Ugh. What horseshit.

Even though the boys did embarass themselves Saturday night, this was still an exhibition game. Against the reigning NFC Champs. At their house. But this was indeed a resetting, or at least a clarification, of expectations for the team and the fans. We may have been getting a little ahead of ourselves on what this team is capable of. I'm just excited that the roster is actually stocked with high-quality talent at every position and even some depth (OL, WR, and LB). No one's going to remember this game in 3 weeks but it did point out some things the team can work on in preparation for 9-10-07.

Let's put things in perspective as Opening Day rapidly approaches. Making the playoffs would be phenomenal and every NFL fan can expect, hope, or at least pray for their team to make a run at the Super Bowl. That's what has made the NFL the world's finest sports league. Unlike baseball or English Premiership soccer, where there are only 4-6 teams that even have a legitimate hope of winning the title, there is a 2006 Saints, 2005 Bears, or 2004 Chargers lurking out there every season in the NFL. Maybe 2007 is our year to make the leap. Maybe it's 2008. What's clear is that the leader and attitude of accountability necessary for winning have been put in place that ensure that we are close to turning the corner. I'll do a stake-in-the-ground prediction for the season next weekend. For now let's just say I haven't felt this good about a team since our 2001 vintage, which turned out a-ok.

Scrimmage #3 Post-Mortems from the Nattering Nabobs
SFGate - 49ers Not Quite Up to the Bears' Standards
Press Democrat - Not Their Kind of Town (See here for more Maiocco, who is the best Niner beat writer in my opinion)
The Merc - Going the Other Way
Scout.com - Bears-49ers Recap

Slow March to the Regular Season Continues Tonight

I'm going to be out over the weekend but wanted to lay some knowledge on you before jetting to the beach. Here's to hoping the NorCal tradition of fog at the coast backs off for the next 48 hours.

1) Glorified Scrimmage #3 (aka Operation Do NOT Get Injured) against the Bears is later today. For some reason this is being billed as a revenge game. It's absolutely ridiculous to think that even if we win 84-0 that we will have exacted any measure of retribution - the unadulterated ass-whipping we took at Soldier Field last year was the lowest point of 2006. In any case, the starters are going to get their longest (and hopefully last) taste of the preseason. There isn't going to be a lot of insight to be gained from this game, but the two things I would like to see are the D-line backups continue to step up (especially Sopoaga) and the LBs/secondary continue to gel. Oh, and NO INJURIES!!!

2) Thankfully Coach Nolan is applying the LT Rule to Frank Gore, as we won't be seeing The Inconvenient Truth (when in doubt, go with Chris Berman) until the regular season. I love this decision and continue to believe the broken hand was actually a blessing in disguise. Gore runs like a freaking battering ram and is guaranteed to take punishment. Saving him from even the 10-20 hits he would have taken in the preseason ensures he's that much fresher toward the end of the year, and dare I say it, for the playoffs.

3) Now let's go south of the equator to recognize The Faithful...in Brazil?! Here's to hoping the author can convert the capoeira-fighting, samba-listening, soccer-crazed nation to real football. As Faithful-in-Chief, I volunteer to take on the difficult task of recruiting the 2008 Gold Rush Girls from Ipanema and/or Copacabana. Something along the lines of this should work:

2007 Brazilian SI Swimsuit contingent, 2008 Gold Rush girls, and ex-Mrs. BrownMagic #1-7 (in no particular order)

Star Wars Meets the NFL

Colts fansite 18to88.com released its NFL power rankings with an interesting twist: each team is assigned a role from the Star Wars galaxy. While I don't get all the references and disagree with projection for the 49ers, this is a creative take on preseason prognostication - and pretty accurate to boot (see Arizona and Atlanta).

Our Half-Decade of Discontent Is Over

NFL.com is reporting that Joe Staley is a virtual lock to replace Kwame Harris on the line. This means the at least 3 fewer touchdowns will be called back on holding penalties. PLAYOFFS HERE WE COME!!! Reminisce as you watch these (clearly Faithful) lunatics go off.



Remember when there was something more than getting back to .500 to get hyped about...like The Comeback. The scene above was probably acted out in every family room/den/sex dungeon (what? huh?) in the Bay Area back in January 2003. Sadly, this was the last time we won a playoff game. That was 5 seasons ago - the same amount of time Kwame has been on the team. If you think that's a coincidence, I have a burnt orange bridge to sell you.

Hey ladies. My name's Kwame. I'm a Pisces and love a nice creme brulee. My hobbies include committing inopportune false start penalties, killing drives with stupid holding penalties, and missing blocking assignments. I'll be on the bench soon so I should have plenty of time to hang out. You can reach me at bustedpick77@49ers.com.

Sum Thingz Wee Lurned

Good summary of what The Faithful learned during training camp. (Courtesy of Scout.com)

The unexpectedly rapid return of the passing game has to be the story of the preseason. The aerial attack has been firing blanks since Donahue inexplicably dumped Owens AND Garcia after the 2003 season, even though they got along SO well. Since then the 49er passing offense has ranked 20th ('04), 32nd ('05), and 29th ('06). Pitiful, especially for a team that boasted at least 4 solid receiving options each year for almost 20 seasons. While things aren't quite back to that level, it looks like Jackson, Battle, Jacobs, Lelie - and eventually Jason Hill - will give Alex Smith some very solid options. To quote the statheads at FootballOutsider.com (from the 2007 Pro Football Prospectus)

Add a healthy Vernon Davis [the next great tight end] to the mix, and that passing attack could be downright dangerous - especially in a division in which the only potentially dominant secondary is the one Smith will face in practice.

Read the back half of that sentence again. That "dominant secondary" is the same one that has been a major weakness throughout the Nolan Renaissance (26 in '06 and the big 3-2 in '05), even though Walt Harris made the Pro Bowl last year. The addition of Nate Clements and Michael Lewis to the Harris/Spencer/Roman nucleus (as well as a couple nice pickups in the draft) has brought a new swagger to that group. They're going to need that and some stellar play as they go up against the 3-deep receiving corps of the Cardinals and Rams, with even more formidable tests coming against the Saints and Bengals.

With all that said, I've made it pretty clear what I think of the exhibition season and trying to extrapolate its results into the regular season. This team still has major steps to take (including attempting a successful switch to the 3-4). The 2007 49ers are markedly better on paper than the version that beat the Broncos to end last season. Now it just needs to go out and fulfill its potential.

HOLY %$#@

This is Michael Robinson (during his days as a QB at Penn State) delivering what has to be the filthiest hit a QB has ever put on a defender. Ever.



(Props to ak47 for showing me the video)

Who Is That Guy Behind Center???

I was just watching the NFL.com clip of Smith highlights (link here) since I missed the scrimmage on Saturday and can't help but notice how much calmer he looks compared to the deer-in-the-headlights type play we saw through the first half of last year. Even though he got it together down the stretch, it truly looks like our young buck has finally completed the transition from college to NFL speed. The TD to Walker and the second toss to The Disease (credit the nickname to NinersNation) were textbook throws - perfectly placed away from the defender and hitting the receiver in stride. He's not quite Joe Cool yet, but Alex looks a hell of a lot more composed than the disastrous triumvirate of Tim "Soul Crusher" Rattay, Ken "Horsey's Ass" Dorsey, and of course "Cowboy" Cody Pickett.

And for that THE FAITHFUL should all be grateful.

Willis Joins Starting Lineup; Moore Will Be Back

I CALLED IT!!!! (Sort of.....)

Courtesy of Matt Maioco (who has a ridiculously detailed rundown of Saturday's scrimmage)- Coach Nolan announced Patrick Willis' promotion to starting Mike. Unfortunately this was at the cost of Brandon Moore, last year's defensive anchor and the spark that really turned the defense around after he replaced Jeff Ulbrich in the starting lineup.

In fact, I'm going to double down and say that this is actually a motivational ploy by Nolan to fire up Moore, who's play thus far through training camp and 2 bullsh....uh, I mean "exhibition" games has not been up to the level he set last year. Hopefully bitch-made Brandon Moore (going up against VD)


returns to being Defensive-Player-of-the-Week Brandon Moore (#56):


I wouldn't be surprised to watch Moore turn it up a couple notches before 9-10-07 and replace Derek Smith in the lineup. He is too fast, too talented, and too smart to be sitting on the bench. Congratulations to Patrick Willis and look forward to watching him rain hell on the NFL for the next decade.

Michael Passes Marcus to Win "Dumbest Vick" Title

Sibling (or half-sibling) rivalry is one thing, but the Vicks have taken it to a whole different level. Enough ink and PETA spittle has been wasted on how awful dog-fighting is. The thing I was left wondering is "Are there any other sociopath Vicks out there?". Let's take a quick look at these two nutbars.

Marcus Vick's laundry list of offenses involves guns, sex, alcohol, drugs, speeding, and stomping on the same Broncos D-lineman, Elvis Dumervil, that became the 1000th member of the "Make Kwame Harris Look Foolish Club" last week. So there's your Niner Faithful connection. Troy Smith is what Marcus Vick could have been. This is what Marcus Vick is:



Michael "Ookie" Vick apparently likes dogs. But only if they are fighting each other or he is killing them, in case you haven't heard. He also has plead guilty to the charges the grand jury brought against him. His NFL career is, in all likelihood, over and done. Commissioner Goodell may ban Vick for life using the cover offense of gambling. Or he could be a man and bar The Dirtiest Bird for being a malevolent sociopath (which he should). Or Goodell could simply let the likely 12-18 month prison sentence Vick is headed toward take its toll on Vick's skills. 23 hours in a cell and an hour a day spent running from guys who would love to tell their buddies on the outside that they caught the NFL's fastest player from behind (pun intended) isn't quite the same as keeping yourself in game shape for 8 months a year.

Above: Mike Vick's executioner. Note the uncanny resemblance to Larry Allen

Say bye-bye to the Vick family. They could (Ed: Emphasis mine) have challenged the Mannings for NFL quarterbacking supremacy. Instead, they're just a couple of busts.

Glorified Scrimmage #1 Is In the Books

The Niners officially opened the season yesterday...sort of. Exhibition games are always a bit of a tease. Sort of like seeing a little ankle in Saudi Arabia: you know there's more where that came from, but there's also no way you're going to see it.

Cover of Saudi Soccer Cheerleaders 2007 calendar

The first quarter of an exhibition game is generally the only time any players we'll see during the regular season even step on the field. It has to be tough for them to play at full intensity since all they care about is not getting injured. There are a couple good game recaps from 49ers Webzone and Matt Maioco if you're interested. But let me sum it up even more concisely: Alex Smith looks as good as he ever has and the defense needs to learn how to tackle. Period. Full stop. Good day, sir. (I say good day!!)

There's not much more to it than that. Reading the tea leaves from a game in mid-August is pretty foolish, especially since the starting front 3 of our 3-4 was out and some dude named Gore was on the bench. Now let's all just say a quick prayer that none of our starters gets hurt before 9/10/07:

O blessed Coach Walsh, forgive Terry Donahue's sins, save us from the fires of hell where Michael Vick is headed, lead all Faithful souls to Glendale in February, and please deny those in most need of Thy mercy. Namely bitch-ass Cardinal fans. Amen.

News Rundown-
Mercury News - Smooth Start for 49ers Offense
SFGate - Not Quite Yet - SF is ok by most measures
Press Democrat - First-Team Offense Sharp
AP (via ESPN) - Broncos 17, 49ers 13 (Give that headline writer a raise. Masterful work.)
Propaganda from 49ers.com - Smith Shows Confidence in Loss to Denver

What Is Up With VD?

"Asked to describe guard Larry Allen in one word, Nolan said, "Beast.""
-SFGate, 8/2/07

Everyone knows that VD and Larry "Beast" Allen got into a fight on Saturday. Training camp is the only time of year it is acceptable (and in fact expected) for teammates to come to blows. This story is remarkable because both players are on the same side of the ball, rather than the more typical offense-defense. The real burning questions are A) WTF was VD thinking fighting Beast and B) Will Vernon Davis Be the Next TO (Minus All the TDs and Receptions)?

First we'll take a look at Answer A: The tale of the tape shows Davis at 6'3"-256 and Beast at 6'3". However estimates of Allen's weight range anywhere from 325 to "Small Island Status". VD is one of the most athletic TEs in the league and Allen is regarded as the strongest man to ever play the game. But in the end, Allen has the ability to swallow galaxies whole and should not be messed with. I mean look at the guy.

"I haunt BrownMagic in his nightmares"

Joking aside, this clip apparently was shot moments before the brouhaha:



If you follow the link, looks like "the fight started because V.D. jabbed at A. Smith after Smith pump faked a pass to him, but instead threw underneath to M. Hicks, who dropped the pass. On the sideline, V.D. wouldn't let it go, so Allen called him out, saying "you need to shut your mouth." V.D. didn't like what he heard, went up to Allen and the rest is history."

Which takes us to Answer B: I love VD's passion and intensity. But it does sound like he's getting a little out of control. Jawing at the D to get everyone pumped up is fine. But causing fights with future HoF-ers and general obnoxiousness are intolerable, especially to fans who vividly remember the end of the TO era. The really problematic part is him riding teh QB, which TO teaches as part of his Learning Annex class, "How to F&*% Up a Rising Team". I trust Nolan will rein in VD when he needs to since he's 100x the coach Dennis "Three Martini" Erickson was. Ultimately my guess is VD will be less like TO and should come around like everyone's favorite fictionalized football player. That's right: Willie Beamen.

Injury Bug Bites Aubrayo Franklin

UPDATE: Franklin has an MCL sprain and will miss the preseason. He should be ready for the season opener. Great news.

Aubrayo Franklin sprained his knee this morning in a line drill and is awaiting the results of an MRI. Sounds like he's feeling better, but that may just be the beautiful mixture of hope and painkillers talking. (Don't knock it til you try it.) While most casual fans say "Aubrayo who?", THE FAITHFUL know that this could be a devastating blow.

Middle name Razyo. Come to crush yo fayso...

The past two seasons the team has been forced to play the 4-3 because Isaac Sopoaga (aka The Defensive Kwame Harris) couldn't hold down the nose tackle spot. While he should have been an unmovable force, he always seemed to end up getting swept aside like a post-1994 Deion Sanders. Franklin (6'1", 334) was brought in to complete the defensive conversion to the 3-4 that Nolan prefers. If he's down, that leaves us with Sopoaga (6'2", 325), rookie Joe Cohen (6'2", 315), and possibly Ronald Fields (6'2", 321) to use at NT. The recently-released Cory Simon anchored the Colts' NT spot last season and could be another body we could bring in, assuming we have any cap room left after our binge this offseason. Hopefully this injury isn't serious and here's to Aubrayo's quick and speedy return to the playing field.