Endzone to Endzone, Touchdown Tom's Blog, #4

Well it's about that time of year when prima donna wideouts start acting like fools and request trades, right? Well maybe not this year, not yet anyway, now we have a young quarterback demanding a trade and skipping a meeting hoping to get himself a ticket out of town.

Jay Cutler, who is coming off of a Pro Bowl season, throwing for 25 touchdowns on a miserable Denver Broncos squad is asking to be traded after a feud with new head coach Josh McDaniels, formerly the offensive coordinator of the New Englad Patriots. Basically it was leaked that McDaniels tried to swing a trade for Matt Cassel, his former Patriot pupil, who threw for 21 touchdowns with an 89.4 rating last year. I think most of us can understand where Cutler (seen right getting the Broncos some pubilicity on South Park) is coming from though, it's like that girl you start seeing that just won't stop talking about her ex, and you know she just wants to get back with him, even though you're better. There are few quarterbacks in the NFL better than Cutler, and unless the Broncos think they can get Brady or Manning, it would probably be in their best interest to make up with their up and coming gunslinger.

Speaking of the Patriots, NFL.com columnist Vic Carucci is reporting that the Carolina Panthers are close to dealing their All Pro defensive end Juilis Peppers to New England for the second round pick they recieved in compensation for Cassel. Great, just what Bill Belichick needs, toy to play with, and what a scary thought is it to have Richard Seymour on one end and Peppers on the other? And who do you block? It's like choosing to fight Chuck Norris or a ninja.

On the college football front, in Knoxville, the Tennessee Volunteers nabbed the top recruit in the country in running back Bryce Brown. Lane Kiffin has been nothing but talk and controversy up to this point, and honestly needed news like this to get the folks swaying to the tunes of "Rocky Top." Enjoy the video of Brown, a real steal for the Vols.

Endzone to Endzone, Touchdown Tom's Blog, #3

While reading news from around the football world today, I came a couple very interesting off the field stories involving the knuckleheads, whoops, I mean role models that America's youth grow up idolizing. And by a couple, I mean too many. And away we go.

First off, let us thank Adam Jones for destroying the name of a great video game legend, Pacman, and may we also be thankful he didn't choose the nickname Zelda. Anyway, Mr. Jones' infamous run ins with the law, most notably those involving shootings at strip clubs, have gained him more fame than returning a silly interception or punt return for a touchdown ever could have.

In an exclusive interview with Fox's Jay Glazer, Jones admits that he was wrong, but still believe's he was just doing as young men do. "Every gentleman, if you're normal, you love the strip clubs, too. Nice girls, young, nude ... All part of having fun when you're growing up," said Jones.

Well why didn't we ever think of it that way? Wow, how uptight do consummate professionals Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson seem in hind site? But hey, it's draft time, somebody has to give Pacman a shot (no pun intended).

Next was the heart warming, made-for-TV story of Travis Henry, who has found himself not only in legal troubles (cocaine trafficking charges), but also financial woes since his playing days have ended. The former Buffalo Bill, Tennessee Titan and Denver Bronco, is out of the league following many off the field drug related incidents, has nine children with nine women and currently pays about $170,000 a year in child support.

Henry rushed for 6,086 yards in just over six NFL seasons. Who knows what could have been if he was only a little more level headed. Hey Travis, when they said wrap it up, they weren't talking about your career.

So you want an NFL player that is actually on a roster? How about the biggest name that hit the open market this off season, the Washington Redskins own Albert Haynesworth. The monstrous defensive lineman, who just signed the largest contract for a defensive player in the history of pro football (7 years, $100 million) was arrested for reckless driving and having an expired registration. First of all, you would think that after stomping on the helmet less head of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in 2006, Haynesworth would have tried to stay out of trouble, and he did talk about his growth as a person and player regarding that incident during his press conference this month.

Ok, so let's give him the benefit of the doubt and say that it was truly an accident that occurred, by the way the other driver was in serious condition, but an expired registration? Unless they raised the cost of registering a vehicle to 101 million dollars, that is just a bonehead mistake. Good luck with that guy DC.

Speaking of repeat offenders, how about Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie? The big guy could possibly avoid charges stemming from a street fight outside a club in Miami if he completes community service and counseling. The catch? he would also have to avoid being arrested again. For those who don't remember, McKinnie was one of the key guys in on the love boat scandal a few years back.

There was some other news about Michael Vick's hearing, Tony Zendejas getting aquitted of Rape and Brian Bosworth getting an arrest for drunken driving, but I think we've had enough for the day.

How about this blog ends with a special Happy Birthday to former San Francisco 49ers safety Merton Hanks. Although most fans remember the 41 year old for his "chicken dance" following an interception or touchdown, and rightfully so, the four-time pro bowler recorded 33 career interceptions and six touchdowns, not to mention a Super Bowl ring in 1994. Hanks is currently a senior manager and assistant director of operations for the National Football League.

Endzone to Endzone, Touchdown Tom's Blog, #2

Ok, so I didn't exactly follow through on this blog thing like anticipated. In fact, I may be the most inconsistent blogger in history, the Joey Harrington of the blog world perhaps. Let's see if I can keep it going this time, even if for just another week, because let's face it, Timmy Smith might not be in jail if he woulda had just one more good game. Here's a short one just to get things going.

Biggest news of the week in the football world was wideout Terrell Owens signing with the Buffalo Bills, agreeing to a one year deal. The outspoken, six-time pro bowler brings some much needed offensive talent to the Bills offense and the star attraction that the organization has lacked since the early 1990's. Terrell may in fact open his mouth too much, but he is only saying what every good receiver believes, if the ball was in his hand more, the team would win, right? Let's see if Trent Edwards can hit T.O. on a pass of more than 10 yards though, we all know it didn't happen often with Lee Evans last season. As for the Bills, kudos to them on bringing in Owens after failing to sign Laveranues Coles and Joey Galloway in the ensuing weeks. It's like getting shot down by two straight fat chicks and taking home Miss America.

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a new, restructured contract with quarterback Alex Smith, which was expected to happen at some point this off season. Smith, still only 24 years old, says he had some unfinished business with the 49ers and their fans. "I'm not going to worry about the fans right now and what they're thinking. I guess I'm hoping that I get my chance to re-prove myself to them. So I'm not worrying about that right now." Smith had better now worry about what the fans think because he has since become an afterthought after going 11-19 in four NFL seasons since being drafted with the first pick in the 2005 draft.

In the college world, Lane Kiffin has continued to make headlines for all of the wrong reasons. This time, he allegedly told recruit Alshon Jeffrey that if he signed with South Carolina, he would end up pumping gas the rest of his life like all of the other players that have come out of the state....or something like that. Jeffrey shouldn't listen to a guy whose resume includes coaching the Oakland Raiders. Seriously Kiffin, keep if up and you will be on the fast lane to unemployment. Fast lane, get it? Oh what an awful pun.