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If the Cleveland Browns thought that they were going to get through the season without any serious problems with their offensive line, they were wrong. Once again the team that seems to be cursed has to deal with another problem to the people who protect the quarterback. This season was supposed to be a comeback party for Ryan Tucker after missing much of last season with an injury and some personal issues, but that party has now been derailed by a four game substance abuse suspension.

Tucker, who said earlier this week that he’s happy, healthy and anxious to get back on the field after spending the second half of last season on the non-football illness list, apologized for his suspension after Friday’s practice. He said he took a banned substance last year and failed an NFL test in the offseason.

Tucker will be allowed to participate in practice during training camp and he will be able to play in preseason games.

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Daunte Culpepper’s NFL unemployment didn’t last for long. The former Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins quarterback has joined the Oakland Raiders on a one-year deal. He will compete with Josh McCown and Andrew Walter for a starting spot.

Last year Culpepper, who was plagued with injuries, only played four games for the Dolphins, throwing for 929 yards and two touchdowns.

He had issues with his mobility and was sacked 21 times and threw three interceptions. The Fish were 1-3 with Culpepper as a starter.

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The 2007 NFL preseason kicks off at Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium. The venue is home to the annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game with this year’s contest being played on August 5.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will kick off the 2007 preseason schedule in the annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game in Canton on Sunday August 5. NFL Network will televise the preseason classic. It marks the first time that NFL Network will carry the game.

The game announcement came during the press conference on February 3, 2007 revealing the Class of 2007. The Hall of the Fame’s Board of Selectors elected Gene Hickerson, Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas, and Roger Wehrli. The class will be formally enshrined during ceremonies at Fawcett Stadium in Canton on Saturday August 4th. The NFL Network and ESPN will also broadcast the enshrinement.

Tickets for the game, which went on sale May 2, are sold out.

Hall of Fame Game Series: The Hall of Fame Game series began in 1962, one year before the museum opened. A National Football League preseason game has been played at Fawcett Stadium each year but one since that inaugural game.  No game was played in 1966 as the preseason schedule was not set in time to include Canton for a neutral site game.

Beginning in 1971, following the AFL-NFL merger, an AFC vs. NFC format was adopted for the Hall of Fame series. Preset schedules were created that called for each team to make a visit to Canton over 14- and 15-year periods through 1994. In 1995, the NFL selected the Hall of Fame Game to showcase the debut of the league’s newest expansion teams – the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Since that time, the NFL designates the teams for the Hall of Fame Game on a season-by-season basis. The game normally includes teams with significant milestones (such as the return of the Cleveland Browns in 1999 and the Houston Texans inaugural game in 2002) or a connection to the Hall’s most recent class.

In 2006, the Hall of Fame Game returned to Sunday. The Hall of Fame games were played on Sunday afternoons from 1963 to 1965. The inaugural game and those played from 1967 through 1997 were played on Saturday afternoons. Then, in 1998, the Hall of Fame game was switched to primetime with kickoff moved to Saturday evening. One year later, the game moved to Monday night.

The Hall of Fame Game was televised nationally by ABC from 1971-2005 and broadcast by NBC in 2006. NFL Network will televise the 2007 AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game as the Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their 75th anniversary season against the New Orleans Saints.

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Five weeks after being banned from training with the team, quarterback Daunte Culpepper has been officially released by the Miami Dolphins, ending the three-time Pro Bowler’s tumultuous time with the team.

The free-agent quarterback recently met with Tampa Bay, two days after being released by the Dolphins.

The Bucs declined to disclose details of the meeting, which occurred in Tampa - though not at the team’ training facility.

This is interesting, as I also read that Culpepper reportedly has drawn interest from the Jacksonville Jaguar.

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The Atlanta Falcons have insisted the news that quarterback Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a dog fighting probe will not derail their pre-season plans.

The Falcons released a statement on Tuesday night apologising to the team’s fans about the situation and insisting business would carry on as normal despite the charges hanging over Vick’s head.

This isn’t just an American Football thing - it’s international…Maybe part of a world wide football players dog fighting ring.

Have a look at this story about another NFL player (Irish Football) busted for dog fighting last year:

Pit bull seized at GAA man’s home

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A recent Fox news story on Cheerleaders got me thinking:

One line in particular: Myth: Cheerleading’s the Best Way to Meet Players

Melanie Snare, an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader from 2001-2005 was interviewed an said of this: Not true, Snare says. “There’s a strict policy against fraternization. We interact with them in season at appearances, charity events. But that’s really the only time. We have a professional relationship, we don’t see them a whole lot. So if girls want to meet players, it’s really not the best way to do it.”

There’s a book in there somewhere:’Secrets of the NFL Cheerleaders’.

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Broadcaster Bill Maas, a former pro NFL Football player, was released from jail on Sunday last. He was arrested on drug possession and weapons charges during a roadside check.

Maas was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon. A search of his car uncovered a .22-caliber revolver, 5 grams of suspected marijuana, 6 grams of suspected cocaine and 28 pills of Ecstasy, police said.

Maas will return to court on August 21st.

Maas was drafted out of Pittsburgh by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1984 and became a two-time All-Pro. He played football with the Chiefs until 1992 and with Green Bay in 1993.

He joined Fox Sports in 1996 and worked for the network as a reporter, anchor and NFL football analyst through last season.

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The Denver Broncos have just signed offensive lineman Emmanuel Akah.

27 year old Akah moves from Frankfurt Galaxy following the end of the NFL Europa.

He has past experience of playing football in the US having played college football at Winston-Salem State and spent the 2006 pre-season with the Miami Dolphins.

He also played football with the London Olympians in the British AFL then joined NFL Europa for a time with Rhein Fire before being shipped to Frankfurt.

The 6ft 4in, 330-pound giant helped the Frankfurt Galaxy to the World Bowl XIV title with to a 22-7 defeat of the Amsterdam Admirals 22-7 in the final.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Oakland Raiders    Donovin Darius signed
Philadelphia Eagles    Zach Tuiasosopo cut
Monday, July 9, 2007
Atlanta Falcons    Daren Stone signed/draft choice
Cleveland Browns    Maurice Mann signed
Green Bay Packers    Allen Barbre signed/draft choice
Houston Texans    Bethel Johnson signed/unrestricted free agent, One-year contract
Houston Texans    Zac Woodfin signed, One-year contract
Friday, July 6, 2007
Denver Broncos    Kenny Peterson suspended, Four games - violation of steroid policy
Miami Dolphins    Kelly Campbell cut
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Oakland Raiders    Dominic Rhodes suspended, Four games for substance abuse policy
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Minnesota Vikings    Adam O’Connor signed
Tampa Bay Buccaneers    Torrie Cox suspended, Four games for substance abuse policy
Washington Redskins    Tyler Ecker signed
Monday, July 2, 2007
Buffalo Bills    Brian Moorman signed, three-year contract extension
Denver Broncos    Cliff Washburn signed

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This is a new site which will offer American Football NFL news and opinions. I will update the site regularly coming up to the start of the new NFL season.

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