Nfl Football - Football Betting

2005-11-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

Sharps steering clear of MNF line moves
By Andrew Folkes
Mon, Nov 7, 2005

It’s looks like the 4-point spread for tonight’s Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots contest is a little too tight for sharp bettors. The line opened with the Colts as 3-point favorites, was wagered up to -3 ½ by mid week and hit –4 at most books following Sunday’s games. But the wise guys don’t account for any of that movement. --football gambling--

“I’ve been talking with several books today and it’s all public action,” says Randle, an oddsmaker for Bowmans.com. “The sharps have been staying away from this one. I think they’re reluctant because of all of New England’s injuries.” --football gambling--

Despite having linebacker and defensive play caller Tedy Bruschi back in the lineup, New England’s defense remains in shambles. Defensive ends Richard Seymour (knee), Ty Warren (hip), Jarvis Green (shoulder), linebacker Willie McGinest (finger) and strong safety James Sanders (ankle) are all listed as questionable for tonight’s game. --football gambling--

The Patriots have managed to go 4-3 with three paydays with their battered squad and, including the postseason, have beaten the Colts six straight times. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is also 0-7 in his career when playing at Foxboro. However, the Colts’ dominant play this season coupled with the sorry state of the New England defense have been enough to make the public forget those trends. --football gambling--

“The way the public perceives it, they’ve never had a better chance to beat New England,” says SportsInteraction.com oddsmaker Anthony Munnelly. “The two factors that the public loves to bet on have come together here. The Colts are playing very strong, and the Patriots are very vulnerable. Everyone wants a piece of the Colts right now.” --football gambling--

According to Randel, books expect to start seeing sharp action on New England if the spread reaches –4 ½. “The books will be reluctant to move it up anymore,” he says. “Four is kind of a key number.” “Books don’t like moving their numbers too much,” adds Munnelly. “But with all the money coming in they might have to.” --football gambling--

The total on tonight’s contest has also seen significant movement, leaping from 45 ½ at the open to 48 ½ at most books by Monday morning. --football gambling--

“Totals tend to go up more than they go down [in high-profile games] like this, and this is a huge game. It’s the game of the year,” explains Munnelly. “I think it’ll say put at 48 ½. I’m surprised it’s as high as it is.” --football gambling--

Share your thoughts on this article in the Covers posting forum.--football gambling--

2005-10-31T13:07:00.000-08:00

Jags eclipse some records they didn't want to break

It was a record-setting day for the Jaguars, but the records weren't exactly the kind Coach Jack Del Rio is bragging about. -NFL Football-

The Jags started the game by doing something that has never been permitted in franchise history -- allowing a blocked punt for a touchdown. On the Jags' first possession, Drew Wahlroos blocked P Chris Hanson's kick, and Brandon Chillar returned it for a 29-yard touchdown. It was the first time since 1987 that the Rams have scored a touchdown on a blocked punt. -NFL Football-

Me and him are both San Diego guys," Wahlroos told stlouisrams.com. "Our teams played against each other in high school and it's great to see him score. It's exciting for us to give the team a spark like that." -NFL Football-

The Rams also scored their second touchdown on a record-setting big play -- an 83-yard touchdown pass from Jamie Martin to Kevin Curtis. -NFL Football-

It was the longest touchdown pass the Jaguars have yielded in their history. -NFL Football-

Road warrior

Coaches always say that players need to be more mentally focused on the road. That's certainly been the case for Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis, who picked off two passes Sunday. -NFL Football-

That gives Mathis a grand total of seven interceptions in the last six road games. -NFL Football-

"We felt like this was a game that we could have won and a game we should have won," Mathis said. "These are the games that hurt the most."

The big three-oh

By scoring just 21 points Sunday, the Jaguars inched closer to one of the most futile offensive records in the NFL -NFL Football-

Joe DiMaggio had a 56-game hitting streak; the Jaguars have now gone 57 games without scoring 30 points in a game. If the Jaguars don't score 30 points in one of the next two games, they will own an NFL record they'd rather not have. -NFL Football-

Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, the Cleveland Browns have the record by going 58 games without scoring 30-plus points from 1995 to 2002. -NFL Football-

"I've made this statement before, but I think this football team will go over 30 points several times this year," Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio told reporters heading into Sunday's game. "I'm not backing away from that." -NFL Football-

Despite Del Rio's confidence, you have to wonder if the Jaguars will ever score 30 points if they couldn't do it Sunday. -NFL Football-

The Rams, after all, rank last in the league in scoring defense. -NFL Football-

Getting some help

The Rams committed a variety of bad penalties last week against the Saints and according to stlouisrams.com that prompted them to bring in a pair of referees during practice this week to help them correct the problems. It didn't seem to help as the Rams had eight penalties for 44 yards in the first half against the Jaguars. -NFL Football-

Etc.

Marshall Faulk gained 23 yards rushing to surpass Franco Harris for 10th in career yards with 12,129. . . Jaguars WR Reggie Williams missed much of the first half after taking a blow to the head, and had no catches. . . . Curtis caught three passes for 105 yards, his first 100-yard game. -NFL Football-

Mike Bianchi AND WIRE REPORTS

2005-10-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

San Diego
--- nfl ---
The recent emergence of first-round pick Shawne Merriman couldn’t be coming at a better time for the Chargers. Finally healthy and with his motor in high gear, Merriman, who has been playing roughly half the snaps, splitting time with Ben Leber and at times Shaun Phillips at the LOLB spot, is making his presence felt, especially in the pass rush. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
Extra pressure can only benefit a secondary that is struggling to stick with opposing receivers without drawing flags. Also, starting weak-side LB Steve Foley, the emotional leader of the defense, may need to be shut down for a week or two prior to the team’s Nov. 13 bye week. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
Continuing to play in games with an abdominal strain he suffered in September has prevented it from healing. Although no move has been officially discussed, we’re told that it’s conceivable to see Merriman switch sides to take Foley’s place should Foley miss any time.--- nfl ---
--- nfl ---

2005-10-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

Jaguars hang on to beat the Bengals 23-20

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2005) -- Chad Johnson jokingly resuscitated the football early, and Carson Palmer nearly brought the Cincinnati Bengals back to life late.
Then Jacksonville's defense put an end to all that.

Byron Leftwich threw for two touchdowns, Fred Taylor ran for a season-high 132 yards and the Jaguars made a huge stop in the closing minutes to hand the Bengals their first loss of the season, 23-20.

"This shows how good of a team we have," said Jags receiver Ernest Wilford, who caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. - NFL Football -

The Bengals started 4-0 for the first time since 1988 -- the franchise's last Super Bowl season -- and entered the game as one of the last two undefeated teams in the league.

But the Jaguars (3-2) took advantage of good field position early and had two key stops in the fourth quarter that left AFC South rival Indianapolis as the lone unbeaten.

"This was huge," Jags cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "There's a big difference between 3-2 and 2-3. It means a great deal."

Josh Scobee kicked three field goals, including a 51-yarder in the second period and a 53-yarder with 9:45 to play that gave the Jaguars a 10-point lead.

Jacksonville's defense held on from there -- barely -- and kept Palmer from engineering a dramatic comeback.

Bobby McCray knocked the ball out of Palmer's hand at the Jacksonville 45-yard line with 1:28 to play. Akin Ayodele, who dropped a possible interception the play before, recovered it.

The Jags ran out the clock from there. - NFL Football -

The defense's other key stop came on fourth-and-1 at the Jags 39-yard line with 14:30 remaining. Rudi Johnson ran up the middle, and John Henderson and Marcus Stroud stuffed him for no gain. The Jags then drove 26 yards to set up Scobee's final field goal, which tied his previous career long and the franchise record.

The Bengals used two long passes from Palmer to rookie Chris Henry to cut the lead to 23-20 with 5:16 remaining. Palmer hit Henry down the sideline for a 47-yard gain, then hit the third-round draft pick across the middle two plays later for a 25-yard score.

Aside from the final drive, nearly everything went right for the Bengals late. Very little went right for them early. - NFL Football -

Cincinnati fell behind 13-0 before Chad Johnson caught a 14-yard TD pass from Palmer. Cincinnati had a 69-yard punt nullified by penalty, dropped an interception, shanked a punt and had another one blocked -- all in the first half.

he Jaguars had great field possession following the miscues, helping them score a touchdown and a field goal. - NFL Football -

"We dug ourselves a hole with field possession in the first half," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "We didn't play very well at the beginning of the game and we were playing up hill."

Leftwich found George Wrighster for a 26-yard score after gaining about 40 yards when Kyle Larson 's long punt was brought back because of an illegal touching. Wrighster caught the pass in the flat, hurdled Deltha O'Neal at the 5 and trotted into the end zone.

When Cincinnati put together a decent drive Johnson turned the wrong way on Palmer's deep pass and couldn't get to it. But Johnson and Palmer got into it on the sideline, and Lewis had to separate them. - NFL Football -

Larson's next punt was blocked, and the Jags got the ball at the Bengals 33. Scobee's 32-yard field goal made it 10-0.

Scobee followed with the 51-yard field goal that made it 13-0.

Palmer and Johnson, having worked things out, hooked up three times on the next drive, including the 14-yarder for a touchdown.

But Johnson complained after the game that Palmer wasn't trying hard enough to get him the ball. - NFL Football -

"They didn't get it to me period!" said Johnson, who had five receptions for 52 yards. "They doubled me the whole game. That happens every week. Does that mean that when a team doubles me that I'm through? It's not too hard to get it to (Terrell Owens) or Randy Moss."

Johnson made good on his promise of having something special planned if he scored during Cincinnati's lone appearance in prime time this season. He beat Mathis in the corner of the end zone, then performed CPR on the football. He pretended to give it mouth-to-mouth and three chest compressions. - NFL Football -

"We need to win these," Johnson said. "I'm not satisfied with 4-1. The Bengals of old might have been OK keeping it close. We're not supposed to be close anymore."

2005-10-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Football player tackles Hodgkin's

By PATRICK SCHMIEDT
Star-Tribune staff writer

LANDER -- Brody Knell is invincible. For an 18-year-old with a girlfriend on his hip, a starting position on the football team locked down and college recruiters waiting around the corner, his attitude is not surprising. But that aura is only bolstered by the fact that he beat cancer.

Not only that, he beat Stage IV Hodgkin's. By the time Brody was 12, the cancer had already spread from his lymph nodes into his lungs and abdomen. - NFL Football -

Maybe it's because Brody's cancer has been in remission for five years, and he's come out healthy on the other side. Maybe it's because Brody is so used to telling the story. Maybe it's because Brody is having a tremendous senior season for Lander'sfootball team.

His reasons are his own. But one thing is clear: Satisfied just to be alive doesn't describe Brody Knell. - NFL Football -

For him -- and seemingly for his friends and family -- the cancer was an inconvenience more than it was a threat. Hodgkin's meant less time for snowmobiling, less time for basketball. It meant more time on the road between Lander and Denver, more time stuck in a hospital when he could be at home.

Hodgkin's wasn't a threat to Brody's mortality. It wasn't a disease that might take away his life.

Turns out he was right.

But he still thinks about it.

"Just about every day. They say it's a slim to none chance (for relapse) after five years. ... But still, it scares you," he said. - NFL Football -

He has learned how to live without his thyroid, which was more or less killed by the radiation treatment. He has adapted to his tendency to cramp up, and he has figured out how to keep his fingertips and toetips warm in the winter when they chill, an after-affect of his cancer treatment.

Brody's desire is for his story to touch others. He wants kids who are going through a similar situation at a similar age to be able to look up to him for inspiration.

He is proud of how he fought off a cancer that was close to taking his life. So is his dad.

If the poster on the wall of Bailey Tire in Lander doesn't make it clearly obvious, Bruce Knell is one proud papa. The poster shows a strong young man, standing 6-foot even and a chiseled 190 pounds, posed in the black-and-green jersey his team wears.

The father-son bond was strong from the get-go. Brody's mother left when Brody was still in diapers. The bond only strengthened in the year Brody went from healthy boy playingfootball to emergency-room trips to the hospital, and back again to football. - NFL Football -

The cancer came without warning. One day, while taking off Brody's shoulder pads after football practice, Bruce Knell noticed some lumps on the side of his son's neck.

"They actually got snagged. When I tried to pull his shoulder pads off of him, they hit these lumps," he recalled.

At first, doctors thought it was an infection and tried to treat it with antibiotics. But an oncologist in Riverton gave a different opinion.

The cancer itself was rare for a 12-year-old host. American Cancer Society statistics say there are about 8,000 new Hodgkin's cases every year in America, usually in people 15-25 or older than 55. Only about 10-15 percent of the cases affect those under 16. - NFL Football -

Brody remembers his dad stopping by South Elementary to tell him the news.

"I could see my dad on the far end of the playground come out of the building, and I seen his face," Brody said. "I just came up running to him, I was like, 'Dad what's going on? I have it, don't I?'"

He went through chemotherapy for eight months and went through another six weeks of radiation therapy. The family lost count of how many times Brody was life-flighted out of Lander. It might have been four times, or six. Maybe more.

"We almost lost him a couple times, and somehow, it wasn't his time," Bruce said. "And he got better." - NFL Football -

The treatment took its toll on Brody's young body. Aside from the hair loss and the almost complete loss of energy, the most obvious physical change was in his size. When he started his treatment, Brody weighed 105 pounds. Eight months later the scale said he lost one pound.

"An entire year, when they're supposed to be gaining all the weight, not only did he not gain weight but he lost a pound over the year," Bruce said.

But less than a year after his diagnosis, Brody was playing football on his seventh-grade team in Lander. He started lifting weights and developing the athleticism that would turn him into one of Class 4A's most versatile players.

He has played a variety of positions for Lander. On offense, he was a quarterback as a sophomore, earned all-state honors as a tight end last season and now holds the slotback position. On defense, he has played cornerback, safety and linebacker. Heading into tonight's game against Star Valley, Brody is second in Class 4A in receiving yards and eighth in rushing yards. - NFL Football -

"I feel comfortable putting him on the field in just about any position and knowing he'll do a good job for us," said Steve Simpson, Lander's head coach.

Even though he has bounced around at several positions for the Tigers, Knell's dream is to play quarterback in the NFL. He said he's drawing interest from scouts not for his legs but for his arm.

"My main goal is to be a quarterback," he said. "It's always been my dream. I can throw the ball 78 yards with a regular football."

Simpson said it hasn't always been easy, but, much like during the cancer treatment, Brody has always responded to the situations he's put in. - NFL Football -

"He's always held his chin up high and always done what we asked him to do," he said.

2005-09-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Jansen's two thumbs up -- both broken

ASHBURN, Va. (Sept. 14, 2005) -- Now is not the time for Jon Jansen to take up the piano. Video games are out, too, although he's never been much for those anyway.

Every movie he sees gets "two thumbs up." As for hitchhiking? "It's automatic," he said with a smile as he raised one of his casts. - NFL Football -

The jokes could go on and on. These days, Jansen is all thumbs -- all broken thumbs, that is. The Washington Redskins right tackle is sporting a big white cast on each arm after breaking his left thumb in a practice last week and his right one in the team's win over the Chicago Bears.

"I've never heard of linemen having two broken thumbs," said 42-year-old guard Ray Brown, a 20-year veteran and the oldest lineman in the league. "I've heard of a broken thumb and maybe a broken finger somewhere. Aw, that's tough." - NFL Football -

Trainer Bubba Tyer hasn't seen anything like it, either, and he's been with the team for a third of a century. Nevertheless, Jansen expects to play Sept. 19 when the Redskins face the Dallas Cowboys, protecting the blind side of left-handed quarterback Mark Brunell.

"Obviously, I would rather play with 10 good fingers," Jansen said. "But four on each hand will do."

Jansen said he was fine playing with one cast Sept. 11, and he stayed in the game after breaking the second thumb in the fourth quarter. Fortunately, his casts don't cover his other fingers, so he can still clutch and grab, although he certainly wouldn't be able to play if he were anything other than a lineman or a kicker. - NFL Football -

"It's a little bit cumbersome," he said as he looked down at his hands after a Sept. 14 practice. "But it's what I've got to deal with. It's Dallas, Monday night, so it doesn't much matter."

The coaches aren't about to give Jansen a rest. Not only is he too valuable, he just wouldn't allow it. Jansen missed only one snap in his first five NFL seasons before sitting out last season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

"This isn't even a setback for him," assistant coach Joe Bugel said. "It's not going to bother him. Even at practice today, he's a real warrior."

Jansen wears gloves when he's on the field, so he has to put those on before he's fitted for the bigger casts he wears for practices and games. He will have to make some subtle changes to his blocking technique. - NFL Football -

"The big thing is probably not being able to use the palm of his hand, the flat surface where you slide along the surface of the shoulder pads," Brown said. "But it's to his advantage on the run game -- he can throw his punches."

At least Jansen won't get called for holding this week. Well, probably not.

"I've seen stranger things," Jansen said. "But I would have a good argument."

2005-09-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

Jerry Rice Ends Legendary NFL Career

EDDIE PELLS, AP Sports Writer

DENVER - Jerry Rice spent 20 years making every sacrifice he could to play the game he loved. He knew his football career was over when all those sacrifices weren't enough to make him a key player in Denver for one, final season.

Relegated to reserve duty or nothing with the Broncos, Rice chose the latter, calling it a career Monday after two record-setting decades in theNFL.

"I think that's it for me," Rice said during his farewell news conference at Broncos headquarters. "I'm done and I'm looking forward to the next phase of my life now."

With that, the NFL reached the end of an era, saying goodbye to a once-in-a-lifetime player.

The 42-year-old receiver, a first-round draft pick out of tiny Mississippi Valley State in 1985, leaves the field with 38 league records, including the most career receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895) and touchdowns receiving (197).

But as much as the numbers, it was the way he did things that made the biggest impression — the right way. He was a master of details, a maestro of route-running precision, a good guy off the field and a workout junkie both in season and out. - NFL Football -

Revered by fans and his peers, Rice told his short-time teammates in Denver that he was retiring during a short meeting held after his public announcement. The Broncos gave him a standing ovation.

"I'd never seen anything like that before," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "That shows you the kind of respect the man has." - NFL Football -

Shanahan said Rice is the best player to ever play the game, and there are many who would agree.

He led the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles and helped make Joe Montana and Steve Young look great. He mastered the West Coast offense and made a career of turning short catches into long gains, strutting into the end zone, his arms raised aloft. - NFL Football -

His work ethic and attention to the little things gave an entire generation of receivers someone to look up to.

How detail oriented was he?

Shanahan said Rice insisted the right-handed assistant who threw practice passes to the receivers be replaced with a lefty when the 49ers switched from the right-handed Montana to the left-handed Young. - NFL Football -

"... I'd see him upstairs. One time, I said, `Jerry, what are you doing?'" recalled Shanahan, who spent three years coaching Rice as San Francisco's offensive coordinator. "He said, `I was looking at film. I'm looking at the top 10 receivers in the AFC and the top 10 receivers in the NFC. I don't want any of these young guys ever to catch me.'"

Inevitably, though, time did catch up with Rice.

After 16 years with the Niners, Rice went to Oakland, where he had three fairly productive seasons. But it became clear the end might be near last season when the Raiders phased him out, prompting a midseason trade to Seattle.

He still averaged 14.3 yards a catch last season and scored three touchdowns, showing traces of the big-play capability he flashed so often earlier in his career. - NFL Football -

Last spring, his agent put out a league-wide memo stating that the GOAT — the Greatest Of All Time — was available.

Denver looked like a great fit: a team with a winning tradition, coached by a man with whom Rice was familiar and comfortable. So Rice signed with the Broncos, knowing there was no guarantee of a roster spot.

After some early trouble adjusting to the mile-high altitude, Rice looked in shape and ready for a 21st season. About halfway through training camp, he moved ahead of Darius Watts, to Denver's No. 3 receiver spot. - NFL Football -

That move caused a stir, but a closer look showed a receiver who had trouble separating from third- and fourth-string cornerbacks in practice, a receiver who finished with four catches for 24 yards in four preseason games.

When Watts improved, Rice was bumped back down the depth chart in the third preseason game. After the finale, Shanahan told Rice he'd be a No. 4, at best, competing for playing time with youngsters Charlie Adams and Todd Devoe.

"I think it's the right thing," said Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, the last man to coach Rice in a real game. "I know how hard this was for him. He'd like to play until he's 60 if he could. I've never met anyone quite like that." - NFL Football -

Shanahan was willing to give Rice a roster spot, but told him the third receiver spot was out and there were no guarantees he'd play every week. Rice didn't want to deal with the possible indignity of being declared inactive for games or withering away on the bench when he did suit up.

"He did everything he could possibly do to get that job," Shanahan said of Denver's third receiver spot. "But it's my job to be honest to the team and do the tough job. I had to do the right thing for the organization. Jerry understands that."

Rice believes his route running was "still pretty good," although he concedes he's not as explosive as he used to be.

"Eventually," he said, "everything is going to catch up with you."

Everything finally did catch up with Rice. With the end upon him, he was sad, overwhelmed and maybe even a little bit surprised as he stood behind the microphone to announce his retirement.

"I never thought I'd ever see this day," he said.

2005-08-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Clarett's NFL Career Starts With Setback

EDDIE PELLS, AP Sports Writer

DENVER - Unable to practice much or play at all during the preseason, Maurice Clarett will be released by the Denver Broncos later this week, his agent said Sunday.

Agent Steven Feldman said Clarett, the troubled running back, whom the Broncos surprisingly chose in the third round of this year's draft, will be released when the Broncos make their first round of cuts.

"They didn't contact me, per se," Feldman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "The kid called me and let me know they're going to let him go."

Clarett's pending release also was reported by ESPN.com on Sunday.

Broncos spokesman Jim Saccomano said the team didn't plan to release anybody until Tuesday.

The pending release marks a disappointing start to the NFL career of the former Ohio State running back, who missed two years of football after leading the Buckeyes to the national title.

Most thought he was a low draft pick, if a draft pick at all, and the Broncos surprised many by making him the final selection on the first day of the draft.

Clarett made the unusual move of agreeing to a contract that included no signing bonus. He relinquished what would have been about a $400,000 bonus in exchange for incentives that could have earned him up to $7 million over four years.

If a team claims him off waivers, it will assume the terms of the contract. More likely is that Clarett will clear waivers, become a free agent and sign a new deal.

"I'd love to see someone pick up the contract," Feldman said. "The way the incentives in the contract are, he won't get them with another team."

Clarett came in and said he simply wanted to start over and blend in. He talked a good game, but his chances of making the team were hurt early in training camp when he injured his groin and missed nearly two weeks of practice.

Some teammates questioned Clarett's commitment to rehabilitating the groin and as the missed practices piled up, coach Mike Shanahan stopped defending Clarett to the media.

Clarett stopped talking to reporters. In one of his last interviews, he told the Denver Post he wanted to be with the Broncos, but "if I get cut, if I don't have a place here, it won't be my first setback."

Clarett was listed fifth on the depth chart behind Mike Anderson, Tatum Bell, Quentin Griffin and Ron Dayne, who is having a good camp. Shanahan did not play Clarett in any of Denver's three preseason games.

"I think at this point, I'm sure the Broncos did what they thought they needed to do," Feldman said.

Asked if his client was completely healthy, the agent said, "I'm certain he is."

As for Clarett's mood Sunday: "I'd really rather not comment," Feldman said.

Associated Press.

2005-08-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

Madden NFL 06

Updated roster and new play mode notwithstanding, the Game Boy Advance version of Madden NFL 06 is roughly identical to Madden NFL 2005. The controls, interfaces, artificial intelligence, graphics, audio, and pretty much everything else in this latest game are mostly unchanged from the previous one. That's not a complete negative, since last year's game delivered some great football, but you may be disappointed if you were hoping to see significant upgrades to this year's model.
Exient Entertainment, the game's developer, made numerous improvements when it took over development from Budcat Creations last year. The folks at Exient made the AI smarter, put in adjustable difficulty sliders, made the field easier to see by pulling back the camera viewpoint, and made the playbook easier to understand by including diagrams of the receivers' actual routes. Madden NFL 06 also incorporates all those improvements but doesn't bring any fixes or enhancements of its own to the table. In fact, the development team didn't even implement the heavily hyped quarterback-vision-passing feature that was newly added to the console versions of Madden NFL 06. It did add a new play mode, however, called minicamp. Minicamp mode is a set of four minigames involving field goals, passing, running, and tackling, and it can be played with as many as six participants by passing around a single GBA. Although it may be disappointing to some that the GBA version of Madden NFL 06 doesn't play the same as its console counterparts, there's no denying that it's a solid, well-rounded football game in its own right. Beginners can dive right in and start picking and running plays just by making use of the D pad and the A button. Seasoned players, meanwhile, can take advantage of expert controls that let players reverse plays, call audibles, and spin and dive all over the field. The playbook contains more than 400 different offensive and defensive plays. After picking a play, you can initiate the snap by tapping the A button, or you can change the play on the fly (known as an "audible") by tapping the B button. After the snap, the iconic passing system lets you toss the ball from the quarterback to one of three preset receivers using the GBA's button array. On offense, the GBA's button layout lets you tell your receivers and running backs to sprint, dive, spin, or juke. On defense, you can make your linemen sprint, jump, or leap. Whether an interception or a tackle occurs depends on where the receiver is with respect to the ball and the defender. The CPU seems to play an intelligent game. In particular, it's good about passing to the most open receiver on offense and deflecting long-range passes on defense. Madden NFL 06 is also a perfect fit for the GBA's "play anywhere" portability. It includes numerous play modes that are designed for short or extended playing sessions, as well as for one or multiple players. The play modes consist of season, practice, two-minute drill, quick play, situation, and minicamp. Players with only a few minutes to kill can get in a few snaps in the two-minute drill, practice, minicamp, and situation modes. The situation mode is a particularly good time-waster because it lets you set up what-if scenarios by adjusting the teams, score, quarter, time left, team of possession, downs, number of time-outs, and yards left to the goal. Players with at least 20 minutes on their hands can dive into the quick play or season modes. The game automatically keeps track of records throughout the season and maintains statistics in roughly 80 categories. Most modes support two-player link play. The new minicamp mode supports up to six players in pass-and-play fashion. All that's missing is a create-a-player feature, which is an odd oversight considering you can trade and release existing players that are already in the game.
The two areas where Madden NFL 06 could have used some sprucing up over last year's game are its graphics and audio. Visually, the game earns a pass, mainly because the skewed field viewpoint and sprite-rendered players work together in adequate fashion to convey a 3D perspective, which is no easy feat on the traditionally 2D GBA. Player bodies are tiny, and some animations are choppy, particularly tackles, but the overall flow of players down the field is relatively smooth. If you ever played Madden NFL '98 on the PlayStation, that's about what this game looks like. On the audio side of things, Madden NFL 06 comes up lacking and actually seems to have taken a step back from last year's game. The persistent crowd noise and player grunts are the same. However, both the variety and frequency of spoken comments from John Madden and Al Michaels have been reduced. All told, Madden NFL 06 isn't much different from Madden NFL 2005. If you already own the previous game and don't care about the latest rosters, there really isn't a compelling reason to upgrade. However, if up-to-date rosters do matter to you or you don't already have a football game for your GBA, then don't hesitate to pick up Madden NFL 06.

GameSpot

2005-08-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

NFL teams to use pill to monitor body heat

MANKATO, Minn. - A small plaque lies before a tree planted in Korey Stringer's memory at Minnesota Vikings training camp. "In Memory of Big K," it reads, honoring the beloved right tackle who died four years ago from heatstroke. There was no way for trainers to monitor players' core temperatures on that sweltering July day when Stringer collapsed, no definitive way to tell that his massive body was overheating beyond its threshold.
But now there is, in the form of a swallowed capsule that measures core body temperature as it passes through the digestive system, and the Vikings - along with a few other NFL teams - are using it. - NFL Football -
The Core Temp Ingestible Core Body Temperature Sensor was developed in the late 1980s by HQ Inc., of Palmetto, Fla., as a research tool used for a number of projects, including monitoring how certain pharmaceutical drugs affect the body's core temperature.
The pill has evolved in the past couple of years or so into a protective device for athletes - in football, tennis, running and other sports - who train in intense heat, according to marketing director Susan Smith. - NFL Football -
The Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles are using the device to gauge the effect of suffocating heat on huge athletes going through intense August workouts in pads and a helmet. Without the pill, monitoring is anything but an exact science.
"We've had some people get to 106 degrees and not have symptoms and some get to 102 and have symptoms," said Rick Burkholder, head athletic trainer for the Eagles. "Some guys' core temperature rises after they come off the field and stand around and other guys, it goes down when they come out. It depends on the individual." - NFL Football -
Such was the case in Mankato on July 31, 2001, with the 335-pound Stringer. The heat index soared to 110 degrees on that day, the hottest day of the year in Minnesota.
Stringer had left practice early the day before. Determined to stick this one out, he labored during his final practice, but didn't summon a trainer until the session was over.
Head coach Mike Tice, who was offensive line coach at the time, said Stringer never showed any symptoms of heat illness. - NFL Football -
"He didn't look like he needed water," Tice said then. "He looked good on film, too. He had a fantastic practice. He was sharp. He was crisp. He got all his blocks."
About 15 hours later, Stringer died at a nearby hospital, his body temperature over 108 degrees. The loss of an immensely popular teammate remains with the Vikings to this day.
"It's still vivid in my mind," center Cory Withrow said. "I can still picture that whole day."
Pat Williams was playing for the Buffalo Bills when Stringer died. The news certainly hit home with the rotund nose tackle, who is listed generously at 317 pounds.
"Wow," was all Williams could say when asked to recall his reaction. "I started eating better, started watching my weight, anything I could do to keep me safe."
Now with the Vikings, Williams is one of about two dozen players on the team who take the pill, which costs around $30 each, every day before practice. - NFL Football -
Team trainers come up behind him periodically throughout the day and hold an electronic sensor close to his back. The pill transmits a core temperature reading and allows trainers to decide when the player needs to pull back and cool down.
It also gives Williams some valuable peace of mind, even if he is used to working out in extreme heat in his native Louisiana.
"Everything will be all right, yep," Williams said confidently. "I'm from down South. You probably need to take two of those pills if you're working out down there, but it's good to have."
Vikings trainer Chuck Barta is elated to have another tool to help keep players safe. He said there are certain factors the trainers look at before asking a player to take the pill, which stays in the system for about 24 hours. - NFL Football -
"There's certainly variables you look at, the biggest being past history," Barta said. "If they've had problems in the past, the bigger guys, those are the ones we'd like to participate."
After treating three players for heat illness during training camp in 2003, Jaguars head trainer Mike Ryan takes a similar approach.
"We have what we call a 'watch list.' It's usually for the larger players or players who have a history of conditioning factor or anyone who's lost a lot of weight just before camp," Ryan said.
Ryan said if the pill is working properly, it all but eliminates the risk of another heatstroke death. - NFL Football -
"If it works and it's doing it's job, no one will get to the stage where there's a problem," Ryan said. "That's what we like. It's a form of preventative medicine."
That's exactly what Tice wants to hear. The coach was very close to Stringer, and said at the time that he hoped the hole left in his heart from Stringer's absence never heals.
"Yes, I think it's a good thing," said Tice, who wears a long-sleeve shirt at practice - even on the hottest days - so he can gauge the heat for himself. "If what we think about the heat is true, we're very on top of it. ... Certainly we want to make sure that we monitor it every step of the way." - NFL Football -
Now every team is conscious of what can happen when large men are pushed too hard in searing heat. But it undoubtedly resonates on the Minnesota State University campus just a little more.
"There's always going to be a heightened sense of awareness going forward since Korey's loss so they probably take it more seriously here," guard Chris Liwienski said. "It's something that's in the back of my mind and we'll never stop thinking about. It's a tragedy we all had to live through and there's always going to be a place in my heart for him."

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press

2005-08-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

NFL Training Camps: Law joins Jets, Westbrook back with Eagles

Ty Law found a new home while Brian Westbrook returned to his NFL team Monday.
Law landed with the New York Jets, agreeing to a multiyear deal that could be worth as much as $28.5 million for the first three years. The cornerback who was released by the Patriots - he has three Super Bowl rings - took a physical and worked out for the team Monday.
The 31-year-old Law is intent on showing the Jets and the league he is completely healed from a serious foot injury that kept him out of the Super Bowl in February.
"I think I have something to prove all the time anyway, that's just my mind-set. It's how I approach the game," Law said. "I can hold my head up high and say I've had a pretty good career thus far, and I'm going to continue that. I have a lot left to give.
"I'm going to prove to all the doubters, if there are any out there, that I'm still the best cornerback in football." - NFL Football -
Westbrook is one of the best all-around running backs in the game, but he had little bargaining leverage with the Eagles. The fourth-year pro last season led all NFL running backs with 73 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 812 yards and three scores on the ground. He had been holding out for a long-term contract after signing a one-year restricted free agent offer for $1.43 million. - NFL Football -
"I did have a visit with him and it went well," Eagles coach Andy Reid said after practice. "We mainly talked about football. He was anxious to get back out here and get himself going and playing and catching up on the things that he missed. But he did a good job today."
Westbrook had little choice but to report for camp by Monday. He risked forfeiting a year of service if he stayed out any longer. Then he would have been unable to become an unrestricted free agent next season - possibly missing out on a big payday. - NFL Football -
Eagles teammate Terrell Owens was sidelined after reinjuring his groin Sunday, an injury initially sustained last Thursday. The All-Pro receiver also is unhappy with his contract, a seven-year, $49 million deal, but has been at training camp since the team reported late in July.
"It felt good yesterday," Reid said of Owens' injury. "Toward the end it started to get a little tight on him in the second practice. It's the same as it was the day before. We got to go back to the drawing board here, see how he does today, and then within the next couple days we will see how he's feeling." - NFL Football -
Philadelphia also placed receiver Todd Pinkston on injured reserve with a torn Achilles' tendon. Pinkston was hurt Friday while running a route. He caught 36 passes for 676 yards and one touchdown last season as the team's third option behind Terrell Owens and Westbrook.
The Eagles will retire Reggie White's No. 92 during a ceremony Dec. 5, team owner Jeffrey Lurie said. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and an ordained minister known as the "Minister of Defense" died of a heart attack on Dec. 26, 2004, exactly one week after his 43rd birthday. - NFL Football -
"It's something that the last conversation I had with Reggie, I said to him, 'I really want to do that in Philadelphia. I want to do it on a Monday Night Football game, so the whole country can watch it,'" Lurie said. "And that's exactly what we're going to do."

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

2005-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Arena football finds a home in the Valley

July 26, 2005 — George Halas may have disagreed, but to me, there’s just one way to describe arena football — it’s a lot of fun to watch.Designed for fast-paced action on an indoor, artificial surface, arena games are high-scoring duels with footballs flying through the air on almost every play. It’s 8-on-8 played on a 50-yard field.Back in his time as an NFL coach, I think "Papa Bear" liked to see those low-scoring, grind-it-out battles on "the frozen tundra," where the players’ uniforms always got dirty and they did their "trash" talking on the field by flattening the guy from the other team on an end sweep. And if there was blood on your jersey by the end of the game, all the better. - NFL Football -
For the most part, those old pro football days have given way to the arrival of flamboyant teams such as the Rio Grande Valley Dorados of arenafootball2.This is the Dorados’ second season in the Valley and they’ve become quite a hit.With a playoff berth on the line Saturday night, the showdown between the Dorados and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz attracted 5,519 fans to Dodge Arena in Hidalgo. Even though the Dorados lost 71-40, they found out later that night that they had clinched their first playoff berth because the Central Valley Coyotes lost to the Memphis Xplorers 69-57. Now the Dorados (9-6) will attempt to secure their first 10-win season and a possible home date for the first round of the playoffs when they play host to the Bakersfield Blitz (6-9) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dodge Arena in their final regular-season game.No doubt a number of Dorados fans will arrive early at Dodge Arena on Saturday afternoon to stage tailgate parties like the ones they had prior to last weekend’s game. "The Dorados do a great job of selling a lot of tickets and getting their fans to come out," said Yard Dawgz quarterback Craig Strickland, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 260 yards and six touchdowns to highlight Oklahoma City’s win on Saturday. - NFL Football -
"The smaller the arena, the louder it’s going to get, so when you come in here (Dodge Arena), you expect it to be a real dogfight because of the (strong) fan base the Dorados have."Yes, the Dorados have found a home in the Valley.It helps a lot that they’ve having a successful season and that the players come out to meet fans and sign autographs after their home games. It’s a nice gesture that can only add to the team’s already strong fan base. - NFL Football -

The Herald.

2005-07-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

USM football players earn right to brag

If you overheard some bragging in the Golden Eagles locker room late last week, it wouldn't be a surprise. - NFL Football -
The football team at Southern Miss, which can be justly proud of its unbroken string of 11 winning seasons, has one of the highest graduation rates in the country.
Now that's worth bragging about.
In 2005, USM graduated 85 percent of its eligible football student-athletes. Only 25 Division I-A colleges reached the 70 percent mark. Of those, only six schools did better than 90 percent. The average graduation rate was 58 percent.
USM's accomplishment did not happen overnight. In 2000, the school had a 61 percent graduation rate. - NFL Football -
But under the leadership of coach Jeff Bower, academic performance has become more important and players are coached as much in the classroom as on the field.
Academic plans are tailored to each student. More attention is paid to students who might have learning disabilities or need extra attention. - NFL Football -
Tracy Robinson, who came to USM in 1998, is director of the student academic enhancement program. Her staff visits classrooms on a regular basis and monitors players' progress.
The USM faculty lets Robinson's staff know if players are having academic difficulties, and sends out progress reports twice a semester. - NFL Football -
Coaches meet with student academic enhancement program officials, who give them a report every Friday - who missed class, who missed study hall. They contact athletes based on those reports. The student-athletes are held accountable.
Retired schoolteachers have been hired to tutor any student-athletes who are having academic difficulties. - NFL Football -
This intensive approach has paid off handsomely.
As Neil Mead, an offensive lineman from Collins who recently graduated and is working on a master's degree, said, "It's a pride thing, a sense of reality. ... The NFL is not guaranteed to everyone so it's important to get our degree." - NFL Football -

Hattiesburg American

2005-07-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

5 Vikings earn MVP trophies at camp

Members of the Northwest football team walked away with well-deserved hardware after attending the Stump Mitchell Football Camp in Macon, Ga., during the last week in June.
Nine Vikings— (RB/DB Julius Bratton, OL Brandon Choate, DB Michael Daniels, QB Jason Davis, FB/DE Carl Hanns, DB Carlos Hanns, RB/DB Xavier Jenkins and TE/DE Zach Taylor) — attended the former NFL running back's camp.
Mitchell played for the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals for nine years before retiring in 1989.
Mitchell, who also excelled as a kick returner, is the Cardinals' all-time leader for combined yards with 11,988, and ranks second all-time in rushing with 4,649 yards.
After working hard in the summer heat, five Vikings walked away with nine of the MVP trophies awarded. - NFL Football -
Davis was honored with the second highest award, being named the camp's offensive MVP.
"It's an awesome honor," Davis said. "I didn't think I got anything. But then they called my name. It was just a phenomenal experience."
Bratton came away with the running back MVP award.
"I just prepared for the drills and the things we were going to work on," Bratton said. "All that preparation just paid off. The camp was exciting. We learned something new every day, and you don't always get that. We did a lot of two-a-days, and everything was interesting."
Jenkins took home the defensive back MVP trophy.
"There were a whole bunch of good defensive backs at the camp," Jenkins said. "There was a lot of competition. Really, there were so many good defensive backs there, that I didn't think I was going to get the award. I was really shocked I got it."
"I was so shocked, that when they called my name, I almost forgot what my name was."
Choate was the MVP of the offensive linemen.
"It was a big honor," Choate said. "Basically, all you had to do was follow what the coaches said. As long as you followed directions, you were good. They weren't worried about you being perfect, as long as you showed you were working hard."
Carl Hanns was chosen the defensive line MVP. Carlos Hanns, Daniels and Taylor all received certificates for attending.
Along with the eight from Northwest, 42 other athletes went through instructions from Mitchell, Seattle's Zerick Rollins, Arizona's Deke Pollard, Indianapolis' Ricky Thomas, Otis Flowers from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Earl Davis from Morgan State University in Baltimore.
"It was definitely nice to learn from Mr. Mitchell and to be around a person of his status," Bratton said. "It was great learning from someone like Mr. Mitchell, because he was a running back in the NFL and is now a running back coach in the NFL."
Said Jenkins: "Since they were mostly NFL coaches, you can put a lot of trust in them and can take the information you learned to heart. They were in the big leagues and know what it was like. It was a really good experience to learn from a coach like that."
Davis said the camp helped him become a better quarterback.
"The one-on-one with coaches was the best," Davis said. "I learned a lot about three-step drops and five-step drops. They taught me and helped read defenses better. I feel like I'm a lot better at that now." - NFL Football -
And for Choate, the camp gave him a foundation to help him after he hopefully becomes a football coach.
"The camp was laid out well and was well organized," Choate said. "For me, it helped me learn how to lay out a practice (for a football team). I didn't go to get noticed as an athlete. I just wanted to see how to lay out a practice (for a football team). Going to the camp will help lay out my practices when I become a coach."
BURKHART, JEWETT IN MIDSTATE ALL-STAR TILT:Rossview softball coach Phil Burkhart and third baseman Chaning Jewett will be a part of the 2005 Middle Tennessee Softball Coaches Association All-Star Game on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Burkhart will be the head coach of the Red Team, which Jewett will also play for.
The setup will be a little different than most all-star games. - NFL Football -
Participants from Class AAA schools are split into two teams, Red and Black, while Class A/AA athletes will play for the White Team.
All three teams will square off against each other.
Rossview's Ashley Elrod was slated to participate, but she will be in a traveling team tournament in California. - NFL Football -
Other players of note participating are Dickson County's Ashley Myatt and Creekwood's Katie Murphy and Teal Wall.
MUSIC CITY RUNNERS:Former Rossview state champion Lynette Rives, current Rossview runner Tiffany Rives and current Kenwood runner Brandi Williams participated in a USATF Tennessee Association meet at the University of Tennessee, June 28-July 3 for the Music City track club. - NFL Football -
Lynette Rives helped her 4x800M relay team take first in the young women's division.
Lynette Rives also took third in 400M dash and was part of Music City's 4x100M and 4x400M relay teams.
Williams helped her 4x400M relay team take sixth in the young women's division.
Tiffany Rives took third on her 4x800M Relay team in the intermediate girls division.

By JAMES D. HORNE The Leaf-Chronicle

2005-07-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Pro turns con

A person's love of football comes in many different forms, but "The Longest Yard" fans are as wacky as they come.Starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds, this movie touches the heart of any football lover by incorporating one of America's most beloved pastimes with the age-old battle between good and evil --- or pros and cons.Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) is an ex-MVP of the NFL, who effectively threw his career away by shaving points during a game. Besides having a controlling girlfriend (Courteney Cox), Crewe is accomplishing nothing in life. He decides it's time for a change, and one high-speed chase later, he finds himself locked up in the Allenville Correctional Facility for the next three years as a parole violator.
Immediately infamous for his past in the NFL, his only friend is a man they call Caretaker (Chris Rock). Forced into organizing a team of inmates to play the guards in a game of football, Crewe finds himself making as many enemies as friends during the first few months of his sentence.A remake that originally starred Burt Reynolds in Sandler's position, "The Longest Yard" is back with bigger and badder actors and comedians. Sandler and Rock make a great duo in this comedy and the supporting cast members throw in their own brand of humor. Former professional wrestlers Bill Goldberg, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Kevin Nash are among the supporting cast, making both excellent athletes on the football field and hysterical comedy acts off.And what would a football movie be without a little football? The action is as violent and exciting as it can get, pitting the two ultimate rival teams --- the convicts and the guards --- against each other in a battle for blood.Leading up to the big game, Crewe and his teammates face multiple obstacles to get what they hope will not only be a chance to get back at their oppressive guards, but also give them a little confidence with a big win. Finding team unity in an unsuspecting place, these men learn there is more to life than looking out for number one.Combining two of America's true loves --- football and comedy --- into one film only leaves room for "The Longest Yard" to live up to its title at the box office. It's the must-see comedy of the summer.

LINDSAY KALVIG, Pulse Movie Reviewer

2005-06-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

2 NFL players hosted Arundel party where man was shot
Redskins, 49ers linebackers were not involved, police say

The boisterous party at a Gambrills mansion that ended with a shooting was hosted by two NFL stars who had rented the home, including Washington Redskins star linebacker LaVar Arrington, Anne Arundel County police said yesterday.

Police said neither Arrington nor San Francisco 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson, the co-host, was involved in the shooting early Sunday. A security guard was wounded when he intervened in a scuffle after Arrington had assured police that he was shutting down the 400-guest event, police said.

James G. Sidney, 35, of Hyattsville was flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Police said he was in serious but stable condition and said they have questioned him. Hospital officials said yesterday that at Sidney's request, no information about his condition is being released.

Arrington, a three-time Pro Bowler starting his sixth year in the National Football League, issued a statement yesterday about what he termed an "unfortunate incident" at a party that he said was to "conclude a series of charity events."

"I had no involvement in the incident, and to my knowledge neither did any of the guests at the party. I feel terrible about the injury to the guard, who was only doing his job, and pray he recovers quickly and fully," the statement said.

It was unclear whether Peterson was there, said Lt. Joseph E. Jordan, a police spokesman. Agents for the players did not return calls yesterday.

Police said they had responded to noise complaints twice Saturday evening in the latest of a series of parties that authorities and neighbors say have drawn large numbers of people to the gated, 18,000- square-foot Gambrills Mansion, which is on 6.3 acres.

County officials said they are looking into whether commercial events were being held in a home in a residentially zoned area, which would violate local zoning laws, said county spokeswoman Pam Jordan.

She also said the house had not passed mechanical and electrical inspections and lacked a residential occupancy permit.

"That's crazy," said Michael Ron Worthy, a lawyer for the company that owns the house.

Early yesterday, he said that the company's owner has been living there for three years with his wife and was at the party. In a statement released later, he said the property is "currently unoccupied and will soon be used as one of the principal's private home."

State property records list the company president as Oladipo Olaformiloye. Police said Olaformiloye owns the house in the 1700 block of Saddle Drive in the upscale rural area.

Officers went to the mansion just before 8 p.m. Saturday after complaints about loud music. They returned at midnight after neighbors complained again, Lt. Jordan said.

Arrington then offered to shut down the party. Officers stood by to make sure guests left, and while police were there just before 1 a.m., the security guard was shot about 100 feet from the house on the lawn, Jordan said.

Jordan said the party was co-hosted by True Playaz Entertainment, a Detroit-based event promotion company.

Redskins officials had no comment yesterday.

Friday, prosecutors in Miami charged Redskins safety Sean Taylor with pointing a gun during a June 1 dispute about an all-terrain vehicle.

State property records show that the Gambrills Mansion is owned by Waldorf-based Lafa Inc. The privately held company was started in 1995 in Fort Washington, specializing in investment property and real estate construction, according to its Web site. The "Gambrills dream home" is by far the glitziest property shown. It is listed for sale for $4.6 million.

On Internet sites promoting events there, the house is described as having a pool, a massage parlor, four lavish VIP rooms named for Caribbean islands, two party floors, a huge water fountain, two patios, 9 1/2 bathrooms and a movie theater.

By Andrea F. Siegel and Annie Linskey
Sun Staff

Nfl Youth Flag Football

2005-06-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Coors, ex-pros tackle underage drinking

Coors Brewing Co. will launch a sports-themed educational campaign today aimed at preventing underage drinking.
The MVParents initiative employs ex-NFL stars and the resources of the nonprofit Search Institute to encourage greater parental involvement in children's lives.
A tongue-in-cheek TV spot, to be aired nationally Wednesday, spoofs autograph-seeking nfl football fans by showing former pro football stars - including John Elway, Barry Sanders, Troy Aikman and Marcus Allen - chasing an average American dad for his autograph, amazed by his heroic parenting skills.
The substance of the campaign will be educational materials and resources available to parents in grocery stores and online Wednesday at www.mvparents.com.
Minneapolis-based Search Institute, which promotes healthy children through parental involvement and programs, will use its 40 "Development Assets" as part of the MVParents initiative.
nfl football
"They've traditionally marketed to churches and schools," said Bill Young, manager of Coors' U.S. Corporate Responsibility Group and initiator of MVParents. "And as a brewer, we don't have a whole lot of credibility in telling people how to parent. So we found

By John Wenzel Denver Post Staff Writer