Seahawks Greg Scruggs Has Surgery

The Seattle Seahawks announced Thursday night that DT Greg Scruggs had undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. He injured his ACL prior to the NFL Draft but did not have surgery until after. Team physician Ed Khalfayan performed the surgery at the Seattle Surgery Center. The recovery from this surgery means he will most likely miss the whole season for the Seahawks.

You can read more here.

Cowboys Release QB Corp

Just two days after signing quarterback Aaron Corp, the Dallas Cowboys released him. Corp was the third quarterback on their roster. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills last year. He was released twice by the Bills last year.

Redskins Kirk Cousins Can Sing

The Washington Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins can sing. Check out this video of Cousins from his days in high school. He’s not half bad.

Look at that ball go (via YouTube)

We’re getting closer and closer to one of the key offseason moments for the NFL, which is of course the NFL Draft. We’re about 10 days away, to be exact. I guess people like that sort of thing.

It’s been a relatively quiet weekend for the NFL, especially when you keep in mind all the crazy shenanigans going on in baseball and golf.

One of the big stories this weekend though is the Seattle Seahawks signing Antoine Winfield. Winfield chose the Seahawks over the Vikings.

Over at Halftime Voodoo, the Aerys New Orleans Saints site, they have the latest on all the free agency news and notes for the team.

For an update on the Flacco/Unitas news we had last Sunday, The Purple Nest offers their latest reaction to the story.

Once again, there is still talk about the whole Tony Romo with the Cowboys contract…thingy…This time though, Brett Favre had a couple of comments about Romo’s situation in Dallas. I won’t spoil the story, but I will say this…THANK YOU, FAVRE! (I don’t know what to do with myself anymore)

With the Draft less than two weeks away, there will be no shortage of features on potential players. The always excellent Judy Battista of the New York Times has a profile on Princeton draft prospect Mike Catapano.

Meanwhile, signs are slowly starting to point towards the Eagles having interest in West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, this according to NJ.com. Philadelphia has the fourth overall pick.

Elsewhere, it looks like Detroit will try to fill the void left by Jason Hanson with….a Norweigan YouTube kicking sensation or something enthusiast. Havard Rugland signed a contract with the Lions. You can see the video here (screencap posted above). I’ll try not to let my Norweigan bias affect how I write stories next season.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story on a former UW-Milwaukee basketball player and his attempt to transition to the gridiron. Demetrius Harris, the leading rebounder for UW-Milwaukee, is being evaluated for the tight end position, according to the Journal Sentinel.

In Virginia, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia held a fundraising effort Saturday. The most notable people featured at the event were FOX NFL studio analysts Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long.

In the Pacific Time Zone, more specifically California, legislators are considering digital billboards for Los Angeles, which would include ads for beer and gambling, according to the Los Angeles Times. The digital billboards would be allowed near stadiums and arenas, including the future football stadium site.

Finally, our shopping item of the day comes from Amazon. For less than $7, you can purchase this Dallas Cowboys…Stop sign…Yes, a stop sign.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Percy Harvin was one of the biggest stories of the day Monday after he was traded for draft picks to the Seattle Seahawks. The deal will be sealed upon completion of a physical and Harvin is also expected to sign a new multi-year contract with his new club. So, Harvin also apparently got a nice pay day.

For that reason, Percy, a receiver with running back abilities, is today’s Tight End Tuesday!

» Continue reading “Tight End Tuesday: Percy Harvin”

Percy Harvin

According to multiple outlets, he Seattle Seahawks landed Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin on Monday in exchange for multiple draft picks, including a first round pick. The deal is done pending a physical.

Per USAToday.com:

Harvin, entering the final year of his rookie contract, gives Seattle and rising sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson another formidable target opposite Sidney Rice.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said last month he wouldn’t entertain calls about a trade for Harvin, calling him a “dynamic playmaker.”

But the wideout, who spent the second half of the season on injured reserve with a sprained ankle and had a testy exchange with coach Leslie Frazier while rehabbing, received the trade he initially requested last summer.

When news of the trade broke, outspoken Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman took to Twitter Monday to remind everyone who the only No. 12 is in Seattle. (The No. 12 was retired by the team to honor its 12th man fan base).

Other Seahawks chimed in with excitement over the news. Tweeted wide receiver Doug Baldwin: “Oh snap we getting Percy!!! Haha! We getting better by the minute!”

Harvin, 24, caught 62 passes for 677 yards in nine games for the Vikings last season and was in the early MVP conversation before spraining his ankle. He’s yet to start in all 16 games or surpass 1,000 receivig yards in any of his four seasons.

Seahawks receiver Golden Tate seemed to have mixed feelings regarding the move. Per ESPN:

When asked about the trade, Seahawks receiver Golden Tate, whose spot on the Seahawks’ depth chart will be altered with the addition of Harvin, told Josina Anderson that “it’s a business.”

“The Seahawks are trying to do whatever they think is necessary to put together a Super Bowl quality team. If this is one of the steps they think works to accomplish that then that’s their choice. I don’t think it will impact any of our work habits. We are still going to grind and let the cards play out the way that they will,” he said.

The trade definitely mixes up the cast of characters and egos in Seattle. If Harvin’s health is better, it definitely improves Seattle. It should be … interesting to see how this all unfolds in the coming days and months!

I think Saved By the Bell’s Jessie Spano put it best….

For more on the deal from the Vikings perspective, please check out Skol Patrol!

Let’s just jump right in with good stuff:

120.6 MILLION DOLLARS. Joe Flacco (QB of the Super Bowl-winning Ravens) signs the NFL’s richest contract, making (yes, it’s so big it needs repeating) $120.6 million over 6 years. And to celebrate, he goes to McDonald’s. I don’t know why he didn’t get an ice cream cone.

In other big news, the Jets may trade Darrelle Revis. You can hear his opinion in this video interview with Seattle Seahawks Michael Robinson More importantly, he comments on Rex Ryan’s thing for feet.

And finally, the other big piece of news is that former All-Pro pass rusher Shawnee Merriman has announced his retirement. I guess this means it’s lights out for “Lights Out” Merriman.

Back up everyone. I’m about to predict the future.

Actually, linebacker Von Miller of the Broncos already did, claiming that Denver will win the Super Bowl this year. Let’s check back with this in a couple of months.

And of course, ladies and dudes everywhere are trying to predict the draft. Here’s a professional opinion. Here’s my opinion:

What? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Emily Ritter is a contributing writer for Aerys Offsides. She always gets ice cream at McDonald’s and sometimes she tweets about it @ebritter2.

Welcome to the first edition of a new, hopefully-daily feature here at Offsides … the Morning Blitz! Here we will try to get you some of the links from sources around the country to get you, your daily football fix! We’ll, as always, try to add a little humor to it!

So, sit back and sip your coffee … or whatever beverage that is in your hand … and enjoy!

The NFL’s new Player Assessment Tool is sure to give the Wonderlic a run for it’s money at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis.

The NFL’s new Player Assessment Tool is sure to give the Wonderlic a run for it’s money at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. According to USAToday.com, the PAT  is supposed to provide teams with an idea of whether a player will get along with teammates, make it to meetings on time and put in the effort to take his skills from good to great. Teams are making multi-million dollar investments in these athletes who get banged around. It is an excellent idea to make sure they are good decision makers. It just is … Seriously!

Other Items

* Alleged Adderall abuser and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Robert Sherman says the NFL Draft is a “sham.” … Yeah, OK Robert. Here’s more from the Seattle P-I.

* Monte Kiffin understands the pressure he is taking on by becoming the Dallas Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator. But you have to wonder about that when he justifies this by saying he is 72 going on 52! Here’s more on Kiffin from the San Antonio Express-News.

* The city of Charlotte’s plan to contribute $125 million toward renovating Bank of America stadium started with a letter Mayor Anthony Foxx sent to the team last September, according to Carolina Panthers president Danny Morrison. Here’s more on the letter and other possible financing sources for the renovation from the Charlotte Observer.  » Continue reading “Monday Morning Blitz: Combine, Tebow and More!”

Well… at least it was a high scoring, action packed game.

Right?

The NFC was utterly dominant … and that’s an understatement, because there are no words … in their defeat of the AFC, 62-35. At least the AFC got to hang out in Hawaii for the week!

I’ll close this with a picture of rookie Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and his stat line. Pretty amazing!

What did you think of the Pro Bowl? Let us know by commenting below!

Miranda Remaklus is lead writer for Aerys Offsides. Follow her on Twitter, @missmiranda.

The Atlanta Falcons got over a big hump Sunday when they were able to hold off a rallying Seattle Seahawks team to get a 30-28 win at home Sunday in the divisional round.

The difference in the game was a 49-yard field goal made by Matt Bryant with eight seconds left in the game. It was Bryant’s second attempt after Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll called a timeout.

Seattle had come back from a 20 point deficit at halftime to take the lead with 31 seconds left in the game. Marshawn Lynch scored the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard run. The Seahawks outscored Atlanta in the fourth quarter 21-3.

Everything went right for Atlanta in the first half as they jumped out to a 20-0 lead at halftime. Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes in the first half, one to Tony Gonzalez for one-yard and the other to a diving Roddy White in the endzone for 47-yards.

The win Sunday was the first playoff victory for Ryan, who completed 24-of-35 passes for 250 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

It was a good afternoon for Russell Wilson, who completed 24-of-36 passes for 385 yards, a rookie playoff record, as well as two touchdowns and an interception. Wilson was also the Seahawks leading rusher with seven carries for 60 yards.

Seahawks tight end was the recipient of Wilson’s passes as he caught eight passes for 142 yards. Golden Tate also had 100 yards receiving as he caught six passes for 103 yards.

Atlanta will now host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on FOX. This will be the first NFC title game appearance for Atlanta since the 2004 season when they lost on the road to Philadelphia 7-10.

The Falcons could be making their first trip back to the Super Bowl since the ’98-99 season when the team of Jamal Anderson, Chris Chandler and Dan Reeves lost to the John Elway-led Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.

Oh to be a rookie quarterback in the NFL right now. Or at least be one of the three that will be playing this weekend. There is of course Andrew Luck, who will lead the Colts into Baltimore Sunday. However, the late afternoon game on FOX will feature two rookie quarterbacks going facing off, with hopes of getting that first playoff win.

It will be Robert Griffin III versus Russell Wilson when the Washington Redskins host the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon on FOX.

Robert Griffin III

RGIII and Washington got their act together in the last seven games to reach the playoffs. Of course, they did go and knock off the beloved namesake and his Texas team. But hey, it is what it is!

Not a lot of people thought Washington could get into the playoffs, especially after they went 3-6 and lost to the Carolina Panthers. But Mike I tell ya, anything is possible in the National Football League.

Meanwhile, Seattle decided to go with Wilson, who happened to be a third round pick, instead of Matt Flynn, who they signed away from Green Bay.

Russell Wilson

But look at the wins Wilson has gotten this season! He’s been able to lead the Seahawks to wins over Dallas, New England, Chicago, Minnesota and San Francisco. Okay sure, there was that questionable Green Bay win, but hey a win is a win and that’s what winning is about. (Whaaa?)

There hasn’t been a rookie quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl. (Note: the NBC Sports link has great graphics and more information.)

Over time, there have been a few close calls. During the ’99 season, Shaun King led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFC championship game against the St. Louis Rams, who were led by Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show on Turf. Tampa Bay lost that game. Of course, there was that whole thing with the Bert Emanuel catch and what not. Just watch the video, it is fun, plus you get to hear John Lynch yell “damn it.”

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers quarterback, led the Steelers to the AFC title game during the 2004 season. Roethlisberger won all 13 games he started. However, the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots 41-27.

The most recent quarterback to lead his team to a conference title game was Mark Sanchez. I hear he plays for the Jets. Joe Flacco also led his team to the AFC title game.

Unfortunately for Seattle and Washington, only one of these two teams will have a chance to even play for an NFC title berth.

Maybe RGIII leads the Skins to a win, maybe Wilson leads the Seahawks to a win. Maybe Tony Romo interferes in the game and tries to cost both teams the victory. MAYBE!

Regardless, both Griffin and Wilson have proved themselves thus far. Now they’ll get to show what they’re all about in this new season.

Welcome to Wild Card Weekend in the NFL! Lots of great games on the slate for this weekend. So grab some pizza or wings and your favorite beer or soda, and get ready for loads of great football!

Here’s this weekend’s schedule!

Saturday 

3:30 PM CT on NBC
Bengals @ Texans

7:00 PM CT on NBC
Vikings @ Packers

Sunday

Noon CT on CBS
Colts @ Ravens

3:30 PM CT on FOX
Seahawks @ Redskins