Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell chats with referee Jerome Boger (23) prior to Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Is that what you want, NFL fans? Are you all just blood thirsty maniacs whose one goal in life is to see an NFL player suffer a severe head injury or at worst, even death? What on earth is wrong with you?

I am talking to anyone who is criticising the NFL’s decision to implement a new rule which will penalize any player who leads with the helmet and effectively uses it as a weapon. This rule is designed to keep players safe and prevent any more head injuries, which seem to be on the rise as each year passes. They have a duty of care towards the players and are doing their best to ensure that we – the fans – will actually have a game to watch each Sunday.

Before we go any further, take a minute to watch the first play on the video below. This, in my opinion, is the type of play that the NFL is trying to rule out. The player clearly lowers his head with the sole intention being to hit the defender with his helmet. And pay attention to what happens to the defender on the play. Think the rule isn’t necessary now?

Contrary to what many people are claiming, it will not be a difficult rule to enforce. Take a look at the video below from new vice president of NFL officiating, Dean Blandino, who succinctly explains the new rule:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000152833/Blandino-explains-new-crown-of-helmet-hit-rule

The referees will be clearly instructed to only penalize those players who have clearly intended to deliver a blow with the helmet. Die to the speed of the game, there will still be cases where player’s heads collide, but as long as there was no intent to lead with the helmet, I am sure we won’t see these sort of plays get called.

It really shouldn’t be any harder for the referees to call than pass interference already is. Pass interference can happen when players are running at full speed, making it extremely difficult to spot who the actual offender was, or if there was a foul in the first place.

Players and coaches just have to accept that some adjustments will need to take place. This rule is coming into effect, and no amount of whining about it will do any good. Kids who are just starting out playing football will need to have this new rule drummed into them, and as the years go by, I really don’t see it being an issue. It’s just something everyone needs to get used to.

I get sick and tired of hearing people talk about political correctness, and accusing the NFL of bastardising the game that has been handed down throughout the generations. Get real. This is, and always will be a fast, furious and competitive games. There are not outlawing tackling, and contrary to what many ill-informed people are claiming, this will never happen. Is there anything wrong with trying to prolong the careers of football players and make the game safer for all those involved?

Let’s give the NFL a chance to implement this rule effectively before we jump to conclusions and start talking about wrong decisions that costs your favourite team a playoff spot. To be perfectly honest, I don’t envisage there being that many calls surrounding helmet to helmet hits. You know why everyone goes crazy when we see hits like the one in the first video above? Because they don’t really happen all that often.

But when these hits do happen, their effects could realistically end a player’s career, or something much much worse.

Is that what fans of the game really want to see?

Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) reacts after making a play against the Houston Texans during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Since I left school in 1997, I have been in the same job. I work for a large British food retailer (otherwise known as a supermarket), putting in 40 hours a week. Do you want to know how much I earn each year? The grand total of £14,000. For my American friends, that translates to just over $20,000. Hardly a large amount of money, right? Now with various state benefits to compliment my wage, I am able to take care of my wife and our two boys, with a roof over our head and food on the table, and the occasional luxury, here and there.

Want to know how much money NFL linebacker, Brian Urlacher just turned down? $2 million for one year’s work. That’s right – the Chicago Bears reportedly offered the veteran a one-year contract that would pretty much have given him $2 million. If you take my wage of $20,000, it would be 100 years before I earned $2 million. And that’s just what Urlacher was offered this year. It doesn’t take into account all the millions he has earned throughout his successful NFL career with the Chicago Bears.

Now, I am not saying he doesn’t deserve the money. The nature of the business pretty much dictates how much players get paid, and if someone offered me millions of dollars as my wage, I wouldn’t hesitate in taking it. But here’s the truth – It was purely Brian Urlacher’s decision to leave the Chicago Bears. He could quite easily have accepted their generous offer and finished his career in the windy city, which is what I am sure he would have preferred. But no; he decided to turn down $2 million, for reasons which still remain a mystery to me, but I am going to go out on a limb and say it was a decision motivated by nothing more than greed.

Here’s what Urlacher had to say about it:

“I’m not upset. I was never upset. I understand the business side of football. It was just time to move on for me, that’s all there is to it. I was never upset. Disappointed, yes. I want to be a Bear one-hundred percent. It just didn’t work out. But I’ve never been upset about it, just disappointed.”

So, apparently, it just didn’t work out, eh? You know why it didn’t work out, Brian? Because you didn’t want to play football for the Chicago Bears. That’s the only reason it didn’t work out. No one said they didn’t want you to put on a Bears uniform anymore. No one physically stopped you from doing anything. It was your decision not to return to Chicago, and it looks as though it was a move fueled mainly by money. And that makes me feel a little bit sorry for you.

Just exactly how much money does Brian Urlacher or any other football player actually need. While we may not know the ins and outs of their financial affairs, I think it’s fair to say that most football players (especially those with the talent of Urlacher) are rewarded handsomely for their endeavours. And yes, I know that a football career does not last forever, but even with that in mind, most should rake in enough money to ensure they are more than comfortable for the rest of their lives.

If these figures are to believed, Urlacher has earned a butt load of money during his time with the Bears.

So why did he turn down the $2 million that Chicago offered him. Perhaps I have things wrong and Urlacher needs more money, rather than just wanting more. Almost as if $2 million is just not enough for what Urlacher needs. But to me, that just sounds ridiculous.

I think one of the problems with fame and money is that it sort of forces you to live a lifestyle that you might not previously have wanted. I have always said that if I won the lottery, I wouldn’t buy a helicopter or a huge mansion, because I have never wanted those things. I would just be happy to know that I could have the things that I can’t right now, due to lack of funds. But how frequently do you see NFL players with huge houses and a multitude of expensive sports cars. Why? It’s as if they feel duty bound to live that way, just because their income allows them to.

But I am sure they have advisers who let them know how they are expected to live, and how big their house should be, and how many cars they can afford. What’s wrong with a nice three bedroom property and a decent family car?

The sad truth is that we still hear horror stories of former NFL players that are now sitting at home without a penny to their name. Whether that is through poor investments, or just squandering the money away, it still paints a painful picture. But unless they had their money stolen from them, they realistically only have themselves to blame. I am positive that they would have earned enough money during their playing days to set them straight for the rest of their lives. But for some, this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Like a lot of famous people who are suddenly faced with a large influx of wealth, they find themselves having to maintain a very lavish lifestyle that costs a lot of money. But do they really need to live that way. For the most part, NFL players don’t end up broke or having to work elsewhere once their football career is over. And these are the players who don’t subscribe to the millionaire lifestyle, and continue to live within their means, investing their money wisely and planning for the future.

Bear in mind that Urlacher also had this to say about the 2 frikkin million dollars he was offered:

“Which is a lot of money, don’t get me wrong, but for me to go through a season, put my body through what it goes through during a season at my age, I’m not going to play for that, you know, not for the Bears at least. So we made a counter offer and that was never acceptable to them.  They said, basically, our offer is one year, two million.”

There you have it folks. He is NOT going to play football for $2 million. Nope, Brian Urlacher is worth a lot more than that. He turns his nose up at your little $2 million. He finds that sort of offer insulting. For me, this tarnishes his career with the Bears. It doesn’t negate all the great things he did for the team, but it has left a bitter taste in many people’s mouths. And I for one, can’t shake it.

We’ll never really know why the offer from the Bears wasn’t enough for Urlacher. But I find it hard to believe he needed more than what was on the table. It’s more of a case of Urlacher just wanting as much money as he could lay his hands on.

March 20, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a press conference at the annual NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

In the last few days there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the NFL’s new rule that will penalize players who lower their helmet when engaging another player. This looks to impact running backs the most, and there are a lot of people who have voiced their dissatisfaction. NFL Network pundit, Mike Mayock recently said:

“To me, a running back has got to be able to drop his pad level. And when a running back drops his pad level, his head goes with it. That’s just the way you play football. And from a defensive player’s perspective — which I was — I understand and respect that. I think it’s part of the game, and I don’t think you can legislate all contact and all forcible head hits out of this game.”

Then we saw Dallas Cowboys legendary running back, Emmit Smith stating:

“This has to be one of the most absurd rules I’ve heard in a long time in the game of football. There’s no way it’s possible for a running back to get to the situation where he has to make the decision whether or not to plow forward for an additional yard to keep the chains moving and keep the clock rolling to end the game or keep the chains moving so his team can continue to drive down the field to get a field goal to win the game.”

You know what I hear when I read people criticising this new rule change which is designed to protect players and limit head injuries? This is what I hear: “But I don’t care if players suffer concussions and can’t remember who they are in ten years time. I paid my money to see some smash mouth football, and that’s what I want to see”

It’s as if fans are viewing football as some sort of bloodsport, much in the same way the Romans threw the Christians to the Lions and viewed it as entertainment. Fans, analysts, bloggers and journalists need to remember that if the league doesn’t make player safety the number one priority, we won’t have a game to watch in years to come. Sound a bit extreme? It has already been shown that parents are thinking twice before allowing or encouraging their children to take up football.

I don’t see it being a hard rule to enforce. You can clearly tell when a running back lowers his head with the sole purpose being to use it to inflict impact on an opposing player. There’s a difference between that and something which naturally happens during the heated nature of the game. It will be up to officials to make the distinction, but we have to give them a chance to get it right, before we just call it a stupid rule which is changing the face of football.

Thankfully, there are some players, both past and present who have come out in support of the new rule. Hall of fame running back, Jim Brown said:

“I’m going to be very honest with you: I didn’t use my head. I used my forearm. And the palm of my hand. And my shoulders. And my shoulder pads. I wasn’t putting my head into too much of anything. I don’t think that sounds like a good idea to me. What is my guarantee that my head is going to be strong enough to hurt somebody else, and not hurt myself?”

I can understand the frustration being voiced by running backs. I am sure they are feeling like they will have to change their running style (some more than others), and will be fearful of ‘running hard’, in case they pick up a fifteen yard penalty. Well, I am sorry fellas – the game changes, and if you have to change a little bit with it, then that’s just the way it has to be.

Some of the more ‘enthusiastic’ voices try to draw this out to what they see as a logical conclusion. They tell us that in a few years, we will all be watching flag football, and you won’t be able to even breathe on another player. Well, I think we know that won’t be the case. There’s a big difference between improving player safety and making football a non-contact sport. By its very nature, football is a very violent game (hence all the pads) and the league has a duty of care to its players. And these players should really be welcoming the move as oppose to seeing it as something which will hinder their play.

To quote Mike Mayock again:

“I’m not a fan of this rule at all. I think it crosses a line. We all love safety, but at some point, football’s got to be football,” Mayock said. “If a running back can’t drop his pad level, I don’t think it’s football anymore.”

We all love

safety, eh? Oh sure, but as long we still get to see helmet to helmet hits that have the potential to render someone unconscious? That sort of safety, right Mike?

I don’t really think we will see many players penalized for this to be honest. How many times during the course of a season do we see a RB deliberately lowering his helmet to deliver a hit? I think the NFL is just being cautious and giving the refs an option if the offense occurs.

The long term effects of concussions are still not that well known, but I know for sure that I want to be watching this great game for many years to come, and I applaud the NFL for putting player safety first.

Oct 20, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Barkevious Mingo (49) pressures Texas A

Round 1 – Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU – The perfect pass rusher for the browns brand new 3-4 defense.  Also is a bit raw, but a team implementing a new defense may be beneficial to this type of player since everyone on the defense will be learning and adapting to it together.  Also, Cleveland, who doesn’t have a 2^nd round pick can possibly pick up a pretty penny in draft picks trading down to the teens to make this pick.

Nov 17, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray (8) passes against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Commodores beat the Volunteers 41-18. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US Presswire

Sleeper – Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee – The Cleveland Browns can correct last year’s mistake of drafting Brandon Weeden in the first with drafting his eventual replacement way back in the 3^rd or 4^th this year.  Tyler Bray is known to have one of the best cannons of the QBs in the draft (is probably top 2 with Tyler Wilson) and has the potential to compete and beat out Brandon Weeden.  He didn’t win as much as you’d like in college, but was one of the bright spots at QB in the SEC his junior year.  Like most the QBs in the draft, this is a gamble with the best case scenario getting yourself a Jay Cutler and the worst case scenario getting yourself a great developmental backup for the already 28 year old rookie, Weeden.  Either way, it still may be worth an early 3^rd round pick from the Browns.

December 23, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. St. Louis Rams defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta fans are rejoicing, following the news they received about the signing of free agent running back Steven Jackson. Jackson, 29, was considered one of the best running backs on the market after he voided his contract with St. Louis. Last season the former Ram ran for 1,042 yards on 257 carries, and added 4 touchdowns. Jackson has quite a few miles on him considering he has had three 300-carry seasons, but still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Jackson was an iconic player in St. Louis, and  is poised to bring his tough running style to Atlanta.

The Falcons had a combined rushing attack of Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers in 2012, and weren’t exactly stellar finishing 29th in the league in rushing yards. Turner was not the same player as he was in the past, he seemed very slow, and was very ineffective making defenders miss. If you ask me, the best running back in an Atlanta uniform was Rodgers. The Falcons released the declining Turner, and they know that Rodgers is not a 3 down back. That left a hole at running back, and they went out and snagged the best power runner in free agency.

What Jackson can bring to the Falcons is a tough runner that can be used in 3rd and short scenarios. The Falcons seemed to be more effective in 3rd and 7, than in 3rd and 1 last season, and that had to do with the lack of the running game. The Falcons were definitely a pass first team in 2012, and Jackson will be able to help balance that out if need be.

With a high octane passing game with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez, Jackson won’t see 300 carries, but he certainly will be a very important piece to the Falcons offense. Lastly, the thing that gets overlooked about the Falcons in 2012 was the issue of finishing games in the second half. It was most evident in the playoffs when in both games against Seattle and San Francisco the Falcons jumped out to a big, early lead, but then let it slip away.

The main reason for that was the lack of the running game that could bleed the clock. Steven Jackson could play a big role in the 2nd half when the Falcons will need to be able to protect leads. All in all, this was a very good signing for Atlanta, and Jackson will be a key piece in helping the Falcons make a push for a Super Bowl title this season.

March 14, 2013; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker talks to the media during a press conference held at the teams training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Once again the NFL proves to be king of all things, now including the off season. “Free Agency,” as the NFL’s version of the Hot Stove is simply known, has become a mesmerizing frenzy. A bridge between the Super Bowl and the draft that keeps us afloat as we breathlessly count down the days until the 2013 NFL season starts.

Such is life for the NFL fan and/or junkie. Be it a diehard of just one team or the casual observers following Free Agency updates league wide. Wes Welker’s Rocky Mountain high-tailing from New England’s (alleged) low-ball offer played out with the same odd intensity as the naming of a new Pope that same day. Blue and red smoke would signal Welker returning to play Brady’s Blanky with the Pats, but blue and orange smoke meant he’d leave Tommy for Satan Manning…

And then finally, poof! Welker signed with Denver, and voila - behind door #2 the Patriots pulled out the 4-years-younger (but technically no longer a “poor-man’s Wes Welker”) Danny Amendola, for similar money they were/weren’t willing to pay Welker.

Before that, New League Year’s Day started with a bang as the 49ers picked up WR Anquan Boldin off of Craigslist from the Ravens (while $100 million dollar man and Only Raven Left Joe Flacco was slummin’ it at the Aberdeen McDonald’s) and the Seahawks traded their first-round pick to Minnesota for Percy Harvin. Soon after, the Dolphins, Chiefs and other teams were also making moves.

Within 24 hours of the start of Free Agency, we (they) were declaring Big Winners. Denver is going borderline Dream Team on us, not only adding Welker but also some protection for Peyton (key interior lineman from the rival Chargers Louis Vasquez), former Eagle Dream Teamer CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, plus Jags DT Terrance Knighton. Miami’s haul was highlighted by guaranteeing former Steeler WR Mike Wallace $30 million dollars and flat-out stealing LB Dannell Ellerbe away from Baltimore like Mayflower trucks in the middle of the night.

Rashard Mendenhall (once rumored to Denver) gave into the inevitable and followed the long line of Pittsburgh players and coaches who make a beeline to the Arizona desert, high-fiving his former Steelers teammate CB William Gay who was leaving the Cardinals to return to Pittsburgh. In Arizona, Mendenhall will run behind a line worse than the Steelers alongside a quarterback committee of Drew Stanton, John Skelton and Who Knows Who Else at Somepoint. At least he’ll get to team up with playmaker Josh Cribbs (free agent signed from Cleveland).

As for Cleveland, new GM Michael Lombardi is building a nasty defense for coordinator Ray Horton to direct under new head coach Rob Chudzinski. Ravens LB Paul Kruger was the big catch but they also added DT Desmond “Mugshot” Bryant from Oakland and Cardinals LB Quintin Groves.

Moves came fast and furious as the Bills cut QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Steelers cut James Harrison. Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez said he was coming back, the Bears grabbed Giants TE Martellus Bennett, and the Rams picked up TE Jared Cook on the side of the incestuous Jeff Fisher highway between Tennessee and St. Louis. Nnamdi Asomugha was cut by Philly. Adrian Peterson got punched in the stomach. Ray Lewis joined ESPN.

Heads were spinning. But there was an excitement to the week, the type of thing other pro leagues couldn’t buy even if they could afford to. Luckily for the NFL, Free Agency just happens to be tailor-made for the Twitter era. All of us can follow Adam Schefter, Jay Glazer, Chris Mortenson, Jason LaConfora, Albert Breer, Jeff Darlington, and a few local beat writers and bloggers from our favorite teams and get all the breaking news instantly.

The Titans landed the top interior offensive lineman, Andy Levitre from the Bills. Safety Dashon Goldson left San Fran for Tampa. The Jets exhumed David Garrard, and the Ravens whacked Bernard Pollard like Pollard has done to so many defenseless players on the field.

At one point I think the Tight Ends traded Jared Cook to the Wide Receivers with the WR’s sending Anquan Boldin to the TE’s in return. It was all very confusing.

Speaking of confusion, the Jaguars cut WR Laurent Robinson (a free agent bust from a year ago), but since he “passed his physical,” he’ll get no injury settlement despite the fact that he suffered FOUR concussions while working in Jacksonville (which in turn played a huge role in him being declared a bust and, hence, fired). But the league says it cares about player safety. It’s crazy.

Speaking of crazy, half the fans in Baltimore were ready to jump in the Harbor while the other half tried to talk them down with the “Trust In Ozzie” mantra. In Kansas City, the Chiefs kept WR Dwayne Bowe and added WR Donnie Avery, completed their trade for QB Alex Smith and bolstered that defense when Andy Reid started pulling big-name DB’s like Dunta Robinson and Sean Smith out of his mustache like it was a clown car. Reggie Bush went to Detroit. The Seahawks landed coveted DE Cliff Avril, and the Jets and Bucs tried to play a game of Pope Smoke about a possible trade for Darrelle Revis. The Texans picked up linty-bearded Ed Reed in a private jet and Steven Jackson spurned the Packers to join the Falcons. Shit was happening!

Meanwhile, the usual busy beavers and big spenders in Free Agency, the Spring Champs from most of the first decade of this century, the Redskins were curiously (and wisely) quiet at the opening bell. In typical Washington fashion, they were fighting two wars: the new momentum of the campaign and latest lawsuit to change the offensive Redskins nickname and the league-imposed salary cap penalties that forced them to restructure some guys, let DeAngelo Hall and Lorenzo Alexander walk, and prevented them from spending on marquee free agents. It was like finally taking away drunk Dan Snyder’s car keys or hiding JaMarcus Russell’s pizza menus.

But as baseball’s spring training got under way and the NBA was fast breaking toward the playoffs on the back of a crazy Miami Heat winning streak, it was NFL Free Agency that was stirring the pot on the hottest stove. We couldn’t look away. NFL Media Insiders barely slept. Players tweeted “wheels up” from airplanes as we wondered if they’d end up signing to play in the hash-tagged city. We got reports quoting people “close to Tom Brady” about Brady’s mood following Welker’s defection to the Elway Empire in Denver. I think we even got reports about the moods of those people close to Tom Brady.

And that was just the first week of Free Agency. More dominoes will fall. (I mean plenty more player movement, that’s not another JaMarcus Russell pizza joke.) Things are just heating up. So before you start punching the Broncos and Seahawks tickets for next year’s Super Bowl, just remember that the Spring Champs rarely take home the real hardware the following February. Besides, we still don’t even know where Tim Tebow will end up playing.

October 14, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett (71) rushes during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

As expected, the big names in Free Agency have already been signed including Mike Wallace, Reggie Bush, and Paul Kruger. Despite all of the stars that have been signed already in these two days, there are a few underrated players out there that could really pay off for some teams. These players will be relatively inexpensive, which could make these player’s performances even more valuable to whichever team gains their services.

Brandon Myers, TE, Oakland -  Brandon Myers is one of the least known players in the tight end market, and that shouldn’t be the case. Myers quietly lead the Raiders in both receptions and receiving yards. Myers was easily Carson Palmer’s most reliable target throughout the year. In his 2012 campaign Myers hauled in 79 passes for 806 yards, and 4 touchdowns including a remarkable performance in week 13 when he recorded 14 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Myers is only 27, and he could have his best years ahead of him.

Michael Bennett, DE, Tampa Bay - With most of the publicity on defensive ends going to players like Cliff Avril, Dwight Freeney, and Osi Umenyiora, Bennett doesn’t get much notice. Bennett recorded 9 sacks, 41 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles. Bennett more than doubled his sack total from last season, and is also 27 years old. Bennett defends the run extremely well, and can get after the quarterback. Bennett is also looking forward to his prime years as a defensive end, he has the potential to blossom into a very talented pass rusher.

Keenan Lewis, CB, Pittsburgh - There is quite a substantial amount of talent at the cornerback position yet, and Lewis part of it. Not many people know about Lewis, and that’s understandable, but it’s time to fill you in. Lewis was arguably Pittsburgh’s best corner, and really did a great job in 2012. Lewis totaled 71 tackles, 23 passes defended, and a forced fumble. Lewis was unable to collect an interception, but only gave up a 52.7 completion percentage, and only surrendered 3 touchdowns all season. Lewis is 26, and just like the others is ready for his prime years. Lewis has a great chance to be a very good corner wherever he may land.

Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Houston – With a deep defensive end pool in free agency, Barwin finds himself in an awkward position. Barwin was extremely effective in 2011 when he recorded 11.5 sacks, but he only managed 3 in 2012. Some may say the reason for his dropped production from those seasons could be the development from fellow team mate J.J. Watt, and that makes sense. Barwin still has a ton of talent, and potential being only 26 years old. Barwin has a decent amount of talent, and he adds to that with his tremendous work ethic. His dropped production may turn some teams away, but signs point to it just being a bad year for Barwin. If given the proper opportunity, Barwin can be an above average pass rusher, and should be sought after by teams who need help.

Dec 2, 2012; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (83) runs for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

As written in a previous article by fellow writer and editor Mike Dyce, the Denver Broncos were in talks with Wes Welker after he decided it was time to move on. 

Now, they got things done and added another weapon to the already dangerous arsenal that Peyton Manning has to play with.

Wes Welker has agreed to a 2 year contract worth $12 million.

In New England, Welker was Tom Brady’s favorite target, as 70% of Brady’s completions went Wes Welker’s way. So imagine what he will do now that he is in Denver with Peyton Manning and the rest of that offense?

His numbers may go down a bit, with the receiving core they have in Denver, but it will make it harder for defenses when it comes to the type of coverage they are going to have to prepare.

Seriously, how are they going to cover this? Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Andre Caldwell, Greg Orton and they still have more moves to make? The talent they have on both sides of the ball, should carry this team a long ways and the Broncos should be sitting pretty late in the season, as long as their team stays healthy. This is one team I am excited to watch when the new season starts. AFC beware, Denver is on a serious mission.

Wes Welker’s two-year, $12 million contract has $150,000 in incentives for each year he catches 90 passes. Deal has no other incentives.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2013

December 24, 2011; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) on the field against the St. Louis Rams during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced they have released 10 year veteran James Harrison.

5x Pro Bowler, 2x Super Bowl champion, 4x All Pro, 3x AFC Champion, 2x AFC Defensive Player of the Month in November 2007 and October 2009, not to mention a AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2008.

James Harrison, 34 years old, is one of the hardest hitting players on the field. He doesn’t care how big or how small you were, if you are in his way, he is going to do everything he can to make sure you remember who laid you out. He has been fined several times throughout his career and has spoken out on the league and the fining system they employ.

Undrafted out of Kent State, Harrison made his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002.

In his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he has become one of the most feared defensive players in the league. You didn’t want #92 of the Steelers to run you down when you were a blocker or ball carrier who was in his line of sight.

The reason for cutting James Harrison was due to cap space related reasons after both sides couldn’t agree to a new contract. Pittsburgh was $1.4 million over the cap while Harrison was due $6.57 for this upcoming season.

Last season, key defensive players for the Pittsburgh Steelers were banged up, including Troy Polamalu who missed a handful of games and James Harrison, who battled a knee problem.

In his last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harrison recorded 70 tackles, 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in 13 games.

Having one of the longest plays in Super Bowl history – a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, Harrison should be one of the many veterans who won’t have a hard time finding a new place to call home.

Last night on Twitter, Harrison was running a contest on twitter, giving away signed footballs to lucky twitter followers. This morning, he issued out a few tweets regarding the news the Pittsburgh Steelers gave him.

It’s been a great run but everything must come to a end

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) March 9, 2013

It’s been a great run but all good things must come to a end. Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) March 9, 2013

I’m still giving away the footballs and other stuff until its all gone!

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) March 9, 2013

He still continued his twitter contest.

Career stats as of Week 17, 2012 for James Harrison are the following: 617 tackles, 64.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 29 forced fumbles.

Where will James Harrison land? Come back and visit us at NFL Spin Zone for a list of potential Top 5 destinations.

Mar 3, 2013; Florham Park, NJ, USA; Lauren Silberman talks reporters after walking off at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center after her second kickoff during kicker tryouts. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

I mean, come on, Silberman!! Really?! You kicked the ball 19 yards. And then tried again, this time kicking it 13 yards. You really do have a lot to answer for. Women across the world were counting on you to show that they can compete in a man’s world (even as a kicker), but you stunk it up. And I for one, am not buying the ‘injury’ excuse either.

OK, so the whole thing was a little anti climatic, and I am surprised she is not being more thoroughly mocked after pretty much securing herself a position on every future ‘epic fail’ video that will vomit its way out of the Internet in days and weeks to come.

For those who haven’t followed this story, 28 year old Lauren Silberman was taking part in a regional combine in New Jersey, along with 36 other kickers – all of whom were male. Although she has never actually kicked in a competitive football game, she has played soccer, and apparently possesses some good athletic ability.

At the tail end of 2011, the NFL announced that it would allow women to play in the NFL; a move which I comprehensively applaud. I think we need to see female players and also more female referees, following Shannon Eastin refereeing a game last season. Commissioner, Roger Goodell said:

“Times are changing. The military is about to allow women into combat.   If women are going to be fighting on the battlefield, how can we stop them from participating in football.  It’s not fair  The NFL is open to all players now – regardless of gender.”

Silberman made history as the first woman to try and land a place on an NFL roster, but let’s be honest – it couldn’t have gone any worse. In case you haven’t seen her ‘kicks’ here’s the video:

You’re feeling pretty sorry for her after watching that, aren’t you? Well, I’m not!!! Why oh why could she have not blasted the ball 60 yards down the field like she claimed she could? Why couldn’t she have made the whole world take notice, and be an inspiration for thousands of young women, hoping to make a name for themselves in a sport shamefully dominated by men.

Silberman herself said:

”I’m just really happy I had this amazing experience,. I might be the first woman trying out for the NFL, but I certainly hope I’m not the last.”

Yes, but we could all be a lot more hopeful if you hadn’t of sucked so badly. Need I remind you Lauren, and the rest of the watching the world, that your two combine kicks travelled a combined distance of 32 yards. You let the side down, Lauren. It’s no good smiling about it, and shrugging your shoulders with a quasi-positive outlook. Women were counting on you to lead the way. Now, no woman in the right mind wants to try and make an NFL team.

All that has been achieved throughout this whole sordid affair is this – now even more boneheaded male idiots can sit there and say stuff like: “see, I told you women can’t play football’ or, “oh man, she can’t kick to save her life, but I’d still hit it”. Here are some genuine comments from several fools that I found on the Internet regarding Silberman’s tryout:

“back to the kitchen she goes. not even 20 yards she kicked…..what a attention whore”

“Women, you are not equal to men and never will be. The fact that she was even allowed to try out is blasphemy. Our country is really going backwards…Fat is normal, Illegals have more perks than US born citizens, freedom of speech doesn’t apply to gay people ect..WTF America, lets get this shit together before we crumble!!”

“When is a woman going to come along that can truly compete at a man’s level, I want to see a hott chick suited up in a New York Mets uniform or playing for the Chicago Bulls…”

“She set women back 100 years. After seeing her attempts, I now believe women should be barefoot, pregnant, and shown the occasional back of the hand…”

“women belong in the bedroom!!!”

“Women in the NFL will be like women in the army. Meat for the men. Sorry to say it, but they will not like what they find at the end of this road.” (sounds a bit threatening to me – maybe I should report this one.)

So, you see the kind of attitude that a lot of women appear to be up against. And, dear reader, I hope you have picked up on the tone of this article, and realize that I am in full support of Lauren Silberman, and any other woman that steps up to try out for an NFL team. It pains me to point this out, but I fear that if I don’t, people will genuinely think that I hate Lauren Silberman.

Even though she did suck at kicking the football, at least it has planted a seed. Everything has to start somewhere, right? And in years to come, when the NFL is hopefully full of  female players, from kickers to safeties, to linebackers; we will look back on the day that Lauren Silberman totally screwed up two kicks and say – ‘thank you, Lauren’.