Beano Cook espn chat: Will Adrian Peterson rush for 2,000 yards this year???

May 24, 2006 at 9:54 pm | In Adrian Peterson, Beano Cook, ESPN.com, Oklahoma Sooners | Leave a Comment

Dustin, Dallas: Beano, True or False? Adrian Peterson breaks the 2,000 yard mark this season?

SportsNation Beano Cook: He has a shot. If they play for the championship in th Big 12 he will have 13 games. Peterson should have a big season and for Oklahoma to contend for a national title, he must have a big season.

Does Beano realize OU plays 14 games if they go to the big 12 championship and then a bowl?

Musberger, Herbstreit, Davie to work ABC Saturdays

May 24, 2006 at 9:52 pm | In ABC Saturday Night College Football, Bob Davie, Bob Griese, Brent Musberger, Brent Musburger, Dan Fouts, Doug Flutie, ESPN/ABC Sports, Kirk Herbstreit, Mike Patrick, Mike Tirico, Paul Maguire, Todd Blackledge | Leave a Comment

NEW YORK — Brent Musburger will team with analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Bob Davie for ABC’s Saturday night college football games this fall, while Brad Nessler will be part of a three-man booth with Paul Maguire and Bob Griese.

ABC and ESPN revealed their new announcing teams Wednesday.

Other interesting changes include Dan Fouts moving from the analyst position he held last season to play-by-play. The NFL Hall of Famer will be in the booth with Tim Brant.

Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge will team up for ESPN’s Saturday night broadcasts, while Doug Flutie will be in the studio for both ESPN and ABC. Also, Chris Fowler will take over the play-by-play duties from Mike Tirico for ESPN’s Thursday night game

Plummer says his car was bumped

May 24, 2006 at 6:27 pm | In Denver Broncos, Football players and the law, Jake "The Snake" Plummer slithers, Jake Plummer, Jake Plummer road rage | Leave a Comment

How will Jake “the snake” Plummer slither out of this one?????

ENGLEWOOD — Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, during an impromptu news conference today, rebutted allegations that he was involved in a road-rage incident last month.

Responding to an allegation by Doug Stone that Plummer backed his Honda Element into Stone’s Ford Ranger truck on April 20 while sitting at a red light at West Hampden Avenue and South Downing Street, the quarterback said his car was “bumped” from behind.

Stone also alleged that Plummer, 31, got out and kicked his car and that words were exchanged, but Plummer denied both charges.

Plummer, who said he was en route to an charity evert for the Jake Plummer Foundation, said he got out of his car to check for damage, didn’t find any, got back in his car and drove away. While driving, Plummer said, he called 911 to report the accident. The QB said he has a record of the call.

Stone, 47, admits that he “laid on my horn” after pulling up behind Plummer at the stop light because “I didn’t appreciate him cutting me off.” Stone said he witnessed Plummer’s car weaving through traffic and cutting off three other motorists. As the traffic approached Downing, Stone said, the Honda driver cut in front of him.

According to a news release, police said Plummer’s Honda Element had rear-end damage that was consistent with the damage sustained by the Ford Ranger truck driven by Stone.

Stone said the confrontation occurred when he was driving west on West Hampden Avenue and he saw the driver of a gray Honda snaking through traffic and cutting off three other motorists. As the traffic approached South Downing Street, Stone said, the Honda driver cut in front of him.

When they reached the red light at Downing, Stone said the Honda had stopped ahead of him.

“I laid on my horn to give him notice I didn’t appreciate him cutting me off as he did the other drivers that I had witnessed,” Stone, 47, said.

Stone’s honking apparently set off the other driver.

“He had jumped out of his car and kicked my truck and said, ‘Stay off my a–,’ ” Stone recalled. “And he jumped back in his Honda, put his Honda in reverse and backed into my truck. He tried pushing me backward.”

When the light turned green, the driver sped away. Stone said that after the confrontation he decided to pull off the highway, where he was joined by a witness who had copied down the license-plate number of Plummer’s Honda. Stone then called the police to report the incident.

Stone said he did not recognize Plummer as the man who was behind the wheel and who kicked his truck until he saw a police report identifying the quarterback as the alleged culprit. A big reason for that was that Plummer no longer had his game beard on.

Athlon Sports Editor on picking the Sooners number 1

May 24, 2006 at 6:12 pm | In Adrian Peterson, Athlon Sports picks OU #1, Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma Sooners preseason number 1, Rhett Bomar | Leave a Comment

Unlike recent seasons when USC and Oklahoma were easy No. 1 choices, Light said the magazine’s panel of seven editors struggled before selecting the Sooners.

“This is my seventh year with the magazine and it was the most difficult,” he said. “There isn’t a dominant team on paper. Everybody had warts.

“We had five to seven teams on our board that we thought had a shot at winning it all

Oklahoma struggled last season to an 8-4 record after losing in the national title game the previous two years, and the reasons were many — tailback Adrian Peterson battled an ankle injury, breaking in new quarterback Rhett Bomar, and rebuilding the defense.

“We love Adrian Peterson,” Light said. “People forget how dominant he was as a freshman. He was running on a gimpy ankle all year. The defense should be outstanding. They’ve got four All-Big 12-caliber defensive ends and eight returning starters. And Bob Stoops is a big-time coach.”

Clint Ingram article: “The guy can play, dawg”

May 24, 2006 at 5:02 pm | In Clint Ingram, Jacksonville Jaguars | Leave a Comment

Clint Ingram is a hard-workin', no baloney country kid who caught the Jaguars' eye at the Senior Bowl and is now in the process of competing for a starting job on one of football's best defenses.clint ingram

“I was mowing yards by the time I was six, seven years old,” Ingram said of his upbringing in Longview, Texas. “I used to work on a farm with my grandparents.”

Ingram is country all the way, they say. He smiles at the mention, then nods his head and tells of his collection of pit bulls.

“I breed them, keep them, sell them. I kept every dog I found,” he said of his days as a youth. “I had 20, 30 dogs running around the yard.”

These days, Ingram is one of several young dogs running with the Jaguars linebackers. It's a group of young players that includes 2004 third-round pick Jorge Cordova, '05 sixth-round pick Pat Thomas and '06 undrafted free agent Brian Iwuh. They're all getting good looks this spring in a rotation that has all of the Jaguars linebackers learning all three of the positions.

“We create flexibility. We teach flexibility, so you can play Will (weakside) or Sam (strongside) in our defense and it not be a monumental position change,” coach Jack Del Rio said.

“I think it's going to be a fun position to watch this summer. We like our group. They're full of energy,” Del Rio added.

The Jaguars traded higher into the third round to draft Ingram, who personnel boss James Harris said was the last linebacker on the board the Jaguars felt had the ability to become a starter this season.

“He looks like he's going to be an explosive player. He's very eager. It's just a matter of how quickly he learns the position,” Del Rio said of Ingram.

At Oklahoma last season, Ingram was a big-time play-maker. He intercepted five passes and two of those interceptions were game-winners. Ingram, 6-2, 245, is rare inasmuch as he's one of the few players to come out of college football with the reputation for being an accomplished pass-defender.

“Real good movement skills, suddenness, burst. You could see the explosiveness. He was probably as good a hitter as I saw on film,” linebackers coach Mark Duffner said of Ingram.

Despite his production at Oklahoma last season, Ingram was somewhat of an unknown quantity heading into the postseason. Then, he jumped out at people. He turned in a strong performance at the Senior Bowl, at the scouting combine and at his pro day.

“I would've been a later pick,” Ingram said of his draft stock, had it been based solely on last season. “I got a late start at Oklahoma. I didn't play until halfway through my junior year.”

“I see a guy who has great measurables. He's everything we saw on tape,” Defensive Coordinator Mike Smith said.

He's everything you think he is when you talk to him. Ingram is all country.

“I'll stay grounded,” he said. “I have a good foundation; good morals.”

Sooners the choice for preseason No. 1

May 24, 2006 at 12:16 pm | In Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma Sooners preseason number 1 | Leave a Comment

Flying in under the radar come the Oklahoma Sooners. After an uncharacteristically sub-par season, it’s out of sight, out of mind — but not for long. Due in large part to a ruinous rash of injuries in 2005, there are 22 players back who drew at least one starting assignment last fall, compared to only 17 with starting experience going into last season. OU won six of its last seven games, including a 17–14 victory over sixth-ranked Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. In addition, the 2006 Sooners welcome back their top passer, rusher, receiver, tackler and sack man from ’05.

Quarterback Rhett Bomar took the reins on offense in Game 2 as a redshirt freshman and got better and better as the season wore on. In his 12 appearances, with 10 starts, he threw for 2,018 yards — a school freshman record — and 10 touchdowns, and he has just begun to tap his enormous potential.

Two years ago, running back Adrian Peterson set an NCAA freshman record with 1,925 rushing yards, averaging 5.7 per carry with 15 touchdowns. Last fall, he was hampered by an ankle injury all season, missing all or most of four games, and still ran for more than 1,000 yards with a five-yard average and 14 scores. Peterson is the best ball-carrier in America, and no one else is close.

Five of the top seven receivers are back, including sophomores Malcolm Kelly, Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson. Kelly led the way with 33 catches, and the three averaged over 15 yards per catch combined. Converted quarterback Paul Thompson and tight end Joe Jon Finley round out the receivers’ playing group.

There is only one full-time starter back on the offensive line — right tackle Chris Messner — but most of the new men have game action under their belts. Tackle Branndon Braxton started three games last season, guard J.D. Quinn started four and center Jon Cooper started two.

Linebackers Rufus Alexander, a first-team All-Big 12 returnee, and Zach Latimer combined for 186 tackles, including 23 for a loss and nine sacks, in 2005 and form the cornerstone of the defense. Larry Birdine and John Williams, both of whom sat out last year with injuries, return at end along with C.J. Ah You and Calvin Thibodeaux, who started in their stead. Ah You was the runaway choice as league Newcomer of the Year and was Defensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl. Thibodeaux turned in a team-high 10 sacks for the season.

Reggie Smith spent most of the 2005 campaign as a true freshman starter at strong safety and again will join Darien Williams in the deep zones. D.J. Wolfe started all 11 games at cornerback last year after switching from running back and responded with 65 tackles, along with five for a loss. He also picked off two passes, running one back for a touchdown, and broke up 10 others.

After tuning up at home against UAB and Washington, the Sooners travel to Eugene for the first challenge of the season — a Sept. 16 rematch of last year’s Holiday Bowl with Oregon. Iowa State and Texas Tech both must come to Norman, and there is no Nebraska on the 2006 slate.

And don’t forget the Red River Shootout against Texas in Dallas on Oct. 7.

Athlon’s Pick: National champions

Returning starters
4 offense, 8 defense, both kickers

Yoots
Oklahoma was one of the youngest teams in DI-A last season, with 12 true freshmen seeing game action and 11 drawing at least one starting assignment.

Bring ’em on
The Sooners played the toughest schedule in the nation last year, based on cumulative records of their opponents as compiled by the NCAA. OU played seven teams that ended up in the 2005-06 postseason.

Pack ’em in
Oklahoma led the Big 12 in attendance in 2005 with an average of 84,331 fans at six home games.

2006 Schedule
S. 2 UAB
S. 9 Washington
S. 16 at Oregon
S. 23 Middle Tennessee
O. 7 #Texas
O. 14 Iowa State
O. 21 Colorado
O. 28 at Missouri
N. 4 at Texas A&M
N. 11 Texas Tech
N. 18 at Baylor
N. 25 at Oklahoma State
#Dallas, TX
2005 Results (8–4, 6–2 Big 12)
S. 3 TCU L 10–17
S. 10 Tulsa W 31–15
S. 17 at UCLA L 24–41
O. 1 Kansas State W 43–21
O. 8 at Texas L 12–45
O. 15 at Kansas W 19– 3
O. 22 Baylor W 37–30
O. 29 at Nebraska W 31–24
N. 12 Texas A&M W 36–30
N. 19 at Texas Tech L 21–23
N. 26 Okla. State W 42–14
D. 29 #Oregon W 17–14
#Holiday Bowl

Ted Ginn Highlight video

May 24, 2006 at 1:29 am | In Ohio State, Ohio State Buckeyes, Ted Ginn, Ted Ginn highlight video | Leave a Comment

Damn he is FAST

click here for the video 

Runnels hopes to follow lead of established pros

May 24, 2006 at 1:23 am | In Chicago Bears, J.D. Runnels | Leave a Comment

j.d. runnels diary

 Bears fullback J.D. Runnels, a sixth-round draft pick from Oklahoma, shares his thoughts in a rookie diary that will appear periodically throughout the offseason before resuming on a weekly basis just before training camp:

Everything has been going extremely well for me since I returned to Halas Hall last week with the rest of the rookies to start working out again. The thing I've always done at every level that I've been at is look at the guys who are in the position that I want to be in in three or four years.

Bears fullback J.D. Runnels is eager to move into his new apartment June 1.

I'm impressed with the way that guys like Brian Urlacher and Olin Kreutz carry themselves and handle their business on and off the field. I've been taking mental notes and hope to be like them someday. Hopefully there will be a time down the road where guys come in and say that they'd like to be like me in four or five years!

On a typical day, the rookies wake up at 6 or 6:15 in the morning and take a shuttle from our hotel to Halas Hall. We usually start out at about 9 a.m. and have either workouts or meetings. We're normally done every day by 12:30 or 1 p.m. Every day, I work on improving myself in some way, whether it's physically, mentally or emotionally.

Taking the shuttle and sharing a locker room (in the Halas Hall basement) with the rest of the rookies really builds camaraderie. You know that these guys are going to be around here and that they're going through the same thing that you are.

When I get back to my room, I usually study my playbook until about 3 p.m. I just found an apartment and am starting to buy things to furnish it. I'm going to move in June 1. It's right by a golf course, which was the most important factor. Everyone who lives there gets free golf, which is a big deal for me. I'm a huge golfer. I started playing in college and I got hooked.

I've spent most of my recent nights watching the NBA playoffs, though I did catch The Sopranos on Sunday. I'm a huge Sopranos fan. The TV shows I can't miss are The Sopranos and Family Guy. I know they're different genres, but you have to have both in your life. There are times when you need to be serious, but you also have to have a sense of humor.

Being away from loved ones is tough, but as my loved ones know, this is what I've always wanted to do. This has been one of the easiest transitions in my life. When you achieve a dream and reach the pinnacle of your career and what you want to do, it's not that big of an adjustment. I do miss my family, but they know that I'm out here doing well.

I was thinking about going to the Cubs-White Sox game last Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field-the day that (White Sox catcher) A.J. Pierzynski got rocked (by Cubs counterpart Michael Barrett).

I didn't get to go, but I really wish I had been there. Cubs-White Sox is a great rivalry that's good for the city. I've heard that their ballparks are only eight miles apart! I don't want to sound like a bandwagon guy, so if I had to pick one team I would favor the Cubs. I'm a tradition guy.

Since I've been in town, I've been recognized twice. I went to the mall and there was a teenager who recognized me and then it happened again when I was going through airport security.

Playing at Oklahoma, you're going to be recognized no matter who you are, especially if you do well. Then again, stepping up to this new level, it makes you feel really good knowing that people are going to recognize you and knowing that there's an entire city behind you.

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