The Detroit Lions didn"t waste time addressing the loss of Mikel Leshoure(notes), the running back who was lost for the season Monday Mitchell And Ness Mike Singletary Jersey with a torn Achilles tendon.
They agreed to terms this Mitchell And Ness Jim Kelly Jersey morning Mitchell And Ness Thurman Thomas Jersey with Mitchell And Ness Gale Sayers Jersey a pair of running backs, bringing in Jerome Harrison and Mike Bell, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Both backs Mitchell And Ness Jim McMahon Jersey played for the Mitchell And Ness Mike Ditka Jersey Philadelphia Eagles last season.The Lions are looking for a running back to pair with Jahvid Best(notes), the club"s first-round Mitchell And Ness Dick Butkus Jersey draft pick a year ago. Leshoure, a second-round pick from Illinois, is a physical runner who would have fit that role well.Harrison, 5-9, 205 pounds, is an intriguing Mitchell And Ness Dan Hampton Jersey option. The Kalamazoo, Mich., native rushed for 862 yards and five touchdowns for the Cleveland Browns in 2009, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Follow me on Twitter: BradBiggsBrad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune
It's highly unlikely after his unexpectedyet not all that surprisingannouncement on Aug. 9 he's retiring that linebacker Channing Crowder(notes) will be playing professional football during the 2011 NFL season.He almost certainly won't be donning a Miami Dolphins uniform after having been released by the South Florida franchise on July 29 in order to free up salary cap room to sign former San Diego Chargers' linebacker Kevin Burnett(notes).
Yet, that doesn't preclude the possibility Crowder could be working in the Sunshine State helping the Dolphins out in some way; namely by pursuing a career in radio with WQAM.After all, he does have a connection to the club that goes beyond just his playing days at Miami, and while WQAM general manager Joe Bell doesn't yet know what role Crowder will have at their station, he has expressed he sees Channing as a talented radio personality:"He's as good as any athlete I've ever heard on radio."Also, his father, Randy Crowder, was a sixth-round pick by the Dolphins in the 1974 NFL Draft, and played three seasons with the franchise, and although the younger Crowder's six-year career with Miami never really lived up to expectations after he was himself picked in the third-round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Authentic 49ers Jersey he remains a very colorful character liked by many 'Phins fans.Some may look upon Crowder negatively, and there's reason for that in a sense considering his propensity for making controversial remarks, but I've never personally understood the animosity some have toward him. To me, he was a fairly decent linebacker who did his best while with the 'Phins, and shouldn't be faulted for not being a superstar; few players are.Again, while his announcement he was ending his career was a bit unexpected, it wasn't surprising to some who know he and his wife are expecting their first child in three weeks. Mitchell And Ness Russ Grimm Jersey Such news, coupled with the fact there's probably not a great deal of interest in his services at the moment, have obviously left him thinking he'd be better off at home for the foreseeable future.That doesn't mean he won't change his mind sometime down the roador even that some team that suffers an injury at linebacker won't possibly come callingbut at the moment he's probably content to see what kind of Customized Buccaneers Jersey future he has in broadcasting.I have to say I have the feeling he's going to be a huge success in that field. He's far more intelligent than Charles Barkley, yet has the same kind of appeal. The only risk he runs is making some statements that might not go over well in that environment; so he'll have to watch himself a little.For instance, implying he didn't believe there were any black people in London prior to a game on October 27, 2007 between the Dolphins and the New York Giants may have blown over because he was simply a player, but making those kind of comments on a radio program aren't likely to Customized Seahawks Jersey fly.Yet, I think Channing Authentic Buccaneers Jersey is smart enough to understand this, and to keep it "in bounds"so to speakwhile still being Authentic Rams Jersey a very entertaining personality.I wish him luck, and also wish him well in all of his other pursuits. Although he's a former Florida Gator, to me he'll always be a member of the Miami Dolphins.Hut, hut, hike!More from Yahoo! Contributor Customized Rams Jersey Network:Hopefully the Miami Dolphins Won't Waste Their Great DefenseThe Dolphins Bringing in Authentic Seahawks Jersey Brett Favre is an Absolutely Absurd IdeaYou Better Get Used to the Jeers, Mr. Sparano-That, or Start WinningSix-Time Pro Bowler Jason Taylor is the Miami DolphinsIt Will Take More Than Words for Miami Dolphins to Win This YearAll stats and information taken from personal notes and verified at Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL.com, and Yahoo! Sports.Read more by Daniel Barber aka Hotnuke at TFS Sports.*Daniel Barber has been a fan of all Miami teams since he was a child or since their inception having been born right above Miami.Sources:Pro-Football-Reference.comNFL.comNote: Customized 49ers Jersey This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.
Mike Shanahan has made his strongest statement to date on his quarterback situation.The Washington Redskins have listed Rex Grossman(notes) as the top quarterback on Authentic Chargers Jersey the first depth chart that has been released by the team. John Beck(notes) is listed as the backup even though most have suspected he would be the starter all Customized Steelers Jersey along.
Rick Maese of Authentic Steelers Jersey the Authentic Eagles Jersey Washington Customized Chargers Jersey Post cautions Customized Raiders Jersey too much shouldn"t be read into the decision. It is interesting because some teams will list co-starters on their depth charts, especially early in training camp. Both quarterbacks are in the running for the job and only Customized Eagles Jersey one of them can start in Friday"s preseason opener. It"s the performances in preseason that will truly shape the decision.Follow me on Twitter: BradBiggsBrad Biggs covers Mitchell And Ness Darrell Green Jersey the Bears for the Chicago Tribune
I know many fans are enamored with Miami Dolphins' wide receiver Brian Hartline(notes), but I'm not one of them.The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov details in his latest article how Hartline himself believes 2011 could be a breakout season for him; yet I'm simply not convinced he has what it takes to be the kind of deep threat he and others perceive him to be.
Not surprisingly, Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano doesn't agree with my assessment, stating of Hartline, "We think [Brian's] one of our fastest guys of our team so to continue to play better in the deeper areas, that 17-plus yard area, is what we're trying to get out of Brian."Hartline isn't shy about stating his own ambitions for the coming year and his expectations about being able to become more of a downfield threat, stating, "I want to be a playmaker for this team. Absolutely, I want to close in on double-digit [touchdowns]."Considering the most he's ever scored in a season is the three TDs he caught during Authentic Jets Jersey his rookie campaign in 2009, that's likely a taller order than he can fill, especially when he'll be competing with so many other wideouts on the team Authentic Giants Jersey for those scores; including Miami's No. 1 receiver Brandon Marshall(notes).There's also Davone Bess(notes), who was the No. 2 wide receiver for the Dolphins in 2010 and combined with Marshall to set a franchise record for a receiving tandem with 165 catches. While Bess is more of a slot receiver, he also had five touchdowns last season; more than Hartline (1) and Marshall (3) combined.I honestly don't expect Bess to lead Miami in touchdown catches this upcoming season (that's something I believe Marshall will head up), but I also don't expect Hartline to all of a sudden start finding the end zone on a regular basis.For one thing, second-year wideout Roberto Wallace(notes) could actually push Brian for playing time midway through the season. At 6-4, 225 lbs., Wallace is the kind of big receiver with decent speed who I believe would compliment Marshall best on the opposite end of the field during three-receiver sets.I would have preferred Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland go after Plaxico Burress(notes) for that role (or even Braylon Edwards(notes)), but that ship has already sailed; with Burress being signed by the Dolphins' division rival the New York Jets, and Miami passing on Edwards and watching the San Francisco 49ers gobble him up.I know all the issues surrounding both of those wideouts made it a risky proposition, but to me, sticking with Hartlinewhose best season doesn't even come close to those of either Burress or Edwardscould end up being something coach Sparano and GM Ireland end up regretting.Hartline will also face a challenge on being a deep threat for the 'Phins from Clyde Gates(notes), who was drafted specifically because of his tremendous speed. Although he is far too raw to likely make an impact this coming season, I see even Gates as having more upside than Hartline.Perhaps my view of the 6-2, 186 lbs. Hartline is colored by my hatred of his alma mater, the Ohio State Buckeyes, but it should be remembered Hartline has yet to do anything to make anyone believe he's capable of being an elite receiver in the NFL. He has some decent speed, but Customized Saints Jersey that isn't enough in this league.Far too many wideouts have had the kind of seasons Authentic Raiders Jersey Hartline had for the Dolphins over Customized Jets Jersey his first two years and done nothing else whatsoever in their time in the NFL. Mitchell And Ness John Riggins Jersey I won't say I know for certain the chances of Hartline being a standout wide receiver for Miami aren't good, but I will state there's almost no chance he'll end up in a museum in his hometown of Canton, Ohio.Still, regardless of my trepidation about how good Hartline can be, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong and to wish him well if he proves he can be a deep threat. If he does that, there's a good likelihood the 'Phins will be winning games, and I can't say I'd be unhappy if that were happening.So, go out there and prove it to me, Brian. Go out there and become the deep threat opposite Marshall the Miami club has needed. I'd sure like to see you doing it.Hut, hut, hike!More from Yahoo! Contributor Network:Former Dolphins LB Channing Crowder Customized Giants Jersey May Not Be Done in MiamiHopefully the Miami Dolphins Won't Waste Their Great DefenseYou Better Get Used to the Jeers, Mr. Sparano-That, or Start WinningSix-Time Pro Bowler Jason Taylor is the Miami DolphinsIt Will Take More Than Words for Miami Dolphins to Win This YearAll stats and information taken from personal notes and verified at Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL.com, and Yahoo! Sports.Read more by Daniel Barber aka Hotnuke at TFS Sports.*Daniel Barber has been a fan of all Miami teams since he was a child or since their inception having been born right above Miami.Sources:Pro-Football-Reference.comNFL.comNote: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.