January 4, 2009
Tony Dungy Out In Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Colts are out of the 2008 NFL Postseason after an overtime loss to Phillip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers 23-17 in a Sunday night AFC Wildcard showdown. Is this the end of Tony Dungy’s coaching career?
Al Michaels and John Madden discussed after the game, that Tony would make a decision about his football future one week after his 2008 season ends. Well, expect to hear from Tony before next Sunday that he is leaving NFL football.
Yes, that is the consensus among those who know him best. Tony has experienced the pinnacle of NFL coaches - a SuperBowl championship. He also had tradgedy in his personal life with the death of his son James, who committed suicide on December 22, 2005.
Many believe that Coach Dungy will spend his time at home, with his wife Lauren Harris of Pittsburgh and has two daughters, Tiara and Jade, and three sons, Eric, Jordan and Justin.
In addition to spending time with his family, he is expected to spend time in civic activities. In fact, in August 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Dungy a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. The 25-member council represents leaders from government, business, entertainment, athletics and non-profit organizations committed to growing the spirit of service and civic participation. The two-year appointment requires attendance at two in-person meetings per year and quarterly phone conversations with assigned committees
Tony is a former professional American football player and the current head coach of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Prior to that, between 1996 and 2001, he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears on February 4, 2007. On December 18, 2008 after securing his tenth straight playoff appearance with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dungy set a new NFL Record for consecutive playoff appearances by a Head Coach.
If Tony does retire he will be certainly be missed and go down in NFL history with some impressive coaching records. If he had his way, I think he would rather be known as a humble man with a passion to help others.
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December 10, 2008
NFL Week 15 Thursday Night Preview and Prediction
GAME INFO
New Orleans Saints (7-6) vs Chicago Bears (7-6)
Date: Thursday, Dec 11, 2008
Kickoff: 8:15 PM ET
Teams: Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill
Weather Forecast: 21 - 31 degrees with 10% chance of precipitation
THE LINE (subject to change)
Bears giving 3 points to the Saints Under/Over 44
THE MATCHUP
New Orleans Saints are 4th in the NFC South (7-6-0), 3 games behind the Carolina Panters who are 10-3. They have scored 366 points and given up 326. They are 2-3 in the division and 4-5 in the conference and 1-5 on the Road.
The Chicago Bears are 2nd in the NFC North behind the Minnesota Vikings. They have scored 304 points while giving up 278. They are 3-2 in the division and 5-5 in the conference and 4-2 at home.
AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
The Saints are 9-4 ATS, 3-3 ATS Away, 3-2 ATS as the underdog and 2-2 ATS as an away underdog
The Bears are 6-6 ATS, 3-3 ATS at hoe, 4-3 ATS as the favorite and 2-2 ATS as a home favorite.
PREVIEW
This is probably the toughest game of the week to call and the first meeting between the two this season. The game will be on the shoulders of the Saints QB, Drew Brees and the Bears running back, Matt Forte. If Brees keeps his interceptions to 1 or less there is a good chance the Saints can upset the Bears. If Forte has a 100+ yard game it puts the Bears in a good position to keep Brees off the field and win the game.
Both teams are still in the post-season hunt but they need to continue to win to have a chance.
Weather should not be an issue Thursday night. It will be cold but the wind should not be a factor.
One big stat that sticks out is the Saints are only 1-5 on the Road.
INJURIES
Bears
Marty Booker WR Ribs Did Not Participate In Practice
Desmond Clark TE Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice
Tommie Harris DT Knee Did Not Participate In Practice
Jason McKie RB Quadricep Did Not Participate In Practice
Garrett Wolfe RB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice
Saints
Jammal Brown T Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice
Will Smith DE Not Injury Related Did Not Participate In Practice
Roman Harper S Shoulder Full Participation in Practice
PREDICTION (ATS)
The Bears are giving 3 points (-3) to the Saints who are 1-5 on the Road. I see the Bears controlling the ball and winning the game by 4 points.
Chicago Bears 24 New Orleans Saints 20
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November 2, 2008
Bears QB Kyle Orton Carted Off Field With Ankle Injury
CHICAGO (AP) — Bears quarterback Kyle Orton was taken from the field on a cart late in the second quarter Sunday and the team said he would miss the rest of the game against the Detroit Lions because of a right ankle injury.
Rex Grossman started the second half for Chicago.
The Bears were trailing 23-13 when Orton scrambled to his right in the closing minute of the first half. Cory Redding hit him and Dewayne White fell on Orton as the quarterback was hitting the turf.
Orton got up and took a few steps, then crumbled to the ground. He was tended to for several minutes before being carried off. He was 8-of-14 passing for 108 yards.
The Bears also lost safety Mike Brown to a calf injury. He walked to the locker room with about a minute left in the first half, and the team said he would not return.
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