Lockout Lifted!...for now

Federal judge Susan Nelson officially lifted the lockout in favor of the players union.  This should be the end of the lockout and a 2011-2012 season is definite right?  Unfortunately no.

The NFL filed for an appeal shortly after the ruling, questioning if Nelson exceeded her jurisdiction.  Later on the NFL filed a motion for an expedited stay, which means the NFL wants Nelson to freeze her ruling until the appeal process plays out.

The players are legally able to show up at team facilities, but they still can not negotiate with the coaching staff or with the front office.  Free agency and contract negotiations are also not permitted yet.

I am very optimistic about a 2011 season now that the political entities are in favor of the players.  Hopefully within these next couple months we will know if there is or not an NFL season.

The meaning behind the game

When people think of football, they normally think of the high school captain that shoves people into lockers and picks on everyone.  Some think of the game as a barbaric activity that only dummies play.  Well let me tell you otherwise.

When done correctly, the game of football can mature an individual to levels that not even a strict parent can.  When taught correctly, it can form coach-to-player connections almost equivalent to a father and his son, not to mention the brotherhood and the companionship amongst the players.  Football also gives people an outlet of frustration; instead of fighting people on the streets, you can hit somebody on the football.

Many people think it's a game of violence and nothing more.  I'm sorry for those who feel that way, because football is much more than just that.

Da'Quan Bowers works out for NFL Scouts

     After a knee injury that kept him out of the NFL Combine, former Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers impressed scouts at Clemson's NFL pro day on Friday, April 1st.  Bowers was kept out of the combine due to surgery on his torn meniscus on his right knee.  He impressed scouts with his quickness off the ball, but his 40 yard dash time was on the slow side, running a 4.96 second 40 and a 4.94, when he's usually in the low 4.8s.

     Bowers was a projected 1st overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft before the combine, in which LSU defensive back Patrick Peterson is now projected to go first overall.  There is now discussion if Bowers will even go in the first round at all.  Bowers led the nation in sacks with 15.5 and also had 67 total tackles. 

     In my opinion, Da'Quan is one of the most impressive freak athletes that I have ever seen play the game, if you take into consideration that he is 6'5 and almost 300 pounds.  I am positive that once his knee is completely healthy again, Bowers could end up being the next Reggie White of the game. 

Patrick Peterson

A Cleveland Browns fan sues NFL for lockout

Every fan across the United States is upset with whats been going on with the NFL lockout underway.  Well one fan decided to stop complaining and actually take action

Ken Lanci, a Cleveland Browns season ticket holder, filed suit against the National Football League stating that the lockout is violating his contract to buy tickets through his personal seat license.

The suit is asking for $25,000 from the Browns on both breach of contract and bad faith counts and more than $25,000 from the league and its teams for alleged contract interference.

Good for him.  It's about time somebody decided to step up and show the NFL what's what.  We are all biting our nails over the potential of not having an NFL season.  Although I don't think it will sway the NFL owners to remove the lockout, it definitely should be an eye-opener, as i'm pretty positive more lawsuits should follow. 

Injuries in the game

You are an extremely lucky individual to play a sport and NOT get any type of serious injury.  Throughout PeeWees and Pop Warner ball and even high school ball I've never substained any type of serious injury.  That all changed on October 17th, 2009. I fell on my left wrist ackwardly while trying to get to the quarterback.  It didn't help that a 350+ offensive lineman fell on top of me either.  At first, I thought it was just a sprained wrist.  After the swelling or the pain did not go down, I went to the orthopedist and he recommended an MRI. 

The MRI found that I have torn ligaments all throughout the wrist and tiny bones were moved all around.  I need a major surgery to repair all the ligaments that were damaged.  After 4 hours of surgery, 3 months in a cast, one surgical screw and a surgical pin and 2 casts later, my wrist still isn't completely healed.  It may be stiff like it is for probably the rest of my life. 

Fortunately for me that was the only major surgery that I've ever had.  And I would love to keep it like that.

Hang Cleans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXsRyrddc3E

Hang cleans are the most important lift that all athletes should do for whatever sport.  It is one of the hardest lifts to do, but when do properly, it is the most fat burning and most cardiovascular lift there is out there.  It helps strengthen grip, legs, glutes, hips, hamstrings, arms, pretty much all major muscle groups. 

This is a video of me performing a set of 225 for 4 during the summer of 2009.  I have been doing hang cleans since I was a freshman in high school.  It took me a long time before i got the hang of it, but it is probably one of my favorite lifts to do.   

NFL Lockout?

If you haven't heard the news yet, let me be the first to inform you.

On Friday, March 11th, the NFL owners have locked out the players for the 2011-2012 season.  However, there maybe still some hope.

On that same day the NFLPA decertified from the league and they can now file antitrust lawsuits against the NFL and hopefully they can prevent the owners from locking out the players. 

This whole lockout issue is the owners fault hands down.  They opted out of the original collective bargaining agreement in 2008 and they don't want to split the revenue of 9 billion dollars 50/50.  i applaud the NFL players for trying to have a season.  It shows the fans that they truly aren't about the money or the glory.  They love playing the game just as much as we love watching the game.