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Khaled Elsayed
The Emperor's New Clothes
Right now Pat Bowlen is preparing to address Denver, Colorado in nothing but his birthday suit.
I'll give you a second to get that mental image out of your head.
Long enough?
Bowlen was long applauded by his public for the success he helped bring to Denver. Super Bowls and stability are more than most fans would ask for, but it wasn't enough for Pat who wanted more, because being perennial contenders was simply not enough
... ( full article )
Brian Davis
My First Live NFL Game
Brian Davis takes us on a personal journey through his first live action National Football League game, as the Bears took on the Seahawks in the 2007 playoffs:
So picture the scenario, a rainy December 2006 evening, two best mates are sat down discussing the world over a cup of tea when the suggestion of, "wouldn't it be great to just fly to America and watch a game?"
... ( full article )
Brian Davis & Paul Hopkins
Four Downs
with Stock & Doc
This week Dang and Doc look at the QB's under threat – and with that in mind consider who would win from an Alex Smith – Vince Young trade. Elsewhere, what does Brandon Marshall requesting a trade tell us about Denver and the boys close out considering the rookie wide receivers' likely impact in 2009
... ( full article )
(... For more features see Below ...)
(... Or view the COMPLETE Features Page ...)
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Chris Brophy
Number Crunching:
#13
In the 1983 draft the landscape of the NFL got a massive push towards its future direction. The league was evolving from the defensive domination of the 1970's into the offensively energized game led by passing that we know today. That draft contained the Quarterback Class of 1983 which would see six quarterbacks taken in the first round and four of those six would play in a Super Bowl
... ( full article )
Chris Brophy
Number Crunching:
#12
In the 1970's there were two dominant teams – the Steelers and the Cowboys. Whilst there is no doubt that ultimately the Steelers are fairly and squarely the team of that decade there is also little doubt the Cowboys were the most entertaining team of the decade as each week it seemed, Roger Staubach would have to prove his ability in the clutch to rescue America's Team from the savages trying to knock them off their perch
... ( full article )
Micheal Kavanagh
The American Experiment
At the end of the 1992 season the NFL suspended the two-year old World League of American Football due to a lack of interest in the States. Then Canadian Football League commissioner Larry Smith had a dream of a 20 team CFL league with 10 Canadian & 10 American based teams. The suspension of the WLAF gave him his start
... ( full article )
(... Visit our FULL History Archive ...)
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Brian Davis & Paul Hopkins
Four Downs
with Stock & Doc
With Stock still on IR, Four Downs is brought to you as "Dang & Doc" discussing the effect Brian Westbrooks health may have on the Eagles, wondering if we could once again see the LA Rams in the NFL, decide if the road to the AFC East goes through Miami, and debate which out of the three top-rated QB's entering their senior year in 2009 is the most NFL-ready?
... ( full article )
Khaled Elsayed
Where's My Promotion?
You know you've done a decent job. You know you've earned an opportunity. But yet time and time again your manager passes you over for promotion.
Your abilities, he doesn't recognise. Your potential, it means nothing to him. Instead of promoting from within he goes out and finds mediocre candidates. And when that doesn't work he goes and finds a guy with a great CV, but whose best years the industry recognizes as well behind him
... ( full article )
Rob Staton
NFC West 2009, deja vu?
The Arizona Cardinals will begin favorites as defending champions Super Bowl XLIII runners-up. However, there's cause for optimism amongst the other three teams hoping to hit back from a disappointing 2008. Is it possible we could see a three way battle for division title? We may have seen it before in the AFC East
... ( full article )
(... View the COMPLETE Features Page ...)
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Khaled Elsayed
He Broke My Heart
I remember everything about it. I had just come in from a night out at university, slightly worse for wear and hyped up on red bull. I was a poor student and couldn't afford Sky so at 2am in the morning I was left with 5 television channels to choose from, and though I didn't understand the game I was always a big sports fan. So I decided to give it a try
... ( full article )
Mark Lyne-Austen
A Long Way From Lambeau
 Iron Man
So many players are written off before their career has even started and Trent was one of them. Quarterbacks are judged more harshly than most and as an 8th round pick in 1993, Trent Green did not make it the first time round – even the Canadian Football League did not think Green good enough. It took Green until 1998 before he finally got his break
... ( full article )
Ben Stockwell & Paul Hopkins
Four Downs
with Stock & Doc
It's coffee 'n' a bagel time again at the Diner and Stock and Doc react to Peyton Manning's outburst in Indianapolis, mull over who'll be the top receiver in Buffalo next year, consider which coach is going into the new season with much to prove. And finally they look at whether Mike Leach is right and Graham Harrell did deserve having his name called in the Draft
... ( full article )
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Interviews
Diner Exclusives...
 WalterFootball.com's
WALTER CHEREPINSKY
The head honcho of one of our favourite NFL Draft sites stops by for a cuppa and a chat in our latest interview.
They Might Be Giants
DINER EXCLUSIVE
Mike Carlson, Neil Reynolds and Kevin Cadle make fearless post-season and Super Bowl predictions at the two-thirds point of the regular season, exclusive to Football Diner
( full article )
 Rotoworld's
GREGG ROSENTHAL
Award winning fantasy football writer Gregg Rosenthal drops by the Diner to give exclusive tips and strategy for the stretch run in our big interview.
Charger TE
ANTONIO GATES
 Diner:
Antonio this is a must-win game for you guys – did that result in an intensive practice today?
Antonio:
Yeah, it's always intensive when you put yourselves in a position like we're in and you have to climb out of a hole. And we very much created this problem for ourselves... ( full article )
Best of the Rest:
MAURICE JONES-DREW
ANTONIO CROMARTIE
JUSTIN TUCK
MIKE CARLSON
NICK HALLING
LEGEDU NAANEE
(... Visit our EXCLUSIVE Interview Archive ...)
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Paul Hopkins & Brian Davis
NFL Draft Review
Second Day Sleepers
In every draft class there are players who are expected to make it and players who break out in their rookie year, surprising even the most knowledgeable of pundits – despite how much Mike Mayock tries to tell us he saw it coming. We've sifted through the 256 players taken in April to pick out those hidden few who we feel have a chance going into training camp of making their mark from the outset
... ( full article )
Jody Jamieson
NFL Draft Review
Day 2 Review
# 65. Jets
Shonn Greene RB
The Jets started off the first day with a bang, and did the same on Day 2. The Jets only ended up making three selections in this year's draft, but they made sure they got their man. Shonn Greene from Iowa will be the long term replacement for Thomas Jones and runs in a similar style
... ( full article )
Jody Jamieson
NFL Draft Review
2nd Round Review
# 36. Browns
Brian Robiskie WR
They should probably have gone defense here, but receiver is a real need and Robiskie has a chance to become a really good one. Even if Braylon Edwards does stay, they need to replace Stallworth who is likely to be unavailable in 2009
... ( full article )
Jody Jamieson
NFL Draft Review
1st Round Review
... ( full article )
(... View the FULL NCAA Scouting Section ...)
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Paul Hopkins
Buffalo Bills
Review / Preview
The Bills started quick out of the blocks, being the second to last team to lose their unbeaten record. Yet from there they limped along and missed the playoffs yet again. Offensively they struggled, coming in the lower half of the league in the passing game, heaping a dependence on stud RB Lynch. The Bills have made a splash in free agency already this year, acquiring arguably the highest profile free agent in Terrell Owens, but whether TO provides what is needed to get the Bills back to the post-season remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, they're going to be a team to watch this season.
... ( full article )
Paul Hopkins
New England Patriots
Review / Preview
After the untouchable march to the Super Bowl the season before, Tom Brady's knee injury in week one meant the favourites had to make do without their most valuable player for the rest of the year. In his place, perennial back-up Matt Cassel can from obscurity and managed to play well enough to make him the hottest QB free agent of 2009. His eventual trading to Kansas City reaffirms to everyone that this remains Brady's team but everyone will be looking at him to see if he has fully recovered from the devastating knee injury he suffered
... ( full article )
Paul Hopkins
New York Jets
Review / Preview
The Jets season was always going to be high-profile once they were the destination the Packers shipped Brett Favre off to in the big story of the summer. But alongside Favre, the Jets boosted their ranks with considerable experience in the form of the likes of Kris Jenkins and Alan Faneca. Throw in the #6 overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, Vernon Gholsten and expectations were rightly high
... ( full article )
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Michael E Lawrence
Life's a Brees Wembley 2008
 Saints – and former Chargers – quarterback Drew Brees spent some time talking with media types such as ourselves after practice, and had plenty to say on his former team, coming to London and the Saints without Reggie B... ( full article )
Michael E Lawrence
San Diego meets Surrey
Word on the field was that the Chargers practices here have been as intense and focused as any sessions all season. San Diego's nattily attired PR man Jamaal LaFrance told us: "Coming here has been like another minicamp for this team and the last few days have been some of the most spirited days of practice we've had all year"... ( full article )
 Richard Lawrence
Practise Gallery
More exclusive Diner shots from the Chargers and Saints practise days
( Chargers Practise )
( Saints Practise )
Further Diner Coverage of Wembley 2008:
Notes and titbits from Saints Practice
Sean Payton Press Conference
Antonio Gates Interview
Legedu Naanee Interview
Antonio Cromartie Interview
Archive
Wembley 2007
Football Diner was there every step of the way from team Practises to Press Conferences. Re-live the historic weekend with our Archice Articles:
Wembley Build Up
Wembley Game Day
Press Conferences
Fan Gallery
(... Visit the full International Series archive ...)
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Fan Zone
Redskins UK Supporters Club
The UK's longest running Football fan club...
...( find out more )
Review by Mark Lyne-Austen:
The GM
Author: Tom Callahan
 As the kind of American Football fan who frequents the footballdiner, the inside story of being a General Manager sounds perfect to me. Judging a book by the cover is not always what its cracked up to be. The GM is a biography of Ernie Accorsi, the long-time NFL personnel man and General Manager but it is about him and not the job...
( full review & FD rating )
Get Involved !
Have Your Say ! !
Want to be a guest columnist? Got something to say? Your chance to get involved!... ( submit an article ! )
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