Around the League in 80 seconds…week 2

In case you missed the news, sportscenter, or any other ESPN/news program, you might have missed some headline making news covering the NFL in the past two days.

Injuries, arrests and deaths.  Heavy stuff and not the way any fan wants to begin the season.

First, the tragic death of Denver Broncos WR Kenny McKinley. McKinley was found Monday in his home from apparent suicide from a gun wound.

The promising wide receiver was a young 23-years old and the father of a baby boy. As of now, there are no reasons of why or what may have happened to have caused this only two weeks into the season. Some speculations are McKinley’s current injuries or maybe money.

McKinley’s agent, Andrew Bondarowicz, said family and friends are at a loss to explain the death of a young man “who had such a love for life.”

“Everybody has their explanations, their own theories. Whether it was injuries, no one’s going to know for sure,” Bondarowicz said. “It’s a tough situation all the way around.

“Some people speculate that it was his being injured, some said it was financial challenges. … It’s a tragic situation.”

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The Hard Knock life of a DWI The New York Jets have been loud and proud of the progress they have made over the past few years.  After this summer’s show “A Hard Knock Life” featuring the team, they made it clear they intended to make moves and dominate the field this season.

However,  WR Braylon Edwards must have started celebrating early after the Jets big win over the New England Patriots on Sunday after being arrested for a DWI on Tuesday morning.

He was pulled over due to the tinting of his SUV’s windows, and when the police on scene smelled alcohol, had him use a breathalyzer; he blew a .16 which is two times the legal limit.

The Jets and the league are going to have to go over Edwards past to determine whether or not he will be fined or suspended based off their substance abuse policy.

NFL week one games: Recap

Football season is officially here as the first Sunday of the season has come and gone.

In case you might have missed some of the games, here is a quick recap of each game to keep you up to speed.

Steelers vs. Falcons

The team we love to hate played a pretty tentative game Sunday afternoon against Atlanta, who also seemed hesitant. The game was a slow, FG kind of game. Both kickers even were having an off day as Pittsburgh’s Reed was 2-4 for the day, including a missed FG going into halftime with 17 seconds to go (the ball would hit the post and bounce away).  But the Falcons were on the same page as the Steelers; despite Falcons QB Matt Ryan throwing a strong pass down the middle late in the second  quarter, Atlanta can’t get a TD to pull ahead. Kicker Bryant does make it through the posts this time (he missed an earlier 46  yard attempt) to tie the score at 3-3 going into the second half.

In the end, with “mighty mouse” Hines Ward and Redman making big catches and picking up a few yards to help the once third string QB, Dennis Dixon gave the Steelers the advantage to win.  Late in the fourth quarter,  Lofton and Bierhmann take down Dixon, making it seem like the Falcons could pull away; but an interception by Troy Polamero led the Steelers to another FG attempt which Reed misses, going too far to the right with the 40-yard attempt, sending the game into overtime.

But it was Mendenhall who took the game away from Atlanta in overtime with a TD; final score 15-9.

Falcons player to keep an eye on: Roody White, who had 13 catches and 111 yards.

Titans vs. Raiders

With the Titans, you can’t hold back RB Chris Johnson and QB Vince Young for too long. The Raiders rallied against Tennessee for a good while in the first half, or so it seemed. Passing yards for the Raiders in the first half was a -8, while the Titans were at 85. Both not impressing, especially when the Titans RB, Johnson averages about 125.4 yards a game and had 36 going into the second half.

But N. Washington drew first blood with the first TD of the game which propelled the Titans later to win against Oakland 38-13.

Both QB’s, Young and Campbell, played rookie-esq. If  either team wants to improve, their leaders need to step up their own game a little better.