Carter stated, “I’m guilty of [placing bounties] – I mean, first time I’ve ever admitted it – but I put a bounty on guys before.” “I put bounties on guys. If a guy tries to take me out, a guy takes a cheap shot on me? I put a bounty on him right now!”

The NFL recently placed heavy penalties on numerous New Orleans management, coaches, and players when NFL Roger Goodell Commissioner found the team guilty of using a bounty program to injure opposing players.

Wednesday morning Carter appeared on ESPN SportsCenter to clarify his statement. He emphasized there was no intent to injure opponents and protection was the only intent. He stated, “The difference is people going out of their way to hurt a player. Hitting a spot that we as players know is off limits, like his knees. You’re not telling them to go out and get someone, you’re telling them to protect you, run down the field to protect their skill guys.”

Carter added, “Bill Romanowski – he told me he was going to take me out before the game, warm-ups. No problem. [He said,] ‘I’m gonna end your career, Carter.’ No problem. “I put a little change on his head before the game. Protect myself. Protect my family. That’s the league that I grew up in.”

Bill Romanowski is a Pro Bowl linebacker who was with the Denver Broncos at the time.

When asked if Carter was the only player to create bounties, he replied, “Hell, no. Listen, on the football field, you only got certain protection, and your teammates are part of that protection. It’s built in, and if I’m playing a certain position where I can’t protect myself – how can the quarterback protect himself? But for his teammates to stand up and do something, there are certain positions you can’t protect yourself.”

“But you have to realize the league we grew up in, the bounty was based on protection, or a big hit, excitement, or for helping your team win. It wasn’t to maim or hurt the dude,” said Carter, who retired from the NFL following the 2002 season.”

The big question here is this: The subject of bounties in the NFL is very toxic right now, so why would a player want to associate himself with the practice of offering bounties? It seems the best course of action would be to keep your trap shut. Carter is on television every Sunday and on various ESPN broadcasts several times a week throughout the NFL pre-season, regular season, and playoffs. Is he really wanting for attention in the off season so badly that he’ll talk about anything to get in the news? This was a really poor decision by Cris Carter, especially when there are Hall of Fame votes at risk.

Cris Carter has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for the past five years. It will be interesting to see if these statements affect the Hall of Fame voting. For many years has been a great ambassador of the sport of American Football by displaying outstanding character and expert analysis. It would be a shame to see his reputation tarnished.

How do you believe this will affect Carter’s ability to enter the Hall of Fame? Should have kept quiet about offering bounties?

While most people were totally enthralled by where Peyton would land, we here in Giants land didn’t really take notice until the 49ers supposedly got into the mix.  I think this was just a ploy to have the other two teams, Tennessee, and Denver, sweeten the pot a bit.  The 9ers now must repair their relationship with their starting free agent QB Alex Smith.  Peyton Manning may have just made him a rich man too….and they both have the same agent….sounds fishy to me!

So, the AFC has Peyton back, in a city the NFL needs to be good.  Win win all around.  Tim Tebow will probably now be on the trading block, and that will spur a new news cycle of craziness until he lands somewhere else.

Now, no one is going to mistake any Harbaugh for Josh McDaniel, Peyton Manning is more established and proven than Matt Cassell, and Alex Smith is no Jay Cutler, but the chances of losing all of them is a possibility.  Harbaugh and Alex Smith were said to have a special relationship, one built on trust and belief in each other.  It was said that that was all Alex needed was someone to believe in him, trust him, and give him his opportunity to prove himself.  Harbaugh did all of  the above and the 9ers won 13 games during the regular season and hosted the NFC Championship game last season. Now it seems like Harbaugh is willing to gamble that all away.  Alex Smith has visited the Miami Dolphins and is headed to Seattle for a visit.  Peyton Manning, it has been reported, wants to stay in the AFC for a variety of reasons, including not having to face the Giants and Eli in the playoffs.  I would suggest that San Francisco would be the place to go if you wanted to Guarantee a playoff match-up with Eli, not avoid one.  So, Here are the 49ers, 13-3 last season, with a home playoff win against the Saints, and a very well played overtime loss to the Super Bowl Champions, without a QB on their roster.

Peyton may very well choose Denver or Tennessee….Alex Smith might be so put off that he signs with Miami or Seattle, or Denver.  Matt Flynn could go to the team Smith doesn’t choose, and the 9ers could be left standing when the music stops.  I understand this might be worth the risk, but the result might be disaster for San Francisco and coach Harbaugh.  Even if Alex Smith stays the relationship will always be damaged and may break the team apart.

We will know more Monday or Tuesday as Peyton makes his decision.

That year in New York there was a terrible snowstorm mid-week before the game was to take place in Pasadena. There were all sorts of reports on the news of cancelled flights and people sleeping in the airport, renting cars, taking trains, anything to get to the West coast.  Our plans were to leave on Thursday and return Monday.  When we arrived at the airport in NY, there was a flood of people, some looking to buy tickets from other travelers (remember this was pre 9/11, no names on the tickets), some waiting for cancellations.  We made our way through the throng and onto our plane on time and took off for sunny California.  We landed and picked up our rental, a white Lincoln Town Car.  Again, this was the 80′s, they didn’t rent compacts and mid-size cars, as a matter of fact, almost everyone at the event had the exact same car.  We then made our way to Palm Springs ( where I now live), where we met the others in our party that had come out ahead of us.  They were staying at the famous La Quinta hotel and had played the brand new Stadium Golf Course that day.  We went to Tony Roma’s for dinner, a restaurant that is still operating today.  We had made plans to stay at the vacation home of a friends parents, which we got to late at night and didn’t really know where we were.  In the morning we awoke to look out the sliding glass doors to a beautiful golf course.  After a nice round of golf we returned to the house to find the rest of our party…12 people in all…had arrived.  Sunday morning at 8 A.M. we all met at a central location where we took a “team” picture complete with 16 Super Bowl Tickets! (more…)

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That day in the stadium, after the Martin play, my friends and I decided this was a turning point in the season and the next day….remember no computers or internet in 1986….I went to the local travel agent and purchased 6 round trip tickets to Los Angeles for Super Bowl 21 at $200 a piece.  This act of confidence would pay off in the end…but that is a story for another week.

Except for that to happen he had to either clear waivers or hope that no team with a higher waiver priority than the Bears would put a claim on him. Well, that part of the equation didn’t happen as the Chiefs came in and claimed Orton.

This makes sense for the Chiefs as they are still in the hunt for the AFC West division crown at 4-6, and yes, that division is terrible, and Tyler Palko reminds people of Shane Falco. It shouldn’t take long for Orton to fall in love with Dwayne Bowe, as he did with Brandon Lloyd. Once Orton takes over the starting job it will make for an interesting homecoming when the Chiefs travel to Denver on New Year’s Day in Week 17, in what could be a game with playoff implications.

The Jets….guaranteed to win the Super Bowl, have shown a propensity for blowing games this year.  Their offense has no identity and Mark Sanchez seems to be struggling with his confidence, his accuracy, and his decision making.  Sanchez doesn’t seem to be able to comprehend that Plaxico is a TALL receiver, although Plax reminds him after every incomplete pass by pointing to the sky. I also thought it was funny when Mike Mayock pointed out that on the interception Sanchez threw for a TD, that “Plaxico needs to fight for his Qb a little harder  there” Plaxico? Fight? Watch some more film Mike!  The problem the Jets face right now is that they have managed to lose to every team they might find themselves tied with in the AFC Wild Card race.  Losing to Oakland, Baltimore, and now Denver puts them in a precarious position.  I heard once again this morning that the JETS have a “favorable” schedule.  I’m guessing Denver was one of those favorable match-ups as of last week?  Is anyone suggesting this team can’t possibly lose to the Eagles, The Giants, or even the resurgent Dolphins?  Without having the tie-breaker advantage I am not sure that 9-7 is going to cut it this year, but we will see.