AFL Star Abner Haynes is a great roll model.

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I have had the great pleasure and honor of having Abner Haynes on News, Notes & Rumors many times over the 5 years that the show has been on. Abner brings a combination of honesty and great sense of history to NNR. But there are a number of things that most fans that did not have the pleasure of watching him play don’t know. Being older than rock myself, I fondly remember watching Abner play.

He signed with the Dallas Texans of the AFL in 1960 having been drafted by the AFL, NFL and CFL. As a black man from a small school, he faced racism and the doubt he could play at the professional level. But from day 1 he proved he was up to the challenge. In 1960 he gained over 800 yards rushing and caught 55 passes for 576 yards. Most important he scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie. He was not only the rookie of the year but also won the player of the year in the AFL after the 1960 season.

But he proved his metal when the AFL scheduled their All Star game in New Orleans. Abner led the revolt of the minority players … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 11

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NOTE:  This week the NFL Preview show will be on Thursday at 6 PM and next week it will be on Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving weekend.

 

Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on The Bill Smith Radio Show or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.  On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns game and the results of the weekend.  On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

 

 

 

News:

The best news of the week was that Texans coach Gary Kubiak was back with the team.  He is a good guy and we hope he continues to have good health.

 

Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe was is facing possible drug charges.  According to league rules he is exempt from suspension until the legal case is adjudicated.

 

Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders was lost for the game and perhaps longer with a foot injury.

 

The end of the Patriots Panther game was another example of bad and gutless officiating in the NFL.  After seeing TE Rob Gronkowski tackled … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 9

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NOTE:  Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on The Bill Smith Radio Show or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.  On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns game and the results of the weekend.  On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

 

News:

By far the biggest news of the weekend was the Monday night injury to QB Aaron Rodgers.  The latest report indicates that he has a break in his collar bone.  Without Rodgers the Pack has little chance to make the playoffs.

 

Our thoughts go out to two NFL head coaches with health issues.  FPS staff wishes both John Fox and Gary Kubiak a fast complete recovery.  The job of an NFL coach is a 20 hour a day 52 week a year sentence.  Those that take the job understand the physical demands that come with it.  However, they do it for the love of the game.

 

Season ending injuries are way up this season.  If the trend continues this season will set an all … Read more at FryingPanSports

Browns/Packers Live Game Notes

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NOTE:  Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on The Bill Smith Radio Show or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.  On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns game and the results of the weekend.  On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

 

Thanks to CBS for not showing the first TD by the Packers.  Because they are in New York they assume we give a rat’s behind about either the Jets or the Patriots.

 

Bess drops the slant.  Not helping the O.

Penalty on Thomas for a false start.

The Browns unaccustomed to penalties fail to get the play in on time and have to call a TO.

The best thing that Weeden does is throw the ball to the ground.

Weeden hit as Hawk runs over Greco and Ogbonnaya to hit the QB.

Browns saved by the roughing the kicker.

Weeden goes back on the field for no particular reason.

Nice throw to Little from Weeden on the run.

McGahee again hit in the backfield but muscles … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 6

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Note:  Join us for the live version of NNR Mondays and Fridays on The Bill Smith Radio Show. The Monday show with co-host Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports reviews the NFL week and Browns game.  The Friday show includes Samantha and Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York and previews the weekend games.

 

News:

Texan QB Matt Schaub was hurt and could be out next week.  The team also lost SS Danieal Manning with a broken Fibula.  He will be out 6-8 weeks.

 

The Packers lost WRs James Jones and Randal Cobb with knee injuries.  They also lost LB Nick Perry with a broken foot.

 

Pats WR Danny Amendola suffered a concussion.  CB Aqib Talib hurt a hip and LB Jerod Mayo suffered a shoulder injury.

 

The Cowboys RB Demarco Murray hurt a knee and DE Demarcus Ware will miss several weeks with a quad injury.

 

The Vikings have lost LB Desmond Bishop for the season with a torn ACL.

 

The Bills signed former Raider QB Matt Flynn.

 

The Steelers have placed OT Levi Brown on IR.  The team traded for him on Oct. 2 and he never played a game for … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors Week 5

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News:

Ex Bucs QB Josh Freeman was signed by the Vikings on a 1 year deal.  At least in Vikes land he will have a great running game.

 

The new starting QB for the Bills is former Browns QB Thad Lewis.  He has had only one start (Browns) and threw a TD and a pick.  He ended the game with a QB rating of 83.3.

 

After Terrelle Pryor led the Raiders to a win over the Chargers, the team cut QB Matt Flynn.

 

Pats QB Tom Brady’s streak of 52 games with a TD pass was broken Sunday by the Bengal D.

 

Notes:

Bengals 13 Patriots 6 – The NFL would like to thank those of you that slept without snoring.  That would have disturbed the others nodding off.  I would like to say that the game was a result of two great defensive efforts but it was two inept offenses that caused the napping.   The first quarter ended with Bengals QB Andy Dalton throwing a horrible pick to LB Brandon Spikes on the Pats’ 8 yard line.  That says it all.

 

Broncos 51 Cowboys 48 – Things started so well for the Cowgirls. … Read more at FryingPanSports