BDLSports

Here is a little something to get you NFL fans excited about the upcoming year.....I present Hits to get you Hype........

"America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys, have once again found a way into the "Love to hate 'em" category! Well ok - they never really ever got rit of that title (do the names Michael Irvins, Jimmy Johnson, Deion Sander and Nate Newton ring a bell?) and Jerry Jones have found ways to keep the tradition going (can you say 'Pacman' - call me Adam - Jones).

But this time its not any Redskin, Eagles or Giants teams/fans this time its the Cardinals! Yeah I know what your saying - "the Cards used to be in the same division" but this is not a rivalry thing, this is not even a 'I hate getting my butt kicked by them" thing. This seems to be simply due to the fact that Cowboys fans have seem to figure out a way to out number the home fans at the University of Phoenix Stadium when the two teams meet.

So to address this the Cardinal have put into place the "protect the nest" program designed to keep Cowboys fans out of the stadium (Why are the Cowboys "America's Team" again? Is it because America loves to hate them?).

Real talk - this is nothing more than just a slick marketing ploy to get more ticket sales which in turn increases the Cardinals' bottom line. I mean, if you spent all this money on a new stadium, on a "up and coming" coach and you have talent at all skill positions......but your NOT winning.....you have to do something to fill the stands!!!

This past weekend the Redskins reported to camp on Saturday and started practice yesterday (Sunday). What does that mean? Well for as much as you may or may not like Dan Snyder - he is EXACTLY what every owner should be and what every coach wants! Whats that you ask? An owner that spends money, goes and gets you what you want and isn't afraid to pay for it! He is also, obviously, an owner that don't care about what others may think about him for doing what he does.

Having said that, this is the first year since Snyder has taken over that he has not lead the headlines with news about who, how many and for how much he has signed the next NFL superstar. Yes, believe it or not, it has been a quiet off season.

Why am I starting out talking bout Snyder?? Well, you know good and darn well that he ain't gonna keep quite for long! You know he has to pull something out to make some noise - and true to form......The Skins have done it again!

There are two things we KNOW for sure will happen in the NFL: 1) There will be injuries and 2) Dan Snyder (the marketing guru), will get his Redskins in the headline news one way or another!

Having said that and seeing that the Redskins are the ONLY team in camp right now (thanks NFL and the Hall of Fame Game) well, the Skins can not help but to be in the news right? But that is NOT enough - so what happens? Well as the title says 'Football is BACK' - the Skins making headlines and injuries have already started.

The Injuries: As the Skins are the only team in camp as I stated above, the excitement was in the air. Redskins Park was jumping and the fans showed up to show their support of the team and to celebrate the end of the offseason! But no sooner did camp get started the injuries started flowing: Fred Smoot, turned ankle, mild sprain; Alex Buzbee, ruptured Achilles, out for the year and the worst new of all - team vet, team leader Phillip Daniels, torn ACL, out for the year - on the first play of 7-on7 for the year!

Which leads us to our second point - The Headlines: As part of being the first in camp the Skins have the monolopy on media coverage for the moment. But to top that off the Skins took advantage of an opportunity. No sooner did we hear of the bad news about the lose of DE Phillip Daniels - we get slapped with some good news - Dan Snyder has pulled out another one - NFL Star, Dancing With The Stars...star - Jason Taylor is now a Redskin!

Love him or hate him - Snyder is the Skins owner, and as such has done what fans, players and coaches want done - pull the trigger and do what you have to do to get players on the team. With Snyder keeping the Redskins in the news and with the start of injuries - there is no questions - FOOTBALL IS BACK!

ESPN.com did a survey of NFL coaches on who was the dirtiest player in the league and not to many surprise, Rodney Harrison ended up at the Number 1 spot.

What is surprising though is the fact that he has not lead the league in personal penalties. Since 2001 stats show that Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson leads this category with 17, followed by Harrison and Saints defensive end Will Smith are tied with 14, Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour (13), Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor (12), late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor (12) and Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers (11). Interesting enough last season Harrison only had 2 personal foul penalties called against him - compared to the seventeen players that ended up with more.

Coming in as a strong second was the Cowboys own try cowboy and horse collar tackler great - Roy Williams! My only question is how did Hines Ward end up on that list?