Wednesday
NFL News, Top PostsAround the League: Gonzalez and wife share their celebrity skin
Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez and his wife, October, have posed nude for a PETA ad that’s part of their ‘We’d rather go naked than wear fur” campaign.
“We should be protecting animals, not sacrificing their lives for the sake of fashion or luxury,” Tony Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“October and I have changed many of our habits in light of the inhumane treatment of animals that occurs not only in the fur industry but also on factory farms.”
Devils’ advocate: Do you think PETA would allow Gonzalez, who’s a vegan, to appear strategically naked on the ad without his wife?
Sexism is alive and well but apparently only for the “right” causes. Not that anyone is complaining.
SLEEPING BEARS GET POKED
Leave it to 49ers TE Vernon Davis to lay down the gauntlet ahead of Thursday night’s encounter between two equally desperate NFC squads. Chicago has lost 3 of 4 while San Francisco is on a 4-game skid.
”We can destroy their guys up front,” Davis said. ”I don’t see anything spectacular about their front line. We can handle [their linebackers] pretty well. I like Adewale Ogunluye — he’s performing well, but he’s the only guy I like in their line.”
What’s that line about letting sleeping bears?
Davis’ comments may also get a rise out his coach, Mike Singletary, a hall of fame Bear.
MANGINI’S MAN
Browns coach Eric Mangini predictably re-named Brady Quinn as his starting QB on Wednesday.
Quinn, who got benched 10 quarters into his initial season as a starter, has apparently been impressive away from live action and will face the Ravens on Monday night.
“He’s had good weeks of practice,” said Mangini. “There are times where I feel like he really knew where to go with the ball. I’ve seen him make a lot of good decisions. If you make a mistake, you make a mistake.”
Now there’s a ringing endorsement.
It also helps that the other guy, Derek Anderson, has only completed 43 per cent of his passes with 2 TDs and 9 INTs in 6 games and is the league’s lowest-rated passer. Lower even than Jamarcus Russell.
2,000 REASONS TO DRIVE BLOCK
In the history of the game, only 5 runners have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in one season; O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and Jamal Lewis.
The Titans’ Chris Johnson, who at the halfway mark has 959 yards — on pace for 1,918, recognizes the opportunity to join that select group and has thrown out a sizable carrot for his blockers.
“It’s a goal of mine,” he told the Tennessean. “It’s really a goal of the offensive linemen because I told them if I get to 2,000 yards I’d buy them all a car. They want me to get 2,000 yards more than I want to get it.”
It sounds like some have already made room in their mental garages.
“I am a truck guy, but a free car is a free car,” OT David Stewart said. “I have to fit in it; that is going to be the key.’’
“I’ll take what I can get, even if it’s a Hyundai,” said G Eugene Amano.
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