TO Signs with Bills

After watching that I can list four people more excited than T.O. about the recent signing.

1. Rob Lunn - The only Bills fan I know personally 
2. Gibran Hamdan - Bills 3rd string QB
3. John Allaire - Bills Strength Coach
4. Jason Witten - Cowboys TE

So lets all wish the old man the best of luck up there in Buffalo. May he cry for Trent Edwards, find good health and warm temperatures, and attract a Canadian that will love him not just for who he is but for what he has inside.

TC: Chris bets Ovechkin for Push Ups

Yesterday Eastern Motors filmed a commercial with their newest star Alex Ovechkin. During the production Ovi challenges Chris to a friendly competition. If he makes 7 out of 10 shots Chris has to do 10 push ups. They follow the first round with another, one shot, double the stakes....



For more check out the Easterns Blog. Ovi dances.

FWG: The First Practice: Hilarity Ensues

You know what. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect from the first practice. I mean, technically I'm getting paid. So that makes me a professional. Never mind the language or cultural barriers, football is football. And getting paid makes it professional football.

That being said. This practice would best be described as the best high school football team in America meets The Longest Yard.

(I can hear the movie trailer now)
In a world where football is secondary, and soccer is king. A group of rag tag rogue athletes gather. Neither sleet, nor snow, nor age, nor mis-matched practice jersey can quench their insatiable thirst....FOR PAIN!!!

I kid, I kid. Sort of.
They (the Austrians) have a remedial knowledge of football, but a deep love for the game. The linemen are linemen, strong and athletic. They can play. (Well, if they knew how to play, they could play)

There are a few local defensive linemen, that (after 5 years of college football) I am sure could challenge for a spot on a Division I or Division IAA starting lineup.

This is the rainy season in Klagenfurt, Austria. So our first practice was met with a torrential downpour. As practice went on, I noticed that the rain wasn't even an issue. It was a non factor. I cant tell you how many times I've heard Division I players whine about playing (let alone practicing) in the rain. But not here. I loved the drive.

Cultural differences? They are a-plenty. As player/coach I called a water break. I ran over to the cooler. I saw them drinking a brownish liquid, thought to myself, "Well that is unlike any Gatorade I've ever seen." And then..was that? It is...steam. Steam from a water cup?
It was not Gatorade.
It was not Water.
It was...HOT TEA.
Hot tea at a water-break. I never thought I'd see that in any of my years playing football. Which lends legitimacy to the American's rallying cry, "T.I.A.!!!"....THIS. IS. AUSTRIA! In fact, I'm still chuckling. (What an experience this is.)

I guess through college, although fat, I carried myself with a "swag." I knew I played football, and in America, playing football is cool. Alright, I said it. Playing football is cool, you are the biggest and strongest guys around. You stand out. That's simply just not the case here. Soccer is king. Without question. Some might see that as an impediment to success, but I see it as working in our advantage. These local players grew up playing soccer, so they can all run. The other things is that the draw to the game (for the Austrians) is not to be cool They are out there because the LOVE the game. It is a cult following, and there is they are all going against everything popular culture tells them. Their sense of pride is extraordinary. The over paid, pampered athlete, is a myth. It doesn't exist on the (American) football field. They are living in a view of disdain almost everyday.

You know the worst part? When these guys are at the university, and they tell girls that they play "ze American Football" the chicks don't think its cool. In fact, Frauline is probably all like, "ya American football is for pansies..." followed by, of course "vere iz da Men's Tennis player I vas talking to earlier?"

Today's FWG moment?
Well, I took my shirt off and the Austrians all go “ahhhhh! Zat iz why you are ze fat white guy”
-Thanks. Guys.

Our first scrimmage is 5 days away. Check back soon.

TC: No T.O.

Last offseason the Redskins conjured up a plan that involved two first round draft picks for one Ocho Cinco. As of last night, T.O. hit the market and it made me wonder if the Skins will continue the pursuit for another high profile receiver. But thankfully profootballtalk.com has confirmed that the Skins are not interested.

Our initial knee-jerk reaction to the news that Terrell Owens had involuntarily gained his freedom from the Cowboys was that Owens would most likely land with the Redskins or the Giants.

And, already, both teams have reportedly said no.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the Redskins have issued an adamant “no thanks” regarding the possibility of signing Owens.

This is great news for us Skins fans but still leaves us wondering, where will he go. So please share your thoughts on the recent TO situation. Which team will he implode next?

FWG: Check in...

Just checking in

Rob Lunn, if you haven't read on his site, is in Austria getting ready to play some "American Football." He has recently written "Meet the Austrians" and "Welcome to Austria" where he introduces Ramon, who I am very intrigued to learn more about. But before all of this, he wrote about his journey getting there. While in Chicago he sent us this video.



For those who have grown to love FWG as much as I have I hope you enjoy his writings about his experience up till now. I'm sure we will get some very interesting stuff as he continues his journey. Good luck Rob.

TC: Prank Wars at CollegeHumor.com

We have all had prank wars in our lives but usually they involve whoopie cushions, fake ice cubes with flies it them, you know, that sort of stuff. Well apparently if you work at college humor the wars are anything but funny ha ha for those involved. This is what makes it great for us viewers.

A about 18 months ago one employee of the website pranked the other by doing this. Pretty great stuff right? I remember seeing that way back when and have thought nothing of it until now. Check out the retaliation that happened at a recent Maryland basketball game...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

I love the fact that he runs around on the court like losing his mind until finally seeing who presented the check. I can't wait to see what's next.

JT Hates Money

$500,000 to work out between the months of March and June - just to work out. Then an upcoming salary of $9,000,000 - for one season of play. One season! You would really have to hate to be somewhere to turn down ten million dollars for the next ten months of work. I mean, I know Miami is pretty nice, but just go ahead and make that much money while you still can and then retire anywhere you want. Hell, I would go play in Russia for 10,000,000. I would pack my bags and fly out tomorrow, "Ill see ya in February."

Jason allegedly turned down the $500,000 offer to work out with the Redskins for the off season. When the request was denied the Skins released his rights for the last season of his contract. This was obviously no surprise to JT, who wanted to stay with his family, where they live in Miami.

Now I feel like I'm judging too much and I definitely can't be that guy. Last off season I had a workout bonus of $100,000 to make 80 percent of my workouts and didn't reach it. Granted I got married and missed 10 days for my honeymoon, but I also took a week trip for Drew Brees charity. I was still very close to making the percentage. So just stating the facts of the off season program that I have been a part of for the last five years will suffice.

We will have actual workouts starting on March 16th going into May. These are the weight lifting, running, gaining strength at the gym type of workouts that anyone would expect. Of course we work very hard, but when I go into Redskins park for this type of work I spend no more than three hours in the facility. The requirements for each week are to workout four days and it can be for any four days throughout the week. Mon - Thurs, Tues - Fri or whatever combination of four days you want to make, this schedule also allows a four day weekend every week. Between the months of March and April there will be 28 of these required workouts. As May begins we get into what is called an OTA schedule.(Optional Training Activity) These will be like mini practice days. We will meet in the morning and install plays for the first couple hours, have quick lunch, then go on the field for about an hour and a half. The practices are at a quick tempo, but we wear only helmets, so little contact is involved. The day will usually last from 9 in the morning until 3 in the after noon. The requirements for the off-season end June 12. The total amount of optional/mandatory days is 52.

For JT to reach his 75 percent requirement of the deal would have had to be hear for 39 days. Had he arrived and worked for the 39 days he would have been compensated $12,820 per day. That is unreal to me! Most people pay their own money to go to the gym, but almost 13 thousand dollars a day is a pretty good membership in the other direction. Again, I will not judge this decision and I have no idea what his bank account could possibly be, but that's a shit ton of money. As for my end of the off season, I will be required to make 42 days to reach my bonus. I again would receive a check grossing $100,000. This would pay me $2300 per workout. Still pretty awesome and enough to get me into the gym.

Albert Stimulates

NFL players and new NFL contracts are an fantastic way to stimulate the economy. There may be concern about the amount of money free agents are making in the last couple years like Haynesworth signing a 100 million dollar deal with 41 million guaranteed and 30 in the first year. Deangelo Hall receiving a 54 million dollar contract or someone like Matt Cassell who will definitely sign a contract worth over 10 million dollars a year. While I am aware that these guys are a select small group of Americans, but athletes are some of the few who are still pumping money back into our system. Sports are still working and the principal of someone who is extremely wealthy, spreading the wealth to men who will spread it even quicker is a great concept.

Athletes are also paying back Uncle Sam at a blistering rate. I just got done putting my tax information together for last year and will be paying right at half my gross income of 2008 to the federal and state government. May be hard to imagine, but I can put the facts together for everyone. I first of all received bonus checks which are taxed on the highest level (through the last two and a half years I was paid in bonus, a gross of 14 million dollars - anyone can google that - the net of the checks will be just under 8 million dollars). I then received salary, but not only is the salary taxed by state and fed, it's also taxed by the state and sometimes the city we play in. Who doesn't want to file for Cincinnati or Philadelphia income tax? I also go ahead and pay a Medicare tax. Oh, and lets not forget our friendly car and home taxes - over 30,000 a year for me, fun times. So before I, or any other players think about spending money, we must consider that we will forfeit close to 50 percent of our earnings.

That being said, don't think for a second that taxes or the poor economy is causing football players to sit on the rest of their money. They're spending it! Cars, houses, clothes, food, women, jewelry and all of it at a rapid pace. This isn't just a guess, this information comes from five years of watching how lavishly players live and how much guys spend, myself included. Normally this spending pattern isn't condoned and by no means does it excite someone who has a hard time putting food on the table, but right now rich people spending an ass load of money is a big part of what our economy needs.

Let's also consider what the market needs for any type of a bottom, or a rebound. Well I guess I can't consider myself enough of an expert to start to explain that but, I'm thinking if we could get someone to stop selling off all their shit and start buying back in I think we would have a start. So if I was receiving a enormous contract this year I may figure it would be a great time to buy some 50 -75 percent off stock.

Huge contracts for athletes mean one thing. Shit tons of money will be poured back into our country. You think these guys are slow play investors who will sit on their money like a goose. Absolutely not, their money is being spent, no questions asked.

Casting Call

"Ghosts Don't Exist", a 19th & Wilson production is casting a HD full length horror about a ghost hunter whose wife dies and as a result he loses faith in what he believes -- prompting him to retire. However, he decides to take one last case when a potential client makes a guarantee he can't refuse. When they arrive to the home an unforeseeable and shocking event transpires and they struggle with the decision to keep investigating. See www.ghostsdontexist.com for more info. Please request sides and location of auditions from

ghostdontexist@gmail.com and/or gdecasting@19thandwilson.com.

Special thanks to the Hotel Topaz in Washington DC for hosting our casting call.

Project: Feature film (Red One)
Location: Metro DC area, Virginia
Union: SAG
Pay: Ultra low budget SAG agreement
Audition Date & Location: March 14th & 15th 10am-5pm both days, HOTEL TOPAZ: 1733 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Comments: Project marks the debut of NFL's Washington Redskin player, Chris Cooley as Executive Producer.

Opening title credit roles:

Brett, 30's male lead. The ghost hunter who is ridden with guilt over not being there for his wife when she died in the hospital. A man who's looking for redemption after he realizes he's focused on work more than his family.

David, 40-50, male. A critic of Brett and debunker of paranormal activity. Brett's annoying antagonist whose only friend is a bottle of scotch.

Jen, 20's, female. Jen is on the ghost hunting team and wants to believe in the afterlife becuase of a dark secret from her past. However, she's not exactly fearless and getting through the night on a gig is challenging for her.

Richie, 20-30's male. Richie is on the ghost hunting team and is in it for the money. His sense of humor helps ease the tension during an investigation.

Kurt, 30's, male. Kurt is Brett's best friend and was there with Brett's wife the night she passed away.

Travis Garner, 40-50, male. Travis is the mysterious client and homeowner who makes Brett a guarantee that he'll find the evidence he's been looking for.

TC: Caps/Panthers

Last nights Cap's loss to the Panthers wasn't pretty. Its tough when the best thing to cheer for is in opening and closing seconds of the game.

“There are no excuses for what we did today,” said veteran Caps forward Matt Bradley. “Every guy was not prepared and we didn’t play a tight game at all. It’s disappointing when you have such a good game against Boston yesterday and come back with an effort like this. So we’re all individually going to have to look at ourselves and how we prepared and why we weren’t ready for the game.”

Not only that, the Panthers seemed to surround the Caps goal the entire first period. Fans even booed goalie Jose Theodore during the Panthers penalty shot. Though he made a great stop, the team went into the 2nd period down 4-1 and Theodore was replaced by Neuvirth.

The rest of the game was pretty much filled with Panthers power plays and disappointed Caps fans. A woman sitting behind me wasn't frustrated at the play, rather she was mad at the fans around her for the choice words they had for the referees. She did however, seem to cheer up every time the Caps were penalized because it gave her daughter a chance to see the guys up close. You can hear her cheer at the :13 second mark in this video.



Besides the tough loss there are a couple cool things going on in the next couple weeks if you are a Caps fan. Friday night Elliot from DC 101 will be hosting a celebrity bar tending event with Mike Green at The Front Page in Arlington. This should be a pretty cool event with a portion of all sales going to the So Kids Can program. Also, next Friday Green will be signing autographs at PSGameGear in the Dulles mall. If you want to meet the Caps defenseman, check it out.