Arcade Game of The Week: Popeye | Quazen

Arcade Game of The Week: Popeye | Quazen

Cowboys may have running backs exchange positions

The Dallas Cowboys are luckily having two excellent running backs in Marion Barber and Felix Jones, and the team is glad to see a competition for starting running back job going on during the training camp. According both backs’ health condition and workout performances, it seems that Jones may take over the starting job from Barber.

If taking Adrian Peterson, the running back in No.28 Minnesota Vikings jersey, as the best running back of the league, Jones is now closer to the standard than Barber. According to the Dallas Morning News, Jones showed up in San Antonio heavier than Barber: Jones checked in at 218 pounds while Barber tipped the scales at 214, down about 10 pounds.

Actually the two running backs had been preparing for the new season in different ways. While Jones was adding weight to avoid injuries, Barber was trying to regain some of his burst and quickness that seemed to disappear and make him an easier target to tackle. Whoever is going to be the Cowboys’ starting running back, their hard working will anyway be the team’s benefits. Without a quarterback like the one wearing No.4 Brett Favre jersey, the Cowboys now have at least as many as two excellent running backs.

Chargers LB Merriman will report for training camp despite contract issue

Just like other Chargers’ veterans such as wide receiver Vincent Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeill, the San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman is also making his efforts to get a long-term contract from the team. But unlike Jackson and McNeill, Merriman does not plan to hangout in his favorite Brett Favre jersey during the training camp. Instead, he is planning to be a full participant in the camp.

At age 26, Merriman is now almost two full years removed from reconstructive knee surgery, and working out in training camp would be helpful in improving his strength. Even if he wants to leave to play in New Orleans Saints jerseys once the contract talks breaks, Merriman still needs a good health condition to prove he can be valuable to the defending champion team.

"Because of the things he’s been through, he would benefit greatly from having a full, great training camp and getting back to doing the things he does healthy," coach Norv Turner told The San Diego Union-Tribune. I don’t care who you are, if you’re not 100 percent … there are things you can’t do that you used to do, you’re not instinctive. The way you get those things back is by going 100 mph and practicing."

Terrell Owens likes the idea of catching passes from Tom Brady

Unrestricted free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens has not found a satisfying job to work as an NFL player. After criticizing the ESPN for destroying his reputation and causing teams to shy away from signing him, Owens now began to tell about what teams he would like to play with. Well, on top of his choices, it’s the New England Patriots.

“People think that they have that perception about me," Owens said. "Of course. What receiver that’s out there that’s had great stats, great careers that didn’t want the ball? I’m no different. But of course, I mean, you’ve got Brady there. You’ve got the great mind, coach Belichick. I’m like LeBron. I can go there and take less of a role, take less money and put everything aside and make it work.”

Owens also said that he would love to put on Vikings jersey if Brett Favre returns to Minnesota for 2010 season. He likes catch ball from a quarterback who is even more dramatic than himself, so he likes the idea of playing with Brett Favre. However, currently Owens’ main problem is not with which team he likes to play with but which team would like to bring him into system.

Michael Vick is likely to remain in Eagles

Because of his a recent off-field trouble, there have been a lot of reports about the Philadelphia Eagles possibly cutting the trouble maker Michael Vick. However, some analysts gave some strong supportive reasons for Eagles to keep the backup quarterback in the 2010 season, the last one on Vick’s current two-year contract.

A most important reason is that the Eagles head coach Andy Reid still likes Vick and takes him as a real weapon in the team’s offense. Reid always believes that Vick will give opponents a problem in planning to face the team because of his talents in the Wildcat formation. Another important reason is that the Eagles would not like the idea of admitting signing Vick to be a mistake. They were the only team dare to give Vick a job when everyone believed that Vick would have no chance to play in NFL again. Many people thought that the chance of Brett Favre wearing Minnesota Vikings jersey was much bigger than Vick getting a job from an NFL team. However, the Eagles signed Vick while Favre made a second announcement of retirement before he changed his mind again.

So in order to prove that the team did not waste money and time on Vick, the Eagles need to keep Vick for at least one more season and they are very likely to do everything to make sure Vick’s performance will be improved.

Former Bills QB Jim Kelly had different opinions on Trent Edwards

The Buffalo Bills current quarterback Trent Edwards did not give former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly a good impression last season, but since former Bills coach Dick Jauron was replaced by new coach Chan Gailey during this offseason, Kelly’s impression with Edwards has been much better than before.

“I like Trent personally," Kelly said about Edwards during last season when watching the Bills game in a Terry Bradshaw jersey. “He works hard. But he's had three years. It's time to find somebody who is the future of the Buffalo Bills. If I'm the owner, that's what I'm thinking.”

“I hope it's Trent,” Kelly recently told the reporters about his opinion on Edwards’ chance to remain the starting quarterback. “I know Trent, I've known him for a couple of years and I think everyone hopes that one guy will step up.”

So Kelly seems to believe that a coach plays key role in Edwards’ on-field performance. With new coach’s arrival, now Kelly has only good words about Edwards, saying that the current quarterback is a good kid and works hard but needs a good system to perform well.

Chargers rookie guard Thomas received four-year contract

The San Diego Chargers may have no a single quarterback who can be comparable to the one wearing No.4 Brett Favre jersey, but they can at least add some defensive weapons that may slow down Adrian Peterson and block Favre if the two teams have chance to meet each other in post season.

According recent reports, the Chargers have signed rookie nose guard Cam Thomas to a four-year contract worth $1.98 million. The contract is standard for a fifth-round draft pick and Thomas will get base salaries of $320,000, $405,000, $490,000 and $575,000 as well as a fourth-year escalator clause that can significantly boost the total value of the deal. The 6-foot4, 330-pounder is expected boost the Chargers’ defense with his bulk size.

During Thomas’ college football career, he totally had 83 tackles with the Tar Heels. His performance at the NFL scouting combine did not impress many people. Running the 40-yard dash in 5.29 seconds, he bench pressed 225 pounds 31 times and posted a 29-inch vertical leap. But he finished his last college season with great potential to be an excellent blocker by recording 23 tackles, 2 1/2 for losses, a blocked kick and three quarterback pressures.