We all know the NFL Lockout is alive and kicking. Lately, we’ve heard nothing but negative stories regarding NFL players and what they’re doing with their down time. Anytime you hear Mike Vrabel getting arrested, you know there’s a problem. But there are players who have done good things for their communities, organizations and/or the world with their time. Here are a few guys who’ve been in a charitable mood and in the news for good this offseason.

Ravens S Haruki Nakamura

The backup safety of Japanese descent organized an event at Ripken Stadium in MD, which helped raised money for the relief efforts of the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan. Nakamura, along with Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Chris Carr, Brandon McKinney and former Raven Qadry Ismail raised $60,000 that went to the Red Cross International Relief Fund.

Bears QB Jay Cutler

I’ve never been a fan of Cutler on-the-field or from a personality perspective. But Cutler has a good reputation of helping others and this offseason is no different. Cutler along with girlfriend Kristen Cavallari traveled to Kenya on a two-week trip last month with a non-profit group called OneKid, OneWorld. The town of Wamba had been without water for over 2 months. Cutler indicated that $300 lasts a few months for the town.

Redskins’ Lorenzo Alexander

The multi tasking Redskins player will lead Ride to Provide which Alexander’s ACES Foundation sponsors to primarily benefit orphans and impoverished women and children in Africa. This is the second year he’s hosted this event. The first year raised nearly $10,000.

“It takes more than just one person to make positive changes. That’s why it’s all about bringing the community together to help people, which is very important to me.”

Free agent CB Nnamdi Asomugha

The Raiders former first round draft pick and free agent held his 5th Annual Asomugha Foundation Gala in Los Angeles last month.

Asomugha created the foundation to provide a positive impact on the disadvantaged youth in the U.S. and the underprivileged orphans and widows in Africa.

Cowboys LB Bradie James

The handsome starter for the Dallas Cowboys created Foundation 56, which was started in honor of his mother who died of breast cancer in 2001. The foundation has raised more than $100,000 in the fight against the disease. Free mammograms and other screenings are the focus of the foundation.

Ravens WR Derrick Mason has never shied away from displaying his emotions or thoughts. Whether it’s sideline fighting with his QB, putting the verbal ether on guys like Channing Crowder or whatever it may be, he’s always been the vocal type. This offseason proves that nothing has changed with #85.

Mason called on his weekly appearance to Baltimore’s 105.7 The Fan’s Norris And Davis Show. The segment then turns to commissioner Roger Goodell’s Woodlawn (MD) High School appearance the day before in which he spoke with 700 Baltimore area kids about football. Goodell mentioned-AGAIN-that Human Growth Hormone testing should be added to the new collective bargaining agreement. When asked of his thoughts regarding Goodell’s continuing fight for HGH testing, Mason had this to say:

“He needs to stop crying about blood tests and HGH. He needs to try to get a deal done, that’s what he needs to do. He’s been on this crusade about HGH, but he needs to be on a crusade about getting these owners together and trying to work out a deal. To me, he’s a joke, because every time I look, he’s talking about performance enhancements instead of talking about trying to figure out a way to make sure football is played in August.”

When asked if he would say that to Goodell’s face, Mason didn’t back down either.

“Yeah. He’s a grown man and I’m a grown man.”

Well alright!

One thing I love about Mason is his brutal honesty. While the commissioner’s point was important to kids that want to be football players, no one wants to hear about HGH testing right now. As of today, there is no football and one can assume that based on Mason’s comments, the players are frustrated and tired of hearing about everything else except getting a deal done. While HGH testing should be an important part of the new deal, I think it’s safe to say it’s not atop of the priority list in why this deal has yet to be done.

I agree with Mason 100%. Get the deal done first (AKA get the money rightfully disbursed) and worry about HGH afterward.

For the record, I’m taking Mason every day of the week and 3 times on Sunday if a fight ever went down between the two. I’m just saying…………………

March is Women’s History Month and for the past couple of years I did a blog post paying tribute to some of our favorite lady sportscasters. This year, I’ve taken my talents to the camera and created a video to show my respect for those including Doris Burke, Jemele Hill, Michelle Beadle, Kara Henderson, Holly Rowe and the originator of female sportscasting, the lovely Jayne Kennedy, who many say paved the way for ladies in sports when she joined the NFL Today show.

Thanks to everyone on Twitter who helped me select these 6 ladies a couple of weeks ago. Your input was greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoy the video.

With the Al Davis’s, Jerry Jones’s and Daniel Snyder’s of the football world, I feel like my Ravens has one of the most laid back, coolest owners in Steve Bisciotti. He’s a Bawlmer (Baltimore) native, he stays behind the scenes, and he has a Rick James aura-like tan that is out of this world!

Bisciotti sat down with Baltimore Sun’s Jamison Hensley about the CBA, his thoughts on Tom Zbikowski and why playing the Steelers is similar to getting, “beat up by your big brother”.

On the belief that the labor negotiations have turned off fans- Yeah. I think that a public fight over money turns off everybody. I think it’s a whole new ballgame if we don’t give them football. I know that we are sold out. I know that our fans are renewing their season tickets at basically the same rate as our prior years. We’ve always enjoyed a renewal rate of 98 or 99 percent. If we were to miss football, all or part of this season, then it wouldn’t surprise me in the least for 2012 to come in at our lowest level ever. Our fans have loved football for 20, 30 and 40 years. If the fight screws up the season, shame on both sides. We’ve got to get this done. If we turn off our fans, then shame on us.

On his feelings of Tom Zbikowski’s fighting- I think it’s awesome. I wanted to walk him into the ring but I’m not allowed to communicate with him. I would get the Don King hair going.

On possibly attending one of Zibby’s fights- Yes. Under a new CBA, he might not be allowed to do it. But I really am not allowed to communicate with him. I would love to be there. But I don’t feel like flying for one minute, 45 seconds [the length of Zbikowski's last fight]. Until they get someone who can put up a fight against my boy, I don’t necessarily want to do all that traveling for a minute and a half.

On what it’s going to take to beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs- see video below

While it really hurts to hear Biscuit say that the Steelers are like the big brother who wins, he’s absolutely right. I have no idea what the Ravens need to do, but they better figure it out, because the Steelers OWN them at this point.

Bisciotti also talks about Ray Lewis and his career after football, Terrell Suggs’ 2010 season, 3-man pass rushes and possible re-seeding for the playoffs. It’s a great interview, and you can read the rest by clicking here.

There was a time when Kansas City Chiefs kick returner Dante Hall was one of the most exciting players in the NFL. A guy known for his playmaking ability on special teams, Hall was the, “X-Factor” for the Chiefs every time he touched the field. Some say that Hall paved the way for guys like  Joshua Cribbs and Devin Hester. Guys who weren’t known for doing a great deal on offense until they excelled with their special teams duty. Careers like Hall, Hester and Cribbs are all in jeopardy, thanks to the NFL Competition Committee’s new proposal.

Although the NFL is currently going through the lockout, business is being handled as usual. Last week, the competition committee submitted a proposal that will change the advantage in kickoffs, moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line and allowing touchbacks to start at the 25-yard line. The reason they are asking for the changes are to limit the injuries during kickoffs. While I understand the idea of trying to protect the players on the field, I think this is an awful change for many reasons.

It’s no secret the NFL is an offense-driven league. Rules have been implemented and enforced over the years to give offenses the advantage on the field. But giving them 5 more yards closer to the end zone shouldn’t be one more gift. Last year, the NFL enforced helmet hits from defenders and fined them at all-time high amounts. This is yet another swipe against teams who rely heavily on their defenses, such as the Steelers, Ravens, Packers and Giants. Now, giving them 5 more yards they already don’t need could cause a firestorm amongst defenders. With a current lockout going on, adding insult to injury is something the NFL should think about at this point. AT some point you have to wonder what’s the point of having a defense on the field at all. The Peyton Manning’s, Tom Brady’s and Drew Brees’ of the league don’t need 5 spotted yards. So why should other QBs not work hard to get it?

Another reason is the value of having a good place kicker, which no longer becomes a viable need. As a Ravens fan, I am totally against this, mainly because the value that Billy Cundiff adds to my team. In 2010, he tied the league record for touchbacks, but the new changes means there is nothing special about his 2010 fete, because it allows average and subpar kickers to have that same success. Giving kickoffs 5 extra yards means Billy Cundiff is no different the others, which means having a durable kicker is being diluted to simply a guy that can put points on the board.

And lastly, the players that I mentioned in the beginning of my post. Without their special teams play, guys like Cribbs, Hall and Hester may not have been able to get other opportunities on the field, which they have been able to do. All three have been Pro Bowlers due to their great special teams play, but if most kickers have the option of kicking touchbacks to those said guys, you that’s exactly what they will do to keep the ball out of their possession.

People tend tend to look past special teams and the importance of a good one. Plays on special teams are just as important, if not more, than what players on the offense and defense can do. Special teams generate field position, something both the offense and defense rely heavily on once they hit the field. To eliminate players from giving their team that added advantage because touchbacks would be 5 yards easier takes away from great plays, something that the game needs.

I realize the NFL is always looking to make the game better and safer. But there are some things that shouldn’t be touched. The old adage of, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind. This is one of them. Taking away a special teamer’s ability to give his team an advantage means the Dante Halls of the world no longer make the cover of magazines. Hopefully the committee shoots this one down. Devin Hester, Joshua Cribbs and others who have used special teams to make a mark surely would agree.

If you’ve come to my website on a regular basis, you’ll see that I try to avoid all lockout talk. With everything up in the air regarding a new CBA deal, blogging about it is simply beating a dead horse at this point. But I came across a few videos that I think are blog worthy and decided to share.

NFLLockout.com is a website designed to try and show how much a lockout will affect not only players, coaches and owners lives, but the fans they serve as well. Throughout all of the doubt and worry they decided to post a couple of videos, from players and fans, expressing what the NFL lockout ultimately means to them. A few of them are funny, and having the players give their thoughts was a good selling tool to get a new deal done.

Now hopefully the NFLPA and the owners take a look at this and get something done ASAP! We want football in 2011.

Before I get into the hot topics of the week, I want to thank the NFL owners and NFLPA for extending the CBA for 24 hours, as they feverishly try to work out a new deal. While I’m well aware that 24 hours isn’t a lot of time and that a lockout still may occur, the fact that they extended it gave me a small glimpse of hope. I even danced a jig when I heard the good news.

This blogger/fan that I am is praying that they get this done and that there’s football without interruptions or replacements. We want football in 2011 and beyond!

Bob Sanders has found a new home out west, as he signs a 1-year deal with the San Diego Chargers. The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year was released by the Colts last month, mainly due to his inability to stay healthy. Good luck to Sanders, hopefully he can play a full year of football. Us ladies sure would like to see your name come across our screen. I get double the treat, since my boo Philip Rivers is on the squad as well…

In other news….. Jeremy Shockey signed with the lowly Carolina Panthers. Oh…………………………………

Word on the street is former Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell’s Oakland home is in jeopardy for foreclosure. Apparently, Mr. Russell owes about $195K and if he doesn’t pay it, it’s put back in the market.

We all know the Raiders threw Russell a dumb amount of money, so I doubt he’s broke. Surely buying Coogi sweaters, purple drank and fugly chains couldn’t have taken all of his $30 million plus he’s received so far. My guess is his mind frame was since he no longer plays for Oakland, he said screw that house and decided not to pay for it any longer. But why do that and mess up your credit?  Whoever his financial advisor is (if he even has one), isn’t advising him of much. Don’t be a dummy, get rid of the house and move on. Ignorance is bliss……………..

In case you haven’t heard, the Lingerie Football League said they are willing to take over your households on Sundays if the NFL cannot come up to an agreement and in fact, lockout. I’m sure the men have NO problems with seeing scantily clad women run around making hard hits and tackles. But I’m curious to know how the women feel about this?

I’ve watched LFL games before and it’s actually not that bad. But not everyone would be down to watching half-naked women try and fill a void for real football. Let me know what you think ladies… Yay or Nay on LFL replacing NFL on Sundays if there’s a lockout.

Bengals QB Carson Palmer doesn’t ever want to play another down in Cincinnati. He wants out of the Queen City, but the Brown family aren’t looking to grant him his wish. So what does Palmer do next, go on a tirade about what he won’t do and how much money he has.

Palmer has said that he’s confident the Bengals will eventually trade him and that he will, “never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again,” WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported. Palmer also went on the record saying, “I have $80 million in the bank. I don’t have to play football for money. I’ll play it for the love of the game but that would have to be elsewhere. I’m prepared to live my life.”

Well alright, now… witcha bragging azz!!!

My first thought after reading this was that Palmer’s music selection before gametime is nothing but hip hop. Clearly I can’t be the only person that immediately thought of this song after reading his quote:

My second thought was, I hope he does get traded. He’s a Ravens killer, with a 9-4 record over my squad. I’d want nothing more than to see Palmer go somewhere else. No matter how bad (or sometimes good) the Bengals are, they are always a thorn in black and purple’s you-know-what.

So what happens next: The Bengals give in and trade him? Or does Palmer pull a Jake Plummer and retire and start playing in handball tournaments for the rest of his life? Okay, maybe he won’t be doing THAT… but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

PS- Carson if you are ever looking to show some philanthropy , you can make it drizzle over on thenflchick.com!. You know, since you’re rich and all……..

The first week of March is a grim one around the league. Teams start to trim the salary cap fat by releasing players. Usually, it’s either to get down to a decent salary cap number or to make room for other roster move. With the upcoming expiration of the CBA this week, however, it makes things harder for teams to upgrade their current rosters.

In any event, cuts still need to be made, and we’ve sen a few of them already. Here’s a few of the higher profile cuts we’ve seen so far:

Washington Redskins- RB Clinton Portis released

New York Jets- NT Kris Jenkins, LB, Vernon Gholston, LB Jason Taylor and OL Damien Woody released (although the Jets may be interested in bringing Jenkins back, who has missed 2 consecutive seasons with knee injuries)

Chicago Bears- DT Tommie Harris, LB Hunter Hillenmeyer and OL Kevin Shaffer released

New England Patriots- Expects to cut RT Nick Kaczur this week.

I’m sure we’ll hear about more cuts as the week goes on.

Looks like college QBs are in a trick play challenge lately. I posted a video not long ago of UConn’s Johnny McEntee showing us his trick plays. And now, another QB has put his talents online.

Monmouth’s Alex Tanney wants the world to know that he too, can do some tricks with the pigskin. In the 5-minute video, he shows us everything from throwing at pickup trucks, to goal posts and even making 3-pointers on the basketball court with his throws.

While McEntee has no college football background that we can speak of, Tanney actually has accomplishments under his belt. Tanney is a 2-time Midwest Conference Player Of The Year as well as the recipient of the 2009 Melberger Trophy, which goes to the best player in Division III football. Tanney was hurt during his 2010 season with a shoulder injury, so maybe he’s showing the world that he’s in great shape and ready to play.

So who did the better job at their trick plays? Johnny Mac or Tanney?? You be the judge!

McEntee’s video

Johnny McEntee Is The Trick Shot QB – Watch more Sports

Tanney’s video

Alex Tanney, Trick Shot Quarterback – Watch more Funny Videos