Thread: NFC Spring Round Up

ARIZONA: NFL fans aren’t the only ones excited about the new Cardinals Stadium. The state-of-the art facility, which will
open this August and host Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, has received global media attention for its innovative
design. Home to North America’s first fully retractable grass surface, Cardinals Stadium was recently featured on the
Discovery Channel series, “Extreme Engineering,” and was the only U.S. facility included on BusinessWeek’s recent list of
the top 10 sporting structures in the world.

ATLANTA: Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Hallford Stadium, which serves
approximately 100,000 students in Atlanta’s DeKalb County school system, was recently selected by the Falcons, NFL
and NFLPA to receive a $200,000 synthetic field renovation from the NFL’s Grassroots program. “Everyone wins when
we can bring funds and better facilities to help kids increase their level of physical fitness,” says Falcons owner and CEO
ARTHUR BLANK.

CAROLINA: Panthers defensive end MIKE RUCKER is prepared for life after the NFL. Each offseason for the past
seven years, he has participated in the team’s internship program. This spring Rucker turned his attention to real estate,
forming Vision Group Realty, which specializes in helping players purchase their first homes. “I’ve been fortunate to take
advantage of the program,” explains Rucker. “By doing the internships I’ve learned the ins and outs of business and
that’s helped me with Vision Group and all of my other endeavors.”

CHICAGO: Thousands of Bears fans flocked to the Hilton Chicago in early March for the team’s ninth annual fan
convention. Following an impressive 11-5 season, CEO TED PHILLIPS, general manager JERRY ANGELO and head
coach LOVIE SMITH were pleased to find an enthusiastic crowd at the fan question-and-answer session. “We’re not
looking at this as a one-year surprise,” Phillips assured fans. “We have a foundation in place.”

DALLAS: Recently signed linebacker AKIN AYODELE has a unique history with the team. As a student at MacArthur
High in Irving, Texas, Ayodele served as a ballboy for the Cowboys. Now, he’ll be chasing opposing ball carriers. “It was
a great way to make some extra change,” says Ayodele, who received gloves worn by MICHAEL IRVIN, DEION
SANDERS and EMMITT SMITH. “That was the coolest thing about it,” he remembers.

DETROIT: The Lions will have a new look at the quarterback position this season, and according to new head coach
ROD MARINELLI, four passers will be competing for the starting job. Veterans JON KITNA, SHAUN KING and JOSH
MC COWN have joined the team this spring, and along with two-year veteran DAN ORLOVSKY, will compete for the top
job. “I like open competition and that’s what we’re about,” says Marinelli. “That’s been my nature, to have people
compete and work.”

GREEN BAY: The Packers’ offseason conditioning program has begun and almost the entire roster has been turning out.
“This is the most guys I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” says five-year Packers defensive end AARON KAMPMAN. “I
would imagine if you go back through the annals of Packers offseasons, this is probably a record number.” After
undergoing a 4-12 season, the Pack is anxious to turn things around. “I’m ready to get this next season going,” says
defensive tackle COLIN COLE. “Last year a lot of expectations weren’t met here for anybody. We want to get back out
there and show what Packers football is all about.”

MINNESOTA: Optimism abounds in Minnesota, where the Vikings and new head coach BRAD CHILDRESS hope a
pack of new additions will help return the club to playoff form. Fullback TONY RICHARDSON and guard STEVE
HUTCHINSON, both NFL All-Stars, are among the fresh faces, along with promising running back CHESTER TAYLOR
and proven kicker RYAN LONGWELL. “My career sort of kicked off in the Midwest at the University of Michigan, so I
know how proud Midwesterners are of their football,” says former Seattle Seahawk Hutchinson. “Growing up, I was a
huge fan of the ‘Black and Blue’ division, and for me to play for the Vikings is an unbelievable opportunity.”

NEW ORLEANS: Excitement is building in the Gulf South region for the Saints’ 2006 campaign, highlighted by the
signing of All-Star quarterback DREW BREES. “I’m just so excited to be a part of this team and this community,” says
Brees, who along with wife BRITTANY took out a half-page ad in the New Orleans Times-Picayune on Sunday, March 19
to thank the community for its warm welcome. “New Orleans and the region are very alive, and you have a lot of great
citizens who are very committed to rebuilding the city and are so excited about Saints football.” The club’s first home
game will be September 24 in a restored Louisiana Superdome against the NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons.

NEW YORK: Giants quarterback ELI MANNING recently partnered with the makers of Glad ForceFlex Trashbags to host
a “Mardi Gras Clean-Up” – a major New Orleans clearing effort to help the city prepare for a clean and safe Mardi Gras
celebration. “New Orleans is my heart and home,” said Manning. “These are the people that I love, and this is the town
that I grew up in. I’m proud to be a part of a hands-on effort to help revitalize the tourism and culture of the city.”

PHILADELPHIA: The Eagles hope the addition of a new defensive end will help return them to the top of the always
competitive NFC East. The team recently signed DARREN HOWARD, who totaled 44.5 sacks in six seasons with New
Orleans. “He’s the complete package,” says head coach ANDY REID. “He can play both the run and the pass very
effectively and he’s a double-digit sack guy. He can play both outside and inside in pass-run situations, which makes him
very valuable.”

ST. LOUIS: With free agent signings making news across the NFL, many players are also deciding to stay right where
they are. One such prominent player is longtime Rams wide receiver ISAAC BRUCE, who has spent his entire 12-year
career with the team. Bruce ranks in the top 20 in NFL history in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
“We are excited that Isaac will continue his illustrious Hall of Fame career here in St. Louis,” says Rams President of
Football Operations JAY ZYGMUNT. “No player better reflects what the NFL and the Rams are about than Isaac Bruce.”

SAN FRANCISCO: University of Florida alumni and eight-year NFL veteran TERRY JACKSON can now add the Ivy
League to his resume. The 49ers’ fullback recently completed his first of two academic sessions at Harvard as part of the
NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program. “It was a great experience,” says Jackson. “The days were
long and we had homework and reading to do every night, but it was a great refresher. You can never get enough
education.”

SEATTLE: Seahawks defensive end BRYCE FISHER, a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a captain and public
affairs officer in Washington state’s National Guard, will soon join Falcons defensive end PATRICK KERNEY and
Steelers tackle MAX STARKS on the NFL’s 40th anniversary USO tour of overseas military bases in the Persian Gulf and
the Balkans. In 1966, the NFL became the first sports organization to send players to Vietnam and parts of the Far East
with a group that included future Hall of Famers WILLIE DAVIS, FRANK GIFFORD, SAM HUFF and JOHNNY UNITAS.
“The Air Force gave me my opportunity to succeed,” says Fisher. “If it had not been for the things that I learned there, like
discipline and teamwork, I don’t think I would be where I am today.”

TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers cornerback RONDE BARBER recently made 11-year-old TYLER GARDINER’s wish come
true. Gardiner, an Ohio native who is battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently in his third go-round with
chemotherapy, had longed to meet the Pro Bowl cornerback for several years. When Barber heard about his wish, he
joined forces with private donors and the Aladdin Foundation to make it happen. Gardiner and his family were flown to
Tampa, where he toured the team’s training facility and received autographed cleats and a ball. Barber also introduced
him to head coach JON GRUDEN. “Keep fighting,” said Gruden. “And just know that you’re welcome here any time.”

WASHINGTON: Who says three’s-a-crowd? Not the Redskins, who recently added BRANDON LLOYD and ANTWAAN
RANDLE EL to their receiving corps, which already features All-Star SANTANA MOSS. The team hopes having three
star wideouts in the lineup will prevent defenses from double-teaming Moss. “At the end of the season, Santana was
forced to get open and it was a big strain on him,” says vice president of football operations VINNY CERATO. “He is
really excited about these additions. He knows it’s going to make things even better for him.”

NFL fans aren’t the only ones excited about the new Cardinals Stadium. The state-of-the art facility, which will
open this August and host Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, has received global media attention for its innovative
design. Home to North America’s first fully retractable grass surface, Cardinals Stadium was recently featured on the
Discovery Channel series, “Extreme Engineering,” and was the only U.S. facility included on BusinessWeek’s recent list of
the top 10 sporting structures in the world.


I HOPE THAT THEY ARE SAYING THIS ABOUT THE NEW VIKINGS STADIUM IN A COUPLE OF YEARS!!!

I like how the only thing to be said about the Pack is there offseason conditioning program.

Why didn't they just write Vikings PWN?

"Webby" wrote:

NFL fans aren’t the only ones excited about the new Cardinals Stadium. The state-of-the art facility, which will
open this August and host Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, has received global media attention for its innovative
design. Home to North America’s first fully retractable grass surface, Cardinals Stadium was recently featured on the
Discovery Channel series, “Extreme Engineering,” and was the only U.S. facility included on BusinessWeek’s recent list of
the top 10 sporting structures in the world.

I saw the feature on Extreme Engineering and the stadium looks like a really cool stadium.

The grass field slides out one of the ends of the stadium in 1 large piece, and it sits outside when not in the stadium. They move it outside to have concerts, motor cross, tractor pulls without damaging the field, it takes about 10 minutes to move the field in or out.

I like all the positive for us cause we OWNED in FA

"cajunvike" wrote:

NFL fans aren’t the only ones excited about the new Cardinals Stadium. The state-of-the art facility, which will
open this August and host Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, has received global media attention for its innovative
design. Home to North America’s first fully retractable grass surface, Cardinals Stadium was recently featured on the
Discovery Channel series, “Extreme Engineering,” and was the only U.S. facility included on BusinessWeek’s recent list of
the top 10 sporting structures in the world.


I HOPE THAT THEY ARE SAYING THIS ABOUT THE NEW VIKINGS STADIUM IN A COUPLE OF YEARS!!!

That would be soooo nice, but knowing how the Purple luck is with stadiums? I'd say it's more like the budget gets cut here and there and all of a sudden we end up with a K-Mart sposored dome. And you may know they are cutting there stores down to almost nothing so here goes the same old "cheap skate" stadium story.

If I ever see a Minny stadium on the Discovery Channel like (AZ) and acjunvike mentioned I think I may have died and gone to heaven.

Somethings just don't sound right. "Luxury" "State of the Art Stadium" just don't fit us Vikings well. I for one will be shocked if those pre-3D cad plans (awesome by the way) don't go down the dumper.