Culture of violence

It was not surprising to me that Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels of the Washington Redskins said it was no big deal that Falcons quarterback Michael Vick might be involved in operating a dog fighting entertainment center on his Virginia home. (Vick has since sold the property.)

The first time I heard about killer dogs was in relationship to Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson and his backyard pit bulls. Besides guns, Johnson was also into dogs. Bears coach Lovie Smith talked Johnson into removing his dogs from his property.

Some NFL players like to live on the edge. Guns and fighting dogs. Those seem to be enticing outlets when there are no games to be played. To me, they are reckless pursuits that need to be checked at the NFL door. But fans must accept that there is a culture of violence among players that apparently has become acceptable.

In the past, players from the Packers, Cowboys and Raiders have been linked to dog fighting. This is why Portis defended Vick, sounding like it was no big-time crime to be involved with it.

All-Purpose Fullback

 When you think of the game’s best fullbacks, guys like the Chargers’ Lorenzo Neal, Seattle’s Mack Strong and Tampa Bay’s Mike Alstott are mentioned the most. All three are excellent blockers and solid short-yardage performers. A big season for any of them is 150 to 200 yards rushing.

 

The Rams are hoping that second-round pick Brian Leonard of Rutgers can join this elite, but aging, group this season. Rams coach Scott Linehan is formulating a plan that will have Leonard getting 15 to 20 snaps a game. Once a college tailback, Leonard is also pretty sharp. He’s picking up the offense quickly and probably will be used as Steven Jackson’s backup on occasion, too. He also caught 207 passes for 13 touchdowns at Rutgers.

 

Linehan plans to use Leonard as a lead blocker for Jackson, as a potential third-down back and a short-yardage runner.

 

Another Unhappy Eagle QB?

 

When the Eagles acquired linebacker Takeo Spikes from Buffalo for Darwin Walker, the best part of the trade was supposedly backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb. My friend Peter King of Sports Illustrated gushed over Holcomb’s veteran qualities and abilities.

 

Well, Eagles coach Andy Reid must not think too much of Holcomb, who figures to be the odd man out in Philadelphia behind Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and second-round pick Kevin Kolb. The only way Holcomb makes the roster is if Kolb goes on injured reserve with some mysterious injury. Reid isn’t counting on Kolb playing this season.

 

“I didn’t expect it,” Holcomb said. `”But hey, that’s the business. That’s the game of football. You’ve got to compete. I’ve had to compete for everything I’ve gotten in this league. It’s just another day for me.”

 

Jags & Brady Quinn

There is no question that Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, who could be fighting for his job this season, would have preferred drafting Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn last month. And based on Byron Leftwich’s erratic throwing during recent mini-camps, the Jaguars could be in for a long season.

Del Rio has a solid team, but the quarterback position (and all those young receivers) has let down Jacksonville when it comes to making a playoff run. Last season, Del Rio wanted David Garrard to win the job outright, but he failed miserably down the stretch.

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