Week 3: Getting into the swing of things

So cute! Her shirt says
Mom's Little Kicker.
Courtesy of Brittany Pigrenet.

Bibs and Burps = Babies

Cowboys kicker David Buehler and his girlfriend Brittany Pigrenet are expecting their first baby!  Little Bryson is due very soon and will hopefully follow in his dad's footsteps.  The couple has been together for two years and was featured on last year's (one and only) season of "Football Wives" on VH1.  

Washington Redskins defensive end Stephen Bowen is expecting his son Stephen III to go home from the hospital this week.  Stephen III was born premature on June 28 and has been in the hospital ever since.  Dad didn't see to see his new son very much because he was traded to Washington and had to leave mom and baby in Dallas until little Stephen was well enough to move.  Bowen is going to play his old team in Dallas this week and hopefully mom, son, and older daughter will be together watching from home!

Wedding Bells

Big Ben gets another ring.
Courtesy of nydailynews.com.

Ben Roethlisberger is another star QB who was married this summer.  In July, he tied the knot with Ashley Harlan in a private ceremony at Christ Church at Grove Farm in Sewickley, Pa.  Security was tight and windows deeply tinted so onlookers with cameras couldn't see any VIP guests.  Even the reception site at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh was booked as a movie production to prevent any groupies from interfering with their big day.  After the wedding, the Pittsburgh Tribune got the scoop and you can read it here. 

Chirp chirp! News from Twitter

Social media enthusiasts across the web were surprised to see this post from Jay Cutler last Monday evening: 'Good luck babe “@KristinCav: Don't forget to vote tonight!!"'  Of course, this was in reference to her debut on DWTS.  Was this just a supportive gesture from a friend or are there still lingering feelings that could be re-ignited?  Personally, I say let her go back to dating surfer dudes in California and Jay should find someone better than a reality star who is struggling for another 15 minutes of fame.    

Mug shot of the week

Poor Cincinnati fans.  Their players are making headlines, but it's not because of touchdowns or charity work.  Wide receiver Jerome Simpson is a little bit of trouble and might not be playing today.  It seems as though he ordered 2.5 lbs. of marijuana from California and when the police followed the trail to his home in Kentucky, there was evidence of a "budding" business.  One of his teammates, Anthony Collins, was there when the police arrived but he is not considered a participant in any way.

You only live once

Chad on the set of 'Blue Mountain State."
Courtesy of sportsofboston.com.

I just can't have a week without including the escapades of Senor Ochocinco.  He had quite a summer riding bulls and driving race cars, and now this week he was on a non-reality, not created-and-named-after-himself television show.  Ochocinco had a guest starring role in Spike TV's "Blue Mountain State," a comedy about a fictional college football team.  I was busy watching CSI last Wednesday, but apparently his acting skills are not that bad.  Maybe that will be the next career move when his football playing days are over.  

Week 2: Summer - full of weddings and moving trucks

The NFL did not have a enjoyable off-season.  While we were working on our tans and enjoying drinks by the pool, the players and owners were battling over the players' association contracts.  I tried keeping up with the lockout, but it got confusing really fast.  All I really know is that it's over and we don't have to deal with it again for a long time.

Because of the lockout, all of the trades happened really quickly.  If I didn't follow Adam Schefter on Twitter, I would have been lost.  So here's an update as to where our favorite players now call home field and an introduction to some of the new guys.

Chad in his new, less flashy uniform.
Courtesy of zimbio.com.

Moving Trucks & New Uniforms

Chad Ochocinco is no longer with the Cincinnati Bengals.  He was traded to New England and is now receiving catches from Tom Brady.  His new coach Bill Belichick probably won't allow him to wear gold teeth - they don't match his new team colors.  Ochocinco's pal, Terrell Owens, is not with any team yet because his contract expired and he hasn't been signed by a new team.  Even though you can't see him on the field, you can watch the third season of the "T.O. Show" on VH1.

Kim Kardashian's ex Reggie Bush was released from New Orleans and picked up by Miami.  This summer he was reportedly dating Melissa Molinaro, a singer/actress/dancer from Canada.  There won't be any further mention of Kim K. this season unless she attends a game with her new husband, NBA benchwarmer Kris Humphries.  My last comment on Mrs. Humphries is I believe her previous relationships with NFL players didn't end well because they were more famous.  Now she's married to someone that doesn't steal the spotlight and that will work out as long as he doesn't mind.

My hometown team, the Minnesota Vikings have a new face in the role of QB.  Donovan McNabb, of Philadelphia Eagles fame, was with Washington last season and is now calling the plays in Minnesota.  Hopefully the strong silent types like Jared Allen and Jim Kleinsasser will work well with McNabb and start winning in the old Metrodome.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has moved from the rainy, coffee-loving city of Seattle to the home of country music in Tennessee.  Don't worry, Matt, there are coffee shops in Nashville too.

Wedding Bells & Breakups

Tony and Candice on their big day.
Courtesy of people.com.

There were wedding bells ringing in Dallas this summer when Cowboys QB Tony Romo married former Miss Missouri Candice Crawford.  Of course, her family and TV star brother, Chace Crawford, were in attendance along with former and current Cowboys players.  All of the team's star players are back in Dallas this season with the goal of winning a Lombardi trophy.

At the end of last season, Chicago's QB Jay Cutler was dating MTV personality Kristin Cavallari.  During the off-season, their relationship became serious.  They were engaged and planning a wedding, but shortly before the season started they announced the wedding was off and they were no longer together.  Kristin is moving on to an appearance on "Dancing with the Stars," which premieres tomorrow night at 8 EST on ABC.  I don't know about you, but I'll be watching MNF.

New Kids on the Block

Cam Newton on Draft Day.
Courtesy of sbrforum.com.

If you're like me, and your significant other loves college football too, then this rookie may be familiar to you.  Cam Newton is now the leading QB for the Carolina Panthers and broke the record last week for most yards thrown in his debut with 422 yards.  That record had been held since 1950!  You may have heard of Cam because he is the third player in history to win the Heisman Trophy, the BCS championship, and become the number one pick in the NFL draft in one years time.

Tim Tebow is starting his second year with the Denver Broncos, but is he is now the third-string QB.  He played in a few games last season and some experts and fans are not pleased with this demotion.

This season my husband and I are continuing our "picks" competition.  Last season he ended up beating me (shocker!) but so far this year we're tied.  I was almost talked into playing fantasy football for the first time this season but I think I'll learn from him first and then be fully prepared to crush him next year.  Go Cowboys (and Vikings)!!

Week 1: New Beginnings

As today is the tenth anniversary of 9/11, I am glad we will celebrate our country by doing something very American - watching professional football.  

Courtesy of John Skelson.

So much as changed since that fateful day.  This morning I was thinking about how I found out about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania.  I was a second year student at MCD and we were in our morning prayer time.  One guy's cell phone kept ringing and ringing.  Since it was his mom, he thought there was a family emergency.  There were no Facebook or CNN smartphone apps to send us a push notification about the breaking news.  He answered his phone and then broke the news to us.  I remember sitting in the pastor's office watching the only TV in the church and not really understanding what was I seeing on the screen.  It would take days and weeks to fully grasp what happened to the United States that day.  

I don't know anyone who died on 9/11/01 but I do have several friends who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan because of that day.  One of them is serving in Baghdad right now.  I am very proud to be an American and I'm glad we have a today like today where differences are set aside and we all tune in to cheer on our favorite team and remember those who fought and continue to fight for freedom.