Via ESPN:  Season over for Texans running back Davis

Yes, TO suited up and played last night, catching one ball for 6 yards.  So that little drama is over for the moment.

However, fans of the Cowboys have a new problem to content with, the high-price, allegedly accurate new placekicker had a hard time last night (via the Star-Telegram:   Vanderjagt off the mark twice in OT

Vanderjagt missed field-goal attempts of 33 and 32 yards in overtime. It was his first game since the preseason opener in Seattle. He missed the past two games because of a strained groin.

Aren’t those supposed to be automatic kicks for him?  Egads.

Via WaPo:  Snyder Adds New Star to His Lineup: Cruise

Just days after media mogul Sumner M. Redstone cut ties with Tom Cruise for his off-screen conduct, the star has a new backer: Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.Snyder, partnering with home builder Dwight C. Schar and Six Flags chief executive Mark Shapiro, cut a two-year deal with Cruise’s production company to pay between $3 million and $10 million annually for development and overhead costs in exchange for the opportunity to finance film projects and to profit from any hit movies.

Amusing, as this is the way that Synder has run the Redskins, i.e., looking for high ticket free agents and cast-offs from other teams.

Junior Seau has reportedly signed with the New England Patriots (according to NFL Radio on Sirius).

From WaPo: Kornheiser, Not Yet in Game Shape On ‘MNF’

Tony Kornheiser played it safe in his “Monday Night Football” announcing debut last night, making few missteps but offering little for the highlight reel. It wasn’t exactly clear at times why he was there at all.

It’s still early, as the coaches like to say. But on the basis of his first preseason game, Kornheiser, the Post sports columnist and co-host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” wasn’t many of the things that ESPN hired him for. He wasn’t especially witty, provocative or insightful in calling the Raiders’ 16-13 win over the Vikings from the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

[…]

Kornheiser mostly spluttered, typically emphasizing the obvious and playing third fiddle to his more experienced mike mates, play-by-play man Mike Tirico and fellow color analyst Joe Theismann.

I saw part of the game last night whilst dealing with children and such. I thought Tony was fine, but I am predisposed to like him as I liked his radio show, his writing and PTI. Still, I didn’t expect much from last night–it was a preseason game for crying out loud. I find Madden (whom I like) to be fairly boring during preseason games. Indeed, what is one really going to say during a preseason game?

Really, most things said during football games are basically “emphasizing the obvious.”

Still, I will reserve my judgement on the Mr. Tony experiment until the real games start.

I do agree with the WaPo columnist here, however:

ESPN tried to force a little of Kornheiser’s “PTI” mojo by instituting an in-game mini-feature called “Tony, Tony, Tony!” The idea is to have viewers e-mail their questions to Kornheiser, who answers them on the air. It played like it sounds — contrived.

It was painfully contrived, in fact.

Tirico does a good job with play-by-play, I will say.

Via CBS Sportsline: Rooney bro approaches Florida Governor about commish job.

Wild.

Jeb doesn’t want to be considered, however, according to the story.

h/t: Clint Ellis.

Via the AP: Schwarzenegger wants two NFL teams in Los Angeles area.

Last time I checked, they were having trouble just getting one–and when they do have one, they can’t keep it.

Writes Len Pasquarelli at ESPN.com: Snubbing Bush a Texans-size blunder.

That certainly seems to sum it up.

It seems obvious that Bush automatically would have automatically improved the Texans’ offense and special teams, yet there is no commensurate guarantee that Williams will so improve the defense.

An odd move–especially if Pasquarelli’s reporting is accurate and this had nothing to do with the house situation nor with dollars/signability.

Via Reuters: Texans announce surprise signing of Williams

The Houston Texans announced the surprise signing of North Carolina defensive end Mario Williams on Friday, taking him instead of Reggie Bush as the first overall pick in Saturday’s NFL draft.

I must say, I am surprised. I really thought that the Williams flirtation was a diversion.

One guesses that Bush is now a Saint?

Headline: Favre says he wants to play, but only if he can win

Reaction: Then he better play for a team other than Green Bay.