40 Acres Sports

Great week for Duane Akina’s former proteges in the NFL as Tarell Brown, Michael Griffin, and Nathan Vasher all had interceptions in week three. Ricky Williams also had his best performance of the year as he and backfield mate Ronnie Brown ran all over the New England Patriots. Meanwhile wide receiver Limas Sweed is still waiting to see the field for the first time as a pro out in Pittsburgh. Read on to see how the rest of the Longhorns in the NFL performed last week:

– Two tackles and an interception in the loss to the Chargers.

– Seven carries for 38 yards rushing plus three catches for 24 yards. Jamaal also had his first NFL kickoff return for 21 yards.

– 1/1 on field goals and on extra points.

– Finally saw the field for the Packers against the Cowboys but had no catches. He got in on special teams and managed to pick up an unsportsmanlike penalty in a brush with Martellus Bennett.

– Two tackles against Carolina.

– Big game against the Texans with two interceptions. Also added two tackles.

– One carry for one yard.

– No stats against Philly. Will miss the next game against Baltimore with an injured groin.

– Three tackles, two of them solos, against Buffalo.

– Recovered a fumble and returned it 23 yards, broke up two passes, and added three tackles in the Chargers blowout of the Fightin’ Brett Favres.

– One tackle in what may be one of 16 losses this season for the Chiefs.

– Two solo tackles for the lowly Lions against the 48ers.

– Had a solid game against Baltimore posting four tackles.

– Five solo tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.

– Three catches for 26 yards including a touchdown.

– Still no playing time.

– One catch for four yards in what will hopefully be one of many losses for the Patriots.

– Good performance for Nate versus Tampa Bay. Three passes defended including an interception, with four solo tackles added on.

– Great game for Ricky and his counterpart Ronnie Brown as the Dolphins went back to the college game to get a little offensive firepower. He had 16 carries for 98 yards (6.1 average) and two catches for 21 more yards.

– Two catches for 18 yards in a loss to San Francisco. Roy has to be frustrated and already looking forward to 2009 somewhere other than Detroit.

– Very efficient game against New Orleans with 11 carries for 65 yards.

With injured it wasn’t a very exciting week for ex-Longhorns in the NFL. Quentin Jammer and Selvin Young probably had the best weeks, while the complete absence of Jermichael Finley and Limas Sweed continues. Here’s how all the former Horns did in week two of the NFL season:

– Less busy after a good week one, only three carries for seven yards. The Chiefs only rushed the ball 19 times all game as a team. Charles also had a 15 yard catch and hurt Larry Johnson’s feelings.

– Two of two on field goals with a long of 38 yards in a loss.

– Still looking for his first career catch. I’m not sure if he’s getting any snaps at all.

– Six tackles and one pass breakup against Peyton Manning and the Colts.

– Picked up his first interception of the year off a tipped pass. Also added six tackles from his safety spot.

– Three carries for nine yards.

– One tackle.

– Four tackles against KC and two passes defended.

– Posted 11 tackles and had a forced fumble in the Chargers’ controversial loss to the Broncos.

– Eight tackles, seven of them solo.

– Inspired me to teach my kids to deep snap.

– Three solo tackles against the Packers.

– First sack of the 2008 season and added six tackles.

– Four tackles.

– Without Vince Young, just one catch for six yards.

– Still no catches in his NFL career. Like Finley, looking at his game logs it appears he’s not even playing.

– Picked up his first catch of the year against the Jets, a 14-yarder from Matt Cassel.

– Returned punts for the first time in a long while. Had three returns for a total of 21 yards. Added two tackles.

– After an exciting preseason another ho hum game for Ricky. He had 11 rushes for 28 yards in the Dolphins’ blowout loss to Arizona.

– Just about the same performance as week one: three catches for 48 yards. Looks like Calvin Johnson has become the clear number one target in Detroit, maybe Roy can head down to Tennessee next year as a free agent.

– Was the Broncos’ leading rusher with eight carries for 78 yards, including a big 49-yarder. Also added one catch for eight yards.

Very high praise about former Longhorn from a Miami Dolphins’ source in a Pro Football Weekly story. It appears that Ricky will not only begin the season as the team’s number one running back but that “he’s clearly the best player on the team.”

Check out the story below:

Don’t read much into the comments by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on “Monday Night Countdown” that the Dolphins could be looking to trade RB Ronnie Brown. The way we hear it, it was purely speculation, and coach Tony Sparano was adamant at his Aug. 20 press conference that he will not do such a thing. Even if they were unhappy with Brown, whose preseason numbers have certainly been uninspiring in his first action since tearing his ACL in Week Seven last season, his trade value couldn’t be any lower than it is right now.

However, what we do hear is that the roles of Brown and Ricky Williams have changed, at least temporarily. Initially, it was believed that Williams was going to be the complement to Brown as soon as Brown was fully healthy. Now, it appears that Brown will play the role of reliever to Williams, regardless of his knee health. The coaches have been so thoroughly impressed with Williams – one team source called him “clearly the best player on the team” – that only slippage on his part will revert the RB hierarchy to Brown being on top. Williams is set to become a free agent after the season, so expect the club to lock him up before he hits the market if he continues performing in such a fashion.

(via)

Ten years have passed since won the Heisman Trophy. In honor of that anniversary, the 50th anniversary for Pete Dawkins (Army) and the 25th for Mike Rozier (Nebraska running back) the second annual Heisman Anniversary Winners weekend is going on right now in Austin. It’s a chance for former winners to get together and of course play a little golf.

The official Texas football site has a Q&A with Ricky available (which I’ve also posted below) as well as a great photo gallery from the event’s golf tournament.

Was it everything you thought it would be, I know we talked to you a month ago when you were anticipating it, is it everything you thought it would be: Yeah, I try not to anticipate too much. The main thing I wanted to do is come with my family and have a good time, and so far, so good. For me the big thing is just being back in Austin. I’ve had more fun driving around Austin than anything else.

Has one of the Heisman winners had a bigger influence on you: It’s no question – it’s Earl [Campbell]. He was here from day one, and he’s still here and he’s still one of my biggest supporters. It’s definitely Earl.

Tony Dorsett was reminiscing when he was there when you broke the record and he kind of got emotional about it: Yeah, I mean, it was a record that lasted for 20 years, and you know, when I had it, it only lasted for one (smiling). I think it’s one of the most prestigious records in all of college football.

(more …)

More mature Ricky Williams embracing football. He has a new desire & zest for leadership.

Dolphins’ Ricky Williams relishes hard work. Ricky has enthusiastically embraced Miami’s strenuous offseason conditioning program.

Ricky Williams video from MB-TF.com. I’m rooting so hard for him, hope he keeps it together for a few seasons.

Ricky Williams discusses life in the public eye. You can’t always be yourself, you have to be a role model.

Ricky Williams finally ready for return to football. Says he wishes he was on Cedric’s boat to be a calming influence.

The Austin American-Statesman has a great photo gallery up of and at a local golf tournament Wednesday. It’s great to see the two Texas legends together. Check out the gallery for a few more photos.