Plenty of speculation out there about how the roster will be re-shaped this offseason at some key positions like QB and OT. Remember you can email me at AskChris@bills.nfl.net. Let’s get to this week’s edition.

1. Hey Chris,
 
Who are some players you think the bills should look at in free agency and the draft that you yourself are pretty high on?  Also are there any trade possibilites you can think of ?  And any chance some of the current bills players under contract get traded this offseason?  I think we need more picks in the draft do you?
 
Thank you.
Showtime 1239

CB: First, I don’t think the Bills are hurting for draft picks. They have nine total with an extra six and seven. I would not be surprised however, if they trade out of the ninth pick to move down in round one and scoop up an extra three.

I do think free agency in this uncapped year is going to restrict player movement to a certain degree, but there are still some big names out there like Karlos Dansby, Julius Peppers and Vince Wilfork, though I do see Wilfork getting franchised. Players I wouldn’t mind the Bills targeting would be New England DE Jarvis Green, San Fran NT Aubrayo Franklin or Baltimore DE Dwan Edwards.

Signing restricted free agents away from other teams will prove difficult. Poison pill offer sheets really won’t exist anymore for restricted free agents because there’s no cap.

I think trading for a QB might prove to be the best means of getting someone in here to either take hold of the starting job or compete for it. It’s going to depend a lot on who is made available by what teams and what they’re looking for in return.

As for players on this roster that could be traded, I believe with a new defensive system and a new coaching staff that almost any player is fair game.

2. Hi Chris,
 
Can you please give us an update on Keith Ellison’s recovery?  Do you think he will be back with the team next year?  Even with missing 1/2 the season he is 8th in tackles on the team? 
 
Thanks,
Scott

CB: To my knowledge Keith’s injury wasn’t one that was going to require a major offseason of rehabilitation. As to whether he’ll be back with the team next season, I believe it’s more in doubt now with the 3-4 defensive scheme being implemented by defensive coordinator George Edwards. I don’t see him as a fit in that scheme.
3. Hey Chris, 

Do you actually think that the Bills will take McClain at 9? I think it would be the best option for them, but as of right now they are projected to be taking a tackle in that spot.

I know we are in desperate need of a tackle, but is it worth taking the 4th best tackle at 9, when you can get the top LB, or one of them at that spot to help improve our run defense.
Tim

CB: I think a lot of fans believe it makes more sense now that the Bills are moving to a 3-4 defensive scheme. There’s no question that certain positions like RB or LB are spots where talented college prospects can make an instant impact for an NFL team as a rookie.

But I still stick to the philosophy of getting your big people early in the draft. The left tackle spot needs to be addressed with a player that is NFL ready. The players at the top of the draft have the best skill set and in many cases the greatest chance to succeed sooner rather than later (see: Michael Oher).

With the 3-4 being implemented NT is a bigger need now as well. I do like McClain, but I’m having a hard time overlooking the OT need of the Bills after last season’s struggles up front for Buffalo’s offense.

4. Hey Chris
 
 Who do you think the bills would draft if they moved up 1 or 2 or more picks in the draft?  Also do you think that they could trade aaron schobel to another team for maybe another draft pick and have two 1st round picks or two 2nd round picks?
Rollerbladz2009

CB: I don’t see the Bills moving up in round one. If anything I see them moving back a bit into the mid-teens. If they could find a willing trade partner close to Schobel’s Texas home like New Orleans or Houston I don’t see a 32-year old defensive end fetching a 1st or 2nd round pick. Believe a 3rd is more like it.
5. Hi Chris,

George Edwards seems like a good hire, but I’m curious about the 3-4 scheme. By my count, we don’t have a true nose tackle for a 3-4 defence and we’re already short on linebackers before adding another to the field.

Moving Maybin to LB means we have to get two new DEs to replace Schobel and Kelsay in a year or two, plus a true nose tackle, plus we still need another linebacker like we would have in a 4-3 — meanwhile it turns Stroud and Williams from playmakers into role players since neither of them really fits the nose tackle position.

That means instead of needing one DE and one LB to shore up the front seven in a 4-3 scheme, now we need two DEs, a NT and a LB for a 3-4 scheme.

Seems like we’re making life tough on ourselves from a personnel standpoint in the rebuilding process (I’m scared to think how we can rebuild the offence with all this to focus on already). Am I off base?
Thanks a lot,
Malcolm

CB: I’d agree that there will be more of a personnel focus on defense now with the new 3-4 alignment as I had suspected. I agree that Stroud is not a true nose, but could play it in a pinch. He’s better suited as a five-technique DE like a Richard Seymour.

I believe Chris Kelsay could bulk up to play end and I think Spencer Johnson is a perfect end in a 3-4 as well. Kyle Williams is athletic enough to play end in a 3-4 and on passing downs he can kick inside to the nose.

At LB I’d see Mitchell going inside alongside Poz, with Maybin at one OLB and depending on what they think of Nic Harris, maybe draft a 3-4 LB.

The biggest need though as you point out is a true NT, and they’re not easy to find. Fortunately it is a deep class of DTs this year. How many are capable of playing two gap in the NFL remains to be seen. OT and NT are the two biggest positional needs right now. Without an elite QB prospect I think OT and NT must be addressed early in the draft.

The President of the United States delivered his first State of the Union Address on January 27th with a great deal of anticipation.  Independent voters in Massachusetts sent a warning shot across the bow warning the administration to focus on the three  issues  most important in their lives: Jobs, Jobs, and  Jobs.

Minnesota’s 5th District Representative Keith Ellison stated his pleasure with the Obama Administrations new focus on Jobs, stating in his January 29th Newsletter, “I am happy that President Obama made job creation the centerpiece of his address; high unemployment is a crisis that affects all of our communities.”

The Congressman went on to reaffirm his commitment to Health Care Reform, “I want to assure you that I am working hard to pass health reform and get it signed into law with a public option.”

Keith Ellison (D-MN) is also showing his support for a High Speed Rail, a spending freeze, and ending the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. 

 He says, “I am pleased that the President used the State of the Union to provide leadership to end the unjust ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy for the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform. This is a civil rights issue – and a national security issue – that I care greatly about.”

Minnesotans elected Congressman Ellison into office during the 2008 election cycle.

Hamas’ 54 Democratic Congressmen

Keith Ellison, widely hailed as America’s first Muslim congressman, could more accurately be described as CAIR and Hamas’ man in Congress. Congressman Ellison has been a regular presence at CAIR fundraisers and at pro-Hamas rallies in the United States. As a former member of Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam, Ellison has enough anti-semitic and Islamist credentials to satisfy anyone, and had expressed openly anti-semitic beliefs in the past.

Since Ellison got his start with CAIR , his attempt to provide support for Hamas is completely unsurprising. Both Hamas and CAIR are projects of the Muslim Brotherhood, which also helped birth Al Queda. Organizations like CAIR do the same work in America that Hamas does in Israel. The difference is that CAIR does its work on a political level, while Hamas functions on both a political and a military level. Like CAIR, Ellison is careful to cloak his pro-Hamas agenda, which he does by mentioning that all violence is wrong and that Israelis probably shouldn’t be shelled– but the thrust of his agenda is to force Israel to open its border with Hamas.

The entire “Free Gaza” movement is a Hamas propaganda project that allows it to demand that Israel open its borders, without actually using the P word, for peace, since Hamas doesn’t even believe in phony peace negotiations. So Pro-Hamas activists, whether it’s former Saddam supporter, George Galloway’s Viva Palestina or their American flavors talk only about “The People of Gaza”, deemphasize Hamas and emphasize the supposed “suffering” within Gaza.

But the call for Israel to open its borders is nothing more than a way of making it easier for terrorists to strike. Ellison’s letter buries its real agenda in paragraphs of prose about how everyone will be better off, except somehow Hamas, if Israel complies with their demand… that Israel ease the movement of people in and out of Gaza. This of course is a fancy way of saying, “Let my Suicide Bombers go”.

None of this is up till now is shocking. But what Congressman Keith Ellison accomplished was to convince 53 other Democratic congressmen to join him in this venture. It is not particularly surprising to find the House’s most radical anti-Israel voices signing their names onto Ellison’s letter. It would be inconceivable if a letter aiding Hamas did not carry the signatures of Barbara Lee, Jim Moran or Jim McDermott, who helped Ellison spearhead the whole campaign. It is essentially inconceivable that any letter circulated in congress opposing Israel would not get their signature.

Jim Moran had managed to blame even the Iraq War on the Jews and McDermott was actually named CAIR’s Public Official of the Year. Neither is West Virginia Arab Congressman, Nick Rahall, who is the Democratic party’s version of Darrel Issa, who is tied to CAIR as well, and previously voted against Israel’s right to defend itself. Rahall is also the top recipient of CAIR donations. The likes of Diane Watson or Pete Stark aren’t complete surprises either. Pete Stark has a history of being both anti-Israel and unstable. Neither is Carolyn Kilpatrick, who voted against Israel’s right to defend itself, and against condemning terrorist attacks on Israel. Kilpatrick, like virtually every Democrat on the list, is also tied to CAIR.

Then there’s William Delahunt, who all but openly expressed the hope that a former Cheney aide would be targeted by Al Queda. John Conyers signing on to this while awaiting prison is no real shocker either. The man has all but endorsed Sharia law in America. Or John Dingell who like many Detroit politicians has gone whole hog with the Islamist Follow Traveler thing.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum has been waging her own private war on Israel, right down to issuing an imperial demand that Israeli Ambassador Oren attend the national conference of the far left anti-Israel group, J Street. McCollum famously belittled Hamas’ shelling of Israel as nothing more than a drug gang’s drive by shooting and repeated the discredited white phosphorous smear. Again, no more surprising than Chaka Fattah’s presence on the list.

Then there’s Eric Massa, a former Republican turned turncoat Democrat, Massa has been consistently loudly anti-war and to the left. Like virtually every congressman on this list, he’s pushed for a phony ceasefire, that would naturally be one sided. Considering his increasingly unhinged radicalism, and that he has an election coming up soon, Massa must be pretty confident that the nutroots can get him reelected.

It is of course no surprise that this list weighs heavily toward Minnesota and Michigan, where CAIR is strong. But it also includes twelve congressmen from California, 3 from New Jersey, 4 from New York and 6 from Massachusetts. These numbers are not mere statistics, they define the rising influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on American politics, state by state.

And it is instructive to note how many of the congressmen and congresswomen on the list are funded by CAIR money. Keith Ellison, John Conyers, Loretta Sanchez, Betty McCollum, Lois Capps, Bill Pascrell, Elijah Cummings, Bob Filner, Mike Honda, Barbara Lee, John Dingell, James Moran, Nick Rahall, Andre Carson, Mary Jo Kilroy, Carolyn Kilpatrick and Jim McDermott are among the top receivers of CAIR money in congress.

Of the top 11 CAIR moneygetters in congress, Nick Rahall, James Moran, Darrel Issa, John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich, Jesse Jackson, Jr, John Dingell, Barbara Lee, Carolyn Kilpatrick, Shelia Jackson Lee and Jim McDerrmott– 7 out of 11 signed on to Ellison’s letter. That makes the Gaza letter a CAIR project. 5 on that list voted against condemning attacks on Israel.

And the letter is simply an opening shot as part of a broader campaign by the Muslim Brotherhood and its American proxies to attack Israel and promote its own Hamas wing. Its proxies can’t openly come out for Hamas, not in the United States anyway. Not from members of congress. But they can work toward a common goal. With this letter, Hamas’s masters in the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrated that they can use CAIR to gather 54 congressmen together to push its agenda. That is quite a leap for an organization that is the unindicted co-conspirator in funding Hamas terror It also demonstrates that Amerabia isn’t as far away as we have thought.

Update: The Full List of Congressmen who signed on to the letter, by State and District, and their current list of challengers in the upcoming elections

Arizona

* Raul Grijalva = AZ 7th Distict

California

* Lynn Woolsey – CA 6th District
* Lois Capps – CA 23rd District – Challenger John Davidson
* Sam Farr – CA 17th district
* Bob Filner – CA 51st district – challenger Nick Popaditch
* Barbara Lee – CA 9th District
* Loretta Sanchez – CA 47th District – challenger Van Tran
* Pete Stark – CA 13th District
* Michael Honda – CA 15th District
* Jackie Speier – CA 12th District
* Diane Watson – CA 33rd District
* George Miller – CA 7th District

Connecticut

* Jim Himes – 4th district – challenger Dan Debicella

Indiana

* Andre Carson – 7th district – challenger Carlos May and Marvin Bailey Scott

Iowa

* Bruce Braley – 1st district – challenger Rod Blum

Kentucky

* John Yarmuth – 3rd district – multiple challengers

Maryland

* Elijah Cummings – 7th district
* Donna Edwards – 4th district

Massachusetts

* Michael Capuano – 8th district
* William Delahunt – 10th district – multiple challengers
* Jim McGovern – 3rd district – challenger Marty Lamb
* John Tierney – 6th district – Challenger David Sukoff and Bill Hudak
* John Olver – 1st district – challenger Jeffrey Paul Donnelly
* Stephen Lynch – 9th district – challenger Vernon Harrison and Keith Lepor

Michigan

* John Conyers – 14th district
* John Dingell – 15th district
* Carolyn Kilpatrick – 13th district

Minnesota

* Keith Ellison – 5th district – challenger Barb Davis
* Betty McCollum – 4th district – challenger Ed Matthews
* James Oberstar – 8th district – multiple challengers

New Jersey

* Donald Payne – 10th district -
* Rush Holt – 12th district – challenger Mike Halfacre and Scott Sipprelle
* Bill Pascrell – 8th district – challenger Danielle Staub

New York

* Yvette Clarke – 11th district
* Maurice Hinchey – 22nd district – challenger George Philips
* Paul ‘taxin’ Tonko – 21st district – challenger Arthur Welser
* Eric Massa – 29th district – challenger Tom Reed (in a GOP district)

North Carolina

* David Price – 4th district – challengers George Hutchins, Lawson and Frank Roche

Ohio

* Mary Jo Kilroy – 15th district – challengers John Adams and Senator Stivers
* Marcy Kaptur – 9th district

Oregon

* Earl Blumenauer -3rd district
* Peter DeFazio – 4th district – challenger Sid Leiken

Pennsylvania

* Chaka Fattah – 2nd district
* Joe Sestak – 7th district – challenger Patrick Meehan and Dawn Steisland

Vermont

* Peter Welch – 1st district

Virginia

* Jim Moran – 8th district – challengers Matthew Berry , Mark Ellmore, J Patrick Murray

Washington

* Jim McDermott – 7th district
* Adam Smith – 9th district – challengers Dick Muri and James Postma
* Jay Inslee – 1st district – challenger James Watkins
* Brian Baird – 3rd district – challengers David Castillo, David Hedrick and Jon Russell

West Virginia

* Nick Rahall – 3rd district – challengers Lee Bias, Gary Gearheart and Conrad Lucas

Wisconsin

* Tammy Baldwin -2nd district – Tim Terenz
* Gwen Moore – 4th district – challenger Dan Sebring

Virginia

* Glenn Nye – 2nd district – challengers Ben Loyola, Ken Golden, Ed Maulbeck, Bert Misuzawa, Scott Rigell and Scott W Taylor

The Sultan of Knish has done some good research in this article. Check  out the rest of the article  as well as his other materials here – http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/

Hamas’ 54 Democratic Congressmen

Keith Ellison, widely hailed as America’s first Muslim congressman, could more accurately be described as CAIR and Hamas’ man in Congress. Congressman Ellison has been a regular presence at CAIR fundraisers and at pro-Hamas rallies in the United States. As a former member of Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam, Ellison has enough anti-semitic and Islamist credentials to satisfy anyone, and had expressed openly anti-semitic beliefs in the past.

Since Ellison got his start with CAIR , his attempt to provide support for Hamas is completely unsurprising. Both Hamas and CAIR are projects of the Muslim Brotherhood, which also helped birth Al Queda. Organizations like CAIR do the same work in America that Hamas does in Israel. The difference is that CAIR does its work on a political level, while Hamas functions on both a political and a military level. Like CAIR, Ellison is careful to cloak his pro-Hamas agenda, which he does by mentioning that all violence is wrong and that Israelis probably shouldn’t be shelled– but the thrust of his agenda is to force Israel to open its border with Hamas.
The entire “Free Gaza” movement is a Hamas propaganda project that allows it to demand that Israel open its borders, without actually using the P word, for peace, since Hamas doesn’t even believe in phony peace negotiations. So Pro-Hamas activists, whether it’s former Saddam supporter, George Galloway’s Viva Palestina or their American flavors talk only about “The People of Gaza”, deemphasize Hamas and emphasize the supposed “suffering” within Gaza.
But the call for Israel to open its borders is nothing more than a way of making it easier for terrorists to strike. Ellison’s letter buries its real agenda in paragraphs of prose about how everyone will be better off, except somehow Hamas, if Israel complies with their demand… that Israel ease the movement of people in and out of Gaza. This of course is a fancy way of saying, “Let my Suicide Bombers go”.
None of this is up till now is shocking. But what Congressman Keith Ellison accomplished was to convince 53 other Democratic congressmen to join him in this venture. It is not particularly surprising to find the House’s most radical anti-Israel voices signing their names onto Ellison’s letter. It would be inconceivable if a letter aiding Hamas did not carry the signatures of Barbara Lee, Jim Moran or Jim McDermott, who helped Ellison spearhead the whole campaign. It is essentially inconceivable that any letter circulated in congress opposing Israel would not get their signature.

Rest of the article – http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/

Congressman Keith Ellison extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Haiti on Wednesday.  Releasing the following statement:

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the citizens of Haiti.  My thoughts and prayers are with those suffering and in pain; those who have lost family members, homes, and their means of livelihood in this disaster.  I join with my fellow Members of Congress in exploring every way possible to most effectively marshal national and international resources to assist our neighbors who had very little – and have lost even that.”   Keith Ellison (D) Minnesota’s 5th District

Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, has been destroyed by earth quake and later aftershocks which caused buildings and homes to collapse.  Tens of thousands are feared dead as rescue efforts are slow to get underway due to the devastation in the capital city. 

Congressman Ellison also stated in his press release, “I am pleased the President has already designated the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be our government’s unified disaster coordinator.”

On Friday, Mr. Ellison appeared on the Bill Press Show to discuss President Obama’s quick response.  When asked what he thought of radio host and Republican leader Rush Limbaugh’s recent charge that Obama was acting quickly due to the race of the inhabitants and the possible political gain, the congressman dismissed them as nothing more than comments from a cynic.

I have also noticed a deafening absence from the Republican leadership to do much of anything to help the people of Haiti causing many to wonder if it is race related.

Bills LB Chris Draft has taken 200 select Buffalo school kids to the movies with him to see ‘The Blind Side.’ But it’s more than just a few hours out of the classroom.

In partnership with the Buffalo Public Schools, the Chris Draft Family Foundation offered 200 students (selected based on academics, leadership and extra-curricular involvement) the opportunity to participate in a discussion and a the movie, featuring a private screening of ‘The Blind Side.’

As part of the Chris Draft Family Foundation’s Character Team™, Bills linebacker Chris Draft, along with teammates Jon Corto, Keith Ellison, will lead a discussion of the film, allowing the students to discuss the importance of character as a theme in the movie.

Following the film and discussion, the students will participate in an essay contest, encouraging them to use the film as a vehicle to convey their thoughts about history, current events, perseverance and other positive character traits. The student with the winning essay will have the opportunity to have dinner with Draft the weekend of January 16.

Cross-posted from the Huffington Post

Last week countless protesters across Iran made yet another brave stand against their government, in an event that had political reverberations across the world. The continued demonstration of strength by the Iranian opposition has not only showed the increasing isolation of Iran’s ruling elite, but also helped cement a dramatic policy shift that has been quietly taking shape in the White House. Rather than pursuing “crippling sanctions” against Iran’s entire economy — and crushing the middle class that makes up the backbone of the opposition movement — the White House has decided to instead focus harsh sanctions on specific elements of the Iranian government, according to senior administration officials speaking to the Washington Post, LA Times, and Reuters. This is the culmination of a dramatically changed debate in Washington, and comes in stark contrast to the indiscriminate approach many in Congress favor. But it is exactly the approach that prominent leaders in the green movement and groups like the National Iranian American Council have supported for months.

The administration appears to have decided that its first rule should be to do no harm to the opposition movement, which is gaining strength and momentum despite six months of violent repression and intimidation. “We have never been attracted to the idea of trying to get the whole world to cordon off their economy,” a senior U.S. official told the Post. “We have to be deft at this, because it matters how the Iranian people interpret their isolation — whether they fault the regime or are fooled into thinking we are to blame.”

Simply by surviving and refusing to be beaten down, the grassroots uprising in Iran is succeeding and forcing Iran’s security forces to decide which side of history they want to defend. Thus, it is imperative that the United States not undermine Iran’s best hope for a brighter future just to apply indiscriminate sanctions that virtually no one believes will succeed in curbing Iran’s nuclear program. Instead, the administration’s efforts are designed to pressure Iran’s ruling elite back to the negotiating table, but without sacrificing the Green movement to do it. It’s a strategy that implicitly supports the opposition, but does not rely on it.

But targeted sanctions do not mean toothless sanctions. Iranian government officials and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), with its many corporate subsidiaries and front companies, will be the primary subject of these sanctions. Newsweek recently reported ”U.S. and European officials have accumulated a lot more intelligence in recent years about the Guards’ business activities–including which IRGC officials have investments and where.”

The administration’s decision to pursue these targeted sanctions means the administration will resist the indiscriminate sanctions racing through Congress, according to the news reports. While the administration will need to show some backbone to keep Congress from undermining the more sophisticated strategy being put together by the White House, the debate in Washington has changed dramatically in the past six months. The bravery of the Iranian people, shared with the world through YouTube and Twitter, speaks for itself. Meanwhile, groups like the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and its allies have been pounding home the message that the United States cannot say it supports the Iranian people while trying simultaneously to impoverish them or deprive them of winter heating oil.

NIAC President Trita Parsi provided testimony to Congress explaining the flaw in the thinking of those who think that inflicting more economic pain on the Iranian people would be a good thing, as if they weren’t already suffering enough at the hands of their government or weren’t upset enough about the blood on the regime’s hands:

What caused Iranians to rise up in June was not economic hardship, but dashed hopes in anger over the fraudulent election. Whereas economic hardships have prompted sporadic protests, hope has brought millions into the streets in a sustained manner. Experience shows that when broad, untargeted sanctions hitting the Iranian people are adopted, the first casualty is hope. Economic misery breeds despair, which in turn kills people’s faith in their ability to bring about change. The result is political apathy, which only cements the status quo and serves the interest of the political faction around Ayatollah Khamenei.

Even Congress is responding to that message. Shortly before Congress adjourned for Christmas, Representatives Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Jim Moran (D-VA) introduced the Stand With the Iranian People Act and the Iranian Digital Empowerment Act, respectively. Both these bills make very clear that sanctions that do not target the Iranian government and instead needlessly hurt the Iranian people aren’t just wrong – they are against U.S. national interests and hurt the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy. The White House understands this, and is showing tremendous leadership in heeding its own better judgment, rather than kowtowing to the forces of the status quo.

This is our next to last post choosing the best players at each position by jersey number. If you have quibbles, leave a comment and we’ll update this post. And please have patience – this is a big job.

We started this project with wide receivers in this post and then with tight ends in this post and quarterbacks in this post and running backs in this post and offensive linemen in this post and kickers/punters in this post and defensive linemen in this post. Now we move to linebackers, who can wear numbers in the 50s and the 90s with a few exceptions. If a number is omitted, it’s because no linebacker who has played this season wears those digits.

46 – Vinny Ciurciu, Lions – Ciurciu is the only linebacker currently wearing 46. He has played in six games this year, seeing most of his action on special teams. Now with his fourth team, Ciurciu also has a good locker-room nickname (see the bottom of the linked post).

47 – Brit Miller, 49ers – Miller is the only linebacker currently wearing 47. The rookie out of Illinois has played in two games this season.

49 – Zack Follett, Lions – Follett is the only linebacker currently wearing 49. The rookie out of Cal has played in nine games this year, mostly on special teams.

50 – Curtis Lofton, Falcons – Lofton, a second-year middle linebacker, has emerged as a tackle machine for the Falcons. His growth allowed the Dirty Birds to let stalwart Keith Brooking leave via free agency, and now it’s Lofton who will lead Atlanta’s defense for years to come. Lofton is tied for second in the NFL with 118 tackles. We give him the nod over OLB Mike Vrabel, who had great years in New England and is now a veteran leader in Kansas City. Other notable 50s: Russell Allen, Jaguars; James Anderson, Panthers; K.C. Asiodu, Rams; Antwan Barnes, Ravens; Eric Barton, Browns; Monty Beisel, Cardinals; Rocky Boiman, Steelers; Diyral Briggs, 49ers; Isaiah Ekejiuba, Raiders; Vernon Gholston, Jets; A.J. Hawk, Packers; Erin Henderson, Vikings; Lance Laury, Seahawks; Matt McCoy, Buccaneers; Marvin Mitchell, Saints; Rob Ninkovich, Patriots; Ernie Sims, Lions; David Thornton, Titans; Erik Walden, Dolphins; Philip Wheeler, Colts; Will Witherspoon, Eagles

51 – Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ruud has emerged as a do-everything middle linebacker for the Buccaneers, and he’s one of the few bright spots on the team’s defense. He’s fifth in the league with 113 tackles and also has six passes defensed. He gets the nod over Jonathan Vilma of New Orleans, who may be better in pass coverage. Also worth mentioning are long-time veterans Keith Brooking of Dallas, James Farrior of Pittsburgh, and Takeo Spikes of the 49ers; youngsters Jerod Mayo of the Patriots and Paul Posluszny of Buffalo; and injured Seahawks MLB Lofa Tatupu. Other notable 51s: Brendon Ayanbadejo, Ravens; Akin Ayodele, Dolphins; Tim Diles, Chargers; Ryan Fowler, Jets; Tony Gilbert, Falcons; Alex Hall, Browns; Clint Ingram, Colts; Ben Leber, Vikings; Corey Mays, Chiefs; Joe Mays, Eagles; Gerald McRath, Titans; Brady Poppinga, Packers; Dan Skuta, Bengals; Chaun Thompson, Texans

52 – Ray Lewis, Ravens – This is a loaded number that features Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers in Carolina MLB Jon Beason, San Francisco MLB Patrick Willis, and Jets ILB David Harris, but Lewis gets the nod for his long, productive career that continues at a very high level. Other notable youngsters include rookie Clay Matthews of Green Bay, Kirk Morrison of Oakland, Daryl Smith of Jacksonville, and injured Browns ILB D’Qwell Jackson. Other notable 52s: Xavier Adibi, Texans; Eric Alexander, Patriots;  Michael Boley, Giants; Cody Brown, Cardinals; Jonathan Casillas, Saints; Channing Crowder, Dolphins; Chris Draft, Bills; Larry English, Chargers; Cody Glenn, Colts; Chad Greenway, Vikings; David Herron, Chiefs; Abdul Hodge, Bengals; D.D. Lewis, Seahawks;  Rocky McIntosh, Redskins; Jamar Williams, Bears; Coy Wire, Falcons

53 – Keith Bulluck, Titans – Bulluck has long been the emotional leader of the Titans’ defense, and he remains a solid sideline-to-sideline player. His three interceptions tie him for the lead among linebackers, and his 10 passes defensed place him second at the position. He’s also among the top 10 in tackles for linebackers. That’s enough to give him the nod over Atlanta’s Mike Peterson, another long-time, solid performer. Other notable 53s: Marcus Buggs, Bills; Derrick Burgess, Patriots; Khary Campbell, Texans; Na’il Diggs, Panthers; Moise Fokou, Eagles; Clark Haggans, Cardinals; James Holt, Chargers; Thomas Howard, Raiders; Larry Izzo, Jets; Rashad Jeanty, Bengals; Bryan Kehl, Giants; Niko Koutouvides, Buccaneers; Paris Lenon, Rams; Jameel McClain, Ravens; Tyrone McKenzie, Patriots; Steve Octavien, Cowboys; Nick Roach, Bears; Matt Roth, Browns; Mark Simoneau, Saints; Bryan Smith, Jaguars; Reggie Torbor, Dolphins; Jeff Ulbrich, 49ers; Demorrio Williams, Chiefs

54 – Andra Davis, Broncos – This number lost its stalwart when Brian Urlacher of Chicago was knocked out for the season. So among a group of solid if unspectacular inside linebackers, we’ll give Davis the nod for his contributions (72 tackles, 3.5 sacks) in reinvigorating the Denver defense. Other contenders were Chargers ILB Stephen Cooper and Titans MLB Stephen Tulloch. Other notable 54s: H.B. Blades, Redskins; Jasper Brinkley, Vikings; Prescott Burgess, Ravens; Bobby Carpenter, Cowboys; Brandon Chillar, Packers; Blake Costanzo, Browns; Kenwin Cummings, Jets; Zac Diles, Texans; Troy Evans, Saints; Andre Frazier, Steelers; Jonathan Goff, Giants; Nic Harris, Bills; Geno Hayes, Buccaneers; Gerald Hayes, Cardinals; Will Herring, Seahawks; Freddie Keiaho, Colts; DeAndre Levy, Lions; Stephen Nicholas, Falcons; Jeremiah Trotter, Eagles; Tracy White, Eagles; Sam Williams, Raiders

55 – Terrell Suggs, Ravens – This is a tough call, because Suggs has just 3.5 sacks this season and has missed three games. But on the whole, he’s the most complete linebacker at this position, because he can be a dynamite pass rusher and also do well against the run and in coverage. I’d rather have Suggs that Miami OLB Joey Porter, who has eight sacks thus far this season, or Chicago’s playmaking WLB Lance Briggs, who stars in the featured position in the old Tampa 2 defense the Bears run. Other solid vets wearing 55 include Detroit’s Larry Foote and Denver’s D.J. Williams, while youngsters Clint Session of Indianapolis and James Laurinaitis of St. Louis deserve mention as well. Other notable 55s: Jon Alston, Raiders; Patrick Bailey, Steelers; Desmond Bishop, Packers; Alvin Bowen, Redskins; Stewart Bradley, Eagles; Ahmad Brooks, 49ers; Danny Clark, Giants; Dan Connor, Panthers; Scott Fujita, Saints; Stephen Hodge, Cowboys; Kawika Mitchell, Bills; Kenny Onatolu, Vikings; Keith Rivers, Bengals; Justin Rogers, Chiefs; Junior Seau, Patriots; Reggie Walker, Cardinals; Jamaal Westerman, Jets

56 – Brian Cushing, Texans – It’s hard to imagine giving a rookie like Cushing the honor at a highly populated number like this one, but Cushing has earned it. He’s sixth among linebackers with 116 tackles and also has 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 12 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, and a safety. That’s huge impact that earns him the nod over Shawne Merriman of San Diego, who isn’t the same after last season’s knee injury, pass-rushing stud LaMarr Woodley of Pittsburgh, and solid all-around players Nick Barnett of Green Bay and Bradie James of Dallas. Other notable 56s: Colin Allred, Titans; Charlie Anderson, Dolphins; Robert Ayers, Broncos; Quinton Culbertson, Panthers; Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Saints; Justin Durant, Jaguars; Keith Ellison, Bills; Tavares Gooden, Ravens; Tyjuan Hagler, Colts; E.J. Henderson, Vikings; Leroy Hill, Seahawks; Derrick Johnson, Chiefs; Akeem Jordan, Eagles; Kaluka Maiava, Browns; Scott McKillop, 49ers; David Nixon, Raiders; Chike Okeafor, Cardinals; Rod Wilson, Buccaneers

57 – Bart Scott, Jets – New Jets head coach Rex Ryan brought Scott with him from Baltimore as a high-dollar free agent to be the emotional leader and scheme expert in the middle of Gang Green’s defense. Scott has played fine for the Jets, but over the year it’s been fellow ILB David Harris who has emerged as a top-tier player. Still, Scott gets the nod over veteran Dhani Jones of Cincinnati and David Hawthorne, who’s having a terrific season as a fill-in starter at middle linebacker for Seattle. Other notable 57s: Stanley Arnoux, Saints; Kevin Bentley, Texans; Chase Blackburn, Giants; Ricky Brown, Raiders; Victor Butler, Cowboys; Chris Chamberlain, Saints; Jon Corto, Bills; Jordon Dizon, Lions; Keyaron Fox, Steelers; Chris Gocong, Eagles; Mario Haggan, Broncos; Adam Hayward, Buccaneers; Jordan Senn, Panthers; David Veikune, Browns; Matt Wilhelm, 49ers

58 – Karlos Dansby, Cardinals – It’s hard to imagine a better physical specimen at outside linebacker than Dansby, who is a leader on a strong Cardinals defense. He gets the nod over Gary Brackett, an undersized middle linebacker at the heart of the Colts defense. Other notable 58s: Marcus Benard, Browns; Quincy Black, Buccaneers; Thomas Davis, Panthers; Marques Harris, Chargers; Robert Henson, Redskins; Rey Maualuga, Bengals; Slade Norris, Raiders; Antonio Pierce, Giants; Scott Shanle, Saints; Tim Shaw, Bears; David Vobora, Rams; Jason Williams, Cowboys; Pierre Woods, Patriots

59 – London Fletcher, Redskins - Fletcher doesn’t have ideal size, but year after year he is a leader, a reliable tackler, and a playmaker, no matter what team he’s playing for. He’s a great success story as an undrafted player. He gets the nod over Julian Peterson of Detroit and DeMeco Ryans of Houston. Other notable 59s: Spencer Adkins, Falcons; Jovan Belcher, Chiefs; Angelo Crowell, Buccaneers; Aaron Curry, Seahawks; Dannell Ellerbe, Ravens; Heath Farwell, Vikings; Larry Grant, Rams; Gary Guyton, Patriots; Ramon Humber, Colts; Brian Iwuh, Jaguars; Brandon Johnson, Bengals; Landon Johnson, Panthers; Brad Jones, Packers; Cato June, Bears; Stanford Keglar, Titans; Ashlee Palmer, Bills; Brandon Siler, Chargers; Pisa Tinoisamoa, Bears; Gerris Wilkerson, Giants; Brandon Williams, Cowboys; Wesley Woodyard, Broncos

74 – Aaron Kampman, Packers – Kampman, who moved from defensive end to outside ‘backer this season as Green Bay implemented a 3-4 defense, kept his old D-lineman number. Kampman didn’t have a great transition season, with just 3.5 sacks in nine games before suffering a season-ending injury. But he’s still a good player, and he’s the only linebacker wearing 74, so he merits a mention.

90 - No linebackers wearing 90 have played a game this season.

91 – Tamba Hali, Chiefs - Hali is emerging as a solid pass rusher in Kansas City, with 7.5 sacks thus far this season. He gets the nod at this number over Cameron Wake, Miami’s CFL import who has 5.5 sacks in his first NFL season.

92 – Elvis Dumervil, Broncos - In one of the toughest calls of this whole project, we’re going with Dumervil, the NFL leader with 15 sacks, over 2008 Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison of Pittsburgh. Both guys play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and both add the fright factor to their respective defenses. But while Harrison may be a better player in pass coverage, Dumervil is having a defensive player of the year caliber campaign in Denver, and so for 2009 we have to opt for him. Other notable 92s: Bertrand Berry, Cardinals; Hunter Hillenmeyer, Bears

93 – Anthony Spencer, Cowboys - Spencer has been a disappointment at outside ‘backer since the Cowboys made him a first-round pick three years ago, but as a full-time player he gets the nod over Jason Trusnik, who has moved into the starting lineup in Cleveland after a midseason trade from the Jets.

94 – DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys – Ware is a preeminent pass rusher with nine sacks this year and 62.5 in five seasons so far. Also deserving mention is Lawrence Timmons, an emerging inside ‘backer for the Steelers. Other notable 94s: Arnold Harrison, Browns; Marques Murrell, Jets; Jyles Tucker, Chargers

95 – Shaun Phillips, Chargers - In a close call, the nod here goes to Phillips, a pass-rushing outside ‘backer who has seven sacks for San Diego, over Cleveland OLB Kamerion Wimbley, who has 6.5 sacks. The six fumbles Phillips has forced was the determining factor. We’ll also shout out to Baltimore’s Jarret Johnson, another emerging pass-rusher. Other notable 95s: Tully Banta-Cain, Patriots; Ali Highsmith, Cardinals

96 – David Bowens, Browns – Bowens came with Eric Mangini from the Jets to Cleveland. He has long been an above-average pass-rushing outside ‘backer, and he has five sacks in that role this season. He gets the nod over declining Patriot Adalius Thomas. Other notable 96s: Omar Gaither, Eagles; Andy Studebaker, Chiefs

97 – Calvin Pace, Jets – Pace missed the first four games of the season due to a performance-enhancing drug suspension, but since returning he has continued to provide pass rush off the edge with six sacks. Other notable 97s: Clint Sintim, Giants; Pierre Walters, Chiefs

98 – Brian Orakpo, Redskins – Orakpo, Washington’s first-round pick, has 11 sacks in his rookie season, including four last week against Oakland. That’s the kind of defensive jolt Washington was hoping for when it drafted him. Other notable 98s: Shawn Crable, Patriots; Parys Haralson, 49ers; Darrell McClover, Bears

99 – Jason Taylor, Dolphins – Taylor spent most of his career as a 4-3 defensive end, but he has seamlessly made the transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker over the last few years. After a slow season in his one campaign in Washington, Taylor has six sacks this year for Miami, giving him 126.5 in his 13-year career. Other notable 99s: Kevin Burnett, Chargers; Paul Kruger, Ravens; Manny Lawson, 49ers; Bryan Thomas, Jets; Jeremy Thompson, Packers

Personally, I don’t think this woman has a snowball’s chance in hell of taking Ellison’s seat.  However, it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.  In fact it may even be a bellwether event to give us indications of how strong the ultra-conservatives will be in 2010 and 2012.

Huffington Post:

Lynne Torgerson, an independent challenger to Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, has strong feelings about Islam, and they seem to be entirely negative. Though she admits on her website that “we cannot discriminate against anyone because of race, nationality, religion, sex, etc.,” Torgerson, a Christian, also believes that, due to certain passages of the Quran, Islam “is not entitled to full protection as a religion.”

“What do I know about Islam?” Torgerson asks. She cites 9/11, Ft. Hood, a verse of the Quran, the memoir “Infidel,” and observing local Muslim women in downtown Minneapolis as formative events in her knowledge of Islam. A full description of her beliefs about Islam and Muslims is available on her website.

Of her incumbent opponent she says, “we have Keith Ellison with ties both to Islam and to CAIR. We have him also voting against funding the needs of our military. Keith Ellison has no business in our federal government.”

The Minnesota Independent reports that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has made a press release about Torgerson’s campaign, the recent distribution of racist fliers in St. Cloud, and the apparent growth of anti-Muslim sentiment in Minnesota.

People like Lynne Torgeson and Michelle Bachmann make me ill when it comes to their hate filled rhetoric.  In the United States that I know and love, everyone has an equal right to hold office if qualified.  Denying people the right to hold office because of his religion seems to be getting popular these days. Again, our constitution protects us against discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, age, physical handicaps, etc. 

What these people appear to be doing is stacking the deck to ultimately get these cases to the Supreme Court, where they feel a conservative majority of Justices will see things their way.

I’ll be keeping a close eye on this race.

In the health reform debate, the Senate is split between “public option,” and “private only.” It’s reminiscent of the mid-19th century, when the split was “slave” versus “free,” and the Senate ultimately landed on middle ground, the Missouri Compromise of 1850.

In the waning days of 2009, the Senate is once again desperately searching for middle ground. For instance, some Democratic compromisers propose dropping the public option in favor of expanding eligibility of Medicare and Medicaid.

But as Minnesota Democrats look for that elusive middle ground, they, like Kansas’s Dorothy, are effectively arguing that “there’s no place like home.” Call it the Minnesota Compromise of 2010. Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Congressman Keith Ellison are pressing an amendment mandating that all health plans emulate Minnesota health plans and spend 90% of consumers’ premiums on care costs, rather than administrative and salary costs.

The Minnesota Compromise – my term, not theirs — is ideological middle ground that would require any health plan to match the efficiency of the nation’s most efficient plans. According to Minnpost:

Non-profit health plans in Minnesota spend an average of 91 percent of premium costs directly on health care. Franken’s office said the national average is around 70 percent, with large plans spending considerably more percentage-wise on average, and individual plans less.

Under this Minnesota Compromise, corporate health plans would have to get as administratively lean as the nation’s leanest plans. Business-as-usual wouldn’t be tolerated, but there would still be a way to do business.

This move is interesting from a strategic communications standpoint. The Ellison-Franken amendment is framed around hard-headed efficiency, rather than soft-hearted ideology. It will be very uncomfortable for elected officials to explain to consumers why they oppose making sure that 90% of consumers’ premiums go for direct health care.

The Minnesota Compromise probably won’t pass. Franken and Ellison are not powerful players, and there is simply too much corporate health insurance money on the table. But Minnesota’s congressional backbenchers are offering an intriguing approach that should get more consideration than it probably will.

- Loveland

Each and every week teams lose players for the rest of the season due to injury. In a lot of cases this can really hurt a teams chances to produce victories down the stretch. As you know I keep track off all NFL Transactions on a daily basis, so when you see for example, Miami Dolphins *Placed (RB)Ronnie Brown on Injured Reserve, that means that the player going to injured reserve is lost for the season and placed on the injured reserve list. Once they are transfer to the list, they are excluded from the 53 man roster and the team is free to fill that vacancy however they choose. Sometimes in Fantasy Football, we forget that teams lose big time players each and every week, and it usually makes those teams a little bit weaker. So from here on out until the rest of the season, I will use this space to post what players have been placed on injured reserve, so you can use it to your advantage. It may be helpful with most fantasy leagues playoffs approaching.

****************************************
+ = 2009 Rookie
# = Practice Squad / Injured Reserve
****************************************
DALLAS COWBOYS :
* (OL)Robert Brewster +
* (LB)Stephen Hodge +
* (LB)Brandon Williams +

NEW YORK GIANTS :
* (RB)Brandon Jacobs
* (RB)Andre Brown +
* (TE)Darcy Johnson
* (LB)Antonio Pierce
* (LB)Gerris Wilkinson
* (DT)Jay Alford
* (DT)Anthony Bryant #
* (CB)Vince Anderson +#
* (CB)Aaron Ross
* (S)Kenny Phillips

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES :
* (TE)Cornelius Ingram +
* (OL)Shawn Andrews
* (OL)Jamaal Jackson
* (OL)Fenuki Tupou +
* (LB)Stewart Bradley
* (LB)Omar Gaither
* (CB)Ellis Hobbs

WASHINGTON REDSKINS :
* (QB)Colt Brennan
* (RB)Clinton Portis
* (RB)Ladell Betts
* (FB)Eddie Williams +
* (TE)Chris Cooley
* (OL)Randy Thomas
* (OL)Chris Samuels
* (OL)Mike Williams
* (OL)Chad Rinehart
* (DE)Jeremy Jarmon +
* (S)Chris Horton
* (S)Reed Doughty

CHICAGO BEARS :
* (RB)Kevin Jones
* (RB)Garrett Wolfe
* (LB)Brian Urlacher
* (LB)Pisa Tinoisamoa
* (DE)Adewale Ogunleye
* (DE)Henry Melton +
* (DT)Israel Idonije
* (CB)Charles Tillman

DETROIT LIONS :
* (QB)Matthew Stafford +
* (RB)Kevin Smith
* (TE)Brandon Pettigrew +
* (TE)Casey Fitzsimmons
* (OL)Damion Cook
* (OL)Stephen Peterman
* (LB)Cody Spencer
* (DE)Jared DeVries
* (DE)Copeland Bryan
* (DT)Matthias Askew
* (CB)Eric King
* (CB)Jack Williams
* (S)Daniel Bullocks
* (S)Marquand Manuel
* (S)Ko Simpson

GREEN BAY PACKERS :
* (RB)DeShawn Wynn
* (WR)Brett Swain
* (TE)Devin Frischknecht +
* (OL)Jason Spitz
* (LB)Jeremy Thompson
* (DE)Aaron Kampman
* (DE)Justin Harrell
* (CB)Al Harris
* (CB)Will Blackmon
* (CB)Patrick Lee

MINNESOTA VIKINGS :
* (LB)E.J. Henderson

ATLANTA FALCONS :
* (WR)Harry Douglas
* (WR)Brian Finneran
* (OL)Harvey Dahl
* (OL)Rob Bruggeman +#
* (LB)Tony Gilbert
* (DT)Peria Jerry +
* (CB)Brian Williams
* (CB)Chris Houston
* (CB)Glenn Sharpe #
* (S)William Moore +
* (S)Jamaal Fudge
* (S)Antoine Harris
* (LS)Mike Schneck

CAROLINA PANTHERS :
* (QB)Jake Delhomme
* (QB)Josh McCown
* (OL)Jordan Gross
* (OL)Jeff Otah
* (OL)C.J. Davis +
* (LB)Thomas Davis
* (LB)Landon Johnson
* (DT)Maake Kemoeatu
* (DT)Corvey Irvin +
* (DT)Tank Tyler
* (DT)Louis Leonard

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS :
* (FB)Heath Evans
* (FB)Marcus Mailei +
* (WR)D’Juan Woods
* (WR)Rod Harper
* (TE)Billy Miller
* (TE)Dan Campbell
* (OL)Jamaal Brown
* (LB)Mark Simoneau
* (LB)Stanley Arnoux +
* (LB)JoLonn Dunbar
* (DE)Charles Grant
* (DT)Kendrick Clancy
* (CB)Leigh Torrence
* (CB)Reggie Jones +
* (S)Chip Vaughn +

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS :
* (QB)Byron Leftwich
* (RB)Clifton Smith
* (RB)Earnest Graham
* (FB)Byron Storer
* (FB)B.J. Askew
* (WR)Sammie Stroughter
* (OL)Arron Sears (Non Football Injury)
* (OL)Xavier Fulton +
* (LB)Angelo Crowell
* (LB)Rod Wilson
* (DE)Jimmy Wilkerson
* (DE)Maurice Evans +#
* (CB)Torrie Cox
* (CB)E.J. Biggers +
* (S)Jermaine Phillips
* (S)Will Allen
* (P)Josh Bidwell
* (P)Dirk Johnson

ARIZONA CARDINALS :
* (FB)Justin Green
* (OL)Mike Gandy
* (LB)Cody Brown +
* (DE)Jason Banks
* (DT)Keilen Dykes
* (S)Matt Ware

ST. LOUIS RAMS :
* (QB)Marc Bulger
* (WR)Laurent Robinson
* (WR)Keenan Burton
* (WR)Brooks Foster +
* (TE)Daniel Fells
* (OL)Jacob Bell
* (DE)C.J. Ah You
* (DT)Adam Carriker
* (DT)Gary Gibson
* (CB)Bradley Fletcher +
* (S)O.J. Atogwe
* (S)Eric Bassey
* (LS)Chris Massey

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS :
* (RB)Thomas Clayton
* (OL)Tony Pashos
* (LB)Jeff Ulbrich (RETIRED)
* (DE)Kentwan Balmer
* (CB)Walt Harris
* (S)Curtis Taylor +
* (P)Ricky Schmitt

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS :
* (WR)Mike Hass
* (OL)Walter Jones
* (OL)Brandon Frye
* (OL)Kyle Williams #
* (LB)Lofa Tatupu
* (LS)Kevin Houser

BUFFALO BILLS :
* (QB)Trent Edwards
* (RB)Justise Hairston
* (WR)C.J. Hawthorne #
* (TE)Derek Schouman
* (TE)Derek Fine
* (OL)Brad Butler
* (OL)Eric Wood +
* (OL)Demetrius Bell
* (OL)Kendall Simmons
* (OL)Seth McKinney
* (OL)Marvin Phillip
* (LB)Kawika Mitchell
* (LB)John DiGiorgio
* (LB)Keith Ellison
* (LB)Marcus Buggs
* (DE)Marcus Smith
* (DE)Jermaine McGhee
* (CB)Leodis McKelvin
* (CB)Terrence McGee
* (CB)Lydell Sargeant +
* (S)Jarius Byrd +
* (S)Todd Johnson

MIAMI DOLPHINS :
* (QB)Chad Pennington
* (RB)Ronnie Brown
* (RB)Patrick Cobbs
* (OL)Lydon Murtha +
* (LB)Channing Crowder
* (DT)Jason Ferguson
* (CB)Will Allen
* (CB)Will Billingsley #

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS :
* (RB)Chris Taylor
* (WR)Wes Welker
* (WR)Brandon Tate +
* (WR)Darnell Jenkins +#
* (TE)Robbie Agnone +#
* (OL)George Bussey +
* (LB)Shawn Crable
* (LB)Tyrone McKenzie +
* (S)Bret Lockett +

NEW YORK JETS :
* (RB)Leon Washington
* (WR)Aundrae Allison
* (LB)Larry Izzo
* (DT)Kris Jenkins

BALTIMORE RAVENS :
* (RB)Matt Lawrence
* (WR)Marcus Smith
* (TE)Quinn Sypniewski
* (OL)Adam Terry
* (OL)Lou Saucedo +
* (OL)Greg Ryan +
* (LB)Brendon Ayanbadejo
* (LB)Jason Phillips +
* (DT)Brandon McKinney
* (DT)Lamar Divens
* (CB)Lardarius Webb +
* (CB)Fabian Washington
* (CB)Samari Rolle
* (S)Hakuri Nakamura
* (S)K.J. Gerard +

CINCINNATI BENGALS :
* (WR)Chris Henry
* (TE)Reggie Kelly
* (TE)Matt Sherry
* (TE)Chase Coffman
* (OL)Dan Santucci
* (LB)Rey Maualuga +
* (DE)Antwan Odom
* (DT)Pat Sims
* (S)Roy Williams

CLEVELAND BROWNS :
* (QB)Brady Quinn
* (RB)Jamal Lewis
* (RB)James Davis +
* (WR)Syndric Steptoe
* (TE)Steve Heiden
* (OL)Ryan Tucker
* (LB)D’Qwell Jackson
* (LB)David Veikune +
* (LB)Eric Barton
* (DE)C.J. Mosley
* (DE)Keith Grennan #
* (DT)Shaun Rogers
* (S)Brodney Pool
* (P)Dave Zastudil

PITTSBURGH STEELERS :
* (FB)Frank Summers +
* (WR)Limas Sweed (Non-Football Injury)
* (TE)Sean McHugh
* (OL)Darnell Stapleton
* (DE)Aaron Smith
* (CB)Keenan Lewis +

HOUSTON TEXANS :
* (RB)Steve Slaton
* (RB)Jeremiah Johnson +
* (TE)Owen Daniels
* (TE)Anthony Hill +
* (OL)Chester Pitts
* (OL)Mike Brisiel
* (LB)Chaun Thompson
* (LB)Khary Campbell
* (LB)Toddrick Verdell +
* (CB)Antwaun Molden
* (S)Eugene Wilson
* (S)Dominique Barber
* (S)Troy Nolan +

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS :
* (QB)Jim Sorgi
* (WR)Anthony Gonzalez
* (TE)Tom Santi
* (OL)Daniel Federkeil
* (LB)Tyjuan Hagler
* (CB)Marlin Jackson
* (S)Bob Sanders

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS :
* (FB)Greg Jones
* (WR)Troy Williamson
* (WR)Jarett Dillard +
* (LB)Clint Ingram
* (DE)Reggie Hayward
* (DE)Bryan Smith
* (DT)Rob Meier
* (DT)Atiyyah Ellison
* (CB)Scott Starks
* (CB)Don Carey +

TENNESSEE TITANS :
* (WR)Mark Jones
* (OL)Pete Clifford
* (LB)Keith Bulluck
* (LB)David Thornton
* (DT)Jason Jones
* (DT)Mitch King +
* (CB)Nick Harper
* (P)Craig Hentrich

DENVER BRONCOS :
* (WR)Kenny McKinley +
* (OL)Ryan Harris
* (OL)Russ Hochstein
* (LB)Nick Greisen
* (DE)Everette Pedesscleaux +#
* (DT)J’Vonne Parker
* (S)Darcel McBath +

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS :
* (RB)Kolby Smith
* (RB)Jackie Battle
* (RB)Dantrell Savage
* (WR)Devard Darling
* (TE)Brad Cottam
* (OL)Mike Goff
* (OL)Colin Brown +
* (LB)Justin Rogers
* (LB)Weston Dacus
* (CB)Maurice Leggett
* (S)Jarrad Page
* (S)DaJuan Morgan

OAKLAND RAIDERS :
* (WR)Nick Miller +
* (FB)Oren O’Neal
* (OL)Robert Gallery
* (LB)Ricky Brown
* (LB)Jon Alston
* (LB)Slade Norris +

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS :
* (WR)Demetrius Byrd + (Non Football Injury)
* (OL)Scott Mruczkowski
* (OL)Jeromey Clary
* (OL)Ryan McDonald +#
* (LB)Antwan Applewhite
* (LB)Jyles Tucker
* (LB)James Holt +
* (DE)Ryon Bingham
* (DT)Jamal Williams
* (DT)Ogemdi Nwagbuo
* (CB)Brandon Hughes +

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) has been posting home videos of his trip to Afghanistan on his YouTube channel.

Source: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

I know I am a little jealous of DFLers in CD5.  They have Keith Ellison as their Representative, while those of us in CD2 cope with John Kline as our Congressman.  Representative Ellison is a true representative of his district.  He is not just a congressman from the district.  Ellison strongly advocates for what he believes in, and he works hard to support both his district and the state.
 
As far as I know, Representative Ellison is the first congressperson to endorse a candidate.  I recently saw a video posted on Facebook that featured Rep. Ellison talking about endorsing Matt Entenza.  Something occurred to me as a watched the video.  It wasn’t why is Keith Ellison endorsing Entenza?  It was why didn’t he endorse somebody else? 
 
“Minnesota Central” made the comment on a recent poll blog that maybe we shouldn’t ask who we would vote for, rather we should ask who we feel should terminate their campaign.  Rep. Ellison has already done that and answered the final question.  He has eliminated at least nine other candidates, three of which he served with in the house, Kelliher, Thissen and Rukavine, and his mayor, Rybak. 
 
It is interesting that he didn’t do the “safe” thing by stepping back and waiting to see who emerges.  He is confident enough in Entenza that that he already has endorsed him.  Ellison must knows something I don’t know — let me rephrase that, Rep. Ellison knows a lot more than I know, and he knows most of the candidates.  He has decided to back Entenza. 
 
Does it make you stop and think?  I have narrowed my field down to a few candidates by eliminating candidates.  I have eliminated those candidates based on superficial reason. I don’t really know any of the candidates.  Why have I eliminated anybody?  I know these candidates politically, through seeing them on TPT or reading about them online or in the paper.  Everything I know about the candidates is second hand, or based on a politically “clean” presentation.  I don’t know them at all.
 
I’d love to invite them over for dinner, or watch a game with them.  But that isn’t feasible for the candidates, nor would they likely be their true selves.  Candidates are always on stage.  Being a good actor is important in an election, but being a good person is important to being a good governor.  How do we know who the good people are  if we don’t know them.  So I’ll ask the question that won’t be answered — what does Keith Ellison know that I don’t know about those other candidates?

von Daniel Pipes,  Jerusalem Post, 25. November 2009

http://de.danielpipes.org/7777/islamismus

Englischer Originaltext: Islamism 2.0
Übersetzung: H. Eiteneier

Um einen Begriff aus der Computerwelt zu nehmen: Wenn Ayatollah Khomeini, Osama bin Laden und Nidal Hassan für den Islamismus 1.0 stehen, dann stehen Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Premierminister der Türkei), Tariq Ramadan (schweizerischer Intellektueller) und Keith Ellison (US-Kongress-Abgeordneter) für den Islamismus 2.0. Die Variante 1.0 tötete mehr Menschen, aber die Version 2.0 stellt eine größere Gefahr für die westliche Zivilisation dar.

Hussam Ayloush (links) als Gast des Kongressabgeordneten Keith Ellison (Demokrat aus Minnesota) auf einer Veranstaltung von CAIR im November 2007.

Die Version 1.0 greift diejenigen an, die als Hindernis für das Ziel einer vom globalen Kalifat beherrschten und völlig von der Scharia (dem islamischen Gesetz) geregelten Welt angesehen werden. Die ursprünglichen Taktiken des Islamismus, von der totalitären Herrschaft bis zum Mega-Terrorismus, schließt grenzenlose Brutalität ein. Dreitausend Tote bei einem Anschlag? Bin Ladens Suche nach atomaren Waffen legt nahe, dass der mörderische Tribut hundert- oder tausenmal höher sein könnte.

Ein Rückblick auf die vergangenen drei Jahrzehnte, seit der Islamismus eine signifikante politische Kraft wurde, zeigt jedoch auf, dass Gewalt alleine selten wirkt. Terror-Überlebende kapitulieren selten vor dem radikalen Islam – weder nach der Ermordung Anwar el-Sadats 1981 in Ägypten, noch nach den 9/11-Anschlägen, den Bomben von Bali 2002, denen von Madrid 2004, dem Bombenanschlag in Amman 2005 oder den Terror-Feldzügen in Israel, dem Irak, Afghanistan oder Pakistan. Terrorismus verursacht physischen Schaden, tötet und schüchtert ein, aber er stürzt selten das bestehende System. Man stelle sich vor, die Islamisten hätten die Verwüstungen eines Hurricane Katrina oder des Tsunami von 2004 verursacht – was hätten diese auf Dauer erreichen können?

Nicht terroristische Gewalt, die darauf abzielt die Scharia einzuführen, ist kaum erfolgreicher. Revolution (eine breite soziale Revolte) brachte Isalmisten nur einmal und an einem Ort an die Macht – im Iran 1978/79. Genauso hat ein Staatsstreich (ein militärischen Umsturz) sie nur einmal an die Macht gebracht – 1989 im Sudan. Dasselbe gilt für einen Bürgerkrieg – Afghanistan 1996.

Wenn die Gewalt des Islamismus 1.0 selten damit Erfolg hat, die Scharia vorwärts zu bringen, so ist die Strategie des Gangs durch das System des Islamismus 2.0 erfolgreicher. Islamisten, die geschickt darin sind die öffentliche Meinung für sich zu gewinnen, repräsentieren die wichtigsten Oppositionskräfte in mehrheitlich muslimischen Staaten wie Marokko, Ägypten, dem Libanon und Kuwait. Islamisten haben in Algerien 1992, Bangladesch 2001, der Türkei 2002 und dem Irak 2005 Wahlerfolge verzeichnen können.

Einmal an der Macht, können sie das Land in Richtung Scharia in Bewegung setzen. Während Mahmud Ahmadinedschad sich dem Zorn der Demonstranten auf der Straße gegenüber sieht und bin Laden in einer Höhle hockt, sonnt sich Erdoğan in öffentlicher Zustimmung, formt die Republik Türkei um und bietet ein verführerisches Modell für die Islamisten in der ganzen Welt.

Sayyid Imam al-Sharif, ägyptischer Al-Qiada-Theoretiker, änderte seinen Denkansatz und befürwortet jetzt den gesetzeskonformen Islamismus.

Als er dieses Muster erkannte, verwarf Al-Qaidas ehemals führender Theoretiker öffentlich den Terrorismus und machte sich politische Mittel zueigen. Sayyid Imam al-Sharif (geb. 1950, auch unter seinem nom de guerre Dr. Fado bekannt) wurde beschuldigt bei der Ermordung von Sadat geholfen zu haben. 1988 veröffentlichte er ein Buch, in dem er für immerwährenden, gewalttätigen Jihad gegen den Westen eintrat. Im Lauf der Zeit beobachtete Sharif jedoch die Nutzlosigkeit der gewalttätigen Anschläge und trat stattdessen für eine Strategie der Infiltrierung des Staates und der Beeinflussung der Gesellschaft ein.

In seinem vor kurzem veröffentlichen Buch verurteilte er die Anwendung von Gewalt gegen Muslime (“Die Verantwortung für jeden Tropfen Blut, der in Afghanistan oder dem Irak vergossen wurde oder vergossen wird, liegt bei bin Landen und Zawahiri und ihren Anhängern.”) und sogar gegen Nichtmuslime (9/11war kontraproduktiv, denn: “Was ist gut daran, wenn du ein Gebäude deines Feindes zerstörst und er zerstört eines deiner Länder? Was ist gut daran, wenn du einen von ihnen tötest und er tötet Tausende deines Volks?”).

Sharifs Entwicklung vom Theoretiker des Terrorismus zum Anwalt der gesetzeskonformen Verwandlung gibt eine Verschiebung auf breiterer Basis wieder; dementsprechend, notiert Autor Lawrence Wright, stellt sein Überlaufen für die Al-Qaida eine “furchtbare Bedrohung” dar. Andere einst gewalttätige islamistische Organisationen in Algerien, Ägypten und Syrien haben das Potenzial des gesetzeskonformen Islamismus erkannt und weitgehend die Gewalt aufgegben. Man kann eine parallele Verschiebung auch in westlichen Ländern beobachten; Ramadan und Ellison repräsentieren einen wachsenden Trend.

(Was man “Islamismus 1.5″ nennen könnte – eine Kombination aus harten und weichen Mitteln, aus externer und interner Vorgehensweise – funktioniert ebenfalls. Dazu gehören gesetzeskonforme Islamisten, die den Feind weich machen; ihnen folgen gewalttätige Elemente, die die Macht übernehmen. Die Übernahme des Gazastreifens durch die Hamas beweist, dass eine solche Kombination funktionieren kann: Wahlsieg 2006, dann 2007 Inszenierung eines gewalttätigen Aufstandes. Ähnliche Prozesse sind möglicherweise in Pakistan im Gang. Großbritannien könnte den entgegengesetzten Prozess durchmachen, bei dem Gewalt eine Öffnung in der Politik schafft.

Die Schlussfolgerung: Nur Islamisten, nicht Faschisten und Kommunisten, sind weit über rohe Gewalt hinaus gegangen, um öffentliche Unterstützung zu gewinnen und eine 2.0-Version zu entwickeln. Weil dieser Aspekt des Islamismus die traditionellen Werte untergräbt und Freiheiten zerstört, könnte er das zivilisierte Leben noch mehr bedrohen als die Brutalität des Islamismus 1.0.

Chicago Bears :
*Placed (RB)Garrett Wolfe on Injured Reserve
*Activated (RB)Kahlil Bell from Practice Squad

Detroit Lions :
*Placed (OL)Stephen Peterman on Injured Reserve
*Activated (WR)Eric Fowler from Practice Squad

New Orleans Saints :
*Re-Signed (QB)Chase Daniel to Practice Squad
*Released (RB)Herb Donaldson from Practice Squad

Buffalo Bills :
*Placed (LB)Keith Ellison on Injured Reserve
*Activated (CB)Cary Harris from Practice Squad

Bills DT Marcus Stroud (knee) could not go for a third straight day of practice and as a result has been declared out for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

Interim head coach Perry Fewell thought Stroud’s knee would improve as the week went on and allow the 3-time Pro Bowl DT to play Sunday, but it did not respond.

Keith Ellison, Ashton Youboty and Demetrius Bell were also declared out for Sunday.

Here’s the list of players not practicing Friday.

Not practicing
OT Demetrius Bell (knee)
CB Ashton Youboty (ankle)
LB Keith Ellison (thigh)
DT Marcus Stroud (knee)

Interim head coach Perry Fewell was optimistic earlier in the week that Stroud would be able to play on Sunday despite his injury, but we’ll have to see if Fewell’s assessment changes with Stroud not practicing at all this week.

Bryan Scott’s position looks like it will remain the same this week.

With Keith Ellison not practicing again Wednesday, Scott is his replacement at OLB.

Here are the Bills inactives.

Roscoe Parrish
Terrence McGee
Keith Ellison
Jonathan Scott
Chris Ellis
Kyle Williams
James Hardy

Buffalo will  again be missing some key defensive starters for Sunday’s game.

Declared out for Sunday’s game are Terrence McGee, Keith Ellison and Kyle Williams.

The three starters are three of the team’s top eight tacklers, with Ellison being the team’s leading tackler thus far this season.

We have more information on their replacements on the home page of Buffalobills.com.