This Saturday and Sunday, eight National Football League franchises DO BATTLE between the white lines. They shall all strive for a roster spot…on the team of IMMOORTALITYYYYYYYYYYY.
And ladies. Lots and lots of LADIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEES.
It’s the Elite Eight of the NFL season, and more than a few former Terps dot the remaining rosters. Injuries and other oddities seem to have befallen some of them, but they’re still there. Still alive and kickin toward the Super Bowl. This is probably as good a time as any to remind people that Maryland, despite being a mediocre program in a mediocre BCS conference, actually churns out the pros at a pretty steady clip. It doesn’t make 2-10 taste any better, but maybe it’s a decent chaser.
In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings are tied with the Deadskins for most former Maryland stars on an NFL roster (four). We all have that thing that happened to E.J. Henderson logged in our Nasty-Ass Injuries Mental Highlight Reel, but E.J. brother and fellow linebacker Erin Henderson is holding it down, right? Oh, wait, he got suspended for violating the league’s drug policy and will miss Sunday’s game. Well shit, Minnesota. This isn’t going well. At least we’ll always have tight end Jeff Dugan. If you ever want to play a fun game when the Vikings are on, count the Jeff Dugan jerseys in the stands. Seconds of fun right there. But I saved the best for last: free safety Madieu Williams. They’ll call his name a couple times on Sunday. Plus, he’s an awesome guy. Seriously, when you’re ready to wash Gilbert Arenas out of your brain, read about Williams, a native of Sierra Leone, donating $2 million to the University of Maryland to establish The Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives.
On the other side of the ball, you’ve got the Dallas Cowboys. No ex-Terps on their roster. You know what that means: GO VIKES! Like I needed another reason to root against the Cowboys.
No Terps for Cards-Saints, either. So no need to watch that one at all. You’re welcome.
In the AFC, you’ve got the Baltimore Ravens taking on the juggernaut Baltimore Indianapolis Colts. I wonder if anyone in Charm City is going to take note of that. The Ravens, of course, have big Jared Gaither at left tackle. Unfortunately, he’s been battling an ankle injury and may not play, and if he does, he’ll have Dwight Freeney to contend with. When he’s not battling ankle injuries, Gaither enjoys being jealous of fellow OT and cinema star Michael Oher. Have you heard his story, by any chance? It’s heartwarming, in a by-God-this-hits-every-single-demographic kind of way. A Hollywood miracle! The Ravens also have underrated cornerback Dominique Foxworth, who just finished shutting down Randy Moss last weekend.
In the other AFC game, the Jets have nose tackle Kris Jenkins, but unfortunately he’s on injured reserve. Again. The Chargers have some guy named Shawne Merriman. Never heard of him before. Get a touchdown, Shawne!
I guess that’s it. Plenty of Terps, plenty of storylines. Good luck to everyone this weekend.
