NFL Great Admits He Favored Playing for Saints Over Falcons

Morten Andersen, also known as the “Great Dane”, is one of three kickers to have left behind a legacy in the NFL and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Andersen’s story is unique.

The Great Dane was raised in Denmark where he was a gymnast, a long jumper, and a soccer player. The NFL was never in the back of his mind like most kids who end up in the league.

Morten visited America in 1977 where he kicked his first American football and received a lot of attention. He played one season in high school and that’s all it took for Michigan State to offer him a free ride.

Andersen Favorited Playing for Saints Over Falcons

Andersen’s NFL career began in 1982 when the Saints drafted him up in the fourth round. It’s abnormal to be drafted as a kicker in the first seven rounds so clearly, he was special.

Morten spent a total of 13 seasons in New Orleans and eight seasons as a rival on the Atlanta Falcons. He was and still is the all-time leading kicker for both teams. Morten shared with Heavy.com which team he enjoyed playing for the most.

“Probably the Saints was my favorite because it was my first team. It was my formative years, I was young. I developed into a pro there. You know, single. I was in New Orleans. It was fast-paced. It was fun.”

After each season concluded, Andersen wouldn’t take off to a second home like the rest of his teammates, he stayed in the city and became more involved with the community.

“I always decided whichever team I am playing on or the city I am playing in, I stay there. I try to become involved in other things outside of football like charities or events.”

Sure it makes sense as to why Andersen’s favorite memories take place in New Orleans, but as a Falcons’ journalist and fan, it certainly hurts to hear. But after 13 years in the city who gave you your first job and where you tallied 1,318 points, I guess you have to keep them at No. 1.

To make Falcons fans feel better, Andersen did say he wished that the Raiders would have drafted him instead.

Also, follow the Heavy on Falcons Facebook page for the latest breaking news, rumors, and content!

The Kick Heard Around the World

The Falcons made one of their best decisions …read more

Source:: Heavy.com

      

Know Thy Enemy: Chicago opens training camp with shock line combinations

Chicago Black Hawks Jonathan Toews (left) is checked by Edmonton Oilers Oscar Klefbom during NHL hockey game action in Edmonton on Tuesday February 11, 2020.

This in

from Chicago hockey writer Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports in Chicago, the opening day line-up of the Chicago Blackhawks in training camp:

Line 1: Alex DeBrincat — Jonathan Toews — Brandon Saad
Line 2: Alex Nylander — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane
Line 3: Dominik Kubalik — Kirby Dach — Drake Caggiula
Line 4: Ryan Carpenter — David Kampf — Matthew Highmore
Defensemen pairing 1: Duncan Keith — Adam Boqvist
Defensemen pairing 2: Calvin de Haan — Connor Murphy
Defensemen pairing 3: Olli Maatta — Slater Koekkoek
Defensemen pairing 4: Lucas Carlsson — Brent Seabrook My take

Why does our headline say “shock” line combinations? Because not one of these lines played together much during the regular season. The Dach-Caggiula-Kubalik line was together just six even strength minutes all year, the DeBrincat-Toews-Saad line just 25 minutes, and the Kampf-Carpenter-Highmore line just 54 minutes. The unit that saw the most time together here was the Nylander-Strome-Kane line, 111 minutes, which is about seven full games together. That said, Roumeliotis notes that these line combinations are “very similar to what they were on March 11, which was the Blackhawks’ final game before the league put its season on pause due to the COVID-19 crisis.” Of course, this is just the first day of training camp. The …read more

Source:: Edmonton Journal – Sports

      

Tooele County man charged with intentionally starting brush fire

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TOOELE — An Erda man was charged Monday with intentionally starting a brush fire.

Branden Jensen Addis, 19, is charged in Tooele County’s 3rd District Court with arson, a second-degree felony.

On July 9, firefighters — who used the assistance of helicopters — extinguished an 11-acre fire near the ghost town of Bauer, near Stockton.

Tooele County sheriff’s deputies received information about a vehicle seen in the area shortly before the fire started. That vehicle was located and pulled over and Addis was among those interviewed, according to a police affidavit.

“Addis reported he just has a desire to start fires, so he grabbed some dry weed material and lit it on fire before throwing it onto the ground in a hole with other dry weed material. Addis said the fire quickly got out of hand and he then requested the help of others to try to extinguish the fire unsuccessfully,” the affidavit states.

Damage caused by the fire was estimated at $5,500.

…read more

Source:: Deseret News – Utah News

      

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