Pouncin' Pouha

Sione Pouha came out of the pile with two recovered fumbles and the ProUte of the Week Award! Pouncin' Pouha had 7 tackles in a stout effort against the Ravens in the first game of the 2010 season, but it was the pair of fumble recoveries that set him apart (watch the video here) . Sione also won the award in week 6 of the 2009 campaign, making this his second overall. With Kris Jenkins out for the season Pouha will have to up his productivity. He's off to a good start, beating Brice McCain (7 tackles), Koa Misi (4 tackles, 1 sack), and Steve Smith (5 catches, 75 yards, TD) for week one honors.

Practice Squad

Freddie Brown, Brett Ratliff and R.J. Stanford were relegated to the practice squad as NFL teams cut down to their final 53 man rosters this weekend. Brown was waived by the Bengals during the summer, then brought into the Vikings' camp to fill in for injured players. Ratliff was waived by the Browns later than expected, then signed by the Jaguars. Stanford showed some promising plays for the Panthers, but was the odd man out of the crowd. Kelly Talavou (Ravens) joined Martail Burnett (49ers) on IR and is done for the season.

David Reed secured a spot on the Ravens' roster with his sure hands and kick returning ability. Baltimore waived Demetrius Williams prior to the deadline, then traded Mark Clayton to St. Louis when they signed free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Reed is now listed as a third-string receiver behind Derrick Mason and Donte Stallworth, as well as the second-string kick returner (Stallworth is out with an injury, but Houshmandzadeh has yet to be added to the depth chart).

Quinton Ganther's DUI stop did not stop him from making the Seahawks as a first-string fullback and fourth-string running back. Robert Johnson made Tennessee's team, beating out fellow rookie (and Rhodes scholar) Myron Rolle, and Stevenson Sylvester earned one of many linebacker spots with Pittsburgh.

Most Improved

Leilani Mitchell was voted the Most Improved Player in the WNBA this season. Mitchell was given the chance to start at point guard for the New York Liberty and the lady capitalized, leading the league in 3 point percentage. Read the article in the USA Today here.

Top of the Arena

Offensive lineman Ed Ta'amu got in on the scoring action as the Spokane Shock defeated the Tampa Bay Storm 69-57 to win ArenaBowl XXIII. Ta'amu was named First Team All-Arena for his contributions to the Shock's championship season.

Rookie's Ride

There is a nice profile of Robert Johnson on Titans Online, although Kyle Meacham did make one glaring factual error. Utah's humbling of Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl was not the first BCS bowl victory by a non-BCS school. That would be Utah's dismantling of Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. At that time a non-automatic qualifier had to finish in the top 6 in the BCS rankings to earn a berth in a BCS bowl game. Another game was added and the rule was subsequently changed to a top 12 finish. Utah was the original BCS Buster and the first team to bust in twice. The Utes have one more chance to do it again this year before they join the PAC-10.

Off Season

It's been a disappointing off-season for three ProUtes: Freddie Brown, Martail Burnett, and Quinton Ganther. Brown was waived by the Bengals at the end of July, then signed by the Vikings to take some reps while other receivers recover. Burnett injured his left knee and was waived by the 49ers. The team placed him on injured reserve once he cleared waivers. Ganther, pictured here being tackled by a former Tennessee teammate in a recent preseason game, followed his running backs coach from Washington to Seattle. The running back position is still unsettled in Seattle, with LenDale White (another of Ganther's former Tennessee teammates) getting released by his old college coach, Pete Carroll. Ganther was arrested for DUI in Sacramento this summer. He had a hearing on Wednesday, which did not prevent him from playing this weekend. He may yet make the team, pending any legal or league-imposed discipline.

Training Camp

Training camps open this week in the NFL. Of the six ProUtes drafted this year only the first one taken, Koa Misi, has yet to sign a contract. Misi has been impressive in workouts thus far, and the Dolphins open camp on the 30th. The Baltimore Ravens got started yesterday, and David Reed has been seen catching everything thrown his way. Reed is competing with Mark Clayton for the 4th receiver spot. R.J. Stanford and the Carolina Panthers began their camp today. Stevenson Sylvester and the Steelers report on the 30th. Robert Johnson and the Tennessee Titans will get underway on the 31st. Zane Beadles just signed his contract with the Denver Broncos yesterday. Denver's training camp officially opens August 1st.