Blog Chips: the dog lover edition

Ron "Pitbull" Mexico returns

As if it's not so easy to hate Philadelphia already, the Eagles make it even easier with the signing of dog lover and all-around good guy Michael Vick to a 2-year deal. PETA, the coalition of batshit crazy vegans, responded quickly.

"PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Eagles decided to sign a guy who hung dogs from trees. He electrocuted them with jumper cables and held them under water," PETA spokesman Dan Shannon told The Associated Press.

Andy Reid came to Vick's defense.

"This is America. ... We do make mistakes," Reid said. "He [Vick] has a chance to prove he's doing the right things." "I think our fans will understand."

Yes Andy because Philly fans are KNOWN for their kindness and understanding.

JoePa Presser

JoePa's media day transcript can be found here in its entirety. Some important points that jump out at you:

• Dennis Landolt has moved from right side tackle to left to cover Clark's blindside. We heard rumors of this but Paterno makes it official. De'Ontae Pannell will man the other tackle position.
  
• A.J. Wallace is suspended for a couple games… or not… you figure it out.

Yeah, I told A.J. I might not play him in a game or two because he cut classes. If he cuts any more classes, he won't play….I think he'll be all right. Now, when I'll play him will depend on what I hear back from our academic advisors, and find out whether he's going to class and he's doing what he's supposed to do academically. If he does, then we'll think about when we want to play him.

So is he suspended or isn't he? If the academic advisors give him the thumbs up is he going to be suspended for "a game or two" or not at all, you can read it both ways. I'm going to miss trying to decipher Joe's press conferences when he finally retires in 10 years.

• Both Lee and Bowman can play both inside and outside and Joe hasn't committed on the starting three linebackers.
  
• As was speculated by most, Zug will return punts and *gulp* Evan Royster will return kickoffs. Not cool at all. Paterno did say some of the freshman will get a look, let's all hope it's a very loooonnnnggg look.
  
• What would a press conference be without a classic Paterno exchange?

Reporter: Any thoughts on being ranked No. 8 in the coaches' poll?
Coach Paterno: Is that where we're ranked?
Reporter: Yes.
Coach Paterno: What's it mean (laughter)?

Paterno is happy to be alive:

What excites you the most about this team and this upcoming season?
Coach Paterno
What excites me? Nothing excites me yet (laughter). I'll be honest with you. We're lousy. I have nothing to be excited about right now as a team. I'm serious about that. We've got too many things we've got to get accomplished. I mean, we've got a lot of work ahead of us, I mean, to be a good football team. So I'm excited to be alive. That's about it (smiles, laughter).

• Paterno loves Royster, almost as much as we do.

  Royster is a good receiver. He's an excellent athlete, an all around athlete. I could put Royster over on defensive and he'd be a heck of a defensive back. He was the best lacrosse player in the state of Virginia when came out of high school. That's pretty good lacrosse.
  
  But I think if Green hangs onto the football, we could probably use Royster and Green in there at the same time, but put Royster at slot or put him as a wing or do something with him.

Now that would put the HD in Spread HD.