Preseason is over.  I want to thank all the teammates that I had since April that have moved on for their hard work and I pray that you all seek god’s guidance and that some other team gives you a new opportunity.  I am now really praying over my season goals as well as my personal goals for 2008.  We have a great opportunity to defend our division title and get into the playoffs and win the Super Bowl.  That is why we are working so hard on this journey and we must believe in the steps of the journey by taking it one day, one game at a time.  Pounding the rock and just keep pounding the rock.

I pray for the people and cities that are affected by Hurricane Gustav.  I know New Orleans is seriously going to be affected and I pray that god have mercy on us by sending this hurricane further southwest.  Also I am deeply saddened by the home going of Gene Upshaw our Union Chief.  He was a powerful and passionate man, and was about us the players of the NFL and our rights as employees of the NFL.  Please go to NFL.com to see his body of work and sacrifice he made for the players and we must continue this labor negotiations as he would have seen fit.  One united front who won’t settle for nothing but the best deal for all the players.  I plan on using all of my resources and powers to lead this union as best I can to assist all the parties involved.  Finally, I want to always thank our US Troops who are giving their lives to protect our freedom on a daily basis overseas.  I pray that you all come home soon and alive back to your families and loved ones.  We are unsure where we will be playing the Saints this week however I will update you all again on Thursday. 

God bless-

Derrick