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Coles, Dyson, Rhodes among banged-up Jets heading into regular-season finale
Laveranues Coles
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Kerry Rhodes
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Andre Dyson
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New York Jets
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Laveranues Coles looked fine physically,
the cut on his chin from the vicious hit he took from Miami's Zach
Thomas barely visible.
The New York Jets wide receiver was also his normally spunky
self Thursday, showing no signs of a head injury suffered on the
hard smash that left him motionless on the Dolphin Stadium turf for
a few seconds Monday night.
"If y'all want to talk to me about something, talk to me about
football," Coles said when asked about being listed as
questionable for Sunday's game against Oakland with head and jaw
injuries.
When told coach Eric Mangini said Coles had "a little bang on
the jaw, a hit in the head," the receiver cut short any further
questions about his playing status.
"Whatever he says, that's what it is," he said curtly.
That's how it's been all season for the Jets, who are banned
from discussing injuries with the media. Luckily for New York, and
unlike last year, significant injuries have been few and far
between -- a major factor in their surprising playoff push.
But heading into their regular-season finale and needing a win
to seal a postseason berth, the Jets are banged up probably more
than at any other point this year.
Along with Coles, safety Kerry Rhodes (knee), cornerbacks Andre
Dyson (knee) and David Barrett (hip) and running backs Cedric
Houston (calf) and Kevan Barlow (thigh) were among the players
listed as questionable Thursday for the game against Oakland.
While the lengthy list is nothing new -- the Jets have regularly
posted players' minor ailments all season -- the injuries to Coles
and Dyson, in particular, could have a big impact on the team's
plans Sunday.
The Jets haven't acknowledged that Coles suffered a concussion
when he was leveled by Thomas, but Mangini said the team went
through precautionary tests on the sideline before allowing him
back into the game.
Coles hasn't fully participated in practice this week, leading
to speculation as to his availability for Sunday. He's known for
his toughness and knack for being ready to play despite injuries,
but instead of it being his leg, foot, back or ribs, it's his head
this time.
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Shockey misses practice again with ankle injury
Jeremy Shockey
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New York Giants
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey
missed practice with a sore ankle for a second straight day
Thursday, putting his status in question for New York's
regular-season finale against Washington on Saturday night.
Shockey did not speak to reporters Thursday, but was seen
walking through the locker room with a noticeable limp and appeared
to favor his left ankle.
The Pro Bowl tight end was hurt in Sunday's 30-7 loss to New
Orleans. He has been listed as questionable for Saturday night's
game.
"He's getting better, but he couldn't practice," coach Tom
Coughlin said.
Coughlin said a decision on whether to play Shockey might be
delayed until 90 minutes before kickoff. The Giants (7-8) will
virtually assure themselves of a playoff berth with a win.
Offensive lineman Rich Seubert also missed practice Thursday
with a leg injury and is listed as doubtful. |
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Panthers QB Delhomme upgraded to probable
Jake Delhomme
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Carolina Panthers
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme
practiced again Thursday and was upgraded to probable for the
Panthers' final regular season game at New Orleans.
Delhomme. who has been sidelined since suffering ligament damage
in his right thumb against Philadelphia on Dec. 4. will likely
start Sunday against the Saints in a game the Panthers must win to
keep their playoff hopes alive.
They also could be eliminated by the time they play if the New
York Giants beat Washington Saturday night.
Coach John Fox said Delhomme suffered no setbacks after his
first practice in more than three weeks on Wednesday. He again
worked with the first team on Thursday, while wearing a protective
glove on his throwing hand.
"He slung it around pretty good today," Fox said.
Chris Weinke has struggled filling in for Delhomme in the past
three games, although Carolina (7-8) beat Atlanta 10-3 last Sunday
to stay alive in the playoff race.
If the Giants lose to Washington on Saturday night, Carolina
would have to beat the Saints on Sunday afternoon and Green Bay
would have to lose to Chicago Sunday night.
Delhomme, who led the Panthers to the NFC championship game last
season, has had an up-and-down season. He has 15 touchdown passes,
11 interceptions and passer rating of only 79.4. In three losses
he's thrown fourth-quarter interceptions to end Carolina's chances,
including the last pass he threw against the Eagles.
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FB Shelton out for Bills' season finale against Ravens
Daimon Shelton
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Buffalo Bills
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Fullback Daimon Shelton will miss the
Buffalo Bills' season finale at Baltimore this weekend because of
the lingering effects of a concussion.
Coach Dick Jauron ruled Shelton out on Thursday, saying he has
not fully recovered from a concussion sustained while blocking
during a kickoff return against Miami two weeks ago. Shelton hasn't
practiced since the injury and missed last weekend's game against
Tennessee.
The Bills (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, will
continue to use reserve tight end Brad Cieslak as primary blocker
for running back Willis McGahee against the AFC North-leading
Ravens (12-3).
Rookie starting strong safety Donte Whitner was added to the
injury report, listed as probable after he sprained a toe in
practice Wednesday. Whitner missed practice Thursday, but Jauron
was confident the injury was not serious. |
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Denver bracing for 49er running back Gore
Frank Gore
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Denver Broncos
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San Francisco 49ers
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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The Denver Broncos don't need to be reminded of
the kind of season San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore is
having. With 1,542 yards, he leads the NFC in rushing and trails
only LaDanian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson in the NFL.
"We are aware of him," defensive tackle Gerard Warren said.
"We will be aware of him."
The second-year pro needs 29 yards to set the franchise's single
season rushing record, surpassing Garrison Hearst mark of 1,570 set
in 1998.
"You don't have to know his stats to know what kind of year
he's having," safety Domonique Foxworth said. "You can tell by
looking at film."
Gore has a good chance of finishing the season as the conference
rushing leader. He takes a 114-yard lead over Tiki Barber (1,428)
of the New York Giants into the final weekend of play.
Top running backs aren't something new for the Broncos this
season. Denver faced San Diego's Tomlinson, the NFL's rushing
leader with 1,749 yards, and Johnson of Kansas City, who has run
for 1,651 yards and Seattle's Shaun Alexander on successive weeks.
"We've dealt with a couple of pretty good ones within our
division," defensive end Kenard Lang said.
^------=
EARLY IMPRESSIONS@: San Francisco coach Mike Nolan got an early
glimpse of Jay Cutler long before Cutler's run of four straight
multi-touchdown passing games.
The two were on opposite sidelines of the Senior Bowl. Nolan was
coaching the South squad and Cutler was playing for the North.
"We didn't get a chance to coach him," Nolan said. "I
remember he did very well in the game."
Cutler said he had little contact and even less of a memory of
Nolan at that game.
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Parcells, Romo try putting a happy face on Cowboys' woes
Tony Romo
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Dallas Cowboys
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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When the Dallas Cowboys left Texas Stadium
a few nights ago, they were in shambles.
Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn were whining about not getting
enough passes. Cornerback Terence Newman was telling his teammates
to shut up. Bill Parcells was grouchy and Jerry Jones was at a
17-year boiling point.
By Wednesday, the message changed drastically enough to make
political spin doctors get whiplash.
Parcells was pushing the theory that all is fine because the
Cowboys already are in the playoffs, which means they have a chance
to win the Super Bowl.
Plus, he optimistically noted, the NFC is as wide open as it's
ever been.
"No one knows what's going to happen here," Parcells said,
offering to take a blind poll and predicting that all five teams
that are in would get votes -- and that as soon as the sixth team is
decided, "somebody would vote for them."
"The team that plays the best from here on out has the best
chance. That's the way I look at it," Parcells added.
And he was only getting warmed up.
"What is the objective of the season? Tell me what the
objective is," Parcells said later.
Upon hearing the answer he wanted (win the Super Bowl, of
course), he continued: "Now, are we going to have the opportunity
to do that? How about 20 of the other teams that are sitting home.
Are they going to have that opportunity? How about the other 20?"
Parcells essentially admitted he was adopting a new approach
with this statement: "If I don't have hope, then who has it?"
The Cowboys (9-6) were hailed as a possible Super Bowl
front-runner in the weak NFC when they won five of Tony Romo's
first six starts, including four in a row.
Then, playing for second place in the conference, they lost
42-17 at home against New Orleans. They beat Atlanta next, but
allowed 28 points, the most the Falcons had scored in seven games.
Then they were trounced 23-7 by Philadelphia in a game that
could've locked up the division title and kept alive their chances
for grabbing the No. 2 seed.
The wasted opportunity was bad enough, but the lousy way they
played on both sides of the ball against the Eagles is what
triggered all the fallout and finger-pointing.
When players arrived in the locker room Wednesday morning,
before Parcells spoke, the memo about his attitude adjustment
apparently hadn't been received.
Newman was still telling everyone to let their actions speak
louder than their words and linebacker Bradie James echoed it.
Owens was a rare Wednesday no-show and Glenn was absent, as usual.
Then there was Romo, who showed Pro Bowl-caliber elusiveness to
stay on message -- the likely result of what Parcells described as a
"personal conversation" between coach and quarterback earlier in
the day.
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Johnson returns after one-game suspension
Tank Johnson
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Chicago Bears
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Tank Johnson sounds like a man ready to
put his recent troubles behind him.
The Chicago Bears defensive tackle thanked his teammates and the
organization for their support and said he can't wait to play
against Green Bay on Sunday night.
Johnson returned to practice Wednesday after serving a one-game
suspension against Detroit last week. That punishment came after he
was arrested on misdemeanor weapons charges, and then went to a
nightclub with a friend who was shot to death.
"Football is my focus," Johnson said. "I'm excited about work
today. I'm excited about learning more about the game this week.
Having two weeks off just makes you want to go out and play even
more. I want to be a student of the game, and yes, I am very much
still focused, very much ready to play, and I'm very attuned to
what's going on."
Johnson was charged with six counts of possession of a firearm
without a gun owner identification card Dec. 14 after police found
six guns in a raid on his home. His friend and bodyguard Willie B.
Posey, who was living there, was also arrested on felony drug
charges.
It was the third arrest in 18 months for Johnson, who publicly
apologized the next day and got a warning from general manager
Jerry Angelo. That night, Johnson and Posey went to the Ice Bar, a
trendy nightclub in Chicago's River North neighborhood, and Posey
was shot to death.
Johnson was inactive for the game against Tampa Bay that
weekend.
The Bears then suspended Johnson for one game, rather than cut
him, on Dec. 19 for going to the club. Three days later, a judge
ruled Johnson must stay at home except to go to work and needs
permission to leave Illinois until it is determined whether he
violated his probation on a 2005 gun charge.
Johnson still has two court dates scheduled:
-- Jan. 9 in Lake County for the latest weapons charges, which
carry up to a year in jail.
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QB Young, LB Merriman among NFL Players of the Week
Vince Young
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Shawne Merriman
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Tennessee Titans
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San Diego Chargers
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12/28/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Vince Young has been the driving force
behind the Tennessee Titans' six-game winning streak. It
finally resulted in an AFC Offensive Player of the Week award
for the rookie quarterback.
Young passed for two touchdowns and raced for a 36-yard score to
engineer his fourth comeback in the fourth quarter or overtime
in a 30-29 win at Buffalo last Sunday.
The third overall pick in the draft, Young is 8-4 since taking
over as the Titans' starter.
Linebacker Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers was named
as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Running back Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams and defensive
end Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers were named as the NFC
Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.
Merriman had three sacks, two other quarterback pressures, two
passes defensed and five tackles in the Chargers' 20-17 win at
Seattle.
A first-round pick in 2005, Merriman earned his second career
AFC Defensive honor.
Jackson rushed for 150 yards on 33 carries, including a 21-yard
touchdown in overtime, and caught six passes for 102 yards in
the St. Louis Rams' 37-31 victory over Washington. It is his
third career Player of the Week award.
Kampman tied his career high with three sacks and recorded seven
tackles in the Packers' 9-7 win over Minnesota.
Kickers Robbie Gould of the Chicago Bears and Kris Brown of the
Houston Texans were named as the NFC and AFC Special Teams
Players of the Week, respectively.
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Giants DE Michael Strahan on injured reserve
Michael Strahan
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New York Giants
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12/27/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end
Michael Strahan will miss the rest of the season for the New York
Giants after aggravating a sprained right foot last weekend against
the New Orleans Saints.
He was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and could need surgery,
the team said.
The Giants (7-8) can almost surely clinch a playoff berth by
beating the Redskins (5-10) in the regular-season finale at
Washington on Saturday.
New York also placed offensive tackle Luke Petitgout and
returner Chad Morton on injured reserve. Morton injured his knee
Sunday; Petitgout broke a leg against Chicago on Nov. 12.
The Giants had kept Petitgout on the active roster hoping he
might play again this season. However, he has not made enough
progress.
The 35-year-old Strahan, who shares the Giants' career sacks
record of 132.5 with Lawrence Taylor, hurt his foot Nov. 5 against
Houston. He was playing for the first time since the injury in
Sunday's 30-7 loss to New Orleans. The 14-year veteran had five
tackles (three solo) and knocked down a pass before reinjuring the
foot late in the game.
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Jets' Coles leaves game with cut on head
Laveranues Coles
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New York Jets
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12/26/2006
National Football League News Wire
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New York Jets receiver Laveranues Coles left
Monday's game against Miami with a cut on his head after a jarring
tackle by Zach Thomas.
After Thomas' hit broke up a pass, Coles remained on the ground,
then finally rose and walked slowly to the bench for treatment. He
returned to the field in the third quarter.
Coles left the game with 88 receptions this season, five shy of
Al Toon's team record set in 1988. |
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Jets push ahead with soggy 13-10 win
Leon Washington
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Joey Harrington
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Laveranues Coles
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Chad Pennington
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Ronnie Brown
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New York Jets
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Miami Dolphins
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12/26/2006
NFL.com
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Stymied for three quarters by steady rain, sloppy play and the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets found even the simple task of catching a field-goal snap difficult.
But with the game on the line, and their playoff hopes in jeopardy, the Jets came up with the big plays they needed.
New York overcame the weather, a sputtering offense and two late scores by Miami to win 13-10 on Christmas night.
"For us it was all about chipping away and waiting for our moment," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "This was a game with tough conditions. We faced a lot of adversity."
All of the points came in the final 17:25. Miami kicked a tying field goal with 2:09 left, but on the Jets' next play, Leon Washington caught a short pass from Chad Pennington and broke loose for a 64-yard gain.
Four plays later, Mike Nugent kicked a 30-yarder with 10 seconds left. That meant the Jets (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular-season game in Week 17.
"We like controlling our own destiny and not having to rely on someone else to help us," defensive end Shaun Ellis said.
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Eagles tops in NFC East with 23-7 win
Tony Romo
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Terrell Owens
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Marion Barber
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Jeff Garcia
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Philadelphia Eagles
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Dallas Cowboys
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12/26/2006
NFL.com
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The Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to get buried by December road games against all three division foes, especially with retread backup Jeff Garcia running the offense.
Turns out, that challenge was exactly what they needed to grab control of the NFC East.
After close calls in Washington and New York, Garcia and the Philadelphia defense made it a clean sweep with a surprisingly easy 23-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Garcia led the Eagles (9-6) to scores on four of their first five drives and the defense forced Tony Romo and the Cowboys into easily their least-productive game of the season. The victory -- actually Philadelphia's fourth straight -- clinched a wild-card berth and moved it into first place in the division with one game left in the season.
"We took a situation where things weren't looking good, with some major hurdles to overcome, and we found a way to win," said Garcia, who improved to 4-1 since replacing an injured Donovan McNabb. "It's this playoff mentality we've had over the past month that's carried us."
Philadelphia coach Andy Reid laughed about how easy it's been since his club was 5-6 after losing Garcia's first start.
"We thought it would be a cakewalk," he said with a wry smile. "Every one of those games has been huge. The guys have buckled down against some good teams. Our players knew what was ahead of them. Everybody really pulled closer together."
The Eagles can win the division for the fifth time in six years by beating Atlanta at home in Week 17. Philadelphia also could clinch if Dallas loses its finale to Detroit.
The only way the Cowboys (9-6) can win the NFC East is by beating the Lions and by the Falcons knocking off the Eagles. Dallas no longer has a shot at the conference's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye; this game clinched that for New Orleans.
The NFC East winner will host the lower-seeded wild-card team, while the division runner-up will play at Seattle.
Garcia was 15 of 23 for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and ran for 43 yards. Brian Westbrook ran for 122 yards and Correll Buckhalter had 38 yards and a touchdown.
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Jags' Taylor ruled out against Pats
Fred Taylor
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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12/23/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Jaguars running back Fred Taylor will
miss Sunday's game against New England because of a lingering
hamstring injury.
Taylor, who hurt his right hamstring against Indianapolis on
Dec. 10, aggravated the injury on his second carry last week at
Tennessee and sat out the rest of the game. Taylor missed three
days of practice this week, and coach Jack Del Rio downgraded him
from questionable to out Friday.
"He's just not ready to go," Del Rio said. "We'll give him
the weekend to rest it, and hopefully we'll have him back at
practice next week."
Del Rio said rookie Maurice Drew will start in Taylor's place,
and LaBrandon Toefield will serve as the backup.
Taylor had started the previous 14 games, gaining 1,120 yards
and averaging a career-best 5.0 yards a carry. He was voted the
AFC's first alternate in Pro Bowl balloting.
Taylor said he agreed with the decision to hold him out of
Sunday's game.
"I think that it's the smart thing to do at this point,"
Taylor said. "For my future, my well being ... I don't want to rip
it. I don't want to tear it. I have all the faith and confidence in
my team to get this win on Sunday." |
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Addai cleared to play Sunday against Texans
Joseph Addai
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Indianapolis Colts
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12/23/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Indianapolis Colts rookie runner Joseph
Addai practiced Friday and has been cleared to play Sunday against
the Texans in his hometown of Houston.
Addai had sat out two days of workouts this week to rest a
sprained right ankle that he hurt in the third quarter of Monday
night's 34-16 win over Cincinnati.
Initial reports had Addai sidelined indefinitely with a high
ankle sprain, but Colts coach Tony Dungy was adamant the injury
wasn't serious and that Addai might be ready to play at Houston.
The Colts' first-round draft choice from LSU wore a walking boot
while he watched the team practice Wednesday and Thursday.
"My ankle feels better now," Addai said Friday. "I feel like
I'll be playing this week. We've been taking it slow, but it's been
getting better day-by-day." |
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Tank Johnson posts bond, must stay in Illinois
Tank Johnson
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Chicago Bears
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12/22/2006
ESPN
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Chicago nose tackle Tank Johnson needs court permission to travel outside Illinois, a decision that would become a factor this season only if the Bears make the Super Bowl.
A judge ruled Friday that he must stay home, except to work or travel to work, until it is determined whether his Dec. 14 arrest for having firearms without a gun-owner identification card violated his probation on a 2005 gun charge.
He already is suspended for Sunday's game at Detroit, the Bears' regular season ends at home against Green Bay, and Chicago has home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Super Bowl is Feb. 4 in Miami.
The judge also said the 25-year-old Johnson cannot drive himself, and denied a request to let him travel to Tempe, Ariz., for a holiday trip. Instead, his family will come to Illinois to see him, defense attorney Lorna Propes said.
Cook County Judge John Moran set bond at $100,000 for Johnson, who was briefly taken into custody during his court appearance. Johnson later posted bond and left the courthouse in north suburban Chicago.
Propes said Johnson is committed to making positive changes.
"He wants now more than any other thing to be the best possible representative of the Chicago Bears and the city of Chicago he can be and that's his goal going forward," Propes said outside of court.
Bears officials did not immediately comment on the judge's decision.
During the hearing, Johnson, dressed in a brown-striped suit, was not handcuffed and said nothing, frequently staring at the floor.
Defense attorney Frank Himel told the judge he thought a reasonable bond would be $10,000, arguing Johnson was not a flight risk and promising he would show up for future court dates.
"It's a misdemeanor violation on top of a misdemeanor violation," Himel said, referring to the charges stemming from Johnson's recent arrest and the 2005 case for which he is serving probation.
Johnson was sentenced to 18 months probation in November 2005 after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an arrest after a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.
A petition filed Monday by the Cook County Adult Probation Department alleged that Johnson's arrest earlier this month in Lake County on misdemeanor weapons charges violated his earlier probation terms.
Johnson was charged with six counts of possession of a firearm without a gun owner identification card after police found six guns in a raid on his Gurnee home.
Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Rick Cenar said Friday that authorities found a semiautomatic rifle with 19 live rounds in the master bedroom, four unloaded weapons -- two rifles and two handguns -- and 300-350 rounds of ammunition in a basement utility closet and a loaded .45-caliber handgun under a leather chair in the basement.
Less than 48 hours after Johnson was arrested, he was at a bar when his friend, Willie B. Posey, was shot and killed. Posey also had been arrested on drug-possession charges when police raided Johnson's home.
Johnson is not a suspect in Posey's death, but the Bears suspended him for Sunday's game for being at the club.
The Cook County probation-violation petition also alleges that Johnson failed to provide verification of court-mandated community service hours and that he underwent drug and alcohol evaluation. Cenar said Johnson has so far completed eight of the 40 community service hours.
A third-year player, Johnson has said he will seek counseling.
"I don't believe the team has to tell me it's my last chance, I know the opportunity that I have in front of me and it's great, it's immense and to squander that opportunity would be a tragedy at this point and that's not gonna happen," Johnson said Tuesday.
Johnson is due in court in Lake County on Jan. 9 and in Cook County on Jan. 23 on the probation-violation allegations. |
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Bryant suspended for violating substance abuse policy
Antonio Bryant
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San Francisco 49ers
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12/22/2006
ESPN
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The already long odds of the San Francisco 49ers making the playoffs became significantly longer Friday when the NFL suspended wide receiver Antonio Bryant four games for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.
The sanction stems from Bryant's arrest last month on suspicion of drunken driving, reckless driving and resisting arrest.
Bryant, 25, will miss the final two regular-season games and, if the 49ers advance to postseason play, the suspension will carry into the playoffs. If San Francisco does not make the playoffs, Bryant will sit out the first two games of the 2007 season, a league spokesman said late Friday afternoon.
The wide receiver will forfeit $147,058 of his $1.25 million base salary for 2006. He will be docked the same amount for the first two games in 2007 if the suspension carries over to next year. Bryant signed a four-year, $15 million with the 49ers as an unrestricted free agent this spring.
In 14 games this season, including 13 starts, Bryant has 40 receptions for 733 yards and three touchdowns. The receiving yards and his average yards per catch (18.3) are team highs. The three touchdown catches tie for the club lead.
Bryant was arrested Nov. 20, hours after the 49ers upset the Seattle Seahawks in a home game. The incident occurred on Highway 101 near San Mateo, Calif., when Bryant was stopped by local police for allegedly driving "in excess of 100 mph" in his orange Lamborghini, according to an official report.
The report noted that Bryant was "uncooperative and combative," and he subsequently was jailed for several hours.
Bryant refused to take a field sobriety test, according to Capt. Kevin Raffaelli of the San Mateo Police Department. Officers were forced to use leather restraints to get Bryant into the police cruiser.
Under state law, Bryant had his driver's license suspended because he did not agree to the field sobriety test. The wide receiver is scheduled to appear in court next week to address the charges. Bryant already has dropped his appeal with the league.
If the suspension carries into the 2007 season, Bryant will be able to attend training camp and to play in the preseason. The continuation of the suspension would pick up the first week of the regular season.
Already with his third NFL franchise in only five seasons, Bryant has long had a reputation as a troubled player, dating back to his college career at the University of Pittsburgh. He entered the league with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 and, in 2004, had an infamous flare-up in camp, in which he tossed his practice shirt at coach Bill Parcells.
The Cowboys traded Bryant to Cleveland in 2004 and, after two productive seasons with the Browns, he signed with the 49ers this spring.
In 77 games, including 56 starts, Bryant has 250 receptions for 3,837 yards and 19 touchdowns. |
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Steelers making another December rush _ but is it too late?
Ben Roethlisberger
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Hines Ward
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Heath Miller
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Troy Polamalu
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Willie Parker
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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12/21/2006
National Football League News Wire
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are peaking in
December again, a great trait for a team accustomed to playing deep
into January.
The problem is this season may be over by New Year's Day,
because it took the Steelers more than two months to begin to
resemble the team that won its final eight games on the way to a
championship last season.
So, if games against AFC North rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati
the next two weeks are Pittsburgh's equivalent of the postseason,
the Steelers (7-7) want to perform like they did a season ago.
"The way we're playing, we're as a hot a team as anybody out
there," wide receiver Hines Ward said Wednesday. "It's
unfortunate what happened early in the year, but there's nothing we
can do about that. We can't turn back the clock. We have to
continue playing, and what better way to redeem yourself than
playing Baltimore?"
The Steelers, 2-6 during an unimaginably bad first half, are 5-1
since midseason. Their average margin of victory is 17 points. The
only loss was 27-0 to division champion Baltimore last month.
Except for that game, the Steelers are playing much like they
were a year ago, when they had to win their final four regular
season games merely to reach the playoffs. They've significantly
reduced their turnovers, cranked up a running game in which Willie
Parker has twice gained more than 200 yards and allowed only one
touchdown in three games.
"If we can finish this season off, and some way get into it
(the postseason), that's the best opportunity you want, to finish
the season on a roll like we did last year," cornerback Bryant
McAllister said.
Of course, the Steelers must beat the Ravens (11-3) and Bengals
(8-6), then hope another half-dozen or so teams lose their final
two games. They're the longest of long shots to sneak into the
playoffs, but they insist that it won't affect the way they play
down the stretch.
"We know it's farfetched but, at the same time, until they tell
us we're out of it, we'll keep playing like we know how to play,"
linebacker Joey Porter said. "Right now, we've got our biggest
game of the season, Baltimore coming into our stadium. We have
everything to gain out of this, so we're going to go out and play
like it, and save face from what they did to us the first time."
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Vick says sore groin has improved
Michael Vick
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Atlanta Falcons
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Michael Vick says his sore groin has
improved, even though he didn't test the injury as he took a
reduced role in Wednesday's practice.
Vick had to leave late in the Atlanta Falcons' loss to Dallas on
Saturday night due to the injury. He was listed as probable for
Sunday's game against Carolina and reported the sore groin "feels
better."
"I just wanted to take a day off and make sure when I came back
to practice I'd be able to practice at 100 percent and feel good
about it," Vick said. "I'm just making sure I don't do anything
to reinjure it and making sure the pain goes away on its own."
After Saturday night's game, Vick said he "felt a pain I have
never felt before."
Backup Matt Schaub took the majority of the snaps with the
first-team offense as he prepares for what could be his first start
since Oct. 9, 2005 against New England. Vick, who has never started
more than 15 games in a season, has made every start in 2006.
"As far as going a long period of time without starting, it
doesn't help you," Schaub said. "You've just got to be focused
and stay sharp in practice.
"I think if anything you're still fresh. You haven't taken the
beating and you've got your routine down during the week as far as
your method of preparation."
Schaub attempted only one pass this season before going 3-for-5
for 33 yards when playing behind Vick in the 38-28 loss to Dallas.
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Bengal's Johnson butters up Bailey with compliments
Chad Johnson
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Champ Bailey
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Denver Broncos
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Cincinnati Bengals
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Cincinnati's Chad Johnson refused to utter one
word of smack against Denver's Champ Bailey, the league co-leader
in interceptions and fellow Pro Bowl player he's facing on Sunday.
"Never, never, never, never," Johnson, the league's leading
receiver in yards said Wednesday. "He is the best man to ever wear
a uniform, period. I mean, besides Deion (Sanders)."
With Johnson having taunted, trash talked and even made lists of
cornerbacks he's burned, Bailey smelled a trap.
"He's going to hype me up as much as he can and make me get my
head swollen up," said Bailey, who was named to his seventh Pro
Bowl on Tuesday. "People compliment me all the time, criticize me
all the time, I can take whatever you say. I know what I am."
In Johnson's opinion, Bailey's the best in the business -- no
strings attached, no qualifiers, the most difficult corner to beat.
"Everybody says, 'Why is Champ so good?" said Johnson,
heading into the matchup with major playoff implications. Both
teams are 8-6. "There are two kinds of corners in the NFL. There
are corners that play not to get beat. That's your regular corners.
Then you have Champ Bailey, who plays to make a play. Period. He's
in a class of his own. Deion played the game to make a play.
Everyone else plays the game not to get beat."
Johnson got the better of Bailey in a game in 2004 when he
caught seven passes for 149 yards and one score. When asked how he
happened to torch Bailey so much, Johnson, not usually the modest
type, simply said, "Get lucky."
"It kind of puts myself in perspective to where my game is as
one of the elite receivers in the game," Johnson said. "His game
already speaks for itself."
Teams are throwing away from Bailey and yet he's still tied for
the league lead in interceptions with eight. Bailey also has an
NFL-best 17 interceptions since 2005. Kansas City's Ty Law is next
with 13.
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Can Young, Titans bounce back from worst offensive game?
Vince Young
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Tennessee Titans
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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The last time Vince Young completed just
eight passes, the rookie quarterback bounced back with his best day
in the NFL. The Titans need a repeat performance.
Clinging to slim playoff hopes and a chance at their first
winning season since 2003, the Titans (7-7) visit Buffalo (7-7) on
Sunday coming off their worst offensive performance this season.
The offense netted a season-low 98 yards, went 0-of-8 on third
downs and managed only 15 minutes, 38 seconds of possession.
Thankfully, the defense returned three turnovers for touchdowns,
and the Titans beat Jacksonville 24-17 for their seventh victory in
nine games.
It sure makes the plan for Sunday pretty simple.
"If we get a chance, we've got to get on the field," receiver
Brandon Jones said Wednesday. "We get on the field, we have to
make the best of it. We have to move the ball, keep our defense off
the field. (The defense) stayed on the field enough last week. We
have to make up for it."
The Titans went three-and-out on four of their eight drives,
turned it over on downs once. Five times they couldn't pick up a
first down, and their only scoring series was set up by a 70-yard
kickoff return.
But coach Jeff Fisher said he isn't concerned about the offense.
"We still haven't forgot how to run it, throw it or catch it.
The hard part, the challenge this week is we're going to play a
pretty good defense," Fisher said.
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Texans rushing game comes on as Carr struggles
David Carr
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Ron Dayne
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Houston Texans
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Early in the season, the Texans passing game
soared while the running game was the worst in the league. Now,
because of the struggles of David Carr and the resurgence of Ron
Dayne, things are just the opposite.
Dayne has 276 yards rushing in the last three games for the best
three-game stretch of his career. The 459 yards the 1999 Heisman
Trophy winner has gained in nine games this season is the most he's
had since 2001.
The 28-year-old was drafted in 2000, but hasn't had the wear and
tear of some backs his age since he was inactive all of 2003 and
played sparingly the last two seasons.
"I haven't took a lot of the beatings like a lot of the backs
have that came in when I came in," he said. "I'm just kind of
getting out there and feeling young."
Dayne began his streak after sitting out for three straight
games while dealing with a nagging injury. In his return, he ran
for 95 yards to carry the team to a win over the Raiders despite
finishing with negative yards passing. He had 21 carries for 87
yards and two touchdowns two weeks ago in a loss to the Titans and
94 yards and Houston's only touchdown in a blowout at New England.
"I feel like maybe Ronny's career is taking off again and
that'd be a dang good thing for our football team," said coach
Gary Kubiak. "Because if he can stay healthy and play like that
then we get him some help back there too, I think he'll only get
better because he's very tough to tackle. He's a big kid."
Through the first four games, Houston was averaging just 76
yards a game. The emergence of Dayne has helped up that average to
a respectable 100 yards per game.
Rookie Wali Lundy, who has started eight games for the Texans
and leads the team in rushing with 473 yards, has been impressed
with Dayne's recent surge.
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Jones has 1,000 yards for Cowboys, but is still rested
Julius Jones
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Marion Barber
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Dallas Cowboys
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Julius Jones already has his first
1,000-yard rushing season for the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys. The
running back is healthy and hasn't missed a game.
It's the exact scenario Jones hoped for this year, except for
one thing. He's getting fewer chances to carry the ball and score
since Marion Barber III has excelled on third downs and in
goal-line situations.
"My playing time has been down because I've split time with
Marion. Other than that, things have gone pretty well," Jones said
Wednesday, making a rare appearance in the locker room during media
availability. "But we're winning, I've got 1,000 yards, we're in
the playoffs. There could be worse things happening to me."
Such as losing his starting job, though that's not likely to
happen. Bill Parcells has repeatedly said he doesn't want to change
how he's using Barber.
"I think having a closer is important. I think Marion's in a
good role," Parcells said. "He's productive in that role pretty
consistently. ... I think I'm going to keep it the way it is."
Barber leads the NFC with 15 touchdowns (13 rushing, two
receiving) and is coming off his fourth multi-TD game. The Cowboys
trailed until his two TD runs in the second half Saturday night in
a 38-28 victory at Atlanta.
Jones has four TDs, a career-long 77-yard run on the second
offensive snap against New Orleans being his only one the last
seven games.
"I'm hoping Julius can get back a little on track," Parcells
said.
The Cowboys (9-5) can clinch the NFC East title with a victory
Monday at home against Philadelphia (8-6). They are also still in
contention for the NFC's No. 2 overall seed, which would mean a
first-round bye and a home game in the second round of the
playoffs.
Terrell Owens usually talks on Wednesday, but wasn't in the
locker room for the open period that was several hours earlier than
usual. It came a day after Owens was snubbed in Pro Bowl voting
despite his NFL-high 11 receiving TDs.
Since three straight 100-yard rushing games to start October,
Jones has had only one more -- against New Orleans, when the long TD
run bolstered his stats. He was limited to 26 yards on 13 carries
in a victory at Atlanta last week.
"He had a couple of reads the other night that looked real good
on film for gains and it looked like he had his mind made up to do
something else," Parcells said. "I spoke with him about it
already, trusting his reads a little more because we're going to
need to get him going a little bit better than recently."
While Jones' 247 carries are only 10 below his career high, he
missed 11 games because of injuries his first two seasons after
being the Cowboys' first pick in 2004. Plus, he's averaging less
than 18 carries a game this year, less than 14 the past six games.
"Get back on track, I'm not sure what he means," Jones said.
"I want to get back on track. I really haven't been playing that
much, so maybe that's what he means."
Before Thanksgiving, Parcells talked about trying to limit
Jones' carries to keep him fresh for late in the season -- and
beyond. But Jones has only 45 carries the past four games, a
stretch that started with 11 rushes against Tampa Bay on
Thanksgiving Day.
Jones last week became the first Cowboys runner with a
1,000-yard season since NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith in
2001. His 1,019 yards rank eighth in the NFC, 13th in the NFL. |
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Grossman, Dawkins, Tomlinson among NFL Players of the Week
LaDainian Tomlinson
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Brian Dawkins
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Rex Grossman
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San Diego Chargers
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Philadelphia Eagles
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Chicago Bears
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Rex Grossman has gone from on the outs to
the top of the heap.
The maligned quarterback of the Chicago Bears, Grossman was
named NFC Offensive Player of the Week by the NFL on Wednesday.
The Bears (12-2) have locked up home-field advantage throughout
the NFC playoffs, although many feel their success had been in
spite of Grossman rather than because of him.
Calls for a quarterback change began when the Bears lost two
games in November. Grossman threw three interceptions in the
setbacks and was no better in a 23-13 win over Minnesota on
December 3 as he completed just 6-of-19 passes for 34 yards and
three interceptions.
Grossman started to turn things around in a win over St. Louis
and he earned the NFC honor with one of the best games of his
career in Sunday's 34-31 overtime victory over Tampa Bay.
Grossman threw two TD passes against the Rams and followed up
that performance by establishing career highs in completions
(29), attempts (44) and yards (339) as the Bears maintained the
best record in the NFL with San Diego.
It was the first 300-yard game by a Bears quarterback since
2002. Grossman is 8-2 all-time at Soldier Field and has won 16
of 21 career starts.
A strong all-around performance in a key divisional showdown
earned Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins NFC Defensive
Player of the Week honors while St. Louis Rams punter Matt Turk
was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego was named AFC Offensive Player
of the Week for the second consecutive week and fourth time this
season. Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney earned
the conference's defensive award and Buffalo Bills punter Brian
Moorman captured special teams honors.
Named to his sixth Pro Bowl on Tuesday, Dawkins was honored for
his play in a 36-22 victory over the NFC East rival New York
Giants. Dawkins was all over the field at Giants Stadium,
recording 12 tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles to
win the award for the second time in his career.
Turk punted five times for an average of 49.8 yards and placed
two inside the 10-yard line in the Rams' 20-0 victory over the
Oakland Raiders.
Tomlinson had the national stage of a Sunday night game against
the Kansas City Chiefs to show his stuff and did not disappoint.
He racked up a season-high 199 yards on 25 carries in a 20-9
victory.
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Bears DT Johnson suspended for one game after third arrest
Tank Johnson
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Chicago Bears
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12/20/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Tank Johnson is getting yet another chance from
the Chicago Bears.
Arrested three times in 18 months, and at a bar when his friend
was shot to death last week -- about 12 hours after he'd apologized
for his latest run-in with the law -- Johnson's punishment was a
one-game suspension.
The team considered releasing Johnson but chose the lesser of
sanctions when convinced that he would change his lifestyle and
seek counseling, the defensive tackle's idea. He also submitted a
list of changes he needed to make.
"If we didn't see the remorse, if we didn't see a plan in place
-- through him, not through us -- I can't say that this decision
would have been made the way it was made," general manager Jerry
Angelo said Tuesday.
Angelo insisted the decision was not based on the Bears' playoff
fortunes. The NFC North champions already have lost defensive
tackle Tommie Harris to a season-ending hamstring injury and
without nose tackle Johnson -- who was inactive last week -- their
tired defense faltered before beating Tampa Bay 34-31 in overtime
to clinch home-field advantage.
"Collectively, as an organization -- ownership, coaches,
players, myself -- we all agreed that the right thing to do was to
keep Tank and keep working with him," Angelo said of a decision
that will certainly draw criticism.
"We know we're vulnerable going forward. I'm not going to sit
here and tell you I'm 100 percent on board and trust all the things
that we've talked to Tank about."
Johnson will miss Sunday's meaningless game against the woeful
Detroit Lions, but will be able to return for the season finale on
New Year's Eve against the Green Bay Packers in what might be Brett
Favre's final game.
Johnson was arrested Thursday, and the following night was at a
night club when his friend, Willie B. Posey, was shot and killed.
Johnson is not a suspect in the death.
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Titans keep streak alive with lots of big plays
Chris Hope
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Tennessee Titans
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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The Tennessee Titans have learned that a
young team can cover up all kinds of problems by making big plays
and lots of them.
Offense can't move the ball?
Defense stranded on the field for 44 minutes, 22 seconds?
Not a problem. Three different Titans grabbed turnovers and
scored on returns of 83, 92 and 61 yards to pull out a fifth
straight victory, a 24-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on
Sunday.
"We've had to do things the hard way to win ball games,"
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Monday. "The wins keep you going,
but they realize that winning's not easy."
A team that started 0-5 now has won seven of the last nine,
putting the Titans at 7-7. At .500 for the first time this season,
they still have faint playoff hopes despite trailing five teams for
the AFC's two wild cards with two games left.
"It's probably unrealistic for us to think we could step out
there, take control of a game from start to finish and win it
considering where we are with our youth and our injuries," Fisher
said. "But what is realistic is this is a sign of good things to
come. We have found ways to win, very unique ways, week after
week."
That's putting it mildly.
The winning streak -- and the big plays -- started Nov. 19 in a
31-13 victory at Philadelphia. Rookie Vince Young completed only
eight passes for 84 yards.
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Gruden: Rattay will start against Browns
Tim Rattay
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Bruce Gradkowski
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Thanks to Tim Rattay, Tampa Bay no longer is
the lowest scoring team in the NFL.
Now, the Buccaneers will find out if the veteran quarterback can
help them stop a four-game losing streak.
Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that the seventh-year pro will make
his first start of the season, replacing rookie Bruce Gradkowski
when the Bucs (3-11) travel to Cleveland (4-10) on Sunday.
"It's just common sense right now based on performance and who
gives us a better chance win a football game," Gruden said. "We'd
like to finish the season as strongly as we can, and I think Bruce
is struggling to a degree right now."
Rattay replaced Gradkowski during the first half of Sunday's
34-31 overtime loss at Chicago. He led Tampa Bay's first touchdown
drive in 14 quarters, then threw for three fourth-quarter TDs to
help the Bucs force the extra period.
A week after appearing briefly against Atlanta and showing signs
he might be able to spark the offense, Rattay threw for 268 yards
to lead the Bucs back from a 24-3 deficit against the Bears.
Joey Galloway's 64-yard TD reception capped a 95-yard drive, and
Ike Hilliard scored on a 44-yard pass play to tie the game 31-all.
The performance raised the question of whether Gruden might have
been able to save Tampa Bay's season if the coach had not turned to
Gradkowski, a sixth-round draft pick, when Chris Simms was lost for
the season in Week Three.
Rattay has made 16 starts -- all with San Francisco -- in seven
NFL seasons. Nevertheless, Gruden elected to try to develop
Gradkowski rather than placing hope for salvaging the year in the
hands of the more experienced backup.
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Addai, Harrison nicked up, but not expected to miss time
Joseph Addai
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Indianapolis Colts
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Marvin Harrison has played through the
tingling in his left hand for nearly a month.
Rookie running back Joseph Addai might need to follow the
11-year veteran's lead when it comes to his injured right ankle.
The Indianapolis Colts (11-3) need both playmakers to make a
playoff charge.
Harrison, in line for his eighth straight Pro Bowl selection
Tuesday, hasn't let team doctors examine the hand nor has he missed
any practice time, although coach Tony Dungy acknowledged it has
bothered the receiver.
"I think it will be that way the rest of the year," Dungy said
of Harrison, who had surgery on his elbow in May. "But he doesn't
seek treatment and he doesn't seek a diagnosis. I think there's
only one person who knows what it is, but I do know that if the
ball hits it a certain way, it tingles."
Addai rolled his right ankle Monday night on a 41-yard run -- the
Colts' longest of the season -- to set up Manning's third touchdown
pass to Harrison.
Dungy said after the game and Tuesday that it was not a
high-ankle sprain and he expected Addai to play Sunday in his
hometown of Houston.
"I heard on the news reports that it was a high ankle sprain,
and I thought I made it pretty clear last night that it wasn't,"
Dungy said. "It's a basketball-type sprain. It's sore, but I think
he should be OK."
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Rookie QB Jackson struggles with taking over for Johnson
Tarvaris Jackson
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Brad Johnson
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Minnesota Vikings
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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There's a part of Tarvaris Jackson
that was thrilled to see the first extensive action of his career
for the Minnesota Vikings, a part that can't wait to get out there
and do it again.
The rookie quarterback sprinted onto the field when he got the
call late in the third quarter of a 26-13 loss to the Jets on
Sunday and delighted in throwing his first career touchdown pass
later in the game.
"I haven't played in a meaningful game, really, since
college," Jackson said with a smile after the game. "It was
fun."
However, another part of him was crushed after watching veteran
starter Brad Johnson, who has been a mentor, friend and confidante
to Jackson in his first season, get booed off the field while the
crowd chanted Jackson's name.
"He's a leader of the team and he's still going to lead the
team," Jackson said. "It's hard for me to just hear the fans do
him like that."
This is not your garden variety quarterback controversy in
Minnesota.
It's no "Any Given Sunday," Oliver Stone's football movie in
which Willie Beamen, a young, ambitious black quarterback butts
heads with Cap Rooney, the savvy, veteran white QB who perhaps has
seen better days.
Jackson is in no hurry to unseat Johnson as the team's starting
quarterback. Instead, he has shown a fierce loyalty to the player
who has arguably taught him more about football in the last five
months than he learned in his entire playing career.
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Vick in treatment; Abraham has thumb surgery
Michael Vick
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Atlanta Falcons
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora
believes quarterback Michael Vick and defensive end John Abraham
will start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers even though both
players have significant injuries.
Abraham underwent surgery Monday to have a pin placed in his
left thumb after he tore ligaments in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Mora said Abraham will wear a cast and start against Carolina.
Vick, who limped off the field with a groin injury on the
Falcons' final possession Saturday night, continues to undergo
treatment. Matt Schaub will start if Vick can't.
"Our guys are resilient," Mora said. "They bounce back. They
get refocused. I am excited to get back to work on Wednesday."
Atlanta (7-7) has lost three straight home games for the first
time since Dan Reeves' final season in 2003. The Panthers (6-8)
dropped their fourth consecutive game last week with an
embarrassing performance against Pittsburgh.
Neither team has played well in NFC games. In their last seven
matchups with conference opponents, the Falcons have four losses
and Carolina five.
Before 2005, Atlanta had beaten the Panthers in eight of nine
tries, but Carolina swept the division series last season. The
Falcons won the season-opener in Charlotte 20-6 behind Vick and
Abraham.
Vick improved his career record to 6-2 against the Panthers by
completing 10 of 22 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He
also ran seven times for 48 yards.
Abraham earned his first NFC defensive player of the week honor
with five solo tackles, two sacks for minus-20 yards, two forced
fumbles and a pass breakup. Unfortunately, he strained a groin
muscle late in the fourth quarter and played just one of the next
eight games -- a stretch during which he had abdominal surgery.
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Four interceptions in one day leaves Carr at lowest point
David Carr
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Houston Texans
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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David Carr has had plenty of bad days in his five
seasons with the Houston Texans, but what happened in an
embarrassing loss to New England has left him at the lowest point
in his career.
Carr threw a career-high four interceptions in the 40-7 loss to
the Patriots, which again raises questions about whether he can
lead Houston to respectability.
"This is as hard as anything I've gone through playing
football," he said Monday. "I've never had to work so hard to
achieve so little. You wish you had the answers, and if I did I
would just go out there and find a way to win."
Carr was 16-of-28 for 127 yards and was sacked four times
Sunday. He has 11 interceptions and 10 touchdowns with two games
left and could finish with more interceptions for the first time
since 2003.
Coach Gary Kubiak said Carr did not play well against New
England but cautioned against faulting him entirely for the loss.
"There's plenty of blame to go around," Kubiak said. "The
quarterback gets a lot of credit and gets a lot of blame, but we
had plenty mistakes in a lot of areas."
Carr said his mistakes came because he was trying to do too
much. While he is upset and frustrated, he said Sunday's outing has
not shaken his confidence.
"I will never lose my confidence in what I can do," he said.
"I still know what I'm capable of doing with the football in my
hand."
Carr said he isn't worried about his position with the team
despite the restlessness of fans who believe he is no longer what
is best for the Texans. Houston had a two-year option on Carr's
contract before the season but decided on a three-year extension.
Kubiak wouldn't discuss Carr's future Monday.
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Cowboys WR Owens fined $35,000 for spitting on CB Hall
Terrell Owens
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Dallas Cowboys
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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A classless act cost Terrell Owens in the
wallet.
The Dallas Cowboys' temperamental wide receiver was fined
$35,000 by the NFL on Monday for spitting in the face of Atlanta
Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall in last Saturday's 38-28 win.
The fine by new commissioner Roger Goodell is more than double
the $17,000 fine levied by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue
against Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor for spitting in
the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman in a playoff
game last season. Taylor was ejected from the game for
unsportsmanlike conduct.
Owens spit on Hall after Dallas' sixth play from scrimmage, but
it was not seen by the officials. Earlier in the series, Hall
used his forearms to shove Owens. Then after tight end Jason
Witten caught a pass, Owens spit on Hall before heading back to
the huddle.
"I got frustrated and I apologize for that (spitting)," Owens
said. "It was a situation where he (Hall) kept bugging me and
getting in my face."
"I lost all respect for the guy," Hall said of Owens. "You
don't spit in another grown man's face."
Owens later beat Hall for a seven-yard touchdown late in the
first quarter and a 51-yard score midway through the second
quarter. He has 77 catches for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns
this season.
Owens played just seven games with the Philadelphia Eagles last
season before the club banished him for conduct detrimental to
the team. He publicly criticized numerous members of the
organization - including star quarterback Donovan McNabb.
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Ravens' McNair expected to play Sunday
Steve McNair
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Baltimore Ravens
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Steve McNair is expected to start this
Sunday for the Baltimore Ravens, although his injured right hand
might affect his practice time this week.
McNair played only two series in the Ravens' playoff-clinching
27-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He left shortly
after Cleveland linebacker Andra Davis accidentally stepped on his
throwing hand, opening up a cut that made it difficult for the
quarterback to take snaps from center.
McNair could have returned if needed, but backup Kyle Boller
played well enough to make that a moot point.
"Steve was certainly ready to go back in should something have
happened to Kyle, so that was a comfort zone," Ravens coach Brian
Billick said Monday. "It was my call. He was ready to go, but I
thought it was the prudent thing to do -- and now I'm glad we did."
McNair wanted to play, but the pain he experienced in taking
snaps persuaded Billick to avoid using him unless it was absolutely
necessary.
"My concern was the quarterback-center exchange. Plus, 60 snaps
was going to do nothing but irritate that," Billick said. "I
don't know if that would have in our best interest in the long term
-- the long term being next week and the week after next."
Boller went 13-for-21 for 238 yards and two touchdowns, and
Baltimore (11-3) clinched a playoff berth with its seventh win in
eight games. The Ravens are still in the hunt for a first-round bye
and the best overall record in the AFC, and now they'll have McNair
available for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh and the regular-season
finale against visiting Buffalo.
"I think I'll be all right. I just have to get the soreness out
of it," McNair said after Sunday's game. "I'm quite sure I'll be
ready."
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Jags expect to have Drew, unsure about Taylor
Fred Taylor
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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The Jacksonville Jaguars expect to
have rookie running back Maurice Drew back in the lineup Sunday
against New England.
They're not sure about Fred Taylor.
Drew and Taylor, the duo that has the Jaguars ranked second in
the league in rushing, were hurt in Sunday's 24-17 loss at
Tennessee. Taylor reinjured his right hamstring on his second run
of the game -- a 35-yard gain in the first quarter -- and did not
return.
"The word I got from the training staff was that he was better
(Monday) than he was last week the day after the game," coach Jack
Del Rio said Monday. "It's just a matter of whether or not he'll
be able to go this week or need to wait."
Drew jammed his knee in the fourth quarter on a 37-yard
reception. He hobbled toward the sideline and was helped off the
field. X-rays were negative.
"The news that I got back was that he was feeling better than
anticipated and that we expected to have him this week, so that was
good news," Del Rio said.
Taylor has 1,120 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Drew has 764
yards on the ground, 379 yards receiving, 731 return yards and 13
total touchdowns. |
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Arizona tight end finished for season with knee injury
Adam Bergen
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Arizona Cardinals
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12/19/2006
National Football League News Wire
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Arizona Cardinals tight end Adam Bergen will
miss the final two games of the season after injuring his left knee
in Sunday's loss to Denver.
Coach Dennis Green said Monday that it hadn't been determined
whether the injury would require surgery.
Bergen, in his second season out of Lehigh, caught 15 passes for
111 yards and one touchdown this season. He signed with Arizona as
an undrafted free agent in 2005 and started nine games as a rookie.
Green said the Cardinals might bring John Bronson off the
practice squad to back up rookie tight end Leonard Pope. |
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Benching of Vikings WR Robinson a mystery
Marcus Robinson
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Minnesota Vikings
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12/19/2006
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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Receiver Marcus Robinson did not shed much light on the situation Monday, but by all appearances the Vikings' leader in touchdown catches was a healthy scratch for the second time this season Sunday.
Coach Brad Childress said after the Vikings' 26-13 loss to the New York Jets that Robinson was inactive because of a hip flexor injury that hadn't been previously disclosed. But Robinson said Monday he had "a small, little bruise, a little strain, but I'm fine."
Asked if it was enough to have held him out, Robinson gave a slight chuckle as he walked away. The response wasn't surprising considering those who talked to Robinson before Sunday's game said the move took the veteran by surprise.
He also was inactive for the Vikings' 19-16 loss Sept. 24 against Chicago. He had left the previous game because of a strained right hamstring but did not miss any practice time that week and made it clear he could have played. Robinson did sit out a three-game stretch at midseason because of a back injury.
Despite being sidelined for five games, he has a team-high four touchdown receptions among his 29 catches and had an obvious comfort level with quarterback Brad Johnson.
Childress reiterated Monday night on his weekly radio show on KFAN that he "didn't feel like [Robinson] was up to full speed," and that he "didn't think he could really get on it the way you need to in this game."
It remains uncertain if Robinson will return Thursday night at Green Bay.
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Williams doesn't think he'll make Pro Bowl
Roy Williams (WR)
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Detroit Lions
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12/19/2006
Booth Newspapers
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Roy Williams thinks he's good enough to go to the Pro Bowl, but he doesn't believe he's going to get enough votes to make the trip to Hawaii.
"I don't think so. Do I think I should? No. I think I've had a better year than in the past, but my touchdowns are down and the team's not winning so it's hard to do that," said Williams, the Detroit Lions wide receiver. "I led the NFC in yards going into this past week but I came out with 11 yards."
Williams was held to one catch for 11 yards in Detroit's 17-9 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Williams currently has 1,127 receiving yards, second in the NFC behind the Packers' Donald Driver (1,173 yards).
Williams believes there are other receivers who have already been to the Pro Bowl who will get the majority of votes -- Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams, Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys and Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers. Also, Williams said "Donald Driver is getting recognition now and if (Arizona's) Larry Fitzgerald didn't go down (with an injury earlier this season), he'd be there."
The balloting has been held and the Pro Bowl team is expected to be announced on Wednesday.
While he might not get the votes, Williams still believes he's one of the top three receivers in the conference.
"Yeah, I think so," he said. "I think the players know. I talk to players on other teams, I have respect for them and they have respect for me and they tell me they like what they see on film. But that doesn't mean I'm going to get their votes."
Earlier this season, Williams had four 100-yard receiving games in a six-game stretch. However, he's had only one 100-yard game in the last six games. Before the Lions played in New England, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said he believed Williams was getting more double-coverage than any receiver in the league.
That trend continued against the Packers, who shut down Williams with a double-coverage team of cornerback Al Harris and a safety. Williams said he played the majority of the game on the outside and didn't get many looks at the slot position.
"I know I'm going to pull two people out there and that's why people were coming open underneath," said Williams, adding that he won't complain to offensive coordinator Mike Martz about the lack of passes thrown in his direction. "Oh, no, I'll never do that. I'll never do that. His job is to call plays and my job is to run what he calls."
Clearly, though, Williams isn't happy with the fact that he has just four touchdown catches -- and none from inside the red zone. All of his scoring catches this year have been from outside the 20-yard line.
"I accept my role on this football team and my role is to help the team get down to the red zone and that's it. So that's my role on this team and that's what I've accepted," Williams said. "I can only run what's called. I will never run to the man (coach) and say `I need the ball' or `Throw me the ball.' "
It's not that Williams doesn't have the urge to let his feelings known, it's just that the third-year receiver knows better.
"Back in my youth, in my first year, I was like that. I wanted the football, I'm going to tell you on the sideline that I want the ball, but that doesn't work," Williams said. "These coaches know what they're doing, they've been in this thing longer than me so there's no need for me to rant and rave. If they want to give me the ball, they'll give it to me. If they don't, then they won't." |
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Apparently, Tank's a keeper
Tank Johnson
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Chicago Bears
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12/19/2006
Chicago Sun-Times
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The Bears have a plan for dealing with Tank Johnson, and it doesn't involve releasing him. Eventually, they'll reveal what it is.
With a conclusion expected Monday in how the team would deal with the embattled defensive tackle, the story that won't go away instead grew legs. The Bears know what they want to do but are exploring the complex matter with the NFL as it pertains to the collective bargaining agreement and personal conduct policy.
At issue is whether the team can move forward with its plan without impeding on the league's jurisdiction for disciplinary issues. This much is evident: If the Bears were going to welcome Johnson back with open arms to play Sunday at Detroit, they wouldn't be in consultation with the league. Instead, they're looking at ways to sit him down the stretch, and they might have plans for him to participate in the postseason.
The great unknown left coach Lovie Smith to take questions from all angles during an afternoon news conference, with general manager Jerry Angelo nowhere in sight. Angelo's own words make one wonder how the Bears can retain Johnson, who was charged with six misdemeanor counts of illegal possession of weapons Thursday.
Johnson issued a public apology to the team the next day, then showed his contrition by partying 12 hours later at a downtown bar, where his longtime friend and self-proclaimed bodyguard was shot to death.
''We have been meeting internally all day regarding Tank Johnson,'' Angelo said in a statement released after 3 p.m. ''It is a complicated matter that involves many parties. We are currently pursuing a course of action and communicating with the league to reach a conclusion as quickly as possible.''
That means the Bears were not pouring all their resources into preparing for the Lions, scouting possible playoff opponents or analyzing draft prospects. Angelo said Friday that anyone who caused a distraction that took the team away from its ultimate goal would be dealt with ''severely.''
If Johnson returns, it will unquestionably be his final opportunity.
''I've been a coach a long time, and there are times when people disappoint you,'' Smith said. ''Have I been disappointed more than one time by a person? Yes. There comes a point where you draw the line and you say, no more. It comes to that eventually.''
Johnson has been arrested three times in the last 18 months and remains on probation for a previous weapons conviction. Foxsports.com reported that he tested positive for marijuana before the combine in 2004 -- when the Bears drafted him in the second round -- information that would've been available to the team.
Also arrested Thursday was Johnson's friend and housemate, Willie B. Posey, a felon who was charged with felony possession of marijuana. Posey was shot and killed when the two were at Ice Bar in the early-morning hours Saturday.
''[Johnson] made a bad decision as I see it on that day,'' Smith said. ''I asked him to do some things, to get some things done, and he was in the process of doing some of those things. Some of his decisions on how he was taking care of some of those things, we would like to have back.''
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Rattay to start against Cleveland
Tim Rattay
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Bruce Gradkowski
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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12/19/2006
St. Petersburg Times
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Jon Gruden has defended Bruce Gradkowski when the boos drowned out the cheers. The coach stuck with the rookie even when he threw more interceptions than touchdowns. And Gruden never stopped reiterating that Gradkowski could be a solid NFL quarterback given ample time.
But at least for now, Gradkowski's time is up.
After quarterbacking the past 11 games going 3-8 as a starter, Gradkowski will watch from the sidelines when the Bucs play Sunday at Cleveland. Veteran Tim Rattay, author of a stunning rally that fell just short against the Bears two days ago, gets the start. It will be Rattay's first start since Oct. 2, 2005, with the 49ers.
Despite his reluctance to give up on Gradkowski throughout the season, Gruden said the decision was easy.
"It's just common sense right now based on performance and who gives us a better chance to win a football game," he said. "We'd like to finish the season as strongly as we can. I think Bruce is struggling to a degree now and I thought Tim did some good things the last couple weeks when given a chance to play."
Still, the fact that the decision comes now, when Gradkowski has struggled for weeks to generate offense, is at least curious. Asked repeatedly Monday why he decided against making a change earlier, Gruden said Gradkowski's play has slid more noticeably in recent weeks. Gradkowski posted passer ratings of 29.2 and 35.8 against the Cowboys and Steelers, respectively.
"I haven't seen Bruce struggle to this degree," Gruden said. "You can second-guess it. I'm not going to get real deep and philosophical. We felt Bruce Gradkowski recognized looks. We feel he's got the ability to make plays. I like the way he moved our team at times | | | | |
