 |
 |
 |
# - -
Height: Weight:
Born: //
College:
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Player Analysis:
Fantasy Football Impact:
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
Pacman Jones Set to Play Against Ravens - 12/17/2008
Source: Baltimore Sun Cowboys DB/PR Adam "(Don't Call Me) Pacman" Jones will likely return this week against the Baltimore Ravens. Fantasy Impact: The Cowboys will need Jones to provide them with good field position all day against the Ravens defense. If you start IDPs or your league gives credit for punt return yards, then Jones makes a good option, as he'll likely be fielding a number of them. | | | Titans Haynesworth to Become Free Agent - 12/17/2008
Source: The Tennessean Titans DL Albert Haynesworth is set to become a free agent after making the Pro Bowl triggered a contract clause preventing the Titans from placing the franchise tag on him. Fantasy Impact: Haynesworth has become one of the, if not the, most dominant defensive lineman in football, and the Titans will have to pay dearly to keep him. | | | Colts WR Harrison Questionable Thursday (Hamstring) - 12/17/2008
Source: Indianapolis Star Colts WR Marvin Harrison is questionable for Thursday's game against the Jaguars with a hamstring injury suffered against Detroit. Fantasy Impact: Harrison is having a poor season, and likely wouldn't have been inconsideration for a starting spot this week anyway. | | | Jets DE Shaun Ellis To Play Sunday - 12/17/2008
Source: New York Times The Jets are going to allow DE Shaun Ellis to play Sunday after his recent arrest for marijuana possession. Fantasy Impact: Good to see the league has its priorities in order. Matt Jones is allowed to play for the entire season while facing charges for cocaine possession, and the Jets are allowing Ellis to play, but smaller, less illegal infractions get multiple game suspensions. Czar Goodell might want to reevaluate his discipline policy in the offseason. | | | Saints Place Reggie Bush on IR - 12/17/2008
Source: Miami Herald The Saints placed RB Reggie Bush on the injured reserve today, ending his season. Bush is expected to easily recover in time for next season. Fantasy Impact: Bush being out means an emphatic IN for Pierre Thomas, and makes him a top-10 (and MUST START) RB on Sunday. | | | Marion Barber Misses Practice - 12/17/2008
Source: Miami Herald Cowboys RB Marion Barber III missed practice today with his dislocated toe. Fantasy Impact: Barber played some last week, and looks to play sparingly again this week. I wouldn't let news of his practice habits influence your decision to start him or sit him, but at this point you've got to have better options, especially given how well backup RB Tashard Choice has played in his stead. | | | Hasselbeck Likely to Miss Third Consecutive Game - 12/15/2008
Source: Associated Press Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck is likely to miss Sunday's game against the struggling Jets. QB Seneca Wallace will get another start, having performed well in the past two weeks. Fantasy Impact: The Jets have been vulnerable against the pass the past few weeks (save the shellacking of the Titans), and Wallace could make an interesting spot start. | | | QB Matt Hasselbeck 3rd QB; Wallace to Start Under Center - 12/14/2008
Source: AP Recovering QB Matt Hasselbeck will be the Seahawks 3rd QB this week against the Rams. NFL rules make it especially difficult to get the 3rd QB into the game, so don't expect to see him unless it's an emergency. Fantasy Impact: Wallace has been guiding the offense fairly effectively, especially with the return of Deion Branch. Nobody is very scared of the Rams defense, so I'd think he should be in for a good day. | | | Bucs QB Garcia Out Against Falcons - 12/14/2008
Source: AP QB Jeff Garcia won't play today against the Falcons. In his place, Brian Griese will get the start. It isn't out of the question that Luke McCown will get some snaps too. Fantasy Impact: I don't consider either Griese or McCown to be decent fantasy option at this point. | | | 49ers Gore Inactive - 12/14/2008
Source: AP RB Frank Gore is inactive today against the Dolphins. Fantasy Impact: RB Deshaun Foster will start in place of Gore, but he is not in consideration for a fantasy roster spot at this point. He is, after all, Deshaun Foster. | | | Saints: Bush to Wait on MRI - 12/14/2008
Source: AP RB Reggie Bush may have sprained his knee Thursday against the Bears. As a result, an MRI is in the works for Reggie. Bush will likely be used carefully, if at all, for the remainder of the season. Fantasy Impact: I'm a big Pierre Thomas fan that thinks he just needs a prolonged shot to prove his impact, so I highly recommend going to pick up Pierre Thomas ASAP, especially if you're in a keeper league where he's somehow available. | | | WR Brad Smith Doubtful Against Buffalo - 12/12/2008
Source: Associated Press Jets WR Brad Smith is unlikely to play this week after suffering a concussion at the hands of LB Patrick Willis last week in the Jets' loss to the 49ers. The hit was one of the biggest of the year, causing Smith to collapse while slowly walking off the field.
(See video of the hit on the MFB Blog, at blog.myfantasyball.com) Fantasy Impact: After that hit, Smith may want to take a week off and make sure he hasn't lost his marbles. If Smith can't play, I anticipate RB Leon Washington getting most of the touches in the shorter screen-type routes that the Jets like to feature Smith in. | | | Vikings' Frerotte Doubtful Against Cardinals - 12/12/2008
Source: Associated Press Vikings' QB Gus Frerotte is unlikely to play Saturday as the Vikes look to maintain their one game lead over the Bears in the NFC North. Tarvaris Jackson, his likely replacement, was benched earlier in the season in favor of Frerotte, but played well after subbing for an injured Frerotte last week. Fantasy Impact: If you spent any amount of this season counting on Jackson or Frerotte as your starting quarterback, chances are your fantasy football season is already over. | | | Bucs Optimistic QB Garcia Can Start - 12/12/2008
Source: Associated Press The Tampa Bay Bucs remained optimistic that QB Jeff Garcia could play Sunday against at Atlanta, despite being limited in practices this week with a groin injury. It is an injury similar to one he suffered in training camp. Fantasy Impact: Garcia should play, and likely won't show many side effects of the injury. WR Antonio Bryant will be eager to prove himself (again) after his comments this week regarding statements made by Emmitt Smith, and could help Garcia put up decent numbers. The Bucs are facing an Atlanta defense that ranks 23rd against the pass, setting the stage for a good showing by Garcia and Co. | | | Cassel Practices Again After Death of Father; Status for Sunday Uncertain - 12/12/2008
Source: Associated Press, CBS Sportsline QB Matt Cassel practiced today for the second consecutive day following the death of his father earlier this week. Though his status for Sunday's game is up in the air, one has to expect that he'll play. Fantasy Impact: If Cassel doesn't play, downgrade all the skill players on the Patriots appropriately, with one major exception. I fully expect WR Randy Moss to have a big game in his return to Oakland whether his quarterback is Cassel or rookie Kevin O'Connell. | | | RB Brandon Jacobs to Miss Showdown With Cowboys - 12/12/2008
Source: Associated Press RB Brandon Jacobs will miss this Sunday's showdown with the division rival Cowboys. Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw will split the carries in his absence, with either 2nd year RB Danny Ware or vet Reuben Droughns to be the 3rd string running back. Fantasy Impact: Ward and Bradshaw are very capable in their own right, but picking one to have a fantasy impact this week (in what is a playoff week for most of you) would be like flipping a coin. If I had to guess, and thankfully I don't, I'd go with Derrick Ward. | | | Favre Not Interested in Tampa - 07/28/2008
Source: Tampa Tribune As a trade for QB Brett Favre seems increasingly likely, it looks like that trade won't be to Tampa Bay. Favre wants the list of teams expanded beyond Tampa and the Jets, and many believe he'd prefer the Vikings. However, the Packers have said they won't trade him within the division. Fantasy Impact: This news makes the Jets the front runners to land his services at this point, and they'll be a fun team to watch with a quarterback that can throw the ball more than 20 yards. | | | RB Brown Coming Back - 07/28/2008
Source: Florida Sun Sentinal RB Ronnie Brown says the hardest part of coming back from season ending knee surgery last year is going to be mental, not physical. He has slimmed down and appears able to do all of the things he could before the injury. Fantasy Impact: That defenses will be able to consistently put 8 or 9 guys in the box against the Dolphins due to inexperienced quarterbacks and wide receivers will hamper his value more than the injury. A more powerful runner, like say, Ricky Williams, may fare better against such fronts. | | | WR Horn Still Wants Trade - 07/28/2008
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution WR Joe Horn still wants a trade from the Falcons, though he has reported to camp and is ready to go. He admittedly hasn't studied the playbook though, as he expected to be dealt. Fantasy Impact: Horn is no longer worthy of a starting spot in most leagues, but could be a useful backup if he gets out of Atlanta. | | | Packers RB Grant Not Happy - 07/28/2008
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinal While everyone is paying attention to Brett Favre, the surprising star of last season, RB Ryan Grant, isn't in camp either. The Packers own his rights, but he is not under contract, and cannot be fined for missing camp. He's unhappy with the current offer, which pales in comparison to the contract signed by LB Brady Poppinga in the offseason. Fantasy Impact: Grant should get this resolved before it affects his play. The team should make a reasonable offer though, as his agent says that with the incentives in the Packers offer, "If he does what he did last year (956 yards, 8 TDs on a team that ran on only only 39.4% of its plays), he wouldn't even earn $1 million." That is insulting. | | | LenDale White Looks Healthy - 07/28/2008
Source: The Tennessean RB LenDale White, after reporting to camp last year out of shape, is impressing coaches and teammates this year with his quickness and footwork. Amusingly, says veteran center Kevin Mawae, "Last year he came in out of shape, trying to get back into shape to his playing weight, whatever that is — I don't think anyone knows what that is yet; I don't think he knows." Fantasy Impact: White will have to fend off first round pick RB Chris Williams, but should be able to do so and exceed his production last year. | | | QB Jon Kitna: Tough Guy - 07/28/2008
Source: Detroit News QB Jon Kitna looks good after playing through a litany of injuries during last season. Per Mike O'Hara:
"I thought a month after the season, he still looked miserable," coach Rod Marinelli said. "Now he looks great. He's a highly conditioned guy." Fantasy Impact: Kitna, with WR Roy Williams and WR Calvin Johnson ready to go, could have another good year. | | | Brady Quinn: No Longer Playing Terribly - 07/28/2008
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer QB Brady Quinn got off to a terrible start at camp, throwing 3 INTs and fumbling a snap in his first ten plays. Since then he's shown himself to be reasonably competent under center. Fantasy Impact: Derek Anderson is still the guy in Cleveland, and easily a top 10 fantasy quarterback. Quinn will have to wait. | | | Jonathan Stewart Impresses - 07/28/2008
Source: Charlotte Observer Rookie RB Jonathan Stewart, as well as RB DeAngelo Williams, are impressing defenders in Panthers camp this week. Said one DB of Stewart, "I went over to the sidelines and told the guys, ‘We've got us something here.' He's going to be able to get a lot of those tough yards for us when we need them." Interestingly, Stewart also stayed in a Motel 6 recently after being told his contract wouldn't be finished by the time he arrived at the facility, as earlier indicated. Fantasy Impact: Williams hasn't done much to grab the job thus far in his career, and Stewart shows all indications of being a stud. He should make a good #2 RB by mid-season. | | | McGahee: Shows Up Late, But Will Get More Touches - 07/28/2008
Source: Baltimore Sun RB Willis McGahee, despite showing up late for training camp and missing most voluntary Ravens functions in the offseason, will get an increased load under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Fantasy Impact: Cameron's last RB while a coordinator was LT, so he knows how to use tailbacks. He's looking to increase McGahee's presence on third downs and in the passing game. | | | Terry Glenn Gets Interest - 07/28/2008
Source: The Times Union Two Florida teams have needs for a veteran wide receiver, and Terry Glenn could fit the bill. Fantasy Impact: Glenn will catch on somewhere, and is productive when he's on the field. A stop in Jacksonville would give them an interesting wide receiving corps for QB David Garrard to throw to, with WRs Reggie Williams and Jerry Porter also there (though currently on the PUP list). | | | More Of The Same Under Center For The Bears - 07/28/2008
Source: Chicago Tribune This from the Chicago Tribune's David Haugh:
4:45 p.m.: After Grossman floats a wobbly duck that's picked off by Charles Tillman, a cynic in the crowd yells, "Now that looks familiar!"
4:50 p.m.: Orton keeps up with Grossman by telegraphing a quick slant pass Hunter Hillenmeyer picks off.
Fantasy Impact: I'm sure they'll both get things straightened out and....haha, sorry, couldn't say that with a straight face. Don't draft either one unless you start 4 QBs. | | | Hester Signs New Deal, Worth Up To $40M - 07/28/2008
Source: Chicago Tribune Return specialist and aspiring wide receiver Devin Hester signed a four year contract extension with the Bears, guaranteeing him up $15M and worth up to $40M in incentives Fantasy Impact: This is the clearest indication yet that the Bears intend to use Hester more prominently on offense. If your league keeps return yards / TDs, then Hester may make his way into the top 15 among wideouts this year. | | | Troy Smith Impresses - 07/26/2008
Source: Baltimore Sun After a couple of days of poor quarterback play at Ravens camp, QB Troy Smith finally made a statement and played well. Fantasy Impact: Smith is an intriguing option at quarterback. He's mobile, can make most throws, and has a pedigree of winning, coming off a solid career Ohio State. He strikes me as a guy that scouts talked themselves out of leading up to the NFL draft, and he may have a very productive year if he earns the starting role. However, as with any young QB, ups and downs are to be expected. | | | McCarthy: Rodgers is Our Starter - 07/26/2008
Source: Miami Herald Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that Aaron Rodgers is his starting quarterback, regardless of what happens to QB Brett Favre. Fantasy Impact: Sounds like Favre is going to be traded, leaving Rodgers to run the offense in front of rookies Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn | | | McAllister: MRI Negative - 07/26/2008
Source: Times-Picayune The MRI for Saints RB Deuce McAllister came back negative, and he is expected to resume practicing soon, though on a limited basis. Fantasy Impact: Having knee problems so early in camp is not a good sign for McAllister, and any of his owners may want to pick up Reggie Bush and / or Pierre Thomas, depending on how the roles shake out during the preseason. | | | Pats Sign LaMont Jordan - 07/26/2008
Source: Boston Herald After the Raiders released LaMont Jordan, the Patriots have signed him, presumably as a backup to RB Laurence Maroney. Fantasy Impact: Jordan would be a good choice to handcuff with Maroney. | | | RB McAllister to Have MRI - 07/26/2008
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Saints RB Deuce McAllister is having an MRI after he needed fluid drained from his left knee, the same knee that required surgery last year after he tore his ACL. Fantasy Impact: This is not a good sign, but it opens the door for RBs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas to show what they can do. I wouldn't be drafting McAllister with any confidence until he can stay on the field for more than a couple of days at a time. | | | Frank Gore Loves Mike Martz - 07/26/2008
Source: San Francisco Chronicle 49ers RB Frank Gore is optimistic that he can replicate Marshall Faulk's success with new coordinator Mike Martz. Gore says that Martz told him, 'All the great players, when they begin to fail in my offense, it's because they didn't study the playbook.' Fantasy Impact: With no other great options on offense, Gore will once again be the focal point, and with Martz running the show should have a year reminiscent of 2006. | | | Plaxico's Training Camp Vacation - 07/26/2008
Source: Daily News WR Plaxico Burress sat out of training camp yesterday just a day after coach Tom Coughlin declared him fit to practice once a day. Most players under that restriction participated in the morning practice, but Burress sat out both. Fantasy Impact: It's unclear whether this is his ankle injury still healing or a "business decision," as it was in prior team workouts. If last year is any indication though, as long as he sees the field on game day he'll be fine. | | | WR Marvin Harrison Looks Good - 07/26/2008
Source: Indianapolis Star WR Marvin Harrison looks like his old self at camp, according to Coach Tony Dungy. "For me, I try to read his face, when he's smiling and doesn't have that worried look, then I think things are pretty much normal" Fantasy Impact: If Harrison can make it through the whole preseason, he may be worthy of being a top 10 WR again, but that's a big if. He's coming off of two knee surgeries, but he'd also been remarkably healthy throughout his career. | | | WR Matt Jones Finds His Cocaine Arrest "Embarrassing" - 07/26/2008
Source: The Times-Union WR Matt Jones was arrested outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas earlier this year with 6 grams of cocaine in the car. His father says the cocaine wasn't his (shocker!), and Jones says he's embarrassed (double shocker!).
Fantasy Impact: Jones didn't have much fantasy impact before this, and I'm sure the resulting suspension that ultimately comes down won't help matters any. | | | Steven Jackson: Holding Out - 07/25/2008
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis Rams star RB Steven Jackson is holding out in hopes of getting his contract negotiated. Fantasy Impact: Jackson is seemingly unstoppable if he's healthy, and missing some extra wear and tear on his body may not be a bad thing. As long as he's around by the middle of camp he shouldn't be downgraded on fantasy boards. | | | Devin Hester: Going Broke, Returns to Camp - 07/25/2008
Source: Miami Herald Bears WR / KR Devin Hester, who wants to be paid like a top WR despite having no credentials at the position, is back in camp today. Fantasy Impact: Seems that the $15,000 tab for each missed day was too much for someone that is making "only" $445,000 this year. While he does deserve a raise based on his kick returning skills, we're also hard pressed to come up with a kick returner that was on top of the position for more than a few years, save Mel Gray. | | | Jets Get Permission to Talk to Favre - 07/25/2008
Source: NY Post The Jets have asked for and been granted permission to talk to QB Brett Favre about a trade. The Packers would obviously prefer to trade him to a team they do not play this year, and the Jets fit that bill. Fantasy Impact: Favre on the Jets would be interesting, as he'll have no shortage of weapons with WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, in addition to draft pick TE Dustin Keller. | | | Favre to Report to Training Camp - 07/25/2008
Source: Miami Herald Packers QB Brett Favre has informed the team of his intention to reply for reinstatement and attend training camp. One report says that this is a maneuver to force a trade, which would make sense for Brett, giving his as much time as possible to learn a new offense. Another report says the Packers caved and are willing to hand him the job again. Fantasy Impact: Favre is just gonna go out there slangin' that darn pigskin around and havin' a great time! Like a little kid out there!
But seriously, if he's starting in the NFL he should be worthy of a starting spot in most fantasy leagues | | | RB Westbrook In Camp...For Now - 07/25/2008
Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette RB Brian Westbrook reported to Eagles camp, but is doing so on a temporary basis. After switching agents, "I just wanted to give my agent an opportunity to talk with team president Joe Banner and see if we can get something done," he said. Fantasy Impact: While a lengthy holdout would hurt his value, I doubt anyone would allow that to happen with the optimism surrounding the Eagles this year. | | | Quinn Gray: Signed by Colts - 07/25/2008
Source: Indianapolis Star The Indianapolis Colts have brought in former Jacksonville Jaguars QB Quinn Gray to compete with Jim Sorgi for the backup job. Normally with the Colts this means the right to play the 2nd half of the last game of the season, but with Peyton Manning's injury this role may carry more significance this season. Fantasy Impact: This doesn't show a lot of confidence in Sorgi, and Gray was fairly competent in Jacksonville. | | | Devin Thomas: Hamstring Injury - 07/24/2008
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Redskins rookie receiver Devin Thomas left practice today with a hamstring injury. The severity is unknown. Fantasy Impact: Rookie receivers rarely contribute in fantasy circles anyway, but this won't help his cause. | | | Lamont Jordan Not Welcome in Oakland - 07/24/2008
Source: San Francisco Chronicle Raiders RB LaMont Jordan was told he was not welcome at training camp. However, since he's under contract with the Raiders, they can't bar him from participating. This is essentially the same situation Steve McNair faced with the Titans before his trade. Fantasy Impact: Jordan is oft-injured, and the article cites New Orleans as a possible landing spot. With a backfield of Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, and the intriguing Pierre Thomas, he could jump from one overcrowded running back situation to another. Wait to see where he lands. | | | Devin Hester: Holdout! - 07/23/2008
Source: Chicago Tribune WR Devin Hester is holding out, costing himself $15,000 a day. He's only making $445,000 this year, so a one week holdout would cost him approximately a quarter of what he'll see after taxes. Fantasy Impact: I'd imagine this comes to an end quickly. He's not making enough money to justify losing all that money holding out, and he's simply not good enough on offense to get a lot of money. Much of his effectiveness can be negated by the fact that punters don't have to actually kick him the ball. He is probably the best returner in the game, but we all remember how long Dante Hall lasted, right? | | | QB Jeff Garcia takes a vacation - 07/23/2008
Source: The Tampa Tribune QB Jeff Garcia is going to miss training camp this weekend to attend the 25th reunion of a Ju-Co football championship team coached by his father. Fantasy Impact: The man is about 47 years old, he probably needed the weekend off anyway. QB Chris Simms will get a chance to impress and drive up his trade value, as he appears unlikely to start the season in Tampa. | | | Baltimore QB Update - 07/23/2008
Source: Baltimore Sun QBs Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, and Joe Flacco were in action on the first day of camp in a red zone drill. Smith was not impressive in 5 attempts, including 3 INTs, 1 to the DB coach who was participating. Fantasy Impact: My personal feeling is that Boller is ready to succeed, but I acknowledge I'm in the vast minority here. Whoever wins this job will need to prove themselves before being picked up on a fantasy team, barring a brilliant preseason performance. | | | Terry Glenn: Negotiating with Cowboys - 07/23/2008
Source: Dallas Morning News WR Terry Glenn hopes to have a deal in place with the Cowboys before Friday when training camp opens. Glenn is set to be payed $1.74 million, but the Cowboys want him to sign a waiver that stipulates he be payed only $500,000 if he hurts his knee again. Understandably, Glenn is not enthused. Fantasy Impact: This seems like it will get done and Glenn's knee will be the only issue affecting him as he prepares for the season. | | | Marvin Lewis: Chis Henry can get out and stay out - 07/23/2008
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Cincinnattica Bengals coach has decided that the most recently released prisoner, WR Chris Henry, is no longer welcome on their team, contrary to what Henry's agent said. Fantasy Impact: Lesson 1, you can never trust agents. Lesson 2, never draft Chris Henry. | | | Marvin Harrison Finally Healthy. Finally. - 07/22/2008
Source: Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Colts WR Marvin Harrison is ready to play after knee surgery sidelined him for 11 games, far more than were expected when he initially suffered the injury. Fantasy Impact: I'm not a doctor, but it seems like the next knee injury Harrison suffers may be his last after a career at Syracuse University (turf) and Indianapolis (turf). I've always been a big fan of Marvin, but you might want to let someone else take the risk this year. | | | Mark Bradley: Ready to Go...For Now - 07/22/2008
Source: Chicago Tribune Chicago Bears WR Mark Bradley has been cleared to play after having his knee scoped. He missed part of the Bears' offseason program. Fantasy Impact: Bradley can never stay healthy anyway, but if he can find a way to stay on the field he makes for an interesting sleeper, despite the shifty quarterback situation in Chicago. | | | Chad Johnson: WIll Report to Camp - 07/21/2008
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer WR Chad Johnson will report to camp on time, though he claims his surgically repaired ankle isn't at full strength. Fantasy Impact: The status of Johnson's ankle is of much greater concern to fantasy owners than his contract status. He'll be a top-10 WR if he is healthy. | | | Boldin Will Report to Camp - 07/21/2008
Source: Arizona Republic WR Anquan Boldin will report to training camp despite being unhappy with his contract. Fantasy Impact: The Cardinals should really consider giving Boldin an extension. If his Sugar Bowl performance against Georgia was any indication, he's probably the second best quarterback on the roster, too. | | | TE Jeremy Shockey: A Saint! Seriously. - 07/21/2008
Source: New York Daily News The popularity of bleached blonde hair just skyrocketed in New Orleans as TE Jeremy Shockey is now a Saint. The unhappy tight end didn't like his situation in NY and wanted out, now he's got it. Fantasy Impact: TE Kevin Boss now becomes a decent fantasy option, and pending Shockey's ability to stay healthy, his situation improves as well. QB Drew Brees is the big winner here, adding another weapon to an already loaded offense. Meanwhile, the poor people of New Orleans are still getting over Hurricane Katrina, and now they get former Hurricane Shockey. | | | Jerry Porter: Bad Hammy Rules Out Preseason - 07/19/2008
Source: Florida Times-Union WR Jerry Porter will be out 6-8 weeks following surgery to correct a hamstring tendon issue that wasn't progressing as quickly as he and the team would have liked.
Fantasy Impact: Porter was brought in to be the #1 guy for David Garrard, but it appears that this will have to wait. Porter likely won't return at full strength, so draft him with the knowledge that the first four weeks of the season probably won't be impressive. | | | Falcons: We can't give Joe Horn away - 07/18/2008
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution The Falcons can't find anyone that's interested in disgruntled WR Joe Horn. The Cowboys could find him as a logical replacement if WR Terry Glenn isn't back, but so far there have been no discussions. Fantasy Impact: He may be worth considering if he ends up in Dallas, but probably not even then. | | | WR Joe Jurevicius: Another Knee Surgery - 07/18/2008
Source: Cleveland Plain-Dealer WR Joe Jurevicius underwent another knee surgery at the start of July, making it four procedures on his right knee. Fantasy Impact: Jurevicius is in a good offense and could be worthwhile if he ever sees the field. At this rate, that's doubtful. | | | Chris Henry: Bengals Want Me Back - 07/18/2008
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer WR Chris Henry claims the Bengals are one of the teams interested in his services after he's been cleared of the charges from April that led to his release. Fantasy Impact: Give me a break. | | | WR Brandon Marshall Catching With Two Hands - 07/18/2008
Source: Denver Post Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall began catching a ball with two hands recently in coming back from a severed vein, artery, nerves and a tendon suffered in March. Fantasy Impact: It looks like he should be ready by camp. The knock on Marshall has always been his focus, and Jay Cutler made comments in the offseason indicating he was unhappy with Marshall's injury, as it came while wrestling with some family members. If that relationship can be mended, Marshall should have another big year. | | | Bears: Interested in Chris Simms - 07/18/2008
Source: Chicago Tribune The Tampa Tribune listed the Bears as a possible destination for QB Chris Simms, who appears to be on his way out in Tampa. Fantasy Impact: Adding Simms to the Bears mix of quarterbacks doesn't make much sense for them, as his ability isn't much greater their two current options, QBs Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. It would, however, give him a shot at some fantasy value in 2008. | | | Brett Favre: Who Knows? - 07/17/2008
Source: Deadspin, Fox Sports QB Brett Favre claims he'd like to comeback, but is not feeling the love from Green Bay. This is unsurprising considering he canceled announcing his comeback on two occasions when the Packers were willing to support him. Even more annoyed must be QB Aaron Rodgers, who sat behind Favre for three years, was told that he is now the man, and has to deal with this. Making Favre look even more like an baby, he went out of his way to tell FoxNews Greta Van Susteren that he "never gave him (Rodgers) advice, really."
But he looks like he's having so much fun out there, trashing the organization that stood by him for many years. And oh yeah, they really helped to push that painkiller addiction under the rug for you too, Brett. Fantasy Impact: While Favre may be acting like a petulant child, he's definitely a good fantasy option pending where he lands. The most common whispers are that he'll be in Tampa or Kansas City, two teams in desperate need of the quarterback. The Vikings no longer appear to be an option, as the Packers have just filed tampering charges against them, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer. | | | QB McCown Expected to be Ready for Camp After Chainsaw Accident - 07/16/2008
Source: ESPN Miami Dolphins QB Josh McCown is expected to be ready for training camp after suffering a cut to his hand, requiring 6 stitches. Fantasy Impact: McCown is competing with QBs John Beck and Chad Henne for the starting spot in Miami. | | | Bears Sign RB Kevin Jones - 07/16/2008
Source: ESPN RB Kevin Jones, who coming off of a serious knee injury, signed a contract with the Chicago Bears. Fantasy Impact: With the release of RB Cedric Benson and RB Adrian Peterson having never carried the load for an entire season, Jones is a logical signing for the Bears and could be a very good fantasy option if he gets enough touches. His main competition seems to be Peterson and rookie RB Matt Forte. | | | Kevin Jones: Continues to Impress - 06/30/2008
Source: Yahoo! Sports RB Kevin Jones continues to impress following recent knee surgery. Originally told that he'd have to wait 10 months before returning to football after the January procedure, Jones appears to be well ahead of schedule and worked out for four teams over the weekend, and the Browns requested a video tape of the workout. Fantasy Impact: Jones was once a hot commodity in fantasy circles, and after a few injury riddled years he may be back on the right track. He's certainly an ideal handcuff candidate, if you're a fan of that strategy. | | | Marshawn Lynch Loses Driver's License - 06/30/2008
Source: Yahoo! Sports RB Marshawn Lynch lost his New York Driver's License (ironically, just one day after getting it after replacing his California license) for hitting a woman with his SUV. Lynch claims that he slowed to avoid a woman dancing in the street, and in the heavy rain did not notice a second pedestrian. Police believed him as he made no effort to hide or fix his vehicle, parking it in his driveway after returning home. Fantasy Impact: It seems that this was a complete accident, and any punishment from Roger Goodell would cause the greatest hit to his fantasy value. I would be very surprised to see a suspension. | | | Steelers Release Davenport - 06/30/2008
Source: Yahoo! Sports The Steelers released RB Najeh Davenport recently. This move came after unsuccessful efforts to trade Davenport following the addition of RB Rashard Mendenhall during the draft. The team also features RB Willie Parker, recently signed RB Mewelde Moore and second year RB Gary Russell from Minnesota. Fantasy Impact: This move comes as no real surprise, as there simply weren't going to be enough carries to go around with the addition of Mendenhall. Davenport averaged 4.7 ypc last season, but was ineffective in the Steelers' final two games when forced to replace Parker, who was out with an injury. Keep an eye on Davenport, and he may be worth grabbing with a late flier if he lands in the right place. However, as a back who relies primarily on his strength, if he goes to a team with an established goal-line runner he is not worth considering. | | | Boldin Threatens To Skip Camp - 06/19/2008
Source: Yahoo Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin said recently that he may skip training camp in a contract dispute. Fantasy Impact: This sounds like posturing at its finest, as Boldin will be fined $15,000 per day of camp missed. If he does holdout, the values of QBs Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner take a hit as Boldin is one of the premier wide receivers in football when healthy. | | | Marvin Harrison: No News is Good News? - 06/19/2008
Source: Yahoo There have been no recent developments in the Marvin Harrison case, and its becoming increasingly unlikely that the incident outside of his bar will have any effect on his status this season. Fantasy Impact: Harrison played in only 5 games last year, and his comeback took much, much longer than originally expected. This is a much bigger concern for fantasy owners than the shooting case. | | | Shaun Hill: Competing for Starting Spot - 06/19/2008
Source: Yahoosports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=rotowire-haunillompetitionide&prov=rotowire&type=fantasy The quarterback competition is wide open in San Francisco, and whoever gets the job could be a potential sleeper with Mike Martz running the offense. Fantasy Impact: If anyone not named Alex Smith is the starting quarterback, I would be shocked. He may have some flaws, but if he's no better than J.T. O'Sullivan or Shaun Hill the 49ers scouting staff needs to take a long hard look at itself. | | | Jason Taylor: Packers Still Interested - 06/19/2008
Source: Yahoo The Packers continue to inquire about the price tag on Jason Taylor, but they refuse to budge off their demand of a number one pick. The Packers also want Taylor to play commit to playing more than one season, should they agree to trade for him. Fantasy Impact: Taylor would likely benefit from a change of scenery, and Green Bay's defense might rise a notch or two in the rankings. | | | Kevin Jones: Rehab Ahead of Schedule - 06/19/2008
Source: Yahoo After undergoing knee surgery in January, former Lions RB Kevin Jones was told he'd need 10 months to recover. Instead, he has workouts scheduled for June 28th and several teams plan to send representatives. He believes he'll be ready for full non-contact drills by the time training camp rolls around. Fantasy Impact: Jones seems quite optimistic about his status, though we've seen this before. Keep an eye on him if he lands in a good situation. | | | Coles, Dyson, Rhodes among banged-up Jets heading into regular-season finale - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Shockey misses practice again with ankle injury - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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. | | | Panthers QB Delhomme upgraded to probable - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | FB Shelton out for Bills' season finale against Ravens - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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. | | | Denver bracing for 49er running back Gore - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Parcells, Romo try putting a happy face on Cowboys' woes - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Johnson returns after one-game suspension - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | QB Young, LB Merriman among NFL Players of the Week - 12/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Giants DE Michael Strahan on injured reserve - 12/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Jets' Coles leaves game with cut on head - 12/26/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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. | | | Eagles tops in NFC East with 23-7 win - 12/26/2006
Source: NFL.com 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.
| | | Jags' Taylor ruled out against Pats - 12/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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." | | | Addai cleared to play Sunday against Texans - 12/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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." | | | Tank Johnson posts bond, must stay in Illinois - 12/22/2006
Source: ESPN 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. | | | Bryant suspended for violating substance abuse policy - 12/22/2006
Source: ESPN 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. | | | Vick says sore groin has improved - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Bengal's Johnson butters up Bailey with compliments - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Can Young, Titans bounce back from worst offensive game? - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Texans rushing game comes on as Carr struggles - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Jones has 1,000 yards for Cowboys, but is still rested - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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. | | | Grossman, Dawkins, Tomlinson among NFL Players of the Week - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Bears DT Johnson suspended for one game after third arrest - 12/20/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Titans keep streak alive with lots of big plays - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Gruden: Rattay will start against Browns - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Addai, Harrison nicked up, but not expected to miss time - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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."
| | | Rookie QB Jackson struggles with taking over for Johnson - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Vick in treatment; Abraham has thumb surgery - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Four interceptions in one day leaves Carr at lowest point - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Cowboys WR Owens fined $35,000 for spitting on CB Hall - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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.
| | | Ravens' McNair expected to play Sunday - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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."
| | | Jags expect to have Drew, unsure about Taylor - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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. | | | Arizona tight end finished for season with knee injury - 12/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire 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. | | | Benching of Vikings WR Robinson a mystery - 12/19/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 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.
| | | Williams doesn't think he'll make Pro Bowl - 12/19/2006
Source: Booth Newspapers 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." | | | Apparently, Tank's a keeper - 12/19/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times 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.''
| | | Rattay to start against Cleveland - 12/19/2006
Source: St. Petersburg Times 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. We just aren't able to complete drives. And I believe the best thing to do right now is go with Tim Rattay.
"Did I wait too long? That's up to you to decide."
| | | Ps-s-s-t: Jackson starting, pass it on - 12/19/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Behind the castle walls, a starting quarterback stepped onto the practice field. Vikings staff members guarded the doors, ready to raise the drawbridge. Archers stood on the roof. Catapults were wheeled into place.
Although they had only 100 hours to prepare for Thursday's game at Green Bay, the Vikings took all precautions Monday -- real and imagined -- to conceal their decision to start rookie Tarvaris Jackson against the Packers. Coach Brad Childress skipped his regular Monday news conference, both Jackson and Brad Johnson were missing from the locker room during the media access period and reporters were dismissed from practice after watching six minutes of stretching.
During his contracted appearance Monday night on KFAN-1130, Childress said he was still "mulling" the decision. But two people with knowledge of the situation said Childress already had informed the team that Jackson would start, following up by having Jackson take the first-team repetitions during the closed portion of Monday's practice.
Barring an injury to Jackson, the decision means Johnson almost certainly has thrown his final pass for the Vikings. He is under contract through the 2008 season, but Childress has benched him in three games this season and never has seemed entirely comfortable with Johnson as the starter. Johnson, who was unavailable Monday, said Sunday that he and Childress "never talk."
Jackson, a second-round draft pick from Alabama State, entered Sunday's 26-13 loss for the final play of the third quarter and completed 14 of 23 passes for 177 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. He has a stronger arm and is more mobile than Johnson, but he has limited experience in running the Vikings' complicated offense.
As the No. 3 quarterback, Jackson exclusively ran the scout team in practice until he was elevated to the No. 2 position earlier this month. But assuming Jackson also starts the Dec. 31 season finale against St. Louis, the Vikings will have two full games to evaluate him before determining whether he can open the 2007 season as their unquestioned starter.
That move seemed logical enough that Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy appeared convinced the Packers would face Jackson, speaking at length about facing a quarterback with Jackson's skills.
"It's a challenge any time you play a new quarterback," McCarthy said, "definitely when they're physically, diversely different from the [previous] starter. I mean, that's a challenge in itself. Yes, he's young, inexperienced, but he's also got a very strong arm. He's athletic. So that's a challenge because it does affect the way you may set your edges and things like that when you get into defensive game-planning."
Childress attempted a similar charade two weeks ago when he refused to identify Johnson as the starter for the Dec. 10 game at Detroit, even after multiple sources confirmed the move. Monday night, Childress claimed he had not made a decision when in fact he had revealed it privately at Winter Park several hours earlier.
Asked if Jackson would start, Childress said: "You know what? We're still mulling that over right now. We just went through some preliminary practice today. We'll see how we go."
| | | Short week changes game preparation - 12/19/2006
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette The quick turnaround to Thursday's game against the Minnesota Vikings will present coach Mike McCarthy and his staff with a multitude of problems.
Among the challenges facing the Green Bay Packers this week is the lack of recovery time for players who have injuries, little or no time to review the numerous breakdowns from Sunday's 17-9 win over the Detroit Lions and having only one full day of practice to install the game plan for the Vikings.
For now, the Detroit film goes on the back burner save a handful of botched plays that McCarthy wants the offense to see again.
"We're in for a long evening," McCarthy said on Monday. "We need to get it all in tomorrow."
Today also will be a long work day. Because McCarthy chose not to practice on Monday — the players came in for conditioning work only — today will be the only practice that's typical of a regular-season week. McCarthy may keep the players on the practice field a bit longer than usual, because he's going to try to roll some of what would be normal Wednesday and Thursday workouts into one. Wednesday's day-before-the-game practice will be little more than a walkthrough.
"We've got a big challenge," McCarthy added on Monday. "Our plan for tomorrow is to cover all the different situations and try to get their bodies back. We're going to spend a little more time with the players than we normally do and have everything in and cleaned up by the time they get out of here tomorrow."
Complicating things further is that several key players probably won't get any practice time. Running back Ahman Green and cornerback Charles Woodson haven't been practicing on Wednesdays of normal game weeks, and McCarthy said neither would work out today.
McCarthy said twice during his tenure as an assistant coach with the Kansas City Chiefs he was part of teams that played on Thanksgiving. He went back and reviewed the schedules from those two weeks before finalizing his plan. He had the position coaches spend time last week working on projects relating to the Vikings, and several coaches also returned to work after Sunday's game against the Lions.
"I know some people have practiced more, some have practiced less," McCarthy said. "I think the priority is getting their bodies back." | | | The limbo line: Injuries take toll - 12/19/2006
Source: Detroit News Before he departed Lambeau Field late Sunday afternoon, Jeff Backus reflected on how his status has changed on the Lions' offensive line. It is part of an athlete's aging process.
It wasn't that long ago Backus and Dominic Raiola were the youngsters on the unit. They looked to their elders -- players such as Tony Semple and Ray Brown -- for guidance.
"Now we're the older guys," Backus said.
And the most durable.
On an offensive line that has been in a state of constant flux since training camp, Backus and Raiola are the only members of the unit to start all 14 games.
Injuries have forced coach Rod Marinelli to start eight players at the other three positions.
If rebuilding the line isn't Marinelli's first priority, it's close.
"I've always said and believed, it starts up front," Marinelli said Monday at his weekly news conference. "To win in this league, to me, that's where it starts.
"You've got to be really good in those areas -- defend the run and to run the ball, and your pass protections."
Backus never has missed a start since coming to the Lions as a first-round pick out of Michigan in 2001.
Raiola, drafted in the second round in '01, has started every game since the season opener in 2002 -- that's 78 straight.
The Lions entered camp with a projected starting five of Backus and Rex Tucker at tackle, Ross Verba and Damien Woody at guard and Raiola at center. The five have not started a game together.
| | | Moss out for Raiders; Timmerman for Rams - 12/18/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Randy Moss missed his first game since
joining the Oakland Raiders, sitting out Sunday's contest against
the St. Louis Rams with a sprained ankle.
Moss, who leads the Raiders with 42 catches for 553 yards,
injured his ankle last week against Cincinnati. He was replaced in
the lineup by Ronald Curry. Doug Gabriel, claimed off waivers from
New England earlier this week, also was active.
Rams right guard Adam Timmerman also missed the game with three
broken ribs, ending his streak of playing in 184 consecutive
regular-season games. Center Richie Incognito switched to guard to
replace Timmerman, with Brett Romberg starting at center.
Other Raiders inactive were receiver Jerry Porter, tight end
James Adkisson, running back LaMont Jordan, defensive back Duane
Starks and offensive linemen Robert Gallery and Corey Hulsey.
Other Rams inactive were running backs Rich Alexis and Paul
Smith, defensive linemen Eric Moore and Victor Adeyanju, offensive
lineman Jeremy Parquet and safety Jerome Carter. | | | Vick's status uncertain for Carolina - 12/18/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who injured his
groin in the second half and left the game on the final drive of a
38-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, reported to team headquarters for
treatment on Sunday.
Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts had no information regarding
Vick's status for this weekend, when Atlanta (7-7) hosts the
Carolina Panthers (6-8).
Atlanta enters Week 16 trailing the New York Giants (7-7) for
the sixth and final NFC playoff spot. New York would win a
tiebreaker over the Falcons after beating Atlanta earlier this
season at the Georgia Dome.
Vick improved to 6-2 in his career against the Panthers after
opening the season with a win at Carolina.
Much of Vick's NFL success, however, begins with his ability to
avoid defensive pressure by running and throwing on the run, so a
groin injury would seem to limit him significantly.
"We'll have to wait and see," Vick said Saturday night. "I
felt a pain I have never felt before. It was a sharp pain."
Vick, who broke Bobby Douglass' single-season NFL record for
rushing by a quarterback, needs 10 yards to become the first player
at his position to run for 1,000 in a season.
Against the Cowboys, Vick threw four touchdown passes and an
interception that DeMarcus Ware returned for a 41-yard score in the
second quarter.
The Falcons' No. 2 quarterback, Matt Schaub, completed three of
five passes for 33 yards. Schaub took three snaps with Vick lined
up at running back, but Dallas safety Patrick Watkins intercepted
his final attempt, a 48-yarder in the end zone.
Vick accounted for 293 yards of total offense. He was 16-for-24
passing for 237 yards. | | | Colts hoping to show Monday night world they can play 'D' - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Indianapolis Colts' defensive players
have spent most of this season explaining what's wrong.
On Monday night, against Cincinnati, they intend to show the
football world they've fixed their problems.
"We've got to correct them," three-time Pro Bowl defensive end
Dwight Freeney said. "But I think it's bigger than proving
something to the world -- we've got to prove to each other what we
can do."
This week's discussion has focused primarily on the Colts' most
glaring weakness: stopping the run. A week ago, Jacksonville ran
for 375 yards, the NFL's second-highest single game total since the
1970 merger.
Over the past two weeks, Indy (10-3) has given up nearly 600
yards rushing. Its per game average is a mind-boggling 176.5.
Analysts, callers to talk radio shows and even players and
coaches have acknowledged if the Colts (10-3) can't improve over
the final three games, it's unlikely they'll be headed toward the
Super Bowl.
So it's no secret how opponents, even a passing team like the
Bengals (8-5), will attack.
"I doubt if they'll have only 14 passes," coach Tony Dungy
said, referring to last week's game at Jacksonville. "If 85 (Chad
Johnson) lines up at tailback, then we'll know they're going to run
every single play. But I'm sure they're going to run it."
Cincinnati understands how quickly impressions can change in the
NFL.
Only a month ago, the defending AFC North champions were being
written off -- much like the Colts are now -- as a viable playoff
team. Receiver Johnson wanted more passes, their vaunted offense
was struggling with injuries, and the defense couldn't seem to get
anything right.
| | | Taylor aggravates strained hamstring - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Both members of Jacksonville's talented
running back tandem were limping after the Jaguars' 24-17 loss to
Tennessee on Sunday.
Running back Fred Taylor aggravated his right hamstring after
breaking loose on what could have been a touchdown run in the first
quarter. He did not return, but said he did not pull his hamstring.
In the fourth quarter, Maurice Drew limped to the sideline.
"I thought it was a cramp initially or something just grabbing,
but it didn't let up," Taylor said of his injury. "Hamstrings are
tricky. Sometimes they just spasm, sometimes you can pull them.
Thankfully, I did not pull it."
Taylor ran 35 yards before pulling up and limping to the
sideline. He tried loosening up his leg by riding a stationary
bicycle on the sideline. Team officials first said his return was
questionable. He later ran to the locker room, and did not return.
He was replaced by Drew, who rushed for 98 yards and a score,
his 13th of the season. In the fourth quarter, he caught a short
pass and ran 37 yards before being tackled by Titans safety Lamont
Thompson.
Drew hopped toward the sideline and fell to the ground before he
got there. Teammates pulled him off the field, but he was later
seen kneeling on the sideline holding his helmet in hopes of
returning.
Drew was taken for X-rays after the game to check his left leg.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio did not know after the game what part of
Drew's leg was being X-rayed
Taylor strained his right hamstring last week against
Indianapolis. He had nine carries for a season-high 131 yards in
the first half but sat out the rest of that game.
On Sunday, he had two carries for 37 yards when he hurt himself
on the Jaguars' second drive of the game. He said his hamstring was
stiff, tight and sore but he wanted to return.
| | | WR Owens admits to spitting on CB Hall - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Terrell Owens is in trouble again.
The Dallas Cowboys' temperamental wide receiver admitted to
spitting in the face of Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall
in Saturday night's 38-28 win and faces a league fine for his
actions.
"I got frustrated and I apologize for that (spitting)," Owens
told the NFL Network. "It was a situation where he (Hall) kept
bugging me and getting in my face."
On the third play from scrimmage, Hall used his forearms to
shove Owens. Then after tight end Jason Witten caught a pass,
Owens spit on Hall's face before heading back to the huddle.
"I lost all respect for the guy," Hall said of Owens. "You
don't spit in another grown man's face. Hopefully, the NFL can
see it and go back and watch the film right just before the
first punt."
Owens 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.
| | | Vikings WR Robinson inactive - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Minnesota Vikings receiver Marcus Robinson
was surprisingly deactivated for Sunday's game against the New York
Jets.
Robinson has twice as many receiving touchdowns (four) as any
other Viking, despite not playing in four games this season, three
due to injury and one as a healthy scratch.
He was listed as probable this week on the injury report with an
ankle injury.
Right tackle Marcus Johnson also was inactive for the fourth
straight week, and coach Brad Childress gave second-round draft
pick Ryan Cook his first NFL start against the Jets. Cook has split
time with veteran Mike Rosenthal at tackle the last three weeks.
For New York, running back Kevan Barlow was inactive for the
third straight week, with Leon Washington again getting the start. | | | Vick breaks 34-year-old record for rushing yards by a quarterback - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Michael Vick broke a 34-year-old record and can
set his sights on another milestone -- 1,000 yards.
The Atlanta Falcons' one-of-a-kind player eclipsed Bobby
Douglass' season record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in
Saturday night's 38-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Vick broke off an 11-yard run with 10.5 minutes left to go past
Douglass, who ran for 968 yards with the Chicago Bears in 1972.
Vick wound up with 990 yards, though he hurt his groin in the
second half and finished the game on the bench.
"It means a lot," Vick said. "It's something I can tell my
kids. When they're sitting around talking football with their
classmates, my son and daughter will be able to say, 'This is what
my daddy accomplished.' It means more than anything. I'm
disappointed we didn't get the win, but it's a milestone."
Vick set the record in the Falcons' 14th game -- the same number
of games that were played during Douglass' era. It came on the same
night that Atlanta teammate Morten Andersen became the leading
scorer in NFL history, passing Gary Anderson.
Vick also tied a career high with four touchdown passes. He
passed for 237 yards and rushed for 56 on eight carries.
With two games remaining, Vick will almost certainly become the
first quarterback to run for 1,000 yards in a season, which is only
appropriate because he's already viewed as the greatest runner to
ever play his position.
But he did seem a bit troubled about his groin, which began
hurting early in the third quarter.
"I felt a pain that I have never felt before," Vick said. "It
was a sharp pain. I'm going to see the doctors right now and see
what they have to say. I'll get treatment in the morning and the
rest of the week."
Despite the loss, the Falcons (7-7) are still clinging to hope
in the NFC wild-card race. But they face a must-win situation
against Carolina next weekend.
"If push comes to shove," Vick said, "I'll be out there."
Vick already holds five other NFL quarterback rushing records,
including most yards in a game (173 against Minnesota in 2002) and
most 100-yard games in a career (eight).
| | | Tight end Scaife deactivated with sore ankle - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Tennessee Titans deactivated tight
end Bo Scaife against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Scaife, one of quarterback Vince Young's favorite targets, had
played in every game this season and started 11. He ranks second on
the Titans with 29 catches for 370 yards, but sprained his ankle
last week in a 26-20 overtime victory at Houston. He did not
practice this week.
That left the Titans without any of the three tight ends they
started with this season. Erron Kinney and Ben Troupe are on
injured reserve.
Ben Hartsock, the former Indianapolis tight end claimed off
waivers in October, started his first game for the Titans.
The Jaguars placed safety Nick Sorensen on injured reserve. He
hurt his hamstring last week against Indianapolis. Jacksonville
replaced him on the roster with defensive end Jeremy Mincey and
deactivated him. | | | Delhomme misses second straight game with thumb injury - 12/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake
Delhomme was inactive for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, giving
Chris Weinke his second straight start.
Delhomme hasn't been able to play or practice since suffering
ligament damage in his right thumb in Carolina's loss to
Philadelphia on Dec. 4. He tried to throw on the side before
Friday's practice, but had trouble gripping the ball.
Delhomme had his streak of 66 straight starts snapped last
Sunday in a loss to the New York Giants. Weinke threw for a
team-record 423 yards, but also had three interceptions.
Tight end Kris Mangum (hip) and running back Nick Goings
(shoulder) were also inactive.
Cornerbacks Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas, who both missed last
Sunday's game with hamstring injuries, were on the active roster
Sunday. | | | McNair says Texans are headed for success - 12/16/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Houston Texans owner Bob McNair tries to answer
every letter he gets from fans complaining about the direction of
his team. Lately, he's been busy.
The Texans (4-9) play at New England (9-4) on Sunday and will
finish below .500, just as they have each of their previous four
seasons.
McNair said after watching Thursday's practice that he's as
frustrated as anyone, but insists the team is close to a
"monumental" breakthrough, as early as next season.
"If I didn't feel we were on the right track, I'd be a lot more
concerned about it," he said.
McNair is still taking criticism from fans for passing on
Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and former Texas star and local
favorite Vince Young in the 2006 draft. It didn't help that Young
beat the Texans with a 39-yard touchdown run in overtime at Reliant
Stadium on Sunday.
But McNair still defends the decision to draft defensive end
Mario Williams, pointing out that the team also picked linebacker
DeMeco Ryans, the NFL's leading tackler (128).
"Long-term, it's going to pay off for us," McNair said. "This
is a world in which people want short-term results and we're not
giving them short-term results, so it's easy for people to think
we're not making progress or we're making bad decisions.
| | | Losman earns right to remain Bills starter going into next season - 12/16/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire J.P. Losman can stop looking over his
shoulder. He's won the right to be the Buffalo Bills starting
quarterback beyond this year.
Citing Losman's improved performance as this season progressed,
coach Dick Jauron said Thursday he intends to keep Losman as the
team's starter going into next year.
"He's earned it," Jauron told The Associated Press.
"Nothing's been handed to him. He's done it the hard way. And I
really believe he'll keep working if not as hard, but harder. I
think it's important to him. It's important to all of us."
While Jauron has backed Losman throughout this season, his
statements Thursday were the most definitive on the quarterback's
long-term status. They come with three games left in Buffalo's
season and after Losman helped the Bills win four of their past six
to improve to 6-7 heading into their game against Miami on Sunday.
For Losman, it's a flip from last season when he went 1-7 as a
first-year starter and twice lost his job to journeyman Kelly
Holcomb. Losman didn't regain the No. 1 role until August after
winning a three-way competition to beat out Holcomb and former
Green Bay third-stringer Craig Nall.
The competition was Jauron's idea after he took over as head
coach in January.
"We're really pleased with what he's done to this point, and he
knows and we know, he's got a long ways to go and we've got a long
ways to go," Jauron said. "But we're working at it and going in
the right direction."
Losman, the second of Buffalo's two 2004 first-round picks, was
pleased to learn of Jauron's faith in him.
| | | Police charge Johnson after finding guns at home - 12/14/2006
Source: ESPN Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson was charged Thursday with not having a gun owner identification card after six firearms were found at his Gurnee home.
The misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to a year in jail upon conviction, said Jeff Pavletic, first assistant state's attorney in Lake County.
Gurnee Police issued a warrant and searched Johnson's home, coach Lovie Smith said.
Johnson, the Bears' starting nose guard, didn't practice Thursday and was driven away from Halas Hall by a Bears security official.
Johnson turned himself in to Gurnee police, posted bond and was released Thursday night, Police Chief Robert Jones told a news conference.
"It definitely is a concern because Tank has had to deal with some things like this in the past. Yes, it definitely is a concern," Smith said before charges were filed.
He added that it was a distraction for the playoff-bound team.
Police told the Chicago Tribune that a 26-year-old male and a 25-year-old female were in the home with a toddler and an infant when the police conducted their search.
According to the Tribune, a man was led from the home in handcuffs by police.
Witnesses told the Tribune that at least 20 police officers took part in the raid.
Unless specifically exempted by statute, all Illinois residents who buy or possess firearms are required by law to have a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card. They are issued by the Illinois State Police.
In November 2005, Johnson was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours' community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. He was arrested was arrested earlier in 2005 after a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.
Johnson also was arrested last February after a confrontation outside a Chicago nightclub, but the charges were dropped after the police officer he allegedly scuffled with decided not to continue the prosecution.
Losing Johnson would be a major blow to the Bears, who've already clinched a playoff berth by winning the NFC North. Chicago is also without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who underwent surgery Tuesday for a torn hamstring.
Johnson was a second-round draft pick of the Bears out of Washington in 2004.
"I'm disappointed," Smith said at practice. "Of course we're disappointed that something like this is coming up. We're constantly talking about our players, about doing the right thing, and our players do the right thing the majority of the time. But sometimes things like this come up."
| | | Lions WR Williams says Harris is best cornerback - 12/14/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel They've only played against one another four times, but Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris and Detroit Lions receiver Roy Williams have a nice little rivalry going.
Emphasis on nice.
The two don't play nice when they're on the field, but when it comes to complimenting each other, they aren't shy about it. Especially Williams, who last year called Harris the best cornerback in the NFL and continues to consider him that.
"Everybody asks me who I think the best corner in the NFL is and Al Harris is the best corner in the NFL," Williams said on a conference call with state reporters. "I love to play against him twice a year and it's always a matchup. He's going to win plays, I'm going to win plays. We're just out there competing."
There are few cornerbacks who can handle the 6-3, 220-pound Williams physically. It's one of the reasons why he ranks third in the NFL in receptions and receiving yards with 69 catches for 1,116 yards and four touchdowns, despite playing for the 2-11 Lions.
On Sunday, the two will match up at Lambeau Field, nearly three months after their last meeting in Detroit.
In that game, Williams had a huge day, catching seven passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. However, unlike previous meetings when Harris shadowed Williams all over the field, the Packers only matched Harris on the young Lions receiver on third down.
Harris gave up completions of 14, 13 and 20 yards to Williams in that game. The big play, a 42-yard touchdown, came when linebacker A.J. Hawk and safety Nick Collins messed up the coverage and let Williams run open into the corner of the end zone.
| | | Lions' Kevin Jones faces long recovery after foot surgery - 12/14/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Detroit Lions running back Kevin Jones underwent
surgery on his injured left foot Wednesday and will begin a long
rehabilitation period.
The Lions' leading rusher was injured late in Sunday's 30-20
loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Lions trainer Al Bellamy confirmed
that Jones sustained a Lisfranc injury, a tearing of the tissues
that connect the bones in the middle of the foot.
Detroit linebacker Teddy Lehman missed more than 12 months with
a similar injury. More optimistic projections have Jones, who
rushed for 689 yards and six touchdowns, returning for the start of
next season.
He set career bests this season with 61 receptions and 520
yards.
Bellamy said Jones cannot put any weight on the foot for six
weeks. He'll then go from a cast to a walking boot for another six
weeks. At some point, doctors will remove screws from his foot. | | | McNair is Ravens' MVP, but worthy of league award? - 12/14/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire His numbers aren't as gaudy as those of
LaDainian Tomlinson or Drew Brees, yet Steve McNair probably
deserves consideration when it comes time to select the 2006 NFL
MVP.
The Baltimore Ravens went 6-10 last year. This season they're
10-3. The turnaround can be attributed largely to McNair, who has
taken control of an offense that never realized its potential with
Kyle Boller or Anthony Wright at quarterback.
"McNair has been outstanding. I saw tremendous lift from Day
1," Ravens minority owner Art Modell said Wednesday. "There's
something very positive about the man. He's under control, and the
team reflects that. I think he's responsible for our success. Not
alone, but he's been a good part of our success offensively this
year."
Although McNair ranks 13th in the NFL with an 83.1 passer
rating, he has thrown 13 touchdown passes compared to nine
interceptions and has led Baltimore to six wins in seven games. He
hasn't thrown an interception in four consecutive games, a string
of 142 passes that represents the best streak in his career.
Good stuff, but that doesn't begin to address his value to the
team.
"It's not about statistics. It's more about a mind-set that we
get in when we're out there, and he's a big part of that," tight
end Todd Heap said. "He deserves a lot of credit for what's going
on."
McNair enjoyed a fine 11-year run with the Tennessee Titans
before the Ravens gave up a fourth-round draft pick to get him in
Baltimore. The deal turned the Ravens into a Super Bowl contender --
and rescued the career of the 2003 co-MVP.
"It's meant a lot. They saved me from turmoil in Tennessee, and
I appreciate that," McNair said. "When you're going into your
12th year, you want to have an established team that has a chance
to win a championship. This team has a possibility of doing that.
To be a part of this team is amazing. It's heartwarming for me."
The Ravens feel pretty good about it, too.
"I think he's had a very big impact. He knows how to win, and
he's doing a heck of a job here," guard Keydrick Vincent said.
McNair has become to the offense what Ray Lewis is to the
Baltimore defense: In getting the Ravens off to the best start in
franchise history, McNair has been influential in the huddle and in
the locker room.
The two were friendly competitors before this season and now
have bonded as teammates. Their lockers sit next each other and
they share the same passion to carry the Ravens to the Super Bowl.
With McNair leading the way, Baltimore beat Tomlinson and the
San Diego Chargers on Oct. 1, and Brees and the New Orleans Saints
on Oct. 29. So why isn't he getting more attention as a possible
MVP?
"You're asking the wrong guy," Ravens coach Brian Billick
said. "I don't know that you can quantify what Steve McNair has
done for us, or whether people can really quantify that outside
this organization or outside of Baltimore. But he's certainly
deserving in my mind."
Many of his teammates feel the same way, even if his numbers are
as gaudy as those of Brees and Tomlinson.
"They don't look at a guy that's laid back. They look for
someone that's flashy," Heap said. "Throwing for 600 yards a game
or scoring 30-some touchdowns is flashy. Not to take away from what
those guys are doing, but at the same time you have to look at
Steve and the things he brings to the team."
Like 10 wins, and a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a
victory over Cleveland on Sunday.
"Since the first time that he got here, I have always looked up
to him," second-year receiver Mark Clayton said. "Just seeing his
cool, calm presence on the field when we have to put a drive
together at the end of the game, he's just really cool about it.
"He knows that we're going to get it done. We feed off that,
and he's a great leader. We'll follow him all the way to the top."
As goes McNair, so go the Ravens. At least, that's how he looks
at it.
"It all starts with me," McNair said. "If I don't play well,
this team doesn't play well. That's the attitude I take." | | | Niners put CBs Davis, Strickland on IR - 12/13/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The San Francisco 49ers placed backup cornerbacks Sammy Davis and Donald Strickland on injured reserve Tuesday.
Cornerback B.J. Tucker and linebacker Renauld Williams were signed from the practice squad to replace them.
The 49ers acquired Davis in a trade with San Diego before the season. He made 30 tackles while playing extensively as a backup but injured his quadriceps in San Francisco's loss to Green Bay last week.
Strickland signed with the 49ers on Oct. 31 and played mostly on special teams in four games, making four tackles. The former Indianapolis starter strained his left knee against the Packers.
Tucker, a fourth-year pro who spent much of the season on the practice squad, made two tackles in one appearance earlier in the season. Williams hasn't appeared in a game for San Francisco this season after playing in two games in 2005. | | | Short week for Seahawks to figure out how to stop 49ers' Gore - 12/13/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Mike Holmgren is hoping to get a better defensive
effort against Frank Gore this time.
"I think we'd like to tackle him," the Seattle coach said.
"We didn't do that in the first game."
Less than a month ago, Gore slashed through the Seahawks'
questionable run defense for a San Francisco-record 212 yards
rushing in the 49ers' 20-14 victory that made the defending NFC
champion look anything but formidable.
San Francisco (5-8) will need a similar performance from its
young, standout running back on Thursday night if it wants to avoid
watching Seattle (8-5) clinch the NFC West for a third straight
season.
A win for the Seahawks will wrap up the mediocre division
they've dominated the last three seasons and preserve their slim
chances for getting the NFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in
the playoffs.
The first step is stopping Gore, who surprised the Seahawks on
Nov. 19 with his speed in the open field and power breaking
tackles. Seattle linebacker Julian Peterson was one of the few not
surprised, having seen Gore develop last season when he was with
the 49ers.
"When I saw him on the field, I thought, 'Wow, he's coming off
two knee surgeries and he's looking this explosive," Peterson
said. "He has a lot of talent and you could see it day after day.
You saw the star in the making, so to speak."
Gore had 24 carries, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt, as the
49ers capped a three-game win streak to pull even at 5-5. Even
though it was his fifth 100-yard rushing game, doing it against the
defending conference champions drew more attention.
"When we played them they were down positions here and there,
and we took advantage of it," Gore said. "I know it's going to be
real tough to do it again."
Since that breakthrough victory, the 49ers' struggles have
returned. They lost in the closing seconds at St. Louis and were
dominated in every phase of a 34-10 loss to New Orleans. Last week,
Brett Favre starred again at Candlestick Park and led struggling
Green Bay to a convincing 30-19 victory.
Niners quarterback Alex Smith has become erratic, coverage
mistakes are festering in the defense and a lack of overall
sharpness has made the positive feelings from their win over
Seattle a memory. And now comes a short week, with only three days
of preparation and travel, to prepare for the Seahawks.
| | | Bears DT Harris undergoes hamstring surgery, placed on IR - 12/13/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Chicago Bears are headed
to the playoffs. But Tommie Harris will not be joining in on
the fun.
The Bears announced that they have placed Harris, their
run-stuffing defensive tackle, on injured reserve Tuesday,
ending his season.
Harris underwent surgery earlier in the day to repair a torn
hamstring, an injury he suffered in a win against Minnesota on
December 3. He finished his third NFL season with 48 tackles
and a career-high five sacks.
The 23-year-old Harris, a first-round pick in 2004, is expected
to make a full recovery for the 2007 season.
It is the second major injury for the Bears (11-2), who lost
safety Mike Brown to a season-ending right foot injury in
October. Chicago already has clinched the NFC North and a
first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Bears claimed safety Nick Turnbull off waivers from Atlanta
to fill the roster spot. He spent 10 weeks on the Falcons'
practice squad earlier this season and appeared in two games
with the team. | | | Pats release WR Gabriel - 12/13/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The New England Patriots on
Tuesday released wide receiver Doug Gabriel.
Gabriel started five of 12 games and caught 25 passes for 344
yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the Patriots
after being acquired from the Oakland Raiders for an
undisclosed draft choice.
But Gabriel slipped to fifth on the depth chart behind starters
Troy Brown and Reche Caldwell and backups Chad Jackson and Jabar
Gaffney.
Gabriel, 26, spent his first three seasons with Oakland and
recorded 71 catches for 1,122 yards and five scores.
The Patriots (9-4) are closing in on their fourth straight AFC
East title. They own a two-game lead over the New York Jets
with three to play. | | | Romo expects to rebound from first ugly outing - 12/13/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Tony Romo did a good job of taking success
in stride the last six weeks. So he's not letting his first lousy
outing get him down.
"You just think that it's a wake-up call that you have to be on
top of your game every game in the NFL," Romo said Tuesday, his
first day back at practice since the Dallas Cowboys lost 42-17 to
the New Orleans Saints. "As soon as you slip a little, anybody can
come out and take it to you. We learned that, obviously. Hopefully
that'll spur us on to not allow that to happen again."
Romo won five of his first six starts and played well in the
lone defeat, all after spending the first 3.5 years of his career on
the bench.
Against the Saints, he completed 16 of 33 passes for 249 yards
and two interceptions. It was the first time he failed to complete
half his attempts and he matched the most interceptions in any of
his starts. He also had his second-worst yardage total and his
second-worst rating, dropping him from first in the NFL to fourth.
"We just didn't execute as an offense," Romo said. "It's not
about one guy. It's not about me or Terry Glenn or T.O. It's
whether or not the 11 guys are on the same page. There were too
many situations in the game where not everybody was."
Actually, Romo's stats the previous week weren't that great,
either, but that performance is graded on a curve because it was a
crucial division game on the road. And the Cowboys won, with Romo
mounting three late scoring drives.
Romo shot down the idea that teams are starting to figure him
out. The Saints were a prime team to do it, too, because their
coach, Sean Payton, was Romo's position coach the last three years
and New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs was in Dallas that
entire time, too.
"Different D-coordinators are going to see different things
when they watch the film," Romo said. "There's not only one play
or one thing we do they can take away. If we connect a few third
downs earlier in the game, it's a little different."
Romo's numbers were skewed by the Cowboys spending most of the
game playing catch-up.
Dallas was so desperate that coach Bill Parcells went for it on
fourth-and-8 from the 34. Romo's pass should've been intercepted,
but cornerback Fred Thomas had a cast on his hand and the ball
slipped through and landed in Terrell Owens' gut. Owens strolled
into the end zone untouched, but the goofy play failed to spark the
offense.
"We didn't get to our game plan," Parcells said. "We were
one-dimensional pretty much for 2.5 quarters of the game. So things
that may have wound up being effective for us we never got to even
try them."
Romo was too good for too long for the Cowboys to worry about
the Saints exposing him as a fluke.
| | | Dolphins place Culpepper on IR - 12/13/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Daunte Culpepper's first season with the
Miami Dolphins is officially over.
The Dolphins put Culpepper on injured reserve Tuesday, ruling
out any chance of the quarterback returning from knee problems that
kept him sidelined for much of his first season in Miami.
"Even though Daunte was making good progress in his
rehabilitation, we both felt, along with our medical staff, that it
would be very difficult for him to be ready to play in the next
three weeks," said Dolphins coach Nick Saban. "Because it's
important to have depth at the quarterback position the rest of the
season, we all felt the best decision for the team was to place him
on IR."
It's possible that the Dolphins may look to sign another
quarterback to play behind Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon for the
rest of the season.
Culpepper started the first four games of the season for the
Dolphins, completing 60 percent of his passes and throwing for 929
yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
He underwent major knee surgery in November 2005 and returned to
the field more quickly than expected, but with his mobility
hampered, he was sacked 21 times. The Dolphins started Harrington
in their fifth game and have kept him in the lineup since, while
Culpepper focused on rehabilitation.
Culpepper -- whom the Dolphins acquired in March from the
Minnesota Vikings for a second-round draft pick -- also underwent
arthroscopic surgery last month to remove a piece of cartilage in
his knee.
| | | Rex shows his critics a thing or two - 12/12/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times It was about six minutes into the game Monday against the St. Louis Rams when beleaguered Bears quarterback Rex Grossman did something truly extraordinary.
Facing a third-and-seven from the 23 -- a yard line that forever will be named after Devin Hester --Grossman dropped back to pass against a heavy rush. A man who entered the game with minus-17 yards rushing on 19 carries this season, Grossman started high-stepping up the middle of the field and didn't stop until diving forward 22 yards later.
With his job on the line, Grossman played with that kind of abandon. By the end of the game, he wound up with a 111.4 passer rating a week after producing a 1.3. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and, just as important, never gave the ball away.
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said that was the only play from Grossman all night that was completely unexpected.
''I knew he was going to play well,'' Turner said. ''He is a good player who was in a little slump. If anything surprised me, that run surprised me. How he played didn't, but that run may have.''
Grossman seemed a bit distant and defiant during his postgame interview. He wasn't in a playful or chatty mood with a media corps that had turned on him during his slump. One Bears official observed the young quarterback had received ''The Shoop Treatment'' in terms of the constant criticism last seen in these part concerning former offensive coordinator John Shoop during the Dick Jauron era.
In fairness, guys such as Terry Shea, Jonathan Quinn and Chad Hutchinson got it pretty bad in this town. too. The difference, of course, is that Grossman received his criticism while winning.
Maybe the treatment of Grossman was harsh, but it was also deserved, as evidenced by the fact the team was on the verge of pulling him in favor of backup Brian Griese, who received half the snaps with the first-team in practice last week.
''I'm just happy for my teammates and my coaches,'' Grossman said when asked if he felt vindicated by his performance. ''For my teammates, just allowing them to make plays and allowing them to have fun and move the ball as an offense. Obviously, I wanted to respond the way the coaches were backing me and everything like that.''
Bears coaches seemed to be backing Grossman against their better judgment considering how he was giving the ball away, committing 18 turnovers in the last seven games. The expectations for the Bears have been sky-high since their unexpected dominance early in the season.
Where once the issue was simply whether the young quarterback could hold up for an entire season, the concern recently has grown -- even as the Bears have continued winning -- into whether Grossman was the man to take them to the Super Bowl.
| | | Gruden Sticking With Gradkowski - 12/12/2006
Source: Tampa Tribune You can learn a lot from watching a master craftsman apply his trade. Ultimately, though, you'll learn a lot more by doing the task yourself.
That's what Jon Gruden believes, and that's why the Bucs coach has decided to stick with struggling rookie Bruce Gradkowski as his starting quarterback.
One day after pulling Gradkowski in an effort to give his offense a spark, Gruden named Gradkowski his starter for Sunday's game against the Bears in Chicago.
Now, whether Gradkowski finishes the game is another matter. Another shaky performance could result in another in-game change.
But with the Bucs foundering at 3-10 and out of the playoff race, Gradkowski will be given another chance to prove he can learn from his bevy of mistakes.
"The Buccaneers will never know about Bruce Gradkowski unless he plays," Gruden said. "So we're trying to take advantage of this opportunity to see if a young guy with some promise can figure it all out and get better.
"That's the only way this guy is ever going to get better is to play. I mean, you can follow the foursome around and watch everyone else play, but by God you ain't going to ever get better until you take snaps."
Tim Rattay, who replaced Gradkowski at the end of the Bucs' 17-6 loss to the Falcons on Sunday, didn't publicly voice any displeasure with the decision.
Though it could be a sign that his days with the Bucs are about over, Rattay said he'll make sure he's ready to play should Gruden turn to him again.
| | | Taylor still trumps Pinner's big game - 12/12/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Artose Pinner's 125-yard rushing performance in the Vikings' 30-20 victory Sunday in Detroit does not mean the fourth-year running back is about to see his role expanded. At least not once Chester Taylor returns from the bruised ribs he suffered Dec. 3 at Chicago.
"If Chester is in there and can give a full accounting of himself, I don't think you consciously take [carries] off of him," coach Brad Childress said Monday.
Taylor reiterated Monday that he will play Sunday against the New York Jets at the Metrodome; Childress was not as definite, saying he first wants to see how Taylor looks in practice Wednesday.
Pinner realizes his time as a starter will be short-lived and was happy to be back on the field after being inactive for three games. "Chester is the guy here. No doubt," said Pinner, who rushed 29 times against the Lions and had three touchdowns. "He has been doing a great job all year long. But if there comes an opportunity where Chester needs a few more breathers and they feel a lot more confident in putting me in or Ciatrick [Fason] in or any of those guys, we are ready for the opportunity."
| | | Receivers receive first aid - 12/12/2006
Source: Wisconsin State Journal With their top three pass-catchers present and ailing, the Green Bay Packers could have held a wide receiver position meeting inside the visitors training room of Monster Park at halftime of Sunday's 30-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Donald Driver (shoulder), Greg Jennings (ankle) and Ruvell Martin (chest) all suffered injuries during the first half - in Jennings' case, it was an aggravation of his previously sprained right ankle - and all received treatment. As a result, all three will need to be monitored in practice this week in preparation for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
Fortunately for the Packers, all three were able to play through their pain.
"It was a (possibility) of maybe losing all three of those guys," Packers coach Mike McCarthy revealed Monday. "So I think it speaks volumes of all three of those guys, because they had significant injuries."
While Driver's shoulder injury likely will keep him out of practice Wednesday but not the game, and Jennings' ankle has been a nuisance since he first injured it Oct. 22 at Miami, Martin's bruised chest was the most serious of the three. Martin did not return home on the team charter after the game; instead, he was kept overnight in San Francisco and was to be re-examined when he returned to Green Bay.
"It's just precautionary with the chest bruise," McCarthy said. "I'm just playing it safe."
With his three top receivers banged up, McCarthy was forced to play Carlyle Holiday, who was claimed on waivers from Arizona last Tuesday and arrived at Wednesday's practice without having attended a single meeting.
"He was pressed into play more probably than we anticipated," McCarthy said.
Asked if Holiday could play more against the Lions if need be, McCarthy said, "I may have no choice. But yes. He'll probably get potentially more opportunities in the next two games."
| | | Jones out for season, could miss 2007, too - 12/12/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press Lions running back Kevin Jones faces surgery, a long rehabilitation and a lot of uncertainty after suffering a serious foot injury in Sunday's 30-20 loss to Minnesota. No one knows if he'll be ready for training camp or if he'll be sidelined into next season.
Jones visited a foot and ankle specialist in the Detroit area Monday. He was diagnosed with a Lisfranc-fracture dislocation -- the same type of mid-foot injury that recently kept Lions linebacker Teddy Lehman out for a year. Jones leaves today to get a second opinion from a specialist in Charlotte, N.C.
"I'm probably going to need surgery," Jones told WJR-AM (760). "This is bad. It's just that I need to make sure what doctor I'm going to use, just get another opinion on what's going on."
Jones was trying to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter when he planted his left foot and was stopped just short of the goal line.
"I was trying to get low," Jones said. "My foot just got stuck. For some reason, when the guy came and hit me up high, my leg just didn't ... my foot just got stuck in the turf. Twisted up pretty good. That was all she wrote."
Jones said he felt a lot of pain -- and that he "tore something" but "didn't break it." That sounds similar to how Lehman describes the injury he suffered Oct. 30, 2005, at Chicago.
Lehman said he suffered a torn ligament on the top of his foot that holds the bones together. Doctors had to screw the bones together, then repair the ligament.
"It's a real strong ligament, so whenever you tear it, it's a bad deal," Lehman said. "All your body weight's on it every step you take. It's a hard recovery for something that takes that much pressure."
Lehman went from a cast to a walking boot to a shoe. Once he started running again, he still had a long way to go. Running straight ahead was one thing. Changing direction on the fly was another.
"I thought in March I was going to be back for camp and be fine," Lehman said. "But camp came around, and it still wasn't right. Camp was done. It still wasn't right. It's real frustrating."
Lehman didn't return until Nov. 5 against Atlanta, and he still has pain and stiffness. He expects to have it for the rest of his life.
He hopes Jones will have a quicker recovery. He walked on the foot for about a month before having surgery, while Jones likely will have surgery soon. | | | Harris won't return for playoffs - 12/12/2006
Source: Chicago Tribune The worst news of the night for the Bears came a few hours before their 42-27 victory over the Rams when the team learned defensive tackle Tommie Harris' season officially had ended.
Harris will undergo surgery Tuesday morning in Dallas to repair a severely torn left hamstring suffered Dec. 3 at Soldier Field against the Minnesota Vikings. Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys' team physician and hamstring specialist, and Bears team doctor Mark Bowen will perform the procedure.
The Bears had held out hope that Harris would be able to return in time for the playoffs, but their biggest fears were realized after Cooper's examination.
"It's a tough, tough break," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "We weren't anticipating that."
Harris was said to be distraught over learning the worst-case scenario but encouraged about beginning the rehabilitation process as early as possible. He has never suffered a serious injury, and Monday marked the first NFL game he had missed after playing in 45 straight.
Angelo stayed away from projecting a possible timetable for Harris' return until after the surgery, and the Bears have begun gathering information from the league on similar injuries. Hamstring injuries to NFL players typically don't require surgery so the severity of Harris' tear put the Bears into a wait-and-see mode.
It also threatened to make a position of strength—defensive tackle—into a position of uncertainty heading into the 2007 season. Nobody can guarantee that Harris, a rare talent who relies heavily on a burst out of his stance, will recover in time for training camp and, if he does, return with the same explosiveness.
The Bears also face the possible loss in the off-season of defensive tackles Alfonso Boone and Ian Scott, both unrestricted free agents whose contracts run out after the final game. Injured rookie defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek will return next year from a foot injury in August that placed him on injured reserve, and the Bears also like backup tackle Antonio Garay. But depth at the position, now and in the future, suddenly looks more iffy than it did a week ago.
Angelo ruled out going outside the organization to find a stopgap replacement for the final month of the season and the playoffs and said "whatever we need now is in-house." That will change if another defensive lineman goes down with an injury.
"We're OK with eight [defensive linemen]," Angelo said.
| | | Jackson newest addition to Seahawks injury list - 12/12/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire First it was Shaun Alexander, then Matt
Hasselbeck sidelined with injuries.
Now, it's leading receiver Darrell Jackson.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that Jackson will not
be able to play Thursday night against San Francisco, another blow
for Seattle's injury-riddled offense.
Jackson has turf toe, suffered on his last reception in Sunday's
27-21 loss at Arizona. Jackson caught a 23-yard pass from
Hasselbeck with 3:15 left, but didn't return for the rest of the
drive.
Holmgren had no timetable for when Jackson, Seattle's leader
with 63 catches for 956 yards and a league-high 10 receiving
touchdowns, might return. Nate Burleson will start for Jackson.
"Last year we were pretty fortunate," Holmgren said. "It
happens, and you do what you have to do to plug the holes."
Jackson wasn't the only major injury. Defensive tackle Craig
Terrill will be placed on injured reserve after injuring ligaments
in his knee. Terrill is the second defensive tackle to be placed on
injured reserve, joining Marcus Tubbs, who was lost for the season
with a left knee injury.
Seattle is fortunate to be deep along the defensive line. Robert
Pollard will be added from the practice squad to the four-man
rotation at the two tackle positions that includes Russell Davis,
Chuck Darby and Rocky Bernard.
"Fortunately we had a couple of extra people there to start
with, or else we would be in a world of hurt right now," Holmgren
said. "We can still line up people and play, but we have taken a
couple of hits in there."
Oft-injured left guard Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack also is a
question mark with a nagging groin injury. Holmgren said if the
Seahawks had a normal week and were playing on Sunday, Womack might
be able to go. But with the game on Thursday, Holmgren classified
Womack as "iffy." If Womack can't go, rookie Rob Sims would start
at guard.
Womack missed five games earlier this season with a knee injury.
Holmgren is hopeful Bobby Engram might be able to play. Engram
has not played since Week 4 at Chicago, sidelined with a thyroid
problem. Holmgren said he hasn't talked with the veteran receiver
about if he feels well enough to play.
"We're going to try and fast forward so that Bobby can play a
little bit on Thursday night. That's my hope," Holmgren said.
| | | Jags run wild with Drew, Taylor - 12/12/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio wore a blue
and gold UCLA jersey to his news conference Monday. It probably
should have been Maurice Drew's college jersey, especially after
former UCLA star's performance against Indianapolis.
Drew ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns, had a 93-yard kickoff
return for a score and finished with 303 all-purpose yards -- the
fourth-highest total by a rookie in NFL history.
Drew and Fred Taylor helped the Jaguars (8-5) establish a new
franchise rushing record (375 yards), stun the Colts 44-17 and
position themselves for a second consecutive postseason berth.
"There were a number of things that we went into the ballgame
hoping to be able to pop open and hoping to be able to take
advantage of, and a few of them clicked and we were able to make
some big plays out of it," Del Rio said.
Drew and Taylor had most of them.
Taylor ran 76 yards on Jacksonville's opening play, then Drew
broke a tackle and scored on the next one. On one drive in the
second quarter, Drew gained 17 yards on consecutive runs, then
Taylor got loose for 19 yards and a 21-yard score.
Drew followed with a 48-yard TD scamper on the next possession.
"The holes to run through were pretty big," said Drew, who had
more all-purpose yards in a game than any rookie aside from Gale
Sayers (336 in 1965), Jerry LeVias (329 in 1969) and Tim Brown (306
in 1988).
Taylor (131 yards) and Drew became the second teammates in the
last 30 seasons to gain at least 130 yards rushing each, joining
St. Louis' Marshall Faulk (183) and Trung Canidate (145), who did
it against Carolina in 2001.
| | | Stokley may miss season with Achilles' injury - 12/12/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Colts receiver Brandon Stokley may be lost
for the season with an injured right Achilles' tendon.
Coach Tony Dungy said he did not know the severity of the
injury, but recently signed receiver Ricky Proehl acknowledged he
expected to get more playing time after Stokley apparently ruptured
the tendon.
"Sometimes things happen for a reason," Proehl said. "He'll
be back. He's a tremendous player and a tremendous athlete, and I
just hated for this to happen."
Stokley has missed most of the season because of a series of
injuries. He sprained his left ankle in training camp and was out
of action for nearly a month before returning Sept. 17 against
Houston.
He aggravated the ankle injury on a touchdown catch against the
Texans and did not play again until Oct. 8 against Tennessee.
Against the Titans, Stokley sprained his left knee and missed the
next six games before returning for the rematch at Tennessee on
Dec. 3.
Stokley, part of the first receiving trio in league history with
1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns each in 2004, has eight catches for
85 yards and one touchdown this season. | | | Lions RB Kevin Jones could be done for the season - 12/12/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Detroit Lions running back Kevin Jones
will not play at Green Bay on Sunday, and team officials are
concerned his foot injury could keep him out a lot longer.
Jones injured his left foot late in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the
Minnesota Vikings and was undergoing testing on Monday. He may have
a fracture/dislocation of the foot, an injury that kept linebacker
Teddy Lehman on the sidelines for nearly 12 months.
"That was frustrating, because it was almost a complete year
before I played football again," Lehman said Monday. "If that's
what Kevin has, all I can tell him is to keep working, even when
you feel like it will never get better."
The injury involves a key ligament in the top of the foot.
"It's not like a knee where the ligament is holding a couple
bones together," Lehman said. "There are a lot of small bones in
that part of the foot and that keeps them together."
Jones has blossomed in Mike Martz's offense, rushing for 689
yards and catching a career-high 61 passes for 520 yards. He has
eight touchdowns, including a career-best six on the ground.
"He's a tremendous player," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said.
"If he's going to be out for an extended period, we would
obviously have to alter our plans for the future."
Jones' teammates knew that a 2-11 season could get even worse
without their most consistent offensive threat.
"That's a huge loss," tight end Dan Campbell said. "Look at
everything he does for us and the way he has flourished this
year." | | | Bills RB McGahee, LB Spikes leave game - 12/11/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire running back Willis McGahee
sat out the second quarter of the Bills' game against the New York
Jets with an undisclosed illness Sunday, but returned to start the
second half.
Linebacker Takeo Spikes was taken to the locker room in the
second quarter with an ankle injury, but also came back after
halftime.
McGahee spent most of the second half on the end of Buffalo's
bench with his jersey and pads off and a big, blue Bills jacket
draped over him. He was on his way to a big game against the Jets,
gaining 75 yards on six carries, including a 57-yard TD run.
Shortly before halftime, McGahee was standing on the sideline with
his pads and jersey back on.
He has battled injuries recently, missing two games with broken
ribs and sitting out two days of practice earlier this week with a
left ankle injury suffered in the Bills' 24-20 loss to San Diego
last Sunday.
Spikes, who missed four games with a hamstring injury earlier
this season, was hurt when he tackled Cedric Houston at 12:13 of
the second quarter. He sat on the field briefly, doubled over,
before heading over to the bench. After Bills trainers checked on
him, Spikes was taken to the locker room. | | | This time Griffith rushes Falcons to victory - 12/10/2006
Source: NFL.com Justin Griffith makes a living blocking for Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood.
Turns out the Atlanta fullback is a capable runner, too.
The NFL's top rushing team lost Dunn and Norwood within a span of five plays in the third quarter, but the seldom-used Griffith came on to finish a 71-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown burst, helping the Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-6.
"He's a dependable guy in a lot of areas -- running the football, pass protection, leading for Warrick and Jerious, leading for Michael on a lot of the keepers, and it was good to see him get a chance to get in the end zone," Atlanta coach Jim Mora said.
Six plays after Dunn limped off the field with a left calf injury and just two snaps after replacing Norwood, who left with a sore right knee, Griffith rumbled through a hole in the middle of the line untouched. He made a nifty move on safety Will Allen to complete his first career TD run.
The juke froze Allen in his tracks, and the 232-pound Griffith cut left to the end zone.
"It's one of those things that we practice every day. ... Get into the guy's area, you give him a head fake. They're going to miss you every time," Griffith said. "You've got to break down, give him the tippy toes, then go on in."
Atlanta's defense did its part, too, forcing two turnovers to set up 10 points, including Demorrio Williams' 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown. That wiped out a 6-0 lead Tampa Bay took with help from Falcons miscues.
Atlanta (7-6) has won two straight after losing four in a row and is still in the playoff hunt. Tampa Bay (3-10), which has not scored a touchdown in 11 quarters, was eliminated from playoff contention.
| | | Young returns to Houston looking to lead Titans to sweep - 12/09/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Things couldn't be going much better for Vince
Young.
The rookie quarterback has helped the Tennessee Titans (5-7) to
three straight wins, including two incredible comebacks. Now the
former University of Texas star will return to his hometown trying
to complete the season sweep against the Houston Texans -- a team
that passed him over in the draft.
"I know he's going to have a big crowd here this weekend and
the kid deserves it," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's a legend in
this town, and he should be with what he did. That'll add a lot of
excitement to the football game. And we just have to worry about
our end of the bargain and get ready to play."
Last week, Young became the first rookie quarterback in NFL
history to rally a team from two 14-point or bigger deficits for
wins, and he improved to 5-4 as a starter. He'll get a chance for a
fourth straight win in the city where he first became a hero when
he starred for Madison High School, just six miles from Reliant
Stadium.
"I told my teammates earlier while we were in a meeting that we
need this one -- I need this one -- and they understand," Young
said. "Anybody's that's on a football team and they're going home
to their hometown team, they want to win that game a lot."
Young made it clear he wanted to play for the Texans (4-8) in
the months leading up to the draft, but Houston decided to stick
with David Carr and draft defensive end Mario Williams. It's a
decision that still irks a lot of Texans fans.
Especially with Carr's problems last week against the Raiders.
The Texans ended with negative-5 yards passing after Carr threw for
32 yards and was sacked five times for 37 yards, again stirring up
debate about Houston's decision to pass on Young.
Young has thrown five touchdown passes with two interceptions in
the last three games. He also ran for a sixth score. After starting
the season strong, Carr has just one touchdown pass with two
interceptions and four fumbles in the same span.
"I've got friends, and my uncle and them are down there, and
they listen, too. It sounds like a good vibe down there. You've got
fans calling and cussing and stuff on the radio," Young said of
the talk about him in Houston this week.
| | | It's all L.T., all the time, for Chargers - 12/09/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire LaDainian Tomlinson is taking care of everyone
these days.
With every long run and every dash into the end zone, Tomlinson
adds to the impressive accomplishments that have made him the
front-runner to become the first San Diego Chargers player to win
the league MVP award.
His incredible touchdown surge has carried him within three of
owning the NFL's single-season record with a quarter of the season
still to go, and pushed the Chargers to the cusp of only their
second playoff berth in 11 seasons.
And fantasy geeks must be as ecstatic as long-suffering Chargers
fans, who already are assuming the Bolts will go to the Super Bowl.
Yes, L.T. hears from fantasy geeks.
"Usually telling me how many touchdowns I need, or yards,"
Tomlinson said as the Chargers (10-2) prepared to host the slumping
Denver Broncos (7-5) on Sunday. "Occasionally I'll get a 'Thank
you' because I'm giving them 50 points a week or whatever that is.
I don't know.
"I just want to get them guys 50 points every week," he said
with a laugh.
Playing behind a motivated line and bruising fullback Lorenzo
Neal, Tomlinson has 26 touchdowns, three shy of breaking the record
of 28 set last year by league MVP Shaun Alexander of the Seattle
Seahawks.
| | | Young quarterbacks give Eagles problems - 12/09/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire There used to be a time when defensive
coordinator Jim Johnson's complex schemes gave the Philadelphia
Eagles a huge advantage against young quarterbacks.
Not this season.
The Eagles (6-6) are 2-5 against teams whose starting
quarterback is 28 years old or younger and 4-1 against teams with
QBs in their 30s.
On Sunday, Philly faces another young quarterback when it plays
at Washington (4-8). Jason Campbell, making his fourth NFL start,
turns 25 later this month. The second-year pro replaced veteran
Mark Brunell in the starting lineup right after the Eagles beat the
Redskins 27-3 in Philadelphia last month.
"They're going to make plays regardless of their age," safety
Brian Dawkins said. "If they're in this league, they're here for a
reason. They're talented. You respect every guy, whether it is a
veteran or a young guy. The thing that we feel as a defense is that
if we come out and play the way we are capable of playing, with the
emotion that we played with this past Monday night, it is going to
be tough for any quarterback let alone a rookie."
Philadelphia beat Carolina and 31-year-old quarterback Jake
Delhomme 27-24 last Monday.
The two rookie QBs who've faced the Eagles this season -- Tampa
Bay's Bruce Gradkowski and Tennessee's Vince Young -- came out
winners. Both players -- no coincidence -- are mobile and hurt the
Eagles with their scrambling ability.
Gradkowski's 9-yard run set up Matt Bryant's improbable 62-yard
winning field goal as time expired. Young had 49 yards rushing in a
31-13 win on Nov. 19. Jacksonville's David Garrard, who is 28, ran
for 36 yards in a 13-6 win in Philly on Oct. 29.
"Part of that is just when we're blitzing, we just have to stay
in our rush lanes," linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "When we
played Vince, they had designed draws and sometimes that's tough
when you're really not thinking. You're thinking pass rushing and
getting up field and then the quarterback takes off on you."
Campbell isn't much of a running threat. He has scrambled 12
times for 28 yards in three games. The Eagles have been successful
against quarterbacks who stay in the pocket. They sacked Dallas'
Drew Bledsoe and the Giants' Eli Manning a combined 15 times.
"I think he's more of a pocket-type quarterback," Johnson said
of Campbell. "We want to try to pressure. We probably were a
little bit more concerned about Vince Young as far as pressure
because of the scrambling ability, so certain things go into
things. Every case is so different."
| | | Jackson believes he ranks with NFL's elite backs - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Steven Jackson received some lofty praise from
a teammate on Thursday, and the St. Louis Rams' increasingly
confident running back believes it's on the mark.
"Having gotten a chance to play with him and seeing him week to
week, he is in my opinion one of the top three running backs in
professional football -- if not the top back," safety Corey Chavous
said. "When you start looking at his numbers and what he's been
able to do, and with his size, speed and versatility, he is just an
unbelievable package."
Jackson secured his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season
with four games to spare last week against the Cardinals, and 19
yards against the Chicago Bears on Monday night would top his
career best.
LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson are generally acknowledged
as the top two backs in the NFL. Jackson feels he belongs in that
company.
"I do, and what's even more challenging is I'm here to try to
prove I can be No. 1," Jackson said. "I know over time it'll
come, as the yards rack up. That's what I'm striving to be, No.
1."
Jackson is sixth in the NFL with 1,028 yards rushing, with
Tomlinson and Johnson running 1-2 and each above 1,300 yards. He
also trails San Francisco's Frank Gore (1,217), the New York
Giants' Tiki Barber (1,1170) and Minnesota's Chester Taylor
(1,098).
Jackson's emergence as a receiving threat boosts him to third
behind the Big 2 with 1,650 yards from scrimmage. He's second in
the NFC with 72 receptions, needing only 15 catches to tie Marshall
Faulk's franchise record set in 1999.
"I think I've matured as an overall back, a guy who's showed my
teammates and my coaching staff that there's really no need to pull
me out of the game in any situation," Jackson said. "I feel like
I can do everything the coaching staff asks me to do, and I'm
willing to go to battle with my teammates."
First-year coach Scott Linehan said Jackson's receiving has
helped the Rams move the ball against zone defenses designed to
muffle Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. Jackson caught 43 passes last
year.
| | | Delhomme misses practice again with thumb injury - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme missed
practice again Thursday with ligament damage in the thumb on his
throwing hand, increasing the chance backup Chris Weinke will start
on Sunday against the New York Giants.
"It's just real sore," Delhomme said. "There's a lot of
swelling and we're trying to get the swelling out. I think the big
issue is strength and how much strength I have in it."
Delhomme said although he's having trouble gripping the ball, he
may try to practice on Friday.
"We're going to try," Delhomme said. "I'm treating the heck
out of it and I'm very optimistic. We'll see."
Coach John Fox said the ligament is stretched and not torn off
the bone, which is why he doesn't need surgery. Fox didn't rule out
that Delhomme, who is still listed as questionable, could still
play on Sunday.
"We've had guys, experienced guys, that have been limited in
practice and still played," Fox said. "He'd be that kind of guy,
if it came to that."
Delhomme was injured when his right hand hit Eagles defensive
tackle Darwin Walker's helmet on his 9-yard touchdown pass to Steve
Smith in the first quarter of Monday's loss to Philadelphia.
Delhomme continued to play and threw two fourth-quarter
interceptions, the last coming in the end zone with 25 seconds
left.
Delhomme, who also missed practice on Wednesday, hasn't missed a
game since he took over for Rodney Peete at halftime of the 2003
season opener.
The 34-year-old Weinke hasn't been a full-time starter since the
2001 season and has thrown only 13 passes in four seasons. He could
be forced into duty in a critical game for the Panthers, who at 6-6
are tied with the Giants and two other teams in the NFC wild-card
race.
| | | Long-struggling Dayne looks to build on big game - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Ron Dayne is so laid back and low-key that it's
tough to read his emotions.
Though he spoke in his usual, subdued tone Wednesday, an easy
and broad smile gave his mood away. He has plenty of reasons to
smile this week after gaining 95 yards rushing in a 23-14 win over
Oakland for his best game in more than a year.
It was just the second time the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner ran
for more than 65 yards since returning after being deactivated for
the entire 2003 season.
He carried the ball on 15 of Houston's last 29 plays Sunday and
got five first downs to help the Texans win despite finishing with
negative passing yards. He averaged 5.3 yards on 18 carries.
"Whatever it takes, I was down with it," Dayne said. "I was
happy that Coach gave me the opportunity and believed in me to give
me the ball that many times. The way they were stopping our passing
game we had to do something."
Dayne started early in the season, but didn't play the previous
four weeks as he worked to get completely healthy and the Texans
went with young backs Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado.
"That game was very big for Ronny and he knew that and he rose
to the occasion," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He said: 'Hey, I can
still do this and I want to help this team win."
Lundy will likely remain Houston's starter this week, but Kubiak
said Dayne will definitely play. The 278 yards rushing he's gained
in just seven games this season are the most he's had since 2002
while with the New York Giants. His season high before Sunday was
58 yards.
Kubiak worked with Dayne in Denver and signed him after he was
released by the Broncos before the season. Dayne spent one year
with the Broncos after five tumultuous years with the Giants.
The team said earlier in the season that Dayne had recovered
from the turf toe that hurt his progress with the Broncos, but this
week Kubiak acknowledged that it had still been bothering him.
"When we got Ronny he was not healthy," Kubiak said. "It took
some time for him to get healthy. We probably threw him in there
too fast."
| | | Patient Weinke could get his shot with Panthers - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Chris Weinke had a chance to leave, get
out of Jake Delhomme's shadow and perhaps battle for a starting
quarterback job.
But he didn't even wait for the start of free agency in the
offseason to re-sign with the Carolina Panthers.
"There are a lot of different things that go into it," Weinke
said. "I'm married, I have a baby and my wife loves Charlotte. We
love the area. We love the organization. The grass isn't always
greener on the other side.
I felt like, knowing this offense and knowing what kind of
football team we had here, I wanted to be a part of it. That's why
I re-signed here before going and listening to any other offers,"
he said.
The 34-year-old Weinke knew he may never play, because Delhomme
hasn't missed a game since he took over as a starter early in the
2003 season. Weinke has played in three games and thrown 13 passes
in four seasons.
But the former Heisman Trophy winner may finally get his chance
on Sunday against the New York Giants. The seemingly indestructible
Delhomme is nursing a sprained right thumb.
"There were a couple of sprinkles here and there at the end of
games but other than that in terms of starting a game and being the
guy, it's been a while," Weinke said.
And it could come at a key time. At 6-6, the Panthers are tied
with three other teams for a wild-card spot -- the visiting Giants
are one of them.
Delhomme missed practice for a second straight day on Thursday
and remains questionable, meaning coach John Fox may be forced to
go with Weinke.
| | | Bush wondered, ``Am I built for this game?'' - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Reggie Bush never seemed fazed by the wise
cracks that he was the highest-paid decoy in the NFL.
Yet, after often mediocre production through his first 11 games,
even Bush began to wonder how long it might take to establish
himself as the prolific scoring weapon he was hyped to be when the
New Orleans Saints drafted him last spring.
"Being in this position that I'm in, I have a million things
going through my head," Bush said after practice this week in
preparation for Sunday night's game at Dallas. "The constant
question to myself is whether I'm doing the right things, am I
built for this game?"
Saints players and coaches have given Bush credit all along for
his versatility as a runner and receiver, which allows New Orleans
to present him as a threat from a wide range of formations.
In doing so, Bush was a useful distraction to opposing defenders
while Deuce McAllister ran for a team-leading nine touchdowns, or
while Drew Brees passed for long TDs and league-leading yardage to
Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Joe Horn.
Bush will be even more of a distraction now after scoring all
four Saints touchdowns and gaining 168 total yards in New Orleans'
34-10 victory over San Francisco last weekend.
"Obviously, when a guy comes off a four-touchdown game, I'm
sure there's maybe added incentive to know where that guy is on the
field at all times," Brees said. "This is good for Reggie. Just
as far as going out there, having that success he's used to having
and displaying that attitude of every time he touches the ball he's
going to make something happen."
After scoring one spectacular touchdown after another during his
college career at Southern California and drawing comparisons to
Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers, Bush was the runaway 2005
Heisman Trophy winner.
In late July he signed a contract with the Saints worth up to
$62 million over six years, with a little more than $26.3 million
guaranteed.
| | | Giants PK Jay Feely added to Giants injury list - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire New York Giants kicker Jay Feely
hit six 50-yard field goals in practice on Friday, two days after
feeling soreness in his foot.
"He kicked everything today," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.
"He kicked all of the field goals, kicked off. He has a
pre-practice workout on Fridays and I think he was five out of six
from 45 yards. I feel like he did well. He did everything we asked
him to do. He's not having any trouble today, so I think he's going
to be OK."
Feely said he made all six from 50 yards in preparation for
Sunday's road game against the Carolina Panthers (6-6).
"It won't be an issue," said Feely, who first felt soreness in
his foot on Wednesday. "It's nothing that will prevent me from
doing what I need to do."
This is the second straight week the Giants (6-6) have has
concerns about one of their kickers. Punter Jeff Feagles developed
soreness in his knee last week and the Giants signed 44-year-old
Sean Landeta as an insurance policy.
Feagles punted in Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Landeta
was released earlier this week.
Coughlin has no intention of signing another placekicker, but he
didn't rule it out.
Defensive end Michael Strahan (foot) and cornerback Corey
Webster (toe) did not practice this week and probably will not play
against the Panthers. Strahan has missed the last four games, while
Webster has missed the last two.
Wide receiver Plaxico Burress won the sixth annual George Young
Good Guy Award as selected by the Giants' chapter of the
Professional Football Writers of America.
| | | Griese ready but job still Grossman's - 12/08/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire As Brian Griese carried his lunch down
a hallway, he noticed a mob of media that had descended Thursday on
Halas Hall and had this observation: "There are a lot of people
here today."
All of them were pretty much talking about the same thing.
What has become front page news, the subject of fan polls and
incessant talk radio and TV gabfests in one of the country's
largest sports markets is whether struggling Bears quarterback Rex
Grossman should be replaced by Griese.
It seems to be a much a bigger deal than the Bears going 10-2,
winning their division a second straight year and becoming the
first team to clinch a playoff spot.
The Bears didn't practice for three days after beating the
Minnesota Vikings. So what did Grossman do? Maybe try to get away
from the game and just chill? Nope.
He watched tape -- mostly of his strong performances in the first
five weeks to try and spot what he was doing right and where it
went wrong. He worked out and chatted with his father, who played
college football.
"The few people who I have encountered have been real
supportive and go get 'em type of remarks. I haven't come across
anyone negative," Grossman said.
| | | In Need Of A Tuneup - 12/07/2006
Source: Tampa Tribune Imagine you have two cars. One is a Bentley with some miles on it that's running just fine. The other is a Corvette that needs a major overhaul. Which would you pour your money into?
Chances are you'd pour it into the Corvette, especially if you're a Corvette guy.
Jon Gruden is a Corvette guy. He likes sleek cars and sleek offenses and for years now he and General Manager Bruce Allen have poured a lot of the Bucs' money and most of their draft picks into fixing their junker of an offense.
No one can blame them. The offense badly needed the makeover. The problem is, in making over the offense they have all but ignored the defense.
While the offense has been completely overhauled, the defense has barely received an oil change. And even when new parts have been added, they've often been parts taken from an old Chevy or Ford.
The results are not surprising. Like a car that hasn't received its scheduled maintenance, the Bucs defense has been running rough of late. The unit's ranking, unheard of by Bucs standards, is 19th, but the situation seems even worse than that.
The 334.5 yards per game the defense is giving up are the most it has allowed since 1995, when it allowed 357 per game. The Bucs also are on pace to give up more points than at any time since the 1995 season.
"I don't know if you can direct it that way," Allen said when asked if the defense's struggles are a result of the attention the Bucs have paid to their offense in recent years.
"We've had an experienced defense, and we have brought in some veterans through free agency. And last year our defense was the best in the league. This year, we just haven't played up to our usual standards."
It's not just substandard play that has hurt the Bucs. They'll say their defensive woes also are a result of injuries to stalwarts such as end Simeon Rice, cornerback Brian Kelly and linebacker Shelton Quarles.
There's validity to that claim, but therein also lies the problem. The Bucs' performance this season has been an indication of just how thin they have become defensively and how bleak their future might be.
| | | Stovall says he's ready for bigger role - 12/07/2006
Source: St. Petersburg Times Youth is being served on the Bucs offense - in smorgasbord helpings.
The season-ending knee injury to third-year receiver Michael Clayton means rookie Maurice Stovall will get more playing time Sunday against the Falcons.
Veteran Ike Hilliard is likely to start the game, but Stovall will be used in three-receiver sets.
Stovall had his first reception Sunday against Pittsburgh.
"There are no butterflies," he said. "It's more of, 'Okay, it's my turn. Let's get ready.' Just go through the things you usually go through preparing for a game but to a higher degree."
A third-round pick from Notre Dame, Stovall was inactive for seven games, including three while recovering from a back injury. But he didn't let that get him down.
"It's hard, but then it's not," Stovall said. "It's kind of like when you're a freshman in college. You've got people in front of you. But at the same time, you can't slack because the coaches see that and you're always having someone watch you.
"You just keep preparing until the opportunity is given to you. When it is given to you, you have to take advantage of it."
SLOW HOOK: Bruce Gradkowski is coming off a three-interception game at Pittsburgh. But coach Jon Gruden has pledged patience with the rookie quarterback.
"If you look at the film, there are six or seven plays that he makes that are big-time plays," Gruden said. "That's what I'm after, a big-time quarterback. (He) has got three or four plays that are boneheaded plays, and we've got to get rid of those. But he's doing some really good things, and, by God, I'm going to stick around with him.
| | | Jackson or Johnson? - 12/07/2006
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press The Vikings are sticking with Brad Johnson as their starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Detroit. They just aren't talking about it.
On a day when coach Brad Childress declined to announce a starter, the closest thing to an official confirmation Wednesday came from rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson when asked about his status.
"Same as before," Jackson said. "Brad is the starting quarterback, and I'm doing like I do every week, trying to get ready for the game like I'm a starter and just trying to get better each day."
Johnson indicated he worked with the first-team offense, as usual, during Wednesday's practice but stopped short of saying he would start.
"I'm doing like I've always done," he said. "Just prepare to work and get ready to go for Sunday. Things haven't changed much for me."
Childress said earlier that he had decided on a starter and informed the player but wasn't ready to announce it publicly.
Johnson declined to say if he's been told he will start, but from a preparation standpoint, he said everything remains status quo.
"I'm preparing like I always have done," he said. "I don't see any difference. Coaches' decisions are coaches' decisions. … My schedule has been the same. Everything has been the same for me."
Childress seemed to suggest that the decision might go the other way when asked how Johnson has handled this week's uncertainty after being benched late in the third quarter of Sunday's 23-13 loss at Chicago.
"Brad is a pro," Childress said. "You guys know that who deal with him. In 15 years, he has seen a number of different things go on. He doesn't always like things that go on. He doesn't like the way that he played, but I know that he's a competitor. I know his heart is in the right spot. Whatever his role is, I know that he's going to compete his tail off."
Johnson, who threw four interceptions in the loss to the Bears, said he didn't want to speculate on why Childress hasn't publicly committed to him as the starter.
"I can't get into what he wants to do," he said. "I just know that regardless of whatever the situation is, I'm going to prepare and work hard and get ready to go. I can't get caught up in what is said by whom or what's written. All I can do is play."
| | | Chester Taylor listed as doubtful for Sunday - 12/07/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Running back Chester Taylor was listed as doubtful on the Vikings' first injury report of the week Wednesday, meaning there is only a 25 percent chance he will play Sunday at Detroit.
Taylor is nursing bruised ribs he injured in the second quarter of the Vikings' loss at Chicago last Sunday. Coach Brad Childress said Taylor has shown improvement and was spending time in the pool, "to try to move around, get himself feeling comfortable."
Added Childress: "Anyone that has had a rib injury knows how those things feel, let alone moving and getting poked on it. He's treating."
Taylor still could be upgraded. Nose tackle Pat Williams was listed as doubtful on last Thursday's injury report because of a knee injury but was upgraded to questionable Friday and played against Chicago.
Ciatrick Fason would replace Taylor, who is fifth in the NFL with 1,098 yards rushing, if he can't go. Third-down back Mewelde Moore also could see his carries increase.
Taylor has extra incentive to play in this game; he is from Detroit.
| | | Packers cautious with running back - 12/07/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Ask the Green Bay Packers coaches and they'll tell you that Ahman Green is running the way he once did.
But if that's true, why haven't they found more ways to get their franchise back the ball, especially in light of the problems they've had running behind an offensive line featuring three rookies?
Now that he's more than a year removed from the ruptured thigh tendon that cost him most of last season, Green's strength in his legs appears completely back, and when he gets some running room he seems to make the most of it. But in the last three games, his touches have been down significantly, especially compared to early in the season.
Not being able to run the ball is a factor, as is getting behind early against the New York Jets and New England Patriots, but given Green's ability to supplement his numbers with receiving yards, the Packers don't seem to be maximizing his ability. What's more, Green's endurance seems to be playing a factor because he continually comes out of the game after three or four plays during any given drive.
"You're trying to get him the ball so many times, but you're trying to keep his rep(etition)s to a certain number," coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. "But also (Vernand) Morency and Noah (Herron) have been productive players for us, so we're keeping them involved, too. It's not just go in there and go until you can't go anymore. That's not the approach."
It was early in the season when McCarthy and offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski were trying to get their zone-blocking run scheme off the ground. Green averaged 25 touches (carries and receptions) in the first three games, and the result was a pulled hamstring that shelved him for two games.
So they backed off a little, gave him the Wednesday practice each week to do rehabilitation on his right leg and started using him less. He hasn't come close to the 30 touches he had against Detroit Sept. 24 and is averaging 19 in his last seven games.
| | | Decisions looming for Favre - 12/07/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel As the weeks roll forward and the Green Bay Packers head for a second straight season without a post-season appearance, quarterback Brett Favre is facing decision time.
The last four weeks could play a role in whether he comes back next season - probably more so in relation to how he plays than how the team plays - but he said he remains an eternal optimist who can put the past in the past and think about a brighter future.
"I would hope our team would be a in a better situation (next year), but you know, the future, there are no guarantees in that and I'm no different than anyone else," Favre said. "When the season is over, when a game is over and you have a little bit of time to think about it, the optimism goes back up and you say, 'Hey, you know, we might be better.'
"Or, you know, 'I can play better than I did last week.' "
Favre said he's dealing better with the challenges of being on a losing team than he did last year and is not trying to carry the team all by himself. He admits, however, that the fact he isn't carrying the team in its moment of need could be a factor with his future.
"The thing I think we're not thinking about is what direction this team wants to go in," Favre said. "I mean, that sounds crazy, and I've said that in the past, but who knows? They may say, 'Brett, it's been great, but we may want to go in a different direction.' "
It was reported earlier in the season that coach Mike McCarthy would lobby Favre to play one more season, but Favre sounded like someone who hadn't really discussed his future with the team. He said he still hasn't talked about it with his wife, Deanna, and won't until the season is over.
| | | Rogers is done for the season - 12/07/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press Now that defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is on injured reserve and out for the season, the Lions will see if he needs more surgery, prepare him for an off-season program and try to motivate him to fulfill his potential.
"The thing we've got to do is get him in top shape," coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday. "I think, hopefully, he sees the direction we're going and he can be a force in this thing."
Rogers can be one of the most dominant players in the NFL at his position. He is listed at 6-feet-4, 345 pounds, and he can move like a much smaller man. He went to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.
But he is inconsistent, and his commitment and conditioning are in question.
Marinelli helped mold defensive tackle Warren Sapp into a star as Tampa Bay's defensive line coach, but he didn't get much of a chance to work with Rogers.
Rogers missed most of training camp and the exhibition season because of a shoulder injury. After playing the first six games, he was given a four-game suspension for using a banned substance to help control his weight. He took the opportunity to have minor surgery to correct a nagging knee problem.
The hope was that Rogers would come back from the suspension healthy and finish the season strong. But Rogers missed two games after he was eligible to play again. The knee swelled when he worked out last week. The Lions, tied with Oakland for the worst record in the NFL at 2-10, put him on IR on Wednesday. | | | A Rex-amination - 12/07/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The entire staff was gathered in the football office. One by one, the head coach went around the room, polling each assistant.
Who should play quarterback? Why?
Sound like a meeting of the minds that Lovie Smith presided over Monday morning at Halas Hall?
Maybe, but how far the Rex Grossman-Brian Griese debate got, we probably never will know. The Bears are maintaining a united front in sticking with Grossman, and other than switching to Griese, they don't have another choice. They have to be steadfast in their decision, even if Grossman is on a short leash.
But that meeting is exactly how it went down in Green Bay 13 seasons ago, when Brett Favre was going through the same thing as Grossman -- making far too many boneheaded plays and regressing faster than anyone thought possible.
''Mike Holmgren went right around the table and got every coach's opinion,'' recalled Steve Mariucci, the Packers' quarterbacks coach at the time.
As wild as it now seems, it was nearly unanimous: The staff encouraged Holmgren to turn the job over to rookie fifth-round pick Mark Brunell, who had been sharp running the practice squad.
That's how erratic Favre had become in a season in which he threw 19 touchdown passes and was picked off a league-high 24 times. He had gotten some confidence in his first year in Green Bay, and one of the results was that he began taking more chances, forcing more plays than ever.
Sound familiar?
How Holmgren came to the decision to stick with Favre, no one knows. Speculation is that general manager Ron Wolf had input.
''You never knew what you were going to get from Brett,'' Mariucci said. ''He was just taking too many chances, and he was young, a little bit like Rex.
''But just because you decide to stick with the guy, that doesn't mean all your problems are solved. It means you have made that decision to keep giving him reps in practice and work like crazy to develop some consistency. Maybe the only way to do that is to play through it. When Rex plays well, their team is good enough to beat anybody. And he has played well at times. So they just need to find that consistent level.''
Mariucci, now working for NFL Network, has been a staunch Grossman supporter over the last several weeks and didn't change his tune the day after Grossman posted a 1.3 passer rating and threw three interceptions in the division-clinching victory over Minnesota.
| | | 1st for everything: DT Harris ruled out - 12/07/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The Bears' struggling run defense will be without Pro Bowl tackle Tommie Harris on Monday in St. Louis.
Harris, who sprained his left knee Sunday in a victory over the Minnesota Vikings, was ruled out on the injury report released Wednesday and will miss a game for the first time in his three-year career.
Coach Lovie Smith said an MRI showed the injury is not season-ending, but Smith wouldn't specify if it was regular-season-ending. The Bears also listed a hamstring injury for Harris on the report.
If the Bears earn a first-round bye in the playoffs -- which they can secure with a victory over the Rams and losses by Dallas (vs. New Orleans) and Seattle (at Arizona) -- their first playoff game would not be until the weekend of Jan. 13-14.
The remaining injury news was expected. Cornerback Nathan Vasher (right hamstring), strong safety Todd Johnson (sprained right ankle) and reserve linebacker Leon Joe (left hamstring) are questionable. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger is probable with a rib injury and practiced Wednesday.
• The news wasn't all bad for the Bears' defensive line. Video review by the league resulted in a handful of statistical changes. A run for no gain by Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson was changed to a sack for Tank Johnson. Adewale Ogunleye's strip of Tarvaris Jackson late in the game also was changed to a sack as video showed the ball coming out before Jackson reached the line.
That gives the Bears five sacks in a game for the first time since Oct. 1 against Seattle and boosts the season totals for Ogunleye and Johnson to 5½ and 3½, respectively.
| | | CTaylor, Bollinger doubtful for Vikings - 12/07/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Minnesota Vikings running back
Chester Taylor and backup quarterback Brooks Bollinger are listed
as doubtful for Sunday's game at Detroit.
Taylor, the fifth-leading rusher in the NFL, bruised his ribs in
last week's loss to Chicago. Taylor has rushed for 1,098 yards and
also has 38 receptions for 266 yards as Minnesota's primary
offensive threat this season.
"He spent some time in the pool to try to move around, get
himself feeling comfortable," coach Brad Childress said. "Anyone
that has had a rib injury knows how those things feel, let alone
moving and getting poked on it. He's treating. He's working at it,
and he's improving as well."
Bollinger sprained his left (non-throwing) shoulder after coming
on in relief of struggling starter Brad Johnson in the third
quarter against the Bears. He guided the Vikings to their only
touchdown of the game, but was hurt when he was sacked by Adewale
Ogunleye.
There has been much speculation about Johnson's job security in
the wake of his four-interception game that got him benched, but
Bollinger's injury has made it a two-man competition between
Johnson and rookie Tarvaris Jackson.
Childress did not name a starter on Wednesday, but all but ruled
out Bollinger when the coach said he was "still trying to get his
arm above his shoulder."
Right guard Artis Hicks (ankle) is still listed as questionable
after missing last week's game. | | | Engram's slowing heart inching him back for Seahawks - 12/07/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Bobby Engram's heart finally has slowed.
So now he can gradually get back up to Seahawks' speed.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday that Engram's latest
blood tests have finally convinced doctors that he can play again.
The team's leading receiver last season hasn't played since Oct. 1,
just before a virus and Graves' disease caused a thyroid condition,
an accelerated heart rate, debilitating fatigue and weight loss.
"His numbers are finally where they are supposed to be. Bless
his heart," Holmgren said.
"Now, he has to tell me how he feels. He has to in his own
mind, I think, feel like he can contribute and really go like he's
used to going.
"So there's light at the end of the tunnel."
Holmgren stopped short of saying Engram, an 11th-year veteran,
will play Sunday at Arizona.
"That might be a little bit of a stretch," Holmgren said.
"But we are going to get him back pretty soon."
The 5-foot-10, 188-pound Engram has missed the last eight games
and at one point had lost 8 pounds. He is slowly regaining the
weight.
For weeks, various medications failed to slow Engram's heart
rate. But doctors recently found the right combination of beta
blocker drugs that didn't leave him exhausted | | | Shipp still afloat after tough years in Arizona - 12/07/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Nothing has been easy for Marcel Shipp in
the NFL. That's why those three touchdown runs in St. Louis on
Sunday meant so much to the quiet back from New Jersey.
"Just to show people that I'm still here and can still play the
game," he said Wednesday. "It's been three years (actually four)
since I've been in the end zone. It just felt good to feel like I
was part of the offense again."
Shipp had scoring runs of 1, 6 and 9 yards in Arizona's 34-20
victory over the Rams. He might had had a fourth score had
quarterback Matt Leinart not slipped and fell making the handoff at
the Rams' 1-yard line.
"Wouldn't that have been something?" Shipp said with a big
smile.
Before Sunday, Shipp had found himself back where he had started
with the Cardinals, toiling in obscurity on special teams. On a
punt in the first quarter in St. Louis, Shipp bruised his left
ribs. All three of his scores came despite the injury.
He didn't practice Wednesday but is listed as probable for
Sunday's game against Seattle.
"I'm really used to it," Shipp said of playing on special
teams. "That's been my role ever since I got here. Everyone wants
to be the man, but everyone can't be the man, so you've got to have
role players who understand their role and want to perform that
role."
Shipp, a native of Paterson, N.J., went undrafted after a
standout career at NCAA Division I-AA Massachusetts in 2001. He
earned a spot on the Arizona roster as a rookie with his special
teams play.
| | | Bills place LB Crowell on IR; sign LB Manning - 12/06/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Buffalo Bills placed linebacker
Angelo Crowell on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, and signed
linebacker Roy Manning.
Crowell, second on the Bills with 95 tackles, broke a bone in
his lower left leg in a 24-21 loss to San Diego last weekend.
Manning is in his second NFL season after appearing in one game
with the Houston Texans this year before being released Oct. 20. An
undrafted free agent out of Michigan, he broke in with Green Bay
last season and finished with 34 tackles in 15 games, including two
starts with the Packers.
Green Bay released Manning in September, before the start of
this season.
Crowell was Buffalo's third-round pick in the 2003 draft out of
Virginia. He earned the starting job in training camp, a move that
led to the release of Jeff Posey. Crowell capably filled in as a
starter last season after Takeo Spikes ruptured his Achilles'
tendon in Week 3.
Crowell is the sixth player -- and fourth defensive player -- the
Bills have placed on IR this season.
The Bills (5-7) travel to play AFC East rival New York Jets
(7-5) on Sunday. | | | Garcia helps Eagles stay alive in playoff chase - 12/06/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Philadelphia Eagles lost three in a row,
and then they lost Donovan McNabb.
The Eagles were in a tailspin and 36-year-old Jeff Garcia was
starting in McNabb's place, facing heavy scrutiny from
Philadelphia's fickle fans that only increased when the team was
routed in his first start.
Garcia responded with his best performance in more than two
years Monday night, throwing three touchdown passes in a 27-24
victory over the Carolina Panthers and keeping the Eagles in the
playoff race.
"Jeff Garcia is a battler and we're learning that," coach Andy
Reid said Tuesday. "He took some big shots back there when he was
moving around and bounced back up. It seemed like the more he got
hit, the tougher he got and the better he played."
Philadelphia needed a big performance from Garcia, who took over
for McNabb when the five-time Pro Bowler went down with a torn knee
ligament two weeks ago, right in the middle of a slide that saw the
Eagles drop five of six games.
"I really believe that I can still battle with the best of
them," Garcia said after the game. "I don't think like I have
lost it. I don't think like I am holding this team back in any sort
of way."
The Eagles will have to rely on Garcia if they want to stay on
track for a wild-card spot.
With four games left, the Eagles (6-6) are tied with the New
York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Panthers in the NFC wild-card race
and face a stretch of three consecutive division games on the road.
Philadelphia visits Washington and the Giants before meeting the
Cowboys in Dallas on Christmas Day and wrapping up the season at
home against Atlanta on New Year's Eve.
If Garcia gets the Eagles to the playoffs, he could also
rejuvenate his career.
Garcia is currently playing out a one-year deal signed in the
offseason. With a good performance down the stretch, he could earn
a shot at a starting job somewhere else next year or persuade the
Eagles to bring him back as insurance in case McNabb suffers a
setback during his recovery.
| | | Colts' Harrison ready to join 1,000-catch club - 12/06/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Marvin Harrison's mission statement has not
changed: The next play matters more than the last one and the next
cut carries more weight than some gaudy numbers.
In Harrison's world, it's just business.
"I don't think you need to raise a lot of chaos," he said.
"If you're doing your job on the 10th floor of a building
downtown, you don't want to do that stuff, so why do it here?"
Harrison's old-school approach, where personal accomplishments
take a back seat to winning and professionalism, have helped him
string together 11 remarkable NFL seasons with the Indianapolis
Colts and put him on the brink of joining the NFL's exclusive
1,000-catch club.
He needs five catches at Jacksonville to join Jerry Rice, Tim
Brown and Cris Carter as the only four members.
It would be easy for Harrison to point out some of his other
milestones like the single-season record for receptions (143) that
he shattered in 2002, being part of the most productive
quarterback-receiver tandem ever or the fact he's nearing 1,000 at
a faster rate than anyone else.
But why bother when the seven-time Pro Bowler's numbers speak
for themselves.
"It's something that stands out, a tremendous amount,"
Harrison said, acknowledging this mark means more. "I remember
when Tim Brown and Cris Carter caught theirs. It's something you
don't come into your career thinking about. But it is something
special."
Some suggest that if Harrison had not been paired with two-time
MVP Peyton Manning early in his career or given the advantage of
playing in a wide-open offense, he may never have achieved so much
so fast.
The truth is, if Syracuse had not offered him a football
scholarship, Harrison may not have even pursued an NFL career.
| | | Redskins RB Portis has shoulder surgery - 12/06/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Washington Redskins running back
Clinton Portis went on injured reserve last month with a broken
hand. While there, he had another lingering injury taken care
of.
Portis had successful surgery Tuesday on his left shoulder,
which he dislocated in the preseason and bothered him throughout
the campaign.
A five-time 1,300-yard rusher, Portis suffered a broken right
hand November 12 vs. Philadelphia. He had surgery the following
day and went on IR two days later, ending his season.
The shoulder injury forced Portis to miss the second game of the
season. He had an outpatient arthroscopic procedure performed
Tuesday morning at the Reston Hospital Center by Dr. Ray Thal,
who repaired a labrum tear and stabilized the joint.
Rehabilitation is expected to be six months, which could
jeopardize Portis' participation in mini-camp for the 2007
season.
Portis rushed for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games
this year. He was replaced by Ladell Betts, who has rushed for
over 100 yards in each of Washington's last two games.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Portis rushed for a franchise-record
1,516 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He never had been
below 1,315 rushing yards in his first five seasons. | | | Bucs place Clayton on injured reserve - 12/06/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Another disappointing season for Tampa Bay
receiver Michael Clayton came to an end Tuesday when the Buccaneers
said he'll miss the remaining four games because of a knee injury.
Clayton, one of the NFL's top rookies in 2004 when he had 80
receptions for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns, has struggled the
past two seasons because of inconsistency and injuries that
affected his role in the offense.
He had 32 catches for 372 yards and no touchdowns in 14 games
last year and finished this season with 33 receptions for 356 yards
and one TD -- a last-minute, game-winning score against Cincinnati
that was awarded on a replay reversal.
Clayton injured his left knee during Sunday's 20-3 loss at
Pittsburgh. He had one of his more productive games of the season
with four catches for 57 yards, but dropped what could have been a
game-changing, 39-yard TD pass with the Bucs trailing 10-0 late in
the third quarter.
The decision to put him on injured reserve was made after the
receiver had a MRI exam on Monday. The Bucs did not disclose the
exact nature or extent of the injury, but did say it would not
require surgery.
The team filled the roster opening by re-signing receiver Mark
Jones, who appeared in four games as a punt returner before being
released on Nov. 13.
| | | HELMET-GATE - 12/05/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press When backup quarterback Josh McCown lined up at receiver for one play Nov. 19 at Arizona, he could hear offensive coordinator Mike Martz call the play in his helmet.
The same thing happened Sunday at New England.
"It's kind of weird, though, as a quarterback, because he's in there, and he hears the play come in on his helmet, too," Kitna said.
But NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail that "a player in the game as a receiver cannot wear a helmet with coach-to-QB communication." And the Lions should have known McCown could play receiver. He has been practicing as one for weeks.
A Lions spokesman said once the equipment staff realized McCown was in the game at receiver Sunday, they corrected the problem by disabling the device in McCown's helmet the first time he came off the field. No discipline is expected.
TOO SLOW: McCown now has more catches for more yards this season than wide receiver Mike Williams, the 10th pick of the 2005 draft.
McCown caught two passes for 15 yards Sunday. Williams has one catch for seven yards this season.
"Mike, right now, is more of an inside guy," Marinelli said. "He needs to get faster to get down the field for us. ... Josh gives you some really good speed." | | | Williams wants to be in the zone - 12/05/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press Roy Williams has become the first Lion to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season since Johnnie Morton in 2001. But he has only four touchdown catches -- none in the red zone.
"I'm very surprised I'm not used more in the red zone," said Williams, who had eight touchdown catches in each of the previous two seasons in Steve Mariucci's West Coast offense. "In the West Coast system, that was pretty much my strength was in the red zone.
Here, I think you have to score from the 20 out from my position. I think the tight end, that's his territory."
Williams said he would never ask for the ball, but he's frustrated the Lions haven't been scoring touchdowns in the red zone. They are 15-for-33 this season.
"I'm so tired of field goals here at this place, man, it's ridiculous," Williams said. "We get inside the 20-yard line, and we're terrible." | | | Injuries to Harris, Vasher not serious - 12/05/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The Bears' belief that Tommie Harris did not suffer a serious knee injury was proven true Monday. An MRI revealed the Pro Bowl defensive tackle suffered only a sprained left knee, and indications were that it was to the medial collateral ligament. Harris told sources he expects to miss only a couple of games, and coach Lovie Smith said it's not season-ending. Whether that means he will return in the regular season, which has four games remaining, is undetermined.
''We're hoping that he'll be ready to go soon,'' Smith said. ''And when you have a sprained knee, you don't know exactly how long it is going to take you, but this isn't a season-ending injury by any means.''
The news also was good for cornerback Nathan Vasher, who left Sunday's win over the Vikings with a pulled right hamstring.
''It's not as bad as it could have been,'' Smith said. ''And we'll see how he progresses.''
Strong safety Todd Johnson (right ankle) also is improving and could benefit with an extra day to prepare for Monday's meeting with the St. Louis Rams.
| | | Gruden Putting Everyone On Notice Down Stretch - 12/05/2006
Source: Tampa Tribune His first game was his best. Since then he has performed like a bad stock. There have been spikes here and there, but the trend has been steadily downward. Now, his next interception may be his last.
Bruce Gradkowski is on notice. Coach Jon Gruden put him there on Monday. The good news for Gradkowski, the Bucs' rookie quarterback, is this: He's not alone.
Michael Clayton, who dropped what may have been the best of Gradkowski's 34 throws during the Bucs' 20-3 loss to the Steelers on Sunday, is on notice, too.
So is Cadillac Williams, the second-year running back who dropped one ball, fumbled away another and twice was whistled for false starts Sunday, and everyone else who has yet to earn his NFL pedigree.
"The young players, the guys who are playing, we have to decide who can help us win a championship," Gruden said Monday when asked what his approach to the final month of the season would be.
"We're looking for playoff players here. We're not looking for anything else. Are you good enough to help the Buccaneers win a championship? The goal here is not to make the playoffs, it's to win a championship.
"So we're going to find out who the players are on this team that can win a championship. And for the guys who can't, they won't be a part of this program."
Gruden's comments came a day after Gradkowski, Clayton and Williams were the most notable culprits in what might have been the sloppiest game the Bucs have played under their current head coach.
Though Gruden was quick to point out all three players also turned in some positive plays, he could not ignore the fact their errors robbed the Bucs of a chance at a better outcome.
Clayton, for example, made his most infamous drop yet on a third-quarter play in which he broke free from the Steelers defense and moved into position to score a touchdown that would have whittled the Bucs' deficit to 10-7.
| | | Which QB? It's a toss-up - 12/05/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Will the Vikings' starting quarterback keep his job because of an injury to the backup? That scenario seemed possible Monday at Winter Park, where coach Brad Childress brushed off questions about Brad Johnson's immediate future and indicated he will not name a starter for Sunday's game at Detroit until later this week.
Childress' refusal to immediately support Johnson, who threw four interceptions in a 23-13 loss Sunday to Chicago, suggested he preferred a change. But Childress' options are limited; backup Brooks Bollinger's left arm was in a sling Monday, courtesy a second-degree sprain of his left shoulder, and rookie Tarvaris Jackson continued to express reservations about stepping into the lineup.
Childress admitted he did not know when Bollinger would return to practice but insisted, "I have a few different options." Childress said he will decide based on who "give[s] us the best chance to win in the fourth quarter."We'll just look at that and see who we feel like that is," Childress added before cutting off reporters' questions on the situation.
Johnson, who has thrown 14 interceptions, was not available for comment Monday. But Childress has benched the 15-year veteran twice for throwing multiple interceptions, and coaches often look to replace starters after a second sitdown. Childress, for one, offered no evidence to the contrary Monday.
"We've got a lot of things that we have to clean up on offense," he said, "primarily number one, taking care of the football."
To that end, Childress seems willing to delay his decision until he can rule out Bollinger from a physical standpoint. According to Childress, Bollinger sprained the acromio-clavicular (AC) joint in his nonthrowing shoulder when Adewale Ogunleye sacked him during the fourth quarter Sunday. A second- degree sprain in essence means Bollinger slightly separated his shoulder.
| | | Thompson isn't ready to panic - 12/05/2006
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette General Manager Ted Thompson's rebuilding plan for the Green Bay Packers has hit its first crisis.
Late in the season, when rebuilding teams look for improvement, Thompson's hand-picked rookie coach, Mike McCarthy, not only has lost three straight games, but two were blowouts at Lambeau Field to New England and the New York Jets.
Instead of showing signs of a young team making strides late in the year, the Packers hit the low point of their season on Sunday, when the Jets blew to a 31-0 lead in the first half on their way to a 38-10 win.
On Monday, Thompson, the Packers' second-year GM, described the recent blowouts as part of the "ebb and flow of an NFL season" and said the team generally is showing growth, though growth often isn't linear.
"You can't see a lot of progress in a game like (Sunday), but I think the team as a whole, we're getting better," Thompson said Monday. "But we've certainly taken a step back, I'm not discounting that. The two home games especially. Playing on the road at Seattle (the week before) against a Super Bowl team, I thought we performed fairly well and kind of let it go there at the end. But the two home games were disappointing."
Thompson also defended the performance of McCarthy, whom he hired as a relatively low-profile candidate to replace Mike Sherman last January.
After a bad start, McCarthy's team appeared to make genuine strides in quality of play while also going 3-2 over a five-game stretch. However, a 35-0 loss to New England and the even more embarrassing 38-10 defeat to the Jets in two of the last three games have stunned the organization.
Asked whether he questioned his decision to hire McCarthy and what kind of job his coach is doing, Thompson said: "The answer to the first question: No. The answer to the second question: He's in there battling and we're getting ready for the San Francisco game (this week). That's what you have to do in the NFL. He and his staff work very hard, so no, I don't have any regrets."
Bob Harlan, the Packers' CEO who hired Thompson to replace Sherman as GM in 2005, expressed faith in Thompson's rebuilding despite the recent meltdowns. | | | Marinelli will stick with Kitna - 12/05/2006
Source: The Detroit News Coach Rod Marinelli's season-long support for Jon Kitna as his starting quarterback is as strong as ever.
Marinelli also wants Kitna to be his starter in 2007.
Kitna had a shaky fourth quarter in Sunday's 28-21 loss at New England -- two interceptions and a lost fumble as the Lions blew a 21-13 lead.
Marinelli would not put all the blame on Kitna for the Lions' latest fade, and he has given no consideration to changing quarterbacks.
"I see Jon as our starter for next year," Marinelli said Monday at his weekly news conference. "He's going to come in and finish this because he brings everything we want. He's a heck of a quarterback.
"It wasn't his best game yesterday. But it's an entire unit as I look at it. He's got so much upside to him. We put a tremendous amount of pressure on him, how much we have thrown the ball."
Unfortunately for Kitna, defenses have gotten their hands on too many passes in the fourth quarter. Seven of Kitna's 16 interceptions have come in the fourth.
"We all see the numbers," Marinelli said. "We all see the same thing. I also see a guy who has electrified this offense, too. When he's on, and he has been on, he gets the ball to Roy (Williams). He gets the ball to (Mike) Furrey. He does a great job in the screen game.
"It all works together. I feel very good about him. We're going to continue to feel good about him."
Marinelli has been asked at times about the possibility of playing backup Josh McCown, but has remained steadfast in not making a switch.
Marinelli's endorsement of Kitna for next season apparently takes the Lions out of the Brady Quinn lottery.
The Lions are 2-10 and are certain to have a top-five pick in the draft. Quinn, from Notre Dame, generally is regarded as the top quarterback prospect and could be taken first overall.
| | | Staying the course risky in football, too - 12/05/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times There is an old sailing term regarding the importance of keeping an unchanged course in navigation that has somehow found its way into the political lexicon. ''Stay the course'' has been a battle cry fraught with peril in international policy.
Now it's a slogan at Halas Hall as Bears coach Lovie Smith stubbornly has decided to stick with struggling quarterback Rex Grossman.
You almost have to admire the coach for sticking to his guns, or rather his gunslinger. The easy move -- some might suggest the wise move -- would be to bow to the will of the fans and the media and pull Grossman in favor of backup Brian Griese.
''You are a writer,'' Smith told a reporter. ''You don't come in here and say: 'What should I write? What should I do?' You go on what you think you should do. Right now, what we're doing ... we're 10-2 is what we're doing. I'm just asking everybody to stay with us. We have a plan. Let it play out.''
The situation is complicated by the fact that the Bears have a legitimate option at quarterback. But the issue is not Brian Griese. It's not about whether he failed in Denver, or why he has bounced around the league, or if he has the leadership ability to take a team to the Super Bowl. Those are considerations for another day.
Future not bright with Rex
Right now, the real story is the evaluation of Grossman, and whether he can lead the Bears to a Super Bowl. The evidence, based on 18 turnovers in seven games and a 1.3 passer rating in a miserable performance against Minnesota on Sunday, says that is not going to happen.
Smith insists every personnel decision he makes is based on giving the team the best chance to win. He says Grossman does that. He has decided to stay the course in part because of the success the player had in the first five games of the season.
''I've seen Rex play well,'' Smith said. ''And that's what you have to go on. We have a lot of football left to go, we're just getting ready to start the last quarter of the season. I have, we have seen Rex play well. Offensively, our numbers are up. It had a lot to do with our quarterback, and I think he will get back to that point.''
Apparently, that is the differentiation Smith makes in his decision to stay with Grossman vs. the decision to bail on Kyle Orton last season. Orton was pulled at halftime of a December game against Atlanta after completing 2-of-10 passes for 12 yards, putting up a 29.6 passer rating. He had no touchdowns in that game, but no interceptions. Orton wound up starting again in the season finale at Minnesota and finished the season with 13 interceptions and nine touchdowns with a 59.7 passer rating.
| | | Benson speaks softly, carries a big chip - 12/04/2006
Source: Chicago Tribune 'I'd rather not talk," Cedric Benson explained patiently as reporters visited his locker Sunday.
Seldom has an athlete been more polite or looked more uncomfortable turning down interviews than Benson, who rushed for a season-high 60 yards on nine carries, including a 24-yard third-quarter touchdown to help the Bears to their division-clinching victory over the Vikings.
In typical form, Benson offers a few words here and there to the most persistent before wrapping up an eight-day period that begins with him running over people and leaves him feeling like he has been flattened himself.
In other words, it is the kind of week to which Benson has become accustomed: Play just enough to be frustrated, allow your candor to make you feel even more misunderstood and alienated, and once again flash enough talent to keep your insides churning.
A long week, indeed.
| | | Jason Taylor leaves game with arm injury - 12/04/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Miami defensive end Jason Taylor left Sunday's game
against Jacksonville late in the first half with an injury to his
right wrist, but returned for the start of the second half and
played the rest of the way in the Dolphins' 24-10 loss to the
Jaguars.
Taylor was hurt tackling quarterback David Garrard and quickly
trotted off the field to the locker room, clutching his arm against
his side. He returned with his wrist wrapped.
Taylor, enjoying perhaps the best season of his 10-year career,
recorded 1.5 sacks in the first half to give him 10.5 this season.
He finished with only three tackles.
"I'm fine," he said. "It was sore, but it's no excuse." | | | Patriots rookie RB leaves game - 12/04/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Patriots rookie running back Laurence
Maroney left early in the second half after the wind was knocked
out of him against the Lions.
Maroney played in just two series Sunday against Detroit,
running four times for 14 yards and returning one kickoff for 25
yards. After that, Kevin Faulk and Patrick Pass handled the kickoff
return duties.
Corey Dillon, who normally rotates with Maroney, got most of the
carries. | | | Browns' Frye injures right wrist - 12/04/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Browns quarterback Charlie Frye may have broken
his right wrist during Sunday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Frye got hurt on Cleveland's first offensive series when he
braced himself while being knocked down. He stayed in and threw a
23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Braylon Edwards before
being taken to the locker room for X-rays.
Frye returned with 5:53 left before halftime, and drove the
Browns to a tying score with 19 seconds left.
However, when Cleveland came out for the second half, Frye was
wearing a large brace on his wrist and an orange jacket but no
shoulder pads.
"I tried to fight it off for a while," said Frye, who also
hurt his left ankle on the same play. "At halftime, the trainer
pulled the plug on it. I should know tomorrow just how serious it
is."
Tight end Kellen Winslow blurted out that Frye's wrist was
broken, but later backtracked on his claim.
Backup Derek Anderson, who had only taken one previous snap in
his two-year NFL career, took over for Frye and threw two TD passes
in the final nine minutes of regulation to rally the Browns to a
31-28 overtime win. Anderson was Cleveland's third-string QB last
season, behind Frye and Trent Dilfer.
Coming off a four-interception performance against Cincinnati,
Frye went 11-for-13 for 122 yards. In his first full season as a
starter, Frye has taken a beating behind an injury-depleted
offensive line, but has not missed any significant time.
That will change if his wrist is broken, and even if it's not,
Frye will not likely be ready to play Thursday night when the
Browns (4-8) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Frye will be evaluated Monday at
the Cleveland Clinic and the club will have more information on his
injury after more tests are completed.
Frye was still wearing the brace when he left Browns Stadium
after the game.
| | | Bears win but Grossman struggles again - 12/04/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Rex Grossman heard the boos through the cold air
at Soldier Field. On a day the Chicago Bears captured a second
straight division title and became the first team to clinch a
playoff spot, their young quarterback struggled again.
His QB rating was a microscopic 1.3. He completed only 6 of 19
passes for 34 yards and threw three more interceptions -- giving him
17 for the season and 14 in the last seven games. Thanks to defense
and special teams, the Bears still beat the Minnesota Vikings
23-13.
"I feel like I have pretty thick skin," Grossman said at his
postgame news conference where he was peppered with questions about
his poor play. "It's out there. I know the fans' frustration and
everything. It wasn't a surprise to me. But it's definitely a
situation that I don't want to be in. It's unfortunate. But it just
feels weird. I feel like we lost and (I'm) wearing a division
championship (hat)."
Acknowledging that he, too, is frustrated, Grossman reiterated
he hasn't lost his confidence and vowed to fix his problems. How to
do that? Stop thinking so much, he said, and just go play football
like he has most of his life.
Coach Lovie Smith, who became agitated with some of the
questions about Grossman, said he's not changing quarterbacks.
Smith did make a switch at halftime of the 14th game a year ago,
sending in Grossman to take over for Kyle Orton. So it's not like
he's never pulled his quarterback before.
But not this time, even though there have been numerous calls
for veteran Brian Griese to relieve Grossman.
"Right now we're 10-2 with Rex as our quarterback," Smith
said.
How does Grossman get better, especially with the playoffs
looming in about six weeks?
"As we win a division title, I'm not going to sit here and tell
you about all the things we're going to do to change what we have
going right now. Because there's not a lot," Smith said.
Grossman was intercepted in the first quarter by Vikings
linebacker Napoleon Harris at the 11-yard line, killing a Bears
drive, and that seemed to set the tone for his shaky day.
He didn't blame the frigid conditions with 20-degree
temperatures and single-digit wind chills for his lack of accuracy.
"We just never got anything going," he said.
| | | Bills LB Crowell likely out for season with broken left leg - 12/04/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Buffalo Bills starting linebacker
Angelo Crowell is expected to miss the rest of the season because
of a broken left leg.
Crowell was hurt Sunday during a 24-21 loss to San Diego. Bills
coach Dick Jauron announced the injury Monday, saying the team is
planning to place Crowell on season-ending injured reserve.
Crowell broke a bone in his lower leg on a run by LaDainian
Tomlinson on the Chargers' first possession
The linebacker hopped off the field immediately after the play,
unable to put any weight on his left foot. Jauron said Crowell
believes he was hurt when he was kicked while trying to make a
tackle.
Jauron said Crowell is not expected to have surgery.
"It's tough for him and tough for us," Jauron said. "He was
playing well and getting more and more comfortable in the scheme.
It's a tough one and very disappointing."
Crowell has started all 12 games for the Bills (5-7). He entered
the weekend ranked second on the team with 95 tackles.
This was Crowell's first full season as a starter. He earned the
job after he did a capable job filling in after Takeo Spikes
ruptured his Achilles' tendon in Week 3 of last season.
Buffalo's third-round pick in the 2003 draft out of Virginia,
Crowell started this season at weak side linebacker, but switched
over to the strong side after Spikes missed four games with a
hamstring injury.
Reserve safety Coy Wire and rookie backup linebacker Keith
Ellison will be considered to replace Crowell in the lineup. Wire,
Buffalo's third-round pick in the 2002 draft, is the Bills special
teams captain and played linebacker in his final two years at
Stanford.
| | | Tommie Harris leaves with leg injury - 12/04/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris left
the game in the third quarter Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings
with a leg injury.
Harris, who made the Pro Bowl last season, was hurt on the
second scrimmage play of the second half, a 6-yard run by the
Vikings' Chester Taylor. After staying on the ground for several
minutes, Harris was helped off the field.
In his third season and a first-round pick out of Oklahoma in
2004, Harris has five sacks this season. | | | Sanders, Stokley to play at Tennessee - 12/02/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Colts figure to get a big boost on
Sunday against Tennessee with the expected returns of wide receiver
Brandon Stokley, safety Bob Sanders and outside linebacker Gilbert
Gardner.
The All-Pro Sanders has missed eight of the Colts last nine
games with soreness and swelling in his right knee. He had
arthroscopic surgery on the knee in September.
Stokley had been sidelined since Oct. 8, when he sprained his
left knee in the fourth quarter of the Colts' home game against the
Titans.
Gardner (ribs) and safety Matt Giordano (strained calf) were
both expected to play this week. Gardner missed the Eagles game
last week, and Giordano has not played the last four weeks.
However, tight end Dallas Clark, who injured his knee last week,
won't play, and offensive tackle Ryan Diem and safety Antoine
Bethea will be game-time decisions, coach Tony Dungy said Friday.
Diem (back/abdomen) and Bethea (shoulder) have not practiced
this week. Clark is out indefinitely after straining a ligament in
his right knee. The Colts have not yet ruled him out for the
season.
Sanders was a surprise starter against New England on Nov. 5,
recording 10 tackles. He has seen limited practice since.
"I'm doing real good," Sanders said after Friday's practice.
"I'm excited and I'm expecting to be out there playing this
Sunday."
| | | Jaguars place QB Leftwich on injured reserve - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire It will be up to David Garrard
to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars the rest of the way.
The Jaguars on Friday placed quarterback Byron Leftwich on
injured reserve, ending his season.
Leftwich underwent left ankle surgery on November 21 and has
been inactive for the last five weeks.
The Jaguars (6-5) are fighting for a wild-card spot in the AFC.
They are 3-2 since Garrard replaced the injured Leftwich, who
was 3-3 before being replaced by Garrard.
The 26-year-old Leftwich has been the Jaguars' starting
quarterback since his rookie year in 2003. When Leftwich missed
five games last season with a fractured left ankle, Garrard
filled in and led the Jaguars to a 4-1 record.
This season, Leftwich completed 108-of-183 passes for 1,159
yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.
In his four seasons with the Jaguars, Leftwich has passed for
9,042 yards and 51 touchdowns with 36 interceptions.
The Jaguars signed cornerback David Richardson from the practice
squad to replace Leftwich on the roster. | | | Bills RB McGahee misses practice because of illness - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Bills running back Willis McGahee
missed Friday's practice because of an illness, but he should be
ready to go on Sunday, coach Dick Jauron said.
McGahee rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns in the Bills
27-24 win over Jacksonville last week. He missed the previous two
games after breaking three ribs against Green Bay on Nov. 5.
The Bills (5-6) host the Chargers (9-2) on Sunday.
McGahee is the team's leading rusher with 642 yards on 166
carries and has scored three touchdowns for the Bills, who have won
three of their last four games. | | | Blitzing could be Seattle's Marshall Plan for Cutler - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire John Marshall has been an NFL assistant
coach for 27 years. He's been a defensive coordinator for nine of
those seasons.
He's concocted, or had a hand in, more than 400 plans to thwart
opposing quarterbacks.
But the 61-year-old Seahawks' defensive mastermind has never had
to plan for the almost complete unknown. Until now.
Marshall and his Seahawks get Denver quarterback Jay Cutler on
Sunday night, in the rookie's first start since Broncos coach Mike
Shanahan chose to replace struggling Jake Plummer. It's the polar
opposite of Seattle's preparation last week for Brett Favre, the
Packers' star for whom Marshall had 15 seasons' worth of tendencies
and skills to study.
"Shucks, I don't really think so," the homespun Marshall said
when asked if he's ever been asked to ruin a passer's pro debut
with a scheme based only on film from preseason games.
Speedy linebacker Julian Peterson, the Seahawks' sack leader
with a career-high eight, said he has faced two rookie quarterbacks
in their first starts when he was with San Francisco: Eli Manning
and Chris Weinke.
"But Weinke doesn't count," a laughing Peterson, who turned 28
this preseason, said of the Carolina Panther. "He was 28. He was
older than I am."
Cutler is just 23. But he is also the 11th overall choice in
last April's draft from Vanderbilt whom Denver traded up to get,
its highest-selected quarterback ever -- yes, John Elway was taken
by someone else, the Colts, then traded to Denver. Cutler was
40-for-62 (65 percent) with four touchdowns and one interception in
the preseason. His 561 yards passing led all rookies.
That alone impressed Marshall. Then again, that's all Marshall
had to be impressed about.
"He's really good. That's why they drafted him high," Marshall
said. "He's got good mobility -- just as good as Jake. He throws
the ball well on the run, to his right and his left. He's got a
real strong arm. REAL strong."
| | | Ferguson on mend after knee surgery - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Nick Ferguson walked slowly through the locker
room, leaning on one crutch, as he headed toward the trainer's
room.
The Denver Broncos safety had season-ending surgery last week to
repair a torn medial meniscus in his left knee and showed up
Thursday to get it checked out by the trainers. He suffered the
injury while making an interception against San Diego on Nov. 19.
Ferguson was told he'd be sidelined up to three months.
"That's the extended version," he said. "It's not going to be
that long. (Doctors) didn't find anything else (wrong with the
knee). Someone still loves me upstairs."
Ferguson has discovered something about himself -- he's not a
good spectator. It was hard for him to watch Denver's 19-10 loss to
Kansas City on Thanksgiving night on his couch.
"I could've broken a couple things in my house," he said.
"I'll leave it at that. It was frustrating to watch because maybe
there's something I could've done. You feel helpless. Right now I
wish there was more that I could do."
^------=
^COLD WEATHER KICKING@: Kicker Jason Elam never took a physics
class while at the University of Hawaii. But the 14-year veteran
knows a bit about kicking in cold weather.
"The only thing cold weather does affect is the compression of
the ball," Elam said. "It just doesn't compress as much. When
it's hot outside the ball really compresses and the more
compression you get, the more distance you get."
Elam has been successful in 357 of 448 field goal attempts in
all types of weather. He said only the distance of the kick forces
him to alter his technique when the temperatures dip below
freezing.
| | | Smith feels remorse for benched Plummer - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Broncos receiver Rod Smith is torn.
He's excited to see rookie Jay Cutler make his first start
against Seattle on Sunday night but has a tough time watching his
former quarterback, Jake Plummer, taking snaps with the scout team.
"He doesn't have control over it," Smith said. "He
understands that, and at the same time, (the) competitor that Jake
is, he wants to be up under center, and he feels he deserves
that."
What happened to Plummer has caused Smith to look at himself. He
could be replaced. Maybe rookie Brandon Marshall steps in for him?
Smith is in his 12th year and has just 38 catches this season.
"Everybody should feel that way," Smith said. "My job's in
jeopardy every day that I step onto that field if I'm not
performing. Period. I think that goes for everybody."
Plummer hasn't spoken since his demotion on Monday.
Yet Smith said he hasn't changed. He hasn't pouted, sulked or
slacked off since being replaced by Cutler.
"He's really done an excellent job of handling the situation
and just kind of dealing with it," Smith said. "It's got to be a
real tough situation."
The Broncos (7-4) have now put their playoff aspirations in the
hands of a rookie. However, there doesn't seem to be much
dissension in the locker room over the switch.
"This is a business," defensive lineman Gerard Warren said.
"If you don't succeed, (Denver coach Mike) Shanahan makes a
switch."
So far the kid has proven to be unflappable.
"He hasn't shown any fear yet," safety John Lynch said.
It's only been practice. The Seahawks certainly won't be taking
it easy on Cutler because it's his first start.
| | | WR Reed eager to rejoin Bills after missing 3 games - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Josh Reed happily shredded the tape
from his ankles after practice Thursday, eager for the chance to
contribute in a Buffalo offense that's finally clicking.
"I'm glad to see my teammates have big days," Reed said.
"Just to be a part of it, it's going to be much better than
watching in regular clothes on the sideline."
After missing three games with a bruised kidney, Reed is
expected to get his opportunity when the Bills (5-6) host San Diego
(9-2) on Sunday.
Reed has been cleared for contact and practiced for a second
straight week since being hurt early in the second quarter of
Buffalo's 24-10 win over Green Bay.
He said he's feeling no soreness and expects to play Sunday.
Coach Dick Jauron was also upbeat over Reed's likely return, even
though the player is still listed as questionable on the Bills'
injury report.
Reed's return as the team's third-down slot receiver should
further bolster an offense that's finding its rhythm under
quarterback J.P. Losman.
"We miss Josh a lot," Losman said. "He brings a sense of
confidence. ... We're definitely happy to get him back."
The Bills are coming off two victories, both secured by
last-minute game-winning drives, and have won three of four. Losman
has been particularly effective and efficient over that stretch.
He's gone a combined 63-of-93 for 694 yards passing with four
touchdowns and two interceptions over that stretch. That includes a
career-best 340 yards in a 24-21 win over Houston two weeks ago, a
game which Losman capped by hitting Peerless Price with a 15-yard
touchdown pass with 9 seconds left. Lee Evans also set a franchise
record against Houston with 265 yards receiving.
"We're just being more consistent," Reed said. "A lot of
games that we did lose this year, we weren't."
Reed had a respectable 23 catches for 229 yards and a touchdown
before he was hurt. A physical receiver who's unafraid of running
in traffic, he had a team-leading nine catches in third-down
situations.
| | | Packers' Green struggling to find room to run - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator
Jeff Jagodzinski has a hard time blaming running back Ahman Green
for his recent disappearing act.
"It's not Ahman," Jagodzinski said. "You could have Earl
Campbell back there. You have to be able to finish blocks and do it
the right way all the time."
After his season-best 122-yard rushing day at Buffalo early this
month, Green has failed to gain more than 55 yards in each of his
past three games. He averaged only 3.1 yards per carry in Green
Bay's loss at Seattle on Monday night, which actually represented
an improvement over his previous two games.
Jagodzinski said the Packers must break out of their three-game
rushing slump and rediscover the things they were doing right a
month ago.
"The thing is, we've had success doing it," Jagodzinski said.
"We had a three-week run there where we were at 165, 170 yards a
game. And then the past three games, it hasn't been there at all.
So that's one of the things we've been addressing. We're going to
get that right."
Jagodzinski doesn't want to single out any particular player for
criticism, or even just the offensive linemen -- although the line
is the most likely target now that it's starting a third rookie in
the absence of injured right tackle Mark Tauscher.
| | | Giants' Strahan doesn't practice; Madison, Short, Umenyiora do - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire New York Giants defensive end
Michael Strahan did not participate in practice on Thursday, a day
after he took part in his first individual drills since spraining
his right foot against Houston four weeks ago.
Strahan is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the
Dallas Cowboys.
"It's not a setback," coach Tom Coughlin said. "This was the
week that actually he was going to get involved doing things. He
tried it yesterday and that's about where it is. He has more time
to go."
In other injury updates, cornerback Sam Madison (hamstring),
defensive end Osi Umenyiora (hip flexor) and linebacker Brandon
Short (quadriceps), each of whom has missed most or all of the last
four games, practiced for a second straight day on Thursday. All
are questionable for Sunday.
Linebacker Antonio Pierce (knee), safety Gibril Wilson
(shoulder) and linebacker Carlos Emmons (groin) returned to
practice after missing Wednesday's session. Pierce is probable,
while Wilson and Emmons are questionable for Sunday's game.
Cornerback Corey Webster (toe) missed practice for a second
straight day and is listed as still questionable. | | | More surgery for Culpepper - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Daunte Culpepper underwent arthroscopic knee
surgery Thursday to remove a piece of cartilage that has hampered
his recovery from reconstructive surgery a year ago.
The problem was discovered when Culpepper was examined Wednesday
by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
"Behind his kneecap there was a little piece of articular
cartilage that was causing some catching," coach Nick Saban said.
"That's what was causing the problem.
"That's why we wanted to get this evaluated. We all feel much
better that there's a solution to what wasn't a serious issue, but
it was an issue that was holding him back some."
Culpepper will remain on the active roster, at least for now, so
there remains a chance he'll play again this season.
Culpepper underwent major knee surgery in November 2005. He
returned to the field more quickly than expected and played in
Miami's first four games this year, but with his mobility hampered,
he was sacked 21 times.
He was then pulled from the lineup so he could focus on
rehabilitation. Culpepper has since practiced on a limited basis
but struggled with sharp pain in the right knee.
"I played through some pain in the first four games and didn't
feel that I had an explosive burst, but the problem couldn't be
detected by an MRI," Culpepper said in a statement. "The minor
surgery today solved that problem and will allow me to continue my
progress."
| | | Titans' RB White strains hip but hopes to play Sunday - 12/01/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Tennessee Titans rookie running back
LenDale White sat out Thursdays practice because of a strained hip,
but said he should be back on the practice field Friday.
White, a second-round pick from Southern California, suffered a
strained hip muscle in Wednesdays practice, but returned to finish
the workout.
"It's all right. It's just a little bit sore. I'll be out there
tomorrow. It's strained a little bit, but I don't really feel like
it's anything that will keep me out," White said. "Hopefully,
I'll be able to run around a little bit tomorrow to get it
stretched out and I'll be ready for Sunday."
The Titans (4-7) host Indianapolis (10-1) on Sunday.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher was a bit more cautious in whether
White would practice on Friday.
"We'll have to see how he is tomorrow," Fisher said. "He got
through yesterday's practice. We pulled him out in the middle. Then
he told us he was a little tight. If LenDale is not able to go
then, yes, Chris (Brown) will step up and hell definitely get his
carries." | | | Gradkowski ready for homecoming - 11/30/2006
Source: St. Petersburg Times Not long after the Bucs drafted Bruce Gradkowski in April, the quarterback took a peek at the 2006 schedule and was pleasantly surprised: Bucs at Steelers, Dec. 3.
"It's been something that I've been looking forward to for a while now," the Pittsburgh native said. "When I first got drafted, everyone was talking about it, but I was like, 'Come on, now. That's a ways away. I'm just trying to make this team first.' I didn't think I'd be starting, that's for sure."
Yet, here he is, days from running onto Heinz Field as a starter against the team he grew up idolizing.
"I loved it when the defenses were crazy for the Steelers," Gradkowski said. "They had some great players back in the day - Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene. Those were some of the key guys, but I was a big fan of all of them."
Gradkowski said he outgrew his passion for the Steelers when he left for the University of Toledo, where the local television affiliates rarely aired anything but Browns and Bengals games.
That, however, won't diminish what this game means to him. "Getting a chance to play against them is going to be awesome," he said.
His especially large family agrees, which is why Gradkowski expects to have more than 100 relatives and friends at the game.
| | | After further review, Wilson dissects Rex - 11/30/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson was all smiles on the sideline after the Bears had picked up their fifth takeaway of the game Sunday at New England.
The Bears were in business at their 22-yard line, down four with less than two minutes to play. If they got man coverage on the outside with Rashied Davis, they liked him on a deep post route.
''It looked good from the sideline,'' Wilson said. ''I said, 'Man, we've got a shot.'''
The safety went with Muhsin Muhammad on an inside slant, leaving Davis one-on-one with Asante Samuel. He had a step on Samuel, and had Rex Grossman's pass led Davis, all the talk this week about the quarterback struggles might be 180 degrees in the other direction. Instead, it was the only poorly thrown ball of Grossman's three interceptions.
After review, Wilson said the first two picks, also by Samuel, were the product of poor decisions. Samuel jumped a slant route by Bernard Berrian for the first one.
''Definitely a poor decision,'' Wilson said. ''The guy was real hard inside, and that was something we stressed earlier in the week, so he shouldn't have been working that side at all.''
The second interception was on a pass down the middle to tight end Desmond Clark. Grossman was supposed to throw it on seven steps and instead made the pass on five.
''The timing was off,'' Wilson said. ''The safety shaded over to the other side, so we were going to try to get [Clark] the ball. Dez was bending toward the middle, and Rex left the ball outside.
''The other thing is he pumped. He did that on five steps and he should have gone seven, so when he hit five, he makes the throw and Dez isn't into his route yet. So if he had taken the other two steps, now the corner doesn't have the chance to break on it as much.''
That illustrates the fine line between a good outing and one that is scrutinized for days.
| | | Clayton Accepts His Role - 11/30/2006
Source: Tampa Tribune This is not how it was supposed to be. Jon Gruden will be the first to tell you that, because Gruden was the one who promised it would be different.
Surely you remember the promise. Gruden made it three years ago when he told Michael Clayton he would build his offense around him.
It hasn't worked out that way. Clayton isn't even the focal point of the Bucs' passing attack, much less their offense.
Two years after setting a franchise record by catching 80 passes as a rookie, he has 29 receptions - one more than reserve running back Michael Pittman.
This is not how it was supposed to be. Clayton was going to be the Bucs' go-to guy. Instead he's become an afterthought. And it's killing him.
"To feel like you're not a part of it when you walk off the field, sometimes is very stressful," he said. "But I've found ways to keep those feelings away.
"By playing physical, by blocking, I've found things that make me smile, that make me feel comfortable and make me want to come in and work hard every day."
This is what it has come to. Less than two years removed from a rookie of the year-caliber season, Clayton has become a role player.
His job on most plays now is to block downfield for his running backs or run a clearing route for the real offensive focal point, Joey Galloway.
Funny, but Clayton doesn't seem that bothered by it. It's eating at him, but he won't say so publicly. He may not even be saying so privately.
There was a time when Clayton might have groused about such a role, about his lack of opportunity. Not anymore.
"Do I want to be out there balling like I was my rookie year, yeah," Clayton said. "That's in me; that's the kind of player I am. I'm a competitor.
"But these are tough times for all of us right now and it's not my job to bark and complain about my role."
Even if he did complain it probably wouldn't do him much good. After all, Clayton has become little more than a victim of circumstances.
Opposing defenses have been taking away a lot of the short and intermediate routes that Clayton runs, daring the Bucs to throw deep.
As a result, Galloway has become the favored target in the Bucs' passing attack. There's next to nothing Clayton can do about that.
All he can do is play the role he has been relegated to and try to take advantage of the few opportunities that come his way.
| | | Minus McNabb, Eagles rely more on Westbrook - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Maybe Brian Westbrook was right all along.
Given the chance to run more, Westbrook is putting up big
numbers for the Philadelphia Eagles. The versatile running back
already has a career-best 839 yards rushing, including three
straight 100-yard games.
Westbrook has never been satisfied with the amount of carries he
gets in an offense that has relied heavily on the pass under coach
Andy Reid. He often has said that he can be a workhorse-type back
who carries the ball 20-25 times per game.
Now that Donovan McNabb is out for the season, Westbrook is
Philadelphia's primary threat on offense and the Eagles have been
more committed to running the ball lately.
"I think we've needed to run the football a little bit more and
the situation has kind of presented itself that we have to run the
football a little bit more," Westbrook said. "The offensive line
is getting it done. Prior to that, we hadn't called on our running
game as much.
"Hopefully we'll continue to run the ball and control the
clock, but we have to score, whether it's through the run or the
pass."
Westbrook tied a career-high with 22 carries for 113 yards in a
27-3 win over Washington on Nov. 12. He ran the ball another 22
times for 102 yards in a loss to Tennessee the following week.
With Jeff Garcia replacing the injured McNabb at quarterback,
the Eagles stuck to their plan to run despite falling behind early
in a 45-21 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday night. Westbrook finished
with 20 carries for 124 yards, becoming the first Eagles player to
surpass 100 yards three games in a row since Wilbert Montgomery did
it in 1981.
"We're disappointed that we're not over .500, so the rushing
totals don't mean much to me," Westbrook said. "We can't be
negative. We have to find positive things to build on. We need to
put more points on the board. We have to correct the negative
things."
A fifth-year pro, Westbrook never has been the featured back on
the Eagles. He split time with Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter
early in his career and doesn't get the ball as much as Tiki
Barber, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson or Larry Johnson.
Westbrook catches more passes than other backs, though, and he's
already reached 60 receptions for the third straight season.
Since coming out of Villanova, the knock against Westbrook has
been size and durability. He's 5-foot-8 and 203 pounds and has
never played a full season without being injured. He missed several
practices this season with a foot injury and sat out one game in
Week 4.
Westbrook had a breakout year in 2004, when the Eagles went to
the Super Bowl. He finished with 812 yards rushing, 73 catches for
703 yards and nine TDs in 13 games on his way to the Pro Bowl.
He could end up in Hawaii again this year and is well on his way
to his first 1,000-yard season.
"Before the season starts, you always put goals out there,"
Westbrook said. "My individual goals never come before team
goals."
| | | QB Romo, RB Addai among NFL Players of the Week - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire After stealing the spotlight in front of
national audiences last weekend, Tony Romo and Joseph Addai were
rewarded for their efforts.
Romo on Wednesday was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week
while Addai earned the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel and Washington
Redskins safety Sean Taylor were named as the Defensive Players
of the Week while Buffalo Bills return specialist Roscoe Parrish
and Seattle Seahawks kicker Josh Brown took Special Teams
honors for Week 12.
Making just his fifth career start for the Dallas Cowboys, Romo
tied a club record with five touchdown passes on Thanksgiving in
a 38-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It was the fourth win in the last five games for Dallas (7-4),
which moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC East,
one game ahead of the New York Giants (6-5).
Much of the Cowboys' recent success can be attributed to Romo,
who has passed for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games
since unseating Drew Bledsoe as the starting quarterback.
On Thursday, Romo matched a club record last set by Hall of
Famer and three-time Super Bowl winner Troy Aikman on September
12, 1999 in a 41-35 overtime win at Washington.
No Cowboy had passed for five touchdowns in the franchise's
traditional holiday game - which started in 1966 - until Romo.
He was nearly flawless, completing 22-of-29 passes for 306 yards
with zero turnovers.
While Romo waited nearly four years to finally get a chance to
play, Addai has made an immediate impact with the Indianapolis
Colts.
Indianapolis' first-round draft selection last spring, Addai
rushed for season highs of 171 yards and four touchdowns as the
Colts cruised to a 45-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on
Sunday night.
Becoming more involved in the offensive game plan each week,
Addai carried 24 times and shredded the Eagles from the outset,
scoring on runs of 15, 10 and 15 yards on the Colts' first three
possessions. His four touchdowns matched the franchise record
previously set by Lenny Moore, Lydell Mitchell and Eric
Dickerson.
| | | Season over for Saints TE Ernie Conwell - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Saints starting tight end Ernie Conwell, who
played for the first time in more than a month last weekend, was
placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season.
Conwell suffered a bone bruise and medial meniscus tear in his
right knee in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 14.
After sitting out several weeks, he played in Sunday's game against
the Atlanta Falcons, but for only about a dozen plays.
"It's just not progressed as quickly as we had hoped," Saints
coach Sean Payton said. "The soreness and where he's at
physically. It's hard to say that it's going to be better maybe at
the pace we had hoped it would and that's kind of where we're at
with that."
Conwell, now in his 11th year, played in seven games this
season, starting five. He had eight catches for 57 yards and a
touchdown.
The tight end said he did not re-injure his knee when he
returned to action in Atlanta last Sunday and was despondent after
finding out his season was over.
"It came as a surprise," Conwell said. "I feel heartbroken.
It's hard to put as much time and energy as you do into a football
season and into a career and then to have it all of a sudden be
over with. It's tough. It's a hard pill to swallow. But I've been
around long enough. I understand this game, this business. You
really just have to defer to your coaching staff and management.
They've got an ultimate plan of what they want to do with this team
and where we need to fill spots.
"I'm just going to stick around and try to be a good leader, a
good veteran, and encourage guys and help as much as I can,"
Conwell said. "That's really all I can do right now."
| | | Hasselbeck's mangled hand not worthy of ``Watergate-type'' news - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Matt Hasselbeck has a bruised hand,
perhaps even a broken finger.
But the standard for Seahawks' fractures, infections and
hospitalizations has been set ridiculously high during Seattle's
season of attrition. So a Pro Bowl quarterback's mangled fingers on
his non-throwing hand that has him listed as probable for Sunday
night's game at Denver?
Big whoop.
"Like my dad said, 'It's your left hand. Suck it up,"
Hasselbeck said Wednesday, referring to rugged former NFL tight end
Don Hasselbeck.
Coach Mike Holmgren said that his quarterback is "fine," will
start Sunday and should have no limitations. Holmgren then
playfully marveled at breathless reports over Hasselbeck's minor
injury that began circulating late Tuesday in Seattle.
"Goodness gracious," Holmgren said. "I mean, I'd be the last
one to be critical of these Watergate-type investigative reporters,
because I think that was a very important time in our history. It
was important that story came out.
"THIS, however, is not one of those situations. ... So in an
effort to 'break the big one,' I am going on record saying this is
not that big a deal. OK?
"Golly sakes."
Hasselbeck had four turnovers but also threw three touchdown
passes in his first game Monday night after missing four weeks with
a sprained knee. He said he injured the top of the palm of his left
hand between the index and middle fingers sometime during the
second quarter of the win against Green Bay.
| | | Jets' trio of RBs hope to get ground game running again - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Leon Washington gives the New York Jets a
speedy gamebreaker, Kevan Barlow brings some bulldozing power, and
Cedric Houston provides a little of both.
The multiple personalities in the running game have added up to
a whole lot of mixed results.
"You've got guys you know can come in there and pound it,"
Washington said Wednesday. "And then you have me coming in who can
get to the edge and make people miss, so it's a good mix."
Just as long as it's working. The Jets managed a season-low 27
yards on 26 attempts in their 26-11 victory over the Houston Texans
last Sunday. A three-headed monster at running back? Not quite.
"Obviously, we didn't have the kind of game we wanted last
week, but we're prepared to bounce back from that," said Houston,
who had 13 yards and a touchdown on a team-leading 11 carries.
"Hopefully, the game Sunday at Green Bay will be the kind of game
we can run the ball a whole lot."
New York is the only NFL team that uses three running backs
interchangeably every week, with any of the three capable of
leading the team in carries. Both Washington and Barlow have 113
attempts, while Houston has 36 after being inactive the first two
weeks and also missing several weeks with a knee injury.
| | | Bills run defense faces tough test in stopping Tomlinson - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire After spending hours poring over game
tape to determine how opponents have attempted to stop LaDainian
Tomlinson, Bills coach Dick Jauron arrived at a troubling
conclusion.
"We'll try the things that everybody else has tried," Jauron
said Wednesday. "Everybody plays an eight-man front against this
team. And if they could play a 12-man front, they'd do that, too."
Of course, 12 players would be one more than the NFL allows.
Jauron added: "I'm not certain if that would work."
Not much has worked against Tomlinson this season -- he's the
league's most dangerous offensive threat.
With five games left, including San Diego's trip to Buffalo on
Sunday, the running back has scored 24 touchdowns, four short of
the single-season record set by Seattle's Shaun Alexander last
year. L.T. ranks third with 1,146 yards rushing and first with
1,602 yards from scrimmage.
It adds up to a daunting task for a defense that's ranked 29th
in the league, allowing 135 yards rushing per game.
"We need to tackle, geez, we need to read our keys," defensive
coordinator Perry Fewell said.
The good news is the Bills have won three of their last four
despite giving up 690 yards rushing, including a season-worst 207
in a 27-24 win over Jacksonville last weekend.
Yet, it's not a formula for success if the Bills (5-6) intend to
compete with the Chargers (9-2), who rely on Tomlinson to generate
most of their offense.
The running back accounts for more than half of the Chargers' 43
touchdowns, and his 24 scores -- not including his two passing -- are
more than what 17 teams have produced, including Buffalo's 20.
What's more eye-popping is he's getting better as the year
progresses, having scored 16 touchdowns while averaging 135 yards
rushing over his past five games.
At this rate, and facing a porous defense, it's not far-fetched
to consider Tomlinson reaching Alexander's record this weekend.
Middle linebacker London Fletcher will likely be responsible for
shadowing Tomlinson. It'll be a challenge, too, for rookie strong
safety Donte Whitner, who's been inconsistent against the run.
It doesn't help that Tomlinson is a triple-threat, the Chargers
also using him as a receiver and passer. He's tied for second among
non-quarterbacks with six career touchdown passes.
| | | Cutler crams for his first start against Seattle - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Kenard Lang has confidence in rookie quarterback
Jay Cutler.
Now the Denver Broncos defensive lineman just needs to keep his
name straight. Lang called him Jake.
"There are a lot of "Js" in here," Lang said as he laughed
at his mistake.
Cutler, who replaced Jake Plummer as the starter on Monday, has
been left alone by family, friends and teammates as he crams for
his first test against Seattle on Sunday night.
No more voice messages or teammates dropping by his locker to
offer up advice.
Cutler even came in on his day off Tuesday to get a head start
on preparation; he wanted an early glimpse of the game plan.
"I have to learn everything," Cutler said.
Cutler's first practice to install a game plan went a little
shaky Wednesday.
"We had some problems in (morning) walk-throughs," he said.
"We've got to work out the kinks. Right now everyone is watching
really closely to see what I do."
Including Seattle coach Mike Holmgren. He's trying to find what
tape there is of Cutler from the preseason just to study up on the
former Vanderbilt star.
"We know he's a great player," Holmgren said. "We really
liked him, too, coming out of college. I'm assuming Jay will
(bootleg) some, but probably not as much as Jake. I think he'll
probably be in the pocket a little bit more."
If the preseason is any indication, Cutler will be looking for
rookie tight end Tony Scheffler. Scheffler was Cutler's security
blanket in the preseason.
"We seemed to have a little chemistry in the preseason," said
Scheffler, who's been inactive the last three games. "We'll see
what happens. He's a great quarterback and I think he'll do good."
| | | Seahawks worried by Denver's running game - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Denver's struggling running game should be welcome
news to Seattle coach Mike Holmgren.
But it's not.
"I'm scared to death," Holmgren said. "Of all the times I
played Denver, watched Denver and broke down film on Denver,
they've been able to run the ball very, very, very well."
Especially at home against the Seahawks. Denver has had a player
rush for at least 100 yards against Seattle in each of its last
eight home games.
The Seahawks have also been susceptible to the run at times this
season. San Francisco's Frank Gore ran for 212 yards against the
Seahawks on Nov. 19.
"We're going to do everything we can to try to stem the tide,"
Holmgren said.
Denver's running game hasn't exactly been living up to its own
lofty standards. The Broncos finished second in the league in
rushing yards per game (158.7) last season. The Broncos are
averaging 132.8 yards rushing this season, which is eighth in the
league.
Denver hasn't finished out of the top five in rushing since
2001.
The ability to establish a rushing attack would take some of the
heat off rookie quarterback Jay Cutler, who'll start in place of
Jake Plummer on Sunday night. The Broncos have failed to rush for
100 yards as a team in two of their last three games.
"I don't know what exactly the problem has been," Cutler said.
"But getting Tatum (Bell) back is definitely going to help."
Bell has been hampered by turf toes, but said he's fit to play.
------=
^BAR TAB:@ Challenged plays on the field shouldn't go to the
booth, but to a neighborhood tavern. That's what Holmgren thinks
anyway.
"If you've got a 100 guys in a bar looking at a game, and if
100 say it's a fumble, it's a fumble," said Holmgren, a former
member of the league's competition committee.
What had Holmgren incensed was the play in the Oakland-San Diego
game where Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson caught a pass on the
ground, wasn't touched, got up and threw down the football in
celebration. Holmgren said it should've been a fumble, but the
officials ruled it an illegal forward pass and San Diego kept the
ball.
"That to me is a fumble," he said. "If the fan sees that, and
we see that, forget about using words to make it a certain way,
what's right is right."
------=
^CHALLENGING CHAMP:@ Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck won't
be throwing in the direction of Champ Bailey if he doesn't have to.
Bailey has five interceptions this season.
"I've thrown him interceptions in my career. Who hasn't?"
Hasselbeck said. "He's a great corner, great cover guy and just a
very, very talented guy."
| | | Colston, Horn sit out practice - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Veteran receiver Joe Horn and rookie
Marques Colston both sat out the Saints' first practice of the new
week on Wednesday as New Orleans began preparations for the San
Francisco 49ers.
Coach Sean Payton said Horn was resting a groin injury that has
been nagging him for several weeks. Horn said he thinks he will be
ready to play on Sunday in the Louisiana Superdome.
Colston continues to recover from a left ankle sprain that
occurred in the Saints' first offensive series in their loss two
Sundays ago to Cincinnati. He has not played since, although
coaches did not decide to keep him out of last week's game at
Atlanta until shortly before kickoff.
"It's getting better, but I'm just trying to realize it's going
to be a process and not going to get better overnight," Colston
said. "It's kind of lingering around. So I'm just trying to get
treatment every day and just trying to take it slow."
Colston was leading the NFL in receiving yards with 869 before
his injury. He also had seven touchdowns, which was tied with
running back Deuce McAllister for the team lead at the time, though
McAllister now has nine.
Quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for more than 300 yards in
each of his last two games without Colston running routes, which
has taken some pressure off the rookie to rush back, especially
since, if he had to choose, he'd rather play when the stakes are
higher late in the season or in the playoffs -- should the Saints
make it that far.
"Obviously an ankle, with a receiver, is definitely a big
deal," Colston said. "The thing is you definitely want to be back
out there playing, but you want to be smart about it too, so we're
not really jeopardizing the rest of the season. We're juggling with
that. I'm just trying to gauge where I'm at. This is the first time
I've been on it this week, running around. It was definitely a
little stiff. I was just trying to work through some of the
stiffness."
| | | Sharper: Grossman talking trash during Bears' first win - 11/30/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Minnesota safety Darren Sharper
remembers it clearly, even though it's been more than two months
since Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman threw a late TD pass to beat
the Vikings at the Metrodome.
What happened next seems un-Rex like. The Bears' young
quarterback started to talk trash to the Vikings. Apparently
big-time.
"In 10 years in the league I haven't had a quarterback do that
any time to me, so we definitely remember that and the guys in the
locker room remember that," Sharper said Wednesday as the teams
got ready for a rematch Sunday at Soldier Field.
"Will that decide the game on Sunday? I don't think so, but it
gives us a little extra motivation," Sharper added.
Earlier in the Sept. 24 game, Grossman was intercepted by
Antoine Winfield, who went seven yards for a TD that put Minnesota
ahead. But Grossman brought the Bears back, hitting a 24-yard pass
to Rashied Davis with less than two minutes left for a 19-16 win.
Then he celebrated, spicing it with some salty comments to the
Vikings.
"I probably said some things that I regret, but the whole game
their DBs were talking to me, just really getting under my skin a
little bit and probably more than I should have allowed it to,"
Grossman recalled Wednesday.
"But they were just yapping the whole game. I threw the
interception for the touchdown and Dwight Smith came up and smacked
me on my helmet and was in my face. ... When we finally got the
touchdown pass I probably went overboard a little bit with some of
my emotions, some of the things I said."
Admitting he was angry at the time, Grossman wouldn't be
specific Wednesday about what he said but added that his comments
were directed at Smith and not the three-time Pro Bowler Sharper.
"I probably just should have gone to the sidelines and started
celebrating," he said. "It's a situation that if I'm ever in
again, I'll just stay calm and just go off to the sidelines and
never say a word. He (Sharper) is blowing it up a little bit. What
can you say really?"
| | | Vikings' Williamson will not be disciplined - 11/30/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Vikings receiver Troy Williamson took part in practice Wednesday, two days after he was punched in the face near the end of a charity event at Myth nightclub in Maplewood and apparently suffered a black eye.
Coach Brad Childress indicated Williamson will face no disciplinary action and said the Vikings have "allayed fears" that he suffered any injuries. Nonetheless, Williamson was wearing a protective plastic visor on his mask at Wednesday's practice.
While Williamson avoided the locker room during the media access period, safety Darren Sharper, who sponsored the concert that was headlined by hip-hop artist Ludacris, said he had spoken to his teammate.
"I wasn't around when it happened," Sharper said. "I just heard [about] it. Like anyone that might go to an event, some times those things happen, and he got in a little incident. But nothing big. He might have a shiner today."
Darren DeWalt, Sharper's marketing agent and one of the concert's planners, said Williamson was hit without provocation by a Myth security guard. Mark Naylon, head of security at the Myth, said video cameras failed to capture any such exchange and that a man, presumed to be Williamson, complained of being hit but would not identify his assailant or press charges. Naylon also said a group of people had refused to leave at the 2 a.m. closing time.
Sharper said Williamson told him, "I just wish it didn't happen."
Although Sharper did not have an exact count, several of his teammates turned out for the Sunday night concert, which benefitted the United Way, the Minnesota AIDS project as well as Sharper's foundation. Sharper called the event "a good time" but is aware that such gatherings also can mean trouble for high-profile athletes.
| | | Driver has carried the big-play load - 11/30/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Right now, the only hope the Green Bay Packers have of scoring a touchdown from outside the opposition's 5-yard line is if Donald Driver catches a short pass and takes it the distance.
It might seem like an exaggeration, but with the Packers' running game stalled, rookie Greg Jennings in a five-game touchdown drought, tight end David Martin on the shelf with a rib injury and tight end Bubba Franks a non-factor, it's a reality.
In the last four games - three of them losses - Driver has three of the team's five touchdowns and is the only player to score on what would be considered a big play. In fact, if you go back six games, to the 34-24 victory over Miami, the only touchdown of any significant length other than a Driver catch was Ahman Green's 70-yard run.
It's almost as though the Packers are back to being the one-dimensional team they were last year under former coach Mike Sherman when it was Driver or nothing.
"I don't feel that way," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think Greg Jennings has that ability. I think Ahman Green has shown he has that ability. David Martin and really any of our tight ends, particularly schematically. No, I don't feel that way."
| | | Criticism of 9-2 team doesn't sit well - 11/30/2006
Source: Chicago Tribune A couple of the Bears bared their teeth Wednesday before practice.
As outsiders came into their cave, they began to know how it feels to be raw meat.
"What's this about us not being a 'fearsome foursome?'" 300-pound tackle Tank Johnson asked in a fearsome tone.
He walked away.
Defensive end Alex Brown, a pleasant conversationalist most of the time, spotted a media member who, in his opinion, had not been kind to the Bears' defensive line.
He walked away.
Adewale Ogunleye, the other defensive end, stood his ground.
As the linemen's lockers by his side stood empty, Ogunleye gestured with a thumb to the off-limits training room.
"That's why they're in there and I'm out here taking the heat," he said.
Somehow, a 9-2 team that beat both of New York's teams on the road, then lost a four-point close call on the field of New England's three-time Super Bowl champs, came home to an astounding amount of criticism of both their offense and their defense.
Some accepted it.
Tommie Harris, for instance, was keenly aware of the brickbats thrown in Rex Grossman's direction as well as a newspaper story headlined "Not-so-fearsome foursome" that depicted Harris as going "from the most valuable member of the Bears' front four to its most invisible."
| | | Simms: 'I want to be here' - 11/30/2006
Source: St. Petersburg Times Two weeks ago, Chris Simms says, he didn't know if the Bucs wanted him back.
He thought they might prefer to part ways after he went 0-3 as a starting quarterback and had a splenectomy, ending his season.
"Yeah, because you never know," he said Wednesday. "I mean, if you asked me two weeks ago, I would've been like, 'I don't know what the heck they're going to do.' "
But all that has changed, and Simms is now considering a two-year offer that he described as "a starting point," but significant enough for the 26-year-old to consider remaining with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2003.
"They offered a contract," he said. "There's still a few things that have got to be worked out or whatever. I can't tell you what they are. My agents are working on that. Hopefully everything can work out.
"If we can get it done, without question, without a doubt, I want to be here."
Simms had just finished running a series of wind sprints, his first outdoor workout under the supervision of trainer Todd Toriscelli.
"I feel great. I'm slowly trying to get back in shape," Simms said, wiping sweat from his eyes. "It's been about a week and this is really the first time I've run like this outside. It's good, though, it feels real good."
The 9-inch incision from his surgery no longer bothers Simms until he tries to twist his torso in a throwing motion.
"More than anything, it's the twisting I've got to get used to," he said. "And that's what I do when I'm throwing, so I've really got to get used to that. Everything else is coming along good."
It's certainly the best Simms has felt since Sept. 24, when he was sandwiched between Carolina defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Thomas Davis in the first quarter of a 26-24 loss.
| | | Pat Williams, Bears' Kreutz end their rift - 11/30/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune While the Vikings fight a war of words with Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, another battle between the teams has ended. Vikings nose tackle Pat Williams and Bears center Olin Kreutz apparently smoothed over their relationship during a pregame chat Sept. 24 at the Metrodome.
"Everything is cool," Williams said. "We just go out there and play hard against each other."
Williams started the rivalry last season by referring to Kreutz, a five-time Pro Bowl player, as a "joke." He later said Kreutz spearheaded efforts to deny him a Pro Bowl invitation.
"I always talk about everybody," Williams said. "I go out there to have fun, but they take it serious. I don't mean any harm by it. I just have fun. I'm just trying to have fun inside the game. ... I'm just trying to make everybody talk about the game instead of negative stuff."
| | | Ailing linebacker returns to practice - 11/30/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Green Bay Packers middle linebacker Nick Barnett got through his first full practice with a padded club on his broken right hand and was optimistic he would be able to play against the New York Jets on Sunday.
"It felt OK," he said Wednesday. "I thought I did pretty good. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to play but I'm not going to say it's 100% that I'll play. I'm going to try to do everything I can, everything possible, to play this week."
Barnett was listed on the injury report as "questionable," which means there is a 50% chance he will play. He'll face another hurdle today when he practices in pads with the bulky club for the first time.
"Tomorrow we'll go with pads and I'll see if I can wrap (up)," he said. "I know a couple running backs might get mad, but I might actually have to take them down to see if I can do it."
Barnett broke his hand against New England on Nov. 19 and was inactive for the Packers' 34-24 loss at Seattle on Monday night. It was the first game he missed since Nov. 27, 2003.
"It was tough," he said. "I just wanted to be out there. I know I could have helped somehow, some way."
| | | Lions' Rogers not likely to play vs. Patriots - 11/30/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press It appears the Lions will be without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers for a sixth straight game Sunday at New England.
Rogers is back from a four-game suspension for using a banned substance. But he is still recovering from the minor knee surgery he had while away. Coach Rod Marinelli said he was going to visit the doctors Wednesday.
Even if he practices today, he might not have enough time to prepare for the Patriots.
Offensive lineman Rex Tucker (knee) and wide receiver Devale Ellis (shoulder) also are questionable. Barry Stokes is subbing at right tackle for Tucker in practice, putting Blaine Saipaia at right guard. | | | Rattling Rex all part of plan - 11/30/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times When you've committed a Jonathan Quinn-like 15 turnovers in six games and you're being called Wrecks Grossman, Evil Rex, Chicago Dope, the weak link of the Bears, the Eli Manning of the Midway and the real hurtful one -- Gross, Man -- it's not a good time to be exposed as a foul-mouthed trash-talker. He who plays like garbage cannot spew garbage.
Welcome, then, to Rex Grossman's latest career challenge. Called out daily in the national and local media as a potential saboteur to the Bears' Super Bowl run, he now has to answer the head games of the Minnesota Vikings, who gleefully revealed Wednesday that Grossman peppered their defensive players with nasty jibber-jabber after he threw a touchdown pass to beat them in September. And here we thought Rex was a nice young man who likes junk food, hangs out with his parents in their downtown condo, lives with his bride in a peaceful suburban neighborhood and watches ESPN when he isn't playing video games.
The kid is a cocky S.O.B.
If only he still played like one.
'He's stepping over the line'
''When he threw the last touchdown pass, it was pretty much in-your-face-type comments. Everyone on our defense remembers ... how he was acting,'' strong safety Darren Sharper said. ''He made a big play for his team, so he decided to be brash and talk trash. But there's always another time you face a team. This is another time for us to face him.
''I never had a quarterback say the things he said -- and I've been playing 10 years, and I've gone against some wild, brash, young quarterbacks. A quarterback should never talk trash, but that's because I'm a defensive back. I don't want any quarterback talking trash to me, but he made the play so he felt like he could run his mouth. Anytime ... a quarterback opens his mouth to me, he's stepping over the line.''
I'd like to report that Sharper is embellishing reality. I'd like to say Grossman kept his cool and walked off the field like Tom Brady. I can't.
''I was angry. I was really in the moment,'' said Grossman, showing his youth. ''I probably should have held back, but against a rival, with their fans screaming at me the whole game ... I probably said something I regret. The whole thing -- their [defensive backs] talking to me, really getting under my skin probably more than I should have allowed -- I probably went overboard with my emotions. I regret it. But if something happens like that the whole game, and you make a play to win a game, I couldn't help it but say something.''
Of course, considering the Vikings are ultra-notorious for lewd conduct on a Love Boat and indiscretions in back alleys and nightclubs, they leave themselves vulnerable to on-the-field yappers. But don't think Sharper, Dwight Smith and others actually are pained by any of Grossman's insults.
This is their attempt to make him break mentally. The word is out on Rex, sad to say, and the rest of the NFL evidently believes he can be intimidated and baited, which is another way of calling him soft, jittery, mistake-mad and all those things that shrink championship dreams into second-round playoff losses. Considering Sharper made the remarks twice, this obviously was a preconceived plan. Operation: Rattle Rex.
| | | Vikings' Williamson catches a punch - 11/29/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune A charity concert ended early Monday morning with Vikings receiver Troy Williamson taking a punch in the face, according to an organizer of the event.
Accounts vary about the circumstances of the incident, which occurred after the "Sharperpalooza" festival at the Myth nightclub in Maplewood. Williamson was not seriously injured and has declined to press charges, but the episode marked another negative turn to what has been a difficult second season for the former first-round draft choice.
The event, sponsored by Vikings safety Darren Sharper and headlined by hip-hop artist Ludacris, was held to benefit the United Way and the Minnesota AIDS Project.
Darren DeWalt, Sharper's marketing agent and one of the concert's planners, confirmed Williamson was hit without provocation by a Myth security guard.
Mark Naylon, head of security at the Myth, said Williamson had refused to leave at the 2 a.m. closing time and that video cameras failed to capture the exchange. Naylon said a man, presumed to be Williamson, complained of being hit but would not identify his assailant.
Vikings players had the day off Tuesday and Williamson could not be reached for comment. His agent, David Canter, referred questions to the Vikings, who declined comment. The episode came at the same time Eden Prairie police are investigating a woman's claim that an unidentified Vikings player assaulted her Nov. 21.
Williamson began the season as one of the Vikings' starting receivers, and he caught 10 passes for 179 yards in their first two games. Since then, however, Williamson unofficially has dropped an NFL-high 11 passes and has plummeted to the bottom of the depth chart.
He dropped the only pass thrown his way in Sunday's 31-26 victory over Arizona, and coach Brad Childress has not hidden his displeasure with the slump. Childress said Sunday he is carefully watching Williamson's reaction to his demotion.
"He's a first-round draft pick, the seventh pick in the [2005] draft," Childress said Monday. "You've got to be able to catch the football."
| | | Line play dooms run game - 11/29/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Until the Green Bay Packers get their three rookie offensive linemen blocking like veterans, they're going to be a one-dimensional team unable to move the ball on the ground when all else fails.
The Packers had everything going for them Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks. The elements, the turnover battle and second-half momentum were all in their favor, yet their inability to finish off the Seahawks with the kind of consistent running game they have vowed to establish this season ultimately cost them a chance to upset the defending NFC champions.
It was the Seahawks who won the battle at the line of scrimmage on the way to 235 yards rushing and a 34-24 victory at Qwest Field. The Packers, with 51 yards rushing, were merely bystanders when it came to establishing the run.
"It all starts up front," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "We did not do a good job. We saw the pictures (as the game was going on) and we could see we weren't getting it done. You have to execute down there."
Since starting right tackle Mark Tauscher went down with a groin injury against Minnesota, the Packers have been starting three rookies and the drop-off in production has been noticeable. Guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz and tackle Tony Moll might be solid prospects but when they line up against solid defenses like Minnesota's, New England's and Seattle's, they are often overmatched.
Such was the case Monday night in snowy conditions that previous Packers teams dreamed about. The offensive line should have been able to push Seattle's defensive line around on the slippery turf, but too often it was the one giving ground.
"The last two weeks we had some matchup challenges and things like that, but (it was) disappointing last night," coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday. "We weren't fundamentally sound on the front side at times. We weren't fundamentally sound from an execution standpoint on the back side.
"I thought Ahman (Green) ran the ball very hard. I thought the fullbacks were OK with their fits. We just were not in sync like we should have been. We had a number of good looks as far as the fronts we were getting. In hindsight, I really feel good about the plan and how we went about it, but our execution was not there last night."
| | | Marinelli: It's mistakes - 11/29/2006
Source: Detroit News Lions coach Rod Marinelli stands before his players and pounds his message like a broken record.
He knows why his team loses. He's identified the culprit in a 2-9 season that stands to get worse with a game at New England on Sunday.
"Penalties and mental errors," Marinelli said.
The Lions have committed more penalties than their opponents in six games. Opponents have committed more penalties three times, and twice the totals have been even.
Players claim they are listening to the message. They know what their coach wants, but for some reason, it does not translate to the field.
Marinelli shows them game film in which as few as six plays decided games. He showed them 10-12 game-changing plays during the 27-10 loss to the Dolphins on Thanksgiving.
Tight end Marcus Pollard shakes his head. He wants to add one more problem to the list.
"It's turnovers and penalties," he said.
And that leads to the bigger issue: The Lions can't score.
And it's not a problem this season. Or last. It's been a problem for four seasons.
Consider:
The Lions have been outscored by an average of 5.5 points this season. That is slightly lower than the 5.7 points they were outscored by last season. In 2003 it was 6.8 points, and in 2004 it was 3.4 points.
The Lions, in fact, have lost 40 of their past 69 games by seven points or fewer. They've lost six of nine games by one score this season.
"If we don't turn the ball over, that could give us an extra possession to break that little touchdown thing you've got there," Pollard said.
"If it is third-and-five and you jump offsides, that makes it third-and-10 and it is more difficult to get the first down. That would help there."
So how do the Lions eliminate mistakes?
"Good question," Pollard said. "I don't have the answer. I just know we have to keep doing what we are doing. We've got to continue to get better, and we got to continue to try not to make mistakes. To answer why we can't do it I don't have an answer."
Receiver Roy Williams grimaces when he sees the numbers.
"It doesn't have to be close," he said.
"Guys go around saying it is going to come down to one or two plays. But it doesn't necessarily have to be true. Yeah, they are good on the other side of the ball, but if you go out and do your job, I feel I am better than you. I am going to beat you 70 percent of the game. Yeah, you are going to make your plays, but I will make more.
"I guess I am just a different guy. I grew up differently. To me it does not have to be close." | | | Parcells feels better without Vanderjagt - 11/29/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire A day after cutting the NFL's most accurate
kicker, Bill Parcells seemed relieved instead of frustrated.
Parcells was never impressed by Mike Vanderjagt, the high-priced
kicker the Dallas Cowboys signed in March in hopes of solving a
long-standing problem. Vanderjagt instead struggled, never gained
the coach's confidence and didn't even make it through the season.
"Obviously, I feel better than having stayed the course the
other way," Parcells said Tuesday, the first time he spoke
publicly since the Cowboys won Thanksgiving Day to take over first
place in the NFC East.
Instead of Vanderjagt, the Cowboys (7-4) head into the playoff
stretch -- and Sunday's key division game at the New York Giants --
with Martin Gramatica, who has played only three games and kicked
one field goal since 2004.
"I'm approaching it with a real positive attitude," Parcells
said.
So, does that mean Parcells has full confidence in Gramatica?
"I thought he was the best option available," he said.
Even better than Vanderjagt, whose 86.5 percent career accuracy
rate (230-for-266) is still tops in league history, along with his
record of 42 consecutive makes.
Vanderjagt was only 13-of-18 in his 10 games for the Cowboys,
the 72 percent rate the lowest in his nine NFL seasons. He had only
seven misses the past three seasons in Indianapolis.
Vanderjagt missed two field goals in the first half against the
Colts on Nov. 19, then four days later barely made a 22-yarder.
"The last four, five weeks, I don't think he was hitting the
ball, to the point where I think it made us play the game a little
differently. And we just weren't able to put him out there with a
lot of confidence," Parcells said. "It's just a confidence thing.
When it starts affecting how you're playing, you've got to try
something else." | | | Bucs offer apparently on table for Simms - 11/28/2006
Source: St. Petersburg Times Chris Simms lost his spleen, then his job. He might settle for getting one of them back.
The Bucs apparently have stepped up their efforts to re-sign Simms by offering him a contract. He is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Simms, 26, ruptured his spleen in a loss to Carolina on Sept. 24. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 3, ending his season.
This was expected to be a big year for Simms, who opted to sign a one-year, $2.1-million contract as a restricted free agent.
But he struggled from the outset, throwing just one touchdown and seven interceptions while compiling an 0-3 record before suffering the season-ending injury.
All the while, Simms has expressed an interest in remaining with the Bucs, and that feeling is mutual.
Simms spent the Thanksgiving holiday at his parents' home in New Jersey and was unavailable for comment Monday night.
Simms' father, former Giants Super Bowl quarterback Phil Simms, was not surprised at reports Monday that the Bucs had extended his son an offer.
During a conference call last week, coach Jon Gruden reiterated the team's interest in Simms.
"We like Chris Simms," Gruden said. "He was our opening day starter, and we're working on getting him back. But we're not going to address his future until the season is over."
After watching rookie Bruce Gradkowski struggle to a 3-5 record, the Bucs obviously felt the urgency to prevent Simms from hitting the market as a free agent. ESPN also reported Monday that the Bucs had made Simms an offer.
Gruden said Monday the Bucs used the Thanksgiving weekend to begin evaluating players they would like to keep in 2007 and beyond. According to information on file with the National Football League Players Association, the Bucs recently extended the contracts of punter Josh Bidwell and running back Earnest Graham. Bidwell is signed through 2011, Graham through 2008.
A third-round pick by the Bucs in 2003, Simms is 7-9 as a starter.
Twice Simms has lost his starting job to injury: in 2004, when he suffered a shoulder sprain in his first NFL start at New Orleans; and this year.
He has completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 3,087 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
"He's definitely proven he can play," Bucs receiver Joey Galloway said last week. "He probably has one of the strongest arms I've been around. He is a competitor. He is a bright guy. He'll be fine eventually, and I think that he will play, and I would love for him to play here. But this is a business, and I do understand that. I don't know where he'll end up, but I do think he's a player, and I think he'll be fine eventually."
| | | Vikings' success turns on turnovers - 11/28/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune The simple explanation has riled critics and amateur analysts, all of whom wanted deeper answers. Whenever he has been asked about his team's struggles this season, Vikings coach Brad Childress consistently has pointed to two factors: turnovers and penalties.
What about playcalling? How about personnel deficiencies? Those issues aside, the Vikings have demonstrated this season that turnovers -- and the accompanying takeaways -- are indeed the single-biggest factor in their performance.
In their first 11 games under Childress, the Vikings have averaged one turnover per game in their five victories and nearly three in their six losses. They haven't lost when they finished with a positive turnover ratio and haven't won when they fell into a negative ratio; overall, they have a plus-8 mark in their victories and a minus-9 ratio in their defeats.
Penalty totals have been more difficult to document, as the Vikings have averaged 7.2 penalties in their victories and 7.5 penalties in their losses. But the turnover trend was never more evident Sunday, when the Vikings rode a 5-1 advantage in the takeaway/giveaway ratio to a 31-26 defeat of Arizona.
"Turnovers affect wins and losses and that's all I've ever coached," Childress said. "Since I've coached quarterbacks, [it's been about] taking care of the football. When you're the offensive coordinator, that's all you talk about, respect for the football. Value it, fight for it. Now that you're doing both, obviously takeaways end up being a part [of what you preach].
"Turnover margins end up being huge. It just swings the momentum, whether you score or you don't score, it changes all the field position. If you take care of it, you've got a chance to win."
Conservatively, the Vikings can link two of their losses directly to turnovers. They were leading Chicago 16-12 with three minutes, 25 seconds to play Sept. 24 when quarterback Brad Johnson and running back Chester Taylor fumbled a handoff at the Vikings' 37-yard line. Five plays later, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman threw a game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rashied Davis.
| | | With chance to earn win, Packers find way to lose - 11/28/2006
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette It was snowing, for goodness sake, a sight that is almost as rare as the sun in this neck of the woods.
And by the time the first play of the second quarter was in the books, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was on pace to throw 12 interceptions.
Everything was going the Green Bay Packers' way.
But as bad teams — or young, if you believe this team deserves some slack — always do, they find a way to lose.
The Packers followed the road map to failure perfectly, ignoring a golden opportunity for the graveyard, losing to Seattle 34-24 before the largest crowd at Qwest Field.
Coach Mike McCarthy and his staff get credit for preparing and motivating a team that was down two starters and down mentally following a humiliating 35-0 home loss to New England just a week ago.
But 11 weeks into the season, the Packers sprung another leak, as the run defense picked a bad time to be a no-show.
As good as the effort was, that the Packers continue to find new ways to break down from week to week is a disturbing trend. At this stage of the season, it shouldn't be happening.
For a team that thought it was moving forward after climbing back to 4-5, it was a second straight step backward.
The unfortunate thing is the Seahawks weren't planning to rely on the run. With Hasselbeck returning after a four-week hiatus, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren admitted he was hoping to get his leader back in rhythm quickly against the league's 31st-ranked secondary.
But Hasselbeck showed he was not a future "Dancing with the Stars" candidate, as he stumbled and bumbled through the game's first 15 minutes, throwing three interceptions in that span.
This was the Packers' chance. To steal momentum, silence the 12th man that is the Seahawks' rabid fan base and assume control.
But the Packers turned those three gifts into just seven points, allowing the Seahawks to hang around. After one of the interceptions, they started at their 38 and went three-and-out. After the third turnover, the drive ended with a blocked field goal.
This is what happens to bad teams, or this is what bad teams do; however you want to view it. | | | Jones set to play - 11/28/2006
Source: Detroit News Kevin Jones has recovered from a sprained left ankle to return to his role as the workhorse tailback for the Lions.
Jones tested the injured ankle for the first time in a week during practice Monday. He went out in the first quarter of Detroit's loss Nov. 19 at Arizona and did not play in the Thanksgiving Day loss to Miami.
Jones expects to play Sunday at New England.
"It's a little sore," Jones said after practice. "I feel good enough right now -- a lot better than I did. I could barely jog last week. I ran today and did some cutting.
"I know definitely I'm going to have some pain. I did have a pretty bad sprain on the foot and ankle. I'm just going to try to get through it and finish strong."
Without Jones, the Lions had no running game against the Dolphins. Arlen Harris and Aveion Cason combined for 21 yards on 10 carries.
Jones rushed for 636 yards, six touchdowns and a 4.2-yard average in the first 10 games. His 50 receptions are a career best and he has a touchdown reception.
Injury update
The Lions made an exchange of defensive tackles on the roster Monday -- Shaun Cody was put on injured reserve while Shaun Rogers was activated.
Cody played only one series the past six games because of a dislocated big toe.
Rogers was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's policy on steroids and related substances. He was eligible to play last week but was not activated. He is recovering from surgery on his right knee.
Rogers did not take part in practice Monday but did some individual work. He could practice Wednesday unless he has a setback, coach Rod Marinelli said.
| | | Time not ripe for change - 11/28/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The question at quarterback before the season started was whether Rex Grossman could survive a 16-game season. Now the question is whether the Bears can survive Grossman.
The young quarterback is at a crossroads because he gives the ball away too much. He's responsible for 15 turnovers in the last six games -- 11 interceptions and four fumbles -- after turning the ball over only three times in the first five.
There already are plenty of voices calling for Grossman to be benched in favor of Brian Griese. Before that happens, it's only fair to consider Griese's body of work. He's obviously an accurate passer who will take what a defense gives him. He also has thrown seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in his last six games and 30 interceptions overall in his last 20 games.
Griese could prove a viable option, but now is not the time for that move. That option isn't going anywhere. It's always available. First, it's important to see if Grossman can play through his problems, and Minnesota is the perfect team to begin that evaluation.
It was the Vikings in Week 3 who first stumbled upon the strategy for attacking Grossman -- pressure him up the middle and use his height disadvantage against him.
Grossman is obviously a strong-armed passer with a lot of intangibles that are important for success at quarterback. Listed at 6-1, he also lacks ideal height and, unlike most undersized players, isn't a great athlete. He has quick feet, a fast release and a lot of God-given ability, but he doesn't make a lot of plays outside the pocket and rarely attempts to run.
Tom Brady was pretty pumped up about his 11-yard run Sunday that kept a touchdown drive alive. He eluded Brian Urlacher on that play. It's not one Grossman would attempt. He has minus-eight yards on 15 attempts this season and has rushed for 39 yards on 29 carries in his career, with a long of eight yards two leg injuries ago.
National observers are dismissing Grossman as a pocket passer whose vision and mechanics break down when he's rushed up the middle. One suggestion is that the Bears roll Grossman out of the pocket or come up with gimmicks to get him outside, so he can get away from pressure and see the field better. The Bears tried to do that against Miami, and Jason Taylor reached up and intercepted a Grossman pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Grossman's strategy of backing up in the pocket and throwing off his back heel hasn't proved much of a deterrent to the inside pass rush.
More damning than physical limitations are the mental lapses Grossman has suffered. One player said in the locker room Sunday that the final interception Grossman threw downfield toward Rashied Davis came off a play designed to go to Muhsin Muhammad. Bears coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner said they liked the man-on-man coverage on the outside on that play.
Still, Grossman opted to take a chance and put the ball up for grabs to Davis, who's generously listed at 5-9, 193.
| | | No defense for Eagles - 11/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Donovan McNabb could only help the
Philadelphia Eagles if he played defense.
The offense wasn't the problem for the Eagles in their first
game without their five-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Jeff Garcia
played well in his first start since McNabb's season-ending injury,
but the defense was completely overwhelmed in a 45-21 loss to the
Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night.
Peyton Manning didn't have to throw much because the Colts ran
at will against a defense that has struggled mightily against the
run. Rookie Joseph Addai rushed for 171 yards and the Colts
finished with 271 yards on the ground, becoming the third team in
four games to run for over 200 yards against Philadelphia's
once-feared defense.
"We need to get better at stopping the run," coach Andy Reid
said Monday, stating the obvious. "I didn't think it was a lack of
effort. I thought they were aggressive. We had too many blown
assignments. It comes down to assignments and it comes down to
scheme. The mental part of it, I thought they were emotionally
ready to go."
The Eagles couldn't stop the run early in the game when Manning
mixed in a few passes and kept the defense off-balance. But the
most troubling aspect was the fact the Eagles had no solution when
they knew the Colts would be running the ball to work the clock in
the fourth quarter.
After Brian Westbrook's 6-yard TD run cut Indianapolis' lead to
31-21 with 10:13 left, the Eagles desperately needed their defense
to make a stop and force a punt.
Instead, Addai and Dominic Rhodes ran 13 straight times on the
ensuing drive as the Colts drove 73 yards, chewed up 6:35 and
sealed the game with another score.
It didn't matter which defensive formation the Eagles used -- an
extra defensive back instead of a linebacker or basic -- against the
Colts. The front four didn't generate any rush on Manning, who was
hardly touched. The linebackers were manhandled and the secondary
ended up making a lot of tackles on ballcarries too far downfield.
"Most frustrating is that at crunch time, we couldn't stop the
run," defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said after the game. "We
never really got them in nickel situations enough. We didn't do a
good job in either front, base or nickel." | | | Merriman recharged after four-game suspension - 11/28/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The lights flickered back on for Shawne
Merriman, who returned to the San Diego Chargers from his four-game
steroid suspension on Monday, flashing a funky haircut and eager to
resume pounding on quarterbacks.
Merriman's first game back will be at Buffalo on Sunday, when
the AFC West-leading Chargers (9-2) will try to extend their
winning streak to six.
"I think I'll be a little bit anxious waiting for Sunday to get
here, but Sunday I'll be fine, just getting out there, flying
around, knocking some heads," the star outside linebacker said.
With plenty of time on his hands, Merriman had his nickname,
"Lights Out," carved into his hair. He earned the nickname with
his jarring hits, and he celebrates sacks by pretending to flip a
switch tattooed on his forearm, followed by a spasmodic dance.
Merriman was tied for the NFL lead with 8.5 sacks when his
suspension began on Nov. 1. He's now tied with six other players
for the fifth-highest total.
Merriman has denied he's a steroid cheat, saying the positive
test stemmed from a tainted supplement. He has refused to identify
the supplement because his attorney has threatened a lawsuit
against the manufacturer.
Merriman, the 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro
Bowl starter, knows some people will remain skeptical.
"You have to understand that the kind of person I've been and
the kind of person I am, there should be no question in nobody's
mind -- even though there will be -- about my ability on the football
field," Merriman said. "This is God-given talent and that's what
I've been showing since I've gotten on a football field. I think
over time everybody will see that and know that."
Merriman called it "a mistake" and "a hard lesson learned."
He spent a great deal of time working out during his suspension. He
said he remains at his playing weight, "but a lot angrier."
Fueled mostly by LaDainian Tomlinson's incredible touchdown
binge, the Chargers and their depleted defense went 4-0 in
Merriman's absence, including Sunday's 21-14 win over Oakland.
That streak also included consecutive rallies on the road, when
the Chargers came back from deficits of 21 points at Cincinnati and
17 points at Denver.
"I was proud of those guys," Merriman said. "It was no doubt
in my mind that they were going to win the games when I was out. A
lot of people said they thought they'd got 2-2 without me, or 3-1.
I said, 'No, you guys are going to win it all.' I can be nothing
but proud of how they played in my absence." | | | Patriots' Seau on injured reserve - 11/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The New England Patriots placed
linebacker Junior Seau on injured reserve Monday after he seriously
injured his right arm in Sunday's 17-13 with over the Chicago
Bears.
The 12-time Pro Bowl selection will miss the rest of the season
after coming out of a brief retirement to join the Patriots this
summer.
Seau was hurt with less than nine minutes left in the second
quarter, apparently when his right arm hit the back of Cedric
Benson's foot when he tackled the Chicago running back for no gain
at the Bears 25-yard line. Seau's arm bent at an awkward angle, and
he went to the ground in obvious pain.
The 17-year veteran walked off after a few minutes, waving to
cheering fans with his left hand while a trainer held his right arm
still. Coach Bill Belichick did not say Monday whether Seau's arm
was broken, and the team gave no details of the injury.
Seau played 13 seasons with San Diego and the last three with
Miami. He announced his retirement in August and ended it four days
later. Belichick said Monday he had no more information to add to
the announcement that Seau was placed on injured reserve.
After the injury, outside linebacker Mike Vrabel moved to Seau's
inside spot and Tully Banta-Cain entered the game to play right
outside linebacker.
Belichick said Seau was "unselfish, team-oriented" and even
gave an emotional pre-game speech Sunday. | | | Young, Jones offer sneak peek at future - 11/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire New York cornerback Frank Walker helped
slam Vince Young to the ground, swinging his right elbow at the
quarterback's head. Everyone watching flinched and went, "Oooh!"
Young bounced right up.
"I have an attitude problem as well. I'm a competitor so I just
jumped up as well," Young said.
Then he showed the same calm and poise he displayed in winning
the national championship last January at Texas. With Adam
"Pacman" Jones getting him the ball back with two interceptions,
Young led the Tennessee Titans to the greatest NFL comeback victory
by a rookie quarterback.
The athletic Young was supposed to be a three-year project?
Jones allegedly was too short to play cornerback in the NFL, and
his personal struggles overshadowed any plays he could make on the
field?
Young and Jones did much more than answer their critics with
Sunday's stunning and improbable 24-21 comeback against the Giants.
They staged their own personal coming-out party, and Young thinks
this game will be remembered as the day they came of age.
"It's just beautiful to get that feeling," Young said. "I
just want them guys to take that win and just to look not from the
finish of the game ... but also looking to our future, what we can
do."
The rebuilding Titans (4-7) now have matched last year's win
total with five games left by gambling on two players who couldn't
be more different.
Jones has made headlines for allegedly spitting on women in
nightclubs. Young's first move after being drafted was promising a
big check to his Houston church.
Coach Jeff Fisher wanted the 5-foot-10 Jones with the sixth pick
overall in 2005 and backed him through a variety of both on- and
off-field antics before suspending him for a loss at Jacksonville
on Nov. 5 after the cornerback was charged with misdemeanor
assault.
A few months ago, Young had lots of critics who didn't like his
throwing motion. He would need time to learn how to work under
center. All that running in college at Texas? Forget it. Not
against faster NFL defenses.
| | | Bengals RB Perry to miss rest of season with broken leg - 11/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Running back Chris Perry started the
season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He will end it
on injured reserve.
Perry suffered a broken right leg after being tackled in the
second quarter of the Bengals' 30-0 win over the Cleveland
Browns last Sunday.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis confirmed that Perry broke a bone in
his leg and would miss the rest of the season.
Perry spent the first six weeks of the season on the PUP list
with ankle and knee injuries. He rushed just 10 times for 57
yards and caught nine passes for 42 yards.
A first-round pick in 2004, Perry had 51 catches for 328 yards
and two touchdowns and also rushed for 279 yards on 61 carries
last season. | | | At last, Brees can enjoy a prolific outing - 11/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The New Orleans Saints accomplished
something this past weekend they had done only once in their
previous four games.
They avoided squandering a 300-plus-yard passing performance by
Drew Brees.
The Saints' recent rough patch was not a typical one. The
offense has been moving the ball consistently all season. Brees has
now passed for a league-leading 3,463 yards in his first year as a
Saint, 499 yards better than Peyton Manning, who's second.
No quarterback in NFL history had passed for as many as 1,954
yards in a five-game span, as Brees has just done.
Not that the sixth-year pro is acting terribly impressed with
himself.
"I'm sure they could make up some kind of record for every
situation," said Brees, one of the few players still hanging
around the Saints training headquarters after players were given
Monday afternoon off. "If we're winning games, that's great. ... I
kind of go by the saying: You're only as good as your next
performance."
If not for a rash of turnovers in their last three losses to
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the Saints' record could be
even better than their current 7-4 mark.
While the Saints remain fourth from worst in the NFL in turnover
margin at minus-9, they did not turn the ball over once in a 31-13
victory in Atlanta on Sunday.
"The turnover statistic is very important," coach Sean Payton
said. "We did a good job protecting the football. We stepped up
and made some plays when we needed to."
The highlights started early with a 76-yard touchdown pass to
Devery Henderson on the third offensive play of the game. Then
there was the 48-yard pass Brees put up for grabs as time expired
in the first half. | | | Cowboys release K Vanderjagt - 11/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Mike Vanderjagt may be the most
accurate kicker in NFL history, but he was making Bill Parcells
plenty nervous.
The Dallas Cowboys on Monday released Vanderjagt, who has
converted 13-of-18 field goals this season.
ESPN and the NFL Network is reporting that Dallas will sign
Martin Gramatica to replace Vanderjagt.
Along with missing five field goal attempts, including two
against the Indianapolis Colts in a 21-14 win on November 19,
Vanderjagt has also been weak on kickoffs.
Parcells, the Cowboys coach, admitted last week that he was
"concerned" with Vanderjagt.
The 36-year-old Vanderjagt made 217-of-248 field-goal attempts
(87.5 percent) in his eight-year career with the Indianapolis
Colts before signing with Dallas last March.
Last season, Vanderjagt made 23-of-25 field goals. However,
Vanderjagt did not come through when the Colts needed him most,
missing a 46-yard attempt with 17 seconds left in a 21-18 loss
to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoffs in
January.
Gramatica played for the Colts this season when Adam Vinatieri
was sidelined with a groin injury. Gramatica is the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers' all-time leader with 591 points.
The Cowboys went through three kickers last season - Billy
Cundiff, Jose Cortez and Shaun Suisham - and had three misses
from 38 yards or less. | | | Cutler named Broncos starter; Plummer benched - 11/27/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Jay Cutler's time has arrived.
Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan ended speculation Monday by
officially naming the rookie as his starting quarterback for the
rest of the year, sending Jake Plummer to the bench.
"He's our future, he's our present," Shanahan said.
Cutler, the 11th pick out of Vanderbilt in the draft last April,
hasn't taken a snap since the preseason.
But Shanahan is hoping a quarterback change can ignite the
Broncos' struggling offense. The team is 7-4 but ranks 26th in the
league in passing yards per game (171.5).
"There's a lot of pressure on a first-year quarterback, no
question about it," Shanahan said. "I think this kid can handle
it.
"I think he gives us the best chance to win."
A quarterback switch worked in Dallas when Tony Romo took over
for Drew Bledsoe. The Cowboys have gone 4-1 with Romo as the
starter. San Diego is playing well, and leading the AFC West,
behind first-year starter Philip Rivers.
When asked if the situations were comparable, Shanahan was
blunt.
"No," he said.
Cutler had an impressive preseason for Denver, throwing for 561
yards, third-best in the NFL. Romo led the league with 833 yards
passing in exhibition play. Cutler's passer rating (108.3) led the
league in the preseason.
In his first practice as the starter Monday, Cutler was pumped
up, sending several passes over the heads of his receivers. There
was no question he had extra velocity on his throws.
Shanahan said he won't scale back the playbook to make things
easier for Cutler. | | | Clifton, Favre seem good to go - 11/27/2006
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette Left tackle Chad Clifton returned to practice Saturday for limited work in team drills, and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he expects Clifton in the starting lineup for Monday night's game at Seattle.
Clifton's hamstring had become sore in practice on Wednesday. He took Thursday off with the rest of the team for Thanksgiving, then sat out Friday's practice and was added to the injury report as questionable (a 50-50 chance of playing).
His status is especially important because right tackle Mark Tauscher is out. If Clifton weren't able to play, the Packers would start four rookies on the offensive line.
"Not a serious injury," McCarthy said of Clifton's hamstring.
If Clifton can't play, or the injury worsens during the game, left guard Daryn Colledge would move to left tackle, and Tony Palmer would play left guard. Both are rookies, as are left guard Jason Spitz and right tackle Tony Moll, Tauscher's replacement.
Tauscher has missed the last two games with a groin injury and isn't expected to play Monday night. He's listed as doubtful (a 75 percent chance he won't play), but has been lobbying to play.
"You have a doctor's opinion and then you have a player's opinion, so we're kind of not in the same realm there because of Mark's history of being able to play with injuries," McCarthy said. "I'm hopeful next week may be a possibility. Every time we talk, he's feeling better."
Favre update: Quarterback Brett Favre took all the snaps with the No. 1 offense on Saturday. McCarthy said the injured ulnar nerve in Favre's right elbow appears to be improving, though he's not yet at full strength.
Favre was injured late in the second quarter of last week's game against New England and was unable to finish the game. He's had weakness in his throwing hand and tingling in his ring and pinky fingers, but it apparently has been subsiding. He returned to practice on Friday.
"He's throwing the ball a lot better than he was earlier in the week," McCarthy said. "He's not 100 percent comfortable as far as it was in the past, but that's to be expected. We've got two more days, too. | | | Preview or warning? Tough to tell - 11/27/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times It was like a game of hot potato that just seemed to get out of hand. Passes were batted off helmets, knocked in the air volleyball-style and ultimately placed perfectly into the waiting hands of Asante Samuel, whose three receptions matched Muhsin Muhammad for second-most from Rex Grossman behind Bernard Berrian's five.
Sadly, Samuel plays for the Patriots -- and he should have matched Berrian, according to New England safety Artrell Hawkins.
''Man, I could have had six,'' Samuel said. ''I dropped a couple.''
Indeed, it was hard what to make of the Bears' 17-13 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, their second loss of the season and their second against an AFC opponent. The game had a playoff-type atmosphere to a certain extent. It was an old-fashioned, bare-knuckle slugfest that could be seen as a future Super Bowl matchup.
''We played a great football team tonight, and it would be a dream come true to play them again,'' Grossman said.
Or maybe it's more of a cautionary tale about what could and might happen to the Bears against a legitimate playoff opponent. The Bears have a formula for victory that includes protecting the ball, but they have been very generous with it on too many occasions. Grossman, obviously, is the main culprit. With three interceptions and a lost fumble in the red zone Sunday, he now has three games this year in which he personally has committed at least four turnovers. He made six at Arizona on four interceptions and two lost fumbles.
To put those numbers in perspective, consider that only four times this season has a team made six turnovers in a game. The Bears have done it twice.
| | | Williamson's playing time (and ball) slipping away - 11/27/2006
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press Troy Williamson's precipitous fall continued Sunday, with his second catchless game of the season.
But Williamson has been rendered a non-factor in the Vikings' offense, lining up for just six snaps by one count.
Veteran Marcus Robinson started the game, and Williamson did not enter until late in the first quarter. With about 9:30 left in the second quarter, Brad Johnson threw a deep pass to Williamson down the left sideline. The receiver had a step on cornerback David Macklin, but the ball sailed right through Williamson's outstretched hands.
He did not play the rest of the quarter, and he took the field only once in the second half.
"We'll, it's a production business, so yeah, you have to have confidence that the guy is going to do the right thing in practice," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "Catch the ball in practice and continue to compete. One of the prime things is that you don't fold up."
Asked if Williamson reacted well, Childress said, "I'm not real touchy-feely with it, so I don't really have a strong sense. But it is what it is."
Over the past three games, Williamson has been targeted on just five passes. Childress said confidence clearly is the problem.
"I know he surely started the year off with better hands, and I know that's a confidence thing," Childress said. "I thought he went in there and really stuck the football and framed it with his hands. He's not always a body catcher, so it's probably a confidence issue."
| | | Barnett out; Hodge to start vs. Seahawks - 11/27/2006
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette Rookie linebacker Abdul Hodge will make his first NFL start for the Green Bay Packers on Monday night at Seattle because Nick Barnett is out with a broken right hand.
Barnett was injured last week against New England and was hoping to play with a protective club on his hand. But after taking part in passing drills only during Friday's practice, he was unable to practice Saturday.
So, Hodge, 24, who made a splash early in training camp with his strong play against the run, will start in Barnett's place at middle linebacker.
The 6-foot, 236-pound Hodge had been playing on special teams, but missed five games with a knee injury before returning last week against the Patriots.
"(Hodge) had a very good training camp," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's unfortunate he suffered the injury at the time he did. He was really a contributor on special teams. He's a physical, tough football player. He's what you're looking for in a middle linebacker. This is an excellent opportunity for him."
This will be the second game Barnett has missed in his four-year career.
"I didn't really hit anything," Barnett said of Friday's practice, "just running with the big club on, hit the pad a little bit, went home and thought everything was fine. (Then) it was just throbbing. I came in this morning and talked to the doc. We talked it over, and he said maybe take it week by week. He said it will heal up and be a lot less painful next week."
Barnett's hand won't need surgery unless it heals in an incorrect position. By not practicing Saturday, he'll be off until at least Wednesday to allow the pain to subside.
"If I'm going to be favoring the (right) hand and using my left and not really hitting with (the right), it's going to hurt us as a team (more) than if I was healthy," Barnett said.
"Abdul will go out there. He's got two healthy hands to work with. I can do good with the club if I had limited pain. If I had a lot of pain, I just wasn't going to tear it up right now. We'll see what happens next week." | | | Plenty of issues face the Lions as they play out another dismal season - 11/27/2006
Source: Detroit News T he Lions are out of the playoffs, but not off the firing line. They are squarely in the crosshairs of every blogger, columnist, reporter, talk-show host and general Lions-hater, whose ranks are growing by the day.
Lions president Matt Millen is taking most of the heat, and he might take the biggest fall. The losses continue, with no sign of a breakthrough, as Millen nears the end of his sixth season as franchise president. The Lions are 2-9 this season and 23-68 in Millen's tenure.
A new rumor or report surfaces almost daily concerning Millen's future with the Lions. If owner William Clay Ford decides to make a change after the season, nobody could argue against it. There is no logical way to defend the record.
Speculating on what Ford will do after the season must be prefaced by stating the reality that it is just that -- speculation. There are no insiders with Ford. Until Ford acts, no one can say for certain what course he will take.
There is a perception among many that a post-Millen era would be like the discovery of penicillin -- a cure-all for the franchise. There is no miracle cure. If the solution were as simple as eliminating or replacing one person, the Lions wouldn't be 23-68 under Millen or anyone else. They would have won more games by accident.
The team that will trudge through the last five games clearly lacks confidence and resolve, and injuries have eaten away at the talent base.
"I've never been in this position before," Lions tight end Dan Campbell said after the loss to Miami on Thanksgiving Day. "You've got to change attitudes around here.
"You've got to get more of a winning attitude and know we can win these games."
Millen's status is only one issue facing Ford and his franchise. Personnel decisions, the makeup of the roster, coach Rod Marinelli and his staff, and the overall losing attitude that suffocates the franchise must be addressed.
This is one man's opinion on the issues facing the Lions, and what can be done to get the franchise out of the quicksand:
| | | Bears' super scenario fading with Rex - 11/27/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The question now becomes whether the Bears can keep suffering the mistakes of Rex Grossman and still win their first Super Bowl in 21 years. They have the defense to win it, the attitude to win it, the collective talent to win it and, certainly, the vehicle to win it via the spongy NFC.
But do they have the passer to win it?
If Sunday was Grossman's litmus test, the answer is an emphatic, time-to-panic no. If this was the game when Good Rex would prove he's a big-game performer, he instead morphed into his evil twin and let Ragged Rex sabotage a victory over a potential Super Bowl foe. Let Lovie Smith and his teammates make excuses for his three interceptions and fumble -- citing big plays by ball thief Asante Samuel and the banged-up New England secondary, a ''shorted snap'' by All-Pro center Olin Kreutz, a gust of wind from the north, a burst of wicked karma from the plotting mind of hooded sorcerer Bill Belichick.
Fact is, Grossman was given numerous chances to carve out some needed credibility and failed again, a setback made more painful by Tom Brady's calm, smooth-jazz, watch-me-fake-Brian-Urlacher-out-of-his-Red-Zone-deodorant drive in the fourth quarter. What Brady did so routinely, even as the Bears defense won his praise and forced two interceptions, was what Grossman longs to do in this league but hasn't yet. If he began the season white-hot against suspect competition, he has been wildly unpredictable -- and often simply horrendous -- in his last six games, starting with the Arizona debacle in mid-October. Other than a recovery outing against a weak San Francisco defense and a sharp second half against the depleted New York Giants, Rex has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks. Harsh? His passer rating against the Patriots was 23.7, eerily similar to his passer rating in fourth quarters this season -- second-worst in the league behind Oakland novice Andrew Walter. Most troubling are his performances against the best defensive teams, New England and Miami, because those are the types of quality schemes he'll face in the playoffs.
| | | Titans place tight end on injured reserve with broken ankle - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Tennessee Titans placed tight end
Ben Troupe on injured reserve Wednesday with a broken right ankle,
leaving the team without two of its top tight ends.
The Titans placed veteran Erron Kinney on injured reserve on
Oct. 13 after he needed further knee surgery. Troupe broke his
right ankle on a touchdown catch in Sunday's 31-13 victory at
Philadelphia and continued playing until swelling forced him to the
bench.
Tennessee had sought a second opinion before confirming the
injury Tuesday. Team officials replaced Troupe on the roster by
promoting defensive end Sean Conover from the practice squad.
Troupe's spot in the offense likely will be filled by Ben
Hartsock, claimed off waivers from Indianapolis on Oct. 25.
Hartsock practiced with the team for the first time a week ago.
"He's been here," coach Jeff Fisher said. "Despite the fact
that he hasn't been on the practice field, he has been in the
meetings and has been paying attention, so he's very comfortable
with the system and what we're doing."
Troupe caught a career-high 55 passes last season, but had only
13 this season. Hartsock has a total of six receptions in three
seasons, all with the Colts in 2004 and 2005. | | | Falcons rally around Vick after Mora's father says QB is a 'coach killer' - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Atlanta Falcons closed ranks
around embattled quarterback Michael Vick, who was clearly stunned
by reports that Jim Mora's father referred to No. 7 as a "coach
killer."
Vick said Wednesday that he shut off his cell phone because he
was getting so many calls about comments made by Mora's father, a
former NFL coach himself who shares the same name with his son.
"Honestly, I don't even know what to say," Vick said. "I
think it was inappropriate. But, hey, when you're commentating, I
guess you've got a right to say what you want to say. I just keep
playing football. At the same time, it's crazy."
Earlier this week, during his show on Fox Sports Radio, the
elder Mora agreed with the co-host's description of Vick as a
"coach killer."
"It worries me a little bit because my son is the head coach
down there," Mora added. "But he's a great athlete, my son likes
him a lot, he's a good kid. But he's not a passer. And you need a
passer at quarterback to be successful consistently in the National
Football League. And he ain't getting it done in that category."
The younger Mora said he's spoken with his father about the
statement -- "he regrets it" -- and went to great lengths to show
that he's still got faith in his quarterback, despite a three-game
losing streak that has severely hurt the Falcons' playoff hopes.
"I'm a huge Mike Vick fan. I always have been," the coach
said. "I love the guy. He's a great player and I think he's a
better person. I don't care what anybody says about Mike. If I was
starting a franchise and I could pick one guy all-time, I would
pick Mike Vick. That's how I feel about it."
But Vick hasn't performed like a franchise player over the last
three weeks, completing less than 50 percent of his throws (44 of
93) with more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three). In
addition, he's lost two crucial fumbles without being hit by the
defense -- the first leading to a touchdown in a loss to Detroit,
the second ruining hopes of pulling off a comeback win against
Cleveland.
| | | Coles insists there's no tension between him and Pennington - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Laveranues Coles was clearly frustrated
by the questions, one after another, about the New York Jets'
struggling offense.
"Who said there's a problem?" the veteran wide receiver said
in front of his locker Wednesday, his voice a few octaves higher
than normal. "If you ask me, we're doing fine. What has changed?"
Well, for one, the passing game that produced 625 yards and four
touchdowns in the first two games has been stifled in recent weeks.
Quarterback Chad Pennington has four total touchdowns in the last
five games, along with six interceptions.
One of those was a costly mistake caught by Brian Urlacher in
the end zone against Chicago last Sunday that short-circuited the
Jets' best scoring chance -- while Coles was wide open on the other
side of the field. And Coles made that known after the play, racing
up to the quarterback on the field and telling him, "Man, I was
open!" while waving his hands.
"Everybody has those moments," Coles said, shrugging it off.
But this one, combined with the struggles the offense has had
recently, caused some to accuse Coles of showing up his
quarterback.
"Me and him have no problems," he insisted. "We talked on the
phone yesterday at length, just about 'Am I OK?' and how I'm doing.
He knows me -- I take all losses personal. It has nothing to do with
me running up. He knows the competitive side of me."
The on-field display also fueled speculation there's growing
tension between the two longtime friends.
"I love him more than I love this game, so there's nothing we
can do in this football game that can change any of that," Coles
said, shaking his head. "I don't care. He's like a brother to me.
I would take my last (breath) and give it to him. There's nothing
you guys can write or say or anything I can do to waver that. It's
as simple as that, man.
"A lot of my success rides with him. If he's not successful,
I'm not successful. There would never be a problem between us.
Never ... never. Especially over football."
Pennington has said he's not sensing the same chemistry he had
with his receivers earlier this season, but doesn't want to
overanalyze things. As for Coles' flareup against the Bears, the
quarterback took it in stride.
| | | Colston still questionable for this Sunday at Atlanta - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Top Saints receiver and rookie sensation
Marques Colston was not in pads during practice Wednesday, but was
able to put weight on his sprained left ankle as he played catch
with fellow receivers.
"I'm making a little progress day by day," Colston said.
"It's really too early to tell at this point. We still have a
couple days to evaluate and see where this thing goes. I definitely
feel a lot better. We've definitely made a lot of progress in the
last couple days. Hopefully things will continue in that positive
direction."
Colston referred to the sprain, which occurred during the
Saints' opening offensive series in their loss last Sunday to
Cincinnati, as one of those "little things" a pro football player
expects to deal with over the course of a season.
He was jogging on Tuesday and Wednesday inside a water tank in
the training room to minimize the pressure he placed on the injured
ankle. He said those sessions went well, but at the same time he
does not want to rush back, especially when quarterback Drew Brees
demonstrated against the Bengals that he was capable of throwing
for more than 500 yards without him in the lineup.
"I just want to be back for the long run because this is
definitely in my opinion a playoff caliber team," Colston said.
"I would much rather come back and be ready for that than rush
back for one game and be out for two more. I would rather sacrifice
one game (this week) and be there for the playoff run."
| | | Edwards wants Browns to take shots - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Braylon Edwards reached up and politely
turned down the volume on a TV hanging across from his locker. He
wanted to be heard.
Moments later, he was blasting on his own.
On Wednesday, the Browns' talented wide receiver was questioned
about the team's inability to score touchdowns inside opponents'
20, a problem that has gotten statistically worse in four games
under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson.
Edwards' solution?
"I think the play calling needs to be more aggressive,"
Edwards said, "and I believe when we get down there (inside the
opponents' 20) we're just happy to be there. I think that's how
it's been all season."
In Sunday's 24-20 loss to Pittsburgh, the Browns twice moved the
ball inside the Steelers 20-yard line, but failed to score a
touchdown both times, settling for field goals by Phil Dawson.
A week earlier, the Browns were 1-of-6 in the red zone at San
Diego as Dawson kicked six field goals in a 32-25 loss.
Since Davidson took over as coordinator following Maurice
Carthon's resignation on Oct. 23, the Browns have scored four TDs
in 13 trips into the red zone. Under Carthon, Cleveland went
9-for-16 on red-zone visits.
With Carthon calling plays, the Browns, who host the Cincinnati
Bengals on Sunday, were ranked 11th in the league inside the 20.
Now, they're 23rd.
That's not progress, and Edwards said it's not the players'
fault, either. He didn't name names, but the confident second-year
speedster said Cleveland's coaches are being too conservative near
the goal line.
| | | Garcia gets nod to replace McNabb as Eagles quarterback - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Jeff Garcia will replace Donovan McNabb as
the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback Sunday against
Indianapolis.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said he thinks Garcia, signed last March,
was simply the best person for the job.
"I think it's important that I have the confidence from coach
Reid that I am the guy, that this team knows who the quarterback is
going to be," said Garcia, who was chosen over A.J. Feeley as
McNabb's replacement.
Garcia has spent a large part of his career working in the West
Coast offense. He also spent two seasons in San Francisco with
current Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.
"He has a lot of experience in this offense," Reid said.
Garcia completed 26 of 48 passes for 189 yards after McNabb tore
a ligament in his right knee in the second quarter in Sunday's
31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
McNabb, a five-time Pro Bowl quarterback, was a big reason the
Eagles had the league's second-ranked offense. Garcia, who is in
his seventh season in the NFL, has a 39-47 record as a starter.
"Jeff's an experienced guy and he's been to some Pro Bowls,"
Philadelphia wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said. "He's played a
lot of football and he's obviously very familiar with this offense.
He brings some experience and leadership."
| | | Bills RB McGahee returns to practice but listed as questionable - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Willis McGahee returned to practice
Wednesday, but it's uncertain whether the Buffalo Bills running
back is ready to play after missing two games with broken ribs.
Coach Dick Jauron listed McGahee as questionable for Buffalo's
home game against Jacksonville on Sunday. While Jauron didn't rule
McGahee out entirely, he expressed concern that he might not be
physically ready after missing two weeks of workouts.
"It's going to affect him in terms of conditioning and he'll
have to get used to the twisting and turning," Jauron said.
McGahee will also have to adjust to wearing added padding to
protect his ribs, which he broke early in Buffalo's 24-10 win over
Green Bay on Nov. 5.
McGahee said he still felt soreness in his chest, but he did
more in practice than he expected.
As for whether he'll be able to play this weekend, McGahee said:
"We're just trying to see if I can go out there and do certain
things as far as moving around, so we can't make that decision
right now."
McGahee still leads the Bills with 579 yards rushing. Anthony
Thomas has capably filled in for McGahee with a total of 260 yards
rushing and a touchdown in his past three games, including a
95-yard outing against Green Bay.
Receiver Josh Reed also returned to practice Wednesday after
sustaining a bruised kidney against Green Bay.
Reed is also listed as questionable, but has not been cleared
for contact and is not likely to play this weekend. | | | Barber upset with lack of carries last week - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire A frustrated Tiki Barber criticized
the New York Giants' play calling on Wednesday, saying abandoning
the running game against Jacksonville was a slap in his face and a
sure way to lose more games.
The mild blowup from Barber came two days after the Giants (6-4)
called only 14 running plays in a 26-10 loss to the Jaguars.
Barber, whose 998 yards rushing are fourth in the NFL, got a
season-low 10 carries for 27 yards. He spent most of the second
half blocking as Eli Manning threw 27 of his 41 passes.
"We have to find a way to correct it," Barber said. "That's
the bottom line. I talked about this earlier in the season; if you
don't have balance you can't win in the NFL. A disproportionate
amount of teams that win, win it by running the football.
"That's football," Barber added. "It's not complicated. This
is something that teams and kids and coaches do from 12 years old
to college and beyond. It isn't rocket science."
This is the second time Barber has had issues with the coaching
staff. After New York was shut out by Carolina in the playoffs last
year, he said the team was outcoached.
Barber had not spoken with either coach Tom Coughlin or
offensive coordinator John Hufnagel by noon on Wednesday, but he
relayed his concerns to running backs coach Jerald Ingram. He
expected his message to be passed along.
Coughlin had already spoken with the media before Barber's
comments. He was not available for further comment. Giants
assistant coaches speak to the media about four times a year. This
was not one of those days.
Barber readily admits the Giants did nothing on the ground in
the first half against Jacksonville, whose interior line is
anchored by big tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. New York
rushed seven times for 14 yards.
However, he felt Hufnagel should have kept on calling the run
instead of switching to an uptempo, two-minute offense with New
York down a touchdown.
"Yeah, it's a challenge, but we are not scared of anyone,"
Barber said. "We have played against the best defenses in this
league, against the run and overall, and we've run the ball. We've
done effective things. We have executed in the pass game.
"So I think you put yourself halfway to failure to say we can't
do something because of another team's personnel," Barber said.
"It's a slap in the face of me and a slap of my front five guys.
We don't take to that very kindly."
Barber said there is never a reason for the Giants to get away
from their running game. It's been their strength for years and,
when it works, has the added benefit of keeping New York's defense
off the field and taking the pressure off Manning, who has been
horrible the past two games.
| | | Steelers' Ward questionable with knee injury - 11/23/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is
questionable for Sunday's game in Baltimore with a hyperextended
knee.
Ward was hurt during the Steelers' fourth-quarter comeback
Sunday in Cleveland and had to be assisted off the field. An MRI
test performed Monday showed no internal damage to the knee.
"We'll see how he progresses the rest of the week," coach Bill
Cowher said Tuesday.
Ward has missed only one game to injury in his nine-year NFL
career, last season against Jacksonville because of a sore
hamstring.
The four-time Pro Bowl receiver missed most of training camp
this year with another hamstring injury, but hasn't missed a game
and leads the Steelers with 53 catches for 753 yards and six
touchdowns. | | | Detroit 's Williams amuses Miami secondary - 11/23/2006
Source: Palm Beach Post Detroit Lions wideout Roy Williams has some advice for the Dolphins cornerbacks: It'll take more than one man to cover him.
"That wouldn't be very good," Williams warned. "We invite them to do that, but I don't think that gives them the best chance to win."
In his third season, Williams is sixth in the NFL with 867 receiving yards. He has 54 catches and four touchdowns.
The Dolphins secondary usually plays man-to-man coverage, but Williams said he would be surprised if they take that approach against him.
"I'm not sure if they're going to do that against us, but we want them to," Williams said. "I think they'll pick and choose when to do it, but I don't think they'll do it the whole game."
Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder laughed when he heard Williams' remarks.
"Roy's a great player, but he's no Jerry Rice," Crowder said.
Crowder said Miami cornerbacks Will Allen, Travis Daniels and Andre Goodman all are capable of defending Williams one-on-one.
"I think we've got guys," Crowder said. "Everybody can do it."
Daniels also smiled when told of Williams' comments, but he refused to fire back.
"I'm going to just let Roy say whatever he wants to say and feel how he wants to feel," Daniels said. "I don't want to get in any sparring match, but we'll be there on Thursday."
Crowder was particularly amused by Williams' trash talk because the Lions are 2-8 and tied for 17th in the league in scoring offense.
"They're not doing anything amazing right now," Crowder said. "For him to talk junk - it's funny for them not to be able to score any points."
Williams had 11 catches for 148 yards and no touchdowns in Detroit's last two games, both losses. The Lions managed 13 points against the 49ers, who give up the most points in the NFL, and 10 against Arizona.
| | | Even at 9-1, doubts persist about Bears - 11/23/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The unspoken concern, of course, is that the Bears are being set up for a fall, like Ugly Betty in a lingerie contest against pick-your-Jessica (Simpson, Alba, Biel). Just as I praise them as the gold standard in their conference, I realize most NFC teams aren't worthy of the Arena League. Say they go 13-3, beat hotshot Tony Romo and Dallas, then strap Carolina's Steve Smith to the goalpost he slid down last January?
None of it means the Bears will have been tested enough to avoid, oh, a Super Bowl spanking by the five-alarm-scary San Diego Chargers.
In my latest NFL power rankings -- doesn't everyone with a blog have power rankings? -- seven of the top 10 teams are in the AFC. This tells me the NFC is a junior-varsity operation, a view bolstered by the fact the Bears' only ''showdowns'' so far have been against two NFC teams, the Giants and Seahawks, who subsequently proved undeserving of prime-time hype.
So forgive a personal confession shared by many: I still have no idea who the Bears are, how good they might be and whether they're capable of beating the varsity on Feb. 4. I suppose I'm comfortable enough, despite their one-and-done playoff tradition, to install them as NFC favorites at Thanksgiving. But I'm still leery enough to wonder if we all could look like turkeys in the end, especially if Rex Grossman leaves his best passes at ill-advised promotional events -- why throw so hard against the mailman, Rex? -- outside the Merchandise Mart.
All of which qualifies their venture to New England, Sunday on the new Field Turf at Gillette Stadium, as their last chance to make a resounding statement against a serious contender from the real conference. With games ahead against the fading Vikings and Rams, the hapless Buccaneers and Lions and a New Year's Eve finale against Green Bay in which the starters will watch with hats and streamers, they won't play another good team until mid-January. As Brian Urlacher put it, ''It's a good test for us, toughest of the season, Tom Brady and those guys. I'm excited for us.'' If the Bears beat the Patriots, who looked like their formidable selves in Green Bay, America will view them as legit. And if they deliver a stinker as they did against Miami and Arizona?
They'll be just another NFC fraud threatening to turn the big game into Super Bowl XLIE.
| | | Vikings' Udeze is only a little sad over lack of sacks - 11/23/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune Kenechi Udeze finds himself in select company among NFL defensive ends this season. Problem is, he has no interest in remaining in a group that has only two members.
Udeze and Oakland's Tyler Brayton are the only defensive ends with more than three starts who have no sacks. Udeze, who has started all 10 Vikings games, admitted this week that his predicament has left him impatient but optimistic.
"I've been pressing since Game 1," he said. "But [the sacks] are coming, and I can't get hooked up on my own statistics. I have to play this game the way it was intended to be played, and that's playing team ball and that's what I'm trying to do now. I don't care if I get a sack as long as we start winning."
Udeze has been close: His 26 quarterback hurries are second on the team to defensive tackle Kevin Williams' 29. Williams leads the Vikings with five sacks.
Defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin understands that Udeze's lack of a quarterback takedown creates a negative perception, but points to things such as Udeze's team-leading nine tackles for a loss.
"To a degree, defensive ends are defined by sacks, just like corners are defined by interceptions," Tomlin said. "So if you are using that as a benchmark, he is not having great success. But we try to play a complete game, whether we are talking about corners that hit people or D-linemen that play the run. He is doing some good things. I know that he wishes he had the splash to pacify some people that judge him solely on sacks."
| | | Packers acquire QB Bouman - 11/23/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Seeking a replacement for injured backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers went with experience, familiarity and a strong arm.
That's what separated Todd Bouman from J.T. Sullivan and Bradlee Van Pelt, the two other free agents who worked out for Packers scouts and coaches Monday evening. The Packers signed Bouman on Tuesday and began prepping him for work as the backup behind Brett Favre when the Packers play Monday night at Seattle.
The 6-foot-2, 226-pound Bouman, 34, spent the 2003 and '04 seasons with Packers coach Mike McCarthy in New Orleans and last season with wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson. Bouman spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before being traded to the Saints before the 2003 season.
"His experience played a role, he has started in the league, he's familiar with the system and he played with Mike McCarthy and Jimmy Robinson," general manager Ted Thompson said. "He's a big, strong guy."
The Packers put Rodgers - who broke his left foot Sunday against New England - on injured reserve to make room for Bouman on the 53-man roster. Thompson said it would be McCarthy's decision whether Bouman would be No. 2 behind Favre, but it's a given he will be ahead of fifth-round pick Ingle Martin, who hasn't played a snap in a regular-season game.
| | | WR Mike Williams to play Thursday - 11/23/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press Mike Williams made a frank admission Tuesday.
"I went through my time when I kind of tanked it," he said. "The problem with that was, it sent out the signal that I didn't care."
But Williams is getting another chance. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Williams would play against Miami in Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field.
Wide receivers Devale Ellis (shoulder) and Eddie Drummond (concussion) are listed as questionable on the injury report. Asked if Williams had earned this opportunity or had gotten it because of the circumstances, Marinelli said: "He's doing some things that we like."
Marinelli declined to elaborate. Williams has had several problems since the Lions drafted him 10th overall last year, most notably his weight. He hasn't played since dropping a pass Oct. 8 at Minnesota. He hasn't been in uniform for the last five games.
"Things get bad, you get low," Williams said. "Coach Marinelli says, 'When you hit rock bottom, it doesn't matter that you're at the bottom. It's how high you bounce off.' So I just look at it that way and try to make the most of it.
"It's like night and day. One minute, it's all dark, and the next minute, everybody likes you. Which is this business."
Williams said he had put together two or three weeks of solid practices. But he isn't out of the doghouse yet.
"Honestly, my opportunity, I'm going to take it and not look back," Williams said. "That's what it is, an opportunity. It's my opportunity to make or break."
Williams said his teammates were happy for him. As he spoke to a reporter outside the locker room door, cornerback Dre' Bly walked past and interjected: "He's being turned loose. We're going to turn him loose." | | | We'll let Rex be Rex - 11/23/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The New England Patriots have put together a neat little chart in their media package showing just how dominant Tom Brady has been since becoming a starting quarterback. Brady boasts a .739 winning percentage in the regular season (65-23), which the Patriots say makes him the winningest active quarterback in the NFL among those who have started a minimum of 16 games.
Impressive stuff. Wrong, mind you, but still impressive.
So who is the winningest active quarterback to have started a minimum of 16 games? It's none other than the Bears' Rex Grossman, whose 13-4 record as a regular-season starter gives him a .765 winning percentage.
Clearly, Grossman has to win some playoff games and at least a couple of Super Bowls before he's in the same conversation with Brady, but the Patriots' chart is just another reminder that the NFL is at best suspicious and at worst downright dismissive of the big, bad Bears, their gaudy 9-1 record and their young gunslinger quarterback.
Grossman won't be insulted, just as he wasn't affected by a postgame question last Sunday from a national-media type about being pegged as the weak link on the team. But you can't help but wonder if the team has reached a sort of crossroads with Grossman. A pair of big-turnover games -- six against the Arizona Cardinals and four against the Miami Dolphins -- has led to an inevitable reeling in of Grossman's gambling tendencies.
He effectively was reduced to a game manager in the Bears' 10-0 victory over the New York Jets, and he'll need to be very careful at New England on Sunday. The Patriots do a better job than any team of disguising coverages and undoubtedly will be in full-blown attack mode against Grossman, who has a reputation for losing his mechanics under pressure.
| | | Jaguars SS Darius out for season with broken leg - 11/21/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire For the second straight year,
the Jacksonville Jaguars will be forced to make their playoff
push without Donovin Darius.
The Jaguars lost Darius for the season Monday when their
starting strong safety suffered a broken right leg in a 26-10
win over the New York Giants.
Darius suffered the injury in the first quarter when his leg was
rolled over at the end of a screen pass from Eli Manning to
Tiki Barber. He immediately winced in pain and was carted off
the field.
"Donovin has a broken leg and is out for the year," Jaguars
coach Jack Del Rio said after his team won for the third time in
four games to improve to 6-4. "It's a shame, he has had a
great year."
Darius suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Week Two last
season. The 31-year-old previously had played at least 14 games
in six of his first seven campaigns.
A first-round pick in 1998, Darius has spent his entire career
with the Jaguars. He had 39 tackles and three passes defended
in 10 games this season. | | | Hasselbeck coming back, Holmgren cooling down - 11/21/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will
be following league MVP Shaun Alexander out of the training room
and back into the Seahawks' offense this week.
That alone could cool the possibility of another Mike Holmgren
postgame eruption.
Seattle's perfectionist coach ripped into his sloppy,
undisciplined players so fiercely following Sunday's 20-14 loss at
the San Francisco 49ers that he was home Sunday night regretting
it. And when he met with his players Monday morning, he apologized.
The loss made the NFC West a race again.
Holmgren has lit into his uneven team (6-4) previously this
season. But by all accounts, this was bigger.
Holmgren's anger centered on his belief that his players
underestimated the 49ers (5-5).
"It was bad," Holmgren said. "I don't like doing that, I
really don't. And I said some things I wasn't too proud of. In
essence, I said (Monday), 'I'm not going to do that again with you
guys.'
"But it was a little grim in there."
Backup Seneca Wallace had played well in his first three NFL
starts while Hasselbeck recovered from a sprained knee. But he
threw three interceptions Sunday. Two led to 10 San Francisco
points. The third ended Seattle's last legitimate chance to win the
game with 1:38 left -- immediately after Frank Gore had fumbled to
give the Seahawks renewed hope.
The defense repeatedly missed tackles and was out of position,
part of a season-long problem -- and part of the reason Gore romped
for a 49ers-record 212 yards on 24 carries.
"(Shoot), we played horribly. We deserved it," end Grant
Wistrom said of Holmgren's outburst.
"I was surprised when he came to apologize to us, to be
honest," Wistrom said. "He didn't say anything that was out of
line or wasn't warranted."
| | | Just when Raiders get Brooks back, Jordan goes down - 11/21/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Just when quarterback Aaron Brooks
returned to give Oakland's struggling offense a needed boost, the
Raiders lost starting running back LaMont Jordan to a knee injury
that could sideline him for the rest of the season.
Jordan underwent an MRI on Monday, a day after tearing the
medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Coach Art Shell didn't
know the extent of the tear when he addressed the media and was
unsure how long Jordan would be sidelined.
Jordan said he wouldn't need surgery on the knee, but wouldn't
speculate how long he would be out. But with only six games
remaining this season and the Raiders out of contention, it's
unlikely he'd be able to make it back.
"It's just like, 'Wow.' It's not something you try to
understand," Jordan said. "Everybody has been calling me and
telling me that everything happens for a reason. For me, this is
the biggest injury I've ever had. ... The main thing for me is to
just try to maintain a positive attitude and just try to get myself
healthy."
Jordan's injury was the latest blow to the Raiders (2-8), who
have scored a league-low 118 points and failed to generate any
consistent threat on offense.
| | | Packers QB Favre experienced numbness in throwing arm - 11/21/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Brett Favre's record streak
looks like it will remain intact.
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced Monday that
Favre's elbow injury that forced him out of Sunday's game
appears to be improving.
The NFL's only three-time MVP, Favre will likely make his 252nd
consecutive start, including playoffs, next Monday, when the
Packers (4-6) visit the Seattle Seahawks.
"I think his elbow is going to be fine," McCarthy said. "He's
been in for treatment for both the elbow and the groin and we'll
re-evaluate him Wednesday, but he doesn't seem very concerned
about it."
McCarthy also said team doctors think Favre will be able to play
against the Seahawks.
"He's not very worried about it, which to them is a clear
indication because he's been through this so long. They trust
his judgment based on their history with him."
Favre left Sunday's game with an elbow injury late in the second
quarter and did not return. Favre landed on his right arm and
shoulder after being sacked by linebackers Tully Banta-Cain and
Tedy Bruschi.
The last time Favre left a game with an injury and did not
return was on October 3, 2004 against the New York Giants when
he suffered a concussion.
| | | Eagles minus 5 = zero - 11/20/2006
Source: Philadelphia Daily News BURY THE Eagles season at Wounded Knee.
For the first time, Andy Reid did not begin the postmortem with the word, "Injuries."
On this dark occasion, the somber coach cut to the chase.
"All right, Donovan McNabb," Reid said to the hushed media mob in the Linc's interview room. "He has an ACL tear. That's an 8-months-to-a-year injury, so he's done for the year."
And if I'm reading the calendar right, the fast-rehab figure of 8 months takes the Eagles to the cusp of training camp. The worst-case 12 months takes them to midseason 2007.
Lose your best hitter in baseball for that period of time and it's bad, really bad. But baseball has no salary cap. You can spend to replace, the way the Chicago Cubs blew the Phillies out of the water yesterday in the Alfonso Soriano sweepstakes. You can call up a minor league hotshot, if you have one. You can trade.
The Yankees lost two All-Star outfielders, Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, early last season and scarcely missed a beat.
But lose the franchise quarterback and it's game, set, match and season.
At 1:58 p.m., with a hushed crowd standing, the green gurney backed out of the spot where McNabb landed out of bounds in front of the Tennessee Titans bench around midfield. He had taken a big hit, a clean hit, by defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch after rolling right and throwing incomplete to Donté Stallworth. He was pinwheeled on the hit, but it is not clear whether the right knee was
injured by the hit itself or when he landed awkwardly out of bounds. Now he was being driven up the tunnel with a badly scrambled right knee. | | | 'Cadillac' just needs the ball to produce yardage - 11/20/2006
Source: Orlando Sentinel All is well in Carnell's world, at least for now. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams gained 122 yards against the Redskins and looked every bit like last year's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He obviously runs better when he has a football in his arms.
"I know if you continue to run me, there are going to be times I make the plays," he said.
The Bucs ran him 27 times on Sunday. It was a welcome workload for a back who had five games with fewer than 15 carries. Williams came into the game with 497 yards rushing after gaining 1,178 last season.
It's been harder to run because teams are daring Tampa Bay rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski to throw the ball. But the Bucs are now 9-0 when Williams carries at least 21 times.
Silly season
A notes column in Sunday's editions of the Tampa Tribune speculated that Bucs Coach Jon Gruden has sent out "feelers'' around the league in hopes of escaping the final two years of a contract that pays him around $4.5 million per season.
"That's silly,'' General Manager Bruce Allen said before Sunday's game.
Gruden went a few steps further in dismissing the report after the game.
"Some [expletive] idiot wrote that article, OK?'' Gruden said. "I'm committed to being with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's the only job I ever wanted.''
The story claimed Gruden has his eye on a potential opening in Dallas, where Bill Parcells is rumored to be considering retirement. It went on to suggest that Gruden could get out of his contract the same way he escaped his deal in Oakland -- via compensation from another team -- when Joel Glazer and Bryan Glazer, sons of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer, brokered a blockbuster package to lure the coach from the Raiders.
"I'm here as long as the Glazers will have me,'' said Gruden, who is 41-37 in five seasons with Tampa Bay, including the only Super Bowl championship in team history. "It's the greatest franchise in football. We're on our way up. We got a lot of young guys playing. Somebody pointed that [story] out to me, and that's laughable, really.''
The kid
Gradkowski was the 11th of 12 quarterbacks taken in the 2006 draft. He also is on pace to be put up the best numbers of any rookie QB in his class, including first-round choices Vince Young (Tennessee) and Matt Leinart (Arizona).
Gradkowski improved to 3-4 as a starter Sunday, completing 14 of his 21 throws for 178 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and a rating of 104.9. His two TD throws gave Gradkowski franchise records for rookies, moving him past both Shaun King (1999) and Doug Williams (1978), each of whom had seven.
Etc.
| | | Season wavers toward point of no return - 11/20/2006
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press Sunday's loss nicely sets up next week's showdown between the dead Arizona Cardinals and your almost-dead Minnesota Vikings.
Are you getting chills yet?
Here is the quintessential example of Vikings football, which occurred late in the second quarter: Trailing 10-7, coach Brad Childress chose to go for it on fourth and 1 from his own 29. Brad Johnson kept it on a sneak and made the necessary yardage. Yippee! So what does Childress do next?
Handoff to Chester Taylor. Handoff to Chester Taylor. Penalty. A too-short dump pass. Punt.
Why bother to go for it on fourth down if you're going to follow up with that? I'm telling you, I'm going blind watching this stuff week after week. Soccer is starting to look mighty good to me.
"It's tough," linebacker Ben Leber said. "We just knew that to right the ship, we had to get a win today."
Glub, glub.
But don't worry. Everything is right on schedule for 2007.
The Vikings now are 0-3 in their four-game stretch against league weaklings, otherwise known as Patsies on Parade. On Sunday, Joey Harrington started fast but began to turn into a pumpkin right before our eyes. By midway through the second half, he was the same stumbling, bumbling Joey who accumulated a 0-6 record against the Vikings while with the Detroit Lions.
Yet Minnesota could not put the game away. Taylor, who is beginning to look like 213 pounds of ground round because of overuse, fumbled twice. The Dolphins returned one 51 yards for a touchdown. But it's tough to fault him. He'd already carried 26 times, and taken 26 poundings, when he coughed that one up.
"That had nothing to do with it," Taylor snapped. "I just fumbled. That's it."
Whatever you say, Chester. But somebody has to worry about your health. One of these games you'll end up going home in a doggie bag.
Meanwhile, the myth of the impenetrable Vikings defense' gradually is being debunked. Minnesota has a great defense against the run. Period. Those same sterling defensive linemen and linebackers could get no pressure on Harrington. That allowed a thoroughly mediocre quarterback to pick apart the secondary on a couple of occasions.
The Dolphins also were smart enough to come out in a spread offense and go with no huddle. The Vikings stared as if they had just seen a spaceship land. Miami drove all the way to the goal line before fumbling away its opening possession. Another quick adjustment by the Minnesota coaching staff.
The bottom line is that nothing is going to change for the rest of this season. Maybe two handoffs and a dump pass will be enough to defeat the Cardinals or some other comatose team. But the Vikings are one loss from officially evaluating players for 2007.
Bad personnel decisions were made during the summer and into the season. That's going to happen when you give a first-year head coach the final say on everything. There's no strong figure in the front office who really is in charge. As a result, the Vikings are too weak at too many positions to be contenders. And the coaches are slow to make in-game adjustments, allowing those weaknesses to be exploited.
"We're 4-6 right now," tight end Jermaine Wiggins said. "You know what? Ten and 6 is good enough to get you into the playoffs."
Pardon me if I don't wager the kids' college funds.
| | | Day of suffering for quarterbacks - 11/20/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy should have known it was going to be a bad day when Brett Favre started misfiring from the very first play of the game Sunday at Lambeau Field.
It went downhill from there.
When it was over, not only had the Packers taken a 35-0 beat down at the hands of the New England Patriots, they had lost two quarterbacks to injury and were unsure whether either of them would be able to play Monday night at Seattle.
Favre landed hard on his right elbow late in the second quarter and had to leave the game because of weakness throughout his arm and hand. The awkwardness with which he was driven to the ground by linebacker Tedy Bruschi resulted in Favre's elbow bearing the brunt of the fall, causing him to suffer a nerve injury that affected his whole arm.
"He hit it right on the nerve, the funny-bone (ulnar) nerve, whatever you want to classify it," McCarthy said.
There are numerous degrees of damage the fall might have caused to the elbow, including a pinched nerve, but McCarthy said he did not have enough information to predict what Favre's status would be for next week. The injury came in Favre's record-setting 251st consecutive start (including playoffs) and it resulted in him failing to complete a start for only the sixth time in his career.
This is not the first time Favre has had an issue with an elbow, however.
In 2000, former coach Mike Sherman's first year, he suffered tendonitis sometimes referred to as "tennis elbow." That injury required him to limit his throws during training camp and though the injury bothered him into the regular-season, he was able to function without a lot of pain later in the year.
While the tennis elbow was the result of chronic strain, this one is different; it came as a result of trauma. | | | Kitna has failed; it's time for change - 11/20/2006
Source: Detroit News If it wasn't obvious before, it should be now. Lions quarterback Jon Kitna isn't the answer.
In fact, at this point, you'd be hard-pressed to convince most that he has been an upgrade from former starting quarterback Joey Harrington.
While Harrington was winning his third straight for Miami on Sunday afternoon, Kitna was having a first half to forget against the lowly Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Kitna should have been benched. Instead, he was allowed to play through an embarrassing 17-10 loss. Coach Rod Marinelli reiterated that a change wouldn't be made at quarterback.
But if backup Josh McCown can't get a shot after back-to-back lousy performances by Kitna with a 2-8 team heading nowhere fast, when can he? McCown did get in the game as a receiver in the fourth quarter.
Kitna, who struggled last week in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers, had the Lions in the red zone three times and wound up with only 10 points Sunday.
"That's not what you want to do to win a football game in this league," said Kitna, who failed to throw a TD pass.
This should have been a feast with a good quarterback at the helm. Last week, the Cardinals were torched by the Dallas Cowboys, 27-10.
Kitna now has more interceptions (12) this season than touchdowns (11). Kitna's interceptions seem to come in big situations.
When asked if he was disappointed in Kitna, Marinelli said, "I'm disappointed in the turnover in the red zone." Later he added, "We have to be able to score. We have to take care of the ball or come out of there with a field goal."
| | | Pats blank Pack 35-0; snap two-game skid - 11/19/2006
Source: NFL.com Brett Favre wasn't around to finish the game.
Vinny Testaverde was.
The New England Patriots forced the Green Bay Packers ' three-time MVP off the field with an elbow injury near the end of the first half, then snapped their first losing streak in nearly four years with a 35-0 victory at Lambeau Field.
"It was just one of those days where a lot of things went right for us and not too many went right for Green Bay," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.
Tom Brady threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns before he was replaced by backup Matt Cassel late in the fourth quarter. Testaverde, who was signed by New England earlier this week, then came in to run out the clock.
"There is not a whole lot of stuff out there that we did poorly," Brady said. "Now you just have to try to carry it over to next week. But there is a not a whole lot of carryover, just like last week didn't mean a whole lot to this week."
New England (7-3) had lost two straight games at home -- its first losing streak since the end of the 2002 season -- but is 5-0 on the road this year.
The Patriots had Sunday's game well under control even before Favre was injured.
New England had run up a 21-0 lead with under two minutes left in the first half when linebacker Tully Banta-Cain wrapped Favre up in the backfield and Tedy Bruschi jumped in to finish the sack. Bruschi's hit slammed Favre to the ground on his throwing arm, and the three-time MVP got up wincing.
"It doesn't matter if he's a quarterback or not, he's one of the toughest guys in the league," Bruschi said. "You know when he can't come back like that something's probably up."
Favre, who made his 251st consecutive start on Sunday including playoff games, was replaced by second-year player Aaron Rodgers. Favre walked back out of the locker room shortly after halftime, but Rodgers played the remainder of the game.
"It was a surprise when Brett couldn't come back in, because he's always been the iron man of the NFL," Packers rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk said.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Favre likely injured a nerve in his elbow. McCarthy said Favre wasn't in pain, but was unable to muster enough strength in his hand to grip the football properly after halftime.
McCarthy said he did not know whether Favre would be able to play in the Packers' next game.
To make matters even worse for Green Bay, Rodgers was limping through the locker room after the game.
"I ain't talking," Rodgers said. | | | Eagles QB McNabb suffers knee injury, carted off field - 11/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Donovan McNabb's season again has
ended prematurely.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles
suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in the second quarter of
Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Rolling to his right, McNabb was pushed out of bounds by
defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and landed awkwardly. McNabb
got to his feet but was unable to put any weight on the leg
before he was taken off the field on a cart.
Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed in his postgame news
conference that McNabb would undergo surgery in the near
future.
Last season, McNabb missed the final seven games after
undergoing surgery for a sports hernia. He missed the
final six games in 2002 with a broken leg, then returned
for the playoffs.
McNabb entered Sunday's game tied with Peyton Manning for the
league lead with 18 touchdown passes and was second with
2,569 passing yards. He was 6-of-13 for 78 yards and an
interception before leaving Sunday's game.
Losing McNabb is a crushing blow for the Eagles (5-5), who have
lost four of their last five games following a 4-1 start.
Last season, McNabb underwent surgery and missed the final seven
games for the Eagles, who went 5-11 a season after reaching the
Super Bowl.
McNabb also missed the final six games in 2002 with a broken leg,
then returned for the playoffs.
Without McNabb, the Eagles will turn to eight-year veteran Jeff
Garcia, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason.
Garcia struggled after replacing McNabb on Sunday, completing
26-of-48 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. | | | LT, Rivers power Chargers' touchdown machine - 11/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire LaDainian Tomlinson heard all the
gloom-and-doom scenarios in the offseason. That he was going to
face stacked defenses and Philip Rivers was going to struggle as
the starting quarterback after the San Diego Chargers said adios to
Drew Brees.
The star running back didn't dismiss them outright. But he knew
even back in minicamp that they would eventually be debunked.
"I told a couple of my friends, 'You guys, I know we've got a
new quarterback, but we're still going to be good,' " Tomlinson
said.
Ever the barometer of the franchise, he was right.
Tomlinson and Rivers are playing to each other's strengths so
well that the Chargers are 7-2 and leading the NFL with 297 points
going into a showdown for the AFC West lead Sunday night at Denver,
also 7-2.
As the Chargers rallied from a 21-point deficit at Cincinnati
last week, Tomlinson ran for four scores and Rivers threw for three
more in a crazy 49-41 win.
Tomlinson is having an MVP-caliber season, with 932 yards
rushing and 377 yards receiving, and an NFL-best 18 touchdowns.
He's slowly nudging past Hall of Famer Jim Brown in the record
book. He's scored an NFL-record 15 touchdowns in the last five
games -- Brown had 14 in a five-game span in 1958 -- and needs two
more in the next four games to become the fastest to score 100 TDs.
Brown and Emmitt Smith share the mark, set in 93 games. Sunday
night will be Tomlinson's 89th game.
| | | Jaguars QB Leftwich to undergo surgery - 11/19/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Byron Leftwich may not be
coming back for the Jacksonville Jaguars any time soon.
The Jaguars announced Saturday that the quarterback will undergo
surgery on his left ankle. The team did not say how long he
would be sidelined.
"We look forward to getting Byron back on the field, and this is
the first step in that process," coach Jack Del Rio said. "We
will have a better idea of the length of his recovery time after
the surgery. I know that Byron will work diligently to get
back and rejoin his teammates as soon as possible."
Leftwich has missed the last three games with the injury after
starting the first six contests. David Garrard has gone 2-1 as
the starter in Leftwich's absence.
Leftwich has been the Jaguars' starting quarterback since his
rookie year in 2003. When Leftwich missed five games last
season with a fractured left ankle, Garrard filled in and led
the Jaguars to a 4-1 record.
The Jaguars (5-4) host the New York Giants on Monday night. | | | Harris, Robinson, Smoot remain questionable for Sunday - 11/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Napoleon Harris, Marcus Robinson and
Fred Smoot remain questionable for Minnesota's game at Miami on
Sunday, but several other players were upgraded to probable on
Friday.
Running back Chester Taylor (calf), cornerback Cedric Griffin
(foot), linebacker E.J. Henderson (hamstring), guard Steve
Hutchinson (knee), defensive tackle Pat Williams (foot), center
Matt Birk (neck), guard Artis Hicks (hip), fullback Richard Owens
(knee) and linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (hamstring) all were
upgraded from questionable to probable.
Harris, the starting middle linebacker, continues to wear a cast
on his injured wrist, while Smoot is battling a groin injury
suffered against San Francisco two weeks ago and still mourning the
death of his half brother in a car accident last week.
"We actually had to have him see a doctor while he was down in
Mississippi," coach Brad Childress said. "He had a little groin
coming out of the 49ers game. He called us between his stops from
here to Jackson (Mississippi) and (trainer Eric Sugarman) set it up
for him. He got some treatment down there and it just flared up."
Robinson has been inactive for the last three games with a back
injury.
The Vikings have lost three games in a row heading into Miami on
Sunday, and the team appears to be on edge.
During the special teams portion of Friday's practice, Thomas
and defensive end Jayme Mitchell got into a fight, with Thomas
throwing several haymakers that hit Mitchell's helmet.
Linebacker Ben Leber had to separate the two players. | | | Game time decisions on Alexander, Hasselbeck for Sunday - 11/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The 49ers won't know until Sunday whether
they will be facing league MVP Shaun Alexander and Pro Bowl
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck when they play the Seattle Seahawks in
San Francisco.
Coach Mike Holmgren said Friday that he believes Alexander and
Hasselbeck are "capable of playing" against the 49ers, "but
we're going to have to see how it all sorts itself out.
"I will do that on Sunday," he said.
Holmgren had said on Wednesday that he would know by Friday
whether his star running back and quarterback would play.
Alexander practiced this week for the first time since he broke
his left foot during a game against the New York Giants on Sept.
24. Hasselbeck practiced all week for the first time since he
sprained a ligament in his right knee against Minnesota on Oct. 22.
Reporters were allowed to watch both practice Friday, but were
prohibited from reporting on how much each played with the starting
offense.
Thursday, 49ers coach Mike Nolan said his team was preparing as
if both Alexander and Hasselbeck would start. He added that his
team is already familiar with their backups, Maurice Morris and
Seneca Wallace -- thanks to the Seahawks' 41-3 win the last time
these teams met, Dec. 11, 2005, in Seattle.
"They got so far ahead that -- unfortunately for us -- they were
able to put (them) in the game," Nolan said.
Earlier in the week, Alexander split time with Morris on the
starting unit. Alexander looked fluid cutting on a foot that X-rays
this week showed remains cracked in the fourth metatarsal.
After a full workout Wednesday, the Seahawks rested Alexander
some during Thursday's drills. The 2005 NFL rushing leader was back
on the field Friday. | | | Droughns questionable, Bodden out against Pittsburgh - 11/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Cleveland Browns running back Reuben Droughns
will be a game-time decision and cornerback Leigh Bodden will miss
Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Droughns, who wore a protective boot this week, injured his foot
in last week's 17-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He is listed as
questionable for Sunday.
If he doesn't play smaller backs Jason Wright and rookie Jerome
Harrison will get carries.
"They are going to have to rely more on quickness to gain
yardage," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "If the offensive line
is opening holes, there will be a hole for them to have the
opportunity to use their ability."
Bodden, who missed last week's game with a sprained ankle, had
said he was feeling better earlier in the week, but was downgraded
from questionable to out on Friday's injury report.
Quarterback Charlie Frye, who has a bruise on his non-throwing
hand was, upgraded to probable.
Crennel's injury report included several prominent players
listed as questionable, including linebacker Willie McGinest
(ankle), kick returner/wide receiver Joshua Cribbs (thumb), tight
end Kellen Winslow (knee), cornerback Jereme Perry (ankle) and
linebacker Leon Williams (ankle).
"Everyone knows it's a big game and they all want to be
there," Crennel said. "We're going to keep working and we have a
couple more days to see if we can get it right." | | | The bell tolls for neither Denver running back named Bell - 11/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Bells are coming clean.
Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was miffed at rookie Mike
Bell for his poor play in Pittsburgh, where he ran 17 times for 28
yards, so he benched him last week at Oakland, where Tatum Bell
returned to the lineup despite two sprained big toes and managed
just 37 yards on 14 carries.
Shanahan mentioned twice this week how disappointed he was in
himself for getting fooled by Tatum Bell for insisting he was
healthier than he really was. But Shanahan said he was sticking
with him as his starter against San Diego on Sunday night.
However, Tatum hasn't been able to fully participate in practice
this week and on Thursday he said he wouldn't be healthy until the
offseason.
"I'm good, man. It's just going to be hurting," he said. "I
ain't going to be able to heal until the season's over, so (I'll)
keep on playing and eventually I'll get better. ... It's hard. It's
pain. I'm dealing with it. As long as I can run, I'm going to go
play."
Tatum Bell also acknowledged he wasn't the same running back as
in years past when he spelled the starter and provided the Broncos
with a great change of pace.
"No, I think I lost a step a little bit" because of his
sprained toes, he said. "But I'm getting better, like I say.
Hopefully this week I'll be able to go out and make some plays."
Mike Bell feels the same way.
He was benched last week in favor of Damien Nash, who failed to
seize the opportunity by fumbling near the goal line.
| | | Detroit Lions re-sign WR Bradford, release WR Kasper - 11/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire The Detroit Lions re-signed wide
receiver Corey Bradford to a one-year contract and released wide
receiver Kevin Kasper on Thursday.
Bradford, a nine-year veteran, was signed March 13 as a free
agent to a $7.4 million, four-year contract, which included a $2
million signing bonus. He had three receptions for 36 yards in
Detroit's opening loss to Seattle, but was released Sept. 27.
Bradford, who previously played for Houston and Green Bay, has
204 receptions for 3,218 yards and 25 touchdowns in his career.
Kasper played in one game and had no receptions after the Lions
signed him Nov. 1. He last played in the NFL in 2004. | | | Culpepper says he's still bothered by knee pain - 11/17/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire One year after surgery, Daunte Culpepper says
he still feels sharp pain in his reconstructed right knee, and he's
noncommittal about whether he'll play again this season.
The Miami Dolphins' quarterback will sit out Sunday's game
against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings. It's the sixth
consecutive game he'll miss after struggling through the first
four.
"This is one I wish I could have been in," Culpepper said
Thursday. "Unfortunately my knee isn't as good as my spirit and my
soul want to be."
Speaking to reporters for the first time in more than a month,
Culpepper said his knee is improving. But he said it's possible
he'll sit out the rest of the year.
"I'd be disappointed, but at the same time I won't be, because
I know I've got to keep my eye on the big picture," he said.
"It's really not about short-term, it's about long-term."
Culpepper has been practicing on a limited basis and said the
knee still bothers him.
"I'm getting a sharp pain when I'm trying to push off," he
said. "If I can get past that point, I think I can be very
explosive." | | | Losing drives 'Cadillac' wild - 11/17/2006
Source: Orlando Sentinel A national spotlight of sorts will be on Washington QB Jason Campbell when the Redskins (3-6) face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-7) Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Bucs RB Carnell "Cadillac'' Williams wouldn't mind stealing some of the attention from his former teammate at Auburn.
"I want a productive day,'' Williams said. "It just seems like it's been so long since I got into a rhythm [and] got to make runs. Hopefully, I can turn that corner Sunday.''
Williams, voted 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns for the NFC South Division champions, has just 497 yards and one TD this season. Williams is averaging only 3.6 yards per carry and has had five games of 15 carries or less despite the fact the team is 8-0 when Williams has carried at least 21 times the past two seasons.
Last year, a foot injury sidelined Williams for several weeks. During his sophomore year at Auburn, a broken leg finished a promising '02 season and set him up for a grueling rehabilitation. Those were challenging times.
So are these.
"We're losing, so I definitely can't say I'm having the best time,'' Williams said. "But I have my head up and my strength. For me, I'm just going to relax and play football.''
For Coach Jon Gruden, it's probably not that simple. With three straight losses, the frustration continues to mount. So do questions about an offense that ranks 30th in the league and next-to-last in rushing at 81.2 yards per game.
"I'm not going to be a basket case about it. We're trying to run the football,'' Gruden said. "As I said to the guys earlier, we've got to recommit ourselves -- every one of us, by God -- to run the football. It's not just Cadillac. It's the guards, the centers, the lead backs. It's all of us, It's the diagrams of plays. We've got to take responsibility, and that's the way it is.'' | | | Few balls are coming Wiggins' way - 11/17/2006
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune The Vikings' loss to Green Bay on Sunday marked only the second time in tight end Jermaine Wiggins' two-plus seasons (41 games) with the team that he has not made a reception. This will do nothing to alter the perception that Wiggins has become a forgotten man in coach Brad Childress' offense.
In fairness, Wiggins' 25 receptions are tied for third on the Vikings with Troy Williamson and he has led the team in catches in two games. Yet, through nine games in 2004 he had 47 receptions and last season he had 42 catches at this point.
Wiggins, the team leader in catches both of those seasons, said he doesn't feel defenses are doing anything special against him.
"There are plenty of times I have been open, but [quarterback] Brad Johnson has gone elsewhere with the ball because of his reads," said Wiggins, who did have two passes directed his way Sunday and dropped one of them.
"You could see with this year the ball is getting spread out, so that's just the way it is. I still have caught enough balls where I'm in the mix of everything. You can't get frustrated, you can't let it bother you because there are going to be times when it's going to come your way and it's going to come a lot."
Said Childress: "I don't know that [defenses are] focusing on him. It's just a matter of whether you're using the plays that involve him at the time that they have a coverage that's favorable to him. Some of it is on the player; some of it is on the scheme. But he's certainly had plays -- we had a couple called for him [against Green Bay]. ... They didn't cooperate."
| | | KGB getting blocked out - 11/17/2006
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel It seems unthinkable that the Green Bay Packers' defense has 31 sacks, but seven-year veteran and pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila only has three.
Gbaja-Biamila had 13 1/2 , 12, 10 and 13 1/2 sacks respectively in seasons 2001-'04. His goal is to get one a game.
While he wishes it were different, Gbaja-Biamila still feels a sense of accomplishment when Aaron Kampman, Corey Williams and Cullen Jenkins get to a quarterback.
"It's probably the first time I've kind of been behind, but this is good because everybody else is stepping up," Gbaja-Biamila said. "It is a team sport so when we go out there, a guy can't just focus on me. They've got to focus on Aaron, and especially when we've got somebody on the inside like Jenks or Corey Williams. It makes it hard to say who they're going to pick up."
Gbaja-Biamila said he has faced more competitive matchups at the offensive line.
"I haven't had as many opportunities as I've had in the past," he said. "There'll be one guy you know you can (say), this is a good matchup. This year, everybody I've played against, there have been some great offensive linemen. I've been going against the best. In the past, I used to every once in awhile have a guy that's young and inexperienced that you could take advantage of, just like Jason Taylor when Chad Clifton got sick. For a d-lineman, when you hear that, you lick your chops. And if you'd see, (Taylor) did it quick before adjustments."
Gbaja-Biamila has sacked 32 different quarterbacks from Michael Vick to Donovan McNabb, but he has never pulled down New England's Tom Brady.
"It may be he's rushing really, really strong on that side and making (the quarterback) step up to someone else," coordinator Bob Sanders said in explaining Gbaja-Biamila's lower than usual sack total. "Which is the case a lot of times. A couple times he's had his hands on guys and they threw it away. But his effort from bringing the heat from that side has been solid."
| | | Cops: Lion's alcohol level over limit - 11/17/2006
Source: Detroit Free Press Lions safety Kenoy Kennedy had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit when he was arrested and charged with drunken driving last month, according to police reports obtained Thursday.
Kennedy declined to comment Thursday through the Lions. Joseph Lavigne, Kennedy's lawyer, said Thursday that Kennedy entered a plea of not guilty.
"At this point, he's got a right to be innocent until proven guilty," Lavigne said in a phone interview.
Kennedy was pulled over for speeding on Michigan Avenue by Inkster police at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 6 and failed several field sobriety tests, according to a police report obtained by the Free Press under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Kennedy, cited for driving 54 m.p.h. in a 40-m.p.h. zone, told police he had consumed "a couple beers" at a Detroit club.
According to the report, Kennedy refused a breath test and was then arrested and driven to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital in Wayne, where a blood sample was taken at 5 a.m. The lab report showed Kennedy's blood-alcohol level to be 0.16%, above the state's threshold of 0.08%.
Lavigne has filed a motion to suppress the blood test because, he said, a search warrant affidavit to obtain the blood sample was not signed by the police officer seeking the warrant.
A trial date in Inkster District Court has not been set. | | | DT Harris edges Jets' Robertson -- never mind the sack shortage - 11/17/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times A lot of people figured the Bears would draft Kentucky defensive tackle DeWayne Robertson in 2003. In fact, general manager Jerry Angelo and Co. did a lot of scouting work on Robertson, but they worked harder to trade the No. 4 pick, talking back and forth between the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets before getting three picks from the Jets. The Jets used the selection to draft Robertson, and the Bears will see him for the first time Sunday at the Meadowlands (noon, Fox-32, 780-AM).
Robertson is playing well for the surging Jets, who have won three of their last four games. But the Bears got a more dominant tackle in Tommie Harris the next year with the 14th pick -- and certainly one who fits coach Lovie Smith's defensive scheme better than the 6-1, 317-pound Robertson would.
Still, Harris believes he's in a rut these days, having gone five games without a sack after opening the season with five in four games. He figured the return of left end Adewale Ogunleye from a hamstring injury that kept him out of two games would make a difference, but that hasn't gotten it done. Bears opponents have been using tackles to block down on Harris before hinging out, and it could take an explosion from the ends to take some of the focus off Harris and free him up again.
''I've been trying to figure it out,'' he said. ''I've been doing a lot of studying, trying to find out if my body is not the same way. Everything feels right. I'm lifting the same weights, doing the same thing every week. But two plus two is not equaling four right now for me. So hopefully I can go back and fix everything.''
Harris, who said before the season that he wanted to hit double digits in sacks after totaling 6½ in his first two seasons, said he got solo blocks on three occasions against the Giants but was unable to beat any of them.
''I have no excuse, man,'' he said. ''I don't want to be selfish. I could see if we were losing because I didn't get sacks, but we're winning right now, and I'm not getting sacks. So I don't want to have that 'I'm selfish' part, but this is the NFL. This is a business, and it does help to have reasonably good stats at times.''
The Bears have 23 sacks, all but one from linemen. They have counted on consistent pressure from the front four to allow them to drop seven in coverage. It's a big reason the linebackers haven't blitzed much, and the primary reason why middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is without a sack. In fact, Urlacher has gone a career-high 20 games without a sack, more a product of how he has been used than anything else.
| | | Ravens' Ray Lewis not likely to play against Falcons - 11/16/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray
Lewis underwent a minor surgical procedure Thursday to have a
pocket of blood drained from his swollen back, and is unlikely to
play in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
However, the seven-time All-Pro wasn't immediately ruled out and
is expected to remain listed as questionable on the injury report.
Lewis severely bruised his back during a Nov. 5 game against
Cincinnati when he collided with teammate Ed Reed's knee.
Team officials were hopeful Thursday the outpatient surgery will
allow Lewis to return soon, but they weren't optimistic about him
playing against Atlanta.
"I don't know how much of a difference it (the surgical
procedure) will make for this week, but it's my understanding that
it will make a huge difference for him and we'll see how he is at
the end of the week," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "He's made
real progress, I think."
Meanwhile, the Ravens (7-2) are preparing versatile outside
linebacker/defensive end Jarret Johnson (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) to
start at inside linebacker with former practice squad member Dennis
Haley filling in on obvious passing downs. Starting inside
linebacker Bart Scott will move over to play Lewis' spot, with
Johnson occupying Scott's normal position. | | | Bucs' Rice misses practice, questionable for Sunday vs. Redskins - 11/16/2006
Source: National Football League News Wire Tampa Bay defensive end Simeon Rice sat out
practice Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game
against the Washington Redskins.
The 11th-year pro, who has 121 career sacks -- second-most among
active players, has been bothered by a shoulder problem much of the
season and didn't play in last Monday night's 24-10 loss to the
Carolina Panthers.
Two other defensive starters who missed the Panthers game --
linebacker Shelton Quarles and tackle Ellis Wyms -- also were held
out of Wednesday's practice.
Like Rice, Quarles (knee/ankle) and Wyms (ankle) were listed on
the injury report as questionable.
Although coach Jon Gruden said Rice is "showing signs of
recovery," he wouldn't speculate on whether the three-time Pro
Bowl selection will play against Washington. Asked if the injury
eventually could require surgery, the coach said he wasn't sure.
"There's a chance, but we obviously don't want to lose him. We
need him for these final six, seven, eight games of the season,"
Gruden said.
Before practice, Rice said his left shoulder was getting better.
He shrugged off a question about surgery.
"I don't feel like I need it, but I'm not a doctor," Rice
said.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Anthony Davis sprained an ankl |
| | | |
