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Matt Bowen By Matt Bowen
Posted November 19, 2008
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NFL Quick Hits

Every Wednesday I bring you NFL Quick Hits: news, opinion, stats, and analysis of the NFL at your fingertips…

WEEK 12

-I can’t see the Patriots putting the Franchise Tag on QB Matt Cassel this off-season. That is way too much money to pay a backup player who might not see the field.

-Why is Pac-Man Jones still in the news? I understand that drama thrives in Dallas, but he wasn’t that good of cornerback when he was on the field.

-As good as Drew Brees has been this season, he is only one INT away from tying Brett Favre for the most in the NFL at 12.

-I don’t understand why Carson Palmer is avoiding season-ending surgery. I like the fact that he wants to keep playing football, but I would rather have him healthy and ready to go when training camp opens next season. The rest of the Bengals’ schedule doesn’t matter.

-Did you know that Bengals’ WR TJ Houshmandzadeh leads the league in receptions? He has caught 73 passes and has been the only bright spot for a Bengal team that continues to disappoint every Sunday.

-Why haven’t the Cardinals offered Kurt Warner a new contract yet? Are they hoping he retires, thus avoiding the extra cash they would have to pay in bonus money? They need to resign him. This would be a below .500 club with Matt Leinart at QB.

-The Bears’ defense is dominating the headlines and radio waves in Chicago, while Kyle Orton has to throw passes to guys playing for close to the league minimum (besides Devin Hester—who really isn’t a wide receiver). That defense makes too much money to perform like they did against the Packers.

-If Philly can’t sneak into the playoffs, I think Donovan McNabb is as good as gone.

-Terrell Owens only has 40 receptions this year.

-Where have Redskin rookie wide receiver’s Devin Thomas and Malcom Kelly been hiding? The Skins drafted these two receivers high in April and they haven’t produced anything. Thomas has 11 grabs for 77 yards and Kelly has 1 catch for 6 yards. That’s garbage, but that’s rookies for you—come in with all the flair, but can’t play with the big boys on Sundays.

- Raiders’ safety, Gibril Wilson, has 86 tackles though 10 games, good for 5th most in the league. If your safety is close to leading the league in tackles, the other 10 guys on the field aren’t doing their jobs.

-I don’t think the Bills can get back in the playoff race. Trent Edwards isn’t producing, and they have too many losses against AFC opponents. They need some help to have a shot.

-Thomas Jones is the best running back in the AFC. Through 10 games, he has rushed for 854 yards and 9 TDs.

-With the amount of injuries to the Saints’ running backs, I can see Drew Brees throwing 50-plus passes against the Packers—which isn’t good.

-I like the Colts right now. Peyton Manning looks healthy, and RB Joseph Addai produced like we are accustomed to last week. They will be a playoff team.

 

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Remarks

18 comments for “NFL Quick Hits”

  1. b roo
    November 19, 2008
    3:20 pm

    Maybe Carson has seen the duds that Delhomme has been throwing up lately and decided that surgery wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
    Would the Eagles really get rid of McNabb? If they do, the Vikings should be beating a path to his door immediately.

  2. Matt Bowen
    November 19, 2008
    3:46 pm

    I think McNabb is gone guy. Minny, San Fran?

  3. Da Coach
    November 19, 2008
    4:15 pm

    D Hes couldn’t even crack the line-up in college as a wide receiever, but we pay him $40 Mil to do it in the pros. What seems odd about this situation?

  4. Ryan B.
    November 19, 2008
    6:53 pm

    A guy like Reggie Bush could hurt the Packers, not necessarily on the ground but through the short passing game, screen passes. Teams this year have gotten big gains down the field with their running backs buy just dumping it off, and a guy like Bush could do some damage. Late in a play, the GB backs get too far down field, the linebackers are out of position and have to chase guys down the field. That dome worries me about this game too. I think this will be the most difficult of the Pack’s remaining games.

  5. Romo4MVP
    November 19, 2008
    7:09 pm

    Is Bush going to be active Ryan? I don’t see that it will make much of a difference if he is…

    Pack rolls in this one

  6. Ryan B.
    November 19, 2008
    8:40 pm

    We’ll see Romo. But if the Pack rolls, like you say, both of our teams might be going 11-5. I just don’t see the Pack losing to Jville, Houston, Detroit, or Chicago, and I like our chances against Carolina at Lambeau that late in the season.

    MNF at Chicago does have it’s potential problems, but after the way we dismantled the Bears last week you would think the Pack will have the upper hand in that game. The Bears can’t ride a rookie running back all the way to Christmas with no down the field threat.

  7. Ryan B.
    November 19, 2008
    8:44 pm

    Of course, there’s no point in just crossing through teams on the schedule who you’re “supposed” to beat… those are usually the teams that will bite you. 9 wins and a close division win is probably more realistic for the Pack… although I think if they beat NO that will be a big step towards winning ten games.

  8. Matt Bowen
    November 19, 2008
    8:50 pm

    Carolina and J-Ville will be tough physical games Ryan… those type of games take something out of you.

  9. Jerry in Texas
    November 19, 2008
    9:02 pm

    A comment and a question.
    Comment: Why is the PacMan saga so notable? The same reason that Lindsey Lohan’s and Paris Hilton’s public meltdowns were so publicized- the public can’t resist gawking at a wreck.
    Question: Is Leinart done in Arizona? Will the Cardinals look to go in another direction, or are they hoping the “light will go on” for Leinart pretty soon?

  10. Matt Bowen
    November 19, 2008
    9:30 pm

    Leinart is still the future in ‘Zona Jerry, but the future looks to be on hold–unless Kurt retires or leaves town for someone else.

    Anyone think he could head to San Fran for some cash and a reunion with Martz. You never know….

  11. Andy
    November 20, 2008
    5:25 am

    Matt, the chatter about the Pats franchising Matt Cassel doesn’t mean that they would hold onto him - it’s because he’s an unrestricted free agent and by tagging him they could make a trade and grab some picks. I don’t him staying at the Pats for 2009 unless Brady’s injury prospects plummet.

  12. Matt Bowen
    November 20, 2008
    7:23 am

    Andy- You can’t franchise a player and trade him anymore…The union wont allow it

    So they either have to tag Cassel and keep him or let him walk.

  13. Ken
    November 20, 2008
    9:35 am

    So if McNabb is done in PHI…and if he does somehow end up in Viking purple…does that mean Childress gets another year?….and is that a good thing?

  14. Matt Bowen
    November 20, 2008
    9:53 am

    Good point Ken–that could turn out to be a bad thing for Viking fans.

  15. Da Coach
    November 20, 2008
    9:54 am

    As a Bear fan, and I can probably speak for Packer fans, I wouldn’t mind Childress staying in Minny… He gives us two wins a year from his lackluster coaching.

  16. Will from Dallas
    November 20, 2008
    10:46 am

    Matt, I’m glad you are not high on Drew Brees anymore

  17. Matt Bowen
    November 20, 2008
    11:21 am

    Still a fan Will…. He hasn’t produced like he had in previous weeks, but I still think he is a top 5 QB in the league

  18. Ken
    November 20, 2008
    12:53 pm

    Da Coach - Not sure what you’re talking about. MN swept CHI in 07, got swept in 06 and still have one more game this year. You guys have not figured out how to stop AD and with the way your team has looked recently, the next game in MN is no sure thing for you. You worry about your own coach, I’ll worry about mine

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