National Football Post Diner News

16     Oct 2008

QUOTE :  “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”   Leo Buscaglia

FROM ESPN…Tony Romo is willing to do his part. The quarterback informed coaches on Wednesday that he is ready to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, a high-ranking Cowboys source told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley. He suffered a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand in a 30-24 loss at Arizona on Sunday, and Dallas' medical staff said that he will miss a month. The injury did not require surgery. Romo did not practice on Wednesday but did throw the ball on the side with his fractured pinkie in a splint, and according to eyewitnesses, he was able to throw the ball with good velocity and appeared confident after throwing. The session was not open to reporters. There is no assurance he can protect the ball, take a snap or deliver the ball accurately under game conditions. The Cowboys' biggest concern is that Romo gets hit again, causing him to miss more time than initially anticipated and possibly require surgery.

At this point, with this kind of injury, I am not sure that it would be wise on the part of the Cowboys to let Romo play.  I mean, it is not like Romo holds onto the ball securely with five good fingers.  The risk of getting it crushed and mauled further is too great and even though he can throw the ball in a non contact drill does not mean he can handle the speed of the game.  I don’t doubt that Romo wants to play, I doubt if it is wise for him to play.  You must think long term here and not short term. 

FROM VITO STELLINO OF THE FLORIDA SUN TIMES…As the TV cameramen converged on Meester, who worked with the starting offense for the first time since he was injured on the second day of training camp, tackle Khalif Barnes filled his hand with shaving cream and smacked it into Meester's face. Meester took it all in stride  "It felt good to be back out there with the guys again," he said. Meester, sidelined by a ruptured right biceps tendon, had practiced the past few weeks, but only with the scout team.  That he was back with the first unit on the team's initial bye-week practice was a sign he'll probably start against Cleveland on Oct. 26, though the team hasn't made it official yet. Chris Naeole worked at right guard with the first team for the first time since re-signing with the Jaguars on Sept. 17. Naeole was sidelined with a torn quadriceps tendon last November at New Orleans, and his days with the team appeared to be over when he was waived March 3. But when starting guards Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams were lost for the season in the opener at Tennessee, the Jaguars decided to bring Naeole back. "You just want to get in and hit somebody," Naeole said. "I've been out for so long."

Jacksonville is a very resilient and tough team and the fact that they are getting healthy on the offensive line will only improve their level of play.  The Jags played the first month of the season by finding pieces to fill in, and now with the bye week to heal, they will be in a good position for the second half run.  I cannot think of a team that can benefit and improve more with the bye than the Jags.  They can work on getting their other key players healthy and feel more comfortable about the Gregg Williams’ system of defense.  They need to get more from their first and second round picks from this year’s draft to make an impact.  This week is the time to really work on Harvey and Groves to improve their game.  At this point in the season, rookies have played enough to no longer be considered a rookie---they need to take the next step as they have had plenty of time to adapt to the pro game.  With the offensive line being somewhat back now, all the Jags need to do is get the pass rush they need to enhance their defense. 

FROM ERIC D WILLIAMS OF THE TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE…Wallace and third-team quarterback Charlie Frye, who started against Green Bay last week, split snaps with the first team. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said Wallace needed to stay healthy through practice this week before he would proclaim Wallace the starter for Sunday. “I feel good, but it’s different playing in the game,” Wallace said. “But I feel good out here, so we’ll see.” Wallace’s services are needed because starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will miss a second consecutive game with a bulging disk that could be affecting the stability of his right knee. Hasselbeck is not expected to practice this week, and Holmgren hopes Hasselbeck’s knee will be ready to go Oct. 26 at San Francisco.  Wallace is a six-year veteran who has more experience running Holmgren’s system than Frye. Wallace started four games in 2006, leading the Seahawks to a 2-2 record with Hasselbeck out.

I am so disappointed in all aspects of the Seattle Seahawks.  They look to be a team that is not interested and know that with Charlie Frye, they have no chance to win any games.  At least Seneca Wallace can make some loose plays and run around to create problems for the opponents.  But the grander issue for the team from the Northwest is that they stink on defense.  They have team speed, but when you watch the tape, they don’t display speed or more importantly, toughness.  To get kicked around by the Giants and not even respond the next week against the Packers is really disappointing.  And you can blame the lame duck status of Mike Holmgren all you want, but if I were Jim Mora and I was going to be the next coach, I would be sick to my stomach about the defense.  There comes a point in the season where enough is enough and Seattle has clearly reached that point.  It is one thing to think you are a good team. But the key point is to play like a good team, and that is where Seattle has fallen well short. 

D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER OF THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION… Matt Ryan has led the Falcons to more victories in six games that Peyton Manning won as a rookie quarterback. Manning posted a 3-13 record back in 1998 for Indianapolis. NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger compared the two players on the “Team Cam” show.  “He is so far advanced, the only guy I can compare him to in recent history is Peyton Manning,” Baldinger said. “I haven’t seen another quarterback come into the league with the confidence and the understanding of how to play this game outside of Peyton in the last 10 years.”

I watched Matt Ryan yesterday and although I am not going to put him in the same class as Peyton Manning, I was really impressed.  And what Brian Baldinger is saying is dead on accurate.  He has poise, he has such confidence, and the Falcons have been able to adapt the offense to fit Ryan.  But they have not scaled back the offense, in fact, he seems to be adding more offense each week and Ryan is handling the volume.  Much of the credit must go to his preparation in college where they ran a true pro style attack, and the fact that he missed no camp as he was signed very early.  His accuracy and his command is what make him so effective.  He may not have the biggest arm, but he has the one thing that cannot be taught---anticipation.  He knows and can sense the rhythm of the route.  He is going to be good and the better the Falcons get around him, the better he will become. 

FROM BRIAN BIGGANE OF THE PALM BEACH POST…On a conference call with the South Florida media Wednesday, Harbaugh gave Cameron a ringing endorsement, stating that he has been "a very effective coach" and that "he did a great job last year for what he had to work with." The latter statement didn't sit well with some of the 26 players returning from that team, which finished 1-15 and got its lone win against the Ravens. When the sound bite was replayed for defensive end Vonnie Holliday, he began his answer by repeating part of the last line. "With what he had to work with," Holliday said. "That's the key. "What did we have to work with, as players? This year, it's clear. There's a direction, a plan in place, and that's largely attributed to (head of football operations) Bill Parcells and coach (Tony) Sparano. There's a big difference in leadership." Wide receiver Greg Camarillo, whose 64-yard touchdown reception in overtime proved the difference in the Dolphins' 22-16 win last year, was less reflective. "I take that as a personal insult," Camarillo said. Holliday called the comment "bulletin-board material," adding, "It does give us some motivation." "I can't wait to see how Joey Porter reacts to it," Holliday said, smiling.

I think one of the many coaches I have been impressed with this year is Cam Cameron and I am fully aware of what happened in Miami.  But some coaches are not meant to be head coaches and Cameron may be one of these guys.  So much of being a head coach is being in the right place, with the right infrastructure around you.  It requires having someone who shares your vision and your goals for the team.  Having Cameron run everything might not be the best plan, but having him run an offense is the right idea.  You have to know how much authority a coach can handle and if he wants to make the tough decisions, or if he is going to listen to his assistant coaches for most moves.  Bill Walsh would remind us daily that we’re all in the same boat together, only his boat was further ahead than ours.  Bill had the unique ability to involve his coaches, but not listen to them.  And that is what separates the good head coaches from the bad.   The beauty of Bill Walsh was his ideas and his values.  His concepts work in all facets of business, not just football. 

FROM ADAM TEICHER OF THE KANSAS CITY STAR…Highlights of the interview follow:

Q: Do you have the right people in place to see the Chiefs through this rebuilding process? Hunt: I think so. I would point to our draft this year. At the time, we felt good about it. Five games into the season, I feel equally good about it. The staff, including the coaching staff, did a great job of identifying the type of players they felt would be a good fit, the type of players they felt could become starting players in the NFL, the type of players they felt would become good Chiefs. The coordination and the sharing of a common perspective between the scouting department and the coaching staff is as good as I can remember it in the last 10 years.

Is Herm Edwards doing a good job?  I think he is. Certainly, competing in the NFL with as many rookies as we have on our team and as many rookies as we have in our starting lineup is difficult. But Herm is doing the right thing. He’s giving those players experience. I’m sure to some degree, some of those decisions are very tough. But he knows where he wants to go and what he needs to do to get there.

He will have one year left on his contract at the end of the season. Will he be coaching the Chiefs next season, and if so, will he receive a contract extension?  We haven’t made those decisions. Something that’s true for all our personnel is we will evaluate that thoroughly at the end of the year. I don’t feel that doing it in the middle of the year serves any purpose.

Is Carl Peterson doing a good job?  I think he is. Going back to our discussion about the scouting side working hand in hand with the coaching side, that really starts with Carl. He’s done a good job of overseeing that.

Have you made a decision on his future? haven’t.  I would give you the same answer with him that I gave you with Herm. His contract also has one year left when this season is over. Have you had a discussion with him about what he wants to do? When we re-signed Carl three years ago, he mentioned to me at the time that he planned to retire at the end of his contract. He and I have not had a specific discussion on that point, but I don’t have any reason to believe his desires have changed.

I think Mr Hunt is going to be reminded of these words down the line and as an executive reading this commentary, you cannot be happy.  You know that as the year goes longer, the expectations and direction of your team will not meet these words of support and encouragement.  I feel that as the season goes along, the real progress of the KC Chiefs will unfold and that will not make the fans or Mr Hunt very happy. 

FROM CHARLES CHANDLER OF THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER…“It's a 4-2 running game,” Fox said, alluding to the Panthers' won-lost record. “It's not bad. It's not a 2-4 running game. It's not an 0-6 running game. Like any area of our football team, we have not arrived yet.”Injuries Up Front The Panthers haven't played a full half with their starting offensive line intact. The only starter who has started and played every game is right guard Keydrick Vincent. Left guard Travelle Wharton (knee) and right tackle Jeff Otah (ankle) each have missed two games. Left tackle Jordan Gross missed one game and almost all of another because of a concussion, and center Ryan Kalil (ankle) has missed a start. “I don't think that's helped matters,” said Fox. “But then again, you know what they say about excuses. It's not an excuse. It's a reality.”Yards-Per-Rush Low Only five NFL teams have a lower yards-per-rush average than the Panthers' 3.6. It's a full half yard off the league per-carry average of 4.1. The team isn't alarmed, however. “I don't get into numbers,” said Vincent. “As long as we're winning games and as long as we're doing our job up front, that's the only thing I can worry about.”

The hardest thing to do in the NFL is make long runs and if you cannot make them, you never get your average per attempt high enough.  With the Panthers, the injuries on the offensive line have affected their progress.  But they are a fundamentally driven team and they will get better as they keep working.  This time of the year, some teams won’t wear pads in practice and this is where teams that are physical and are fundamental based take over.  I expect this run game to get better and I expect the Panthers to use more of Jonathan Stewart to enhance their run game as well. 

FROM BOB FORTUS OF THE NEW ORLEANS TIMES PICAYUNE… BREES WINS AWARD: Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who completed 26 of 30 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns in the victory Sunday against Oakland, has been selected the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.  Brees has been Player of the Week six times, including five times with the Saints. In September, he was chosen the NFC Player of the Month.  For the first time since 2004, the Saints claimed an NFC weekly honor in consecutive weeks. In Week 5, Bush was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

This guy is so much fun to watch on tape.  He just had his 18^th 300 yard passing game as a Saint and he looks like he will keep getting better and better.  His mind is quick and his accuracy is just amazing.  Phil Simms raised a great point on Inside the NFL on Showtime last night as the Saints offense is suited for two people:  Sean Payton and Drew Brees.  He felt as though the offense was designed by Sean as if he was still playing and the two of them are on the same page.  I think he is dead on with the commentary. 

FROM NICHOLAS COTSINKA OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS…We want to take a great look at him," Marinelli said of Orlovsky. "The one thing for Drew right now that's good is he's getting game preparation. We'll see how he grows as the season goes on." Marinelli said the competition would not go week to week, but how Orlovsky plays apparently will determine whether Stanton gets a shot. "I think you always look at how a man's performing game day," Marinelli said. "So we've got a great opportunity to use game tape."

The Lions need to win, but more importantly, they need to see some progress.  And what is so bad is that after being a head coach for three years, there is no foundation laid at the quarterback position.   The first thing you have to do as a new head coach or GM is find the right guy to give your team a long range solution.  Do whatever it takes, pay whatever the price.  Now, is it Drew Stanton?  I am not sold on that concept.  In fact, if you talk to anyone who has left the Lions, they are not sold on Stanton either.  But, this is a quarterback league and at the end of day, the reason people like Bill Polian, Bill Parcells, and Ernie Accorsi are successful is that they place finding that solution as the key component. 

FROM SEAN JENSEN OF THE ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS…So it seems appropriate that Kyle Orton is on his third go-round as the Bears' starter.  But he isn't the same quarterback the Vikings faced in 2005 or even last December, when he completed 22 of 38 passes for 184 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception in a 20-13 Bears loss at the Metrodome.  Orton has a passer rating of 87.6, and he ranks eighth in passing yards (1,386) and tied for eighth in touchdown passes (eight).  "It's one thing to be a leader, but you have to produce on the football field," Bears coach Lovie Smith said of Orton on Wednesday. "The lasting memory that all of us have of Kyle is leading us this past week down in a critical situation, and he made all the right moves and all the right throws.  "(He's) just a good football player, and we're pleased with what we've gotten at the quarterback position."  A Bears coach hasn't uttered such confidence in a quarterback since Michael Jordan was in his prime with the Bulls.  Orton racked up a 10-5 record as a rookie in 2005, when he filled in for injured starter Rex Grossman.

I feel bad for Kyle Orton.  He made one of the best throws I have seen last week and because his team was not able to hold the lead with 11 seconds many have forgotten that pass.  He is really becoming a factor.  He has thrown for 620 yards the last two games and has been very accurate with the ball.  He is now the strength of the Bears, not the weakness, and they can build upon his play.  He needs to have talent around him, he needs to be in the right system, but what makes him so effective is that the Bear coaches know his strengths and weaknesses.  That, is the most important part. 

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