MONDAY’S TAVERN TALK….
*Be sure to watch the NFL Network tonight from 6:00pm eastern until 7:30, where I will be discussing the Monday night game as well as all of yesterday’s action.
MAJOR INJURIES
QUARTERBACKS Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns - knee (likely out for the season). Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills – groin.
RUNNING BACKS Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers – thumb.
WIDE RECEIVERS Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers – shoulder. Wes Welker, New England Patriots – undisclosed.
TIGHT ENDS Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns – ankle.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Richie Incognito, St. Louis Rams – illness. Justin Smiley, Miami Dolphins - ankle (undergoing MRI today).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Dusty Dvoracek, Chicago Bears – arm. Jovan Haye, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – knee.
LINEBACKERS Marques Harris, San Diego Chargers – hamstring. Gary Brackett, Indianapolis Colts – leg.
DEFENSIVE BACKS Steve Gregory, San Diego Chargers – stinger. Clinton Hart, San Diego Chargers – stinger.
I’M BUYING A ROUND FOR THE HEAD COACH OF THE WEEK…
HERM "LETS BUILD SOMETHING TOGETHER" EDWARDS KANSAS CITY
Herm and his staff deserve some love after giving up 54 points last week and bouncing back with a solid effort Sunday, winning on the road for the first time this season and the first time since beating the Raiders in Oakland last October. The Chiefs are too young and are in the midst of a huge rebuilding plan that I am not sure will include Herman. Herm has been able to get his team to respond, and there are some positive signs coming out of KC in terms of the play of quarterback Tyler Thigpen. The Chiefs played inspired football yesterday and were much more physical, controlling the ball for 35 minutes.
I’M BUYING A ROUND FOR AN ASSISTANT COACH OF THE WEEK…
MONTE KIFFIN TAMPA BAY DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Turning the ball over twice in a span of 2:25 at the end of the game and then preserving the win is achievement enough, but to do it to Drew Brees is downright remarkable. Never mind that Kiffin might go to the University of Tennessee to help his son (what better honor than to help your son achieve?), his work at Tampa is sensational, and yesterday it allowed the Bucs to keep control of the NFC South. Monte is a great coach, but he is also great at developing coaches, and if he does go to Tennessee, he will make them a force in the SEC.
KARAOKE TIME… WHAT HAPPENED?
Plaxico Burress 2008 TIMELINE
Nov. 28 Accidentally shot himself in right thigh at NY nightclub.
Oct. 26 Benched for first quarter vs. Steelers after missing mandatory treatment session.
Oct. 19 Fined $45K for verbally abusing referee and throwing ball into stands.
Oct. 5 Suspended 2 weeks, 1 game (vs. Seahawks), fined $117.5K for missing team meeting.
Sept. 4 Signed 5-year, $35M contract.
Aug. 19 Wife called police over domestic dispute; granted temporary restraining order.
June 12 Fined $25K for refusing to practice at mandatory minicamp.
June 2 Wife called police over domestic dispute; granted temporary restraining order.
Feb. 3 13-yard game-winning TD reception in Super Bowl XLII.
THAT STEELER DEFENSE CAN HUMBLE YOU...
Matt Cassel LAST 3 GAMES
Prev. 2 Gms Sunday
Comp Pct. 63.8 48.7
Pass YPG 407.5 169
TD-INT 6-1 0-2
Passer Rating 108.2 39.0
San Diego Chargers LAST 2 SEASONS
2007 2008
W-L 11-5 4-8
Rush YPG 127.4 93.4
Sacks PG 2.6 1.9
Turnover Diff. +24 -2
YOU HAVE TO WONDER…HOW ABOUT THESE STATS…
SO FAR OUT OF THE RACE, THEY ACTUALLY THINK THEY ARE WINNING...
Without a doubt, the Chargers and the Packers have closed their seasons with their home losses yesterday. The Chargers, after losing on the road against the Steelers, returned home for a three-game homestand and have now lost two straight home games. There seem to be some real problems with the chemistry of the Chargers players. They don't have the same look as they had last year in terms of teammates liking one another. Dr. Phil might have to pay a visit to the Chargers’ locker room. And the Packers had to know when they made the trade that there would be days like these as Aaron Rodgers was growing up.
RAMBLING THOUGHTS
LET’S HAVE A TOAST TODAY
I want to wish my best to Paul (Dr. Z) Zimmerman as he recovers from a stroke this past weekend. He is a tireless worker and a lover of the game of football, and all of us here at the Post wish him a speedy recovery.
HEY BARTENDER, WHAT’S ON TAP TONIGHT?
Jacksonville at Houston
The Texans make their first-ever Monday Night Football appearance and are looking to avenge an overtime loss to Jacksonville in Week 4.
Matt Schaub will miss another game with his knee injury, leaving backup Sage Rosenfels as the starter again. Rosenfels got his first win in 4 starts this season last week at Cleveland. He completed 75 percent of his passes, but threw 2 INTs to his 1 TD. This season, he has 3 TDs and 8 INTs.
Texans KR André Davis returned to the lineup last week after missing time with a finger injury. He returned two kickoffs for scores vs. the Jaguars in the ’07 season finale.
Last Meeting: September 28, 2008 – Jaguars 30, Texans 27 (OT). JAC: 3-2 on the road this season HOU: 0-4 vs. AFC South this season
David Garrard: 1 TD, 3 INTs in last 2 games. Maurice Jones-Drew: 210 scrimmage yards in last 2 games
Andre Johnson: Leads NFL with 81 receptions and 1,071 receiving yards this season. Steve Slaton: 229 rushing yards in last 2 games.
JAC (4-7) HOU (4-7)
PPG 20.4 22.9
Rush YPG 110.2 114.1
Pass YPG 204.6 257.2
Total YPG 314.8 371.3
YPG Allowed 318.9 333.9
Turnover Differential -1 -10
Mike, If you were the Giants, do you try to re-sign and/or trade either Derrick Ward or Brandon Jacobs for 2009, each of whom has an expiring contract this year?
A lot of NFL teams need to watch the Bama game film this past week, there's an offensive tackle playing from there, who could keep a pocket passer on his feet for ten years of good health.
Cincy had better try to get him.
Mike, I love who Mora Jr. is as a person. I think some of his strongest background comes from his days as a 49ers staffer. He's played around high expectations and a quality level of production.
When you are on a team with that many challenges, with a lame duck HC, and this guy is getting close to players. Is he going to be the person you need? Who tells the Turk to issue people walking papers?
See also, Mr.Marinelli.
Some folks see sunshine in every storm. Even if it is simply the eye of a hurricane. There's always some kind of inspiring lining to the dark cloud.
These guys would give motivational speeches to the Charge of the Light Brigade. "Retreat? Nay, 'Tis but a flesh wound! "
Into the Valley of Death rode the sub .500 organization, on the back Churchill speeches, no less.
Sign Ward, let Jacobs go. Jacob's takes big hits, so even though he is relatively young, the Giant's should multiply the wear and tear on his body. No need to sign him to a big money deal when you can probably resign Ward to a palatable deal, and you still have Bradshaw in the wings, along with any other servicable backs you can pick up in the draft.
Here's to hoping Dr.Z gets better. One of the best sports writers I have ever read.
I call BS on the comment trying to show that P Manning is some kind of loser in bad weather.
Why don't you re-do those stats and EXCLUDE the games where the Colts lost to the eventual SB champion.
No one remembers Dan Pastorini as a loser because the Oilers could not get through Pittsburgh.
This is the same kind of crap where people are saying that LT is washed up. It is the team around them!
Show me a game where the Colts lost in bad weather when they had a solid running game - yet Manning lost it with poor play.
Dittos on best wishes to Dr. Z.
Reading the guy has always been
a joy and his love for the game
of football has always shone through.
Best wishes to Dr. Z from me too, I love his columns, and hope we get to hear from him again once he is fully rested and recuperated.
Also, I just heard my Pats are coming to London! Fan-tastic. Having just travelled thousands of miles to see them play in Miami, I now get to see them next October, just 15 minutes on the bus from my home!
"the Packers had to know when they made the trade that there would be days like these as Aaron Rodgers was growing up"
What are you talking about? Rodgers played fine.
Profootballtalk.com is claiming that Chris Landy (http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/2008/12/01/landry_notebook13/) is stealing your site's content.
"...the Packers had to know when they made the trade that there would be days like these as Aaron Rodgers was growing up"
Wow, is THAT some lazy writing. Did you even see the game? Sure, the Packers can't stand it when their first year starter throws for 300+ and 3TDs. As for the pick at the end - you're right, his predecessor never threw interceptions.
Aaron Rodgers is the only thing RIGHT with the Packers at the moment. Please do more than watch a highlight before commenting on games you clearly haven't watched - you're better than that Mike.
Dan & Aaron - I think what Mike was referring to was the futility of him doing so well and yet still not being able to pull out a win in the end. For the fourth time this year, Rodgers wasn't able to close the deal. Granted, it never should've come down to that but he hasn't demonstrated the ability to pull out a win when the rest of the team is struggling. Personally, I think McCarthy is holding Rodgers back with the late game play-calling but that's just my opinion.
aaron, I watched the tape and when you throw the ball across your body to the middle of the field, at crunch time is a huge mistake. and it is a growing mistake, that was my point. had he been able to win the game, or lead them back, it would have helped him. but he has to grow and learn the game. quarterbacks are PAID to win.
Michael - I guess I take umbrage with the phrase "the Packers had to know when they made the trade that there would be days like these" implying that if the trade not been made, they would not have had to worry about those types of plays, which of course is laughable.
I agree that it is part of Rodgers' maturation - he had a checkdown available, it was only second down and he had two timeouts. He made the worst possible decision to throw to Driver there. But to seemingly dismiss the entire game and state that the Packers had 'without a doubt' sealed their playoff fate due to that play, is ridiculous. There are a hundred reasons the Packers won't be going to the playoffs - Aaron Rodgers isn't one of them.
Michael, great point about the saints and ward. but you "misremeber." Ward was an unrestricted free agent that the giants surprisingly re-signed. the saints didn't even have to trade for him.
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Dec 01, 2008
05:15 PM
The Chargers are going to make all kinds of moves this offseason.
What kind of trade value does LT have? Could you even trade a contract like his?