Month: October 2010

Here we go again

Posted on | by Joe Fortenbaugh | Leave a Comment on Here we go again

Seems like this ankle injury is taking longer to heal than most of us expected, doesn’t it?

For the fifth-consecutive game, New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas will be held out of action due to a sprained ankle suffered in Week 3. The veteran ball carrier was spotted on crutches after Thursday’s practice as he has been advised to keep weight off of the injured ankle.

The bad news is that there is still no official word on when Thomas may be ready to return to the playing field.

On a side note, running back Reggie Bush (leg) has been ruled out for Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers as well.

As for Chris Ivory, owners are advised to leave him on the bench. The Saints take on the NFL’s No. 1-ranked run defense this Sunday night in the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are better options on the board than Ivory.

Week 8 NFC Starts and Sits

Posted on | by Joe Fortenbaugh | Leave a Comment on Week 8 NFC Starts and Sits

Bye Weeks: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, NY Giants, Philadelphia

DENVER BRONCOS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

START: Frank Gore, Vernon Davis

SIT: Troy Smith, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, San Francisco D/ST, Joe Nedney

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at DALLAS COWBOYS

START: Jon Kitna, Felix Jones, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, David Buehler, Dallas D/ST

SIT: Marion Barber, Tashard Choice

WASHINGTON REDSKINS at DETROIT LIONS

START: Donovan McNabb, Ryan Torain, Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Graham Gano, Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best, Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson (deeper leagues), Tony Scheffler (deeper leagues), Brandon Pettigrew (deeper leagues), Jason Hanson

SIT: Anthony Armstrong, Fred Davis, Washington D/ST, Kevin Smith, Detroit D/ST

CAROLINA PANTHERS at ST. LOUIS RAMS

START: Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, Steven Jackson, Danny Amendola (deeper leagues), Josh Brown (deeper leagues)

SIT: Matt Moore, DeAngelo Williams, David Gettis, Donte Rosario, Carolina D/ST, John Kasay, Sam Bradford, Danario Alexander, Mardy Gilyard, St. Louis D/ST

GREEN BAY PACKERS at NEW YORK JETS

START: Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, James Jones (WR3, deeper leagues), Mason Crosby (deeper leagues)

SIT: Brandon Jackson, Donald Driver, Andrew Quarless, Green Bay D/ST

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

START: Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss (WR2), Percy Harvin (WR2), Ryan Longwell, Minnesota D/ST

SIT: Brett Favre, Tarvaris Jackson, Toby Gerhart, Greg Lewis, Greg Camarillo, Visanthe Shiancoe

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS

START: LeGarrette Blount (flex, deeper leagues), Mike Williams, Beanie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald (WR2)

SIT: Josh Freeman, Cadillac Williams, Maurice Stovall, Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay D/ST, Connor Barth, Max Hall, Derek Anderson, Steve Breaston, Tim Hightower, Arizona D/ST, Jay Feely

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at OAKLAND RAIDERS

START: Marshawn Lynch, Seattle D/ST, Olindo Mare

SIT: Matt Hasselbeck, Justin Forsett, Mike Williams, Deon Butler, John Carlson

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

START: Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Garrett Hartley

SIT: Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans D/ST

Week 8 AFC Starts and Sits

Posted on | by Joe Fortenbaugh | Leave a Comment on Week 8 AFC Starts and Sits

Bye Week: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, New York Giants, Philadelphia

DENVER BRONCOS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (London)

START: Kyle Orton, Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney (deeper leagues), Matt Prater

SIT: Correll Buckhalter, Laurence Maroney, Eddie Royal, Daniel Graham, Denver D/ST

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at DALLAS COWBOYS

START: Maurice Jones-Drew, Marcedes Lewis, Josh Scobee

SIT: David Garrard, Deji Karim, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Thomas, Jacksonville D/ST

MIAMI DOLPHINS at CINCINNATI BENGALS

START: Chad Henne (deeper leagues), Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, Dan Carpenter, Carson Palmer (deeper leagues), Cedric Benson, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Mike Nugent (deeper leagues)

SIT: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Brian Hartline, Anthony Fasano, Miami D/ST, Bernard Scott, Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati D/ST

BUFFALO BILLS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

START: Fred Jackson (deeper leagues), Steve Johnson (WR3), Lee Evans (WR3), Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Cassel (deeper leagues), Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Tony Moeaki, Kansas City D/ST (deeper leagues), Ryan Succop

SIT: C.J. Spiller, Shawn Nelson, Buffalo D/ST, Rian Lindell, Dexter McCluster, Chris Chambers

GREEN BAY PACKERS at NEW YORK JETS

START: Mark Sanchez (deeper leagues), LaDainian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes (deeper leagues), Dustin Keller, Nick Folk, New York D/ST

SIT: Shonne Greene, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery

TENNESSEE TITANS at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

START: Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, Rob Bironas, Tennessee D/ST (deeper leagues), Philip Rivers, Patrick Crayton, Antonio Gates, Kris Brown, San Diego D/ST

SIT: Vince Young, Javon Ringer, Nate Washington, Justin Gage, Bo Scaife, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Mike Tolbert, Legedu Naanee, Malcom Floyd

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

START: Tom Brady (deeper leagues), Danny Woodhead (flex, deeper leagues), Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Stephen Gostkowski, New England D/ST (deeper leagues)

SIT: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Deion Branch, Brandon Tate, Rob Gronkowski

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at OAKLAND RAIDERS

START: Darren McFadden, Michael Bush (flex, deeper leagues), Zach Miller, Sebastian Janikowski

SIT: Jason Campbell, Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland D/ST

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

START: Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Heath Miller, Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh D/ST

SIT: None.

HOUSTON TEXANS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

START: Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, Jacoby Jones (WR3, deeper leagues), Neil Rackers, Peyton Manning, Donald Brown (flex, deeper leagues), Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Adam Vinatieri

SIT: Derrick Ward, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, Houston D/ST, Joseph Addai, Austin Collie, Dallas Clark, Indianapolis D/ST

NFL hammers Phil Loadholt for facemask violation

Posted on | by Brad Biggs | Leave a Comment on NFL hammers Phil Loadholt for facemask violation

The Minnesota Vikings were irate during the final drive on Sunday night when right tackle Phil Loadholt was called for a facemask penalty that backed the offense up 15 yards.

So, it stands to reason the team, or specifically Loadholt, can’t be happy with the fallout from that infraction. The NFL fined him $20,000 today for grabbing the facemask of Clay Matthews on the play, something video clearly showed.

That’s at least $30,000 in facemask penalties for Loadholt this season. He was zapped for two violations in the team’s season-opening loss at New Orleans, and it developing quite a little reputation. Turn the corner on Loadholt and risk having your head removed, or being yanked around by your neck.

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Danario Alexander will have arthroscopic knee surgery

Posted on | by Brad Biggs | Leave a Comment on Danario Alexander will have arthroscopic knee surgery

Talented young wide receiver Danario Alexander, a record setter at Missouri last season, went undrafted in April because of medical concerns about his knees.

Alexander got healthy enough for the St. Louis Rams to sign him, and he’s shown signs of promise but now he will be on the shelf for at least a few weeks after, you guessed, it arthroscopic knee surgery.

Adam Caplan of Fox Sports reports that Alexander will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He will be out two to four weeks. That’s a shame for the Rams offense, which lacks much talent or depth at wide receiver for No. 1 pick Sam Bradford.

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Childress might not make call on Favre until Sunday

Posted on | by Brad Biggs | Leave a Comment on Childress might not make call on Favre until Sunday

Brett Favre has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, and a decision on whether or not his consecutive games started streak will live another week will likely not be made until the day of the game.

Favre has two small fractures in his left ankle and foot and was wearing a walking boot earlier in the week. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported today that Vikings coach Brad Childress is leaning toward starting Tarvaris Jackson on Sunday against the New England Patriots.

“(Favre) did a little bit more today, which is encouraging,” Childress said after practice this afternoon. “Got out before everybody else so he could move around a little bit and you always want to see by the end of today where he's at and certainly as he comes back in the morning to see where he's at. I'm fond of saying 48 hours to game time. We don't play until (4:15) east coast time so we still have got a lot of treatment time. Can bones heal in 48 hours? Probably not.”

It helps Favre that he was able to get out and do some work today, but he’s not a sure thing to play by any stretch. Childress said Favre’s mobility was “better than an iron deer on the lawn,” but wouldn’t give away much more of a report than that.

“I'll speak with him plenty,” Childress said. “It's not like going to a confessional like once a week I have to go to church to speak to him. He's in and around the building all the time. The dialogue is generally ongoing. I know people view that as being called to the principal's office when you sit in my office. We had a pretty good conversation standing right out here today for a long time.

“If he gives us the best chance to win, yeah (he’ll start). There's a couple of litmus things. There's, can he protect himself and what gives us the best chance to win?”

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NFL fines Randy Moss $25,000 for shutting out media

Posted on | by Brad Biggs | Leave a Comment on NFL fines Randy Moss $25,000 for shutting out media

The NFL has a transparent media policy.

Players are expected to cooperate with the news media on a weekly basis.

Randy Moss chose to ignore the media in Minnesota over the last three weeks and as a result of it, a future pay check will be light $25,000. The NFL has fined the Vikings wide receiver that amount, according to Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Players are expected to be available once during the week and after games. Moss participated in an introductory press conference after his trade from the New England Patriots and since has made himself scarce. Who knows? Maybe Moss will be available a little more regularly now.

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Can upset-specialist Nutt lead Ole Miss past Auburn?

Posted on | by Dave Miller | Leave a Comment on Can upset-specialist Nutt lead Ole Miss past Auburn?

Ole Miss (3-4, 1-3) has a tough task Saturday when Auburn (8-0, 5-0) visits Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Tigers, No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, are coming off of an impressive victory over LSU and have the leading Heisman Trophy contender, Cam Newton, under center.

But Ole Miss has head coach Houston Nutt, who has developed quite the reputation as a giant-killer. He won his share of games against ranked opponents at Arkansas, including road victories over No. 5 Texas in 2003, No. 2 Auburn in 2006 and a thriller over top-ranked LSU in 2007.

Can Nutt do it again Saturday evening and propel the Rebels toward another strong second half — something they’re very used to doing in his first two years in Oxford?

Since he was hired at Arkansas in 1998, Nutt’s teams are 41-19 in their final five games of the regular season. His teams have gone either 4-1 or 5-0 in their final five regular season games six times — 2008 at Ole Miss; 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002 and 2001 at Arkansas.

Jeremiah MasoliICONJeremiah Masoli is coming off of his best game yet as a Rebel.

To have a chance against Auburn, Rebels quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will have to carry the load. The Oregon transfer played his best game yet as a Rebel in last week’s 38-24 loss to Arkansas, and the Auburn defense has yet to face as potent of a dual-threat signal caller. And, no, the LSU tandem of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee does not count. Masoli had a career-high 425 yards of total offense — 327 yards passing and 98 yards rushing — last week. Keep in mind that Auburn has given up 14 touchdowns through the air, which is the most in the SEC.

Because of injuries, the Tigers don’t have a ton of depth at linebacker or in the secondary. Cornerback T’Sharvan Bell likely will be a game-time decision after missing last week with a hamstring injury, while outside linebacker Daren Bates is also questionable after injuring his shoulder against LSU.

While the Rebels should be able to move the ball against the Tigers, Tyrone Nix’s defense has been prone to giving up the big play all season. While that doesn’t bode well against any offense week in and week out, it’s especially dangerous against one led by the Heisman frontrunner.

Ole Miss has allowed the most points per game (32), the third-most yards per game (370.6) and the third-most passing yards per game (345.6) in the SEC. Ranking in the middle-of-the-pack against the run is the only bright spot for the unit.

When you consider that Newton and Co. have scored the most points per game (38.6), gained the most yards per game (486.8) and rushed for the most yards per game (303.2) in the league, it doesn’t bode well for the Rebels.

The Tigers’ aerial attack is considered their weakness, but that’s just because they have attempted to throw fewer times than any other team in the conference. When Newton, who is averaging 135 yards per game on the ground, runs better than most running backs, why bother chucking the rock around?

Jerrell PoweICONCan Jerrell Powe lead a defensive revival for Ole Miss?

The woes for the Rebels on defense began with their season-opening loss to Jacksonville State, which posted 49 points in the upset win. In their loss to Arkansas last week, the Rebels consistently missed tackles and let the Hogs score on drives that took less than two minutes four different occasions. Nix has emphasized the importance of tackling all week during practice and at meetings this week.

It looks as though the team’s second-leading tackler, safety Damien Jackson, will miss the game after suffering a knee injury against the Razorbacks. The junior, who has 49 tackles, two pass breakups and a recovered fumble this year, is doubtful and would be replaced by freshman Brishen Matthews.

Can tackle Jerrell Powe and his fellow defenders rough Newton up and contain him enough to give Masoli and the offense a chance to help Nutt deliver yet another upset? The Tigers have yet to have their bye and they’ve played in a lot of emotional games. Can they dial it up once again on the road, where they beat both Mississippi State and Kentucky by only a field goal?

Based on what we have seen happen to No. 1 teams the last few weeks, as well as Nutt’s history of upset wins, it wouldn’t be shocking.

Email dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com or follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave