Vera Gentry Sports Corner: December 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

Redskins Upset Jaguars With Jim Haslett's Band of No-Names

Graham Gano was the hero, kicking the 31-yard field goal 2:47 into overtime that upset host Jacksonville 20-17 on Sunday, but the real star of the victory that ended Washington's four-game losing streak was defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

His defense came into the game ranked last overall, tied for 30th against the pass, 27th against the run and 23rd in scoring. Having already lost star safety LaRon Landry to an Achilles injury six weeks earlier, the defense faced the AFC South-contending Jaguars without Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (groin/hamstring), defensive end Kedric Golston (groin, injured reserve) and safeties Reed Doughty (concussion) and Kareem Moore (knee) lost to injuries in last week's defeat at Dallas.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers added to Haslett's woes by departing in the second quarter with a strained calf. But somehow, the Redskins held the Maurice Jones-Drew-less Jaguars to just 17 points and 78 rushing yards while sacking David Garrard four times and picking him off twice.

The first interception, which Rogers returned 38 yards in the first quarter, set up Rex Grossman's 1-yard touchdown toss to backup tight end Fred Davis. The second made in overtime by Kevin Barnes, a second-year cornerback making his first start at strong safety, set up Gano's game-winner three plays later.

"Kevin played well today," said Redskins defensive captain London Fletcher, who had one of the sacks. "He was forced to play a little bit of nickel, corner and safety. Those guys, they came in and I'm proud of them. We had a lot of guys play a big part in this win today."

Pretty impressive for a defense that at times featured outside linebacker Rob Jackson and nose tackle Joe Joseph -- both up from the practice squad days earlier -- as well as Barnes all playing out of position. Free safety Macho Harris made his first start for the Redskins after being out of football until he was signed on Nov. 23.

"When you play a game like this and the (other) team's playing for a playoff spot and you're playing for pride, you get a chance to see what type of character you have on your football team," said Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, whose team improved to 6-9. "You don't want to be in the position we're in, but when you're in this position, you want to see how meaningful these type of games are when there's nothing to play for relative to a playoff spot."

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Ladell Betts LeGarrette Blount Brock Bolen Ahmad Bradshaw

Sunday School: Browns, Titans Assume Spoiler's Role as Season Ends

by Pat McManamon

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Bengals, Bills, Broncos, Browns, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Lions, Giants, Packers, Panthers, Patriots, Raiders, Rams, Ravens, Redskins, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Texans, Titans, Vikings, AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West, NFL Playoffs

The NFL's playoff permutations at this time of year usually are pretty complex, with one team making the playoffs if it wins and three others lose and the fourth loses, or ties.

This season it's pretty simple. The six NFC teams are nearly set -- New Orleans is a virtual certainty, and Green Bay will have to beat Chicago to clinch a spot. The six AFC teams also are pretty much set -- provided the Colts win on Sunday. But two season finales in the AFC should be more than interesting.

Though both games are against teams with good records and teams with poor records, the games are far from gimmes.

And the stakes in each game are huge.

Consider Pittsburgh. With a win at Cleveland, the Steelers are in the playoffs with a bye, a hugely advantageous spot. Lose and they well could be a wild card team, without a bye and looking at having to win three in a row on the road.

Then consider Indianapolis. Win against Tennessee and the Colts are in the playoffs. Lose and they could be out.

Both these games are your basic for-the-marbles scenarios because a loss could doom the team to the hardest possible way to the Super Bowl or to a non-playoff season.

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Michael Turner Lawrence Vickers Derrick Ward Danny Ware

Sun Bowl, Miami Vs. Notre Dame: Hurricanes Downgraded To Tropical 'Eh'

Le Kevin Smith Shaun Smith Ndamukong Suh Craig Terrill

FanHouse Roundtable: Can the Giants Regroup After Their Epic Collapse?

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: 49ers, Bengals, Chiefs, Colts, Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Jets, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Rams, Redskins, Titans, Vikings, AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

With 7:29 remaining in last Sunday's Giants-Eagles game, New York led 31-10, and was seemingly on its way to seizing control of the NFC East.

Then came a collapse for the ages -- the New Miracle at the New Meadowlands -- that gave the Eagles the game and barring an equally epic miracle, the NFC East crown.

Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and the Eagles strutted out of East Rutherford on a well-deserved high, looking very much like a team that could represent the NFC in Super Bowl.

The Giants?

Mathematically, the loss didn't hurt as much as it seemed. New York still controls its own destiny, and can clinch a playoff berth -- and leave last Sunday in its rear-view window -- with a victory Sunday in Green Bay.

But mentally? Well, that may be another story. The Giants were a beaten team -- both on the scoreboard and between their ears -- as they walked off the field last Sunday, so much so that Eli Manning called a team meeting on Monday for the first time in his career.

So, can the Giants pick up the pieces in time to salvage a season that through 14 weeks and three quarters seemed so promising?

Recent Roundtables: Did Brett Favre Tarnish His Legacy?
Will Urban Meyer Join Tim Tebow in Denver?
Who Will Win the Jets-Patriots Showdown?
Enjoying the Michael Vick Show

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Gartrell Johnson Quinn Johnson Felix Jones Greg Jones

Let's Hope for Saints-Falcons Trilogy

by Terence Moore

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Saints, NFC South

ATLANTA -- So this is the look of friendly hatred in pro football. It often is goofy. It is a slew of New Orleans Saints players embarrassing themselves by returning to the visiting turf of the Georgia Dome on Monday night for a group picture after surviving the Atlanta Falcons down the stretch.

Memo to the Saints: this is the NFL, not Pop Warner League.

To be fair, linebacker Jonathan Vilma insisted after the Saints' 17-14 victory over their biggest rivals that this wasn't unusual.

He said it only was about memories.

Uh-huh.

Saints 17, Falcons 14: Quick Hits | Recap | Box Score
Falcons Don't Fret Loss | Saints Handle Turner

"It's memories, and we clinched a playoff berth, and especially in the NFL, you know how hard it is to get to the playoffs," Vilma said, easing into a smile from a straight face.

He added that the Saints also did their little portrait thing when they won in Dallas on Thanksgiving Night, and he said they did the same last season after every playoff game along the way to their world championship.

As for Monday night's photo session, Vilma sighed, thinking of the victory over the Falcons and saying, "It's definitely a daunting task, especially being Super Bowl champions and everybody taking their best shot at us. It was our 11th victory, on the road, against the best team in the NFC right now. It's huge. We wanted to take a picture and keep the memories."

Uh-huh.

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Joique Bell Kahlil Bell Mike Bell Michael Bennett

Seahawks-Rams Game Flexed to Sunday Night on NBC

by Milton Kent

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Buccaneers, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Jaguars, Giants, Packers, Rams, Redskins, Texans, Titans, AFC South, NFC East, Sports Business and Media

The Seattle-St. Louis game, which will decide the NFC West division title, has been moved into the "Sunday Night Football" window as the final regular season game of the NFL schedule.

The league announced late Sunday that the Seahawks-Rams contest will be flexed into the 8:15 p.m. ET window for NBC. Though no rationale was announced for the move, given that both teams are sub-.500, the fact that the winner will advance to the playoffs and the loser will go home likely added an element of drama that made it attractive.

In addition, a handful of games -- all with playoff implications -- have been moved into the late afternoon window for Week 17. FOX will carry the Chicago-Green Bay, Dallas-Philadelphia and New York Giants-Washington games at 4:15 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, CBS will air the Tennessee-Indianapolis and Jacksonville-Houston contests, with the AFC South title still in the balance. Those games will also start at 4:15 p.m.

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Michael Koenen Shane Lechler Andy Lee Robert Malone

Norv Turner Turning Page on Tough Season, Eager to Tackle Job Next Year

by Dennis J. Georgatos

Filed under: Chargers, AFC West, NFL Injuries

Norv Turner has been assured by club management that he'll be back next season, and the Chargers coach said Wednesday he's looking forward to a more productive campaign by the team in 2011.

The Chargers (8-7) had won three consecutive AFC West titles under Turner before being eliminated from playoff contention last Sunday with a loss in Cincinnati. San Diego finishes off its season on Sunday at Denver.

In a conference call with Denver-area reporters, Turner said he believes team president and CEO Dean Spanos, along with general manager A.J. Smith, understood that the team's injury-riddled season had a lot to do with the Chargers' falling short of the playoffs.

San Diego lost such stars as tight end Antonio Gates, wide receivers Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee, Patrick Crayton, kicker Nate Kaeding and running back Ryan Mathews to injury at various times. In addition, the Chargers had to cope with the prolonged absence of left tackle Marcus McNeill and wide receiver Vincent Jackson due to holdouts.

"I think they appreciate the fact that we played 73 different guys," Turner said. "You know, we've been through a lot of different things in terms of preparing different people for different games and the uncertainty of it.

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Mike Kafka Jon Kitna Kevin Kolb Dan LeFevour

John Skelton Likely to Start at Quarterback for Cardinals vs. Broncos

by John Hickey

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFC West

It was just a couple of weeks ago that Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said he had no plans to have rookie quarterback John Skelton play in a game this year unless his hand was forced.

It's been that, and then some. It's been wrenched.

Skelton was pushed into last Sunday's game when Derek Anderson (concussion) and backup Max Hall (shoulder) were hurt last week in a 19-6 loss to St. Louis.

Hall is on injured reserve and out for the year. Anderson hasn't been cleared to practice, much less play. It seems more than likely that Skelton will be the starter this week and Richard Bartel, newly signed from Sacramento of the UFL, will serve as the backup.

Both took turns running the offense in Wednesday's workout because both could wind up playing Sunday. Skelton is likely to start Sunday against Denver, but if he were to get hurt, the Cardinals need to know that Bartel, who initially went through a workout with Arizona two weeks ago, has a basic grasp of the team's offense.

For the moment, at least, Whisenhunt is holding off naming a starter. There is a remote chance that Anderson could be cleared and could then play, but in the current state of the NFL where concussions are not to be messed with, it's likely Anderson will sit this one out.

Whisenhunt, whose team has lost seven consecutive games to fall into last place in the NFC West, said the decision on the starting quarterback would come "later in the week.''

Asked what would happen in the event Anderson was cleared, Whisenhunt suggested that would be no guarantee that Anderson would start.

"We'd have to see how the week goes,'' Whisenhunt said. "I couldn't say if he didn't practice (that) he would play.''

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Amobi Okoye Mike Patterson Domata Peko Corey Peters

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Lions vs. Buccaneers Preview, Score and More

by Ray Glier

Filed under: Buccaneers, Lions, NFC North, NFC South

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to get into the playoffs they are eventually going to have to beat a team with a winning record. It won't be this week, or the week after.

The Bucs host Detroit (3-10) then Seattle (6-7). They close the season with a game at New Orleans (10-3).

That's big news. Considering the Saints' schedule, the Bucs are very much alive for the postseason. New Orleans still has games remaining at Baltimore and Atlanta.

But how much can the Bucs' put up with? Their team is riddled with injuries, which last week included losing rookie defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who was just starting to come into his own.

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Brian Moorman Thomas Morstead Adam Podlesh Sav Rocca

Sunday School: Browns, Titans Assume Spoiler's Role as Season Ends

by Pat McManamon

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Moran Norris Montell Owens Jalen Parmele Cedric Peerman

Aaron Rodgers, Packers Rolling; Eli Manning, Giants Reeling

by Joe Lapointe

Filed under: Giants, Packers, NFC East, NFC North, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

GREEN BAY -- Sunday's 45-17 victory by the Packers over the Giants left both teams 9-6 and still eligible to make the playoffs with one game left in the regular season. But their records were about the only things that looked alike after this one-sided pummeling.

The winning Packers seemed to surge with confidence and energy before their rambunctious fans in Lambeau Field, while the disillusioned Giants continued another late-season tailspin that has become characteristic of the three seasons since their improbable Super Bowl triumph under coach Tom Coughlin that followed the 2007 season.

According to a Packers spokesman, the NFL said Green Bay can clinch a playoff berth with a victory next week over Chicago. The Giants, who could have clinched a berth Sunday, would need a victory over the Redskins next week and a few other permutations.

Packers 45, Giants 17: Quick Hits | Recap | Box Score

Contributing factors in Sunday's result included four touchdown passes by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who returned from his second concussion of the season to complete 25-of-37 passes for 404 yards; and six more turnovers by the Giants, four of them on interceptions by quarterback Eli Manning, who leads the National Football League with 24. The Giants lead the NFL in turnovers with 41.

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Tim Tebow Tyler Thigpen Michael Vick Billy Volek

Steve Smith Fumbled His Analysis of Jimmy Clausen's Apology to Teammate

by Ray Glier

Filed under: Panthers, NFC South

If you remember, Steve Smith was the one who crashed into the pile of Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the goal line after the Bucs tried to rough up Carolina rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen. That was a lesson on how you stick up for a teammate.

Smith, the Panthers' ace wide receiver, then provided the wrong lesson on how you treat your teammate.

Following last Sunday's loss to the Falcons, which dropped the Panthers to 1-12, Clausen apologized to veteran linebacker Jon Beason.

Smith didn't like it.

"I'm the last guy to tell anybody to be apologizing," Smith said. "But if you're going to apologize, you should apologize to people that's in the huddle with you. But he has a lot to learn. He ain't at Notre Dame anymore, that's for sure."

How does that make Clausen a better quarterback? Maybe it gets him thinking, I'm not sure.

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Kerry Collins Todd Collins Brodie Croyle Jay Cutler

Matt Hasselbeck or Charlie Whitehurst? Seahawks Face QB Issues

by John Hickey

Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL Quarterbacks

SEATTLE -- If there's one thing a team in the playoff hunt does not need, it's a quarterback controversy.

For the Seahawks, it's worse than that -- "controversy'' suggests there are two good options.

Right now, with Seattle (6-8) having lost six of its last eight in the wake of a 34-18 defeat at the hands of Atlanta Sunday, there don't seem to be many good quarterback options at all.

Matt Hasselbeck, the starter, has thrown six interceptions and lost two fumbles in the last two weeks. After having two passes intercepted and after having had the ball stripped from him in the end zone Sunday for a Falcons' touchdown, Hasselbeck was replaced by Charlie Whitehurst.

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Britton Colquitt Dustin Colquitt Matt Dodge Brandon Fields

Sunday School: Giants Gift Eagles Victory

by Pat McManamon

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Bengals, Bills, Broncos, Browns, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts, Dolphins, Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Lions, Giants, Packers, Panthers, Patriots, Raiders, Rams, Ravens, Redskins, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Texans, Titans, Vikings, AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West

It's pretty easy to surmise they'll be talking about that one in New York for quite some time.

Maybe forever.

The Herman Edwards game remains on the mind of Giants fans, so why not this one on Sunday, a collapse worthy of the "epic" moniker? The Eagles scored 28 points in the final 7:28 to wipe out a 31-10 deficit and beat the Giants, 38-31. Worse, the Eagles won on a last-play punt return by DeSean Jackson, who fast is becoming one of the league's most dangerous players.

The whys will be discussed forever. Why the Giants weren't ready for an onside kick (they didn't think it was coming). Why the Giants punted to Jackson at all (rookie mistake). Why they lost contain on Mike Vick (hey ... he's Vick). Why they blew a game they had no business losing and Philadelphia had no business winning. Among the fallout:

o.Giants coach Tom Coughlin berated rookie punter Matt Dodge on the field after he failed to kick out of bounds and gave Jackson a chance to win the game, which of course Jackson did.

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Laurence Maroney Chris Massey Ryan Mathews Reagan Mauia

Chargers-Bengals Kicked Back to Pack

by Barry Barnes

Filed under: Bengals, Chargers, AFC North, AFC West

Due to perhaps a disappointing season, the Bengals matchup against the Chargers was flexed backward from 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 to 4:05 p.m. by the NFL on Monday afternoon. The contest was originally in place before the regular season started because of the high expectations for the new-look Bengals, with the addition of wide receiver Terrell Owens, and the predictable late season push of the Chargers.

The Chargers (7-6) are performing as expected as they are one game out of the AFC West divisional title race. However, the likely reason the game has been ushered out of the spotlight is the disappointing season the Bengals (2-11) are having as losers of 10 in a row.

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Amobi Okoye Mike Patterson Domata Peko Corey Peters

Brett Favre Out vs. Eagles; Joe Webb to Start for Vikings

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Eagles, Vikings, NFC East, NFC North, NFL Quarterbacks

Two weeks ago, Brett Favre's NFL-record streak of 297 consecutive games started was brought to an end. One week ago, Favre started a new streak. And now that streak has been brought to an end after one game.

NFL Network is reporting that Favre will not start for the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Eagles because he has not yet recovered from a concussion he suffered last Monday against the Bears.

Rookie Joe Webb will start for the Vikings in Favre's place. Webb is the eighth different rookie quarterback to start an NFL game this year, the most different rookies to start in one non-strike season in the NFL in more than 30 years.

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John Beck Kyle Boller Todd Bouman Sam Bradford

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Steve Smith Fumbled His Analysis of Jimmy Clausen's Apology to Teammate

by Ray Glier

Filed under: Panthers, NFC South

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Zoltan Mesko Brian Moorman Thomas Morstead Adam Podlesh

Chris Ivory Out vs. Falcons

by Ray Glier

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Saints, NFC South, NFL Injuries

ATLANTA -- When, or if, the Saints run the football Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons they will do it without leading rusher Chris Ivory who was inactive for the game with a lingering hamstring injury.

Ivory was injured three weeks ago in the first half of the Saints win over the St. Louis Rams. He said all week he was having trouble getting the muscle loosened up.

Ivory is the Saints leading rusher with 683 yards. An undrafted rookie free agent, he has turned into a valuable part of the New Orleans offense averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

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Chester Taylor Fred Taylor Pierre Thomas Mike Tolbert

Chargers owner: Norv Turner and A.J. Smith will return

Up there with 3D television and iTunes Ping, the San Diego Chargers have got to be considered one of the great disappointments of 2010.

They came into the season with one of the league's deeper rosters, the second-highest rated quarterback in the league, and Super Bowl expectations. They'll be leaving the season with their heads bowed in shame. They won two of the first seven, lost games to Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati, and will be playoff spectators.

Here's the question: With team president Dean Spanos announcing that head coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith will be back for 2011, did they sign themselves up for the same fate next year?

My concern is the reasoning Spanos gave to Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“I’ve learned the hard way,” Spanos said. “Your GM and coach have to be two individuals who work together. It’s very difficult for some teams; I’ve been through it. I like the working relationship at this level.

“We’re as disappointed as anyone. But I look to 1996 to 2003, when we couldn’t even get (beyond) 8-8. We’ve turned it around, to where we’re a good team and a good organization."

So, Smith and Turner stay because they play well together, and because the Chargers didn't go 1-15?

Is the goal to win the Super Bowl, or is the goal to not return to the sad sack days of the late '90s? Obviously, you don't want to relive the Ryan Leaf era, but at the end of the day, what everyone should be striving for is that big, silver trophy, right?

Maybe Spanos is a little too comfortable finishing .500 or better, and not hellbent enough on winning the whole damn thing.

I'm not arguing that anyone should be fired -- not in this post, anyway. The attitude expressed by Spanos seems like a problem, though. If he'd have just said, "I fully believe that these are the two guys who can and will win us a Super Bowl," it would be one thing. But that's not what he said.

Just for the record, I wouldn't fire A.J. Smith, either. While he won't be winning any popularity awards, he has done a tremendous job putting together this roster. His job should be safe. His methods might not be popular, but look around the league. How many GMs have built a roster as talented as Smith's?

But when a team consistently starts seasons so poorly, and it happens year after year after year, don't you have to at least consider blaming the coach? Turner does a lot of things brilliantly, but when a team repeatedly fails to reach its potential, isn't it fair to wonder if the coach isn't pushing the right buttons?

Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. It's troublesome for Chargers fans, though, that the decision came so quickly and easily.

Shaun Cody Barry Cofield Landon Cohen Colin Cole

Tom Brady Falls Out of Favor With One Pro Bowl Voter: Terrell Suggs

by Andy Kent

Filed under: Patriots, Ravens, AFC East

If anyone was wondering what the flaws are in the Pro Bowl voting system, Baltimore Ravens' linebacker Terrell Suggs just de-mystified them.

Suggs has made no secret of his dislike for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and just in case he wasn't clear enough, on Monday he revealed that he left Brady off of his Pro Bowl ballot all together. The quarterbacks he chose ahead of Brady? Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning and -- Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills.

"I'm pretty sure he didn't vote for me, either," Suggs told Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports.

This bitter rivalry between defensive player and Super Bowl-winning quarterback goes back to last January when the Ravens knocked-off the Patriots in New England in the first round of the playoffs and Brady and Suggs had a war of words through the media. After this year's regular-season match-up, won by the Patriots, Brady quipped, "They talk a lot for only beating us once in nine years."

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John Conner Mike Cox Kenneth Darby Anthony Dixon

Browns vs. Bills: Fred Jackson Carries Buffalo Through Icy Weather to Win

by John Hickey

Filed under: Bills, Browns, AFC East, AFC North

Up 13-6 over Cleveland after an early fourth-quarter field goal by Rian Lindell, the Bills made this game a celebration of running back Fred Jackson.

Buffalo's Jackson carried the ball on every play in the game's final four minutes, grinding out the clock as the Bills won in the icy rain at Ralph Wilson Field.

Jackson wound up carrying the ball 29 times for 112 yards, and the final drive accounted for 51 of those yards, as the Bills won for just the third time this season.

The Bills may just be 3-12, but they have won three of their last five games, including wins over Detroit and Cincinnati in addition to the win over Cleveland Sunday.

More: Recap | Check Box Score

Some thoughts on the game:

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Bills vs. Dolphins: Visiting Buffalo Makes Itself at Home With 17-14 Win

by Andy Kent

Filed under: Bills, Dolphins, AFC East

MIAMI -- Maybe next year the Miami Dolphins can schedule all of their games on the road as their 17-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday dropped them to 1-6 at Sun Life Stadium.

Away from South Florida, Miami is 6-1, which rarely if ever is seen in the NFL. Whatever playoff hopes the team had fell to the wayside as a 7-7 record all but eliminates it from contention.

Some observations from the AFC East showdown:

o. Miami cornerback Benny Sapp made a boneheaded play when he attempted to pitch the ball to cornerback Vontae Davis after making an interception late in the first half. The ball bounced off Davis' shoulder pad and was loose on the ground for a brief while before Sapp fell on it. Not smart.

More coverage: Recap | Box Score

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Brian Brohm Levi Brown Mark Brunell Marc Bulger

DeSean Jackson's punt return TD could have been called back

DeSean Jackson's goal-line grandstanding could have caused his miraculous game-winning punt return to be wiped out, a review of FOX replays show.

As the Philadelphia Eagles return man was running parallel to the end zone, delaying his touchdown for maximum showboating effectiveness, a number of his teammates ran onto the field from the sideline, a clear violation of the NFL's "too many men on the field" rules.

The new wrinkle on Jackson's return was first noticed at BallHyped.com. Because he took a turn at the 6-yard line instead of running into the end zone, a number of his teammates and some coaches spilled out onto the field in anticipation of his touchdown, which didn't come until a few seconds later. A flag could have been thrown, bringing back the touchdown and sending the game to overtime.

Now, I don't think any flag should have been thrown on the play. The players weren't on the field before the snap nor during the runback. Their on-field exuberance had no effect on Jackson's touchdown. Sometimes officials need to look the other way, like a foul at the end of a basketball game. However, as BallHyped points out, this play came during the same week that the NFL made a huge deal about sideline behavior during punt returns, thanks to the dirty play of Jets strength coach Sal Alosi.

In a memo to each of the league's 32 teams after Alosi's trip of Miami Dolphins player Nolan Carroll, it was stated that only coaches and substitution players are allowed within six feet of the back sideline stripe. As the picture above clearly shows, the Eagles have far more than that on the field, let alone behind the markings.

One week ago, you could have excused this because pushing out onto the field was a rule with loose enforcement, like jaywalking, illegal downloading or traveling in the NBA. Plus, Tom Coughlin was evidently on the field too, yelling at his punter. But the NFL can't enforce rules when it's convenient. This isn't like jaywalking because the NFL turned it into a much larger offense. True, the Eagles coming out wasn't a big deal in this game, but it may be in the future.

[Rewind: Obscure violation costs golfer chance at major title]

As for Jackson, you get the sense that Andy Reid allows his antics because he's such a great talent. But Jackson has shown in the past that his tendancy to hot dog isn't harmless. It can be a big deal. He almost got caught from behind on this play and could have had a penalty called on his team because he delayed scoring.

The theatricality of Jackson's celebrations are good for the NFL. The league needs more brash stars who have fun on the field and get opposing fans riled up with touchdown celebrations. Andy Reid doesn't. He needs to win. That's why he should tell his young star to tone it down ... at least until he gets into the end zone.

Rudy Carpenter David Carr Matt Cassel Jimmy Clausen

Chargers Take Advantage of Chiefs' Misfortune

by Tom Krasovic

Filed under: Chargers, Chiefs

SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers had two early Christmas gifts in hand Sunday afternoon, even before quarterback Philip Rivers touched the ball.

The rival Raiders lost on the East Coast shortly before kickoff, and the AFC West-leading Chiefs showed up without their quarterback, Matt Cassel.

Usually it's Chargers ownership that we think of as Scrooge-like, but look how the rejuventated Chargers made merry with the unexpected gifts -- their 31-0 pasting of the Chiefs powered by their first shutout since 2006 and ground and air attacks that each piled up more than 200 yards.

The Chargers (7-6) still need another present from blue-and-gold-clad Santa if they are to win a fifth consecutive AFC West title. Someone else must beat the Chiefs (8-5), who will face the Rams in St. Louis next Sunday and finish at home against the Titans and Raiders.

If the Chiefs win out with Brodie Croyle at quarterback, send the Coach of the Year award to Kansas City and Todd Haley.

John Oehser: Chargers Dominant l Box Score l Recap

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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jets vs. Bears: Jay Cutler Slings Chicago to Victory in Surprise Shootout

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Jets, AFC East, NFC North

The Chicago Bears showed once again that they're real Super Bowl contenders on Sunday, beating the Jets in a seesaw 38-34 thriller.

Although most people expected a December Bears-Jets game in Chicago to be a defensive struggle, it actually turned into an offensive shootout, and one of the most entertaining games of this NFL season.

Some thoughts on the game:

More: Recap | Box Score

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