Tickets Snafu and All, NFL Goofed on Super Bowl Week

by Pat McManamon

Filed under: Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, Super Bowl

DALLAS -- Remember a few years back when the now infamous wardrobe malfunction took place at the Super Bowl?

Paul Tagliabue was apoplectic, and the NFL huffed and puffed and pounded the table and threw their shoes at the entire Janet Jackson entourage. It was the moral equivalent of Tiananmen Square.

But when the NFL jams extra seats into a venue, sells actual tickets for that seat, then realizes more than a week before its premier event that these seats might not be up to safety codes and does too little about it, what does it do?

It tries to buy off the offended parties.

Perhaps the NFL has good intentions with its offer to the group that from here on shall be known as the "Displaced 400," folks who spent thousands of dollars to get to a game only to learn they couldn't watch the game at the game. The NFL's intentions may be completely good. Problem is, we all know where the road of good intentions sometimes leads.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/07/tickets-snafu-and-all-nfl-goofed-on-super-bowl-week/

John Henderson Sammie Hill Lamarr Houston Israel Idonije

Emotional Ravens Win One for Ed Reed

by Chris Harry

Filed under: Chiefs, Ravens, NFL Playoffs, NFL Analysis

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In the center of Sunday's postgame hoopla stood Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed. Despite a heavy heart, the Pro Bowl safety provided a heavy hand in his team's 30-7 road roughing of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Now the Ravens had something for their grieving star and his family.

A game ball.

Reed, holding his emotions in check, accepted the gesture with just a few words.

"On to Pittsburgh," he said. "That's what my brother would want."

---

Ravens 30, Chiefs 7: Quick Hits | Box Score
More: Reed's Brother Goes Missing After Fleeing Police
Watch: Ed Reed Rocks Dexter McCluster

---

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/09/emotional-ravens-win-one-for-ed-reed/

Eldra Buckley Michael Bush Reggie Bush Rock Cartwright

Andy Reid receives the dreaded vote of confidence

On the surface, it seems like Joe Banner's ode to Andy Reid earlier this week was a ringing endorsement of the Philadelphia Eagles coach. The team president sat for a radio interview with Howard Eskin and Ike Reese and spoke glowingly about his coach, praising his leadership and decision-making, and brushing off criticisms that Reid has never won a Super Bowl.

But in his lengthy defense of Reid, Banner makes it clear that while Reid's seat may not be hot, it's getting warmer and warmer. His quotes are peppered with qualifiers and subtle foreshadowing that the coach may force the team's hand if he doesn't win a title in the next three years. It's clear he's in Reid's corner. It's clearer that he's willing to move out of it if necessary. (Emphasis mine.)

"We are determined to win a Super Bowl, and we're actually determined to win more than one, and as long as we believe that Andy Reid is the person out there at the leadership position of the team in both the personnel and coaching front that gives us the best shot to do that, he'll be the head coach," Banner said. "If we ever reach the point where we didn't think he could achieve that, then we would be making a change to get somebody we thought could.

"But I want to be really clear -- I have no reservations whatsoever (about Andy). I can't imagine you could find a player that's played for him or a coach who's coached with him that would tell you, ‘I don't think this guy's a good enough coach to win a Super Bowl.' You're just not going to find that.

"For me, the fact that he hasn't done it yet isn't proof that he can't or won't. You wish he had, and sometimes it's baffling that he hasn't. But I sit here very confident that he is a person capable of leading this team and making decisions and winning a Super Bowl, in fact multiple Super Bowls, and I'm even shocked that it hasn't happened yet.

"That's the criteria. If we ever lost confidence in his ability to achieve that goal, then we would have to think about if it's time to make a change. I've never felt that. I don't feel that now. I feel very confident that he has that capability, and I don't see anybody out there that has been available at any time that I would have had any more confidence in.

"A year ago, everybody was like, ‘Oh, Mike Shanahan, he won two Super Bowls.' Well now, he's down in Washington, and if you could trade Andy Reid for Mike Shanahan, I don't know anybody that wouldn't keep Andy Reid.

"So I'm not caught up in that hysteria. ... There's no question -- there really is no question -- he's got to prove it, but there's no question he's capable of winning Super Bowls and leading the team in that way."

[...]

"We think that the quality of leadership is a crucial, crucial part of evaluating head coaches, and if you look at the ones that have been really successful, they're all tremendous leaders. So you can sit there and critique: Did we take the right timeout, or this or that? Andy's leadership skills and his ability, year after year, to rally players to play hard, play together, play selflessly -- which is such a difficult challenge of leadership in any professional sport -- we put a lot of value on those skills.

"And, at the same time, we're here to win a championship. That needs to be part of the equation, too."

There gets to be a tipping point where the lack of title outweighs consistent playoff appearances. Andy Reid hasn't hit it yet, but he's getting close.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Andy-Reid-receives-the-dreaded-vote-of-confidenc?urn=nfl-322794

Jacob Hester Tim Hightower Lex Hilliard Peyton Hillis

Perry Fewell Interviews With Browns

by FanHouse Newswire

Filed under: Browns, Giants

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Perry Fewell's first shot as an NFL coach was temporary. He'd like to make his next one a little more permanent.

Fewell, the New York Giants defensive coordinator who served as Buffalo's interim coach for seven games last season, interviewed on Tuesday with the Cleveland Browns, the third known candidate to formally meet with team president Mike Holmgren.

Fewell followed St. Louis offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who met with the Browns last week. It's not yet known if the club has scheduled any more interviews or follow-ups. It's also unclear if owner Randy Lerner has had any role in the process.

However, Cleveland's search to replace Eric Mangini does seem to be narrowing.

The Browns, who have kept their pursuit of a new coach cloaked in secrecy, were expected to speak with Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg because of his personal and professional connections with Holmgren. However, that meeting has not been set up.

Also, former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden appears to be out of the Browns' mix.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/11/perry-fewell-interviews-with-browns/

Maake Kemoeatu Jimmy Kennedy Terrance Knighton Derek Landri

Florida Panthers Trade Radek Dvorak To Atlanta Thrashers; Get Nicklas Bergfors, Patrick Rissmiller

Source: http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/2/28/2020282/radek-dvorak-trade-florida-panthers-atlanta-thrashers-deadline-2011

Brian Brohm Levi Brown Mark Brunell Marc Bulger

Dave Duerson's Shooting Death Reportedly Ruled a Suicide

by FanHouse Newswire

Filed under: Chicago Bears

CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Bears safety Dave Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, according to The Chicago Tribune, and the co-director of a medical school program told The Associated Press on Saturday night that his family has agreed to donate his brain for research.

The Tribune, citing an unidentified person with knowledge of the situation, reported on its website that Duerson's death has been ruled a suicide. His body was found Thursday in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.

Dr. Bruce Hyma, the chief medical examiner for Miami-Dade County, declined to comment on the case in an e-mailed response to questions from the AP. He referred inquiries to the police department. A Miami-Dade police supervisor said the department had no information to release Saturday regarding the cause of Duerson's death.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/19/dave-duersons-shooting-death-reportedly-ruled-a-suicide/

Ricardo Mathews Gerald McCoy Tony McDaniel Brandon Mebane

Dirty (Half) Dozen: Defining NFL Quarterfinal Games

by Dave Goldberg

Filed under: 49ers, Broncos, Chiefs, Cowboys, Lions, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Raiders, Steelers, NFL Playoffs, NFL Analysis

The presence of the Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens make the NFL's quarterfinals seem a bit familiar. So, to a lesser extent, do the Packers and Bears.

But looking at from a different angle, the NFL of the past 15-20 years has been infinitely more balanced than the NFL of the previous 20 years, made that way by the presence of free agency and a salary cap.

In the 1970s, the AFC dominated, led by the Steelers, who won four Super Bowls in six years, and the 1980s and 1990s, the NFC at one point won 13 in a row -- five by the 49ers, one by the 1985 Bears and the rest by teams from the NFC East: the Redskins, Giants and Cowboys. But both then and now, the quarterfinal round, officially known as the "divisional round," produced some memorable games and some remembered only by fans of the teams involved.

Here are six of my personal favorites from this round. Some were thrillers, some not so much. All were what I call "first-step'' games, games that led to the emergence of a long-term power.

1. Dec. 23, 1972. Pittsburgh 13, Oakland 7, Three Rivers Stadium: The "Immaculate Reception.'' It has to be No. 1 although it's been chronicled so often and re-shown so often that ... well, one reason Ed Sabol is a finalist for the Hall of Fame is that NFL Films, which he created, has done such a great job of chronicling these classics.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/12/dirty-half-dozen-defining-nfl-quarterfinal-games/

Tim Tebow Tyler Thigpen Michael Vick Billy Volek

Nate Allen Helps Eagles Top Current NFC East 2010 Draft Grades

by David Elfin

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins, NFC East

With free agency on hold in the likely event of the players being locked out by the owners on March 4, the main way for NFL teams to get better this spring will be the old-fashioned way: the draft. This year's selection of the top college players will be spread out over three days, April 28-30.

No longer the 17-round marathon it was as recently as 1976 or the 12-round extravaganza it was as recently as 1992, the 2011 draft will be more important than it has been since unrestricted free agency was implemented 18 years ago.

So given the draft's newfound dominance, let's take a look at how the four NFC East teams fared in the 2010 rookie haul and how many picks they have three months from now.

EAGLES: It's pretty hard not to have the division's best draft when you chose 13 players last April -- one more than the Redskins and Cowboys selected between them. But it wasn't just quantity that Philadelphia had, there was some definite quality, as well. Nine, count 'em nine, of the Eagles' 13 draft picks started a game. So did rookie free agent offensive tackle Austin Howard. Contrast that with the Giants, who didn't have any rookies start a game on offense or defense, or the Redskins, whose only rookie starter was offensive tackle Trent Williams, the fourth pick in the draft.

Philadelphia's top rookie was second-rounder Nate Allen. He easily won the free safety job in training camp, had interceptions in each of his first two games, a sack in his third, another interception in his fourth and three hurries in his fifth. The big plays plunged from then on and Allen's season ended with a knee injury in Week 15. He wound up being credited with 59 tackles.

He was replaced by seventh-rounder Kurt Coleman, who had picked off a pass when Allen sat out Week 10 with a neck injury and made eight tackles in Week 16. Another seventh-rounder, Jamar Chaney, took over when middle linebacker Stewart Bradley was hurt in Week 14. Chaney was credited with a team season-high 16 tackles and forced a fumble in his first start, the critical Week 15 come from behind victory at the Giants.

First-rounder Brandon Graham teamed with Allen to give Philadelphia's defense its first pair of opening day rookie starters in 27 years. Eventually beaten out by veteran left end Juqua Parker, Graham recorded three sacks and 13 hurries before tearing an ACL in Week 14 at Dallas. Clay Harbor, the last of four fourth-rounders, barely got on the field during the first half of the season but wound up starting the final five games in a two-tight end set. He caught nine passes, one for a touchdown. Fifth-rounder Riley Cooper caught seven passes, one for a touchdown but became best known as the receiver to whom Michael Vick was throwing the pass that was intercepted to end the Eagles' last hope in their wild-card playoff loss to Green Bay.

Defensive end Daniel Te'-o-Nesheim (third round), cornerback Trevard Lindley (fourth) and linebacker Keenan Clayton (fourth) all started the finale when coach Andy Reid rested most of his regulars. Coleman, Chaney, Clayton and safety Colt Anderson, signed off Minnesota's practice squad for the final eight games, all ranked among Philadelphia's top special teams tacklers. Quarterback Mike Kafka (fourth) was inactive all year. Defensive end Ricky Sapp (fifth) spent the season on injured reserve. Defensive tackle Jeff Owens was promoted from the practice squad in Week 16 and promptly tore a patella tendon. Running back Charles Scott (sixth) was traded to Arizona for cornerback Jorrick Calvin in August.

GRADE: A-

This April, the Eagles have an extra fourth (from Washington), an extra fifth (from San Diego), no sixth and Seattle's seventh.

COWBOYS: It should come as no surprise that Dallas, long the NFC East's flashiest team, had its flashiest rookies. Receiver/return man Dez Bryant, who was taken 24th overall and missed all of preseason with a high ankle sprain, returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown in Week 2 against Chicago and took one 93 yards to the house in Week 7 en route to averaging a scintillating 14.3 yards per return. Bryant averaged 24.4 yards on kickoff returns with a long of 43.

Bryant's two touchdown catches in that wild Week 7 loss to the Giants made him the first Cowboys rookie since NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith 20 years earlier to score three times in a game. That performance jump-started Bryant at receiver. The next three games, he totaled 19 catches for 274 yards and two touchdowns. His season ended with a fractured ankle in Week 13 but he still finished second among NFC rookie receivers with 45 catches, 561 yards and six touchdowns.

The other flashy Dallas rookie was free agent cornerback Bryan McCann. Promoted from the practice squad in Week 9, McCann returned his first career interception a franchise-record 101 yards to help upset the Giants. McCann, who was named NFC Defensive Rookie of the Week, was just the NFL second rookie with an interception return of that length during the 45-year Super Bowl era. The next week, McCann returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown to become the first rookie with two scores of at least 90 yards since Bears superstar Devin Hester in 2006.

He was much less noticeable than Bryant or McCann, but rookie free agent Chris Gronkowski took over at fullback when Deon Anderson was cut in September and wound up starting eight games. Gronkowski's biggest play was his failure to block blitzing Giants Michael Boley, whose Week 7 hit on Tony Romo broke the quarterback's left collarbone and ended the 2007-09 Pro Bowl pick's season.

Second-round linebacker Sean Lee saw limited action, but he did pick off Peyton Manning twice in Week 13, returning one 31 yards for a touchdown in helping forge the upset of the Colts. Rookie free agent Danny McCray topped the Cowboys with 21 special teams tackles. Fellow safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah averaged 21.7 yards on kickoff returns before a high ankle sprain ended his season in Week 8. Seventh-round defensive tackle Sean Lissemore suffered the same fate in his debut the next week. Rookie free agent Barry Church contributed on defense and special teams. Rookie free agent Phil Costa started Week 8 at left guard. Sixth-round offensive tackle Sam Young was inactive all season. Sixth-round cornerback Jamar Wall didn't make the roster.

GRADE: B-

Dallas has a pick in each round this April although the seventh-rounder was originally San Diego's.

REDSKINS: Wiliams had an up and down debut while battling a slew of elite pass rushers (DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora twice each, Trent Cole, Mario Williams, Dwight Freeney, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jared Allen and at times, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers). The former Oklahoma standout is the likely cornerstone of Washington's offensive line for years to come, but he's still a work in progress.

Fourth-round linebacker Perry Riley didn't see much action. His biggest play was an illegal block that nullified a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown by rookie free agent Brandon Banks in Week 12. Banks, the NFL's smallest player at 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, was a revelation in becoming the Redskins' best return man since NFL career leader Brian Mitchell in the 1990s. Banks was inactive the first two weeks and then cut and re-signed before debuting with a 53-yard punt return in Week 4. He returned one 30 yards the next week and had a 44-yard kickoff return the week after that before going wild with 251 yards on 11 returns in Week 8 at Detroit to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. That total included a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown but not a similar 95-yarder that was called back. Banks finished ninth in the league with an 11.3-yard average on punt returns and 12th with a 25.1-yard average on kickoff returns despite playing the second half of the season on a balky knee that he had scoped after the Lions' game.

Banks ran twice from the Wildcat formation and caught just two passes, one less than seventh-rounder Terrence Austin, who got into four of the final five games after spending most of the season on the practice squad along with offensive linemen Erik Cook and Selvish Capers, also both seventh-rounders. Fifth-round fullback/tight end Dennis Morris was dealt to St. Louis in August in a swap of disappointing draft choices.

Rookie free agent running back Keiland Williams started three games and finished second on the Redskins with 261 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He averaged a fine 4.0 per carry and was fourth on the team with 39 catches and two touchdowns. Rookie free agent tight end Logan Paulsen had a touchdown among his two catches. Anderson Russell ripped up a knee in his second game. Fellow rookie free agent safety Sha'reff Rashad played in the finale, rookie free agent defensive tackle Joe Joseph in the last two.

GRADE: C

Washington has traded away its third-rounder (to New Orleans for offensive tackle Jammal Brown) and fourth-rounder (to Philadelphia for quarterback Donovan McNabb) in 2011 but has an extra fifth-rounder (courtesy of the Brown trade) and seventh-rounder (courtesy of Indianapolis).

GIANTS: It wasn't much of a year for Big Blue's rookies. Punter Matt Dodge was often criticized en route to finishing 30th in the league with a 34.3-yard net average but a robust ninth with a 44.8-yard gross average, which highlighted the difference between the seventh-rounder's big leg and his poorly refined directional punting skills (and awful coverage unit). Top pick Jason Pierre-Paul was the third or fourth defensive end most of the year. He didn't have a sack during his first eight games before registering two in each of his next two games. He finished third on the team with 4.5 sacks, recovered two fumbles and was credited with 21 tackles. Second-round defensive tackle Linval Joseph had eight tackles in his four games.

Fifth-round guard Mitch Petrus played most of the second half in Week 9. Fourth-round linebacker Phillip Dillard played on special teams in seven games. Third-round safety Chad Jones and sixth-round linebacker Adrian Tracy spent the season on I.R. Duke Calhoun caught one pass while fellow rookie free agent receiver Victor Cruz, a preseason star, got into three games before going on I.R. Calhoun was one of the special-teamers who failed to tackle Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson on the 65-yard punt return touchdown that completed the Meltdown in the Meadowlands in Week 15 and effectively killed the Giants' hopes of winning the NFC East. Rookie free agent safety Brian Jackson had seven special teams tackles, one fewer than Pierre-Paul. Rookie free agent tight end Jake Ballard played in one game.

GRADE: D-

New York has all of its picks in 2011 except for the fifth-rounder which was traded to Minnesota for a backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels and return man Darius Reynaud.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/20/nate-allen-helps-eagles-top-current-nfc-east-2010-draft-grades/

Kerry Collins Todd Collins Brodie Croyle Jay Cutler

Jets Deny Titans Permission to Interview Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan

by John Oehser

Filed under: Jets, Titans, AFC East, AFC South

The Tennessee Titans were interested in pursuing New York Jets offensive line coach/assistant head coach Bill Callahan as their offensive coordinator.

The Jets weren't interested in that happening.

The Jets on Thursday denied the Titans' request to interview Callahan, John Clayton of ESPN reported sources as saying. Titans coach Mike Munchak had been targeting Callahan as a possible replacement for offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who was fired earlier this week.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/11/jets-deny-titans-permission-to-interview-offensive-line-coach-bi/

Sione Pouha Brian Price Myron Pryor Jay Ratliff

Raiders Franchise Kamerion Wimbley; Re-sign Stanford Routt, John Henderson

by Dennis J. Georgatos

Filed under: Raiders, AFC West

The Raiders continue securing major elements of their rising defense.

On Thursday, the team used its franchise tag to retain linebacker Kamerion Wimbley. He led the Raiders last season with nine sacks in his first year with the club after joining the team in a trade with Cleveland.

In addition, ESPN.com reported that the Raiders reached multi-year deals with Stanford Routt, who beat out Chris Johnson for the starting right cornerback job last season, and defensive lineman John Henderson, a key run-stopper.

The Raiders initially hoped to use a $3.5 million buyback provision to retain Wimbley but that move was rescinded by the NFL, citing the league's contract rules barring annual increases in base salaries beyond 30 percent.

Under the franchise tag, which pays the designee the average of the five highest paid players at his position, Wimbley could receive about $10 million. His agent, Joe Linta, told The Associated Press that he and the Raiders hoped to work out a long-term deal.

The sides can negotiate until March 3, when the collective bargaining agreement between players and owners is set to expire. There is the threat of a lockout of the players by owners if no agreement is reached by then.

Wimbley can also negotiate with other teams, though the franchise tag mandates that if he goes elsewhere the Raiders would receive two first round picks as compensation.

The contract for Routt, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter to be worth $31.5 million over three years, ensures the return of half of the Raiders' dynamic cornerback tandem. It remains to be seen whether the Raiders can keep Nnamdi Asomugha, the Pro Bowl pass defender who is heading toward free agency.

The Raiders also re-signed Henderson to a two-year deal worth $8 million, according to Schefter. Owner Al Davis is clearly doing his utmost to try to keep the defense intact and give new coach Hue Jackson the best chance to deliver on his vow to win the division next season.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/raiders-franchise-kamerion-wimbley-re-sign-stanford-routt-john/

Jay Cutler Chase Daniel Jake Delhomme Trent Edwards

Tony Dorsett Talks Rex Ryan, Voices Support for Jason Garrett

by Tom Lorenzo

Filed under: Cowboys, Jets, Patriots, NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

NEW YORK -- Sure, New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan may have gotten the last laugh with his team's 28-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Sunday's divisional playoffs, but despite the loss for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the duo still has former Cowboys running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett on their side.

"I don't like (playing for) a coach that's out there talking, putting up a lot of bulletin board material for the opposing team," Dorsett told FanHouse. "I don't like that, but it works for Rex. Buddy Ryan was the same way, so the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say."

When posed the question, almost in a child-like version of the game "Would You Rather?", Dorsett did not hesitate to say that he'd rather play for Coach Belichick. It wasn't just because Belichick has a more studied, reserved style of coaching, but it had a lot to do with his success and system.

Credit Brady as well for the Dorsett endorsement. In the course of our discussion, Dorsett spoke highly of the three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, stating that when you have Brady under center, you are without a doubt a serious Super Bowl contender.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/20/tony-dorsett-would-absolutely-rather-play-for-bill-belichick-tha/

Thomas Jones Maurice Jones-Drew Deji Karim Mike Karney

Welker Regrets Foot-Related Comments

by FanHouse Newswire

Filed under: Jets, Patriots

BOSTON (AP) -- New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker says he regrets comments he made referring to foot-fetish reports involving New York Jets coach Rex Ryan.

"Yeah, sure I do," he told the Boston Herald, according to a report on the newspaper's website Tuesday.

The Herald said Welker expressed his regret at an airport in San Francisco while awaiting his flight to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl on Sunday.

At a news conference on Jan. 13, three days before the Jets beat the Patriots 28-21 in a divisional playoff game, Welker made about a dozen references to toes and feet, a not-so-subtle dig at Ryan. Patriots coach Bill Belichick benched Welker for the first offensive series of that game.

In the week before the game, the Jets' Antonio Cromartie used an expletive in referring to the Patriots' Tom Brady.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/wes-welker-regrets-foot-related-comments/

Arthur Jones Jason Jones Linval Joseph Tommy Kelly

Jim Schwartz Says Matthew Stafford 'Doing Fine' After Shoulder Surgery

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Lions, NFC North

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz says his injury-plagued franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, won't have any trouble recovering from shoulder surgery and being ready long before the start of the 2011 NFL season.

"In a nutshell, Matt is doing fine," Schwartz told the Detroit News.

If true, that's very good news for the Lions, who have to be concerned that the quarterback they drafted first overall in the 2009 NFL draft has missed more games than he's played. But Schwartz wouldn't give any details about Stafford's surgically repaired shoulder, which is expected to take about three more months to heal.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/11/jim-schwartz-says-matthew-stafford-doing-fine-after-shoulder-s/

Drew Stanton Tim Tebow Tyler Thigpen Michael Vick

DeAngelo Williams Tops List of Panthers' Potential Free Agents Likely Staying

by Ray Glier

Filed under: Panthers, NFC South

The Panthers are not going to tie the hands of the new coach like they tied the hands of the old coach. Ron Rivera is going to get some veteran players to work with in the 2011 season, if there is a 2011 season.

If the "franchise tag" still exists when the new CBA is announced, Carolina should still have its centerpiece offensive player, DeAngelo Williams. He is their record-setting running back and if the club has to it will slap a franchise tag on him, providing that is an option when the CBA is signed.

There are plenty of key parts here in Carolina's free agent list. Linebacker Thomas Davis is a player. He didn't play all season because of another knee injury, but the Panthers are going to re-sign him to pair with Dan Connor and Jon Beason. It will be a nice group. They can't and won't let Davis leave in his free agent season.

Then there is defensive end Charles Johnson who had his breakout season. The University of Georgia product got 11.5 sacks and his production was key to helping a defense survive long stints on the field. Johnson is going to get a deal.

It will be interesting to see what Carolina does with its free agent tight ends Jeff King and Dante Rosario. Rivera wants a dominant tight end for his offense and neither of these guys was a dominant two-way threat. They are solid, not over the top.

The Panthers have some free agent business to do with their own players, but you have to wonder if they will go out and try and get a tight end to help along the second-year quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Speaking of quarterback, it is hard to see Carolina staying with Matt Moore, who was the starter, lost his job, got it back, and then was hurt. So much went wrong at quarterback for the Panthers that they need to get some new life at the position.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/deangelo-williams-tops-list-of-panthers-potential-free-agents-l/

Mike Cox Kenneth Darby Anthony Dixon Jonathan Dwyer

The Tom Brady and Peyton Manning Quarterback Era Is Over

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Colts, Patriots, AFC East, AFC South, NFL Quarterbacks

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will never win another Super Bowl.

What's more the 2010 season represented the passing of an era, the Brady/Manning epoch in NFL history is over. Sure, both men will continue to be among the top 10 quarterbacks in the league for the next three years. And both men may well tantalize us with the hope that they have one last run left in the tank, but they don't. The two men whose rivalry defined a decade in the NFL are on the downward slopes of their careers, a combined 0-5 (Brady's 0-3 and Manning's 0-2) in their last five playoff appearances.
The Other Side

---

Manning was definitely human in Indianapolis' first-round playoff loss. So what else is new? He's been throwing crucial interceptions since the Colts were in Baltimore. Then those crazed Jets went to New England and got Brady's balding scalp. Suddenly, conventional knee-jerkdom is declaring a changing of the quarterback guard.
-- David Whitley on why Tom Brady and Peyton Manning aren't done yet
Father time is stalking both, by the time the season kicks off next season Brady will be 34, Manning will be 35. Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets quarterback who eliminated both Manning and Brady is just 24-years-old. That puts Sanchez in the same company as the three quarterbacks left in the playoffs, Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers are both 27 and two-time Super Bowl-winning Ben Roethlisberger is 28.

The 2010 season, therefore, represents a passing of the football torch, a demarcation point between what was and what will be. This year Peyton Manning lost his fastball and Tom Brady continued to lose his hair. Both men also lost the first playoff game their teams played in. Along the way both men gave up the Super Bowl ghost, losing their last, best chances to win another Super Bowl. It's all downhill from here.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/18/the-tom-brady-and-peyton-manning-quarterback-era-is-over/

Leon Washington Beanie Wells Brian Westbrook Carnell Williams

George Mason Will Not Host Redskins' Summer Training Camp in 2011

by David Elfin

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

While coach Mike Shanahan prefers to hold training camp away from his team's year-round practice facility, the chances of the Redskins working any place other than in Ashburn, Va. in 2011 lessened on Friday when George Mason announced that the university won't be hosting the team in Fairfax this summer.

"(Redskins general manager) Bruce Allen and his staff have been terrific through the preliminary process as they evaluate George Mason University as a possible training camp site," GMU athletic director Tom O'Connor said in a statement. "As a result of the current situation, at this time we cannot provide the Redskins organization with certainty that all the necessary facilities will be available during the time needed this August. We hope to continue the relationship and potentially bring the Washington Redskins to the campus in the future."

Allen, whose father, late Hall of Fame coach/GM George Allen took the Redskins to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. every summer from 1971-77, was on the same page with O'Connor.

"We recently had the opportunity to explore George Mason University as a possible site for training camp," Allen said on Redskins.com. "We are excited about the first-class facilities at the university and will continue to work with their administration for a future partnership. Once a decision is made, we will make an announcement at the appropriate time."

The Redskins haven't held training camp away from Redskins Park since 2002. That was former coach Steve Spurrier's first season and the team's last August in Carlisle, its summer home from 1962-94 and again in 2001-02.

The Redskins trained at Frostburg (Md.) State University from 1995-99 as part of the deal with Maryland officials to build FedEx Field -- which opened in 1997 -- in Landover, Md. Owner Dan Snyder ended that deal and moved camp to Redskins Park in 2000 but was lampooned for charging admission which allowed opposing scouts to watch Washington's practices.

Shanahan was 81-47 with two Super Bowl victories in the eight seasons that followed his summers away from Denver with the Broncos. In the six years after training camp switched from the University of Northern Colorado to their year-round practice facility, Shanahan's Broncos went 57-39 with just one playoff victory. And he debuted at 6-10 in Washington in 2010 after a training camp at home.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/18/george-mason-will-not-host-redskins-summer-training-camp-in-201/

Clinton Portis Isaac Redman Marcel Reece Ray Rice

Competition with NFL twin keeps Mike Pouncey going

INDIANAPOLIS -- They are identical twins, but one of them has already played on a Super Bowl team (albeit missing the big game with an injury), and the other, who replaces his brother at center at Florida, is just now gearing up for a trip to the first round of the draft. When the Pittsburgh Steelers took center Maurkice Pouncey with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 draft, the rookie greatly helped a line that had been in flux for a number of years.

Brother Mike moved from guard to center, taking his lumps in the 2010 opener with a bunch of bad snaps against Miami of Ohio. Over the season, he got the hang of his new positions, enjoying it enough to say at the scouting combine that he'd rather be drafted as a center.

Mike may actually be a better guard at the next level, but the sense of competition between brothers may be part of the reason that Mike wants to match his brother in the NFL, and that sense was palatable when he was on the podium at the scouting combine.

"I've got to be drafted higher than Maurkice -- 18th or better," Mike said.

When asked what would happen if he wasn't, his message was clear. "I'd never hear the end of it. I want to beat him at everything. We compete with each other with anything we do. I have to get into camp and I have to earn a starting spot and I have to play great like he did."

More seriously, Mike talked about the great relationship between the two brothers, and how well Maurkice fit into the NFL right away. "He really did [the] same thing he did in college, he was dominant in college and he played great in the NFL," Mike said. "It's one year. He's working hard in the offseason so he can go out and do the same thing next season.

"He played great. It only shows what both of us can do. I think it can only help, but they're not going to draft me because he played good."

Of course, now that Mike is undergoing the same evaluation process his brother went through last season, the comparisons come much more into focus. According to Mike, the reads are pretty even for the most part. "They basically said we look the same on film, some of the teams even said I look better."

The question is whether he'll be a center or guard at the next level. He probably won't be on the board when the Steelers select with the 31st overall pick - the dream of a two-Pouncey line would likely have to be facilitated by a trade up - but in a general sense, Mike seems to be a bit more of a pure road-grader (his physical dominance against the best defensive linemen is consistent on tape), while Maurkice has more experience at a position where keeping everything in front of you is a point of supreme importance.

Mike categorized his decision to skip the Senior Bowl as a "business decision" with his advisors, which was unfortunate in that he could have shown his range at center on a day-to-day basis. Still, Mike is convinced that center is the position for him.

"I knew all the line calls, it was just tough after the first game," Puncey said of his ability to call a game at the line as most centers have to. "I went out and had a bad game. I felt like crap, I told myself when I left the locker room I'd never play like that again. Since that game I had a great season."

When asked how best to compare the two brothers overall, Mike put it succinctly. "There's nothing negative about either one of us. On the field we play hard, off the field we're lovable guys and people love being around us.

"We're the total package."

More on Mike Pouncey: The Shutdown 40 Scouting Report

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Competition-with-NFL-twin-keeps-Mike-Pouncey-goi?urn=nfl-326705

Mike Hart Madison Hedgecock Jacob Hester Tim Hightower

Bobby Engram Joins 49ers' Coaching Staff to Assist With Wide Receivers

by John Hickey

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West

Bobby Engram, who made his name as a receiver at Penn State and the Seattle Seahawks, will be helping to coach the San Francisco 49ers receivers in 2011.

He's being hired as an offensive assistant coach for new head man Jim Harbaugh, but csnbayarea.com reported he would be working primarily with the wide receivers.

Engram had a 14-year NFL career that ended Sept. 4 when he was cut by the Cleveland Browns. He spent eight years with the Seahawks (2001-08) when Seattle was running the West Coast offense, the same style Harbaugh plans on implementing with the 49ers this coming season.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/29/bobby-engram-joins-49ers-coaching-staff-to-assist-with-wide-rec/

Leon Washington Beanie Wells Brian Westbrook Carnell Williams

Leslie Frazier Avoids Word 'Rebuilding' at NFL Combine

by John Oehser

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North

INDIANAPOLIS -- Leslie Frazier sees things a bit differently from outsiders.

While many observers see the Minnesota Vikings very much in a rebuilding mode and needing upgrades around the roster, Frazier -- entering his first full season as the Vikings' coach -- might agree with the first part, but not the second.

Sure, Frazier said, there are improvements needed. But rebuilding? Frazier stopped short of saying the Vikings were in such a mode.

Well short.

"We're not that far removed from playing in the NFC Championship Game," Frazier said Friday at a press conference during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, being held through Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.

"We just need to be right this offseason in certain areas. If we're able to get it done, we can close that gap a lot sooner than most would expect."

The Vikings lost the NFC Championship Game to the New Orleans Saints following the 2009 regular season, and followed that with a disappointing 2010 that featured a 3-7 start and seemingly weekly drama surrounding quarterback Brett Favre.

Frazier replaced Brad Childress as coach with six games remaining in the 2010 season, and his interim tag was removed shortly after the season.

The Vikings finished 6-10, but were 3-3 under Frazier.

"Without question, we have a better feel for our football team after going back and looking at the 2010 season," Frazier said. "We tried to ascertain what pieces we need to fit in order for us to close the gap in the NFC North that are ahead of us."

Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said recent weeks have been spent trying to get personnel and scouts acclimated to Frazier's approach.

"Just working with Leslie over the past four or five weeks, as we've kind of game planned and getting ready to head into our offseason," Spielman said. "Working through our team, working through the UFA meetings, working through our draft process, working with (offensive coordinator) Bill Musgrave and getting to know him and Craig Johnson, our new quarterbacks coach, just identifying what they're looking for and what the characteristics they are looking for in a quarterback -- I have a pretty good idea of what they are looking for.

"Now, we'll start the process of identifying some of the players down here, some of the players that could potentially be in the trade market, some of the players that could potentially be in the UFA market and start honing in on those players."

Frazier said the Vikings will focus in the offseason on upgrading a defensive line that was once a strength. The Vikings finished ninth in the NFL in run defense this past season, allowing 102.2 yards per game. Longtime defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams are in their 15th and ninth seasons, respectively.

"We want to do some things to help our defensive line," Frazier said. "We're aging at one of the spots. We need to do some things to improve. One of our mantras has been, 'Be good against the run.' We've been able to stop the run.

"We slipped a little bit. We have to look at some things to see what we have to do to improve that area."

Frazier also addressed the ongoing issue involving third-year wide receiver Percy Harvin's migraines. The 2009 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, he has missed multiple practices and a game because of the issue.

"We think we have a better feel for where Percy is today from a medical standpoint," Frazier said. "We made some headway, but it's going to be an ongoing process. It's a debilitating occurrence when it does happen.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/leslie-frazier-tiptoes-around-word-rebuilding-at-nfl-combine/

Bruce Gradkowski Rex Grossman Max Hall Caleb Hanie

Tom Coughlin Speaks on Plaxico Burress Possibilities, Antrel Rolle Comments

by David Elfin

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

Maybe it was because his boss, John Mara, said Thursday that he's on the verge of what almost surely would be the final contract extension of his career. Maybe it was because his team was the NFL's best not to make the playoffs in 2010. Or maybe it was because at six months from being eligible for Social Security, he's too old to care what anyone else thinks of him anymore.

Whatever the reason, normally taciturn New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin was positively chatty during a 30-minute session with reporters on Friday at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. This was the Coughlin, who after New York's 10-6 season, said of his critics, "They can line up and kiss my (expletive)" as opposed to the coach of few words.

As Coughlin explained about Giants safety Antrel Rolle saying his coach needs to loosen up, "He should have seen me a few years ago."

The kinder, gentler Coughlin is worried about the impending lockout because it will affect his relationship with his players, some of whom are heading into their eighth year with the former Captain Queeg.

"That would be, or will be, something that none of us in this profession really want," Coughlin said. "Everything we do is always a hands-on approach. You have the constant flow of information back and forth. I talk to (the players) a lot, I really do. Even prior to the start of the offseason program (in mid-March), guys are around all the time. Most of them will go away and then they'll come back. And when they come back, they come in. That's the way it is, that's the way we want it."

Other than acknowledging that center is a concern because of injuries to longtime starters Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, his replacement for most of 2010, Coughlin didn't discuss what position he hopes to gain talent from in April's draft.

However, the coach was upbeat about Seubert being able to overcome a serious knee injury suffered in the 2010 finale and defensive end Mathia Kiwanuka returning from the neck injury that ended his season after four sacks in just four games.

"The injury factor did take a toll," Coughlin said of New York's 2010 season, while still blaming the failure to make the playoffs on a league-leading 42 turnovers.

Coughlin, who demoted Brandon Jacobs last August and clashed with him in September, made it clear that he wants the running back to remain a Giant. That's even though Jacobs' 147 carries last year were barely half of starter Ahmad Bradshaw's 276 and even though as he exited the team's headquarters in early January, Jacobs snapped,"You're all taking pictures of Brandon Jacobs leaving, wondering if he's ever going to return."

On the other hand, Jacobs, who'll be 29 in July and has a base salary of $4.65 million in 2011, is under contract while Bradshaw is unsigned.

"He's got a lot of gas left in the tank," Coughlin said of the burly Jacobs, who surprisingly averaged 5.6 yards per carry to Bradshaw's fine 4.5. "As you look at everything at the end of the year, Brandon was fresher than he's ever been, healthier than he's ever been and probably needs to carry the ball a little bit more."

But Coughlin was much less positive about the possible return of Plaxico Burress, who has been out of football since accidentally shooting himself in 2008, an offense that prompted a two-year prison sentence that figures to end before the one-time standout receiver turns 34 in August.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/tom-coughlin-speaks-on-plaxico-burress-possiblities-antrel-roll/

Sav Rocca Jon Ryan Mike Scifres Daniel Sepulveda

Eric Mangini May Be Done in Cleveland

by Pat McManamon

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Analysis

CLEVELAND -- Mike Holmgren did not leave his booth at Cleveland Browns Stadium until coach Eric Mangini's press conference had concluded.

Holmgren evidently watched to see his coach try to explain a humiliating season-ending loss to Pittsburgh, a 41-9 defeat that was not near that close. There wasn't much he could say, and Mangini knew it. He was a glum coach, one who showed the signs of a team that had just been embarrassed on its home field.

"When I look at what these guys have done throughout the course of the season, I'm proud of that and I'm proud of them," Mangini said. "I'm disappointed for them and for all of us and the fans that this is the way the season ended."

Mangini referred to the fact that the Browns played teams close this season and did not lose by large margins. It's a curious measurement, and probably only applies to cities and teams like Cleveland, where winning has been AWOL so long that playing close suddenly becomes a hook on which to hang a hat.

The bottom line for Mangini is that his team finished 5-11 two years in a row, and last season needed a four-game winning streak at the end of the year to get to five wins, with three of those games against teams with nothing to play for. This season, the Browns fell with a thud after exciting their fans with wins over New Orleans and New England, and ended the season with a four-game losing streak, two to playoff teams (Baltimore and Pittsburgh), two to NFL doormats (Buffalo and Cincinnati).

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Steelers 41, Browns 9: Quick Hits | Recap | Box Score
Steelers Embarrass Browns to Win AFC North

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/02/eric-mangini-may-be-done-in-cleveland/

Eli Manning Peyton Manning Colt McCoy Stephen McGee