STEELERS LOSE 2 QB'S, BATTLING BRONCOS & WEIS TO K.C.?
The Steelers lost in Kansas City yesterday, but another one in the "L" column wasn't the only loss. QB Ben Roethlisberger suffered what appeared to be a concussion in overtime, his status for next Sunday's game with division-rival Baltimore is unknown at this time. Backup Charlie Batch entered the game, threw a completion & on the next play he injured his wrist & today it was determined Batch will have to undergo surgery & be lost for the remainder of the regular season. The Steelers put out a casting call for an additional signal caller. They have 2nd year man Dennis Dixon, but that's it. Jeff Garcia & Cleo Lemon are expected to be in Pittsburgh by tomorrow to try out for coach Mike Tomlin.
The Green Bay Packers lost 2 very key defensive starters yesterday. Cornerback Al Harris & linebacker Aaron Kampman, both Pro Bowl players in the past, were lost for the season with knee injuries. Buffalo lost 2 starters on their offensive line, center Eric Wood & guard Seth McKinney. McKinney suffered a torn meniscus & Wood sustained a horrific compound fracture of his leg. CBS chose not to show the replay or focus on Wood as he writhed in pain on the Jacksonville turf. Several veteran players said it was the worst thing they'd ever seen. The Ravens lost starting cornerback Fabian Washington with a knee injury for the remainder of the season.
Speaking of injuries, embattled Cleveland coach, Eric Mangini, accused members of the Detroit Lions of "faking injuries to slow down our offense". Mangini said it happened several times & the 'injured' player always returned to action a few plays later. It's quite a charge, one I don't think I've ever heard before. Yes, from time to time players will exaggerate an injury to stop the clock & let his team catch their collective breath. To accuse multiple players is for this imagined infraction is dangerous.
The Denver Broncos finally showed some fight yesterday, unfortunately, it was each other. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall got into a shoving match with rookie running back Knowshon Moreno on the sidelines during yesterday's beatdown at the hands of the Chargers. Moreno fumbled at the goaline & when he returned to the bench, Marshall got in his face about it. Moreno didn't take kindly to some "veteran advice" & he lashed out. To be fair to Moreno, replays showed the ball was knocked out by an offensive lineman's knee who was shoved into Moreno just as he was about to cross the goaline. The formerly 6-0 Broncos are now 6-4, good for 2nd place in the AFC West. QB injuries, not having a reliable running game & the rest of the league catching up to Josh McDaniels' game plans have made Denver 'just another team' in my book. Best case scenario; they win 9 games after starting 6-0. Pretty sad, but a reality.
I don't think the Atlanta Falcons are going to make it to the playoffs but they certainly can't blame their tight end. Tony Gonzalez, the best-ever at his position. Gonzalez led his team in receiving again yesterday & caught the tying touchdown with :28 left to send the game to overtime. If he touches the ball, he catches it, he is still an amazing player.
I'm glad Tony Romo isn't the Chiefs' quarterback. After a 2nd straight miserable offensive performance, they scored 7 'garbage-time' points last week & mustered 7 yesterday versus the Redskins. I watch Romo in the postgame press conference on NFL Network & he laughing & smiling thruout the whole thing. I guess winning is enough to some people, regardless of how badly you play, regardless of how badly the unit you lead played. The fact that the Cowboys have scored only 14 points on their last 24 possessions should concern any leader worth his salt. It bothered me. Plus, yet again, Joe Buck & Troy Aikman did the Cowboy telecast. Maddening.
Brett Favre was 22 of 25 for 213 yards & 4 touchdowns yesterday against Seattle. Favre is the NFL's leading passer. He's thrown 22 touchdowns against 3 interceptions. Very impressive, especially for a 40-year old.
Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner took himself out of the game yesterday in St. Louis with concussion symptoms. They were leading 21-2 at the time. He took quite a shot from behind jamming his face into the turf. No word today on his chances to play Sunday.
The Patriots smoked the Jets & their rookie QB Mark Sanchez. The "Sanchise" threw 4 interceptions, 2 of them were inexcusable, it may be time for coach "Cryin' Ryan" to sit him down, his confidence appears to be getting worse by the week. The over-hyped rookie got off to a 3-0 start making the New York media totally goofy for this kid who only started 16 games in college.
Cincinnati gave away a game yesterday in Oakland. Andre Caldwell's fumbled kickoff with less than 2-minutes left allowing the Raiders to kick the winning field goal. This was the classic letdown game after the Bengals beating Baltimore & Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks. The Bengals looked almost disinterested at times & the often inept Raiders took the victory when it was offered to them. Raider QB Bruce Gradkowski seemed to provide some spark to a lethargic Oakland team.
Want to hear a juicy, but totally unfounded rumor? Soon-to-be-fired Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis coming to Kansas City to become their offensive coordinator. I've seen it several places, I put no stock in it, but it's out there. I think the history of Scott Pioli & Weis with New England is the shaky foundation of this rumor. Weis is looking at a buyout from Notre Dame in the $14-18 million range, I don't see him actively looking for a job right now. Have stranger things happened? Sure, but I can't see it.
The Green Bay Packers lost 2 very key defensive starters yesterday. Cornerback Al Harris & linebacker Aaron Kampman, both Pro Bowl players in the past, were lost for the season with knee injuries. Buffalo lost 2 starters on their offensive line, center Eric Wood & guard Seth McKinney. McKinney suffered a torn meniscus & Wood sustained a horrific compound fracture of his leg. CBS chose not to show the replay or focus on Wood as he writhed in pain on the Jacksonville turf. Several veteran players said it was the worst thing they'd ever seen. The Ravens lost starting cornerback Fabian Washington with a knee injury for the remainder of the season.
Speaking of injuries, embattled Cleveland coach, Eric Mangini, accused members of the Detroit Lions of "faking injuries to slow down our offense". Mangini said it happened several times & the 'injured' player always returned to action a few plays later. It's quite a charge, one I don't think I've ever heard before. Yes, from time to time players will exaggerate an injury to stop the clock & let his team catch their collective breath. To accuse multiple players is for this imagined infraction is dangerous.
The Denver Broncos finally showed some fight yesterday, unfortunately, it was each other. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall got into a shoving match with rookie running back Knowshon Moreno on the sidelines during yesterday's beatdown at the hands of the Chargers. Moreno fumbled at the goaline & when he returned to the bench, Marshall got in his face about it. Moreno didn't take kindly to some "veteran advice" & he lashed out. To be fair to Moreno, replays showed the ball was knocked out by an offensive lineman's knee who was shoved into Moreno just as he was about to cross the goaline. The formerly 6-0 Broncos are now 6-4, good for 2nd place in the AFC West. QB injuries, not having a reliable running game & the rest of the league catching up to Josh McDaniels' game plans have made Denver 'just another team' in my book. Best case scenario; they win 9 games after starting 6-0. Pretty sad, but a reality.
I don't think the Atlanta Falcons are going to make it to the playoffs but they certainly can't blame their tight end. Tony Gonzalez, the best-ever at his position. Gonzalez led his team in receiving again yesterday & caught the tying touchdown with :28 left to send the game to overtime. If he touches the ball, he catches it, he is still an amazing player.
I'm glad Tony Romo isn't the Chiefs' quarterback. After a 2nd straight miserable offensive performance, they scored 7 'garbage-time' points last week & mustered 7 yesterday versus the Redskins. I watch Romo in the postgame press conference on NFL Network & he laughing & smiling thruout the whole thing. I guess winning is enough to some people, regardless of how badly you play, regardless of how badly the unit you lead played. The fact that the Cowboys have scored only 14 points on their last 24 possessions should concern any leader worth his salt. It bothered me. Plus, yet again, Joe Buck & Troy Aikman did the Cowboy telecast. Maddening.
Brett Favre was 22 of 25 for 213 yards & 4 touchdowns yesterday against Seattle. Favre is the NFL's leading passer. He's thrown 22 touchdowns against 3 interceptions. Very impressive, especially for a 40-year old.
Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner took himself out of the game yesterday in St. Louis with concussion symptoms. They were leading 21-2 at the time. He took quite a shot from behind jamming his face into the turf. No word today on his chances to play Sunday.
The Patriots smoked the Jets & their rookie QB Mark Sanchez. The "Sanchise" threw 4 interceptions, 2 of them were inexcusable, it may be time for coach "Cryin' Ryan" to sit him down, his confidence appears to be getting worse by the week. The over-hyped rookie got off to a 3-0 start making the New York media totally goofy for this kid who only started 16 games in college.
Cincinnati gave away a game yesterday in Oakland. Andre Caldwell's fumbled kickoff with less than 2-minutes left allowing the Raiders to kick the winning field goal. This was the classic letdown game after the Bengals beating Baltimore & Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks. The Bengals looked almost disinterested at times & the often inept Raiders took the victory when it was offered to them. Raider QB Bruce Gradkowski seemed to provide some spark to a lethargic Oakland team.
Want to hear a juicy, but totally unfounded rumor? Soon-to-be-fired Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis coming to Kansas City to become their offensive coordinator. I've seen it several places, I put no stock in it, but it's out there. I think the history of Scott Pioli & Weis with New England is the shaky foundation of this rumor. Weis is looking at a buyout from Notre Dame in the $14-18 million range, I don't see him actively looking for a job right now. Have stranger things happened? Sure, but I can't see it.
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