INJURY NEWS & A FEW TRAINING CAMP QUESTIONS
The Broncos canceled practice on Sunday, coach Josh McDaniels said he was trying to break the injury curse that has beset Denver. Both rookie wide receivers, 1st rounder Demaryius Thomas & 3rd rounder Eric Decker, siffered ankle sprains in Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage. Neither are considered to be serious, but both will miss several practices, something rookie wide receivers can't afford to do. Backup running back Correll Buckhalter has been sent to a back specialist to see if he can diagnose the ailment that has kept Buckhalter sidelined since the first practice in training camp. Running back Knowshon Moreno remains on the shelf with a high ankle sprain.
San Francisco suffered quite a setback today as their starting center, Eric Heitmann, sustained a fractured fibula. The 3-year starter broke the tibia in same leg 4 years ago. Mike Singletary said if there was no ankle damage, Heitmann's broken leg should be good to go in 6-8 weeks. An MRI on Tuesday should answer questions regarding his ankle.
Colts backup defensive tackle John Gill will miss the entire season but not from a conventional injury. Indianapolis team president Bill Pollian said today Gill will spend the season on injured reserve, battling alcoholism. Gill was picked up by police early Sunday morning after they found him passed out in a ditch near training camp. The second year player out of Northwestern was booked into jail but the charges of public intoxication were dropped this morning.
Tony Moeaki went down with a leg injury during Saturday's scrimmage & the Chiefs' rookie tight end missed practice today. No word on the extent of the injury or how long he'll be sidelined.
To my buddy Mark in Kansas City, who wanted to know the status of former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, I just found out what's what in the Leach versus Texas Tech lawsuit this afternoon. Opening arguments in the suit will begin October 7th. Leach has sued the Red Raiders for $9 million in lost salary. He was unceremoniously dumped after a kangaroo court led by ESPN college football analyst Craig James. Leach was irresponsible in his treatment of James' son Adam, after he received a mild concussion a couple of days earlier. James went on a witch hunt on-air against Leach, the only Division I coach willing to give his son a scholarship. James had pestered Leach regarding Adam's lack of playing time. Tech assistants had submitted reports to Leach citing James' lack of effort on the practice field or in the meeting room. As I see this mess, Leach over reacted to James' badgering, confining his son to an equipment garage adjacent to the practice field. Adam James went into a part of the building he was told to stay out of & took a cell phone picture & sent it to his dad. He claimed this was the area in which he was confined, a small electrical closet for the visiting team's media center, which wasn't the truth. But when this picture popped up on ESPN almost immediately, Leach was gone just a few days later. Now we'll see if he can get any relief from this lawsuit.
I think the biggest question surrounding the Chicago Bears isn't whether Mike Martz & Jay Cutler can co-exist, or if Julius Peppers makes the Bear pass rush better. It's all about the offensive line. With only one starter staying in the same position from '09, can new O-Line coach Mike Tice make this line effective in pass protection & run production.
The biggest question out in San Francisco is quarterback Alex Smith. With Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis, WR Michael Crabtree & two 1st round picks for the offensive line, Smith should have everything he needs to be successful. But can he improve his accuracy?
My two AFC favorites, San Diego & Baltimore, both have huge questions hanging over their training camps. Can the Chargers actually make a deep playoff run without holdouts wide receiver Vincent Jackson & left tackle Marcus McNeill? Jackson was already going to miss three games to start the season after two DUI's in the off-season. There is absolutely no discussion between Charger GM A.J. Smith & agents for this pair. Can the Ravens field 3 healthy cornerbacks on opening day & will all-pro safety Ed Reed be able to stay off the PUP list? Dominique Foxworth blew out his ACL two weeks ago & Fabian Washington, a starter last year, is still rehabbing an ACL operation he went thru in January. Ladarius Webb, the nickel back, is also rehabbing his knee & newly acquired Cary Williams has been suspended for 2 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Their roster is really thin at this position right now & I don't see it getting much better without Washington & Webb being 100% for opening day.
Will the Colts win 12 games or more for a record 8th-straight season? Or will the Super Bowl loser curse finally slow them or keep them from the playoffs altogether? It's hard to bet against the Colts, they have been a model of consistency, but I think their run may be over. Their division is stronger & the Colts' Super Bowl window is beginning to close. The Texans have been a popular playoff pick the last two years, but I think they'll make it this season. Whether they can best the Colts for the division crown remains to be seen.
Is Matt Leinart the man out in Arizona or a poor substitute for the retired Kurt Warner? I believe the latter, I've never been a big fan. But I think the Cards can challenge the Niners for the Division if their defense plays better & running back Beanie Wells runs for something in the neighborhood of 1,300 yards.
Who will be drafting in the top ten next April? That's provided the two sides get together & workout a new CBA. I think many of 2009's bad teams will be once again selecting early in the 2010 draft. St. Louis, Buffalo, Seattle, Cleveland, Detroit, Tampa Bay & Denver look to be locks for top-10 selectors. Oakland, Kansas City, Washington & Carolina are possibilities as well.
Tonight's background music was by the great Etta James("The Chess Masters") & Roomful of Blues("Dance All Night")
San Francisco suffered quite a setback today as their starting center, Eric Heitmann, sustained a fractured fibula. The 3-year starter broke the tibia in same leg 4 years ago. Mike Singletary said if there was no ankle damage, Heitmann's broken leg should be good to go in 6-8 weeks. An MRI on Tuesday should answer questions regarding his ankle.
Colts backup defensive tackle John Gill will miss the entire season but not from a conventional injury. Indianapolis team president Bill Pollian said today Gill will spend the season on injured reserve, battling alcoholism. Gill was picked up by police early Sunday morning after they found him passed out in a ditch near training camp. The second year player out of Northwestern was booked into jail but the charges of public intoxication were dropped this morning.
Tony Moeaki went down with a leg injury during Saturday's scrimmage & the Chiefs' rookie tight end missed practice today. No word on the extent of the injury or how long he'll be sidelined.
To my buddy Mark in Kansas City, who wanted to know the status of former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, I just found out what's what in the Leach versus Texas Tech lawsuit this afternoon. Opening arguments in the suit will begin October 7th. Leach has sued the Red Raiders for $9 million in lost salary. He was unceremoniously dumped after a kangaroo court led by ESPN college football analyst Craig James. Leach was irresponsible in his treatment of James' son Adam, after he received a mild concussion a couple of days earlier. James went on a witch hunt on-air against Leach, the only Division I coach willing to give his son a scholarship. James had pestered Leach regarding Adam's lack of playing time. Tech assistants had submitted reports to Leach citing James' lack of effort on the practice field or in the meeting room. As I see this mess, Leach over reacted to James' badgering, confining his son to an equipment garage adjacent to the practice field. Adam James went into a part of the building he was told to stay out of & took a cell phone picture & sent it to his dad. He claimed this was the area in which he was confined, a small electrical closet for the visiting team's media center, which wasn't the truth. But when this picture popped up on ESPN almost immediately, Leach was gone just a few days later. Now we'll see if he can get any relief from this lawsuit.
I think the biggest question surrounding the Chicago Bears isn't whether Mike Martz & Jay Cutler can co-exist, or if Julius Peppers makes the Bear pass rush better. It's all about the offensive line. With only one starter staying in the same position from '09, can new O-Line coach Mike Tice make this line effective in pass protection & run production.
The biggest question out in San Francisco is quarterback Alex Smith. With Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis, WR Michael Crabtree & two 1st round picks for the offensive line, Smith should have everything he needs to be successful. But can he improve his accuracy?
My two AFC favorites, San Diego & Baltimore, both have huge questions hanging over their training camps. Can the Chargers actually make a deep playoff run without holdouts wide receiver Vincent Jackson & left tackle Marcus McNeill? Jackson was already going to miss three games to start the season after two DUI's in the off-season. There is absolutely no discussion between Charger GM A.J. Smith & agents for this pair. Can the Ravens field 3 healthy cornerbacks on opening day & will all-pro safety Ed Reed be able to stay off the PUP list? Dominique Foxworth blew out his ACL two weeks ago & Fabian Washington, a starter last year, is still rehabbing an ACL operation he went thru in January. Ladarius Webb, the nickel back, is also rehabbing his knee & newly acquired Cary Williams has been suspended for 2 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Their roster is really thin at this position right now & I don't see it getting much better without Washington & Webb being 100% for opening day.
Will the Colts win 12 games or more for a record 8th-straight season? Or will the Super Bowl loser curse finally slow them or keep them from the playoffs altogether? It's hard to bet against the Colts, they have been a model of consistency, but I think their run may be over. Their division is stronger & the Colts' Super Bowl window is beginning to close. The Texans have been a popular playoff pick the last two years, but I think they'll make it this season. Whether they can best the Colts for the division crown remains to be seen.
Is Matt Leinart the man out in Arizona or a poor substitute for the retired Kurt Warner? I believe the latter, I've never been a big fan. But I think the Cards can challenge the Niners for the Division if their defense plays better & running back Beanie Wells runs for something in the neighborhood of 1,300 yards.
Who will be drafting in the top ten next April? That's provided the two sides get together & workout a new CBA. I think many of 2009's bad teams will be once again selecting early in the 2010 draft. St. Louis, Buffalo, Seattle, Cleveland, Detroit, Tampa Bay & Denver look to be locks for top-10 selectors. Oakland, Kansas City, Washington & Carolina are possibilities as well.
Tonight's background music was by the great Etta James("The Chess Masters") & Roomful of Blues("Dance All Night")
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