FAVRE FINISHED, TEXANS TOO, MORE TROUBLE IN HAWKEYELAND & SAL "THE TRIPPER" GETS HIS REWARD
Well we won't have Brett Favre to kick around anymore, I doubt he'll play again. After 297-consecutive starts, he said he couldn't feel the ball with his right hand after sustaining a pinched nerve two weeks ago. The hit he took last Sunday only made his condition worse. Seeing Favre talking to Fox's Pam Oliver, you could see how discolored his right hand was, in fact it was really kinda gross. Because of that & the way the Vikings have truly fallen apart, I doubt he'll play again. The Vikings are in critical condition, they have no quarterback, Tavaris Jackson was dreadful tonight, Percy Harvin can't shake the migraine headaches that sidelined him again on Monday & the Metrodome is falling apart. It still hasn't been established where their home game with the Bears will be played Sunday. This franchise is a mess, I don't see Favre risking more damage to his shoulder & arm to play out the string for Minnesota.
The Giants were patient with all their travel delays due to the blizzard in Minnesota. But playing on a neutral field in Detroit suited them just fine. In the 21-3 win, the Giants do what they do best, run the ball, stop the run & sack the quarterback. Ahmad Bradshaw & Brandon Jacobs both cracked the century mark & scored touchdowns. The defensive front shut down Adrian Peterson, holding him to just 26-yards on 14 carries. They also recorded 4 sacks & 10 additional hits on the QB. The other thing that stays constant with the Giants is Eli Manning's propensity to throw interceptions, two more tonight & a league-leading 19 overall. Yes, 24 touchdowns is good, but when you add in the 19 picks, well that's a long way from elite status. If the Giants are to go anywhere in the playoffs, Manning will have to make better decisions & better throws.
The Houston Texans put their fans on that emotional roller coaster again tonight. They fell way behind Baltimore & then staged a furious 4th quarter comeback, scoring with 21-seconds left & then converting a 2-point conversion to send the game to overtime. After stopping the Ravens on downs & backed up to their own goal line, Matt Schaub threw an ill-advised pass off his back foot & cornerback Josh Wilson snagged it & ran it in for the winning score. To say you could hear a pin drop in Reliant Stadium was an understatement. The Texans outgained the Ravens by nearly double but Baltimore makes plays when they count. After Houston pulled within 21-7 at half, David Reed returned the second half kickoff 103-yards putting the Texans in another 3-score hole. If you can keep the Ravens off your quarterback, their secondary is vulnerable. Baltimore's win pushed the Jets down into the 6th playoff spot & keeps the Ravens one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North.
The status of Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers won't be known until at least Wednesday or Thursday. He sustained his second concussion of the season & that brings on a more stringent group of tests to allow for a player's return. If Rodgers can't go Sunday against New England, the Pack has just about zero chance of winning. They're hanging on to their playoff hopes by the skin of their teeth right now, anymore losses & they could be eliminated. They're currently tied with Tampa at 8-5, but trail New Orleans(10-3), New York(9-4) & Philadelphia(9-4) with three to play. I think my NFC Super Bowl pick just isn't going to make it.
I forgot to mention the monster fantasy football game Cardinal kicker Jay Feely had yesterday. He kicked 5 field goals, including a 49 & 55-yarder. Feely added on 4 extra points but it was his 5-yard run out of field goal formation that made him a star. In the 4th quarter, FOX had the score graphic they show on all their games right before a commercial break. It said Denver 3 Jay Feely 22. He scored every point Arizona had on the scoreboard.
The wheels continue to fall off up in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes suspended leading rusher Adam Robinson for violation of team policy. He will not play in the Insight Bowl December 28th against Missouri. Kirk Ferentz dismissed all-time leading receiver, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos last week after he was arrested in a drug raid on his home. Multiple charges were filed & he was kicked off the team. Running back Jewel Hampton will transfer after missing most of the last two seasons with knee injuries & 2009's 2nd leading runner, Brandon Wegher, asked to be released from his scholarship, Ferentz granted the request. There were stories all over the net this evening the Ferentz will have a news conference Tuesday morning to announce further suspensions, but the University hasn't issued an official statement regarding additional suspensions.
Sal Alosi, the Jets' strength & conditioning coach was sent home this afternoon, suspended without pay for the remainder of the season & fined $25,000 for his deliberate trip of Miami gunner Nolan Carroll. The Dolphin was covering a punt & as he ran down the far sideline, Alosi stuck his knee out & tripped Carroll. He was hurt on the play, but returned in the 4th quarter. What if he'd broken the guy's leg or blown out his knee? I'm not looking for blood, but I think the Jets look pretty cheesy on this one. People who show such horrible judgment shouldn't be allowed on an NFL sideline. He can still be their strength & conditioning coach, just not on the sideline please.
The Giants were patient with all their travel delays due to the blizzard in Minnesota. But playing on a neutral field in Detroit suited them just fine. In the 21-3 win, the Giants do what they do best, run the ball, stop the run & sack the quarterback. Ahmad Bradshaw & Brandon Jacobs both cracked the century mark & scored touchdowns. The defensive front shut down Adrian Peterson, holding him to just 26-yards on 14 carries. They also recorded 4 sacks & 10 additional hits on the QB. The other thing that stays constant with the Giants is Eli Manning's propensity to throw interceptions, two more tonight & a league-leading 19 overall. Yes, 24 touchdowns is good, but when you add in the 19 picks, well that's a long way from elite status. If the Giants are to go anywhere in the playoffs, Manning will have to make better decisions & better throws.
The Houston Texans put their fans on that emotional roller coaster again tonight. They fell way behind Baltimore & then staged a furious 4th quarter comeback, scoring with 21-seconds left & then converting a 2-point conversion to send the game to overtime. After stopping the Ravens on downs & backed up to their own goal line, Matt Schaub threw an ill-advised pass off his back foot & cornerback Josh Wilson snagged it & ran it in for the winning score. To say you could hear a pin drop in Reliant Stadium was an understatement. The Texans outgained the Ravens by nearly double but Baltimore makes plays when they count. After Houston pulled within 21-7 at half, David Reed returned the second half kickoff 103-yards putting the Texans in another 3-score hole. If you can keep the Ravens off your quarterback, their secondary is vulnerable. Baltimore's win pushed the Jets down into the 6th playoff spot & keeps the Ravens one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North.
The status of Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers won't be known until at least Wednesday or Thursday. He sustained his second concussion of the season & that brings on a more stringent group of tests to allow for a player's return. If Rodgers can't go Sunday against New England, the Pack has just about zero chance of winning. They're hanging on to their playoff hopes by the skin of their teeth right now, anymore losses & they could be eliminated. They're currently tied with Tampa at 8-5, but trail New Orleans(10-3), New York(9-4) & Philadelphia(9-4) with three to play. I think my NFC Super Bowl pick just isn't going to make it.
I forgot to mention the monster fantasy football game Cardinal kicker Jay Feely had yesterday. He kicked 5 field goals, including a 49 & 55-yarder. Feely added on 4 extra points but it was his 5-yard run out of field goal formation that made him a star. In the 4th quarter, FOX had the score graphic they show on all their games right before a commercial break. It said Denver 3 Jay Feely 22. He scored every point Arizona had on the scoreboard.
The wheels continue to fall off up in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes suspended leading rusher Adam Robinson for violation of team policy. He will not play in the Insight Bowl December 28th against Missouri. Kirk Ferentz dismissed all-time leading receiver, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos last week after he was arrested in a drug raid on his home. Multiple charges were filed & he was kicked off the team. Running back Jewel Hampton will transfer after missing most of the last two seasons with knee injuries & 2009's 2nd leading runner, Brandon Wegher, asked to be released from his scholarship, Ferentz granted the request. There were stories all over the net this evening the Ferentz will have a news conference Tuesday morning to announce further suspensions, but the University hasn't issued an official statement regarding additional suspensions.
Sal Alosi, the Jets' strength & conditioning coach was sent home this afternoon, suspended without pay for the remainder of the season & fined $25,000 for his deliberate trip of Miami gunner Nolan Carroll. The Dolphin was covering a punt & as he ran down the far sideline, Alosi stuck his knee out & tripped Carroll. He was hurt on the play, but returned in the 4th quarter. What if he'd broken the guy's leg or blown out his knee? I'm not looking for blood, but I think the Jets look pretty cheesy on this one. People who show such horrible judgment shouldn't be allowed on an NFL sideline. He can still be their strength & conditioning coach, just not on the sideline please.
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