NFL - Sports Rumors
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Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:04 am EDT
To play again, Adam Jones had to make changes
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He is nearly alone. But the isolation Adam Jones finds himself in is of his own doing. Previous transgressions have forced this night owl to become a homebody in rural Prosper, about 45 minutes away from the Cowboys' Valley Ranch complex and an hour from downtown Dallas' nightlife.
Jones, the Cowboys' cornerback/punt returner/kick returner/locker room antagonist, returns to the field today, when the Cowboys visit Cleveland in the regular-season opener. Because of an injury to Terence Newman, Jones will also start. The last time Jones played in an NFL game was Dec. 31, 2006, for the Tennessee Titans.
Before and after that game, Jones went everywhere with people who he now calls "knuckleheads."
When Jones played for the Titans, he lived 30 minutes outside of the nightlife of Nashville. In his hometown of Atlanta, Jones was just minutes away from the city and his crew. It is the crew — friends he grew up with, buddies he met while partying — who were with Jones when he got in trouble. Jones accepts responsibility for his troubles, but a yearlong league suspension is on his résumé, not his crew's.
Since coming into the NFL in 2005, Jones has been arrested six times and been involved in 12 incidents.
To get back in the NFL, Jones had to change.
Source: Dallas Morning News
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Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:14 am EDT
Culpepper goes out firing shots at NFL, collusion
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In announcing his retirement last Thursday, quarterback Daunte Culpepper hinted that NFL teams were colluding against him.
"No matter what I did or said, there seemed to be a unified message from teams that I was not welcome to compete for one of the many jobs that were available at the quarterback position," he wrote in an email that was distributed to reporters. "It seems that the stance I took in both Minnesota and Miami regarding my rights as a person and player has followed me into free agency."
Culpepper took one final shot at the league, saying: "I now understand why so many people within the NFL community are uncomfortable with a player really learning the business. The NFL has become more about power, money, and control than passion, competition, and the love of the game."
Source: Boston.com
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Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:12 am EDT
Colts' soft middle can't be comforting to Manning
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When the Indianapolis Colts host the Chicago Bears tonight in the first regular-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium, they'd better hope the foundation doesn't crack. Of their line, that is. The Colts project to be without starters across the interior of their offensive line - with left guard Ryan Lilja remaining on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, center Jeff Saturday sidelined with a knee injury, and second-round draft choice Mike Pollack, the hopeful first-string right guard, also ailing with a knee injury.
So the Colts are throwing untested players into the mix.
Former practice squad player Dan Federkeil is likely to start at left guard. He's played in 10 career games, with no starts. Meanwhile, rookies Jamey Richard (seventh round, University of Buffalo) and Steve Justice (sixth round, Wake Forest) are the options at center, while third-year veteran Charlie Johnson will slide into the right guard void. Johnson has the most experience of the group (30 games, 11 starts).
It's not exactly a comforting thought for Colts fans already worried about the health of quarterback Peyton Manning, who did not play in the preseason after undergoing surgery in July to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee.
Source: Boston.com
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Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:10 am EDT
Jets can't afford to be a lose-now team
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They are a win-now team with Brett Favre switching shades of green and the $140 million worth of other offseason moves Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini pulled off that makes this the New York Jets most anticipated season ever. It's off the charts.
So they better not be a lose-now team Sunday as the Favre Era opens against their old friend Chad Pennington, who inherits the Dolphins, the worst team in football last year.
This is just the season opener and, of course, it's only one game. But Favre vs. Pennington and the front office vs. Bill Parcells serves as a referendum on the massive reconstruction job the Jets did in the offseason that, even after their 4-12 stink job, has made them a favorite for a wild-card spot.
But can you imagine if Favre loses and gets outplayed by Pennington? What will it say if the surgery Parcells did with the 1-15 roster he took over beats Johnson's open checkbook policy? What it probably means is the Jets will start 0-3 with games against the Patriots and Chargers in the next two weeks that will have Favre wishing he remained in Hattiesburg working out with the Oak Grove High School wideouts.
Source: New York Daily News
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Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:06 am EDT
For the first time, Tom Brady faces uncertainty
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As the New England Patriots open a new season of hope and opportunity today, their leading man returns to football as a figure almost entirely transformed from the unassuming, and ferociously talented, number 12 the region fell in love with as soon as the spotlight found him, in 2001, his first Super Bowl season. He was the rare superstar with a convincing common touch, the oddly approachable, albeit absurdly handsome, boy next door. Seven seasons later, the talent remains unrivaled, but almost all the other adjectives have changed.
Brady comes back to Foxborough's artificial turf from one of the most rarefied offseasons imaginable. With the world's wealthiest model at his side, he has been juggling the unrivaled pampering of money and privilege and the jangling discomfort of serving as daily prey for the gossip mongers and the stalkarazzi.
And for the first time in the Brady Era in Boston, the iconic quarterback begins a season trailed by a word rarely associated with him: uncertainty. Nursing some sort of injury to his foot (As is the pattern with the Patriots, no one will say what the problem is.), Brady missed all four pre-season games, all losses in which the team looked ragged and leaderless. Brady also opted out of the team's voluntary offseason workout program for the first time since he arrived as an unheralded backup in 2000. It seems a small matter, but it was always part of his charm - that the quarterback would also show up as a grind-it-out workout warrior.
Brady, in short, has been more visible to television viewers this year on shows like "Access Hollywood" than ESPN's "SportsCenter."
The last time he touched a football in game action, Brady heaved a desperation pass to Randy Moss — an incompletion — with 10 seconds remaining in a devastating 17-14 loss to the New York Giants Feb. 3 in Super Bowl XLII. The loss spoiled an otherwise perfect season for the Patriots. For Brady, was it also an intimation of mortality?
Source: Boston.com
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Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:54 pm EDT
Indy fans need to expect more from Peyton Manning
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For Peyton Manning, there's more to be done. There has to be more. Because after 10 years of establishing himself as the eventual owner of every NFL passing record, and leading his team to a Super Bowl victory two seasons ago, there's still more for the Indianapolis Colts quarterback to prove during this second act in his remarkable career.
I remember a couple of years ago, while Manning was still chasing that first Super Bowl title, coach Tony Dungy became fond of saying, "The minute he wins one, everybody will be saying, 'How about two? And three?' "
Well, here it is, Manning's 11th season in the league. The 32-year-old Colts quarterback is once again surrounded by state-of-the-art weaponry, and it's fair to ask the questions:
How about two Super Bowls? And three? That's not greedy. That's fair. And realistic. Because this quarterback, and this team, were built to win multiple championships. And that's where Manning comes in. As much as he has done in this league, there's still more to do. There's no question he has the support, much like multiple Super Bowl champs Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. And in the past two years, he has had a defense that has been more than good enough to win multiple championships.
The only thing Manning hasn't done yet is put this team on his back in the postseason and lead it to a Super Bowl title. He hasn't done what Tom Brady has done in New England, consistently playing his best football in the playoffs and willing his teams to victories in the biggest playoff games. Is that asking too much? No, it's not.
He has a $98 million contract and is the league's most visible player, by his choice. It comes with the territory.
Source: Indianapolis Star
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Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:38 pm EDT
Ricky Williams will start for Dolphins against Jets
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It already can be considered a minor accomplishment that Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams will begin the season on an active roster instead of a list of suspended or retired players for the first time since 2003. Feeling greedy, though? Now, Williams also will start his first season opener in five years.
''Ricky's really played more out there than Ronnie [Brown], so we'll start the game now with Ricky, but Ronnie will be in the game very soon,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Friday.
Although getting the nod might have as much to do with Brown's limited repetitions in the preseason as it does with Williams' ascent, the starting gig is nonetheless one final endorsement of confidence from this coaching staff.
It also means less time before Williams gets the opportunity to show what all of the fuss has been about. After all, even a few solid carries in the preseason isn't enough to fulfill anyone's appetite, considering the high praise heaped on Williams this offseason.
Source: Miami Herald
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Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:13 pm EDT
No game is bigger for the Saints than the first one
There might not be a more important game on the New Orleans Saints' 2008 schedule than the first one, a Sunday date with the NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Superdome.
The Saints have preached all offseason about getting off to a better start after losing their first four games last season. They are determined to play better at home after posting a 7-9 mark the past two seasons at the Dome.
And perhaps most important, they can't afford to give up ground to the Buccaneers, who won the NFC South in 2005 and 2007, sweeping the Saints both times.
"Just add something else into the pot," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said after running down the list. "It's a big game."
Those two losses to Tampa Bay last year defined the Saints' disappointing 2007 season.
Source: Times-Picayune
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Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:36 am EDT
Kiwanuka says Skins' Samuel made a dirty play
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Mathias Kiwanuka says his left leg is fine, despite the scare he got on the final play of Thursday night's game. But he knows it could have been much worse. He also thinks it never should have happened.
Kiwanuka said Friday that "a dirty play" by Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels nearly injured his left leg and ankle at the end of the Giants' 16-7win over Washington. And both he and his teammates were still steamed about the unnecessary tackle that nearly left the Giants without yet another defensive end.
"Honestly I thought it was a dirty play, there was no question about it," Kiwanuka said. "He was definitely beat. Instead of recovering or giving up or whatever the options were ... I don't think there's any place for that in the NFL."
On the play in question, Kiwanuka rushed around Samuels toward Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell. Samuels tried to bail his quarterback out by grabbing onto Kiwanuka from behind as if he were trying to drag him down. As he dragged down Kiwanuka, he fell onto his legs.
Immediately after the play, Giants coach Tom Coughlin confronted Samuels. "And he said it wasn't intentional," Coughlin said. "I'll leave it at that."
It didn't appear that Coughlin believed him. Kiwanuka seemed skeptical, too.
Source: New York Daily News
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Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:26 am EDT
Texans' rookie LT Brown will have hands full with Steelers
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Once in Pittsburgh there stood the Steel Curtain, anchored across the middle by Hall of Fame linebackers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. But even the two Jacks, building blocks of a four Super Bowl-championship dynasty, never took charge of a half to the extent that Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison did on a Monday night last fall against the Baltimore Ravens. Harrison was an angry man among boys, forcing three fumbles and recovering another, pummeling quarterback Steve McNair three times and intercepting one of his passes. Those turnovers led to 21 Steelers points as Pittsburgh built a 35-0 lead after two quarters en route to a 38-7 victory. And Harrison was wreaking all that havoc despite lining up opposite the Ravens' All-Pro left tackle, Jonathan Ogden.
A fellow linebacker said later, "You only see something like that when you're playing a video game."
On Sunday, it's Harrison who will be officially welcoming Texans rookie left tackle Duane Brown to the NFL. Texans coach Gary Kubiak was asked if his top draft choice, who had a surprisingly trouble-free indoctrination to the ways of pro football during the less-intense preseason, might have a few growing pains ahead of him.
"I bet he does," Kubiak said. "But he's been a rock. He works. He does his job, and he's gotten better every week. This will be the ultimate challenge. He's got to go through these things to become a big-time player."
Brown has shown he deserves to be the starter — "He's our best guy," Kubiak says - so into the breach he must be thrown, charged with protecting quarterback Matt Schaub against a man who can some days be, as the Ravens will attest, a force of nature.
A complication is Pittsburgh's 3-4 defensive set, something Brown rarely saw in college. Knowing the Steelers loomed first on the schedule followed by the Ravens, who also use the 3-4, the Texans have shown the set frequently during pre-season practice.
Source: Houston Chronicle
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