National Football League News and Rumors
Mike Ditka critical of proposal to eliminate kickoffsCurtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com Ever since Roger Goodell floated the idea proposed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano to eliminate kickoffs in a TIME magazine feature last week, many people have called the proposal ridiculous. Former Chicago Bears tight end and coach Mike… |
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Paul Tagliabue Bountygate ruling meaningless for New Orleans Saints since Sean Payton's suspension still standsDec 11, 2012
Paul Tagliabue’s 22-page decision affirmed the Saints operated a bounty program, put the blame on the coaches and staff and vacated the suspensions of four players, but there was nothing in there that can reverse the greatest damage inflicted by Roger G… |
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Vick, McCoy practice, may be active ThursdayDec 11, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com LeSean McCoy expects to step right into his starting role. Michael Vick has no choice but to stand on the sideline. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com When first we absorbed the ruling from former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as summarized on the Twitter page of NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, it seemed fairly obvious that Tagliabue was looking for a way to give the players the keys to their freedom without… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com As Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman becomes more and more popular and respected and recognized for his stellar play, his motivation comes from a place where plenty of great players have found that thing that coaxes a high level of performance. A draf… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com The Patriots will be shuffling their wide receiver corps once again. Donte’ Stallworth is heading to injured reserve with an ankle injury a week after he rejoined the team as a free agent. Stallworth certainly got the most out of his brief stay on the a… |
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Samer Kalaf, deadspin.com Earlier today, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue vacated the punishments of the New Orleans Saints players implicated in the bounty scandal. One of those players is defensive end Anthony Hargrove, a current free agent who was suspended seven games … |
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Steelers suspend Rashard MendenhallDec 11, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has gone from the doghouse to the outhouse. Mendenhall, recently demoted to third string, has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. The one-game ban will cost Mendenhall more than $41,000. He has b… |
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Paul Tagliabue Ruling: The NFL Doesn't Have A Bounty Problem; It Has A Roger Goodell ProblemDec 11, 2012
Josh Levin, deadspin.com When Roger Goodell appointed Paul Tagliabue to hear the Saints' bounty appeal, the players fought to get the ex-NFL commissioner to recuse himself. There was no way, they thought, that Tagliabue would kneecap his successor, invalidating the suspensions … |
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Pats place WR Stallworth on IR with ailing ankleDec 11, 2012
Mike Reiss, ESPN.com The New England Patriots placed veteran wide receiver Donte' Stallworth on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday, one day after he caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady in the team's 42-14 win over the Houston Texans. |
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Steelers suspend, bench Mendenhall for conductDec 11, 2012
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have suspended running back Rashard Mendenhall for conduct detrimental to the team. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Most of former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s 22-page ruling focuses on the question of whether and to what extent players should be subject to suspension for pay-for-performance/bounty programs that are administered by coaches. But free-agent defensive … |
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The Saints bounty scandal: A timeline of eventsDec 11, 2012
Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com On Tuesday, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue vacated the suspensions of the current and former members of the New Orleans Saints who were suspended by current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over an alleged "bounty" program that ran over … |
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Panthers place Haruki Nakamura on IRDec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Panthers placed safety Haruki Nakamura on injured reserve Tuesday, their 13th player on the list and fourth defensive starter. Having previously IR’d cornerback Chris Gamble, linebacker Jon Beason and defensive tackle Ron Edwards (along with center … |
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Ravens CB Jackson tests positive, will miss fourDec 11, 2012
Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com Baltimore Ravens reserve cornerback Asa Jackson has been suspended without pay for the team's next four games for violating the NFL's policy for performance-enhancing drugs. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Upon learning that he will not be suspended in the Saints bounty case, defensive end Will Smith thanked the man who rescinded his suspension — and ripped the man who originally suspended him. Smith said he appreciated that former Commissioner Paul Tagli… |
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Lions place Corey Williams on injured reserveDec 11, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Defensive tackle Corey Williams has been bothered by knee problems all year and they’ve now caused his season to end three games early. The Lions placed Williams on injured reserve Tuesday after missing four of the last five games because of the injury.… |
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Samer Kalaf, deadspin.com The Deadspin NFL Coach Challenge Challenge is a tournament pitting the throwing motions of 20 NFL coaches against one another. More » |
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Ravens’ Asa Jackson suspended four games for PEDsDec 11, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Ravens rookie cornerback Asa Jackson is the latest NFL player to get a four-game suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The team confirmed Jackson’s suspension on Tuesday afternoon and issued a statement that didn’t… |
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Goodell big loser in Saints bounty caseDec 11, 2012
Roger Goodell is pointing to the scoreboard and claiming he won. The scoreboard says otherwise. Me, I'm going with the scoreboard. |
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Edwards a Jet again week after calling team outDec 11, 2012
Rich Cimini, ESPN.com Wide receiver Braylon Edwards reunited Tuesday with the New york Jets, who acquired him on waivers. Edwards was released Monday from the Seattle Seahawks' injury-reserve list. |
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Colts put Donald Brown on IR, sign Mewelde MooreDec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Needing to add some bodies to the backfield for their surprising playoff run, the Colts signed running backs Mewelde Moore and Deji Karim Tuesday, placing Donald Brown and fullback Robert Hughes on injured reserve. Injuries have kept Brown from being th… |
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The Seahawks have a deadly combination that could take them to the Super Bowl. |
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David DeCastro could be in line for first startDec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Steelers might finally get a return on their first round pick. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that rookie David DeCastro could play right guard this week against the Cowboys. That wou… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been steadfast in his support of his suspended teammates, and suspended coach Sean Payton, since NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down on them in the league’s bounty investigation. So while Brees is pleased that f… |
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RG2 says RG3 plans to play this SundayDec 11, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com … |
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Steelers' DeCastro might make NFL debutDec 11, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin could barely contain themselves on draft day when David DeCastro fell to Pittsburgh at No. 24. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com … |
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Cowboys' Brent attends teammate's memorialDec 11, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com The Dallas Cowboys paid tribute to Jerry Brown at a private memorial on Tuesday that included Josh Brent, the player charged with intoxication manslaughter in the one-car accident that killed his teammate. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The NFL Players’ Association says former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue made the right call in rescinding the suspensions of four players in the Saints’ bounty case, and the union is happy for Scott Fujita, Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Jonathan Vilma… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The attorney for Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s “manufactured allegations” have tarnished Vilma’s reputation. And attorney Peter Ginsberg says that while former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue did the right thin… |
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The Patriots Did Not Shut Down J.J. Watt Last NightDec 11, 2012
Jack Dickey, deadspin.com Reading what people have written about splendid Texans defensive end J.J. Watt from last night's Patriots romp, you'd think New England's line squashed Watt. "Kudos to Dante Scarnecchia and the New England offensive line for keeping Brady so clean,… |
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Jay Busbee, yahoo.com Terrell Owens, NBA player? It could have happened this past summer. The L.A. Clippers' Blake Griffin, speaking Tuesday morning on the Dan Patrick Show, said Owens wanted to latch on to the Clips. "He was at our practice facility this summer, beggin… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Olindo Mare is officially the new kicker for the Chicago Bears. The Bears placed Robbie Gould on injured reserve Tuesday, shortly after Mare won a competition over fellow veterans Billy Cundiff and Neil Rackers for the right to be the replacement should… |
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Ownership meeting figures to be “interesting”Dec 11, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The ruling from former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue overturning the suspensions imposed on four players arising from the Saints bounty case comes, coincidentally, as the owners are preparing to convene for a quarterly meeting. As one high-level source fr… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that the ultimate decision about whether or not wide receiver Dez Bryant continues playing with the finger injury he suffered against the Bengals. If that’s true, Bryant’s going to be in the lineup. He told Mike … |
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Paul Tagliabue has overturned the bounty player suspensions. But that doesn't mean all was innocent in New Orleans, Peter King writes, just that the blame lies elsewhere. |
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NFL declares victory, retreatsDec 11, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com In an earlier item analyzing the ultimate outcome of the bounty suspensions imposed on quartet of players, we pointed out that all parties will declare victory. The NFL already has. Appended to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello’s stream of tweetiousness summari… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Prior to this year’s NFL draft, analyst Mike Mayock called Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict a “non-draftable kid.” Burfict protested that Mayock was being “hurtful,” but it turned out that the NFL’s 32 teams agreed with Mayock, as Burf… |
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Paul Tagliabue Agrees With Goodell's Bountygate Findings, Vacates All Player Fines And Suspensions, Confuses EveryoneDec 11, 2012
Tom Ley, deadspin.com Just a few minutes ago, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who was tabbed to hear the second round of appeals brought forward by the players involved in the Saints bounty scandal, passed down his ruling. And it is confusing. NFL spokesperson Greg A… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Using the wisdom of Solomon and/or the eyesight of Magoo, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has taken a case in which there was no middle ground and created it. In a confusing announcement that NFL spokesman Greg Aiello has posted piecemeal on Twit… |
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Jay Busbee, yahoo.com The Georgia Dome is a perfectly serviceable football arena in downtown Atlanta, a 71,000-seat facility opened in 1992 that's hosted everything from Super Bowls to Final Fours to Olympics events. And since the key words in that sentence are "perfect… |
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Paul Tagliabue finds ‘conduct detrimental,’ but vacates all Saints player suspensions upon appealDec 11, 2012
Doug Farrar, yahoo.com Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has issued his ruling after hearing from parties on all sides in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, and Roger Goodell's predecessor has made a surprising decision: All player suspensions are vacated. Tagliabue,… |
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Tagliabue “vacates all player discipline”Dec 11, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com From the Twitter account of NFL spokesman Greg Aiello comes the league’s statement regarding the outcome of the bounty appeal hearing. The players have won. We think. “Tagliabue affirms factual findings of Commissioner Goodell concludes Hargrove, Sm… |
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We're Pretty Sure Steve Young Did Not Say The Texans Had "The Biggest Dick In The League" Last NightDec 11, 2012
Dom Cosentino, deadspin.com We've received a number of emails about this, and at least one other site has now reported it, no doubt because it has all the trappings of an epic malapropism by one of ESPN's on-air personalities. "Where is that dramatic fight from a team that th… |
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Dez Bryant wants to play, source saysDec 11, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Dez Bryant, who fractured his left index finger Sunday against against the Cincinnati Bengals, wants to continue playing, a source close to the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver told ESPN on Tuesday morning. |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com Few expected him to walk away with the franchise records for carries and rushing yards by a rookie, but Washington Redskins rookie running back Alfred Morris always believed he could make it in the NFL. He's proven the doubters right with an amazing sea… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Two of the NFL’s eight division titles have already been clinched. By Sunday night, that number could grow to six. The Texans, Ravens and Packers all clinch their divisions if they win on Sunday, while the 49ers will clinch the NFC West if they win and … |
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The Texans and Falcons look likely for the No. 1 seeds, but is anyone scared? Both teams look vulnerable, Peter King writes, and having home-field isn't all it's cracked up to be. |
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Cops: Valet lifts Wayne's car, arrested for DWIDec 11, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com An Indianapolis hotel valet faces drunken driving charges for allegedly taking Colts receiver Reggie Wayne's luxury car from the hotel and driving it while intoxicated. |
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Awards Watch: Who's new OPOY favorite?Dec 11, 2012
The pulse of the NFL season changes weekly. Every Tuesday, SI.com will break down the front-runners for the major NFL awards. |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com The chances of Braylon Edwards returning to the Jets are looking a little better Tuesday morning. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported and several Jets beat writers have confirmed that the team has released veteran running back Kahlil Bell. A league source te… |
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Eyewitness describes scene at crash that claimed the life of Cowboys linebacker Jerry BrownDec 11, 2012
Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com In the wake of the report that the mother of late Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown wants Josh Brent to ride with her and sit with the family during Brown's funeral, chilling details of what allegedly occurred at the crime scene are beginning to eme… |
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Tom Ley, deadspin.com Yesterday, the Dallas Morning News posted a video in which Stacee McWilliams, a Dallas resident who happened upon the aftermath of the car wreck that was caused by Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent and killed linebacker Jerry Brown, describes how she … |
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Redskins wideout may have let something slip re: RG3Dec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com While all the reports on Robert Griffin III seemed positive yesterday, Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon may have let the cat out of the bag regarding his quarterback’s status for this week’s game. Talking about their meeting with Cleveland, he sai… |
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Terrell Owens begged the Clippers to sign himDec 11, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The NFL isn’t the only league Terrell Owens wants to play in. Owens, who was last seen begging the Jets to give him a chance, also begged the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers to sign him, according to Clippers forward Blake Griffin. “Terrell Owens is alwa… |
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Funeral services in N.Y. set for Chiefs' BelcherDec 11, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, who shot and killed his girlfriend before taking his own life earlier this month, was laid out Tuesday in an open silver casket surrounded by flowers and displays of family snapshots at a church where hundred… |
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Mike Mularkey back at work after hospital visitDec 11, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com There have been no shortage of negative developments during Mike Mularkey’s first years as Jaguars coach, including Monday’s visit to the hospital for tests after Mularkey fell ill at the team’s facility. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was sent ou… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Although Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and quarterback Michael Vick have both passed their post-concussion tests, that doesn’t mean they’ll play on Thursday against the Bengals. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that neither McCoy nor Vick will go … |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com The family and friends of former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown had stayed out of the public eye for the most part since the Saturday morning car accident that took Brown's life and put the driver, Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent, in jail on… |
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Bears looking at kickers, but Gould says he’s fineDec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com I’ve always envisioned the kickers on the Tuesday tryout circuit traveling together, perhaps in a bus or a really small car, moving from city to city, pitching a tent, putting on a show and then moving onto the next town. Today, the traveling kicker cir… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com When news of Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant’s finger injury broke on Monday, the Cowboys indicated the fate of his season would depend on the results of his visits to doctors to assess the severity of the injury. Specifically, coach Jason Garrett said… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com When you give your car to a valet, you’re trusting him to park it and have it ready to give back to you when you return. Colts receiver Reggie Wayne gave his car to a valet who apparently didn’t understand that tacit agreement. The Indianapolis Star r… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com On Monday, Bills running back C.J. Spiller said that he’d like to have the ball in his hands more often than the Bills have given it to him so far this season. Spiller should get his wish. With Fred Jackson finished for the season because of a knee inju… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The tragedy that claimed the life of Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown entails various levels of blame and guilt. Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent caused the car crash that claimed Brown’s life, allegedly while Brent was driving drunk. If Brent was drunk, … |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The bad news for the Steelers is that they’re near the point of needing to win out to make the postseason. The good news is that their next two games are against teams with winning records, which seems to get their attention. Their next two are against … |
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Fitzgerald insists Cardinals will 'never' quitDec 11, 2012
HeadlineNews, ESPN.com Larry Fitzgerald on Monday said, although his father believes the Arizona Cardinals have quit on the season, that's not the case. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Sunday’s game between the Titans and Colts, during which Tennessee owner Bud Adams apparently opted for an end-zone suite, featured a controversial call that became less problematic after the home team won. For a while, though, it appeared that the clea… |
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Tuesday morning one-linersDec 11, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com A vote in favor of tweaks, not an overhaul, for the Bills. The Dolphins are on pace for the worst four-year stretch in franchise history. Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd didn’t have much to say after his biggest game in a while. Said Jets S Yeremiah Bell, “… |
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Bowles interviewed for Temple job last nightDec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com There were reports yesterday of Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ interest in the vacant head coaching job at Temple. The timing was good, since according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, he interviewed at his alma mater last night. Bowles played a… |
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Texans humbled, trying to move on quicklyDec 11, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Don’t think for a moment the Patriots didn’t notice the letter jackets. Because what they gave the Texans most last night was a lesson in the difference between good and great. “They just taught us how to play championship football,” Texans lineba… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker played his college football at Wisconsin for coach Barry Alvarez, who is now the school’s athletic director and is trying to find a new coach after Bret Bielema left for Arkansas. But Tucker says you can stop con… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Among the many big plays in the Patriots’ 42-14 destruction of the Texans, a six-yard run by Tom Brady barely registers. But Brady’s run on third-and-5 did extend a Patriots drive, and he was fired up and pumping his fist on the field. Afterward, Brad… |
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Brandon Jacobs, Stuck in San FranciscoDec 11, 2012
Toni Monkovic, nytimes.com The 49ers suspended the disgruntled former Giants running back, who seems more valuable to them as a player who doesn't play. |
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Brady looks MVP worthy in romp over TexansDec 11, 2012
Mike Reiss, ESPN.com Emotion, leadership on display as Patriots QB sparks rout of Texans |
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Darren McFadden returns to practice for RaidersDec 11, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden was back at practice on Monday after re-injuring his ankle in Thursday night’s loss to the Denver Broncos. McFadden had missed four game with a high ankle sprain before returning to the Raiders lineup against… |
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Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com The Houston Texans looked at Monday night’s game against the New England Patriots as the biggest in franchise history. The Patriots emphatically reminded the Texans they like the view from the top and don’t have any intention of passing that torch any… |
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The Texans made the wrong kind of statement in a 42-14 drubbing by the Patriots. Houston might still claim the AFC's top seed, says Don Banks, but Monday proved who's the real No. 1. |
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Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com More details continue to emerge from the incident early Saturday morning that ended the life of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown and landed defensive tackle Josh Brent in jail charged with intoxication manslaughter. The Dallas Morning News intervie… |
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Cards: Whisenhunt's job safe until season's endDec 11, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said a decision on whether Ken Whisenhunt remains as coach will be made after the season. |
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Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com Larry Fitzgerald Sr. was in Seattle on Sunday and got to witness first-hand the drubbing his son’s team took at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals season hit a new low as they turned the ball over eight times in a 58-0 loss to the Seahawks… |
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Brady throws 4 TDs as Pats pick apart TexansDec 11, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns and 296 yards as the New England Patriots manhandled the Houston Texans 42-14. |
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Cowboys' Bryant confirms he has broken fingerDec 11, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant confirms he broke his finger. |
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Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com The AFC East champion New England Patriots scored touchdowns on each of the first three possessions and made a strong statement to the rest of the teams in the AFC Playoff race as they blew out the AFC South-leading Houston Texans 42-14 at Gillette Stad… |
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The BQBL got dark this week. Pointing and laughing at the Jets and Cardinals last week was a hoot. Their mutual ineptitude gave the game a humorous, w... |
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I Suck at Football, Week 14: Back and to the LeftDec 11, 2012
On Sunday my sister drives me to the bar so I can watch the Bengals play the Dallas Cowboys. "Well, I hope they win," she says. "But I also hope they ... |
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Fourth and Short: It's Only One Game, HoustonDec 11, 2012
Patriots-Texans looked like Monday Night Football's most mouthwatering tilt for about 19 minutes of game time last night. By the time New England fini... |
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In case you were out living a life of leisure, here's what you missed in sports on Monday. In a battle of top AFC teams, Tom Brady threw for 296 yar... |
