National Football League News and Rumors
Bengals rally in second half for important win over EaglesCurtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com A turnover-fueled second half scoring barrage kept the Cincinnati Bengals from taking a costly blow to their postseason hopes in a 34-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. The win temporarily moves the Bengals (8-6) into the final playo… |
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Erik Malinowski, deadspin.com Bengals 34, Eagles 13: Well, that was something. For those that actually watched every second of this abomination of a football game—and from that club I exclude myself—I challenge anyone to explain where the redeeming value was in staging such a cont… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com It’s easy to get caught up in Adrian Peterson’s pursuit of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. For starters, Peterson is a great guy. He’s also a rare talent. And he’s coming back from one of the worst injuries a running back ca… |
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Nick Barnett expected to play for BillsDec 13, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com Despite missing practice the first two days of this week, Buffalo head coach Chan Gailey expects linebacker Nick Barnett to play when the Bills take the field against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Toronto. Barnett has been held out of practice this … |
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Talking bounty case with Peter KingDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com One of the best things about working with NBC is that I spend plenty of time hanging out with Peter King from noon until 11:00 p.m. or so on Sundays. We talk a lot of football, and we often disagree. But I always emerge from the discussion feeling a l… |
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Second scud? Cerullo letter to Tagliabue is leakedDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com On Thursday afternoon, Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt said that the leak of former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ testimony to the media amounted to a “scud,” presumably launched by the league office. Vitt predicted that another … |
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Dalton’s fumbles cause problems for the BengalsDec 13, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Heading into Thursday night, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton had two fumbles this season. In the second quarter on Thursday night, Dalton had two more. Those two fumbles, both in Bengals territory, led to two Eagles field goals, and Philadelphia came ba… |
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Young Packers fan in Clay Matthews jersey fan tells Bears’ mascot to ‘Deal with it, bro’Dec 13, 2012
Maggie Hendricks, yahoo.com The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers is fierce. It's the oldest in NFL history. The two teams play on Sunday, and if the Packers win, they clinch the NFC North. The rhetoric between the two teams has already begun. Green Bay's… |
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Bengals start fast in PhillyDec 13, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The Bengals are fighting for a playoff spot, and they opened their Thursday night game in Philadelphia like they mean business. After the Bengals kicked off, it took their defense just two plays to get the ball back, with Carlos Dunlap stripping Jeremy … |
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Jags-Fins will be televised in MiamiDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The Dolphins are in the midst of yet another sluggish season. And with the even-more-sluggish Jags coming to town, it’s hardly a tempting ticket. And yet the game will be televised locally. The Dolphins announced on Thursday that they have “complied… |
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Cowboys' Bryant says he's playing against SteelersDec 13, 2012
Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant says he will play with a broken finger Sunday against Pittsburgh and there are signs that it might not be wishful thinking. |
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Eagles' Vick, McCoy, Celek all out vs. BengalsDec 13, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, running LeSean McCoy and tight end Brent Celek are all out against the Cincinnati Bengals as they recover from concussions. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Several hours after an ESPN commentator questioned whether Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is authentically black, ESPN said those comments were out of line. In a statement released by an ESPN spokesman, the network said, “The comments were inap… |
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Aldon Smith says Niners can stop PatsDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The game of the weekend, assuming the road team shows up (unlike the Texans on Monday night), will be in Foxboro, where the 9-3-1 49ers will face the 10-3 Patriots. Have we mentioned the game is on NBC? San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith believes that… |
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Bengals win, keep playoff hopes aliveDec 13, 2012
The Eagles turned the ball over on four straight possessions, turning a three-point lead into a 21-point deficit. It ruined a strong defensive effort, giving the Bengals a 34-13 win. |
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The Bengals still have playoff hopes. The Eagles want to build off their first win in more than two months. There's plenty to watch as these two meet for the first time since 2008. |
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Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, Brent Celek, Mike Nugent headline Eagles, Bengals inactive listsDec 13, 2012
Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com According to Alex Flanagan of the NFL Network, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has been cleared by an independent neurologist, passing his final concussion protocol test, but was already been ruled out for Thursday night's game and will not… |
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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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Vikes assistant: Kluwe's campaigns 'getting old'Dec 13, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has made a name for himself as much for his willingness to take outspoken stands on issues that are important to him as he has for pinning opponents inside the 10-yard line. |
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Steelers chairman Dan Rooney leaving post in IrelandDec 13, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Steelers chairman emeritus Dan Rooney is coming home. According to Timothy McNulty of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rooney is stepping down as the United States’ ambassador to Ireland Friday. Rooney was named ambassador by President Barack Obama, and has… |
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DeMarcus Ware says he’s playing tooDec 13, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Wide receiver Dez Bryant has been the injured Cowboy garnering the most attention this week, but he’s not the only one whose presence would significantly boost their chances at winning on Sunday. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware missed a second straight day of … |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com If anyone in Southern California wants to see an underrated matchup between the Panthers and the Chargers on Sunday, which will feature the return of former Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and the debut of Cam Newton, plenty of good seats rema… |
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Bristolmetrics: ESPN Covered A Meaningless Monday Night Football Game More Than The Jovan Belcher Murder-SuicideDec 13, 2012
Patrick Burns, deadspin.com This is a regular feature breaking down, minute-by-minute, the content that appears on ESPN's 11 p.m. edition of SportsCenter throughout the week. More » |
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Andy Reid wants to coach someone in 2013Dec 13, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Owner Jeffrey Lurie still has to actually drop the axe on the guy who has coached the team since 1999, but it’s been widely believed for some time that the Eagles are going to part ways with Andy Reid after this season. Reid’s name has already come up… |
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League office says Goodell, Payton haven’t talkedDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com On Wednesday night, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that Commissioner Roger Goodell said he has been talking to suspended Saints coach Sean Payton about a possible reinstatement before the Super Bowl. The league now says that no such communications have occ… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was limited in practice today with neck and knee injuries, but the Bears say he’ll be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Packers. The neck injury was suffered on a hard hit Sunday against the Vikings, a hit that knoc… |
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Source: Redskins won't tab QB 'til SundayDec 13, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Robert Griffin III's knee is looking better as the quarterback practiced again Thursday but the Washington Redskins do not plan to announce their starting quarterback until Sunday, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. |
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Ex-Saints asst. Cerullo sends letter to TagliabueDec 13, 2012
John Barr, ESPN.com Former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo, who offered key evidence to NFL investigators as they worked to uncover proof of a pay-for-performance bounty system within the Saints organization, made his first public comments on the case in a letter Thursday. |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com There’s been no shortage of attention paid to Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III’s knee injury this week and we’ll spend a little time during Thursday’s Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Network hearing about how Griffin looks from one of his r… |
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Eagles will pay Mike PattersonDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Well, that was quick. The Eagles have decided to not to reduce the salary of defensive tackle Mike Patterson after his placement on the non-football illness list. Patterson, who began the season on the non-football illness list after surgery to repair a… |
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Vitt braces for “scuds,” presumably from Park AvenueDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Saints interim coach Joe Vitt met with the media on Thursday, facing for the first time publicly the allegation that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the architect of the bounty program, wanted to stop using it — but that he didn’t … |
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Roddy White misses second straight practiceDec 13, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com When Falcons wide receiver Roddy White missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury, coach Mike Smith indicated that it was minor and that White was expected back at practice on Thursday and expected to play on Sunday. Thursday’s practice has come an… |
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Caldwell won't overhaul Ravens' offenseDec 13, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Don't expect Jim Caldwell to incorporate the triple-option or a variety of trick plays in his first NFL game as an offensive coordinator. |
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Cowboys' Bryant says 'I'm playing' SundayDec 13, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant said Thursday he plans to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite his fractured left index finger. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III recently said in a recent interview that he didn’t want to be defined as an African-American quarterback. One ESPN commentator says that raises questions about Griffin. In fact, ESPN’s Rob Parker said Thursday m… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, allowing a little optimism, said quarterback Robert Griffin III did “better” at practice Thursday on his sprained right knee. “You could see he was more comfortable,” Shanahan said, via Stephen Whyno of the Washington… |
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ESPN’s Rob Parker says ridiculous things about RG3, takes ‘First Take’ to new levels of depravityDec 13, 2012
Doug Farrar, yahoo.com Nobody will ever mistake ESPN's "First Take" show with anything remotely resembling insightful, important, or accurate journalism. The trainwreck bookmarked by Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith has adopted the slogan "Embrace Debate"… |
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PunditTracker, deadspin.com Republished with permission from PunditTracker.com. More » |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Drew Brees says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has “little to no credibility” with players. Vikings defensive end Jared Allen seems to agree with that. Asked by Jim Rome on Showtime what he’d do if he became NFL commissioner, Allen said his goal wou… |
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Ryan: Tebow healthy, but won't run any WildcatDec 13, 2012
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Tim Tebow's days of running the New York Jets' wildcat-style offense appear over for now. |
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Drew Magary, deadspin.com Drew Magary's Thursday Afternoon NFL Dick Joke Jamboroo runs every Thursday during the NFL season. More » |
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RGIII practices for the second consecutive dayDec 13, 2012
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Robert Griffin III's knee is looking better. |
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Giants not sure how long Kenny Phillips will be outDec 13, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Giants coach Tom Coughlin had the status of several injured players to update on Thursday and there wasn’t much good news for three of the team’s starters. Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Coughlin said safety Kenny Phillips did suffer a… |
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Briggs: Packers TE 'idiot' for Urlacher remarkDec 13, 2012
ESPNChicago.com, ESPN.com The war of words between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers continued Thursday as Lance Briggs called Jermichael Finley "an idiot" for suggesting the Bears will be better off without Brian Urlacher on Sunday. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Texans punter Donnie Jones injured his leg trying to tackle Pats receiver Wes Welker on Monday night. Jones has a fairly simple explanation for it, which he has provided to teammates inclined to give him grief. “I told those guys, I said, ‘Look, you… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Ask Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch about this weekend’s Buffalo reunion, and you’re not going to get much. “I’m good, boss,” Lynch replied to questions about his time with the Bills, via Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune. Others are… |
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Josh Brent's Blood Alcohol Content Was More Than Twice The Legal Limit When He Flipped His CarDec 13, 2012
Isaac Rauch, deadspin.com Irving police arrested Cowboys DT Josh Brent for "intoxication manslaughter," so we knew that he was under the influence when he flipped his car in the crash that ultimately led to Jerry Brown's death. Now, the Dallas Morning News reports that… |
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No practice yet for GronkowskiDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Amid reports that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski may try to practice this week, nearly a month after suffering a broken forearm, he has not practiced yet. Then again, the week still isn’t over. According to Michael Whitmer of the Boston Globe, Gronko… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com A week after calling the people who run the Jets “idiots,” Braylon Edwards was claimed by the Jets when the Seahawks waived him. You might think calling your future bosses idiots isn’t the way to get yourself a new job, but Jets coach Rex Ryan says … |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com For three of the players whose suspension were overturned by former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the bounty case is finally over. As to Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, who was fully exonerated by Tagliabue, there’s nothing for Fujita to challenge in cou… |
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Jack Dickey, deadspin.com Rex and Rob Ryan turn 50 today. That's 100 years of Oklahoma-born, Ontario-raised, Illinois-and-Oklahoma-schooled, good-ole-boy-defensive-mastermindedness. We take this moment to look back fondly on all the joy the two—seen here in their college days—… |
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Will RGIII play? And if so, will he be the guy we've known? That could make all the difference for a Redskins team that needs wins to stay in the hunt. Peter King picks Week 15. |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com When South Carolina's back Marcus Lattimore dislocated his left kneecap and suffered several torn knee ligaments against Tennessee on October 27, it was the worst knee injury many had seen a star college running back prospect have since Miami's Willis … |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a playful shot at Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in talking to reporters on Wednesday, and in the process made a statement that he thinks the Steelers have the top fan base in the NFL. “He plays for ‘America… |
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Goodell: NFL to discuss expanding playoff fieldDec 13, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday at the NFL's owners meetings that the league would spend the next few months exploring playoff expansion. |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Chad Henne was supposed to be quarterbacking in Miami this weekend, but it was supposed to be as the Dolphins starter, not the Jaguars relief pitcher. And he admitted that’s going to make it an special trip. “There’s definitely going to be emotions,… |
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Lovie Smith says the Bears are in “great shape”Dec 13, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com There have been a couple of reports out of Chicago this week that Bears coach Lovie Smith is on the hot seat because the team has lost four of their last five games. Smith isn’t sweating anything, though. He said Wednesday that he thinks the team is in … |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com With the arrival of Nike as the official apparel provider for the NFL, the Seahawks were the first team to get an extreme makeover. Through 14 weeks, however, the Seahawks have been holding in their back pockets an alternative ensemble. Dubbed “Wolf G… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com At various points this season, there’s been speculation about whether or not Jason Garrett would return as Cowboys coach in 2013. Those questions won’t go away completely until we’re actually into the offseason without a change coming to Dallas, but… |
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PFT’s Week 15 picksDec 13, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Three weeks remain, and I’ve gradually built the lead back to four games. But MDS has a chance to trim the gap down to one, if he’s right and I’m wrong on the three games on which we disagree. And yes, Raiders fans, after four weeks of picking your … |
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Monte Burke, deadspin.com In 2009, Joe Moglia, then the CEO of TD Ameritrade, quit his job to coach football. He wanted to coach a college team. But no athletic director wanted him. So he took a job as head coach of the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks, a team that included former Buckeye… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Da’Rick Rogers, a talented wide receiver who had a 1,000-yard season at Tennessee as a sophomore but was kicked off the team for positive drug tests, is entering the 2013 NFL draft. Rogers finished his college career at Tennessee Tech after Tennessee bo… |
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OTL: NFL concussion program effort variesDec 13, 2012
Mark Fainaru, ESPN.com Three years after Congress pressured the NFL to overhaul its concussion program, the league effort remains marked by inconsistencies in how it tracks, treats and even describes serious head injuries. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com With former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue issuing a stunning rebuke to his successor on Tuesday via the scuttling of the bounty suspensions (along with a subtle, passive-aggressive scolding on how Commissioners should handle cultural changes) and with Com… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com It appears, as one PFT reader pointed out on Twitter, that December 12 is the official date for Festivus, since the NFLPA picked that day for the airing of grievances. But the grievance aired on Wednesday is an important one, regarding the efforts of te… |
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David Wilson tells co-workers to stop flipping outDec 13, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com While many people are flipping out about about his celebration, Giants rookie running back David Wilson just wants everyone to “relax.” Wilson’s post-touchdown backflip drew some cross looks from the normally buttoned-down Giants. “I told him seve… |
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Source: Dez to delay surgery, try to playDec 13, 2012
Ed Werder, ESPN.com After meeting with a hand specialist who confirmed a fractured left index finger requiring surgery, Dez Bryant has informed the Dallas Cowboys that he intends to delay the operation and will attempt to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a sour… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Even before his suspension for not showing up for last week’s game, Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall knew he was playing out the string in Pittsburgh. After he lost his starting job, was a healthy scratch against the Ravens, his decision to bail… |
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Thursday morning one-linersDec 13, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Bills DT Marcell Dareus keeps overcoming personal tragedies, which left him scared to leave the house. Dolphins S Reshad Jones used his day off this week to meet a 101-year-old fan. Patriots QB Tom Brady has become adept at selling play-action fakes. Fo… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com After sacking Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sunday, Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett got up and did a hula dance. And in case that was too subtle, Bennett wants to make it perfectly clear: That was his way of hinting that people should vote t… |
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Brian Burke, nytimes.com The Patriots' passing offense is so effective that it forces opponents to take big risks to keep pace, and this results in interceptions. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Although Lions-Cardinals is nowhere near the NFL’s best game on Sunday, that game will feature one of the NFL’s best individual matchups when Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is covered by Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. In fact, to hear Peterson … |
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Week 14 N.F.L. Film ReviewDec 13, 2012
Andy Benoit, nytimes.com Among the impressive players in Week 14 were Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie and resurgent Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. |
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Charles Woodson won’t play against ChicagoDec 13, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com The Green Bay Packers will have to do without Charles Woodson for another week. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday that team physician Patrick McKenzie didn’t feel it was in Woodson’s best interests to return to the field this week for the Packer… |
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Chargers place Vaughn Martin, Darrell Stuckey on IRDec 13, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com The San Diego Chargers lost two more players for the rest of the season on Wednesday as defensive end Vaughn Martin and safety Darrell Stuckey were placed on injured reserve. The Chargers now have 11 players on injured reserve. Vaughn suffered a groin i… |
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Lambeau Field fire causes $5,000 in damageDec 13, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com As winners of seven of their last eight games, the Green Bay Packers are among the hottest teams in the NFL. They aren’t to blame, however, for setting their historic stadium on fire. According to WLUK-TV in Green Bay, Lambeau Field suffered $5,000 in d… |
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Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com After getting just seven carries in the Buffalo Bills 15-12 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, running back C.J. Spiller admitted to having some frustration in his lack of touches. Spiller tried to say the right things but the displeasure still came … |
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Checking In on the NFL Numbers GameDec 13, 2012
It's good to check in with the league's most relevant team statistics about once every four weeks. Four weeks isn't enough to dramatically shift thing... |
