National Football League News and Rumors
Dolphins offense still stagnant in loss to BillsCurtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com It might be time to put the Miami Dolphins offense on the side of a milk carton because it continues to be missing in action. Their playoff hopes may have disappeared as well. Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd and linebacker Bryan Scott each intercepted … |
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Erik Malinowski, deadspin.com Bills 19, Dolphins 14: Oh, this game. From the get-go, it didn't look very promising that these AFC East foes would light up the scoreboard, although a nifty special teams moment early on gave up all some brief flicker of hope. More » |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Dwight Freeney, who spent the first 10 seasons of his career as a defensive end in a 4-3 front, is in his first year as a linebacker in Indy’s 3-4. He’s also in the final year of his contract. So what happens next year? “Well I mean you never know… |
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McKelvin's punt return for TD, 4 FGs lift BillsNov 15, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Leodis McKelvin scored on a 79-yard punt return, and the Buffalo Bills' defense finally flexed its muscles in a 19-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night. |
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Woody Johnson showed up at practice and said he wasn’t happy with his 3-6 team. That said, he still has every reason to smile over the media’s obsession with Tim Tebow. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Earlier this week, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson secured an important off-field victory, persuading a grand jury to not recommend formal charges of resisting arrest, stemming from a July incident in Houston. Under the league’s personal conduct po… |
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Report: Broncos' Miller fined $21K for low hitNov 15, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was fined $21,000 for his low hit on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, according to a Denver Post report. |
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Goodell remains hopeful that HGH testing is comingNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com On Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave a speech at the Harvard School of Public Health regarding the league’s efforts to make the game safer. After he finished his prepared remarks, Goodell took questions from the crowd. Per Albert Breer of … |
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Elvis Dumervil plans to return to practice FridayNov 15, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil has yet to practice this week after suffering a sprained left shoulder in a win over the Carolina Panthers last week. That’s expected to change tomorrow. According to Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press, D… |
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Ed Werder says he wasn’t firing shots at Rick ReillyNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Monday night’s on-air blunder from ESPN’s Rick Reilly grew legs longer than a giraffe with an overactive pituitary gland, spawning at one point an apparent incident of ESPN-on-ESPN crime. “Hey @reillyrick,” NFL reporter Ed Werder wrote, “please … |
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Josh Gordon reveals he was fined for hit on Ed ReedNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The NFL has a unique approach when it comes to player fines for in-game infractions. The league doesn’t announce the fines, but the league will provide the information upon request from the media. Every Friday, then, various media members ask — and … |
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Dolphins, Bills meet in AFC East clashNov 15, 2012
The Dolphins have trailed all night, but a Ryan Tannehill touchdown pass in the fourth quarter has brought them within striking distance of the Bills. Follow the rest of the game here. |
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Goodell says NFL has taken path toward safetyNov 15, 2012
BOSTON (AP) Professional football can evolve into a safer game without sacrificing the physical play - or, some would say, violence - that has made it so popular, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a speech on player safety at the Harvard School of … |
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Jets owner 'didn't sign up for a 3-6 season'Nov 15, 2012
Rich Cimini, ESPN.com New York Jets owner Woody Johnson declined Thursday to give a vote of confidence to coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum, saying it's not his policy to give evaluations during the season, but he left no doubt that he's bitterly disappointe… |
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Falcons' Jones misses 2nd straight practiceNov 15, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones missed practice for the second straight day with an ankle injury on Thursday and will be a game-time decision against Arizona. |
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Cutler misses practice, questionable for MondayNov 15, 2012
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler missed practice on Thursday and his playing status remains in question because of a concussion. |
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Quinn gets clearance to play on SundayNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Earlier this week, Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn said he’d been cleared to play after suffering a concussion against the Raiders last month. The next day, Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said otherwise. Now, the player and the team apparently are on the s… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin was already leading the league in punt returns even before Thursday night. And then he did something special the first time he got his hands on the ball against Miami. After the Dolphins went three-and-out on their opening poss… |
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No contract talks between Rams, AmendolaNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Rams receiver Danny Amendola said on Wednesday’s episode of Pro Football Talk that he’d have no problem with having the franchise tag used against him. That could be how it turns out. A source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that there cur… |
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Dolphins' Gaffney (knee) inactive against BillsNov 15, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Miami receiver Jabar Gaffney is sitting out the Dolphins' game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night because of a knee injury. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com There’s a new sheriff in Cleveland. And his top deputy is getting ready to make some changes, possibly. The good news (if there is any) for coach Pat Shurmur and G.M. Tom Heckert is that the suspense won’t last very long beyond the completion of the… |
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49ers' Jacobs causes a stir with boss 'hate' tweetNov 15, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 49ers running back Brandon Jacobs has posted advice on Twitter with a reference to never working "in a place where you hate your boss so much." The hash tag: "YouLiveAndYouLearn." |
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Dwayne Bowe denies he wanted out of KC “very badly”Nov 15, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Before the trade deadline, there was a report that Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe wanted out of Kansas City “very badly.” That never came to pass, but Bowe now says it wasn’t the truth. “Why wouldn’t I want to stay here? It’s a no-brainer fo… |
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Alex Smith practices on a limited basis for 49ersNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com On Wednesday, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith was cleared to practice after suffering a concussion against the Rams on Sunday. On Thursday, Smith returned to practice, on a limited basis. Then again, practice for a quarterback is always limited, given tha… |
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Darren Sproles moves closer to a returnNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com … |
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Von Miller picks up 21K fine for hit on Cam NewtonNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Broncos linebacker Von Miller attracted plenty of attention for his stellar play on Sunday against the Panthers. He also attracted the attention of the league office. Miller has been fined $21,000 for a low hit on quarterback Cam Newton, according to M… |
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Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com The San Francisco 49ers began on-field preparations for Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears without head coach Jim Harbaugh, who underwent surgery at Stanford Hospital for an irregular heartbeat on Thursday, the club announced. "Coach Har… |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com In the last week, two significant events put a nice bow on the 50-year run of NFL Films, the remarkable and revolutionary company started in 1962 by Ed Sabol. Last Friday, Films employees gathered outside the company's enormous headquarters in Mount Lau… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Maybe at this point, we should just call the roll. First, Jets linebacker Bart Scott said he wasn’t the unnamed teammate who said Tim Tebow was “terrible,” refuting a suggestion by former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson. Now, the other suspect Tomlinso… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Cornerback Aqib Talib met the media on Thursday for the first time since the Patriots traded a fourth-round pick to the Buccaneers to acquire him just before the trade deadline. Talib said all the expected things about being excited to join the team and… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne wants the Browns to throw at him this Sunday. The Browns are hopeful that Joe Haden will be on the field for the Cowboys to attack. The Browns best cornerback missed practice on Thursday after he injured an oblique mu… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Falcons could be closer to getting one of their best defensive players back on the field, and keeping one of their best offensive guys there. Both linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and wide receiver Julio Jones were held out of practice Thursday, but coa… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com We noted this morning that an anonymous scout was quoted as saying that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is coddled and doesn’t push himself. Unsurprisingly, Suh doesn’t think highly of that critic, whoever he or she is. “It’s really funny tha… |
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Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com Here is the Sun-Sentinel's Chris Perkins on tonight's Dolphins-Bills game: More » |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The fact that Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant could eventually secure a dismissal of the charges arising from the alleged assault of his mother by completing an anger-management course and staying out of trouble won’t keep him out of trouble with the league… |
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Tom Ley, deadspin.com iVillage.com seems like the kind of website that moms are supposed to read. Really lame moms, based on the fact that it runs articles that are as hilariously pearl clutch-y as this one. More » |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com As expected, Jets running back Shonn Greene took a step back from his “Something’s got to change,” remarks made to Yahoo’s Mike Silver when he addressed the rest of the assembled media Thursday. Via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Greene … |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Chargers running back Ryan Mathews remained in last Sunday’s game after a scary helmet-to-helmet collision that led to Buccaneers linebacker Quincy Black being carted off the field, but he wasn’t totally unscathed. Mathews has now missed practice on b… |
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Former Texans punter sues over Reliant Stadium turfNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement protects the league and its teams from a wide variety of player lawsuits; indeed, the concussion litigation eventually may fail because of the terms of the CBA. But the CBA doesn’t provide protections to folks… |
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Dad: In first start, Foles 'ready for any challenge'Nov 15, 2012
Dad: In first start, Foles 'ready for any challenge' |
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Sproles could return to Saints backfield this weekNov 15, 2012
Sproles could return to Saints backfield this week |
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49ers' Harbaugh has minor procedure for heartNov 15, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has been sent to the hospital for a "minor procedure" after doctors discovered he had an irregular heartbeat. |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said Thursday he didn’t understand the discrepancy in the NFL’s fine system, considering the vastly different amounts from a pair of hits he saw firsthand. Phillips said he didn’t get that Texans linebacker… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Earlier on Thursday, it was revealed that Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith had groin surgery and the team passed word via its website that he’s expected to return before the end of the season. Ian Rapaport of the NFL Network has a bit more information abou… |
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Urlacher again: I'd lie about concussionNov 15, 2012
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher still says he would lie to cover up a concussion. |
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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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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com For many teams, the reports about player participation in practice serve as a pretty good guideline about their chances of playing on Sunday. The Patriots are not one of those teams. Tight end Aaron Hernandez has been a perfect example of that this seas… |
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Redman says Mendenhall will start Sunday nightNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com For the first time this year, the Steelers won’t have their starting quarterback. For the third time, they’ll have their starting running back. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers running back Isaac Redman said it “loo… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Jets owner Woody Johnson is not pleased with the talk that he cares more about how much money he can make from personal seating licenses than he cares about the team’s win-loss record. Johnson addressed the media today and said that he doesn’t appreci… |
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Steelers teammates confident in Leftwich’s abilitiesNov 15, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Byron Leftwich knows no one is giving him much of a chance. The Steelers are 0-4 against the Ravens without the injured Ben Roethlisberger, who is not going to play Sunday night because of a dislocated rib and sprained shoulder. But the Steelers backup … |
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Former Texans Punter Suing Reliant Stadium Owners For Being Injured By Its Crappy FieldNov 15, 2012
Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com This week, the Texans brought in a handful of veteran kickers for tryouts. They're reportedly happy with Shayne Graham's field goals, but wish he could get a little more distance on kickoffs. They had a decent candidate last year, an undrafted rookie K/… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com The Giants gave their players the week off, but there was still activity at the team’s facility this week. Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that the team had a slew of players in for a look while their current players enjoyed some rest an… |
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The Saints have life again, as does their surprise featured back, Dennis Dillon writes. Chris Ivory has provided a spark that has fans asking the team's coaches, What took so long? |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The PSL soap opera continues to unfold in Minnesota. Governor Mark Dayton, who sent a nasty letter to owners Zygi and Mark Wilf on Tuesday regarding the team’s plan to use Personal Seat Licenses to help fund the franchise’s $477 million share of the n… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Ravens weren’t deep in the secondary to begin with, and now they’re without another cornerback. Former first-rounder Jimmy Smith, who was replacing Lardarius Webb after he went on injured reserve, had groin surgery today. The team hopes he’ll re… |
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Steelers lose linebacker Chris Carter for the seasonNov 15, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Chris Carter started at outside linebacker for the Steelers for the first three games of the season while James Harrison was injured. Now it’s Carter who’s injured and out. The Steelers announced today that Carter suffered an abdominal injury and will… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Last Sunday wound up as a very good day for the Cowboys, but it wasn’t such a good day for rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne. Claiborne was penalized five times, twice for being offsides, and was beaten for a touchdown pass in the 38-23 victory over th… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com If John Elway wanted to be safe, he could have continued enjoying retirement and selling cars. But for Hall of Fame quarterback has taken a hands-on role as the Broncos football boss, and hasn’t been afraid to make tough decisions. One of the biggest wa… |
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Jay Busbee, yahoo.com Praising/vilifying Tim Tebow recently passed the NHL as America's No. 4 spectator sport, and this latest news will only stoke the fire. In response to highly critical comments from teammates about his potential and performance (one unnamed teammate call… |
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So, who’s the REAL Optimus Prime?Nov 15, 2012
Doug Farrar, yahoo.com We never thought there would be a battle between two of the NFL's elite cornerbacks for the title of "Optimus Prime," but that's exactly what we seem to have now. Before the Seattle Seahawks went against the Detroit Lions in a Week 8 matchup, … |
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Backup quarterbacks in the NFL signal doom as Super Bowl contenders better keep starters healthyNov 15, 2012
Back in the good old days Jeff Hostetler came off the bench for an injured Phil Simms midway through the 1990 season and went on to quarterback the Giants to a Super Bowl championship. |
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PFT Live: Shaun King, Week 11 PicksNov 15, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Between the injuries suffered by four starting quarterbacks last weekend and the conflagration with the Jets over the last couple of days, there’s plenty going on with the league’s signal callers right now. It’s a good time to get the impressions of… |
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Spielman mum on contracts for Frazier, HarvinNov 15, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Whether he wants to talk about them or not, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has two huge contract decisions to make this offseason. But Spielman was adamant he wasn’t going to discuss the situations of wide receiver Percy Harvin or coach Leslie Fr… |
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Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com There's an intriguing study published today in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, called "Racial Bias in Perceptions of Others' Pain." Researchers from the University of Virginia and Northwestern University examined NFL injury reports over tw… |
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Peter King: Week 11 picksNov 15, 2012
The Chargers are playing for more than their last playoff hopes this week, they're playing for jobs. Can San Diego beat Denver to stay alive in the AFC West? Peter King makes his picks. |
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Former Jets enjoy the peace of Rams locker roomNov 15, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com From a thousand miles away, former Jets tackle Wayne Hunter knew exactly what was happening in his old locker room. He didn’t like it then, and he doesn’t like it now. Now with the Rams, Hunter said the culture that creates anonymous rip jobs like yes… |
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Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com Is your pride worth $450? That's how much one Browns fan earned from his friends for sticking his head into a bucket of human piss, before Cleveland's Week 6 game last month. He was none the worse for wear, and the Browns won, so it seemed like the man … |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Bears kicker Robbie Gould issued a statement of apology to the grounds crew at Solider Field, but not before suggesting he might leave Chicago on account of the grass. Gould was critical of the conditions during a driving rainstorm that dumped two inche… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Starting quarterbacks went down with injuries left and right during Week 10, but the Colts don’t want that to impact the way Andrew Luck plays the game. The Colts quarterback called those injuries the “nature of the game” and said that he didn’t t… |
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PFT’s Week 11 picksNov 15, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com That five-game lead over MDS has grown to seven, with seven weeks left. If anyone is capable of blowing this lead, I am. This week, we disagree on three games. Last week, we were 10-3-1 and 8-5-1, respectively. (I would have predicted the Rams-49ers w… |
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Redskins' Shanahan victim of theft in PittsburghNov 15, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com The Washington Redskins say coach Mike Shanahan had money and a passport stolen from the locker room during the road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last month. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com No one likes to see three starting quarterbacks knocked out of games with concussions on one Sunday. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does see a silver lining. Goodell said on Mike and Mike in the Morning that he believes progress has been made in the… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com When the Falcons released defensive end Ray Edwards, they made it clear that it was a decision made because Edwards’ diminished play no longer warranted a spot on the team’s roster. They didn’t say anything about also wanting to send a message to th… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Not that they weren’t already concerned, but last weekend made the Packers that much more conscious of keeping Aaron Rodgers upright. With Michael Vick, Jay Cutler and Alex Smith leaving with concussions, it brought back into focus for them the risk the… |
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Peyton gets ribbed for awkward slideNov 15, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com When it comes to passing, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is having a great year. When it comes to running, he’s not. (Then again, given that he has the physique of the pre-oil-can Tin Man, when has he?) As explained by Lindsay H. Jones of USA Toda… |
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Redskins tab 'hungrier' RG3 a team captainNov 15, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Robert Griffin III made his debut as an NFL captain with typical RG3 flair, wearing mismatched shoes, saying he's "even hungrier" following a few days off and lamenting that he likely won't get to play against Michael Vick on Sunday. |
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Thursday morning one-linersNov 15, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Bills are an awful 2-13 in AFC East games under Chan Gailey. For the Dolphins, tonight brings a test of whether they’re legitimate playoff contenders or not. The Patriots’ league-best turnover margin could get a boost against a Colts team near the… |
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Breaston falls out of favor in Kansas CityNov 15, 2012
Evan Silva, profootballtalk.com It wasn’t so long ago that Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinal, looked to be emerging as one of the league’s most promising young wide receivers. Breaston caught 77 balls for 1,006 yards in 2008, catching passes from Kurt Warner. Three years later, Breas… |
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Jets Are Given 8.9 Percent Chance to Make PlayoffsNov 15, 2012
Toni Monkovic, nytimes.com The Jets are a bad football team, but there are a lot of bad teams in the A.F.C., and Tim Tebow has overcome odds greater than this. |
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Brian Burke, nytimes.com The injury that may have the biggest effect on any team this season is probably Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder and rib injury. |
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DeMarco Murray says “a chance” he’s back this weekNov 15, 2012
Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com Running back DeMarco Murray is getting close to being able to return for the Dallas Cowboys. Murray has missed the Cowboys’ last four games with a sprained foot suffered against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. Murray officially did not practice on Wedne… |
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Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins and wide receiver Chris Givens were surprise scratches from last Sunday’s game with the San Francisco 49ers. The pair was suspended for the game by Rams head coach Jeff Fisher for an unspecified violation of tea… |
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Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com After another costly interception from San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, head coach Norv Turner was asked if he’d consider sitting his starting quarterback. Turner had benched running back Ryan… |
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The Sports Guy's Thursday NFL PickNov 15, 2012
Bill Simmons, grantland.com Who's up for another three hours of shitty football? Pull up a chair and watch poorly prepared, banged-up football players from two forgettable teams... |
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The Five Worst Passes of the 2012 NFL SeasonNov 15, 2012
You may have noticed that we at Grantland take bad quarterback play very seriously. While Grantland's finest in the Los Angeles office take part in th... |
