National Football League News and Rumors
Rams put end to Cards' unbeaten startThe Cardinals were undefeated ... until they played the Rams. Sam Bradford threw two scoring passes and the St. Louis defense recorded nine sacks in a 17-3 win over Arizona. |
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Amendola has broken collarboneOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The contract year of Rams receiver Danny Amendola has been abruptly interrupted by an injury that will knock him out of action for several weeks. Per a team source, Amendola has a broken collarbone. The injury came in the first half of Thursday night’s … |
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Ponder’s sore knee is improvingOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder developed a knee problem this week. As the team prepares to attempt to stretch its record to 4-1 against the Titans, Ponder’s knee is improving. “It didn’t bother him very much on Monday, but it was really sore… |
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Rams' Jackson could opt out of deal after 2012Oct 4, 2012
Mike Sando, ESPN.com St. Louis Rams veteran running back Steven Jackson has negotiated an out to his contract following the 2012 season, in lieu of an extension, both his agent and the team confirmed to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday. |
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There are no such things as breathers in the NFL, particularly if you’re the defending Super Bowl champions like the Giants.But the natural inclination would be to look at a young team like the Browns and think that way. |
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Larry Fitzgerald pays tribute to his motherOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Every October, the NFL promotes breast cancer awareness by allowing the otherwise sacrosanct NFL uniform to be invaded by copious amounts of pink. Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who lost his mother to the disease in 2003, has taken the tribute a s… |
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Tebow continues to tiptoe around tough topicsOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com With increasing speculation that the Jets should remove the funk hovering over the franchise by benching quarterback Mark Sanchez and going with Tim Tebow, the New York media tried their damnedest on Thursday to get Tebow to give them a sound bite sugge… |
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Ben Tate’s status is undecided for Monday nightOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com As the Texans prepare to become the second straight opponent to apply the “ground and pound” to the Jets on their own turf, running back Ben Tate may not be available for grounding and/or pounding. Tate missed practice on Thursday with a toe injury. … |
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Picking apart the Week Five picksOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Every Thursday, MDS joins PFT Live to discuss our game picks for the coming week. This week, we disagree on two games — Cardinals at Rams (which is going on right now) and Falcons at Redskins. We also each have one game that makes us nervous. For MDS,… |
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Jason Pierre-Paul isn’t having funOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com … |
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Chargers' Pagano speaks about brother's illnessOct 4, 2012
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about his brother Chuck, the Indianapolis Colts' head coach who was diagnosed with a treatable form of Leukemia last week. |
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Jason Peters thinks he can play this seasonOct 4, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Eagles left tackle Jason Peters ruptured his Achilles tendon in March, had it surgically repaired, and then ruptured it again in May. Describing his offseason like that, you might think that it goes without saying that Peters won’t play until the 2013 s… |
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Sanchez doesn't feel 'threatened' by TebowOct 4, 2012
Rich Cimini, ESPN.com Tim Tebow denied speculation that he is frustrated in his smaller-than-expected role, and starter Mark Sanchez -- in his strongest comments to date -- insisted he's not concerned about the possibility of being replaced by the popular backup. |
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Rams' Jackson, Cards' Dockett get starting nodsOct 4, 2012
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is starting for the Cardinals against the St. Louis Rams after sitting out last week because of a hamstring injury. |
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Second NFLPA Collegiate Bowl set for Jan. 19Oct 4, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com The NFL Players Association said Thursday that the second NFLPA Collegiate Bowl will be played Jan. 19 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. |
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Payton to attend Chargers-Saints, sources sayOct 4, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will be in attendance at the Louisiana Superdome for Sunday night's game against the San Diego Chargers, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com One of the first things Jets coach Rex Ryan did in the wake of Sunday’s 34-0 pounding at the hands of the 49ers was to reaffirm his commitment to Mark Sanchez as the team’s starting quarterback. Ryan’s unwavering support of his quarterback after a 1… |
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David DeCastro feeling no pain in his kneeOct 4, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com The Steelers lost guard David DeCastro for at least the first eight weeks of the season when they put him on the injured reserve/recall list after he injured his knee in the preseason. DeCastro can start practicing after six weeks, the exact date is Oct… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning says the report that he’s trying to buy a piece of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies isn’t quite right: According to Manning, it’s his wife, Ashley, who is the investor in the group trying to buy the Grizzlies. In stat… |
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Erik Malinowski, deadspin.com Heading into this Sunday night's game against San Diego, Drew Brees is one TD pass away from breaking Johnny Unitas' 52-year-old NFL record for most consecutive games throwing for a score. That, Brees deemed, was a big-enough occasion to decide to perso… |
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Hernandez (ankle) returns to Pats practice fieldOct 4, 2012
Mike Rodak, ESPN.com New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle) back at practice. |
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Gregg Williams will attend Rams-Cardinals gameOct 4, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis and Joe Vitt aren’t going to be the only notable names in attendance at an NFL game this week. Gregg Williams is going to be in attendance at another Rams game on Thursday night. The NFL confirmed to PFT that Williams will be… |
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Jack Dickey, deadspin.com Tom Brady's had losses in his day. Big ones. Like Super Bowl XLII. And Super Bowl XLVI. He never lost $6 billion, but he never had $6 billion to lose. Brady feels for losers. So when someone loses, and Tom Brady can help, he gets on the horn. Here's Van… |
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NFLPA: Adviser program doesn't net incomeOct 4, 2012
ESPN.com, ESPN.com The NFL Players Association said that its program to register financial advisers does not create revenue for the organization, and that fees it charges for the program have increased because of background checks rather than as a way to make money. |
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Browns S Ward practices despite broken thumbOct 4, 2012
Associated Press, ESPN.com Browns starting safety T.J. Ward is practicing with a broken right thumb and could play this Sunday against the New York Giants. |
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Rams allow Jackson to void final year of dealOct 4, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Steven Jackson wasn’t able to hit the statistical plateaus that would have allowed him to void out the final two years of his contract, but the Rams are going to let him slide on the last one anyway. According to Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com, the Rams d… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com It wasn’t much of a choice for the Cardinals to tab Kevin Kolb as their starting quarterback for the fourth straight game on Thursday night against the Rams. Mike Florio reports that John Skelton’s sprained ankle has not healed enough for him to get b… |
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Mjd, yahoo.com #CHUCKSTRONG is already a popular hashtag on Twitter, but the campaign of support for Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is about to get a lot more visible. Pagano was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and the Colts organization, through its CHU… |
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Trent Richardson: Browns can run on GiantsOct 4, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Browns running back Trent Richardson has watched the film of the Giants’ loss to the Eagles, and he liked what he saw. Richardson told New York reporters that after seeing the Giants’ defense give up 191 rushing yards against Philadelphia, he’s conf… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Week Five kicks off on Thursday night with the Rams and Cardinals and Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Network will get you all the news you need to know about the game well ahead of kickoff. Amani Toomer and Pete Najarian will break down the game in one… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com The Redskins got wide receiver Pierre Garçon back for Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers, although it was clear he wasn’t 100 percent recovered from his foot injury during the game. Garçon’s biggest play came when he fell on a Robert Griffin III fum… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has a groin injury that has now kept him from practicing the past two days. Per multiple reports, Allen did some individual work “on the side” today. The goal is to let him rest, so that he can play on Sunday agains… |
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Peyton joins ownership group of NBA's GrizzliesOct 4, 2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A person familiar with the deal says NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and his wife, Ashley, and former NBA player Penny Hardaway have agreed to join the group of minority owners for the Memphis Grizzlies. |
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Not playing Sun.: Giants' NicksOct 4, 2012
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks won't play in Sunday's game against Cleveland because of recurring left foot and knee problems. |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com After a summer spent away from the Jaguars, running back Maurice Jones-Drew said he didn’t want another. “I’m not gonna hold out again,” he told Albert Breer of the NFL Network, before stepping back from that particular ledge. “I don’t think s… |
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Giants' Nicks to Miss Third Consecutive GameOct 4, 2012
Sam Borden, nytimes.com Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who has been battling knee and ankle injuries, won't return by Sunday to play the Cleveland Browns. |
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Packers WR Jennings (groin) out against ColtsOct 4, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings will miss Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts due to a groin injury. |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com It's hard to become one of the best players in the NFL at any position, and much tougher to do it over an entire career. But if you ask San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis about toughness, and what can really be hard in life, he can tell you a… |
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Packers rule Greg Jennings out for Week FiveOct 4, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com It was pretty easy to predict that the Packers were going to try to beat the Colts this weekend without wide receiver Greg Jennings after Jennings aggravated his groin injury against the Saints, but we thought we’d have to wait until Friday for them to … |
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Aldrick Robinson recovers from pregame collisionOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Before Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers, Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather ran into receiver Aldrick Robinson, who was walking with his head down. Robinson was knocked unconscious. Amazingly, Robinson has been cleared to play. Even more amazingly,… |
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Sam Eifling, deadspin.com The debate Wednesday could be compared to many things—a slow dance in which the partners are holding potato peelers to each other's throats, perhaps, or a restaurant in which you, the diner, get to watch a prep cook slow-spit on your burger before it's … |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Well, now we know why the Saints looked at a quintet of free-agent receivers on Tuesday. Lance Moore, who is tied with Marques Colston with 19 receptions for the most among wide receivers, hasn’t practiced this week due to a hamstring injury, according … |
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Replacement refs say they were told to let pass interference penalties go on Hail Mary playsOct 4, 2012
Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com Thankfully, the Replacement Official Era of the NFL is over, but the officiating issue is not completely off our radar screen. Ed Hochuli graces the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy demonstrated his class la… |
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Panthers going in short-handed against SeahawksOct 4, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Panthers have enough issues on defense, but now they appear to be going in short-handed. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Thursday (via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer) that cornerback Chris Gamble wasn’t expected to play this week because of a s… |
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Brian McIntyre, yahoo.com The Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams kick off Week 5 of the 2012 NFL regular season on Thursday night in St. Louis. Before they do, though, here's a look at a few under-the-radar performances from the first four weeks of the season. Over 1,600 playe… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com 49ers safety Donte Whitner will face off against his former team this weekend when the Bills head to San Francisco for a Saturday afternoon matchup. Whitner doesn’t have the fondest memories of his time in Buffalo. During the playoffs last season, Whitn… |
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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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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Every husband inevitably gets the question from his wife. In some cases, the question is asked routinely. Possibly daily. But now the tables have been turned, at least among some NFL players. In major cities throughout America, large men are modelin… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin didn’t really know what Steelers receiver Antonio Brown meant when he called him a “candy bar,” though he surmised it was not a compliment. “It’s up to me to do what I got to do to make sure they don’t treat me… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com Earlier this week, Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said that wide receiver Julio Jones‘ lacerated hand contributed to the fact that he finished last Sunday’s victory over the Panthers with just one catch. It doesn’t seem that he cleared t… |
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Peter King: Week 5 picksOct 4, 2012
The Cards are a shocking 4-0, but midnight could be near for Cinderella. There's one fatal flaw in the desert, and it could cost them against the Rams. Peter King picks Week 5's games. |
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Sources: Peyton to join as Grizzlies part-ownerOct 4, 2012
Darren Rovell, ESPN.com Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning isn't allowed to own a piece of a football team per NFL rules, but that doesn't mean he can't own a piece of another team in another sport. |
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"Are We Live? Oh Shit." Liam Neeson Appears On SportsCenter And Has Absolutely No Idea What He's Being AskedOct 4, 2012
John Koblin, deadspin.com Liam Neeson dragged himself onto SportsCenter yesterday to pimp Taken 2 and wow. Has there ever been a guest on SportsCenter who was so unprepared to be a guest on SportsCenter? Neeson didn't like where it was headed from the get-go—he was being asked a… |
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Mjd, yahoo.com An alternative definition of the word "sweet", used by today's freshest young whippersnappers, is "easy" or "not presenting much of a challenge." For example, if you're in a bar throwing darts, and you get to play a against… |
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Jay Busbee, yahoo.com All right, this is fairly awesome: over the weekend, word began spreading that Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy has used a clever catchphrase as he's juked would-be tacklers: his own last name. Andrew Taglianetti, a senior at Pittsburgh and… |
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Falcons could become next team to use PSLsOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The Falcons are hoping to get a new stadium to replace the Georgia Dome. If they do, fans could end up having to pay for the ability to sit in the seats to which they buy tickets. According to 11Alive News in Atlanta, an NBC affiliate, the latest term … |
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Colts extend sellout streak to 82Oct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com During the offseason, with season-ticket holders opting to take a break and the waiting list fully exhausted, there were concerns that the Colts wouldn’t be able to sell out their home stadium on a consistent basis. So far, the post-Peyton Colts have so… |
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Jags remove some tarps for SundayOct 4, 2012
Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com Jags owner Shahid Khan eventually wants to remove all tarps from EverBank Field. He’ll start by removing some. Specifically, the tarps will be lifted from Section 403 for Sunday’s game against the Bears. “We’re pleased with demand for tickets fo… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com No defense has been better at taking the ball away than Chicago’s. And no Bear has been better at it than Tim Jennings, which is why he won NFC defensive player of the month honors Thursday. The Bears cornerback leads the NFL with four interceptions, an… |
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Matt Ryan wins NFC offensive player of the monthOct 4, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com For many people, nothing Matt Ryan does in September will ever matter. But it was still a really good September. The Falcons quarterback was named NFC offensive player of the month for September, for leading his team to a 4-0 record. Ryan was fairly phe… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The AFC and NFC special teams players of the month for September have something in common: They’re return men who played against the Lions. Detroit’s dreadful kick coverage units gave up four return touchdowns in September, and two of the return men w… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Chandler Jones has made an immediate impact on the Patriots defense, and how he has some hardware to prove it. Jones was named NFL defensive rookie of the month for September. Jones has 17 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in four games for th… |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com There are rarely dull moments around the Jets and this week has proven to be no exception. They got crushed by the 49ers, lost Santonio Holmes for the season and signed cornerback Aaron Berry coming off of a suspension for incidents that helped pave his… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is the is the recipient of the NFL’s September Rookie of the Month Award. That’s no surprise after Griffin completed a month in which he went 86-for-124 passing, with 1,070 yards, four touchdowns and a passer ra… |
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Packers coach reaches out to controversial refOct 4, 2012
ESPN.com news services, ESPN.com One of the NFL replacement officials at the heart of the most controversial moment of the lockout said that Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has reached out to him. |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com A cottage industry emerged last week among a small handful of contrarians who pandered to Seahawks fans by suggesting that the events that concluded the Monday night game between Green Bay and Seattle were handled correctly. That industry can now offici… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com Maybe new Jets wide receiver Jason Hill is just better suited to smaller markets. The same guy who called the Jets “overhyped” and cornerback Darrelle Revis a “good player” when he was with the Jaguars is now astonished anyone in New York remember… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The people trying to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles say they’re ready to do it next season, putting an NFL team in a Southern California stadium in 2013 and then moving the team to the downtown Farmers Field when it’s ready to open in a few years. … |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The per-team unadjusted salary cap this year is $120.6 million. But no team has an actual salary cap of $120.6 million. Via various accounting devices (including the ability to carry over unused cap space from 2011 and the penalties imposed on the Cowbo… |
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Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com It was easy to laugh about Broncos kicker Matt Prater’s pass attempt gone wrong because they won 37-6, but it also shined the light on one of coach John Fox’s career frustrations. The notoriously conservative coach has never gotten the hang of trick p… |
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PFT’s Week Five picksOct 4, 2012
Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Last week was a very good week. But for a late field goal by the Redskins, misplaced faith in the Chiefs, and a failure to realize that, as Joe Theismann says, Tony Romo “isn’t that good,” I would have generated the first perfect week of picks in … |
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DeAngelo Hall and Mike Smith make upOct 4, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com DeAngelo Hall never played for Mike Smith, and they never had the warmest relationship. But they apparently patched things up over mai tais (or something) in Hawaii. Hall was one of the first players shipped out when Smith and general manager Thomas Dim… |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com At one time, we thought that the most amazing and unprecedented aspect of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees breaking Johnny Unitas' record of 47 straight regular-season games with at least one touchdown pass would be the fact that anybody broke … |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com The Jets have a real need at receiver. But they really don’t want Plaxico Burress. No one wants Plaxico Burress. And it makes no sense. Last year, fresh from an extended stay at the Motel 6-to-10, Burress had multiple suitors. The Jets wanted him.… |
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Daily Screencap Classic: J-E-S-T JEST JEST JESTOct 4, 2012
Timothy Burke, deadspin.com The 2-2 Jets, mired in a trench of poor quarterback play and idiots screaming for Tebow, added to that the reeling feeling of learning Santonio Holmes would be missing the rest of the season. More » |
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Cowboys lacking home-field advantageOct 4, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com The Cowboys have a showplace of a stadium. They just don’t have a home-field advantage. The Cowboys are a meager 14-12 in Cowboys Stadium since it opened in 2009, and the Bears felt particularly at home Monday. “Big ups to all the Chicago fans in Dall… |
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Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com … |
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Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com When the Bengals signed running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis as a free agent this offseason, his ball security was often noted as one of his great strengths. Green-Ellis didn’t fumble at all in his 545 touches as a member of the Patriots and he didn’t f… |
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Thursday morning one-linersOct 4, 2012
Darin Gantt, profootballtalk.com After searching all last year, the Bills are still looking for any degree of consistency on offense. Dolphins CB Sean Smith is living up to expectations after the Vontae Davis trade. Patriots RT Sebastian Vollmer is playing better after a slow start. Je… |
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Ankle still an issue for Kenny BrittOct 4, 2012
Josh Alper, profootballtalk.com No matter what point you’ve checked in with Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt this year, there’s been some issue getting in the way of his ability to just get on the field and play. This is nothing new. Britt has missed 19 of 52 games since joining the… |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com Reggie Bush suffered a knee injury in Week Three and then played anyway in Week Four. But he wasn’t playing at full speed. Bush averaged 3.9 yards a carry Sunday against the Dolphins, his worst average in a game since November of last year, and he told … |
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Week 5 Probabilities, and Jets' Sanchez FollyOct 4, 2012
Brian Burke, nytimes.com No matter how you slice it statistically, the Jets are paying Mark Sanchez too much money for mediocre production. |
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Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com The Cowboys were a .500 team last year in Jason Garrett’s first season as head coach, and they’re 2-2 this year. That isn’t the record of a great coach. But Cowboys tight end Jason Witten says Garrett is better than his record suggests. “Jason’s… |
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Critics Have It Wrong About RomoOct 4, 2012
Andy Benoit, nytimes.com It's amazing how many sports media members have unknowingly embarrassed themselves this week by criticizing the Dallas quarterback. |
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Doug Farrar, yahoo.com SEATTLE -- As the 2012 season began for the Seattle Seahawks, all the talk was about a third-round rookie from Wisconsin named Russell Wilson. The 5-foot-10 5/8 Wilson had deflected all talk about his size and took the starting job away from Matt Flynn,… |
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The Saints' Woes Go Beyond Payton's AbsenceOct 4, 2012
What's happened to the New Orleans Saints? Unquestionably the most disappointing team in football through four games, last year's 13-3 NFC South champ... |
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In celebration of the NFL's release of the all-22 and end-zone film for the 2012 season, each week we'll be bringing you the best in offensive- and de... |
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The Sports Guy's Thursday NFL PickOct 4, 2012
Bill Simmons, grantland.com A reader named Mike in St. Louis sent me the following e-mail this week: "Simmons, football fans in St. Louis have suffered enough, compiling the wor... |
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The Titans are trailing by 25 points, deep in the third quarter, when they score a touchdown. The extra point is converted, the onside kick is well-ex... |
