What If Sports is known for its simulations, but this one, or 1,000 of them, are special. This is what was reported on their website:
WhatIfSports.com “played” the upcoming Patriots-Colts game 1,000 times. Indianapolis won 52.8% of the time by an average score of 30-27. On a neutral field, this game would likely be a complete toss-up, but the Colts win in the Dome. An example boxscore with that score is below.
WhatIfSports.com
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WhatIfSports.com “played” the upcoming Patriots-Colts game 1,000 times. Indianapolis won 52.8% of the time by an average score of 30-27. On a neutral field, this game would likely be a complete toss-up, but the Colts win in the Dome. An example boxscore with that score is below.
2007 New England Patriots at 2007 Indianapolis Colts
Final - 11/4/2007 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT1 Total
2007 New England Patriots 0 7 10 10 0 27
2007 Indianapolis Colts 7 17 3 0 3 30
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Ind 8:46 TD Joseph Addai 19 yd. run (Vinatieri kick) 0-7
2nd Quarter
Ind 9:11 TD Dallas Clark 7 yd. pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick) 0-14
NE 3:00 TD Randy Moss 3 yd. pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick) 7-14
Ind 1:03 TD Marvin Harrison 3 yd. pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick) 7-21
Ind 0:00 FG Adam Vinatieri 56 yds. 7-24
3rd Quarter
NE 9:29 FG Stephen Gostkowski 29 yds. 10-24
Ind 3:54 FG Adam Vinatieri 30 yds. 10-27
NE 1:22 TD Laurence Maroney 6 yd. run (Gostkowski kick) 17-27
4th Quarter
NE 10:38 TD Kevin Faulk 11 yd. pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick) 24-27
NE 0:13 FG Stephen Gostkowski 42 yds. 27-27
OT 1
Ind 3:16 FG Adam Vinatieri 45 yds. 27-30
Team Statistics
2007 New England Patriots 2007 Indianapolis Colts
First Downs 26 23
- Rushing 5 4
- Passing 21 19
- Penalty 0 0
3rd Down Eff 10/18 3/11
4th Down Eff 1/2 0/0
Rushes-Yards 30-95 32-169
Avg Rush 3.2 5.3
Comp-Att-Int 29-48-2 20-36-0
Passing Yards 406 348
Sacks-Yards 1-3 1-4
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Punts-Avg 4-37.8 5-41.0
KR-Avg 5-23.6 7-16.3
PR-Avg 5-2.6 4-11.5
Penalties-Yard 2-20 3-17
Time of Possession 36:58 34:46
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2007 New England Patriots Individual Stats 2007 Indianapolis Colts Individual Stats
Rushing
Att Yds 20+ L TD
'07 Laurence Maroney 17 79 2 35 1
'07 Heath Evans 8 14 0 6 0
'07 Kevin Faulk 5 2 0 1 0
Rushing
Att Yds 20+ L TD
'07 Joseph Addai 23 99 1 29 1
'07 Kenton Keith 9 70 1 56 0
Receiving
Rec Yds 20+ 40+ L TD
'07 Randy Moss 8 139 3 1 40 1
'07 Wes Welker 10 125 1 0 20 0
'07 Kevin Faulk 4 58 1 0 22 1
'07 Donte' Stallworth 3 54 1 0 24 0
'07 Heath Evans 1 21 1 0 21 0
'07 Kyle Brady 3 12 0 0 6 0
Receiving
Rec Yds 20+ 40+ L TD
'07 Reggie Wayne 6 136 3 1 45 0
'07 Marvin Harrison 6 83 2 0 23 1
'07 Anthony Gonzalez 2 56 1 1 41 0
'07 Bryan Fletcher 1 31 1 0 31 0
'07 Dallas Clark 3 25 0 0 11 1
'07 Joseph Addai 2 21 0 0 11 0
Passing
Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
'07 Tom Brady 29 48 409 2 2
Passing
Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
'07 Peyton Manning 20 36 352 2 0
Defensive
Tackles Sacks INT
'07 Mike Vrabel 7 0 0
'07 Junior Seau 6 0 0
'07 Randall Gay 5 0 0
'07 Ty Warren 4 0 0
'07 Tedy Bruschi 4 1 0
'07 Rodney Harrison 4 0 0
'07 Ellis Hobbs 3 0 0
'07 Asante Samuel 3 0 0
'07 Adalius Thomas 3 0 0
'07 James Sanders 2 0 0
'07 Vince Wilfork 2 0 0
'07 Rosevelt Colvin 2 0 0
'07 Richard Seymour 1 0 0
Defensive
Tackles Sacks INT
'07 Raheem Brock 9 0 0
'07 Kelvin Hayden 8 0 0
'07 Dante Hughes 5 0 0
'07 Antoine Bethea 5 0 0
'07 Tyjuan Hagler 5 0 0
'07 Bob Sanders 5 0 0
'07 Marlin Jackson 4 0 0
'07 Dwight Freeney 4 0 0
'07 Robert Mathis 3 1 0
'07 Gary Brackett 2 0 2
Field Goals
Made Missed
'07 Stephen Gostkowski 29,42 -
Field Goals
Made Missed
'07 Adam Vinatieri 56,30,45 -
Player of the Game:
'07 Peyton Manning (2007 Indianapolis Colts)
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 1st Quarter Play by Play
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 0 - 0 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 12 and return it to the NE 38.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 14:52
14:52 1/10 own 38 0 - 0 212 Brady's short pass is to Moss who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 27 yd gain.
14:09 1/10 35 0 - 0 212 Brady's pass is intercepted.
Gary Brackett returns the interception to the Ind 38.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:03
14:03 1/10 own 38 0 - 0 221 Addai gets back to the line of scrimmage.
13:28 2/10 own 38 0 - 0 131 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
13:23 3/10 own 38 0 - 0 140 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
13:18 4/10 own 38 0 - 0 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 35.
PENALTY on NE: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the NE 25.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 13:08
13:08 1/10 own 15 0 - 0 221 Maroney gains 1 yard up the middle.
12:34 2/9 own 16 0 - 0 131 Maroney rushes for a loss of 3 yards.
11:55 3/12 own 13 0 - 0 221 Brady hits Evans who makes the catch and falls forward for a 21 yd gain.
11:12 1/10 own 34 0 - 0 212 Maroney gains 3 yards up the middle.
10:33 2/7 own 37 0 - 0 221 Brady tosses the ball just out of reach of Welker. Incomplete pass.
10:28 3/7 own 37 0 - 0 221 Evans is caught behind the line for a loss of 4 yards.
9:47 4/11 own 33 0 - 0 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 36.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:37
9:37 1/10 own 36 0 - 0 131 Manning hits Wayne deep downfield who makes the catch and falls forward for a 45 yd gain.
8:53 1/10 19 0 - 0 140 Addai gains 19 yards on a sweep left.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
8:46 PAT 0 - 6 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 2 plays, 64 yds, 0:51
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 8:46
8:46 Kickoff own 30 0 - 7 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 14 and return it to the NE 35.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 8:39
8:39 1/10 own 35 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Moss who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 19 yd gain.
7:57 1/10 46 0 - 7 212 Brady screen pass falls incomplete.
7:54 2/10 46 0 - 7 131 Maroney pounds ahead for 5 yards.
7:10 3/5 41 0 - 7 221 Evans picks up 4 yards off tackle left.
6:27 4/1 37 0 - 7 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 23.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 6:15
6:15 1/10 own 23 0 - 7 140 Addai picks his way for 1 yard.
5:40 2/9 own 24 0 - 7 131 Keith picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
4:59 3/8 own 25 0 - 7 050 Manning overthrows Wayne and the pass is incomplete.
4:51 4/8 own 25 0 - 7 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 41.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 4:42
4:42 1/10 own 41 0 - 7 212 Brady tosses the ball out to Faulk. Catch is good and Faulk gets big yardage for a 17 yd gain.
3:57 1/10 42 0 - 7 212 Evans gains 6 yards up the middle.
3:20 2/4 36 0 - 7 131 Maroney picks up 3 yards on a draw play.
2:37 3/1 33 0 - 7 212 Evans picks up 1 yard off tackle left.
1:55 1/10 32 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Faulk who makes the catch and falls forward for a 22 yd gain.
1:13 1/Goal 10 0 - 7 212 Brady's pass is to Brady. Tackled immediately for a 6 yd gain.
0:32 2/Goal 4 0 - 7 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage before losing the ball.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) recovers the ball on the Ind 5.
0:00 3/Goal 5 0 - 7 221 Time Expires
End of 1st Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 0 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 7
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 2nd Quarter Play by Play
15:00 3/Goal 5 0 - 7 221 PENALTY on Ind: Encroachment, 2 yards enforced on the Ind 5 - NO PLAY.
15:00 3/Goal 3 0 - 7 221 Maroney picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
14:24 4/Goal 2 0 - 7 212 Evans is caught behind the line for a loss of 1 yard.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:21
14:21 1/10 own 3 0 - 7 131 Addai picks up 6 yards on a draw play.
13:37 2/4 own 9 0 - 7 140 Keith gains 1 yard on a sweep left.
12:55 3/3 own 10 0 - 7 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play.
12:12 1/10 own 14 0 - 7 131 Manning completes the pass to Clark who makes the catch and falls forward for a 11 yd gain.
11:33 1/10 own 25 0 - 7 131 Keith pounds ahead for 56 yards.
10:43 1/10 19 0 - 7 221 Addai pounds ahead for 8 yards.
10:02 2/2 11 0 - 7 131 Manning soft pass is to Wayne who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 4 yd gain.
9:23 1/Goal 7 0 - 7 140 Manning's pass into the endzone is just out of reach of Harrison. Incomplete pass.
9:17 2/Goal 7 0 - 7 131 Manning's short pass is to Clark who catches the ball and walks into the endzone.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
9:11 PAT 0 - 13 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 97 yds, 5:10
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:11
9:11 Kickoff own 30 0 - 14 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 5 and return it to the NE 33.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 9:02
9:02 1/10 own 33 0 - 14 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage.
8:26 2/10 own 33 0 - 14 131 Faulk pounds ahead for 1 yard.
7:43 3/9 own 34 0 - 14 221 Brady hits Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 9 yd gain.
6:57 1/10 own 43 0 - 14 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
6:51 2/10 own 43 0 - 14 221 Brady soft pass is to Moss who makes the catch and falls forward for a 6 yd gain.
6:11 3/4 own 49 0 - 14 122 Maroney pounds ahead for 24 yards.
5:28 1/10 27 0 - 14 212 Brady throws to Moss but he can't hold on to the ball.
5:23 2/10 27 0 - 14 212 Brady screen pass falls incomplete.
5:20 3/10 27 0 - 14 131 Brady hits Welker who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 20 yd gain.
4:33 1/Goal 7 0 - 14 212 Brady soft pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 4 yd gain.
3:47 2/Goal 3 0 - 14 212 Maroney carries, but is tackled for no gain.
3:04 3/Goal 3 0 - 14 122 Brady hits Moss in the endzone.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
3:00 PAT 6 - 14 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 12 plays, 67 yds, 6:02
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 3:00
3:00 Kickoff own 30 7 - 14 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 6 and return it to the Ind 33.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 2:51
2:51 1/10 own 33 7 - 14 140 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
2:46 2/10 own 33 7 - 14 230 Manning completes the pass to Addai. Tackled immediately for a 11 yd gain.
2:04 1/10 own 44 7 - 14 131 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Harrison. Incomplete pass.
2:00 2/10 own 44 7 - 14 140 *** 2 Minute Warning ***
2:00 2/10 own 44 7 - 14 131 Manning's pass is to Wayne who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 10 yd gain.
1:51 1/10 46 7 - 14 131 *** 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
1:51 1/10 46 7 - 14 140 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Addai. Incomplete pass.
1:44 2/10 46 7 - 14 131 Manning's long pass is to Wayne who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 33 yd gain.
1:15 1/10 13 7 - 14 131 Manning completes the pass to Harrison who gets a few steps before being run out of bounds for a 10 yd gain.
1:10 1/Goal 3 7 - 14 131 Manning hits Harrison in the endzone.
2007 Indianapolis Colts scores a touchdown!
1:03 PAT 7 - 20 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 67 yds, 1:48
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 1:03
1:03 Kickoff own 30 7 - 21 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 8 and return it to the NE 29.
PENALTY on NE: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the NE 28.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 0:58
0:58 1/10 own 18 7 - 21 212 Brady's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
0:54 2/10 own 18 7 - 21 221 Brady's pass is to Welker. Tackled immediately for a 14 yd gain.
0:46 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 221 *** 2007 New England Patriots (NE) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
0:46 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
0:41 2/10 own 32 7 - 21 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
0:37 3/10 own 32 7 - 21 131 Brady hits Stallworth who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 24 yd gain before being run out of bounds.
0:28 1/10 44 7 - 21 221 Maroney picks his way to the sidelines for 1 yard. Maroney runs out of bounds.
0:24 2/9 43 7 - 21 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who catches the ball and makes one guy miss before getting knocked out of bounds for a 10 yd gain.
0:19 1/10 33 7 - 21 212 Brady's pass is intercepted.
Gary Brackett returns the interception to the Ind 32.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 0:11
0:11 1/10 own 32 7 - 21 221 Addai picks up 29 yards on a draw play.
0:02 1/10 39 7 - 21 221 *** 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
0:02 1/10 39 7 - 21 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 56 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 1 plays, 29 yds, 0:09
End of 2nd Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 7 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 24
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 3rd Quarter Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 7 - 24 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 3 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:53
14:53 1/10 own 21 7 - 24 140 Manning's pass is to Gonzalez who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
14:15 1/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Addai gets back to the line of scrimmage.
13:39 2/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Manning's long pass is just out of reach of Moorehead. Incomplete pass.
13:31 3/10 own 36 7 - 24 140 Manning overthrows Gonzalez and the pass is incomplete.
13:22 4/10 own 36 7 - 24 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 32.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 13:11
13:11 1/10 own 32 7 - 24 212 Evans picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
12:28 2/8 own 34 7 - 24 212 Brady's short pass is to Moss. Catch is good and Moss gets some yardage for a 13 yd gain.
11:46 1/10 own 47 7 - 24 212 Maroney gains 35 yards on a sweep left.
10:59 1/10 18 7 - 24 221 PENALTY on Ind: Encroachment, 5 yards enforced on the Ind 18 - NO PLAY.
10:59 1/5 13 7 - 24 230 Maroney picks his way to the sidelines for 1 yard. Maroney runs out of bounds.
10:17 2/4 12 7 - 24 212 Faulk gets back to the line of scrimmage.
9:38 3/4 12 7 - 24 122 Brady overthrows Welker and the pass is incomplete.
9:33 4/4 12 7 - 24 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a FG attempt.
Gostkowski's 29 yd. field goal hooks through the uprights!
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 51 yds, 3:38
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 9:29
9:29 Kickoff own 30 10 - 24 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 11 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 9:24
9:24 1/10 own 21 10 - 24 221 Addai rushes for a loss of 4 yards.
8:43 2/14 own 17 10 - 24 230 Addai pounds ahead for 5 yards.
8:07 3/9 own 22 10 - 24 050 Manning completes the pass to Harrison who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 21 yd gain.
7:21 1/10 own 43 10 - 24 221 Addai rushes for a loss of 1 yard.
6:43 2/11 own 42 10 - 24 230 Manning's long pass is to Gonzalez who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 41 yd gain.
5:55 1/10 17 10 - 24 131 Addai gains 3 yards up the middle.
5:12 2/7 14 10 - 24 140 Addai picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
4:34 3/5 12 10 - 24 131 Keith is caught behind the line for a loss of 1 yard.
3:58 4/6 13 10 - 24 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 30 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 66 yds, 5:26
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 3:54
3:54 Kickoff own 30 10 - 27 K 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares to kickoff.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) catch the ball at the NE 6 and return it to the NE 39.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 3:43
3:43 1/10 own 39 10 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Maroney and the pass is incomplete.
3:35 2/10 own 39 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is just out of the reach of Welker.
3:30 3/10 own 39 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
2:50 1/10 46 10 - 27 212 Evans gets back to the line of scrimmage.
2:16 2/10 46 10 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Moss who holds on to the ball, makes a few guys miss for a 40 yd gain.
1:26 1/Goal 6 10 - 27 212 Maroney gets 6 yards on a pitch right.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
1:22 PAT 16 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 61 yds, 2:21
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 1:22
1:22 Kickoff own 30 17 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 11 and return it to the NE 32.
PENALTY on Ind: Holding, 10 yards enforced on the Ind 26.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 1:07
1:07 1/10 own 16 17 - 27 140 Manning overthrows Addai and the pass is incomplete.
0:59 2/10 own 16 17 - 27 131 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
0:54 3/10 own 16 17 - 27 050 Manning is sacked by Tedy Bruschi for 4 yards.
0:11 4/14 own 12 17 - 27 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 48.
End of 3rd Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 17 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 27
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F 4th Quarter Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 1/10 own 48 17 - 27 212 Brady hits Welker. Catch is good and Welker gets some yardage for a 16 yd gain.
14:14 1/10 36 17 - 27 221 Maroney carries, but is tackled for no gain.
13:37 2/10 36 17 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 15 yd gain.
12:52 1/10 21 17 - 27 212 Brady hits Moss but in and out of his hands.
12:45 2/10 21 17 - 27 131 Maroney rushes for a loss of 2 yards.
12:04 3/12 23 17 - 27 221 Brady completes the pass to Stallworth who catches the ball and makes one guy miss before getting tackled for a 11 yd gain.
11:19 4/1 12 17 - 27 212 Faulk gains 1 yard up the middle.
10:44 1/10 11 17 - 27 212 Brady zips the short pass to Faulk. Catch is good and Faulk gets into the endzone.
2007 New England Patriots scores a touchdown!
10:38 PAT 23 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for the extra point.
The extra point attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 52 yds, 4:22
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 10:38
10:38 Kickoff own 30 24 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 6 and return it to the Ind 21.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 10:32
10:32 1/10 own 21 24 - 27 140 Manning's pass is just out of reach of Wayne. Incomplete pass.
10:26 2/10 own 21 24 - 27 140 Manning completes the long pass to Wayne who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 34 yd gain.
9:39 1/10 45 24 - 27 131 Manning's pass is just out of the reach of Clark.
9:34 2/10 45 24 - 27 230 Manning completes the pass to Wayne who makes the catch and falls forward for a 10 yd gain.
8:53 1/10 35 24 - 27 131 Addai gains 1 yard on a sweep left.
8:12 2/9 34 24 - 27 131 Manning's pass is to Addai. Tackled immediately for a 10 yd gain.
7:29 1/10 24 24 - 27 221 Keith gains 4 yards on a sweep left.
6:53 2/6 20 24 - 27 122 Addai picks up 1 yard off tackle left, and is run out of bounds.
6:15 3/5 19 24 - 27 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play before running out of bounds.
5:32 4/1 15 24 - 27 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's kick is blocked! Ball is recovered at the NE 23.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 5:23
5:23 1/10 own 23 24 - 27 212 Brady screen pass is to Brady who makes the catch and falls forward for a 1 yd gain.
4:45 2/9 own 24 24 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
4:39 3/9 own 24 24 - 27 221 Maroney picks up 2 yards on a draw play.
3:58 4/7 own 26 24 - 27 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 42.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 3:48
3:48 1/10 own 42 24 - 27 131 Addai gains 6 yards on a sweep left.
3:05 2/4 own 48 24 - 27 122 Manning completes the long pass to Fletcher who makes the catch and falls forward for a 31 yd gain.
2:21 1/10 21 24 - 27 140 Addai carries, but is tackled for no gain.
2:00 2/10 21 24 - 27 230 *** 2 Minute Warning ***
2:00 2/10 21 24 - 27 230 Keith pounds ahead for 3 yards. The ball is stripped free.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) recovers the ball on the NE 17.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 1:54
1:54 1/10 own 17 24 - 27 212 Brady's pass is to Faulk. Faulk falls out of bounds, but holds on to the ball for a 8 yd gain.
1:48 2/2 own 25 24 - 27 212 Brady hits Moss who gets a few steps before being brought down for a 11 yd gain.
1:39 1/10 own 36 24 - 27 212 *** 2007 New England Patriots (NE) CALLS A TIMEOUT ***
1:39 1/10 own 36 24 - 27 212 Brady overthrows Moss and the pass is incomplete.
1:35 2/10 own 36 24 - 27 131 Brady overthrows Welker and the pass is incomplete.
1:30 3/10 own 36 24 - 27 221 Brady completes the pass to Moss who makes the catch and falls forward for a 20 yd gain.
1:10 1/10 44 24 - 27 212 Brady hits Welker who makes the catch and is run out of bounds for a 14 yd gain.
1:03 1/10 30 24 - 27 212 Brady completes the pass to Welker who makes the catch and falls forward for a 8 yd gain.
0:41 2/2 22 24 - 27 122 Brady is sacked by Robert Mathis for 3 yards.
0:21 3/5 25 24 - 27 122 Brady's pass is just out of reach of Gaffney. Incomplete pass.
0:17 4/5 25 24 - 27 FG 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a FG attempt.
Gostkowski's 42 yd. field goal is right down the middle!
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 58 yds, 1:37
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 0:13
0:13 Kickoff own 30 27 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 8 and return it to the Ind 31.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 0:08
0:08 1/10 own 31 27 - 27 131 Manning completes the pass to Clark who gets a few steps before being run out of bounds for a 7 yd gain.
0:02 2/3 own 38 27 - 27 041 Manning's deep pass is broken up. Incomplete pass.
End of 4th Quarter ... 2007 New England Patriots: 27 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 27
Game Time Weather Report for Indianapolis, IN (The RCA Dome):
71 degrees, clear skies, little to no wind
Time Down
YTG Ball On Score
V - H F Overtime 1 Play by Play
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 15:00
15:00 Kickoff own 30 27 - 27 K 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares to kickoff.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) catch the ball at the Ind 7 and return it to the Ind 23.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 14:53
14:53 1/10 own 23 27 - 27 131 Addai gains 4 yards up the middle.
14:11 2/6 own 27 27 - 27 122 Addai carries, but is tackled for a loss of 1 yard.
13:34 3/7 own 26 27 - 27 050 Manning completes the pass to Harrison. Catch is good and Harrison gets some yardage for a 23 yd gain.
12:50 1/10 own 49 27 - 27 221 Keith gets 3 yards on a pitch right.
12:11 2/7 48 27 - 27 230 Manning overthrows Utecht and the pass is incomplete.
12:05 3/7 48 27 - 27 140 Manning's pass is batted down. Incomplete pass.
11:59 4/7 48 27 - 27 P 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a punt.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) return it to the NE 9.
2007 New England Patriots (NE) at 11:51
11:51 1/10 own 9 27 - 27 212 Maroney is stopped at the line.
11:12 2/10 own 9 27 - 27 212 Brady completes the pass to Brady. Tackled immediately for a 5 yd gain.
10:28 3/5 own 14 27 - 27 221 Brady hits Stallworth. Catch is good and Stallworth gets some yardage before being run out of bounds for a 19 yd gain.
9:42 1/10 own 33 27 - 27 221 Evans gets 6 yards on a pitch right.
8:58 2/4 own 39 27 - 27 212 Maroney pounds ahead for 2 yards.
8:23 3/2 own 41 27 - 27 221 Brady's pass is to Moss and dropped.
8:17 4/2 own 41 27 - 27 P 2007 New England Patriots (NE) prepares for a punt.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) return it to the Ind 31.
2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) at 8:05
8:05 1/10 own 31 27 - 27 131 Addai picks up 1 yard on a draw play.
7:26 2/9 own 32 27 - 27 140 Manning hits Harrison who makes the catch and falls forward for a 16 yd gain.
6:45 1/10 own 48 27 - 27 221 Addai pounds ahead for 7 yards.
6:01 2/3 45 27 - 27 122 Manning's pass is to Harrison who holds on to the the ball and runs for a 10 yd gain.
5:21 1/10 35 27 - 27 140 Addai picks up 4 yards on a draw play.
4:38 2/6 31 27 - 27 122 Keith gains 3 yards up the middle.
3:58 3/3 28 27 - 27 131 Keith is stopped at the line.
3:20 4/3 28 27 - 27 FG 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Ind) prepares for a FG attempt.
Vinatieri's 45 yd. field goal hooks through the uprights!
Drive Summary: 7 plays, 41 yds, 4:45
End of Overtime 1 ... 2007 New England Patriots: 27 2007 Indianapolis Colts: 30
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Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Darrell Green, Cris Carter, Tony Boselli, Eric Metcalf of 124 Nominees For Hall Of Fame
Darrell Green, Cris Carter Among 124 Nominees For Hall Of Fame
AP Sports
10/31/2007
CANTON, Ohio (AP) -Cornerback Darrell Green and receivers Cris Carter and Herman Moore were among 124 modern-era players, coaches, and contributors on the preliminary list of nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2008.
Other first-year eligibles are running back Eric Metcalf; offensive tackles Tony Boselli, Lomas Brown and Richmond Webb; and linebackers Levon Kirkland and Hardy Nickerson.
Previously, the senior committee nominated Marshall Goldberg and Emmitt Thomas. Goldberg, a multipurpose back, was a two-way star with the Chicago Cardinals from 1939-1943 and following World War II from 1946-48. Thomas, an all-league cornerback, starred for 13 seasons (1966-1978) for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Voters will choose 25 candidates from that group as semifinalists; that list will be announced late in November. From there, the list will be pared to 15 finalists, who will be considered at the selection committee's meetings during Super Bowl week.
At least four and no more than seven nominees will be elected on the day before the Super Bowl.
To be considered for Hall of Fame election, a player or coach must have been retired at least five years. A contributor - someone who has made outstanding career contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing or coaching - may still be active in his pro football career.
AP Sports
10/31/2007
CANTON, Ohio (AP) -Cornerback Darrell Green and receivers Cris Carter and Herman Moore were among 124 modern-era players, coaches, and contributors on the preliminary list of nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2008.
Other first-year eligibles are running back Eric Metcalf; offensive tackles Tony Boselli, Lomas Brown and Richmond Webb; and linebackers Levon Kirkland and Hardy Nickerson.
Previously, the senior committee nominated Marshall Goldberg and Emmitt Thomas. Goldberg, a multipurpose back, was a two-way star with the Chicago Cardinals from 1939-1943 and following World War II from 1946-48. Thomas, an all-league cornerback, starred for 13 seasons (1966-1978) for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Voters will choose 25 candidates from that group as semifinalists; that list will be announced late in November. From there, the list will be pared to 15 finalists, who will be considered at the selection committee's meetings during Super Bowl week.
At least four and no more than seven nominees will be elected on the day before the Super Bowl.
To be considered for Hall of Fame election, a player or coach must have been retired at least five years. A contributor - someone who has made outstanding career contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing or coaching - may still be active in his pro football career.
Tony Romo - Tony Romo Gets $30 million Guaranteed, $67.5 Million Contract - ESPN
Tony Romo's new deal guarantees $30 million to him. Nice.
Associated Press
Updated: October 30, 2007, 8:32 PM ET
Romo Signs 6-Year Deal with Cowboys
IRVING, Texas -- Wearing jeans and an untucked Dallas Cowboys golf shirt, Tony Romo treated Tuesday as if it was any other day of work.
Well, there were a few difference. Such as the fact he brought mom and dad to team headquarters.
And the six-year, $67.5 million contract he showed up to sign.
On one of the biggest days of his life, Romo remained the average guy he's been since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent five years ago. He said he was humbled by the $11.5 million signing bonus and by cementing a spot in the lineage of Don Meredith-to-Roger Staubach-to-Troy Aikman, but he also insisted the only thing that's going to change is his tax bracket.
Want proof? He's even planning to keep his apartment -- and his roommate -- despite having the third-highest annual salary among NFL quarterbacks, ahead of Tom Brady and Brett Favre.
"I never really thought this was a goal along the way. I still don't necessarily perceive it as a goal, but it's something really neat that I get to experience," Romo said, flashing the dimpled aw-shucks grin that's helped him land dates with gorgeous actresses and singers.
"It's special just to be a part of this. The best feeling by far is that the organization, the Jones family, our coaches and everyone say, 'Hey, you're our guy. You're the guy we want to go to the next level with. We want to get back to the Super Bowl around here and win these things.' That means everything, more than the money ever could."
ESPN Radio: Patrick Crayton
Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton on why we should buy the Cowboys as the best team in the NFC, Tony Romo, T.O., Britney Spears and more. Listen
If Romo's attitude seems too good to be true, there's a good reason for it. The story of how he got to this point fits the same description.
Undrafted out of college, he turned down $25,000 signing bonuses elsewhere and took $10,000 from the Cowboys because he liked his chances of beating out the competition. Before last season, his fourth, he still hadn't thrown a pass, but asked for a multimillion-dollar contract as a challenge to his bosses, telling them the more they paid him, the more likely they were to play him.
He got the deal and, eventually, the playing time. The contract numbers show he's made the most of it.
"You can either do this or you can't," he said. "I didn't know if I was, but I put myself in position to succeed."
Romo thought about what the big contract means while sitting in bed Monday night. It was still on his mind when he woke up Tuesday morning. By the time he met the media in the afternoon, he had it sorted out.
"It almost feels like we accomplished something here today, but it doesn't," he said. "This sets you up financially and does all the things that you somewhat hoped for in life, but you don't set it out as a goal when you start out as a football player. This is something that more or less comes along the way."
Team owner Jerry Jones called Romo "the man for the 2000s," adding, "I wouldn't have done this if I didn't think he gives us a chance to win Super Bowls."
It took a while for him to come to that conclusion.
Jones' hesitations started during the 2003 draft, when then-offensive coordinator Sean Payton lobbied hard for Romo. Jones figured it was because they went to the same school, Eastern Illinois.
Once Romo arrived, the Cowboys went through Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe before turning to him last October.
Romo started 5-1, setting records and turning heads. He got Dallas into the playoffs, then knocked the team out by flubbing the hold of a short field goal in Seattle. He revealed more of his character with how he responded: crying and apologizing to teammates that night, then weeks later asking to be the holder at the Pro Bowl.
By then, Jones believed in Romo enough not to draft Brady Quinn when he had the chance in April -- but not enough to offer a big contract without seeing him play more.
Forced to earn his money, Romo did. The Cowboys are 6-1, tied for tops in the NFC, and have the conference's No. 1 offense. Romo has the most yards passing and touchdowns in the NFC.
"It is a feel-good story," coach Wade Phillips said. "The best part of the story is he's a great person, a great guy to be around. He doesn't have an ego bigger than the team. The great ones I've been around -- the John Elways, the Jim Kellys -- it's the same way."
Romo has shown off his arm with a club-record four 300-yard games and his feet with a wild scramble for a first down on a snap that went over his head and rolled 33 yards behind him. He also found a way to win in Buffalo despite committing six turnovers.
Jones also likes that Romo has remained grounded while holding one of the most high-profile jobs in U.S. pro sports. Don't believe it? Well, "Entertainment Tonight" sent a reporter to Tuesday's news conference to ask Romo about bumping into Britney Spears in Los Angeles a few days ago.
"Having all the adulation and interest, how do you handle that? I've seen doctors, lawyers, older, more-seasoned people blow their whole families up over a little success," Jones said. "He's handled it really well."
Combine it all and you understand why Jones likes knowing Romo will be the face of the franchise in 2009, when the Cowboys move into a $1 billion, 100,000-seat stadium, a rendering of it serving as a backdrop for Tuesday's announcement.
It was no coincidence.
"I told our guys to put that behind us," Jones said, "because Tony coming in for the long term is very symbolic of what we're doing."
New England Patriots At Indianapolis Colts Game - Tickets And Preview
From NFL Media.com
Click for tickets to the game!
IT’S THE PERFECT MATCHUP:
UNDEFEATED COLTS & PATS CLASH IN HISTORIC GAME
It hasn’t happened in 88 seasons.
But it will this Sunday in Indianapolis. Two teams with records of 7-0 or better will meet for the first time in NFL history – the New England Patriots (8-0) at the Indianapolis Colts (7-0).
“It will be a circus,” says Colts head coach TONY DUNGY.
Wrong, Coach. It’s already a circus! It is hard to recall a regular-season game that was talked and written about two weeks before it was played. But that’s what has happened for Pats-Colts (CBS, 4:15 PM ET).
“A Week Before Showdown with New England, Colts Must Beat Panthers on Short Week,” said the Associated Press on October 25.
Usually, stories about a team’s next opponent don’t start until perhaps the Wednesday before the game. Not this week.
“Don’t Try to Stop Us; It’s Officially Time to Start the Hype Machine,” said the Indianapolis Star this Monday. “Dream Game Finally Here,” blared the Boston Herald the same day.
The matchup has all the attributes of a classic: last season’s Super Bowl winner against the team that has won it three times in the decade…the league’s top two teams in net points…quarterbacks tied for the most wins since realignment in 2002 – TOM BRADY and PEYTON MANNING (67 apiece)…and opponents that have met seven times in the past four years, including three times in the playoffs.
Everybody will be ready. “You play football for competition, the level of intensity,” says Patriots defensive lineman RICHARD SEYMOUR. “When you have a chance to play against the best team in football, you get excited about it.”
As the NFL reaches the mid-point of its season in Week 9, here are some of the key games:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-0) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-0)
STORYLINE: The Perfect Bowl!
The Dome will be rocking! What can New England do to take some of the decibels out of those voices? What it has done in all eight of its 2007 games -- score on its first drive, the only team in the NFL to do so in every game this year. The Patriots have scored an opponent-deflating 79 points in the first quarter this season, while giving up only seven points in the period.
Of course, that’s a huge hurdle for any opponent, but if anybody can parry such an opening salvo, it’s Indianapolis. Last season in the AFC Championship Game, it went into the half down 21-6 to New England before outgaining the Patriots 311-149 in total yards in the second half during an 18-point comeback for a 38-34 win.
But who knows what will happen Sunday with these two opportunistic teams? They are tied for the league lead in turnover differential with a plus-11.
PATS-COLTS FACTOID
NFL NETWORK TREATS IT LIKE A MID-SEASON SUPER BOWL: NFL Network will broadcast 36-and-a-half hours of coverage surrounding this Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game, a record for the network for a non-Super Bowl game.
One of the key battles will come between New England’s receivers and Indy’s No. 1 NFL pass defense, led by havoc-causing S BOB SANDERS. The Patriots have two receivers in the top five in NFL catches – WES WELKER (tie, No. 2, 56) and RANDY MOSS (No. 4, 47). They have combined with DONTÉ STALLWORTH for a total of 20 TD receptions.
The Colts hope to get WR MARVIN HARRISON (knee) back this week to prevent the Pats from ganging up on REGGIE WAYNE (fourth in the NFL with 668 yards). New England has added to its arsenal with the return of RB LAURENCE MARONEY (75 yards last week). The Colts, on the other hand, have the league’s top TD rusher, JOSEPH ADDAI (7). These guys always seem to have the answers!
Click for tickets to the game!
IT’S THE PERFECT MATCHUP:
UNDEFEATED COLTS & PATS CLASH IN HISTORIC GAME
It hasn’t happened in 88 seasons.
But it will this Sunday in Indianapolis. Two teams with records of 7-0 or better will meet for the first time in NFL history – the New England Patriots (8-0) at the Indianapolis Colts (7-0).
“It will be a circus,” says Colts head coach TONY DUNGY.
Wrong, Coach. It’s already a circus! It is hard to recall a regular-season game that was talked and written about two weeks before it was played. But that’s what has happened for Pats-Colts (CBS, 4:15 PM ET).
“A Week Before Showdown with New England, Colts Must Beat Panthers on Short Week,” said the Associated Press on October 25.
Usually, stories about a team’s next opponent don’t start until perhaps the Wednesday before the game. Not this week.
“Don’t Try to Stop Us; It’s Officially Time to Start the Hype Machine,” said the Indianapolis Star this Monday. “Dream Game Finally Here,” blared the Boston Herald the same day.
The matchup has all the attributes of a classic: last season’s Super Bowl winner against the team that has won it three times in the decade…the league’s top two teams in net points…quarterbacks tied for the most wins since realignment in 2002 – TOM BRADY and PEYTON MANNING (67 apiece)…and opponents that have met seven times in the past four years, including three times in the playoffs.
Everybody will be ready. “You play football for competition, the level of intensity,” says Patriots defensive lineman RICHARD SEYMOUR. “When you have a chance to play against the best team in football, you get excited about it.”
As the NFL reaches the mid-point of its season in Week 9, here are some of the key games:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-0) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-0)
STORYLINE: The Perfect Bowl!
The Dome will be rocking! What can New England do to take some of the decibels out of those voices? What it has done in all eight of its 2007 games -- score on its first drive, the only team in the NFL to do so in every game this year. The Patriots have scored an opponent-deflating 79 points in the first quarter this season, while giving up only seven points in the period.
Of course, that’s a huge hurdle for any opponent, but if anybody can parry such an opening salvo, it’s Indianapolis. Last season in the AFC Championship Game, it went into the half down 21-6 to New England before outgaining the Patriots 311-149 in total yards in the second half during an 18-point comeback for a 38-34 win.
But who knows what will happen Sunday with these two opportunistic teams? They are tied for the league lead in turnover differential with a plus-11.
PATS-COLTS FACTOID
NFL NETWORK TREATS IT LIKE A MID-SEASON SUPER BOWL: NFL Network will broadcast 36-and-a-half hours of coverage surrounding this Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game, a record for the network for a non-Super Bowl game.
One of the key battles will come between New England’s receivers and Indy’s No. 1 NFL pass defense, led by havoc-causing S BOB SANDERS. The Patriots have two receivers in the top five in NFL catches – WES WELKER (tie, No. 2, 56) and RANDY MOSS (No. 4, 47). They have combined with DONTÉ STALLWORTH for a total of 20 TD receptions.
The Colts hope to get WR MARVIN HARRISON (knee) back this week to prevent the Pats from ganging up on REGGIE WAYNE (fourth in the NFL with 668 yards). New England has added to its arsenal with the return of RB LAURENCE MARONEY (75 yards last week). The Colts, on the other hand, have the league’s top TD rusher, JOSEPH ADDAI (7). These guys always seem to have the answers!
Mike Silver, Dodo Bird - Mike Silver Admits Error Regarding Randy Moss
Hey, I like Mike Silver's work more than most for personal reasons, plus he's good. But Sil really messed up on Randy Moss. I told him before the start of the year Moss would do well in New England, but Silver remained stuboorn.
Well, Silver's finally coming around. He even admitted he was being a Dodo bird about the whole thing!
Not that I think the Patriots will win against the Colts. I don't thnk so.
Well, Silver's finally coming around. He even admitted he was being a Dodo bird about the whole thing!
Not that I think the Patriots will win against the Colts. I don't thnk so.
New Era Sports & Entertainment Sues Saints / USC's Reggie Bush - Yahoo! Sports
Former USC and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and his family are being sued by the co-founder of a failed sports marketing agency, according to a filing Tuesday in San Diego County Court.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys for New Era Sports & Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Lake, alleges Bush and his family failed to repay a wide array of benefits they received from New Era while Bush played for the Trojans. One of Lake's attorney's, Paul Wong, said that in addition to filing the suit, Lake has agreed to meet with NCAA investigators this week to discuss Bush's involvement with New Era Sports.
"I believe the complaint speaks for itself," Wong said. "… We're looking forward to meeting with the NCAA on Friday. Beyond that, I'm not at liberty to discuss any details."
Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Tuesday's filing purports that from November 2004 through January 2006, Bush and his family received cash, a vehicle and shelter as well as labor, material and services tied to New Era Sports – the agency that expected to represent the USC star when he declared for the NFL draft. The suit places the total value of the benefits extended to Bush, now in his second season with the New Orleans Saints, and his family at just over $291,000.
The suit also claims to have written communication from Bush that promises to repay some of the benefits, stating "On January 14, 2006, Defendant Reginald Bush – reaffirmed his commitment to repay (Lake) in a written communication."
If it is determined by the NCAA and Pac-10 Conference that Bush or his family received extra benefits, he would be in violation of NCAA rules. In accordance to NCAA bylaws, Bush's amateur status could be retroactively voided, prompting USC to forfeit games from the 2004 and 2005 seasons, including its latest national championship. Bush's 2005 Heisman Trophy could also be in jeopardy. Per the language on the Heisman ballot, any winner of the award "must be in compliance with the bylaws defining an NCAA student-athlete."
USC director of sports information Tim Tessalone declined to comment and referred questions to university general counsel Todd Dickey.
Among the other significant points in Tuesday's filing:
• The suit seeks to recoup benefits doled out "between November, 2004, through January, 2006, for work, labor, services, materials, goods, a vehicle, and shelter rendered at the special instance and request of Bush and his family." It also seeks to recover an unspecified amount of cash given to Bush and his family during that same period.
• The suit also alleges that Bush's family "expressly stated, in a meeting with (Lake) and NEW ERA SPORTS in October, 2004, and again in November, 2004, that they had fallen on hard times financially and required immediate and significant financial assistance to support their respective lifestyles, including, but not limited to, payment of living and travel expenses of Defendants LaMar Griffin and Denise Griffin (Bush’s parents) as well as living and lifestyle expenses of Defendant Reginald Bush. At said meetings, Defendants expressly and unequivocally, stated and promised that they were borrowing from (Lake) and NEW ERA SPORTS only and that they would not borrow money or accept monies from any other person or entity without expressly notifying (Lake) in advance."
• The suit charges a breach of agreement due to Bush's family receiving benefits from a third party, stating that Bush's family "secretly received payments, in direct violation of Defendants' promises to (Lake) and New Era Sports, from at least one person sometime around late October, 2005. In particular, said person paid for the airfare sometime around October 26, 2005, and hotel expenses of Defendants LaMar Griffin and Denise Griffin along with (Bush's younger brother) when they traveled to Oakland from San Diego between November 11 to November 13. Defendants suppressed and concealed all knowledge and information of said payments from (Lake) and New Era Sports as such information and knowledge would immediately end any further cash advances."
Yahoo! Sports first reported in September 2006 that the airfare and limousine service for Bush's parents and younger brother for USC's game against Cal on Nov. 12, 2005 were paid for on the credit card of Jamie Fritz, an employee of Bush's current marketing agent, Mike Ornstein. Ornstein initially told Yahoo! Sports that he did not pay for the plane tickets. Ornstein then said Fritz might have paid for the tickets but was repaid by the Bush family. Fritz declined to comment when contacted by Yahoo! Sports.
In Friday's scheduled meeting with the NCAA, Lake could reveal a variety of information, from receipts, bank and phone records, as well as taped conversations between himself, Bush and Bush's stepfather LaMar. Sources say the recordings were made as Bush's agreement to sign with New Era Sports began to fall apart in December 2005.
Lake co-founded New Era Sports along with San Diego businessman Michael Michaels in late 2004. Bush was expected to sign with New Era Sports and become an eventual partner in the entity when he left USC, according to Lake and Michaels. But the deal fell apart and New Era Sports failed, leading both Lake and Michaels to seek a return of the benefits they say they had provided to Bush and his family. Sources have told Yahoo! Sports that Michaels has already received a settlement from Bush for between $200,000 and $300,000 for his part of the failed deal. Sources also informed Yahoo! Sports that a similar settlement attempt with Lake failed over the summer.
Although Lake's suit does not break down specific dollar amounts paid to Bush and his family, an eight-month investigation by Yahoo! Sports published in September 2006 showed Bush's family lived in a house purchased by Michaels. The family lived in the new $757,000 home rent free for a year, starting in April 2005. One of Lake's attorneys, Brian Watkins, eventually stated that the rent on the home came to more than $50,000. The family was eventually evicted from the residence.
The 2006 Yahoo! Sports report disclosed that Bush received more than $12,000 in cash from Lake for the purchase of a 1996 Impala SS. Bush received approximately another $4,000 from Lake to equip the car with high-performance rims, a stereo system and alarm.
In addition, Yahoo! Sports reported that Bush and his family also received multiple cash payments for travel and other expenses, including furniture for the home Michaels purchased.
Sources close to the failed New Era Sports & Entertainment venture said Bush and his family demanded payments be made in cash, to keep the transactions hidden from NCAA scrutiny. Payments were said to have been made in person to Bush's parents in San Diego, while Lake would personally drive to Los Angeles to deliver monthly payments to Bush at his apartment near the USC campus.
Jason Cole and Charles Robinson are national NFL writers for Yahoo! Sports.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys for New Era Sports & Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Lake, alleges Bush and his family failed to repay a wide array of benefits they received from New Era while Bush played for the Trojans. One of Lake's attorney's, Paul Wong, said that in addition to filing the suit, Lake has agreed to meet with NCAA investigators this week to discuss Bush's involvement with New Era Sports.
"I believe the complaint speaks for itself," Wong said. "… We're looking forward to meeting with the NCAA on Friday. Beyond that, I'm not at liberty to discuss any details."
Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Tuesday's filing purports that from November 2004 through January 2006, Bush and his family received cash, a vehicle and shelter as well as labor, material and services tied to New Era Sports – the agency that expected to represent the USC star when he declared for the NFL draft. The suit places the total value of the benefits extended to Bush, now in his second season with the New Orleans Saints, and his family at just over $291,000.
The suit also claims to have written communication from Bush that promises to repay some of the benefits, stating "On January 14, 2006, Defendant Reginald Bush – reaffirmed his commitment to repay (Lake) in a written communication."
If it is determined by the NCAA and Pac-10 Conference that Bush or his family received extra benefits, he would be in violation of NCAA rules. In accordance to NCAA bylaws, Bush's amateur status could be retroactively voided, prompting USC to forfeit games from the 2004 and 2005 seasons, including its latest national championship. Bush's 2005 Heisman Trophy could also be in jeopardy. Per the language on the Heisman ballot, any winner of the award "must be in compliance with the bylaws defining an NCAA student-athlete."
USC director of sports information Tim Tessalone declined to comment and referred questions to university general counsel Todd Dickey.
Among the other significant points in Tuesday's filing:
• The suit seeks to recoup benefits doled out "between November, 2004, through January, 2006, for work, labor, services, materials, goods, a vehicle, and shelter rendered at the special instance and request of Bush and his family." It also seeks to recover an unspecified amount of cash given to Bush and his family during that same period.
• The suit also alleges that Bush's family "expressly stated, in a meeting with (Lake) and NEW ERA SPORTS in October, 2004, and again in November, 2004, that they had fallen on hard times financially and required immediate and significant financial assistance to support their respective lifestyles, including, but not limited to, payment of living and travel expenses of Defendants LaMar Griffin and Denise Griffin (Bush’s parents) as well as living and lifestyle expenses of Defendant Reginald Bush. At said meetings, Defendants expressly and unequivocally, stated and promised that they were borrowing from (Lake) and NEW ERA SPORTS only and that they would not borrow money or accept monies from any other person or entity without expressly notifying (Lake) in advance."
• The suit charges a breach of agreement due to Bush's family receiving benefits from a third party, stating that Bush's family "secretly received payments, in direct violation of Defendants' promises to (Lake) and New Era Sports, from at least one person sometime around late October, 2005. In particular, said person paid for the airfare sometime around October 26, 2005, and hotel expenses of Defendants LaMar Griffin and Denise Griffin along with (Bush's younger brother) when they traveled to Oakland from San Diego between November 11 to November 13. Defendants suppressed and concealed all knowledge and information of said payments from (Lake) and New Era Sports as such information and knowledge would immediately end any further cash advances."
Yahoo! Sports first reported in September 2006 that the airfare and limousine service for Bush's parents and younger brother for USC's game against Cal on Nov. 12, 2005 were paid for on the credit card of Jamie Fritz, an employee of Bush's current marketing agent, Mike Ornstein. Ornstein initially told Yahoo! Sports that he did not pay for the plane tickets. Ornstein then said Fritz might have paid for the tickets but was repaid by the Bush family. Fritz declined to comment when contacted by Yahoo! Sports.
In Friday's scheduled meeting with the NCAA, Lake could reveal a variety of information, from receipts, bank and phone records, as well as taped conversations between himself, Bush and Bush's stepfather LaMar. Sources say the recordings were made as Bush's agreement to sign with New Era Sports began to fall apart in December 2005.
Lake co-founded New Era Sports along with San Diego businessman Michael Michaels in late 2004. Bush was expected to sign with New Era Sports and become an eventual partner in the entity when he left USC, according to Lake and Michaels. But the deal fell apart and New Era Sports failed, leading both Lake and Michaels to seek a return of the benefits they say they had provided to Bush and his family. Sources have told Yahoo! Sports that Michaels has already received a settlement from Bush for between $200,000 and $300,000 for his part of the failed deal. Sources also informed Yahoo! Sports that a similar settlement attempt with Lake failed over the summer.
Although Lake's suit does not break down specific dollar amounts paid to Bush and his family, an eight-month investigation by Yahoo! Sports published in September 2006 showed Bush's family lived in a house purchased by Michaels. The family lived in the new $757,000 home rent free for a year, starting in April 2005. One of Lake's attorneys, Brian Watkins, eventually stated that the rent on the home came to more than $50,000. The family was eventually evicted from the residence.
The 2006 Yahoo! Sports report disclosed that Bush received more than $12,000 in cash from Lake for the purchase of a 1996 Impala SS. Bush received approximately another $4,000 from Lake to equip the car with high-performance rims, a stereo system and alarm.
In addition, Yahoo! Sports reported that Bush and his family also received multiple cash payments for travel and other expenses, including furniture for the home Michaels purchased.
Sources close to the failed New Era Sports & Entertainment venture said Bush and his family demanded payments be made in cash, to keep the transactions hidden from NCAA scrutiny. Payments were said to have been made in person to Bush's parents in San Diego, while Lake would personally drive to Los Angeles to deliver monthly payments to Bush at his apartment near the USC campus.
Jason Cole and Charles Robinson are national NFL writers for Yahoo! Sports.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Randy Moss "Smartest Receiver I've Ever Coached" - Bill Belichick
When people would talk about Randy Moss in negative terms, I replied on more than one occasion, that he was smart and offensive coordinators would be intelligent to talk with him.
Of course, many were not.
Enter New England Patriots' Coach Bill Belichick.
Coach Belichick -- I believed -- would allow Randy Moss to be, well, Randy Moss. The Oakland Raiders did not understand how to get the best out of him and seemed to be all too concerned about controlling him and not giving him the best environment he needed to play in. There are some people who can't get passed skin color and see a person's talent. They let stereotypes block their thinking -- not Bill Belichick.
He called Randy Moss the "Smartest Receiver I've Ever Coached."
Hat's off to him.
Monday, October 29, 2007
New England Patriots' Bill Belichick Runs Up Score Seven Times in Seven Weeks
In his latest game against the Washington Redskins, New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick kept his starters in and went for it on 4th down after already leading by 38 points, 38-0. This practice lead to a 52-7 victory, and a very pissed off Washington Redskin in Randall Godfrey. He said "I said something to (Belichick) after the game," Godfrey said to NBCSports.com. "I told him, 'You need to show some respect for the game.' You just don't do that. I don't care how bad it is. You're up 35 points and you're still throwing deep? That's no respect."
He's right.
Bill Belichick's comments were robotic: "I've been coaching too long," Belichick said. "I remember being on that side. When I was coaching defense it was my job to keep the score down, not theirs. When you're playing defense it's your job to stop them. It's not (the offense's) job to not score. It's like I tell the offense, what the (bleep) do you think I send you guys out there for? To punt? We have a punt team for that. That's not your job. Your job is to go out there and score points. If you come off the field and you haven't scored points you haven't done your job."
Yeah. But even Bill knows when it's time to take your pedal off the metal. He's coaching with a real chip on his shoulder that could get him into a lot of trouble.
But even more telling is the number of times that he's done this -- seven times in eight games. Look at this stat from NBC Sports:
Late Patriots' scores
• Week 1 at New York Jets (38-14): 1-yard TD by Heath Evans, 1:58 left
• Week 2 vs. San Diego (38-14): 3-yard TD by Sammy Morris, 3:18 left
• Week 3 vs. Buffalo (38-7): 45-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 10:22 left
• Week 4 at Cincy (34-13): 14-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 3:18 left
• Week 5 vs. Cleveland (34-17): 15-yard fumble return TD by Randall Gay, 0:42 left
• Week 6 vs. Dallas (48-27): 1-yard TD run by Kyle Eckel, 0:19 left
• Week 7 at Miami (49-28): Brady returns to the game with the Patriots up 42-21 and 10:30 remaining and threw a touchdown pass to Wes Welker from 16 yards out with 8:18 left
Whatever Bill's doing, it's got to stop.
He's right.
Bill Belichick's comments were robotic: "I've been coaching too long," Belichick said. "I remember being on that side. When I was coaching defense it was my job to keep the score down, not theirs. When you're playing defense it's your job to stop them. It's not (the offense's) job to not score. It's like I tell the offense, what the (bleep) do you think I send you guys out there for? To punt? We have a punt team for that. That's not your job. Your job is to go out there and score points. If you come off the field and you haven't scored points you haven't done your job."
Yeah. But even Bill knows when it's time to take your pedal off the metal. He's coaching with a real chip on his shoulder that could get him into a lot of trouble.
But even more telling is the number of times that he's done this -- seven times in eight games. Look at this stat from NBC Sports:
Late Patriots' scores
• Week 1 at New York Jets (38-14): 1-yard TD by Heath Evans, 1:58 left
• Week 2 vs. San Diego (38-14): 3-yard TD by Sammy Morris, 3:18 left
• Week 3 vs. Buffalo (38-7): 45-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 10:22 left
• Week 4 at Cincy (34-13): 14-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 3:18 left
• Week 5 vs. Cleveland (34-17): 15-yard fumble return TD by Randall Gay, 0:42 left
• Week 6 vs. Dallas (48-27): 1-yard TD run by Kyle Eckel, 0:19 left
• Week 7 at Miami (49-28): Brady returns to the game with the Patriots up 42-21 and 10:30 remaining and threw a touchdown pass to Wes Welker from 16 yards out with 8:18 left
Whatever Bill's doing, it's got to stop.
New England Patriots Run Up Score Vs. Washington Redskins - 52 - 7 (ESPN)
New England's certainly developing bad karma with their behavior.
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Updated: October 28, 2007
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots' zeal for stealing opposing defensive coaches' signals in the season opener against the Jets cost the team a first-round choice and $250,000. It also made coach Bill Belichick's bank account lighter by $500,000.
Now, the only hand signals worth mentioning might be the possibility of obscene gestures coming from the coaches and players he beats.
On Sunday, Belichick kicked a Hall of Fame coach while he was down, running up the score on Joe Gibbs' Redskins to 52-7. This comes a week after Belichick reinserted quarterback Tom Brady midway through the fourth quarter of a 49-28 win over the Dolphins.
What seemed cute three weeks when Brady threw an unnecessary last-minute touchdown pass to Kyle Eckel while whipping the Cowboys 48-27 has turned ugly.
Welcome to Belichick's no-mercy policy.
Although criticism and questions about Belichick's moves will further paint him as the bad guy in his showdown against Tony Dungy and the Colts next Sunday, the Pats coach simply doesn't care. He wore the black hoodie in the Week 1 spy incident and accepted his punishment. Now, he's making the league pay with blowouts.
That's why he …
• … kept Brady on the field for an 88-yard drive six minutes into the fourth quarter despite already leading 38-0. On that 14-play drive, the Patriots went for a fourth-and-1 at the Redskins' 7 and ordered a 35-yard bomb to Randy Moss.
• … went for a fourth-and-2 at the Redskins' 37 on the next possession while leading 45-0. Backup QB Matt Cassel hit Jabar Gaffney with a 21-yard pass. Two plays later, Cassel scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown run to open a 52-0 lead.
Asked why he would go for two fourth downs in a blowout, Belichick responded, "What do you want us to do, kick a field goal?"
Pressed further, he said, "It's 38-0. It's fourth down. We're just out there playing."
Still, there's no doubt what he's really doing. Redskins veterans Phillip Daniels and Marcus Washington, who have 18 years combined NFL experience, both said they had never seen a team run up the score the way the Patriots are doing.
Face it, folks, Belichick plans to lay waste to the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell took away a first-rounder, so the Patriots will take away your firstborn. Belichick has assembled perhaps the most dominating team in NFL history, and he's intent on destroying all opponents in his path.
Will the Colts be next? Although Indianapolis is also undefeated, has beaten the Colts in their past three meetings and is the defending Super Bowl champ, the Patriots are the early 4½-point favorites.
Sunday's game shows how Belichick plans to handle the rest of the season. Anyone thinking he will rest Brady in the final month before the playoffs is wrong. He will allow his future Hall of Fame quarterback to shatter every record imaginable.
Against the Redskins, Brady threw three more touchdowns, bringing his eight-game total to 30 and increasing his team's scoring average to 41.3. Oh, and Brady also ran for two touchdowns Sunday.
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Joe Gibbs said he didn't mind that Bill Belichick maintained his aggressive nature late in Sunday's blowout.
Yes, Belichick did rest a few defensive starters in the final six minutes, but he blitzed and did everything to keep the Redskins out of the end zone. Veteran players who weren't on the field encouraged those on the field to maintain the shutout. Belichick was clearly disappointed when the Redskins scored with three minutes left.
As for Gibbs, he didn't have a problem with Belichick's tactics, The two coaches shook hands after the game, although they certainly didn't make a lot of small talk.
"No, I have no problem with anything that they did," Gibbs said. "Nothing, no problems from me."
But Redskins players such as Daniels did have a problem, saying flat out that Belichick was running up the score.
Of course, the Redskins didn't have the ability to stop it. Their defense entered the game short-handed and left beheaded. Fred Smoot, the team's third cornerback, couldn't play because of a hamstring injury. Linebacker Marcus Washington was limited to passing plays because of a sore hamstring. On the Patriots' first touchdown drive, starting cornerback Carlos Rogers suffered an injury that could range from a sprained MCL (out for a few days) to a torn ACL (lost for the season). Linebacker Rocky McIntosh also was injured.
Consequently, the Redskins lost their opportunity to match up with the Pats' top four receivers. Gibbs had just three true corners left on the active roster -- Shawn Springs, Leigh Torrence and David Macklin. Brady completed 29 of 38 for 306 yards and three touchdowns.
To make matters worse, Gibbs and the coaches lost their communication system during the game. They couldn't work the headsets.
"There were issues," Gibbs said. "It's a problem across the league. I don't want to use that as an excuse for what happened to us today. We'll just continue to let the league know what happened to us today, and we'll just have to see how they deal with it."
Belichick was aware of the problem but, naturally, didn't care. He was communicating his own way -- sending a message to the 31 other teams that the Pats will take no prisoners.
It's an attitude that's going over big in the Patriots' locker room.
"It's just something the coaching staff wants to do," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said. "We're behind them for whatever they want to do. Whatever play they call, we are going to run it.
"We've been attacked since the start of the season, so we don't care. Whatever is going on out there, we just go out and play and try to execute what we are doing."
That's exactly what the Patriots are doing. They are executing everyone. Next stop is Indianapolis.
Hide the kids.
John Clayton, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers' wing, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Updated: October 28, 2007
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots' zeal for stealing opposing defensive coaches' signals in the season opener against the Jets cost the team a first-round choice and $250,000. It also made coach Bill Belichick's bank account lighter by $500,000.
Now, the only hand signals worth mentioning might be the possibility of obscene gestures coming from the coaches and players he beats.
On Sunday, Belichick kicked a Hall of Fame coach while he was down, running up the score on Joe Gibbs' Redskins to 52-7. This comes a week after Belichick reinserted quarterback Tom Brady midway through the fourth quarter of a 49-28 win over the Dolphins.
What seemed cute three weeks when Brady threw an unnecessary last-minute touchdown pass to Kyle Eckel while whipping the Cowboys 48-27 has turned ugly.
Welcome to Belichick's no-mercy policy.
Although criticism and questions about Belichick's moves will further paint him as the bad guy in his showdown against Tony Dungy and the Colts next Sunday, the Pats coach simply doesn't care. He wore the black hoodie in the Week 1 spy incident and accepted his punishment. Now, he's making the league pay with blowouts.
That's why he …
• … kept Brady on the field for an 88-yard drive six minutes into the fourth quarter despite already leading 38-0. On that 14-play drive, the Patriots went for a fourth-and-1 at the Redskins' 7 and ordered a 35-yard bomb to Randy Moss.
• … went for a fourth-and-2 at the Redskins' 37 on the next possession while leading 45-0. Backup QB Matt Cassel hit Jabar Gaffney with a 21-yard pass. Two plays later, Cassel scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown run to open a 52-0 lead.
Asked why he would go for two fourth downs in a blowout, Belichick responded, "What do you want us to do, kick a field goal?"
Pressed further, he said, "It's 38-0. It's fourth down. We're just out there playing."
Still, there's no doubt what he's really doing. Redskins veterans Phillip Daniels and Marcus Washington, who have 18 years combined NFL experience, both said they had never seen a team run up the score the way the Patriots are doing.
Face it, folks, Belichick plans to lay waste to the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell took away a first-rounder, so the Patriots will take away your firstborn. Belichick has assembled perhaps the most dominating team in NFL history, and he's intent on destroying all opponents in his path.
Will the Colts be next? Although Indianapolis is also undefeated, has beaten the Colts in their past three meetings and is the defending Super Bowl champ, the Patriots are the early 4½-point favorites.
Sunday's game shows how Belichick plans to handle the rest of the season. Anyone thinking he will rest Brady in the final month before the playoffs is wrong. He will allow his future Hall of Fame quarterback to shatter every record imaginable.
Against the Redskins, Brady threw three more touchdowns, bringing his eight-game total to 30 and increasing his team's scoring average to 41.3. Oh, and Brady also ran for two touchdowns Sunday.
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Joe Gibbs said he didn't mind that Bill Belichick maintained his aggressive nature late in Sunday's blowout.
Yes, Belichick did rest a few defensive starters in the final six minutes, but he blitzed and did everything to keep the Redskins out of the end zone. Veteran players who weren't on the field encouraged those on the field to maintain the shutout. Belichick was clearly disappointed when the Redskins scored with three minutes left.
As for Gibbs, he didn't have a problem with Belichick's tactics, The two coaches shook hands after the game, although they certainly didn't make a lot of small talk.
"No, I have no problem with anything that they did," Gibbs said. "Nothing, no problems from me."
But Redskins players such as Daniels did have a problem, saying flat out that Belichick was running up the score.
Of course, the Redskins didn't have the ability to stop it. Their defense entered the game short-handed and left beheaded. Fred Smoot, the team's third cornerback, couldn't play because of a hamstring injury. Linebacker Marcus Washington was limited to passing plays because of a sore hamstring. On the Patriots' first touchdown drive, starting cornerback Carlos Rogers suffered an injury that could range from a sprained MCL (out for a few days) to a torn ACL (lost for the season). Linebacker Rocky McIntosh also was injured.
Consequently, the Redskins lost their opportunity to match up with the Pats' top four receivers. Gibbs had just three true corners left on the active roster -- Shawn Springs, Leigh Torrence and David Macklin. Brady completed 29 of 38 for 306 yards and three touchdowns.
To make matters worse, Gibbs and the coaches lost their communication system during the game. They couldn't work the headsets.
"There were issues," Gibbs said. "It's a problem across the league. I don't want to use that as an excuse for what happened to us today. We'll just continue to let the league know what happened to us today, and we'll just have to see how they deal with it."
Belichick was aware of the problem but, naturally, didn't care. He was communicating his own way -- sending a message to the 31 other teams that the Pats will take no prisoners.
It's an attitude that's going over big in the Patriots' locker room.
"It's just something the coaching staff wants to do," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said. "We're behind them for whatever they want to do. Whatever play they call, we are going to run it.
"We've been attacked since the start of the season, so we don't care. Whatever is going on out there, we just go out and play and try to execute what we are doing."
That's exactly what the Patriots are doing. They are executing everyone. Next stop is Indianapolis.
Hide the kids.
John Clayton, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers' wing, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
It's definite: Game's on Sunday at Qualcomm
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
11:01 a.m. October 26, 2007
A week of uncertainty has come to a close, as the Chargers have learned they will play their home game Sunday – actually at home.
They will play the Houston Texans at 1:05 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium, according to a press release from the city.
The wildfires that tortured San Diegans this week forced the Chargers to flee Tuesday to Arizona, where they will hold their third-and-final practice at the Cardinals' complex in Tempe this afternoon.
On Thursday, Mayor Jerry Sanders cleared Qualcomm Stadium as site of the game. While all indications were the game would be there, the Chargers still did not confirm that on Thursday night.
The mayor said the team remained concerned about air quality and police and fire support. A mayoral spokesman said Thursday the city “would be ready” with that support by Sunday.
Also, all remaining evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium were to be transferred to other shelters.
While some in San Diego expressed concerns about playing a game so soon after a tragedy, many have clamored for the game to be at Qualcomm because it would be a positive diversion.
I think thats very important for us,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “We want to look at it like that. Anytime you can entertain people, its always going to take their minds off of whats going on. Even for three or four hours, if you can entertain them, theyre going to take their mind off of whatever is going on in their world. Thats what we want to do.
“People in the county are going through a tough time ... To play a game, hopefully back there, hopefully that can lift people's spirits. Because this is gong to be something the county is going to have to deal with for a long time.”
Asked Thursday about a game at Qualcomm helping people feel better, Sanders said, “I think the city ought to feel real good about the way it's responded to this crisis already. And I think a lot of people in the city and county of San Diego have done an incredible job working together to house and feed and do a lot of things. I certainly think a football game would be nice, but I don't know that that's the only thing people are focused on at this point.”
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
11:01 a.m. October 26, 2007
A week of uncertainty has come to a close, as the Chargers have learned they will play their home game Sunday – actually at home.
They will play the Houston Texans at 1:05 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium, according to a press release from the city.
The wildfires that tortured San Diegans this week forced the Chargers to flee Tuesday to Arizona, where they will hold their third-and-final practice at the Cardinals' complex in Tempe this afternoon.
On Thursday, Mayor Jerry Sanders cleared Qualcomm Stadium as site of the game. While all indications were the game would be there, the Chargers still did not confirm that on Thursday night.
The mayor said the team remained concerned about air quality and police and fire support. A mayoral spokesman said Thursday the city “would be ready” with that support by Sunday.
Also, all remaining evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium were to be transferred to other shelters.
While some in San Diego expressed concerns about playing a game so soon after a tragedy, many have clamored for the game to be at Qualcomm because it would be a positive diversion.
I think thats very important for us,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “We want to look at it like that. Anytime you can entertain people, its always going to take their minds off of whats going on. Even for three or four hours, if you can entertain them, theyre going to take their mind off of whatever is going on in their world. Thats what we want to do.
“People in the county are going through a tough time ... To play a game, hopefully back there, hopefully that can lift people's spirits. Because this is gong to be something the county is going to have to deal with for a long time.”
Asked Thursday about a game at Qualcomm helping people feel better, Sanders said, “I think the city ought to feel real good about the way it's responded to this crisis already. And I think a lot of people in the city and county of San Diego have done an incredible job working together to house and feed and do a lot of things. I certainly think a football game would be nice, but I don't know that that's the only thing people are focused on at this point.”
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Tennessee 38, Houston 36- Bironas sets mark for field goals in a game
By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer
October 21, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -- With Vince Young on the sidelines, the Tennessee Titans couldn't finish drives. With the day Rob Bironas had, it didn't matter.
Bironas kicked an NFL-record eight field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, to lead the Titans to a 38-36 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Backup Kerry Collins led the offense while Young missed playing in his hometown because of a strained quadriceps. Collins didn't make many mistakes, but the offense couldn't capitalize in the red zone, ushering Bironas into the record book.
The record-setting kick foiled a spirited comeback by the Texans (3-4), who scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, capped by a 53-yard touchdown pass from Sage Rosenfels to Andre' Davis to take a 36-35 lead with 57 seconds to play.
The Titans (4-2) faced a third-and-10 at their 37 when Collins found Roydell Williams on a 46-yard pass that set up the winning kick.
Bironas said he didn't realize he was closing in on the mark.
"I knew we'd hit quite a few, but I try not to count," Bironas said. "I try not to know the distances when I go out there, so I'm always concentrating on making the same kick. I've never really counted. I'll remember this one, though."
Bironas' last two field goals were from 29 yards and he connected from 52, 43, 25, 21, 30 and 28 yards to break the previous record of seven field goals held by Billy Cundiff, Chris Boniol, Rich Karlis and Jim Bakken.
He doubled his field goal total for the season Sunday after kicking eight field goals in the five previous games combined. When someone pointed out that he had five field goals by halftime, he found it strange.
"I was like: `I've almost kicked as many as we've kicked the whole season,"' he said. "I'll take them when we need them."
Bironas also kicked two extra points and set the NFL record for most points by a kicker with 26. Cundiff's 23 points on Sept. 15, 2003, was the previous high.
Young was active, but didn't play and Collins got his first win as a starter in Tennessee after losing the first three games of last season. Coach Jeff Fisher said Young could have played if Collins had been injured, but that he wasn't at "full speed."
"I wasn't going to play at all because I didn't have any preparation or practicing," Young said. "I really feel like I need to practice to play. I can't just go out there and go off just off talent. That's not the type of guy I am."
Houston's offense stalled throughout the first three quarters before the furious rally began with a 7-yard touchdown catch by David Anderson early in the fourth quarter. Before that 70-yard drive, the Texans had managed just 34 yards of offense. A two-point conversion by Davis made it 32-15.
Texans coach Gary Kubiak blamed the offensive woes on himself.
"I'm just very disappointed in this guy you're looking at right here," Kubiak said. "For us to go out there and play offensively that way for that long, there's no excuse. That's my job."
Houston Starter Matt Schaub missed big chunks of the first half and the entire second half with ankle and hip injuries. Kubiak said Schaub would have an MRI on his hip but that X-rays on his ankle were negative.
Rosenfels accounted for four of Houston's six turnovers by throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble in Schaub's place.
"If we just convert on a couple of those turnovers that we got, deep in their territory and got touchdowns instead of field goals, we wouldn't have been in the situation we were in at the end," Collins said. "That's obviously going to be a point of emphasis for us and one we need to keep working on."
The Texans cut the lead to 32-22 on a 6-yard touchdown reception by Kevin Walter with about eight minutes left. The Texans forced a punt, but Anderson fumbled it and Tennessee recovered, putting a damper on Houston's comeback hopes.
Bironas seventh field goal made it 35-22 with 3:47 remaining.
But Jeb Putzier's 7-yard touchdown catch with less than two minutes remaining cut the lead to 35-29. The Texans recovered their first onside kick attempt but had to re-kick after an illegal formation penalty.
They recovered the second one, too, to set up Davis' touchdown.
Rosenfels four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter tied an NFL record. He finished 22-for-35 for 290 yards.
Chris Henry and LenDale White scored Tennessee's only touchdowns and White finished with 27 carries for 104 yards.
DeMeco Ryans sacked Collins, causing a fumble which he returned 26 yards for a touchdown that gave Houston a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.
The Texans managed 24 yards and two first downs in the first half, with the second one coming on a penalty. Jacoby Jones fumbled early in the first quarter and Rosenfels threw an interception and lost a fumble before halftime.
Rosenfels replaced Schaub midway through the first half after he injured his ankle on a sack. He threw the interception to Nick Harper on his first play.
Schaub returned in the second quarter, but was knocked out of the game just before halftime by a helmet-to-helmet hit by Albert Haynesworth. Rosenfels fumbled on the next play to set up a 28-yard field goal by Bironas, his fifth of the half.
Haynesworth said he didn't think it was a helmet-to-helmet hit and said it would have been better if Schaub would have stayed in.
"Well, heck, I mean we probably would have won this game 35-7 if he stayed in," Haynesworth said. "It was good to knock him out I guess, but he's going to come back and I don't think there'll be any kind of quarterback controversy because they pay that guy a lot of money."
Notes
The Texans had just 39 yards rushing. ... Titans fullback Ahmard Hall has a broken arm and will have surgery, Fisher said.
October 21, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -- With Vince Young on the sidelines, the Tennessee Titans couldn't finish drives. With the day Rob Bironas had, it didn't matter.
Bironas kicked an NFL-record eight field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, to lead the Titans to a 38-36 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Backup Kerry Collins led the offense while Young missed playing in his hometown because of a strained quadriceps. Collins didn't make many mistakes, but the offense couldn't capitalize in the red zone, ushering Bironas into the record book.
The record-setting kick foiled a spirited comeback by the Texans (3-4), who scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, capped by a 53-yard touchdown pass from Sage Rosenfels to Andre' Davis to take a 36-35 lead with 57 seconds to play.
The Titans (4-2) faced a third-and-10 at their 37 when Collins found Roydell Williams on a 46-yard pass that set up the winning kick.
Bironas said he didn't realize he was closing in on the mark.
"I knew we'd hit quite a few, but I try not to count," Bironas said. "I try not to know the distances when I go out there, so I'm always concentrating on making the same kick. I've never really counted. I'll remember this one, though."
Bironas' last two field goals were from 29 yards and he connected from 52, 43, 25, 21, 30 and 28 yards to break the previous record of seven field goals held by Billy Cundiff, Chris Boniol, Rich Karlis and Jim Bakken.
He doubled his field goal total for the season Sunday after kicking eight field goals in the five previous games combined. When someone pointed out that he had five field goals by halftime, he found it strange.
"I was like: `I've almost kicked as many as we've kicked the whole season,"' he said. "I'll take them when we need them."
Bironas also kicked two extra points and set the NFL record for most points by a kicker with 26. Cundiff's 23 points on Sept. 15, 2003, was the previous high.
Young was active, but didn't play and Collins got his first win as a starter in Tennessee after losing the first three games of last season. Coach Jeff Fisher said Young could have played if Collins had been injured, but that he wasn't at "full speed."
"I wasn't going to play at all because I didn't have any preparation or practicing," Young said. "I really feel like I need to practice to play. I can't just go out there and go off just off talent. That's not the type of guy I am."
Houston's offense stalled throughout the first three quarters before the furious rally began with a 7-yard touchdown catch by David Anderson early in the fourth quarter. Before that 70-yard drive, the Texans had managed just 34 yards of offense. A two-point conversion by Davis made it 32-15.
Texans coach Gary Kubiak blamed the offensive woes on himself.
"I'm just very disappointed in this guy you're looking at right here," Kubiak said. "For us to go out there and play offensively that way for that long, there's no excuse. That's my job."
Houston Starter Matt Schaub missed big chunks of the first half and the entire second half with ankle and hip injuries. Kubiak said Schaub would have an MRI on his hip but that X-rays on his ankle were negative.
Rosenfels accounted for four of Houston's six turnovers by throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble in Schaub's place.
"If we just convert on a couple of those turnovers that we got, deep in their territory and got touchdowns instead of field goals, we wouldn't have been in the situation we were in at the end," Collins said. "That's obviously going to be a point of emphasis for us and one we need to keep working on."
The Texans cut the lead to 32-22 on a 6-yard touchdown reception by Kevin Walter with about eight minutes left. The Texans forced a punt, but Anderson fumbled it and Tennessee recovered, putting a damper on Houston's comeback hopes.
Bironas seventh field goal made it 35-22 with 3:47 remaining.
But Jeb Putzier's 7-yard touchdown catch with less than two minutes remaining cut the lead to 35-29. The Texans recovered their first onside kick attempt but had to re-kick after an illegal formation penalty.
They recovered the second one, too, to set up Davis' touchdown.
Rosenfels four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter tied an NFL record. He finished 22-for-35 for 290 yards.
Chris Henry and LenDale White scored Tennessee's only touchdowns and White finished with 27 carries for 104 yards.
DeMeco Ryans sacked Collins, causing a fumble which he returned 26 yards for a touchdown that gave Houston a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.
The Texans managed 24 yards and two first downs in the first half, with the second one coming on a penalty. Jacoby Jones fumbled early in the first quarter and Rosenfels threw an interception and lost a fumble before halftime.
Rosenfels replaced Schaub midway through the first half after he injured his ankle on a sack. He threw the interception to Nick Harper on his first play.
Schaub returned in the second quarter, but was knocked out of the game just before halftime by a helmet-to-helmet hit by Albert Haynesworth. Rosenfels fumbled on the next play to set up a 28-yard field goal by Bironas, his fifth of the half.
Haynesworth said he didn't think it was a helmet-to-helmet hit and said it would have been better if Schaub would have stayed in.
"Well, heck, I mean we probably would have won this game 35-7 if he stayed in," Haynesworth said. "It was good to knock him out I guess, but he's going to come back and I don't think there'll be any kind of quarterback controversy because they pay that guy a lot of money."
Notes
The Texans had just 39 yards rushing. ... Titans fullback Ahmard Hall has a broken arm and will have surgery, Fisher said.
New England 49, Miami 28
By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer
October 21, 2007
MIAMI (AP) -- Tom Brady emerged from the locker room Sunday wearing a suit and tie complemented by a pocket scarf, his stylish look marred only by a few small drink stains on one side.
So he's not perfect.
But he and the New England Patriots are awfully good.
Flawless at the start and off the bench, Brady threw a team-record six touchdown passes to help the unbeaten Patriots rout the winless Miami Dolphins 49-28.
With his team comfortably ahead, Brady came out early in the fourth quarter, then re-entered and threw for New England's final score. His TD total exceeded his career high of five, set last week against Dallas.
"He's looking awesome," Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said. "He has always been awesome. That's where it all starts for them. But he has more talent to work with now."
The Patriots, who led 42-7 at halftime, improved to 7-0 for the first time in their 48-year history.
"We've got a long way to go," Brady said. "Our goals are bigger than winning seven games this year."
Brady completed his first 11 passes for 220 yards and four scores, including throws of 35 and 50 yards to Randy Moss. His other touchdown passes covered 14 and 16 yards to Wes Welker, 30 to Donte Stallworth and 2 to Kyle Brady.
"Those guys are making the plays," Brady said. "I'm just throwing it. They're making my job awful easy."
Brady has 27 touchdown passes after seven games and is on pace for 61. The NFL record is 49 set by Peyton Manning in 2004.
The drubbing was the biggest downer yet for the Dolphins, who fell to 0-7 for the first time in their 41 seasons. They next play the New York Giants in London.
"We can't win in America," defensive end Jason Taylor said. "Maybe we can win overseas."
Miami also lost running back Ronnie Brown to a knee injury in the third quarter. Brown, who came into the game leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage, is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Monday.
The Patriots have won all seven of their games by at least 17 points, matching a league record to start a season. They showed little letup until backup quarterback Matt Cassel entered the game with 11 minutes left.
When Taylor intercepted Cassel's second pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to make the score 42-21, Patriots coach Bill Belichick sent Brady back in.
"I did it because of the score," Belichick said. "One more turnover, and then it's a 14-point game in the middle of the fourth quarter."
"Coach Belichick looked back over at me and goes, `Yep, you're going back in,"' Brady said. "By that time I had taken all my stuff off, so I suited back up."
Brady then drove New England 59 yards in four plays, the last a touchdown pass to Welker.
The Patriots were that relentless all afternoon, dominating even on special teams. Willie Andrews returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown. The first time the Patriots punted, Chris Hanson's kick pinned the Dolphins at their 1.
Even when Miami forced New England into a third-and-18 situation, Brady hit Moss for a touchdown. Moss outfought defenders in the end zone for both of his scores, making one of the catches one-handed.
"If you want to know why we're 0-7, you look at plays like that, and it says a lot," Miami cornerback Andre Goodman said.
But the entire NFL is struggling to stop Moss, who has 10 touchdown catches in his first season with the Patriots.
"You give him a chance, he usually comes down with it," Brady said. "He's such a mismatch. He has a size and speed advantage on every defender he plays against."
Brady finished 21-for-25 for 354 yards and no turnovers. For the second game in a row, the Patriots scored their highest points total in 23 years. Their 42 points by halftime were a franchise record for a half.
Notes: S Renaldo Hill hurt his right knee on Moss' second touchdown pass. S Courtney Bryan hurt his thigh, further depleting Miami at a position plagued by injuries. ... Taylor's touchdown was the eighth of his career, breaking the modern career NFL record for a defensive lineman he shared with George Martin. ... Patriots RB Laurence Maroney returned after missing three games with a groin injury. He carried six times for 31 yards.
October 21, 2007
MIAMI (AP) -- Tom Brady emerged from the locker room Sunday wearing a suit and tie complemented by a pocket scarf, his stylish look marred only by a few small drink stains on one side.
So he's not perfect.
But he and the New England Patriots are awfully good.
Flawless at the start and off the bench, Brady threw a team-record six touchdown passes to help the unbeaten Patriots rout the winless Miami Dolphins 49-28.
With his team comfortably ahead, Brady came out early in the fourth quarter, then re-entered and threw for New England's final score. His TD total exceeded his career high of five, set last week against Dallas.
"He's looking awesome," Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said. "He has always been awesome. That's where it all starts for them. But he has more talent to work with now."
The Patriots, who led 42-7 at halftime, improved to 7-0 for the first time in their 48-year history.
"We've got a long way to go," Brady said. "Our goals are bigger than winning seven games this year."
Brady completed his first 11 passes for 220 yards and four scores, including throws of 35 and 50 yards to Randy Moss. His other touchdown passes covered 14 and 16 yards to Wes Welker, 30 to Donte Stallworth and 2 to Kyle Brady.
"Those guys are making the plays," Brady said. "I'm just throwing it. They're making my job awful easy."
Brady has 27 touchdown passes after seven games and is on pace for 61. The NFL record is 49 set by Peyton Manning in 2004.
The drubbing was the biggest downer yet for the Dolphins, who fell to 0-7 for the first time in their 41 seasons. They next play the New York Giants in London.
"We can't win in America," defensive end Jason Taylor said. "Maybe we can win overseas."
Miami also lost running back Ronnie Brown to a knee injury in the third quarter. Brown, who came into the game leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage, is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Monday.
The Patriots have won all seven of their games by at least 17 points, matching a league record to start a season. They showed little letup until backup quarterback Matt Cassel entered the game with 11 minutes left.
When Taylor intercepted Cassel's second pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to make the score 42-21, Patriots coach Bill Belichick sent Brady back in.
"I did it because of the score," Belichick said. "One more turnover, and then it's a 14-point game in the middle of the fourth quarter."
"Coach Belichick looked back over at me and goes, `Yep, you're going back in,"' Brady said. "By that time I had taken all my stuff off, so I suited back up."
Brady then drove New England 59 yards in four plays, the last a touchdown pass to Welker.
The Patriots were that relentless all afternoon, dominating even on special teams. Willie Andrews returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown. The first time the Patriots punted, Chris Hanson's kick pinned the Dolphins at their 1.
Even when Miami forced New England into a third-and-18 situation, Brady hit Moss for a touchdown. Moss outfought defenders in the end zone for both of his scores, making one of the catches one-handed.
"If you want to know why we're 0-7, you look at plays like that, and it says a lot," Miami cornerback Andre Goodman said.
But the entire NFL is struggling to stop Moss, who has 10 touchdown catches in his first season with the Patriots.
"You give him a chance, he usually comes down with it," Brady said. "He's such a mismatch. He has a size and speed advantage on every defender he plays against."
Brady finished 21-for-25 for 354 yards and no turnovers. For the second game in a row, the Patriots scored their highest points total in 23 years. Their 42 points by halftime were a franchise record for a half.
Notes: S Renaldo Hill hurt his right knee on Moss' second touchdown pass. S Courtney Bryan hurt his thigh, further depleting Miami at a position plagued by injuries. ... Taylor's touchdown was the eighth of his career, breaking the modern career NFL record for a defensive lineman he shared with George Martin. ... Patriots RB Laurence Maroney returned after missing three games with a groin injury. He carried six times for 31 yards.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Bills express interest in playing at least one home game in Toronto
Associated Press
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills intend to play a few games in Canada, eh?
That's the plan after the Bills announced on Thursday they are seeking approval to play a preseason and at least one regular-season game in Toronto. It's part of the franchise's attempt to expand its market base beyond western New York.
"The team hopes to capitalize on the increasing interest of fans in the Canadian market by playing a regular-season game in Toronto," the Bills announced in a release.
The Bills hope to play a preseason game at Toronto next summer, with plans to play a regular-season game as early as 2009. The games would be played at Rogers Center, a downtown stadium with a retractable roof that serves as home to baseball's Blue Jays and the Canadian Football League Argonauts.
The Bills require both county and state approval to play "home games" outside of Ralph Wilson Stadium as a condition of their lease, which runs through 2012. The lease requires the team to play half its preseason and all regular-season home games at the Orchard Park facility.
The team began the process by sending a letter of request to Erie County on Wednesday.
The Bills would also need approval from the NFL, considered a formality with the league already scheduling games in international markets. In two weeks, Miami and the New York Giants will play at London's Wembley Stadium in the first NFL game outside North America. In 2005, Arizona and San Francisco played in Mexico City in the first regular-season game outside the United States.
Toronto is the next logical choice as part of the Bills' expansion plans. Canada's largest metropolitan center is a 90-mile drive from Buffalo, boasts a large corporate base that can translate into additional marketing revenue, and the team also draws an average of 15,000 Canadian fans to its home games.
The Bills also consider this an opportunity to lure Toronto companies to purchase corporate suites at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills currently have three suites unsold and, next season, will unveil new prime suites as part of a plan to relocate the existing press box.
The Bills stressed the games at Toronto are part of their regionalization plans and should not be considered a first step for the franchise's relocation. The Bills noted the success they've enjoyed since moving their training camp in 2000 to Rochester, where they've taken advantage of the city's corporate base.
Bills owner Ralph Wilson, who turned 89 on Wednesday, has maintained he has no intention of selling or relocating the franchise. The team's future remains unclear because Wilson has no plans to keep the franchise in his family once he dies, leaving the door open for a new owner to move the team.
Toronto newspapers have published stories speculating whether the city can be a viable NFL market, and most often mention the Bills as a prime candidate.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills intend to play a few games in Canada, eh?
That's the plan after the Bills announced on Thursday they are seeking approval to play a preseason and at least one regular-season game in Toronto. It's part of the franchise's attempt to expand its market base beyond western New York.
"The team hopes to capitalize on the increasing interest of fans in the Canadian market by playing a regular-season game in Toronto," the Bills announced in a release.
The Bills hope to play a preseason game at Toronto next summer, with plans to play a regular-season game as early as 2009. The games would be played at Rogers Center, a downtown stadium with a retractable roof that serves as home to baseball's Blue Jays and the Canadian Football League Argonauts.
The Bills require both county and state approval to play "home games" outside of Ralph Wilson Stadium as a condition of their lease, which runs through 2012. The lease requires the team to play half its preseason and all regular-season home games at the Orchard Park facility.
The team began the process by sending a letter of request to Erie County on Wednesday.
The Bills would also need approval from the NFL, considered a formality with the league already scheduling games in international markets. In two weeks, Miami and the New York Giants will play at London's Wembley Stadium in the first NFL game outside North America. In 2005, Arizona and San Francisco played in Mexico City in the first regular-season game outside the United States.
Toronto is the next logical choice as part of the Bills' expansion plans. Canada's largest metropolitan center is a 90-mile drive from Buffalo, boasts a large corporate base that can translate into additional marketing revenue, and the team also draws an average of 15,000 Canadian fans to its home games.
The Bills also consider this an opportunity to lure Toronto companies to purchase corporate suites at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills currently have three suites unsold and, next season, will unveil new prime suites as part of a plan to relocate the existing press box.
The Bills stressed the games at Toronto are part of their regionalization plans and should not be considered a first step for the franchise's relocation. The Bills noted the success they've enjoyed since moving their training camp in 2000 to Rochester, where they've taken advantage of the city's corporate base.
Bills owner Ralph Wilson, who turned 89 on Wednesday, has maintained he has no intention of selling or relocating the franchise. The team's future remains unclear because Wilson has no plans to keep the franchise in his family once he dies, leaving the door open for a new owner to move the team.
Toronto newspapers have published stories speculating whether the city can be a viable NFL market, and most often mention the Bills as a prime candidate.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Chambers headed to Chargers in trade with Dolphins
Smart move by the Chargers to strengthen their porous receiving core. As for the woeful Dolphins, they lose their primary target on offense and will have a difficult time replacing stabilizing what is a volatile offense.
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday in exchange for a 2008 second-round draft pick.
The Chargers have been without No. 1 wide receiver Eric Parker since June and needed to bolster their passing game.
"We are very excited to add Chris to our team," San Diego General Manager A.J. Smith told chargers.com. "He brings a wealth of experience and outstanding production. He is an extremely talented football player and we have held him in high regard throughout his career."
Chambers has 31 receptions for 415 yards and no touchdowns this season. He was a second-round choice by Miami in 2001 and enjoyed his best season in 2005, when he made 82 catches for 1,118 yards and 11 scores.
Chambers is signed through 2009.
"This trade will give some of our younger players at that position, such as Ted Ginn and Derek Hagan, more of an opportunity this year," Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller said in a statement. "Chris did everything we asked of him and represented this organization in a first-class manner. We wish him and his family the best of luck in San Diego."
To make room for Chambers on the active roster, the Chargers placed Parker on the Injured Reserved List. Parker had not played this season while recovering from August surgery to repair a cracked bone near his right big toe he injured during June minicamp. The Chargers originally expected Parker to be out up to 10 weeks.
The trade suggests the Dolphins are looking to the future following an 0-6 start, which matches the worst in franchise history.
The Dolphins are in their first season under Cam Cameron, the former offensive coordinator of the Chargers.
San Diego (3-3) has its bye this Sunday. Miami plays unbeaten New England.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday in exchange for a 2008 second-round draft pick.
The Chargers have been without No. 1 wide receiver Eric Parker since June and needed to bolster their passing game.
"We are very excited to add Chris to our team," San Diego General Manager A.J. Smith told chargers.com. "He brings a wealth of experience and outstanding production. He is an extremely talented football player and we have held him in high regard throughout his career."
Chambers has 31 receptions for 415 yards and no touchdowns this season. He was a second-round choice by Miami in 2001 and enjoyed his best season in 2005, when he made 82 catches for 1,118 yards and 11 scores.
Chambers is signed through 2009.
"This trade will give some of our younger players at that position, such as Ted Ginn and Derek Hagan, more of an opportunity this year," Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller said in a statement. "Chris did everything we asked of him and represented this organization in a first-class manner. We wish him and his family the best of luck in San Diego."
To make room for Chambers on the active roster, the Chargers placed Parker on the Injured Reserved List. Parker had not played this season while recovering from August surgery to repair a cracked bone near his right big toe he injured during June minicamp. The Chargers originally expected Parker to be out up to 10 weeks.
The trade suggests the Dolphins are looking to the future following an 0-6 start, which matches the worst in franchise history.
The Dolphins are in their first season under Cam Cameron, the former offensive coordinator of the Chargers.
San Diego (3-3) has its bye this Sunday. Miami plays unbeaten New England.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Trade - Michael Bennett from Kansas City Chiefs To Tampa Bay Buccaneers
From ESPN.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have acquired seventh-year veteran tailback Michael Bennett from the Kansas City Chiefs.The Chiefs received an undisclosed draft pick in the trade.
"We believe that the addition of Michael Bennett will strengthen our running back position," Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said in a statement.
Although Bennett does not fit the model of the kind of running back that the club had been attempting to add in trade talks over the past week, the swap provides the Bucs a veteran back who was a starter in the league early in his career, and who was named to the 2002 Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,296 yards that season.
"It really caught me off-guard," Bennett told the Kansas City Star. "I heard the speculation for the past few days, but nobody from the Chiefs said anything to me, so I guessed it wasn't going to happen. I was wrong. It's a business. It's just one of those things that happen.
The departure of Bennett from the Chiefs could mean that Kansas City tailback Priest Holmes, who hasn't played in two years because of a neck condition, is ready to return to the practice field. Holmes is on the non-football injury list, and players on that reserve list are eligible to start practicing again on Tuesday, by league rule.
Kansas City coach Herm Edwards told local reporters Monday that Holmes would rejoin the team when it practiced on Wednesday in preparation for this week's game. Many felt that Holmes would retire in the offseason, but he surprised even Chiefs officials by reporting to training camp this summer.
"He's been here," Edwards said of Holmes. "I've been talking to him, about every other day or so. We talk about where he's at, how he's doing, what we're thinking. He knows what I expect and I know where he's at right now."
If Holmes does resume practice this week, the Chiefs, by NFL rule, would have a three-week window in which to evaluate him.
Tampa Bay has been beset by injuries in its backfield. The team lost veteran fullback Mike Alstott in the preseason and starting tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams suffered a torn patella tendon three weeks ago that ended his 2007 season. Most recently, Michael Pittman, who replaced Williams as the starter, sustained an ankle injury that could sideline him for two months, according to club officials.
Veteran free agent Zack Crockett was signed last week by the Bucs, but he is more of a short-yardage specialist. Tampa Bay, which is tied for the lead in the NFC South, used fourth-year veteran Earnest Graham as the starter last week, but he rushed for only 29 yards in the team's victory over the Tennessee Titans.
With the resurgent Bucs sensing a chance to steal the division, particularly given the struggles of the defending NFC South champion New Orleans Saints, many in the league felt that Tampa Bay general manager Bruce Allen would try hard to add a veteran tailback before the Tuesday 4 p.m. trade deadline. Allen was rebuffed in his attempts to acquire fourth-year veteran Mewelde Moore from the Minnesota Vikings, but was active in discussions on several fronts the past few days.
A Bucs officials said late Monday afternoon that the team was definitely pursuing a back and hoped to make a deal. Asked specifically about Bennett, who was being shopped by the Chiefs, the official noted that the club was looking for more of a physical runner. A former Olympic sprint candidate, Bennett is more noted for his speed than his power. But the Bucs almost had to make a move given their situation, and Bennett was the best option.
Bennett was the first-round pick of the Vikings in the 2001 draft. The former Wisconsin standout played his first five seasons in Minnesota (2001-2005), then signed with New Orleans to be the backup to Deuce McAllister in 2006. But the Saints then selected Reggie Bush in the 2006 draft, making Bennett expendable, and he was dealt to Kansas City last summer to fill the Chiefs' need for a backup to Larry Johnson.
He played sparingly in 2006, as Johnson established a league record with 416 carries. This season, Bennett carried 20 times for 52 yards and no touchdowns and had 10 receptions for 47 yards and no scores.
For his career, Bennett has 769 rushes for 3,426 yards and 12 touchdowns and 145 catches for 1,164 yards and five touchdowns. Since rushing for 1,296 yards in 2002, he has never gained more than 500 yards on the ground. Bennett has appeared in 81 games. He is in the final year of his contract, with a base salary of $1.2 million, and Tampa Bay will now be responsible for the prorated portion of that.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL reporter for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have acquired seventh-year veteran tailback Michael Bennett from the Kansas City Chiefs.The Chiefs received an undisclosed draft pick in the trade.
"We believe that the addition of Michael Bennett will strengthen our running back position," Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said in a statement.
Although Bennett does not fit the model of the kind of running back that the club had been attempting to add in trade talks over the past week, the swap provides the Bucs a veteran back who was a starter in the league early in his career, and who was named to the 2002 Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,296 yards that season.
"It really caught me off-guard," Bennett told the Kansas City Star. "I heard the speculation for the past few days, but nobody from the Chiefs said anything to me, so I guessed it wasn't going to happen. I was wrong. It's a business. It's just one of those things that happen.
The departure of Bennett from the Chiefs could mean that Kansas City tailback Priest Holmes, who hasn't played in two years because of a neck condition, is ready to return to the practice field. Holmes is on the non-football injury list, and players on that reserve list are eligible to start practicing again on Tuesday, by league rule.
Kansas City coach Herm Edwards told local reporters Monday that Holmes would rejoin the team when it practiced on Wednesday in preparation for this week's game. Many felt that Holmes would retire in the offseason, but he surprised even Chiefs officials by reporting to training camp this summer.
"He's been here," Edwards said of Holmes. "I've been talking to him, about every other day or so. We talk about where he's at, how he's doing, what we're thinking. He knows what I expect and I know where he's at right now."
If Holmes does resume practice this week, the Chiefs, by NFL rule, would have a three-week window in which to evaluate him.
Tampa Bay has been beset by injuries in its backfield. The team lost veteran fullback Mike Alstott in the preseason and starting tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams suffered a torn patella tendon three weeks ago that ended his 2007 season. Most recently, Michael Pittman, who replaced Williams as the starter, sustained an ankle injury that could sideline him for two months, according to club officials.
Veteran free agent Zack Crockett was signed last week by the Bucs, but he is more of a short-yardage specialist. Tampa Bay, which is tied for the lead in the NFC South, used fourth-year veteran Earnest Graham as the starter last week, but he rushed for only 29 yards in the team's victory over the Tennessee Titans.
With the resurgent Bucs sensing a chance to steal the division, particularly given the struggles of the defending NFC South champion New Orleans Saints, many in the league felt that Tampa Bay general manager Bruce Allen would try hard to add a veteran tailback before the Tuesday 4 p.m. trade deadline. Allen was rebuffed in his attempts to acquire fourth-year veteran Mewelde Moore from the Minnesota Vikings, but was active in discussions on several fronts the past few days.
A Bucs officials said late Monday afternoon that the team was definitely pursuing a back and hoped to make a deal. Asked specifically about Bennett, who was being shopped by the Chiefs, the official noted that the club was looking for more of a physical runner. A former Olympic sprint candidate, Bennett is more noted for his speed than his power. But the Bucs almost had to make a move given their situation, and Bennett was the best option.
Bennett was the first-round pick of the Vikings in the 2001 draft. The former Wisconsin standout played his first five seasons in Minnesota (2001-2005), then signed with New Orleans to be the backup to Deuce McAllister in 2006. But the Saints then selected Reggie Bush in the 2006 draft, making Bennett expendable, and he was dealt to Kansas City last summer to fill the Chiefs' need for a backup to Larry Johnson.
He played sparingly in 2006, as Johnson established a league record with 416 carries. This season, Bennett carried 20 times for 52 yards and no touchdowns and had 10 receptions for 47 yards and no scores.
For his career, Bennett has 769 rushes for 3,426 yards and 12 touchdowns and 145 catches for 1,164 yards and five touchdowns. Since rushing for 1,296 yards in 2002, he has never gained more than 500 yards on the ground. Bennett has appeared in 81 games. He is in the final year of his contract, with a base salary of $1.2 million, and Tampa Bay will now be responsible for the prorated portion of that.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL reporter for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Brady Quinn's Private Big Bus
Apparently you can always tell when Brady Quinn comes to town because he's got this huge-ass bus. Have you ever seen a player with wheels like this? I haven't.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Quincy Carter Arrested For Drug Possession - Sad Story
This is someone I've been rooting for and it's sad to see that drugs have overtaken him. I hope he gets the real help he needs and sees the wake-up call. He was a real talent that -- for a while -- had the World on a string.
Here's the story...
Former Cowboys QB Arrested On Drug Charge
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter was arrested in Shreveport on a drug charge early Friday morning.
Carter was booked into the Shreveport City Jail at about 4 a.m. after being charged with possession of marijuana. Carter was later transferred to the Caddo Correctional Center.
In a news release, police said the incident began at about 1:30 a.m. when an officer stopped a silver car that was reported to have been involved in selling drugs at the Circle K convenience store at Youree and Southfield.
Here's the story...
Former Cowboys QB Arrested On Drug Charge
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter was arrested in Shreveport on a drug charge early Friday morning.
Carter was booked into the Shreveport City Jail at about 4 a.m. after being charged with possession of marijuana. Carter was later transferred to the Caddo Correctional Center.
In a news release, police said the incident began at about 1:30 a.m. when an officer stopped a silver car that was reported to have been involved in selling drugs at the Circle K convenience store at Youree and Southfield.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Steeler RB Charged for Domestic Incident in Cleveland
Article retrieved from www.myfoxcleveland.com
Last Edited: Thursday, 11 Oct 2007, 8:09 PM EDT
Created: Thursday, 11 Oct 2007, 8:09 PM EDT
After investigating an early October domestic incident involving 29-year-old Najeh Davenport, the Cleveland Police department announced today that charges have been brought against the Pittsburgh Steeler's running back.
According to Cleveland Police Lt. Thomas Stacho, Davenport has been charged with domestic violence, endangering children and unlawful restraint.
Davenport is not currently in custody and will be given a chance to surrender to police on the charges.
On Thursday, October 4th, at 8:52 p.m., Cleveland Police investigated a report of a domestic dispute at 1374 E.115 Street.
According to Stacho, the incident involved Davenport and the mother of his 5-year old child, Anita Person, 27, of Cleveland.
The dispute resulted from a custody matter involving Davenport's and Person's child.
Cleveland Police received three 9-1-1 calls between 8:45 p.m. and 9:02 p.m. from individuals at the house where the incident took place.
No arrests were initially made as officers were unable to determine the primary physical aggressor in the dispute.
If convicted Davenport could face more than 1 year in jail, 6 months for domestic violence, 6 months for endangering children and 60 days for unlawful restraint.
Last Edited: Thursday, 11 Oct 2007, 8:09 PM EDT
Created: Thursday, 11 Oct 2007, 8:09 PM EDT
After investigating an early October domestic incident involving 29-year-old Najeh Davenport, the Cleveland Police department announced today that charges have been brought against the Pittsburgh Steeler's running back.
According to Cleveland Police Lt. Thomas Stacho, Davenport has been charged with domestic violence, endangering children and unlawful restraint.
Davenport is not currently in custody and will be given a chance to surrender to police on the charges.
On Thursday, October 4th, at 8:52 p.m., Cleveland Police investigated a report of a domestic dispute at 1374 E.115 Street.
According to Stacho, the incident involved Davenport and the mother of his 5-year old child, Anita Person, 27, of Cleveland.
The dispute resulted from a custody matter involving Davenport's and Person's child.
Cleveland Police received three 9-1-1 calls between 8:45 p.m. and 9:02 p.m. from individuals at the house where the incident took place.
No arrests were initially made as officers were unable to determine the primary physical aggressor in the dispute.
If convicted Davenport could face more than 1 year in jail, 6 months for domestic violence, 6 months for endangering children and 60 days for unlawful restraint.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys | Tickets & News
Sunday, October 14th is the perfect setting for what promises to be an epic battle. The New England Patriots travel to play the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Tickets for this contest start at $300 on the market and go up to as much as $16,000 for a "crown suite." Check it out for yourself...
New England Patriots at Dallas Cowboys Tickets 10/14
The matchup itself is a battle of 5-0 unbeatens, and two of the three undefeated teams. What do various news outlets have to say about the game?
ESPN:
It's a battle of unbeatens ... and a potential preview of Super Bowl XLII. It's T.O. vs. Moss, Romo vs. Brady. It's 5-0 New England vs. 5-0 Dallas on Sunday at Texas Stadium (4:15 p.m. ET).
On Sunday, the Patriots and Cowboys will meet in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. Both teams enter the game undefeated, and many believe this early-season meeting could prove to be a preview of Super Bowl XLII.
So far this season the Cowboys have established themselves the class of the NFC, thanks to the play of Tony Romo and a very strong offense. While New England's potent start, largely a result of a brilliant Tom Brady and resurgent Randy Moss, has many people believing the Patriots could be the first team to go undefeated in a season, since the 1972 Dolphins.
Sports Ilustrated:
IRVING, Texas (AP) -Excuse Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for wondering what all the fuss is about.
Sure, they find it interesting their game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys is just the fifth in NFL history between unbeaten teams with at least five wins. However, they were part of the last such meeting.
The Patriots also can appreciate all the star power that will be on display: Brady and Randy Moss on their side, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens on the other, both at the top of the NFL scoring list.
But, c'mon. This is October. The Red Sox play meaningful, historic games this time of year, not the Patriots. The only dates circled on New England's calendar are the trip to Indianapolis in three weeks and an expected trip to Arizona in February.
"It's another regular-season game for us and there have been a lot of big games around here,'' Brady said. "I don't think we're building this to anything more than it really is, which is another game on our schedule. It's another game that we're hoping to play our best and make improvements.''
That's certainly not the perspective in Dallas.
From players to fans, anyone aligned with the Cowboys sees this as a tantalizing matchup, a chance to show that "America's Team'' is headed back to the top. With Romo leading them to their best start since 1983, this game should show whether they're as good as they think they are.
Even impartial observers are calling this a possible Super Bowl preview. If nothing else, it will show how the NFC's best stacks up against one of the AFC's big boys.
"This is one of those games you dream about,'' Dallas linebacker Bradie James said. "To get to where those guys have been, we've got to beat these guys, the guys who are considered the best.''
This is easily the Cowboys' most anticipated regular-season game at Texas Stadium since 1995, when the San Francisco 49ers visited in a matchup of teams that had met in the previous three NFC title games and combined to win the last three Super Bowls. San Francisco won that game; Dallas went on to win that season's Super Bowl.
Cowboys home games are known for the hole in the roof and the cheerleaders, not for boisterous fans. But the parking lot will open six hours before kickoff and the turnstiles three hours early, obvious invitations for folks to get into the spirit - and into the liquid spirits - in plenty of time to create an atmosphere that lives up to the caliber of these teams.
"This is why you work so hard, why you do all the things you do in the offseason, to get to this point so you can play in big games,'' Romo said. "That's what makes it fun. It will be a really enjoyable experience either way.''
Romo and Brady are an interesting pair.
Draft-day afterthoughts who had to work their way up the pecking order, both ousted Drew Bledsoe to get their job and have never looked back. Both also will be marking statistical milestones Sunday: regular-season start No. 100 for Brady, No. 16 for Romo, marking the equivalent of his first full season.
Since Romo's ascent this time last year, he's thrown for the most yards in the NFL. He has the second-most TD passes, one behind Brady. Throw in the celebrity status that Brady has and Romo is fast approaching, and it's surprising they hardly know each other, having met briefly this past offseason.
"It wasn't a big thing,'' Romo said. "It was just normal, two guys talking.''
Another similarity is the defensive challenge the quarterbacks are about to face.
Knowing New England coach Bill Belichick's reputation for designing confusing schemes, Romo spent the week plotting how he can avoid getting fooled. Playing such mind games could be risky for a guy who threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in his last outing.
Brady is leery because he's struggled the two times he's faced a defense run by Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, completing only 54 percent of his passes with four interceptions and three touchdowns. Brady, however, still managed to lead the Pats past Phillips and the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs last season.
Phillips' unit isn't as ferocious as the one he left behind, but the Cowboys are getting there. The defense has given up only a field goal over the last two games and only one touchdown in three games.
The flip side is that Brady's supporting cast is better this season, starting with Moss - the guy Owens had in mind when he offered his version of "no comment'' about this game, a sign taped to his locker that mentioned "the original 81 and the other 81.''
T.O., of course, considers himself the original, and only partly because he wore the number first.
Owens leads Moss 2-1 in head-to-head meetings, but Moss had the most spectacular performance, a 172-yard, three-touchdown show for Minnesota in 2003 that left Owens muttering, "He's the best.'' Moss has plenty more highlight clips from games against the Cowboys, especially at Texas Stadium.
Moss is coming off his first game without a touchdown or 100 yards, but Owens has only five catches for 58 yards over the last two games. Owens has gone three straight without a touchdown. If the Cowboys hadn't pulled out an amazing finish Monday night in Buffalo, his drops of some key passes would be a bigger story this week.
"He's going to be very motivated,'' tight end Jason Witten said. "He wants to be the best on the field at all times. Obviously he's got a huge challenge this week. We're going to need him to play big and come alive.''
Slowing Moss will be especially tough for a banged-up Dallas secondary. Terence Newman has the speed, but he's nursing foot and knee injuries. Anthony Henry has the size, but he missed the last game with a high ankle sprain and isn't expected to play.
From quarterbacks to receivers, coaches to even the owners (Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft, each with three Super Bowls and hoping for a fourth this season), everyone has bragging rights on the line Sunday.
Oddsmakers are leaning toward New England. History leans toward Dallas, as the home team is 3-0-1 in previous matchups of teams 5-0 or better.
Like Owens said in the postscript on his sign, "Getcha popcorn ready.''
I'll have my popcorn ready, tickets too!
New England Patriots at Dallas Cowboys Tickets 10/14
The matchup itself is a battle of 5-0 unbeatens, and two of the three undefeated teams. What do various news outlets have to say about the game?
ESPN:
It's a battle of unbeatens ... and a potential preview of Super Bowl XLII. It's T.O. vs. Moss, Romo vs. Brady. It's 5-0 New England vs. 5-0 Dallas on Sunday at Texas Stadium (4:15 p.m. ET).
On Sunday, the Patriots and Cowboys will meet in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. Both teams enter the game undefeated, and many believe this early-season meeting could prove to be a preview of Super Bowl XLII.
So far this season the Cowboys have established themselves the class of the NFC, thanks to the play of Tony Romo and a very strong offense. While New England's potent start, largely a result of a brilliant Tom Brady and resurgent Randy Moss, has many people believing the Patriots could be the first team to go undefeated in a season, since the 1972 Dolphins.
Sports Ilustrated:
IRVING, Texas (AP) -Excuse Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for wondering what all the fuss is about.
Sure, they find it interesting their game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys is just the fifth in NFL history between unbeaten teams with at least five wins. However, they were part of the last such meeting.
The Patriots also can appreciate all the star power that will be on display: Brady and Randy Moss on their side, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens on the other, both at the top of the NFL scoring list.
But, c'mon. This is October. The Red Sox play meaningful, historic games this time of year, not the Patriots. The only dates circled on New England's calendar are the trip to Indianapolis in three weeks and an expected trip to Arizona in February.
"It's another regular-season game for us and there have been a lot of big games around here,'' Brady said. "I don't think we're building this to anything more than it really is, which is another game on our schedule. It's another game that we're hoping to play our best and make improvements.''
That's certainly not the perspective in Dallas.
From players to fans, anyone aligned with the Cowboys sees this as a tantalizing matchup, a chance to show that "America's Team'' is headed back to the top. With Romo leading them to their best start since 1983, this game should show whether they're as good as they think they are.
Even impartial observers are calling this a possible Super Bowl preview. If nothing else, it will show how the NFC's best stacks up against one of the AFC's big boys.
"This is one of those games you dream about,'' Dallas linebacker Bradie James said. "To get to where those guys have been, we've got to beat these guys, the guys who are considered the best.''
This is easily the Cowboys' most anticipated regular-season game at Texas Stadium since 1995, when the San Francisco 49ers visited in a matchup of teams that had met in the previous three NFC title games and combined to win the last three Super Bowls. San Francisco won that game; Dallas went on to win that season's Super Bowl.
Cowboys home games are known for the hole in the roof and the cheerleaders, not for boisterous fans. But the parking lot will open six hours before kickoff and the turnstiles three hours early, obvious invitations for folks to get into the spirit - and into the liquid spirits - in plenty of time to create an atmosphere that lives up to the caliber of these teams.
"This is why you work so hard, why you do all the things you do in the offseason, to get to this point so you can play in big games,'' Romo said. "That's what makes it fun. It will be a really enjoyable experience either way.''
Romo and Brady are an interesting pair.
Draft-day afterthoughts who had to work their way up the pecking order, both ousted Drew Bledsoe to get their job and have never looked back. Both also will be marking statistical milestones Sunday: regular-season start No. 100 for Brady, No. 16 for Romo, marking the equivalent of his first full season.
Since Romo's ascent this time last year, he's thrown for the most yards in the NFL. He has the second-most TD passes, one behind Brady. Throw in the celebrity status that Brady has and Romo is fast approaching, and it's surprising they hardly know each other, having met briefly this past offseason.
"It wasn't a big thing,'' Romo said. "It was just normal, two guys talking.''
Another similarity is the defensive challenge the quarterbacks are about to face.
Knowing New England coach Bill Belichick's reputation for designing confusing schemes, Romo spent the week plotting how he can avoid getting fooled. Playing such mind games could be risky for a guy who threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in his last outing.
Brady is leery because he's struggled the two times he's faced a defense run by Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, completing only 54 percent of his passes with four interceptions and three touchdowns. Brady, however, still managed to lead the Pats past Phillips and the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs last season.
Phillips' unit isn't as ferocious as the one he left behind, but the Cowboys are getting there. The defense has given up only a field goal over the last two games and only one touchdown in three games.
The flip side is that Brady's supporting cast is better this season, starting with Moss - the guy Owens had in mind when he offered his version of "no comment'' about this game, a sign taped to his locker that mentioned "the original 81 and the other 81.''
T.O., of course, considers himself the original, and only partly because he wore the number first.
Owens leads Moss 2-1 in head-to-head meetings, but Moss had the most spectacular performance, a 172-yard, three-touchdown show for Minnesota in 2003 that left Owens muttering, "He's the best.'' Moss has plenty more highlight clips from games against the Cowboys, especially at Texas Stadium.
Moss is coming off his first game without a touchdown or 100 yards, but Owens has only five catches for 58 yards over the last two games. Owens has gone three straight without a touchdown. If the Cowboys hadn't pulled out an amazing finish Monday night in Buffalo, his drops of some key passes would be a bigger story this week.
"He's going to be very motivated,'' tight end Jason Witten said. "He wants to be the best on the field at all times. Obviously he's got a huge challenge this week. We're going to need him to play big and come alive.''
Slowing Moss will be especially tough for a banged-up Dallas secondary. Terence Newman has the speed, but he's nursing foot and knee injuries. Anthony Henry has the size, but he missed the last game with a high ankle sprain and isn't expected to play.
From quarterbacks to receivers, coaches to even the owners (Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft, each with three Super Bowls and hoping for a fourth this season), everyone has bragging rights on the line Sunday.
Oddsmakers are leaning toward New England. History leans toward Dallas, as the home team is 3-0-1 in previous matchups of teams 5-0 or better.
Like Owens said in the postscript on his sign, "Getcha popcorn ready.''
I'll have my popcorn ready, tickets too!
NFL Injury Report - NFL Injury Report For Thursday October, 12 2007
From NFL Media.com
Following is a list of injured players for Week 6 Games (October 14-15):
(For updated practice information on Oakland, San Diego and Seattle please check NFLmedia.com Friday morning)
CAROLINA PANTHERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB David Carr (back), RB Nick Goings (concussion), CB Ken Lucas (shoulder), LB Dan Morgan (ankle), LB Adam Seward (calf)
Thursday
QB David Carr (back), RB Nick Goings (concussion), LB Adam Seward (calf)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB James Anderson (thigh)
Thursday
CB Ken Lucas (shoulder), LB Dan Morgan (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
LB James Anderson (thigh)
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Anquan Boldin (hip), WR Bryant Johnson (quadricep)
Thursday
WR Anquan Boldin (hip), T Levi Brown (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Levi Brown (ankle)
Thursday
DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Elton Brown (knee), DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring)
Thursday
G Elton Brown (knee), WR Bryant Johnson (quadricep)
CINCINNATI BENGALS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
T Willie Anderson (knee), LB Rashad Jeanty (shin), S Ethan Kilmer (knee), WR Tab Perry (hip)
Thursday
T Willie Anderson (knee), LB Rashad Jeanty (shin), S Ethan Kilmer (knee), WR Tab Perry (hip)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB Ahmad Brooks (groin), DE Jonathan Fanene (knee), RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring), LB Caleb Miller (back)
Thursday
LB Ahmad Brooks (groin), DE Jonathan Fanene (knee), S Dexter Jackson (illness), RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring), LB Caleb Miller (back), DE Frostee Rucker (hand)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
S Dexter Jackson (illness), DE Frostee Rucker (hand), C Alex Stepanovich (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
C Alex Stepanovich (knee)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Eddie Kennison (hamstring), S Greg Wesley (knee)
Thursday
WR Eddie Kennison (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Dimitri Patterson (hamstring)
Thursday
CB Dimitri Patterson (hamstring), S Greg Wesley (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring), QB Damon Huard (right shoulder), CB Benny Sapp (ankle), T Kyle Turley (ankle)
Thursday
LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring), CB Benny Sapp (ankle), T Kyle Turley (ankle)
HOUSTON TEXANS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
HOUSTON TEXANS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Andre Johnson (knee), LB DeMeco Ryans (ankle)
Thursday
K Kris Brown (left foot), WR Andre Johnson (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
K Kris Brown (left foot), DT Travis Johnson (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (shoulder), DE Ndukwe Kalu (hand)
Thursday
DT Travis Johnson (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (shoulder), DE Ndukwe Kalu (hand), LB DeMeco Ryans (ankle)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
K Josh Scobee (right quadricep)
Thursday
K Josh Scobee (right quadricep)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
TE George Wrighster (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Chris Naeole (knee)
Thursday
DE Reggie Hayward (hamstring), G Chris Naeole (knee), DE Paul Spicer (thigh), DT Marcus Stroud (ankle), RB Fred Taylor (groin), TE George Wrighster (knee)
MIAMI DOLPHINS at CLEVELAND BROWNS
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Trent Green (concussion), WR Derek Hagan (hamstring), DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), C Samson Satele (neck), S Travares Tillman (knee), DT Rodrique Wright (ankle)
Thursday
QB Trent Green (concussion), DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), S Travares Tillman (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DE Jason Taylor (neck)
Thursday
WR Derek Hagan (hamstring), C Samson Satele (neck), DE Jason Taylor (neck), DT Rodrique Wright (ankle)
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
TE Darnell Dinkins (hand), RB Jamal Lewis (foot)
Thursday
TE Darnell Dinkins (hand), RB Jamal Lewis (foot)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
RB Charles Ali (toe), S Gary Baxter (knees), WR Joe Jurevicius (knee), S Brodney Pool (thigh), TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder)
Thursday
S Gary Baxter (knees), WR Joe Jurevicius (knee), S Brodney Pool (thigh), TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
RB Charles Ali (toe)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CHICAGO BEARS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Practice Report
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Tarvaris Jackson (groin), LB Ben Leber (ribs), S Dwight Smith (hamstring)
Thursday
QB Tarvaris Jackson (groin), DE Erasmus James (shoulder), LB Ben Leber (ribs), S Dwight Smith (hamstring)
CHICAGO BEARS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Bernard Berrian (toe), DT Tommie Harris (knee), T John Tait (ankle), CB Charles Tillman (ankle), CB Nathan Vasher (groin), DT Darwin Walker (knee)
Thursday
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (foot), WR Bernard Berrian (toe), LB Lance Briggs (hamstring), DT Tommie Harris (knee), T John Tait (ankle), CB Nathan Vasher (groin), DT Darwin Walker (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Ruben Brown (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
G Ruben Brown (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (ankle)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at DALLAS COWBOYS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Wesley Britt (team decision), S Mel Mitchell (groin)
Thursday
T Wesley Britt (team decision), S Mel Mitchell (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), CB Randall Gay (thigh), C Dan Koppen (ankle), RB Laurence Maroney (groin), G Steve Neal (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (foot), WR Donte' Stallworth (knee), LB Adalius Thomas (ankle), WR Kelley Washington (hamstring)
Thursday
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), CB Randall Gay (thigh), C Dan Koppen (ankle), RB Laurence Maroney (groin), G Steve Neal (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (foot), WR Donte' Stallworth (knee), LB Adalius Thomas (ankle), WR Kelley Washington (hamstring)
DALLAS COWBOYS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
WR Terry Glenn (knee)
Thursday
WR Terry Glenn (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Anthony Henry (ankle)
Thursday
CB Anthony Henry (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
CB Courtney Brown (biceps), RB Oliver Hoyte (neck)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Courtney Brown (biceps), LB Kevin Burnett (thigh), S Keith Davis (shoulder), RB Oliver Hoyte (neck)
Thursday
LB Kevin Burnett (thigh), S Keith Davis (shoulder)
OAKLAND RAIDERS at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Practice Report
Thursday Practice not complete
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Josh McCown (toe), DT Gerard Warren (quadricep)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DE Derrick Burgess (calf), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (foot), RB LaMont Jordan (back)
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Practice Report
Thursday Practice not complete
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
WR Eric Parker (toe), RB Andrew Pinnock (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Vincent Jackson (shoulder), LB Brandon Siler (back), DT Jamal Williams (coaches decision)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at NEW YORK JETS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
S Brian Dawkins (neck), G Todd Herremans (knee), T Tra Thomas (knee)
Thursday
S Brian Dawkins (neck), WR Greg Lewis (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Greg Lewis (ankle)
Thursday
G Todd Herremans (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Lito Sheppard (knee), TE L.J. Smith (hernia), RB Brian Westbrook (abdomen)
Thursday
CB Lito Sheppard (knee), TE L.J. Smith (hernia), T Tra Thomas (knee), RB Brian Westbrook (abdomen)
NEW YORK JETS
Practice Report
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Anthony Clement (thigh), S Erik Coleman (concussion), WR Laveranues Coles (knee), DE Shaun Ellis (foot), WR Justin McCareins (ankle), QB Chad Pennington (ankle), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee), S Eric Smith (thigh)
Thursday
T Anthony Clement (thigh), S Erik Coleman (concussion), WR Laveranues Coles (knee), DE Shaun Ellis (foot), WR Justin McCareins (ankle), QB Chad Pennington (ankle), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee), S Eric Smith (thigh)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
RB Darian Barnes (thigh), TE Jason Pociask (back)
Thursday
RB Darian Barnes (thigh), TE Jason Pociask (back)
ST. LOUIS RAMS at BALTIMORE RAVENS
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
RB Steven Jackson (groin), WR Dane Looker (thigh), LB Raonall Smith (knee)
Thursday
WR Dante Hall (ankle), RB Steven Jackson (groin), WR Dane Looker (thigh), LB Raonall Smith (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Isaac Bruce (hamstring), WR Dante Hall (ankle), WR Torry Holt (knee)
Thursday
WR Isaac Bruce (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Marc Bulger (ribs), S Corey Chavous (pectoral), DE James Hall (pectoral)
Thursday
QB Marc Bulger (ribs), S Corey Chavous (pectoral)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Gus Frerotte (ankle), CB Tye Hill (back), S Todd Johnson (neck)
Thursday
QB Gus Frerotte (ankle), DE James Hall (pectoral), CB Tye Hill (back), WR Torry Holt (knee)
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
DT Trevor Pryce (wrist)
Thursday
DT Trevor Pryce (wrist)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Derrick Mason (illness), T Adam Terry (ankle), TE Daniel Wilcox (toe)
Thursday
C Mike Flynn (knee), QB Steve McNair (back), T Adam Terry (ankle), TE Daniel Wilcox (toe)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
C Mike Flynn (knee), TE Todd Heap (thigh), T Jonathan Ogden (toe), CB Samari Rolle (illness), LB Gary Stills (knee)
Thursday
TE Todd Heap (thigh), T Jonathan Ogden (toe), CB Samari Rolle (illness)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
WR Derrick Mason (illness), LB Gary Stills (knee)
TENNESSEE TITANS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
TENNESSEE TITANS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee), G Benji Olson (team decision)
Thursday
DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
RB Michael Pittman (ankle)
Thursday
RB Michael Pittman (ankle)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Brian Kelly (groin)
Thursday
CB Brian Kelly (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Joey Galloway (team decision), LB Barrett Ruud (knee), DE Greg White (shoulder)
Thursday
WR Ike Hilliard (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Ike Hilliard (shoulder)
Thursday
LB Barrett Ruud (knee), DE Greg White (shoulder)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS at GREEN BAY PACKERS
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
G Randy Thomas (triceps)
Thursday
G Randy Thomas (triceps)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DE Phillip Daniels (shoulder), WR Antwaan Randle El (hamstring), RB Mike Sellers (heel), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring)
Thursday
DE Phillip Daniels (shoulder), WR Antwaan Randle El (hamstring), CB Fred Smoot (illness), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Santana Moss (groin)
Thursday
WR Santana Moss (groin), RB Mike Sellers (heel)
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
CB Will Blackmon (foot), C Scott Wells (eye)
Thursday
CB Will Blackmon (foot), C Scott Wells (eye)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
RB Vernand Morency (team decision)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Chad Clifton (knee), TE Bubba Franks (knee), CB Al Harris (back), WR Greg Jennings (shoulder), DE Mike Montgomery (knee), RB Vernand Morency (team decision), CB Charles Woodson (foot)
Thursday
T Chad Clifton (knee), TE Bubba Franks (knee), CB Al Harris (back), WR Greg Jennings (shoulder), DE Mike Montgomery (knee), CB Charles Woodson (foot)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS on Sunday night
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Jason David (forearm), K Olindo Mare (right groin)
Thursday
CB Jason David (forearm)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday K Olindo Mare (right groin)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Practice Report
Thursday Practice not complete
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
WR Deion Branch (foot), T Ray Willis (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DT Rocky Bernard (groin), WR D.J. Hackett (ankle), TE Marcus Pollard (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Josh Wilson (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
RB Shaun Alexander (wrist)
NEW YORK GIANTS at ATLANTA FALCONS on Monday night
NEW YORK GIANTS
Practice Report
Wednesday Team did not practice
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Thursday
WR Steve Smith (shoulder)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), RB Derrick Ward (ankle)
ATLANTA FALCONS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
T Todd Weiner (knee)
Thursday
T Todd Weiner (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB Keith Brooking (hamstring), TE Alge Crumpler (knee, ankle), LB Stephen Nicholas (ankle)
Thursday
LB Keith Brooking (hamstring), LB Stephen Nicholas (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DT Jonathan Babineaux (knee), TE Dwayne Blakley (pectoral), DT Roderick Coleman (knee), S Chris Crocker (knee), CB Lewis Sanders (shoulder)
Thursday
DT Jonathan Babineaux (knee), TE Dwayne Blakley (pectoral), DT Roderick Coleman (knee), S Chris Crocker (knee), TE Alge Crumpler (knee, ankle), QB Byron Leftwich (ankle), CB Lewis Sanders (shoulder)
Following is a list of injured players for Week 6 Games (October 14-15):
(For updated practice information on Oakland, San Diego and Seattle please check NFLmedia.com Friday morning)
CAROLINA PANTHERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB David Carr (back), RB Nick Goings (concussion), CB Ken Lucas (shoulder), LB Dan Morgan (ankle), LB Adam Seward (calf)
Thursday
QB David Carr (back), RB Nick Goings (concussion), LB Adam Seward (calf)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB James Anderson (thigh)
Thursday
CB Ken Lucas (shoulder), LB Dan Morgan (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
LB James Anderson (thigh)
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Anquan Boldin (hip), WR Bryant Johnson (quadricep)
Thursday
WR Anquan Boldin (hip), T Levi Brown (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Levi Brown (ankle)
Thursday
DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Elton Brown (knee), DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring)
Thursday
G Elton Brown (knee), WR Bryant Johnson (quadricep)
CINCINNATI BENGALS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
T Willie Anderson (knee), LB Rashad Jeanty (shin), S Ethan Kilmer (knee), WR Tab Perry (hip)
Thursday
T Willie Anderson (knee), LB Rashad Jeanty (shin), S Ethan Kilmer (knee), WR Tab Perry (hip)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB Ahmad Brooks (groin), DE Jonathan Fanene (knee), RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring), LB Caleb Miller (back)
Thursday
LB Ahmad Brooks (groin), DE Jonathan Fanene (knee), S Dexter Jackson (illness), RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring), LB Caleb Miller (back), DE Frostee Rucker (hand)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
S Dexter Jackson (illness), DE Frostee Rucker (hand), C Alex Stepanovich (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
C Alex Stepanovich (knee)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Eddie Kennison (hamstring), S Greg Wesley (knee)
Thursday
WR Eddie Kennison (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Dimitri Patterson (hamstring)
Thursday
CB Dimitri Patterson (hamstring), S Greg Wesley (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring), QB Damon Huard (right shoulder), CB Benny Sapp (ankle), T Kyle Turley (ankle)
Thursday
LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring), CB Benny Sapp (ankle), T Kyle Turley (ankle)
HOUSTON TEXANS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
HOUSTON TEXANS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Andre Johnson (knee), LB DeMeco Ryans (ankle)
Thursday
K Kris Brown (left foot), WR Andre Johnson (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
K Kris Brown (left foot), DT Travis Johnson (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (shoulder), DE Ndukwe Kalu (hand)
Thursday
DT Travis Johnson (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (shoulder), DE Ndukwe Kalu (hand), LB DeMeco Ryans (ankle)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
K Josh Scobee (right quadricep)
Thursday
K Josh Scobee (right quadricep)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
TE George Wrighster (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Chris Naeole (knee)
Thursday
DE Reggie Hayward (hamstring), G Chris Naeole (knee), DE Paul Spicer (thigh), DT Marcus Stroud (ankle), RB Fred Taylor (groin), TE George Wrighster (knee)
MIAMI DOLPHINS at CLEVELAND BROWNS
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Trent Green (concussion), WR Derek Hagan (hamstring), DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), C Samson Satele (neck), S Travares Tillman (knee), DT Rodrique Wright (ankle)
Thursday
QB Trent Green (concussion), DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), S Travares Tillman (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DE Jason Taylor (neck)
Thursday
WR Derek Hagan (hamstring), C Samson Satele (neck), DE Jason Taylor (neck), DT Rodrique Wright (ankle)
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
TE Darnell Dinkins (hand), RB Jamal Lewis (foot)
Thursday
TE Darnell Dinkins (hand), RB Jamal Lewis (foot)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
RB Charles Ali (toe), S Gary Baxter (knees), WR Joe Jurevicius (knee), S Brodney Pool (thigh), TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder)
Thursday
S Gary Baxter (knees), WR Joe Jurevicius (knee), S Brodney Pool (thigh), TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
RB Charles Ali (toe)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CHICAGO BEARS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Practice Report
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Tarvaris Jackson (groin), LB Ben Leber (ribs), S Dwight Smith (hamstring)
Thursday
QB Tarvaris Jackson (groin), DE Erasmus James (shoulder), LB Ben Leber (ribs), S Dwight Smith (hamstring)
CHICAGO BEARS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Bernard Berrian (toe), DT Tommie Harris (knee), T John Tait (ankle), CB Charles Tillman (ankle), CB Nathan Vasher (groin), DT Darwin Walker (knee)
Thursday
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (foot), WR Bernard Berrian (toe), LB Lance Briggs (hamstring), DT Tommie Harris (knee), T John Tait (ankle), CB Nathan Vasher (groin), DT Darwin Walker (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Ruben Brown (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
G Ruben Brown (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (ankle)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at DALLAS COWBOYS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Wesley Britt (team decision), S Mel Mitchell (groin)
Thursday
T Wesley Britt (team decision), S Mel Mitchell (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), CB Randall Gay (thigh), C Dan Koppen (ankle), RB Laurence Maroney (groin), G Steve Neal (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (foot), WR Donte' Stallworth (knee), LB Adalius Thomas (ankle), WR Kelley Washington (hamstring)
Thursday
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), CB Randall Gay (thigh), C Dan Koppen (ankle), RB Laurence Maroney (groin), G Steve Neal (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (foot), WR Donte' Stallworth (knee), LB Adalius Thomas (ankle), WR Kelley Washington (hamstring)
DALLAS COWBOYS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
WR Terry Glenn (knee)
Thursday
WR Terry Glenn (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Anthony Henry (ankle)
Thursday
CB Anthony Henry (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
CB Courtney Brown (biceps), RB Oliver Hoyte (neck)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Courtney Brown (biceps), LB Kevin Burnett (thigh), S Keith Davis (shoulder), RB Oliver Hoyte (neck)
Thursday
LB Kevin Burnett (thigh), S Keith Davis (shoulder)
OAKLAND RAIDERS at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Practice Report
Thursday Practice not complete
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Josh McCown (toe), DT Gerard Warren (quadricep)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DE Derrick Burgess (calf), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (foot), RB LaMont Jordan (back)
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Practice Report
Thursday Practice not complete
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
WR Eric Parker (toe), RB Andrew Pinnock (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Vincent Jackson (shoulder), LB Brandon Siler (back), DT Jamal Williams (coaches decision)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at NEW YORK JETS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
S Brian Dawkins (neck), G Todd Herremans (knee), T Tra Thomas (knee)
Thursday
S Brian Dawkins (neck), WR Greg Lewis (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Greg Lewis (ankle)
Thursday
G Todd Herremans (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Lito Sheppard (knee), TE L.J. Smith (hernia), RB Brian Westbrook (abdomen)
Thursday
CB Lito Sheppard (knee), TE L.J. Smith (hernia), T Tra Thomas (knee), RB Brian Westbrook (abdomen)
NEW YORK JETS
Practice Report
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Anthony Clement (thigh), S Erik Coleman (concussion), WR Laveranues Coles (knee), DE Shaun Ellis (foot), WR Justin McCareins (ankle), QB Chad Pennington (ankle), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee), S Eric Smith (thigh)
Thursday
T Anthony Clement (thigh), S Erik Coleman (concussion), WR Laveranues Coles (knee), DE Shaun Ellis (foot), WR Justin McCareins (ankle), QB Chad Pennington (ankle), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee), S Eric Smith (thigh)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
RB Darian Barnes (thigh), TE Jason Pociask (back)
Thursday
RB Darian Barnes (thigh), TE Jason Pociask (back)
ST. LOUIS RAMS at BALTIMORE RAVENS
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
RB Steven Jackson (groin), WR Dane Looker (thigh), LB Raonall Smith (knee)
Thursday
WR Dante Hall (ankle), RB Steven Jackson (groin), WR Dane Looker (thigh), LB Raonall Smith (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Isaac Bruce (hamstring), WR Dante Hall (ankle), WR Torry Holt (knee)
Thursday
WR Isaac Bruce (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Marc Bulger (ribs), S Corey Chavous (pectoral), DE James Hall (pectoral)
Thursday
QB Marc Bulger (ribs), S Corey Chavous (pectoral)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
QB Gus Frerotte (ankle), CB Tye Hill (back), S Todd Johnson (neck)
Thursday
QB Gus Frerotte (ankle), DE James Hall (pectoral), CB Tye Hill (back), WR Torry Holt (knee)
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
DT Trevor Pryce (wrist)
Thursday
DT Trevor Pryce (wrist)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Derrick Mason (illness), T Adam Terry (ankle), TE Daniel Wilcox (toe)
Thursday
C Mike Flynn (knee), QB Steve McNair (back), T Adam Terry (ankle), TE Daniel Wilcox (toe)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
C Mike Flynn (knee), TE Todd Heap (thigh), T Jonathan Ogden (toe), CB Samari Rolle (illness), LB Gary Stills (knee)
Thursday
TE Todd Heap (thigh), T Jonathan Ogden (toe), CB Samari Rolle (illness)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
WR Derrick Mason (illness), LB Gary Stills (knee)
TENNESSEE TITANS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
TENNESSEE TITANS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee), G Benji Olson (team decision)
Thursday
DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
RB Michael Pittman (ankle)
Thursday
RB Michael Pittman (ankle)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Brian Kelly (groin)
Thursday
CB Brian Kelly (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Joey Galloway (team decision), LB Barrett Ruud (knee), DE Greg White (shoulder)
Thursday
WR Ike Hilliard (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Ike Hilliard (shoulder)
Thursday
LB Barrett Ruud (knee), DE Greg White (shoulder)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS at GREEN BAY PACKERS
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
G Randy Thomas (triceps)
Thursday
G Randy Thomas (triceps)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DE Phillip Daniels (shoulder), WR Antwaan Randle El (hamstring), RB Mike Sellers (heel), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring)
Thursday
DE Phillip Daniels (shoulder), WR Antwaan Randle El (hamstring), CB Fred Smoot (illness), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
WR Santana Moss (groin)
Thursday
WR Santana Moss (groin), RB Mike Sellers (heel)
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
CB Will Blackmon (foot), C Scott Wells (eye)
Thursday
CB Will Blackmon (foot), C Scott Wells (eye)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
RB Vernand Morency (team decision)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
T Chad Clifton (knee), TE Bubba Franks (knee), CB Al Harris (back), WR Greg Jennings (shoulder), DE Mike Montgomery (knee), RB Vernand Morency (team decision), CB Charles Woodson (foot)
Thursday
T Chad Clifton (knee), TE Bubba Franks (knee), CB Al Harris (back), WR Greg Jennings (shoulder), DE Mike Montgomery (knee), CB Charles Woodson (foot)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS on Sunday night
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Jason David (forearm), K Olindo Mare (right groin)
Thursday
CB Jason David (forearm)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday K Olindo Mare (right groin)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Practice Report
Thursday Practice not complete
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
WR Deion Branch (foot), T Ray Willis (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DT Rocky Bernard (groin), WR D.J. Hackett (ankle), TE Marcus Pollard (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
CB Josh Wilson (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
RB Shaun Alexander (wrist)
NEW YORK GIANTS at ATLANTA FALCONS on Monday night
NEW YORK GIANTS
Practice Report
Wednesday Team did not practice
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Thursday
WR Steve Smith (shoulder)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), RB Derrick Ward (ankle)
ATLANTA FALCONS
Practice Report
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)
Wednesday
T Todd Weiner (knee)
Thursday
T Todd Weiner (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
LB Keith Brooking (hamstring), TE Alge Crumpler (knee, ankle), LB Stephen Nicholas (ankle)
Thursday
LB Keith Brooking (hamstring), LB Stephen Nicholas (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
DT Jonathan Babineaux (knee), TE Dwayne Blakley (pectoral), DT Roderick Coleman (knee), S Chris Crocker (knee), CB Lewis Sanders (shoulder)
Thursday
DT Jonathan Babineaux (knee), TE Dwayne Blakley (pectoral), DT Roderick Coleman (knee), S Chris Crocker (knee), TE Alge Crumpler (knee, ankle), QB Byron Leftwich (ankle), CB Lewis Sanders (shoulder)
