Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 10/20/06)
Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 10/20/06)
Updated: Oct. 21, 2006
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD><TD><!-- begin pres by -->
<!-- end pres by --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Henry's hard work, perseverance pays off
<!-- end pagetitle --><!-- begin bylinebox -->
<!-- firstName = Len --><!-- lastName = Pasquarelli -->
By
Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive
<!-- begin presby2 -->
<!-- end presby2 -->
<!-- end bylinebox -->
<!-- begin text11 div -->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top><!-- begin leftcol --><!-- template inline -->
Only a few days after
Travis Henry had authored the best performance of his six-year NFL tenure last Sunday, the
Tennessee Titans tailback phoned one evening this week to discuss the game that he feels may have resurrected his football career.
And,
surprise, it wasn't last week's upset victory over the
Washington Redskins, a splendid outing in which Henry rushed for a career-best 178 yards, equaled his NFL high of 32 carries and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Nope, arguably the most memorable game of Henry's career, a moment he now regards as a galvanizing event, came two weeks earlier, in an Oct. 1 matchup against the
Dallas Cowboys.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
In a short span, Henry has gone from the inactive list to being the Titans' feature back.
Don't bother to check Henry's numbers from that Dallas game, because he didn't play, not a single down.
"I was in the locker room, getting taped up and getting my pads, and they came and told me I was 'down' [deactivated], and didn't have to dress," recalled Henry. "So there I was, with about 20 family members and friends who had come up [from Florida] for the game, and I'm not even going to play. First time in my career, except for injuries, a team had put me down. I hurt my ego. It hurt my pride. I was shocked, and believe me, that doesn't even start to explain my emotions. It was, like, 'Whoa, what's going on here?' On that day, I made up my mind that, when I got another chance, I would be like a man on a mission."
Elevated to the starting lineup the following week against Indianapolis -- it isn't often in the NFL a tailback goes from not playing at all to starting the next game -- Henry rushed 19 times for 123 yards in the Titans' near-upset of the Colts. His performance against the Redskins boosted his two-week output to 51 carries for 301 yards and a touchdown.
That's only 34 yards fewer than Henry gained on the ground in the entire 2005 season. And it's one more touchdown than the former University of Tennessee star scored in the 2004 and 2005 seasons combined. In four games this season, Henry has rushed for 383 yards, more than he gained in either '04 or '05.
Henry's consecutive 100-yard games are his first back-to-back century outings since late in the 2003 season, when, playing for the
Buffalo Bills, he ran for 113 yards against the Giants on Nov. 30 and then completed the New York daily double by gashing the Jets for 169 yards on Dec. 7. His 4.7-yard average is 0.7 yards better than his career mark and 0.3 yards superior to his best season, when he ran for 1,438 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002.
Because the Titans have a bye this weekend, Henry can't add to his impressive numbers until the Oct. 29 home game against the
Houston Texans. He's all but counting the hours until that matchup.
"How can I not be excited?" Henry said. "I mean, I feel reborn, honestly. I feel like a rookie again, you know, with that same level of excitement. Things seem new and fresh to me again. I prayed to Jehovah for another chance, my prayers were answered, and now I'm trying to make the most of it. I'm showing people that I can tote the rock 30 times if they want me to, run for 100 yards every week, be the back I was until the last couple years. I feel like I'm on my way to being an elite back in this league again."
And, if that's the case, Henry could be on his way to becoming a
wealthy back again, too.
His contract with the Titans, which pays him a minimum base salary of $585,000 this seasons, runs through the 2009 campaign, and tops out at a modest base salary of $1.034 million in the final season. But there are so-called "escalators" which could dramatically raise the salaries based on Henry's performance and, ESPN.com has learned, one key stipulation that could really boost his earning power. Henry's contract has a clause which stipulates that, if he scores one touchdown this season, the Titans owe him an $8 million bonus next spring. He has scored three touchdowns already this season, the clause has been triggered.
And so, come next spring, Tennessee management essentially has three options: Pay the $8 million bonus, renegotiate the contract or release Henry, making him an unrestricted free agent. Henry would like to stay in Tennessee, where former starter
Chris Brown has become an afterthought and second-round draft pick
LenDale White hasn't proved himself ready to move into the No. 1 tailback role. But venturing into the free-agent market, particularly in a spring in which the unrestricted pool is pretty thin and the 2007 draft class at tailback might be one of the shakiest in years, might not be all that bad.
"Teams always need running backs," Henry said. "So while my preference is to stay here, well, that really isn't in my control, is it? The thing I can control is how hard I work, how hard I run, how many yards I keep putting up. If I keep playing the way I've played the past two games, things will be just fine. I'll be back to where I want to be in terms of belonging among the best backs again."
If he reaches that esteemed subset, Henry will have accomplished something that many NFL observers felt was beyond him after three straight lean seasons. If there is any positive, Henry noted, it's that he got so few carries in that three-year stretch, he's now running on fresh legs.
Even before Henry moved South, in the 2005 trade that sent him from Buffalo to Tennessee, things were kind of going south in his career. The Bills invested a first-round draft choice on tailback
Willis McGahee in 2003 and, even after Henry ran for 1,000-plus yards in 2002 and 2003, it was obvious by 2004 that the former University of Miami star was going to be the Buffalo starter. In '04, his final season with the Bills, Henry started just five games and gained only 326 yards.
With his new team in 2005, Henry couldn't bump Brown from the starting lineup, and then the league levied a four-game suspension against him for a repeat violation of the substance abuse policy. Henry posted a career-worst 88 carries, started just one game and failed to score a rushing touchdown for a second straight season.
Once confident in his abilities, even Henry said he began to have doubts after last season that he could pull his game together again.
"Yeah, all kinds of things float through your mind," Henry said. "I would pray and say, like, 'Why have I been forsaken like this?' I definitely brought some of the problems on myself with the suspension. There is no one to blame for that but me. And then, in the offseason, I just decided I was going to 'man up' and get back to being a good player. I worked the hardest I've ever worked in any offseason."
Staying in Nashville for nearly the entire offseason, Henry went through the Titans' conditioning program and then, having finished that session, would head over to a gym owned by former University of Tennessee teammate Will Bartholomew for a second workout. In camp, buried on the depth chart behind Brown, White and
Jarrett Payton, he fought through the temptation to give up, and worked even harder.
Six weeks into the season, two weeks into being a starter again, it seems the efforts have paid handsomely. And if Henry literally is paid handsomely next spring, he'll know the day on which his comeback really began to take off.
"That day they sat me down against Dallas a few weeks ago," Henry said, "was one of the toughest and most embarrassing times ever for me. But it provided me that last little bit of motivation I needed. Every time I carry the ball now, I come back to the huddle thinking about that day, and how much it hurt personally. I don't ever want to go back to that again."
Around the league
? One way or another, it seems, Oakland owner Al Davis is determined to get some money back from suspended wide receiver
Jerry Porter. When Davis granted permission this summer for Porter and agent Joel Segal to seek a trade, he made it conditional on the six-year veteran returning $4 million of the bonus he collected as part of the new contract he signed in 2005. But a trade was never completed. Now, in suspending Porter for "conduct detrimental to the team," the Raiders will seek to recover a portion of the bonus.
Porter's contract includes standard default language that permits Oakland to go after the bonus if he is unavailable to the club because of a suspension. Which, of course, he now is. The NFL Players Association has filed a grievance on Porter's behalf, as anticipated, and will argue that the four-game sanction is too harsh. Union attorneys should be able to make a pretty compelling presentation on that front. Whether they'll be able preclude the Raiders from collecting on the default clause in the contract, though, remains to be seen. In the meantime, Porter remains a guy without a team and, despite being under contract to the Raiders through next season, a player whose future is pretty murky.
? In terms of finances, veteran agent Frank Bauer has a stock line he uses when a player-client brings up money matters: "Your performance determines your future." We don't know if Bauer has used the line on his most notable coaching client, Lovie Smith of the
Chicago Bears, but it's certainly apropos bit of advice. The NFL's lowest-paid head coach with a salary of about $1.4 million, Smith is in the third season of a four-year contract. Having compiled a record of 22-17, taken the Bears to a division title in 2005, and with the team currently undefeated, one would think Chicago management would be eager to upgrade and extend Smith's deal. But the Bears have dragged their feet, preferring to wait until Smith compiles more of a body of work in his first head coaching gig, and the delay is almost certainly going to cost them.
With every victory, even ugly ones like the Bears managed on Monday night, Smith's price rises. If the Bears keep winning, that price tag, given the manner in which coaching salaries have spiraled upward in recent seasons, could get north of $5 million annually. Bauer sat down with team president and CEO Ted Phillips at the league meetings at Orlando in March, but there haven't been any substantive discussions in the seven months since. It's unfathomable that Chicago ownership would allow Smith to go into 2007, the final year of his contract, without an extension. But how's this for a twist: What if, as this season plays out, Smith decides to gamble and eschews all contract negotiations with the Bears? He would go into the 2007 campaign, possibly coming off a deep run into the playoffs or even a Super Bowl title in 2006, as a pending free agent. It won't come to that, because that's not the way Smith or Bauer operate, so expect an extension to be hammered out next spring. And expect it to be a big one.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>
Anthony McFarland</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Defensive tackle
Indianapolis Colts
Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=5>
2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Tot</TD><TD width="17%">Solo</TD><TD width="17%">Ast</TD><TD width="17%">Sack</TD><TD width="17%">FF</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>8</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->
? Seems the
Indianapolis Colts had some competition this week when they acquired defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland from the Tampa Bay Bucs for a second-round choice in the 2007 draft. The
Seattle Seahawks, who already have one of the deepest defensive tackle collections in the NFL but are always looking to upgrade, were also in the bidding for the eight-year veteran. Which makes sense. Once upon a time, Seattle team president Tim Ruskell was part of the Tampa Bay personnel staff that chose McFarland in the first round of the 1999 draft, and knows him well. The Seahawks, though, were not inclined to surrender the second-round choice Tampa Bay was seeking for McFarland, and so Bucs general manager Bruce Allen consummated the trade with Indianapolis instead.
It's a deal that's a bit pricey for the Colts, but given their continuing struggles to stop the run, it was one that team president Bill Polian had to complete. Actually, the trade was finished by his son, Chris Polian, the Colts' vice president of football operations, who had been working the phones hard in an attempt to land a veteran tackle. Indianapolis will pay the balance of McFarland's base salary of $4.5 million for this season, or about $2.9 million. His base salary for the remaining two seasons of his contract then jumps to $5.5 million for 2007 and $6.85 million for 2008. Those are pretty big swallows, so expect Colts officials, who really didn't have time to address contract issues as the clock moved toward Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, to approach McFarland and his agent about restructuring. Expect, too, that McFarland will ramp up his game some with his new team. There were those in Tampa who felt his production waned after
Warren Sapp departed the Bucs, and those suggestions are justifiable, particularly in light of how much McFarland was being paid.
But the trade should give McFarland, who went from a team headed nowhere to a viable Super Bowl contender, with new motivation. And playing again for Tony Dungy, his head coach in Tampa Bay for the first three seasons of his career, won't hurt. Because the Colts essentially play the same Cover 2-based scheme that Dungy first introduced in Tampa, there won't be any transition period for McFarland, and he figures to be a part of the Indianapolis tackle rotation on Sunday, when the Colts play host to the
Washington Redskins. The Colts, by the way, had thrown a lot of lines into the trade waters, seeking a tackle to help their run defense. And that included a
very casual inquiry about
Albert Haynesworth of the
Tennessee Titans, who would not have been available to help anyone's defense until he finishes his league-imposed five-game suspension.
? One veteran Tampa Bay defender who was on the trade block last week, but wasn't dealt, is cornerback
Brian Kelly. But just because the ninth-year pro is still with the Bucs doesn't mean his future in Tampa Bay is secure. Fact is, it's anything but, and it's hard to imagine Kelly, one of the most underrated corners in the league, back with the Bucs in 2007. Kelly, who has missed three games this season because of a degenerative condition in a toe, probably needs surgery, and will likely finish the season on injured reserve. The fact he is currently viewed around the NFL as damaged goods was one factor in him not being traded. Tampa Bay management is aware that Kelly wants his contract upgraded and, having awarded fellow cornerback
Ronde Barber an extension this summer, isn't of a mind to do a deal.
Perhaps the wise thing for Kelly to do is have the surgery now, begin his rehabilitation, then wait for the Bucs to determine that to do with him. If he's not released, he'll be healthy again for 2007, and ready to prove to the Tampa Bay coaches that he's capable of regaining his past form. If the Bucs do release him in the spring, and his toe is no longer an issue, Kelly will attract attention as a free agent. As we've noted in this space in the past, only about a zillion times, teams are always looking for cornerbacks.
? Washington coach Joe Gibbs (dare we actually use the term
beleaguered to describe the Hall of Fame sideline boss?) reiterated this week that there are no current plans to bench slumping quarterback
Mark Brunell. But we're picking up whispers from reliable sources that the Redskins are moving closer to readying third-year veteran
Jason Campbell to take over the starting spot. "Sooner rather than later," one source suggested this week. There has been a suspicion that, if the Redskins fell out of playoff contention, Gibbs might start preparing for the future at quarterback. Even if that future might not include Gibbs, who is now 19-21 in his second incarnation as the Redskins' coach and could opt for retirement if Washington doesn't rally and salvage this season.
Of course, defining "out of playoff contention" is a tricky deal. Even if Washington loses at Indianapolis on Sunday, and falls to 2-5, one could still argue the Redskins aren't entirely out of the postseason chase. At some point, however, the Redskins have to make a decision on Campbell and his future. And at some point, it seems, the future must translate into the now. Washington made a big investment to land Campbell with the 25th overall selection in the 2005 draft. The Redskins traded three draft choices that year to Denver to acquire an extra first-round slot because they had fallen so hard for Campbell and his enormous physical potential. But the former Auburn star hasn't yet thrown a regular-season pass, and it's hard to develop your game running the scout team every week. Brunell fooled his critics in 2005 by fashioning a terrific comeback season. But the 14-year veteran looks old and slow and, at times, indecisive. He might not have another comeback in him at this point in his career. Which could mean the Campbell Era actually commences in the next month or so.
? Speaking of the Redskins, was there any doubt that owner Dan Snyder, who's made a habit out of overpaying for underachieving players, would jump out and sign
Troy Vincent after the 15th-year veteran defensive back was released by Buffalo last week? Vincent and his representatives spoke about how his biggest priority was to sign with a legitimate playoff contender. The Redskins might not qualify, at least not the way they're playing right now, but there's little doubt Snyder offered Vincent more money than anyone else.
No one figured Vincent would get much more than a one-year, minimum contract, but Snyder signed him to a three-year deal. And what do the Redskins get in return? Well, maybe a decent nickel defensive back, although a lot of people in the league feel Vincent is in decline and won't be much help to the Washington secondary. There are also people who joked this week that Washington is the perfect place for Vincent, who is president of the NFL Players Association and viewed in some quarters as one of the league's consummate politicians.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>
Leonard Little</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Defensive end
St. Louis Rams
Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=5>
2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Tot</TD><TD width="17%">Solo</TD><TD width="17%">Ast</TD><TD width="17%">Sack</TD><TD width="17%">FF</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>21</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->
? After signing linebacker
Pisa Tinoisamoa to a five-year extension last week, St. Louis rookie coach Scott Linehan noted that veteran defensive end
Leonard Little was the next target of Rams management for a possible contract add-on. Toward that end, the Rams huddled Monday with Little's agent, Chad Speck, and made no progress at all toward an extension. Little is in the final season of his contract, earning a base salary of $3.8 million, and is eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring.
"I think that both sides understand we're very far apart," Speck told ESPN.com. "Given the gap, I think my position is that I'll wait for them to come to me now [for any further discussions]."
A ninth-year veteran, Little is the Rams' best upfield pass rusher, and has rung up 66 career sacks, including three seasons of 10-plus. But there have been off-field problems, multiple DUI arrests, and league sanctions, and those are going to be a factor in negotiations. Plus, Little turned 32 this week, and some St. Louis officials are more than a little wary of his age. Rams officials apprised Speck that, absent a contract extension, they will use the franchise tag to keep Little from bolting after this season. Whether that's posturing or not, well, Speck and Little are willing to sit back and find out. "We'll consider our options when it happens," Speck said.
? While second-year linebacker and 2005 defensive rookie of the year
Shawne Merriman continues to get most of the attention on the top-rated San Diego defense, fellow linebacker
Shaun Phillips actually has more sacks. With six sacks, third-year veteran Phillips leads Merriman by one-half sack, and as the "other" half of the Chargers' fierce outside pass rush, the former Purdue star is creating all kinds of matchup problems for opponents' offensive coordinators. It took a tragedy, the shooting of linebacker
Steve Foley, to get Phillips onto the field full time. But the onetime situational rusher, who notched 11 sacks in part-time duty over the first two seasons of his career, is certainly making the most of his opportunity.
"He might not be quite as explosive with his first step [as Merriman] is, but he is a natural rusher, no doubt," said
Baltimore Ravens' star left tackle
Jonathan Ogden. "Everyone concentrates on Merriman, but you'd better pay some attention to that other guy, too."
It's hard to understand how Phillips dropped into the fourth round of the 2004 draft, where the Chargers' personnel department was smart enough to toss out a safety net and stop his plummet. After all, Phillips had 14? sacks his senior season at Purdue, and 33? sacks during his college career. Sure, he was a hybrid defender, but there are enough 3-4 teams now, the defensive scheme for which Phillips is best suited, that someone should have snatched him up earlier. One scout went back and checked for us this week, and noted that Phillips had run in the 4.7s in his auditions before the 2004 draft.
"But still, looking back, he was a pure rusher and shouldn't have lasted [into the fourth round]," the scout agreed. "He has what I call 'sack knack,' you know, just that innate ability to get around the corner and close on the passer. He's long and rangy, long arms, and uses his hands pretty good. A lot of people missed on him."
? Jim Fassel was canned this week as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens by head coach and longtime buddy Brian Billick, who will now call the plays himself. No matter the personal opinions of Fassel, the numbers rung up by the Baltimore offense during his tenure were not impressive, and made Billick's decision to fire him a justifiable one. In 22 games under Fassel's stewardship, the Baltimore offense scored two or fewer touchdowns 18 times. It managed one touchdown or less in 14 of those 22 games. Just twice did the Ravens score more than three offensive touchdowns on Fassel's watch. That said, the Ravens haven't historically been a whole lot better under Billick's guidance in general. Billick was head coach for 96 games before Fassel arrived, and the Ravens' offense scored two touchdowns or less in 68 of those outings. During Billick's entire tenure, 118 games, Baltimore has tallied two touchdowns or less on offense in 86 outings, or 72.9 percent of the time.
? University of Georgia defensive end Quentin Moses, who went into the season rated either as the No. 1 or No. 2 senior prospect at his position by most NFL personnel chiefs, is having a miserable season, and his poor production and lack of effort has not escaped the notice of league talent evaluators. Moses has 21 tackles, including seven tackles for losses, but just one sack. He posted a team-high 11? sacks in 2005, which helped boost him up most early lists for the 2007 draft. But beyond his pedestrian numbers, scouts feel that Moses' lax play is what is most glaring, and some personnel people have suggested it's almost as if he is trying not to get hurt, to protect his draft interests. Said a college scouting director from an NFC franchise that would like to find a young, developing pass rusher in next year's draft: "He plays for the 'Dawgs, but he's playing
like a dog right now. Somebody needs to light a fire under his ass."
? In case anyone cares, former Carolina and Seattle right offensive tackle Chris Terry was removed from the NFL's suspended list this week, and is technically eligible to resume his once-promising career. It's doubtful, though, even as much as teams always need tackles, that Terry will ever return. A second-round choice of the Panthers in the 1999 draft, he experienced off-field problems with multiple spousal abuse incidents, and was released by Carolina, where he had been a starter for three-plus years, during the 2002 season.
The Seahawks claimed Terry on waivers and he became their starter late in 2002, prompting the team to award him a five-year, $19 million contract following the season. After signing the contract, though, Terry appeared in just 18 more games before the Seahawks, weary of his various off-field issues, released him in March 2005. Terry has been serving a suspension for a violation of the NFL personal conduct policy and is said to have undergone extensive counseling during his hiatus from the league. But he's 31 now, and not even a r?sum? that includes 80 career starts is apt to be tempting to even the most tackle-needy team.
? Given the conspiracy-theorist climate in which we live, when a player leaves an NFL team for "personal reasons," as
Carolina Panthers veteran cornerback
Reggie Howard did on Thursday, it creates all kinds of suspicions over the reasons for the departure. We're not about to breach any confidences here, but suffice it to say, there is nothing sinister about Howard's decision to leave the team. It was, indeed, for personal, family-related reasons that Howard felt he needed his immediate attention back home in Memphis. Was the seven-year veteran frustrated by his status as the No. 4 cornerback, behind starters
Chris Gamble and
Ken Lucas, and rookie
Richard Marshall? Absolutely. Angry at being used only on special teams of late? For sure. But those were not contributing factors to Howard leaving the team.
? League owners will meet on Tuesday in New Orleans and, while the agenda will focus primarily on business issues, there is one interesting proposal from the competition committee that could change the NFL's trading habits. The committee is kicking around the idea of creating a February window, of either one or two weeks, during which trades could be consummated before the start of the March free agency period. As things currently stand, a moratorium is in effect from the time of the trade deadline in October until the start of the new "league year," in March.
The proposal for some sort of February trade period, commencing a week or so after the Super Bowl and ending a week or two before the start of free agency, would allow teams to shop veteran players under contract, but who don't fit into their plans for the following season. As we've noted here before, the volume of trades has increased dramatically over the past three years, and this appears to be an effort to fuel the trading spree even more. The only item on which owners are scheduled to actually vote during the one-day meeting in New Orleans is on the proposal for playing regular-season games overseas. There is some support for playing two games, not just one, in a foreign venue.
The list: No one should have been overly surprised when Arizona coach Dennis Green fired offensive coordinator Keith Rowen the day after the Cardinals' ignoble collapse last Monday night. Green is only in his third season with the franchise and already is working on his third offensive coordinator, Mike Kruczek, and his third offensive line coach now. In less than three seasons, Green has now dumped seven position coaches. The roll call, alphabetically, of Cardinals assistant coaches whose heads have rolled: Robert Ford (wide receivers), Everett Lindsay (offensive line), Kevin O'Dea (special teams), "Deek" Pollard (defensive line), Rowen (offensive coordinator), Alex Wood (offensive coordinator), and Bob Wylie (offensive line).
Stat of the week: Having absorbed a career-worst seven body slams last week, Atlanta quarterback
Michael Vick has now been sacked 160 times in his career on 1,619 "dropbacks." That's an average of one sack every 10.1 "dropbacks." In contrast, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who was never mistaken for a roadrunner during a storied career, was sacked 271 times on 8,629 "dropbacks." Once every 31.8 "dropbacks." So much for Vick's elusiveness in the pocket, huh? In his 56 regular-season starts, Vick has been sacked three or more times in 29 games. That includes seven games in which he was sacked five or more times.
Punts: Detroit Lions defensive tackle
Shaun Rogers, suspended this week for four games for violating the NFL's steroids and related substances policy, will use the time off to rehabilitate from knee surgery. Slowed by a balky right knee that had limited his work in practice, Rogers had an arthroscopic procedure this week that he hopes will reduce the discomfort he has experienced all season. ? Talk about silly. The Detroit defensive linemen have now adopted the ill-conceived plan used by offensive linemen in Denver and Atlanta, the one where they don't speak to the media. Instead, they designate a spokesman for the unit every week. Hey, guys, that's really worked out well for the linemen in Atlanta and Denver, who don't get voted to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams because no one knows who they are. The Lions' defensive linemen might want to think about whether their silence really is golden. ? Houston first-year coach Gary Kubiak appears to be ready to make another change at tailback in an effort to boost the NFL's worst rushing offense.
Ron Dayne, who started the past three games, probably won't even dress for this Sunday's home contest with Jacksonville. It appears that rookie
Wali Lundy and second-year veteran Sam Gado, acquired from Green Bay in a trade last month, will handle the running chores. ? The emergence of second-year cornerback
Eric Green, who had quite a coming-out party for the Cardinals last Monday night, has really given Arizona a terrific, physical secondary. Strong safety
Adrian Wilson, often touted in this space, is already a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Cornerback
Antrel Rolle will be a good one, too. But Green, who had three vicious tackles and three pass breakups on Monday, is a nasty guy who is starting to garner plenty of attention, too. ? Cardinals wide receiver
Anquan Boldin has 299 receptions in the first 46 games of his career and is a lock to set the record as the fastest player in league history to 300 catches. Lionel Taylor of Denver is the current record holder, having taken 54 games to notch 300 catches. ? Note to all those Notre Dame fans worried about the NFL calling on coach Charlie Weis: There is a huge difference between "feelers" to a coach and legitimate interest. Seems that Weis, who last season signed a 10-year contract with the Irish, had the ol' propaganda/posturing machine working overtime this week. ? Looks like maybe Philadelphia officials knew what they were doing in delaying any contract extension talks for strong safety
Michael Lewis, who can become an unrestricted free agent next spring. The fifth-year veteran, a starter since the second half of his rookie season, is really struggling in coverage this season and allowed two touchdown passes this week. Lewis hasn't been demoted from the starting lineup, but he will split time with
Sean Considine this week. Even defensive coordinator Jim Johnson acknowledged this week that Lewis has lost confidence in himself.
The last word: "It's obvious that we're officiating contact on the quarterback different than we did 20 years ago. But this is a different day and age and, if we're going to lean, we're going to lean on the side of protecting the quarterback. ? The question has been put to the competition committee, and question has been put to the clubs, and what we're doing is basically following their guidelines to protect [quarterbacks]. It's an area of the game that involves judgment and involves safety, and we'll live with the judgments that are made by our referees." -- NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira, discussing the dubious roughing-the-passer call on Cincinnati defensive end
Justin Smith last week, a penalty that kept alive Tampa Bay's late, game-winning drive.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
</TD><TD colSpan=5>
