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P.M. UPDATE
Pick 'em: Jim Poore at our Patriots site has his weekly game picks up.
Personally, I'm not very good at predicting winners, but after looking at Jim's
selections, I can predict one thing with certainty -- fans of half the teams
mentioned in his report will be happy with his picks, the other half won't. Check
them out and then be sure to talk about them in your respective NFL team fan
forums across the Scout.com network.
Offseason impasse: Are the Redskins heading for some trouble with some key
veterans during the offseason? Rich Tandler at our Redskins site thinks so. In
this article, he points out that Washington has about a dozen veterans who
carry salary cap numbers of $3.5 million or more, and believes many will be
asked to restructure their deals to provide some cap relief. "Unlike
in the past when many veterans were willing to redo their deals 'for the good of
the team', there is a growing feeling around Redskins Park that many of them may
balk at restructuring for what they perceive is also the good of the team,"
Tandler says. Check out who could unexpectedly end up being free agents and land
on your favorite team next year through that link above.
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| Broncos safety John Lynch tackles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) |
Feeling like a kid again: Broncos safety John Lynch earned a spot on the
AFC's Pro Bowl roster. And last weekend against the Bengals he showed why,
delivering jarring hits to his opponents like the player who was feared for so
many years while wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform. "He had this big
grin like I've never seen," Denver cornerback Darrent Williams said.
"I've seen him laugh like that in practice, but not in games. He was real
excited. He told me he felt like he was 25 again, how he was going out there
flying around, laying people out." Scout.com
subscribers can read the entire article about Lynch at our Broncos site.
Did you know? Whether they win or lose this weekend against the Texans, the
Cleveland Browns will finish the year having played 58 straight games without
winning two games in a row during the same season.
Promises, promises: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo knows his opponents
this week, the Detroit Lions, have had a rough time of it this year. But despite
their 2-13 record, Romo says, "“I'm not sure how many total losses they
have but I do know they've lost about ten games under seven points or less.
That's a team in my opinion (that) goes from one year going 4-12 to the next
year being 10-6. So, I promise a team like that is a dangerous team that you can
not take for granted and we are not going to that's for sure." Mike Mady at
our Lions site takes a look at
some positives for this team from unexpected sources that could lead to
improvement in 2007.
Need a top RB or CB? Then be sure to check out tonight's
Holiday Bowl on ESPN at 8:00. Yes, I know I told you to watch the Texas Bowl in
the early edition of the NFL Blog and it airs at the same time on the NFL
Network. Well this is why TiVo and VCRs and DVD recorders were made. Make
technology your friend tonight so you can watch both! Tony Pauline at TFY Draft
Report gets you ready for the game by pointing out the eight Texas A&M
players and twelve California players to evaluate tonight. Tony's top picks for
this game are both from Cal -- projected first-round running back Marshawn
Lynch, and projected first- to second- round cornerback Tim Mixon. Scout.com
subscribers can check out what he has to say about all 20 players here.
And the winner is ... Who was this year's Fantasy Football BEAST? And
who was a bust? Find out in
this fun and informative feature at our Patriots site and see if you agree.
Then be sure to put up a link to it in your respective NFL team forums and have
some fun debating the various award winners with your gang.
That sounds about right: Colts head coach Tony Dungy was very honest in
his assessment of his team's chances in the playoffs when he talked to the Miami
media during an NFL conference call this week. "I’m concerned with our
whole team. If we play the way we can play, we’re going to be in good shape
and we’re going to be a threat to go a long way," he said. "If we
don’t play the way we can play all the way around, then it’s going to be
tough." Scout.com
subscribers can read the entire transcript at our Miami site.
Did you know? The Titans only have a remote chance of qualifying for
the AFC's last wildcard spot, but they currently have the second-longest winning
streak in the NFL. Their six consecutive victories is second only to the
Chargers' nine-game streak.
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| Broncos QB Jay Cutler (Brian Bahr/Getty Images) |
Quotable: "I don’t know. That wasn’t the game plan going
into it. I just got lucky a few times and had some opportunities to throw some
touchdown passes, and guys made some great catches for me. So that’s great."
-- Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler on becoming the first rookie to throw multiple
TD passes in his first four games. You can read the entire transcript of his
Wednesday media conference at
our Broncos site.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chaaaanges: Dale Lolley at our Pittsburgh site is reporting that
the Steelers players are coming to the realization that this Sunday could be
their last game under head coach Bill Cowher, who's expected to formally
announce next week whether he's returning for the final year of his contract. So
he got the reaction of a few of the players about the prospects of working under
a new head coach, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, punter Chris
Gardocki and linebacker James Farrior. "It’s like starting all over
again," Farrior said. "You really don’t know his personality, so you
have to adjust to how he’s going to be. It’s just like going to your next
grade in school." Scout.com
subscribers can read the entire article here.
Don't miss it: When you look at the Jaguars-Chiefs matchup, the
first thing that comes to mind is the talented running backs that will be
showcased in this game -- Larry Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Fred Taylor if
he's fully recovered from his hamstring injury. But don't overlook the fact that
these teams also have the top two defenses when you rate them on average yards
allowed per game. It's going to be a great battle in Kansas City on Sunday with
playoff hopes still alive for both of these teams.
Making adjustments: Seattle's pass offense has been sputtering a bit, and
our Seahawks site takes a closer look at the state of the team as they gear up
for their Sunday matchup with Tampa Bay before heading into the playoffs.
"There is a big difference between playing poorly and playing well, but
there are not that many things that need to change," quarterback Matt
Hasselbeck says in this
Scout.com subscribers feature. "Really, if I just look at myself, just
me alone, not even talking about anyone else on the team, if I take my two
interceptions from last game and get rid of those, it is a far different
game."
EARLY EDITION
Colts vets call out the kids: The Colts have lost four of their last six games, and both Peyton Manning and
now Dwight Freeney have referenced this week that some of their younger players
don't appear to realize the urgency and elevated play level that is needed to
succeed in the playoffs. Manning was quoted earlier this week as saying, "I
thought the veterans certainly knew what was at stake. I'm not sure about the
young players, that they totally understand." And
now in this NFL conference call
transcript at our Colts site, Freeney says, "Well, we understand we
might have some younger guys that still have some things to learn and at the end
of the day, it's all about everybody being accountable, everybody doing what
they need to do to win the game and playing at that game speed like it's a
playoff game."
Hot topic: Nick Athan, at our Chiefs site, talks about Chargers
defensive end Shawne Merrimann and suggests that he should reconsider playing in
the Pro Bowl this year despite his selection to the AFC squad. Merrimann was
suspended for four games this year for taking a steroid-based substance.
Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor talked about the issue this week as well,
saying, "To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, I think you're
walking a fine line of sending the wrong message. Nathan agrees. "By
accepting his invitation to the Pro Bowl, Merriman is telling the fans it’s OK
to cheat," he says. "You can candy wrap it all you want, but the
evidence is overwhelming. Merriman might not think so, but he’s embarrassing
the league." Read his full
commentary on this hot topic here.
Listen up: At our Vikings site, Scout.com
subscribers can listen to some audio from Brad Childress' press conference.
He addresses Fred Smoot's car accident and other player injuries, as well as his
decision to release WR Marcus Robinson. You can also listen to highlights from
rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's press conference in which he discusses the
improvements he wants to make in his second NFL start and getting ready for the
St. Louis Rams.
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| Rutgers fullback Brian Leonard (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) |
Triple-threat fullback: Our draft expert, Tony Pauline at TFY Draft Preview put together his analysis of the nine Rutgers players and ten Kansas State players that you should keep your eye on during tonight's Texas Bowl matchup at 8:00 p.m.(ET) on the NFL Network. If you haven't seen him in action yet, Rutgers fullback Brian Leonard is a player you'll want your team to pick up next April. Pauline calls him "A triple-threat fullback who can beat opponents a variety of ways."
Key to the game: Brad Keller at our Cardinals site, believes the key
to Arizona having a chance to upset the Chargers will boil down to QB Kurt
Warner having enough time to throw to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald against
a suspect San Diego secondary. "Over the top, safeties Terrence Kiel
and Marlon McCree are serviceable at best. Arizona will have the opportunity to
make some big plays in the deep passing game off of play fakes, double moves,
and pump fakes," Keller says. "However, in order to take advantage of
those opportunities, Kurt Warner needs to be upright." Check
out his complete analysis here.
Did you know? The Bears' 23-4 record over the past 27 games is
the best record in the NFL. The Colts are second at 21-6.
History in the making? Aaron Wilson at our Ravens site points out that, "The Ravens have a
legitimate shot at becoming the first team in NFL history to have four players
finish with 10 sacks or higher as they're led by defensive end Trevor Pryce
(12), outside linebacker Adalius Thomas (11), linebacker Bart Scott (9 ½) and
outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (8 ½)." Baltimore takes on the Bills this
weekend and Wilson takes a look at the matchup, including some terrific insight
on Bills quarterback J.P. Losman in
this article for Scout.com subscribers.
Give 'em hell, Harry: Former Giants great, Harry Carson, was quoted as
questioning the heart of some of the current-day New York players. "There’s
no fire, I don’t see it in these players," Carson
told our Giants site this week. "If you don’t have a fire to play, a
fire to win, then you really shouldn’t even be playing." Don't miss this
feature where you'll learn what Carson has done in the past to
"motivate" some players who have come to the sidelines with injuries
during important games.
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| Dallas head coach Bill Parcells and QB Tony Romo (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) |
Mr. Positive: Dallas head coach Bill Parcells is trying to keep a positive
attitude about his team's slide from being tied for the No. 2 seed to the fifth
spot as a wildcard team. "If I don't have hope, who does," Parcells
asked. But in this report at our Dallas site, tight end Jason Witten says that
wide receiver Terrell Owens has been one of the targets of cornerback Terence
Newman's wrath this week. For the second time since the Cowboys' loss to the
Eagles, Newman lashed out at some of his teammates through the media. Check
it out here.
Sorting them out: "The race for the final NFC playoff spot has
never been better… er… worse than it is headed into the final week of the
regular season," Matt Tvesh says at our Green Bay site. "One of the
five 7-8 teams will advance to the post-season, though none of them
belong." Is your favorite team one of the five battling for that last
wildcard spot in the NFC this weekend? Well, Tvesh provides his team-by-team
analysis of the five wildcard wanna-bes in this Scout.com subscriber feature.
Check it out and see if you agree.
Today's Birthday Bunch: Celebrating birthdays today are Colts kicker
Adam Vinatieri (34), Giants WR Sinorice Moss (23), Bear RB Cedric Benson (24),
Rams WR Dominique Thompson (24), and Texans QB Quinton Porter (24).
I wanna go home: In previous seasons, the Colts have had great success
on the road. But not this year. In fact, they've lost four straight road games
in the second half of the season. This weekend's home game against the Dolphins,
paired with a Ravens loss to the Bills, would put the Colts back into the No. 2
seed position in the AFC. Our
Colts site has more on this story here.
Did you know? Neither one of San Diego's starting receivers -- Keenan
McCardell or Eric Parker -- has caught a touchdown pass yet this season. At our
San Diego site, Michael Lombardo points out that teams have to be just as
worried about WR Vincent Jackson, who has started six games this season and now
has five touchdown catches after a great performance against the Seahawks last
week. Learn more about him and the key role he plays for the playoff-bound
Chargers in this Scout.com
subscribers feature.
Got something to say about today's NFL Blog? Well then hit your favorite
team's Fan Forum here at Scout.com and start up a thread on it!