This Date In Hurricanes History…November 11, 1930
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!

The Miami Hurricanes lost to Howard 24-0 in Dothan, Alabama.  What's so special about this ?  It was their 2nd game in FOUR days and would be the middle game in a stretch of 3 games in EIGHT days !

The Hurricanes, who traveled via the city's private car, the Spirit of Miami on the Eastern Seaboard Railroad, had played the Temple Owls on Saturday, November 8th in the Atlantic City Auditorium and lost 34-0 in the school's first intersectional game. 

Then...as written by Jim Martz in his 1981 book, "HURRICANE WATCH : University of Miami Football"...

"Then the team traveled to Dothan, Alabama to face Howard the following Tuesday afternoon and lost, 24-0.  Then it was on to Lafayette, Louisiana, where they salvaged the trip with a 6-0 victory over Southwest Louisiana on Saturday.

As if the grueling travel was not enough (remember there were no jet planes then), the Howard game was played in rain on a makeshift field, and after the first two plays the players were covered with lime that burned through their jerseys and caused painful burns before the second half.  According to the IBIS, the Hurricanes had no dry equipment for a change between the halves, and lime burns started to tell.  As a consequence of lime burns, the Hurricanes went to Southwest Louisiana handicapped by the loss of several linemen and two backs."

Ironically, the team not only played in the 2nd ever indoor game in college history against Temple, they also played one of the first night games in college history, beating Bowden State College 7-0 on October 31st.  From Jim Martz' book...

"The field was lighted by unprotected, high-watt bulbs, and oldtimers recall that when it rained, exploding bulbs could be heard as the field gradually grew darker." 

The UMSHoF would like to THANK our friend JIM MARTZ for the idea for this update and for the excerpts from his book...
"HURRICANE WATCH : University of Miami Footbal "  !!!

For more information go to UMSportsHallofFame.com

Join the "UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SPORTS HALL OF FAME" group page on FACEBOOK !

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501c3 corporation whose sole purpose is to recognize those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who have excelled at their sports and brought acclaim to the university through their accomplishments and championships.  All tax-deductible donations help showcase their achievements for Hurricanes fans to enjoy for generations to come !

To Donate to the UM Sports Hall of Fame, click below...

Click here to donate now
  
UM Sports Hall of Fame
5821 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, Florida
33146

Devin Hester said he expected to be OK when he pulled a slipper on his left foot Monday night in the locker room in Philadelphia, but the Chicago Bears wide receiver didn't practice Thursday at Halas Hall.

Hester suffered a sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter of the victory over the Eagles. He had an Ace bandage wrap on it after the game, not a walking boot that is often used for more serious injuries.

If Hester is not available, it likely will increase opportunities for Earl Bennett in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Bennett could make his second start of the season.

Click here to order Devin Hester’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chicagotribune.com)

The Cardinals don’t have enough quality young core players, but defensive end Calais Campbell is certainly one of them.

G.M. Rod Graves said Thursday that the team is hoping to sign Campbell to a long-term contract extension, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.

The fourth-year player is headed for free agency. He leads the team with five sacks, two blocked field goals, and has adapted to the team’s new 3-4 scheme better than Darnell Dockett. Campbell has at least had a share of the team’s sack lead for three years running.

A new deal could be a tricky one for the Cardinals to close. Campbell might be a better fit in a 4-3 defense and he would likely get a big contract if he hit the open market.  (Think Ray Edwards.)

It wouldn’t surprise us if Campbell ultimately left Arizona, just like Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle did.

Click here to order Calais Campbell’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

After weeks and weeks of progressively optimistic updates on injured wide receiver Andre Johnson, Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak broke out a new adjective on Thursday.

"He was impressive today," Kubiak said of Johnson's work with head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan, according to the team's official site. "He was very good, full speed."

As for what that means in terms of Johnson's return from a strained right hamstring, which has kept him sidelined five straight games, Kubiak said the decision will probably be made Friday. If he is able to practice, Kubiak indicated Johnson would be a game-time decision Sunday when the Texans travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Johnson addressed reporters following Thursday's workout and said that his leg felt good but no decision has been made for Sunday's game.
“I’m almost close to full speed,” Johnson said Thursday. “Everything’s been going very positive, so I’m pretty excited about that. ... We’ll come out and run again tomorrow, see how it feels, just make sure that I’m comfortable and we’ll go from there.”

Johnson said his last remaining hurdle was to feel no tugging in the hamstring while running.

“That was the main thing that was holding me back,” Johnson said. “I haven’t been feeling it the past couple days that I’ve been running. I guess the main thing now is just me getting confidence back in my leg. Sometimes when I’m running, I’m so used to feeling it that sometimes I’m waiting on it to happen.”

It's all a similar tone to last week, when the Texans expected Johnson to play against the Cleveland Browns before the receiver suffered a setback and was ruled out on Friday.

Kubiak has been adamant that Johnson, who did not practice Wednesday, won't return until he is able to run and cut at full speed.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

On a conference call with the Bay Area media Wednesday, Giants quarterback Eli Manning said he wasn’t sure why Niners running back Frank Gore ultimately decided to sign with Miami instead of joining Manning at Ole Miss in 2001.

“Y’all can ask him that,” Manning said.

Today, following Manning’s suggestion, we did ask Gore about why he stayed in his home state for college. He explained that his late mother was in declining health and Miami coaches offered a persuasive sales pitch.

“They were like: ‘You want to be the best? Then come play with the best. I know you’re not scared of competing. Come to Miami,’” Gore said.
Gore also discussed his status for Sunday’s game and sounded like a running back who will be ready to go. He said his left ankle felt much better than it did in the days leading up to the 24-23 win against the Eagles in Week 4. Gore, a game-time decision, rushed for 127 carries on 15 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown against Philadelphia.

Here’s the Q&A with Gore:

Q: You thought about playing at Ole Miss?
FG: I was looking at wanting to play early. I thought going to Ole Miss I had a chance to start. But, you know, I had my mom situation. And (Miami) coach C.J. (Curtis Johnson), the receiver coach from New Orleans, and coach Kiel (?), they really recruited me good.
They were like: “You want to be the best? Then come play with the best. I know you’re not scared of competing. Come to Miami.”

Q: You wound up getting a lot of carries as a true freshman. And then the following spring you beat out McGahee for the starting job, right?
FG: Yeah, I was going to be named the starter. And I was a freshman All-American. I was just young, coming out of high school, wanting to play. You look at that Miami roster and they had Najeh Davenport, McGahee, Clinton Portis.
If I go to Ole Miss, Deuce (McCallister), he was leaving. And there wasn’t anybody there. He was leaving.

Q: When was that trip?
FG: I forgot. It was my senior year, though.

Q: During football season?
FG: I don’t remember.

Q: Did you see a game?
FG: Nah. But Eli was like, ‘Yeah, man, we’re going to be like Peyton and Edgerrin James if you come here.’ It was cool. It was cool.

Q: Had he been the QB at that point?
FG: Yeah, he was the quarterback.

Q: But had he been THE quarterback?
FG: Yeah.

Q: Thoughts on Giants run defense?
FG: They play well as a group. You look at statistics and they say they don’t play well against the run, but when you watch film … in the Buffalo game, he had an 80-yard run and finished up with like 110, 120 (yards). So they’ve got to be doing something good, give up an 80-yard run, but only give up 120. It’s just that they broke down on that one play. But they play well as a group.

Q: Is their defensive line they similar to the Lions in how they rotate so much?
FG: As a group, they’re probably more athletic. They’ve got some big guys, (Justin) Tuck. They play well together.

Q: How do feel physically?
FG: I feel good. I’ll practice today, and practice Friday, and get ready for Sunday.

Q: Do you feel a lot better than (before the Eagles game)?
FG: Yeah. Yeah.

Q: If you guys secure a playoff spot early, would you be OK playing less and less in December as the playoffs approach?
FG: It’s up to coach. Whatever he feels is best for our team, for us. (That’s) what we would do. I don’t have any say-so, should I play less, or whatever. Whatever coach Harbaugh wants to do, that’s what we’re going to do.

Q: Is there a fine line? You want to be sharp for the playoffs and you would need a certain number of carries to stay sharp?
FG: Like I said, whatever coach wants us to do, that’s what I’m going to do.

Click here to order Frank Gore’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sfgate.com)

The Ravens confirmed that a pair of Pro Bowl starters in free safety Ed Reed and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs did not participate in Thursday’s practice.

The team described Reed as dealing with an injured shoulder and Suggs as being bothered by an injured knee. Both players had fully practiced Wednesday, but their status for Sunday’s game at the Seattle Seahawks is uncertain.

Click here to order Ed Reed’s proCane Rookie Card.


(baltimoresun.com)

During the 49ers' long stretch of futility, Frank Gore often was reluctant to share the load. He wanted to do anything he could to stave off the mounting losses -- even if that meant withstanding his own mounting injuries.

Now that the 49ers have a commanding lead in the NFC West, Gore sounds a lot more open to the idea of backing off. Looking ahead, the 49ers (7-1) might be able to clinch the division title early enough to let their leading rusher freshen up for the first playoff game of his seven-year career.
"It's up to Coach. Whatever he feels is best for our team, for us. (That's) what we would do," Gore said Thursday. "I don't have any say-so about whether I should play less, or whatever."

Gore said his latest injury, to his left ankle, will not prevent him from taking the Candlestick Park field Sunday against the New York Giants. He said he "feels good" and vowed to practice all week.

Gore has five consecutive 100-yard games. He needs 149 yards to surpass Joe "The Jet" Perry (7,344 yards) for the 49ers' all-time franchise record.

The Giants rank only 25th in the NFL against the run (allowing 127.1 yards per game), but Gore said the stat is deceiving. He pointed to a game in which Buffalo's Fred Jackson racked up 121 rushing yards -- but 80 came on one touchdown run.

"They broke down on that one play. But they play well as a group," Gore said. "As a group, they're athletic. They've got some big guys in there, like (Justin) Tuck."

Click here to order Frank Gore’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mercurynews.com)

METAIRIE, La. – Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma missed his fourth straight practice as he continues to rehabilitate a bum left knee that he originally injured on Sept. 18.

“I’m hopeful,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “We’re also going to be pretty smart with the bye coming after this game. … Last week, it was at a point where there was still enough soreness – he had missed enough snaps – we decided not to play him.”

Click here to order Jon Vilma’s proCane Rookie Card.


(wwltv.com)

Pat Burrell's baseball career is likely over because of a troublesome right foot that hasn't healed and limited him this year for the Giants.

While Burrell said late in the season that he would contemplate retirement if he couldn't return to full strength, he now says that's probably the direction he is headed this winter — though he has yet to make a final decision.

"I have not decided yet, but I don't think I can play anymore," Burrell said. "It hurts me to say that."

Burrell played in only 92 games this past season,

The 35-year-old Burrell joined the Giants last year after being cut by Tampa Bay, one of those castoffs and misfits who defined the franchise during its first World Series championship since moving West from New York in 1958.

The No. 1 overall draft pick by the Phillies in 1998 out of Miami, Burrell is a career .253 hitter with 292 home runs and 976 RBIs in 1,640 games over 12 seasons with Philadelphia, the Rays and San Francisco. He grew up in the Bay Area in San Jose.

On the last day of the season, a 6-3 loss to Colorado at AT&T Park, Burrell fought tears after running in from left field to a standing ovation before the start of the seventh inning — manager Bruce Bochy's way of honoring the veteran in what might have been his final game. An emotional Burrell hugged and high-fived his teammates and came back out of the dugout for a curtain call, waving to the fans.

Burrell was placed on the disabled list on July 15 with a mid-right foot strain and didn't play again until Aug. 31, though he was still in pain after missing 43 games.

He remains loyal to the Giants for giving him a second chance.

In 2010, Burrell came to San Francisco on a minor league deal on May 29 after his release by the Rays and spent a short stint with Triple-A Fresno before being called up on June 4.

He batted .266 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs in 96 games for San Francisco, becoming the everyday left fielder.

The Giants went on to clinch the NL West title on the final day of the regular season, ending a six-year postseason drought before making their World Series run.

Burrell, who also won a ring with the Phillies in 2008, struggled in the World Series — won in five games by the Giants over the Texas Rangers. He went 0 for 13 with 11 strikeouts and was benched for Game 4 at Texas. He had 22 strikeouts in 49 at-bats overall during the 2010 postseason.

He signed for $1 million to return to San Francisco in 2011.



(sfgate.com)

Raiders declared CBs Demarcus Van Dyke (hamstring) and Chris Johnson (groin, hamstring) out for Week 10.

The Raiders will now be forced to start washed up Lito Sheppard opposite Stanford Routt at cornerback against Philip Rivers, who is coming off a 385-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Packers. Keep the Raiders defense benched this week.

Click here to order DeMarcus Van Dyke’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 10, 2011
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!



UMSHoF Class of 2012 inductee Ed Reed may have saved Miami's season with a 91 yard lateral return after Matt Walters' interception of a Boston College pass in the last minute of the game to send the Hurricanes home with an 18-7 victory over the Eagles before a Chestnut Hill crowd of 44,500 !
 

With Miami leading 12-7, under 30 seconds remaining and Boston College at Miami's 9 yard line, Mike Rumph deflected a Brian St. Pierre pass, that Walters caught and began returning, before Reed ripped the ball from his hands and outran a BC defender to the end zone to preserve Miami's victory...and most likely, it's 2001 National Championship season !
 
Miami QB Ken Doresy had an unusually poor game, only 20 of 41 passing for 222 yards and 4 interceptions.  Kicker Todd Sievers gave the Canes a 9-0 halftime lead with three 2nd quarter field goals, and added another to tie the school record with 4 in the game.  Clinton Portis had 160 yards on 36 carries.

Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie, members of the 2001 National Champions, will be inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012 inductees at the 44th Annual UMSHoF Induction Banquet, to be held Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at Miami's Jungle Island !  Go to UMSportsHallofFame.com  for more details ! 

For more information go to UMSportsHallofFame.com

Join the "UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SPORTS HALL OF FAME" group page on FACEBOOK !

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501c3 corporation whose sole purpose is to recognize those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who have excelled at their sports and brought acclaim to the university through their accomplishments and championships.  All tax-deductible donations help showcase their achievements for Hurricanes fans to enjoy for generations to come !

To Donate to the UM Sports Hall of Fame, click below...

Click here to donate now
  
UM Sports Hall of Fame
5821 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, Florida
33146

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 10, 2011
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!

The 2nd ranked Miami Hurricanes beat the West Virginia Mountaneers 27-3 before a Homecoming Game crowd of 60,250 in the Orange Bowl !  The victory set up a #1 versus #2 matchup against the Florida State Seminoles in the November 16 game in Tallahassee !
 
UMSHoF member Gino Torretta completed 23 of 35 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown pass to Lamar Thomas.  Torretta, not known as a rushing quarterback, ran 8 times for 31 yards and a 1 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter to seal the victory !

UMSHoF member kicker Carlos Huerta added 2 field goals, and Stephen McGuire scored on a 4 yard run.
 
The Miami defense, led by UMSHoF member Michael Barrow, who had 8 solo and 10 total tackles, held the Mounteneers to 232 total yards and had 2 interceptions, one by UMSHoF member Ryan McNeil. 
 
UMSHoF member and head coach Dennis Erickson's Canes moved to 8-0 and prepared for the "Game of The Century" the following week at Doak Campbell Stadium !

Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie, members of the 2001 National Champions, will be inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012 inductees at the 44th Annual UMSHoF Induction Banquet, to be held Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at Miami's Jungle Island !  Go to UMSportsHallofFame.com  for more details ! 

For more information go to UMSportsHallofFame.com

Join the "UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SPORTS HALL OF FAME" group page on FACEBOOK !

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501c3 corporation whose sole purpose is to recognize those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who have excelled at their sports and brought acclaim to the university through their accomplishments and championships.  All tax-deductible donations help showcase their achievements for Hurricanes fans to enjoy for generations to come !

To Donate to the UM Sports Hall of Fame, click below...

Click here to donate now
  
UM Sports Hall of Fame
5821 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, Florida
33146

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis says he was fined by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward in Sunday night’s game.

Lewis hit Hines in the second quarter of Baltimore’s 23-20 win. Ward was dazed by the collision and helped off the field. He did not return.

Lewis said Wednesday he was informed by the NFL that he would be fined for the hit. He would not disclose the amount of the fine.

The 16-year veteran says he understands the league’s effort to protect players. But Lewis says “it won’t change not one way how I play this week no matter what the fine is.”

The linebacker says “you can’t stop playing defense the way defense has always been created to play.

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(washingtonpost.com)

When it comes to wide receivers, sometimes you have to look across the line of scrimmage to find the best judges of talent.

Washington Redskins rookie Leonard Hankerson was slow to impress coaches during the summer and was inactive for the first five games of the season. In practice each day, though, cornerback DeAngelo Hall could see why Coach Mike Shanahan nabbed the 23-year-old receiver in the third round of April's draft. Hankerson wasn't playing in the games, but he was practicing like it.

“Hank was on the scout team busting my butt more than the game,” Hall said. “I think we’ve been petitioning for him to get out there and get his opportunity.”

Hankerson is finally getting his chance. He's expected to make his second career start Sunday at Miami. The Redskins entered the season pleased with their depth at wide receiver, but Santana Moss and Niles Paul both are sidelined with injuries, Anthony Armstrong has struggled and the team released Donte Stallworth this week. Hankerson hopes to provide a spark for the Redskins’ moribund passing attack.

With Moss out of the lineup, the Redskins top two wide receivers are Jabar Gaffney and Terrence Austin. Gaffney has 31 catches and Austin 8. No other NFL team’s top two receivers have combined for fewer than 45 receptions this year. Eight teams, in fact, have at least two wide receivers who’ve posted more catches each than any Redskins receiver.

Washington’s top receiving target has been tight end Fred Davis, who leads the team with 40 catches. In recent weeks, quarterback John Beck has struggled to get any of his wide receivers involved, and Hankerson hopes that changes this weekend.

The likelihood of Hankerson in a starring role seemed a distant possibility not long ago. During the preseason, he dropped balls in both practices and games. He made the 53-man roster as a project, and even coaches weren't sure when he'd be ready to contribute.

Hankerson struggled with the transition from college to pro ball more than perhaps any player in the Redskins locker room. He’d always been the star. His high school team, St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., made three straight trips to the state title game. He was coached by eight-time Pro Bowler Cris Carter and received tutoring from Mark Duper, a three-time Pro Bowler.

Hankerson accepted a scholarship to the University of Miami, near his home, and was a regular starter by his junior year. His senior season was one of the best ever posted by a Hurricanes receiver. He hauled in 72 catches for a school-record 1,156 yards. His 13 touchdowns broke Michael Irvin’s school mark for most in a season. Hankerson left Miami as one of only three players in school history to post consecutive 800-yard receiving seasons, joining Irvin and Andre Johnson.

“Being No. 1 back in school, then coming here being No. 2, you’ve got to work hard each and every day to try to get No. 1,” Hankerson said. “That's what the difference was. Because I was No. 1, it probably slowed me down a little bit from busting my tail every day.”

Redskins wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell stayed in Hankerson’s ear, encouraging him to study veterans such as Moss and Gaffney. Coaches kept telling Hankerson he had to learn how to practice and play like a professional.

“He knew what he needed to do, but I also knew he was frustrated,” McCardell said. “He has high expectations of himself and everybody else had high expectations of him.”

Hankerson’s mother, Lisa Williams, flew up for his first pro game, the Redskins’ Week 1 contest against the New York Giants. But Hankerson didn’t dress and he told her stay in Florida the next several Sundays.

“For the couple weeks that I didn't dress, I just been going to practice, grinding out each and every day,” Hankerson said, “doing the little things it takes . . . practicing like it’s a game.”

Hankerson improved each week, and the drops that plagued him since college seemed to decrease. There was no magic solution, he said. In training camp, he was eager to impress coaches and usually started running before he had fully secured the ball.

“I was just very anxious to make a play,” he said.

Hankerson watched four more games from the sideline and was finally active for the first time after Moss broke a bone in his hand. Hankerson was held without a catch in his Oct. 23 debut, but one week later, against the Bills in Toronto, he pulled in a 23-yarder to convert a third down late in the first quarter.

Hankerson earned his first start in last Sunday's loss to the San Francisco, playing in 63 of 64 offensive snaps. He finished the game with 34 yards on four catches.

“I think he’s got a good future in the NFL,” Shanahan said. “He’s the type of size you look for and he’s got the type of hands and speed. Hopefully, he can get to the next level.”

Hankerson hopes this Sunday’s game solidifies his place. He’ll be playing in front of a hometown crowd. His mom will be in the stands again, as will about 50 other family and friends.

“Sometimes you just wait your time,” McCardell said, “and the right time will pop up and you can show everybody who you are.”

Click here to order Leonard Hankerson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(washingtonpost.com)

Tennessee Titans LB Colin McCarthy (hamstring) could see extended time in Week 10 if LB Barrett Ruud (groin) misses the game.



Click here to order Colin McCarthy’s proCane Rookie Card.


(fantasysp.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- With wide receiver Devin Hester unable to practice Wednesday due to an ankle sprain, and his status uncertain until late in the week, the Bears are looking at the possibility of playing without their breakaway special teams threat.

Hester was limping noticeably late Monday night after the game. Losing him against the Lions in a rematch of the game the Bears lost 24-13 earlier would be a bigger blow to special teams than offense, although he had also been coming on as a receiver prior to the injury.

Hester had 14 catches for 169 yards over three games before the Eagles game -- the most catches he's had for three games since Mike Martz became the team's offensive coordinator.

The Bears are far more suited to deal with Hester's absence than a few weeks ago because Earl Bennett returned to make five catches for 95 yards Monday after a chest injury.

Without Bennett and Hester, the receiver corps might be in a tough situation. But Bennett is one of the few Bears receivers with an ability to play any of the wide receiver positions in the offense. Johnny Knox would likely replace Hester on special teams.

Click here to order Devin Hester’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sportingnews.com)

Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss is reportedly expected to miss an additional three weeks due to a hand injury.

Moss hasn't played since suffering a fractured hand in a Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers. He underwent surgery on Oct. 24 and the Redskins declared at the time he would miss 5-7 weeks.

The present timetable would see Moss return in time for the Redskins' Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets.

Moss, 32, has 25 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.

Click here to order Santana Moss’s proCane Rookie Card.


(wgal.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville wasn't sure what to expect when he first laid eyes on Willis McGahee seven years ago.

Selected in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Buffalo Bills, McGahee sat out his first pro season while recovering from a serious knee injury that occurred in his final game at the University of Miami.

Studesville arrived at Orchard Park, N.Y., as his position coach in 2004 and helped jump-start McGahee's career.

"To see a guy walk in and want to work and not look for an excuse and not look for an easy way out and not want any kind of handout, but just work, I was impressed with that from the first moment I was around him," Studesville said. "And that hasn't changed. He does the same things today that I saw back in 2004 when I first walked into the Bills building."

Some things he even does better.

McGahee's longest run that first season was 41 yards.

On Sunday, just two weeks after blowing out 30 candles on his birthday cake and 10 days removed from surgery on his broken right hand, McGahee reeled off a 60-yard touchdown run in a win at Oakland, where his 163 yards rushing were four shy of his career high.

"He's pretty good when he's not 100 percent, too," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "It's great. He's someone that comes in every day and works extremely hard. He's such a competitor in the games, and it's huge having him on our team. He's a great asset."

After watching his workload diminish each of the last three seasons as Ray Rice's backup in Baltimore, McGahee is on pace to gain 1,246 yards, which would be one yard shy of his career high set in 2005.

He's doing all this heavy lifting with a chip on his shoulder, too.

"I'm pretty sure there were teams out there saying I can't run the ball and I'm getting older," McGahee said of his foray into free agency last summer.
The Broncos weren't one of them.

Studesville, who had been retained by new coach John Fox to tutor the tailbacks, went to management and suggested they sign McGahee, with whom he had spent three seasons in Buffalo.

"I feel like he's still got a lot left in him and he would be a good person to bring here based on who he is and what he brings, his work ethic, his toughness, his physical run play," Studesville recalled telling his bosses.

"He was my No. 1 choice to bring here in free agency," Studesville said. "I thought he was the best fit for us. Willis was THE guy I wanted."

The big, ninth-year running back was eager to work with Studesville again, too, and envisioned lots of carries in Fox's run-oriented offense.

"There were (other) suitors," McGahee said. "But I was going to come to Denver regardless just because of Coach Eric and Coach Fox."

The Broncos felt that even though his number of carries had steadily declined in Baltimore, McGahee certainly hadn't.

"He did have a lot of hits taken off of him from two years ago, but he was a guy that we thought still had value," Fox said. "It took us a while to get him into the offense where he was feeling comfortable."

Without an offseason to get accustomed to his new offensive line, McGahee got off to a slow start in Denver, rushing just four times for 3 yards in his Denver debut, a 23-20 loss to Oakland in the opener.

Knowshon Moreno pulled a hamstring that night, and it was just the opening McGahee needed.

He took over as the starter and has posted four 100-yard games in six starts.

On his 60-yard scamper into the end zone, McGahee turned on the afterburners that surely shocked many around the league, and he wasn't even touched on a 24-yard touchdown sprint up the middle that sealed Denver's 38-24 win over the Raiders and made the Broncos (3-5) relevant again in the middling AFC West.

"He's still obviously got top-end speed still," Studesville said, pointing to McGahee's 77-yard touchdown runs in 2008 and '09.

His longest run last year was a 30-yard TD.

"Always had it," McGahee said. "It never went anywhere. Just needed the opportunity."

At this season's halfway point, McGahee's 123 rushes for 623 yards are higher totals than he posted in each of his last two full seasons.
Against the Raiders, the Broncos broke out the read-option offense that made Tebow so successful at the University of Florida and both men benefited, combining for 281 yards on the ground.

That's the kind of toughness in the run game that's been largely absent at Dove Valley since Mike Shanahan and Peyton Hillis were still together in Denver.

By putting the ball in McGahee's belly and then deciding whether to hand it off or keep it and run it himself, Tebow looked like he was running the Gators' offense once again. And the results were similar, too.

"I've never coached it before, so we're kind of learning this thing together, all of us," Studesville said.

"It's cool," McGahee said. "I'm having fun with it. It's all good."

McGahee was part of a pro-style offense at Miami but now is part of an NFL offense that's borrowing heavily from the college ranks.
"It's not an option offense. It's still a pro-style offense," McGahee insisted, but then added: "Whatever it takes to win. If that's what we got to do, then we're going to do it."

Studesville enjoys having the gregarious, witty McGahee in the meeting room again.

"Oh yeah, he's got great personality. The interesting thing about him, this is a guy who early on in his career certainly could have had reasons to have his head down like he got the short end of the stick because of a bad break," Studesville said. "It's never been like that. I've never, ever seen him like that.

"He's fun to be around, the guys like him. He is challenging now. He challenges everybody, me included. And everyone's fair game for comments and jokes and those things but then when it's time to work, he works and you can really respect that he brings that to the table."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Following his 163 yard, two touchdown performance against the Raiders on Sunday, Broncos running back Willis McGahee has been nominated for a weekly award on NFL.com.

McGahee, who is averaging an NFL-best 103.3 yards per start this season, has been nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week award.  Houston’s Arian Foster and Dallas’ DeMarco Murray have also been nominated for the award.

McGahee ran 20 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos’ 38-24 win over the Oakland Raiders. His rushing total was the highest of any player on Sunday.  — NFL.com

On pace for 1,246 yards this season, McGahee could become the first Broncos running back to rush for 1,000 yards or more in a single season since Tatum Bell accomplished the feat in 2006. Fans go vote for McGahee by going to NFL.com/GMC.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(broncotalk.net)

Chicago Bears wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester injured his ankle in the middle of the fourth quarter of Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, if comments made by head coach Love Smith on Tuesday are any indication, it's not going to be a big deal.

Hester left the game midway through the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury. He walked off the field gingerly but suggested afterward he would be fine.

"He came out of it in pretty good shape," Smith said of Hester.

The Bears should have Hester back as they try to build on their win over the Eagles when they take on revived Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Hester has 22 catches for 320 yards and a touchdown so far in 2011 as well as a kick return touchdown and Chicago is counting on him to keep making opponents gameplan for him.

Click here to order Devin Hester’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

The NFL is expected to hand down a series of fines to linebacker James Harrison and safety Ryan Clark of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis for questionable hits delivered during Sunday night's game between the teams, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Lewis knocked Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward out of the game in the second quarter with his hit, which was not flagged. Ward left with concussion-like symptoms after the helmet-to-helmet hit. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called the injury "minor."

The Ravens won Sunday night's hard-hitting game on a late touchdown pass by Joe Flacco to sweep the season series from Pittsburgh.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh on Monday said he didn't "want get into that conversation right now" when asked about the Clark and Lewis' hits that drew penalties.

"I mean, it's tough. There's no doubt about it, it's tough. It's fast and it's physical and all that, but the rules are in place for a reason, and that's the way it works," he said, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Carolina Panthers TE Jeremy Shockey said he hopes to negotiate a contract extension with the team. "You see people grow and you know it's going to be a special team. You want to be a part of that," Shockey said. "You were here when new coaches came and developed. You don't want to be somewhere else because you put so much hard work in and you've seen people grow. And the only thing it's going to do is get better and better." Shockey said there have been no contract talks yet between the Panthers and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(kffl.com)

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 8, 1957
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!

In the First Ever matchup in Tallahassee, the Miami Hurricanes defeated the FSU Seminoles 40-13 in front of a less than sold out crowd of 15,712 fans at Doak Campbell Stadium !  It was Miami's 5th consecutive victory over the former 
Florida State College for Women's football team !
 
Led by UMSHoF member QB Fran Curci, the Canes overcame a 7-6 Noles halftime lead and sprinted to the victory with the help of halfback Joe Plevel's 3 touchdowns.  Plevel proved a capable replacement for 1956 All American halfback and UMSHoF member Don Bosseler !   Coach Andy Gustafson's squad also got touchdowns from Bill Sandie, Phil Geatz and Byron Blasko.
 
Curci would go on the garner First Team All American honors in 1959, as well as being named an Academic All American !  He would return to Miami as an assistant coach, and was the Canes head coach in 1971 and 1972.

(Frank Curci pictured to the right)

Note: the Noles had trouble replacing 1956 honorable mention All American quarterback Lee Corso...yes, THAT Lee Corso !  Also, on the FSU bench due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident, receiver "Buddy" Burt Reynolds !  Both men were suitemates at FSU with legendary former Hurricanes baseball coach and UMSHoF member Ron Fraser !

For more information go to UMSportsHallofFame.com

Join the "UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SPORTS HALL OF FAME" group page on FACEBOOK !

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501c3 corporation whose sole purpose is to recognize those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who have excelled at their sports and brought acclaim to the university through their accomplishments and championships.  All tax-deductible donations help showcase their achievements for Hurricanes fans to enjoy for generations to come !

To Donate to the UM Sports Hall of Fame, click below...

Click here to donate now
  
UM Sports Hall of Fame
5821 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, Florida
33146

Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said rookie wide receiver Leonard Hankerson will remain in the starting lineup for a second straight week after recording four catches for 34 yards Sunday.

In the last three weeks, Hankerson has risen quickly. After spending the first five games on the inactive list, he has improved his play in practices and three weeks ago, he suited up for the first time all season.

He didn’t record a catch that day. Instead, he and quarterback John Beck miscommunicated on the one pass route Hankerson ran, and the throw was intercepted. Last week against Buffalo, Hankerson recorded one catch for 23 yards and was overthrown deep while going for the end zone.
Sunday, Hankerson played 63 of the 64 offensive snaps against the 49ers, and Shanahan said he believes that the University of Miami product has a chance to become an elite receiver.

Speaking of Hankerson’s progress, Shanahan said, “We’ve talked about guys that get the opportunity to start over guys that stay in that position for a length of timel. You’ve got to do it on the field and do it in practice. There’s a lot of competition at the wide receiver position. The week before we let Niles [Paul] take a shot at it, we let [Anthony] Armstrong take a shot at it. But Hankerson has been pretty consistent. We wanted to give him the opportunity to start the game. He showed starting the game that he deserves to be the starter next week.”

Hankerson has overtaken second-year pro Anthony Armstrong, who last season ranked second on the team in receiving but for the second straight week went without a catch. This season, Armstrong has only five receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Armstrong started against Buffalo, but played only eight snaps against San Francisco although both Mike and Kyle Shanahan, the team’s offensive coordinator, said last week that they needed to get him more opportunities.

Click here to order Leonard Hankerson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(washingtonpost.com)

Even within his own locker room, quarterback Tim Tebow can be an acquired taste. The Broncos' offensive coaches, led by coordinator Mike McCoy, decided the best way to maximize Tebow's skill set — which is heavy on running ability and light on passing accuracy from the pocket — was to install a college-like, read-option attack, but running back Willis McGahee was leery.

"At the beginning, I wasn't too happy with the read option because it really wasn't doing anything until I learned to run it," McGahee said.

He notified the coaches that he was going to adjust his steps, and he received the go-ahead. Then McGahee had the second-best statistical game of his nine-year career, rushing for 163 yards Sunday against Oakland. His career-best game was 167 yards, also against Oakland, while playing for Baltimore in the 2009 season finale.

"When I realized it was working, I kind of got back in love with the read option," McGahee said.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Jimmy Graham was held to six receptions for 78 yards in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers.

Graham wasn't featured nearly as much in the Saints passing attack, getting the majority of his yardage against Tampa's prevent coverage at the end of the first half. He's the only reliable target in an otherwise volatile receiving group, and a strong candidate to get back on track in Week 10 against Atlanta.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Monday Leonard Hankerson "deserves to start again" in Week 10 after hauling in four catches for 34 yards in Sunday's loss.
Hankerson was on the field for all but one snap Sunday, and acquitted himself well in just his second career game. Playing in one of the league's most anemic passing attacks, however, he's still little more than a low-upside flier despite his newfound starting status.

Click here to order Leonard Hankerson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

An ankle injury suffered by running back Frank Gore was severe enough to warrant X-rays. However, neither Gore nor 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday seemed very concerned.

Gore emerged from a 19-11 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday with a bothersome ankle, though it wasn't enough to slow him in his march toward a fifth straight 100-yard game rushing.

"I'll be all right," said Gore, who rushed for 107 yards and is third in the league at 782. "I'm cool. Just checking up some things on my body. Yeah, I'll be all right."

Harbaugh said he isn't surprised that several of his players came away from the Redskins game banged up.

"That was a tough, physical game for everybody on our football team," Harbaugh said. "We knew it was going to be that way going in, and it played out that way."

Gore appeared far more comfortable discussing the prospect of playing for a playoff-bound team than his health. He is one of numerous players on the 49ers' 53-man roster who have yet to experience a winning season, let alone a trip to the NFC playoffs.

The 49ers hold a commanding five-game lead in the NFC West at the midpoint of the season. It's conceivable that they could clinch the division title well before December.

"That would be a big thing," defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois said. "Our goal, we're trying not to let another team have to help us get to the playoffs. ... We're trying to secure a playoff spot now, so we don't have to worry about that later in the season."

Click here to order Frank Gore’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mercurynews.com)

Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson played on 63-of-64 offensive snaps in Sunday's loss to the 49ers.

Credit the Redskins for at least realizing their season is lost and getting their young building blocks playing time. Hankerson projects as the starter opposite Jabar Gaffney going forward. However, Hankerson is really the No. 3/4 option in a passing game that can't get the ball downfield. The talented rookie is just a flier.

Click here to order Leonard Hankerson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Jeremy Shockey has enjoyed being a part of the Panthers' rebuilding process. And the veteran tight end wants to stay there to see it through.

Shockey, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million last offseason, said Monday he hopes to negotiate a contract extension with the Panthers.
"You see people grow and you know it's going to be a special team. You want to be a part of that," Shockey said. "You were here when new coaches came and developed. You don't want to be somewhere else because you put so much hard work in and you've seen people grow. And the only thing it's going to do is get better and better."

There were questions about Shockey's health after he missed 10 games over three injury-plagued seasons with New Orleans, which released him in February. But he has played every game this season, despite breaking his finger in Week 1 and suffering a concussion three weeks later in Chicago.

Shockey and Greg Olsen, both of whom played for Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski in college, have been a tough, pass-catching tandem. Olsen is second on the team in receiving, and Shockey is right behind him with 23 receptions for 292 yards and a touchdown.

Shockey, 31, said there have been no contract talks yet between the Panthers and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

"Like I said before to the coaches, Ron (Rivera) and Rob, I didn't come here for the money. I'm coming here to be comfortable," Shockey said. "Chud looks at me as family. I've known him since college days. You just see some great people in here."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(heraldonline.com)

The Redskins released a statement Saturday announcing that they have placed cornerback Phillip Buchanon on the Reserve/Injured list and added cornerback Brandyn Thompson to their 53-man roster.

Buchanon (5-11, 190) was in his 10th NFL season and his second with the Redskins. Buchanon has played in 123 career NFL games, including two during the 2011 season.

Thompson (5-10, 177) appeared in two games in 2011. Thompson saw action at cornerback in the Redskins’ Week 2 win against Arizona, and he appeared on special teams in Washington’s Week 3 game against Dallas.

Phillip Buchanon broke the news earlier via his personal facebook page, ending his season before it really got started.

The post is time stamped at about noon on Saturday. It says, “I will be placed on IR today so my season would be over & what a crazy year.”

After playing as the team’s nickel back in 2010, Buchanon was resigned to a one-year contract after the lockout ended. He served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy before rejoining the roster.

Click here to order Phillip Buchanon’s proCane Rookie Card.


(csnwashigton.com)

Arizona DL Calais Campbell came to play on Sunday against St. Louis. He recorded six tackles, five solo, in the game. Campbell had 1.5 sacks and also blocked the potential game-winning field goal for the Rams on the final play of regulation. The Cardinals would go on to win the game, 19-13.

Click here to order Calais Campbell’s proCane Rookie Card.


(fantasysp.com)

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said receiver Andre Johnson worked out with the team today but that his status is still "day-to-day" for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Johnson has missed the last five games while recovering from surgery on his hamstring. He said last week he'd suffered a setback. Kubiak said today that Johnson is back on track.

"He worked out today, and it went well," Kubiak said, "but does that mean he'll make it on the practice field Wednesday? I don't know. He went through a tough few days, but he's getting closer."

Kubiak said when Johnson tells him he's 100 percent and ready to play, he'll be back in the lineup, no matter when it is. There's a chance Johnson won't play against the Buccaneers, which would give him the bye week before returning Nov. 27 at Jacksonville.

Click here to order Andre Johnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Perhaps no position for the Colts could see more turnover after the season than wideout, where Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez all have expiring contracts. It is a fait accompli that Gonzalez won't be back, as he has been a healthy scratch a number of times this season and has fallen out of favor with the front office. Garcon, the club's most consistent offensive weapon this season, has made a strong case for being re-signed. The biggest question could be what to do with Wayne, who we hear has been sending out the vibe to local media that his time with the club soon could be over. Although Wayne has struggled without QB Peyton Manning this season, we hear that is as much about QB Curtis Painter's inability to see the whole field and locking on to Garcon, with whom he feels most comfortable. If Manning is back next season, word is he will make a strong push for Wayne being re-signed.

Click here to order Reggie Wayne’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballweekly.com)

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 7, 1987
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!

THE BATTLE OF MIAMI
 
 

The 3rd ranked University of Miami Hurricanes beat the Miami (Ohio) Redskins 54-3 in front of 40,128 Orange bowl fans !
 
UMSHoF member Steve Walsh passed for 4 touchdowns on 18 of 26 passing for 216 yards.  UMSHoF member Michael Irvin had 5 catches for 49 yards and a TD, UMSHoF member Melvin Bratton had one catch for 35 yards and a TD.  Cleveland Gary and Warren Williams also caught touchdown passes.
 
UMSHoF members George Mira, Jr., Greg Mark and Dan Stubbs led the defense that held to Redskins 51 total yards, including MINUS 19 yards rushing !

For more information go to UMSportsHallofFame.com

Join the "UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SPORTS HALL OF FAME" group page on FACEBOOK !

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501c3 corporation whose sole purpose is to recognize those student-athletes, coaches and administrators who have excelled at their sports and brought acclaim to the university through their accomplishments and championships.  All tax-deductible donations help showcase their achievements for Hurricanes fans to enjoy for generations to come !

To Donate to the UM Sports Hall of Fame, click below...

Click here to donate now
  
UM Sports Hall of Fame
5821 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, Florida
33146

Did you know that a former Miami Hurricane/current proCane has scored at least one touchdown in 148 consecutive regular season NFL weeks? Dating back to Week 15 of the 2002 season where Clinton Portis scored 4 TDs, at least one proCane has scored a TD in each regular season week since then. We have chronicled every touchdown since 2002. See below:

- 33 different proCanes have scored a touchdown;
- A total of 659 TDs have been scored;
- Twice Monday Night Football arrived without a proCane TD and twice the streak was extended; Bubba Franks in Week 4, 2003 and Santana Moss in Week 2, 2005.
- All 32 NFL teams have surrendered a touchdown to a proCane

Week 9 2011:
Kellen Winslow Jr. - 1 TD - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Willis McGahee - 2 TDs - Denver Broncos

Week 8 2011:
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco 49ers
Greg Olsen - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Jeremy Shockey - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Jon Vilma - 1 TD - New Orleans Saints

Week 7 2011:
Kellen Winslow Jr. - 1 TD - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jimmy Graham - 2 TDs - New Orleans Saints

Week 6 2011:
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco 49ers
Devin Hester - 2 TDs - Chicago Bears

Week 5 2011:
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco 49ers
Greg Olsen - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers

Week 4 2011:
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Graham - 1 TD - New Orleans Saints
Greg Olsen - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Devin Hester - 1 TD - Chicago Bears
Santana Moss - 1 TD - Washington Redskins

Week 3 2011:
Willis McGahee - 1 TD - Denver Broncos
Jimmy Graham - 1 TD - New Orleans Saints
Greg Olsen - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers

Week 2 2011:
Santana Moss - 1 TD - Washington Redskins
Willis McGahee - 1 TD - Denver Broncos
Andre Johnson - 1 TD - Houston Texans
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco 49ers

Week 1 2011:
Jimmy Graham - 1 TD - New Orleans Saints
Andre Johnson - 1 TD - Houston Texans
Reggie Wayne - 1 TD - Indianapolis Colts

Click below to see the rest of the list:



Read More...

Antrel Rolle was sporting “U” eye black this sunday in the Giants’ win over the New England Patriots.



Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Tim Tebow took the snap, put the ball in Willis McGahee's belly and decided whether to hand it off or keep it for his own run.

Those plays looked a lot like what he did so often in college -- especially the results.

Tebow threw two TD passes and ran for 117 yards, McGahee added 163 yards rushing and two more scores and the Denver Broncos beat the Oakland Raiders 38-24 Sunday.

"As long as it worked, that's all I care about," McGahee said. "He did a great job as far as reading the ends on what he had to do as far as keeping it or giving it. When I got the ball it was my job just to get some yards."

McGahee had a 60-yard touchdown run that tied the game on the first play after Carson Palmer threw his second interception for the Raiders, then added a 24-yarder to ice it in the closing minutes. Denver took the lead in between those big runs when Royal returned his first punt of the season 85 yards for a touchdown.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

The 49ers are closing in on the NFC West title, with Frank Gore leading the way.

Gore topped 100 rushing yards for the fifth consecutive game — something no one had ever done in 49ers history — and San Francisco cruised past the Redskins, 19-11 in Washington.

The 49ers improved to 7-1 with the victory, and with the Seahawks losing to the Cowboys and dropping to 2-6, the 49ers already have a whopping five-game lead in the NFC West. They should wrap up the division title by the end of the month.

Click here to order Frank Gore’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell is a big, big man. Of course, most NFL linemen are big but standing six-feet-eight, Campbell towers above them all. What sets Campbell apart is more than his height, it's his ability to move well in the trenches and use his arm length to tip passes and make tackles.

Campbell had a fantastic game in the Cardinals 19-13 win over the St. Louis Rams. The biggest play of the day came at the end of regulation when Campbell recorded his fourth-career blocked field goal on a 42-yard attempt that would have won the game for the Rams.

"My mindset was like, find a way to get a block," Campbell explained. "I told Darnell Dockett, 'If you give me a good push I might get a block.' He gave me the best push I've ever seen ever. In four years of playing with him, that's the best push he ever gave me."

There wasn't any extra trickery or stunts run on the block. Just Dockett clearing space Campbell getting a big paw high in the air. (Here's the video.)
The blocked field goal was obviously huge, but Campbell also recorded 1.5 sacks in the game, three QB hits and had five tackles, the most of any lineman.

The Cardinals defense as a whole was the difference in the game. They kept the Rams out of the red zone and forced them into three field goals which was their only offensive points of the day. 

"The defense all day, they bailed us out time and time again," Larry Fitzgerald said.

It wasn't a pretty win with John Skelton looking shaky in his first start of the season (20-25, 222 yards) and Beanie Wells completely shut down (20 yards, 10 carries). The offensive line was responsible for one safety and Skelton took the blame for the second which gave the Rams four extra points.

Despite all that, the Cardinals got huge stops when they needed to and found a way to pull out a much needed win. Patrick Peterson will get a lot of recognition for his walk-off punt return TD, but the defense led by Calais Campbell were also heroes in the game.

Click here to order Calais Campbell’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

After his fifth straight 100-yard game, a 49ers franchise record, running back Frank Gore donned a dark green military-style jacket, green cargo pants, and designer jewel- encrusted dog tags.

"I told myself I'm going to wear this, because I felt I was going to come out hunting on Sunday," Gore said. "It's my hunting outfit."

Gore had 107 yards on 19 carries in San Francisco's 19-11 win over the collapsing Redskins.

Click here to order Frank Gore’s proCane Rookie Card.


(philly.com)

Reggie Wayne sat at his locker-room cubicle Sunday afternoon in Lucas Oil Stadium, alone with his thoughts and a statistical recap of the Indianapolis Colts' latest misadventure.

The veteran receiver scanned a page, then shook his head. Looked again, and shrugged. A third glance, another reaction that was equal parts frustration and simmering anger.

What grabbed Wayne's attention?

"Final score and just knowing we didn't go out there and play the game we know we can do," he said, still trying to digest the 31-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons before a sellout crowd of 65,218. "We have a good, tough week of practice, and to come out there and lay an egg offensively sucks, man.

"Hopefully we can get some angry guys to become even angrier and try to get this thing turned around. I believe we're the only team without a win. That alone is enough said."

Click here to order Reggiw Wayne’s proCane Rookie Card.


(indystar.com)

The NFL has fined New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle $15,000 and defensive tackle Linval Joseph $7,500 for their actions in the 20-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Rolle was fined for making a horse-collar tackle on running back Reggie Bush at the end of a 35-yard run in the second quarter. He was penalized on the play.

Rolle was fined $20,000 for spearing Washington tight end Fred Davis in the first game of the season, as well.

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(wsj.com)

The Bears’ Devin Hester estimates he plays video games just about every day. He said it’s due in part to the free time he has and the fact that he feels he can’t go out in public much. His wife doesn’t mind — after all, it means he’s home — except when they have family over.

That’s when she pulls out her secret weapon.

“She’ll send my son down to the basement,” said Hester, who was promoting the first-person shooter “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” in stores Tuesday, over the phone last week. “She knows he won’t let me play games in peace. He’ll grab the controller and start pushing buttons and mess up the game. That does make me come (upstairs).”

Still, Hester insisted he isn’t the biggest gamer on the Bears. That award goes to tight end Kellen Davis. “He stays up all night playing even if we’ve got practice the next day,” Hester said. Both players have been known to team up together on previous “Call of Duty” games, along with teammates Matt Forte, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Henry Melton, among others.

Sometimes they have players from opposing NFL squads join them, including the Denver Broncos’ Eddie Royal and the Minnesota Vikings’ Joe Webb.

“Two of us will be online and we’ll call this person who will call another person,” Hester said. “There could be as many as 12 of us on the same team. It’s a fun group activity. … Every now and then I might get one kid who asks (if we’re Bears players). They’ll see our screen names and put it together.”

Does Hester talk trash when he’s playing? “When I do good, yeah,” said Hester. And when he’s not doing so hot? “I’m quiet,” he said. “I hate getting shot.”

It wasn’t that long ago that Hester nearly found himself on the cover of another popular video game. He said his agent received a call saying he was under consideration for the cover of “Madden NFL 08.” Many players who appear on the cover of “Madden” have gone on to struggle during the season (that’s how the “Madden curse” started), but Hester said he would gladly become the game’s cover man if given the opportunity. “I think it’s a great honor to be on the cover,” said Hester, adding that he doesn’t believe in the curse. “I don’t think you should turn that down.”

Click here to order Devin Hester’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chicagotribune.com)

Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields expects to play Sunday at San Diego after recovering from a concussion.

The second-year player was hurt when he intercepted a pass in the end zone and attempted to run it out in the Packers' win over St. Louis on Oct. 16.

Shields didn't make it, taking a blindside hit from Rams receiver Brandon Gibson.

The injury left Shields dizzy and stricken with headaches for a few days. He says it was his first concussion at any level of football.

On Friday he was questioning his position coach about the protocol for what a defensive player should do when he intercepts a pass in the end zone.

"He said, `Now, if I'm this deep, can I come out of there?'" cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt recounted after practice. "I said, `You do what you want to do now, but you understand what you're supposed to do.'"

Shields was cleared to practice after the Packers had their bye week. It gave him time to think about the injury.

"Everybody said I should've (gone) down. I should've, but things happen," Shields said earlier this week. "It's a learning process. Next time, I'll go down."

Or will he?

Shields changed his tune somewhat in the locker room Friday after he was asked what he would do the next time he intercepts a pass in the end zone.

"You never know," he said. "We teach in our secondary group is whenever we catch the ball we're looking to `pick six' (get a touchdown). Every time we get our hands on the ball, we're trying to score. That's our mentality for our secondary on defense."

Green Bay's defensive backs, including Shields, have been under some scrutiny this season. The Packers have allowed an average of nearly 290 yards passing per game, ranking second to last in the NFL.

Giving up big plays has been a sore spot in Green Bay's season. Opponents have hurt the Packers for 37 plays of at least 20 yards, and 32 of those have come via the pass.

"We're the same secondary that, in my opinion, is the best in the league, but we haven't played that way, and that's on me," Whitt said. "I'm doing a poor job of getting them ready to play. Nothing more than that. If I do my job, they play at a high level. If I don't do my job at a high level, it affects their play. That's basically what it is."

The big gains have been mitigated by the Packers' knack for creating turnovers. They are tied for second in the league with 13 interceptions and tied for third with 16 takeaways.

Following a slow start, Shields has been contributing with momentum-changing plays after he made an impact as an undrafted rookie last season with four interceptions, including two in the Packers' NFC championship game win at Chicago.

"He looks like he was in the playoffs, where he really realized he's a DB (defensive back) and how he can play," Whitt said. "I'm excited about him."
As the team's nickel back, Shields has two interceptions this season.

Shields credits his improved play after teams had success throwing on him early in the season to getting back to playing press coverage on receivers.

"I kind of got out of my groove," he said. "I'm usually pressing. I kind of got out of it and started playing off, and that wasn't me. So, I went back to my old ways and pressing. Hey, that's what I'm good at, so why not just keep going with it?"

Whitt took responsibility for how Shields was positioned off the line of scrimmage in the team's first two games, calling it a miscommunication.
"I've got to get that stuff cleared up quicker," Whitt said. "But once he realized what we wanted from that situation, he's been playing really, really high-level football."

And the coaches are hopeful Shields will make the right decision the next time he comes up with the football.

"Sam's an aggressive thinker when he gets the ball in his hands," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "He knows he's got that speed, and no matter where he is, he think he's going to take it and score. That's one of the things about being a young guy, you get clobbered a couple of times like that, your judgment improves, I think."

Shields returned his first interception this season a career-long 60 yards out of the end zone against Denver on Oct. 2.

"It's very easy to sit there after the fact and question a player's decision in the heat of battle, especially when he makes a decision a couple weeks before and comes out of the end zone and makes a big play," coach Mike McCarthy said.

"You can't have it both ways. We're either going to catch it and kneel down, or catch it and try to come out and be smart. It's a learning experience for Sam. I feel strongly that he's learned from it."

Click here to order Sam Shields’ proCane Rookie Card.


(sfgate.com)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texans cornerback Brandon Harris drafted in the second round (60th overall) out of Miami (Fla.), is chronicling his rookie season with periodic diary entries for HoustonTexans.com.

It’s been a while since I did a rookie diary, so I’ve got a lot to catch up on. We’re about three weeks behind; a lot has happened since then.

The team has been doing wonderful. We’ve taken over first place in the AFC South, so we’ve been riding that momentum, riding that wave, for the past three few weeks. It’s been pretty exciting around here. You can feel the energy in the building just building up. Even in practice and meetings, guys are coming in, everybody’s having a smile on their face, because when you’re winning everything is just that much fun. I’ve had a good time.

I’ve been having family out the last couple weeks. That’s always good. We’re getting to the point of the season where I’ve been here for a while, been in Houston for a while, well adjusted to the city, but you still find yourself missing home a lot, so you try to call home and talk to your parents, talk to your friends as much as possible. But it’s always even more exciting when they get a chance to fly out, we get a chance to spend personal time together and I can just talk with them and hang out with them. So for the past couple weeks, that’s been cool. That’s been keeping me motivated, keeping me sane and stuff like that.

Also, I had a good time on Halloween. Halloween was an exciting time. I found out I was on some show – I was on Shaun Cody’s show, I guess. They put it on NFL Network. Man, he was in here dressed up in a Halloween costume, scaring people early in the morning. I can’t lie, that was the last thing on my mind I was expecting, for somebody to jump out of the cracks and try to scare me at 5:30, 6 o’clock in the morning. Luckily, my natural instincts didn’t come out and I take a swing – that would’ve really been funny on camera. But it’s all in fun, though.

Like I said, the guys here have been having a lot of fun. We do a lot of bonding events, and I’ve been able to learn a lot from these guys, from the secondary, the way they’re playing here. I’ve been able to learn a lot in practice and in the games and help myself become a better player. I’m still playing hard, practicing hard every day, waiting patiently, man. Sometimes things don’t go as you expected to go when you first get in here, but you realize that you’ll benefit from it in the long run, being able to learn mentally before you physically actually get out there and perform. Because sometimes, a lot of guys get thrown in the fire early and they may not be ready and they kind of lose confidence a little bit after getting out there and struggling, so I have the ability to learn from a great group of guys and to just try to duplicate what they do when I do get my opportunities to get out there. But all in all, I’m still blessed to be in this position, still blessed to be in the NFL – 21 years old, accomplished a lifelong dream. It’s just an exciting feeling every time I get to step in this locker room and suit up for the Texans.

The couple times I did actually get in there and play some on defense, it was exciting. It was like being in college all over again. You’re nervous on the sideline when Coach tells you, ‘You’re in next series.’ You feel like a freshman all over again. But the moment I touched that field and the moment I actually got out there and started covering guys and started getting confident and blitzing and making plays, I just felt comfortable. You know you belong out there. You know, ‘This is what I do; I’m a football player,’ and you feel at home when you’re out there. So that was exciting. I’m happy I was able to adjust that quickly and not have a problem with it. It kind of left that taste in my mouth that I’m ready to get back out there, so it’s been testing my patience a little bit, just waiting for that next opportunity.

Other than that, though, everything else has been great here, man. I had a chance to do some exciting work in the community. I don’t know if I’ve talked about that since the last time I’ve been on. I took a trip to the zoo with some of my teammates, working with kids, working with some of the different YMCA groups here in Houston and have just been getting a chance to meet people all the time. I can’t emphasize enough how much support we get as a team from the fans here in Houston. I really can’t. No matter where you go, no matter after a win or a loss, everybody represents the Houston Texans real well in Houston. That’s something I take a lot of pride in, because a lot of other places can’t say that.

Click here to order Brandon Harris’ proCane Rookie Card.


(houstontexans.com)

Oakland general manager Billy Beane indicated earlier this week that the team’s ballpark situation being in flux could keep them from spending significant money on free agents and now Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the A’s will listen to offers on basically every player.

According to Rosenthal free agents Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, and David DeJesus are all but certain to leave the A’s and among players under contract only second baseman Jemile Weeks is totally off limits.

If true, that would mean young building blocks like Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, and Kurt Suzuki could be available, which would surely have just about every team in baseball calling Beane.

Things could change in a hurry if the potential San Jose ballpark plans are approved, but short of that happening Rosenthal writes that Beane’s offseason will be spent trimming an already modest payroll.


(nbcsports.com)