proCane MLB player and World Series Champion Jon Jay poses with proCane New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham before Graham’s game versus the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta.



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

OWINGS MILLS -- Baltimore Ravens All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis is definitely expected to miss at least Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a toe injury, and possibly more games depending on how quickly it heals.

Lewis went to visit a specialist in South Florida to get another opinion on his toe after suffering the injury against the Seattle Seahawks. And the diagnosis confirmed the extent of the damage, the Times has learned.

Lewis hasn't practiced for the past two days.

The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has started 57 consecutive games, not missing a start since the 2007 season.

Lewis, 36, leads the Ravens with 68 tackles, also recording two sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles.

The Ravens' options at middle linebacker include shifting over inside linebacker Jameel McClain or starting Dannell Ellerbe, who was upgraded to full participation after missing time with a hamstring injury.

The Ravens also have Pro Bowl special-teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo in the mix.

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(carrolcountytimes.com)

The notion of Miami Heat star LeBron James playing in the NFL -- especially as the NBA's lockout drags on -- has been floated several times, including by LeBron himself.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll even had a Seattle jersey with LeBron's name on it made up last month.

But could the 6-8, 250-pound James survive, or perhaps thrive, against the NFL's even bigger bodies? After all, many former college power forwards -- Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham -- have morphed into elite tight ends.

"He's a tremendous athlete, probably the best physical specimen you'll see in sports," former NBA star Jalen Rose said of King James while serving as a guest panelist on NFL Network's No Huddle on Wednesday night.

"The one thing about football -- you can go up for the football -- I don't think his feet'll hit the ground on the way down because they will take him out. I think that game is too physical, I think it's too demanding, I think that it's hard to block defensive ends -- it's more to that job of being a tight end than just running routes."

Fellow analyst Warren Sapp said James would also be a marked man in the NFL.

"How about LeBron do one-sixth of what (Michael) Jordan did, let's see him go win a championship," Sapp said.

"Go do that. Go see if you can conquer your sport before you come over here because them boys on defense, we like pretty boys like that. We want to split them."

Though James, who played football in high school, can certainly catch, run and would be an intriguing red-zone target, Sapp and Rose questioned his ability to block in the run game and if he could cope with the game's inherent contact.

But he would have something going for him.

"I know one thing, it'd be hard to get a hit to the head on him," said former NFL coach Jim Mora.

Click here to order Warren Sapp’s proCane Rookie Card.


(usatoday.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Devin Hester wasn't feeling good last Sunday afternoon before the Lions game, but he didn't let an ankle injury and an illness stop him.

Instead of sitting out though, Hester managed to return another punt for a touchdown and make a huge difference in the game -- again. In the process, he also reminded some Chicagoans of the performances of Michael Jordan and Walter Payton as they battled through illness at various points during their careers.

"That's what a lot of people were talking about," Hester said after Wednesday's practice, when asked about Jordan's famous "flu game" in the NBA Finals. "Michael Jordan and Walter Payton. They played [while] being sick It wasn't a thought in the back of my mind."

Hester, who has been the subject of a lot of Hall of Fame consideration and debate over the past few weeks, is just happy to have his name being mentioned with the other greats.

"It's an honor," he said of being mentioned with Jordan and Payton. "Those guys are elite players. I'm just working my way to get mentioned in that category."

So how sick was Hester before Sunday's game?

"Just been feeling sick all week," he said. "Had a fever of over 103. My tonsils were swollen. I had strep throat. I'm just feeling bad. I've been taking some antibiotics to try and get through it."

Hester admitted that he was a little calmer than usual before the game because of the illness he was dealing with.

"When you're sick, you're in a relaxing mode," he said. "You're really just living life up. Living it up. I wasn't stressed out about anything, I was just out there being regular."

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


(espn.com)

What active NFL players who went to college in Florida will end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio? How coincidental you would ask that, because I just happen to have the answer.

First, the math: 141 state-college players on current rosters parcel out as 41 Miami Hurricanes, 33 Florida Gators, 29 FSU Seminoles, plus 12 Central Florida, 11 South Florida, four FAU, three Bethune-Cookman, two FIU and one Florida A&M.

THE LIST

Now, our Canton Watch Top 10:

1. Ravens MLB Ray Lewis (Hurricanes), 100 percent; 12 Pro Bowls, seven times All-Pro.
2. Ravens S Ed Reed (Hurricanes), 95 percent; 7 PBs, 56 interceptions.
3. Colts WR Reggie Wayne (Hurricanes), 95 percent; 829 catches, 11,278 yards, 5 PBs.
4. Texans WR Andre Johnson (Hurricanes), 90 percent; 698 catches, 9,516 yards, 5 PBs.
5. Bears returner/WR Devin Hester (Hurricanes), 60 percent; modest catch totals but already 18 return TDs (second all-time), 3 PBs.
6. Ravens WR Anquan Boldin (Seminoles), 40 percent; 693 catches, 9,006 yards, 3 PBs.
7. Patriots NT Vince Wilfork (Hurricanes), 35 percent; 3 PBs aided by team’s championship era.
8. Panthers MLB Jon Beason (Hurricanes), 20 percent; three PBs in first four seasons.
9. 49ers RB Frank Gore (Hurricanes), 15 percent; 7,196 yards, 4.7 per, 2 PBs.
10. Saints TE Jimmy Graham (Hurricanes), 15 percent; based on first 1 1/2 seasons at specialty position.

Others above 10 percent: Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey (Gators), Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall (UCF), Eagles CB Asante Samuel (UCF), Vikings KR/WR Percy Harvin (Gators), Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett (Seminoles).

Others below 10 percent but on radar: Broncos RB Willis McGahee (Hurricanes), Giants S Antrel Rolle (Hurricanes), Jets CB Antonio Cromartie (Seminoles), Redskins WR Santana Moss (Hurricanes), Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma (Hurricanes), Panthers TE Jeremy Shockey (Hurricanes), Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis (Bethune), Raiders CB Lito Sheppard (Gators), Raiders PK Sebastian Janikowski (Seminoles).
Canton Watch Bonus: The Dolphins. Make it DE/LB Jason Taylor, 90 percent; OT Jake Long, 70 percent; LB Cameron Wake 15 percent, Marshall, 15 percent and PK Dan Carpenter 5 percent. (Sorry, Karlos Dansby).

Read more….


(miamiherald.com)

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 17, 2000
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!
 
UMSHoF Class of 2011 members, Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss and Dan Morgan led the 2nd ranked Miami Hurricanes to a 26-0 victory over the Syracuse Orangemen in front of a Syracuse Dome sellout crowd and a national television audience !

UMSHoF Class of 2012 member Ed Reed picked off his school record 21st career interception, also !

Miami would defeat Boston College 52-6 the next week at the Orange bowl...but be denied the chance to play Oklahoma for the national championship, settling for the next best thing...a 37-20 victory over the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl, to finish 11-1 .

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- Miami coach Butch Davis said he wouldn't run up the score against Syracuse. He never said anything about the other side of the ball.

The Miami defense met the Orangemen at every turn Saturday night, limiting them to 83 yards rushing, 83 passing and just nine first downs in a 26-0 victory. James Jackson rushed for 101 yards and scored twice as the Hurricanes remained in the hunt for the national championship.

Miami (9-1, 6-0 Big East), which has one game left, against Boston College, entered the game ranked second in the BCS standings, which will decide the national championship game.

There was concern by Miami before the game that the winner of the Florida-Florida State game, also played Saturday night, might vault past the Hurricanes, so a strong performance against Syracuse was a must.

"They say we had to win by 20, and we did that tonight," said Davis, who was whooping it up in the locker room afterward, praising his defense. "I would be disappointed if we didn't stay second, especially with the tough stretch we've had. Every team we've played has had a winning record.

Including Syracuse (5-5, 3-3). But the Orangemen also had a redshirt quarterback starting his first game at home, and that made Miami's task easier.

"We knew they were going to try to run some option, try to confuse us," said linebacker Dan Morgan, who aggravated a toe injury in the second quarter but still managed three tackles behind the line of scrimmage. "One little mess-up and they are going to bust a play on you."

There were none on this night. In its eight possessions of the first half, Syracuse did not gain a first down on seven of them as quarterback R.J. Anderson failed to generate anything offensively. The Orangemen, who entered the game ranked 17th in the nation in rushing with a 206-yard average, gained 42 yards on 29 plays in the half and had only two first downs.

"I was a little anxious," said Anderson, who finished 11-for-25 and suffered a costly interception.

Meanwhile, Miami won the field-position game handily, took a 23-0 halftime lead and took the capacity Carrier Dome crowd of 49,327 out of the game. The stands were more empty than full after Todd Sievers kicked a 33-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

"We felt very comfortable and were able to operate, even with the noisy conditions," said quarterback Ken Dorsey, who was 16 of 28 for 263 yards and one touchdown. "The offensive line did a great job of pass protecting and the receivers were running great routes. They made my job easy."

Of their eight possessions in the opening half, the Hurricanes started either near midfield or in Syracuse territory six times, and that was costly for Syracuse.

"We were counting on getting at least some field position, but those things did not happen early on," Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "And that, in my mind, was the game."

Leading 3-0 on a 23-yard field goal early in the first quarter by Sievers, Miami scored three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second quarter to put the game away.

Dorsey got the Hurricanes going with completions of 32 yards to Jeremy Shockey and 23 yards to Daryl Jones. A key 11-yarder to Santana Moss on a third-and-10 play set up Jackson's 5-yard scoring run on the first play of the second quarter.

Syracuse entered the game with the seventh-rated pass defense in the country, allowing 163.8 yards per game. Dorsey completed 9 of 19 passes for 183 yards in the first half alone. One was a 32-yard touchdown strike to Reggie Wayne on a crossing play over the middle that put Miami ahead 16-0 with 11:51 remaining in the half.

Strong safety Edward Reed nabbed Miami's 21st interception of the season to stop Syracuse's next possession and Jackson scored on a 33-yard run two plays later to make it 23-0.

"We weren't thinking about the BCS," Reed said. "Any time you can get a shutout, you try your hardest. We could have run up the score, but that's not the kind of team we are."

Syracuse had relied all season on its defense, which was expected to keep the Orangemen in this one despite the absence of defensive end Dwight Freeney, who sat out his third straight game with an undisclosed viral infection. Freeney still led the nation with 13 sacks.

But the pressure that harried Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, sacking him an amazing nine times in a 22-14 loss to the Hokies a month ago, never materialized.

Syracuse, which suffered its first shutout at home since a 43-0 loss to West Virginia in 1993, mounted only two sustained drives in the game.

The best chance to score came in the first quarter as Anderson moved the Orangemen from their own 36 to the Miami 17 in nine plays. But Mike Shafer's 40-yard field-goal attempt was wide left, his 11th miss in 25 attempts this year.

"Momentum is a big thing in football," said Dorsey, who was rarely hurried. "I really felt like we got the momentum back after they missed the field goal. I think that really helped us through the entire first half."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey has missed his second straight day of practice with a rib injury, but coach Ron Rivera is “optimistic” Shockey will play Sunday at Detroit.

Rivera said Thursday the team will assess Shockey “first thing in the morning.”

Shockey has 24 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and linebacker James Anderson practiced, while linebacker Dan Connor remains was limited with a shoulder injury. Linebacker Jason Phillips (calf) did not practice.

Rivera also said tailback Josh Vaughan and linebacker Kion Wilson will play on special teams Sunday. Both were signed off the practice squad Wednesday.

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


(ap.com)

In his first opportunity to grab the NFL spotlight, Titans rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy made like an entertainer: He left fans asking for more.

Plenty of Titans fans are still buzzing about McCarthy’s performance against the Panthers last Sunday, when he notched a team-leading 12 tackles (including one for loss) and added a quarterback pressure for good measure.

If he did that well in his first start, the line of questioning goes, why not keep him in place this week when the Titans visit the Falcons?
Not so fast, says defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.

It may be true that starter Barrett Ruud has only once produced as many as 12 tackles in a game this season, and that Ruud, who has eight starts, has just one more tackle for loss than McCarthy.

But the Titans still believe that Ruud, a seventh-year pro who signed a one-year deal for $4 million, can make a broader and more consistent impact at this point.

“It’s Barrett’s job,” Gray said. “We brought him in here to lead us and he gives us great leadership. Barrett gives us a calmness that a lot of guys can’t give. When you saw him (play for) Tampa Bay, he did that, too.”

Which is not to say the Titans are discrediting what McCarthy did against the Panthers, especially considering he had been sidelined the previous three weeks with a bad hamstring.

Instead of letting the injury sidetrack him, McCarthy remained focused on what he would have to do when he returned.

“He stuck with it,” said Ruud, who missed the Carolina game with a groin strain. “He was in the meeting rooms and asking questions. So he was prepared to go.”

Predictably, there were some missteps for McCarthy, who might have been a bit too keyed up for his own good.

“Obviously early in the game I missed a few tackles,” the fourth-round pick from Miami said. “You never like to do that, especially early on.”
But it didn’t take long for McCarthy to do something positive.

On Carolina’s second series, he tackled running back DeAngelo Williams for a five-yard loss. On Carolina’s third series, McCarthy made tackles on second and third down, prompting a punt.

“That’s an offense that was putting up a lot of numbers and he didn’t seem like he was out of place, not shaken up by it,” Gray said. “I like that about a young guy. He has a swagger about him like, ‘Hey, when it’s my time, I’m going to go ahead and play.’ ”

McCarthy was clearly pumped about the pummeling the Titans delivered in a 30-3 win.

“He definitely has a lot of emotion,” linebacker Will Witherspoon said. “I think we all saw that. We laughed about it. We were kidding him, saying, ‘Man, if you keep kicking around like that, you’re going to pull a hamstring.’ But he was good out there.”

Maybe most impressive to McCarthy and his teammates was his mental performance.

The Titans did some different things against the Panthers — blitzing more often, for instance — but McCarthy wasn’t overwhelmed in his role as “defensive quarterback.”

“As far as getting everybody lined up, making the strength calls, pointing out any keys pre-snap and getting the calls across to get everyone set up that we can play … I thought I did a good job of that,” he said.

Said Ruud: “The biggest thing he did was call the defense.”

McCarthy sat out practice Thursday with soreness in his knee, but is expected to practice today.

He won’t be preparing for a start against the Falcons — the Titans have made that clear — but expect to see more of McCarthy in upcoming games. He earned the opportunities.

“He took advantage (of his chance) and that opened your eyes to what he can handle now,” Coach Mike Munchak said. “… He is still definitely going to be a huge part of our defense.”

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


(tennessean.com)

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt had to laugh Wednesday at his choice of words in describing the play of defensive end Calais Campbell.

"The sky's the limit for Calais," Whisenhunt said before pausing. "He's a tall guy. ... Good joke, right?"

Amid a few laughs, Whisenhunt conceded that the joke was "pretty bad," but the sentiment was sincere. At 25 years old, Campbell has emerged as the Cardinals' next big playmaker, and his coaches and teammates only see him getting better.

Whisenhunt has been somewhat tempered in his praise of the 6-foot-8 Campbell, complimenting the things Campbell does well but also making regular note of needed improvements. As for Campbell, he couldn't help but chuckle at the notion he's having a breakout season before admitting ever so slightly that he's playing well.

"I don't feel like I'm playing as good as I could, but I feel like I'm playing disciplined football," Campbell said. "I feel like it's starting to come together. I feel more confident out there, but I still have a long way to go because I feel I could be so much better."

Campbell may downplay his progression this season, but the statistics don’t lie. He leads the Cardinals with five sacks this season and has 18 in 2 1/2 seasons as a starter. To be fair, 4.5 of his sacks this season came in two games, against the Rams (two) and Seahawks (2 1/2), but the ability is clearly there.

The Cardinals' second-round pick out of Miami in 2008, Campbell also has two blocked field goals this year (and four in four seasons), which is two more than anybody else on the team, and last week snagged his first career interception in a win over the Eagles. His 46 tackles are tied for third most on the team.

"He’s making plays, but he’s young," fellow defensive lineman Darnell Dockett said of Campbell last week. "He’s only got an upside. He’s going to keep working, keep fully developing into his body. Another 10 pounds and he’ll be like a gorilla walking around here."

Both Campbell and Whisenhunt feel that upside will develop as Campbell's technique improves.

"When a guy is as tall as Calais is, you always struggle with staying low, using your hands and those type of things," Whisenhunt said. "He's gotten better at doing that, and that's why he's had the production as far as getting off blocks, whether it's sacks or making plays, making tackles in the run game.

"If he continues to work that way, Calais can be an outstanding football player in this league. I think we're already seeing glimpses of that. Now what you've got to see from him is the consistency week in and week out, which he's starting to do."

Campbell feels he's come a long way with his technique this season alone, purely because of the amount of time he's spending on the field. The more times he does the same things, Campbell said, the better he gets at them.

As Campbell does keep getting better, the Cardinals are hoping it's in Arizona. General manager Rod Graves said last week that he anticipates opening negotiations soon for an extension for Campbell, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Campbell has said he doesn’t think much about his contract situation, instead keeping the focus on football, but it's clear he's interested in remaining with the Cardinals.

"I love it here," Campbell said. "This is a great place to be, but I just try to keep it simple and concentrate right now."

Dockett, who last September signed an extension of his own worth a guaranteed $30 million over four years, addressed last week the importance of keeping Campbell in the fold.

"We need to," Dockett said. "I trust in this organization and Rod Graves. They'll definitely do right by Calais.

"When you're trying to build a championship team, you've got to start keeping your guys. You can't let guys leak out of here and go to other teams and help other programs."

Campbell is content to let his contract situation play out at the appropriate time and keep working hard on his skills. While Campbell may be realizing his potential more than ever this season, Whisenhunt says it came as no surprise to see Campbell making another leap.

"I've seen that from Calais for a couple years now," Whisenhunt said. "Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to get those reps and get into the feel of what we're trying to get done. This was a new scheme for him, but he's really working hard at the fundamentals. … You're starting to see it pay off."

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


(foxsportsarizona.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — There's at least one person who doesn't think kicking to Devin Hester is a bad idea — him.

The Chicago Bears' superstar return specialist says he's not surprised when teams kick to him even though he continues to rewrite the record book.
He says the odds still don't favor him, and changing a game plan for one player is "too much" for a special teams unit no matter how dominant he is.

The league's all-time leader in combined special teams return touchdowns (17; 12 on punts, 5 on kickoffs) was particularly dangerous last week as the Bears pounded Detroit. He returned a punt 82 yards for a TD despite strep throat, swollen tonsils, high fever and a sprained ankle.

San Diego coach Norv Turner said he plans to proceed with caution Sunday.

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


(desertnews.com)

CINCINNATI — The Bengals are learning to get along without a cornerback who is also one of their cornerstones.

Leon Hall tore his left Achilles tendon in a loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, ending his season. The Bengals (6-3) will try to stay in contention in the AFC North without one of their most indispensable players.

The Bengals traded for Kelly Jennings last August to provide depth. Jennings, a first-round draft pick by Seattle in 2006, started 14 games for the Seahawks last season. Jennings has missed three games early in the season because of a sore hamstring and his unfamiliarity with coordinator Mike Zimmer’s system.

Now, he moves into a starting spot.

“I finally got a chance to play three games back-to-back,” Jennings said. “With the injuries, I played two games and then I was out another two games. So I’m starting to settle down, calm down.

“It’s a chance for me to play more, a chance for me to get in the groove. I believe this is what they brought me in for — if something like this were to happen — so I’ll be ready to play.”

Click here to order Kelly Jennings’ proCane Rookie Card.


(washingtonpost.com)

Ravens free safety Ed Reed is dealing with an eight-game streak of zero interceptions, but the seven-time Pro Bowler insisted that he has no concerns about this current drought.

“No, man. I’ve been playing ball, being where I’m supposed to be,” Reed said Wednesday. “To be perfectly honest, they haven’t thrown my way. That’s the game plan that some teams come with. So plays will come. I’m not worried about that. We have a winning record, we’ve been winning, and if me not making a play [means] us winning the game, then that’s the game.”

Reed’s drought is one game shy of a career-worst mark of nine consecutive games without an interception in 2005. That streak was broken up by a six-contest stretch during which he was sidelined by an ankle injury.

Since intercepting two Ben Roethlisberger passes and breaking up four in the Ravens’ season-opening rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Reed has broken up just one pass and he couldn’t prevent quarterback Matt Schaub from connecting with wide receiver Jacoby Jones for a 32-yard touchdown pass on Oct. 16.

But Reed did sack and strip quarterback Mark Sanchez – a turnover that inside linebacker Jameel McClain turned into his first career fumble return for a touchdown – on Oct. 2.

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, who will lead the Cincinnati Bengals into Sunday’s AFC North showdown with the Ravens, said he has no plans of overlooking Reed.

“He has great instincts,” Dalton told Cincinnati media Wednesday. “He plays the eyes really well, and he’s got a really good feel for the game. You definitely have to know where he is.”

Despite Dalton’s inexperience, Reed said he didn’t anticipate the Bengals giving the young quarterback free reign to throw the ball against the Ravens this Sunday.

“They have a great staff over there,” Reed said. “I’ve been playing against these guys for two years now, and they do a great job of protecting their quarterbacks and making sure they know where to go with the ball and like I just said, keeping an eye on [No.] 20. So it’s a good thing, it’s a respect thing. Never too boring, but it happens sometimes. You’ve just got to be patient and wait for those plays to come like they always do.”

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


(baltimoresun.com)

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said receiver Santana Moss remained sidelined Thursday as he recovers from a broken hand. But Shanahan said there’s a chance Moss could play at Seattle Nov. 27.



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


(washingtonpost.com)

Devin Hester did it again in Week 10, returning a punt for a touchdown for the 12th time in his career. Throw in his five kick return TDs and another touchdown off a missed field goal and it begs the question: Is Hester a Hall of Famer?

Jeff Darlington NFL.com
He's not there yet, but he'll get there
The best all-time hitters in baseball still succeed even when pitchers stop throwing to them. The best wide receivers in football still thrive even when double covered. More attention results in equal or greater success. That's why, in the case of Devin Hester, I believe we need to see a greater body of work to say conclusively he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Of course, Hester faces a more difficult crutch than, say, a wide receiver in double coverage, since a ball punted out of bounds is impossible to return. Heck, he's had rules established to limit him.

But if he is going to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on special team merits alone, his success needs to be sustainable for longer than six seasons. Seven seasons? Eight? I just think we'll all know when we know. With all of that said, given his resurgence in 2011, he's making a very strong case that he'll get there.

Bucky Brooks NFL.com
First ballot, no questions asked
Devin Hester should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible. He is the most dominant returner in NFL history, which warrants his spot in Canton. Although some will attempt to diminish his accomplishments because of the lack of respect for the kicking game, his overall impact on the game despite receiving minimal touches should make up for his marginal impact as a position player. If the Hall of Fame is for the most dominant players in the game, I don't know how you could leave Hester off the list.

Steve Wyche NFL.com
Hester's effect on a game is obvious
This is so hard because putting in someone who mainly is a special teams player is like putting a middle reliever in the Baseball Hall of Fame. To trump that argument, Hester's effect on a game is obvious. Teams have to plan for him. Kick away from him or be prepared to get burned. He's as scary as any skill player in the game.

I'd have to say he belongs in Canton because nobody else has come close to what he consistently does. Guys will flash for a season or two, but Hester makes impact returns seemingly every other time he touches the ball.

Dave Dameshek NFL.com
Silly to suggest Hester doesn't belong
It's silly to suggest Hester doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. It'd be like keeping the all-time greatest closer out of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Dante Hall, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Louis Lipps, White Shoes Johnson, Ricky Upchurch and Brian Mitchell all take a backseat to Hester, the best returner in the history of the game. If the argument is that he's "only" a great returner, then why don't we just go ahead and eliminate the kicking phase of the game? All those game-changing, soul-crushing TDs he's scored count the same as other touchdowns, right?

Charles Davis NFL Network
Hester meets Hall of Fame criteria To me, Hall of Famers are players who affect how the game will be played every time they step onto the field. Hall of Famers make opponents change their way of doing things. By these definitions (admittedly mine), Devin Hester is a Hall of Fame player. If I had a vote, I would cast it for Devin Hester, Kick Returner, Chicago Bears. No discussion necessary.

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


(nfl.com)

Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, who missed the win over the Panthers because of a groin injury, was back on the practice field on Wednesday and said he thinks he should be able to play Sunday against the Falcons.

Ruud was very complimentary of what Colin McCarthy did in his place last week — coaches credited the rookie with a team-best 12 tackles — but was even more impressed with how he handled the defense.

“The biggest thing he did was call the defense,” Ruud said. “That’s the number one thing a (middle) linebacker does is get people lined up.It was a little different game because we were ahead and they really spread it out and threw it around a lot. He did a nice job of getting guys lined up and in position.”

His performance in that department was especially good for a rookie, according to Ruud.

“It’s one of those things where you have to prepare a little extra for and he’s done well with that, especially because he was out for a few weeks,” Ruud said. “He still stuck with it and was in the meeting rooms and asking questions. So he was prepared to go.”

Assuming Ruud is healthy, he’s likely to return to the starting lineup on Sunday. The fact that he formerly played for Tampa Bay – an NFC South rival of Atlanta – should be helpful this week.

“It’s kind of like old times,” Ruud said. “I’ve done it a lot. I played against them 12 times or something. … So I know them well. It’s always fun to go down to the Dome and play.”

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


(tennessean.com)

In the SI story, running back Frank Gore said Harbaugh’s aggressive style was a welcome change, contrasting it with former Niners coach Mike Nolan.

“(Nolan) just wanted us to stay in the game instead of saying, Let’s go attack them and see what we can do,” Gore said. “It ain’t about them, it’s about us — that’s the attitude you have to have. Coach Harbaugh? That’s how he and his coaches are. Look at his swag. I love it.”

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


(sfgate.com)

OWINGS MILLS - Ed Reed has been unusually quiet for the past eight games.

The Baltimore Ravens' All-Pro free safety intercepted Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger twice to launch the season, but hasn't picked off a pass since that game.

According to the official statistics kept by the NFL, Reed hasn't even deflected a pass in the past four games.

Is this a byproduct of quarterbacks avoiding the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year?

"I've been playing ball, being where I'm supposed to be," Reed said. "They haven't been throwing my way. That's the game plan some teams come with. Plays will come. I'm not worried about that. If me not making the play wins the game, that's fine."

A year ago, Reed led the AFC with eight interceptions.

And he has recorded 56 career interceptions, more than anyone in franchise history and more than anyone in the NFL since he entered the league nine years ago.

So, Reed believes he's earned enough props from offensive coordinators that they specifically don't design throws in his general direction.

"It's a good thing, it's a respect thing," Reed said. "It's never too boring. It happens sometimes. You have to be patient and wait for those plays."

Reed forced a fumble against the New York Jets when he sacked quarterback Mark Sanchez, a turnover that linebacker Jameel McClain returned for a touchdown.

He has 33 tackles, one sack, the two interceptions and five pass deflections for the season.

The last time Reed knocked down a pass was on Oct. 16 in a win over the Houston Texans.

"I'm not worried about a lack of numbers," Reed said. "It comes with the territory of trying to be a great player in the league. It's a respect factor. I welcome them throwing the ball to me, but it's not going to happen all the time. My presence is a big thing also."

As a defense, the Ravens haven't had nearly as many big plays lately.

During the opening seven games, they had 25 sacks and 16 turnovers with four touchdowns.

Over the past two games, the Ravens have two sacks and two turnovers with none during their 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

"We always emphasize it and our guys do everything they can to create turnovers," coach John Harbaugh said. "You do that through your technique and your responsibility. Sometimes, they come to you and sometimes they don't. You try to create them with hard hits. You try to create them by stripping the ball, especially in the run game but also in the pass game.

"You step in front of throws. Sometimes, they throw them to you. It's very important for us to do that. When you don't, you don't step outside the responsibility of the defense to try to create something that's not there and give up a big play. The priority in the pecking order is to get a stop first. If we can get a turnover as we do that, we definitely want to do that."

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


(carrollcountytimes.com)

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 17, 2001
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!

The #1 ranked Miami Hurricanes moved to 9-0 with a 59-0 victory over the #14 ranked Syracuse Orangemen before 52,896 fans
in the Orange Bowl !

QB Ken Dorsey completed just 13 of 20 passes for 224 yards...but for FOUR touchdowns !  Andre Johnson caught 4 passes for 116 yards and 2 TD's and Jeremy Shockey caught 3 passes for 33 yards...2 of them scores !  Frank Gore rushed 11 times for 153 yards and Clinton Portis gained 132 yards on 18 carries.

The defense was led by Phillip Buchanon's 76 yard interecption return for a touchdown and held the Orange offense to 185 total yards !

The victory set up a grudge rematch with the #12 Washington Huskies the following week in the Orange Bowl.  The Huskies had stopped Miami's 58 game win streak in 1994...but the Hurricanes would get revenge, with a 65-7 crushing victory !



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 !

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UM Sports Hall of Fame
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33146

So much for Devin Hester being sick: The Chicago Bears kick returner exited Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions early due to an illness, but he accomplished enough before leaving to be named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Week.

Hester has won three Player of the Week awards this season and 12 in his career, which puts him in a tie for 11th for most awards won since 1984 (Peyton Manning leads with 21).

Hester had an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown and compiled 122 punt return yards on three returns. And he entered the game under the weather and nursing an ankle injury.

Hester’s touchdown was the 17th kick return score of his career, extending an NFL record. The touchdown was the 18th return touchdown (12 punt, five kickoff, one missed field goal) of his career, second most in NFL history surpassing Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (17), trailing Hall of Famer Deion Sanders (19). Hester has reached the mark in 85 career games played while Woodson played in 238 and Sanders 188.

It was Hester's 12th Special Teams Player of the Week award and third of the season.

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


(chicagotribune.com)

Willis McGahee truly will be a game-time decision.

Because of the Broncos' short week of preparation for their home game against the Jets tonight, McGahee will take all the way through pregame warm-ups to decide whether his sore hamstring is healed enough for him to play.

McGahee, who was injured Sunday at Kansas City, was limited in the Broncos' two practices this week and is listed as questionable on the team's injury report.

"He's made a lot of progress," coach John Fox said. "We just follow the medical protocol, and did the things the medical people think is going to be in the best interest in getting him ready for game time."

The Broncos have two healthy running backs on the active roster: Lance Ball, who gained 96 yards on 30 carries against the Chiefs, and Jeremiah Johnson, who was signed off the practice squad Monday. McGahee is the only Denver player listed as questionable for tonight's game.

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


(denverpost.com)

MONDAY, DeSean Jackson told reporters at NovaCare that he understood why he was inactive for Sunday's loss to the Cardinals, and that he respected Eagles coach Andy Reid for the decision he made after Jackson missed a special-teams meeting Saturday morning.

Last night, the NFL Network aired excerpts from a Michael Irvin interview with Jackson, in which the former Cowboys wideout seems to go out of his way to imply something was fishy about the team's discipline, and to get Jackson to say something incendiary about the Eagles.

Jackson does a decent job of parrying, until he is asked whether it is the usual policy to not let someone play after missing the Saturday special-teams meeting.

"Honestly, I've never seen coach Reid do anything like that. I've never seen him bench anybody for missing a meeting," Jackson tells Irvin.

Earlier in the interview, Irvin asserts that Jackson was a little more than 20 minutes late for the meeting; the Eagles have said he missed it. Then Irvin seemingly tries to get Jackson to say his contract dispute was the reason he was deactivated.

"There is speculation and things have been reported that the decision not to play you was because of other things that have been happening," Irvin says. "What are your thoughts on that?"

"I don't think so," Jackson says. "Being late to a meeting is unacceptable, of course. I understand that, but I've never been a problem, never been a distraction. I just come to work and do my thing."

Asked whether he wanted to play, Jackson says: "Of course. I want to play every game."

On NFL.com, in a piece authored by Irvin about the interview, Irvin asserts that Jackson "admitted it had happened once before since he's been with the Eagles, but it wasn't a chronic issue. DeSean also said he'd seen other players miss or be late for meetings and they still played the following Sunday."

Later, Irvin writes this: "DeSean made a point of saying there have been rumors about the people he associates with away from the field as being one of the reasons the Eagles haven't committed to a new deal. But he pointed out he hasn't gotten in any trouble off the field, and has been active in the community."

More of the interview will air on NFL Network's "Thursday Night Kickoff" at 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Click here to order Michael Irvin’s proCane Rookie Card.


(philly.com)

Devin Hester has had several amazing performances in his six-year career with the Bears. He had touchdown returns in the Super Bowl, against the Packers, on primetime television, and in the moments when the Bears needed them most. But Sunday's 122-yard performance might be the most impressive because it puts him in the pantheon of other Chicago greats who have performed despite illness or injury.

During the Blackhawks Stanley Cup run, Duncan Keith lost seven teeth in game four of the Western Conference Final. He played through the pain to help the Blackhawks sweep the Sharks and eventually beat the Flyers to win the Stanley Cup. With the grueling schedule of the playoffs, he didn't have time to get his mouth fixed until after the season was over. Seeing Keith raise the Cup was a bit more touching when his gummy smile appeared behind the gleaming silver of the cup.

The Bulls were tied at two with the Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals. Playing in Salt Lake City, Karl Malone and John Stockton had a raucous crowd behind them. To make matters worse, Michael Jordan woke up the day before the game with a stomach virus. He was vomiting, nauseated and sweating profusely. He got out of bed just three hours before tip-off, dropped 38 points on Utah, then collapsed in Scottie Pippen's arms for the memorable image from the Bulls fifth championship.

Walter Payton missed just one game in his 13-year career with the Bears, and he wasn't going to let the flu keep him out of a game against NFC Central foe Minnesota on Nov. 20, 1977. Playing on a rainy, cold November day that makes most people want to stay in bed, Payton pulled out the best performance of his life. He ran for 275 yards and scored the only touchdown in a 10-7 win over the Vikings.

And then there was Hester on Sunday. Though he had battled the flu and an ankle injury all week, the Bears needed a win over the Lions to keep hope alive in a tight race for a playoff spot. He did exactly what Chicago needed him to do: Ignore the flu, ignore the injury, and run back a punt return 82 yards for a touchdown that sparked a dominating win by the Bears.

Chicagoans like to pride ourselves as the City of Big Shoulders, the kind of people who show up, do our job and make no excuses. Cold? Rain? Flu? CTA delays? Epic blizzard? That's nice. Get to work. It's no wonder, then, that our favorite athletes are the ones who exemplify that same excuses-be-damned work ethic.

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


(nbcchicago.com)

Almost exactly three years since Plaxico Burress' fateful mishap on Manhattan's social scene, several other Giants had a scary scrape there early Tuesday morning.

But The New York Times reports that WRs Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, DE Chris Canty and DBs Antrel Rolle and Aaron Ross are safe and sound after a man was fatally shot at the Juliet Supper Club.

Two other people were wounded, one seriously, by a lone gunman.

Cruz, who was there celebrating his 25th birthday, told the Associated Press that he hit the deck when the shooting started.

"I was just sitting there and you could hear it on the other side, the shots go off," he said. "The rest was just me on the ground and trying to get out of there."

Per its sources, The Times also says Chiefs T Branden Albert, Eagles S Jarrad Page and several NBA players were in attendance. None had any connection to the incident nor were nearby when it occurred.

Page was released by the Eagles on Wednesday, but the team says the nightclub incident is not the reason he was cut, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

The Giants players, believed to be celebrating Cruz's birthday, left together shortly after the shooting. All of them are practicing today.

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


(usatoday.com)

Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork isn’t having the kind of statistical year he usually does. Aside from his two highlight-reel interceptions, he has just 25 tackles along with his two sacks in a more attacking defense.

He’s taken some time to acclimate himself to 4-3 scheme. But Wilfork’s true importance comes in how he allows others to make plays. For teams who thrive running the ball— like the Chiefs on Monday night—they will have to double-team him. Everyone does.

That allows single-blocking on players like defensive ends Andre Carter and Mark Anderson, and the pair combined for five sacks on Sunday. That’s huge.

When Wilfork isn’t on the field, like one drive in the second quarter of the Jets game, replacements Kyle Love and Gerard Warren don’t draw two blockers. That affects the entire scheme.

In fact, the 6-foot-2, 325-pounder may be the most essential player on defense, and that will be the case against the Chiefs, too. Captain Jerod Mayo often gets free of blockers because of Wilfork’s shield.

Click here to order Vince Wilfork’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sportingnews.com)

One of the things you get from re-watching games is an idea of who has the good offensive schemes.

Most of them are -- as expected -- the top offenses in the league, with most of those offenses run by the head coach of the team. So for teams that might be looking for a head coach next January from the coordinators who actually run an offense, the pool will be limited.

Take a look at the top-10 offensive teams based on the rankings this week. They are in order: New Orleans, New England, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Dallas, Carolina, San Diego, Houston, Oakland and Pittsburgh. Of those teams, the only two where the head coach isn't involved in the offense is Carolina and Pittsburgh.

That's it. Some will say that isn't the case in New England, but we know better with Bill Belichick. He's as involved with that offense as any coach. Bill O'Brien is the coordinator, but Belichick and Brady have a lot of say in what happens on offense.

In Philadelphia, former Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg is the coordinator, and he does call the plays, but Andy Reid is an offensive coach who is heavily involved.

In Carolina, Rob Chudzinski runs the offense. In Pittsburgh, it's Bruce Arians. Those two have control of the play calling and the implementation of the offense. They are the only two in the top 10.

So both could be considered head-coaching candidates next spring, although there was once a movement in Pittsburgh to get Arians fired.

That leaves Chudzinski. He is in his first year running the Carolina offense and has it ranked fifth with a rookie quarterback in Cam Newton. Chudzinski's play calling is innovative and creative. He isn't afraid to take chances. This is his second stint as a coordinator after serving in that capacity in Cleveland from 2007-2008.

At 43, his time might be coming. What's even better for him is that it's coming at a time when the head coaches are running the good offenses in the league right now.

With so many head coaches handling their offenses, guys like Mike McCarthy (Green Bay), Sean Payton (New Orleans) and Jason Garrett (Dallas), Chudzinski might be one of the few choices for teams looking to liven up the offensive side of the ball.

Click here to order Rob Chudzinski’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

This Date In Hurricanes History…November 17, 2001
 
Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame!

WIDE RIGHT l
 

The November 16th No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown between Sunshine State rivals was described as "the most highly anticipated regular season clash" since the 1971 Nebraska-Oklahoma game.[3] Top-ranked Florida State entered the game with a 10-0 record and a quarterback, Casey Weldon, who was undefeated as a starter.[4] The Seminoles featured a high-flying offense that was averaging 41 points per game[2][5] (third in the nation in scoring) and had earlier in the season shocked the college football world by scoring 51 points in a blowout win over the then-No. 4 Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Meanwhile, second-ranked Miami had raced to an 8-0 record on the strength of a defense that was ranked first in the nation in scoring and had not allowed a first-half touchdown all season. The Hurricane defense had surrendered just 58 points all season, and Miami carried a 7-game winning streak against top-ranked opponents into the clash.[2] Miami was outscoring its opponents by an average of 28.9 points per game; Florida State, by 25.9. The Seminoles entered with a then-school record 16-game winning streak, while the Hurricanes had won 14 straight.[2] In the struggle between the proverbial unstoppable force and immovable object, host Florida State was installed as the favorite.

Wide Right I is the colloquial name for a 1991 college football game between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles. The game is one of the most significant in the history of the Miami – Florida State rivalry, and its name is a reference to its dramatic ending: With 29 seconds remaining in the game, Florida State kicker Gerry Thomas missed a 34-yard potential game-winning field goal "wide to the right." It was the 26th meeting between the first- and second-ranked teams in the AP Poll[2] and only the second between top-ranked teams from the same state (the other being the 1968 Purdue-Notre Dame game).

Miami's win represented the fourth time in five years that the Hurricanes knocked Florida State out of national championship contention.[2] The game was also the first of a peculiar string of five over the next 12 years in which Florida State lost to Miami due to a late missed field goal that would have won or tied the game, often with national championship implications at stake. Florida State suffered an immediate case of deja vu when kicker Dan Mowrey missed a field goal wide right on the final play of the 1992 meeting between the schools, a 19-16 Miami win known as "Wide Right II." In later years, two additional "Wide Rights" and a "Wide Left" ensued.



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 !

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New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton did not directly confirm the Times-Picayune's report that linebacker Jonathan Vilma had surgery to clean up his lingering left knee injury last week. But Payton did say that Vilma has been rehabbing the knee and that the best-case scenario is that he can return to the field in time for the Saints' next game against the New York Giants on Monday, Nov. 28.

Vilma did not play in the Saints' last two games after trying to fight through the unspecified injury for much of the season. He originally injured the knee in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.

"I'm hopeful," Payton said. "He's in rehab now, still getting treatment. The goal is to see where he's at (next week). An optimistic goal would be this game against New York. We'll go from there. I know just from seeing him all last week, he's doing well. And so I'm hopeful he can play in that game, and yet it's way too early to tell.

"I'd rather update you guys next week and not really get into detail right now. I know he's doing well. I know he hasn't really made mention to it, and I don't want to as well, especially during this bye week. But like I said last week, (the knee) just got to a point where it was just stagnant. We were hoping we'd see more progress, and I think we'll have a much better idea where he's at next week."

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


(nola.com)

While MLB Colin McCarthy played solidly in relief of injured starter Barrett Ruud (groin) in Sunday’s win against the Panthers, coach Mike Munchak said Ruud will remain the starter once he returns. McCarthy could still see significant playing time. Ruud will be re-evaluated this week. “Colin was already working in to several different packages,” Munchak said.


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


(fantasysp.com)

The Ravens, who are preparing for the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, confirmed in Wednesday’s injury report that inside linebacker Ray Lewis did indeed miss practice. Lewis, who was not reported to have suffered an injury in Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, was described as dealing with a foot injury.

It’s unclear how this injury will impact Lewis’ availability. Lewis has not missed a start since Dec. 30, 2007.

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(baltimoresun.com)

Vince Wilfork unloaded a minor Tom Brady bomb Wednesday morning on "The Dan Patrick Show."

The hefty defensive lineman has seen his star quarterback chop up opponents time and again, but there are moments in life -- tucked away at the Patriots' complex -- when "angry Tom" emerges.

And scares nobody.

"He can try to yell, but we laugh at him because he sounds funny," Wilfork said. 

"He's got a high-pitched voice when he yells, you know. It's totally different when he's talking, but when he starts yelling at folks -- it's quite amusing."

Somewhere, Mike Tyson feels listened to.

Click here to order Vince Wilfork’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Tom Coughlin says he may make a reference or show his team some footage of last year's meltdown against the Eagles sometime this week.

But Antrel Rolle says Coughlin shouldn't bother. This is a different season.

"I don’t give a [hoot] about that game last year," Rolle said. "Last year is last year. That don’t affect anything with us this year. If he wants to be reminded, he can be reminded."

Like Rolle, Coughlin said he is focused on this being a new year. But last year's loss could be a nice little motivational tactic for the head coach.

"I doubt we’ll talk about that," Coughlin said. "We may make reference to it or show a little tape from that. It’s a new year, a new season and we’ve been down, visited there, again."

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


(espn.com)

Ryan Braun’s Graffito is having a birthday party for its namesake Thursday.

The restaurant at 102 N. Water St., Milwaukee, will give a free piece of cake to every customer who buys an entree to celebrate the famous Milwaukee Brewer’s 28th birthday, according to an e-mail sent Wednesday afternoon.

Graffito, owned by SURG Restaurant Group, opened in April after the previous restaurant, Ryan Braun’s Waterfront, closed after less than a year in operation. Braun doesn’t have an ownership stake in the restaurant, but he had some input into the decor and menu and visited several times during the baseball season, often bringing teammates with him.


(bizjournals.com)

Oakland A’s Rookie of the Year candidate Jemile Weeks and Bishop O’Dowd High School graduate and former University of California pitcher Tyson Ross will join the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland for a holiday food and fund drive Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Beginning at 2 p.m., the first 150 people who make a minimum donation of 10 non-perishable food items or $20 will receive an autographed photo card from both the A’s second baseman and starting pitcher.

The Alameda County Community Food Bank expects record demand for emergency food assistance this winter and is requesting healthy, high-quality, non-perishable food items, including:
• Canned meats, fish and vegetables
• Pasta and sauce
• Low-sugar cereal
• Rice and beans
• Low-salt soups and stews
• Peanut butter

This food drive continues the A’s long-time partnership with the Alameda County Community Food Bank. During the 2011 season, the A’s collected more than $7,500 and 2,500 pounds of food as a part of Food Bank Wednesdays at the Oakland Coliseum. Started in 2007, this program asks fans to make a donation of five food items or $5 at Wednesday home games in exchange for a ticket voucher for a future A’s game.

For more information please visit www.accfb.org or www.oaklandathletics.com.

WHEN:    Wednesday, Nov. 30 beginning at 2 p.m.
WHERE:  Alameda County Community Food Bank  7900
Edgewater Drive
Oakland, CA 94621


(mlb.com)

Most football stars probably wouldn’t choose a ballroom of chattering socialites as the place to deliver their valedictory address. But then Clinton Portis was never your typical football star.

And for the past five or six years, he’s also been a happy outlier at Knock Out Abuse — one of the few men in regular attendance at the raucous girls-night-out gala. At the end of Thursday’s party, the running back — who was released by the Redskins in February — asked for a moment to speak.

“I love D.C.,” Portis said, “and I never really had a proper goodbye.”(Shhhussshh, ladies! We want to hear this!) He said he knew it was a business decision for the Redskins, no hard feelings. “Still my favorite team.” Portis said he hopes to play football somewhere else eventually, but “even if I do, a part of my heart is in this city.”

Aww, Clinton! That’s so sweet! Minutes earlier, of course, a naughtier Portis had been on display, as he took his clothes off (well, most of them) to encourage live-auction bidding on a dinner with CP himself at Café Milano. (Readers, it went for $6,000; part of the $541K raised overall for domestic violence prevention. Across town, at the men-only Fight Night, founder Joe Robert donated $5 million to children’s charities.) Later, we fought our way through a crowd of evening-gowned hotties swarming the gridiron hero to ask (dumb question?) what drew him to this party. “It’s a great event, and a good cause,” he said. “I’d come back every year.”



Click here to order Clinton Portis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(washingtonpost.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Jimmy Graham has emerged as the most dynamic tight end in the NFL this season, which is nothing short of remarkable considering the former college basketball standout played only one year of football in both high school and college before the Saints selected him late in the third round of the 2010 draft.

The 6-6, 260-pounder has been a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses with his rare combination of size, speed, athleticism and desire. But here's the even scarier thought for future foes:

If Graham is just now starting to tap into his potential, what will he look like when he's polished?

"He's going to be the best receiving tight end in the game before it's all said and done," predicted Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez, who currently holds that distinction.

Gonzalez should know a little about the subject matter, being a former college basketball player himself who was able to translate the best aspects of power and grace from the hardwood to the gridiron.

And although Graham won't turn 25 until later this month, he already has joined Gonzalez in an exclusive place in NFL history. They are the only two tight ends ever with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Gonzalez accomplished the feat in 2000. Graham matched it from Weeks 3-6 this season.

"I've had small talks with him, and he cares," Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "He's a dynamic player. He's explosive. He's real emotional. He gets into it. He gets it.

"He's going to be good for a long time to come."

Those same thoughts have been echoed by the offensive leaders in New Orleans, guys like head coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees, who have shown an enormous amount of trust in Graham despite his lack of experience.

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


(profootballweekly.com)

Willis McGahee was back at practice today for the Broncos, but the team's starting running back isn't a sure thing to play Thursday night against the New York Jets.

McGahee, who injured his left hamstring early in the Broncos' victory over Kansas City on Sunday, went through warm-ups and stretching but did not participate in individual drills in the portion of practice that was open to the media.

The team's only other running backs are Lance Ball, who would start if McGahee is unable to play, and Jeremiah Johnson, signed off the practice squad Monday.

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


(denverpost.com)

The 49ers proved they could win without running back Frank Gore in their 27-20 win over the Giants, but it doesn't appear they'll have to make the point again when they host the Cardinals on Sunday.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said he expects Gore to be able to play this week after he didn't finish the win over New York because of a knee injury. Gore had six carries for zero yards and took part in just one play in the second half.

In Gore's absence, rookie Kendall Hunter (six carries, 40 yards) had a 17-yard touchdown run, and Anthony Dixon had 10 yards on two carries. Dixon had four carries for 10 yards in the season's first eight games.

"I would plan on (Gore) playing, but you just feel like right now that we've got a stable of backs," Harbaugh said. "We've got Frank Gore. We've got Kendall Hunter. We've got fresh legs in Anthony Dixon. This bodes really well for our football team."

Given Gore's health status - and the 49ers' upcoming schedule - it's possible the Niners will use their full complement of backs against Arizona. San Francisco will visit the Ravens on Thanksgiving, four days after playing the Cardinals.

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


(sfgate.com)

Devin Hester didn't allow an ankle injury or an illness that had kept him out of practice all week stop him from producing another electrifying play Sunday at Soldier Field.

The All-Pro return specialist brought back a punt 82 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter, extending the Bears' lead to 20-0 en route to a 37-13 romp over the Lions.

"It gave us a big lift," said receiver Earl Bennett. "We preach a lot about special teams. Devin came out and gave us all he had with a sore ankle."

Hester's touchdown came after he circled back to catch Robert Malone's 60-yard punt over his shoulder. Hester dropped the ball, picked it up, stutter-stepped as a few tacklers approached and then dashed to his left, picking up blocks by Dom DeCicco, Craig Steltz and Nick Roach.

Hester then raced around Malone, tiptoeing along the sideline before cutting back and breaking a tackle attempt by linebacker Justin Durant at the 9.

Malone, who had just signed with the Lions this week to replace the injured Ryan Donahue, apparently wasn't trying to punt the ball to Hester.

"We tried to sideline that ball," said Detroit coach Jim Schwartz. "But have you ever played golf? You try hitting the fairway, don't you? Goes in the woods. You're going to make par on the 18th hole to win a major championship and yet you put it in the woods. It doesn't always go where you want."

With the touchdown, Hester extended two of his NFL records; he now has 17 combined kick return TDs and 14 punt return scores. He also became the top punt-returner in league history with a 12.96-yard average, surpassing Bears Hall of Famer George McAfee (12.78).

Hester exited the game in the second quarter with the illness that had bothered him during the week.

"He was a little under the weather," said coach Lovie Smith. "When you have a long return like that, that didn't help the case any either. But he'll come back ready to go."

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


(chicagobears.com)

Andre Johnson believes he will return from a hamstring injury in Week 12 against the Jaguars, following the Texans upcoming bye. The Texans wide receiver has not played since undergoing surgery after he was forced off the field in Week 4 against the Steelers.

On Tuesday, he seemed confident that he would be ready to return to the field, via HoustonTexans.com's Nick Scurfield. "I feel like I'm ready. Right now, I don't have any doubt that I'll be back on the field next Sunday," Johnson said.

The Texans could use Johnson on the field to help out quarterback Matt Leinart, who will take over for the injured Matt Schaub.

Click here to order AndreJohnson’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

Frank Gore was nearly on the ground when Jason Pierre-Paul, the New York Giants' 278-pound defensive end, rocked the San Francisco 49ers' running back with a clean, tough hit.

It was the sort of hit that is tough to anticipate, increasing vulnerability to injury. Gore got up, quickly located his backup on the sideline and signaled for Kendall Hunter to replace him.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Gore's knee injury does not appear to be serious. Barrows: "Gore was seen moving around Monday without a limp, and Jim Harbaugh said he thought the running back would be able to play Sunday against the Cardinals. Gore entered Sunday's game against the Giants with a sprained left ankle, then appeared to injure his right knee after a hard tackle by defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in the second quarter." Noted: Do the 49ers absolutely need Gore to win at home against the Cardinals? They might. No victories are gimmes. Still, if the 49ers can get away with significantly scaling back Gore's work or holding him out of the game entirely, that could serve them well for the remainder of the season. Gore lasted 11 games in 2010 before suffering a season-ending injury.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Gore told him he felt fine.

Also from Maiocco: Harbaugh says multiple 49ers assistants project as head coaching candidates. Noted: Harbaugh is making a concerted effort to promote selflessness among the 49ers. He regularly gives all credit to players. Players regularly deflect praise. Winning makes everyone happy.

Scott Kacsmar of Cold, Hard Football Facts breaks down the 49ers' victory over the Giants. Thanks for passing along, Scott.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says Alex Smith played Sunday with confidence he had not shown previously.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle quotes Harbaugh as saying there was nothing lucky about the play Justin Smith made to preserve the victory Sunday.

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


(espn.com)

ARCA Racing Series driver Tim George Jr. driving the RCR No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado in NCWTS season finale at Homestead.
In the 2011 ARCA Series, he earned his career-first victory at Pocono Raceway among eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. In the season's 19 races, he held an average starting position of 9.2 coupled with an average finishing position of 11.5. George has made two previous starts in the NCWTS, both at Phoenix International Raceway, posting finishes of 29th and 22nd in the 2009 and 2010 events, respectively.-Richard Childress Racing

(rotoworld.com)

The Jumbotrons installed as part of the Soldier Field makeover are becoming more than just visual aids for fans.

Credit stadium AV operators with having a sense of video “trash talking,” replaying the Devin Hester punt return for a touchdown during a late timeout, much to obvious irritation of Detroit Lions players waiting to resume play.

And Hester, by that time out of the game with some illness, may be the one benefiting most from the video screens situated at both ends of Soldier Field. While the poor Lions had to sit through a (for them) low-light moment, Hester not only enjoys the replays, but also makes use of the screens during his returns.

Check out Hester’s comments in an NFL Network interview, in which he says, "Once I get past the 50, my eyes go up to that Jumbotron. I'm watching to see who is chasing me and how far they are from me," Hester says.

And one more thing about Hester...

Bob Costas devoted his halftime essay on NBC’s broadcast of the Sunday night New England-NY Jets game to Hester, specifically adding his voice to those advocating Hester’s eventual inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bob notes that right now, kicker Jan Stenurud (Kansas City, Minnesota) is the only pure special-teamer in the Hall. Ray Guy has never had the support to become the first punter-only inducted.

When Hester’s eligibility occurs in the years after his retirement, the debate won’t involve his receiver skills or accomplishments (although those will help, just as being even a part-time position player will for the first designated hitter to make it from Major League Baseball.

“He'd make it for stuff like this,” Costas says over a video of a Hester kick return. “And when somebody's the best the game has ever seen at what they do, really, how can you keep him out?”

Answer: You can’t. One of the criteria for enshrinement is whether you were a dominant player in your era at your position or for the game. Hester dominant? Just ask any special-teams coach/coordinator who has schemed, usually unsuccessfully, to stop Hester.

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


(csnchicago.com)

The Washington Redskins have lost rookie wide receiver Leonard Hankerson for the remainder of the season after he suffered a subluxation of his right hip and a torn labrum in Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Dolphins.

Defensive end Kedric Golston, meanwhile, will miss an indefinite amount of time with torn ligaments in his knee. Both injuries were announced Monday by Coach Mike Shanahan.

Late in Sunday’s game, Hankerson made a 9-yard catch and, as he was tackled, his hip popped out of joint and then popped back into the socket. Hankerson had to be helped off the field, and painfully hobbled around the locker room following the game.

The injury ended a career-best eight-catch, 106-yard performance for Hankerson, the first Redskins rookie wide receiver to top the 100-yard mark since Rod Gardner achieved the feat in October of 2001.

Shanahan said Hankerson, who was placed on injured reserve, will see a specialist and then determine whether surgery is necessary. The coach expected a recovery time of roughly four months.

“He played a great game,” Shanahan said of Hankerson, whom the team drafted in the third round of last April’s draft. “He’s got a big upside, as we saw yesterday. I like the way he handles himself, like the way he works. It was a setback for him. He was devastated when he found out, but he’ll work through it.”

The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Hankerson rose quickly through the ranks of Washington’s receivers in the last four weeks. Inactive for the first five games of the season after a rocky preseason, he made his debut in Week 7 against Carolina, but didn’t record a catch. The next week, against Buffalo, Hankerson had a grab for 23 yards. Last week against San Francisco, Hankerson had four catches for 34 yards while making his first start. He started again against Miami and became the first Redskins wide receiver to top the 100-yard mark this season.

“Through the preseason, I saw a player who was pretty inconsistent. You’d see consistency in practice, but it didn’t carry over into games,” Shanahan said. “Then you saw a guy, who as he grew, he was becoming a pro player, a player who was a lot more serious. The way he practiced on a day-to-day basis, you could see a light went on, and you could see his competitiveness as he ran the scout team against our players, which gave him the opportunity to start and earn a position. And then you could see with the way he played yesterday, when he caught the football, he’d turn upfield, and how he reached up and caught some big-time balls. That’s what you’re looking for.”

Hankerson now joins running back Tim Hightower (torn ACL), left guard Kory Lichtensteiger (torn ACL), tight end Chris Cooley (knee), fellow rookie Jarvis Jenkins (torn ACL) and cornerback Phillip Buchanon (knee, neck) on the injured reserve list.

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


(washingtonpost.com)

CHICAGO -- Devin Hester refused to speak with reporters on his way out of the Bears locker room, but his teammates had plenty to say about the return man's effort in the 37-13 win over the Lions.

"That dude is a monster man, he's like the [Michael] Jordan of football," Bears defensive tackle Anthony Adams said.

"That guy is amazing," receiver Earl Bennett added. "It doesn't get any better when it comes to the return game. He's one of those guys that can take it to the house at any time. He came out here and gave us everything he had on that sore ankle."

The Bears listed Hester as questionable on the official injury report heading into Sunday, but the only thing questionable was Detroit's decision to kick to football to the NFL's all-time leader in returns for touchdowns. Hester returned three punts for 122 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown that put the Bears up 20-0 in the second quarter.

“Devin Hester missed all of last week, a little under the weather also, along with an ankle injury," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said. "We felt like he could go. I’ve had a great seat to watch every return he’s had and he’s had a lot of great ones. Gutsy effort by him tonight. Special teams, I thought played well throughout."

Hester had to leave the game with just under 4:00 remaining in the first half, but it expected to be available when the Bears host San Diego next weekend.

“Again, he was a little under the weather," Smith said."He didn’t get a chance to practice a lot last week. I think the combination of all that, then early, when you have a long return, that didn’t help the case any either. He’ll come back ready to go.”

This marked Hester's 12th career punt return touchdown and 17th career kick return touchdown. Coupled with his 108-yard missed field goal return versus the Giants in 2006, Hester now has 18 return touchdowns in his career, one behind Hall of Famer Deion Sanders who accomplished the feat in 188 career games.

Hester had played in just 85 games, and the Bears are now 13-3 in which Hester records a return touchdown.

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


(espn.com)

Jimmy Graham caught seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons in Week 10.

Graham killed two drives with drops early on, but made up for it by hurdling safety Thomas DeCoud for a 21-yard touchdown. Graham was Drew Brees' favorite receiver, drawing a team-high 12 targets. Fantasy's No. 1 tight end is averaging 6.2 catches and 87.3 yards per game heading into the Week 11 bye.

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


(rotoworld.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey had an MRI Monday to determine the extent of an injury he suffered early in the game against Tennessee Sunday that limited his participation.

Shockey was injured on the Panthers' first offensive series. He returned briefly but was limited by what coach Ron Rivera called an injury to his side.

"He got bumped up pretty good," Rivera said.

"It's tough to lose a guy like that on the first play. It's kind of a scary thing. He tried to come back and do the best he could. It got the best of him. He went out there and was a warrior as far as I was concerned. He tried to contribute and did the best he could."

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


(charlotteobserver.com)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Chicago PR/WR Devin Hester. Here's what Hester said on the NFL Network's GameDay Morning show Sunday: "I don't know what it's going to take for a returner to get voted in the Hall of Fame, but I'm going to make sure that it'll be a hard decision to pass me up. There's a first for everything: I want to be the first." Hester's 82-yard, sideline-tiptoe punt return for touchdown in one of the late games gave the Bears a commanding 20-0 lead and put them in the Wild-Card driver's seat at 6-3.

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


(cnnsi.com)

Santana Moss (hand) has been ruled out for Week 11, but could possibly return for Week 12.

Moss was forecasted to miss 5-7 weeks after going down in Week 7, but the Redskins appear to have a renewed urgency to get him back on the field after losing rookie wideout Leonard Hankerson for the season. A better idea of when Moss will return should emerge early next week, but for now consider him unlikely to play in Week 12.

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


(rotoworld.com)

The 49ers didn’t get a lot out of Frank Gore in their win over the Giants on Sunday, but they expect their top running back to play against Arizona.

Gore carried the ball six times for zero yards in the first half and then spent most of the second half on the sideline after injuring his right knee. Gore has also been battling an ankle injury for a few weeks, which meant Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon carried the load while he was out of the game. Hunter had a 17-yard touchdown run, but the Niners mostly relied on Alex Smith’s arm to beat the Giants.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that he plans on playing Gore in Week 11, but also hinted that there is an MRI in the running back’s future to rule out any serious damage to the knee.

“He’ll get it checked on, yeah,” Harbaugh said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Spare no expense checking on Frank.”

While the 49ers would obviously like a full strength Gore in the backfield, Sunday’s win proved to them that they can succeed offensively when they don’t get a big game from the tailback. Gore’s five-game streak of 100-plus rushing yards came to an end, but San Francisco extended their winning streak to seven games anyway.

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


(profootballtalk.com)

The Denver Broncos released a bit of encouraging news on Monday. According to Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post, the team released a hypothetical injury report, as required by the NFL, and included running back Willis McGahee as a limited participant had there been practice.

McGahee had injured his hamstring after just four rushes in Sunday's 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been cleared to practice on Tuesday, and should things go all right, he is expected to start on Thursday night against the New York Jets.

McGahee will have a new backup in Lance Ball since Knowshon Moreno was lost for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Jeremiah Johnson joined the active roster for the second time this season after the Broncos took him from the practice squad. Johnson had joined the team for Week 2's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals but did not see any playing time.

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


(sbnation.com)

Did you know that a former Miami Hurricane/current proCane has scored at least one touchdown in 149 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 661 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 10 2011:
Jimmy Graham - 1 TD - New Orleans Saints
Devin Hester - 1 TD - Chicago Bears

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...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Even before he stepped on the field for his first NFL start, rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy had impressed his teammates. He did it with his words then with his play in a 30-3 win over the Panthers.

McCarthy started in place of injured middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, and finished with a team-leading eight tackles, including a five-yard stop for a loss.

“He did fantastic,” defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said. “If you are a (middle) linebacker you have to be all over the field. You can’t think of yourself as a rookie. He did a really solid job.”

McCarthy missed the last three games after suffering a hamstring injury on Oct. 9 against the Steelers. But when Ruud suffered a groin injury against the Bengals, the Titans quickly tried to get McCarthy up to speed.

Up until Sunday, McCarthy played primarily on special teams. Prior to kickoff, he gathered his defensive teammates and told them they could count on him. Turns out he was right.

“He was monstrous,” cornerback Cortland Finnegan said.

The fourth-round pick out of Miami made the defensive calls and stayed on the field most of the game.

“I just wanted to tell the guys that I had prepared, and they could count on me,” he said. “So they were confident in me, and we could then just go out there and play football. In the beginning I missed a tackle here and there. But once I started feeling comfortable, I was able to make plays. And as a defense everyone made plays.”

After the game, McCarthy was the last player to leave the locker room. He admitted he was sore.

“Barrett has been playing great. He is great to learn from, I think that is the biggest thing,” McCarthy said. “I’m just glad I was ready when my number was called.”

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


(tennessean.com)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Despite the loss, Leonard Hankerson will always remember Sunday’s game.

The rookie didn’t just post a career high in receptions and receiving yards against the Miami Dolphins, but he also returned home for the first time since being selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

“It was very special to go out there and play in front of my family in the stadium that I’ve been playing in for the last three years,” Hankerson said. “It was special to have my family come out there and see me.”

The Fort Lauderdale native, who spent four years at the University of Miami, had about 50 of his closest friends and family members scattered around Sun Life Stadium during Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Dolphins.

Hankerson treated them to quite the performance.

In his second career start, he led the Redskins with eight catches for 106 yards before leaving because of a right hip strain late in the fourth quarter. After the game, he said his hip was “a little sore,” and he didn’t know if it would force him to miss any time.

However, he was on the field just long enough to become the first Redskins rookie wide receiver to accumulate more than 100 receiving yards in a game since Rod Gardner did it on Oct. 21, 2001.

“It just felt good to contribute to the team and know that I’m capable of making plays,” Hankerson said.

Two of the most impressive aspects of Hankerson’s performance are that his eight catches came on just nine chances, and he accounted for nearly 50 percent of Washington’s passing offense.

These types of stats wouldn’t have been possible for him earlier in the season, as he struggled to find playing time. But after impressing teammates and coaches in practice over the past couple of weeks, Hankerson has found a spot in Washington’s offense.

After not seeing the field in the Redskins‘ first five games of the year, the 6-foot-2 wide receiver has caught at least one pass in the past three contests and made his first career start last Sunday against San Francisco.

“[My comfort level in the offense is] growing a whole lot,” he said, “because, being on scout team and then going to get reps with the first-team offense, it’s helping me get more confidence to go out there and do what I have to do.”

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


(washingtonpost.com)

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears kept receiver/return man Devin Hester (ankle) off the team's inactive list for Sunday's NFC North clash with the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field and were rewarded when he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of their 37-13 win.

Hester left the field in the first half and did not return due to illness. He also returned a first-quarter punt 29 yards to set up a Matt Forte touchdown and had a 35-yard return negated by a penalty.

Hester's availability was in question this week after the receiver sustained a sprained ankle in Chicago's win over the Eagles. The Bears listed Hester on the injury report as questionable after he missed practice all week only to fight through a bout with illness that seemed to further jeopardize his availability.

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


(espn.com)

Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell recorded the first interception of his four-year career late in the third quarter.

It was a key play because the Eagles were at the Cardinals 18-yard line. Quarterback Michael Vick intended the ball to go to running back LeSean McCoy but it went straight to Campbell's mid-section.

"I was first thinking that I just wanted to knock the ball down," Campbell said. "I jumped, and the ball came right into my arms."

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


(azcentral.com)

Michael David Smith is reporting on ProFootballTalk.com that New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle has been fined $5,000 from the NFL for wearing a University if Miami logo on his eyeblack.

The logo is clearly seen in the inset of the Getty Images photo posted above.

The NFL has strict regulations about players altering approved uniforms or posting personal messages or symbols on them.

Rolle played for the Hurricanes from 2001 to 2004 and was a consensus All American in his final season.

He was drafted in the first round (eighth overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rolle signed with the Giants in 2010.

Click here to see a photo of Antrel Wearing the eyeblack.

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


(sun-sentinel.com)

Detroit tackle Jason Fox said he injured his right knee during Thursday's practice, which is why he was placed on injured reserve.

Fox injured his left knee in college, but sustained an injury to the right knee this week. He expects to have surgery, but said it has not been scheduled yet.

"It happened over time, but it was something that happened yesterday that was kind of the last straw," Fox said. "As a team, we felt it was best to get it taken care of right now."

Fox, a fourth-round draft pick out of Miami (Fla.) in 2010, sustained a foot injury prior to this season and had not played this year.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Fox does not need reconstructive knee surgery, but would not reveal details of the injury.

"Probably something that will be better taken care of sooner rather than later," Schwartz said. "It's really yet to be seen what is going to be done, but he was able to finish practice (on Thursday). By being able to get it (surgery) done, it gives him a good chance to get started on the offseason.

"He's been inactive since he came back from the other injury. Unfortunately, he's been injured a good portion of his first two years. Hopefully we can get this behind him."

Click here to order Jason Fox’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mlive.com)

Despite earlier denials by the club, a league source confirmed Sunday that New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has had knee surgery. Vilma was inactive again Sunday in the Saints 26-23 overtime victory over Atlanta.

The injury had clearly bothered Vilma for weeks. He was inactive for the Houston Texans in week three and had diminished on-field effectiveness in subsequent games. It also led to the Saints making Vilma inactive last week against Tampa Bay.

There had been considerable speculation about Vilma's status since he has not only missed several practices but was also unable to attend his foundation's annual fundraising dinner at Morton's last week.

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


(nola.com)

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has been a key cog in the team's offense all season long, but staying healthy has been one of the player's biggest issues. That issue has cropped up again while the Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, as the running back left the game after sustaining a left leg injury.

According to the Broncos' official Twitter feed, McGahee's sustained a hamstring injury. It's worth noting that this isn't the same injury that kept McGahee from playing a few weeks ago while he recovered from hand surgery. The 30-year-old didn't play as the Broncos got crushed by Denver in Week 8, but he looked totally healthy while running for 163 yards on 20 carries against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9.

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


(sbnation.com)

With a season low 3 catches for 13 yards, Reggie Wayne was still able tosurpass Larry Centers for 19th-most catches in NFL history. Wayne now has 828 career receptions.



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

Carolina was an ideal landing spot for Jeremy Shockey, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million to join the Panthers after being cut by the Saints in the offseason. It reunited him with the coach who played a critical role in his development at the University of Miami, ex-Hurricanes assistant and current Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. It also paired him with another former Hurricanes tight end, Greg Olsen. Olsen, who is five years younger than Shockey, signed a long-term extension with the Panthers after being traded from the Bears in the offseason and clearly has established himself as the team's top pass-catching tight end, but Shockey has embraced his role, played it well and stayed relatively healthy. Shockey, 31, has made it clear that he would like to sign an extension to stay with the Panthers. Carolina would likely consider bringing him back on another short-term deal, but it's expected there won't be serious contract talks until the offseason.

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


(profootballtalk.com)

Calais Campbell is coming off one of his best games of the season, but even the defensive end himself admitted, “A lot of times I didn’t play as well as I could have. I feel like I could play so much better.”

Campbell has a team-high five sacks, although it’s worth noting 4.5 of those came in two games, against the Seahawks and the Rams. That said, the 25-year-old has been playing good football, getting quarterback pressures and blocking field goals. While both he and the coaches want to see him up his game, his effort can’t be lost. Campbell can’t be lost either. That’s why Campbell’s contract — which runs out after the season — will only gather steam as a topic.

General manager Rod Graves said earlier this season the team wants to address it, although Campbell — below pictured doing his “home run” sack celebration — said Thursday “we haven’t really started talking to anybody yet, so I’m just trying to play football.”

Campbell’s defensive linemate, Darnell Dockett, was acting as Campbell’s PR firm Thursday. “We need to (re-sign him), and I trust Rod Graves and the organization, they’ll do right by Calais,” Dockett said. “He’s young and is a good leader. He’s only got upside. I don’t think he’s fully developed into his body, to be honest. Another 10 pounds, that dude will be walking around like a gorilla around here.”

Campbell reiterated his contract is something he can’t control. Talking to him, it’s certainly not something that seems to be weighing on him. Asked if he wants to get something done before the end of the season, Campbell admitted “I don’t know what the best scenario is.” Free agency is attractive, although Campbell would probably be the Cards’ top candidate for the franchise tag, if it came to that. (A quick aside: In my opinion, I don’t think it will.)

Dockett, who signed his own extension in 2010, doesn’t want Campbell or anyone of that ilk to go anywhere.

“When you are trying to develop a championship team, you can’t just let guys leak out of here,” Dockett said. “We are trying to get back to the Super Bowl and be a powerhouse team, we can’t just work together, we also have to have the guys here, the weapons to get that done.”

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


(azcardinals.com)