Linebacker Sean Spence donned pads and joined his teammates in practice for the first time since that terrible Aug. 30, 2012, preseason game at Heinz Field when it looked as though his football career ended before it could really start.

"We'll take it day by day," said Spence, who came off the physically unable to perform list. "I'm not going to try to look into the future, I just want to master each day."

Spence looked like a rookie with a good future, impressing everyone with his play through the 2012 preseason after the Steelers drafted him in the third round from Miami.

But in that fourth preseason game, his left knee was damaged nearly beyond repair. The anterior collateral and lateral collateral ligaments were torn, the kneecap was dislocated and, most importantly, the peroneal nerve that helps control movement down to the foot was damaged.

The nerve could not be repaired; they had to hope it would heal itself. So far, so good, said Spence, who believes in pulling off the miracle that linebackers coach Keith Butler said would allow him to play again.

"I do. But we'll see. I still have a couple more steps to make."

The Steelers have three weeks to observe him in practice before NFL rules force them to decide to keep him on the 53-man roster, put him on injured reserve for the rest of the season or waive him.


(postgazette.com)

Browns running back Willis McGahee, who went from his couch to the top of the depth chart not long after Trent Richardson was traded to Indianapolis, has become one of the few bright spots in the post-Hoyer offense.

McGahee’s availability for Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Packers suddenly is in some doubt.

The veteran tailback, who didn’t appear on the Wednesday injury report, missed practice on Thursday with a knee injury.

McGahee has 164 yards rushing in four games with the Browns, but his per-carry average is at a mere 2.8 yards.

The good news for the Browns is that linebacker Jabaal Sheard, out since Week Three with a knee injury, fully participated in practice each of the last two days.  He has 1.5 sacks in three 2013 appearances.


(nbcsports.com)

It’s been awhile since I’ve interviewed some of our local celebs who are “style broker certified.” But I’m back with a stylish, young chap who is not only humble, but he possesses that classic, boy-next-door charm that will get him far in his career.

The newest addition to the Style File roster is rookie cornerback for the St. Louis Rams, Brandon McGee. He’s not only a good addition to the Rams organization, he’s eager to be an overall household brand name.

Coming from humble beginnings, Brandon knows what it takes to make it in today’s media-saturated society, and he’s conscious of his privilege to be a part of a professional football organization. He was picked in the 5th round and 149th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.

He’s not your average, cliché ball player. He has an overall laidback style and prefers to be at home compared to the club. Peep the file and get familiar with the dude.


(stlamerica.com)

ENGLEWOOD — It looks like Peyton Manning will have to attend his homecoming at Indianapolis on Sunday without the two massive tackles he started the season with.

The Broncos are holding out hope that right tackle Orlando Franklin, who sprained his left knee and ankle Sunday, won't be sidelined for an extended time like All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady, who landed on IR last month with a foot injury.

Coach John Fox provided no updates on Franklin, who went for an MRI exam Monday, or defensive lineman Sylvester Williams (neck).

At the very least, it looks like Franklin will miss the Colts game, however.

He limped through the locker room Monday with a walking boot on his left foot when he came out of the meeting room and was holding crutches, but not using them. He needed a cane to hobble out of the stadium Sunday night after Denver's 35-19 won over Jacksonville.

Franklin got hurt early in the third quarter when he was caught in the pile on Knowshon Moreno's first of three touchdown runs.

It's been a difficult year for the men who protect Manning.

The Broncos (6-0) lost centers J.D. Walton and Dan Koppen to injuries last summer, leaving the job to Manny Ramirez, who had never started at center before this season and who's still working out the kinks. His two bad exchanges with Manning on Sunday were both recovered by the Jaguars (0-6).

After Franklin got hurt with 12:16 left in the third quarter, Chris Kuper came in at right guard and Louis Vasquez moved to right tackle for the first time in his career.

Franklin's absence affected the play calling of offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Manning, although Denver had two touchdown drives capped by Moreno runs behind the makeshift offensive line.

"I thought Adam did a good job calling plays with Vasquez," Manning said. "I'm not sure he's ever played right tackle before. It kind of changes the way I think about audibles and things like that when you've got a new right tackle."

Despite the revolving door of offensive linemen, Manning has been sacked only five times, the fewest in the league for any QB who's started all his team's games.

For however long it lasts, Franklin's absence could have a big impact on the Broncos, whose 265 points are the most by a team through six games in league history.

They could stick with Kuper-Vasquez again on the right side or they could move Vasquez back to right guard, where he's started all 60 of his career games, and insert eighth-year pro Winston Justice, who was inactive Sunday, at right tackle.

Justice, who started 13 games for the Colts last season and signed as a free agent with Denver after Clady got hurt in Week 2, has quickly gotten up to speed and could step in Sunday if needed, Fox said.

"He's had plenty of time to learn our verbiage and our offense," said Fox.

Franklin has started all 44 games, including playoffs, since the Broncos made him a second-round pick in 2011 out of Miami.


(gazette.com)

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma appears to be one step closer to playing for the Saints again as he said via Twitter on Thursday that he will be allowed to practice with the team starting Monday.

Vilma said via Twitter, "Sean says I'm allowed to practice Mon!! After Mon it's the cliché "one day at a time."

Saints coach Sean Payton said last week he was optimistic Vilma could return to the practice field Monday for the first time since having another knee surgery during training camp.

Vilma remains on injured reserve/designated to return, but the Saints defender became eligible to practice with the team after Week 6. The Saints aren't practicing this week because of the bye week, so Vilma's first chance at hitting the practice field would be Monday.

Vilma would also be eligible to come off injured reserve and play in games in Week 9 at the New York Jets.


(nola.com)

MIAMI — Nearly six years ago, All-Pro safety Sean Taylor was at home nursing an injury instead of taking the field with his Washington Redskins teammates for a road game at Tampa. Unfortunately, a group of young men from southwest Florida apparently didn't know that.

Prosecutors say the suspects drove across the state intending to burglarize Taylor's Miami-area home, confident he wouldn't be there. When the 6-foot-2, 230-pound player — well known as a ferocious hitter — confronted them with a machete early on Nov. 26, 2007, Eric Rivera Jr. allegedly fired two shots. One missed. The other hit Taylor in the upper leg, causing massive blood loss that led to his death a day later at age 24.

Finally, after numerous delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday for Rivera's first-degree murder trial. Because Rivera, now 23, was only 17 at the time of the crime, he faces life in prison instead of the death penalty if convicted. Jury selection is expected to take about four days.

Four other people were also charged in the case. One of them, Venjah Hunte, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges and is expected to testify against Rivera. The other three are scheduled to go to trial later on lesser charges. Hunte's plea deal calls for a 29-year prison term instead of life.

Although Taylor had some run-ins with the law and been fined several times by the NFL for various rules violations, his future seemed extremely bright before he was killed. The son of Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor and an All-American player at the University of Miami, the Redskins drafted Taylor with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 draft and he signed an $18 million contract.

Taylor quickly became a starter and was nicknamed "Meast" by teammates — a combination of man and beast — because of his hard-hitting style. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2006 season and was also very popular among Redskins players and fans. One of his best friends, wide receiver Santana Moss, said he still says "a little prayer" for Taylor every time he takes the field.

"I have a few people that have passed away in my life as friends that have meant something to me, and I'm always constantly speaking to them. That's just something I do. He's one of those guys," Moss said.

The Redskins contributed $500,000 to a fund for Taylor's young daughter after he died and, in the first game after his slaying, the team's defense took the field against Buffalo with only 10 players on the first play — leaving Taylor's free safety position vacant to honor him. Fans at that game got towels bearing his number, 21.

To many fans, players and others connected with both the Redskins and the "U" at Miami, it was heartbreaking to see such a talented player's life and career cut short so brutally.

"He was a young man who was learning quickly how to be a great human being, and, to me, he was the best football player I've ever seen in person," said former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, a nine-year veteran who now does broadcasts for the team. "He was the most physical, the most gifted, the hardest-working guy that I've been around, and it was such an unfortunate thing."

Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, now a NASCAR racing team owner, said Taylor began to mature and take a leadership role on the team after the birth of his daughter.

"It wound up being a true tragedy and it had a huge effect on all of us," Gibbs said of Taylor's killing. "He was one of those guys that with the way he played and his persona the way he was, he was a natural leader. You could see guys look to him from a leadership standpoint."

The fatal attempted burglary was not the first time there was a break-in at Taylor's home.

Police say someone pried open a window a few days earlier, on Nov. 17, and rifled through a desk and other belongings. No one was home that time, and it's not clear exactly what, if anything, was taken.

Then came the weekend after Thanksgiving with the Redskins playing the Buccaneers that Sunday. Taylor was given permission to stay home with a knee injury, along with his girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, and their 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie.

Police say two of the men charged had connections to Taylor: Jason Scott Mitchell had cut Taylor's lawn and an older cousin of suspect Charles Wardlow had dated Taylor's sister. Family members also said Mitchell had recently been at a birthday party at Taylor's house, where Taylor was known to keep large amounts of cash.

Miami-Dade County's former police director, Robert Parker, said the defendants were surprised to find Taylor home early that Monday morning.

"They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone," Parker said. "They were expecting a residence that was not occupied."

Authorities say they have obtained confessions from at least some of the suspects, all from the Fort Myers area, but pretrial hearings on whether those statements will be allowed in Rivera's trial were closed by Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy. The judge also imposed a gag order on prosecutors and defense attorneys in hopes of limiting pretrial news media coverage that could make jury selection difficult.

The murder weapon has never been found. Prosecutors say it was thrown into the Everglades after the slaying while the group drove home across Alligator Alley.

There have already been at least seven previous trial dates set for Rivera. Cooley, for one, said it's time for justice to be done.

"Breaking into someone's home, into their personal safety blanket and shooting them in that environment is the most heinous, unthinkable crime that could have happened to a guy like Sean. It's despicable," Cooley said.


(kentucky.com)

The Titans rank second in the NFL in turnover differential and a key to their success has been their ability to force fumbles: Tennessee is tied for fourth in the league in fumbles caused (11) and recovered (7).

Their success at stripping the ball has caught the attention of Jim Harbaugh in advance of the 49ers’ visit to Nashville on Sunday.

“They’re the best we’ve seen at clubbing, punching, stripping, lawn-mowering, just lodging it out from opponents,” Harbaugh told the Tennessee media. “It’s always a critical thing to our well-being to have ball security and not turn the ball over. It’s emphasized weekly, daily, but, yes, this week we have to emphasize it even more.”

On Sunday, running back Frank Gore figures to test Tennessee’s ability to club, punch, strip and, yes, lawn-mower. In 103 carries this season, Gore has lost just one fumble. That came when he had the ball punched out from behind by Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree at the end of a 13-yard run in Week 4.

That was a lost fumble on the stat sheet. In Harbaugh’s parlance, however, letting your guard down and allowing a defender to force a fumble is, well … let’s just have Jim explain: “When that happens to Frank, you’re not going to sneak up on Frank again and hit him over the head with a bag of dung a second time.”
Based on recent history, Harbaugh is correct: Gore was walloped upside the helmet with a sack of stinky stuff (read: lost a fumble) just once in 2012.

In fact, Gore, who was known as a fumbler early in his career, has become quite sure-handed. His only lost fumble last year – in a Week 3 loss at Minnesota – snapped a career-best streak in which he hadn’t lost a fumble in 255 touches.

In the past, Harbaugh has credited running backs coach Tom Rathman for teaching proper ball-carrying fundamentals, saying he does “as good a job any of us have ever seen done in that regard.”

The numbers suggest Rathman knows what he’s doing.

In his first four seasons, Gore averaged a fumble every 61.7 offensive touches (18 in 1,111). Since Rathman joined the staff in 2009, Gore has averaged a fumble every 94.1 touches (13 in 1,223). Similarly, Rathman appears to have helped cure Kendall Hunter’s college case of fumbleitis. Hunter, who had 10 fumbles at Oklahoma State, has one fumble in 241 offensive touches in his NFL career.

Gore and Hunter’s ability to hold onto the ball figures to be tested against the Titans, who are adept at lawn-mowering, perhaps the second-best offering from Harbaugh’s lexicon this week.

“(Securing the ball is) always a special point of emphasis, always something that is vital, critical to a team’s well-being,” Harbaugh said. “… If it’s 10 out of 10 every week, it’s 11 out of 10 this week. It’s very important.”


(sfgate.com)

All that’s missing, implied Reggie Wayne, were clowns and parading elephants and the sound of a kaleidoscope in the background as the media encircled his cubicle in the Colts locker room.

“It’s like Ringling Bros., man,” Wayne said. “Y’all turning this into a circus.”

It’s Peyton Manning Week. The return to where it all began in April 1998 — and ended in March 2012 — for the NFL’s only four-time Most Valuable Player and the most decorated and revered player in the Colts’ 30-year history in Indianapolis.

Wayne, not nearly as loquacious as is his norm, shrugged. Often.

“It’ll be just like any other game. No different,” he said of the return of the quarterback who threw the ball on 779 of his 1,001 catches. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you.

“We see it as another game. You guys see it a little bit different. It’s another game, man.”

But it’s a reunion of epic proportions. The team will honor Manning’s return with a ceremony prior to kickoff. Former standouts and Ring of Honor inductees Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James are expected to participate. A video tribute has been produced.

The extent of Manning’s involvement, if any considering he always has been adamant about sticking to his pre-game routine, remains to be seen.

“That’s Peyton’s deal,” Wayne said. “I hope I’m in the locker room. I want to be in the locker room.”

Wayne and Manning formed a close bondduring their 11 years together and Wayne said they still talk and text. “It’s not like I hadn’t spoken to him since he’s left,” Wayne added.

Throughout his 10-minute session with the media, Wayne expressed his appreciation of and affection for his former quarterback. But he refused to dive in headfirst when the line of questioning inevitably found itself back to Manning’s return.

What is the atmosphere going to be like Sunday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium?

“You’ve got to ask people in the stands,’’ Wayne said. “(With) all the pub and the media, yeah, it’s going to be different. I don’t see this many people unless it’s a playoff game.”

Will it be awkward facing your friend and former teammate?

“It’s not awkward for me at all. It doesn’t change my intensity,” Wayne said. “The awkward part is with people in the stands. That’s for them.

“I go through this every week. There’s somebody I play every week that I used to play with. Am I grateful for having him as a teammate? Absolutely. We’ve done a lot together. But I did a lot of stuff with Edgerrin James, and we played against him. I did a lot of stuff with Mike Peterson, and we played against him.”

As unique as the reunion is, it — as Wayne notes — is one tailored more to the Colts as an organization and the city of Indianapolis than the teammates Manning left behind. Only 13 players on the Colts’ 53-man active roster actually were teammates of Manning.

“My first time playing against him and I’ve never met him,” cornerback Vontae Davis said. “It’s a game. That’s how I look at it.”

Greg Toler faced Manning in 2009 while he was a cornerback with the Arizona Cardinals, and met him during a recent offseason.

“At Larry Fitzgerald’s camp or Donald Driver’s camp,” Toler said. “But, no, I don’t have any emotional ties at all. I understand how it might be (more) with Reggie or a few other guys. Over the years they had some ups and down. This week it’s like they’ll be playing against a brother. And Robert (Mathis) as well having a chance to tackle Peyton.

“Maybe it’s an emotional roller coaster for some, but it’s just football.I’ll pay homage. He’s a great player. You can’t take anything away from what he’s done. You pay your respects and move on.”


(thestarpress.com)

Today was the day linebacker Sean Spence has waited over a year for, the chance to finally get back on the football field with his teammates.

Spence suffered a severe knee injury during the 2012 preseason, missing the entire year and spending the first six weeks of this season on the physically unable to perform list. But after uncountable hours of rehabilitation, Spence was back at it, taking part in individual drills during Wednesday’s practice in the team’s indoor practice facility.  He still hasn’t faced full contact, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“It felt good,” said Spence after practice. “It held up pretty solid. I have to look at the film to get a better diagnosis of it and continue to build. But it’s exciting, very exciting.”

Spence began running full speed several months ago, and has seen gradual improvement since the start of the season. This is the first he was eligible to practice according to NFL rules regarding the PUP list, and he anxiously awaited the day.

“I feel like I am blessed,” said Spence. “I have the opportunity and I am looking forward to it. I thought it was last week (I could practice), but they told me after week six. I jumped the gun but I knew in due time.”

He is permitted to practice for three weeks before the team must make a decision to activate him, put him on injured reserve or waive him. Spence is hoping to have the opportunity to play this season, but said he isn’t making any guarantees, just waiting to see how things go. The next step will be gaining trust in the knee.

“That is going to be the biggest thing,” said Spence. “When you are on the field there is no thinking. When you are rehabbing you have certain landmarks, but when it comes down to playing ball, you just have to go play.

“It’s a big step, but I am looking forward to the challenge. I am just happy and blessed I have this opportunity.”

Many didn’t think he would ever have the chance to play again, as the injury was that gruesome, so much so he only looked at pictures of it a few months ago.

“I never wanted to watch it but I had to relive it,” said Spence. “It was bad. I couldn’t believe my body made that movement, but things happen. I think it made my mental strength better. Being away from the team, not being able to do certain activities, but I am happy it’s over.”


(steelers.com)

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians sounded optimistic that defensive end Calais Campbell, who is recovering from what the coach labeled a "bruised spine," will be able to play Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

"He looks like he is cleared to play," Arians said during his weekly segment on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday night. "He is fine. He bounced back into the team meeting room [Monday morning], and the guys all jumped up and were excited to see him."

Campbell was limited in Tuesday's walk-through but was working with the first-team defense during the open portion of practice.

Campbell went down with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter Sunday in San Francisco after trying to strip a fumble from 49ers running back Frank Gore. Doctors and trainers attended to Campbell, bracing his head while emergency responders strapped the 6-foot-8 player to a stretcher and wheeled him to an ambulance. He was taken to Stanford Hospital, where he underwent tests including an MRI and a CT scan. Later Sunday, he flew back to Arizona on a plane provided by team president Michael Bidwill.

Campbell, who underwent more tests Monday afternoon, isn't concerned about returning to the field.

"I feel pretty good now. Football's my life, I love it. I'm definitely looking forward to strapping it up and playing again," Campbell said. "Football is a fun game. If you play it correctly, you can limit your injuries. I'm not really scared as long as I play the right way."

Arians talked about seeing Campbell strapped to the gurney after he went down.

"You never want to go out there as coach and watch the doctors put that collar on a guy's neck and put him on a stretcher," Arians said. "When I was out there, I felt more relieved that he had feeling in both arms and legs. It was more of a short-term stinger, body stinger."


(espn.com)

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson (shin) was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Fantasy Tip: More will be known on Johnson's status later in the week. Johnson might be playing without starting QB Matt Schaub (ankle, foot), and the QB situation, coupled with facing a strong Kansas City Chiefs defense, makes him useful only as a low-end WR2 or must-start WR3 in most formats.


(kffl.com)

Devin Hester is seeking kick return advice from a former record-setting return specialist who saved some of his best work for the final years of his career.

As the Bears prepare to visit Washington on Sunday, Hester is paying attention to the career highlights and advice of Brian Mitchell, the former stellar returner for the Redskins and Eagles.

Mitchell had 13 special teams touchdowns; Hester has 18. Mitchell returned two punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns between the ages of 30 and 34 before he retired at 35.

"I am trying to research some of the things about what he did in his early 30s," Hester said Wednesday. "Some of the things he says … I am trying to do. I like to pick his brain."

Hester, who will turn 31 on Nov. 4, is in the last year of his contract and wants to prove he still has what it takes to be a premier threat. He says he wants to improve his "image" again around the league.

"The past couple of years I have been in a slump as far as returns go. I kind of struggled with that," said Hester, who is no longer being deployed also as a receiver. "So this year I am hoping to bounce back"

Hester has 3,020 career punt return yards and 4,643 kickoff return yards. He has 35 punt return yards this season and 575 on kickoff returns. Hester is 37 punt return yards away from overtaking Allen Rossum (3,056) for ninth most in NFL history. Mitchell is first with 4,999 yards.

"I am just a couple of blocks away from breaking one," Hester said of the kickoff returns. "We watch the film every week and we harp on it real hard … one or two mistakes from a 25-yard return (becoming a) 98-yard return."

Hester realizes that returning kicks is not a one-man operation, and he could use a little help from his friends.

"We have a lot of young guys (on the return units) and we are throwing a lot at them," he said. "You have to be able to play when you get thrown in there. We veterans have to start rallying and improving these young guys to help them out more.

"Once we get on the same page and everybody knows their assignments … that's when the returns will start hitting."

Hester also knows that he needs to rely more on guile and instincts than pure speed as he gets older.

"It's knowing what to do and what the other 10 guys' (on the kick return unit) assignments are doing," he said. "You can get away with raw speed and faking guys (at a young age). But later on in life, when teams start to understand what kind of runner you are, they start to pay more attention to you."

(chicagotribune.com)

ENGLEWOOD — It looks like Peyton Manning will have to attend his homecoming at Indianapolis on Sunday without the two massive tackles he started the season with.

The Broncos are holding out hope that right tackle Orlando Franklin, who sprained his left knee and ankle Sunday, won't be sidelined for an extended time like All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady, who landed on IR last month with a foot injury.

Coach John Fox provided no updates on Franklin, who went for an MRI exam Monday, or defensive lineman Sylvester Williams (neck).

At the very least, it looks like Franklin will miss the Colts game, however.

He limped through the locker room Monday with a walking boot on his left foot when he came out of the meeting room and was holding crutches, but not using them. He needed a cane to hobble out of the stadium Sunday night after Denver's 35-19 won over Jacksonville.

Franklin got hurt early in the third quarter when he was caught in the pile on Knowshon Moreno's first of three touchdown runs.

It's been a difficult year for the men who protect Manning.

The Broncos (6-0) lost centers J.D. Walton and Dan Koppen to injuries last summer, leaving the job to Manny Ramirez, who had never started at center before this season and who's still working out the kinks. His two bad exchanges with Manning on Sunday were both recovered by the Jaguars (0-6).

After Franklin got hurt with 12:16 left in the third quarter, Chris Kuper came in at right guard and Louis Vasquez moved to right tackle for the first time in his career.

Franklin's absence affected the play calling of offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Manning, although Denver had two touchdown drives capped by Moreno runs behind the makeshift offensive line.

"I thought Adam did a good job calling plays with Vasquez," Manning said. "I'm not sure he's ever played right tackle before. It kind of changes the way I think about audibles and things like that when you've got a new right tackle."

Despite the revolving door of offensive linemen, Manning has been sacked only five times, the fewest in the league for any QB who's started all his team's games.

For however long it lasts, Franklin's absence could have a big impact on the Broncos, whose 265 points are the most by a team through six games in league history.

They could stick with Kuper-Vasquez again on the right side or they could move Vasquez back to right guard, where he's started all 60 of his career games, and insert eighth-year pro Winston Justice, who was inactive Sunday, at right tackle.

Justice, who started 13 games for the Colts last season and signed as a free agent with Denver after Clady got hurt in Week 2, has quickly gotten up to speed and could step in Sunday if needed, Fox said.

"He's had plenty of time to learn our verbiage and our offense," said Fox.

Franklin has started all 44 games, including playoffs, since the Broncos made him a second-round pick in 2011 out of Miami.


(gazette.com)

The Texans’ record is falling apart. But key offensive starters were adamant Wednesday the team’s chemistry remains intact, and a 2-4 squad is mentally preparing for a critical road game at Kansas City on Sunday.

“It’s the way it has to be: strong character on this team,” center Chris Myers said. “The older guys are bringing along the younger guys and understanding that when that kind of stuff starts happening, the team starts separating. All you can do right now is stay together.”

Receiver Andre Johnson was among several players who said the team had a strong practice Wednesday and is ready to put its frustrating four-game skid in the past.

“You would think guys would be walking around mad at each other or just down, but everybody is just talking about getting out of this funk. That’s a great thing,” Johnson said. “Guys are still able to keep a positive energy around here.”


(chron.com)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Newly promoted Patriots defensive lineman Marcus Forston took a break from battling offensive lineman during practice to visit Cameron Middle School in Framingham, Mass on Tuesday as part of the New England Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism initiative. He visited with students from the school who take part in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to speak about the importance and the value of mentoring.

“My mom was my mentor. Everything she has done despite not having a job that paid a lot or being able to pay for me to go to college, she made sure I got good grades and stayed on top of [my work] so that I could earn the scholarship that I did to the University of Miami. Mentoring is important because you can make an impact on someone’s life. I know me going [to Cameron Middle School] is challenging myself to go there and change at least one kid’s life.”

The day was a change of pace for both Forston and the students, who traded in their pencils and notebooks for an hour of fun competition against a professional athlete. The day started with introductions and a few speeches, but competitive nature quickly took over and the kids were showing off their skills at all manner of events, including cups stacking and crab walk races. Forston was determined not to be left out either, and he participated in a spirited crab-walk race and cup stacking competition -with his feet.

And while the event fostered a spirit of fun and games, the day was really about celebrating volunteers that have worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of youth in their community as mentor leaders. Forston understands the importance of mentorship and the role it can play in the development of a child.

“Mentoring means a lot, but it doesn’t have to [come from] someone older than you, because you learn from a lot of people. You can learn from the kids that your mentoring,” explained Forston. “A lot times we don’t understand and we don’t know what a person is going through. Instead of just giving advice on life and school and everything like that, we can get advice on what keeps them positive through their tough times.”

Forston might still be getting acclimated along the Patriots defensive line, but he has a good mentor of his own to help him with his transition to life in the NFL and as a role model in the community. He played the along the same defensive line at the University of Miami that current teammate Vince Wilfork did over 10 years ago. Wilfork has been an active member of the New England community with his wife Bianca since his arrival to the team, and has provided Forston with an outlet for questions of frustrations.

“I met [Vince] my sophomore year of college when he came back to the school. Right then and there we connected and exchanged numbers. My whole time through college we always talked the night before the game and he would tell me what I need to work on.”

The event Tuesday served as a positive example of the good that mentoring, and in the grander scheme of things, volunteering can inject into a community. You couldn’t miss the bright white smiles that lit up the Cameron Middle School Gymnasium, and the laughs that filled the room were enough to even bring a smile to the onlookers. But the gleaming example that was witnessed Tuesday also shed light on the need for more volunteers. At the heart of this initiative, that is what the New England organization is looking to do; inspire Patriots fans and members of the New England community to go out and make a difference in their community by volunteering.

Tuesday’s visit to Cameron Middle School was part of the Patriots Charitable Foundation’s ongoing Celebrate Volunteerism initiative, which recognizes deserving volunteers and encourages Patriots fans to give back in their communities. For more information about Celebrate Volunteerism and for a complete list of future initiatives, go to www.patriots.com/community.


(patriots.com)

Sacramento has released camp invitees DeQuan Jones and Brandon Heath.

Jones, 23, recorded averages of 3.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, and an 8.4 PER as an undrafted rookie last season for the Magic. Heath, who went undrafted out of San Diego State in 2007, played for Lukoil Academic in Bulgaria in 2012/13, averaging 12.0 PPG and 4.7 APG in 39 contests. Both players appeared very briefly in a single preseason game for the Kings.


(hoopsworld.com)

Tennessee Titans LB Colin McCarthy is expected to start in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers with LB Moise Fokou (knee) ruled out.

Fantasy Tip: McCarthy is worth a look in fantasy leagues which use individual defensive players (IDPs), if you need a replacement for Fokou, or your primary option is on a bye. McCarthy could rack up plenty of tackles against the 49ers trying to corral QB Colin Kaepernick, RB Frank Gore and even TE Vernon Davis across the middle.


(kffl.com)

Linebacker Sean Spence will see his first football action in over a year when he returns to the practice field on Wednesday. Spence suffered a severe season-ending knee injury against the Carolina Panthers in the 2012 preseason; an injury many thought could have ended his career.

But after a long road filled with ups and downs, Spence is ready to start working his way back.

“We are going to look at Sean participating in some form or fashion this week, probably in a limited capacity, individual drills and so forth,” said Coach Mike Tomlin.  “We’ve got a window to evaluate Sean, but more than anything it’s about getting him on the field first and just watching him in a limited capacity to see where he is before we make any plans about his participation or how we move forward. We’ll see how he performs in practice and let that be our guide in terms in how we progress. Initially he will be working in limited capacity in look teams more than not.”

Spence opened the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, and Wednesday would be the first day he is eligible to return to practice according to NFL rules regarding the PUP list. He is permitted to practice for three weeks before the team must make a decision to activate him, put him on injured reserve or waive him.

“I know a lot of people have not been able to come back after damage like that, but I'm going to see if I can be one of the only ones,” said Spence this past spring, during the team’s offseason program. “Actually, I know that I’m going to beat the odds. I'm not really worried about that.”


(steelers.com)

He likely won't be nicknamed "Flash."

The Steelers signed tight end Richard Gordon, but not for his vertical speed. The 268-pounder is much closer to a tackle than a receiver. His lone NFL touchdown came against the Steelers - a one-yard lob from Carson Palmer off play-action.

He attended Miami Norland High School with Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown for a spell - also the alma mater of Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe - but the similarities as players pretty much end there.

Gordon is a blocking H-back sort, as opposed to the quick, diminutive slot receiver role played by his graduating classmate.

Gordon got the scholarship to Miami, while Brown ventured outward to Central Michigan. Brown was a sixth-round pick in 2010, while Gordon went in the same round in 2011.

How long Gordon will even last in Pittsburgh is anyone's guess with three tight ends on the roster - Heath Miller, David Paulson and Michael Palmer - and Matt Spaeth presumably edging closer to a return.

Gordon was given the No. 44, which, contrary to an earlier thought, means nothing by way of Gordon playing H-back vs. tight end. Teams can use jersey numbers in the 40s when none in the 80s are available for a tight end - all of which are currently spoken for in some way: Plaxico Burress (80), Paulson (81), Palmer (82), Miller (83), Antonio Brown (84), David Johnson (85), Hines Ward (86), Spaeth (87), Emmanuel Sanders (88) and Jerricho Cotchery (89).

It doesn't seem like fullback Will Johnson's job is in any kind of jeopardy, but perhaps the Steelers are simply looking to add a flanking blocking element to their offense in an effort to revitalize a power running game that hasn't proved effective through the team's first five games.

Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley has used H-backs most seasons, including last year, when Leonard Pope largely filled that role.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gordon logged 79 snaps last year with the Raiders, and received scores less than -1 in all areas. Nothing terrible, nothing outstanding.


(behindthesteelcurtain.com)

Orlando Franklin went through the locker room Monday carrying, not using, his crutches.

That was a good sign for the Broncos' right offensive tackle.

But Franklin also was hobbling not only from the left knee injury he suffered Sunday in the Broncos' 35-19 victory against Jacksonville, but from a boot on his left ankle.

That was not a good sign for Franklin playing Sunday at Indianapolis. Neither of Franklin's left leg injuries will require surgery. He is listed as day to day.

But the ankle could take a little more time than the knee to heal. If Franklin needs a week or so to heal, the Broncos already showed they could move the ball, and score, with Louis Vasquez shifting from right guard to right tackle and inserting Chris Kuper at right guard.

Kuper got his first action at right guard since the Broncos' playoff game against Baltimore — and first without a shattered plate in his left ankle since a Dec. 2 game against Tampa Bay last year.

"I felt fine," Kuper said. "I was able to do most everything that I like to do. It was nice to get my body accustomed to playing again. It was nice to get a win."

Vasquez is ranked by Pro Football Focus as one of the league's top pass-protecting guards this season. After he moved outside to tackle Sunday, the Broncos made two touchdown drives.

The Broncos' lone true backup tackle is Winston Justice, but he didn't sign with the team until Sept. 18.


(denverpost.com)

He might have been standing on the opposite sideline and on the opposite side of the ball but, football-wise, things have come full circle for former NFL All-Pro Edgerrin James.

James began his illustrious football career as a kid playing Pop Warner for the Immokalee Braves at Gary Bates Stadium. It’s the same field he would later star for Immokalee High School.

After 11 years in the NFL, mostly with the Indianapolis Colts, a Super Bowl and four Pro Bowls, James found himself on Saturday taking the gridiron once again at Gary Bates Stadium.

Though James is the Miami Hurricanes all-time second leading rusher, it is with a new set of Hurricanes he finds himself involved with — the Naples Hurricanes’ Mighty Mite team.

James is their coach. His son, Edgerrin Jr., is the team’s quarterback.

James wanted the players to focus on today. But with everything around him, helplessly, James was caught up in yesterday.

“Played right here,” said James, 35, who rushed for 12,246 yards and 80 scores in his NFL days. “The Immokalee Braves. Same field. Same everything.”

Well, not everything was the same. The Braves have become the Seminoles, whom the Hurricanes played. And instead of James standing on the Immokalee sideline, he was standing on the opposing one.

“First time ever I went against anything Immokalee,” he said. “Wasn’t conflicted. I know all the kids. It’s youth football. It was actually really fun. My son never got the chance to see me play high school football, so he had a lot of questions. That was pretty cool.”

James is finding coaching a team of 8-year-olds to be pretty cool indeed. With their 31-6 victory on Saturday, the Hurricanes have improved to 7-1. He’s having a ball watching the kids run double-reverses or even sometimes a no-huddle offense.

“Edgerrin is one of the most devoted coaches we’ve ever had,” said Hurricanes athletic director Rich Koert. “He is completely devoted to the kids and our program. To see a great player like him do what he is doing sets an example for all youth coaches.”

Youth football has changed dramatically since James’ playing days with the Braves. There are more leagues, more teams and more intensity. Youth players’ stats and combine times are now entered into national databases by scouting services and sold to high school and college programs.

For some, youth football has become a moneymaking venture.

James sees another downside.

“Now, it’s just so many different leagues,” he said. “You don’t get the best of the best because all the talent is scattered about. When we played, you had to make the team.”

From the pros to Pop Warner, another issue that runs throughout all levels of football is safety. Many parents are concerned about allowing their children to play a collision sport at such a young age.

James allays those fears.

“Once (parents) get informed and see what it takes, and if their kids are coached the right way, they’ll let their kids play, “ he said. “You just have to make sure the coaches are doing their part.

“Sometimes adults are putting their personal feelings in and that can hurt the kids. As along as things are done the right way, it’s not a problem. When kids are taught the wrong way, that’s where there is a problem and that starts at youth football.”

Regardless of the issues and concerns youth football faces, Saturday reminded James what the game is truly about.

“My son is giving me a chance to relive it,” James said. “You don’t realize youth football is the funnest time in your life until you play at the highest levels.

“I went to the highest levels of the game. I played in a Super Bowl. But, hands down, youth football is way better than that. That’s what I want these kids to find out.”

Read more here: naplesnews.com

When Jets tight end Kellen Winslow received a four-game suspension Friday from the National Football League for violating their policy on performance-enhancing substances, the general public mostly groaned and rolled their eyes. There wasn't that much outrage as attitudes seem to have softened regarding athletes who attempt to cheat the system.

In Winslow's defense, he claims to have accidentally and unknowingly taken a banned substance. Whether or not there was any intent behind the violation, our memories have gotten shorter toward players who use PEDs.

Look no further than the Major League Baseball postseason for a prime example of how forgiving fans can be when one of their own gets in trouble. Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers is currently batting .450 in the playoffs after returning from a 50-game suspension for violating the MLB drug policy. You would be hard-pressed to find very many people in Detroit who, despite Peralta's actions, don't want him in the lineup because he gives the team their best chance to win.

New Yorkers are no strangers to forgiveness, either. Marlon Byrd, suspended 50 games in 2012 for taking PEDs, was a fan favorite during his short tenure this season with the Mets before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates to help with their playoff push. Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte admitted taking HGH to help recover from an elbow injury in 2002 and received a hero's send-off when he retired in September.

The common denominator amongst Peralta, Byrd, and Pettitte is that they performed well upon returning from suspension. The trio has certainly heard the booing and taunting when they play on the road but they've largely been forgiven by the hometown crowd.

When Winslow is eligible to play again after November 4, he'll be welcomed back too -- as long as the team still needs him in the lineup. He'll have lost a bit of respect for his transgression, and will also miss out on $197,647 in paychecks, but he'll be back.

Despite already serving the first game of his suspension, Winslow still leads the Jets in touchdown catches and has the second most receptions. He's quietly been an important part of the offense and a favorite target of rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

His absence means it's time for others to step up. Jeff Cumberland had a season-high four receptions in Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will have three more games to cement himself as a go-to option. Little-used tight end Konrad Reuland and recently signed Zach Sudfeld will also see an increase in playing time and it could mean the difference in them holding onto their roster spots.

Winslow has proven to be a shrewd signing after making the team following a training camp tryout. Hampered by knee problems that scared off most teams around the league, the time off via suspension could actually prove beneficial in keeping him fresh for the latter stages of the season.

At the end of the day, fans just want to see a winner. They may point their finger at Winslow and be disappointed in him, but if he comes back better than ever for the team's final seven games, all will be forgiven.


(nbcnewyork.com)

The Indianapolis Colts will be rolling back the NFL clock Sunday.

Not only is Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning returning to face his former team for the first time, but longtime teammates Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James will be there at Lucas Oil Stadium to welcome him back, a celebratory reunion of the Big Three.

“It’s going to be really exciting,” Colts owner Jim Irsay told The Times. “Edgerrin and Marvin are coming in, they’re fired up to come back in. Talked to those guys and it’s going to be exciting to have those guys come in. We were such a close-knit group, those teams that were in the late '90s through the whole decade.”

James, a first-round pick in 1999, won the NFL rushing title in each of his first two seasons, and left Indianapolis in 2006 as the Colts’ all-time leading rusher with 9,226 yards. He was given an honorary Super Bowl ring, even though he played for Arizona the year Indianapolis won it all.

Harrison, a first-rounder in 1996, played 13 seasons with the Colts and in 2006 became the fourth receiver in league history with 1,000 career catches. There are now nine of those, with Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne joining that elite group Monday night. 

A three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection who retired after the 2008 season, Harrison set a league record with 143 receptions in 2002.
James was inducted into the Colts' ring of honor in 2012, and Harrison was inducted in August.

“The only disappointment is not to have won another championship or two,” Irsay said. “That’s something that we want to chase in this new era.”


(latimes.com)

The Cleveland Browns found themselves down early to the Detroit Lions thanks to tight end Joseph Fauria’s one-yard touchdown reception, and odd, yet awesome, touchdown celebration.

The Cleveland Browns followed that score with a 3 and out, not what they were hoping for. The Browns defense helped them out on the following series holding the Lions to a 3 and out as well.

On the following series the Browns got the break they needed. On first and 10, the opening drive of the play, they called an end around to Travis Benjamin. He rumbled for 45 yards to help them get on the other side of the 50 yard line for the first time of the game.

A Lions defender chases him down the field out of nowhere because it looked like Benjamin’s wheels were going to be too much for the Lions defense to handle. He had a lead blocker as well.

Benjamin didn’t score but the play helped the Bengals score. The Bengals got to the 4 yard line and Chris Ogbonnaya took it in for a touchdown to tie the game.


(fansided.com)

Current Streak (Week 7 2012 – Present) Totals: 16 Weeks & 52 Total TDs

Week 5, 2013
ZERO TDs. Streak Ends.

Week 5, 2013
Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. Houston Texans; 1-yard TD run)
Willis McGahee, Cleveland Browns (1TD vs. Buffalo Bills; 1-yard TD run)
Travis Benjamin, Cleveland Browns (1TD vs. Buffalo Bills; 79-yard Punt Return for TD)
Kellen Winslow Jr., New York Jets (1 TD vs. Atlanta Falcons; 1-yard TD reception)

Week 4, 2013
Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. St. Louis Rams; 34-yard TD run)
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (1TD vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; 5-yard TD reception)
Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins 49ers (1 TD vs. New Orleans Saints; 5-yard TD run)
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (2 TDs vs. Miami Dolphins; 27-yard TD reception; 43-yard TD reception)

Week 3, 2013
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (2 TDs vs. Arizona Cardinals; 16-yard TD reception, 7-yard TD reception)

Week 2, 2013
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (1 TD vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 56-yard TD reception)
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (1 TD vs. Buffalo Bills; 13-yard TD reception)
Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins 49ers (1 TD vs. Indianapolis Colts; 10-yard TD run)
Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (1 TDs vs. Green Bay Packers; 9-yard TD reception)

Week 1, 2013
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (1TD vs. Oakland Raiders; 12-yard TD reception)
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (1 TD vs. Atlanta Falcons; 7-yard TD reception)
Kellen Winslow Jr., New York Jets (1 TD vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 7-yard TD reception)
Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. Green Bay Packers; 1-yard TD run)
Leonard Hankerson, Washington Redskins (2 TDs vs. Philadelphia Eagles; 10-yard TD reception; 24-yard TD reception)

Week 17, 2012
Jon Vilma, New Orleans Saints (1 TD vs. Carolina Panthers; 18-yard INT return for TD) Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (1 TD vs. Carolina Panthers; 19-yard TD reception)

Week 16, 2012
Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (1 TD vs. Philadelphia Eagles; 22-yard TD reception) Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (1 TD vs. Kansas City Chiefs; 7-yard TD reception)

Week 15, 2012
Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (1 TD vs. Indianapolis Colts; 3-yard TD reception) Leonard Hankerson, Washington Redskins (2 TDs vs. Cleveland Browns; 54-yard TD reception; 2-yard TD reception) Travis Benjamin, Cleveland Browns (1 TD vs. Washington Redskins; 69-yard TD reception)

Week 14, 2012
Travis Benjamin, Cleveland Browns (1 TD vs. Kansas City Chiefs; 93-yard punt return for TD) Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (1 TD vs. Atlanta Falcons; 25-yard TD reception) Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (1 TD vs. Tennessee Titans; 4-yard TD reception) Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. Miami Dolphins; 1-yard TD run)

Week 13, 2012
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (1 TD vs. Kansas City Chiefs; 47-yard TD reception) Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. St. Louis Rams; 1-yard TD run)

Week 12, 2012
Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (1 TD vs. Dallas Cowboys; 6-yard TD reception) Thanksgiving Day Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. New Orleans Saints; 6-yard TD reception)

Week 11, 2012
Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (1 TD vs. Philadelphia Eagles; 61-yard TD reception) Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (1 TD vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; 48-yard TD reception) Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (1 TD vs. Oakland Raiders; 1-yard TD reception)

Week 10, 2012
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (2 TDs vs. Atlanta Falcons; 29-yard TD reception; 14-yard TD reception) Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (2 TDs vs. Denver Broncos; 4-yard TD reception; 5-yard TD reception) Colin McCarthy, Tennessee Titans (1 TD vs. Miami Dolphins; 49-yard interception return for TD) Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (1 TD vs. St. Louis Rams; 20-yard TD run)

Week 9, 2012
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (1 TD vs. Miami Dolphins; 9-yard TD reception)

Week 8, 2012
Olivier Vernon, Miami Dolphins (1 TD vs. New York Jets; Punt block recovery in end zone) Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (1 TD vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; 2-yard TD reception) Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos (1 TD vs. New Orleans Saints; 1-yard TD run) Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (1 TD vs. Denver Broncos; 18-yard TD reception)

Week 7, 2012
Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (1 TD vs. New York Giants; 26-yard TD reception)

It will be very difficult to keep Colts receiver Reggie Wayne out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Only eight other men have reached the milestone Wayne passed on Monday night. Wayne got the 1,000th reception of his career against the Chargers.

The other eight players in the 1,000-catch club: Jerry Rice, Tony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrison, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce and Hines Ward. That's quite the list.

While Rice's 1,549 catches is probably out of reach, Wayne should have a good shot at getting to at least third place on the list before he retires. Gonzalez is second with 1,275, but Wayne's former teammate Harrison is third at 1,102. Wayne, who is 34, had 106 receptions last season and has 33 through six games this season. The way Wayne is playing, passing Gonzalez for second place all-time might not even be entirely out of the question


(yahoo.com)

Former San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden has two workouts this week.

He's scheduled to audition for the Seattle Seahawks today.

Then, Gooden will work out for the Chicago Bears.

Gooden announced the workouts via his official Twitter account.

Gooden is a former Ravens third-round draft pick from the University of Miami.


(nationalfootballpost.com)

Middle linebacker Moise Fokou could miss time with the sprained left knee he suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks.

Fokou underwent tests on Monday, which should provide a clearer time frame. Colin McCarthy stepped in for Fokou against the Seahawks.

“We’re hoping for the best there,’’ coach Mike Munchak said. “He has nothing major, if he has anything, it is week to week.”

The Titans expect running back Shonn Greene to practice this week in hopes of playing against the 49ers. Jackie Battle should be available to play as well, Munchak said.


(tennessean.com)

Jimmy Graham is still being evaluated, but the Saints are optimistic that he'll be able to return after the team's Week 7 bye week, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Graham injured his left foot during the fourth quarter of New Orleans' loss to New England on Sunday.

Graham initially returned after having his foot taped up by the training staff, but he was not able to finish the game. He left for good with about five minutes remaining.

Graham was scheduled to have an MRI on the foot Monday. If the team's early optimism proves accurate, the tight end will be suited up and ready to go for the Saints' home game against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 27.

Graham was held without a reception for the first time this season in the loss to the Patriots. He has four 100-yard receiving games already and leads the NFL with 593 receiving yards on 37 receptions.


(philly.com)

Broncos starting right tackle Orlando Franklin suffered a sprained ankle in the team’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN, Franklin went in for scans on his knee and his ankle Monday morning. Pro Football Talk is reporting that only Franklin’s knee is affected, and he’s is listed as day-to-day.

Once Franklin left in the second half, the Broncos moved right guard Louis Vasquez to right tackle and inserted Chris Kuper at right guard. If Franklin is unable to play this week against the Indianapolis Colts, the team could start Winston Justice. Justice was inactive on Sunday.

“He’s had plenty of time to learn our verbiage and our offense,” John Fox said of Justice. “Right now, he’s still developing like everybody. Hopefully, we’re getting better every day—everybody is. But he’s on target as far as his preparation.”

As for the likelihood of the team signing anyone on the outside if Franklin can’t go, Fox kept the door open.

“We’re always looking to improve the team at any position. To answer your question, no more today than any other day.”

The Broncos offensive line may have a bit of a curse. Centers J.D. Walton and Dan Koppen were lost this summer due to injuries and starting left tackle Ryan Clady went on the IR with a Lisfranc injury.


(predominantlyorange.com)

Calais Campbell, as usual, was all smiles.

There was no hint that the defensive end had been taken off the Candlestick Park turf on a stretcher late in Sunday’s game against the 49ers. Maybe that’s just because it was essentially precaution that led to the dramatic exit – Campbell actually wanted to get up and walk off under his own power only to have the medical staff insist he stay down and still until he could be tested.

But Monday, Campbell was back in the locker room, back in team meetings and talking about how he was hopeful to play Thursday night against Seattle.

“I feel pretty good now,” Campbell said. “Football is my life so I am looking forward to strapping up and playing again.

“Football is a fun game and if you play it correctly, you can limit your injuries. I’m not really scared as long as I play the right way.”

Campbell was not part of the Monday practice as he went to the hospital to try and get cleared to play again. He said he was “a little sore” but that he’s always sore on Mondays anyway.

Coach Bruce Arians said “I’ve got my fingers crossed” Campbell will be able to play.

“There have been a number of times I’ve been out there watching guys getting towed off on a stretcher and it’s never fun,” Arians said. “You just start praying and hoping everything is going to be alright, but he was coherent and talking and you could see the fingers and the feet start coming back pretty fast, so I was very optimistic.”

Campbell said he was trying to force a Frank Gore fumble when he put his head down on the tackle. He said the sensation was like a stinger, except the jolt went down to his feet. It started to go away before he even left the field, but he was still immobilized – at least until he put his finger up to signal to his family in attendance he was OK.

He said he didn’t even notice the crowd doing the “Wave” that caused so much furor at the time.

“When I got off the field I gave the thumbs-up and the crowd did a pretty good cheer so I felt pretty good about that,” Campbell said. “I felt a lot of love.”


(azcardinals.com)

MIAMI (AP) -- Nearly six years ago, All-Pro safety Sean Taylor was at home nursing an injury instead of taking the field with his Washington Redskins teammates for a road game at Tampa. Unfortunately, a group of young men from southwest Florida apparently didn't know that.

Prosecutors say the suspects drove across the state intending to burglarize Taylor's Miami-area home, confident he wouldn't be there. When the 6-foot-2, 230-pound player - well known as a ferocious hitter - confronted them with a machete early on Nov. 26, 2007, Eric Rivera Jr. allegedly fired two shots. One missed. The other hit Taylor in the upper leg, causing massive blood loss that led to his death a day later at age 24.

Finally, after numerous delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday for Rivera's first-degree murder trial. Because Rivera, now 23, was only 17 at the time of the crime, he faces life in prison instead of the death penalty if convicted. Jury selection is expected to take about four days.

Four other people were also charged in the case. One of them, Venjah Hunte, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges and is expected to testify against Rivera. The other three are scheduled to go to trial later on lesser charges. Hunte's plea deal calls for a 29-year prison term instead of life.

Although Taylor had some run-ins with the law and been fined several times by the NFL for various rules violations, his future seemed extremely bright before he was killed. The son of Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor and an All-American player at the University of Miami, the Redskins drafted Taylor with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 draft and he signed an $18 million contract.

Taylor quickly became a starter and was nicknamed ''Meast'' by teammates - a combination of man and beast - because of his hard-hitting style. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2006 season and was also very popular among Redskins players and fans. One of his best friends, wide receiver Santana Moss, said he still says ''a little prayer'' for Taylor every time he takes the field.

''I have a few people that have passed away in my life as friends that have meant something to me, and I'm always constantly speaking to them. That's just something I do. He's one of those guys,'' Moss said.

The Redskins contributed $500,000 to a fund for Taylor's young daughter after he died and, in the first game after his slaying, the team's defense took the field against Buffalo with only 10 players on the first play - leaving Taylor's free safety position vacant to honor him. Fans at that game got towels bearing his number, 21.

To many fans, players and others connected with both the Redskins and the ''U'' at Miami, it was heartbreaking to see such a talented player's life and career cut short so brutally.

''He was a young man who was learning quickly how to be a great human being, and, to me, he was the best football player I've ever seen in person,'' said former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, a nine-year veteran who now does broadcasts for the team. ''He was the most physical, the most gifted, the hardest-working guy that I've been around, and it was such an unfortunate thing.''

Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, now a NASCAR racing team owner, said Taylor began to mature and take a leadership role on the team after the birth of his daughter.

''It wound up being a true tragedy and it had a huge effect on all of us,'' Gibbs said of Taylor's killing. ''He was one of those guys that with the way he played and his persona the way he was, he was a natural leader. You could see guys look to him from a leadership standpoint.''

The fatal attempted burglary was not the first time there was a break-in at Taylor's home.

Police say someone pried open a window a few days earlier, on Nov. 17, and rifled through a desk and other belongings. No one was home that time, and it's not clear exactly what, if anything, was taken.

Then came the weekend after Thanksgiving with the Redskins playing the Buccaneers that Sunday. Taylor was given permission to stay home with a knee injury, along with his girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, and their 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie.

Police say two of the men charged had connections to Taylor: Jason Scott Mitchell had cut Taylor's lawn and an older cousin of suspect Charles Wardlow had dated Taylor's sister. Family members also said Mitchell had recently been at a birthday party at Taylor's house, where Taylor was known to keep large amounts of cash.

Miami-Dade County's former police director, Robert Parker, said the defendants were surprised to find Taylor home early that Monday morning.

''They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone,'' Parker said. ''They were expecting a residence that was not occupied.''

Authorities say they have obtained confessions from at least some of the suspects, all from the Fort Myers area, but pretrial hearings on whether those statements will be allowed in Rivera's trial were closed by Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy. The judge also imposed a gag order on prosecutors and defense attorneys in hopes of limiting pretrial news media coverage that could make jury selection difficult.

The murder weapon has never been found. Prosecutors say it was thrown into the Everglades after the slaying while the group drove home across Alligator Alley.

There have already been at least seven previous trial dates set for Rivera. Cooley, for one, said it's time for justice to be done.

''Breaking into someone's home, into their personal safety blanket and shooting them in that environment is the most heinous, unthinkable crime that could have happened to a guy like Sean. It's despicable,'' Cooley said.


(yahoo.com)

Sean Payton has revealed that Jonathan Vilma could return to practice with the team next week.

The New Orleans Saints linebacker was placed on the injured reserve designated to return list before the start of the regular season, having injured his knee during the pre-season.

The head coach told reporters: "He is progressing. We kind of look at it day-to-day, but that Monday coming back would be a potential day we would look at. I am optimistic he is going to be able to.

"It is kind of a bonus day for us. The first full day where you guys will be back will be on that Wednesday. Any time you have that extra day, we typically try to get in a bonus day on Monday.

"Tuesday the players will be off and then we would start up on that Wednesday. I am optimistic that he will get some work on that Monday. He's been doing well, yeah, so we will see. But he has been doing well with his progress."

Vilma had 37 tackles, a sack and an interception during his 11 games for the Saints last season.


(sportsmole.co.uk)

It had been a while since new Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason had turned the football field into his personal canvas, patrolling sideline to sideline to put his indelible imprint on a game.

He was once the gold standard at the position, a savant in shoulder pads and a helmet, always a step ahead of the action. He had more than 120 tackles in each of his first four seasons and earned three straight Pro Bowl berths (2008-2010). He was a natural.

Drafted in the first round (25th overall) by Carolina in 2007, Beason started as a rookie. He started every game his first four seasons, going 3½ seasons without missing a defensive snap.

Then, injuries derailed his career. In the 2011 opener, he ruptured his left Achilles. Last October, he underwent micro fracture surgery on his right knee and had a torn labrum repaired in his left shoulder. He played a total of five games in those two seasons.

At 28, the Panthers felt he was done, despite having signed him to a five-year, $50 million contract that included $25 million guaranteed before the 2011 season. He was traded to the Giants for a conditional late-round pick Oct 4.

"Sometimes perception isn’t necessarily reality," Beason said.

On Thursday, Beason made his first start at middle linebacker in more than a year and was a tackling machine in the Giants’ 27-21 loss in Chicago. Displaying exceptional lateral quickness and instincts, he finished with a team-high 12 tackles (11 solo) and sparked a second-half defensive surge that held the Bears to three points.

Beason was prepared for the workload. He and outside linebacker Spencer Paysinger shared the play-calling duties, which are normally handled by the middle linebacker.

"I felt good," said Beason, who replaced Mark Herzlich. "I’m a little sore, but that just means that I went to work. I felt like I moved around well. I just wanted to do my job and make coach proud and try to show that this was a good move for the Giants and a good move for me."

It was a performance that excited coach Tom Coughlin.

"He played hard, he played physical, he’s going to help us," Coughlin said. "He’s a good football player, obviously, very good against the run. He had a lot of tackles, was very much a force in the game in that respect. There’s a lot to learn. Jon’s going to get better and better."

Beason, a well-sculpted 6-foot, 237-pounder, impressed immediately upon his arrival and started against Chicago despite practicing only once in pads. Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Beason’s in-line quickness and football IQ jumped out in that first practice.

"He’s a middle linebacker," said Paysinger, who gave Beason his No. 52. "That’s exactly what he is. That’s what he gets paid to do. He knows how to be a middle linebacker."

Beason’s departure from Carolina was amicable. Days before the trade, he had gone into coach Ron Rivera’s office to ask for more playing time after being benched. But the Panthers felt he had lost a step.

After starting the first two games this season at weakside linebacker, he was replaced by former Giant Chase Blackburn. Last season, an injured Beason lost his starting middle linebacker job to rookie Luke Kuechly.

"I’m very confident in who I am," Beason said. "I know what I can do. I know what I’ve done and you can always bank on that. Obviously, I’d like to be in better shape but when you’re coming back from an injury, you have to recover from that before you can get better. (Thursday night) wasn’t necessarily an affirmation but I think I can get so much better."

After bringing in a parade of retreads and castoffs that have included Dan Connor, Aaron Curry, Kyle Bosworth and Allen Bradford, perhaps Giants general manager Jerry Reese has hit on something in Beason.


(nj.com)

Sometimes brothers fight.

Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould and return man Devin Hester engaged in a verbal spat with 5:12 left in the second quarter of the Bears' 27-21 victory on "Thursday Night Football." The incident occurred following a 46-yard kickoff return by New York Giants' Jerrel Jernigan.

Gould said the incident was just a quarrel among brothers in the heat of battle.

"I love Devin like a little brother," Gould said, per ESPNChicago.com. "It was just (that) my emotions got in the way. I was at fault. I was the wrong party in that. I love him like a brother. Once it was over, it was over. ... We both want to win. I don't want to put my teammates in a situation where I hit a [bad] kickoff like I did. There are no hard feelings. It's like a fight with your little brother."

We've seen sideline spats before, but one with the kicker? We'd love to know if Charles Tillman was saying, "Man, don't hurt the kicker" when he dragged Hester away.

Both Hester and Gould achieved milestones Thursday night. Hester's three kickoff returns for 73 yards made him Bears' all-time leader in kickoff return yards (4,643). Gould's 52-yard field goal in the third quarter tied the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made from 50-plus yards. It was Gould's 12th straight make, matching Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh.

Brothers argue, brothers get records and the family wins. All is A-OK in Chicago.


(nfl.com)

Giants safety Antrel Rolle admitted today that the team’s confidence has taken a hit at 0-6.

The Giants lost to the Chicago Bears, 27-21, on Thursday night to fall to 0-6 for the first time since 1976, when the team lost its first nine games.

“I thought we fought hard but obviously, we didn’t win the game,” Rolle said today on his weekly radio spot on WFAN. “No one is going to give you an A for effort in this league. The only thing that matters is the win-loss column and right now we don’t have anything in the win column.

“It’s very frustrating and mind-boggling. I feel like our confidence is shot a little bit. Being 0-6 will do that to you. We have to rise about it all. We have to be mentally strong. We have to be as mentally strong as we’ve been in our careers. I know I’ve never been 0-6 at any level.”

So far, the Giants have presented a united front.

“Absolutely, we’re together,” Rolle said. “We’re more together now than we’ve ever been. Losing can cause a lot of things but one thing I’m proud of with this group about is no one has ever pointed any fingers.

“We’ll never ever do that. At the end of the day, we win as a team and we lose as a team.”

Rolle said that the upbringing break is a good thing for the Giants. They don't play again until Oct. 21 on Monday night against Minnesota.

"I think it's a very much needed thing," Rolle said.


(nj.com)

DALLAS — Less than five months after he was drafted, Orlandoan Shane Larkin already faces one of the toughest challenges for a professional athlete: remaining patient after a significant injury.

Larkin, a point guard who attended Dr. Phillips High and the University of Miami, fractured his right ankle during a practice in July, just hours before the Dallas Mavericks' NBA Summer League team left for Las Vegas.

Larkin needed surgery to have two screws inserted into his ankle, and he's sat out the Mavericks' preseason games, including Monday night's matchup against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center.

"Yeah, it's frustrating," Larkin said. "But, at the same time, it's a learning experience. If you're going to play basketball, you're going to have an injury. It's much better that it happened when it did because I won't miss too much of the season. If it would've happened in-season, I would've missed probably the rest of it. I've just got to work twice as hard as I did to get here.

"It's not a good thing, but at the same time, you've got to get positives out of it."

Larkin played two seasons at Miami, and in May he posted some of the top physical-testing scores at the 2013 NBA Combine in Chicago. The Atlanta Hawks selected him 18th overall and then sent him to the Mavs in a draft-night trade.

Larkin overcame an injury before. He said he fractured the same ankle, in a different place, as a high school freshman. But he also said his ankle became stronger after he rehabilitated it.

Larkin, 21, hasn't been able to practice since July.

He said Mavericks coaches constantly ask him questions to test him on what he sees during practices. With all that quizzing, the team hopes to reduce his learning curve for when he's finally healthy.

"I know all the plays," Larkin said. "I know all the defensive coverages that we're going to be using. I'm mentally there. When I get on the court, when I have to react and still know the plays, that's when it's really going to be telling."


(orlandosentinel.com)

Rookie power forward Kenny Kadji got more than 50 texts after scoring 15 points in his NBA debut on Tuesday night as the Cavs beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 99-87, in the preseason opener at The Q.

“He’s long, he’s athletic, he did some good things last night,” (Cavs coach Mike) Brown said after Wednesday’s practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts. “He did some good things in the scrimmage. With his length, his athleticism, his quickness and agility, if he continues to try to play hard, he can impact the game when he’s out there.”

The Cavs are in the market for another big, especially with the uncertain status of Andrew Bynum, who has yet to be cleared for five-on-five basketball. Kadji, who certainly looked more viable on Tuesday than veteran DeSagana Diop, would like to stake his claim and figures his energy can only help him.


(hoopsworld.com)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Driving out long home run balls to all parts of the park and spraying hard-hit balls across a diamond littered with targets like a moving human sphere, Yankees catching prospect Peter O'Brien and Pirates outfield farmhand Alex Dickerson topped a field of 30 highly touted prospects to win the Arizona Fall League's inaugural Bowman Hitting Challenge on Saturday night at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

The competition, a home run derby-like event with a wacky twist, featured one slugger from each Major League club currently playing in the AFL.

"It was a good time; definitely never done anything like that," O'Brien said. "But any time you can do something like this where you're just enjoying playing baseball in front of your fans and teammates, it's a good opportunity."

Following four untimed bunts at designated objectives, every hitter received two minutes to bat against live pitching with the goal of striking as many targets dispersed around the infield, outfield and home run grass as possible. Point values varied from 100 for hitting oversized baseball cards, giant inflatable boxing rings and towers of ball buckets to 600 for depositing a ball into an enclosed trampoline in deep right-center field. Homers ranged in worth from 100-500 depending on where they were hit.

At the end of the two-minute period, each contestant got one final swing off a tee, and any target hit with the "Bowman Bonus Ball" resulted in double points. Any foul ball hit at any point during the derby resulted in a 50 point deduction from the player's tally.

Separated into two competition divisions, the highest three point totals from both National League and American League prospects were awarded cash prizes. O'Brien took the AL crown with 1,575 points, while the Mariners' Stefen Romero finished second at 1,250 and the Tigers' Tyler Collins took home third with 1,100. On the NL side, Dickerson won with 1,300 points, while the Dodgers' Corey Seager and the Padres' Tommy Medica finished second and third with 1,200 and 1,050 points, respectively.

O'Brien, the overall winner, accumulated his winning total on the back of five home runs, including one to the deepest part of the ballpark in straightaway center field on top of the batter's eye for 500 points.

"I pretty much tried to keep my same approach from [batting practice] -- stay to the middle of the field and drive the ball," O'Brien said. "It looks so easy at first, but all the targets are hard and I feel like you should try to hit the ball hard and if you hit anything, you're lucky."

Other notable contestants in the event included seven of MLB.com's Top 100 prospects. Minnesota's Byron Buxton (No. 1), Oakland's Addison Russell (No. 17), the Cubs' Albert Almora (No. 21), Seager (No. 47), Miami's Colin Moran (No. 71), Boston's Garin Cecchini (No. 82) and Kansas City's Jorge Bonifacio (No. 89) all competed.

None of those big names, however, came close to O'Brien, who was the Yankees' second-round pick of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami. He spent the 2013 season split between Class A Charleston and Class A Advanced Tampa, compiling a .291 average with 22 home runs and 96 RBIs. For his efforts Saturday, O'Brien received a golden bat to take home from the first-year event.

"It'll be a nice trophy to remember this by," O'Brien said. "It feels good, coming out here and having an opportunity to swing the bat. It's fun."

(mlb.com)

The Saints provided no update on Jimmy Graham's apparent left ankle/foot injury following Sunday's Week 6 loss.
Our guess is Graham avoided a serious injury because he was cleared to reenter the game, but later left for good. The Saints have a Week 7 bye for Graham to get his foot right. He finished Sunday's game without a catch for the first time since Graham's rookie season in 2010, when he was still learning to play football. Graham was a basketball player at Miami (FL).


(rotoworld.com)

Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell was taken off the field on a stretcher after being injured in a collision in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at San Francisco.

Campbell gave a thumb’s up as medical personnel prepared to take him off the field.

According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Campbell is said to be able to move his extremities, though he has experienced some tingling and numbness, per an announcement made in the 49ers’ press box.

Campbell was credited with four combined tackles and a half-sack before leaving the game. He has notched 3.5 sacks on the season.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m. ET: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Campbell can move his extremities, the club’s Twitter feed reported. He will be evaluated at a hospital.


(nbcsports.com)

Foxborourgh, Mass. -- How to stop or even slow down New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham had become one of this season's greatest unknowns throughout the NFL as Graham had transformed into the ultimate mismatch for the opposition.

Leave it up to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots to not only limit Graham, but completely shut him out in the Saints' 30-27 loss in Gillette Stadium.
Graham, the league's leader in receiving yards coming into the game, was held without a catch despite being targeted by Drew Brees six times. It's the first time since Oct. 31, 2010, his rookie year against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Graham failed to catch a pass in a game.

Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib drew the assignment on Graham and stuck to him like a mosquito, giving Graham barely room to breathe much less catch a football. Payton referred to Talib as an elite cornerback leading up to the game and the Saints had to figure he would defend Graham at some point Sunday.
Payton said it wasn't all Talib, though, pointing more to a philosophy New England implements as a whole to slow down the opponent's primary weapon.

"The one thing they do a good job with is they disrupt you at the line of scrimmage really better than anyone," Payton said. "They do a really good job of getting hands on receivers and tight ends. They're very well-coached and disciplined. They did a very good job of that."

Payton may have been correct in his assessment as the Patriots held Graham 0-fer even after Talib left early in the third quarter with a hip injury and never returned.

"It seemed to be pretty consistent," Brees said. "Obviously at times and depending on the situation and personnel group, they did some things to Jimmy and to other guys. Listen, that's football. You know they're going to have a plan for you in every situation, red zone. You've got to find ways to combat it."

Patriots safety Devin McCourtey picked up Graham in one-on-one coverage on many snaps once Talib left the game and said the defense had incentive to shut down Graham.

"All week, we knew. All we kept hearing was, 'Jimmy Graham,' and we knew we'd have to come in and play," McCourtey said. "We'd have to play him tough, and you don't come in and say, 'We just want to contain him.' ... We've got to try to shut him down.

"That's the only way we'll have a chance to win this game, because if he has the type of games he's been having, we'll have no shot. It was a total team effort. Aqib did a great job early. We had a bunch of different guys -- Kyle (Arrington) had a big interception and a big play on the goal line against him. So guys stepped up and played tonight."

A lower left leg injury also slowed Graham after he leapt for a Brees pass late in the third quarter, which turned into an interception. Graham limped off the field after the play as trainers tended to his injury.

Graham returned later in the fourth quarter and played during the Saints' final touchdown drive, but he left the field with trainers after the drive. Payton wouldn't elaborate on Graham's injury, and Graham wasn't in the locker room during the postgame media availability.


(nola.com)

NFL suspended Jets TE Kellen Winslow four games for violating the league's policy against PEDs.
He can be removed from fantasy rosters of all kinds. At this point, it wouldn't be unfair to wonder if Winslow invested on the performance enhancers as a means of resurrecting his career after essentially falling out of football. He's been cut by several teams over the past few seasons. The Jets will move forward with Jeff Cumberland as their primary tight end. They also have former Patriot Zach Sudfeld on the roster, and the player once nicknamed "Baby Gronk" is expected to be active in Week 6 against the Steelers.


(rotoworld.com)

The top catches of Reggie Wayne’s Colts career:

vs. Green Bay, Oct. 7, 2012: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne crosses the goal line to score the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the Colts' 30-27 victory.
Andrew Luck: "I remember the effort after the catch being the spectacular thing. The wherewithal. He's not going to get his body in the end zone. He knew he needed a millimeter of the nose of the football to cross the goal line and he got a millimeter-plus across the goal line. It was amazing.''

at Houston, Oct. 5, 2008: Reggie Wayne makes a 5-yard TD catch from Peyton Manning with 1:54 to play to cap 31-27 comeback. He beat CB Jacques Reeves with a one-handed catch in the left corner of the end zone and kept his feet inbounds.
Peyton Manning: "One-handed, back-shoulder (pass) to win the game. Just a great, great catch.''

vs. Green Bay, Oct. 7, 2012: 12-yard pass from Luck on the game-winning fourth-quarter drive despite tight coverage by Packers CB Tramon Williams.
Luck: "That's my favorite catch. Reggie was in the slot. The corner (Williams) sort of read (the route). He knows the corner's there. The ball's coming literally right at the corner and Reggie put his hands (through the corner) and catches it in front of the corner and brings it right into his body. Gets up, shakes his head and smiles. That was amazing."

at Jacksonville, Dec. 17, 2009: Reggie Wayne hauls in a 65-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning in front of Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson on a third-and-5 play with 5:33 to play in a 35-31 victory.

vs. New England, Nov. 15, 2009: Winning 1-yard TD catch from Manning with 13 seconds remaining following Bill Belichick's infamous failed fourth-and-2. Wayne appeared to catch the back third of the football on Manning's low fastball.
Manning: "That slant in the back of the end zone. It was a great route, a great catch against tight coverage. Certainly considering the situation, the timing, that made it even better.''

AFC title game vs. New England, Jan. 21, 2007: 14-yard reception from Manning on the winning drive in the fourth quarter. At the end of the play, Wayne lost control of the football while surrounded by several Patriots, but managed to reach up and grab it.
Manning: "Maybe you give him credit for two catches. He caught a little 5-yard 'in' route; that play we always ran. He was always so good about catching it and getting down field, just barreling through linebackers and safeties. On that play, he made a move and the ball came out. I give him credit for a second catch because he went up there and caught it again amongst about five Patriots . . . (Tedy) Bruschi, (Asante) Samuel, all of 'em. I can remember time standing still for a minute considering the situation.''

vs. Houston, Dec. 22, 2011: Wayne catches the winning touchdown against Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson in a 19-16 victory.

vs. Denver in AFC wild card game, Jan. 9, 2005: 49-yard reception from Manning despite being interfered with by Broncos CB Roc Alexander.
Tony Dungy: "They called pass interference and Reggie caught it with one hand. The reason it was my favorite is because I didn't even say, 'Wow!' It was just like, 'OK, Reggie caught the ball with one hand' and you move on to the next play. That's what I had come to expect."

Super Bowl XLI vs. Chicago, Feb. 4, 2007: 53-yard TD from Manning in the first quarter. Postseason catches don't count on a player's all-time stats, but Wayne burned the Bears on the NFL's biggest stage.
Manning: "Reggie and I had what we called a 16-yard 'in'-pump. We were trying to get cover-2 and the safety drives on the 'in' route and Reggie goes by him. (The Bears) busted the coverage and Reggie ended up being really wide open. Reggie and I have always been convinced that even had they not blown the coverage, that route was going to work. So, we're sticking with that."


(indystar.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears said linebacker D.J. Williams will miss the rest of the season with a torn muscle, sustained in Thursday's win over the New York Giants.

Williams left the game after tearing his left pectoral muscle in the third quarter of the Bears' 27-21 victory.

Rookie Jon Bostic went in for Williams and will take over at middle linebacker.

Bostic, a second-round choice out of Florida, started the first three games of the season for Chicago while Williams recovered from a calf injury sustained during the pre-season.

Williams signed with the Bears in March after eight seasons with the Denver Broncos.

He had 27 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in six games this season.

Chicago is 4-2, in first place in the NFC North. The Bears next play the Washington Redskins on the road Oct. 20.


(upi.com)

The Houston Texans thought last week's blowout loss in San Francisco was rock bottom. They had no clue.

Matt Schaub hurt his ankle Sunday during an ugly 38-13 loss to the St. Louis Rams. The ugliest, most memorable moment came courtesy of the home crowd.

After booing Schaub during the game, Texans fans cheered when he went down with an injury. Backup quarterback T.J. Yates also got a rousing ovation when he entered the game.

"No class," Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said of his home crowd after the game, via NFL Media's Jeff Darlington. "It's bad when members of the other team are saying that's messed up. No class."


(nfl.com)

As a 25-year old rookie, Miami graduate Kenny Kadji was completely overlooked coming out of college, going undrafted. The Cleveland Cavaliers picked him up for the Summer League squad, and Kadji has impressed many. What other teams saw as an age concern, Kenny Kadji sees as a developmental benefit, meaning Kadji aims to contribute immediately. In his preseason debut, Kadji showed this with a 15 point, five rebound performance.

And Kenny Kadji may be exactly what the Cleveland Cavaliers need. Kadji is just shy of seven feet, and with his three-point potential (37% in his two years with the Hurricanes), Kadji can find a nice place in the front court as a long range threat, shared only with rookie Anthony Bennett who will presumably see action at the three and four spot; Bennett, however, is only 6’8. And at 6’11, Kadji is a decent shot blocker, averaging 2 blocks per game with the University of Miami. This summer with the Cavaliers, Kadji has showed he can bring energy to the court and make an effort on the boards.

Kadji is seen to have a high basketball IQ, and with his ability playing the pick-and-roll, Kadji could find himself playing decent minutes running the pick-and-pop with Kyrie Irving, showing off that three-point range.

While Kenny Kadji’s second preseason game was lackluster, he did go 4-4 from the line and block a shot in his nine minutes of play against the Orlando Magic. I’m excited to see how Kadji will respond in Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats, as well as how the preseason will pan out for him. With the health uncertainty that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front court has seen in recent times, Kadji is a great asset for the Cavs to keep around. He fits right in with the youthful spirit of this Cleveland team and hopefully his maturity as a rookie will allow Kadji to see minutes early on.


(isportsweb.com)

DALLAS -- The last time rookie point guard Shane Larkin attempted to go through a full practice with the Dallas Mavericks was July 5 -- the day they left town to travel to Las Vegas to participate in the summer league.

Unfortunately for Larkin, a few hours before the Mavs departed for Vegas, he fractured his right ankle in that practice session. Larkin subsequently underwent successful surgery on July 16 and was slated to be sidelined for approximately three months, which is Wednesday.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that Larkin is doing a little more work in practice.

"But he's not doing anything with the team on the court other than stretching and some shooting,'' Carlisle said. "He’s doing some running on the treadmill, so that’s a good sign.

"And he's making progress. He's had no setbacks, so that’s good.''

Carlisle isn't sure if Larkin will return to full workouts next week. He isn't even sure if the No. 18th overall pick of this past June's NBA Draft will be able to play in any of the remaining six preseason games.

When asked if Larkin would be ready to play in any preseason games, Carlisle said: "Just purely on my gut opinion, my non-educated medical opinion, I would say doubtful. But who knows.

"We’ll see how Mother Nature treats us. She’s not been returning my text messages.''


(star-telegram.com)

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— James Jones wonders about the fuss. Given the opportunity, this is what he does.

A replacement starter for sidelined Dwyane Wade in the Miami Heat's exhibition opener, and with additional opportunities amid the limited minutes for the starters in Thursday's victory over the Detroit Pistons, Jones went into Friday's exhibition against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Sprint Center at 6 of 10 on 3-pointers in the preseason.

"It's just from work with the shooters in the offseason," the veteran swingman said. "Me and Ray [Allen], we get a lot of shots up. The routine, it pays off. And the consistency helps, especially when you get consistent minutes."

Jones went into Friday's exhibition tied for second in scoring with the Heat this preseason, behind only Chris Bosh.

"He's another guy who had a terrific summer," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He's really been disciplined with his nutrition and his training this summer, so he kept himself ready. He's a pro's pro. Whenever his number's called, he produces.

"It's not easy, particularly for shooters, who not only rely on their skill. You also have to rely on rhythm and confidence. J.J. is always able to come in with that confidence, and I think that's a remarkable talent that he has."

With more of an opportunity to play alongside Wade, Bosh and LeBron James, Jones has stated his case for regular-season playing time.

"You have to give up something," Jones said. "When teams are trying to take our guys away, take C.B. when he's attacking, LeBron, D-Wade, they're going to leave our shooters open and it's up to us to make those shots."

There could be the opportunity for at least a slight uptick in playing time this season with Mike Miller now with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jones, however, said there is no reason to attempt to play beyond his skill set in a bid to bid for regular-season playing time.

"I'm a player. I do what Coach asks me to do, depending on what our personnel has," Jones said. "I mean, it's not like I can't do these things. But why replicate it when you have three of the game's best players? So we all understand our roles. We all understand what Coach wants. And he wants me to continue to shoot it."

Spoelstra said it is important his players move beyond the notion of stepping into Miller's role.

"We're not necessarily trying to fill gaps that are missing from last year," he said. "We're trying to evolve and take steps forward. J.J.'s game is different than players that we've had before. We know what skill set he brings offensively. He spreads the court as well as anybody in this league. He knows what his game is. He doesn’t play outside of his box. Defensively, he's always been one of our better off-the-ball system defenders, what Shane [Battier] has done, J.J.'s done for years.

"He just needs to continue to make his point. But it's not about necessarily earning a rotation spot right now. It's just about sharpening your skills, improving, evolving our game, and being ready whenever you number is called."

So Jones is staying ready by maximizing his increased preseason exposure.

"It's not hard," he said, "when you got teammates that get you open and get you the ball in good spots."


(sun-sentinel.com)