Antonio Dixon is a regular now in the Eagles lineup beating out the Eagles’ second round draft pick for playing time. He has accumulated 3 tackles already and has shown the ability to take on double teams and help stuff the run. Congrats to Antonio.

Q: At this point how close is Jeremy Shockey being to everything you hoped he would be if not already?
A: I think when we went out to acquire him, we were looking for someone who was versatile and could catch and block and do those things. I said this before, fortunately he’s healthy and he’s doing those things. He’s been very in tune to exactly what we’re doing and he’s done a real good job with that. He’s been a great teammate, a good leader and he’s had a good season because of it.

Q: How does he specifically upgraded the offense?
A: He’s a guy that’s a threat on third down with matchups in regard to who he draws, the linebacker or safety. He’s someone that’s a big target. When you talk about throwing to someone, his stature is pretty big, so it gives you a little bit more margin for error, location variability and I think Drew (Brees) takes advantage of it. The third down snaps, the base play action and the red zone.

Q: Is his intensity contagious?
A: I think so. I think it’s positive. If you ask the players, they’d view it as a positive.



(neworleans.com)

Frank Gore: The Texans are 1st in the NFL against the run and Gore has missed the team’s last 2 7/8 games with an ankle injury (he had just 1 carry for 4 yards in week 3, so that is the 7/8). So why do I say to start him? Because the 49ers are a running team and Gore will shred them up like a starving man with a Thanksgiving turkey!



(jaguars.com)

Redskins RB Clinton Portis sat out practice Wednesday because of leg problems. "It's really one leg," he said. "It's just my right leg. I've got plantar fasciitis, an ankle, the inside of my MCL, and a calf all on my right leg. So if I can get a new lower leg, I'll be fine." Portis acknowledged he has not had much interaction with new play-caller Sherman Lewis, who came out of retirement about two weeks ago to serve as an offensive consultant.

(gridironfans.com)

For all the talk about the 49ers new guy, the most significant receiver on the field Sunday will be in a Houston Texans uniform.

Andre Johnson ranks second in the NFL with 572 receiving yards. He's built like a bear (6-foot-3, 225-pounds) but moves like a hummingbird.

"He can fly," cornerback Nate Clements said.

Clements will be the primary coverage man against Johnson on Sunday. He'll be trying to bounce back from the Atlanta loss in which another speedy receiver, Roddy White, racked up a Falcons franchise record 210 receiving yards.

Clements and the secondary did a much better job against Larry Fitzgerald in the opener, when the Cardinals star totaled 71 yards.

Fitzgerald, like Johnson, is a load (6-3, 217). Can the 49ers use the same game plan Sunday?

"No," Clements said. "If you look at it just based on size and weight, their similar. But they're completely different.

"They both have strength. Larry Fitz has those excellent hands and he likes to jump up. Andre Johnson can flat-out run. He has good hands, as well, but he's on vertical routes."

Since 2006, Johnson averages 101.8 yards per home game. That's by far the highest mark in the NFL during that span. (Fitzgerald is second at 85.5).

Johnson registered his 500th career catch in Week 2, making him the second-fastest receiver ever to reach that milestone. Johnson did in his 88th game; Anquan Boldin needed only 80 games.

(mercurynews.com)

TEMPE, Ariz. - The biggest question mark on the Arizona defence entering the season was how new starting defensive end Calais Campbell would do. So far the answer would be just fine.

"I'm doing a decent job. I'm not too hard on myself," Campbell said after practice on Thursday. "I'm comfortable, feeling confident. I give myself around a 'B.' I just want to continue to get better, continue learning."

The six-foot-eight, 290-pound second-year pro from Miami is hard to miss on the field. Just ask kickers Josh Scobee of Jacksonville and Kris Brown of Houston. Campbell blocked field goal tries by both.

He also got a hand on Olindo Mare's 28-yarder in Sunday's 27-3 victory in Seattle, but the ball still made it through the uprights to prevent a shutout loss at home for the Seahawks.

"It grazed my hand a little bit," Campbell said. "If I could have had just a little more effort it might have been a nice little block."

Usually lining up alongside nose tackle Bryan Robinson in a 3-4 formation, with Darnell Dockett on Robinson's other side, Campbell has 17 tackles - 12 unassisted - including two tackles for loss. He has 1 1/2 sacks - both against Seattle - two pass deflections and a team-high three quarterback hits.

"I think he's done better in the run game than we thought he might this early," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He's done a nice job with that, and certainly he's created pressure at times on the quarterback. Athletically as far as running down the guy on the punt return a couple of weeks ago and then what he does defensively, I'm very pleased with his progress."

The defensive end job became vacant when Antonio Smith left to sign a big free agent contract with the Houston Texans. Campbell, a second-round draft pick who left Miami after his junior season, was the leading candidate from the start.

"Calais is coming along well," linebacker Karlos Dansby said. "He's stepping in and making plays and playing hard, just trying to be a sponge right now. He's still young."

Campbell has benefited greatly from the attention defences are giving to Dockett, the Cardinals' most disruptive force up front.

"Teams have to plan for him, so when they start protection his way, it gives me a lot of one-on-one opportunities," Campbell said. "He keeps waiting for me to start making more plays so things kind of even out a little bit."

Dockett, who is a good friend of Smith and hated to see him leave, has become Campbell's mentor.

"He really wants to see me do well," Campbell said. "He definitely works with me a lot and is pretty tough on me if I don't go hard in practice or I'm not explosive enough or doing a drill hard enough. He makes sure I treat it just as if it was a game."

Campbell has set his goals as high as they get. He wants to be one of the best defensive linemen of all time, "a Reggie White, Michael Strahan kind of guy."

There's a long way to go, but barely 23 years old, he's happy now to be a big part of what the Cardinals are doing.

"Earlier today we were watching film and stuff and I had to really think to myself 'Wow, this is crazy. I remember just wishing I could be here. Now it's actually here. This is like unbelievable. This is like a dream come true."'



(metronews.ca)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- First, Roscoe Parrish couldn't persuade the Buffalo Bills to trade him. Now, the NFL's leading active punt returner has more reason to be unhappy because he can't even get on the field.

Careful in saying he didn't want to "badmouth" coach Dick Jauron after practice Thursday, Parrish questioned the team's decision to strip him of his punt-returning duties by leaving him inactive against the Jets last weekend.

"I'm frustrated, very frustrated," Parrish said. "To be honest with you -- not to badmouth nobody, not to badmouth Jauron, you know -- my résumé speaks for itself."

Parrish was referring to the numbers he has put up since taking over the return duties midway through his rookie season in 2005. In that time, Parrish tops the NFL active career list by averaging 13.1 yards on punt returns, has the franchise record with 1,385 return yards and has also scored three touchdowns. This season, Parrish is mired in 21st in the NFL, averaging 6.1 yards per return.

"When you see my résumé, and you see me not returning punts, it's kind of like 'Wow, what is going on?'" Parish said. "You know what I mean?"

Backup running back Fred Jackson has taken over the duties and is expect to keep them as Buffalo (2-4) prepares to play at Carolina (2-3) this weekend.

The benching is the latest blow for Parrish, who was already unhappy with his decreasing role as a wide receiver. He dropped to fourth on the depth chart after the Bills signed Terrell Owens in March.

Parrish, who has two years left on his contract, had asked for a trade this offseason. The chances of that happening ended Tuesday, when the NFL trading deadline passed.

"It's been a frustrating offseason. It's been frustrating during the season," Parrish said.

As difficult as it has been, he said, he's staying positive and will assist Jackson if he can.

Parrish's demotion came a week after he struggled returning punts in a 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He muffed a rolling punt, which led to the Browns scoring the decisive field goal in the final minute.

Parrish was also faulted earlier in the game. Fielding a punt at his own 42 and with his path blocked up the right sideline, Parrish reversed course and wound up losing 15 yards.

Jauron said the decision to bench Parrish was made in order to get Jackson more involved now that he's playing a secondary role behind starter Marshawn Lynch, who missed the first three games while serving an NFL-imposed suspension. Another reason, Jauron said, was his decision to activate second-year receiver Steve Johnson, a decision that left Parrish the odd player out.

"Both Roscoe and Freddie are terrific returners. We didn't feel like we were losing much quite frankly," Jauron said.
Jauron refused to say whether he has lost confidence in Parrish, but acknowledged the player might be trying too hard. He has 12 returns for 73 yards and has fumbled twice this season.

Parrish said he has received no explanation as to why he has been demoted, and didn't find out about it until he looked at the team's depth chart before the Jets game. He hopes it isn't because of what happened against the Browns.

"I made a bad decision in the Cleveland game. But every guy makes mistakes," Parrish said. "If Dick Jauron feels like Fred's the guy to be back there, he's the head coach. So I can't say much about that but just keep working and hopefully in the future -- if it's not here then on another team -- I'll get my opportunity."



(cbssports.com)

Olympic medalist Zach Railey will join vacation sailors on a flotilla with Sunsail Sailing Vacations in the British Virgin Islands on November 6 through 13, 2009. Railey, who won a silver medal in the Finn class at the 2008 Olympic Games in China, will assist the flotilla's lead crew in presiding over activities, from short-course races to beach barbecues and morning briefings.

Sunsail recently announced a sponsorship agreement with Railey, a U.S. Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member who plans to qualify for the 2012 event in Great Britain. Sunsail's sponsorship is expected to raise more than $40,000 in the first year toward Railey's campaign costs, and the November flotilla will help fundraising efforts. Companies interested in sponsoring the event should contact Sunsail brand manager Josie Tucci (josiet@sunsail.com).

Flotillas provide bareboaters with group support and the freedom to choose destinations and pace. "There's always plenty of free sailing time to explore alone if you wish," Tucci says. "We'll meet you at agreed destinations throughout the week for barbecues, cocktails, parties, racing, and other social events. Guests say these are the best aspects of our flotilla vacations."

Sunsail continues its 35th-anniversary celebration in 2009 with 35 percent off B.V.I. charters aboard the Sunsail 39, 393, 423, and 43 monohulls by Beneteau. Find details about charter discounts and the flotilla at the company's website (www.sunsail.com).



(cruisingworld.com)

Check out the latest update to the 2009 NFL U Rosters. There is a new addition and some subtractions since our last update. You can also check out the MLB, and CFL rosters. Click here to see the proCane rosters.

Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey did a good job keeping a lid on his emotinos in advance of last Sunday's game against his former Giants' team. And he was gracious after the Saints' 48-27 win over the Giants, not rubbing the win too hard in the team's face.

But he did take a swipe at Big Blue via his Twitter account, saying that this week's game against the 2-3 Dolphins might even be tougher than facing the Giants.

Tweeted Shockey: "Miami has a great team... this will be a bigger test for OUR TEAM than last sunday!!!" 
Wow. First, Richard Seymour rubs it in Antonio Pierce's face for the linebacker's comments that playing the Raiders the previous week felt like a scrimmage. And now it's Shockey's turn to tweak Big Blue.



(newsday.com)

Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in April, the New York Giants have re-signed defensive tackle Dwayne Hendricks to their practice squad, according to Mike Garafolo (via The Daily Journal).

"It's always a good thing to get another opportunity, not only with the NFL, but with the New York Giants," Hendricks said after he worked out and passed a physical Tuesday morning. "Their goal is to win a championship, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to help them achieve that goal in any way possible."

Prior to re-signing with the Giants, Hendricks has been working as a substitute teacher and a defensive line coach at Millville Senior High in New Jersey.

But the question is, can he play safety?

All jokes aside, this guy is one of the good ones and I hope he can find a way to help the team as the year moves forward.

"Right now, I'll just try to do the best I can to get better and help the team get better," Hendricks said. "Whatever happens from that can only be good, as long as I work hard."

Now cue the rumors of Chris Canty moving to IR.



(screamingsports.com)

Bills coach Dick Jauron confirmed that Fred Jackson will remain the Bills' punt returner this week, ahead of Roscoe Parrish.

"I think we’ll stay with what we did last Sunday," Jauron said. "I think it worked out pretty well."

This represents a significant lineup shakeup.

Parrish is the defending NFL punt-return leader two years running. In fact, he's the NFL's all-time leader in punt return average at 13.0 yards. Jackson had a 27-yard return against the Jets and had a 22-yarder that was called back by penalty.

Parrish was considered a prime prospect to get traded at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, but no deal materialized. Parrish muffed a punt late in the game against Cleveland that led to the Browns' winning field goal. He was inactive vs. the Jets. Asked if he thought Parrish was pressing, Jauron said: "Probably. He’s a great effort guy and a very competitive guy. He wants to make plays. He really wants to make plays, so I’d say that’s probably right."



(buffalonews.com)

The emergence of Johnny Knox should be enough for the Bears to move Devin Hester back to return kicks.  Hester can still make an occasional impact on the offensive side but I just miss the way Hester forced opponents to alter their game plans on a weekly basis.  Knox and Manning, while good, can never match the phenomenon that was the Skunk.  Dress Aromashodu and let JC begin developing that relationship so we don't have the same training camp debates in 2010.



(chicagonow.com)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris has announced that Major League Baseball All-Star and former Hurricane infielder Ryan Braun will be the guest speaker at the team's preseason banquet on Feb. 12, 2010.

"It's exciting to have Ryan come back to speak at our banquet," Morris said. "He is one of our best players ever and one of our best students ever and there's no doubt he'll deliver a great message to our team and to our fans."

Morris also announced that for the first time ever, the team will hold three of its biggest annual events -- the preseason banquet, the alumni game and golf tournament - all in the same weekend. The weekend kicks off with the banquet on Friday, Feb. 12, followed by the alumni game on Saturday, Feb. 13 and the team's golf tournament on Monday, Feb. 15.

"I'm looking forward to having all of these great events around the same time," Morris said. "It should be fun weekend for everyone involved right before our season gets underway."

The banquet will be held at the Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay on 1633 N. Bayshore Drive in downtown Miami, the alumni game will played at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on the University of Miami campus while the golf tournament will be held at Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club in Coral Gables.

Braun, a two-time National League All-Star as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, has recorded at least 30 home runs in each of his first three MLB seasons. This past season, Braun hit .320 with 203 hits, 32 home runs, 114 RBI, 113 runs and 20 stolen bases.

He became the first former Hurricane ever to win Rookie of the Year honors either the National or American League. He was selected by the Brewers with the No. 5 overall selection in the 2005 MLB Draft. In three seasons as a `Cane, Braun hit .365 with 225 total hits, 40 doubles, 45 home runs, 196 RBI and 57 stolen bases. He helped Miami to two College World Series appearances.

For more information on the banquet, alumni game and golf tournament, contact the Miami baseball office at (305) 284-4171.



(hurricanesports.com)

After asking for his release from the San Antonio Spurs and then subsequently being released from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jack McClinton has been forced to take the more difficult route to reach his dream once again. McClinton didn’t want to go abroad and it was thought he wouldn’t have to take that path to make it to the NBA, but nothing has ever been easy for McClinton. Don’t think that will stop him from reaching his dream though, he chose to play in Turkey over playing in the NBA D-League and hopes to improve his game there and reach his dream of playing in the NBA next year. Best of luck to Jack and just because he will be in the Turkey doesn’t mean we won’t follow his progress.

Check out Week 6 photos from around the the NFL of our proCanes. Click here to see the photos.

McKinnie tweets: Those r 4 boxes of clothes I'm about 2 ship 2 a kid that's in Jr. College that is my size. Times are hard in college.



McKinnie then tweets: See yall! I'm actually sending the clothes out!





(twitter.com)

(twitter.com)

The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed defensive tackle Orien Harris after trading him earlier this season to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for running back Brian Leonard.

St. Louis traded Harris to Detroit on July 22, and he was with the Lions during the preseason. After making the team, he was waived on Sept. 16.

Harris entered the league as a fourth-round draft choice with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Harris takes the roster spot of defensive end Antwan Odom, who underwent surgery and has been placed on injured reserve.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Antonio Dixon has been a bright spot along the line all season long, but it's yet to be seen if he can keep it up for an entire year. If he can, he was a major steal and if he can't, the Eagles picked him up off the waiver a week before the season, so they certainly aren't banking on his progression.



(2minutestomidnightgreen.com)

Tavares Gooden finally revealed what all the buzz has been about him. He showed great instincts, covered receivers well, ran hard to the ball, showed uncanny speed, reacted and shed well, tackled hard and in fact led the team in tackles.  Gooden’s best play may have been streaking across the field to catch Peterson from behind after Reed let him escape.  Or it may have been Gooden’s well-executed stunt up the middle to sack Favre. It was one of the few bright spots on defense.



(ravens24x7)

Join Reggie Wayne, and his Indianapolis Colts teammates and other celebrities in a Basketball rematch between the “All-Stars” of JEWEL Christian Academy/Eastern Star Church and local celebrities, Friday, October 30, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Cathedral High School, 5225 E. 56th Street. Teams will go head-to-head to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation (Indiana Region) and JEWEL Christian Academy. Gates will open at 6:15 p.m.

Benefit Game Tickets are now on sale. Game admission just $5 for tickets that are purchased in advance, or $ 8 at the door. Tickets can be purchased from JEWEL Christian Academy (5750 E. 30th Street), JEWEL Bible Bookstores (5750 E. 30th Street and 8850 E. 106th Street, Fishers), or at Cathedral High School ( 5225 E. 56th Street ) on game day, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

JEWEL Christian Academy (JCA) is an accredited Christian Elementary (K–5) school that is committed to providing a quality education through Biblical principles, so that all children embrace a love for learning. Proceeds received will benefit sixth-year recipient organization, Make-A-Wish Foundation® (Indiana Region), as well as the further enhancement of educational programs and resources at JEWEL Christian Academy.  

For more information about the 11th Annual Benefit Basketball Game, or to make a contribution, please contact Kraig Cox, JCA Director of Athletics at (317) 591-7200 x-159.



(colts.com)

ORCHARD PARK, NY (WIVB) - The Bills did not trade Roscoe Parrish or Terrell Owens.  They did not trade anyone.  The roster remains intact as the NFL trade deadline passed at 4pm Tuesday.

There had been speculation that Parrish would be moved, especially after he was inactive for Sunday's game in New York.  He has expressed his displeasure about his role in the offense, and the benching was a clear indication that he is no longer in the team's plans.

Dick Jauron said the team wanted to give Fred Jackson a chance at returning. This came just one week after Parrish's fumbled punt return cost the team a loss against the Browns.

Parrish led the NFL in punt returns in 2007 and 2008, but ranks just 20th this year with an average of 6.1 yards per return.

The trade speculation was also based on the Bills need for a roster spot soon, as James Hardy is set to come off the physically unable to perform list and begin practicing. 

Parrish has just one catch on offense this season.



(wivb.com)

You may know him for his towering frame of 6' 8'' and 335 lbs.

You may know him for his dominating play on the football field as a powerful offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings.

You may even know him as an All-American standout from the University of Miami Hurricanes.

But one thing few fans of Bryant McKinnie may not know is that not only does he get his hands dirty on the football field but he has his hands in the music industry as well; being the Co-CEO of Miami-based record label Swagga Ent. with R&B hit maker Pleaure P, formerly of the group Pretty Ricky. Scoop correspondent broadKast got the chance to interview McKinnie via telephone despite his busy schedule to find out more about the Pro Bowler's musical endeavor.

SMAG: How did you and Pleasure P hook up to form the label Swagga Ent.? McKinnie: Well I had known Pleasure P for a few years from events, parties, cookouts and things like that throughout Miami and we had talked about getting together to make a label and since he was already heavy in the game and had experience, it just grew from there. SMAG: You're a big-time football star but where did the ambition to form your own label come from? McKinnie: It was always a dream of mine along with teammates in college like Ed Reed [Baltimore Ravens] and others. We had talked of always getting our own record labels when we made it to the pros and it was actually something we had been working on for quite a while since being at UM. We just continued to work at it and vowed to make it work once we got in the NFL.

SMAG: Describe how you manage your time because as a football player, you've got playbooks and gameplans to memorize and as a music exec you have contracts and record deals to structure. How do you balance it?
McKinnie: Yeah it's really busy. I don't usually have any off time except Mondays or Tuesdays when I handle the music side. Wednesdays through Sunday are pretty much football time from the practices to gameday. But I pretty much balance everything out as best as I can.

SMAG: Talk about some of Swagga Ent. signees in Pretty Money and others. What makes them standout from the competition in music today? McKinnie: Well Pretty Money is different because they're an all female rap group which is something you don't see in the game right now and they're in a joint deal with us here at Swagga Ent. and rapper Trina. We also have a group called Da Fr3shmen and a Haitian-bred rapper by the name of Mona Lisa. So our staff is growing everyday with new talent.

SMAG: What are your predictions for Swagga Ent. as an up and coming label?
McKinnie: We're planning for a big movement in the music biz. We want to be recognized as the next big label such as the Def Jams and labels like that. We're just trying to improve to become the best that's out there with Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, everything from every genre.

With two powerful and influential label heads steering Swagga Ent. in a lucrative, prominent direction and a show-stopping list of artists, it is only a matter of time before Swagga Ent. is atop record business success. For more information on Swagga Ent. and all of their fresh, new acts check out www.myspace.com/swaggaentllc.



(scoopsthemagazine.com)

I kind of made a big deal out of Clinton Portis's comments earlier this season that Daniel Snyder was on the verge of losing his fan base, so it's only fair to highlight Portis's defense of ownership on Tuesday's John Thompson Show. Making his weekly appearance on ESPN 980, Portis included an unprompted word in Snyder's favor, saying "It's not him."

The question and the answer were both long, but I'll include both in full, as part of the special D.C. Sports Bog Stenographer Special.

"How many times Clinton can we start over and get some continuity?" a clearly frustrated John Thompson asked. "It just appears to me that it's always, in the middle of season and the end of the season, a change of personnel, starting over, some reevaluation or something. How the hell can there ever be continuity among you guys with all these changes that are made?"

Portis--who seemed unfazed by the move to have Sherm Lewis call plays--offered a lengthy response that seemed....well, odd, anyhow.

"I think it's just gonna come down to not worrying about the media," Portis said. "You know, everybody want input around here. Being in Washington, D.C. and having so much focus on this team, everybody want their way. It's a fan that want Jason Campbell benched, that want Colt Brennan to play right now, and Colt Brennan injured. You know, it's a fan that want me benched and they should have drafted Knowshon Moreno from Denver; look, they didn't, Denver did. It's always, 'Oh, this could work.'...

"Every time you look at headlines, every time you see a story, it's 'The Redskins suck, the Redskins can't do it, the Redskins down again.' We're 2-4, we've still got a lot of football left. Philly was 2-4 last year and went to the NFC Championship game. Philly did that as a team. I'm sure their fans was killing them, the papers was killing them, but somehow, some way, you've got to keep searching and keep trying to find a way until you find it.

"And I think the pressure [is] on Mr. Snyder, and he want to win so bad. And everybody's [saying] 'Oh, get him out of here, he need to sell the team, he's what's [wrong].' It's not him. I think he brings in everybody that he could possibly bring in that he think gonna help this team. I think if you look at the talent on our team, we've got a lot of talent. We've got great players. We've gotta go out and do it. It's no coaches playing for us, it's nobody in the front office playing for us. The scout evaluators, whoever they bring in, I mean, they evaluate talent. We've got talent. It's just the execution. So it's on us."

Thompson tried following up by asking who was making the decisions, and based on what criteria, and whether the media was influencing decisions, but Portis returned to his theme.

"I'm just telling you, on our behalf as players, the conversation that you hear," he said. "I mean, a couple weeks ago, you've got some players--I don't even know who it was--asking about knowing if the coach gonna be here, knowing this and knowing that. What we need to know is what defense we're lining up in this week, what offensive plays we gonna line up in, and what we need to go out and perfect.

"We can't worry about the media. I never even listen to my own radio show. I mean, when I talk to y'all, that's it. I don't pick up the papers, I don't watch TV to hear, 'The Redskins failed, get everybody out of there,' because I don't want to take the bad, so there's no need to hear the good. It's gonna always be 'Oh, something need to be changed.' We don't need to change all the time. What we need is to stay healthy, which we haven't done. What we need is to execute, which we haven't done, to stop penalizing ourselves, which we haven't done. If we get those things, we'll be fine. Everything else will fall into place."

[Just to be clear, when asked about continuity, Portis said the problem is the media, and when asked about the media, Portis said they need continuity. Next thing I know, Redskins players will be bringing Backgammon boards to the Bingo hall and shouting out Yahtzee! Love Yahtzee! Used to play by myself all the time. Never could figure out if it's better to take your second zero in Yahtzee, Four of a Kind or Chance. The first zero is for 1s, obviously.]
Anyhow, the interview wrapped up with Doc Walker asking about lights at the end of tunnels, which may or may not require extra sets of eyes to see.

'It's a pride thing," Portis said. "I can't speak for nobody else, but it's hard to go out in public when you around here, you 2-4 and you done lost to teams that haven't had a win. You know, it's hard. So my pride comes into play, like 'Man, I can't even hold my head up in a restaurant, [because] we suck as a team.'

"But I can't say, 'Oh man, I'm doing good, so I'm going to eat and I don't care what they say, I'm gonna bash my teammates.' That's not it. As a team, we're not getting it done. As a team, my pride is at stake. So therefore I come out and whatever I can do, whatever I can help with, whoever I can help improve, that's what I try to do....Win lose or draw, we're gonna go out and fight."



(washigtonpost.com)

In what qualifies as the worst news of the young season for Falcons fans, Brian Williams has reportedly torn his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.

This is a huge blow to the secondary, because Williams was playing quite well since joining the team before the 2009 season. He was even preventing a touchdown pass when he landed awkwardly and suffered the injury. We'll miss his playmaking ability and veteran savvy in the weeks ahead.

Cornerback Glenn Sharpe could get a promotion to the active roster, and if this news is confirmed by the team, I'd expect a move no later than mid-week.



(thefalcoholic.com)

DE Calais Campbell had one sack against Seattle and probably should have been credited with another. Campbell is also solid against the run, and his high level of play has been a positive early this season.



(ucla.scout.com)

Lions CB Phillip Buchanon was benched in favor of DeMarcus Faggins in Sunday's loss to the Packers.

This is the second time in four weeks Buchanon has been benched. Buchanon is dealing with a hand injury, but that wasn't the reason he was among Detroit's inactives. Aaron Rodgers shredded the Lions for 358 yards and two touchdowns.



(rotoworld.com)

CB Kelly Jennings suffered injuries to his rib and hip Sunday, but is also expected to be OK for the next game.





(seattletimes.com)

While Adam Schefter’s ESPN comments revolved this past week on rationalizing a Terrell Owens trade, the Buffalo Bills are very likely to move a receiver within the next 48 hours. That receiver however, will not be Owens.

I spoke to someone knowledgeably close to the organization and the  Bills are looking to cut ties with disgruntled wide receiver/kick returner Roscoe Parrish, and a move will be coming by the middle of the week at the latest.  I’m told the team has absolutely no plans to trade Owens.

But I’m told that Parrish is “finished” as a Buffalo Bill.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon. The Bills are frantically trying to accommodate a deal to move Parrish. The reported rumors of getting a third or fourth round draft pick are highly unlikely. The entire league knows the Bills are trying to move him. At this point the Bills will take anything they can get for the disgruntled five-year veteran. A sixth rounder is more feasible.

However, deal or no deal Parrish has played almost certainly his last game in a Buffalo uniform. If they can’t find a partner before the deadline they will likely cut him this week.

Wide receiver James Hardy is scheduled to begin practice (knee surgery) and return from the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. The organization has to find a roster spot for him. He becomes the seventh receiver on the roster. The team is simply not going to carry that many receivers.

Although he’s rarely seen the field this season, the Bills still like Stevie Johnson, especially with Josh Reed and Owens scheduled to become free agents after this season.

Justin Jenkins has value on special teams and comes much cheaper than Parrish, who has a cash-to-cap number around $2.5-million.

Parrish’s frustration over his lack of a role in the offense has boiled over to allegedly becoming a distraction to head coach Dick Jauron. While he was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday with a sore thigh, he reportedly was fine to play yesterday had the team needed him.

Parrish has only one catch for five yards this season and his fumbled punt return against Cleveland was the final dagger in Buffalo’s abysmal 6-3 loss the Cleveland last week.

While select teams may consider Parrish a playmaker in the league, he’s spent his career in Buffalo being little more than an outstanding kick returner. Parrish only has 98 receptions in 60 games with Buffalo and has never had more than 35 receptions or 352 yards in a season (2007).

Still, it’s anticipated the Bills have an interested partner, and holding him out of the lineup Sunday could be indication the team may have already found his next destination. Either way, Parrish is all but done in Buffalo.



(buffalosportsdaily.com)

How many clinics have you done?

``Too many,'' Twan Russell says through a weary laugh, still at work at Miami Dolphins headquarters late one night.

No, really, how many?

``Last year, we did 178,'' he says.

No, today?

``Today?'' he says. ``Just three.''

It is hard work, changing your community child by child, but you wouldn't believe how much this job can pay.

There was the time, for example, that Russell was running through a football obstacle course with a disabled child who could barely lift his arms. The wheelchair grazed tackling dummies and weaved around cones, and the child kept laughing with uncommon delight. The boy, at one point, started barking. Russell was surprised when a woman rushed up to him then with tears in her eyes. He got scared. He thought maybe a child at camp had been injured.

``No,'' the woman said through sobs. ``You don't understand what you just did. That boy hasn't made a sound in 10 years.''

It is not uncommon for professional football teams to have a department that helps in the community. It is very uncommon for that department to be run by a young man who so recently played for the team. But here is the 35-year-old former Dolphins linebacker during another 6 a.m., unloading that 22-foot truck (``Football in a can,'' Russell calls it), eager to learn whom he might reach with his touch today and whom he might touch with his reach.

``Accidentally impacting,'' he says. ``The people who made the most difference in my life didn't know they made the most difference in my life. We need to leave a fingerprint. There's a moral responsibility to leave something real behind.''

AT THE CROSSROADS
Life sometimes gives you a literal crossroads, complete with a stop sign. Russell found his on U.S. Highway 441 and 21st Street, near where he grew up in Fort Lauderdale. He was visiting his mother, who was sick from cancer, in 2004. He crossed the street to buy a drink. And his damaged knee clicked with so much rigidity that he barely got out of the way of an oncoming car. He sat on the side of the road and wept. And quit football forever on the spot.
A month later, his calling. Not metaphorically. Actually. The Dolphins were on the phone. And the conversation with then-president Brian Weidermeyer went something like this:

``You want a job?''

``What would I be doing?''

``I'm not sure.''

They created a position -- director of youth and community programs. Russell always had shown a zeal about helping kids during his playing days. In his six years with the Dolphins, Redskins and Falcons, the former University of Miami player created a life skills and literacy program that now has more than 40 teachers and eight centers. But today, with the backing and resources of one of South Florida's most popular and credible brands, he can devote himself full-time to strengthening the South Florida that helped to make him so strong.

``I love to serve,'' he says. ``It is part of my DNA.''

He wasn't born with it, actually. His mother embedded it. Twan always was painting or cleaning up at church as a child. Twan could have gone one of two ways from there. His father got involved with drugs and ended up in jail after orchestrating the Pell Grant fraud that resulted in UM landing on probation. So Twan's mother, Corliss, raised five boys on her own. And she was still running Twan's foundation from her death bed. It took three people to replace her.

Corliss was a teacher. Always a teacher. And, through her boy, she teaches South Florida still. His camps aren't really about football, obviously. The football is just the bait on the end of the hook. You should see what Twan teaches them about attitude, responsibility and positive choices once he gets them out of that sea of trouble and onto the safety of his boat.

``We have a harvest,'' Twan says. ``We're harvesting kids. Something good will grow. I'm driven by all my mother invested in me while we were eating oodles of noodles for dinner. A lot of people would have quit. But she was a force field. She kept the streets out of our home.''

`JOB WAS SENT BY GOD'
He is such a gentle menace. He led the University of Miami in tackles one season. He was a special-teams zealot who still smiles when he describes his old job as, in his words, ``crashing into something and killing it.'' So he has credibility when he goes into the Dolphins locker room and prods current players to give up their off days to meet with kids. Russell loves his job so much that his laughing wife will call him at 10 p.m. at Dolphins headquarters and ask after he has lost track of time again, ``Are you coming home?'' There are so many areas of South Florida that need. And there's not enough time in the day to give back what he feels like he owes.

``This job was sent by God,'' he says. ``I've been preparing for it all my life. I adore it.''

It fulfills him in the smallest, biggest ways. A young boy telling him, ``Thank you for being patient with me.'' The crying mother of a misbehaving child telling him, ``I need my boy to be around a man. You can give him something I can't -- some courage, some bite.'' Or a 14-year-old writing this letter:

Dear Twan Russell and the Miami Dolphins,

I am writing this on behalf of all the kids who enjoyed your camp over the years. Attending has been the highlight of my summers since I was six. The best part, after a spectacular week of competing, is getting to play in Dolphin Stadium. But camp means more than that to most kids. It's about being able to play in the practice bubble, meeting players from your favorite team and making friends you may only know for one week but, for that week, they're your best friends. Even though they might be four years younger or older, faster or slower, taller or shorter, you treat them the same. This no doubt comes from the leadership of the staff and coaches. The attitude of each athlete is molded in just one week. I don't know too many teachers who can say or do the same.
I'm sad to say I won't be attending camp next year because I'm turning 15 in November. But I'll be watching my little brother from the stands. I hope he gets as much out of the experience as I did. All I can say is thank you for the memories. They will last forever.



(miamiherald.com)

By the sixth inning and Jay is 3-3 with an RBI single and a 3-run HR. Jay's 13-36 (.361) with a HR and 8 RBIs so far in winter league play.

Looks like he picked up where he left off at Memphis. From July 1st until the end of the regular season Jay hit .332 (73-220) with 7 HRs and 28 RBIs.



(stltoday.com)

Check out our Updated NFL U Logo Wallpapers now featuring the “U” inside the updated NFL logo by clicking here or above on the Wallpapers link. We thank Nelson for the suggestion and encourage any of our fans to email us at procanes@gmail.com with wallpaper suggestions or anything else!

Andre Johnson: 8 catches for 135 yards

Vince Wilfork: 2 solo tackles

Brandon Meriweather: 3 solo tackles and 1 pass deflection

Jeremy Shockey: 4 catches 37 yards and 1 TD

Jonathan Vilma: 4 tackles, 1 solo tackle

Santana Moss: 1 catch for 42 yards

Clinton Portis: 15 carries for 109 yards, 3 catches 15 yards

Rocky McIntosh: 5 tackles, 2 solo tackles

Calais Campbell: 2 solo tackles, 1 sack and 2 tackles for a loss

Antrel Rolle: 1 solo tackle, 2 pass deflections and 1 interception returned 29 yards

Edgerrin James: 3 carries 3 yards

Kelly Jennings: 6 solo tackles

Frank Gore: NO GAME, 49ers Bye Week

Kellen Winslow: 3 catches 29 yards

Roscoe Parrish: DID NOT PLAY due to injury

Greg Olsen: 5 catches, 57 yards and 1TD

Devin Hester: 6 catches, 83 yards

Darrell McClover: Played but did not record a tackle

Willis McGahee: 7 carries 3 yards

Ray Lewis: 8 tackles, 7 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss

Ed Reed: 6 tackles, 5 solo tackles

Tavares Gooden: Led the Ravens with 8 solo tackles, 1 tackle for a loss

DJ Williams: 5 tackles, 1 sack

Sinorice Moss: DID NOT PLAY

Jeff Feagles: 4 punts for 186 yards with a 46.5 average

Bruce Johnson: 2 tackles, 2 solo tackles

Reggie Wayne: NO GAME, Colts Bye Week

Jon Beason: 3 tackles, 1 solo tackle and 1 pass deflection

Damione Lewis: Played but did not record a tackle

Phillip Buchanon: 4 tackles, 3 solo tackles

Antonio Dixon: 1 solo tackle

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey didn't have his best game of the season, as he predicted, but he did relish scoring against his former Giants teammates on Sunday.

Shockey's TD contributed to the Saints' 48-27 win against the Giants, with whom he cut ties after the 2007 season.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel a bit better than (beating) some teams," Shockey told reporters, via the  Newark Star-Ledger.

"It was a little awkward, but it was all about getting that win."

Shockey played six sometimes-controversial seasons for the Giants. He did not score in a 50-catch season for the Saints last year. With three scores and 22 catches this year, he's beginning to become more of an offensive force for the 5-0 Saints.

(usatoday.com)

Devin Hester said this week he was starting to feel like he was in a groove returning punts, and it showed. His first two returns went 19 and 33 yards. The 52 yards they totaled were three more than the Falcons allowed on punt returns all last season.



(suntimes.com)

Greg Olsen caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against the Falcons.

Olsen was limited to one catch for five yards in the first half and dropped a pass in the end zone near the start of the third quarter, but was once again Jay Cutler's go-to guy as the Bears attempted a comeback late in the second half. He's reached pay dirt for three straight games and should continue seeing targets around the red zone.



(rotoworld.com)

The Bengals' streak of shutting down opposing No. 1 wide receivers ended emphatically in a 28-17 loss to the Texans. Matt Schaub hit Andre Johnson for 59 yards on Houston's first pass attempt, and it was off to the races from there.

Schaub finished 28-of-40 for 392 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Meanwhile, Johnson had eight receptions for 135 yards against a team that had previously held Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Derrick Mason in check.

Houston used some screen passes to spread out the Bengals' defense and found creases for long gains. Besides Johnson's big play, Texans running back Steve Slaton also benefitted from this approach and finished with six receptions for 102 yards and a score. Slaton racked up 145 total yards but did lose his third fumble of the season.



(sportingnews.com)

Clinton Portis (pictured) had 104 total yards. But Johnson's Chiefs prevailed with a 14-6 win against Portis' Redskins.

Portis got 18 touches and broke a 78-yard run on one of those chances. Take away that big gain, and he would've finished with 31 yards rushing. You can't call the long run luck, and Portis can still be a top-10 RB.



(sportingnews.com)

SEATTLE -- The Seahawks just helped cornerback Kelly Jennings from the field after Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston beat him for a touchdown pass.

Repeat: This is a physical beating.



(espn.com)

Defensive end Calais Campbell was credited with just one sack, but that might be reviewed later in the week. It appeared Campbell had two sacks, one of which forced a Matt Hasselbeck fumble in the first quarter.

“I thought I had more than one,” a smiling Campbell said. “You’ve got to help me out there.”

Campbell’s play has softened the loss of Antonio Smith, who left as a free agent and signed with Houston.

“Calais played like a grown man today,” nose tackle Bryan Robinson said.



(eastvalleytribune.com)

Once more, Sinorice Moss is at a crossroads with the Giants. He handled punt- and kick-return duty while Domenik Hixon was injured, but Moss wasn't very effective, and he couldn't help out much as a wide receiver. Moss needs to make a statement soon to avoid being a healthy scratch each week or be cut at one of the team's deepest positions.



(profootballweekly.com)

NEW ORLEANS - At one point in the first half, the Saints called a timeout and pulled their defense together on the sideline to go over how they would try to stop the Giants. In the middle of that huddle was . . . Jeremy Shockey.

Yes, the former Giants tight end was just about everywhere. He caught four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown Sunday in his first action against the team that he has said treated him unfairly before trading him away.

Of course, Shockey wasn't playing against the Giants' front office or anyone else he thinks scorned him. He was playing against players he used to line up with.

"It was a little awkward," Shockey said, "but it was all about getting that win."

Shockey's touchdown came on a 1-yarder in which Drew Brees floated a pass over the arms of linebacker Danny Clark.

"I wish I would have gotten the ball out," Clark said. "I was playing the hands. I was a step behind, so I had to play his hands. It was a good throw, good catch. That was my assignment and I wanted to do better for our ballclub."

The touchdown made it 14-0 with 2:11 left in the first quarter, and in a fashion Giants fans once admired, Shockey reacted to it by barking and howling at Clark and, presumably, the rest of the Giants. Officials warned him to tone it down.

"They always say something to me every time, so I guess it's nothing new," Shockey said. "You can't have any fun anymore, I guess."

The Giants said they were not offended by Shockey's well-known intensity.

"Why wouldn't he [celebrate]?" Justin Tuck asked. "That's not the tough part. The tough part is that we allowed him to celebrate. He did what he had to do as far as making plays and he should have celebrated. I would have, too."

Still, Tuck said it wasn't strange playing against Shockey. The tight end hadn't been on the team since just before the start of last year's training camp. Clark, already entrenched as a defensive leader on the team, wasn't even with the Giants at the same time as Shockey.

"The whole Jeremy thing, he's an opponent now," Tuck said. "It was good when he was a Giant, but obviously they feel great about him down here. He's a hell of a football player. But I don't think there's any emotions. We'd have felt the same way about it if it was Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez catching the pass."



(newsday.com)

TAMPA - At least the money and the weather are better for Kellen Winslow. Nothing else has changed for the Tampa Bay Bucs tight end, who was traded from one bad team to another in an offseason deal that brought him from the Cleveland Browns (1-4) to the bungling Buccaneers (0-5).

Winslow is the Bucs leading receiver with 26 catches for 257 yards and four touchdowns and could end up approaching 100 receptions this season.

He received a guaranteed $20.1 million, the highest guaranteed money ever for a tight end, as part of a six-year, $36.1 million contract extension.

So far this season, he has shown the maturity he promised at his introductory press conference. But mostly, Winslow seems to keep to himself.

He is being careful not to be too assertive as a newcomer.

"He has that edge about him that the special ones have," said Bucs head coach Raheem Morris. "He's responded well and that's why he's paying off and starting to make a lot of plays for us out there."

Winslow gives brief stock answers in interviews, which have been few and far between.

"Just trying to do my job and help the team win is really all I can do," Winslow said. "It's not showing, but we're trying to come together. Just keep grinding and trying to get our first win."

He saves his talking for the field.

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Greg Olson said that Winslow will be either the first or second option on every pass play.

Since 2006, he is third among tight ends with 240 receptions. He is 284 yards shy of 3,000 career receiving yards.

"He's obviously been a productive player for us and we just have to continue to find ways to get him the football," Olson said.

"Each quarter we kind of keep track with the guys upstairs, who is the ball going to? Who is getting the carries, who is getting the ball thrown at them?

"Within our call sheet, here's the balls that go to 82 (Winslow), here's the balls that go to 89 (Antonio Bryant), here's the balls that go to 24 (Carnell Williams). Here's the balls that go to 80 (Michael Clayton)."

Last Sunday, Winslow caught several passes as the Eagles' defense sent blitzes after quarterback Josh Johnson.
"Just letting me play tight end and that's what I came here to do. I was there (Sunday)," Winslow said. "I could have done some things better. Could have had that ball up the middle. I just have to get better."

Winslow is developing confidence in Johnson, after they have played just two games together.

"Josh is going to be a good player in this league. He's starting to see things. He's going to be just fine," Winslow said. "He's continuing to grow, he's a young guy, we're a young team. We just have to stay with him."



(heraldtribune.com)

RENTON, Wash. (AP) – Edgerrin James is likely to enter the top 10 on the NFL’s career rushing list this weekend.

He said the milestone means a lot to him because he feels like part of a “dying breed.” He believes rushing for 12,000-plus yards is increasingly difficult in a league that is moving away from teams having a lone, feature back.

Yet getting 18 yards on Sunday for the Seahawks against Arizona and passing Marcus Allen on the all-time list matters far less to him than what he’s already accomplished this week.

The 31-year-old single father surprised one of his three daughters during school Wednesday morning with a call into her class in Florida. He had arranged it with her teacher, who kept the secret.

“She was kind of caught off guard,” James said, with a grin as wide as any hole he’s run through while gaining 12,226 yards over 11 seasons.

Surprise calls. Letters. Text messages. E-mails. Even cross-country flights anytime he had more than a day free to consider it. James has used them all to keep in touch with Edquisha, Ehyanna, Edgerrin Jr. and Euro, who are being raised by James’ mother on the other side of the country. The children’s mother and James’ longtime girlfriend, Andia Wilson, died in April at age 30 of leukemia.

“I talk to him a lot about certain things he does to stay in touch – via the Internet, text messaging – just to keep them on their toes,” said Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who is married and has two daughters. “And certain things he teaches his kids is a thought in itself. It’s good, man.

“He’s a good father, just from talking to him. All he does is talk about his kids.”

James was a free agent from April until late August. He said he didn’t want to sign with a team until after Aug. 20 so he could be home to send his kids off to the first day of school in Florida. Missing training camp after grinding through 10 previous ones was a nice side attraction, too.

Sure enough, days after school started, James signed his one-year deal with Seattle worth $1 million in base salary.

Next week, he goes home. Father and daughter have set a time to have lunch together at the school, during Seattle’s bye week.

“So I’ve got a dinner date,” he said, laughing.

He said he has no hard feelings that the Cardinals released him to avoid paying him the one year and $5 million remaining on his contract last spring – six days after he was in Naples, Fla., burying Wilson.

James had requested the release. It came after Arizona had benched the former superstar with the Indianapolis Colts in favor of Tim Hightower last season. James then returned to revitalize the Cardinals’ offense with a rushing surge in the postseason, which ended in the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, asked the Cardinals to trade James during the season, but James himself didn’t make any waves during his exile.

He had far more on his mind.

“I had some personal things I needed to deal with. That was my main focus,” he said, without elaborating on Wilson’s death. “Football was secondary.”

Still is.

For the last couple seasons he has been flying back and forth to Florida to care for his kids while he’s played on the opposite coast.

His native Immokalee is an impoverished south Florida town with a median household income of $24,315, about half of Florida’s average, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census. He spent $20,000 to give his town essentials such as clean drinking water when a hurricane struck. He sent another $14,000 to buy the Immokalee Indians team rings for winning the 2004 state high school football championship. He donated another $100,000 to the high school.

Houshmandzadeh just shook his head when asked how hard it would be for him to play so far from his children, and without the kids’ mother home to care for them.

“It’s tough, especially what’s transpired in his life recently,” Houshmandzadeh said. “But I’m sure after this week it’s going to be good for him to go home and see his kids, and just for them to see him.”

James is still beloved in Indianapolis. And he’s already one of the most popular Seahawks, a fountain of jokes and leadership even though he’s a backup who’s been around only eight weeks.

Yet he isn’t sure how much longer he can do this long-distance love. He marvels that Allen played 16 years.
“I don’t think I’ll be interested in 16 years,” he said.

He said his career is now on a year-to-year basis, but that “realistically, I probably have two, three more years left in me, because it’s so easy now. It’s not like it used to be, big guys out smoking cigarettes at halftime. … It’s not a physical game anymore.

“Kids these days are different,” he said. “They are of the video-game era. It’s all entertainment.”

Yes, James knows about “kids these days.” Perhaps as well as any player in the league.



(seahawknationblog.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar has reached a working agreement with owner Randy Lerner to serve as a team consultant.

No formal announcement may be made and no specific duties have been outlined. But the two men reached an accord last week and Kosar spent several days in the inner sanctum of the football organization now controlled by coach Eric Mangini.

According to a league source, Lerner values Kosar as "another set of eyes." Kosar essentially reports to the owner.
Lerner has tried to woo Kosar into a role with the Browns for several years, including an informal overture to be club president a few years ago. But Kosar consistently declined to relocate from his home base in Weston, Fla., because of business and personal commitments.

Kosar, 45, has gone through some highly publicized tough times, first a messy divorce from his wife, Babette, and then personal bankruptcy. In the bankruptcy filing in June, Kosar listed $1.5 million in debt owed the Browns.

In between those traumatic changes of life, Kosar acquired executive experience as president of the Cleveland Gladiators. The club folded after one season when the Arena Football League went out of business.

"I've got a little more time now to do it," Kosar said of accepting Lerner's invitation. "I'm getting my personal life in order. I still miss football and the Arena thing whetted my appetite."

Kosar said he was unsure how much time he would spend in Cleveland. He has four children living in Weston. He said he doesn't know where the situation will lead.

"I want to make sure it's comfortable as a fit and make sure I can help," he said. "I want to be sensitive to all the time and work the coaches put into the job. They've been great to me."

Kosar does not have a history with Mangini, who joined the old Browns as a ballboy and then PR intern in 1994 -- the season after Kosar was released. Mangini, of course, would then be taken under the wing of coach Bill Belichick, with whom Kosar sparred.

The irony is that Kosar and Belichick grew closer long after their infamous parting and Mangini and Belichick grew far apart. The common ground of Belichick and Mangini is their insistence on strict discipline to build a solid team structure.

Truth is, Kosar always respected that aspect of Belichick's coaching.

"He knows you need structure in order to win," a league source closely familiar with Kosar said. "When you don't have structure, it becomes chaos."

Nobody knows how this dynamic will work in Lerner's organization chart. On the business side is President Mike Keenan and David Jenkins, vice president of finance and administration. On the football side is Mangini, General Manager George Kokinis, and Dawn Aponte, vice president of football administration.

Then there's Kosar and Jim Brown, executive advisor, reporting directly to Lerner.



(cleveland.com)