Safety Kenny Phillips might not have imagined two weeks ago that he would play a key role in Week 2 for the Saints. After all, that team had just cut him.

But Phillips, who re-signed earlier this week and landed a starting assignment after a season-ending injury befell Rafael Bush, indeed made eight tackles (five solo) in the loss to Sunday to Tampa Bay.

Phillips, a former first round pick, hadn't played in an NFL game since 2012, but he was around the ball often Sunday. With Jairus Byrd's injury status still up in the air, Phillips could again be in line for significant playing time in Week 3 against run-based Carolina, making him an interesting sleeper option in IDP leagues.


(cbssports.com)

The Eagles on Tuesday brought back quarterback Stephen Morris, signing him to the practice squad along with wide receiver Jonathan Krause.

Morris and Krause replace wide receiver Quron Pratt and running back Kevin Monangai, who have been released.

The Eagles claimed Morris off waivers from the Jaguars two weeks ago after trading Matt Barkley and cutting Tim Tebow. They cut him Monday when they signed quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.


(csnphilly.com)

Phillip Dorsett caught 1-of-6 targets for 25 yards in the Colts' Week 2 loss to the Jets on Monday night.

Most of Dorsett's targets were low-percentage deep shots into coverage. His lone grab was on a simple out route that Dorsett turned upfield for plenty of YAC. Dorsett is a mere WR5 as the Colts' sparingly-used No. 4 receiver.



(rotoworld.com)

After a lengthy phone call with someone surely without answers, Frank Gore arched back in a folding chair and clutched his head.

How did that ball, this game and maybe this season slip away at the doorstep of a touchdown midway through Monday night’s third quarter?

“(It) just came out of my hands; it slipped out,” Gore said in a quiet voice in a depressed Indianapolis Colts locker room after a 20-7 loss to the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I messed up.”

The next words were difficult for the 11-year NFL running back to say.

“I’m better than that,” he said. “I can’t let that happen.”

In a game full of botched plays, Gore coughing up the ball on third down at the 1 altered the rest of the night. That was the first of two missed opportunities for possible touchdowns.

Instead, Darrelle Revis recovered the fumble in the end zone for a Jets touchback.

“That would have been a big touchdown,” Gore said. “The game would have went differently if I would have just went in and ran into the end zone.”

The Colts (0-2) had five turnovers: Three interceptions, two fumbles. They also had 11 penalties. That mess came on the heels of last week’s 27-14 loss at Buffalo.

The offense, hyped as potent – remember when Andrew Luck was touted as the NFL’s leading MVP candidate? – has gone to consecutive halftimes scoreless for the first time since 1997.

“The fumble, the penalties, the turnovers (pause) we’re driving the ball, you know?” Gore said. “Oh, man, (we) just keep hurting ourselves.

“If you want to win in this league you can’t fumble, you can’t (have) penalties, turnovers. You can’t do that in this league. The last two weeks that’s what’s really been hurting. Everybody said the same, ‘We’ve got to stop beating ourselves.’”


(indystar.com)

Colts wide receiver Andre Johnson had three receptions for 27 yards despite being targeted seven times in Monday's loss to the Jets.

Johnson has just seven receptions for 51 yards through two games. He's also caught just seven of 17 passes thrown his direction. He hasn't been in sync with Andrew Luck and appears to have been bypassed by Donte Moncrief in the order for targets. It's just two games and the entire Indy offense has struggled, so he should improve. However, there are reasons to be worried given Johnson's age (34) and the decline in his per-play effectiveness the previous two seasons.


(cbssports.com)

Giants linebacker Jon Beason (knee) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.

Despite getting in a full practice, Beason remains uncertain for Thursday's game against the Redskins after missing the first two weeks of the season. At the very least, he should be back for Week 4, likely serving in an every-down role.



(cbssports.com)

RENTON — Tight end Jimmy Graham very well might be frustrated by the start of his Seahawks career, Pete Carroll said Monday. Seattle’s coach wouldn’t expect anything else.

“I think he is (frustrated),’’ Carroll said. “I think he’s a competitor. He wants the ball. He wants to help us win, I don’t think there’s any question about that. I feel that, too.’’

The task now is to figure out how to integrate Graham better into the Seattle offense, which also would likely go a long way toward helping solve some of the Seahawks’ other offensive woes that have contributed to a surprising 0-2 start.

Graham had just one reception for 11 yards, on just two passes thrown to him in the 27-17 defeat Sunday at Green Bay. His only catch came midway through the third quarter. The other pass thrown his way came in the first quarter.

“We were trying to go to him on four of the first five passes,’’ Carroll said. “We really have had an intent, just like you would think, that we want him to be a big part of the offense.’’

Carroll said that several factors played into the lack of passes thrown Graham’s way.

One example was a play where Graham was the primary receiver. But at the snap, quarterback Russell Wilson noticed the Packers were misaligned, leaving another receiver uncovered, so Wilson went in that direction instead.

“It’s just the way it’s worked out,’’ Carroll said. “I’m not panicked by that at all. It maybe sounds like some other people are really worried about it, but we are working on it and it’s going to get worked out.’’

The Seahawks acquired Graham via trade from New Orleans in March, sending center Max Unger and a first-round draft choice to the Saints (while also getting a fourth-rounder in return).

The Seahawks hope Graham — whose 355 receptions since 2011 are the fifth-most in the NFL over that span — will become a player opposing defenses have to key on, freeing up others. It hasn’t happened so far.

“I don’t think we have forced that yet,’’ Carroll said. “We have seen defenses basically work to take care of the running game.’’

Indeed, the Packers seemed intent on containing Marshawn Lynch, who was held to 41 yards on 15 carries, a lower rushing total than all but two games last season.

The Seahawks adjusted at halftime by throwing more and encouraging Wilson to run more.

Seattle had a pass-to-run ratio of 20-11 in the second half and Wilson had 65 yards on eight carries in the second half to finish with 78 on 10 carries for the game.

But Graham remained uninvolved other than his lone reception, which came during the touchdown drive that put Seattle ahead 17-13 midway through the third quarter.

One missed opportunity involving Graham came with 7:24 left in the game.

From the Seattle 29, Graham — lined up as a tight end with his hand down — broke behind the Green Bay defense.

Wilson appeared to initially look his way, but was then flushed from the pocket and decided not to throw, running for a 13-yard gain instead.

On the next play, Wilson’s screen pass intended for Lynch was picked off, essentially deciding the game.

“Unfortunately, on the drive where we turned the ball over, we didn’t get that shot,’’ Carroll said.

Carroll, though, also said it’s “not unusual’’ to need time to figure out the best way to utilize players, comparing it to the seemingly annual way the team juggles its defensive-line rotation early in the season before settling on the right mix of players.

“We thought maybe we were a little bit further ahead than that,’’ Carroll said. “We’ve got work to do yet.’’

Graham didn’t speak to the media after the game and an NFL.com report surmised Graham might be frustrated with his role in the Seattle offense compared to his time in New Orleans.

Graham said last Thursday, though, he isn’t worrying about how he is used by the Seahawks.

“That’s the past,’’ he said. “I don’t concern myself with it. … My philosophy is if he throws it, I catch it. That’s about it, man.’’

Carroll said that while Graham might be frustrated by the results so far, it’s only because he wants the team to start winning.

“He has worked hard,’’ Carroll said. “He’s great about it. He wants to do everything he can to help us. I don’t have any doubt about that.’’


(seattletimes.com)

Giants LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in practice on Monday.

The Giants did not actually practice, but Flowers would not have been able to go if they had. Flowers tried to play through his ankle injury Week 2, but was forced from the game in the second half. Coach Tom Coughlin expressed some concern the ankle would bother Flowers throughout the season. The smart move would be to hold Flowers out of Thursday night's game against Washington and give him two full weeks to heal.


(rotoworld.com)

Raiders tight end Clive Walford caught one pass for four yards on two targets in Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Ravens. This was essentially the same line he put up in the Week 1 opener which certainly doesn't suggest that he'll be a major fantasy player any time soon.

Walford played only 20 snaps while Mychal Rivera soaked up 39, and it looks as if Rivera is the go-to option at least at the moment.


(cbssports.com)

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have locked up defensive back Bruce Johnson for three more seasons.

Johnson was set to become a free agent in February. His contract extension will keep him in Winnipeg through 2018.

The import has started all 28 games he has played in since joining the Bombers in 2014. During that time, Johnson racked up 91 defensive tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

“Bruce is a very key part of our defensive secondary,” said Bombers general manager Kyle Walters. “He’s been extremely steady and reliable for us since he first stepped on the field last season. It was important for us to lock up a key piece of our defense moving forward and we’re pleased Bruce also felt the desire to remain a Blue Bomber.”


(globalnews.ca)

The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Thad Lewis and waived quarterback Stephen Morris, the team announced Monday.

Lewis, 27, will now serve as the team's third-string signal-caller behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez.

Prior to joining the Eagles this season, Lewis had most recently played for the Cleveland Browns before being cut on Sept. 5.

In seven career NFL games, Lewis has 1,296 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.

Lewis signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2010 out of Duke, where he recorded 10,065 passing yards and 67 touchdowns in four seasons as a Blue Devil. 

Morris, 23, had signed with the Eagles on Sept. 6, the day after the team released Tim Tebow. Morris was inactive for both games this season.

Seeking their first win of the season, the 0–2 Eagles will play the Jets on Sunday in New Jersey.


(si.com)

Have you heard the joke about the Washington starting quarterback?

Apparently Brandon Meriweather has, because when he was asked for his impression of Kirk Cousins after being a teammate of his in Washington for three seasons, he laughed. And laughed some more.

"It's just a funny question," he said finally.

It remained an inside joke, with Meriweather not expounding on the humor. At least until one side or the other gets the last chuckle on Thursday night.

"Kirk is a gunslinger," Meriweather eventually said. "He's a good player, an all-around good player. He's smart. He's got a very strong arm. He believes in his arm. He's more athletic than people think he is. Kirk is an all-around good dude."

He's having a good start to the season, too. He's completed 75.9 percent of his passes in two games with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Washington is 1-1.

Of course, Cousins came into an early primetime game last year against the Giants playing just as well and wound up throwing four interceptions. Meriweather laughed at that, too.

"That's a good thing, right?" Meriweather said even though he probably didn't see it as such when it occurred to his team a year ago. "I'm a Giant now."


(newsday.com)

Former first baseman Aubrey Huff hinted on his Facebook page recently that he may be considering a comeback to baseball.

He hasn’t played since 2012, but the former MVP candidate wrote:”I do feel mentally, and physically stronger than I ever have in my life. Hmmmmmm!???”

If Huff were to come back, his best shot is going to be with an American League club. He’s 38, was never a defensively strong option at first base, and seems slated to spend most if not all of his time at designated hitter should he complete the comeback.

If he’s really feeling physically better than he has in years, Huff will have to find a team that’s willing to let him prove it. He finished seventh in National League MVP voting in 2010, but quickly went on the decline and played just 53 games in his final season.

Huff’s career spanned 13 years, including stops in Tampa Bay, Houston, Baltimore, Detroit and San Francisco. He received MVP votes three times, hit 20 or more home runs on seven occasions and received MVP votes in three different seasons. He owns a career .278 batting average, and hit 242 home runs before announcing his retirement in January of 2014.


(calltothepen.com)

Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun remains out of the lineup with a back injury and will undergo surgery at the end of the season, according to a report by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

Braun, who has missed multiple games throughout the season with the same injury, is in the midst of his best statistical year since 2012. In 138 games this season, Braun is batting .287/.359/.503 with 25 home runs, 84 RBIs and 87 runs scored.

On Aug. 19, Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, became the all-time home run leader in Brewers' history, as he surpassed Robin Yount's previous record of 251.

Over the next five seasons, the 31-year-old is owed $105 million by the Brewers.

Milwaukee has already been eliminated from postseason contention this year with a record of 63–86. 


(si.com)

Yasmani Grandal went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run, but the Dodgers fell to the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Grandal brought the Dodgers back in the game, hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning to make it a 6-4 affair. The backstop hadn't homered since August 1. Since then, he was hitting .113 (9-for-80). Overall, Grandal has a .249/.363/.429 triple-slash line with 16 home runs and 47 RBI.


(rotoworld.com)

Michael Russell, who grew up in Bloomfield Hills and attended Birmingham Detroit Country Day, recently announced he was retiring as a professional touring tennis player. His last match came in the third round of the men’s doubles tournament with Donald Young at the U.S. Open. Russell spoke to
Detroit Free Press sports writer George Sipple about his decision to retire and some of the highlights of his 17-year pro career.

On why he retired: “I’ve been traveling for 35-plus weeks for the last 20 years. I just want to not have to travel so much. We bought a new house last year and really like Houston, so I want to be able to not travel so many weeks out of the year.

“I’ll still stay in tennis. I like helping people, working with people. I’ve been talking with the USTA, possibly working with the (International Tennis) Federation and an academy in Houston as well. Working with high-level juniors and current ATP pros.”

On finishing his career at the U.S. Open: “Disappointed that I wasn’t able to participate in the singles, but doing so well in the doubles was fantastic. Before the U.S. Open, I knew I was going to be playing just doubles. So, I trained just for doubles, and I think it helped a lot. I felt that I played really well and Donald played exceptionally well. He played a ton of matches up there in New York. We’re good friends, so it just really clicked together.”

On how growing up in Michigan helped him become a professional tennis player: “I was fortunate having my father co-own a tennis club at the time, so I was able to sometimes get court time when other people (didn’t). I think it really helped not playing so many hours a day like they do at the academies. Growing up, basically indoors for most of the season, I only had 2 hours of court time a day. I was looking for quality over quantity, and I think that helped a lot.
“At the time, Michigan, we had quite a few great players. Steve Campbell, I practiced with him growing up. Steve Herdoiza, Ed Nagel, Brian Veillette. It was nice to play with some of the older guys, which made me better as well.”

On being the first player to go through qualifying in four consecutive Grand Slams: “That was a great achievement because that was when I was first starting out on tour. I had to come through qualifying, which is never easy. To be able to do that four straight Grand Slams is a pretty unique accomplishment, a testament to my perseverance and my ability to dig down and battle when I always had to.”

On earning it the hard way: “I never received wild cards, which a lot of the top Americans do today. ... I never had that luxury, even when I was ranked 120, where a lot of these guys are getting six to eight a year. I didn’t get any. I always had to work my way in through qualifying, or you just win enough matches and you got to get directly in. That was kind of my persona. I’m super fit, and I’m going to work exceptionally hard, and I’m going to maximize everything I have on the court and go from there. It’s going to be a dogfight, no matter if you’re Roger Federer or whoever you are.”

On coming close to beating then-No.1 Gustavo Kuerten at the French Open in 2001: “For me, that was the impetus for my whole professional career. That kickstarted it. I was 23 years old, ranked 120 in the world, and I just qualified at the French and saved a match point in qualifying first round. ... I have a match point against the No. 1 player in the world on center court at the French Open. ... It just gave me such confidence and belief. And I wish I would have won the match, of course. But still, it was amazing.”

On winning 15 Challenger titles: “They all have a special meaning, whether it was my first one in 1998 to two years ago, winning an event in Charlottesville. They’re all great confidence-builders.”

On injuries: “I had three knee surgeries. I broke my arm in 1998, and then I missed 10 months in 2009 with a labrum tear and two rotator cuff tears in my shoulder. I’ve had to have three different protected rankings, which means you’re out more than six months.”

On what he would do if he could change the system: “I’m not a big fan of the ranking system. I think it would be better served to have an average or some type of weighted system. Right now it is best 18. I feel players are in the mode of chasing points. What happens is you get a lot of guys playing 40 tournaments a year because it’s just your best 18 (that count). They’re scrambling, playing so many tournaments to put as many points on as possible. And it’s just not conducive to good health, for one. And also to the development of your game. You’re playing so many weeks that you don’t have training blocks. If you’re top 10, you do. You don’t have to play so many weeks.”

Michael Russell
Age: 37.
Height: 5-feet-8. Weight: 155.
Hits: Right-handed, two-handed backhand.
Local connection: Grew up in Bloomfield Hills, attended Birmingham Detroit Country Day. Now lives in Houston.
Highest ranking: No. 60 on Aug. 13, 2007.
Career earnings: $2,452,569.
Career highlights: Ranked No.1 in U.S. boys 18-and-under in 1996. Named NCAA rookie of the year at Miami before turning pro in 1998. Won 15 Challenger singles titles. First player to qualify into each of the Grand Slam events in succession (2000 Wimbledon, 2000 U.S. Open, 2001 Australian Open, 2001 French Open). In 2001 debut at French Open, reached fourth round of main draw. Led by two sets and held match point at 5-3 in the third set before losing, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-1, to then-top-ranked Gustavo Kuerten in 2001.
Final match: Teamed with Donald Young to reach the Round of 16 in doubles at the U.S. Open before losing to fellow Americans Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey, 6-2, 6-4.


(usatoday.com)

Browns emerging wideout Travis Benjamin made it four touchdowns on the young year Sunday with an amazing performance Sunday against the Titans. He hauled in three passes for 115 yards and two scores. He even took a punt return to the house.

Benjamin basically beat Tennessee single-handedly, accumulating 269 total yards between his catches and six punt returns. The 25-year-old receiver turned some heads in Week 1 when he hauled in a Johnny Manziel bomb for a touchdown, but he should be universally owned after his unreal performance in Week 2.
Benjamin and Manziel have clearly built up a rapport on the deep ball, so it will only take one big connection per game for Benjamin to deliver a productive Fantasy week.

He will try to further build up his point total next Sunday against Oakland.


(cbssports.com)

NEWS UPDATE
Miller (ankle) said he will be okay, even though he did not return to Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Jaguars, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSIS
Miller said he considered going back into the game, but he apparently didn't quite feel good enough. He likely suffered a sprain, as he also said after the game that he won't need an MRI, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reports. Damian Williams got most of the snaps in Miller's absence, finishing with two carries for five yards and three catches on four targets for 15 yards and a touchdown.


(rotowire.com)

Browns rookie running back Duke Johnson contributed 45 yards on 12 carries in a Sunday defeat of visiting Tennessee.

Johnson received three fewer carries than Isaiah Crowell, but his 3.6 yards per carry proved merely mediocre. The rookie didn't do anything special in this one, but he's too talented to not deliver results if he continues to be given opportunities in the Browns offense.

The team wants to rely on its ground game as much as possible, so there should be enough touches to go around for both Johnson and Crowell to stay fantasy-relevant.

Johnson will try to ramp up the production in Week 3 when Oakland comes to town.


(cbssports.com)

Greg Olsen caught 6-of-14 targets for 70 yards in the Panthers' Week 2 win over the Texans.

Cam Newton consistently looked for his tight end, but whizzed balls past Olsen and behind him early before hooking up late in the fourth quarter for a big, 27-yard gain. The next-closest Panther in targets to Olsen was Ted Ginn with nine. After a disappointing 1-11 opener, Olsen redeemed himself in this one. Now he just needs to find the end zone in a Week 3 home date with the Saints.


(rotoworld.com)

Allen Hurns totaled 68 yards on four catches in the Jaguars' Week 2 win over the Dolphins.

Hurns caught all four of his targets. Being the No. 2 option on a team that will probably have to throw the ball to stay in games most weeks isn’t such a bad thing, but the Jags will struggle to support more than one fantasy relevant pass catcher. That was Allen Robinson on Sunday.


(rotoworld.com)

Giants LT Ereck Flowers was forced from Sunday's game against the Falcons with an ankle injury, and will not return.

Flowers tweaked his ankle in last week's debut, and underwent an MRI on Monday. Flowers' injury didn't appear overly serious, but it's obviously concerning that he's been ruled out for the game. RG Justin Pugh has kicked over to the blindside, with John Jerry entering the game at right guard.


(rotoworld.com)

On a day when wide receiver Roddy White was held without a catch and Devin Hester was inactive, the Falcons needed someone to complement high-flying Julio Jones. Leonard Hankerson did.

Hankerson, signed as a free agent last offseason after an undistinguished career with Washington, made six catches for 77 yards and one touchdown in helping the Falcons rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the New York Giants, 24-20, on Sunday.

“Any time you can make plays for the team, it feels good,” Hankerson said in his soft-spoken way.

He appeared in 31 games and made 17 starts during his four years in Washington, trying to find his way as that team often sought to find its way. His best season came in 2012, when he established career highs with 38 receptions and 543 yards.

“I do my job,” he said. “Whether it’s on the practice field or off the field, I continue to do my job.”

Few catches loomed larger than the touchdown grab he made from 10 yards out to cap a 12-play, 91-yard drive that allowed the Falcons to slash the Giants’ lead to 20-17 with 12:39 remaining. It was among the highlights for quarterback Matt Ryan as he shredded the Giants’ defense, converting 30 of 46 pass attempts for 363 yards and the lone scoring pass to Hankerson.

“Any time you are going to throw the ball 40 or more times, you’ve got to distribute it,” said Ryan, adding, “I’m really happy for Hank. He’s worked really hard coming in here.”

After suffering through an awful season in Washington last year, Hankerson is amped to be with the 2-0 Falcons.

“We have a heck of a team,” he said. “We can all make plays.”


(myajc.com)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Phillip Dorsett is trying to keep his focus on what's in front of him.

The Colts rookie has been thrown into the mix early with an opportunity to make an impact right away, both as a receiver and punt returner. Dorsett could have a chance to play an even bigger role this week if T.Y. Hilton isn't ready to play against the Jets on Monday night.

Indy's Pro Bowl receiver didn't practice Friday for the second straight day because of a knee injury suffered in last weekend's loss to Buffalo.

Dorsett said he will be ready to go if called on.

''It's the next man mentality,'' he said. ''I just have to fill in. There really can't be much of a drop off. We have to always stay ready. That's one thing that I always prepare myself to be able to be ready in practice so that when my time comes, I'm able to execute.''

Dorsett struggled in his first NFL game with mistakes that only added to Indy's woes on special teams. He had two muffed punts in the fourth quarter, including one that Buffalo recovered and eventually cashed in with a field goal to take a 27-8 lead.

''At the time, of course it was frustrating,'' Dorsett said. ''We don't ever want to put the ball on the ground, but it's a learning experience. It's something you have to learn from and I'm glad it happened in the first game and not a critical game when it's really going to count.''

Donte Moncrief, in his second season with the Colts, had a mishap on special teams, too. He stepped out of the end zone on a kickoff return and fell down at the 4-yard line - one of three drives for Indianapolis (0-1) that started inside the 10-yard line.

Aside from the mistakes by Moncrief and Dorsett, and a few other little details, Colts coach Chuck Pagano said there isn't anything to worry about with Indy's special teams.

''Other than that I thought it was pretty good,'' he said this week. ''We're young and we've got a bunch of guys that it's their first professional outing returning kicks.''

Right now, the Colts are just trying to figure things out and the roles for their players. On Friday, the Colts moved cornerback Eric Patterson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to replace D'Joun Smith, who hasn't practiced this week because of a knee injury.


(foxsports.com)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andre Johnson and Darrelle Revis have taken familiar paths through the NFL.

Both were first-round draft picks, became perennial Pro Bowlers, became the foundation of their previous teams and packed up and moved away after last season.
Now, two of the league's most respected players face off again Monday night when Revis' Jets meet Johnson's Colts.

"You like to go against the best. You always want to go against the best to see where you're at, where your game is at," Johnson said this week. "I'm pretty sure it's the same for him. He likes to go against the best in the game."

It could be one of the game's most intriguing matchups.

Johnson, the longtime Houston Texans star, could see his role increase dramatically if T.Y. Hilton is hindered by the bruised left knee that kept him out of practice all week until Saturday. Hilton is expected to be a game-time decision.

The Jets' secondary also could be missing a key player. Starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie is questionable with a sprained left knee, putting even more pressure on Revis to live up to his reputation as one of the league's top cover men. That was his job with the Jets before his trade to Tampa Bay two years ago and is now after returning to the Jets following last season's Super Bowl in New England.

Plenty has changed this season.

The 34-year-old Johnson has worked out of the slot more than he ever did in Houston, and new Jets coach Todd Bowles is willing to deploy Revis in multiple ways instead of just shadowing each opponent's best receiver. The Colts' high-powered offense makes Bowles' decision this week complicated.

"We've got our work cut out for us either way, so it doesn't matter if you follow or double somebody, somebody else is always going to be 1-on-1," Bowles said. "They have good enough guys that can get open."

And they're good enough to score points by the dozens, something that didn't happen last week at Buffalo.

The Jets' defense is every bit as challenging.

Bowles, like Rex Ryan, likes blitzing and if he brings enough pressure, Andrew Luck may again be forced to rely on short, quick throws — something that prevented the 34-year-old Johnson from being the playmaker Indy envisioned in the offseason.

Like the Bills, the Jets also have physical cornerbacks such as Revis who can make some of the NFL's top receivers essentially disappear on game day.

"He (Revis) is probably one of the most technically-sound DBs in this league," Johnson said. "He's a heck of a player, but I think they play well as a group. I think they have a great group of guys on the back end and they all complement each other very well. It will be a challenge for us."

A challenge the 30-year-old Revis finds just as enticing, especially on the prime-time stage.

"Andre is by far one of the best receivers I have ever played against in the past," Revis said. "So it does give them a dynamic on offense. They can use Andre probably just like they did Reggie (Wayne) in the past."


(usatoday.com)

Jon Beason’s body keeps failing him, and the veteran Giants linebacker is starting to vent some frustration on the NFL.

Beason missed most of last season and still doesn’t appear ready to play this year thanks to a sprained knee the ninth-year pro suffered in training camp, most likely leaving Big Blue shorthanded in the middle once again for Sunday’s home opener against the Falcons.

One of the reasons Beason probably won’t play versus Atlanta (he was listed as doubtful on the Giants’ official injury report) is they have such a short turnaround before facing the Redskins next Thursday at MetLife Stadium.

That predicament caused Beason to go off on the league for even scheduling Thursday games in the first place.

“[When] you decide to throw another football game into a week, it shows they don’t really care about the players,” Beason said as Big Blue went through one of Tom Coughlin’s new “recovery” Fridays instead of a normal practice.

“That’s just how I feel,” Beason added. “We’re still playing 16 games, whether we play two in a week or not. I know how I feel on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. To think you have to play a game on Thursday, it’s tough.”

Beason, 30, is upset because he wants to be out on the field Sunday — and the Giants’ shorthanded defense could certainly use the three-time Pro Bowl selection.

Beason, who also was a first-team All-Pro pick with the Panthers, was a surprise star for the Giants in 2013 after joining them early in the season. But injuries limited him to just four games last season, none after a Week 7 loss to Dallas.

Beason’s replacement last week and this week, second-year pro Uani’ Unga, struggled in the season opener against the Cowboys and was beaten by tight end Jason Witten for the decisive touchdown catch with seven seconds left that produced Dallas’ 27-26 victory.

While appearing pessimistic Beason would be allowed to play against the Falcons, Coughlin said Friday it “would be a good shot in the arm” if it happened.
“The players not unanimously but wholeheartedly voted him captain, so it would be a definite plus for us,” Coughlin said of Beason.

Beason said it was “extremely tough” to have to watch the Dallas loss from home on television.

“You’ve been dreaming about that game since the schedule came out,” Beason said Friday. “It’s the Dallas Cowboys, it’s Jerry’s World, it’s a divisional game, it’s a great opponent, they won the division last year.”

The idea that Beason might have to watch in street clothes again Sunday just because the NFL has the Giants and Redskins coming back on a short week for television purposes was too much for him to take Friday.

“It’s about money,” Beason said. “The game is growing, fans want to see football, and I get it. I just know from a player’s standpoint, it’s extremely tough to play in a Thursday night game.

“Your body is just beat up, especially when you play a late Sunday game or Monday game,” he added. “It’s an advantage for the next team. It’s just extremely hard to play on Thursdays.”

The only bright spot to Thursday games, Beason said, is the players on both teams are “all in it together.” The best solution to Beason short of a revolt by the NFL Players Association in the next labor agreement would be to have both Thursday opponents coming off a bye week.

“Some teams practice, some teams just walk-through,” Beason said of the abbreviated schedule for a Thursday game. “It’s a different philosophy for different teams. But I think it becomes very difficult to play on Thursday night. The good thing [now] is that a lot of times, it’s a level playing field.”


(nypost.com)

GREEN BAY — Sam Shields returned to a very different Green Bay Packers’ cornerback room at the start of the offseason program in April.

A few lockers down, Tramon Williams and Jarrett Bush’s name placards no longer hung from nearby lockers. More than 20 years of NFL experience went out the door when the two veteran cornerbacks and Davon House all departed after the 2014 season.

Suddenly, the 26-year-old cornerback was the eldest player in the room. Five years after making the roster as an undrafted free agent, Shields was going to be the veteran to whom rookies Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter would be turning.

“This year I had to learn to talk a little bit more,” Shields said. “Not too much because I’m not talkative, but just talking a little bit more and teaching a little bit more.”

Shields, mild in his temperament, knows he leads the most with his actions on the field. That’s the responsibility he inherited after agreeing to a four-year, $38.9 million contract in March 2014.

The Packers rewarded him with that contract after arguably his finest season in 2013 when he had a career-high 61 tackles and four interceptions in 14 starts. However, it wasn’t until last year that he made his first Pro Bowl appearance on the heels of a 40-tackle, two-pick season.

Like most of the Packers’ defense, Shields got off to a tough start to the 2015 season in Sunday’s 31-23 win over Chicago. Linebacker Clay Matthews saved the day with his 42-yard interception of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, but only after the defense gave up more than 400 yards of total offense.

Shields, who had trouble getting his footing at Soldier Field, fell down while trying to break up a fourth-quarter pass intended for Bears receiver Marquess Wilson, who then broke it for a 50-yard gain. Earlier, he missed a tackle on Chicago running back Matt Forte, was flagged for holding Alshon Jeffery and jumped off-sides on a field-goal block attempt.

There were positives, including an end-zone pass intended for Jeffery in single coverage. It’s the give and take of life in the NFL.

“That’s how it goes,” Shields said. “Cornerback, that’s a hard position. It goes back and forth. It’s one of the positions you have to forget about and keep moving. I know everybody saying I had a bad game, but I don’t think so. Catches here and there, that’s going to happen. It’s a long season. That’s the NFL. They have great players around. I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Shields’ situation was a microcosm for the state of the Packers’ defense. Coordinator Dom Capers feels good about his Pro Bowl cornerback and the potential of the overall unit, but it remains a work in progress after a shaky preseason and rough opener against the Bears.

Pass and run defenses work hand-in-hand. Whether you’re tackling a ball carrier or receiver, the name of the game is limiting production and making plays.Packers coach Mike McCarthy counted “double-digit” missed tackles against the Bears, which went a long way in Chicago rushing for 189 yards.

Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt attributed three to his group, which are still too many. Miss on a running back? It’s understandable when conceding 30-40 pounds in open field, but Whitt and Shields agreed that can’t happen against receivers. The problems that plagued the Packers weren’t shouldered by one specific player – it was the group.

The Packers feel like they have the personnel to be a difference-making defense. It comes down to individuals fulfilling their assignments and trusting their teammates. If that happens?

“We will play a better brand of defense that what we played in Chicago,” Whitt said. “If we don’t, we’re going to look like we did against Chicago, which is not what we’re capable of doing and that’s what’s disappointing to me because we’re not playing to our ability.

“If we didn’t have the players to do it or we didn’t have the scheme to do it, that’s different. We have it, so there’s no excuse for us not to play high-level ball and that’s everybody. Not Sam. Not anybody in particular. Everybody needs to do their job and we’ll play from there. That’s just what it is.”


(chippewa.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Vince Wilfork is not a patient man.

At least not when it comes to waiting for his team to start clicking.

"We're running out of time," Wilfork said after the Texans' 24-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers. "It's just getting too crazy right now. We're running out of time. We have to get this fixed quick, so back to the drawing board again this week."

Wilfork's sentiment wasn't matched elsewhere in the locker room, which was permeated by talk of patience and confidence that the Texans defense would soon dominate they way they, frankly, should. But Wilfork has never played for a team that's started the season 0-2 (the Texans haven't done it since 2008). The worst season record he ever experienced in his 11 with the New England Patriots was a 10-6 record. The Texans have only been 10-6 or better twice in their entire history.

His expectations are different.

"It’s very frustrating because we talked about it in [organized team activities]," Wilfork said. "Bad football, we do not want to play bad football, and we did today at times and it cost us. When you do that, this is the result. We got to get it figured out."

The Texans defense wasn't the reason they lost the game. The defense held for much of it as the offense was unable to move the ball. The Texans got into Panthers territory only twice in the first half and got past the Panthers' 41 only once.

Finally in the second quarter, the Panthers began to encroach on Texans territory. They scored all 24 of their points in the final three quarters, aided by penalties. The 80-yard drive that ended with Newton's acrobatic touchdown run featured three Texans penalties, one of which wiped out an interception by safety Rahim Moore.

The Texans also gave up passing touchdowns of 25 and 36 yards.

"We just played poor," Wilfork said. "Penalties and big plays killed us. We’ll watch film and figure out what we can do better to get going. It’s starting to get old now. We need to step up, all of us. It’s going to be a big goal of ours this week. We got to challenge each other this week and get back on track."

He did say it was fixable. What needs to be fixed exactly?

"Eliminate bad football," Wilfork said. "That's one thing, so we'll start with that."


(espn.com)

Former NFL Pro Bowl running back Willis McGahee joined us on Brown and Scoop on Play.it and iTunes. The former Ravens, Broncos, Bills, and Browns RB said he could still play in the NFL and start for the Dallas Cowboys.

“I can still play with some of these guys. The Browns got Duke Johnson, they’re alright. I’m more reaching for the Cowboys. Dallas Cowboys, you go ahead and bring me on in there.”

I asked could you start for the Cowboys right now.

“Yeah. Make it happen. I can start for whoever gives me a chance.”

McGahee also believes the Bills will go on a deep playoff run. He tells us the story of how his time ended in Buffalo and how what he said was taken out of context. Also, he talks about Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, his time at the University of Miami, and much more.

He begins talking about a potential NFL return at the 21:25 mark.




(cbssports.com)

While he hasn't played much since being recalled, Diamondbacks catcher Peter O'Brien has been doing catching drills with the Diamondbacks coaching staff and the team remains open to him returning behind the plate, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.

O'Brien last caught in a game for Triple-A Reno on May 29 before playing the rest of the season in the outfield, but it sounds like the D-Backs are still not prepared to give up on the idea of him as a catcher.

While adding catcher eligibility would, this remains a very tentative proposition based on this report. It will be worth keeping an eye on O'Brien's position if he plays in any off-season or winter leagues, and of course where he lines up in spring training 2016.


(cbssports.com)