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Jimmy Graham, Saints, TE: A matchup problem for opposing defenses, especially in the red zone. He played just one season of college football after coming from a basketball background. He's a future Pro Bowler, and the only thing that kept him from being a late first-rounder was experience. The Saints got a steal in the third round.

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


(nfl.com)

Panthers-Bears doesn’t exactly have the storied rivalry of Packers-Bears, but this week’s game at Soldier Field means a little extra to a few members of the Panthers organization.

“I’m not going to downplay it. People say it’s just another game. No, it’s not,” Panthers coach Rivera said Monday. “They’re all big, but this has a little personal meaning for me because it’s Chicago. It’s a great city and a great organization. Now I’m here in Charlotte in a great organization and a great city. It’ll be fun. I look forward to going up there.”

Rivera, of course, was drafted by the Bears and played for their 1985 Super Bowl team.  He’s also had two coaching stints there under Dave Wannstedt and then Lovie Smith before Chicago went in a different direction at defensive coordinator.

Rivera isn’t the only one that’s fired up.

“To say this game doesn’t light your fire a little more with everything that happened would be a lie,” Panthers tight end Greg Olsen told the Chicago Tribune. “I’m excited.”

While Jay Cutler has struggled to find weapons passing, Olsen is off to a nice start in Carolina with 12 catches, 169 yards, and a game-winning touchdown last week.  He’s on pace to have the best year of his career after Chicago traded him to the Panthers.

We haven’t even mentioned Julius Peppers yet.  Charles Johnson of the Panthers gets a shot to prove perhaps he’s the best big money defensive end on the field this week.

It’s not Packers-Bears, but it’s not bad.

And it’s a game the Bears desperately need to win.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson sat out Wednesday's practice while dealing with a sore knee. Johnson said he was fine and would be back at practice tomorrow.

As long as Johnson participates in Thursday and Friday practices, there is no real need to get concerned about this. Rather, this post is more just to make sure you've got this on your radar. For guys like Johnson, it's easy to stick them in your lineup and only make an adjustment when their bye week comes around. You'll want to keep an eye out for Thursday and Friday injury reports.

As long as Johnson practices before the end of the week, he's good to go for this Sunday, which means you'll keep him in your starting lineup. The Texans are facing a struggling Pittsburgh Steelers squad and Johnson could be in line for a particularly strong day. Not that you wouldn't start him if you were worried about a strong secondary.

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


(sbnation.com)

In the film he has seen of the 2011 Jets, linebacker Ray Lewis has noticed a change from years past, as the team has passed (120 pass plays) more than it has run (73 run plays).

"That’s probably the biggest identity you do see," Lewis said on a conference call from Baltimore. "When you watch film that Mark Sanchez is throwing the ball way more than those running backs are touching it. Even when the running backs are touching it, they're touching it more from the backfield out of pass sets and different things like that. It's definitely a change-up from what you saw the last couple years, which was run, run, run, run, run."

The Jets and Ravens have played each other twice (once in the preseason and once in the regular season) since coach Rex Ryan left his post as Baltimore defensive coordinator. When Ryan came up to New Jersey, both Lewis and Bart Scott were free agents, but it was Scott whom the Jets visited at home when free agency opened.

Lewis said he doesn't think much about that crossroads.

"His decision was to take Bart with him, start fresh, whatever he wanted to start in NY," Lewis said. "It’s not like we didn’t have real conversation with each other, like real conversation. Years ago, he used to tell me that Baltimore will always be where I always end up at, bottom line. When that opportunity came for him, I was more happy for him that he got the job than anything else."

Lewis, who has played his entire career in Baltimore and won a Super Bowl there, said Ryan understood that is where the player's legacy is.
"I don’t know what could have ever pulled me away from here," Lewis said. "That would have to be something so incredible to pull me away from here, to leave this city and everything I already built here. For a coach, it’s kind of different because they can travel different places and start over in new territories. For players, I think it’s totally different when you're trying to leave the legacy that I'm truly taking."

Lewis saw another of his veteran teammates, Derrick Mason, depart Baltimore for the Jets this year. Mason was cut when the lockout ended to save the Ravens salary cap space and signed with the Jets two weeks later.

"You talk about a veteran presence from the receiver position, a guy that had been consistent for so many years, year in and year out," Lewis said of Mason. "When you leave Baltimore, you leave that open. As you saw last week, we started a couple of rookie receivers and things like that. That’s the transition of the business. 'Mase' is always a heck of a teammate, someone you know you can rely on. But now he is on the other side, so now we've got to get ready to defend him."

Mason fielded offers from the Jets, Ravens and Titans after being originally cut from Baltimore.

"The original issue was a salary cap move," coach John Harbaugh said. "We had to do that with four veteran players, right at training camp we decided to do it. We really had no choice cap-wise. As it worked out, a couple weeks later we had an opportunity to possibly bring him back, but he decided to go with the Jets."

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(nj.com)

NEW ORLEANS — When Jimmy Graham didn't cut in the face of his defender Sunday at the Superdome, he made Saints quarterback Drew Brees look like a fool.

Four plays after Houston free safety Danieal Manning's interception that stemmed from Graham's "quick memory lapse," the Texans took a nine-point fourth-quarter lead. But instead of admonishing his young tight end by unofficially removing him from the game plan, Brees called on 80 over and over.

Graham responded, in part because he's a talented, imposing figure, but more likely because of how the Saints and Brees handled Graham's misstep.

"After the play, Drew came to the sideline and told me, 'I'm going to keep coming to you, because I trust you,'" Graham said. "He told me he had faith in me. That meant a lot to me especially being a young player (24)."

Unfazed and encouraged by Brees' vote of confidence, Graham caught three passes in the final 10 minutes, including a 27-yard touchdown to spark a franchise-record 23-point fourth quarter and 40-33 comeback victory.

The massive NFL sophomore out of the University of Miami hauled in a pair of passes during the Saints' 93-yard game-winning drive, the last coming when the Saints faced third-and-10 near midfield with less than 3 minutes remaining.

"I'm going to turn that ball loose 100 out of 100 times to Jimmy Graham," said Brees, who hit Graham for 28 yards on what turned out to be his final completion of the ballgame.

Graham stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 260 pounds, so it didn't take long for the Saints to realize the potential of their third-round selection in last year's draft. A month after the 2010 season ended, New Orleans released veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey, a fan favorite and the man who caught the go-ahead score in the Saints' Super Bowl victory.

"All of us, himself included, think (Graham) is a special player," Saints head coach Sean Payton said.

After snatching five touchdowns in limited action last season, Graham already has 14 catches for 235 yards and a pair of scores this year.
"There's a lot of times and a lot of details that go into the passing game," Brees said. "As long as my guy does what he's supposed to, the ball's going to be there."

Although Graham still has room to work out the kinks and Brees will continue to aim to improve the chemistry by "working together," big things can be expected throughout the process.

"Jimmy is a young player who's continuing to grow," Brees said. "The sky's the limit for him. I love the fact we can have something happen on the field that's negative, and instead of him getting down, he comes back and makes a couple of huge catches. That tells me a lot about Jimmy Graham the person. He wants me to be able to trust him and have the utmost confidence in him, which I do."

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


(shreveporttimes.com)

With all due respect to a fellow receiver, the last thing Devin Hester wanted to talk about was Roy Williams' chemistry with quarterback Jay Cutler.

"I don't talk about anybody else," Hester said Wednesday. "I can only talk about myself. What Roy has going on, that's for him. I can only control what I can do."

Hester's focus this week is to get better in areas that continue to plague the receiving corps as a whole.

"I need to improve on a lot of things, but I really need to get clearer separation on my guy,'' Hester said. "Certain times, I was open but could have been even more open. It just comes from accelerating out of my breaks and make sure I'm getting (the defender's) hand off me when they try to jam.''

As for Williams, his recovery from a groin injury might have thrown off his timing with Cutler because the two haven't practiced together consistently. But Williams said his injury was no excuse for failing to catch any of the four passes thrown his way in the loss the Packers.

"It was my fault. Put it on me," Williams said. "Especially the touchdown. I have strong enough hands to hold on to that ball even with the contact that I got. Great hit by him, but I still have to hold on to that ball.''

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


(chicagotribune.com)

Tight end Greg Olsen will make his return to Chicago to face the team that traded him to the Panthers this offseason.

“Of course I want to go up there and play well, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t,” Olsen said. “But you don’t want to try to do too much and make it more than it is. It’s not the Super Bowl. We want to continue to get better and that’s the approach we’re going to take.”

After the trade, the Bears said Olsen had asked to be traded, something Olsen vehemently denies.

“I didn’t ask for a trade, it’s about as simple as that,” Olsen said. “They will say what they want to and protect themselves so people won’t make them out to seem, you know, whatever. But it’s over and I’m glad I’m here.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(gastongazzette.com)

Running back Tiki Barber, quarterback Drew Bledsoe, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, guard Will Shields, and coaches Bill Cowher, Bill Parcells, and Marty Schottenheimer are among the 11 first-year eligible modern-era candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
The complete list of nominees for the Class of 2012 consists of 103 candidates. From that list of nominees, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 semifinalists will be announced in mid-November.

The list of 25 semifinalists will be further reduced by a mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists and announced in early January.
The final list of nominees that will be considered for election will consist of the 15 modern-era finalists and the two senior nominees, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jack Butler and former Detroit Lions guard Dick Stanfel, who were selected this last month by the Hall of Fame’s Senior Selection Committee.

In 2008 the Hall of Fame modified its By-Laws for the Selection Committee making it mandatory for coaches, like players, to be retired five consecutive seasons. Prior to that change, coaches were eligible immediately upon retirement. As such, Parcells was a nominee in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and Schottenheimer was a nominee in 2000. This is their first year of eligibility under the new provision.

The Class of 2012 will be selected from the list of 17 finalists (15 modern-era and two senior nominees). The actual voting will be conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee’s annual meeting, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 the day before Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. The election results will be announced that evening on NFL Network, live from the Super Bowl Media Center.

While there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the selection process by-laws provide that between four and seven new members will be selected.

The preliminary list includes 71 players, 14 coaches and 18 contributors, including former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and longtime team owners Bud Adams, Jr., Jack Kent Cooke, Ed DeBartolo, Jr., and Art Modell.

While a nominated player or coach must have been retired at least five consecutive seasons, a contributor, who is an individual who has made outstanding career contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing or coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.
Class of 2012 Modern Era Preliminary Nominees:

Quarterbacks DREW BLEDSOE, Phil Simms
Running Backs TIKI BARBER, Jerome Bettis, Larry Centers, Roger Craig, STEPHEN DAVIS, Terrell Davis, Eddie George, Curtis Martin, Brian Mitchell (also KR/PR), Gerald Riggs, Herschel Walker, Ricky Watters
Wide Receivers Tim Brown (also KR), Cris Carter, Gary Clark, Mark Clayton, Henry Ellard (also PR), KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, Andre Reed, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, ROD SMITH
Tight Ends Todd Christensen, Frank Wycheck
Offensive Linemen Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Jim Covert (T), Dermontti Dawson (C), Joe Fields (C), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), Jim Lachey (T), Willie Roaf (T), WILL SHIELDS (G), Steve Wisniewski (G)
Defensive Linemen Dave Butz (DE/DT), Chris Doleman (DE/LB), Carl Hairston (DE/DT), Charles Haley (DE/LB), Ed “Too Tall” Jones (DE), Cortez Kennedy (DT), Joe Klecko (DE/DT/NT), Dexter Manley (DE), Charles Mann (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT)
Linebackers Cornelius Bennett, Kevin Greene (also DE), Ken Harvey, Clay Matthews, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills
Defensive Backs Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Kenny Easley (S), Albert Lewis (CB), Donnie Shell (S), TROY VINCENT(CB), Aeneas Williams (CB/S), Darren Woodson (S)
Kickers/Punters Gary Anderson (K), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P), MIKE VANDERJAGT (K)
Special Teams Steve Tasker (ST/WR)
Coaches Bill Arnsparger, Bud Carson, Don Coryell, BILL COWHER, Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Chuck Mather, BILL PARCELLS, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil
Contributors K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. (Owner), Bobby Beathard (Admin.), Gil Brandt (Admin.), Leo Carlin (Admin.), Jack Kent Cooke (Owner), Otho Davis (Trainer), Ed DeBartolo, Jr. (Owner), Ron Gibbs (Official), Jim Kensil (Admin.), Eddie Kotal (Admin.), Art McNally (Official), Art Modell (Owner), Steve Sabol (NFL Films), Paul Tagliabue (Commissioner), Burl Toler, Sr. (Official), Jim Tunney (Official), Ron Wolf (Admin.), George Young (Admin.)


(nfl.com)

Chicago’s Devin Hester has been fairly quiet on returns this year, but you don’t have to tell Panthers punter Jason Baker just how dangerous he is. Hester had a 50-yard return against the Panthers last year and might have gone the distance had it not been for a shoestring tackle by Baker.
Baker said the key to stopping Hester this year is simple – don’t punt as much.

“You can’t give a guy like that eight or nine chances like we did last year,” Baker said. “We have to move the ball well. But the reality is there are good players in the league you face every week but I would be lying if I said Devin wasn’t unique. He’s very good and makes good decisions and has the ability to take advantage of mistakes. We’ll undoubtedly have to cover some punts this week, so that’s a big challenge.”

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


(gastongazette.com)

Six players, including four starters, were listed as did not participate in New Orleans’ first practice in preparation for Sunday’s inter-conference game at Jacksonville.

Linebacker Jonathan Vilma sat out team drills for the fourth straight practice session as he nurses his left knee back to health.

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


(wwltv.com)

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was less committal Wednesday when asked about Frank Gore's (ankle) Week 4 status.

Two days after declaring Gore "good to go," Harbaugh only said, "We'll see." Kendall Hunter remains a prime pickup in fantasy leagues. The 49ers are prepping to face the Eagles, who are yielding a whopping 4.93 yards per rush attempt.

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


(rotoworld.com)

The Denver Broncos had their top three defensive players on the field together Wednesday for the first time since training camp.

Now, the question is: will they have Elvis Dumervil (shoulder), Champ Bailey (hamstring) and D.J. Williams (elbow) on the field to face the Green Bay Packers (3-0) Sunday?

As Dumervil said, "We need to be at full throttle against this team.''

That's something the Broncos (1-2) haven't been at all season.

Williams went down in the preseason with a dislocated right elbow. Dumervil was injured during practice on the eve of the opener and played only sparingly against Oakland before aggravating the injury and missing the last two games.

Bailey also sat out against Cincinnati and Tennessee after pulling a hamstring against the Raiders.

Click here to order DJ Williams’ proCane Rookie Card.


(cnnsi.com)

Jarrett Payton will be the keynote speaker at a breakfast hosted by the Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry Oct. 4.

Payton is a motivational speaker and son of the late Walter Payton, former Chicago Bears running back and member of the NFL Hall of Fame.
Jarrett and his wife have established the Jarrett Payton Foundation working with Chicago-area schools to implement anti-bullying messages and programs to encourage safe environments for young people.

The breakfast buffet will be from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and the presentation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

To register, visit www.downersgrove.org or call (630) 968-4050. The cost for chamber members is $25, non-members $35. Tabletops cost $50.



(mysuburbanlife.com)

This was a day of emotion: Wild, swinging, and complex. It was a day of anxiety, anger and pride. It was a day of boos and cheers for Jose Reyes, uncertainty about his future, and postgame tears choking a manager's words.

The Mets defeated Cincinnati 3-0 Wednesday to finish the season 77-85, but that result had no impact on the elevated feelings. This circus revolved around Reyes, his attempt to win the first batting title in franchise history, and his looming free agency.

Only one of those reached resolution, after Milwaukee's Ryan Braun went 0-for-4 in a night game, clinching the honor for Reyes. He finished the year at .337, while Braun batted .332.

Many exhausting hours earlier, the last day of school began: Ten minutes before nine in the morning, Reyes arrived alone in the Mets clubhouse.

"I think I slept a couple of hours," he said, his ebullient persona dulled by stress and fatigue. "This year is the first year of my career that I'm going to be a free agent. I don't know what's going to happen, so that's the thing that I'm thinking about."

The batting race did not, however, add to his anxiety; Reyes had a plan for that, and he presented it to Terry Collins. "Before the game, I said, 'If I go 1-for-1, take me out of the game,' Reyes explained when it was over.

He led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, to lift his league. Then, Justin Turner sprung from the dugout to pinch run.

Some of the still-settling crowd booed, while others cheered for Reyes. Confusion reigned. The jeering was stronger at the end of the inning, but the many in the crowd chanted "Please Stay, Jose" in the ninth.

Internet indignation arose instantly, as it tends to do. Texas Rangers ace C.J. Wilson tweeted, "taking out a star player to preserve his batting average lead...weak! I hope ryan braun goes 5- 5 and wins the title now"

Braun himself declined to criticize Reyes, saying in  Milwaukee, "I respect whatever decision he decided to make, and ultimately he left the door open for me."

Then, after the game, Collins succumbed to emotion. "I heard some comments in the stands, and I don't blame them," the manager said, his voice breaking, and then stopping altogether as he began to cry.

"People pay a good price to come to these games, and they got to understand that I ask these players to do a lot.. We worked hard to get their respect this year, and they deserve ours, so ."

And why was Collins so emotional?

"Pride, very much so," he said.

Said Reyes: "It was kind of tough. I wanted to stay in the game, but they have to understand, too, what's going on. They have to feel happy about it if I win the batting title. I do that for the team, and for the fans, too. Because like I said, they've been supporting me the whole way through."

Still, he knew that he would face criticism. "I don't care what people say," Reyes said. "Last year, I played seven innings. In the seventh inning I came out of the game, the last game."

David Wright defended his longtime friend. "I don't see what the big deal is," Wright said. "You have that many plate appearances, I don't think it's fair criticism to get one more plate appearance."

Several minutes later, while leaving the clubhouse for what might have been the final time, Reyes spotted Wright.

" 'D,' " he said, initiating a firm handshake and hug.

"Keep in touch, OK?" Wright answered.



(nydailynews.com)

According to reports from the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse, Wednesday’s game against Colorado could very well be the last in the career of Pat Burrell. The injured foot that has plagued the 12-year veteran back when he was playing for the Phillies just might be too much for Burrell to battle for another season.

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News writes that Burrell actually campaigned to be in the lineup for the regular-season finale.

“I don't know what's going to happen next year, and if there was something at stake, I wouldn't ask,” Burrell said. “Now that we're winding down, I kind of politicked my way into it.”

So if this is the end for Burrell, how should he be remembered? Was he an underachiever, a former No. 1 overall pick in the draft who never had an All-Star or MVP-type season? Or was Burrell a player so charmed that he was able to carve out a niche on two World Series champion teams?

Burrell as a player is always complicated. Then again, the thing about coming to define a ballplayer’s legacy is that it’s totally subjective. Still another thing about legacies is that it defies statistics or any other type of metric. It’s completely one of those “it” things. You know, it’s so tough to define “it,” but you know it when you see, “it.”

In terms of the veritable clubhouse leader, Burrell had, “it.”

The fans in Philly thought Burrell had it, too, which is why he was the perfect choice to lead the World Series victory parade down Broad Street with his English bulldog, Elvis, on top of a horse-drawn beer truck. It was too perfect.

Burrell burst onto the scene when he hit 18 homers in 111 games of his first season in 2000. He followed it up with 27 in 2001 and then the big year in 2002 with 37 homers, 116 RBIs and a career-high .920 OPS. After that season he had the city in the palm of his hand because of his ability to get huge hits against the Mets, his newly-minted $50 million deal, and his de facto title as the “Midnight Mayor” of Philadelphia.

And then he just never put it all together. Sure, there was that good 2005 season and a strong 2007, but his inability to hit with runners on base in 2006 might have cost the Phillies a shot at the playoffs. Strangely, 30-homer seasons with solid RBI and slugging numbers seemed rather mundane, probably because we expected so much more.

Isn’t the curse of high expectations always a lose-lose? Strapped with that burden, it always seemed as if Burrell should have been better when in reality he wasn’t that bad.

Yet Philadelphia loved the guy. He somehow was excused from the boos that rained on Mike Schmidt during rough times, or hundreds of lesser players. Why was that? How could a No. 1 overall pick struggle to hit .200 in 2003 and to avoid a trip back to the minors wind up being cheered… in Philadelphia?  

Somehow Burrell charmed the fans even when he was snubbing the press. Needless to say, Burrell was in a unique position for an athlete in the city.

Maybe the reason for that was because he was so accessible. There were probably thousands of Phillies fans that ran into him after games at The Irish Pub or out in Olde City, where he likely bought a few rounds for the house. Perhaps Burrell was immune to the catcalls because he lived the fantasy life of a star athlete to the hilt, and didn’t miss work or call in sick. In fact, he and Elvis were usually the first pair in the clubhouse every day.

He did a lot of things that fans and ballplayers liked, such as calling out guys like Billy Wagner for perceived slights and not airing his laundry in the media. Actually, Burrell called us “rats,” which is fair considering we ripped him for all those slumps and strikeouts.

For those looking for the defining quotes on Burrell, look no further than this gem Dallas Green dropped on Jim Salisbury a couple of years ago:

“I’ve been out with him a couple times in Florida. We have a secret (watering) hole every now and then.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. There are tons of guys in the Hall of Fame that were like that.

“It’s neat to have money, it’s neat to have good looks, and it’s neat to have broads all over you. Every place I’ve managed, I’ve talked to kids about the same thing. It’s a hell of a life. But there comes a time in every player’s life when he needs to get his act together.”

Burrell certainly had his act together enough to get two World Series rings. If that’s how he is remembered, certainly Burrell will have no complaints about that.



(csnphilly.com)

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded 10 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in Baltimore's 37-7 rout of the St. Louis Rams, the team announced Tuesday.

This marks the eighth time that Lewis has received the award in his 16-year NFL career. It's his first since Week 10 of 2008.

The Ravens, who rank first in fewest points in the NFL this season, have taken this defensive award twice in the first three weeks of the season. Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after the first game.

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

The Cincinnati Bengals worked out veteran running backs Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson on Tuesday as they look to shore up their backfield in light of Cedric Benson's possible three-game suspension, according to a league source.

Portis took a physical following his workout but left Cincinnati without a contract offer, a league source said.

Benson traveled to New York City on Tuesday to appeal his suspension for an offseason arrest on an assault charge, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, and it would behoove the Bengals to find a replacement back to pair with Bernard Scott should Benson lose his appeal.

Portis, who has worked out for at least five teams including the Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins after being released by the Washington in February, played in five games for the Redskins in 2010, rushing for 227 yards and two touchdowns while battling a torn groin muscle.

Portis did have a "strong" workout for the Titans last week and it was rumored that he would be signed in a week or so.

Click here to order Clinton Portis’ proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Calais Campbell, Cardinals defensive end: The NFC West produced plenty of defensive candidates for a spot on this list. Kam Chancellor, Leroy Hill, Chris Clemons, Ahmad Brooks and Carlos Rogers come to mind. I went with Campbell for the sheer level of his dominance against Seattle. Campbell finished the game with 10 tackles, four quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks, sensational numbers for anyone, let alone for a 3-4 defensive end.

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


(espn.com)

Frank Gore, 49ers running back: Gore is averaging 2.5 yards per carry through three games. He lost a fumble and had a pass bounce off his helmet during critical points of the 49ers' victory over Cincinnati. Gore's rookie replacement hasn't fared any better from a yards-per-carry standpoint, a reflection of shaky blocking. The 49ers haven't fielded offensive lines packed with Pro Bowl players in seasons past, yet Gore managed to get his yardage then. An ankle injury might have slowed Gore some against the Bengals.

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


(espn.com)

SFHSSPORTS interviews Northeast Head Coach and former Hurricane and Kansas City Chief Donnell Bennett about getting into coaching.





Click here to order Donnell Bennett’s proCane Rookie Card.

Antrel Rolle is not a punk. This is the core message he attempted to get across on Sunday against the Eagles.

The Giants safety was flagged for unnecessary roughness after engaging in some extracurricular activities with tight end Brent Celek. The penalty pushed the Eagles deeper into Giants' territory, setting up a touchdown by running back LeSean McCoy.

Despite that, Rolle has no regrets.

"I felt like they were cheap-shotting a little bit, they kept trying to put their hand up in my facemask and kept grinding after the play," Rolle said, according to ESPN.com. "I just had to let them know that I am not a pushover, I am not a punk under any means and sometimes you have to put your foot down. Even if it costs you a little bit, sometimes it has to be done.

"It is more of a mental toughness and more of an attitude than anything sometimes," he continued. "That is where I was going with that. I wasn't going to get myself ejected, I wasn't going to throw any blows. At the same time I am going to stand my ground."

It's easier to use this kind of rhetoric when you win, as the Giants did on Sunday against their division rivals. Something tells us Rolle is a much quieter man this week if the Eagles come out on top.

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


(nfl.com)

In terms of Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, do you ask them to do the same things or different things?
Chudzinski: “I think a lot of the things they do, both of them can do.  There may be a few things we will ask one of them to do a little bit more of. I have been real pleased with both of them. Obviously Greg makes the big catches at the end of the game (Sunday) but Jeremy has been doing all of the little things to help win. You watch the film yesterday and you see some of the blocks down the field or a catch in a critical situation that Jeremy has. I have been real pleased with how those guys are playing.”

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


(www.gastongazette.com)

Whether he is answering a question about his opponent on his weekly radio spot, or refusing to back down when engaged in a tussle on the field, Antrel Rolle rarely takes a passive approach to anything he does.

In his short time as a Giant, the safety has shown that he is not going to shy away from saying what he believes -- like last week, when he said on WFAN that he wanted Michael Vick to play so the Philadelphia Eagles would have no excuses when the Giants "put it to them the way we will" -- or run from a fight when challenged by an opponent.

Take his minor scuffle with Eagles tight end Brent Celek late in the second quarter of the Giants' 29-16 win on Sunday. Rolle had just gotten into a shoving match with DeSean Jackson on the play before, and now Celek was getting physical with him. Rolle ended up retaliating and receiving an unnecessary roughness penalty that would eventually help the Eagles score a touchdown on that drive.

While coach Tom Coughlin was not thrilled with the flag, Rolle viewed it as a necessary unnecessary roughness penalty.

"I just had to let them know that I am not a pushover, I am not a punk under any means and sometimes you have to put your foot down," Rolle said. "It is more of a mental toughness and more of an attitude than anything sometimes." Since signing a five-year, $37 million deal with the Giants in 2010, Rolle has certainly brought an attitude to the Giants' defense.

This coming Sunday, the Giants may feed off Rolle's energy when he returns to Arizona to face the Cardinals, the team that drafted him out of Miami as a cornerback in 2005.

"There's going to be extra special ... you definitely want to go in and give them a show," Rolle said. "But I am not going to let any emotions take me out of the game or make me even more exhausted than I already will be."

"I had a great career there, fans were awesome," Rolle added. "If you get claps or get booed, it doesn't matter."

Rolle certainly evokes mixed reactions from fans with his comments at times. His weekly radio spot has often created headlines thanks to juicy quotes.

From discussing how early the Giants should've shown up to the stadium prior to their loss at Indianapolis last season, to suggesting Coughlin should lighten up, to boasting that the Giants would beat the Redskins 95 out of 100 times after they lost to Washington in Week 1, Rolle speaks his mind and rarely bites his tongue.

"Antrel is the man," linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. "He came in and quickly became a big part of this team and this defense. He is a guy who is going to hit you in the mouth and he is going to tell you about it afterward. And we like that around here."

In Arizona, Rolle spent his first three seasons playing cornerback for the Cardinals and had five interceptions in 2007, including three returned for touchdowns. He was converted to safety in 2008 and helped the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl that season. "That whole playoff run, we came together as a unit," Rolle recalled. "We had a mental toughness that we weren't going to be denied. I've never seen a team come together like we did. No one gave us a chance but we proved everybody wrong."

After he had four interceptions and 61 tackles in 2009, the Cardinals released Rolle for salary purposes, and he joined the Giants, including good friend and fellow Miami product Kenny Phillips.

"I had a great time with that organization and staff," Rolle said of the Cardinals. "Basically their hand was pretty forced. I had a lot of money backed into that last year. Obviously you have to pay a safety $17 million in one year so they were forced to cut me and tried to re-sign me."

As a Giant, Rolle has had to fill a lot of roles for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Last season, he was often asked to play up near the line of scrimmage to help against the run or blitz. Safeties coach Dave Merritt said the Giants asked Rolle to take on a lot of responsibilities last season.

This year, Rolle has been asked to cover receivers in the slot at times after cornerback Terrell Thomas was lost for the season with a torn ACL in the preseason.

So far, Rolle leads the team with 20 tackles. But he also has two unnecessary roughness penalties in three games, the second of which came from his tussle with Celek.

"Antrel is a tough kid and he really plays well down at the line of scrimmage," Coughlin said. "He is very physical. I think for all of us, in the competitive nature of that game, there are so many emotions going on, it really is important to grab ahold of yourself and stay under control."

"You never know what is going to happen and you are out of control," he added. "You can be ejected. You can cost your team valuable yardage. I know he thought at the half [about] the way I am expressing it [emotion] and hopefully he will learn and we all will learn."

Rolle said he will continue to defend himself if he feels it is necessary.

"If I feel like something has to be done, I am going to handle it and I will take care of disciplinary actions after that," Rolle said. "I wasn't going to get myself ejected [in the Philadelphia game], I am a smart player and I wasn't going to hurt myself or my team by getting ejected. I think I definitely had to make a statement and hold my ground."

"I just felt like sometimes it is bigger than the game," Rolle added about his unnecessary roughness penalty against the Eagles. "I don't want them to get that attitude over us, that they have more swagger than us or they have more passion or more desire or even more toughness."

While Coughlin may want his players to offer more boring quotes and walk away from all altercations on the field, Rolle believes his never-back-down attitude can be a plus for the Giants.

"You definitely have to have swag and definitely have to have attitude," Rolle said. "I am definitely a guy that is never going to back down from any opponent. If you speak it enough, it will come to light."

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


(espn.com)

Andre Johnson WR (Texans): 7 catches 128 yards, 1 rush for 8 yards, 1 solo tackle

Darryl Sharpton LB (Texans): Played but did not record any stats.

Brandon Harris* DB (Texans): Played but did not record any stats.

Vince Wilfork DT (Patriots): 4 tackles, 3 solo tackles

Brandon Meriweather S (Bears): 3 tackles, 1 solo tackle

Jeremy Shockey TE (Panthers): 3 catches 30 yards

Jonathan Vilma LB (Saints): DID NOT PLAY DUE TO INJURY

Santana Moss WR (Redskins): 5 catches 70 yards, led the Redskins in receiving.

Rocky McIntosh LB (Redskins): 7 tackles, 5 solo tackles. Led the Redskins in tackles.

Leonard Hankerson WR (Redskins): Saw his first action of the season but did not record a catch.

Calais Campbell DE (Cardinals): 10 tackles, 5 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits. Campbell led the Cardinals in tackles.

Antrel Rolle S (Giants): 7 tackles, 6 solo tackles, 1 tackle for loss.

Kelly Jennings DB (Bengals): 1 tackle

Colin McCarthy* LB (Titans): Played but did not record any stats.

Frank Gore RB (49ers): 17 carries for 42 yards before suffering an ankle injury

Kellen Winslow TE (Buccanneers): 2 catches for 20 yards

Roscoe Parrish WR (Bills): 1 catch, 16 yards, 1 punt return for 11 yards before being injured and out indefinitely.

Greg Olsen TE (Panthers): 7 catches 57 yards, led the Panthers in receiving and scored the game winning TD

Devin Hester WR (Bears): 3 catches, 62 yards, 1 punt return for 21 yards, 1 kickoff return for 24 yards

Willis McGahee RB (Broncos): 22 carries, 52 yards and 3 catches, 2 yards, 1TD

Ray Lewis LB (Ravens): 10 solo tackles, 1 sack. Lewis led the Ravens in tackles.

Ed Reed S (Ravens): 2 solo tackles

Tavares Gooden LB (49ers): 1 solo tackle

DJ Williams LB (Broncos): INACTIVE Due to injury

Bruce Johnson DB (Giants): Underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, placed on IR

Kenny Phillips S (Giants): 9 tackles, 7 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 INT, first INT of the year for Phillips.

Reggie Wayne WR (Colts): 3 catches, 24 yards. Wayne also recorded his 800th career reception.

Jon Beason LB (Panthers): PLACED ON IR DUE TO INJURY, OUR FOR SEASON

Phillip Buchanon DB (Redskins): SUSPENDED for the first 4 games of the season.

Antonio Dixon DT (Eagles): 1 solo tackle

Sam Shields DB (Packers): 3 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection

Jimmy Graham TE (Saints): 4 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD led the Saints in receiving yards.

Allen Bailey* DE (Chiefs): 1 solo tackle, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection. Bailey recorded the first tackle of his NFL career.

Spencer Adkins LB (Falcons): 2 solo tackles

Matt Bosher* P (Falcons): 3 punts, 94 yards, 31.3 Average, 1 inside the 20, long of 38 yards

DeMarcus Van Dyke* DB (Raiders): INACTIVE DUE TO INJURY

Richard Gordon* (TE) (Raiders): Played but did not record any stats.

Jason Fox LT (Lions): DID NOT PLAY, INACTIVE

Eric Winston RT (Texans): Offensive Lineman, did not record any stats.

Rashad Butler RT (Texans): Offensive Lineman, did not record any stats.

Bryant McKinnie LT (Ravens): Offensive Lineman, did not record any stats.

Chris Myers C (Texans): Offensive Lineman, did not record any stats.

Vernon Carey RG (Dolphins): Offensive Lineman, did not record any stats, but was injured in the second quarter of the game and did not return.

Orlando Franklin* RT (Broncos): Offensive Lineman, did not record any stats.

*Denotes Rookie

The play was called back due to a penalty, but you can still see the effect Devin Hester has on the game even without the ball in his hand.

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

Following the victory over the Texans, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham talked about bouncing back from a mistake that led to a Houston interception.

"It should have been a big gain. I just had a quick memory lapse of my assignment. I just have to be ready all of the time. It was definitely my fault.”

Graham said that Drew Brees let him know that he shouldn't dwell on it.

"After the play Drew came to the sideline and told me that he was going to keep coming to me because he trusted me. He told me he had faith in me. That meant a lot to me especially being a young player.”

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


(wwl.com)

Oakland Raider TE Richard Gordon got a few snaps at fullback, and did a fine job laying his massive body on overmatched Jets. Gordon has gotten snaps at both TE and FB for the Raiders and though he hasn’t recorded a catch yet, he has been solid at blocking.

Atlanta Falcon LB Spencer Adkins came in and played in some of the nickel package in Nicholas hybrid role of rush/pass dropper on third downs. Spencer also played on special teams.





(sportingnews.com)

Antrel Rolle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct during the Giants">Giants’ 29-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and was involved in a handful of other scuffles throughout the game. This is emblematic of Rolle’s moxie — or “swag,” as he calls it — and he’s not shy in defending it.

“When I play the game, I play the game,” Rolle said today. “At the end of the day, the coaching gets done Monday through Saturday. Sunday, when I’m on the field, I’m in the zone. When I feel something needs to get done, I’ll handle it.

“I’ll take care of disciplinary actions after that. I wasn’t going to get myself ejected. I wasn’t going to hurt myself or hurt my team. I definitely was going to make a statement and hold my ground.”

Rolle didn’t understand why he was issued a 15-yard penalty because he said both he and Eagles tight end Brent Celek were tussling. Celek’s helmet came off, and Rolle admitted he pulled it off, but he said both players were involved. He added that he and Celek exchanged pleasantries after the game.

The 15-yard penalty didn’t seem to bother Rolle because “I have confidence that 15 will get 30 more.”

“And that’s the way I look at it, in the heat of the moment like that,” Rolle said. “Sometimes you have to put your foot down.”

Coach Tom Coughlin did not agree with this logic. The coach said Rolle was aware of how costly a personal foul can be and understands Rolle is an emotional, physical player. Coughlin did not expect the need to talk to Rolle this week about the emotions of playing Rolle’s former team, the Cardinals.

Rolle spoke fondly of his time in Arizona, where he helped the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. He had an amicable departure, understanding that they couldn’t pay him the money he wanted.

The Giants made Rolle the NFL’s highest-paid safety during the 2010 free agency period.

“I had a great time with the organization and with the teammates and the staff,” Rolle said. “Excited to go back and play ball.”

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


(nj.com)

SAN FRANCISCO -- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh expects running back Frank Gore to play this week at Philadelphia despite a sprained right ankle that limited him in Sunday's win at Cincinnati.

Harbaugh, whose 2-1 Niners lead the NFC West, is game-planning this week as if Gore will start against the Eagles. San Francisco is practicing in Youngstown, Ohio, to avoid a return trip to the West Coast before facing Philadelphia.

"Frank's status, in my mind right now, Frank is good to go," Harbaugh said in a conference call. "We'll plan, we'll scheme and prepare for this game with Frank, along with the rest of the players on this team."

Harbaugh said Gore was walking without a boot Monday and also referred to rookie Kendall Hunter as "the backup tailback" -- leaving little question that Gore remains the guy, for now at least. Hunter ran 7 yards for the game's only touchdown with 3:59 left Sunday.

Gore received a new $21 million, three-year contract late last month.

While Harbaugh isn't ready to shake up a running game that ranks 29th in the NFL through the season's first three weeks, he might be headed for a change on the struggling offensive line.

Quarterback Alex Smith has been sacked 11 times over the past two games and sustained a concussion in a 27-24 Week 2 overtime loss to the Cowboys. Harbaugh said he is considering a change at right guard in place of Chilo Rachal before Sunday's game with the Eagles. Adam Snyder finished the game at right guard.

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


(espn.com)

In July, the Vikings gave up on a left tackle who had weight and conditioning issues.  Now, the Vikings are taking a look at a left tackle who has weight and conditioning issues.

Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reports that the Vikings will visit with free-agent Max Starks, who was dumped earlier this year by the Steelers.  Starks was attempting to recover from a neck injury that ended his 2010 season prematurely.

The Vikings cut Bryant McKinnie days after he showed up pushing four bills.  He has since landed with the Ravens, and he has started all three games.

The Vikings replaced him with Charlie Johnson, who has struggled at times.

Frankly, we’re not sure that beefing up the tackle position will help the Vikings not blow double-digit leads.  But it can’t hurt.

Click here to order Bryant McKinnie’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork made his weekly appearance on The Big Show Monday, discussing the team's loss Sunday in Buffalo and taking a look ahead to next week's meeting with the 2-1 Raiders.

The Patriots led by a score of 21-0 in the second quarter before the Bills mounted a comeback and won, 34-31. The Bills joined the Packers and Lions as the league's only 3-0 teams, while the Pats fell to 2-1.

"That game could have easily gone either way," Wilfork said. "I just hate when we give a game away. Some of the things we did were not like us, but it happened. You learn from it, you coach from it.   As players, you have to learn from it and get better. That's one thing we want to do, is get better. If we don't, we're going to be in trouble." 

Wilfork put much of the blame for the loss on the defense, which allowed big plays throughout the game to the likes of Buffalo running back Fred Jackson and receiver Donald Jones. The Patriots have allowed the most passing yards to opponents and have allowed 79 points through three games.

"It's always crucial to be a persistent football team, and right now, I think [we're] inconsistent as a defense," Wilfork said. "You can put our defense there. Inconsistent. We show flashes on the film where when we do it right, it's not a problem. Early on in the game, even later in the game when we had them backed up the first time three and out, we got off the field and then come right back around and [they] go 90-plus yards, or whatever it may be. There are things that we certainly have to get better at, but we have to play more consistent. If we don't do that, it's going to be a long season for us. 

"Guys are trying. I don't question any of our guys' toughness. I don't question of those guys' ability. They want to do the right thing, but you know what? When you play the game of football, you win some, you lose some. … We have to get back on track, and that starts with a good week of practice. One thing we can't allow is for last game against the Bills to carry over in Oakland." 

Wilfork described the Raiders as a team that thrives on "down and dirty football." Oakland is coming off a 34-24 victory over the Jets on Sunday.
"They present a physical team," Wilfork said. "They want to play smashmouth football. They're old school. That's what they want to do. Once again, we'll be challenged."

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


(weei.com)

Another impressive move for BC Armia who signed for the upcoming season Guillermo Diaz. The Puertorican guard spent last season in Italy with Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro averaging 12.5ppg in 24 games in Serie A. In the summer he returned to his homecountry penning a deal with Capitanes de Arecibo with whom he scored 12.8ppg with 3.7rpg and 3.8apg.

BC Armia is one of the favorite clubs to win Eurochallenge title next season.

The roster has Sundiata Gaines in PG position, Guillermo Diaz as SG, Jeremy Richardson in small forward position, Will Thomas as PF and Joakim Kjellbom in center.



(sportando.net)

Manager Ron Roenicke on Sunday spoke of his goal of getting his stars a game off heading into the playoffs.

As it turns out, tonight is the night for Ryan Braun.

The leftfielder and likely NL MVP favorite is out as the Milwaukee Brewers open up their final regular-season series against the PIttsburgh Pirates at Miller Park.

Interesting to note that Braun is hitting .545 (6 for 11, HR, 3 BB) against Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (10-10, 3.67 ERA).

Mark Kotsay gets the start in left in Braun's place, and hits third. Also notable is Jerry Hairston Jr. back in the lineup at third base. If he keeps playing the way he has the last few games, Casey McGehee will have a tough time getting back out there.



(jsonline.com)

On the list of current players who could manage in the major leagues, Nationals utility infielder Alex Cora’s name would be right near or at the top. Teams inquired this offseason about his interest in managing, and General Manager Mike Rizzo has said he would be interested in Cora as a coach once his playing days finish.

But that will have wait. Cora said today that after his 14th season, he will keep playing in 2012 and beyond.

“I’ll be playing” next year, Cora said. “I’m only 36. Whenever people talk about the future, you better hold it, because I’m going to be playing until I don’t feel I can play well. I feel like I can contribute and help teams out. In my mind, there’s no doubt about that.”

Rizzo signed Cora to a minor league contract this winter, in part, to help mentor middle infielders Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa, which unfolded just as Rizzo hoped. He was also the rare utility infielder who batted left-handed.

On the field, Cora helped replace third baseman Ryan Zimmerman when he went on the disabled list for two months. He’s hitting .212/.282/.258 over 155 at-bats and has started only four games since the all-star break. Cora has primarily served as a pinch-hitter in the latter portion of the season, a role for which he is miscast. He’s 5 for 31 as a pinch-hitter this season.

“I know my job,” Cora said. “When the third baseman got hurt for a long period of time, I think I did my job. If you want to judge me for whatever numbers, I’m not a pinch-hitter. Obviously, that’s not my strength. Offense has never been my strength. When he got hurt, me and Jerry did a great job. We kept the team afloat. That’s what you have to do. The other two kids, they played great. They were healthy the whole year.”

The Nationals made it a priority to give Desmond and Espinosa as much playing time as they could, not only because they were their best option but also to give them more experience with the grind of the season. Even spot starts dried up for Cora, leading Manager Davey Johnson to actually apologize to Cora, he said.

“In the second half, it was a lot less,” Cora said. “He talked to me and explained to me. The focus kind of changed at one point in the season. I had no problem with that. He grabbed me and told me. He kind of like apologized about the way he was using me. You still got to show up and do your work and help the kids out. Hopefully, I helped them out.”



(washingtonpost.com)

OAKLAND -- Here's a shopping list for your Jemile Weeks build-a-big-leaguer starter kit:

Tree branch, acorns, bottle caps, socks rolled into a ball, swimming pool, drum set, standard baseball equipment.

Mix in liberal amounts of strict parenting and great baseball/athletic genes, add love and hard work, boil under the Florida sun for 20 years, and the result is an overnight major-league sensation.

Jemile Weeks.

The A's called up Weeks from Triple-A on June 7, a temp fill-in for injured second baseman Mark Ellis. Weeks made himself at home and Ellis was traded. Weeks has been a .300-hitting switch-hitter with speed and style, a waif (5-foot-10 and 162 pounds) run amok, dreadlocks flying.

While playing in a home-field atmosphere that is a baseball version of the witness protection program, Weeks has given the A's the kind of instant impact that the legendary Buster Posey gave the Giants last season.

(Posey in 2010: 108 games, .305 BA, .756 OPS. Weeks in 2011: 95 games, .305 BA, .766 OPS.)

"We've got something special here," says Mike Gallego, the A's third-base/infield coach.

You sit down to talk with Weeks and you wonder where the rookie is.

Acts as if he belongs
There is a hint of awe when he talks about coming to the big leagues: "The most fun thing is just being here. Getting called up, I was too happy. ... And then we get on those plane flights, man, going to the different cities. ... The food is all there for you, complimentary, you've got first-class seating throughout the plane, iPods playing ..."

But mostly Weeks carries himself as if he is unimpressed that he is tearing up big-league pitching, as if he has been here 100 years - which, in a genetic sense, he has.

Weeks' brother Rickie (4 1/2 years older and an All-Star second baseman for the Brewers), their father, their grandfather and their great-grandfather all had notable baseball careers.

Jemile has been a serious player since before he could walk. Growing up in the Orlando area, he would strain to roll his walker onto the field, wanting to play ball with Rickie. Jemile learned to count by keeping track of how many batting-practice pitches dad would throw to Rickie, then demanding an equal number of pitches.

Jemile's father, Rickie Sr., remembers coaching Rickie Jr.'s team when he was about 8. The players were complaining that someone was throwing rocks onto the field. Finally they noticed little 4-year-old Jemile under a nearby oak tree, using a tree branch to fungo acorns onto the field.

Sticks and stones
The Weeks boys would hit acorns, bottle caps, tennis balls. They would swing underwater in the swimming pool. They would play sockball in the house, hitting from one knee. A hit into the couch is a double; over the couch is a homer. Break a vase or a dinner plate, uh-oh.

Broken china, that was the extent of trouble caused by the Weeks boys.

Rickie Sr. taught elementary school. Mom, Valeria, was in the Pentecostal ministry, on her way to becoming a pastor. You've heard of good cop/bad cop? The Weeks children had to deal with teacher/preacher.

"He and Rickie have not been mischievous, not under my roof," says Valeria Weeks-McMillian (she and Rickie Sr. are divorced, but are on friendly terms). "I'm just blessed, that's all I can say."

Both parents loved sports, but if the three kids (daughter Kaisha is one year younger than Rickie Jr.) were pushed and prodded, it was in the direction of the house rule: homework and church first, then baseball.

"We knew who the parents were. Put it that way," Jemile says with a smile.

Weeks is unfailingly respectful to umpires. An A's staffer recently asked him to make a public appearance and did a double take when Weeks showed up in shirt and tie. That's not the way today's ballplayer rolls.

Dress-up habits aren't all Jemile learned in church. He copied Rickie Jr. by becoming a drummer in the church's musical group and says that helped him develop rhythm, timing and hand-eye coordination, all useful in hitting. (Check out Weeks' stickwork on YouTube, in a drum-off with the Stockton Ports' mascot - "Dinger and Jemile Weeks drum battle.")

Claiming his place
The A's drafted Weeks in 2008 out of Miami, the 12th overall pick. Injuries stalled his progress, but this year Weeks was healthy and ready when the A's called him up.

In his second game, Weeks doubled, singled and was deprived of a triple on a scorekeeping decision. The graph of his batting average is as smooth as his swing.

"I pretty much showed up and went to work," Weeks says, adding, "I don't know if it was that easy, but I knew a big factor of being up here was confidence, and that's something I try not to lack at any stage of the game. Obviously I had some nervousness, but I had to realize that you're called up for a reason."

The reason: Weeks can rake. His fielding is flashy, but rough around the edges. His swing is silk. Opposing pitchers haven't found the holes in his swing that often are the downfall of a hot rookie.

"You see a lot of guys," Gallego says, "they might start off pretty well and taper off. You see that happen a lot. This kid has, consistently, day after day, thrown major-league at-bats up there. Very impressive."

Weeks shrugs. Why should pitchers' adjustments knock him off-stride?

"Just like they try to understand me, I try to get an understanding of what they're trying to do to me," he says.

Rickie Sr. says, "I know they have hitting coaches in the big leagues, but Jemile was always big on correcting himself. After every swing, he always knows what he's done wrong."

The stroke is locked in. So is the attitude. Manager Bob Melvin says he is impressed with Weeks' reaction to the inevitable rookie speed bumps.
"He gets mad," says Melvin. "He doesn't start to doubt himself, drop the head and feel sorry for himself. He's very tenacious in what he does. He respects the game and he respects the opponent, but he's not awed by anybody, and that's pretty impressive to me."

If Weeks is riding a roller coaster of rookie emotion, it's all hidden under the polite smile.

"I wouldn't want to play him in a card game," Gallego says. "One of my big things for being a big-league player is not showing your cards, not letting the opponent know you're upset, that he beat you; not letting people know what you're thinking. ... I can't read the guy, and that's a good thing."

Family tree
Jemile Weeks' brother, Rickie Jr., plays for the Brewers, of course. But his family's sporting heritage spreads far wider:

-- Jemile's sister, Kaisha, was a star sprinter at Southern University in New Orleans.

-- His father, Rickie Sr., was a prep baseball star in New Jersey and played at Seton Hall and Stetson University.

-- His mother, Valeria, competed in basketball and track in high school.

-- His maternal grandfather, Victor, 82, played for several teams in the Negro Leagues before a knee injury ended his career. He is now blind but follows his grandsons' careers closely. Rickie Jr. and Jemile are well aware of their grandfather's career in the Negro Leagues. "He definitely gave us an inspiration and kept us determined," Jemile says. "I think (from knowing Victor's story) you have a different awareness. ... It's a different type of appreciation."

-- He has a maternal grandmother who was a prep basketball star, a great-grandfather who was a top college shot-putter and another great-grandfather who was an ambidextrous pitcher who barnstormed in the Carolinas and Virginia.


(sfgate.com)

Did you know that a former Miami Hurricane/current proCane has scored at least one touchdown in 142 consecutive regular season NFL weeks? Dating back to Week 15 of the 2002 season where Clinton Portis scored 4 TDs, at least one proCane has scored a TD in each regular season week since then. We have chronicled every touchdown since 2002. See below:

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

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

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

Click below to see the rest of the list:



Read More...

Andre Johnson reeled off 128 yards on seven catches as the Texans fell to the Saints in Week 3.

Johnson has at least 93 yards in each of Houston's first three games. Dominant over the middle and deep down the field Sunday, Johnson had 104 yards by the midway point in the first half. The Saints then took steps to slow Johnson down, and Houston's entire offense sputtered in the final two quarters. Johnson will continue to be an elite WR1 play in Week 4 against Pittsburgh.

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


(rotoworld.com)

Greg Olsen caught seven passes for 57 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Jaguars.

Olsen also nabbed a two-point conversion. His touchdown capped a game-winning drive as he caught the ball over the middle and outran three Jaguar defenders to the end zone with just over four minutes left. Olsen led the team in targets with 10 today as a heavy downpour made it difficult to get downfield. He's locked in as the weekly No. 2 target for Cam Newton behind Steve Smith.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Jimmy Graham went off for 100 yards and a touchdown on four catches as the Saints downed the Texans in Week 3.

Graham gained most of his yards on downfield routes and after the catch, going up and over Texans RCB Glover Quinn for his 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. A sensational athlete and major matchup dilemma for defenses, Graham will continue to be an every-week starter at least until Marques Colston (collarbone) returns. Keep Graham going against the Jaguars in Week 4.

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


(rotoworld.com)

B.C. Lions defensive back Anthony Reddick left picks off a pass intended for Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Weston Dressler during the second half CFL football action at Mosaic Satdium on Saturday September 24, 2011. The Lions defeated the Roughriders 42-5. Canadian Press/Liam Richards

Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne reeled in his 800th career reception in the second quarter. Wayne finished the game with 3 catches for 24 yards.

Wayne was targeted 13 times, but displayed a startling lack of chemistry with Kerry Collins, who routinely overthrew him on timing routes. Wayne has drawn 32 looks through Indy's first three games, but managed to catch just 14 of them. With Collins dealing with a possible concussion, Wayne could have Curtis Painter throwing to him in Week 4 against the Bucs.

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

Trailing by 10 and with a chance to put some pressure on the Packers with a score, wide receiver Devin Hester (notes) decided it would be a good time to throw a punch at Sam Shields (notes) .

Sure, he wasn't the only one misbehaving there -- Shields deserved a penalty too, but that matters not. If you lose your cool and throw a punch, you deserve to be penalized, end of story. If you don't like it, keep your hands to yourself.

The penalty put the Bears in a third-and-very-long, and they couldn't convert. I doubt they'd have won the game anyway, as Green Bay seemed to always have an answer for anything Chicago did, but it was the best chance they had. A score there cuts the lead to three with plenty of time remaining.

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


(yahoosports.com)

Kellen Winslow was held to just 20 yards on two receptions against the Falcons in Week 3.

One of Josh Freeman's throws went right through Dezmon Briscoe's hands and into the waiting arms of Winslow. He was targeted just one other time while being outproduced by rookie Luke Stocker (2 catches, 33 yards). Winslow has averaged just 32 yards the past two weeks after 66 yards in the opener.

Click here to order Kellen Winslow’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Willis McGahee managed just 52 yards on 22 carries and two yards on three catches in Week 3, but did score a five-yard touchdown on a reception.

McGahee averaged 2.16 yards per touch.

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


(rotoworld.com)

Matt Bosher doesn’t come close to kicking the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs and was only able to pin the Bucs on the 19 after punting from the 50. Bosher had 3 punts for a 31.0 yard average with 1 inside the 20 and a long of 38.



Click here to order Matt Bosher’s proCane Rookie Card.

Dolphins starting guard Vernon Carey left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injuring and did not return.

Carey was slow to get up with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter following a rush of no gain by Bush. The guard walked off the field favoring his right arm and was replaced by John Jerry.

“The next guy has to step up — I mean, [Cleveland] played without Peyton Hillis, we played without Vontae Davis,” coach Tony Sparano said. “This is the National Football League; the next guy has to step up in that situation.”

Sparano said after the game that he would reserve judgment on Jerry’s performance until after he reviewed film from the game.

Click here to order Vernon Carey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(miamiherald.com)

Running back Frank Gore suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter Sunday and was mostly on the bench for the 49ers' decisive touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

"I kind of tweaked it and I couldn't go the way I wanted to," Gore said. "Yeah, I couldn't be myself. Some of the runs, I couldn't make the cut I wanted to make. Hopefully, I get better this week."

Gore said he’d have to see how the ankle felt on Monday before determining whether he’d be available to play Sunday in Philadelphia.

Gore continued to play after the injury. However, following a Gore fumble early in the fourth quarter, rookie Kendall Hunter entered the game. His first carry was for eight yards and he later scored a touchdown on a 7-yard scamper off the left side.

Hunter seems to have more explosion than Gore, who once again was bottled up and averaged 2.5 yards. However, Hunter also had a hard time getting out of the backfield. He rushed nine times for 26 yards and had a 2.9 yards-per-carry average.

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


(sportingnews.com)

The Saints scratched linebacker Jonathan Vilma for Sunday’s home game against Houston.

Vilma, who hurt his left knee a week earlier against Chicago but played with the injury, sat out practice the past week and had been listed as doubtful.

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


(washingtonpost.com)

Former Heat guard Robert Hite, who plays for Cholet in France, will miss at least 45 days due to an Achilles injury. Hite had slipped below our radar since failing to make the Suns squad as a free agent in 2008.



(fantasysp.com)

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he will not give Aubrey Huff any more starts the rest of the way.

Bochy wants to get a longer look at Brandon Belt and Brett Pill. Huff, who has already been receiving regular days off of late, has been a huge disappointment after signing a two-year extension last offseason, batting just .245/.305/.370 with 12 homers and 59 RBI over 519 at-bats.


(rotoworld.com)

Scott Maine – Maine might be one of the best lefthanded reliever prospects in all of baseball. His numbers for Iowa were spectacular, and there is no reason to think he won’t be a big part of the competition in the spring.



(cubbiescrib.com)

Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are both strong MVP candidates for the Milwaukee Brewers. Fielder thinks Braun is putting together the more compelling case.

"MVP year," Fielder said. "He's been outstanding. Batting title possibly, the home runs, stolen bases, RBIs. He's done magnificent."

Braun homered and raised his NL-best batting average to .333, lifting the Brewers to a team-record 55th victory at home, 9-5 over the Florida Marlins on Sunday.

"This is a special year, man," Brewers center fielder Nyjer Morgan said. "I don't want to say too much yet, but yeah, special. Really special."

Every position player had a hit for the NL Central champions before the first out of the third as Milwaukee swept the season series from the Marlins (7-0) for the first time since 1998.

Milwaukee scored three in the second and four in the third before Braun's opposite-field solo shot in the fourth. The sellout crowd again serenaded him with chants of "M-V-P" as it did throughout a memorable weekend.

Braun finished 2 for 3 before leaving after the fifth and leads Mets shortstop Jose Reyes (.331) for the batting title. No Brewers or Mets player has ever won the crown.

"He's the MVP of the league," Morgan said. "Hopefully, (Friday) kind of locked it up for him. I hope that really locked it up. I think it really showed that he should be the MVP."

On Friday, Braun's three-run homer in the eighth inning led Milwaukee to a 4-1 victory and its first division title since winning the AL East in 1982. On Saturday, he drove in two runs as the Brewers rallied from three deficits for a 6-4 win.

In this one, Braun singled and scored in the four-run third before hitting his 33rd homer off reliever Brian Sanches to give Milwaukee an 8-1 lead in the fourth.

"With him, it's plate discipline," manager Ron Roenicke said. "When he's disciplined and swinging at strikes, there's no place to get him out."

Braun has 110 RBIs and a 30-30 season with 31 stolen bases. Fielder is hitting .293 with 35 homers and 114 RBIs.

Braun, Fielder and Rickie Weeks all left the game in the later innings as Roenicke works to give his starters as much rest as he can before the postseason.

"I'm going to keep playing," Fielder said. "Playing every day means a lot to me. Plus, we've got two days off before the playoffs. Nothing's hurt on me. It's not like I'll feel any different."

The Brewers have won seven of nine and need to finish with a better record than NL West champion Arizona to secure home-field advantage in the first round.


(sfexaminer.com)