Posted: November 22nd, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Haloti Ngata, Indianapolis Colts, Todd Heap, Week 11 injuries
BALTIMORE — Ravens TE Todd Heap (chest) and DT Haloti Ngata (ankle) will start against the Colts. Both were listed as questionable entering today’s game.
Ngata missed the previous two games because of his injury.
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Posted: November 20th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns, Terrell Suggs
Browns QB Brady Quinn was fined $10,000 for diving at the knees of Ravens LB Terrell Suggs and injuring him during Monday’s night’s 16-0 loss to Baltimore, a league source confirmed.
Suggs, who has a sprained knee, is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Colts because of the injury.
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Posted: November 20th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Albert Haynesworth, Kedric Golston, Washington Redskins, Week 11 injuries
Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth, though listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys with a sprained ankle, probably will not be healed in time to play, a league source said.
The loss of Haynesworth would be significant, especially against the Cowboys’ physical front, because of the job he has done controlling the interior. Kedric Golston would start in place of Haynesworth, who has 27 tackles and three sacks this season.
Redskins coach Jim Zorn said Friday that Haynesworth would be a game-time decision, which means the team does expect to take the defensive tackle to Dallas to test the ankle.
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Posted: November 19th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Brian Brohm, Buffalo Bills, Gibran Hamdan, Green Bay Packers
The Bills’ changes continue.
The Bills acquired QB Brian Brohm off the Packers’ practice squad, signing him to a two-year contract. The Packers matched the Bills’ offer to the 2008 second-round draft pick, but Brohm chose to go to Buffalo.
Brohm, once a highly regarded prospect, struggled with the Packers, losing a competition with 2008 seventh-round pick Matt Flynn for the No. 2 QB job behind Aaron Rodgers. Team sources said Brohm’s confidence plummeted and that really hindered his development.
Brohm made minimal progress this season, but he did show enough potential for the Packers to try to retain him. A league source said a change of scenery should help Brohm, although he is going into a chaotic situation.
Brohm is joining a team whose coaching staff is in flux with this week’s firing of Dick Jauron and likely will change during the offseason.
To make roster room for Brohm, the Bills released QB Gibran Hamdan, who had been with the team since 2007 but never played in a regular-season game.
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Posted: November 18th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Antonio Bryant, Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Bryant is expected to play Sunday against New Orleans, according to a league source. It will mark the first time Bryant will have seen action since rookie Josh Freeman took over as the starting quarterback.
Bryant has missed the past two games with a knee injury while Freeman led the Bucs to their first victory of the season over Green Bay and a two-point loss to Miami last week.
Bryant, who had a career year with the Buccaneers in 2008 with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns, has just 16 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns this season. While he has missed three games with injuries, more than anything he hasn’t gotten on track due to the team making three quarterback changes (Byron Leftwich, Josh Johnson and Freeman).
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Posted: November 17th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs, Larry Johnson, Tony Gonzalez
Now that WR Dwayne Bowe has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances, the Kansas Chiefs have hit the dubious trifecta of offensive abandonment.
Traded (to Atlanta): Tight end Tony Gonzalez
Waived (and signed by Cincinnati): Running back Larry Johnson
Suspended: Bowe
Though Johnson and Bowe, the team’s leading rusher and receiver, were with the Chiefs for most of this season, Kansas City is now without its top three players from last season. Here’s the math from 2008:
Gonzalez: 96 catches, 1,058 yards, 10 touchdowns.
Johnson: 874 rushing yards, five touchdowns.
Bowe: 86 catches, 1,022 yards, seven touchdowns.
That’s 2,954 total yards and 22 touchdowns. With seven games remaining, the Chiefs have 2,399 total yards this season as a team. Not that those 2008 numbers meant that much. Kansas City finished with a 2-14 record, and has already matched its win total from a year ago.
Johnson hadn’t given the Chiefs much before being waived for detrimental conduct. Bowe was having a decent season (33 receptions, 466 yards, four touchdowns) before his suspension. In Atlanta, Gonzalez has 44 catches, for 501 yards and four touchdowns.
There are a lot of reasons things have gone so wrong in Kansas City this season, and Bowe’s suspension only adds to the woes. While he’s out, the Chiefs play Pittsburgh, San Diego, Denver and Buffalo. It’s difficult to imagine that the offense will run smoothly with an even more depleted roster — and a rough stretch of games.
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Posted: November 17th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe has been suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league policy on performance enhancing substances. The suspension begins immediately.
The Chiefs later confirmed the suspension through a statement, saying they would have no comment.
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Posted: November 17th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Larry Johnson
Running back Larry Johnson signed a contract for the rest of the season with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday morning, as was expected after agreeing to terms Monday night.
The former Chiefs standout, who was recently released after making disparaging remarks about head coach Todd Haley and using a gay slur, is expected to practice with the team this week and assume a backup role in Cincinnati’s backfield.
Johnson, who worked out for the Bengals on Monday, was signed two days after starting tailback Cedric Benson suffered a hip injury, which is not believed to be serious, a team source said.
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Posted: November 16th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Aaron Stecker, Atlanta Falcons, Jason Snelling, Jerious Norwood, Michael Turner
As expected, the Falcons signed tailback Aaron Stecker on Monday evening. Stecker will provide depth to the backfield with the loss of Michael Turner (high ankle sprain).
Stecker signed with Atlanta in late October and played in two games before being released this past weekend to create a roster spot to add depth at receiver.
If Turner can’t go Sunday against the New York Giants, Jason Snelling is expected to start. The Falcons also expect to get back Jerious Norwood, who has missed the past four games with a hip flexor.
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Posted: November 16th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Brian Westbrook, Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals, Julius Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, Larry Johnson, Michael Turner
Free agent running back Larry Johnson, who was recently released by Kansas City, is working out for the Cincinnati Bengals today and could be signed if he passes a physical and impresses team officials, a team source confirmed.
Johnson was released by the Chiefs after being suspended for posting inflammatory comments regarding coach Todd Haley on his Twitter account and using gay slurs on Twitter and the following day toward reporters. The Bengals’ move for Johnson comes a day after starting tailback Cedric Benson suffered a hip flexor in Cincinnati’s win over Pittsburgh.
Johnson, a Pro Bowler in 2005 and 2006 after rushing for more than 1,700 yards both years, figured to be in demand after a week in which several key running backs — Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook, Seattle’s Julius Jones, Atlanta’s Michael Turner and Benson — were injured. Since he is a free agent, Johnson has the option where he could play.
Although a team likely would want to sign Johnson to a pro-rated minimum salary — which Johnson could be willing to accept since the Chiefs are paying his full $4.55 million salary — there could be somewhat of a bidding war since some teams need help at running back.
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Posted: November 16th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Aaron Stecker, Atlanta Falcons, Jason Snelling, Jerious Norwood, Michael Turner, Mike Smith
In an anticipated move that could signal Falcons running back Michael Turner will miss Sunday’s game at the New York Giants with an ankle injury, Atlanta is expected to re-sign tailback Aaron Stecker, who was released over the weekend.
Stecker, who the Falcons signed in late October, must clear waivers today, but a source with knowledge of the situation said all signs indicate Stecker will be brought back to add depth to a backfield that figures to be without Turner for at least a week.
Turner sustained an ankle sprain in Atlanta’s 28-19 loss to Carolina Sunday and did not finish the game. Jason Snelling replaced Turner against the Panthers and would start in Turner’s place against the Giants if Turner can’t play.
There has been no official word on the severity of the Turner’s injury or how long he could be out. Coach Mike Smith said testing will be done to evaluate the injury Monday, when he is also expected to address Turner’s status. Running back Jerious Norwood, who has missed the past four games with a hip flexor injury, could also return for the Falcons this week.
Stecker is in his 10th year in the NFL. His most productive season came in 2007, when he rushed for 448 yards and five touchdowns and made six starts for the New Orleans Saints, adding 36 catches for 211 yards.
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Posted: November 16th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Bill Belichick, Brian Westbrook, JaMarcus Russell, NFL.com live chats
It’s almost that time of week again. Everybody ready to roll? Join me for my weekly live chat on NFL.com on Monday, November 16 at 1 p.m. ET.
I have a lot of football on my mind. It probably won’t cost his team the Super Bowl, but Bill Belichick made one of the more head-scratching moves of his career at the end of the 35-34 loss to the Saints. I was at the Chargers’ 31-23 win over the Eagles, and there’s a lot of speculation over Brian Westbrook’s future. I posted an update on that earlier. Then there’s the Packers — can they play themselves back into contention? I’m not forgetting about you, either, Raiders Nation. Are JaMarcus Russell’s days as the starter numbered?
I’m ready for this chat. So submit your questions now, and come back and join me as we discuss what went down in Week 10.
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Posted: November 15th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Brian Westbrook, Edgerrin James, Larry Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles, Week 10 injuries
With Eagles running back Brian Westbrook suffering a second concussion – or possibly renewing symptoms from the initial concussion he sustained less than a month ago – there is speculation that he could be out for a prolonged period. Or possibly for the rest of the season, if not for good.
Westbrook was sidelined during Philadelphia’s 31-23 loss to San Diego Sunday and replaced by rookie LeSean McCoy, who filled in the past two games Westbrook missed because of a concussion initially suffered Oct. 26 against Washington. This was Westbrook’s first game back since sustaining that concussion, which occurred when he took a knee to the head and briefly lost consciousness.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said no determination as to Westbrook’s future could immediately be made. However, he expressed worry about the eight-year veteran’s health, more so than his football career.
“We’ll just see how Brian does here,” Reid said after the game. “I know it’s a concern for everybody, us included, and Brian. We’ll evaluate him and we’ll see how things go this next week. We’ll make sure we evaluate it and take every step that we can to make sure that he’s OK. We did that the last time and we’re going to keep doing it. We’ll see how it goes. That was a heck of a hit he took.
“I feel bad for Brian. I feel bad for him. It’s something that our doctors will look at and be on top of right when we get back … In these types of situations, football is secondary. We’ve got to look at this kid and for his future and make sure everything is OK for him before he gets back out there.”
Reid declined to speculate if the most recent injury could be career-threatening. Westbrook was scheduled to play last week against Dallas, but was deactivated when he began having headaches late in the week. He did not show any negative symptoms this week and was medically cleared to play against the Chargers.
To lose Westbrook would be a blow for Philadelphia, which remains in solid playoff contention but has lost a slew of players to injuries of late. McCoy has stepped in admirably, but the Eagles could be in the market for a free agent running back. Veteran Larry Johnson, who was cut by the Chiefs last week, as well as Edgerrin James, who was recently released by Seattle, could be possibilities.
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Posted: November 15th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Brian Finneran, Eric Weems, Marty Booker, Michael Jenkins, Roddy White, Week 10 injuries
The Falcons will have their regular tandem of starting wide receivers Sunday as Michael Jenkins will play alongside Roddy White against the Panthers.
Jenkins was questionable after coming down with an illness Saturday, but he has improved enough to play in the NFC South showdown. NFL Newtwork’s Jason LaCanfora reported earlier Sunday that White will start for the Falcons despite being limited in practice all week with a knee injury.
No. 3 wide receiver Brian Finneran (knee) is out, and Marty Booker and Eric Weems are expected to fill in for him.
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Posted: November 13th, 2009 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals
The NFL fined Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco $20,000 for pulling out a one-dollar bill during last Sunday’s game against the Ravens, offering it to an official and later saying he was trying to “bribe” the official.
Although Ochocinco’s intentions might have been light-hearted, he was hit heavy in the wallet for violating rules that “prohibit use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures toward game officials,” and possessing “extraneous objects that are not part of the uniform during the game on the field or sideline,” according to an NFL source.
Ochocinco’s use of the word “bribe” probably didn’t help his situation, since the NFL doesn’t take kindly such gestures, even jokingly, as the receiver learned.
Ray Anderson, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, imposed the fine on Ochocinco for violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (b), of the Playing Rules, which prohibits use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures toward game officials. Ochocinco also was in violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (f) of the Playing Rules, which prohibits possession or use of extraneous objects that are not part of the uniform during the game on the field or sideline.
In a letter to Ochocinco, Anderson said: “The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable. Your conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming an NFL Player.”
NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora contributed to this report.
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