"The competition committee is proposing several rules changes that are expected to be voted on by the 32 owners at the annual spring league meetings next week in Orlando. The biggest is a change to the overtime rules in the postseason that will allow the team winning the coin toss to win the game on the opening possession only by scoring a touchdown."

I like that - a reasonable compromise between sudden death and the one-possession guarantee per team. It has been argued, and it's a good point, that if being a team sport, then special teams and defense should play better and prevent scores in overtime.
Still, I like the idea. If you win the toss and drive the field, score a touchdown, and the game is yours. Kick a field goal, and you have to defend for at least one possession.

I would be willing to accept that has a comprise solution, though I still prefer giving both teams the chance to score. With the range that some of these kickers are reaching these days it does seem to make the current ot rules somewhat uneven.

The rule change has been approved.
I think it should count for the regular season, too. I wonder if it addresses turnovers?
Say the Patriots win the toss and elect to receive. But the Dolphins recover an onside kick. Would that count as the Patriots' one possession?
Or say the Dolphins win the toss, kick a field goal. And on their kickoff, there's a fumble. Would the game be over, even though Brady and Co. never got onto the field?

A rather moot point don't you think there my southern friend. You are assuming that New England is even going to be good enough to make it into the playoffs!

Sorry could not resist taking a shot! Got to get into practice for next season!

But really I too think they should have put it into play for the regular season and you do bring up some interesting possibilities which will no doubt never get addressed until something of that nature actually happens. For me I still like the college rule, have seen a couple of those five OT affairs with the Irish over the past two years it made for a real fun ending to the game. Been more fun if they had actually won the the games.

I guess the college rule is okay. I just can't get used to games that and 10-10 after 4 quarters end up 40-34.

Donovan McNabb is a Redskin. The Eagles must be very high on Kolb to let a consistent QB like McNabb go to a conference opponent. I'm hoping that Jason Campbell gets a chance with another team.

Me, too. A very strange move, I think. Although when Kolb played, he did do well. But still - a division rival?

It is strange, even if Kolb is playing well, McNabb has shown no real signs of decline, so why trade? Campbell will likely get a shot with someone, but he will really need to take his game up a notch or he could be done. But sometimes a change in scenery can do a world of good for some players.

While it hadn't always been solely his fault, McNabb has been bad down the stretch of seasons and certainly into the playoffs. And he's just not that accurate a passer having passed for of 60% I think once in his career. It was a smart move to dump him now IMHO.

The results of the move remain to be seen. If the Eagles don't perform well this year, no body is going to be looking too smart.

I wonder if Big Ben is going to get traded like Santonio Holmes and suspended for a few games. Or is it that you can be accused of raped but don't get caught smoking weed?

I guess they're expecting Mike Wallace to emerge as their playmaker.

Will Roger Goodell be as heavy-handed with Ben Roethlisberger as he has with other player even though they were not charged in a criminal court? If Ben Rothlisberger is not suspended for at least two games, players like Brandon Marshall have the right to issue their grievances and Roger Goodell's ability to serve as a fair commissioner becomes questionable.

I'm certain he will otherwise he will be seen as a racist that comes down hard on black guys but not white guys.

I don't see it as a racial issue. It's about holding ALL players accountable for their behavior, regardless of their salary.

I hope the NFL and the Steelers use this opportunity to help Big Ben learn a lesson in accountability. I would give him an indefinite suspension from the league.

Right, I don't either. But that's what many will presume if Goodell doesn't come down on him hard.

True. And it will be difficult for Goodell to refute that once it takes hold.

It would be hard for Goodell to refute any charges that his decisions are unfair if he does not exact the same heavy-handed, above-the-law rulings to ALL players without regard for race, team standing, or profit margins.

Roethlisberger gets a six game suspension. I can see Big Ben in a Raiders uniform for their first draft pick.

Funny, when their first nationally televised games are week 7, 8 and 9.

Suspicious, eh, Steve. Considering that the season schedule was just announced yesterday.

Yea, but if they trade him beforehand I guess it won't matter.

The Shannahan + McNabb combo should be interesting. I hope they draft an O-lineman to protect him.

I don't, heh heh.

The Skin drafted offensive tackle Trent Williamas (318 lbs, 6ft, 5in, 3.8 in the 40). He's big, mobile, and athletic enough to impede DeMarcus Ware. If he is able to develop his strenght, he'll be a wall!

Am I the only who hopes Tim Tebow becomes a success in the NFL? He reminds me of Steve Young.

I love Tebow! Steve Young...I was thinking the same thing yesterday. It may take him a few years but what is there not to like about his toughness, competitiveness and atheleticism? He keeps his religous convictions to himself and was a great locker room guy according to his Gator teammates. No way the guy fails.

I think Sam Bradford is going to be a bust. And i don't think Jimmy Clausen is much better than Brady Quinn who has yet to do anything in the NFL. In fact you have to go back 25-30 years to find a Notre Dame QB that has done anything in the NFL (Joe Montana, Joe Theismann).

I like Tebow. The "experts" who talk about his mechanics apparently don't understand that competitors will work to improve their mechanics. He'll be fine.

In the right hands I too think he will be fine. Was a little surprised that it was Denver who took the chance. We have seen a number of examples over the years where QB's were not rated high and then turned out to far better then it thought they could be. Tom Brady being at the top of that list. Just a matter of how hard he works and how bad he wants it.

Steve I think that Clausen is much better then Brady Quinn was and being slighted might just do him some good. I had hoped he would have stayed one more year, but the Carolina spot might just do the trick. Your are right it has been many, many years since a ND QB had a break through. After watching Jimmy struggle with such a bad team his first year and spending so much time getting slammed to the ground only to pick himself up and keep going and getting better as he did it says something about who he is, but only time will tell.

You just have think about Brady being a what was it 5th round pick and picking up Super Bowl rings and he is not done yet and then there is Ryan Leaf who was the second choice over all and he is what washing cars these days. You just never know who will stumble and who will make that unexpected rise.

Sweet. Chiefs pick McCluster. Word is they'll use him more as a wide receiver. I like that. If they can put together a decent offensive line, they might actually put some points on the board this year.

ESPN has reported that the NFL is considering New York/New Jersey for the 2014 Super Bowl. I get that there are those who want the game played near New York. I don't get ESPN saying New York is the "front runner."
Has somebody already voted?

I would love to see a Super Bowl being played outdoors in the cold like Lambeau, Gillette, Heinz, Orchard Park, or even in Baltimore. NY gets my vote!

Not me, the ability to play football in sub zero temps proves nothing at all. The game was intended as a fall sport and because of additional games added at the pro level over the years found itself moving into colder temps. The super bowl should bring the best possible game and playing at 10 below is just not going to do that. I know I Know there are other weather conditions like rain and wind during the fall that play havoc with games too, but the cold seems to be at least to be the most limiting. There there is the whole fan thing, the super bowl is supposed to be a fun time, frezing your butt off is not much fun to me. (Though I did sit through opening day of our local Class A minor league baseball team this year when it was 37 degrees and flakes of snow in the air. All in in all very unbaseball like) But if I am going to drop a couple of grand for a trip to the Super Bowl, give someplace warm! Hey at least then you don't have to put the cheerleaders in a parka!

Thanks for not having it in a climate controlled, multipurpose entertainment facility, e.g., Lucas Oil, Texa$ $tadium.

Eh, that's Cowboys Stadium and the 2011 Super Bowl will be played there.
Still, I think football should always be outdoors. Let 'em all face the elements - anything short of a lightning storm, tornado or hurricane.
I'd also prefer it if they played on real grass, but that may be too much to ask for.
I'm indifferent about whether the Super Bowl should be in warm weather or not. Since I'm not one who's going to spend upwards of $2,000 to attend, I could care less about other people sitting in the cold. They do it for Green Bay, Chicago, Pittsburgh, etc. If they're real fans and not corporate types, they won't care.
However, I do find the idea that the NFL chose New York/New Jersey because Wellington Mara introduced revenue sharing to be quite ridiculous. Do it because you want the game to be near NFL headquarters and the nation's largest city. Silly politics shouldn't matter.

Why is ESPN trying to make Emmitt Smith out to be a GOAT? Crazy O.J. was better! I hope he fumbles.

Now Jerry Rice is the GOAT as far as receivers?

I missed it. What did ESPN say?

Barry Sanders was better then both of them. But the GOAT has to be Jim Brown.

Curious who other then Rice would you choose?

I would easily say that IMHO Jerry Rice is still the greatest receiver to ever play. Many had great "streaks" (T.O., Andre Rison and a host of others) but no one had the work ethic and hands like Rice. His yards after the catch were insane.

I thought Emmitt Smith was over-rated.

I agree about Rice. I don't know about overrated, but Emmitt did have one of the great O-lines of all time ahead of him, to say nothing of Aikman, Irvin, Novacek and expert play calling by Turner and later Zampezi. Take away just one of those factors, and his numbers drop. Still, I think two events in the 1993-94 season defined his legacy. He held out at the start of the season, and the Cowboys went 0-2. With him in the lineup, they went 12-2 the rest of the way. The other of course is that season finale in New York when he played on, despite a separated shoulder, to help his team clinch the division. So even if his skills weren't what you might expect from an all-time great, his importance to the team that season says a lot about the heart and soul of this one football player.

Don't forget about Daryl Johnston!

Ah, yes. Moose!

Did anyone see Hard Knocks ft. the Jets? Coach Rex Ryan is an interesting character. I can't understand why they haven't rained millions on Revis' island.

Revis is under contract for 2 more years. They feel their defense is good enough they don't need to bow to him. Other teams are going: "Cut him loose. We'll pay him."

His performance is beyond that 2 year contract and he is also helping the Jets' business through his electrifying performance. The Revis jersey is a top seller for a reason.

If Cleveland can pay Joe Haden for potential, I think a pay raise is merited for actual results on the field. The Jets are going to pay the man!

DaveS, your Colts need to reevaluate your backup QB situation. Curtis Painter is hot garbage. He stinks!

You will get no argument from me on that or from anyone in the state for that matter. Though it would be interesting to see him play with the first team just once to decide if they should cut him or not. But I would think a move of some kind is in order.

Who cares. Manning has never missed a game in his career.

He might if Saturday doesn't get back soon.

Peyton Manning and the entire Colts organization care. Jeff Saturday is almost as important to the Colts offense as Peyton. He shouldn't rush his recovery from knee surgery!

I don't ever recall anyone scheduling an injury.

Last year Brett Favre proved he can come in and play when the season starts and be productive so I don't think he necessarily "needs" training camp to sharpen his skills and timing. I think we would all agree he certainly IS a special athlete but while his situation may be unique, I think it sets a bad precedent. Who is the next great athlete that will pull this annual stunt of avoiding training camp?

I think he would get a lot more respect if he just came out and said, "I don't want anything to do with training camp. I think it actually harms and breaks down my body more than it does it any good. I just want to play the season only."

Rather than this crap about retire/unretire, not sure I want to play, etc. Then when training camp breaks....yea, I think I'll play this year. I think he is insulting a lot of people's intelligence. And no matter what his teammates say in the newspapers, there HAS to be several that resent it. They just won't say it publicily or to a hall of famer's face. He may have earned a lot of things but I think blowing off training camps is not acceptable. If you don't think your body can take the 8 week training camp PLUS the 17 game season....then stay retired.

I don't care if he goes to training camp. I'm sure the Vikings don't, given their options if he doesn't play.
But the annual premature retirement party has gotten old.

Oops sorry, I just realized I put this Brett Favre post in the wrong Topic area. Feel free to move to "NFL"

Done!

The Vikings gave him an ultimatum when three players showed up at his door. They were going to either bring him to camp or wish him a happy retirement.

Football is a team sport so it's really about everyone on the team being on the same page.

I would agree and while I admire what Farve has done over the course of his very extended stay in the NFL he needs to show up for camp if his going to play. Yes did in fact prove that he did not need the camp last year to do well. That might also be said of a good many players in the league, but they are expected to show up. He is a part of the team not above it and by insisting each year that he not be asked to do something that everyone else is expected to do is placing yourself above the rest of the team. Want to play come to camp do what everyone else does and if the old body cannot do it anymore.....then retire and sit home on the farm.

It is obvious that Peyton Manning has issues with the new positions of the referees. I guess it's hard for him to use them as picks. They also made it harder for him to catch a team substituting. To me, it was always a cheap way to move the ball.

What was up with Joseph Addai trying to tackle the Packers player? He got knock out !

Sam Bradford looked good! I don't think the Patriots went after him hard.

From a fan's perspective, preseason football is meaningless in almost every regard. As just one of a million examples, last Saturday night I was at the Bear/Raider game and 2nd year unproven right tackle, Chris Williams gave up 4 sacks to his oposing DE on the Raiders. The Bears were trying to "evaluate" how he could handle the rush. Certainly in a regular season game he would have had help from the RB or TE so it is a poor assessment of how the "team" performed. I use to watch all my teams preseason games but barely glance anymore until the season starts....when it actually counts.

I guess if you're only a fan of fantasy leagues or sports gambling, the games are quite meaningless.

They are pointless. The teams will tell you it is a way to judge performance of newer players, (vets rarely play). In fact it is just a nice revenue stream. They used to play six and said that is what it took to get ready and then went to four and in a year or two it will be down to two and teams will still be ready for the regular season. If you doubt that look at the Colts they have not won a preseason game in what 5 or six years. I pay no attention to these "practice" games at all.

The Packers just showed the Colts that their new players are not good enough to stop a strong passing attack and running game. The new players also could not provide Peyton Manning the protection he's accustom to having in front of him.

The Texans look like a good squad with a balanced offense. Arian Foster looks like a beast. Lil Bobby Sanders had better stay out the way before he gets hurt again. I am predicting that the Colts start the season off with a loss.

I didn't see the Packers-Colts game, but boy what a show that must have been. The games are meaningless to a point, but I must say I've enjoyed the heck out of watching the Saints new RB, Chris Ivory. It's hard for me to tell how improved the Texans are from Saturday's game. Other than a couple of Roy Williams sightings, it looked like the Cowboys totally mailed that one in. Yes, the Texans kicked butt. They WANTED to win.
Okay, so the Dallas offense hasn't quite figured out how to take advantage of the RBs (Barber is looking more like he's lost it than he did last season), and the line is in shambles. That doesn't explain the pitiful performance by the defense.
Texans are good, but I'm not sure how much improved they are over last year.

Dallas is highly overrated as usual! Frankly, Dallas didn't do much to improve their team over the off-season. The Dallas running game and play calling is tired, lame, and predictable. Romo has a "tell".

Yep.
I've been saying this for three seasons. Jason Garrett's gotta go. I've seen teams with less "talent" be more productive in the red zone.

Well I finally decided to sit down and watch the final pre season game of the Colts. Nice to see a backup QB throw 3 touchdown passes, of course he got cut on Saturday so that won't happen again. Preseason is needed to a point to make judgments on the new guys trying to make a team, but now we can all get down to the real deal of the regular season. Colts will still need to find some kind of a running game this season. The gain a wide receiver with Gonzo make off his knee injury, but we do need to run the the ball better.

As for the opening game, I used to worried about the Titans every year but Houston has really played us close past few years, but they always seem to find a way to give it away in the end. I like the Colts, but in a close game.....34-31.

The best way to beat any team is to study them and determine their most probable play for a given situation. To beat the Colts, you've got to know their formations and what they are trying to accomplish.

Texans break the hex .... 27-13

My Week 1 Predictions

Minnesota at New Orleans MIN
Detroit at Chicago DET
Oakland at Tennessee TEN
Indianapolis at Houston HOU
Miami at Buffalo BUF
Cincinnati at New England NWE
Carolina at NY Giants NYG
Atlanta at Pittsburgh ATL
Cleveland at Tampa Bay CLE
Denver at Jacksonville DEN
San Francisco at Seattle SFO
Arizona at St. Louis ARI
Green Bay at Philadelphia GNB
Dallas at Washington WAS
Baltimore at NY Jets BAL
San Diego at Kansas City SDG

The Jets let their success at ruining the Colts' hope for a perfect season go to their heads. Now, they are calling themselves the Miami Heat of football. Ray Lewis was not too happy with their cockiness. Mark Sanchez thinks it's like a "dream team" he's on.

Favre looked bad Thursday night. His release looks L O N G and S L O W ! !. Much slower than what we are use to from him. If he doesn't get injured from lack of conditioning in the first few weeks I don't expect him to be much of a factor this year. It's hard to get an accurate gauge on your timing and skills when you spend your entire offseason practicing with a bunch of high school Harrys.

He had two good drives, for the field goal and the touchdown. The Saints didn't pressure him that much ... a few spots here and there, including the Roman Harper hit that led to the pick. Otherwise, he rushed a lot of throws and threw a several into the dirt.
What? Who needs training camp?

It looked like the Vikings were expecting blitzes so the plays were mostly runs and quick outs. Poor coaching from Childress because the Vikings didn't come with a plan B.

The Saints showed that they were more than a finesse squad because they were able to adapt their game plan to a tougher style. After the opening play, the Vikings weren't buying the formation stuff.

I agree on both points.

Well the Texans did a great job and I think may have set themselves up as a contender in this division. I say "may" only because it is a long season and they have a lot to prove, not only to other teams but to themselves. But this was a big step in the right direction. There will be those who are going to say they shut down Manning, but when the guy completes over 40 passes for more the 400 yards and three TD's I would not call that shutting him down. The did a respectable job of putting on pressure including a pair of sacks. What they did exceptionally well was run the ball. Great up front blocking and some fantastic running from a guy who is basically a rookie controlled the amount of time Manning was on the field. Texans are to be watched, that is for sure. But still not in a panic state over my Colts just yet. Long season and we all know you do not have win all 16 games to get to the Super Bowl. Only down side for me is that Bob Sanders got hurt....again. Feel worse for him then the team. Bullit can fill in very well as he showed last season. Just wish a guy with Sanders ability could get in a full season, nobody plays with as much heart and soul as he does.

No perfect season for the Colts!

I wonder how the Eagles are feeling about losing McNabb right about now.

Philly will most likely give Kolb a few more games to show something. Kolb looked scared out there. Vick looked like he is good enough to be the number one QB. Reid has really put his job on the line in my opinion.

If McNabb helps the dysfunctional 'Skins become a contender he's going to get paid!

True.

I have to say this before I burst. Of course, I prefer if my favorite teams win, but ultimately, I want to see good football. As much as I've rooted against the Patriots over the years, I can still enjoy watching them if the opponent plays well and plays smart. What I find irritating is bungling.
Case in point. Dallas just had a 3rd and 1. Lined up. And called a good play that would have been a first down. But wait. It doesn't count. A timeout was called from the sideline.
That's just one example.
Another was in the Colts game. They had to burn 2 timeouts on one possession because they couldn't figure out what adjustments to make. On one play, Manning made changes, but I believe it was the left guard kept pointing and waving like either he disagreed with the call or didn't understand it. Whatever the case, the play clock ran down.
With all the sophisticated schemes these teams try to run, I'd like to see more precision. And if you have to do all this switching around and still don't execute, you're better off just running straight ahead. Live with the results. At the very least, you preserve timeouts, minimize the risk of penalties or big losses, and keep the clock moving.

Well, considering how often the Cowboys shot themselves in the foot with bad decisions and penalties, the Skins probably should have scored 20 or 24. Still, not a bad showing by McNabb. I hate that he's still in the division but glad that he's got a chance to prove he's not washed up. And being with Shanahan gives him a chance to move this team forward.

Wonder if the Cowboys will be in the market for a new lineman tomorrow. Throw the winning touchdown pass only to have it called back on a holding call. Of course if does not hold maybe Romo never gets the ball off, still all in all tough way to loose.

The Redskins did what they had to do to win. Taking nothing away from them. But that holding call wasn't the only penalty that hurt Dallas. The main faux pas was that last play in the first half - 4 seconds to go and the play was busted. Fall down or throw it out of bounds. Yeah, Choice fumbled by trying to get extra yards, but he shouldn't have been put in that position. Fault Romo for the lateral. Fault Garrett for calling the play. Down 0-3 instead of 0-10 makes a big difference going into the second half.

I was surprised that DeAngelo Hall actually tackled someone, stripped the ball, and scored a touchdown. Brian Orakpo was too much for Alex Barron which is why he almost had to put him in a head lock.

Another example of incompetence (or ignorance?). I was glad they released Flozell Adams because he was good for at least one false start per game. Now I hear that Barron committed more penalties per game than Adams, and last night, he proved it. And this from an owner who chose not to draft any linemen.

Dexter McCluster's punt return - swwwwwwwwwweeeeeet.
I've watched this guy in his years at Ole Miss. Speed. Speed. Speed.
If the Chiefs develop a halfway decent passing game, they might actually have a shot at the division. The defense is much improved over what I'm used to.

First post in this thread-sorry...I am a....shhh...rams fan. First week was interesting! The catch in the Detroit game WAS a CATCH. Period.Rules-that if rigidly interpreted- circumvent justice -need to go,period. Got no love 4 anything Detroit be it football beisbol.Bball or hockey. They have rightly suffered post screwing Barry Sanders. But they`ve done their pennance-that rule be needing to be given cement shoes y Lake Mich`d. GREAT 2 see da Redskins beat Dallas because of illegal cowboy grabbing-Hey Jerry Jones-stop holding practices on Brokeback Mountain! -OJ? Legal idiot he may be. BUT he may have been BOAT. Put OJ in against the(overall) slower players of Browns day-even 5-8 years earlier-and Juice woulda been even more dominant than he was in the 70`s. Same goes 4 Sanders.And Walter Payton! Sweetness, like OJ- scary power/scary speed. Yes, Emmit Smith indeed great-but in same class as the aforementioned- NOPE. PERIOD. Played 3 seasons too long just to get record ala Rose da gambler

Paul, that's just wrong. Although, one has to wonder if they really do practice that way considering how often it happens, even before Barron joined the team.

This is neat.

Too many people on the Jets bandwagon IMHO. They look terrible. I expect the Patriots to give them a thorough beating on Sunday. Let's not forget last year where the Jets were a mediocre 7-7 team before the Colts layed down and put them in the playoffs and they went on a 2-game terror and fizzled out.

Ray Lewis knocked several people off the the Jets bandwagon all by himself. Ray Lewis was possessed. The Jets called several good plays but Ray Lewis knew the play as if he were in their huddle. How did he know to drop back into coverage when he laid out Dustin Keller?



However, the Jets can be a very good team and their defense played well against the Ravens. I'm not expecting the Patriots to rout the Jets. This is a contest!

A lot will depend on how well the Jets run the ball. If they can do that, it will be a good game. If not, expect a rout.

With my Dodgers not showing up since May, my interest in beisbol has waned til the NLCS+ALCS. So football-even tho my Rams have been Raider-like for years-NFL is my sports focus til BTBWCLakers 2010-11! As you might guess, when Dallas loses-I love it. Do not like N.E. all that much but think reports of their demise are pre-mature. They very well may win 10-11 games again. The Jets-if they order Sanchez to play to win rather than to play not to lose-if they attack and avoid timid wimpy play calling, they will have a better shot at competing and goimh to the postseason.

Gag. The Cowboys are actually worse than they were last year. Two games - 4 giveaways, no takeaways, 2 offensive touchdowns, a payload of penalties.
Right about now, I'm betting Childress wished Brett Favre would have come to training camp.
Steelers 2-0 without Big Ben. Cool.
Dolphins 2-0? Fascinating.

Who would have thought it? Chicago adapted well the DeMarcus Ware & Company. The Vikings are disappointing.

Yup, Favre....the age and lack of a desire to train has certainly caught up to him.

If the Bears can find an offensive line they will be downright dangerous.

I'm sure he'll rebound, but with Green Bay and Chicago off to good starts, Minnesota's got an uphill climb.

Just watched Saints win over SF.Crackin good game. Best game so far this season. Glad Saints won, Hope Reggie Bs knee injury is not serious. SF49RS are up and coming tho. Sanchez? Three days ago I said he`d be fine if they let Mark attack instead of restraining him and making him play timid and not to lose. FAV-RE? Two losses by an aggregate 5 pts? Yep-seasons over! Seriously-he stays in the best shape of any player in football-explains why@40 he has started 2900 consective games and still fires it like he did@30. To say his training/conditioning is the reason Minn is 0-2 is ridiculous. He will be fine, he will be back. Ok, ok-290 consecutive games.

The lack of a big target like Sidney Rice is the main problem with the Vikings. Percy Harvin is hurt also.

It's been bad news for Reggie Bush lately. Kim Kardashian broke up with him. His perfomances at USC were removed from the books. I thought he should have kept the Heisman because it was his actions on the field that put him in contention for the award. Think about the millions colleges are making off of guys like Reggie Bush.

Have not heard report yet on Reggie`s knee injury-later today perhaps. Hey physical trophy or no, everyone still knows who the best college player was that year. I am a big USC and Reggie fan. While I have no doubts that dozens-if not hundreds-of college players receive similar perks-hey-Reggie got CAUGHT. So he has to be the example, the whipping boy. Check out what Sir Charles Barkley had to say re: Reggie. Last add: Great to see JRice last night. Class act with shout out to Bill Walsh.

Reggie's out 6 weeks.
Alex Smith looked like a certain former SF QB on that last drive. Was that an illusion, or can we expect more?
I'm glad Reggie gave back the Heisman, even if only because nobody would leave him alone about it until he did. That said, I think it's ridiculous that the Heisman committee saw fit to even address the issue. Had this come up, say, the same year, then fine. But 5 years later? What's the point - other than to pretend they actually care about integrity.
NCAA really should change the rules. They make it so these kids can't earn any money, yet the programs and coaches earn millions. And when they do catch somebody, it's not the boosters, scouts, agents who get penalized. It's the next group of players on that team, knowing they can't get a bowl game.
Not to change the subject, but this is the same reason I believe baseball's never-ending steroids scandal is such a sham. When folks were swatting HRs left and right, setting performance records and filling seats, nobody cared.
The hypocrisy is amazing.

Six weeks? OUCH! That said- it is preferable to all the o and d lineman who did the traditional out for the season-pre season knee injury thing. Reggie draws alot of defensive attention. We`ll see how NO adjusts for the rest of the first half of the season. AMEN to what Woody said about Alex Smith-looked kinda Montana-like. And I echo all the points you made about the hypocrisy in college football and sports. DO THE AGENTS and those in charge@offending schools have to return revenue and get lifetime bans? And baseball and steroids? Players from 20, 30, 40 yrs ago talk of clubhouse "greenie bowls" to improve energy and enhance performance. Blind eye turned to that-no talk of tainted records for that era. And the writers who take holier than thou attitudes-how many of them are alcoholics or closet druggies. Statistics say more than a few. Hey- I used to drink beer and smoke filterless cigarettes with green tabacco, I at least acknowledge it. Congress the press the award commitees are hypocrites.

Alex Smith had rightfully complained about the coaches not getting the plays to him faster. The extra time gives the QB the time to observe the defense and adjust accordingly.

Yeah, TR, that's another thing that annoys me about today's game.
It makes little difference to me if you pass more or run more, or whether you go straight ahead or try to bounce it outside. Ultimately, I want to see crisp execution.
Get everyone in the huddle. Get the signal in. Line up and snap the ball. Sometimes, it's okay to take a no-gain or incomplete pass. Don't try to out-think the defense on every down.
I think some of these OC's are clueless to begin with, and most of the rest are making it up as they go.
Have a plan and stick with it.
So much time is wasted trying to get the play in. I think that and excessively long snap counts contribute to illegal formations, false starts, wasted timeouts. By wasted, I don't mean where the QB sees something he doesn't like. I mean where they have to call TO to avoid a delay of game.

I really don't think Reggie should have given the trophy back, though if he had not he never would have heard the end of it from everyone. The award for was for what he did on the field and the penalty was for what a booster did off the the field. At least they made the right choice not to give it to someone else because runner up was just that, the runner up.

This has been a strange start to the season, but should make for an interesting one as we move along. I glad my picks for the past week were just for competition in a group and not for cash. Might have had to hand over the wife...hmmm well there is always next week!

Glad to see my Colts woke up for their week one slumber and began acting like a real football team. Not to take anything away from the Texans, but the week two effort was a complete turn around. Hey we actually do have running backs! Was beginning to think those were just life size cutouts standing back there but heck, they can actually run and block and catch passes too.

Oh please tell it not just a dream....my Colts football team did in fact run for more the 100 yards in a single game...what's that both running backs are averaging over 4 yards a carry. Surely you jest...the Colts could never do that!

Well it was fun to watch, hopefully they won't implode against the Broncos and end up with a -5 yards rushing or some such nonsense.

Well, the Giants outsmarted themselves by trying to pass the ball instead of running it. The Colts actually have a decent secondary but their run defense is lacking. I turned the game off after watching the Giants call two consecutive passing plays after an 8 yard run for nothing. I can understand the frustration from Brandon Jacobs! McDaniel is most definitely going to test out the Colts' run defense.

I'm hoping the Cowboys lose another game. I'm hoping Da Bears beat the Packers.

I would not call what the Giants did as "outsmarting" themselves. Just plain stupid, your right the Colts have had a problem against the run and I really expected them to come out running hard. Then when the Colts kept getting to Eli in what 2.6 seconds I would have thought they would look to another game plan. They really never made the run work all night even when they tried, they have some offensive line problems.

Denver should provide a better test. That why I was getting a bit flip about the running game. Want to see them put together a series of games with that kind of yardage before I am convinced they have one again. But at least it was an improvement over last week.

I think the Cowboys will go down to the Texans and while I would love to the Bears take down Green Bay, I don't see that happening.

Just an improvement in getting plays in on time so the play clock isn't down to 2 or 3 seconds will make a tremendous difference. Fewer false starts and fewer opportunities for the Texans defense to tee off and get into the backfield before Barber or Jones can take a step. But I'm really starting to think that Jason Garrett is not only stubborn in his determination to call 50 pass plays, he doesn't even plan a game. Never mind whether he has a good or mediocre game plan. Even a coordinator who doesn't know how to best use his talent or a coordinator who underestimates the opposing defense should be able to make a decision, and get it to the guys on the field in a timely manner. Cut down on confusion. Preserve timeouts. Improve execution.
Just a subtle change in that regard can cut down on offensive penalties and negative yardage.
The defense needs to get turnovers, too.

So if the Cowboys don't get this turned around quickly who do you see taking the hit, the OC or the head coach or maybe both?

Jerry Jones has already said that Wade Philip' job is safe even if the Cowboys drop to 0-3. If the offense continues to perform poorly, I could see the Cowboys bringing in a new play caller during the bye week. Romo should be able to pass on the Texans but the Cowboys need a run game to keep the Houston offense on the bench. The Cowboys would have to play well in all phases of the game to have any chance.

Sadly, Dave, no one. Jerry sticks by Wade. And while most everyone rips him for being laid back, I'm not sure he's the problem. JJ for being too involved, but that was the case even when they were winning Super Bowls. So, yeah, I can see a change at OC, but even that may come too late to salvage the season.

Well chalk one up for the 'Boys as they indeed down Houston. I thought maybe the Texans would get a roll going and they still might but derailed this week.

Colts offense sputters but the defense stuck when they had to to win over the Bronco's. Hope the two back up QB's in Denver don't have any plans of playing anytime soon. Unless he is injured I would say the jobs belongs to Orton. Colts have shown that if nothing else they sure know how to scout players. Loose two of your starting wideouts and do you panic? No just go to practice squad and find a kid who was a walk on in college and went undrafted after graduation and feel free to toss him a TD pass. Bet that makes the two injured receivers heal that much faster.

Hey what is with the Pat's defense? Brady and the offense are looking there use fine selves, but letting the Bills score 30!

And would somebody send the Chiefs a memo, they are not supposed to be 3-0 to start the season and the 49er's are not supposed to be 0-3! Guess that is why they play the game on the field and not in the press box. Well except in Detroit and Cleveland...heard a rumor they may be moving to UFL in search of a win.

Funny stuff, Dave. The talk most of the off-season was that the Patriots' defense isn't that good. I've only seen the one game against the Jets, so I'm not sure. As to the Jets, Sanchez is maturing. And although I wanted Miami to win, I'm glad to see Braylon Edwards have a good game after the DUI controversy.
I didn't get to watch the Dallas-Houston game. Quite stunning to see Roy Williams have an impact. I've always known he could play, but since he's been in Dallas, he's been a big disappointment. The big story here is the defense finally stood up.
Now about those Chiefs.
Game 1 - solid defense, a slow start by San Diego and big plays by Charles and McCluster.
Game 2 - solid defense
Game 3 - The offense turned up the juice. And did it against Singletary's defense? I'm stunned.

Who says zebras aren't human?

Leave it to one of my ex-co-workers to show me a link to a George Blanda tribute. The image in the frame was of a game against the Chiefs - one of many reasons why I hated the Raiders.
The year was 1970 - my first to take a serious interest in the NFL. Blanda was 43, and was the guy who bailed the Raiders out. NBC announcer Curt Gowdy referred to his performances as miracles. The Raiders would be losing big time. And then here comes Blanda. The video shows him quarterbacking and kicking his way to some nail-biter victories. I watched a few of these games and got mad every time.
If memory serves, the one against Cleveland happened the same time Tom Dempsey broke the record. I was watching the Raiders and Cleveland on NBC. From another room, my mother (not a football fan) yelled something about a man kicking a 63-yard field goal. I switched to CBS. Saints had swarmed Dempsey. After the replay, I turned back to the other game. Raiders had swarmed around Blanda.
I was pissed.
Still, as much as I hated the team - particularly a receiver named Warren Wells - I couldn't hate George. Even as a kid, I appreciated the fact that this 43-year-old was quarterbacking and kicking (to say nothing of winning). Him and his thick, bushy sideburns.

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but the games I've seen so far have been pretty lousy. Hopefully, New England-Miami will be more interesting.

OMG! The Colts go down on a 59 YARD FG! Who has Jacksonville got kicking for them Iron Man? Actually this is not first time he has tagged up on a long FG but 59 yards is one heck of a boot!

Of course if the Colts don't turn the ball over in the red zone twice then the long kick is a moot point. Ya got to protect the football guys!

Well Cleveland wins, but in the area of useless stats they have yet to beat anybody outside the state of Ohio yet. Green Bay just gets by the Lions. Are the Lions actually becoming a real football team or was that the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay team on the field? The Saints slipped by Carolina are you kidding me? The post Super Bowl Blues or what? Denver wins on the arm of Kyle Orton who throws for 341 yards while the Bears at the moment are losing 10-0 and Jay Cutler has passed for 41 yard in the third quarter. Great trade ya made there Bears oh and was the top receiver for the Broncos? None other the Brandon Lloyd 11 catches over a hundred yards. Bears management did not much care for him either. Oh well the Bears are 3-0 going into tonight and now that I have had my shots they will probably go on to score 21 in the last quarter and win the game.

I haven't seen Cleveland play yet but looking at their scores, they're not a doormat any more. So much for T.O. + Ocho = success. I think the Lions have been playing really good football. They're close.
The Saints are okay. The defense could be better. But their lack of scoring so far, you can't underestimate the need for running backs, even in a "passing" league. Bush is out. Thomas is out. And I think Betts got shaken up there for a while, too. Without those guys in the game, that's one person who can't pick up a blitz. More pressure on Brees.
Who'd have thunk it?
The Chiefs are the only undefeated team left. Probably won't last after next week.

The Chiefs, the westcoast Patriots, are playing the Colts next. It will be a difficult task for the Chiefs to remain unbeaten but I don't think they should afraid of the Colts' offense. If the Chiefs whip the Colts, you can put a fork in Indy!

The 'Skins have beaten the Cowboys and the Eagles! Who'd have thunk it?

Chiefs have been playing some good D and should give the Colts some problems. If you are going to give the Colts a real problem then it is done with solid running. The Giants learned the hard way if you do not run well they will tee off on your passing game. Titans and Jags put together some solid running and it showed. Of course having someone with a bionic leg does not hurt either!

As for putting a fork in the Colts season with a loss...not sure about that. It would, if it did indeed happen, be only three losses. The division can be won with a 12-4 record. But they now have two losses in the division and that worries me. The Colts are good at over coming adversity. Keep in mind they are down two starting receivers, a back up running back and two starting defensive backs. Except for Bob Sanders no one seems long term.

The improvement of Houston who can now join Tennessee as a real threat and if the Jags get it back together as they did yesterday makes winning this division difficult for all. A battle till the end.

If Caldwell is going to keep calling timeouts with 36 seconds in regulation and the Jaguars backed up to their own 23-yard line and looking to run out the clock and send the game into overtime tied 28-28, you can add him to the list of Colts disadvantages -- poor clock management.

T.O. caught how many balls? Who is Peyton Hillis?

I'm just basking in the glow of being able to say - for the next 5 days at least - that the Chiefs are the only undefeated team. I don't remember being able to say that after the first month.
Enjoy the ride while it lasts. I still think they're about an 8-8 or 9-7 team. But if they mess up and win in Indy, KC might work out enough kinks to challenge San Diego for the division title.
It was good to see the Giants play a game with a lot of mistakes, and burst the Chicago bubble.
Vikings and Jets next week. Hmmmm.

Tom Brady is fastest to 100 wins in Super Bowl era. Patrick Chung was the man.

Well actually the time out was not that bad a call. The intent was to force the Jags to punt and give Manning a last shot to score or set up a FG. Don't forget the last scoring drive began with what 1:58 to go and he left about 50 seconds on the clock when they scored. The plan actually worked up to a point. They game with an all out blitz forced a quick throw and the DB has the interception in his hands...and he dropped it. That would have been game set and match if he hangs on to the ball and no one would have been talking about the time out. Two dropped passes for turnovers a drop interception those are player errors not coaching errors.

Patriots trade Moss to Vikings for 3rd round draft pick.
Good for Minnesota, but I question the wisdom of this particular trade when they'll be facing Moss in a few weeks.
Some of the talking heads at ESPN Radio are saying the Pats' offense will struggle without the deep threat that Moss brought, even though they weren't really throwing to him. Maybe another receiver will step up (I kind of like that new tight end, Hernandez). I'm sure they'll figure something out. I wouldn't write off New England's offense just because one player is gone.

Randy Moss was able to stretch the field vertically. That allowed Wes Welker and the tight ends to work in the area vacated by defenders trying to cover Moss. I think it was all about money and the fact he was riding them about an extension. The Patriots are lacking a flanker now.

I am inclined to agree with thought. Sometimes we get all caught up in the numbers game of how many catches and yards gained and forget out how useful a guy can be as a decoy. You have to respect his speed and his ability to catch the ball and if you double team him that leaves someone else open. Not sure what his relationship with Brady was like, but you know all receivers complain to a degree. Everyone thinks the ball should come to them every play. Well it gives Farve another target down the field. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Well it was not pretty, but it is still a win and at this point I am willing to take that. Chiefs defense did a good job of taking out the Colts long pass game, but Colts were able to run...well at lest better then normal. But Chiefs running game was suspect and it needed to be in high gear. Field goals just don't make it. But this team is a whole lot better then last year and looks to get even better.

From the looks of things Lions and Browns who have been bottom dwellers as well are showing signs of life as well. Lions win Browns did not but they are not a push over anymore. Parity at its best. Your Cowboys let me down Woody, had them picked to win, I lost out on both overtime games as well and what is with the Chargers losing to the Raiders? Missed on that one as well.

Hey you guys see the story about Brady and Moss getting into a heated argument just prior to the trade? The were arguing over, of all things, hair! Seems Brady did not care for the beard Moss was growing and Moss said Brady looked like a girl. Don't know about that...surfer maybe! Oh for the good old days when arguments were about dropped passes, missed assignments, not enough carries ect. Next thing you know players will start getting critical over the tattoo artwork they all adorn. Play the game boys, who really cares about your hair, beards, or artwork. It is about winning, not fashion.

I don't doubt they argued, but I'd hate to think that's the reason the Patriots traded Moss, rather than it being over salary.
Chiefs. Their running game actually is pretty good. It's the passing that sucks. Moaki (sp) is shaping up to be a pretty good tight end, and I expect McCluster will be a good receiver in the mold of Dennis Gentry ('85 Bears), but Bowe is a major disappointment. And I'm not impressed with Cassel, either. Still, it was their best complete game against Indy in quite some time. Coverage in the secondary was excellent, but a better pass rush is in order.
As to the Cowboys, more mistakes.
I'm sorry. Yes, Fisher is an excellent coach. Yes, the Titans are "physical" but I don't buy that equating to being better any more in the NFL than I do the NBA. How good can you be when your entire passing game is based on, "Throw it long and hope for a pass interference"? But let's see. Cowboys - pass interference, personal fouls, turnovers (does anybody on the Dallas defense know how to cause a fumble?).
I'm flabbergasted. I'm not second guessing Jason Garrett's play selection. It helps that Roy Williams is finally becoming part of the offense, and the running game is getting some positive plays. But the players, I'm just shaking my head about some of the stuff I see.
Martellus Bennett - liability.
Romo - stared down his receiver on the one interception. I wish I had a calculator to figure out the point differential on probable Dallas scores erased by INTs and opponents' scores from getting a short field after an INT.
Defensive secondary, except for Newman - cover somebody without grabbing, and for heaven's sake, COMMUNICATE!
One step forward, two steps back.
I suppose it could be worse.
Any 49ers fans around?
As to Detroit, nice work.

They both could use a trip to a barber or hair salon. Moss needs to shave that beard. He's looking like Rick Ross.




Brady needs a hair cut. He's looking like Justin Bieber.



How 'bout them Cowboys?

Oh I would doubt that the argument over something as simple as a difference as hair led to a trade. Probably would not have hit national media if there had not been a trade. You know it was not that long ago people were making fun of NBA players for looking like they had just come from a photo shoot with GQ as they sat on the bench in their thousand dollar suits. Think I like the clean cut look myself.

On the other hand I really don't care if Brady looks like Justin as long as he does throw like him! Well except when he is playing my Colts of course...then I hope he throws like grand pa moses!

Just watching a video on Yahoo showing the celebration penalty the Cowboys got and they followed that with another game in which a defensive back ran back a pic for a TD and then went into his little dance at the end but no flag, Did not the Titans also make a point of celebrating over the Cowboy star in the end zone with no penality? So what is the rule now? Is it that the Cowboy celebration involved two players? That makes little sense to me. Then the whole celebration penalty thing is crazy to me. After all this is entertainment as much as it is sport so let them show off a bit, does it really matter?

I never cared for the no-celebration rules.
I get it. You don't want 8 or 9 guys rolling the dice or the old Redskins fun bunch. But have some sense about it.
15 yards for taunting an opposing player? Okay.
But 15 yards for handing the ball off to a teammate who spikes it? Overkill.
At the most, that should be a 5-yard delay of game.
Now that it's happened, I don't want the league to back off for the remainder of this season, but I really hope the rules committee takes another look at this.

Wow! Just when it looked like Favre might have his way, POW. Right in the kisser.

Hopefully, the Vikings can get a win next week. I want the Cowboys to stay down and out. The Cowboys player was celebrating on the ground!

The Colts are not playing their best football so the 'Skins may be able to get another win. I think the key to the win is to rattle Peyton. I can see Dallas Clark getting lit up by Laron Landry. Just try a route up the seam! I suspect the Colts will use more TEs in this game

The key to beating the Colts has nothing to do with rattling Manning because frankly it can not be done for any length of time. I hear that from booth commentators all the time. Look he does get frustrated at times when the Colts are out of sync or if the other team is rather effective at what it is has designed to use that week. But he has been around too long and is too savvy about the game of football that he will adjust and go another direction. As we have seen the real key is simply keep him off the field. A solid run game that eats up the clock and keeps our boy on bench. But you must put points on the board, settle for field goals and you are in big trouble. His has too many weapons to go too and as they have shown time and again they can score quickly and seem to be at their best when their backs are against wall. Mannings growth as a player is the willingness to take whatever the other guys will give him. Take away the long game and he will dink and dunk you all day with those little 7 or 8 passes to the legion of receivers he has. Start backing a man or two off the line to cover the short lanes and he will adjust and run the ball. I like the fact that they have been making less use of the stretch play this year (which really never did work well since the Edge left) and run the trio of backs more often up the middle or off tackle.

As for those celebrations, I would agree with Woody do not change this year but a serious review of policy is in order. This is entertainment. That is why they spend millions on new fancy stadiums. It is why we have cameras flying around on wires to give fans a better view. It is why we have huge jumbo sized screens for fans to watch replay after replay. Oh let us not for get the cheer leaders, who are there only for the purpose of eye candy. It is a serious game, it is a very violent game so why not let the guys have some fun. Is it even delay of game. Everyone was still milling around in the Dallas game. It was not going to start any sooner if they do not have their little fun.

Peyton Manning - Game time decision

Packers notes: Rodgers, Finley, Matthews join list of injured



Michael Vick out with chest injury

The announcers covering that game totally blew it. All the cameras showed, and all the announcers talked about was handing the ball off and the spike. Their failure to explain what really happened no doubt fueled a lot of the criticism of the rule.
The penalty was the proper call, and I wouldn't change that at all.
I do believe the league should change it to 5 yards next season, except when the celebration involves taunting an opponent or something like throwing or punting the ball into the stands.
Having said that, the Cowboys still had an obligation to cover the kickoff and stop the Titans from scoring. They failed miserably.
The players lost this game.
Not Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett or Jerry Jones.
Not the officials.
The players.
Specifically: Jenkins, Romo, Gurode and Davis.

I would agree with the yardage change, they have it as a major penalty at this point which is nuts. I think it has to bee a legitimate delay of game. Kicking the ball in the stands would surely qualify. But what about the leap into the stands that Green Bay players do? Would that not be a delay of game as well? Well in the case of the leap by Arron Rogers this season he should have gotten a twenty yard penalty for incredibly bad form as he missed the stands all together....but then hey, he is a quarterback.

Funny, Dave. You do raise a good point. I don't have a problem with the leap. But we are talking about players actually leaving the playing area and then having a longer jog back to the bench. It does raise the question of different standards.
Define celebration.
Define excessive.
And be consistent.
I'd like to see something done about those showboats who have a sure touchdown but get to about the 10-yard line and start high stepping like Deion Sanders used to do.
Oh, and enough with the strutting around like big shots after a play. There are occasions when a big catch or momentum-shifting hit is made that may warrant a little boasting. But there's way too much, "Yeah, I did this," after normal plays.
And, yes, this includes Marion Barber. Every time he runs for a first down, he pops up like he's done something. So annoying. How about scoring a touchdown once in a while?

You're condoning the unsportmanslike conduct as exhibited by Marc Colombo. Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (d) of the NFL Rule Book states: "players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground." This new rule will prevent Jared Allen from dropping to the ground and "roping a calf" after sacking Tony Romo.

I wish the NFL would penalized players for performing the first down signal. I view it as a taunting gesture and an attempt to usurp an official's authority!

I'm not condoning anything.


I just think 15 yards for that is excessive. Offensive holding only counts for 10. Likewise an illegal block in the back, which could actually hurt an opposing player.
And yes, the first down signal has also become very annoying. Give the ball to the ref and go back to the huddle.

Turnovers, penalties, stupid stuff.
Oh, my!

The only thing missing from the Cowboys' last play versus the Vikings was "keystone kops" music ( A Bag of Rags by W.R. MacKanlass )! The New York Giants need to put a proverbial nail in the coffin for Cowboy haters worldwide.



The Patriots looked just good enough without Moss.

That's what bad teams do! I don't want to hear from Cowboys apologist who say they are so talented yet underachieving. Every team in the NFL has talent.

The Colts are an example of a team that doesn't have top talent like Dallas in every position yet gets the job done. The Colts have so many injuries because they are pushing their overachieving selves to the breaking limit on every play. Of course, they have Satan Manning and a lot of luck that I hope runs out soon.

lol @ Satan Manning.
I think even the Dallas players know the "talent" thing is a crock. Several of them have said so. Too bad they don't turn that into solid on-field performances. It's the talking heads on ESPN, Fox, CBS and NBC who keep beating the talent drum.

Speaking of the Colts, am I seeing things? Or are they actually running the football with some authority?

Welcome back, Ben. Steelers rock!

No you are not seeing things they are getting that running game going, now they just need to keep the running backs healthy. I think what has happened is due in part to teams playing back to protect for the pass game and maybe more importantly they have begun to attack the middle of the line. When James was there they ran the stretch play a lot, but he was very good at it. While the current crop of running backs are good they lack James speed to outside. All three seem to have a good power game and of course J.A. has the added pass catching ability. They still have not got it going in every game but it is getting better. A total of 160+ yards on the ground in the win over the Redskins tonight. Not bad for a team with no talent or star players huh. Just think if one or two step up we might even some guys going to the Pro Bowl, or wait minute we had seven last year.

And yes what is with the Satan Manning thing Ars? Though I must admit it is a bit funny...we are now down to the point where no one can figure out how to stop him so we have to make up little names. Got news for you that won't work either!

This has been a real crazy season so far for the league has a whole. Think the league does need to hold a seminar how ever. It seems to me that far two many teams has lost track of the concept of being a favorite. Guys you are suppose to win the games that you are favored to win. Of course it may just come down to the idea that all those underdogs just are not will to accept the fact that the experts say they can not win the game and decided to play to win in spite of experts. Wow what a novel concept.

Or a final note, TR my friend if you waiting for the Colts luck to run out, might be in for a long wait. What do you think we have the horseshoes on the helmet for anyway!

Almost! The Colts look like they have 6 or 7 more wins. In playing the Colts, you must give the devil his due.

Act like you have been there before!

Well I suppose to most of the league Manning must indeed seem like the devil. Six or seven more wins....hey they only have 8 games left. I said after the Houston loss they could win the division with 12-4. The difficult part at this point is that while they have lost only 2, both are against division teams. After tonight there will be three teams in the South at 4-2 and one at 3-3. The way things are going 11-5 might get you the South title. They must beat Houston and Jacksonville the second time around if they are to have a real run at it.

It looked for awhile last night like they were trying to give the game away what with all those turnovers. For a team not prone to loosing the ball to see that many in one night was tough. Though you must credit the Skins defense with some solid play to create those turnovers.

Washington's D is pretty good. Side note: I prefer the burgundy over gold they had on last night to what they've worn since the Theismann era.

TR, Austin was acting like he'd been there before. Last week. Columbo's stop, drop and roll routine.
There's a D in Dallas. It stands for dysfuunctional.

I tell you, this is testing my resolve, big time.
I love football. Even when my favorite teams have done poorly - Chiefs, for example - I've always wanted to watch them play. ALWAYS. Even when they're cellar dwellers, I want to see what they're up to. If there's anything positive about their play.
But Dallas. Sheesh!
Even when the Saints were Ain'ts, I don't recall seeing so much self-destruction.

Okay, this is weird.

Penalty was on Hurd, not Austin

Deserved either way. And Austin fessed up to his stupidity on both the leap and the pass interference. Too bad owning up to bad decisions isn't catching on.
And once again, you can't rely on the commentators.

How do you feel about fines and suspensions for hard hitting in the NFL?

I feel that the stricter rules and regulations will most likely make it harder for the defense to do their jobs. I'm totally against a player launching themselves into another player and using their helmet as weapon a la Brandon Meriweather but stuff happens. Safeties aren't out there to hold people's hand so they can have a pleasant trip to the end zone.

The new rules will also help players like Bob Sander who knock themselves out of the game while try to knock other people out. Learn how to tackle guys.

I think there will be a certain ammount of erring on the side of caution in the area of helmet to helmet or leading with the helmet type of thing. BUT I think that fining players-unless it is the second or perhaps third infraction- fines are unwarranted. If an official wants to T a player up with a PFOUL FLAG then so be it. At the refs discretion, a player can be tossed from any game if it seems blatant or purposeful. THAT will hurt him and his team. He does that too often and the team will discipline him. SATAN Manning? THAT IS funny. Your best chance to beat him is to stop the run game and pressure him so he has to decide where he is going to throw the ball a split second earlier than he is used to. Control the ball when you are on O to keep him from getting into a groove. A handful of teams have the tools to pull this off. You see how mortal Favre and Sanchez and the guy from New England look when their run games are not there? Very ordinary.

I think this suspension-friendly crackdown is ridiculous.
Yes, go after the guys who go head to head and any blatant cheap shops. But sometimes, people just hit hard.
Defenders do need to learn better tackling techniques. I see a lot of guys drop that shoulder and launch into an offensive player. That might work if the ball carrier doesn't sidestep and get only a glancing blow, or if a second defender is there to clean up. But often I just see them bouncing off the first guy and if they can maintain balance, they're off to the races.
Another thing, some of today's commentary was about how the first guy is supposed to wrap up and the second guy is supposed to try to hit to cause a fumble.
I'm for hitting to cause a fumble.
But a lot of bad tackling comes from the first guy trying to strip the ball instead of stopping the runner.

Woody- I agree 117%. These players are taught- from chlldhood -to go all out and play at 100%...that the injuries come most when you let up. How in blazes is one to know when one is 1% too hard or 1% under the limit!

That's only half of it. Some of the most violent hits are inadvertent. The receiver coming across the middle turning to his QB to make the catch only to get blindsided by the safety or corner. Whether you lead with helmet or not it is a vulnerable position that could end anyone's career in a flash.

Guys are faster, bigger and stronger and these injuries are inevitable. It's the risk of working in a profession that pays 1,000's of times more than the rest of us make. It is what it is.

The hipocracy of the NFL Films "promoting" greatest "hits" and the violence of the game, yet trying to reign in the violence at the same time.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...ns-illegal-hit/

I have mixed feelings on the matter myself. My point of view comes from experience because I broke my neck as the result of a helmet to helmet hit. Now let me say that from what I am told it was a very clean hit, but at the same time a rather nasty one. I have no real memory of it myself, I woke up in the ER, in a rather confused state. My doctor told me I was extremely lucky, another quarter of an inch in the break and I would have ended up paralyzed from the shoulders down or dead. Spent six weeks in the hospital flat on my back, followed my four months in a neck brace and two more in a removable brace to allow the tendons and muscles my neck regain strength. Though I am happy to say that I recovered completely for the most part. I can walk and talk like normal, my days of riding roller coasters and sky diving (which I had just started weeks before getting hurt) not mentioned playing ball anymore came to a sudden and complete end. I have some movement restriction in my neck, side to side and backward causes minor pain (not to mention putting a real crimp in my girl watching!) but overall I was real lucky. There have been far to many who were not as lucky as me.

So when I watch the playback of all the hits from the weekend on Sunday night I found myself shuttering with each and every one. Would I change the rules? I think so, for this reason, when I played we were taught to aim tackle from the chest down. Guys my size generally were taught to go after the legs of the bigger guys because we were unlikely to bring down a big man with a chest high hit. Yes there will be some contact made that was not intended and it not difficult to look at film and decide if was or not. But more and more we are seeing young players coming in head first to make a hit. I do not believe that putting and end to it will created difficulties for defensive players. It might however just save someone from spending the rest of his life in a wheel chair or worse.

Keep in mind gentlemen just a mere quarter of an inch and I am not sitting at my computer typing this.

On a final note and so that I can end this without sounding to down, I would like to point out that the team I played for was a US Army team. Because my injury was of a permanent nature I was given a military disability and I get a check from Uncle Sam every month. The upside of all this is that when people find out I am a disabled vet they often asked where I was wounded no doubt expecting me to say Viet Nam, Iraq, Samolia or some other far off place. But the looks on their faces when I tell them that I got hit on 45 yard line in Frankfurt....is priceless.

I think helmet to helmet hits SHOULD be punished. WEEK SIX: What games R U most lookin fwd 2 on Sun/Mon? I m looking 2 Brett Fav-re+ his return 2 Green Bay. The Vikes are 2-3, but very well could be 3-2,or even 4-1--but have shot themselves in the foot on too many occasions. They need to establish the run game early-both to better utiliize a key weapon, and to keep the GB D-line from teeing off with only pass rush on their mind. This is how the Vikes had so much success LAST season. I am heartened that the off the field rumoured incident from nearly 3 years ago is not overshadowing the actual game. Personally I would/will never do what Fav-re is rumoured to have done-even if I had an larger than avg personalility in that area as Brett is said to have. NOW-if he texted a pic of his attribute as a "first contact" then ya probably should fine him heavily or maybe suspend him. But if he sent the rumoured pic as part of an ongoing flirtation, a smaller fine is in order. Again, wouldn`t do it myself. Not my style.

I am with you in that the Farve thing would not be the kind of thing I would do, but it could be that it much to do about nothing. Seems that first the league has to figure out if in fact it was him. One report I saw said that the people who released the photo are not even sure themselves if it was in fact him. That should all be easy to find out from the woman in question. Anyone seen her take on the whole thing? I would think that if this is a case of give and take between the two then maybe it should all be left with parties involved. If on the other hand it is one one sided on Farves part (again assuming he did in fact do anything) then fines or penalties are in order.

But first of all the league must first get all the facts in the case. For myself I usually pay little attention to things that hit the internet or scandal sheets, on matters such as this. There is always so much speculation and innuendo that comes forth. Until some hard core facts come forth leave the guy alone and let him play football.

I am looking forward to the Cowboys-Giants game. The sports talkers are still espousing scenarios for a Cowboys run. The Giants totally owned the Cowgirls last year but anything can happen.

I would not send such a pic myself.

Did the Colts punter sober up yet? Peyton Manning will probably end up in a canal himself if he loses Reggie Wayne too. The 'Skins may not win but they will damage your best players trying. Add Dallas Clark to the list.

Real dumb move on the part of Colts punter, it will cost him a payday. Given the condition of the water in the canal I am betting he never tries that again. He may need the time to get cleaned up and detoxed and then he may want to sober up!

The Clark loss is a big one. He does so much more then just catch the ball and will be hard to replace. But the Colts do seem to have a way of finding replacements. There are still plenty of guys for Manning to throw to, if the running game keeps improving that will be an added plus as well.

Most grown men probably would not send something like this well at least I would hope that would be the case. But we all know that some individuals no matter the age or stature just can't seem to help themselves from doing some real stupid things. I would hope that Farve does not fall into that group.

Two things to note.
Romo is out, so Cowboys would do well to win 6 for the season.
If JJ wants this team to compete, he MUST upgrade the offensive line. Except for Doug Free, the starters are getting older and their lack of speed shows in the number of pressures and hits that Romo has taken. A young QB for insurance wouldn't be a bad idea. Hint, hint. Greg McElroy.