NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Last week vs the Colts Brandon Marshall had a milestone day, yet from the sounds of it in the Denver Post, the franchise wide out is making it sound like he won’t be back with the club once his contract runs out.

The Broncos could pre-empt such bargaining leverage by opening talks on a long-term contract with Brandon Marshall. But the receiver has his doubts. “I think if they wanted to get something done, it would have been done already,” Marshall said. “But our ultimate goal is to win games and we have three of them left. Hopefully we can get that done. Regarding a contract, I think it’s best if I just play it out.” Marshall figures to become extremely wealthy, even by professional athlete standards. Wealthy, as in possibly the NFL’s highest-paid receiver.

Marshall has 86 grabs this season for 1008 yards and 9 touchdowns. He had 21 catches vs the Colts last week for 200 yards with two touchdowns.

Clinton Portis seems to feel like the current concussion that has stopped him from taking the field is not going to end his career. The Redskins running back appeared at a charity event Tuesday and was asked about remarks he made last week, when he sounded as if he could be contemplating the end of his career. Portis replied: “I don’t think for one second this could be career ending.”

Portis ran for 494 yards this season for the Skins with a touchdown. There’s no doubt that the offense is better with him in there, and if he can come back and continue his career (he’s only 28 years old), he should. Portis is a solid running back, and there’s no question he should come back if he can.

They won on Sunday. This is good. And they did it despite the previous high-schoolesque detention of several delinquent superstars (although I can't totally blame Adalius Thomas, who at least phoned ahead, for being in a snit) and Brady's obviously battered state (ribs, finger, the perennial shoulder, possibly the demands of brand-new fatherhood?). Wes Welker, as usual, showed up – bigtime. As did several others. However, something felt like it was missing.

So, what's the matter? I think it might be called 'team spirit-less.' The Saints, beaming with laissez-les-bon-temps-roulez, lately are reminding me of the Pats of 2002 (and 2004 and 2005) – they were, in the best sense of the word, together.

During the 2001 season the Pats were first disregarded and then pitied when Drew Bledsoe was injured and an unknown Tom Brady had to step up. When astonishingly they made it to the Super Bowl (a major underdog to the 'greatest show on turf') they didn't even allow themselves to be introduced individually – they ran onto the field…together. And in doing so, changed the ambiance of the game – or at least the Super Spectacle.

Being part of a functional team isn't so different from being in a good marriage. Sometimes you click on all cylinders. Sometimes you have to fake it until the spirit returns. (And sometimes you get traded.) But at heart, you're together. You face the world, its joys and travails, as one; your destinies are aligned. And, in truly good relationships, you always do your best to show up, not so much for yourself but for the other guy.
The Pats are a team brimming with talent. However, at the moment, their attitude seems to be less team-spirit than 'teaminess': they're not really together – they're just going through the motions.

If they reclaim their heart and passion, and their commitment to each other, they can do this – they can win their remaining games and return to the playoffs, where fortune can be notoriously fickle and favor fall on the un-anointed. The operative word is 'if' – if they remember how to be a team. If they care.

Teams that work don't always win – nobody does. But coming together, giving everything you have to give, in every game, does mean never having to say you're sorry.

Week 15: Dallas Cowboys
Week 16: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 17: @ Carolina Panthers

As we continue to follow the New Orleans Saints through their incredible season, you continue to wonder can the Saints really go 16-0. You may even be thinking; Is that legal? With the Saints at 13-0 and only three remaining it's actually beginning to look possible. Sean Payton and the team have said they will not rest starters through the remaining schedule. This week looks a little scary as the Black and Gold host the 8-5 Dallas Cowboys. Now, you may think "Oh no, the Saints haven't been playing well and now they have to play the 'Boys." Well, I am here to shed a little light on a fun thing called, "December Fever."

Dallas has been notorious in December the past few years and the '09 season is no different. They have already lost their first two games in the month against the Giants in New York and the Chargers in Dallas. Maybe they are just having bad luck considering they played good teams back to back or maybe it's the December Fever.

Their remaining three isn't easy either. They have to fly to New Orleans, then they have to travel to D.C. and finally they play the Eagles at home. Either way, their health is still in danger as they have to fly to New Orleans. They are now a game behind the Eagles in the NFC East, and beating the Saints begins to seem like their last hope. If the Eagles win and the Fever strikes the Cowboys, they will be two behind with two to play. They have the number three total offense averaging 391 yards per game, and possess the number six passing attack and number seven ground attack. Defensively, they are number fourteen allowing about 329 yards per game.

The New Orleans Saints continue to roll as they face a bigger test this week than the previous two weeks. The Saints have been winning some close games, but they are winning. This past Sunday they had to fly to Atlanta and face a serious test as the Falcons fought for their lives with hopes of staying in the wild-card race. The Saints prevailed 26-23 and are moving on to this weeks challenge. If the Vikings lose this week and the Saints win, they will be crowned conference winners and earn the number one seed in the NFC. Obviously the Saints still have much to fight for and won't be sitting starters any time soon. Drew Brees continues his roll as he added three more touchdowns touchdowns this week and jumps to number two in yards behind big Manning. They still have the number one offense and the number three and five passing attack, but their defense will be tested this week. Last time we said that was when the Saints played the Patriots and completely shut out Brady. So, it will be interesting to see how the Saints defense plays behind a loud home crowd.

Key Matchups:
Drew Brees VS. Tony Romo
Saints Offense VS. Cowboys Defense
Cowboys Offense VS. New Orleans Crowd
Romo and Crew VS. December Fever

Despite a win over the Steelers last week, the Browns are looking forward, and that includes a visit today from former Seattle and Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren. Word from the Akron Beacon Journal is that Holmgren is spending his second day meeting with the Browns about running their football operations.

Holmgren visited with the Browns yesterday and was again at the team's headquarters in Berea today. Last month, owner Randy Lerner said he wanted to hire a "serious, credible leader" to run the team. The Browns are 2-11 and have lost at least 10 games six of the past seven seasons.

The one-time Super Bowl winning coach previously served as the Seahawks GM and has expressed interest about returning to the NFL. The 61-year-old Holmgren recently told a Seattle radio station he found the Browns' front-office job appealing.

"There's something in my personality, too, that taking on those types of projects, that kind of gets me going. But there's a lot of work to do," he said. "The important thing, going into any organization is that all of the principles, all of the decision makers are pointed in the same direction, with the same motives, the same desires, and then you have a chance."

The big question if Holmgren comes aboard is what will happen with coach Eric Mangini. One would think that if Holmgren wants in, Mangini is not going to be back as coach in 2010. Mangini has said he would be open to Lerner bringing in someone to oversee the team's personnel decisions. On Monday, Mangini said he and Lerner have not discussed the search for that person.

"That hasn't really been the focal point of our conversations," he said. "It's more a function of the things that we're trying to do week in and week out. We'll visit some more and I'm sure we'll see where that is."

If the Arizona Cardinals are going to repeat as NFC Champs, they are going to have to not allow themselves to fall into performances like Monday night in San Francisco. The Cards, who a week ago looked like world beaters in beating the Vikings at home, were beaten badly by the Niners 24-9.

Arizona falls to 8-5 on the season, and while they should still not have an issue winning the NFC West, they have shown at times this season they have a tendency to fall into lapses. "We lost this game ourselves,” Cards tackle Darnell Dockett said.

The Cardinals had five first half turnovers, and after not throwing a pick in 130 attempts, Kurt Warner threw two in the first half. It was a sloppy night on offense for Arizona, who seemed to have found their stride vs Minnesota last week.
"We were wanting to play against an opponent that had beaten us earlier this year, and it was on Monday Night Football, and we had an emotional game against Minnesota the week before,” Ken Whisenhunt said. “We were excited and we lost our discipline, and that's something you cannot do."

Warner was just 16-for-29 for 178 yards and he was sacked four times. "It's a crazy game sometimes," Warner said. "It's like anything in life. You get to a point and you think, 'OK, maybe now we're there.' And then you find out you're not quite there yet. That's what we continue to find out."

The Niners defense held Arizona to just 245 yards of offense, while led by Frank Gore and Alex Smith, they had 327 yards. Gore had 167 yards with a touchdown. He rushed 25 times, making sure that Warner and the Cards were off the field. Arizona only had the ball for 23:15, while San Fran had the ball for 36:45.