NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest |  |
- Bradford To Start Against Ravens Thursday
- Redskins top Jets 16-11 in preseason action
- Preseason Week Three Preview – NY Giants at Baltimore
- Did he or didn’t he? Reports vary on if Jags RB Jones-Drew had knee surgery
- Speculating on some possible trades involving the Vikings
- Negotiations between the Jets and CB Revis remain status quo
- Whisenhunt, Anderson downplay switching QB’s in the desert
- Preseason Week Three Preview – Cleveland at Detroit
- Bengals continue to ignore the obvious with Antonio Bryant
- Could Miami pull off a deal to get unhappy Charger WR Jackson?
| Bradford To Start Against Ravens Thursday Posted: 27 Aug 2010 07:45 PM PDT
There appears to be two reasons why the St. Louis Rams, according to the Associated Press, will start next Thursday in their preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens. The first is A.J. Feeley’s health. Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo says that it is unlikely that Feeley will be ready in time for Thursday’s game due to his sprained thumb on his throwing hand. The second reason – and probably the likeliest one – is Bradford’s performance against the New England Patriots (15-of-22 for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns). Bradford looked comfortable out on the field during his time there, making few of the rookie mistakes that first-year quarterbacks make. And it was a night-and-day difference from his two previous games when he went 12-of-27 for 81 yards. Interestingly enough, Feeley was designated the Rams’ starter before training camp. But with the huge contract and high expectations, St. Louis probably had little choice but to at some time during the 2010 season start Bradford. So in a sense, anything that Feeley had previously done probably would have gone for naught anyways. A week from today should give us a better idea as who will start the Rams’ season opener agaisnt the Arizona Cardinals. Should Bradford start that game, it shouldn’t come as a shock to any of you – whether you’re a Rams fan or not. |
| Redskins top Jets 16-11 in preseason action Posted: 27 Aug 2010 07:23 PM PDT
QB Rex Grossman, playing for the injured Donovan McNabb , had a mixed first half. He had one long pass dropped by Santana Moss , but he only completed 8 of 16 throws. He also missed Joey Galloway breaking wide open on a route early in the game. One of Albert Haynesworth's griped last week about playing late in the third quarter. He played late once again Friday night, as he worked with the Redskins' No. 2 defense before coming out at the start of the fourth quarter. The Jets starters played all three quarters. One player who might have hurt his chances tonight is Brandon Banks . The rookie punt returner, who scored a touchdown in the first game, fumbled a punt return against the Jets. He also hasn't caught a pass, nor has he gained much separation on other routes. WR Devin Thomas has yet to play vs. the New York Jets from scrimmage; his only action thus far has been on special teams. It's likely that the Redskins wanted other wideouts to get more time. Thomas' inconsistency has bothered the coaches. |
| Preseason Week Three Preview – NY Giants at Baltimore Posted: 27 Aug 2010 05:18 PM PDT
The Baltimore Ravens (2-0) take on the New York Giants (1-1) (2-0) this Saturday, August 28 at M&T Bank Stadium. It doesn't seem so long ago when the Ravens visited the Giants in a regular season match-up in 2008 where the Ravens lost 30-10. For the Ravens it was not a typical game for the run defense. In fact, it was plain bad, the defensive gave up over 200 yards rushing yards to Brandon Jacobs and company. While this game is just pre-season, the Ravens run defense will probably be motivated to have no part in another run-a-thon, especially on the team's home turf in Baltimore. What To Watch: Chris Carr & Fabian Washington vs. Eli Manning & Co.: We'll get a glimpse of how cornerbacks Carr and Washington look playing opposite each other. CB Cary Williams looks to continue his success to secure a spot on the roster. This is a good test for the Ravens secondary with a quality quarterback in Eli Manning and good receiving core with WR Hakeem Nicks, TE Kevin Boss and rookie sensation WR Victor Cruz. Ravens D-line: Paul Kruger, Cory Redding and rookie Terrence Cody get a real test trying to slow down the Giants rushing attack of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. On the whole the defense has played well and they have brought in a lot of pressure packages this preseason. The front four needs to rack up a few sacks. NT Kelly Tavalou could get extended playing time as Cory Redding (undisclosed) and Terrence Cody (knee swelling) may sit out this game. Ravens Linebackers: The linebacking core received some heat for poor coverage versus the Redskins. Let's see how they respond. Jameel McClain has been vying for the staring role. Ravens Offense vs. Giants D-line: Against the Redskins Flacco and company were not in rhythm. Poor ball handling by RB Ray Rice and WR Donte Stallworth stalled drives. The unit needs a sustained drive with a few over the middle completions to some of Flacco's new weapons. The Offensive line: Tony Mollstarting at right tackle as Oniel Cousins is recovering from a concussion and Gared Gaither is recovering from back spasms. The Giants can bring the pressure with DE Usi Umenyiora, DE Justin Tuck and rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul. Former Titans linebacker Keith Bullock may be switching to the outside linebacker position for the Giants, is always a player to keep an eye on. Billy Cundiff vs. Shayne Graham: The kicking competition continues. Edge so far has to go Cundiff. The Player That Makes Highlight Film: Jonathan Scruggs: LB Jameel McClain "McClain has been the front runner to replace Bart Scott all training camp long. This will prove to be one of his final opportunities to really shine and cement his role as the Ravens starting inside linebacker." Gene Winner: CB Prince Miller I'm going with rookie cornerback Prince Miller. He'll snag an interception." Matt Jergensen: TE Ed Dickson "The Oregon product has shown some flashes and against the G-Men I expect to see a sample of how the Ravens will use him during the season. Matched up in the slot running past linebackers." Rookies To Watch: RB Curtis Steele: He''s a gifted running back but really has to shine to make the squad. LB Jason Phillips: He's come on strong and is competing in a crowed group of linebackers. CB Prince Miller: The undrafed rookie cornerback from Georgia has been making a case to make the team. WR David Reed: The receiver could make the roster with another consistence performance. Previous Meetings: "The teams last met on November 16, 2008 when the Giants beat the Ravens, 30-10, in Giants Stadium. The Giants have a 5-6 mark against Baltimore in the preseason and a 1-2 record against Baltimore in the regular season. In their last preseason meeting on August 19, 2007, the Giants won 13-12. The Giants and the Ravens also squared off in Super Bowl XXXV on January 28, 2001 in Tampa. The Ravens captured the Lombardi trophy, beating the Giants, 34-7."http://www.giants.com/news/headlines |
| Did he or didn’t he? Reports vary on if Jags RB Jones-Drew had knee surgery Posted: 27 Aug 2010 03:41 PM PDT
Then after some digging came a report that the reason he wasn’t going to play was because he had athroscopic knee surgery, and the team was trying to hide that fact. So what gives? According to the agent for Jones-Drew, the report is not true. “Absolutely false,” agent Adisa Bakari said. “Maurice did not have surgery.” Jones-Drew sat out three practices this week and told Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union yesterday that he wasn’t injured, just needed a break. The report at the National Football Post stated that Jones-Drew had the surgery to “clean out his knee from wear and tear” and was out the rest of the preseason. The report also said Jones-Drew would be ready to play this weekend if it were a regular season game. “What arthroscopic surgery is there that a player can return in one week?” Bakari said. “There isn’t one.” |
| Speculating on some possible trades involving the Vikings Posted: 27 Aug 2010 03:15 PM PDT What is more fun than putting some unfounded, unreasonable, and unlikely speculation out there on the internet? Nothing. So, today I offer up a healthy serving of trades that I think the Vikings could benefit from. I blame their recent trade for Greg Camirillo for giving me the idea to do this. Again, these are purely speculative. So feel free to dissect, discuss, and tear apart in the comments section. ROSENFELS to ARIZONA The Cardinals only chance at staying competitive is to employ a quarterback capable of getting the ball into the hands of their playmakers, like Larry Fitzgerald. Apparently they think they are good enough if their quarterback isn't spectacular but simply solid, otherwise they wouldn't be going into the season trusting Matt Leinart to take the reins. Recent reports, however, have suggested that Leinart isn't going to be the game manager that they had hoped. Plus, we all know that Derek Anderson doesn't take very good care of the football. With Brett Favre, Tarvaris Jackson, and Joe Webb seemingly being an adequate depth chart for the Vikings, they almost certainly would prefer to get something in return for Sage Rosenfels. I say dangle him in front of the Cardinals and see if a fourth or fifth round pick is to be had. YOUNG to ST. LOUIS Many people thought the Rams would solve their running back depth problem by eventually signing Brian Westbrook. That train left the station, however, when Westbrook became a member of the Niners. The rest of their running backs have not provided much faith throughout preseason. The Vikings have Adrian Peterson to occupy their starting role. Toby Gerhart has struggled in the preseason, but we all know the team won't be giving up on their second round pick. Lastly, Darius Reynaud's versatility (running back, receiver, punt returner) makes him too valuable to give up. Instead of cutting Albert Young and hoping he makes it through to the practice squad yet again, the Vikings should offer him up to the Rams in exchange for a late draft choice. Afterall, the Rams are going to be so bad this year that a sixth round pick could practically be considered a fifth round pick. BRYANT to VIKINGS Newsday recently reported that the Bengals are close to cutting wide out Antonio Bryant. Bryant signed a huge deal with the Bengals this offseason and is widely considered one of the worst offseason signings of 2010. However, the Vikings still could use some help at the receiver position and the Bengals have already taken the financial burden of this signing by paying Bryant. They paid him $7.85 million in bonuses. This means his base salary for 2010 would only be $1.55 million in 2010. It bumps up to $4.75 million in 2011. So, instead of waiting to see if he is claimed on waivers, why not put a seventh round pick out there (or conditional pick) and allow the Bengals to get something in return for their poor investment. Any trade would be pending a physical, so the Vikings could determine whether or not Bryant truly is ready to play after his knee injury suffered last season prior to fully committing to the trade. In 2008 Bryant posted 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. OTHER I don't want to be the only one getting in on the fun that is speculative trade talk. So, lets discuss this in the comments section. What other trades do you see as possibilities? Let me know and I'll respond. |
| Negotiations between the Jets and CB Revis remain status quo Posted: 27 Aug 2010 11:55 AM PDT Dan Parr over at Pro Football Weekly has the latest on the Darrelle Revis/Jets situation, and says that while some stated this week a deal would be done, it seems that instead, things are going nowhere fast as Revis continues to gain fine after fine from the team.
|
| Whisenhunt, Anderson downplay switching QB’s in the desert Posted: 27 Aug 2010 11:22 AM PDT  Coach Whisenhunt obviously spoke to the media yesterday about the situation at quarterback. While the head coach tried to downplay the QB swap, it's a tough sell. The NFL, the media, and the fans love a good quarterback controversy and the Cardinals have a good one brewing now. "A lot of people see this [game in Chicago] as a dress-rehearsal game," Whisenhunt said. "We don't look at it that way. There are a still a lot of things we are trying to find out about our team, from a personnel standpoint to schemes, all kinds of aspects." Well, that's a pretty scary thought considering it's the third pre-season game. You'd hope to have major evaluations, like the starting quarterback, substantially figured out by this point. Things, however, don't always go according to plan. The coach went on to discuss some motivating factors that lay just below the surface. "There is thought put into this," Whisenhunt said. "We are evaluating not only how Matt handles this but how other players handle it." Leinart, therefore, should think twice before he pouts on the sideline, something that Cardinals fans have already observed. According to Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official website, Leinart wasn't around to comment on the roster move. He decided to check down and avoid the blitz. Whisenhunt wasn't the only Cardinal downplaying the whole thing. Derek Anderson did his best to keep the situation under control. "I just got some reps with the first team today and I don't know where we'll go from here," Anderson said. "We'll continue to work and get better every day and we will see what happens. It's not my first time. It's not my first time. I think the last couple weeks have been pretty good and I just want to keep building on that." Whisenhunt reiterated that the move at quarterback isn't permanent and that the team can't pin the offensive woes solely on Leinart. The fact of the matter, however, is that Anderson has now accomplished two things. He has his foot in the door and he has the attention of the entire team. Whisenhunt also mentioned that while he's evaluating Anderson's performance and Leinart's reaction, the head coach will be watching how the team as a whole responds to Anderson's leadership. Whisenhunt pointed to the fact that Greg Toler and Daryl Washington are also new starters this week to lend credibility to his position that the Cards are just "flipping the script" for a week, rather than making final decisions. Both of these depth chart updates are welcome changes. Trumaine McBride looked really bad against Tennessee and Washington has definitely been playing well enough to get the nod at ILB over Monty Beisel. |
| Preseason Week Three Preview – Cleveland at Detroit Posted: 27 Aug 2010 11:16 AM PDT Cleveland Brows Vs. Detroit Lions When: Saturday at 5:00 P.M. Where: Ford Field What to look for: Starting out Fast: Last week the Browns stumbled out of the gate and dissapointed many of the fans who braved the weather. This week in Detroit the team needs to get back on track with some early points and good defense. It wouldn't hurt if Jake Delhomme had a drive like he did in Green Bay to start the game for the Browns. Eric Wright: The Corner back was a bright spot on the team last week, now he is going up against Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson two young talented play makers for the Lions. Wright is going to be the teams number one Corner and I predict a Pro Bowl Season out of him. He has big test ahead of him this weekend and needs to prove he can be the man. Rookies: The Rookies keep getting better and nothing needs to change this weekend. We need these kids to contribute this year and with the preseason halfway over its almost time for the real deal. Ward and Haden both have looked good at times but other times have shown there youth. Colt McCoy has looked horrible and needs to get back on track this weekend in the Motor City. Josh Cribbs Cribbs fumbled a punt last weekend but did have 5 catches and a touchdown reception against the Rams. Cribbs is growing into a decent Reciever but needs to show it again this week. Cribbs is the most dangerous playmaker on this team and is going to have to continue to make plays if this team has a shot at the playoffs. |
| Bengals continue to ignore the obvious with Antonio Bryant Posted: 27 Aug 2010 09:29 AM PDT
Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens flash their winning smiles for the masses, as throngs of media members and adoring fans swarm them to and froe. Their enormous talent and undeniable charm seems to disarm even the crankiest football purists and old schoolers. It seems no one can keep from joining in on the fawning. There's no denying that adding T.O. to this team has been an absolute boon to the Bengals. It has given the franchise its first major star free agent signing in its history, giving them instant credibility as a legitimate super bowl contender and freshly minted national respect and exposure. Indeed, Batman and Robin have taken over the Queen City. But while the carnival continues, Coach Marvin Lewis and the local media have thus far largely ignored the elephant in the room. Perhaps mesmerized by the glitz and glamour of our celebrity receivers, another one who was meant to be a super hero in his own right has continued to fly very conspicuously under the radar. It may be difficult to remember, but wide receiver Antonio Bryant was the team's marquee free agent acquisition this spring. The fact is they chose to sign Bryant over Owens back in March. Since then, the team has brought in the mercurial Owens and Bryant has practiced only once. For weeks now we've been left to speculate and allow the rumor machine to develop a gamut of possible scenarios. They've ranged everywhere from him practicing in the coming days to him being cut, to his career being over. All the while, Lewis has been mum—even defiant—in a complete avoidance of the issue. Getting any kind of information from Coach Lew is notoriously difficult, even during the best of times. His "between me and my team" approach surely wins loyalty within the organization, but breeds frustration and contempt outside. With cut-down days approaching, fans and league observers alike need to know what the real story is with the man they call "A.B."
Lewis must peel back his striped iron curtain long enough to allow us to know what's going on. The most he offered recently was, "He had a good day." As for the man himself, Bryant has said he's "really close" and plans to be ready for the opener. The Politburo would be proud. Perhaps the cloak-and-dagger routine is meant to protect reputations and super bowl dreams, or perhaps it's meant to hide embarrassing truths. Did team doctors pass Bryant properly during his physical? Was his knee fully examined? Did Bryant do enough rehab in the offseason, and if not, who was responsible on the organization's side? How on earth could a team invest 28 million dollars in a player in questionable health? For now, these questions meet with the sounds of crickets chirping. Nonetheless, the answers will come soon enough. Teams must cut rosters down to 75 on Tuesday, and to 53 the following week. It's only a matter of time, and it's running out on Bryant. AB gets 3 million dollars if he's on the opening day roster, and meanwhile there are talented and healthy receivers grinding every day for his spot. With a healthy AB, the circus has three rings. And so could the Bengals in a few years. Without him, the water gets muddy, and players like Quan Cosby, Jerome Simpson, and Andre Caldwell must step up. With the most talented roster in years, the threat of a labor dispute in 2011 and a small window for NFL glory, the team must handle this situation right. And we deserve to know the truth. So if Bryant cannot perform this year, put him on injured reserve. If his knee is shot, move on. If he's actually close to practicing, for God's sake let us know! While Batman and Robin play the pied piper, leading the lemmings away, can someone please demand answers from Two-Face and the Riddler? |
| Could Miami pull off a deal to get unhappy Charger WR Jackson? Posted: 27 Aug 2010 07:55 AM PDT
Dan McLellan, the CBSSports.com RapidReporter for the Chargers, tweeted earlier today the following about the Dolphins possible interest in unhappy Charger WR Vincent Jackson.
What a blockbuster that would be if the Dolphins could make some moves to land Jackson to team up with Marshall. Right now Brian Hartline is on the depth chart opposite Marshall, but he only had 31 grabs for 506 yards and three TD’s last season. Compare that to Jackson’s 68 catches for 1167 yards and 9 TD’s, and you could have the best 1-2 punch in the AFC in pass catchers if the Dolphins can get a deal done. Now the big question – could they pull a deal for Jackson off? |
| You are subscribed to email updates from NFL Gridiron Gab To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.