NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Senior writer jclombardi highlights Packers headlines.

Jones–”I want to be more consistent”: Greg Jennings knows what James Jones can do. Now, he'd just like to see his fellow Green Bay Packers wide receiver do it on a consistent basis. "I talk to him about it all the time. He knows what he's capable of getting done, but it's a matter of getting it done," Jennings said. "The thing about JJ, he's harder on himself than anybody." The issue with Jones is that he is capable of great things, but also capable of disappearing. He caught four passes for 107 yards in the Packers' last Sunday night game, on Oct. 24 against Minnesota; but he also failed to catch a pass against Miami on Oct. 17 and against the New York Jets last Sunday, when he also dropped what likely would have been a 72-yard touchdown late in the third quarter of the Packers' 9-0 victory. McCarthy said Wednesday that the fourth-year receiver is not unlike the team's struggling offense as a whole: Good at times, not so good at others. "I think James Jones is no different than some of the other players. They have had some really good games and they have had some games that they wish they could have done a little better job," McCarthy said. "James is a talented young man. He is playing different positions. We are asking more of him now than we have in past years, and I'm confident that he'll step up big against Dallas."

Packers eye healthier days on the horizon: Packers have two important starters (Donald Driver, Ryan Pickett) who might sit out this week against Dallas and thus get two full weeks of rest, plus Jenkins who's been playing hurt but probably can get close to full strength over the bye if he can get out of the Dallas game healthy. Combined with the return of two defensive backs (Al Harris and Atari Bigby) likely to be activated off the physically unable to perform list by Monday, the Packers have a chance to weather their unusually bad injury storm with a 6-3 record, provided they beat Dallas, and a relatively healthy roster for the final seven games. "We want to get to 6-3, get to the bye and get healthy," coach Mike McCarthy said. McCarthy said Wednesday that the fourth-year receiver is not unlike the team's struggling offense as a whole: Good at times, not so good at others.

Notes–Driver’s streak will end: Veteran receiver Donald Driver, who had his 133-game streak with a catch end two games ago, will be held out of Sunday night’s game against Dallas. Harris, Bigby on hold–The Packers released defensive end Montgomery and that spot will remain open to add Al Harris, Atari Bigby or James Starks off the physically unable to perform list. That decision will be made on Saturday, McCarthy said. To add two of the players or all three, corresponding roster moves must be made. The Packers have until Monday to make a final determination on those players. If they're not added to the 53-man roster by then, they'll have to be put on injured reserve or released. Packers injury report–Out: WR Donald Driver (quad); CB Pat Lee (ankle). Full participation: QB Aaron Rodgers (ankle). Did not participate: TE Andrew Quarless (shoulder). Limited participation: T Chad Clifton (hamstring/knee); G Daryn Colledge (back); S Nick Collins (knee); DE Cullen Jenkins (calf); LB Clay Matthews (shin); RB Dimitri Nance(ankle); DE Ryan Pickett (ankle); T Mark Tauscher (shoulder); CB Charles Woodson (toe).

Finley–Knee surgery led to staph and a hurried trip to emergency room: After seeing Finley burning up with fever, Packers trainers rushed Finley by car to Bellin Hospital in Green Bay. It ended up being a blessing that he had not eaten because Finley was able to go into surgery that afternoon to remove the infection. Bellin’s emergency room staff was ready for Finley, he said, and he went under the knife immediately “to clean out the infection.”  A team spokesman said the medical staff identified the infection as staph but that there are varying degrees of severity and that this was considered the common type, not the more serious MRSA. Some NFL teams have had outbreaks of the more serious type of staph infection throughout their training facilities, and that has caused teams to take extra measures to ensure a breakout doesn’t occur. The Packers’ medical staff follows a strict protocol to prevent infection from spreading, the spokesman said, adding that this latest case had been isolated. Finley’s second surgery was first reported by ESPNMilwaukee.com. Finley said Wednesday that he was fine but that the ordeal was very scary. Finley said he is drinking a lot of water now.

The Silver & Black travels to Arrowhead to face the AFC West-leading Chiefs this Sunday

Halloween was this past Sunday, and it appears as if the Raiders dressed up as a playoff team. After two straight weeks of dominating football, Raider fans are collectively scratching their heads thinking aloud, "Are we really this good?"

Titans Super Bowl Chances: Vastly Enhanced

From contending, to “seriously” contending in the AFC

The Titans have won the lottery.  Even more shockingly, they were the only team playing.

ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss has been claimed by the Tennessee Titans. The seven-time Pro-Bowl playmaker fell to the Titans on the waiver wire after being released by the Minnesota Vikings after only four games.  Quite stunning, considering they were the only team that put in a claim for Moss.

Moss will have the option to report to the Titans, and the Titans will send him a "5 day" letter in which Moss will have to decide whether or not to report to the team.  If he chooses to do so, he will be a Titan. If not, Moss will be put on the Reserve/Left squad list and would be out for the remainder of the season.

This seems to be a great fit for Moss, who would open up the Titans offense for Chris Johnson and provide Vince Young his first legitimate deep threat. Defenses would be weary of throwing eight men in the box with one of the most dangerous deep threats in the history of the game on the outside.

So, what will Moss do? Will he be the man who ditched a lackluster team only to be a model citizen with his new one? Or, will Moss decide that he would rather hold personal press conferences and sit out the rest of the season?

Why did Buffalo pick up “Lights Out”?

The Buffalo Bills have claimed former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman off waivers on Wednesday afternoon.  The three-time former Pro Bowl outside linebacker was released by San Diego on Tuesday after passing a physical.

Merriman has five days to report to the Bills, and early indications are that he indeed plans to report to Buffalo.  If, however, Merriman does not report, he will then be placed on the Reserve/Left Squad List making him ineligible to play for the rest of the season.

Nicknamed "Lights Out" because of his nasty and bone-crunching hits, Merriman had 39 1/2 sacks in 42 games in his first five seasons in the NFL.  But due to a handful of injuries over the past few seasons, Merriman had just four sacks in the past three seasons in San Diego.  He missed the 2008 season after undergoing knee surgery to repair his PCL and LCL ligaments.  Despite playing in 14 games a year ago, Merriman was slowed by a foot injury and this season he's appeared in just three games dealing with a calf injury totaling five tackles and zero sacks.

In his rookie season in 2005, Merriman was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.  In 2006, Merriman was suspended four games for testing positive for steroids, but despite missing four games he still recorded a career-high 17 sacks in 12 games.

He also was involved in an off-the-field incident just prior to the 2009 season that resulted in his arrest after reality television personality Tila Tequila accused Merriman of assault and false imprisonment at his home in San Diego.  No charges were filed and the two were to settle their lawsuits.

Merriman is under contract for the remainder of the 2010 season  and is due $1.73 million.  There is a bit of history involving Merriman and Bills GM Buddy Nix.  Nix was the Chargers' Assistant GM in 2005 when San Diego selected Merriman with the 12th overall pick in that year's draft.