NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

While the Vikings, the University of Minnesota, and the NFL continue to monitor the availability of TCF Bank Stadium the Metrodome's condition continues to get worse.

According to multiple reports, another panel of the Metrodome's roof collapsed on Wednesday afternoon. Like the first episode, the Metropolitan Sports Facility Commission dodged a bullet as nobody was hurt when more snow and ice fell to the playing surface.

Republican Senator Julie Rosen announced Wednesday that she would be proposing legislation in late-January to ensure a new stadium for the Vikings.

After how the last week has gone, there should be little doubt that they need it. They only way that point could have been more poignantly proven is if somebody HAD gotten hurt, something for which we should all be grateful never happened, especially after hearing the horror stories from inside the Cowboys training facility when it collapsed on the team.

Cowboys Gab was at the Nike Media Summit in Dallas, and we had a chance earlier to catch up with Felix Jones the speedy running back of Cowboys. Hear what he has to say about sharing the carries, the Cowboys season, Tashard Choice and the autograph dispute, and Nike and the Cowboys season.

Tom Cable, when asked what would be a success this year, said making the playoffs. Certain aspects can be reviewed afterwards and talked about as successes, but the season as a whole would only be successful if they make the playoffs. The success of this season then comes with a must-win game against the Denver Broncos this weekend.

So does Cable's long term status with the Raiders.

If they win this weekend, the Raiders keep their slim hopes of winning the AFC West alive, ensure that they will not lose 10 games for the 9th season in a row, and gives them a realistic shot to win 8 games and have what I see as a successful season.

Lose this weekend…poof. All that goes away like that. And then comes Peyton Manning…and then a road game in KC.

The Denver Broncos are easily one of the 5 worst teams in the league, and the Raiders should win this game handily. If not, it will because Cable was not able to focus the team on the importance of this game and preparing them to win. No other reason to lose to the Broncos this weekend.

Win on Sunday Tom…or go ahead and start packing your belongings.

Two days later, but it's here. Thoughts and Musings after the Giants beat the Vikings in Detroit. Let's get it.

-Weird game. First, it was in Detroit. Second, no Favre. Three, no real rhythm. Lots of penalties, especially by the VIkings. Slow game. A bit boring.

-Good win. But have to see what comes of the injuries. Manningham, Smith, Bradshaw. That's the real concern.

-Run game was dominant. Against a good run defense too. Good showing.

-Defense was stout. Did you hear Adrian Peterson's name mentioned at all? Yeah, neither did I. They did a great job.

-Annoyance interlude: Bought The Sims 3 for a friend as a holiday gift. Bought it through the EA website. Was 20 bucks. Not bad. But instead of sending it to their address, I put my address as the shipping address. A simple mistake. Shouldn't be hard to fix, right? Wrong. They have a live chat customer service (which, I do admit, is kind of cool). I talked to someone, asked if I could change the shipping address on the order. Said no. Once it's ordered, can't change it. Fine, I thought. Can I cancel it, I asked? No. Can't cancel an order. Can't cancel an order. I was shocked. If this was Amazon, canceling an order takes two seconds. Now, I'll receive the order and have to ship it to my friend myself. Not a huge ordeal. But it could be an easy fix for EA.

-Nice two minute drive, Eli. Great throw to Boss in the end zone.

-What were you looking at on those INTs, Mr. Manning?

-I don't get the Favre love affair. Yes, he's a great player. One of the best. His consecutive games streak is incredible. But he wasn't playing. And FOX treated it as if he was the only player in the game. Just annoys me.

-Vikings are a team in turmoil. They need a legit QB, fast. Kevin Kolb?

-I think they should keep Leslie Frazier, though. He has a lot of potential as a coach.

-Line brought it last night. JPP, Osi, Tuck. Man, they're gonna be tough in the playoffs.

-Have to hear back on the injuries, but good win after a tough weekend. Big game against the Eagles. Season defining game. Let's get ready for that.

The Texans placed a couple guys on IR Wednesday, but the biggest name of the bunch was DE Mario Williams, who led the team with 8.5 sacks and 19 hits on the QB this season.

Guard Mike Brisiel and receiver David Anderson joined Williams on on injured reserve. Williams also had 10 tackles for loss, but had been playing with a sports hernia. Because Williams started on the left side and moved to the right side in passing situations, defensive ends Mark Anderson (three sacks) and Tim Jamison will get a lot of playing time.

The Texans are expected to sign veteran defensive end Jarvis Green to take Williams' spot on the roster.

Brisiel (shoulder) will be replaced at right guard by Antoine Caldwell. Anderson’s loss means rookie receiver Dorin Dickerson might be active for the last three games against Tennessee, Denver and Jacksonville.

If you are like me you were really excited for the opportunity to see, second year wideout, Kevin Ogletree get more playing time.  Overshadowed by the arrival of first round pick Dez Bryant, hopes were high for the receiver out of Virgina as he entered his second season with the Cowboys.

Ogletree provided many sparks last year, and, although he wasn't a stand out many people saw the speed he had and the potential he displayed.  Ogletree only brought in 7 receptions for 96 yards last year, but everyone could see he had good hands and great speed.

This year was supposed to be a break out season for Ogletree, but he found himself inactive for 8 of the first 13 games.  Bryant had taken the attention away from him and Ogletree struggled in training camp and the preseason.  He found himself at the bottom of the depth chart when the season started.  He managed to grab his first reception last week against the Eagles and went 3 receptions for 34 yards and a key first down in the game.

Late in the third quarter Ogletree was returning a kickoff and was tackled out of bounds.  He got up slowly and limped to the Cowboys bench and never returned to the game.  Ogletree had hurt his toe and after x-rays revealed no break, Ogletree is still scheduled to go in for surgery this week effectively ending his season.  The Cowboys will place him on injured reserve to free up a roster spot.

The injury to Ogletree opens the door for the man he beat out of a roster spot the last two season.  Manny Johnson, a second year man out of Oklahoma that the Cowboys drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, will get a chance to prove himself on the big stage.  He will take Ogletree's receiver spot, likely fourth behind Sam Hurd, and may even get a chance to return some kickoffs.

As for Ogletree, he will have to wait until next year to show us his "potential".

The Broncos may have more reason for a starting quarterback controversy, as starter Kyle Orton didn’t practice on Wednesday due to a “sore arm.” Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post reported that Orton says his arm is fine, that he’s just “sore” after 13 games of a long season, but the Broncos appear to be treading lightly with their starter.

Orton, who exited the loss in Arizona with sore ribs that almost caused him to leave the game, did not throw a pass during the open period of today’s practice. Rookie Tim Tebow appeared poised to take more of the work in practice. Orton also did little during the team’s stretching period, beyond some light jogging. Orton was receiving treatment on his ribs today.

Interim coach Eric Studesville re-affirmed earlier today that Orton would be his starter Sunday. He said Orton, who took a heavy shot in the ribs late in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, wasn’t anymore injured than many other players.

Tim Tebow remains a QB in waiting for a team going nowhere.

It is sounding more and more like QB Matt Cassel will be a wild card for his status Sunday when the Chiefs play at St.Louis against the Rams. Coach Todd Haley said it is a “day-to-day” situation with Cassel and they won’t have a definitive answer until later in the week.

As far as starting the practice week, Cassel is officially “limited” in practice. Cassel, who is just over two weeks removed from surgery, said that he is going to do whatever he can to get on the field. And he better after watching the Chiefs get pounded in San Diego Sunday 31-0.

“I think, medically, there’s a number of different issues that come up with a procedure like this but in terms of how I feel, if i can go there and do everything I want to do without any discomfort or without any pain, I’m going to go out there and play,” Cassel said.

Friday will be the key day for Cassel, as if he can get out there and throw the ball around and be somewhat close to 100 percent, it would be hard to see him not playing Sunday after last weeks showing by the Chiefs offense.

The Steelers offensive line has had it’s issues as of late, complete with about as many holding penalties over the past few games that could make up an entire season.

Such was the case Tuesday when Mike Tomlin brought up the holding calls during his briefing with the media.

“We’ve been holding and we need to stop,” Tomlin said. “We need to cut down on holding. No question holding occurs on every snap in the National Football League. I think anybody in the industry will acknowledge that. What we need to do is cut down on the actions that are triggering the flags, which is grabbing and restricting the jersey coming away from the body and so forth.”

“Cut down the actions,” would be the easiest start. It seems that with injuries and players playing that might not normally be on the field, the Steelers have players that have got to cut the penalties down and get better. Fast.

With three games left and needing to win at least two to not give the Ravens a shot to sneak in and steal the division back, the O-line will continue to be a source of people taking shots at them.

That is until they either get better – or have a game like the Eagles game in 2008, where Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 8 times. You know that the Jets are going to try to come after the Steelers QB Sunday, so they had better make sure they get in a good week, work hard, and watch the penalties.

Or else this trip to the postseason may be a short one at best.