Archive for September 2012

The Miami Dolphins are listing running back Reggie Bush as questionable for today’s contest against the Arizona Cardinals.  While it’s unclear if Bush will be able to suit up, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com reports that signs point to the dynamic back playing against the Cardinals.

There is still a chance that running back Matt Forte returns to action when the Chicago Bears take on the Dallas Cowboys Monday night, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com:

Forte was listed as questionable on the team's injury report released Saturday. Forte practiced this week and declared himself ready to return. Bears coach Lovie Smith has been more guarded, however, saying as recently as Wednesday that his running back "still has a long way to go."

Though both were listed as questionable entering Sunday, the Buffalo Bills may have their two top running backs, C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, when they take on the New England Patriots today.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will be without two of his top options against the Buffalo Bills, as wide receiver Julian Edelman (hand) and tight end Aaron Hernandez (ankle) are listed as out.  The line in front of Brady is also banged up, as left guard Logan Mankins wasn’t able to make the trip to Buffalo.

It’s unclear what the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense will look like today when they take on the San Diego Charges, as several of their key contributors are listed as questionable to play.  This is true of wide receivers Dwayne Bowe (groin), Steve Breaston (knee), and Dexter McCluster (elbow), while running back Peyton Hillis (ankle) entered the day listed as doubtful by the club.

While the New York Giants will be getting running back Ahmad Bradshaw back from a neck injury Sunday during their primetime contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team is listing wide receiver Hakeem Nicks as doubtful.

Reports on Wednesday indicate that the NFL Ref lockout could be coming to an end. The refs might be back at work this weekend to replace the replacement refs.

One of the biggest stories of the young season has been the refs who get criticized in the moment, and then people complain on social media about the league not paying normal refs.

Blown calls, delays in the game and player safety are all issue with replacement refs.

The normal refs missed many calls last season and delays in the game happen. However, the NFL must bring back the normal refs because of player safety alone.

The replacement refs have been equivalent to substitue teachers, as Monday Night Football announcer Mike Tirico eloquently put it. There are helmet-to-helmet hits that go unpenalized, physical hits on the quarterbacks and extra curricular activities after the play. Players know they can get away with a lot and take advantage of the situation.

Bad calls happen, like the one that occurred on Monday night in Seattle. The reality is it was only a regular season game early in the year.

The bigger issue of the replacement refs is the safety of players in a league that has made it a priority. The consequences of head injuries has casted a dark shadow over the sport of football. The longer there are replacement refs, the better chance of more NFL injuries.

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New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw will return to the starting lineup on Sunday against Philadelphia, according to ESPN New York.

Bradshaw sat out last Thursday's game in Carolina with a neck injury. He suffered the injury early in week 2 against Tampa Bay.

Bradshaw could be eased back in with fellow running back Andre Brown coming off a career game. Brown rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Carolina.

The Giants are known for using multiple running backs in the past. They did it with Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs in the early Tom Coughlin regime. When Barber retired, Jacobs shared carries with Bradshaw.

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Detroit Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford is not revealing the extent of his that he suffered on Sunday, according to mlive.com.

Stafford left Sunday's game against Tennessee with a leg injury in the fourth quarter. Detroit welcomes Minnesota to Ford Field in week 4.

The 2009 first overall pick has been injury prone in his NFL career. He sustained a knee knock in his rookie year and injured his shoulder in 2010. Stafford played a full season in 2011.

Shaun Hill will start at quarterback if Stafford misses anytime. Hill extraordinarily led Detroit into overtime before falling to Tennessee. Hill threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns including a hail mary as time expired in the fourth quarter.

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The NFL's two leading rushers going into week 3 went down with first half injuries on Sunday.

Miami Dolphins' Reggie Bush and Buffalo Bills' C.J. Spiller both were sidelined and didn't not return to their games. Both received encouraging news after test were done.

Bush did not suffer any structural damage to his left knee against the New York Jets, according to ESPN.com. He could play in Miami's next game against undefeated Arizona. If Bush misses a game, then expect Daniel Thomas to take the reigns as the featured back.

Spiller sustained a strained AC joint. The injury looked worse at first, but it isn't a separated shoulder. Spiller is expected to miss one-to-two weeks, according to Jason La Confora of CBS Sports. Spiller started the year as a back up to Fred Jackson, and the door opened for the former Clemson running back when Jackson sprained his LCL in week 1. Jackson is going to practice this week and hopes to be ready when Buffalo faces New England on Sunday. Tashard Choice is the other running back for the Bills, and he ran for 91 yards on 20 carries in relief of Spiller in a victory at Cleveland.

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New York Jets' star cornerback Darrelle Revis is out for the season, according to head coach Rex Ryan.

Revis tore is ACL on Sunday against Miami and will need surgery. Ryan made the announcement at a Monday press conference.

Revis is a key part to a strong Jets defense and is one of New York's most valuable players. He is a cornerback that can cover, tackle and make big players.

Revis' counterpart Antonio Cromartie will likely take on the responsibility of covering teams top wide receivers.

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The San Diego Chargers might be getting a big boost to their offense on Sunday. Chargers coach Norv Turner expects that running back Ryan Mathews (fractured clavicle) will make his season debut against Atlanta, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Chargers lost top wide receiver Vincent Jackson to free agency so Matthews' work load was going to increase this season. Matthews fractured his clavicle in the first preseason game against Green Bay.

San Diego has started the season 2-0 without Matthews. A combination of Jackie Battle, Curtis Brinkley and Ronnie Brown have filled in at running back. Quarterback Phillip Rivers has played well in wins against Oakland and Tennessee.

Meanwhile each of San Diego's division rivals have shown flaws in their first two games. Oakland and Kansas City haven't won a game, and Denver are 1-1.

The Broncos are a new team with Peyton Manning at quarterback. Denver beat Pittsburgh in week 1 and on "over reaction Monday" experts praised the Broncos as the division favorites. Others who didn't over react knew that Manning had four neck surgeries in the last year and wanted to see more of the former Indianapolis quarterback. Manning threw three first quarter interceptions in week 2 at Atlanta on Monday night. Now there's questions about Manning and the Broncos in general.

The Broncos Monday night struggles make the Chargers the current favorite to win the AFC West. There is still plenty of football to be played, but the return of Ryan Matthews could give the Chargers an advantage in their division.



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Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings returned to practice on Tuesday, giving the Packers a boost ahead of their visit to Seattle for Monday Night Football this week. However, both he and the team suffered a setback on Thursday.

Jennings didn't train today and coach Mike McCarthy, speaking on SiriusXM Radio, said: "He worked the other day (Tuesday) and it didn't go as well as we thought. It's been up and down. I know he’s frustrated and he doesn’t feel like he has a handle on it yet."

Jennings didn't play in last week's manhandling of division rival Chicago, having picked up a groin injury during the fourth quarter of the Week 1 defeat to San Francisco. Clearly, he wasn't missed against the Bears, but Aaron Rodgers would like to have his No. 1 receiver available for a difficult trip to the Pacific Northwest against an opportunistic Seahawks secondary.

Seattle will fancy their chances against the Packers regardless of whether Jennings plays or not. Green Bay, however, will fancy their chances a lot more with him in the lineup.

Jennings caught five passes for 34 yards in Week 1, numbers that would ideally need to be improved upon on Monday night.

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The New York Giants and Carolina Panthers have the undesirable draw of the short week.  To further their issues, each team is dealing with injuries to multiple key players.  The Giants have already ruled several stars out, while the Panthers have a few key contributors listed as questionable for tonight’s contest.

There was a scary development for Houston Texans and fantasy football fans alike yesterday when the team announced star running back Arian Foster would be a game-time decision Sunday.  Texans coach Gary Kubiak told reporters, including Sean Bielawski of CBSSports.com, that Foster’s fate for Sunday’s game would be determined leading up to kick off after the 26-year-old missed Friday’s practice.

"It's just kind of a vague description of where the center point of the pain is,” Foster said.

No one knew for sure if Jason Witten would play as the NFL season kicked off with the Dallas Cowboys facing the New York Giants.  Witten had suffered a lacerated spleen in the Cowboys' preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.  He did not have to undergo surgery, but it was still unclear if he would play in the Cowboys' opener.  But he did play - to the delight of his teammates and coach.

"Last night’s game is going to be one that I remember more than any other game that he’s played when I’ve been around him just for all the different circumstances and his approach to it and his determination and a willingness to be a part of it," said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.