Archive for January 2013

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew to begin rehab in February

By | Published Thursday, January 31, 2013

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew will begin rehabbing his foot injury in February, according to Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union.

Jones-Drew underwent surgery to repair his foot injury in December, and he continues to move around on a scooter as a precautionary measure. The running back expects to begin rehab by swimming in February, while he hopes to start working out on dry land in March.

If he’s able to return to dry land workouts by March, this would allow him to join the Jaguars first minicamp, even if he’s not able to participate in full capacity.

Jones-Drew is entering the final year of his contract with the Jaguars, but he hasn’t shut the door on an extension with the team. He held out last offseason and into the start of the preseason, but he said he’s not going to be the one to initiate contract talks this time around.

Jones-Drew will be 28 by the start of next season, and the Jaguars could elect to part ways when his contract expires rather than re-sign him.

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Ravens rumors: Ed Reed could ‘definitely’ see playing for Patriots

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Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed is preparing for this weekend’s Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers. But since the veteran is in the final year of his contract, he’s fielding just as many free agency questions as he is about the upcoming big game. Yesterday he raised eyebrows and excited a certain team’s fan base when he said he could “definitely” see himself playing for the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick, according to Jeff Howe of The Boston Globe.

"Yeah, oh yeah, man, I could definitely play for coach Belichick," Reed responded. "He is a great coach. I'm sure he can help me to expand my football knowledge even more as a player and as a coach, so if I'm ever able to be around him, just like I was at the Pro Bowl, it's huge.”

I’m still not convinced, but there is a lot of speculation going around that Sunday will be Reed’s final game with the Ravens. How weird would it be next season to see a Reed and Ray Lewis-less Baltimore squad?


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Eagles rumors: Philadelphia to add Ravens QB Dennis Dixon

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Philadelphia Eagles and new coach Chip Kelly are expected to reach out to Baltimore Ravens practice squad quarterback Dennis Dixon about joining their team following the Super Bowl, according to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly.

There are strong indications that Kelly won’t waste too much time after the Super Bowl before reaching out to Ravens practice squad quarterback Denis Dixon and bringing him to Philadelphia.

Dixon was quarterback at Oregon under Kelly in 2007 when he was a Heisman candidate until he blew out his knee late in the season. The 27-year-old is the only quarterback in the NFL that knows Kelly’s system inside-and-out, according to Mosher.

Mosher continues on to say that it would be “stunning” if Kelly doesn’t reach out and make Dixon his first official signing a few days after the Super Bowl.

Dixon was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and appeared in four games for them. He’s thrown a grand total of 59 passes in the NFL, accounting for 402 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

At this point, the Eagles have quarterbacks Michael Vick and Nick Foles under contract, but there’s a chance that both could be playing elsewhere next season.


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49ers’ Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks limited at practice

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San Francisco 49ers linebackers Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks were the only two players limited at the team’s first full Super Bowl practice, according to Cam Inman of The Mercury News.

Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith, the 49ers’ starting outside linebackers, were the only players limited Wednesday in the team’s first Super Bowl practice at the New Orleans Saints’ facility in Metairie.

Smith and Brooks are both dealing with left shoulder injuries. Still, both linebackers are expected to suit up this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.

Brooks is battling a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, while Smith has been hampered by his shoulder injury for the last couple of months.

The 49ers listed 10 other players on their injury report. All practice fully despite their injuries, including linebackers NaVorro Bowman (shoulder), Patrick Willis (shoulder) and Clark Haggans (shoulder); cornerback Tarell Brown (shoulder); tight end Garrett Celek (foot); running backs Frank Gore (shoulder, ankle), LaMichael James (finger) and Bruce Miller (shoulder); defensive tackle Justin Smith (elbow, triceps) and left guard Mike Iupati (shoulder).


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Ravens’ Dannell Ellerbe, Dennis Pitta Practice

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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and tight end Dennis Pitta, two key players that continue to nurse injuries, practiced yesterday in preparation of Sunday’s Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, according to Peter King of SI.com.

"I'm definitely playing in this game," Ellerbe said at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday.

King notes that it’s unlikely that either Ellerbe or Pitta miss Sunday’s matchup with the 49ers, but it is still encouraging to see the duo participate in practice at full capacity.

Ellerbe has been hampered by an ankle injury, while Pitta has dealt with a thigh problem. Both showed no signs of limping during Wednesday’s practice.

Ellerbe accounted for 92 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during the regular season, and he intercepted New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game.

In his third year with the Ravens, Pitta caught 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. He’s caught 10 passes for over 100 yards and two touchdowns this postseason.


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Seahawks LB Leroy Hill arrested for domestic violence

By | Published Wednesday, January 30, 2013


Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill has been arrested for a domestic violence incident in the suburb of Issaquah, Washington, according to Mike Ferreri of ABC Seattle.

Hill hasn’t been formally charged yet, but he was arrested for two domestic violence infractions, according to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk:

Hill was arrested for fourth-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment. The assault would be a gross misdemeanor while the unlawful imprisonment would be a Class C felony charge in Washington state. The latter would carry a sentence of up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000 if Hill is charged and convicted.

This marks Hill’s latest off-field incident, as he was also arrested for domestic violence in April 2010. The charge in that case was ultimately dropped after he agreed to enroll in a domestic violence treatment program.

Beyond his issues with domestic violence, Hill has also been arrested twice on marijuana-related offenses.
Over 13 games for the Seahawks last season, Hill recorded 47 tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The eight-year pro is set to hit free agency this offseason.


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Patriots DL Chandler Jones doesn’t require surgery

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New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones won’t require surgery on either of his injured ankles, according to Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald.

Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones did not need surgery on either of his injured ankles, according to a source.

Last week Jones told reporters that he would need to consult a team doctor to determine whether or not he’d have to go under the knife. At that point he wouldn’t rule out surgery, but it appears rest has been determined as the best recovery method for his injured ankles.

Jones initially injured his right ankle Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts. He then sustained a left ankle injury during the AFC Divisional round game against the Houston Texans. The injury restricted him to goal line sets during the AFC Championship game.

In his rookie season with the Patriots, Jones recorded 45 tackles with six sacks and three forced fumbles.


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Seahawks OL Breno Giacomini undergoes elbow surgery

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Seattle Seahawks right tackle Breno Giacomini underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, the team has announced.

The Seattle Seahawks announced Tuesday that right tackle Breno Giacomini underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.


Giacomini underwent the procedure on Tuesday morning. He’s expected to require four to six weeks to recover from the surgery.

Giacomini played through the injured right elbow for the final few weeks of the season, including the playoffs. He was the Seahawks’ starter at right tackle for all 16 regular season games.

Considering his expected timeframe for return, Giacomini should be full-go by the time spring practices roll around.


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Bears rumors: Brian Urlacher returning ‘for sure’

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There were rumors that Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher would consider retiring after the season, but the veteran said yesterday that he’s “for sure” going to play in 2013, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Asked if he definitely would be playing somewhere in 2013, Urlacher said, "For sure, yes. Still feel like I can, a little bit."

Urlacher will turn 35 in May, and he’s set to hit the free agent market this offseason. He says Chicago is his home, and he hopes to re-sign with the club. However, if he’s not able to reach an agreement with the Bears, Urlacher also indicated he is willing to sign elsewhere in order to continue his career.

As far as his next contract, Urlacher said it will be hard not to give Chicago a hometown discount considering his age. He wasn’t willing to go much further, but he did say that he doesn’t expect to make what he did in the past.

Urlacher, who was limited by injuries last season, finished the year with 68 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception.


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Alex Smith rumors: Bills, Cardinals, Eagles, Chiefs interested in QB

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Quarterback Alex Smith will not be a part of the San Francisco 49ers next year, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport adds that the 49ers will attempt to trade Smith early on, but they’ll release him quickly if no deal is completed out of respect for the former first-overall pick.


With Smith’s expected exit from San Francisco now on the horizon, Rapoport notes that the Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have all expressed interest in the 28-year-old. As of yet, the New York Jets have not.

Smith is viewed around the league as more of a bridge quarterback and not a long-term starter, according to Rapoport. If a team trades for him they would have to take on his hefty remaining salary, whereas if he’s cut they would be able to work out a new contract.

It appears Smith could get to choose his next location, and he figures to be one of the most coveted quarterbacks available considering the weak draft class and free agent market.

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Rams Rumors: Rob Ryan's Five Minutes

By | Published Tuesday, January 29, 2013

After he was fired by the Dallas Cowboys, Rob Ryan (brother of Rex) stated that he would be unemployed for five minutes before he was snatched up by another NFL franchise.  Admittedly, he had to wait a bit longer to gain employment, but then he did not have to wait long to lose that job.

 After being announced as the new Defensive Co-ordinator of the St. Louis Rams, Ryan and the AFC West side have parted ways, writes Kareem Copeland of NFL.com
"After extensive conversations regarding defensive philosophy, the Rams and Rob Ryan agreed he was not the right fit for the DC position," the team posted on its Twitter account.
The Rams seemed poised to add Ryan to an already strong defense that led the NFL with 52 sacks. Ryan's boisterous persona, however, can rub some the wrong way. He proclaimed that he'd be out of a job for "like five minutes" when the Dallas Cowboys fired him earlier this month.
"The Rams will continue the interview process with the club's other candidates for the defensive coordinator position," the team posted.
While this will undoubtedly raise eyebrows around the league, it can be construed as another episode of the combustible Ryan family not being able to co-operate with other methods.  
However, what it does mean, that the opportunity of Rob to team up with his brother Rex in New York with the Jets is now back on the table.



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Manti Te'o Rumors: Denver Broncos Bound?

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After becoming a national punch-line, the rumour mill has begun as to where Manti Te'o will eventually land.  Many mock drafts originally had the Notre Dame linebacker as a top-10 pick, but now he has fallen.  Bill Williamson of ESPN.com reports:

 "On Monday, I presented my second AFC West mock draft. I have Denver taking Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes. I think Te’o will be off the board before Denver picks at No. 28. 

Now, if Te’o is available at No. 28, do I think Denver should take him? Without a doubt, yes.  Once the smoke settles, Te’o is still going to be a sought-after player."

 Should Te'o fall to the Broncos, which is dependent on teams either believing his story or not, it is hard to believe Te'o with so much talent and skill set, along with the built-in leadership capabilities he displayed on the Fighting Irish's route to the National Championship that he will fall as far to No.28 with so many teams above in need of defensive stability.

The Broncos have a need at middle linebacker, as there starter Keith Brooking is 37 years old. Te'o would become an immediate contributor to the AFC West champions.

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Jets Rumors: New York Has Explored JaMarcus Russell

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Following his late-season benching, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has several questions surrounding him as the team prepares for the 2013 campaign. For this reason, New York is expected to explore alternative options, leading the organization to hold “some very exploratory, informal discussions” regarding former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, according to Connor Orr of The Star-Ledger.

More recently, after Tannenbaum was let go, members of the organization had some very exploratory, informal discussions regarding former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the 2007 No. 1 overall pick who flamed out of the NFL after the 2009 season.

Russell recently announced plans of attempting a comeback to the National Football League. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft has been out of football since 2009, but he’s now reportedly training to get back into playing shape. Most analysts believe teams will be willing to give the 27-year-old a look if he’s able to do so, considering his age and track record as a top quarterback prospect.

Beyond Russell, the Jets could look to potentially available quarterbacks, including Michael Vick, Alex Smith and Matt Flynn, or look to the draft for their next signal caller. Of course, New York could also elect to stick with Sanchez.


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Eagles Rumors: Michael Vick Decision Not Coming Soon

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has a clause in his contract in which he’ll be guaranteed $3 million for next year on Feb. 6. Still, the Eagles aren’t in a hurry to make a decision on Vick’s future, as the guaranteed money isn’t a major issue for the team. For this reason, Vick’s situation and Philadelphia’s ultimate decision on the veteran doesn’t appear to be coming soon, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Vick is currently owed $16.5 million if he’s on the Eagles’ roster next season. Considering he lost his starting job to rookie Nick Foles last season, most expected Philadelphia to cut ties with Vick and his contract after the end of the season.

However, the hiring of Chip Kelly stalled these plans, as Vick would appear to be a better fit in the former Oregon coach’s spread offense than Foles. Because of this, The Eagles could ask Vick to restructure his contract in order to remain with the club and hold down the QB position for at least another year. Or, the Eagles could elect to trade Vick in March once the league year begins.

Whatever their decision on Vick, the Eagles don’t appear to be poised to make it soon.


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Dolphins Rumors: Reggie Bush ‘Highly Unlikely’ to Return

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Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush is coming off back-to-back productive seasons with the club. However, the versatile back, who’s set to hit the free agent market following the season, is “highly unlikely” to re-sign with the Dolphins, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Reggie Bush's ability to make explosive plays and contribute on special teams will lead to a nice market forming for him, I'm sure, and it's highly unlikely he stays with Miami, sources said.

At the end of the season, Bush told reporters that he hoped to re-sign with the Dolphins. However, the team has several other pending free agents, including left tackle Jake Long, cornerback Sean Smith and wide receiver Brian Hartline, and they’ve tied up early-round draft picks in fellow running backs Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller.

Miami is expected to extend Bush a contract offer, but they won’t be able to match the deals other teams are likely to provide. Of potential suitors, Chris Wesseling of NFL.com says to keep a particularly close eye on the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, who figure to look for a versatile, pass-catching playmaker like Bush to pair with their pounders; BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Mikel Leshoure.


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49ers DL Justin Smith to Undergo Surgery after Super Bowl

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San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith has triceps surgery scheduled for a few days after this weekend’s Super Bowl, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Smith sustained a partially torn triceps during the 49ers contest against the New England Patriots on Dec. 16. The injury forced him to miss San Francisco’s remaining regular season games, but he was able to return for the playoffs with the help of a protective brace, similar to the one worn by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

While Smith was able to return for the playoffs and the 49ers’ Super Bowl run, Rapoport reports that he will likely miss most, if not all, of San Francisco’s offseason program as a result of the surgery.

Smith told reporters this weekend that his arm continues to feel better every week. Still, he’s been limited and less dominant since returning due to the injury, but his presence has still helped draw enough double teams to continue to help out his team.

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Ravens Rumors: Ed Reed Doesn’t Think Ray Lewis Will Retire

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Prior to the Baltimore Ravens’ playoff run, veteran linebacker Ray Lewis announced that he would retire following the 2012 season. It’s carried him through to the Super Bowl, and Lewis continues to say he’ll hang up his cleats following this weekend’s final game of the season. However, long-time teammate Ed Reed is skeptical about Lewis’ retirement talk, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.

Reed told reporters gathered for Super Bowl XLVII not to be “so sure” that Lewis will be retiring after the season. In referring to Lewis, Reed said “maybe he’ll play 10 games next year.”

Reed’s skepticism came up following Lewis’ initial announcement, and it appears that he’s still not completely convinced that the future Hall of Famer will call it quits after the Super Bowl.

For Lewis’ part, he reportedly has a multi-year contract in place with ESPN as an analyst, and he’s told reporters that his family commitments – his son is getting ready to join the Miami Hurricanes as a freshman running back next fall – currently outweigh his desire to play another season.


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NFC, AFC Players deliver in the Pro Bowl

By | Published Monday, January 28, 2013


After a two year stretch of what some people viewed as lackluster performances by players in the Pro Bowl both NFC and AFC players delivered a bona fide NFL game experience for all of the fans on Sunday January 27th. The person that is most expected to be satisfied with the increased effort in the all-star game is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell who threatened to cancel future Pro Bowls if the players didn’t supply “...the kind of football that we want to be demonstrating for [the] fans”, reported ESPN.com.

The fans were certainly pleased this year with the both teams putting up big numbers for the stat sheet. Both the NFC and AFC gained over 300 yards offensively and scored a combined total of 13 touchdowns. Although both sides put on a show the game was a rout with the NFC scoring a whopping 62 points and the AFC scoring just 35 points as they were defeated for the third consecutive year.

Some motivation for the players have been Peyton Manning deeming the player’s performance throughout past years “unacceptable”, a comment that was received both negatively and positively, reported NFL.com.

This year’s MVP of the 2013 Pro Bowl was Minnesota’s tight end Kyle Rudolph with a touchdown off of five catches for a total of 122 yards.


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Cowboys Rumors: Dallas, Anthony Spencer Talking Contract

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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but his agent has held preliminary talks with the team about a new contract, according to Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas.

Spencer is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March. However, the Cowboys and his agent, Jordan Woy, have had preliminary talks in recent weeks and both sides are hopeful a deal can be worked out.

Archer notes that the Cowboys could elect to once again use their franchise tag on Spencer, a move that would cost them $10.6 million. Spencer’s agent said he anticipates contract discussions to continue in February.

Spencer made the Pro Bowl this season as an alternate, eventually joining the NFC’s ranks to take the place of Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. He finished the season with 95 tackles, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles.


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Dolphins Rumors: Jake Long Seeking $10 million Per Year

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The Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jake Long is seeking “at least $10 million a year,” leaving the team pessimistic about its chances of re-signing the former Pro Bowler, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

Long, believed to be seeking at least $10 million a year, scoffed at Miami’s first offer during the season, according to a teammate.

The Dolphins approached Long during the season with an extension offer, but the former top pick “scoffed” at it, according to a teammate. While their chances may be slim considering Long’s lofty asking price, Miami said it would continue to attempt to re-sign the offensive lineman.

Long had been considered one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL entering the 2012 season. Unfortunately for Long, his play dropped off last season and he struggled with injuries, but it hasn’t stopped him for asking for top money.

The Dolphins will have several other players, including Reggie Bush, Chris Clemons, Brian Hartline and Randy Starks, potentially testing the free agent market, lessening the likelihood of reaching an agreement with Long even more.


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Jets Rumors: Trade Antonio Cromartie, not Darrelle Revis?

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Most of the trade talk surrounding the New York Jets had involved cornerback Darrelle Revis following the news of owner Woody Johnson’s conversations with general manager candidates. However, a small contingent of the Jets’ organization would rather see the team trade cornerback Antonio Cromartie than Revis, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York.

There's a small segment of the organization that would rather trade Cromartie than Revis, according to a source.

Cimini argues that Cromartie’s trade value will never be higher, as he was forced to step into a No. 1 cornerback roll following Revis’ injury and excelled while in the position.

Beyond the trade value, dealing Cromartie would help the Jets clear $8.2 million in cap room, with only $2.5 million counting as dead money. If New York trades Revis is would cost the team cap room; $12 million in dead money compared to a cap charge of $9 million, according to Cimini.

Cimini believes the Jets would have to move fast and sign Revis to a contract extension before trading Cromartie, but he does see the scenario as a potential option for New York.


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Jon Gruden Rumors: Gruden to Cowboys Talk ‘Ridiculous’

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The Dallas Cowboys have several coaches on staff that have ties to former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, leading some to speculate he may be joining the ranks of America’s Team. However, a source told Ed Werder of ESPN that the Gruden to Cowboys rumors are “ridiculous.”

At this point, the Cowboys have Monte Kiffin, defensive coordinator, Rod Marinelli, defensive line coach, Rich Bisaccia, special teams coach, and Bill Callahan, offensive coordinator, on staff. All were on staff with Gruden at one point or another during his time with the Raiders and Bucs, but this doesn’t mean that the stars are aligning for his return to coaching.

Jason Garrett is the Cowboys’ coach and Gruden will remain in the television booth for at least another year.

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Texans’ J.J. Watt Injures Finger in Pro Bowl

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Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt was one of the players to take the Pro Bowl a bit more seriously this season, and doing so cost him a cut pinky finger. The potential Defensive Player of the Year sliced open his finger early in the contest, causing it to bleed “pretty good,” Watt told Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com.

Watt’s injury resulted in a blood-spattered jersey which he sported for the remainder of the contest. The injury wasn’t serious, but the blood was gushing out of the cut pinky for enough time to garner national attention.

Watt said after sustaining the injury that football isn’t “fun if you’re not going to get bloody.” He certainly did his share of 'bloodying' the opponent during the regular season, accounting for 81 tackles, four forced fumbles, 20.5 sacks and 16 passes defensed for the Texans.

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49ers Rumors: Alex Smith to Seek Release

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 When Colin Kaepernick took over as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback earlier this season and went on to show his ability, it was widely expected that the team would trade Alex Smith over the offseason. However, Smith is expected to seek his release before the start of the free agency period, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

But the player prefers not to afford the 49ers a chance to trade him.  Instead, a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that Smith is expected to seek his release before the start of free agency.

While this move would potentially allow Smith to pick his next team rather than have the location be dictated by whatever trade the 49ers can complete, it would also be a calculated risk, according to Florio. If Smith is released and not traded he would be losing the $8.5 million he’s set to earn in 2013.

However, that $8.5 million price tag could make Smith hard to be traded considering his questionable track record. Unless San Francisco is able to trade Smith to a team he wants to go to, it would appear that the quarterback is prepared to part ways with his money in order to land where he wants.


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Mario Manningham Struggling with Being on Sideline for Super Bowl

By | Published Sunday, January 27, 2013

Not being able to play in the biggest game of your life is difficult.  When it's the second round of the biggest game of your life, it's equally difficult.  Mario Manningham has the catch that helped put the New York Giants over the top last season.  His catch while from Eli Manning helped the team win last year's Super Bowl, but he will be able to do nothing of the sort for the San Francisco 49ers this year.

Manningham suffered a torn ACL earlier this year and will be forced to watch the Super Bowl from the sideline.  The injury was devastating in and of itself, but not being able to help his team in the championship game makes it all the worse.  Manninham acknowledged this when he spoke with Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.

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49ers' Michael Crabtree Won't Face Charges

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The San Francisco 49ers can rest easy knowing Michael Crabtree will be available and clear of any charges when the team takes on the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.  Crabtree was part of an investigation into sexual assault allegations, but he will not be charged.

According to an Associated Press report, Crabtree will not face any charges.  He was cooperative with the police's investigation into the allegations of sexual assault.  Crabtree was at the hotel where the alleged incident took place, but he was not involved.

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NFL Warns Players to Stay Away of M Nightclub During Pro Bowl

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After the Washington Redskins saw one of their players, Trent Williams, attacked at a nightclub, the NFL has urged players to steer clear of the club.  Williams was attacked Friday morning in Honolulu, and police arrested one suspect.  The injuries were not severe, but they were enough for the NFL to suggest players stay away from the night club during the weekend of the Pro Bowl.

According to NFL.com, the stitches Williams received and the fact that he was attacked at all made it so that the league felt they needed to take action.  Granted their desire that players steer clear does not mean players will, at least teams and players know where the league stands.

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Rams C Scott Wells Undergoes Another Knee Surgery

By | Published Saturday, January 26, 2013


St. Louis Rams center Scott Wells underwent another knee surgery earlier this month, according to Jim Thomas of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wells’ recent arthroscopic procedure was to repair torn cartilage in his knee.

Wells suffered the injury that prompted the surgery in his first practice back with the Rams after returning from foot surgery in November. The center managed to play through the pain and suit up for the team’s final six games of the season.

The addition of Wells appeared to help St. Louis’ offensive line, as Thomas notes the team allowed 1.5 sacks per game with him in the lineup compared to 2.6 without.

Wells required surgery in the same knee last spring during Rams’ practices. Following that procedure he sustained a fractured foot in the team’s season opener against the Detroit Lions. In all, it was a frustrating season for the former Pro Bowler:

“So, a frustrating year for me with the knee, then the foot, then the knee. But I was able to push through the knee at the end and the foot’s fine. I look forward to an offseason to get healthy. It’s the same knee and it’s just years of abuse playing and it’s just kind of fouled up.”

Thomas predicts that Wells should have plenty of time to rehab his knee in preparation of the Rams’ spring practice period which beings in mid-April.


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Redskins’ Trent Williams Hit in Head with Bottle, Tasered

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Washington Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams was hit over the head with a champagne bottle and tasered as the victim of an altercation early Friday morning, according to Grant Paulsen of CBS Sports DC. Williams’ injuries aren’t thought to be serious, as he only required stitches, but he will be held out of this weekend’s Pro Bowl, according to a statement made by the NFL.

“Trent Williams was the victim of an assault at a night club in central Honolulu early this morning and another individual has been arrested,” an NFL spokesman said.  “Due to an injury sustained during the assault, he will not play in the Pro Bowl and has been replaced by Matt Kalil.  Trent is still a member of this year’s NFC All-Star team and will be on the sidelines this Sunday wearing his jersey.  He will be credited with a Pro Bowl appearance and receive a full player’s share.”

The altercation took place around 1:30 a.m. on Friday morning, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Officers responded to a “large affray” at a night club where three males were ultimately found injured. Two of the men, including Williams, were treated for their injuries while the third declined treatment.

One man was arrested for assault in the 3rd degree and the police expect to make additional arrests.


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Saints TE Jimmy Graham Recovering from Wrist Surgery

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New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham dealt with a wrist injury throughout much of the season, and the third-year player underwent surgery to repair the lingering ailment earlier this month, according to Mike Triplett of The Times-Picaynne.

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham had surgery to repair his lingering wrist injury earlier this month, a league source confirmed.

As a result of the surgery, Graham had to turn down the opportunity to play in this weekend’s Pro Bowl.
Triplett notes that the exact nature of Graham’s injury remains unknown, but he’s expected to have plenty of time to recover before summer and training camps begin.

Graham’s injury didn’t cause him to miss time in 2012, and he was extremely productive for the Saints, catching 85 passes for 982 yards and nine touchdowns. Still, Graham led the NFL in drops with 14, something that can likely be attributed at least in part to his wrist injury.


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Lions RB Jahvid Best Not Expected to Play Football Again

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The future looked bright for running back Jahvid Best when the Detroit Lions selected him in the first-round of the 2010 NFL Draft. However, brain injuries have taken their toll, and at this point no doctor is willing to clear Best to play again in the NFL, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press.

Best isn't expected to play football again after doctors refused to clear him this season following a pair of concussions in 2011.

Best still hasn’t celebrated his 24th birthday, but his professional career is over after sustaining four concussions since his playing days at the University of California.

Best played in 16 games for the Lions in 2010, rushing for 555 yards on 171 attempts with four touchdowns. He also caught 58 passes for 487 yards and two scores that season.

In 2011, Best was limited to just six games due to injury, and the once dynamic running back didn’t play at all for Detroit in 2012.


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Jets Rumors: Patriots, Broncos, 49ers, Packers Interested in CB

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It was reported last week that the New York Jets will keep all of their options open when it comes to All-Pro cornerback Darrell Revis, including potentially trading the top cover corner. Revis was left “speechless,” and one source says that Jets’ owner Woody Johnson the cornerback is as good as “gone,” according to ESPN New York.

"I gathered from Woody that, in his mind, (Revis) is gone," the source said.

Revis is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract. In his agreement with the Jets, it’s stipulated that the team can’t use their franchise tag on him. Revis has showed in the past that he’s willing to hold out in order to get paid, and he’s currently recovering from major knee surgery.

All of these factors make it difficult for the Jets’ to re-sign Revis to a contract both sides consider reasonable.

If the Jets were to trade Revis, they would be seeking a significant package of picks, including first- and second-round selections. The New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are among the teams “highly interested” in Revis, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.


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Rams Hire Rob Ryan as Defensive Coordinator

By | Published Friday, January 25, 2013


It took former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan a bit more than five minutes, but he has now landed a job running the St. Louis Rams’ defensive unit, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Ryan has an agreement with the Rams to become their defensive coordinator, a source close to the coach told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. The same source told Rapoport the deal will happen.

Ryan has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL since 2004 as a member of the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and most recently the Cowboys. Dallas opted to cut ties with Ryan following another disappointing season rather than make changes at the head coaching position or at quarterback.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Ryan was fired because of a lack of turnovers generated by his defense. Dallas finished the 2012 season with the fourth-fewest turnovers in the NFL.

Still, Ryan is known solid defensive mind, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with a Rams’ unit that showed promise under head coach Jeff Fisher.


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Packers Rumors: Donald Driver ‘Leaning Toward’ Retirement

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver was once considered one of the premier players at his position in the National Football League. His contribution dropped off considerably this year due to injuries and ineffectiveness, and the veteran wide out is “leaning toward retirement,” according to Mike Garafolo of USA Today Sports.

Following a disappointing season in which he caught eight passes and was inactive for one of the team's two playoff games, Driver is leaning toward retirement, according to a person informed of Driver's thinking on the matter.

The source Garafolo spoke with said an announcement of Driver’s ultimate decision could come as soon as next week.

Driver, who will turn 38 next month, is the Packers’ all-time leader in receptions (743) and receiving yards (10,137). The veteran has scored 61 touchdowns during his time with Green Bay.

However, his playing time was diminished this season due to the presence of younger receivers, including Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb and Greg Jennings, and he only caught two passes over the final two months of the season.


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Saints Fire Steve Spagnuolo; Switching to 3-4

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New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was recently reinstated by the National Football League, and he hasn’t waited long to make his presence known. Yesterday Payton and the Saints announced that they were parting ways with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and switching to a 3-4 defense.

"I personally want to thank Steve and Ken for their contributions during what was an unprecedented 2012 season," Payton said in a statement released by the Saints. "Philosophically we are changing our defense to a 3-4 alignment, and right now is the best time to accomplish this transition."

The Saints hired Spagnuolo last offseason, and the formerly highly-touted defensive coordinator only lasted one year before getting the axe. The New Orleans’ defense appeared to get worse under Spagnuolo, and he was called out at the end of the year by an anonymous player in the Saints’ locker room.

Spagnuolo made a name for himself as the New York Giants defensive coordinator. He ran that unit when the Giants won their first Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, and he ultimately turned it into a head coaching opportunity with the St. Louis Rams.


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Ravens Safefty Ed Reed Not Considering Retirement

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While Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has declared he’s retiring following the Super Bowl, safety Ed Reed is not considering calling it a career just yet. The All-Pro told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun, yesterday that he’ll be “playing next year.”


Reed has talked about retirement before, but it seems like he’s as close to a sure bet as can be to return for 2013. However, there’s no guarantee that if he does decide to play another season, he’ll be doing so with the Ravens.

Reed is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and he figures to garner significant interest. Baltimore could elect to use their franchise tag on the veteran safety, but they may instead need to exercise it on another player, such as quarterback Joe Flacco.

This season Reed totaled 58 tackles and four interceptions with three fumble recoveries and one touchdown scored.

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Jets Rumors: Darrelle Revis ‘Speechless’ Over Trade Talk

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Yesterday it was reported that the New York Jets were considering all options, including a trade, when it came to All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. This left many surprised, including Revis himself, who said he was left “speechless” by the news.

Jets owner Woody Johnson didn’t deny reports that he discussed the possibility of trading Revis while interviewing potential general manager candidates. Revis and his camp were shocked by the news, reinforcing the idea that the trade talk originated from the front office.

For his part, head coach Rex Ryan doesn’t want Revis, who’s considered by many to be the best cornerback in the NFL, to be traded, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Revis also isn’t pushing for a trade, as he’s made it clear that he wants to remain with the Jets for the remainder of his career. He’s also shown that he likes to get paid, and the longer these trade talks continues the more likely Revis could be on his way out of New York this offseason. 

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Robert Griffin III’s Injury Different from Adrian Peterson’s?

By | Published Thursday, January 24, 2013


When it was discovered that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III sustained an injury similar to the one Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson endured prior to his monster 2012 campaign, the comparisons started pouring in. However, Peterson told reporters, including Andy Fenelon of NFL.com, that it’s not fair to compare the injuries of the two players.

"That's not fair," Peterson told NFL.com's Jeff Darlington after the NFC's first Pro Bowl practice of the week Wednesday. "Everybody's body heals differently. That's something nobody is going to understand."

Peterson continued on to say that his body “just heals differently,” as he credited his genetics and not just his work ethic and intense rehab for his strong performance in 2012.

Griffin is also dealing with his second ACL surgery on his right knee, and his third such procedure overall. Still, Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon who performed Griffin’s procedure, said he expects the Redskins’ quarterback to be ready for the start of next season.


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