Steelers' Ward doubtful against Arizona
September 25th, 2007
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is doubtful with a knee sprain for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Ward suffered the injury in the third quarter of Pittsburgh's victory over San Francisco last Sunday and has been using crutches as a precaution.
Ward, who could return to practice later in the week, has nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown this season for the Steelers.
Report: Bears bench Grossman for Griese
FOXSports.com
The Chicago Bears have stuck with Rex Grossman through interceptions and losses, but it appears patience has run out with the inconsistent quarterback.
According to an NFL.com report, the Bears will start Brian Griese against the Lions on Sunday.
Grossman threw three interceptions as the Chicago Bears fell to the Dallas Cowboys 34-10 on Sunday night, and he did not get a vote of confidence from his coach a day later.
"Will Rex Grossman start Sunday?" coach Lovie Smith asked on Monday, repeating the question. "Well, our evaluation process is going on right now, and if you come out to practice Wednesday, you'll have a better idea of who will be starting at all positions."
Has Smith made a decision?
"I'm always thinking ahead," he said.
Smith gave his usual answer when asked Sunday night about Grossman - "Rex Grossman is our quarterback" - but his tone was different on Monday, fueling speculation Griese might start Sunday against Detroit.
Grossman's supporters would have a hard time arguing against the move, considering he ranks 23rd in the league with 500 yards, has a 45.2 rating and is 47-of-89 (52.8 percent) with a league-leading six interceptions and just one touchdown.
But is Griese the answer?
A Pro Bowl pick with Denver in 2000, he has passed for 16,564 yards, but has also been released three times - by the Broncos, Miami and Tampa Bay.
"I have confidence in our entire football team," Smith said. "Brian is a part of that. After you have a loss like that, we all feel bad. We should."
And Smith realizes something needs to change - quickly.
At 1-2, the Bears are certainly not living up to those soaring expectations after last season's Super Bowl appearance. Besides Grossman's struggles, injuries are mounting.
They lost former Pro Bowl safety Mike Brown and starting nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek to season-ending knee injuries in the opener at San Diego. And on Sunday, Bears were falling like dominoes.
Linebacker Lance Briggs (groin), cornerback Nathan Vasher (groin) and defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) all left the game with injuries. Offensive lineman Ruben Brown suffered what was announced as a game-ending ankle injury, although he returned near the end.
"All of these injuries we're evaluating right now," Smith said. "I can't give you anything else."
As for the evaluation at quarterback, Grossman's troubles are well-documented and they explain why the Bears let him enter this season with an expiring contract rather than an extension.
He was the NFC Offensive Player of the Month last September. Now, he may not be the starting quarterback when September ends.
There certainly is blame to pass around, but the focus is on the quarterback.
The Bears were hoping Grossman would play the way he did the first five weeks last season and ditch the inconsistency he showed the rest of the way.
Well, he is more consistent.
The problem is "Bad Rex" keeps lining up behind center, and that's bad news for the Bears.
Smith stuck with Grossman last season, but that leash appears to be growing shorter with each pass into double or triple coverage; there were a few of those on Sunday night.
Like the one that Anthony Henry picked off early in the fourth quarter.
Dallas' Nick Folk had just kicked a 44-yard field goal when Grossman tried to hit Muhsin Muhammad in triple coverage. Henry intercepted and ran it back 28 yards for a touchdown that made it 27-10 and put away the Bears.
Grossman didn't get much help.
"All the way around the whole offense, it was one of those days where it seemed like we'd get something going and it'd fall back, and we just couldn't get anything going," wide receiver Bernard Berrian said.
Cedric Benson managed 46 yards after running for 101 the previous week in a 20-10 victory over Kansas City.
A wide-open Berrian dropped what might have been a 35-yard touchdown pass. And Muhammad seemed to stop on a deep route over the middle on the first play of the second quarter, resulting in an interception for Henry.
Smith called it "bad timing between the quarterback and receiver."
Bills sign CB Butler
September 25th, 2007
Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Facing a shortage of able defensive backs, the Buffalo Bills signed veteran cornerback Jerametrius Butler Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
With cornerback Terrence McGee suffering from bruised ribs, and his status for Sunday's game against the New York Jets up in the air, the Bills added another defensive back to their roster. Entering his seventh season in the NFL, Butler spent his first six seasons with the St. Louis Rams, where he had nine interceptions.
To make room on the roster, the Bills released running back and special-teamer Josh Scobey.
Bengals sign RB Dorsey
September 25th, 2007
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Bengals, unsure of starting running back Rudi Johnson's availability for Sunday's game with the New England Patriots, signed DeDe Dorsey on Tuesday.
Johnson is ailing from a hamstring injury that may limit his action on Sunday. Dorsey spent last season as a special teams contributor for the Indianapolis Colts. He was released by the Colts at the end of the preseason this year.
Saints CB David out 4-6 weeks
September 25, 2007
METAIRIE, La. (AP) -Saints starting cornerback Jason David will miss four to six weeks with a fractured left forearm.
Head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday he hasn't decided who will start in David's place when New Orleans returns to action at home against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 7.
David got hurt during the Saints' 31-14 loss to Tennessee on Monday night, a costly game in which running back Deuce McAllister was lost for the season with torn left knee ligaments.
David's possible replacements include Jason Craft, rookie Usama Young and veteran Fred Thomas.
``All those guys will be in the mix,'' Payton said. ``The specifics of who will start, we'll decide later on.''
The Saints have a bye week now, which could help several players nursing minor injuries from Monday night come back without missing any games.
Starting linebacker Scott Fujita has a sore right ankle, starting left tackle Jammal Brown dislocated a finger and receiver David Patten has a sore calf, Payton said. All three to be back for the next game.
David, who was not available for comment Tuesday, signed a four-year contract worth about $15.6 million with the Saints as a restricted free agent following three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
At times, David has shown the big-play skills the Saints thought they were getting. He forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in Week 1 against the Colts. He intercepted Vince Young on Monday night.
But he also has allowed several deep completions, a couple for touchdowns, and has said his adjustment to the Saints defensive schemes, which require a lot of man-to-man coverage, has been slower and more difficult than he had hoped.
49ers sign Lewis
Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco 49ers signed return specialist Michael Lewis on Tuesday.
Lewis had spent the previous six seasons with the New Orleans Saints before the team released him this past June.
During his six seasons in New Orleans, he returned 243 kickoffs for a 24.3- yard average with three touchdowns. In addition, he had 142 punt returns for a 10.4-yard average with one touchdown and 28 receptions for 553 yards and a score.
He made it to the Pro Bowl in 2002 after setting a team single-season record for kickoff return yards (11,807) and punt return yards (625). His 2,432 combined yards that season set a team record.
Also on Tuesday, the team waived wide receiver/punt returner Brandon Williams and signed linebacker Tyson Smith to the practice squad.
Ferringo Examines Early Line Moves
by Robert Ferringo
Being able to properly read and assess the opening line in college and professional football seems like one of the most basic and simple components of football betting. However, analyzing the opening line and initial movements off of it is a skill that takes years to master. In fact, even handicappers that have been in the game for decades still have difficulty explaining why a certain line may move a certain way during the week - and even more trouble still deciphering what that movement portends.
Basically, the opening lines are created by institutions like the Las Vegas Sports Consultants and then passed on to their clients, the sportsbooks. The books then open their lines to sharp bettors and players who wager tens of thousands of dollars. Those players get their initial action on certain sides and totals, and the books then adjust the lines before releasing them to the general public in an attempt to balance out the action. It's a constant shadow dance between the books and the betting public.
Each week we're going to analyze the opening lines with the greatest variance from their original release from the LVSC. These "steam" moves are indicative of where the "smart money" began and is usually a predictor of where the money will continue to roll. Our goal is to make sense of exactly where the value is on some of these situations for either the underdog or the favorite. Again, this is a delicate science and I'm not going to presume to have all the answers. But together we'll try to sift through the games that the sharp action is on and see if we can't uncover some useful trends as the season progresses.
To this point, sharp action has gone 10-11 against the spread in college movements and 10-6 ATS in the NFL movements. That's 20-17 ATS (54.1 percent) overall. Here are some of the most noticeable and significant early steam movements in both the college and pro football opening lines:
PRO FOOTBALL
New England at Cincinnati (8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1)
Open: New England -6.0.
Current: New England -7.5.
The Patriots are 3-0 ATS and none of their games have even been close. Home dogs on Monday Night Football are usually a strong play, but considering that the Bengals have absolutely no defense to speak of there's a strong possibility that they could get hit for 50 again. Yet, the Bengals are 7-1-1 ATS against the Patriots and 5-1 ATS against them at home. With an offense that still works, the back door could be left open for the Bengals to sneak in.
Green Bay at Minnesota (1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30)
Open: Green Bay -3.0.
Current: Green Bay -1.5.
The Favre Effect is going to start seeing the Packers as thicker favorites than they should be. That may or may not be the case here, considering that Favre has typically struggled in domes and is just 1-4 ATS in his last four against the Vikings. But then again, while we still have no idea who the Vikings will be putting under center we can be pretty sure that whoever it is won't be an NFL-caliber signal caller.
Oakland at Miami (1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30)
Open: 38.0.
Current: 41.5.
These were two of the top four total defenses from just a year ago, but now it appears that the books are expecting a shootout. Miami is No. 20 in the league in defense this year while the Raiders are coming in at No. 26, and these teams have combined to go 5-1 against the total on the season. I think this might be an overreaction by the books, pushing the total through several key totals numbers, but we'll see if the bettors bite.
docsports.com
Bears: Archuleta to play with broken hand
Adam Archuleta has a broken right hand but plans to play Sunday at Detroit, an NFL source told the Chicago Tribune.
Texans: Johnson won't return this week
Andre Johnson will not return this week, the Houston Chronicle reports. Sunday was the first time he was allowed to bend his knee since suffering the sprain Sept. 16 against the Panthers. Johnson sprained the posterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee, and must wait until they both heal. "It's like I'm learning to walk normally again," Johnson said. "I've been in a brace for the whole week. Now, I have slack in my brace where I can bend my knee."
Bengals: Rudi's status up in the air
Rudi Johnson (hamstring) appears to be very questionable for Monday's game with New England, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. There was no official injury report from the Bengals Tuesday, but during a news conference Marvin Lewis said, "the guys who were banged up in the Seattle game who we're unsure about would be Caleb Miller and Rudi Johnson." For insurance, the club signed DeDe Dorsey earlier in the week.
Giants: Jacobs probably needs another week
Brandon Jacobs probably won't be able to play at least until Week 5 due to his sore knee. Derrick Ward, who's been surprisingly solid through the first three weeks, figures to start Sunday with Reuben Droughns once again getting the short-yardage work.
Vikings: Jackson questionable again
It's too soon to say whether Tarvaris Jackson will be healthy enough to play in Week 4. However, head coach Brad Childress has already stated that Kelly Holcomb would get the start if Jackson's tender groin prevents him from playing against the Packers.
Lions: Backus' streak in jeopardy
Jeff Backus' streak of 99 consecutive starts at left tackle could come to an end on Sunday. He is nursing a strained muscle in his rib cage and is considered questionable for the Week 4 game against the Bears.
fanballnews.com
Bills place OL Whittle on IR; sign LB Harrison
September 26, 2007
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Another day, another Buffalo Bills player placed on injured reserve. On Wednesday, it was backup offensive lineman Jason Whittle, whose season is over because of a hamstring injury.
Whittle became the seventh Bills player placed on IR after he was hurt during a 38-7 loss at New England last weekend. Whittle is a nine-year veteran and versatile lineman who signed with Buffalo on the first day of free agency in March.
The injury further depletes a banged-up roster that has lost three defensive starters, the latest linebacker Paul Posluszny (broken forearm), to season-ending injuries, and will be without starting quarterback J.P. Losman (sprained knee) when the Bills (0-3) host the New York Jets on Sunday.
The Bills filled Whittle's roster spot by signing linebacker Kevin Harrison, who was cut by Buffalo before this season. Harrison spent most of last season on Buffalo's practice squad after being cut by Denver in 2006.
Besides Posluszny, Buffalo's linebacking corps is further depleted with Keith Ellison (high ankle sprain) expected to miss another two weeks and Coy Wire out indefinitely with a sprained knee.
In another move Wednesday, the Bills signed quarterback Gibran Hamdan to their practice squad and released quarterback Kevin Eakin.
Hamdan has bounced around the NFL since being drafted in the seventh round by Washington in 2003. Most recently, he was released by Miami before this season, and spent part of last year on San Francisco's practice squad.
Bears sign CB Jimoh
September 26th, 2007
Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears signed cornerback Ade Jimoh to their 53-man roster on Wednesday. The team also signed safety Josh Gattis to the practice squad and terminated the contracts of veteran punter Dirk Johnson and wide receiver David Ball.
Jimoh, an undrafted free agent out of Utah State, spent the last four seasons in Washington, where he recorded 65 special teams tackles and 28 defensive stops in 63 regular season games.
Johnson, filling in for the injured Brad Maynard, punted four times for a 49.8-yard average in Chicago's 20-10 win in Week 2 against Kansas City.
Gattis was a fifth-round selection of Jacksonville in the 2007 NFL draft, while Ball signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of the University of New Hampshire and had six receptions for 64 yards in the preseason.
Winslow partially dislocates left shoulder
PlainDealer.com
Browns tight end Kellen Winslow has suffered a "mild subluxation" of his left shoulder, which is defined in medical journals as a partial dislocation.
Coach Romeo Crennel sat Winslow out of Wednesday's practice and it's not known if he'll be ready to face the Ravens on Sunday. Winslow suffered the injury when he landed on his shoulder following a 23-yard reception on the Browns' final drive in Oakland.
Winslow made an appearance in the locker room Wednesday but declined to talk to the media. On his way out, he was asked if he'll play. "Of course I am," he said.
Said Braylon Edwards: "You think he'd miss a game?"
Winslow has been using an electrical stimulation device on the shoulder to try to get ready.
In other Browns news:
* Linebacker Willie McGinest, who underwent back surgery in the preseason, returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis. He'll probably be questionable for Sunday.
* Defensive end Orpheus Roye sat out with swelling in his knee but said he'll play.
* Receiver Tim Carter was also idle with swelling in his knee.
* Linebacker Antwan Peek rested his sprained foot and was in a walking boot again.
* Crennel made no major lineup changes on defense, but said he'll rotate guys in more to keep everyone fresh and increase the competitive edge. Some players figuring to get more time include defensive end Shaun Smith and tackle Ethan Kelley.
* Crennel said he won't demote rookie corner Eric Wright, but will try to get him to play better.
* Running back Jamal Lewis said he left Baltimore with no resentment because "I wanted to leave the year before."
Ravens coach Brian Billick disagreed with Lewis' statement to USA Today that the two didn't get along. "We got along great," said Billick.
Report: Falcons' Hall fined, won't start against Texans
September 26th, 2007
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly fined DeAngelo Hall at least $100,000 and informed the Pro Bowl cornerback he will not start against Houston on Sunday.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fine was levied for Hall's tirade in this past Sunday's game against Carolina.
The report also stated Hall plans to file a grievance with the NFL Players Association.
Hall was called for three penalties totaling 67 yards on one possession against the Panthers. Two were personal fouls, which led Hall to engage in a shouting match with head coach Bobby Petrino and assistant coach Joe Whitt Jr. before teammates had to restrain him.
The penalties led to a Carolina touchdown that tied the game at 17 in the third quarter, and the Panthers went on to win, 27-20.
Bucs' Piscitelli placed on injured reserve with foot injury
September 26, 2007
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed rookie safety Sabby Piscitelli on injured reserve and promoted receiver Chad Lucas from the practice squad to the active roster Wednesday.
The team also made three other moves involving the practice squad, signing tackle Jason Capizzi and receiver Michael Spurlock and releasing offensive lineman Enoka Lucas.
Piscitelli, a second-round draft choice, suffered a foot injury during the first half of last Sunday's 24-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams.
LB Donte Curry back with Lions, and RB Aveion Cason is cut
September 26, 2007
Associated Press
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions signed linebacker Donte Curry, bringing back a player who was cut just before the season after spending five years with the team.
"He's a veteran, well loved by this team, and he brings something special," Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday. "He's an excellent special teams player."
The Lions cut running back Aveion Cason to make room for Curry. The team also put tight end Rudy Sylvan on the practice squad and took running back Anthony Sherrell off it.
Curry made his NFL debut with the Washington Redskins in 2001, then spent the next five seasons with the Lions and contributed mostly on special teams.
Bengals sign CB Adams, waive Ratliff
September 26, 2007
Associated Press
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Cincinnati Bengals signed free agent cornerback Blue Adams to a two-year contract on Wednesday and waived fourth-year cornerback Keiwan Ratliff.
Adams is a fourth-year NFL player who originally signed with the Bengals as a free agent on May 7.
Adams missed the first three preseason games after injuring his neck in the team's minicamp, but he played in Cincinnati's preseason finale. He was waived by the Bengals on Sept. 2.
Adams played for Jacksonville as a rookie in 2003, did not play in 2004, and played for Tampa Bay in 2005-06. He played in every game for the Buccaneers in 2006, ranking third on the team with 19 special teams tackles.
Ratliff, the Bengals' second-round draft choice in 2004, played in the first three games of this season. He leaves the team with 51 career games played and eight starts.