Ariz. (AP)The Arizona Cardinals seem rested and relaxed following theirbye week, insisting they remain positive despite the four straightlosses since their season-opening victory over Carolina.Their respite from NFL play ends on Sunday when the reigning AFCchampion Pittsburgh Steelers come to the desert.Quarterback Kevin Kolb insists the practices last week and thishave been some of the best the team has had since he came toArizona. Coach Ken Whisenhunt wouldn't go that far but he did agreethat there seems to be no letup in effort as the Cardinals look fora turnaround victory against a tough opponent.''The only thing that really matters is how we do on Sunday,''Whisenhunt said after Wednesday's practice. ''I'll say this, ourteam is working hard to prepare. They are paying attention to thedetails. They are looking to find that little bit that we have beenmissing in some of these close games and hopefully that will payoff for us.''Kolb said he did not think that the offense has lost confidencedespite its inconsistent performances, and he said there have beensome tweaks made during the extended time off.''I think that our last three or four practices have been crispin the passing game, and I think we are all seeing it more and moreclearly,'' he said. ''We are doing some things that are a littlebit unique and a little bit different that we are excited about. Ithink it can really help us on game day.''One area that has been encouraging for the Cardinals is therunning game, and Beanie Wells said the time off helped him ''alot'' to ease some aches and pains, including a lingering sorehamstring that had sidelined him for one game.''A chance to relax my body a little bit,'' Wells said. ''It'sfeeling pretty good.''Wells, in what easily is so far the best of his four proseasons, is averaging 4.8 yards per carry - 381 yards in 79 carriesover four games. But his power running game fell by the waysideearly against Minnesota as the Vikings bolted to a 28-0first-quarter lead.Still, there was a memorable run in which Wells plowed into adefensive player so hard that it knocked the Vikings player'shelmet off. Kolb said he told Wells he wants a poster made of thatplay.''That was incredible. They have to fear him,'' Kolb said. ''Weneed to get our running game going. That's a big part of this weekand a big part of these next 11 weeks. He's a big part of ouroffense and that sets the tone for everything else.''Yet for all of the good plays, there are plenty of bad ones.Arizona has been awful on third downs and in the red zone. TheCardinals have given up a huge number of 20-plus-yard passes.Close or not, a loss at home to the Steelers would make theCardinals 1-5 going into a game at Baltimore. Arizona hasn't won onthe road since last season's opener at St. Louis.The Cardinals coaching staff is stacked with people who have theSteelers somewhere on their resume, most recently new defensivecoordinator Ray Horton.''Losing four games in a row is not pretty, so our backs areagainst the wall,'' defensive end Calais Campbell said. ''We've hadsome time to think it. It's a big game for us. ... We have a greatgame plan for them. I feel like our coordinator knows them well soI feel like we have an advantage there. But he has a great gameplan and we looked really good in practice today, so I'm reallylooking forward to how it transforms over into the game.''
Minnesota Vikings made it official today,benching quarterback Donovan McNabb in favor of rookie ChristianPonder."We expect it to be for the rest of the season." Vikings coach Leslie Frazier saidtoday at his weekly press conference.Ponder, who was drafted 12th overall out of Florida State, willmake his first NFL start Sunday against the defending Super Bowlchampion and 6-0 Green Bay Packers."Christian is as excited as you can imagine," Frazier said.Ponder completed 9 of 17 passes for 99 yards during the fourthquarter of Sunday's 39-10 loss to the Chicago Bears as the Vikings fell to 1-5. Frazier saidPonder was unfazed by the moment and "handled it very, very well"against Bears' first-string defense."He's done a lot of good things in practice, his preparation andthe way he prepares, the command he has in the huddle," Fraziersaid. "Some of the things he did (Sunday at Chicago) let me knowthat the game is not too big for him, it's not too fast forhim."McNabb has spent most of the season ranked near the bottom ofseveral passing categories, completing 94 of 156 for 1,026 yardsand four touchdowns, with two interceptions. He finished 19 of 24for 177 yards Sunday, but took five sacks, including a safety, andstruggled on third downs, a theme throughout the season."Donovan was terrific with it," Frazier said, calling the14th-year player "a true pro in every sense of the word. He wantedto finish things."Frazier said McNabb will be the main backup and that he expectsMcNabb to stay on roster all year in a mentoring role.The Vikings need to boost an offensethat ranks 31st in the league with an average of 6.5 yards perpass. They are replacing McNabb's experience with Ponder's mobilityand ability to throw on the run, a move that could inject life intoa locker room struggling to cope with the mounting losses.Minnesota traded a sixth-round draft pick in 2012 and aconditional 2013 pick to Washington before the season for McNabb.Frazier, a former Philadelphia assistant, knew McNabb from theirdays together with the Eagles and had supported the idea ofacquiring the quarterback."Knowing what I know now, the decision (to trade for McNabb)would have still been the same," Frazier said.While surprised by the move, McNabb said from his locker todayhe's still eager for more competition but has accepted thedecision."He's the head coach," McNabb said. "Decisions are made. At thisparticular point, (Frazier wants) for me to continue to prepare andmake sure we continue to support Christian and make sure he'sready. I'm one play away from going back in."After benchings by three teams in as many years, McNabb's NFLfuture after this season is uncertain. McNabb can stay on theroster the entire season and fulfill his one-year, $5.05 millioncontract. Will a general manager sign him in free agency comeMarch?"I know that I have a lot of football left in me," McNabbsaid.McNabb took no ownership of the offense's struggles when askedwhy he should remain the starter."Well, I've done some good things on offense, scored somepoints," he said. "(I) moved the ball. But, again, the only thing Ican do at this point is continue to support Christian."Staff reporter Brian Murphy contributed to this report.
Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Wednesdayhe's trying to put his fracas with San Francisco coach Jim Harbaughin his rearview mirror."Yeah, I was for 49-for-49 on shaking a hand before that,"Schwartz said on a teleconference call with members of the Atlantamedia. "I think I'll get back to that this week. I mean, I don'tknow if there's a coach I respect more in the NFL than [Falcons coach] Mike Smith."Schwartz and Smith coached against each other in the AFC Southand have a strong mutual respect."I came up and started at the very bottom," Schwartz said."That's the way Mike did, too. He earned everything he's gotten inthe NFL. He started in quality control and moved up to linebackercoach, moved up to coordinator and did a good job at what he wasassigned and ended up as a head coach and has done an outstandingjob of getting the Falcons to be a consistentwinner."Schwartz was also effusive in his praise for Falcons general manager ThomasDimitroff."I couldn't have more respect for Thomas Dimitroff," Schwartzsaid. "I was a kid who started about as low as you can start in theNFL and Thomas was with us in Cleveland, and Thomas was probablylower than me. At least I was in the building. Thomas was out onthe grounds crew, pulling tarps and painting fields."After what happened with Harbaugh, he's looking forward to thehandshake with Smith."I think I'll get back on track with handshakes this week,"Schwartz said.The Lions are 5-1 for the first time since 1991."We've come a long way," Schwartz said. "We lost a game lastweek, but it was nice to see an opponent celebrating a win over theDetroit Lions. If we beat somebody the last couple of years, a lotof times they were shaking their heads going how did we lose tothose guys."It's nice to see somebody celebrating a win against us now, andI think our fans are right there with us. Like I said, it will be agood atmosphere when you guys get here on Sunday."Next for Falcons Who: at Lions When: 1 p.m.Sunday TV; radio: Fox; 790, 94.1
Morgan Burnett is prone to episodes of bragging, he has donea good job keeping it to himself during his time in Green Bay.The soft-spoken second-year safety already has threeinterceptions this season going into Sunday's game at Minnesota,but you certainly wouldn't know that from listening to him talkabout giving the credit to others and just trying to getbetter.Still, there's one accomplishment that might make Burnett breakcharacter and pat himself on the back: making a one-handedinterception while wearing a club on his broken right hand, a feathe'd love to accomplish Sunday. He can even imagine himself makingthe play.''Just try to focus in on those threads and catch it the bestway you can,'' Burnett said. ''You come away with a one-handedcatch, that's pretty great. That's tough.''Burnett broke his hand in practice last week and played Sunday'sgame against St. Louis with the hand wrapped up in a bulky club. Hestruggled early, allowing a big play when he missed a tackle onRams tight end Lance Kendricks.That play raised a red flag with Packers defensive coordinatorDom Capers, but Burnett settled down quickly and played well forthe remainder of the game.''I think you're dealing with open-field tackle situations,''Capers said. ''If you can't grab with one arm, you're alwaysconcerned about that. Who knows? On the first one, probably if hehad both hands he'd have gotten the guy on the ground. He's goingto be dealing with that for a while. Morgan's a bright guy and Ithink he adjusted to it and had some pretty good licks after thatand got people on the ground.''Packers coach Mike McCarthy was impressed with the way Burnettadjusted.''He missed a tackle, but after that play he settled in andplayed very well,'' McCarthy said. ''You don't have use of yourhand, just have to be fundamentally sound, particularly intackling, and really emphasize wrapping your arms. I thought heplayed very well, especially for the first time with that club onhis hand, because he really didn't get to practice with it.''Burnett acknowledged that playing with the club is achallenge.''Just (having) your hand in one set position throughout thegame, you can't have your hands in all different positions, whetherit's catching the ball, wrapping your arms on a tackle,'' Burnettsaid. ''It's just one of those things, one of those challenges,that you have to push through and try to find a way to get the jobdone.''The Packers traded up to take Burnett in the third round of the2010 draft. He won a starting job coming out of training camp as arookie, and was playing well when he tore his left anteriorcruciate ligament against Detroit in Week 4. Burnett had to watchthe remainder of the season as Charlie Peprah took over at safety,played well and helped the Packers on their run to a Super Bowltitle.But Burnett was healthy going into training camp this season,and basically won his job back right away.Now Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins is out for the season with aneck injury, pairing Burnett and Peprah in the Packers' defensivebackfield. With Collins out, Burnett has had to take on additionalresponsibilities in terms of making calls.''I like the way he's played, other than two or three plays inthe Broncos game,'' Capers said of Burnett. ''Other than that, he'splayed extremely well. I think he's been physical. He's obviouslycome up with the ball a few times. He's kind of assumed the callrole back there, moving over more to Nick's position since we lostNick. I think he's making very good progress. It's easy to forgetabout Morgan, (he) came out last year as a junior and we only hadhim for four games. He's really out there somewhat as a rookie andI think he's doing a nice job for us.''That's high praise coming from Capers. But as usual, Burnett wasmore inclined to give credit to others - even to the team'strainers for doing a ''really good job'' wrapping up his hand -than take any credit himself.''It's going pretty good,'' Burnett said. ''Still a long way togo, still a lot of learning and a lot of improving to do. That'sthe good part about it, still find ways to improve and still getbetter. I'm really looking forward to it.''
Although Mark Ingram wasn't given a locker near the otherrunning backs at
Saints headquarters, he doesn't seem to mind hisspot next to rookie defensive
end Cam Jordan, a few paces from theequipment room.''We have a fun little time
over here on our side of the wall... and don't Authentic
New England Patriots Albert Haynesworth Jersey have to walk far when we need
socks,'' Ingram saidafter practice Thursday.Yet when it comes to Sean Payton's
offensive game plans, Ingramhas been fully integrated in Authentic
Matt Forte Jersey his first NFL season, with morecarries than any other
running back on the club. All that's beenmissing is a long run and a breakout
game.''The challenge for me with Matt
Forte Jersey a player like Mark is just gettinghim enough touches and enough
carries,'' Saints coach Sean Paytonsaid, alluding to the cheap
nfl jerseys free shipping fact that New
England Patriots Albert Haynesworth Jersey the Saints also have two
strongveteran running backs in Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles.''We're going to
see more and more good things from him,''Payton continued. ''Really, it's just
giving him thoseopportunities, and sometimes I don't give him enough of
thembecause we're in another personnel grouping or we're doingsomething else by
design because we do that pretty well aswell.''The Saints' strength remains its
passing game. New Orleans issecond in the NFL in through the air (336.6 yards
per game) and14th in rushing (115.4). So with three options at Authentic
Randall Cobb Jersey running back, andsoon to be a fourth when Chris Ivory
returns from thephysically-unable-to-perform list, there are only so many
carriesto go around.Through five games, Ingram has carried a 62 times for
ateam-leading 216 yards and has two touchdowns, including a 1-yardplunge in New
Orleans' 30-27 victory at Carolina last Sunday. Heaverages 3.5 yards per
carry.By comparison, Thomas has averaged 4.5 yards on 34 carries andSproles 7.1
yards on 26 carries. Both of those backs also have beeninvolved Randall
Cobb Authentic Jersey in the passing game as receivers out of the
backfield.''We're winning games and really that's all that matters,''Ingram
said. ''It's definitely something you have to get used to,but New
England Patriots Albert Haynesworth Authentic Jersey it's just a matter of
always staying in the game, always payingattention to what's going on and Randall
Cobb Jersey Authentic just helping out whenever you getthe opportunity.''In
2009, Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner inthe same season he
helped lead the Crimson Tide to a nationalchampionship.During last spring's
draft, the Saints used their top pick onJordan, then traded back into the first
round to take Ingram 28thoverall.During the lockout, Ingram lived in New
Orleans, where he hadalso worked out before the draft, and participated in
workouts thatquarterback Drew Brees and Jonathan Vilma held at
TulaneUniversity.Soon after training camp began, Payton was confident that
hecould trust Ingram handle important short yardage runs and evenblocking
assignments when he didn't get the ball.''Very quickly you recognize that he's
smart. He picks thingsup. He doesn't repeat mistakes. He understands
protections, andhe's been coached hard,'' Payton said. ''He's a good
instinctivefootball player that at any time we can insert ... and he'd knowthe
protections. He'd know everything just as Pierre does or Darrendoes or someone
who's been in the system. That versatility is ahuge plus.''Although Ingram has
not had a run longer than 17 yards or anymore than 55 yards in a game, left
tackle Jermon Bushrod said theSaints have been impressed with the young running
back's work ethicand his ability to fight for tough yardage.''We have too many
weapons for Randall
Cobb Jersey a running back to be in thissystem and get 100 yards a game,''
Bushrod said. ''He's doingeverything he has to do right now to continue to get
better andwe're excited about that. Truthfully, our mentality here is wecould
care less about a 100-yard rusher or a Matt
Forte Authentic Jersey 1,000-yard rusher fora season. That doesn't really
make a difference for us. We're justtrying to go out here and execute whatever
Payton's visionis.''Rather than worry about when he'll finally break a big
play,Ingram Green
Bay Packers Randall Cobb Jersey said he is grateful to be part of a
productive offense fullof veterans who are willing to help him methodically
getbetter.''Having veteran players to learn from like Pierre and Darrenand being
in the huddle with Drew, the transition has been realsmooth,'' Ingram said.
''The guys have helped me with that,learning plays, being comfortable out there
and knowing myassignment. I haven't been frustrated by too much
ofanything.''Notes: WR Devery Henderson returned to practice fully from aleft
calf injury that kept him off the field on Wednesday. ... RTZach Strief (right
knee), TE David Thomas (concussion) and LB WillHerring (left hamstring) did not
practice.
Three-and-out: Jaguars-Steelers preview A brief lookahead to Week 6's
Jacksonville-Pittsburgh game:1. The Steelers (3-2), thought by many analysts to
be washed up after losses to the Ravens and Texans, bounced back with a 38-17
rout of Tennessee last weekend. The Jaguars (1-4) Albert
Haynesworth Jersey Authentic are 0-3 since inserting rookie QB Blaine
Gabbert into the starting lineup. He faces a Steelers D which allowed just 306
total yards to the Titans despite missing LB James Harrison (orbital) and CB
Bryant McFadden, who could return this week from a hamstring injury.2. This
week, Pittsburgh gets back RB Rashard Mendenhall, who missed one game with a
hamstring injury. Green
Bay Packers Nick Collins Authentic Jersey As it turns out, they didn't need
him vs. the Titans. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman combined for 156 yards on
26 carries against the Titans' 11th-ranked run defense.3. Matchup to watch:
Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Jaguars D: The Green
Bay Packers Nick Collins Jersey Jaguars have to get Jones-Drew going in the
running and passing game to have a chance vs. Pittsburgh, which held Chris
Johnson to 51 yards rushing on Sunday. Jones-Drew has no less than 84 rushing
yards in all five starts this season, but hasn't been utilized as a receiver. He
has just seven catches after tallying 21 at this point two years ago.
Injury roundup: Eagles' O-Line decimated by injuries With a
must-win game looming in Authentic
Nick Collins Jersey Washington on Sunday, the Eagles are facing a potential
offensive line shortage.Starting LT Jason Peters is out indefinitely with a
hamstring injury he suffered in a loss to the 49ers two weeks ago, and his
replacement, 6-foot-9 King Dunlap, missed a second consecutive day of practice
Friday because of back spasms.The two injuries have left the Eagles with only
two healthy offensive tackles Todd Herremans, the usual RT, and Winston
Justice, who missed all of training camp because of offseason knee surgery and
hasn't played all year."We don't," Herremans said, "have too many other options
right now."Green Bay Packers RT Bryan Bulaga is expected to return for Sunday's
game against St. Louis after missing two games with Authentic
Green Bay Packers Nick Collins Jersey a knee injury. However, S Morgan
Burnett broke his right hand in practice Thursday and didn't participate in
Friday's workout. He is listed as probable for the game and expects to
play.Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers is doubtful for Sunday's home game against
the Minnesota Vikings. Peppers has a sprained left knee and did not practice at
all this week.Steelers rookie OT Marcus Gilbert will miss Sunday's game against
the Jacksonville Jaguars, meaning Pittsburgh will start its sixth different
combination of offensive linemen in six games. RB Rashard Mendenhall will return
from a hamstring injury.Washington Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall has a knee injury
and is listed as questionable New
England Patriots Chad Ochocinco Authentic Jersey for Nick
Collins Jersey Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was listed
as limited in practice.Minnesota Vikings CB Antoine Winfield was listed as
doubtful for the game Sunday night against Chicago, meaning it is likely he
will miss the game because of a neck injury.The Jacksonville Jaguars will have
DE Aaron Kampman in the starting lineup at Pittsburgh after missing the last 13
games because of a knee injury.Patriots DL Mike Wright's season ended
prematurely due to a concussion for the second straight year Thursday, when the
New England Patriots placed him on injured reserve.Browns Pro Bowl C Alex Mack
returned to practice for the first time since undergoing an appendectomy on
Oct. 3 and could play Sunday against Oakland. Browns CB Joe Haden did not
practice again because of a sprained left knee and he's unlikely to
play.Buffalo Bills OLB Shawne Merriman will likely miss Sunday's game at the
New York Giants because of an Achilles tendon injury. Merriman missed
Wednesday's practice because of a shoulder injury.Contributing: Associated
Press
Three-and-out: Rams-Packers preview A brief lookahead to Week 6's
St. Louis-Green Bay game:How does the league's worst team (arguably) beat its
best (almost certainly)? Look no further than the trenches. The Packers gave up
four sacks last Sunday in Atlanta after LT Chad Clifton (hamstring) went down
and the team was forced to play both second-string tackles. RT Bryan Bulaga
(knee) should be back for the Pack this week, but Clifton won't. Regardless,
Rams DEs Chris Long and James Hall -- and Nick
Collins Authentic Jersey maybe even rookie Robert Quinn -- have a chance to
get in Aaron Rodgers' grille and will almost certainly have to in order to
hinder his wholesale jerseys from china Swiss watch
offense.Pressure will be that much more crucial as the Rams are digging deep to
find corners. Jerome Murphy broke his ankle in preseason, landing him on IR; Ron
Bartell suffered fractures in his Albert
Haynesworth Authentic Jersey neck in Week 1; and perhaps worst of all,
Bradley Fletcher tore his right ACL ... during a bye week practice. Now St.
Louis is turning to Al Harris, 36, who hasn't started since Nick
Collins Jersey Authentic 2009 when he tore up his knee as a member of the
Packers. Rod Hood, who hasn't played at all since 2009 after suffering his own
knee injury, could be pressed into nickel duty. All they have to do is slow
Rodgers and cover what's almost certainly the deepest wideout corps in the NFL.
Though a mini-controversy seems to swirl around the Pack -- it centers on
Rodgers' ability/inability/willingness to keep all his receivers happy -- they
should all get plenty to eat Sunday.Rams RB Steven Jackson should finally be
ready for a full load after nursing a thigh injury. Though Green Bay stops the
run well, a steady diet of S-Jax could soften up the Pack's preferred nickel
base while shortening the game and keeping Rodgers and Co. off the field.
Jackson will also be counted on in the pass game, either as an outlet or
bodyguard for beleaguered Rams QB Sam Bradford.
Tannenbaum: Jets didn't deal Mason as punishment The Jets didn't trade
Authentic
Michael Vick Jersey WR Derrick Mason to the Texans to punish him or send a
message to the locker room according to New York GM Mike Tannenbaum, who said
the team was merely capitalizing on an opportunity."Suffice it to say, he just
didn't play at the level that he had hoped and we had hoped. Going back to
what's best for the team, getting (rookie WR Jeremy) Kerley on the field we saw
as a real positive, and that's why we made the decision," said Tannenbaum on
Wednesday."Also, from my perspective, when you run the team, you look at things
wholesale
nfl jerseys like budgets and salary caps and potential for draft choices
and what you could do with those. So there are other factors that go into it,
but Kerley was obviously a big factor in this."The Jets received an undisclosed
draft pick for the 15-year vet, who caught 13 passes for 115 yards in five
games. Kerley caught three passes for 35 yards and a TD in his first significant
action of the season in last Sunday's loss at New England.Tannenbaum said Mason
would still Authentic
DeSean Jackson Jersey be with the Jets if there hadn't been an inquiry from
the Texans, who are currently missing WR Andre Johnson (hamstring). Tannenbaum
admitted Mason was caught off guard by the move but lauded the player's
professionalism while saying neither Mason's critical comments after the team's
loss at Baltimore nor speculation he was unhappy in OC Brian Schottenheimer's
scheme fueled his departure.The GM is also confident a turnaround is in the
offing for Gang Green."Like everybody else, disappointed with the three-game
losing streak, but I really believe in our program, the people, the work ethic
and the fact that the attendance the last two days has been so good for these
voluntary workouts," said Tannebaum."That's the environment that Rex (Ryan) has
created, where guys want to be here, they want to get coached, they want to get
developed and we just have to play more consistently. I think we've seen, at all
three phases, levels of good performance. Now, we have to put it together and we
have a great Authentic
Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey opportunity on Monday night to try and do that."Mason
sounded Wednesday like a man who had moved on literally and figuratively."I
can't worry about what happened in New York," he said. DeSean
Jackson Jersey "I enjoyed my two months there, if it was that. I enjoyed
Rex, I've known Rex Jeremy
Maclin Jersey Authentic for a long time. But things just don't last
sometimes. You want one thought as an organization, and then you come out with
another. I think it was a win-win for everybody. I'm not upset."
Texans trade for Jets WR Derrick Mason According Jeremy
Maclin Authentic Jersey to the Houston Chronicle and the Associated Press,
Derrick Mason is joining Houston after the Texans traded a conditional draft
pick to the New York Jets for the wide receiver Tuesday.The Texans will look to
Mason to help pick up the slack while WR Andre Johnson recovers from surgery to
repair his hamstring.More: ?Week 6 OddsJets coach Rex Ryan sat Mason for most of
Sunday's 30-21 loss to the New England Patriots, stating he wanted to give
rookie Jeremy Kerley more playing time.But in an interview with ESPN Radio on
Monday, Ryan suggested there may have been more behind his initial reasons for
sitting Mason."I did have a conversation with Derrick regarding some things,"
Ryan said. "And Authentic
Jeremy Maclin Jersey I'm not going to get into our conversations. It was a
private conversation."Along with fellow WRs Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes,
Mason was one player reportedly complaining about the direction of the Jets'
offense, though the team tried to debunk that Daily News story before the New
England game.Mason Authentic
LeSean McCoy Jersey was the Jets' No. 3 receiver but appeared in only five
plays on Sunday. He has 13 catches for 115 yards this year, his first with the
Jets.The 37-year-old Mason and the Texans will face the Baltimore Ravens on
Sunday. It will be the second time in three Michael
Vick Jersey Authentic weeks that Mason has played Baltimore, where he spent
the previous six years.Hat tip: Houston Chronicle
Saints coach Sean LeSean
McCoy Jersey Authentic Payton tears MCL on sideline play UPDATE: Payton
was taken to the locker room for X-rays late in the second quarter and later
diagnosed with a torn left medial collateral ligament and a tibial plateau
fracture. The Saints said he would coach the second half from the coaches box at
Raymond James Stadium.TAMPA New LeSean
McCoy Authentic Jersey Orleans Saints coach Nnamdi
Asomugha Authentic Jersey Sean Payton had to do his job sitting on the bench
with his left leg in a brace after being injured on the team's first drive
Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Payton was injured after his leg was
caught underneath Saints tight end Jimmy Graham as he was knocked out of bounds
DeSean
Jackson Authentic Jersey by Bucs linebacker Mason Foster after making a Nnamdi
Asomugha Jersey Authentic six-yard catch for first down at the 32. Graham
was knocked backwards into Payton, who immediately grabbed his thigh on the hit;
play was stopped for several minutes while he was tended to by medical
staff.Payton was later helped to the bench and fitted for a brace, and players
cleared a line Michael
Vick Authentic Jersey of view to the field on the second drive. The Saints
gave him something to feel better about, as wide receiver Marques Colston caught
a 38-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees for a 7-3 lead.
Saraceno's scoreboard: Week 6 picks USA TODAY NFL writer Jon Saraceno
offers up his game-by-game outlook every week in The Huddle:Last week: 8-5
straight up (51-26 overall); 7-6 ATS (36-39-2 overall).STAFF PICKS: ?Predictions
from USA TODAY's expertsRams (+15) at Packers: Green Bay unbeaten (5-0), St.
Louis winless (0-4). Aaron Rodgers, league's top-rated QB, salivating over
Rams' injury-riddled secondary. Trends: Packers 8-1 ATS last nine games but 0-5
ATS as a home favorite of 14.5 to 21 points. Packers 45-10Jaguars (+12.5) at
Steeler: Jacksonville, which ranks last in offense and 31st in scoring, has
reached red zone NFL-low six times. Coach Jack Del Rio has better chance of
finding unemployment office. Trend: Jaguars 1-7 ATS last eight games,
including 0-4 on the road. Steelers24-20Eagles Joe
Flacco Jersey Authentic (-1) at Redskins: Turnover-plagued Philadelphia
(minus-10, tied for worst in NFL) has its wings against the wall in Authentic
Charles Woodson Jersey must-win situation. Biggest butter-fingered offender
is QB Michael Vick. In last dozen starts, he has committed 20 turnovers. Trend:
Redskins 5-11 ATS last 16 home games vs. Philly. Eagles21-1749ers (+5.5) at
Lions: We are about to find out if San Francisco, off to best start since 2002
at 4-1, is for real. Or are Niners fool's gold? Trends: Lions 9-0-1 ATS last
10 games; 49ers 5-0-1 ATS last six. Lions 27-23Panthers Charles
Woodson Jersey Authentic (+5) at Falcons: Who would have thought, at this
juncture, Carolina rookie QB Cam Newton would have even a marginally better
passer rating than Atlanta counterpart Matt Ryan (84.3 to 79.9)?! Trends:
Panthers 5-0 ATS spread this season but 3-10-2 ATS last 15 games in Atlanta.
Falcons 34-17.Colts (+7) at Bengals: We tend to keep selecting Colts ... and
they keep making us look wholesale jerseys from china like the
wrong end of Mr. Ed. Trend: Cincinnati lousy as chalk at home: 1-9 ATS last 10
games. Authentic
Ray Lewis Jersey Colts 20-10Bills (+3) at Giants: Buffalo leads NFL in
takeaways (16). Giants turned over ball five times in shocking home loss to
Seattle last week. Buffalo runs ball effectively. Giants' ground game stuck in
the mud and they look helpless vs. run. We smell a Ed
Reed Authentic Jersey potential surprise in the Meadowlands, but ... Trend:
Bills are 1-5 ATS last six games vs. Giants. Giants 30-23Texans (+7) at
Ravens: Houston missing biggest stars on both sides of the ball with WR Andre
Johnson and LB Mario Williams out with injuries. Trends: Texans 0-4 ATS last
four games as underdog; Ravens 4-1 ATS last five games as favorite. Ravens
24-9Browns (+5.5) at Raiders: Defeat at Oakland would give Cleveland losing
record after five games for eighth consecutive season. Dangerous game for
Raiders given emotional week with passing of charming rogue Al Davis. Trend:
Browns 5-0 ATS vs. Raiders last five meetings. Raiders 20-17Cowboys (+7.5) at
Patriots: New England QB Tom Brady on torrid pace for a historic 6,000-yard
passing season. At Tony Romo's two meltdowns-in-four games rate, he is on pace
to be fitted for a record-smashing number of goat horns. Trends: Cowboys 4-0
ATS last four games as underdog; Patriots 8-1 ATS last nine October games.
Patriots 38-31Saints (--4.5) at Buccaneers: Tampa Bay's three victories
vs. teams with combined 3-12 record. Still, spread seems a little rich for a
divisional game. Trend: Saints 4-1 ATS last five games vs. Bucs as visitors.
Saints 31-17Vikings (+3.5) at Bears: High-motor Minnesota DEs Jared Allen and
Brian Robison (13 combined sacks) will pin back horns to hunt down Chicag QB Jay
Cutler -- who's been sacked 70 times in last 20 games. But Joe
Flacco Authentic Jersey Minnesota is 1-8 at Soldier Field since 2001.
Trend: Bears 6-1-1 ATS last eight home games vs. Vikings. Bears 27-10Dolphins
(+9) at Jets: Will Miami win its first game? Is either QB Matt Moore Ray
Lewis Jersey Authentic or Sage Rosenfels the answer? Can Dolphins be
distracted by "Tebow-mania" which debuts in Miami next week? Biggest query: Can
low-altitude Jets shoot down a team begging to be put out of their misery?
Trends: Dolphins 0-7 ATS last seven games but 4-1 ATS last five Authentic
Joe Flacco Jersey vs. Jets. Jets 38-14Celebrity pick of the week: Talk-show
host Pat O'Brien (1-0 ATS). Patriots 31-17
Chris Cooley: I don't consider Tony Romo a choker If you loved
Redskins TE Chris Cooley's recent musings on the struggles of QB Tony Romo and
the Cowboys, a final postscript is coming today.Cooley appears as a guest on The
Rich Eisen Podcast, which will air Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL
Network.However to our disappointment, Cooley doesn't seem interested in taking
a matchstick to that old campfire."I would've liked it to come out differently,"
he admitted of some of his comments."I don't like getting the bad name that I
did for what was insinuated that I called someone (Romo) a choker. I wish that I
hadn't used it; I've addressed it; and you can't do anything more than that. ...
That's not who I consider him as a player."Cooley previously said after Dallas'
Week 4 meltdown to the Lions that it's "amazing to watch (Romo) choke" before
addressing the topic further on his blog.
Chris Cooley: I don't consider Tony Romo a choker If you loved
Redskins TE Chris Cooley's recent Authentic
Ed Reed Jersey musings on the struggles of QB Tony Romo and the Cowboys, a
final postscript is coming today.Cooley appears as a guest on The Rich Eisen
Podcast, which will air Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network.However to our
disappointment, Cooley doesn't seem interested in taking a matchstick to that
old campfire."I would've liked it to come out differently," he admitted of some
of his comments."I don't like getting the bad name that I did for what was
insinuated that I called someone (Romo) a choker. I wish that I hadn't used it;
I've addressed it; and you can't do anything more than that. ... That's not who
I consider him Ed
Reed Jersey Authentic as a player."Cooley previously said after Dallas' Week
4 meltdown to the Lions that it's "amazing to watch (Romo) choke" before
addressing the topic further on his blog.
Rivers on Chargers' start: 'There's no AP votes or coaches'
votes' Chargers QB Philip Rivers has seen his team swim upstream after slow
starts in years past. He's played fantastically and lost. He's watched San Diego
top the charts offensively and defensively for an entire season but miss the
playoffs.So he's not about to express any dissatisfaction over the team's less
than dominant 4-1 start."In past years, we've had some gaudy numbers, and we've
had the (number) one offense and one defense in the league and gone up and down
the field, but we haven't found ways to win games," Rivers said on NFL Network's
NFL Total Access on Wednesday night."This year, we've found ways to win. We
haven't played great necessarily, but we've done the little things that give us
a chance to win these games."The start is the best the team has had in coach
Norv Turner's five-year tenure ... granted their four victims have Ray
Lewis Authentic Jersey a combined four wins, and the Bolts' margin of
victory is just 6.3 points.Rivers, who's uncharacteristically thrown a
league-worst seven INTs, was quick to remind naysayers that style points don't
count."This league's never changed, it's about Ray
Rice Jersey Authentic winning and losing -- there's no AP votes or coaches'
votes, it's just about Authentic
Ray Rice Jersey winning football games, and we've done that," he said."We
know we have to improve, we know we're not where we need to be in order to
accomplish the goals we set at the beginning of Ray
Rice Authentic Jersey the year. But Charles
Woodson Authentic Jersey if we can improve while winning, then we can give
ourselves a chance as we head to the second half of the season."And, hey, at
least the special teams are better.
LeBron takes his talents Authentic
Brian Urlacher Jersey to Liverpool 10:36 PM ETLIVERPOOL, England
(AP)LeBron James took his talents to Liverpool on Friday - and finally got his
hands on a championship trophy.LYING AROUND?What are Aaron
Rodgers Authentic Jersey NBA players doing during the lockout? You may be
surprised.The Miami Heat star toured the Premier League club's facilities for
the first time since becoming a shareholder of the 18-time English champions.
James held up the Authentic
BenJarvus Green-Ellis Jersey Champions League trophy won by Liverpool in
2005 and posted a picture on Twitter of a red No. 6 jersey with his name on
it.The two-time MVP will sit in the directors' Authentic
Asante Samuel Jersey box at Anfield Stadium for Saturday's Premier League
match against Liverpool rival Manchester United.''Jersey ready for the big match
2morrow,'' James tweeted.Liverpool's Asante
Samuel Authentic Jersey official website said James held up the Champions
League trophy won by Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, and was told about the
team's rally from 3-0 down at halftime to beat AC Milan on penalties.''That is
an amazing trophy! Can I hold it up?'' James said.NO SMALL FEATLeBron's not the
best ... yet. We rank the top 10 small forwards in NBA history.James brought the
club store ''to a standstill,'' the website said, after spending 20 minutes
shopping for scarves and clothes for his two young sons back home.The superstar
caused laughter among the fans by attempting to 'shoot' a small LFC soccer ball
into a basket 10 yards away. He missed.James will not be joined at the match by
Liverpool's principal owner John Henry, who is dealing with the Boston Red Sox'
failure to make the playoffs.In April, James obtained a small stake in Fenway
Sports Group, which owns Liverpool and the Red Sox.
Report: 76ers sale is approved 2:40 PM ETPHILADELPHIA
(AP)A person familiar with the deal says the sale Anquan
Boldin Jersey Authentic of the Philadelphia 76ers has been approved by the
NBA Board of Governors.NBA LOCKOUTSeason's first two weeks canceledAre some
players ready to fold?Horrow video: What's at stake?Reiter: NBA really blowing
itWitz: Players stand unitedWhitlock: Owners at faultSports' longest work
stoppages10 biggest lockout losersThe person spoke on the condition of anonymity
because the sale has not yet closed. That could happen early next week.The sale
was approved by the board this week, paving the way for New York-based leveraged
buyout specialist Joshua Harris to take control of the franchise. It ends
Comcast-Spectacor's 15-year run of ownership that included a trip to the NBA
finals.Comcast-Spectacor, led by chairman Ed Snider, purchased the Sixers from
Harold Katz on April 24, 1996. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the NHL's
Philadelphia Flyers.Harris buys the Sixers with the NBA in the midst of Anquan
Boldin Authentic Jersey a lockout. The first two weeks of the regular season
have BenJarvus
Green-Ellis Authentic Jersey already been canceled.
Statement from US Mayors Calling on National Basketball Association
and the NBA Players Union to 12:24 PM ETThe U.S.
NBA short season will hit businesses, eventually their workers
12:27 AM ETYou
NOTHING WOULD SURPRISE NETS FAITHFUL 12:27 AM ETThe
announcement that the NBA would cancel the Asante
Samuel Jersey first two weeksof the regular season probably drew this kind
of reaction from Nets fans all over the state: Itfigures.Deep down, you had to
know that in the Nets' final season in New Jersey,things would not go smoothly.
Why should they when they haven't inthe previous 34 years?Every team has drama,
but it seems the Nets are among the league leaders inthat category every season
-- even when they had some very goodyears in the early 2000s.There was Jason
Kidd nearly leaving via free agency in 2002; theAlonzo Mourning experiment and
experience; the mutiny againstformer coach Byron Scott after the Nets reached
back-to-back NBAFinals; and the sale of Aaron
Rodgers Jersey the franchise to Brian
Urlacher Jersey a real estate developerwho cared more about bringing the
team to Brooklyn than he didabout a championship.Bruce Ratner isn't responsible
for some of the bad draft picksthe Nets made from 2003-2007. But hisarrival and
some of the subsequent moves led to Kidd souring on theorganization, and the
Nets haven't been the samesince.With his deep pockets, principal owner Mikhail
Prokhorov ischanging the location of the franchise and is supposed to changeits
direction. The Nets are wholesale jerseys on the right path with
theacquisition of Deron Williams. Keeping him remains the bigtask.Although no
one Authentic
Anquan Boldin Jersey in the organization Brian
Urlacher Authentic Jersey will admit it, they have tobe stressing every time
Williams plays a game for the Turkish teamBeskitas, hoping nothing happens to
him. He is the key to thefranchise's future.Williams has the dreaded opt-out in
his contract that he canexercise in June 2012. It's too early to know whether he
will ifthere BenJarvus
Green-Ellis Jersey isn't a season. But you have to believe with the Nets'
track record of nothing goingsmoothly, Williams will leave, NBA season or not.If
the Nets' final season in New Jersey isgreatly reduced or lost altogether, fans
who have invested time andmoney in the franchise and Authentic
Aaron Rodgers Jersey suffered heartache and heartbreak wouldbe disappointed
-- again -- but probably not surprised.Terms return false">Privacy
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