Bills’ Pro Bowl left tackle Peters ends holdout, reports to team.
September 6, 2008
Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters has ended his holdout and reported to the team.
Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said Peters reported Saturday and that questions about his physical and roster status won’t be answered until after Sunday’s home game against Seattle. Peters won’t play against the Seahawks.
Peters declined to talk to reporters. He had offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and is required to pass a team physical. He has three years left on his contract but began his holdout this spring in an attempt to force the Bills into restructuring his deal.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Giants roll over Redskins, 16-7, in 2008 NFL season opener.
September 5, 2008
The New York Giants won the Super Bowl with defense and they kicked off defense of that title with more of the same.
Playing without Pro Bowl linemen Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, New York limited the new-look Washington Redskins to 11 first downs and 209 total yards and gave indications that these Giants are back for another run in a 16-7 victory that ushered in the NFL season Thursday night.
“We played well and it’s no surprise to us,” defensive tackle Barry Cofield said. “We feel like we got capable guys and we held them for very few yards other than the two-minute situations where they got most of their yardage. We are confident in our defense and feel like if we stick with the scheme we’ll have success all year.”
Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress and the rest of the offense that started the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots also came up big in spoiling the debut of Redskins coach Jim Zorn and his West Coast offense.
Manning capped a game-opening 84-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run and recently signed John Carney kicked three field goals as the Giants scored on their first four possessions in posting a rare home win. They won their final 11 away from Giants Stadium in capturing their third Super Bowl, but they were 3-5 at home, losing the last four games.
The win capped a fun-filled opening night for Giants fans, who saw the retired Strahan hold up the Lombardi Trophy just minutes before the opening kickoff.
“It was a great opening to the season,” said Manning, who completed 19 of 35 for 216 yards and an interception. “There was a lot of emotion, a lot of excitement. You could feel it in the crowd. It was great to see Michael holding the trophy.
“It was a great crowd. They were fired up. It was good to play well at home and to win a game at home. It’s been a while.”
Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his defense made sure the home woes came to an end. In the process he might have made Redskins owner Dan Synder think twice about trying harder to hire him.
Spagnuolo was a serious candidate to replace Joe Gibbs until backing out to stay with the Giants.
Zorn eventually got the job, but his offense did little against Spagnuolo’s aggressive defense, which limited Washington to three of 13 third-down conversions.
Jason Campbell threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss with 13 seconds to play in the first half to account for the Redskins’ points. The score was set up by a Giants’ special teams lapse, a 50-yard kickoff return by Rock Cartwright.
Washington only got in New York territory three times in the game, the last time in the final seconds.
“A team held us to three-and-out for over half the game,” said Redskins halfback Clinton Portis, who had 84 yards on 23 carries. “We have to be better than that.”
The only concern for the Giants was that defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka went down with an ankle injury on the final play, but he said after the game that he was OK. He was switched from linebacker to end when Umenyiora was lost for the season with a knee injury in the preseason.
Other than that the game belonged to the Giants, who have been overlooked when it comes to their chances of repeating. Their odds were 25-1 heading into the game.
“We are not worried about what people are saying,” middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “We are trying to win games. You have to get to the Super Bowl to repeat, and if we don’t make the playoffs it won’t matter. Right now our goal is to win the division. You win the division and the playoffs and then you think about repeating.”
Manning, Burress (10 catches for 133 yards) and halfback Brandon Jacobs (21 carries for 116 yards) had the fans on their feet for most of the first half.
Manning completed passes of 30, 19 and 11 yards to Burress, who signed a two-year contract extension just hours before the game that will pay him an average of $7 million annually for the next five years.
Burress more than earned his money on the 11-play opening drive. His 11-yard catch got the ball close and Manning scored on a naked rollout one play after a pass-interference penalty gave New York a first-and-goal at the 1.
Carney, signed on Saturday after a knee injury sidelined Lawrence Tynes, kicked a 24-yard field goal to push the lead to 10-0 on the Giants’ second possession. It capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive that featured a bruising 17-yard run by Jacobs on which he bowled over safety LaRon Landry.
The Giants defense, which led the league with 53 sacks last season, contributed to the score by forcing Washington to a three-and-out series in Zorn’s debut of the West Coast offense.
Justin Tuck, who replaced Strahan at left end, started the series, with a sack.
Carney’s 25-yarder was set up by a 23-yard pass to Sinorice Moss, Santana’s brother. The drive for the third field goal was highlighted by a 24-yard run by Jacobs that was one step away from a 70-yard touchdown run until Landry got him around the ankle.
Campbell finished 15-of-27 for 133 yards, but he was very ineffective on third down. Washington had the ball for less than 25 minutes.
“The thing that hurt us was not converting those first downs when we had the opportunity,” Zorn said. “We had third-and-6 and we’d made 5. We’d have third-and-9 and make 8½. We’d have third-and-7 and make 6. We just couldn’t get over that line.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
QB Kyle Boller’s season and career might be over in Baltimore.
September 3, 2008
Kyle Boller was placed on injured reserve Wednesday by the Baltimore Ravens, ending his season and raising the question of whether the quarterback will throw another pass for the team.
Boller has been sidelined since hurting his shoulder in Baltimore’s second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 16.
“He has got either one of two injuries, either the torn labrum or he’s got, I don’t know the medical term, but there’s a connection in the biceps to the shoulder that might be a problem,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “The torn labrum has not responded to the medication, and the other injury is a season ender. He’s done.”
Boller, selected with the 19th pick in the 2003 draft, was preparing for his sixth NFL season, all with Baltimore. He is in the final year of his contract, and it is uncertain if the Ravens will want to bring him back. Although Boller has started 42 games, his inconsistent play thrust him into a competition this summer with Troy Smith and rookie Joe Flacco to determine the starting quarterback.
Flacco won the job because of Boller’s injury and Smith’s lengthy battle with infected tonsils. Flacco will start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, and his backup with be journeyman Todd Bouman, who was signed this week because Smith is not ready to return.
Boller, 27, was not available for comment. Since being drafted out of California, he completed 60 percent of his passes for a franchise-record 7,846 yards. But he has 45 touchdowns compared to 44 interceptions, and his uneven play was a factor in the Ravens’ selection of Flacco as the 18th overall pick in this year’s draft.
Still, Boller’s teammates appreciate his love of the game and his effort to become a better quarterback.
“I’ve always said Kyle is my guy and I like him,” receiver Derrick Mason said. “Regardless of what everybody else says, I think the guy can play football. To see him on IR now, and the hopes he had for playing this year, it’s sad to see.”
Tight end Todd Heap said, “He’s obviously got to get his shoulder healthy. That’s the first thing. It’s unfortunate it had to happen this early in the season. He never got a chance to really get out and get on the field and do what he can do.”
Heap, who has had his share of injuries, added, “That’s football. Everybody goes through this. He’s going to have to battle back from this one, get into the rehab and get healthy.”
The injury means the Ravens must depend on Flacco, who was forced to start the final two preseason games because Smith and Boller were unavailable.
“Our mantra is next man up. If one guy goes down, we pride ourselves on being prepared. The second-tier players have to be prepared to play, and Joe is prepared to play,” Mason said. “We’ve seen what Joe is able to do. On short notice, he had to play in the last preseason game and did very, very well.”
After two preseason games, Flacco was virtually eliminated from the quarterback competition. But much has changed since.
“I’m a lot more prepared now than I was then,” Flacco said, referring to his progress since the preseason opener. “I’ve had a lot more experience and worked with the guys a lot more. It will be a lot of fun. We can’t wait to get out there Sunday and show what our offense is all about.”
When it became apparent Boller and Smith would not be available Sunday, the Ravens worked out quarterbacks Chris Simms, Joey Harrington and Bouman. Bouman, who has thrown 230 passes during an NFL career that began in 1997, won the job.
“The other guys had very good workouts, but we thought he was the best fit for us,” Harbaugh said.
Bouman, 36, most recently played for Jacksonville. He began his career in Minnesota, where he served as the backup to Daunte Culpepper, and also played for New Orleans and Green Bay.
“I’ve been through this before. You just accept your role whatever it might be, whatever they ask me to do” he said. “You’re one play away and have to prepare like you’re going to be the starter. You’ve got to be ready. If you’re not, then you’re foolish.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Jags offensive tackle Collier in critical condition after being shot.
September 2, 2008
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot while waiting for some women outside an apartment early Tuesday and sustained life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
Collier, 26, and former Jaguars defensive end Kenneth Pettway were waiting in a car when a gunman fired into the vehicle, said Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ken Jefferson. Collier was shot several times, but it wasn’t clear where he was hit.
Collier was in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, a hospital official said. The motive behind the attack was unclear, and the sheriff’s office was investigating. Pettway, who was released in final cuts Saturday, was not injured in the attack.
The shooting happened around 2:45 a.m. in a middle- to upper middle-class neighborhood just west of downtown Jacksonville and blocks from the St. Johns River.
Collier is the third NFL player to be shot in the past 18 months. Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor was fatally shot during what police said was a botched burglary attempt at his Miami-area home in November. Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with bullets minutes after leaving a New Year’s party at a downtown Denver club in 2007.
Entering his third year after making the team as an undrafted rookie free agent, Collier competed for the starting job at left tackle but was beaten out by Khalif Barnes in the preseason.
Still, the Jaguars believe Collier could be a future starter. They even signed him to a contract extension earlier this year, despite his arrest last season.
The 6-foot-7, 345-pound linemen was arrested Nov. 3 after officers found him asleep behind the wheel of his sports utility vehicle at a McDonald’s drive-thru window. Collier failed field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level of .096, according to police. In Florida, it is illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher.
Collier was suspended two games and fined by coach Jack Del Rio.
Collier’s attorney disputed the police report and recommended that his client go to trial, but Collier didn’t want the team to have to deal with the negative attention that it would generate. So he pleaded no contest and accepted six months of probation.
He publicly vowed to stay out of trouble, not wanting to blow his chance of becoming an every-down starter in the NFL — something he felt like he nearly did in high school.
Coming out of high school in Shreveport, La., Collier didn’t have the grades or test scores to attend most colleges, so he stayed home with his mother and got a job in the produce department at Wal-Mart. Instead of blocking defenders and creating running and passing lanes, he was arranging heads of lettuce, stacking ears of corn and washing fruit.
He worked there for two years before deciding to give football another chance. He enrolled at Tyler Junior College in Texas, about 90 miles west of Shreveport, and showed up weighing 390 pounds and having not lifted a weight since high school.
Collier quickly got his grades — and body — in order and worked his way into the starting lineup. He transferred to Valdosta State in 2004 and helped the Blazers win the Division II national championship that season. He earned All-America honors as a senior in 2005.
But he failed to impress many NFL scouts.
The Jaguars were the only team to bring Collier in for a workout before the draft, so signing with Jacksonville as an undrafted rookie was an easy decision. His only other choice, he thought, was to go back to the produce section.
“It took me to lose everything to recognize how much I had,” Collier said during his rookie season. “It was a blessing, really. I found out how it would be if I didn’t work hard and apply myself.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Dolphins sign Ricky Williams to one-year extension thru 2009.
September 1, 2008
Ricky Williams is signed up for two more seasons in the NFL. The Miami Dolphins are hoping he plays out his contract this time.
The Dolphins signed Williams to a one-year contract extension through the 2009 season Sunday, putting their faith in the controversial running back even though he’s bailed on them in the past.
Speaking publicly for the first time in months, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said the team wanted to extend the 31-year-old so he didn’t become a free agent after this season.
“I wasn’t here in the past so I don’t really know if he had a lack of dedication in the past,” Ireland said. “I mean, I know what I read and I know what circulates in NFL circles.
“But when we sat down coming here, we said, ‘We’re going to give this guy every benefit of the doubt. And he’s got to show us that he is dedicated.’ And he’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do. And we feel very good about our decision to extend him.”
Williams won the NFL’s rushing title in 2002 before flunking the league’s substance abuse test five times, announcing an early retirement and torpedoing the Dolphins as they’ve missed the playoffs a franchise-record six straight seasons.
But his talent is why now four Miami coaching staffs have put their faith — and the team’s future — on his legs. Williams has been perhaps the best player on the field during training camp, and the team has centered its offense around him in the preseason.
The Dolphins, coming off a 1-15 season, are hoping that Williams can return to his star form — and fulfill his contract.
“You guys see it out there, we see it out there,” Ireland said. “He’s done an excellent job in the weight room, the meeting room, he’s come out there and he’s jumped out at us on tape. He looks good in the preseason. So everything we’ve seen since we got here … he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.”
For now, Williams is showing the kind of effort that once led the NFL in rushing and won him the Heisman Trophy in college at Texas.
He didn’t miss a voluntary practice in Miami’s strict offseason workout program under the new Bill Parcells-led regime. And he has bulked up to about 230 pounds, the weight he played at in his prime.
Williams has said this season is partly about changing his legacy.
“The way I left made it difficult,” Williams said during training camp. “To come back and clear my name is important to me.”
A cell phone message seeking comment from Williams’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, was not immediately returned.
Williams’ comeback in 2007 lasted less than one half. He gained only 15 yards on six carries before he fumbled, was stepped on and tore his chest muscle against Pittsburgh.
This year, Williams is teamed with Ronnie Brown, who was on pace for a career season in 2007 before he tore a ligament in his right knee. Both running backs’ contracts expire at the end of the 2009-10 season.
Ireland said the Dolphins wanted to make sure Williams remained signed with Brown.
“He’s a player that’s shown he can play,” Ireland said. “He’s shown us that he can play. So we didn’t want him to make the free-agent market.”
Williams was the only major roster move on a slow day for the new regime of Ireland, Parcells and coach Tony Sparano.
The team claimed New Orleans center Andy Alleman, New York Jets tackle Nate Garner and New York Giants receiver Brandon London off waivers. The team waived receiver Anthony Armstrong, offensive lineman Trey Darilek and linebacker Rob Ninkovich to clear space on the 53-man roster.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Browns’ Anderson and Edwards should be ready for 2008 opener.
September 1, 2008
Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, sidelined since Aug. 18 with a concussion, returned to practice and is expected to start Sunday’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Wide receiver Braylon Edwards was also back after missing more than three weeks with a severely cut foot.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel indicated that his Pro Bowl quarterback would play against the Cowboys as long as he didn’t have any setbacks during Cleveland’s workout. Anderson got hurt when he was sacked by New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora in an exhibition game.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Patriots cut former Nine-time All-Pro safety John Lynch.
August 31, 2008
John Lynch, the nine-time Pro Bowl safety signed by the New England Patriots two weeks ago, was released Sunday.
“It goes without saying but John is an all-time great safety, one of the league’s classiest professionals and his elite play speaks for itself,” coach Bill Belichick said of Lynch, who turns 37 on Sept. 25. “As has been the case in other situations, I would not rule anything out down the road.”
During their decade-long run of success, the Patriots have regularly signed veterans and often released them, only to sign them again if needed. Belichick’s comments indicate Lynch may be in that category. He has played 15 seasons, 11 in Tampa Bay and four in Denver.
“I have no regrets about my time thus far with the Patriots,” Lynch said in a statement released by the club. “The immense respect that I’ve long held for the organization has been only heightened over the past couple of weeks. I am going to keep all options open and look forward with excitement to see what the future brings.”
New England signed Lynch after he was released by Denver early in training camp.
The Patriots also cut Chad Jackson, their second-round draft pick in 2006 from Florida. The wide receiver from Florida has been plagued by injuries, had 13 catches as a rookie and none last season when he played in only two games.
During the exhibition season, Jackson had seven catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. His release could be a sign that Wes Welker, who missed the last exhibition game with a rib injury, is healthy enough to play in the season opener Sunday against Kansas City
The Patriots also signed six players to the practice squad — defensive lineman Titus Adams, safety Mark Dillard, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, linebacker Vince Redd and defensive backs Mike Richardson and Antwain Spann.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Cardinals name Kurt Warner as starting QB for 2008 season.
August 31, 2008
Experience beat out potential in the fight for starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Saturday that Kurt Warner would be the starter over Matt Leinart when Arizona opens its season Sept. 7 at San Francisco.
“It was a fair evaluation of that position but it was also tough because both guys played well,” Whisenhunt said. “Both guys did a good job.”
The coach said he still considered Leinart, the No. 10 pick overall in the draft three years ago and a 16-game NFL starter in two seasons, the Cardinals’ quarterback of the future. But Warner is coming off a strong season and impressed the coaching staff with his consistency and willingness to adjust his game to suit Whisenhunt’s style.
Warner said he had mixed feelings when he was told of the decision.
“I was obviously excited for me and the opportunity but I’m also disappointed for Matt and know the position that he’s in,” Warner said, “Kind of bittersweet but definitely excited from my standpoint.”
Leinart was the opening day starter in Whisenhunt’s first season with Arizona a year ago, but the quarterback went down for the season with a broken collarbone on a vicious hit from St. Louis linebacker Will Witherspoon in the fifth game.
Warner came on to have one of his best seasons since his heady days with St. Louis, when he was a two-time MVP (1999 and 2001) and a Super Bowl MVP (2000).
He threw for 3,417 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Cardinals — compared with 17 interceptions — despite only 11 starts. Warner had multiple touchdown passes in each of his last eight games, the longest such streak of his career.
Still, the day after last season ended, Whisenhunt said Leinart was the No. 1 quarterback. That changed sometime this preseason. The most obvious turning point came Aug. 23 in Oakland, when Leinart was awful, throwing three interceptions in less than two quarters.
Whisenhunt insists that wasn’t the major factor in the decision, and Leinart came back with a strong showing in Friday night’s preseason finale against Denver.
“It really wasn’t anything specific,” Whisenhunt said. “There were a lot of things that we were looking at. It was a whole bunch of information.”
Whisenhunt said Leinart was understandably upset by the decision.
“Great competitors get upset emotionally,” the coach said. “Part of being a good player is reining those emotions in and being able to control them. That was one of the things that we got to see last night. He was able to do that after last week.”
It wasn’t enough to save his job, though.
Instead, Warner was put at the controls of a team that, after going 8-8 last season, believes it can contend in the NFC West. Warner acknowledged it is unusual in today’s NFL for a veteran to unseat such a high draft pick at quarterback.
“The bottom line is you just want to be on the football field and you want to play,” Warner said. “I still feel like I can do that at a high level.”
He said he was happy to “have another chance to compete and hopefully take us to someplace we haven’t been in some time and have another run at a championship.”
Whisenhunt also announced two other decisions in close competition. Travis LaBoy will start over Bertrand Berry at defensive end/linebacker, and Deuce Lutui got the nod at right guard over Elton Brown.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Patriots suspend RB Kevin Faulk for 2008 season opener.
August 31, 2008
The NFL suspended New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk for the team’s opening game against the Kansas City Chiefs for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Faulk was also fined two game checks.
Faulk’s suspension began Saturday. He will be eligible to return to the team Sept. 8, the day after New England’s opener against Kansas City.
In July, a judge in Lafayette, La., sentenced the 32-year-old Faulk to a year of probation after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor marijuana charges. Faulk had been issued a misdemeanor summons for possession of marijuana at a Li’l Wayne concert at the Cajundome in February.
Last season, Faulk had 47 catches for 383 yards and one touchdown. He also had 62 rushes for 265 yards.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Saints head to Indianapolis as Hurricane Gustav enters Gulf region.
August 30, 2008
A hurricane has driven the Saints out of New Orleans again. They don’t plan on being gone nearly as long this time.
With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast three years after Katrina swamped New Orleans, the Saints left Saturday for Indianapolis, where they will spend the week preparing for the Sept. 7 opener against Tampa Bay.
The Saints will practice at the Colts’ new Lucas Oil Stadium. Their schedule wasn’t immediately known, although meetings were set for Sunday at their hotel.
The Tampa Bay game is scheduled for the Louisiana Superdome, and the Saints plan to be there for it unless damage from Gustav dictates otherwise. The storm could hit the mainland as early as Monday, and Saturday it was on the verge of the strongest classification of Category 5, with winds above 155 mph.
New Orleans officials aren’t using the Superdome as an evacuation shelter with Gustav. Three years ago, it became a symbol of pain and suffering when thousands of residents were stranded by Katrina floodwaters that poured through broken levees.
The Saints spent the entire 2005 season on the road, practicing in San Antonio and playing three games there, going to the Meadowlands to play the New York Giants in their “home opener” and using LSU’s home stadium in Baton Rouge for their other four home games.
The Superdome, trashed inside and out, needed a $185 million makeover that was barely finished in time for the 2006 season. Every Saints home game the past two seasons has been a sellout, making the team a key part of the city’s ongoing recovery.
Hookscenter.com wire report.