10/31/03
- [MLB] Injured Erstad, Angels Improving
10/30/03
- [CFL] Montreal Alouettes DB Barron Miles was named to the 2003 CFL East Division All-Stars (note- The CFL has two divisions, East and West, as opposed to conferences).
- [San Francisco] Bill LaFleur won't be doing things backward any more. LaFleur, the 49ers' punter and kick-holder, botched two snaps on extra points in recent games. Though he won't admit it, LaFleur's butterfingers probably resulted from holding for Pochman, a left-footed kicker. LaFleur had always played with right-footed kickers before this season, dating back to his college career at Nebraska and his days in NFL Europe. Peterson is right-footed.
"I know that some of the stuff that has happened is unacceptable," LaFleur said. "I'm always working as hard as I can out there to correct things, and do things the right way." (KTVU.com)
- [San Francisco 49ers] The acquisition of veteran right-footed kicker Todd Peterson allows struggling holder Bill LaFleur to switch back to his more comfortable side.
- [San Diego Chargers] LB Carlos Polk left his family Sunday and went to Arizona to play a football game Monday. When he got to the airport, the wildfires were three miles away from his house.
"I was praying a lot and calling my wife a lot," Polk said. "She was all packed up and ready to go, then the winds shifted and the fires headed east.
"We got lucky."
- Davison hired as color commentator
10/29/03
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Eric Warfield's two interceptions, forced fumble and five tackles in week 8 earned a nomination for AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Warfield was one of six nominess, the weekly honor was given to Cincinnati linebacker Brian Simmons.
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Head coach Andy Reid and director of player personnel Tom Heckert are back scanning the waiver wire once again. And, again, they're looking for help along the defensive line. This time, they're looking for someone to replace defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair the left biceps he tore during Sunday's victory over the Jets and will miss the rest of the year.
Defensive tackle Jeremy Slechta, who played well for the Eagles last year and was among the final cuts this year, will be available soon. According to an NFL rule, because Slechta was waived while injured, the Eagles cannot re-sign him for another 3 weeks. (Comcast SportsNet)
- [St. Louis Rams] Linebacker Scott Shanle, a seventh-round pick this year, is back on the Rams'active roster after a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. (St. Louis Post)
- [St. Louis Rams] Shanle practiced after returning from a 4-game suspension that kept him away from the team for almost five weeks. Martz said Shanle is not in great shape but is "good enough" to contribute Sunday on special teams. It will likely be two weeks until Shanle is back in top condition. (RamsReport, The Insiders)
- [Free Agency] Four players participated in tryouts Tuesday at Rams Park, among them was RB Dan Alexander who played at Wentzville High. (St. Louis Post)
10/27/03
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Buckhalter takes his turn and runs with it
- [Carolina Panthers] Humble Rucker nears personal sacks record
10/26/03
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Buckhalter Emerges As Go-To RB
- [Carolina Panthers] Minter, Rucker aid Panthers in win over Saints
WEEK 8: Stats, Stories & Pictures
10/24/03
- [Injury Report] Questionable- Carolina S Mike Minter (back), Oakland C Adam Treu (hamstring), Oakland DT John Parrella (groin), Probable- Oakland S Eric Johnson (chest).
- [San Francisco 49ers] P Bill LaFleur (ankle) practiced Friday, Oct. 24, and is expected to play in Week 8.
- [Carolina Panthers] S Mike Minter (back) practiced lightly on Friday. He was held out of practice Thursday(KFFL)
- [New York Giants] CB Ralph Brown is starting for the injured Will Peterson again this week. Peterson will most likely be out for the next 6-8 weeks. (The Insiders)
- [St. Louis Rams] CB DeJuan Groce will start at corner if CB Travis Fisher can't play. (KFFL)
- [New Orleans Saints] CB Keyou Craver, suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy, is eligible to return to the active roster on Nov. 3. (TheNewsStar.com)
10/23/03
- [Green Bay Packers] Green’s focus: Fix the fumbles
- [Carolina Panthers] Minter, Panthers eager to quiet Saints receiver Horn
- [New England Patriots] Head coach Bill Belichick confirmed during a press conference that Russ Hochstein will serve as backup long snapper while starter Mike Compton is out. (Patriots.com)
10/22/03
- [Green Bay Packers] RB Ahman Green sat out Tuesday's practice to rest even though he was healthy. (PackersNews.com)
- [Green Bay Packers] Released RB Dahrran Diedrick from the team's practice squad.
- [Free Agency] The Rams had four street free agents in Tuesday for tryouts, including FB Joel Mackovica (Nebraska) started 35 games for the Arizona Cardinals from 1999 to 2002. (StLouisToday.com)
- [Detroit Lions] Lions and their pets pose for animal shelter calendar (Schlesinger)
WEEK 7: Stats, Stories & Pictures
10/18/03
- Oakland Raiders] Parrella's injuries could keep him out
10/17/03
- [Carolina Panthers] Rush by Rucker may be a problem
- [New York Giants] KFFL has learned the New York Giants will likely turn to their No. 3 CB Ralph Brown to fill in for injured starting CB Will Peterson (back). If Brown assumes the starting CB role, it is unclear as to who will take Brown's spot in nickel packages. The current candidates for the job are rookie CB Frank Walker, SS Ryan Clark and veteran CB Kato Serwanga.
10/16/03
- [Arizona Cardinals] Q&A With Kyle Vanden Bosch on Rehab
- [Injury Report] Chargers' LB Carlos Polk (knee) and Oakland LB Eric Johnson (chest) are listed as Questionable, and fellow Raider DT John Parrella (groin) is Doubtful.
- [Philadelphia Eagles] KFFL's notes on Correll- Third-year man Buckhalter is probably the best runner. He has good size (6-0, 222) and speed. If not for a knee injury that put him on IR last year, Buckhalter may have displaced Staley as Philadelphia's top RB in 2002. Like most Nebraska backs, he's generally been considered a slasher. However, on his 18-yard TD against Dallas, he displayed a series of make-you-miss moves that showed no lingering effects of his knee surgery from last year or the knee bruise he suffered on the other leg the week before.
Buckhalter's a very good runner, but he's not a factor in the passing game (15 catches in 19 career games). That makes it tough for him to be a featured back in Philadelphia's West Coast offense.
The committee system helps the team guard against injuries, it helps the team financially and, lately, it has been effective. The Eagles have had two straight weeks of running the ball well, and all three RBs averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry last week. Right now, the play at RB is the least of Philadelphia's problems as their schedule over the next three weeks favors them.
10/15/03
- [Rams vs Packers] St. Louis head coach Mike Martz on Ahman Green, "I think that he is one of the top two backs in the league probably, to be honest with you. When he hits a crease, there’s a gear there that’s hard to see on tape. He jumps through there and runs north and south and runs through tacklers. He’s got a speed that when he gets on the edge, you figure that he’s not going to make it around the corner, but he gets around the corner. He has that low pad level and drive that when he goes through there, he’s always making two or three yards after the initial contact in a pile, which is a great back." (StLouisRams.com)
- [Green Bay Packers] Ahman Green continues to climb the Packers’ career total yardage list. Green had 190 all-purpose yards, moving him past John Brockington for most combined rushing and receiving yards by a running back. Green now stands at 6,214 career yards, while Brockington gained 6,099 as a Packer from 1971-1977. Jim Taylor holds the record with 9,712 yards, followed by Gerry Ellis with 6,340 yards (1980-86).
Green’s 139-yard rushing day made it three in a row for the running back who now has 18 century-mark games with the Packers (and one with the Seahawks). The last the a Packer has put together three 100-yard rushing games was Dorsey Levens, who accomplished the feat vs. Indianapolis, Dallas and Minnesota in 1997. (PackerReport.com)
10/13/03
- [San Diego Chargers] LB Carlos Polk (knee) is scheduled to return to practice Wednesday, Oct. 15, after undergoing minor knee surgery during the bye week. (KFFL)
- [Green Bay Packers] Green's day turns bittersweet
- Eric Goska column: Green runs into the record book
- [Green Bay Packers] Green's fumble foils otherwise awesome performance
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Rushing game runs smoothly as three backs pile up yards (Buckhalter)
WEEK 6: Stats, Stories & Pictures
- 10/12/03 - Philadelphia Eagles] Buckhalter & RBs Get Offense Moving
10/10/03
- [CFL] Stampeders release Phillips
- [Oakland Raiders] Injury to Raiders DTs (Parrella) to force changes in run defense
- [Philadelphia Eagles] RB Correll Buckhalter (knee) who is listed as Questionable this weekend, participated in practice on Friday.
- [Oakland Raiders] DT John Parrella (groin), who is also listed as Questionable, did not practice on Friday, and may not play in the game against the Cleveland Browns. (KFFL)
- [CFL] Calgary Stampeder head coach Jim Barker announced on Friday that the team has released running back Lawrence Phillips.
"I felt the City of Calgary and this organization in particular would be the right environment for Lawrence to strive as a football player and as a person. However, today we reached a crossroad; the only decision for the betterment of the team, organization and Lawrence was to release him from our roster" stated Jim Barker, Stampeder head coach.
Phillips has had off-field legal battles his entire career dating back to his college days at Nebraska.
He also walked out on the Montreal Alouettes on two separate occassions last season. (CFCN.ca); More on this story from (who else?) ESPN
10/09/03
- [Carolina Panthers] Minter, Panthers D prepares for the Colts
- [Seattle Seahawks] Seahawks K Josh Brown is a finalist for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors. Meantime, Ahman Green was named among three finalists for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week.
- [Arizona Cardinals] DE Kyle Vanden Bosch attended practice for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.
Vanden Bosch underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee in late August in Sioux Falls, S.D. (he is a native of Iowa) and has been rehabilitating since.
Two years ago, Vanden Bosch suffered a similar injury to his right knee, which also required surgery.
"I'm way ahead of where I was last time or even where I expected to be," he said. "As far as therapy, they kind of have to hold me back because it feels better than it actually is. It takes time for everything inside to heal, but the swelling is out and I have my range of motion back." (The Arizona Republic)
10/08/03
- [San Francisco 49ers] The 49ers' Bill Lafleur is the seventh-ranked punter in the NFC, with a net average of 36.3 yards.
In Sunday's victory over Detroit, however, he had a tough day.
Though his average punt traveled 41.3 yards, much of that was because of favorable bounces after punts that had minimal hang time. His net average was 32.7 yards.
A week earlier in a loss indoors at Minnesota, Lafleur's average punt was 33.7 yards, with a 32-yard net.
"Bill didn't have his best game," Erickson said of Lafleur's performance against Detroit. "There's no question about it. He's done some good things. It was not a good day. Did it hurt us? It did a little, but it didn't have a lot to do with the outcome of the game." (Alameda Star-Times)
- The Latest official injury report from KFFL- Raiders DT John Parrella (groin) is Questionable; Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter (knee) is Questionable.
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Chiefs have once again released S Clint Finley.
- [San Diego Chargers] The Chargers used their extra week to perform minor knee procedures on linebacker Carlos Polk according to head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Polk is expected to be back in time for the Browns game on October 19th.
- [Oakland Raiders] The Raiders have listed DT John Parrella (groin) as questionable for Week 6. (KFFL)
- [Philadelphia Eagles] The Eagles have listed RB Correll Buckhalter (knee) as questionable for Week 6. (KFFL)
10/07/03
- The Player And Beyond With Grant Wistrom
- [Seattle Seahawks] Josh Brown Nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week
- [New Orleans Saints] Craver out for four games for substance abuse violation
- [St. Louis Rams] Rams rookie punt returner DeJuan Groce on this week's Husker matchup vs the Mizzou Tigers: "Oh, come on now. It's nothing different. It's still Missouri." (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
- [New Orleans Saints] Saints CB Keyuo Craver has been suspended without pay for the team's next four regular-season games for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy, the league said Tuesday. (AP)
- [Atlanta Falcons] Atlanta cornerback Tyrone Williams, suspended last week for conduct detrimental to the team, is playing at about 10-12 pounds overweight and can't seem to shed the extra tonnage. (Len Pasquarelli, ESPN)
10/06/03
- [Houston Texans] Brown's boot a hoot- kicker drills longest field goal in team history
- [Green Bay Packers] Favre had plenty of time and Green found plenty of holes
- [New York Giants] Giants drop one to Dolphins (Ralph Brown)
- [Atlanta Falcons] Tyrone Williams apologizes to teammates
- [Atlanta Flacons] Contrite Williams back from suspension
WEEK 5: Stats, Stories & Pictures
10/05/03
- [Carolina Panthers] Alameda Times-Star: The best player you've never heard of may be Carolina DE Mike Rucker, the NFL Defensive Player of the Month in each of the past two Septembers.
- Bob Matthews'of the Democrat and Chronicle named his choices for top defensive players so far this season— Baltimore LB Ray Lewis, Tampa Bay LB Derrick Brooks, New York Jets DE Shaun Ellis, Washington CB Champ Bailey and Carolina DE Mike Rucker.
- [Carolina Panthers] Mike Rucker: Mr. September
- [Coaching] QB Ryan Goodman rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns Saturday as the Absegami High School football team (coached by former LB Doug Colman), 3-0 and No. 13 in the Courier-Post Top 20, handed previously unbeaten Ocean City a 40-7 setback in a Cape-Atlantic League game. It was coach Colman's debut against his alma mater. Colman graduated from Ocean City, played at Nebraska and for the New York Giants in the NFL. It is his first year at Absegami. (Courier Post Online)
- [New England Patriots] Last week former practice-squad player Russ Hochstein, 25, made his first career start (left guard). His road roommate, Tom Ashworth, a 25-year-old (three days older than Hochstein) former collegiate tight end, a nondrafted free agent, and another alumnus of the Patriots' practice squad, made his first career start, at right tackle. No, the linemen weren't great (New England averaged 3.5 yards per rush, just below its 3.6-yard season average), but neither were they the game's goats (Tom Brady was sacked just once).
Said Hochstein, a three-time All-Big 12 guard at Nebraska and a fifth-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2001, "It really hasn't hit me yet that I actually started and played a whole game, and now every week I've got to prepare like I could." (Boston Globe)
10/04/03
- [Green Bay Packers] Erwin Swiney, a first-year pro, was placed on waivers to make room for LB Torrance Marshall on the team's active roster. Swiney had contributed 2 tackles and 1 pass defensed from scrimmage as well as 1 stop and an onside kickoff recovery on special teams while playing in three of Green Bay's first four games this season. (Packers.com)
10/03/03
- [Green Bay Packers] Green Holds No Grudges With Seattle
- [CFL: Calgary Stampeders] Lawrence Phillips gained 155 yards in the Calgary Stampeders 32-12 blowout of the the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Phillips carried the ball 21 times and controlled the game after he missed last week's contest against Ottawa with visa problems.
Phillips, who ran for 95 yards on 12 carries in the first half alone, rattled off several long, slashing runs, showing the speed and power that made him a key cog with Montreal last season.
"It was a real team effort," said Phillips. "Guys were blocking well and there were holes to hit. It made it easier for me." (Canada.com)
10/02/03
- [Carolina Panthers] For the second consecutive season, Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for the month of September. (Panthers.com)
- Rucker doesn't care if he gets overlooked in headlines and highlight shows. Tied for the NFL-lead with five sacks this season, Carolina's quiet defensive end is content making his mark on the field.
I'm that guy who just goes to work with his hard hat and lunch pail," Rucker said Wednesday. "I don't need the extra attention."
That's just the way the Panthers want it, too.
- [Atlanta Falcons] Atlanta Falcons CB Tyrone Williams has been suspended for the Sunday, Oct. 5, game against the Minnesota Vikings for conduct detrimental to the team. (KFFL)
The Falcon's internal woes in the wake of a three-game losing streak continued Wednesday when coach Dan Reeves suspended starting cornerback Tyrone Williams for the rest of the week for "conduct detrimental to the team." The action came after Williams apparently lashed out at coaches regarding defensive schemes.
Falcons K Jay Feely responded: "I hope guys take a look at that and say, 'Man, nobody's safe.'"
Williams' agent, Richard Davis, said his client directed his anger at defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. But Phillips said, "This is absolutely, 100 percent not what it's all about." (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- [Atlanta Falcons] Reeves suspends starting CB Williams for one game
- [St. Louis Rams] Rookie linebacker Scott Shanle not only has several weeks of rehab ahead of him as he recovers from a hamstring injury, but he will have to do the work alone.
Last week, the NFL suspended Shanle for four games for violating its policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Under the terms of the suspension, Shanle can't do a thing at Rams Park until Oct. 27.
"He was given his schedule and he's doing (his rehab) through team doctors, but off site," said Shanle's agent, Brock Johnson . "He was very disappointed and upset (about the suspension) but he's a smart and mature enough guy to know that time will heal it."
Through his agent, Shanle said, "I have not knowingly taken any banned substance. Apparently several over-the-counter supplements contain banned substances that I don't know about. At this point I don't have any real choice but to take the suspension." (St. Louis Today)
10/01/03
- [CFL: Montreal Alouettes Defensive-back Barron Miles, who intercepted two passes against Hamilton, was the league's defensive player of the week. (Montreal Gazette)
- [Green Bay Packers] RB Ahman Green, Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey, and Philadelphia kicker David Akers were named the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Week 4.
Green ran for a career-high 176 yards and two touchdowns during Green Bay's 38-23 victory over Chicago on Monday night. In the first quarter, Green bolted 60 yards for a touchdown and then scored on a six-yard run later in the first.
This is Green's third Player of the Week Award for his career. (SportsNetwork)