09/30/03
- [Detroit Lions] Lions head coach Steve Mariucci was careful when commenting on three penalties called on his squad, a pair of chop blocks on center Dominic Raiola and a holding penalty on wide receiver Bill Schroeder.
"I'm anxious to hear the explanation on (Schroeder's) penalty because the guy that called it was way in the back and it looked like a very typical block, which negated a long run," Mariucci said. "One was on a blitzing safety and (the block) was very well done by Dominic. The other one, which in my mind was the correct call, Dominic saw the guy looping in and cut him. He didn't see Eric Beverly had a little hand on the guy too." (Macomb Daily)
WEEK 4: Stats, Stories & Pictures
09/28/03
- [Philadelphia Eagles Correll Buckhalter was asked "When you were in college, where was the toughest place to play on the road?" He said, "Missouri, without a doubt. The fans used to throw ears of corn at us the whole game." (Press of Atlantic City)
09/27/03
- [Green Bay vs Chicago] Bears safety Mike Brown remembers Packers running back Ahman Green's "Pro Day" at Nebraska when the two were college teammates. "He ran like a 4.2 (40-yard dash)," Brown said. "He was special when he was there. An incredible running back, great vision, great power and speed. He makes a lot of people miss and breaks a lot of tackles." Brown looks forward to saying hi to his old buddy - in his own way. "We're friendly with each other, but at the same time I'm going to try to take his head off," Brown said. (Mercury News)
- [St. Louis Rams] St. Louis Rams rookie linebacker Scott Shanle was suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Shanle, a seventh-round draft pick from Nebraska, is eligible to return to the active roster after the Oct. 26 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (AP)
- [CFL] Lawrence Phillips, the self-described 'best' RB in the CFL, is tied up in legal red tape, and unable to play. Phillips has been stuck in Los Angeles for the past 11 days dealing with the Canadian consulate to extend his work visa so he can return to Calgary. The visa difficulties stem from his well-documented legal troubles. Calgary head coach Jim Barker says "If Canada says they don't want him in the country, there's nothing I can do about that. All I can say is what he's done since he's been in the country, which is try to be a citizen who (is law-abiding)," Barker said. (Calgary Sun)
09/26/03
- [St. Louis Rams] Rookie DeJuan Groce will return punts this week after Arlen Harris fumbled for the second straight week, leading to a pair of touchdowns. "We've made the change to get him out of that situation for a while and let him regain his confidence," Martz said. Dane Looker also could be used when the Rams are backed up. (AP)
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch comments that "considering that he averaged 17 yards per punt return at Nebraska and was named first team All America as a PR by several news entities, it's surprising that the Rams didn't give rookie DeJuan Groce the first shot at returning punts."
- [New England Patriots] Patriots' Troy Brown needs just three punt returns to pass Irving Fryar (206 returns) for the top spot on the Patriots all-time punt return list. (Patriots.com)
- [Green Bay Packers] Key matchup: Bears linebacker Urlacher vs. Packers running back Green
- [St. Louis Rams] Rams LB Shanle suspended four games
09/25/03
- [Philadelphia Eagles] Perhaps the greatest mystery is that Reid has abandoned Correll Buckhalter . All summer, Reid promoted the third-year back out of Nebraska, telling everybody that he would be the featured ball-carrier. The entire offensive package in training camp ignored the possibility that Staley would return. It was designed for Buckhalter to replace Staley. After two games, Buckhalter has just one carry -- for no yards. And neither Reid nor Buckhalter have any answers for that. Reid insists Buckhalter is not in the doghouse. Meanwhile, Buckhalter is simply perplexed. (ESPN)
09/24/03
- [Green Bay Packers] The Packers added another Husker RB to the roster, signing Dahrran Diedrick to the practice squad. Diedrick, who will wear jersey number 28, had originally been with the San Diego Chargers but was one of the last cuts made prior to the start of the season.
- [Green Bay Packers] Packers Sign RB Dahrran Diedrick To Practice Squad
WEEK 3: Stats, Stories & Pictures
09/21/03
- A former NFL Husker on the Where-Are-They-Now list has been located; former Giants/Titans LB Doug Colman is the head coach at Absegami High School in New Jersey. On the 20th of September the Braves won their first football game under their new head coach by beating Egg Harbor Township 34-20.
09/20/03
- [Seattle Seahawks] A moment with Josh Brown, Seahawks kicker
09/18/03
- [Seattle Seahawks] The Seahawks have only four receivers on their roster, a number Holmgren said might increase during the season. Receivers Wilson Thomas, Terry Charles, and MarTay Jenkins (UNO) tried out this week.
- [Oakland Raiders] Eric Johnson teams up with YEAM (community)
- [Official Injury Report] Scott Shanle is Out for week 3 while Kris Brown is listed as Questionable.
09/17/03
- [St. Louis Rams] Rookie linebacker Scott Shanle will be out up to a month or more with a hamstring injury suffered in the win over the Niners Sunday. (GridIronGateway.com)
- [Houston Texans] Texans K Kris Brown suffered a strained groin injury on the sideline while doing warm-up during the game against the New Orleans Saints. Brown did not practice Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday against the Chiefs. (Houston Chronicle)
- [New York Giants] Ralph Brown, Giants endure tough loss
09/16/03
- [Detroit Lions] Schlesinger and Rathman share Nebraska ties
09/15/03
- [New England Patriots] The Patriots signed guard Russ Hochstein from the practice squad to fill out the 53rd roster spot. Hochstein was also active for the game, giving the Patriots seven offensive linemen. (Boston Globe)
- [Seattle Seahawks] A PSA for Special Kicks (Josh Brown)
WEEK 2: Stats, Stories & Pictures
09/14/03
- [Carolina Panthers] Only a few Panthers provide any Sapp-like sound bites (Minter)
09/12/03
- [Kansas City Chiefs: As expected, Kansas City re-signed S Clint Finley to the practice squad. Finley may very well be the Chiefs' transaction king.
09/10/03
- [Carolina Panthers] Rucker off to hot start
- [Kansas City Chiefs: S Clint Finley was cut by the Chiefs again. So far (just this season) Kansas City has signed, cut, signed to practice squad, signed to team and have now, again, cut Finley.
- [Kansas City Chiefs: Former Green Bay defensive tackle Steve Warren was to work out for the Chiefs on Monday. Warren, who was a backup for two seasons in Green Bay, played in high school at Springfield Kickapoo and in college at Nebraska. (KC Star)
09/09/03
- [Philadelphia Eagles: RB Correll Buckhalter started the Monday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and carried once for no yards before sitting the rest of the game out. Either his confidence in his repaired ACL is not high or there was something about the Buccaneers match-up with him the Eagles did not like. Nothing on the running back situation has been announced for the Sunday, Sept. 14 game against the New England Patriots. (KFFL)
09/08/03
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Shields and line help Holmes get rolling
- Chiefs QB Trent Green told Sportsline.com he and Eric Warfield each gave $12,000 at a charity dinner Tuesday evening - for the right to park in parking space better than Carl Peterson's for the season. "When we found out that parking space would be involved, the bidding just kept going up," he joked. (CBS Sportsline)
WEEK 1: Stats, Stories & Pictures
09/06/03
- [San Diego Chargers] Reserve LB Carlos Polk was tabbed as the Special Teams Captain by his Charger teammates.
09/05/03
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Dick Vermeil on cornerback Eric Warfield-- “I feel this about Eric Warfield: Right now he's closer to moving to the next level as a corner than he's ever been. He's had a tremendous training camp. He's had almost no breakdowns on our practice field and in the preseason games, and everything else it takes to be a corner — the self-discipline and focus and concentration — he's done very well. I believe he's now ready to move to the next level.” (KC Star)
- [San Francisco 49ers] Bill Lafleur may be the 49ers punter for now... but the team held workouts Tuesday for veteran punters Matt Turk and Craig Jarrett. (Alameda Times-Star)
- Probable: Jay Foreman (shoulder), Houston; Mike Rucker (ankle), Carolina; Eric Warfield (knee) Kansas City.
09/04/03
- [Dallas Cowboys] Re-signed OT Dave Volk to the practice squad.
09/03/03
- [Green Bay Packers] Ahman Green likes it at Lambeau
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with safety Clint Finley and also promoted him to the 53-man roster.
09/01/03
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Re-signed S Clint Finley to the practice squad.
- [New England Patriots] Re-signed OG Russ Hochstein to the practice squad.