- 10/31/04 -Raiola's snap decision fails
- 10/30/04 - AFL-Arizona Rattlers] Early this season WR Wilson Thomas was allocated to the NFL European League by Green Bay but the Packers eventually released Thomas during the preseason. Now Thomas will try his hand in the indoor game where he will play wide receiver and linebacker with the Arizona Rattlers. Thomas becomes the third Husker to sign with an AFL team after spending time in the NFL, following Dan Alexander (Nashville) and Steve Warren (San Jose).
10/29/04
- Green's 90-Yard TD Run Named NFL Play Of The Week
- Jones would like Schlesinger back
10/28/04
- Erstad gives Nebraska $1 million for stadium project
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Coffin Corner-- After drilling three punts inside the Denver 16 Monday, rookie Kyle Larson's plus-12 differential of inside-the-20 punts to touchbacks (13-1) leads the NFL, one ahead of Cleveland's Derrick Frost. Larson also trails Carolina Pro Bowl punter Todd Sauerbrun, 14-13, for the NFL lead in punts inside-the-20. (Bengals.com)
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Sports Illustrated's Web site had a unique "Offensive Player of the Week" this week- The Chiefs' offensive line, consisting of Willie Roaf, Brian Waters, Casey Wiegmann, Will Shields and John Welbourn.
SI's Peter King wrote: "Simply an amazing, tour de force performance by a group that, when right, is the best in the game." (KC Star)
- [Detroit Lions] Fullback Cory Schlesinger returned to practice for the first time after missing two games because of a strained left hamstring. He was injured early in the third game against the Eagles but played the next week in Atlanta and had to leave early when he aggravated the hamstring. (The Detroit News)
- [Green Bay Packers] RB Ahman Green (Achilles) sat out practice Thursday for a second consecutive day. Green probably will return to practice Friday. (KFFL)
- Grant Wistrom, who is expected to be out for 3-5 more weeks, did not practice this week.
- Out: Seahawks DE Grant Wistrom (knee); Questionable: Lions RB Cory Schlesinger (hamstring); Probable: Chiefs G Will Shields (hip flexor), Packers RB Ahman Green (Achilles).
10/29/04
- [Washington Redskins] RB Dahrran Diedrick was signed to the Redskins practice squad. This week, the Redskins play Diedrick's former club, Green Bay.
- [NBA-Lakers] The LA Lakers have waived G Nate Johnson.
- [Carolina Panthers] Safety Mike Minter will become the second player to start 100 games with the Panthers this Sunday. (Panthers.com)
- [NBA-Clippers] Mikki was praised by Hoopsworld staff members Eric Pincus and Chris Monjoy when they discussed basketball in Los Angeles.
Chris Monjoy-- "A guy that stood out for me on Friday night, was Mikki Moore. He flashed a few times, but I’m not sure if there’s really a place for him on the team. He’s so light, that if someone gets physical with him, he doesn't stand a chance. Do you think he’ll make the team? What about some of the other fringe guys?"
Eric Pincus-- Mikki Moore has a guaranteed contract (at least partially), so he'll be on the roster opening day. The Clippers have 13 guys on the team with full or partial guarantees, including Quinton Ross, Mikki Moore, Mamadou N'diaye and Lionel Chalmers. (Hoopsworld.com)
- [Green Bay Packers] RB Ahman Green was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his Week Seven performance. (Packers.com)
10/26/04
- NFL.com took a team-by-team look "at some of the rookies making standout contributions". Demorrio Williams and Kyle Larson were among the noticable contributors.
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Punter Kyle Larson has placed 13 of his 37 punts inside his opponents' 20-yard line, tied for the second-most punts inside the 20 in the NFL. (NFL.com)
- [Atlanta Falcons] Fourth-round pick Demorrio Williams has played in all seven games at linebacker, totaling 21 tackles. (NFL.com)
- [San Diego Chargers] The Chargers sign rookie free agent Jerrell Pippens from the practice squad. (SDBoltReport.com)
- [MLB-Angels] Paul Konerko was named The Sporting News AL All-Star first baseman, beating out Cleveland's Travis Hafner, Texas' Mark Teixeira, Anaheim's Darin Erstad and Oakland's Scott Hatteberg in the player voting. (MLB.com)
- [Minnesota Vikings] Vikings coach Mike Tice said cornerback Derek Ross and Ralph Brown will compete for the fourth cornerback slot. (Pioneer Press)
- [Green Bay Packers] Ahman Green leads the NFC in rushing with 649 yards.
A chunk of that came from one run against the Cowboys. The 90-yard touchdown gallop was the longest by a Cowboys opponent in their history. (Nashville City Paper)
The run also put Ahman with some very selective company. Only two players in NFL history have ever had two career touchdown runs of at least 90 yards, Bo Jackson and now Green. Ahman also had a 98-yard run against the Broncos last December.
- Warfield begins to blossom
- [Kansas City Chiefs] Dick Vermeil on Eric Warfield's play-- "He’s playing very, very well, despite the distractions and the problems he created for himself. He’s been very focused on the field; he made one big mistake in the ball game, but that was it. He’s playing very well and working so hard to just continually improve. There are a lot of guys who make the Pro Bowl who don’t belong in it, but he’s playing at that level right now." (KCChiefs.com)
10/25/04
- CB Eric Warfield currently leads the AFC in interceptions with four, which also ties him for first in the NFL.
- Crouch mulling leap to Argos
- Green quietly getting job done
WEEK 7: Stats, Pictures and Stories
10/23/04
- [CFL-Edmonton] He's listed at six-foot-six and a very generous 325 pounds, which means Winnipeg's offensive line could have its hands full with Edmonton rookie Patrick Kabongo.
Acquired from Ottawa along with Wayne in August, the 25-year-old Nebraska product will make his CFL debut this afternoon.
"I've been waiting almost three months and I'm pretty excited," smiled the Zaire-born, Montreal-raised Kabongo.
"My mother is going to be watching (at home). It'll be a good game. I think I'll play a lot." (Edmonton Sun)
- [St. Louis Rams] When starting cornerback Travis Fisher was sidelined with an injury in August, Dejuan Groce stepped in and stepped up. Now, Fisher is back in the lineup ealier than expected.
Indeed, if there was any positive that came from Fisher's absence, it was the accelerated development of the second-year veteran Groce, who started four of six games. Groce had 16 tackles and two passes defensed in those contests, and now, with Fisher and left corner Jerametrius Butler reunited, will move into the "nickel" role.
"It gives us three outstanding corners," coach Mike Martz said.
The young threesome, with fourth-year veteran Butler the senior member, will provide the Rams with superb flexibility in the secondary. (ESPN's Len Pasquarelli)
10/22/04
- Forecaster.ca offered a list of the top prospects at each position for the 2005 NFL Draft.
At tight end, "three underclassman who are high on the list right now are Virginia's Heath Miller, Nebraska's Matt Herian, and Rutgers' Clark Harris."
Barrett Ruud is listed as the top inside linebacker prospect, the skinny: "Big, hard-nosed, super smart defender. Great hitter and competitor. Has Ted Lehman-type skills and could move to the strong side."
- [CFL-Toronto] Eric Crouch has checked out the Argos up close. Now it's a question of whether the former Heisman Trophy winner will be back for a longer look.
Crouch and his wife, Nicole, were in town the past two days visiting the Argos, who have had his CFL rights for four years.
"We're obviously not doing anything this year. We're just keeping our options open," Argos president Keith Pelley said, adding the team didn't work out Crouch. "It was a routine visit and by no means is anything imminent."
Argos management has been in dialogue with Crouch's agents at various times, so the fact the once-celebrated quarterback came here could be a sign he is interested in playing again. (Toronto Sun)
- [CFL-Edmonton] Randy Spencer (shoulder) could be a scratch come Sunday, which would mean Patrick Kabongo may make his first CFL start since coming over from Ottawa. (Edmonton Sun)
- SI's "Dr. Z" gave notice to several NFL players who "have jumped out at me as the season progresses through six weeks". The list included (with Dr. Z's comments):
Seahawks DE Grant Wistrom was going great guns before he got hurt against New England.
Chiefs RG Will Shields has been a loyal, solid warrior for many, many years, and I've never seen fit to honor him with an all-pro choice. That might change this year because he's having a really fine start.
Chargers Guard Toniu Fonoti (the only Charger mentioned). When he came up, two years ago, I thought he'd be another Larry Allen someday. Then he got hurt and fat ...seems like my own story ... and kind of faded out of the picture. Now he's back. Weight has really dropped, they say -- from 400 to a trim 350, or something like that. At any rate, he can haul it around quickly enough to turn in some good work up front.
- [NBA-Chicago Bulls] Eric Piatkowski has been assigned Scottie Pippen's longtime locker for the Chicago Bulls. (Rapid City Journal)
- [Seattle Seahawks] Seattle kicker Josh Brown was sitting in his locker Wednesday and the newest Seahawk had moved into the locker right next to Brown’s. Brown pointed to the stall and grinned. "Best seat in the house," he said. "I’m part of NFL history, just sitting here." (East Valley Tribune)
- Former Packer CB Williams has new life in Dallas
- Crouch visits Argonauts
- Out: Seahawks DE Grant Wistrom (knee); Doubtful: Lions FB Cory Schlesinger (hamstring); Probable: Panthers DE Mike Rucker (rib), Packers RB Ahman Green (Achilles).
10/21/04
- [Green Bay Packers] Running back Ahman Green was one of three Packers who missed practice Wednesday. He has a tender Achilles' tendon that has affected him since training camp.
"Well, anything, if he has a hangnail it's a concern for me because it affects a major part of his body that is used running the football," coach Mike Sherman said. "This happened early in camp where he kind of had an abrasion on the back of his Achilles' with the shoes he was wearing. Then we changed those and this thing has gone on. But any time he has an issue that will keep him out of practice, I'm concerned."
Green's carries on Sunday might be affected, too.
"That's a possibility," Sherman said. "I'm not going to say that's a probability."
Sherman said he couldn't think of a time this season that Green's injury prevented him from avoiding tacklers, however.
10/20/04
- Scouting...Ahman Green
- Middle school student's show-and-tell: Ahman Green
10/18/04
- [AFL-San Jose] Former Packer Stever Warren signed with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. In the AFL's iron-man system Warren will play both offensive and defensive line positions.
A third-round draft pick (74th overall) of the Green Bay Packers in 2000, Warren (6-1, 305) spent three years on the club’s roster playing in a total of 25 games. During his NFL career, the Lawton, Okla., native recorded 31 tackles, a sack, five passes defended and forced a fumble from his position on the defensive line. (OurSportsCentral.com)
- [Dallas Cowboys] Bill Parcells said cornerback Tyrone Williams would start Sunday against his former team, Green Bay.
Williams, making his first start for the Cowboys, had four tackles and a sack against Pittsburgh. The Cowboys also gave him safety help on a regular basis to ensure he wouldn't get beat deep.
"I felt pretty good out there, especially in the second half," Williams said. "I'm starting to get used to playing again." (Dallas Morning News)
- Dejuan Groce, Eric Warfield, and Mike Minter all had something in common this weekend- other than being Blackshirts alum. They each dropped a should-have-been interception.
Panthers S Mike Minter let an easy interception in the Eagles end zone slip through his arms. Philadelphia scored a field goal on that drive, but it also cost the Panthers potential field position. (PanthersInsider.com)
Chiefs corner Eric Warfield couldn't hold a ball he should have intercepted at the Jacksonville 45 with 1:45 left. (Morris News Service)
In Monday Night Football against the Bucs, Rams DB DeJuan Groce wishes he had held onto a should-be interception near the goal line five minutes into the second quarter. Fortunately, Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica took him off the hook by blowing the ensuing field goal attempt. (Post-Dispatch)
- [Seattle Seahawks] Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom will be out 4-to-6 weeks with a small fracture in his left knee.
Coach Mike Holmgren said that Wistrom hyper-extended his leg tackling Corey Dillon in the loss at New England. He will be replaced by Antonio Cochran. (AP)
- [Carolina Panthers] Panthers coach John Fox says he doesn't know why defensive end Mike Rucker had an irregular heartbeat during yesterday's game against Philadelphia. Medical tests didn't show anything, and Fox says there are no structural or internal problems. Fox says Rucker is fine.
Rucker also experienced an irregular heartbeat against Denver two weeks ago. The team attributed that to the high altitude in Denver. (AP)
- Danes Visit for Some American Football (Will Shields)
- Irregular heartbeat sidelines Rucker
WEEK 6: Stats, Pictures and Stories
10/17/04
- Lions will attack fumble-prone Green
- One to watch: Packers running back Ahman Green
10/16/04
- Not only did Mike Minter have to endure the Panthers' 20-17 loss at Denver last Sunday, but he also had to come to grips with Nebraska's record 70-14 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday.
Minter and teammate Mike Rucker, a defensive end, played in college at Nebraska.
"That was a bad weekend, man. I woke up Sunday and everybody was looking at me, shaking their heads. They were like, 'Seventy?' And I was like, 'What y'all talkin' about?' And they were like, 'We're talking about the 70 points Texas Tech put on Nebraska,'" Minter said.
"I couldn't believe it. I didn't even know because I hadn't seen the game or the highlights or anything. I was like, 'Are you kidding me? Nobody puts 70 points on Nebraska.' "
Minter remains loyal to his alma mater. A Nebraska baseball cap sat prominently in his locker stall at Bank of America Stadium all week. "No doubt about it, I still bleed Nebraska all the way through my body," he said. "They could get beat 100 to nothing, and I'd still bleed Nebraska red." (JournalNow.com)
10/15/04
- Panthers players Mike Rucker, Mike Minter, Brentson Buckner and Steven Davis are investing in a new day-care center under construction in Harrisburg. (Charlotte Observer)
- [Dallas Cowboys] Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he hasn’t decided who will start at right cornerback against the Steelers on Sunday. Rookie Jacques Reeves has been the starter since Pete Hunter went down with a knee injury against the Redskins. Parcells indicated veteran Tyrone Williams, brought in during the bye week, would see his first action Sunday. His biggest concern with Williams is his conditioning.
"I don’t think he was in bad shape," Parcells said Friday. "He doesn’t have a weight problem. Getting used to that position, that’s not the easiest thing if you’ve been sitting in the living room." (DallasNews.com)
- [Seattle Seahawks] Kicker Josh Brown practiced his punting this week while regular punter Tom Rouen was "getting a total makeover type deal," coach Mike Holmgren said.
Holmgren had yet to decide how best to replace Rouen if he can't play at New England. "It'll be right down to Friday where we test it out," Holmgren said of Rouen's hamstring. "There's no real easy answer at this point. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed."
Jones, a rookie out of LSU, kicked high spirals, and Brown's punts were wobbly but workable. For roster reasons, Holmgren would rather keep Jones inactive if there's any chance Rouen can play.
"It's a heck of a game to be worried about that, though," Holmgren said. "I've got enough to worry about without worrying about a punter."
On Wednesday, Brown punted one from his 30-yard-line that rolled dead at the opposing 1-yard-line -- of the adjacent field. (The Oregonian)
- [St. Louis Rams] Guard Chris Dishman suited up for practice Thursday for the first time since suffering a hyperextended right knee early in the second quarter against New Orleans on Sept. 26. Scott Tercero replaced Dishman for the remainder of that contest and started the past two games. Dishman was listed as "questionable" on Thursday's injury report. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- [Kansas City Chiefs] A judge on Thursday ordered Chiefs defensive back Eric Warfield not to drive while his latest DUI case is pending.
Warfield appeared in Johnson County District Court, where he is charged with a felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol last month in Overland Park. He is facing a felony charge because of two prior DUI convictions. He is also charged with driving with a suspended license and having no proof of insurance.
District Judge Steve Tatum placed Warfield, 28, on bond supervision while the case is pending. That means that he will be monitored by a court services officer in a fashion similar to probation. Defense attorney Kevin Regan asked the judge to allow Warfield to drive in Missouri and Nebraska, where he is licensed, but Tatum refused. Warfield's next court appearance was scheduled for Nov. 2. (KC Star)
- Ironton City Council approved a resolution asking the Ohio Department of Transportation to include Glenn Presnell and the Ironton Tanks as part of the aesthetics design on the retaining wall of the proposed Ironton-Russell Bridge.
"This is my attempt to honor Mr. Presnell since we were unable to get him into the Hall of Fame," Councilman Jesse Roberts said. "At least we could let people know that he was from here and what he stood for." (The Ironton Tribune)
- Panthers, partners plan Harrisburg day-care center (Minter,Rucker)
10/14/04
- From a KCChiefs.com Q&A with head coach Dick Vermeil - "Eric Warfield has been special. I’ve never seen Eric Warfield as good as he is right now. He intercepted three yesterday and two today – and good plays. He was competing. I think he’s really fitting into the scheme and I think all the patience of the coaches has really helped."
- [MLB-Oakland] First baseman Dan Johnson's monster year at the plate and right-hander Jairo Garcia's tantalizing season on the mound have earned them the highest honors that a player in the A's minor league system can receive. Oakland announced on Wednesday that Johnson has been named the A's Organizational Player of the Year, and Garcia has been named Pitcher of the Year.
The A's seventh-round pick in the 2001 draft, Johnson was named the Pacific Coast League's MVP after batting .299 with 29 home runs and 111 RBIs for Triple-A Sacramento. His RBI total was tops among all players in the A's minor league system and was second among PCL players.
Johnson got even hotter in the playoffs, batting .458 (11-for-24) with two home runs and six RBIs as the River Cats captured their second straight PCL title. After going 4-for-5 in the title-clinching game on Sept. 17, he was named the PCL's postseason MVP.
Johnson was called up to Oakland on Sept. 18, but he didn't get into any of the A's last 15 games of the season due to a case of vertigo.
- [Injury Report] Probable - Rams CB Dejuan Groce (shoulder), Packers RB Ahman Green (Achilles); Questionable - Rams OG Chris Dishman (knee); Doubtful - Lions RB Cory Schlesinger (hamstring).
10/13/04
- [Minnesota Vikings] The Vikings re-signed cornerback Derek Ross and barring injuries, he isn't expected to play in Sunday night's game at New Orleans. Eventually he expected to compete with Ralph Brown for playing time in the dime defense. (Pioneer Press)
- [New York Giants] Linebacker T.J. Hollowell and running back Derrick Ward signed with the New York Giants on Wednesday. To make room on their roster, the Giants (4-1) placed receiver Tim Carter and linebacker Wes Mallard on injured reserve
TJ Hollowell has been on the Giants' practice squad. He was with the team in training camp, and was among the last players cut. During the preseason, he had eight tackles, including two on special teams. (AP)
- [Dallas Cowboys] Coach Bill Parcells said he's waiting to see how veteran CB Tyrone Williams practices before projecting his playing time Sunday. Williams was signed two weeks ago after being out of work all season. He was inactive against the Giants. (AP)
- [Seattle Seahawks] Veteran punter Tom Rouen has a strained right hamstring and is listed as questionable for Seattle's game at New England, raising concerns in the kicking game - where coaches never want problems. Rouen didn't practice Wednesday, and coach Mike Holmgren told kicker Josh Brown and rookie punter Donnie Jones to be ready. Brown kicked the team's final punt, a respectable 35-yarder, late in the contest.
"It was just a good opportunity to help the team," Brown said. "I've done it before. It's nothing that makes me uncomfortable or nervous, just an opportunity to make a bigger impact." Brown said he could tell Rouen was injured right away.
"The moment he came off, I went to the net and started taking strokes to get ready," Brown said. "That's a pressure situation and I wanted to be ready. I wanted to make sure I was capable of doing the job right." Jones, a seventh-round draft pick, had 69 punts downed inside the 20 during his college career at LSU. The left-footed punter set school records with 233 punts for 9,798 yards, a 42.0 average.
Brown had a less-heralded college career as a punter, punting a 25-yarder during emergency duty as a Nebraska sophomore.
"It got the job done. There was no return," Brown said. (AP)
- D.K. Williams Jr of ESP Magazine (not to be confused with ESPN Magazine) writes of the behaviour of football fans while at the Panthers vs Broncos game in Denver. He ends the article with this note: "After the game, on the roof top patio of “The Pour House” as the sun set on downtown Denver, two big guys in Broncos jerseys came over and introduced themselves. They went to college at Nebraska, and wanted to talk about how good Panthers Mike Minter and Mike Rucker are. Minter and Rucker played for the Cornhuskers.
Is there a lesson here? No matter the color of the jersey or your whereabouts, football fans want to talk about football." (ESPMagazine.com)
- Johnson, Garcia nab top honors
- Seahawks scramble to fix punting game (Josh Brown)
- Kicking into the wind (Kyle Larson)
10/12/04
- [MNF-Packers vs Titans] Faced with an early deficit against the Titans on Monday Night Football, the Packers altered their plan to give the Titans a steady diet of Ahman Green. The Packers had just 5 yards rushing on five carries in the first half (AP). Ahman Green managed just 33 yards on 10 carries in the game.
- [New England Patriots] Four-year veteran Russ Hochstein, who started in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl, has played as a reserver linemen in the last two games and is now a top interior backup at center and guard. (Daily News Tribune)
- [Seattle Seahawks] Josh Brown, Seattle's placekicker, assumed the punting duties against the Rams because Tom Rouen was injured in the game. Brown acquitted himself well, as he booted a 35-yarder, which gave the Rams the ball at the 34-yard line. (Sports Network)
Coach Mike Holmgren admitted that his underestimation of Brown's punting abilities had an effect on the team's time management in the 4th quarter. "When Rouen got hurt, I figured I couldn't go three runs, take all the clock, punt the ball, and we'll play the game," Holmgren said. "Had I known Josh Brown was going to be able to punt the ball the way he punted it, I probably wouldn't have passed on the last series. I thought we really had to get a first down."
Brown's second field goal put the Seahawks up by 17 points, however, the Rams potent offense rallied to win in OT. All in all, the Seahawks ran eight offensive plays after that second field goal. Four were runs. Four were passes. In total, they burned 4:13 off the clock and gained 15 yards and one first down. (Seattle Times)
As for the punting situation: if Rouen can't punt this week, the club can either let kicker Josh Brown do double duty or sign rookie Donnie Jones off its practice squad. Rouen also holds for Brown on field goals and PATs. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
- [Carolina Panthers] Carolina vs. Denver, what you may have missed-- Mike Rucker was a tenth of away from sacking Plummer in a fateful fourth quarter play that resulted in a Denver TD pass. (PanthersInsider.com)
After last years Pro Bowl campaign, Rucker is still without a sack this season.
- Fumbling away nameGreen's good
10/11/04
- [Seattle Seahawks] Grant Wistrom, a former Ram, held his own against Orlando Pace, getting more pressure on St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger as the game wore on. Pace essentially shut Wistrom down in the first half. But Wistrom pressured Bulger on at least two occasions in the second half. He finished with three tackles and a pass defensed. And he tipped one pass Anthony Simmons nearly intercepted.
"It's just more distractions," Wistrom said of playing against his former team for the first time. "Warming up and trying to say hi to people. That's the main difference. I don't think I played very well today. I can play much better, and I expect to go out and play a lot better next week." (Seattle Times)
- [Detroit Lions] FB Cory Schlesinger aggravated his hamstring injury while running a route against the Falcons. Head coach Steve Mariucci said FB Cory Schlesinger is "iffy" for Week 6. (Detroit Free Press, KFFL)
10/10/04
- Wistrom eager to face his former teammates
- Foreman a hit in Houston
- [CFL-Toronto] To make room for return specialist Bashir Levingston, who will be moved to the injured list with recurring hamstring problems, slotback/tight end Johnnie Mitchell will be added to the active roster for only the second time this season.
WEEK 5: Stats, Pictures and Stories
10/09/04
- Good news for Seahawks: No Wistrom to worry about
- Larson's hands set him apart
- [Minnesota Vikings] Ralph Brown will replace Rushen Jones in the nickel defense this week (Duluth News Tribune). He also won a week-long competition for the dime back position, defeating Rushen Jones. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
- [CFL-Edmonton] Demoine Adams could break through the lineup as a LB due to an injury to LB Singor Mobley.
"I got some rest and I'm going to do my part to be on the field (for practice)," he said. "If I'm not in the lineup, I know the guys will step up and get the job done."
If Mobley winds up a scratch, look for either Antonio Wilson or DeMoine Adams to fill the vacant roster spot. Wilson is a linebacker, while Adams is a defensive lineman.
"We can drop (Adams)," head coach Tom Higgins said. "But we're playing with a whole different bunch of combinations." (Edmonton Sun)
10/08/04
- Rucker: Pride on the Line
- Panthers.com Spotlight: Mike Minter
- [Detroit Lions] FB Cory Schlesinger is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Falcons, which is usually as good as out. However, MLive.com reports that "Schlesinger practiced on Friday and is expected to start."
- [St. Louis Rams] After recovering from a matching set of sprained knees - he injured his left in training camp and his right three weeks ago vs. Atlanta - cornerback DeJuan Groce finally is healthy again.
"I feel a lot better," Groce said. "I've been pushing it more this week. I'm getting my confidence back and I'm able to not think about (the injuries) and just play."
Mike Martz saw enough progress that he returned Groce to the No. 1 spot at right corner, where he started the first two games of the season. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
10/07/04
- [AFL-Nashville] The Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League have signed former Tennessee Titan Dan Alexander. Alexander, who also played with the Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louis Rams, will play fullback/linebacker in the Kats.
- Talking with... Dominic Raiola, Lions center
- Favorite son (Wistrom)
- Wistrom to face former team, Pace
- Josh Brown touchy about kicks
- Seahawks' Wistrom downplays matchup with former team
- Detroit FB Cory Schlesinger (hamstring) is listed as questionable; he is taking the wait-and-see approach on whether or not he will be able to play. He has missed just one game in 10 seasons with the Lions (Daily Oakland Press).
Rams G Chris Dishman is also questionable as his knee injury will likely keep him out for another game while his teammate, Dejuan Groce (knee) is listed as probable and will return after sitting out last week.
- [Seattle Seahakws] From Seattle coach Mike Holmgren's conference call to St. Louis-- "I think the biggest thing (on defense) has been our front. Acquiring Grant (Wistrom), who you guys know very well, was a big thing for us. He’s a good football player. We knew that when we played against him all of those years. But more than that, he brought an attitude and a work ethic, and his ability, that was good for us. Like I said, we are very young on defense. So to have guys that the young guys can look at, how they practice and how they play, that’s really important for us taking the next step defensively. Our defensive line, I’m not saying I’m surprised, but they put it together nicely." (StLouisRams.com)
Meanwhile...
- [St. Louis Rams] From Rams coach Mike Martz on losing Wistrom to the Seahawks-- "There is a deep, deep emotional impact. He's like one of my family. He's like one of my kids. So to not have him here in the locker room every morning, or go down and tease him, banter back and forth and see him at practice, I just miss him. I do, I just miss him." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
10/06/04
- [Dallas Cowboys] Bruce Thornton received a signing bonus of $387,500 in July, and the rookie cornerback has been able to secure some extra cash from switching numbers.
Thornton is wearing No. 25, after spending the first four weeks of the season with No. 37, which he gave up to veteran cornerback Tyrone Williams. Earlier, he gave up No. 27 to Eddie George.
Neither party would divulge what was negotiated.
"I'm not attached to any number yet, so we talked and made a deal," Thornton said.
Williams has grown to have a fondness for No. 37.
"When I came into the league, I didn't ask for a number, so they gave me No. 37 and that's what I'm known for now," Williams said. "I don't feel comfortable without it."
- CB Tyrone Williams will begin working as the team's dime cornerback, but he could quickly move up the team's depth chart depending on his conditioning. So far he has looked good in practice. (KFFL)
- Sports Illustrated conducted a poll "based on a survey of 354 current and former players" who were not allowed to vote for members of their own team. Cowboys OG Larry Allen was first with 25% of the vote, while Raiders DT John Parrella was a distant second with 8%.
- Past visits present for Hawks' Wistrom
10/05/04
- [Kansas City Chiefs] S Eric Warfield leads the AFC with three interceptions.
- [San Francisco 49ers] Injuries to John Engelberger and Mike Rumph mean the 49ers are searching for replacements at cornerback and defensive end. Working out today (Tuesday) at cornerback are Clint Finley and Omare Lowe. Finley played safety in Kansas City before being released in the preseason. (SF49ers.com)
- [Oakland Raiders] Center Adam Treu took responsibility for a snap out of a shotgun formation which caught Kerry Collins by surprise, resulting in a bizarre lost fumble which led to a 30-yard Houston scoring drive to give the Texans a 27-17 lead.
Aware the offensive line had already racked up seven of its eight false start penalties, Treu snapped the ball before Collins was ready in order to protect his tackles from jumping too soon.
"He was slowing the cadence down to let the defense show itself, and in my mind I was thinking about the tackles," Treu said.
Treu snapped the ball without regard to Collins' cadence, surprising the quarterback and helping create the turnover.
"I didn't want the tackles jumping again," Treu said. "A 5-yard penalty and a punt or whatever is way better than a turnover down there. That's a situation I've never encountered. If it arises again, I know what to do." (Oakland Tribune)
- [Cincinnati Bengals] Rookie punter Kyle Larson is second in the NFL (and first in the AFC) with nine punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line; he's one off the NFL lead of Tom Rouen of Seattle and Josh Bidwell of Tampa Bay. Four of his six attempts against Pittsburgh landed inside the 20. He's averaging 41.2 yards per punt and has had just one touchback, which also came against the Steelers but narrowly missed going out of bounds at the 1-yard line. (Cincinnati Post, Bengals.com)
10/04/04
- [Detroit Lions] FB Cory Schlesinger did not practice Monday and is day-to-day with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, teammate Dominic Raiola, who recently had surgery for an irregular heartbeat, will play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. (The Daily Oakland Press, KFFL)
- [San Diego Chargers] From Jay Paris of the NC Times-- "RG Toniu Fonoti is wearing his long hair in cornrows. What would you expect from a former Nebraska Cornhusker?"
WEEK 4: Stats, Pictures and Stories
- 10/03/04 - Kansas City Chiefs] From the KC Star- "In a league where players change teams the way Britney Spears changes husbands.. a veteran like Will Shields is rarer than a truthful politician."
- 10/02/04 - Dallas Cowboys] Bill Parcells did not spend a lot of time talking to recently signed cornerback Tyrone Williams about what led to Williams being deactivated for the final nine games with Atlanta last season for conduct detrimental to the team. Parcells does not much care.
"I don't talk to players too much about what transpired somewhere else," Parcells said. "What I do tell them is what it is like here. Here is the way it is going to be, so if you can accept that, that's fine. If you can't, then you won't fit in. Especially when you bring in a veteran, I think it is important to tell them."
The speech is short and sweet and goes something like: Don't make me regret bringing you here.
One of the reasons Parcells felt comfortable bringing in Williams, despite his recent problems, is that Parcells' good friend, former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf, gave Williams his OK. (Star-Telegram)