TheDailyBlitz.com

Giants place Antonio Pierce on IR

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:06:56 -0500

Today the Giants have placed middle linebacker Antonio Pierce on injured reserve (IR) with a bulging disk in his neck.

“It’s crazy because I feel great,” Pierce said on WFAN (via the NY Daily News), before the Giants’ decision was announced. “And that’s honest. The only reason I went and got MRI done anyway is just because the trainers wanted to have something on record as far as just making sure you’re OK, because when a player gets a burner or a stinger you just want to get a check up on it. That’s where I thought we were. That’s where the Giants thought we were.

“But obviously it turned out to be something different, something that still doesn’t bother me. But when the MRI says one thing and the doctors say ‘This is what happens if you do play,’ you’ve got to listen to them.”

As Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News points out, Pierce, 31, will earn $4.75 million in the final year of his contract in 2010. However, the Giants may release him and look for help in free agency.

Chase Blackburn has started while Pierce has been out for the past two games and it's likely that Jonathan Goff will see an increase in playing time.

Weis era over in South Bend

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:29:58 -0500

His Notre Dame "internship" has officially come to an end.

Back in 2005, Charlie Weis signed a new 10-year contract to replace the six-year contract he had signed in 2004.

"In a very short period of time, Charlie has clearly and impressively demonstrated the ability to take the Notre Dame program where we all want it to go," said Notre Dame athletics director Kevin White at the time.

Today Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick announced that Weis won't be back as Notre Dame coach.

"He will go on to have great success. He'll add some Super Bowl rings to the ones he already has as a successful coordinator in the NFL and we will miss him," Swarbrick said (via ESPN). "But for us it's time to move forward. It's time to move forward because it is critical to this program and to its place in the university and college football that we compete at the highest level. That we compete for national championships."

Weis finished with a record of 35-27 in his five years as head coach in South Bend. In the past three seasons, however, Weis had a losing record (16-21).

With the Weis firing, there is a very high likelihood that top of its top playmakers -- QB Jimmy Clausen and WR Golden Tate -- will leave early for the NFL.

Although the interest may not be reciprocal (at least based on public comments), Florida's Urban Meyer and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops are rumored to be at the top of Notre Dame's list. ESPN's Adam Schefter has said that he's hearing (albeit not firsthand) that the interest from Stoops is "mutual."

Other possible candidates are Cincinnati's Brian Kelly, TCU's Gary Patterson, Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, among others.

DeSean Jackson has a concussion

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:46:07 -0500

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson suffered a concussion against the Washington Redskins yesterday.

That leaves his status for week 13 against the Falcons in doubt although I would expect Jackson to miss the game considering the increased awareness and risk of coming back to soon from concussions.

In the game, Jackson caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season.

On the season, he has caught 44 passes for 769 yards and his average of 17.5 yards per catch ranks fifth in the NFL.

Not only is Jackson a playmaker on offense, but he's the leading punt returner in the NFL with an average of 15.5 yards per return.

Young leads Titans on 99-yard drive and into the playoff hunt

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:28:42 -0500

Very few people (if any) expected last year's top seed in the AFC to begin the season with an 0-6 record.

As many (i.e., few) expected the Titans to rattle off five consecutive wins after benching Kerry Collins in favor of Vince Young, who owner Bud Adams wanted to see inserted as the team's starter.

Five weeks later, however, it was Young's 99-yard drive to win the game against Arizona yesterday that has them only one game out of the wildcard with five games to go.

Young hit rookie receiver Kenny Britt, who was the Titans' first-round pick, on a 10-yard touchdown pass with time expiring for the game-winner.

"Once you see Vince scramble around, you never know if he's going to run it or throw it," Britt said. "You just have to stay alive, and that's what I did."

If you missed it, here's the drive:

As it stands, the Broncos (7-4) and Jaguars (6-5) currently hold the AFC wildcard spots. Tied with the Jags are the Steelers and Ravens.

But then it's the 5-6 Titans tied with the Texans, the Dolphins (their week 15 opponent) and the Jets.

With five games to go, the Titans play two tough teams -- Indianapolis (this week) and San Diego -- and two bad teams -- St. Louis and Seattle -- in addition to Miami.

Not to be forgotten, Titans RB Chris Johnson has been the league's best running back as he has seven rushing touchdowns during the team's winning streak. And he's rushed for 125+ yards in six consecutive games.

That said, VY passed for a career-high 387 yards and it was his arm that led this run-first team to victory. It's a QB not named Manning that's making coach Jeff Fisher "feel like a winner."

If the Titans, who are as hot as any team lately, can knock off the unbeaten Colts, who clinched the division yesterday, this team just may become the first 0-6 team to make the playoffs.

Whether the Titans make the playoffs or not, who would have expected that "playoffs" and "Titans" would be used in the same sentence this late in the season?

LJ goes over 100-yard mark for Bengals

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:11:19 -0500

The Bengals were without running back Cedric Benson for a second straight game.

For a second consecutive game, a Bengals running back went over 100 yards.

Last week, Bernard Scott had 119 yards against the Raiders. This week, Larry Johnson had 107 yards against the Browns.

LJ had 22 carries while Scott had 18 carries for 87 yards.

The Bengals have another favorable run matchup versus the Detroit Lions next week.

While it would seem likely that Benson would play, it seemed likely that he would play today. And I would expect Johnson to be a better handcuff than Scott for Benson next week, if necessary.

Michael Turner, Matt Ryan out of game for Falcons

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:43:18 -0500

The Falcons have lost RB Michael Turner and QB Matt Ryan for the remainder of today's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ryan suffered a toe injury during the first series and only threw three passes in the game.

Turner, who returned after missing only one game due to a high-ankle sprain, carried the ball 12 times for only 33 yards before aggravating the ankle injury.

With less than 7 minutes to go in the game, the Bucs have surprisingly held the trio of Michael Turner, Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling to only 63 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Coming into this game, the Buccaneers ranked 32nd in the league against the run allowing 168.9 yards per game.

Eli has a stress reaction in his foot

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:28:08 -0500

Things have gone from bad to worse for Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

Manning, who had been playing with plantar fasciitis, has developed a stress reaction in his right foot, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. And if the stress reaction could turn into a stress fracture, which would end his season.

In his past six games, Manning has struggled more often than he has not.

He posted solid back-to-back performances against San Diego and Atlanta. But in his other four games during that span, he has thrown only three touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Giants, who started 5-0, are now 6-5 and fighting for their playoff lives as their remaining schedule is challenging with their next three games against their division rivals.

From a fantasy perspective, Manning's opponents from week 13 to 16 (championship game in most leagues) are as follows (pass defense rankings in parenthesis): Dallas (19th), Philadelphia (9th), Washington (1st) and Carolina (5th).

Cedric Benson inactive for today's game

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:33:45 -0500

So much for Jason La Canfora's report that Bengals running back Cedric Benson was expected to play today against the Browns.

ESPN's Adam Schefter just reported that Benson won't play in today's game, which makes Bernard Scott an attractive play in fantasy.

Last week, Scott had 119 yards against the Raiders, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Today he faces one of the two teams that have allowed more fantasy points to opposing RBs than Oakland in Cleveland.

Cedric Benson expected to play

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:45:43 -0500

According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, Bengals running back Cedric Benson is expected to play today against the Cleveland Browns.

Meanwhile, La Canfora reports that Bengals LB Keith Rivers will miss his third straight game.

In their first matchup of the season, Benson had a pedestrian day against the Browns -- 18 carries for 74 yards and no touchdowns.

However, the Browns are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, which means Benson could be poised to have a huge week if the reports about his status are accurate.

Last week, Bernard Scott had 119 rushing yards against the Raiders and he would get the start if Benson can't go.

On the season, Benson is averaging 95.4 rushing yards per game and has scored six touchdowns.

Steve Smith is questionable vs Jets

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:38:23 -0500

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has been added to the team's injury report as questionable with sore ribs, according to Charles Chandler of the Charlotte Observer.

Smith has caught three (of his four) touchdown passes in the past two games.

If Smith plays against the Jets, however, he could have a long day as he'd likely be matched up against shutdown corner Darrelle Revis.

The Jets allowed their first 100-yard receiver (New England's Wes Welker) of the season last week. While Welker was having a career day (15 receptions for 192 yards), Revis held Randy Moss to only 34 receiving yards on five receptions.

Falcons release Verron Haynes

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:14:43 -0500

The Atlanta Falcons have released running back Verron Haynes and added receiver Troy Bergeron to the active roster today.

Michael Turner, who will be a game-time decision with a high-ankle sprain, has been a limited participant in practice this week. Meanwhile Jerious Norwood, who is questionable for tomorrow's game, was a full participant at practice this week.

Perhaps by releasing Haynes, it indicates that Norwood and/or Turner will be able to play against the Buccaneers tomorrow. If they can't, running back Jason Snelling would see the majority of work.

Tampa Bay has allowed a league-worst 168.9 rushing yards per game so the Falcon running backs should have a big day tomorrow regardless of how the carries will be distributed.

Freeney out against Texans

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:52:33 -0500

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney won't play against the Houston Texans on Sunday, per Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Freeney, who leads the Colts in sacks (9.5), hasn't practiced all week due to an abdominal injury.

The Texans have the league's third-ranked passing offense (295.8 yards per game) led by quarterback Matt Schaub.

With cornerback Kelvin Hayden still questionable, the Colts could again be without three quarters of their starting secondary. (Safety Bob Sanders and cornerback Marlin Jackson are on injured reserve and out for the season.)

In their first matchup, which the Colts won by three, Freeney had 1.5 sacks and Schaub passed for 311 yards.

DeAngelo Hall won't play vs Eagles

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:43:24 -0500

Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who has a sprained knee, will miss Sunday's game against the Eagles, per David Elfin of the Washington Times.

With Hall out, Carlos Rogers will step into the starting lineup opposite of Fred Smoot.

"I'll be ready to play," Rogers said. "It ain't nothing new. I'm not going into the game with the attitude of showing [them]. I know I can play. Obviously, they know it, too. That's just how things shaked out. I just gotta take advantage of the opportunity I get, put something good on the field right now."

The first time the Redskins faced the Eagles, Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson beat Rogers on double-move for a 57-yard touchdown.

However, Redskins coach Jim Zorn says that Rogers has "had a good week of practice."

On the season, the Redskins have allowed the fewest passing yards (161.6 ypg) in the league.

Big Ben to miss Ravens game

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:54:43 -0500

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who was knocked out of last week's game due to a concussion, had been cleared to play by the Steelers' medical staff and he participated fully in practice this week.

That said, Roethlisberger will not play against the Ravens in their Sunday Night Football matchup, per Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.

With Charlie Batch out for the remainder of the season, that means Dennis Dixon will get the start in this key divisional matchup.

Both the Steelers, who are 6-4, and the Ravens, who are 5-5, trail the division-leading Cincinnati Bengals, who are 7-3 and hold the head-to-head tie-breaker over both teams.

If Roethlisberger had played, he didn't have as favorable of a fantasy matchup as you might have expected versus a relatively weak Ravens' pass defense. The Ravens have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks over the past four weeks.

Dixon is a must-sit fantasy-wise and Big Ben's absence downgrades the value of the Steelers' receivers -- Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Mike Wallace -- as well as Rashard Mendenhall.

AD missed practice due to illness

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:58:10 -0500

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson didn't participate in Friday's practice due to illness and is listed on the team's injury report as questionable, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

It doesn't appear serious as coach Brad Childress said, "It's a concern today. He's sick, but that's it."

Peterson currently ranks third in the NFL in rushing with 999 yards and he is second in rushing touchdowns with 11.

While it seems as though Peterson will be play on Sunday, it would be wise to check back on Sunday. The Vikings and Bears have a 4:15 kickoff.

The Bears rank 23rd in the league against the run allowing 122.3 yards per game.