NFL Columns: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

Oakland Tribune

columnist Cam Inman

"THE NEW YORK Yankees bought their 27th World Series title this week. Bought? That's how their haters phrase it (plus a few expletives). And that's how some NFL team could be judged in 2010, or, actually, at Super Bowl XLV in February 2011. The NFL is on a collision course to abolish its salary cap. Unless a new labor deal is hatched by March, teams will be allowed to spend as much as they like - or as little, in the possible case of lower-revenue teams such as our Bay Area clubs. We'll pause here while you gag on visions of Jerry Jones buying a Lombardi trophy for his Dallas Cowboys and displaying it in their $1.2 billion new stadium (see: Yankees comparison, although the Washington ..."

There's nothing but talk as the Redskins founder

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November 7

Washington Times

columnist Thorn Loverro

"The spotlight shone on Sugar Ray Leonard as he stood in the ring in the Hilton Washington ballroom Thursday night for the 20th edition of the Fight Night charity event. With Michael Buffer doing the introduction, Leonard turned and waved to a crowd of rich and powerful men. Not wanting the moment to end, they stood and gave the local boxing icon a lengthy ovation. It was 1987 again, and all was right with the world. Ray Leonard was beating Marvin Hagler in his storied comeback fight, and the Washington Redskins were on their way to another Super Bowl championship. Leonard's presence reminded everyone of how good it was to be a D.C. sports fan in those days. As those fans at Fight Night ..."

5 things to improve the Falcons pass defense

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November 7

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

columnist D. Orlando Ledbetter

"After the last three quarterbacks have thrown for 300 or more yards against the Falcons, the pass defense ranking has dropped dramatically. The Falcons give 256.4 yards passing per game, which is last in the National Football Conference and 31st overall in the league. Jay Culter passed for 300 yards against the Falcons. Tony Romo hit them up for 311 yards. On MNF, Drew Brees passed for 308 yards. The Redskins are passing for 202.6 yards per game, which is 20th in the league. Their yards are so low because Jason Campbell won't throw the ball down field. Some folks are starting to call him "Check Down Charlie" because he checks it down so much and too quickly. "Jason (Campbell) has ..."

Cowboys' 'No. 1 receiver' is only talking a good game

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November 7

Dallas Morning News

columnist Tim Cowlishaw

"It's a time-honored cliché to say of a college football player having a big game, "He will play on Sundays." That was always the intent, always the dream of wide receiver Roy Williams. So far, after a year as a Cowboy, about the best we can give him is: "He will talk on Wednesdays." I have no doubt that Williams' midweek comments were not meant to be critical of Tony Romo, and his reference to himself as "the No. 1 receiver" merely echoed questions he gets constantly about being "the No. 1 receiver." As for ESPN's "DISSENSION IN DALLAS" storyline, it ranks right up there with the network's report last December that sources said Terrell Owens had called Jason Witten a name in practice. ..."

Woodley's play validates hype

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November 7

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

columnist John Harris

"One by one, LaMarr Woodley took note of the players selected ahead of him in the 2007 NFL Draft. Gaines Adams, Jamaal Anderson, Adam Carriker, Jarvis Moss and Anthony Spencer -- Woodley still doesn't understand why he was the sixth defensive end taken. "Everybody that got drafted in front of me, I'm doing better than them. Not being cocky, that's just the way it is," said Woodley, the Steelers' second-round pick two years ago who was the 46th overall selection. Woodley, whose foot speed was questioned coming out of Michigan, made the seamless transition from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker. Woodley has 17 1/2 career sacks in 35 career games, or 1/2 sack per game. He ..."

Ways for Big Blue to turn season around

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November 6

New York Post

columnist Steve Serby

"As the Yankees ride down the Canyon of Heroes today, the Giants hunker down inside their bunker and try to right a season gone terribly wrong and teetering ominously on a tightrope. New York's unrequited love belonged to them only two years ago, and they yearn for another exhilarating ride into the city's heart and soul, and do not care to wait nine years as the Yankees did. Even as we celebrate the Yankees today, we fix the Giants: YOU CAN'T BE ELI-TE IF YOU'RE NOT EFFICIENT: We're talking to you, Eli Manning. Just because you have single coverage deep down the sideline doesn't mean you should automatically take the shot EVERY TIME. If you need four yards for the first down, resist the ..."

Remember Raiders fans, things can get worse

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November 6

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Ray Rotto

"It has been a big week for owners, which may be why Al Davis' particular agony seems to be such a local story. I mean, all he has is a coach with a bad record, a long contract and a disturbing history of bad temper. In Los Angeles, there's familial cannibalism. In Washington, there are suggestions of pure black-hearted evil. In Cleveland, there are extended meetings with men who enjoy dressing as dogs. In Memphis, there is a man defending his coach against the attacks of his most marketable star after one game. In sum, the meek may never inherit the earth, but these days the strong are watching it sift through their fingers. Yes, the Tom Cable quagmire is a fascinating tale, one with ..."

Kravitz: Wayne's the best, every day of the week

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November 6

Indianapolis Star

columnist Bob Kravitz

"Let the numbers do the talking. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne is: Second in the NFL in receptions with 51, although the top pass-catcher, the New York Giants' Steve Smith, has played one more game and leads Wayne by just two catches. Second in the NFL in reception yards, although the No. 1 guy, Houston's Andre Johnson, has played one more game and has just eight more yards than Wayne. First in the AFC in TD receptions (six, and it would be seven if not for that oops against Tennessee), first in the AFC in receptions for first downs (29), tied for second in the AFC in third-down receptions (15) and third in the AFC in third-down reception yards (191). Wayne is on a pace to ..."

Is Edgerrin James Hall-worthy? Chances iffy

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November 6

Miami Herald

columnist Greg Cote

"Defiantly, or perhaps obliviously, Edgerrin James told reporters in Seattle last month, ``It's up to me how long I want to play and how far I move up that [all-time rushing] chart.'' If only. The Seahawks cut James this week and, as a high-mileage 31-year-old running back in sharp decline, the great former Miami Hurricane might be done with his NFL career because the league says so -- not him. James inched up to 10th on the all-time list with 12,246 yards and even as a reserve may have had the chance this season to climb to eighth, ahead of Jim Brown (12,312) and Marshall Faulk (12,279). Now, 10th might be as high as he gets. The Hall of Fame could be James' next career climb, but that's ..."

NFL led Mark Bavaro to new career

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November 6

Boston Herald

columnist Ron Borges

"As things turned out, the NFL was a good training ground for Mark Bavaro's second career. If you want to be a novelist, you need to learn about rejection. The Danvers native was a two-time Pro Bowl tight end with the New York Giants between 1985-90, starring on their Super Bowl XXI and XXV teams before a degenerative knee condition led them to tell him he was finished at the same time they were urging him to keep playing. This was a lesson in NFL contradictions Bavaro carried with him long after being released seven months after making five catches, including two critical ones on third down, in Super Bowl XXV. Following a bone graft and a year of rehabilitation he returned to play for Bill ..."

What Snyder could learn from Steinbrenner

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November 6

Washington Post

columnist Thomas Boswell

"George Steinbrenner III needed 20 years to figure out baseball. What he finally decided was that he would never figure it out at all. Maybe Daniel Snyder, a different person in a very different sport, can reach the same conclusion with 10 years less pain. At least Snyder and his Redskins have one advantage over the Boss and his Yankees: Steinbrenner went to three World Series and won two of them in his first six years as an owner. That success fooled him into believing he knew what he was doing. In 10 years in the NFL, Snyder hasn't left a ripple. So, maybe it's dawning on him, as it finally did on Steinbrenner, that you can know an enormous amount about a sport and a team that you love ..."

Riddle me this: Who is Cutler?

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November 6

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Rick Telander

"Who is Jay Cutler? Do you know? Do you have any real sense of the most-spotlighted athlete in our city at this time? I don't. And if you're honest, I think you'll admit you don't, either. Derrick Rose, without question the other leading athlete celeb in town, is an open book, a veritable billboard of information and self-revelation compared to Cutler. Patrick Kane, who is moving up the chart with a bullet, is moderately chatty and lightly provocative, even when dealing with taxi-driver misfortunes. But Cutler, the long-term and very wealthy face of our franchise sports team -- the Bears rule and always will rule in a city of broad shoulders -- has been here more than a half-year, yet it's ..."

Buccaneers' offense must abet a turnaround

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November 6

St. Petersburg Times

columnist Joe Smith

"For many years, defense was the Bucs' identity, their driving force. But if Tampa Bay is going to get itself out of an 0-7 hole, coach Raheem Morris says, it will be up to the more experienced offense. That unit was believed to be the team's strength coming into the season, especially with the millions invested in receivers Michael Clayton and Antonio Bryant, tight end Kellen Winslow and running back Derrick Ward during the offseason. Though several changes (two offensive coordinators, three quarterbacks) have been obstacles, the group knows it is capable of much more. "They've got to be the lifeline a little bit, and I'm asking them to be," Morris said. "They've got the seniority. ..."

Chicago Bear Nathan Vasher making progress at safety

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November 6

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"It was a long way from Honolulu, site of the 2006 Pro Bowl Nathan Vasher played in, to the bench at Soldier Field Vasher sat on for an entire game in September. Vasher had traveled that distance in a very short time, and some believed there was nowhere else for him to go in his career. But the defensive back has been born again in the last few weeks, re-establishing his value to the Bears in different ways. Instead of playing cornerback, the position at which he earned a five-year, $28 million contract, Vasher now is playing free safety on the nickel unit and making solid contributions as a special teams player. Vasher has been a safety for all of nine practices, and he has yet to even ..."

The year the Bucs weren't so funny anymore

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November 6

Tampa Tribune

columnist Joey Johnston

"Good morning! Thirty years later, the 1979 Bucs remain an incredible story. When the former players gather to be honored Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium, part of the franchise's Throwback Game as the Bucs (0-7) meet the Green Bay Packers (4-3), the fuss might be difficult to understand for younger fans or transplanted Tampa Bay area residents. "You try to explain what it was like," said former Bucs linebacker Richard "Batman" Wood. "You try to describe what it was like in that stadium. Really, you had to live it. You had to feel it from deep inside you." And even then, it was barely believable."

Birds seem to prefer driving fast

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November 6

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Paul Domowitch

"The Eagles' big-play offense has kept its scoring drives short and sweet so far this season. Through seven games, the Birds have scored 20 offensive touchdowns. Fourteen of those 20 drives have been four plays or fewer. Seven have been only one or two plays. Just three of their touchdown drives have been longer than six plays. Only one has been longer than eight plays. That was a 10-play, 74-yard touchdown drive against Carolina way back in Week 1. "It shows we can score on any given play," said tight end Brent Celek, whose team is third in the league in scoring (29 points per game) and leads the league in offensive plays of 40-plus yards (12). "It shows we can score at will. We've proven ..."

Eagles prepare for well-rounded Cowboys offense

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November 6

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Les Bowen

"WHEN THE PASS-HAPPY Eagles run the ball effectively, as they have the past few weeks, their offensive players are eager to tell you how much of a difference balance makes, how it pushes defenses back on their heels. This Sunday night, when the Cowboys come to town, we'll see the other side of that coin - Sean McDermott's Eagles defense will be faced with a Dallas offense that in recent weeks has run and thrown very well, with multiple backs and multiple receiving threats. Kinda makes one pine for the old days, Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said yesterday. "You don't have a guy that wants the ball every play, one guy you can key on,'' Mikell said, referring to a former Cowboy and former ..."

Drop the idea that Roy Williams is causing turmoil

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November 6

Dallas Morning News

columnist Todd Archer

"This was going to be a story about how the Cowboys are succeeding this season, in part, because players are accepting their roles. But then this Roy Williams thing happened. And by thing I mean not a big deal but it's the Cowboys and the perception becomes a team in turmoil. If there was/is turmoil, I must have missed it. I went in and out of Williams' interview a few times Wednesday and didn't conclude he was being overly dramatic. He called himself the No. 1 receiver. So what? He said the passes to him are off. Well, they are. At times he's run bad routes. At times Tony Romo's passes have been off. Unfortunately for them, the times when Romo throws a good ball and Williams runs a ..."

Bad things happen in NFL pileups

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November 6

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

columnist Joe Starkey

"You've probably seen the video. Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes didn't try to strip the football when he went after Georgia running back Washaun Ealey last Saturday; he tried to strip an eyeball. It sure looked that way, anyhow, as Spikes plunged his hand into Ealey's facemask. And it led to my somewhat surreal conversation with Steelers linebacker James Harrison Wednesday. My initial reaction to the Spikes incident was that Florida coach Urban Meyer should suspend him for the rest of the season (Spikes will sit out only this weekend's game against Vanderbilt). Before forming a final opinion, I decided to check with the pros, to see what's kosher and what's not at the bottom of a pile. ..."

Boldin's days with Cards are short

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November 5

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"Anquan Boldin knows only one way to play football: Head-on and all out. The day he ducks a defender or goes out of bounds to avoid a hit is the day he'll leave the game. "I'd be cheating my talent and myself," Boldin said Wednesday. "That's not me." Boldin is a warrior. It's what first endeared him to Cardinals fans. He'd bounce off one defender, run over the next and when he stood up, invariably signaling for a first down, they'd jump to their feet and celebrate his physicality. But the body pays a price for all those collisions, and these days it's not Boldin's attitude that is being talked about, but his availability. The Cardinals don't know if he'll play against the Chicago Bears ..."

Oakland Raiders -- Weird is the new normal

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November 5

Contra Costa Times

columnist Monte Poole

"LIKE COAL miners and infantrymen, the Raiders are accustomed to carrying on regardless of conditions. They shrug or sigh or laugh cryptically, as if to say complaining is pointless. They rarely get agitated with chaos or the lack of information. They have come to understand that disorder and darkness come with the territory, come with being a Raider. Even at times like now, as the air thickens with uncertainty, players have to wait for the coaches, who have to wait for the owner, who moves at a pace of his own choosing. Put another way, a lot of folks at team headquarters are feeling a little bit of the relative isolation wide receiver Javon Walker has felt all season. The players ..."

Are the Rams really making progress?

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November 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"Steve Spagnuolo stood on the Rams practice field on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, two days removed from his first NFL head coaching victory. He allowed himself to reflect -- for just a brief moment -- on the first half of this 1-7 season and see progress. "There were some struggles, there were some good things, but we have built something," Spagnuolo told reporters. "We talked this morning on the foundation we wanted to build. There is some trust, there is mutual respect, there is unity in the team. I think more than anything, we take that away. "It was a rough road, let's face it, we had seven losses. But to see what the guys did -- I'm not talking about on the field -- what they did as ..."

Bills could use blast from Super Bowls past

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November 5

Buffalo News

columnist Jerry Sullivan

"Thank heavens for the bye week. We can all use a week off from the Bills' mind-numbing run of brutal, boring offense. If it's any consolation, things are equally dreary at the other end of Lake Erie, where the Browns also arrive at the bye with a dysfunctional offense and an angry, disaffected fan base. Cleveland is 1-7 after losing at Chicago on Sunday, 30-6. Their fans are planning to boycott the opening kickoff of the Nov. 16 home game against Baltimore to show their displeasure with the product. Derek Anderson finished Sunday's loss with a 10.5 quarterback rating, which was somehow even lower than he had here last month, when he went 2 for 17. I'm not sure what's more amazing — that ..."

Jay Cutler discusses his diabetes in webisodes

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November 5

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Every night before Jay Cutler goes to bed, he puts a can of Coke on his nightstand. It usually sits next to a Reese's peanut-butter cup. Cutler keeps the junk food close in case he feels woozy in the middle of the night and needs a sugar fix due to his glucose level dropping suddenly. Like many afflicted with Type 1 diabetes, Cutler injects himself five times a day with insulin to prevent anything like that from happening. Still, Cutler knows it could. It might be in his bedroom on a weeknight or on the field on a Sunday afternoon. But Cutler lives every day knowing it could. That is among the messages Cutler delivers in a webisode to be released later this month -- National Diabetes Month ..."

Jets' Sanchez okay for hot-dogging

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November 5

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

columnist Gene Collier

"No matter what happens between here and the awarding of the Lombardi Trophy in the moonlight of some distant South Florida February, nothing will match for compelling NFL video the 15 stunning seconds of New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sideline the week before last. From a highlights standpoint, I'm telling you, the season is over. Having been eyewitness to Sanchez's methodical dismembering of Penn State's respected defense in the Rose Bowl, I remembered thinking that Southern California's marvelous Latino slinger had the chops to do just about anything in the NFL, but I never thought he could scarf a standard bun-wrapped tube of contraband pig fat with the ..."

For now, no hitch in Romo's giddyup

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November 5

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist Ashley Fox

"To hear Tony Romo tell it, everything is rosy at the Ranch. The Dallas Cowboys are working hard, taking things day by day, focused on improving, not gazing at the big goal, just doing all the little things it takes to get there.Sounds good, except for this, courtesy of ESPNDallas.com, from Roy Williams, the Cowboys' No.1 receiver now that you-know-who is in Buffalo: "I'm the No. 1 receiver, but things are just going No. 2's way."By No. 2, Williams meant Cowboys receiver Miles Austin.About his lack of a connection with Romo, Williams said, "it's just not even close. It's not even funny. Not even close."Not exactly utopia after all.Dallas, like its 29-year-old quarterback, remains a work in ..."

Like the bad old days

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November 5

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

columnist Bob McGinn

"It will be Throwback Day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, in more ways than one. For the first time, the Bucs will wear their original orange and white "creamsicle" uniforms and helmets. They date to 1976-'77, when under coach John McKay and general manager Ron Wolf, the Bucs lost a National Football League-record 26 straight games. Now the franchise is mired in an 11-game skid, its longest since then. As the NFL's only winless team (0-7), the Bucs have turned back the clock to their futile beginning and could threaten Detroit's single-season mark of 0-16 a year ago. "I think Green Bay will just have too much offense for them," an executive in personnel ..."

John Tait says give Chicago Bears offensive line some more time

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November 5

Chicago Tribune

columnist Fred Mitchell

"The Bears' running game ranks 26th in the NFL. And quarterback Jay Cutler has been sacked, hurried and knocked down an inordinate number of times. Yet John Tait, a starting tackle for the Bears last season, preaches patience for the offensive line. Tait, who retired unexpectedly during the offseason, sees the current unit of Orlando Pace, Josh Beekman, Roberto Garza, Chris Williams and Olin Kreutz as a work in progress. "The time it takes to gel together and to have that unit playing together ... you know, they have some new guys in there and a new quarterback," Tait said. "That's a big deal. It just takes time. I think they are doing fine and everything is going to be good." Tait ..."

Chicago Bears receivers coming into their own

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November 5

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"Terrell Owens. T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Laveranues Coles. Marvin Harrison. Plaxico Burress. Matt Jones. Brandon Marshall. Torry Holt. Amani Toomer. Bobby Wade. Braylon Edwards. Chris Chambers. At one point or another between the end of last season and now, each of those wide receivers was available, or rumored to be available. And fans wondered why the Bears were not interested. The Bears were interested seriously in only one veteran wide receiver than we know of -- Anquan Boldin, who will be playing Sunday in Soldier Field with the Cardinals. But they weren't interested enough to give the Cardinals more than they thought Boldin was worth in a trade. The Bears were content going to battle with ..."

Cover band: Big hits on rise for Dallas Cowboys' DBs

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November 5

Dallas Morning News

columnist Bill Michols

"Mike Jenkins began the season fighting to make the starting lineup. Orlando Scandrick drew public ridicule from an opposing receiver after his first start. Veteran cornerback Terence Newman got beat repeatedly the first two games. And Gerald Sensabaugh got sidelined with a broken thumb. Probably the lowest lowlight of the Cowboys secondary was the second game, when New York Giants receivers Mario Manningham and Steve Smith roamed virtually uncovered. They combined for 20 catches, 284 yards and two touchdowns. But after taking some big hits, the Cowboys secondary has started hitting back. They have created enough big plays with their aggressiveness during a three-game winning streak to ..."

Davis needs to hear out allegations

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November 5

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Gwen Knapp

"Sandy Cable and Marie Lutz said Wednesday they had not been contacted by either the NFL or the team, which has said it is evaluating the allegations, in conjunction with league headquarters. "I've been told they're going to talk to me," said Sandy Cable, the coach's first wife, who was married to him for six years in the 1980s. She was wary of talking to the media any further, but said she would welcome a chance to speak with Davis, as did Lutz, who said she had received no indication that either the team or league wanted to talk to her. It's not clear whether the owner plans to speak to the two women. Amy Trask, the team's chief executive, would say only that Davis would proceed in a ..."

Giants need a Charge to save their season

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November 4

New York Post

columnist Paul Schwartz

"There comes a time when a season is either going to blossom or shrivel up and die well before the playoffs thaw. That time is now for the Giants, and get out the shovels if they don't come through. Unless this team is content with rolling around in the mire and mediocrity of a 9-7 season, banking on tiebreakers and wishing for losses elsewhere to somehow snatch a wild card spot, this three-game losing streak must end Sunday against the Chargers at Giants Stadium. It is barely November, but by the time the Giants next take the field the Yankees may be World Series champions. The game of summer will be pushed aside, finally, and the Giants will cross over into the second half of a season ..."

Ted Ginn's heroics remain in everyone's thoughts

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November 4

Boston Herald

columnist Karen Guregian

"Most of the Patriots special team players watched Ted Ginn Jr. on Sunday afternoon when the Dolphins beat the New York Jets at the Meadowlands. First, the 100-yard return for a touchdown, then the 101-yarder. What have the Pats concluded? "I thought what I always thought, what everybody always thought. He's fast. I mean, he's fast," linebacker Eric Alexander said yesterday. "That's pretty much the bottom line. Nobody can catch him when he gets some room." Special teamer Matthew Slater agreed. "He's an explosive guy. He's got a good change of direction," Slater said. "I think he has tools that you look for and making him a dangerous returner. His play stands for itself. You guys saw what ..."

Cards testing fans with home losses

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November 4

Arizona Republic

columnist Dan Bickley

"In times of trouble, Ken Whisenhunt has perfect pitch. His demeanor is calm and self-assured. His words come out slow and are soothing. Sometimes, he'll even leave the ballcap in his office, appearing like an egghead professor who can split a defense and an atom. It's a trait Whisenhunt says he gleaned from former coach Tony Dungy, one that's being sorely tested in 2009. "Coach came right out and told us. He said, 'No more losses at home,' " Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell said. If you haven't noticed, these Cardinals are a strange bunch. In trouble, they're often at their best. At their best, they're often on the brink of trouble. They frequently bemoan a lack of respect. Once ..."

Running overrated in modern NFL

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November 4

San Diego Union-Tribune

columnist Nick Canepa

"I've always felt that perhaps the greatest key to success in life is listening, be it in marriage, parenting, business, interviewing or even politics (where the listening process rarely is heeded). Just living. When you think you know everything, that's when you should realize you don't know much at all. So, despite the barrage my ears receive during football season, I listen as much as I can, sometimes in agreement, often not so much. At this stage of my life, I find myself in the Battle of the Too Much Information Bulge, surrounded by experts. But I do hear you."

Hey Dan, go back to saying nothing

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November 4

Washington Examiner

columnist Rick Snider

"Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is disappointed in the season. He said it five times in a short session with a couple reporters and the team's own Web site after dedicating a new ball field in Clinton on Tuesday. "Apologetic," "embarrassed" and "frustrated" also were used. "I feel bad for the fans," said Snyder, according to Redskins.com. "I feel sorry for the fans. ... And I'm understanding; I mean, we just feel terrible. We're disappointed and we're embarrassed. And we hope to get it going soon. We're disappointed." Disappointed? Funny, that's how I feel over Snyder's method of breaking his silence. The owner picks a high school 50 miles from Redskins Park, gets a couple of ..."

Finding Raiders coaching candidates no easy task ... unless you get creative

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November 4

Contra Costa Times

columnist Gary Peterson

"It is one OF pro football's most revered maxims, right up there with the "Who-Dey?" chant and "I love me some me": Why be a second-guesser if you can be a proactive smarty-pants? The Oakland Raiders will be looking for a new head coach soon. We know it. They know it. The Napa DA knows it, but he isn't comfortable taking it before a jury. Tom Cable has about exhausted his tenure - some might call it a sentence - with the team. He's coached 20 games; the previous four Raiders coaches lasted an average of 25. His record is a dismal 6-14 (though it bears noting his .300 winning percentage ranks fourth among the eight men who have coached the Raiders since their return to Oakland). Most ..."

Bottom line is that bad NFL coaches are safe

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November 4

Contra Costa Times

columnist Monte Poole

"EACH OF THE 32 men who began this NFL season as a head coach still holds the job, and it's not because all 32 bosses are happy. It's because the unhappy bosses are caught in an intrapersonal power struggle. On one hand, they want to be associated with winning franchises. On the other hand, they feel more obligated than ever to limit expenses. And, so far, the more powerful hand has been the one on the checkbook. Head coaches in charge of bad NFL teams are among the few employees in America who actually stand to benefit from sluggish economic conditions. They're much less likely to be fired abruptly when ownership is nervous about the profit margin. That is, as long as those coaches don't ..."

Cards should bench Boldin

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November 4

Arizona Republic

columnist Kent Somers

"Over the past seven seasons, I've seen every one of Anquan Boldin's 537 receptions and written thousands of words about him. I was in Detroit in 2003 for his spectacular NFL debut. I was in Glendale last week when he passed Larry Centers to become the franchise's all-time leader in receptions. I've written about his three Pro Bowl selections, his contract squabbles and his trade demands. But I've never typed these words about him: Bench him. Not because Boldin isn't producing but because he can't. A sprained right ankle has made him less than ordinary in recent weeks, and it's not likely to improve until Boldin takes time off. Telling Boldin to sit out Sunday's game in Chicago won't be ..."

Thoughts one year into the Singletary Era

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November 4

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Ray Ratto

"Mike Singletary has been a head coach for the equivalent of a full season now, and what we know about him is this: -- He's more flexible and less dogmatic than we thought. -- He isn't afraid of someone else's big contract. -- He is the undisputed master of his corner of the universe, and is utterly uninterested in the rest of it. -- He is a strategist, but not yet a tactician. What we don't know yet is whether that package of skills is sufficient to make him successful. As the 49ers prepare for Sunday's game with the not-as-weird-as-the-Raiders-but-still-pretty-weird Tennessee Titans, Singletary is trying to remake his offense on the fly. He's already done more than most coaches to find ..."

NFL bottoms out

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November 4

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

columnist Joe Starkey

"Why is the NFL so dreadfully bad at the bottom? Check the top. It always starts at the top. Clueless, cockeyed ownership is the main reason so many franchises are mired in the muck. Look around, Steelers fans, and be grateful. There but for the Rooneys go you. A lot of coaches wish they could say what Mike Tomlin was saying Monday, when asked about his bosses. "The stability, the vision, the singular focus, it's easy to come to work here," Tomlin said. "A good place to be is Pittsburgh, P-A." A bad place to be is Detroit, Mich., or Oakland, Calif., or Cleveland, Ohio. And it's not just bad down there, in the land of the Lions, Raiders and Browns. It's comically bad. It's historically bad. ..."

Packers are a wild-card playoff team at best

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November 4

Green Bay Press Gazette

columnist Pete Dougherty

"Almost halfway through the season, the 2009 Green Bay Packers are just another NFL team. It's not just their 4-3 record. It's how they got there as well. Their wins are over teams that are a combined 7-23, including three (Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis) that have won only one game each. They've had two big games, against Minnesota, and lost both. In the post-Brett Favre era, they have but one high-quality win, in Week 6 last year, when they defeated the Indianapolis Colts. Even that was over a team that staggered to a 3-4 start while quarterback Peyton Manning struggled through recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery in training camp before finishing with nine straight wins. The ..."

Bottom line is that bad NFL coaches are safe

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November 4

Oakland Tribune

columnist Monte Poole

"EACH OF THE 32 men who began this NFL season as a head coach still holds the job, and it's not because all 32 bosses are happy. It's because the unhappy bosses are caught in an intrapersonal power struggle. On one hand, they want to be associated with winning franchises. On the other hand, they feel more obligated than ever to limit expenses. And, so far, the more powerful hand has been the one on the checkbook. Head coaches in charge of bad NFL teams are among the few employees in America who actually stand to benefit from sluggish economic conditions. They're much less likely to be fired abruptly when ownership is nervous about the profit margin. That is, as long as those coaches don't ..."

Packers DT Johnny Jolly just doesn't get it

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November 4

Green Bay Press Gazette

columnist Mike Vandermause

"In a somber locker room following the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, a handful of reporters waited for defensive lineman Johnny Jolly to explain his puzzling first-quarter, momentum-changing personal foul penalty. Jolly's head-butt of running back Chester Taylor was an ill-conceived, dimwitted infraction that seemed to give the Vikings the spark they needed in running off 24 consecutive points on their way to a 38-26 victory. Packers linebacker Nick Barnett had just stuffed Taylor for a 5-yard loss on a third-down pass, and the Vikings were going to settle for a 32-yard Ryan Longwell field goal. It was a momentous event for the defense, until Jolly arrived on ..."

Making playoffs this year would be even greater feat for Miami Dolphins

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November 4

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

columnist Ethan J. Skoinick

"It's not easy to reach the sky in the NFL. It's even harder to stay there. Too many factors conspire against you. Parity. Complacency. Chance. One season, you're plus-17 in turnover ratio. The next season, you're minus-2. One season, almost all of your starters are healthy until late November, with the one exception of a sixth-round rookie scheduled to start at right guard. The next season, you lose two of your most experienced starters at critical positions before Halloween. One season, you face only three teams that ultimately qualify for the playoffs. The next season, the first eight games are against teams with a combined record of 32-16 against everyone else. And so, if the Dolphins ..."

Teeming with new faces, Eagles lack continuity

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November 4

Philadelphia Daily News

columist Paul Domowitch

"AS A LONGTIME football coach, Andy Reid is very wary of saying anything that might end up on an opponent's bulletin board. So, it's safe to say he didn't give Joe Banner a fist bump 3 1/2 months ago when the Eagles president made his best-roster-in-the-league declaration.That said, it doesn't mean he didn't agree with him."I like our talent as much as I've liked [the talent] on any of the teams that I've had," Reid said in early June, long before Banner's remark. "But it's a team sport, and we've got to make sure that we bring that talent together."What we need to do is, we've got a lot of new faces and we've got to come together. The big reason for some of the success of the other teams ..."

Credit must be given to Dallas Cowboys' offensive line

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November 4

Dallas Morning News

columnist Eddie Sefko

"You don't lead the NFL in yards per play and rank second in total offense and sixth in points without the offensive line playing well. Yes, they commit too many pre-snap penalties and they occasionally struggle with blitzes up the middle, but the Cowboys' offensive line is doing a good job. Put your hands together and give them some love. These Cowboys are averaging 28.1 points and 411.1 yards per game, including 147.5 yards rushing. Did I mention the Cowboys are averaging 5.4 yard per carry. That's insane. It all starts with the offensive line. Guards Leonard Davis and Kyle Kosier are playing well along with center Andre Gurode, while tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo do more ..."

Gang Green must learn to win together

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November 3

New York Post

columnist George Willis

"THE Jets left their practice facility at Florham Park, N.J., yesterday afternoon ready to take a week-long vacation where getting away from football has been encouraged, but might be hard to achieve. The "What ifs" and "What could have beens" will haunt them during the bye week whenever they contemplate the circumstances that have left them with a 4-4 record after an impressive 3-0 start. Any critical self-evaluation -- the proverbial looking in the mirror -- will reveal most of the damage has been self-inflicted. Mistakes, breakdowns, turnovers, bad decisions, maddening penalties turned potential wins against the Bills and against the Dolphins twice into three frustrating defeats. Whether ..."

For Redskins, bye week brings welcome case of amnesia

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November 3

Washington Examiner

columnist Rick Snider

"They're back ... whether anyone cares or not. The Redskins returned from their midseason break with a short practice on Monday. Players spent a few days taking their kids trick or treating or bowling, hanging around the practice facility and simply sitting at home. Anything but living in the circus that has become this season. Certainly, a few days away from the latest fire/sell/no-signs movements that turned the 2-5 start into the second coming of a Michael Vick controversy had to help. But the bye can also become a second season divider. The locker room was a little more friendly, the usual laughter returning after several weeks of silence. Todd Yoder taunted linemate Casey Rabach. ..."

Burden of righting New York Giants falls on quarterback Eli Manning's shoulders

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November 3

New York Daily News

columnist Gary Myers

"In the last three weeks, even the Rams have won more games than the Giants. So have the Raiders and Titans. It's about as bad around the Giants right now as at any time since Tom Coughlin nearly was fired following the tumultuous 2006 season. After a 5-0 start, the Giants have lost their way and dropped behind the Eagles and Cowboys in the NFC East. "We've got to get back on track before this thing gets out of hand," Eli Manning said Monday. It's time for the $106.9 million quarterback to step up and save the season instead of being one of the main reasons for the three-game losing streak. There are many culprits during this disappearing act during which the Giants have been outscored ..."

In control of division, Minnesota Vikings can justify new deal for Brad Childress

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November 3

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"The Minnesota Vikings the last three weeks played probably their toughest stretch of this season and finished with a victory against Baltimore, a loss in Pittsburgh and a victory in Green Bay. Minnesota enters the bye week, halfway through the season, 7-1. The second half opens with home games against Detroit and Seattle, games the Vikings should win. Minnesota is in a commanding position with a 2 1/2-game division lead over Green Bay and Chicago. The Packers still have to play Pittsburgh and Baltimore, formidable challenges the Vikings already have had. Green Bay (4-3) and Chicago (4-3) still have to play each other once more. The Vikings probably need only to split their two games with ..."

Former Raiders coach Kiffin vouches for Cable

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November 3

Oakland Tribune

columnist Cam Inman

"LAST SEASON, Tuesday of the Raiders' bye week signaled the flamboyant end of Lane Kiffin's controversial coaching tenure. Arguably, Tom Cable deserves the same fate today. But Kiffin doesn't think so. "Any head coach deserves a certain amount of time to get things going and install what he wants to install. Tom has not had enough time," Kiffin said by phone Monday from his office as the University of Tennessee's coach. "I would think he definitely should have another season after this, at least." Really? Even after more assault allegations surfaced against Cable on Sunday, via ESPN's report pertaining to claims of two ex-wives and an ex-girlfriend? "If any of that was accurate, that ..."

Patriots have big fish to fry

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November 3

Boston Herald

columnist Karen Guregian

"Forget the Jets, focus on the Dolphins. In the big picture, they are the team to worry about. They are the key divisional foe for the Patriots, not the loudmouth sons of Rex Ryan. Sunday's game with Miami has significant playoff implications for the Pats. While the Dolphins might be 3-4 overall, they are 3-0 in the division. That statistic is huge should the 'Fins run the table, or come close with a fairly soft schedule the rest of the way. The Pats, meanwhile, are 1-1 in the division. They don't want to face a situation like last year, where they lost that tiebreaker and didn't get their ticket punched to the postseason. With that alone as a backdrop, there is a lot riding on this game ..."

Jets head coach Rex Ryan should kick himself about kicking to Tedd Ginn Jr.

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November 3

New York Daily News

columnist Rich Cimini

"It was a decision that changed the game and maybe the season. Barring a playoff run, it will stay with them like a repeating hot dog (apologies to Mark Sanchez). The outcome was disastrous, but what made it more troubling was that Rex Ryan, the head coach, wasn't involved at all. The Jets had just scored, slicing the Dolphins' lead to 17-13 in the third quarter Sunday at the Meadowlands. It was time for another kickoff. Mike Westhoff, the special teams coordinator, made the unilateral decision to kick it to Ted Ginn Jr., even though he had just scored on a 100-yard return. "I guess I'm the guy who'd pitch to Barry Bonds," Westhoff said Monday, defiant as ever. Ryan should've overruled ..."

NFL should stop its California dreaming

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November 3

Houston Chronicle

columnist Norman Chad

"So I just got back to Los Angeles, which is where I live — well, you don't really "live" in L.A. so much as you float through a surreal strip-mall-and-freeway-exit life — and there is talk, once again, of the NFL coming back to town within a year or two or 200. Shortly after I arrived in Los Angeles many, many tan lines ago, the Rams and the Raiders left. I immediately thought: What do they know that I don't know? Now, with seemingly half the league rumored to be relocating to L.A., I again think: What do they know that I don't know? Here is a list of suspects that might relocate to Los Angeles: the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, ..."

Can the Dallas Cowboys save Wade Phillips' job?

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November 3

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

columnist Jim Reeves

"Quirky thing about these resurrection stories; they can snowball in the blink of an eye and, before you know it, everyone's involved. The avalanche starts picking up momentum, cascading downhill, smashing trees, picking up a Miles Austin here, a Patrick Crayton there; next thing you know Tony Romo's on board, Keith Brooking is riding the wave and anything and everything goes. Out of nowhere, Austin zooms from bust to go-to receiver in the span of three games. Imagine the beating GM Jerry would be taking over the Roy Williams trade if Austin hadn't stepped up as the perfect distraction at the perfect time. Romo, for the first time in his career, patches together a modest three-game stretch ..."

Ravens show Steelers how to beat Broncos

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November 3

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

columnist Ron Cook

"Kyle Orton might not be John Elway, but he's playing great football and doesn't make huge mistakes. That's what Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will have you believe when he does his weekly sit-down with the media today and looks ahead to the next opponent, the Denver Broncos Monday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. The stage isn't too big for rookie running back Knowshon Moreno. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall can take the rock to the house on any play. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's unit is rock-solid. Linebacker Elvis Dumervil's motor never stops and he has an AFC-best 10 sacks to prove it. Eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey might be the best football player on the planet. ..."

Ward carves out remarkable career

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November 3

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

columnist John Harris

"Of the 12 wide receivers selected before Hines Ward in the 1998 NFL Draft, only one still plays in the NFL. Randy Moss, a certain Hall of Famer, was drafted in the first round that year - 71 picks ahead of Ward, a third-rounder and the 92nd player taken overall. The draft that delivered wide receiver washouts Kevin Dyson, Marcus Nash, Jacquez Green, Patrick Johnson, Brian Alford, E.G. Green and Larry Shannon could ultimately become the only draft to produce two Hall of Fame receivers in Ward and Moss, now with New England. Another possibility could be Michael Irvin and Tim Brown, both drafted in 1988. Irvin is in the Hall of Fame; Brown isn't ... yet. That Irvin is in the Hall of Fame with ..."

For Redskins, bye week brings welcome case of amnesia

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November 3

Washington Examiner

columnist Rick Snider

"They're back ... whether anyone cares or not. The Redskins returned from their midseason break with a short practice on Monday. Players spent a few days taking their kids trick or treating or bowling, hanging around the practice facility and simply sitting at home. Anything but living in the circus that has become this season. Certainly, a few days away from the latest fire/sell/no-signs movements that turned the 2-5 start into the second coming of a Michael Vick controversy had to help. But the bye can also become a second season divider. The locker room was a little more friendly, the usual laughter returning after several weeks of silence. Todd Yoder taunted linemate Casey Rabach. ..."

Birds bested Giants' sackmasters

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November 3

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist Ashley Fox

"They are, in the estimation of no less an authority than Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, two of the "elite" pass-rushing defensive ends in the NFL. For the Eagles to hold off the New York Giants, much less thrash them as they did Sunday, the offense had to keep Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck off quarterback Donovan McNabb. It was the offense's top priority.Grade earned: A-."That's the most important thing," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said after the Eagles gave up two sacks, one to Umenyiora, in their 40-17 rout of the Giants. "One of the most important things on that defense is those pass rushers. You have to take care of them, and we've done it in recent past ..."

Could Miami Dolphins win at New England?

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November 3

Palm Beach Post

columnist Dave George

"So Rex Ryan still thinks the New York Jets are better than Miami after absorbing a season sweep by the Dolphins. So what? It wasn't some kind of mystery punch that knocked the Jets down 30-25 on Sunday. Kickoff returns that cover the distance count for six points in the NFL, or 12 if you do it twice. There's no penalty for making it look too easy. No markdown for doing it too quick. Those two touchdown returns by Ted Ginn Jr. took a combined total of 31 seconds on the game clock, but they'll be bugging the Jets for the rest of the season. So Ryan thinks that special-teams magic isn't genuine proof of a team's superiority. So what? In the teams' first meeting of the season, a 31-27 Miami ..."

It's a bit early for Mora to hit the panic button

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November 3

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

columnist Art Thiel

"For a team that had two weeks to prepare for the game in Dallas on Sunday, the Seahawks had a number of things go haywire. Pass routes run wrong, back-to-back penalties, punts fielded poorly, fluffed gadget plays, three pass-interference penalties on the best defensive back, just 79 yards rushing. But aside from the extra week, those are the sorts of things, more or less, that went wrong in the previous four defeats. In the Seahawks' two shutout wins, very few things went wrong. So it was a little odd that head coach Jim Mora, in his weekly post-mortem Monday, picked this moment to threaten, in so many words, to fire everybody in the building if they didn't shape up. Actually, it wasn't in ..."

Injury offers chance to prove front office wrong — again

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November 3

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"There's not a better tight end in the NFL than Owen Daniels. If it's any consolation, he proved what he set out to prove. He's right there in the conversation with Dallas Clark, Jason Witten and the others. How about Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow? He's one of the gold standards for tight ends in terms of salary. Daniels has more catches, more yards, more touchdowns. He entered Sunday's game at Buffalo leading all NFL tight ends in yardage and was second in receptions and touchdowns. When his right knee blew up, he was on a pace for 80 catches, 1,000 yards, 10 touchdowns and a second straight Pro Bowl appearance. He was also one of the NFL's best bargains at $2.79 million. That's the one-year ..."

Arrival of Cutler gave us false hope that Bears were better than they are

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November 3

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Carol Slezak

"The Bears beat the Browns by 24 points, and everyone is complaining. Go figure. At this point in the season, don't we have a pretty good inkling of what the Bears are all about? I guess we should blame Jay Cutler for this, too. When the Bears traded for him this offseason, expectations soared. Many in the media got carried away, predicting that the Bears would compete for the division title. Ten or even 11 wins became a possibility. One national writer, Peter King of Sports Illustrated, predicted the Bears would not only win the NFC North, but represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Now that the Bears finally had acquired that elusive franchise quarterback, it seemed like everything else ..."

A night of fire from the Falcons, but not much Ice

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November 3

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

columnist Mark Bradley

"They showed us something. They showed the Saints something. They showed the nation something. But in the end they showed us both what they are and what they are not. The Falcons are a pretty good football team. But they aren't so good that they can throw two egregious interceptions on the road against the NFL's best team and hope to win. They proved Monday night they can still run the ball and actually play a little defense, but they fell short of a famous upset because the famous Matt Ryan twice threw the ball to the wrong team at the absolute wrong moment. And now, for all the skill and heart on display here, a sobering notion rears its head: What if Matty Ice isn't quite as good as we ..."

A revealing return to Philly for the Dallas Cowboys

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November 3

Dallas Morning News

columnist Jean-Jaques Taylor

"In five days, the Cowboys return to the site of the most gutless performance in franchise history. It's not debatable, so please don't waste time making excuses for the Cowboys' abject performance last December with a playoff spot on the line. You'll only make yourself look foolish. Philadelphia 44, Dallas 6. "We got our ... [rear ends] kicked," Patrick Crayton said. "Don't sugarcoat it." OK. This game against Philadelphia, the NFC's most consistent team during the last decade, will tell you just about everything you need to know about the Cowboys heading into the second half of the season. It will reveal much more about Dallas than victories over Kansas City, Atlanta and Seattle ..."

No forgetting Eagles debacle, but Dallas Cowboys say this team is different

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November 3

Dallas Morning News

columnist David Moore

"The loss was so disheartening, the outcome so painfully symbolic of a season gone wrong, no one refers to the date or opponent. All you need is the score. 44-6. The psychological trauma inflicted on the Cowboys that December afternoon in Philadelphia will be revisited in the days leading up to Sunday's return engagement. Before you get lost in the motivation for this game and begin to toss the words revenge and redemption about, keep in mind there is only one question the Cowboys must answer. Why is this team better than the one that ended last season with a sickening thud? "It's still to be determined if we're better or not," receiver Patrick Crayton said. Good answer. An air of ..."

Lions' Dominic Raiola can't win fight with fans

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November 3

Detroit Free Press

columnist Michael Rosenberg

"Let me say this up front: I really like Dominic Raiola. I think, in many ways, the Lions' center epitomizes everything that reasonable fans want from a professional athlete. He plays hard every game, plays hurt and plays to win. After games, he is available for interviews but doesn't play to the cameras and is candid without ripping his teammates. He never makes excuses -- in fact, once or twice a season he goes on a rant about how he is tired of excuses. Mostly, though, there is this: Raiola has given his whole career to the worst franchise in sports, yet he cares as much as he did when he was a rookie, maybe more. Trust me: That is hard. I know these guys make a lot of money to play a ..."