09/30/2008

Interim coach can't provide quick fix in NFL

AP

Jim Haslett takes over the winless St. Louis Rams on an interim basis.

Only one interim coach in pro football history has led a team to a championship the season he took over. So, don't expect a miracle in St. Louis, writes Rick Gosselin in this week's Inside the NFL. All Jim Haslett can do is try to remove the laughingstock label that applies to the Rams.
• Week 5 schedule
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Oakland Raiders fire coach Lane Kiffin
The Oakland Raiders fired Lane Kiffin on Tuesday just four games into his second season, bringing finality to a situation that had been simmering for eight months.

09/28/2008

Titans linemen beat Vikings at their own game

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Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (7) braces for the fall as he is sacked by Tennessee's Jevon Kearse (90) and Tony Brown.

The Minnesota Vikings are built to win games in the trenches, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin, with three Pro Bowlers on both the offensive and defensive lines. The Vikings can block and tackle with the best. Apparently, so can the Tennessee Titans. The Titans pushed around the Minnesota offensive and defensive fronts Sunday and won, 30-17, for the first 4-0 start in franchise history.

09/29/2008

Steelers beat Ravens in OT, 23-20
Jeff Reed kicked a 46-yard field goal in overtime and the Pittsburgh Steelers overcame a 10-point deficit, numerous injuries and a late Baltimore comeback to outlast the Ravens 23-20 on Monday night.

Expect the unexpected in fantasy football
Chiefs over the Broncos? Dolphins over the Patriots? It's the NFL's Age of Parity, when anything can happen when you least expect it. Just ask the sizeable percentage of Brett Favre owners who left his six TD passes on their benches Sunday, writes fantasy football columnist Ladd Biro.

Winless St. Louis Rams fire coach
The winless St. Louis Rams fired coach Scott Linehan on Monday, the day after a fourth straight lopsided loss to start the season.

09/28/2008

Defensive stand lifts Bears over Eagles
Alex Brown stopped Correll Buckhalter at the goal line late in the fourth quarter to help preserve a 24-20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night following two head-scratching losses.

Scobee, Garrard lift Jaguars over Texans in OT
Josh Scobee's 37-yard field goal in overtime gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a 30-27 victory, leaving the Houston Texans winless after three tries and as they ready for the home opener against Indianapolis next Sunday in hurricane-damaged Reliant Stadium.

Bengals lose to Browns, face Cowboys next Sunday
Derek Anderson threw a touchdown pass and rallied the Cleveland Browns to a 20-12 victory over a winless Cincinnati Bengals team missing its starting quarterback.

McAllister returns and Saints beat 49ers
San Francisco's shaky run defense had trouble stopping Deuce McAllister's power running and New Orleans avoided an early-season hole with a 31-17 victory on Sunday.

Titans beat Vikings to improve to 4-0
Rookie Chris Johnson scored two touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers that the Titans turned into 21 points as Tennessee beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-17 Sunday. The Titans improved to 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.

09/27/2008

In St. Louis, Green's show at last

AP

At 38, Trent Green is set to step in for Marc Bulger as starting quarterback for the 0-3 Rams.

Trent Green suffered one of the cruelest injuries ever inflicted on a football player in the summer of 1999, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. Green was going to be the quarterback of the St. Louis Rams but tore up his knee on a sack late in the preseason and wound up spending the year on injured reserve. Unheralded free agent Kurt Warner stepped in for Green and passed for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns, winning NFL MVP honors and leading the Rams to their first Super Bowl title. That could have been Green, should have been Green.

Tim MacMahon's NFL week 4 preview

Texans, Jaguars trying to recover from early hole
The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars started the season in similar fashion.

09/26/2008

Fantasy football picks for Week 4
Here are Ladd Biro's picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 4.

Texans to play at Reliant Stadium on Oct. 5
The Houston Texans will play their home opener against Indianapolis on Oct. 5 in hurricane-damaged Reliant Stadium with the roof open.

09/25/2008

His idol gone, safety Landry helping Redskins fill a major void

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Redskins safety LaRon Landry (above) got to start alongside Sean Taylor for only nine games.

Greatness awaited the Washington Redskins at the safety position. Sean Taylor (2004) and LaRon Landry (2007) were first-round draft picks. But fate deprived Landry of the chance to play with someone he idolized, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. During Landry's rookie season, Taylor was fatally shot fatally shot in Miami in a home invasion.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Ex-Bears RB Benson won't face charges
Former Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson will not face charges over his two alcohol-related arrests in the Austin area earlier this year, officials said Thursday.

09/24/2008

Giants suspend WR Plaxico Burress for one game
Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress was suspended for one game by the New York Giants on Wednesday for missing a workout earlier in the week. His agent insisted the receiver had an undisclosed family emergency and will appeal the ban to the NFL Players Association.

Matt Millen out as Detroit Lions president
Matt Millen has been fired as Detroit Lions president, a team official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

09/23/2008

Roy Williams has had Lion's share of losing

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Roy Williams is finishing up his five-year rookie contract and could be eligible for free agency this off-season.

Roy Williams lost 29 games in eight seasons at Texas and Odessa Permian. In 67 games with the Detroit Lions, Williams has lost 46, including all three this season. "I'd just like to win one year just to see what it feels like," Williams said. He may get his chance in 2009, writes Rick Gosselin.
• Lions fire Matt Millen
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Gosselin

Tomlinson's run of greatness might not last much longer

AP

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 67 yards on 26 carries in Monday's victory over the Jets.

History has taught us one lesson about NFL running backs: The longer they play, the less productive they become. And the cliff grows steeper as they approach 30. LaDainian Tomlinson is just about there – and signs of wear and tear are creeping in, writes Rick Gosselin in this week's Inside the NFL.
• Week 4 schedule
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Texans expect to play at Reliant Stadium on Oct. 5
The Houston Texans plan to play their home opener at hurricane-damaged Reliant Stadium on Oct. 5.

09/22/2008

Chargers clobber Favre, Jets, 48-29
Frustrated by two gut-wrenching losses, the San Diego Chargers raced past nemesis Brett Favre and the New York Jets for a 48-29 victory Monday night in a wild game befitting two original AFL teams.

Fantasy football players should brace for byes
Week 4 kicks off the NFL's bye schedule, and this one's a doozy. Nary a fantasy roster will be spared, as six teams take an early-season respite.

09/21/2008

Turnover-free Redskins making sure they aren't beating themselves

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Washington WR Santana Moss (center) celebrates his go-ahead touchdown with teammates.

The Washington Redskins are not beating themselves with turnovers (none in three games), and that's allowing them to beat their opponents, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. A 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday sends the Redskins to Texas Stadium this weekend with a 2-1 record.

Fourth-quarter pick spurs Redskins to victory over Cardinals
Even Leigh Torrence wasn't sure how he deflected the ball. He got a piece of it with his hand, he thought. Maybe it then bounced off his helmet.

Swarming defense lifts Eagles over Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger had a bandage on his throwing hand and winced while dressing. Considering he was persistently chased, battered and stomped by the Philadelphia Eagles, the damage could've been worse.

Broncos hold off comeback, beat Saints
Martin Gramatica's 43-yard field goal try with 1:55 remaining was wide right, and the Denver Broncos escaped with a 34-32 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Giants beat Bengals in OT on Carney FG
The New York Giants are off to their best start since 2000, thanks in large part to a little tiptoeing in overtime by Amani Toomer and the sure leg of 44-year-old John Carney.

Titans top Texans; stay perfect with Collins as starting QB
The Houston Texans had an opportunity Sunday to be a bright spot for a region devastated by Hurricane Ike. It was just one of many opportunities this team squandered in a 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans that leaves the Texans at 0-2.

Texans owner McNair announces drive to fund Hurricane Ike relief
The Houston Texans and the NFL kicked off a drive Sunday to raise $2 million to help relief and recovery efforts in Texas from Hurricane Ike.

09/20/2008

Injuries to wide receivers take the air out of Seahawks' offense

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Matt Hasselbeck (8) has only one TD pass and a QB rating of 48.6 after two games for Seattle.

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren was optimistic about his team and offense heading to training camp this summer in part because of a rock-solid receiving corps, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. But what Holmgren envisioned in July hasn't materialized in September – and the four-time defending NFC West champion Seahawks are off to their first 0-2 start since 2002.

Titans ready to extend Texans' misery on field
The Texans can fix a lot of problems with their visit to Tennessee.

Tim MacMahon's NFL week 3 preview

09/19/2008

Fantasy football picks for Week 3

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Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme could have a big day against the Vikings' secondary.

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme is unbeaten despite facing tough defenses (San Diego and Chicago) the first two weeks. He should have an easier time in Week 3 against a shaky Minnesota secondary, writes fantasy football columnist Ladd Biro.
• Week 3 schedule
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/18/2008

NFL chat: League needs fix-it policy in place

AP

Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler's fumble was initially ruled an incomplete pass, paving the way for a last-second victory over the Chargers.

The NFL admitted a referee blew the call that allowed the Broncos to beat the Chargers last week. What's even worse, according to Rick Gosselin in Thursday's NFL chat, is that the league has no mechanism in place to correct such a blatant error.
• Week 3 schedule
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

NFL ref Hochuli devastated about bad call
The fallout continues over NFL referee Ed Hochuli's game-deciding mistake in Denver last Sunday.

09/17/2008

Packers' coach learns to appreciate Aaron Rodgers

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Though he took his lumps, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) passed for 201 yards and a touchdown in a 37-27 loss to Dallas last season at Texas Stadium.

Three years ago as San Francisco's offensive coordinator, Mike McCarthy liked Utah quarterback Alex Smith better than Cal's Aaron Rodgers, Rick Gosselin writes. Now, as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy has gained a new appreciation for Rodgers, who will guide the Pack against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Texas Sports Hall of Fame picks class of 2008
Former Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan and San Diego Chargers running back and ex-TCU star LaDainian Tomlinson are among a group of eight selected for induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

09/16/2008

There should be a reward for 'team' players in NFL

DMN file

Safety Darren Woodson awaits a spot in the Cowboys' Ring of Honor.

NFL players can have great careers for a franchise. But a great player in team history doesn't necessarily qualify him for a spot in the Hall of Fame. That's when teams need to step up and do enshrining of their own, writes Rick Gosselin in this week's Inside the NFL.
• Week 3 schedule
Subscribe: Inside the NFL
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Texans considering Rice Stadium for next home game
Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has discussed the possibility of his team playing at Rice Stadium if repairs to Reliant Stadium from Hurricane Ike can't be made in time for its first home game on Oct. 5.

09/15/2008

Texans set to practice for first time since Hurricane Ike
The Houston Texans will resume practicing Tuesday with uncertainty about their future after Hurricane Ike seriously damaged Reliant Stadium.

Offensive line injuries have domino effect in fantasy football
If you ever needed proof that the men toiling in the trenches are far more than so many interchangeable parts, you're getting it over the first two weeks of the 2008 NFL season, writes Ladd Biro.

It was a tale of two halves for McNabb
Let's say for a moment that Terrell Owens is right. Maybe Donovan McNabb never did get him.

09/14/2008

No doubts about Packers' Rodgers

AP

Aaron Rodgers escaped the grasp of the Lions' Langston Moore, and the Packers rallied for the victory.

Aaron Rodgers turned in his best game as a pro in Sunday's 48-25 win over the Lions, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin, completing 24 of 38 passes for 328 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has been sacked just once in two starts and has not thrown an interception for the 2-0 Packers.

Campbell's pass to Moss gives Redskins 29-24 win over Saints
Quarterback Jason Campbell went from uncomfortable to prolific with a 321-yard passing day, and he mastered the "avoid, reset and throw" move with aplomb on a 67-yard touchdown to Santana Moss as the Washington Redskins came from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 29-24.

Giants ride defense to 2-0 start, beat Rams, 41-13
Justin Tuck swatted Marc Bulger's pass out of the air, plucked it from his shoulder pad, and then had time to take in the scenery en route to the end zone. His 41-yard interception return in the fourth quarter was one of several big plays by the New York Giants' defense in another stifling effort.

Collins lead Titans over Bengals 24-7 in wind
After a week in the vortex of Vince Young's drama, the Tennessee Titans were unfazed by all the stuff swirling around them in Paul Brown Stadium. Boxes. Wrappers. Plastic bags. They took it in stride and won in a breeze.

Packers' Rodgers throws 3 TDs as Green Bay wins at Detroit, 48-25
Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in the first four drives of his second start, helping Green Bay build a big lead it needed in a 48-25 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Saints extend coach Sean Payton through 2012
Had the New Orleans Saints won, they could have celebrated both the victory and Sean Payton's new contract.

05/25/2008

Fantasy blog: Test again

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

It's Wade Phillips' first game at Texas Stadium as coach of the Cowboys.

Our fantasy football bloggers talk about players each week and who's hot and who's not on our Fantasy Football blog.

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