The Tiger Report: 10/06/11

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Best running back matchups Week 5

Fred Jackson: Jackson has been on a tear so far this season. Expect things to continue this way in Week 5. He will go up against the Philadelphia Eagles that rank 30th in the league in run defense. After allowing 127 yards on 15 carries to a less than 100 percent Frank Gore, Jackson owners should be in for a fantastic week.

Mark Ingram: He hasn't quite lived up to the preseason hype yet, but Ingram looks like he could breakout this week. Ingram was given 17 carries last week, and since the Saints are playing the second-worst run defense in the NFL, things are looking up for the rookie. The Panthers are allowing 144 rush yards per game. Put Ingram in your lineup this week.

Arian Foster: Fantasy owners are so relieved to see Foster back to his 2010 form. He looked like the same rushing champion against the Steelers, and this week is a good matchup to keep it going. The Texans take on a Raiders defense that is allowing 136 rush yards per game. They have also given up five rushing touchdowns in the first quarter of 2011. Foster is in for another big day.

TTR's Week 5 Picks

Current record 43-21 (67.18%)
Last Week 12-4

Sunday

Saints at Panthers - This week the Cam Newton hype train keeps rolling and he will throw for over 300 yards in another loss. The Saints are just too good of a team, even on the road. Sean Payton and Drew Brees could have a field day with this team if they wanted to, but this may actually be a good week for them to pound the rock with Ingram and Thomas with the injuries the Panthers have at linebacker. The score will make this game appear closer than it really is as the Saints win 28-24.

Raiders at Texans - As I mentioned, I fully expect this game to be dominated by Arian Foster. He will be facing an anemic run defense in the Raiders. I do expect Darren McFadden to have a huge game as well, but Foster is facing the softer silver and black. This could be a game where we could easily see over 300 yards of rushing offense combined. Even with the absence of Andre Johnson, Schaub should still be able to move the ball against the Raiders through the air as well. Despite that, I still think Oakland finds a way to win this game. The Texans have only played one good team so far this year, and they lost. They beat a Steelers team that was decimated by injuries and still did not play that well. The two games DMC did not get 100 yards, the Raiders lost. DMC gets his touches this week, and the Raiders slip past the Texans 30-27.

Cardinals at Vikings - Who are the Cardinals? They beat the Panthers and played close games with two possible playoff teams, then they lose to the terrible Seahawks. I am not sure if they are playing to the level of their competition or what. This is a team that actually could be a 4-0 team. They have lost 3 games by a total of 8 points. The good news is that they play the Vikings, the bad news is they play the Vikings. The Vikings are one of the leagues four remaining winless teams. The Vikings actually have the smallest margin of victory of the four with -19. This game will also be played in the Metrodome, which is known around the league as one of the hardest venues for visiting teams to play in. I think this game could be an ugly game full of turnovers and defensive/special teams plays that determine the outcome. The crowd noise will give the Vikings already dangerous pass rush a decided advantage and will force Kolb into mistakes. McNabb probably won't be celebrated too much, but the Vikings get their first win this week. Vikings win their first game 24-17.

Chiefs at Colts - Six months ago no one would have thought that this game could be a crucial meeting in the "Suck for Luck" campaign. Both teams have been eaten alive by the injury bug this year, but they are both fighting through it. The Chiefs have steadily improved each week, and the most evident place other than their record is the passing offense. Week after week Cassel has improved to throwing 260 yards against the Vikings in their first victory. The Colts likewise have improved each week and lost close games in prime time to the Steelers and the Bucs. However the Colts I think, are right where they should have been 3 weeks ago. Despite the horrific job of protecting Curtis Painter, he threw for 281 yards and 2 touchdowns. It wasn't pretty as he was absolutely battered, but the offense showed signs of life. The Chiefs will not pose as much of a threat, as they do not have the pass rush that the Bucs do. Furthermore, I will repeat what I have said since week 1. Kerry Collins should have never been brought in to replace Painter. Painter should have been given the chance to play his way out of a job. This was a huge blunder by a normally well managed team. With that being said, I do believe that despite the injuries and their record, that the Colts are gaining confidence with Painter. I expect the Colts to beat the visiting Chiefs 24-20.

Seahawks at Giants - I don't believe in Tarvaris Jackson. Yes he just threw for 319 yards and 3 scores, but he was not under pressure by the Falcons much at all. He still managed to throw 2 picks as well. The Giants will not let Tarvaris feel comfortable in the pocket this weekend as they bring a defense that has registered 12 sacks in 4 games. Not to mention Osi is back and he looks as good as ever. Expect the Giants front four to get after the 'Hawks in this one. Keep in mind the 'Hawks have already allowed 14 sacks, but more importantly 37 QB hits, which is 31st in the NFL. Charlie Whitehurst might want to start warming up now. Giants crush Seattle 31-16.

Eagles at Bills - 3-1 meets 1-3 in this cross conference match up. The Eagles have been a mess so far this year and the whole dream team moniker has been a disaster. They are still loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Despite being in Orchard Park, this game goes to the Eagles. Philly is producing 343.8 yards and 25.5 points per game, but their turnover ratio is awful at -6. The good news is that the Bills defense does not appear to be capable of capitalizing off that. Mike Vick has fumbled 7 of the Eagles 9 times this season, but the Bills have the worst pass rush in the NFL at this point with only 4 sacks. This week Vick could easily look like he did in 2010. Eagles win a shootout with the Bills 38-28.

Bengals at Jaguars - I have no problem admitting when I am wrong. I indeed appear to have been wrong about the Bengals defensive success so far this year. The Bengals are team that is a year or two away from challenging for the division, but their defense seems very real. They were able to shut down the Bills big time allowing only 273 yards of total offense and just 20 points. The Bengals are playing solid defense and it doesn't seem to matter who they play at this point. The Jags are really struggling and Blaine Gabbert does not appear to be a quick solution to that problem. Gabbert could very well be an excellent pro, but right now he isn't getting it done. His completion percentage over 69 attempts is a lousy 47.8% with a QB rating of 62.9. It will get better over time, but not this week. The Bengals carry their momentum through week 5 with a 24-10 win over Jacksonville.

Titans at Steelers - Big Ben looks like he is going to play this weekend, but the Steelers are so beat up it probably wont matter. They are without Mendenhall this week and both James Harrison and Lamar Woodley due to injuries. With that being said I think the Titans pull off the "upset" this week and that Chris Johnson keeps looking more and more like the old CJ2k. Matt Hasselbeck also continues on his way to "free agent pick-up of the year". Titans win big over the reeling Steelers, 28-14.

Buccaneers at 49ers - I am not sure that anyone anticipated this Week 5 match up being a big game, but it is. Both teams are 3-1 and both are at the top of their respective divisions. The Buccaneers are a young team that is talented on both sides of the ball, but they have been off to slow starts in some of their games to this point. They really have not hit on all cylinders yet offensively, and if they ever get that figured out they will be a team to reckon with. The 49ers on the other hand have not been overly impressive with their 28th ranked offense, but they are 14th in scoring. As Crabtree and Edwards get settled into the offense more I think those numbers will increase, but what is most impressive is that they are tied with the Lions for first place in turnover ratio at an impressive +8. Despite all his doubters, Alex Smith is doing a great job taking care of the football with only 1 interception. Because the Tampa offense hasn't quite hit it's stride yet, I feel these teams are evenly matched, so the edge goes to the home team. Niners win a very close game 17-16.

Jets at Patriots - The Jets have lost two in a row and the swagger has turned to a stagger in the Big Apple. Ryan will have his team ready to play their hated rival Patriots, but I still don't think they match up well. The Jets have not been able to stop the run the last few weeks and the Patriots can take to the air or the ground. I do think Sanchez could have a huge game, but the Jets will lose the first of two meetings. Patriots hand Jets their 3rd straight loss, 35-27.

Chargers at Broncos - Philip Rivers will get his first taste of Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Von Miller this week. Miller has lived up to the billing of the #2 overall selection in this years draft by quickly recording 4 sacks. Miller will be on the prowl this week, but he will not be enough to swing the game to Denver. The Denver offense has been bad at 22nd in scoring and 24th in yardage, while Kyle Orton has already thrown 6 interceptions. Denver will continue to turn the ball over and lose games because of their -6 turnover ratio. Chargers win at Mile High, 24-17.

Packers at Falcons - After the Packers walked into their house and smacked them in the mouth, the Falcons lost a bit of swagger. This is a game that some think will be close and played down to the wire, but I don't think it will be. The Packers have shown that they are once again a dynamic offense that an score on anyone, yet the Falcons defense is allowing an average of 26.2 points per game. But against Tampa they only allowed 16 points, which was as much about weather conditions as it was good play. If you remove that from the equation then they are allowing 30 points a game. Not to mention that two of those teams that put up 28 or more points were the Bears and Seahawks. So this game will likely turn into a track meet when Air Atlanta plays host to the Packers. If that happens and the Falcons don't control the tempo of this game, the Packers pass rush will eat Matty Ice alive. Packers win their 5th straight 41-24.

Monday

Bears at Lions - The Lions will play their first Monday Night game in 10 years against the rival Bears. I think this game is huge for the Lions for a couple reasons. A lot of people don't believe the Lions are even one of the best two teams in their own division, no less a legitimate contender. This is not only an opportunity to extend their win streak in front of a national audience, but do it against a team that "beat" them twice last year. We have to remember the Bears are a team that was one game away from the Super Bowl last year, and the Lions played with them both games last year. The Bears did not get better in the offseason and the Lions did. Not only that, but the Lions actually have Stafford on the field and it has made a world of difference. There are a few major keys to this game that will determine the outcome. The first key is how committed the Bears are at keeping Forte involved in the game. Forte has had a huge impact on the Lions in the past, but it will not be as easy this year, since they actually have NFL caliber linebackers on the field this time. The second storyline during the game will be the Lions offensive line. The Bears are not getting enough pressure as a unit, against opposing QBs. Stafford better hope that it stays that way this week. The primary threats on the Bears defensive line are Heny Melton and of course Julius Peppers. I expect Forte to have a big day, but that it will not be enough by himself. The Lions front four will make it a long day for the Bears line and Cutler. Lastly the Detroit line will give Stafford adequate time to get the offense moving, and Calvin has a day for the record books. Lions win at home 34-20.

Bye Week - Ravens, Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams, Redskins

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Peyton Hillis drama continues, trade request could be on the horizon

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Tony Grossi believes Peyton Hillis will request a trade ahead of the October 18 deadline.

Grossi says contract talks between the Browns and Hillis are "not going well," and that a trade request is likely the "next step." It's hard to imagine the Browns cutting ties with one of their few offensive weapons, though it's become clear they have little interest in inking their feature back to a lucrative long-term extension. While Hillis and his third agent in four months desperately struggle to maintain leverage, the Browns have little motivation to act on a trade request even if Montario Hardesty looms as a potential replacement. Oct 6 - 5:42 PM

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Rookie Nick Fairley will make his debut against on Monday Night Football

Report: Rookie Fairley to make debut on MNF

ESPN Chicago reports Lions DT Nick Fairley (foot) will make his NFL debut against the Bears on Monday Night Football this week.

Fairley has reportedly told friends and family that he's been given the green light this week. The No. 12 overall pick resumed practicing on a limited basis Wednesday. He will play in a backup role behind starters Corey Williams and Ndamukong Suh throughout the season.

Source: ESPN Chicago

Eric Kettani forced to leave Patriots for the Navy

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 6, 2011, 7:31 PM EDT

Eric Kettani is leaving his post as a running back on the Patriots’ practice squad to return to the U.S. Navy.

Kettani, who played college football at the U.S. Naval Academy, was informed that he is being ordered to return to his Navy ship in Jacksonville, Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald reports.

Although he was hoping to continue his NFL career, Kettani said he understands that he has orders to follow.

“I love my country and I’m happy to serve it, but I’m also happy to be a New England Patriot,” Kettani told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Kettani had requested a leave from active duty that would allow him to stay with the Patriots, but he was informed by letter that his request was denied.

“As our nation is at war, it is important to ensure we maintain our commitment to the nation’s defense,” the letter from the Navy said. “As such, a release from active duty would be inconsistent with that effort.”

And with that, Kettani is out of the NFL and headed back to active service.

Roethlisberger fully practiced and Max Starks may get the start

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 6, 2011, 8:38 PM EDT

Getty Images

Ben Roethlisberger practiced fully on Thursday, ending any small uncertainty about his status Sunday against the Titans.

Big Ben’s availability is decided, but the man protecting his blind side remains up in the air. Recently signed tackle Max Starks took between 66-75% of the first team snaps on Thursday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated earlier this week that Starks was unlikely to come “off the street” and right into the starting lineup. But it appears that’s just what Starks will do, even though Jonathan Scott has returned to practice the last two days.

We doubt Starks can cure what ails the Pittsburgh line, but it’s worth a shot. They had to try something different.

More entertainment from Chris Cooley

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 6, 2011, 2:56 PM EDT

Yes, Chris Cooley’s comments about Tony Romo have already received too much attention.

Yes, we’re going to give them more attention. It’s for a good reason; Cooley wrote a long and thoughtful post about the topic and we wanted to pass it along.

“In a league full of glad-handing and ass slapping between competing teams, I actually care about the organization and fan base that has supported me throughout my 8-year career,” Cooley writes. ”While I feel an honest respect for all NFL players, I show no remorse in cheering against another team, especially the Cowboys. If it sounded like I was delighted by Tony Romo’s failure last week, I was.”

Thank you. Cooley goes on from there to point out that it’s not personal with Romo. He also responds in hilarious fashion to a lot of the nasty Twitter messages he’s received.

Admonishing Cooley like he’s some fourth-grader is a joke. The more that I read about the NFL of the 60′s, 70′s, and 80′s, the more I realize there was far more “trash talking” then. You want players to root against each opponents. It’s boring to get the same fake sound bite over and over.

There is nothing worse than hearing phony moralizing from people who take sports too seriously. When there is a rare player like Cooley that has a little fun, we kill him for it.

We leave with an actual response from ESPN’s Skip Bayless about Cooley’s quotes:

“Way, way, out bounds. I lost a lost of respect of Chris Cooley,” Bayless said with a hushed tone as if someone had died. “He comes across as some lame-brained, knee-jerked Redskins fan.”

This is coming from a man who holds the world record for lame-brained, knee-jerk, out of bounds, hypocritical sports commentary.

Patriots get 3 starters back on the practice field today

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 6, 2011, 3:45 PM EDT

Getty Images

The Patriots returned to a padded practice Thursday, and they got three key starters back in the mix.

Tight end Aaron Hernandez, defensive tackleAlbert Haynesworth, and defensive lineman Mike Wright all got back to work for New England.

Hernandez and Haynesworth have both missed two straight games. Wright, perhaps the team’s best pass rusher at this point, hasn’t played since a Week 1 concussion.

Linebacker Jerod Mayo, running back Danny Woodhead (ankle), receiverJulian Edelman (ankle), and tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back) were all still out of practice.

Though Florio and I both picked the Jets to win on Sunday, the nine-point spread seems a little crazy considering New England’s injuries and awful defense. If you are into that sort of thing.

TTR's Week 5 - Fantasy Football Mailbag - Submit your questions!

We will be accepting and answering any fantasy football questions this weekend before the start of the games, so feel free to get your questions in to us and we will respond in time for you to set your lineups on gameday!

-Tiger

Andre Johnson did indeed have surgery on his hamstring

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 6, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT

A report surfaced from Stephanie Stradley of the Houston Chronicle’s website on Wednesday that Texans receiver Andre Johnson underwent Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy earlier this week.

The Texans called it a “procedure” which seemed odd at the time, but Stradley has now issued a correction. Johnson, in fact, did undergo surgery on distal tendon of his hamstring.

The anticipated recovery time for Johnson remains three weeks. It’s hard to imagine you could return from any surgery on the hamstring faster than that, but the reality is that no one in the media knows much of anything when it comes to recovery timelines.

ESPN fires Hank, but Hank insists he quit

Posted by Mike Florio on October 6, 2011, 10:29 AM EDT

Getty Images

Though ESPN’s decision to yank Hank Williams, Jr. from the opening theme music to Monday Night Football initially seemed to be a one-week suspension, it’s a little more permanent than that.

OK, it’s a lot more permanent than that.

ESPN has parted ways with Williams. The network announced the decision on Thursday, via John Ourand of SportsBusiness Journal.

“We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr.,” ESPN said in a statement. “We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.”‬‬

Hank, of course, sees it differently. He claims that he has pulled his song from the show. Says Hank on his website: “After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You [ESPN] stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment, Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.” — Hank Williams Jr.

Um, right. Hank apologized on Tuesday in the hopes of keeping the only thing that has kept him relevant for the last 25 years. And now that he’s being pushed, he’s trying to make it look like he jumped.

The sad part is that plenty of people will believe that Hank wasn’t fired, and that he actually did quit.

Browns sat Hillis on agents advice

Thursday, October 6, 2011

ClevelandBrowns.com

By Kris Knox
National Football Authority

NFL Writer

When it was announced that Cleveland Browns running backPeyton Hillis would not play in the Week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins due to a case of strep throat, nearly everyone asked the same question.

How could one of the game's toughest and most physical players be sidelined by a sore throat?

Some even questioned if Hillis was really too sick to play at all, or if his lack of a long-term contract led to the decision.

However, it appears that Hillis did not suit up at the advice of his agent, Kennard McGuire. McGuire has since told the Associated Press that Hillis was too sick to play and playing might have jeopardized his health, his season and possibly even his career.

"I would give him the same advice to him or any of my clients as if he were my son," McGuire told reporters in a phone interview. "The game is physical enough, and the way Peyton plays the game, he needs all the elements of his physical game. Him being sick, and the level of his sickness, is the equivalent of being injured.

"Not only could he have hurt himself but he could have hurt his team. Nobody embodies Cleveland like Peyton Hillis. If anyone wants to point a finger, point it at me."

Of course, it makes sense for McGuire to want to protect the health of his client. Hillis has become one of the league's hottest stars after rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert have been working hard to extend the contracts of those they consider 'core players' and re-signing Hillis should be a top priority. He is in the final year of his contract and should be in store for a big payday.

Any serious injury this season could cost Hillis, and in turn, McGuire, a lot of money.

While money may be perceived as a major factor, keeping Hillis healthy should be a paramount concern for the Browns. Injuries and a heavy workload caused Hillis to wear down late last season and he failed to score in the final five games.

Protecting Hillis now, instead of running him into the ground, might just be the key to allowing him to finish the season strong this year.

Update on Andre Johnson injury

Andre Johnson - WR - Texans

Updating a previous item, Steph Stradley of the Houston Chronicle reports that Andre Johnson did have surgery to repair the distal tendon of his hamstring.

He didn't undergo platelet-rich plasma therapy. Per Stradley, the projected three-week recovery time remains the same. The procedure "went well," and the Texans are believed to be targeting Week 8 for Johnson to return. The Texans, of course, have provided no official timetable. Fantasy owners need to hang tight. Johnson is likely to be an asset in the second half of the season. Jacoby Jones will start at "X" receiver in the meantime, and should avoid Raiders LCB Stanford Routt's coverage for the majority of Week 5.

Source: Houston Chronicle

The Tiger Report

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Best running back matchups Week 5

TTR's Week 5 Picks

Peyton Hillis drama continues, trade request could be on the horizon

Rookie Nick Fairley will make his debut against on Monday Night Football

Eric Kettani forced to leave Patriots for the Navy

Roethlisberger fully practiced and Max Starks may get the start

More entertainment from Chris Cooley

Patriots get 3 starters back on the practice field today

TTR's Week 5 - Fantasy Football Mailbag - Submit your questions!

Andre Johnson did indeed have surgery on his hamstring

ESPN fires Hank, but Hank insists he quit

Browns sat Hillis on agents advice

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Update on Andre Johnson injury

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