The Tiger Report: 10/14/11

Friday, October 14, 2011

Week 6 Injury report updates

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 14, 2011, 8:00 PM EDT

We write about the big injury news in the rumor mill.

The rest is listed here, in the Northern Hemisphere’s most popular Friday evening blog post.

1. Shawne Merriman (achilles, shoulder) is doubtful for the Bills. He hasn’t make a big impact this year.

T Demetrius Bell (shoulder), WR Donald Jones (ankle), LB Chris Kelsay(calf), and CB Aaron Williams (chest) are all out for Buffalo, as expected.

2. We told you about all the big Giants injuries earlier. The team may get centerDavid Baas back; he’s questionable with a neck injury.

3. Julio Jones (hamstring) is out for the Falcons. DE John Abraham (groin) and C Todd McClure (knee) are both questionable after being limited on Friday.

4. The Browns have four questionable players: WR Joshua Cribbs (knee), CB Joe Haden (knee), C Alex Mack (illness), and T Tony Pashos (ankle). Cribbs should play. Haden didn’t practice all week and should be out.

5. Cowboys wideouts Dez Bryant (thigh) and Miles Austin (hamstring) are both probable after practicing fully all week. They have a chance to expose the shaky Patriots secondary.

6. The Texans listed Andre Johnson (hamstring) as out for a second straight week. Fullback James Casey (pectoral) is doubtful. Clearly Casey’s injury wasn’t as devastating as Mario Williams‘ pectoral injury.

7. The bye week didn’t solve Baltimore’s injury woes. They still are without three key members of the secondary. CB Chris Carr (thigh), CB Jimmy Smith (ankle), and S Tom Zbikowski (head) are all out. WR Lee Evans (ankle) is out again, so wideout Torrey Smith gets another start.

8. The Colts list RB Joseph Addai (hamstring), T Anthony Castonzo (ankle), DT Drake Nevis (back), and CB Jerraud Powers (hamstring) among their questionables, but none of them practiced all week. Don’t expect any of them to play. Indy’s secondary is ugly without Powers.

9. Bengals LB Rey Maualuga (ankle) is out for Cincinnati. He’s been having a nice year. It sounds like it could be a multiple week injury.

10. Bears slot receiver Earl Bennett (chest, questionable) returned to practice this week. The end of the Dane Sanzenbacher era?

11. Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) is probable. He should return at right tackle, with Marshall Newhouse on the blind side. Left tackle Chad Clifton(hamstring) will be out a while.

12. The Lions will play without LB Justin Durant (concussion) and TE Tony Scheffler (concussion).

13. The Redskins could have the entire roster available for their game against the Eagles. Every player on the team participated in at least a portion of practice this week.

14. Eagles DE Trent Cole (calf) and T Jason Peters (hamstring) are both out again. With tackle King Dunlap questionable, the Eagles could have to re-arrange the deck chairs on the o-line.

15. The Bucs list RB LeGarrette Blount (knee) as doubtful, but he won’t suit up. DT Gerald McCoy (hamstring) is out.

16. Seven Steelers remain out. That’s not good. The list: T Marcus Gilbert(shoulder), DT Casey Hampton (shoulder), LB James Harrison (eye), G Chris Kemoeatu (knee), RB Mewelde Moore (ankle), DE Aaron Smith (foot), and LBJason Worilds (quadricep).

17. It looks like Aaron Kampman (knee) will make his season debut for the Jags. He’s probable. LB Clint Session (elbow) is out. T Eugene Monroe (shoulder) returned to practice Friday, but sounds like a gametime decision.

Aaron Curry to start for the Raiders this weekend

Posted by Josh Alper on October 14, 2011, 3:19 PM EDT

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So much for easing Aaron Curry into his new surroundings.

The Raiders will not only have Curry in the lineup against the Browns on Sunday, he’ll be in the starting lineup. Paul Gutierrez of CSN California reports that Curry will start at weakside linebacker in his first game since being acquired in a trade with the Seahawks. Curry, who was a strongside linebacker in Seattle, will be replacing Quentin Groves in the starting lineup although Groves will likely play a fair amount if the Raiders decide to use Kamerion Wimbley at defensive end in place of the injured Matt Shaughnessy.

Sunday’s game will feature what’s sure to be an emotional memorial to the late Al Davis and Curry’s acquisition and immediate playing time are a fitting tribute to Davis. The Raiders have long been a team willing to roll the dice on players who washed out on other teams and Curry certainly qualifies after his disappointing Seahawks career.

Tuck and Jacobs look like they will miss this weekend

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 14, 2011, 3:11 PM EDT

Antonio Pierce isn’t going to like the following news.

Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck and running back Brandon Jacobs were both ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Bills. Fullback Henry Hynoski (neck) and guardChris Snee (concussion) are also out.

Snee’s absence will not help a running game which has become a source of frustration for Big Blue.

Bill Cowher coaching rumor

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 14, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT

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The NFL season hasn’t really started until a new rumor emerged about Bill Cowher’s possiblyenext job.

From Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “Latest rumor in Jacksonville: Bill Cowher bought a house in Marsh Landing and will replace Jack Del Rio.”

We debated posting this, but the page you are reading is called the “rumor mill” not the “news mill.” It’s unclear if Dulac has any information, or just heard the rumor second hand.

Dulac wryly notes that we’ve been down this road with Cowher.

“Bill Cowher has been rumored to have bought more houses than Donald Trump,” he writes.

Expect Cowher to deny this rumor in short order. And expect to hear similar rumors about Cowher when jobs are actually available at the end of the season.

If Cowher doesn’t get back in the game soon, it will grow increasingly harder to believe that he’ll ever return.

Ray Rice fined for a stiff arm during Rams game

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 14, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT

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I’ve always been a fan of the stiff arm, so it’s with a measure of disappointment that I pass along word from Ravens running back Ray Rice that the NFL fined him for a stiff arm this season.

Rice told 105.7 The Fan that he was fined $7,500 for a stiff arm against the Rams. Video of the play is here, and although it was actually Rams cornerback Bradley Fletcher who was called for a facemasking penalty on the play, Rice also grabbed Fletcher’s facemask, and that’s why Rice was fined.

Fining an offensive player for grabbing a defensive player’s facemask during a stiff arm isn’t unprecedented: Devin Hester, Joe Webb and Kevin Ogletree are among the players who have previously been fined for the same infraction.

But Rice’s fine is a reminder of one of the ways the game has changed. One of my favorite NFL Films features is this celebration of the stiff arm, which includes dozens of images of running backs sticking their hands in the faces of their opponents.

“The game has changed, but the stiff arm remains what it’s always been: A tough and trusty tool,” narrator Steve Sabol says.

But it’s not just a tough and trusty tool anymore. Now it can also be a penalty.

10/14 Friday Morning one liners

Posted by Josh Alper on October 14, 2011, 8:54 AM EDT

Indianapolis Colts Clark stretches for a first down as Tampa Bay Buccaneers Barber tackles him during their NFL football game.

Reuters

A review of last week’s game tape left Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com impressed with the work done by Bills G Andy Levitre.

Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas feels ready to get back on the field Monday night.

Patriots WR Wes Welker has nothing but love for Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.

Said Jets QB Mark Sanchez, “Everybodywants an answer. Everybody wants one thing that you can fix. One thing we could fix from last week is getting better on third down.”

Ravens T Bryant McKinnie feels like he’s back to his old self.

RB Bernard Scott would like to see more action in the Bengals backfield.

The Browns are holding out hope that CB Joe Haden and C Alex Mack can play this weekend.

The Steelers don’t want to overload RB Rashard Mendenhall in his return to the lineup.

WR Jacoby Jones got a vote of support from Texans coach Gary Kubiak.

Colts TE Dallas Clark offered no excuses for his six dropped passes this season.

Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker brushed off the quad injury he suffered returning punts as having no effect on his job.

The Titans will return from the bye week with a shot at first place in the AFC South.

Timing on offense is a big concern for Broncos coach John Fox.

Rookie LB Justin Houston is helping the Chiefs pass rush.

With his old team visiting this Sunday, LB Kamerion Wimbley talked about how happy he is with the trade that sent him to the Raiders from the Browns.

Injuries can’t be an excuse for the Chargers, according to G.M. A.J. Smith.

The Cowboys have nothing in the works as the trade deadline approaches.

Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell feels no special sentiment about facing a Bills team he once coached.

With King Dunlap missing Thursday’s practice, the Eagles had Winston Justiceat right tackle and Todd Herremans at left tackle.

It’s still unclear if Redskins CB Phillip Buchanon will make his season debut this weekend.

Bears S Chris Harris isn’t thinking about a contract extension anymore.

The Lions like the progress that they’ve seen from WR Titus Young.

Packers K Mason Crosby has stepped up his game this season.

The experience of facing the best receiver on the opposition is paying off for Vikings CB Chris Cook.

The Falcons might want to consider using the no-huddle offense more liberally in the weeks to come.

Panthers WR Steve Smith isn’t interested in receiving the apology that Saints SRoman Harper isn’t offering.

Both CB Patrick Robinson and the Saints can see the improvement in his game.

RB Allen Bradford was waived by the Buccaneers to make room for S Tanard Jackson.

Cardinals G Daryn Colledge sees better days ahead for the team.

Rams G Jacob Bell returned to practice Thursday and has a chance to start this weekend.

The 49ers wide receivers get high marks for their blocking work.

A look at how LB Aaron Curry ranks among other Seahawks first-round busts.

Brandon Lloyd trade talk update

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 14, 2011, 9:00 AM EDT

We told you last night that Broncos receiverBrandon Lloyd is on the trading block, which should enliven an otherwise quiet NFL trading deadline.

(Hey, it beats daily Tim Tebow posts right? Well, we’ll have those too.)

Mike Klis of the Denver Post broke the story, and he’s updated his news to add what the Broncos are looking for in a deal. They want a third-to-fifth round draft pick.

That’s a pretty big range. Teams seem to value third-round picks highly, while fifth-round picks are often throwaways in trades like this. A fourth-rounder sounds like a pretty fair move for a starting wide receiver like Lloyd.

The Titans and Panthers were mentioned as two interested teams. Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean writes that he does believe the Titans are interested, but doubts a deal will get done. Tennessee could use a physical receiver, rather than another vertical threat.

We’re never big on trading draft picks, but it’s amazing to see how much teams value a mid-to-late round pick right now compared to on draft day when they are tossed around freely in deals.

If Lloyd helped a playoff contender like the Titans win one more game this year, wouldn’t that be worth it?

LeGarrette Blount will be out longer than anticipated

Report: Bucs RB Blount has MCL Grade 2 tear

J.P. Peterson of WQYK-AM 1010 in Tampa reports LeGarrette Blount has a MCL Grade 2 tear.

An MCL tear can leave a player sidelined anywhere from 2-6 weeks. Peterson hears that Blount is out "at least a few weeks," which means he won't be available through the Week 8 bye. The timetable isn't much different from the St. Petersburg Times report that Blount's status is already in question for Week 7. At this point, we wouldn't expect to see him before Week 9. Hold off on adding Kregg Lumpkin in all but the deepest of leagues.

Source: Lakeland Ledger

Oct 13 - 8:09 PM

Cris Cook has established himself as Vikings top corner

Chris Cook - DB - Vikings

The Vikings are trusting second-year CB Chris Cook to cover the opponent's best receiver each week this year.

Antoine Winfield is Minnesota's top corner, but he has size limitations that make him better suited to the slot. With a 6'2" frame and physicality, Cook has held his own against Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald the past two weeks. "We knew he could cover, but he's tackling better," coach Leslie Frazier said. "That's what we need in our scheme."

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Rumors swirl that Colts colt shop Mathis and Wayne before deadline

Posted by Mike Florio on October 14, 2011, 8:04 AM EDT

With the trade deadline only four days away, and with an eleventh-hour deal or two typically being made, speculation has arisen that the Colts could send elsewhere one or two of their disgruntled free-agents-to-be: receiver Reggie Wayne (pictured) and defensive end Robert Mathis.

Phillip Wilson of the Indianapolis Star traces the spitballing to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who apparently said that the Colts should trade Wayne to the Bills and Mathis to the Jets. That idea has quickly become rumor, even though at this point there’s no reason to believe either deal could happen.

Wilson thinks that the Colts should keep both players. But if the Colts already have decided neither to use the franchise tag nor to give new contracts to one or both players, why not dump them now in exchange for future picks?

The hidden benefit, of course, is that it would be a legitimate way to weaken the team as part of a not-so-subtle effort to “Suck for Luck.”

Brandon Lloyd is on the trading block

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 13, 2011, 9:21 PM EDT

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It looks like we’ll actually have an interesting name to talk about leading up to the NFL trading deadline.

Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the Broncos have been in talks with teams regarding wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. Klis says “three or four” teams are interested, with Carolina and Tennessee believed to be among them.

It’s rare for anyone of note to be dealt before the deadline because teams are usually loath to admit it’s a rebuilding year so early in the season. But Lloyd is in the last year of his contract and the Broncos aren’t going to be the same pass-happy team they were under Josh McDaniels. It’s clear they are rebuilding.

Denver also has wideouts Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal returning from injury soon. Second year pro Eric Decker has been a solid starter while Royal is out.

Lloyd should be an attractive trade chip. He makes only $1.395 million and led the league in receiving yards last year. Lloyd leads Denver with 283 yards (in four games) this year. He missed one game due to injury.

I am not surprised, Lloyd has been an outspoken supporter of Orton and not Tebow. This may have been a necessary step to keep the team all singing the same chord.

The Tiger Report

Pages

Friday, October 14, 2011

Week 6 Injury report updates

Aaron Curry to start for the Raiders this weekend

Tuck and Jacobs look like they will miss this weekend

Bill Cowher coaching rumor

Ray Rice fined for a stiff arm during Rams game

10/14 Friday Morning one liners

Brandon Lloyd trade talk update

LeGarrette Blount will be out longer than anticipated

Cris Cook has established himself as Vikings top corner

Rumors swirl that Colts colt shop Mathis and Wayne before deadline

Brandon Lloyd is on the trading block

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