I am excited to announce our second contest of the year! Our friends at CVS Flags have offered to sponsor this giveaway by hooking the lucky winner up with a FREE NFL Team Flag of your choice!
The contest is quick and easy, and anyone can enter to win.
Step 2. Return here to this blog entry and leave us a comment with your name, e-mail, the person that referred you (if applicable), and a link or location of where you shared it. (ie: Your Facebook page)
All participants will be entered once in a drawing to win.
Bonus: For each person that says you referred them, you will receive 1 additional entry in the drawing.
The contest entries must be entered no later than Friday, October 28th at Midnight (EST).
The winner will be announced here on Saturday, October 29th.
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 20, 2011, 7:02 PM EDT
AP
Carson Palmer wasn’t going to fit into the Raiders salary cap structure this year under his old salary.
We knew that his contract would have to be re-worked in some manner, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Palmer took a “flat $5 million pay cut” for 2011 to make it happen.
Schefter says Palmer will get $1 million added to his salary in 2012. $5 million of his $12.5 million salary next year is now guaranteed. We wonder if Palmer has a chance to make “back” more money in future years. If not, it shows how desperate he was to get out of Cincinnati now.
After all, taking a $5 million pay cut is still a lot better than making nothing the rest of the year.
UPDATE: Schefter reports Palmer will make $2.5 million the rest of the season. That’s a nice bargain financially in the short term for the Raiders. He was set to make $7.4 million on is prorated contract the rest of the season.
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 20, 2011, 3:02 PM EDT
AP
Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are in Cleveland to fix the offense above all else.
That’s why it’s been a surprise to see quarterback Colt McCoy and the Browns running game take a step back after Eric Mangini’s firing. Only Kerry Collins has a lower yards-per-attempt average than McCoy this season.
Browns president Mike Holmgren made it clear Thursday McCoy is still being evaluated to see whether he’s really a franchise quarterback.
“Let’s let him play and see how performs and we’ll evaluate it at end of year,” Holmgren said via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
Holmgren said he’s not opposed to adding a new quarterback every year until one sticks: “You have to find that person.”
Pete Prisco of CBSSports watched tape on McCoy this week and came away unimpressed with his arm strength and inability to handle pressure. Quarterback may not be the only change for the Browns offense if they don’t get things turned around.
Holmgren said that Shurmur will likely hire an offensive coordinator next season. That’s a tacit admission that the first-time head coach could use a little more support.
Can Tim Tebow play QB in the NFL? It is not a new question, but 18 months after he was drafted it remains unanswered. This weekend the Heisman winning former Florida Gators quarterback will begin his quest to prove doubters wrong. Tim Tebow is an interesting young man, but for a strange reason he is polarizing to people. You see it isn’t because of his play on the field or because of an arrogant persona that he is hated as much as he is loved. Tebow lives a faith led life and he is not shy when it comes to sharing his faith with others. Some commend him for talking the talk and walking the walk, but most people are uncomfortable because of it. Whether it is because he makes them feel inadequate or that conviction is an uncomfortable feeling is a conversation for another time.
Can he talk the talk and walk the walk of an NFL quarterback? I think he can, but we are about to find out. We get to watch this story unfold over the coming weeks, starting when the Broncos travel to Miami to face the Dolphins this weekend. Is his unorthodox south paw delivery the bane of his quarterback existence? Is his major league pitcher-esque wind up too slow for the NFL? Does he take his eyes off the receivers too quickly when he scrambles? These are all questions that some analysts and scouts think have already been answered. Personally, I just think he wins. I don’t know about you, but I prefer an ugly winner over a pretty loser.
"The greatest trade in football” was announced to the football world on Tuesday, as the Raiders shipped their 1st round pickin 2012 and potentially their 1st round pick in 2013 as well for a 31 year old quarterback. Carson Palmer was the 1st overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft, selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer quickly rose to the upper echelon of quarterbacks after his 2005 season where he threw for 3,836 yards and 32 touchdowns. His whole future was in front of him and he had restored life to a dreadful franchise. He played well on a resurgent Bengals team until he was injured during the 2007 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The knee injury that he suffered caused him to miss the majority of the 08 season, and Palmer never really regained his form. People around the league have questioned his decision making and his arm strength. Palmer was once known for his ability to throw the deep ball, but scouts like Greg Cosell have said that a decline in his arm strength is evident on film.
So what does Carson Palmer have to offer the Raiders? Can he be the leader of the locker room? Can he still throw the deep ball? Will he start this week against the Chiefs? Is he worth two 1st round picks? Those are all questions that we have, and some of them may get answered quicker than we expected. It looks like there is a strong possibility that Palmer will get the start this week against the Kansas City Chiefs. It is strange to think of a guy coming in straight off the street to a new team, throwing to receivers that he never even met until yesterday, starting an NFL game. However, this is the Raiders so it just might happen. Fortunately for Palmer he doesn’t have to win this game, he will just have to manage it. If the Raiders stick to what has worked and pound the rock with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush they should be fine, regardless of who is under center. Some questions will take some time to answer though. Is he worth 1 possibly 2 first round picks? I doubt it, but someone believes he is, or he wouldn’t be wearing silver and black.
The Vikings surprised the football world when they used 12th overall selection in the draft to select the quarterback from Florida State. Christian Ponder has all the physical and mental tools to be an NFL quarterback, but he was widely regarded as a late first round pick at best. It was predicted that there would be a run on quarterbacks at the end of the first and start of the second round, but they were wrong as the Vikings didn’t wait that long. Then the Vikings were able to bring in Donovan McNabb to fill the starting role so that Ponder could be groomed into becoming the starter.
Those plans have since changed as McNabb has played himself out of a job and the Vikings are still looking for just their 2nd win of the season. Minnesota will not acknowledge that the season is lost, but they are 1-5 and are 0-2 in the division. So the time is now to get Ponder on the field and let him start his on the job training. Ponder will take his lumps this year but at least he has Adrian Peterson to lean on. Leaning on AP is something they should do early and often this weekend as Dom Capers is bringing his complex defensive scheme to town. Capers is sure to have a wide array of exotic blitzes to confuse and crush the young quarterback. How Christian Ponder handles that pressure this weekend could be a glimpse into the Vikings future.
Posted by Mike Florio on October 20, 2011, 1:34 PM EDT
Getty Images
It’s been more than a year since receiver Anquan Boldin was traded from the Cardinals to the Ravens. While the retirement of quarterback Kurt Warner has been viewed as the biggest reason for the franchise’s slide in 2010, Kevin Kolb has arrived — but the team is still 1-5.
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald seems to think the problem is the absence of another high-end wideout.
“Here’s the one small thing that everyone forgets about when Kurt was here,” Fitzgerald said, via Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic. “We had this other guy, what was his name? Oh, yeah. Anquan Boldin. I think he made a couple Pro Bowls or something. He was a decent player around these parts. I wasn’t here by myself. I had some talented guys around me.”
Fitzgerald supposedly was smiling as he said it. But plenty of strong messages are delivered without furrowed brows or gnashed teeth.
“Look at Green Bay, they have a plethora of talented guys,” Fitzgerald said. “When you have so many things teams have to worry about defensively, you’re going to get open, you’re going to get the big shots for your offense.
“Right now, teams are saying, ‘Fitzgerald is over here, we’re not going to let him beat us. We’re going to do whatever it takes to hold him down and not allow him to do that.’ In years, past, when I had ‘Q,’ even last year with Steve [Breaston], defenses approached it a little differently. There were times when I could find some [space]. Now those times are few and far between.”
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 20, 2011, 1:03 PM EDT
The proposed trade of running back Jerome Harrison to Philadelphia was voided because Harrison was found to have a brain tumor.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter breaks the news and points out that the failed trade could be a blessing in disguise for Harrison. Without the trade, Harrison wouldn’t have taken a physical that revealed the tumor.
This helps explain how Harrison wasn’t on the injury report last week: The Lions had no idea.
Hopefully Harrison caught this early and can treat it aggressively now. Our thoughts are with Harrison and we wish him good health.
Our prayers are with Jerome Harrison for a speedy recovery on this health challenge.
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 20, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
AP
Lions running back Jahvid Best is sitting out practice again today after suffering a concussion on Sunday. And he might miss a lot more than just practice.
The concussion Best suffered on Sunday was his second of the 2011 season. And perhaps of greater concern is that Best suffered a very serious concussion at Cal, which forced him to miss the final four games of his college career.
For his part, Best suggested this week that he doesn’t know how long he’ll be out.
The Lions’ attempt to trade for Ronnie Brown this week may be an indication that they’re concerned about Best’s health and want more depth at running back. After that trade was voided, the Lions don’t have many other places to turn if Best can’t go.
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
Dallas Cowboys Defense - The Cowboys defense has been playing very well this year despite all of the injuries they had in the secondary early on. This week they get to potentially feast on a struggling Rams offense that is giving up the most Sacks and QB hits in the NFL. Also the Cowboys boast one of the top run defenses in the league, so Steven Jackson should be greatly limited in this game.
Dallas Cowboys - Tony Romo - The defense are not the only ones we expect to have a big day against the Rams. Romo will be facing a terrible secondary this week in the Rams. Romo is not going to feel sorry for them because they have tons of injuries, instead he is going to shred them. Do not expect Jason Garrett to be criticized for being conservative this week.
Denver Broncos - Tim Tebow - Tebow is not that prototypical drop back passer, but he seems to always find a way to get it done. This week he will be playing against a defense that everyone thought would be great, but has actually been pretty bad. To make matters worse, the Dolphins offense won't be able to stay on the field, so Denver will have the ball most of the game. Tebow will be unorthodox, but he could generate some serious points in South Beach this weekend.
Washington Redskins - Ryan Torain - This pick burned me last week because he was supposed to have a monster day against the Eagles poor linebacking squad. However the Eagles completely sold out on the run and were in the backfield all day. Despite having no room to run, most thought Torain actually ran very well, for what he faced. However this week, the Panthers will not be able to deploy the same tactics to stop the run. They simply don't have the cover guys that the Eagles do, allowing them to drop their safeties in the box. I expect the running game to flourish against this banged up Carolina defense.
Sit em St Louis Rams - Steven Jackson - Jackson is finally as close to 100% as you get during a season, and he has a terrible match up. The Cowboys defense has played great, and their run defense is leading the way. Their run defense is allowing just under 70 yards per game, ranking them 1st in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Maurice Jones-Drew - I love the way Pocket Hercules plays the game, but this match up is a nightmare for MJD. The Ravens are flying around and shutting people down. The Jags offense just doesn't have enough firepower to spread the Ravens out, MJD gets shut down this week.
Cleveland Browns - Peyton Hillis/Montario Hardesty - Hillis probably won't play due to injury, but even if he does don't play him. And don't think that Hardesty will be a good play in his absence this week. Seattle's run defense has been overlooked this year, but it is good. No team is allowing less yards per carry than the 'Hawks 3.1. Regardless of who plays, leave em on the bench.
Posted by Mike Florio on October 20, 2011, 8:07 AM EDT
AP
After Bill Parcells quit his job as Dolphins V.P. of football operations, owner Stephen Ross reportedly told G.M. Jeff Ireland that former Chiefs president/G.M. Carl Peterson wouldn’t be taking over Parcells’ job. A year later, a growing number of league insiders believe that Peterson eventually will be taking over Ireland’s job.
Peterson and Ross have a lengthy relationship. From a business standpoint, they have been working together most recently on the FanVision product, a handheld video device that is used in certain stadiums. From a football standpoint, Peterson served nearly 30 years ago as G.M. of the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars, which were owned by Ross.
Since most owners have no independent football knowledge, they have to rely on others for advice and counsel. When it comes to evaluating the G.M. and/or coach, an owner needs to rely on someone else, and it’s widely believed that Ross is relying on Peterson.
Peterson has been spotted at multiple Dolphins’ games. Most recently, Peterson was seen at MetLife Stadium on Monday, where the Dolphins fell to 0-5 against the Jets.
The working theory is that Peterson will, at a minimum, be heavily involved in selecting the next G.M. and coach. Or Peterson will be the next G.M., at which time he could round up various former Chiefs officials, like Denny Thum and Bill Kuharich, who currently aren’t employed by NFL teams.
Peterson also has a connection to former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, given that Cowher worked in Kansas City as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach in Pittsburgh. And with Ross reportedly wanting a superstar coach, Peterson could be instrumental in luring Cowher to Miami.
If Cowher ends up being the coach, Peterson may have to step aside from the day-to-day football operations, since Cowher likely will want to run the show with help from someone like Kevin Colbert or Omar Khan. From time to time over the past several years, we’ve heard that Colbert and Khan have gotten the word that Cowher could be heading back to the NFL.
It’s unknown whether Cowher is ready to return, or whether he’d be interested in the Dolphins. But the belief is getting stronger and stronger that Peterson will be instrumental in the direction of the franchise after the 2011 season ends.
We can only wonder how long it will be until Peterson properly christens his chair.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Sam Bradford won't test his ankle until Friday's practice.
After missing Wednesday's workout, Bradford will sit out Thursday as well. ESPN's Adam Schefter has not backed down from his report that Bradford is expected to start against Dallas. "The feeling is that he will not miss this game," Schefter said on SportsCenter Wednesday. "The Rams think he will be out there." A.J. Feeley is getting all of the first-team reps in the meantime.
Philip Rivers said Antonio Gates (foot) "looked as good as he always does" on the Chargers' practice field Wednesday.
"It was good to have him back," added Rivers. Coach Norv Turner said the Chargers' plan to is increase Gates and Vincent Jackson's (hamstring) practice reps each day this week. "We're working to get them back to where they can get through an entire practice," Turner said. "They both did more than they did on Monday and that both can do more tomorrow than they did today."
