The Tiger Report: 12/12/11

Monday, December 12, 2011

Greg Jennings could return in 2-3 weeks

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Monday that wideout suffered a sprained left knee in this weekend's win over the Oakland Raiders and will be out 2-3 weeks.

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"I think it will be safe to say he'll be back for playoffs," McCarthy said during his Monday news conference.

A league source told NFL Network's Albert Breer earlier in the day that the Packers believed Jennings' knee injury was to his medial collateral ligament.

McCarthy said Jennings, who underwent tests to determine the severity of the injury, was at the Packers' team facility Monday and was in good spirits.

"He's upbeat," McCarthy said, "was in here for treatment and had a chance to go through process with medical staff.

" ... I don't have a detailed treatment plan for you, but he'll be in rehab for the next couple of weeks."

The injury to Jennings also brought up the question of if the Packers planned to rest key players during the season's final couple of games, provided they lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win this Sunday over the Kansas City Chiefs.

McCarthy said he has had conversations with general manager Ted Thompson about the team's strategy in such a situation, but he gave no indication of what the organization's philosophy is.

Dolphins fire Tony Sparano

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 12, 2011, 3:49 PM EST

Tony Sparano is out as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins have announced a press conference for 4:15 p.m. today, when they will formally announce that Sparano is gone, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports.

Sparano’s firing has been expected since early this season, when Miami got off to an 0-7 start. Although the Dolphins started to turn things around in the middle of the year, and there was some sentiment that perhaps Sparano could save his job, any thought that he might stick around went away when the Dolphins got whipped by the Eagles on Sunday.

In four seasons with the Dolphins, Sparano has a 29-33 record.

Sparano is the second NFL head coach to lose his job today, following Todd Haley with the Chiefs, and the third NFL head coach to get fired this season, with Jack Del Rio of the Jaguars preceding Haley and Sparano.

Tim Tebow: "My teammates make me look a lot better than I am"

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 12, 2011, 2:23 PM EST

Getty Images

Is Tim Tebow getting too much credit for the team’s six-game winning streak? He thinks so.

“I think my teammates make me look a lot better than I am,” Tebow said after Sunday’s 13-10 win over the Bears. “They really stepped up and came up with some huge plays, and I’m so proud of them. And the way [Demaryius Thomas] stepped up on that last drive. You know, just good for him. I’m very proud of those guys. I think that is a character quality of a good team. When it is clutch and you need competitive greatness, you have to step up and you have to make those plays. If you’re able to do it when it really matters, usually you can find a way. We’ve just got to get better at doing it for four quarters.”

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Romeo Crennel will coach the Chiefs for the final 3 games

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 12, 2011, 12:15 PM EST

After the firing of Todd Haley, the Kansas City Chiefs will install defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as the interim head coach for the final three games of the season.

Crennel, who was hired by Haley as defensive coordinator last year, was the head coach of the Browns from 2005 to 2008. According to multiple reports, the Chiefs have started informing members of the organization that the job is Crennel’s for the next three weeks.

Given the disappointing record of the Browns during Crennel’s tenure, it’s probably unrealistic to think he’d be given a real shot at becoming head coach permanently in 2012, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chiefs hire a head coach who would keep Crennel in place as defensive coordinator.

Among the names that have been thrown around as possible Chiefs head coaches in 2012 are former Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and former Browns and Jets head coach Eric Mangini. All occupy branches of the Bill Belichick family tree, as do Crennel and Chiefs G.M. Scott Pioli.

12/12 Monday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on December 12, 2011, 9:24 AM EST

Moving S Bryan Scott to linebacker didn’t help the Bills slow down Chargers TE Antonio Gates.

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald calls Sunday’s loss a needed reality check for the Dolphins.

Patriots DT Vince Wilfork’s first NFL touchdown didn’t go exactly the way he hoped it would.

The Jets allowed -15 net passing yards in the first half, the lowest total in the NFL since 2004.

A victory next week will move the Ravens into the driver’s seat for the top seed in the AFC.

Bengals RB Cedric Benson followed up a great first half with a dismal second half.

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DeMarco Murray's season is over

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 11, 2011, 10:49 PM EST

It hasn’t been a good third quarter for the Cowboys.

They have given up their lead, and they have lost their starting running back for a long while.

DeMarco Murray has a fractured ankle and a high ankle sprain. No one wants to say he’s officially out for the season just yet, but it’s coming.

It’s your show now, Felix Jones. See how he does on SNF Extra.

Urlacher on Tebow: "He's a good running back"

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 11, 2011, 10:34 PM EST

Getty Images

The Bears’ defensive plan worked for three quarters.

Heck, it even worked for most of the fourth quarter. Tim Tebow and the Broncos punted three times with only one first down in the in their first three drives of the fourth quarter.

Usually, three drives is all you’re going to get in a quarter. But the Broncos defense and Marion Barber helped the Broncos get two more, and Tebow helped make the Bears pay. After the game, the Bears defense was stunned and seemingly not readyto give Tebow his due.

Asked for his thoughts on Tebow after the game, Brian Urlacher was succinct.

“He’s a good running back, man. He runs the ball well,” Urlacher said.

The Bears mostly kept Tebow’s running in check; he had 49 rushing yards. It was Tebow’s 18 completions in the fourth quarter and overtime that really hurt Chicago.

Not bad for a running back.

Mike Smith cleared at Charlotte area hospital after suspected heart-attack

Posted by Mike Florio on December 11, 2011, 10:08 PM EST

Getty Images

After the Falcons pulled off a come-from-behind win over the Panthers, Atlanta coach Mike Smith gave the franchise a much bigger scare.

Smith ended up at a Charlotte-area hospital after becoming ill on the team plane. He was checked for a possible heart attack.

“It was not a heart attack,” G.M. Thomas Dimitroff told Peter King of Football Night In America. “Everything came out negative with the tests.”

Smith wasn’t feeling well on the plane, which was delayed due to other air traffic. The Falcons decided to take Smith off the plane and have him checked by paramedics. The paramedics suggested that Smith be examined at a hospital.

“He’s in good spirits and we’re relieved,” Dimitroff said.

UPDATE 10:52 p.m. ET: The Falcons have issued a statement regarding the situation. “Following the Falcons game vs. Carolina today, Head Coach Mike Smith was transported to a hospital in Charlotte for a non-emergency matter,” the team said. “Coach Smith is resting comfortably, his tests reaffirmed his health, and he is expected to be in Atlanta on Monday. The Falcons will provide further information as it becomes available.”

Suspected MCL tear for Greg Jennings

Posted by Mike Florio on December 11, 2011, 9:45 PM EST

Everyone in Green Bay is tight-lipped for now regarding the status of Packers receiver Greg Jennings.

With an MRI coming Monday, the current chatter is that Jennings has a torn MCL.

The degree of the suspected tear is not currently known. More info undoubtedly will come tomorrow.

Eli Manning is red hot as Dallas collapses

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 12, 2011, 12:22 AM EST

New York quarterback Manning reacts after running back Jacobs scored a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas

Reuters

The best game of Eli Manning’s best season came Sunday night in his second home of Dallas. No quarterback has looked more consistently comfortable in JerryWorld.

Eli’s numbers this season indicate he’s a top-five quarterback, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. His protection has failed. His receivers have dropped so many key passes.

Manning continues to rise to a level few of us ever expected him to reach, completing low percentage passes like few other NFL quarterbacks. Manning is trying throws most quarterbacks don’t attempt. And pulling them off in the fourth quarter.

This is the best Manning has ever played in his career and it’s not close. That includes New York’s Super Bowl run.

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