Eli leaves practice early, Herzlich returns

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 18, 2012, 2:20 PM EST

Reuters

Eli Manning was unable to finish practice Wednesday because of an illness.

Coach Tom Coughlin said the team hopes it’s just a 24-hour bug. Albert Breer of NFL Network writes that his understanding is Manning left the facility because of the illness to avoid getting other teammates sick.

Manning was on the field at the beginning of the practice session, then left and was listed officially as “limited” on the injury report.

The Giants had some good injury news on Wednesday. Linebacker Mark Herzlich(ankle) practiced for the first time since November.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) was the only player to miss practice entirely, although that’s his usual Wednesday routine. Bradshaw missed the first game against San Francisco, where the Giants only had 93 yards rushing on 29 attempts.

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1/18 Wednesday morning one-liners

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 18, 2012, 8:38 AM EST

Getty Images

The Dolphins appear to be down to three head-coaching candidates: Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and staying in-house with Todd Bowles.

Tom Brady has a lot more weapons in this playoff meeting with the Ravens than he had in his last playoff meeting with the Ravens.

Another change for the Jets: Executive V.P. Matt Higgins is leaving the team.

Talking by the Giants and Niners begins

Posted by Mike Florio on January 18, 2012, 9:09 AM EST

AP

I like Giants safety Antrel Rolle.  Talented on the field and entertaining off it, he makes this job easier by giving me and the rest of the guys plenty of things about which to write and/or babble.

If I were Giants coach Tom Coughlin, however, I’d be looking for something to cram in Rolle’s mouth.

In response to comments from 49ers tight end Vernon Davis that he “prayed” for the Giants to beat the Packers, Rolle said Tuesday that Vernon’s prayers have been answered.

Tebow turns down invitation from CBS

Posted by Mike Florio on January 17, 2012, 9:47 PM EST

Getty Images

The folks at CBS wanted to add Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow to Sunday’s conference championship coverage.

And Tebow passed.

“Tim Tebow has decided not to appear,” CBS Sports president Sean McManus told Michael Hiestand of USA Today, via NFL.com.  McManus added that the network “is perfectly fine with the [on-air] lineup we have.”

(That last little part seems unnecessarily defensive.  If they were “perfectly fine” with the lineup, they wouldn’t have tried to tap into Tebowmania.)

Regardless, Tebow’s response isn’t a surprise.  We reported in December that Tebow has been rejecting such opportunities (including an invitation to hostSaturday Night Live) because he desperately wants to remain one of the guys.

Even though he most certainly isn’t.

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Kroenke passes on opportunity to reaffirm commitment to St. Louis

Posted by Mike Florio on January 17, 2012, 8:41 PM EST

AP

On Tuesday, the Rams introduced new head coach Jeff Fisher.  Apart from the predictable stuff, like Fisher gushing about his new employer, tap-dancing around the issue of who’ll have final say, and personally denying that he leveraged the Rams against the Dolphins (even though anyone with a pulse and common sense knows he did), owner Stan Kroenke had a chance to put to rest the renewed talk of a move to Los Angeles, which arose from a recent report that Fisher had concerns about joining the franchise give the possibility of a relocation.

Saints fan describes bad experience at Candlestick Park

Posted by Mike Florio on January 17, 2012, 8:07 PM EST

Getty Images

The NFL hopes to maximize in-person attendance at its games.  To ensure that the stands at every stadium are consistently filled, fans of the visiting team need to feel comfortable with the prospect of showing up in enemy territory and rooting for the road team.

In San Francisco, the resurgence of the 49ers apparently has created an environment of “hostility, vulgarity and intimidation” for fans of the road team, according to a letter to the editor published by the San Francisco Chronicle.