Pagano calls Donald Brown the "bell cow"

Posted by Mike Florio on June 20, 2012, 1:06 PM EDT

AP

Even though the Colts signed former Steelers third-down back Mewelde Moore on Tuesday, they may not use him much, if coach Chuck Pagano gets his way.

In Pagano’s mind, Donald Brown won’t be leaving the field in obvious passing situations.

“Donald is an every-down back,” Pagano said, according to Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star.  “He is doing a tremendous job and he is having a fantastic offseason.  He understands, especially on third down as far as protections go and all of those things.  Nothing is going to be more important than protections.”

Chargers raving about Melvin Ingram

Posted by Darin Gantt on June 20, 2012, 12:44 PM EDT

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This is the time of year every team loves its draft class. After all, the players haven’t proven them wrong yet.

But coaches in San Diego are positively raving about first-rounder Melvin Ingram.

Some thought the South Carolina product might have been the best pass-rusher in the draft, and the Chargers got him 18th overall. While he lined up at inside linebacker, defensive tackle, and defensive end for the Gamecocks, the Chargers think he has what it takes to be special as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Gil Brandt: Barry Sanders the No.2 running back of all time

Brian Manzullo - Detroit Free Press


Here's another one of those debates that rages on and on: Who's the best NFL running back of all time?

Stevie Johnson able to practice without pain

Posted by Josh Alper on June 20, 2012, 10:19 AM EDT

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It doesn’t seem like the Bills will have to worry about the aftereffects of Stevie Johnson’s groin surgery.

The wide receiver made good on his proclamation that he’s way ahead of schedulein his recovery from the operation by getting on the field for Tuesday’s minicamp practice. Johnson was limited to 10 snaps during the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 portions of practice, butthat’s 10 more than the Bills thought he was going to get just a short time ago. After the session, Johnson said that his main concern at this point is mental rather than physical.

Man arrested after calling police, demanding to talk to Tebow

Posted by Josh Alper on June 20, 2012, 9:32 AM EDT

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Tebowmania has caused its first arrest.

The New Jersey Herald reports that Jason Slater of Hopatcong, New Jersey was arrested on charges of creating false public alarms after calling 911 three times on June 10th and then refusing to give dispatchers any idea about why he was calling. Slater then called police headquarters and demanded to speak to Jets quarterback Tim Tebow while claiming to be the President of the United States.

Police went to Slater’s house to make sure that there wasn’t any emergency and found him hiding under some pillows in his mother’s closet. Slater, who is 28, was arrested at that point. Mark Sanchez probably wishes that the police were that vigilant when the Jets started calling Denver in an attempt to get in touch with Tebow a few months ago.

Slater greeted the officers with expletives and was taken to the police station for processing. Slater was then observed throwing his summons on the ground after leaving the station, earning him another summons for littering.

Perhaps his next call to the police will be an attempt to get in touch withEmmanuel Sanders?

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Wednesday morning one-liners

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 20, 2012, 8:23 AM EDT

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Buffalo defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt says the Bills “will only go as far as our defensive line can carry us.”

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said Chad Ochocinco missed 78 percent of the installation of the offense, so “we’re spoon feeding him.”

The Patriots’ depth chart at wide receivermight be too crowded for Donte Stallworth to make the team.

Former Jets LB Lance Mehl, who played at Penn State in the 1970s, was a defense witness at Jerry Sandusky’s child molestation trial, saying of Sandusky, “We all looked up to him as a class act.”

Percy Harvin asks Vikings to be traded

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 20, 2012, 9:35 AM EDT

AP

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin hinted on Tuesday that he’s not happy in Minnesota, and now he has asked to be traded.

The Associated Press reports that Harvin has requested a trade from the Vikings. However, the report says the Vikings don’t expect to grant that request because the team still views Harvin as one of its most talented players, despite the occasional headaches (literal and figurative) that his presence brings.

Harvin arrived in Minnesota as a first-round draft pick in 2009 and has shown great playmaking ability as a receiver, runner and return man, although he has also been an unhappy camper at times, and he’s been hampered by migraine headaches. Harvin has two more years left on his contract and is scheduled to make $915,000 this year and $1.5 million next year, and he likely views himself as underpaid, although he declined to get into specifics about whether his contract is the reason he’s unhappy.

Ultimately, it seems likely that Harvin will play this season in Minnesota, and will do so under his current contract. And will remain unhappy.

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What does "killing the head" really mean?

Posted by Mike Florio on June 19, 2012, 8:12 PM EDT

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When stumped by the meaning of new sayings, I usually check UrbanDictionary.com.

But there’s no entry (yet) for”killing the head.”  So I’ve had to search elsewhere.

And, like many words on UrbanDictionary.com or in other more traditional collections of words and definitions, I’ve come up with three possible meanings.

The first comes from attorney Peter Ginsberg, who represents Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

Drew Brees apologizes for WMD comment

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 19, 2012, 7:49 PM EDT

AP

A day after New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees compared the NFL’s evidence in the Saints’ bounty program to the Bush administration’s evidence for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Brees has said he thinks he chose his words poorly.

“I apologize if the WMD comment offended anyone. Especially our military. There is no one I respect more than our service men and women,” Brees wrote on Twitter. “My WMD comment has nothing to do with politics or our brave military. Merely an analogy to show how media influences public perception.”

Matt Moore says Ochocinco hasn't lost a step

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 19, 2012, 6:49 PM EDT

AP

Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore was on the practice field with new Dolphins receiver Chad Ochocinco today, and Moore says that those who believe Ochocinco just doesn’t have it anymore are wrong.

According to Moore, Ochocinco doesn’t look like he’s lost a step and looks like the player he says he’s going to be, the Chad Johnson of old.

“It’s been good,” Moore said of working with Ochocinco. “He’s come in, he’s done his work, he’s trying to learn and it’s been business as usual. He’s fast, that’s for sure. He’s quick and he’s just got that attacking mentality you love in a wide receiver. He’s got a lot of good things and hopefully we can use those things in the future.”