FanHouse

Ryan Moats Earns Texans' Starting Job

Chris Burke — 2009-11-07T17:20:00 00:00

Filed under: Texans

Running back Ryan Moats almost single-handedly carried Houston to a Week 8 win at Buffalo -- scoring three rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Texans turned a 10-9 deficit into a 31-10 victory.

He'll be rewarded for that effort, too. Houston coach Gary Kubiak told ESPN's Bob Holtzman that Moats will be his team's starting back when the Texans play in Indianapolis Sunday, according to Adam Schefter.

Kubiak also said that Steve Slaton, who's had major issues with ball security this year, will share carries.

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Broncos Sign Veteran CB Ty Law

Chris Burke — 2009-11-07T12:25:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Broncos, NFL Free Agency

In a move that came a bit out of the blue, the Broncos waived 24-year-old cornerback Jack Williams and signed 14-year vet Ty Law.

Denver rookie head coach Josh McDaniels didn't mess around after Baltimore shredded Denver 30-7 last week -- the Broncos' first loss of the year. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco went 20 of 25 through the air in that game, and as Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post points out, 12 of 15 against Denver's nickel defense.

McDaniels said Saturday that he hopes Law can play Monday night when Denver hosts Pittsburgh.

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Tom Brady: I've Never 'Influenced a Call'

Chris Burke — 2009-11-06T23:20:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Dolphins, Patriots

Coincidence or not, after Tom Brady missed almost all of the 2008 season after a low hit tore the Patriots star's left MCL and ACL, the NFL's Competition Committee made clear that it would enforce more strictly a rule preventing defenders from tackling quarterbacks at or below the knee. It was affectionately dubbed "The Brady Rule" by folks outside the league office.

And the Patriots have benefitted from the increased focus on QB protection, with their opponents picking up five roughing the passer penalties in seven games. One, in particular, raised some eyebrows -- in New England's Week 4 win over Baltimore, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs gently brushed Brady's knee, and Brady gestured back at referee Ron Winter, and a flag came flying.

Winter might have thrown the flag regardless of Brady's reaction -- it is in the rule book, after all, though the rule states that forcible contact must me made -- but, nonetheless, the anti-Brady folk out there used it as evidence that Brady gets whatever he wants from officials.

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Jaguars Again NFL's Lone Blackout

Chris Burke — 2009-11-06T16:52:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: NFL Media Watch

Despite a still-struggling economy and a league that's unusually top-heavy this season, the NFL continues to -- somehow, some way -- sellout the majority of its games.

With the news Friday afternoon that Cincinnati had sold enough tickets its matchup with Baltimore to air on local TV, that left the floundering Jaguars as the only team blacked out for Week 9. It's the fourth time in four home games that Jacksonville has failed (by a large margin) to reach a sellout, and the third week this season that every home team but the Jaguars has avoided a local TV blackout.

Rather remarkably, only three teams thus far -- Jacksonville, Detroit and Oakland -- have been blacked out.

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Browns Fire GM George Kokinis

Chris Burke — 2009-11-02T23:15:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Browns

George Kokinis has been removed as general manager of the 1-7 Browns, the team confirmed in a statement Monday night.

Multiple news organizations, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and WKYC-TV reported earlier that the Browns had made a move in the front office, and that Kokinis' short tenure with the team was believed to be over. Head coach Eric Mangini, who received the support of team owner Randy Lerner on Sunday, hand-picked Kokinis as GM in January.

More Coverage: Full Details of Situation Unclear

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FanHouse Preview: Falcons at Saints

Chris Burke — 2009-11-02T18:20:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Saints, FanHouse Previews

The NFC South takes center stage on Monday night with a huge showdown between Atlanta and New Orleans in the Superdome.

And in anticipation of the crucial ballgame in the bayou, we've turned the show over to Tom Mantzouranis, our resident Saints guru, and Knox Bardeen, a credentialed member of the media covering the Falcons.

Those two break down the game's most important storylines after the jump. And come back at kickoff to join us in our weekly Monday Night Football live chat.

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Dominic Raiola Wants Detroit Fans to Lay Off Matthew Stafford

Chris Burke — 2009-11-02T02:20:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Lions

Dominic Raiola has played all nine of his NFL seasons in Detroit, never finishing with better than a 7-9 record -- and that streak isn't ending this season. So he's allowed to have some pent-up frustration.

He let some of it out Sunday during the Lions' 17-10 home loss to the previously winless Rams, firing off some choice words at a group of Detroit fans who were heckling rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Detroit's final possession of the game consisted of four Stafford incompletions (plus two more pass attempts wiped out by penalties).

After the final misfire landed well wide of its intended target, a few rowdy patrons let Stafford have it -- yelling "Hey Matt, throw it to me, I'm open, I'm open," according to Raiola, who quickly came to his QB's defense.

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Brett Favre Brilliant in Return to Lambeau

Chris Burke — 2009-11-01T19:40:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Packers, Vikings

Most of the Packers fans tried their hardest to make Brett Favre feel unwelcome in his return to Lambeau Field on Sunday -- booing him from the moment he emerged from the tunnel in pregame warmups until the final snap. All Favre did in response was play exactly like he always has at Lambeau.

The 40-year-old was spectacular in his first game back in Green Bay, leading the Vikings to a 38-26 win that puts Minnesota in complete control of the NFC North.

"It was emotional," a slightly choked-up Favre said to Fox's Pam Oliver once the game ended. "I had a lot of years here, a lot of great years. It was pretty special."

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Ted Ginn Responds to Benching

Chris Burke — 2009-11-01T16:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Dolphins, Jets

The Dolphins pulled receiver Ted Ginn from their starting lineup Sunday, just a couple days after telling him to "get better." Ginn responded by taking back-to-back kickoffs to the house in Miami's key 30-25 win over the Jets in New York -- busting loose for a 100-yard score early in the third quarter, then topping the feat with a 101-yard score just moments later.

Ginn, who was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Brian Hartline, had no catches (though, to be fair, neither did Hartline), but Ginn rediscovering his big-play ability on special teams was a welcome sign for Miami.

Prior to Ginn's first breakthrough, the Dolphins and Jets were locked in an intense defensive battle. Feely's 55-yard field goal gave New York a 6-3 lead, but Ginn quickly turned the momentum.

More: Check Box Score | Bears Rout Browns | Ravens End Broncos' Run

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Bumbling Rams Allow Unusual Safety

Chris Burke — 2009-11-01T14:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Lions, Rams

Sunday's St. Louis-Detroit matchup appeared destined to be one of the worst of the NFL season -- the teams entered Week 8 a combined 1-12 on the year -- and one second-quarter play summed up the ineptitude of both teams pretty well.

With Detroit facing 3rd-and-10 from the Rams 12, quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a pass over the middle that ricocheted off the hands of running back Aaron Brown and right to waiting St. Louis safety James Butler.

More: Rams Get First Win in Detroit | Week 8 NFL Scoreboard

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Eagles Should Sit Brian Westbrook

Chris Burke — 2009-10-31T15:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Injuries

If the Eagles want to do what's best, both for themselves and Brian Westbook, they'll sit the banged-up running back Sunday against the Giants.

Westbrook took a scary hit Monday night in Washington and left Philadelphia's win with a concussion. Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed later that Westbrook both lost consciousness and had no memory of the play, where Westbrook's head slammed into the knee of Redskins linebacker London Fletcher.

Art Bartolozzi, the former team physician for the Eagles and the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that injuries like Westbrook's are serious.

More Coverage: Goodell Discuss Head Injuries on Capitol Hill

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Dolphins to Ted Ginn: 'Get Better'

Chris Burke — 2009-10-31T13:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Dolphins, NFL Analysis

All signs indicate that wide receiver Ted Ginn will see reduced playing time for the Dolphins on Sunday when Miami takes on the Jets. Ginn's starting spot has been in jeopardy recently because of a disappointing lack of production -- aside from an 11-catch, 108-yard performance in Week 2 at Indianapolis, Ginn has just seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in Miami's five other games.

Despite his pending demotion, though, Ginn claimed that the team hasn't talked with him about marginalizing his role. Instead, according to Ginn, the coaches gave him a pep talk.

"It was more of a motivation talk," Ginn told the Miami Herald. "Get better. You have to get better. Do what you do but get better.''

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Panthers Sticking With Jake Delhomme

Chris Burke — 2009-10-28T17:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Panthers, NFL Quarterbacks

Blame it on the $42.5 million contract extension he signed in the offseason, but whatever the reason, Jake Delhomme just can't get himself benched.

Delhomme threw three interceptions in Carolina's 20-9 home loss to Buffalo last season, upping his season turnover total to 15 -- which is more than 29 teams through seven weeks of the NFL season. But with 2-4 Carolina on the verge of becoming a team playing for draft position, Panthers coach John Fox announced Wednesday that Delhomme would start at Arizona this week.

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Redskins' Effort a Troubling Sign

Chris Burke — 2009-10-27T03:40:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Analysis

Compared to their losses to Detroit, Carolina and Kansas City, the Redskins' 27-17 defeat at the hands of the Eagles doesn't look half bad. It might wind up being the fiasco against Philadelphia, though, that convinces Washington's higher-ups to make some changes.

Monday night, in front of a national-TV audience, Washington simply went through the motions. Physical mistakes, lack of talent, bad breaks -- those are all forgivable. Half-hearted efforts aren't, especially when a team is playing for an embattled head coach. And the Redskins, now 2-5 on the season, are fooling themselves if they think they gave all they could against the Eagles.

"You can say but so much," said Albert Haynesworth, the team's $100 million offseason addition. "You've got to actually want to. So once we get to that point -- where we want to do something -- then we'll do something. But if we just keep going our separate ways, then we'll just keep getting slaughtered like we have."

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Report: Braylon Edwards Charged With Misdemeanor Assault

Chris Burke — 2009-10-26T17:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Browns, Jets, NFL Police Blotter

Braylon Edwards has been charged with misdemeanor assault after an investigation into an incident outside a Cleveland nightclub, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

Early on the morning of Oct. 5, Edwards was allegedly involved in a disagreement with Edward Givens, a Cleveland-area promoter. According to Givens, Edwards punched him in the face because "Braylon has a problem with LeBron [James]" and Givens is James' friend.

The Plain Dealer also reported that the Browns contacted the FBI following the incident because of alleged threats being made to Edwards.

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Will Allen Reportedly Done for Season

Chris Burke — 2009-10-26T02:22:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Dolphins, NFL Injuries

As if blowing a 24-3 home lead and losing to the Saints wasn't bad enough, the Dolphins have lost Will Allen for the season to an ACL injury, the Miami Herald reported Sunday night.

Allen left Miami's 46-34 loss midway through the third quarter. He limped to the locker room, then returned to the sideline with a brace on his knee.

"Obviously, to lose Will in that situation. It's a close ball game; I thought Will was playing pretty well at the time," Miami head coach Tony Sparano said.

Allen, Miami's top cornerback, has missed just one game since coming to the Dolphins prior to the 2006 season, and just nine games total during a nine-year career that included a stay with the Giants. Sunday marked Allen's 43rd consecutive start -- a streak that will come to an end next week when Miami visits the Jets, if the early indications are accurate.

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Leon Washington Out After Gruesome Right Leg Injury

Chris Burke — 2009-10-25T17:10:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Jets, NFL Injuries

The Jets will be without running back Leon Washington for an extended period of time after he suffered a brutal right leg injury at Oakland.

Washington was injured on a six-yard carry -- his only rush of the game -- when an Oakland player rolled onto his ankle, causing his lower leg to bend in awkward fashion.

Washington appeared to be in tremendous pain after the play and was eventually carted off. According to the Associated Press, Washington suffered a broken fibula and underwent surgery immediately after the Jets' 38-0 win. Teammates said the bone broke right through the skin.

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Fourth-Quarter Fireworks Turn Steelers' Win Over Vikings Into a Classic

Chris Burke — 2009-10-25T16:45:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Steelers, Vikings

The much-anticipated showdown between the Vikings and Steelers at Heinz Field went pretty much as expected for three quarters -- hard-nosed, low-scoring, old-fashioned football. Then the fourth quarter came, and things went off the rails.

Pittsburgh held a 13-10 lead when the final frame began, and needed just one play to get inside Minnesota's 10. But on the Steelers' second fourth-quarter snap, Rashard Mendenhall coughed up a fumble. The Vikings then marched 89 yards in 17 plays, from their own 3 to the Steelers' 8. On third-and-goal, Brett Favre dropped back to pass and was stripped by Pittsburgh lineman Brett Keisel. Defensive end LaMarr Woodley scooped up the loose ball and rumbled, James Harrison Super Bowl-style, 77 yards for a touchdown.

More: Check Box Score | Ref Injured on Harvin's Return | Packers Rout Browns

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Colts' Donald Brown, Bob Sanders (Surprise!) Hurt in St. Louis

Chris Burke — 2009-10-25T14:57:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Colts, NFL Injuries

Still missing wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez because of a knee injury, the Colts' offense suffered another setback Sunday at St. Louis when running back Donald Brown exited Indianapolis' game with a first-half injury. Receiver Reggie Wayne also left, limping off with a groin injury, but returned after halftime.

On the other side of the ball, defensive back Bob Sanders, who continues to make his case for "Most Fragile Player in the NFL", walked to the locker room with a trainer early in the fourth quarter.

Even with all the injury issues, Indianapolis smoked St. Louis, 42-6, to move to 6-0 on the year.

More: Check Box Score | Texans Hold Off Niners | Chargers Improve to .500

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Is Kevin Curtis' Career in Danger?

Chris Burke — 2009-10-24T14:15:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Injuries

Philadelphia wide receiver Kevin Curtis been dealing with swelling in his knee since training camp, a problem that's kept him out of the Eagles' lineup since Week 3. Making the situation worse, though, is that doctors have not been able to determine the cause of Curtis' problem.

Head coach Andy Reid said that Curtis has undergone multiple tests and MRIs, which have revealed no structural damage. Curtis finally had his troublesome knee scoped this week -- and beat writer Geoff Mosher of Delaware Online speculates that, not only is Curtis' season likely finished, but his career might be as well.

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