FanHouse

Heyward-Bey Scores, Austin Dominates

Chris Burke — 2009-11-26T19:30:00 00:00

If you need proof of just how uncertain NFL scouting can be, look no further than Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin and his Raiders counterpart, Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Austin, an undrafted player out of tiny Monmouth, continued his spectacular and surprising season Thursday, racking up seven catches for 145 yards and a touchdown in Dallas' 24-7 win over Oakland. His TD grab was his eighth of the season. On the losing side, Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 pick in last April's draft, hauled in his eighth catch -- matching Austin's season-TD total -- and his first professional TD in his 10th game.

More: Check Box Score | Game Recap

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NFL Wildcast: Previewing Week 12

Chris Burke — 2009-11-26T11:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: FanHouse Previews, NFL Podcast

The Wildcast is NFL FanHouse's podcast formation. It's like the Wildcat, but better.

A full Week 12 slate kicks off with a trifecta of games on Thanksgiving Day, and Knox Bardeen and I fired up the ol' podcast to breakdown all the action. We were joined by a pair of FanHouse's senior NFL beat writers, Nancy Gay and Dan Graziano, as we discussed the Lions and Cowboys keeping their holiday hosting duties, Denver's chances against the Giants, the crucial Pittsburgh-Baltimore tilt on Sunday night and much more.

So grab another heaping helping of turkey and sit back and enjoy the latest edition of NFL FanHouse's Wildcast. Audio can be found after the jump.

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Report: Matthew Stafford Will Start

Chris Burke — 2009-11-25T18:20:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Lions, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

(Update, Nov. 26: In a somewhat unlikely development, injured Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will start Thursday, according to a report on MLive.com.)

The Lions would love nothing more than to trot their new franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, out for a national-television audience on Thanksgiving Day. But it looks like everyone will have to settle for Daunte Culpepper.

Stafford, who injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder one play prior to tossing a game-winning TD to beat Cleveland last Sunday, was listed as doubtful by the Lions for Thursday's game against Green Bay.

Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz did not sound optimistic about Stafford's playing status following the team's Tuesday practice, and apparently, nothing changed over 24 hours.

More: Lions Try to Break Thanksgiving Drought

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Studs and Duds: Ricky's Reemergence

Chris Burke — 2009-11-24T11:46:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: NFL Analysis

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around pointing skyward, while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds for Week 11.

Studs

Ricky Williams, RB, Miami (22 carries, 119 yards, three touchdowns): No, it's not 2002. Yes, Ricky Williams was on the top performers of the week. Williams, filling in as the starting running back for injured Ronnie Brown went nuts against Carolina last Thursday, topping the 100-yard mark and finding the end zone three times -- twice on the ground, one through the air -- in a 24-17 Miami win. Williams' 22 carries were the most he's had since a 28-carry day in Week 17 of 2005. He followed that up by violating the league's substance abuse policy and being suspended for all of 2006. Let's hope he's got healthier plans this time around.

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Raheem Morris Takes Over Bucs Defense

Chris Burke — 2009-11-24T01:40:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFL Coaching

Tampa Bay rookie head coach Raheem Morris has been unhappy with the performance of his team's defense, so he's decided to deal with the situation head-on. Morris removed Jim Bates from his role as defensive coordinator Monday, according to the St. Petersburg Times, and will take over the position himself. Bates will remain with the team as a consultant.

Tampa Bay, 1-9 on the season, ranks 31st in the NFL in average points allowed at 29.4 per game -- ahead of only Detroit. The Buccaneers are last in the league against the run.

Morris will reportedly return the Bucs to a Tampa-2 defense, a scheme that became prominent during Tony Dungy's days as the Bucs' head coach.

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Reports: Antonio Cromartie Suspect in San Diego Bar Incident

Chris Burke — 2009-11-23T15:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Chargers, NFL Police Blotter

Chargers star cornerback Antonio Cromartie is being investigated by police for his role in an altercation at a San Diego bar, according to multiple reports.

TMZ.com first reported that Cromartie was under investigation for assault with a deadly weapon, citing law enforcement sources who stated that Cromartie was out celebrating the Chargers' win "when somebody threw a champage bottle which hit a bystander in the head." Apparently, no arrests were made and no charges have yet been filed.

Cromartie issued a statement on Twitter (@crimetime31): "I want to apologize to charger nation and my fans. There's sum stuff out abt me that's not true. It will come out. God Bless."

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Eric Wood Injury Too Brutal for TV Replay

Chris Burke — 2009-11-22T17:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Bills, NFL Injuries

Bills rookie offensive lineman Eric Wood suffered an ugly injury in the third quarter of Buffalo's 18-15 loss to Jacksonville. The injury was so bad, in fact, that CBS opted not to show any replays of the play because it was too gruesome.

Wood was rolled up on during a Buffalo pass play, and his left leg bent at an extremely unnatural angle. According to the Bills, Wood fractured both his tibia and fibula, and stayed in Jacksonville to have immediate season-ending surgery. The injury was easily one of the worst in the NFL this season and could wind up keeping Wood out of the lineup for much longer than the final six weeks of 2009.

Jacksonville 18, Buffalo 15: Recap | Box Score | NFL Scoreboard
More From FanHouse: Gruesome Sports Injuries

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Junior Seau on Belichick's Call, Veteran Leadership and His New 'Sports Job'

Chris Burke — 2009-11-22T12:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Patriots, NFL Media Watch, FanHouse Exclusive

Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 10 PM, Versus will begin airing "Sports Jobs With Junior Seau," a weekly program -- similar to the Discovery Channel's popular "Dirty Jobs" -- that will feature Seau, a 20-year NFL veteran, taking on some behind-the-scenes work at different sporting events. Versus will air a pair of episodes on Dec. 2. FanHouse secured a preview copy of one, where Seau played the role of batboy and equipment manager for the Dodgers.

This week, Seau spoke with FanHouse about his new show, as well as returning to the Patriots and, of course, Bill Belichick's fateful fourth-down call in Indianapolis.

More: Jets-Patriots Preview | Week 11 Scoreboard

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NFL FanHouse Podcast: The Debut

Chris Burke — 2009-11-19T20:45:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: NFL Podcast

Fashionably late is better than unfashionably absent.

It's not a pretty motto (you might prefer "It's better late than never"), but it holds true for our NFL FanHouse podcast, which gets off the ground this week. In the inaugural run, Matt Snyder and Chris Burke tackle some pressing Week 10 topics -- like the game-changing spot of the ball on New England's fateful fourth-down play -- and look ahead to several important Week 11 matchups, including Atlanta at the Giants and San Diego at Denver.

Check out the first NFL Podcast after the jump.

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How Might Miami Replace Ronnie Brown?

Chris Burke — 2009-11-19T00:20:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Dolphins, NFL Free Agency, NFL Analysis

The Dolphins announced Wednesday that leading running back Ronnie Brown had been placed on injured reserve with a right foot injury, ending his 2009 season. Brown had accumulated 648 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, plus a passing touchdown, and stepped in at the "quarterback" spot in Miami's Wildcat offense.

Miami may be as equipped as any team in the NFL to lose its No. 1 back and still run a consistent offense. Ricky Williams will take over as the team's starter, with guys like Ted Ginn, Jr., and rookie quarterback Pat White capable of picking up extra Wildcat duties. Still, Miami's offense puts a lot of pressure on the running back position -- behind Williams now is second-year guy Lex Hilliard, who has zero NFL carries.

But there are lots of recognizable free agents available, should Miami go that route. A look at some of the possibilities:

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Vikings' CB: Calvin Johnson Is 'LeBron James of Football'

Chris Burke — 2009-11-18T02:15:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Lions

Calvin Johnson, now is his third professional season, has shown flashes of brilliance. His 1,200-plus yards receiving and 12 touchdowns in 2008 were incredible numbers considering Detroit finished 0-16. But "Megatron" has just one TD grab this season, and the Lions are a combined 8-33 since drafting him.

So while Johnson has been stellar at times and has a very, very bright future, it's hard to put him on the same level as guys like Randy Moss, Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. Unless you ask Minnesota cornerback Benny Sapp, that is.

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Studs and Duds, Week 10: No Apologies Necessary Here

Chris Burke — 2009-11-17T12:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: NFL Analysis

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around pointing skyward, while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Studs

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville (24 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD): Coaches always talk about wanting players who have "football smarts." MJD certainly fits the bill, and he proved it Sunday against the Jets. With less than two minutes left in the game and the Jags down one, Jones-Drew broke clear for what looked like an easy score -- but, instead, he took a knee at the Jets 1-yard line, allowing his team to run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal on the final play.

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Chris Simms Flops, Broncos Lose Again

Chris Burke — 2009-11-15T16:10:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Broncos, Redskins, NFL Injuries

Denver led Washington 17-14 when Chris Simms replaced Kyle Orton at quarterback, after Orton injured his ankle on the final offensive play of the first half. The Broncos picked up just three first downs the rest of the game, and the Redskins rallied for a 27-17 victory.

Simms, seeing his first meaningful action since suffering a serious spleen injury in 2006, completed just 3 of 13 passes and threw a very costly interception.

Denver has now lost three straight games since starting the season 6-0.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Stay Undefeated | Panthers Dump Falcons

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Troy Polamalu Exits With Knee Injury

Chris Burke — 2009-11-15T13:47:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Injuries

Just when Pittsburgh thought Troy Polamalu was getting back to full health, the Steelers may have lost their superstar safety again. Polamalu limped to the locker room during Sunday's game between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and immediate reports were that he had reinjured his left knee. He did not return to the game, which Cincinnati won 18-12.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that Polamalu would undergo an MRI.

More: Bengals' Benson Hurt, Too | Panthers' Lineman Breaks Ankle

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FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Steelers

Chris Burke — 2009-11-14T20:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Bengals, Steelers, FanHouse Previews

Pittsburgh doesn't win the AFC North every year -- it just feels that way. The Ravens actually took the division title in 2003 and 2006, and Cincinnati tied the Steelers for the crown in 2005.

That, of course, was the year that Pittsburgh and Cincinnati met in the first round of the playoffs. The Bengals' Carson Palmer went down after one pass attempt with a disastrous knee injury and the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl.

It has taken Cincinnati since that game to get back into contention, but the Bengals finally appear to be back. They currently sit tied for first place with Pittsburgh at 6-2 overall, and have a win over the Steelers to their credit this year. A win Sunday in Heinz Field, coupled with a favorable schedule the rest of the way, could mean the AFC North title slips out of the 'Burgh again.

More Previews: Broncos-Redskins | Eagles-Chargers | Cowboys-Packers

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Dolphins Bench Struggling Joey Porter

Chris Burke — 2009-11-14T18:15:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Dolphins

As usual, Joey Porter's done a lot of talking this season. But unlike past seasons, when Porter's been able to back up his mouth with production on the field, the Miami linebacker hasn't produced many results.

Porter has just 12 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks -- one year after recording a career-high 17 1/2 sacks -- and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has opted to bench Porter for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

Porter declined to talk to the media this week, a vast change in approach for one of the NFL's most vocal players. Just last week, Porter called the Patriots cheaters in reference to the Spygate scandal, and said that Tom Brady received preferential treatment from referees. The Dolphins then lost to New England, 27-17, with Porter recording no tackles.

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Thursday Night NFL Live Chat: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers

Chris Burke — 2009-11-12T19:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: 49ers, Chicago Bears, NFL Live Blogging

Get. Excited. The NFL's Thursday night schedule is back and, well maybe not better than ever -- the Week 10 combatants, Chicago and San Francisco, have lost seven of eight combined -- but it's certainly back.

Both teams could desperately use this one. The Bears (4-4) find themselves three games back of the NFC North-leading Vikings, and quite frankly, have been extremely mediocre lately. Chicago lost at home to Arizona last week, 41-21, and it's only win since a Week 5 bye came against Cleveland. San Francisco, meanwhile, has fallen hard since an impressive 3-1, capped by a home loss to Tennessee last Sunday. Despite winning in Arizona earlier this season, the 49ers are two games back of the Cardinals in the NFC West.

Thursday night's game kicks at 8:20 PM ET, and we'll be here just prior to that -- 8:15 -- for our live chat. Join us, won't you?

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Justin Gage Has Broken Bones in Back

Chris Burke — 2009-11-12T17:30:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Titans, NFL Injuries

Titans wide receiver Justin Gage made arguably the catch of the week in the NFL (video after the jump), skying over two San Francisco defenders to reel in a Vince Young pass -- the grab set up a fourth-quarter Chris Johnson touchdown that put Tennessee ahead for good in a 34-27 win.

But Gage paid for it.

According to the Associated Press, Gage suffered several broken transverse bones in his lower back on the catch. He is expected to miss at least one game -- the Titans host Buffalo this Sunday -- and could be out longer.

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Eagles' Joselio Hanson Suspended for Violating Steroid Policy

Chris Burke — 2009-11-11T15:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Injuries

Philadelphia cornerback Joselio Hanson -- who was unexpectedly absent from practice Wednesday -- has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's steroid policy.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the suspension.

Lawyer David Cornwell said in a statement that Hanson took "a pill that turned out to be a diuretic" prior to the NFC title game last January.

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As Raider Nation Turns: Latest on Cable

Chris Burke — 2009-11-11T01:00:00 00:00

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Raiders

As the NFL continues its investigation into Tom Cable's past and his incident with former Oakland assistant Randy Hanson, the situation in Oakland has become tenuous at best.

It might get messier still. Yahoo's Jason Cole, citing a source familiar with the case, reported that the Raiders plan to cooperate with the NFL's investigation of Cable because "Oakland owner Al Davis is hoping to gather enough information to fire Cable with cause at the end of the season so that Davis doesn't have to pay Cable."

Cable, who went 4-8 as Oakland's interim head coach last season, was officially named head coach in the offseason and given a two-year contract with two additional option years.

Blackistone: Suspending Cable Good for Everyone, Including Him

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