FanHouse Brandon Moore

The Iowa Hawkeyes rode five Michigan turnovers to a 30-28 victory in Iowa City tonight. The victory was their tenth in a row, which is the second-longest winning streak in the nation after Florida.

Iowa's passing game took control after quarterback Ricky Stanzi's first pass was intercepted by Michigan's Brandon Moore and returned for a touchdown. Stanzi threw two touchdown passes, both to tight end Tony Moeaki.

His message is the same at every stop -- Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. So far, new players union chief DeMaurice Smith is thrilled with the way the NFL players to whom he's spoken have embraced both ends of that credo.

"The guys want to know what it's like to be a man and a businessman in the business of football," Smith told FanHouse in a phone interview Thursday, after his meeting in Nashville with the Tennessee Titans. "Especially given what looks like an intent on the part of the NFL to lock the players out."

Those are strong words, but Smith believes he has the evidence to back them up. He isn't necessarily looking for a fight, but he's ready if there's to be one. And as he travels the country speaking to players, he's pleased to find out they're very much with him.

By most accounts, the Jets were very successful over the opening weekend of free agency. Linebacker Bart Scott and cornerback Lito Sheppard should pay immediate dividends, particularly in new head coach Rex Ryan's blitz-happy scheme.

The team also added former Ravens safety Jim Leonhard and re-signed guard Brandon Moore. All in all, not a bad few day's work. But even though this team is better -- at least on paper -- there's the lingering issue of who will replace Brett Favre. (Putting aside, for the moment, your thoughts on Favre's effectiveness, the point remains: there's a void at the quarterback position. The only question is if you think that's been the case for a couple months or a couple years.)

New England Patriots:

Questionable - Safety Rashad Baker (hand), tight end David Thomas (foot) and defensive end Mike Wright (knee).

Probable - Quarterback Tom Brady (right shoulder).

Could Brady's shoulder really be barking, or is that just another one of Bill Belichick's mind games? You'd think the media would be all over that story if it was anything significant, but the buzz around Brady's shoulder has been quiet.

New York Jets:

Questionable - Running back Thomas Jones (calf), cornerback Andre Dyson (foot), cornerback Justin Miller (thigh), guard Brandon Moore (shoulder) and safety Eric Smith (thigh).

Probable - Tight end Joe Kowalewski (finger), quarterback Chad Pennington (pelvis), defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson (knee), wide receiver Chansi Stuckey (knee) and running back Stacy Tutt (foot).

Although he's listed as questionable, Thomas Jones is expected to start against New England today. That's great news for the Jets, who will need a solid rushing attack this afternoon. Unfortunately, the news in the secondary isn't as promising. Even if Dyson, Miller and Smith play, they will not be 100%.

Pete Kendall is no longer the only Jet unhappy with the team. Like Kendall, guard Brandon Moore has suddenly become upset with his contract and actually sat out of Wednesday's practice in protest.

When questioned, Moore denied the protest report and indicated that he had missed practice due to "personal reasons," but would not be more specific. He eventually became tight-lipped when reporters brought up his contract.

"I wasn't here for personal reasons," Moore said.

"I'm not discussing my contract."

Although there is no indication that Kendall had anything to do with this sudden protest, would it honestly surprise anyone if he influenced it? He probably believes that there are strength in numbers and who better to recruit than his fellow offensive lineman?

Moore is in the fourth-year of a six-year, $8 million contract and he's scheduled to make $800,000 this season.

In hopes of salvaging their season and helping out their offense the 49ers are turning to the pachyderm. With one of the worst defenses in the league the 49ers are trying anything they can think of to improve the play of their defense. Head coach Mike Nolan has already toyed with the starters by starting Mark Roman over Tony Parrish and Ronald Fields over
Anthony Adams, this time around Nolan is going old school and bringing in an Elephant.

The Elephant is an old defense which highlights a pass rusher that was devised by former head coach and defensive coordinator George Seifert. In the time when the 49ers successfully ran that defense the players who filled the role of the Elephant were Charles Haley, Tim Harris, Rickey Jackson and Chris Doleman. The 49ers currently do not have a player of that caliber (yet) to play the Elephant role, but that will not stop them from giving it a try. The players who will see time in that role and look to become the next Haley are Brandon Moore and rookie linebackers Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson.

"What we do to a large degree is very much like what you had with (Charles) Haley and (Chris) Doleman, and those kinds of guys with the 49ers," coach Mike Nolan said. "That guy is always the 'rush' guy, but he flip-flops sides. That's really basically what we're doing. They used to play it here."

Along with the Elephant it will mark the switch back to the 4-3. The current lineup will feature rookie Melvin Oliver and Marques Douglas on the ends and Bryant Young and rookie Ronald Fields in the middle with Lawson, Derek Smith and Jeff Ulbrich as the linebackers. On passing downs, Moore, Haralson or Lawson will become the pass rushers. If the Elephant doesn't help turn the defense around look for Nolan to start pulling
names from a hat for next weeks starters.