Joey Porter vs Brandon Marshall

Joey Porter, never accused of needing to come out of his shell, was critical of Broncos WR Brandon Marshall after the Dolphins beat the Broncos 26-17.

“He’s one of those soft receivers, where he has to have the ball all the time. If he don’t get it, he’s going to mope and cry. He did it to himself,” Porter suggested.

Brandon Marshall is also someone who likes to talk. And here's what he had to say about Joey Porter, who leads the NFL in sacks.

“Yeah, Joey Porter’s one of them guys, when you got guys who talk a lot of trash, just want to talk about people or put people down, they have their own insecurities,” Marshall said. “And his insecurities I don’t know. But he’s definitely one of those guys who all those muscles are popcorn muscles. He’s soft.”

“You know, we hear stories floating around the league all the time about him as far (as being) in nightclubs dancing with his shirt off like a girl or in the playground getting beat up back in California,” Marshall said. “He’s one of those guys that no matter how big he is, he can still get knocked on his butt and he’s soft. He’s soft at heart and you can tell by the way he talks.

It doesn't really matter what people say off the field. It matters what happens on the field.

Carson Palmer - out for year, Tommy John surgery next?

ESPN is reporting that Carson Palmer is done for the year, but is delaying the decision to opt for Tommy John surgery. The report is that Tommy John surgery would repair the issue with his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Jake Delhomme, who had Tommy John surgery last year, has come back and is throwing the ball without problems this year. According to the report, Palmer's injury is not as bad as Delhomme's was so they are taking a more conservative approach.

However, the Cincinnati Bengals are 0-7 on the year. It would make sense to move forward with the surgery and get Palmer healthy sooner rather than later. Considering the issues that Tom Brady is having with his knee, it's a reminder that sometimes surgeries have complications. Although the surgeries would be different and each case is always unique, why not be proactive to better guarantee a healthy Palmer for the start of 2008?

On the year, Palmer has struggled when he was in the lineup. He has a QB Rating of 69.0 and has thrown more INTs (4) than he has TDs (3) on the year.

Eagles release Tony Hunt

The Philadelphia Eagles released RB/FB Tony Hunt, the former Penn State Nittany Lion RB.

Hunt's release hardly was a surprise. The Eagles switched the 2007 third-round pick out of Penn State from running back to fullback only 2 weeks before the start of the season, even though he had very little experience as a blocker.

Hunt was drafted by the Eagles in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Hunt has 25 career rushing yards on 14 attempts with 2 TDs.

When it rains, it pours

The New Orleans Saints have lost starting rookie CB Tracy Porter for the season. He was placed on Injured Reserve after dislocating his right wrist.

The Saints have been playing without Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey and Sedrick Ellis.

They still have a potent offense even without Colston and Shockey. However, their defense has struggled and will most likely struggle even more without Ellis and now Porter.

Chris Johnson, Ray Lewis buddies

This week, the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans play each other in what should turn out to be similar to a street brawl. The Ravens and Titans both do 2 things well: run the ball and stop the run (play good defense).

Well, Ray Lewis called Titans' rookie RB Chris Johnson this week.

"It was a nice little conversation,'' Johnson said. "He seems like a really good guy. He told me he liked my game and he likes what I have been doing and he has been following me since college. He told me to continue to keep it up and if I ever needed to talk about anything I have his number. I thought it was pretty cool that he called.''

"I'm sure people fear him on the football field. I won't fear him,'' Johnson said. "You have to go in there with the same mentality and that's one of the things he said to me. He said he is just out there having fun and we talked about having fun on the field.''

It's good for the rook to not "fear him", but it will be difficult for him to put up big numbers in week 5. I expect somewhere around 60 yards rushing.

Jerious Norwood to take direct snaps

Offensively, it seems like the trend of the 2008 season in this copycat league. Jerious Norwood may take some direct snaps.

Running back Jerious Norwood noted how Miami’s Ronnie Brown accounted for five touchdowns while taking direct snaps in the shotgun formation last week against New England.

The Falcons have deployed a similar formation with Norwood at the controls.

“I got a chance to see a few clips,” Norwood said. “Ronnie Brown did a great job. He scored four touchdowns and he threw one. He had a good game that day.”

I expect more teams to use this formation going forward.

Bob Sanders to miss up to 6 weeks?

Bob Sanders "could miss up to six weeks after spraining his right ankle last weekend at Minnesota, and team officials are contemplating whether Sanders may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee, too."

Interestingly enough, even-numbered years have been tough for Sanders. He played 6 games in 2004 and 4 games in 2006. Now, he will miss up to 6 games of 2008.

Said Melvin Bullitt, Sanders replacement: "I feel like I'm prepared. It's always hard to replace a player like Bob, who was the defensive player of the year and, in my opinion, is the best safety in the league."

Here are the next 6 weeks of games: vs Jacksonville, bye, at Houston, vs Baltimore, at Green Bay, at Tennessee

Hopefully for the Colts it's no longer than 6 weeks, because the schedule is then: vs New England, at Pittsburgh, vs Houston and at San Diego

Billy McMullen: Seahawks' newest "go-to WR"?

The Seahawks have suffered a seemingly endless amount of injuries to their WR corps. So many that Matt Hasselbeck used the phrase "go-to wide receiver" to describe Billy McMullen.

A week ago, Billy McMullen was hanging out with his wife in Richmond, Va,, working out and wondering if any NFL teams might still seek his services.

Now he's the Seahawks "go-to receiver," in the words of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a primary figure in Mike Holmgren's passing game. Which tells you more about the Seahawks' dire straits than McMullen's qualifications.

"I hadn't really planned on using Billy at all, unless an emergency took place," said Holmgren, who met McMullen on Wednesday and began working him into the offense primarily on scout team duties. "But an emergency took place."

After missing all of 2007, McMullen's making the most of an opportunity. But can the luck get any worse for the Seahawks?

Tom Brady: out for the year?

Today the New England Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 for their 19th consecutive regular-season victory, which broke the record. Their own record. However, Tom Brady was hit in the knee, left the field and never returned. Early reports indicate Brady may be out for the year although he has an MRI scheduled for Monday.

In the AFC East, I thought the Patriots would finish 12-4 with the New York Jets at 9-7 and the Buffalo Bills at 8-8. The Jets and the Bills are serious playoff contenders, but I thought they would be contending for the 6th wildcard seed.

Matt Cassel played well in Tom Brady's absence. But he hasn't started a football game since he was in high school after backing up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and Tom Brady in New England.

Although it's not a knock on Cassel, he's no Tom Brady - the league's reigning MVP. Granted Brady seemed to have come out of nowhere to replace Drew Bledsoe, but it seems unrealistic to think the same thing can happen again. So, let's say that Tom Brady is worth 2 of the Patriots 12 wins. That reduces their win total to 10.

After today's games, the Bills especially and the Jets too seem capable of winning 10 games. I still think the Patriots will manage to win the AFC East (even without Brady), but it's no longer a lock like I thought it was 12 hours ago.

Jan Jansen Demoted To 2nd String?

Jim Zorn has demoted the long-time anchor of the Redskins offensive line, Jon Jansen, and promoted Stephen Heyer to starter at RT.

The player nicknamed Rock, the team's longest continuous serving veteran who has unquestionably owned the right tackle spot when healthy since 1999, was adjusting to an unexpected demotion. Days before his first regular season game as a head coach, Jim Zorn announced that second-year player Stephon Heyer now has Jansen's starting job.

At 32 years old, Jansen will now carry the dreaded title of "utility backup" -- and an expensive one at that. The player who signed a five-year, $23 million contract extension last year now has to be ready to fill in at tackle or guard, even though he had never gone through some much as a drill at guard until Sunday.

The article goes on to mention how tough it can be for a demoted player to adjust, especially when being around teammates. Zorn mentioned how he had felt when he was demoted as Seahawks starting QB. But apparently that experience didn't develop his ability to explain it well to Jansen.

"There were some reasons thrown around. Nothing that I felt was reason enough," Jansen said. "But they're the coaches, I'm the player, and we'll go out there and do what we're supposed to do."

I don't think anything Zorn could have said would have been "reason enough" for Jansen. For an athlete, especially one who has been good for so long, it is difficult to accept.

Rudi Johnson being shopped?

They have been rumors since Chad Johnson got hurt that the Bengals are shopping Rudi Johnson for a "real WR." Of course, Marvin Lewis says that's just a "rumor."

Bengals tailback Rudi Johnson, the third-leading rusher in franchise history, said Tuesday that he expects to be traded "any minute now."

He returned to practice Monday and Tuesday after battling a hamstring problem and learned that the Bengals are offering him to other teams for a wide receiver.

"It's out there, so evidently it's true," said Johnson, a fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2001 who emerged as a starter in 2003. "It doesn't bother me one way or the other. I'm still going to do the same thing. It's part of the business."

"It's always something every year. They've been trying to get me out of here for a long time now," he said.

What's interesting is that Lewis is saying it's just a rumor and Johnson says it'll happen "any minute now".

I guess we'll find out who's right really soon. Start your stopwatch.

Michael Strahan to remain retired

After losing Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury last week, the Giants strength in 2007 became a weakness. One solution would have been to talk Michael Strahan, now a retired Fox Sports analyst, out of retirement and so Jerry Reese and the Giants gave it a shot. But to no avail.

"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan said from Greece. "But after long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired.

"I have gone back and forth on this because as a player you'll always want to play, you'll never lose that urge to be out there. But I could only do this if I could commit 100 percent, physically, mentally, emotionally and I can't do that. I've tried to convince myself and my body to give it one more year, but in the end I just don't think I could turn it on like I need to again."

I think it makes sense that Strahan remain retired. He says he can't "commit 100 percent" and if he were to come back, he would owe that to his team and teammates. Plus, I've always heard former players discuss how risky it is injury-wise to play if you're not 100% committed.

Michael Strahan made the right decision even if it's what Giants fans didn't want to hear. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a Cowboys fan. (ok - maybe just a little bit.)

Matt Ryan named starting QB in Atlanta

So far, Matt Ryan has played well in the pre-season. He has completed 61.5% of passes (32-52) for 277 yards. In those 52 pass attempts, he has only thrown 1 interception.

Aug. 9: 9/15, 113 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Aug. 16: 8/16, 62 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Aug. 22: 15/21, 102 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Matt Ryan's solid play has earned him the starting QB gig. Is it too soon?

I think the Falcons are making the right move. With or without Matt Ryan at the helm, the Atlanta Falcons are going to be awful in 2008. Although using a #3 pick doesn't guarantee success (see Harrington, Joey), Ryan is the Falcons QB of the future.

It makes a lot of sense to me to let the QB of the future get experience in the present so that when the team has a brighter future, their QB will be better-positioned to help lead them.

Steve McNair visits Titans

Steve McNair had given his all to the Tennessee Titans. Probably more so than any other player and definitely more than any other QB, McNair sacrificed his body for the benefit of the team. Perhaps, he played with too much reckless abandon, but nobody can question his heart.

Then, in 2006, Steve McNair was locked out of the Titans facility. In my opinion, it was a horrible way to handle the situation.

"Steve was told that until he got his contract straightened out, he wasn't welcome at the facility," said [his agent "Bus"] Cook.

Now, two years later, he has re-visited the Titans and he still has a great attitude. And a sense of humor about it.

For the first time since the Titans locked him out of team headquarters in 2006 during a contract impasse, Steve McNair visited the building this afternoon. He spoke to reporters to publicize an upcoming charity event, then went on to watch practice.

He joked that he was a bit scared walking in and relieved that the door opened.

Lights (out), Camera, Action

It's not uncommon for an active NFL player to join the studio production of the NFL Network, ESPN, etc. when the player's team has a bye week or in the post-season when his team has been eliminated from the playoffs. However, Shawne Merriman is taking it to a new level.

The Chargers linebacker will be an in-studio analyst for FSN's Pro Football Preview, which Fox says will be the first time a current player has served in a full-time capacity for any national pregame studio show for any sport.

The show will be taped in Los Angeles on Thursdays, and Merriman will be flown by private plane to and from San Diego so that he doesn't miss practices. He will be joined on the show by host Jay Glazer and analyst Eddie George.

Merriman is one of the best players on one of the few legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Should the San Diego Chargers prevent him from appearing on FSN's Pro Football Review? I don't know the answer, but it's question likely to be asked if Merriman and the Chargers underperform.

Zygi Wilf - My Kind of Owner

Every sports team owner should be a big sports fan (not always the case). Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf personifies what a good owner is in my opinion:

Owner Zygi Wilf is a frequent visitor to practice, and this is what I like about him: Not only is he approachable, he does not draw attention to himself while standing on the sideline. Here's something else I like about him: When a trainer challenged him to field punts one afternoon at practice, insisting he couldn't catch one, Wilf took him up on it -- walking on the field in front of an audience of Vikings fans. He caught three of six. I knew there was a reason I liked this guy.

Here is a You Tube video of Wilf tailgating:

Andy Reid or Bill Belichick?

Asante Samuel was asked to compare the personalities of his current coach (Andy Reid) and his former coach (Bill Belichick). Not that it makes much of a difference, his response is hilarious.

"You know Bill doesn't have a personality," Samuel said after he practiced for the third straight day and talked for the first time at training camp. "So Andy wins that."

Some would argue that Reid is also lacking in the personality department.

"Not much," Samuel said. "But Bill doesn't give you anything."

I wouldn't make much sense though for a player, any player, to pick his former coach when asked that question even if Bill had more than "nothing". And even more so if you're in training camp.

Chad Johnson to become Chad Ocho Cinco?

Pro Football Talk is reporting that Chad Johnson has legally taken the first steps to change his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. Therefore, he would be able to put "Ocho Cinco" on the back of his jersey without being subject to $5,000 fines from the NFL.

I really hope this is true. Chad Johnson is a head case, but how funny would it be for a player to legally change their last name to their number...and, in Spanish?

Brett Favre - fumbling and running laps

Brett Favre has told Eric Mangini that he wants to be treated like everyone else. Eric Mangini has said that is one of the things he likes about Favre. In any event, when Favre and Nick Mangold fumbled a QB-C exchange, the defense started chanting for them to run. So, they did...



I'm not sure if running laps after fumbles will win him any fans on the team (although actual fans cheered him running), not running certainly would have caused him friends on the team. Perhaps not surprisingly, he isn't winning everyone other on the team.

On Alan Faneca's comments about Brett Favre, here's what Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote:

The Favre-Faneca relationship is definitely something to watch. Faneca probably thought he’d walk in as the leader of the offensive line, if not the entire offense. Now, it’s Favre’s show. If Faneca doesn’t like Favre and/or resents all the attention Favre is getting, things could get even more interesting in New York.

And Laverneus Coles, someone with whom Brett Favre would like to be on the same page, had a close relationship with Chad Pennington.

"I just need some time," Coles told a member of the Jets' public-relations staff.

Coles was said to be very upset Wednesday night, when the team learned that Pennington would be released to make room for Brett Favre.

Toward the end of practice, Coles stood alone on the sideline, away from his teammates - unusual for him. Clearly, something is bugging him.

Al Davis talks Javon Walker out of retiring?

After getting hurt last year in game 3, Javon Walker only had 9 catches for 57 yards in the final 4 games of the year. Surprisingly, he was able to get Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders to give him a huge deal (6 years, $55 million) in the off-season.

Then, after a night of partying and spraying the crowd of a nightclub with champagne, he was abducted and beaten.

Despite making a mistake with Walker and other players like Tommy Kelly, apparently Al Davis had his chance to reverse a bad decision.

...Javon Walker, struggling with his performance during training camp, told the team Thursday he intended to retire and offered to return his $11 million signing bonus.

According to a source, Raiders owner Al Davis persuaded Walker to remain with the team.

I like that Al Davis is an owner that wants to "just win baby", but it's becoming more and more obvious to me that Davis needs to step down. He just doesn't have it anymore.