HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Extra Points: Forte, Chip, Norman, Ivory, 49ers

September 27th, 2015 at 9:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bears’ 26-0 loss in Seattle on Sunday was their second straight blowout defeat – one that dropped them to 0-3 for the season. They’ve been outscored 105-46 this year and longtime Bears running back Matt Forte seemed to question his teammates’ commitment after their latest loss.

“It’s a question right now if everybody’s all in,” Forte said, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).

For his part, it looks as though Forte is “all in” this season, a rare bright spot on a lousy team. The 29-year-old added 74 rushing yards Sunday, giving him 202 on a terrific 5.2 per-carry average.

More from around the NFL:

  • Eagles football czar and head coach Chip Kelly garnered plenty of criticism for his roster construction methods during the offseason and has continued to draw ire during the team’s 1-2 start, but he has a fan in Jeffrey Lurie. The Eagles’ owner referred to Kelly’s tenure as “very good,” per ESPN.
  • Jets running back Chris Ivory dressed for Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Kelly’s Eagles, but he had a quad injury and never got into the game. Head coach Todd Bowles elected to keep Ivory on the sideline in order to get him healthy, though Ivory felt he could have played.“I’m not sure how the decision was made,” said Ivory, per Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. “I felt comfortable enough to play [after warm-ups], but I just didn’t want it to be nothing that would linger around.”
  • Prior to the season, Panthers cornerback Josh Norman turned down a contract extension worth upward of $7MM per year, according to Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer. Norman’s decision to gamble on himself is proving smart, Person writes, as the fourth-year man has turned into a shutdown defender. Norman sealed Carolina’s 27-22 win over New Orleans on Sunday with an interception, his second of the year.
  • The 49ers dealt with a number of significant offseason departures and now they’re reeling at 1-2, their latest defeat being a humiliating 47-7 loss to NFC West rival Arizona. After the game, linebacker Ahmad Brooks acknowledged their weakened roster, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). “This is our team. We’ve got to make the best out of who we have,” said Brooks.
  • Adding to the 49ers’ anguish, Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu offered a less-than-glowing assessment of their offense Sunday, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “Their passing game has just simplified so much, it was easy for us to anticipate routes, get some good breaks on the ball,” said Mathieu. With Mathieu’s help, the Cardinals held the 49ers to an embarrassing 67 aerial yards and intercepted four passes.
  • The 0-3 Ravens aren’t a good team and the secondary is their most glaring weakness, writes Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun. After containing Peyton Manning in Week 1, the Ravens allowed over 700 combined passing yards to Andy Dalton and Derek Carr.

Ben Roethlisberger Sprains MCL, Out 4-6 Weeks

September 27th, 2015 at 8:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

9:08 pm: In addition to an MCL sprain, Roethlisberger also suffered a bone bruise, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link).

9:00pm: ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms La Canfora’s report regarding Roethlisberger’s injury. Schefter presents a different timetable, though, as his source expects Roethlisberger to miss six weeks (Twitter link).

8:45pm: An MRI confirmed an MCL sprain for Roethlisberger, reports CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (via Twitter). There’s no damage to his ACL, and he’s expected to miss four weeks.

4:40pm: Roethlisberger is expected to miss at least four weeks, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

4:28pm: The Steelers are “hopeful” that Roethlisberger’s ACL is intact, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

3:51pm: Roethlisberger didn’t break any bones, but he will need to undergo an MRI to determine if he suffered any ligament damage, tweets Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

3:14pm: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was carted off the field during today’s game against the Rams after suffering a left knee injury. The club has announced he will not return, meaning that backup Michael Vick will navigate the offense for the remainder of the contest.

Needless to say, losing Roethlisberger for any amount of time would be devastating to a Steelers offense that ranked No. 1 in offensive DVOA during the 2014 season. Reothlisberger had been enjoying a typically outstanding season, completing more than 70% of his passes for more than 700 yards and four touchdowns during Pittsburgh’s first two games, during which the Steelers had posted a 1-1 record.

If Roethlisberger is out for a significant period of time, Vick will continue to act as Pittsburgh’s signal-caller. Vick was signed in late August after Bruce Gradkowski suffered a season-ending injury; Landry Jones, a former third-rounder, would presumably act as the No. 2 from here on out.

Losing Roethlisberger would be the latest blow to the Steelers offense, which missed Le’Veon Bell for two games due to suspension, and continues to play without receiver Martavis Bryant (suspension) and center Maurkice Pouncey (injury).

AFC Notes: Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Browns

September 27th, 2015 at 8:11pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick performed nicely for the Jets in leading them to a 2-0 start, completing well over 60 percent of passes and tossing four touchdowns against two interceptions. However, the 11th-year man came back to earth on Sunday in a 24-17 loss to the Eagles. He threw a whopping 58 passes and three picks while averaging a paltry 4.88 yards per attempt. Afterward, head coach Todd Bowles gave Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence, but he acknowledged that the 32-year-old is going to have to limit mistakes to stay atop the Jets’ depth chart.

“Ryan (Fitzpatrick) is our starter,” said Bowles, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini (Twitter link)

Bowles then added, “You’re not going to win a game throwing three interceptions.”

A look at a few other AFC teams, including some notable injury news:

  • Although a hamstring injury has slowed Bills running back LeSean McCoy since August, head coach Rex Ryan is reluctant to give him a week off, per ESPN’s Mike Rodak (Twitter link). McCoy, whom Ryan estimates to be at 80 percent, wasn’t much of a factor in the Bills’ 41-14 thrashing of Miami on Sunday. The three-time Pro Bowler rushed for a mere 16 yards on 11 carries, though he did find the end zone for the first time this year on a 10-yard reception.
  • Like McCoy, receiver Sammy Watkins – one of Buffalo’s other big-time playmakers – was limited Sunday because of injury. The second-year man caught one pass for 39 yards before leaving with a calf injury. Ryan referred to Watkins’ ailment as a “big concern” after the game, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweeted.
  • While McCoy and Watkins didn’t make huge impacts Sunday, the same wasn’t true for most of their offensive cohorts in Bills uniforms. Their embarrassment of the Dolphins should lead to the end of defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle‘s tenure, opines Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Among Salguero’s reasons: The Dolphins have just one sack this year (none in the last 11-plus quarters), and tackle Ndamukong Suh has gone from a superstar in Detroit to a nonentity in Miami. That won’t cut it for a player who signed a mega-deal worth over $100MM to join the Dolphins in the offseason.
  • Browns quarterback Josh McCown injured his right hand in the team’s 27-20 loss to Oakland on Sunday and subsequently had X-rays, which were negative, according to ESPN. “I don’t want to speak on it,” McCown said. “I’ll let coach (Mike Pettine) speak on it, but I feel good.”

NFC Notes: Weeden, Kaep, Cam, Bradford

September 27th, 2015 at 7:18pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Prior to the Cowboys’ Brandon Weeden making his first start of the season Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that some around the NFL think it’s only a matter of time before newly acquired Matt Cassel takes over as Dallas’ starter. Weeden, who’s subbing for the injured Tony Romo, then completed an efficient 22 of 26 passes for 232 yards as part of a conservative Cowboys game plan. However, he tossed a costly interception and the Cowboys dropped a 39-28 decision to the Falcons.

Afterward, Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News wrote that Weeden isn’t someone the Cowboys should feel good about continuing to start. That’s certainly not an unreasonable opinion when you consider the abysmal numbers Weeden has put up throughout his career in Cleveland and Dallas. While Cassel isn’t exactly an ideal option, he has had more success in his career than Weeden. If the Cowboys don’t show an ability to stay afloat with Weeden under center, a switch to Cassel would become inevitable.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Colin Kaepernick‘s performance in the 49ers’ 47-7 loss to Arizona on Sunday was the nadir of the fifth-year man’s career, as he went 9 of 19 for 67 yards and four interceptions. Head coach Jim Tomsula isn’t considering switching to backup Blaine Gabbert, however. “Colin’s our quarterback,” he said, per Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter)
  • Panthers quarterback Cam Newton drew a hit that he felt could have warranted a flag in a 27-22 win over New Orleans on Sunday. Referee Ed Hochuli disagreed, though, and gave a bizarre reason for the non-call, per Newton. “Was it a late hit? I don’€™t know,” stated Newton. “But the response that I got was, ”Cam you’re not old enough to get that call.” For what it’s worth, Hochuli denied Newton’s story (link via Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer).
  • The Eagles broke into the win column Sunday with a 24-17 victory over the Jets, but it wasn’t because of struggling QB Sam Bradford. Although the sixth-year man went just 14 of 28 for a meager 118 yards, head coach Chip Kelly was encouraged that he didn’t turn the ball over after tossing four picks in the first two weeks of the season. He also pointed the finger at the Eagles’ offensive weapons for not hauling in more of Bradford’s passes. “I thought Sam did a nice job considering what [the Jets] brought,” Kelly said, according to Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com. “They can bring a rush unlike any team we play. They bring seven, they’re gonna play zero-man behind it. A few of those drops, I think all those guys want them back.”

Marshawn Lynch Leaves Game With Injury

September 27th, 2015 at 6:55pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

6:55pm: Lynch’s injury isn’t serious, according to head coach Pete Carroll (Twitter link via The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta).

5:10pm: Running back Marshawn Lynch has left the Seahawks’ game against the Bears with a hamstring injury and won’t return, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (via Twitter).

Lynch racked up 23 yards on six touches before departing. His status entering the game was in question because of a calf injury, but a different ailment ultimately got the better of him Sunday. We’ll have more news on his injury when it comes.

AFC Notes: Pats, Cooper, Ravens, Haden, Philbin

September 27th, 2015 at 4:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As the second wave of Week 3 games begin, let’s take a look at a few notes from the AFC…

  • In his latest notes piece for ESPN.com, Mike Reiss wonders if the Patriots might be able to work out a trade for a cornerback. New England’s secondary is depleted after losing Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and Kyle Arrington during the offseason, and Bill Belichick has certainly shown a willingness to make in-season deals. Reiss speculates that New England might target Chiefs CB Marcus Cooper, who played just one snap last week and will see even less time given the return of Sean Smith from suspension. Per Reiss, the Patriots tried to claim Cooper off waivers in 2013 but were beaten out by Kansas City.
  • Not only did the Ravens fall to 0-3 by losing to the Bengals today, but the club might be without first-round rookie receiver Breshad Perriman for longer than originally thought. Reports had indicated that Perriman was close to a return, but he apparently suffered a setback during pregame warmups earlier today. According to Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun, Perriman was “moving well” as he attempts to come back from a sprained knee, but pulled up lame as he tried to go after a deep ball.
  • Elsewhere in the AFC North, Browns cornerback Joe Haden told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link) that X-rays came back negative on his injured ribs. However, Haden did say that he’ll undergo an MRI tomorrow.
  • With the Dolphins record sitting at 1-1, and the club facing a stiff divisional test today against the Bills, several USA Today scribes debated whether head coach Joe Philbin might be on the proverbial hot seat. It’s widely believed that Miami must make the playoffs for Philbin to keep his job.

PFR Originals: 9/20/15 – 9/27/15

September 27th, 2015 at 2:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past seven days:

  • Luke Adams kicked off our 2016 Cap Outlook series by taking a look at the Saints, examining candidates for extensions, restructures, and release.
  • Slightly less than half the league has used its injured reserve/designated to return slot, and Luke went over which clubs have utilized the designation.
  • Zach Links rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
  • In our Community Tailgate series, we post topics for discussion and encourage readers to relay their thoughts in the comments section. The issues covered by Luke last week:
    • How will the NFC East play out? (link)
    • How will the AFC South play out? (link)
    • Which underdogs will win in Week 3? (link)

Week In Review: 9/20/15 – 9/27/15

September 27th, 2015 at 1:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key News:

Trades:

  • Cowboys – acquired QB Matt Cassel and a 2017 seventh-round pick from the Bills in exchange for a 2017 fifth-round pick.
  • Ravens – acquired CB Will Davis from the Dolphins for a 2016 seventh-round pick.

Extended:

Waivers:

Signed:

Other:

Sunday Roundup: Browns, Whitworth, Brees

September 27th, 2015 at 12:50pm CST by Rory Parks

Dwayne Bowe is a healthy scratch for the Browns in Week 3, which, given Cleveland’s dearth of talent at wide receiver, speaks volumes about Bowe’s present ability. Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com appears to believe that the team will cut ties with Bowe sooner rather than later, tweeting that the team will wait for GM Ray Farmer to return from suspension after next week’s game and then pull the plug on Bowe. Grossi’s ESPN colleagues Adam Caplan and Jeremy Fowler, however, disagree. Fowler tweets that the Browns will at least wait to see if Bowe can get himself into game shape, while Caplan tweets that, between the $9MM in guaranteed money the Browns invested in Bowe, combined with the team’s need at wideout, Bowe will have a little more time to prove himself.

Now let’s take a peek at a few more links from around the league:

  • Johnny Manziel may not be playing for the Browns this week, but as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, he continues to impress Cleveland brass with the strides he has made both on and off the field. The team will continue to roll with veteran Josh McCown for the time being, but if the Browns should begin to slip from the playoff picture, Manziel will get the chance to prove he is the team’s long-awaited solution under center.
  • Coley Harvey of ESPN.com believes the extension that the Bengals recently gave to Andrew Whitworth is a clear indication that the team does not see its window of opportunity closing, and that they will continue to be championship contenders for the foreseeable future. Although the team has not officially announced the extension, Harvey tweets that the announcement could come after today’s game against Baltimore.
  • Drew Brees‘ injury clouds his future with the Saints, and as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the team could free up $20MM in salary cap room by parting ways with Brees next year and beginning the rebuilding process. Of course, before that happens, the team would have to have a viable alternative under center; Luke McCown is not the answer, and rookie Garrett Grayson, needless to say, has a long way to go.
  • If Brees should end up looking for a new home next year, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com says the Jets would likely be a strong contender for his services.
  • Chuck Pagano may be coaching his last season in Indianapolis, but he is apparently unafraid to make drastic changes to jump start his struggling club. As Mike Wells of ESPN.com tweets, the Colts went with a new-look offensive line today, starting Jack Mewhort at left guard, Hugh Thornton at right guard, and Joe Reitz at right tackle. Free agent acquisition Todd Herremans, notably, moves to the bench.
  • During the 2009 draft, the Jaguars traded their seventh-round pick in that draft and their second-round pick in the 2010 draft to the Patriots in exchange for New England’s third-round pick in 2009. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets, Jacksonville selected Derek Cox with that third-round pick, and the Pats parlayed their two choices into Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

 

Latest On Seahawks, Kam Chancellor

September 27th, 2015 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

SUNDAY, 11:45am: Citing Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the Seahawks plan to take a “sizable chunk” of the money that Chancellor stands to lose as a result of his holdout. As Florio points out, it is one thing to not pay Chancellor the $534K of salary he has not earned, but it is quite another to ask him to refund money that he has already paid taxes on. It remains unclear exactly what a “sizable chunk” means, but regardless of what Seattle demands from Chancellor, the safety will undoubtedly seek to recoup it and then some when the two sides revisit his contract next year.

WEDNESDAY, 6:12pm: Kam Chancellor‘s holdout cost him $1.1MM in fines, $500K in signing-bonus forfeiture, and about $534K in lost salary for a total of about $2.134MM in potential lost earnings. Today, he decided enough was enough and returned to his team. What does this all mean for the 0-2 Seahawks and for Chancellor’s future in Seattle? Here’s the latest..

  • Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the holdout started because the two sides couldn’t agree on an adjustment to Chancellor’s contract that would have applied in 2016, Mike Florio of PFT writes. In August, the team and Chancellor had a tentative understanding that Chancellor would be paid like one of the top safeties in the game starting in 2016. The Seahawks later pulled that off the table, citing a concern about setting a precedent for others. In the preseason, however, Seattle offered a revised deal worth less money than that proposal, which made Chancellor even more angry.
  • Chancellor said he’ll handle business things – like a contract – after the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s not surprising to hear that the two sides will table discussions until after the season is through, though the safety is probably expecting some major changes at that point. Rapoport adds that Chancellor believes he’ll play this Sunday.
  • The safety must write the commissioner seeking reinstatement to the active roster before he can play, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. Once Goodell signs off, Chancellor moves from the reserve/did not report list to the active roster. The Seahawks can then seek roster exemptions of up to two weeks (link). In this case, however, no one expects the team to seek any more than a few days at most (link).
  • Teammate Michael Bennett praised Chancellor for reporting to the club, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets. Michael Bennett on the return of Chancellor: “It takes a man to come in when the world is against you,’‘ Bennett said.
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