http://www.sportsnipe.com NFL Football News, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048668/few-words-from-president-bears-gm-jerry-angelos-fan-club.html Come with me on a stroll down memory lane, fellow Bears fans? Flashback to February 2007?. Your Bears were fresh off a Super Bowl season. They headed into the offseason with a lame duck head coach signed only through the upcoming season. National pundits and fans were outraged at the possibility that the first coach to take [...] NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048667/nflpa-against-roger-goodells-idea-players-reporting-on-teammates-concussions.html The NFL Players Association opposes commissioner Roger Goodell's call for players to tell their teams' medical staffs if they think a teammate shows symptoms of a concussion. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048666/buffalo-bills-marcus-stroud-ruled-out-vs-jacksonville-jaguars.html Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud has been ruled out at Jacksonville this weekend because of a knee injury. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048665/arizona-cardinals-darnell-dockett-fined-7500-for-matt-hasselbeck-hit.html The NFL has fined Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett $7,500 for his elbow to the throat of Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048664/saints-bush-misses-practice-for-third-day-in-row.html NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush has been held out of practice for the third straight day, and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048421/seahawks-likely-without-starting-corner-josh-wilson-vs-vikes.html Josh Wilson is unlikely to play Sunday at Minnesota because of a concussion, leaving the Seahawks without a starting cornerback against Brett Favre and the high-flying Vikings. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048420/bears-wolfe-out-for-season-kidney-injury.html The Chicago Bears placed backup running back Garrett Wolfe on injured reserve Friday, ending his season. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048419/eagles-shuffle-linebackers-to-accommodate-injuries.html For the second consecutive week, the Philadelphia Eagles will go with a different look at linebacker because of a knee injury to weakside starter Akeem Jordan. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048418/saints-bush-has-bruised-swollen-knee-questionable.html New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush was held out of practice for the third straight day Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048417/dockett.html The NFL fined Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett $7,500 for his elbow to the throat of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048414/bush-held-out-practice-questionable-vs-bucs.html New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush has been held out of practice for the third straight day, and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. Bush came out of the St. Louis game with swelling and soreness in his left knee, which was surgically repaired twice in a three-month span a year ago. Saints coach Sean Payton says Bush's knee is bruised and swollen. He says that happens with a knee that has had surgery. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047978/seahawks-wilson-misses-practice-unlikely-to-play.html Josh Wilson is unlikely to play Sunday at Minnesota because of a concussion, leaving the Seattle Seahawks without one of their starting cornerback against Brett Favre and the high-flying Vikings. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047977/union-no-reporting-on-mates.html The NFL Players Association opposes commissioner Roger Goodell's call for players to tell their teams' medical staffs if they think a teammate shows symptoms of a concussion. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047976/portis-visits-concussion-docs-who-saw-westbrook.html ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Friday to have his concussion evaluated. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047975/jets-s-leonhard-questionable-lb-gholston-out.html FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -- New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard is questionable for the team's game at New England after being limited in practice Friday with a broken right thumb. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047974/ravens-de-edwards-plans-to-appeal-5000-fine.html OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047973/steelers-polamalu-kirschke-sidelined-vs-chiefs.html PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play Sunday in Kansas City. He may miss the Nov. 29 game at Baltimore as well. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047882/baltimore-ravens-defensive-end-dwan-edwards-plans-appeal-roughness-fine.html Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047881/washington-redskins-running-back-clinton-portis-visits-concussion-specialists.html Redskins running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Friday to have his concussion evaluated. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047880/ravens-de-to-appeal-fine.html Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards said Friday he plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs on Monday night. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047879/portis-out-for-skins-visits-concussion-specialists.html Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Friday to have his concussion evaluated. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047878/steelers-polamalu-shelved-again-by-left-knee-injury.html Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play Sunday in Kansas City. He might miss the Nov. 29 game at Baltimore as well. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047548/jets-safety-jim-leonhard-questionable-linebacker-vernon-gholston-out-vs-new-england-patriots.html Jets safety Jim Leonhard is questionable for the team's game at New England after being limited in practice with a broken right thumb. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047547/orton-misses-practice-to-be-gametime-decision.html ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday with a sprained left ankle. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047546/bills-tackle-stroud-ruled-out-against-jacksonville.html ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo's Marcus Stroud has been ruled out because of a knee injury, meaning the NFL's worst run defense could be without both starting defensive tackles against Jacksonville this weekend. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047545/ravens-edwards-plans-appeal-fine-for-roughness.html Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047544/trent-edwards-on-his-way-out-in-buffalo.html The Buffalo News believes the addition of Brian Brohm is a sign that the Bills are "prepared to move forward without Trent Edwards." NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047105/kyle-orton-denver-broncos-gametime-call-after-missing-practice.html Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday with a sprained left ankle. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047104/jets-leonhard-questionable-gholston-out-vs-pats.html New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard is questionable for the team's game at New England after being limited in practice with a broken right thumb. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047103/polamalu-could-miss-three-games.html NFL.com's Jason La Canfora reports the Steelers are "hopeful" that Troy Polamalu's PCL sprain won't cost him more than three games. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046954/nfl-week-11-ten-bold-predictions.html RealScouts Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts make 10 predictions about this week's games: 1. Indy will finally go down. Though it's hard to argue with the Colts' karma (a missed field goal attempt and Bill Belichick's gamble saved them the past two weeks), this does not look like a team that has the makings of an undefeated squad. Injuries on defense are catching up to the Colts, who have given up an average of over 21 points in the past three games while winning by an an average of 2.7 points. Meanwhile, Baltimore's defense is allowing just 8.0 points over the last three games, and despite the loss of Terrell Suggs, the Ravens have the ability to get after Peyton Manning and alter his rythym. 2. Chargers will take AFC West lead. The Chargers have won two of their last three games in Denver, and we think they're going to make it three out of four. San Diego has a potent air attack and proved last week it can run the ball when it has to. Denver's aging defense has been wearing down during the team's three-game skid, allowing an average of 13.7 points in the fourth quarter of those games. Look for an aggressive game plan from the Bolts, including some no-huddle series to keep those aging Broncos defenders on the field. 3. 49ers will throw at Lambeau. The Packers have two of the best cover corners in Charles Woodson and Al Harris, who have combined for seven interceptions this season. That and the fact running back Frank Gore has 278 rushing yards the past three games combined would make you think the 49ers will keep it on the ground Sunday. However, Alex Smith has completed 64 percent of his passes over the last three weeks, and he has viable targets in wideouts Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan and tight end Vernon Davis. Look for San Francisco to work the middle of the field early with Davis and Gore, keeping the ball away from those dangerous corners. The 49ers will also run the ball out of the shotgun formation to disguise their intentions. Once the defense is forced to move up, Smith will take some shots downfield against single coverage. 4. Belichick will go for it on fourth down. After the hullabaloo this past week, we fully expect the Patriots' coach to let his offense try to convert the first fourth-and-short chance that comes up against the Jets. Belichick has taken a great deal of heat for his decision to go for it on fourth and 2 late last week, setting up the Colts' winning score. What most fans don't know is the Pats have a history of great success on fourth down. Last year, for example, they ranked second in the league with a 77 percent conversion rate on fourth down (17 for 22). Belichick will look to test a struggling Jets defense and stick it in the face of this week's detractors. 5. Wideouts will determine AFC East battle. New England's Laurence Maroney has a rushing TD in each of the past four games, and the Jets' rushing attack is the most productive in the league. But look for two wide receivers — the Patriots' Randy Moss and the Jets' Braylon Edwards — to be the key figures in this game. Moss is having a strong season but was shut down by Jets corner Darrelle Revis in Week 2. Since then, Tom Brady has rebuilt the chemistry with his top target. Brady will work the fade and sideline routes, where he can take advantage of Moss' height and leaping ability. Edwards has had a tough transition in New York, especially with rookie Mark Sanchez struggling, but expect the Jets to get him involved early. 6. Look for unlikely heroes in Oakland. Don't be surprised if the Raiders and Bengals get key performances from unlikely sources in their matchup. Oakland has replaced JaMarcus Russell with Bruce Gradkowski, who doesn't have a strong or especially accurate arm but is mobile and does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield while extending plays with his legs. That will cause problems for a Cincinnati defense that focuses on getting upfield quickly. Meanwhile, our sources tell us Bengals newly signed Larry Johnson has gotten significant practice reps this week and could play a significant role with Cedric Benson (hip) likely out. 7. Cutler will throw two TDs in the red zone. After Jay Cutler's five-interception disaster last week, it would make sense for the Bears to get back to a run-first attack. But that won't happen this week against the Eagles. Chicago's line is not built to run-block, so the team will stick with the pass, especially against the Eagles' banged-up secondary. The Bears had a lot of practice time coming off last week's Thursday night game, and they worked on Cutler's decision-making, particularly in the red zone. Look for him to finish the job at least twice this week, with tight end Greg Olsen a prime target. 8. Down with Johnson & Johnson. In the Week 2 meeting between the Titans and Texans, Tennessee's Chris Johnson had 284 total yards from scrimmage and Houston's Andre Johnson had 10 catches for 149 and two scores. Both are elite players, but don't expect a repeat performance from either on the Monday night stage. In two games against the Texans last year, Chris Johnson had 139 rushing yards combined. And Houston hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 3. Meanwhile, Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan is healthy and will do a better job of keeping Andre Johnson in check. 9. Hasselbeck will put up third straight 300-yard game. Though the Seahawks rank 16th in total yards and 19th in points per game, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been on a tear recently. After turning in back-to-back 300-yard games, Hasselbeck is a good bet to do the same against the vaunted Vikings D. Minnesota is among the league leaders in sacks but ranks 23rd in pass defense and has allowed 30 plays of 20-plus yards (sixth most in the NFL). Hasselbeck, who is savvy in the pocket, won't be sidetracked by the Vikes' pressure. 10. There will be points aplenty in Detroit. The Lions and Browns will battle it out for the title of NFL's worst this weekend. But instead of a dreary, slow-paced game, we expect a shootout. Detroit allows a league-worst 29.3 points per game while Cleveland isn't far behind at 25.0. Both also rank among the worst in the league in big plays allowed. Look for some momentum-swinging plays to spark both offenses. RealScouts analyze NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046953/meet-brandon-gibson.html Keenan Burton wasn't talented enough to be a fantasy factor, but Brandon Gibson is. Brandon Gibson, Ramses Barden, Patrick Turner and Devin Aromashodu all have talent. They're young, relatively unknown receivers that are worth keeping on the radar in dynasty leagues. There's one difference: Gibson actually is getting an opportunity to play. Now. Gibson is locked in as the Rams' starting split end for the rest of the season thanks to Keenan Burton's season-ending knee injury (and Laurent Robinson's). Donnie Avery will start opposite him and Danny Amendola will be in the slot. Gibson had seven catches for 93 yards and led the team in targets in his debut. "For him to come in after Keenan got hurt and play as well as he did is impressive, rookie or no rookie," Marc Bulger said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I think we found a really good receiver there." So if Gibson really can play, why didn't he go until the sixth round of the 2009 draft? First of all, he would have gone much higher if he left Washington State as a junior. But he stuck around for a miserable senior season on a miserable team and had a miserable year. Then, he pulled his hamstring in the practices leading up to the Senior Bowl and wasn't able to play in the game. He also missed the agility tests at the Combine and at Washington State's pro day. So Gibson went tumbling down draft boards before the Eagles, who didn't really need a receiver, said they can't pass on his talent and took him with the 194th overall pick. Maybe I'm getting a little too excited about a rookie on a bad team. But the bottom line is Gibson has an opportunity right now and I'm stashing him and/or playing him until we see how this develops. The Rams play the Texans (No. 17 vs. pass) and Cardinals (No. 30 vs. pass) in Weeks 15 and 16. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046952/week-11-preview-buffalo-at-jacksonville.html I'm not sure if you've heard or not, but it's been anything but calm or quiet around One Bills Drive this week. Quick recap of this past week's events. Last Sunday, the Bills were trounced by the Titans, 41-17, giving up 24 points in the fourth quarter. Two days later, Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. pulled the plug on Dick Jauron, firing the beleaguered coach after 3 ½ seasons. Wilson tabbed defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to be the team's interim head coach for the remainder of the season. On Wednesday, Fewell backed Jauron's original plan for this week and announced the team will start backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick over maligned starter Trent Edwards. Amid all the hoopla surrounding the Bills' busy week, Buffalo will square off against an AFC South opponent for the second straight week, the surging Jacksonville Jaguars. The scenarios coming into this game aren't much different than last game. The Bills will be on the road, facing a surging team with a dynamic, scary running back. Last week the Titans had won two straight and found their third win in a row over the Bills, while running back Chris Johnson racked up 232 total yards and two touchdowns. On Sunday, the Jaguars aim for their third straight win and hope to do so on the shoulders of running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Needless to say, if nothing else this should be fun to see if or how the Bills can function in disarray. Jauron had zero effect on the offense, despite having players at wide receiver (Terrell Owens, Lee Evans) and running back (Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch). Now Fewell inherits an offense ranked 29th in the NFL. Buffalo turns, or I should say re-turns, back to Fitzpatrick in an attempt to right the ship. The backup out of Harvard guided the Bills to wins over the Jets and the Panthers in consecutive road games, but lost to the Texans in his last start. Fitzpatrick must find a way, any way, to generate some resemblance of offense. The Bills are averaging fewer than 16 points per game this season, while failing to reach 300 yards of total offense in eight of their past nine games. Defensively, Fewell has done a lot with very little, thanks to a constant march of players to the infirmary or the injured reserve. Buffalo ranks 9th in the pass defense, but run defense continues to be a problem and through nine games, there's no evidence to point to the contrary for the rest of this season. The Bills rank dead last in rushing in the NFL. They couldn't stop the Saints' Pierre Thomas or the Browns' Jamal Lewis. They had problems with Miami's tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. They were shredded by the Jets' Thomas Jones and torched by the Titans' Chris Johnson. Now MJD get his turn to wet his whistle. Jacksonville (5-4) enters Sunday's contest with the league's 6th ranked rushing attack led by Jones-Drew, who ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing with 860 yards. Jones-Drew leads the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns, seven of which have come in Jacksonville's last four games. It's been over a month (Oct.11th at Seattle) since Jones-Drew has been kept out of the end zone. MJD has been a workhorse for the Jags the past few weeks, carrying the rock 33, 29, and 24 times in three of the past four games. His lone single digit carry came against the Titans when he had only eight carries, but rushed for 177 yards. The Jaguars have won three of their last four games since starting 2-3 this season. Jacksonville is 4-2 versus the AFC and 3-1 at home with wins over Tennessee, St. Louis and Kansas City. It's been an all-or-nothing season for the Jaguars; either they've won close or lost big. Aside from their 14-12 opening season loss at Indianapolis, their other three losses were by 14, 41 and 17 points. In their five wins, Jacksonville dished out a beat down just once, beating the Titans by 20. Their other four wins have come by seven points or less: Jacksonville beat Houston by seven, St. Louis by three, Kansas City by three and the New York Jets by two. Missing from the lineup on Sunday for Jacksonville could be two of their best defensive players, safety Rashean Mathis and linebacker Justin Durant. Both were injured in last week's win over the Jets; Mathis suffered a groin injury and Durant suffered a mild concussion. On the Bills' injury front, the offensive line continues to be a game of musical chairs. Left tackle Demetrius Bell suffered a knee injury in last week's loss to Tennessee, possibly sidelining him for a couple of weeks. That means rookie Andy Levitre will make his NFL debut at left tackle on Sunday. Defensive tackle Kyle Williams (knee) and linebacker Keith Ellison (quad) will be out Sunday, as both players continue to battle injuries. Cornerback Ashton Youbouty is out Sunday as well after suffering a high ankle sprain last week and fellow cornerback Terrence McGee is working his way back from minor knee surgery he had during the bye week. His status remains questionable. It looks like safety Donte Whitner is ready to return from a high ankle sprain. What the Bills should do: That seems to be the million dollar question these days. Fewell inherits an offensive mess from Jauron and as Fitzpatrick goes, so will the offense. Look for the Bills to attempt to generate a balance of pass and run, but don't be surprised if they lean on the running game to relieve the pressure on Fitzpatrick starting on the road. What the Jaguars should do: I said it last week and it stands this week: Duh! Run the ball. Jacksonville has one of the best backs in football, so it'll come as a surprise to no one if Jones-Drew is featured in the both the rushing and passing attack. With the Bills battling injuries in the secondary, that means rookie corner Ellis Lankster could be matched up against Jags leading receiver Mike Sims-Walker. Look for the Jaguars to mix in play action to take some deep shots down the field. Prediction: Jaguars 24, Bills 17. I don't believe the Bills will roll over and play dead for the Jaguars, despite the distracting week it's been for the Bills. I think they'll play hard for interim coach Perry Fewell and keep this thing close. However, the Bills have been horrible against the run this year and they're facing another difficult challenge in Maurice Jones-Drew. Look for MJD to avenge last year's 6 carry, 17 yard outing in the loss to the Bills and guide the Jaguars to their third straight win for the first time in two years. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046951/browns-coach-mangini-says-cribbs-expected-to-play-sunday.html Despite the obvious issues with the play that knocked him out, there appears to be some good news about the outcome of the hit on Josh Cribbs from Monday night. Today, coach Eric Mangini said he expects Cribbs to play when the Browns go against the Lions on Sunday. Cribbs was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field after the last play of the Browns' 16-0 loss to Baltimore on Monday night. He was briefly hospitalized with a possible neck injury and concussion. "I anticipate Josh playing all of the roles he normally plays this week,” Mangini said. Mangini says all of the measures taken with Cribbs were precautionary and that all the tests came back negative. Cribbs remains listed as questionable on Thursday's injury report. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046950/polite-refuses-to-live-up-his-name.html Everybody is singing the praises of Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams for his three-touchdown performance Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. Williams ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. In his long and sometimes spectacular career, it was his first game with rushing and receiving touchdowns. Williams is 32 years old, but he recorded two 100-yard rushing games in a span of five days. Highly impressive. But let's stop for a moment and acknowledge the performance of Dolphins fullback Lousaka Polite, who delivered several skeleton-rattling blocks to open lanes for Williams. With the Dolphins' offensive line crumbling before them -- right tackle Vernon Carey, center Jake Grove, starting left guard Nate Garner and reserve Joe Berger all came off the field at some point, and usual left guard Justin Smiley played hurt -- Polite was the best hole-puncher on the field. ESPN Stats & Information tracked every play and found 18 of Williams' 22 rushing attempts came out of a backfield set. He gained 107 of his yards, averaging 5.9 yards a pop, with Polite blocking for him. Polite, a highly effective option in short-yardage situations, likely will be called upon to carry the ball more with Ronnie Brown out for the year with a broken foot. Polite had four attempts for 11 yards Thursday night, but he also fumbled for the first time in his career. But do yourself a favor the next time you watch the Dolphins. Watch how he plays when he doesn't have the ball. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046949/what-might-mean-if-colts-get-to-100.html If the Colts win Sunday, they will be the 12th team (and the Saints could be the 13th) to start a season 10-0 since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. That would offer no guarantees about their potential for postseason success, however. Only five of the 11 teams that have started 10-0 have gone on to win the Super Bowl, most recently the 1998 Denver Broncos. Here’s a breakdown of the teams that started 10-0 from ESPN Stats & Information: If both the Colts and Saints win, it would be just the third time in NFL history in which two teams began a season 10-0. The 1990 Giants and 49ers each began 10-0. The Giants won Super Bowl XXV, beating the 49ers in the NFC title game to get there. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046948/where-have-bluechip-left-tackles-gone.html There’s an age-old theory in the NFL when it comes to left tackles. It’s pretty simple, really and it goes something like this: Every decade or so, you use a first-round draft pick on a left tackle. You throw him out and there and he anchors your offensive line for 10 or 12 years. Think Anthony Munoz or Jonathan Ogden. You get a guy like that and, chances are, he’s going to be around through at least a couple of coaching regimes and you’ve got one position you don’t need to worry about. It’s a philosophy that’s been so rock solid through the years, that every team subscribes. But what happens when the subscription runs out or someone steals the magazine out of the mailbox? Well, that’s sort of what’s happening right now in the NFC South -- the division without a stud left tackle. It wasn’t planned this way at all. But the Carolina Panthers were starting Travelle Wharton, who truly is a guard, at left tackle when they lost to the Dolphins on Thursday night. Come Sunday, there’s a very good chance Wharton, who was a third-round draft pick, might have the best pedigree of any starting left tackle in the division. There’s a very real chance that the other three NFC South teams will be starting left tackles who were not drafted, drafted late or born in the Czech Republic. Yes, this is what it has come to as we head for the playoff stretch. Where have you gone Willie Roaf and Paul Gruber? It’s been this way through parts of the division for much of the season, but the trend suddenly has grown because of injuries. The amazing thing is that the lack of blue-chip left tackles hasn’t caused a disaster for any of the NFC South teams --at least not yet. Here’s a look at each NFC South team’s situation at left tackle: Atlanta. The Falcons are the only team in the division that could end up with a first-round draft pick playing left tackle any time the rest of this season. That would be Sam Baker, whom the Falcons drafted out of Southern California last year. They used their second of two first-round picks to get Baker to protect the blindside of top pick Matt Ryan. Baker’s been fine -- when he’s been on the field. But the problem is he’s already had a disturbing assortment of injuries. He missed last Sunday’s game against Carolina and the Falcons were forced to throw Will Svitek out there at left tackle and ask him to block Julius Peppers. Svitek got through that game without much problem, but that was mainly because Peppers was playing with a broken hand and played only part of the game. Svitek’s the kind of guy who can get you through a game, but he’s not someone you want to hang out there for the rest of the season. The Falcons are 5-4 and have problems all over the place. To have any shot at the playoffs, they need to get Baker healthy and back into the lineup. Carolina. Entering the season, the Panthers had the best left tackle in the division -- maybe in the NFL -- in Jordan Gross. They drafted him early in the first round back in 2003 and gave him a massive new contract after last season. But disaster struck last week when Gross broke his ankle and went down for the season. That forced Carolina to drastically overhaul its offensive line because the Panthers don’t have another true left tackle on the roster. They’ve shifted Wharton to left tackle and inserted Mackenzy Bernadeau, who made his first NFL start Thursday night, at left guard. Wharton’s been a starter at left tackle before and he’s serviceable there. But he’s not nearly as good at left tackle as he is at guard and he’s not nearly as good as Gross. There’s also a big drop-off from Wharton to Bernadeau at left guard and the 4-6 Panthers will have to pull off miracles on their offensive line if they have any hopes of making the playoffs. New Orleans. The Saints thought they got their left tackle for a generation when they used the 13th overall pick in 2005 to take Jammal Brown out of Oklahoma. That move was working out just fine as Brown made the Pro Bowl in the 2006 and ’08 seasons. But trouble surfaced in the preseason when Brown had to have surgeries for a hip injury and a sports hernia. Initially, the Saints thought he could return around midseason, but his recovery was slow and New Orleans decided to place Brown on injured reserve. Brown’s injuries have given rise to one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. That’s Jermon Bushrod, who was thrust into the starting lineup after spending his first two seasons on the bench. A fourth-round pick out of Towson State, Bushrod suddenly was placed in charge of protecting Drew Brees’ back. The amazing thing is Bushrod has done just fine. Give him lots of credit for that, but don’t go thinking he’s a Pro Bowler and the Saints should try to trade Brown in the offseason. Bushrod is not Brown. He has limitations and the Saints know it. If you watch their offense, they’ve done a lot to help Bushrod. They give him blocking help with their tight ends, fullback and running backs and it also helps that Brees has a quick release and doesn’t take many deep drops. Tampa Bay. Part of the reason Jon Gruden was fired after last season was because he never instituted a long-term plan and this was especially true at left tackle. He was bringing in washed-up veterans like Luke Petitgout, but that might end up being a blessing for Raheem Morris and the current regime. Totally by accident (and injuries to Petitgout), the Bucs discovered Donald Penn. He wasn’t even drafted out of Utah State, but he’s turned out to be a solid starting left tackle. He may never be dominant, but Penn has played well enough that the Bucs are likely to try to sign him to a big contract before the start of free agency in February. Penn and Bushrod have shown that you don’t always have to find a left tackle in the first round of the draft. But they’re the exceptions. It’s nice when you can find gems like them and surround them with a good offensive line. But it’s even nicer when you draft a blue-chip tackle in the first round and build your offensive line around him. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046947/buffalo-bills-marcus-stroud-rule-out-vs-jacksonville-jaguars.html Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud has been ruled out at Jacksonville this weekend because of a knee injury. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046946/chicago-bears-running-back-garrett-wolfe-out-for-season-lacerated-kidney.html Chicago Bears running back Garrett Wolfe is out for the season with a lacerated kidney. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046945/stroud-wont-play-for-bills-in-return-to-jacksonville.html Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud on Friday was ruled out at Jacksonville this weekend because of a knee injury. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046944/broncos-simms-ready-to-start-at-qb-for-hurt-orton.html Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday with a sprained left ankle. Coach Josh McDaniels says Orton's availability for Sunday's pivotal contest with San Diego will come down to a game-time decision. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046943/nfl-blitz-ranking-all-week-11-games.html Peyton Manning and the Colts' bid to stay unbeaten vs. the Ravens is high on our list as we rank the Week 11 games in the NFL Blitz. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046942/are-broncos-due-for-collapse-maybe.html Breaking Down Sunday's San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos game (4:15 p.m., CBS) NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046941/peter-king-titans-rb-johnson-aims-to-beat-out-peterson.html Forget their combined 8-10 record. Tennessee-Houston is worth the watch for a slew of reasons, including one RB who's got an edge on Adrian Peterson. SI.com's Peter King explains. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046940/bills-dt-stroud-out-knee-injury-ap.html Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud has been ruled out at Jacksonville this weekend because of a knee injury. With Kyle Williams listed as questionable by interim head coach Perry Fewell on Friday because of a sprained knee, the Bills' porous run defense could be missing both starting tackles in preparing to face one of the NFL's most potent rushing teams. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046939/union-nfl-concussion-cochairman-biased-ap.html The NFL Players Association wants the league to remove the co-chairman of the league's committee on concussions because the union believes he is biased. Dr. Ira Casson has criticized independent and league-sponsored studies linking NFL careers with heightened risk for dementia and cognitive decline, saying more research is needed. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046938/qb-orton-misses-third-straight-practice-ap.html Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday with a sprained left ankle. Coach Josh McDaniels says the Denver Broncos quarterback's availability for Sunday's pivotal contest with San Diego will come down to a game-time decision. Backup Chris Simms again took first-team practice repetitions, as he has all week in the absence of Orton, who was injured during last week's 27-17... NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046937/always-be-covering-especially-if-your-daughters-love-hangs-in-balance.html Welcome back for another fun week of poorly thought out wagers. While you’re sitting there reading this I’m locked in a very large warehouse counting a lot of stuff while trying to limit my dust intake. Good times. Anyway, I was able to find three of the world’s foremost football prognosticators to assist with this week’s picks. Smooth Jimmy Apollo: I hereby declare the Lions Smooth Jimmy’s Lock of the Week. When you lose 90% of the time you’re bound to win 10% of the time. Unnamed Sportscaster: I declare the Colts to be my Shoe-In of the Week. And I really wish that Jay Kogen had given me a name. I am so lonely. Professor Frink: After analyzing millions of pieces of data, the Gamble Tron 2000 says the winner is… the Falcons, by 200 points?! In all seriousness, I have a machine that tells me to pick the Falcons every week. It has become sentient, and I have come to fear for my well being. Enjoy the games, and please never listen to anyone’s gambling advice. People are stupid. Stupider than machines. NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046313/examining-whats-wrong-denver.html How do the Denver Broncos regain their magic? That question has been posed all week in the Rocky Mountains as the team is on the cusp of blowing a monumental lead in the AFC West. The reeling Broncos somehow have to find the answer Sunday as they play host to San Diego in a matchup for sole possession of first place in the division. Both Denver and San Diego are 6-3. That tie seemed highly unlikely on the night of Oct. 19, when the Broncos beat the Chargers to improve to 6-0 and drop San Diego to 2-3. However, Denver has lost three straight games, most recently at lowly Washington, since its bye. While Denver has come crashing back to earth, San Diego has won four straight games. The Broncos have had a number of problems the past three weeks. They have looked more like the team many league observers expected them to be, with issues on both sides of the ball. Here is a look at Denver’s problems and what it must fix to get back on the winning track: No pressure from the defensive front: This area was considered one of Denver’s biggest question marks going into the season. Starters Kenny Peterson, Ryan McBean and Ronald Fields had two combined NFL starts prior to the season. The group played well in the first six games but has been pushed around lately. Pittsburgh and Washington ran all over the Broncos. After the 6-0 start, the Broncos were third in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, yielding 79.7 yards per game. Now, they're 12th in the league, allowing 105.6 yards per game. According to ESPN’s Stats & Information, Denver has allowed 157.3 yards rushing, 26th in the league, over the past three games. The problem clearly starts up front. “It seems like it’s the group we expected it to be prior to the season,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “That unit does not control the line of scrimmage anymore.” It will be interesting to see how Denver’s defense plays the run against San Diego. The Chargers had the worst rushing offense in the NFL most of the season. But LaDainian Tomlinson got going a bit Sunday against Philadelphia, rushing for 96 yards and taking the pressure off San Diego’s outstanding passing game. Denver must stop the run to keep San Diego's offense one-dimensional. The entire defense is wearing down: The Denver defense sparked its hot start. The unit didn’t allow more than 17 points in the first six games. It was timely and punishing. Yet, over the past three games, the defense has looked tired, and it has fallen apart late. Denver has allowed 85 points in the past three games after allowing only 66 points in the first six games. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Denver allowed 262.5 yards per game in the first six games. In the past three games, it allowed 351.7. The change is startling. “[We are playing] not very good team defense,” Denver coach Josh McDaniels said. ”We know that we can be successful when we play good team defense. We’ve shown that ability. We’ve done it in the past against good teams. For a number of reasons, we’ve kind of forgotten what got us to that point. We’ve got to go back to work, and we’ve got to all understand that we’re not 11 individuals out there. We’re one group that has to play our responsibility the way that it needs to be played and do our job the way that it needs to be done, and that is many times done without glory individually, but what happens is the ball ends up going back to the guy that it’s supposed to go back to and he’s there to make the tackle. If he does, then you usually play decent run defense. Once you start jumping around blocks and [are] trying to make a play here and there, it kind of spreads throughout the defense and becomes a problem.” The longer the drives go, the worse Denver gets. According to ESPN Stats & Information, offenses were converting third downs only 26.9 percent of the time against Denver. In the past three games, offenses are converting on third down 56.5 percent of the time. Williamson isn’t sure Denver is going to improve defensively with older players such as safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Andre' Goodman and linebacker Andra Davis. “It worked for a while, but the defense looks worn down and tired,” Williamson said. “Can it get better? I’m not sure because it’s not going to get any younger.” Deep ball: The offense was, for the most part, along for the ride during Denver’s hot start. The defense was leading the way. But the offense made it count when it needed to. Led by quarterback Kyle Orton, Denver made the right plays when it had to on offense against Dallas, New England and San Diego. But Denver’s offense derailed in its seventh game, a 30-7 loss at Baltimore. The Ravens forced the Broncos to throw deep, which is not Orton’s strength. The Ravens played one safety and stacked the box to take away the running game and the short passing game. The Ravens kept Denver’s receivers in front of them and took away the big play. The Steelers mimicked that plan. In the first half against Washington, Orton had success throwing deep before he hurt his ankle. “Still, I don’t see that happening on a regular basis,” Williamson said. “Without the deep ball being a constant threat, this offense gets limited.” For Denver to get more success on offense, it will have to run the ball better. Rookie Knowshon Moreno broke out of a slump with 97 yards against the Redskins. His improved play has to continue. If the Broncos aren’t going to be able to throw deep, they will at least have to complement the short passing game with a legitimate running game. Special teams: One of the nagging problems of the Mike Shanahan era in Denver was poor special-teams play. Under McDaniels, special-teams play improved early in the season. However, it has been an issue recently. Against San Diego and Baltimore, Denver allowed a punt and kickoff return for a score. Against Washington, the Redskins got back into the game with a touchdown on a fake field goal. These are the types of problems that can kill a team. With problems finding their identity on offense and defense, Denver can’t afford to deal with major failures on special teams. This should be a fairly easy problem to remedy. And it has to be solved. Giving away points on special teams is a sure way to lose games. All of these issues need to clear up immediately. McDaniels knows his team can execute. Still, the past three weeks are clearly poking holes into Denver’s legitimacy. “I am not sure where the psyche of our team is,” McDaniels said. ”I know where I’m at. We need to get better. We need to play better. We can coach better. We’re 6-3. We’re playing San Diego, who is also 6-3. It’s a huge division game at home. I don’t know why we wouldn’t like to be in this situation. "I wish we had won the last three games. I think everybody in this building does, but we didn’t, and there are reasons why we didn’t. We’ve got to go fix the problems and play good football from here on out, starting with this week against a great team coming from San Diego in our division.” Asked if he thinks Denver can regain its early-season form, Williamson was noncommittal. “I really don’t know about this team,” Williamson said. “I didn’t expect them to start 6-0 and when they did I was impressed. But they have not looked like they can be a winning team in the past three weeks. They’re a very hard team to read. But they better get it together soon, or they are going to be in trouble. It has to start now against San Diego.” NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046312/steve-bartkowski-ampgt-matt-ryan.html FO design guy Benjy Rose pointed out this example of bad football analysis by NFL.com's Jason Feller. I'll let him explain. read more NFL Football News - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates