NFL FanHouse

Mike Shanahan Talks to the Bills

Michael David Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:54:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

The 'Mike Shanahan to Buffalo' talk is heating up.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan met for seven hours in Denver with Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

"We had an excellent meeting," Shanahan told Schefter today. "I was really impressed with Russ Brandon and everything he had to say. We're going to stay in touch and see what develops."

According to Schefter, Brandon gave a persuasive pitch to Shanahan to try to convince him that the franchise would be the right place for him to return to the sidelines. Shanahan won't rush into taking the job -- and there are league rules that would prevent the Bills from rushing into giving Shanahan the job -- but the two sides are at least talking.

Shanahan was fired by the Broncos after coaching in Denver from 1995 to 2008. The Bills fired Dick Jauron last week and replaced him with interim head coach Perry Fewell.

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Mike Shanahan Talks to the Bills originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cribbs Says Quinn Called Final Play

Will Brinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, NFL Injuries, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

One could forgive Cleveland wide receiver/return man Josh Cribbs if he was upset with the Browns coaching staff for extending Monday night's game against Baltimore long enough to land him on a stretcher, despite the fact that the Browns were down 16 points with just seconds to play.

But Cribbs, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer by way of PFT, has a different account of the final play of the game: the decision to keep the ball alive was made by Brady Quinn (as opposed to head coach Eric Mangini).

"It was a call at the line,'' said Cribbs. "It wasn't a call that came in from the coaches. Brady had let us know to keep the ball alive, that he was going to throw the slant to me at the line and to keep the ball alive. He gave the signal to keep it alive, but it wasn't a call that came in from the sideline.''

Cribbs added that Mangini apologized to the team -- he did call a pass -- but pointed out that he wasn't upset, which is a pretty impressive stance to take from a guy who was wheeled off the field and straight to the hospital.

"He told me it wasn't personal and he did apologize to the team,'' said Cribbs. "It wasn't nothing like he needed to apologize to me personally. It's football and injuries happen in football.''

Now, Cribbs could just be playing nice, but for some reason, he just seems to have no issue being the lone bright spot on an absolutely abysmal Browns team with no real hope of improvement. So, good for him. I guess.

As for the decision, given that Mangini was somewhat cleared (there was still no reason to keep passing when a knee would have been the healthy and most prudent play-call), if he can apologize, so can I -- I'm sorry I called for you to be fired based on your final play-call, coach.

There are probably a number of other reasons why it's justifiable, but on this one, I guess you're kind of safe.

Cribbs Says Quinn Called Final Play originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Shanahan a Candidate in Buffalo?

Will Brinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

Mike Shanahan has been contacted by the Buffalo Bills as a potential candidate to fill the tiny shoes of Dick Jauron, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter -- although the report indicates that Shanahan was not the only candidate contacted.

Among those additionally listed as possibilities are former NC State offensive coordinator and current CFL coach Marc Trestman, as well as Jim Haslett, who simply refuses to disappear from any coaching search, and Giants OC Kevin Gilbride. Schefter did indicate, however, that interim head coach Perry Fewell would be given an "every opportunity" to secure the full-time gig.

Shanahan's inclusion, of course, should be no surprise -- he's one of the biggest names on the market in terms of availability and is highly regarded by the majority of NFL personnel, even if some people tend to believe his multiple Super Bowl victories in Denver has left him overrated.

Buffalo's move is likely to gauge his interest; previous reports of Shanahan talking to the Redskins indicated that he would be unlikely to take over a team midseason. But by opening talks with the former Broncos coach, the Bills organization can at least find out if he's a potential candidate to take over should Fewell be unable to turn the team around.

Mike Shanahan a Candidate in Buffalo? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dwayne Bowe Suspended Four Games

Will Brinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Fantasy Football, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Dwayne Bowe has been suspended four games by the NFL for violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to the Kansas City Star's Kent Babb.

The suspension was announced by NFL spokesperson Corry Rush and then confirmed by the Chiefs, although they have yet (and may not) comment further on the matter.

Adam Schefter is reporting on Twitter (although the "Whoa" response is my favorite) that Bowe's suspension is a result of a diuretic used to lose weight. Bowe reported to camp approximately 30 pounds heavier than he should have, and that he and the Chiefs learned about the suspension a month ago, but decided not to appeal it.

This also explains why the Chiefs claimed Chris Chambers off of waivers. What it does not do -- in all likelihood -- is ease the nerves of Chiefs fans who just went through a rough ordeal with former running back Larry Johnson.

Fantasy Spin: Pick up Chambers. Like, quickly. Even though the Chiefs aren't that high-powered, he's the No. 1 option now. Bowe becomes a nice target in trades because he'll miss four games, but he'll be back just in time for the fantasy playoffs. If an owner is fringe on making the postseason, they might be willing to part with Bowe cheaply. Matt Cassel's fantasy value takes a huge hit, naturally.

Dwayne Bowe Suspended Four Games originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Not Going to Washington

Matt Snyder — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Free Agency, NFL Rumors

In the days since his release, speculation has been rampant as to where former Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson would eventually end up. Almost immediately, the Washington Redskins were a hot rumor. The shoe fit because Dan Snyder likes signing big names -- even if they are washed up has-beens -- and starting running back Clinton Portis recently went down with a concussion.

Wednesday, though, head coach Jim Zorn ruled out the possibility of the 'Skins bringing in the maligned veteran from Penn State.

Considering this is a guy who once cried because Dick Vermeil yelled at him, you have to wonder about Johnson's psyche about now. Remember, Tuesday he cleared through waivers as not one single team placed a claim on him. Of course, as with everything else that's ever "happened to" Johnson, I'm sure it's not his fault. Nothing ever is.

It's entirely possible this could be a Cedric Benson-like wake-up call for Johnson, but the circumstances are much different. Johnson turns 30 a week from Thursday, which is over the hill for running backs (just ask LaDainian Tomlinson). Benson is much younger and had never carried a full load for an entire season. Johnson had an outrageous 416-carry campaign back in 2006, which seems to have worn his body down for good (he's been either injured or unproductive since).

Someone is bound, eventually, to take a shot at the disgruntled back -- who had back-to-back 1,700-yard rushing seasons in 2005-2006 -- but it's not going to be the Redskins. They appear content to use Ladell Betts in place of Portis for the next week or two until CP26 returns.

Larry Johnson Not Going to Washington originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Released, Redskins Already Expressing Interest

Will Brinson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Redskins, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Larry Johnson had been a free agent for all of a few hours Monday when it was reported that the Washington Redskins might have some interest in signing the ex-Chief.

Which, really, shouldn't come as a surprise -- mainly because Clinton Portis is injured with a concussion and considered questionable for Sunday's game ... actually, you know what? Check that -- the Redskins are interested in Johnson because he's a big name, he's available on the market and signing him would generate some "buzz," which is something that Dan Snyder is quite fond of.

More Coverage: Chiefs Cut Johnson

Of course, there's no guaranteed that the Skins will ink L.J., but they've obviously been talking about, as noted by the Washington Post's Redskins Insider Jason Reid, who spoke with head coach Jim Zorn following practice Monday.

Zorn said the team will likely sign a running back if Portis can't play -- he specifically mention Quinton Ganther, whom the team released last Friday. As for Johnson, "I don't know," Zorn said.

"I need to have a longer conversation than I've had to make a decision," Zorn said.

Haha -- it's kind of amusing that Zorn still thinks he's in charge of whether or not Washington will sign a certain player. That aside, though, would it be really surprising at all if Washington went after LJ? Absolutely not.

In fact, the only thing that would be more surprising was if the Skins managed to pursue Johnson without a) angering the fans and b) making a giant public debacle out of the whole thing. But both of things will happen, the Skins will likely end up signing Johnson and he'll probably underperform in Washington for a few games before doing something that really makes everyone happy. Like start Tweeting again.

Larry Johnson Released, Redskins Already Expressing Interest originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Cut by Kansas City

Will Brinson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

Larry Johnson's time in Kansas City is apparently over as the Chiefs announced Monday that they have released the oft-troubled running back into the ether of NFL free agency.

Johnson was, of course, fresh off a suspension based on his recent social media activity and attitude towards reporters, although the official release from the Chiefs doesn't really indicate why he's gone (though it should be obvious):

The Kansas City Chiefs released RB Larry Johnson on Monday. In 75 games (55 starts) with Kansas City, Johnson rushed 1,375 times for 5,996 yards (4.4 avg.) with 55 touchdowns. He also registered 151 receptions for 1,369 yards (9.1 avg.) with six TDs. He concluded his Chiefs career with 30 100-yard rushing games and also added two 100-yard receiving games.

Johnson established an NFL single-season record with 416 rushing attempts in 2006 when he set a franchise single-season mark with 1,789 rushing yards. He originally entered the league as the Chiefs first-round selection (27th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Penn State.

In all likelihood, the Kansas City front office will discuss this further at some point, but the reality is that this had to happen. Not only is the Chiefs' season all but over at this point, but Johnson was playing the role of the proverbial "team cancer" and simply could not get along with the new regime.

More: Redskins Interested in Trouble-Making Running Back?

Additionally, fans had gone so far as to create an online petition asking general manager Scott Pioli and Co. to make sure that Johnson did not pass Priest Holmes as the team's all-time leading rusher, based simply on his behavior. Add in the lack of any real production from Johnson this year and it's pretty clear that the Chiefs made the right move in cutting bait.

Larry Johnson Cut by Kansas City originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mike Holmgren on Browns' Radar

Matt Snyder — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

With a bevy of big name coaches likely ready-for-hire heading into the 2010 season, in addition to a lot of really poor NFL teams in 2009, we can expect rumors to be swirling all over the place for the rest of this season and on into the offseason. Thus, it's not surprising to see Mike Holmgren mentioned as a possibility. Of course, most thought he'd have to at least wait until next season to get involved.

According to Adam Shefter of ESPN, Holmgren may not have to wait. Shefter reports that the Browns want to hire Holmgren as their vice president of football operations -- similar to the role Bill Parcells has with Miami -- and that the job is immediately Holmgren's for the taking.

The only real question is if Holmgren wants to take the desk job, just for the sake of having a job in football as soon as possible, or if he wants to wait for a head coaching gig. Obviously, if Holmgren did take this job, it would be possible to fire Eric Mangini and take over as the Browns' head coach, but Browns owner Randy Lerner is reportedly content to give Mangini a chance to prove himself as the head coach. It would be a pretty bold move for Holmgren to take over and immediately fire the head coach.

If Holmgren doesn't take the VP job on the table, three others are reportedly being considered for the job: former Giants' GM Ernie Accorsi, Falcons president Rich McKay and former Packers GM Ron Wolf.

The Browns (1-7) have a bye this week and will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.

Report: Mike Holmgren on Browns' Radar originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Petition Pretty Clear Proof How Much Chiefs Fans Hate Him

Will Brinson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Fans, NFL Coaching, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

Larry Johnson is a mere 80 yards away from passing Priest Holmes as the all-time leading rusher in KC history, but if the fans who put together an online petition have their way, he won't get there.

You see, it turns out that LJ's recent actions -- tweeting at coach Todd Haley, calling reporters homophobic names, being suspended by the team -- combined with his past transgressions -- police problems, being suspended by the team (again) -- have created a sort of pent-up anger within the fanbase.

You can read the entire (and quite lengthy) petition here: petitiononline.com/StopLJ, but for those of you who don't care to parse through (deservedly) bitter, Midwestern ranting, here's the skinny: fans of the Chiefs are loyal, which is true, and they care deeply about and want to support their team, even when the Chiefs stink.

The petition seems to insinuate they realize that 12-win seasons aren't happening every year and they're not around the corner -- meaning they're cool with GM Scott Pioli rebuilding -- but that allowing Johnson to permanently etch his name atop a pretty important team record is simply unacceptable.

And you know what? I completely agree with them, at least in the sense that if I were a Chiefs fan, I would have wanted Johnson gone a long time ago, and I would be none too happy (particularly considering his production this season, which they cite in the petition) if he were still on the team despite his repeated efforts to not be a part of it.

Additionally, I salute these fans for taking a stand that doesn't involve eBay or craigslist -- as much as I would enjoy seeing Johnson up for purchase online, it's pretty inspiring to see a downtrodden group of fans take a stand on a moral level.

Larry Johnson Petition Pretty Clear Proof How Much Chiefs Fans Hate Him originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

After yet another embarrassing beatdown for his Browns -- this time a 30-6 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears -- Eric Mangini received a vote of confidence, at least for the remainder of this season. Randy Lerner, owner of the Browns, indicated he isn't willing to dismiss Mangini right now, but admitted to the Associated Press that he is "sick" about the state of his franchise.

Even if Mangini's safe, Lerner did express interest in making one change -- he wants to bring in a football-tested authority figure to help run the franchise. The way he's phrasing everything, it sounds like he wants to hire someone in the Bill Parcells-in-Miami mold.

"There's absolutely no question about that," he said. "The highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open transparent way. I can maybe defend decisions by saying I've sought advice and I've brought people in, and we've gone to see people -- and I think my highest priority is to have a stable figure that represents the voice that explains the decisions."

Update: Browns Fire GM George Kokinis

Lerner also admitted the Browns' quarterback situation isn't even remotely close to working.

No matter how they proceed, it's obvious some serious changes need to happen in Cleveland. The Browns are 1-7 and the franchise is currently in as bad of shape as any other team in football. The game in Chicago was just another in a string of embarrassments for the Browns -- as they turned the ball over five times and even missed their only extra point attempt. This was a 30-6 beatdown from a team that lost 45-10 to the Bengals last week.

They don't seem prepared and have no real general direction. The personnel is pretty awful, too.

The Browns have a bye next week, but will face the Ravens at home in Week 10. They likely have three more realistically winnable games left on the schedule. They travel to Detroit in Week 11, go to Kansas City in Week 15, and host the Raiders in Week 16.

Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jamal Lewis Says He's Retiring After 2009 Season Ends

Will Brinson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, NFL Rumors

Jamal Lewis told reporters following the Browns' loss to the Bears Sunday afternoon that he is planning to retire after the 2009 season. Yes, I know what you're thinking: "Woah. Jamal Lewis is still playing football?"

But he is.

And apparently, this will be his final season -- after telling reporters of his intentions, he also added "I mean what I say" which, presumably, is to ward off the possibility of people mistaking him for Brett Favre.

Lewis is most famous for two things: rushing for 2,000 yards in one season and going to prison. Drafted out of Tennessee with the fifth overall pick in 2000, Lewis was a catalyst in the Ravens' Super Bowl run that year, rushing for 1,364 yards with a 4.4 yards per carry average. Then, two years later, Lewis went b-a-n-a-n-a-s, posting 2,066 yards (the second-highest single season total in NFL history, mind you) and averaging an obscene 129.1 yards per game.

But then Lewis went to prison in 2005 for four months over a cell phone/drug issue and was never the same. Well, that's not entirely fair -- when Lewis left Baltimore for Cleveland, he posted over 1,300 yards in his first season and seemed to be in the midst of some sort of resurgence. It didn't last long though, and in 2008, Lewis was held to 3.6 yards per carry over the course of the season as the Browns struggled.

This year has been even worse. Lewis is on pace for less than 1,000 yards rushing and has been more or less nonexistent. So, really, his retirement should come as no surprise and, most importantly, a reminder of how quickly high-profile running backs can decline.

Jamal Lewis Says He's Retiring After 2009 Season Ends originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Owen Daniels Reportedly Out for Season With Right Knee Injury

Will Brinson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Owen Daniels, the starting tight end for Houston, left the Texans' game early in the first quarter with a sprained right knee. The Texans managed to win (mostly due to Ryan Moats' beast of a game) but it appears as if the win will be pretty bittersweet, as it's being reported that Daniels is out for the season.

Adam Schefter innocuously (read: no link) dropped the news on Twitter, and the Houston Chronicle has -- kind of -- confirmed it, stating that Daniels will have an MRI on Monday but is "most likely" done for the season.

If Daniels does indeed miss the rest of the year, it's a tremendous blow for a Texans passing attack that had been one of the best in the NFL this year (third overall in passing yardage at 285.6 yards per game). Daniels led all NFL tight ends in yardage, was second in receptions, and third in receiving yards per game.

The tight end, as noted by Texans expert and now heartbroken fan Steph Stradley, had previously tore his left ACL in high school and his left ACL and MCL in college; this seems like the same injury, only to the other leg.

Daniels' five touchdowns on the season and 40 receptions were the most on the team and his 519 yards were second behind only Andre Johnson. So yeah, he will be sorely missed.

Fantasy Spin: This is a nightmare scenario for Daniels' owners, obviously, because thus far he's been the top scoring TE in all Fleaflicker leagues. Hold onto him for now (at least until Monday afternoon) because you don't want to find out he'll only miss 2-3 weeks right after putting him on waivers, but be thinking about a replacement immediately. Joel Dreessen will likely catch the balls from Matt Schaub, so if you're in a deep league, go ahead and make that play, just because Houston tosses the ball a lot. If you're in a shallow league, Ben Watson (34 percent owned), Tony Scheffler (57 percent) and Todd Heap (51 percent) are all viable options as well.

Owen Daniels Reportedly Out for Season With Right Knee Injury originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Suspended Until Nov. 9

Will Brinson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Larry Johnson has (officially) been suspended, according to a press release from the Kansas City Chiefs. The team's front office and the NFL had previously been investigating whether or not Johnson's behavior (which included antagonizing tweets and rumored inappropriate statements to reporters) was worthy of a suspension.

Judging by the Chiefs' statement, it's probably safe to say it was.

The Kansas City Chiefs have suspended RB Larry Johnson for Conduct Detrimental to the Club effective immediately. Johnson will not be permitted to participate in any team activities or be on team premises until Monday, November 9th. The Chiefs will have no further comment on Johnson's status at this time.

Now, that seems pretty straightforward, but at the same time, there's something a little odd about this whole thing -- why won't the Chiefs talk about this anymore? Why until November 9th (which includes just one game and a ton of practice)?

And perhaps more importantly, why on Earth are they trying to put this guy in what amounts to solitary confinement when he's obviously angry (again) at the team? The smarter thing is to do what Oregon did with LeGarrette Blount and keep him within the team's fold, so to speak, so that he can actually try and become a slightly better teammate.

Of course, this is professional football, so it's a different situation, but if Johnson's behavior in the past has shown us anything, it's that he's not afraid to put on the petulant pouty face and bring the team down.

But, hey, the Chiefs could always be planning to do something more drastic, and decided to use a suspension to get the media off their back. It certainly wouldn't be the craziest thing Scott Pioli and crew have done so far.

Larry Johnson Suspended Until Nov. 9 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Slur Nets Him Some More Free Time

Will Brinson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

Recently, Larry Johnson has made waves -- to put it mildly -- not only with his angry tweeting at Todd Haley but also with his recent inappropriate comments to reporters. And now it appears as if he could be suspended by the Kansas City Chiefs sometime soon.

According to a statement from the Chiefs, Johnson has been asked to stay away from team activities while the NFL and Kansas City's front office conduct an investigation into his recent statements. All of this despite an apology from Johnson on Tuesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League are continuing to investigate the alleged comments made by Larry Johnson. Until that review is complete, the Chiefs have instructed Larry to refrain from practicing with the Chiefs or participating in other team activities. A decision regarding Larry's status will be made once the investigation has concluded.

Now, there's a couple of factors to consider here. First, Johnson apologized (you can read it at the KC Star if you want, but it's pretty standard, including a bit about not being a "good role model" and telling his coach, the commish, the fans and his teammates that he's sorry). So he at least deserves some sort of break on that end.

At the same time though, Bob Griese apologized too, and he's still staring down a one-week suspension for talking about Juan Pablo Montoya and tacos. The point there being that, as we all know, there's only so much a standard apology can do when a public figure says something highly offensive.

Additionally, Johnson allegedly referring to a group of reporters in a homophobic manner came directly on the heels of his Twitter freak-out -- it's a bad, back-to-back combination of publicly noted displays that Roger Goodell and Scott Pioli cannot possibly be enthused about.

However, they haven't suspended him yet, so there's always a chance that Johnson could end up just paying a lot of money to the organization and the NFL for his behavior. Of course, some people actually think that would be the best thing for the Chiefs -- Johnson's a distraction, no doubt, but he's certainly keeping people in Kansas City from staring too hard at the team's record.

Larry Johnson Slur Nets Him Some More Free Time originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redskins Pro Bowl Tackle Chris Samuels Reportedly Retiring

Chris Burke — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Rumors

Six-time Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels has decided to retire, the Washington Post reported. Samuels left Washington's Week 5 loss at Carolina after hurting his neck, an injury that was initially called a "stinger."

It was later revealed, though, that Samuels suffers from stenosis, which is a condition that causes narrowing of the spine.

Samuels has not played since the injury occurred. He was expected to meet with a neck specialist earlier this week to determine his long-term status, and the Post's report would seem to indicate that the prognosis was not good.

Samuels, the No. 3-overall pick in the 2000 draft out of Alabama, has started 136 games for Washington and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2001, 2002, and 2005-08.

The Washington Times countered the Post's report, saying that Samuels would definitely miss the remainder of the season, but would reconsider a retirement decision in 3-4 months.

Either way, this is a huge blow for an already-reeling Redskins offensive line. Washington will move forward with Stephon Heyer at left tackle, though the team did sign Levi Jones on Tuesday -- Jones started 89 games at left tackle for the Bengals from 2002-08, so he's a definite option to slide into the lineup, even though multiple teams passed on him before the Redskins called.

Unless Jones proves to be a godsend, or Samuels changes his mind, the Redskins will likely find themselves needing to fill several offensive line spots next offseason -- including both tackle spots.

(Update: Samuels released a statement late Friday evening stating, "I will continue to seek medical advice. I hope to see where I am physically over the next couple months. At this time, I have not made a decision, but I love playing for the Redskins and hope to be back.")

Redskins Pro Bowl Tackle Chris Samuels Reportedly Retiring originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Pats Release Joey Galloway

Will Brinson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Fantasy Football, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis, NFL London

Less than two days after unleashing an aerial assault on the Titans, the Patriots have decided that Joey Galloway is an unnecessary part of their roster and, according to Adam Schefter, both on my teevee and Twitter, released him.

Galloway for the season has a stunningly weak six catches for 67 yards and hasn't played in a Pats game since Week 3. Additionally, when Galloway was on the field, there was an obvious disconnect between he and Tom Brady, who didn't seem to care for the receivers inability to stretch the field for Wes Welker and Randy Moss (which is what, theoretically, he was brought in to do).

As Schefter points out, Galloway is free to sign with another team, which is good news for the receiver who, despite being bumped from both the Bucs and Pats in the last few months, still has enough speed and talent to make him a viable second or third wideout for a playoff contending team.

Of course, he also lost out on a free trip to London as a result of the move, which might mean that Bill Belichick and Co. simply decided that his production didn't outweigh whatever travel costs he was going to incur.

Fantasy Spin: Heretofore, Galloway's been utterly worthless as a fantasy player, and there's always the [good] chance that continues. BUT -- and this might be more of an "if" than a "but" -- if he happens to land on a decent passing team without too many strong wideouts (or, you know, a crappy team like the Browns or Rams who will at least be throwing the ball downfield 40 times a game).

Report: Pats Release Joey Galloway originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe?

Chris Burke — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Dolphins, Ravens, NFL Rumors

Through the first two seasons of his NFL career, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe looked destined to be a superstar in Kansas City for years to come. In 2007, Bowe's rookie season out of LSU, he had 995 yards receiving, then topped that number in 2008 with 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns.

Year 3, though, has not gone as well. Bowe got off on the wrong foot with new Kansas City head coach Todd Haley -- losing his starting spot in the preseason due to work-ethic questions -- including coming to offseason workouts overweight. He then struggled with a nagging hamstring injury, and has just 15 catches in four games this season.

And with Kansas City 0-5 and apparently in need of a complete overhaul, Bowe's name continues to surface as Tuesday's trade deadline looms.

The speculation kicked up a notch Friday when ESPN claimed that the Ravens were prepared to offer a second- and fifth-round pick for Bowe. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh did nothing to dispel those rumors, saying that "there are possibilities" for his team on the trade market.

Baltimore has come up in association with just about every available receiver since the offseason -- including Brandon Marshall -- and nearly found itself forced into making a move back in July when Derrick Mason briefly announced his retirement.

The Ravens quelled some of the concerns about their wide receiver group by opening the season 3-0 and scoring 30 points or more in each of those victories. But back-to-back losses to New England and Cincinnati have forced those issues to resurface. The Week 5 loss to the Bengals was particularly troubling offensively, with Baltimore receiver's catching just four of 22 Joe Flacco completions and Mason finishing with no grabs.

From Baltimore's perspective, unloading a pair of picks for Bowe would make complete sense given the Ravens' belief that they can contend for a Super Bowl title this season. Bowe and Mason would give Baltimore a very talented 1-2 punch and further open the ground game for Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.

The deal makes less obvious sense for Kansas City -- it's never that wise to dump a top-flight 25-year-old receiver. Still, the Chiefs are clearly in rebuilding mode (despite the hefty extension they gave Matt Cassel) and Bowe's occasional hiccups with Haley might help label him as expendable.

That said, should the Chiefs opt to move Bowe, it's far from a lock that the Ravens would land him. They aren't the only team searching for WR help, after all.

The Dolphins might be more than willing to unload a second- and fifth-round pick -- or even up the ante slightly -- if the Chiefs dangle Bowe. Miami's current top three of Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo and Ted Ginn has been decent this season, but far from spectacular -- and with Chad Henne now under center, Miami needs some players that can stretch the field.

Miami's interest in Bowe could increase should the Dolphins go into New York and knock off the Jets this week. That would put them at 3-3 and smack dab in the thick of the AFC East race. Even without a victory, taking a shot at Bowe could be worth it -- the Dolphins would have him under contract through at least 2011 and finally have a real No. 1 receiver.

It's not likely that Kansas City unloads Bowe given his natural ability. It's possible, though, and something to keep an eye on as Tuesday closes in.

Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jon Gruden Atop Dan Snyder's Wish List To Coach Redskins?

Josh Alper — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

The first five weeks of the season have led to the widespread belief that Jim Zorn's got about as much time left in the nation's capital as a Congressman found in a hotel room with three dead prostitutes. That means that speculation about his possible replacement has ramped up to a fevered pitch and, since the Redskins are owned by Daniel Snyder, it's focused on only the biggest available names.

Tuesday brings a report from the Washington Examiner that sources close to Snyder have placed former Raiders and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden at the top of the owner's wish list. It's not hard to figure out why that report would surface on a Tuesday.

Last night was Monday Night Football, after all.

It's a good bet that the source was watching the Jets-Dolphins clash with Snyder and heard the owner remark how he'd love to hire Gruden more than once after the former coach broke down a play during the game. If they had been together on Sunday night, it would have been the same thing with Tony Dungy while a Sunday brunch would have elicited Snyder's desire for Bill Cowher. The only thing odd about the report is that Ron Jaworski, Mike Tirico and Hank Williams Jr. aren't also in the running for the job.

We kid, but it will be interesting to see how interested coaches like Gruden, Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren are to return to work for Snyder if they have other options. The option of a different team with a less impulsive owner or a TV gig that pays well while waiting for a better opportunity may well prove to be more appealing than going to work for Snyder.

Gruden makes sense, though, if only because the Redskins would never find themselves saddled with a quarterback who gets no love from the fanbase or media. While he was in Tampa, Gruden liked to take up a good six or seven roster spots with quarterbacks so that he could change horses at a moment's notice. That would be a nice option for this year's Redskins club, and would actually fit well with Snyder's penchant for always going after the shiniest object in his field of vision.

Jon Gruden Atop Dan Snyder's Wish List To Coach Redskins? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Orlando Jaguars? Owner Says Team Will Consider Moving Games

Chris Burke — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguars, NFL Rumors

Jacksonville's attendance woes have reached rather dire straits; the team likely won't sell out a single game in 2009, and sold less than 50,000 tickets for its home opener in Week 2 (with less than 40,000 people showing up). So, perhaps not surprisingly, Jaguars team owner Wayne Weaver is talking about moving the team -- at least on occasion.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Weaver said that, if the NFL expands to an 18-game schedule in the near future as expected, the Jaguars would seriously consider playing some home games in Orlando.

"There's certainly the possibility that we would play some out-of-market games," Weaver told the Sentinel. "If it happened, Orlando would be the best option and most reasonable location.

"In the past, we have reached out to try and cultivate that market and haven't had as much success as we would have liked. We probably need to do a better job. That's a given. We are looking at a long-term strategy and thinking out of the box on how we can build a fan base in Orlando."

If this strategy sounds familiar, it's because the Bills have employed a similar plan using Toronto. Prior to the 2008 season, the Bills agreed to play eight home games in Toronto between 2008-12, one regular-season game per year plus a few preseason contests -- the Bills beat Pittsburgh in the 2008 preseason, and lost to Miami last regular season in games played at Rogers Centre. They will "host" the Jets on Dec. 3 north of the border to fulfill their 2009 obligation.

Jacksonville might not be the only team to explore moving games to other markets -- both to build up an extended fan base and to ensure sellouts -- if the NFL has the type of attendance woes that have been forecast. Should the regular-season schedule expand to 18 games, the need to find people willing to buy tickets would only increase.

"We know that we can't be a viable NFL city if we only sell 46,000 seats in a 66,000-seat stadium," Weaver said.

Even if the Jaguars follow through with this idea, Weaver did not indicate that the team would look into permanently relocating from Jacksonville to Orlando. Still, a strong show of support from the Orlando area would definitely open some eyes within the Jacksonville organization.

Orlando, too, would be quite an attractive spot for the NFL to setup shop -- Jacksonville has already hosted a Super Bowl, and the city of Orlando would no doubt be a contender to do the same if it landed an NFL team.

The Orlando Jaguars? Owner Says Team Will Consider Moving Games originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mangini Fines Player Over Bottle Of Water

JJ Cooper — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

First there were the reports of Browns coach Eric Mangini requiring a mandatory bus trip to work for free at his football camp. There were the rumors that Mangini slapped a curfew on players attending "voluntary" offseason workouts. And there was the talk that Mangini screwed Josh Cribbs out of an agreed-to contract renegotiation.

Now Yahoo!'s Michael Silver is reporting that the Browns fined a player $1,701 for drinking a $3 bottle of water out of the hotel minibar during a road trip without paying for it at the front desk upon leaving.

If half of the reports about Mangini are true, you have to wonder why anyone would willingly choose to play for him. Coaches like Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells have managed to combine a team-first mentality with cold-blooded decision-making because they win. But Mangini has siphoned off the worst aspects of Belichick and Parcells without yet showing any signs that he has any of their coaching genius.

But all of these stories coming out will likely make Cleveland a black hole when it comes to signing free agents in the offseason. With so many other teams to choose from, why would a player want to deal with all the pettiness that comes with working for Mangini?

H/T: Pro Football Talk

Report: Mangini Fines Player Over Bottle Of Water originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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