NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com NFL FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Entire AFC North Fell Apart Sundayhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/the-entire-afc-north-fell-apart-on-sunday/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/the-entire-afc-north-fell-apart-on-sunday/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/the-entire-afc-north-fell-apart-on-sunday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It was a rough day around the AFC North. A day when all four teams lost games they should have won.

Baltimore came into Sunday with more to gain, and more to lose, than anyone in the division -- beat the undefeated Colts, and Baltimore would stay right in the middle of the AFC playoff race. Lose and the Ravens would be in danger of falling out of the mix altogether.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Baltimore looked ready to give Indianapolis its first loss. But with Baltimore needing only a field goal to take the lead, quarterback Joe Flacco was picked off inside the Colts 20 in the final three minutes of the game. The Ravens had one more chance, but Ed Reed lateraled into a fumble in the final 30 seconds. Now Baltimore sits at 5-5 with two games left against the Steelers and time quickly running out.

But as rough as the Ravens had it , it was even worse for the Steelers.

They were facing the inept Kansas City Chiefs -- a team that is just waiting for 2010 to arrive. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger came close to throwing for 300 yards in the first half, but somehow Pittsburgh found itself in overtime against the Chiefs. Then, after K.C. wide receiver Chris Chambers turned a short pass into a 61-yard catch-and-run that set up an easy field goal, the Steelers found themselves losers against a team they were favored to beat by 11 1/2 points.

Sure, the Steelers had a bad Sunday, but can their loss compare to the Bengals? With the Steelers losing a 1 PM game, all the Bengals had to do was beat the lowly Raiders in the late-afternoon slot, and they'd have the division sewn up -- effectively a three-game lead with six games to go. And for 59 minutes, the Bengals followed the script. But when Bruce Gradkowski connected with Louis Murphy for a game-tying touchdown in the final minute, all of a sudden the Bengals were looking at overtime. That is, until Andre Caldwell fumbled the kickoff return on the next play, leaving the Bengals on the wrong end of a 20-17.

As bad as the Bengals loss was, and it was bad, the Browns might have had it worst of all. There has been nothing to cheer about in Cleveland this year -- the team came into Sunday's game with five touchdowns this season. Most fans get to cheer wins, Cleveland fans have to get excited about first downs.

But with a chance to play against a Lions defense that is just as inept as its own, Cleveland finally started scoring some points. Brady Quinn threw four touchdowns in the game, after Cleveland QBs had thrown only three combined in the Browns' first nine games. It looked like it was enough, too, as Cleveland led 37-31 when Matthew Stafford's Hail Mary fell incomplete as the clock hit 0:00 in the fourth quarter. But Cleveland was called for defensive pass interference.

Even that wasn't too bad -- Stafford had taken a wicked hit on the Hail Mary pass, so Daunte Culpepper would have to quarterback the game's final play completely cold.

At least, that was the plan. Cleveland called timeout, which gave Stafford enough time to shake off the cobwebs and return to the field. He found Brandon Pettigrew for the game-winning touchdown on the rare untimed down, then walked off with an aching shoulder.

On Sunday, all four AFC North teams lost. All four lost in heartbreaking ways that might be remembered for months or even years to come. And all four have an argument for having the worst loss of the day -- it is one argument with no winners and four losers.

Entire AFC North Fell Apart Sunday originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>JJ CooperSun, 22 Nov 2009 21:37:00 EST Colts Survive Ravens With Defensehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/colts-survive-ravens-with-defense/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/colts-survive-ravens-with-defense/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/colts-survive-ravens-with-defense/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Had you told the Baltimore Ravens they would win the turnover battle against Peyton Manning and the Colts on Sunday, I'm pretty sure they would have assumed the result would be a victory. Of course, getting into the end zone against Indy generally is a necessity in order to win the football game. The Ravens didn't do that and lost, 17-15.

Despite allowing 354 yards of total offense -- 135 to burgeoning star Ray Rice -- the Colts defense buckled down when in their own territory, forcing the Ravens to attempt six field goals and punt twice in their first eight possessions. The Ravens still had a chance to win the football game late, but Joe Flacco was intercepted by Gary Brackett with just over two minutes left at the Indianapolis 13.
More: Check Box Score | Saints Join Indianapolis at 10-0

"We are definitely a bend-but-not-break defense,'' Brackett said, according to the Associated Press. "They drove a couple of times on us, but we held them to field goals.''

The Ravens did almost have a last gasp for victory, as Ed Reed received a punt with just under 30 seconds left -- and a decent return would have pulled them within about 30 yards of (game-winning) field goal range. Instead, Reed desperately attempted to lateral to a teammate almost simultaneously as he was taken down. The ill-advised pitch went directly to Freddy Keiaho of the Colts. Replays showed the pitch happened at almost the exact same time Reed's knee hit the ground, thus, there wasn't conclusive visual evidence to overturn the call on the field (a fumble).

Manning took a knee on the next play, and the Colts extended their league-high win streak to 19 regular-season games. They joined the Saints at 10-0 with the best record in the NFL.

"To be able to come out of this game with a win is huge,'' Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said. "We're not going to ever sneeze at being 10-0, but we're doing it by a small margin these days.''

The final score suggests a slug-fest where neither team could move the football, but -- with over 700 yards in combined total offense -- that wasn't the case at all. Instead, each team repeatedly allowed lots of yardage before slamming the brakes on the opposing offense, either with a big stop or a takeaway. Manning passed for 299 yards, but threw two interceptions and just one touchdown. Tight end Tom Santi (who entered the game with no catches this season, but caught six balls for 80 yards Sunday) fumbled close to the Ravens' 1-yard line. Flacco, meanwhile, threw the aforementioned pick, and many other drives stalled. Both teams were basically playing bend-but-don't-break defense. There were two offensive touchdowns -- both by the Colts -- and that was the difference.

In addition to Rice, the big offensive star for the Ravens was the venerable Derrick Mason, who hauled in nine passes for 142 yards. On defense, Reed had a huge interception early, and played a part in the hit on Santi's fumble. Unfortunately, his attempted lateral ultimately finished his team.

Also of note is that Billy Cundiff, whom was brought in to replace Steven Hauschka as the Ravens' kicker, made five field goals but missed a 39-yarder that could have made the difference.

For the Colts, Pierre Garcon had six catches for 108 yards. Dallas Clark had a sparkling one-handed touchdown catch early in the game and Joseph Addai shook Ray Lewis for a second-quarter touchdown. Addai ended with 74 yards on 19 carries.

The Colts will look to continue their unbeaten streak -- and possibly clinch the AFC South -- next week in Houston.

Baltimore faces another tough test against the Steelers at home in Week 12.

Colts Survive Ravens With Defense originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>billy cundiffdallas clarkderrick masoned reedgary brackettjoe flaccojoseph addaipeyton manningpierre garconray lewistom santiMatt SnyderSun, 22 Nov 2009 17:12:00 EST Dallas Clark's One Hand Is Better Than Both of Yours Combinedhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/dallas-clarks-one-hand-is-better-than-both-of-yours-combined/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/dallas-clarks-one-hand-is-better-than-both-of-yours-combined/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/dallas-clarks-one-hand-is-better-than-both-of-yours-combined/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dallas ClarkDallas Clark has somehow become the ultimate "hybrid" tight end -- he's really more of a wide receiver than anything else, what with his athleticism and everything.

He also has decent hands: Sunday against Baltimore, Clark made a one-handed touchdown grab that's absolutely silly. The announcers mention that Peyton Manning probably thought he overthrew Clark on this play, and that's almost certainly true.

Video of Clark's catch after the jump.


Indianapolis 17, Baltimore 15: Recap | Box Score | NFL Scoreboard



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Dallas Clark's One Hand Is Better Than Both of Yours Combined originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dallas ClarkWill BrinsonSun, 22 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST NFL FanHouse Week 11 Chathttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/20/nfl-fanhouse-week-11-chat/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/20/nfl-fanhouse-week-11-chat/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/20/nfl-fanhouse-week-11-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We still have two unbeatens in the NFL, New Orleans and Indianapolis. The Saints visit Tampa, so they shouldn't be threatened, but the Colts have a doozy of a game at Baltimore. Meanwhile, it's a clash of titans in Detroit, as the 1-8 Lions host 1-8 Cleveland. Join us at 12 PM ET to discuss all the Week 11 NFL action.

NFL FanHouse Week 11 Chat originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bruce CiskieFri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Terrell Suggs Has Partially Torn MCL, Brady Quinn Fined http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/terrell-suggs-has-partially-torn-mcl-brady-quinn-fined/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/terrell-suggs-has-partially-torn-mcl-brady-quinn-fined/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/terrell-suggs-has-partially-torn-mcl-brady-quinn-fined/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Week 10's punt-fest between the Browns and Ravens was one of the worst Monday Night games in recent memory. The Ravens' offense struggled to move the ball consistently, and the Browns' offense was nothing but two-yard dive plays into the middle of the line and wide receiver screens that Baltimore's defense blew up before they even had a chance to develop.

As a result, the only thing anybody still wants to talk about after the Ravens' 16-0 win is Brady Quinn's low-block on an interception return in the third quarter, when he knocked linebacker Terrell Suggs out of the game with a knee injury. According to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times, early MRI results revealed a partially torn MCL for the pass-rushing linebacker, and he could miss the next two to three weeks.

In case you missed it, here's the play:



Naturally, it infuriated everybody on the Ravens' side of the field, from All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis, to Suggs' agent, Gary Wichard, who said: "That cat should be fined as much as anybody is fined that hits the quarterback. That's ridiculous. I don't understand what he was trying to do. It was blatant. It's absolutely criminal. It's about as nasty as it gets."

As far as the fine is concerned, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Wednesday that Quinn had been issued a "significant" fine from the NFL for the hit.

Assuming Suggs misses the next two games, it could be a costly injury -- the Ravens play host to the undefeated Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and divisional rival Pittsburgh the following week.

In nine games this season the 27-year-old Suggs has 3.5 sacks, 42 tackles, four pass defenses and a forced fumble.

Terrell Suggs Has Partially Torn MCL, Brady Quinn Fined originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brady QuinnTerrell SuggsAdam GretzWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:45:00 EST Ravens Win, Fume at Quinn 'Cheap Shot'http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/ravens-win-fume-at-quinn-cheap-shot/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/ravens-win-fume-at-quinn-cheap-shot/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/17/ravens-win-fume-at-quinn-cheap-shot/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ray Lewis sacks Brady QuinnCLEVELAND (AP) -- Even after Baltimore had punished Brady Quinn, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis got in one more vicious hit on Cleveland's quarterback.

Angered over Quinn's questionable chop block on Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs following an interception, Lewis accused Quinn of a dirty play.

"Heck yeah it was a cheap shot,'' Lewis snapped after Baltimore rocked Cleveland 16-0. "When you're running down and you're looking at the quarterback going at somebody's knees who doesn't even have the ball. I want to see if he gets the same fine I got or even higher. Now this man is out four or five weeks because of some baloney like that.''
More: Cribbs Injured, Hospitalized | Browns' Fan Protest Fizzles

For 30 minutes, the Ravens were inefficient, unproductive and disorganized.

In 17 seconds, they changed all that.

Ray Rice scored on a 13-yard run on Baltimore's first possession of the third quarter and safety Dawan Landry returned an interception of Quinn 48 yards for a touchdown on Cleveland's next play as the Ravens overcame a horrendous start and routed the hapless Browns.

The game also included two plays that could force the league to hand out fines, and it ended with Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs being carried from the field on a stretcher following another nasty hit. He was taken to a hospital for tests. Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said Cribbs was transported as a precaution.

"He's got feeling and movement in all parts of his body,'' Mangini said.

The Ravens (5-4) didn't score in the opening half, when they used up their three timeouts in the first 6:15, committed silly penalties, converted just one third down and actually made the Browns (1-8) look respectable.

"I guess I agree it wasn't pretty,'' quarterback Joe Flacco said. "It was an ugly win, but that's the way some wins are in the NFL.''

Following his second interception, Quinn dropped and rolled into Suggs' right knee, drawing a 15-yard penalty and incensing the Ravens.

Suggs limped to the locker room. It's not known how long he'll be out.

"That's an illegal blow,'' Lewis said. "I don't care how you want to look at it.''

Quinn said he didn't hit Suggs intentionally.

"I was trying to go for the ball carrier,'' he said. "Suggs came across at the last second in my vision. I would never wish that upon anyone. I was upset about it on the field. We worked out in Arizona together. I couldn't be any more sorry about that. That was never the intent. I'm sorry to Terrell and the rest of their team.''


Despite being down by 16, the Browns, who never crossed Baltimore's 45, were fighting for yards on the final play. Quinn threw short to Cribbs, who then lateraled to tight end Robert Royal. After he got rid of the ball, Cribbs got drilled in the chin by defensive end Dwan Edwards as the clock expired.

As Cribbs laid motionless in the middle of the field, players from both teams knelt in prayer. Royal said Cribbs was making jokes and moving his arms and legs.

Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce questioned Mangini's motive in running a dangerous play.

"I didn't see it, but I heard it,'' he said of Edwards' hit on Cribbs. "With five seconds left in the game, and you're down 16-0, to throw a hook-and-lateral, what's the point of that? I'm not trying to question their coaching, it's none of my business. But you see what the result was.

"You do a hook-and-lateral play with a whole bunch of guys that are big and run fast, people are running around crazy and someone is going to get hurt.''

Edwards said he wasn't trying to injure Cribbs and wasn't looking for retribution on Quinn for his hit on Suggs.

"I was just hustling to the ball,'' he said. "He had just pitched it and I reacted. It wasn't him that hit Suggs. I consider myself a hustle player and I tried to hustle and make a play - not let them get a score.''

The first time Baltimore got the ball in the second half, Flacco connected on a 41-yard pass to Derrick Mason, who spun out of cornerback Brandon McDonald's tackle and raced down the sideline to the Cleveland 13. Rice took it in from there to make it 7-0.

On the next snap, Quinn, making his first start since being pulled 10 quarters into the season by Mangini, threw high and wide to Royal and the ball bounced to Landry, who scampered in untouched to make it 13-0.

The Ravens missed the extra point, but that hardly mattered against a Cleveland offense that has scored only five offensive TDs in its past 15 games.

It was Baltimore's first shutout since Nov. 26, 2006, and it came at the perfect time for the Ravens, who had dropped four of five and were in danger of falling too far behind Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the AFC North.

Pryce said the Ravens adjusted to Cleveland's no-huddle at halftime.

"You have to weather the storm when you're playing a team like Cleveland that has nothing to lose,'' Pryce said. "What they were doing was smart. They were running a no-huddle, quick substitution game plan. And that stuff messes with you badly. You waste more energy running on and off the field than you do in the game itself. That was the big thing we had to address in the second half.''

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Ravens Win, Fume at Quinn 'Cheap Shot' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brady QuinnRay LewisTerrell SuggsFanHouse NewswireTue, 17 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST Monday Night Football Live Chat: Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Brownshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/monday-night-football-live-chat-baltimore-ravens-vs-cleveland/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/monday-night-football-live-chat-baltimore-ravens-vs-cleveland/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/monday-night-football-live-chat-baltimore-ravens-vs-cleveland/#commentsFiled under: , ,


After Sunday night's epic thriller between Indianapolis and New England, this game looks as if it might be kind of a letdown. But, hey, you never know what can happen in a rivalry game, so please join us for our Monday Night Live Chat as the new Browns host the old Browns in an AFC North showdown.

The Ravens come in having lost four of five, and the Browns ... well ... they're going back to Brady Quinn. Chat starts at 8:30 PM ET. Be there.

Monday Night Football Live Chat: Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Adam GretzMon, 16 Nov 2009 19:45:00 EST Bengals a Win Away From Controlling AFC Northhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/bengals-a-win-away-from-controlling-afc-north/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/bengals-a-win-away-from-controlling-afc-north/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/bengals-a-win-away-from-controlling-afc-north/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bengals FansThe AFC North is not shaping up as expected. After three black and blue Steelers-Ravens games last year, everyone expected that Pittsburgh and Baltimore would face off for the control of the division again this year. But when Cincinnati finished off its sweep of the Ravens on Sunday, they put themselves in prime position.

The Bengals effectively have a three-game lead against the Ravens -- two games in the standings plus the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. Baltimore and Pittsburgh also have two head-to-head games left on the schedule while Cincinnati only has one game against the Steelers and one nearly guaranteed win against the Browns left in the division.

Add it up, and it's easy to see how the Ravens could prove the spoiler in the division, but it's a lot tougher to explain how they will win the division, even with a relatively easy schedule to finish the season. On the other hand, Cincinnati is one more win away from taking control of the AFC North.

Yesterday's win was a strong sign that this isn't the usual Bengals team. Midway through the fourth quarter, Chad Ochocinco fumbled around midfield with Cincinnati holding a 10-point lead. In past years, that would have been the point where the Bengals fell apart. But instead of crumbling, the Bengals defense stiffened up and forced Baltimore to attempt a long field goal. When Steven Hauschka missed the field goal the Bengals' win was virtually assured.

For Cincinnati, next week's game against the Steelers becomes the biggest game the team has had since Kimo Von Oelhoffen shredded Carson Palmer's knee in the 2005 playoffs. Even if Pittsburgh beats Denver tonight, the Bengals could take a two-game lead on the rest of the division with a win next week (they would hold tiebreakers against the Ravens and Steelers).

And while Pittsburgh and Baltimore will be beating up each other in two head-to-head games, the Bengals remaining schedule includes games with the Chiefs, Raiders, Browns and Lions. Looking at that, a win next week will make it hard for Cincinnati to finish any worse than 11-5.

Bengals a Win Away From Controlling AFC North originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>JJ CooperMon, 09 Nov 2009 08:22:00 EST Reborn Bengals Shut Up Ravenshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/reborn-bengals-shut-baltimore-up/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/reborn-bengals-shut-baltimore-up/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/reborn-bengals-shut-baltimore-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Cincinnati BengalsCINCINNATI -- He is the king of smack, both verbal and physical. That is what Ray Lewis brings.

He called Cedric Benson's 120-yard rushing day last month against the big-time, big-mouth Ravens defense a fluke. And Benson said Lewis brought an extra assortment of jive here on Sunday.

"He started telling me how he was going to be there all day, on every play,'' Benson said. "I laughed and kind of smiled. Then he says, 'We are the team to go through, man!'

"So, I told him we'd just go through them to the playoffs and the Super Bowl.''
More: Check Box Score | Steelers-Broncos Monday Night Preview

No doubt, this was the clean version of this volley.

"I don't really know the guy,'' Benson added. "He always says his little bit. Sometimes it's hard not to look at it as silly. Sometimes it's hard not to feed into it. He is still a force.''

Of course, we all wanted to know what Lewis had to say about the Bengals' 17-7 win Sunday, about Benson's 117-yard rushing day this time around, about how Cincinnati did the smacking on the field. And why it was that, after Benson became the first running back in 40 games to rush for 100 or more yards against Baltimore in Week 5, he was able to do it again.

Oh, and also about how the Ravens were swept by the Bengals this season (Cincinnati won 17-14 on Oct. 11 in Baltimore).

But Lewis was quiet after the game. Not a whisper.

Usually steady, reliable safety Ed Reed was unprofessional in the postgame locker room, repeatedly interrupting a teammate's interview. Other Ravens showed they are big and bad and gruff when things go according to plan but, like a lot of pseudo bullies, are bewildered and weak when things go poof.

Or when they get punched.

That is what the Bengals did to the Ravens on Sunday. Cincinnati jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and a 17-0 lead at halftime. The Ravens offense gained only three first downs in the first half, punted three times and threw one interception. The Bengals led in time of possession for every quarter of the game, held the Ravens to 1 of 10 on third-down conversions, and outrushed Baltimore, 146-55.

The Bengals, indeed, did the smacking, the dominating, the winning.

In recent seasons, the Bengals have been kicked around in their division and in this league. But something about the Ravens brings out the best in the Bengals. And something about this Bengals season, this 6-2, first-place season in the AFC North, is different.

A couple of the Ravens' classier pros tried to offer an explanation.

"They finally have a legitimate running back,'' defensive end Trevor Pryce said. "A back who is not afraid to run between the tackles. You have to play the run against them now. They've got good receivers and the quarterback is good, and now you throw that running back in there -- that's a good offense.''

The Ravens fell to a 4-4 record.

In spite of all their talking, they are only average.

They played this game as if they were feeling the pressure of what the Bengals are becoming in the division and what the Ravens are struggling to remain. The Bengals, who are now 4-0 within the AFC North, were easily the more dominant and better team in this game.

"Their record doesn't lie,'' Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. "I don't know what exactly their reputation is or was, but I would think they should just keep doing what they are doing. That's winning.''


The mix the Bengals showed Sunday will go a long way in their quest for a new name, a new standing.

The defense was solid up front, in the middle and on the back end. It covered and smothered the Ravens offense and quarterback Joe Flacco (two interceptions, no touchdown passes and a 48.3 quarterback rating). The Bengals' cornerbacks (Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall) were stellar, limiting Baltimore's star wide receiver, Derrick Mason, to three catches for 31 yards, and not even a sniff of the end zone.

Benson, meanwhile, kept breaking backside runs against a Baltimore defense playing minus injured nose tackle Haloti Ngata, who missed the first start of his four-year career. Chad Ochocinco was impressive in his routes and in his overall game, forcing the Baltimore cornerbacks to slip and fall and spin in their attempts to cover him. Quarterback Carson Palmer kept re-setting his pocket, taking shots and delivering. The Bengals were aggressive and confident.

They have a renewed spirit -- and it was on display Sunday.

"Last year we learned, period,'' Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones said of Cincinnati's dismal 4-11-1 mark in 2008. "We learned how bad it can get. So, we asked ourselves some questions going into this year. Do you really want to be that bad? Do you really want your legacy, your time spent here remembered for being a terrible team? Are you really comfortable being a laughingstock? We started by taking one positive step forward. And that leads to another. It's contagious.''

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Baltimore all game long produced only one sustained drive that gained points. It was early in the fourth quarter and ended on a Ray Rice 2-yard run. The Bengals, though, scored on their first two drives, one covering 73 yards and the other 80 yards. Next came a 75-yard drive that gained a field goal. All three drives produced 10 or more plays.

It was a steady, sustained effort by the Bengals.

"They earned it,'' Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

The bad news for the Bengals was they may have lost receiver Chris Henry for the season with a fractured forearm, and linebacker Keith Rivers was on crutches afterward due to a leg injury.

Even so, the Bengals, across the field, won the matchups that mattered. Cincinnati is earning a fresh reputation as a serious contender -- halfway through the season, they find themselves hunted in their own division.

"For whatever reason, our guys get excited about playing them,'' Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said about the Bengals' 4-2 record against Baltimore over the past three seasons. "We know it's going to be a grinder, an all-day sucker.''

That is style, a game that the Bengals can now handily play. Smack for smack.

Reborn Bengals Shut Up Ravens originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Cedric BensonEd ReedRay LewisTrevor PryceThomas GeorgeSun, 08 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST NFL FanHouse Preview Chat Recaphttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/nfl-fanhouse-week-9-live-chat/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/nfl-fanhouse-week-9-live-chat/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/nfl-fanhouse-week-9-live-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Most teams will play their eighth game this week, meaning that we're hitting the halfway mark. Already, there's talk of 16-0 teams and teams that have played themselves out of serious contention.

We previewed this weekend's big games, got your predictions, and found out who you think has the better shot of running the table among the remaining unbeatens. Read all about it after the jump.

NFL FanHouse Preview Chat Recap originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bruce CiskieFri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Sorry, Favre-Haters, Vikings Best in NFChttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/sorry-favre-haters-but-vikings-are-nfcs-best/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/sorry-favre-haters-but-vikings-are-nfcs-best/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/sorry-favre-haters-but-vikings-are-nfcs-best/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Brett FavreFace it, people. The only reason you don't want to believe this about the Minnesota Vikings is because of him. And honestly, that's fair. Brett Favre drives everybody crazy all summer with his anguished, will-he-or-won't-he retirement drama. There are and should be consequences for something like that. In this case, the consequence is that you won't let yourself believe the gray-haired Sears pitchman from Mississippi has his hands on the reins of the best team in the NFC.

But I'm sorry to report that Favre and the Vikings don't care what you think, because as of this morning they were 6-0. And regardless of how good the Saints looked against the Giants, Minnesota is the deserving favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

The counter-arguments to this assertion are few, but they're out there. People think Favre is too old, or that he'll blow it in the end like he did with the Jets last year. There's a school of thought that Brad Childress isn't a good enough coach to pull off a Super Bowl run. And finally, there's the general feeling today that the Saints deserve the title of Best-in-NFC right now because of how badly they beat the previously unbeaten Giants on Sunday.

Well, Favre is old, but the only reason he blew it with the Jets last year is because he hurt his arm. If he stays healthy, there's no reason to think he can't quarterback this team to a title. He's won a title before and knows what it takes. He's playing under control, avoiding risks and taking over the game with his arm only when that's called for. See, the secret about this year's Vikings is that they were already a Super Bowl contender before Favre signed on. They're not about who's playing quarterback. They're about all-world running back Adrian Peterson and a defensive line that, for the past three years, as made the Vikings as hard on opponents' running games as their own running game is on opponents' defenses. They're about depth of talent all over the field. They're stacked, and what Favre brought them is a veteran's cool and confidence at a position where that was lacking.

As for Childress, I don't know. He may be too dopey a coach to win a Super Bowl. But he may not, and it's not as if we have a pile of evidence at this point that he'll be the one that stands in the way. It's not as if the Vikings have been knocking on the door the past few years and missed out on a Super Bowl trip because of poor decisions made by the coach. Childress has never had this good a team before (Favre says he hasn't either), and frankly these Vikings are the kind of team that can make a coach look like a genius.

And then there's this: How do we really know the team the Saints beat Sunday is better than the team the Vikings beat? Sure, the Giants came in 5-0, but against a schedule that would keep them out of contention for the BCS title game. New York's wins were against the Redskins, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Chiefs and Raiders -- a crew with a combined record of 8-21. Dallas, the only team in that fearsome fivesome with a winning record, ran up 250 rushing yards on the G-men and might have won the game had they not managed it so stupidly in the fourth quarter. I think the Giants are a good team, but what have they done this year to prove that another good team, playing at home and coming off its bye, shouldn't be able to handle them?

The Vikings on Sunday beat the Ravens, whose .500 record keeps them out of the discussion about the league's best teams -- for now. Baltimore's record is a particularly brutal 3-3. They were 3-0, remember, and rightfully atop many of the weekly power rankings charts, before losing last-minute heartbreakers to the Patriots and Bengals (each of whom is 4-2). Desperate for a win this week, they mounted a furious rally and had were a field goal away from taking down Favre, Peterson and the gang in Minnesota. Yes, the good teams find ways to win, but the Ravens will be heard from before all is said and done. They finished just one game worse, remember, than the Super Bowl champion Steelers a year ago. In Joe Flacco, they have one of the league's best young quarterbacks. In Ray Rice, they have one of the league's most thrilling running backs of any age.

Those who would base their claim that the Saints are the NFC's best on the fact that they just smoked the Giants would be wise to consider just what they were really watching. Minnesota's victory over Baltimore Sunday was at least as good a win as the Saints' victory over the Giants was, and maybe better -- a validating victory after the Vikings' own soft-schedule start to the season.

Things continue to get tougher for Minnesota. They travel to Pittsburgh this week, and the week after they head to Green Bay for a game that will ooze emotion and network-driven hype like few ever have. But with the depth of talent they have on both lines, a slew of skill-position superstars in their 20s, 30s and 40s and the confidence they've amassed during the season's first six games, these Vikings are built to handle it. And to win the NFC.

Sorry, Favre-Haters, Vikings Best in NFC originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>adrian petersonAdrianPetersonbaltimore ravensBaltimoreRavensbrett favreBrettFavreminnesota vikingsMinnesotaVikingsnew orleans saintsnew york giantsNewOrleansSaintsNewYorkGiantsDan GrazianoMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scarehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/childress-vikings-survive-raven-scare/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/childress-vikings-survive-raven-scare/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/childress-vikings-survive-raven-scare/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Things seemed pretty elementary for the Minnesota Vikings through much of their game Sunday afternoon. They held a 14-0 lead over the Baltimore Ravens after a quarter, a 14-3 halftime lead, and then a 27-10 margin early in the fourth quarter -- margins that likely inspired tons of confidence for the Vikes. Who would have thought they would need to be bailed out by a missed field goal as time expired in order to escape with a victory?

Yet that's exactly what happened, because the Ravens, behind explosive plays from Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, used just 11 offensive plays in 6:24 to score three touchdowns and take a 31-30 fourth-quarter lead. The Vikings did drive down and kick a field goal with 2:00 left in the game, which made the score -- the eventual final -- 33-31.
More: Check Box Score | Saints Clobber Giants, Stay Undefeated

Flacco wasn't done, though, as he marched the Ravens right down into field-goal range. Steven Hauschka, the second-year kicker from N.C. State had a chance to win the game for the Ravens, but his 44-yard field goal sailed wide left as the Vikings prevailed.

Both teams, heading into the game, had well-deserved reputations for strong defenses. Instead of a gritty, run-and-defense battle everyone expected, we were treated to an offensive onslaught -- even if the majority of the Ravens' offense occurred during that late 11-play stretch. The two teams combined for 874 yards of total offense and averaged nearly seven yards per offensive play (Ravens 7.0, Vikings 6.8). The stat-lines show both teams with star performances on offense.

Brett Favre hit on 21-of-29 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Flacco connected on 28-of-43 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Neither signal-caller turned it over.

Ray Rice had 194 yards from scrimmage, which includes 10 receptions, and two touchdowns. Adrian Peterson carried the ball 22 times for 143 yards, also adding 23 receiving yards.

Derrick Mason caught seven balls for 97 yards and a score, while Mark Clayton added 57 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sidney Rice, the Vikings' 6-foot-4 wideout, caught 6 passes for 176 yards and Bernard Berrian added a touchdown. Also, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe hauled in a pair of touchdowns from Favre.

This was simply an offensive explosion which, unfortunately, was decided on a missed field goal. Had Hauschka converted the field goal, Vikings coach Brad Childress would likely have had to answer for his play-calling down the stretch. Instead of trying to score a touchdown, Childress played for a field goal -- and two-point lead -- with 2:00 left on the clock. Flacco had already thrown for almost 350 yards on his defense and the Ravens had scored three touchdowns in their last 11 plays. And Childress thought two points was good enough to win with 2:00 left on the clock.

He turned out to be correct, by the skin of his teeth. All's well that ends well, apparently, and the Vikings are 6-0. They'll face another tough test in Week 7, as they travel to Pittsburgh to face the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The Ravens will look to lick their wounds -- they've now lost three in a row after starting 3-0 -- on a bye next week, before facing the surprising Broncos in Week 8 at home.

Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>adrian petersonAdrianPetersonbernard berrianBernardBerrianbrad childressBradChildressbrett favreBrettFavrederrick masonDerrickMasonjoe flaccoJoeFlaccomark claytonMarkClaytonray riceRayRicesidney riceSidneyRicesteven hauschkaStevenHauschkavisanthe shiancoeVisantheShiancoeMatt SnyderSun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST Are Chiefs Ready to Move Dwayne Bowe?http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/are-chiefs-ready-to-move-dwayne-bowe/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/are-chiefs-ready-to-move-dwayne-bowe/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/are-chiefs-ready-to-move-dwayne-bowe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dwayne BoweThrough 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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]]>Chad HenneDerrick MasonDwayne BoweJoe FlaccoRay RiceWillis McGaheeChris BurkeFri, 16 Oct 2009 23:35:00 EST NFL Fines Ray Lewis $25,000, Goodell Ignores Ochocinco's Requesthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/nfl-fines-ray-lewis-25-000-goodell-ignores-ochocincos-request/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/nfl-fines-ray-lewis-25-000-goodell-ignores-ochocincos-request/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/nfl-fines-ray-lewis-25-000-goodell-ignores-ochocincos-request/#commentsFiled under: ,



The National Football League has fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis $25,000 for a hit on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco on Sunday, ignoring Ochocinco's request that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spare Lewis a fine.

The hit happened when Ochocinco was running a pattern over the middle, and it sent Ochocinco's helmet flying and drew a 15-yard penalty, helping the Bengals get into position for their game-winning touchdown in a 17-14 victory. After the game, Ochocinco posted a direct request to Goodell on Twitter, saying there was no harm done and he didn't want to see Lewis lose money.

Goodell, however, didn't listen: ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on Friday that Lewis's next paycheck will be $25,000 lighter. The Baltimore Sun notes that the fine represents 42.5 percent of Lewis' $58,823 weekly salary.

And while Ochocinco might not like it, this was obviously the right call: Lewis clearly led with his helmet and drilled a defenseless receiver in the chops. That's a textbook personal foul, and it's a play that gets players fined every week.

UPDATE: Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Lewis was fined for two acts: The hit on Ochocinco and kicking an opponent.

Follow sports? Follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

NFL Fines Ray Lewis $25,000, Goodell Ignores Ochocinco's Request originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chad OchocincoChadOchocincoRay LewisRayLewisMichael David SmithFri, 16 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST Zebra Report: Refs Made Correct No-Call On Redskins' Costly Muffed Punthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/zebra-report-no-kick-catching-interference-on-panthers-correct/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/zebra-report-no-kick-catching-interference-on-panthers-correct/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/14/zebra-report-no-kick-catching-interference-on-panthers-correct/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Walt ColemanZebra Report is FanHouse's analysis of actual NFL rules and how they are to be applied ... because most fans think they could do a better job than the NFL officials, yet definitely could not. Click here for an introduction as to how we do things.

One week later and we know now that the league is mandating the roughing the passer calls we discussed last week. This past week, we also learned that the league admitted error on the Mike Sims-Walker touchdown we discussed, which should help to relieve some of the tension fans are carrying about a perceived lack of accountability. I was pleased to see the league's admission. Let's get to the reviews for this week.

Antwaan Randle El is contacted by his own teammate while trying to catch a punt -- the Panthers recovered the retained the football in the aftermath. As you can see in the youtube video below, Randle El's teammate was clearly blocked into him by a member of the Panthers coverage unit. Watch and see -- the play begins at the 3:22 mark.



After the game, referee Walt Coleman explained:
"What happened was, the two guys were blocking each other. The Washington guy got blocked into his own man, so there was no interference. All we had to figure out who touched it first. If the Washington player is stationary and just standing there and not trying to block, then he can't do that. If they are both trying to block, then he can knock him into him. Because they were both engaged, then that's why there wasn't a foul or anything wrong with that play. If the Washington player is stationary and just standing there and the Carolina player had come down there and knocked him, then it would have been totally different."
Coleman is referring to a very specific and important part of Rule 10-1-1-Item 1 (it's bolded):

It is interference if a player of the kicking team contacts the receiver, or causes a passive player of either team to contact the receiver, before or simultaneous to his touching the ball.

From watching the highlight, it is very clear the Redskins player was actively attempting (attempting being the operative word because he was being physically dominated) to block the Panthers' coverage man, so he was not passive in the least. Thus, there is no penalty for kick-catching interference and the officials made the correct call.

For what it's worth, Redskins head coach Jim Zorn now understands the call but stopped short of expressing regret in wasting a challenge on the play.

"It was very difficult at that particular time, he said. "I talked to NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira about that this morning about the rule. I read the paragraph in the rule book which talks about getting the opportunity to have a fair catch. It was explained within that paragraph what the problem was. I could have saved a timeout, but it was worth it for me to challenge. That was a key play in the game. I wasn't going to save a timeout for that. It was my duty, in my mind, to challenge that."

Reader Scott submitted this play for examination:

"On an extra point try (in the Bengals-Ravens game), the ball was snapped wide of the holder and a scramble ensued. Once the ball was recovered by a Ravens player, the play was whistled dead. However, this was all rendered moot because a flag was thrown for illegal procedure, lining up over center. What exactly does that mean and what is the rule? Second, is there ever a time that a defensive team can recover a ball during a point after or two-point conversion and attempt to score?"

First of all, thanks for the submission, Scott. Both parts of the question are cut-and-dry rules, though possibly not known to many fans.

Rule 7-2-2 - During a field-goal attempt or a Kick Try, a Team B player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap, must have his helmet outside the snapper's shoulder pads.

There could be some confusion here because in high school and all lower levels, you can line up directly over the center, you just have to give him the opportunity to raise his head after the snap before contacting him. The NFL probably just didn't want to deal with judging what a reasonable amount of time was for the snapper to raise his head. Trust me, there are plenty of high school teams who tell their snapper to never raise his head -- then complain he was roughed when someone waits two seconds before trying to break through.

As for the second part of the question ...

Rule 11-3-2c: If the defense gains possession, the ball is dead immediately. The defensive team cannot score during a Try.

The confusion here likely stems from college football, where the defense can return an extra point attempt for two points.

Justin Fargas fumbles as his forward progress is stopped ... or is it? You can check out the video in MDS' post about Darrius Heyward-Bey's blazing speed. Fortunately this play had no bearing on the outcome of the game, as the Giants stomped a mud-hole in the Raiders. The reason I say "fortunately" is because I believe the decision on when to blow the whistle on plays like this is the most difficult thing any official has to do during any given game. Blowing the whistle a millisecond too early or too late could gravely cost either team. If a team believes their ball-carrier was about to break free, it's the fault of the official. If the defense believes they caused a fumble before the progress was stopped, but a whistle was blown, it's the fault of the official.

I actually wrote more in depth about the difficulty of when to blow the whistle last season. I firmly believe this is one of those things where you truly don't know what it's like until you've experienced it (and if you have, you know what I'm talking about).

Got a rules-related question? Whether it's elementary, high school or NFL, email TZR and he'll see what he can do.

Zebra Report: Refs Made Correct No-Call On Redskins' Costly Muffed Punt originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>zebra reportZebraReportMatt SnyderWed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST David Tyree Resurfaces in Baltimorehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/david-tyree-resurfaces-in-baltimore/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/david-tyree-resurfaces-in-baltimore/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/david-tyree-resurfaces-in-baltimore/#commentsFiled under: ,

David TyreeSuper Bowl XLII hero David Tyree is about to get another crack in the NFL. Tyree, whom was cut by the Giants in September, has agreed to a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced Wednesday.

Tyree was reportedly scheduled to tryout for Tampa Bay later this week, but after a Monday workout in Baltimore, was able to come to terms with the Ravens.

Tyree played for six seasons in New York, the only prior stop in his NFL career. He has 54 career regular-season catches for 650 yards and four touchdowns.

More NFL News: Patriots Reportedly Bring Back Junior Seau

All of those numbers pale in comparison to Tyree's Super Bowl effort, of course. In the Giants' dramatic 17-14 win over New England back on Feb. 3, 2008, Tyree hauled in three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. His acrobatic fourth-quarter grab setup New York's title-clinching touchdown and is arguably one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

Ironically, Tyree never caught another pass for the Giants due to a knee injury that cost him all of the 2008 season.

He may not see many passes in Baltimore, either, barring injury. In Mark Clayton, Derrick Mason and Kelley Washington, the Ravens already have a sturdy group at the wide receiver, but Tyree will add depth and experience. He also should see some work on special teams -- Baltimore lost special-teams dynamo Brandon Ayanbadejo for the year due to injury, so the door could be open for Tyree to play on the kick and punt units.

David Tyree Resurfaces in Baltimore originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>David TyreeChris BurkeTue, 13 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST Chad Ochocinco Tweets Request to NFL Not to Fine Ray Lewishttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/chad-ochocinco-tweets-nfl-dont-fine-ray-lewis-for-drilling-me/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/chad-ochocinco-tweets-nfl-dont-fine-ray-lewis-for-drilling-me/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/chad-ochocinco-tweets-nfl-dont-fine-ray-lewis-for-drilling-me/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chad OchocincoPrior to Sunday's Ravens-Bengals game, Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco posted a link on Twitter to a video of Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis drilling him in a 2007 game, and he vowed that Lewis wouldn't be able to knock him down again.

As it turned out, it did happen again: Lewis nailed Ochocinco during the game, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty. But Ochocinco went back to Twitter to ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell not to fine Lewis for the hit.

Immediately following the game, Ochocinco tweeted:
Beautify game, Ray knock my head off, all part of the game, I love my big brother Ray Lewis, hope you all enjoyed thee event !!!!!



And then a couple hours later, Ochocinco posted another tweet, directing it to Goodell's Twitter account:
@nflcommish please don't fine Ray Lewis Mr. Roger Goodell, it was a clean hit, it's part of the game, save the fines for me, Esteban out.
Although I respect Ochocinco for not wanting to see his friend get fined, I don't think Goodell is going to listen to him. The rules are clear: Helmet-to-helmet hits on defenseless receivers are not tolerated in the NFL, and Lewis is going to get fined.

Chad Ochocinco Tweets Request to NFL Not to Fine Ray Lewis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chad OchocincoMichael David SmithTue, 13 Oct 2009 10:35:00 EST FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravenshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/fanhouse-preview-bengals-at-ravens/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/fanhouse-preview-bengals-at-ravens/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/fanhouse-preview-bengals-at-ravens/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Cincinnati (3-1) really could be 4-0 and would be, if not for the Madden-esque TD reception by Denver's Brandon Stokley in Week 1. Since that game, the Bengals traveled to Green Bay and beat a heavily-favored Packer team, took down world champion Pittsburgh at home, and just barely survived a letdown game in Cleveland last week.

Baltimore (3-1) feels like they should be 4-0, victimized by an iffy penalty in last week's game at Foxboro (if the game was at home, are the Ravens not penalized?). With Pittsburgh lurking, each of these Cincinnati-Baltimore games are critical in battling for a playoff spot. Most people see the Ravens as a contender, but the Bengals as a pretender.

Is that fair?
More Previews: Browns-Bills | Cowboys-Chiefs
Bucs-Eagles | Raiders-Giants | Steelers-Lions
Redskins-Panthers | Vikings-49ers

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Baltimore rookie Michael Oher transition smoothly to the blind side in replacing Jared Gaither, and will Marshall Yanda be able to slip right in on the right side?

2. Will Cedric Benson find any room to run against the No. 1 rushing defense in the league, one that allows less than 60 yards on the ground per game?

3. How many game-day tweets will we see from Chad Ochocinco?

Player in the Spotlight: Antwan Odom. After totaling a whopping seven sacks in the first two games of the season, Odom was held to just one sack combined against Pittsburgh and Cleveland. With Oher drawing his first start on the left side of the offensive line, it will be on Odom to create consistent pressure on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco. The Bengals can't afford to blitz Flacco too often, as the Ravens have displayed the ability to hit any number of offensive weapons during a drive. The less people in coverage, the easier it will be for Flacco to find the open man. Odom's final line should be a reflection of the game result, when all is said and done.

Cincinnati's Path to Victory: The Bengals will try to establish a running game, but the deck is stacked against him. We know the Ravens' defense will be gunning for Ochocinco, so it's up to Carson Palmer to consistently find his secondary options in the passing game. If Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry turn in performances in line with their first four games, then the Bengals have no shot. So these secondary receivers will have to step up and come through on the road in a hostile Baltimore environment. It will be nearly impossible to play successfully from behind, so expect Palmer to try and get everyone involved early. If they can manage a halftime lead, allowing them to keep feeding Benson the rock, then they have a good shot at pulling off the win.

Baltimore's Path to Victory: Both Oher and Yanda are great run blockers, so Baltimore's prospects will be tied tot he ground game. The dynamic duo of Willis McGahee (255 yards, seven TDs) and Ray Rice (429 yards, one TD) should expect double-digit touches yet again. The Cincinnati defense features a pair of up-and-coming young cornerbacks, but the secondary has been susceptible to big games from little-known receivers (Cleveland's Mohamed Massaquoi and Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace) in recent weeks. Sure, they have to contain veteran Derrick Mason, but former Bengal Kelley Washington can be just as dangerous to this team.

Prediction: In order for Odom to work his magic, Cincinnati has to jump to an early lead. Expect a few shots down the field by Palmer in the first quarter. Baltimore will counter with a steady dose of Rice in between the 20s and McGahee in the red zone. If Bengals defensive tackle Tank Johnson isn't 100% over his foot injury, which held him out of the Browns game, the Ravens should have no problem moving the ball on the ground. Once the Bengals offense gets desperate, that's when the Ravens defense attacks. Baltimore should have no problem with Cincinnati in the second half, which should lead to an easy win for the Ravens. Baltimore 31, Cincinnati 16.

FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>antwan odomcarson palmercedric bensonchad ochocincojoe flaccokelley washingtonmichael oherray ricewillis mcgaheeR.J. WhiteSun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST Chad Ochocinco Tweets About Getting Flattened by Ray Lewishttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/chad-ochocinco-tweets-about-getting-flattened-by-ray-lewis/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/chad-ochocinco-tweets-about-getting-flattened-by-ray-lewis/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/chad-ochocinco-tweets-about-getting-flattened-by-ray-lewis/#commentsFiled under: ,



Few athletes are as entertaining on Twitter as Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who despite a previous threat to stop tweeting has continued to entertain his fans this season,140 characters at a time. And on Saturday he provided his most entertaining tweet yet, including a link to the above video of himself getting knocked on his backside by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

After starting a tweet with a link to that video, Ochocinco wrote the following:
this will not happen to me again, I've gained 15 pounds since this play!!!
Even if Ochocinco has really gained 15 pounds since that play (which happened in 2007, when Ochocinco's name was Chad Johnson), he's still probably about 50 pounds lighter than Lewis, and I think if the two run into each other at full speed again when the Bengals visit Baltimore on Sunday, we'll see the same result.

But I just think it's great that Ochocinco has enough of a sense of humor that he's willing to post that video of himself. That's why Ochocinco is the NFL's top Twitterer.

Chad Ochocinco Tweets About Getting Flattened by Ray Lewis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chad OchocincoChadOchocincoMichael David SmithSat, 10 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST Ex-Ravens Camp Hopeful Dies Suddenlyhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/ex-ravens-camp-hopeful-dies-suddenly/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/ex-ravens-camp-hopeful-dies-suddenly/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/ex-ravens-camp-hopeful-dies-suddenly/#commentsFiled under:

Tony FeinSEATTLE (AP) -- Tony Fein, an Iraq war veteran and NFL rookie linebacker who played with the Baltimore Ravens during the preseason, has died of unexplained causes on the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington state.

Fein, 27, an undrafted rookie free agent from Mississippi, was lying face down and unconscious, vomiting and barely breathing when medics arrived at a house outside Port Orchard on the Kitsap Peninsula just before 9 a.m PDT Tuesday, said Mike Wernet, a battalion chief and medical officer with South Kitsap Fire & Rescue.

The medics put a breathing tube down Fein's throat after he stopped breathing and administered medication, but he went into cardiac arrest during the drive to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, across Puget Sound from Seattle, and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:48 a.m. PDT Tuesday, Wernet told The Associated Press.

A man and woman who were present described Fein as a friend who was staying with them. They told the aid crew they awoke to find him unresponsive and vomiting.

"They didn't really give us a lot of information about what had happened the night before," apparently because they were upset, Wernet said. "They didn't indicate anything out of the ordinary."

An autopsy won't be conducted before Thursday and no report will be issued before all toxicology and other tests are complete, likely in six to eight weeks, said Allen G. Gerdes, Kitsap County chief deputy coroner.

Guy Dalrymple, a fire and rescue duty chief, did not immediately return a telephone call to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Fein, a native of Port Orchard, was released by the Ravens in their last major round of roster cuts on Sept. 5.

"Tony Fein was a really good teammate, a tremendous American, a tremendous young man ... just a really good person," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said before Wednesday's practice in Owings Mills, Md. "We were proud to have him here as part of our team. We're unbelievably disappointed about the news."

Fein's agent, Milton D. Hobbs, a lawyer in Oxford, Miss., said he last spoke with Fein on Friday and since the death had talked with the Fein's sister, mother and some friends. He would not discuss a possible cause of death.

"He was working out and we were discussing football opportunities. That was still his goal," Hobbs said. "We talked about Canada."

Some Canadian Football League teams had expressed interest in Fein before he joined the Ravens but there had been no contacts since he was cut, the agent said.

Fein was arrested on Aug. 23 and charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer after an incident at a restaurant at Baltimore's Inner Harbor in which the officer reportedly mistook his cellular telephone for a handgun. A trial was scheduled Wednesday, but prosecutors notified Fein's attorney last Thursday that they planned to dismiss the case because of conflicting witness accounts, state's attorney spokeswoman Marty Burns said.

Fein played quarterback for South Kitsap High School before graduating in 2000. At age 19 he enlisted in the Army and spent 2 1/2 years in Iraq as a 19 Delta reconnaissance scout.

He later enrolled at Scottsdale, Ariz., Community College, became one of the nation's top junior college recruits and played for Ole Miss in 2007 and 2008. In two seasons at Ole Miss, he had 136 tackles (77 solo) in 24 games, according to the school's Web site.

"A humble young man," Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said of Fein, who stuck with the team until the final cut. "Our hearts definitely go out to his family because it's such a tragedy for a man to be that young and go through the things he's been through."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ex-Ravens Camp Hopeful Dies Suddenly originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Tony LeinFanHouse NewswireWed, 07 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST