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/Battered and Beaten, Matt Hasselbeck Refuses to Surrenderhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/battered-and-beaten-matt-hasselbeck-refuses-to-surrender/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/battered-and-beaten-matt-hasselbeck-refuses-to-surrender/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/battered-and-beaten-matt-hasselbeck-refuses-to-surrender/#commentsFiled under: ,

Matt HasselbeckARLINGTON, Texas -- The psyche and impressive football will of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck seems as if it's held together by iron and steel. His body? It's simply not as impervious as his mental makeup.

Those cracked ribs, the chronic disc injury in his back, a sore right shoulder and assorted other aches that would put most NFL quarterbacks on the sideline did not make Hasselbeck a spectator in a runaway 38-17 Dallas Cowboys' victory over Seattle on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium.

When Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher plowed into Hasselbeck following a short 3rd-down completion to Deion Branch late in the third quarter, the Seahawks' gritty quarterback crumpled to the turf, grabbing his still-damaged ribcage and signaling to the sideline that his right shoulder also was injured.

Common sense would have dictated that Seattle -- which gave up an 82-yard Patrick Crayton punt return for a touchdown on the ensuing play from scrimmage, turning this into a 35-10 rout -- would pull its 34-year-old battered team leader and give Seneca Wallace the remaining snaps.

That did not sit well with Hasselback, who was in on the next series.

Seattle (2-5), which has lost five of its last six games, may be a team under siege yet again by injuries and the ravages of time and age. But this is the enduring image of Hasselbeck fighting back: He stayed in the game, and tried to defeat the Cowboys' pass rush by continuing to throw quick passes and getting running back Julius Jones involved.

Hasselbeck completed 22-of-39 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns, but he'll be a regular in the training room again this week.

"We had some positives out there," said Hasselbeck, who was happy to see the Seahawks' defense force a Tony Romo fumble midway through the fourth quarter that he was able to convert into a 4-yard touchdown pass to fullback Justin Griffith. "But at the same time if we keep doing what we're doing, we're going to get the same results."

Damion McIntosh, the fourth replacement this season for injured All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones, surrendered consecutive sacks at the end of the third quarter. That revolving door at Seattle's most important pass protection position hasn't helped Hasselbeck get through this difficult season, nor did Sundays' three pass interference calls on former Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant, who made his season debut after a stint on the PUP list (back injury) in dubious fashion.


In the Cowboys locker room, guys who tackled, sacked and chipped at Hasselbeck all afternoon expressed nothing but high regard for his fortitude.

"I'll tell you what, man, that was so much about him and the competitor that he is," Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He's a proven guy in this league. He's had a lot of success. And I've got a lot of admiration and respect for him.

"I know he's struggling with those ribs, and he was getting hit a lot back there in the backfield. But he just kept fighting and kept trying to put his team in position."

Was Brooking surprised to see Hasselbeck finish the game?

"I think that pretty much sums up what kind of player he is, the kind of person he is, and what this game means to him," Brooking said.

Seattle may be able to regroup next week with a home game against the 1-6 Lions. "I don't think there's a mindset of having a losing mentality here on this team," said receiver Nate Burleson, who caught six passes for 89 yards.

That seems to be the attitude of the struggling Seahawks.

"I don't question our competitiveness," first-year coach Jim Mora said. "I don't question our fight. I don't question any of those things. I think that they're desperate to win."

Certainly Hasselbeck is. Whether he can physically survive out there long enough to get his teammates on the winning track depends on how far sheer determination can take an iron-willed player, one who simply refuses to surrender.

Battered and Beaten, Matt Hasselbeck Refuses to Surrender originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Julius JonesKeith BrookingMatt HasselbeckNate BurlesonSeneca WallaceNancy GaySun, 01 Nov 2009 20:45:00 EST Surging Cowboys Turn Focus to Eagleshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/surging-cowboys-turn-focus-to-eagles/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/surging-cowboys-turn-focus-to-eagles/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/surging-cowboys-turn-focus-to-eagles/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dallas CowboysARLINGTON, Texas -- A month ago, the Dallas Cowboys were a 2-2 mess; inconsistent on offense, generous on defense and seemingly already out of contention in the cutthroat NFC East following a mistake-filled thrashing by the then-undefeated Broncos in Denver.

Flash forward to Sunday's lopsided 38-17 victory over the battered Seattle Seahawks -- the Cowboys' third consecutive win in their swank $1.2 billion home -- and Dallas' turnaround from bashed to brilliant seems accomplished.

Quarterback Tony Romo completed passes to 10 different receivers, including touchdown throws to the increasingly popular Miles Austin (five catches, 61 yards), as well as to the forgotten Sam Hurd and the once-missing Roy Williams. Romo's performance, where he hit on 21-of-36 passes for 256 yards, capped off the first three-game span without an interception in his seven-year career.
More: Gutsy Hasselbeck Keeps Fighting | Check Box Score

Running back Marion Barber, still fighting myriad injuries, rushed for another touchdown. The Cowboys pass rush pummeled Seattle's patchwork offensive line and manhandled the Seahawks' fourth starter this season at left tackle, former Chief Damion McIntosh, on two of Matt Hasselbeck's three sacks.

Toss in an 82-yard Patrick Crayton punt return for a touchdown, his second in as many games, and Dallas (5-2) looks like a complete team at the halfway point. Or, at least, one that appears to have solved most of its earlier problems.

"I like that this team is explosive in that we're kind of rocking along and then we're ahead," said coach Wade Phillips, whose group scored 24 unanswered points on the Seahawks (2-5). "That we're able to do that can make you a good football team. It was 14-10 after awhile, and all of a sudden it was out of hand."

Dallas now sits atop the division standings with the Eagles -- and the two rivals have a Week 9 showdown in Philadelphia -- thanks to a complete offense-defense-special teams effort that fulfilled everyone's desire to pull this talented-filled franchise from the cliff's edge.

More From NFL FanHouse
Blackistone: Ravens Expose Broncos
Favre Stellar in Return to Lambeau
Eagles Paste Struggling Giants
Texans Star Out for Year
Dolphins' Ginn Bounces Back
"We just have to keep the same mentality each week," said linebacker Keith Brooking, the 12th-year veteran, who has been preaching the merits of keeping an even keel during this stormy Cowboys season. "A lot of people are real excited about the Cowboys right now, and they're gonna tell you how great they are, how you've won three in a row. The world's great.

"But we're not there. Our division is close, it's tight. You can never think that way. You have to keep your blinders on."

Dallas may not be where Brooking wants his team to be, but it is close. So close, the only point of contention seems to be when -- or if -- Romo will ever find his groove with Williams, the high-dollar receiver, a player for whom the Cowboys traded three draft picks and then awarded a five-year contract extension with $20 million guaranteed last season.

"It's tough right now," conceded Williams, who has just 29 receptions for 393 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games with Romo as his starting quarterback. "But it's fun to win, it's fun to see other guys do the things that they do, and I'm just happy to be a Cowboy, man. People don't understand that."

Sunday, Romo tried to find Williams deep on multiple occasions but failed -- those balls sailed wide, or high. Williams was targeted seven times and caught two balls for 19 yards, including a 7-yard scoring pass with 35 seconds remaining before halftime that pushed Dallas to a 21-10 lead.

If two catches sound lousy, consider Williams' Week 7 performance in the 37-21 victory over Atlanta, when the former Lions' first-round pick caught one pass for 16 yards and dropped two other balls. The chemistry with Romo just isn't happening, and Williams can't explain it.

"I don't know what it is -- we worked early in the offseason, came in a month early before everybody," Williams said with a shrug. "He throws to me every day, and it's just not there right now."

Again, this is like searching for flaws on what is nearly a perfect diamond. Romo-to-Austin has been a season-changing combination the past three games, and Dallas' underneath passing scheme Sunday took great advantage of Seattle's lack of depth at linebacker. Williams is a vertical threat, so when the Cowboys are moving the chains with screens, quick outs and slants, Williams looks like an afterthought.

"I missed him on a dig route early in the game," Romo said of Williams. "I've got to bring the ball down. I just missed him. He's running good routes. We're going to be fine. I know what Roy is doing."

So it's good feelings all around in Dallas-Fort Worth, just as Brooking said. And, also just as Brooking said, this is a surging team that can't let its guard down.

The Cowboys next make their annual trip to Philadelphia, where they were destroyed, 44-6, in Week 17 last season, eliminating Dallas from the playoff hunt. That makes Brooking's admonition of keeping a level head all the more important during the week-long buildup to the rematch.

Sunday, the Eagles (5-2) embarrassed the New York Giants, 40-17, so the Cowboys' path to revenge looks even more daunting.

"Last year is last year," Romo said. "We had to deal with that [Eagles game] all offseason. We had to grind it out to get better and improve, and not let that happen again. We've taken a lot of steps to be the ballclub that we're hopefully getting to be.

"For us, it's just about improving and getting better."

Surging Cowboys Turn Focus to Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Keith BrookingMatt HasselbeckMiles AustinSam HurdTony RomoNancy GaySun, 01 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST Walter Jones on IR, Career in Questionhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/walter-jones-on-ir-career-in-question/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/walter-jones-on-ir-career-in-question/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/walter-jones-on-ir-career-in-question/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Walter JonesWalter Jones has been a staple for the Seattle Seahawks since 1997, but the Seahawks are going to have to play the entire 2009 season without him. Wednesday, during a press conference, it was announced that Jones has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Jones hasn't been able to shake the pain in his knee, which stemmed from microfracture surgery in December and then another scope on the same left knee in training camp.

The venerable left tackle has started 180 games on his quarterback's blind side, racking up an impressive resume in the process. The future Hall of Famer has made nine Pro Bowls and been elected as a first-team All-NFL player four times in his illustrious career.

Without him, the Seahawks have had an awful time protecting Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace this season. Much more troublesome is the assembly line of offensive lineman the Seahawks have attempted to use this season (my colleague J.J. Cooper said, "left tackle for the Seahawks this year is like being a drummer for Spinal Tap"). Sean Locklear is dubbed as the "heir apparent" to Jones at left tackle, but he's still battling back from injury himself. He does appear to be the left tackle of the future, though.

As for Jones' future, Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, Jr. would not make any statements about Jones' career being in jeopardy and said, "it's too early for a career eulogy." But is it?

Jones is turning 36 this January. He's had a hell of a time coming back from a surgery that was performed nearly a year ago. I can't imagine going through all those knee problems at a size of 6-foot-5, 325 pounds. This is nothing more than conjecture, but at some point there's only so much wear and tear the body can take. Hopefully the big man can come back, because he deserves to go out on his own terms.
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Walter Jones on IR, Career in Question originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>walter jonesMatt SnyderWed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST Seahawks Find Their Scapegoat, Cut Kyle Williamshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/seahawks-find-their-scapegoat-cut-kyle-williams/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/seahawks-find-their-scapegoat-cut-kyle-williams/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/seahawks-find-their-scapegoat-cut-kyle-williams/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When an offensive linemen gets injured, very few fans notice. But if you want a good explanation for why the Seahawks laid an egg this week against the Cardinals you can point the finger at Kyle Williams. The Seahawks sure did, as Williams went from starting on Sunday to out of work on Tuesday.

Williams had been battlefield promoted from the practice squad to the starting lineup when a desperate Seahawks team lost its third starting left tackle of the season. Pro Bowler Walter Jones has yet to play this season because of a knee injury. Seattle was actually well prepared for his injury, as replacement Sean Locklear has been prepped as a left tackle of the future.

But when Locklear joined Jones on the injured list in Week Four, the Seahawks suffered. Replacement Brandon Frye have up two sacks in his first start before going down with an injury of his own. So the Seahawks were left relying on an unreliable Kyle Williams. Williams gave up three sacks in his one and only start and the Seahawks offensive line in general struggled on Sunday.

Damion McIntosh will likely become Seattle's fifth starter of the season next week. He may not know the full playbook yet, but as a veteran left tackle he will be less of a turnstile than Williams. At 2-4, Seattle may be considered one of the NFL's disappointments, but it's not that surprising. There aren't many teams in the NFL that can survive the loss of three left tackles.

Seahawks Find Their Scapegoat, Cut Kyle Williams originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Brandon FryeDamion McIntoshKyle WilliamsSean LocklearWalter JonesJJ CooperTue, 20 Oct 2009 20:18:00 EST Mike Sims-Walker Out of Jaguars Lineup For Team Rules Violationhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/mike-sims-walker-out-of-jaguars-lineup-for-team-rules-violation/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/mike-sims-walker-out-of-jaguars-lineup-for-team-rules-violation/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/mike-sims-walker-out-of-jaguars-lineup-for-team-rules-violation/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mike Sims-WalkerJacksonville has suspended Mike Sims-Walker, the team's leading wide receiver, for Sunday's game at Seattle for an unspecified violation of team rules, Michael C. Wright reported on Twitter.

Sims-Walker, a second-year player out of Central Florida, has been a surprise star through four weeks -- he's made 19 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns, and has developed into one of the Jaguars' most consistent offensive threats.

Rookie Mike Thomas will start in Sims-Walker's place.

After starting the season 0-2, Jacksonville has bounced back with a pair of wins -- at Houston and against Tennessee -- to pull back into the playoff race in the AFC. Sims-Walker caught nine passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns against the Titans.

Mike Sims-Walker Out of Jaguars Lineup For Team Rules Violation originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Mike Sims-WalkerChris BurkeSun, 11 Oct 2009 15:05:00 EST Between the Lines Notes: Seneca Wallace Needs to Throw It Awayhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/between-the-lines-notes-seneca-wallace-needs-to-throw-it-away/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/between-the-lines-notes-seneca-wallace-needs-to-throw-it-away/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/between-the-lines-notes-seneca-wallace-needs-to-throw-it-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Seneca WallaceEvery week we're taking a look at sacks around the league. We looked at Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' sack problem in our main Between the Lines feature this week, but here are some other notes from Week Four.

o. If a Dan Marino-style quick release is an offensive lineman's best friend, Seneca Wallace is becoming a lineman's worst nightmare. Wallace stepped out of bounds for a sack on a play where he could have easily thrown the ball away for an incompletion for the second time in two games. In this case, Wallace rolled out of the pocket and had plenty of time to throw. Eventually linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who wasn't a rusher on the play, came up to force Wallace to make up his mind. Instead of simply tossing the ball out of bounds (he was out of the pocket so any pass beyond the line of scrimmage would have not drawn an intentional grounding penalty), Wallace stepped out of bounds five yards behind the line of scrimmage. It goes into the books as the easiest sack of Keiaho's career, and clearly angered the Seahawks' offensive line--center Chris Spencer is seen throwing up his arms in disbelief at the end of the play.
There are only two logical explanations I can think of for Wallace's ill-advised stepouts. There's the possibility that he has not been properly coached to throw the ball away, or there's the option that he's avoiding adding an incomplete pass to his stat line, even if it costs the Seahawks some yardage. Neither one is good for the Seahawks.

o. Joey Porter is 32 years old and Jason Taylor is 35 so the Dolphins need to start planning for their replacements. If Cameron Wake's first start is any indication, Miami should have one of those outside linebacker spots filled.

The former CFL star picked up three sacks in his first-ever start last Sunday. He had a favorable matchup, as he abused Bills fill-in tackle Kirk Chambers. Wake showed the speed to beat Chambers to the corner, but he also showed the power to drive Chambers back into quarterback Trent Edwards on one of his three sacks. It didn't hurt that Wake got to face Chambers in his first start of the season, but his speed and power gives Miami a third edge rusher to worry about.

o. Patrick Willis' 2 1/2 sack day was one of the more impressive pass-rushing performances of the season. On two of Willis' sacks, he timed the snap count perfectly to give Kyle Boller no chance to flee. On his first sack tailback Steven Jackson (who was supposed to pick up the blitz) had barely gotten out of his stance before Willis had wrapped up Boller only 1.4 seconds after the snap (that's the fourth quickest sack of the season).

The Broncos' improved defense is one of the stories of the first month of the season, and Elvis Dumervill's eight sacks are a big part of that newfound success. But the way Dumervill has gotten those sacks also explains why the Broncos' defense has improved.

In the past, the Broncos have shifted philosophies and schemes as frequently as Brett Favre changes his mind. But this year, new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has installed the 3-4 and has worked to get Denver's best players into favorable matchups.

Dumervill is clearly one of the Broncos best players, and Nolan has done a very good job of scheming to get him shots at the quarterback. Dumervill has two sacks when lined up against left tackles (Pro Bowler Joe Thomas and Flozell Adams), four against right tackles (three against John St. Clair and one against Cornell Green) and two against running backs (Deon Anderson and Michael Bush). By moving him around, Nolan has found tackles who can't handle Dumervill's speed (like St. Clair) and he's also managed to get him matched up against running backs.

Between the Lines Notes: Seneca Wallace Needs to Throw It Away originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Between The LinesCameron WakeElvis DumervillPatrick WillisSeneca WallaceJJ CooperThu, 08 Oct 2009 11:47:00 EST Zebra Report: Another Texan Controversyhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/zebra-report-another-texan-controversy/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/zebra-report-another-texan-controversy/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/zebra-report-another-texan-controversy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Zebra 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.

For the second straight week, the Houston Texans' offense was involved in a controversial call on a would-be touchdown. In Week 2, many thought they were the beneficiary of a bad call. In Week 3, the proverbial shoe was on the other foot. Let's get right to it.

- Kevin Walter is called for offensive pass interference, nullifying what would have been a game-tying touchdown. You can watch the replay by clicking here at the 2:30 mark and beyond. Walter appeared to be running a route over the middle of the field. As he looked back to Matt Schaub, he appeared to inadvertently run into a defensive player, who, in turn, was knocked into the umpire. A few seconds after this happened, Schaub found Joel Dreessen for an apparent touchdown. It was called back for OPI on Walter, under this rule.

(8-5-2, page 56) Prohibited Acts by both teams while the ball is in the air. Acts that are pass interference include but are not limited to: ... e) Cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball.

and (emphasis mine)

(8-5-4, page 57) Other Prohibited acts by the offense. Blocking downfield by an offensive player prior to a pass being thrown is offensive pass interference. Note: It is also pass interference by the offense to block a defender beyond the line while the pass is in the air, if the block occurs in the vicinity of the player to whom the pass is thrown.

In this case, the word "block" is a generic term to cover any contact a player makes on an opposing player, impeding his progress. Don't get confused by the wording. Walter most certainly "blocked" the defender on this play. His intent doesn't matter, nor does where he's looking (at the ball or the defender). Also, I've seen on some Texans message boards that people are claiming head coach Gary Kubiak said this call is almost never made when the defense in in zone coverage. That doesn't matter, either. The officials aren't there to make a consideration based upon what defense is being playing. By letter of the law, this would be offensive pass interference, unless he's not in the vicinity of the player to whom the pass is thrown.

So, how do we define vicinity? That's judgment. My personal judgment would be that "vicinity" meant the act had an actual effect on the outcome of the play. What do you readers think? Did Walter's block come within the "vicinity" of the reception? We've included a poll for your vote.

Here are Kubiak's thoughts on the play from a press conference, after he had viewed the game film, just for what it's worth:

"I'm disappointed in that, but the call is what it is. They're playing zone coverage, they're playing quarters. Kevin's running a shallow cross and he actually runs into a linebacker and an official in there, so we sent it into the league. We'll see what happens. I was disappointed. We had a chance to overcome it. We basically had a chance to score twice down there, but we hurt ourselves both times with the call and the fumble."

- In Week 2, some thought the Raiders fans now had a right to be upset about the correct call in Week 1 on Louis Murphy's would-be touchdown -- which was ruled incomplete by rule. The scapegoat calls for Week 2 were a Jacoby Jones touchdown and a Dante Rosario touchdown. First of all, the call on the Murphy touchdown was correct. Thus, any calls Raider fans deem incorrect for the rest of the season still shouldn't bother them. Where's the logic in that? It's like getting a speeding ticket for going 20 miles per hour over the limit and then complaining that someone else was doing it and didn't get caught. Yeah, it sucks, but you were still speeding.

(For the record, I think Mike Florio -- who wrote what I linked above -- was just trying to drum up traffic with the title. He's far too logical to really believe those calls make a difference to the Raiders.)

Anyway, the Jones play is really, really close. Click here to watch the video, and the play in question is at about 1:55 on the highlight package. The official word from the league is that Jones maintained possession through hitting the ground one time, and then only lost it when he spun around and hit the ground a second time. It's true that if someone hits the ground once and keeps control, that's a catch and nothing that happens afterward matters. In this case, though, I could definitely see where people would question the judgment. Was Cortland Finnegan under Jones on the first hit? If so, he hadn't yet hit the ground. Also, was the spinning over the defender all one motion, in which case Jones would have to maintain possession the entire time? I'm fine with the call standing, but can definitely see where there's an argument from Titans fans (but not Raiders fans).

On the Rosario play, it was clearly two different motions. He made the catch in the field of play, and then turned upfield and extended the ball across the plane of the goal line (which would constitute a "football move") before losing control of the ball. One action was making the catch and turning upfield -- which means he now has fully completed the catch and has possession of the ball -- and the next was breaking the plane of the end zone. Touchdown. Case closed.

I can see from my inbox and from comments sections on past reports that this is an issue that won't be going away this season. Let us all just remember that every single play in every single game is unique. What happens in Week 5 doesn't have anything to do with a call in Week 1, especially as far as the judgment of human beings is involved.

- Jay Cutler was called for an illegal crackback block against the Seahawks, nullifying a sizable gain. The announcers attempted to compare it to the Brett Favre cheap shot (sorry, when you dive into the back/side of someone's knees downfield, I'm calling it a cheap shot for the rest of my life) on Eugene Wilson in the preseason. Once again, I can't find any good videos for the Cutler block, so I'll attempt to narrate without bias. The Bears ran a reverse to Devin Hester. Cutler appeared to stumble before blocking the defender around the midsection of his body. The defender was blindsided, in that he didn't see Cutler, but the hit was directly in the front of the defender. Here's the portion of the rule that applies:

(12-2-10, page 84) ... nor may he contact an opponent below the waist if the blocker is moving toward the position where the ball was snapped from, and the contact occurs within an area five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage.

and

Note 2: If runner (passer) scrambles on the play, significantly changing the original direction (broken play), the crackback block is legal.

Now, this wasn't a broken play, but it was a reverse -- which significantly changes the direction of the play. The main key to this call, though, was whether or not Cutler made contact with the defender below the waist or not. It doesn't matter that he meant to hit the defender high and the fact that he lost his footing took him lower on the defender's body. The only thing that really matters on judging this call is where he made contact with the defender. It was definitely close. What do you think? If you saw the play, vote in the poll and feel free to leave comments.

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: Another Texan Controversy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>zebra reportZebraReportMatt SnyderWed, 30 Sep 2009 10:15:00 EST Coach Killer, Week 3: Olindo Marehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/coach-killer-week-3-olindo-mare/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/coach-killer-week-3-olindo-mare/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/coach-killer-week-3-olindo-mare/#commentsFiled under:

Every week, NFL FanHouse hits the lowlights from Sunday's action, looking at those players who did the most to move their head coaches that much closer to returning to the Bed and Breakfast business.

Football is very often a game in which the 21 men not carrying the ball all do significant work in determining what happens on the given play. Field goals and extra points are usually the exception. While, yes, there is the occasional bad snap or missed block that throws everything into oblivion, most of the time kicking is like clockwork -- the ball is safely pinned to the ground by the holder, and everybody becomes irrelevant except for one guy. The kicker.

I think it's pretty stupid, personally.

I'm not the only one who thinks that kickers shouldn't factor into scoring in the NFL, and following Sunday my crowd was probably one bigger, at least temporarily.

"There's no excuses for those. If you're a kicker in the National Football League, you should make those kicks. Bottom line. End of story. Period. No excuses. No wind. Doesn't matter.

"You've got to make those kicks, especially in a game like this when you're kicking and scratching and fighting and playing your tail off and you miss those kicks? Not acceptable. Not acceptable. Absolutely not acceptable."

Those are the words of Jim Mora after watching Olindo Mare miss out on six points thanks to botched field goals from 43 and 34 yards. The margin of victory in the eventual Bears win over the Seahawks? Six points.

He later backed off those comments, saying "I let the emotion of the game get to me in my answers about Olindo," and that "I have very high, high expectations for Olindo, and it's because of the work that he has done in this league. He has been an outstanding kicker."

Really? Outstanding? A kicker who, last year's inexplicable exception aside, hasn't booted better than 85 percent since 2001-02?

If you're an NFL fan, I shouldn't have to explain to you how egregious of a performance that is, even if Mare did make four other kicks in that game, including one from 46. You would think that would earn him some leeway, but it doesn't. Whether it's fair or not, you have to be damn near perfect as an NFL kicker. Everyone is already resentful that they have to see you trot onto the field for a number of plays a game. You're not just kicking for points, you're kicking to justify your very existence.

Mare didn't justify his very well.

Such is the life of the NFL kicker. You make some and you miss some. Oftentimes the game comes down to you, whether literally (a last-second chance) or in the points you leave on the field throughout the game (like the six Mare abandoned). Hey, Mare didn't make the rules, he just goes out there and does his job (or tries and fails).

Maybe he's not the coach killer. Maybe the real killer is the system which dictates that job exists in the first place.

Coach Killer, Week 3: Olindo Mare originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>jim moraolindo mareTom MantzouranisWed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST Jim Mora Not Thrilled With Olindo Marehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/28/jim-mora-not-thrilled-with-olindo-mare/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/28/jim-mora-not-thrilled-with-olindo-mare/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/28/jim-mora-not-thrilled-with-olindo-mare/#commentsFiled under:

Olindo MareOlindo Mare has made over 80 percent of his field-goal attempts during a long 14-year NFL career. So let's just say that Sunday was not his finest effort.

It's rare that a coach will single out a player after a loss -- and even rarer that he'll more or less blame an entire defeat on the efforts of one guy, but that's what Seattle coach Jim Mora did to Mare after the Seahawks kicker missed two of six field-goal attempts in a 25-19 loss to Chicago.

"There' s no excuses for those," Mora said in his post-game press conference of Mare's misses. "If you're a kicker in the National Football League, you should make those kicks. Bottom line. End of story. Period. No excuses. No wind. Doesn't matter."

Now, coach, to be fair, you did have to settle for six field-goal tries ...

"You've got to make those kicks," Mora said, "especially in a game like this when you're kicking and scratching and fighting and playing your tail off and you miss those kicks? Not acceptable. Not acceptable. Absolutely not acceptable."

OK, but how about those two turnovers and the defense letting Jay Cutler do whatever he wanted in the second half? Surely, this was a team loss ...

"We're not going to fight our asses off and have the field goal kicker go out there and miss two field goals and lose the game. It's not going to happen," Mora added.

Wow.

For the record, Mare's hooks came from 43 yards just before halftime, and 34 yards with Seattle down 14-13 in the third quarter. He did hit on four tries, providing the last 12 Seahawks points after an early touchdown. But Mora won't soon forget the pair of shanks -- especially since Seattle wound up losing by the six points Mare booted away.

Mora went so far as to say that Seattle will "look at changes everywhere" when asked about Mare's status, perhaps indicating that the Seahawks will bring back Brandon Coutu, the rookie out of Georgia that they cut after camp.

Mare, regardless of how unfair the criticism hurled his way was, took his medicine: "Just bad kicks," Mare said, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "Just two terrible kicks. It kind of cost us the game, put the team in a bad spot and put the [pressure] on Seneca [Wallace, Seattle's quarterback] at the end to score a touchdown.

"All the guys in here worked so hard all week, to let it come down to one guy, I screwed it up for everybody. It's a tough pill to swallow, but I'll be back."

He might, but there's a good chance it won't be in Seattle. Mora will probably make sure of that.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=700410&pid=700409&uts=1254137294
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Seattle Seahawks Photos
Seattle Seahawks' Nate Burleson strips an interception out of the hands of Chicago Bears' Zackary Bowman at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2009. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/MCT)
MCT
Seattle Times

Seattle Seahawks Photos

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 27: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears celebrates their victory against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on September 27, 2009 in Seattle, Washington. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 26-19. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Devin Hester

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 27: Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears celebrates his interception against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on September 27, 2009 in Seattle, Washington. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 26-19. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lance Briggs

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 27: Deion Branch #83 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before their game against the Chicago Bears at Qwest Field on September 27, 2009 in Seattle, Washington. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 26-19. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Deion Branch

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 27: Seneca Wallace #15 of the Seattle Seahawks passes the ball as Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears dives to stop him at Qwest Field on September 27, 2009 in Seattle, Washington. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 26-19. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Seneca Wallace;Lance Briggs

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 27: Running back Julius Jones #22 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears on September 27, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 25-19. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Julius Jones

    Getty Images

    Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox hits the pylon for a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter against Seattle Seahawks' Kelly Jennings at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2009. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/MCT)

    MCT

    Seattle Seahawks Julius Jones breaks free of Chicago Bears' Charles Tillman a touchdown in the first quarter at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2009. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/MCT)

    MCT

    Seattle Seahawks' Nate Burleson strips an interception out of the hands of Chicago Bears' Zackary Bowman at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2009. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/MCT)

    MCT

    Seattle Seahawks Olindo Mare (10) made his final field goal try in the second half against the Chicago Bears at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2009. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/MCT)

    MCT

    Chicago Bears' Devin Hester ran untouched into the end zone for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 27, 2009. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/MCT)

    MCT

Jim Mora Not Thrilled With Olindo Mare originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Jim MoraOlindo MareChris BurkeMon, 28 Sep 2009 01:25:00 EST Comeback Cutler? Bears Win Late Againhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/comeback-cutler-bears-win-late-again/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/comeback-cutler-bears-win-late-again/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/comeback-cutler-bears-win-late-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jay CutlerSince arriving in Chicago, Jay Cutler's been fighting the stigma that he's more of a stat-monger than a winner. The only way to change the feelings of the general public is to go out and win tough games. Anyone can look good during a blowout of an inferior opponent.

For the second consecutive week, Cutler has won close games in come-from-behind fashion. Last week, he led the Bears on a 72-yard, game-tying touchdown drive and then a 41-yard game-winning field goal drive against the Steelers. Sunday afternoon, Cutler brought the Bears back from an early 13-0 deficit to lead 17-13. The Bears lost the lead, but that was of no consequence, as Cutler again led them on a game-winning drive.
More Coverage: Check Box Score

With 5:03 left in the game, the Bears had the ball on their own 29 yard-line and trailed the Seahawks by two points, 19-17.

It only took the Bears six plays to move the ball 71 yards for a touchdown. Cutler found Matt Forte and Earl Bennett for short gains, respectively. The Bears also mixed in a few running plays. Then, Cutler hit Devin Hester on a quick slant and the "Windy City Flyer" did the rest of the work. Cutler's pass was actually a bit high, but Hester pulled it in, evaded two potential tacklers before simply outrunning everyone else on the field. Following the 36-yard touchdown strike, the Bears went for two, and Cutler found a wide-open Bennett in the corner of the end-zone.

Seattle moved the ball a bit before being stopped on downs with 26 seconds left on the clock, a play that obviously clinched the Bears' victory.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=732018&pid=732017&uts=1254160723
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Worst Uniforms in Sports History
The Seahawks were a sight for sore eyes with their neon green look in Sunday's 25-19 loss to the Bears. But Seattle isn't the only major sports team to have made a questionable jersey choice. Click through to see some of the worst offenders in sports history.
Tom Hauck, Getty Images
Tom Hauck, Getty Images

Worst Uniforms in Sports

    The Seahawks were a sight for sore eyes with their neon green look in Sunday's 25-19 loss to the Bears. But Seattle isn't the only major sports team to have made a questionable jersey choice. Click through to see some of the worst offenders in sports history.

    Tom Hauck, Getty Images

    Montreal Canadiens (2001): These outfits would not seem out of place if all the players had just finished piling out of the same Zamboni. However, the Canadiens are serious about their hockey. Fashion? Apparently, not so much.

    Andre Ringuette, Getty Images

    Red Sox (2007): Maybe flexing championship muscle after a well-chronicled drought gave the Boys from Beantown the courage to finally take a fashion risk.

    Elise Amendola, AP

    Cincinnati Bengals (2005): You know how some uniforms are so hideous that they kind of grow on you? The Bengals continue to push the envelope in an attempt to reach that level of acceptance.

    Andy Lyons, Getty Images

    Pittsburgh Pirates (1979): With a tip of the pillbox cap to days gone by, the Pirates rocked these uniforms in combinations that included black and gold, all gold or all black.

    Focus on Sport / Getty Images

    Toronto Raptors (1997): The perfect attire for eating cereal on Saturday morning does not necessarily translate into a uniform that a professional ballplayer would take pride in wearing.

    Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

    N.Y. Islanders (1997): The wave of colors is enough to leave the heartiest of seafarers a bit unsettled.

    Ian Tomlinson, Getty Images

    Tampa Bay Rays (1998): The new team on the block tries a little neon effect to announce its arrival.

    Al Bello, Getty Images

    Houston Rockets (2001): Pinstripes work on the baseball diamond, but look out of place on the hardwood.

    Rocky Widner, NBAE / Getty Images

    Washington Bullets (1975): There's patriotic and then there's this.

    Focus on Sport, Getty Images


Things weren't all peachy for Chicago, though. The Bears still failed to get Forte on track in the running game, gaining just 66 yards on 21 carries. Cutler turned the ball over twice -- one pick, one lost fumble. The defense had a dreadful display of tackling on Julius Jones' first quarter touchdown and the team as a whole really appeared out of sync during the entire first quarter.

Much of the offensive woes are a direct result of poor offensive line play. Forte did well once he got into space (he had 40 yards receiving on six catches and made a few nice runs to the outside), but was bottled up nearly every time the Bears attempted to run up the middle.

Additionally, both of Cutler's turnovers were due to his being hit while in the passing pocket, not because of forcing throws where they shouldn't be -- like he did several times in Week 1 at Green Bay. He does need to keep a better grip on the ball, as he fumbled three times when hit from the blind-side. Fortunately for the Bears, only one was recovered by Seattle.

More From NFL FanHouse
Moore: Vick's Positive Change
Mariotti: More Bark Than Bite?
Whitley: Bucs Are Just Awful
Favre, Vikings Pull Off Miracle
Lions Finally Win One
Brady Quinn Benched
Albert Haynesworth Injured
Overall, though, he was sharp, hitting on 21 of 27 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. The ball was spread around well to his receivers, as Bennett had four catches, Hester five, Johnny Knox one (for a touchdown) and Greg Olsen caught five -- including a touchdown.

For Seattle, that was a tough game to lose. They were playing without starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, but they were just a play or two from winning the game without him. Other than a terrible interception to Lance Briggs in the third quarter, Seneca Wallace fared admirably in Hasselbeck's absence. Jones ran well, racking up 136 yards from scrimmage. The defense did a nice job of pressuring Cutler and preventing the run -- which killed them last week when Frank Gore ran for over 200 yards. Of note, the Seahawks got an impressive showing from rookie Aaron Curry, as he accrued a sack and was the player who forced Cutler's lost fumble.

Finally, this is the second straight week the Bears' opponent has seen their kicker miss two field goals. Olindo Mare made four field goals, but missed two. And his team lost by six. Ouch.

The Bears will head home to face the Lions -- who now know how to win a game -- next week before their bye.

The Seahawks will travel to Indianapolis for a 10:00 Pacific time game next week, which should prove a really tough test.

Comeback Cutler? Bears Win Late Again originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>aaron curryAaronCurrydevin hesterDevinHesterearl bennettEarlBennettgreg olsenGregOlsenjay cutlerJayCutlerjohnny knoxJohnnyKnoxjulius jonesJuliusJoneslance briggsLanceBriggsmatt fortematt hasselbeckMattForteMattHasselbeckolindo mareOlindoMareseneca wallaceSenecaWallaceMatt SnyderSun, 27 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST Seahawks Busting Out Green Jerseyshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/26/seahawks-busting-out-green-jerseys/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/26/seahawks-busting-out-green-jerseys/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/26/seahawks-busting-out-green-jerseys/#commentsFiled under:

Seahawks GreenThe Seahawks will sport their alternate neon green jerseys Sunday when the Bears visit Seattle, if quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's Twitter account is accurate.

(Update, Sept. 27: Seattle did indeed go with the green jerseys. Visual proof on the right.)

Saturday afternoon, Hasselbeck tweeted, "@Nate81Burleson& Co. "Going Green" tomorrow ..." -- which turned out to be true, though I'm not entirely sure what shade of green that actually is. Neon doesn't really begin to describe it.


Alternate jerseys have become all the rage in the last few years -- spurred on by Oregon's Nike-sponsored mish-mashed uniforms that changes every week. There are good alternates and bad alternates, though. And this one falls into the latter category.

Hasselbeck sat out for Sunday's game with a back injury, meaning he chilled on the sidelines in normal clothes -- as opposed to looking like he's been doused in liquid Kryptonite.

Aaron CurryFor comparison's sake, take a look at Seattle's normal home jersey ...

Simple. Sleek. Familiar. Not glow-in-the-dark. Those are all positives.

Oddly enough, the Seahawks alternate duds look a bit similar to the jerseys that the UFL's California Redwoods will sport -- a neon green front with white in the back and white pants.

One difference there, though: It's the UFL. People expect a little bit of wackiness from those fringe leagues.

Oh well. Enjoy your new look, Seattle fans.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=528953&pid=528952&uts=1254003196
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Strange Uniforms
Montreal Canadiens (2001): These outfits would not seem out of place if all the players had just finished piling out of the same Zamboni. However, the Canadiens are serious about their hockey. Fashion? Apparently, not so much.
Andre Ringuette, Getty Images
Andre Ringuette, Getty Images

Strange Uniforms

    Montreal Canadiens (2001): These outfits would not seem out of place if all the players had just finished piling out of the same Zamboni. However, the Canadiens are serious about their hockey. Fashion? Apparently, not so much.

    Andre Ringuette, Getty Images

    Red Sox (2007): Maybe flexing championship muscle after a well-chronicled drought gave the Boys from Beantown the courage to finally take a fashion risk.

    Elise Amendola, AP

    Cincinnati Bengals (2005): You know how some uniforms are so hideous that they kind of grow on you? The Bengals continue to push the envelope in an attempt to reach that level of acceptance.

    Andy Lyons, Getty Images

    Pittsburgh Pirates (1979): With a tip of the pillbox cap to days gone by, the Pirates rocked these uniforms in combinations that included black and gold, all gold or all black.

    Focus on Sport / Getty Images

    Toronto Raptors (1997): The perfect attire for eating cereal on Saturday morning does not necessarily translate into a uniform that a professional ballplayer would take pride in wearing.

    Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

    N.Y. Islanders (1997): The wave of colors is enough to leave the heartiest of seafarers a bit unsettled.

    Ian Tomlinson, Getty Images

    Tampa Bay Rays (1998): The new team on the block tries a little neon effect to announce its arrival.

    Al Bello, Getty Images

    Houston Rockets (2001): Pinstripes work on the baseball diamond, but look out of place on the hardwood.

    Rocky Widner, NBAE / Getty Images

    Washington Bullets (1975): There's patriotic and then there's this.

    Focus on Sport, Getty Images

    Philadelphia Flyers (1982): Somebody thought that long pants would only enhance this distinguished jersey.

    Bruce Bennett Studios / Getty Images

Seahawks Busting Out Green Jerseys originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Seahawks green jerseySeahawks green uniformChris BurkeSat, 26 Sep 2009 18:10:00 EST Matt Hasselbeck Describes Rib Injury: 'I Couldn't Breathe'http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/matt-hasselbeck-describes-rib-injury-i-couldnt-breathe/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/matt-hasselbeck-describes-rib-injury-i-couldnt-breathe/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/matt-hasselbeck-describes-rib-injury-i-couldnt-breathe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Matt Hasselbeck hurtSeattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck didn't know what exactly was wrong with him after the Niners Patrick Willis delivered a blow to his back Sunday, he just knew that it hurt.

"I couldn't breathe," Hasselbeck told reporters Monday. "I knew immediately that I couldn't breathe."

Hasselbeck suffered the injury as he dove for the goal line in the second quarter. He started to walk to the sidelines after the hit, then crumpled to the ground in pain. Backup QB Seneca Wallace through a touchdown pass to Julius Jones on the next play -- San Francisco won the game, 23-10.

Hasselbeck was taken via ambulance to the hospital after leaving the field. During his press conference Monday, Seattle coach Jim Mora confirmed that Hasselbeck suffered a fractured rib. His status for next Sunday, when Seattle hosts Chicago, is up in the air.

"I'm absolutely hoping to play," Hasselbeck said. "I've definitely felt worse. What I have is a painful injury, but I've definitely woken up on a Monday feeling worse," he said. "That's very encouraging."

"He's a tough guy," Mora said. "We'll see where he's at Sunday."

The report of a rib fracture probably came as welcome news for both Hasselbeck and the Seahawks. Hasselbeck missed the last nine games of the 2008 season with a disc injury in his back, and Willis' shot -- which you can check out below -- appeared to land flush in a similar area.

Should Hasselbeck be unable to go Sunday, Wallace would get the start.

Matt Hasselbeck Describes Rib Injury: 'I Couldn't Breathe' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Matt Hasselbeckpatrick willisSeneca WallaceChris BurkeMon, 21 Sep 2009 19:50:00 EST Matt Hasselbeck Exits After Big Hithttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/hasselbeck-hit-hard-by-49ers-willis/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/hasselbeck-hit-hard-by-49ers-willis/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/hasselbeck-hit-hard-by-49ers-willis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Matt Hasselbeck
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was taken to the locker room after going down for several minutes following a hard hit late in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers.

Hasselbeck was hurt with 26 seconds left before halftime Sunday when linebacker Patrick Willis stuck him in the back as the QB was trying to dive for the end zone and was stopped at the 1-yard line. Hasselbeck got up and was wobbly as he made his way to the sideline, where he fell to his knees and was quickly swarmed by Seattle coaches and trainers.

Backup Seneca Wallace came in on the next play and threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Julius Jones to pull Seattle within 13-10.

After the game, Seattle coach Jim Mora said that Hasselbeck was "doing much better," and that the Seahawks QB was diagnosed with bruised ribs after X-rays were negative for broken bones

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.

Matt Hasselbeck Exits After Big Hit originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>matt hasselbeckFanHouse NewswireSun, 20 Sep 2009 17:53:00 EST Seattle's Leroy Hill Out Until Novemberhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/16/leroy-hill-out-until-november/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/16/leroy-hill-out-until-november/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/16/leroy-hill-out-until-november/#commentsFiled under: ,

Leroy HillRENTON, Wash. (AP) -- Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill is out until at least November.

Coach Jim Mora said Wednesday that further tests on Hill's groin showed more extensive damage than first believed, including a partially torn muscle. Hill may need surgery.

Mora says Hill will be out at least until Seattle plays at Dallas on Nov. 1 following the bye week.

Seattle signed Hill to a six-year contract worth a guaranteed $15.5 million in the spring. The deal could be worth $38 million.

Will Herring, usually a special-teamer, will make his second career start at outside linebacker Sunday at San Francisco. This week Seattle re-signed recently waived veteran D.D. Lewis to add depth to the position.

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.

Seattle's Leroy Hill Out Until November originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Leroy HillWill HerringFanHouse NewswireWed, 16 Sep 2009 15:20:00 EST Seattle Seahawks 2009 Preview: No Changing What's in the Pasthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/09/seattle-seahawks-2009-preview-no-changing-whats-in-the-past/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/09/seattle-seahawks-2009-preview-no-changing-whats-in-the-past/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/09/seattle-seahawks-2009-preview-no-changing-whats-in-the-past/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Matt HasselbeckTraining camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

It's a new era in Seattle -- and the Seahawks need an old star to lead them through it. Gone into retirement is former head coach Mike Holmgren after a mostly-enjoyable decade-long run with the franchise. How Seattle adjusts in its new, Jim Mora-led world will rely heavily on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's performance. It's not unfathomable to think that Seattle could sneak up and steal the NFC West away from Super Bowl runner-up Arizona. But a daunting schedule and some major question marks on defense will make the Seahawks earn it.

Offense: The success of the Seahawks' offense begins and ends with the status of Matt Hasselbeck's back. He wasn't healthy last year, struggled, then was shut down for the last nine games of the season, and the team had major issues. If he's in good shape, this unit has a chance to be pretty decent -- if not, Seneca Wallace isn't capable of doing more than he did last year, which wasn't enough. Julius Jones has been a disappointment at running back, but the addition of Edgerrin James should provide a boost in the backfield. They'll run behind fullback Owen Schmitt, an old-school, hard-nosed fullback, and Justin Griffith is also in the mix. Adding T.J. Houshmandzadeh provided a substantial upgrade to the receivers -- combined with Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and rookie Deon Butler, that group could be tough to deal with. Tight end John Carlson has also developed into an important weapon. The offensive line underperformed in 2008, and the loss of Walter Jones to injury in the preseason is a gigantic blow. Rookie Max Unger could wind up seeing heavy minutes, but the front still isn't going to blow anyone away. Heat Index: 7

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=700410&pid=700409&uts=1252512013
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Seattle Seahawks Photos
SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Linebacker Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after tackling running back Michael Bush #29 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Getty Images North America

Seattle Seahawks Photos

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Linebacker Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks battles tackle Cornell Green #74 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Linebacker Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after tackling running back Michael Bush #29 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Devin Moore #30 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against Sam Williams #54 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Williams;Devin Moore

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Wide receiver Jordan Kent #82 of the Seattle Seahawks leaves the field after being injured against the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jordan Kent

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines against the Seattle Seahawks on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Cable

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Tom Cable (L) of the Oakland Raiders meets with head coach Jim Mora of the Seattle Seahawks after the game on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Mora;Tom Cable

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Jim Mora of the Seattle Seahawks looks on from the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Mora

    Getty Images

    SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Charlie Frye #3 of the Oakland Raiders passes as he is hit by Michael Bennett #96 of the Seattle Seahawks on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Bennett;Charlie Frye

    Getty Images

    Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry hits Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (5) during the second quarter Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in an NFL preseason football game in Seattle. The Seahawks won 31-24. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

    AP

    Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, left, greets Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable after an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Raiders 31-21. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

    AP


Defense: Not many teams can trade away a five-time Pro Bowler and be fine, as Seattle did with linebacker Julian Peterson, but the Seahawks still boast one of the league's top LB groups, assuming Aaron Curry is all he's been built up to be. With Curry, Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, Seattle is stout in the middle. The problems for Seattle comes from the surrounding parts. The defensive line has some potential, assuming Patrick Kearney stays healthy at right end, and newcomer Cory Redding continues to develop on the left. The interior of Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole have to hold up and get major pressure on the QB -- because Seattle's secondary is a mess. The Seahawks gave up more yards than any team in the league in 2008, and there's not much hope for major improvement. Their best secondary player, cornerback Marcus Trufant, has landed on the PUP list, meaning he can't play before Week 7. That slides overmatched Josh WIlson into the starting lineup, opposite Ken Lucas. Deon Grant and Jordan Babineaux have their work cut out at safety. Heat Index: 6

Special Teams: Butler, a speedster out of Penn State, could provide a jolt to this unit. Between him and Justin Forsett, the Seahawks should be able to generate some field position on returns. Olindo Mare is back after a steady 2008, while punter Jon Ryan also returns. Neither Mare nor Ryan were incredible -- Ryan had an inexcuseable 12 touchbacks -- but both are reliable. Head Index: 5

Coaching: Seattle groomed Mora for this job as Holmgren's replacement early, naming him the head-coach-in-waiting midway through the 2008 season. Will that early decision pay off, though? Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and defensive coordinator Casey Bradley are each in their first season with Seattle as well -- it's a lot of turnover for a team coming off a rocky 4-12 season. It's not hard to wonder if the franchise would have been better off completely wiping the slate clean, though, and sending Mora out with Holmgren. Heat Index: 4

Intangibles: It's going to be an interesting year in Seattle -- partly because the NFC West appears to be up for grabs, despite Arizona; and partly because the team's trying to recover from that miserable 2008 minus their guiding hand in Holmgren. Hasselbeck should be motivated to show he's healthy and that he can win without Holmgren, and since he's Seattle's leader, that's a good start. Heat Index: 7

Total Heat Index: 29/50 -- Depending on what you think of Arizona, Seattle could be right in the NFC West mix come November and December. Any success the Seahawks have, though, will rely on Hasselbeck's ability to bounce back from 2008, and the secondary's efforts to avoid getting torched on a routine basis. If Seattle can somehow be 3-3 or 4-2, then get Trufant back after their Week 7 bye, it could be an exciting chase down the stretch.

Seattle Seahawks 2009 Preview: No Changing What's in the Past originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chris BurkeWed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST Seattle, Denver Each Add Veteran Defensive Pieceshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/seattle-denver-each-add-veteran-defensive-pieces/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/seattle-denver-each-add-veteran-defensive-pieces/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/05/seattle-denver-each-add-veteran-defensive-pieces/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lawyer MilloyEven though Saturday was NFL cut-down day, it didn't stop the Seahawks and Broncos from picking a couple big names off the free-agent market. Seattle signed 13-year veteran safety Lawyer Milloy, while Denver came to terms with defensive end Vonnie Holliday.

Terms of Milloy's deal were not immediately released, but Seattle released starting free safety Brian Russell -- a major disappointment after getting a big five-year deal in 2007 -- to make room on their roster. Milloy, 35, will need some time to get assimilated in Seattle, but he'll jump into the starting lineup once he does.

Despite his age, Milloy has been incredibly durable in his NFL career, starting every game he's played since 1997 and sitting out just five contests in that time.

Over in Denver, the Broncos found themselves shorthanded up front after Le Kevin Smith -- an addition via trade from New England this offseason -- suffered a knee injury. Holliday started 15 games, and played all 16, in Miami last season where he's been for the last four seasons.

Getty ImagesHe underwent an extended search for a new home this summer, though. Holliday did have 3 1/2 sacks last season -- and seven just three years ago -- and his Denver could slide him anywhere on the line.

"He's versatile so he can play wherever the team decides to play him," Holliday's agent, Cary Fabrikant, told the Denver Post. "He's an extremely talented player who's been a starter for long periods of time. He's familiar with the defense."

Both players are upgrades for their respective teams, even if they start out a bit down the depth chart. It's a little surprising, to be honest, that Milloy and Holliday sat around for this long. Detroit did make a run at Milloy a couple of weeks ago, but that feel through. But the Lions' loss is the Seahawks' gain -- and Denver definitely took advantage of everyone's hesitation on Holliday.

Seattle, Denver Each Add Veteran Defensive Pieces originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Lawyer MilloyLe Kevin SmithVonnie HollidayChris BurkeSat, 05 Sep 2009 18:40:00 EST What to Watch for in Saturday's Games That Don't Counthttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/29/what-to-watch-for-in-saturdays-games-that-dont-count/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/29/what-to-watch-for-in-saturdays-games-that-dont-count/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/29/what-to-watch-for-in-saturdays-games-that-dont-count/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


There's a full boat of NFL preseason games throughout the day Saturday. The games run the gamut for drama, with guys fighting for roster spots, starting quarterback positions, and for the right to clang footballs off a large scoreboard.

Since there are nine games on the docket, we'll hit the key storylines that fans will want to keep an eye on throughout the day.

Indianapolis at Detroit, 1:00 PM Eastern

Detroit

Even though head coach Jim Schwartz says we shouldn't read anything into veteran Daunte Culpepper getting the start, it's hard not to. Reality is that Culpepper has outplayed Stafford in the Lions' first two preseason games, and there's little reason -- besides his huge contract -- to think at this point that Stafford should start the opener in New Orleans.

According to Schwartz, Culpepper and Stafford will both see time with the first-team offense on Saturday. If that's the case, and the Colts are using their first-team defense throughout the experiment, it will be the fairest gauge of this quarterback race.

While Schwartz has said he doesn't have a firm deadline on naming a starter, one has to assume that we'll start getting some concrete answers after Saturday's game.

Both should get a chance to throw to star receiver Calvin Johnson, who makes his preseason debut against the Colts.

New Orleans at Oakland, 4:00 PM

Oakland

FistGate sure has gotten a lot of the publicity from Raiders training camp, and rightfully so. One thing that's done is take attention away from a compelling race at running back.

Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden, and Michael Bush are all capable backs. There's an argument that can be made that this race would be getting a lot more attention if it were playing out in a place like Dallas. Instead, these guys play for the Raiders, a team that hasn't been successful in a long time, and usually makes more headlines off the field than on it.

All three have a history of injuries, so head coach Tom Cable has to be very careful to keep all three fresh, in case one is needed to be the feature back for a time.

McFadden is the best talent of the three, but Fargas has been the steadiest at the NFL level. All three should get time with the first-team offense Saturday afternoon, but there's no reason to think Cable is going to turn around and pick a starter so soon.

Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7:30 PM

Buffalo

This may actually be an important night for the Bills. Their new no-huddle scheme was smothered last week in Green Bay, goaded into three turnovers in four possessions. The Bills trailed 24-0 at halftime before staging a futile, backup-laden second-half rally in a 31-21 loss.

Like Green Bay, Pittsburgh runs a 3-4 defense, so the Bills face the same challenges this week, only the Steelers are much more refined in their scheme.

No, these games don't count, but the Bills sure could use an infusion of confidence as they prepare for a huge test in Week 1 against the Patriots.

Tennessee at Cleveland, 7:30 PM

Cleveland

Like the Lions, Cleveland is still trying to pick a starting quarterback. While it appears that the race between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson is a dead heat, there will be an end, and it could be Saturday.

The Browns expect to use both quarterback with first-team personnel, and while head coach Eric Mangini hasn't said he will name a starter anytime soon, this appears to be the last good chance to for him to make up his mind.

Quinn and Anderson have looked good at times, but both have turned the ball over while trying to run the hurry-up offense. Anderson's ghastly outing in Green Bay (two passes thrown, both intercepted) would seem to disqualify him. But he rebounded against Detroit, and Quinn hasn't done enough to win a job that Anderson looked to be handing over.

San Francisco at Dallas, 8:00 PM

Dallas

Who cares what is happening on the field? The Cowboys have a huge scoreboard 90 feet from the turf that is stealing all the headlines.

The new do-over rule for balls that hit that scoreboard will get its first test Saturday. Perhaps the league will reconsider the whole thing after seeing how it plays out. Either that, or maybe they'll wait until 2010 to do something else.

As for the happenings on the field, it sounds like Dallas will have to deal with 49ers starting quarterback Shaun Hill, who tweaked his back this week but should be able to go.
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Seattle at Kansas City, 8:00 PM

Kansas City

There are reports the Chiefs are looking to trade backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen. Offseason acquisition Matt Cassel has shown himself more than capable of taking over, and Thigpen worked his tail off last year trying to get this team to move the ball effectively.

The hitch is that Thigpen is still not much of a pro-style quarterback. He's much better in the shotgun, like many young quarterbacks are out of college these days. Cassel should play most -- if not all -- of the first half against the Seahawks, but Thigpen's opportunity to play will be important for him, and the Chiefs, who would like to decide if he can net something in a trade.

The Chiefs would also like to see a few more big plays from the passing game. Dwayne Bowe looks good, but it appears he is going to be a one-man show.

San Diego at Atlanta, 8:00 PM

Atlanta

No offense to St. Louis or Detroit, but this is a great test for the Falcons, none like they've had in the preseason.

The Chargers have elite personnel on both sides of the ball, even with LaDainian Tomlinson on the sideline. The Falcons should be especially tested on offense, as the Chargers' athletic 3-4 defense will be up against the Falcons hard-charging attack. The Falcons face plenty of 3-4 teams early in the season, so it's important to gain some confidence now.

On defense, the Falcons have been impressed by the play of rookie Lawrence Sidbury, a fourth-round pick. Sidbury had two sacks last week, and he is playing well enough to merit serious consideration in Atlanta's line rotation.

Baltimore at Carolina, 8:00 PM

Baltimore

It will be baptism by fire for rookie offensive tackle Michael Oher. The Ravens have a couple injuries at the position, so Oher could see a lot of playing time tonight. When he's on the field, he will almost certainly have to deal with Carolina star end Julius Peppers.

Oher was a first-round pick, and the Ravens clearly have high hopes for him. How well he plays against Carolina's active front should show the coaches where he is in his development.

Also, Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron seems frustrated with the development of his team's secondary receivers. Yes, they have Derrick Mason, but he can't be asked to do everything himself.

N.Y. Jets at N.Y. Giants, 8:00 PM

Both teams

The big story at the Meadowlands is weather. What's left of Tropical Storm Danny is passing by, and rain -- some of it heavy -- is likely. Winds aren't expected to be a major issue by kickoff, but if they are, it impacts both teams' plans.

The Jets want to see more from rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was named the starter this week. Heavy rain and/or wind could make that difficult.

Meanwhile, the Giants are looking to see what they have at wide receiver. The team struggled at that position after Plaxico Burress was suspended late last season.

Bad weather could turn this into a showcase for guys like Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Brandon Jacobs, and Ahmad Bradshaw.

FanHouse's Josh Alper and Knox Bardeen contributed to this report.

What to Watch for in Saturday's Games That Don't Count originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>ahmad bradshawbrady quinnbrandon jacobscalvin johnsondarren mcfaddendaunte culpepperderek andersonderrick masondwayne bowejim schwartzjulius peppersjustin fargasladainian tomlinsonlawrence sidburyleon washingtonmark sanchezmatt casselmatthew staffordmichael bushmichael ohershaun hillthomas jonestom cabletyler thigpenBruce CiskieSat, 29 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST Edge to the Rescue in Seattlehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/24/edge-to-the-rescue-in-seattle/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/24/edge-to-the-rescue-in-seattle/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/24/edge-to-the-rescue-in-seattle/#commentsFiled under: ,

Edgerrin JamesPoint No. 8,450,931 under the heading "Why Preseason Results Are Meaningless" takes us to Seattle. After two games, the Seahawks are 2-0 with wins over Denver and San Diego. But it's hard to get excited over that record given that the Seahawks' running game was about as effective as taking a knee.

In their first game, the Hawks' leading rusher was rookie Devin Moore with 32 yards on eight carries. Last week, quarterback Seneca Wallace led the way with 20 yards -- three other backs averaged less than 2.5 yards per rush. On top of that, projected starter Julius Jones missed the contest with a mysterious leg injury.

So with desperation close to setting in, Seattle reportedly signed veteran Edgerrin James to a one-year deal on Monday. Pro Football Talk first reported the deal.

Here's an appropriate time for the usual disclaimers you'll hear about James these days -- he's 31, already played 10 full seasons and has definitely lost a step.

He's also still arguably as good or better than any of Seattle's other backs.

The Seahawks had high hopes for Jones after bringing him in from Dallas last year, but then he put up a whopping 698 yards as their No. 1 guy and scored just twice. The James signing might hint that Jones is currently more hurt than Seattle's letting on, but even if he's not, it's debatable that the Seahawks could count on him to carry the load. Behind him is T.J. Duckett, a fantasy headache last year with eight touchdowns and just 172 total rushing yards -- he becomes a possible cut now with James in tow. At third-string is Justin Forsett, an athletic guy that has never had a carry in the NFL.

There's not exactly a Walter Payton in there.

So even though Edge isn't a big-play threat (though he never really was -- his longest career rush is 43 yards), this move, while surprising, could be a good one. Or at least an understandable one.

James won't be able to handle 30 carries a night, but he doesn't have to in Seattle. He can split carries with Jones and whoever else remains when the regular season starts, plus add sturdy blocking and a decent set of hands to the backfield. Sort of exactly what he did during a strong postseason with the Cardinals last season, while sharing time with Tim Hightower.

Beyond that, he's been on a lot of winning teams, a resume-booster that the Seahawks no doubt noticed. Oh yeah, and he gets two chances this season to stick it to Arizona for phasing him out.

Edge won't turn Seattle's rushing attack into the best in the league. He will improve it, though, even if that accomplishment doesn't seem like much at the moment.
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Edge to the Rescue in Seattle originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Edgerrin JamesJulius JonesJustin ForsettSeneca WallaceTim HightowerTJ DuckettChris BurkeMon, 24 Aug 2009 20:40:00 EST Kyle Orton Can Throw Interceptions Left-Handed, Toohttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/23/kyle-orton-can-throw-interceptions-left-handed-too/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/23/kyle-orton-can-throw-interceptions-left-handed-too/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/23/kyle-orton-can-throw-interceptions-left-handed-too/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Maybe new Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton thought, "I've seen Eli Manning AND Brett Favre pull this off -- it can't be that hard," right before he decided to heave a left-handed wobbler into the end zone that was predictably picked off by a Seahawks defender.

On the upside, it was his only interception of the night, a marked improvement from his three-pick performance in his Denver preseason debut last week. So maybe that'll stem the tide of "Oh my god, what has Josh McDaniels done?" sentiments from fans who have no idea what the long-term plan is for this organization. Or maybe it won't.

Either way, like it or not, Orton will almost certainly be the guy to replace Jay Cutler, and his effort against Seattle (18 for 26, 182 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) is ... well, progress.

And if Orton can cut down on throwing the ball with his off-hand, he'll reduce his interceptions by 25 percent. In theory, anyway.

Kyle Orton Can Throw Interceptions Left-Handed, Too originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Brett FavreBrettFavreEli ManningEliManningJay CutlerJayCutlerJosh McDanielsJoshMcdanielsKyle OrtonKyleOrtonRyan WilsonSun, 23 Aug 2009 15:15:00 EST Panic May Set in Soon for Seahawks if Jones, Trufant Don't Get Healthyhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/panic-may-set-in-soon-for-seahawks-if-jones-trufant-dont-get-h/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/panic-may-set-in-soon-for-seahawks-if-jones-trufant-dont-get-h/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/panic-may-set-in-soon-for-seahawks-if-jones-trufant-dont-get-h/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Walter JonesSo much of sports can be chalked up to luck -- a fortunate bounce here, an untimely injury there, and an entire season can be altered. Turns out sports journalists have to deal with fickle fate as well.

Take beat writer Danny O'Neill of The Seattle Times. When O'Neill wrote an article on Wednesday afternoon telling Seahawks fans to avoid panicking over injuries to Walter Jones and Marcus Trufant, he had no idea that Seattle head coach Jim Mora would include in his Wednesday night press conference an update on both players.

Even those Seattle fans who were managing to stay calm before might be sweating just a bit after hearing Mora's announcements.

Jones, a starting offensive tackle for the Seahawks since 1997, will have arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee Thursday. Players often come back fairly quick from that procedure if there's no major structural damage found, but Jones has microfracture on that same knee in December and is 35 years old. Neither of those facts are very encouraging for Jones' health going forward.

Trufant's ailment, a back disc problem, may actually turn out to be the more serious of the two. He's on Seattle's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and doesn't even sound close to joining practice.

Marcus TrufantMora said that Trufant won't need surgery, and he could stay on the PUP list and not eat up a roster spot -- though if he's still there for Week 1, he won't be able to come off until after Week 6.

"Because of the history that we have with backs here, we're very careful," Mora said.

That "history" includes Matt Hasslebeck's 2008 back injury, one that sounds similar to Trufant's, which cost Hasslebeck the entire second half of his season.

The panic-inducing issue for Seattle fans regarding both Jones and Trufant is that their potential fill-ins are substantial steps down. With Jones out of practice, Sean Locklear slid to the left tackle spot, with Na'Shan Goddard jumping in on the right. Locklear's steady -- he's got 53 starts in the last four years for Seattle -- but Goddard has made zero pro starts. Jones has nine Pro Bowl appearances, just for comparison's sake.

If Trufant misses extended time, Josh Wilson probably slides into the starting lineup across from Ken Lucas. Wilson had 76 tackles and four interceptions last year, but Trufant earned a six-year, $50.2 million deal in 2008 and teams more or less avoided him last season. He's a very good shutdown corner.

Feel free to panic, even if it's a little premature, Seattle fans. These are both troubling situations.

Panic May Set in Soon for Seahawks if Jones, Trufant Don't Get Healthy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Marcus TrufantWalter JonesChris BurkeWed, 19 Aug 2009 22:10:00 EST