NFL FanHouse

Spagnuolo, Rams Enter Bye With Rare Feeling During Rebuilding Season

Matt Snyder — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Coaching

Steve Spagnuolo is going through a rough season in his first as an NFL head coach. He had the unenviable task of taking over a roster which was left in disarray by the previous administration. No real effort had been done to bridge the gap from The Greatest Show on Turf to the next wave of players, with the notable exception of drafting studly running back Steven Jackson before Marshall Faulk was retired.

The results to this point have hardly been surprising. Poor Spags and his troops endured seven losses, including several blowouts, before finally earning their first victory this past Sunday against the Lions. While he's cherishing this first win, Spagnuolo realizes it's the first step of many.

"We're not going to be blinded by one game: We're 1-7″ going into the bye week, he stressed. "There are a lot of good things we've got to look at and get right. That's what we're going to try to do the better part of this week ... "

"It's great to win; don't get me wrong now. I don't take that for granted. It's hard to win in this league. Players know that, coaches know that. So when you win, you should enjoy it. But after that enjoyment's done, 12 hours or whatever you get, it's back to the job."

It's good that Spagnuolo realizes this is a long road and is keeping his eye on what is important. The Rams seem to have some semblance of positive direction on their team, unlike some of the other dreadful teams out there this season -- like the Browns, Bucs and probably even the Raiders.

They have a strong-willed, well-spoken head coach who is determined to take his time righting the ship his way. They have a superstar in Jackson. They have good building blocks on the offensive line in first round pick Jason Smith and potentially Pro Bowl-caliber free agent signee Jason Brown. Despite a slow start to the career of Chris Long, there is still promise he'll form a potent front along with veteran Leonard Little and rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis. O.J. Atogwe and James Butler are a good pair of safeties as well.

There are a few more areas with a bit of promise, but most other areas are lacking to some degree -- other than kicker and punter, which can't do much for an awful team -- which is why the Rams will find wins rare the rest of the way in 2009, just like they did in the first half of the season. The headaches will begin after the bye week when the Rams have to deal with the mighty New Orleans Saints in Week 10. In fact, it's probable the Rams don't win another game in 2009 (the best bets for a win would be against Seattle at home or at Tennessee).

That won't make the season a failure, though. They need to continue to build and that all starts through the draft. A real question will be if they draft a quarterback with their early first-round selection, but that's far from being determined at this point. For now, it's time to continue building with the players they have.

Fans need to take a page from the head coach and just watch the growth of the nucleus as they hope for a turnaround to begin in 2010 and come to fruition in 2011. Anything quicker than that is just gravy.

For 2009, savor the victories without overdoing it. It's all part of the rebuilding process. One that should have started three years before it actually did.

Spagnuolo, Rams Enter Bye With Rare Feeling During Rebuilding Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bumbling Rams Allow Unusual Safety

Chris Burke — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Lions, Rams

Sunday's St. Louis-Detroit matchup appeared destined to be one of the worst of the NFL season -- the teams entered Week 8 a combined 1-12 on the year -- and one second-quarter play summed up the ineptitude of both teams pretty well.

With Detroit facing 3rd-and-10 from the Rams 12, quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a pass over the middle that ricocheted off the hands of running back Aaron Brown and right to waiting St. Louis safety James Butler.

More: Rams Get First Win in Detroit | Week 8 NFL Scoreboard

Butler made a shoestring grab in the end zone for an interception. But rather than take a knee for a touchback, Butler attempted a return, running out of the end zone to the St. Louis 2 -- then reversing field back across the goal line, where he was tackled by Kevin Smith for a safety.

Brown's missed catch was one of at least five drops that the Lions had in the first half.

"Don't ask about that dumb play," Butler said. "I knew it wasn't going to hurt us. I just knew we were going to win because I have faith."

Moments after his mental mistake, Butler flat-out botched a second interception. Stafford overthrew a pass down the middle, hitting Butler in the numbers, but he was unable to reel it in.

The wacky safety didn't wind up doing the Rams in, though -- St. Louis scored late to grab a 17-10 win, its first of the season.

Bumbling Rams Allow Unusual Safety originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat Recap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Lions, Giants, Packers, Rams, Vikings, NFL Live Blogging

He's back, and it's stealing all of the headlines. It's going to be a highly emotional Sunday for many NFL fans, as former Detroit Lions defensive lineman James Hall makes his return to the Motor City as a member of the St. Louis Rams.

Oh, and Brett Favre is back in Green Bay. Not sure if you've heard about that one.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=8769b3a7a6" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat Recap originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles Acquire LB Will Witherspoon

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Rams

The Philadelphia Eagles have been battling depth issues at linebacker all season. Starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley was lost in training camp, and things got so bad that former Eagle Jeremiah Trotter was brought back.

Trotter was awful against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, and head coach Andy Reid apparently has seen enough. Tuesday, as the NFL's usually quiet trade deadline approached, Reid pulled off a deal to add a solid veteran to the mix.

The Eagles picked up starter Will Witherspoon from the Rams. This isn't your normal deadline deal with little impact.

Instead, Witherspoon could be a significant acquisition for the Eagles, as they aim to clean up their defense, especially in the middle of the field. Omar Gaither suffered a foot injury against the Raiders, which necessitated Trotter playing as much as he did. The team doesn't know yet how much action -- if any -- Gaither will miss.

Either way, Witherspoon's presence should take a lot of heat off Gaither.

One of Witherspoon's strengths in the past has been pass coverage. He had six interceptions and 20 passes defended in his final two seasons with the Panthers, which are both high numbers for a linebacker. He had one interception and one sack last season with the Rams, but does not have a sack or an interception this season.

The Eagles have an extra day to prepare for a Monday night game against division rival Washington. It's uncertain at this point if Witherspoon will be in the lineup.

Philadelphia sends wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a draft pick to the Rams to complete the deal.

Eagles Acquire LB Will Witherspoon originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zebra Report: A Good Ejection, Bad Reviews and Seeing the Whole Play

Matt Snyder — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Jaguars, Panthers, Rams, NFL Referees

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.

I'll agree with the defenders of Dante Wesley on one front, but just one: he hasn't made a career out of being a dirty player. Sunday, though, he was. What Wesley did, whether intentional or not, was one of the most egregious things I've ever seen done on a football field. Honestly, I didn't even think I'd have to cover it for Zebra Report, but I've seen so many absolutely appalling arguments in defense of Wesley on comment boards across the internet, that I feel I have to. It's simply mind-boggling (and, as a football fan, a bit embarrassing) that some people seriously think his hit was, or should have been, legal.

The kick-catching interference call by the officials was a no-brainer. They'll never have to make an easier call. I want to give them kudos for ejecting him. That's a total judgment call and I believe it to be the right one. I don't care if he "didn't mean to" hit Clifton Smith before the ball arrived or not. That's like saying you didn't mean to punch someone in the face. He still did it.

Anyway, on to the rules. I can't believe I have to do this, but the fact that Smith didn't call a fair catch is irrelevant. I keep seeing Wesley defenders post some derivative of "he should have called fair catch" or "the referees called fair catch infraction" Um ... he has protection anyway and no they didn't. If that's what the official said, he misspoke. The penalty is called "kick-catching interference." Here:

Rule 10-1: Article 1 During a scrimmage kick that crosses the line of scrimmage, or during a free kick, members of the kicking team are prohibited from interfering with any receiver making an attempt to catch the airborne kick, or from obstructing or hindering his path to the airborne kick, and regardless of whether any signal was given.

Item 1: Contact with Receiver. 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.

As far as the ejection, you can use these two items:

Rule 12-2-8 (it is unnecessary roughness for ... ) (e) unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who (i) is out of the play or (ii) should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead; or throwing the runner to the ground after the ball is dead;

Rule 3-6 (players can be disqualified for ... ) (b) flagrant roughing of a kicker, passer, or any other opponent (12-2-6 and 12-2-12);

I know this is technically a judgment call and I've said I won't be making these statements this year, but this play was so flagrant I feel compelled to break my own rule and say it was the correct judgment.

Finally, the worst argument in the history of arguments is the whole "this is football, not soccer" one. Punt returners have always had protection against a hit like this. Go whine about how "real men" played football back in the 1970s if you want, but you need to ask punt returners from the '70s if they were protected against hits like this: because they were. This isn't an opinion, it is a fact. Thus, if you disagree, you are wrong. There are no two ways about it. Period. Are we clear?

There, now that I've got that off my chest, we can move on.

- Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted this paragraph on the Rams-Jags game's officiating in his post-game thoughts.

* The officiating was incoherent Sunday. They got it wrong on a couple of pass interference calls against the Rams. Even when referee Jeff Triplette had a chance to review an onfield mistake - the sideline catch by Holt - he still got it wrong and didn't reverse the ruling on the field. NFL officials, for the most part, are frontrunners. (I apologize to the many good officials out there, including my friend Joe Larrew, because I know it isn't true of all officials.) They know who is good, they know who is bad, and they know who the "name" players are. It may not be something that they're even aware of outwardly, but it's always been my belief that the zebras give the benefit of the doubt to good teams and name players. Look, the Rams didn't lose the game because of the officials. But it's hard to imagine a more poorly officiated game than the one I saw Sunday.

First of all, I'm not going to dispute or reinforce his opinion about officials subconsciously favoring the better teams. I know it doesn't happen for me in high school games, but those aren't famous players. Of the two NFL officials I've met, I don't know either one well enough to say if they do this -- especially if it is subconscious -- so we'll just leave that part alone.

I will dispute his argument on the pass interference calls -- at least the one I saw. First, remember the seven principles of pass interference, which were covered in the third incident in a past Zebra Report. The first one (a) says that it is interference when contact by a player "who is not playing the ball restricts the opponent's opportunity to catch the ball." In the fourth quarter, James Laurinaitis was called for interference. He was running toward the receiver. Without turning his head back around toward the ball, he held up his hands. The receiver tried to get back to the pass and ran into Laurinaitis. Like it or not, he restricted the receiver's ability to catch the football while he wasn't playing the ball. It's a simple call. This is the only interference call I saw, so I'll apologize in advance to good ol' Bernie (whose writing I really enjoy) if he wasn't disputing this particular call.

Of course, the replay review Miklasz mentions was egregious. It was very clear for anyone who had a television set that Torry Holt's second foot was out of bounds. It wasn't a toe, either, it was half of his foot. I'm not sure if the referee, Triplette, didn't see the same replay the fans did or what. If not, this was a mistake by the replay system as a whole. This wasn't even a judgment call, in my opinion. It was an absolute fact that half of Holt's foot was out of bounds. I'm usually a defender, of sorts, of the officials, but this is unacceptable. I would hope Triplette himself would agree with me after seeing further replays.

- Speaking of botched replays, I'm not sure how the officials could change the Brandon Stokley touchdown late Monday night and still give him a touchdown (watch it on youtube by clicking here). The initial call was clearly that Stokley didn't get into the end-zone until after he was on the ground and rolled in. That much was evident because the line judge waited to throw his hands in the air until after Stokley rolled in from the ground. If the call on the field was that he caught the ball in the end-zone, we would have seen an immediate signal.

The replay clearly showed Stokley was touched by Antonio Cromartie when on the ground and not in the end-zone. If you need conclusive evidence to overturn a call, they had it there. However, the officials then awarded the touchdown on the grounds that he caught the ball when it was breaking the plane of the end-zone. It seems as though they found conclusive evidence to call it a touchdown in a different manner than the on-field call awarded one. You can't find a single angle where the ball was conclusively breaking the plane of the end-zone on the catch, at least as far as I could tell. It seems to me the only conclusive part of the replay was the touch, thus, they should have placed the ball on the half yard line. That's my judgment, though, so I guess I shouldn't say it (damn these self-imposed rules).

- In that same game, the officials got together and got a tricky enforcement correct. There was a pass interference call in favor of Brandon Marshall, but Marshall -- being the lovable, level-headed guy he is -- went ballistic because he didn't see the flag. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Since one foul was during the play and the other was after, how could the penalties offset and mean the down should be replayed? Here you go:

Rule 14-9: If there has been a foul by either team during a down and there is a dead ball foul by the other team in the action immediately after the end of the down, it is a double foul, and all rules for enforcement of double fouls apply (see 14-3-1). Exception: If the scoring team commits a dead ball foul after a score, the score counts,
and the penalty is enforced on the kickoff.

And 14-3-1: If there is a double foul (3-11-2-c) without a change of possession, the penalties are offset and the down is replayed at the previous spot. If it was a scrimmage down, the number of the next down and the necessary line is the same as for the down for which the new one is substituted.

Say what you will about judgment calls, but it's pretty amazing how the officials rarely mis-enforce tricky stuff like this. With a 136-page rule book, that's good work to go from memory out there and always get it right.

- Finally, we don't usually cover college plays, but this was submitted to me and I thought it was a good time to talk about a general guideline for officials of all levels. In order to make a call, you have to see the entire act. You cannot get into assuming things.

For example, if you are behind a player and see his head turn to the side really fast, you cannot throw a flag for facemask. It might have happened, but it may not have. You can't just assume penalties. People in the crowd, by the way, do this with alarming frequency. It's actually a running joke among officials. If you see someone sprawling out like superman and landing on his stomach, he must have gotten blocked in the back, right? But what if he just tripped? Do you want to flag the offense for a clumsy defender?

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that it appears in a college game this past weekend, an official violated this premise. Watch this play:

I think it pretty well speaks for itself. No. 96 for Arkansas got blocked and got flagged for unnecessary roughness -- basically for shedding a block. It's obvious the official who made the call didn't see the entire play. Thanks to reader Robin for the submission. A final note: the SEC did admit the call was incorrect -- not that it helps the Razorbacks in coping with the egregious call.

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: A Good Ejection, Bad Reviews and Seeing the Whole Play originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rev. Al Sharpton Threatens to Sue Rush Limbaugh Over Op-Ed Column

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Rams

Radio talk-show icon Rush Limbaugh was angered earlier this week. He felt that there were words attributed to him that he had never said. He said claims of controversial remarks about slavery were unfounded, and he felt he was unfairly dropped from a bid to buy the St. Louis Rams.

Limbaugh took to his radio show to defend himself, but he didn't stop there. On Saturday, an op-ed piece written by Limbaugh appeared in the Wall Street Journal. But in that article, Rev. Al Sharpton believes Limbaugh crossed the line.

In the op-ed, Limbaugh attacks Sharpton, who was critical of Limbaugh's involvement in the Rams bid.

In 1998 Mr. Sharpton was found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay $65,000 for falsely accusing a New York prosecutor of rape in the 1987 Tawana Brawley case. He also played a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot (he called neighborhood Jews "diamond merchants") and 1995 Freddie's Fashion Mart riot.

Sharpton quickly responded, making it clear he did not appreciate Limbaugh's words.

"I am definitely going to prove he makes reckless, unaccountable statements," Sharpton said. "Which is why he was forced out of buying an NFL team in the first place."

If Sharpton sues Limbaugh, it will be interesting to see if it gets very far. Both men have plenty of money and access to top lawyers, and it doesn't make much sense for this to drag out into a long legal battle.

Limbaugh has gained a lot of publicity over his failed attempt to help buy the Rams, and there's no question he will -- at some point -- address Sharpton's comments on his radio show.

Rev. Al Sharpton Threatens to Sue Rush Limbaugh Over Op-Ed Column originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sources: Limbaugh Out of Rams Bidding

Dan Graziano — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:12:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFL Analysis

Two NFL sources said Wednesday afternoon that the Dave Checketts-led group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams has dropped controversial radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh from its group of bidders. One of the sources said Checketts is concerned that his bid is weak to begin with, and that the presence of Limbaugh in the group would effectively kill any chance he had.

Limbaugh's emergence as a possible part-owner of an NFL franchise has caused a major controversy in recent days. Several NFL players, with the support of DeMaurice Smith and the NFL players' union, have spoken out in opposition to the idea of the right-wing Limbaugh owning a team. Colts owner Jim Irsay said he wouldn't vote to award a franchise to a group that included Limbaugh. And even commissioner Roger Goodell cited "divisive comments" made by Limbaugh as something the NFL would want to avoid adding to the ranks of its owners.

"I've said many times before, we're all held to a higher standard here," Goodell told reporters in Boston at the NFL owners meetings this week. "I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL. Absolutely not."

Limbaugh has caused controversy in the past with comments about the NFL and its players, losing a job as an ESPN analyst in part because he suggested that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb received favorable media treatment because he is black.

The Rams issue is a cloudy one, because no one seems to know for sure whether they're really for sale. And the Checketts-led bid, according to the sources, has other viability problems that have nothing to do with Limbaugh. But apparently, Checketts has decided that any chance he does have is not going to be helped as long as Limbaugh is a member of his potential ownership group.

Sources: Limbaugh Out of Rams Bidding originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharpton, Jackson Attack Limbaugh's Rams Bid

FanHouse Newswire — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:35:00 EST

Filed under: Rams

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson attacked the bid by Rush Limbaugh to buy the St. Louis Rams on Monday, saying the conservative radio host's track record on race should exclude him from owning an NFL team. Sharpton sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, arguing that Limbaugh has been divisive and "anti-NFL" in some of his comments.

Jackson said in a telephone interview that Limbaugh had made his wealth "appealing to the fears of whites" with an unending line of insults against blacks and other minorities.

"The National Football League has set high standards for racial justice and inclusion," Jackson said. "He should not have the privilege of owning an NFL franchise - and it is a privilege." The civil rights leader said he's had contact with numerous players and ex-players concerned about the bid.
Limbaugh shot back at Sharpton on his radio show.

More Coverage: Blackistone: NFL Should Punt Limbaugh's Bid

"Now, this saddens me as well this disappoints me," he said. "I know Rev. Sharpton. Sharpton is better than this. He knows better than this. You know, I didn't judge Al Sharpton's fitness to be in radio when he wanted to earn an honest living for once, given his well-documented past as the author of the Tawana Brawley hoax. I believe in freedom and I also don't discriminate."

Limbaugh said last week that he is teaming up with St. Louis Blues hockey team owner Dave Checketts in a bid to buy the Rams. He has declined to discuss details of the offer, citing a confidentiality agreement.

In 2003, Limbaugh worked briefly on ESPN's NFL pregame show. He resigned after saying Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

Transcripts posted on the radio host's Web site also say that on a January 2007 show, Limbaugh commented: "The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

Asked about Limbaugh's bid to purchase the winless Rams, McNabb said: "If he's rewarded to buy them, congratulations to him. But I won't be in St. Louis any time soon."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is aware of the concerns voiced by Sharpton and Jackson.

"It is very early in the process and no transfer of ownership of the Rams has been presented to the league for review," Aiello said.

The latest complaints came a day after executive director of the NFL Players Association, DeMaurice Smith, urged players to speak out against Limbaugh's bid.

"I have asked our players to embrace their roles not only in the game of football but also as players and partners in the business of the NFL," Smith said in a statement Sunday. "They risk everything to play this game, they understand that risk and they live with that risk and its consequences for the rest of their life.

"We also know that there is an ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up giving in or lying down to it."

Players on the 0-5 Rams, who were routed by the Minnesota Vikings 38-10 on Sunday, tried to distance themselves from the controversy.

"I'm paying attention, but I'm not even touching that one," running back Steven Jackson said. "Because if I start touching it I might go somewhere I don't want to go."

Defensive end Chris Long said he just heard Monday that Limbaugh was part of a group seeking to purchase the team. His reaction: "Oh, is that the guy on the radio?"

Reminded of Limbaugh's statements about McNabb, Long seemed to disapprove while adding he didn't care who owned the team.

"I mean, those weren't great comments at all," Long said. "But it's not my job to really comment on that."

Defensive end Leonard Little, the last remaining player from the Rams' Super Bowl championship after the 1999 season, didn't want to talk about it.

"We've got a lot more things to worry about than who's going to be our owner," he said.

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St. Louis Rams Photos

Minnesota Vikings running back Chester Taylor (29) dives for the end zone, but was pushed out of bounds just short of the line by St. Louis Rams Oshiomogho Atogwe (21) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minneapolis Star Tribune

St. Louis Rams Photos

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen returns a fumble by St. Louis Rams Kyle Boller for a touchdown in the first quarter of an NFL football game in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Jerry Holt/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) ran in for a touchdown after recovering a fumble in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) scores a touchdown in the first quarter of play against St. Louis Rams Oshiomogho Atogwe (21) in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) scores a touchdown past St. Louis Rams Paris Lenon (53) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minnesota Vikings Kevin Williams (93) was called for a personal foul after taking down St. Louis Rams quarterback Kyle Boller (12) in the third quarter of an NFL football game in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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St. Louis Rams Bradley Fletcher (32) grabs Minnesota Vikings receiver Sidney Rice (18) who caught a long pass in the third quarter of an NFL football game in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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St. Louis Rams quarterback Kyle Boller (12) attempts a pass in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minnesota Vikings Kevin Williams (93) returns a fumble by St. Louis Rams quarterback Kyle Boller (12) for a touchdown in the first quarter of an NFL football game in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin (12) dives for the end zone in the first quarter against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, October 11, 2009. Harvin was pushed out of bounds just short of the end zone. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

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Sharpton, Jackson Attack Limbaugh's Rams Bid originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Browns, Buccaneers Make Changes

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Rams

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

We're here every week, hoping to make some sense of quarterback issues facing teams in the NFL. Sometimes, it feels like we're picking on Eric Mangini and the Cleveland Browns. However, at 0-3, and with little reason to think the problems in the passing game are just going to disappear, the Browns again find themselves at the top of the heap.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

When Quinn got the hook Sunday, the hope was that the offense would start to click. Instead, things appeared to get worse. Anderson threw three picks and could only muster a field goal, as the Ravens torched Cleveland 34-3.

Despite Anderson's horrific performance, Cleveland coach Eric Mangini has named him the starter for Sunday's game against suddenly resurgent Cincinnati. The hope is that a week to prepare will allow Anderson to be more successful (wouldn't take much), and it also gives the coaches a chance to put in a gameplan that tailors itself more to Anderson's deep-ball skills than Quinn's checkdown game.

The problem with a checkdown quarterback is that you generally need elite talent elsewhere on the field for him to be successful. Cleveland lacks that kind of talent, leaving Quinn on an island when it's time to throw. In that regard, the Browns could very well be better off with the high-risk, high-reward style Anderson brings to the table.

Or maybe not.

Status update: Hot

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Johnson, Josh Freeman, and Byron Leftwich

The Browns weren't the only team to make a switch at quarterback for their next game. After an 0-3 start with Leftwich under center, one that included a performance against the Giants on Sunday that could best be described as "hopelessly inept," the Bucs have seen enough.

Leftwich is out, and Johnson starts Sunday at Washington, as the Redskins try to avoid a 1-3 disaster. It's not so much anything Leftwich did wrong. Instead, it appears Tampa coach Raheem Morris has recognized this is a lost season, so he might as well see what his youngsters have before it's too late. Might as well start with the guy he just recently labeled a "career backup."

The Buccaneers will go with first-round pick Freeman as the backup, meaning Leftwich is relegated to baseball cap/clipboard/hand signals duty for the foreseeable future.

Status update: Very warm

St. Louis Rams: Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller

The change here was made out of necessity Sunday, as Bulger was injured against the Packers. It doesn't sound like he will miss significant time, but rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo got a good look at Boller in live action.

While the results weren't great, the Rams showed some potential, scoring on three straight possessions around halftime to make things very interesting before Green Bay was able to pull away. They hardly looked explosive, nor did they remind anyone of the Saints, but the offense moved with Boller at the helm, once he figured out his receivers weren't eight feet tall.

Spagnuolo is likely to stick with a healthy Bulger, but if he's ineffective for an extended period, he has to know that Boller can step in and competently run the offense. It might not lead to an immediate change at quarterback, but it could make Bulger's leash a bit shorter.

Status update: Warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore, and A.J. Feeley

Every time Delhomme throws a killer interception, you wonder how much longer he has, especially as Feeley continues to gain knowledge of the team and the offense. It seems that Delhomme is getting close to his last chance, because coach John Fox can ill afford to keep losing games in gut-wrenching fashion.

The 0-3 Panthers appear to be sticking with the veteran Delhomme for now. Nothing will change this week, as the team has their bye week. This situation certainly is worth a close eye when Carolina hosts Washington in Week 5.

Status update: Warm

Pocket Presence: Browns, Buccaneers Make Changes originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laurent Robinson Out for Season, Possible QB Controversy in St. Louis

Matt Snyder — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:35:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

After three Rams losses, it's pretty evident 2009 is going to be a long season in St. Louis (the third straight of the variety). Monday, they received some more bad news -- that Laurent Robinson, a member of the already paper-thin receiving corps, will likely miss the remainder of the season after injuring his lower leg (both a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain) during Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

Quarterback Marc Bulger also left the game injured, but his injury isn't deemed as serious, now that he's been diagnosed with a bruised rotator cuff. Earlier Monday, some feared Bulger had a torn rotator cuff and would also miss the remainder of the season. Of course, clouding matters is that Kyle Boller came in relief of Bulger and looked far superior.

Get Fantasy Football Impact of Robinson's Injury

Now, realizing they still have 13 games left this year, in addition to the fact that the Rams are trying to make progress for the future, there is already talk in St. Louis that Boller could be the better option as the Rams' signal-caller for the rest of 2009.

It makes a lot of sense, actually.

Bulger is 32 years old. He doesn't have an especially strong arm and he's not mobile. Boller is only 28, and he has enough physical tools to have gotten him drafted in the first round back in 2003.

Obviously, pro pedigree will factor in a bit, as Bulger has the much better professional resume. He's been to the Pro Bowl twice and taken his team to the playoffs twice. Boller was a colossal bust for the Baltimore Ravens after Brian Billick committed to him following the 2003 draft.

Here's the thing, though: Boller wasn't throwing to The Greatest Show on Turf in Baltimore. If you check out the current version of Marc Bulger (he's won just four of his past 30 starts and has a rating hovering just above 70 during that same time frame), he's just not that impressive at all. It's also entirely possible Boller just needed a change of scenery and/or is a late bloomer.

After Boller's play Sunday, it's worth it for rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo to at least consider going with Boller. Marc Bulger had led the Rams to just one touchdown in nine quarters before leaving with an injury. Boller threw two in three quarters. Boller has far superior arm strength and pretty good agility in the pocket. And, again, he's four years younger and playing for a team who is looking toward the future.

Of course, whoever the quarterback is now has to deal with an even worse receiving corps than the sub-par-at-best group he already had. Robinson led the team with 11 catches, 141 yards and one touchdown through the first two weeks. With him out of the picture, the Rams will look to sign a free agent. The other receivers on the roster are Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Derek Stanley and Ruvell Martin.

I think they need to see what Boller to Avery and Burton can provide the rest of the season before re-evaluating the direction of the offense. We'll see if Spagnuolo agrees quite soon, because Bulger should be ready to return within the next few weeks.

Laurent Robinson Out for Season, Possible QB Controversy in St. Louis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spagnuolo: Focus Only on 2009 Rams

Matt Snyder — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:10:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Coaching

Despite making a good amount of money to coach in the National Football League, Steve Spagnuolo has an unenviable task this year: coaching the St. Louis Rams. The Rams won just two games a year ago, and the roster was in a state of transition -- and in disrepair, really -- when he took over as the new head honcho.

If not for the ineptitude of the Lions, the 2008 Rams would have easily been the worst team in football. Only two teams scored less points and only one team (Lions, of course) allowed more. Some of the most talented players were aging and they dismissed two former stars (Orlando Pace and Torry Holt) as part of the rebuilding process after the disastrous campaign. Spagnuolo, though, is tired of hearing about and having to talk about 2008.

"It has nothing to do with teams coming forward or any teams going backward," he said. "It's all just about the 2009 Rams, and we lost a football game. We lost one football game."

On the other hand, it's kind of hard to blame fans -- who became accustomed to winning football in the earlier part of this decade before being treated to a 5-27 record the past two seasons -- for thinking "here we go again," after watching the Rams get stomped on opening weekend in Seattle.

Not that I blame Spagnuolo, either, for trying to keep his team focused on this season and hoping to muster all the wins he can out of his lackluster roster. Even if he knows this year is going to be about building a foundation for the future, he can't start acting like he doesn't care about playing winning football each week.

If you look at the upcoming schedule, in addition to realizing all the holes the Rams have, all signs point to this season being a long one. The Rams visit Washington before hosting the Packers. They then head to San Francisco -- who looked tough in defending NFC Champion Arizona's home -- before hosting the Vikings. Thus, it's pretty realistic to see the Rams starting the season 0-5.

The key for the fan-base remaining interested is going to be to keep their eyes on the future, whether Spags want to admit it or not. They have a few parts -- Steven Jackson, O.J. Atogwe, Chris Long, James Laurinaitis, Jason Brown, Jason Smith, etc. -- but not enough of a whole team to compete just yet. You could even argue it would be better for the team to have an incredibly high draft pick again this year to help round out the stable of young talent for Spagnuolo mold. In the meantime, just watch how the young players develop as NFL players.

If you do listen to Coach and focus only on this year, though, odds are it's going to be a long campaign.

Spagnuolo: Focus Only on 2009 Rams originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saints Top Worst-to-First Power Rankings

Dan Graziano — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:39:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Jaguars, Lions, Rams, Redskins, Saints, NFL Power Rankings, NFL Analysis

Amid all these NFL predictions flooding the web this week there are few certainties. But if recent history is any indication, we know for sure that at least one of this year's division winners will be a team that finished in last place a year ago. At least one team has turned the trick every year since the NFL went to the current eight-division format -- 10 teams total in six seasons. The Dolphins did it last year, the Buccaneers the year before, and the Eagles and Saints the year before that.

The reasons for this phenomenon are obvious -- overall parity, four-team divisions, a scheduling system that (basically) makes life easier for the teams at the bottom and tougher for the teams at the top. The only question as the 2009 season dawns is which of last year's last-place finishers will be among this year's division winners. We ranked all eight of them in order of their chances to continue the trend:

1. New Orleans Saints (8-8 in 2008): First place seems like an easy call. The Saints weren't bad last year. They have a big-time offense (assuming Pierre Thomas gets healthy and holds up). And you can see where each of the other three teams in the NFC South could take steps backward. Many are even picking New Orleans as division champ this year.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Those who like the Jags point to upgrades on the offensive line and at wide receiver, their two trouble spots from a year ago. Those of us who aren't buying it point to the Colts, Titans and Texans all also playing in the AFC South. But hey. You never know.

3. Washington Redskins (8-8): If Jacksonville's AFC South is a meat grinder, then Washington's NFC East is a bone-crusher. It takes a lot to imagine the Redskins being better than the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys. But if Clinton Portis can hold up all year and Jason Campbell takes that big leap forward and Albert Haynesworth plays as well in the first year of a contract as he did in the last...that's how these things work.

4. Buffalo Bills (7-9): The idea that anybody but New England can win the AFC East is predicated on the assumption that the Patriots somehow fall apart. Even if that happens, it's hard to see the Bills, who have spent the past couple of weeks in roster and coaching disarray, being the team to jump up and swipe the division title. But nobody saw the Dolphins coming a year ago, either. Now, if only the Bills can think up some dazzling new offensive scheme that tricks the entire rest of the league and becomes the hot trend a year from now...

5. St. Louis Rams (2-14): They were abominable a year ago, and in spite of our high opinion of Steve Spagnuolo, there's no reason to think they'll be any better this year. But the NFC West was won with nine wins in 2008, so the Rams don't have to make much of a jump to get into contention. This ranking says more about the Cardinals, Seahawks and 49ers than it does about the Rams.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Everything's new in K.C., which is great. And if the Chargers don't take off the way everybody's expecting them to, the AFC West will be there for the taking. The problem is, thanks to their offensive line, so will the Chiefs' quarterbacks. All year.

7. Detroit Lions (0-16): We believe they will be better this year. This is not a difficult prediction to make. They only need to win one freaking game, and they'll be better. But in an NFC North that might feature the three best teams in the conference, their chances of going worst-to-first look pretty dismal.

8. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Both of last year's AFC Championship Game combatants play in the AFC North. The Browns' new coach is a paranoid whack-job. They didn't know until four days before the season started who was going to play quarterback, and they still don't know who's going to catch the ball when that guy throws it. We say they're the worst team in the league. But again, the whole point of this exercise is...you never know.

Saints Top Worst-to-First Power Rankings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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St. Louis Rams 2009 Preview: Out With Greatest Show, In With Spagnuolo

Matt Snyder — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, FanHouse Previews

Training 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.

The Rams enter the 2009 season in full-on rebuilding mode. Another bad season wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for the future of the franchise as a whole, as they need to continue to grow their young players. The remnants of the strong Rams rosters from earlier this decade are either gone or aging quickly. New head coach Steve Spagnuolo will look to mold the next generation his way, starting immediately.

Offense: What was once the Greatest Show on Turf crumbled to the 27th ranked offense in 2008. They went through some injuries to key personnel, but overall it's not a very stout unit. The offensive line is reworked, and Jason Brown up the middle will pay dividends. Rookie Jason Smith will be developing this year, so the pick may not fully pay off until 2010. Steven Jackson is a monster when healthy. Remember, this season he's had a full training camp, as opposed to last year where he held out for a significant amount of time. Plus, the Rams have added a solid blocking fullback in Mike Karney. Expect Jackson to have a big season. The passing game, on the other hand, is a problem. Their group of receivers -- Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton and Derek Standley -- isn't going to scare anyone, despite the potential possessed by Avery. Bulger has been sub-par the past two seasons as his weaponry dwindled and appears to be in a decline. We know they'll be able to run, but will there be enough from the air attack to prevent Jackson was consistently seeing 8-man fronts? Heat Index: 4 (would be a 2 without Jackson)

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St. Louis Rams Photos

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Chris Ogbonnaya #22 of the St. Louis Rams rushes against Ricardo Colclough #30 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricardo Colclough;Chris Ogbonnaya

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St. Louis Rams Photos

In this Nov. 23, 2008, photo, Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) celebrates alongside teammate Charles Tillman after intercepting a pass during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis. If the Bears are to show some of their old dominant form on defense, Tillman, Urlacher and Tommie Harris need to be healthy. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Tight end Daniel Fells #46 of the St. Louis Rams dives into the end zone to score a touchdown in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daniel Fells

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Brodie Croyle #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back to pass against the defense of C.J. Ah You #98 of the St. Louis Rams during the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** C.J. Ah You;Brodie Croyle

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Steve Spagnuolo of the St. Louis Rams looks on during the preseason game against of the Kansas City Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steve Spagnuolo

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Jackie Battle #26 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes against the defense of the St. Louis Rams during the third quarter of the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackie Battle

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Ron Edwards holds an ice pack over his eye as he sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in St. Louis. The Rams won 17-9. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Todd Haley of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines during the during the preseason game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Todd Haley

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Wide receiver Rodney Wright #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs against the defense of Todd Johnson #35 and Chris Massey #45 of the St. Louis Rams during fourth quarter the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Massey;Todd Johnson;Rodney Wright

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Tight end Brad Cottam #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs fails to make the catch against the defense of cornerback Justin King #31 of the St. Louis Rams during the second quarter of the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Cottam

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Defense: The 2008 defense was almost equally as bad as the offense. Only four teams allowed more yards than the Rams and the only team who gave up more points was the Lions. This was a brutal defense. In Spagnuolo, they have brought in a defensive-minded head coach. Second-year defensive end Chris Long and rookie middle linebacker James Laurinaitis will spear-head the youth movement. Adding James Butler via free agency gives the Rams one of the stronger safety duos in the NFL -- along with O.J. Atogwe -- but they are still weak at corner. Leonard Little is a good bookend to the defensive line along with Long, but the outside linebackers and defensive tackles leave a bit to be desired. As is the case with most areas of this team, they have plenty of holes. To reiterate what we mentioned in the intro -- and it's probably tough to do so for the fans -- more important than winning games this season is watching the development of players like Long and Laurinaitis and allowing Spagnuolo and his staff to evaluate the personnel around these future centerpieces. I do, however, believe they will be slightly improved on this end of the ball due to the new coaching and the additions of Butler and Laurinaitis, along with Long's improvement. Heat Index: 3

Special Teams: Well, now we can say something good. In Donnie Jones, the Rams have arguably the best punter in the NFL. He kicks it high enough to give his coverage a chance to bottle up any sort of a return, and he kicks it deep (50 yard per punt average last season). He alone helps them in the field position battle, of course, they really need that help. The Rams finished dead last in the NFL in starting point last season, due to a dreadful kick returning game. On the other side of that, their kickoff coverage was also the worst in the NFL. Josh Brown is a quality field goal kicker, so there's another plus. Overall, things balance out and make the team have average special teams play -- due to being elite on a few ends and awful on a few others. I'm inclined to bump them up a point, though, due to the training camp intensity. Player intensity can help kickoff coverage. Heat Index: 6

Coaching: We love Spags as a defensive coordinator, but the jury's still out about him running his own team. He does appear to balance his intelligence and intensity well, so that's a good sign. He's coached under Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin, so he's learned from two of the best. The ways things stand right now, it looks like the Rams have their best coach since Dick Vermeil. Spagnuolo's supporting staff is of the same ilk as him. Ken Flajole has never been a defensive coordinator, but he was a very well respected linebackers coach in Carolina for the past six seasons. Pat Shurmur has never been an offensive coordinator, but he has been the quarterbacks coach in Philly for the past seven years. We know about Donovan McNabb, but we should also remember the great play the Eagles have always gotten out of their backups -- Jeff Garcia, Koy Detmer, A.J. Feeley -- when McNabb was injured. Tom McMahon is in his first season as a special teams coordinator, but he was the assistant for the Falcons last year, who had good special teams play. The whole staff is like this. In fact, they look much like the players' roster. There seems to be good potential for development, but 2009 is going to be a learning campaign. I like the looks of things here, but they need to prove it in their collective new positions. Heat Index: 6

Intangibles: We know the team can't have a ton of confidence or swagger, considering the miserable past two seasons. There should be a renewed feeling of hope and perhaps some optimism under the new administration. The star of the team, Jackson, has been embraced as a leader by Spagnuolo, so he'll remain happy. The young players will work hard to establish themselves as true NFL competitors, but it's going to be difficult to remain positive as they get their teeth kicked in a few times this year -- and they probably will. Heat Index: 5

Total Heat Index: 24/50 It's a work in progress. While the Rams are likely to have one of the worst records in football in 2009, they are at least headed in the right direction -- which is more than can be said in a few other places doomed to have a bad year. Unfortunately, they are probably going to have to address quarterback as they look to the future. Fortunately, they can probably squeeze 2010 out of Bulger, if they need to, after having drafted a stud quarterback (I'm expecting them to have yet another top-5 pick in the 2010 draft). But that's getting way too far ahead of ourselves. For now, the excitement with the Rams is watching the development of the young players and inexperienced coaching staff as the season progresses.

St. Louis Rams 2009 Preview: Out With Greatest Show, In With Spagnuolo originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlanta Acquires Cornerback Tye Hill From St. Louis

Knox Bardeen — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Rams

After a poor showing by the secondary in Saturday night's preseason game, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith tried hard to not to single out the defensive backfield: "It's team defense," he said. "What I mean by that, is that it starts up front, it goes to the linebackers and it goes to the secondary. It's not just one group."

General manager Thomas Dimitroff wouldn't throw anyone under the bus either, but let it be known that between the time the third preseason game ended and the regular season began, the Falcons would be busy scouring the league for possible trades or free agents to sign. Dimitroff didn't waste any time finding someone.

On Tuesday, the Falcons sent a 2010 seventh-round draft pick to the St. Louis Rams for cornerback Tye Hill.

Hill, who was taken with the 15th-overall selection in the 2006 draft, was named to the All-Rookie team after playing in all 16 regular season games and registering three interceptions and 50 tackles. Since then, he's had two seasons end prematurely due to injuries, playing in eight games in 2007 and only four in 2008.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Hill won't add size to the Falcons secondary but he is a speedster who, when healthy, possesses the tools to be a game-changer. If Hill can learn the system quickly and stay on the active roster all season, the seventh-round pick given away will seem cheap and make Dimitroff look good.

Two of Atlanta's biggest remaining questions revolve around how quickly Hill can learn the system, and who the Falcons will have to cut from the secondary to make room for Hill.

The answer to who the Falcons cut will need to come immediately. The Falcons were at the 75-man roster size limit before the Hill trade. Adding Hill puts them at 76 -- and the NFL deadline to cut down to 75 is September 1.

(Update September 1, 2009): Cornerback Von Hutchins, tight end Ben Hartsock and defensive end Willie Evans were released on Tuesday.

Atlanta Acquires Cornerback Tye Hill From St. Louis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What To Watch for in Friday's Games That Don't Count

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Rams, Titans, Vikings

Without a doubt, the big story in the NFL on Friday comes out of Minneapolis. It's there that Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen's former team comes to town. The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously out to prove to Allen that they were worth staying with. Of course, Allen has a bum ankle and won't be playing, but he'll surely be on the sideline to soak it all in.

Oh, and the Vikings have a new quarterback. You might have heard about that this week. Brett Favre starts for the Vikings Friday.

Kansas City at Minnesota, 8:00 PM ET

Kansas City

Suddenly, no one cares about the Chiefs. Seriously, they really want to see more out of expensive quarterback Matt Cassel, who was highly unimpressive during last week's game. Chiefs head coach Todd Haley won't come out and say Cassel has established himself, and it's not likely that he will until he sees more out of the quarterback. Since this team won just two games last year, they really can't afford to miss on such a huge acquisition.

Minnesota

All eyes are on Favre, and the drama his arrival has created at the quarterback position. It doesn't sound like Favre will play long, and he will hand things over to Tarvaris Jackson. This could be make-or-break for Jackson, who is cheap and the kind of commodity the Vikings can trade, even if they decide they really don't want him around. Of course, they may not want to do that if he is impressive in his outing Friday.

Tennessee at Dallas, 8:00 PM ET

Tennessee

After an underwhelming Hall of Fame Game, Vince Young was much sharper last week. He needs to continue playing well. Head coach Jeff Fisher had intimated he wanted to get Young some snaps with the first-team offense. We'll see if that happens. It could be a hugely valuable night for Young if that happens.

Dallas

Jerry Jones opens his playground. The Cowboys' new billion-dollar stadium hosts a football game for the first time. It can seat over 70,000, and there is standing room available for around 30,000 more fans. On the field, the Cowboys will play their starters for most of the first half, giving Tony Romo plenty of time to break in his new, (hopefully) less ego-driven receivers.

Atlanta at St. Louis, 8:00 PM ET

Atlanta

One growing issue is the play of the Falcons' run defense. They were pretty bad against Detroit last week, especially when it came to dealing with running quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton. Don't look for the Rams' quarterbacks to create many problems with their mobility.

St. Louis

The Rams have a logjam of running backs behind Steven Jackson, but none of them are terribly impressive names. Former Packer Samkon Gado and Antonio Pittman played well last week, and youngster Kenneth Darby will still get a shot at a roster spot.

What To Watch for in Friday's Games That Don't Count originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marc Bulger Injured on Snap Exchange

Matt Snyder — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Injuries

After hearing how physical a camp the Rams are running under new head coach Steve Spagnuolo, injuries shouldn't surprise us. Thus, when Marc Bulger fell injured with a broken pinky on his right (throwing) hand, it didn't seem too shocking at first glance. That is, of course, until learning what actually happened: Bulger suffered a non-displaced fracture to his pinky due to an errant snap exchange from his center. He won't be wearing a cast and expects to be back in about two weeks.

In the meantime, the person taking the snaps for the Rams' first-team offense will be none other than Kyle Boller -- the former first-rounder for the Ravens who compiled a 71.9 quarterback rating in 53 career games for Baltimore.

This would be pretty bad news for the Rams, but Bulger should have plenty of time to reacclimate himself into the offense before the season opener. Plus, he's not exactly a star himself. The Rams have gone 4-23 in his last 27 starts, in which time he's had a quarterback rating of just over 70, and thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes.

So, they are going to either have a bad quarterback, or one who has been a huge bust and didn't even play in 2008 (Boller).

Good thing they have Steven Jackson in camp and healthy.

Marc Bulger Injured on Snap Exchange originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Sanchez Dazzles in Brief Jets Debut

Dan Graziano — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:13:00 EST

Filed under: Jets, Rams, NFL Quarterbacks

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez was in the game for only eight plays, but he was good enough in that brief time to leave Jets fans wanting more. The former USC quarterback, picked fifth overall in this year's draft, easily outshined rival Kellen Clemens and made the New York Jets' supposed quarterback competition look like no competition at all.

The shame of it, for Clemens, is that he was in his two series exactly what the Jets need their 2009 quarterback to be -- solid, reliable, unspectacularly competent. But Sanchez ... well, he was awesome. And if Sanchez, as all signs indicate, can only lose the job if he falls completely on his face, then it's real bad news for Clemens if the kid is awesome.

Clemens started the game and played the first two series, going 4-for-4 for 24 yards. His first series ended when he was sacked by Leonard Little and fumbled the ball over to the Rams. His second began with five consecutive running plays before he hit Dustin Keller with a 12-yard pass for a first down -- the longest of his four completions. His best play may have been the next one, on which he avoided what looked like a sure sack by Gary Gibson and ended up rushing for two yards.

The Jets' third possession of the game began with Sanchez running out onto the field to cheers from the sparse Meadowlands crowd. He gave them reason to cheer much louder on his first professional preseason play, when he smartly read the St. Louis blitz, checked down and launched a 48-yard strike to David Clowney sprinting up the right sideline. The read and the throw were both perfect, as Clowney caught the ball reaching toward the sideline and well away from the defender.

Sanchez would complete two more passes (a 14-yarder and a 26 yarder, both to Keller) on the drive, which culminated in a short touchdown run by Thomas Jones. He was 3-for-4 for 88 yards, and that was apparently enough. When the Jets' offense returned to the field, Erik Ainge was under center.

In the days leading up to the game, Jets coach Rex Ryan said Sanchez and Clemens would each play some with the first-team offense but that neither would play much. Part of the reason is that the Jets were missing three injured starting offensive linemen for this game, and Ryan correctly felt that it would be unfair to use this game as a major evaluating tool if the two combatants were playing behind a second-string line.

But facts are facts, and everything Ryan sees this preseason will impact his decision. Watching Sanchez and Clemens tonight, it didn't look as if the decision should be very difficult at all.

Mark Sanchez Dazzles in Brief Jets Debut originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What to Watch For in Friday's Games That Don't Count

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Bengals, Broncos, Colts, Jets, Rams, Saints, Vikings, NFL Training Camp

Friday's NFL preseason schedule is all about the quarterbacks. Three teams with serious uncertainty at the position will take the field, while a well-known star makes his official return from an injury that ruined his and his team's 2008 season.

Not only that, but another team debuts a new starting quarterback Friday night.

More Coverage: Live NFL Scoreboard

St. Louis at N.Y. Jets, 7:00 p.m. Eastern

St. Louis

For new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, this will be his first look at the team in a live setting. Yes, Spagnuolo has run a lively and physical training camp so far, but it's always different when you start trying to hit guys on a different team. One of the areas to watch is wide receiver. Second-year man Donnie Avery is hurt and unavailable Friday, so the Rams will go with a rather pedestrian group. Laurent Robinson and Tim Carter should both get a serious look as the main targets for Marc Bulger.

N.Y. Jets

After trading up in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Jets selected former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. While it's true that Kellen Clemens will start for the Jets on Friday night, many would be surprised if he was still ahead of Sanchez on the depth chart Sept. 13. The word going around is that Sanchez has the better physical tools, but Clemens is ahead when it comes to understanding the offense. This battle continues, and the coaching debut of Rex Ryan takes a back seat to it.

Minnesota at Indianapolis, 7:30 p.m.

Minnesota

Only Friday morning did anyone get word on head coach Brad Childress' decision to start Sage Rosenfels in this game. It's not a huge story, if only because Childress has stated that both Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson will get snaps with the first-team offense during the preseason. By the Vikings' third preseason game, Aug. 31 against Houston, the team should be much closer to a starter. While this might remove some of the immediate drama, it does ratchet up the pressure on Rosenfels to play well in his opportunity Friday. It might not be the sole basis for judgment on his ability, but it will likely go a long way.

Indianapolis

It's been a while since the Colts had someone besides Tony Dungy running the show. Longtime assistant Jim Caldwell is the new man in charge, and fans should expect things to be run smoothly. On the field, running backs Joseph Addai and Donald Brown should both get a few touches, as the coaching staff tries to sort out who will be the alpha dog behind Peyton Manning.

Cincinnati at New Orleans, 8:00 p.m.

Cincinnati

The return of Carson Palmer is front and center. After missing the majority of last season with shoulder problems, Palmer is healthy and ready to play. He'll start for the Bengals Friday, and his job as starting quarterback is the only certainty at the position. J.T. O'Sullivan was signed as a backup, and he's struggling to beat out Jordan Palmer -- Carson's younger brother -- for the gig. Every night of the preseason will be important for Palmer, as he tries to fully regain his timing and rhythm before the games start to count.

New Orleans

There are some question marks with this Saints team, but the most interesting one is in the offensive backfield. Deuce McAllister's departure means Reggie Bush is (maybe) the feature back. Bush was banged-up in camp, but is expected to start Friday. It remains to be seen how head coach Sean Payton will ultimately decide to use Bush and Pierre Thomas. While Thomas is not nearly as well-known, his play in 2008 merits a serious look as a threat to Bush's status as the top guy.

Denver at San Francisco, 10:00 p.m.

Denver

Head coach Josh McDaniels got off to a rocky start. After replacing longtime coach Mike Shanahan, McDaniels immediately had trouble with star quarterback Jay Cutler. The Broncos traded Cutler to Chicago. Former Bears starter Kyle Orton is now in Denver, and he is the unquestioned starter. McDaniels has already shown great confidence in Orton, who has never been a big-time player in the NFL. Now, it'll be up to Orton to prove the new boss right. If McDaniels has a fraction of the personnel acumen his mentor in New England does, things will probably go very well for him.

San Francisco

While Shaun Hill will start this game for the 49ers, there is no certainty yet that he will start the regular-season opener. Head coach Mike Singletary has already said that fans shouldn't read a ton into Hill's start Friday night. Alex Smith should get a shot during the game, though it's likely to be with the second string. Singletary wouldn't commit to starting Smith next week, but did say Smith would get work with the starters. Similarly to the situation in Minnesota, Hill had better perform in this game.

What to Watch For in Friday's Games That Don't Count originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rams' Jason Brown Reveals Game Plan to Stopping 'Skins Albert Haynesworth

Ryan Wilson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, Redskins, NFL Training Camp

Scott Linehan arrived in St. Louis in 2006 billed as one of the next up-and-coming young coordinators to make the jump to the head-coaching ranks. He won eight times his first season, but managed just three more wins over the next 20 games before the Rams mercifully sent him on his way.

Steve Spagnuolo, previously a young coordinator with the Giants, got the gig this offseason, and he went about rebuilding a team that regularly made playoff appearances earlier this decade.

And after a two-win effort in 2008, things can only get better. For Spagnuolo that starts with overhauling the offensive line. The club signed free agent center Jason Brown away from the Ravens, and selected tackle Jason Smith second overall in the April draft.

Brown, a four-year veteran, is already spilling the beans on the gameplan to stop new Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth when the two teams face off in Week 2. Via the Washington Post's Jason Reid:

"I'm so glad we're playing Washington early in the year because it's going to be hot out there, we're going to be running hurry-up offense and he's going to get fatigued," Brown said. "And I'm not sure if you have watched film before, but when he gets fatigued, he taps out. He just falls down to the ground, and you're like, 'Oh my gosh, is he hurt? Is something wrong with him?' No, he's just giving the guy on the sidelines enough time to mosey on out there so he can get up, go to the sidelines, catch a breather, get something to drink and then he comes right back out.

"And then people are like, 'I thought he was hurt.' No, he got tired. But you know what, that's exactly what we're going to have to do when we play Washington. We're going to have to play hurry-up offense and make them tired."

So there you go. No need for fancy blocking schemes, just run the hurry-up offense and Haynesworth magically disappears. When Brown was with the Ravens he faced Haynesworth (then with the Titans) on four occasions so he has some insight into the matter. And I don't doubt that guys well north of three bills get winded, especially when it's hot and humid as hell.

The problem, of course, is that the Rams aren't likely to run the hurry-up all game. There are ways to defend it, and if the 'Skins can do that successfully, it won't matter than Haynesworth is occasionally on the sideline outfitted in an oxygen mask.

For the time being, Washington head coach Jim Zorn seems unconcerned. "That's awesome," Zorn said with a chuckle. "What a great strategy."

And Haynesworth offered just five words. "Good. Let him think that." Translation: "Don't let your helmet come off."*

* Pure speculation

Rams' Jason Brown Reveals Game Plan to Stopping 'Skins Albert Haynesworth originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donnie Avery Injured, Out 4-6 Weeks

Matt Snyder — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Injuries

The Rams have been getting noticed for their incredibly physical training camp under the new Steve Spagnuolo regime. There are many positives to having a physically intense camp, but there's always the increased risk of losing an important player to injury. Remember, the Rams dodged a close call with their franchise player last week.

Friday night, No. 1 wide receiver Donnie Avery came down with a foot injury during an intrasquad scrimmage. The injury wasn't believed to be serious, but, come Sunday, Avery was experiencing enough pain that the team ordered an MRI. The results came back with bad news.

"[The MRI] showed more than we thought," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "It's probably a four-to-six-week injury."

The Rams open the season September 13 in Seattle, which is exactly five weeks from now. Considering Avery is a receiver who relies greatly upon his speed, this injury will put a damper on any optimism the Rams were building toward the beginning of the Spagnuolo era. The best-case scenario gives him one week to prepare to the opener, which isn't near enough to get him up to full speed. It's more likely he misses the first game or two and takes a few weeks to get back into the swing after that.

Even worse, the Rams are pretty thin in terms of proven playmakers at receiver. Without Avery, the starters look to be Keenan Burton (13 catches for 172 yards last season) and Ronald Curry (19 catches for 181 yards last season). Laurent Robinson and Tim Carter would also be in the mix.

Fantasy Spin:
Obviously, this hurts Avery's value in a big way. Even if he makes it back in time for the season, there is great concern he'll open the season slowly. This knocks him down from a WR3 to a WR4 in most leagues. Thus, Marc Bulger's already dwindling value takes a hit. Of the options who might replace Avery, if only for a game, Curry is the most intriguing. He's a great athlete who has shown flashes of emerging, yet he's always been buried in Oakland (running team with poor quarterback play).

Also, Steven Jackson will be leaned upon even more heavily should Avery miss time. If Jackson can stay healthy, he's going to see 30 touches a game.

Monitor Avery's progress up to your draft day and see how quickly he's healing.

Donnie Avery Injured, Out 4-6 Weeks originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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