NFL FanHouse

Zebra Report: Mangini's Timeout Gaffe

Matt Snyder — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Cowboys, Lions, Redskins, Texans, Titans, Vikings, NFL Coaching, 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.

As the clock struck zero in the Lions-Browns game, there was a pass interference penalty called on Cleveland in the end zone. In the aftermath of the play, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford laid on the field injured. The officials called an injury timeout for Stafford. Also, Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini took a timeout to seemingly do nothing more than lambast the officials for what appeared a pretty obvious interference call.

There are three rules that apply here. First of all, the Lions are definitely entitled to one more play.

Rule 4-8-2: At the election of the opponent, a period may be extended for one untimed down, if any of the following occurs during a down during which time in the period expires: (a) If there is a foul by the defensive team that is accepted, the offensive team may choose to extend the period by an untimed down after enforcement of the penalty.

Secondly, the timeout by the Browns is what enabled Stafford to stay in the game. Otherwise he would have had to sit out the final play.

Rule 4-5-4c: When an injury timeout is called, the injured player must leave the game for the completion of one down. The player will be permitted to remain in the game if (inside the two-minute warning): (iii) the opponent calls a timeout.

Finally, the Lions were out of timeouts. The officials initially announced Detroit would be charged a team timeout. The announcers were adamant there was some mistake by the officials herein, but they were mistaken (shocker, I know). The Lions were bailed out by two different factors here. First of all, Mangini called a timeout.

Rule 4-5-4b: If a team has used its three charged team timeouts, an excess team timeout shall be called by the Referee, unless: (iii) the opponent calls a timeout.

Also, the Lions would be afforded the luxury of one "excess" timeout which comes with a 10-second runoff, yet no yardage penalty. In this case, the clock was already at zero, but the Lions -- see above -- were guaranteed one final play due to the defensive penalty. Of course, Mangini took this out of play anyway when he called a timeout.

Finally, there is no yardage penalty for the first "excess" timeout. There would have been for the second and every subsequent one thereafter. The officials in the Browns-Lions game got this entire interpretation correct.

Other officiating nuggets from Week 11

o. In the Titans-Texans there were two supposedly subjective calls that seemed not-so-subjective. First of all, a horse-collar tackle was called on John Busing when he tackled Chris Johnson to open the Titans' eventual game-winning drive. Replays clearly showed Busing had a hold of Johnson's jersey in the upper back region and definitely was not a horse-collar. Also, on a previous drive, one of the Texans defensive linemen clearly tripped Vince Young on a pivotal third-down incompletion. Adam Gretz informed me there was a discussion in the FanHouse live chat during the game in which some were insistent you could trip a ball-carrier. You can't:

Rule 12-1-7: No defensive player may trip an opponent.

These two blown calls once again brings to the forefront the issue of what coaches may or may not challenge. Obviously, there are very few penalties you can challenge and complete judgment calls (such as holding or pass interference) cannot be challengeable under the slippery slope premise. But, if something is cut-and-dry -- like a horse-collar, tripping, facemask or contacting a receiver inside five yards versus outside five yards -- it seems that it wouldn't do any harm to allow coaches to challenge the ruling on the field. After all, it's not like they have unlimited challenges. They'd still have to pick their battles.

o. An anonymous reader submitted this question: "I would like to know why it is not intentional grounding when a QB spikes the ball to stop the clock. There is no eligible receiver at the center spot, the QB is not outside the tackles and the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage. To me it should be a penalty."

There's a special exception here. Under the intentional grounding rule (8-3-1):

Item 3: Stopping Clock. A player under center is permitted to stop the game clock legally to save time if, immediately upon receiving the snap, he begins a continuous throwing motion and throws the ball directly into the ground.

o. A reader submitted this a few weeks ago: "In the Giants Chargers game, Eli Manning rolled away from pressure heading to the sideline. With no receiver open, he threw the ball away before stepping out of bounds. Officials ruled he was already out of bounds and it was a sack. Replays clearly showed the he was not out of bounds but the missed call cost the Giants 5 yards in a very close game, giving them 3rd and 14 instead of 3rd and 9. My question is: why such an obviously missed call is not reviewable?"

I'd have to guess that he's referencing a sack in the game log at the 4:06 mark in the fourth quarter. That's the closest thing I can find to the explanation in the email. In a reply exchange, the reader told me Tom Coughlin threw the red flag and was told he could not challenge the ruling on the field. I haven't been able to find a replay, but -- if it happened as was explained above -- I believe the officials were incorrect. And we actually have proof from a Week 11 game ...

o. Because here is a submission from co-worker Chris Sesno: "Jason Campbell was scrambling out of the pocket with about 25 seconds left and just inside of field goal range. He ran to sideline and as he was stepping out of bounds (about a 10 yard loss) he also threw the ball away -- and the pass didn't reach the line of scrimmage while in-bounds. They initially ruled he stepped out of bounds, thus they stopped the clock and marked the ball down after the loss of yards. Jim Zorn couldn't challenge since it was under two minutes, so they let the clock run for delay of game. After the delay of game, the refs reviewed Campbell's scramble and ruled that he threw the ball before he stepped out, it was close but definitely the right call. Then they spotted the ball 5 yards behind the original spot of the ball (before he threw away, and tacked on the 5 for delay of game). Then they went back and nullified the delay of game and moved the ball back up to the original line of scrimmage. With 15 seconds on the clock and third down, the skins tried a field goal and Suisham missed it from around the 29."

OK, let's sort this out. First of all, this appears to be the exact same situation as the Manning play above was described and this one was reviewed. So why couldn't Coughlin challenge the Manning play? You got me.

On this particular play, let us recall an issue I discussed last week. A delay of game penalty -- much like a false start -- is a "non-play." So the previous play can still be reviewed. You might recall in my explanation a few weeks ago when I covered this question, I pointed out there was nothing specific in the rules as to what would happen to the penalty if the play was changed. I said my guess was the penalty would simply be ignored and that's what happened here.

As to a possible grounding penalty, Campbell was outside the tackle box, but the ball crossed the out of bound line clearly short of the line of scrimmage. Here is the rule in question:

Rule 8-3-1: Item 1: Passer or Ball Outside Tackle Position. Intentional grounding will not be called when a passer, who is outside, or has been outside, the tackle position throws a forward pass that lands at or beyond the line of scrimmage, even if no offensive player(s) have a realistic chance to catch the ball (including when the ball lands out of bounds over the sideline or endline).

This is a tricky one. From the language in the rule, I could see it going either way. Does the ball crossing the line of scrimmage once out of bounds mean Campbell's off the hook? Or was the last parenthetical statement only referring to offensive players? It seems to me it should have been intentional grounding, but it's entirely possible I'm reading this rule incorrectly (after all, I'm only trained in high school and we don't have the "outside the tackle box" exemption).

o. Finally, we had another tripping call for a blocker whipping his legs up at the defender. This time it was Jason Peters of the Eagles on Sunday Night Football. It was, again, identical to Jeff Dugan's trip in the Vikings' loss to the Steelers, but I've yet to hear anything further from all the Vikings fans who chastised the league and myself. Interesting.

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: Mangini's Timeout Gaffe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Football Live Chat: Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

Adam Gretz — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Texans, Titans, NFL Live Blogging

For the second week in a row Monday night football features a team hosting the team that used to play in its home city. And if the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans simply show up tonight, it will already be better than whatever it was we witnessed last week between the Ravens and Browns.

That said, Vince Young looks to lead the Titans to a fourth straight win, while the Texans need a win to keep pace in their fight for their first ever playoff appearance. Please be sure to stop by the live chat and take part in the fun. Chat kicks off at 8:30 PM ET.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;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=3cf5facd7f&amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Monday Night Football Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Monday Night Football Live Chat: Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: JaMarcus Russell May Keep Starting Job in Oakland

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

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.

How would you feel if you were an ineffective starter who may only keep his job one more week because the backup is injured? Worse, what if you were so bad that you lost your job to a guy who was injured? Well, Oakland's JaMarcus Russell may be on the verge of finding out how that feels.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has been nothing short of miserable this season, completing just 46 percent of his throws over his first nine starts. The Raiders are 2-7, have no playoff hope, and they stand just a mathematical chance of finishing even close to .500.

Things are so bad in Oakland that they're considering giving the start Sunday to Gradkowski, who has a career passer rating of 58.7 and threw two picks in just nine passes last week against Kansas City. Oh, and he's injured, battling a hamstring strain.

It's entirely conceivable that Russell could actually keep his job only because his backup is dinged up. It would be the perfect way to continue this amazing string of futility by the former No. 1 overall pick.
Status update: White-hot

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

Quinn was awful Monday night, but let's face it: He didn't get any help. The Browns can't run the ball, they don't have any great playmakers on the perimeter, and they can't figure out ways to get their best player -- Joshua Cribbs -- the ball more often. Seven touches in 61 offensive plays doesn't seem like enough for Cribbs, especially when only one of those touches came on a reception.

The Browns have to solve that issue (assuming Cribbs is going to play after that nasty shot he took at the end of the game), and they have to convince Quinn that it's okay to throw a 40-yard bomb and give someone a chance to make a play -- even if the odds are against them. One thing should be clear by now, and that is that Anderson will only return if Quinn gets hurt. It would be a huge error for coach Eric Mangini to overreact and go back in that direction, though anything is possible.
Status update: Very warm

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards

Perhaps a coaching change will turn the Bills around. On the other hand, the quarterback situation there seems to dictate that any coach will fail in Buffalo. Perry Fewell isn't going to magically make either of these guys any good, and he's not going to suddenly revamp a moribund offense into something passable. The Bills, despite their skill-position personnel, are a failure on that side of the ball. Fewell might rescue them from the abyss, but he's not going to get the offense averaging 25 points a game at the snap of a finger.

For now, it appears Fitzpatrick is the starter. That doesn't appear to be a bad call, given the situation and the competition he faces. However, Edwards could very easily end up playing again, as it's not like Fitzpatrick lit the world on fire while Edwards was out.
Status update: Very warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore
Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins

These guys are listed together because the starters are all playing pretty well right now after having been listed here earlier in the season. It doesn't mean they won't show up in the crosshairs again, but it looks like there are at least some teams who have answered questions at the quarterback position, whether it was by making a change or avoiding the great temptation to do so.

Pocket Presence: JaMarcus Russell May Keep Starting Job in Oakland originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obscene Gesture Costs Adams $250K

FanHouse Newswire — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The NFL has fined Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making an obscene gesture at Buffalo fans while celebrating Tennessee's victory over the Bills.

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Adams of the fine Monday, and league spokesman Greg Aiello said it is for conduct detrimental to the NFL. Adams was seen making the gesture while in his luxury suite and again on the field after Sunday's 41-17 victory.

The 86-year-old Adams issued an apology a couple of hours later, saying he got caught up in the excitement of the moment.

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Tennessee Titans Photos

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young waves to fans as he leaves the field with Tyler McNair, 11, right, a son of the late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, after the Titans defeated the Buffalo Bills 41-17.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Tennessee Titans Photos

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Trent Edwards #5 of the Buffalo Bills calls a play from the line against the Tennessee Titans in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trent Edwards

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans breaks free from Jairus Byrd #31 of the Buffalo Bills for a touchdown in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jairus Byrd;Chris Johnson

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans talks with Chris Hope #24 in the first half of play against the Buffalo Bills in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Hope;Jeff Fisher

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans reacts to his teams play against the Buffalo Bills in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Fisher

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Trent Edwards #5 of the Buffalo Bills throws against the Tennessee Titans in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trent Edwards

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans fights to breaks free from Chris Kelsay #90 of the Buffalo Bills in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Kelsay;Chris Johnson

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards watches the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. The Titans won 41-17. (AP Photo/John Russell)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards walks off the field after being sacked by the Tennessee Titans for a 2-yard loss and having to turn the ball over in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. The Titans won 41-17. (AP Photo/John Russell)

Tennessee Titans place kicker Rob Bironas (2) kicks a 51-yard field goal as Buffalo Bills defenders Aaron Schobel (94), John McCargo (97), Spencer Johnson (91) try to block it in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. The Titans won 41-17. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Goodell was at the game, after having breakfast with Adams. The league said that Goodell left Adams' suite at the end of the third quarter and spent the fourth quarter sitting with fans in the end zone before leaving the stadium.

The Titans declined to comment after the fine was issued. But Adams said in his earlier statement that he expected league discipline for his actions and would accept any punishment.

"I do realize that those types of things shouldn't happen," Adams said in that statement. "I need to specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL. I obviously have a great deal of respect for Ralph Wilson and the history we have shared."

The NFL fined former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo $1 million after he pleaded guilty to a felony and suspended him for the 1999 season.

Since then, the biggest fine handed down by the NFL to an individual was $500,000 to New England coach Bill Belichick for the Spygate scandal. The league also fined the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini $125,000 in September for violating its rules on injury reporting with Brett Favre last season.

Adams and Wilson were original owners in the American Football League, and Sunday's matchup was a legacy game with both teams wearing throwback uniforms. Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, and the two franchises have been involved in some emotional playoff games.

The Bills staged the greatest comeback in NFL history on Jan. 3, 1993, against what was then the Houston Oilers in a 41-38 overtime victory, while the Titans pulled off the Music City Miracle in 2000, a game-winning kickoff return for a touchdown with 3 seconds remaining.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he knew that Adams had been excited for this game because of the 50th anniversary of the AFL and because Wilson was coming in for it.

"They're close. There's been some tremendous matchups over the years between the two clubs. The playoff loss there, the Music City Miracle here ... There's a great deal of history here. I know this was a game he'd been looking forward to," Fisher said.

This isn't the first time Goodell has punished someone with the Titans. He handed down a five-game suspension to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in October 2006 for swiping his foot across the head of Dallas center Andre Gurode.

Players have been fined for the NFL for making this same gesture that Adams made. San Francisco kicker Joe Nedney was fined $7,500 in October 2007, and Michael Vick was fined $10,000 and donated $10,000 to charity in 2006 while playing in Atlanta.

"The league holds us as players to a higher standard, so to have an owner flip the bird not once but twice the league has to hold him to the same standard if not more," Bills safety George Wilson said Monday before news of the fine. "He's at the top of the hierarchy. If you don't hold him accountable, then you're questioning the integrity of the system."

Buffalo defensive tackle Marcus Stroud saw footage of Adams on TV but didn't care.

"He owns that team and Mr. Wilson owns our team. That's about the gist of it, as far as it goes with me. It's not like he can come down and strap up and put on any pads or anything like that. It doesn't bother me. If that's what he wants to do, go for it," Stroud said.

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.

Obscene Gesture Costs Adams $250K originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans Owner Shoots Double Birds at Bills

Clay Travis — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- On Sunday the Tennessee Titans beat the Buffalo Bills 41-17. The win was the Titans' third in a row after beginning 0-6, and the teams' 86-year-old owner, Bud Adams, was watching from his owner's suite with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Halfway through the game, Adams was recognized on the jumbotron. Fans cheered. Adams smiled and waved from his open-air suite. Then, as he celebrated victory, Adams decided to shoot the bird at the opposing sideline. First, Adams went with the right hand bird. Then he went left hand with the bird. Finally, he pulled out the rare, and underrated, double bird.

Presumably, shooting the bird at opposing teams violates one of Roger Goodell's NFL rules. And now Goodell finds himself in the unique position of actually witnessing behavior that he might be required to fine. In the meantime, fans are left to wonder, what longstanding beef does Bud Adams have with the 91-year-old owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson? Or is this simply an old man move, is the double bird an old AFL pat on the back? Video after the jump.

If it's a feud, it's a feud between the two oldest owners in the NFL. Maybe both teams playing in their AFL throwback uniforms brought out the youthful vigor in Adams. Maybe he forget that cell phones can now take video and assumed that he could get away with a profane gesture from the owner's suite. Or maybe when you're 86, a billionaire, and your team just won a game after an awful start to the season, you're just looking to blow off a little steam.

The middle finger salute, by the way, traces its origins as an insult all the way back to the Romans. Referred to back then as the digitus impudicus (impudent finger), nowadays it's a gesture popular in the oil fields of Texas. And everywhere else where insult needs to be expressed.

Given that Terrell Owens was playing on the field, what odds would you have given that Bud Adams would be the one facing a fine from the league for a crude gesture? Regardless, for 50 years Adams and Wilson have been competing against one another at the helm of rival football teams. On Sunday the country got a taste of how testy that relationship can sometimes be.

In 1999, these two teams brought America the Music City Miracle. Ten years later, meet the Music City Salute.

Titans Owner Shoots Double Birds at Bills originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Johnson, Titans Throttle Bills

Matt Snyder — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Titans, AFC East, AFC South

The Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans entered the fourth quarter Sunday knotted at 17-all. Considering what happened in the last 15 minutes of the game, Bills head coach Dick Jauron and his team might have been better served to leave early.

When the dust settled, the Bills headed home with a 41-17 loss. They were also likely saddled with nightmares involving Tennessee running back Chris Johnson and the rejuvenated Titans defense.

More: Check Box Score | Jags Dump Jets | Panthers Clip Falcons

The Bills entered the game sporting the worst run defense in the NFL. Considering what kind of stretch Johnson is having, it wasn't difficult to foresee him exploding.

He didn't disappoint. Johnson took the rock 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. But that wasn't all. He also caught nine passes for 100 yards. All told, Johnson accounted for 232 of his team's 378 yards and two of its three offensive touchdowns. You simply can't say enough about how good Johnson is.

He entered the season talking about gaining 2,000 yards on the ground this year -- he's now on pace for 1,940 and has a very realistic shot at the 2K barrier, considering the Titans' have a pretty soft run-defense schedule the rest of the way, and how heavily Tennessee seems content to lean on him. He's presently playing like the best player in football, not just the best running back.

Obviously, there is no shame in not being able to stop Johnson, but the Bills gave away any chance at a comeback with two late turnovers. Trailing by 10 points with just under three minutes left, the Bills still had a glimmer of hope. Instead, Trent Edwards threw an interception to Vincent Fuller -- who proceeded to take the ball 26 yards to the house. A few plays later, with the game already decided, Ryan Fitzpatrick -- as if he didn't want Edwards to feel bad about himself -- decided to throw a pick-six of his own, this one a 31-yarder to Roderick Hood.

Aside from Johnson, the big story emerging from this game was the fact that Vince Young has given the Titans a spark. They were 0-6 with Kerry Collins heading into their bye week. They've come out of the bye a totally different team, and Young is now 3-0 as a starter in 2009 (and 21-11 in his career). His pocket awareness and ability to check down are better than they have ever been, and he's picking his spots to run quite well (he carried the ball five times for 29 yards).

The Titans will look to continue their winning ways next week when they head to Houston. There might also be a bit of a revenge factor as well, as the Titans lost a 34-31 thriller to the Texans in Week 2. An FYI -- Chris Johnson had 197 rushing yards on just 16 carries in that game. Think he'll play a big role next week?

As for the Bills, they played relatively well for three quarters, but that's not good enough. Edwards found Lee Evans and Terrell Owens vertically a few times, but they need to run the football with more frequency (Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch combined for 85 yards on 17 carries), especially when someone like Johnson is doing a number on their defense. They will look to rebound in Jacksonville next week against another stud running back, Maurice Jones-Drew.

Chris Johnson, Titans Throttle Bills originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Justin Gage Has Broken Bones in Back

Chris Burke — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Injuries

Titans wide receiver Justin Gage made arguably the catch of the week in the NFL (video after the jump), skying over two San Francisco defenders to reel in a Vince Young pass -- the grab set up a fourth-quarter Chris Johnson touchdown that put Tennessee ahead for good in a 34-27 win.

But Gage paid for it.

According to the Associated Press, Gage suffered several broken transverse bones in his lower back on the catch. He is expected to miss at least one game -- the Titans host Buffalo this Sunday -- and could be out longer.

"It is just a matter of healing now,'' Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday, The Tennessean reported. "He is getting better and will just have to settle down. He is obviously very uncomfortable.''

The Tennessean also pointed out that former Titan Peter Sirmon suffered the same injury in 2003 and missed two games.

As you can see in the video, Gage did not react as if he was hurt following the catch, and in fact, symptoms did not begin to show themselves until following Tennessee's victory. But once Gage's adrenaline wore off, he quickly became very uncomfortable -- leading the Titans' medical staff to perform a host of tests.

"I've never fallen off a ladder. I can't really compare it to any catches," Gage said. "I can't say I've caught a ball in that position, maybe rebound a basketball or a dunk. [I] never fell from it. It's something I'm not used to."

It's probably fair to say that very few people are used to falling five or six feet onto their backs on a regular basis, but Gage's point is well taken -- while his injury is not a serious one, it might wind up sidelining him for multiple games. As Fisher said, it's just a matter of when he feels healthy enough to play.

Gage had a great Week 1, hauling in seven catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee's loss at Pittsburgh. He slumped after that, though, making just eight catches over the Titans' next fives games, finally reviving during Tennessee's recent two-game win streak -- a run that coincides with Vince Young's return to the starting quarterback position.

"I think a lot of what happened is just Vince doing his job and making plays," Gage told The Tennessean about Young. That's one thing he'll do for you. He'll make plays for you at any time in the game.''

In Gage's absence, rookie Kenny Britt will grab a starting spot. Britt's yet to start this season, but is still second on the team with 20 catches.

Justin Gage Has Broken Bones in Back originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Browns Complete Quarterback Cycle

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Browns, Raiders, Redskins, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

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.

After weeks of embarrassing, historic, and somewhat hysterical futility under the guidance of Derek Anderson, the Cleveland Browns have finally completed their quarterback cycle.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

Quinn gets the start Monday night, as the Browns host Baltimore. He has virtually no shot at contractual incentives now that Anderson has started so much of the season, so Quinn is just playing for the job now. Yes, the Browns are horrible, but there is still significance to these games. Cleveland is not a playoff team, but it needs to figure out what it have in Quinn, and whether or not he can be the Browns' guy moving forward.

Baltimore is probably not the best opponent for him to face in his first start back, but the Ravens aren't quite as dangerous on defense as they used to be. Quinn is likely to face a solid assortment of blitz and coverage packages, so we'll find out quickly if he has a chance to make things work.

He sure didn't play very well over his first three starts this season, but he didn't get a lot of help either, and he still managed to be far superior to Anderson.

Now that the Browns have gone full-circle this season, it's up to Quinn to show head coach Eric Mangini enough to retain the gig for the last eight games.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

As the Raiders come off their bye week, it will be interesting to see how much rope head coach Tom Cable gives Russell. At 2-6, there's no question the Raiders qualify as one of the truly bad teams in the NFL. They don't have anything to lose at this point, so why stick with Russell just because he makes a lot of money?

Gradkowski may not be anything special, but it's hard to imagine he leaves the team in a worse position than Russell has. When the Raiders host Kansas City this Sunday, it's one of the rare times they'll have a better record than their opponent. If Russell can't figure out a way to keep them in the game, look out.

Status update: Warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

Smith got his second start of the season against Tennessee Sunday, and he did a respectable job. He showed a willingness to throw downfield more, which was needed in an offense that had become somewhat stagnant in recent weeks.

Where Smith showed the most need for improvement was in ball security. He threw three picks in the loss, and spent a bit too much time locking down on receivers, a huge no-no in the NFL. Smith did enough in these last two losses, though, to keep himself secure. Of course, if he continues to struggle with turnovers, coach Mike Singletary may be forced to do something.

Status update: Warm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins

No, Campbell didn't come out of the game at Atlanta because he stunk -- even though he did stink. Again.

Instead, Campbell was banged up by the Falcons' pass rush, and Collins took over for a time, throwing five passes (completing four) for 12 yards.

Even though the Redskins are well on their way to the tank, it's hard to imagine they'd make this move. Were Collins a promising quarterback for the future, they'd do it almost immediately. Instead, he's on the downside of his career, and there's no point in benching Campbell, because it's not like Collins is good enough to lift this team back into contention.

Status update: Cool

Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins

Young has been very good over his two starts. He's made pretty good decisions, thrown much more effectively than he did last year, and it seems the Titans have rallied around him.

Barring injury, the job has to be his from here on in.

Status update: Cool

Pocket Presence: Browns Complete Quarterback Cycle originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

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.

Stubbornness sometimes pays off. The Carolina Panthers found this out on Sunday.

One week after giving up on the run way too easily in a loss to Buffalo, the Panthers mercilessly pounded Arizona's run defense into the ground, and their reward was an easy win. Of course, it doesn't mean Jake Delhomme has magically turned his season around. It just means the Panthers have found a way to hide him, while keeping him on the field. Delhomme is off our magical list for now, but other shaky starters aren't so lucky.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Surely, Russell is hampered by a complete lack of playmakers. Darrius Heyward-Bey has been a disaster so far, and outside of tight end Zach Miller, Russell simply doesn't have anyone to throw to.

However, he's earned every bit of that 48.3 quarterback rating, a rating that is barely above the 39.6 that you'd get by throwing every pass into the ground. Russell makes bad decisions, surpassed only by the simply awful throws he's capable of.

Whomever is coaching the Raiders next year is likely to have Russell around, only that coach will be facing the challenge of getting him off all the bad habits he's picked up, along with restoring what has to be a non-existent confidence.

Russell is only 24, so there's no point in giving up. However, there's also no point in leaving him out there to further destroy the mental part of his game.

Status update: Very warm

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Surely, the Browns weren't planning on firing a general manager before his first season was over. That's exactly what happened this week, though, as the team's embarrassing slide towards another high draft pick continued with a 30-6 whomping by the Bears in Chicago.

First-year coach Eric Mangini should be shown the door once this disastrous season ends. So far, the only thing he's done to try to inject life into his team was switch quarterbacks. To the coach's chagrin, Anderson looks to be a worse fit for this offense than Quinn was. That's not saying much, because no quarterback could do much of anything positive with this team.

Now what do you do? The season is a lost cause, and Quinn won't approach his contractual incentives if he takes over now. Anderson obviously isn't the answer, so now it's simply a question of whether Quinn can show enough to justify keeping him around for the next regime.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Freeman gets his first start this weekend against Green Bay. It's not common for coaches to go back to a veteran once they start the rookie, so one has to assume this is Freeman's gig.

Young actually looked pretty good in helping the Titans get their first win. No way they go back to Collins now, even if the team starts losing again. Young's athleticism is perfect for this offense -- if he can stay healthy and throw with any kind of accuracy.

As for Delhomme, as mentioned above, the Panthers rode the running game, but Delhomme did throw for 90 yards in just seven completions, and Steve Smith got his first touchdown of the year. Odds are he sticks around.

Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Young Takes a Step Forward, but Has a Long Way to Go

JJ Cooper — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

Vince Young did everything he needed to do on Sunday to stake a claim to the Titans' starting job for the rest of the season, but did he really do anything to show he should be around in 2010 and beyond?

Young clearly gave the Titans a spark. In the most important stat of all, Young is 1-0 this season as a starter while Kerry Collins is 0-6. The inaccuracy that has plagued Young in the past wasn't visible. Young arguably had two bad passes all game, and only one of those -- a near interception on a deep ball to Justin Gage -- was a true mistake.

But before people start annointing Young as the Titans quarterback of the future again, it's worth noting that Young was 15-of-18 for only 125 yards, and almost all of his passes were of the dump-off variety.

He did show his arm strength with a back-foot pass on a sideline route to Kenny Britt, but he was more often checking down to tight end Bo Scaife. He also showed that he was just as comfortable taking off and running if no one was open downfield.

All of that was good, but Young playing like he did on Sunday wins games when Chris Johnson breaks long runs and the defense plays well. It's the kind of approach that can win a lot of games, but you do have to wonder if it's enough to get the Titans to the Super Bowl.

If this is just the start for Young, he could somehow resurrect his career in Tennessee. But if that was VY at his best, than his best just isn't good enough.

Vince Young Takes a Step Forward, but Has a Long Way to Go originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans Make Another Change

JJ Cooper — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South, NFL Injuries

Mark Jones lost the Titans' return job during the preseason because he couldn't stay healthy. Now he's lost it again because of yet another hamstring injury.

Tennessee put Jones on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and signed ex-Jaguars returner Alvin Pearman to replace him, a week after Jones' injured his hamstring again. The decision to put Jones on injured reserve is a pretty strong sign that the Titans aren't very concerned about losing him -- there was a chance Jones would be healthy in four to six weeks, but considering how often he's injured his hamstring this year, the Titans decided it was better not to wait on him to get healthy.

Don't expect Pearman to be much more than a fill-in himself -- he's returned three punts and kicks in the past two years -- but he should be able to catch the ball, which is better than Ryan Mouton was able to do when he tried ot handle the job against the Jets.

While Pearman isn't a signinficant signing, this is one of the things a struggling team should do. Tennessee can sort through waiver wire players week after week to see if any of them can contribute to the 2010 club.

Titans Make Another Change originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans' Timing for Vince Young Switch Is Pretty Good

JJ Cooper — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

At 0-6, there are clearly no sure-thing wins for the Titans. But if you were going to pick a point in the schedule where new starter Vince Young could succeed, you could do a whole lot worse than this week: he gets to face the Jaguars, 49ers and Bills after a bye week.

None of those are sure-fire wins, but all three are winnable games (especially since the Jaguars and Bills passing games should help give the beleaguered Titans secondary a bit of a break). Win two of those games and Young all of a sudden looks like a spark, no matter what his passing stats look like.
What no one is discussing yet is what exactly will determine if Young's second chance as a starter is a success. It's almost impossible to expect Young to pile up 300-yard passing games, but if he can move the chains, show improved passing accuracy and avoid interceptions, maybe Tennessee can avoid going into next season looking for a young quarterback again.

If it happens, it means that Young learned a lot from sitting on the bench for the past season, but hey, at this point with the playoffs out of reach it's worth finding out what Young can do.

Titans' Timing for Vince Young Switch Is Pretty Good originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Young Regains Starting QB Job

R.J. White — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

In what is clearly a long overdue move, the Tennessee Titans are benching veteran Kerry Collins in favor of 26-year-old Vince Young, The Tennessean reports.

Owner Bud Adams reportedly pushed for Young this week. Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher deliberated on the decision, though, before finally agreeing with Adams and choosing Young as his starter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Fisher announced the change after Tennessee's practice Thursday.

Collins has been the Titans' starter since Week 2 of 2008, but an 0-6 start to the 2009 season, coupled with a lack of explosiveness, necessitated a move under center. Collins, in his 15th year out of Penn State, has completed just 54.8 percent of his passes this year, while throwing more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (five) en route to a 62.0 QB rating.

But is Young the answer?

In the midst of a lost season, there's no harm in seeing whether or not Young can captain the Titans' ship in 2010 and beyond. It's worth noting that while Young's career passing numbers aren't stellar (56.9 percent completion percentage, 67.8 QB rating), he has won 18 of his 29 starts dating back to his rookie season. Most rookies struggle to win games right out of the gate, and while Young doesn't deserve all the credit for those victories, a 62 percent winning percentage from a wet-behind-the-ears quarterback shouldn't just be dismissed.

With Wildcat football being all the rage, maybe people expected Young to be utilized in a form of the popular offense this year, but Fisher has stuck with a one-QB-under-center philosophy. Now that that QB is Young, the offense theoretically should be opened up, thanks to the danger of Young tucking the ball and picking up five or six yards at a time.

At 0-6, Tennessee's playoff hopes are over, and turning to Young at this stage gives Fisher and the front office a nice 10-game evaluation period with Young. If the third-year player out of Texas impresses, expect him under center in 2010. If not, the Titans will be forced to look for a young QB in next April's NFL Draft or in the off-season free agency market.

Young's trials and tribulations have been well-documented, and this is likely his last shot at securing a future as a starting quarterback in the NFL. We all love redemption stories, and I'm rooting for a happy ending to this saga as well.

Vince Young Regains Starting QB Job originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

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.

Some teams are entirely too stubborn. Not only will they leave bad quarterbacks in to take mental and physical beatings, but they'll insist on running offensive plays that don't seem to take the team's strengths into account, oftentimes leaning way too much on a struggling quarterback to make plays. As the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns (among others) have now learned, this is a recipe for disaster.

More: Carolina Sticking With Delhomme | Freeman in for Tampa

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Delhomme has done a lot for the Carolina franchise, and loyalty is rarely a bad thing, even in a cutthroat industry like the NFL.

However, can anyone explain why Moore hasn't gotten a shot at saving the Panthers' season yet?

If Moore is so terrible that he can't be trusted to start, why is he serving as the primary backup to an aging veteran who melted down severely in the playoffs last year and has shown little life so far this season? It just doesn't make sense.

In Delhomme's defense, neither did Sunday's play-calling.

The Panthers ran for over 200 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. The response Sunday? Delhomme put the ball in the air 44 times, while star running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 23 carries. That makes sense, right?

Didn't think so.

Status update: White hot

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson was simply awful again Sunday, this time in a 31-3 home loss to Green Bay. While he failed to hit half his passes, throw for 100 yards, or lead his team into the end zone, it wasn't all his fault. For some reason, the Browns decided to use the wildcat with Josh Cribbs exactly once against Green Bay.

Maybe the Packers showed a wonderful ability to stop the wildcat on that one play. Perhaps there is something about the Dom Capers' 3-4 defense that lends itself to stopping that gimmick, because the Vikings didn't use it in their matchup with the Packers on Oct. 5. However, Cribbs is the Browns' best offensive player right now. It's not even close.

Why isn't the ball in his hands more often?

As long as the team continues this failing strategy, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is, though it would likely behoove Cleveland to go back to Quinn. Anderson threw 11 passes at either Mohamed Massaquoi or Brian Robiskie on Sunday. They combined for one catch.

Status update: Very warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

While head coach Mike Singletary might have made up his mind quickly, the smart money is on this not being the last change he has to make.

Yes, Smith played well in a second-half stint Sunday at Houston. However, it's typically harder on guys like him when they have to actually start the game. Smith was the backup to Hill for a reason, and now he has to prove that he can do things he failed to do in training camp or preseason games, or in any of his other starts for the 49ers.

Smith is getting thrown right into the fire, as San Francisco has a Sunday date with unbeaten Indianapolis.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has flat-out stunk all season. He's been terrible. Finally, head coach Tom Cable had enough. While replacing Russell with Gradkowski didn't do the Raiders any good on the scoreboard, it may be a message to Russell that he has to put in the time and make the commitment to get better now, or he will run out of chances.

No, Oakland isn't a playoff contender. But they have to do something to put a jolt into Russell. Otherwise, they'll never know for sure what they have in him.

Status update: Very warm

Tennessee Titans: Kerry Collins and Vince Young

Titans owner Bud Adams has come out and said he wants Young to be the starter. Meanwhile, it appears that Collins is going to keep the job for at least another week (though head coach Jeff Fisher hasn't really said).

While it's hard to blame everything that has gone wrong on Collins, he hasn't played well. Not only that, but the Titans owe it to themselves to give Young a shot at some point. It's not much different than Russell, really. They have to find out what they have.

Plus, the owner wants it to happen, and he's the owner. It's likely that Young starts sooner rather than later.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson

It was made official Wednesday that Freeman will get the nod out of Tampa's bye week. The Johnson experiment was an unmitigated disaster, as Tampa Bay did virtually nothing with him leading the way.

Now, it's up to Freeman, the rookie first-rounder out of Kansas State. While it's hard to predict what the result of this experiment will be, it probably doesn't matter in the end. Once you put the rookie out there, you typically don't switch back unless he gets hurt.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Fisher Vague on QB Starter

JJ Cooper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

Whenever he's been asked before this week, Titans coach Jeff Fisher has made it clear that Kerry Collins is his quarterback.

Vince Young has played a little in mop-up duty of blowout losses (which is happening a lot), but Collins has been the undisputed starter.

But with his team sitting at 0-6 having already wrapped up the title of "NFL's most disappointing team of 2009," Fisher isn't ready to say who his quarterback this week. Instead, he's answering with what can best be termed as double talk.

"We've had a week to do some different things and considering the circumstances we're in right now with the record, there's things that you need to do differently,'' Fisher said on Monday. "Let's just say I am not going to be as specific and open-ended from a competitive standpoint.''

I've read fine print on credit card applications that were more clear than that. Reading between the lines, what Fisher seems to be trying to say is he's not telling anyone who is going to be the starting quarterback this weekend. Unlike Eric Mangini's attempts to gain a competitive advantage with his "Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson" debacle before the opener, Fisher's more likely leaving things vague so Young and Collins don't have to answer questions about it all week.

This would appear to be the logical week to give Young another chance to start--the team's going nowhere, Kerry Collins hasn't played well and the team needs to know what they have in Young before his $4 million bonus comes due this offseason.

Jeff Fisher Vague on QB Starter originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve McNair Reportedly Not Father of Mississippi Teenager

Matt Snyder — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:51:00 EST

Filed under: Titans

Last week, news broke that a Mississippi woman, Clover Lee, was claiming her 17-year-old daughter was actually fathered by the late Steve McNair. With McNair's estate in the process of being divided between his surviving family members, Lee and her attorney were attempting to throw their proverbial hats in the ring. In their statement, it was mentioned that a DNA test would conclusively answer some questions.

According to a report Saturday, it did.

Lee's 17-year-old daughter, according to The Tennessean, is not the daughter of McNair. In the nearly three months since the murder of McNair, it's pretty likely good news has been hard to come by for the surviving members of his family, but this has to qualify as relatively good news -- even if it's incredibly minor.

McNair's estate is worth $19.6 million. As things currently stand, it's being divided among his widow and four sons. Lou Taylor, a spokesman for McNair's estate, is still planning on handling more claims, though.

"Very early on it was apparent there would be additional heirs,'' Taylor said. "We took every precaution necessary to be able to provide accurate information for potential claims."

For now, if the report on the paternity test is accurate, it's still just those five immediate family members getting a piece of the estate.

Steve McNair Reportedly Not Father of Mississippi Teenager originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coach Killers, Week 6: The Lions

Tom Mantzouranis — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Titans

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.

This has nothing to do with the 26-0 shutout the Packers laid on the Lions last Sunday.

Typically, this space is reserved for a player or players whose performance on a given week made his coach's week miserable or job status shaky. But we're going a little bit bigger picture this week.

In this instance, it was the Lions' brass playing the role of coach killer on a coach manning sidelines over 500 miles south.

There are a lot of problems with the Titans right now. It's been enough to send Jeff Fisher into the arms of the enemy. But the biggest isn't Fisher and it's not Kerry Collins. It's the fact that Jim Schwartz is no longer around.

Albert Haynesworth's departure was the one that got the most press, but it was Schwartz's that was the most impactful. A team can overcome the loss of a player, no matter how talented. What it can't overcome is the loss of heart, and that's exactly what Schwartz brought to the Titans' defense as its coordinator.

Here's a secret some of you may already be privy to: Kerry Collins has been a bad quarterback for a lot longer than this year. The Titans have been successful because they've surrounded him with a very good running game and, up until this point, a great defense. The defense kept things close enough to allow the Titans to rely on those backs and give Collins a reprieve.

They still have that very good running game, but the defense has fallen by the wayside. Seventh overall in total defense in 2008, the Titans are now ranking 31st, just ahead of the Browns. The 33 points per game they've allowed thus far ranks dead last in the league, though that number is skewed by the debacling they took at the hands of the Patriots last week. Injuries are to blame, as well, but Schwartz's departure has this team just looking like an emasculated unit, with none of the physicality or intensity that made the group so fearsome in recent years. Again, this is not a talent issue, it's a character issue.

So as a result, the run game has had to go it alone in trying to salvage the wreck, and we all know how that's turning out. With no defense and no passing game, opponents are keying in on the Titans' backfield. The team is the equivalent of one hand trying to wash itself.

In 2008 the Titans averaged 31.8 carries per game, good enough for fifth in the league. This year they're at 26.0, or 20th. They're relying more on Collins because they don't have a defense that is keeping them close. And that's their downfall.

I could argue that without the fire on defense, the offense doesn't have anything to feed off, to fuel its own passion, but that would just be a guess from an outsider. But it's clear from watching film that this isn't the same Titans defense, and that tumbling domino has started a chain reaction that is directly leading to the exposing of Collins and the negative passing days that go with it.

If I were Jeff Fisher, I'd want to wear a Peyton Manning jersey, too. Or at least call Detroit to see if Schwartz has an opening at coordinator.

Coach Killers, Week 6: The Lions originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Fisher Dons Peyton Manning Jersey At Nashville Fundraiser

Clay Travis — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, Titans, NFL Coaching, NFL Video

Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans are 0-6. This week the Titans are on a bye, and Fisher appeared at a Rocket Town fundraising event alongside former Colts head coach Tony Dungy. In so doing Fisher chose to make light of the Titans failure. How? By taking off his trench coat to reveal that he was wearing a Peyton Manning jersey underneath.

Seriously.

As if that weren't enough, he then said, "I just wanted to feel like a winner today."

Manning, oh by the way, recently swept into Nashville and stomped Fisher's winless Titans 31-9. I'm sure they're laughing in Indianapolis, but is this really the way to endear yourself to the local community? Even if it's at a fundraising appearance? Especially when people are already starting to question whether you deserve another season as head coach?

I think not.

Especially after your team just got beat 59-0, the worst defeat in the NFL in over thirty years.

And I don't think the people of Nashville are overreacting. Would this go over well in any city in America if the team was 0-6? Can you imagine if Jim Zorn showed up at a Washington fundraiser in an Eli Manning jersey?

Would it even go over very well if the Titans were 5-1 and had only lost to Peyton Manning?

Nope.

A joke like this is perhaps the best evidence yet that Jeff Fisher has lost touch with the average fan's frustrations over the collapse of his team. Either that or he truly feels that he's so bulletproof thanks to his relationship with owner Bud Adams that he can get away with anything.

Regardless, fan outrage is building rapidly. And this, wearing the jersey of a rival even if it is for a fundraiser, may have just been the tipping point for the Jeff Fisher era in Nashville. Look out below, Jeff, at least you've got that Manning jersey to cushion your fall.

Jeff Fisher Dons Peyton Manning Jersey At Nashville Fundraiser originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sahel Kazemi-Steve McNair Case Not How Police Described It

Michael David Smith — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:22:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Police Blotter

We may never know exactly what happened the day former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, died. But it's clear from a new report by Armen Keteyian of CBS News that things didn't transpire exactly the way the police claimed.

The latest revelation from Keteyian's three-month investigation is that police were wrong when they said Kazemi bought the gun she used to kill McNair and herself from a man who was basically a stranger. In reality, cell phone records obtained by CBS -- records overlooked by the police -- show that Kazemi and the man who allegedly sold her the gun, a convicted felon named Adrian Gilliam Jr., knew each other well and corresponded some 200 times.

Unfortunately, the CBS investigation ends there, and doesn't offer a satisfying conclusion about whether the facts overlooked by police contradict the conclusion that Kazemi killed McNair and then herself. Keteyian ended his report by noting that it's still an open question whether Kazemi killed McNair: "That's the big question," Keteyian says, "One I'd like to see a lot more answers about."

Perhaps the police can pick up where Keteyian left off.

Sahel Kazemi-Steve McNair Case Not How Police Described It originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CBS Report: Police Account of Steve McNair Death Doesn't Add Up

Michael David Smith — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Police Blotter

The law enforcement investigation of the deaths of Steve McNair and his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, concluded that Kazemi shot and killed McNair before committing suicide. But a new investigation from CBS News raises serious questions about whether the police properly investigated the incident, and whether they may have reached the wrong conclusion.

On Monday's Early Show, correspondent Armen Keteyian reported that his own three-month investigation (video after the jump) found errors made by the police, including a major one about when Kazemi supposedly bought the murder weapon. Police claimed that they had pinpointed the time when Kazemi bought the murder weapon as during a two-hour period when she was absent from work. But Keteyian reported that the police were wrong about the date on which Kazemi was gone from work for two hours, and that there are major questions about whether she purchased the gun at all.

o. More Coverage o.
Police Release Text Messages Between McNair, Kazemi
Steve McNair's Other Girlfriend Revealed

And while police say Kazemi was distraught about being broke, CBS obtained her bank statement and other information about her finances and found that she had more money on hand than she owed in bills. Police also said Kazemi was angry about having been arrested for DUI, but CBS uncovered video footage showing Kazemi at the police station after her arrest, and she doesn't look distraught.

On Tuesday, CBS is promising to reveal a "big" mistake that the police department made in the investigation. Keteyian's reporting has already revealed enough to make me think the police have a lot of explaining to do.

CBS Report: Police Account of Steve McNair Death Doesn't Add Up originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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