NFLaccess

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Coaching, NFL Video

If you’ve seen or heard one postgame interview, you’ve seen or heard every postgame interview. A player or coach gets asked a routine question about how the game went, and the player or coach responds with a cliche answer about how “it’s a process and we’re just working to get better every day because our ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl.”

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Fortunately, for those of us that enjoy a good coaching meltdown, Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache has found a way to liven up his interviews.

Redskins Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache Battles Studio Analyst originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Fans

Brett Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings almost two weeks ago. When that happened, there was an assumption that his presence would help the Vikings unload what was left of their tickets for the 2009 season.

With four weeks to go before their home opener in Week 3 against San Francisco, the Vikings are still on a list of teams who are struggling to sell out their stadiums. The situation isn’t as dire as in, say, Jacksonville, but it has to be a surprise to many that the team is still trying to fill the Metrodome.

Vikings Still Have Unsold Tickets originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

In case you’ve somehow forgotten how Matt Cassel became a star in the first place — it all started when Patriots QB Tom Brady took a hit low in a Week 1 game against Kansas City last year, injuring his left knee.

Cassel parlayed his one season as the Patriots starter into a six-year, $63 million contract with the same Kansas City squad. And, despite an up-and-down preseason, Cassel — in large part because of the amount of money owed him — remained entrenched as the Chiefs’ No. 1 QB.

That is, until he took a hit low during the Chiefs’ preseason game with the Seahawks on Saturday night, injuring his left knee. Irony 1, Cassel 0.

Irony, Thy Name Is Cassel: Chiefs QB Goes Down With Left Leg Injury originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Knox Bardeen

Filed under: Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, NFL Analysis

ATLANTA, Ga –Everyone loves last-second touchdown passes to win games in the NFL. It doesn’t matter if it happens in the preseason.

The Atlanta Falcons‘ first-team offense moved the ball well in the first half, but quarterback Chris Redman and the second- and third-string units stole the show on Saturday night, as the Falcons beat the San Diego Chargers 27-24 on a touchdown pass from Redman to Eric Weems with nine seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Redman, who came into the game in the third quarter, completed 15-of-19 passes for 134 yards and compiled a 113.6 quarterback rating. He threw the game-winning pass, but also ran for a 10-yard touchdown earlier in the game.

Falcons Answer Some Questions, Raise Others in Last-Second Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Calvin Watkins

Filed under: 49ers, Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Tx — The Cowboys offense can be good and bad without wide receiver Roy Williams.

The first-team offense scored 10 points and had a field goal nullified by a penalty in a preseason game on Saturday night against the 49ers. Yet, this same offense didn’t score any first-quarter points for the first time this preseason.

Williams is out with a shoulder contusion and coach Wade Phillips said following the 49ers’ 20-13 victory that his wide receiver is feeling better.

Dallas Makes Strides in Loss to 49ers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: Giants, NFL Analysis

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — They may not yet have looked it this preseason, but the Giants are good. As currently constructed, they must be counted among the favorites in the NFC when the season begins in two weeks. Their biggest problem, however, is the same one they had last December — their downfield deep threat is headed to prison and they don’t seem to have anybody on the roster with whom to replace him.

So soon after the Plaxico Burress fiasco, the Giants don’t necessarily want to pursue disgruntled Denver receiver Brandon Marshall. But they haven’t ruled it out either, and how could they? You watch the Giants play, and the deficiency is obvious. They may well be one star receiver away from being a Super Bowl team. Which is why Saturday’s game — a game in which Steve Smith and Mario Manningham were dropping passes left and right — would have gone down as another lost night if not for the spectacular fourth-quarter performance of first-round draft pick Hakeem Nicks.

Could Hakeem Nicks Save the Giants From Brandon Marshall? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Nancy Gay

Filed under: NFL Training Camp, NFL Analysis

OAKLAND, Calif. — NFL preseason games are about as meaningful as a Lindsay Lohan vow of chastity. But there is a modicum of significance to the third exhibition contest. Starters play for extended periods. Opponent game plans are installed. Coaches expect signs of rhythm, timing, execution. Then they yank the first teams at halftime and put them on ice until
Week 1.

All of which made Saturday’s surreal 45-7 New Orleans Saints‘ takedown of the Oakland Raiders at a stifling hot, mostly empty Oakland Coliseum even more disturbing for those expecting to see, well, anything of substance from the always rebuilding home team.

Meltdown in Oakland: Raiders ‘Embarrassed’ by Saints 45-7 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Chris Burke

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Quarterbacks

LANDOVER, Md. — If there’s anything NFL coaches like to see from young players, it’s an ability to learn from their mistakes. So when Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan — one week after throwing an interception in Pittsburgh’s red zone — was picked off by New England’s Jonathon Wilhite on the Patriots goal line, it had to set off some warning lights for Washington’s staff.

It certainly did amongst the Redskins fans in FedEx Field. As Wilhite rumbled 99 yards for a New England score, the disgruntled Washington faithful let it all out.

“Keep giving away points, Colt!” … “There goes your roster spot, buddy!”

Colt Brennan’s Roster Spot Still in Danger After ‘Mixed Bag’ Performance originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Packers, NFC North

Yes, it’s the preseason. The games don’t matter, and everyone starts over at 0-0 after next weekend.

However, every once in a while, something happens that makes you turn your head. You become compelled to pay attention to statistics and trends from these meaningless games, and you wonder out loud if they could possibly mean something this time. In the summer of 2009, the man turning those heads is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers Either Peaking Too Early, or Setting Up for Huge Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

by Dave Goldberg

Filed under: Patriots, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

Two seasons ago, Rosevelt Colvin left the field at Gillette Stadium in the company of a trainer.

A few minutes later, the press box public address system intoned: “Colvin has a shoulder injury and his return is questionable.”

Shoulder? After the game — to which he didn’t return — Bill Belichick said it was a foot and gave no specifics. Told it been announced as a “shoulder,” the Patriots coach replied: “OK, let’s make it a shoulder and leave it at that.”

That’s why nobody expects to learn anything from the Patriots about Tom Brady’s throwing shoulder, bruised when he was ground into the turf in Washington Friday night by Albert Haynesworth.

How’s Brady’s Shoulder? Don’t Expect an Answer From Belichick originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments