NFLaccess

by Dan Graziano

Filed under: NFL Analysis

DeMaurice Smith didn’t get what he was hoping for Tuesday, but the head of the NFL players’ union did walk away from his latest meeting with NFL owners with some good reasons to feel encouraged about the state of the negotiations.

Smith has said publicly that he’s waiting for the owners to submit to the union a proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement, since it was the owners who opted out of the last one. That didn’t happen Tuesday, as the only issues discussed in a five-hour meeting were “non-core” issues such as the drug policy and potential changes to the commissioner-controlled player discipline system.

But NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was actually at this meeting (he wasn’t at the last one, in July), and the fact that anything at all was discussed made it the most encouraging session of the three the sides have held so far. In addition, they did resolve to meet again soon — most likely in mid-October — and continue Tuesday’s discussions.

‘Non-Core’ Progress Between Union, NFL At Latest CBA Meeting originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Matt Snyder

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

No one would really blame any player on the Washington Redskins for being less than chipper at this point in the still-young 2009 NFL season. After all, thus far they’ve gotten worked by a division-rival, squeaked out a 2-point home win against one of the worst teams in the NFL and most recently became the first team to lose to the Detroit Lions since 2007. Anyone from the outside could understand any negative feelings emanating from the locker room.

Running back Clinton Portis, arguably the team’s biggest star, isn’t hearing it. Tuesday afternoon, Portis was on a DC-area radio show and said all the right things — even with a touch of delusion.

Clinton Portis Still Playing Mr. Positivity originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Matt Snyder

Filed under: Eagles, NFC East

Coming off an easy victory in Kansas City, the Eagles have made a pair of roster moves involving big names. Jeff Garcia, who was brought in as quarterback depth after Donovan McNabb fell injured, has now been released. In a corresponding move, the Eagles have brought back linebacker Jeremiah Trotter for a third stint in Philadelphia.

The move to release Garcia isn’t all that shocking. The Eagles lost McNabb after Week 1. At the time, Michael Vick was still suspended and Kevin Kolb had never started an NFL game. Now, Vick is back and Kolb became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two career starts. Plus, with a bye this week, it’s likely McNabb will be ready to start in Week 5. There was simply no need to carry four quarterbacks.

Eagles Release Jeff Garcia, Bring Back Jeremiah Trotter originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Chris Burke

Filed under: Chiefs, Dolphins, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

The Dolphins traded an an undisclosed 2010 draft pick to Kansas City for quarterback Tyler Thigpen, filling Chad Pennington’s roster spot on the same day they played their injured QB on injured reserve.

The deal throws a little wrench into the perceived plan in Miami to anoint Chad Henne as Pennington’s permanent replacement. Henne, in his second year out of Michigan, still figures to make his first NFL start Sunday when the 0-3 Dolphins host Buffalo. But Thigpen performed decently in 11 starts for Kansas City last season, throwing from more than 2,600 yards with an 18-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Dolphins Deal for Tyler Thigpen originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Jets

After spending most of the Jets’ Week 2 win over the Patriots on the bench, wide receiver David Clowney went straight to Twitter, tweeting just half an hour after the game that he was “disappointed about my playing time.” Jets coach Rex Ryan (right) wasn’t amused.

So when Ryan saw Clowney’s tweet, he called Clowney into his office and informed him that he wouldn’t be playing at all in
Week 3.

Rex Ryan Benches David Clowney Over Twitter Complaint originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by JJ Cooper

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Eagles, NFL Analysis

This year I’m logging every sack and taking notes along the way. Here’s some plays that jumped out while watching the Week 3 games.

o. Center Geoff Hangartner is one of the few veterans on a young Bills line, but he was the one who looked out of place late in the Saints game. When the Bills got the ball with under three minutes to play needing two scores to win, Hangartner helped ensure it didn’t happen.

On second down, Hangartner gave Trent Edwards a bad shotgun snap — it almost scooted on the ground — then compounded his error by being driven back by Sedrick Ellis. Thanks in part to the snap, Ellis was able to grab Edwards for a sack.

Hangartner’s Snaps Left Edwards Running for His Life originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by JJ Cooper

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

In the past two weeks, the once-dead Steelers running game has shown slight improvement. Even with Rashard Mendenhall benched for disciplinary reasons, Pittsburgh was able to gash the Bengals for some solid gains in the first half.

But when the Steelers tried to hang on to their lead in the second half, it’s fair to ask if offensive coordinator Bruce Arians offense got a little too predictable.

Were the Steelers Too Predictable? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Dave Goldberg

Filed under: Broncos, Colts, Jets, Giants, Ravens, Saints, Vikings, NFL Analysis

The NFL loves parity. There’s just not much of it so far this season.

There are currently seven unbeaten teams and seven winless ones – including Carolina, 0-3 after losing Monday night’s game in the Jerry Jones Pleasure Dome. There also were seven and seven in 2002. The most 3-0 teams to start a season? Eight in 1998, when the NFL had 30 franchises.

Still, even for those off to perfect starts, nothing is guaranteed.

Historically, about three-quarters of 3-0 teams make the playoffs. But last season, five teams won their first three games and only two, the Titans and Giants, made it. Dallas finished 9-7, Denver 8-8 and Buffalo 7-9.

It should get back to a more normal percentage this year.

A 3-0 Start? As Last Season Showed, That Means Very Little originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Chris Burke

Filed under: Raiders, NFL Police Blotter

Alienated Raiders assistant coach Randy Hanson told the Napa Valley (Calif.) Police Department that Oakland head coach Tom Cable struck him and broke his jaw during an Aug. 5 altercation, according to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora. Police have been investigating the incident, which occurred at the Raiders’ training camp headquarters at the Napa Valley Marriott and sent Hanson to the hospital.

FanHouse’s Nancy Gay first reported that Cable had attacked Hanson during a coaches’ meeting, following up a National Football Post report that Hanson had been in an altercation with an unidentified member of the Oakland staff.

Hanson’s lawyer, John McGuinn, told NFL.com that the situation was “a textbook case of felony assault.”

Randy Hanson Tells Napa Police Raiders Coach Tom Cable Broke His Jaw originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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by Matt Snyder

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.

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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