Official NFL Thread

[daigong]

^ FANTASY ALERT!



changed the draft time to: Sun Aug 22 10:30pm EDT

which is 8 days, 21 hours, and 7 minutes from now. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early since your draft will start promptly at the assigned time.

[RatBastich]

Stafon Johnson has surgery on ankle

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rookie Stafon Johnson has a game ball from his NFL debut. He also has had his dislocated right ankle repaired, and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher isn't ready to call the running back's season over just yet.

Johnson tweeted Sunday he was fresh out of surgery. This is the running back whose senior season at Southern California was ended in September when a barbell crushed his neck and larynx, leaving him to learn how to talk again and trying to play his way into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He promised before surgery he'll be back better than before.

[RatBastich]

Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans return

Associated Press

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Philadelphia Eagles center Jamaal Jackson and guard Todd Herremans were both taken off the physically unable to perform list as the team returned to practice at Lehigh University on Sunday.

Jackson has been trying to come back from a torn ACL from the 15th game of the 2009 season and Herremans has been dealing with a sore foot.

Jackson and Herremans did limited work in the morning practice and were given the afternoon practice off. It was still a good sign for both players, especially Jackson, to be back on the field.

[RatBastich]

Torry Holt (knee) placed on IR

By Mike Reiss
ESPNBoston.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Veteran wide receiver Torry Holt was placed on injured reserve by the New England Patriots on Sunday, the team announced. Holt has a knee injury and will undergo surgery this week, according to his agent, Kennard McGuire.

"It's a great disappointment for Torry," McGuire said. "He saw this as a terrific chance to play with another great quarterback and being coached by one of the all-time greats."

It is possible the surgery will mean the end of Holt's stellar career.

The 34-year-old Holt was entering his 12th NFL season and first in New England after playing for the St. Louis Rams (1999-2008) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2009). He entered the 2010 season ranked 10th in NFL history with 13,382 receiving yards and 11th in receptions with 920.

Holt signed a one-year contract with the Patriots on April 20, the team viewing him as a sound insurance policy for the recovering Wes Welker and the projected development of second-year player Brandon Tate. Since that time, Welker has returned to practice quicker than anticipated and Tate has shown promise.

Thus, Holt wasn't necessarily a slam dunk to land a roster spot. The Patriots have Randy Moss, Welker, Tate, Julian Edelman and 2010 third-round draft choice Taylor Price as virtual locks, so the depth chart was crowded even before Holt hurt his knee.

In other roster moves, the Patriots waived safety Ross Ventone, re-signed receiver Buddy Farnham, and signed free-agent offensive lineman Brian Simmons.

[RatBastich]

Report: Ben Tate headed for IR

ESPN.com news services

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans rookie running back Ben Tate will need surgery after suffering a severe ankle injury in Saturday's preseason opener in Arizona.

The 5-foot-11, 211-pound Tate was hurt in the third quarter of the Texans' 19-16 loss to the Cardinals. Tate, the Texans' second-round draft pick out of Auburn, had only two carries for 7 yards before he was carted off the field.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Sunday that the injury is "pretty severe," and that Tate will likely have surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[RatBastich]

Cowboys RT Marc Colombo hurts knee

By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com

OXNARD, Calif. -- The Dallas Cowboys suffered a scare Sunday when starting right tackle Marc Colombo was carted off the field following practice with a right knee injury.

Colombo, who was injured toward the end of the day's second practice when his knee locked up, has been diagnosed with loose cartilage. If he undergoes arthroscopic surgery to clean it up, he could miss two to four weeks.

Colombo will be sent back to Dallas to undergo an MRI exam.

Normally, Alex Barron would have replaced Colombo in the lineup, but he's out with an ankle injury. Rookie Sam Young replaced Colombo at right tackle.

Robert Brewster, who can play both tackle spots, could also fill in for Colombo.

Colombo played the first nine games of the 2009 season before suffering a broken left fibula and a high ankle sprain. He didn't return until the playoffs. Prior to that, Colombo had been a durable player for the Cowboys.

"I think he'll be OK," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said. "I don't think it's any major problem. We don't want to miss him."

Colombo didn't miss a game from 2006 to 2008. But he's endured surgeries to both knees in his career and wears knee braces.

In 2002 when playing for the Chicago Bears, he suffered a dislocated left patella and femoral nerve damage. Colombo missed the entire 2003 season and part of the next season as he rehabbed the injuries.

The Bears released Colombo after the season opener in 2005 and he was out of football until the Cowboys signed him on Nov. 1, 2005.

He earned the starting right tackle job in 2006 and didn't miss a game until last year.

[RatBastich]

Jerry Jones feeling better after surgery

By Calvin Watkins
ESPNDallas.com

OXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday that he's feeling better and headed toward a full recovery after undergoing what he called major surgery on July 20, a few days before his team started training camp.

Jones, 68, wouldn't be specific about what the surgery was for, other than to say it wasn't life-threatening or heart-related.

"The bottom line is I have been kinda easing it around a little bit, but that's about over with," Jones told ESPNDallas.com. "With a couple of limitations."

Jones won't reveal what those limitations are but admitted he hasn't looked his best and there are times when he disappears from practice quickly after it's over.

Jones says his commitment to the Cowboys and energy level is as high as ever.

"The age is not the deal," Jones said. "It's the energy and the interest. I mean this very much. I have as much passion and energy in what we're going to do out here in practice [as] I did the first time I went out to Thousand Oaks [in 1989]. I don't feel a bit different."

[RatBastich]

Report: Bills' top RBs to miss preseason

By Tim Graham
ESPN.com

Buffalo Bills running backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch likely will miss the rest of the preseason, the Buffalo News reported Sunday.

According to the report, Jackson will be out four to six weeks with a broken left hand. Lynch will miss three to four weeks with a sprained ankle.

The Bills have three preseason games left. The regular-season opener is four weeks away on Sept. 12 against the Miami Dolphins in Buffalo.

Both backs were hurt on the opening drive of Friday night's lopsided preseason loss to the Washington Redskins.

Rookie running back C.J. Spiller will likely get the bulk of the workload for the remainder of the preseason. He was the ninth overall pick in April's draft, but he doesn't provide the same substance as Jackson or Lynch.

Spiller, a dominant player in college, was hardly a workhorse at Clemson. He averaged only 15.4 carries a game his senior year.

Former Indianapolis Colts reserve Chad Simpson and undrafted rookie Joique Bell will also get quality reps in the coming weeks.

[RatBastich]

Reports: Larry Fitzgerald sprained MCL

ESPN.com news services

An MRI showed Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald sprained the MCL in his right knee in Arizona's 19-16 loss to Houston on Saturday night, according to multiple media reports.

Fitzgerald was hurt when he took a nasty hit from Texans safety Eugene Wilson as he caught a 16-yard pass from quarterback Matt Leinart. Fitzgerald stayed in the game.

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt told The Arizona Republic that he planned to be careful with Fitzgerald over the next few weeks.

"I think we know what Larry can do," Whisenhunt told the newspaper on Saturday night.

Fitzgerald is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, according to The Arizona Republic.

"They say they want to be careful with it so it doesn't linger and … I'm ready to go for Week 1 at St. Louis," Fitzgerald said. "It's frustrating, because I was having my best camp as a pro."

[RatBastich]

Tom Brady: Relationship with Kraft good

ESPNBoston.com

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady acknowledged Monday that the index and middle fingers on his throwing hand were taped at practice Sunday because he hit them on a helmet during last week's preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints, but said of the injury: "It's nothing."

"It's one of those things that happens," Brady said during an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was similarly unconcerned when asked about the fingers on Sunday morning, joking that the injury was not "life threatening."

Brady, whose contract status has been the talk of training camp, also acknowledged during Monday morning's interview that he played golf last weekend with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

[RatBastich]

Tim Tebow runs for TD in final moment of Broncos debut

Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Fans booed. Flashes went off. Tim Tebow had arrived in the NFL.

With a much better haircut and a bruising touchdown, no less.

The rookie quarterback from Florida made his first preseason appearance Sunday night, and got into the end zone on the final play of a 33-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tebow went 8 of 13 for 105 yards in the second half, with most of the completions and yards coming on dump-offs during the closing drive against a soft defense. On the game's final play, Tebow scrambled 7 yards for a touchdown, running over safety Kyries Hebert to score -- a power move he used so many times in college.

Did anyone expect anything less?

[RatBastich]

Brett Favre arrives in Minnesota

ESPN.com news services

EDEN PRAIRIE -- Brett Favre is back in Minnesota, stirring hope among Vikings fans that he may be ready to play this season.

A private jet trimmed in the Vikings' purple and gold carrying the 40-year-old quarterback landed at an airport outside Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon. Local TV stations carried Favre's arrival live.

Minnesota Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive end Jared Allen and placekicker Ryan Longwell traveled to Hattiesburg on Monday to get an answer from Favre, sources told ESPN.

FoxSports.com reported Tuesday that Favre told the three players that he would play for the Vikings this season.

The Vikings' urgency to get an answer turned to panic Monday when Favre was reluctant to report to the team this week and wouldn't give word if he was coming, sources told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

Favre's website posted a message earlier saying "stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre's possible return." There's still no official word from the team.

Favre will turn 41 in October and has flirted with retirement for years while playing for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and now the Vikings. He threw 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season to help Minnesota reach the NFC title game.

He missed training camp with an ankle injury.

The team dispatched Allen, Longwell and Hutchinson to talk him into coming. None of the three players was back for practice Tuesday. Their mission was to get Favre and when he boarded a plane Tuesday afternoon, that was accomplished.

In many ways, the offense is in more disarray than a year ago, and the team needed Favre as quickly as possible. Percy Harvin was away from July 31 until Monday because of the deaths of two people who were close to him, and because of his migraine headaches.

Adrian Peterson has missed most of camp with a hamstring injury. Sidney Rice is sidelined with a hip problem.

The players' envoy to Mississippi was first reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

When asked about the report of Favre's plane heading to Minnesota and whether Favre would play for the team in 2010, Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell hedged.

"That's all speculation right now," Bevell said. "If it were to come to pass, Coach [Brad Childress] would make that call."

It was one year ago Wednesday that Favre reported to the Vikings last season.

Favre told ESPN's Ed Werder earlier this month that he will play this season if healthy. The quarterback, who had ankle surgery in May, met with Dr. James Andrews last week to try to determine why the ankle is still bothering him.

[kuro808]

so Favre you coming back soon or do we have to wait until the preseason is over?

[Shin Asuka]

According to the timeline last year, its about time that the helicopter follows him from the airport to the Vikings HQ. Practice for a bit and announces he's out of retirement again.

[daigong]

^ The best part is when they all visited his house to beg him. Chumps. Esp. those fuckers at ESPN who follow the story 24/7.

I can see this happen, esp. when McNabb and TO were on Pro's vs Joes:

Donovan McNabb says he could play for NBA's Wizards in event of NFL lockout



Brandon Marshall isn't the only NFL player who sees the NBA as a backup plan if NFL owners lock out the players next year.

Washington Redskins QB Donovan McNabb has his eye on the cross-town Washington Wizards.

Speaking with NBC in D.C., McNabb said he's hopeful the NFL and NFLPA will be able to reach a deal to keep playing after the current CBA expires following the 2010 season.

But if a lockout occurs, here's his plan (via the Washington Post):

"Well, we just drafted John Wall, (have) Gilbert Arenas, they're looking for kind of a power guard that can come in, get a little physical down low. I can go play with the Wizards if things don't really work out. Drop about 10, 15 basketball pounds...slap some boards a little bit, get up on the rim."

McNabb, 33, is likely joking. Although he did play basketball at Syracuse, don't count on him suiting up as a teammate to Wall, the Wizards' No. 1 overall draft pick.

[xXSpanishFlyXx]

My life would be at a stand still if there was a hold out and no NFL.

[kuro808]

^ werd

so Favre came back.... and said it would be his final season

super champion= permanently retired?
anything less= he'll play until he is....... 50

[RatBastich]

Kenny Phillips, Keith Bulluck to play

By Ohm Youngmisuk
ESPNNewYork.com

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin might be running out of quarterbacks, but he'll have two key defensive players back on the field on Saturday for the first time this preseason.



Safety Kenny Phillips and linebacker Keith Bulluck will play against the Steelers on Saturday. Coughlin said both players -- projected as starters this season -- will play "a little bit."


This will be Phillips' first game since Week 2 against the Cowboys last season. Phillips underwent microfracture surgery in September and there was concern about a degenerative condition in his knee. The Giants signed free-agent safeties Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant while drafting safety Chad Jones in the offseason.



Phillips, though, has steadily progressed throughout the offseason with his rehab. He has taken a limited amount of reps with the second-team defense and has been moving well. The Giants likely will only play Phillips a short amount of time to play it safe.


"Normal progress and the fact that he was out there working and hadn't suffered any setbacks and the leg was stronger, he wanted to keep doing more," Coughlin said. "And the doctors agreed."



Bulluck is just over seven months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL. He has not played since last December. The veteran linebacker, who signed with the Giants as a free agent to help replace former middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, is eager to get back on the field. He has been working mostly with the second team at middle linebacker behind Jonathan Goff.


While the Giants defense is getting healthier, the offense can use some help. Coughlin watched the Jets injure his top two quarterbacks in a preseason game on Monday.



Eli Manning suffered a 3-inch gash on his forehead that required 12 stitches after a hit by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace and is out against the Steelers.


Backup Jim Sorgi suffered a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder after he was drilled by the Jets' Lance Laury and is out for two to three weeks. Coughlin did confirm that Sorgi's injury is not related to the partially torn labrum the backup has dealt with in the past.



Third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar will take the majority of the snaps. The Giants signed rookie free agent Dominic Randolph, who may see limited time on Saturday.

[RatBastich]

Agent: Giants' Jim Sorgi out 2-3 weeks

By Ohm Youngmisuk
ESPNNewYork.com

ALBANY, N.Y. -- As it turns out, Rex Ryan's Jets injured two New York Giants quarterbacks.



Backup quarterback Jim Sorgi has a torn capsule in his right throwing shoulder and will be out two to three weeks, his agent, Matt Brei, said on Thursday. Sorgi will join Eli Manning, who has 12 stitches on his head from the game against the Jets, on the sideline for Saturday's game against the Steelers.


Sorgi underwent an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery and was told by doctors that the injury is not related to the partially torn labrum he has dealt with in the past. Tendinitis from the partially torn labrum forced him onto the injured reserve last season with the Colts.



Sorgi's injury was first reported by the Newark Star-Ledger.


Sorgi could miss the remainder of the preseason because of the hit he absorbed from Jets linebacker Lance Laury, who blasted the backup quarterback a second after he delivered his second touchdown pass to Victor Cruz on Monday night.



This happened after Manning suffered a 3-inch gash on his forehead after being drilled by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace, losing his helmet and hitting his head on Jets safety Jim Leonhard's facemask.


With their top two quarterbacks out, the Giants were forced to practice with just one healthy quarterback, third-stringer Rhett Bomar. Head coach Tom Coughlin said it was the first time he had ever had to practice with only one quarterback.



The Giants signed rookie free agent Dominic Randolph on Wednesday night and released injured tight end Jake Ballard. Randolph was in the Giants' rookie minicamp in May before being released.


Bomar, a second-year pro who was a practice-squad player as a rookie, expects to see the majority of the action Saturday against the Steelers.



Though Manning feels well enough to practice, he won't be able to fully return until he can wear a helmet without impacting his wound.

[RatBastich]

Wes Welker returns from knee injury

By Mike Reiss
ESPNBoston.com

ATLANTA -- New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker suited up for Thursday night's preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons and played for the first time since injuring his knee in January.

In the strongest signal yet that he will be on the field for the Patriots' season-opener Sept. 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Welker was on the field for six snaps on the Patriots' opening drive. He caught a 6-yard pass on his first play back. On his second play, he was on the receiving end of a 14-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady that gave the Patriots a first down.

Both plays were over the middle and Welker was tackled both times. Welker was targeted on the third play, as well, but was hit hard on a receiver screen that was incomplete.

He finished the first drive with those two catches for 20 yards.

Welker tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee Jan. 3 playing against the Houston Texas.