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Hi Folks,
? Ricocheting towards the week 10 games here.? Lots of things happening and I want to keep you on top of it.? I know tons of you are in the playoff hunt. Congratulations and let's keep it rolling.? Remember, we'll be putting together our Wall of Champions for league winners here soon.? I fully expect to see you on the Wall!? In this report, I'll throw out a few random items and some news stories from our always interesting buddy Bob Harris from the TFL Report.? Our updated and expanded Players in the News will be following right behind this one. ? Let's Go! ? Joe ? //////////////////// ? Cool Link??? My friend Donald Pinchin runs a very hot site called?Fantasy Football Bookmarks http://ffbookmarks.com/? Donald's done great job and lives up to his claim of "The only bookmark you need?for fantasy football information."? Give it a look.? ? /////////////////// ? Finally a Realignment Plan that Makes Sense...?? Tired of seeing Atlanta in the West and Arizona in the East? Then check out this plan from Craig Ellenport: ? AFC Bird Division: Cardinals Eagles Falcons Ravens ? Cat Division: Bengals Jaguars Lions Panthers ? Horse Division: Broncos Chargers Colts Rams (close enough) ? Random Animals Division: Bears Bills Dolphins Seahawks ? NFC ? Old West Division: Chiefs Cowboys Redskins 49ers Industrial Division: Jets Packers Steelers Texans (would've been better if they were the Oilers, but this will do) Mythical Division: Browns Giants Saints Titans Fighting and Plundering Division: Buccaneers Patriots Raiders Vikings ? ? /////////////////////////// ? God Bless America?? You didn't sign up on this list to listen to my political views.? I will say this though:? Get out and Vote Tuesday.? We live in the greatest Country in the history of the world and you owe it to yourself and your Country to exercise one of your most precious rights and help select our leaders.? ? /////////////////////////// ? Defensive Opportunities?? Duane Cahill from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review checks in with his weekly look at defensive situations across the league that could create opportunities for the offensive players across the line from them. ? Once again this week, Zach Thomas finds himself on the inactive list. Without him, the Miami D gave up 95 yards to Ahman Green last Sunday.? James Stewart scored three times a couple of weeks back against the Bucs tough D (without MLB Jamie Duncan), so there's no reason not to start him, regardless of the matchup. In the same game, keep an eye on Stephen Boyd's status with the Lions.? He's missed most of the week's practices with a bruised foot that was sore enough there was concern it was fractured.? If he can't go, that opens things up for the 'Fins Lamar Smith. Keith Brooking joined Jessie Tuggle on the IR this week, meaning that Mike Alstott will have huge holes up the middle of the Falcons' defense to rumble through.? Look for big games from both him and Warrick Dunn. Bryce Paup and Orlando Thomas remain out of the Vikings lineup, which bumps Brett Favre's stock up a few notches.? Shaun King had a field day last week. For the second straight week, Jerome Bettis is facing a defensive line without key components.? Henry Ford is out, and Kenny Holmes is nursing a very sore shoulder.? Holmes will have to tough it out since backup Byron Frisch is inactive.? The bus should keep rollin' on. --Duane Cahill?? Pittsburgh Tribune-Review FFL Columnist http://www.triblive.com ? ///////////////////////////// ? TFL Report News and Notes??? Bob Harris' TFL Report is one of my favorite sources for in-depth insights and analysis.? Lots of sites tell you what's happened.? Bob tells you what it means.? Here are a few selections for this week's report. ? THE GLOVES ARE OFF: JOHNSON ACCUSES FLUTIE OF INSTIGATING... [IMAGE] Written By TFL Report Editor Bob Harris | Posted Saturday November 4, 2000 @ 11:30 PT [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] As reported by Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News, Rob Johnson may be on the sidelines, but he's no longer silent about the Buffalo Bills' brewing quarterback controversy. Johnson took exception to a column in this week's Sports Illustrated that quoted two unidentified Bills speaking about the team's quarterbacks. The story quoted one Bill as saying, "Rob seems distracted by things, like wanting everyone to like him." It quoted another as saying, "He'd rather get pummeled by four guys than throw the ball away" in order to help his quarterback rating. Johnson, who did not make himself available to local media this week, went on the Jim Rome nationally syndicated radio show Friday and said he thinks it was one player who made the comments. And he thinks that one player was Doug Flutie. "I think everyone who reads the article will pretty much know who it is," Johnson said. "I think it's the same one that's pictured in the article." The only Bill pictured in the article is Flutie. Johnson said he confronted the player whom he suspected on Friday. "We talked about it today," Johnson said. "He said he talked about the quarterback rating stuff, but he never mentioned my name. Basically, that was it." Asked if he thought Flutie was a good teammate, Johnson said: "I'm sure he's a good teammate for the rest of the guys, and he's fine with them. Obviously, he's real competitive. He's reaching the end of his career. He probably wants to still play. I don't blame him for that. But if he was responsible for these comments, I would not consider him a good teammate." Johnson said he did not see the team being divided over the QB question. "I don't see it that way," he said. "I don't know though. I mean, I haven't talked to all the players. But I don't think many players in our locker room worry about quarterback rating or even worry about what our quarterback ratings are. It's absurd to think players worry about that or even quarterbacks worry about that when they are playing in a football game." However, he said he didn't like unattributed comments from teammates. "For someone to go anonymously and say those things is kind of, I don't know, cowardly," he said. "It's not typical of football players... If a lot of guys feel that way, they should come to me and say it to my face," he said. "I'm a man. They're men, and I can take it. I'd rather hear about it from them than hear about it on the radio when I'm driving home, from an FM channel when I'm trying to listen to Limp Biskit." Regarding the desire to be liked by his teammates, Johnson said: "I'm 27 years old. Most of guys on our team are pretty young and we have a lot in common. We hang out. I don't go out of my way to make friends or kiss anyone's butt. Everywhere I've been on teams, I've had a good relationship with the guys on the team and I have a lot in common with them." Asked if he got the sense he was competing against Joe Montana for the QB job, Johnson replied, "I wish it was Joe Montana, because at least he won some Super Bowls and won MVPs in the league. I wish that was the case. I think that would be an easier situation." Regarding his injured shoulder, Johnson said it is not 100 percent. "It tightened up on me pretty good today," he said. "I haven't been able to get my arm pretty much all the way over the top or raise it all the way above my head to throw the ball. I've kind of been side-arming things just trying to get through practice so I could be the backup. I don't know what they are going to do. I want to back up, but that might not be in the best interest in the team (this week)." Head coach Wade Phillips said Friday he would wait until pregame warm-ups Sunday to decide whether Johnson would be number-two or number-three against New England. Although Phillips wasn't willing to address the escalating tension between Johnson and Flutie, Buffalo general manager John Butler, speaking on the Empire Sports Network, said he doesn't fear the team is in turmoil. "I was at practice today and it looked like a football team preparing for the New England Patriots," he said. "I'll tell you, if you've been around sports, been in locker rooms, if you get 53 men together, not everybody is going to like everybody all the time. The key is to be respectful of one another and when it comes time to play, you play hard and play together. "Everybody isn't going to be walking hand in hand down the hallways, but we've got a team that's going to stick together and play their hearts out and that's all that matters. "These are grown men. Sometimes it's fun to even blow it up a little bit more than it is, and so be it. It's incumbent upon our team to stick together and they will," he said. "I've been through this 150 times." Butler dismissed the SI quotes because they had no attribution. "If you want to say something and can't put your name to it, it bothers me," he said. "You've got a problem somewhere so I don't put any substance to it." Stay tuned boys and girls... We haven't heard the last of this one... ? ///////////////////// ? ? REDMOND INJURES FOOT; PATS LIKELY TO RELY ON FAULK... [IMAGE] Written By TFL Report Editor Bob Harris | Posted Saturday November 4, 2000 @ 11:55 PT [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] According to Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe, it looks like Kevin Faulk will be asked to carry running game when the New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills tomorrow. Faulk's opportunity comes at the expense of rookie J.R. Redmond, who displaced Faulk in the starting lineup with a 22-carry, 97-yard performance against the Colts two weeks ago, but was downgraded to questionable on Friday's injury report after hurting his foot in practice Thursday. According to head coach Bill Belichick, Redmond "stepped on something at practice and wasn't able to do much (Friday)." "I don't know if I'll be playing more," Faulk said. "Whatever the game plan is, I'm ready every week." Faulk will be facing a difficult test this time. Buffalo has surrendered 585 rushing yards, the second-lowest total in the NFL. "All you have to do is check the stats," Faulk said. "Teams don't average more than 3 yards a carry against them." The Patriots are averaging 3.4 yards per rush and Faulk is averaging 3.7 yards per rush. "It's always a challenge, but this time it's even more of a challenge because we are going against one of the best defenses in the league," Faulk said. "We can't expect to run over them, no. What we need is a balanced attack. If we can get that going and move the football, we should be all right." Faulk was on pace to gain more than 1,000 yards after four games but he has tailed off with a total of 171 yards in the last four games. But Faulk is the team's leading all-purpose yardage player with 1,156 yards, an average of 7 yards each time he has the ball. Team officials had hoped the Redmond's ascension to the first team would allow Faulk to concentrate on what most observers feel he is best suited for: third-down duty. As productive as he might have been the first half of the season, concerns over Faulk's durability have been an issue from day one and Belichick is convinced the former LSU standout's ability to run the ball effectively is inversely proportional to the number of time he carries it... Other items of interest... After working extensively at wide receiver this week, tight end Eric Bjornson was included on the team's list of early inactives yesterday. And his chances of contributing to the offense in coming weeks don't sound very good after team officials indicated that Rod Rutledge will start at tight end for the remainder of the season... Wide receiver Terry Glenn suffered a minor shoulder injury in practice, but he's listed as probable and coaches expect him to start and play as usual against the Bills tomorrow. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe missed Thursday's practice in order to stay with his wife as she gave birth to the couple's third child. The veteran signal caller will start and play as usual tomorrow. ? //////////////////////// ? ? REDSKINS' JOHNSON HAS SIGNIFICANT MCL TEAR... [IMAGE] Written By TFL Report Editor Bob Harris | Posted Saturday November 4, 2000 @ 09:30 PT [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported this morning that Redskins quarterback Brad Johnson is suffering from a significant tear to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee that is relatively close to being a complete tear. Maske went on to write, "even when his MCL heals sufficiently for him to resume playing, Johnson will face the risk of suffering a more severe knee injury by playing on the damaged joint. He will have to decide how much risk to take playing for a team he might leave via free agency in the offseason, at a time when his contract is about to expire and he has no guaranteed income beyond this season. "As he exited Redskins Park yesterday, Johnson acknowledged the increased risks but said he plans to play again this season and will make his decisions based solely upon his physical readiness to play, not upon future financial considerations. He said the timetable for his return is unclear, but he refused to rule out the possibility of playing in the St. Louis game." Team officials expect Johnson to miss that November 20 meeting with the Rams. Of course, the former Viking has already been ruled out for tomorrow's game against Arizona and Jeff George will make his first appearance with Washington's first team offense this season. Maske cited a source close to the situation as saying, coaches hope Johnson will return in time for the team's November 26 meeting with Philadelphia at FedEx Field. Johnson told Maske yesterday that he has every intention of playing again this season. "There's no doubt about that (he will play again this season). I think it's a matter of when. The weeks kind of go by fast. But we're still dealing with seven more games, a bye week and the playoffs. Right now our team just has to find a way to win, and I've got to find a way to get healthy. In time, then we'll get back together." Johnson said he would like to be ready to play against the Rams, the defending Super Bowl champions. The Redskins have 15 days between games because they have a bye the weekend after Sunday's Arizona game. "We probably won't make a decision about the St. Louis game until the Wednesday or Thursday before the game," Johnson said. "I would like to play. I think that would be a great game to be part of. The biggest decision isn't whether it's (artificial) turf or grass. It's just being able to drop back and being healthy enough to play a full game." However, Maske's sources indicate the Redskins are already planning for George to start against St. Louis a week from this coming Monday. Team officials have described Johnson's injury as a Grade 2 MCL sprain, but Maske's sources say the injury is at the severe end of the Grade 2 range and actually borders on being a Grade 3 sprain. A Grade 2 injury is defined as one in which the tissue has been partially but not completely torn and there is appreciable limitation in function. A Grade 3 injury is one in which tissue has been significantly or completely torn or disrupted and there is a virtually complete loss of function. NFL players regularly play with MCL injuries. The risk players take by playing on damaged knees is that they will suffer more severe knee injuries. Johnson said he knows the risks but will play when he is able. "The biggest thing is, right now the ligament is weak," he said. "Obviously right now... It could worsen very easily if I took a hit. There hasn't been a whole lot of discussion about that. The biggest discussion now is how we're going to treat it and get back as soon as possible. When I'm healthy enough to drop back and play, then I'll play that day." Johnson says the fact he intends to test the free agent market after the season won't be a factor in determining when he plays again. "The most important thing for me is to be able to drop back in the pocket," Johnson said. "From that point on, if I can drop back in the pocket, then I'll play. I'm not worried about ever taking a hit. I've gone through injuries before. The biggest thing to me is being healthy enough to play. I'm not worried about a contract next year with anyone. I feel like my play overall, and my history, will take care of itself." Johnson was on the practice field yesterday with his knee heavily wrapped. He moved little, made some throws and mostly watched George and rookie quarterback Todd Husak -- who has been elevated from third to second on the Redskins' depth chart -- at work. "I feel much better than I did Tuesday or Wednesday," Johnson said. "I can throw normal. There's no problem there. I can do a lot of walking. I ride the (exercise) bike about an hour a day. The problem is going lateral, side to side. As a quarterback, that's what you do in the pocket. So I'm not able to drop back at full speed and throw. But I'm better than I was earlier in the week." Other notes of interest out of Washington this morning... Veteran fullback Larry Centers comes off a productive game last Monday night, catching six passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Given the Redskins' injury problems at wide out, Centers could get a number of looks out of the backfield this week against his old team, the Cardinals. Although Albert Connell, Irving Fryar and James Thrash are all expected to play, the chances of any of them going full speed are slim. Look for cornerback Champ Bailey will see his most extensive playing time of the season at wide receiver in order to provide a legitimate deep threat to keep the Cards from focusing their all of their attention RB Stephen Davis. Davis had 280 yards on 55 attempts in his two games against the Cardinals in 1999 and in what will be a scaled-back game plan, he's likely to get 25-30 carries against the Cardinals' marshmallow-soft defensive front seven. ? ///////////////////////// ? ? [IMAGE] BRONCOS KNOW DAVIS IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR SUCCESS... [IMAGE] Written By TFL Report Editor Bob Harris | Posted Saturday November 4, 2000 @ 08:00 PT [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] This is it... It's time for Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis to make his second comeback of the season against the Jets tomorrow. Unlike the season opener when all eyes were on the veteran's surgically reconstructed right knee, this time everybody will be watching Davis' badly sprained left foot and ankle that get all the attention. The former University of Georgia star has missed five of the last seven games -- including three in a row -- and has gained only 99 total yards on 24 carries... Don't look for coaches to push Davis incredibly hard in his first game back. In fact, Davis isn't sure how much he might be capable of doing this week. "Let me just finish this game. If I can finish this game I'll be the happiest man on this planet," Davis said. "If I can stay healthy, I know good things are going to happen..." And make no mistake about it: Keeping Davis healthy becomes job number-one from here on out. Coaches are certainly aware than whatever chances the team might have of making a playoff run lie in having a healthy and productive Davis in the mix. So the goal this week will be easing him back into playing shape by giving him maybe 15 carries tomorrow with Mike Anderson taking the rest... One factor working in Davis' favor Howard Griffith's return to the lineup after experiencing swelling in his surgically repaired left knee the last two weeks. The veteran fullback said it's all part of the process, however, and has practiced full speed all week. "It's getting there. It's not going to be 100 percent until I'm not banging people anymore," he said... Bottom line on Davis? My expectations are high for him over the remainder of the season, but I'm not sure I'd want to bank on a huge game in his first week back... One last note out of Denver this morning... Backup running back KaRon Coleman was included on Friday's list of early inactives due to a sprained foot. ? /////////////////////////// ? ? A RELIEVED JEFF GEORGE READY TO FACE CARDINALS... [IMAGE] Written By TFL Report Editor Bob Harris | Posted Friday November 3, 2000 @ 15:05 PT [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] According to the Associated Press, veteran quarterback Jeff George looked relieved and relaxed after practice Friday. It was easier to concentrate on his upcoming first start with the Washington Redskins knowing that his newborn baby was doing fine. "Thank God," George said. "I think whenever something goes wrong and it's your own, you worry. First things first. My family's number-one in my life, and I got to take care of them." George is starting Sunday's game at Arizona because Brad Johnson sprained a knee ligament in Monday night's loss to Tennessee. But instead of preparing full-tilt for his first action of the season, George missed practice Wednesday when his wife delivered their third child. The next day, George was distracted by news that the baby, Jayden Scott, had breathing difficulties. It was only just before Thursday afternoon's practice that he received word that the baby was fine. George, who earlier this season answered "dad" when asked to give one word to describe himself, was confident he could overcome the distractions and give a good performance Sunday. "When you get some sort of news like we did," George said, "you take a back seat and say, `What's more important?' But I've prepared myself. It hasn't been just this week, I've been preparing the last 10 weeks. It's not a cram session. I've been preparing from the get-go." George signed a four-year, $18.25 million contract in April to back up Johnson so he could have a shot at playing for a Super Bowl team. He said he doesn't see Sunday's game as an audition either to replace Johnson or to build interest in other teams considering an off-season trade. "I think everybody knows what I can do," George said. "We've got an injury, and I've got to carry the torch. You hate to have to play under these circumstances. Brad's my friend. I wish him well. I hope he recovers fast." Johnson, who could miss two to four weeks with the injury, is one of many ailing Redskins starters, including wide receivers Irving Fryar and Albert Connell, who are likely to be less than full speed for Sunday's game. "I probably feel the healthiest out of anybody," George said. Coaches might have Skip Hicks handle kickoff returns against the Cardinals this Sunday in an attempt to lighten the workload for James Thrash, who has been returning kickoffs and punts, starting at wide receiver -- and -- playing on kickoff and punt coverage teams... ////////////////////// ? Great stuff as always from Bob.? For more information on how to subscribe to the TFL Report, check out http://www.tflreport.com/flashupdate.cfm? I've been a subscriber for years. ? ? To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: cheatsheets-unsubscribe@egroups.com - 0.gif
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