Paul Knows Football

Broncos LB Dumervil out for season (AP)

NFL News Blog — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:22:25 +0000

Elvis Dumervil, the NFL’s leading top sacker, says he won’t play at all this season. The Denver Broncos’ pass rusher underwent surgery last month to repair a torn chest muscle, but the team had been holding out hope he’d make a quicker than anticipated recovery and return to action in December.

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Tomlin’s Ad Hoc Approach to QBs Has Worked as Well as It Could

J.J. Cooper — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:35:00 +0000

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Injuries, NFL Coaching, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

If there has ever been a head coach faced with a can't win situation, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin may have faced it this August.

Even before Byron Leftwich suffered a knee injury, Pittsburgh columnists were ripping Tomlin for mishandling the Steelers' quarterback situation. Leftwich wasn't getting enough reps, Ben Roethlisberger was getting too many. Dennis Dixon wasn't ready.

But here's the thing: considering everything that has happened, Tomlin's plan is looking about as good as it could. Now obviously, losing Leftwich to a knee injury is bad. Losing Ben Roethlisberger to a four-game suspension is even worse. But if you consider those the unavoidable obstacles of the preseason, then what Tomlin did has given Pittsburgh about as good a chance to win the next four games as it could.

More: Leftwich's Injury Shuffles QB Picture | Steelers 2010 Preview
Roethlisberger: How Many More Bullets Can Big Ben Dodge? | Bradshaw Bashes QB

Coming into the preseason, Tomlin was faced with the unprecedented and impossible task of readying a healthy franchise quarterback who wouldn't play for the first quarter of the season, a veteran backup who was returning to the team after a year away, a promising young quarterback who needed plenty of practice time and the cagey veteran who's been around forever.

There aren't enough receivers, footballs and preseason games to pull all of that off. Usually a team works on getting two quarterbacks some reps, the third gets enough playing time to show the team what they've got and the fourth just collects garbage time snaps. Pittsburgh had four quarterbacks with legitimate roles.

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Giants acquire Vikings QB Rosenfels (AP)

NFL News Blog — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:32:13 +0000

The New York Giants have acquired quarterback Sage Rosenfels from the Minnesota Vikings for an undisclosed draft pick. A person within the league who is familiar with the trade confirmed the Giants have dealt for Rosenfels to back up Eli Manning. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not officially been announced.

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Sage Rosenfels Traded to Giants

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Giants, Vikings, NFC East, NFC North, NFL Rumors

The Minnesota Vikings were facing a logjam at quarterback as they made their final roster cuts by Saturday afternoon. The return of Brett Favre and the strong camp by rookie Joe Webb rendered one of the Vikings other quarterbacks expendable.

If Webb hasn't played like he did, he could have been sent to the practice squad. Once he ripped off long runs against San Francisco and Denver, however, there was no turning back. He wasn't going to clear waivers so the Vikings could put him on the practice squad, and they had to look at either keeping him on the 53-man roster or running the serious risk they would lose him.

Instead, the Vikings had three distinct choices. They could either keep four quarterbacks, cut/trade Tarvaris Jackson, or cut/trade Sage Rosenfels.

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Leinart’s fate with Cards still unknown (AP)

NFL News Blog — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:09:44 +0000

The Arizona Cardinals have released outside linebacker Cody Brown, a second-round draft pick out of Connecticut a year ago. Meanwhile, coach Ken Whisenhunt says he has told rookie quarterbacks Max Hall and John Skelton they have made Arizona’s 53-man roster. The fate of Matt Leinart remained uncertain.

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How Many More Bullets Can Contrite Roethlisberger Continue to Dodge?

David Whitley — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Filed under: Steelers, AFC East, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

Well, it's official. Ben Roethlisberger is the luckiest man alive.

Until Friday I thought it was Thomas Magill. He's the guy that jumped off a 40-story building this week. The poor guy's suicide attempt was foiled when he landed on a two-year-old sports car.

Roethlisberger has been trying to commit career suicide all his adult life. In the latest attempt, he was fortunate to hit on a scared 20-year-old coed.

She didn't want to testify about what happened on the night of March 5th. That pretty much paved the way for what happened Friday, when the NFL reduced Roethlisberger's suspension from six to four games.

The immediate argument was whether Roger Goodell did the right thing. The NFL commissioner didn't leave himself much choice. When Goodell initially suspended Roethlisberger, he said the penalty would be reduced if the Steelers quarterback was a good boy.

Big Ben just had to eat his vegetables, make up his bed every morning and stop being accused of sexual assault on a regular basis. Caligula could do that for five months.

Friday's parole announcement is just the latest lucky twist in Roethlisberger's charmed life. He could easily be dead or in jail; instead a guardian angel always intervenes.

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Fantasy Football Projections: NFC East

David Elfin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins, NFC East

Fantasy football week is upon us once again. Each FanHouse NFL division writer used their keen insight to predict the top four fantasy football scorers at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

David Elfin covers the NFC East.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Tony Romo, Cowboys:

No question. Last season, Romo had 26 touchdowns, just nine interceptions and 4,483 yards, all tops in the division. Former Seattle and Cincinnati starter Jon Kitna is the backup.

2. Eli Manning, Giants:

Solid second choice. Manning's 2009 numbers were 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 4,021 yards. His supporting cast is solid, if not as spectacular as Romo's.

3. Donovan McNabb, Redskins:

McNabb, whose sprained ankle will keep him out of the final two preseason games, had 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 3,553 yards last year for Philadelphia and has lesser talent around him this season. He's not the runner he was a decade ago either. Former Chicago starter Rex Grossman is the backup and worked in coordinator Kyle Shanahan's offense last year in Houston.

4. Kevin Kolb, Eagles:

He passed for over 300 yards in his two starts in relief of McNabb in 2009 and has some weapons but is way too unproven to be anything other than your third-string quarterback. Though, for all the hype he received, backup Michael Vick had just 37 touches in 2009.

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Fantasy Football Projections: AFC South

John Oehser — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Filed under: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans, AFC South

John Oehser covers the AFC South:

QUARTERBACKS

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis: 4,000-4,500 yards, 29-33 touchdowns, 10-14 interceptions.

Manning last season passed for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. What makes him a safe fantasy bet? He has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in 10 of 12 seasons, and the only time he didn't since 1999 was 2005, when he played sparingly the final two games.

2. Matt Schaub, Houston: 4,200-4,700 yards, 26-30 touchdowns, 14-18 interceptions.

He's ranked below Manning, but barely and only because he hasn't done it as often. He doesn't have Manning's proven record of winning, but in the Texans' offense, he's a solid bet for big fantasy numbers.

3. David Garrard, Jacksonville: 3,200-3,500 yards, 14-18 touchdowns, 10-12 interceptions.

Garrard could be perceived as a risk, but after going through a ton of offseason criticism, he has had two solid preseason games. He may not ever ever put up monster numbers in the Jaguars' offense, but he provides an added fantasy element as a runner.

4. Vince Young, Tennessee: 2,800-3,200 yards, 16-20 touchdowns, 14-16 interceptions.

Young's a difficult proposition as a fantasy quarterback. He improved last season and has shown good command of the offense in the preseason, but the effectiveness of running back Chris Johnson in the Titans' offense could keep his fantasy numbers down.

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Fantasy Football Projections: NFC West

John Hickey — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, NFC West

John Hickey covers the NFC West:

QUARTERBACKS

1. Alex Smith, 49ers: 3,000 yards, 22 TDs, 12 interceptions.

Smith, for the first time, has the same offensive coordinator two years in succession. That has given him some continuity, and maybe the chance to be the star the 49ers thought he was when they drafted him out of Utah. Competing in a weak division helps.

2. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks: 2,900 yards, 18 TDs, 14 interceptions.

Hasselbeck's numbers are pretty good, not world class, but you could do worse. The trouble is that the offensive line is missing its best player from a year ago, the retired Walter Jones, and Russell Okung, the first round pick who was supposed to replace him is hurt. That leads to the suggestion that Hasselbeck will be hurried and his interceptions could go up.

3. Sam Bradford/A.J. Feeley, Rams: 2550 yards, 16 TDs, 16 interceptions.

Bradford is the great unknown, but assuming he starts over A.J. Feeley, he could open up the Rams' offense. He's got a strong arm, but it will be a test to see if the weak Rams' offensive line can support him. It can only help that Steven Jackson can carry the bulk of the offense on the ground.

4. Matt Leinart/Derek Anderson, Cardinals: 1,850 yards 12 TDs, 14 interceptions.

The Cardinals will probably start the year with Derek Anderson, but even if Matt Leinart isn't kept on the bench or traded, why would you draft Anderson? He is erratic and Leinart has never established himself.

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Fantasy Football Projections: NFC South

Ray Glier — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Filed under: Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, Saints, NFC South

Ray Glier covers the NFC South.

QUARTERBACK

1. Drew Brees, Saints: 4,400 yards, 30-plus touchdowns.

He just keeps getting better. Now, we keep hearing/reading Reggie Bush is going to be tough to handle.

2. Matt Ryan, Falcons: 3,700 yards, 25-plus touchdowns.

Ryan threw for 2,916 yards in 2009 while notching just 14 games and playing injured in others. He reloads this season for big numbers.

3. Josh Freeman, Bucs: 2,600 yards, 15-plus touchdowns.

This was a semi-tough one with Carolina's Moore. Who deserves to be last between these guys? Freeman has a west coast offense and more targets and does not have to turn and hand the ball to two 1,000-yard rushers. But the Bucs also don't want the game only in his hands: they want Caddy carrying. Freeman also has a busted thumb.

4. Matt Moore, Panthers: 2,500 yards, 15-plus touchdowns.

Is Steve Smith over the hill? If he is, Moore is in for a tough year. He passed for 1,053 yards in seven games last season, but who knows this season.

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