Stafford reportedly has a season-ending shoulder injury
By Gayle Saunders
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By the look of the preliminary tests quarterback Matthew Stafford has a Grade 3 separation of his throwing shoulder, which most likely means he would be lost for another season.
During Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Jets, Stafford sustained the injury to his right shoulder. Stafford had an MRI on Monday, and it is not known if that test definitely confirms the Lions’ initial findings.
Stafford will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, Stafford seeked a second opinion earlier this season for a previous shoulder injury. Currently there are no decisions about Stafford’s status for the rest of the season.
“I’ve got to talk some more with these doctors and kind of figure out what they’re thinking,” Stafford told a Detroit radio program Monday night. “It’s kind of frustrating to be coming back and, two games later, be knocked out again. We’ll take it day by day and figure out what the plan is.”
Stafford’s first shoulder injury the beginning of this season was a Grade 2 separation, which kept him out six weeks. Now with just eight weeks left in the regular season, a Grade 3 separation would mean the end of the season. Stafford said his current injury felt “very similar” to his first shoulder separation.
It must be frustrating for Stafford who is dealing with his fourth injury in less than two years. He’s missed two games with a dislocated right knee cap, and then after playing two games with a separated left shoulder, he sat out the final four games of the 2009 season.
Troy Polamalu blows up Terrell Owens
By Gayle Saunders
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Troy Polamalu blows up Terrell Owens, only thing is Owens got right back up. At least we can applaud a good clean hit with no injury… right? On the night TO had 10 receptions for 141 yards and 2 TD’s!
Nick Collins knocks out Roy Williams
By Gayle Saunders
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Collins went helmet-to-helmet with Williams after an incompletion in the third quarter of the Packers’ 45-7 victory over the Cowboys Sunday night. Collins was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Williams said after the game that he didn’t think Collins should be punished for the hit.
DeSean Jackson is back in action!
By Gayle Saunders
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Good news for Philadelphia fans as Desean Jackson was back at practice and doing what he does best running around and making catches.
It was a big step in the right direction for Jackson after taking a violent hit 17 days ago from Falcons db Dunta Robinson which resulted in a concussion for Jackson. Robinson also suffered a concussion on the play, who also needed to sit out one game. The Falcons also had their bye last week, but Robinson’s status for this week is unknown. At the present time Robinson is appealing the $50,000 fine that the NFL fined him for the hit.
“It feels good,” Jackson said Wednesday. “Being away from the games and practices and things like that has been hard, to sit around and just watch and stuff, so it’s good to get back out there and get going.”
From the looks of it Jackson could be back on the field for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. He has passed post-concussion testing, and the most promising part is he took part in his first full practice.
“We’ll see,” Jackson said when asked if he will start. “Go out through the week and see how I do and things like that. So it’s still only Wednesday so we still have a couple days to kind of get a feel for how I’m doing and things like that.”
If you go back and ask Desean Jackson about the play he couldn’t remember the collision. That is a typical signed from anyone who suffers a head injury of that magnitude. The Pro Bowler insists that going over the middle will be no problem and is ready to return back to action. This was Jackson’s second concussion in two seasons.
“People can talk and say everything you can about me having it in my mind. At the end of the day, I still have to go out there and play football,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to worry about it being in the back of my mind. It’s something that happened, unfortunately, but I still have to go out there and do a job, so I won’t be worried about it.”
Desean Jackson is without a doubt a huge part of the Eagles passing attack. On the year he has 19 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns, and has one run for a touchdown. You also have to account for Jackson on special teams he’s one of the most dangerous returners in the league.
The 23-year-old play maker can score from anywhere on the field when the ball is in hands. So far in his career he’s averaged 44.3 yards per score on his 22 touchdowns in three seasons which includes the playoffs. Eleven of his TDs have been from 50 yards or more.
4 NFL Teams get serious about Moss
By Gayle Saunders
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The four teams that are the most serious about Randy Moss are the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins league sources told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi on Wednesday.
All four teams have until 4 p.m. ET today to make a waiver claim on Moss, whom the Vikings waived Tuesday, less than a month after trading a third-round draft choice to the Patriots to re-acquire Moss.
The Rams are highest on the totem pole with a waiver priority list at 13th followed by the Redskins at 15th, the Dolphins at 18th and the Titans are 23rd. The Titans, Redskins and Rams all have a bye this week, which would be the perfect opportunity to work Moss into their systems.
Tuesday it was reported by NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that the Rams, Dolphins, Titans and Seahawks were considering Moss.
For any of the teams right now that want to pick up Moss, they would have to pay him $3 million in salary if he is claimed. If he does not get picked up, the Vikings will have to pay for his full salary and Moss would then become an unrestricted free agent allowing him to sign with any club.
Its been reported that some people in the Vikings front office knew head coach Brad Childress intended to waive Moss, however the news might not have traveled to team owner Zygi Wilf. Childress has total power over team personnel decisions for the Vikings. Moss’ actions in the locker room and after Sunday’s loss at New England was the reason Childress’ gave him his walking papers.
Troy Smith: 49ers Go with a new Smith
By Gayle Saunders
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49ers QB Alex Smith will not be in the lineup up this weekend due to a seperated shoulder, however Coach Singeltary has turned to Ex Raven QB and heisman trophy winner Troy Smith.
Most people would have thought David Carr would take the start but Singeltary will take a shot with Troy Smith. With the Niners off to a 1-6 start, Singletary has little to lose by taking a gamble. Singletary said Troy Smith had never taken first-team snaps in practice with the Niners before this week, but that he’s catching on pretty quickly.
Singletary made it known on Wednesday that Troy will get his first NFL start in three years against the Denver Broncos at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Singletary chose the former Ohio State stud ahead of Carr, who played against Carolina after Alex Smith was injured on Sunday but threw a costly late interception that led to the winning field goal for the Carolina Panthers.
“Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win this game,” Singletary said. “I talked to David Carr about it. He understands. We had a couple of conversations about it. That’s a personal thing between he and I, and I’m going to leave it there. Troy Smith is our starting quarterback.”
Troy Smith has spent the last threes years of his career with the Ravens where he only had two starts back in 2007. Troy Smith does have the mobility that Alex Smith and Carr don’t possess. Look for the 49ers to take advantage of his scrambling ability to give the 49ers offense some extra options.
“The way that you prepare as a professional athlete, you have to be prepared when your number is called. And that’s exactly where I’m at,” he said. “I think the easiest way to get through to your teammates that you’re serious about what’s going on is to know exactly what your job is, know exactly what everyone expects from you and go out and execute,” Troy Smith said. “At the same time you have to respect your boundaries. I believe in not stepping on anybody’s toes, I believe in getting in where you fit in.”
With Troy Smith stepping in the lineup he will get the opportunity to link up with old Ohio State teammate wide receiver Ted Ginn, whio is actually one of his best friends from childhood and his favorite target during his Ohio State days. Both of them played together in high school in Cleveland and then again at Ohio State, and Ginn stated that he can’t wait to get out on the field to play together again.
“It’s great to be able to get back in tune with a guy that you’ve been playing with your whole life,” Ginn said. “For us to go out and continue our journey that we’ve been (on) so far is great.”
Flacco goes Jersey Shore: Looks like the Ravens have a Situation!
By Gayle Saunders
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The Baltimore Ravens might have a situation on their hands as quarterback Joe Flacco is sporting a Jersey Shore Situationesq inspired haircut which he is sporting for the Ravens charity Halloween event.
Flacco’s hair is spiky on top in a faux hawk style. He has racing stripes sculpted on the side with arrows pointing to the back, where he has the state of New Jersey shaved in as well.
“I don’t think the coaches know how to react to it,” said Flacco, a New Jersey native who typically vacations on the shore. “I’m just having a little bit of fun.”
Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden hooked up Flacco with his personal barber it actually took a hour and forty minutes for the fresh haircut. Flacco wore the look into practice on Tuesday, but said he’d shave the top of his head later in the week. The designs, however, will stay until his hair grows out. The Ravens players will get five days off for the bye.
“I really came up with the idea,” Flacco said.
Was Ray Lewis impressed with Flacco’s new look?
“When you’re young, you can do things like that,” said Ray Lewis with a sigh.
Brett Favre has 2 fractures in ankle
By Gayle Saunders
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Brett Favre’s ankle has been diagnosed with two separate fractures in his left ankle, and at this moment it looks like his status for Sunday’s game against the Patriots is unknown.
The MRI showed an avulsion fracture which takes place when a tendon or ligament pulls off a piece of the bone and a stress fracture, coach Brad Childress said. As we all know that Favre who is 41, has now played in 291 consecutive games. It will be hard to count him out depending what they have to shoot him up with in order to play through the pain.
Right now surgery is not required and Childress has said Once he’s functional he can play but he wouldn’t rule anything out in terms of the end of the week. At the moment they don’t have a time frame on the situation, at the moment Favre is wearing a walking boot.
Right now Childress says they have to do what’s right for the Vikings and Favre’s streak will not determine their decision on whether to play him against the Patriots. On Sunday Favre threw three interceptions against the Packers, and he hurt his ankle when he was hit on one of the interceptions.
Dallas Clark done for the Season!
By Gayle Saunders
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Bad news for the Indianapolis Colts as tight end Dallas Clark has been put on injured reserve and won’t play again this season because of an injured wrist.
The Colts made the announcment on Friday. Clark has met with three different surgeons and the final decision was that surgery was needed.
Clark ranks third on the team with 37 catches for 347 yards this season after catching 100 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Jacob Tamme is expected to start in Clark’s place while he’s out, and the colts have re-signed tight end Gijon Robinson on Wednesday. The Colts have a bye weekend and will not play this weekend.
In the World of NFL Agents, It’s all about Priority!
By Steve O’Reilly & Gayle Saunders
Recently, Sports Illustrated wrote an article that exposed the dirty underbelly of some NFL agents and their shady dealings. That article brought to light how some agents pay collegiate players in order to firm their standing with that player with the underlying understanding that this relationship will pay great dividends in the future. It’s a practice that has been assumed for years, but confirmed only recently with that article. But like every story, there are two sides to this story. Read more
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