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Here's what the folks at Pro Football Weekly have been hearing around the league:
It was rumored that if the Cardinals had not beaten the Cowboys in Week 2, head coach Vince Tobin would have been fired. We hear that one high-ranking official within the Cardinals' front office has said that someone has to be accountable for the Cardinals' poor start, which has fueled speculation that Tobin may not be out of the woods yet.
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| Wistrom |
The Rams are raving over the play of right defensive end Grant Wistrom (three sacks vs. Atlanta), who appears fully recovered from shoulder problems that had reduced his strength significantly. We're told that, at the end of the 1999 season, Rams coaches thought Wistrom -- and not league-leading sacker left defensive end Kevin Carter -- was the team's top defender.
Word out of Indianapolis is that Cornelius Bennett may finally be coming to terms with the fact his 35-year-old knees are starting to keep him from doing what he wants to do on the field. Bennett has had two major knee surgeries in the past two offseasons and has hinted recently that the knee problems have played a part in his struggles this year.
Titans wide receiver Carl Pickens continues to have problems adjusting his routes to particular defensive coverages. Head coach Jeff Fisher said there have been at least two occasions when Pickens ran a wrong route and an interception resulted.
Buccaneers right guard Frank Middleton called out wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson for his antics before the team's Week 4 loss to the Jets, saying that those who do less trash-talking in rivalry-like situations usually prevail. Interestingly, Middleton is one of Tampa Bay's biggest trash-talkers.
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| Sharper |
The light has gone on for Packers free safety Darren Sharper. The fourth-year pro is tackling and playing the ball much better than he had been. He's also been more involved, lining up close to the line of scrimmage more than strong safety LeRoy Butler.
Despite the solid play of Sean Harris, look for Rosevelt Colvin to regain the Bears' starting strong-side linebacker job upon returning from a knee injury.
Lions left tackle Ray Roberts, who had knee surgery in January, is playing at less than 100 percent. Team observers say he's really pushing it by playing.
The Vikings have been very pleased with the play of first-year starting center Matt Birk. The third-year pro out of Harvard has done well calling the blocking schemes and gives the team a physical presence up front.
It's now safe to declare Brian Walker, a free-agent steal for the Dolphins. The free safety has played very well while coming up with some big plays. Walker has also proved he's durable enough to hold up vs. the run, having put on 10 pounds in the offseason.
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| Stone |
With the help of veteran Dwight Stone, Jets rookie wide receiver Laveranues Coles is starting to come on. Stone is serving as a mentor to Coles, who has benefited from staying after practice and studying more game film. He's also taken his special-teams coverage duties more seriously.
While the Jacksonville secondary has been rocked in a couple of games this year, we hear the Jaguars aren't overly concerned about the play of cornerbacks Aaron Beasley and Fernando Bryant. What has the coaches worried is the lack of a reliable pass rush.
Giants head coach Jim Fassel was so bothered by the team's loss in Week 4 that he was awfully ornery in practice leading up to Week 5's showdown with the Titans. Fassel went off on wide receiver Amani Toomer after he was flagged for being offside in practice, and then laid into the team following the workout.
Keep an eye on rookie cornerback Lewis Sanders, who has shown a knack for making big plays in limited action. The Browns are beginning to use him every third series, and there is a good chance he could replace second-year cornerback Daylon McCutcheon in the starting lineup if McCutcheon doesn't show improvement. At 6-foot, Sanders is the biggest corner on the Browns roster. Corey Fuller stands 5-10, and McCutcheon is just 5-8.
We hear Ravens running back Priest Holmes is earning more respect by the minute because of the way he has conducted himself since losing his starting job to rookie Jamal Lewis. Our sources say Holmes is thriving on being a personal coach to Lewis in practices and during games.
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| Hakim |
Sources say bad blood continues to brew in advance of the Falcons-Rams rematch in Week 7 primarily because of Falcons safety Johndale Carty's nasty hit on the Rams' Az-Zahir Hakim on a first-quarter punt return in St. Louis' Week 4 victory.
Don't be surprised if 49ers strong safety Zack Bronson, who is suffering from a neck injury, has a hard time getting his starting job back from hard-hitting rookie John Keith.
Defensive end Tony Bryant's speed, good use of his hands vs. blockers and ballcarriers and knack for making big plays have made quite an impression in Raiders camp. In Bryant and Lance Johnstone, Oakland believes it has a quality pair of bookends for years to come.
The Chargers believe they may have overestimated their wide receiver corps at the beginning of the season. All signs were pointing to a dramatic improvement at the position during minicamps and training camp, but their receivers have had a difficult time getting separation from defenders and getting open downfield.
Before New England's 28-19 upset of Denver in Week 5, veteran right tackle Bruce Armstrong was becoming increasingly frustrated with the Patriots' offensive woes and offensive line rotation system. Armstrong was replaced in the fourth quarter of the team's Week 4 loss at Miami. "That isn't the way I play the game, but I guess that's how it is right now," Armstrong said of the substitution and rotation the team often uses in an attempt to keep a struggling offensive line fresh.
Word leaked out of Cincinnati last week that Bengals linebacker coach Mark Duffner was offered the interim head coaching job ahead of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau initially, but neither Duffner nor team management has confirmed or denied the report.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
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