|
Here are the latest NFL rumors from Pro Football Weekly:
Patriots WR Terry Glenn, oft-criticized in the past for being soft and injury-prone, has looked like a different player this season. Not only is Glenn running brilliantly after the catch (he left four Colts on the ground after one catch in Week 2), but he is playing a more physical game, including blocking.
| |
|
| |
| 1999 SEASON STATISTICS |
| ATT |
YDS |
YDS/A |
TD |
LNG |
FUM |
| 52 |
184 |
3.5 |
2 |
20 |
4 |
|
|
We hear Bills RB Antowain Smith is taking a page from teammate Thurman Thomas' book by using negative media coverage as motivation. QB Doug Flutie said you could see the anger in Smith's eyes during his breakout game against the Jets in Week 2.
Bengals rookie QB Akili Smith won some respect from his teammates for his conduct during the team's Week 2 loss to San Diego. Smith immediately accepted blame for a sack in the huddle and also upbraided FB Nick Williams for running an incorrect pass route.Smith's teammates recognized these as leadership traits even though Smith hadn't yet started an NFL game.
The Cowboys have been disappointed with DT Michael Myers, a fourth-round pick last season. At the start of training camp, it was believed that Myers would be Leon Lett's temporary substitute. However, Alonzo Spellman eventually won that role. Now, Myers hasn't been doing much at all. He was inactive for the first two games.
In the days leading up to the Week 3 game at Arizona, 49ers RB Garrison Hearst got all riled up when talking about his tenure with the Cardinals. He used profanities when speaking about former Cardinals head coach Buddy Ryan and said the best thing that ever happened to him was getting out of the Cardinals organization.
One of the reasons the Eagles offense continues to struggle -- aside from the QB situation -- is the fact that the receivers have been busts so far. None of them has shown the ability to get open.
Eagles OLT Tra Thomas, who had a very good rookie season in 1998, is having a tough go of it this season. He gave up four sacks in the first two games. Eagles coaches say that he needs to work on his technique and stamina.
During former Lions RB Barry Sanders' return to his Wichita, Kan., home last weekend, Sanders' father, William, was expected to try to convince his son to return to the Lions. In a conversation with the NFL Players Association, William was told that Barry was in a no-win situation, and he believes that Barry is being given bad advice by his agents. Hence, William wanted his son back in football. And we hear that the Lions would be able to oblige Barry if he indeed wanted to return. The team maintains that it has kept itself flexible enough that it could adjust some contracts to fit Barry underneath the salary cap.
The two biggest additions the Titans made this offseason -- outside of first-round draft pick Jevon Kearse -- were WR coach Steve Walters and DL coach Jim Washburn. Both have already made huge contributions to the team. In particular, Walters has done a tremendous job of developing last year's first-round pick, Kevin Dyson, and Washburn has helped improve a pass rush that finished last season tied for the second-fewest sacks in the league (30). The Titans have eight through three games.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on the Buccaneers defense: "I haven't seen a defense like that for a long time. You'd have to go back to the championship years of the Dallas Cowboys, and I'm not sure which one is better, to be honest with you. But they're darn close. In fact, I'd have to give the edge to Tampa Bay, and I have the utmost respect for that defensive unit back in the heyday of the Cowboys."
Two Bears defenders who haven't received any headlines but are impressing the coaches nonetheless are DE Bryan Robinson and MLB Sean Harris.
The Falcons offensive line has played very poorly thus far, and the coaching staff has begun using a rotation system and might shake up the lineup soon.
Rams P Rick Tuten has had a tough time adjusting to the directional punting that special-teams coach Frank Gansz is asking of him. Gansz wants to limit returns and has Tuten trying to angle his kicks out of bounds and box returners in, despite the fact Tuten has good leg strength and is more of a booming kicker.
| |
|
| |
| 1999 SEASON STATISTICS |
| COMP |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
INT |
RAT |
| 40 |
64 |
372 |
1 |
3 |
64.1 |
|
|
The Steelers have reason to worry about Kordell Stewart in big games. Seattle schemed against him last week, putting in a game plan designed to confuse him, and he played poorly.
The Chiefs might look to pick up a running back if Bam Morris' injury is serious.
Colts WR Jerome Pathon is upset that he isn't getting the ball as much as he did as a rookie, but he isn't letting his frustration affect team chemistry. We hear Pathon and fellow WRs E.G. Green and Marvin Harrison are tight off the field.
Steelers WR-KR Will Blackwell has made a comeback of sorts, going from a guy whose roster spot was in doubt during training camp to a key contributor on special teams. Blackwell's kick returns were instrumental in Pittsburgh's last-second win at Baltimore in Week 2.
Chiefs QB Elvis Grbac earned some respect from his teammates when he came back into the Denver game after hurting his shoulder. Grbac, who drew the ire of his teammates at times last season, returned to lead the team on a drive that resulted in a field goal.
Dolphins rookie J.J. Johnson has assumed the third-down RB role previously handled by John Avery, who was traded to the Broncos. With Johnson as the third-down back, Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Cecil Collins will get almost all of the carries on first and second down. If Abdul-Jabbar leaves after this season as an unrestricted free agent, Johnson will get a shot to compete with Collins for the starting role.
With CB Deion Sanders expected to return to the lineup for Week 4, Charlie Williams will go back to his normal nickel spot. CB Kevin Smith (back) isn't expected to be ready for the Arizona game Sunday, so Kevin Mathis will remain at left corner.
In the Week 2 game against the Falcons, the Cowboys blew an opportunity to take advantage of a seldom-used -- and perhaps little-known -- rule. Dallas head coach Chan Gailey could have requested a free kick after a fair catch was fielded by Wane McGarity on the final play of the first half. Even though time had expired, Gailey could have had one of his kickers attempt an uncontested field goal. Said Gailey: "I'm always cognizant of being able to do it, because I've always wanted to do it. I had a chance and I missed it. And I forgot you could ask for the free kick after the clock had run out. I should know that. That's my responsibility."
Cardinals DT Eric Swann was listed officially as "doubtful" on the Week 3 injury report. It was the first time since the middle of last season he was listed as anything other than "out." Swann says his knee is at about 90 percent now. If there are no setbacks in his progress, it looks as though Swann could play in Week 5 against the Giants. He might be physically ready to go Sunday against the Cowboys, but the team will likely hold him out because that game is in Dallas on artificial turf. The Week 5 game is the first of three in a row on natural grass.
Giants RB Gary Brown, who hasn't played in the 1999 regular season yet because of a knee injury, is expected to be ready to roll Sunday against the Eagles.
Eagles DE Hugh Douglas could miss another four weeks with partially torn ligaments in his knee. That means that Mike Mamula will start at right end. Mamula had been coming in at left end in pass-rushing situations when Greg Jefferson shifted inside to tackle. Jefferson now will stay at left end in pass-rushing situations.
The Jaguars will likely be without the services of MLB Tom McManus for the season because of a foot injury. That means Lonnie Marts, who had been filling in for the injured Bryce Paup, will likely be shifted inside now that Paup is back. If Marts, who hasn't played the middle in years and is better-suited to play outside, does not work out, look for Byran Schwartz to get a shot at starting. Also, backup S Mike Logan is out for the year after being placed on injured reserve because of a fractured ankle.
Look for the Packers to continue to start Mike Wahle at left guard but give backup Joe Andruzzi a few series as well. The team wants to know what it has in Andruzzi and will give him the playing time to find out. The Packers hardly ever rotate offensive linemen this way, so they'll most likely end up sticking with one or the other.
With QB Steve McNair out until at least late October, P Craig Hentrich will be Tennessee's emergency No. 3 signalcaller behind current starter Neil O'Donnell and backup Kevin Daft. Hentrich actually took some practice snaps during the week before the Titans' Week 3 win at Jacksonville.
Packers TE Mark Chmura, who was placed on injured reserve last week, will undergo tests on his injured neck over the next week or so to determine his future in football. No one in the Packers camp is optimistic about Chmura's situation, as evidenced by the mood of his teammates when they talked about him. Without Chmura, the Packers' running game could suffer, being that Chmura is one of the top blocking tight ends in the league. Tyrone Davis, a favorite of offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis, moves into the starting spot. Jeff Thomason should also see more playing time.
San Francisco converted on just 3-for-25 third-down opportunities in the first two weeks of the season after finding success 45.5 percent of the time in 1998.
| |
|
| |
| 1999 SEASON STATISTICS | | TKLS | SOLO | ASST | SACKS | INTS |
| 14 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Falcons FS Eugene Robinson is the interception leader among active players and grabbed the 54th of his career in Week 2.
Carolina LB Kevin Greene's Week 2 fumble recovery moved him into fourth all-time in the league with 24 for his career.
Chargers head coach Mike Riley is not calling offensive plays as had been anticipated; instead, offensive coordinator Geep Chryst has assumed those duties.
Broncos DE Neil Smith's sack of Trent Dilfer late in the first half of Denver's Week 3 loss at Tampa Bay was the 100th of his career. Smith is the 16th player to reach that milestone.
With OLG Dave Szott out for one to three more weeks with a knee injury, the Chiefs have inserted Jeff Smith into the starting lineup. But the team has also experimented with moving jack-of-all-trades Glenn Parker, currently the starting left tackle, to Szott's spot. That could pave the way for first-round pick John Tait to move into the starting lineup.
Eric Warfield has moved past Carlton Gray and become the Chiefs' nickel back.
Raiders rookie OT Matt Stinchcomb, the first-round pick who has not played in the regular season, will be out for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
| |
|
