NFL lets players wear Sept. 11 cleats, gloves (BLOG)

The NFL relaxed its normally rigid uniform policy on Friday so players can commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

League spokesman Michael Signora tweeted that the league told its 32 clubs that players may wear special shoes and gloves from official NFL equipment licensees for Week 1 games.

The move came one day after Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs tweeted that he had expected to be fined for wearing red, white and blue cleats and gloves designed by Reebok. Briggs said it would be "by far the best fine he will ever have to pay."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league does not "anticipate any issues."

"We have extensive plans for Sunday to respectfully recognize the significance of the day," Aiello said in an email. "Lance Briggs and all players will participate."

Briggs declined to comment when he left the practice field Friday. He instead put the shoes on display in the locker room, the back of the left shoe bearing the word "Never," while the right had "Forget."

Coach Lovie Smith said he has no problem with Briggs defying the NFL dress code in this instance.

"I mean, we're going to do an awful lot before the game as an organization — the NFL as a league — to honor the victims," Smith said. "But you know, if they (the NFL) say it's OK and the guys are good with it, of course we're all for it, too."

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles also said on Twitter that he plans to wear Reebok-issued gloves and cleats to honor the day.

Like Briggs, Charles posted a picture online. It showed an all-red bottom surface around the cleats beneath a white shoe with large blue stripes wrapped around it and white stars along the heel. The back of the glove is all red, with the words, "Never forget," circled around the date, Sept. 11, 2001. The palm of the glove is blue, with white stars.

"I never forget," Charles tweeted.

Charles and Briggs will have some company Sunday.

Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, a five-time Pro Bowler, showed up at Friday's practice with a stars-and-stripes design on his gloves and shoes. He plans to wear the same accessories Sunday at Houston. Wayne's teammate and friend, Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea, is expected to don the same attire.

Shortly before the league announced its policy change, Wayne told reporters it would be the "best fine" he ever paid and that he expected the league to alter the policy within 24 hours.

He was right.

Wayne went on to explain why he felt so strongly about wearing the stars-and-stripes during Sunday's game.

"Think about it man. That's an important time in our life. A lot of people lost plenty of loved ones," he said. "It's in history. Your grandchildren and children after that, they will be hearing about that. It's definitely a time where it needs to be recognized, and that's a way for guys to put their two cents in.

"I'm going to wear it, and wear it proudly.

Green Bay Wins Over Saints, 42-34 (BLOG)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — As far as Aaron Rodgers is concerned, that should just about silence any further questions about why the Green Bay Packers didn't work out as a team during the lockout.

If Thursday's season opener at Lambeau Field could be considered a referendum on the importance of those player-led team workouts, the results are in after the Packers' wild 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints: The sessions Drew Brees led over the summer weren't enough to help the Saints take down the reigning champions, and the Packers' decision not to get together as a team certainly didn't seem to hurt them.

"That was a good start for us," Rodgers joked afterward. "But I've just got to ask myself, 'What would have happened if we had had offseason workouts?' Could we have started any faster and scored more points tonight?"

Rodgers came out on top in a memorable opening-night duel with Brees. And after allowing 477 total net yards to the Saints, the Packers defense made a goal-line stand on the final play of the game.

"We had some problems defensively, but that's a very good offense and he's a great quarterback," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of Brees. "Sean (Payton) does a great job on offense. This will be a great experience we can learn from."

With the Saints on the 1-yard line for one last play, Clay Matthews and safety Morgan Burnett led a swarm of Packers defenders who stopped Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram short of the goal line.

"You've got to get a yard," Ingram said. "It's goal line to win the game, got to get a yard."

Matthews was hoping for a more dominant performance, but he'll take the win.

"Obviously, you'd love to have a blowout, but I think it represents everything that we preach, which is finishing games," Matthews said. "And it comes down to the very last play — we win, or they have an opportunity to tie it up. I think it's fantastic to overcome that adversity."

Brees threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns, including a late score to Jimmy Graham that cut the lead to 8 with 2:15 left.

"I was proud of the way we hung in there and fought back," Payton said. "There will be a lot of things on tape that we've got to clean up with this first game. Credit Green Bay. They did a very good job and did all the things they needed to do to win a home game like that."

For all their yards, Brees said the Saints weren't good enough in the red zone.

"We were one of five, so we scored touchdowns just one out of five times in the red zone," Brees said. "That's not going to win you a lot of games, especially on the road in this type of environment against this kind of team."

Rodgers and Brees had big games, but Packers rookie Randall Cobb stole the show.

Cobb, a second-round draft pick out of Kentucky, caught a touchdown from Rodgers and ran a kickoff back 108 yards for a score in the third quarter — tying an NFL record for the longest kickoff return in history, set by New England's Ellis Hobbs in September 2007. It also was the Packers' first kickoff return for a touchdown since Allen Rossum in 2000.

"It was amazing," Cobb said. "The feeling of being in Lambeau Field and just having all of the guys around me coming off of the Super Bowl and just trying to do anything I can to contribute, and I certainly tried to make the most of my opportunities."

Cobb admitted he made mistakes on both touchdowns; he shouldn't have brought the kickoff out of the end zone, and he ran the wrong route on the touchdown catch.

Rodgers said he was able to adjust to Cobb's mistake on the route, again bringing up the offseason workouts — a line of questioning Rodgers clearly grew tired of during training camp.

"Surprisingly, we didn't have offseason workouts," Rodgers said. "Surprisingly, I was able to read his body language there and he made a nice catch and run for a touchdown."

Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

It was a big night for Donald Driver, who tied James Lofton's Packers franchise mark for career yards receiving with 9,656. Rodgers wanted to get him the record at home.

"We tried to get him the ball again, we just didn't have an opportunity," Rodgers said.

NOTES: Packers DB Charles Woodson earned a 15-yard penalty in the third quarter, and admitted he threw a punch at a Saints player. Woodson wasn't ejected. "Yeah, I threw a punch," Woodson said. "Just got frustrated, the guy was holding me a little longer than I wanted. Nothing was said about it, referee-wise, quick enough, and I reacted. It is what it is, I guess." ... Packers S Nick Collins appeared to hurt his left arm but stayed in the game. ... Packers CB Tramon Williams went down after taking a hard hit on the right shoulder in the fourth quarter. ... Saints WR Lance Moore sat out because of a groin injury.

Colts QB Manning has 2nd surgery on injured neck (BLOG)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning has undergone a second surgery on his injured neck and there is no timetable for his return to the Colts. The Colts said the procedure was done Thursday and that Manning is expected to recover. They're just not sure when.

Manning had a single level anterior fusion in his neck after undergoing tests and consulting with doctors earlier this week.

The Colts will keep the four-time league MVP on the active roster for now.

For Manning, it is the third surgery in 19 months. He had not fully recovered from a May 23 procedure to fix a damaged nerve in his neck.

Manning had already been ruled out of Sunday's season opener at Houston, ending a streak of 227 consecutive starts including playoffs -- the league's second-longest for a quarterback behind Brett Favre.

Opinion: NFL doing NCAA's dirty work (BLOG)

NFL says it won't enforce NCAA bans, but actions say otherwise

Jim Tressel’s reign at Ohio State will be remembered not for championships but for a peculiar combination (peculiar to big-time college football coaches, that is) of sanctimony, subterfuge and willful ignorance. Tressel was fond of asking, “What Would Jesus Do?” Looking back, however, it seems Tressel would have been better served asking what Jesus wouldn’t do.

Tressel didn’t know about the boosters. He didn’t know about the cars. He didn’t know about the memorabilia and autograph sales. And what he did come to know — the tattoo scandal — he chose to cover up.

It should surprise no one, then, that Tressel’s tenure as an NFL flunky — a game-day replay consultant for the Indianapolis Colts — has already enveloped the NFL in his personal cloud. Just two weeks after Roger Goodell suspended a 22-year-old former star quarterback, the Indianapolis Colts hired the 58-year-old who ignored Terrelle Pryor’s transgressions (both real and alleged), an ostensibly religious man with more than a quarter-century of experience as a college head coach.

Also worth noting is the sneakiness with which Indianapolis made the hire. Colts coach Jim Caldwell mentioned Tressel’s new job on a Friday conference call heading into Labor Day, right before the inaugural weekend of the college football season, when the news cycle would be dominated with actual games.

Actually, I’m sure the timing was a complete coincidence. Just like it was a complete coincidence when the NFL cut Pryor’s rookie season by five games — which just happened to be the same number of games he’d been suspended by the NCAA. I know this was mere happenstance because the NFL said so.

On Aug. 18, with Goodell fending off an avalanche of criticism, spokesman Greg Aiello sought to clarify matters with FOXSports.com Senior NFL Writer Alex Marvez. Contrary to popular perception, Aiello argued, the league was not acting as the enforcement arm of its cost-free farm system, the NCAA. Rather, he wrote via email, “we are enforcing our own rules."

"Pryor made decisions that undermined the integrity of our draft eligibility rules,” Aiello said. “He skipped the regular draft. He then made himself ineligible for college football.

“Our rules have never been based on the notion a college player could choose to violate NCAA rules, obtain a declaration that he is ineligible to play and then be rewarded by entering the NFL draft. (Pryor) is not getting a free pass into the NFL.”

Hold up. I didn’t exactly follow that. I mean, what’s the purpose of the supplemental draft, anyway? How is it OK for an ineligible “student-athlete” to be rewarded for not going to class, or flunking out, or getting kicked off the team, or testing positive for a banned substance, while the kid who gets free tattoos warrants a de facto suspension from the NFL?

I didn’t think this was possible. But Roger Goodell’s NFL has now achieved NCAA-like levels of hypocrisy. Is the league really going to new professionals for their college transgressions? And what of coaches like Pete Carroll, another “hear no evil, see no evil” kind of guy? Carroll abandoned a program he ran into the ground and was rewarded with a $7 million salary from the Seahawks.

Look, I don’t doubt Goodell was actually trying to do the right thing. But the fact is, he made an even bigger mess. And it only became more confused and cynical — which is to say, more NCAA-like — on Monday morning when the Colts released an unwittingly extraordinary statement.

It began by citing the “questions raised with respect to the equity of (Tressel’s) appointment as opposed to suspensions being served this season by present and former Ohio State players” (read: Pryor). As a result, Tressel and his new bosses have agreed to begin his employment after six regular games (one presumes he’ll keep his bowl eligibility). It’s not being called a “suspension” — just as Goodell’s punishment of Pryor avoided the term. Of course, it is nothing if not a suspension.

Noting that Colts ownership and high command had conversations with league officials over the weekend, the statement continues: “We have informed the league office of our decision and expect that they will be supportive of it.”

Now the NFL has a real problem. They’ve already punished Pryor, and now they’re going to sign off on a six-game non-suspension-suspension of Tressel?

For what, though?

The NFL says it doesn’t enforce NCAA rules. Only now the Colts have basically confirmed that it does. By signing off on the six games — call it what you want, but it’s a punishment — the league is now squarely in the business of sanctioning players and coaches for transgressions committed in college. Now, I’m all for it, provided these sanctions actually prevent the next generation of Pete Carrolls from profiteering on their lapses and wrongdoings as college coaches. Unfortunately, realistically, I don’t see how it will.

And, right about now, Goodell has to be wondering why he didn’t do what Tressel would do. Nothing.






foxsports

Man found dead in pool of Texans player (BLOG)

RICHMOND, Texas (AP)—A man who apparently drowned in the swimming pool behind the home of Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith wasn’t affiliated with the team, authorities said.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Capt. James Burger said the body of Engram Lamar Crenshaw, 37, of Katy, was discovered on Sunday morning, following a party at Smith’s ranch-style home in a suburb about 30 miles southwest of the city.


Burger said Crenshaw was a personal friend of Smith.

Police and paramedics were called to Smith’s home about 9:30 a.m. and found a fully clothed man at the bottom of the pool. Burger said a preliminary examination of the body showed no signs of foul play, but he also said authorities were still piecing together the specific details of his death.

“He was not dressed to be swimming in the pool, I can say that,” Burger said.

An autopsy will be performed on Monday in Galveston County. Burger expects results from toxicology tests to come back in about three weeks.

Burger said about 100 people, including “4 or 5” other Texans players, attended Smith’s party on Saturday night. Burger said no Houston coaches or other staff members were there.

Witnesses told police that Crenshaw was last seen by party guests near the pool about 2 a.m.

“Apparently, he stayed out there by himself,” Burger said. “In the morning, when people woke up and went outside, they discovered him in the pool.”

The Texans open the regular season against Indianapolis on Sunday.

“We are aware of the situation,” general manager Rick Smith said in a statement Sunday. “We are gathering facts and have no further comment at this time.”

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Smith is about to start his eighth season, and third with the Texans. He’s started 31 of 32 games for Houston since signing with the team as a free agent before the 2009 season. Smith was originally a fifth-round pick by Arizona in the 2004 draft out of Oklahoma State.

Burger said no charges have been filed in Crenshaw’s death.

“It doesn’t appear that there’s been any crime here,” Burger said.

Biggest threat to your Fantasy draft (BLOG)

It's often said that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but of course that's not true. People return with all sorts of unintended things: spouses, neck tattoos, Manilow collectibles, hepatitis ... lots of regrettable things. I recently flew to Vegas for the weekend and returned with four St. Louis Rams, which was definitely not a planned outcome.

To be clear, it's not like I had Henry Ellard, Jim Youngblood, Fred Dryer and Cullen Bryant stuffed in a duffel bag. I traveled to Vegas for a fantasy draft and returned with four different Rams on my 16-man roster. Not the ideal ratio. The players in question are all respectable assets – S-Jax, Bradford, Sims-Walker, Kendricks – so at least that helps the cause.

But this is not supposed to be a cautionary tale about the importance of portfolio diversity in fantasy. If you want that sort of advice, you know where to find me. The purpose here is to give you a little metaphor about one of the big keys to fantasy football drafts: impulse control.

See, Vegas is a little bit like draft day -- all kinds of temptation and very little discipline. Those who escape Sin City with profits are like those who "win" their drafts: strong enough to resist the urge to go for broke.

So although we drafted in Vegas, the lesson plays in Peoria: If you find yourself thinking "I feel lucky," step away from the table for a bit.Now at some point in your life as a fantasy owner, one of your league-mates is going to suggest a draft day road-trip. The 16-teamer in which I'm serving as a Rams repository assembles in a different location each year. Wish I could report that North American cities actually placed bids for our event, Super Bowl-style, but that's not yet the case. The 2011 draft was the third in league history held in Las Vegas, so the group has clearly had a few positive (if not perfectly memorable) experiences.





One of the many things we seem to forget -- because we're talking about a place that specializes in erasing memory -- is that Nevada in August is mercilessly, murderously hot. It's cartoon-hot, like with eggs frying on sidewalks and people dissolving into puddles. My flight landed just after 8:00 pm and the local temperature was 106. The cab drivers say, "It's a dry heat," as if you can be conned into comfort. Fission reactions probably produce a dry heat, too.

Vegas is much cooler indoors, yet no less disorienting. When you're drafting, it's critical to situate your group in the most non-Vegas environment possible. Our league's commissioner selected a hotel conference room way off the strip. That was a pro move. It was so non-Vegas that you might have thought we were in Ames.

The reason you need to dial down the Vegas-ness of your draft room is, again, impulse control. The city itself makes you find ways to deny reason, to act irrationally, irresponsibly, to lunge after the most remote possibilities. And that's all fine until you hit the draft table. I don't give a hoot if you travel to Vegas and put your marriage at risk, or your employment, or your kid's college fund. But when you implode at your draft, then it reflects poorly on your fantasy guru ... and then we have a problem. This holds true outside Vegas as well, so keep this in mind when someone suggests a favorite bar. Make sure to confine the reach-picks to the mid and late rounds and limit the number of insane injury risks you're willing to take. You'll also want to cut off the beverage consumption before reaching the point where you intend to say "Julio Jones" but it comes out "Julius Jones" or even "Jerry Jones."

Wherever you are, create the least Vegas-y atmosphere you can during your draft. That's your key to assembling a respectable fantasy roster while on the road in a hostile environment. For a few hours, make it feel safe and sober. Stay within yourself, as the athlete cliche goes. And if you do go to Vegas, and your biggest regret when you return is that you've drafted too many Rams, then you've probably done fine.

yahoo

Chris Johnson reaches deal with Titans (BLOG)

The Titans will have Chris Johnson in uniform for the start of the season, after all.

Johnson, who had been locked in an ugly standoff with Tennessee over his contract, ended his holdout Thursday by agreeing to a reported four-year, $53.5 million contract extension with $30 million guaranteed. The deal will keep him in Tennessee through the 2016 season.

Johnson previously signed a five-year, $12 million contract after being drafted in 2008. Since then, he’s accumulated more than 4,500 yards rushing, 1,000 yards receiving and 38 total touchdowns.

He sat out the first three weeks of the preseason and all of training camp while waiting for Tennessee to offer him a raise. He also threatened a holdout before last year, but ultimately agreed to a revised deal that gave him a slight pay raise. Johnson sought big dollars then, too, but the Titans were hamstrung by rules for the last year of the collective bargaining agreement.

Johnson will not play in Tennessee’s preseason finale Thursday, but should be on the field for its Week 1 game at Jacksonville.



The 25-year-old Johnson topped the rare 2,000-yard mark in the 2009 season, then followed it up with a 1,300-yard effort last year. No running back in the NFL has rushed for more yards since 2008 than the 4,598 Johnson has piled up.

Johnson’s closest contender has been Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, with 4,441 yards in that time frame and nearly 7,000 total yards in his four years with Minnesota. The fallout from Johnson’s massive new deal, which averages out to $13.375 million per year starting in 2013, figures to have lasting implications for Peterson and the Vikings.

Peterson’s current contract expires after this season. He will earn $10.72 million in 2011 but back in March referred to the NFL as “modern-day slavery” during an interview touching on the labor situation.

The $30 million in guarantees that Johnson received is a massive number, especially for a running back — the position has the shortest shelf life of any in the NFL and Johnson has already carried the ball more than 900 times in his career. Peterson already has 1,198 career rushes to his credit and has suffered more than his share of bumps and bruises along the way.

Despite that, Peterson figures to open negotiations with the Vikings asking for more in guaranteed money than Johnson will make. Peterson has made the Pro Bowl and been voted an All-Pro in each of his four seasons in the NFL — he can at least make an argument that he’s worth more than Johnson.

But those negotiations likely won’t begin for some time, so there is no telling what might occur between now and then.

This summer has already been a big one for running back negotiations. DeAngelo Williams re-signed with Carolina in July for five years and $43 million with $21 million guaranteed, then Frank Gorereceived a three-year, $21-million extension from San Francisco with $13 million guaranteed. And while Peterson’s situation may not resolve soon, the Bears are trying to lock up Matt Forte, who also could hit the free-agent market next offseason.

For the time being, though, Johnson has set the bar for NFL running backs and, in the process, ended a nervous few weeks for the Titans.

The deal comes just one day after Johnson took to Twitter to chastise “fake Titans fans” for criticizing him during his holdout. Any ill will stemming from that incident will likely be water under the bridge now with Johnson back in the fold.

Jets beat Giants for braggin' rights in ugly game (BLOG)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Rex Ryan got a kick out of receiving a bronzed Snoopy trophy for beating the Giants and winning the annual preseason braggin' rights with their long-time rival.

"That's awesome," Ryan said, holding up the trophy after the Jets' 17-3 win on Monday night at MetLife Stadium. "...I'll tell you what, that thing looks good. I'm glad we got it."

The trophy is going to go on Ryan's desk. The videotape of the game that was delayed two days by Hurricane Irene's march up the East Coast doesn't deserve such a prominent spot.

There wasn't much that either Ryan or Giants counterpart Tom Coughlin could be happy about. The first-team offenses weren't good. The chippy game featured 16 penalties and the ejections of Giants halfback Brandon Jacobs and Jets defensive end Muhummad Wilkerson for a second-half skirmish. And there were just too many mistakes by both teams with the season less than two weeks away.

Even Plaxico Burress' first game against the Giants since his release from prison was a dud. No catches and a bad call on the pregame coin toss as the Jets' sole captain.

The positive was both teams played hard. The Jets prevailed because Mark Sanchez threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, they intercepted Eli Manning twice, capitalized on two big special teams plays and got a goal-line stand by their second-team defense early in the second half.

"I don't know if there are any tickets available for that Dec. 24 game, but I think we just sold them because that was a typical Jets-Giants slugfest right there," Ryan said. "It was a fun game, man. That was two good football teams going at it. Obviously, it's a preseason game, but it's great competition. The fireworks will fly Dec. 24, that's for sure."

Rookie Bilal Powell had a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and Nick Folk added a late field goal in what probably will be the last major warmup for both teams' starters before the regular season.

The Jets (2-1) will face the Eagles here Thursday. The Giants (1-2), who got a field goal from Rhys Lloyd, finish their preseason at New England, also on Thursday.

"There are things that we need to clean up, but we still have some time to do so," said Manning, who was 15 of 30 for 200 yards. "There are just some little things, but those things can add up. But that's what the preseason is for, and we still have a little time."

The banged-up Giants also had defensive end Justin Tuck (stinger) and linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka (groin) leave the game with injuries. Neither seemed serious.

The Jets didn't appear to have any major injuries in the exhibition.

Jets special teams guru Mike Westhoff saw his unit provide the key plays.

Antonio Cromartie set up Holmes' touchdown with a 70-yard kickoff return, and defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert blocked Lloyd's field-goal attempt late in the third quarter with the Jets ahead 7-3.

Lloyd had given the Giants a 3-0 lead with 5:00 left in the first half with a 34-yarder.

Cromartie's big return came on the ensuing kickoff. The Giants seemed to fall asleep after Cromartie fumbled the ball in the end zone and Lloyd eventually ran him out of bounds at the 35.

Sanchez needed only six plays to cover the distance, finding Holmes on a post pattern that beat good coverage by Corey Webster.

Before the TD pass, Sanchez was 4 of 10 for 13 yards and it was clear he was not on the same page with his receivers.

"In a rivalry game like this, we have to keep our cool and be sharp, but I was proud of the guys for playing through everything, staying strong and staying poised," said Sanchez, who finished 8 of 16 for 64 yards.

The only thing the long-time rivals showed in the first half is their defenses are ready for the regular season.

"On the eye test, I thought we played pretty well," Tuck said. "There are some things to work on, but I feel we're ready. We're getting more comfortable with our schemes and we'll be flying around there, when it's time."

The Giants outgained the Jets 224-73 in the half and trailed 7-3 because Manning could not capitalize after moving the offense to the Jets 27 on the opening drive.

On a second and 10 from the 27, David Harris pressured Manning and his pass to Victor Cruz was too high and intercepted by Jim Leonhard.

Harris got the other interception in the second quarter when Manning badly underthrew Ahmad Bradshaw while under pressure again.

"First one, the ball floated on me a little bit," Manning said. "And the next one, that was on me. I should have just thrown it away."

Manning and company jumped to a 3-0 lead, taking advantage when linebacker Clint Sintim recovered Sanchez's fumble at the Giants 39. Bradshaw made the big play, taking a dump-off pass and turning it into a 29-yard gain after running past linebacker Bart Scott.

The Jets were 0 for 6 on third downs in the first half and didn't register their first first down until they got a favorable spot on a fourth-and-1 from their own 28 late in the first quarter.

The Giants had a chance to retake the lead early in the third quarter against the Jets' second-string defense when Manning drove them from their own 15 to the Jets 1. However, the Jets stopped D.J. Ware cold on a fourth-down attempt from the 1, on a play that normally would have been handled by Jacobs. The big-bruising back was not available because he has been ejected four plays earlier for trading what appeared to be slaps with Wilkerson.

"We were gashing them the entire time," Giants left tackle Will Beatty said. "We were walking them down the field. So it's not finishing a drive where you want to put the nail in the coffin and we didn't do that today."

Gilbert blocked Lloyd's 42-yard attempt with 1:13 left in the third quarter and rookies Greg McElroy and Jeremy Kerley— playing the wildcat— led the Jets 68-yard, 9-play drive that featured an unsportsmanlike penalty on Giants safety Deon Grant.

Vick agrees to $100M deal with Eagles(BLOG)

(AP)Michael Vick is really back on top now.

Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed on a six-year contract on Monday that again makes the Pro Bowl quarterback one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.

A source familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the deal is worth $100 million, including about $40 million guaranteed. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because terms weren't released.

Vick has come a long way since spending 18 months in federal prison on dogfighting charges. He led the Eagles to the NFC East title last year, was the starting quarterback in the Pro Bowl and was the AP Comeback Player of the Year.

Vick was due to earn slightly more than $16 million this season after the Eagles designated him the franchise player in February. He'll make a little less, possibly giving the Eagles salary cap flexibility to give Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson an extension.

The 31-year-old Vick joined the Eagles in 2009, and played sparingly as the third-string QB behind Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb.

He started last year as the backup, but forced his way into the starting role with his exceptional performances after Kolb got hurt in the season opener.

Vick guided the Eagles to an 8-3 record in 11 games as a starter in his first season playing full-time since 2006. He set career highs in yards passing (3,018), touchdowns passing (21), touchdowns rushing (9), completion percentage (62.6) and passer rating (100.2). Vick also rushed for 676 yards.

Vick, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft, once was a megastar with the Atlanta Falcons. He signed a $130 million, 10-year deal in 2005 that made him the top-paid player in the league then. But Vick lost it all when he went to jail and he eventually filed for bankruptcy.

He was reviled by fans when he came back, but has won them over with good behavior off the field, a humble attitude and spectacular play.

Colts activate QB Peyton Manning (BLOG)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning is ready to practice with his teammates. He's still not sure when he'll dress for a game.

On Monday, less than two hours after being activated from the physically unable to perform list, Manning told reporters it was the next step in his recovery from neck surgery in May. He would not provide details about what issues must be resolved before the Sept. 11 season-opener at Houston.

"I don't know what HIPAA stands for, but I believe in it and I practice it," Manning joked, referring to the federal law protecting medical privacy. "So, uh, I'll leave it at that."

The team said Manning will practice on a "scripted" and controlled basis with teammates this week. He is not expected to play in Thursday night's preseason finale at Cincinnati and he reiterated that point Monday.

And it's unclear the extent of what Manning's new workout regimen will be.

"He's been throwing," coach Jim Caldwell said. "It's going to be a bigger amount, and I don't think it needs a whole lot of explanation. The statement speaks for itself."

Team officials have said Manning would practice only when he was cleared by the doctors and when Manning felt comfortable working out. The four-time MVP missed all of training camp at Anderson University, the second time in four seasons that's happened.

When Manning sat out in 2008 after having two surgeries to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee, was not seen by reporters. This time, after his second surgery in 15 months, he was seen running and throwing passes.

Manning remembered returning to practice just before the final 2008 preseason game, though he did not play against the Bengals that year.

"This was one of my goals all along, to be back before the last preseason game," Manning said. "That gives you two weeks on the field to answer the questions coach Caldwell has and I have."

Manning has started 227 consecutive games, including the playoffs, the second-longest streak in NFL history for quarterbacks behind Brett Favre. He said Monday he was healthy enough to take a snap or play a series or two to keep the streak alive, but that's not what he intends to do.

"I have to be able to play competitively to play because I have too much respect for this game," he said. "I have to do what's fair for the team."

Three years ago, Manning returned from the knee injury and struggled during the first half of the season. By midseason, Manning was back to his regular form and went on to win his third MVP award.

Indy's franchise quarterback had been on PUP since practice began Aug. 1. League rules require players on the physically unable to perform list to be activated by the team's final cuts, on Sept. 3, or sit out an additional six weeks. That wasn't something the Colts were going to do.

The surgery was expected to keep Manning off the field for six to eight weeks. But the recovery has gone slower than expected, and Manning in part blamed the 4 1/2-month lockout that kept him away from the team's trainers.

With Manning ailing, the Colts have been refining backup plans. They signed veteran backup Kerry Collins to go along with Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky and rookie Mike Hartline. Five-time Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne said he believes Painter gives Indy the best chance at winning if Manning is not ready to start the season.

Painter made his statement Friday by going 11 of 21 for 171 yards with two TD passes, and nearly led the Colts to their first preseason win in more than two years.

All three backups could be vying for snaps at practice, and the Colts may have to play their starters longer than usual against the Bengals to get Collins and Painter in sync with their teammates.

"It's an important week because it's one thing to know it in the classroom, and it's another thing to go out and know it on the field," Collins said.

Manning has thrown for 54,828 yards, third all-time behind Favre and Dan Marino. He's also third all-time in career TD passes (399), trailing only Marino (420) and Favre (508) and has led Indianapolis to a record-tying nine consecutive playoff appearances.

Best wide receivers in Fantasy Football (BLOG)

Presumably, Reggie Wayne’s(notes) four-spot drop in the latest WR rankings is directly related to concerns about QB Peyton Manning’s(notes) health (neck) … Jeremy Maclin’s(notes) mystery illness turned out to be mononucleosis. Questions about his conditioning and readiness for early-season play has dropped him from No. 14 to No. 24 among WRs. … Mario Manningham continues his ascent up the rankings board in a post-Steve Smith world, moving from No. 25 to inside the top 20 (No. 18). … Rust hasn’t appeared to be much of a problem for Plaxico Burress(notes), who is returning to action after a couple years of incarceration. The Jet vet now sits just outside the top 40 receivers (No. 41). … Hopes thatJoe Flacco’s(notes) big arm can better exploit Lee Evans’(notes) deep talents have pushed the former Bills burner up eight spots, from No. 55 to No. 47.

Note: The following list comprises the top 75 wide receiver rankings for 2011 of each Yahoo! Sports fantasy expert. The list is ordered by the overall top 75 composite ranking of the four experts, with the remaining wide receivers that received votes rounding out the bottom of the list.

yahoosports

Report: Ravens WR breaks up knife fight (BLOG)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Tandon Doss caught two balls for 28 yards Thursday night in the team's 34-31 win over the Redskins, but his biggest play came earlier in the day when he intervened to stop a fight in which a man was attacked with a knife.

Doss told the Baltimore Sun he was at a Five Guys restaurant Thursday afternoon when two men attacked the 34-year-old manager. One of the men cut the manager on the chin with a knife before the two assailants fled.

Doss, a 21-year-old rookie from Indianapolis, was not seeking to play up his actions as heroic.

"It was two dudes on one. I was trying to help the situation out. I broke it up," he said. "I saw the guy on the ground bleeding, and I saw a guy on top hitting him."

Police told the paper they believe one of the attackers was angry over being fired from the restaurant. The manager was treated for a minor cut and released.

Doss had tweeted about the incident shortly after.

"Jus had to break up a fight at five guy. Baltimore is too ratchet!!!"

Doss, a fourth-round pick out of Indiana, is battling to be third on the Ravens' depth chart behind starting wideouts Anquan Boldin and Lee Evans.

ESPN The Magazine editor-in-chief discusses ‘white Vick’ picture (BLOG)

ESPN The Magazine editor Chad Millman released a statement Friday about his decision to illustrate a column on the importance of Michael Vick's(notes) race with a Photoshopped image that imagined how a white Vick would look.

Millman neither defended nor rationalized the choice. He barely offered an explanation for the decision to use the picture and the headline "What if Michael Vick were white?" instead stating that the image best represented the scope of the story:

We had several conversations about how to support the essay with imagery that made people think as much as the words did.

Ultimately, the resulting treatment felt like the strongest way to answer the question so many have been asking.

The only thing Millman does is confirm that ESPN The Magazine came to a decision to add an intentionally-provocative headline and a cheap Photoshop image to a column they asked Toure to write. We already knew that.

If there's no apology about the picture or defense of the decision to run it, why release a statement at all? Surely there could have been at least an explanation about why ESPN.com temporarily switched the photo (see right) after the uproar began on Thursday. ESPN has no problem tuning out dissenting opinions. The magazine could have let this story evaporate in the Hurricane Irene news cycle and nobody would have cared in a few days.

Ah, but why pass up the opportunity to keep the story flickering a little longer? Think about it; when do you ever hear anything about ESPN The Magazine other than when it features naked athletes on the cover? The decisions made on the Vick story may be bad journalism or exhibit the lowest of the tabloid mentalities. It was an undeniable attention-grabber for ESPN though.

Up until a few minutes ago, I wasn't even aware that the Vick story appeared in an NFL preview issue that was devoted entirely to Michael Vick. And I wouldn't have ever realized it if it wasn't for the editor-in-chief's blog post. He mentions it in the first sentence.

yahoosports

Pre-Season (College and NFL) Thoughts...

It's the most...wonderful time...of the year.....





1. OU is a worthy pre-season number one, but the rest of the AP Top 25 is based more on reputation than what's probably going to happen.



2. Houston Texans: 8-8 'Nuff said.



3. The Eagles will NOT win the Super Bowl. Repeat: The Philadelphia Eagles will NOT win the Super Bowl.



4. The New England Patriots are going to be pretty good this year.



5. ....the Carolina Panther's aren't.



6. The SEC is STILL the best conference in the land. It's not even close.



7. 4-team super-conferences are right around the corner. There will be 5. Everyone else is out. (Are you listening UH?)



8. Speaking of UH, for the first time in a few years I haven't followed them AT ALL in the off-season.



9. If a Longhorn Network turns on in the woods, and no one can see it, does Mack Brown still call interviewers by their first name?



10. Two words: Brady Hoke. Michigan is now OK.





Let's play some football.

EPIC FAIL: ESPN Recruits Toure' To Write about a White Mike Vick (BLOG,ARTICLE)

This story appears in the Sept. 5 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

WHEN MICHAEL VICK PLAYS, I see streetball. I don't just mean that sort of football where you have to count to four-Mississippi before you can rush the quarterback, nearly everything breaks down and it's all great fun. I also mean street basketball. Vick's style reminds me of Allen Iverson -- the speed, the court sense, the sharp cuts, the dekes, the swag. In those breathtaking moments when the Eagles QB abandons the pocket and takes off, it feels as if he's thumbing his nose at the whole regimented, militaristic ethos of the game.





All of that is why, to me, Vick seems to have a deeply African-American approach to the game. I'm not saying that a black QB who stands in the pocket ain't playing black. I'm saying Vick's style is so badass, so artistic, so fluid, so flamboyant, so relentless -- so representative of black athletic style -- that if there were a stat for swagger points, Vick would be the No. 1 quarterback in the league by far.


Race is an undeniable and complex element of Vick's story, both because of his style as well as the rarity of black QBs in the NFL. A decade after he became the first black QB to be drafted No. 1 overall, about one in five of the league's passers is African-American, compared with two-thirds of all players. But after his arrest for dogfighting, so many people asked: Would a white football player have gotten nearly two years in prison for what Vick did to dogs


This question makes me cringe. It is so facile, naive, shortsighted and flawed that it is meaningless. Whiteness comes with great advantages, but it's not a get-out-of-every-crime-free card. Killing dogs is a heinous crime that disgusts and frightens many Americans. I'm certain white privilege would not be enough to rescue a white NFL star caught killing dogs.


The problem with the "switch the subject's race to determine if it's racism" test runs much deeper than that. It fails to take into account that switching someone's race changes his entire existence. In making Vick white, you have him born to different parents. That alone sets his life trajectory in an entirely different direction. Thus when this hypothetical white Michael Vick ... wait, I can't even continue that sentence in good faith. I mean, who would this white Vick be? That person is unknowable. When you alter his race, it's like those Back to the Future movies where someone goes back in time, inadvertently changes one small thing about his parents' dating history and then the person starts to disappear. If Vick had been born to white parents, you wouldn't even be reading this right now. That Vick would have had radically different options in life compared with the Vick who grew up in the projects of Newport News, Va., where many young black men see sports as the only way out.


This is not to say there aren't insights to be gained from hypotheticals. One pertinent question: Would a white kid have been introduced to dogfighting at a young age and have it become normalized to the extent that he builds it into his life after he joins the NFL? It's possible, but it's far less likely because what made Vick stand out among dogfighters is less race than class. The deep pockets of an NFL star led to a kennel that was too big not to fail eventually. But if it did, though, would this white kid have been busted? Remember, it wasn't suspicion of dogfighting that started the investigation that put Vick in jail. It was that element that we've all seen hold back or bring down so many athletes from the hood -- the entourage. Vick's cousin Davon Boddie was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell in Hampton, Va. When police asked him for his address, he led them to the home where Bad Newz Kennels was located. After that, Vick never had a chance.


Here's another question: If Vick grew up with the paternal support that white kids are more likely to have (72 percent percent of black children are born to unwed mothers compared with 29 percent of white children), would he have been involved in dogfighting? I ask this not to look for an excuse but to explore the roots of his behavior. Vick's stunningly stupid moral breakdown with respect to dogs is certainly related to the culture of the world he grew up in, which he says fully embraced dogfighting. But it's also related to the household he grew up in.

Vick's father, Michael Boddie, was not a positive influence on him growing up. Boddie admitted to The Washington Post that he was a cocaine user and had been high and drunk around young Vick. He says he often prepared the family garage so Vick could have pit bull fights there. Boddie's account is disputed by a family friend, who says Vick's mother would not have allowed that. Either way, at some point in Vick's youth, his father became estranged from the family. This breakdown of Vick's paternal relationship is a pattern that's all too common among black men of his generation. Too many are left to define manhood on their own, so they gravitate toward the most charismatic and inspiring men in their world. Sometimes those men are gritty local sports coaches who teach them the value of hard work, but sometimes they're ghetto celebrities who are unsavory role models with bad habits.

Ultimately, there is no separating Vick from his circumstances: his race, parents, economics and opportunities. Alter any of those elements and everything about him and how the world sees him would be unrecognizable.

So let's look at him a different way. Let's see him as someone in the third act of the epic movie that is his life, leading a team that many expect to see in the Super Bowl. Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" is playing underneath because the humbled protagonist has finally overcome his personal demons and has begun living up to his athletic promise. And to those who believe we should judge a man by how he responds when dealing with the worst life has to offer -- with how he climbs after he hits rock bottom -- Michael Vick has become heroic.


And that has nothing to do with race.






Okay, Okay, Okay we understand THE OVERALL Message...but FOR REAL? The execution was terrible. Starting off with this right here:


WHEN MICHAEL VICK PLAYS, I see streetball. I don't just mean that sort of football where you have to count to four-Mississippi before you can rush the quarterback, nearly everything breaks down and it's all great fun. I also mean street basketball. Vick's style reminds me of Allen Iverson -- the speed, the court sense, the sharp cuts, the dekes, the swag. In those breathtaking moments when the Eagles QB abandons the pocket and takes off, it feels as if he's thumbing his nose at the whole regimented, militaristic ethos of the game


All of that is why, to me, Vick seems to have a deeply African-American approach to the game. I'm not saying that a black QB who stands in the pocket ain't playing black. I'm saying Vick's style is so badass, so artistic, so fluid, so flamboyant, so relentless -- so representative of black athletic style -- that if there were a stat for swagger points, Vick would be the No. 1 quarterback in the league by far.

Toure' you have been on thin Ice in the black community for a while, from hosting shows on Fuse about Hip Hop and being borderline disrespectful to the people because IT IS CLEAR you DO NOT know what YOU ARE Talking about. To Random Outburst on Twitter that just stupid and ridiculous. To Saying this dumb **** "if it were a stat for Swagger Points". Right Now You deserve a Black Out.


Your point is clearly made, and your also right it is dumb, and quite immature of people to assume if Mike Vick was white he would'nt have received such a hard sentence! but Toure' you sir have dropped the ball. The fair question to ask is why their are so FEW BLACK quarterbacks in the NFL when they clearly play as good as their white counterparts, and why does Mike Vick STAY in the spotlight. Maybe it's because people like YOU see a chance to speak on something you absolutely have no business speaking on. Scrambling as a Quarterback is not a black athletic style its a elusive style of not wanting to get Knocked Out by a 300lb Defensive Lineman who have one job, Stop you from SCORING., It IS the will of wanting to WIN THE GAME think of all the white scrambling QB's Doug Flutie, Archie Manning, John Elway, Steve Grogan, Roger Staubach, Steve Young, Frank Tarkenton, Even Tim Tebow, and Brett Favre!

This further validates that you sir are far removed from the reality of the black community, and just utter random facts that we all have seen in studies and other forums to keep reminding people of why the black community IS SO DIFFERENT then everyone elses. It feels like you have sold out for a couple bucks and acceptance..signing your name by a picture of a white face on a black man's body in ultra bad taste.

There were many ways to approach this topic. As a Black man you should have understood the sensitive nature of this topic, and how hard it is on Mike Vick to play in this league as a black QB period, whether there were dog fighting charges or not, but hey... then again....we don't expect you to understand. You compared Mike Vick to Streetball, and claimed he had a "deeply African American approach to the Game." I've never seen a African American NFL and there arent enough black Quarterbacks in the game to say its "Deeply African American"


So basically you have hung him out to dry, given white america yet another couple months of fuel to burn on something that should have been over long ago. Let the man play football while you sit miles away and collect residuals off this terribly executed almost offensive article that speaks nothing to the game of football. ESPN played you, and you did'nt see it. If a white person wrote this it would be hell to pay, but its ok because some Black guy that the black community barely respects wrote it...it should get a pass NO WAY. Toure' epic fail.

NFL's 49ers to ban tailgating after game starts (BLOG)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — After violence marred a weekend preseason game against the archrival Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers on Monday moved to strengthen security at home games, including banning tailgating after kickoff and warning fans that rowdy behavior won't be tolerated.

In addition, 49ers CEO Jed York said he will recommend that the NFL call off the annual preseason battle between the Niners and Raiders indefinitely.

"This is a game where you have a rivalry situation and, unfortunately you have the worst segment from a very small segment of both fan bases that come and brings about this type of event," York said at a news conference at Candlestick Park. "It's our belief that we should recommend to the NFL that this game is at least postponed for some period of time."

York later said, "It's unfortunate."

Raiders' CEO Amy Trask said in response that "we have a terrific working relationship with the 49ers organization, and we look forward to discussing and addressing this issue with them, in the same collaborative and cooperative manner we do all issues."

The violence overshadowed the 49ers' 17-3 win over the Raiders.

"This game was like no other that I can remember, and I've been a Niner fan my whole life," Police Chief Greg Suhr said. "Nobody could have been prepared for what happened on Saturday night."

Suhr, Mayor Ed Lee and 49ers team officials said DUI checkpoints will be near the stadium after games as authorities will strictly forbid alcohol consumption at that time.

They also plan to make police and security more visible inside and outside the stadium and urged fans to be more accountable for their actions.

"To those of you who decide to come to our games, and it really doesn't matter what jersey you may be wearing, or what hat you may wear, or what team you may support, your behavior on Saturday night is not welcome," said Jim Mercurio, the 49ers' vice president of stadium operations and security. "Don't come here. You're not welcome."

Earlier Monday, Lee said he was horrified as he watched violent fan confrontations at the game. Lee attended Saturday's game with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, and both witnessed the brawling firsthand as spectators.

"They were just constantly wailing at each other without regard to who was there," Lee said of the fans. "This is a family outing, for residents and visitors and people who want to see the game, not for people to look for people they don't like, then saying bad words, then getting into it."

Two men who were initially listed as seriously injured in the violence were upgraded to fair condition on Monday.

One of the victims, a 24-year-old man who reportedly was wearing a T-shirt reading "F--- the Niners," was shot several times in the stomach. Police said he managed to make it to stadium security for help despite the injuries.

The other victim is a 26-year-old man who was beaten unconscious in an upper level stadium restroom during the fourth quarter.

Another shooting victim was treated after receiving superficial facial wounds after the game.

Police did not release the name of any victims. No arrests have been made.

Police were seeking motives in the shootings, including whether the attacks were influenced by emotions involving the annual Battle of the Bay exhibition or possibly gang connections.

Police said officers ejected at least 70 people from the stadium on Saturday, compared to about 20 at other games.

The figure from Saturday did not include several dozen people ejected by team security, Mercurio said.

There were 90 calls for medical service that day, a figure far higher than at a typical Niners home game, officials said.

Police Chief Greg Suhr, a lifelong San Franciscan, called it an "aberration."

Star running back Frank Gore said at 49ers headquarters that he was shocked to see so much violence.

"I think some of the fans take it too serious," Gore said. "It's a football game. I don't think they should be fighting and shooting and all that."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello echoed similar concerns, saying the league deplored the activities.

Trask added that the incidents were not acceptable to the Raiders or to any National Football League team and "our thoughts are with all affected."

The Niners said attendance at Saturday's game was about 47,000, far less than the 60,000-seat capacity.

Suhr said that there were 10 percent more police officers on hand than usual at the game. That total increased by 30 percent midway through the second quarter as the unruliness unfolded.

The recent violence come nearly five months after San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten by two men in Los Angeles Dodgers gear outside Dodger Stadium after the archrivals' season opener.

Two men charged in the beating, Louie Sanchez, 28, and Marvin Norwood, 30, have pleaded not guilty.

Stow, 42, a Santa Cruz paramedic, suffered severe brain injuries and remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Terrell Thomas Season Ending injury overshadows Giants win over Bears (BLOG)

EAST RUTHERFORD,N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants were nearly perfect in all phases of the game against the Chicago Bears, and it wasn't nearly enough to make up for the season-ending knee injury to starting cornerback Terrell Thomas.

Thomas tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee with 22 seconds left in the first half Monday night, and the injury to New York's leading tackler last season overshadowed an impressive 41-13 preseason win.

"Any injury, you feel sorry for a fellow teammate," said veteran cornerback Aaron Ross, who will move into the starting lineup for Thomas. "ACL, or any injury with the knee, is serious. Terrell is a big part of this defense. Losing him is a big hurt to the team."

The rest of the game was outstanding The offense woke up, the defense was solid and special teams played a key role in helping the Giants (1-1) bounce back from a so-so performance against Carolina with a very good effort against the Bears (1-1).

"We were going against a good defense," said Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who completed 8 of 16 passes for 78 yards. "I was pleased with a couple of our drives and what we were able to accomplish."

Special teams played a major role.

Brandon Jacobs scored on an 18-yard run after a 73-yard kickoff return by Devin Thomas, and Domenik Hixon caught a 5-yard touchdown pass after rookie linebacker Greg Jones blocked a punt late in the first half.

"We played better," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "We improved. We made a lot of big plays tonight. I was glad to see so many guys make strong contributions. Defensively, we did a good job all the way through against their 1s. A lot of guys made strong contributions on special teams, especially in the first half."

David Carr, who is battling Sage Rosenfels for the backup job behind Manning, threw for two touchdowns, with the second covering 17 yards to Daniel Coats in the fourth quarter.

D.J. Ware scored on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter to give New York a 27-6 lead and rookie halfback Da'Rel Scott had a 97-yard run in the closing minutes after cancer survivor Mark Herzlich intercepted a pass near the goal line.

Robbie Gould had field goals of 23 and 42 yards for the Bears, who struggled again on offense despite having Jay Cutler (12 of 21 for 171 yards) play the entire first half.

Chicago got its only touchdown in the final minute on a 1-yard run by Kahlil Bell, but the Bears offensive line showed improvement, allowing only one sack after giving up nine in a win over Buffalo last week.

"We definitely haven't had many nights like this," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We have to tackle, we have to play better, and I better stop now, because there's a lot of things we didn't do right on defense. But we'll move on."

In the final year of his contract, Thomas was hurt on the very next play from scrimmage after Hixon caught his touchdown pass. It was Hixon's first catch at the New Meadowlands Stadium since he tore an ACL in a practice in June 2010.

Down 20-6 with 35 seconds to play, Cutler went back to pass from his own 23 and rolled a little to his left. Thomas came on a blitz and Jason Pierre-Paul rushed from his end spot. Cutler got the pass off and Thomas and Pierre-Paul collided, with the second-year end hitting Thomas around the knee from an awkward angle.

Thomas went down and he started hobbling when he got back up. He quickly went down the artificial surface and was treated by trainers and medical personnel for a couple of minutes. When he got up, he walked gingerly to the locker room. The suddenness of the diagnosis stunned his coach and teammates.

"I don't think he's someone you can just replace," safety Antrel Rolle said. "You have to understand this comes with the game of football. It comes with the territory. It leaves room for other guys to step up. It's going to alter our defense a little bit. We can't hang our heads. We still have a lot of football to play."

Thomas is the fourth Giants cornerback to get hurt this year. Backup Bruce Johnson tore an Achilles' tendon early in camp. First-round draft pick Prince Amukamara broke his foot and won't be available until about mid-October. Free agent Brian Witherspoon sprained his left knee against the Bears and will have an MRI on Tuesday.

Ware's touchdown came a play after a challenge by Coughlin resulted in a fumble call being reversed. Rhys Lloyd added field goals of 25 and 37 yards, subbing for the injured Lawrence Tynes.

The teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter before Thomas' big return set up Jacobs' go-ahead touchdown on a play Manning (8 of 16 for 78) changed at the line of scrimmage. Jacobs finished with 48 yards on six carries.

"We just wanted to hit it hard, at the point where the blockers made contact," Thomas said, "so you could get in there when they move the guy out of the way and keep going."

After failing to get a first down on either of their first two series, the Giants took a 3-0 lead by holding the ball for almost 7 1-2 minutes before settling for Lloyd's 25-yard field goal. The key play on the 11-play drive was a 21-yard fourth-down from Manning to Victor Cruz that gave New York a first down at the Bears 11.

The Bears tied the game on the next series with a quick six-play drive that started with Cutler passes of 37 yards to Devin Hester and 42 to Matt Forte. Gould kicked a 23-yard field goal after the drive stalled at the 5-yard line.

Cutler was knocked out of last year's regular-season game against the Giants with a concussion on a night when the offensive line allowed 10 sacks, including nine in the first half.

"We took a step in the right direction," Cutler said. "We know these guys can run block. That's not the issue. So, we wanted to give them some opportunities to pass block and we showed some signs."

Raiders pick Terrelle Pryor in supplemental draft (BLOG)

The Oakland Raiders selected QB Terrelle Pryor with the 18th pick in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft Monday.

APSelecting Pryor means the Raiders have forfeited their third-round pick in the 2012 draft. ESPN's John Clayton reports that Pryor can expect a four-year, $2.36 million deal with a $591,000 signing bonus. Clayton adds that the Raiders are more interested in employing Pryor as a receiver than a quarterback.

Pryor worked out for 17 teams Saturday and said he wouldn't appeal his five-game suspension, levied as a result of his admission to receiving impermissible benefits as a student at Ohio State.

He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds and threw an array of passes during the workout.

The Dallas Cowboys had the first pick and the PittsburghSteelers have the last pick.

The remaining eligible players:

Former Georgia running back Caleb King, former Northern Illinois safety Tracy Wilson, former Western Carolina CBTorez Jones, former Lindenwood University DE Keenan Mace, and former North Carolina DE Michael McAdoo.

Phony Favre signs autographs (BLOG)

A Brett Favre lookalike has been seen signing autographs at Green Bay practice posing as the former Packers quarterback, complete with a No. 4 jersey, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported Saturday.

Favre's travel coordinator David Thomason said the man also posed for pictures with fans at practice Thursday and was spotted at two sports bars in the area that night.

"This has taken on a life of its own, like Elvis," Thomason told the newspaper. "But Brett has not been in Green Bay."

Local bar owner Jerry Watson said the man came to his venue in a baseball hat Thursday night, signed autographs for fans for nearly 15 minutes and then left.

"The guy is a phony," Watson said. "But he keeps his head down so you can't get that good of a look at him."

Future Hall of Famer Favre, 41, retired in January after 20 seasons in the NFL, including 16 in Green Bay.




foxsports

Burress’ TD grab helps lead Jets past Bengals 27-7 (BLOG)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—With one terrific touchdown catch and a few bows to the crowd,Plaxico Burress’(notes) NFL comeback was complete.

The wide receiver caught three passes for 66 yards, including an over-the-shoulder 26-yarder for a touchdown, in his first game in nearly three years to help the New York Jets beat the Cincinnati Bengals 27-7 in a preseason game Sunday night.

Burress, signed last month after serving 20 months in prison on a gun charge, made his debut with the Jets (1-1) a memorable one. He caught a 20-yard pass from Mark Sanchez(notes) on the Jets’ first offensive play and another 20-yard grab in the second quarter, but the highlight came on New York’s last offensive play of the first half.

Burress took off down the left sideline, drew separation from defensive backFred Bennett(notes) and hauled in a pass from Sanchez and fell into the end zone to put New York up 17-7. The receiver got up and bowed a few times to the rain-drenched crowd, which cheered wildly. The play was reviewed by officials and upheld.

“I felt like I was moving in slow motion a bit,” Burress said. “I was looking up and at the end of the play, I was right there where I was supposed to be.”

Burress recently turned 34 and has acknowledged that many people doubt he can return to the elite level he was playing at before he accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub in 2008. But the former Super Bowl star with the Giants has insisted all throughout training camp—even while he was hobbled by a sprained left ankle—that he expects to be a game-changing receiver again.

After missing the preseason opener at Houston because of the ankle injury, Burress backed up his bold words against the Bengals (0-2).

“He played great,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “If we get the coverage a certain way, good luck to you. He is a big target and when he is covered, he is open.”

Sanchez finished 12 of 20 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, the first toSantonio Holmes(notes), as the Jets’ starting offense played the entire first half. The running game, without starter Shonn Greene(notes), stalled during the first two quarters, gaining just 17 yards, as a driving rain fell at the New Meadowlands Stadium. LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) had just 16 yards on nine carries.

Cincinnati’s offense struggled badly early as rookie Andy Dalton(notes), the second-round pick out of TCU, threw two interceptions that resulted in scores by New York. Dalton was 4 of 11 for 29 yards after one quarter, and finished 8 of 19 for 86 yards.

On the Bengals’ second possession, Eric Smith(notes) intercepted Dalton’s pass intended for A.J. Green(notes), who tipped the ball into the safety’s hands. After a few steps, Smith lateraled the ball to Darrelle Revis(notes), who brought the ball to the Bengals 16.

One play later, Sanchez connected with Holmes—who was re-signed in the offseason as the Jets’ top priority—to give the Jets a 7-0 lead.

Dalton made another mistake a few minutes later when he overthrewAndre Caldwell(notes) on third-and-15 from the 22 and the ball landed in the hands of a waiting Jim Leonhard(notes), who returned it 35 yards to Cincinnati’s 10. The Jets’ offense stalled and settled for Nick Novak’s(notes) 30-yard field goal that made it 10-0.

“He continues to work through the rough spots of playing this game as a rookie,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said about Dalton. “He experienced some different conditions, playing with a wet ball. It was just another good step as he moves forward.”

Dalton did engineer a terrific 70-yard scoring drive—his first of the preseason—early in the second quarter that was capped byBrian Leonard’s(notes) 1-yard rush.

But this night belonged to Burress, whose last game was Nov. 23, 2008, at Arizona while with the Giants. Sure it was only a preseason game, but it was huge for Burress, who just a few months ago was cleaning toilets, mopping floors and serving meals in prison.

He was cheered as he ran out of the tunnel with the offense in pregame introductions, and got a nice hand when he zipped across the field and Sanchez immediately got him involved with a 20-yard completion.

They were cheers Burress could only dream about for nearly three years. He worked out often while in prison and then practiced in Florida with several NFL players during the lockout after he was released. After a slow start with the Jets because of not being able to practice fully with the sore ankle, Burress got in a few days of full practices this week and felt good.

Now, he needs to build a rapport with Sanchez, who threw Burress’ way seven times.

“It is a work in progress,” Burress said. “You see we missed on a couple. It’s going to come. This is what the preseason is for. I can see us really elevating our play.”

Nick Folk(notes) kicked a 50-yard field goal in the third quarter for the Jets, and Brashton Satele’s(notes) interception helped set up Greg McElroy’s(notes) 3-yard touchdown pass to Joe McKnight(notes) in the fourth quarter that made it 27-7.

Both teams had several players sit this one out, including Derrick Mason(notes), Bart Scott(notes), Brandon Moore,Sione Pouha(notes), Calvin Pace(notes), Shonn Greene and Mark Brunell(notes) for the Jets, and Keith Rivers(notes),Jonathan Fanene(notes), Adam Jones(notes) and Gibril Wilson(notes) for the Bengals