Around the NFL: 10 Things for Week 11
This was actually a pretty busy week in the NFL. Injuries, transactions, and debates abound around the league, and it was easy to find notable topics to discuss. So let’s delve right in:
10. Flipping the Bird
Tennessee Titans coach Bud Adams was seen flipping the double-bird from his box and was fined $250,000 for this. This is absurd. First of all, seriously who cares? I’m not condoning his action, I’m just saying that I could care less if the owner of the team makes an obscene gesture. More importantly however, the amount of the fine was ridiculous. The league fined Michael Vick $10k for making an obscene gesture toward fans following a loss. Vick also had to donate $10k to charity. Fine Bud Adams $20k to set a standard and then be done with it. This is stupid.
9. LeBron James
People need to stop saying the LeBron James is a viable option for the Cleveland Browns. Two things: First, you need to have a little more than high school experience and athletic ability to play in the NFL. Second, LeBron would severely increase his chances of injury in the NFL, which would completely derail his basketball career. This would be a very dumb decision by LeBron and I’m ready for all this speculation that is clearly in the end just a fallacy to end. Sure, LeBron is supremely athletic and talented and maybe with enough dedication and coaching and experience he could become a great NFL player, but that’s all extreme speculation and highly unlikely at this point.
8. Pro Bowl Voting
Please vote for Lousaka Polite to make it to the Pro Bowl as a fullback. All Polite has done is help a great running game, become a solid all-around blocker, and be a short-yardage beast. This is a time where fans have the chance to let decision-makers know who we appreciate this year. While it’s tempting to consistently go with players we like or players we know, it’s important to take notice of players who really deserve to go. Guys like Polite, Matt Schaub, and Curtis Lofton need to make it in this year, and it’s up to the fans to make sure that happens.
7. Larry Johnson
In the wake of an injury to RB Cedric Benson, the Bengals have signed Larry Johnson. This is a good signing for them. There’s really not much risk involved, they need a third option in the running game to go with Benson and rookie Bernard Scott, and with Benson’s injury, the signing makes even more sense. While Johnson’s days of being a solid back are probably done, he at least can grind out some carries behind the Bengals offensive line. Besides, if he screws up, the Bengals can just cut him and they won’t take much of a hit.
6. Ronnie Brown Injury
Arguably, the most notable injury that occurred this week was the injury to Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown’s foot; an injury that will keep him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season. This is a huge blow to the Dolphins offense, as Brown is not only a good runner, but he’s the main reason why the Wildcat offense works so well in Miami. Without Brown, Ricky Williams will have to carry the load. While Ricky’s been enjoying a great season so far, his age makes it unlikely that he’ll be able to carry the ball more than a dozen or so times per game, making it critical to get other runners involved. This is a major injury that might derail the Dolphins season.
Additionally, Michael Turner was hurt last week, but it’s said to just be a sprain. His return date is unknown at this time. This puts a lot of pressure on second-year quarterback Matt Ryan, who’s had issues of his own.
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5. Coaching Change in Buffalo
Dick Jauron was finally fired in Buffalo. Jauron seems to be the kind of guy that can put a team together but can’t hold it there. He’s a good talent evaluator and a smart defensive mind. While many refuse to admit this because of his inability to have lasting success as a head coach, another team will be lucky to bring him in as a defensive backs coach or even a coordinator. Meanwhile however, the Bills need to find someone new, and supposedly they’re looking at Mike Shanahan. I’m holding out hope that Shanahan will reunite with Jay Cutler in Chicago, but Buffalo wouldn’t be a terrible fit for him either. He’d likely be left alone by owner Ralph Wilson, and he’d have a solid running back with a few other talented young players at his disposal. Plus, with a likely top 10 pick in the upcoming draft, he could draft “his” guy at the QB position in a draft with several promising prospects. I imagine Shanahan will wait out the season to see what other jobs come available, but I’d love to see Shanahan vs. Belichick twice a year. We’ll see what happens.
4. Spotlight on a Budding Star: Sydney Rice, WR, Minnesota
Rice has quietly become one of the top playmakers at WR in the NFC North. I thought a couple years ago that he’d develop into something special, but I’d kind of written him off after he struggled with inconsistency and injuries last season. This year however, he finally has someone to throw him the ball and he and Favre seem to have really developed an excellent relationship in the Vikings passing game. After eclipsing 200 yards last week, it’s apparent that Rice is on his way toward becoming the type of WR that Minnesota envisioned when they used a second round pick on him. The idea of him, Percy Harvin, and Bernard Berrian in Minnesota must send chills down the spines of opposing defensive coordinators.
3. Bad Games
Is it me or are there a lot of bad games on this week. The Thursday night game means something and should be competitive, the Patriots-Jets game could be good, although both teams are very different than they were when the Jets won in their meeting earlier this season, 49ers-Packers looks good, and the Falcons-Giants game has promise. Otherwise, most of the other games don’t excite me much. Indy usually beats the heck out of Baltimore, and the Ravens have not looked good lately. Nobody wants to watch Washington right now. The Cleveland game will probably be blacked out. Buffalo is pretty sad to watch, Pittsburgh is going to pound Kansas City, and Seattle doesn’t seem like much of a threat to beat the Vikings. To top it all off we get the Saints facing the one-win-Bucs, Cincy about to beat up Oakland, and the Rams facing the Cardinals. While the Philly-Chicago and Tennessee-Houston games seem a little promising, let’s face it, both games are just as likely to be horrible. Other than the game of the week, I’m pretty disappointed with the options this week. I just can’t get over how bad the bottom quarter of the league is.
2. Coaching Decisions
A lot has been made of Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth and two Sunday night against the Colts, a call that failed and made it easier for Peyton Manning to throw the game winning touchdown pass. I say it wasn’t that bad of a decision in that situation. Manning had just led a couple of long touchdown drives, the Patriots offense was clicking really well, and the Patriots have a very large success rate when going for it on fourth down, especially in big situations. This all led to a decision not to punt. I fully understand the opinion that he should’ve punted, however there is an inconsistency here that bugs me. Anyone who really watches the Patriots play often wasn’t all that surprised by the call. The difference is that this time the gamble didn’t pay off. To me, you can’t criticize him now, when you haven’t criticized him all the times he’s done it before. Just a little consistency that’s all I’m asking for. Just my two cents.
1. Game of the Week: San Diego vs. Denver
I don’t like this anymore than you do. Anything in the AFC West just seems sloppy and painful to watch. However, the Broncos and Chargers are both playing for something this week, and both could legitimately win. The winner will possess the lead in the division and will be in a better position to make a run at a first round bye. Even though the Broncos may be without QB Kyle Orton, this game figures to be an interesting one. The Broncos defense has played significantly better than anyone could have imagined, while the Chargers have developed an elite WR in Vincent Jackson. We’ll see how it pans out, but the man I’m most interested in seeing this week is Denver RB Knowshon Moreno. Without NT Jamal Williams this season, the Chargers have struggled against the run, and I imagine that the Broncos will try to take advantage of that with the rookie from Georgia. If nothing else, these two teams hate each other, which always makes the game more interesting.
By: Brandon Niles
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer