Whispers from around the NFL
Pro Football Weekly

Although skeptics believe the Broncos are crazy for not giving RB Tatum Bell more than 11.4 carries per game, it's widely believed that the quick burst he shows on a consistent basis, leading to a plethora of big plays, is a direct result not getting worn down. --football gambling--

• The Titans are down on Travis Henry, not only for his four-game suspension but also for his play before that. He has been guilty of running in the wrong holes and fumbling at critical times. Don't expect him to take any carries away from Chris Brown unless Brown gets hurt. --football gambling--

The Raiders are seeing a resurgence from DT Warren Sapp, who is much more comfortable back in a 4-3 alignment and subsequently is spending a lot of time in the opposition's backfield these days. --football gambling--

Sapp has credited the play of DE Derrick Burgess and fellow DTs Ted Washington and Ed Jasper as a major reason for his success, saying, "It's just one of those deals where we're all working together. It takes four guys to get a sack." --football gambling--

Jags continue trend of inconsistency

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The Jacksonville Jaguars are consistently inconsistent. -NFL Football-

Last year, they followed consecutive victories against Kansas City and Indianapolis with an embarrassing loss at Houston. They also had a rare win at Green Bay in December that put them in playoff contention, then inexplicably were shut out at home against the Texans. -NFL Football-

Jacksonville (4-3) continued the trend Sunday, following back-to-back wins against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh with a 24-21 loss at St. Louis, which played without quarterback Marc Bulger, receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and defensive end Leonard Little. -NFL Football-

"We're capable of playing good football and beating any team in the league. We're also capable of not playing good enough and losing to any team in the league,'' coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. "When you're good enough, you win more. Until you win more, you're not elite. I think elite teams win games despite maybe not playing as well.'' -NFL Football-

The Jaguars gave up 200 yards rushing and were gouged for several big plays. Steven Jackson carried 25 times for 179 yards - the most ever allowed by Jacksonville - had runs of 36 and 51 yards and turned a screen pass into a 19-yard touchdown that turned out to be the game-winner. -NFL Football-

Also, Kevin Curtis caught an 83-yard touchdown pass from Jamie Martin and Brandon Chillar returned a blocked punt for a score. -NFL Football-

"They capitalized on our mistakes the whole game,'' cornerback Rashean Mathis said. -NFL Football-

Del Rio hopes to correct the mistakes before Sunday's division game against Houston (1-6), and hinted at making several changes this week. -NFL Football-

The most significant adjustment could be at receiver, where starter Reggie Williams sustained a concussion in the first quarter and might not play Sunday. Ernest Wilford filled in against the Texans and had a career-best day, catching six passes for 145 yards and an acrobatic touchdown. -NFL Football-

"He's going to play more,'' Del Rio said. "We're looking for playmakers, and he's established himself as that.'' -NFL Football-

Wilford also let a pass slip through his hands in the fourth quarter. Safety Mike Furrey intercepted it and gave the Rams great field position at the Jacksonville 30-yard line. Jackson scored on the screen pass a few plays later. -NFL Football-

"It sticks with me,'' said Wilford, a second-year receiver from Virginia Tech who vowed never to drop another pass after mishandling a 2-point conversion late against Miami in 2001 that prevented the Hokies from tying the game late. "I was so upset with myself. I should know better.'' -NFL Football-

Del Rio also might make changes at safety and linebacker. -NFL Football-

Free safety Deon Grant sprained an ankle against the Rams and might not play Sunday. Del Rio said strong safety Deke Cooper would move to Grant's position and rookie Gerald Sensabaugh would make his first career start. -NFL Football-

Del Rio also said linebacker Jamie Winborn, traded from San Francisco about three weeks ago, will get more repetitions in practice and may start in place of Akin Ayodele or Daryl Smith. Del Rio said both outside linebackers struggled against the Rams. -NFL Football-

"We've got to bounce back,'' receiver Jimmy Smith said. "Maybe we needed this loss. It's a reality check. We're not as good as we think we are. We can't just step on the field because we beat Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and think we can beat anybody. We've got to go out and play.'' -NFL Football-

Football Roundup

Published on 10/31/2005

•Broncos 49, Eagles 21: The rain was falling and another big Denver lead was swirling down the drain. In stepped little-known receiver Todd Devoe and better-known tailback Tatum Bell to help the Broncos turn a possible embarrassment back into a blowout. -NFL Football-

Devoe caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer and Bell ran for 67- and 6-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday to help the Broncos hold off, then run away from the Philadelphia Eagles for a victory. -NFL Football-

The four-touchdown margin doesn't begin to detail how scary this one got for the Broncos (6-2). -NFL Football-

Plummer, who finished with a season-high 309 yards, threw three of his four touchdown passes over the first 23 minutes to give Denver a 28-0 lead, but the Broncos allowed Philly (4-3) within seven points and a mere 24 yards of the tying score early in the fourth. -NFL Football-

Donovan McNabb had running back Lamar Gordon wide open on a third-and-5 from the Denver 24, but went to the end zone instead and was picked off by rookie Domonique Foxworth. -NFL Football-

Five plays later, with the rain falling heavily, Devoe ran a short slant route to the inside, caught the pass from Plummer, then spun outside and had free sailing after cornerback Roderick Hood fell on the slick turf. -NFL Football-

It was the first career touchdown for the young receiver, who worked his way up from ninth on the depth chart in training camp to surprisingly make the roster and has now replaced Darius Watts as the team's fourth receiver. -NFL Football-

A few minutes later, Bell got loose on the sideline for his 67-yard run, yet another in a long list of big plays he has made this year. -NFL Football-

Bell, who added his second touchdown in the last minute, finished with 107 yards and Mike Anderson had 126 more, leaving them on pace to become only the fourth pair of running backs in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards each. -NFL Football-

•Bears 19, Lions 13: The Detroit Lions were bailed out after one ill-advised Jeff Garcia play in the fourth quarter, then the Chicago Bears burned them on another in overtime. -NFL Football-

Garcia's across-the-body pass was picked off by Charles Tillman and returned 22 yards for a touchdown with 8:43 left in overtime, lifting Chicago atop the NFC North with a win over Detroit. -NFL Football-

The 35-year-old quarterback, making his second start in place of Joey Harrington, rolled right and tried to throw back across the field to Mike Williams. Tillman stepped in front of the throw and raced untouched to the end zone, where he was mobbed by teammates. -NFL Football-

It was a big win for Chicago (4-3) not only because the Bears broke a first-place tie with Detroit (3-4), but also because they secured a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions, whom they beat 38-6 in an earlier meeting. -NFL Football-

•Chargers 28, Chiefs 20: Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes to Antonio Gates and finished with 324 yards passing to lift the Chargers (4-4). LaDainian Tomlinson, slowed again on the ground, threw his third TD pass of the season, a 17-yarder to Eric Parker. -NFL Football-

Brees completed 25 of 43 passes, with TD throws of 19, 20 and 35 yards to Gates. Gates had 10 catches for 145 yards, both career highs, and the three TD catches tied his career best. Tomlinson gained 69 yards on 17 carries a week after being held to a career-low 7 yards in a loss at Philadelphia. -NFL Football-

Trent Green, whose father, Jim, died late last week, was 31-of-43 for 347 yards for Kansas City (4-3) and was sacked four times. Priest Holmes was shaken up midway through the third quarter and didn't return. -NFL Football-

•Dolphins 21, Saints 6: Gus Frerotte had a touchdown pass to Chris Chambers and the Dolphins' defense recorded a safety, spoiling the Saints' return to Louisiana. -NFL Football-

The game was played at Louisiana State in Baton Rouge. -NFL Football-

Miami allowed two field goals and kept Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks off-balance throughout in snapping a three-game losing streak. -NFL Football-

Ricky Williams also showed signs of a return to form for the first time in his NFL comeback, battering tacklers as he gained 82 yards on 17 carries. Ronnie Brown rushed for 106 yards for the Dolphins (3-4). -NFL Football-

While Paul Tagliabue offered hope to those in Louisiana who'd like to keep the state's NFL franchise, the Saints (2-6), losers of four straight, did little to leave their fans hopeful about this season. Brooks was intercepted once, sacked six times and fumbled twice without being touched — though he recovered both. -NFL Football-

•49ers 15, Buccaneers 10: Joe Nedney kicked five field goals, including a 28-yarder with 1:56 to play on the first scoring drive ever led by former fourth-string quarterback Cody Pickett, to help the 49ers snap a five-game slide. -NFL Football-

Pickett emerged as an improbable hero for the 49ers (2-5), performing admirably in the final 11 minutes while Ken Dorsey and Alex Smith were out with injuries. After Dorsey sprained his left ankle, Pickett marched the Niners 42 yards in 11 plays to Nedney's last field goal, and the defense shut down Tampa two more times to clinch it. San Francisco won with just 208 yards of offense. -NFL Football-

Joey Galloway caught eight passes for 149 yards for the Buccaneers (5-2), who began the day with the NFC's best record. Chris Simms was 21-of-34 for 264 yards in his first start of the season, but his numbers didn't reflect an inconsistent, tentative performance that included two interceptions — one bouncing off the head of umpire Darrell Jenkins — and a key fumble. -NFL Football-

•Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13: Rookie Marion Barber ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries in his first start and new kicker Shaun Suisham made two short field goals. -NFL Football-

With the victory, the Cowboys (5-3) stayed on pace in the jammed NFC East. They also had a good performance going into their bye week, which comes before they have to play three games in 11 days. -NFL Football-

Arizona (2-5) lost its 14th straight game at Texas Stadium since 1989. -NFL Football-

•Raiders 34, Titans 25: Kerry Collins threw for three touchdowns, and the Raiders got for their third victory in the last four games. -NFL Football-

The Raiders (3-4) came up with six sacks, including 2 1/2 by Warren Sapp, and two turnovers they converted into 10 points. They also won their first road game this season, and they did it with their first victory in Tennessee against a team that had won the first three in this series. -NFL Football-

The Titans (2-6) again blew a game they had a chance to win with the league's youngest team making repeated mistakes. They had a punt return for a TD wiped out by a roughness penalty, dropped passes, a botched extra point and a rookie who never looked for a ball thrown his way: A wide-open Bo Scaife was too busy running upfield and apparently forgot the ball might be thrown to him. -NFL Football-

•Rams 24, Jaguars 21: Steven Jackson had 179 yards on 25 carries and scored the winning touchdown, Mike Furrey's 37-yard interception return led to the go-ahead score and the Rams stuffed the Jaguars' attack most of the second half. -NFL Football-

Fred Taylor, who was questionable with a bruised right ankle, had 165 yards on 23 carries for the Jaguars (4-3). That included a 71-yard scoring run in the first quarter. But the Jaguars were hurt by missed field goals by Josh Scobee from 44 and 48 yards. -NFL Football-

The Rams (4-4) have won two of three since losing coach Mike Martz for the season due to a heart illness and with interim coach Joe Vitt in charge. They expect to get back QB Marc Bulger (shoulder) and wide receivers Torry Holt (knee) and Isaac Bruce (turf toe) after their bye week next week. Defensive end Leonard Little, the team's best pass rusher, also should return after missing two games following the shooting death of a younger brother. -NFL Football-

•Bengals 21, Packers 14: Brett Favre threw five interceptions and came up short on a game-ending drive, preserving the Bengals' victory. -NFL Football-

The Packers (1-6) feel they're never out of it as long as Favre is throwing. Favre drove them to the 28, where a fan ran out of the stands and plucked the ball from the quarterback's passing hand after a play. -NFL Football-

Guards needed several minutes to run down the fan, giving both teams a much-needed breather. It finally ended with Favre throwing an underhand pass from behind the line of scrimmage, then falling on his back at the 13-yard line in exhaustion. He finished 26-of-39 for 279 yards. -NFL Football-

He had never thrown five interceptions during a regular-season game; he had six in a playoff loss to St. Louis during the 2001 season. -NFL Football-

•Panthers 38, Vikings 13: Stephen Davis ran for two touchdowns and Steve Smith terrorized Minnesota's defense for a franchise-record 201 yards and a score. -NFL Football-

Jake Delhomme was on-target for the Panthers (5-2), passing for 341 yards and three touchdowns while stretching Carolina's winning streak to four games. -NFL Football-

The Vikings (2-5) dropped to 0-4 on the road this season, continuing a five-year trend for futility: Minnesota is 9-32 away from the Metrodome since October 2000. They had no leadership after Daunte Culpepper left with a sprained right knee on the final play of the first quarter. -NFL Football-

•Texans 19, Browns 16: The Texans are winless no more. -NFL Football-

Kris Brown kicked a 40-yard field goal, his fourth of the day, with 2:45 remaining, to give Houston (1-6) the come-from-behind win. The winning kick was set up by a 63-yard kickoff return by rookie Jerome Mathis. -NFL Football-

Houston's losing streak spanned back to a 22-14 loss to Cleveland in last season's finale. The loss was the third straight for Cleveland (2-5). -NFL Football-

© The Day Publishing Co., 2005
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Chiefs rookie LB Johnson focusing on game’s mental aspect
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Kansas City
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Chiefs first-round pick Derrick Johnson has made quite a splash in Kansas City from his strong-side LB spot, ranking second on the team in tackles and making plays all over the field. Johnson, who is playing at about 12 pounds heavier than he did at the University of Texas, told PFW he is happy with his progress but needs to continue to work on using his hands to shed blocks rather than relying too much on his athleticism. His position coach, Fred Pagac, agrees.
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“He’s like a battering ram right now, hitting everything with his head and chest,” Pagac told PFW. “He’s a tough son of a gun, but when he learns how to play blocks better, he’ll be a difference-maker. … When he learns his game, he’s going to be a big-time player. He does things that are rare.” --- nfl ---
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The mental aspect of the game is something that has taken some time to adapt to as well. “Coming in as a rookie, you’re going to be behind most everybody in the league,” Johnson said. “Everybody up here knows how to work, knows how to study film. As a rookie, you have to work extra hard to get that mental edge.
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… As far as the speed factor, I feel like I can run with anybody on the field. But the mental part of it, I’m doing a pretty good job with it right now, but there’s never enough stuff you can know.”--- nfl ---

Boys dominate Philly from start to finish

IRVING, Texas (Oct. 9, 2005) -- So much for the Dallas Cowboys following their season-long script of playing conservatively and trying to win late. Coach Bill Parcells unleashed his team from the start and they stomped the Philadelphia Eagles.

Drew Bledsoe led the suddenly risky Cowboys to two early touchdowns and scores on six of their first seven drives, and the defense shut down Donovan McNabb and the league's top offense in a stunning 33-10 victory Sunday.

"You play like that, you've got a chance to beat anybody," coach Bill Parcells said.

Dallas (3-2) had lost nine of 10 to Philadelphia and spent the first month of this season using a ball-control approach, resulting in every game being decided in the final minutes. Parcells hinted to expect more of the same -- and the Eagles apparently fell for it.

Sucking in the defense with play action, Bledsoe hit Terry Glenn for completions of 18, 16 and 15 yards within the game's first four snaps. The last one put the Cowboys up 7-0. Minutes later, Bledsoe and Glenn connected on a 39-yard touchdown that made it 14-0.

After not scoring a point in the first quarter all season, Dallas was up 17-0 before Philadelphia (3-2) even had a first down.

It was 27-3 at halftime and 30-3 after the Cowboys' first drive of the third quarter, making for the kind of one-sided game typical of this series the last five years, except with the twist of Dallas sticking it to Philly.

"What happened in years past doesn't matter," McNabb said. "This is a much better Dallas team. But we feel like we're still the best team in the NFC. We weren't able to get things going. We have to learn from it and move on."

Parcells was ready to shake up things because the Cowboys are facing a now-or-never stretch: two straight, three of four and five of seven at Texas Stadium. They'd already lost at home to division rival Washington and couldn't afford to lose again with the New York Giants coming in next week, then their final three NFC East games on the road.

Bledsoe finished 24 of 35 for 289 yards, three touchdowns and wasn't sacked. He joked that "if we hadn't run those two quarterback sneaks, I wouldn't have been hit all day."

Glenn had seven catches for 118 yards. Julius Jones ran for 72 yards, but didn't play the second half because of an ankle injury. Rookie Tyson Thompson gained 75 yards in his place.

"A win like this shows what we can be when we get out of our own way," said Bledsoe, who blamed turnovers and penalties for preventing better offensive showings earlier.

Although the Eagles overcame an 18-point deficit the previous week, McNabb and Terrell Owens didn't have it in them again.

The NFL's top offense was held to 129 yards and the league-best passing attack put up only 110. Philadelphia's offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time in 13 games.

McNabb, playing with injuries to his abdomen, chest and groin, was 13 of 26 for 131 yards and four sacks. Owens had five catches for 50 yards and failed to score, preventing any celebrations on the Texas Stadium star logo.

Eagles coach Andy Reid figures he has a lot to work on going into the bye week.

"You could pick out anything and we probably didn't do it well," Reid said.

Philadelphia's only touchdown came on an 80-yard fumble return late in the third quarter that made it 30-10. Rather than spark a late rally, all it produced was a heated sideline exchange between Keyshawn Johnson and Bledsoe. Both later said it was over as quickly as it happened.

The aggressiveness Dallas showed on the opening drive continued throughout the first half.

The Cowboys went for it twice on fourth-and-1 during their second drive. The second one didn't work, but the Eagles took over at their 2 and the defense kept them there. Bledsoe got the ball back at Philadelphia's 39 and immediately hit Glenn for their second TD.

Dallas' most surprising call came on fourth-and-1 from the 12 after the Eagles made it 17-3. Bledsoe threw to fullback Lousaka Polite for the first time all season -- and he took it into the end zone.

The Eagles had only 18 yards in the first quarter and 80 at halftime. McNabb was so frustrated that after a sack he spiked the ball, then sent his helmet flying once he reached the sideline.

Was this the best Dallas has played in Parcells' 37-game tenure? "I think so," he said.

Notes: The Cowboys were without linebacker Dat Nguyen (neck). ... Philadelphia CB Lito Sheppard was picked on often, but got a bit of revenge by causing Johnson's fumble. ... Philadelphia DT Sam Rayburn sprained a knee ligament and TE L.J. Smith sprained his left ankle.

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

NFL felons can wear white collars

By KEN WILLIS
MY TWO CENTS

You probably never heard of Bob Buczkowski during his three-year NFL career in the late 1980s.

If you heard of him in the years since, lay low, because you don't want to make this witness list.

Breaking a long, long pattern of crime news involving current and former NFL players, Buczkowski should probably be congratulated. He's been arrested for something other than assault, battery, assaultand battery, first-degree murder, manslaughter, or the way-too-common domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse? No way. In fact, Bob and his girlfriend, Amy Schifano, got along so well, they've been charged by Pennsylvania authorities with operating a prostitution ring that dabbled in drug sales -- hey, get a gun license, and we're talking one-stop shopping.

According to a wire report Friday, Bob and Amy generated nearly $1 million in business over past couple of years, which is certainly more than he made in his uninspiringNFL layover. The couple reportedly attracted business through ads in a weekly entertainment newspaper, and I know what you're thinking: If you're running a veritable Handy Way for hookers and happy dust, you probably shouldn't advertise in the trades.

Bob should be congratulated for debunking the myth that all football defendants are violent.

PICK-N-ROLL

Today's game in Tuscaloosa will give strong clues as to whether UF can indeed win 11 or 12 games this year, or whether Urban Meyer will need a refresher course on how to shake the opposing coach's hand and pretend he's not sick to his stomach -- break out the Pepto . . . 'Bama by 4 (when I'm wrong and you call to remind me, ask for Earl on the back dock -- he gave me the tip).Elsewhere, FSU rather easily over Syracuse; Miami by just 6 over South Florida; B-CC handles Joe Morgan State; UCF makes it two straight at La.-Lafayette; Southern Cow by just 30 over Arizona State; LSU by 6 over Mississippi State; Tennessee beats Can't Miss by 12; Michigan State over Michigan with a late safety; Auburn over Spurrier; Southern Utah handles McNeese State; Notre Dame by 3 over Purdue; and this year's national champs over West Virginia by 9 points and two post-game fires.

AND SO ON . . .

All the previous LPGA commissioners had an excuse. With precious few exceptions, the tour hasn't had a glut of media darlings to help build its brand.

But now that Michelle Wie has officially turned pro, joining other teenagers Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer on the national stage -- and several marketable twenty-somethings -- new commish Carolyn Vesper Bivens has horses to ride. Whether golf fans want to line the rail and watch them run remains to be seen.

· Wondering why you can't find Sterling Marlin this weekend? Must be that camouflage car he's sportin' at Talladega. It's all part of a marketing campaign (SURPRISE!) by Coors, which is introducing a camouflage can to certain markets.

In yet another shock, Coors thought it might go over big in Central Alabama. So Talladega is one of two tracks (another shock: Texas is the other) where Sterling will don the camo paint scheme on his car. Convince the ol' boys in the infield that the cops can't see a camouflage can, and you'll sell a billion of 'em.

© 2005 News-Journal Corporation

Four Jets to visit hurricane-affected area

NEW YORK (Sept. 14, 2005) -- Four New York Jets players are headed to Baton Rouge, La., to visit evacuees, volunteers and workers involved in the relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Center Kevin Mawae, defensive end/linebacker John Abraham, fullback Jerald Sowell and safety Oliver Celestin will board a private aircraft lent to them from Mr. and Mrs. Emily Congel.

The four players will visit shelters in the North Baton Rouge and Donaldsonville areas, and then will spend time with some rescue workers and volunteers during their stay.

All of the players, with the exception of Abraham, have strong local ties to the storm-ravaged area: Mawae, a native of Leesville, La., makes his offseason home in Baton Rouge, the town where he graduated from Louisiana State University. Sowell, from Baker, La., graduated from Tulane University, while Celestin and his family are also from on the west bank of New Orleans. His family has been displaced due to the damage from Hurricane Katrina and relocated to the New York area through the support of his Jets teammates and the organization.

On Sept. 17, Mawae and his wife, Traci, have organized a food drive for the victims of the storm, beginning at 10 a.m. ET at St. Paul's School in Garden City, N.Y.. Non-perishable food items, water, toiletries, general hygiene products and baby items, such as diapers and wipes, will be collected for distribution to the Gulf Coast region. Clothing will not be accepted as donation.

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.