Broncos take to cricket ground and forget rout by the Raiders - The Denver Post
With a mighty wallop, Broncos guard Chris Kuper laid down the wood.
Paige: Trying to find a clue in London - The Denver Post
As the handsome, middle- aged man and his entourage strolled down the Park Lane Mews (alley) on Friday night, a proper English chap off to the side stopped, stared and said, "Who are they?"
Embattled coaches, potential successors - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
• Denver Broncos: Up until a week ago, I’d have told you there was no way owner Pat Bowlen would get rid of Josh McDaniels after two years. Then the Broncos lost at home to the Raiders by the unseemly score of 683-11 (OK, it was 59-14, but same difference), and Bill Belichick’s protégé was suddenly on this list. I still think he’ll survive, but he’d better show some improvement in the coming months. Possible replacement: John Fox. My dark horse scenario? Bill Parcells comes to the Rockies, either as football czar (and hires one of his ex-assistants as coach – maybe Chiefs assistant head coach Maurice Carthon? – as he did with Tony Sparano in Miami), or in a return to the sideline. If it’s the latter, given Parcells’ history, look for the Broncos to make the playoffs in 2011.
And now, a musical interlude. R.I.P Joe!!!
Royal, Dawkins both are expected to play - The Denver Post
Coach Josh McDaniels said he expects all the players who made the trip to be healthy enough to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, including wide receiver Eddie Royal and safety Brian Dawkins.
Q&A: Squandering draft picks not the way to move forward - The Denver Post
Q: My issue with Josh McDaniels is that he has squandered too many draft picks. He has blown several first-round selections, and he has traded multiple picks to move up and take players who aren't playing on game day or are not even on the team. Is there a serious issue with Josh McDaniels and/or Brian Xanders when it comes to recognizing talent?
Broncos must start quickly against 49ers - The Denver Post
A somewhat drowsy-looking Broncos team got down to business in London on Friday afternoon — England time — and it was clear the local media here are extremely curious about the Broncos' schedule this week.
Chat with commissioner Goodell: Decertification puts 2011 in jeopardy | All Things Broncos
A few newspaper writers from San Francisco and Denver had a roundtable discussion this morning with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Coach says English soccer players a bunch of boozers | All Things Broncos
I checked out three of London’s daily newspapers today to see what the people here were learning about the Denver Broncos.
NFL.com news: Make no mistake: Life without Romo will hurt the Cowboys
With all due respect to wide receiver Roy Williams, the Cowboys, as an organization, are about to learn what life without quarterback Tony Romo will be like.
NFL.com news: Chargers WR Jackson ends holdout, signs $583,000 tender
Disgruntled Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson signed his contact tender with the stumbling, turnover-prone San Diego Chargers on Friday.
NFL.com news: Texans owner McNair orders locker room sweep for supplements
Houston Texans owner Bob McNair ordered a sweep of the locker room to make sure none of his players are using banned substances.
NFL.com news: Panthers' Williams doubtful, misses third straight practice
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams has missed his third straight practice and is doubtful for Sunday's game at St. Louis with an unspecified foot injury.
NFL.com news: Wells in, Hightower out as primary ball carrier for Cards
Beanie Wells will get the starting nod at running back when the Arizona Cardinals meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Tempe, Ariz.
NFL.com news: Grand jury doesn't indict ex-Raiders QB Russell on drug charge
An Alabama grand jury declined Friday to indict former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell on a felony drug possession charge related to a drink containing codeine syrup found at his home.
NFL.com news: Favre’s iron-man streak tops Week 8 storylines to follow
As we reach the midway portion of the season, the drama is building. We could see a historic streak could come to an end. Meanwhile, as a few preseason contenders continue to falter, the NFC playoff picture is full of surprises.
NFL.com news: Clutch QB Freeman a young Buc who's growing up fast
Most coaches who look out their office window in January and see a player working on the practice fields, with no playoff game on the docket, would say that particular guy is working ahead.
NFL.com news: Vikings WR Moss among four players fined in Week 7
The NFL fined the Minnesota Vikings' star wide receiver on Friday for failing to cooperate with the news media. Players' contracts specify they must make themselves available to the media at specific times each week. Moss last spoke to the media on Oct. 13, then declined interviews after a win over Dallas on Oct. 17, throughout last week leading up to a loss at Green Bay, and after the defeat.
NFL Videos: Losing it in London?
How close are Josh McDaniels and Mike Singletary to losing their jobs? Trent Green and Rod Woodson debate.
Final Word: AFC West - AFC West Blog - ESPN
Playing time has to be earned in Haley’s world: It will be interesting to see if Kansas City receiver Chris Chambers and defensive end Tyson Jackson play this Sunday against Buffalo. Both players have been healthy scratches in recent weeks, but Jackson did play some last week. Jackson was the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2009 and Chambers was re-signed at a healthy price this offseason. Still, that’s the way it works on Todd Haley’s team. If you don’t produce, you don’t play, no matter when you were picked or how much money you make. It is working because the Chiefs are 4-2 and a very united team. So, unless Jackson and Chambers start working harder in practice, the team will move on without them.
New England Patriots' Patrick Chung, Deion Branch questionable vs. Minnesota Vikings - ESPN Boston
- New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung and receiver Deion Branch are both listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, which means they have a 50-50 chance of playing.
Final Word: NFC East - NFC East Blog - ESPN
Can the Washington Redskins avenge last season's embarrassing 19-14 loss to the Detroit Lions? Redskins Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo told the NFC East blog on Thursday that Washington's loss to the Lions, which ended a 19-game losing streak, has been on his mind every day since. There's no way Mike Shanahan will let his team take the Lions lightly. Early in this game, the Skins' front seven must do a good job on Lions rookie running back Jahvid Best, who is capable of home run plays on the ground and in the passing game. Linebacker Rocky McIntosh is playing at a high level and that must continue. I'm eager to see if defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is able to put back-to-back solid performances together. He's facing his old defensive coordinator from Tennessee in Jim Schwartz, so you may see him bring a little something extra.
Final Word: NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Too early to sit down Hall. Kurt Warner generously said he saw a little of himself in new Arizona Cardinals quarterback Max Hall. That was before Hall played in a game. Hall hasn't led a touchdown drive in any of his 25 possessions. Warner, meanwhile, tossed 21 touchdown passes with only three interceptions in his first eight NFL starts. Even so, the Cardinals are right to stick with Hall in Week 8 amid negative reviews. Once the Cardinals made the decision to give Hall a chance, they needed to give him more than two games. Hall does own a 1-1 starting record. There's a decent chance that record will hit 2-1 after facing Tampa Bay. Plenty of time remains to bench Hall if he doesn't improve. It could happen Sunday if Hall falters.
Final Word: NFC South - NFC South Blog - ESPN
Passing the torch. Tampa Bay’s release Friday of starting guard Keydrick Vincent is yet another reminder of how serious the Buccaneers are about building with youth. With that in mind, keep a close eye on how the Bucs, who play Arizona on Sunday, handle their running back situation. I’m not saying Cadillac Williams is ready to be shipped off. He did catch the game-winning touchdown pass last week, and he probably will remain the starter. But the Bucs started giving undrafted rookie LeGarrette Blount carries last week and he responded nicely. That’s going to earn him more time on the field and more carries.
Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tom Brady should emerge Sunday night with his streak still intact. There are contradictory reports about whether Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson will be Minnesota's starting quarterback. But it's safe to say Favre's incredible streak of 291 games (315 counting the postseason) has never been in more jeopardy. Brady is working on his own streak. He has won 23 straight home games. A victory over the Vikings in Gillette Stadium would put him one away from Favre's NFL record set from 1995 to 1998.
Final Word: AFC North - AFC North Blog - ESPN
Big-play Ben: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to make a lot of big plays in Sunday's prime-time matchup against the New Orleans Saints. According to ESPN's Stats and Information, Roethlisberger leads the NFL in passer rating (140.1) and yards per attempt (11.1) against the blitz, which consists of five or more rushers. Roethlisberger is not afraid to hold the ball an extra second or two against pressure to allow his receivers to get downfield. Four of Roethlisberger's five touchdowns passes this year have come against the blitz. The Saints and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams are a blitz-heavy team, which could play into Roethlisberger's hands Sunday.
Final Word: AFC South - AFC South Blog - ESPN
Blitz pick up: If RB Joseph Addai (shoulder) is out for the Colts against the Texans, Indy loses a big piece of its pass protection. Addai is superb at pickups. Donald Brown, also hurt, is not nearly as good. And Mike Hart and Javarris James have not played enough for us to know. It might be a spot for Houston to try to attack, but can the Texans afford to blitz much considering their coverage issues and Peyton Manning’s tendency to find the open guy?
Final Word: NFC North - NFC North Blog - ESPN
Brick wall: Whether it's an injured Brett Favre or backup Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback Sunday for the Minnesota Vikings, you would have to assume the play calling will be the same: A whole lot of tailback Adrian Peterson. Peterson ranks second in the NFL with 684 rushing yards despite having played only six games, and he might be the team's safest option at Gillette Stadium. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the New England Patriots recently made a personnel shift that has tightened up their run defense substantially. After moving Vince Wilfork from nose tackle to defensive end, the Patriots have limited their past two opponents -- the Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers -- to a combined 2.6 yards per carry. That's the lowest mark in the NFL over that stretch. The Vikings will have their hands full, no matter what direction they turn, as they attempt to end a seven-game losing streak on the road.
How Brad Childress will make the Brett Favre decision - Peter King - SI.com
The Minnesota Vikings do not know if Brett Favre will make his 316th straight NFL start (including playoffs) Sunday in Foxboro against the Patriots, and that's the truth. This is how it's going to work with Favre and his injured ankle this weekend: Coach Brad Childress will watch him at practice Friday in Eden Prairie, Minn., and then again Saturday in the team's walk-through practice before flying to Massachusetts in the afternoon, before deciding whether Favre or Tarvaris Jackson will play in the vital game at New England.
Ex-assistants proving there's only one Belichick - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The image of Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels pumping his fist and exhorting the home crowd after a 20-17 overtime victory over the New England Patriots and former boss Bill Belichick on Oct. 11, 2009 is still fresh in the minds of many.
Friday new$ and note$ | National Football Post
The ramping up of fines, ejections and suspensions by the NFL with the violent hits is about many things. Above all, however, it is about the business of the NFL.