Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1095 of 1503)

      Report: Vikings DT’s Pat Williams and Kevin Williams face suspension

      October 26, 2008 /

      Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Saints’ players Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant tested positive for league-banned substances and could face suspensions. Now apparently Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Vikings also face suspensions according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.

      FOX Sports has learned that both of the Minnesota Vikings’ Pro Bowl defensive tackles, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, are also facing suspensions for testing positive for the same product. Losing one of the Williams would be a major blow to the Vikings but to possibly lose both would serve as a major blow to the NFC North contenders.

      The Williams aren’t the only defensive tackles facing the penalty as well. FOX Sports has also learned that the Falcons’ Grady Jackson tested positive for the water pill and is facing a four-game ban just like the other players who are currently fighting the suspension.

      Water pills are deemed illegal in the NFL because they can be used to mask positive steroid tests. However, considering the players who have tested positive, the intent appears to be to cut weight, and not for a masking agent.

      Many of the players who have taken the product have long used water pills in order to make weight as the show up to camp or in order to make certain weight on a weekly basis. Guys like the Williams duo, Grady Jackson, Charles Grant appear on the surface to clearly fall under this reasoning.

      It’s a shame that players who use such pills, which are readily available at drug stores and health food stores, are swept in the same category as those who try test positive for juicing.

      Some reports have incorrectly stated that these players have test positive for steroids, but water diuretics aren’t in the same class and certainly don’t have the same affects. But the problem is that they can be used to mask other performance-enhancing drugs (including steroids) and the league can’t decipher which players are using the diuretics to cut weight, and which ones are using them to hide the use of other drugs. Unfortunately there might not be an easy answer to resolve the problem, either.

      NFL

      Browns aren’t dead – Derek Anderson continues to hang onto job

      October 26, 2008 /

      Cleveland BrownsNot that the Jaguars have been that impressive this season, but the Browns 23-17 win in Jacksonville might have been the best upset of Week 8.

      Without tight end Kellen Winslow, Derek Anderson still managed to throw for 246 yards and a touchdown, amassing 168 yards in the first half alone. He hit for big plays all afternoon including a of 51-yard completion to Steve Heiden on a fourth down play, a 43-yard strike to Braylon Edwards that set up a field goal, and a 53-yard connection with Syndric Steptoe in the fourth quarter to set up a Phil Dawson field goal with less than five minutes remaining.

      Cleveland has now won three of their last four games and were close to coming away with a win last week in Washington. With the Steelers losing to the Giants, the Browns are far from dead and have shown signs of life since starting the season 0-3.

      The Jaguars might be the hardest team to figure out in the NFL. They started off 0-2, but showed some mettle in close wins over the Colts and Texans to get to 2-2. But they weren’t sharp in a loss to the Steelers in Week 5, then followed that performance with an impressive win over the Broncos in Denver. Now they sit 3-4 after their loss to the Browns.

      Are the Jags are a playoff team lying in the weeds or are they underachievers that would be lucky to finish 9-7? One thing is for sure, this team isn’t running the ball anywhere close to what they had been in previous years and the passing game simply isn’t good enough to overcome it.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Steelers collapse against Giants could come back to haunt them

      October 26, 2008 /

      Steelers-GiantsThere are times throughout a season when a team can look back at a game they should have won and it wound up costing them a spot in the playoffs. Considering they don’t play in the toughest division, the Steelers might be a lock to make the postseason anyway, but their 21-14 loss to the Giants on Sunday could come back to bite them in the ass.

      The game was far from over when Pittsburgh had a 14-9 lead early in the fourth quarter, but they had been in control. The defense was flustering Eli Manning and the Giants couldn’t get their run game going. But while facing a 4th and 5 from New York’s 34-yard line with 14 minutes remaining, Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin decided to go for it instead of attempting a long field goal or pinning the Giants back with a punt. Ben Roethlisberger was then intercepted and on the change of possession, NY drove 62 yards and cut their deficit to 14-12 after a John Carney field goal.

      On the Steelers next possession, punter Mitch Berger had the snap fly over his head and out the back of the end zone for a safety. All of a sudden the game was tied and the air was sucked out of Heinz Field. The Giants then marched 53 yards on seven plays and Manning found Kevin Boss for a 2-yard touchdown pass.

      Pittsburgh never recovered.

      Not to take anything away from the Giants, but the Steelers blew an opportunity to only take a commanding lead in their division, but also beat a very good team and keep pace with the other elite teams in the AFC. Penalties, turnovers and some questionable coaching decisions cost Pittsburgh a win and spoiled an otherwise great defensive effort.

      Hand it to Eli and the Giants for hanging tough and coming away with a huge road win. They didn’t look sharp at times, but then again Pittsburgh’s defense is still one of the best in the league. Good teams find ways to win games when they don’t play to their capabilities and the G-Men did that on Sunday.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Lions still can’t win, also haven’t paid Matt Millen since September

      October 26, 2008 /

      Rod MarinelliWith their 25-17 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, the Detroit Lions fell to 0-7 on the season. The Lions are trying to forget about the losses and just find anything to be positive about.

      Speaking of forgetting, apparently the front office has also forgot that former GM Matt Millen is still on the payroll.

      NFL sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the Lions haven’t paid Millen, who is still owed $6 to $10 million under his contract which ran until 2010, since he was fired Sept. 24.

      According to those sources, the Lions are trying to get Millen to settle for an amount less than what he is owed. Millen currently has no plan to file a grievance against the Lions as both sides are exploring a settlement.

      I think it’s only fair that the team asks Millen to take a reduce salary for the next two years considering he stole from them the past eight.

      Related Side Note: How good has Clinton Portis been this year? He finished with 126 yards on Sunday, going over the 120 yard mark for the fifth consecutive game. That’s unbelievable.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Don’t talk about “Favre magic” – Brett was brutal Sunday

      October 26, 2008 /

      Brett FavrePlay by play announcers and casual football analysts will probably wax poetically about how Brett Favre sprinkled a little late-game magic Sunday to the beat the Chiefs at the Meadow Lands. But despite throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns (including the game winner to Laveranues Coles with only a minute remaining in the game to give NY a 28-24 win), the fact of the matter is that Brett was brutal and nearly cost his team a win.

      Pundits and fans alike love to talk about Favre’s gunslinger mentality and how he takes risks in order to seek big rewards. But that wasn’t the case Sunday against Kansas City. He threw three costly, dumb interceptions including one that was returned for a 91-yard touchdown by Brandon Flowers that gave KC a 24-21 lead with less than eight minutes remaining in the game.

      Yes, he did lead the Jets on a 6-play, 46-yard drive to win the game. But all Favre did with the drive was save his own skin and Coles had to make an incredible one-handed catch on an otherwise poorly thrown ball.

      I realize Brett has been criticized before because of his reckless play, but it just seems that he’s been untouchable since he was traded to New York. Had the Jets lost today, one would hope that he would have been criticized like every other quarterback had they been intercepted three times by a one-win Kansas City team playing with rookie corners. But I doubt it. (Not to mention Tyler Thigpen outplayed him as he threw for 280 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.)

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑