Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 557 of 1503)

      Joe Flacco not 100 percent healthy?

      January 16, 2010 /

      ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco was hurt enough to sit out against the Patriots last week and isn’t at 100%.

      The hip injury that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco suffered against the Raiders in Baltimore’s regular-season finale was so bad that he could not sit during any of the flight back from Oakland, according to a league source.

      The hip caused Flacco so many problems the next week that, in the days leading up to the wild-card game against the Patriots, there were some Ravens who wondered if their quarterback would be able to play at New England.

      Flacco did, but his leg filled with fluid and had three inches of swelling.

      Flacco was better this week before Saturday night’s divisional playoff game at Indianapolis, but he still was not fully recovered.

      This could explain why he only attempted 10 passes last week. The Ravens were running the ball so well that they could have taken more shots down field with play action passes, but Cam Cameron kept it on the ground the entire game.

      It’ll be interesting to see what will happen today if the Ravens get into a shootout and Flacco has to throw to win.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      Jerome Bettis chats with The Scores Report

      January 15, 2010 /

      Ask any defender that has tried to tackle Jerome Bettis and we’re sure each and every one of them has their own horrifying tale. The 250-pound running back rushed for 13,662 yards and 94 touchdowns in his successful career, while also racking up six Pro Bowl appearances and claiming the 1993 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, the 1996 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the 2001 Walter Payton Man of the Year awards. Did we mention he also won a Super Bowl?

      “The Bus” has teamed up with DiGiorno for their “You Bettis Believe” sweepstakes, which runs through February 12th and will award one lucky winner (along with 10 of his or her friends) a chance to win a fantasy football draft party hosted by DiGiorno and Jerome. The winner and his group will be heading to Las Vegas in August for the draft and of course, the chance to meet Jerome Bettis. All you have to do to sign up is visit Facebook.com/Digiorno for a chance to win.

      Along with providing more details on the “You Bettis Believe” sweepstakes, Jerome was more than happy to talk a little football with us. We asked him what his most memorable moment was from the Steelers’ run to the Super Bowl in 2005, what was the hardest hit he ever laid on a defender and what he thinks it’ll take for the Steelers to get back in title contention. He also filled us in on where Bill Cowher may wind up when he decides to start coaching again.

      The Scores Report: Hey Jerome, how are you this is Anthony.

      Jerome Bettis: How you doing, Anthony?

      TSR: Real good, I appreciate your joining me today.

      JB: Oh, not a problem.

      TSR: Talk to me a little bit about this DiGiorno’s sweepstakes that you’re a part of. This fantasy football draft in Vegas sounds like a great time.

      JB: The sweepstakes is called “You Bettis Believe” and all you have to do is go to Facebook.com/DiGiorno and register to win the fantasy football draft party in Las Vegas. You get the opportunity to go out to Vegas and have a fantasy football draft with me. We’ll talk football, pizza; it’s the best sweepstakes you could ever win. The 12th of February is the last day you can enter so make sure you go to Facebook.com/DiGiorno to sign up.

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      Interviews, NFL

      Bears to hire Mike Martz as coordinator?

      January 15, 2010 /

      ESPN.com speculates that Mike Martz may have emerged as the favorite to become the Bears’ next offensive coordinator.

      As NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported on Thursday, Perry Fewell is planning to accept an offer to become the next defensive coordinator for the Giants. That’s a big loss — from a public relations standpoint — for the Bears, and Lovie Smith particularly, under whom Fewell worked in the past. In order to save some face, the Bears might pull the trigger on Martz in order to “try to add some credibility to their offseason,” according to a tweet from Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

      NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert discussed why the Bears haven’t yet hired Martz, and why they should:

      “This is far from an ideal scenario. But there’s little doubt Martz has a long history of implementing dynamic passing games. The Bears have devoted too many assets to Cutler to ignore that. Martz’s history, and his experience in quickly installing a scheme, might give the Bears their best chance at a quick fix.”

      Martz generally favors quarterbacks that he can mold into his own, which doesn’t describe Cutler. I agree with Seifert in that this would be a quick fix scenario at best, and a move that appeases some Bear fans more than it solves the team’s offensive woes. That’s not to say that Martz won’t do a good job, but is he the right fit? That’s debatable.

      NFL

      2010 NFL Divisional Round Prediction: Ravens vs. Colts

      January 15, 2010 /

      Baltimore Ravens (9-7, 3-5 away) at Indianapolis Colts (14-2, 7-1 home)
      Kickoff: 8:15PM ET
      Odds: Colts –6.5

      Prediction:
      There are a lot of people that are hopping onto the Ravens bandwagon – and for good reason. They absolutely took the Patriots behind the woodshed last week and beat them in all phases of the game. Ray Rice is a legitimate star in the making and the defense is playing quality football.

      But have we forgotten how good the Colts are? I get it – momentum can be very important in sports and the Colts don’t have any right now after dropping their final two regular season games. But this is Peyton Manning’s show and simply put, Baltimore’s secondary isn’t good enough to stop Indy’s offense for four quarters on the road.

      If Baltimore runs the ball effectively with Rice and keeps Manning on the sidelines, then I’ll be eating my words come late Saturday night. But the strength of Indy’s defense is its speed and I think they match up very well with the Ravens’ rushing attack. Plus, Flacco got away with only attempting 10 passes last week – that’s not going to be the case this Saturday. It’s going to be a much different game and I don’t see him out-gunning Manning.

      I like the Ravens, I really do. They’ve already proven that they can go into a hostile environment and win on the road. There’s also no doubt that they’re going to be well prepared thanks to John Harbaugh and they’ll be fired up to prove themselves once again. But in the end, I don’t think Baltimore has the talent in the secondary to slow Manning and the Colts’ offense down.

      Prediction: Colts 27, Ravens 17.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      NFL Divisional Round Playoff Prediction: Cardinals vs. Saints

      January 15, 2010 /

      Arizona Cardinals (10-6, 6-2 away) at New Orleans Saints (13-3, 6-2 home)
      Kickoff: 4:30PM ET
      Odds: Saints –7

      Prediction:
      The Saints have plenty to be concerned with entering this game, none bigger than the fact that they’ve stumbled into the playoffs by losing their last three regular season games. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have the momentum after beating the Packers last week and the more recent postseason experience after earning a trip to the Super Bowl last season.

      That said, people tend to forget how good New Orleans was in the regular season. And now that they’re at full health, we’re going to see a different Saints team this Saturday then we did in the final three weeks of the season. Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis appears healthy, which will help NO stop Beanie Wells and Arizona’s running game. With Ellis in the lineup, the Saints are a different team and one that can force opponents to be one-dimensional. Kurt Warner is excellent at making reads and getting the ball out of his hand quickly, but he and the rest of the Cardinals’ offense will have a harder time scoring in the red zone than they’re used to. New Orleans has the second best red zone defense in the league and safety Darren Sharper has shined when the Saints have their backs against their own goal line.

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      NFL

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