Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 696 of 1503)

      Dolphins acquire Thigpen from Chiefs

      September 29, 2009 /

      According to the Chiefs’ official website, Kansas City traded quarterback Tyler Thigpen to the Dolphins for an undisclosed draft pick.

      Miami was forced to make this move after Chad Pennington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a loss to the Chargers in Week 3. With only Chad Henne and Pat White on the depth chart, Thigpen gives the Dolphins more experience at the quarterback position.

      That said, Henne will remain the Dolphins’ starter because the team wants to get a better look at the former second round pick out of Michigan. Given Pennington’s age (33) and injury history, there’s a good chance that Miami won’t re-sign him when he becomes a free agent in the offseason. But they still want to see whether or not Henne is capable of taking over the starting job before the jettison a veteran quarterback like Pennington, who led Miami to an AFC East title last season.

      As for the Chiefs, they were hoping to acquire a fourth round pick in exchange for Thigpen this summer after they traded for Matt Cassel, but I doubt they got more than a fifth rounder from Miami.

      Thigpen isn’t a bad fantasy quarterback. He was QB12 last year even though he was second string early in the season. His 18.8 fppg average was 10th-best in the league. He posted some good garbage time numbers for the Chiefs because they were trailing for most of the season. The job is Henne’s to start, but if he falters or gets injured, Thigpen could be a sneaky good pickup in deeper fantasy leagues.

      NFL

      T.O. feels that media is trying to stir things up

      September 29, 2009 /

      In an interview for the radio program the “Two Live Stews,” Bills wideout Terrell Owens said that he believes the media is trying to stir things up in Buffalo by twisting around what he says.

      From ESPN.com:

      “It really just shows you the angle that the media has taken all these years,” Owens said during the interview. “Over the years I’ve always kind of spoken openly about whatever is being asked with my answers, so the last four or five years I’ve kind of noticed that and tried taking some steps to prevent some of those things from happening.

      “But [Sunday] as you saw, it was obviously … [the media] took some more than initiative to try to get me to kind of go down the wrong path. I know the last two teams that I’ve been on, I felt like I left those teams prematurely due to media interviews that I’ve done and things kind of taken out of context and they created sort of a media whirlwind in the locker room and things kind of went downhill from there. I’m just trying to do the best job I can do as far as answering the questions and trying to be a better teammate and not try to throw people under the bus.”

      During his news conference on Sunday after the Bills loss — in which his streak of 185 consecutive games with a reception was snapped — Owens was repeatedly asked about his lack of involvement in the team’s offense.

      “Just going with the plays that are called,” Owens replied repeatedly to those questions. “Whether I like them or don’t, I’m just going with the plays that are called.”

      He admitted some frustration with the lack of pass attempts downfield — “We had some chances to go down the field and we didn’t,” he said — but he sidestepped a question about whether the Bills and quarterback Trent Edwards are looking enough to the team’s top receivers.

      “No, I don’t want to answer that,” Owens said Sunday. “I don’t want to answer that, because whatever I say you guys are going to turn it to however you want to say it.”

      I heard Owens’ press conference following the Bills’ loss to the Saints on Sunday and the media was definitely trying to get him to say something controversial. They repeatedly asked him questions in an attempt to get him riled up and when he didn’t take the bait, they pushed harder.

      That said, I have zero empathy for T.O. in this situation because he brought this on himself. Had he not thrown multiple teammates under the bus and not taken such a me-first attitude throughout his career, then the Buffalo media wouldn’t be trying to conjure up a story. He thinks just because he’s been on good behavior in Buffalo that all of a sudden the media is just going to forget everything he’s done and said in the past.

      Sorry T.O., but you’re not getting off that easy.

      NFL

      USC running back Stafon Johnson in stable condition following weight room accident

      September 29, 2009 /

      USC running back Stafon Johnson underwent emergency surgery on Monday after a weight bar fell on his neck while he was bench pressing. He is listed in critical, but stable condition according to the L.A. Times.

      Johnson, who starred at Dorsey High, was just starting a set of bench-press lifts near the end of a midmorning workout when he apparently lost control of the bar and it landed on his neck, Coach Pete Carroll said.

      Johnson reportedly spit up blood through his mouth and nose.

      Reserve quarterback Garrett Green and fullback Stanley Havili did not see the accident, but both said they saw Johnson sitting quietly as he awaited the paramedics.

      Surgery began about 2 p.m., according to family friend John Eatman, a former high school teammate of Johnson’s.

      Eatman was among about a dozen friends and family members gathered at the hospital Monday evening.

      “Right now we don’t know anything,” Eatman said outside the hospital. “We’re just hoping he’s all right.”

      This is a sad story. It was an accident and fortunately for Johnson, he had a spotter and the paramedics were able to rush him to the hospital.

      Hopefully Johnson is okay and he has a quick recovery.

      College Football

      Week 5 College Football Odds

      September 29, 2009 /

      Odds makers have released the point spreads for Week 5 in college football. Below are a list of odds for the top 25 teams and a quick-hit look at some of the marquee matchups.

      No. 3 Alabama at Kentucky, 12:21PM ET
      Why have Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide become the red headed stepchild of college football this year? Nobody is talking about ‘Bama and they’ve already beaten a top 10 team (Virginia Tech) and held the No. 2 offense in the nation (Arkansas) to only seven points last week. Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks proved to be of little challenge last Saturday as the Tide limited Arkansas to only 254 total yards. This week, ‘Bama takes on a Kentucky team that couldn’t stay within four touchdowns of a Florida program that was ransacked by the flu.
      Odds: Alabama –17.

      No. 4 LSU at No. 18 Georgia, 3:30PM ET
      The Tigers had to stave off a late rally by Mississippi State last week to beat the Bulldogs and will face a Georgia team this Saturday that has won three straight games. UGA’s three wins haven’t been pretty (especially defensively), but the Dawgs are averaging over 30 points a game and have gotten good position thanks to their return game. They’re going to need all the offense they can get this week, because LSU ranks 23rd in the nation in scoring defense. The Tigers are only allowing 15.25 points per game and rank 10th in the nation in pass efficiency defense.
      Odds: Georgia –3.

      No. 7 USC at No. 24 California, 8:00PM ET
      The significance of this game took a hit last week didn’t it? Cal was ranked sixth in the nation entering play last week, but a 42-3 drubbing at the hands of Oregon dropped them to No. 24. USC rebounded from their 16-13 defeat to Washington by beating Washington State 27-6 last Saturday, but they received somber news earlier this week when running back Stafon Johnson injured his throat in a weight lifting accident that required emergency surgery. The focal point this week for Southern Cal will be to contain Heisman candidate Jahvid Best, who ranks ninth in the country in rushing yards. If any defense can slow Best down, it would be the Trojans, who currently rank fifth in rushing defense.
      Odds: USC –6.

      No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 17 Miami, 8:00PM ET
      This is another Week 5 matchup that took a hit last week when the Canes were absolutely embarrassed in Blacksburg 31-7. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris looked mortal for the first time all season thanks to the Hokies’ excellent pass rush and the Canes defense didn’t show enough gap discipline as VA Tech complied 272 rushing yards. Despite losing quarterback Sam Bradford, the Sooners still own the eighth best scoring offense in college football and the 33rd best rushing attack. Miami will find it tough to move the ball on Oklahoma’s fifth best defense, one that has allowed only 4.67 points per game and has pitched two shutouts the past two weeks.
      Odds: Oklahoma –7.

      Continue reading »

      College Football

      Colts’ lose Freeney for two weeks – Niners lose Gore for three

      September 29, 2009 /

      According to Adam Schefter’s Twitter page, Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is expected to miss 2-3 weeks due to a right quad injury and 49ers.com reports that Frank Gore will miss three weeks with a high right ankle and a right hind foot sprain.

      I don’t know if “devastating” is the right word to describe these injuries, but they’re both significant.

      The Colts defense has played excellent so far this year, partly because they’ve been able to generate pressure using only their front four. Freeney has been a one-man wrecking crew at times, especially last Sunday night in Arizona. With him out, Indy might not be able to create pressure solely from their front four and it could change the way they game plan.

      If rookie Glen Coffee can pick up where he left off in preseason, then the Niners will stay afloat without Gore for a couple weeks. Coffee showed a surprising burst and quickness in preseason and will now have to become a full-time back in just his first year.

      What will be interesting to watch unfold is if Coffee can’t be productive. That would put pressure on Shaun Hill to make more plays in the passing game and outside of his play at Minnesota on Sunday and the game-winning drive in Arizona in Week 1 he hasn’t done that.

      If San Fran wants to stay atop the NFC West, it’s time for Hill to step up and give the Niners a balanced offensive attack while Gore is out.

      NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑