Author: John Paulsen (Page 832 of 937)

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is listed as questionable and missed his third straight day of practice. As of now, he’s going to be a game-time decision for Sunday. Chris Henry is a nice option for Housh owners…Clinton Portis basically ruled himself out for Week 1 and is targeting Week 2 for his return, leaving the possibility open that he may not return until later. This is obviously bad news for Portis owners, who should be scrambling to their waiver wires trying to add Ladell Betts to their roster, if they failed to do so on draft day…Steve Smith will be a game-time decision as well. My gut tells me that he’s not going to play. Bench him if you have a decent option and stay alert on Sunday morning. If there’s word that he’s going to play, you’ll probably only have a few minutes to put him into your lineup…The Steelers signed Najeh Davenport. This is bad news for Willie Parker owners as Davenport is reminiscent of Jerome Bettis in build. Pittsburgh could be planning to use Davenport as a goal line back…Alvis Whitted is going to start opposite Randy Moss, with Ron Curry and Jerry Porter starting the season as backups…It looks like Texans’ HC Gary Kubiak plans to use Wali Lundy and Vernand Morency in a RBBC, with Lundy playing “a bit more.”

Al Michaels is a pro. He’s probably the best play-by-play in the business.

Ronnie Brown looks like the real deal. His pass-catching skills have improved. That was a pretty nice snag on that first series, even if it didn’t go for a first down.

I loved that Sprint NFL Mobile commercial with Peyton Manning in disguise. The moustache is falling of as he says, “You can watch exclusive game highlights of all your favorite players. Like Peyton Manning. That guy’s pretty good – if you like 6’5”, 230 pound quarterbacks, laser, rocket arm.” Gotta love that hair.

Verron Haynes is the Steelers’ third down back. This will limit Parker’s pass catching opportunities.

Miami’s ball – 3rd and 4 near midfield. Culpepper has Marty Booker wide open at the first down marker and he completely misses him. This is what worries me about Daunte – he’s got a good career completion percentage, but he’s not all that accurate of a passer. An immobile Daunte Culpepper is a very scary proposition.

Pittsburgh’s ball 4th and 1 from Miami’s 39. I love the decision to go for it and I love the play call. If you’ve got a 4th and short inside your opponent’s 40-yard line and you’re not in field goal range, you have to go for it. I’m so tired of seeing punts in this situation that end up rolling into the endzone for a touchback. The play call was great – a little misdirection and the pitch to Parker, letting him use his 4.3 speed to outrun the Miami defense to the first down marker. It’s a much different approach than the one they used last year, but just as effective.

Nate Washington made a great catch on that TD – he went up, made the snag and took the hit from the safety. Not a bad throw from Charlie Batch, either. It looks like Washington is going to do the kind of things that Antwaan Randle El did last season.

10 minutes left in the first half and Chris Chambers still doesn’t have his first catch of the season. Let’s throw him a three-yard out just to get him on the board. (Can you tell I’ve got him in a league or two?)

Wes Welker looks like a good returner – don’t be surprised if he scores a couple of TDs this season for Miami’s special teams.

Culpepper threw a beautiful touch pass to Welker and then, on another play, the receiver took a pass and made something out of nothing. He might be this year’s Brandon Stokley, but he’s going to have a tough time getting on the field with Chambers and Booker ahead of him.

Speaking of Chambers, he and Culpepper really looked out of synch in the first half.

It’s good to see Sterling Sharpe working on the big stage again. He’s smart, eloquent and he knows the game.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Ben Roethlisberger looks like Will Ferrell after a weekend bender in Vegas.

If Willie Parker gets 12-13 carries per half behind that talented Steeler offensive line, he’s going to have a very productive season. He’s showing some cutback ability that he didn’t have last year.

Hines Ward’s hammy (say that five times fast) looks fine. He’s having no trouble getting open. But he’s starting to do that Antonio Freeman backpedal when he catches the ball in the middle of the field. I’d like to see him turn up field, but he seems content to wait for the contact.

Finally, 7:23 left in the third, and Chambers gets his first catch.

Ronnie Brown runs like Rudi Johnson. He never seems to go down on the first hit.

After the touchdown drive that gave the Dolphins a 17-14 lead, it sure looked like they were going to take control of the game, but back-to-back Miami penalties on the next possession helped the Steelers out of a big hole. Next thing you know, the Steelers give the ball back on the Miami goal line. Ouch.

Batch’s third touchdown pass was another beauty to Heath Miller, who showed some surprising speed to get to the pylon. Unfortunately, Saban didn’t do a very good job of challenging the call.

What’s Chris Collinsworth doing these days? I like it when he said he was just “running around.” He takes a lot of abuse, but I actually like Collinsworth.

Daunte Culpepper throws his second interception is as many pass attempts. A friend of mine always says, “Daunte Culpepper wants to give you the ball.” Is there anything worse for a quarterback than to throw an interception for a touchdown and then get blocked to the turf just as the defender crosses the goal line?

Chambers looks a lot better in the second half. Of course, five catches for 59 yards will make a lot of guys look better. I’ll take it after that goose egg in the first half.

Well, Daunte turned the ball over and Pittsburgh won their home opener. No big shockers there.

Steve Smith did not practice on Thursday and is still questionable for the season opener on Sunday.

“Right now it’s day to day, and when it comes down to Sunday it will be a gameday decision,” coach John Fox said.

Most leagues allow for lineup changes until kickoff, even if there is a Thursday night game. In those leagues that freeze the lineup the night of the week’s first game, there is one owner struggling with a tough decision right now.

So what to do? Well, it depends on your options. If you don’t have a decent backup to start in his spot, then it’s worth rolling the dice, hoping that Smith will start. Even if he does play, he’ll be hampered somewhat by the injury, so don’t expect his usual output. If you do have a good option on your bench, then insert him into your lineup and don’t look back.