Category: NFL (Page 522 of 1282)

      Packers’ Woodson voted AP Defensive Player of the Year

      January 12, 2010 /

      After helping the Packers reach the playoffs this season, cornerback Charles Woodson was voted the AP’s Defensive Player of the Year.

      From FOXSports.com:

      The versatile Woodson tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, and was a key to the Packers’ turnaround on defense. His role in Green Bay’s ranking second in overall defense, first in interceptions (30), takeaways (40) and turnover margin (plus-24) earned Woodson 28 votes Tuesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

      “It’s a great honor,” Woodson said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I felt like I put a lot into the game, mentally and physically – your body’s always beat up – and it’s great to be recognized.”

      It’s surprising that his votes doubled that of the Jets’ Darrelle Revis, who emerged this season as a true lockdown corner. That said, Woodson had to make the transition from being a press corner in a 4-3 to a zone player in Dom Capers’ new 3-4 defense. Considering he’s 33, had to learn a new scheme and still dominated speaks to his talent.

      Talk about a player that has lived up to the hype. People forget he won a Heisman Trophy, which has often been the kiss of death for players in the NFL. But Woodson continues to be a top-notch defender and at a position, no less, that requires a player to keep up his speed, agility and burst. What Woodson has been able to accomplish in his career is impressive.


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      NFL

      Can the Vikings slow down the Cowboys’ pass rush?

      January 12, 2010 /

      If Brett Favre watched how the Cowboys’ defense dismantled Donovan McNabb and the Eagles’ offense last Saturday, then he probably didn’t get much sleep that night.

      For as good as the Vikings’ offense has been this season, the offensive line hasn’t played well in weeks. That doesn’t bode well for Minnesota given that its O-line has the unenviable task of trying to slow down a Dallas pass-rush that has emerged as a dangerous unit over the last month of the season.

      In the Cowboys’ 34-14 trouncing of the Eagles last Saturday, DeMarcus Ware sacked McNabb twice and harassed him on several other occasions. It was Ware’s fourth multi-sack game of the season and it no doubt sent a message to Brad Childress that he better figure out a way to protect his quarterback this weekend.

      One way to slow down an aggressive pass rush is to run the ball straight at it. Fortunately for the Vikings, they have a back in Adrian Peterson that excels running between the tackles and attacking the edge of a defense. But the problem is that Childress got away from his balanced attack over the course of the season and the Vikings suffered a little down the stretch. If Minnesota believes it can beat Dallas by throwing the ball early and often, then a second-round knockout is inevitable for the Vikings.

      It’ll be interesting to see if Childress commits to running the ball with AP this weekend in order to attack the Cowboys’ excellent pass-rush. If he doesn’t, then he and Favre might be in store for a long day.


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      NFL

      Sharp: Rooney Rule is broken

      January 12, 2010 /

      Good point by Drew Sharp of the Detroit News about the broken Rooney Rule:

      The NFL owes the Lions an apology — as well as $200,000 with almost seven years’ worth of accrued interest.

      The league reprimanded the Lions in July 2003 for “violating the spirit” of the NFL’s then-newborn Rooney Rule in their aggressive, accelerated pursuit of a suddenly available Steve Mariucci. The Lions couldn’t attract a minority candidate for a precursory interview, because everybody knew Mariucci was the guy they wanted.

      So explain this to me: How is what Washington did and what Seattle is trying to do any better?

      The Redskins’ hiring of Mike Shanahan three days after they kicked Jim Zorn to the curb and the Seahawks’ lightning courtship of Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll after they surprisingly jettisoned Jim Mora after one season earned the league’s blessings.

      They also had the approval of those very advocates of football diversity who accused the Lions of turning the Rooney Rule into a mockery seven years ago.

      The joke’s on them now.

      If such blatant circumvention of explicit league policy warrants so little consternation, then that must mean the Rooney Rule has outlived its usefulness and should be revoked or at least dramatically scaled back.

      How the Redskins and Seahawks went about their hires was not how the Rooney Rule was intended to work when it was first established. Faking through an interview with a minority candidate isn’t honoring the rule – it’s spitting in the face of it.

      Owners like Daniel Snyder and Paul Allen can hire whomever they want – after all, it’s their money and their team. But Sharp’s right – why were the Lions punished for being honest about wanting to hire Mariucci without interviewing anyone else and the Redskins and Seahawks get a free pass for making a mockery of the rule by setting up a couple of bogus interviews? The rule needs a serious makeover.


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      NFL

      Is Brady’s time with Pats coming to an end?

      January 12, 2010 /

      Albert R. Breer of the Boston Globe broke down the questions the Patriots face while heading into the offseason, including the expiring contract of one Tom Brady.

      What about the quarterback? Brady’s deal expires after the 2010 season, and this is the closest he’s come to the end of a contract since becoming a Patriot in 2000. He signed a four-year extension in 2002 with two years left on his rookie deal, then inked a six-year deal in 2005 with two seasons left on that accord.

      In August, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers signed six-year contracts worth $16.25 million and $15.5 million per season, respectively. Jay Cutler got a two-year, $30 million extension in October. Peyton Manning is headed for a contract year as well, and Colts owner Jim Irsay said an extension is “a given.’’

      Brady’s never been one to siphon every last dime. But with the possibility the Colts once again could reset the market for quarterbacks in an uncapped environment, this one could be complicated.

      To me, the Patriots already made this decision this past offseason when they traded Matt Cassel to the Chiefs and retained Brady. Cassel had proven that he could run the offense and he’s much younger than Brady. If there was ever a time for a changing of the guard, it was when the Patriots had both quarterbacks on the roster.

      They made a commitment to Brady and unless he’s a complete disaster in 2010, then I highly doubt he’s going anywhere. Was he the same player this year that he was in previous years? Of course not, but he was also coming back from major reconstructive surgery. Give him another full year and then let’s see where he and the Patriots stand.


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      NFL

      Report: USC offers Jags’ Del Rio a contract

      January 12, 2010 /

      According to the Los Angeles Daily News, USC has sent Jaguars’ head coach Jack Del Rio a contract and if signed, he would replace Pete Carroll on the sidelines for the Trojans.

      Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio was sent a contract by USC tonight to become the next football coach.

      Now comes the tricky part: If Del Rio takes the job, he forfeits more than $15 million in salary from the Jaguars. If Jacksonville fires him, they must pay him the money. Why would Jacksonville fire him if they know USC wants him? Should make Tuesday interesting.

      Interesting choice. The general consensus was that USC was going to target a head coach with pro experience because Carroll had spent the decade running the program as if it were a NFL team. Del Rio is a good motivator and I would have to imagine that his style of coaching would suit college football.

      In the end, I doubt that money would be that much of an issue. USC has money; the real question is whether or not Del Rio wants to leave the NFL to coach in the college ranks.

      Update: Del Rio said on Tuesday that he will return to Jacksonville in 2010.


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      College Football, NFL

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