Category: NFL (Page 832 of 1282)

      Reggie Bush has microfracture surgery on knee

      January 7, 2009 /

      Boy, a few years ago, that headline would have sent the entire city of New Orleans into a panic, but new techniques in microfracture surgery have really improved long-term results.

      Bush is expected to be ready for June minicamps.

      Reggie Bush’s knee surgery was more serious than the Saints initially indicated last month, but General Manager Mickey Loomis said the team still expects the running back to be ready for minicamp in early June.

      Loomis said Bush had a microfracture procedure performed on his left knee after he was placed on injured reserve in mid-December. Bush’s injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn’t usually require surgery, but Coach Sean Payton indicated last week that Bush had an arthroscopic procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

      Loomis did not give details about the surgery, but he said it was not a “major” procedure.

      There is no doubt that Bush has loads of talent, but over the last two seasons he has missed 10 games with various ailments. From a fantasy football perspective, he’s a monster in PPR leagues, but in the real NFL, his injury history and inability to consistently gain yards between the tackles have some calling him a bust. I think he’s been productive enough thus far to gain a reprieve, pending the results of this surgery. If he returns in 2009 with a 1500-yard season, he should be back on track.

      Going a bit deeper into the fantasy impact of this news, Pierre Thomas suddenly looks like a darkhorse to finish in the top 10 next season. He figures to have solid value even with Bush healthy and productive, as the Saints’ offense is explosive enough to support two good fantasy RBs. If Bush is hobbled or misses anytime, he could blow up.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Gary Myers lays kiss of death on Giants

      January 7, 2009 /

      Gary Myers of the New York Daily News puts the crimp on the Giants this weekend, writing that there’s no way the Eagles will go into East Rutherford and knock off the G-Men.

      Eli ManningThis will be an NFC East slugfest Sunday at Giants Stadium because it always is.

      Giants 23, Eagles 13.

      It should be noted that last year, right here in your Daily News, I not only predicted each of the Giants’ four playoff victories, including the huge upset of the Patriots in the Super Bowl, but had the margin of victory just about on the nose each week. Just wanted to point that out.

      The Giants were the best team in the NFC all season despite losing to the Eagles and Cowboys back-to-back in December. But when they faced their only must-win of the season on that Sunday night against the Panthers in the battle for the No. 1 seed in the 15th game, they rallied to send the game into overtime and then won it.

      This is a tough-minded team. Doesn’t mean the Giants are sure things to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but they do have a lot of heart, and it’s going to take a near perfect game from the Eagles to knock them out of the playoffs.

      The Giants are the best at finding a cause that doesn’t even exist and not letting go. Even after winning the Super Bowl and going 12-4 and being picked by many to run through these playoffs and win it all again, they still feel disrespected. It’s ridiculous, of course, but it works for them.

      Fair enough, but let’s take a look at the facts:

      A) The Giants haven’t played a complete game in over a month. (Week 13 in a 23-7 victory at Washington to be exact.)
      B) Eli Manning hasn’t passed for over 200 yards since Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg.
      C) The Eagles have the third best defense in the NFL, including the fourth best run defense.
      D) Philly has already proven they can beat the Giants in New York.

      I’m not saying it’s a slam-dunk Eagle victory, but this is no time to be predicting wins days before the game.

      One last thing Myers might want to chew on is that Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote before the Falcons’ playoff game last week that they would beat the Cardinals in Arizona. He poured a big cup of jinx all over the Falcons and I’m afraid Myers might have just done the same thing to the Giants.

      NFL

      Brady to start next year on PUP list?

      January 7, 2009 /

      According to Tom Curran of NBC Sports, Tom Brady could start the 2009 NFL Season on the Pats’ PUP list.

      Matt CasselBut the timing just doesn’t work for the Patriots to allow Cassel to leave. Even though Brady went the aggressive route by having his reconstructive surgery relatively early (many doctors recommend waiting for the MCL to heal on its own before going in to repair the ACL), the infection that began near the repaired MCL required six weeks of antibiotics and irrigation. The significant scar tissue that built up during that period still had not been removed as of last week, leaving Brady with limited range of motion. Until the scar tissue comes out (and a two-to-three week period of recovery from that process is observed) and range of motion improves, a productive rehab can’t begin. With the start of training camp seven months away and the season opener nine months out, Brady may wind up beginning the 2009 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Players placed on that list are eligible to begin playing in Week 6.

      There’s really no decision to be made – the Patriots have to pony up and tag Cassel. If they don’t, they could wind up forcing Brady (or Tom could force himself) back onto the field too soon and then disaster could strike again. But if they tag and pay Cassel, the team can go into next season with more security at quarterback.

      The Pats’ decision on what to do with Tom Brady won’t be made over the next few months. The decision will be made over the course of the next year. If Brady is placed on the PUP list, the team can watch Cassel play for another six weeks. If he progresses, then maybe it’s time to move into the Cassel era. If he digresses or is sub par, then Brady can step him – fully healthy – and resume his starting quarterback duties.

      I think both quarterbacks will be on New England’s roster next season. And this is exactly why the Pats never spend big on free agents – so that they have the cap room when they need it (i.e. like right now).

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Georgia’s Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno to enter NFL draft

      January 7, 2009 /

      The Georgia Bulldogs will soon be a little lighter in their offensive backfield as junior quarterback Matthew Stafford and redshirt sophomore running back Knowshon Moreno have each decided to enter the NFL draft in April.

      Knownshon MorenoMultiple sources with knowledge of the players’ decisions said Moreno was definitely leaning toward entering the NFL draft, but said Stafford had wrestled with his decision for several days.

      Stafford, a junior from Highland Park, Texas, might be the first player selected in the draft, according to Todd McShay, director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. who also does NFL draft analysis for ESPN.

      The strong-armed passer set a Georgia single-season record with 25 touchdown passes this year. He threw for 3,459 yards this season, the second-best total in school history, and ranked 15th nationally in pass efficiency.

      Moreno, a sophomore from Bedford, N.J., ran for 1,338 yards and 16 touchdowns before the Bulldogs’ 24-12 win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl. He became the first Georgia player since 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker to run for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

      Stafford probably “wrestled with his decision” because he was at home in front of the mirror repeating, “With the first overall pick, the Detroit Lions select…Matthew Stafford, quarterback, Georgia…” over and over to himself. That’s enough to make a grown man question what he’s about to do.

      I’m a little surprised about Moreno. I thought he’d stay for one more year and then be the top back coming out next year, but now he’ll compete with Beanie Wells as the top back selected.

      College Football, NFL

      Report: Vincent Jackson arrested on suspicion of DUI

      January 6, 2009 /

      According to 10News.com, San Diego Chargers’ wideout Vincent Jackson was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of DUI.

      Vincent JacksonCHP Officer Ray Scheidnes said Jackson failed sobriety tests shortly after 2 a.m. on state Route 52, west of Interstate 805. He said he didn’t know Jackson’s blood alcohol level. Jackson was driving a white GMC Yukon and was the only person in the vehicle, according to the CHP.

      The Sheriff’s Department said Jackson was booked at 4 a.m., and posted bail and was released at 5:50 a.m.

      Jackson was on probation for a previous DUI arrest, CHP Officer Brad Baehr said.

      Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said he was aware of Jackson’s “off-the-field issue.”

      “Obviously we’re disappointed,” Smith said. “We take these issues very seriously. Moving forward, we will monitor the situation and have no further comment.”

      This is exactly what the Chargers need days before the biggest game of the season. Everyone makes mistakes, but how hard is it to stay home until the season is over with? Or if you want to go out, hire a driver to take you home? Considering most teams practice on Wednesdays, this is incredibly irresponsible on Jackson’s part, not too mention the fact that he drove drunk. This isn’t fair to his teammates.

      NFL

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