Category: NFL (Page 992 of 1282)

What do doctors know anyway? Shawne Merriman to play in 2008

August 27, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

Despite four different doctors advising him to have major reconstructive surgery on his knee, San Diego Chargers’ linebacker Shawne Merriman told FOX Sports.com columnist Jay Glazer that he will play in 2008.

“I know what’s at stake,” Merriman said Wednesday. “But I had a goal with the team before the season started, and I’m sticking to it.”
When asked how sure he was about playing, Merriman replied, “100 percent.”
Merriman has a torn PCL and LCL in his left knee, but has postponed the surgery necessary to deal with those issues. He sought the opinion of several noted specialists in the last week. While all of them recommended surgery, the decision was ultimately left to the player.
“I’m putting the surgery off until I need it,” he said.
Last weekend, as Merriman pondered his upcoming decision, he acknowledged the inherent risks in playing this season.
“It could be career-threatening if I did (play),” Merriman told The Associated Press. “It’s a possibility. That possibility is still open.”

Far be it for me to question an athlete regarding whether or not he should play injured, but I have to believe Merriman would be better off listening to the doctors on this one. It’s not like he sought out two medical opinions and got a split vote – four separate doctors told him that he needs major reconstructive surgery.

Merriman is incredibly tough and it’s admirable that he’s fulfilling a promise to help his team this season. I know it would kill him not to play the game he loves. But I hope for his sake that he doesn’t ruin his career by further damaging his knee.

Fantasy Football, NFL

San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman Shawne Merriman to play in 2008

Fantasy Football Update: 8/27

August 27, 2008 / John Paulsen

I know many of you are heading into your drafts this weekend, so here are a few things that are going on in the world of fantasy football:

Peyton Manning returned to practice, but HC Tony Dungy said that he was “iffy” for the season opener. Apparently, he looked good, so plan on Peyton keeping his consecutive games streak alive in Week 1… HC Marvin Lewis says that even though Chris Perry is atop the depth chart at running back, Rudi Johnson could win his job back with a good performance on Thursday night. The vibe seems to be that Rudi is on the way out of Cincy, but you never know. Perry is a nice late-round pick, as is Kenny Watson, who was the team’s most productive back last season… Jeff Fisher says that he plans to split touches between LenDale White and rookie speedster Chris Johnson. “I would assume it would be close to 50-50, maybe 60-40,” he said. “We’re going to use them both depending on the game plans and it makes sense to take advantage of both of their abilities. I think we’ll have a better gauge once we get to the middle part of the season.” Johnson’s stock has risen of late and while White is pretty solid between the tackles, the rookie is more of a home run threat… The Packers plan to get Brandon Jackson more involved in the running game in an attempt to reduce the pounding that Ryan Grant takes over the course of the season. The idea is to limit Grant to 300 carries (which is still a lot) and use him more in the passing game, which means that Grant’s value is enhanced in PPR leagues.

Fantasy Football, NFL

Brandon Jackson Chris Johnson Chris Perry Fantasy football draft strategy Kenny Watson LenDale White Peyton Manning Rudi Johnson Ryan Grant

Jay Mariotti quits Chicago Sun-Times

August 27, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

Columnist and resident I-love-to-hear-myself-talk sports personality Jay Mariotti has abruptly decided to quit the Chicago Sun-Times.

Mariotti told the Chicago Tribune he decided to quit after covering the Olympics in Beijing because newspapers are in serious trouble, and he did not want to go down with the ship.
“I’m a competitor and I get the sense this marketplace doesn’t compete,” he said in the Tribune story. “Everyone is hanging on for dear life at both papers.
“To see what has happened in this business. … I don’t want to go down with it.”
His comments sparked a pointed response from his former employer.
Sun-Times Editor Michael Cooke said in an e-mail to CBS 2: “That’s Jay’s opinion. He has plenty of them. But the facts, of course, say something different. I’m going with the facts. Well, it’s turning nasty … and that’s typical of Jay to throw a bomb on the way out of a place that cared for him, nurtured him, paid him well for 17 years.
“The reason Mariotti showed up the Sun-Times 17 years ago was because the paper had the best sports pages in town. That was true then, and it’s true now.
“And as in all sports, when the star leaves, some other young star-to-be skates on to the ice. The Sun-Times has a deep bench of talent, and we’ll be using that depth.
“I am not hearing from grief-stricken fans,” Cooke said.
Cooke pointed to e-mails that he received from readers, including this one: “I wish to inform you that due to recent developments on the Jay Mariotti front, I will now read your newspaper. In fact, I picked one up on the way to work this morning. Not a half-bad rag, I must say. Bully on you.”
Mariotti said he plans to pursue opportunities on the Web, and continue his regular appearances as a panelist on ESPN’s “Around the Horn.”

You have to love this comment by Cooke: “That’s Jay’s opinion. He has plenty of them.” The Sun-Times is going to do just fine without him. People read his stuff because they liked to disagree with him and anyone who watches “Around the Horn” knows that he just likes to stoke the fire.

I will say this about Mariotti, however – the guy doesn’t back down from players, coaches or GMs. (In his columns at least. Apparently he never goes into the White Sox clubhouse because he fears for his safety.) Sometimes he hits the nail on the head when he’s criticizing (i.e. Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo).

College Football, General Sports, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL

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No hiding their identity – Jaguars to run football in ‘08

August 27, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff the 2008 NFL Season, I’ll take a look at position groups that could potentially lift teams to new heights, or bury them and their postseason hopes. Today I take a look at how the Jacksonville Jaguars will once again rely on their running backs to carry them in 2008.

It’s no secret how the Jacksonville Jaguars plan on winning games this season: Running the football. Thanks to one of the best 1-2 punches in the league at running back in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jags are legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season.

It’s amazing how a running back can compile 10,715 rushing yards and a 4.7-yard per carry average and yet only make one Pro Bowl. Fresh off his first (and only) Pro Bowl appearance, Taylor is set to once again carry the rock 200-plus times in Jacksonville’s offense.

When most running backs reach the dreaded age of 30, they usually start to break down. But Taylor hasn’t lost much over the years and has gained at least 1,000 yards in five of his last six seasons. Last year, Taylor rushed for 1,202 yards in 15 games (a 5.4 YPC average) and added five touchdowns.

Once again complementing Taylor in the backfield will be the third-year back Jones-Drew. In terms of production, Jones-Drew took a step back in his second year, rushing for 768 yards and nine touchdowns compared to the 941 yards and 13 scores he amassed his rookie year in 2006. But that doesn’t mean he was any less effective and once again gave the Jags a great change-of-pace back to go along with Taylor’s grinding style.

Taylor will once again carry the load in 2008, a role he’s relished since 2000. Appreciate him now, because the underrated and often under appreciated Taylor is expected to retire at the end of the season. Jones-Drew will once again serve as Jacksonville’s change-of-pace back and home run threat, as well as an effective weapon in the passing game.

There’s no doubt both of these backs benefit greatly from an offense that relies on the run, as well as a solid line and a quarterback that rarely makes mistakes. Expect the Jags to once again be one of the top-ranked rushing teams in ‘08.

Fantasy Football, NFL

2008 NFL Season Preview Fred Taylor Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew