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POSTED 9:44 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

TARVARIS ERA ENDING QUICKLY?

The talk in league circles after yet another subpar performance from Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is that the franchise plans to target another starting quarterback for 2008.

Per a league source, the Vikings will explore all options -- unrestricted free agency, restricted free agency (Derek Anderson, for example), the draft (including a trade up), and the trade market.

Jackson has struggled badly, despite having a two-headed tailback tandem of Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson, which should be creating opportunities for Jackson to find open receivers down the field.

Presumably, a dramatic turnaround from Tarvaris would alter those plans.

POSTED 5:31 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 6:01 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

ROMO PULLS A HAMSTRING

On a crazy play with less than two minutes remaining in the first half of the Vikings-Cowboys game, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo pulled a hamstringwhile chasing down a Patrick Crayton catch-and-fumble, recovered by the Vikings and returned for a touchdown following a pitch, fumble, run, recovery, and run.

The outcome gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead in a game that the Cowboys have dominated statistically.

Stay tuned for word on the condition of Romo. If he can't go, former Vikings starter Brad Johnson will take over.

UPDATE: Romo will play in the second half with a hamstring injury.

RANDOM ANNOUNCER GOOFINESS

We've heard, and we've heard about, several funny comments (intentional and otherwise) made by the guys who get paid to sit around and talk about football.

Per a reader, Brian Baldinger of FOX referred to the Wonderlic exam as a test that is "given to all incumbent players coming into the league."

We heard Matt Vasgersomething of FOX make a dig at retired Giants running back Tiki Barber, explaining that Barber now spends his days talking about shoes and handbags on a couch with Al Roker.

A reader says that Dick Enberg referred to Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels as Drew Rosenfels.

But at least Enberg was in the right neighborhood. Keyshawn Johnson called Rosenfels' teammate Matt Schaub "David Carr" during the ESPN pregame show.

UPDATE: Howie Long said during halftime of the late game that the Giants are breathing down the Cowboys "throats."

POSTED 4:13 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

LEFTWICH ALREADY HURT

Oft-injured in Jacksonville, quarterback Byron Leftwich punctuated his first start in Atlanta with an injury that knocked him out of the game.

Leftwich injured his leg on a play during which he was sacked by Will Smith of the Saints, and Leftwich has not returned.

All of the key injuries from Sunday's games are summarized right here by NFL.com.

POSTED 2:11 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

BRADY IS BLOWING UP

Pats quarterback Tom Brady has thrown eleven passes. All of his attempts have been caught. For an average of 20 yards each. And four touchdowns.

Two have gone to Randy Moss, whose receptions in the end zone conjure memories of some of his best "run under it and out-jump everyone else" work in Minnesota.

Brady has thrown 25 touchdown passes in less than seven full games.

POSTED 1:31 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

PATS ALL OVER FINS EARLY

So much for the Dolphins giving the Pats fits in Miami.

Already, New England is up by 14 points, courtesy of two touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady.

As of this posting, Brady is also 7-for-7.

The touchdowns were caught by receiver Donte' Stallworth and tight end Kyle Brady, who has replaced starter Ben Watson.

POSTED 12:58 p.m. EDT, UPDATED 1:17 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

LINEHAN OUT AT THE BYE?

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Rams coach Scott Linehan is indeed on the hot seat. And though Linehan previously was believed to be safe through the end of the season, Mort hints that Linehan could be gone as soon as the bye week if the Rams lose this week to the Seahawks and next week to the Browns.

Mort also mentioned Linehan's Thursday blow-up at the team, which has prompted some league insiders to conclude that Linehan is "cracking up" under the pressure.

Though the Rams have faced more than their fair share of injuries, Mort points out that other teams (like the Ravens) have overcome a rash of key injuries.

And, as we've said before and will say again, injuries should never be an excuse. If they are, the players who move up to hit the field will think it's permissible to not play well.

PFTV LOOKS AT L.T. VERSUS A.P.

In our final PFTV segment for the week, we look at whether rookie Adrian Peterson already has eclipsed LaDainian Tomlinson as the best running back in the league.

Here it is.

POSTED 12:48 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

HOLMES TO LIGHT FIRE UNDER L.J.?

Jay Glazer of FOX reports that one of the primary benefits of the return of running back Priest Holmes could be that his presence will push starter Larry Johnson to get back to the form that got him that big contract after a long preseason holdout.

Holmes reportedly caused a stir in practice this week by decisively hitting the hole when he got the ball. Johnson, on the other hand, has been too hesitant.

"It'll be interesting to see how it affects L.J.," one team source told Glazer. "But now at least the coaches don't have to walk on egg shells around him. If he pulls that same stuff, we may have another option."

Glazer said that the coaches already are telling L.J. to hit the holes like Holmes. If Johnson gets moody or resentful, the bulk of the touches could swing to the once-forgotten veteran.

POSTED 12:38 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

GREEN KNOWS HIS CAREER IS LIKELY OVER

Jay Glazer of FOX reports that quarterback Trent Green still wants to play, but that Green recognizes that no doctor is likely to clear him to play. Thus, Green realizes that he likely won't play again.

Per Glazer, the Dolphins still want Green to work for the team.

Green, 37, was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, ending his season.

POSTED 12:32 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

EMMITT COINS ANOTHER NEW TERM

During a spot on the Sports Junkies' unauthorized pregame show on WJFK in D.C. earlier this hour, I mentioned that, with the Bengals struggling, it's now easy to make receiver Chad Johnson the scapegoat.

It would have been a great time to add, "Or, as Emmitt Smith would say, an 'escape goat.'"

Apparently, Emmitt beat me to the punch. During discussion after what several readers are describing as an excellent interview of Mucho Stinko by Keyshawn Johnson, Smith coined his latest addition to the American lexicon.

And, yes, we're still compiling some of Emmitt's best moments for a separate page chronicling his bastardization of the King's English. We have a feeling that this latest malaprop will be near the top of the list.

POSTED 12:19 p.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

WARNER ACTIVE FOR SUNDAY

Per the official list of deactivated players on NFL.com, quarterback Kurt Warner is among the active members of the roster for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

It's unclear, however, whether Warner will start.

Here's a thought -- what if Tim Rattay plays the Matt Leinart role, and Warners comes in as needed? It worked well before Leinart's clavicle busted apart.

Stay tuned.

POSTED 11:46 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

YOUNG WON'T START FOR TITANS

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Titans quarterback Vince Young won't start on Sunday due to a quad injury suffered last week.

But Young is working out prior to the game in the hopes of serving as the primary backup to starter Kerry Collins.

Stay tuned.

POSTED 11:31 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

HOLMES TO GET SOME TOUCHES ON SUNDAY

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will get a few touches in his first game back since the 2005 season, and that Holmes eventually will get the ball 15 times via rushing attempts and pass receptions.

Coach Herm Edwards doesn't expect Holmes' return to cause problems with starting running back Larry Johnson.

And if Edwards keeps saying it, he might some day be able to say it with a straight face.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli makes a mistake of the "Max McGee was the MVP of Super Bowl I" variety when noting that Holmes' single-season record of 27 touchdowns was broken in 2006 by LaDainian Tomlinson. Actually, Holmes' mark was busted in 2005 by Shaun Alexander.

We can understand why Len overlooked Alexander, given that Alexander has been MIA since his MVP season. Apparently, Shaun got locked in the bank vault.

POSTED 11:20 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

PENNINGTON GETTING PULLED?

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is a "few bad plays away" from being benched.

Per Mort, coach Eric Mangini has told Pennington that the end could be coming.

Pennington was one of four first-round picks for the Jets in 2000, and re-earned the job in 2006, Mangini's first season with the team. Pennington has struggled throughout 2007, however, as last year's second-round pick Kellen Clemens could be ready to go.

POSTED 11:15 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

SUPER BOWL I HERO DIES

Max McGee, an aging backup receiver who lit up the Chiefs in the first AFL-NFL Championship Game, died on Saturday after falling from the roof of his home in Minneapolis.

McGee was blowing leaves off of the roof when he fell.

"I just lost my best friend," former Packers great Paul Hornung said. "[His wife] Denise was away from the house. She'd warned him not to get up there. He shouldn't have been up there. He knew better than that."

McGee had caught only four passes during the entire 1966 season and, as legend has it, partied hard the night before the game. When starter Boyd Dowler suffered an early injury, McGee borrowed a helmet (he'd left his in the locker room) and went to work.

Seven receptions, 138 yards, and two touchdowns later, McGee cemented his spot in Super Bowl history.

UPDATE: I previously wrote that McGee was the MVP of Super Bowl I. He wasn't. It was Bart Starr.

POSTED 11:06 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

GOODELL, ROBINSON MET AT CARDINALS GAME

Jay Glazer of FSN's Pro Football Preview reported on the most recent episode of the show that Commissioner Roger Goodell and receiver Koren Robinson met during the Panthers-Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium in advance of Goodell's decision to reinstate Robinson after a one-year suspension for multiple violations of the substance-abuse policy.

Per Glazer, Goodell called Robinson via cell, because Goodell knew that Robinson has been staying in Arizona. Goodell told Robinson, "I'm at the Cardinals game." Robinson said, "So am I."

So they got together in a room at the facility and Goodell saw and heard enough to conclude that Robinson was ready to return.

POSTED 10:35 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:58 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2007

WATSON OUT FOR PATS

Tight end Benjamin Watson has been downgraded to out for the Patriots on Sunday, according to the Boston Globe.

Watson suffered an ankle injury last week in the Pats' win over the Cowboys.

Not downgraded to out is running back Laurence Maroney, who has missed several week with a groin injury and is expected to play.

The fact that the Pats declared Watson and four others (including running back Sammy Morris) to be out before the Sunday morning submission of the list of inactive players suggests that the Patriots might have been getting a little heat from the league office as to the practice of identifying multiple players as being limited participants in practice, then listing them all as questionable on Friday, and then dropping some of them off of the active game-day roster at the last minute.

UPDATE: A reader points out that the Pats will do the early downgrade for injured players who don't make the trip to a road game, but that they won't do the early downgrade for a home game.

POSTED 10:11 p.m. EDT, October 20, 2007

NO MORE STINKO FROM OCHO CINCO?

Bengals receiver Chad Johnson hears the criticism of his antics, which an increasing number of people believe undermine the goals of his team.

And now Johnson vows to tone it down.

"I'm all about fun and entertainment," Johnson told Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com on Friday. "But when you try to lump me in that category as selfish and all this other stuff, no. I've got to turn it into a positive.

"The only way to do that is out there on Sunday. Believe me, I am. No celebrations, no entertainment."

And Bengals coach Marvin Lewis finally sounds like a guy who isn't going to tolerate any longer the antics of Johnson, a former junior college player who is living up to the reputation of guys who are forced to go the junior college route.

"My job is to get the junior college guys to act like they've gone to Notre Dame and Michigan," Lewis said. "As we go, we'll continue to get more of those stable guys. But unfortunately, that's what we're dealing with -- a bunch of junior college guys."

Meanwhile, we'll believe that Johnson has changed when we see that he has changed. Until then, we'll rely on the wisdom of Emmitt Smith, who said last month that "you cannot change the stripes of a leopard."

POSTED 9:57 p.m. EDT, October 20, 2007

GREEN TO IR

We were at the West Virginia-Mississippi State game on Saturday, so we couldn't post the news that, as reported by Jay Glazer of FOX, the Dolphins have placed quarterback Trent Green on injured reserve.

When we say "we" in this case, it's not just to make the web site look like a bigger enterprise than a man in a messy basement that may or may not contain a chicken. I couldn't send an e-mail to MDS from my Sprint wireless device to ask him to post the story while I was at the West Virginia game because MDS was standing right next to me at our tailgate party when I got the word about Glazer's report. Yes, MDS and Mrs. MDS came to the land known as Almost Heaven for the first PFT editorial meeting and strategic planning session.

And with the help of MDS, we'll get that chicken.

So, anyway, Green is on IR. Which means that he gets paid the balance of his base salary, and he can't play again until 2008, at the earliest.

Green suffered a Grade 3 concussion on October 7. It was his second Grade 3 concussion in less than 13 months.

POSTED 8:41 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:47 a.m. EDT, October 20, 2007

OCHO CINCO LOOKING TO SAY VAYA CON DIOS TO BENGALS?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network says that there are people in the Bengals organization who believe that receiver Chad Johnson is angling to get out of Cincinnati after the season.

Johnson denies it, but the rumors likely won't subside anytime soon.

But even if Johnson wants to leave, and if the team is inclined to move him, the question becomes whether the cap hit can be managed. Johnson was rewarded for his halftime meltdown in the 2005 wild-card playoffs with a contract that runs through at least 2010, with $8.5 million in new bonus money, which would be partially subject to acceleration if he is traded or released. There also likely would be a cap consequence from his prior contract, which was extended by the team with four years left on it.

. . . . BUT BUYER BEWARE

Before any coaches or owners out there begin to delude themselves into thinking that Chad Johnson a/k/a Ocho Cinco a/k/a Much Stinko could provide a Randy Moss effect in 2008, we suggest taking a long look at Jason Whitlock's most recent column.

Whitlock, whose national stuff now appears at FOXSports.com, believes that successful NFL teams are shying away from cultural dynamics that undermine the greater goals of a franchise.

"African-American football players caught up in the rebellion and buffoonery of hip hop culture," Whitlock writes, "have given NFL owners and coaches a justifiable reason to whiten their rosters. That will be the legacy left by Chad, Larry and Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Terrell Owens, Michael Vick and all the other football bojanglers."

The evidence that it's happening? Whitlock points out that the Colts have 24 non-African-American players on their roster, and that the Patriots have 23.

"Hip hop athletes are being rejected because they're not good for business," Whitlock writes, "and, most important, because they don't contribute to a consistent winning environment."

To support his case, Whitlock takes specific aim at a pair of Johnsons -- Chad and Larry.

And this excerpt from the item sums up the situation perfectly:

"Race is not the determining factor when it comes to having a good or bad attitude. Culture is.

"Hip hop is the dominant culture for black youth. In general, music, especially hip hop music, is rebellious for no good reason other than to make money. Rappers and rockers are not trying to fix problems. They create problems for attention.

"That philosophy, attitude and behavior go against everything football coaches stand for. They're in a constant battle to squash rebellion, dissent and second opinions from their players.

"You know why Muhammad Ali is/was an icon? Because he rebelled against something meaningful and because he excelled in an individual sport. His rebellion didn't interfere with winning. Jim Brown, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc. rebelled with dignity and purpose.

"What we're witnessing today are purposeless, selfish acts of buffoonery. Sensible people have grown tired of it. Football people are recognizing it doesn't contribute to a winning environment."

Though we're not sure whether the hip hop industry is the cause of the problem or a symptom of something deeper and beyond our abilities of comprehension and articulation, the reality is that the desire to win football games does not discriminate. With the exception in some cities of the last few spots on the roster, the NFL is the ultimate meritocracy. If a player has the physical skills to perform and the temperament to not disrupt the atmosphere of team, nothing else about him matters.

So, as Whitlock aptly points out, this isn't about race. It's about behavior. And the days of bad behavior are ending. Players unable to conform will find this out the hard way.

But rather than simply rejecting those men whose attitudes and actions are deemed to be unacceptable, we think that the best NFL franchises eventually will find ways to change the Chads and Larrys of the world. And the league and its member clubs also should do whatever they can to bring more favorable attention to all players, of every race, who demonstrate at every turn the meaning of playing for a team.

Regardless of how all of this shakes out, it's clearly an area that is drawing attention. As of this posting, Whitlock's column has generated 252 pages of reader comments.

PFTV PONDERS WHETHER THERE WILL BE AN 0-16 TEAM

Here's another one of our five PFTV segments for the week.

This one looks at whether the 0-6 Rams or the 0-6 Dolphins (or both can make it through the 2007 season at 0-16).

Have a look-see.

POSTED 8:22 a.m. EDT, October 20, 2007

PRAYERS ANSWERED FOR WARNER?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who was expected to miss at least one game with a torn ligament in his elbow, plans to try to play on Sunday in Washington.

Schefter says that the issue will be the extent to which Warner can tolerate the pain, and whether the contraption he wears to protect his elbow will insulate him against the expected onslaught from the Redskins.

Warner officially is listed as questionable. If he can't play, Tim Rattay will start.

POSTED 6:53 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 7:42 a.m. EDT, October 20, 2007

YOUNG WILL BE A GAME-TIME DECISION

Titans quarterback Vince Young has a strained quad, which kept him from practicing on Wednesday and Thursday. Though he was able to take some snaps with the scout team on Friday, his availability for the annual Uncle Rico homecoming game in Houston is a game-time decision.

"He was limited. He participated in warm-ups, threw the ball and participated in limited practice," coach Jeff Fisher said. "That would imply that he's improving. He will still be a game-time decision, but it was encouraging to see him on the field today."

If Young can't play, Kerry Collins will get the start.

WEEK SEVEN FINAL INJURY REPORT

The NFL has released the injury report for Week Seven.

You can read it right here.

Notable players include Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, who is probable with a hip injury; Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler, who is doubtful with knee and ankle injuries; Ravens tight end Todd Heap, who is doubtful with a thigh injury; Eagles tight end L.J. Smith, who is doubtful with the lingering effects of his sports hernia; Pats running back Laurence Maroney, who remains questionable with a groin injury; Pats running back Sammy Morris, who is doubtful with a chest injury; Bengals running back Rudi Johnson, who is doubtful with a hamstring injury; 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who is probable with a knee injury; Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who is questionable with an ankle injury; Rams receiver Isaac Bruce, who is probable with a hamstring injury; Titans running back Chris Brown, who is questionable with an ankle injury; Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, who is questionable with a quad injury; and Colts receiver Marvin Harrison, who is questionable with a knee injury.

HESTER WINS POW AWARD IN DEFEAT

Ideally, I'll mention in this space the winners of the various Players of the Week awards in this space on Wednesday or Thursday. Sometimes, I'll forget. Other times, I'll remember.

This time, I forgot, but then remembered.

In the AFC, Pats quarterback Tom Brady was the offensive player of the week, Jags defensive end Paul Spicer was the defensive player of the week, and Ravens kicker Matt Stover was the special teams player of the week.

For the NFC, two of the winners played in the same game, and all three came from the NFC North. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the offensive player of the week, and Bears all-around dynamo Devin Hester was the special teams player of the week. Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who once upon a time won the Heisman Trophy, was the defensive player of the week.

Hester is the only player of the week award winner in any category this season who played for a team that didn't win its game. If we had an actual research staff, we'd ask the person or persons to figure out the last time this happened.

PATS-COWBOYS GENERATES HUGE RATINGS

The Week Six game between the Patriots and the Cowboys drew 29.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular-season game since November 10, 1996, when 29.7 million viewers tuned in for a Cowboys-49ers contest.

That 11-year high-water mark could be in danger in two weeks, when this decade's Cowboys-49ers rivalry -- the Colts and the Patriots -- renews itself in Indy on November 4.

For the week, pro football games were the top-rated television shows in 23 of 30 NFL markets for the week of October 8 through 14. The seven markets in which the NFL didn't rule were Boston (due to the presence of the Red Sox in the baseball playoffs), Pittsburgh (whose Steelers were on a bye), New York (where the Giants didn't play until October 15 and the Jets, well, suck), Detroit (where the Lions were on a bye), Cleveland (whose Indians are in the baseball playoffs), Denver (where the Broncos were idle), and St. Louis (whose Rams are as bad as they've ever been).

POSTED 4:25 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:45 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

VICK SELLING GEORGIA HOME

If you've got several million bucks laying around, you can buy the Georgia home of Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Vick's seven-bedroom, 8.5-bath estate at Sugarloaf Country Club is available for $4.5 million. Vick bought the house in April 2005 for $3.6 million. The yearly property taxes are $26,720.

The attempted sale comes amid a storm of legal actions against Vick, and while he is awaiting sentencing on federal conspiracy charges. He has been sued by several banks in connection with multi-million-dollar loans, and he eventually will owe the Falcons nearly $20 million in bonus money.

Several readers have asked why Vick would borrow money for various investments when he has plenty of his own money to spend. It's a good question. As we understand it, folks with plenty of money (we'll let you know if we ever meet any) will merely use that money as collateral for loans when they think that they can get a greater return on the borrowed money than the borrowing of the money will cost.

For example, if you can take out a home equity loan at seven percent and invest the money at 10 percent or more, it's a no-brainer.

In Vick's case, the fact that he's heading to jail and his revenue stream is evaporating has caused the banks to swoop in for full payment, in the apparent hopes of getting something/anything if/when he declares bankruptcy.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON NFC ONE-LINERS

LB Greg Ellis might start for the Cowboys on Sunday.

The Giants are less selfish and more united in 2007.

Despite whispers of retirement, Eagles S Brian Dawkins returned to practice on Thursday; LT William Thomas, however, didn't go.

The Redskins will let CB Shawn Springs play on Sunday despite the fact that he has not practiced this week while visiting with his ailing father, Ron Springs.

So how far will the Mike Vick shenanigans set back the Falcons franchise?

Panthers C Justin Hartwig talks about the fact that different quarterbacks apply different types of pressure . . . down there.

K Olindo Mare could go back to handling kickoffs for the Saints.

Bucs RB Michael Pittman could be back in two weeks.

Bears LB Brian Urlacher has a stick up his butt.

The Lions used a 24-hour extension to sell the rest of the seats at Ford Field, avoiding a local television blackout.

Packers CB Frank Walker will miss a month after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Vikings S Dwight Smith could miss Sunday's game with a hamstring injury.

Cards S Adrian Wilson won't be fined for a hit he placed on Panthers WR Steve Smith.

Rams coach Scott Linehan is going bonkos.

49ers TE Vernon Davis has been upgraded to probable and is expected to play on Sunday.

The Seahawks are gonna miss DT Chuck Darby.

POSTED 3:18 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

N.F.L. DROPS THE JERSEY INITIALS

A reader recently asked us why Patriots quarterback Tom Brady didn't have a "T" on the back of his jersey, given the presence of Kyle Brady on the team.

Is it another example, the reader asked, of the brash Pats doing what they want to do?

As it turns out, the league as of this year has dropped the practice of putting initials on jerseys. Moving forward, it will be last name and number only.

"That's why we have numbers on the jersey," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said via e-mail regarding the de-emphasis on distinguishing, for example, one guy named Brady from another guy named Brady.

But there's a caveat. Players who previously used initials will have the right to continue to do so.

Our all-time favorite jersey names were Jack and Jim Youngblood of the Rams. They both had their full first names on their jerseys, centered above their last names.

POSTED 3:05 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 3:18 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

FINS GIVE PATS A LITTLE BULLETIN BOARD MATERIAL

Usually, it's hard for a 6-0 team to find ways to get itself pumped up when facing an 0-6 team.

Miami linebacker Channing Crowder has made that process a bit easier for the New England Patriots.

In an interview posted October 18 on the team's web site, Crowder initially says all the right things about the Pats. But then Crowder pops off a bit about the team that is giving the Fins 17 points.

"I don't think we should be any underdog," he said. "I don't think the team's that much better than us."

It's not really earth-shattering stuff. But for a team that needs every ounce of potential motivation that it can find when getting ready to face one of the worst teams in the league, Channing's comments can't hurt.

And thanks to the reader who pointed this out to us. There's only so much time for us to track this stuff down, and the process is easier when our audience helps direct us to the more interesting nuggets.

Crowder, by the way, crammed his foot into his chowder hole last month before the Fins played the Raiders. Regarding Oakland quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who would account for five touchdowns against his most recent former team, Crowder said, "He's still limping around. He's not 100 percent. He's still not the Daunte Culpepper of back with Minnesota."

POSTED 1:47 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:58 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

RICE REGRETS SIGNING WITH DENVER

Defensive end Simeon Rice was cut by the Buccaneers at the outset of training camp. Eventually he signed with the Broncos.

But now he wishes that he hadn't.

Asked whether he is regretting the decision, Rice told the Rocky Mountain News: "At this point I am. My energy and purpose is to play and be the best. I'm not suiting up week to week and I don't have any plain, concise answers."

Coach Mike Shanahan says that Rice didn't dress for the October 7 game against the Chargers because Rice's shoulder was "about 80 percent" and "it was in our best interest to go in a different direction."

Rice disagrees, and doesn't sound very happy.

"I'm really just trying to lock myself in and just make it through the year because I have no idea why I've been brought here -- at all," he said. "Things have been said. Things have been promised. Things have been told. And I'm at the point where I'm ready to perform and help this team out. They don't have anything like me on this defense. But it is what it is."

To the extent that Rice is ready to help, he apparently won't get a chance to do so on Sunday night against the Steelers. Rice says that he already has been told that he won't be activated.

"I've been brought here to rehab," he said.

Simeon, it could have been worse. You could have signed with the Rams.

PFTV LOOKS AT THE NFC ELITE

So with the Cowboys losing last week to the Patriots, who is the best team in the NFC?

Funny you should ask that.

PFTV takes a look at it. Right here.

POSTED 11:51 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:17 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

TAYLOR DENIES THAT HE WANTS TO BE TRADED

Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor denies that he told Peter King "of All NFL Media" that it would have been best if Taylor had been traded.

On the current edition of Inside the NFL on HBO, King says he asked Taylor if he was sorry that he hadn't been moved before the October 16 deadline.

"[T]aylor said, 'You're putting me in a tough spot here,'" King said. "'I've had 10 great years here. I owe a lot to the Dolphins.'"

But King also said, "Clearly, Jason Taylor thinks not only would it be in the team's best interests for him to go in the offseason, but it would be in his best interests to go to a contender in the offseason for the last couple of years of his career.'"

In this case, we think both men are right. Taylor apparently never said that he thinks he should have been traded. Instead, King apparently was divining Taylor's thoughts based on his reaction to King's question. And King probably is on the money -- why would Taylor want to remain on a team that won't be rebuilt until after he's gone?

Still, if that's what really happened, King probably should have been more clear, especially since he was embroiled in a pissing match last week over whether Cowboys coach Wade Phillips had said what everyone else is thinking (and some are openly saying) about the Patriots' cheating scandal.

And while King has been able to develop a vast network of NFL folks who will happily talk to him on the record about potentially sensitive subjects, it might be a good idea for him to minimize the he-said/he-said situations. Eventually, it could affect the extent to which people will talk without first insisting that the discussion occur off of the record.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON AFC ONE-LINERS

Bills TE Kevin Everett thanks everyone who is supporting him.

Fins WR Ted Ginn will get increased playing time after the departure of Chris Chambers.

Pats RB Laurence Maroney, who doesn't want to have a reputation for being injury-prone, could use a sprained tongue: "'Man, I just can't get rid of these things.' I missed two games in college due to an ankle sprain, but those were the only games I missed in my football career. I come up [to the NFL], and it seems like I just can't get rid of these things."

The Jets think that their offensive line is coming together.

With the quarterback that the Texans could have had coming home on Sunday, the team and the local media are pumping up Matt Schaub.

Colts LB Tyjuan Hagler is bumping Rocky Boiman to the bench.

Jags coach Jack Del Rio says that the Colts are even better than they were last year: "It's amazing, but true. You just watch the tape and you can see it. They're better, they're faster, they're more physical."

If Titans QB Vince Young can't go on Sunday, the offense will be different: "We are not going to run the option with Kerry Collins," C Kevin Mawae said.

In his contract year, Ravens DE Terrell Suggs isn't worried that, like most men, he has only one sack.

Despite getting yanked last week after giving up 2.5 sacks in seventeen minutes to Chiefs DE Jared Allen, Bengals LT Levi Jones will return to the starting lineup.

The Brown? Playoffs? You kiddin' me? Playoffs?

The Steelers don't plan to back down from Broncos CB Champ Bailey.

The Broncos rank 26th in the league in getting off of the field on third down.

Chiefs RB Priest Holmes practiced on Thursday and could play on Sunday.

The Raiders' defense can't stop the run.

POSTED 10:18 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:33 a.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

WALKER'S KNEE WORSE THAN ADVERTISED?

A league source tells us that the re-injury to the knee of receiver Javon Walker, which received a new ACL two years ago, is believed by some to be worse than reports indicate.

Though, as we understand it, the knee is not yet to the point of needing microfracture surgery, the removal of cartilage via arthroscopic surgery will only increase the chances that Walker will need to undergo at some point the crapshoot procedure aimed at stimulating the growth of scar tissue that then simulates cartilage.

Questions also are being raised about the decision to delay the surgery. If, as coach Mike Shanahan says, Walker is expected to miss only a couple of weeks, why not 'scope the knee so that part of the recovery period would have included the bye week?

UPDATE: A reader asks if there's any truth to the rumor that Shanahan wants Walker's knee to take a lie detector test in order to find out if it's really injured.

SPRINT PRESENTS PRO BOWL BALLOTING

Attention, present and soon-to-be Sprint customers. You can now cast your ballots for the 2008 Pro Bowl on your Sprint phone.

Just send the message "PRO" to 7777 on your Sprint device to vote for players at select positions. Standard data service and text messaging rates apply.

Ballots also can be cast at NFL.com/probowl, and the online selection process is also sponsored by Sprint.

Voting ends December 11, and the results will be announced December 18 on NFL Network's signature show, Total Access.

Fans who submit ballots will also be able to enter for a chance to win a five-day, four-night trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

So cast your ballot from your Sprint wireless device, or do so at NFL.com. And, as always, be sure to support the wireless company that supports the NFL and ProFootballTalk.com.

POSTED 9:37 a.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

URBANSKI SUES TITANS, LEAGUE

Tommy Urbanski, who was paralyzed as a result of a February shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, reportedly plans to sue the Tennessee Titans and the NFL for failing to rein in Pacman Jones.

"The writing was on the wall because this guy already had problems in college," Urbanski said. "It wasn't like they didn't know this guy was a bad apple. Nobody turns a blind eye that much. They are more worried about putting people in the seats."

We agree with Urbanski -- the writing was indeed on the wall. In big, glowing letters. And the Titans never should have drafted the guy. Though few if any teams would ever publicly admit such blunders, we doubt that the Titans could manage to utter with a straight face that they have no regrets.

But holding the league and the team responsible for the actions of Jones seems to be a stretch. Though I don't know whether the laws of Nevada sweep broadly enough to include such a claim, it seems unlikely that any employer would be responsible for the off-duty actions of one of its employees -- especially when the conduct occurs in a city where the employer has no operations, and when the player is not in that city on official business.

If the Titans had been playing a game in Las Vegas and if Jones had broken a curfew that the team chronically failed to enforce, the claims would be stronger (or, better said, less weak). As it stands, there's simply no connection between anything that the league or the team did or should have done and the conduct that resulted in Urbanski's injuries.

Jones is an American citizen, and is free to travel to other cities, attend strip clubs, and incite violence there. Though such conduct will potentially subject him to civil and criminal penalties, there's nothing that the league or the Titans can do or should do to prevent it.

We suppose that Urbanski could argue that Jones had the financial wherewithal to be in Las Vegas with a trash bag full of $83,000 because of his NFL career. But, again, Jones is free to do what he wants when he's not working.

The term "frivolous lawsuit" gets thrown around frivolously nowadays. We've said in the past that the term is best described as "any lawsuit that gets filed against me." But this specific suit stinks of frivolity, in our view.

We're not saying that Urbanski doesn't deserve compensation for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering resulting from the actions of others. If Pacman Jones cajoled someone into shooting Urbanski, Jones is responsible. If their security procedures at the club were inadequate, the club is responsible. The person who shot the gun is clearly responsible.

But the Titans and the NFL are no more responsible for this result than the cops are for not locking up Jones a long time ago -- or than his mother is for giving birth to him.

POSTED 7:14 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:37 a.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

JAVON GONE INDEFINITELY

Broncos receiver Javon Walker is out indefinitely after having surgery on the knee that he injured in 2005, his last season with the Packers.

Coach Mike Shanahan thinks that Walker will be gone for only a few weeks.

"Doctors don't think it's very serious, but serious enough to go in there and clean it out because he's been off of it for a few weeks and it hasn't gotten much better," Shanahan said.

Without Walker, the top two wideouts on the team are Brandon Marshall and Brandon Stokley.

DID DALLAS FUMBLE CHANCE TO GET COWBOYS.COM?

According to DomainNameNews.com, by way of SportsByBrooks, the Dallas Cowboys apparently thought that they were buying the "cowboys.com" web address, but that a misunderstanding arose regarding price.

The Cowboys reportedly believed that the "275" tag meant $275.00. It actually meant $275,000.

So the deal, as the reports go, fell apart.

Frankly, we're not sure how much stock we put into this report. Surely, the Cowboys are sufficiently sophisticated to realize that a domain name as simple as "cowboys.com" wouldn't go for the price of a few tanks of gas.

For example, we could have had "PFT.com" earlier this year for $10,000. We opted against the expenditure, primarily because we're cheap. But also because we realize that folks who want to find us will find us.

And the same is even more true for the Dallas Cowboys. While the "cowboys.com" domain has value to others because it will pick up plenty of unintended traffic from folks looking for the NFL team -- I still punch in the short version from time to time -- folks who want to find the team's official web site will do so, whether the name is "DallasCowboys.com" or "DallasCowboys.net" or "GetchaPopcornReady.gov."

And remember that there's also a direct pipeline to it at the top of NFL.com, which we encourage you to visit often through the links on this site.

UPDATE: The Dallas Morning News reports, and Cowboys P.R. director Rich Dalrymple has confirmed to us via e-mail, that the Cowboys did indeed believe that they had purchased "cowboys.com" for $275.

SECOND UPDATE: A reader asks, "Are the Cowboys aware that their new stadium costs $1 billion dollars and not $1 million?"

POSTED 7:32 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

DILFER STILL GETS THE START FOR NINERS

Despite optimism regarding the possibility that 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith will be able to return from a shoulder injury this weekend, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Trent Dilfer will get the start on Sunday when San Fran takes on the Giants.

The Giants have one of the better defenses in the conference, after limping through the first two weeks of the season.

The Niners are 2-3, and were idle in Week Six.

POSTED 5:26 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

TANK RETURNS . . . TO PRACTICE

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Commissioner Roger Goodell has informed Cowboys defensive tackle Tank Johnson that he can immediately return to practice, but that he will not be permitted to play until November 11.

This means that Johnson's eight-game suspension has not been reduced. However, by allowing him to come back to practice, the NFL is giving Johnson a chance to be ready to play upon the expiration of the ban.

Johnson's eight-game suspension could have been reduced to six games. A subsequent arrest for suspicion of DUI likely blocked his early return to game action.

POSTED 3:15 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 3:32 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

NFL NEEDS TO CLOSE BRYANT LOOPHOLE

Though it's very possible that the lawsuit filed by free-agent receiver Antonio Bryant against the NFL will result in yet another in-court victory for the league, resolution of the threshold question presented by the action could allow the case to proceed to a determination on the merits of the claim.

Bryant argues that, because he was not with an NFL team and was not actively seeking employment, he should not have been subjected to the substance-abuse policy or any other rules or regulations that apply to NFL players. The league will argue that any claims to be made by Bryant must be made through the grievance procedure under the CBA and/or the substance-abuse policy.

The focal point of the dispute will be the preamble to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players. The one-page opening portion of the CBA pulls within its scope all current players, all drafted rookies, and all undrafted rookies who commence negotiation with an NFL team.

The preamble also applies to "[a]ll professional football players who have been previously employed by a member club of the National Football League who are seeking employment with an NFL Club."

So if a former NFL player isn't seeking employment in the NFL, the player arguably isn't subject to the CBA.

Bryant asserts that he wasn't seeking employment until recently, and thus that during the period of time after he was cut by the 49ers and before he tried to get hired by a new team, he should not have been subject to the drug-testing requirements and other procedures of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. The final decision could require a factual finding, which will turn on whether a judge or a jury believes that Bryant was not actively seeking employment with an NFL team during his period of unemployment.

Regardless of whether the NFL prevails on its argument that Bryant was and is still covered by the CBA, the league's lawyers need to suggest some immediate changes to the procedures that apply after a player is released from a team. For example, the league should send to each such player and/or his agent a one-page document that reads as follows:

"It has come to our attention that you no longer are employed by an NFL Club. Please return the enclosed card as soon as possible indicating whether you are seeking employment with an NFL Club. Until we receive a response indicating that you are not seeking employment with an NFL Club, we will assume that you are seeking employment with an NFL Club."

The pre-metered card would then have two sentences, and a box in front of each that the player or his agent would check to indicate whether the player is or is not seeking employment.

The clincher would be to include in the next revision to the CBA a statement that only those players who are actively seeking employment with an NFL Club may be signed by an NFL Club.

Though such changes would be too late to deliver victory in Bryant's case, they would likely be enough to prevent someone else in the future from making the same argument.

ATTENTION MEATHEADS

Last week, I cruised through the PFT Pick Challenge with a 10-3 record, including the out-on-a-limb selection of the Vikings to upset the Bears.

This week, I'm going for 14-0. I'll inevitably fail. But the ride will be fun.

And it can be fun for you, too. Click here to get started.

The user whose name is drawn from the names of all users who get more games right than me (is that even possible?) wins a free Fathead product, under our "Meathead or Fathead?" contest (and in the unique case of Jags assistant Mike Tice, the correct answer is "both").

The folks who get the most games right for the week are entered into a separate drawing, and the winner gets a free one-year subscription to Sporting News.

Under the "Refer A Friend" program, the winner of the drawing made up of all folks who refer (not reefer) someone else to the game gets the 2008 Rotoworld online draft guide.

And everyone who correctly guesses the outcome of the Steelers-Broncos game is entered into a separate drawing, and the winner gets a copy of The Bus: My Life In And Out Of A Helmet, which has been made available to us at no charge by Jerome Bettis and by Doubleday Books.

Finally, remember that every game picked correctly is an entry into the end-of-season grand-prize drawing for two tickets to the Football Game of Significant Significance, which will be played this year in Arizona. The tickets have been available to us at face value from our friends at NFL.com.

For this week, my picks are: Titans, Lions, Saints, Bills, Giants, Redskins, Patriots, Raiders, Bengals, Vikings, Eagles, Seahawks, Steelers, and Jaguars.

POSTED 2:45 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

THE SKY CAM WAS FALLING

We recently mentioned the difference of opinion regarding the question of whether an aerial camera crashed near Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck or whether the thing descended to the turf as a "controlled descent."

A league source who was at the game and witnessed the incident says that the camera made "the loudest crashing noise" when it hit the ground "two feet from Hasselbeck."

The source thinks that the camera could have killed Hasselbeck if it had landed on his head.

Will anything change? In our view, not until the thing that didn't happen to Hasselbeck happens to someone else. It's our nature as humans to learn lessons not from close calls, but from worst-case scenarios.

And then we assuage (thanks, Tiki) our guilt by overreacting in our efforts to prevent the thing that was preventable from ever happening again.

POSTED 2:19 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

NFLPA LOOKING INTO AGENT RUMORS

Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal recently reported that the NFL Players Association will investigate whether an NFLPA-regulated agent spread a rumor that agents Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker were going to be suspended, which rumor supposedly prompted Bears receiver Bernard Berrian to dump them.

"We are most definitely looking into this," NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen told Mullen. "We urge anyone who has direct knowledge of who is spreading this false information to contact us. Any solicitation of a player client on false pretenses is a violation of our regulations."

Actually, any solicitation by one agent of a player under contract with another agent is a violation, too. And if another agent was telling Berrian that his current agents were getting suspended in an effort to persuade Berrian to drop them, a violation of the rules resulted, regardless of whether the rumor was true.

Mullen also reports that the NFLPA told Berrian that Barnes and Parker are not facing discipline before Berrian terminated them. The fact that Berrian followed through on firing them -- and in replacing them with Drew Rosenhaus -- would seem to suggest that any rumors had nothing to do with the decision.

Moreover, it's not as if the rumor is recent. We heard the rumor several months ago.

The reality, in our view, is that the investigation will go nowhere, especially since the presumptive prime suspect (Rosenhaus) represents NFLPA president Troy Vincent.

So, as we see it, the NFLPA will huff and puff and continue to selectively enforce its rules.

We're not saying that Rosenhaus violated said rules. We're only saying that, in the unlikely event that the NFLPA would be able to conjure evidence that he did, the union wouldn't do anything about it.

The message to all agents is that, when it comes to keeping other agents from messing with your clients, you're on your own. And that makes us even more convinced that, eventually, an agent or a runner is gonna get stabbed or shot or otherwise beaten with a shoe.

POSTED 1:46 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

BILLS LOOKING TO BLOCK TORONTO TEAM?

Amid reports that the owners of the CFL Toronto Argonauts hope to bring an NFL franchise to town, the Buffalo Bills are in the process of securing permission to play at least one preseason and one regular-season game in Toronto.

Various levels and types of approval are necessary, and it's currently unclear whether the effort will be successful.

On the surface, the move appears to be an effort by the Bills to keep Toronto from landing an NFL franchise of its own. Such a move would potentially devastate the Bills, removing from the pool of potential fans (and paying customers) Canadians who would be more apt to rally around the Toronto team.

It also could be that Ralph Wilson wants to position his Bills to be the logical candidate for purchase by Canadian interests after his death, while at the same time keeping the franchise (at least for part of the season) in Western New York. Eventually, there could be a Milwaukee-Green Bay arrangement for the Bills, with the team playing half of its home games in Toronto and the other half in Buffalo -- and with fans from both cities attending all of them.

Either way, it's a shrewd move by Wilson, and it shows that he truly cares about whether the franchise stays put even after he's gone and, as expected, his family sells the team.

For Toronto, a split schedule could also help to calm concerns that the arrival of the NFL will kill the CFL.

POSTED 9:58 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:06 a.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

BEARS BATTLING SUPER BOWL FATIGUE?

As everyone in Chicago tries to figure out how the 2006 NFC champs are residing in the NFC North basement after six weeks of play, some members of the Bears are linking this year's performance to last year's close-but-no-cigar success.

"I think the hunger probably just was satisfied at the Super Bowl," defensive tackle Tommie Harris said on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"It's one thing to go to a Super Bowl and win and it's another to go there and lose and I think it's more difficult," Harris said. "When you win it, you get to stand up like, 'We're keeping this trophy, this is ours.' But it really takes a lot out of you if you get that far [and lose]."

If Harris is accurately gauging the temperature of the team, then maybe coach Lovie Smith shouldn't have gotten a contract extension. Because it's his job to figure out what it will take to motivate a team that had to start all over again after climbing the most of the mountain.

Look at the Colts, coached by Smith's good friend Tony Dungy. They continued for years to pound on the door until they busted it open, coming back to win the Super Bowl the season after a 13-0 start was derailed by the death of Dungy's son and a stunning one-and-done home loss in the playoffs to the Steelers.

And Dungy has kept the Colts focused even after planting a blue and white flag at the summit of the NFL's Matterhorn -- unlike teams like the Steelers, whose 15 years of hunger under Coach Chin was satisfied by winning the big one in 2005.

So what Harris essentially is saying is "our coaching staff has failed to do its job properly," because it's the responsibility of the folks who set the agenda to also set the tone -- and to persuade the players to be hungry every season, regardless of what happened last year.

MARGIN OF ERROR GETS VERY NARROW FOR LOSER OF BEARS-EAGLES GAME

PFTV takes a look at this weekends game between the Bears and the Eagles in Philadelphia, and explains how this likely is a do-or-die game for both teams.

Have a look-see. It's short. (Just like Dante.)

And the Bears will have their hands full with the Eagles. As one league source tells us, the players in Philly have a strong desire and passion to support coach Andy Reid, whose off-field problems only got worse this week when a second son was sent to jail.

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-PER-CLUB ONE-LINERS by Michael David Smith

Giants RBs Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs are nursing sore ankles.

Asked about splitting time with Marion Barber, Cowboys RB Julius Jones said, "I can't do nothing about it." [Editor's note: Technically, then, Jones is saying that he can do something about it.]

Eagles CB Lito Sheppard expects to play Sunday.

Vikings coach Brad Childress says he has no hard feelings toward T.O.

The Redskins still don't have a touchdown from a wide receiver this season.

Bears DT Darwin Walker is likely to be in the lineup against his former team on Sunday.

Lions RB Kevin Jones will make his first start of the season against Tampa Bay.

The NFL acknowledges that Packers TE Bubba Franks was robbed of a touchdown by a bad official's call.

Falcons rookie CB Chris Houston appears ready to move into the starting lineup.

Panthers LB Jon Beason is willing to move to the outside if Dan Morgan comes back to reclaim his spot in the middle.

The Saints' lease is becoming an issue in the Louisiana gubernatorial race.

The Buccaneers are impressed with the toughness of the quarterback they'll face Sunday.

Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin has finally participated in a full practice after missing three games with a hip injury.

Rams RB Steven Jackson practiced Wednesday, but he's still at least a week away from playing.

Less than a month after tearing the MCL in his right knee, 49ers TE Vernon Davis expects to play Sunday against the Giants.

Says Seahawks DT Brandon Mebane of playing special teams: "That kickoff return, that is not a joke. You've got to be the hammer, not the nail. If you're the nail, you are going to get knocked out and you'll forget how you got to the stadium."

The Bills say the move to Trent Edwards as the starting quarterback isn't necessarily permanent.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick on Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown: "Best player I've seen this year offensively."

Patriots DT Richard Seymour may not be ready to play until Week 10.

Jets WR Justin McCareins has three catches and a $2.4 million salary.

Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden says of talk that he'll go on injured reserve, "I'm not going to think about that. I've just got to get myself back on the field. And it's coming. It's feeling a lot better."

Six of Bengals QB Carson Palmer's eight interceptions have come on passes intended for Chad Johnson.

Browns owner Randy Lerner attributes the team's turnaround to "staying the course" and switching to QB Derek Anderson. (Isn't switching quarterbacks after Week One the opposite of staying the course?)

Another Steeler with an unpaid ticket: LB Larry Foote.

The Texans have painful memories of Titans QB Vince Young running through their secondary last year.

Colts TE Dallas Clark always wanted to play running back.

Jaguars QB David Garrard likes offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter's halftime adjustments.

Titans WR Eric Moulds wants to catch some long passes.

Says Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on the health of CB Champ Bailey, "We've got to keep our fingers crossed."

Chiefs RB Priest Holmes: "One of the things I can take from practice is that I still have a lot in me. That was one of the surprising things."

The Raiders worked out WR Tim Dwight Wednesday.

New Chargers WR Chris Chambers will wear No. 89.

POSTED 9:36 a.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

STINKO SAYS HE'S NOT SELFISH

With the Cincinnati Bengals sputtering at 1-4, Johnson is doing his best to persuade the media (and, in turn, the rest of us) that he's not a problem.

Per NFL.com video of his Wednesday remarks, Johnson said: "As soon as I [show] emotion, everybody's first word is 'selfish.' Y'all know Chad better than that. Y'all know been around me long enough to know I'm about winning, and that's it."

Sorry, but we ain't buying it. Johnson is about Johnson, and his actions speak far more loudly than any words he ever could utter.

Last week, Jay Glazer of FOX reported that the "Chad being Chad" excuse within the organization is wearing thin, especially after he had another locker-room meltdown during a Monday night loss to the Patriots. Per Glazer, Johnson was "screaming, ranting and raving" at halftime of the game.

In January 2006, we reported that Johnson had an even bigger blowup at halftime of a playoff game that the Bengals were winning at the time. Johnson initially said nothing happened, but subsequent reports confirmed that it did.

POSTED 9:09 a.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

PETERSON RUNNING FOR THE MONEY

Vikings rookie phenom Adrian Peterson is making a name for himself in the NFL. He's also poised to make a lot of money.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network points out that Peterson will pocket an extra $250,000 if he's named the NFL offensive rookie of the year. With 607 yards rushing in only five career games, he's well on his way to the prize.

Schefter reports that Peterson will get another $250,000 if he wins the league MVP award. But that's a taller order, as we see it. Though running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander have taken the honors in 2006 and 2005, respectively, via campaigns in which each set the single-season touchdown record, Pats quarterback Tom Brady currently has the inside track to the MVP award.

But even though the extra bump for winning the MVP award seems to be a longer shot, Peterson's strong performance is putting him in line for more money down the road.

As we reported after Peterson signed with the Vikings in late July, the base value of his contract is $24.75 million over five years, if he rushes for 1,000 yards in a season only one time. He's 393 yards from making that happen.

If he rushes for 1,300 yards only once, the base value will be $28 million over five years. If he does so twice, the number will be more than $30 million.

The high-end value of the deal -- $40 million over five years -- requires some "super high-end stuff." But since we've seen "super high-end stuff" from Peterson thus far, we're not ruling anything out at this point.

By the way, Peterson currently is on pace to run for 1,942 yards. And he's not even the starter.

POSTED 8:44 a.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

UNCLE RICO RANKLED BY INJURY QUESTIONS

Titans quarterback Vince Young could soon be throwing steaks at reporters.

Per the Nashville Tennessean, Young didn't want to talk to the media on Wednesday, and when he did Young tried to get them not to ask about a strained quad that might prevent him from making his second annual grand return to his hometown of Houston.

"That's enough about the injury, please, I'm begging you,'' Young said. "It's enough. I can't do nothing about it. What do you want me to say? I am saying the same thing over and over, the same question. Y'all are just re-wording it.

"I can't just tell you I'm playing and then don't play,'' Young added. "That is like me lying not only to my teammates, but to the rest of the people in the world that want to see me play.'

"It is getting on my nerves, man, because y'all be pumping it up for some reason and it is not that crucial. It is a regular game. . . . It is not all about Vince Young going against the Texans and I am tired of hearing that.''

Young didn't practice on Wednesday, and he reportedly has a noticeable limp. If Young can't play, Kerry Collins will get the start.

POSTED 8:36 a.m. EDT, October 18, 2007

CARDS LAMENTING FAILURE TO LAND VINNY

A league source tells us that some members of the Arizona Cardinals quietly are expressing disappointment over the inability of the team to persuade quarterback Vinny Testaverde to join the cause for the balance of the 2007 season.

Per the source, the failure to get Testaverde is being regarded as a "huge mistake" in some corners of the locker room.

The Cards reportedly tried to get Testaverde, but Testaverde declined, eventually landing in Carolina, where he started and won last weekend in a win over the Cardinals.

Arizona has added Tim Rattay and Tim Hasselbeck. Matt Leinart is on injured reserve, and Kurt Warner will miss at least one game with an injury to his non-throwing elbow.

VINNY SAVES FOX?

Speaking of Vinny Testaverde, the talk in league circles that the soon-to-be 44-year-old might have saved the coaching career of John Fox in Carolina.

The thinking is that Fox had been destined to be fired, but that a 4-2 record at the bye has put the team on the right path toward getting Fox another season.

Then again, Fox's ultimate fate could be tied to the year in which North Carolina resident Bill Cowher puts his name back in the hat for a coaching job. If Cowher sticks to his reported plan not to come back in 2008 and if the Panthers hire a new coach, it's unlikely that the team would fire the guy after only one season in order to clear a path for Cowher.

POSTED 10:10 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:10 p.m. EDT, October 17, 2007

DID THEISMANN GET KIMMEL BANNED FROM ESPN?

Though former Monday Night Football analyst Joe Theismann opted for the high road in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel's repeated swipes at Theismann during a visit to the booth during this week's Giants-Falcons game, we've got a feeling that ESPN's decision to ban Kimmel from any future appearances on the show was made either at the request of Theismann, or in an effort to placate him.

We recently reported that Theismann's relationship with ESPN has ended, and ESPN spokesman Mac Nwulu told us that the two sides had reached a settlement.

Settlements of this nature typically include a term requiring the parties not to say anything bad about each other. It's called a "non-disparagement clause."

Moreover, deals like this usually apply not only to the employees and agents of the corporate party but also to all employees and agents of the corporate party's affiliated companies. In the case of ESPN, that includes Kimmel's employer, ABC.

And since Kimmel was ostensibly in the booth to promote his upcoming week of hosting Regis & Kelly Lee (or Whoever She Is) in New York and Kimmel's own show on Los Angeles, it could be argued that Kimmel's comments about Theismann can be imputed to ESPN/ABC.

Why else would ESPN be making such a big deal about this? Did they not expect Kimmel to be an irreverent smartass? Last year, he asked Theismann about the leg that was broken by Lawrence Taylor in a Monday night game in the 1980s.

Per Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, MNF producer Jay Rothman called Kimmel's comments "classless and disappointing. It was cheap. The more he went on, the worse he got."

Again, what did they expect from Kimmel?

Look, if ESPN doesn't like what Kimmel had to say, then ESPN has only itself to blame. And since ESPN typically isn't keen on admitting that it screwed up (as evidenced by the ongoing employment of Emmitt Smith), the fact that Bristol is making a big deal about this strongly suggests that the company wants to avoid an allegation that it has violated the terms of the settlement agreement with Theismann.

PORTER HAS TICKET ISSUES, TOO

Our own MDS noted earlier in the day a report from WTAE-TV, former Steelers receivers Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El could soon be arrested for unpaid tickets.

But, as several readers have pointed out, another player with a connection to the team needs to get his affairs in order quickly.

We're referring to former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter.

We suppose it could be another Joey Porter from Bakersfield, California, who was born in 1977. But we have a feeling that it isn't.

PFTV TACKLES CAROLINA QB SITUATION

It's time for a new set of PFTV segments. All of them can be seen right here.

One of them can be seen right here, regarding whether the Panthers should go with David Carr or Vinny Testaverde as the starting quarterback.

WEEK SEVEN WEDNESDAY INJURY REPORT

It's Wednesday, and that means that the various NFL teams have identified who has and hasn't participated in practice.

The list is right here.

It'll be updated on Thursday and on Friday.

POSTED 9:30 p.m. EDT, October 17, 2007

NFL SAYS BRYANT SUIT IS "WITHOUT MERIT"

In response to the lawsuit filed by free-agent receiver Antonio Bryant against the NFL, spokesman Greg Aiello told us that the league is taking a dim view of the action.

"It is without merit," Aiello said. "The rules of the program are well established and collectively bargained with the Players Association."

In other words, the NFL's argument will be that Bryant's remedies are set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and that he is not permitted to file suit raising a variety of common-law remedies that, as a matter of federal labor law, are trumped by the CBA.

The question, as explained below, is whether a player who is not a party to a player contract is a member of the NFL Players Association. If he is, the suit dies. If he's not, it could get interesting.

POSTED 9:07 p.m. EDT, October

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