GLAZER HAS THE TAPE

Jay Glazer of FOX just promised to show the actual videotape that was confiscated last week by NFL Security from Pats employee Matt Estrella.

Wow.

Glazer also says that Commissioner Roger Goodell explained the decision not to suspend coach Bill Belichick by citing the difficulty in enforcing it.  Goodell also told Glazer that a first-round pick was taken from the team because first-round picks are viewed as a "pot of gold." 

GARCIA CONCUSSION COVERED UP?

Chris Mortensen of ESPN points out one of the biggest flaws in the league's new approach to concussions.  Despite the adoption of a "whistleblower" policy that allows players with concussions who believe they're being forced to play before they're ready, what pro football player is every going to complain when he also wants to see himself get back on the field?

Case in point, per Mort -- last week, Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia was knocked out of the game at Seattle for a quarter after his head hit the turf.  He was "wobbly" and "disoriented," Mortensen said. 

But the Bucs insist that he didn't have a concussion.  (And that's a perfect way to avoid the whistleblower provision; a player can't be forced to play before he has recovered from a concussion if the official diagnosis that he has not had a concussion.)

Hey, I'm no doctor.  But I've had a couple of concussions (as the quality of this blog confirms).  Wobbly plus disoriented equals concussion.

As we see it, the only way to effectively deal with the situation is to have an independent doctor at every game who decides whether a player will be allowed to re-enter after taking a knock to the noggin.  If a boxing referee can call a fight when a boxer is in trouble, someone should be able to provide a truly objective assessment of whether an NFL player should be permitted to go back on the field in the same game in which he has gotten his "bell rung."

EMMITT ISN'T GETTING ANY BETTER

We've previously commented on the poor performance of ESPN's Emmitt Smith.  And he's given constantly us more ammo.

In discussing Sunday's Bucs-Saints game, host Chris Berman threw it to Emmitt for something he'll be watching.  And Emmitt said,  "I'm gonna keep my eye on Joey Galloway and watch him go up against . . .  um, uh . . . David . . . um . . . David . . ."

Berman bailed Emmitt out by giving him the right name (Jason David), and then made a flimsy excuse for Emmitt's latest screw-up.

But there is no excuse.  How can Emmitt not know the name of the guy who was the talk of the league after the September 6 regular-season opener?

Besides, why is Emmitt going to watch . . . um, uh . . . David . . . um . . . David . . . when the Saints also have Mike McKenzie, who might be assigned exclusively to Galloway given the manner in which . . . um, uh . . .  David . . . um . . . David . . .  got torched last week?

Emmitt also continues to struggle with verb conjugations and other basic aspects of the English language.  It's simply not acceptable for a guy who is now talking for a living.  If he ran the ball the way he communicates, he never would have gotten off of the bench in high school.  Heck, he might not have even made the team.

ALL FANTASY RANKINGS ARE UP

Fantasy rankings for Week Two are up, for all positions.

Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends, defenses.

That's all.

ELI WILL START

As it turns out, Jared Lorenzen can continue to hold the clipboard in one hand (and a hot dog in the other).

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports that Giants quarterback Eli Manning will start on Sunday.  Manning will wear an extra pad on his injured right shoulder to provide more cushioning.

It's a dramatic turnaround.  Jay Glazer notes on FSN's Pro Football Preview that team doctors initially thought that Manning had a torn labrum, which would have knocked him out for the season.

TITANS PLAN TO RUN, RUN, AND RUN

ESPN's Ed Werder reports that the Tennessee Titans plan to hammer the ball on the ground by running Chris Brown and LenDale White to the point of exhaustion.

The absence of linebackers Freddy Keiaho and Rob Morris will make it even harder for the Colts to stop a rushing attack that powered the Titans to a win at Jacksonville last week.

Still, with safety Bob Sanders healthy, we think the Colts will load up against the run and try to force quarterback Vince Young to win it with his arm -- especially since Young threw for only 78 yards against the Jaguars. 

Werder also says that former Colts cornerback Nick Harper, who now plays for the Titans, thinks that his knowledge of the Colts' offense will be helpful, and that Harper isn't intimidated, despite the manner in which former Colt Jason David, now with the Saints, was abused by his old team in the regular-season opener.

Werder said that Harper tried to call David to console him after that loss, but couldn't get through to him.  "I guess he changed his number after that game," Harper said. 

COMMISH STILL INVESTIGATING PATS

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that, while Pats coach Bill Belichick wants to move on (or move out) regarding the cheating scandal, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't. 

Per Mort, Goodell has ordered the team to turn over all videotapes, notes, and files dating back to 2000.  They have to do this, Mortensen explained.  If the materials indicate further rules violations, or if there is any fishy behavior in connection with the disclosure of information, there will be further sanctions.

In our view, looking at notes, files, and tapes isn't enough.  The NFL also needs to interview current and, more importantly, former employees who might know a thing or two about what went on.

So stay tuned.  Though the punishment announced on Thursday night caused many to conclude that this episode is over, it could still get even worse for the Patriots.

ANOTHER PATS CHEATING ALLEGATION

As Jay Glazer of FOX mentioned during FSN's Pro Football Preview, folks around the league are offering up all sorts of suspicions regarding the Patriots in the wake of last Sunday's spy scandal.

And Glazer mentions another tactic of which we previously hadn't heard -- putting a camera in the end zone to capture clear images of Peyton Manning's pre-snap hand signals.

We expect more of this stuff to come, since more and more people are talking.  Eventually, someone with first-hand knowledge of what has gone on will come forward.

QUINN DEBUT COULD COME TODAY

From the "good stuff we missed while dealing with 500 e-mails per day on the Patriots scandal" file, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported earlier in the week that Browns coach Romeo Crennel might put rookie quarterback Brady Quinn into Sunday's game against the Bengals.

"I think it just depends on how the game goes," Crennel said.  "If there's evidence, or I get the feeling that things can be straightened out, you can give the guy a chance.  But if things can't get straightened out, then, I think you have to do something quickly."  

If this week is anything like last week, Crennel won't have much patience.  Former starter (and former Brown) Charlie Frye got the quick hook in Week One.  The guy who replaced him, Derek Anderson, could be on just as short of a leash this weekend.

DON'T FORGET TO MAKE YOUR PICKS

The PFT Pick Challenge continues this week, but you can't win if you don't make picks.  Click here to get it done.

Prizes include a Fathead, a one-year subscription to Sporting News, 2008 online products from Rotoworld.com, and the new book by Jerome Bettis.

Also, every game picked correctly this week is a ticket to the grand prize drawing at the end of the year, for two tickets to a Football Game of Some Significance that will be played in Arizona in early February.

PFT MEDIA FANTASY CHALLENGE CONTINUES

One of the more significant aspects of the start of Week Two of the 2007 NFL season is that it's also the start of Week Two of the PFT Media Fantasy Challenge.

Last week, the highest point total came from Gregg Rosenthal of Rotoworld.com, who racked up a mind-boggling 145 against Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio, who scored 84.  Paul Allen of KFAN, who handles the radio play-by-play for the Vikings, scored 101 to defeat Michael Fabiano of NFL.com, who scored 55.  Seth Wickersham of ESPN:  The Magazine and ESPN.com eked out a three-point win, 107-104, over Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who continues to allege that yours truly rigged the draft.  (Hey, Sean, don't you know there's no cheating in football?) 

Nancy Gay of the San Francisco Chronicle knocked off Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com, 73-63.  Todd Wright of Sporting News Radio handled Adam Schefter of NFL Network, 89-53.  Dave Richard of CBSSports.com took down Tom Curran of NBCSports.com, 79-71.  And Eddie George of FSN squeezed out a two-point win over Adam Caplan of Scout.com, 79-77.

Let's see.  Am I missing any?  Oh yeah -- the Bad Newz Ken-Dolls, owned and operated by yours truly, busted up Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com, 101-55.

This week, it's Allen vs. Curran, Jensen vs. Fabiano, Chadiha v. Richard, Gay vs. Wickersham, Schein vs. Freeman, Caplan vs. Rosenthal, Wright vs. George, and yours truly vs. Schefter.    

BROWN, GEORGE MAKE NEW CHEATING ALLEGATIONS

On FSN's Pro Football Preview, former Raiders receiver Tim Brown said that, when the Raiders were preparing to play the Patriots in the 2002 regular season, the team received an audio tape that apparently was made during the epic 2001 divisional playoff game between the two teams.

"You can hear Rich Gannon making audibles," Brown said, "telling Tyrone Wheatley and everybody to shift around.  It was like he was talking in a microphone."

This allegation meshes with rumors that one of the Pats' tactics is to put microphones on defensive linemen for the purposes of capturing audibles and offensive line calls.

The Raiders, by the way, won the game, 27-20.

In response to Brown's assertion, former Titans running back Eddie George suggested that the Raiders receivers had radio receivers in their helmets during a 2003 game against Tennessee, because the receivers never went back to the huddle. 

"I'm saying that you guys cheated," George said to Brown.  "You had receivers in your helmets.  What goes around comes around. . . .  And that's why you don't have a ring today."

The alleged cheating also didn't work, because the Titans won the game 25-20.

Brown denied the allegations.  But based on these two accusations FSN's Pro Football Preview is something that now must be added to the "must see" list of weekend preview shows.

UNION MIFFED BY WILLIAMS EXTENSION

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that the NFL Players Association is unhappy with the manner in which the Minnesota Vikings pushed $13.2 million into the 2008 salary cap by shoving a bogus "likely to be earned" incentive into the recent contract extension signed by defensive tackle Pat Williams.

"What you don't want is all that money taken out of the pool for other players who might get contract extensions during the season," a union source told Cole on Friday.  "Now, if it was December and the Vikings had already done a bunch of other deals, that's fine.  That allows them to carry over the money to next year."

HINES FINED FOR HOLLY HIT

Steelers receiver Hines Ward has been fined $5,000 for a late hit on Browns cornerback Daven Holly from last Sunday.

Holly, who suffered a concussion as a result of the hit, called it a "heinous act."

Ward sees it differently, calling it a "clean hit that just came a little late."

The incident occurred with the Steelers leading the Browns 24-7 in the third quarter, while Ward was blocking downfield during a running play.

PORTER'S KNEE MIGHT NOT WORK, BUT HIS MOUTH DOES

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, thought by many to be breaking down as he becomes the latest former Steelers linebacker to try to do something/anything with a new team, has shown that he can still talk trash.

That said, his latest effort to target Cowboys running back Marion Barber III seems a little, shall we say, lame.

"Barber thinks he's a tough guy sometimes," Porter told Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com.  "He likes to get into the secondary and lower his shoulder and try to run people over to see if he's this real physical running back.  I love running backs who play like that.  It's a challenge.

"I love a cocky guy.  He's a cocky guy.  That makes two cocky guys in the game.  Somebody has to give.  That's my type of fight, so I'm going to be looking for him."

(Actually, we thought Porter's type of fight was seven against one in a casino, with Porter being one of the seven.)

The comments aren't among Porter's best, but it's good to know he's still in the league.  We'd almost forgotten about him. 

OPEN SEASON ON UNDERCLASSMEN

When the NFLPA passed a rule preventing agents from having any contact with college players not yet in their final year of eligibility (even if they are eligible to enter the draft after the current season), the reaction from agents who follow the rules was that the rule will be followed only by agents who follow the rules.

And that those who already ignore the rules will ignore the new rule.

Already, there is talk among agents who follow the rules that plenty of agents who don't are disregarding the new rule.

This means that unscrupulous agents will have the inside track on lining up the guys like Darren McFadden and Steve Slaton, who are eligible after this year to jump to the NFL, but who are not seniors.

For the agents who respect the rule, the disadvantage is huge.  They won't be able to get in the running until January, when the underclassmen declare their intentions to come out.  By then, the guys who didn't pay attention to the rule will have had a head start of up to four months, or more.

Like so many NFL and NFLPA rules, the ban on talking to underclassmen is difficult if not impossible to enforce.  And the only guys who'll get busted are the guys who are brazen or careless.  Or both.

Think of it this way.  If the NFLPA virtually never catches agents who funnel money to college players, how will the union even begin to nail agents who are merely talking to the ones who aren't seniors?

It won't happen, and it means that the agents who otherwise are serious about following the rules will have to ask themselves whether they should refrain from following this specific rule -- or risk seeing their businesses shrink.

WEEK TWO FANTASY RANKINGS

The Week Two fantasy rankings continue.  Now up -- the running backs, tight ends, and receivers.

Still to come:  defenses and sideline cameramen.

PFTV'S COLTS-TITANS PREVIEW

Every week, PFTV looks at several of the weekend's biggest games, usually while wearing dark suits.  Here's what Michael and Fredo have to say about the Colts-Titans matchup.

LINEHAN DISPUTES HILL REPORT

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported on Friday that Rams cornerback Tye Hill, a first-round pick in 2006, will miss 4-6 weeks after injuring his back at the end of practice on Thursday.  Rams coach Scott Linehan disagrees.

"He'll be out this game and we'll go week-to-week after that," coach Scott Linehan said Friday.  "Any reports about him being out four to six weeks are false. . . .  The best-case scenario probably is looking at possibly two games."

But Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that, in addition to fracturing transverse processes in his back, Hill also suffered broken ribs.

"I just hope I can get back way faster than people expect," Hill said.  "I'm going to do what I need to do to get back on the field."

CASSERLY REPORTS RAISE EYEBROWS

We didn't have a chance to mention it last Sunday, but Charley Casserly of CBS dropped a couple of nuggets during the Week One pregame show that attracted the attention of plenty of league insiders.

First, Casserly suggested that the Falcons and the Titans might argue that they were defrauded by Michael Vick and Pacman Jones, respectively, before giving them millions of dollars.  Presumably, such proof would allow the teams to recover all money paid based on information that wasn't true. 

As to Vick, the argument would be that he was involved in illegal gambling and dog fighting when he received a contract that carried $37 million in bonus payments.  As to Jones, the argument would be that he failed to disclose an arrest that occurred not long before he received a $5.6 million option bonus in early 2006.

As Casserly explained it, the fraud theory comes from a past dispute between Chiefs and former receiver/kick returner Tamarick Vanover.  It's something we plan to explore in further detail.  If we can ever find the time.

Second, Casserly commented on the HGH scandal that resulted in suspension for Pats safety Rodney Harrison and Cowboys assistant coach Wade Wilson.  Casserly suggested that others have been caught, and have been disciplined.

But how can that be?  For players, the first strike is a suspension.  For coaches, who are held to a higher standard when it comes to substances like HGH, the first strike is a suspension.  So any disciplined would have entailed a suspension.  And suspensions typically are noticed since the guy who gets suspended is typically, you know, not there.

RETURN OF THE KORDOZA LINE

Back by popular demand (okay, one guy mentioned it to us on Friday), it's the official PFT Kordoza Line standings.

For those of you who have discovered us since the end of the 2006 season, we introduced last September a simple feature that requires no thought or analysis (and isn't that the best kind of new feature?).  It requires us merely to look at the stats and type some of them here.

The standard in question is the "Kordoza Line," which is a play on baseball's "Mendoza Line."  In baseball, the line of demarcation between below-average and bad hitters is an average  of .200.  For NFL quarterbacks, it's the career passer rating of Kordell Stewart -- 70.7.

Before we take a look at the Week One members of the club, let's hand out the hardware for 2006:  Drew Bledsoe, 69.2; Jake Plummer, 68.8; Joey Harrington 68.2; Vince Young, 66.7; Bruce Gradkowski, 65.9; Derek Anderson, 63.1; Tarvaris Jackson, 62.5; Aaron Brooks, 61.7; Andrew Walter, 55.8; Chris Simms, 46.3; Kerry Collins, 42.3.

Here are the 2007 charter members:  Marc Bulger, 70.2; Derek Anderson, 65.2; Steve McNair, 63.7; Joey Harrington, 61.8; Donovan McNabb, 60.7; Alex Smith, 59.3; Kellen Clemens, 58.3; Drew Brees 58.2; Brett Favre, 58.2; J.P. Losman, 57.0; Jason Campbell, 54.2; Rex Grossman, 53.7; Damon Huard, 53.6; Vince Young, 47.9; Matt Leinart, 41.1; Charlie Frye, 10.0.

The passer rating is the result of a complex formula that takes into account completion percentage, average gain per attempt, percentage of passes that result in touchdowns, percentage of passes that are intercepted.  Whoever came up with the specific equation was either high on something other than life, or desperately needed to get one.

SUPER BOWL WINS ARE CALLED INTO QUESTION

Now that the book has been closed (apparently) on the whole Pats video thing, it's time to ponder the question of whether any of the trio of three-point wins in Super Bowls XXXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX were the result of any type of cheating.

As to the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, whom the Patriots beat by a field goal to cap the 2004 season, some of the players think that the answer could be yes.  "I was giving them a whole bunch of credit for making halftime adjustments. . . . It's troublesome," safety Brian Dawkins said on Thursday.  "I don't know how different to say it -- it bothers me."

As to the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII, whom the Patriots beat by a field goal to cap the 2003 season, there are rumblings of skullduggery occurring not based on halftime adjustments, but on pregame planning.  "Some sources within the team's Bank of America Stadium facilities said there were rumblings that the Patriots might have filmed at least two of Carolina's practices in the week leading into the Super Bowl after the 2003 season," writes Pat Yasinskas of the Charlotte Observer.

Former Panthers defensive tackle Brentson Buckner hinted at such suspicions during a Friday appearance on the Mac Attack on WFNZ in Charlotte.

"I know in that Super Bowl game . . . we worked on some stuff that we had never ran against Tom Brady," Buckner said.  "We got in that game and he called out everything that we did. . . .  It makes you wonder about the knowledge that Tom Brady and those guys [had] because they literally in plays knew where you were going."

As to the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, whom the Patriots beat by a field goal to cap the 2001 season, the manner in which that game unfolded could raise questions as to whether the Pats acquired advance knowledge via questionable means.  Through two quarters, the Pats held the Greatest Show-Offs on Turf to a measly three points, their lowest first-half output of the season. 

As to any of the three Super Bowls, there's always a chance that someone will eventually spill the beans (if there are beans to spill), and the climate that has been created in the wake of this week's events could be enough to get someone to turn the bag of beans upside down, and shake the hell out of it. 

If that happens, it makes Belichick's decision to continue to risk getting caught when it was clear that his former lieutenant was looking to catch him seem even more stupid. 

KRAFT ADDRESSES SCANDAL

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has issued a statement regarding the events of the past several days, which culminated in a $500,000 fine against coach Bill Belichick, a $250,000 fine against the organization, and the loss of either a first-round draft pick or a second-round or a third-round selection.  Here's the full text of it:

"This has been an extremely difficult week for our organization.  The most troubling part for me, personally, is the impact these actions have had on our fans.  We have spent the last 14 years developing and building a franchise that people could embrace and support.  The loyalty of our fans has been the most rewarding aspect of owning the team. I  am deeply disappointed that the embarrassing events of this past week may cause some people to see our team in a different light.

After reviewing the facts of the past weekend, the commissioner has made a determination that our franchise engaged in activities that violate the league's rules.  He has determined the punishment and I accept it.

"I believe that Coach Belichick always tries to do what is best for the team and he is always accountable for his decisions.  He has been a very important part of what our organization has accomplished over the last seven years.  In this case, one of his decisions has resulted in a severe penalty for our franchise. He has paid a heavy price and so has our organization.  He has apologized for his actions.  I accept his apology and look forward to working with him as we move forward.

"It has been a distinct privilege to be involved in the National Football League since 1994.  I am passionate about the league because it represents the ultimate in competition.  To this end, the integrity of the game and competition between the 32 teams is of paramount importance to me.  Whenever the commissioner believes that the integrity of the league’s competition is compromised, he must act decisively to protect it.

"In addition to our fans, I also feel for our players.  I know how hard our players work and prepare for every game and their accomplishments speak for themselves.  I look forward to returning all of our focus and energy to the field."

The third paragraph of the statement should quiet speculation that Kraft will be the one to suspend Belichick, supplementing the penalty imposed by the Commissioner.  And, as we see it, that's unfortunate.  The absence of a punishment from the team potentially creates the impression that either ownership knew about the tactics, and didn't know -- and don't care.

The more we think about it, the more we believe that a suspension would have been appropriate.  Even if it would have been a hollow gesture in the days leading up to the preparation for the game, it would have been a powerful symbolic gesture, which might have quieted the chorus of criticism arising from the decision not to suspend Belichick.

ELI QUESTIONABLE FOR SUNDAY

Despite some chatter that Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been listed as probable for Sundays home opener against the Packers, the official NFL injury report shows that Manning is questionable, due to his shoulder injury.

Under league rules, the "questionable" designation means that there's a 50-50 chance that Manning will play.

Manning had limited participation in practice on Friday, which was his first official practice time since he was injured against the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Manning reportedly was throwing 50-yard passes at practice on Thursday, and Dr. James Andrews said after evaluating Manning earlier in the week that his ability to play would be tied to his ability to withstand the pain.

That proclamation put Eli, in our view, in a no-win position.  If he plays, folks will presume that the pain wasn't very bad.  If he doesn't play, folks will presume that he's a wuss.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

Time for the weekly (if we find time for it) look at the NFL's official injury report.  Here are the highlights.

Falcons:  DT Rod Coleman (knee) is out; S Chris Crocker (knee) is doubtful.

Jags:  C Brad Meester (ankle) and K Josh Scobee (quad) are out; DE Reggie Hayward (Achilles), DT John Henderson (thigh), DE Bobby McCray (elbow), S Gerald Sensabaugh (shoulder), DT Marcus Stroud (shin), and WR Reggie Williams (back) are listed as probable.  Stroud is probable (i.e., virtually certain to play), even though he did not practice on Thursday or Friday.

Bills:  DE Ryan Denney (foot), LB Keith Ellison (ankle), and CB Jason Webster (forearm) are out; WR Josh Reed (thigh) is questionable, and he has not practiced all week.

Steelers:  LB Marquis Cooper (hamstring) is out.

Bengals:  DE Frostee Rucker (hamstring) is out; C Eric Ghiaciuc (thumb) is doubtful.  T Willie Anderson (foot), WR Antonio Chatman (hamstring), K Shayne Graham (hip), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee), S Dexter Jackson (thigh), and CB Deltha O'Neal (knee) are all probable.

Browns:  LB Willie McGinest (back) is out; CB Gary Baxter (knees) is doubtful; CB Leigh Bodden (groin), LB Antwan Peek (foot), and P Dave Zastudil (back) are questionable; CB Daven Holly (concussion) is probable.

Cowboys:  LB Greg Ellis (Achilles) and WR Terry Glenn (knee) are out;  CB Terence Newman (foot) is questionable.

Dolphins:  CB Andre' Goodman (shoulder) is out; RB Jesse Chatman (knee) is probable.

Packers:  WR Greg Jennings (hamstring) and RB Vernand Morency (knee) are questionable; CB Al Harris (elbow), DE Aaron Kampman (rib), and TE Donald Lee (knee) are probable.

Giants:  RB Brandon Jacobs (knee) is out;  QB Eli Manning (right shoulder) and K Lawrence Tynes (right calf) are questionable; DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) is probable.

Texans:  DT Travis Johnson (foot), DE Ndukwe Kalu (hand), and DT Amobi Okoye (foot) are questionable.

Panthers:  S Nate Salley (knee) is out; DE Mike Rucker (thigh) is probable.

Colts:  T Charlie Johnson (knee) is out; LB Freddy Keiaho (elbow) is doubtful.

Titans:  TE Casey Cramer (hamstring) is doubtful.

Chiefs:  WR Eddie Kennison (hamstring) is out.

Bears:  P Brad Maynard (groin) and TE Greg Olsen (knee) are questionable; WR Muhsin Muhammad (ankle) and LB Brian Urlacher (back) are probable.

Vikings:  S Mike Doss (calf), RB Tony Richardson (forearm), and RB Chester Taylor (hip) are questionable; LB Vinny Ciurciu (hand), WR Robert Ferguson (ankle), and RB Naufahu Tahi (ankle) are probable.

Lions:  RB T.J. Duckett (ankle) is out; RB Kevin Jones (foot) is doubtful.

Saints:  TE Mark Campbell is out.

Bucs:  DE Patrick Chukwurah (knee) is out; CB Brian Kelly (groin) is doubtful.  DT Chris Hovan (ankle) and RB Carnell Williams (ribs) are questionable.

Jets:  CB Andre Dyson (foot), RB Thomas Jones (calf), CB Justin Miller (thigh), G Brandon Moore (shoulder), QB Chad Pennington (ankle), and S Eric Smith (thigh) are questionable; DT Dewayne Robertson is probable.

Ravens:  T Jonathan Ogden (toe) is doubtful; WR Mark Clayton (toe), LB Ray Lewis (triceps), QB Steve McNair (groin), CB David Pittman (ankle), S Ed Reed (ankle), CB Samari Rolle (foot), TE Daniel Wilcox (ankle), and WR Demetrius Williams (chest) are questionable.

Raiders:  QB Josh McCown (foot), C Jeremy Newberry (hamstring), and CB Duane Starks (groin) and doubtful; T Robert Gallery (hamstring) is questionable.

Broncos:  G Ben Hamilton (concussion) and T Ryan Harris (back) are out; TE Stephen Alexander (calf) and CB Domonique Foxworth (ankle) are questionable; S John Lynch (ankle) and WR Javon Walker (shoulder) are probable.

49ers:  S Dashon Goldson (elbow), CB Marcus Hudson (quadricep), and CB Shawntae Spencer (elbow) are probable.

Rams:  CB Tye Hill (back), G Richie Incognito (ankle) are out; LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (ankle) is questionable; WR Drew Bennett (thigh) and WR Dane Looker (illness) are probable.

Seahawks:  WR D.J. Hackett (ankle) is out; LB LeRoy Hill (foot), RB Maurice Morris (hip), WR Ben Obomanu (hamstring) are questionable; DT Brandon Mebane (shoulder) is probable.

Cardinals:  DT Alan Branch (hand) and C Al Johnson (knee) are out; WR Bryant Johnson (hamstring) is questionable.

Chargers:  WR Eric Parker (toe) is out; DE Luis Castillo (foot), LB Stephen Cooper (groin), TE Antonio Gates (back), LB Shawne Merriman (Achilles), RB Andrew Pinnock (hamstring) are probable.  Castillo and Cooper did not practice on Friday.

Patriots:  G Steve Neal (shoulder) is questionable; QB Tom Brady (right shoulder) is probable.

Redskins:  DE Phillip Daniels (foot) and S Pierson Prioleau (hamstring) are questionable; CB Fred Smoot (hamstring) is probable.

Eagles:  CB Lito Sheppard (knee) is out; QB A.J. Feeley (left hand) is questionable; DE Jevon Kearse (shoulder), WR Greg Lewis (hip), TE Matt Schobel (groin), TE L.J. Smith (groin) are probable.

WILSON SAYS THERE'S A DOUBLE STANDARD

Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, who told me last Friday that the NFL justified his five-game suspension for buying HGH by explaining that coaches are held to a higher standard, has told Ed Werder of ESPN.com that he might seek an explanation from the league for the decision not to suspend Pats coach Bill Belichick.

"I would say there is definitely a double standard being applied here," Wilson said Friday.  "I don't want to be seen as a crybaby or as someone questioning the commissioner's decision, but I see some major inconsistencies here."

Wilson was fined $100,000, but was suspended with pay.

"I did something wrong, but I did it only to benefit myself, not to gain a competitive advantage," Wilson said.  "I accepted my punishment and moved on, but this is kind of a different deal.  The percentage of my salary that I was fined is substantially more than the percentage he was fined as far as I can tell.  I mean, $500,000 is nothing to laugh at -- but neither is $100,000.  The punishment is definitely not the same in my opinion."

Many others agree.  And we continue to wrestle with the question of whether or not Belichick should have been suspended  for multiple games in addition to the fines imposed against him and the team, and the removal of one or more draft picks.

As we continue to hear more about this, and as we continue to ponder Belichick's lame explanation for his actions, we're starting to think that a suspension was in order.

WEEK TWO QUARTERBACK RANKINGS ARE UP

As the second week of the 2007 season approaches, we're working on our position rankings.  The quarterback rankings are up, and the rankings for the other positions are coming later tonight and/or on Saturday.

If you don't want to check them out, it's fine with us.  (And it's also fine with your opponent this weekend.)

PFTV'S VIKINGS-LIONS PREVIEW

We're intrigued by Sunday's matchup between 1-0 powerhouses from Minnesota and Motown.  Seriously.  Both sport two of the best rookies in the Class of 2007, and both have that aura of franchises that could get hot and threaten to snag a playoff berth in a wide-open NFC field.

Here's what the PFTV guys had to say about the game.

DUNGY TAKES PATS FEUD TO NEXT LEVEL

Though no longer in the same division, the Colts and the Patriots have as bitter a rivalry as any two teams could have, in any sport.  Until last year, the Pats owned the Colts in the postseason.  But with a stirring second-half comeback (maybe they changed their defensive signals at intermission), the Colts finally broke through in the 2006 playoffs.

Now, Colts coach Tony Dungy is speaking out regarding the "Patriots Act" controversy, and he directed some significant criticism at coach Bill Belichick.

"We seem to have tarnished Barry Bonds," Dungy said on Friday, noting that Belichick's success could similarly be questioned. "We've pointed out that, even though he's a great player and he's hit a lot of home runs, because of what some people that work around him have done, it seems to have tarnished him in the court of public opinion.  We'll see.

"Really, sad day for the NFL," Dungy added.  "It's another case of the 99 percent good things that are happening being overshadowed by one percent bad.  Again, people aren't talking about our product, they're talking about a negative incident."

Dungy also said that Patriots owner Bob Kraft will constantly face scrutiny as a result of the situation.

"He's going to have to answer questions all the time, from here on out," Dungy said.  "When headsets go wrong, he's going to have to answer if it's something that just happened or is this planned.  There's bad grass everywhere, but when the grass doesn't grow up there, he's going to be asked about it, and that's too bad." 

There's no long grass at Gillette Stadium, but we get the point.  The deeper message could be aimed at Kraft himself, and might be intended to get the owner to think that the team will be the subject of suspicion until Belichick is no longer the head coach.

Despite Dungy's mild-mannered demeanor, we think that this is a prime example of the never-ending effort to obtain an edge.  If, for example, the Pats were to part ways with Belichick, it would presumably be easier for the Colts to beat them.

We know that's an extremely cynical view of Dungy.  But news of secret dog-fighting compounds and not-so-secret videotaping techniques tends to make folks more inclined to look for that which does not always meet the eye.

ONLY 31 PICKS IN ROUND ONE OF 2008 DRAFT

Given the decision of the NFL to strip the Patriots of their first-round pick in the 2008 draft if they qualify for the postseason, round one of the draft will have only 31 selections.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us by e-mail earlier this afternoon that the pick will simply disappear from the round, without replacement.

This is good news for the incoming players, since it means that one of them (i.e., the first pick in round two) will be required to sign a maximum deal of four years in duration.  If drafted in the bottom of round one, that player could have been asked to sign a five-year deal.

This is a significant point because players are eligible for unrestricted free agency after four NFL seasons.

After the 32nd player is drafted, the question will be whether his contract will be based on the contract signed by the last player taken in round one of the 2007 draft, or whether it will be based on the deal given to the first pick in round two.  The fact that it will be a fou