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| Smith |
Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith says he thinks he has 3-4 good years of football
left in him, provided he can stay healthy. Smith reports that he still has a
passion for the game and loves playing football.
Cardinals kicker Cary Blanchard hasn't been as steady as the team had hoped
this season, and it wouldn't be surprising if he gets some serious
competition next training camp.
Word out of Atlanta is that the Falcons might not be willing to come up
with the hefty signing bonus cornerback Ray Buchanan is expected to be seeking when
he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season. We hear Buchanan is
looking for a $10-$12 million signing bonus, considerably more than the $7.5
million signing bonus free-agent cornerback Ashley Ambrose received this year.
Keep an eye on Lions quarterback Charlie Batch. He's said the soreness he's enduring
from bruised ribs and a bruised sternum will linger for the rest of the
season.
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| Green |
Packers head coach Mike Sherman on his starting running back, Ahman Green:
"If I could pick somebody who has really matured week in and week out ... he
has really matured as a football player." Quarterback Brett Favre went so far as to
say that Green deserves a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Because Titans free safety Marcus Robertson has been missing practice to nurse a
shin problem, rookie Bobby Myers has received a ton of reps, and he's taken
advantage of them. In fact, the Titans have grown comfortable with Myers and
would not hesitate to go with him when the time comes - and it may.
Robertson, finishing his 10th NFL season, is slowing down.
To protect their young defensive backs, the Vikings have been keeping their
safeties in two-deep coverage, allowing opposing receivers to make the catch
underneath before bringing them down. Consequently, strong safety Robert Griffith has
been playing near the line of scrimmage a lot less. Griffith has done some
of his best work closer to the line.
Last season the Titans received solid production from No. 2 tight end Jackie
Harris. This season the team has received little from No. 2 tight end Erron Kinney.
However, the Titans say that's been more fluky than anything. Kinney hasn't
done anything poorly; he just hasn't been gotten to in the quarterback's
progressions.
People around the Bears have been amazed at what a good soldier Curtis Enis
has been in spite of being all but shoved aside in the offense. However, he
is quietly seething, and there may have been too much damage done for him to
be successful in Chicago.
After missing some very costly field goals in recent weeks, we hear Saints
kicker Doug Brien could be on a pretty short leash.
The Jets' coaching staff has been impressed with the big-play ability
recent signee free safety Nick Ferguson has shown, and they will probably try to get
him more playing time.
Dolphins wide receiver O.J. McDuffie's toe injury is still nagging him a bit. He has
been practicing, but we hear he probably won't reach 100 percent by the end
of the season and could face a pay cut if he wants to return to the Dolphins
next year.
Patriots wide receiver Curtis Jackson has shown flashes of ability at the No. 3 spot
in the team's receiving corps and could be expected to challenge Troy Brown
next year for the No. 2 spot in camp. Jackson has especially impressed
coaches with his speed and decision-making ability as the Patriots' kickoff
returner.
Several hearts dropped to the floor when Broncos running back Mike Anderson limped to
the sideline in Week 14. While Anderson returned and finished the game with
a rookie-record 251 yards, the Broncos were momentarily left with only one
healthy running back on their active roster, KaRon Coleman, who himself was
returning from a sprained foot. Despite the fact Terrell Davis' return isn't
expected until the playoffs, it doesn't appear as though Denver is actively
looking to make a late-season running back addition to its roster. Coaches have liked
what they've seen from Coleman in his brief time in the backfield and also
could move starting fullback Howard Griffith to running back, the position he
played in college.
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| Griese |
Broncos quarterback Brian Griese began throwing passes last week as part of his
rehabilitation, but his goal of a Dec. 17 return is not going to happen.
Head coach Mike Shanahan said he believes even the season finale on Dec. 23
is a long shot for his return.
Chargers defensive end Raylee Johnson says he is ahead of schedule in his
rehabilitation for the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in the
preseason and plans to be ready for the team's spring minicamp.
While the Bengals don't feel as though they made a mistake in drafting
rookie wide receiver Ron Dugans, they have been frustrated with his slow progress and
lack of production. Dugans has seen less and less playing time as the season
has worn on, as fellow rookie Danny Farmer has taken over the third-wide receiver spot
and the Bengals are using more two-TE sets to help the running game.
Word out of Oakland is that free safety Anthony Dorsett's tackling problems are the
result of him going for the ball too much instead of concentrating on
wrapping up first.
Chiefs head coach Gunther Cunningham admitted last week that he should have
picked up a true fullback when Donnell Bennett went down with an injury in
the opener. The Chiefs' running game produced very little in the seven games
Bennett was out and has struggled with a lack of consistency in the
running-back-by-committee system.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Visit PFW's web site at http://www.profootballweekly.com
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