http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2009/03/17/cutler_broncos_remain_at_odds/
The Pro Bowl quarterback was a no-show yesterday for coach Josh McDaniels's first team meeting and the start of the Broncos' offseason workouts, and if he gets his way, he'll never step foot in the team's training facility again.
"The Denver Broncos confirm that Jay Cutler has requested a trade," team spokesman Jim Saccomano told The Associated Press yesterday.
McDaniels declined interview requests after telling The Denver Post that he wanted to meet again with Cutler to try to resolve their differences before he considers a trade.
McDaniels briefly addressed his broiling quarterback controversy when he gathered his team as a group for the first time yesterday morning.
"He just addressed it and said, 'I'll take care of it,' " recounted defensive lineman Kenny Peterson.
Cutler is upset that the Broncos tried to trade him for New England quarterback Matt Cassel last month and what he considers McDaniels's misleading answers to his inquiries about those discussions.
So, he asked for a trade through his agent, Bus Cook, who engineered Brett Favre's departure from Green Bay last summer.
Cutler told ESPN he would attend every mandatory minicamp and training camp but would skip the offseason training program, which won't subject him to fines.
He will, however, miss out on a $100,000 bonus if he doesn't attend 90 percent of the workouts. Cutler is entering the fourth season of a six-year, $48 million contract he signed as a rookie.
Smith gets to work
DeMaurice Smith wasted no time as the new NFL Players Association executive director, spending his first day on the job getting a start on labor talks with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and uniting the union ranks following a divisive seven-month search.
Yesterday, less than 24 hours after he was elected, Smith had a brief phone conversation with Goodell and started putting together a transition team to assume the reins of North America's most powerful sports union as it approaches a critical juncture.
Smith, speaking on a conference call with reporters, said it was his intention to use his initial conversation with Goodell as "our first conversation of the collective bargaining agreement."
Probe continues
Police are awaiting a toxicology report before releasing details about their investigation of Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who hit and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley over the weekend. Police spokesman Juan Sanchez said that the routine blood work had not made it to the lab for testing yet. Sanchez said results are expected by the end of the week. Authorities said Stallworth was headed toward the beach Saturday morning when he hit 59-year-old Mario Reyes on a busy causeway linking Miami and Miami Beach. A videotape obtained by The Miami Herald shows Stallworth being given a sobriety test just feet from paramedics trying to revive Reyes . . . The Redskins have re-signed kicker Shaun Suisham. He went 26 for 36 (72 percent) on field-goal tries, the worst rate among NFL kickers with more than 10 attempts . . . The Jets have re-signed cornerback and special teams standout Ahmad Carroll. He tied Wallace Wright for first on the Jets with 26 special teams tackles last season . . . Unrestricted free agent tight end Jeb Putzier re-signed with the Broncos, the 16th free agent signed by Denver this offseason . . . The Packers matched an offer sheet from the Titans on restricted free agent cornerback Jarrett Bush. Bush has been with the Packers for three seasons, mostly in a backup role. He played in 16 games last season and finished second on the team with 17 special teams tackles.
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Lions go 0-16 - makes history lol
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20081228009&prov=ap
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Nobody will remember the Detroit Lions came close to winning their last game. All anyone will know—now and forever—is 0-16.
The worst record in NFL history, a dubious distinction that will permanently stain everyone involved.
The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.
“I’ve got to live with this,” center Dominic Raiola said. “I’ve been here eight years. This is on my resume.”
It’s also on the resume of Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who faces an uncertain future.
“No competitor wants to go through something like this,” Marinelli said. “This is not fun to go through, obviously. But there’s people going through a lot worse than this.”
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Asked what the next step might be if he does keep his job, Marinelli said, “Let me get through step one first.”
The Lions’ last loss didn’t come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith’s 9-yard touchdown run put Detroit back within a field goal.
But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the Lions’ Dan Orlovsky threw an interception on fourth-and-27 with 3 minutes left, dooming Detroit to futility of historic proportion.
“It’s just kind of numb,” veteran kicker Jason Hanson said. “It’s here. It’s been coming, though, a train rolling down the tracks for a while. We tried to stop it. We couldn’t.”
The Lions were building toward this for years and now have lost 23 of their last 24 games. The 0-16 record will be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With Millen as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on Sept. 24, Detroit won only 31 games—none this year, of course.
It’s so bad that some Lions can’t remember the last time they won.
“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again,” Orlovsky said. “We haven’t won since, November of ‘07, maybe? I don’t even know the last time we won a game.”
The Lions haven’t won since Dec. 23, 2007, actually, when they beat Kansas City. Green Bay is where this woeful streak began at the end of last season. Since then, the Lions have lost 17 straight and have been outscored 551-281.
Marinelli has gone 10-38 in three seasons. His future has not been announced, but team owner William Clay Ford has decided the leaders of the front office, Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand, will be back in some capacity.
“I am positive that every aspect of what we do as a football team has to be rethought and analyzed,” Hanson said.
Orlovsky was 22-of-42 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Lions, whose bid to steer clear of the record book came undone in large part because of ill-advised penalties.
Rodgers was 21-of-31 for 308 yards and three touchdowns for the Packers (6-10), and Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn rushed for 106 yards each.
Green Bay Packers quarterback …
AP - Dec 28, 5:24 pm EST
After a disappointing season of their own, Rodgers said the Packers wanted a win to build momentum for next season. Left unsaid was that they didn’t want to be the only team to lose to the Lions this year.
“We didn’t want to lose, no, we didn’t,” Rodgers said. “But really it’s not on your mind once the game starts. I didn’t even think about it until the fans started chanting in the fourth quarter. They played hard, they really did.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn’t want any part of the 0-16 discussion.
“I want to politely try to avoid the question here,” McCarthy said. “That’s tough. That’s a tough deal. But we were focused on winning the game.”
With the Lions trailing 14-7 early in the third quarter, safety Kalvin Pearson then put a hard hit on Grant to cause a fumble, and recovered the ball at the Packers 11.
Calvin Johnson caught a pass from Orlovsky and broke three tackling attempts to score a tying 14-yard touchdown with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
But the Packers drove for a 36-yard field goal by Mason Crosby early in the fourth quarter. After a three-and-out by Detroit’s offense, Lions linebacker Ernie Sims’ penalty for a late hit out of bounds on Grant played a key role on a drive that ended with a 5-yard pass from Rodgers to fullback John Kuhn.
Detroit Lions head coach Rod M…
AP - Dec 28, 5:13 pm EST
The Lions weren’t finished, as Orlovsky used two long completions to John Standeford to set up Smith’s touchdown with 8:34 left. After the ensuing kickoff, Rodgers reared back and threw deep to Driver, who blew past Lions cornerback Leigh Bodden and ran in for a touchdown.
Orlovsky led the Lions back into Packers territory, but a taunting penalty on Smith moved the Lions back near midfield and Orlovsky threw an interception to Nick Collins.
“It was a very bad, selfish decision,” Smith said. “I let my emotions get the best of me. It was tough, but it is no excuse.”
Perhaps more than anything, the penalties got Raiola riled up.
“Stupid,” Raiola said. “You know, just uncalled for. You’re in a game like that, you can’t do that. Just dumb.”
And very much like the Lions.
Notes: Green Bay’s Donald Driver and Greg Jennings each had 100 yards receiving Sunday. Combined with Grant and Wynn’s 100-yard rushing days, it is the first time in league history a team has had a pair of 100-yard rushers and 100-yard receivers in a single game, according to Elias. … Packers rookie TE Jermichael Finley caught his first career touchdown pass in the first quarter.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Nobody will remember the Detroit Lions came close to winning their last game. All anyone will know—now and forever—is 0-16.
The worst record in NFL history, a dubious distinction that will permanently stain everyone involved.
The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.
“I’ve got to live with this,” center Dominic Raiola said. “I’ve been here eight years. This is on my resume.”
It’s also on the resume of Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who faces an uncertain future.
“No competitor wants to go through something like this,” Marinelli said. “This is not fun to go through, obviously. But there’s people going through a lot worse than this.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Asked what the next step might be if he does keep his job, Marinelli said, “Let me get through step one first.”
The Lions’ last loss didn’t come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith’s 9-yard touchdown run put Detroit back within a field goal.
But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the Lions’ Dan Orlovsky threw an interception on fourth-and-27 with 3 minutes left, dooming Detroit to futility of historic proportion.
“It’s just kind of numb,” veteran kicker Jason Hanson said. “It’s here. It’s been coming, though, a train rolling down the tracks for a while. We tried to stop it. We couldn’t.”
The Lions were building toward this for years and now have lost 23 of their last 24 games. The 0-16 record will be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With Millen as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on Sept. 24, Detroit won only 31 games—none this year, of course.
It’s so bad that some Lions can’t remember the last time they won.
“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again,” Orlovsky said. “We haven’t won since, November of ‘07, maybe? I don’t even know the last time we won a game.”
The Lions haven’t won since Dec. 23, 2007, actually, when they beat Kansas City. Green Bay is where this woeful streak began at the end of last season. Since then, the Lions have lost 17 straight and have been outscored 551-281.
Marinelli has gone 10-38 in three seasons. His future has not been announced, but team owner William Clay Ford has decided the leaders of the front office, Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand, will be back in some capacity.
“I am positive that every aspect of what we do as a football team has to be rethought and analyzed,” Hanson said.
Orlovsky was 22-of-42 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Lions, whose bid to steer clear of the record book came undone in large part because of ill-advised penalties.
Rodgers was 21-of-31 for 308 yards and three touchdowns for the Packers (6-10), and Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn rushed for 106 yards each.
Green Bay Packers quarterback …
AP - Dec 28, 5:24 pm EST
After a disappointing season of their own, Rodgers said the Packers wanted a win to build momentum for next season. Left unsaid was that they didn’t want to be the only team to lose to the Lions this year.
“We didn’t want to lose, no, we didn’t,” Rodgers said. “But really it’s not on your mind once the game starts. I didn’t even think about it until the fans started chanting in the fourth quarter. They played hard, they really did.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn’t want any part of the 0-16 discussion.
“I want to politely try to avoid the question here,” McCarthy said. “That’s tough. That’s a tough deal. But we were focused on winning the game.”
With the Lions trailing 14-7 early in the third quarter, safety Kalvin Pearson then put a hard hit on Grant to cause a fumble, and recovered the ball at the Packers 11.
Calvin Johnson caught a pass from Orlovsky and broke three tackling attempts to score a tying 14-yard touchdown with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
But the Packers drove for a 36-yard field goal by Mason Crosby early in the fourth quarter. After a three-and-out by Detroit’s offense, Lions linebacker Ernie Sims’ penalty for a late hit out of bounds on Grant played a key role on a drive that ended with a 5-yard pass from Rodgers to fullback John Kuhn.
Detroit Lions head coach Rod M…
AP - Dec 28, 5:13 pm EST
The Lions weren’t finished, as Orlovsky used two long completions to John Standeford to set up Smith’s touchdown with 8:34 left. After the ensuing kickoff, Rodgers reared back and threw deep to Driver, who blew past Lions cornerback Leigh Bodden and ran in for a touchdown.
Orlovsky led the Lions back into Packers territory, but a taunting penalty on Smith moved the Lions back near midfield and Orlovsky threw an interception to Nick Collins.
“It was a very bad, selfish decision,” Smith said. “I let my emotions get the best of me. It was tough, but it is no excuse.”
Perhaps more than anything, the penalties got Raiola riled up.
“Stupid,” Raiola said. “You know, just uncalled for. You’re in a game like that, you can’t do that. Just dumb.”
And very much like the Lions.
Notes: Green Bay’s Donald Driver and Greg Jennings each had 100 yards receiving Sunday. Combined with Grant and Wynn’s 100-yard rushing days, it is the first time in league history a team has had a pair of 100-yard rushers and 100-yard receivers in a single game, according to Elias. … Packers rookie TE Jermichael Finley caught his first career touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Manning back on track - Colts win six straight
http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/2008/12/07/colts_bengals/
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden had a perfect read on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Peyton Manning apparently was doing his homework, too.
Manning threw for three scores Sunday and Hayden returned an interception for a touchdown, leading the Colts to their most lopsided win of the season, 35-3.
"We did a great job game planning, and we knew their quarterback would get rattled if we got some pressure," Hayden said. "I just tried to take advantage of it."
Did he ever.
Hayden picked off two passes, setting up one Indy touchdown and returning the second 85 yards for another.
Manning also exploited the big holes in Cincinnati's defence. His uncanny mixture of methodical drives and quick-hitting plays were too much for the beleaguered Bengals, and after failing to score an offensive touchdown last week at Cleveland, Manning led the Colts on three TD drives of 69 yards or longer.
It was a stark contrast from what Indy (9-4) had done in its previous five games -- winning those by a combined 20 points. No. 6 looked like old-fashioned Colts football.
While Sunday's victory kept the Colts in position for the top wild-card spot in the AFC, their reign atop the AFC South officially ended with Tennessee's 28-9 victory over Cleveland. It's the first time since 2002 Indy hasn't won the division crown.
"The first thing is you have to get in the playoffs," coach Tony Dungy said. "The year we won it, we played three on the road. So if we get in, I think we'll have as good a shot as anyone."
If they keep playing this way, they could.
Then again, Sunday's rout didn't give the Colts much of a test.
For the second straight week, the only Bengals points came on Shayne Graham's lone field goal, and they have gone 11 consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown.
The formula looked awfully familiar, too.
Manning, who is 6-0 against Cincinnati, was 26 of 32 for 277 yards, matched his season high for touchdown passes and topped 20 TD passes for the 11th straight season. Brett Favre, with 12, holds the NFL record.
The Bengals (1-11-1) lost four turnovers, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who again started in place of Carson Palmer, was sacked four times, and Cincinnati has been outscored 96-16 in its latest three-game losing streak.
"There's really not much to say. I don't know what it is," Chad Johnson said. "I'm done analyzing. You just work and give it all you've got."
The Colts wasted no time in setting the tone.
On their second possession, Manning repeatedly struck for big yardage before handing off to Dominic Rhodes, who broke a tackle and nearly walked into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Graham's 19-yard field goal made it 7-3, but things unravelled quickly for Cincinnati.
Hayden jumped Jerome Simpson's route late in the first half, picked off Fitzpatrick's pass and ran it back to the Bengals 15 with 1:01 to go. Chris Henry's penalty for unnecessary roughness moved the ball to the Cincinnati 7, and two plays later Manning connected with Marvin Harrison on a 5-yard TD pass to make it 14-3.
Manning opened the second half with a drive that lasted 8:45 and culminated in Anthony Gonzalez's 2-yard TD catch for a 21-3 lead. The next time Indy got the ball, Manning found Harrison for a 67-yard catch-and-run that set up Manning's third TD pass, a 4-yarder to Dallas Clark to make it 28-3.
"It didn't feel easy out there," Manning said. "We look at teams, we don't look at their record. They have good players, they have good schemes. We still have to go out there and make plays."
Hayden made the last one by undercutting Henry's route and sprinting 85 yards for the score.
"We moved the ball OK today," Fitzpatrick said. "It's just a matter of finding points. This is one of those teams you have to take advantage of when you have the ball. We didn't get enough points today."
Notes: Manning passed Drew Bledsoe for seventh place on the NFL's career list for yards passing. Manning has 44,851. Bledsoe had 44,611. ... Colts tight end Gijon Robinson caught six passes for 79 yards, both career highs, after making only seven catches in Indy's first 12 games. ... Fitzpatrick was 18-of-26 for 170 yards, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught eight passes for 75 yards. ... Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he opted not to start Palmer to "play the other guys a little bit."
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden had a perfect read on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Peyton Manning apparently was doing his homework, too.
Manning threw for three scores Sunday and Hayden returned an interception for a touchdown, leading the Colts to their most lopsided win of the season, 35-3.
"We did a great job game planning, and we knew their quarterback would get rattled if we got some pressure," Hayden said. "I just tried to take advantage of it."
Did he ever.
Hayden picked off two passes, setting up one Indy touchdown and returning the second 85 yards for another.
Manning also exploited the big holes in Cincinnati's defence. His uncanny mixture of methodical drives and quick-hitting plays were too much for the beleaguered Bengals, and after failing to score an offensive touchdown last week at Cleveland, Manning led the Colts on three TD drives of 69 yards or longer.
It was a stark contrast from what Indy (9-4) had done in its previous five games -- winning those by a combined 20 points. No. 6 looked like old-fashioned Colts football.
While Sunday's victory kept the Colts in position for the top wild-card spot in the AFC, their reign atop the AFC South officially ended with Tennessee's 28-9 victory over Cleveland. It's the first time since 2002 Indy hasn't won the division crown.
"The first thing is you have to get in the playoffs," coach Tony Dungy said. "The year we won it, we played three on the road. So if we get in, I think we'll have as good a shot as anyone."
If they keep playing this way, they could.
Then again, Sunday's rout didn't give the Colts much of a test.
For the second straight week, the only Bengals points came on Shayne Graham's lone field goal, and they have gone 11 consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown.
The formula looked awfully familiar, too.
Manning, who is 6-0 against Cincinnati, was 26 of 32 for 277 yards, matched his season high for touchdown passes and topped 20 TD passes for the 11th straight season. Brett Favre, with 12, holds the NFL record.
The Bengals (1-11-1) lost four turnovers, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who again started in place of Carson Palmer, was sacked four times, and Cincinnati has been outscored 96-16 in its latest three-game losing streak.
"There's really not much to say. I don't know what it is," Chad Johnson said. "I'm done analyzing. You just work and give it all you've got."
The Colts wasted no time in setting the tone.
On their second possession, Manning repeatedly struck for big yardage before handing off to Dominic Rhodes, who broke a tackle and nearly walked into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Graham's 19-yard field goal made it 7-3, but things unravelled quickly for Cincinnati.
Hayden jumped Jerome Simpson's route late in the first half, picked off Fitzpatrick's pass and ran it back to the Bengals 15 with 1:01 to go. Chris Henry's penalty for unnecessary roughness moved the ball to the Cincinnati 7, and two plays later Manning connected with Marvin Harrison on a 5-yard TD pass to make it 14-3.
Manning opened the second half with a drive that lasted 8:45 and culminated in Anthony Gonzalez's 2-yard TD catch for a 21-3 lead. The next time Indy got the ball, Manning found Harrison for a 67-yard catch-and-run that set up Manning's third TD pass, a 4-yarder to Dallas Clark to make it 28-3.
"It didn't feel easy out there," Manning said. "We look at teams, we don't look at their record. They have good players, they have good schemes. We still have to go out there and make plays."
Hayden made the last one by undercutting Henry's route and sprinting 85 yards for the score.
"We moved the ball OK today," Fitzpatrick said. "It's just a matter of finding points. This is one of those teams you have to take advantage of when you have the ball. We didn't get enough points today."
Notes: Manning passed Drew Bledsoe for seventh place on the NFL's career list for yards passing. Manning has 44,851. Bledsoe had 44,611. ... Colts tight end Gijon Robinson caught six passes for 79 yards, both career highs, after making only seven catches in Indy's first 12 games. ... Fitzpatrick was 18-of-26 for 170 yards, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught eight passes for 75 yards. ... Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he opted not to start Palmer to "play the other guys a little bit."
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
NFL Bust of the Year - goes to Peyton Manning
So far Peyton Manning has been anything but great. Manning is in my opinion, the best quarterback in the NFL and already in the top 5 or 6 of all time. With that said, what a bust he has been this year.
Manning QB rating is currently at 79.0, much lower than his career average of 94.0. He has thrown 10 touchdowns but also thrown 9 picks. He is also only averaging 6.6 yards per play, 1.1 lower than his career average. Not only that, the Colts are 3-4.
Of course Manning teammates haven't been much help. Marvin Harrison is playing like age 50. And the Colts running game ranks last in the NFL in yards per game. Much of the Colts offensive line is also banged up leading to numerous sacks and hurries against Manning. With that said, Manning has made a many Fantasy League players have nightmares and vomit.
Manning QB rating is currently at 79.0, much lower than his career average of 94.0. He has thrown 10 touchdowns but also thrown 9 picks. He is also only averaging 6.6 yards per play, 1.1 lower than his career average. Not only that, the Colts are 3-4.
Of course Manning teammates haven't been much help. Marvin Harrison is playing like age 50. And the Colts running game ranks last in the NFL in yards per game. Much of the Colts offensive line is also banged up leading to numerous sacks and hurries against Manning. With that said, Manning has made a many Fantasy League players have nightmares and vomit.
Current MVP of the NFL
If the NFL season ended right now the MVP would in my opinion would go to Clinton Portis.
This past Sunday Portis rushed for 126. This was the 6th straight game in a row he did this, and the second time of his career. He and OJ Simpson are the only two NFL players to accomplish this feat.
On the season Portis has already rushed for 944 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and has 7 touchdowns. If he keeps this up, he is on pace for nearly 1900 yards on the season, which would rank him among the top 10 for most rushing yards in a season.
Of course he may fall off pace and rush for a total much less than that. I believe down the stretch that Drew Brees will challenge him for the MVP. Brees being a quarterback has too many weapons that Portis does not. Running backs also tend to tire down by week 12 or 13. However, as of right now, Portis is player of the year after 8 games.
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