Sep

30

Offensive Line Coach Cable Named Interm Head Coach in Oakland

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Unknown assistant Tom Cable has been named as the new Raiders head coach. Owner Al Davis, after spending over an hour ripping former coach Lane Kiffin and calling him out as a liar, came back to name Cable, who the teams offensive line coach, as the new head man.

Cable was a one-time Cal offensive line coach whose zone blocking scheme help re-energize a sagging running game for Oakland the past two seasons. The 43-year-old also has spent time as the Falcons O-line coach, and has 21 years of coaching experience. He joined the team as the O-line coach in 07. He was the head coach at Idaho from 2000 to 2003.

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Sep

30

Cincinnati Signs Former First-Round Troubled RB Benson

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Former Bears running back Cedric Benson has landed a new gig, as today the Bengals announced they have signed the running back. The Bengals are a mess, losers of their first four games, and in disarray as they really have not said much else about the status of star QB Carson Palmer and his elbow, though the QB says he’ll try to play.

Back to Benson, he was the fourth overall pick of the 2005 draft by the Bears. He was let go after two alcohol-related arrests in less than a month. He also was injury prone, as he was just not able to stay on the field during his time in Chicago. Benson will replace DeDe Dorsey, who has been placed on injured reserve.

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Sep

30

When it Comes to the Jets - It’s a ‘Friggin’ ‘Tangenius’ Scam

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The sports columns are gushing and the blogs are orgasming and Jets fans are celebrating the ’shalumping’ of the dysfunctional Arizona Cardinals yesterday, 56-35. So, what’s my beef? Glad you asked. Yeah, the Jets are now 2-2 and in the hunt. And, yeah, Brett Favre threw 6 TDs.

And, yeah, the game was a real ‘crowd-pleaser’ — but, where’s the fundamentally sound, smart, tough Jets team made up of low profile, interchangeable, Patriot-like players, the Tannenbaum/Mangini regime — ‘Tangenius’ — promise when they took over?

The team I saw, looks a hell of a lot more like some ungainly Frankenstein, composed of different body parts, roughly sewn together to form a grotesque whole. At best, they looked like an Arena League Football team, giving up almost as many points as they scored? Didn’t ‘Tangenius’ promise a smart, tough, run-oriented, ‘D’ dominated, championship team, built to last — in the tradition of Belichick’s pre-Randy Moss Patriots — via the draft and wise, low profile, free agent signings? What happened?

First, ‘Tangenius’ tried to force their 4-3 defensive personnel into a 3-4 defense, which didn’t work. So, they bought a bunch of high profile defensive free agents. Prior to which, they dumped the proven Pete Kendall because he wanted a million dollars — which resulted in the deterioration of their ‘O’ line — which resulted in them having to pay a high profile free agent, Alan Faneca, 35 million dollars instead of the one million Pete Kendall wanted. Do the math!

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Sep

30

RB Davenport Rejoins Steelers; Mendenhall Placed on IR

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As far as the MASH unit that is becoming the Steelers backfield, there is help on the way. After losing rookie Rashard Mendenhall to a fractured shoulder on Monday night, the team today brought back former back Najeh Davenport. The team also will sign another back, and all indications are that will be Gary Russell, who was released last week.

Davenport took over as the teams feature back last season after Willie Parker broke his leg in week 16 vs the Rams. The team was basically not near where it was once Parker went down. After Davenport had a decent game vs the Rams, he was ineffective in the playoff loss to the Jags.

It looks as if Davenport could see some playing time on Sunday in J-Ville, as Parker is going to for sure be out again this week with his sprained knee. The team placed Mendenhall (fractured shoulder) and guard Kendall Simmons (ruptured Achilles) on injured reserve.

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Sep

30

Fantasy Free Agent RB’s to Target

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Hightower
From: KFFL.com

The following group of players should be high on your radar and are worthy of being added immediately to your fantasy football team.

Deuce McAllister, Running Back, New Orleans Saints

McAllister is available in about 55 percent of leagues polled.
In Week 4, he rushed 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. He also had one reception for another 10 yards.

After seeing spot duty during the first three weeks, McAllister was a big factor in Week 4 and showed some signs of the McAllister of old. While his knees may never be the same, he was utilized 21 times, including seven plays within the red zone.

Le’Ron McClain, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens

McClain is available in about 56 percent of leagues polled.

Entering Monday night, McClain, a fullback, is seeing an average of 18 rushing attempts per game so far this year. He is averaging 76 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 1.5 receptions and 14 receiving yards per game through two games.

McClain’s 260-pound frame is a load to bring down, and he figures to be a weekly element within their conservative offense. The run-first mentality used to protect rookie quarterback Joe Flacco works in his favor for weekly touches.

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Sep

30

Titans Rookie Back Johnson Already Making Heads Turn

Filed Under Future Stars, Tennessee Titans | 3 Comments

Johnson
In the first round of the NFL Draft last April, many people thought the Titans would have picked a wide receiver due to this position being the least talented on the entire team. Every single WR was available when the Titans were on the clock, yet instead of going that route, they chose RB Chris Johnson. Although this move was very shocking at first, I believe it turned out best for the Titans.

Chris Johnson ran the fastest 40 yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and ever since he was drafted, he has shown this world class speed. Johnson is at least in the top 5 of players being considered for Rookie of the Year this season. He is one of the best, if not the best rookie running backs.

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Sep

30

Kiffin Finally Canned; Raiders Fire Coach After 1-3 Start

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Kiffin
Going against what it seemed Raider Nation in the end wanted, Raiders owner Al Davis today pulled the plug on coach Lane Kiffin, ending what seemed like weeks of speculation about the coaches future. Kiffin was 5-15 in a season and a half with the Raiders, as the team showed a severe tendency to blow leads, as they had leads in 11 of those 15 losses.

The final blow likely came Sunday, as the Raiders were up big against the Chargers, only to again blow a double digit fourth quarter lead in a 28-18 loss in the Black Hole. Of course Davis being Davis, he is saying that the firing was “made for cause”, meaning they will likely try not to pay Kiffin for the remainder of his contract.

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Sep

30

Gridiron Gab’s NFL Power Rankings Week Four

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Titans best in the AFC right now
Upsets across the board this week in the NFL, and for sure some shifting in our Power Rankings for the week. Below is our top and bottom in both conferences, and if the team was ranked the week before, their ranking is next to their team name.

NFC Top 5
—————

1. NY Giants (2) - The Super Bowl champs enjoyed the week off, and likely enjoyed watching their rivals in the Cowboys drop a home game to Washington. They come back at home this week with the Seahawks, who are not very good on the road, and one challenge is they will have to do it without suspended WR Plaxico Burress.

2. Dallas (1) - A home loss to the Redskins has people wondering if the Cowboys are a team that can’t get up for games week in and week out. The team totally got away from running the football, and on defense couldn’t stop Clinton Portis and an improving Jason Campbell. The Bengals are up next, and they are a team that the Cowboys are clearly better than. Then again, that’s what we thought about the Skins.

3. Tampa Bay (5) - The Bucs are 3-0 with Brian Griese at QB, so expect him to stay in that role long term. As for their defense, they did a good job shutting down Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. You have to feel for kicker Matt Bryant, who took tragedy and played anyway, kicking three field goals in the win. A well deserved week off for a team that is playing well.

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Sep

30

NFC Rushing Leaders - Week 4

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Michael Turner, Atlanta, 77 rushes, 422 yards, 5 TD
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 83 rushes, 420 yards, 3 TD
Julius Jones, Seattle, 61 rushes, 312 yards, 2 TD
Frank Gore, San Francisco, 76 rushes, 369 yards, 3 TD
Clinton Portis, Washington, 86 rushes, 369 yards, 3 TD
Matt Forte, Chicago, 92 rushes, 347 yards, 1 TD
Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay, 57 rushes, 334 yards, 2 TD
Brandon Jacobs, NY Giants, 50 rushes, 244 yards, 1 TD

Sep

30

AFC Rushing Leaders - Week 4

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Larry Johnson, Kansas City, 86 rushes, 415 yards, 3 TD
Willie Parker, Pittsburgh, 66 rushes, 263 yards, 3 TD
Chris Johnson, Tennessee, 67 rushes, 337 yards, 2 TD
LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego, 77 rushes, 296 yards, 4 TD
Le’Ron McClain, Baltimore, 52 rushes, 215 yards, 3 TD
Justin Fargas, Oakland, 27 rushes, 140 yards
Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo, 79 rushes, 275 yards, 4 TD
Darren McFadden, Oakland, 51 rushes, 272 yards, 1 TD

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