Sep

5

Washington set to sit Haynesworth vs Dallas in week one?

Posted by Matt Loede under Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
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Wow.

The issues with the Redskins and DL Albert Haynesworth are continuing, as Sunday former Skin LaVar Arrington wrote in his blog in the Washington Post that the Skins could sit home down in week one vs the Cowboys, making him inactive.

Reports are surfacing that Albert Haynesworth will not be active for the opener in a divisional game against the Cowboys. My first thought was, at this point it would have to be health related, but then I saw a report saying that he would get extensive time in the last preseason game of the year. Haynesworth indeed played in the last preseason game, the whole game.

Well that sunk my proverbial battleship, can’t be health related if he played the whole game against the Cardinals. Well after the studying of the game film, reports leaked out that he was less than impressive in the game. So with him making the cut, it still led me to believe that if this report is indeed true that this is a result of a few things.

Based on the issues with the team and Haynesworth, nothing would be a surprise, and it would be interesting to see if the team decides to sit the 20-million dollar man in the teams all important season opener.


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Sep

5

Raiders CB Asomugha likes the teams offseason offensive pickups

Posted by Matt Loede under Oakland Raiders
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Nnamdi Asomugha seems to feel that the Raiders pickups this offseason have made a pretty big difference going forward for the Raiders.

He may spend much of his time in the defense’s meeting room, but Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha told PFW he can tell two key additions on offense are making a big difference. “Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has come in and done a really nice job of getting guys in position to be effective and bringing out the most in the players,” he said. “I think the quarterback situation (with Jason Campbell) has helped us out a lot. Anytime you’re going to be a contender, he has to be the guy that can have a commanding presence, not just for the offense, but for the entire team.”

Sep

5

Titans release running back LeGarrette Blount

Posted by Matt Loede under Tennessee Titans
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Steve Phillips from WBIR TV in Knoxville, is reporting via Twitter that the Titans have released running back LeGarrette Blount. He was hoping to get the last running back spot on the Titans roster. Blount drew all kinds of unwanted attention last year following Oregon’s season-opening 19-8 loss to Boise State when he punched Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the face after Hout touched Blount on the shoulder.

Sep

5

Steelers to look around the league at veteran running backs?

Posted by Matt Loede under Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers running back position seems to be in good order, with Issac Redman being behind Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. Even with that, Pro Football Weekly suggests the team may look to ink a veteran back at some point this week.

A source close to the Steelers suggests the club could look at free-agent running backs to bolster their depth beyond starter Rashard Mendenhall. Veteran Mewelde Moore is slated to be Mendenhall’s backup, but the options beyond Moore are not as established or steady.

Redman led the team in rushing last year in preseason, but was released anyway. This preseason he also played well, and I would like to see what he could do in the regular season. To waste money on a veteran backup at this point to me would be a waste.

Sep

5

Jets release 16-year veteran FB Tony Richardson

Posted by Matt Loede under New York Jets
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Sounds like Tony Richardson better not watch last weeks episode of “Hard Knocks,” as it was on that show Rex Ryan made sure to point out he didn’t want to get rid of Richardson. Yes, the same Richardson that was released on Sunday.

Rex Ryan repeatedly stated that 16-year veteran fullback Tony Richardson wasn’t going anywhere. The Jets coach told the media on several occasions that Richardson, who has paved the way for standout running backs like Priest Holmes and Adrian Peterson during his career, was safe. The Jets apparently had a change of heart as they released Richardson today, according to a league source. The team could re-sign him after Week 1 so that his salary wouldn’t be guaranteed for the entire season. In a bit of eerie foreshadowing, GM Mike Tannenbaum intimidated in last week’s episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks that Richardson may be on his way out.

Sep

5

Texans another team with interest in former Cardinals QB Leinart

Posted by Matt Loede under Houston Texans
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The Houston Chronicle confirms that the Texans are another team that has their eyes on Matt Leinart, who was released by the Cards on Saturday.

The Texans are one of the teams interested in Matt Leinart and could end up signing him if reports are true that Seattle isn’t interested in the former Arizona quarterback who was placed on waivers Friday. On a day in which they made three roster moves and signed seven players to their practice squad, the Texans decided they’re interested in Leinart, according to NFL people familiar with the situation.

If the Texans sign him, he’ll join a team that has Matt Schaub as the starter and Dan Orlovsky as the backup. On Sunday, the Texans didn’t re-sign quarterback John David Booty to the regular roster or sign him to the practice squad, but they have a roster spot open and one spot available on the practice squad. If they sign Leinart, it’s not likely Booty would return.

Sep

5

Life without Leinart begins in Arizona

Posted by Will Brodsky under Arizona Cardinals
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I have to be completely honest.  I never saw this coming.  I had Matt Leinart starting all the way.  As the off-season wore on, however, it became increasingly clear that Leinart was not going to be able to lead this team.  Despite what was becoming plain to see, I still couldn’t admit to myself that Leinart wasn’t panning out.  Not at all because I especially liked Leinart or because I thought he was especially talented.  Maybe, however, it was due to the fact that his pre-season numbers weren’t so bad.  Maybe it was that Derek Anderson didn’t seem like a great alternative.  Maybe I just didn’t want to see the Cardinals embroiled in a quarterback controversy.  Whatever the reason, it seems like moot point now; Leinart’s gone.

Leinart appeared to have become a distraction.  Coach Whisenhunt seems to have picked up on that as well, which seems to be the reason why Leinart was ultimately released.  Whisenhunt admitted that “this process was not about two weeks into camp or two preseason games.  It was a complete body of work over a period of time.”  In short, the Cardinals appeared to have run short on patience with Leinart’s attitude.

So with the attitude problems hopefully gone, I’m anxious to move on and look forward to the coming season,which is closer than ever.  Derek Anderson has looked pretty impressive in the third and fourth week of the pre-season and the team certainly seems to have responded to the switch.  I’m looking forward to the season opener against the Rams.  I’m excited about this team’s chances and I’m looking forward to Derek Anderson hopefully bringing the team its third consecutive division title.

Take the following poll to voice your opinion about Leinart’s release.

Sep

5

Done with Chargers WR Jackson crying wolf

Posted by Jeff Roman under San Diego Chargers
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If I heard another story about Vincent Jackson linked up with the Rams I will certainly ignore it from now on.  I’m tired of the barely there rumors that indicate the Rams are talking with San Diego about Vincent Jackson.

Jackson is now going to be suspended for 6 games if he decides to play in 2010 at all.  The trade issue is as dead as it possibly could be.

I’m tired of this story because this is one of those rumors that debunks the whole “Where there is smoke, there is fire” fable.  There is a little bit of smoke here, just enough to get pageviews and stir up local radio call in shows and Rams forums but little else.

I will not worry about Vincent Jackson again unless the Rams have a press conference and Jackson is there holding up a Rams jersey.  I hope you do the same.

Sep

5

Bengals taking a long look at adding QB Matt Leinart

Posted by Eric McMackin under Cincinnati Bengals
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Per Joe Reedy at Cincinnati.com, our speculated Bengal interest in former Cardinal QB Matt Leinart is apparently confirmed:

Per multiple league sources, the Bengals are one of five teams who are in the running for former Arizona QB Matt Leinart. The others who have expressed interest are others that have some backup problems as well — Houston, Buffalo, New Orleans and Jacksonville. For those thinking that Seattle was a logical landing spot, Clark Judge of CBSsports.com is reporting that the Seahawks do not have any interest.

Knowing the Bengals penchant for taking a chance, this one makes a ton of sense. No word as of yet if they have an interest in Troy Smith, who was released by Baltimore earlier today.

A pairing with Leinart would make sense for Cincinnati, as the team cannot feel confident at the back-up spot with J.T. O’Sullivan looking pedestrian at best and Jordan Palmer still getting experience.

Leinart and Carson Palmer are good friends from their days together at USC, both winning the Heisman Trophy during their time in Los Angeles.  With Carson’s injury history (knee, elbow, thumb), the team must be prepared for eventualities.

Some of the other teams listed might be more attractive, though, with the potential for Leinart to regain a starting job might be possible in Jacksonville or Buffalo.

As for Troy Smith, he’d be attractive to the Bengals as a former OSU guy, and having spent the last few years with a division rival.  Smith became expendable for the Ravens thanks to the signing of Marc Bulger earlier this year.  I campaigned for the Bengals to bring Bulger in for a look back then, but apparently the team had no interest.

Stay tuned…

Sep

5

Seattle isn’t Done with Sunday Afternoon Moves

Posted by Devon Heinen under San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
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After cutting running back Julius Jones and defensive back Jordan Babineaux this afternoon, the Seattle Seahawks are making more moves.

According to a source cited by independent football blogger Brian McIntyre, the Seahawks waived fullback Owen Schmitt in favor of former San Francisco 49ers running back Michael Robinson.  Per the Twitter account of ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the team also filled its offensive line coach vacancy with Pat Ruel.

Robinson, a fourth-round selection by San Francisco out of Penn State in 2006, has played 62 games in the National Football League.  In 86 carries as a pro, he’s totaled 289 on the ground for an average of 3.4 yards per carry.  Robinson also has 43 career receptions for 346 yards.

Ruel has over 30 yards of combined collegiate and professional coaching experience.  Prior to joining head coach Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle, Ruel was in charge of Carroll’s offensive line at the University of Southern California.

Can’t get enough NFLGridironGab?  Follow SeahawksGab Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen.

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