Ravens make Chad look bad with 4 picks
MIAMI -- The Baltimore Ravens had Chad Pennington spinning, ducking, on his heels and on his back. When he did get a pass away, they were often there to snatch it.
The Ravens came up with four interceptions, including one returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed, and won 27-9 on Sunday to spoil the Miami Dolphins' first playoff game in seven seasons.
Baltimore stuffed Miami's ground attack and negated the ''wildcat,'' but most of all, the Ravens harried Pennington into uncharacteristic mistakes. After throwing only seven interceptions during the regular season, he had four during a 22-minute flurry midway through the game.
''We heard all week that they don't turn the ball over,'' linebacker Ray Lewis said. ''But we force turnovers.''
With a rookie coach in John Harbaugh and a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco, wild-card entrant Baltimore (12-5) won for the 10th time in 12 games and will play Saturday at AFC South champion Tennessee.
The playoff victory was the first for the Ravens since they beat Miami in a first-round game in January 2002. The result put the brakes on this season's remarkable resurgence by the Dolphins (11-6), who won the AFC East after going 1-15 in 2007.
''It has been a special year; that's why it hurts so much,'' Pennington said. ''You want to keep it going and see how far you can take it.''
A soft schedule contributed to Miami's turnaround, and there was nothing soft about the Ravens. They forced repeated mistakes by a team that tied an NFL record with only 13 turnovers during the regular season.
Reed had two interceptions, and Jim Leonhard and Fabian Washington made one apiece. Terrell Suggs recovered a fumble by Patrick Cobbs early in the second half at the Miami 19, and four plays later, Le'Ron McClain scored on an eight-yard run for a 20-3 lead.
Pennington, playing his first game since being chosen the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, was sacked three times and faced constant pressure.
Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said after the game that Bill Parcells has decided to remain for another season. Parcells' contract allows him to leave and still receive the $9 million-$12 million left on his four-year contract if the franchise is sold. That sale is expected to be completed soon.
But Huizenga said Parcells told him Friday he plans to remain as executive vice president of football operations.
(c)Copyright 2009 Digital Chicago, Inc
Giants Picked for Super Bowl Repeat, Oddsmakers Say
Dec. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Giants are favored to repeat as Super Bowl champions over the other postseason-bound teams in the National Football League, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.
The Giants, the top seed in the National Football Conference, are 2-1 favorites among the 12 playoff teams, according to Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which advises casinos on betting lines.
The Tennessee Titans, who had the league's best record at 13-3, are the favorite among American Football Conference teams at 4-1.
The Giants' playoff opponents aren't as good as the AFC playoffs teams, giving them an easier trip to the title game, said Mike Seba, Sports Consultants' senior oddsmaker.
"It's not because they're so much better, their path to get to the Super Bowl is easier," Seba said. "Plus, they are the defending champs."
The Giants will face either the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons or Philadelphia Eagles to reach the NFC title game. The Cardinals have the longest odds at 40-1. In the AFC, top seed Tennessee will host either Baltimore, San Diego or Indianapolis.
The New England Patriots (3-2) and Dallas Cowboys (2-1), both favorites to reach the Super Bowl coming into the season, failed to make the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins (100-1) and Atlanta Falcons (75-1) -- the two longest shots in preseason odds -- both made the postseason. Atlanta has 15-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, while Miami is 30-1.
(c)2008 BLOOMBERG L.P.
Burress was driving without insurance before crash
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Add this to the growing list of Plaxico Burress' problems: getting in a car crash and not having insurance on his nearly $140,000 Mercedes-Benz.
The suspended New York Giants wide receiver was sued last week in Florida's Broward County Circuit Court for rear-ending a woman in May.
Compounding the Super Bowl star's defense, according to a document provided by the woman's attorney, is the fact his car insurance lapsed three days before the crash. A letter from Allstate says Burress neglected to pay his premiums.
Burress' attorney, Adam Swickle, declined comment.
Burress is still serving a team suspension for shooting himself Nov. 29 in a nightclub with an illegally carried handgun. Burress shot himself at the Latin Quarter when he accidentally pulled the trigger on the .40-caliber Glock that was in his pants after fumbling a drink.
Teammate Antonio Pierce took the 31-year-old who caught the winning pass in the Super Bowl to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment.
Burress pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail. He is due back in court March 31.
He was placed on the team's suspended/non-football injury list, and the NFL Players Association filed a grievance. The union said the Giants violated the collective bargaining agreement when they placed Burress on that list, suspended him for the final four games of the regular season and fined him an additional week's salary for conduct detrimental to the team.
Copyright (c) 2008 The Associated Press
Mr. Reggie Bush or Bust?
With one of greatest college careers of all time, Reggie Bush entered the NFL in 2006 with arguably the highest expectations ever for a player. Has Bush lived up to those expectations?
Not even close.
Piling up over 2,200 total yards and 18 touchdowns his senior year at powerhouse USC, Bush's name was too quickly thrown in with names such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook.
Bush went on to win the Heisman Trophy in honor of the greatest player in college football. He was a for-sure No. 1 overall pick to the Houston Texans, but that didn't happen either. Did the Texans see the light at the end of the tunnel?
In place of Bush, the Texans drafted defensive end Mario Williams from North Carolina State. At the time the Texans were absolutely ripped apart, chewed up, and spit out. Looking back on the decision, I'd like to think it was one of the best moves of all time.
Although you can't compare a running back to a defensive end, the numbers don't lie. The Texas also saved a load of money in the process. Williams has the edge in his early career while Bush continues to struggle from the college transition.
Quite frankly, I don't think Mr. Bush should be considered in the same sentence as fellow draft mates Maurice Jones Drew, Joseph Addai, or DeAngelo Williams. All were drafted after Bush, AND all have posted at least one 1,000-yard season. I'd even go as far to say LenDale White has proven himself more reliable.
I compare Reggie Bush to Leon Washington, who was also drafted in 2006 (fourth round) - a flashy, quick, and shifty running back, but never able to take on a lead role in an offense.
In Bush's defense, he has proven himself as an open field threat, and he does catch the ball well. Bush posted 88 catches his rookie season, but Bush's rushing touchdowns compared to that of his receiving touchdowns are almost similar since he's been in the NFL. That is a sign of a mediocre player.
This isn't college anymore, Reggie. You can no longer run sideline to sideline and expect to gain more than a yard. Since you've been in the NFL, you haven't posted over 600 yards rushing. You might be a good receiver or even a returner, but not a solid NFL running back.
With that being said -
Reggie Bush or Reggie Bust? You make the call.
Copyright 2008 Bleacher Report, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Forte quietly solidifying his lead role in the Bears' offense
CHICAGO -- Talk to a veteran, any veteran really, and they'll all describe the feeling. Usually, if they've put it behind them, they tend to be pretty open about it.
It could be a 12-year veteran or a guy in his second year in the league. They've all been through it, and it's doubtful they look back on it with fond memories.
It's called the rookie wall.
It comes about when a rookie, who arrived at training camp back in July and minicamps in the months before that, starts to feel the rigors of an NFL season. Usually in a big way.
In college, you typically have 11 or 12 games on the docket, and you're hanging up your cleats by Thanksgiving or early December, or at least resting by now leading up to a bowl game. But in the NFL, reaching Weeks 12 and 13 means you're only hitting the stretch run.
When your body is conditioned for 11 or 12 games, it isn't easy to extend it beyond what it's used to - and especially to do so effectively. It's like working a 12-hour day when you're programmed for eight, or running a marathon when you've topped out in training at 18 miles.
In other words, it's not easy mentally, and can be downright brutal physically.
But the Bears' Matt Forte has been relatively immune to just how draining the end of an NFL season can be for a first-year player. He appears to be getting stronger as the season creeps toward January.
Through 12 games, or three-quarters of the NFL regular season, Forte, a second-round pick out of Tulane last April, led all rookie runners with 1,012 rushing yards. He has been more impressive than any of the five backs with bigger names and more credentials taken ahead of him in the draft - Darren McFadden (Oakland), Jonathan Stewart (Carolina), Felix Jones (Dallas), Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh) and Chris Johnson (Tennessee).
With his 96-yard showing against Minnesota's tough front in Week 13, Forte became just the fourth Bears rookie to rush for 1,000 yards, and he is the first player to score 10 touchdowns in a season for Chicago since Raymont Harris in 1997. And impossible to overlook are his contributions in the passing game, as he leads the Bears in receptions with 53 for 395 yards and is tied for second in the league among rookies behind Broncos WR Eddie Royal. He is, in essence, the lone consistent force on an otherwise inconsistent offense.
It was more of the same on Sunday in frigid temperatures at Soldier Field, as Forte used his blend of patience, smooth footwork and deceptive speed to churn out a hard-earned 69 yards on 21 carries against the Jaguars in the Bears' 23-10 win - a crucial victory that kept Chicago in the hunt for the NFC North crown, just a game behind the Vikings, who held off the Lions 20-16 in Detroit. Forte also added five catches for 37 yards.
It's with a quiet confidence that Forte has spearheaded the Bears' playoff push. He shows instincts, vision and patience in waiting for a play to develop, then a sense of decisiveness with an impressive burst of speed and toughness when a crease opens or after catching a ball in the flat.
"Pass protection, catching the football, obviously running the ball, he does it all," Bears QB Kyle Orton said of Forte after the game. "And he's gotten a lot better."
"I don't think you can count him as a rookie. He wasn't really a rookie when he came in. He's well ahead of the curve and is playing some great football for us."
That seems to be a prevailing theme when discussing Forte's, well, forte. His most impressive trait is that, quite simply, he doesn't seem like a rookie. Doesn't play like one, doesn't act like one.
"(There are) no surprises," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said after the game. "It seems like we've talked about him the same way after every game. Since the Indy game, we've known what to expect from him. He's a great runner, and he can do all the things you ask of a great running back. There's no rookie wall or all those things you look for. He was excited about playing today. This is a guy that's been down South most of his life too, but today he's out there with no sleeves. He's just a tough guy, and the Chicago Bears want a tailback like that. That's for sure."
Teammates like Marty Booker take it one step further, suggesting he's the "heart and soul" of the offense. High praise indeed for a rookie, but Booker has a feeling he knows why the success has come so easy for him.
"He's from Louisiana, and that's how we do it," Booker said with a smile. "That's how we breed 'em in Louisiana. That's how it goes."
"You know, we expected that from Day One. Take that all the way back to OTAs in the offseason. We knew we were going to be a running team, and we knew we were going to put a lot of pressure on the running back. He's stepped in and been tremendous for us," Booker explained. "He's pretty much carried this team, as far as the offense, with the way he's been playing.
"It's not a surprise, and he's probably taken off a couple of years off his career, but that's part of it. That's part of the game. We're just happy to have him back there."
That doesn't mean reporters are necessarily happy to have a microphone in front of his face, looking for that memorable quote. Forte is so quiet, so unassuming, that you catch yourself having to lean in close to even hear his two- or three-sentence answers, if they last that long.
In this day of me-first showmen in the NFL who crave the limelight, it's refreshing to have the MVP of an offense be almost inaudible. Warrick Dunn, during my college career at Florida State and even in the pros, was similar in that regard. Loved being the focal point for his teammates, not so much for the cameras.
To demonstrate, I asked Forte about the supposed rookie wall. It was some 30 or 40 minutes after the game had ended, and there were but 10 or 15 people left in the locker room, including the guys cleaning up and collecting shoulder pads.
"Yeah, a lot of people talk about that wall, mostly the media," Forte said quietly as media members walked by. "I don't really worry about it or think about it. I just prepare every week to go out there and play my best on Sunday."
Quiet? You bet. Boring? Perhaps. But the Bears will take it. And then some.
(c) 2002-2008 by Pro Football Weekly LLC. All rights reserved
Does Anyone Want to Switch Seats?
Romeo Crennel may not have a choice once this season's over, as his seat gets hotter and hotter each week. Despite the fact that Indy defenders were dropping like flies in this one, Derek Anderson couldn't get anything going for the Browns. His fumble in the 3rd, which the Colts returned for a touchdown, was the difference here. Indianapolis 10, Cleveland 6, final. In other games:
* Carolina at Green Bay: Don't look now, but Aaron Rodgers has brought the Pack all the way back. TDs to each of Donald Driver, Donald Lee and Greg "Donald" Jennings even put Green Bay up by a touchdown. DeAngelo Williams answered with his third touchdown of the game, and this one is shaping up for a really nice finish. 28-28 in the fourth.
* New Orleans at Tampa Bay: Another tight one here. Garrett Hartley's 47-yard field goal has tied this one at 20.
* Giants at Washington: The Giants are the class of the NFL, and they are showing it, handling Washington 23-7 late in the fourth. With not much happening in the game, we are getting a steady dose of Plax talk. For instance, Darryl Johnston doesn't like the way he speaks in the third person. And Tony Siragusa doesn't like the fact that they still won't let him sit in the booth.
* Baltimore at Cincinnati: Nice day for Baltimore's Mark Clayton: 164 yards receiving, an amazing receiving touchdown, and a throwing touchdown to boot. But I'd like to see him do that against a professional football team. 34-3, Baltimore over Cincinnati.
* San Francisco at Buffalo: Since Buffalo refuses to do anything in this one, we once again turn to the San Francisco sideline for excitement. Mike Singletary and Vernon Davis had another little tiff, albeit a minor one. Somebody get those two a sitcom. And so much for that stupid "West Coast Teams Can't Win Going East" streak.
* Miami at St. Louis: 16-12 Dolphins in the fourth. Though it's unlikely they are getting into the playoffs, it's still been quite a turnaround for Miami this year. And the team's fans have responded. For example, the most popular name for newborns in Miami during the month of October? Wildcat.
deadspin.com
Portis leads Redskins past Seahawks 20-17
SEATTLE -- The only thing questionable about Clinton Portis is why he even bothers to practice.
Washington's star running back darted and pounded for 143 yards on 29 carries, including key ones late that helped preserve the Redskins' first victory in almost a month, 20-17 over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Portis was questionable to play after missing most of practice this week because of his sprained knee. Then, the NFL's leader in yards from scrimmage injured a muscle near his hip late in the first half, when he rushed for 69 of his yards.
Yet he kept running, finishing with his first 100-yard day since the Redskins' last win, on Oct. 26 at Detroit, and ending a two-game losing streak for Washington (7-4).
The Redskins didn't stay tied with Dallas for second place in the NFC East until Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck flicked a horridly underthrown pass that former Seahawk Shawn Springs intercepted near midfield with 1:20 left. That was one play after Ladell Betts, who earlier ran for a touchdown, lost a fumble deep in Seattle territory.
Hasselbeck simply pounded his thigh pads in frustration as Seattle sunk to 2-9, its worst start since 1992.
The Seahawks lost for the fourth straight time at home. That last happened to the 2-14 team of 1992. Seattle had been an NFC-best 42-14 at home since 2001 entering this season.
The Redskins were pinned by a downed punt at their own 4 with seven minutes left while leading 20-17. Portis then ripped off darting runs of nine, 11 and 20 yards, leading Washington into Seahawks territory and all but clinching the win until Betts' fumble nearly blew it.
Springs' interceptions ensured coach Jim Zorn was a winner in the return of the former Seahawks quarterback and assistant coach.
The decisive score came after Jason Campbell, who was 20-of-33 for 206 yards and a touchdown, found Santana Moss alone in the flat on third-and-5 from the Redskins 49 early in the fourth quarter and Moss ran through Lofa Tatupu's tackle attempt for a 24-yard gain to the Seahawks 27. That set up the second field goal of the game by Shaun Suisham, from 22 yards, and Washington led 20-17 with 9:19 left.
The game was tied at 10 in the third quarter when Hasselbeck threw far wide and high of John Carlson on third down. LaRon Landry made a diving interception and returned it to the Seahawks 35.
The three-time Pro Bowl passer, playing for the second consecutive week after missing five games with back and nerve problems, has nine interceptions in six games this season.
Campbell converted that gift into a 17-10 lead with a deft, 8-yard touchdown pass while backpedalling to Antwaan Randle El, who beat Deon Grant across the middle and then across the goal line. It was Randle El's second score of the season and first in seven games.
But Seattle retied it on Hasselbeck's second touchdown pass of the game, 10 yards to Carlson. The tight end, who has dropped passes in an uneven rookie season, emphatically spiked the ball into the fourth row of end-zone seats to punctuate his score with 13:24 left.
A still-rusty and rattled-looking Hasselbeck completed 12 of 24 passes for just 103 yards. It was his first two-touchdown passing day since last Dec. 23 against Baltimore.
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