Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Miselis

Breaking News: Ben Roethlisberger Will Not Play Vs. Ravens Due To Concussion

Matt Miselis — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:51:28 -0500

In the disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday, Pittsburgh held their breath when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went down with a "concussion-like injury."

The entire Steelers staff, lead by head coach Mike Tomlin, wanted to observe Roethlisberger's progress, and would make a decision as to whether or not No. 7 would play.

Earlier this week, Roethlisberger was rumored to start against the Baltimore Ravens, their division rivals, on Sunday.

Many tests were taken throughout the week, making sure Roethlisberger could hold his own in a match up like this.

As of Friday, he was determined a game-time decision. But that did not last long, according to Fox Sports .

According to FOX.com, Roethlisberger will not play against their rival Sunday, in what could be the biggest game of the year.

Both the Steelers and Ravens are fighting for playoff spots, and with the blow already to Troy Polamalu, they are taking it safe by resting their quarterback this week.

Due to Charlie Batch requiring season-ending surgery earlier this week, former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon will make his first career start.

The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers will square off in one of the NFL's more heated rivalries Sunday Night.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Cam Cameron's Play Calling Continues to Set Joe Flacco and Company Back

Matt Miselis — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:05:00 -0500

As the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers renew their rivalry for the first time this season in Pittsburgh, disappointment is what the team, the ownership, and the city of Baltimore are feeling up to this point.

With a record of 5-5, the Ravens have won just two of their last seven games due to a lack of consistency.

First, it was the offense lighting up the board with the points, coming out of the gates as one of the best in the league. At that time, the defense was not up to form, showing signs of aging as they were near the bottom in passing defense.

In the second half of the season, a shift has occurred for the purple and black. While the defense has been one of the best in the past month, the offense has failed to score 20 or more points in the past three games.

With the playoff race getting tighter, the Ravens must find a way to score the necessary touchdowns instead of the field goals. However, where must the debating start? Obviously Mark Clayton needs to step up as the second receiver, along with Todd Heap, who has been quiet as of late.

These questions need to be put to the test by offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who has done no good for this offense in the past month.

Look, the offense was made out to be one of the best in the league after the first weeks, where the defense was nowhere near the league's best. Inconsistency has been a great deal of concern throughout the season, especially in a few of the games where the offense has let the team down.

Yet who seemed to be a good manager of the offense, Cameron has taken a great deal of heat for the disappointments, and he deserves all of the blame. What was one of the top rushing attacks in the league last season has turned more into an offense dedicated to the pass.

All I can ask is, why? Other then Derrick Mason and Ray Rice, no receiver has stepped up his game where passing can be the best priority. When the offense actually runs the ball, sooner or later Rice breaks out for a rush of 10-plus yards, wearing out the defense.

Well, the plan was brought into action Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and cost them a win that would have helped them greatly after the struggles from many teams within the AFC.

Baltimore was in range of new kicker Billy Cundiff, who made four field goals (46, 44, 38, 36) but missed a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.

In a third and long situation, the best option was to run the ball. Rice broke out for some key big runs on the drive, and gaining a few extra yards would have set up a nice opportunity for Cundiff to redeem himself. Le'Ron McClain could have also been used as a fresh back on third and long, with possibly having a huge chunk of yards to possibly get a first down.

But Cameron decided to give Joe Flacco the shot of making the smart play on this particular down. The result: a short pass to Rice, who was covered by three defenders, resulting in an interception.

Wow! Even though Flacco is making good strides as a young quarterback, with no clear receiver open, Joe had to force a pass he didn't want to make, and a turnover cost the Ravens a possible win.

Defenses are beginning to predict the Ravens' offense. They know the ball in the air is either a deep pass to Mason or short drop to Rice.

Because of this, the offense is continuing to suffer, and Cameron is getting farther away from the running game every time.

In some of the media stations throughout the Maryland area, some writers have called for Cameron to get fired. Yes, it is his only second year, but the offense is going in an opposite direction because of the calls he is making.

Yet I assure you he will return next season. With John Harbaugh as head coach, his good friend Cam will be running the offense once again.

Now don't take anything personal here. I think Harbaugh is a likeable coach who is a great motivator and always has a positive attitude.

He won't take it to the next level, though, if he cannot have the top of the line coordinator who can make something out of his offense.

Joe Flacco is the franchise quarterback for the Ravens and continues to grow into one. Certainly general manager Ozzie Newsome will get a receiver either in the draft or free agency after failing to do so last season.

However, whether Cam realizes or not, he is beginning to feel the pressure of not executing on offense, which shall continue throughout this season and the future that 2010 brings.

So a message to Cam Cameron: Utilize the running game, don't put the full load on Flacco, and success can happen.

If not, in a few years you will be out of a job once again, this time with not many places to turn.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a writer for the Baltimore Ravens on fanhuddle.com.

Breaking News: Terrell Suggs, Troy Polamalu To Miss a Month?

Matt Miselis — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:35:20 -0500

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, two bitter rivals, are fighting for playoff supremacy this year. While the Steelers currently hold a wild-card spot, the Ravens are one game out with a tough schedule ahead.

However, both teams took a major blow this week, each losing one of their stars: Troy Polamalu for the Steelers and Terrell Suggs for the Ravens.

What at first seemed like injuries that would keep the stars out for at least two weeks have changed pretty quickly. According to Sunday NFL Countdown , both stars may miss up to a month with their injuries.

Polamalu re-injured the same knee he hurt in the opener. Suggs has a minor tear in his knee after a block put on by Brady Quinn.

The Ravens-Steelers rivalry is renewed for the first time this season Sunday and, unfortunately, neither of these stars will be performing on the field.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

They Finally Get It: A Shoutout to the Founders, and the Community of B/R

Matt Miselis — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:25:49 -0500

With the holiday season just around the corner, the Bleacher Report administrators have unleashed a great deal of surprises for us over the past few weeks, including the one that I saw today when I signed onto B/R: a revamp of profiles.

Our new profile shows our great deal of achievements, along with our fans, and some interesting stats/rankings on us here on Bleacher Report.

Dave Mo said in the forum that more updates are being made to the profile, and an announcement will be released when it is all set to go.

First off, I would like to show my deal of thanks to the Admins for being open to the community’s ideas.. You have answered many questions the community has experienced, and I can say without a doubt that I still have faith in this company.

With more affiliates coming this way, along with a revamp of overall rankings and community leaders, the activity should begin to increase, as I can guarantee many people will be excited once all the changes are made.

Being here since the early months of 2009, I have seen and encountered the drama, the ups and downs, and many of the exciting opportunities we have gotten as writers. Continue to keep up the great work!

And finally, the community here at B/R must get a thanks. First off, a thanks to the long-tenured writers who have decided to stick around at this great site, and continued to stick up for the community. I thank you for that.

Overall, however, I must show my appreciations to the community as a whole. You continued to fight and give your opinions, and kept on believing that a change would happen.

Well folks, you have gotten your wish...Without the community, surely some of these decisions wouldn't have been made. I have learned that we have enough people to make a difference in this site, as the success here feeds off us.

Hopefully we shall have another exciting few months, and especially once the New Year comes upon us.

Regards,

Matt Miselis

Please do not give any likes to this article.... Thanks.

Breaking News: Darren Sharper Inactive Against St. Louis

Matt Miselis — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:53:55 -0500

Safety Darren Sharper has been one of the better defenders in the league this season. At the top of his game in 2009, Sharper nears the league best in interceptions, and is a key component in the Saints improved defense this season.

With a difficult run coming up in the schedule, especially against the New England Patriots, New Orleans wants to continue perfection heading into that Monday night showdown.

That could be the reason why the Saints are shutting down Sharper this week. According to Sunday Night Countdown, safety Darren Sharper is inactive against the Rams with a knee injury.

Surely the Saints can defeat the lowly St. Louis squad without Sharper, and is resting him for the stretch run into the next half of the season.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Breaking News: Brian Westbrook Inactive for Game Against Dallas

Matt Miselis — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:01:38 -0500

Nearly two weeks ago, Brian Westbrook sustained a concussion against the Washington Redskins on Monday Night. Because of that injury, he did not play against the New York Giants, as he was not ready even a week after the injury.

Heading into the Eagles' Sunday night showdown against Dallas, Westbrook was expected to play, according to sources within the locker room. However, those plans have changed, as the Eagles will be without their playmaker.

According to Sunday NFL Countdown, Andy Reid is cautious of Brian Westbrook's injury, which will keep him out against the Dallas Cowboys.

The second straight game missed for Westbrook means receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin will have to be a great deal of the offense just like last week in the victory over New York.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Miselis Edition: Week Nine NFL Predictions

Matt Miselis — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:32:48 -0500

Here are week nine NFL predictions, Miselis style. Note: These predictions are not based on the spread, but simply as to who will win the game.

As the NFL season hits the second Sunday in November, we have some intriguing division matchups, along with a few must win games this weekend. Before the predictions starts, here are my automatics:

Green Bay @ Tampa Bay

Washington @ Atlanta

Kansas City @ Jacksonville

Detroit @ Seattle

Carolina @ New Orleans

The predictions are now underway!

Arizona@ Chicago: 1.00 PM on FOX

One of the more crucial match ups of NFC teams, this needs to be a must win for both sides. Arizona comes into Chicago with a disappointed loss over Carolina. Six turnovers for Warner? Chicago enters Soldier Field with a win over the Browns, but is still in need of a win with the NFC playoff race getting tougher.

The Bears defense held the lowly Browns to six points last game, even with Cutler not playing to his potential. Warner will need to put his last game behind him, and enters a hostile environment in Chicago. Devin Hester will need to be Cutler's man against a Cardinals team that is one of the best against the run. Anquan Boldin will need to have a solid game as well, in order for Fitzgerald to avoid double teams.

Final Verdict: The Cardinals are the favorite for many heading into the game, but with the game at Chicago, the Bears are a difficult team to beat on their turf.

Prediction: Chicago 24 Arizona 23

Baltimore @ Cincinnati 1.00 PM on CBS

Just about a month ago, the Cincinnati Bengals shocked the Ravens in Baltimore within the final seconds. Coming off a huge victory over no longer undefeated Denver, the Ravens head to Paul Brown Stadium to face a rested Bengals team. The defense was much improved for the Ravens, and will have to continue that success against Carson Palmer, who has been most successful against Baltimore.

Rookie Laudarius Webb was a factor through special teams, along on the defensive side against the fast Denver receivers. He will need the same impact in tomorrow’s matchup. Maybe this point means nothing, but is it interesting that the Bengals two losses have come at home against teams with winning records.

Joe Flacco is poised for a better game, as stats show he is much better on the road.

Cedric Benson, who had a field day against Baltimore in the first meeting, will have to continue the success if Cinci has a chance. Carson Palmer should have a pretty good day, but will the Ravens defense make careless mistakes in the final minutes like they did last time?

Final Verdict: Another must win game for the Ravens. They know how much a win against a tough division opponent is, and for now, they get the nod.

Prediction: Baltimore 24 Cincinnati 21

Houston @ Indianapolis 1.00 PM on CBS

A division rivalry renewed. The two best teams in the AFC South face off, with what should be a high scoring affair. Indianapolis avoids the upset against San Francisco, but has faced the injury bug this week in the secondary indefinitely, specifically Bob Sanders.

Matt Schuabb and Andre Johnson will certainly have a big connection, with the Colts secondary depleted. However, who’s to say Peyton Manning won't be successful against a young defense like the Texans?

Dallas Clark will need to be a factor as he normally is, specifically a touchdown reception to lay the pressure off of Reggie Wayne.

Final Verdict: I really want to pick the upset here, but knowing Peyton Manning, he can overcome anything in the regular season.

Prediction: Indianapolis 28 Houston 27

Miami @ New England 1.00 PM CBS

The Dolphins come to face New England for the first time this season, coming off their win against the New York Jets. Miami was able to use the Wildcat effectively against New England, which will need to continue this time around.

Tom Brady and company come off the bye week, and had two weeks to prepare for the new improved Dolphins.

Ronnie Brown will need to bounce back after the game against the New York Jets.

The game should be within a ten-point range, yet Randy Moss and Wes Welker are facing two rookie corners. Is trouble bound to happen?

Final Verdict: With Brady being undefeated after the bye week, and the Patriots at home, I'll give New England the advantage.

Prediction: New England 26 Miami 14

Tennessee @ San Francisco 4.15 CBS

Vince Young and the Titans head into San Francisco after winning their first game last week against Jacksonville. On the other side, the 49ers came close of pulling the upset to Indy, but did not have enough offense to do so.

The key match up to watch will be Vince Young against one of the better defenseman in the league, Patrick Willis. Young was solid in his first start last week, but he is facing a 49ers defense that held the Colts to 18 points.

The Titans are one of the worst teams against the pass, which bold well for quarterback Alex Smith.

Final Verdict: Being the disciplinarian Mike Singletary is, it will be tough for the 49ers to lose three straight games. For that, I give them the edge at home.

Prediction: San Francisco 23 Tennessee 13

San Diego @ NY Giants 4.15 on CBS

Former first round draft picks Philip Rivers and Eli Manning face off in a showdown in the Meadowlands. Both teams could use the win, especially the Giants, who have lost three straight to good teams.

Each team’s biggest weakness has been the secondary, which will aid to Rivers and Manning's success.

The difference? The line on both sides of the ball. The Chargers offensive line has been hurt by the injury bug, and is going up against one of the best defensive lines in football. On the other end, the Giants line is one of the better cores in the league, and the Chargers defense has trouble of getting to the quarterback.

Final Verdict: The Giants will not lose their fourth straight game, especially at home. Giants get the victory

Prediction: New York 28 San Diego 20

Dallas @ Philadelphia 8.20 PM on NBC

The clash of the top teams in the NFC East hits Sunday night football. With two convincing wins last week, the Cowboys and Eagles fight for first place supremacy.

Each team has a strength heading into the game. For the Cowboys, it shall be the defensive line, facing an Eagles offensive line that has trouble when facing great deals of pressure.

The Eagles offensive weapons get a slight edge over the Cowboys secondary, which can be vulnerable at times. The game is also taking place at Lincoln Financial Field, also in favor of the Eagles.

Final Verdict: One of the top games of the weekend, the Eagles get the victory being at home with the crowd being a great factor.

Prediction: Philadelphia 28 Dallas 23

Pittsburgh @ Denver 8.30 on ESPN

The NFL week will end with a classic match of two of the top teams in the AFC. The Broncos, coming off their first loss in Baltimore, return home to face another AFC North team: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh will follow in the footsteps of what their rival did last week: Stop the run, and force Kyle Orton to beat them down the field. For the Broncos, receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal will need to bounce back after being shut down last week.

How shall the Broncos rebound against a Steelers offense that can be potent like the Ravens were last week?

Final Verdict: Both teams have tough schedules ahead, but the Steelers defense will do enough to hold down Denver for another week.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 27 Denver 16

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a Baltimore Ravens writer for FanHuddle.com.

A Message To Eric Mangini: You Will Never Be On Bill Belichick's Level

Matt Miselis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:41:05 -0500

The Cleveland Browns have been a hot topic in the media this week, a sure shocker. First off, they fired their general manager, who was not even on a job for a full year. Just a few days after the firing, Browns owner Randy Lerner met with two of the fans that are left in Cleveland, and had about a three hour meeting with them.

What could they have possibly talked about over that period of time? I'm sure they wouldn't simply discuss the obvious: a 1-7 team that does not have much talent left.

Yet, I'm sure Randy heard an earful on the hiring of head coach Eric Mangini. Come on man, you couldn't have done better than that?

Since that day, the locker-room, the fans of Cleveland, are still scratching their heads.

After all, since Eric Mangini was on the Belicheck tree, he is the next great mind who will be a successful head coach, right?

Not sure if you have seen him on the field, and off it, but he is nowhere near what the 'Hoodie is.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Bill Belichick lover myself. Yet, he does have a great mind as a head coach, and has made what used to be a lowly Patriots team into talking’s of a dynasty, which is what I respect.

The failure began at the draft, when the Browns traded the 5th pick to the New York Jets, who took quarterback Mark Sanchez. After continuing to trade nearly out of the first round, they selected center Alex Mack, who was projected as either a late 1st rounder or an early to mid-second rounder.

Belichick is known for being the draft guru, finding players in the later rounds ( Tom Brady), and making them into guys who fit well in the system.

Yet, Mangini's motives in the draft were obviously questioned, and has not panned out to this point. What was the point of this trade? Sure, maybe you weren't sold on one player at that high of a selection. But, there were some very impactful rookies on the table that the Browns decided to pass up (Harvin, Maclin, Oher).

Up to this point, draft one for Mangini has been a disaster.

You also can't forget about the week before opening weekend in the NFL. In his years as head coach, Bill has been known for not giving out any info to the media, especially on his quarterback Tom Brady. Even though the schemes haven't been successful every time, he has pulled a few tricks from his sleep, and has caught the opposition off guard.

Being the "Mangenious" that he is, Eric tried to pull the same scheme as well against the Minnesota Vikings: by simply keeping his starting quarterback as a secret.

With less than a week before NFL Sunday, Mangini finally decided to reveal that Brady Quinn would be the starter in week one. Surprise, Surprise? Most of the league was expecting to see Quinn as the starter. His plan was still questioned after the loss to Minnesota that Sunday.

First off, why did he take so long to tell the quarterbacks who was going to be the starter? And did he actually think the Vikings would be greatly affected as to which man was named the starter? I think you could have done better than that, Eric. You should have learned a thing or two from Bill as how to do it the right way.

The saga did not stop there. Just two weeks as the starter, Quinn was benched in the second half against the Ravens, and up to this point has not gotten another chance as starter.

Talking about developing your quarterback. With Josh McDaniel’s and Belichick on the same sideline as you while you were with the Patriots, class should have been in session with the years Eric were there.

Last month, however, was the turning point in Mangini's campaign as head coach. Pushed by Eric himself, the Browns dealt receiver Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, along with a third and fifth round draft choice.

When the trade went down in the early days of October, more eyebrows were raised with Cleveland. Why trade your best offensive target, for two bench players and two picks that could be potential disappointments?

Mangini tried to follow the New England theme of turning young, inexperienced players into solid role players who help make a championship happen. Sorry Eric, this trade is just another domino effect of your soon short tenure in Cleveland.

The locker-room in Cleveland is dysfunctional right now, with many players filing grievance charges against their head coach. When half of the team despises their boss, failure is bound to happen, and change will be made quickly. Unlike Bill, Mangini couldn't become the disciplinarian that can be the players together.

I have to give Mangini's credit where it's due, however. After all, he must have used the 'Hoodie" magic to convince Randy Lerner how much of a better candidate then all of the available coaches.

His plan to become Belichick's golden boy has not turned out as planned, and nobody should feel sorry for him. He tried to be somebody he is not, and as a result, will be out of a job at the end of the season.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport and FanHuddle.com. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/MattMiselis .

Do Or Die For The Ravens? A Win That Can Make Or Break The 2009 Season

Matt Miselis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:52:58 -0400

The Baltimore Ravens, currently with a record of 3-3 and 3rd in the AFC North, come off their bye week with a home showdown against the undefeated Denver Broncos. After starting off to a hot 3-0 start, which included numbers of a top five offense, the purple and black have fallen the last three weeks within the final seconds.

With seeing victories by the Steelers, Bengals, Texans, Jets, and Chargers, this weeks match up could be labeled as a must win in order to stay within the AFC playoff hunt. With a record of 2-1 at home, the stats have shown that the Ravens has been more successful on the offensive side of the ball, along with some magic on the defensive side as well.

To read the rest of this story, read here: http://fanhuddle.com/baltimoreravens/2009/10/27/do-or-die-for-the-ravens-a-win-that-can-make-or-break-the-2009-season/

Fining Ray Lewis: Blowing The Whistle On A Bad Call By The NFL

Matt Miselis — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:29:53 -0400

The Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis, is one of the greatest to ever play the game at his position.

At the age of 34, Lewis still ranks among the best linebackers in the game. Just this season he has three double-digit tackling performances, and is ranked eighth in the league with 45 total tackles.

There have been so many memorable performances by No. 52 throughout his career it's hard for his fans to single out just one. Will "Ray Ray" as he's known to the Baltimore faithful be remembered for his many Pro-Bowl appearances? His Super Bowl Ring? Perhaps his leadership on one of the greatest defensive teams (2000) in NFL history?

What aspect of his career will those in attendance most remember him for when he inevitably someday takes the podium to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame?

For me, it will be his game-changing big hits.

Ray has continually given those big hits to the NFL Nation, every Sunday for 14 seasons. Even at his age, Lewis is still lighting it up on the field. You might remember the hit he made on Darren Sproles that saved a victory for the Ravens.

An equally big hit he made on an opponent is the hit this past weekend he put on Chad Ochocinco in the 17-10 loss to the Bengals.

Being present at the game on Sunday, I can say without a doubt that the 71,161 fans at the game loved the hit. Even though it did elicit a penalty for an unfortunate, but obvious late-hit, the intensity rose in the final seconds of the AFC North battle.

Five days have passed since that defeat to Cincinnati, and over that five days the NFL decided to fine Ray Lewis $25,000 for the "helmet-to-helmet" hit on Ochocinco. This decision has drawn mixed reactions from fans all around the nation.

Even Chad Ochocinco himself, who is respected by his peers around the league, has come out and said that Lewis doesn't deserve a monetary fine for the hit.

While he's drawn criticism at times, there's one thing I can say about Ochocinco, he not only respects Ray Lewis, he respects the game of football in general. He understands that in the game of football you should expect hard hits from the defense. That's the nature of football.

Nothing against those running the NFL, but what happened to the game they remember from the 50's and 60's? While the sport has changed over the years, there's no reason to fully do away with the idea that planting big hits on opponents and having violent collisions with opponents is just part of the game.

I can understand calling the penalty on Lewis during the game. It was a call the refs had to make, even if that meant the Ravens losing the game (that's another story). What I can't understand is penalizing him further. Lewis, and the Ravens, paid the price of the late hit on the field, and that should have been the end of it.

I've stayed rather neutral in the debate surrounding the controversy of whether quarterbacks are too protected even though I have some issues with it. Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press wrote a fine piece about it you can read here. However, that's quarterbacks. They're the ones who need to be protected the most, and if you have to make rules to keep them protected, so be it.

Changing the game in such a fundamental way by handing out huge fines for basic hits on other players is another matter altogether.

The fine on Lewis, and others like it, will end up changing the game in a very negative way. It will force those playing to re-evaluate the way they play. Less big hits will occur, taking away the excitement of the action, lessening the thrill of the game rather than improving it.

The fines the NFL gives out make a difference, and are necessary for certain actions by players and coaches. However, in this case I believe it was completely unnecessary. I'm betting Lewis didn't intend to injure Chad, and Ochocinco bounded to his feet uninjured five seconds after the hit.

All the fine does is give pause to other players and inhibit their play on the field, and to me that's not a good thing.

Some in the media, and even some fans, say the fine is deserved because of Lewis' history. They make the claim that the fine is justified because they believe he got away with murder nearly a decade ago.

Simply put, this is ridiculous. Lewis made a mistake in the past and can't rectify more than he has. All he can do is stay out of trouble with the law going forward, and he's done just that.

There's not a single person who can say they've heard his name mentioned in any police reports. There's not a single person who can claim they've heard his name mentioned in the news in a negative way regarding the law whatsoever.

So, to me, that line of thinking isn't justified. It's an argument that should be dismissed out of hand by any who hear it.

Lewis has appealed the fine, and even if they rule against him and make him pay it, there's no doubt he can pay it with ease. Yet, he must wonder, along with many others, why he was fined in the first place.

Also, and almost certainly most importantly, this fine will not change the way "Ray Ray" plays the game. Whenever he finishes his illustrious career, you can be assured that till that last day he'll be playing the game the way he's always played it, hitting his opponents as hard as he can.

If someone tries to tell me he'll change the way he plays because of this fine, I'd say they were crazy, and that I'd have to see it to believe it.

I say the NFL made a bad call here, but that's me.

So, I ask all fans of the NFL this question. Did the fine fit the crime, or was the NFL too overprotective once again?

This is the only exception you will see of a Baltimore Ravens article on BR. I now write a weekly column on the Baltimore Ravens @ fanhuddle.com . If you have a twitter account, be sure to follow me: www.twitter.com/MattMiselis . Finally, you have any questions/comments, drop me a line to my email: miselism29@hotmail.com

Report: Indianapolis Colts to Sign Kicker Matt Stover

Matt Miselis — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:23:32 -0400

For years, Matt Stover was a kicker for the Cleveland Browns, then moved on to join the Ravens after the move to Baltimore.

However, in the month of October, in the year 2009, will we see Matt Stover on the field, this time in a Colts uniform?

According to a recent report, the Indianapolis Colts are expected to sign Stover to a contract this week.

The signing of Matt Stover would be due to the injury of Adam Vinatieri, who could be out for possibly two months.

Stover, a Raven great, was not re-signed by the Baltimore Ravens this off-season.

If signed, Stover would return to his old stadium in Baltimore to face the purple and black, this time as a Colt.

Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com

Jeff Garcia Released from Eagles

Matt Miselis — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:01:06 -0400

Two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles lost quarterback Donovan McNabb to a rib injury, one that left a timetable on a return.

The following day the Eagles signed quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was released by the Oakland Raiders a few weeks back. All the Eagles fans remember Garcia, who led them to the playoffs just a few years ago.

However, assuring Garcia that his second tenure with the team may not last long, Garcia wasn't expecting much time with the team this season.

Yet, many were shocked about Garcia's departure today.

According to reports, the Eagles have released the veteran quarterback and have brought back linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who has had multiple stints with the team.

The team must have been impressed with Kevin Kolb's performance in the win over the Chiefs, and with Mike Vick eligible to play, they feel that Garcia is no longer needed.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Report: Frank Gore With High Ankle Sprain, To Miss Three Weeks

Matt Miselis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:58:16 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers, with a record of 2-1, looked to be the team to beat in the NFC West after the first three weeks of the season.

Those two wins were thanks in large part to big games by the 49ers' former All-Pro running back, Frank Gore. After his first carry of Week Three, Gore was injured and San Francisco went on to lose its first game of the season. The Niners may have to get used to his absence for a little while longer.

According to reports, Gore will miss up to three weeks with a right angle sprain.

After the final-second loss to Brett Favre and the Vikings, the team is going to adjust the offensive play calling for the next few weeks with their star running back out.

San Francisco could hold their division lead in Gore's absence, as the next three games will not be played against any of the top-tier defenses in the league.

The 49ers face a division foe in the St. Louis Rams, followed by the Atlanta Falcons and the Houston Texans.

Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com

Breaking News: Chad Pennington Out For Season With Yet Another Injury

Matt Miselis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:19:18 -0400

The Miami Dolphins shocked the NFL world last season when they went from last to first, 1-15 to a division crown in one season.

A key contributor to the teams success was Chad Pennington, who last year won Comeback Player Of The Year.

The squad has not found the same luck in 2009, starting off the season at 0-3. However, today became the worst day of the season for the Dolphins, as their quarterback is on the shelf once again.

According to reports, Pennington has been diagnosed with a torn shoulder, and is reportedly out for the remainder of the season.

Pennington is familiar with this type of injury before, having multiple procedures done on the shoulder.

Chad Henne, a second year quarterback out of the University of Michigan, is expected to make his first career start.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Philadephia Eagles Sign Jeff Garcia; Kevin Kolb Likely to Start?

Matt Miselis — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:11:09 -0400

The past 24 hours have been a long day for the Philadelphia Eagles, losing starting quarterback Donovan McNabb to an injury.

The front office did not waste any time on the situation as the team prepares for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

Just some time ago, the Eagles brought back Jeff Garcia, who was released by the Oakland Raiders a few weeks ago.

If you remember, Garcia did lead the Eagles into the playoffs after McNabb went down with a season ending injury.

Though McNabb's absence is unknown, Philadelphia wants to play it safe this week and give Donovan the rest.

The signing of Garcia does make some sense, as he should be familiar with the offense from a few seasons ago.

Yet, from what we have seen from Andy Reid, it wouldn't be all that surprising if he gave Kevin Kolb the nod to start Sunday.

Surely after Kolb's performance it did raise some eyebrows in management to sign Garcia, but with the hopes of confidence Reid has in this young quarterback from the University Of Houston, most likely he will get the start while Garcia gets more familiarity with the offense.

This is Kolb's chance to succeed as an Eagle, taking on a Saints defense that he, along with the rest of the offense could handle.

However, if he plays poorly against the Saints, questions are going to rise in Philly about a potential release of him.

After all, with McNabb returning in two weeks, it's going to be a tough decision to make as to whether to hold onto four quarterbacks on the depth chart.

This could be the make or break start for Kolb as an Eagle for that matter.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Report: Jets GM Acknowledges Favre's Comments, NFL to Investigate

Matt Miselis — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:59:58 -0400

With a few days until the first Sunday of the NFL season begins, it seems as if Brett Favre wasn't finished talking about the Jets.

The famed No. 4 spoke on Wednesday in a press conference, where he discussed his injuries with the Jets. He claimed that the team knew of his injuries, yet did not report them to the weekly injury list.

New York Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum has admitted to knowing about Farve's injury last season. He also admitted to realizing the potential damage that injury did to Favre and the potential problems not disclosing the injury may cause the Jets in the future.

Reportedly, Favre had torn his biceps during the season, which did require offseason surgery if he wanted to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season.

If punished, the Jets would be fined by the NFL for an undisclosed amount of cash.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Breaking News: Cleveland Browns Name Brady Quinn Starting Quarterback

Matt Miselis — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:01:31 -0400

With less then 24 hours until kickoff of the 2009 NFL season, one quarterback controversy was left to be determined.

Throughout the preseason, head coach Eric Mangini kept the battle as a secret, not hinting as to whom he would name the starter, or leading the battle.

However, after a decision that turns out to be unsurprising and not worth the wait, the Cleveland Browns have made a decision, by naming Brady Quinn the starting quarterback for week one against the Vikings.

It has been thought for weeks that the Browns would name Quinn the starter for the season. His preseason wasn't the most impressive, yet he did not cost himself the starter's role.

The formal decision comes two days after the Detroit Lions named Matthew Stafford their quarterback.

With all the quarterback battles finished, it must really mean that the NFL is ready for kickoff week.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Reaching The Highest Level Of B/R: A Personal Thanks To The Community

Matt Miselis — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:12:19 -0400

Though it is appreciated, this is not written for POTD honors. Thus, I ask to not give it a vote even though you may feel it deserves the recognition.

Dear Friends, Administrators, and Every Writer Of The BleacherReport Community,

In early of March '09 I came upon The BleacherReport after hearing the site being mentioned on a sports forum. I first thought of the site as simply another blogging site; one like blogspot or wordpress that was simply just another hobby while on the internet.

However, when I took the first glance of the site, my thoughts changed. From the first article I read (which happened to be a Oakland Raiders article), to making an account, along with getting the first word of advice from senior writer Ron Johnson, I knew this would be the place for me to make an impact with my sports opinion.

Though I started a bit on the slow slide of getting recognition from my work, I earned a good fan base, and have come close with fans I have faced encounters with in the past. The most important thing about being a writer is staying with your belief, which helped me get respect on B/R.

After a month in of learning the ways of the site, my writing began to improve, which led to many reads and being featured on sites and sports forums.

The biggest day in my B/R career was early in the month of June, where I wrote my first piece as a columnist. The article was "Cream Of The Crop, Pt.2: Ranking The offenses In the NFL". I received a notice that the article made the front page of the NFL section of cbssports.com.

Yet, three hours later it was featured as the main article on the home page of the site, garnering over 4000+ reads, 120+ comments, and brought me into the NFL writers rankings for the first time.

Since that moment, I have become as a known figure here. From my 100th article, to my 100th fan, my first Article Of The Day, what I was able to see is the growth of myself as a writer.

Those days, however, are not as important as the goal I achieved today. On Tuesday, September 8th, I reached the highest goal on B/R by being promoted to senior writer. As senior writer, I join a group of great writers of all ages, who have different writing styles, and love to blog on their favorite topics.

This goal wouldn't be reached though, if it wasn't for the support of the B/R family. Leroy Watson, Josh Dhani, Issac Barrow, and Graham Brunell were the first of many supporters of my work, and continue to be close with them on BleacherReport.

My writing style has also been impact ful on the NFL community, and have received great help from John Fennelly, Angel Navedo, Nick Signorelli, and Cody Swartz along the way.

As I became more active within the community itself, I have received great help and advice from the likes of Andrew Nuschler, Rocky Getters, Shane H, Jack Anderson, Heartbeat Of The Bronx, Eric Annett, LJ Burgess and Blaine Spence.

Being at a young age and having a gifted talent, B/R has seen many young writers make their stand here. Josh Dhani, Graham, and Taylor Rummel are just a few of the many we have here.

Though I can't include all of the fans on here, I appreciate all 163 of them (Bob Warja being the first ever), for the support on the articles I have written.

Most importantly, I need to thank the community as a whole. The thousands of bloggers that write here everyday has brought a great site alive, and has helped lead me and many others to different opportunities in the sports media world.

Without you none of this is possible, so I would like to thank you all for making this place the way it is today, and lets continue making it the best way of showing your opinions with everyone who loves to talk sports.

Regards,

Matt Miselis

Breaking News: Lions Name Matthew Stafford Starting Quarterback

Matt Miselis — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:02:04 -0400

With less then a week before the 2009 NFL season kicks off, two quarterback competitions were still under way.

One of these battles was the Detroit Lions, who were win less a year ago.

Originally thought as Dante Culpepper's job to lose, Matthew Stafford made an impression in the preseason, and made the battle closer then expected, especially with Culpepper playing at a solid level.

The Lions, however, decided they needed to begin the era of Matt Stafford, by giving him the keys to the Detroit Lions.

According to a report, the team has named Stafford as the starting quarterback, who will make his first start in a regular season game against the New Orleans Saints.

This only leaves the Cleveland Browns as the team who has not made a decision on their quarterback situation yet.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Predicting College Footballs Top 25 Rankings: Post Week One

Matt Miselis — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:36:28 -0400

With week one of the college football season nearly in the books (a few games left in the next two days), the feeling in the air of a new beginning is upon us.

In this first week, we saw quite a few scares within in the top 25, along with a top five upset, and an injured Heisman winner.

Can we ask for anymore of an impact ful week one?

With the week two top 25 rankings coming out on Sunday, I will give my analysis on what the rankings should look like, who should rise, and who shoudl fall?

1. Florida

The defending national champions began their season with a cake-walk in Gainesville against Charleston Southern.

Deemed a 73 point favorite, surely 59 is a charm, right?

A 62-3 victory is not a surprise, nor is the Gators staying No. 1 either.

2. Texas

Heading into week one, the No. 2 team in the land would be taking on Louisiana-Monroe on their home turf. Just as in Florida's case, they easily took care of their opponent, and will not move from their current ranking this week.

3. Alabama

With the fall of Oklahoma in the top five, a few teams are in the hunt for the third spot in the rankings.

Ohio St. avoids the scare against Navy. USC leads the blowout behind freshman quarterback Matt Barkley.

Yet, the Alabama Crimson Tide should get the nod at No. 3, and for good reason.

Being the only top five team to schedule a top ten team on the opening week of the reason is a risk, but surely worth the reward if victory is in the air.

Defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies on neutral turf impressed me, especially putting up 34 points and completely being the better offensive team with McElroy at quarterback.

4. USC

The Trojans of Southern California came into week one led by freshman quarterback Matt Barkley.

A crushing 56-3 defeat over San Jose State keeps USC at the fourth spot, as they prepare for next weeks showdown against the Buckeyes.

5. Ohio St

The Ohio St. Buckeyes started the season at home against a Navy squad that always puts up a competitive fight.

Yet, a scare in the Horseshoe was not planned, as they sneak out a 31-27 victory.

Nonetheless, they move up a spot for getting the victory in the Sooners defeat.

The team is ready for Saturday's night clash against USC.

6. Oklahoma

Some could see this as an easy way out of not dropping the Sooners only three spots.

Lets be realistic here.

The Sooners lost by one point to the 20th ranked team in the country, BYU. Yet, the team did not have Sam Bradford for the second half.

Somebody tell me what team wouldn't have trouble against a ranked opponent after losing last year's Heisman trophy winner during the game?

They are still one of the best teams in the country, and they will climb the rankings before you know it.

7. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is the second team to schedule an opponent within the top fifteen, and for the Cowboys, it paid off.

The offense did show up against Georgia's stingy defense. Led by receiver Des Bryant, they jump up two spots with the home opening win.

8. Mississippi

Ole Miss is scheduled to play Sunday afternoon against Memphis.

Barring a huge upset by the Tigers, the Rebels will have the same ranking with a win.

9. Penn State

With the 31-7 victory over Akron, Penn State stays put in this week rankings due to the Cowboys leap into the seven hole.

10. LSU

Though the Tigers did face a scrapy Washington squad, you can't ignore their road win, especially this being the longest road trip for the Tigers.

The victory earns them the final spot in the top ten.

11. Virginia Tech

You have to give the Hokies credit for scheduling a tough game to open the season.

Holding the lead for a portion of the second half, they lost to Alabama, who was the better team.

They do slide a few spots due to a few teams winning, but are just outside of the top ten.

12. Boise State

Filled with a controversial post game, you can't forget the dominance on the field.

The offensive showdown did not happen, yet a good defensive game made it interesting.

The Broncos defense showed the country it's dominance against a good offense in Oregon. All they need to do is run the table and hello it shall be to the BCS.

13. California

After their dominating victory over Maryland, the Golden Bears will be the best hope to take down the Trojans for the Pac 10 later on in the season.

14. Georgia Tech

With the fall of rival Georgia, the Yellow Jackets move up a spot with it's convincing victory over Jacksonville St.

15. Georgia

The Bulldogs faced a tough defeat to the Oklahoma St. Cowboys on the road.

Overall they lost to the better team, but only does drop a few spots in the rankings.

16. TCU

Good news for the TCU squad.

Due to Oregon's loss, they move up one spot without even playing.

With Florida St. not playing until Monday, along with being ahead by a good margain of points, the Horn Frogs look to start their season on a high note.

17. BYU

Even with Sam Bradford going down at the end of the first half, BYU held their own up to that point.

With the one point win at Oklahoma, they snap the Sooners win streak, and move up three points in the process.

18. Utah

Last years BCS buster won their opener win an 18 point victory over Utah State, moving up one spot this week.

19. Oregon

A rough week for the Ducks.

You get dominated in your season opener under new head coach Chip Kelly. Your star running back also gets canned for the season, go figure.

Oregon falls a few spots in the ranking with the loss.

20. Florida St.

Florida St. moves down a few spots for not playing during the weekend, along with two teams behind them being victorious.

If they can take care of rival Miami, they should move up a few spots in the rankings shortly.

21. Notre Dame

After months of constant pressure on the program, the Fighting Irish begin the 2009 season with a 35-0 victory over Nevada.

The offense played as expected, yet the defense was a surprise in shutting down one of the best rushing attacks in America.

22. North Carolina

UNC's victory over Citadel surprisingly does bring them down one spot, as I believe the voters will give Notre Dame a nod over the Heels.

23. Nebraska

The Corn Huskers have no problem in winning their opener with a 49-3 rout of Florida Atlantic.

24. Iowa

The Hawkeyes manage to only fall one spot, after avoiding an upset against a I-AA opponent in Northern Iowa.

Their luck in the top 25 could soon be running out with many teams on their tail.

25. Kansas

The Jayhawks stay put with a 49-3 victory over Northern Colorado.

Report: Michael Vick to Be Eligible for Week Three of the NFL Regular Season

Matt Miselis — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:24:44 -0400

Story has been updated since the news was broken on ESPN.com

After spending nearly two years in jail, Michael Vick was determined to restore his image so he could be known as the uniquely talented football player we know he is.

His goal? To find a job in the NFL. As many teams continued to make it public that they were not going to sign him, on a late Thursday evening, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to give him a chance.

Vick earned a one-year contract with an option for next season.

The remaining question was, when is Vick going to be eligible to play on the football field?

Earlier in the month, it was said Vick was to play in the final two preseason games with the Eagles and then sit out with his suspension until Week Six.

Whether Vick has shown NFL commissioner Roger Goodell he is a changed man, or it was Tony Dungy pulling some strings, it is looking as if we could see Vick in an Eagles uniform in Week three of the regular season.

Just a few hours ago, Goodell made a decision after speak with Vick in New Jersey, and decided he would be eligible for the third game of the season.

The Philadelphia Eagles third game of the season is against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Report: Brett Favre to Not Play in Final Preseason Game Against Dallas

Matt Miselis — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:57:13 -0400

This past Monday night, Brett Favre made his debut on national television in a Minnesota Vikings uniform against the Houston Texans.

From the first play from scrimmage—an Adrian Peterson touchdown—to giving a block while the team was in the Wildcat, it is obvious that Favre did show much better signs in his second pre-season game, which for a second can make head coach Brad Childress a happy man.

Because Childress can relax now knowing that Favre can be capable of playing at the level needed in this offense, he is not going to put Favre into more action.

In fact, he is giving Favre some time off before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

According to a report, Favre will not play in the final pre-season game against the Dallas Cowboys, as they want their QB well rested for the 16 game regular season where he is found it tough to stay healthy over the course of the whole year.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Name Byron Leftwich Starting Quarterback

Matt Miselis — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:31:27 -0400

As reported earlier in the week, it was thought that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would make a decision concerning their starting quarterback this week.

Well, as was predicted, a starter was named for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today.

Veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich was named the starter, after the coaching staff saw more of him in last nights preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.

Leftwich, who was signed as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, was brought in by Raheem Morris to fight for the starting position.

The decision on Leftwich only leaves one quarterback competition left in the NFL, which is the Cleveland Browns.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Breaking News: Brandon Marshall Suspended by Denver Broncos

Matt Miselis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:28:47 -0400

The Denver Broncos continue to face turmoil this offseason. With the falling out between Jay Cutler and new head coach Josh McDaniels, there has been a bit of a split within the organization, which wants to move on under new staff.

Receiver Brandon Marshall, who has requested a trade for months now, has been a distraction for the Broncos. Marshall has missed the first two preseason games and was demoted to the scout team just a short time ago.

However, the feud took a turn for the worse in the past couple of days, and Denver has had enough.

According to a recent report, the Denver Broncos have suspended Brandon Marshall for the rest of the preseason and possibly part of the regular season.

ESPN has learned that a video was shown of Broncos camp where Marshall was "walking when the rest of the team was running during warm-ups, insolently punting the ball away instead of handing it to a ball boy, and swatting away a pass that was thrown to him."

While Marshall claims it wasn't intentional, his desire for a trade has been known for quite some time, yet the Broncos have not found anything on the market worthy for him.

This suspension will make the trade market for Marshall drop very quickly, as it seems to be more unlikely that Marshall will find a new home this season.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

Rumor Wire: Browns, Bucs Near A Decision On Quarterback Controversy?

Matt Miselis — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:16:06 -0400

With the 2009 season just a few weeks away, the pre-season is in mid form, with many players fighting for positional battles on the depth chart.

This pre-season has experienced multiple quarterback battles over the past month, most of them coming to an end this week.

However, there are two battles left in the NFL, which are currently held by the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the Browns, quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson have been in a tight competition according to head coach Eric Mangini. Many have felt that it's been Quinn's job to lose, yet the Browns coaching staff has kept everyone on their toes.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a different story, however. Reportedly a three-way battle between Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, and Josh Freeman, every quarterback has gotten their fair amount of playing time in the pre-season.

As early as today, however, the final two battles could be coming to an end within the next couple of days.

Rumors have swirled that Cleveland's decision is still up in the air. While some reporters think a starter could be named after the pre-season, it wouldn't be a shock either if a decision wasn't made until next week.

The Buccaneers have reportedly stated that they will most likely make their decision after the pre-season game tonight against the Miami Dolphins. A starter was thought to be named a few weeks ago, but finally we may find the starting quarterbacks for these franchises, hopefully within a couple of days.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

One Edit Gone Bad: Why Some Editors Need to Be More Cautious of Articles

Matt Miselis — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:25:19 -0400

Note: Editors don't take this the wrong way if you do so.

As BleacherReport continues to grow as an independent sports media outlet, the site's administrators are continuing to find ways to improve the site, such as the user rankings, and more ways to get many of the Bleacher Creatures' work out to the world.

Many of the writers' articles appear on multiple outside sports media sites, and leads to new opportunities and increased exposure for hopeful sports writers.

Yet, we must be open and thankful to our hundreds of editors, who take their time to help us learn from our mistakes, and give us tips via B/R guidelines to help us write our articles in the right format.

Though people have had trouble with editors in the past, I have not experienced this stress.

If an editor changed a title that I didn't care for, I simply changed it back and it was the end of the discussion.

However, after a recent article of mine turned a table for the worse because of an edit, I do need to speak out on this situation. Editors, while they want to help and I love the feedback I have gotten over the months, need to be careful of the edits they make.

A couple of days ago I wrote an article that was a simple breaking news/rumors report. In the conversation, I discussed a little bit about a team struggling in the preseason, and not having a certain player who has been linked to trade rumors.

The article did get a lot of reads, but when I returned, I noticed that the title had been changed, and because of that, caused a temper flare from a fan.

The title was changed from a reporting or breaking news story, to one that looked like an opinion article, which made the short content in the story seem like I was bashing the team in question.

One fan said a little too much for my taste, and in a way caused some extra controversy with other comments that wasn't really needed.

Don't get me wrong, I can take criticism when it's due. I have taken it before, and it has made me stronger as a writer.

However, my beef with this situation is taking heat when it was not necessary, simply because the title of the article was changed and made the viewers deem it as an opinionated article, which led to a controversy that wasn't needed.

That is my only problem that I have encountered regarding editors thus far, and hopefully it will not happen again.

Report: 49ers QB battle Is Over. Shaun Hill is named Starter

Matt Miselis — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:01:21 -0400

As the 2009 regular season approaches, many of the quarterback battles around the league are near an answer.

For the San Francisco 49ers, the intriguing, but non-surprising battle came to an end on Monday when Shaun Hill was named the starter.

A two-way competition between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith has been close, but many expected Hill to be named the starter at end of training camp.

Alex Smith, the former number one draft pick, was looking to redeem his career by becoming a starter and winning the quarterback job before his tenure with San Francisco comes to an end.

The 49ers are a team hoping to improve, and trying to avoid the distractions of the Michael Crabtree holdout.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Report: Chargers Lock Up Philip Rivers On A Six-Year Contract

Matt Miselis — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:23:12 -0400

As the 2009 season approaches, the San Diego Chargers look to gear up for another run at the AFC West title.

A key component to the Chargers success is quarterback Philip Rivers, who has emerged as one of the top passers in the league.

Fellow draftee Eli Manning earned himself a large extension with the New York Giants after his Super Bowl victory.

Even though Rivers has not earned a ring yet, that doesn't mean he hasn't lined himself up for a new contract.

According to reports, Rivers agreed to a six-year, $92 million dollar contract with San Diego.

The deal nears the $97.5 million that Manning received, with a little more guaranteed ($37-38 million).

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Report: Jets, Ravens Interested In Marshall, Denver Staying Put??

Matt Miselis — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:45:52 -0400

With less then three weeks away from the beginning of the 2009 season, the Denver Broncos have fallen to 0-2 in the preseason, with questions surrounding the offense.

Quarterback Kyle Orton did struggle in his second start, while Chris Simms went down to injury in his stint.

Surely the offense could have been better if Brandon Marshall cooperated with the team during the off season, instead of being placed on the scout team.

The trade talks have continue to be known, as Marshall still wants out of Denver, as he feels he is not a good fit for a new offense.

Over the past week, a few teams have been rumored to have interest in Marshall, and is willing to make an offer that could interest the front office.

The New York Jets seem to be the most interested, as they are in need of a dominant presence on the receiving end.

It is also believed that the Baltimore Ravens have interest in Marshall, and could have a good match that Denver is looking for as well.

Yet, the Broncos organization is still going to hold onto Marshall. Even with the troubled past Marshall has shown the front office, and is still a distraction the team has to face, the team still holds on to the receiver most likely for the start of the season.

Denver is going to want a deal like Cutler, where multiple draft picks needs to be involved, but would need a receiver/quarterback in return as well.

The team said that Cutler was staying in Denver, and he found a new home at some point.

Marshall, however, may not have the same luck, which could lead to a long season for the receiver in Denver.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com

Report: Venus and Serena Williams Become Minority Owners of the Dolphins

Matt Miselis — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:34:40 -0400

The Miami Dolphins have experienced changes of ownerships over the past few seasons.

Previously owned with full control by Wayne Huizenga, he decided it was time to ship the franchise off to Stephen Ross.

However, in the past few months, the Dolphins have begun to bring in minority owners who have experienced great fame of their own.

Mark Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, two of Americas most popular singers this decade, joined ownership last month.

It looks as if Miami is putting together a team of celebrity owners with the newest acquisition of the Williams.

That is right, Venus and Serena Williams have agreed to become minority owners of the Miami Dolphins organization.

The Williams sisters, the great Tennis duet, apparently have some interest in football.

Unless of course, it could be for the money. However, with the cash they both have made in their careers, I doubt they simply it did it for that reason.

It is curious as to how this will play out with the Dolphins financially heading into future season of no salary cap, whether or not the team would be able to spend top dollar on some acquisitions.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com