NFL Rumors, News and Notes

News:

What did we learn from Week 10?

The Bengals have had a good season so far, but rookie QB Andy Dalton and the Bengal defense are not ready to compete with the top teams in the division. The loss to the Steelers was more one sided than the final score indicated.

The Ravens play to the level of the competition. They got up for two wins against the Steelers, then in both cases, blew the game that followed. The advanced age of the key members of the team are starting to show.               

Both the Lions and Bills are struggling after great starts. In both cases, the downturn comes from a combination of injuries and a tougher schedule. The primary difference between the top teams and those newly having success is the depth of the roster. Really good teams have backups that can step up without losing much. The Lions and Bills are not that deep.

The Bucs are struggling on both offense and defense. They have had a lot of injuries on the defensive line and in the backfield.  They looked bad against the Texans this week.

More Team News

Titans RB Chris Johnson finally had a good day rushing. Maybe he has gotten into football shape. 

The Dolphins are hurting themselves by winning. Each win takes them further away from the top draft pick. They have very little chance getting Andrew Luck, but will still have a shot at a top-four QB.

Falcons head coach Mike Smith is known as one of the best in the league. There is no question he engineered the turnaround of the team from a laughing stock after the Vick was arrested and head coach Bobby Petrino quit to take a job in college football part way through the season. 

But Smith’s decision to go for a 4th-and-1 on his own 29-yard line in overtime has put them in danger and put a smile on the fans of the Browns. The Browns own the Falcons’ first and fourth round picks in the 2012 draft. Smith’s gamble failed, and the Saints won.

The Bears are improved, but don’t read too much into their win over the Lions this week. Lions QB Matthew Stafford had a broken bone in his passing hand and threw two interceptions that resulted in Bears TDs. 

The Browns fans believe the offensive coaching staff takes the short bus to the stadium. 

In the final drive to win the game inside the 10-yard line with less than two minutes left, head coach Pat Shurmur called for tight end Alex Smith to carry the ball from the fullback position. In Smith’s seven years in the league, he has never carried the ball. Smith fumbled, but the team got the ball back. 

Then, the disaster which best defines the special teams blew another game when the snap for the winning field goal bounced off the foot of the guard and the kick went wide. The Browns also muffed a punt setting up the Rams for a field goal.

The offense has regressed during the season. Against the Rams, QB Colt McCoy had a good game, and the defense held them to just 13 points. 

The Jets are still not ready to sweep the Patriots, who drubbed the Jets, 37-16, and took sole possession of first place in the AFC East. 

Notes from Week 10 in the NFL

Eagles QB Mike Vick has two broken ribs. While he cannot continue to take the kind of
pounding he has going back to pass, a bigger problem is his running as much as he does.  The team does not have a quality backup. They need Vick to stay healthy.

Texans QB Matt Schaub has a foot injury and will miss several games.  It may be a Lisfranc break, which would end his season. Ex-Cardinal first pick overall QB Matt Leinart will replace him until he is healthy. With wide receiver Andre Johnson and offensive linebacker Mario Williams also down, the offense will struggle.

Chiefs QB Matt Cassel will be out for next week’s game. Journeyman QB Tyler Palko will start in his place. Palko was an undrafted free agent out of Pitt and has been with several teams on both the regular roster and practice squad.

Redskins rookie wide receiver Leonard Hankerson will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn labrum in his hip.

Bears OG Chris Williams will go on IR with a wrist injury.

Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno tore his ACL and will go on IR.

Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has a separated shoulder and will miss several games.

The Redskins went back to QB Rex Grossman, but had no better luck moving the ball.  They lost to the quarterback-challenged Dolphins 20-9. 

Neither he nor Beck are NFL starting quality guys, and the Skins will be taking a QB in 2012.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith is taking criticism from players over his promise that the new agreement would include a 30-day grace period for drug testing. Most teams began drug testing on the second day of training camp. Eleven players are being fined or suspended from violations of the drug policy during the lockout. This is just one of the issues the union has with its leadership.

The NFLPA also faces suits from retired players led by Carl Eller for the union’s
handling of the health care money provided by the owners. 

Rumors Around the NFL

There are a number of coaches on the hot seat.

Don’t be surprised if Eagles coach Andy Reid is among the casualties after the season.  I have been reporting this since the end of last season. Finally, the Philadelphia Inquirer has begun to question if Reid will survive this debacle. 

He was the one that named his offensive line coach Juan Castillo to become defensive coordinator. The move has hurt both sides of the ball. The defense, which was the primary recipient of the free agent bonanza that came Philly’s way, has been awful. Jeffrey Lurie has done everything he can to win.

There are a few solid bets of coaches that will be gone after the season. 

The Dolphins management has been trying to replace Tony Sparano for a while. They have not found anyone yet to take the job. Look for the general manager to be fired as well.

The Colts ownership has to be looking to replace coach Jim Caldwell. The team has quit on him.

There are also coaches that at in the 50/50 category to keep their jobs.

Tampa has regressed, and coach Raheem Morris is being blamed for not having the team ready to play. The team has suffered a lot of injuries on D, but much more was expected in 2011.

Cardinal coach Ken Whisenhunt might be more in the 75/25 category to be fired. His teams have sputtered on both sides of the ball. 

It has become clear that retired QB Kurt Warner was the offensive mastermind, and his quick release and accuracy covered up a lot of shortcomings of the offense.

Whisenhunt picked Kevin Kolb to be his QB but after an expensive trade with the Eagles, the offense has been a disaster.

A couple of weeks ago, I had Chiefs coach Todd Haley in the solid category to get a pink slip. His recent winning streak has moved him to the 50/50 category, but I would not be putting money down to build a house in Kansas City.

New coaches that are having issues with ownership:

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and owner Jerry Jones have a disagreement about who should start at running back. Garrett wants DeMarco Murray, who has been very effective. 

But Jones, who played at Arkansas, wants the speed burner from that school Felix Jones to start. JJ does not seem to mind hurting the team by dictating who should start. So far, Murray seems to be the guy because RB Jones is as fragile as fine china.

Redskins owner Dan Snyder has to be fuming with the lack of offense from the team.  Coach Mike Shanahan has a reputation of being hard-headed, and Snyder does not suffer fools gladly.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com and hosts the Internet version
of News, Notes and Rumors on http://mooheadradio.com/2.0/  Monday-Thursday 6-7:30 PM EST. 

He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library.com/Contemporary/ and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.