Posts Tagged ‘Monday Night Football’

Brett Favre Adds to Legend as Vikings Beat Packers, 30-23

This was the first of two, and if we’re lucky, there could be more.

True, Brett Favre turns 40 in a week, the very number that analysts and experts are afraid to say, weary of an old man’s bone breaking mid-sentence, but at the same time can’t help but blurt out with laughter.

That Favre is an old dude, and he can still sling it.

Read more…

NFL Fantasy Football Player Updates

Michael Vick to Play For Eagles on Sunday

Don’t get too excited, it won’t be as the quarterback.

Still, the coaching staff is counting on Vick to make plays, projecting him to be involved in somewhere between 10-15 plays.

You can probably even count on more than that. Kevin Kolb is expected to start as it stands, but Vick will likely be deployed in a number of packages.

The problem is, just how effective can he be in his first regular season game in more than two years?

Wes Welker Back at Practice

As inspiring as this is, it still means nothing.

While he did participate in Thursday’s practice, he was limited, opening the door to a possible “target share” with rookie Julian Edelman.

Bill Belichick isn’t foolish. If Welker isn’t 100 percent, he’ll just use him as a decoy and get some production out of Edelman. The rookie clearly has talent, and the Patriots would be doing themselves a disservice to sit him the rest of the way.

Monitor this situation all the way up until their game with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jerry Jones Gives Tony Romo Vote of Confidence

Well, I should sure hope so.

They got rid of Terrell Owens, labeling him as the one and only problem in Dallas. And now the owner raises doubt by saying he’s “backing” Romo after one bad game?

Don’t be like Jones and get too excited. Romo was facing the Giants tough front-four and the Cowboys barely lost the game.

Start Romo with confidence this week in a favorable match-up with the Carolina Panthers.

Saints Running Backs Sharing Reps in Practice

Add Tynell Hamilton to the mix in the Saints backfield.

Who? Well, regardless of not being very well known, Hamilton figures to get some grind with Mike Bell (knee) out this week, and Pierre Thomas being slowly brought back from his own knee injury.

Reggie Bush also factors into the muddled equation, making all three Saints running backs risky starts. And you thought it was difficult to predict their production before.

Chargers Center Nick Hardwick Out Until December

It just keeps getting worse for the San Diego running game.

This doesn’t hurt Daren Sproles’ value that much, as most of his production comes from the passing game and bouncing runs outside.

LaDainian Tomlinson, who is dealing with his own injury, could find it even more difficult to run in the middle when he returns, however.

Hardwick has ankle surgery, and if things continue to work against San Diego, he could end up going on IR.

Jamal Lewis Misses Wednesday’s Practice

Lewis is dealing with a bad hamstring, as well as a horrid performance against the Broncos, rushing for just 38 yards on 14 carries.

If he’s out this week, a suddenly-healthy James David could split carries with Jerome Harrison, making both Cleveland back-ups interesting plays.

Well, they would be, if they weren’t facing the Baltimore Ravens.

Marion Barber Practicing, Wants to Play Monday Night

While this isn’t exactly earth-shattering news, it’s worth noting.

Knock Felix Jones’ value down a bit with Barber practicing, although a hindered Barber ensures at least a few more touches for Jones and Barber’s other back-up, Tashard Choice.

The way the Carolina Panthers rush defense is going, all three backs could field solid numbers on Monday night.

Brett Favre Shakes Off The Rust in Vikings’ Win

While certain analysts and columnists are jumping all over Favre as “old and slow”, this writer saw something else on Monday night.

I saw a true gamer. Yes, he’s 39, going on 40, and probably isn’t as nimble as he once was.

But he’s still got it. Boy, does he ever. (Cue over-hyping and under-hyping here)

Still, Favre was an impressive 13-18 for 142 yards and a touchdown in just under three quarters, while leading the Vikings to 10 points, and also watching as Adrian Peterson scampered 80 yards for a score on the opening play.

Some nay-sayers are already nit-picking the future Hall of Famer’s prime-time performance, citing his two taken sacks in only 20 drop-backs, while offering the fact that he’s not athletic or quick enough to elude defenders.

Plain and simple, that’s a bunch of bull.

If these so-called “experts” actually were watching the tape, they’d see that both of the sacks Favre took had absolutely nothing to do with his athleticism or anything to do with his decision-making.

His first sack came on a blown blitz pick-up, as a Texan defender blew threw a gaping hole and crushed Favre, who had no chance to make a play.

The second sack was actually a result of Favre making a smart play, as a defender nicked the ball from behind while Favre was in his throwing motion, forcing Favre to tuck the ball down and take the sack, rather than force a bad throw or fumble the ball.

Add in Percy Harvin’s dropped touchdown pass (a beautiful pass by Favre), and some shady line-blocking, and Favre’s performance was actually borderline flawless.

The Favre-haters can keep jumping on the bandwagon all they want, but this small showing in pre-season action went a long way in assuring Minnesota fans everywhere that Favre brings more to the team than they originally thought.

Besides, with the way Adrian Peterson was playing on Monday, will it really matter if Favre isn’t his old vintage self?

In one over-used cliche’ expression: probably not.

On that same note, Favre wasn’t over or under-used, as Head Coach Brad Childress began with the run (which resulted in a touchdown on the first offensive play), and did a fine job of sprinkling Favre into the offense, rather than force the issue.

While it’s still extremely early (and just the pre-season), it’s clear Favre has at least shaken off the rust, and is already showing signs of making a significant impact for the Vikings.