Hue Jackson apologizes for introducing Ray Lewis to S.W.A.T.S. owner

Posted by Mike Florio on January 31, 2013, 7:17 AM EST

Reuters

At  a time when Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis vehemently has denied any use of banned substances in connection with his recovery from a torn triceps or at any other time in his 17-year career, a former Ravens assistant has confirmed that he introduced Lewis to the owner of Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.).

The confirmation from Hue Jackson, now the Bengals running backs coach, came via Jackson’s apology for making the connection between the two men.

“First of all, I’m disappointed for the Ravens,” Jackson told Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.  “You hate to ever put an organization in that kind of situation.  I never knew the young man [Ross] could be that way.  Iapologize for the whole organization.  It should be about the Super Bowl.  I met the guy at the [NFL] combine in 2008. . . .

“I don’t get this because we’ve already addressed all of this before,” Jackson said. “It’s just not right. I feel very bad for making a mistake and bringing this guy around Ray and the other players.

“I regret that ever happened. You trust people sometimes, and they let you down. This is an absolute shame because it should be about football, not this stuff. . . .

“What happened is you think everybody is doing things for the right reason.  I knew there was nothing illegal based on information given by him.  He always talked about things, saying they were already approved by the NFL.  You live and you learn.  I dealt with that two years ago.  Anytime it comes up, my name is mentioned.”

In addressing the situation, Lewis has invoked the “two years ago” explanation, overlooking the fact that Mitch Ross, the owner of S.W.A.T.S., contends that Lewis contacted Ross in October 2012, after Lewis tore his triceps against the Cowboys.  According to Sports Illustrated, the call was videotaped.  According to Ross, he contacted Lewis immediately after the game.

“As soon as I saw him hurt his arm against the Dallas Cowboys, I texted Ray,” Ross told Wilson.  “He texted me back after the game and said, ‘Possible torn triceps.’ Once that was confirmed by the doctors, I asked Ray if he wanted me to set up a program for him and he said, ‘Yes.’  I got him set up and now he’s back on the field.”

The problem with the various media availabilities during Super Bowl week is that there’s no one interviewer who can ask specific questions with meaningful follow-ups.  Once the player or coach answers a question, there’s a likelihood that some other reporter will ask some other question.  This allows Lewis to avoid a situation in which he’s grilled in detail about the communications with Ross, the phone conversation, and any other specific information linking the two men not two years ago but three months ago.

In the grand scheme of things, none of it matters, since there’s no way Lewis would ever be suspended before Sunday’s game.  But there’s definitely a cloud over Lewis that won’t be pushed away simply because Lewis has issued a general denial without specific elaboration on the underlying contentions and allegations.

Chandler Jones to train with his brother, UFC champion Jon Jones

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 31, 2013, 9:05 AM EST

Getty Images

Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones is the latest NFL player to take up mixed martial arts training during the offseason. And he’s the NFL player with the best access to high-level training.

Jones’s brother is UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and Chandler says that he thinks that training with a UFC champion can help him in hand-to-hand combat at the line of scrimmage.

“That definitely helps you,” Jones said on Comcast SportsNet New England. “[Jon] has a boxing coach, a muay Thai coach and a jiu jitsu coach. That helps a lot when you’re tugging, playing in the trenches. My biggest thing is I try to get my hands inside before blockers touch me so if I work on my hand speed, that’ll be a great aspect to add to my game.”

Chandler and Jon’s oldest brother, Arthur Jones, will be playing in the Super Bowl with the Ravens on Sunday. Meaning Chandler may be the only Jones brother who isn’t a champion in his sport. Which may motivate him to work that much harder in the offseason.

Donald Driver announces his retirement

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 31, 2013, 8:17 AM EST

AP

Well, if the Vikings are interested in Donald Driver, it’s clear now that they’re going to have to go in another direction.

The Packers announced Thursday morning that the veteran wide receiver was retiring as a member of the team, with a ceremony planned for next week.

“I played my entire career in Green Bay and have always enjoyed a special bond with the fans,” Driver said in the team’s release. “I can think of no better way to retire than to celebrate with them and the Packers organization.”

Driver’s about to turn 38, and he was reduced to volunteering for special teams duty just to be on the active roster on game days in the postseason.

He finished his career with 743 catches for 10,137 yards and 61 touchdowns, all for the same team that took him in the seventh round of the 1999 draft.

Ravens' Ellerbe playing through intense pain

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 30, 2013, 6:56 AM EST

Getty Images

Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe says his injured ankle is the most painful injury he has ever experienced. But he played through it in the AFC Champioinship Game, and there’s no way he’s missing the Super Bowl.

“Yes, I’m playing if I played last week,” Ellerbe said at Super Bowl Media Day. “That was the most pain I’ve played in in my entire career. I’m definitely playing in this game. I feel a lot better and it’s the Super Bowl, so I’m not sitting out. I got a cortisone shot. I’m going to stop telling people I got an epidural because that’s what pregnant people get. Never again. I don’t want to go through that again. I hate needles.”

But Ellerbe reiterated that there’s no chance he’ll sit out on Sunday.

“Oh yeah, I’m definitely playing. If I could handle it last week, I can handle it this week,” Ellerbe said.

Despite the ankle injury, Ellerbe has played very well in the playoffs, with 23 total tackles, two pass deflections and an interception. Ellerbe becomes an unrestricted free agent in March, and by playing well through pain, Ellerbe is making himself a lot of money.

Absence of failed drug test doesn't exonerate Ray Lewis

Posted by Mike Florio on January 30, 2013, 12:11 AM EST

Reuters

The obvious response to the allegation that Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis used a deer-antler extract containing the banned substance IGF-1 is that Ray Lewis has never failed a drug test.

“Every test I’ve ever took in the NFL?  There’s never been a question if I’ve even thought about using anything,” Lewis proclaimed Tuesday.

The team said the same thing.  “Ray has been randomly tested for banned substances and has never failed a test.  He has never been notified of a failed test,” declared the Ravens.

But here’s the thing.  The NFL tells PFT that IGF-1 can be detected only through blood testing.  And there’s currently no blood testing for IGF-1.

So passing a drug test has nothing to do with the question of whether someone was or is using IGF-1.  It’s no different than a player responding to allegations of HGH use by declaring that he’s never failed a drug test, since there still is no testing in place for HGH.

Thus, absent an admission from Lewis or other conclusive evidence of IGF-1 use, there’s no way this thing will ever go anywhere.

Michael Oher is tired of "The Blind Side"

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 29, 2013, 8:37 PM EST

AP

Ravens tackle Michael Oher is probably the NFL’s most famous lineman: If you go to a Super Bowl party on Sunday, there’s a good chance that there will be someone there who doesn’t really follow football, but knows who Oher is. That’s because Oher’s life story was told in the bestselling book and hit movie The Blind Side.

But Oher could do without all the publicity that Hollywood gave him.

“I’m tired of the movie. I’m here to play football,” Oher said when asked about it at Super Bowl Media Day.

Oher wasn’t thrilled with his portrayal in the movie, particularly scenes depicting him not knowing what he was doing at his first football practice. But Oher does say that the movie accurately portrayed the love he has for his adoptive family.

“I’ve got them coming to the game,” Oher said. “They’re still my family.”

So that part of the movie is real. The part about Oher needing Sandra Bullock to show him how to block is Hollywood.

Urlacher understands it will take a pay cut to keep him in Chicago

Posted by Josh Alper on January 30, 2013, 7:47 AM EST

AP

Linebacker Brian Urlacher hasn’t spoken to the Bears yet this offseason, but he doesn’t need to have direct contact with them to know what it is going to take to have any shot at remaining in Chicago in 2013.

He’s going to have to take a serious cut from the $7.5 million that he made in 2012. That would probably be true based on his age (35 in May) alone, but the fact that he dealt with a variety of injuries last season only makes it more of a necessity. Urlacher has no illusions about his need to make less money next season and it sounds like he’s fine with it.

“When you look at my age and everything, it’s going to be hard to not give them a discount,” Urlacher said, via the Chicago Tribune. “I’m not going to make what I was making in the past, how about that? Does that make sense? That’s fair.”

The fact of the matter is that this isn’t just about a “hometown discount” for the Bears. If Urlacher’s going to play anywhere in 2013, he’s going to need to agree to play for a lot less money than he’s accustomed to making. Maybe he’d sign with the Bears for less than he’d be willing to sign for in another city, but it’s a new financial reality regardless of the uniform he winds up wearing.

Jets exploring JaMarcus Russell

Posted by Evan Silva on January 28, 2013, 11:36 PM EST

Getty Images

Former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell — widely considered the biggest bust in NFL draft history — recently shed weight and is attempting an NFL comeback.

The Jets need a quarterback. Russell was once a quarterback. And the Jets have explored the possibility of adding Russell to their offseason roster.

Per Conor Orr of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Jets had “some very exploratory, informal discussions” about the ex-Oakland Raider. The discussions took place after the firing of G.M. Mike Tannenbaum, and among members of the organization that still have their jobs.

It doesn’t sound like a signing is imminent, but Russell should come cheap, likely on a minimum-salary deal as he attempts to turn his life and football career around.

The Jets should like the sound of that. Because Tannenbaum left them with the worst salary cap situation in the league.

Ray Lewis forgives Wes Welker's wife for murder comments

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 29, 2013, 7:28 AM EST

AP

The murder investigation involving Ray Lewis 13 years ago hasn’t taken over the coverage of the Super Bowl (and it shouldn’t),nor has it been completely verboten (and it shouldn’t).

But Lewis took the high road in his first chance to address a related topic, saying he forgaveWes Welker’s wife for her Facebook comment last week which she promptly deleted and apologized for when she realized other people can actually see those things.

When asked about those remarks Monday night, Lewis referred to his faith and forgave her.

“I’ve always been a firm believer of the Good Book, and the Good Book always confirms, even a fool is counted wise until he opens he or she mouth,” Lewis said, via Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com. “And sometimes people just say silly stuff. And they say it out of emotion. And sometimes you need to let the game take care of the game. We lost up there last year, and I didn’t hear one teammate say anything about nobody there because we have respect for that team, that they won it fair and square.

“So for her to come out and say what she said, listen, I truly forgive her, and I have no hard feelings against her at all, but I believe people just make mistakes and say foolish things sometimes.”

There’s a large segment of the population that has branded Lewis for life for what happened that night in Atlanta, and won’t ever forget, or forgive.

But there’s another large segment of the population that chooses to see him for what’s happened since, and the work he’s done in the community, and the leader he is on the football field.

The difference is significant, but Lewis isn’t letting it dominate the conversation this week, as much as he doesn’t seem to mind the conversation being about him.

Tuesday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on January 29, 2013, 8:45 AM EST

AP

Bills offensive line coach Pat Morris is looking forward to working with new coach Doug Marrone.

DT Tony McDaniel was the Dolphins recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

Breaking down the work done by the Patriots defensive ends this year.

Jets coach Rex Ryan got some love from members of the Ravens defense on Monday.

Louisiana native Ed Reed will be playing host to his Ravens teammates this week.

Bengals DE Michael Johnson said he didn’t put any extra pressure on himself because it was a contract year.

Fred Nance will now serve as a senior advisor and special counsel for the Browns.

Steelers DE Brett Keisel and his beard paid a visit to a children’s hospital.

Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle thinks its been a rough winter for Texans QB Matt Schaub.

A Florida man pleaded guilty to defrauding Colts linebacker Dwight Freeney.

A call for the Jaguars to look to the Super Bowl teams as they get to work building for next season.

The Titans can’t rely on help from outside to solve all their problems.

There’s no sign that the Broncos will be looking for more from their fullback next season.

Said Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub of P Dustin Colquitt, “I like the punter. I like him a lot. I never really had a punter than bombed the ball like this. He’s going to bomb the ball and give you good hang time and distance.”

A fascinating profile of former Raiders DE Anthony Smith as he awaits trial for murder.

Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt breaks down the Super Bowl matchup.

Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News wants to see Cowboys owner Jerry Jones come down harder on players.

The Giants will promote Lunda Wells to their vacant assistant offensive line coach spot.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly owes 49ers QB Alex Smith some thanks for the rapid career rise he’s experienced in the last few years.

What’s the Redskins’ biggest need this offseason?

The Bears signed S Cyhl Quarles to a future contract.

A vote for the Lions playing it safe in the upcoming draft.

The Packers expect S Sean Richardson back from neck surgery.

Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune sees similarities between the Vikings and the 49ers.

Did the Falcons get it right by choosing QB Matt Ryan over Joe Flacco?

Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula can appreciate the position the Harbaugh brothers find themselves in this week.

Super Bowl week brings back good memories for former Saints S Chris Reis.

Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano got a vote of approval from Ravens RB Ray Rice, who played for Schiano at Rutgers.

The Cardinals earned some thanks from LB Terrell Suggs for trading out of the draft spot where the Ravens wound up taking him.

Rams CB Cortland Finnegan breaks down his style of play.

Rookie RB LaMichael James has transitioned well to an offensive role with the 49ers.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson wants to keep the Pro Bowl going so that he can win MVP.

Is The Pro Bowl Worth Playing?

 

The AFC took on the NFC in the 2013 Pro Bowl on Sunday night in Honolulu where the NFC easily prevailed with a lopsided 62-35 victory. For most football fans, the game is considered a joke or a waste of time. The only reason fans watch it is to perhaps get a glimpse of their favorite players one last time before training camp starts in July. With that said, should the game still be played?

Teams Don't Want Their Star Players Injured

This game features nothing but the best players in the NFL. If anyone were to get hurt, it could derail their preparation for next season. For example, if Andrew Luck were to tear his ACL during the game, he could be out for the beginning of the 2013 regular season. Is the prospect of missing a regular season game worth playing a few snaps in a meaningless game the week before the Super Bowl?

Most Players Don't Want To Play Either

The majority of the players who are selected to represent their conferences get bonuses simply for being selected to play. This means that they get paid whether or not they play in the game. Why risk playing and injuring yourself when you don't have to earn the bonus that is in your contract? It also means another week of practice when the players could be out partying or resting up for next season. Unlike years past, the NFL season is never really over. Therefore, players want to take whatever opportunity that they can to rest and relax after a punishing season and before they start preparing for next season.

Where's The Honor In Being An Alternate?

Anytime a player backs out of the game, it creates a situation where the first alternate at the position becomes a part of the roster. If multiple players back out of the game, you could have a situation where the second or third alternate at a position could play in the game. The bad news is that there usually aren't two or three players at a given position who deserve to be in the game who weren't already selected. You also have to consider that players selected from the teams playing in the Super Bowl are also held out of the game. Overall, you have at least a dozen or more players who are not truly the best at their position. Who wants to watch that?

Even Roger Goodell Was Thinking About Scrapping The Game

The commissioner of the NFL threatened to do away with the game after the debacle that was the Pro Bowl last season. It would make sense that the game would go away if the players, coaches and fans really don't care about it anymore. Although people understand that there won't be the same type of intensity during the game, it seems as if the players don't even try anymore. Quarterbacks aren't touched, defenses can only play vanilla schemes and the final score is typically 55-51. During the game, you often see players from opposing teams talking and being friendly with each other. At some point, you forget that this was supposed to be a competition between the two conferences.

The Honor Is More Important

Most fans and players would probably prefer to be named to the team, get their bonus and be done with the whole process. If the players want a trip to Hawaii, perhaps that can be included as a perk of being nominated to the team. However, no number of schedule changes, venue changes or rules changes will make the game exciting or meaningful. The players have nothing to play for and they can't be forced to participate in something that they don't care about.

It is most likely time to forget about playing the Pro Bowl on a yearly basis. The players should simply have the honor of being named and perhaps have a ceremony in Hawaii to recognize them. Otherwise, no one wants to watch a bunch of guys who may not have been selected to the game in the first place play in a game in which there is nothing to play for. Those on the AFC and NFC squads don't really care if their team wins or loses. Instead, they just want to enjoy the weather, avoid injury and get home as quickly as possible.

Written by: Don Phan

Ed Reed could be targeted by the Patriots

Posted by Mike Florio on January 28, 2013, 7:56 AM EST

AP

Last week on PFT Live, a former hard-hitting safety from the Patriots (Rodney Harrison) said that one of the things the Patriots need is a hard-hitting safety.

Enter Ed Reed?

Peter King of SI.com said during Sunday night’s Pro Bowl pregame on NBC that the Ravens safety most likely will hit the market in March, and that Patriots coach Bill Belichick (described by King as the president of the Ed Reed Fan Club) will swoop in and sign him.

That would be a far cry from the last time the Ravens let a high-profile defender test the waters of the open market.  Four years ago, linebacker Ray Lewis found no takers, and he eventually re-signed with the Ravens.

As King and I were discussing off camera, it was in hindsight a colossal blunder for the Cowboys (who were believed to be interested in Lewis) to not sign him.  The team desperately needs vocal leadership on defense, and his presence could have provided the spark that may have taken the Cowboys much farther than they have gone in recent years.

But for the Patriots’ possible interest in Reed, it’s less about intangibles and more about the need for someone who can make the secondary significantly better.  Reed can do that.  And Belichick surely knows it.

Of course, Reed will have to get past the Tom Brady kick slide from last Sunday night.  A pile of money often is helpful, however, when trying to turn the page.

Kyle Rudolph wins Pro Bowl MVP

Posted by Evan Silva on January 27, 2013, 10:58 PM EST

Reuters

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph was named the 2013 Pro Bowl’s Most Valuable Player on Sunday after recording five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in the NFC’s 62-35 win over the AFC.

Utilized most frequently by the NFC’s first two quarterbacks to play — Drew Brees of the Saints and the Giants’ Eli Manning — Rudolph gave AFC defenders matchup fits with his towering size, route running down the seam and sidelines, and physical play in traffic. On his three-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, Rudolph split out wide right like a receiver and beat Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston to secure Manning’s lobbed pass.

Rudolph also beat Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali for a 52-yard bomb from Manning and caught passes that gained 23 and 22 yards from Brees.

The performance gives the Vikings a tease at the player Rudolph is capable of becoming if Christian Ponder establishes himself as a franchise-caliber signal caller. Rudolph doesn’t possess explosive wheels, but he’s difficult to defend on contested catches when his quarterback gives him a chance to make a play.

It’s worth noting that Rudolph was a Pro Bowl replacement, taking Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez’s spot on the NFC roster.

NFC crushes AFC 62-35 in Prow Bowl

Posted by Evan Silva on January 27, 2013, 10:37 PM EST

Getty Images

Down 31-14 at halftime of the Pro Bowl, the AFC opened the third quarter with Texans quarterback Matt Schaubbeing intercepted by Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. It was Schaub’s second pick after replacing Peyton Manning.

The NFC’s third quarterback of the game was Seahawks rookie Russell Wilson, playing behind Drew Brees andEli Manning. Wilson took over at the start of the second half and worked his magic immediately, 360-spinning out of a near sack by Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, rolling to the left sideline, and finding Bucs running back Doug Martin for a 28-yard touchdown.

The Wilson-to-Martin score gave the NFC a 38-14 edge on their overmatched American Football Conference counterparts.

Schaub did his best to bounce back with a 16-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a four-yard connection to Browns special teamer Josh Cribbs. The AFC still trailed at that point by 17, however, and proceeded to surrender a 92-yard kickoff return to Seattle’s Leon Washington.

After a sack and false start pushed the NFC back 14 yards, Wilson ripped off a 13-yard scramble and again spun away from the AFC pass rush, this time evading Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins to hit Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgeraldfor a nine-yard touchdown.

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh’s extra point made it 45-21, NFC.

Colts rookie Andrew Luck was the AFC’s third quarterback to play, after Peyton Manning and Schaub. Luck’s first snap of the Pro Bowl was fumbled and recovered by Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

Again granted terrific field position, Wilson continued to pour points on the AFC, capitalizing on the Luck miscue with a five-yard scoring strike to Vincent Jackson. The NFC had scored six touchdowns in as many possessions at that point in the blowout.

Following a fumbled kickoff by Cribbs, that touchdown string ended when Walsh’s second field goal of the contest — this one from 26 yards out — put the NFC up 55-21 early in the fourth quarter.

Luck rallied the AFC with a 39-yard strike to Cribbs, 23-yarder to Bengals receiverA.J. Green, and a four-yard touchdown to Green, “narrowing” the deficit to 55-28. The NFC would find pay dirt again on its next possession as Vikings fullbackJerome Felton’s three-yard touchdown dive made it a 62-28 game.

Luck delivered the throw of the 2013 Pro Bowl midway through the fourth quarter, hitting Green on a go route in Bears cornerback Charles Tillman’s coverage down the right sideline. The 49-yard touchdown was placed in Green’s breadbasket and made the score 62-35, NFC.

And that was it for the scoring. On the AFC’s final drive, Watt lined up at tight end and was covered by Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Luck threw it up for grabs in the end zone, and Pierre-Paul came away with the pick.

Saints fire Spanuolo, prepare for switch to 3-4 defense

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 24, 2013, 6:43 PM EST

AP

Sean Payton is back as the Saints’ head coach, and his first act is to fire his defensive coordinator and reshape his defense.

The Saints have announced that Payton fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and secondary coach Ken Flajole, and that Payton wants to shift to a 3-4 defense.

“I personally want to thank Steve and Ken for their contributions during what was an unprecedented 2012 season,” Payton said in a statement released by the team. “Philosophically we are changing our defense to a 3-4 alignment and right now is the best time to accomplish this transition.”

Spagnuolo replaced Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator a year ago, after Williams left for St. Louis — and before the news broke that the Saints had previously run a bounty program that would result in Payton being suspended for 2012 and Williams being banned indefinitely. Now Payton is back and Spagnuolo is out.

Top 10 NFL Breakout Players of 2012

The NFL's regular season is a long and ever-changing adventure. In every season, there are several players who bust out of the starting gate early, while some take a little longer to make an impact. The 2012 regular season was no exception.
(Note: Rookies not included).

With Tom Brady at the helm, the Patriots in recent seasons have largely given the ground game little more than a passing glance, and with Brady and his impressive stable of receivers, who could blame them? In 2012 however, second-year RB Stevan Ridley's improvement forced head coach Bill Belichick to tweak the playbook to take advantage of Ridley's skills. His 1,263 yards rushing ranked him 7th league-wide and his 12 TDs tied him for third. Even though the Pats fell to Baltimore in the AFC Championship game, look for Ridley to become an even more integral part of their offense.

Denver WR Demaryius Thomas had a decent 2011 season, most notably as being former Broncos QB Tim Tebow's favorite target, but when Denver signed Peyton Manning in the off-season, Thomas' stock zoomed. As speedy as any wideout in the league, Thomas and Manning quickly developed a rapport and the third-year Georgia Tech product nearly tripled his 2011 numbers, hauling in 94 passes for 1,434 yards and 10 TDs as the Broncos earned the AFC's No. 1 seed with a 13-3 W-L mark. Expect this tandem to continue to be among the league's most productive for the next few seasons.

One player who didn't begin to garner attention until late in the season was QB Colin Kaepernick of the NFC Champion and Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers. Barely able to get on the field throughout his rookie (2011) season and the majority of 2012, the Nevada product finally got his chance after starting QB Alex Smith went down with a concussion against St. Louis on November 11th. Although the game ended in a tie, Kaepernick's mobility and athleticism convinced head coach Jim Harbaugh to stick with the 25-year old. The results couldn't have been more surprising or effective. Kaepernick took the 49er's read-option offense to levels unimagined, culminating in an NFL QB-record 181 yards rushing in a playoff win over Green Bay, then demonstrating his versatility by relying on his passing skills in the NFC Championship win over Atlanta.

Before teammate and featured RB Fred Jackson went down with an injury in early December, his backup, C.J. Spiller had had some impressive moments as a nice "change-of-pace" back in the Buffalo Bills offense. Once Spiller was the de facto starter however, he wasted little time in showing the promise that followed him after a standout career at Clemson. The third-year player finished with a career-best 1,244 yards and six TDs in addition to catching 43 passes.

Little more than a return specialist in his rookie season, Green Bay's Randall Cobb took advantage of an injury to WR Greg Jennings to make the 2012 season his "breakout" campaign. Once he gained the trust of QB Aaron Rodgers, the second-year Kentucky product grabbed 80 passes for 954 yards and 8 TDs. As if Rodgers needed any additional weapons, he now has another in the speedy Cobb.

Plagued by injury during his rookie season, Detroit's RB Mikel Leshoure made the most of his opportunity in 2012 by rushing for a team-leading 798 yards and 9 TDs in Detroit's pass-happy attack. Although the Lions had a disappointing season, look for Leshoure to be a major component in 2013 as they seek better offensive balance.

Playing on one of the NFL's weakest offensive units, WR Cecil Shorts was little more than a special-teams standout during his 2011 rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But with team star Maurice Jones-Drew hobbled nearly the entire season, Shorts finally got his shot and didn't disappoint. For the season, the small-college product (Mount Union College) proved he belonged, hauling in 55 passes for 979 yards and 7 TDs.

Before he went down to injury around Thanksgiving, Giants RB Andre Brown had established himself as New York's unquestioned "goal-line" specialist, scoring 8 TDs and amassing a hard-fought 385 yards on just 73 carries. With Ahmad Bradshaw's future in question, the pile-driving Brown, once he recovers, could be their next featured RB.

Seen as little more than "adequate" in his first two NFL seasons, Cincinnati's burly DT Geno Atkins came into his own during the 2012 season. At 6'1 and 300 lbs., the Georgia product led all NFL interior defenders with a career-best 12.5 sacks as well as forcing 4 fumbles. Those impressive numbers were tallied despite missing one game.

Playing opposite teammate Charles Johnson, Carolina's other DE, third-year man Greg Hardy was frequently overlooked. He made a name for himself in 2012 by teaming up with Johnson to record a combined 23.5 sacks, the third-highest total for a tandem in the NFL. Hardy's athleticism and non-stop motor bodes well for the Panthers' future pass rush.

Written by: Don Phan

Report: Darrelle Revis on the trading block

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 23, 2013, 7:58 PM EST

Reuters

Jets owner Woody Johnson is reportedly interested in trading the team’s most valuable asset, cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Johnson has expressed a desire to trade Revis, Jason La Canfora of CBS reports. La Canfora attributes the report to unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation. It’s possible that Johnson floated the idea in conversations with prospective general managers during the search that ultimately led to the Jets hiring John Idzik.

Revis is owed $6 million this year, which is a good deal if Revis is healthy and back to being the NFL’s best cornerback. But it’s Johnson could be worried that Revis will struggle to regain his old form in his recovery from a torn ACL. And La Canfora also reports that Johnson thinks Revis is going to want a lot more money after the 2013 season, when he can become an unrestricted free agent, and that the Jets might be better off getting something for him now than getting nothing for him a year from now.

If the Jets are resigning themselves to the idea that it will take a full year to fix the mess that was the 2012 season, then trading Revis could be the way to begin the rebuilding.

Marcus Lattimore expects to be ready for the start of the season

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on January 23, 2013, 3:08 AM EST

AP

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is just three months removed from a devastating knee injury that ultimately ended his collegiate career.

The junior elected to declare himself eligible for the NFL Draft and said Tuesday he expects to be ready for the start of the 2013 season for whatever team decides to draft him in April.

“That’s my goal, and it is realistic,” Lattimore said, via Dan Wolken of the USA Today.

Lattimore dislocated his right knee and tore several ligaments in the second quarter of South Carolina’s game against Tennessee on Oct. 27. Lattimore, who was projected to be a first round draft pick before the injury, took a hand-off running to his left when a Tennessee defender hit his square on his planted right leg. As he tumbled to the ground, his leg was noticeably disjointed.

It was the second straight season Lattimore has suffered a knee injury as he tore the ACL in his left knee in 2011.

Per Wolken, Lattimore is expected to begin jogging on land in just two weeks.

“Dr. (James) Andrews came in to see me he said, ‘You’re doing remarkable, you’re doing everything you can.’ His words were, ‘You’re going to shock the world,’” Lattimore said.

After seeing what Adrian Peterson was able to do this season after Andrews operated on him, it might be wise to trust his opinion on Lattimore as well.

Cowboys' Jay Ratliff arrested for drunk driving

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 22, 2013, 9:26 PM EST

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Last month, Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was arrested for intoxication manslaughter in the death of his friend and teammate Jerry Brown. That was apparently not enough of a deterrent to keep another Cowboys defensive tackle from driving drunk.

Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicatedafter crashing his pickup truck into an 18-wheeler in Grapevine, Texas, ESPNDallas.com reports.

Ratliff was arrested on Tuesday and has paid his bond and been released. He was not injured and neither was the driver of the 18-wheeler. According to WFAA,Ratliff refused a breathalyzer test but appeared to be drunk, and officers brought him to a police station where blood was drawn.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who had a heated exchange with Ratliff in December, spoke favorably about Ratliff when asked about that incident by reporters at Senior Bowl practices today.

“As far as I’m concerned, he is outstanding, he has given everything he’s ever had to the Dallas Cowboys,” Jones said of Ratliff.

Jones apparently didn’t know that just hours earlier, Ratliff had been in jail, accused of driving drunk.

Jerry Rice agrees with Tim Brown that Bill Callahan sabotaged the Raiders

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 22, 2013, 4:59 PM EST

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The bizarre controversy over whether former Raiders coach Bill Callahan sabotaged the teambefore Super Bowl XXXVII by changing the game plan at the last minute has taken another surprising turn: Jerry Rice has come forward to say he sides with his former teammate Tim Brown in believing that Callahan wanted to lose.

Rice, who was on the Raiders team that lost Super Bowl XXXVII to the Buccaneers, said on ESPN that Callahan disliked his players, disliked his team, and was willing to let his old boss, then-Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, beat him.

“For some reason — and I don’t know why — Bill Callahan did not like me,” Rice said. “In a way, maybe because he didn’t like the Raiders, he decided, ‘Maybe we should sabotage this a little bit and let Jon Gruden go out and win this one.’”

For Rice, a universally respected player who was named in a poll of experts conducted by NFL Network as the greatest player in NFL history, to say that he believes one of his former coaches actively wanted to lose a Super Bowl is shocking. ESPN’s Trey Wingo stopped Rice and asked him if he realized the magnitude of the accusation that Callahan once threw the Super Bowl. Rice said he understands the weight of his words.

“Yeah, I know exactly what I’m saying,” Rice said.

Until Brown made his bombshell accusation on Saturday, the biggest controversy to come out of Super Bowl XXXVII was the fact that Raiders center Barrett Robbins abandoned the team the day before the game. Rice blames Callahan for that, too: According to Rice, Robbins was so demoralized by Callahan announcing in a team meeting that he was going to call mostly pass plays that Robbins decided to bail on the Super Bowl.

“With Barrett, he was frustrated, like, ‘You cannot do this to us at the last second.’ Maybe that’s why he decided to not show up,” Rice said.

I have all the respect in the world for Jerry Rice, but blaming Callahan for Robbins’ actions is ridiculous. Robbins is a man who has struggled with mental illness for most of his life. A man who struggles with mental illness is battling demons much more profound than a coach changing his game plan. Does Rice also blame Callahan for the legal and personal problems that have plagued Robbins in the decade since his NFL career ended?

Rice also doesn’t seem to accurately remember how that Super Bowl went down. In his ESPN appearance, Rice said Callahan called on the Raiders “to throw the ball over 60 times.” But the Raiders didn’t throw the ball 60 times or even 50 times. They threw 44 times — exactly three more times than they had thrown the ball the week before, when they won the AFC Championship Game.

And that brings us to the strangest part of all this criticism of Callahan: Brown and Rice are insisting that Callahan sabotaged the team by implementing a pass-first offensive game plan. But the Raiders had been a passing team all season: They led the NFL in passing yards that season while ranking 18th in the league in rushing yards and 23rd in the league in rushing attempts. In other words, Callahan called a lot of passes in the Super Bowl because it was calling a lot of passes that had led them to the Super Bowl in the first place.

For Brown and Rice to suggest that Callahan was throwing the Super Bowl because he continued to call a lot of passes just as he had all season long is absolutely ridiculous.

Tim Brown says Bill Callahan sabotaged the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII

Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2013, 9:33 PM EST

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A decade ago, the Raiders’ fate in Super Bowl XXXVII presumably was sealed by the weekend disappearance of center Barret Robbins.  Hall of Fame finalist Tim Brown believes that the blame for the 48-21 loss to the Buccaneers should go to Oakland’s head coach.

“We get our game plan for victory on Monday, and the game plan says we’re gonna run the ball,” Brown said Saturday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, which provided us with the audio.  “We averaged 340 [pounds] on the offensive line, they averaged 280 [on the defensive line].  We’re all happy with that, everybody is excited.  [We] tell Charlie Garner, ‘Look, you’re not gonna get too many carries, but at the end of the day we’re gonna get a victory.  Tyrone Wheatley, Zack Crockett, let’s get ready to blow this thing up.’”

According to Brown, coach Bill Callahan then “blew this thing up” on the Friday before the Super Bowl, changing the game plan from a run-heavy attack to an intent to “throw the ball 60 times.”

“We all called it sabotage . . . because Callahan and [Tampa Bay coach Jon] Gruden were good friends,” Brown said.  “And Callahan had a big problem with the Raiders, you know, hated the Raiders.  You know, only came because Gruden made him come.  Literally walked off the field on us a couple of times during the season when he first got there, the first couple years.  So really he had become someone who was part of the staff but we just didn’t pay him any attention.  Gruden leaves, he becomes the head coach. . . .  It’s hard to say that the guy sabotaged the Super Bowl.  You know, can you really say that?  That can be my opinion, but I can’t say for a fact that that’s what his plan was, to sabotage the Super Bowl.  He hated the Raiders so much that he would sabotage the Super Bowl so his friend can win the Super Bowl.  That’s hard to say, because you can’t prove it.

“But the facts are what they are, that less than 36 hours before the game we changed our game plan.  And we go into that game absolutely knowing that we have no shot.  That the only shot we had if Tampa Bay didn’t show up.”

Brown explained that the change had a specific impact on Robbins.  “Barret Robbins begged Coach Callahan, ‘Do not do this to me.  I don’t have time to make my calls, to get my calls ready.  You can’t do this to me on Friday.  We haven’t practiced full speed, we can’t get this done.’”

Brown tiptoed around the question of whether the change caused Robbins to go off the deep end, suggesting that it had an impact and then explaining that there’s no way to know if it did.  “I’m not saying one had anything to do with the other,” Brown said.  “All I’m saying is those are the facts of what happened Super Bowl week.  So our ire wasn’t towards Barret Robbins, it was towards Bill Callahan.  Because we feel as if he wouldn’t have did what he did, then Barret wouldn’t have done what he did.

“Now, should Barret have manned up and tried to do it?  Absolutely.  But everybody knew Barret was unstable anyway.  So to put him in that situation — not that he was putting him in that situation — but for that decision to be made without consulting the players the Friday before the Super Bowl?  I played 27 years of football.  The coaches never changed the game plan the Friday before the game.  I’m not trying to point fingers at anybody here, all I’m saying is those are the facts of what happened.  So people look at Barret and they say all these things, but every player in that locker room will tell you, ‘You’d better talk to Bill Callahan.’   Because if not for Coach Callahan, I don’t think we’re in that situation.”

Well, we now know what Tim Brown will be asked about next week in New Orleans.  Continuously.

There’s only one potential flaw in Brown’s logic.  He assumes that the new game plan came from Callahan.  Who’s to say that the order to throw the ball 60 times didn’t come from the late Al Davis, who had a special affinity for throwing the football, and also for meddling directly in the coaching of the team?

Thus, while it’s easy to blame Callahan, Callahan may have simply been the messenger.

Regardless, Brown and Callahan and Gruden and quarterback Rich Gannon and anyone/everyone who was part of that team will soon be hearing from reporters and radio/TV producers, just in time for the 10th anniversary of the game.

Lions add Jim Washburn to help with pass rush

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 22, 2013, 7:48 AM EST

AP

Not only is Lions coach Jim Schwartz adamantabout sticking with his Wide 9 alignment, he’s bringing in one of its main proponents to help him.

According to Mike Garafolo of USA Today, former Eagles assistant Jim Washburn will join the Lions as a defensive assistant, bringing his pass-rush expertise to a team that needs it. The Lions were 20th in the league in sacks (34), after finishing 10th in the league (41) the year before.

Washburn and Schwartz worked together in Tennessee, and Jim’s son Jeremiah was just promoted to offensive line coach in Detroit.

That at least makes it less likely he’ll call that particular co-worker insulting names.

According to Justin Rogers of MLive.com, Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurekwas still with the team, coaching defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.

Wes Welker's wife apologizes for Ray Lewis rant

Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2013, 11:54 PM EST

Reuters

Soon-to-be free-agent receiver Wes Welkerlikely can remove the Ravens from his list of potential destinations.

Welker’s wife launched a Facebook tirade against Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis after Sunday’s AFC title game, in which Mrs. Welker criticizes Lewis for being “[a]cquitted for murder” and “[p]aid a family off,” via The Big Lead.

She has since apologized for her comments.  “I let the competitiveness of the game and the comments people were making about a team I dearly love get the best of me,” Welker’s wife told Larry Brown Sports.  “My actions were emotional and irrational and I sincerely apologize to Ray Lewis and anyone affected by my comment after yesterday’s game.”

It still likely won’t be enough to persuade Ray’s teammates to forgive and forget.  As Peter King pointed out last week, Ravens players were “hooting and hollering disrespect” at USA Today reporter Robert Klemko after the postseason win over the Broncos, because Klemko had dared to ask Ray Lewis about the still-unsolved double murder with evidence including the blood of one of the victims being found in his limo and Lewis telling the passengers in the limo to “keep their mouths shut” and the white suit Lewis was wearing that evening never being located and Lewis eventually pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for making misleading statements to police about the incident.

The case likely won’t be mentioned much in the days preceding the Super Bowl.  Frankly, it’s hard to say whether it should or shouldn’t be.  On one hand, it happened 13 years ago.  On the other hand, the unsolved double murder became completely forgotten in the 12 years since former Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpeoffered a spirited defense of Lewis at media day prior to Super Bowl XXXV.

Terrell Suggs rips Belichick and Patriots

Posted by Mike Florio on January 20, 2013, 11:08 PM EST

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Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs doesn’t like the Patriots.  And now that he’s on his way to the first Super Bowl of his career after beating them in the AFC title game, Suggs has teed off on his team’s long-time nemesis.

“Tell them to have fun at the Pro Bowl,” Suggs said after the game, via Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports.  “Arrogant f–kers.”

Suggs elaborated, explaining that, in his view, “These are the most arrogant pricks in the world starting with [coach Bill] Belichick on down.”

Suggs eventually calmed down, but only after pointing out that “ever since Spygate they haven’t been able to win.”

“All BS aside they are a hell of a ball club,” Suggs said.  “They have the right to be arrogant.”

Under that standard, the Ravens do, too.  Five straight playoff berths.  Five straight years with at least one playoff win.  Three AFC championship games.  And now, finally, their first trip back to the Super Bowl in 12 years.

We’ve got a feeling that, win or lose, Suggs won’t be calling the 49ers coach an “arrogant prick” two weeks from tonight.