QB Brady participates in practice Wednesday
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick expects Tom Brady to be ready Sunday for the season opener against Kansas City after the NFL's reigning MVP missed all four exhibition games.
"He's practicing this week and I expect he'll be ready to go," Belichick said Wednesday during a conference call with Kansas City reporters.
Asked if that meant that the quarterback, who has had an injured right foot, would play, Belichick said: "He's been practicing all week. I expect him to be out there today and I expect him to be out there the rest of the week."
Brady, who participated fully in practice Wednesday, said Monday the condition of his foot has improved and he could have played in all four exhibition games.
Wednesday's practice report listed the quarterback with right shoulder and foot injuries. But last year's practice reports listed him with the shoulder injury in every game and he started all of them. Brady has started 127 straight games, the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history.
"If it's up to me, there's no question" that he would play against the Chiefs, Brady said Monday. "I've been getting progressively better over the past couple of weeks. I'm excited. I'm excited to start the year."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Ring is Seau's sole purpose
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Seat 2A can wait a few more weeks.
Not that New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau's one-liner that drives coach Bill Belichick a little crazy isn't still funny. During the dreary days of offseason mini-camps and workouts as the players were doing conditioning sprints under Belichick's watchful eye, Seau would break the monotony by yelling out, "Seat 2A."
That was the location of his seat for the plane ride home to San Diego when the workouts were done. The players would all chuckle. Belichick would fume, but just a little.
Seau, can't we just (expletive) concentrate on what we have to do right now," Seau says, imitating Belichick's reaction from the offseason. A few feet away, fellow linebacker Adalius Thomas shouts "Seat 2A" in Seau's direction and starts to laugh at the image of Belichick getting a little frosty with the troops.
Yeah, Belly likes to get on us," Seau said with a smile as he took a moment from his preparation for Saturday night's divisional round matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Belly? Hold on! Is that some endearing nickname for the NFL's premier taskmaster and resident genius? You get the feeling that if anyone but a veteran player with at least 12 years and a half-dozen Pro Bowl selections notched on his belt were to call Belichick by that name, he'd be cut on the spot. However, Seau can pull it off and still maintain an air of respect for the brilliant coach.
Truth is, on a team loaded with football purists like Mike Vrabel, Kevin Faulk and Tom Brady, no one concentrates or loves the game more than Seau and Belichick knows it. In fact, the coach has a great appreciation for the 18-year veteran who has spent the past 13 years just trying to get back to the playoffs.
As the Patriots attempted to reach their fourth Super Bowl this decade, Seau missed last year's run with a season ending broken right arm suffered in Week 12. His loss was part of a physical meltdown at linebacker last season for the Patriots, who were eventually beaten in the AFC Championship game. Still, despite Seau's age (he turns 39 on Jan. 19) and recent run of injuries (he missed a combined 17 games with injuries in 2004 and 2005 with Miami), Belichick wanted him back.
"Every day, every practice," Belichick said when asked about Seau's expressed enthusiasm for the game.
"He's here early, stays late, has a lot of energy out on the field, very vocal, communicating guy. Every time we go in the huddle he has an energy and a presence about him that's pretty much non-stop. I think he s obviously one of the most respected players in the league, certainly on this team. He has a good message and people listen to him, as they should. He has a lot of experience and comes from the heart."
Realistically, Seau doesn't need to be here. He has plenty of money. He has a pretty good shot at the Hall of Fame. He would become the first Samoan or Tongan player to make it there, a sweet footnote for a player from a culture that loves the game and its direct relative rugby.
But Seau doesn't have a ring.
"I'm not here for anything else. I'm not here to practice. I'm not here to go to meetings. It's a great game, and I do love the game, but you would love to finish it the way you dreamt of finishing it when you were a kid. I knew coming here there was a chance of winning. Not to win just the Super Bowl, but to just win.
"And I knew that in this league if you win consistently enough, it allows you greater things and that's the formula that I've been going with ever since I started. And the chance of winning has led us to where we are today. That's all we have just a chance. Hopefully at the end of the day we can meet on this and talk about something else, but until then, we have a job on Saturday."
All Seau has from his one Super Bowl appearance is a bitter memory. The last time Seau was in the playoffs was the 1994 season with the Chargers, when San Diego made an improbable run to the title game. Seau was in his fifth season after being the No. 5 overall pick in the 1990 draft. He was the best linebacker in football at the time.
He wasn't nearly enough to contain a San Francisco team loaded with Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Ricky Watters. The 49ers ran away from San Diego for a 49-26 victory. The next morning, Seau was at Miami International Airport, waiting to board a flight to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.
As he sat there, all he could think was that people were staring at him and laughing underneath their breath. Seau was humiliated from the lopsided loss.
"Going to the Super Bowl and facing the San Francisco 49ers and all of the talent that they had, they took it to us. Sitting in the airport it was embarrassing. As an athlete, as a professional athlete, to go in there and compete at the high level that you had hoped to and to go out there and have it handed to you on national TV as the world was watching it was embarrassing. I've always dreamt to have another opportunity and another chance, and that's why I'm here," Seau said.
As solemn and serious as that sounds, that doesn't mean the journey can't be fun. In fact, Seau's humor often helps other players forget how much they can't stand the process. It's the natural coach-player (or boss-employee) dynamic. Eventually, everybody gets on each other's nerves. As much as the players respect Belichick, he has also drawn his share of contempt from them.
Seau does his best to make everybody forget that. Another of his favorite lines comes every Wednesday during the regular season. In the midst of practice, Seau will yell, "Two days till Friday, coach." It's a little reminder that if a player makes it to Friday in the NFL, he has to be paid for the week.
"You make it to Friday, you gotta be part of the game plan," Seau said with a knowing grin. "Can't get rid of me then. (Belichick) hates that. He doesn't want the younger guys to hear that. He says, 'Seau, can we just (expletive) concentrate on what we have to do Wednesday.'"
Of course, it's just a game for the two of them. Belichick trusts that Seau is fully into the game. Seau trusts that Belichick gives him the best chance for that elusive ring.
They both know, Seat 2A can wait for that.
Copyright 2008 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Brady among 5 Patriots voted to AP NFL All-Pro team
NEW YORK (AP) -- The 2007 season was outstanding for a bunch of fresh faces.
Sixteen players, including league MVP Tom Brady, made The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team for the first time.
Yes, the record-setting New England quarterback who has won three Super Bowls in his eight pro seasons never was chosen an All-Pro, beaten out by the likes of fellow MVPs Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Rich Gannon.
Among the other newcomers were Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who led the league with 10 interceptions; Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware; and Titans placekicker Rob Bironas.
"This year, I think I proved a lot of people wrong, with everybody saying how my knee injury was going to affect me," said Cromartie, whose first healthy NFL season was 2007. "I mean, I'm two years off of it. My biggest thing was proving everybody wrong."
Bironas also has proven himself in the NFL after spending four years playing indoor football. He made a record eight field goals in a win at Houston, and was 35-for-39, plus a perfect 28-of-28 on PATs.
"It's been an incredible journey," said Bironas. "I didn't have any doubt in myself when I got started on this journey in high school. That was my dream to play in the pros, and I just kept pursuing it. I wanted to be one of the better kickers in the NFL, and this year I was able to do that."
Ware one was of the top linebackers, a pass-rushing threat who also was solid against the run. Offensive coordinators needed to account for Ware on every down.
"Coming from a smaller college, playing defensive end, and then converting to linebacker, seeing how over the years I've gotten better and better coverage-wise and stopping the run and, secondly, rushing the passer," Ware said of his improvement since being a 2005 first-round draft pick out of Troy. "Now, I feel like I'm a well-rounded linebacker. Now I'm getting put in the realm with those other guys that have been here seven, eight years and have been great players. So you really see how your hard work pays off. It's a great thing."
The greatest thing in the NFL during the regular season: the Patriots. Along with Brady, who drew 49 1/2 of the ballots from 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL -- one voter split at quarterback between Brady and Green Bay's Brett Favre -- New England had wide receiver Randy Moss (a unanimous choice), tackle Matt Light, linebacker Mike Vrabel and cornerback Asante Samuel on the All-Pro team.
All but Moss made the All-Pro team for the first time; Moss was chosen as a Minnesota Viking in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
Along with Moss, the other unanimous pick was Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the league's rushing leader, who made it for the third time.
Joining Tomlinson and Cromartie from the Chargers was fullback Lorenzo Neal, who clears many of L.T.'s paths.
Also with three players on the team were Dallas and Seattle. The Cowboys had Ware, tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Terrell Owens; Ware and Witten were first-timers, Owens also was selected in 2000, '01 and '02 with San Francisco, and 2004 with Philadelphia.
"Any time you can be the best in the entire league, that's always a special moment," said Witten, who had 96 receptions and seven touchdowns this season. "There's a lot of great tight ends out there, so to be on the top of that list is nice."
The Seahawks had tackle Walter Jones, defensive end Patrick Kerney and linebacker Lofa Tatupu. Jones previously made All-Pro in 2001, '04 and '05; the others Seahawks were first-timers.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren called Tatupu's three-interception day in a win at Philadelphia on Dec. 2 "one of the great games I've ever seen a linebacker have."
"Everybody has been instrumental in everything that I've been able to do," Tatupu said. "The D-line has been enabling me to get sacks, DBs staying on their guys so we can get back there and get sacks, or getting interceptions."
Joining Brady, Tomlinson and Neal in the backfield was Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook, who led the league in yards from scrimmage with 2,104.
"Being named first-team All-Pro is an unbelievable way to cap a season that I am very proud of from a personal standpoint, although I wish things would have turned out differently for our team," said Westbrook, whose Eagles were 8-8. "I have always said that I would trade personal accomplishments for the success of my team, but it's great to be recognized for the things I have worked so hard to achieve."
The rest of the offense had Minnesota guard Steve Hutchinson, Pittsburgh guard Alan Faneca, and Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday.
The other All-Pros on defense were Kansas City end Jared Allen, the league sacks leader with 15 1/2 ; Minnesota tackle Kevin Williams and Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth; San Francisco inside linebacker Patrick Willis, the only rookie on the squad; Indianapolis safety Bob Sanders, the Defensive Player of the Year; and Baltimore safety Ed Reed, making it for the third time.
San Francisco punter Andy Lee, also a newcomer to the squad, and record-setting kick returner Devin Hester of Chicago, who made it as a rookie in 2006, as well, were the other special-teamers.
In all, 15 AFC players and 12 from the NFC were chosen as All-Pros.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Last chance: Will Browns put Brady Quinn in for finale?
BEREA, Ohio -- As the wins began piling up during this magical season, the Browns' most popular rookie found himself standing helplessly on the sideline wishing he was on the field.
How often was that, Brady Quinn?
"Every time," he said Wednesday. "I'm a quarterback."
A high-profile, high-paid, high-ceilinged backup quarterback to be precise. And Quinn is still waiting.
Because of the unusual circumstances surrounding Cleveland's home finale on Sunday against San Francisco, it is possible Quinn could make his NFL debut.
By squandering a chance to control their playoff destiny with a 19-14 loss last Sunday in Cincinnati, the Browns have rendered their matchup with the 49ers almost meaningless. Even with a win, Cleveland can only make the AFC playoffs if Tennessee (9-6) loses at Indianapolis (13-2) later that night.
Not that long ago, the idea of Quinn sitting behind Derek Anderson wasn't very likely. This season, however, the only national exposure for the former Notre Dame star has been as a pitchman for Subway sandwiches. Meanwhile, Anderson has started 14 games with No. 15 on Sunday highly likely.
"We're going to play to win and try to win," Crennel said. "Whoever gives us the best chance to win, that's who we're going to play. Quinn has been one play away all year. He's still one play away.
"If he has to play, he'll go in and represent himself well and he'll represent the Browns well."
The closest Quinn came to playing was on Oct. 7 at New England, when Anderson landed on his right shoulder and looked as if he was headed to the bench. Quinn stripped off his jacket and quickly began warming up, but before he made it to the huddle, Anderson regrouped and has stayed under center ever since.
Browns fans, who chanted "Bra-dy, Bra-dy" during the preseason, have been subdued all year in their desire to see Quinn because of the emergence of Anderson, who has thrown for 3,635 yards, 28 touchdowns and is perhaps the biggest reason Cleveland hasn't faded from the playoff picture.
However, Anderson's four interceptions against the Bengals has stirred up the idea of seeing what Quinn can do.
Barring an injury to Anderson, any decision to insert Quinn on Sunday could have greater consequences for the Browns.
Anderson will become a restricted free agent following the season and general manager Phil Savage has said the team expects to offer the 24-year-old, who was voted a Pro Bowl alternate, the highest one-year tender.
The only way another team could sign Anderson is if it gives up a first- and third-round draft pick in 2008 to Cleveland, a steep price for a QB with only one year's experience and one who already lost a big December game.
Quinn was believed to be the Browns' quarterback of the future, but that plan may have been altered by Anderson's surprising success. There's also the possibility the team could ride out another season with both players.
As for this week, Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards said that while there may be a curiosity factor attached to seeing Quinn, he doubts Crennel would do anything differently than in the first 15 games.
"I can't see him (playing Quinn) this late in the season and causing any controversy or anything like that with how we played all year," he said. "There have been some chances for Quinn to get in. If that was going to be the case, he didn't take them then and I don't see him taking them now."
Anderson, who has been reluctant to address any questions about his future, was asked about the potential of Quinn getting some time. Would he mind?
"You want to finish this game and finish the 16 games of this season," he said. "I think we've stuck together through everything thick and thin through the whole season and I don't see why things would change."
Quinn has remained patient while waiting for a chance to quarterback the team he grew up cheering.
"Every game I would love to get on the field, and this game is no different from any other," he said.
But it's the last one.
"This is true," he said. "But I don't think it's the last one of my career. If I don't get in this game, hopefully we make the playoffs and if I don't get in there, it goes on and on and on.
"I'll just keep staying optimistic about everything."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Robinson shakes off rust, baggage to make impact for Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers knew signing Koren Robinson was a gamble that almost certainly wouldn't pay off right away, if at all.
Now it's beginning to look like a jackpot.
Robinson, who returned from a one-year suspension under the NFL's substance abuse policy in October, had his best game yet for the Packers against St. Louis on Sunday, returning three kickoffs for a whopping 130 yards in Green Bay's 33-14 victory.
It was a breakthrough game for Robinson, who has fought through nagging knee soreness to gradually get back up to speed in the return game and on offense since his suspension was lifted.
"I think the rust is off," Robinson said. "I'm definitely starting to get that back, just the feel of the game I believe is coming back to me."
The slow progress was frustrating for Robinson, who had to remind himself it would take time to get back into football shape.
"I've always been able to do what I wanted to do on the field," Robinson said. "And going through that, it was frustrating. But at the same time, I had to look at, 'Man, you just took a year off from playing football."'
The Packers signed Robinson after he was cut by Minnesota last year, but he played in only four games before he was suspended by the NFL -- and later sent to jail -- for a pair of alcohol-related incidents.
Robinson came back vowing to recover, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and taking a drug that will make him sick if he drinks.
Now his personal life appears to be in order, and he's beginning to make an impact on the field, providing an extra boost to the 12-2 Packers going into the playoffs.
"I think Koren has improved over the last couple of weeks," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think he's comfortable now with the blocking in the return game. I thought our return game was excellent as far as the blocking, and he just shows you his big-play ability with the ball in his hands."
McCarthy also wants to get Robinson more involved in the offense -- he has 15 catches for 182 yards in seven games -- but Robinson is willing to accept whatever role comes his way.
"In my situation, it's returning; it's making a big catch coming in as the fourth or fifth receiver, getting a first down; it's me just being on the sideline, getting people up or rubbing off on people with my attitude," Robinson said. "I feel like all of it goes together."
Robinson's success has been gratifying for quarterback Brett Favre, who felt a connection with Robinson because of his own history of abusing painkillers and alcohol and publicly lobbied the league to lift Robinson's suspension.
"I'm sure that a lot of people said, 'Cut ties with him, they need to ban him forever.' I'm sure there was not a lot of positive towards Koren," Favre said. "Now, am I a little bit biased? Yeah -- he was on our team. We elected to take a gamble with him, and I think that gamble obviously has paid off."
Favre said Robinson's success on the field is directly related to his recovery off it.
"It goes hand in hand," Favre said. "How you're leading your life off the field, how you want to be perceived. You know, we all want people to say good things about us and cheer for us and all, well, he's doing all the right things. And that is really good to see."
Favre also is impressed by Robinson's talent.
"It doesn't seem flashy, but next thing you know he's at the 50, and he just has a knack for doing that," Favre said. "The guy's a ballplayer."
Packers special teams coordinator Mike Stock said Robinson was motivated Sunday because of a mistake he made in the Packers' previous game against Oakland.
"He's got a big-time incentive to be the guy that everybody's talked to him about since he had his Pro Bowl season," Stock said. "The week before, he had trouble catching the ball on the opening kickoff return of the second half, and I think he was a little embarrassed."
As a result, Stock said, Robinson was focused in practice last week.
"I think that was on his mind all week long," Stock said. "So he came prepared, practiced catching the ball all week long in preparation for this game, and I think it showed. He's very serious about it."
Robinson made the Pro Bowl as a returner in 2005. Can he get back to that level?
"If we can continue to block for him, I think those things are possible," Stock said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Robinson shakes off rust, baggage to make impact for Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers knew signing Koren Robinson was a gamble that almost certainly wouldn't pay off right away, if at all.
Now it's beginning to look like a jackpot.
Robinson, who returned from a one-year suspension under the NFL's substance abuse policy in October, had his best game yet for the Packers against St. Louis on Sunday, returning three kickoffs for a whopping 130 yards in Green Bay's 33-14 victory.
It was a breakthrough game for Robinson, who has fought through nagging knee soreness to gradually get back up to speed in the return game and on offense since his suspension was lifted.
"I think the rust is off," Robinson said. "I'm definitely starting to get that back, just the feel of the game I believe is coming back to me."
The slow progress was frustrating for Robinson, who had to remind himself it would take time to get back into football shape.
"I've always been able to do what I wanted to do on the field," Robinson said. "And going through that, it was frustrating. But at the same time, I had to look at, 'Man, you just took a year off from playing football."'
The Packers signed Robinson after he was cut by Minnesota last year, but he played in only four games before he was suspended by the NFL -- and later sent to jail -- for a pair of alcohol-related incidents.
Robinson came back vowing to recover, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and taking a drug that will make him sick if he drinks.
Now his personal life appears to be in order, and he's beginning to make an impact on the field, providing an extra boost to the 12-2 Packers going into the playoffs.
"I think Koren has improved over the last couple of weeks," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think he's comfortable now with the blocking in the return game. I thought our return game was excellent as far as the blocking, and he just shows you his big-play ability with the ball in his hands."
McCarthy also wants to get Robinson more involved in the offense -- he has 15 catches for 182 yards in seven games -- but Robinson is willing to accept whatever role comes his way.
"In my situation, it's returning; it's making a big catch coming in as the fourth or fifth receiver, getting a first down; it's me just being on the sideline, getting people up or rubbing off on people with my attitude," Robinson said. "I feel like all of it goes together."
Robinson's success has been gratifying for quarterback Brett Favre, who felt a connection with Robinson because of his own history of abusing painkillers and alcohol and publicly lobbied the league to lift Robinson's suspension.
"I'm sure that a lot of people said, 'Cut ties with him, they need to ban him forever.' I'm sure there was not a lot of positive towards Koren," Favre said. "Now, am I a little bit biased? Yeah -- he was on our team. We elected to take a gamble with him, and I think that gamble obviously has paid off."
Favre said Robinson's success on the field is directly related to his recovery off it.
"It goes hand in hand," Favre said. "How you're leading your life off the field, how you want to be perceived. You know, we all want people to say good things about us and cheer for us and all, well, he's doing all the right things. And that is really good to see."
Favre also is impressed by Robinson's talent.
"It doesn't seem flashy, but next thing you know he's at the 50, and he just has a knack for doing that," Favre said. "The guy's a ballplayer."
Packers special teams coordinator Mike Stock said Robinson was motivated Sunday because of a mistake he made in the Packers' previous game against Oakland.
"He's got a big-time incentive to be the guy that everybody's talked to him about since he had his Pro Bowl season," Stock said. "The week before, he had trouble catching the ball on the opening kickoff return of the second half, and I think he was a little embarrassed."
As a result, Stock said, Robinson was focused in practice last week.
"I think that was on his mind all week long," Stock said. "So he came prepared, practiced catching the ball all week long in preparation for this game, and I think it showed. He's very serious about it."
Robinson made the Pro Bowl as a returner in 2005. Can he get back to that level?
"If we can continue to block for him, I think those things are possible," Stock said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Colts planning to be without 4 starters against Oakland
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts are planning to be without four starters for Sunday's game at Oakland.
Coach Tony Dungy said Wednesday receiver Marvin Harrison (bruised left knee), defensive tackle Raheem Brock (ribs), safety Antoine Bethea (sprained left knee) and defensive end Robert Mathis (two sprained knees) are all expected to sit out this week.
"We'll probably hold Robert out unless he makes a miraculous recovery, and we'll probably hold Antoine out, too," Dungy said. "I don't know the severity of the injuries or how long they'll be out, but I don't think they'll play this week."
Bethea and Mathis were injured during last Sunday's 44-20 rout in Baltimore. Neither finished the game, but most of the Colts starters were pulled midway through the third quarter anyway.
Harrison, who has been to eight consecutive Pro Bowls, has already missed a career-high eight games this season after injuring his knee against Denver on Sept. 30. Team president Bill Polian has said the injury also included a burst bursa sac, which has caused additional inflammation in the knee.
"Marvin, I don't think he'll play this week," Dungy said.
Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning isn't sure when Harrison might return, either, and until then is content relying on rookie Anthony Gonzalez, the Colts' top draft pick in April, to fill the void.
Harrison last played against Jacksonville on Oct. 22.
"Nobody really has any clue around here about Marvin and what's going on there, so Gonzo's the guy," Manning said. "I don't know anything. It's Gonzo who's out there at the right, and we've got to get Devin (Aromashodu) more comfortable out there in the three-wides package."
Manning acknowledged later he is tired of answering weekly questions about Harrison's health.
None of the four practiced Wednesday, nor did backup running back Kenton Keith (sprained thumb). Keith injured the thumb several weeks ago, then re-injured it Sunday night at Baltimore.
Keith said a decision on his playing status would be made later this week.
"Kenton has a sprained thumb on his left hand, and it's not really debilitating," Dungy said. "But in his case, he has to catch and carry the ball, so that makes it more difficult."
Also missing practice Wednesday were starting right guard Jake Scott (foot) and backup linebacker Clint Session (ankle). Right tackle Ryan Diem, who sat out Sunday's game, returned to practice and was not listed on the team's injury report.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
|
