News, Notes & Rumors for 09-17-2014

Radisson Hotels suspend support for Vikes
Radisson Hotels suspend support for Vikes

News:

The Radisson Hotel chain has suspended sponsorship of the Vikings. This is what the new Viking banner looks like.

Week 2 was disastrous for a lot of teams suffering significant injuries.

Redskins lost QB Robert Griffin for a number of weeks with a dislocated ankle. They also lost WR DeSean Jackson with a shoulder sprain.

Chiefs lost RB Jamaal Charles with a high ankle sprain and S Eric Berry with a low ankle sprain.

Chargers lost RB Ryan Mathews for a month with an MCL sprain.

Saints RB Mark Ingram with a broken hand for a month.

Bengals WR A.J. Green is dealing with a toe injury.

49ers lost TE Vernon Davis with an ankle injury and Vance McDonald with a knee injury.

The Bears lost CB Charles Tillman for the year with a torn tricep.

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy broke his hand.

Bears lost CB Charles Tillman with a triceps injury.

Jags lost TE Marcedes Lewis with a ankle injury.

Jets lost WR Eric Decker.

2-0 teams

Bills – Not making the playoffs.

Bengals – Playing better than I thought and should make the playoffs.

Texans – Amazing what a last place schedule will do for a team. No playoffs.

Broncos – Will continue to win as long as Payton Manning is healthy.

Eagles – Best team in a terrible division. Playoffs.

Panthers – Falcons have fallen & Saints 0-2. Panthers could make the playoffs.

Cardinals – With the 49ers struggling they may make the playoffs.

0-2 teams

Colts – Two tough losses but in an easy division. Playoffs.

Jaguars – When Hell freezes over.

Raiders – See comment above.

Chiefs – Are not as good as 13 and got a harder schedule. No playoffs.

Giants – Dead. No chance for the playoffs.

Saints – Will make the playoffs but not go far. Needed home field in NFC.

Bucs – Better but a couple of years away from playoffs.

Notes:

Bears 28 49ers 20 – The 49ers paid the price for not protecting QB Kaepernick. The O died in the 4th quarter under the blitz of the Bears. Meanwhile the SF D was giving up points in bunches. The losses by SF in both suspensions, injuries and free agents have reduced the power of the team D. They are now at risk for missing the playoffs.

Packers 31 Jets 24 – Only the Jets could score a TD to tie the game when the bench called a TO. The Pack is not the team they have been in the past. The D has never been outstanding but now is leaking badly. The pass defense is a sieve and may end up costing the team a shot at the playoffs. The O should be better with a running game but the O line is still bad. Pack should make the playoffs unless QB Aaron Rodgers goes down.

Cowboys 26 Titans 10 – Even the Boys D can handle an offense that is playing the wrong QB. Zach Mettenberger is the better QB but the team is starting Jake Locker. Both teams are 1-1 but neither is going anywhere this year.

Panthers 24 Lions 7 – The great O of the Lions disappeared under the rush of the Panthers. I am not a Cam Newton fan but against a bad D backfield he looked OK. Carolina may make the playoffs but does not have the O to go far. Detroit is at best a middle of the pack team.

Redskins 41 Jags 10 – The injury to Robert Griffin may actually help the Skins make the playoffs. QB Kirk Cousins is a better pocket passer than RG3. The Jags are in for a long season.

Bengals 24 Falcons 10 – The Bengals are close to being the best team in the AFC North. Their D is outstanding and as long as QB Andy Dalton doesn’t try to do too much they should get into the playoffs. The Falcons suffer from a really bad D which is the only team without a sack in the league. Despite the powerful O, they are doomed.

Browns 26 Saints 24 – Good win by the Browns. To see my detailed discussion of this game check out my analysis “Great win but Browns have a lot of work to do.” Read more at https://fryingpansports.com/#7JeDkshYhp4S5ChI.99

Rumors:

Raiders may want to fire HC Dennis Allen but team owner Mark Davis is cheap and won’t want to spend money on 2 coaches. The team has a week 5 bye so someone on the coaching staff could be promoted then.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said that the Boys are going to the playoffs. That is not going to happen any time soon. If they don’t he would like to get a better HC but no one that has any NFL credibility will take the job as long as he is the GM.

The Falcons believe that last year was a singular occurrence due to injuries. But the lack of defensive pass rush and inability to convert 3rd down on O is killing them. HC Mike Smith is a very good coach but may be fired if the team doesn’t live up to what I consider unrealistic expectations.

Tons of rumors about the new drug policy have finally become fact. While the reports have been that the NFLPA player reps approved the policy, my sources tell me that is not the case. What I hear is that the reps approved the NFLPA negotiating staff to work out the details. We will report on the details when they become available.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. On Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports, former NFL scout Kelron Sykes and I talk football with just a little Indians and Cavs thrown in. The archive is available on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Please join us.

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 https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .

He also edits .

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

 

Rating: 5.0/5. From 1 vote.
Please wait...