News, Notes & Rumors Week 2 of the preseason

nflNews:

NOTE:  Next week I will discuss in some detail all the preseason game performances by the starters.

Injuries continued this week.  TE Dustin Keller MI tore all the ligaments in his knee and has a dislocated knee cap.  He is out for the season.  The Fish may trade for a starting quality TE.  But this injury will really hurt the development of QB Tannahill.

The Broncos lost 3 players Saturday against the Seahawks.  CB Champ Bailey left with a serious foot sprain, WR Wes Welker had an regular (not a high) ankle sprain and G Louis Vasquez had a knee injury.

The Browns lost 4 players to injury including OG Pinkston (high ankle sprain), RB Dion Lewis (broken leg),  and TE Barnidge (knee sprain).  In addition first round pick Barkevious Mingo suffered a bruised lung and spent 2 nights in the hospital.  He should be ready for the opener against the Dolphins.  The Jets lost LB Quinton Coples (ankle) and the Giants lost WR Victor Cruz (heal).

Bills QB E.J. Manuel has a knee issue and will not play the rest of the preseason.  He had a minor knee procedure on Sunday.  The bad news for QB Kevin Kolb … Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes and Rumors

By Bill Smith

News:

Five US Senators have introduced legislation to eliminate NFL Blackouts.

The NFL has announced that they will play 13 Thursday night games next season.  The games will continue after the traditional Thursday night league kickoff and run through week 15.

The league also announced that every NFL team will get at least 1 prime time game.

The Eagles announced they will plan to put the franchise tag on WR DeSean Jackson.  They will try to work out a trade.  That would mean if he signs the tender he would get around 9.5 million dollars for 2012.  He has said he would accept the tender but the tag cannot be placed until Feb. 26th.  The Eagles would get two first round picks from any team that signed him as a tagged player.  The Eagles will try to trade him this offseason for a first and another player.

The Jags have named Mark Lamping as their team president.  He will oversee all non-football operations.

 

Notes:

Agent Tom Condon has said “Peyton’s not done.”  Peyton Manning has been medically cleared to play by his doctors in 2012.   However, he has not been cleared by the team.  … Read more at FryingPanSports

Is Eagle HC Reid on the hot seat?

Several months ago on NFLDraftDog.com I mentioned that Eagles HC Reid was on the hot seat.  This
was just one more example of my information and instincts being right.  More than a year before OC Weis left the
Chiefs for a lateral move to the OC spot at Florida, I reported that there was a conflict between him and HC Haley.

Last Sunday, a local Philly paper reported that the Reid era of the Eagles may be coming to an end.  There
are several reasons that is happening.   First, and most significant, there is a growing split between Eagle
owner Jeffrey Lurie and HC Reid.  The clearest evidence of that split was the issue of the starting QB between Mike
Vick and Kevin Kolb.  Reid named Kolb the starter for the 2010 season.  When he got hurt Vick became an exciting fan favorite.
But Reid announced that when Kolb recovered he would regain his starting spot.  Less than a week after that Vick
was named the starter for the rest of the season.  As the 2011 season finally got underway, Kolb was traded to the Cards and the spitting contest between the owner and coach over this issue was settled.… Read more at FryingPanSports

The injury bug bites the Eagles tail feathers.

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Head coach Andy Reid is not known for running a particularly physical training camp. Even so, this year injuries have take down some starters critical to the success of the team in 09. MLB Stewart Bradley is one of the best young IB in the league but blew out a knee and was put on IR ending his season. Starting G Todd Herremans (foot) will miss the entire preseason because of a stress reaction in a bone in his foot. Others missing time include starters on the O line T Shawn Andrews (back) and G Stacy Andrews (knee). Starting WR Hank Baskett (knee) has been diagnosed with a hyperextension of the right knee. He is listed as day-to-day. And the star RB Brian Westbrook is recovering from foot surgery and will sit out the preseason. The injury list represents the best and most experienced starters on the team. That is not a good sign for 09.

The offense revolves around two guys—QB Donovan McNabb and RB Westbrook. McNabb has been criticized, benched, and yet has always come back to lead a team with very limited receiving options in the past. This year his corps of receivers looks a lot better. … Read more at FryingPanSports