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September 26th NFL news ... Bet Monday Night Football at betmondaynightfootball.net

NFL: Sundays Other Games
2013-09-24



Buccaneers (0-2) at Patriots (2-0): Tampa Bay can't close out games and has lost twice on last-second field goals. New England can't seem to find the magic on offense but has won two close games. Tom Brady is squarely in charge when the Patriots have the ball but is surrounded by mediocrity in the skills positions. Josh Freeman has been the center of turmoil for the Bucs, struggling despite being surrounded by talent. New England has made key plays at key moments. Tampa Bay has not, and that might be the difference.

Packers (1-1) at Bengals (1-1): Both teams are coming off strong performances after opening losses. The Packers' offense has been in sync from the start, but the defense has been spotty and must contend with Cincinnati's versatile attack. Rookie Giovani Bernard has added flash to the running game, which already had the power of BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green Bay got a boost from John Starks after Eddie Lacy went out with a concussion against Washington. Starks ran for a career-best 132 yards, but the Bengals are stingy against the run.
Texans (2-0) at Ravens (1-1): The Texans have been living dangerously, needing late rallies in their two wins. Then again, that's a sign of a resilient team. "The word for this week ... consistency," Coach Gary Kubiak said. "That's part of the NFL battle. We've got to get more consistent at what we're doing." Baltimore had to pull out everything to beat Cleveland last weekend and did so without star RB Ray Rice, who went out with a left hip flexor and is questionable for this game.

Cardinals (1-1) at Saints (2-0): This game could have plenty of scoring, but WR Larry Fitzgerald's hamstring problem is worrisome for Arizona, and he missed a key portion of last week's victory against Detroit. New Orleans has its own top receiver in Marques Colston, who has been battling a foot injury. His 58 TD catches trail only Fitzgerald's 59 since 2006.

Browns (0-2) at Vikings (0-2): Minnesota fans are looking for a breakout game from 2012 MVP Adrian Peterson, who is third in the league in rushing (193 yards) but not close to his 2,000-yard pace of last season. He might not have it against the Browns, who rank fourth against the run and sixth in overall defense. Their problem is a weak offense that is down to journeyman Brian Hoyer starting at QB for injured Brandon Weeden, and they just traded RB Trent Richardson to Indianapolis.

Lions (1-1) at Redskins (0-2): The Redskins will struggle until Robert Griffin III gets back to playing the way he did in 2012, when he was the top offensive rookie and a dynamic playmaker and all-around threat. Just as alarming is a defense that has been a sieve, allowing Philadelphia and Green Bay to pull away to big leads that Griffin couldn't overcome.

Detroit remains among the NFLs most schizophrenic teams and must find a way to transfer its solid work at home to road games.

Chargers (1-1) at Titans (1-1): After the Chargers blew a big lead at home to Houston then had to travel cross country to Philadelphia, they seemed doomed to another loss. But they beat the Eagles 33-30, and journeyman WR Eddie Royal was unstoppable. It won't be so easy against the Titans, whose defense was terrible in 2012 but is much more competitive now under Gregg Williams, back from his bounty suspension. San Diego has won nine straight in this series.

Rams (1-1) at Cowboys (1-1): After getting six takeaways in their opening win against the Giants, the Cowboys handed last weekend's game to Kansas City through sloppiness dropped passes, penalties and bad time management. Dallas is struggling to run the ball, and its pass defense is leaky. Those issues play right into the Rams' hands: St. Louis ranks fourth in passing and sixth in stopping the run.

Bills (1-1) at Jets (1-1): There's actually a worthwhile reason to watch this one: the two rookie QBs. EJ Manuel, the only quarterback drafted in the first round in April, led the Bills on a last-ditch drive and a win against Carolina, and his poise has been admirable. Even though New York's Geno Smith has been intercepted four times, he showed moxie in the rain at Foxborough in a Thursday night loss. He also has far less help around him than Manuel.

Falcons (1-1) at Dolphins (2-0): The team the Falcons will field isnt the one they expected to have, with LB Sean Weatherspoon, DE Kroy Biermann and FB Bradie Ewing on injured reserve (Weatherspoon can return in Week 11) and RB Steven Jackson out for this game with a thigh injury. Miami has been best at pressuring quarterbacks, and Atlantas ground game might not be much of a threat without Jackson. The Dolphins have nine sacks, but also have allowed nine on Ryan Tannehill.

Colts (1-1) at 49ers (1-1): Andrew Luck will go against his coach at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh and should expect lots of pressure against his suspect offensive line (Luck has been sacked seven times). San Francisco comes off one of its sloppiest efforts at Seattle five turnovers and no touchdowns for just the third time since 1979. Also, 49ers TE Vernon Davis will go against younger brother CB Vontae Davism but Vernon is nursing a hamstring injury.

Jaguars (0-2) at Seahawks (2-0): The Jaguars are banged-up, and even when healthy, they aren't much trouble for anyone. They stayed on the West Coast after a loss at Oakland and practiced at San Jose State. Seattle could have a defense to rival some of the best of the last 30 years, including the 1985 Bears and 2000 Ravens. What the Seahawks did in dominating a solid 49ers offense was mesmerizing, and the Seahawks still are missing key players such as DE Chris Clemons, CB Brandon Browner and LB Bruce Irvin.

Bears (2-0) at Steelers (0-2): Things haven't been this dire for the Steelers since they were 0-3 in 1986. They can't run the ball only the Giants are worse and rarely give QB Ben Roethlisberger time to survey the field. They need someone to make a big play and provide the spark thats missing, and usually thats safety Troy Polamalu. The Bears, winners of two close games at home, can stamp themselves as contenders with a win.



Jets' Sanchez: 'No doubt' I expect to win QB job
2013-05-02

Yes, he believes he'll be NFL Odds the starter, and, yes, he looks forward to the competition.

Then came the question everyone really wanted to know: Hey, Mark, what's up with that headband?

''It's my inner-soccer player,'' said a smiling Sanchez, his hair slicked and held back by a thin green band. ''My hair's getting long. I'm going to donate it at some point, if I can last. We'll see.''

There's already a spoof Twitter account dedicated to the headband, and it received plenty of attention during the team's first locker room availability since last season. But while everyone appeared to be in good spirits, Thursday marked the first of what will likely be many conversations about who the Jets' starting quarterback will be.

Tim Tebow was cut on Monday, but the situation is far from settled. New general manager John Idzik said Sanchez, David Garrard, Greg McElroy, Matt Simms and second-round draft pick Geno Smith are all candidates to be the starter.

''No doubt,'' Sanchez said when asked if he expects to be the No. 1 guy this season. ''Sure. Of course.''

Sanchez's future with the team became extremely uncertain when the Jets drafted Smith, the playmaking former West Virginia star, last week. Many fans and media assumed the move signaled the arrival of the future franchise quarterback for the Jets, with a chance that could happen as soon as this season.

Sanchez is coming off a miserable season in which he threw 18 interceptions, was benched for the first time in his career and had perhaps the most embarrassing NFL play in recent memory when he fumbled after running into the backside of former Jets guard Brandon Moore in a game on national TV.

But that was then and, of course, Sanchez has already put that all in the past. With new coordinator Marty Mornhinweg running a West Coast-style offense that might suit him better, Sanchez is fully motivated to get himself and the team back on track.

''Hopefully winning a bunch of games, that's really all I'm worried about,'' Sanchez said. ''Whether it's a make-or-break thing? I feel that way every year. It should feel that way if you care about it. It's an exciting time.''

Center Nick Mangold couldn't put his finger on it, but thinks there's ''something different'' in the way Sanchez is carrying himself this offseason.

''There's a little fire going, and that's good,'' Sanchez said. ''I think it's good for everybody.''

Mornhinweg spoke to Sanchez before and after the Jets drafted Smith, just to check in with him. There were rumors that the Jets might be looking into trying to part ways now with Sanchez, who is owed a guaranteed $8.25 million this season. Meanwhile, Idzik and coach Rex Ryan haven't spoken to Sanchez specifically about his status, and that's OK with him.

''They don't owe me that,'' Sanchez said. ''It's up to them if they'd like to. I'm free. I'm here.''

And, Tebow isn't - he's now a free agent after clearing waivers - and Sanchez believes that might help eliminate some of the distractions that marked most of last season. Sanchez said neither he nor Tebow were in the ideal situation, especially since they're at a position in which only one can be a starter.

''We both competed our best, tried to be the best of friends we could,'' he said. ''Honestly, under different circumstances we would be really good friends. It's just hard when you're competing like that. There's just a professionalism about it that you don't get too close to guys like that. You're just professional and you're cool. If the guy's got a flat tire on the side of the road, I'm going to stop. I'm not going to just blow by him. But at the same time, I'm not sending him gifts on his birthday.''

Sanchez insisted no hard feelings exist between the two, and added that he will be there for Smith when he joins the team. Rookies don't report to the facility until next week.

''If he's got a question, of course I'm not going to be a jerk,'' Sanchez said. ''I've heard plenty of stories about guys like that. They come ask you a read on a thing and they say, 'Hey, go look at your book.'''

Garrard, signed as a free agent, is the veteran of the bunch at 35 years old, but hasn't played a regular-season snap since 2010 because of injuries. He was in line to win the Miami Dolphins' job ahead of Matt Moore and rookie Ryan Tannehill last year, but hurt a knee and ended up sitting out the entire season after he was released.

So, quarterback competitions are nothing new for Garrard.

''I've been a No. 1 quarterback before,'' he said. ''As long as I'm healthy, as long as I'm able to continue to work with the team and don't have setbacks with my knee or my back or anything like that, then I know that I have the ability to.''

He added that he isn't with the Jets to simply collect a paycheck, and doesn't believe that Sanchez's salary or Smith's high profile will play a role in who ends up being the starter in Week 1 against Tampa Bay.

''It shouldn't be any politics,'' Garrard said. ''It should be the best guy playing. With that, if I'm going at it and I'm giving you my all and I'm healthy and you beat me at it, then that's great for the team.''


US poll finds widespread support for Redskins name
2013-05-02

The team's nickname has faced a new barrage of criticism for being offensive to Native Americans. Local leaders and pundits have called for a name change. Opponents have launched a legal challenge intended to deny the team federal trademark protection. A bill introduced in Congress in March would do the same, though it appears unlikely to pass.

But a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows that nationally, ''Redskins'' still enjoys widespread support. Nearly four in five Americans don't think the team should change its name, the survey found. Only 11 percent think it should be changed, while 8 percent weren't sure and 2 percent didn't answer.

Although 79 percent favor keeping the name, that does represent a 10 percentage point drop from the last national poll on the subject, conducted in 1992 by The Washington Post and ABC News just before the team won its most recent Super Bowl. Then, 89 percent said the name should not be changed, and 7 percent said it should.

The AP-GfK poll was conducted from April 11-15. It included interviews with 1,004 adults on both land lines and cellphones. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Several poll respondents told The AP that they did not consider the name offensive and cited tradition in arguing that it shouldn't change.

''That's who they've been forever. That's who they're known as,'' said Sarah Lee, a 36-year-old stay-at-home mom from Osceola, Ind. ''I think we as a people make race out to be a bigger issue than it is.''

But those who think the name should be changed say the word is obviously derogatory.

''With everything that Native Americans have gone through in this country, to have a sports team named the Redskins - come on, now. It's bad,'' said Pamela Rogal, 56, a writer from Boston. ''Much farther down the road, we're going to look back on this and say, 'Are you serious? Did they really call them the Washington Redskins?' It's a no-brainer.''

Among football fans, 11 percent said the name should be changed - the same as among non-fans. Among nonwhite football fans, 18 percent said it should change, about double the percentage of white football fans who oppose the name.

A Redskins spokesman declined to comment on the poll's findings or to make team executives available for interviews.

In Washington, debate over the name has increased in recent months. In February, the National Museum of the American Indian held a daylong symposium on the use of Indian mascots by sports teams. Museum Director Kevin Gover, of the Pawnee Nation, said the word ''redskin'' was ''the equivalent of the n-word.''

District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray, a Democrat, suggested that the team would have to consider changing the name if it wanted to play its home games in the city again. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the district in Congress, said she's a fan of the team but avoids saying ''Redskins.'' Just this week, a D.C. councilmember introduced a resolution calling for a name change, and it appears to have enough support to pass, although the council has no power over the team.

''We need to get rid of it,'' said longtime local news anchor Jim Vance in a commentary that aired in February. Vance, of WRC-TV, revealed that he has avoided using the name on the air for the past few years.

Other media outlets have done the same. The Washington City Paper substitutes the name ''Pigskins,'' and DCist.com announced in February that it would avoid using the name in print. The Kansas City Star also has a policy against printing ''Redskins.''

In March, a three-judge panel heard arguments from a group of five Native American petitioners that the team shouldn't have federal trademark protection, which could force owner Daniel Snyder into a change by weakening him financially. A decision isn't expected for up to a year, and the Redskins are sure to appeal if it doesn't go their way. A similar case, ultimately won by the team, was filed in 1992 and needed 17 years to go through the legal system before the Supreme Court declined to intervene.

Susan Shown Harjo, a plaintiff in that case, said the poll results were ''irrelevant'' because popular opinion shouldn't decide the issue.

''This is a really good example of why you never put racism up to a popular vote, because racism will win every time,'' she said. ''It's not up to the offending class to say what offends the offended.''

Several poll respondents told AP that they were unaware of the ongoing debate.

''If we're going to say that 'Redskins' is an offensive term, like the n-word or something like that, I haven't heard that,'' said David Black, 38, a football fan from Edmond, Okla., who doesn't think a change is necessary.

George Strange, 52, of Jacksonville, Fla., who feels the name should change, said people might change their minds if they become more educated about the word and its history.

''My opinion, as I've gotten older, has changed. When I was younger, it was not a big deal. I can't get past the fact that it's a racial slur,'' Strange said. ''I do have friends that are Redskins fans and ... they can't step aside and just look at it from a different perspective.''

There's precedent for a Washington team changing its name because of cultural sensitivities. The late Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin decided the nickname was inappropriate because of its association with urban violence, and in 1997, the NBA team was rechristened the Wizards.

Other professional sports teams have Native American nicknames, including the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and baseball's Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians. But former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, who is Native American, said ''Redskins'' is much worse because of its origins and its use in connection with bounties on Indians.

''There's a derogatory name for every ethnic group in America, and we shouldn't be using those words,'' Campbell said, adding that many people don't realize how offensive the word is. ''We probably haven't gotten our message out as well as it should be gotten out.''

American Indians make up 1 percent of the population, according to Census figures.

Numerous colleges and universities have changed names that reference Native Americans. St. John's changed its mascot from the Redmen to the Red Storm, Marquette is now the Golden Eagles instead of the Warriors and Stanford switched from the Indians to the Cardinal.

Synder, however, has been adamant that the name should not change, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he supports the team's stance. General Manager Bruce Allen said in March that the team isn't considering a new name.

Following the symposium at the museum, the team posted a series of articles on its official website that spotlighted some of the 70 U.S. high schools that use the nickname Redskins.

''There is nothing that we feel is offensive,'' Allen said. ''And we're proud of our history.''

---

AP Sports Writer Joseph White, AP Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta and News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.


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