Washington Redskins are in need of a Leader. posted by Redskins Fan

The (3-6) Washington Redskins are having yet another disappointing season. RGIII when not battling nagging injuries has looked less than stellar. The defense is nothing to write home about and the head coaching lacks any sort of innovation, on either side of the ball.

However the most disconcerting thing about the Redskins this year is how they are handling themselves off the field. Multiple times this year, the Redskins’ locker room has caused the team headaches and distractions that while, never show up on the stat sheet, are definitely a contributing factor to their poor on field performance.

Players weren’t happy when word got out that certain veterans were laughing and joking in the locker room within a half-hour or so of a 10-point loss to the Seahawks last month. And then two days before last week’s game against the Vikings, a substantial group of players became so rowdy and disruptive that Robert Griffin III’s media session had to be moved outside the locker room. And there’s been evidence that the team feels RGIII has ‘alienated’ himself from the rest of the team.

This is troubling for a team that is struggling to win games, it shouldn’t be struggling to keep their team dynamic. This wouldn’t be happening with a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady on the team. Not that RGIII can’t be that focal leader for this team, but he has yet to display that.

For many years, it was London Fletcher, the defensive captain who never missed a game. But when he retired at the end of last season it left a vacuum that has yet to be filled. And if the Redskins don’t fill it soon, it can and will be a very long, disappointing season for the people of Washington.

Is Zach Mettenberger the Future for Tennesse? posted by Titans Fan

NFL rookies have a difficult time adjusting the speed and caliber of talent that the game presents, but none fewer have a harder learning curve than quarterbacks. The sheer volume of the playbook, reading complex defenses and blitz schemes, understanding not only your job but the receivers, backs, and lineman.

No wonder most rookies start as a back up to watch a veteran work their magic as if it were second nature, OR get a season QB whose in the twilight of his career to mentor while the rookie is thrust into the starting role.

And after the Titans squared off the against the Ravens on Sunday, it’s hard to be optimistic about Zach Mettenberger as a franchise quarterback for this Tennesse team. He, like a lot of other pocket QBs out of college, got by with game managing and a big arm. But that doesn’t work in the NFL. You either need to be a mobile, dual threat QB like Vick or RGIII, or read defenses like the back of your hand (Peyton Manning).

Yet all season long, Mettenberger has shown the ability to do neither as he simply stands, concrete footed, in the pocket and take sacks as he fails to read coverage and underneath routes that are presenting themselves to him. Having been sacked 5 times this game simply killed what little momentum the Titans had on offense.

Zach Mettenberger not only requires a lot of time in the pocket, but he also has inconsistency within his reads and the flow of the offense. But when he is ‘on’, he’s on. But with the speed of today’s game. Can you really afford to wait for a QB to be on? While it’s too early to tell, Mettenberger looks like the same problem ridden QB that we saw back in college.

Bucs players but up huge fantasy numbers in week 10 win. posted by Bucs Fan

After an otherwise dismal output during the beginning of the season, it was finally a great week to be a Bucs fantasy owner. Tampa Bay went with Josh McCown under center as the team squared off against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The signal caller connected with his two favorite receivers on multiple occasions, Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. Both receivers were integral to the Bucs offense as they came away with touchdowns.

For those who thought drafting rookie Mike Evans to their fantasy rosters was a risk, that risk has paid off as the wide out is coming off a multi-touchdown game and continued to add to his fantasy stock by racking up huge yards against the Falcons.

After a rocky start at the beginning of the season, the rookie has come on as of late and really shined as he's seen several targets and hit pay dirt to drive up fantasy points.

And as for Vincent Jackson, he is always a must have on anyone’s roster. Even if he has off weeks from time to time, and for those who might be frustrated at Vincent Jackson’s inability to get touchdown points, do not be discouraged. The Tampa Bay quarterback clearly views Vincent Jackson as his go-to wide-out moving forward, especially in the red zone, and owners should not drop him from their roster.

And for those owners who don’t have McCown and are able to pick him up, this is the week to do so. With McCown playing in a week when most teams are on a bye, and his desire to build a bond with both Evans and Jackson, expect huge numbers in the coming weeks as the Bucs take on the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears in the next two weeks.

Will the Rams be the team to move to LA? posted by Rams Fan

It’s been a recurring theme, an almost inside joke of the NFL, of who is going to be the team to move back to Los Angeles and fill one of the biggest markets with a premiere NFL franchise? It has been a musical chairs of sorts when it comes to potential suitors, but the music may have slowed down as rumors and reports are coming out that the Rams might be the team to make the plunge back into the city of Angels.

But James Butts, mayor of Inglewood, Calif., made some delayed headlines this week when he made comments upon his re-election about a forthcoming meeting with Rams owner Stan Kroenke were discovered. Mayor Butt has met with both owners of the Rams and Raiders to discuss a possible team relocation to Los Angeles as early as 2015. And this is no hot air as the Inglewood mayor has the land to support an NFL team, owning a 60 acre plot of land where a top level NFL stadium could be constructed.

The Rams and Raiders have leases that expire after the season and Kroenke's purchase of that land has made the Rams a front-runner to move there.

In addition to his interactions with owners, however, Butts pointed out that roughly half a dozen "heavily financed development consortiums" have reached out to him as well about potential stadium projects around either the Hollywood Park or LA Forum area, both of which he represents.

While the Chavez Ravine around Dodgers Stadium is the preferred site for the future LA NFL team, with it’s cast parking infrastructure, access to freeways, and general proximity to the surrounding LA area, it may look to be that Inglewood will be the future site of LA’s team.

Moss rejects Seahawks' offer, shames team. posted by Seahawks Fans

Retired wideout and current NFL analyst Randy Moss put the Seattle Seahawks on blast as he is upset with the franchise’s tactics in trying to replace Percy Harvin.

Randy Moss confirmed a report that the Seahawks reached out to him with an offer to replace former Viking teammate, Percy Harvin. Moss immediately declined the offer after speculations swirled over Harvin’s troubled dealings with the Seahawks.

Reports indicate that while Percy Harvin came back after an injury, there was trouble in the locker room, in-team fighting and other distractions that led the Seahawk brass to look for a replacement.

This isn’t the first time a former player has been traded, cut, or left the Seattle Seahawks and had less than kind things to say about the franchise. Former wideout, and current Lion Golden Tate, viewed his treatment from the Seahawks with less than rosy memories. The future all-pro wideout was instrumental, like Harvin, in the Seahawks reaching and winning their Super Bowl, and then to be immediately cast aside with no sense of loyalty or appreciation for what they did for the team has to be unsettling for any potential player wishing to go to the Seahawks or being courted by them.

Whether Moss’ blast was justified or not, the fact remains that there is a less than stellar reputation surrounding the Seattle Seahawks and Moss isn’t the only one who thinks so.

This is bad news for a team that isn’t in a big market like Chicago or New York that can use the city and the media market to attract bigger, more high profile players, such as Moss, to their franchise. And what’s more disturbing is the lack of veteran leadership in the locker room. Where is Pete Carroll? Russell Wilson? So far, they are no where to be found.

49ers win thriller against the Saints breathes New Life into team. posted by 49ers Fan

 The niners came into this game on the brink of a demoralizing season. Jim Harbaugh's job status became a daily talking point, and people questioned the direction of the franchise.

Yet, Harbaugh and the 49ers shut everyone up by winning themselves back into the playoff race with a 27-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints Sunday.

Although unconventional, Colin Kaepernick led the Niners on a 50 yard two minute drill drive that resulted in a a 45-yard Dawson field goal to tie the game at 24-24 and send the game into overtime, after the Niners defense was able to hold off the Saints Hail Mary throw on a questionable offensive PI call on Jimmy Graham.

With the win, the Niners have breathed new life into their season. From the opening snap, the Niners look determined to win. Antoine Bethea picked Brees off on New Orleans' opening possession, helping set up a four-yard Frank Gore touchdown to give the 49ers' their first of two first-quarter scores.

And while the win was a good step in the right direction for the team, there is still a lot of work left to be done in San Francisco. The Niners are behind the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West and one of many teams, stuck in a dog fight for a wild card spot. It'll be interesting to see how this team responds with a little bit of swagger and momentum as it travels to New York to take on the Giants next week.

Given the controversy surrounding the franchise, players, and head coach heading into this game, the 49ers are just happy to enjoy a win and the relative silence from their fan base and critics that comes after a big win. 

Why Defensive Injuries will keep Chargers out of Playoffs. posted by Chargers Fan

The chargers have the highest percentage of touchdowns allowed in the Red Zone in the NFL. That is not a playoff caliber team. That means not only are the Chargers giving up points, they are letting offenses sustain drives, which eats up clock, energy, and manpower. The Chargers can make the playoffs, but that means they have to be good again on defense, and that starts with getting healthy.

But the Chargers have the bye week to regroup and assess it’s gaping holes on defense. It shouldn’t be too hard as the Chargers, as late as five games into the season, where dominating on the defensive side of the ball. The rushed the passer, stuffed the run, had take-aways, and shut receivers down.

In fact, they led the NFL is scoring defense. They man handled Arizona, left the defending Super Bowl champs in the dust, and had their way with the Buffalo Bills as they notched a shut-out, the definition of a complete defensive performance.

But that only worked because the Chargers had youthful speed and depth to constantly rotate in and keep offenses on their heels. Rookie Jerry Attaochu is able to speed around tackles and get to the quarterback in no time. Rookie Jason Verrett with a sub 4.4 40 speed can keep up with any receiver in the league but also has the bulk to come up and stuff the run from the outside. Manti Te’o’s ability to read the line allows him to fill running gaps better than anyone in the league.

But all of that talent is of no use when all of the players sit watching the games from the sidelines for long periods of time.

What Steelers Ugly Loss says about Future of 2014 season? posted by Steelers Fan

The Steelers had looked like the unstoppable team in the AFC. With Roethlisberger setting passing records and the defense shutting down every offense it faced.

However, when the Steelers faced off against the one win New York Jets Sunday, what Steeler team showed up was a far cry from the dominating presence that had been there for the last several games.

While one loss or one win doesn’t usually say much about the future of a team’s season, when a first place team loses to a one loss team, AND loses to that one loss team in a humiliating, demoralizing way, then there is cause for concern.

From the start of the game, the Jets ran the ball all over the Steelers D, going up 10-0 early in the game, but instead of rallying the Steelers had their next 3 drives end with turnovers. Hardly a display of urgency on a part of the offense, as they went into the half only scoring 3 points.

In the second half, Roethlisberger was picked off again, one of 4 Steeler turnovers on the day. While the stats look good on paper, it was the complete lack of urgency from the Steelers' offense. The no-huddle, which has paid major dividends in the last three weeks and the last two in particular, didn't make an appearance until the final minutes of the game. 

To watch the Steelers on Sunday against the Jets, one would not believe this was a team tied for first place.

They played down to an inferior opponent. They abandoned everything that worked on offense. Losing to a one-win team isn't going to help convince anyone that the Steelers are truly legitimate threats to reach the playoffs, let alone win a Super Bowl. This was a major step back that the Steelers should not have made. 

What Evan Mathis Knee Injury: Means for the Philadelphia Eagles? posted by Eagles Fan

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro guard Evan Mathis appears to be recovering quite well from a medial collateral ligament injury in his right knee that he suffered all the way back in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This is great news to Eagles fans and unless there’s an unforeseen setback to his timetable, Evan Mathis is scheduled to return to action Nov. 10.

According to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, Mathis was back at practice with the team for the first time since the MCL injury back at the beginning of the season, but since the Eagles organization placed Mathis on the injured reserve list, he is ineligible to return to action whether he is fully healed or not, until the November 10th date.   

November 10th cannot come soon enough for the Eagles, as Mathis’ return will be a huge boost to the depleted Eagles offensive line that also lost star center Jason Kelce earlier this year. The team needs that veteran presence back on the line in order for them to be productive on the ground once again. An O-line needs time and games together to build a bond that is so key when adjusting to multiple blitz looks and defensive fronts in the heat of the game. Also to not leave too much into the hands of their quarterback, who has shown, time and time again, that when he puts too much of the offensive production onto his shoulders, it is usually met with disastrous results.

When Mathis, and soon after, Kelce are healed and cleared for play, the Eagles can have their original O-line back, the same O-line that produced the NFL’s best run game a season ago, but has since been less than stellar, half way through the season.

Defensive inconsistency hurting the Raiders when it comes to interceptions. posted by Raiders News

An interception is more than just a take away or a change of possession. It’s a huge momentum changer and one pic can bring a team from being out of the game to a roaring comeback.

However, the 0-8 Raiders don’t know much about momentum changes as they rank dead last in the league in defensive interceptions with only 3 so far on the season and 23 over the past 3 years.

Sure, the game has changed considerably. With greater concerns for player safety, hard nosed defense isn’t what it used to be. The NFL is becoming more and more a flag football league where completions and record high passing games the norm, but that shouldn’t stop a team from having an aggressive defensive mindset.

The greatest reason why the Raiders rank last in INTs is the lack of consistency in the secondary. The Raiders have had a different set of starting cornerbacks in each of the past three seasons.

That lack of continuity causes a defense to play more cautious, not knowing the ebb and flow of their teammates so they can read off each other and know when one is going for the receiver and one is free to try and snatch the ball out of the air from the receiver without worry that he’ll miss and give up 6 points.

So how does a team build that mindset without getting burned on each and every play? Practice. Practicing a more aggressive, interception friendly defense during practice is the only way the Raiders will ever climb out of the bottom of the Interceptions ranking. Because game time is too late for on the field experiments, especially with All-Pro Peyton Manning and the Broncos coming to town on Sunday.

Months after letting him go as coach, Giants welcome Coughlin to Ring of Honor (Shutdown Corner%

Ernie Accorsi, the team’s general manager who hired him in 2004, and defensive end Justin Tuck, drafted in 2005 –will be inducted into the ring on Nov. 14, when the Giants host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. “It was a great privilege to be the 16th head coach of the New York Giants, and it’s a privilege and a tremendous honor to be a part of those great names in Giant folklore that are in the Ring of Honor,”Coughlin said, via the team website. [read full article]

From Yahoo Sports

Browns' Josh Gordon to be reinstated by NFL, can attend training camp (Shutdown Corner

Some good news for the Cleveland Browns: receiver Josh Gordon, who had a sensational 2013 season, only to find himself on the sideline for much of the past two years thanks to repeated failures in the NFL drug testing program, can return to the team on a conditional basis. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has given Gordon permission to participate in training camp and preseason games, but Gordon will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season. Since he is suspended under the substance abuse policy and not the performance-enhancing drugs policy, Gordon will be able to be at the Browns’facility and take part in meetings during his suspension. [read full article]

From Yahoo Sports

Texans star J.J. Watt on PUP list after back surgery (Yahoo Sports)

[read full article]

From Yahoo Sports

Jaguars GM: Rookie Jalen Ramsey cleared to practice (Yahoo Sports)

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been cleared to practice and will be on the field when the team opens training camp Thursday. General manager Dave Caldwell said Monday that Ramsey, the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, will be full go less than three months after tearing a meniscus in his right knee. Offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (knee) also is expected to practice for the first time since tearing ligaments in his left knee last season. [read full article]

From Yahoo Sports

NFL, players union announce new game-day concussion protocol (Yahoo Sports)

The NFL and the players association have announced a new policy regarding game-day concussion protocol and discipline for clubs that violate the procedure. Commissioner Roger Goodell retains sole discretion in determining penalties for violations of the game-day concussion protocol. A first breach will require club employees or medical team members involved to attend remedial education and/or result in a maximum $150,000 fine against the team. [read full article]

From Yahoo Sports