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10/12/2008

Colts' Manning in midseason form

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Peyton Manning (18) tossed touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison (twice) and Reggie Wayne.

The NFL opened its season in September. Peyton Manning officially opened his Sunday, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. Manning didn't practice this summer, missing camp and the preseason recovering from a medical procedure on his left knee. But four games and a bye helped him catch up on his lost practice time. Manning was his Pro Bowl-caliber self for the first time this season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, completing 19 of 28 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-3 win.

Kickers deliver winners for Falcons, Seahawks
Only two kickers were signed in free agency last off-season. Josh Brown and Jason Elam showed why they were held in such high financial esteem Sunday.

In the huddle
Observations from Week 6

NFL rankings

10/11/2008

Dolphins take off with single wing

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Running back Ronnie Brown takes the snap in the Dolphins' version of the old-school single wing, which they call the Wildcat formation.

Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano learned of the single wing's rebirth in his office cubicle at Valley Ranch last fall, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. "David Lee [offensive coordinator at Arkansas] would call me every week when I was in Dallas," Sparano said. "He'd tell me how he was running all this stuff. I'd give him a hard time about it." Lee left Arkansas and followed Sparano to Miami as quarterback coach of the Dolphins. He brought with him a desire to resurrect the single wing in the NFL.
 NFL scoreboard

Brees on pace to pass Marino's yardage record
In the winter of 2006, Drew Brees was a free agent with an uncertain future. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2005 with the San Diego Chargers but tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder in the season finale.

Around the NFL
You have to go back to Dec. 29 to find the the New York Giants' last loss – a 38-35 setback to New England in the 2007 season finale.

10/07/2008

Cardinals' Dockett could cause problems for Dallas Cowboys
Darnell Dockett has been quiet for the Arizona Cardinals. Too quiet.

10/05/2008

Backups answer call for Giants

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New York's Domenik Hixon (right) scores a touchdown as Seattle's Kelly Jennings defends.

The New York Giants do not lead the NFL in offense or defense. But they do lead in resilience, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. No Plaxico Burress? No problem. The Giants suspended their star wide receiver for Sunday's game with the Seattle Seahawks for insubordination. So Domenik Hixon stepped in and caught four first-half passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in New York's romp over the Seahawks.

One defense hits, one misses
Aggressive defense can win – and lose – football games.

In the huddle
Observations from Week 5

NFL rankings

10/04/2008

Spate of NFL injuries not so unusual

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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.

When the league's MVP hobbled off the field with a knee injury in the first quarter of the first game, injuries automatically became a central theme for the 2008 NFL season. But it hasn't been worse than previous years, writes Rick Gosselin.
• Week 5 schedule
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Rick Gosselin

Around the NFL
Today's game at the Meadowlands between the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks will be all about receivers, both coming and going.

Tough breaks
As much of a surprise as it may have been, the NFL championship won by the New York Giants last season is easily explainable.

09/30/2008

Bengals must control clock, and that starts with Perry

AP

Chris Perry (right) is the feature back for Cincinnati this season, but he has yet to rush for 75 yards in a game.

Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson bring the flash and sizzle to Texas Stadium on Sunday. But if the winless Cincinnati Bengals are to upset the Cowboys, running back Chris Perry will have to carry a large load, writes Rick Gosselin.
Inside the NFL
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/28/2008

Titans linemen beat Vikings at their own game

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Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (7) braces for the fall as he is sacked by Tennessee's Jevon Kearse (90) and Tony Brown.

The Minnesota Vikings are built to win games in the trenches, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin, with three Pro Bowlers on both the offensive and defensive lines. The Vikings can block and tackle with the best. Apparently, so can the Tennessee Titans. The Titans pushed around the Minnesota offensive and defensive fronts Sunday and won, 30-17, for the first 4-0 start in franchise history.

Young Chiefs starting to get it
The NFL is barely a month old, and already there have been four major upsets.

In the huddle
Observations from Week 4

NFL rankings

09/27/2008

In St. Louis, Green's show at last

AP

At 38, Trent Green is set to step in for Marc Bulger as starting quarterback for the 0-3 Rams.

Trent Green suffered one of the cruelest injuries ever inflicted on a football player in the summer of 1999, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. Green was going to be the quarterback of the St. Louis Rams but tore up his knee on a sack late in the preseason and wound up spending the year on injured reserve. Unheralded free agent Kurt Warner stepped in for Green and passed for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns, winning NFL MVP honors and leading the Rams to their first Super Bowl title. That could have been Green, should have been Green.

Scouts' team
Miami is unranked this week in college football. The Hurricanes haven't been to a bowl since 2006. They haven't finished a season in the national polls since 2005. The Hurricanes haven't won a national title since 2001.

Around the NFL
Don't look for the Philadelphia Eagles to overlook the 1-2 Chicago Bears this weekend.

09/25/2008

His idol gone, safety Landry helping Redskins fill a major void

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Redskins safety LaRon Landry (above) got to start alongside Sean Taylor for only nine games.

Greatness awaited the Washington Redskins at the safety position. Sean Taylor (2004) and LaRon Landry (2007) were first-round draft picks. But fate deprived Landry of the chance to play with someone he idolized, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. During Landry's rookie season, Taylor was fatally shot fatally shot in Miami in a home invasion.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/23/2008

Roy Williams has had Lion's share of losing

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Roy Williams is finishing up his five-year rookie contract and could be eligible for free agency this off-season.

Roy Williams lost 29 games in eight seasons at Texas and Odessa Permian. In 67 games with the Detroit Lions, Williams has lost 46, including all three this season. "I'd just like to win one year just to see what it feels like," Williams said. He may get his chance in 2009, writes Rick Gosselin.
• Lions fire Matt Millen
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Gosselin

Redskins RT will face tough task in Dallas Cowboys' Ellis
Washington has veteran Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels to work against Dallas Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware. But on the other side of the line, the Redskins will ask young, inexperienced Stephon Heyer to block veteran pash rusher Greg Ellis.

09/22/2008

Turnover-free Redskins making sure they aren't beating themselves

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Washington WR Santana Moss (center) celebrates his go-ahead touchdown with teammates.

The Washington Redskins are not beating themselves with turnovers (none in three games), and that's allowing them to beat their opponents, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. A 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday sends the Redskins to Texas Stadium this weekend with a 2-1 record.

Healthy Brown running wild
Running back Ronnie Brown can't stay healthy for the Miami Dolphins.

In the huddle
Observations from Week 3.

NFL rankings

09/20/2008

Injuries to wide receivers take the air out of Seahawks' offense

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Matt Hasselbeck (8) has only one TD pass and a QB rating of 48.6 after two games for Seattle.

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren was optimistic about his team and offense heading to training camp this summer in part because of a rock-solid receiving corps, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin. But what Holmgren envisioned in July hasn't materialized in September – and the four-time defending NFC West champion Seahawks are off to their first 0-2 start since 2002.

See ya, old-timers: The NFL is getting younger, and no team is counting on kids like Kansas City
The NFL continues to grow younger, and the Kansas City Chiefs are leading the way.

Around the NFL
There's going to be a donnybrook in Philadelphia today when the Steelers visit the Eagles. Both teams have Super Bowl aspirations.

09/17/2008

Packers' coach learns to appreciate Aaron Rodgers

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Though he took his lumps, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) passed for 201 yards and a touchdown in a 37-27 loss to Dallas last season at Texas Stadium.

Three years ago as San Francisco's offensive coordinator, Mike McCarthy liked Utah quarterback Alex Smith better than Cal's Aaron Rodgers, Rick Gosselin writes. Now, as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy has gained a new appreciation for Rodgers, who will guide the Pack against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/16/2008

Packers' Jennings will be a handful for Dallas Cowboys
If the Cowboys thought DeSean Jackson was a handful Monday night, wait until they see Greg Jennings on Sunday. Jackson was a small, fast and inexperienced rookie wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. Jennings is a compact, fast and powerful wideout with polish for the Green Bay Packers.

09/14/2008

No doubts about Packers' Rodgers

AP

Aaron Rodgers escaped the grasp of the Lions' Langston Moore, and the Packers rallied for the victory.

Aaron Rodgers turned in his best game as a pro in Sunday's 48-25 win over the Lions, writes DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin, completing 24 of 38 passes for 328 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has been sacked just once in two starts and has not thrown an interception for the 2-0 Packers.

Patriots keep winning without Brady
The New England Patriots aren't going to lead the NFL in passing with Matt Cassel as they did with Tom Brady last season. But the Patriots can still win with Cassel as they did with Brady.

In the huddle
Observations from Week 2.

NFL rankings

09/13/2008

Former Dallas Cowboy Bryant puts problems behind him

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Antonio Bryant had 99 receptions for 1,549 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2002-04).

DMN pro football columnist Rick Gosselin asks: Did you see who's starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at wide receiver opposite Joey Galloway this season? Antonio Bryant. The same Antonio Bryant who started for three NFL teams in a span of four seasons and was unemployed the entire 2007 season.

Parade of rookies
When it's all said and done, the 2008 draft class probably won't resemble the 1983 class. The 1983 class produced six Hall of Famers and is considered the best draft since the 1967 AFL-NFL merger.

Around the NFL
Marc Bulger and the St. Louis offense struggled mightily in the opener against Philadelphia, failing to score a touchdown and generating only eight first downs in a 38-3 loss.

09/11/2008

Little big man: Eagles' Westbrook is slightly imposing

TOM FOX / DMN

Brian Westbrook rushed 18 times for 81 yards and caught nine passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia's 10-6 over Dallas last December.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid has broken from the pack that believed the West Coast offense should feature a big back, writes Rick Gosselin. Reid's West Coast attack features the smallest back in the offense's era. Brian Westbrook is 5-8, 203 pounds - and in Reid's opinion - the best West Coast offense back ever.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/09/2008

Dallas Cowboys' special teams will get stiffer test
The Cowboys didn't really need special teams ace Keith Davis against the Cleveland Browns, who were missing Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs. But they will need Davis when the Philadelphia Eagles visit Texas Stadium on Monday night.

09/08/2008

Injury to Brady puts spotlight on Patriots' Cassel

AP

Matt Cassel threw for 152 y