NFL News And Rumors: Week 14

Coachnorm

In most leagues the playoffs will be starting and hopefully most of you made it. But even if you didn't you should at least find it interesting keeping track of your fellow league managers in the playoffs. Pick a couple of your favorites, track and support them, them through the chase. As Usual, we here in the News thread will keep you up to date on what is happening with NFL teams and players. Hopefully, this adds some insight and excitement into your Fantasy Football interest as well as your enjoyment of actual football as enjoy the NFL Experience. We had a lot of help and participation in the News thread last week and I would like to give special mention to those who participated. Feel free to stop by with news or commentary as this is your thread.

• gmrcharity The Sports Outlaw International Correspondent was stopping by all week long keeping us updated with the latest breaking news. Almost every time I log in gmrcharity has been by with some breaking news. He has been an incredible contributor and I appreciate it and so should you.
• VAR8RFAN Was also right on top of the news as it was breaking last week. He also was adding adding updates to the vbookie/game threads.
• Remote Controller
• The Ram
• Nicholete
• Mike
• Escrow
• Bull
• Hawkeye

Thanks, everyone. I hope you all continue to stop by with news,insight and commentary.

Coachnorm

Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams is expected to miss the rest of the regular season because of a sprained knee. Lions coach Rod Marinelli announced Monday that Williams has a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and that he will miss "several weeks." Marinelli said the injury was similar to the one sustained by cornerback Stanley Wilson in the Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay, after which Wilson was put on injured reserve.
Detroit also lost reserve safety LaMarcus Hicks to a broken ankle, while cornerback Travis Fisher was undergoing tests on his injured wrist.

Knee injury may sideline Lions WR Williams for rest of the season

Coachnorm

Derrick Ward, the New York Giants' leading rusher, suffered a broken leg Sunday against the Chicago Bears and will be out indefinitely.

Derrick Ward has been a real fantasy bonus for owners that grabbed him when they did.

Giants' Ward out indefinitely with broken leg

Coachnorm

The Baltimore Ravens put the quarterback on injured reserve Monday, ending a season in which the 34-year-old McNair struggled to stay healthy and hold onto the football.

He hasn't been a good fantasy QB for a few years now. But at least he was durable, until this year.

McNair out for season; to undergo surgery on Tuesday

Coachnorm

Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said Monday there is a "possibility" quarterback Jeff Garcia could play this week against Houston. Gruden said there is nothing structurally wrong with Garcia's bruised back and despite backup Luke McCowan's big game in Tampa Bay's 27-23 victory over New Orleans on Sunday, his 37-year-old starter will be back in the lineup as soon as he is medically cleared to play.

While Garcia may play Sunday vs the Texans, Texans QB Schaub doesn't sound like he will be playing. See gmrcharity's thread. http://www.sofantasyfootball.com/nfl/t15509/#post187157




ESPN - Bucs QB Garcia could play Sunday against Texans - NFL

gmrcharity

The Rams are expected to visit with and sign QB Todd Bouman on Tuesday

gmrcharity

Kansas City Star reports Larry Johnson (foot) is out for Week 14.

Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud returned to the team on Monday after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's anabolic steroids and related-substances policy

The Cardinals are now staying with Kurt Warner in goal-line packages. This is very good news for Warner owners

Escrow

TRAVIS HENRY WINS APPEAL by Michael David Smith

Broncos running back Travis Henry has won his appeal of a positive drug test, meaning he will not receive a one-year suspension under the NFL's substance-abuse policy, the team said on its web site.

“We are pleased with this outcome and happy that Travis has been absolved of any wrongdoing with respect to this matter," said the Broncos in a prepared statement. “The Broncos look forward to Travis Henry’s continued participation on the playing field.”

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has said he believed Henry’s positive drug test was an error, and that Henry passed hair and lie-detector tests.

“If I thought the tests were positive, Travis would not be on our football team right now,” Shanahan said last month, according to the team's web site. “When he went back and took the hair sample — that’s negative — and the lie detector test — that’s negative — we’ll let due process take care of itself. But if Travis took a test and we knew it was positive, after what he promised me, he wouldn’t be with our football team. I didn’t share that with you because I couldn’t share it with you, obviously."

The NFL has not released any details about its reason for siding with Henry on his appeal, but this will no doubt give hope to every play who fails a drug test.

Source: Pro Football Talk

Coachnorm

Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after missing the past five games because of migraines. Thomas also missed two games in September with a concussion. He was involved in a car crash following a loss to the New England Patriots in October and has had recurring migraines since.
The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker has said he expects to play next season.
The Dolphins also placed safety Cameron Worrell on injured reserve because of a knee injury suffered in Sunday's loss to the New York Jets. They signed linebacker Kelvin Smith and offensive tackle Julius Wilson off their practice squad.


If you have been hanging on to him hoping he would eventually play your suffering is over. Like Ricky he is off to see his Yogi. The one at the Temple of the Perpetual Headache.


ESPN - Dolphins place LB Thomas on IR because of migraines - NFL

gmrcharity

Giants placed Derrick Ward (fractured fibula) on the season-ending injured reserved list

gmrcharity

Marc Bulger has been cleared to practice and without any setbacks will start Sunday aginst the Bengals.

Coachnorm

Still facing the possibility of season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith is scheduled to go through some light throwing drills Wednesday and Thursday, and doctors will then re-evaluate him by the end of the week.
It was expected that Smith would be re-examined early this week, either by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews or 49ers team orthopedist Dr. Tim McAdams, in an attempt to reach some clarity about the condition of his throwing shoulder and forearm.

Up until now the scene has been wait a few weeks then go in and look just slightly better than Dilfer before going out re-injured again. The article goes into detail and makes you wonder why he hasn't had the surgery long before this so he would be ready well in advance of camp next year. On another note, Smith is up for the NFL I'm so tough that I'm Stupid Award.

ESPN - Smith to try throwing drills this week in practice - NFL

var8rfan

Broncos | Team releases Adams
Tue, 4 Dec 2007 14:58:09 -0800

The Denver Broncos announced they have released DL Sam Adams Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Coachnorm

The Texans placed offensive linemen Fred Weary and Chris White on the injured reserve on Tuesday and signed Drew Hodgdon and Mike Brisiel.
Weary broke his right leg and White suffered a knee injury against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Weary, a six-year veteran, had started all 12 games this season. White, a backup, had appeared in six games.

This has been a banged up unit all year and this doesn't help matters at all. Just that much less protection for a Backup QB.

Texans place Weary, White on IR, sign guards Mike Brisiel and Drew Hodgdon

Coachnorm

Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, who rejoined the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday after completing a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroid and related substances policy, could help the Jaguars in their playoff push. The Jaguars (8-4) went 3-1 without the 6-foot-6, 310-pound defensive linemen, but his return was a welcome sign for a team that has struggled to pressure quarterbacks without blitzing.

Bad that he got suspended, good to have him back. Raise the Jags D a notch or two.

Stroud's return from suspension could help Jags' struggling D-line

deuce4321

Gbaja-Biamila said that he expects to play on Sunday against the Raiders, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

James Thrash (ankle sprain) did not practice and will most likely miss Thursday night's game with the Bears, reports the Washington Post.

N. Vasher (groin) will not play in Thursday's game with the Redskins, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

G. Frerotte may be the emergency third quarterback in Sunday's game, but his sprained shoulder is expected to need a few weeks to recover, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

M. Lynch's high ankle sprain is improving and he may be ready for Sunday's game, the Buffalo News reports.

deuce4321

Marshawn Lynch, Bills: Coach Dick Jauron is still being cautious with regards to Lynch's status for this Sunday, saying that he has made a lot of progress, but that he doesn't want to "overstep it right now." Jauron's comments on the Bills' official Web site are the most positive yet since Lynch's injury, but necessarily guarded given the nature of the injury (high ankle sprain) which is just now coming up on four weeks. Lynch will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis as he practices throughout the week, and we should have a better idea of his status late in the week.

The Giants have now made it official. Ward has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken fibula in Sunday's contest. So will Brandon Jacobs make it back this week? It appears that way if you listen to coach Tom Coughlin. Coughlin told the New York Daily News that the plan all along has been for Jacobs to return this week, and that he is not being rushed back because of Ward's injury. That sounds reasonable. Now let's hope that Jacobs can not only make it back, but stay back to finish out the year healthy.


Selvin Young and Travis Henry, Broncos: Young appeared to be the healthier back headed into Sunday's game, and, in fact, was the starter. But he managed to sustain yet another injury, what is being called an arm injury according to the Denver Post, and his status is uncertain for this week. Meanwhile, teammate Henry received word from the NFL that he won his suspension appeal, so now his game availability depends only on his health. Henry was able to get back in the lineup last week, so if Young cannot go, Henry would likely start. There are always more running backs to be found in Denver though, so starting does not necessarily translate into more fantasy points. It is worth watching the practice reports throughout the week to see how the running-back lineup is shaping up.


LenDale White, Titans: According to the Tennessean, White (dislocated middle finger) is expected to play this Sunday against the Chargers. On Monday we mentioned fumble concerns as a possibility, especially if the finger remains sore and swollen. Given Chris Brown's effectiveness Sunday after White exited the game, there could be a concern that Brown will steal some action from White this week, especially if White shows any signs of struggling with the finger.


Donovan McNabb, Eagles: Philly.com is reporting that McNabb is expected to return this week from the thumb and ankle injuries that have caused him to miss two straight games. Coach Andy Reid says that McNabb can grip the football well now but may wear a brace on his hand to protect the thumb. The bigger concern is his mobility with the ankle, but Reid acknowledged that McNabb moved around better in practice last week. Nonetheless, he held McNabb out of Sunday's contest because he did not feel he was ready to go from a health standpoint, and the extra rest no doubt has helped him. Barring a setback in practice this week, expect McNabb to get the green light Sunday.

Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay: According to the St. Petersburg Times, Garcia reports that his back is feeling better by the day and he expects to return to practice Wednesday. Despite some residual soreness, Garcia plans to play Sunday against the Texans as his mobility and flexibility continue to improve. It is still wise to check back at the end of the week, but at this point it sounds as if he is preparing to make his return.

Santonio Holmes, Steelers: Holmes, who has missed the last three games with a high ankle sprain, could return in Week 14 according to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coach Mike Tomlin says "it depends on how [he] perform[s] in practice." Even mild high ankle sprains often require about four weeks before a player can return, so Holmes is just now coming upon that mark. Practice will resume Wednesday, meaning we won't have a real indicator as to whether Holmes is likely to play until late in the week.

Phicinfan

One caveat though...he will now remain in the drug testing program. He was due to be cycled out. So my guess is next infraction is the 1yr suspension.

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eaglechick

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on steroid use.

gmrcharity

Newsday's Tom Rock believes Laveranues Coles (ankle) may face an uphill battle to play Sunday against the Browns