March 2008 - Football Wiretap
Owens Has Gone 7 Games Without 100 Yards, Longest Drought Since 1999
Terrell Owens was the good teammate in Green Bay when he only had two receptions for 17 yards during their impressive 27-16 win on the road,but expressed concern to Tony Romo after his seven-reception, 71 yard day against Washington.
Owens has now gone seven games without a 100-yard outing, his longest drought since 1999 when he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
He is ranked 11th amongst wide receivers in season FIC, a rating we use to measure productivity.
Lions: No Calls For Roy Williams
Despite rumors that the Lions could deal disgruntled wide receiver Roy Williams before the Oct. 14 trade deadline, the team claims they haven't received calls about him.
Lions' chief operating officer Tom Lewand said Monday that no teams have called inquiring about Williams.
"I wouldn't call either. Eight catches, 113 yards, and one touchdown - I wouldn't call either," said Williams. "I heard the buzz in the off-season, but I haven't heard anything (recently). That's why it makes it easier for me to concentrate on what we do."
Williams expects to be in Detroit through the season.
"I've been expecting to be here. That hasn't changed at all," he said.
Haslett Could Coach Rams In 2009
Jim Haslett, who replaced Scott Linehan as coach of the Rams this week, could remain with the team through the 2009 season.
No "interim" tag has been placed on his title with the team, and if the Rams respond to his presence over the final three months of the season, he'll likely return.
"Right now, I'm worrying about this year," Haslett said. "Coaches live year-to-year, anyway. So I'm going to worry about this year and these next 12 games and try to win some games."
Nolan: TE Davis Is Too Emotional
49ers coach Mike Nolan believes that Vernon Davis is too emotional after the young tight end made a scene on the sideline this past Sunday.
Davis gestured wildly, insinuating that he wants more passes thrown his way.
"It was just me being me," Davis said Monday. "That's what this game is about. It's about competing and dominating your opponents every time. But you have to have the opportunity."
Nolan yanked Davis off the field after the incident and told him to calm down. He never returned to the action over the final 6:20 of a 31-17 loss to the Saints.
"Any player that's in that kind of mode, I don't think it's best to stay on the field," Nolan said afterward.
Davis: I Could No Longer Go Along With The Lying And Propaganda
During Tuesday's news conference, Al Davis said Lane Kiffin "complained he didn't have this, and didn't have that," instead of just coaching the team.
"I called Lane this morning to inform Lane he was no longer the coach of the Raiders," said Davis. "I could no longer go along with the lying, the propaganda that had been going on with him for months, for years."
Vince Young Could Practice This Week
Titans' quarterback Vince Young could return to practice this week, nearly a month after spraining his left MCL in the season opener.
Young suffered some emotional issues, as well.
"I'm happy with where he is," Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher said. "I'm pleased with where he is mentally, emotionally, and physically because he's making strides."
Young watched the Sept. 21 game from the coaches' box, and he moved to the sideline for Sunday's win over Minnesota.
"He got the play, he knew what was going on, he was rooting for his teammates, he had a good week of rehab last week," Fisher said. "He threw today ? we're hoping to get him into practice this week, and we'll see where it goes."
Report: Cable Will Replace Kiffin
Raiders' Offensive Line Coach Tom Cable has been chosen as the successor to Lane Kiffin, Oakland?s new head coach.
The 43-year-old Cable is the Atlanta Falcons former offensive line coach. Cable also was offensive coordinator at UCLA in 2004-2005 under Karl Dorrell. He also has been a head coach at the University of Idaho, his alma mater, from 2000-2003, when he compiled an 11-35 record before being replaced.
Bengals Sign Cedric Benson
The Bengals signed free agent RB Cedric Benson and placed RB DeDe Dorsey on the reserve/injured list, the team announced Tuesday.
Dorsey, a third-year player from Lindenwood College, played in this season?s first four games but suffered a hamstring injury last weekend against Cleveland.
RealGM Player Rankings After Week 4
Using my custom position-by-position Field Impact Counter (FIC), we can safely and accurately rank quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends by an objective statistical measurement.
The importance placed on specific positions is far different in football than it is in basketball, baseball, and hockey. Because of this, we have separated salaries by position instead of having a single common pool.
Quarterbacks are compared to quarterbacks. Running backs are compared to running backs. Wide receivers are compared to wide receivers.
There are only four positions on the football field where we can truly use statistics to rank a player?s performance in the same ways we can for the other three major sports. Intangibles such as how a running back picks up the blitz or how well a wide receiver blocks for his downfield runners do not appear on stat sheets and in order to get a truly objective statistical ranking, these elements are unfortunately overlooked.
Players are ranked from highest to lowest by the total FIC for the season, not per game because players only give contribute to a team when they are playing.
* More information about the FIC at the bottom of this article.
Beside each player?s actual salary, we slide in raw cap value figures of the position, ranked top to bottom, which determines their ?deserved? salary.
The player who has the highest FIC receives the highest ?deserved? salary. The player with the second highest FIC receives the second highest salary. The player with the hundredth highest FIC receives the hundredth highest salary.
We then calculate the percentage increase or decrease from the actual and deserved and that figure becomes their Reina Value.
The Reina Value is a valuation system that quickly determines how players perform in relation to their contracts or in the case of the NFL, their cap value.
- Only Cutler has attempted more passes than Brees, and nobody has completed their attempts at a better rate (72.3). Would Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson be averaging 40.8 and 35.5 yards per reception respectively without Brees?
- Cutler has completed a pass for 20 or more yards in 19 of his 102 completions.
- Romo has been somewhat vulnerable to the blitz this season with an 85.9 rating, compared to 117.8 in 2007.
- Favre now leads the NFL in passer rating with 110.8 following his six-TD performance against the Cardinals. He has now thrown a touchdown once for every 10 pass attempts.
- Rivers has an excellent 139.3 QB rating during the 4th quarter.
- Campbell still hasn't thrown an interception this season, and he's also lost 141 passing yards because of penalties.
- Delhomme and Flacco have each been sacked on 7% of their pass attempts.
- Russell's first interception of the season came on a deflected pass against the Chargers, and he continues to excel in the shotgun, with an NFL-best 135.8 rating.
- Bush had his worst game of 2008 against the Niners as they held him to just 1.4 yards per reception, but the reemergence of Deuce McAllister (73 yards) should free up the RB FIC leader in coming weeks for more big plays.
- Steven Jackson has been far more successful running up the middle and to the left tackle than he has on the right or around either side on the outside.
- 281 of Turner's 422 yards have come on 1st & 10.
- Is Larry Johnson back? He's rushed for 198 and 121 yards in the past two games after being held to 22 by the Raiders.
- Norwood is averaging an NFL-best 7.0 yards per carry.
- Jennings is averaging 19.3 yards per catch, and his 120.5 yards per game trails only Brandon Marshall.
- Santana Moss is in the best three-game stretch of his career since early in 2005.
- White is averaging 11.2 more yards per catch on the turf than he is on grass.
- Muhammad is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season since 2004, his last with Carolina.
- Owens was the good teammate in Green Bay when he only had two receptions for 17 yards during a win but is complaining after his seven-reception, 71 yard day against Washington. Owens has now gone seven games without a 100-yard outing, his longest drought since 1999.
- Witten has 158 more yards than Gates, who is second in yards among tight ends, but Witten has just one touchdown.
- Gates' yards remain modest, but he has reached the end zone in two straight games.
- Scheffler's production has gone from 72 to 64 to 32 and down to 26 yards against the Chiefs this week.
- Zach Miller's 63-yard touchdown is the longest by a tight end this season.
Field Impact Counter Formulas
Quarterbacks
.25 Completions
- .5 Incomplete Passes
+ .1 Yards
+ 4 Touchdowns
- Interceptions
+ First Downs
- Sacks
.5 Rushing Yards
- Rushing Attempts
+ 5 Rushing Touchdowns
+ Rushing First downs
- Lost Fumbles
Running Backs
+ 5 Rushing Touchdowns
+ .5 Rushing Yards
- Rushing Attempts
+ Rushing First downs
- 5 Rushing Fumbles
+ Receptions
+ .5 Receiving Yards
+ 5 Receiving Touchdowns
+ Receiving First Downs
- 5 Receiving Fumbles
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
5 Touchdowns
+.5 Receiving Yards
+ Receptions
+ First Downs
- 5 Fumbles
Bulger Back As Rams' Starting QB
Marc Bulger is the Rams' starting QB again in one of Jim Haslett's first moves as their new coach, as reported by the Associated Press.
Backup Trent Green started Sunday's loss to the Bills in Scott Linehan's final game as coach. Bulger was back with the starters in practice Tuesday.
Haslett says Bulger will be the starter the rest of the season.
Eagles Robbed Of A Touchdown Against Bears?
The experts at Football Outsiders have determined, using a overhead blimp shot, that Eagles' running back Correll Buckhalter scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Bears on Sunday
Kiffin Fired Without Pay Via Telephone
Tom Cable, Oakland's offensive line coach, was emerging as the leading candidate to replace Lane Kiffin, a source said.
Sources: Owens Complains To Romo
The types of routes and throws are what concerns Terrell Owens, the sources said.
Davis On Outburst: Vernon Being Vernon
Vernon Davis screamed and gestured wildly following his lone catch on Sunday in New Orleans.
Savage: No Thought Of Changing QBs, Coach
Browns' GM Phil Savage denied the team seriously considered a switch to backup Brady Quinn, which seemed to contradict Romeo Crennel and executive adviser Jim Brown.
Ricky Admits He Was Tempted To Smoke Pot During Bye Week
Dolphins' running back Ricky Williams admitted on Monday that he was tempted to smoke marijuana during the team's bye weekend.
Seattle's Branch: I'm Ready To Go
Seahawks' wide receiver Deion Branch says that he's ready to play against the Giants this weekend.
Phillips Says Cowboys Need To Run More
Cowboys' Coach Wade Phillips says that they need to start running the ball more after they attempted just eleven runs in their loss to the Redskins on Sunday.
Kiffin To Get Fired Tuesday?
Raiders owner Al Davis reportedly intends to fire coach Lane Kiffin by Tuesday.
Steelers Run MNF Streak To 14, Lose Simmons And Mendenhall For Season
The Steelers defeated the Ravens 23-20 in OT Monday night, but lost G Kendall Simmons and RB Rashard Mendenhall for the season.
Spurrier: Why Doesn't Tennessee Run The Spread With Vince Young?
Steve Spurrier wondered aloud why the Titans haven't tried running a spread offense with Vince Young.
Janikowski Has Made FG From 74 In Practice
Sebastian Janikowski attempted a 76-yard field goal right before halftime on Sunday.
Chicago Goal-Line Stand Fires Up Ashton Kutcher
ESPN's Kevin Seifert was walking to the Bears' locker room following their win on Sunday and passed actor Ashton Kutcher and his wife Demi Moore.
McCarthy: Rodgers Wants To Play
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy claims that quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants to play on Sunday against the Falcons.
Extension Coming For Bills' Jauron?
Bills coach Dick Jauron could receive a contract extension from the team in the wake of their 4-0 start.
Palmer: I'm Playing Against Cowboys
Carson Palmer has declared that he is going to play for the Bengals this Sunday against the Cowboys despite missing Week Four's loss to the Browns with a sore elbow.
Boldin Resting At Home, Cards Want Hit Reviewed
Cardinals' receiver Anquan Boldin rested comfortably at home on Monday after being carted off the field in the team's loss to the Jets.
Smith Gives TD Ball To Ken Lucas
Steve Smith broke Ken Lucas' nose with a sucker punch in training camp and was subsequently suspended two games.
Jags' Collier Paralyzed Below Waist, Has Left Leg Amputated
Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive tackle Richard Collier, who was shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the waist and has had his left leg amputated, his doctors said Monday.
Rams Name Haslett Interim Head Coach
Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, once the coach of the New Orleans Saints, will replace Scott Linehan on an interim basis.