NFL INJURY REPORT - WEDNESDAY | MARVIN HARRISON CLOSES IN ON 1,000

FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PER-14A 12/6/06

MARVIN HARRISON CLOSES IN ON 1,000

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver MARVIN HARRISON has 995 receptions in his 11-year career. With five catches this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Harrison will join JERRY RICE (1,549), CRIS CARTER (1,101) and TIM BROWN (1,094) as the only players in NFL history with 1,000 career receptions. Harrison will play in his 167th game this week and can reach 1,000 catches in the fewest games in league annals. Rice accomplished the feat in 181 games.

4=1
Following is a list of quarterback injuries for Week 14 Games:
Miami Dolphins Out Daunte Culpepper (Knee)
Minnesota Vikings Doubtful Brooks Bollinger (Left Shoulder)
Carolina Panthers Questionable Jake Delhomme (Right Thumb)
Cleveland Browns Questionable Charlie Frye (Right Wrist)
New England Patriots Probable Tom Brady (Right Shoulder)
New York Jets Probable Chad Pennington (Calf)
Philadelphia Eagles Probable Jeff Garcia (Neck)
St. Louis Rams ms Probable Marc Bulger (Ribs )
Following is a list of injured players for Week 14 Games:
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS on Thursday
Cleveland Browns
OUT DE Orpheus Roye (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE QB Charlie Frye (Right Wrist); S Justin Hamilton (Back); CB
Jereme Perry (Knee); LB Mason Unck (Groin); TE Kellen
Winslow (Knee)
PROBABLE LB Willie McGinest (Pectoral); S Brian Russell (Elbow); LB
Chaun Thompson (Ankle); CB Leigh Bodden (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
TUES Orpheus Roye; Charlie Frye; Mason Unck; Kellen Winslow
WED Orpheus Roye; Charlie Frye; Mason Unck
Pittsburgh Steelers
OUT WR Hines Ward (Knee); WR Cedrick Wilson (Ankle); S Troy
Polamalu (Knee); S Ryan Clark (Groin)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
TUES Hines Ward; Cedrick Wilson; Troy Polamalu; Ryan Clark
WED Hines Ward; Cedrick Wilson; Troy Polamalu; Ryan Clark
TENNESSEE TITANS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
Tennessee Titans
OUT DE Antwan Odom (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE RB LenDale White (Hip); TE Ben Hartsock (Hamstring); DE Josh
Savage (Hamstring); DT Robaire Smith (Hamstring); G Benji
Olson (Back)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Antwan Odom; LenDale White; Josh Savage; Robaire Smith;
Benji Olson
Houston Texans
PROBABLE RB Jameel Cook (Knee); DT Thomas Johnson (Hamstring); DE
Anthony Weaver (Knee); DE Mario Williams (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Jameel Cook; Anthony Weaver; Mario Williams
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Baltimore Ravens
DOUBTFUL LB Dan Cody (Knee); RB Musa Smith (Neck)
QUESTIONABLE LB Dennis Haley (Ankle); G Keydrick Vincent (Thigh); TE Daniel
Wilcox (Thigh)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Dan Cody; Musa Smith; Dennis Haley; Keydrick Vincent; Daniel
Wilcox
Kansas City Chiefs
PROBABLE TE Tony Gonzalez (Shoulder); T Kyle Turley (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Tony Gonzalez; Kyle Turley
NEW YORK GIANTS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS
New York Giants
OUT T Luke Petitgout (Fibula)
DOUBTFUL DE Michael Strahan (Foot)
QUESTIONABLE CB Corey Webster (Toe)
PROBABLE LB Antonio Pierce (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Luke Petitgout; Michael Strahan; Corey Webster; Antonio Pierce
Carolina Panthers
QUESTIONABLE QB Jake Delhomme (Right Thumb); RB Nick Goings (Shoulder);
LB Brandon Jamison (Thigh); CB Ken Lucas (Thigh); TE Kris
Mangum (Hip); S Mike Minter (Knee)
PROBABLE WR Taye Biddle (Tooth); RB DeShaun Foster (Elbow); RB Brad
Hoover (Back); G Mike Wahle (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Jake Delhomme; Nick Goings; Brandon Jamison; Ken Lucas; Kris
Mangum; Mike Minter; Taye Biddle
OAKLAND RAIDERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
Oakland Raiders
OUT T Robert Gallery (Elbow); RB LaMont Jordan (Knee)
DOUBTFUL WR Jerry Porter (Hip); DE Lance Johnstone (Knee); G Corey
Hulsey (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE G Barry Sims (Abdomen)
PROBABLE TE Randal Williams (Back); DT Anttaj Hawthorne (Shoulder); K
Sebastian Janikowski (Back)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
Cincinnati Bengals
OUT T Levi Jones (Knee)
DOUBTFUL C Rich Braham (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE C Eric Ghiaciuc (Knee); WR Kelley Washington (Hamstring)
PROBABLE WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Back); DT Shaun Smith (Illness);
DT John Thornton (Knee); S John Busing (Knee); DT Sam
Adams (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Levi Jones; Rich Braham; Eric Ghiaciuc; Kelley Washington; T.J.
Houshmandzadeh; Shaun Smith; John Thornton; Sam Adams
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT DETROIT LIONS
Minnesota Vikings
DOUBTFUL RB Chester Taylor (Ribs); QB Brooks Bollinger (Left Shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE G Artis Hicks (Ankle)
PROBABLE C Matt Birk (Neck); T Marcus Johnson (Foot); TE Jermaine
Wiggins (Knee); DT Pat Williams (Knee); CB Cedric Griffin
(Neck); LB Napoleon Harris (Wrist); P Chris Kluwe (Wrist); WR
Marcus Robinson (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Chester Taylor; Brooks Bollinger; Artis Hicks; Matt Birk; Marcus
Johnson; Jermaine Wiggins; Pat Williams; Cedric Griffin;
Napoleon Harris; Chris Kluwe; Marcus Robinson
Detroit Lions
OUT DT Shaun Rogers (Knee/IR); CB Fernando Bryant (Concussion)
QUESTIONABLE WR Devale Ellis (Shoulder); LB Teddy Lehman (Hamstring)
PROBABLE T Jeff Backus (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Shaun Rogers; Fernando Bryant; Teddy Lehman; Jeff Backus
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Indianapolis Colts
OUT TE Dallas Clark (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE RB De De Dorsey (Quadricep); CB Antoine Bethea (Shoulder);
WR Brandon Stokley (Knee); S Bob Sanders (Knee); LB Keith
O'Neil (Ankle); DE Robert Mathis (Knee); T Ryan Diem
(Abdomen)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Dallas Clark; Bob Sanders
Jacksonville Jaguars
PROBABLE G Vincent Manuwai (Wrist); RB Montell Owens (Shoulder); LB
Jorge Cordova (Hamstring); CB Terry Cousin (Groin); WR
Cortez Hankton (Hamstring); P Chris Hanson (Left Hamstring);
LB Clint Ingram (Shoulder); RB Maurice Jones-Drew
(Hamstring); CB Ahmad Carroll (Groin); LB Kenneth Pettway
(Knee); LB Daryl Smith (Shoulder); S Nick Sorensen
(Hamstring); DT Marcus Stroud (Ankle); CB Brian Williams
(Hamstring); RB Derrick Wimbush (Ankle); TE George Wrighster
(Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Participated
ATLANTA FALCONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Atlanta Falcons
DOUBTFUL CB Jason Webster (Groin)
PROBABLE CB Jimmy Williams (Ankle); DE John Abraham (Groin); DT
Grady Jackson (Knee); T Todd Weiner (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Jason Webster; John Abraham; Grady Jackson; Todd Weiner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QUESTIONABLE CB Juran Bolden (Quadricep); LB Shelton Quarles (Knee); TE
Alex Smith (Ankle); DT Ellis Wyms (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Practiced
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Philadelphia Eagles
QUESTIONABLE CB Roderick Hood (Hamstring); DE Darren Howard (Knee); S
Michael Lewis (Concussion)
PROBABLE LB Shawn Barber (Knee); QB Jeff Garcia (Neck); CB William
James (Knee); LB Matt McCoy (Shoulder); S Quintin Mikell
(Foot); LB Jason Short (Knee); RB Brian Westbrook (Toe)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Roderick Hood; Darren Howard; Michael Lewis
Washington Redskins
QUESTIONABLE CB Kenny Wright (Knee); LB Khary Campbell (Hamstring)
PROBABLE S Troy Vincent (Hamstring); TE Todd Yoder (Thigh); DE Phillip
Daniels (Ankle); T Jon Jansen (Calf); C Casey Rabach (Shin)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Kenny Wright; Todd Yoder; Jon Jansen; Casey Rabach
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
New England Patriots
OUT S Eugene Wilson (Groin); S Rodney Harrison (Shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE LB Eric Alexander (Shoulder); LB Don Davis (Knee); TE Daniel
Graham (Ankle); T Ryan O'Callaghan (Neck); CB Ellis Hobbs
(Wrist); WR Chad Jackson (Groin); RB Laurence Maroney
(Back)
PROBABLE QB Tom Brady (Right Shoulder); LB Corey Mays (Hamstring);
DE Richard Seymour (Elbow)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Eugene Wilson; Rodney Harrison; Eric Alexander; Don Davis;
Daniel Graham; Ryan O'Callaghan; Ellis Hobbs; Chad Jackson;
Laurence Maroney
Miami Dolphins
OUT RB Ronnie Brown (Hand); QB Daunte Culpepper (Knee); G
Jeno James (Knee)
PROBABLE CB Will Allen (Groin); RB Sammy Morris (Ankle); WR Wes
Welker (Shoulder); DE Jason Taylor (Forearm); DT Keith Traylor
(Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Ronnie Brown; Daunte Culpepper; Jeno James
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Green Bay Packers
DOUBTFUL T Mark Tauscher (Groin)
QUESTIONABLE RB P.J. Pope (Hamstring); LB Ben Taylor (Hamstring); TE David
Martin (Ribs)
PROBABLE LB Nick Barnett (Hand); CB Patrick Dendy (Concussion); RB
Noah Herron (Ankle); RB Ahman Green (Knee); CB Charles
Woodson (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Mark Tauscher; David Martin; Ahman Green; Charles Woodson
San Francisco 49ers
OUT TE Eric Johnson (Knee); LB Derek Smith (Hamstring); T Adam
Snyder (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE DT Anthony Adams (Knee); CB Shawntae Spencer (Ankle)
PROBABLE T Jonas Jennings (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Eric Johnson; Derek Smith; Adam Snyder; Anthony Adams;
Shawntae Spencer; Jonas Jennings
DENVER BRONCOS AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Denver Broncos
OUT RB Cecil Sapp (Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE TE Stephen Alexander (Ankle); K Jason Elam (Left Hamstring);
T Adam Meadows (Hamstring); LB Al Wilson (Neck)
PROBABLE S Hamza Abdullah (Hip); LB Keith Burns (Knee); DE Patrick
Chukwurah (Finger); G Ben Hamilton (Thigh); S Quentin Harris
(Finger); TE Nate Jackson (Ribs); TE Mike Leach (Thumb); WR
Brandon Marshall (Ankle); T Erik Pears (Ankle); TE Chad
Mustard (Shoulder); CB Darrent Williams (Shoulder); DT
Demetrin Veal (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
San Diego Chargers
QUESTIONABLE G Kris Dielman (Ankle); WR Keenan McCardell (Calf); S Marlon
McCree (Calf); DE Luis Castillo (Ankle); WR Malcom Floyd
(Ankle); LB Randall Godfrey (Calf); S Clinton Hart (Ankle); DE
Derreck Robinson (Foot); RB Michael Turner (Hamstring)
PROBABLE WR Kassim Osgood (Elbow); S Bhawoh Jue (Knee); DE
Jacques Cesaire (Finger); LB Shaun Phillips (Calf)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
Seattle Seahawks
DOUBTFUL LB D.D. Lewis (Toe); C Robbie Tobeck (Hip); TE Itula Mili
(Concussion)
QUESTIONABLE RB Mack Strong (Ankle); WR Bobby Engram (Illness)
PROBABLE DT Rocky Bernard (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
Arizona Cardinals
DOUBTFUL DT Kendrick Clancy (Ankle)
PROBABLE RB Marcel Shipp (Ribs); LB Brandon Johnson (Illness)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Kendrick Clancy; Marcel Shipp; Brandon Johnson
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS
Buffalo Bills
OUT LB Angelo Crowell (Fibula)
QUESTIONABLE LB John DiGiorgio (Ankle); RB Willis McGahee (Ankle); CB
Terrence McGee (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Angelo Crowell; John DiGiorgio; Willis McGahee; Terrence
McGee
New York Jets
QUESTIONABLE DE Bryan Thomas (Shoulder); RB B.J. Askew (Foot); CB David
Barrett (Hip); LB Matt Chatham (Foot); S Rashad Washington
(Illness); S Eric Smith (Foot)
PROBABLE RB Kevan Barlow (Calf); CB Andre Dyson (Thigh); DE Shaun
Ellis (Ankle); RB Cedric Houston (Knee); WR Justin McCareins
(Foot); DT Rashad Moore (Hand); QB Chad Pennington (Calf);
WR Brad Smith (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Bryan Thomas; B.J. Askew; David Barrett; Matt Chatham;
Rashad Washington; Eric Smith
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
New Orleans Saints
DOUBTFUL RB Aaron Stecker (Hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE WR Marques Colston (Ankle); DE Will Smith (Knee); WR Joe
Horn (Groin)
PROBABLE T Jon Stinchcomb (Stomach); LB Scott Fujita (Ankle); RB
Reggie Bush (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Aaron Stecker; Marques Colston; Joe Horn; Jon Stinchcomb;
Reggie Bush
Dallas Cowboys
No injuries to report
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Participated
CHICAGO BEARS AT ST. LOUIS RAMS on Monday
Chicago Bears
OUT DT Tommie Harris (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE LB Leon Joe (Hamstring); S Todd Johnson (Ankle); CB Nathan
Vasher (Hamstring)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Conducted
St. Louis Rams
DOUBTFUL LB Isaiah Kacyvenski (Concussion)
QUESTIONABLE CB Tye Hill (Thigh); S Jerome Carter (Ankle); S Oshiomogho
Atogwe (Concussion); DE Victor Adeyanju (Forearm)
PROBABLE WR Kevin Curtis (Calf); RB Stephen Davis (Hamstring); WR
Torry Holt (Knee); QB Marc Bulger (Ribs); RB Paul Smith
(Neck); G Adam Timmerman (Ribs)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Isaiah Kacyvenski; Tye Hill; ll; Jerome Carter; Oshiomogho Atogwe

NY Giants' LaVar Arrington to Testifiy in Court for Carl Poston

Another Great Piece by Mr. Staple-see my endnote:

LaVar to support agent before House
BY ARTHUR STAPLE
Newsday Staff Writer

December 7, 2006

LaVar Arrington will testify before a House subcommittee today on behalf of his agent, Carl Poston, who drew a two-year suspension from the NFL Players' Association for his representation of Arrington when he signed a contract with the Redskins in 2003.

The injured Giants linebacker, who thought he was cheated out of a $6.5-million roster bonus by the Redskins, yesterday lashed out at the union.

"They suspended [Poston] without a hearing, the NFLPA," he said. " ... They do a lot of foul stuff. It's like organized crime, to be honest with you. They are bad.

" ... Richard Berthelsen, general [counsel] of the NFLPA, was basically representing the Redskins. I'm a conspiracy-type guy. Then you've got a guy who's supposedly going to take Gene Upshaw's job, Troy Vincent, and he ends up in Washington with a good deal. Just seems like the whistle doesn't want to be blown. I know the PA does things they definitely shouldn't do. I don't think, by any stretch of the imagination, they have the best interests of the players at heart."

Poston was suspended after the NFLPA's committee on agent relations and conduct determined Poston erred in having Arrington sign the deal in which the roster bonus was omitted.

The hearing to which Arrington referred never took place, Berthelsen said. The case was settled and Arrington didn't get his money.

My take: i'm a union man and a moderate democrat, which may annoy some(sorry) but i can tell when union is acting like a Union and when it's only out to benefit itself. I was a rep. for the NYC teachers Union for over ten years(they leave something to be desired as well). Arrington isn't the first player to complain about Upshaw and Co. And they stopped calling themselfs a "UNion" a long time ago...so if a Player has an agent and a manager, why do they need a PA for?? Todays players aren't our fathers Players Playing in our parents NFL, when they needed the pensions they get. They is why it's more of a business now then it was 30 years ago..

NFL - WEEK 14 INJURY REPORT -- TUESDAY - NFLMEDIA.com

FOR USE AS DESIRED - NFL
NFL-PER-14 12/5/06
WEEK 14 INJURY REPORT -- TUESDAY

Cleveland Browns Questionable Questiona ble Charlie Frye (Right Wrist)

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS on Thursday
Cleveland Browns
DOUBTFUL DE Orpheus Roye (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE CB Leigh Bodden (Ankle); QB Charlie Frye (Right Wrist); S Justin
Hamilton (Back); CB Jereme Perry (Knee); LB Willie McGinest
(Pectoral); S Brian Russell (Elbow); LB Chaun Thompson (Ankle); LB
Mason Unck (Groin); TE Kellen Winslow (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
TUES Orpheus Roye; Charlie Frye; Mason Unck; Kellen Winslow
Pittsburgh Steelers

OUT WR Hines Ward (Knee); WR Cedrick Wilson (Ankle); S Troy
Polamalu (Knee); S Ryan Clark (Groin)

Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
TUES Hines Ward; Cedrick Wilson; Troy Polamalu; Ryan Clark

Let New York Giants RB Brandon Jacobs Loose!!

Arthur Staple covers the NY Giants for Newsday, and also runs the Paper's Giants Blog-here is his piece today-see my notes at the end!-Draftnik

Use the big guy more and let him loose
December 6, 2006

The lessons learned from the most recent Giants loss are pretty simple, the way we see it:

1. Don't take stupid penalties.



2. Put Brandon Jacobs on the field more.

The first is obvious to everyone. The second may be as well, even though the coaching staff doesn't necessarily agree. But the Giants' two red-zone failures - worse than inside the 20, these were inside the 5 - illustrate how Tom Coughlin and offensive coordinator John Hufnagel got a little too cute with their play-calling.

The first try was in the third quarter, with the Giants trailing 10-7. On first-and-goal from the 4, Eli Manning tries one of the Giants' signature passes, a fade to Plaxico Burress in single coverage, but Burress is well covered by Anthony Henry and the pass falls incomplete.

Second-and-goal, Tiki Barber is on the field. He is stopped for a 1-yard loss by linebacker Akin Ayodele, who sprints through the line untouched. On third-and-goal, Manning's throw to Jeremy Shockey would have been a touchdown, but the ball was off target by a couple feet.

OK, lesson learned. Right? Anyone?

In the fourth quarter, again trailing by a field goal, the Giants marched down to a first-and-goal, this time from the 8. Jacobs rushed for 4 yards, then came off the field. Manning tried what Coughlin called a "knockdown" screen, a dump pass at the line of scrimmage, but the Cowboys' blitz obscured Manning's view of Barber and the pass went to his feet.

On third-and goal, Manning made a poor decision, looking nowhere else but for Burress, who had Aaron Glenn and Roy Williams close by. Glenn nearly picked off the pass, and the Giants settled for another field goal.

Here was Coughlin's explanation: "[Jacobs] comes in by circumstance, by situation, with the personnel that goes along with it. If it was goal line, Brandon would have been in there. If it was short-yardage, Brandon would have been in there. He plays by personnel and by situation. He's not in there in certain personnel combinations."

That explanation doesn't hold, though. Jacobs has had 15 touches inside the 10 this season, eight for touchdowns, and only half of those were from the 1 or 2. He is the short-yardage back, and he is behind Barber, who does so much for the offense.

But when you've lost four games in a row and had two such glaring offensive failures in one winnable game, it's hard to make the argument that you did the right thing and just didn't execute.

Jacobs is not infallible - he did bounce outside a little too fast on the fourth-and-1 play in the second quarter Sunday instead of just bulling his way behind Jim Finn - and he's still a young, brash player, as shown by a taunting penalty after a big run against the Bucs. And he's still a little raw as a blitz protector and blocker, which is why Coughlin seems so against putting Barber and Jacobs on the field at the same time.

But when Jacobs is supposed to be in, he needs to be in. And here's a suggestion, now that Derrick Ward has shown that even a straight-ahead runner cannot overcome the Giants' bad kick-return blocking: Make Jacobs the kick returner.

He's already out there as Ward's lead blocker, so he knows the schemes. He's 6-4, 264 pounds and almost welcomes contact, because he runs over at least one opponent every game. And his open-field decision-making is improving rapidly. Manning trusts him as a check-down receiver, and Jacobs' acrobatic catch and 43-yard run against the Cowboys should cement his status as a guy who makes things happen when he has the ball.

He's the back of the future and he certainly appears ready to take over next season when Barber is retired. Why not see what he can do with more time and more touches now? What have the Giants to lose?

Storylines

Just win one, baby

The Giants have lost four straight, they're a bit demoralized, but they are amazingly now the No. 5 seed in the NFC. It's all still in their hands. "We just need to win one," Shaun O'Hara said. Some of O'Hara's teammates talked about running the table, but it starts with one win on Sunday against the Panthers.

Revenge?


The 23-0 rout by Carolina in January might not be foremost in the Giants' thoughts, with both teams fighting just to reach the postseason, but the playoff shutout at home could become a rallying cry for the Giants, who look for anything to motivate them. More pertinent is how Eli Manning will handle DE Julius Peppers, and how the secondary will contain Steve Smith.

Whither Strahan



No. 92 gave his foot a test on the Giants Stadium turf on Sunday before deciding that he wasn't ready. He may still not be ready for this week's game, despite its huge implications. "I'm not putting any time limit or time frame on it now," Strahan told WFAN Monday. "This thing just takes time to heal."

Statlines

Brandon Jacobs has eight touchdowns on 87 touches (77 rushes, 10 receptions) this season. How that stacks up against some of the leading all-purpose backs in the NFL:

Rush/Rec.

Attempts Yards Avg. TD

M. Barber, Dal. (left) 123 714 5.8 13

B. Jacobs, Giants 87 509 5.9 8

L. Tomlinson, SD 308 1794 5.8 26

L. Johnson, KC 342 1687 4.9 15

B. Westbrook, Phi243 1493 6.1 10


Ok So "B-Jac" doesn't get used enough-agreed, but hey..it's like every time you put him in you Telegraph to the other team that your going to get him the ball. Manning's skills Just are not as developed yet as they could be. He still looks to the lead receiver too often, which is why he throws some Dumb Picks at times. He looked better Sunday then he did throughout the whole losing streak...and Carolina will be P.O.ed that they let Philly get past them....

NFL Super Bowl Game - Our New Blog

We've got a new blog. This one's specifically on the largest single-day sports event in the World, the Super Bowl. Check out this new blog in our network with a click on the title of this post.

The New Yorker Cartoon - A Widget Here

Another cool widget I found is one of the famous New Yorker cartoons. This one, which is at the top of this blog, changes each day -- or at least it's supposed to. We'll see. But I've got it here.

We've Got Cool Widgets Here! - Streampad Music Player and Haystack Social Media Widget

Ok. You certainly hear the music playing here. Not too jarring, catchy, rock but more easy-listening. But you're wondering where it comes from, right? It's from the Streampad Music Player located in the left side bar of this blog. Just scroll down and you'll see it. And right below it is the Haystack Social Media Network, where you can see who's who in business around the country. No, not necessarily big players in business, just people like you and me, who hope to get big.

If you're wondering where I got these widgets, it's a place in cyberspace called Widgetbox. Check it out!