NFL WEEK 6 INJURY REPORT -- THURSDAY -- NFLMedia.com

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NFL-PER-6A 10/11/06

WEEK 6 INJURY REPORT -- THURSDAY

Following is a list of quarterback injuries for Week 6 Games (October 15- 16):
Kansas City Chiefs Out Trent Green (Head)
Oakland Raiders Out Aaron Brooks (Right Shoulder)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Out Chris Simms (Splenectomy)
Miami Dolphins Doubtful Daunte Culpepper (Knee)
New York Jets Probable Chad Pennington gton (Calf)

Following is a list of injured players for Week 6 Games:

HOUSTON TEXANS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
Houston Texans
OUT CB Demarcus Faggins (Foot)
QUESTIONABLE DE Antwan Peek (Hamstring)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Practiced
THURS Antwan Peek
Dallas Cowboys
OUT TE Ryan Hannam (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Practiced
THURS Ryan Hannam

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Philadelphia Eagles
DOUBTFUL CB Roderick Hood (Heel); WR Donte' Stallworth (Hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE RB Brian Westbrook (Knee)
PROBABLE WR Jason Avant (Ankle); LB Shawn Barber (Hip); S Sean
Considine (Shoulder); S Brian Dawkins (Quadricep); G Todd
Herremans (Knee); RB Reno Mahe (Ankle); LB Matt McCoy
(Hip); CB Lito Sheppard (Ankle); CB Dexter Wynn (Shin)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Roderick Hood; Donte' Stallworth
THURS Roderick Hood; Donte' Stallworth
New Orleans Saints
PROBABLE CB Curtis Deloatch (Thigh); S Bryan Scott (Thigh); WR Devery
Henderson (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Practiced
THURS All Players Practiced

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ST. LOUIS RAMS
Seattle Seahawks
OUT RB Shaun Alexander (Foot); DE Joe Tafoya (Knee); G Floyd
Womack (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE WR Bobby Engram (Illness)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Shaun Alexander; Floyd Womack; Joe Tafoya; Bobby Engram
THURS Practice Not Complete
St. Louis Rams
OUT RB Paul Smith (Eye)
QUESTIONABLE CB Travis Fisher (Thigh); CB Fakhir Brown (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Paul Smith; Travis Fisher; Fakhir Brown
THURS Paul Smith; Fakhir Brown

NEW YORK GIANTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
New York Giants
OUT RB Derrick Ward (Foot)
DOUBTFUL LB Carlos Emmons (Pectoral); WR Sinorice Moss (Quadricep)
QUESTIONABLE S James Butler (Knee)
PROBABLE TE Jeremy Shockey (Foot); LB Brandon Short (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Derrick Ward; Carlos Emmons; Sinorice Moss
THURS Derrick Ward; Carlos Emmons; Sinorice Moss; Brandon Short
Atlanta Falcons
QUESTIONABLE DE John Abraham (Groin); G Kynan Forney (Shoulder); T
Wayne Gandy (Shoulder); LB Edgerton Hartwell (Knee); CB
Omare Lowe (Hamstring); RB Jerious Norwood (Shoulder); CB
Allen Rossum (Hamstring)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Allen Rossum; Omare Lowe
THURS All Players Practiced

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
Carolina Panthers
OUT LB Dan Morgan (Concussion); RB DeAngelo Williams (Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE C Justin Hartwig (Groin); S Shaun Williams (Foot)
PROBABLE LB Thomas Davis (Illness); RB Nick Goings (Thigh); S Kevin
McCadam (Knee); RB Brad Hoover (Thigh)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Dan Morgan; DeAngelo Williams; Brad Hoover
THURS Dan Morgan; DeAngelo Williams; Thomas Davis
Baltimore Ravens
OUT CB Corey Ivy (Abdomen)
QUESTIONABLE RB Justin Green (Thigh); TE Todd Heap (Ankle); DT Haloti
Ngata (Knee); LB Mike Smith (Head); LB Terrell Suggs (Thigh);
DE Gary Stills (Abdomen)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Corey Ivy; Justin Green; Todd Heap; Haloti Ngata; Mike Smith;
Terrell Suggs
THURS Corey Ivy; Justin Green; Todd Heap; Haloti Ngata; Mike Smith;
Terrell Suggs; Gary Stills

BUFFALO BILLS AT DETROIT LIONS
Buffalo Bills
OUT DT John McCargo (Foot)
DOUBTFUL S Matt Bowen (Shin)
QUESTIONABLE CB Nate Clements (Quadricep); LB Takeo Spikes (Hamstring);
G Chris Villarrial (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED John McCargo; Matt Bowen; Nate Clements
THURS John McCargo; Matt Bowen; Nate Clements
Detroit Lions
OUT S Kenoy Kennedy (Foot); DT Shaun Cody (Toe); LB Alex Lewis
(Knee); G Damien Woody (Foot)
QUESTIONABLE T Rex Tucker (Knee); G Ross Verba (Hamstring)
PROBABLE RB Shawn Bryson (Knee); T Barry Stokes (Ankle); WR Roy
Williams (Back)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Kenoy Kennedy; Shaun Cody; Alex Lewis; Damien Woody; Rex
Tucker; Ross Verba; Barry Stokes; Shawn Bryson; Roy Williams
THURS Kenoy Kennedy; Shaun Cody; Alex Lewis; Damien Woody; Rex
Tucker; Ross Verba; Roy Williams

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Cincinnati Bengals
OUT WR Tab Perry (Hip); C Rich Braham (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE CB Greg Brooks (Knee); S Dexter Jackson (Ankle); LB Rashad
Jeanty (Foot)
PROBABLE DT Sam Adams (Knee); T Levi Jones (Ankle); DE Robert
Geathers (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Rich Braham; Tab Perry; Dexter Jackson; Rashad Jeanty; Sam
Adams; Levi Jones
THURS Tab Perry; Rich Braham; Dexter Jackson; Rashad Jeanty; Sam
Adams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
OUT QB Chris Simms (Splenectomy)
QUESTIONABLE CB Juran Bolden (Hip); WR Mark Jones (Hamstring); CB Brian
Kelly (Foot); TE Dave Moore (Rib); DE Simeon Rice (Shoulder);
WR Maurice Stovall (Back)
PROBABLE G Davin Joseph (Knee); LB Ryan Nece (Knee); C John Wade
(Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Chris Simms; Brian Kelly; Juran Bolden; Maurice Stovall; Simeon
Rice; Mark Jones
THURS Chris Simms; Mark Jones; Brian Kelly; Simeon Rice; Maurice
Stovall; John Wade

TENNESSEE TITANS AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Tennessee Titans
OUT WR David Givens (Hand); TE Erron Kinney (Knee); G Zach
Piller (Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE LB Ken Amato (Quadricep); WR Drew Bennett (Ankle); G Benji
Olson (Ankle); LB Robert Reynolds (Thigh); DE Travis LaBoy
(Back); RB LenDale White (Stomach)
PROBABLE K Rob Bironas (Groin)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED David Givens; Erron Kinney; Zach Piller; Ken Amato; Drew
Bennett; Travis LaBoy; Benji Olson; Robert Reynolds; LenDale
White
THURS David Givens; Erron Kinney; Zach Piller; Ken Amato; Drew
Bennett; Benji Olson; Travis LaBoy; LenDale White; Rob Bironas
Washington Redskins
QUESTIONABLE CB Shawn Springs (Groin); DT Joe Salave'a (Calf)
PROBABLE DT Cornelius Griffin (Hip); WR David Patten (Thigh); P Derrick
Frost (Calf); LB Marcus Washington (Hip); DE Phillip Daniels
(Back); G Derrick Dockery (Hip)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Shawn Springs; Joe Salave'a; Cornelius Griffin; Marcus
Washington; Phillip Daniels; David Patten
THURS Shawn Springs; Joe Salave'a; Cornelius Griffin; David Patten;
Marcus Washington; Phillip Daniels; Derrick Dockery

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
San Diego Chargers
QUESTIONABLE S Bhawoh Jue (Knee)
PROBABLE TE Ryan Krause (Hamstring); T Marcus McNeill (Hand)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Bhawoh Jue
THURS Practice Not Complete
San Francisco 49ers
OUT TE Vernon Davis (Fibula)
DOUBTFUL G Larry Allen (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE T Jonas Jennings (Hand)
PROBABLE LB Derek Smith (Hip)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Vernon Davis; Jonas Jennings; Derek Smith
THURS Vernon Davis; Jonas Jennings

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Kansas City Chiefs
OUT T Will Svitek (Knee); LB Rich Scanlon (Knee); RB Michael
Bennett (Hamstring); QB Trent Green (Head); CB Benny Sapp
(Knee)
QUESTIONABLE WR Dante' Hall (Hip)
PROBABLE RB Larry Johnson (Neck); TE Kris Wilson (Ankle); T Kyle Turley
(Back)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Rich Scanlon; Michael Bennett; Trent Green; Will Svitek; Benny
Sapp; Dante' Hall; Larry Johnson
THURS Will Svitek; Rich Scanlon; Michael Bennett; Trent Green; Benny
Sapp; Dante' Hall; Kris Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
OUT LB James Harrison (Ankle); WR Willie Reid (Foot); LB Joey
Porter (Hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE CB Deshea Townsend (Hamstring)
PROBABLE RB Dan Kreider (Knee); G Kendall Simmons (Foot); DE Brett
Keisel (Ribs)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED James Harrison; Willie Reid; Brett Keisel; Joey Porter; Deshea
Townsend; Kendall Simmons; Dan Kreider
THURS James Harrison; Willie Reid; Joey Porter; Deshea Townsend;
Kendall Simmons

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS
Miami Dolphins
DOUBTFUL WR Marty Booker (Chest); QB Daunte Culpepper (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE LB Derrick Pope (Hamstring); CB Travis Daniels (Knee); TE
Justin Peelle (Knee)
PROBABLE TE Randy McMichael (Ribs)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Daunte Culpepper; Marty Booker; Travis Daniels; Justin Peelle;
Derrick Pope
THURS Marty Booker; Daunte Culpepper; Derrick Pope; Travis Daniels;
Justin Peelle
New York Jets
QUESTIONABLE RB B.J. Askew (Foot); CB David Barrett (Hip); WR Laveranues
Coles (Calf); WR Tim Dwight (Thigh); RB Cedric Houston
(Knee); G Pete Kendall (Thigh); C Trey Teague (Ankle)
PROBABLE DE Dave Ball (Hand); RB Kevan Barlow (Calf); DE Bobby
Hamilton (Knee); RB James Hodgins (Knee); T Adrian Jones
(Thigh); CB Justin Miller (Hip); QB Chad Pennington (Calf); S
Kerry Rhodes (Thigh); TE Sean Ryan (Chest); WR Brad Smith
(Thigh); S Eric Smith (Knee); DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen (Knee);
RB Leon Washington (Hip); T Anthony Clement (Shin); LB Matt
Chatham (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED B.J. Askew; David Barrett; Laveranues Coles; Tim Dwight; Cedric
Houston; Pete Kendall; Trey Teague; Rashad Moore
THURS B.J. Askew; David Barrett; Laveranues Coles; Tim Dwight; Cedric
Houston; Pete Kendall; Trey Teague

OAKLAND RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS
Oakland Raiders
OUT QB Aaron Brooks (Right Shoulder)
DOUBTFUL CB Fabian Washington (Hamstring); LB Grant Irons (Back)
QUESTIONABLE TE James Adkisson (Groin); DE Lance Johnstone (Knee); RB
Reshard Lee (Neck); G Kevin Boothe (Nose); TE Randal
Williams (Quadricep); TE John Madsen (Quadricep)
PROBABLE RB Zack Crockett (Knee); LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (Shoulder); T
Robert Gallery (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Aaron Brooks; Fabian Washington; Grant Irons; Randal Williams
THURS Practice Not Complete
Denver Broncos
OUT RB Cedric Cobbs (Ankle)
PROBABLE S John Lynch (Neck); RB Cecil Sapp (Toe)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Cedric Cobbs
THURS Practice Not Complete

CHICAGO BEARS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS on Monday
Chicago Bears
OUT S Chris Harris (Quadricep)
QUESTIONABLE WR Mark Bradley (Ankle); LB Leon Joe (Hamstring); DE
Adewale Ogunleye (Hamstring)
PROBABLE TE Desmond Clark (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Conducted
THURS Chris Harris; Mark Bradley; Leon Joe; Adewale Ogunleye;
Desmond Clark
Arizona Cardinals
DOUBTFUL LB James Darling (Calf); G Milford Brown (Ankle); DT Kendrick
Clancy (Ankle); WR Larry Fitzgerald (Hamstring)
PROBABLE S Robert Griffith (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Larry Fitzgerald; Kendrick Clancy; Milford Brown; James Darling;
Robert Griffith
THURS James Darling; Milford Brown; Kendrick Clancy; Larry Fitzgerald

Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Maurice Carthon's In Hot Water -- Why Not Raiders Tom Walsh? - News From Profootballtalk.com

This article's from Profootballtalk.com. It says they've been pestering a league source about Browns Offensive Coordinator Maurice Carthon's job. My question is why pick on Carthon? Why not pick on Tom Walsh of the Raiders? Their own article states that the Browns' offense is ranked ahead of only that of the Oakland Raiders in NFL statistics.

Is it because Carthon's black and Tom Walsh is white? In my view, although I like ProFootballtalk.com, there's an annoying tendancy to be "Anti-Black" in their coverage, from the racist image of Art Shell as "Chef" from South Park, to the questions around the hiring of Broncos GM Rick Smith, to charges of "reverse racism" in the NFL (silly), to this. It's almost knee-jerk with these guys.

More on this soon.


CARTHON IN HOT WATER

Over the past several weeks, we've been pestering a league source with knowledge of the current dynamics in Cleveland regarding scattered rumors we've heard that Browns offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon is in danger of getting poop-canned.

Previously, the source told us that the rumors were unfounded. The source now tells us that there is a "big push" within the organization to dump Carthon if the unit performs badly when the Browns return from the bye week with an October 22 home game against the Broncos.

One of the real-world factors working against a termination of Carthon is that, because he was hired by head coach Romeo Crennel after Crennel got the gig in early 2005, a relatively quick decision that Carthon can't cut it would be an admission that Crennel made a bad decision.

Sooner or later, however, the chronic ineptitude of the team requires some action to be taken, or Crennel (and other, such as G.M. Phil Savage) could find themselves in jeopardy, too.

The Browns are 31st in the league in total offense, leading only the Raiders. Cleveland is averaging 261.2 yards per game.

Vince Young's First NFL Touchdown

In the game they lost by one point and leading to Young not talking to the media afterward, Vince Young score his first NFL touchdown:

Vince Young Hates Losing - Didn't Talk To Media After Colts Game; Appology Given Today

Texas' Vince Young, the third pick in the first round of the NFL Draft and to the Tennessee Titans, hates being 0 and 5. He was so upset about losing to the Colts that he didn't talk to the media.

It's understandable that he was as upset as he expressed with his silence. Several Titans receivers missed catchable passes Young threw that were difference makers in a contest they lost only by one point, 13 to 14.

Today, on the NFL Network, he appologized for not talking on Sunday and explained that he wasn't used to losing. He and Lendel White are having a hard time with the team's current position.

I think Vince did the right thing by not shooting off his mouth after the contest on Sunday. Today he spoke with a cool head and in a tone that garnered sympathy from the press in the lockerroom.

Vince may be young -- excuse the pun -- but he's well-trained by his parents and associates and wants to do well and be nice to people.

He may just be the tonic the Titans need to turn things around.

Brett Farve Sits Out Bye Week Practice - Green Bay Post

It will be interesting to see what next week brings with his recovery.

Favre sits out practice
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

The Packers’ first bye-week practice Tuesday did not include quarterback Brett Favre and a handful of other veteran and injured players.


Backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers took most of the reps in practice in place of Favre.

Other players held out of practice were: running back Ahman Green, fullback Brandon Miree, linebacker Abdul Hodge, linebacker Ben Taylor, left tackle Chad Clifton, defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, receiver Donald Driver and receiver Robert Ferguson.

Favre had been bothered by a sore neck and shoulder before last week’s loss to the St. Louis Rams.

Rookie cornerback Will Blackmon returned to practice but still wasn’t able to fully participate due to the foot injury that has kept him out since May.

Blackmon said he’s hopeful he’ll be ready to return in time for the Packers’ next game, at Miami on Oct. 22.

The Packers are scheduled to practice through Thursday before taking a three-day weekend.

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Reggie Bush Scores! Saints Beat Bucs 24 - 21

Bush's heroics give Saints a 24-21 victory

NFL.com wire reports

NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 8, 2006) -- With a few waves, Reggie Bush beckoned the crowd to its feet as he awaited a critical punt. Soon, he would have all of them in ecstasy.

Shut out of the end zone in his first four games as a pro, Bush took the punt 65 yards with under five minutes to lift the New Orleans Saints to a 24-21 victory over Tampa Bay.

Bush escaped the Buccaneers' initial pursuit by scampering across the field to his right, then accelerating quickly as he cut upfield, leaving several defenders grasping for air as bedlam erupted in the Louisiana Superdome. He pointed at the fans in the end-zone seats as he scored.

"When you see Reggie take those high steps, you know he's bound to make something happen," Saints defensive end Charles Grant said. "I knew he was gone."

The celebration was interrupted briefly while referees sorted out a flag thrown against the Buccaneers, then fans jubilantly chanted "Reg-gie! Reg-gie!" as the score was made official. Bush was hugged by numerous teammates as he made his way back to the sideline.

While it was only his fifth game as a pro, his first touchdown seemed a long time coming for a player drafted with immense fanfare after winning the Heisman Trophy at USC. After all, rookie receiver Marques Colston, drafted in the seventh round and making millions of dollars less, already had three scores.

"Once I turned that corner I was just trying to turn on the jets," Bush said. "It was so wide open the slowest guy in the world probably could have scored that touchdown. The monkey's off my back now."

Peppered with questions recently about whether he was frustrated or pressing, Bush responded he did not care about scoring as long as the surprising Saints, now 4-1 and atop the NFC South, kept winning. They may not have beaten Tampa Bay if not for him.

"He's a guy who can change games -- and today he changed one," Saints coach Sean Payton said.

The runback spoiled a valiant effort by winless Tampa Bay (0-4), which rallied from a 10-point deficit to take the lead in the second half.

"I tip my hat to Reggie Bush," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "He lived up to his expectations today. Shame on him."

Tampa Bay might have regained the lead if not for an untimely penalty that often goes uncalled.


Deuce McAllister was the Saints' workhorse with 123 yards on 14 carries and a TD.
Joey Galloway, the Bucs' top receiver on the day, was flagged for setting a pick on defensive back Jason Craft, wiping out a long pass to Ike Hilliard that would have set up a first-and-goal. The drive stalled and the Saints ran the clock down to under 30 seconds before giving the ball back to the Buccaneers.

Craft had seen the Bucs get away with a similar pick earlier in the game and specifically asked the referees to look for it. As soon as he ran into Galloway and lost track of Hilliard, Craft turned to the referee with his hand out.

"Before I knew it I just got cracked and I'm looking for a flag," Craft said. "Luckily, the ref was watching out for it ... because I couldn't do anything about it. It was over with for me."

Gruden was seething with a scrunched face and spittle-spewing shouts of anger immediately after the call. He was more diplomatic after the game.

"I couldn't see it from where I was," Gruden said. "It's a play we've used a lot in certain situations. We'll see the tape. All I can say is that it's unfortunate."

Bucs quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, pressed into service because of Chris Simms ' ruptured spleen, made only one costly mistake, fumbling while being sacked near his 20-yard line -- a turnover that led to a New Orleans touchdown.

Otherwise, he hardly looked like a rookie making his first NFL start on hostile ground.

He completed 20 of 31 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He hooked up with Galloway four times for 110 yards, once for an 18-yard TD and once on a 52-yard pass that set up Mike Alstott 's 1-yard touchdown run.

"There is a lot of promise in that young guy. He played his brains out," Gruden said. "I like everything about him."

Gradkowski's 3-yard touchdown pass to Alex Smith on third-down gave Tampa Bay a 21-17 lead.

"It's a tough one to swallow," Gradkowski said. "There's a lot of good that came out of this game. Guys made great plays, the receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen were blocking their butts off ... running the ball well."

Deuce McAllister helped the Saints take a 10-7 lead into the half with a tackler-shedding, 57-yard carry that set up a field goal. He added a 24-yard touchdown run, had 117 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 123.

Drew Brees was 21 of 33 for 171 yards and one touchdown, to tight end Ernie Conwell from 9 yards that gave the Saints a 17-7 lead in the third quarter.

But Tampa Bay roared back behind big plays from Gradkowski and the running game. Cadillac Williams had 111 yards rushing on 20 carries. His 34-yard carry to the New Orleans 6 set up the Buccaneers' final touchdown.

SF 34 - Oakland 20 - Raiders 0 and Five - NFL.com

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 8, 2006) -- For the last three miserable seasons, the Bay Area has been home to two bad NFL teams.

At least the San Francisco 49ers can prove they're getting better.

Arnaz Battle caught two touchdown passes from Alex Smith, and the 49ers overcame Randy Moss ' 100th career TD reception with a strong second half in a 34-20 victory over the winless Oakland Raiders.

Frank Gore rushed for a career-high 134 yards and third-string running back Maurice Hicks scored on a 33-yard screen pass for the rebuilding 49ers (2-3) as they rebounded emphatically from last week's 41-0 loss at Kansas City. They also overcame a halftime deficit against the Raiders (0-4), who added another discouraging loss to their streak of 10 straight.

"It's big to win the Battle of the Bay, but it's bigger to get our season back on track," said Battle, who had just three TDs in his previous 36 NFL games.

Walt Harris made three of San Francisco's four interceptions, and the Niners scored 24 straight points after halftime to roll past their cross-water rivals in just the iconic franchises' 11th regular-season meeting.

Such a rare occasion should be cause for excitement in Northern California, where pro football is the most popular sport. But these bragging rights aren't worth much.

The teams are at perhaps the lowest collective point in their histories, with three straight losing seasons apiece and slow starts to this campaign -- including the longest losing skid in Al Davis' decades with the club.

But this meeting was entertaining even while Smith, Gore and the 49ers' defense took charge in the second half.

"We're improving almost every week, and I think this is just the start," Harris said. "You can see us learning and getting better. We've had a lot of adversity, and we continue to work."

The 49ers also won for offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who spent the last two years as Oakland's head coach. Turner's game plan worked well against his former Raiders, wearing down the defensive front with steady rushing before hitting a handful of big passes.


Melvin Oliver scored a defensive touchdown as the 49ers rolled.
"I'm human, and I really (know) that the team always comes first, but there are personal things that come in, and it feels good," said Turner, who got the game ball from coach Mike Nolan.

The Raiders added another awful week to their streak, struggling on offense and getting beaten physically on defense. They were finished off by another of the boneheaded mistakes that have occurred constantly during their second 0-4 start since 1964.

With 10 1/2 minutes to play, LaMont Jordan dropped a lateral pass from Andrew Walter and then stood watching as rookie lineman Melvin Oliver returned the free ball 12 yards for the score, putting San Francisco up 31-13.

"Yes, I'm disappointed. No, I did not expect to be at this particular point in the season," said Raiders coach Art Shell. "I expected that we'd be much better and competing within our division. We're not doing that right now."

Walter threw two interceptions in his second career start and backup Marques Tuiasosopo added two more. Moss had five catches for 52 yards despite rarely running hard.

"I don't see any improvement with what we're doing," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "We don't make a play. We don't make an adjustment to get momentum back on our side."

Smith went 15 of 19 for 165 yards in the 2005 No. 1 pick's fourth victory as a starter in the Niners' last seven games. Gore had another outstanding game, also picking up 38 yards on three catches -- and for the first time this season, he didn't fumble.

Moss dropped a pass in the end zone after Stanford Routt intercepted Smith's first throw of the second quarter. The Raiders had to settle for Sebastian Janikowski 's second field goal.

Oakland went ahead 13-7 late in the second quarter, with Walter coolly directing an 81-yard drive ending in Moss' 22-yard TD catch between two defenders 51 seconds before halftime. Moss, who has ripped the Raiders' desire and speculated about being traded this season, is the seventh receiver in NFL history with 100 TD catches.

But rookie linebacker Manny Lawson blocked Shane Lechler's punt on Oakland's first possession of the second half, and the Niners went ahead for good on Battle's second TD catch.

"There's too many missed tackles," said Oakland safety Stuart Schweigert, who made nine tackles. "The running back is going down the field, and I have to make the tackle 8 yards downfield. You can't have that. ... You can't have your free safety leading the team in tackles."

Eagles' Beat Cowboys 38-24; T.O. Not Effective - NFL.com

McNabb shines as Eagles foil T.O.'s return

NFL.com wire reports

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 8, 2006) -- With Terrell Owens watching from the sideline, Donovan McNabb turned ordinary receivers into big-time playmakers.

As for T.O., the most overhyped homecoming in recent memory was totally ordinary: three catches, 45 yards, 0 drama.

McNabb threw touchdown passes of 40 yards to Reggie Brown and 87 yards to Hank Baskett, and Lito Sheppard returned an interception 102 yards in the final minute to seal the Eagles' 38-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Owens' return to Philadelphia dominated the headlines this week, with Philly fans planning a hostile welcome. But Owens was merely a decoy for most of the game, and those fans were too dazzled by McNabb to fixate much on the erstwhile Eagles receiver who helped them reach the Super Bowl in 2004 before last year's bitter departure.

"It's frustrating," Owens said. "Opportunities were there and we didn't make them. I'm a competitor. I do not like to lose. Maybe I need to work harder."

Not only did Owens not score, he didn't catch a pass until the third quarter -- then dropped the next one thrown to him, much to the delight of a frenzied crowd that showered Owens with derisive chants, insults and boos.

"I was surprised Terrell didn't have more catches. That was not our plan," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after chatting with Owens in the locker room.

The Eagles (4-1) took the lead for good when McNabb connected with Brown on a flea-flicker pass with 9:13 left that made it 31-24. Brown, a second-year pro who replaced a suspended Owens in the starting lineup last year, beat rookie safety Pat Watkins and caught the ball deep in the end zone.


Donovan McNabb insisted the win over the Cowboys wasn't personal.
The Cowboys (2-2) drove to the Eagles 33 on the ensuing drive. But Sheppard intercepted Drew Bledsoe's badly underthrown pass -- intended for an open Owens.

Owens angrily snapped at his chin strap, walked off the field and took his usual spot at the end of the bench.

The Cowboys had one more chance after a pass interference penalty on Michael Lewis allowed them to convert a fourth-and-18 from their 37.

But from the Eagles 6, Sheppard stepped in front of Bledsoe's pass and raced the other way to put the game away. Bledsoe threw three interceptions and was sacked seven times.

For a while, the Cowboys were doing just fine without getting Owens involved. DeMarcus Ware scored on a 69-yard fumble return and Bledsoe ran in from the 7 to give Dallas a 21-17 halftime lead.

But Philadelphia's struggling offense turned it around with one big play.

Week 5's top games

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· TBD, Oct. 11, 10:30 ET

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McNabb took a deep drop, eluded a sack, stepped up and heaved a pass downfield. Baskett ran past Watkins, caught the ball in stride, broke a tackle near the 30 and streaked into the end zone for his first career touchdown.

Baskett, acquired in a trade after he was signed by Minnesota as a rookie free agent, was starting for the injured Donte' Stallworth. He finished with three catches for 112 yards.

Dallas tied it at 24 on a 39-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt early in the fourth quarter. Then McNabb took over.

"This is a total team game," said McNabb, who was 18-of-33 for 354 yards and two TDs. "It's not T.O. vs. Donovan. All of us play together."

Owens was a non-factor in the first half as the Cowboys relied on their running game. Bledsoe finally looked Owens' way on the Cowboys' 17th offensive play, but he was hit on the throw and Brian Dawkins intercepted.

Owens' first catch -- on Dallas' 41st play -- was a short pass that he turned into a 9-yard gain. He then looked toward the Eagles' sideline and spun the ball on the ground in their direction while gesturing.

Perhaps distracted by the Owens' hoopla, both teams were sloppy at the start.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who didn't practice all week because of a knee injury, looked fine on a 24-yard screen pass on the first play from scrimmage. But he fumbled on the next play, giving Dallas the ball at its 38.

Cowboys punter Mat McBriar later fumbled a snap and Shawn Barber recovered at the 12. Westbrook ran in from the 5.

Darwin Walker sacked Bledsoe on Dallas' first play on the ensuing possession, forcing a fumble Trent Cole recovered at the Cowboys 14. But the Eagles settled for David Akers' 27-yard field goal that made it 10-0.

Marion Barber's 2-yard TD run made it 10-7.

In the second quarter, Greg Ellis hit McNabb and the ball popped. Ware caught it and, with no one in front of him, raced 69 yards for a touchdown.

The Eagles answered quickly, taking a 17-14 lead on McNabb's sneak from the 1. McNabb connected with L.J. Smith on a 60-yard pass to set up the score.

Bledsoe, not known for his scrambling, scored on a 7-yard run to give the Cowboys a 21-17 lead.

"We came out in the second half, showed a lot of character," said linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. "I think we really took a great step forward."

Chicago Bears Crush Bills 40-7

Bears roll over Bills, stay unbeaten

NFL.com wire reports

CHICAGO (Oct. 8, 2006) -- Calling the Chicago Bears an offensive juggernaut might seem to defy logic, tradition and the lineage of gritty defenders from Butkus to Singletary to Urlacher.

Believe it.

Getting a huge boost from their trademark defense, the Bears scored the first five times they had the ball Sunday and ruined the homecoming of former coach Dick Jauron with a 40-7 drubbing of Jauron's Buffalo Bills to go 5-0 for the first time in 20 years.

Rex Grossman threw two touchdown passes, Cedric Benson scored his first two NFL touchdowns and the Bears capitalized on five Buffalo turnovers as they piled up their biggest points total since 1993.

Suddenly, the team that always counted on its defense to make up for an anemic offense in recent seasons is averaging 31 points a game, outscoring even the high-flying Indianapolis Colts through five games.

"That was a fun game," said Grossman, who sat out the fourth quarter after going 15-of-27 for 182 yards and the two touchdowns.

"Anytime you execute like that -- offense, defense, special teams -- anytime you play like that, it's so much fun."

That was the operative word for Brian Urlacher, too, enjoying his team's newly resurgent offense.

"It's fun to watch," he said. "Rex is throwing the ball pretty much wherever he wants to."

Robbie Gould aided the cause with four field goals, improving to 17-for-17 for the season, as the Bears ran their scoring margin to an eye-opening 156 points scored and 36 allowed.

Tough defense was the Bears' hallmark during Jauron's tenure from 1999-2003, but a shaky offense kept Chicago out of the playoffs every season but 2001. His teams managed 30 points just four times in five years, and never more than 37.

The 'D' remains as stingy as ever, or more so. Chicago yielded just 145 total yards to the Bills, and the last-minute touchdown it gave up was only the second TD the defense has allowed all season.


The Bears' offensive showcase included two TDs from Cedric Benson.
But an injury-free Grossman and the high-powered passing game have made the NFC's only unbeaten team more dangerous on offense than it has been in years.

The Bills compounded that by giving the ball away frequently after going three of their first four games without any turnovers.

"It was a long day for us, obviously," Jauron said. "We knew they were an outstanding football team coming into the game. ... All the things that we couldn't have happen, happened."

The outmanned Bills found themselves in trouble early and often against a speedy, aggressive defense. They dug themselves a hole on the opening drive when Brian Moorman fumbled the snap on a fake punt and Brendon Ayanbadejo recovered at the Buffalo 40. Six plays later, Gould kicked a 42-yard field goal to open the scoring.

Following a 43-yard field goal, the Bears blew open the game with three touchdowns in a nine-minute span of the second quarter.

Grossman hit Bernard Berrian for an 8-yard score to make it 13-0 after Thomas Jones carried five times for 35 yards on the scoring drive.

Bills quarterback J.P. Losman was intercepted by Lance Briggs on the ensuing drive. Five plays later, Benson bulled in from 1 yard for his first TD.

"It was really cool, especially on the first one," Benson said. "It's neat stuff."

Following a 62-yard bomb to Berrian on Chicago's next drive, Grossman found Rashied Davis in the end zone for a 15-yard score that made it 27-0 at halftime.

The Bears extended the rout in the second half with Gould's field goals of 32 and 41 yards, and Benson's second 1-yard TD late in the fourth quarter following a fumbled kickoff recovered by Israel Idonije.

Buffalo scored on a 5-yard TD pass from Losman to Lee Evans with 1:06 remaining.

Jones had his first 100-yard game after rushing for 1,335 a year ago, finishing with 109 yards on 22 carries. Benson ran for 48 yards on 14 attempts.

Losman was 14-of-27 for 115 yards and was sacked three times.

Willis McGahee, who came in leading the NFL in rushing, was held to 50 yards on 14 carries.

"We gave them a lot of stuff," cornerback Terrence McGee said. "They are probably one of the best teams in football, if not the best team in football, but I thought we gave them a lot of opportunities and it hurt us."

The bad news for opponents is that coach Lovie Smith thinks they will get better.

"We like what we see right now," he said. "But I don't think you can peak after five games."

Green Bay Drops One To St. Louis Rams, 23-20 - NFL.com

Rams hold on to win in Green Bay, 23-20

NFL.com wire reports

GREEN BAY, Wis. (Oct. 8, 2006) -- The St. Louis Rams used to be the most stylish team in the NFL. Now they're winning ugly -- to the tune of a surprising 4-1 start.

The Rams staved off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Brett Favre and the Packers, walking away with a 23-20 victory at Lambeau Field after a big defensive play in the final minute.

"I don't think anyone would have predicted it," Rams quarterback Marc Bulger said.

What used to be the "Greatest Show on Turf" under former coach Mike Martz isn't much of a show at all under new coach Scott Linehan. But so far, Linehan's more conservative offensive approach is a hit.

"It's still a learning process, but it's working," wide receiver Torry Holt said. "We've got enough pros on the offensive side of the football that understand we want to win. It's not about the stats, the numbers you can put up on a weekly basis or what record chart you're moving up. It's about putting wins in the win column as the season goes."

They might be lacking style points, but the Rams have won three straight close games.

"We've had some emotional rollercoaster-type games, and they are all like that in this league," Linehan said. "Fortunately for us, we have been able to come out on the better end."

The Rams made plenty of mistakes, including a few rare slip ups by Bulger. But the Packers couldn't make them pay until it was too late.

Favre was relatively quiet for three quarters before rallying the Packers for a fourth-quarter touchdown to rookie Greg Jennings that cut the Rams lead to three with 6:42 remaining.

Favre then got the ball back with 2:46 remaining, and drove the Packers to the Rams 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.


Jeramatrius Butler seals the win by falling on Brett Favre's fumble with under a minute left.
But Favre was pressured by defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, and Leonard Little poked the ball away from Favre. The ball bounced around before landing in the hands of Rams defensive back Jerametrius Butler.

Little, who needed three IVs after the game, was prodded to make a play on the sideline by defensive coordinator Jim Haslett earlier in the game. He finally did, but watched as the ball nearly was recovered by Packers offensive lineman Daryn Colledge.

"It rolled and it seemed like it took forever, like the ball was going in slow motion," Little said. "I was just hoping that someone would jump on it, and hopefully it would be one of our guys, and it ended up being one of our guys."

What looked like another dose of Favre magic instead became another loss for the Packers (1-4).

"This is not a lot of fun," Favre said. "Losing is not a lot of fun. Not that it ever has been, but more so now."

Bulger threw for two first-half touchdowns and extended his league-best interception-free streak to 214 attempts -- thanks in large part to Packers cornerback Al Harris.

With the Rams leading 17-13 and driving late in the third quarter, Bulger threw Harris' way at the Green Bay 14, an errant pass that hit Harris in the numbers. But instead of running 95 yards down a clear path for a go-ahead touchdown, Harris dropped the ball.

Would he have gone all the way?

"You never know," Harris said.

Bulger seemed pretty certain.

"That would have been for 100 yards," he said. "I never would have caught him."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Harris' drop was one of several chances the Packers had to make a play, but didn't.

"You need to make those," McCarthy said. "It was an opportunity for us."

Bulger finished 18 of 28 for 220 yards, as Packers defensive back Charles Woodson and linebacker A.J. Hawk also whiffed on potential interceptions to keep his streak alive.

"You can't worry about it," Bulger said. "I've been fortunate. We're not fumbling the ball, either."

Favre was 22 of 39 for 220 yards and didn't throw an interception either. After the game, he said he would be watching the team's young players to see how they respond to a poor start.

"You've got to try to find positives in all these negatives," Favre said. "I wonder, sometimes, what I'm doing here."

The Packers did find one positive in third-string running back Noah Herron, who ran for 106 yards and a touchdown. Starter Ahman Green was inactive for the second straight week for the Packers with sore hamstrings, and second-string back Vernand Morency fumbled twice, losing one, in the Packers' first two series of the game.

Vince Young Effective; Titans Scare Colts But Lose 14-13

Colts escape Titans with 14-13 win

NFL.com wire reports

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 8, 2006) -- Peyton Manning has mastered the great escape.

Now the Indianapolis Colts want to make things a little easier for their quarterback.

For the third straight week, the two-time MVP led Indianapolis on a late touchdown drive, this time throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 5:10 left to give the Colts a 14-13 victory -- and avoid Tennessee's improbable upset bid.

"You can't end up relying on that, falling back on it," coach Tony Dungy said. "We've just got to play better and I think we will."

Manning used an unorthodox strategy, scoring twice on touchdown runs, to beat Jacksonville and the New York Jets the previous two weeks.

Against winless Tennessee (0-5), Manning used a more conventional method. He connected with Marvin Harrison and Wayne for second-half scores that rallied the Colts from a 10-point deficit. The win kept the Colts (5-0) unbeaten and in control of the AFC South, even if it was far from perfect.

Manning finished 20 of 31 for 166 yards with one interception.

When it mattered most, Mr. Reliable pulled another one out.

Indy has won seven straight in this series, 12 straight over division teams and completed another sweep of its three home division games.

"It really just comes down to execution," Manning said. "They executed better than us in the first half, and in the second half, I thought our offense did a better job."

Most expected this one to be a rout.

But with rookie quarterback Vince Young making his second career start, coach Jeff Fisher decided to play it safe by attacking the Colts' porous defense the same way every opponent has this season -- running inside.

As usual, it worked.

By grinding out 214 yards rushing, Manning and Co. spent much of the game on the sideline. It also prevented Young from making any disastrous rookie mistakes.

Young threw only two passes in the first quarter when the Titans piled up 100 yards rushing, and Travis Henry, who was inactive last week against Dallas, carried 19 times for 123 yards, his first 100-yard game with Tennessee.

The Titans finished with 214 yards rushing, and Young even gave fans a glimpse of his mobility on a nifty 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.


Reggie Wayne caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
It was nearly perfect.

"It came down to us executing a play in the fourth quarter," coach Jeff Fisher said. "They did everything we asked during the week and nearly everything we asked today."

Even without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who was serving the first game of his five-game suspension, running back Chris Brown, who was inactive and a makeshift offensive line, the Titans looked like they would pull off one of the most shocking upsets in the NFL for three and a half quarters.

Young marched Tennessee 88 yards on its opening possession and finished the drive by eluding several Colts tacklers to make it 7-0.

He took advantage of good field position midway through the second quarter, too, using Keith Bulluck 's fumble recovery near midfield to set up Rob Bironas ' 22-yard field goal.

Meanwhile, the Colts' offense was stuck in neutral with only seven first-downs and Manning out of sync. He couldn't even complete a pass to his favorite target, Marvin Harrison.

"We knew by watching film that we had a lot of creases we could run through," Henry said. "We did that. We still left a lot of plays out on the field."

But Manning produced in the second half, as did Harrison.

After forcing a Tennessee punt, Manning methodically moved the Colts and hooked up with Harrison on a 13-yard TD pass to make it 10-7.

Tennessee answered with a 47-yard field goal from Bironas to make it 13-7 late in the third quarter.

Manning still had too much time to work his magic and eventually rescued the Colts with a 2-yard TD pass to Wayne just inside the end zone with 5:10 left.

Young's final desperation pass was knocked down near the Colts 10.

He finished 10 of 21 for 63 yards with one interception, but Manning got the win.

"To be 5-0 and not playing your best football is a good thing as long as you improve," Manning said. "If you stay the same way and don't improve, it's going to eventually bite you."

Vikings Comeback From 14 Down And Beat Lions 26-17 - NFL.com

Opportunistic fourth quarter lifts Vikings

NFL.com wire reports

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 8, 2006) -- Trailing by 14 points to start the fourth quarter against hapless Detroit, somebody on the Minnesota Vikings had to put the ball in the end zone.

The offense sure wasn't having much luck, so the defense took over, delivering an effort that would make the old Purple People Eaters proud.

The Vikings scored two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rescue the struggling offense, turning a 17-3 deficit into a 26-17 victory.

"Every time we take the field, we try to score or get the ball back," defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin said. "That's our personality. That's how we play defense."

Ben Leber returned Jon Kitna's fumble 1 yard for a touchdown to cut Detroit's lead to 17-16, and Ryan Longwell made a 20-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 19-17 lead with three minutes left.

Kitna, trying to bring Detroit back, was flushed out of the pocket and corralled by Ray Edwards before desperately shoveling the ball toward the line of scrimmage. The pass landed right in E.J. Henderson's hands, and the linebacker raced 45 yards to seal the win.

Minnesota's defense has scored three touchdowns this season, one fewer than the offense through the first five weeks, conjuring memories of the unit that led the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s.

"That's unbelievable," center Matt Birk said. "They're keeping us in games."

It was a stunning, but not surprising, turnaround that kept the Lions (0-5) winless and continued their misery against the Vikings. They have lost nine straight to Minnesota (3-2), dating to 2001.

Detroit hired coach Rod Marinelli and jettisoned first-round bust Joey Harrington for the steady veteran Kitna in the offseason, hoping the changes would finally turn around a team that has the worst record in the NFL (21-64) since 2001. But the Lions keep finding ways to give away games, and this one was ripe for the taking.

"You've got to be able to do a better job in that fourth quarter to secure and hold the lead, protect the football and do the things I talked about all week," Marinelli said. "We weren't able to do that today, and we've got to go back to work."

Of course it didn't help when receiver Roy Williams (back stinger) and guard Damien Woody (left leg) left the game on the first possession with injuries, but the Lions are used to being on the short end these days.

"We're struggling right now," said Kitna, who sat at his locker with his head down and eyes glazed over, contemplating the latest loss in a season full of them. "We're a beat-up team, but nobody gives a crap. We have to find a way to win."


Jon Kitna's fourth-quarter fumble that was scooped up for a Vikings TD was just one mistake.
In a first half filled with penalties, dropped passes and turnovers, the Lions took a 10-3 lead on the strength of Kitna's 8-yard TD run.

Minnesota's second turnover of the game, a fumble by Travis Taylor close to midfield, set up Kitna's 12-yard touchdown pass to Dan Campbell that gave the Lions a 17-3 lead midway through the third quarter.

With the Lions defense dominating a struggling Vikings offense, the game looked well in hand.

Brad Johnson completed his first eight passes, but most were dinks and dunks in the West Coast offense that got the Vikings nowhere. He was booed heavily through the first three quarters and looked every bit his 38 years of age while one-hopping passes to open receivers.

As they have all season, the Vikings leaned heavily on running back Chester Taylor and a stingy defense to keep things close.

Taylor rushed for 123 yards in another workhorse effort and the Vikings defense sacked Kitna five times, intercepted him on three occasions and held the Lions to 217 total yards, 16 on the ground. The Vikings offense finally got in the end zone at the start of the fourth quarter after a 68-yard drive that was aided by a roughing-the-passer call on Shaun Rogers.

Johnson, 26 of 34 for 201 yards, hit Travis Taylor on a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 17-10.

After a block-in-the-back penalty on Donte Curry nullified Eddie Drummond's kick return for a touchdown, the Lions put the Vikings right back in it. On second-and-6 from the Detroit 14, Pat Williams burst through the line untouched and engulfed Kitna, forcing a fumble that Leber scooped up at the goal line for a touchdown.

Jared DeVries blocked Longwell's extra point to hold the Lions' lead at 17-16, but it was all downhill from there for Detroit.

"It was over for them after that," Williams said. "They basically could've called it quits."

Broncos Defense Outplays Ravens 13-3 -- NFL.com

Denver's offense held to under 200 yards, but they win from three interceptions.

Denver's 'D' dominant in win over Ravens

NFL.com wire reports

DENVER (Oct. 9, 2006) -- If being disrespected means Champ Bailey gets more lob passes thrown his way in the end zone, then the Denver Broncos won't complain anymore about their dominant defense being dissed.

The Broncos (3-1) intercepted three of Steve McNair 's passes -- including a leaping end-zone pick by Bailey just before halftime -- to hand the Ravens (4-1) their first loss with a 13-3 win.

Bailey was as surprised as anyone that McNair went after him with a lob pass to wide receiver Clarence Moore in the right corner.

"A little," Bailey said with a smile. "And they paid for it."

All Baltimore coach Brian Billick had to say about the ill-advised call that loomed so large on a cold and rainy night was: "That play was one of the options we had and it didn't turn out for us."

Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer was glad to see somebody finally challenge his perennial Pro Bowl cornerback: "I was glad to see them throw one at him. That'll work for me, yeah. Yeah. Yeah."

A cold rain and two stingy defenses turned the Baltimore-Denver showdown into a kicking competition for much of the night, and Jason Elam bested Matt Stover with two long field goals.

But with a 6-3 lead and 1:55 left in the game, Denver put the kick-fest to rest. Deep in Ravens territory, Denver took a chance at the end zone, icing the game on Jake Plummer 's 4-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith. It was Smith's first touchdown this season and also the first TD the Ravens have surrendered in a second half this year.

"We stuck together tonight," Plummer said. "It was ugly, ugly for a while, but in the end we came and put together some drives when it counted."

The touchdown was set up by Darrent Williams ' interception at midfield with 6:47 left and Tatum Bell 's 12-yard gain on third-and-10 from the 17 in which he carried linebacker Ray Lewis for the final 5 yards.

"It wasn't a big deal," Bell said, "but it was a big deal because it was Ray."

Elam connected from 43 and 44 yards, the second one breaking a 3-3 tie with eight minutes remaining and capping a drive that was set up by Sam Koch's 10-yard punt.

Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce, who was quiet all week about his return to Denver -- which dumped him and his $10 million salary in the offseason -- was even quieter Monday night, assisting on just one tackle.

"The loss hurts, but I don't really care who it is against," Pryce said. "They are just another football team. The thing is, they are a great football team. They always have been, they were before I got there and they are now that I'm gone."


Steve McNair could hardly find room to roam against Denver's pesky defense.
The teams were tied 3-3 at halftime, and the rain only got heavier during a scoreless third quarter in which the Ravens avoided a big momentum-shifter when center Mike Flynn smothered McNair's fumble at the Baltimore 12.

Flynn saved the touchdown after McNair's third interception, by Domonique Foxworth in the final minute while safety John Lynch (neck) was on the sideline.

The Ravens and the rain combined to limit Denver to 9 yards of offense in the first quarter, tying a franchise low since Mike Shanahan became the Broncos coach in 1995.

The Broncos turned the ball over on their first two possessions.

Denver's first turnover resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Stover that gave Baltimore a 3-0 lead. It followed cornerback Chris McAlister 's nifty tightrope walk along the right sideline after he gathered the loose ball that Terrell Suggs punched out of Bell's hands.

Plummer, wearing a glove on his throwing hand to get a better grip, wildly overthrew Walker on the Broncos' next possession and cornerback Samari Rolle hauled in the long pass at the Baltimore 34.

The Broncos tied it at 3 on Elam's 43-yarder following Williams' 33-yard punt return to the Baltimore 42. It was the second big return by Williams, who ranked dead last in the NFL going into the game with an average of less than a yard per punt return.

The Ravens were driving for the go-ahead score just before halftime when Bailey intercepted McNair's lob pass with 30 seconds left.

"It's always the difference in the game: that red zone," Shanahan said. "What were they, one for two? ... Kept them from getting a field goal, kept them from getting a touchdown. Obviously, that was a big play at the time."

It was a bit of instant redemption for Bailey, who had just been burned for a 26-yard gain on third-and-7 when he appeared to bite on a fake by McNair and Derrick Mason zipped past him and hauled in the pass along the right sideline. Safety Nick Ferguson saved the touchdown by knocking Mason out of bounds at the 11.

"We heard all the hype about them," Bailey said. "We've got a good defense, too, and I think we proved that tonight."

Webcast and Summary Of The Google Conference Call On Their Purchase Of YouTube

To listen to the full press conference webcast, click:

http://investor.google.com/webcast.html

Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are pictured here.

YouTube's Chad Hurley and Steve Chen video message is here:



The Google / YouTube deal has rocked not just the vlog world, but American Culture. In today's conference call featuring Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Chad Hurley, CEO of YouTube, Google Founder Sergey Brin, the general message was that the media world has shifted to the user. "We're in the middle of a shift in digital media entertainment," said Hurley. "Users are now in control of what they want to watch and when they want to watch it. They decide what rises to the top, what's entertaining."

Also in the press conference was the remark that Google's ad system will be matted with YouTube's distribution process, and that in general the two firms came up with about 30 different ways they could combine their technologies.

Google Press Release Text (Not A Transcript)

Google To Acquire YouTube for $1.65 Billion in Stock
Combination Will Create New Opportunities for Users and Content Owners Everywhere

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., October 9, 2006 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that it has agreed to acquire YouTube, the consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos through a Web experience, for $1.65 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction. Following the acquisition, YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand and passionate community.

The acquisition combines one of the largest and fastest growing online video entertainment communities with Google's expertise in organizing information and creating new models for advertising on the Internet. The combined companies will focus on providing a better, more comprehensive experience for users interested in uploading, watching and sharing videos, and will offer new opportunities for professional content owners to distribute their work to reach a vast new audience.

"The YouTube team has built an exciting and powerful media platform that complements Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," said Eric Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Google. "Our companies share similar values; we both always put our users first and are committed to innovating to improve their experience. Together, we are natural partners to offer a compelling media entertainment service to users, content owners and advertisers."

"Our community has played a vital role in changing the way that people consume media, creating a new clip culture. By joining forces with Google, we can benefit from its global reach and technology leadership to deliver a more comprehensive entertainment experience for our users and to create new opportunities for our partners," said Chad Hurley, CEO and Co-Founder of YouTube. "I'm confident that with this partnership we'll have the flexibility and resources needed to pursue our goal of building the next-generation platform for serving media worldwide."

When the acquisition is complete, YouTube will retain its distinct brand identity, strengthening and complementing Google's own fast-growing video business. YouTube will continue to be based in San Bruno, CA, and all YouTube employees will remain with the company. With Google's technology, advertiser relationships and global reach, YouTube will continue to build on its success as one of the world's most popular services for video entertainment.

The number of Google shares to be issued in the transaction will be determined based on the 30-day average closing price two trading days prior to the completion of the acquisition. Both companies have approved the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call and webcast at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) today to discuss the acquisition. To access the conference call, please dial 800-289-0572 domestic and 913-981-5543 internationally. A replay of the call will be available until midnight Monday, October 16 at 888-203-1112 domestically and 719-457-0820 internationally. Confirmation code for the replay is 2260624.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available at http://investor.google.com/webcast.html.

About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

About YouTube
Founded in February 2005, YouTube is a consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web experience. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, blogs, and e-mail. YouTube currently delivers more than 100 million video views every day with 65,000 new videos uploaded daily and it has quickly become the leading destination on the Internet for video entertainment.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Google's and YouTube's ability to improve their services, create new business models and content-owner opportunities, integration plans, the expected timing for the closing of the acquisition and the plans to operate YouTube independently. These statements are based on the current expectations or beliefs of management of Google Inc., and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to (1) changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, (2) failure to receive regulatory approval for the acquisition, (3) failure to retain the levels of traffic on the YouTube site, (4) failure to compete successfully in this highly competitive and rapidly changing marketplace, (5) failure to retain key employees, (6) other factors affecting the operation of the respective businesses of Google and YouTube, and (7) the failure of YouTube and Google to work together effectively. More detailed information about these factors may be found in filings by Google, as applicable, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including their respective most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Google is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter their respective forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Press Contacts:
Google Media:
Jon Murchinson
650.253.4437
jonm@google.com Investors:
Maria Shim
650.253.7663
marias@google.com YouTube Media:
Julie Supan
650.685.6401
press@youtube.com

Google Buys YouTube - Deal Done - What Do You Think Of It?

Yep. The deal's done. It makes sense for this to happen, especially because the two firms are so close in operation and geography. This 15-year old YouTube user has posted an opinion on the deal and expressed his view. He thinks that Google's purchase of YouTube means more costs for the users of both. See this video below:



Google to buy YouTube for $1.65 billion
Search engine leader looks to bulk up in the lucrative online video market.
By Paul R. La Monica, CNNMoney.com editor at large
October 9 2006: 4:42 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Google, the Internet's leading search engine, announced Monday that it is buying popular online video site YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock.

YouTube, which was founded in February 2005, has quickly become the most well-known of several online video sites. More than 100 million videos, many of which are short videos created by the site's users, are downloaded a day on the site.

According to Internet research firm Hitwise, YouTube has about a 46 percent share of the online video market.

For Google (Charts), the purchase of YouTube gives the company the ability to tap into the potentially lucrative online video and social networking markets. Some analysts have criticized Google for relying too much on advertising tied to keyword searches.

The combination of Google and YouTube could further strengthen Google's dominance in online advertising, giving it an edge over rivals such as Yahoo! (Charts), Microsoft's (Charts) MSN and News Corp (Charts)., which owns the social networking site MySpace. Some analysts said Monday that Yahoo, Microsoft and News Corp. also had probably expressed interest in buying YouTube.

In a statement, Google said that YouTube will operate as an independent unit of Google once the deal closes and will retain the YouTube brand name. The companies added that no YouTube workers will lose their jobs as a result of the acquisition and that Google will maintain its own online video business.

Clayton Moran, an analyst with Stanford Group, said after the deal was announced that Google was paying a rich price for YouTube. But he said Google needed to do something to become more competitive with MySpace, which currently ranks in second place in online video market share.

"My sense is that Google is paying a full price considering that YouTube is still unproven in regards to its revenue potential. But considering the success of MySpace it was clearly worthwhile for Google to take this step," Moran said.

Reports of a deal first began to circulate on Friday. Shares of Google rose about 2 percent on the Nasdaq Monday after posting a similar gain on Friday. The stock dipped slightly in after hours trading.

BattleStar Galactica - An Unexpectedly Great TV Show

I saw the fuss about BattleStar Galactica on Technorati and hoped to see what all the blog chatter was about, when I noticed that it was coming on Sci-Fi Channel so I switched over.

Wow. I didn't expect a show so gritty and "real." It does hold your attention. The BattleStar Galactica I remember was more of a cheap special effects joke than good Sci-Fi.

This is great, politcally relevant Science Fiction.

Take a look:

Speaker Hassert's Staff Warned Him Of Foley's Problem Years Ago - Trouble Ahead

Rep. Dennis Hassert, Speaker of the House Of Representatives, apparently was informed of Foley's email problems long before this latest episode, according to the Washington Post's report linked to from the title of this post. If this is true, it spells the end of the long-running hold Republican's have had on the House and perhaps the Senate.

I can't immagine a majority of Republican wins this November.

Bill Polian Goes Off - Bullies New York Jets Official Over...Speakers? - Fox, Jay Glazer

I'm a fan of the Colts organization for two reasons: the incredibly nice way Owner Jim Irsay treated me at my first NFL Owners meeting when I was working to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland; and Head Coach Tony Dungy. But this action -- well, I don't know Polian -- is over the top. Mike Silver of Sports Illustrated has refered to Polian as "The Anti-Christ" and now I'm starting to see why.

Colts GM Polian accosts Jets official

Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com


When Colts GM Bill Polian placed defensive tackle Corey Simon on non-football injured reserve this week for an unknown illness it drew raised eyebrows around the league. As it turns out, that was not Polian's most questionable move in the last seven days.

Polian accosted a New York Jets official in the tunnel of Giants Stadium prior to last week's game, several sources and people present on the scene told FOXSports.com. The Jets have notified the NFL front office to ask what options they have and what action they can take if any.

According to the sources, Polian was upset that speakers were set up too close to the field. After voicing his displeasure, a Jets operations employee talked to Polian about the issue. It's unclear what transpired between the two but Polian eventually grabbed the Jet by the lapels of his suit jacket and jacked him up against the wall of the tunnel.

The team employee, who was quite shaken up by the fiasco, sought out GM Mike Tannenbaum about the matter. Tannenbaum then raised the issue with the league office in defense of the team's employee. It is unclear what action if any the Jets or the league can take in the matter but as one Jets source said, "You should have the right to a safe workplace without worrying that somebody is going to put his hands on you."

It's also unclear if Polian reacted upon getting provoked or Polian overreacted without much prompting.

The story quickly circulated throughout the Jets complex this week and many were appalled by Polian's actions.

Calls to Tannenbaum on Saturday evening as well as calls to Bill Polian's cell phone were not returned.

When contacted regarding the situation, the NFL's spokesman Greg Aiello said he was unaware of the situation and the league would have no comment regarding matters with teams.

It's unclear what the two men said to each other but regardless, Polian should not put his hands on an employee of another team or any man for that matter. Given his position in the league, it makes his actions even more questionable.

What is also unclear, since such matters seem rare in this league, is if any action will be taken by the league office or if Polian should simply issue an apology. According to others inside the Jets, the team employee who was accosted was quite upset by the incident.

Google To Buy YouTube? Just The First In A Wave Of Web 2.0 Mergers and Acquisitions To Come

TechCrunch's Michael Arrington and The Wall Street Journal report that search engine giant YouTube and Google are in talks where the latter will buy the former for $1.6 billion.

If this deal is consumated, my prediction is it will cause a wave of mergers and acquistions between "Web 2.0" companies, particularly those which are video distributors. The number of video distribution companies seems to grow each week; my view is that we will have 140 by this time net year.

That would happen even with the wave, but I don't see that process accelerating until late 2007.

Randy Moss Is Right To Be Upset - Raiders Offense Is Not Inspiring

Oakland Raiders Wide Receiver Randy Moss popped off again. This time he said that the Raiders as a team doesn't seem to care about being 3 and 0 in the loss / won statistic -- the only one that really matters.

In an interview with Fox Sports Chris Myers, Moss said "I don't really want to single players out. I mean, I don't really know what the feeling is, but I know the feeling is bad. So that's saying no one cares about what's going on around here."

Moss comment started a buzz on any and every Raiders fan message forum in existence. Fans on Raidersfan.net have issued open letters to him. Newspaper columnists have accused him of dropping the ball himself. People -- Raiders fans -- have lined up to shoot the messenger.

But Randy's right. The Raiders don't care.

The organization's more concerned about having a kind of offense that reflects a tough, macho,...and outdated style than with winning. Head Coach Art Shell hired Offensive Coordinator Tom Walsh, he of the bed-and-breakfast who believes that football doesn't change much, thus giving way to a 1960s approach, and is not only being proven wrong but at the expense of the players he coaches.

Players like Moss.

People forget that a team is only as good as the coaches -- not the players. You can have the best players, as I was expaining to former Stanford Running Back Darren Nelson on Tuesday, but if the coaches are telling them to do the wrong things, then the players will only play as well as they're instructed.

And right now, the Raiders players are poorly instructed.

What can the Raiders do to make Randy and the offensive players happy?

Well, here's a list:

1) Offensive Line blocking: This unit's technique has improved -- they're not retreating as much, and are actually punching in their technique, but it's not consistent. Focusing on consistency here is the key. Of course, they would be helped by a really good...

2) Short passing game: The Raiders' current passing system is a freaking joke. It lacks variety in formation, patterns, and points of attack. This is the Raiders weak point, they could help the offensive line by focusing on this, and what they've got to do is..

3) Add more plays: Offensive Plays are the tools used to attack defenses. But when you go into a game with just five runs and 10 passes -- as the Raiders did against the Baltimore Ravens, you're entering the game at a handicap before the contest starts. The 1981 World Champion 49ers went into Super Bowl XIV with 89 passes and 31 runs in the game plan. There's no reason the Raiders can't do that.

4) Trick the opponent: There's nothing wrong with a good halfback pass or an onsides kick in the first quater of a game. Get the players -- like Moss -- excited. Then they will perform.

5) Teach the passing game: Run the same plays over and over again in practice. Stay until it's dark outside. Seek perfection.

6) Design plays like this one:



.... Which I've described earlier.

Art needs to make the prescribed changes, and eventually send Tom Walsh on his way and bring in Bengals Wide Receiver Coach Hue Jackson. Art's a great figure to have as a leader, but his image in this department is taking a beating just by his resistance to change, from how he dealt with Wide Receiver Jerry Porter, to this matter of the Raiders offense.

If the Raiders are smart enough to follow my advice, they'll begin to put points on the board, rack up wins, and salvage this season. In the process, they'll turn Randy Moss from media sinner to media saint.

"I WANT MY PHONE!" - Memo To Cingular CEO Stan Sigman

One week ago, my Cingular / Motorola Razor's video display stoped working. I took it into the Cingular store on Lakeshore in Oakland, CA, where the staffer arranged to have a replacement sent overnight; it never came. This set in motion a frustrating sequence of events that's led me to produce this video memo to Cingular President and CEO Stan Sigman. I just want him to get his staffers to send my phone. Chances are, you've had a simular problem with Cingular; pass this video on!

Eddie DeBartolo, Carmen Policy NOT Buying Raiders - Talked With Carmen

At the same event where I reported the unfortunate news about former 49ers and Stanford Head Coach Bill Walsh, I had the chance to chat with former 49ers and Cleveland Browns President Carmen Policy (pictured with KGO-AM San Francisco Radio Personality Ronn Owens) about a lot of matters mostly personal. But one that wasn't was the idea that he and former Niners owner were going to purchase the Oakland Raiders.

That was never true, according to Carmen.

See, the story was originally reported by my friend Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Michael Silver. I've known "Sil" since 1986, and so feel a certain obligation to help promote his terrific writing. Sil has penned great stories, come based on drunken exploits he's had with celebrities like NBA Basketball Legend Dennis Rodman.

Silver has a knack for getting a person to say something that's newsworthy while they're at a certain level of intoxication. In fact, Mike's broke a number of stories this way, but what's forgotten is that he's got such a great relationship with so many NFL operatives, he's able to get into a situation where he's drinking with someone. Not bad.

Regardless of one's view of this approach, it's certainly effective. According to Carmen, that's exactly what happened when Silver attended the giant Las Vegas party DeBartolo held for former Niners player, staff, and press who were involved with the 49ers durring their glory years.

Carmen and I agreed that Mike has a way of asking a hypothetical question, like "Let's say you were able to buy the Raiders -- would you?" And, in a Las Vegas-party atmostphere, with the booze flowing, the answer Eddie gave was "Yeah."

But it doesn't mean he or Carmen plan to purchase the Oakland Raiders.

The answer from Carmen is "No."

Coach Bill Walsh's Heath Takes A Turn For The Worst - "Titans" Event In His Honor

I just returned from an event called "A Private Equity Breakfast Honoring Coach Bill Walsh" held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom on the 15th Floor of 465 California St.

The idea of the "first of it's kind" function -- hosted by former San Francisco 49ers Harris Barton and Ronnie Lott -- was to install Coach Walsh as the first "Titan" in what will be an annual "Salute to The Titans" fund-raising event. Of course, the person of honor was to be former Stanford and San Francisco 49ers Coach Bill Walsh.

I was excited to attend the event, and even took my camcorder to do a short video interview of Coach Walsh. But after the news I and others were given, I just didn't have it in me to activate my camera. It didn't feel right to do it.

The room was chocked ful of 49er greats, from Barton and Lott, to Bill Ring, Guy McIntyre, Dave Fiori, Esson Ramson, Eric Wright, and Steve Bono. San Francisco Giants Vice President Larry Baer was there, as were former 49ers Steve Kenney and Jeff Baer, who was the team photographer. There were representitives of various private equity funds and investment bankers like George Roberts of Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts.

I was originally assigned to "Table 6" and with former Stanford Cardinal Running Back Darren Nelson, and what seemed to be an entire table of Stanford alumns; just the place for a Cal grad like me. Then, to my surprise Carmen Policy, Former President of The San Francisco 49ers and of The New Cleveland Browns, and now living in the Bay Area, came to the table to sit down. I was sitting next to a good friend of his -- "R.J." -- when Carmen leaned over and said "Bill's not attending the event. This thing he's got's just knocked him on his ass."

So R.J. and I looked at each other and realized we'd just been given very bad news. Few could believe what Carmen has said, so sad it was. Later, one of Carmen's business associates came in, and as our table was crowded had no place to sit. So since I was really "the new guy" I offered my seat to him, even though Carmen asked me to stay. I just went over to sit with my friends Beth and Allison.

When I delivered the news to them and the rest of the table, everyone thought it was a joke. That ended when Barton took the podium and after welcoming the estimated 100 people, explained that two days ago, Coach Walsh called Barton and Lott to explain that he would not be able to attend the breakfast. "His health's taken a turn for the worst," Barton said.

At that point, the function took on the feel of a memorial. Four people came up to share stories about Coach Walsh: Darren Nelson, Bill Ring, Ronnie Lott, Carmen Policy, and Sharon Williams, the Executive Director of Opportunities
Industrialization Center West (OICW), a non-profit in East Palo Alto Coach Walsh has played a key role in helping over the years.

Each speech was moving. Darren Nelson explained that Coach Walsh was "The Mad Scientist" and saw in Nelson at Stanford a pass-catching halfback, even though Nelson never caught a pass in high school. There was former 49ers Running Back "Number "30" Bill Ring talking about how Coach Walsh would make the players stay longer for practice in search of perfection in how his players ran a play. "He was like a conductor waving his batton," Ring said, "and we players were the musicians making music."

Carmen Policy talked about how he and now Former 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo waited in DeBartolo's apartment as then-Stanford Coach Walsh used the back elevator to escape the media and to come up for an interview. "You could see it then," Policy said, "His stature. The silver hair. He could fill a room with his presence. Right then you knew a decision had been made. We found our coach."

Carmen said that Coach Walsh gave the San Francisco Bay Area something by contributing to its soul. By forming a team and an organization that everyone stopped doing everything to see on Sundays. Lott talked about how Coach Walsh did truly love his players. Sharon Williams talked about how Coach Walsh enlisted the help of very player and athlete he could get his hands on to donate to OICW.

After the speeches a seven-minute NFL films video was shown, featuring NFL Films' Steve Sabol talking with Coach Walsh about how he came to lead the Niners, the intial discredit Walsh received for his "intellectual and technical" approach to the game, the organization's eventual success, and how much Bill really loved his players. It was moving.

The event closed with Barton asking all of the attendess to stand and accept the "Titans" award for Coach Walsh. We all did.

Later I said to Carmen that one good way to honor Coach Walsh is for the media to start calling the "West Coast Offense" the "Walsh Offense." Policy agreed, because Coach Walsh did create it, and should be honored for his work. The approach changed how offense is played in the NFL.

Here's to Coach Walsh and the Walsh Offense. I don't know how bad off Coach Walsh is, but I do ask that all reading this honor him in my requested way.

The video below was in part shown today; I include it here to demonstrate Coach Walsh's attention to detail and teaching talent.

Mike Sliver Inteviews Bengals WR Chad Johnson - CNNSI.Com

I swear some of Sports Illustrated Senior Writer and All-Time Cal Bear Mike Sliver's work doesn't make the magazine and that's a crime. Here's one example. His interview with Chad Johnson of the Bengals. But I've got to wonder if this caused the Bengals to get smashed by the Patriots? Hmm....

Chad Johnson
Bengals star's favorite celebrations, trash-talking foes
Posted: Friday September 29, 2006 12:28PM; Updated: Friday September 29, 2006 3:55PM

Chad Johnson eats the same meal at the same restaurant every afternoon he spends in Cincinnati, and were it not for the platinum-blond Mohawk -- and his current status as the NFL's most dangerous receiver -- it would be tempting to say his arrival at his favorite haunt on a recent Friday was rather uneventful.

The last time I'd broken bread with Johnson, at an Island's in L.A., he'd asked the waitress for a job application, later explaining, "You never know when you might get cut." I assumed he was doing it for effect, until one of his female friends joined us and informed me that it was common practice for a guy who, due to academic struggles and questionable commitment to his craft during his post-high-school years, came perilously close to squandering his NFL dreams.

This time Johnson seemed a bit more secure about his status, though his rough edges remain -- for example, the locker-room tantrum he threw at halftime of the Bengals' playoff defeat to the Steelers last January, one of the many topics we discussed.

Silver: I know you love to talk trash -- you and Joey Porter put on a quite a show every time you play. Is there one opponent you're really looking forward to facing this season?

Johnson: Yeah, Joey and I have this thing where we meet at the 50 before every game and let each other have it nonstop. Away from the field I love the guy, but when we get in that situation, watch out. And Troy [Polamalu] is always nudging me and hitting me during games, but he freaks me out because he never talks. I'm like, "Damn, Troy, what the f---?" Then I hear him interviewed and crack up: He's a beast on the field and he sounds like Michael Jackson.... CLICK FOR THE REST...

NFL Bettors: Online Gambling Given Death Sentence By US Government

PartyGaming, Sportingbet Plunge on U.S. Gambling Law (Update8)
By Neil Craven - BLOOMBERG

Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of PartyGaming Plc, Sportingbet Plc and 888 Holdings Plc plummeted, wiping out $7 billion of market value, after Congress passed laws to shut down Internet gambling in the U.S.

Legislation to prevent credit-card companies from collecting payments for bets was approved Sept. 30 in the closing hours of the congressional session, the culmination of a U.S. clampdown on online gaming. PartyGaming, the world's biggest Internet poker company, will stop taking wagers from its 900,000 American players. Its stock lost 58 percent of its value.

``The U.S. government has found a way to make life almost impossible'' for gambling Web sites, said Philippe Gijsels, senior equity strategist at Fortis Bank SA's private investment unit in Brussels, which manages $62 billion. The companies ``will have to regroup and rethink their business model,'' he said.

The U.S. accounts for about half of the $12 billion Internet gambling market and considers the industry illegal. PartyGaming is among more than 2,000 offshore companies operating poker and sports-betting Web sites. Authorities have detained British executives of Web bookmakers visiting the U.S., including David Carruthers of Betonsports Plc, who was charged by a federal grand jury in July with illegal interstate gambling.

Gibraltar-based PartyGaming, which trades in London, got more than four-fifths of its sales from the U.S. last year.

``This development is a significant setback for our company, our shareholders, our players and our industry,'' PartyGaming Chief Executive Officer Mitch Garber said in a statement.

Shares Tumble

PartyGaming shares slid 62 pence to 45 pence in London. It was the biggest decliner in the U.K.'s benchmark FTSE 100 Index.

``This bill was having trouble getting through Congress so a lot of investors thought this was not going to happen,'' said Brian Tora, investment director at Gerrard Ltd. in London. ``Suddenly no one really knows how much these companies are going to make in terms of profit.''

The measure, added to unrelated legislation providing $3.4 billion for port security, was passed before Congress recesses to campaign for the Nov. 7 elections.

``I can't believe they actually managed to get it through,'' said Jamie Coleman, who holds PartyGaming shares among the $550 million he helps manage at EFG Wealth Management in London. ``I'm pretty damn shocked, and I'm pretty damn shocked at the way they went about doing it as well.''

U.S. President George W. Bush will sign the bill into law, said White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore. No date has been set for the signing.

Bank Regulations

``Internet gambling has been illegal since the inception of the Internet, but there has been no way to enforce it,'' Representative James Leach, an Iowa Republican, said Sept. 30. By making it ``illegal to use a financial instrument to settle an Internet wager,'' Congress is ``putting responsibility on the financial community,'' Leach said.

The legislation directs the Federal Reserve and Department of Justice to issue regulations within nine months to banks establishing policies and procedures for blocking transactions.

``There was an assumption tied into the price of these stocks that the legislation was not going to make it through,'' said Paul Leyland, an analyst at Arbuthnot Securities in London. Unless Congress can ensure the act will be policed, ``this could very quickly transpire to be a toothless piece of legislation,'' he added. ``The devil of all this will be in the detail.''

Poker Industry

The American Gaming Association, which represents casino operators based in Las Vegas and elsewhere, had asked Congress to fund a commission that would study whether online gambling can be regulated and taxed in the U.S. The lobby group's hope is a study may eventually let major casino operators such as MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. enter the online business.

Harrah's, the world's largest casino operator, today said it received a $15.1 billion takeover offer from Apollo Management LP and Texas Pacific Group.

PartyGaming controlled about 50 percent of the online poker market at the start of this year. Its PartyPoker site is the world's largest online poker gaming venue with about 38 percent of the market in December 2005, three times more than its nearest rival, it has said.

Founder's Losses

The company was founded by a group including Anurag Dikshit, PartyGaming's former operations director, in 1997. With 1.5 billion shares, or 29 percent of the equity, he remains the company's biggest investor, the company said. Today's plunge wiped out about 700 million pounds from his holdings, according to Bloomberg calculations.

PartyGaming's IPO made Dikshit the 207th richest person in the world in 2006, according to Forbes magazine's web site.

The poker industry has grown as events including the World Series of Poker encourage more people to play games such as Texas Hold'em online. According to research company Christensen Capital Advisors, online poker grew to a $1 billion business in 2004 from $90 million in 2002.

PartyGaming sold shares to the public in June 2005. It said in its prospectus that the Justice Department ``considers that companies offering online gaming to U.S. residents are in violation of existing federal laws'' and that investors may lose their money if the company is banned from the U.S.

`Devastating Loss'

888 said suspending its U.S. operations will have a ``material adverse impact'' on earnings. Chief Operating Officer Gigi Levy said on a conference call that about half the company's revenue comes from U.S. clients. Its stock dropped 38.25 pence, or 26 percent, to 108.25 pence today.

``We will step up a gear in terms of looking at the rest of the world,'' said 888 Chief Executive Officer John Anderson. ``It's a devastating loss. Most of the rest of the world is quite sensible in terms of regulation. If you look at the prohibition of booze in the U.S., gangsters made a lot of money from that.''

Sportingbet tumbled 64 percent to 66 pence. The company today said the U.S. rules prompted it to abandon talks to buy World Gaming Plc, whose shares slid 76 percent today. Former Sportingbet Chairman Peter Dicks, facing extradition to Louisiana, was set free last week by New York authorities.

There were 23 online gaming-related stocks on London's Alternative Investment Market at the end of August.

Empire Online Ltd., whose online gambling brands include Club Dice, fell 16.5 pence, or 25 percent, to 50.5 pence. Leisure & Gaming Plc, whose brands include VIPsports, lost 75 percent to 9.75 pence in London. NETeller Plc, a U.K. provider of money transfers for Internet gaming, fell 215 pence, or 61 percent, to 140 pence.

Excapsa Software Inc., a Toronto-based maker of software for gambling Web sites, slid 71 percent to 13 pence in London. CryptoLogic Inc., another Canadian maker of online gambling software, was 15 percent lower in Toronto as European stock markets closed.

Playtech Ltd. a British Virgin Islands-based gaming-software developer, tumbled 41 percent to 145.75 pence. Bwin Interactive Entertainment AG slid 35 percent in Vienna.

To contact the reporter on this story: Neil Craven in London at ncraven1@bloomberg.net .

Last Updated: October 2, 2006 12:09 EDT

Albert Haynesworth - Suspended for Five Games - ESPN

Haynesworth suspended for unprecedented five games
ESPN.com news services

The NFL has handed down a lengthy five-game suspension to Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for kicking Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in the head.

That length of suspension represents the biggest on-field disciplinary action in league history. Charles Martin held the previous high for a suspension, sitting two games for his bodyslam of Bears quarterback Jim McMahon on Nov. 23, 1986.

"This is an unprecedented suspension. I feel like his actions on the field were also unprecented," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

"I felt there needed to be some serious action taken from a discipline standpoint, and I think what the league has done now is adequate."

The suspension will cost Haynesworth $190,070 -- or one-seventeenth of his 2006 base salary of $646,251.

"I think five games, five paychecks is substantial," Fisher said.

The suspension takes effect immediately. Haynesworth can return on Nov. 19 for the Titans' game at Philadelphia.

"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else, for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's Titans-Cowboys game," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

Haynesworth was contrite after the incident.

"I apologize to Andre," he said Sunday. "What I did was disgusting. It's something that should never happen. I mean, I'm not a dirty player. I don't play dirty. I have respect for the game. What I feel like is I disgraced the game, disgraced my team and disgraced my last name."

Julius Jones had just scored on a 5-yard run, putting Dallas up 20-6 in what wound up as a 45-14 victory. Gurode's helmet came off, and Haynesworth, standing over him, used his right foot to kick Gurode in the head.

Gurode said they hadn't been talking or having any exchanges that led to Haynesworth kicking him twice. He received stitches above his forehead and beneath his eye.

"In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this, and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face," Gurode said.

"What I did was disgusting," the Titans' Albert Haynesworth said of his stomp on Cowboys center Andre Gurode's face.
A flag was thrown, and Haynesworth followed an official toward the Titans' sideline, protesting.

Haynesworth pulled off his helmet and slammed it to the ground, prompting another flag. Referee Jerome Boger disqualified Haynesworth, and the player walked off the field after talking briefly with Fisher.

"It's ridiculous to get to that point. Two back-to-back penalties like that, there's no place for it," Fisher said.

Gurode didn't play the rest of the second half.

"This vision was kind of blurry in my left eye," he said. "If it was clear, I would have tried to come back in to play."

The Associated Press and ESPN.com's John Clayton contributed to this report.