Art Shell - Raiders Head Coach Points To "Character Assassination" Problem In Organization

The person who did this could be a combination of people in the organization, not just one.

I write this -- and do more so -- because I have been told by several people that the way to rise in the Raiders organization is via character assassination. I don't write this with glee, but with sadness. It's good for Art to point this problem out in the open. It needs to go away.

Moreover, Amy Trask, who's the CEO, needs to really pay attention to this complaint and alter the Raiders climate, as this crit has been active for much of the time under her watch. I like Amy a lot, but this cultural problem must go away.

It's not a problem at the Intern level of the organization, but it exists for those who want to stay in the system and advance. It's a virus that can -- and has -- weakened the Raiders organization's structure.

Shell lashes out at unnamed critic within Raiders camp
Associated Press and ESPN

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders' soap opera season took another strange turn Wednesday when coach Art Shell accused a member of the organization of trying to undermine the coaching staff and rooting against the team.

Shell did not name the person, but he said it was not a coach or a player. He said the person has been calling media members around the country and criticizing coaches.

"I'm a fighter," Shell said. "I sit back and I watch things happen and then it gets to the point where you cross the line. That line has been crossed and I won't sit back and allow it to happen anymore."

Shell's latest comments came in response to questions about his decision Tuesday to demote Tom Walsh from his role of offensive coordinator to tight ends coach and replace him with John Shoop.

"When you root against me, you're rooting against the Raiders," Shell said. "When you root against Tom Walsh, you're rooting against the Raiders. And for someone to do that is unconscionable. It's unconscionable. It's detestable and I think it's an outrage."

The drama is the latest for a lost season in which star receiver Randy Moss has gone on the radio nearly every week with criticisms of the team and receiver Jerry Porter was suspended for insubordination after clashing with the coaching staff.

"How can you accept a paycheck from somebody that's given you a job and given you an opportunity to try to excel in life, and then turn around and call your cronies around the league and it gets back to me and I'm tired of it," Shell said.

Shell said the "character assassination" began soon after he was hired in February to begin his second stint as Raiders coach. He said the attacks have also been directed at owner Al Davis.

The internal strife is reminiscent of Shell's first stint as Raiders coach, which ended after the 1994 season when he believed he was being undermined by one of his assistants, Mike White, who ended up replacing Shell.

Shell went on to work as an assistant coach in Kansas City and Atlanta and never saw those sorts of problems.

"It shouldn't be like that," Shell said. "Every organization should be here on the same page, from the bottom up, from the groundskeeper on up. Everybody should be on the same page, trying to do the right things, trying to help this organization win. I went to Kansas City, that's the way it was. It was like that. Every individual was on board. Atlanta, every individual was on board. And it should be like that here."

But it hasn't been since Porter made public his trade demands and criticisms of the coaching staff at the start of training camp. Porter was inactive the first four games of the season despite leading the team in receptions a year ago and then was suspended for two games for insubordination after getting kicked out of practice.

Some players publicly questioned Shell's handling of the Porter situation, especially since the offense was struggling without him.

Moss went on his radio show days before the season opener complaining that things are "fishy" around the Raiders. He's also suggested that he would be better off if the team traded him and blamed his many dropped passes on being unhappy with the situation.

Oakland (2-9) has scored a league-low 132 points this year and is assured of a fourth straight losing season for the first time in franchise history.

The Raiders were last in the league in passing offense and total offense, 21st in rushing offense, and have allowed a league-high 53 sacks.

Walsh had come under criticism because he had been out of the NFL since 1994 and spent the past seven years running a bed and breakfast and serving as mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho.

Shell said it was very difficult to demote his friend.

"You have to be patient," Shell said. "I'm a very patient man so I'll take my time always before I make a rash decision. I felt at this time the decision needed to be made. It was very hard, very hard for me to do because I have a lot of respect for Tom Walsh. Tom Walsh has taken a lot, a lot of abuse from a lot of people and that has disappointed me."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

NFL INJURY REPORT / NFL STREAK OF 400-YARD PASSING GAMES AT FOUR WEEKS - NFLMedia.com

FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PER-13 11/29/06

LEAGUE STREAK OF 400-YARD PASSING GAMES AT FOUR WEEKS

An NFL quarterback has passed for more than 400 yards in four consecutive weeks and with another such performance in Week 13, the active string will tie the longest stretch in league history. The past four weeks have seen the following quarterbacks surpass the 400-yard mark, respectively:

Pittsburgh's BEN ROETHLISBERGER (433, Week 9), Cincinnati's CARSON PALMER (440, Week 10), New
Orleans' DREW BREES (510, Week 11), and Arizona rookie MATT LEINART (405, Week 12).

The record of five consecutive weeks with a 400-yard passer was achieved in 1986 during Weeks 8-12, a list that includes two Pro Football Hall of Famers in DAN MARINO and JOE MONTANA. The 1986 list: JAY SCHROEDER (420, Washington, Week 8); TOMMY KRAMER (490, Minnesota, Week 9); KEN O'BRIEN (431, N.Y. Jets, Week 9); BERNIE KOSAR (401, Cleveland, Week 10); Marino (404, Miami, Week 11); Montana (441, San Francisco, Week 11), and Kosar (414, Cleveland, Week 12).
4=1

Following is a list of quarterback injuries for Week 13 Games:
Jacksonville Jaguars Out Byron Leftwich (Ankle)
Miami Dolphins Out Daunte Culpepper (Knee)
Green Bay Packers Probable Brett Favre (Right Elbow)
New England Patriots Probable Tom Brady (Right Shoulder)
New York Jets Probable Chad Pennington (Calf)
Philadelphia Eagles Probable Jeff Garcia (Right Forearm)
Pittsburgh Steelers Probable Ben Roethlisberger (Chest)
Seattle Seahawks Probable Matt Hasselbeck (Left Hand)
St. Louis Rams ms Probable Marc Bulger (Ribs)
Following is a list of injured players for Week 13 Games:
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS on Thursday
Baltimore Ravens
OUT DT Justin Bannan (Toe); LB Dan Cody (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE TE Todd Heap (Back); RB Jamal Lewis (Foot); LB Adalius
Thomas (Ankle); G Keydrick Vincent (Hip); TE Daniel Wilcox
(Thigh)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
TUES Justin Bannan; Dan Cody; Todd Heap; Jamal Lewis; Adalius
Thomas; Keydrick Vincent; Daniel Wilcox
WED Justin Bannan; Dan Cody; Todd Heap; Jamal Lewis; Adalius
Thomas; Keydrick Vincent; Daniel Wilcox
Cincinnati Bengals
OUT T Levi Jones (Knee); G Bobbie Williams (Appendix)
DOUBTFUL DT John Thornton (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE C Rich Braham (Knee); CB Deltha O'Neal (Shoulder); TE Tony
Stewart (Hip); WR Kelley Washington (Hamstring)
PROBABLE DT Sam Adams (Knee); LB Brian Simmons (Neck)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
TUES Levi Jones; Bobbie Williams; John Thornton; Rich Braham;
Deltha O'Neal; Tony Stewart; Kelley Washington; Sam Adams
WED Levi Jones; Bobbie Williams; John Thornton; Rich Braham;
Deltha O'Neal
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS
Minnesota Vikings
QUESTIONABLE G Steve Hutchinson (Knee); CB Cedric Griffin (Neck); G Artis
Hicks (Ankle); T Marcus Johnson (Foot); TE Jermaine Wiggins
(Knee); RB Chester Taylor (Wrist); DT Pat Williams (Knee)
PROBABLE S Dwight Smith (Shoulder); LB Napoleon Harris (Wrist); WR
Marcus Robinson (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Steve Hutchinson; Cedric Griffin; Artis Hicks; Marcus Johnson;
Jermaine Wiggins; Chester Taylor; Pat Williams; Dwight Smith;
Napoleon Harris; Marcus Robinson
Chicago Bears
DOUBTFUL LB Leon Joe (Hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE S Todd Johnson (Ankle)
PROBABLE RB Thomas Jones (Groin)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Leon Joe; Todd Johnson; Thomas Jones
NEW YORK JETS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
New York Jets
QUESTIONABLE RB B.J. Askew (Foot); CB David Barrett (Hip); WR Tim Dwight
(Thigh); RB Cedric Houston (Knee); DT Rashad Moore (Hand);
S Eric Smith (Foot); DE Bryan Thomas (Shoulder)
PROBABLE RB Kevan Barlow (Calf); LB Matt Chatham (Foot); WR Jerricho
Cotchery (Chest); CB Andre Dyson (Neck); G Pete Kendall
(Knee); WR Justin McCareins (Foot); QB Chad Pennington
(Calf); DT Dewayne Robertson (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; Tim Dwight; Cedric Houston; Rashad
Moore; Eric Smith; Bryan Thomas
Green Bay Packers
DOUBTFUL T Mark Tauscher (Groin); LB Ben Taylor (Hamstring); S Nick
Collins (Hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE TE David Martin (Ribs); RB P.J. Pope (Hamstring); LB Nick
Barnett (Hand)
PROBABLE QB Brett Favre (Right Elbow); DT Cullen Jenkins (Illness); CB
Charles Woodson (Shoulder); T Chad Clifton (Hamstring); RB
Ahman Green (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
San Francisco 49ers
QUESTIONABLE T Jonas Jennings (Ankle); CB Shawntae Spencer (Ankle); RB
Frank Gore (Shin)
PROBABLE LB Jeff Ulbrich (Thumb)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Jonas Jennings; Shawntae Spencer; Frank Gore
New Orleans Saints
OUT TE Ernie Conwell (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE WR Marques Colston (Ankle); LB Mark Simoneau (Hand); WR
Joe Horn (Groin); DE Will Smith (Knee); RB Aaron Stecker
(Ankle)
PROBABLE CB Fred Thomas (Thumb); S Bryan Scott (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Ernie Conwell; Marques Colston; Mark Simoneau; Joe Horn; Will
Smith
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT ST. LOUIS RAMS
Arizona Cardinals
DOUBTFUL DT Kendrick Clancy (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Kendrick Clancy
St. Louis Rams
OUT DE Victor Adeyanju (Forearm); LB Isaiah Kacyvenski
(Concussion)
QUESTIONABLE RB Paul Smith (Hamstring); G Adam Timmerman (Ribs)
PROBABLE QB Marc Bulger (Ribs); CB Tye Hill (Thigh); G Richie Incognito
(Foot); DT Claude Wroten (Hamstring)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Victor Adeyanju; Isaiah Kacyvenski
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
Indianapolis Colts
OUT TE Dallas Clark (Knee); DT Montae Reagor (Head)
QUESTIONABLE DT Raheem Brock (Chest); T Ryan Diem (Abdomen); LB Gilbert
Gardner (Rib); S Bob Sanders (Knee); WR Brandon Stokley
(Knee); CB Nicholas Harper (Groin); LB Keith O'Neil (Ankle); CB
Antoine Bethea (Shoulder); TE Ben Utecht (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Dallas Clark; Montae Reagor; Ryan Diem; Gilbert Gardner;
Nicholas Harper; Keith O'Neil; Antoine Bethea
Tennessee Titans
OUT DE Antwan Odom (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE RB LenDale White (Hip); DE Travis LaBoy (Concussion); DE
Josh Savage (Hamstring); TE Bo Scaife (Quadricep); DT
Robaire Smith (Hamstring)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Antwan Odom; LenDale White; Josh Savage; Robaire Smith
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT BUFFALO BILLS
San Diego Chargers
QUESTIONABLE DE Derreck Robinson (Foot); RB Michael Turner (Hamstring);
LB Shaun Phillips (Calf); S Marlon McCree (Calf); WR Keenan
McCardell (Calf); LB Randall Godfrey (Hamstring); DE Luis
Castillo (Ankle); G Kris Dielman (Ankle)
PROBABLE WR Malcom Floyd (Ankle); DT Jamal Williams (Ankle); S
Bhawoh Jue (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
Buffalo Bills
QUESTIONABLE LB Keith Ellison (Knee); WR Josh Reed (Kidney)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Participated
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS
Kansas City Chiefs
OUT DT James Reed (Groin); T Kevin Sampson (Back)
PROBABLE TE Tony Gonzalez (Shoulder); LB Derrick Johnson (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED James Reed; Kevin Sampson; Tony Gonzalez
Cleveland Browns
DOUBTFUL DE Orpheus Roye (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE CB Leigh Bodden (Ankle); DE Nick Eason (Ankle); RB Reuben
Droughns (Foot); LB Mason Unck (Groin); TE Kellen Winslow
(Knee); LB Willie McGinest (Pectoral); S Justin Hamilton (Back);
S Brian Russell (Elbow)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Orpheus Roye; Leigh Bodden; Nick Eason; Reuben Droughns;
Mason Unck; Kellen Winslow; Justin Hamilton
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
Jacksonville Jaguars
OUT QB Byron Leftwich (Ankle)
DOUBTFUL CB Terry Cousin (Groin)
QUESTIONABLE RB Montell Owens (Shoulder); S Nick Sorensen (Hamstring); CB
Brian Williams (Hamstring)
PROBABLE LB Jorge Cordova (Hamstring); P Chris Hanson (Left
Hamstring); LB Clint Ingram (Shoulder); LB Kenneth Pettway
(Groin); LB Daryl Smith (Shoulder); DT Marcus Stroud (Ankle);
RB Derrick Wimbush (Ankle); TE George Wrighster (Head); CB
Ahmad Carroll (Groin); G Vincent Manuwai (Wrist); WR Cortez
Hankton (Hamstring)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Byron Leftwich; Montell Owens; Nick Sorensen; Brian Williams;
Marcus Stroud; Vincent Manuwai
Miami Dolphins
OUT RB Ronnie Brown (Hand); QB Daunte Culpepper (Knee); G
Jeno James (Knee)
DOUBTFUL CB Michael Lehan (Nose)
QUESTIONABLE LB Keith Newman (Shoulder); S Travares Tillman (Hand); CB
Will Allen (Groin)
PROBABLE CB Eddie Jackson (Hamstring); DT Keith Traylor (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Ronnie Brown; Daunte Culpepper; Jeno James; Michael Lehan
DETROIT LIONS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Detroit Lions
QUESTIONABLE DT Shaun Rogers (Knee); WR Devale Ellis (Shoulder); T Rex
Tucker (Knee)
PROBABLE WR Corey Bradford (Illness); DT Tyoka Jackson (Foot)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Shaun Rogers; Rex Tucker; Corey Bradford; Tyoka Jackson
New England Patriots
OUT S Rodney Harrison (Shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE TE Daniel Graham (Ankle); CB Ellis Hobbs (Wrist); LB Corey
Mays (Hamstring); CB Chad Scott (Groin); S Eugene Wilson
(Hamstring); T Ryan O'Callaghan (Neck)
PROBABLE QB Tom Brady (Right Shoulder); DE Richard Seymour (Elbow)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Rodney Harrison; Daniel Graham; Ellis Hobbs; Corey Mays;
Chad Scott; Eugene Wilson; Ryan O'Callaghan
ATLANTA FALCONS AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Atlanta Falcons
OUT CB Jason Webster (Groin)
QUESTIONABLE CB Jimmy Williams (Ankle)
PROBABLE DE John Abraham (Groin); DT Grady Jackson (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Jason Webster; John Abraham; Grady Jackson
Washington Redskins
QUESTIONABLE LB Khary Campbell (Hamstring); S Troy Vincent (Hamstring);
WR David Patten (Hamstring); T Jon Jansen (Calf)
PROBABLE RB Mike Sellers (Shoulder)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Khary Campbell; Troy Vincent; David Patten; Jon Jansen; Mike
Sellers
HOUSTON TEXANS AT OAKLAND RAIDERS
Houston Texans
DOUBTFUL DT Thomas Johnson (Hamstring)
PROBABLE DE Antwan Peek (Knee); DE Anthony Weaver (Knee); DE Mario
Williams (Foot); RB Jameel Cook (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Thomas Johnson; Mario Williams; Jameel Cook
Oakland Raiders
OUT T Robert Gallery (Elbow); RB LaMont Jordan (Knee)
DOUBTFUL WR Jerry Porter (Hip)
QUESTIONABLE LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (Foot); K Sebastian Janikowski (Back); G
Barry Sims (Abdomen)
PROBABLE LB Robert Thomas (Heel)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QUESTIONABLE S Will Allen (Ankle); CB Juran Bolden (Shin); RB Michael
Pittman (Hamstring); LB Shelton Quarles (Knee); TE Alex Smith
(Ankle); DT Ellis Wyms (Ankle)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Michael Pittman; Alex Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
OUT S Troy Polamalu (Knee); WR Hines Ward (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE WR Willie Reid (Foot)
PROBABLE LB James Harrison (Ankle); C Jeff Hartings (Knee); WR Sean
Morey (Toe); LB Joey Porter (Elbow); QB Ben Roethlisberger
(Chest); CB Ivan Taylor (Concussion); LB Clark Haggans (Hip)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Troy Polamalu; Hines Ward; Jeff Hartings; Clark Haggans
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS
Dallas Cowboys No injuries to report.
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED All Players Participated
New York Giants
OUT T Luke Petitgout (Fibula)
DOUBTFUL DE Michael Strahan (Foot)
QUESTIONABLE LB Carlos Emmons (Groin); CB Sam Madison (Hamstring); WR
Sinorice Moss (Quadricep); LB Brandon Short (Quadricep); DE
Osi Umenyiora (Hip Flexor); CB Corey Webster (Toe); S Gibril
Wilson (Shoulder)
PROBABLE LB Antonio Pierce (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Luke Petitgout; Michael Strahan; Carlos Emmons; Corey
Webster; Gibril Wilson; Antonio Pierce
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT DENVER BRONCOS
Seattle Seahawks
OUT C Robbie Tobeck (Hip)
DOUBTFUL LB D.D. Lewis (Toe)
QUESTIONABLE T Sean Locklear (Ankle); TE Itula Mili (Concussion); DT Rocky
Bernard (Foot)
PROBABLE WR Darrell Jackson (Knee); QB Matt Hasselbeck (Left Hand);
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 Practice Not Complete
Denver Broncos
QUESTIONABLE T Adam Meadows (Hamstring); TE Chad Mustard (Shoulder)
PROBABLE S Hamza Abdullah (Hip); RB Tatum Bell (Toe); CB Darrent
Williams (Shoulder); WR Javon Walker (Foot); LB Al Wilson
(Thumb)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Complete
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES on Monday
Carolina Panthers
QUESTIONABLE RB DeShaun Foster (Elbow); G Mike Wahle (Shoulder); LB Na'il
Diggs (Chest)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Mike Wahle; Na'il Diggs
Philadelphia Eagles
QUESTIONABLE LB Shawn Barber (Knee)
PROBABLE QB Jeff Garcia (Right Forearm); G Todd Herremans (Finger);
CB William James (Knee); T Jon Runyan (Hamstring); LB Matt
McCoy (Shoulder); LB Jason Short (Ankle); WR Donte'
Stallworth (Hamstring); RB Brian Westbrook (Knee)
Listed players who did not participate in ''team'' practice:
(Defined as missing any portion of 11-on-11 team work)
WED Practice Not Conducted

Wally Matthews: New York Giants On Path of Self-Destruction

Wallace Matthews
Maybe this is as good as Eli gets
November 29, 2006

In the three seasons since the Giants traded away their future in order to rewrite their GM's past, we have seen Ben Roethlisberger win a Super Bowl, Philip Rivers develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, Tony Romo throw five touchdown passes in a game and Vince Young play like a seasoned veteran after only five pro starts.

Either those guys are ahead of schedule or Eli Manning is way, way behind.

In an era in which the learning curve for quarterbacks seems to be accelerated, Manning's career is stuck decidedly in neutral and may be slipping into reverse.

He is the one who was born and bred to be a quarterback. He is the one with the pedigree. He is the one whose father would have been great and whose brother has been for a long time. Roethlisberger, Rivers and even Young were gambles, but Eli Manning, Archie's kid and Peyton's brother, couldn't miss.

Except so far, he has.

He was expected to develop into one of the best quarterbacks in the game, but now, three years and 34 starts into his pro career, it always feels as if Eli Manning is the second-best quarterback on the field.

Why?

This week, there was no shortage of scapegoats in the Giants' locker room to deflect attention from what is becoming an elephant in the room. The quarterback around whom they expected to build a franchise is instead helping to drag it down.

The Giants traded Rivers along with three other draft picks - one of whom became star linebacker Shawne Merriman - to get Manning. We were told this would be a franchise-changing move, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the kind of bold pick with which a GM could cement his legacy and a team could secure its future.

Judging by Manning's current performance, so much for outgoing GM Ernie Accorsi's legacy and so long to the Giants' future.

It is one thing to be outplayed by big brother Peyton, quite another to be owned by the Rex Grossmans and David Garrards of the league. And when Vince Young reminds you of everything you once expected to see in Manning, it is time to start worrying.

It makes you wonder what Accorsi saw in Manning aside from the name, and his own bitter history. Somehow, he convinced himself that to let Manning slip away would be repeating the heartbreak of allowing John Elway to strong-arm the Baltimore Colts when Accorsi was their GM in 1983.

By throwing draft picks at the Chargers to get Manning, Accorsi thought he was correcting a mistake that had haunted him for more than 20 years. Instead, it looks as if he has only compounded it.

You will have to wait awhile for the official explanation, because right now, Accorsi is not talking about Eli Manning. He wouldn't come to the phone yesterday to answer the most basic question there is regarding Eli, which is, "When exactly will he get here?"

The answer, of course, is long after Accorsi is gone. If ever.

And it's not as if he hasn't been surrounded by a strong supporting cast. This isn't Archie Manning, soldiering on with a succession of miserable Saints teams, or Peyton Manning, being asked to rescue a woeful Colts squad, or even Phil Simms, whose leading receiver his rookie year, Earnest Gray, had all of 28 catches.

Eli's got Tiki Barber, one of the best all-purpose backs in the league, and Jeremy Shockey, a stud when healthy, and Plaxico Burress, whose astonishing athleticism has saved Manning numerous times this year, at least in those moments when Burress feels like playing. The loss of tackle Luke Petitgout, Manning's blindside protector, hasn't helped, but still Manning has been sacked just 20 times in 11 games.

Really, there is no outside excuse for Manning's lack of production. He has no one to blame but himself for constantly throwing behind receivers, or forgetting Shockey is even on the team until three quarters of the game have dribbled away, or flipping the ball blindly into double and triple coverage, as he did at the end of the Giants' 24-21 loss to the Titans. Defensive backs seem to read him a lot more easily than he reads them.

And yet, in a way that monumental collapse was the best thing that could have happened to Eli Manning. By the time we all got done blaming Burress, blaming Tom Coughlin, blaming and absolving Mathias Kiwanuka, it was easy to overlook the frightening realization that, even allowing him a slow learning curve, Eli is not gradually getting better, but progressively worse.

For three years now, the Giants have been assuring us, "Eli's coming."

But that raises another, even more disturbing question.

What if he's already arrived?

Note: I never used to give Mr. Matthews his just due until i heard him on the air a few times. Still, he's more of a boxing Guy then a football guy,......but he has the take on this. It could take Eli a long time to get over this.....He might be with another team by the time he does get over it. NY is a tough town and Giant fans are the most critical as well as the smartest fans in all of Pro Football.

Super Bowl XXXIX - Vlog Of My First Day In Detroit

This is a video of my first day in Detroit for the Super Bowl. It started at 5 AM with a flight out of Oakland, through Chicago with my friend Colleen, and to the Motor City. Then I got a rental car and drove from the airport to my hotel in Warren, Michigan. There, I changed clothes and went into the city and to the parties. I finally wound up at the EA Sports party, then on the way back to the hotel, stopped to look at a neighborhood of what appeared to be show homes in the backdrop of Ford Field, where the game was played that Sunday.

Jets OL Jones Arrested for DWI near Team HQ

This is Priceless see my commentary at the end!

From the AP sportswire.....
Police charge Jets offensive lineman Jones with DWI
By FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press Writer
November 28, 2006

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Jets offensive lineman Adrian Jones apologized to the team and his family Tuesday, three days after being charged with driving while intoxicated.

Jones, 25, was fined $20,000 by the team and will be monitored by the NFL as a result of being a first-time offender of the league's substance abuse policy.

Jones was arrested at about 4:45 a.m. Saturday after he was stopped by police on on Merrick Avenue near Hempstead Turnpike -- about a mile from the team's training facility -- for allegedly driving slowly and making an unsafe lane change, said Eric Phillips, a spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated and had his license suspended after refusing to take a blood-alcohol test at central testing, Phillips said. A preliminary field sobriety test when Jones was arrested revealed a blood-alcohol reading of 0.22, police said. After being released by a judge on Saturday morning, Jones was ordered to return to court on Dec. 15.

In a police complaint, Jones told officers he had been in an accident about 20 minutes earlier; the front end of his Chrysler 300 was damaged and smoke was emanating from under the hood. Nassau County police didn't immediately have information about the traffic accident, although a spokesman noted that if both parties agreed to settle the issue privately, police might not have been called.

Jones, in his third season with the Jets, was on the inactive list and didn't play in Sunday's 26-11 victory over the Houston Texans. Coach Eric Mangini said Monday it was a "just a coaching decision."

"I apologized to my family, my teammates and my coaches for my behavior," Jones said in a statement issued Tuesday. "I used poor judgment and will be held accountable for it."

An attorney for Jones did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday seeking further comment.

The Jets said in a statement the team was "extremely disappointed Adrian would put himself in this situation, and we take these allegations very seriously. ... Adrian has apologized to his teammates, the organization and the fans, accepting full responsibility for his actions and the consequences that follow."

Jones, a 6-5, 296-pound lineman from the University of Kansas, was drafted by the Jets in 2004. He has played both left and right tackle positions.

On Thanksgiving weekend 1999, Jones suffered a serious head injury when his car blew a tire and rolled. He spent three days in the intensive care unit at Wichita's Wesley Medical Center. Alcohol was not a factor in that accident, officials said.

Jones was returning to Lawrence, Kan., from his home in Dallas with his brother Christopher and Jayhawks teammate Derick Miller. Jones, who had just removed his seat belt to take off his sweater at the time of the accident, was thrown from the car and landed headfirst.

Jones' brother and teammate had only minor injuries.


Now you know i have something to say about this right?? It just so happens that that intersection is one of the busiest on all of long Island. Besides being close to the Jets HQ and Hofstra university, the Nassau Colusiem, the County Community college, County Medical Center, County Jail, and 2 major shopping centers are all in the vicinity, as well as a Police station and a Firehouse. Smart move to be driving erratically there at close to 5 am on any day. I know the area well....it's all of 7 mins from where i live, and i'm there at least 2 times a week because that's where my mother in law lives. So now we know why Mangini Benched Jones Sunday!

Raiders OC Tom Walsh Replaced By John Shoop - Who Is Target Of FireJohnShoop.com

The Oakland Raiders just fired their offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, but replaced him with John Shoop, currently the Raiders' tight end's coach, but formerly the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.

Shoop was the target of a campaign and website called "Fire John Shoop" at http://www.firejohnshoop.com/ According to the website, Shoop was quoted as saying "I don't care if we had gotten shut out. I don't care if we wouldn't have gained a yard, I promise you … there's going to be the same plays in the future."

Wow.

The site continues...

"John Shoop is a fantastic Offensive Coordinator. By fantastic, I mean horrible. He couldn't move the football against a high school team.

John Shoop has wanted to coach football since he was in 7th grade. Like all boys his age he imagined his team losing game after game because his offense was about as daring as The Cowardly Lion. Just think of the comedy potential if John Shoop was the Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator. And just think of how much better the Bears would be if that were the case. Depressing, isn't it?

John graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) in 1991, where he played quarterback for 4 seasons. Sewanee athletic records are hard to come by, but I'd be surprised if Shoop ever completed a pass longer than 20 yards. Do you want to be the Bears next offensive coordinator? Become an athletic prospect at Sewanee or whatever they call themselves. Make sure to tell them that you know John Shoop.

Shoop learned a lot at Sewanee, saying, "Those are the lessons I learned at Sewanee. Work and care are the only two things you can control.” I'm not sure what that means, but it's clear that John is wrong. If the Bears care more than the other team, and work harder, then maybe Shoop is calling bad plays. It's also Shoop's fault if they don't care more than the other team and don't work hard.

After leaving Sewanee, Shoop spent 4 seasons working as a volunteer and graduate assistant for bad college teams (Dartmouth and Vanderbilt) before becoming the offensive quality control coach and later quarterbacks coach for a bad NFL team. Since January 22, 2001, Shoop has been the Offensive Coordinator of the Chicago Bears. I think the question here is, where is the Bears offensive quality control coach on this one? In fact, the quality control coach is Charlie Coiner, who is much more qualified than John Shoop, but this is firejohnshoop.com, not firejohnshoophirecharliecoiner.com. Sorry, Charlie."

The website also has a message board, which has a thread entitled "The Raiders must want to suck."

Also I found this quote on the website: "John Shoop is the worst Offensive Coordinator in the history of the NFL."
~ ~ Michael Wilbon, Washington Post. I can't find the actual quote, but it may be contained in a post article that was not web archived at the time.

Basically, the "crit" against Shoop is that he calls "run after the catch" pass plays but such that the catch may be for 3 yards on 3rd and 16 yards for a first down. To me, that's a much milder issue that the entire set of problems brought on by Tom Walsh. But still, the one person who really understands the modern passing game -- Cinncinati Bengals Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson -- works for the Cinncinati Bengals as receivers coach, his prize student Chad Johnson breakiing club yardage records and putting in a Jerry-Rice-like performance.

San Diego Charger Cornerback Cletis Gordon Suspected of DUI - A Lot Of California DUI Arrests.

Wow, a lot of DUI stops in California. Antonio Bryant, Mel Gibson, the list goes on. I wonder if this guy's claim about the California police and DUI's is true? To see the post, click on the title of this post.

Police stop cornerback Cletis Gordon on DUI suspicion

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
1:21 p.m. November 27, 2006

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Charger cornerback Cletis Gordon was arrested by San Diego police early Monday morning in the city's Gaslamp Quarter on suspicion of drunk driving.
An officer on patrol pulled Gordon over at 6th and J Streets at 1:59 a.m. after witnessing what he considered to be erratic driving, police said.

Gordon, 23, was taken to downtown police headquarters where he was processed and then to jail. He was released after posting bail.

Gordon, who was undrafted out of Jackson State, has not played this season because of a wrist injury.

He is the fifth Charger to have a run-in with the law this year.

“We are all disappointed,” general manager A.J. Smith said. “We'll let the legal system run its course. It will be discussed and handled internally.”

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said, “I think we need to wait until all the facts are brought out. He was brought in. y understanding is he did the test and it was below the number. I don't know. We'll have to wait and see.”

Linebacker Shaun Phillips was arrested last April on suspicion of obstructing or resisting an officer after an altercation downtown.

The same month, linebacker Steve Foley was arrested after involvement in a fight with three officers in University City. The District Attorney's office declined to file charges.

Foley was shot by an off-duty Coronado police officer in Poway Sept. 3after the officer stopped him on suspicion of erratic driving.
Cornerback Markus Curry was arrested in October on Interstate 805 in National City in connection with a domestic violence case.

Safety Terrence Kiel was arrested in September on charges involving the trafficking of prescription drugs.

Meanwhile, linebacker Shawne Merriman just finished serving a four-game suspension for violation of the National Football League rule regarding steroid use.