•1. Week Ten was a very painful one around the NFL. It seems like in every game a player or two went down to injury, some worse than others. Bengals Running Back Cedric Benson missed most of the game on Sunday with a hip flexor and his status for Week 11 is iffy at best. The Bengals have gone as far as signing the recently released Larry Johnson as insurance although they state he will be inactive on game days. Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu reinjured his knee that kept him out almost a month earlier in the season and could also miss a game or two. Dolphins Running Back Ronnie Brown will miss the game Thursday against Carolina with an ankle sprain and a bruised foot, the severity of which is not known yet. Ricky Williams could be in line for a big second half of the season if Brown is out long term. The Falcons Michael Turner also suffered a high ankle sprain and is likely out for at least this Sunday’s game against the Giants. The Cowboys lost Right Tackle Marc Columbo for the remainder of the regular season with a broken fibula and safety Ken Hamlin for 2-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain of his own. Eagles Running Back Brian Westbrook is possibly done for the season after suffering a concussion in his first game back from suffering a concussion. Seahawks RB Julius Jones is probably out for this week’s game with a bruised chest and a punctured lung. Like I said, painful week.
•2. Handcuffs are all of a sudden very important. With the injuries to Benson, Brown, Turner, Westbrook, and Jones, now you know why so many people believe in handcuffing your Running Backs during the draft. How much better would you feel now if you had Ricky Williams, Jason Snelling, Jerius Norwood, LeSean McCoy or Justin Forsett? You wouldn’t have to worry that they are already on someone else’s team or losing out to him on waivers. Williams is certain to be owned by someone as he was having a solid season to begin with so you’re not getting him. Same goes for the Eagles McCoy as he was almost a must handcuff to Westbrook. Westbrook was a lock to miss at least a couple of games; he’s made of fine china. Forsett and Snelling are going to be the hot commodities this week as more than one owner is sure to put a claim in. Bottom line, if you have one of the above injured backs and you’re a believer in handcuffs, you’re a relieved owner right now, if not, you may be relieved of your place in the standings.
•3. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick has some explaining to do. What was the thought process when he decided to go for it on fourth and two from his own 28 yard line with a little over two minutes remaining and up six points. I understand that Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning was hot and would’ve had time to drive the Colts for a game winning touchdown after the punt, but at least give your defense a chance. The defense had intercepted Manning twice and forced him to punt a couple of times in the second half, it wasn’t like Manning had his way with them all night. If you make the first down you’re a genius if not, you’re going to be questioned from now until the Pats beat the Jets on Sunday. True the spot may not have been the best, but it wasn’t terrible either, you have to punt that ball and force the Colts to drive the 60-70 yards it would’ve taken to win the game. Show some faith in your defense, but if you’re dead set on going for it, then don’t call a timeout which gives the opposing team time to defend the play. As soon as you had to call a TO, you should’ve punted that ball. Kind of cosmic justice seeing as though that TO was their last of the game, therefore they could not challenge the spot of the ball.
•4. It’s time to take the Bengals seriously. How bout them Bengals? They are 7-2, lead the AFC North by a game over Pittsburgh, and have defeated the Steelers and Ravens twice already this season. They are certainly in the driver’s seat, and their next three games are at Oakland, and home to Cleveland and Detroit. They could actually be playing for a first round bye. Scary, who saw this coming?
•5. Bill Belichick wasn’t the only Coach who went against the grain with a decision on Sunday. With the Jaguars driving for the go ahead touchdown with under two minutes remaining against the Jets on Sunday, Coach Jack Del Rio instructed Running Back Maurice Jones-Drew to lay down at the one-yard line if the Jets defense decided to let him score so their offense could get the ball back. Jones-Drew did exactly as told and the Jaguars kneeled on the ball the next two downs before kicking the game winning field goal as time expired. Many people have compared this play to what the Eagles Brian Westbrook did in a game against the Dallas Cowboys a few years back. The only difference was in that Eagles game, Philadelphia was already in the lead, while yesterday, the Jags were trailing. It was a gutsy call; suppose the Jaguars fumbled the snap or the field goal was missed. It all worked out in the end, but if it ended up backfiring; Belichick wouldn’t be the only coach with some explaining to do this week.
•6. Buffalo wide receiver Terrell Owens is up to his old tricks again. He was caught on camera screaming at his position coach during the game on Sunday. Then had a pass go right through his hands, picked off by a Titans defender who returned it for a touchdown. The bigger problem with that play is that Owens didn’t even bother to chase the defender down, just giving up on the play. Later on in the game Owens went over to the stands behind his bench to talk to someone in the crowd, while the game was going on, very unprofessional. Listen I don’t feel bad for the Bills or Owens. Buffalo knew what they were getting into when they signed Owens. He had done the same thing in Dallas and Philadelphia, and did Owens actually think that Buffalo was going to have some great offense where he would be able to recapture his past glory. They both are getting what they deserve. Perhaps Owens is trying to get Buffalo to release him this way he can try and hook up with a contender. Hopefully the punishment fits the crime and he is forced to play for Buffalo the rest of the season.
•7. Quarterback Kyle Orton really does mean that much to the Denver offense. Orton left the game on Sunday with a sprained ankle. Chris Simms took over for Orton and that was the end for Denver. Simms looked like the QB who hadn’t played in a couple of seasons. The game was just moving too fast for him. The Broncos look like they are coming apart at the seams. They have lost three straight games now and are tied for the division lead in the AFC West. They play San Diego on Sunday, winner will have a leg up in the division, but more importantly for Denver, they may still be without Orton, and even if he is able to go, he certainly won’t be very mobile and may have a problem throwing the deep ball. The defense is also starting to wear down. I can understand your offense going stagnant without your starting QB, but that is no reason for your defense to give up 27 points to a team starting a backup running back with a terrible offensive line and problems getting first downs all season, more or less touchdowns. Denver better find their mojo pretty quick as their six straight wins to start the season doesn’t mean all that much right now.
•8. Chargers Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson looks like he may have some jump left in his step after all. The Chargers already have a dynamic passing attack with QB Phillip Rivers, WR Vincent Jackson, and TE Antonio Gates, if LT can come back and add some sort of threat at RB, than the Chargers may turn out to be the team we thought they were in the preseason. LT is not going to be a RB1 this season, but if he can at least be a threat to score touchdowns inside the ten yard line, then he could at least be a RB2 week in and week out. The Chargers offense is going to score points, and someone has to run in those TDs for San Diego.
•9. Now we know why the Chiefs signed Wide Receiver Chris Chambers. Fellow WR Dewayne Bowe was suspended four games on Tuesday for violated the league’s substance abuse policy. He won’t be eligible to return until Week 15. That means in most fantasy leagues he will return during the second week of playoffs, and although that game is against Cleveland, if you need a roster spot on your team it should be safe to release Bowe. As for Chambers, I may give him a slight uptick in value, but not all that much. He is the number one now, but that also means he will face tougher coverages. The Chiefs running game with Jamaal Charles seems like it may actually have a pulse, but without Bowe, opposing defenses may start to stack the line just to find out if Chambers can beat them. It may be time to cut bait with all of your Chiefs.
•10. The honeymoon between the Chicago Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler is over as Cutler continues to throw interception after interception. He has thrown nine of those INTs in the red zone costing he Bears a game or two. One gets a feeling that Cutler is feeling a lot of pressure to lead the Bears to the promise land as Chicago hasn’t had a top notch QB in decades. Problem is, the running game has been non-existent leaving the entire offense in the hands of Cutler, and right now that seems to be too much.
