Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys are the favorites to win the NFC and be at home for the Super Bowl., according to odds courtesy of Bodog
Odds to win the NFC
Dallas Cowboys 9/2
New Orleans Saints 5/1
Green Bay Packers 11/2
Minnesota Vikings 11/2
Atlanta Falcons 11/1
Chicago Bears 12/1
New York Giants 12/1
San Francisco 49ers 12/1
Philadelphia Eagles 13/1
Washington Redskins 14/1
Arizona Cardinals 22/1
Carolina Panthers 25/1
Seattle Seahawks 28/1
Detroit Lions 50/1
St. Louis Rams 50/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 60/1
September 2, 2010 8:14 pm
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Peyton Manning’s Colts are the favorite to win the AFC, according to the odds posted on Bodog.
Odds to win the AFC
Indianapolis Colts 9/2
San Diego Chargers 11/2
New York Jets 11/2
New England Patriots 13/2
Baltimore Ravens 11/2
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Cincinnati Bengals 12/1
Tennessee Titans 14/1
Houston Texans 14/1
Miami Dolphins 16/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Oakland Raiders 35/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 40/1
Cleveland Browns 50/1
Kansas City Chiefs 50/1
Buffalo Bills 60/1
8:09 pm
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For those keeping score, New York Jets CB Darrelle’s Revis’ 31-day fine total is now up to $512,213. And counting. — Twitter (Adam Schefter)
Several months ago, the Bucs informed Michael Clayton of their plans to trade him, but there have been no takers. The receiver’s $3.5 million salary is guaranteed, but his spot on the roster is not. Then during Saturday night’s third preseason game, Clayton never left the bench against the Jaguars. After the game, he showered anyway. “Force of habit,” Clayton said. Whether his career in Tampa Bay is washed up remains to be seen. Clayton, 27, refuses to believe it is. – St. Petersburg Times
Bill Ford Jr., the team’s vice chairman, knows the Lions have been competitively bankrupt for the past 10 years. Maybe that’s why he won’t define success for the team in Jim Schwartz’s second season as coach and Matthew Stafford’s second season as franchise quarterback. “I don’t want to replay the last 10 years,” Ford told the Free Press on Wednesday. “We are where we are. I’m just very happy with the new regime.” But he sees improvement in how the front office operates now compared to when Matt Millen called the shots. And he believes general manager Martin Mayhew is cut from the same mold as Ford Motor CEO Alan Mulally. That’s high praise considering Mulally orchestrated Ford’s ascension from the domestic automotive abyss. — Detroit Free Press
Matt Leinart suddenly has become available and the Cardinals want to drum up interest for him, which will be difficult to do, because of the bloated salary (he’s due close to $10 million in salary the next two seasons) attached to the former Heisman Trophy winner.
ESPN reported that the Giants, Bills and Raiders have had discussions with the Cardinals about acquiring Leinart. The “discussions” likely were as benign as Cardinals general manager Rod Graves calling Giants counterpart Jerry Reese to gauge his interest and learning the interest is nil. If they don’t stick with Bomar — who will play a great deal tonight after Eli Manning takes an early seat in the preseason finale against the Patriots — the Giants want someone willing to accept a supportive, backup role. Leinart doesn’t fit that characterization. Plus, Leinart wants to go somewhere to start. – NY Post
The job is enormous and the view spectacular, but at the end of the day the work is pretty ordinary: Like other New Orleanians caring for their driveways or decks, private crews atop the Superdome are pressure-washing mildew off the 9.6-acre landmark. The distinctive white roof needs it. The section that has been cleaned contrasts sharply with the streaked and dingy area still untouched. The $87,500 job should be done by the middle of next week, in time for the New Orleans Saints’ regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 9, said Doug Thornton, senior vice president of SMG, the company that manages the Superdome and the New Orleans Arena. Thornton said Superdome managers noticed a few months ago that the domed roof was getting dirty much faster than normal. Ordinarily, it’s 18 to 24 months between cleanings. This time, the roof looked bad in 14 months, he said. A lab analysis showed there was nothing unusual about the grime: It’s ordinary dirt and South Louisiana mildew discoloring the Superdome. – New Orleans Times-Picayune
The Green Bay Packers traded one former tight end turned tackle at the final cut last year and probably will have chances to deal another Saturday. A source said several teams are interested in tackle Breno Giacomini, one of four veteran offensive linemen the Packers might be considering releasing on the roster reduction. All teams must reach the 53-man limit by 3 p.m. Saturday. The Packers have 75 players on the roster. Giacomini, a fifth-round draft choice in 2008, played tight end early in his career at Louisville just as Tony Moll, a fifth-round pick in 2006, did at Nevada. The Packers shipped Moll to Baltimore Sept. 5 for safety Derrick Martin. “We don’t even joke around about that stuff,” center Jason Spitz said. “Obviously, we all want to be here. We’re all working toward that. But it won’t work out that way.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland will look for Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant sometime before or after the preseason game between Miami and Dallas Thursday night, the Miami Herald reported, citing an anonymous source. The Herald reported Ireland wants to close the book on the questiongate incident that happened between the two men just prior to the draft. The source told the Herald that Ireland has given thought to the Bryant situation in recent days and would like to speak with Bryant. Ireland and others within the Dolphins organization have discussed how to handle Thursday’s likely meeting because the GM knows it will be an issue for the media and perhaps Bryant himself. Ireland declined to comment to the Herald Thursday. — Dallas Morning News
Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco spread some advance goodwill by buying dinner at St. Elmo’s Steakhouse in Indy for 64 of his closest friends – whom he had never before met. Ochocinco posted an open invitation on his Twitter page, and our pal Todd Wright of Sporting News Radio (who has a St. Elmo’s source) said that folks arrived in droves. For those of you wondering, the magic number was 64 instead of 85 because the room in which the dinner occurred holds only 64 people. Wright says that Ochocinco was very cordial and took great care of the employees. — Pro Football Talk
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the athletic training staff “has given me no indication” that wide receiver Roy Williams will miss the opener. Williams did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of soreness in his lower back and hip flexor. He will not play against the Dolphins. Williams finishes the exhibition schedule with five catches out of 13 passes directed at him for 68 yards in four games. A year ago, Williams appeared in only two exhibitions, catching six of nine passes for 48 yards. — Dallas Morning News
With Carson Palmer and the first-team offense expected to play only a series or two, this is one final chance for J.T. O’Sullivan and Jordan Shipley to make a case on why they should remain on the roster. While the play of the guys who are one unfortunate incident away from having to go into a game has been awful at times, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski took a better tact, calling it sporadic. “Obviously there have been stretches of good things and stretches of not so good things. We’ll give them another run at it this week and see if we can clean up some of the not so good things,” Bratkowski said. In 39 series, the two have produced four touchdowns and six field goals. They’ve also combined for five interceptions with two of Palmer’s being run back for touchdowns. Instead of making progress from last season, it’s looked more like they’ve regressed. — Cincinnati Enquirer
Macho Harris can count, and he knows that getting moved from cornerback, where he’d played all spring and summer, back to safety for the final week of the preseason probably was not a great omen for his continued employment with the Eagles. Harris talked this week about the opportunity to “showcase my talent” in tonight’s preseason finale against the visiting New York Jets. Translated, that means the rest of the NFL will see the film, and if last year’s rookie starter at free safety is a victim when the Birds trim from 75 to 53 this weekend, he at least can enhance his chance of getting a job somewhere else. For what it’s worth, Harris said he felt his conversion back to safety has been “smooth, very smooth – I felt like I didn’t miss a beat at all at safety.” — Philadelphia Daily News
Add Ron Jaworski to the long list of people around the NFL who think Ryan and the Jets have gotten a little too full of themselves. The former NFL quarterback, now an analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” labeled the Jets the most overrated team in the AFC yesterday while noting the hostility Ryan has fostered with his repeated Super Bowl projections. Speaking on a preseason media conference call with Jon Gruden and the rest of the “Monday Night Football” crew, Jaworski said the feeling from other teams in the league about the Gang Green is clear. “They’re the team that’s pretty much speaking all the bravado,” Jaworski said. “You hear this, you see this, and you really do want to put them in their place — whatever that place may be.” — NY Post
It turns out Santonio Holmes will not be banned from the Jets’ facility during his drug suspension, after all. In what will qualify as news to coach Rex Ryan and at least several other Jets officials, the NFL confirmed last night that Holmes can work out at the club’s Florham Park headquarters and even attend team meetings during the four-game league ban that begins with Week 1. The only thing Holmes can’t do during that time is practice with the Jets. The Jets themselves apparently didn’t know that, because Ryan told reporters Tuesday that coaches wouldn’t be allowed to have contact with Holmes during the suspension. — NY Post
West Virginia freshman wide receiver Ivan McCartney is getting some high-powered advice these days. “Be great at whatever you do,” McCartney’s cousin has told him. “Work harder than anyone in the nation.” Who is McCartney’s cousin? None other than Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and reality TV star Chad Ochocinco. McCartney is listening to Ochocinco, but he is still his own person. McCartney had the opportunity to choose jersey No. 85 like his cousin, but he instead selected Pat White’s old number (5). “If I would’ve chosen 85, everyone would’ve known me as Chad Ochocinco,” McCartney said. “I wanted to make my own legacy.” McCartney, a U.S. Army All-American from Miramar (Fla.) High, said he doesn’t have the mentality of most wide receivers. “I’m not a very cocky and arrogant person,” he said. “We all work together.” — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Were it left up to Steven Jackson, the NFL regular season would start today. The Rams running back — who is coming off back surgery in April — has pronounced himself primed for action. “I’m really excited. I’m ready for Sept. 12,” when Arizona visits for the regular-season opener, Jackson said Monday. “As the days go by, I’m getting more anxious.”
Still, one more preseason contest awaits: Baltimore will face the Rams on Thursday night at the Edward Jones Dome. Jackson would prefer — make that strongly prefer — to sit that one out. Asked if he wanted to play Thursday, Jackson quickly replied, “No.” After a few seconds, he added, “But if Coach wants me to go out there, I’m fully prepared to play however long the ‘ones’ are going to be out there. But me personally, no, I don’t want to play.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
An avid hunter, Rams kicker Josh Brown knows the sinking feeling of an off-target shot. And Brown had too many wayward boots for his liking last season. Brown, signed as a free agent in 2008, had increased his field-goal accuracy for three consecutive seasons — 80.6 percent in 2006, 82.4 in ’07 and 86.1 in ’08 — before dipping in ’09. He missed five times in 24 tries, a 79.2 percent success rate. It was his worst showing since going 18 for 25 in 2005 for Seattle. “Those numbers are not the numbers I want to have or to reflect how much I care about what I’m doing,” he said. “Took a lot of inventory this year in what we were doing and how we were approaching the game, and it’s been paying off.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Football fans understand when a player is forced to the sidelines with torn knee ligaments.
They grasp the severity of groin injuries, sports hernias and ruptured Achilles tendons. Clinical depression? Offensive lineman Shawn Andrews, a Pro Bowl performer for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006 and 2007 who is making a comeback with the New York Giants, learned that many fans in the City of Brotherly Love could not empathize when he was given that diagnosis in 2008. “I’ve been called everything in letters,” he says. “Some of the stuff I’m even embarrassed to say. One said, ‘The next time I read your name, I hope it’s in an obituary.’ “ Andrews recalled another fan who once asked for his autograph. The same person turned on him after he could not find it within himself to report to training camp in 2008. “You’re a disgrace to the world,” the man told him. Andrews, 27, struggles to understand that response just as he once grappled with himself internally. — USA Today
Julian Peterson had 4 1/2 sacks in his first season with the Lions. He might be hard-pressed to top that number in his second. Peterson is playing a different role on third downs this year. Used as a rush end in many passing situations last year, Peterson is now dropping into coverage as a nickel linebacker. “I’m just going back to what I used to do when I was in San (Francisco),” Peterson said. “I was pretty much like an extra (defensive back) almost. That’s what you’re playing, and just getting familiar with the routes again, jamming. Once you recognize routes, you can sort of be like a Derrick Brooks almost. Once you get good enough, you can start stealing routes. That’s what I’m trying to get back to there.” — Detroit Free Press
The Colts are on the verge of the fourth winless preseason in franchise history. The others: 2005 (0-5), 1990 (0-4) and ’81 (0-4). Not to worry. In ’05, they started 13-0 en route to a 14-2 record. – Indy Star
A Long Island special education teacher has revolutionized big-league play-calling with BoomGuard, a simple device that shields coaches’ mouths from potential lip-readers. Inventor Ramone Ward remembers the autumn Sunday in 2005 when it came to him: for all those NFL coaches holding laminated play cards over their mouths and running from cameras to protect their secrets, there had to be a better way. “Someone was going to make a lot of money,” he says. “And I decided that was going to be me.” Less than five years later, Ward’s award-winning BoomGuard device is building a steady following in multiple professional and high school sports, including auto racing and football. — Boom Guard
Is rookie Tim Tebow officially the No. 2 quarterback? The Broncos closed practice to the media Tuesday before engaging in team drills, so it won’t be known until early in their preseason game Thursday night at Minnesota whom coach Josh McDaniels prefers as his backup quarterback. Starting quarterback Kyle Orton is expected to play one or two series Thursday. If Tebow replaces Orton first, as he did during the second half Sunday against Pittsburgh, his promotion to the No. 2 slot will be all but official. Should former first-round draft pick Brady Quinn be the first sub in, Tebow may still be the game-day backup so he can be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations. But the competition for the true backup position may be on. “We’re going to let them compete today and in Minnesota,” McDaniels said. “Both players have done some good things, both players have turned the ball over, both players have been able to function in the two-minute offense and I think that both players have plenty of room to improve. “From that standpoint, I think this game will probably help us determine kind of where we see everything.” — Denver Post
Three teams have discussed trading for Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart — Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, New York Giants. Now we wait to see if any pull trigger by this weekend. – Twitter (Adam Schefter)
Titans quarterback Chris Simms puts his chances of making the 53-man roster at 50-50. Simms, who did not play in the Carolina game, is scheduled to see action against the Saints on Thursday. The roster must be cut to 53 by Saturday. “There’s maybe one or two guys that can change an opinion, whether it’s my position or not, I don’t know, nor do I care,” Simms said Tuesday. “It is just about going out and doing my best and working on my craft. ” … I say it’s 50-50 whether I am here or not. I have been around the NFL long enough to know what the heck is going on. I know we have four quarterbacks here and four pretty good ones, so we’ll see what happens.” — Tennessean
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will stay in Pittsburgh and remain as close to football as possible during his upcoming suspension. In an interview Tuesday, Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review he will hire quarterback specialist George Whitfield of San Diego to work with him while he remains sidelined. Roethlisberger, 28, is scheduled to meet Friday in New York with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell about the six-game suspension issued in April for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Goodell issued the suspension after Georgia officials declined to prosecute Roethlisberger, who was accused of rape during a booze-filled night in the college town of Milledgeville. – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Charlie Batch appears to be the odd man out of not only the derby to replace Ben Roethlisberger, but perhaps a roster spot as well. The Steelers need to cut 22 players by the weekend, and keeping an injury-prone 35-year-old fourth quarterback on the roster at the expense of a youngster would be hard to fathom. — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
After speaking to me Monday, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome made it perfectly clear that the Ravens were interested in trading to upgrade their entire football team, not just at cornerback. While Newsome wouldn’t go into specifics, the Ravens could use more depth on the offensive line at the guard and tackle positions. I still don’t think Oniel Cousins or Tony Moll are the answer at right offensive tackle even though Moll has been solid filling in for the injured Jared Gaither. The best solution is still to move right guard Marshal Yanda to right tackle and Chris Chester at right guard until Gaither is healthy. The Ravens might also want to pick up a fullback. If they trade backup running back Willis McGahee, or starting halfback Ray Rice gets injured, that leaves fullback Le’Ron McClain as the starting fullback, and probably doubling as the No. 2 running back. The only other fullback the Ravens have on the roster is rookie Mike McLaughlin, a converted linebacker from Boston College, who might make the developmental squad, but certainly isn’t ready for a spot on the 53-man roster. — Baltimore Sun
Before the Jets embarked on training camp, the prevailing thought among many was that Kellen Clemens would be the odd man out and the No. 3 quarterback gig would go to Kevin O’Connell. Turns out it’s Clemens who’s staying and O’Connell getting shown the door. Clemens was forced to take a pay cut to stay, though, and finalized his new deal Tuesday morning, reworking the original $1.176-million tender he signed in April. That move allowed the Jets to waive O’Connell, who struggled in the preseason and never seemed to make much tangible on-the-field progress since he was acquired from Detroit nearly a year ago. “The only way Kellen Clemens was not going to be on this team was if somebody was going to give him a chance to be a starting quarterback,” Rex Ryan said. “I would’ve traded him, and I told Kellen that before.” So Clemens, drafted by the Jets in the second round in 2005, was given permission to speak with other teams about a trade. But he didn’t find anything to his liking and decided to stay with the Jets. — Newsday
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger asked why he said he was more at peace with himself. “It’s a calming feeling when the Lord runs your life. And it’s something I’ve always known as a church person, but I’ve never really believed it. I think I’ve known it but never believed it. And now I know it, and it’s a great thing.” When athletes talk about finding religion, it produces its share of eye-rolling. Do you expect that reaction from fans? “It’s OK. I’m not going to be going out there and trying to push it on people and make it seem like all of a sudden I am this great person. That’s not who I am. That’s not what religion and faith is all about. You’re not going to see me getting cross tattoos and wearing cross necklaces. That’s not what it’s about. So if they want to roll their eyes, that’s fine. Because I know where I am at and God knows where I’m at, and that’s all that really matters.” — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The question of where Ben Roethlisberger faces a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault — in Reno or Lake Tahoe — is before the Nevada Supreme Court, which already has arguments from his attorneys and is expected to receive briefs from his accuser’s attorneys Thursday. A 32-year-old woman filed suit against the Steelers quarterback last year in Reno, claiming that he assaulted her in July 2008 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, where she was employed as a VIP hostess. — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Patriots are less than two weeks away from their regular-season opener Sept. 12 versus Cincinnati and Tom Brady, who is entering the final year of his contract, has yet to sign an extension. On Tuesday Bill Belichick dodged all questions about Brady’s contract status. When asked about it, he said: “There are a lot of players on our team that are in the last year of their contract. There are a lot of players on every team that are in the last year of their contract. That’s not an unprecedented situation.” When asked if extending Brady’s contract was a priority, Belichick said: “I’m coaching the team. Everybody out there is under contract.” — Providence Journal
Though Charles Grant has had some good moments in practice as a Dolphins pass-rusher, he’s due a $250,000 bonus if he’s on the 53-man roster for the opener. That — plus a $755,000 salary — is a lot to pay for a team’s seventh defensive lineman; Ryan Baker or Lionel Dotson is cheaper. Skilled run-stopper Marques Douglas, due a $145,000 bonus for being on the roster in Week One, is needed as depth behind Jared Odrick. — Miami Herald
Tony Sparano made it publicly clear during his news conference that he expects a greater sense of urgency — and a great sense of focus — from this Dolphins team. His planned approach toward Thursday’s preseason finale against the Cowboys might illustrate that point as much as the countdown clock itself. During a game typically used to rest the starters, Sparano isn’t going to let his players off so easy. He still sees work that needs to be done, especially in the wake of the team’s most recent loss to the Falcons. “I have no real governor right now on how long guys will be playing,” Sparano said Monday. “I just know they better be ready to play.” Sparano’s point is simple: He doesn’t plan to pull his starters until he thinks he has seen what he needs to see from them. — Miami Herald
altimore Ravens rookie nose guard Terrence “Mount” Cody underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair a partially torn lateral meniscus in his left knee and isn’t expected to return until the second game of the regular season. Cody had the surgery in Birmingham, Ala., with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performing the procedure. Under the prescribed timeline for recovery, the 6-foot-4, 349-pound second-round draft pick is regarded as a question mark for the Ravens’ season opener against the New York Jets Sept. 13 at the Meadowlands. However, the former University of Alabama consensus All-American is considered to be on target for the Ravens’ Sept. 19 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals. — Carroll County Times
Giants Antrel Rolle confirmed that he called Ravens receiver Mark Clayton on Sunday, the day after his hit left Clayton with a concussion and drew a penalty flag from the official. Did he call to apologize? “Apologize? This is football,” he said. “I just called to make sure he was OK.” — Newsday
