Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

Sources: Steelers.com, NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Troy Polamalu Out 3-6 Weeks With MCL Injury

The Tennessee Titans lost this afternoon’s AFC Divisional Playoff game (13-10) more than the Baltimore Ravens won it. I’m not taking anything away from the Ravens. They did plenty of things well. But look at the stats. Tennessee held onto the ball longer (34:07 to 25:53), gained more yards (391 to 211) and had more first downs (21 to 9). Those totals really aren’t even close. What you can’t do is end up minus three in the turnover differential and expect to win any game in the National Football League, let alone a playoff game. The Titans learned that. You also can’t have 12 penalties, which is what the Titans piled up for negative 89 yards. It was a sloppy, miserable and uncharacteristically poor performance from the league’s best team during the regular season. Blech. Titans tight end Alge Crumpler, who committed one of the team’s costly turnovers, was understandably quite distraught after the game:

“It’s probably the worst feeling I’ve had in my life because I understand the magnitude of what we’ve built here. When you lose possessions, especially being the cause of it, it’s a feeling I don’t know when I’ll ever get rid of. The game’s a blur right now. I’ve lost playoff games before, but it’s the worst feeling I’ve had in my life.”

Sources: NFL.com, TitansOnline.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Titanic Turnovers For Tennessee

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

It’s a little early for me to start talking fantasy football, but file the name of Tennessee Titans tight end Alge Crumpler away for safekeeping come draft day. Alge is eager for the ‘08 season to begin for a number of reasons. First of all, he is healthier than at anytime in the past three years and he’s ready to put past shoulder and knee problems behind him. Secondly, Alge says he’s ready for a fresh start with the Titans after leaving Atlanta. Since joining his new team, he’s dropped 15 pounds. I guess he’s serious. Look for Alge Crumpler to return to his Pro Bowl form of two seasons ago. I believe he’ll serve as a key weapon in the Titans’ revamped offensive attack.

Source: Nashville City Paper, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Alge Crumpler Ready for Fresh Start

With the free agent signing period approaching, you’ll see teams releasing players here and there. Yesterday, the Atlanta Falcons took it to a new level, unloading six players in a major rebuilding effort. Gone are four-time Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler, quarterback Byron Leftwich, defensive tackle Rod Coleman, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy, cornerback Lewis Sanders, wide receiver Jamin Elliott and linebacker Marcus Wilkins. In the NFL, it’s all about “what have you done for me lately.”

For the most part, I agree with these decisions. Alge Crumpler had the be the most difficult decision for Atlanta. He was one of the team’s most respected players and a leader in the locker room. He twice led the Falcons in receptions and had a streak of four straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2003-06. But he was plagued by knee problems this past season and dropped off to 44 receptions. Of course, you also have to factor in that the Falcons really weren’t very good. Anyway, he counted $5.1 million against the salary cap for 2008, money the Falcons felt could be better spent elsewhere.

As for the other guys, look at their ages. Rod Coleman used to be one of the NFL’s most dominating interior linemen, but the years take their toll. This is the reality of playing professional sports. Rod’s been in the league nine years now. He’ll be 32 this year. Wayne Gandy is 37-years-old. And Lewis Sanders will be 30 years old.

I felt that Byron Leftwich could have remained on this team as a backup QB. Injuries have obviously slowed him over the years. He was cut by Jacksonville so David Garrard could pursue his blossoming career. I don’t know the extent of his health problems, but apparently they were too much for the Falcons to handle. Byron’s still young enough that if he can get it together physically, he’ll be able to resurrect his career somewhere else.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Atlanta Falcons Begin Rebuilding Process, Alge Crumpler Among Six Players Released

Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett is just one of many fantastic stories of courage and achievement that make up the 2007 class of The Ed Block Courage Awards.

It’s well-known that Kevin suffered a spinal cord injury covering a kickoff in the Bills’ season opener against the Broncos. The injury was life-threatening, but the outstanding work of the Bills’ training staff and team doctors saved his life. Kevin was told that he may never walk again. Through hard work and determination not only was he able to walk again, he was able to visit his teammates in Buffalo before their last home game of the year against the New York Giants.

Kevin is just one of many great stories of courage in this year’s class. Baltimore Ravens CB Samari Rolle gathered the courage to return to the football field after being diagnosed with epilepsy. Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones was honored by his teammates for returning to action after suffering a season ending foot injury. When Kevin spoke at the Lions Courage House dinner, he told the crowd of a different hero. His stepfather, who had the courage to take-in Kevin, his brothers and sisters, and his mom when he was young. And how his real father was shot and killed when he was eight years old.

This year’s class also boasts three playoff quarterbacks. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia, and Seattle Seahawks back-up QB Seneca Wallace will all represent their teams. Listed below are all the 2007 winners:

• Arizona Cardinals, Bertrand Berry
• Atlanta Falcons, Alge Crumpler
• Baltimore Ravens, Samari Rolle
• Buffalo Bills, Kevin Everett
• Carolina Panthers, Mike Rucker
• Chicago Bears, Tommie Harris
• Cincinnati Bengals, Reggie Kelly
• Cleveland Browns, Gary Baxter
• Dallas Cowboys, Jay Ratliff
• Denver Broncos, John Engleberger
• Detroit Lions, Kevin Jones
• Green Bay Packers, Chris Francies
• Houston Texans, Anthony Weaver
• Indianapolis Colts, Ryan Lilja
• Jacksonville Jaguars, Greg Jones
• Kansas City Chiefs, Eddie Kennison
• Miami Dolphins, Andre Goodman
• Minnesota Vikings, Chad Greenway
• New England Patriots, Steve Neal
• New Orleans Saints, Roman Harper
• New York Giants, Amani Toomer
• New York Jets, Laveranues Coles
• Oakland Raiders, Justin Fargas
• Philadelphia Eagles, Montae Reagor
• Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger
• San Diego Chargers, Darren Sproles
• San Francisco 49ers, Eric Heitmann
• Seattle Seahawks, Seneca Wallace
• St. Louis Rams, Dane Looker
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jeff Garcia
• Tennessee Titans, David Thornton
• Washington Redskins, Marcus Washington

I’ll be posting more on these stories here at EMQB and talking with some of the players for the BPR NFL Podcast leading up to the award ceremony March 11. In the meantime, check out my interview with Cleveland Browns DB Gary Baxter.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Kevin Everett Highlights Courage Awards