Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts / Photo: Newscom

Speaking of decades, Peyton now only needs three touchdown passes to become the first player in NFL history to throw 300 TDs in a decade. Additionally, with today’s win, Peyton tied Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton for 4th place on the NFL’s career wins list for QBs with 125. Before all is said and done, I expect Peyton Manning to break just about every NFL passing record there is.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Peyton Manning’s 40,000 Yard Decade

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans / Image: Zuma Press

Chris amassed 197 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in a 34-31 loss. Amazingly, however, he was snubbed for the Week Two Offensive Player-of-the-Week award—which went to Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. Chris was good enough for the Pro Football Hall of Fame but not good enough for Player-of-the-Week honors? Hmm. Nothing against Matt. He had a great game, but…

Source: Twitter.com/ProFootballHOF

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Chris Johnson Momentos Headed to HOF

Andre Johnson, Houston Texans / Image: Zuma Press

Yesterday was just another Sunday for Andre as he caught 10 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns—this while being the focal point of one of the NFL’s best defenses in the Tennessee Titans. Did you hear him shooting off at the mouth about it afterward? No, he just goes about his job, striking fear in the hearts of defensive backs around the league. The only thing holding him back is his team. Yesterday, the Texans actually won a football game—something they’ll need to do a lot more of before Andre gets his deserved credit.

Source: NFL.com, Tennessean.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Andre Johnson is the NFL’s Best Receiver

Dunta Robinson, Houston Texans / Image: Zuma Press

Dunta has been upset about not being able to reach a long-term contract with the team, so he thought a public expression of his displeasure would solve the problem. Unfortunately for Dunta, the stunt didn’t generate more income. It achieved just the opposite. But he put a positive spin on the situation by requesting the money be donated to a Boys and Girls Club or a needy family. Nice.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

‘Pay Me, Rick’ Costs Dunta Robinson $25K

The opponents for all 2009 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team’s home and away matchups was issued yesterday by the NFL. The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

• Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games)
• The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games)
• The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games)
• Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (2 games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.

The official 2009 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring. NFL Kickoff 2009 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 10, and the regular season will conclude on January 3. Wild Card Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, January 9-10; Divisional Playoff games on the weekend of January 16-17; and the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 24. Super Bowl XLIV at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida will be played on Sunday, February 7.

AFC EAST

Miami Dolphins
Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

New England Patriots
Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

N.Y. Jets
Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buffalo Bills
Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

Baltimore Ravens
Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

Cleveland Browns
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

AFC SOUTH

Tennessee Titans
Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts
Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

Houston Texans
Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

Jacksonville Jaguars
Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

Denver Broncos
Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

Oakland Raiders
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

Kansas City Chiefs
Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

NFC EAST

N.Y. Giants
Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

Dallas Cowboys
Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Washington Redskins
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

NFC NORTH

Minnesota Vikings
Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

Chicago Bears
Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers
Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

Detroit Lions
Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

NFC SOUTH

Carolina Panthers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Atlanta Falcons
Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals
Home: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

San Francisco 49ers
Home: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Away: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Seattle Seahawks
Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

St. Louis Rams
Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL 2009 Opponents Determined

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson might be the best receiver in the National Football League. It’s hard to argue with his numbers this season. Andre is leading the NFL in receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,408). But it’s his work off-the-field that might be most impressive on his resume. Andre’s foundation began in 2003 as a way to help single-parent homes. One of his goals is to let kids know they can go out and accomplish what they want in life despite any obstacles. Andre has special plans for the holiday season:

“Last year for Christmas, I had about 15 underprivileged kids from foster homes and things like that who really don’t receive anything for the holidays. I took all of them to Toys-R-Us and I first let them walk around the store and see where everything was. Then I let them run through the store and get whatever they wanted in a minute and a half. I gave them whatever game system they wanted, whether it was the Xbox or Playstation 3.”

Andre’s in the prime of his career and with the wealth of youthful talent surrounding him, it’s hard to imagine that the Houston Texans won’t be a playoff contender sooner than later.

Source: NFLPlayers.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Andre Johnson Helps Single-Parent Homes

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre (880,833 votes) ranks second overall, while N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning (821,852 votes), Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (767,817 votes) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (673,710 votes) round out the top-five. Here is the list of Top-Ten vote-getters for the 2009 National Football League Pro Bowl:

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
2. Brett Favre, N.Y. Jets
3. Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
4. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
5. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
9. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
10. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins

The Top-Five rookie vote-getters were Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans), Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), Matt Forté (Chicago Bears), Chris Horton (Washington Redskins), and Steve Slaton (Houston Texans).

The teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 16 on a special NFL Total Access 2009 NFL Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network. The 2009 NFL Pro Bowl presented by State Farm will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 8 and televised by NBC.

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL All-Stars Top-Ten Vote-Getters

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Houston Texans are 6-7 and with three games remaining on the 2008 schedule. Sadly, they find themselves three games behind in the race for the final AFC playoff spot. In other words, the Houston Texans are most likely going to miss the playoffs this season. But with an impressive 24-21 road win against the Green Bay Packers this afternoon, the Texans are offering a glimpse of what they could be next season. Of course, this is what they were expected to be this season, but better late than never, I guess. Head coach Gary Kubiak knows this:

“I just think right now that we are battling like heck. We are a football team that got off to a very bad start this year. We are out there battling for respect, trying to become a good football team. The effort on our football team right now is tremendous, just watching them push each other. That locker room I just left was one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever left after a game. That’s the direction — we have a bunch of good kids in there. We just need to keep going in that direction.”

The key ingredient to continuing in the right direction is quarterback Matt Schaub and his health. Matt has only started eight games this season, but he’s won four of his last five starts and has a QB rating of 93. This is what the Texans envisioned when they brought him in two years ago. If Matt can stay healthy and the young Texans can continue to upgrade their talent, this will be a team to reckon with in 2009. Really.

Source: HoustonTexans.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Matt Schaub Key to Texans’ Success

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The NFL announced today the suspension without pay for four games of six players that violated the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. The players specifically violated a longstanding provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players.

The policy states that the use of so-called “blocking” or “masking” agents, including diuretics and water pills, is prohibited and that a positive test will not be excused because it results from the use of a dietary supplement that unknowingly contained a banned substance. Supplements are not regulated or monitored by the government and players have been warned about the risks of supplement use. The policy states:

“You and you alone are responsible for what goes into your body. Claiming that you used only legally available nutritional supplements will not help you in an appeal ….. Even if they are bought over-the-counter from a known establishment, there is currently no way to be sure that they contain the ingredients listed on the packaging or have not been tainted with prohibited substances ….. If you take these products, you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK! For your own health and success in the league, we strongly encourage you to avoid the use of supplements altogether, or at the very least to be extremely careful about what you choose to take.”

The six players are each suspended for the final four games of the regular-season. If the player’s team qualifies for the playoffs, he is eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, December 29. The suspended players are:

• Charles Grant, New Orleans Saints
• Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Saints
• Bryan Pittman, Houston Texans
• Will Smith, New Orleans Saints
• Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings
• Pat Williams, Minnesota Vikings

The appeals process in this matter included close to 30 hours of hearings. NFL Executive Vice President of Labor and League Counsel Jeff Pash heard and decided all of the appeals except for Bryan Pittman’s. The appeals officer for Pittman was former NFL Executive Vice President and League Counsel Jay Moyer. Following are key excerpts from Jeff Pash’s decision upholding the suspensions:

• Bumetanide, a potent diuretic, has long been a prohibited substance under the policy and is similarly banned by other drug-testing programs. Diuretics are banned for two reasons – first, because they can be used to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs; and second, because they can pose a threat to player health and safety.
• The policy contains numerous specific warnings about dietary supplements. NFL players received separate advisories regarding supplements (attached). These included two memos from Dr. John Lombardo (the program’s independent administrator) entitled “Weight Reduction Products,” which were sent to players in July of 2007, and again in July of 2008.
• In addition, two notifications specifically mentioning Star Caps were sent on December 19, 2006. One was sent to the presidents, general managers, and head athletic trainers of all NFL clubs. The second was sent to Stacy Robinson, the NFLPA executive who oversees the Steroid Policy on behalf of the union. The letter to Robinson states that “Balanced Health Products, which distributes Star Caps, has been added to the list of prohibited dietary supplement companies. Please distribute this information to the agents and players through your normal channels.” In response, Robinson had Balanced Health Products added to the list of banned companies that is maintained on the NFLPA’s website.
• (For those players with weight clause bonus provisions in their contracts,) the player specifically agreed not to engage in any “last-minute weight reduction techniques,” which included “use of diuretics.”
• There is no question that the policy embodies a collectively bargained rule of strict liability – a rule that players alone are responsible for what is in their bodies; that inadvertent or unknowing use of a prohibited substance will not excuse a positive test; and that supplements are used at a player’s own risk.
• With respect to the question of whether a specific warning should have been given regarding Star Caps, the policy does not set forth an obligation to issue specific warnings about specific products and no testimony suggests that the NFL and NFLPA have ever contemplated imposing such a requirement on Dr. Lombardo, who oversees the development of education materials on steroids. In keeping with that responsibility, the NFL, NFLPA, and Dr. Lombardo have emphasized the need for extreme caution in the use of any supplement, including weight reduction products, have established a Hotline for players to call for information regarding supplements, have established a Supplement Certification program with EAS to provide players with supplements that are free of banned substances, and have, in conjunction with reinforcing the strict liability rule, repeatedly warned players about the dangers of unregulated and inaccurately labeled dietary supplements. In the past, players have been suspended for using dietary supplements that contained a banned substance.
• The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) does not issue specific warnings about specific supplements, nor are such warnings issued in other drug testing programs.

Clearly, the team that will be hardest hit by these suspensions are the NFC North Division leading Minnesota Vikings. Both Kevin and Pat Williams are Pro Bowl defensive tackles and considered among the best at what they do in the National Football League. Together, they are the heart and soul of a Vikings defense that prides itself on stopping the run. So far this season, the “Williams Wall” has been true to form as the Vikes are currently second in the entire NFL in run defense (73 ypg). The Vikings released a statement today saying:

“In response to this afternoon’s ruling, the Minnesota Vikings are very disappointed in the National Football League’s decision and suspension of Kevin and Pat Williams. At the appropriate time, we will have further comment.”

Pat Williams’ agent, Angelo Wright, had a comment today. He said a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing the NFL from imposing a four-game suspension on his client will be filed tomorrow:

“I believe that we’ll be able to offset this. I continue to maintain that he will play football. Though the tenets of the program are of strict liability, the league is supposed to act in conjunction with the players association, to communicate what products are acceptable and which are not. In this case, they’ve acknowledged that they withheld information from the players. I would feel more comfortable with the process, if there was an independent body governing over these cases. But this current set up is reminiscent of the British court, when they wore white wigs and proved to be your judge and your jury.”

If Mr. Wright achieves his goal, as he believes he will, Pat will be able to play Sunday at Detroit. But if the league’s suspension is then upheld, that could push Pat’s four-game suspension into the postseason. I’m not sure it matters because without Kevin and Pat in the Minnesota lineup this month, there’s a good chance there won’t be a postseason for the Vikings.

Sources: NFL Media, Vikings.com, TwinCities.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Suspends Six Players For Violating Policy on Steroids and Related Substances

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was fined $50,000 yesterday for what was deemed two below-the-knee hits on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. Neither of the plays was flagged, but the Texans are calling both hits cheap shots. Jared couldn’t really defend himself:

“I’m going to avoid all questions on that right now until after my appeal. We’ll see how it works out.”

Jared has been very outspoken lately about the National Football League’s rules. And Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin had a lot to say on the same subject during a conversation we had this past week. But after watching the replays, I have to agree that they were against the rules, like it or not. In the heat of battle with an intense desperation to get a hit on the quarterback, it’s hard to say whether they were intentional or not. The first one looked clean to me. The second one looked intentional and I’m very surprised Jared wasn’t flagged for it. Regardless, rules are rules and it appears Jared broke them — twice. Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12(5) of the NFL Official Playing Rules states, “A rushing defender who has an unrestricted path to the passer from any direction is prohibited from forcibly hitting the passer in the knee area or below.” I doubt Jared’s appeal will do much good.

Source: TwinCities.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Jared Allen Fined $50K, Plans Appeal