Pro Football Fan Site

Posted by ESPN.com’s Mike Sando



Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle drew a $7,500 fine for the big hit he put on Giants tight end Kevin Boss in Week 7.



The fine was for unnecessarily striking a defenseless receiver.



Rolle’s teammate, Levi Brown, drew a $5,000 fine for a chop block.



Boss took no offense for the hit, saying only that he wished there would have been a penalty called because the team needed the 15 yards.

	George Gojkovich/Getty Images
	Michael Griffin admits he’s been distracted by off-field issues this season, but was careful not to use them as an excuse for his subpar performance.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky



When I was younger and more rash, I’d hear rumbling about personal stuff affecting a player and wonder how he could let it happen. A big check and a great job should automatically create focus, I believed.



Older and mellower — not mellow, mind you, but mellower — I have a much better understanding of how it’s not so simple. Stuff happens at home and can’t help but spill over. Who among us hasn’t had at least a couple of bad work days as a result? And why should we expect a professional athlete to be wired differently?We expect young, well-paid NFL players to be able to compartmentalize and leave their home life outside of team headquarters.



But that’s one of many unrealistic expectations we can have for them. It’s something they have to learn to do, just like they have to learn how to best study film, cover a certain receiver, react to a certain coverage or make or get off of a certain block.



Titans safety Michael Griffin is a talented player who’s been playing poorly this year. At times he’s bit on play-action fakes that have resulted in big plays.



I had been critical of him early when I didn’t feel he was being especially accountable for it.



I’m praising him now for the tone he’s taken coming out of the bye week, when he talked about off-the-field distractions without attempting to justify his performance.Here’s what he said:



“If you watch tape from last year and this year, it’s not the same body language, it’s not the same attitude. It’s just not the same person out there on the field. There are other things that have been going on, things that I took care of this bye weekend. This was a good opportunity for me to go take care of a lot of things and go from there …”



“It’s like having a bad day on the job. Some people go to work and may not be having a good day, may have other things going on. It’s not an excuse. It’s like I am letting my team down by letting other things bother me. This is the Tennessee Titans’ facility, things that are bothering me outside this facility shouldn’t be bothering me inside the facility.”This is a great place to be with a lot of fun guys to be around. Think about it, this game right here takes care of a lot of your problems. If you’re frustrated, if you’re upset about something — or if you’re happy about something — this is a great place to be.”



Jeff Fisher pointed out that the team and the league have full-time employees dedicated to helping players with life skills, providing resources to help them handle, resolve or deal with whatever issues they are facing.



“Their ability to produce on the field is directly related to their ability to deal with distractions. When a player has things in his life that become difficult, it’s incumbent on him to either get the help or get them taken care of because they can create difficulties that carry over on the playing field…”



“They’re real people and they’re not immune to difficult situations. Regardless of what vocation you’re in or how much money you make, things happen. Now it’s not an excuse. But it can affect a player’s production and performance and as a result we try to stay on top of it through communication and counseling and whatever means we feel necessary.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky



ESPN.com put a pocket video camera in my hand and said get to it. Of course I’ve found it facilitates another avenue for complaint.



In fact, here’s the first installment of what I hope to be a regular feature called “My Primary Complaint.” Please excuse my giant head.

	Getty Images
	Philip Rivers and Kyle Orton have gotten off to fantastic starts, but Matt Cassel (left) hasn’t played like a franchise quarterback for Kansas City yet.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson



Each AFC West team has a fascinating quarterback storyline unfolding as the 2009 season heads to the halfway point.



Half of the teams made major changes at the position. It seems another team could join the chorus.



With the help of Scout Inc’s Gary Horton and Matt Williamson, we’re going to look at where each quarterback might be headed the rest of the season:

Orton

Denver, Kyle Orton: Orton has been one of the stories of the NFL and a big reason why the AFC West quarterback club is so intriguing.



Not much was expected from Orton, who was a part of the Jay Cutler trade with Chicago. But Orton has been everything new Denver coach Josh McDaniels apparently didn’t think Cutler could be.



Orton has been a custom fit for McDaniels’ system. Together, the two have guided Denver’s offense. Orton has thrown just one interception and has been brilliant when it counts.



He’s not fancy, but he gets the job done and is getting better. Many people around the league believe that Orton will crash to earth, but Horton isn’t one of them.



“This is not a mirage,” Horton said. “Orton is for real and he will continue to play [well] for Denver.”



Horton thinks that the more McDaniels and Orton work together, the better the quarterback will become.



“Orton is a very cerebral guy, he reacts very well to good coaching,” Horton said. “McDaniels is a very good quarterback coach. He gives his quarterbacks detailed defensive philosophies. Orton really picks that up. That’s why he doesn’t make any mistakes. He knows what to expect. They really are perfect for each other.”

Cassel

Kansas City, Matt Cassel: In his first season in Kansas City, Cassel has been far from a franchise player the Chiefs hope he will become. Cassel has the potential, but the former Patriot has been slow to get rolling.



Cassel doesn’t have nearly the supporting talent around him in Kansas City that he had last season with the Patriots. Williamson believes Cassel has a chance to improve for the 1-6 Chiefs, but he needs help.



“He’s really tough to judge,” Williamson said. “The guy only has 21 pro starts. … But I see him as a system guy, a solid, middle-of-the-road guy who will be serviceable. He’ll never be great, but you can win with him.”



But Williamson doesn’t see Cassel having much of a chance to turn around the Chiefs this season.



“That offense needs six or seven new starters,” Williamson said. “They have possibly the worst offensive line in the NFL, which in turn gives them no running game. It’s going to take a while in Kansas City. But that’s not Cassel’s fault. I’m not saying he’ll be a star, but the quarterback is not the problem in Kansas City.”

Russell

Oakland, JaMarcus Russell: Russell is the one AFC West quarterback who is in danger of not being his team’s quarterback next season (Orton is a free agent, but look for Denver to try to sign to a long-term deal). Russell conceivably could lose his job in the next two months.



He was benched last week, and while Oakland coach Tom Cable insists he will remain the starter, Russell eventually could find himself in trouble if he continues to bumble.



Russell has shown no improvement all season and his work ethic has been questioned. This week, Cable was honest about Russell. The coach said Russell failed to make the right call on the first play of the game against the Jets and that he made the wrong reads on passes that became interceptions.



For the most part, Russell has failed to take responsibility. That’s what worries Horton about Russell’s future chances.



“I’m trying to find the silver lining there,” Horton said. “I keep trying to find reason why the Raiders shouldn’t pull the plug. But after watching him, there seems to be no choice but to pull the plug. … He is a guy who was a famous high school player and a star at LSU. This is the first time he really had to work, and, by all accounts, he doesn’t study, he’s late for meetings.



“I’m waiting for it to kick in with this guy, but I doubt it ever will.”

Rivers

San Diego, Philip Rivers: While Orton has been the story of the division, Rivers continues to show he’s the best all-around player in the AFC West.



Rivers has been spectacular this season. He has all the intangibles and he makes few mistakes. He’s a steady hand and throws one of the prettiest deep balls in the NFL.



“I love him,” Williamson said. “He’s extremely quick in processing the play. He’s a tough guy who hangs in the pocket. He has great leadership. There’s probably only four or five guys in the league I’d take over him.”



Williamson believes the Chargers, overall, are a mess because of defensive line problems and issues in the running game. Still, he said if anyone can lead San Diego to its potential, it’s Rivers.



“He can carry that team on his back,” Williamson said. “If the Chargers make the playoffs, it will be because Rivers is so good.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Mike Sando



The Cardinals might have the best receivers in the league, but none has produced at a Pro Bowl level this season.



Larry Fitzgerald ranks among the leaders in receptions, but he has dropped a couple passes and made few big plays. His per-catch average is 10.8 yards, down from 14.9 last season. That’s a huge drop.



A quick look at NFC West players with Pro Bowl credential so far this season, in my view:

• Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers. Leads the NFL in touchdown receptions with six. Ranks among NFC leaders in receptions by tight ends. Averages 12.2 yards per catch, most among seven NFC tight ends with at least 25 receptions. Ranks second among NFC tight ends with 355 yards receiving. Tied for NFC lead among tight ends with five receptions of at least 20 yards. Strong blocker, but hasn’t been used in pass protection much this season.
• Steven Jackson, RB, Rams. Ranks second to Adrian Peterson in rushing yards among NFC players. Averages 4.4 yards per carry even though opponents know what’s coming. Keeps producing despite the Rams’ lack of playmakers in the passing game. Plays with passion and has led by example. Has zero touchdowns, more a reflection of his offense.
• Patrick Willis, LB, 49ers. Two interceptions, 2.5 sacks, one touchdown and all the ferocity needed to play the position. Punishes opponents, notably knocking out Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
• Adrian Wilson, SS, Cardinals. Defensive player of the week in the NFC for his efforts against the Giants in Week 7. Wilson’s production early in the season suffered some in part because his role changed when injuries affected the secondary. Remains one of the most intimidating players in the league. Gaining momentum.
• Joe Staley, LT, 49ers. He’s a good, young player with toughness and durability. The 49ers’ offense might need to produce more for Staley to command stronger consideration. But when you look around the NFC, there aren’t many top-flight left tackles. The Seahawks’ Walter Jones is on injured reserve. The Redskins’ Chris Samuels has been hurt. The Cowboys’ Flozell Adams has had penalty problems. By my count, no active offensive lineman in the NFC West has been to a Pro Bowl. Perhaps Staley has a chance.

A few specialists from the NFC West are also enjoying strong seasons. Punters Donnie Jones, Andy Lee and Ben Graham have punted well. Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare leads the NFL in touchback percentage, although he hasn’t made enough field goals for consideration.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Tim Graham



This might surprise you.



The two AFC East receivers who’ve been the most involved in their teams’ offenses are Randy Moss and Ted Ginn.



ESPN Stats & Information has broken down the number of times each NFL receiver has been targeted in various situations.



The New England Patriots have targeted Moss with 67 passes this year, tying him for the league lead with Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson. Patriots mate Wes Welker ranks sixth with 61 targets.



Moss is one of the NFL’s top beacons in critical situations such as in the red zone and on third down.



Here are the league leaders in the red zone:

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: 11 targets, five catches.
2. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals: nine targets, six catches.
3. Randy Moss, Patriots: nine targets, four catches.
4. Nate Washington, Titans: eight targets, seven catches.
5. Marques Colston, Saints: eight targets, six catches.

League leaders on third down:

1. Steve Smith, Giants: 23 targets, 17 catches.
2. Percy Harvin, Vikings: 22 targets, 13 catches.
3. Sammie Stroughter, Buccaneers: 20 targets, 11 catches.
4. Santonio Holmes, Steelers: 19 targets, 12 catches.
5. Randy Moss, Patriots: 19 targets, 11 catches.

Ginn hasn’t been making as many plays as the Miami Dolphins would’ve liked and could see reduced playing time after a couple of costly drops in Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, but they’ve tried to get the ball to him repeatedly.



No other receiver has been thrown to 20 or more yards downfield.

1. Ted Ginn, Dolphins: 13 targets, two catches (74 yards, one TD).
2. Vincent Jackson, Chargers: 12 targets, six catches (254 yards, one TD).
3. Donald Driver, Packers: 12 targets, five catches (156 yards, one TD).
4. Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns: 12 targets, four catches (126 yards, no TDs).
5. Steve Smith, Panthers: 12 targets, three catches (98 yards, zero TDs).
6. Terrell Owens, Bills: 12 targets, two catches (82 yards, one TD).

Ginn’s also tied for first in number of times thrown to on third down in the fourth quarter.

1. Steve Smith, Giants: seven targets, six catches.
2. Ted Ginn, Dolphins: seven targets, four catches.
3. Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns: seven targets, two catches.
4. Bobby Wade, Chiefs: six targets, two catches.
5. Wes Welker, Patriots: six targets, one catch.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Tim Graham



The New York Jets have missed Jerricho Cotchery.



“When J-Co was at practice the other day,” Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “I got a warm, fuzzy feeling.”

Cotchery

For the first time since the Jets acquired Braylon Edwards three weeks ago, their top three receivers will be healthy and available Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at the Meadowlands.



Cotchery played in Edwards’ first Jets appearance but essentially was a non-factor because of a hamstring injury. Cotchery caught one pass for 4 yards in a shootout loss to the Dolphins in Land Shark Stadium. Mark Sanchez targeted him twice.



Cotchery was inactive for the past two games, an overtime defeat to the Buffalo Bills and a shutout victory over the Oakland Raiders. But he still leads the Jets with 24 receptions for 360 yards and one touchdown.



“It’s obviously always nice to see him out there,” Schottenheimer said. “Matchup problems are the biggest thing. Jerricho’s probably had the longest tenure in the system. … We can move him around anywhere. We can put him in a bunch of different spots.



“You put the two guys [Cotchery and Edwards] on opposite sides and that creates problems. You have Dustin [Keller] inside. There is a confidence level in his ability to make plays and win one-on-one matchups. He’s a terrific player that we are very happy to have back. He’s champing at the bit.”



Even with Cotchery back, head coach Rex Ryan doesn’t see quicksilver third receiver David Clowney being marginalized in the offense.



“I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore,” Ryan said of Clowney’s hit-or-miss involvement. “I think there’s a lot of trust now. Our coaches believe that he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be. David is getting the mental part down.



“Obviously, he has the physical tools. David gives you a weapon that if you want to just play man-free coverage or single-high safety, then he can blow the roof off it. He’s proven that. That’s going to help us.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Mike Sando

Tatupu

Lofa Tatupu was one of the players Seattle could least afford to lose in recent seasons.



His feel for the game, on-field leadership and every-down ability made him as valuable as anyone on the Seahawks’ defense.



News that he’ll miss the rest of the season would normally send shock waves through the NFC West.



That wasn’t the case so much Thursday when Tatupu became only the latest prominent Seattle player to head for injured reserve.



There isn’t much to say other than: “You’re up, David Hawthorne.”



The Seahawks did welcome back defensive end Patrick Kerney and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to full participation in practice Thursday. The next few weeks will be tough because the schedule features numerous road games, but the remaining home schedule is quite manageable.



Seattle needs to get through these next few games without losing any additional players with Pro Bowls on their resumes.

For almost 20 years, Brett Favre was like a member of every Wisconsin family. No wonder an entire state is angst-ridden over Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field against the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers’ loathsome rival — and Favre’s new team.