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Manning long-term prognosis continues to be bleak

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:41:17 EST

The propoganda that continues to emerge from certain corners of the media universe is this: Peyton Manning is getting better. Peyton Manning will be fine. Peyton Manning is throwing with more zip. It all sounds pretty good but increasingly the more I hear from around the NFL, the more I doubt the accuracy of those statements.

Then there's the latest from Sports Illustrated which says that Manning has actually had four neck surgeries (not three as previously believed), has bone spurs in his neck and may have some sort of genetic neck issue.

People across the NFL continue to have doubts that Manning will throw a football effectively ever again and this new medical information only boosts that belief. Maybe Manning is a miraculous healer but four surgeries? Four? In two years? On the neck? And we're supposed to just believe he's doing well? Manning isn't from Krypton, last I checked.

Randy Moss says he will attempt comeback

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:34:49 EST

In what was at times a strange, highly intelligent, and extremely bizarre hour-long video chat, Randy Moss said he will attempt to return to the NFL.

"Your boy is going to come back and play some football," he said.

Manning and Irsay to meet this week?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:25:47 EST

I can't remember the last time an upcoming meeting between an owner and player drew so much attention but the anticipated gathering between quarterback Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay has the NFL, and in some ways all of sports, slightly holding its breath.

One league source said the two might finally have a sit-down this week to talk. That's not definite but it seems likely. One thing that's become clear is the two men don't want another circus. Both sides don't want to meet, I'm told, the week of the combine and thus have Manning news dominate the way it did Super Bowl week.

It remains possible the two men wait until after the combine but the feeling seems to be they want to get the meeting over with sooner than later. It's highly likely they meet in secret and no one finds out until afterwards.

Manning and Irsay to meet this week?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:47:30 EST

It remains possible the two men wait until after the combine but thye feeling seems to be they want to get the meeting over with sooner than later.

Parcells has HOF chops, his exclusion a mystery

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:24:52 EST

I'm not going to be one of those whining, smirking people who complains about the Hall of Fame voting process. I know some of those men in the room. Many are skilled, brilliant and extremely smart about the game. A handful are arrogant jerks with hardcore agendas but the vast majority know what they are doing.

So I'm not going to complain as much as simply be stunned over the omission of Bill Parcells. I'm not a Parcells fan. He treated many people in my business terribly and wasn't exactly a great human being. But to me, in history, there are few better coaches.

The two greatest motivators in NFL history, the coaches who got players to do things and go places in their careers they thought they never could, were Don Shula and Parcells. The best pure motivators ever. Period. That is a coach's primary job. Nothing happens before that -- not the Xs and Os, nothing -- before getting a player mentally ready. Shula was the best at that (what he did in Miami with the then expansion Dolphins is borderline miraculous) and Parcells was second.

The Eugene Robinson danger zone

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:56:14 EST

INDIANAPOLIS: This is the time. This is it. Late Friday night into early Sunday morning. This is what one player once told me he called The Eugene Robinson Danger Zone.

It's the most dangerous time to a player because just about all of the Super Bowl preparation is complete and now boredom sets in and when boredom sets in there is the greatest danger a player will make a critical off the field mistake like, say, soliciting a prostitute the night before a Super Bowl.

The player called it the Eugene Robinson Danger Zone, or ERDZ for short, because it was Robinson who had one of the most humiliating moments in Super Bowl history. He was busted, the night before Super Bowl XXXIII, for soliciting a female police officer for oral sex. Robinson offered the officer $40. This came on the same day he received an award from a Christian group for his outstanding character.

Super Bowl Shoutout: Manipulative Manning

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:53:10 EST

OPENING HIT-- I've always said that Peyton Manning is the most cutthroat player in the NFL. Many times that's a good thing. You want that aspect on the field. You want a quarterback to go for the kill. Manning does that, but off the field he's the same way. The jovial Manning you see in commercials isn't really that guy. He's thrown teammates under the bus publicly, and now in an attempt to win the PR battle with fans is overshadowing his little brother during Super Bowl week.

These leaks about Manning being cleared to play are carefully plotted, well designed and unquestionably coming from Manning's camp. They're manipulative and designed as a preemptive PR strike to head off Jim Irsay likely saying sometime soon they have to release Manning because of his health. This is a Brett Favre-like ploy to put pressure on Irsay and the Colts. No question about it.

Super Bowl Shoutout: The Power of Tebow

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:27:41 EST

INDIANAPOLIS -- Let me tell you a story about a grounded superstar...

A small group of writers, including myself, were in a downtown restaurant having a casual dinner with commissioner Roger Goodell. Nice time, good people, the commish is a class act.

Suddenly our waitress has a message: Tim Tebow is in the restaurant.

Word is sent to Tebow that the commissioner is at our table and Tebow comes over. Tebow greets everyone at the table with a sincere smile and handshake. Nothing phony. Completely genuine. It was truly impressive to see. But the story gets better.

Reggie Wayne on Peyton Manning: 50-50 chance

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:40:27 EST

INDIANAPOLIS: Everyone seems to have an opinion on if Peyton Manning will be able to physically recover from his neck injury and return to football. Manning teammate, Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, is no different.

"I think his chances of returning to football are 50-50," said Wayne. "He had some pretty serious surgeries so I'm just not so certain. The one thing about Peyton though is if anyone can come back from this, he can. He works so hard at everything and this is no different. He's a tough guy but we're talking about the neck and that's why I'm not so certain but again if anyone can, he can. He's almost superhuman."

Wayne quickly added, "Now, where he might play, I don't know. That's the question. I hope it works out where he stays with the Colts but even with a great player like Peyton it's a business. Even Peyton isn't immune from the business part of football so it wouldn't shock any of us on the team that if he did play next year, it was somewhere else, because that's the nature of football."

Brady punks Ochocinco

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:34:11 EST

INDIANAPOLIS-- Media day at the Super Bowl is normally a joke. Reporters scratching themselves while standing amid circus clowns and smirking players. Usually there is little news or insight. But this one, my 12th or 15th or 17th -- I forget -- actually had an interesting moment.

Some yokel from OCNN -- I believe that's the Ochocinco News Network -- had a question for Brady. Brady could clearly see that the reporter was from Chad Ochocinco's online network. No question. The "reporter" asked Brady if he would please throw a pass to Ochocinco.

Brady didn't hesitate with his response.

"Tell him to get open," Brady said, "and I'll throw it to him."

Super Bowl Shoutout: Can Gronk be effective?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:12:20 EST

OPENING HIT: Part of me wonders if Bill Belichick is pulling a fast one. That somehow Rob Gronkowski isn't as hurt as the Patriots are saying but that's far-fetched even for the tricky mind of Belichick. Which means Gronkowski is really badly injured.

This isn't a question of whether Gronk will play. He'll likely find a way to be on the field. The real question is effectiveness, and based on everything I hear the chances of Gronkowski being a factor are almost non-existent. You don't recover from high ankle trauma this quickly and the fact he still hasn't practiced is the biggest indicator of the seriousness of the injury.

My guess is Belichick will try and use Gronkowski as a decoy. Put him in the game, run a few routes maybe, use him as a blocker if possible. But the idea that Gronk will be Gronk with that kind of injury is a bit far-fetched.

Super Bowl Daily Shoutout: The Ugly Pro Bowl

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:32:00 EST

OPENING HIT: Wide receiver great Cris Carter, who has played in a Pro Bowl or two, called Sunday's Pro Bowl game "unwatchable." That's extremely kind. That game was an abomination. Without question it was the worst all-star game I've seen in over 20 years of practicing sports journalism. The NFL and its players should be ashamed of themselves for allowing that monstrosity to happen.

The NFL normally puts on an almost flawless product. Football is the best sport because it's the most watchable, the most exciting, and perhaps more than anything, its players play hard all the time. That's not the way it is in baseball or basketball. In football, it is.

The Pro Bowl, with defensive backs giving 20 yard cushions, no one tackling, everyone playing not to get hurt, seriously undermines the great leaps the league has made to solidify its product as the best.

Jim Tressel and the Colts

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:52:08 EST

There are now reports the Colts will not hire Jim Tressel as head coach. This after a round of reports that Tressel had received two interviews and was in serious contention for the job. As a team source told me weeks ago there is no way in hell the Colts will hire Tressel to coach the team. That mostly stands. I've also been told Tressel never received two interviews for the job as previously reported and the one "interview" he received was very casual and more courtesy than anything else.

"Jim is well liked by Irsay," said a team source speaking of the Colts owner, "but not that well liked."

We'll see. Maybe Irsay does like taking huge, risky gambles with the future of his franchise.

League sources say the Colts have interviewed numerous candidates and aren't done. They're scheduled to speak with Baltimore defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. Foxsports.com reported 49ers special teams coach Brad Seely is now on the Colts radar. I was able to confirm that is indeed the case. Seely is viewed as a good potential head coach by people around football.

The Daily Shoutout: Wishy-washy Chip Kelly

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 9:57:37 EST

OPENING HIT: To say the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a little upset with Chip Kelly is an understatement. They are, well, furious.

A team source confirmed a Register-Guard report from Eugene that Kelly had agreed, then backed out of an agreement to coach the Bucs. It concludes yet another strange chapter in the history of Tampa coaching searches.

The Bucs are angry. One team source called Kelly "wishy-washy" and used a few other choice words. This is from the Bucs team perspective, and I suspect Kelly will give his side very shortly (and that side of the story will be portrayed very differently). But in the end none of this reflects well on Kelly. He looks soft, at least from the NFL side of things.

There is some history behind the Bucs being irritated. Bill Parcells had agreed to become the coach in 1992 and then famously backed out at the last second. That led to one of the funniest (saddest?) quotes in recent NFL history when owner Hugh Culverhouse said: "I feel like I've been jilted at the altar."

Source: Dolphins hire Joe Philbin

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:06:37 EST

The Miami Dolphins have completed their coaching search and hired Joe Philbin, according to a team source.

Philbin was the Packers' offensive coordinator and by many accounts he is one of the league's bright young talents. Now, it's easy to be a bright young talent when you have Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback but Philbin is still extremely innovative.

The Dolphins need an offensive mind and it also doesn't hurt the Dolphins that Philbin is tied to Matt Flynn, the quarterback in Green Bay.

A source close to Flynn told me that Flynn would "love to the challenge of being a starter" but emphasized he's loyal to the Packers. But if you had to wager don't put a lot of cash on Flynn staying in Green Bay.

The Daily Shoutout: Irsay bluffing?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:01:25 EST

OPENING HIT: Jim Irsay revealed his draft plans in an interview with ESPN. Just gave it all up. No waterboarding required. Here you go, peeps, what we're going to do: it's going to be Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin. So, there's that. Mystery solved.

“With Griffin and Luck and the way it’s shaping up at the top of the draft — could very likely go one and two like with Peyton and Ryan Leaf,” Irsay said. “It’s most likely one of those quarterbacks that you really feel is the best player in the draft, and where we’re at moving forward you can’t pass that up. I don’t think anyone would expect that.”

It all sounds very logical and that's what Irsay may indeed be planning but it's rare for an owner or GM to say: this is what we're going to do. In fact, it almost never happens.

Source: 'No way in hell' Tressel will coach Colts

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:49 EST

There was a report the Indianapolis Colts are at least considering disgraced former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel as head coach, who is on the Indianapolis staff as a gameday consultant. I checked with a Colts source and he said this: "No way in hell."

But this is the interesting part. The source explained that owner Jim Irsay likes Tressel and does want him to have some sort of role in the organization (a new head coach will have some say in that of course). Which is, well, incredible. If you remember Tressel resigned as Ohio State coach after it was determined the Buckeyes had numerous rules violations under his watch. Ohio State later self-vacated its entire 2010 season.

It would be totally out of the question for the Colts to make Tressel a head coach now. The Colts would be the laughingstock of the NFL.

The Daily Shoutout: Rob Lowe's Manning prediction

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:28:38 EST

OPENING HIT: Rob Lowe tweeted that Peyton Manning would retire and the entire sports world lost its freaking mind.

This is a story about the power of social media and gullibility with a dash of ego to boot. It’s documented that Lowe is friends with Colts owner Jim Irsay who is a master tweeter and a guy who likes to have fun, too.

This is what I think happened. Lowe pulled the Manning news out of his ass. He tweeted it. Irsay saw his tweet and then decided to play along. So washed up actor s--- stirrer + social media + rumor = gold.

Now, my belief is that Manning just might retire. I’ve long believed that but I don’t think Lowe knows a damn thing. This is the NFL, not St. Elmo’s Fire. Future plans of one of the great passers of all time don’t get leaked to actors. Unless it’s Jim Brown. Or maybe Burt Reynolds.

The Daily Shoutout: Brees contract will get done?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:49:16 EST

OPENING HIT: Drew Brees' contract expires soon. It'll get done, of course. Right. Right? Hello? Is this thing on?

That's what the Saints continually say. Brees will be back, a new deal will come. I do believe that. Mostly. Kind of. But in speaking with sources on both sides of this there is a certain amount of digging in. The talks between the two sides (for now at least) have gone nowhere. That can change in an instant but for the moment the gap is wide.

I was once told months ago this would get done fairly easily but now there won't be anything easy about it. This has the potential to get long and nasty and could extend into off-season workouts and well into training camp.

I don't understand the Saints' handling of this at all. For everything Brees has done for that organization -- a Super Bowl, a class act, a great representative off the field post-Katrina -- you roll out the ATM machine for Brees. You pay the man. You freaking pay the man.

The Daily Shoutout: Ugly fans

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:10:19 EST

OPENING HIT: One of the reasons why I've always liked fans of the Green Bay Packers is that I've always felt they're the best combination of smart, passion and non-jackass. Let me explain. Packers fans have the passion of the most rabid fan bases without the nastiness. Few fans are more informed about their team. It's a way of life for Packers fans. These aren't Gator fans or Ohio State fans who are insecure and nasty. These a true football fans who know how to have a passionate debate without getting ugly. It's the best component of their fandom.

On Sunday night, after a brutal loss, a handful of Packers fans -- malicious idiots -- engaged in some of the nastier acts by fans, any fans, I've ever seen. All on Twitter. This isn't an indictment of the entire Packers fan base. This is an indictment of a few knuckleheads and the age we live in. We live in a period where there are plenty of anonymous gangsters who have turned message boards into sewers and a nice medium like Twitter into, at times, garbage.

Tebow era ends with a blowout by Patriots

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:18:38 EST

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It was one of the few moments during this stunning run, during this odds defying time, when Tim Tebow lost his cool. It was understandable. He was on the receiving end of a historic beatdown.

Tebow had been sacked and felt the hit merited a roughing penalty. No flag was thrown. Tebow screamed in the direction of the official. Screamed again. Screamed some more. There were several other similar outbursts as the score widened from huge to massive to humiliating.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Tebow had six completions to Tom Brady's six touchdowns. That just about says it all. The 45-10 final score doesn't do justice to what a stunning blowout this was. A few plays here and there and New England could have scored 60.

The Daily Shoutout: Franco sounds like a fool

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:45:53 EST

OPENING HIT: I remember Franco Harris as a Pittsburgh Steeler. He was smart and studious as a player -- everything he's not being now.

I'm not sure what Harris is doing.

I'm not sure Harris knows what he is doing. He's no longer the smart Steeler but something else. Loyalty is good but loyalty can also be dangerous and we're seeing that with Harris. In his stubborness to defend Paterno he's forgetting about the victims. Let me say that again. He's forgotten about the victims in all of this.

“A lot of the answers that we want from the university aren’t coming forward," Harris said on Thursday. "When they do say something, even today, what I most recently heard, they think we’re dumb. They want us to believe it was in the best interest of the school to fire Joe Paterno. No way was that in the best interest of the school.”

Hines Ward to retire?

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:19:15 EST

Did Hines Ward play his last game? It appears he might have. A Steelers player texted to me the expectations around the team was that Ward would soon announce his retirement. That doesn't mean it's set he will. That means some Steelers players believe it which means it's likely to happen.

Ward is a different sort of dude. He could decide to hang on for one more year. But for the moment that doesn't seem to be the case.

Ward is clearly done physically. He just doesn't have the burst he once did. He was held without a catch against the Broncos and has become an afterthought in the Pittsburgh offense.

Yet, to me, he's a sure Hall of Famer. He became only the eighth wide receiver to reach 1,000 catches, had a lengthy and productive career, and won championships. He was one of the toughest receivers I've ever seen.

The Daily Shoutout: Texans starting to believe

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:41:20 EST

HOUSTON – You know what everyone is saying, don’t you Texans?

“They’re saying we got no shot,” running back Arian Foster answered. “Go ahead. Keep doubting us.”

No shot against Baltimore. Dead Texans walking. Might as well stay your asses home. Yes, that’s what they’re saying.

“That’s all we’re going to hear from national media is how we can’t win this game,” said Houston defensive lineman J.J. Watt.

Source: Fisher "95 percent certain" to coach Rams

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:58:55 EST

Jeff Fisher continues to contemplate coaching the Rams or the Dolphins, though it is increasingly looking like Fisher has all but made a decision.

A source close to Fisher says the former Titans coach is "95 percent certain" he's going to accept an offer from the Rams. An official decision could come early next week.

Now, there's a caveat here, and it's a big one. It's the wallet of Miami owner Stephen Ross. It's very possible Ross makes a huge, final offer that could sway Fisher. So far, a source says, that hasn't happened.

But that doesn't mean it won't and that's the only reason, I'm told, it's not a totally done deal. Fisher is waiting for the final word from Ross.

Andy Dalton melts under the playoff heat

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:52:54 EST

HOUSTON: Andy Dalton was three-years old the last time Cincinnati won a playoff game. Madonna was kinda still like a virgin. The DVR was a twinkle in the VCR's eye. It's been a tremendous 21-year drought and it was thought that maybe the Bengals' fabulous rookie could end it against Houston.

The Texans were down to their third string quarterback. They were vulnerable. The problem for the Bengals was this: Dalton was more vulnerable.

After an initial flurry of accuracy and guts, Dalton fell apart, and that's putting it kindly. The Bengals placed the weight of the playoffs on Dalton's shoulders, and like a thousand other rookies, on a thousand past NFL fields, he melted. It happens. It happens to the best. Houston 31 Bengals 10...and reality for Dalton set in like a kick to the sternum.

Fisher faces classic choice

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:30:09 EST

Jeff Fisher will make a decision soon and I'm told, for the moment, there's no clear favorite.

A source familiar with Fisher's thinking tells me Fisher's representation has discussed financial parameters of a deal with both Miami and St. Louis and for now Fisher is "completely torn" about where to go.

The source said Fisher would likely become one of the top five highest paid coaches in football if he went to the Dolphins. The source also said the deal Fisher's representation is discussing with the Rams may not be as lucrative. However, during his meeting with the Rams, I'm told, Rams officials pushed on Fisher the idea that he'd have a franchise quarterback in place.

In Miami, Fisher could make more money. With the Rams, he might have an easier route to a title because that team has a solid quarterback situation (not to mention a great running back situation).

The Daily Shoutout: Penn State whining

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:35:39 EST

I've read and heard it everywhere. Penn State players are angry at not being consulted over the hiring of Bill O'Brien. Penn State former players are mad they weren't consulted. Some say they are done with Penn State. Read this and tell me it doesn't cause you to shake your head.

Do these spoiled brat whiners get what the hell has happened to Penn State? How few coaches of quality wanted a tarnished job? How there needed to be a break from the past? How O'Brien brings NFL credibility to a program that currently has none?

Todd Blackledge said O'Brien doesn't do it for him. Those were his words. Didn't do it for him. Blackledge is another delusional alum who doesn't understand how low the program has sunk.

O'Brien is a solid coach and many of the people in the NFL who know O'Brien speak highly of him.

Pats assistant O'Brien to coach Penn State

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:45:22 EST

It's still stunning that it's true but it's true: a Patriots team source confirms that Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has agreed to become the coach of Penn State.

It's rare for an NFL coordinator to make this type of move. It's happened before even with the Patriots but it's still rare. Most assistants like O'Brien want to become head football coaches in the NFL not college.

O'Brien's move is high risk/high reward. The Penn State job is one of the toughest now in football for obvious reasons. He could easily fail. But imagine if O'Brien turns things around there. He'd be an instant star and would have his picks of many great jobs in the NFL. If he wanted them.

And now the Patriots look for a new offensive coordinator.

An NFL first: four Super Bowl MVP QBs in playoffs

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:32:48 EST

If we already didn't know this was the year of the quarterback -- or the past decade of the quarterback -- this incredible fact seals it.

For the first time in league history the playoffs will feature four Super Bowl quarterbacking MVPs: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers. This according to NFL PR guru, Dan Masonson.

That is a great deal of quarterbacking firepower and they're all in one playoff.

I'm thinking this record won't last long just like other offensive records that were obliterated this season. The NFL has geared the sport towards the quarterbacks and because of that it could be some time before a running back or defensive player, for example, earns MVP honors. Would it be a stunner if Ben Roethlisberger got to a Super Bowl this year, won the MVP, and then all five of these players make the postseason next year? No. See what I mean.