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		<title>New Orleans Saints RapidReports</title>
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			<title><![CDATA[Atlanta airport catches employee who egged Saints bus]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
When the Saints came marching in to Atlanta last Thursday for the Week 13 opener, they were met with a rude surprise as an airport worker -- presumably a Falcons fan -- egged their team bus.
The eggman, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was caught by authorities and has since quit his job.
DeAllous Smith, spokesman for the Atlanta Hartfield-Jackson International Airport, told the AJC that the suspect, who worked at a restaurant within the airport, was questioned by police.
Neither the person nor the restaurant were named by the airport, but the restaurant will be fined, the egger is no longer able to access the airport (at least as a worker), and the investigation is over.
It's a friendly reminder that sneaking onto the airport tarmac to sling eggs at a football team's bus is probably going to get you fired from your job, regardless of whether or not the opposing team finds it amusing.
So let's pour one out for the eggman, shall we?
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			<pheedo:origLink>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21248811</pheedo:origLink>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:07:29 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints: Rookie Travaris Cadet aggressive on kickoff returns ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





 Saints rookie kickoff returner Travaris Cadet: "I try to take advantage of every opprtunity I get." (US Presswire)



On Atlanta's first kickoff against New Orleans on Thursday night, Saints rookie Travaris Cadet caught the ball deep in the end zone and started running out to the dismay of blocker Pierre Thomas.
One problem: His back foot was across the back line, causing an automatic touchback. That was nothing unusual for Cadet, who has been incredibly aggressive since taking over kickoff return duties when Darren Sproles suffered a broken hand against Denver a few weeks ago. Cadet has been the deep man 23 times and taken only six touchbacks in a league that has been heavy on them since moving the kickoff to the 35 from the 30 at the start of 2011 season.
He fielded all but one of his 17 returns in the end zone, including one eight yards deep, five that were six yards deep and five that were five yards deep. &ldquo;It's just the confidence I'm playing with now,&rdquo; Cadet said. &ldquo;I try to take advantage of every opportunity I get.&rdquo; He has not had much success, getting the ball past the 30 only once, on a 75-yard return to the Oakland 27. He has been stopped at the 13, the 14, the 15 and the 18, at least getting it back to the 20 on his other 12 returns. Two of those short returns came last Thursday against the Falcons, who tackled him at the 13 and the 14. The Saints punted the first time and overcame the bad field position to kick a field goal the second time. &ldquo;Sometimes, with the hang time and the distance, with me being in the end zone so far, I've got to be a little bit smarter,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I need to take a knee and just live another day and take it from the 20." Other than his kickoff returns, Cadet has only six touches this year -- four receptions, one run and one punt return -- so he feels anxious to do something special on kickoffs. &ldquo;It's hard [to take a knee],&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In the Atlanta game there were a lot of kicks deep and high in the air, so by the time I got the ball they were almost all the way to me.&rdquo;Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:01:01 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints: CB Jabari Greer says playoffs still possible ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





 Cornerback Jabari Greer is confident the Saints (5-7) can make the playoffs.  (US Presswire)



Cornerback Jabari Greer looks at the New York Giants, the Saints' next opponent, and sees opportunity.
The Saints' playoff hopes may be on life support after they dropped to 5-7 last Thursday with a loss to Atlanta, but the Giants won the Super Bowl last season after starting 6-6 and trailing late in the fourth quarter of a must-win game against Dallas in Week 14. &ldquo;We saw what they did last year,&rdquo; Greer said. &ldquo;We know that it's possible.&rdquo; The Saints definitely are on the outside looking in with four weeks left in the regular season, trailing the Seahawks by two games for the final spot and facing a tougher schedule than Seattle the rest of the way. But with the defense coming off by far its best performance of the season against Atlanta, Greer likes their chances. He assumes QB Drew Brees won't come close to duplicating the career-high five interceptions he threw against the Falcons. Pair the normal Brees together with the improving defense, and he likes the potential.
The Saints limited Atlanta's leading wide receiver, Roddy White, to one catch, and held fellow wideout Julio Jones to 48 receiving yards. &ldquo;We're playing better football, more aggressive football, we're challenging,&rdquo; Greer said. &ldquo;I think if we can continue to do that and stay healthy and take advantage of our opportunities, we'll be all right. We might be the underdog, but we have a chance to do something special.&rdquo; The first step on that unlikely path is beating the Giants, who lost to Washington on Monday night and will have four fewer days to prepare for Sunday's game than the Saints. New Orleans clobbered New York 49-24 in the Superdome last year and beat them 48-27 in New Orleans during the Super Bowl season of 2009. Playing in New Jersey will be a much tougher challenge. When the two teams faced each other last year, the Giants were in the middle of a four-game losing streak. &ldquo;Obviously they were in a mode in which they weren't getting it done,&rdquo; Greer said. &ldquo;It wasn't the same team that ended the season. We realize we are facing a good team this year, and we have to make something happen.&rdquo; Eli Manning threw for 406 yards and two TDs in the Giants' loss last year. Greer expects to see that version of Manning rather than the one who struggled through a four-game stretch of six interceptions and one TD pass before rebounding against Green Bay on Nov. 25. &ldquo;He's a resilient quarterback,&rdquo; Greer said. &ldquo;He can make all the throws. He has a good touch on the ball and he's smart. He's a smart quarterback that doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's been successful in staying poised. He's been successful in never quitting and always fighting to the end. &ldquo;This guy has won despite the odds, and that's something that you commend. You realize this league is so media driven, they have their darlings they focus on, and Eli wasn't that guy. He continued to scrap for his team, and obviously he's reaping a lot of success from that, the hard work that he put in.&rdquo;Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:12:50 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Monday Musings: I was wrong about Seahawks' rookie QB Russell Wilson]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





What Russell Wilson lacks in height, he makes up for with ability. (US Presswire) 



&bull;I was wrong about Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. The kid is damn good. I wasn't sure if a 5-foot-11 quarterback could be successful in the NFL. And when he won only one game on the road in his first five, I still wasn't sure. But his play against the Bearson Sunday convinced me that this kid could be a heck of a quarterback. His last drive in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead score was impressive, but his game-winning drive in overtime topped it. He won the game by throwing a touchdown pass to Sidney Rice, but he made some other really impressive throws -- including one on the run on third-and-12. Wilson's ability to get away from pressure and throw on the move was remarkable. He threw for 293 yards and ran for 71 against the Bears. Wilson has nine touchdown passes and no interceptions in the last four games.

&bull; I said it last week, and I will say it again: Colin Kaepernick isn't taking shots down the field. If he doesn't do that, the 49ers have no chance to get to the Super Bowl. The 49ers scored 10 points in their loss to the Rams. Don't tell me the quarterback position isn't a part of the problem. I'm not saying Alex Smith is the greatest passer in the world, but he was doing well before he got hurt. Kaepernick has been just OK. And the gimmick fumble on the read option is essentially the play that cost the 49ers the game. It was a horrible call by the staff, and bad execution by him. The move to make him the starter is one that will hang over this team's head all season. Anything less than an appearance in the Super Bowl and coach Jim Harbaugh will face the heat for making this move.
&bull; It might be time to slow down the talk that Chad Henne is the long-term answer in Jacksonville. He looked good in his first two starts, but not against the Bills. He was just a guy. He did have some drops, though.

&bull; Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder isn't playing well. And that's being nice. He just seems to lack confidence. He makes too many mistakes. He won't take shots down the field and he isn't moving the team. Ponder completed 12 of 25 passes for 119 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, one in the end zone. It was a horrible throw across his body. Could the Vikings be considering going to Joe Webb?




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&bull; You have to give Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh credit. He hasn't played great all season, but he was very good against the Colts. He spent the day in the backfield. He had four tackles for loss and a sack.
&bull; If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would never imagine Drew Brees having a day like he did against the Falcons last Thursday. He was picked off five times and never looked to be in a groove. He was jumpy and forced passes and made bad reads. There is no doubt the Saints miss Sean Payton.
&bull; The Bengals have 39 sacks, the most in the NFL. They have six games with four or more sacks. This is a pass-rusher league now, which might be what helps get the Bengals into the playoffs. Carlos Dunlap had two sacks against the Chargers, including one late in the game that forced a fumble.
&bull; What got into Brady Quinn? He looked like a competent NFL passer against the Panthers. He was 19-for-23 for 201 yards and two scores.
&bull; Adrian Peterson ran for 210 yards against the Packers. His 82-yard touchdown run was special. And it all went to waste. It's still amazing that it's been less than a year since he tore up his knee. What a player.
&bull; The Falcons are pretty close to clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC. With four games left, they lead San Francisco, their closest pursuer, by 2 1/2 games. It was a good weekend for the Falcons. They won and Chicago and San Francisco both lost.
&bull; The worst move Jerry Jones made in the past couple of years was paying tackle Doug Free big money. He is horrible. The starting right tackle has become a turnstile.
&bull; Rams rookie receiver Chris Givens is turning into a nice player. He had 11 catches against the 49ers.
&bull; The Ryan Lindley experiment should be over in Arizona. He isn't very good right now.
&bull; The Jets should start Greg McElroy at quarterback. Why not?
&bull; The Rams could not block 49ers defensive end Justin Smith. He had eight tackles, three for loss and one sack. He is a beast.
&bull; I love the passing game more than most, but don't you think the Ravens needed to run the ball more with Ray Rice against the Steelers. Rice ran it just 12 times. Come on, Cam Cameron.
&bull; The game once again brings into question Joe Flacco as a big-game passer. He was 16 of 34 for 188 yards, one pick and big fumble late that led to the tying touchdown.
&bull; So John Harbaugh has his own handshake issue now with Mike Tomlin? What is it with these guys? Tomlin gave Harbaugh the limp handshake after Sunday's game. I will say this, and I was there: The Ravens acted like they won a Super Bowl when they beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh three weeks ago.
&bull; Yeah, Andy Reid. Firing Jim Washburn will fix everything.
&bull; All this time. All this money. All this effort. Does anybody care about "Bountygate" anymore? Aside from Jonathan Vilma trying to save his name, what's it matter? That's like a book that came out about last season. It's old news.
&bull; Bryce Brown. More proof you can find backs anywhere. Never pay them. Or over-draft them.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<pheedo:origLink>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21244714</pheedo:origLink>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:00:13 EST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[2012 NFL Grades, Week 13: Chiefs overcome the impossible for a win]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Each week we hand out team-by-team grades for every game in the NFL. This page will update throughout the week, so mark it here. You'll probably agree with every single grade, but if not, leave your thoughts in the comments below or harass me on Twitter @WillBrinson.
The Chiefs overcame the tragic events of Saturday, whenlinebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, and then took his own life at the Chiefs facility, to win their second game of the seasonSunday.
It was impressive that Kansas City performed at a high level against the Panthers in a game that began a little more than 24 hours later.The Chiefs managed to show a bit of why people picked them as a possible AFC West champs.
Brady Quinn was an unlikely stud, going 19 of 23 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Jamaal Charles ran the ball 27 times for 127 yards. The Chiefs converted fourth downs and only punted once. The defense couldn't do much to stop Cam Newton, who threw a number of long passes, but it did pressure him frequently and managed to bottle up DeAngelo Williams and the Panthers rushing attack.
Using the word "inspiration" in the context of a murder-suicide is something I'm not prepared to do, but it was particularly impressive to see the Chiefs galvanize following an unfathomably difficult situation.
It's obviously not over; as Romeo Crennel noted after the game, the healing and all the things that go along with a tragedy like this don't end right away.
"It might not be over for some time for a lot of the guys," Crennel said.
The season is short for KC, but the road's still long. On Sunday, though, the Chiefs did the impossible. And while it's not worth a whole lot of anything in the big scheme of things, they get high marks from me.


TeamGradeAnalysis



Chiefs 27, Panthers 21



B-
Not an ideal game for the Panthers, but not an ideal situation either. The defense couldn't stop Kansas City from running the ball, but you've gotta feel good about the way Cam Newton looked again on Sunday. He's had two very impressive outings a row that reminds a lot of his rookie season. Better days might just be ahead for the Panthers after all.



A
This win won't change the Chiefs' season, but it's a reminder about a few things. One, the fans in Kansas City are a passionate group who deeply care about this team. Two, even if a football team isn't performing perfectly it shouldn't be a full-blown indictment of the people on that team's abilities. Sunday showed that. And three, for as bad as things can look on the field at times, there are much worse circumstances in life.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Falcons 23, Saints 13



D-
Drew Brees' consecutive games-with-a-TD streak ended at 54. Upside: his streak of five-interception games stands at one. Other than the first drive, the defense played well, but the 1985 Bears couldn't have overcome the worst game of Brees' career. It's been one of those years in New Orleans.Before the game, Brees could be heard telling his teammates, "This is our division. We know it and they know it." Somebody forgot to tell the Falcons. - Ryan Wilson



B-
The offense was inconsistent but the defense played out of its mind. Brees suddenly forgetting how to throw a football certainly helped, but much of the credit should go to Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and his players. Maybe this is the game that will get people believing that Atlanta's legit. - Ryan Wilson






Bills 34, Jaguars 18



D
The Jaguars defense got carved up by Buffalo and Jason Babin wasn't exactly an instant-impact addition on Sunday. Chad Henne went 18-for-41, which is just ... ugh. Jacksonville attempted 15 rushes and came away with 49 yards against a Bills team that wasn't exactly stuffing opponents prior to this.



B+
So that's what the Bills would look like if the defense showed up every week and they didn't need to rely on Ryan Fitzpatrick all the time? OK then. Buffalo sacked Chad Henne four times, picked him once and forced a trio of fumbles in this surprising route. Also, Fitzpatrick only had to throw 17 times as Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller were both effective. Can't wait til this formula doesn't work next week!


Seahawks 23, Bears 17



B+
Remember when Russell Wilson was a "game manager" dependent on his defense to win games? LOL. Wilson led two game-winning, fourth-quarter or overtime drives in this game and bailed his secondary, which gave up 165 yards to Brandon Marshall, out on the road. This is the type of win that could change the Seahawks season in a big, big way.



C+
This game should be a major red flag for Chicago: their offense got going with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall hooking up for big numbers, but they let a rookie quarterback win just his second road game against a really tough defense. Russell Wilson didn't commit a turnover and Marshawn Lynch ran well against a Bears team that's quietly lost three of its last four and a hold on the NFC North.


Colts 35, Lions 33



B
I really want to just paste a picture of Andrew Luck's face/neckbeard here, after the rookie quarterback threw for 391 yards and four touchdowns, including a walk-off, check-down to Donnie Avery to complete his fifth fourth-quarter or overtime comeback of the season. Indianapolis didn't really play well and Luck wasn't that good most of the day, but the dude just gets it done when it counts.



B-
Calvin Johnson's kicking the Madden Curse to the curb and is on pace to break Jerry Rice's receiving yards record for a single season. He had 13 catches and 171 yards on Sunday, but he can't do it himself, and the Lions lack of secondary showed up big time in the fourth quarter, which isn't good in a game you need to win. Mostly though, this was a pretty nice day for Detroit, until the Colts pulled a Lions on them.


Packers 23, Vikings 14



C-
The Vikings could've stolen this game if they'd done the obvious: ridden Adrian Peterson, who ran for 210 yards on 21 carries. Instead, they let Christian Ponder throw in the red zone and he ended up tossing a pair of picks.



C+
Green Bay's defense came up with some big turnovers when it mattered and Aaron Rodgers made some big-time throws to seal this game. James Starks and Alex Green both ran well, which is a good sign for the Packers future, even if Jordy Nelson going back down with an injury isn't exactly great news. The defense still has major issues, and could've given up a lot more points.


Patriots 23, Dolphins 16



B-
Aaron Hernandez (eight catches, 97 yards) is very good, but he is no Rob Gronkowski. Fortunately, Wes Welker was his catch-heavy self again, tying Jerry Rice's record for most 10-plus reception games at 17. Solid division-clinching win for the Patriots against a team that's given them lots of trouble in the past.



C-
The Dolphins couldn't hold onto the ball (four fumbles, just one lost) and they couldn't get rolling against the Patriots rush defense. More troubling is the loss of Jake Long, which moves Jonathan Martin to left tackle and turns Ryan Tannehill into a tackling dummy. Tannehill also missed some throws he's got to make.


Jets 7, Cardinals 6



F-
I'm failing both teams because it's not fair for anyone to suffer through this game. The Cardinals lost so they get the "normal" F. Also, why is Ryan Lindley still out there? What point is Ken Whisenhunt trying to prove? The Cardinals have lost eight straight.



F+
I'm failing both teams because it's not fair for anyone to suffer through this game. The Jets get a plus because they won, and would've been higher but it took them too long to realize that Mark Sanchez -- 10/21, 97 yards, 3 picks -- isn't the answer.


Rams 16, 49ers 13



D
It'll be fun to see what "hot hand" means to Jim Harbaugh: Colin Kaepernick only turned the ball over once, but he didn't exactly put any points up on the board for the 49ers, who nearly fell to a very weird 8-2-2. The defense had a nice day but the offense couldn't get a whole lot going when it counted against St. Louis. Kaepernick's throw away from his own end zone was something Alex Smith wouldn't do under any circumstances.



C-
Chris Givens is starting to develop as a nice little weapon for the Rams and their cornerback tandem of Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins keeps impressing. This wasn't the prettiest win by any stretch of the imagination, but St. Louis held serve against a strong 49ers team and made life tough for Kaepernick.


Texans 24, Titans 10



B+
The Texans did what the Texans do: run the ball well, play good defense and let Matt Schaub take a few shots down the field. A 21-3 halftime lead against a team like Tennessee basically ended this game before it really got going.



D
Jake Locker threw three interceptions and fumbled twice, Chris Johnson never got going (and also fumbled once), and the Titans defense didn't have much of a chance against the Houston offense.






Broncos 31, Buccaneers 23



C+
The Buccaneers have now lost six games by a combined 31 points. That's not a lot, especially when you consider they fell by 32 points in Week 16 last season. This was their biggest margin of defeat and it occurred mainly because Peyton Manning can carve up bad secondaries and the Buccaneers secondary is bad. Josh Freeman wasn't particularly accurate and Champ Bailey shut down Vincent Jackson yet again.



B
Ho-hum. Just another big win for the Broncos as they clinched the AFC West in the first week of December. Peyton Manning threw a pick, but he also had 242 passing yards and three touchdowns as well. Von Miller had a pick-six and Demaryius Thomas had a big old game. Huge third quarter from Denver in an imperfect game.


Steelers 23, Ravens 20



A
Nothing about the Steelers was particularly delightful on Sunday, unless you count the fun of rooting for Charlie Batch, who will turn 38 on Wednesday. Batch turned in the type of game, with the help of the defense, that could send the AFC North into a frenzy down the stretch. It was certainly a gritty, season-saving type of victory.



F
The Ravens didn't "play" to an F, per se, but you can't lose to Chuck Batch at home when you're trying to close out a hated rival. The defense was porous, Terrell Suggs might be hurt and Joe Flacco wasn't anything resembling elite. It's true that anything can happen in this rivalry, but there's no excuse for losing this game.


Browns 20, Raiders 17



B
Not the prettiest day statistically for anyone other than Josh Gordon here, but the Browns went on the road and beat up on an inferior opponent. Nothing about that sentence makes sense. They have four wins now and are overachieving beyond anyone's wildest dreams.



D-
Brandon Meyers had a 14-catch game, finishing with 130 yards a touchdown, which I guess is something. Otherwise, well, Carson Palmer had to throw 54 times in this game, the running game never got going and the Raiders now have a worse record than the Browns. The cleansing is not going well, but cleansings never do.


Bengals 20, Chargers 13



B-
Cincinnati went on the road and won, which is great, but it wasn't a great win, you know? Benjarvus Green-Ellis ran really well, but Andy Dalton made some serious mistakes during this game. Fortunately for the Bengals, the Chargers (and the Cincy defense) was completely willing to bail out the offense in this one.



D+
That last throw from Philip Rivers -- a pick in the end zone on fourth down to end the game after the Chargers ignored the idea of getting a first down with two timeouts left -- just about sums up this season for Norv Turner and his quarterback. They ran the ball nine times and scored 13 points despite the defense scoring once. Oy. Vey.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Cowboys 38, Eagles 33



B-
Bryce Brown is a monster and I hope he's saving your fantasy season too, but, dude ... hold the ball with two hands. The Eagles are re-booting in the middle of a lost season, and somehow still managing to explode late in games -- they gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter -- which is not a good look at all.



B
Dallas doesn't have the look of a playoff team, but they got out of this one alive and are back at .500. Tony Romo continues to prove -- without people noticing -- that he's the solution, not the problem. DeMarco Murray's return is obviously a huge plus for the offense. The secondary's been vulnerable the last few weeks and the defense should be worried about getting gashed by Philly backups.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Redskins 17, Giants 16



C+
The Giants settled for field goals most of the night and it cost them, especially when they were able to easily move the ball against a Redskins secondary that wasn't equipped to stop Eli Manning and the passing game. The defense limited the Redskins enough to win, but they simply couldn't score in the red zone.



B+
Washington's defense kept the Giants out of the end zone for the most part on Monday with a bend-but-don't-break attitude. Robert Griffin III was sensational on a big stage once again, and Pierre Garcon is starting to look like a difference maker for the Redskins. Suddenly the NFC East is wide open.



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			<category>Arizona Cardinals</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 2012 16:45:00 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The NFL Today: Roethlisberger cleared to practice fully on Friday, chose not to]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger surprised some teammates and frustrated others by not pushing to practice more this week, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, as he recovered from a shoulder sprain. Many in the organization thought Roethlisberger would face the Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore after suffering the injury more than two weeks ago; he was cleared medically to do as much as he wanted this week, sources said, but did little besides throw the ball on the sidelines.
On Friday, with Roethlisberger having yet to perform much in practice, coach Mike Tomlin informed Roethlisberger he would have to practice fully Friday to play, sources said. Otherwise, he would be ruled out on that day's injury report. In the past, some injury situations with Roethlisberger have lingered into the weekend, complicating preparations for the fill-in starter. In 2009, for instance, in an eventual loss at Baltimore, backup Dennis Dixon was not certain he would be starting until the day before the game. Tomlin wanted to avoid such a situation here. Roethlisberger has told some he was unable to throw the ball, but sources said he was not being held back by team doctors and was given clearance to practice fully.
This is not the first time there has been something of a disconnect between Roethlisberger and the team over a medical situation. He previously talked about a potentially life-threatening rib injury but has been listed on the injury report only with a right shoulder problem.
The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback's cautious approach to a return has led to frustration among some teammates, given the Steelers' 6-5 record and tenuous place in the playoff race. But the issue is not expected to be major going forward. The current expectation is that Roethlisberger will do more in practice this week and play in Week 14, against the Chargers at home.
[NFL playoff scenarios]
Charlie Batch is starting Sunday's vital game against the Ravens, with newcomer and ex-Patriots backup Brian Hoyer the No, 2. Byron Leftwich, the other quarterback on the roster, is still recovering from broken ribs and was unable to practice or play this week.
Should the 37-year-old Batch struggle in Baltimore as he did last week against Cleveland, Hoyer could see action in Baltimore, with the Steelers needing a win to keep hold of a wild-card position.

Browns OC Brad Childress to testify at bounty hearingsCleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brad Childress, who as Vikings coach was one of the first figures to broach the possibility of the Saints having bounties on players, will be cross-examined Monday on the subject at hearings in Washington, D.C., according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Childress was coach of Minnesota when the Vikings and Saints met in the 2009 NFC Championship Game and informed the league at the time that he'd heard of a possible bounty on Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. According to a memo the NFL sent to its teams in October, briefing them on the case: "Brad Childress, then Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings, informed us that he believed that Saints players had placed a bounty on Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. In subsequent discussions, Coach Childress said that a Vikings player, Jimmy Kennedy, had told him that the Saints defensive unit had offered a $10,000 bounty on Mr. Favre and that Mr. Kennedy had identified Anthony Hargrove, then a defensive player for the Saints, as the source of his information. During the NFC Championship game between the Saints and the Vikings there were an unusual number of penalties for unnecessary roughness due to hits on Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, and fines of $30,000 were subsequently imposed on Saints players. Our office promptly investigated this matter. We interviewed Coach Childress and Mr. Kennedy."
Childress' account of his interactions with Kennedy led to an initial investigation into the case, and both Kennedy and Hargrove have vehemently denied Childress' version of the events.
The current round of proceedings began last Thursday and is expected to last deep into this week. Testimony in the hearing has lasted more than eight hours some days, with exhaustive and detailed questioning by lawyers on both sides as well as former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who is overseeing the appeal hearings at the request of commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell has yet to appear as part of these meetings.
To this point, Tagliabue has expressed some concern over the evidence in the hearing and has asked the league to provide more notes and evidence in some instances, sources said, including assigning &ldquo;homework&rdquo; to be brought back the following day by one of the sides. On Thursday, NFL Security investigator Pat Foran was probed by NFLPA lawyers about his role in the case and how thorough his notes and minutes were of meetings, sources said. Troy Vincent, the vice president of the NFL's Player Engagement Organization, was questioned about his role in possible bounty or pay-for-performance programs in the past and his understanding of how commonplace they might be, as he played in Washington under suspended ex-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo also offered testimony for several hours on Thursday. According to information revealed at the hearings, the NFL could not find evidence proving a bounty program existed based on Childress' post-2009 NFC Championship Game claims but re-opened the matter after Cerullo came forward presenting what he said was evidence of the program. Cerullo, whom NFLPA lawyers are casting as a disgruntled ex-employee fired at least in part for making false claims about his whereabouts during absences from the team, is a key figure whose credibility was the subject of a significant line of questioning, sources said.
Gregg Williams and former head of NFL Security Joe Hummel were questioned on Friday and, again, there were requests made for more thorough notes on the part of the investigator. Saints players Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith were in attendance Friday, but former Saints Scott Fujita and Hargrove -- who were also suspended -- have not been in attendance, sources said.
There is a possibility that more players, including those from teams other than the Saints, could be asked to appear at this week's hearings, sources said. Tagliabue is being incredibly meticulous in his approach, with a federal court in Louisiana watching the proceedings closely and set to make its own ruling about the validity of the NFL's case against the players. The appeals process to this point has focused on the individuals on the NFL side who conducted the investigation. Former prosecutor Mary Jo White, who led the investigation, has not been cross-examined as a witness but has been presented questions by Tagliabue at times, sources said.
Lions do not intend to cut Titus Young now
Lions receiver Titus Young -- who was effectively suspended from the team amid reports that he had purposely tried to sabotage the Lions' offense by lining up in the wrong place -- had another tumultuous week despite returning to the practice field on Wednesday. Several teammates took direct public shots at Young this week, and the controversial figure also had a terse interaction with the media that was cut short by the team. While Lions officials did make Young inactive from Sunday's game, there are no plans to release him as of now, according to a team source.
The Lions are trying to finish strong after what has been a difficult season filled with disciplinary issues and tough losses. If Young stays in line on and off the field moving forward, he has a chance to play down the stretch, the source said. What his teammates think of him right now, and the negative media perception, are not paramount to his long-term future with the team.
The Lions have to examine their chemistry in the locker room and elsewhere after a disappointing season preceded by a series of arrests and off-field issues last offseason.
Young, a second-year player whom the Lions selected in the second round of the 2011 draft out of Boise State, might end up being back in 2013 and has not been written off for the remainder of 2012.
Young has 81 catches for 990 yards and 10 TDs in two seasons with Detroit, including a career-best nine-catch, 100-yard, two-TD performance in a win over the Seahawks on Oct. 28.

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			<category>Baltimore Ravens</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:09:03 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Report: Greg Jennings will play on Sunday for Packers]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The Packers have missed wideout Greg Jennings since the fourth week of the season but will reportedly get him back on Sunday against the Vikings.
Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports Jennings is, as expected, going to play on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Jennings has been "chomping at the bit" to get back on the field and practiced fully for the entire week leading up to the Week 13 rivalry game.
He hasn't played since the Packers eked out a win over the Saints way back in September, when he caught one (touchdown) pass for nine yards.
Jennings will be a free agent after this season, which means the next few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs could be critical for him in terms of establishing his health and free-market value.
In Jennings' absence, Randall Cobbhas emerged as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the NFL, Green Bay's answer to Minnesota's Percy Harvin (who won't be playing). Jordy Nelson and James Jones were big -- and had a few huge games each -- as well, but it's Cobb who has become Aaron Rodgers' favorite weapon.
Seeing how targets shake out with everyone healthy will be fascinating. And potentially terrifying for opposing defenses if things click perfectly.
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, subscribe to our RSS Feed watch Pro Football 360 daily at 3 p.m. ET and NFL newsletter. You can follow Will Brinson on Twitter here: @willbrinson.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Green Bay Packers</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:31:31 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints should not be discounted, despite loss to Falcons]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Drew Brees threw five interceptions against the Falcons on Thursday night. (US Presswire) 



The Saints lost on Thursday night and it seems like everyone wants to close the book on the 2012 season. Last week the Saints lost but so did the Seahawks, Bucs, Packers and Vikings. New Orleans didn't lose any ground to those teams for a wild-card spot. This week the Seahawks travel to Chicago, the Bucs travel to Denver, and the Vikings and Packers play each other.
The Saints aren't dead just yet, especially if the teams ahead of them lose this weekend. It happened last week and it could happen again. I know the Saints don't feel like it is over but they need some help this weekend.



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TIME TO FIX THE ROAD PROBLEM
The Cleveland Browns are competitive every week and there is some real optimism about the future of this very young team that has no quit in them. The road has not been friendly to the Browns, who are staring at 11 straight road loses dating back to Oct. 16, 2011 when they lost to the Oakland Raiders 24-17. Eight of their 11 straight road loses are by a touchdown or less. In the five road loses this year Cleveland's offense has averaged 361 yards a game.
The Raiders struggle on defense and have been giving up 182 yards rushing a game over the last four weeks. It's time for Trent Richardson to carry the Browns to a road win and show new owner Jimmy Haslim that Pat Shurmur has this team headed in the right direction.
CAN ROOKIES KEEP THEIR TEAMS IN THE RACE?
This has been a fantastic year for rookie quarterbacks and there's little doubt they will combine for more than 30 wins as they sit as a group with a 26-30 record. The better they do the more pressure is being applied, especially for the young QBs still in the playoff hunt.
A win this week for Russell Wilson (Seattle), Robert Griffin III (Washington) and Andrew Luck (Indianapolis) is a tall order but necessary to stay in the playoff hunt. Can't wait to see how they respond to the mounting pressure.
I thought it was impressive last year when rookie Andy Dalton led the Bengals to the playoffs. Imagine if three rookie quarterbacks make the playoffs!
TIME FOR A 20+ DAY
C.J. Spiller has played 39 games as a Buffalo Bill and he has one game with 20-plus carries. He has 27 games with 10 or fewer carries. It is time for the Bills to get a full workload out of the talented running back.
Adrian Peterson has 43 games with more than 20 carries and the Vikings have a 28-15 record when AP gets that kind of workload. Spiller is averaging 6.7 yards a carry and I sure would like to see what he could do against a Jaguars run defense that has given up 14 rushing touchdowns and 4.2 yards per carry.
COULD TAKE A BEATING THIS WEEKEND
Last week quarterbacks were sacked 80 times and hit another 150 times. Chad Henne took a beating, sacked seven times and hit another 12 times. He heads to Buffalo hoping to hold onto the starting QB job thru 2013.
The Bills' pass rush is picking up some steam and could make his life miserable.
The real target in the QB pass rush wars is Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Rodgers has been sacked a league-worst 37 times and when you combine sacks, hits and tackles he has been involved in physical contacts 138 times this season. The Vikings are in town this week and that means Jared Allen. He has 12 sacks in seven games against the Packers. In the last seven games against the Packers the Vikings have 28 sacks, or one sack every 10 pass attempts.
Rodgers is going to have to find a way to protect himself and get rid of the ball if he wants to be upright at the end of this game.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Buffalo Bills</category>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:43:58 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints Report Card: Playoff hopes sinking fast]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Thursday night's outcome is readily apparent on Saints' QB Drew Brees' face. (US Presswire) 



For one stretch of five possessions, the Saints outgained the Falcons 289 yards to 30 on Thursday night. The Falcons converted 1 of 11 third downs for the game, and leading receiver caught only one of the seven passes QB Matt Ryan threw to him.Sounds like a Saints rout, huh? Nope, not when Drew Brees was throwing a career-high five interceptions and his teammates were making critical mistakes at the wrong time. This was a deserved 23-13 loss.Offense: D-The Saints gained 436 yards against a pretty good defense, so it's not like they did everything wrong. The bottom line, though, was they scored their fewest points since also putting up 13 against Tampa Bay in a meaningless regular-season finale in 2010. The last time they scored fewer in a game Brees started was Oct. 19, 2008 against Carolina, when they had 7. All five of Brees' interceptions were bad passes, as he clearly got rattled. Throw in key drops by Lance Moore and Darren Sproles, and this was a shockingly bad effort in such an important game. Pierre Thomas, who had 14 carries for 84 yards, should have gotten the ball more. Both offensive tackles -- Jermon Bushrod and the gimpy Zach Strief (groin) -- were beaten badly a few times, adding to the woes. For the first time since 2007, the Saints can't trust their offense.Last week's grade: DDefense: BThe first drive was pathetic. After an 8-yard completion that safety Malcolm Jenkins should have intercepted, the Falcons ran five straight times for 71 yards and an easy TD. For the rest of the game, the defense played far better than it had all year. The Falcons finished with 283 yards, nearly 100 fewer than any other New Orleans opponent, and had five consecutive three-and-outs at one point. Their only other TD came on a gorgeous pass from Matt Ryan to TE Tony Gonzales, who was covered well by LB Curtis Lofton. Ryan and his receivers were totally out of synch for most of the night, and despite Brees' repeated errors, the Falcons did not feel secure until Matt Bryant drilled a 55-yard field goal with 4:25 left. The Saints were particularly good on third downs, limiting the Falcons to one conversion all night. DE Cam Jordan had a nice sack. CB Jabari Greer made a textbook deflection of a third-down pass. The only downer: New Orleans did not force a turnover.Last week's grade: CSpecial Teams: B+Strong again. Sproles had his best game of the year on punt returns, averaging 15.5 yards on four attempts and coming close to breaking one. Garrett Hartley made a 52-yard field goal that drew the Saints with 17-13, the closest they came all night. Thomas Morstead averaged 45.3 yards on four punts, and none were returned. Three of his kickoffs went for touchbacks, and the Falcons were tackled at their 17 on the other one. The lone negative was kick returner Travaris Cadet, who insists on running out from the end zone even if he catches it nine yards deep. As a result, the Saints started at their 13 and 14 on two possessions.Last week's grade: A-Coaching: C-It's hard to grade the coaches when their QB throws five interceptions. Were Brees' bad decisions the fault of interim coach Joe Vitt or offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael? No. Should they share in the blame for his awful clock management with no timeouts left at the end of the first half? Not really. The Saints did not appear ready to play at the start, letting the Falcons run right through them, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo made good adjustments. The offensive game plan appeared sound. The Saints wanted to take advantage of Atlanta's safeties, but Brees simply did not make good throws. New Orleans had a pass/run imbalance of 51-23, but that's normal when a team falls behind 17-0 in the first half. Clearly, Brees misses suspended coach Sean Payton. He has not played this poorly since the early stages of 2007, and part of that blame lies with the coaches.Last week's grade: BFollow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:34:23 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Falcons Report Card: Defense and special teams shine in win over rival Saints]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Matt Ryan celebrates with Tony Gonzalez after a 17-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of the Falcons' 23-13 win. (US Presswire) 



The Falcons ended a four-game losing streak to the Saints and improved to an NFL-best 11-1 with their 23-13 win on Thursday night. The victory boosted Matt Ryan's career home winning percentage to 89 percent (32-4), trailing only New England's Tom Brady (93) since 2008. Ryan threw for seasons lows in both yards (165) and completions (18), but the Falcons defense forced five interceptions against Drew Brees en route to the victory.
Offense: C-
After abusing the Saints' defensive line in a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on the opening series, the Falcons largely ignored their rushing attack and forced passes that weren't there. Ryan was out of rhythm, Roddy White didn't record a catch until late in the fourth quarter, and Jacquizz Rodgers -- who was a game-changer last weekend against Tampa Bay -- was under-utilized. Atlanta struggled to convert great field position into touchdowns but was fortunate that the defense held their own. In one long, ugly sequence spanning the second and third quarters, the Falcons offense managed just 23 yards off of five straight possessions. Previous game's ranking: A-
Defense: A
The Falcons offense routinely put the defense in a hole, but each time the unit responded. The five interceptions -- S William Moore (2), S Thomas DeCoud, LB Sean Weatherspoon, and DT Jonathan Babineaux &ndash; were a career-worst for Brees, who also saw his 54-game streak with at least one touchdown come to an end. Cornerback Asante Samuel re-aggravated a shoulder injury on the Saints' first offensive series and backups Chris Owens and Robert McClain were outstanding in blanketing New Orleans' receivers. It was the first time the Falcons had won the turnover battle since week three. Previous game's ranking: B+
Special teams: A
Matt Bryant rebounded from his toughest game of the year with arguably his best game of the season. He was three for three on field goal attempts and tied his season-long of 55 yards with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, which made it a two-possession game. Punter Matt Bosher punted six times for a season-high 53.2 yard average. Previous game's ranking: C-
Coaching: D
Coach Mike Smith needs to realize when his offense is in a groove and not abandon a rushing attack that fostered the Falcons' first touchdown. They finished with 124 rushing yards, more than half of which came on the opening drive. Too many times this season Atlanta has jumped out to an early lead &ndash; in this case it was 17-0 -- only to cough it up and eventually win ugly. That's part of the reason why the national media has been so skeptical about the Falcons' chances in the playoffs. Previous game's ranking: B+
For more Falcons coverage, follow Mike Singer @CBSFalcons.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:19:23 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints mistakes six-pack: It wasn't all Drew Brees' fault in loss to Falcons]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Drew Brees lost the Falcons game, but he had plenty of accomplices in a bizarre Thursday night performance that left the Saints' playoff hopes on life support.Whether or not it was the quick turnaround from a physical, emotional matchup with San Francisco four days earlier, New Orleans made far too many mental and physical errors in its 32-13 loss to Atlanta.Brees' litany of mistakes has been well-documented. Here were the key gaffes by his teammates, in chronological order:1) On the first play, safety Malcolm Jenkins stepped in front of a fluttering duck by Falcons QB Matt Ryan, but TE Tony Gonzalez wanted the ball more, snatching it away from Jenkins. Instead of the Saints having the ball inside the Falcons' 30, it was an 8-yard gain, and Atlanta proceeded to cruise straight down the field for a touchdown.2) With the Saints threatening to close a 17-7 deficit to 17-14 before halftime, TE Jimmy Graham blocked LB Sean Weatherspoon downfield before RB Darren Sproles caught a swing pass and cruised into the end zone, drawing a 10-yard penalty for offensive pass interference. Weatherspoon might have had a play on Sproles without the block, but the worst scenario for the Saints would have been second-and-goal around the 1. Instead, the ball was moved to the 17, setting up Brees' inexplicable clock mismanagement that left New Orleans with no points.3) Lance Moore, the most sure-handed receiver on the team, dropped a Brees bullet in the end zone on first-and-goal as the Saints tried to score a TD on their opening possession of the second half. NFL Network color analyst Mike Mayock said Moore would catch that pass &ldquo;99 times out of a 100.&rdquo;4) On the next step, RB Mark Ingram stumbled to the turf after catching a low Brees swing pass, losing 2 yards. He had fullback Jed Collins blocking in front of him and would have scored if he had stayed on his feet and eluded a tackle by safety William Moore. Instead, the Saints settled for a field goal.5) On the Saints' next possession, Sproles beat Weatherspoon down the sideline and dropped a perfect deep pass from Brees that would have put the ball at the Falcons' 15. The Saints ending up settling for a 52-yard field goal.6) With the Saints trailing 20-13 but driving, Sproles caught a swing pass on first-and-10 at the Falcons' 41 and had an easy first down if he had dove or even taken on a tackler. Instead, he stepped out of bounds a yard shy of the first to avoid a hit. This wasn't a preseason game. It was a game the Saints felt they had to win to make the playoffs. On second-and-1, the Falcons stuffed Pierre Thomas for a 4-yard loss, and Brees took a sack on third down, forcing a punt.That was a six-pack of mistakes on top of Brees' five interceptions and mental meltdown at the end of the first half.The Saints gave themselves absolutely no chance to win.Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:49:17 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints DL Bunkley fined $20K for kicking 49ers' Boone in head]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Bunkley is fined after avoiding a suspension earlier in the week. (US Presswire) 



Saints starting defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley has been fined $20,000 for his kick to the back of the head of 49ers guard Alex Boone, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Bunkley's kick came in the final minutes of the Niners' 31-21 victory Sunday. The DT was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected with 1:05 left for kicking Boone after the Saints had blocked a field goal.
Bunkley played in Thursday night's loss to the Falcons, registering one tackle and one pass defended. His fine comes on the heels of Detroit Lions DT Ndamukong Suh's $30,000 fine for a kick to Texans QB Matt Schaub's groin on Thanksgiving.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:49:03 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Postgame analysis: Falcons 23, Saints 13 ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
This one was on Drew Brees.In the biggest regular-season game the Saints have played in the last four years, the highest-paid player in NFL history produced a stinker for the ages. A week after throwing two pick-6s in New Orleans' loss to San Francisco, Brees made that performance look like a Hall-of-Fame outing by comparison.He threw not one, not two, not three, not four but a career-high five interceptions as the Falcons beat the Saints, 23-13, on Thursday night at the Georgia Dome. And that doesn't even count Brees' biggest blunder. With New Orleans trailing 17-7 and facing a second-and-goal at the Atlanta 5-yard line in the final minute of the first half, he inexplicably let about 30 seconds run off the clock as the Saints huddled up with no timeouts, then threw a check-down to RB Darren Sproles for a 2-yard gain. The Saints could not get another play off before the half ended.That was the most bizarre sequence in a bizarre game. Atlanta went ahead 17-0 early in the second quarter, then did not pick up another first down until near the end of the third quarter against the NFL's lowest-ranked defense. The Saints pulled within 17-13 despite a litany of mistakes before Brees threw three interceptions on their last four possessions. Even when a pick was nullified by an offsides penalty, he tossed another one on the next play.The loss put the Saints (5-7) on life support in their quest for the playoffs. They'll have to win their last four and get some help.The Falcons (11-1) remained on pace for home-field advantage in the NFC but did nothing to convince anyone they are a Super Bowl favorite, winning by 10 when they had a 5-1 advantage in turnovers. When the game turned: With the Saints trailing 17-13 but possessing all the momentum while facing a second-and-5 near midfield in the third quarter, Brees tried to throw against his body to WR Devery Henderson and never saw safety William Moore, who stepped in front of the pass for an easy interception and returned it to the New Orleans 41. The Falcons kicked a field goal for their first points since early in the second quarter and benefitted from Brees' generosity the rest of the way.Highlight moments: Falcons QB Matt Ryan threw a picture-perfect pass over the middle to TE Tony Gonzalez for a TD to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead in the first minute of the second quarter, beating former Falcons' LB Curtis Lofton's tight coverage. Who knew the Falcons would go almost two quarters before making another first down? &hellip; Atlanta safety Thomas DeCoud made a nice recovery to pick off a deep post pass Brees threw to WR Marques Colston in the end zone on the Saints' first series. Colston was open early, but not late. &hellip; The Brees dump-off to Sproles at the end of the half had to be seen to believed. &hellip; Atlanta's Matt Bryant, who had missed from 22 yards last week vs. Tampa Bay, drilled a 55-yard field goal to seal the victory with 4:25 left.Top-shelf performances:

Saints WR Lance Moore  -- 9 catches, 108 yards
Falcons RB Michael Turner  --12 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
Falcons S William Moore --10 tackles, 2 interceptions

What they said:

Saints interim coach Joe Vitt on the team's postseason hopes -- &ldquo;The future as far as the playoffs goes looks bleak right now.&rdquo;
Saints QB Drew Brees on his five interceptions -- &ldquo;I felt as good coming into this game as I had about the passing game all season really."

The streak is over: Brees' NFL-record string of 54 games with a TD pass ended in ignominious fashion. He may not have the mark for long. New England's Tom Brady has thrown a scoring pass in 43 straight games.Egg-cruciating performance: Several members of the Saints tweeted that their bus was egged by Hartsfield International Airport employees when they got on their team bus after they arrived in Atlanta on Wednesday. But it was Brees who left the Georgia Dome with egg on his face. Numbers you should know: Brees has thrown an NFL-high 16 interceptions. &hellip; The Falcons rushed for 71 yards on their opening drive after gaining 46 on the ground for the entire game vs. the Saints three weeks ago. Then Atlanta had only 53 rushing yards the rest of the way. &hellip; Since 2008, the Falcons are 28-3 against the rest of the NFL at the Georgia Dome and 2-3 vs. the Saints.Injury updates: Falcons -- CB Asante Samuel left in the first half after aggravating a right shoulder injury. He missed out on the picks parade. Saints -- OT Zach Strief started after missing three games with a groin injury, but he was bothered by cramps at one point in the fourth quarter.Going forward: Saints -- New Orleans' playoff hopes aren't totally over, but all signs point to a loss at the New York Giants on Dec. 9 and the unofficial end to this painful season without suspended coach Sean Payton. If Brees doesn't get out of his funk, a loss is a certainty. Falcons -- They may be the least-respected 11-1 team ever. Still, after a trip to Carolina on Dec. 9, they return to the Georgia Dome to face the Giants in a game that could cement their status as the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:51:27 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Falcons inactives vs. Saints]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Falcons inactives: QB Dominique Davis, WR Tim Toone, S Charles Mitchell, OG Phillipkeith Manley, OG Harland Gunn, DE Lawrence Sidbury, DT Peria Jerry (quad).
For more Falcons coverage, follow Mike Singer @CBSSportsNFLATL.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:19:10 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints inactives vs. Falcons]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Saints inactives: TE David Thomas (knee), OT Charles Brown (knee), DE Junior Galette (ankle), S Isa Abdul-Quddus (concussion), WR Courtney Roby (shoulder, ankle), DT Tom Johnson (back), LB Scott Shanle.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:13:31 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Pete's Pics: Colin Kaepernick's good, but there's room for improvement]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

So the San Francisco 49ers have decided to go with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback. Yes, he has done some good things in his two starts, but what I saw against the Saints was his passing on some chances for big plays to take the safe route.That has to change.Here's one of those plays.The 49ers had two receivers lined up wide left (red circles) with tight end Vernon Davis in the slot inside of them (yellow circle). As you can see by the second picture, Kaepernick had a chance for a big play to Davis -- a chance throw, but one the good ones make -- but threw instead to Michael Crabtree for a first down. It's not a negative play, but it's the kind of play he has to change as he plays more. Playing it safe isn't going to get the 49ers to the Super Bowl.




On another play, the one that saw him throw his only interceptions, he needed to play it safe and he didn't, but it was because of a misread, not aggression. He had Kyle Williams (yellow circle) lined up in the slot inside of Crabtree (red circle). Williams ran a corner route and Crabtree ran a little curl. It was obvious that Kaepernick read man coverage, but corner Patrick Robinson (blue circle) bailed on the play and jumped underneath his throw to Williams for an easy pick. Kaepernick needed to go to Crabtree on that play.






That isn't to say it was all bad. In the fourth quarter, Kaepernick made a big-boy throw to the middle of the field to tight end Delanie Walker for a 25-yard gain. On the play, Walker was lined up on the right side of the formation in the slot between Davis (yellow circle) and Crabtree. The Saints were in a two-deep zone. Kaepernick could have taken a shot to Crabtree at the top, but he instead chose to go inside to Walker. As you can see by the pictures below, it was a tough throw into traffic. Walker made a great catch, but seeing Kaepernick take that kind of chance is a good thing for the 49ers moving forward.





Jared Allen gets off easyJared Allen's hit on Bears guard Lance Louis deserved a bigger fine than he received. The league fined him $21,000, but it should have been more. Louis suffered a torn ACL on the play and is lost for the season. Allen said he wasn't trying to hurt him, which is probably true, but the hit was definitely a dirty play. Why? Allen left his feet to strike Louis. There was no need for that. And as the pictures below show, Allen sized Louis up before he violently left his feet to fly into him. It's a dangerous play for sure. If Ndamukong Suh does the exact some thing, he would be suspended for multiple games. Allen got away with one here.







Shorts turns on the afterburnersI mentioned in After Further Review Thursday that Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts is emerging as a big-play threat in his second season. He is averaging 20.8 per catch. A big reason for that is his ability to accelerate after the catch. Here's a look at his 59-yard touchdown catch last week against the Titans.On the play, Shorts (yellow circle) was lined up wide right outside of tight end Marcedes Lewis and Justin Blackmon (red circle). You can see the routes the two receivers ran and actually Blackmon was probably the better option for Chad Henne to hit. But he went to Shorts and Shorts made a smooth catch and accelerated past Jordan Babineaux (26) for a big-play touchdown.





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			<category>Chicago Bears</category>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:47:53 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Gregg Williams' NFL future cloudy at best]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[For weeks now, I've been saying Gregg Williams would testify before Paul Tagliabue's hearing on the Saints' bounty situation which starts on Friday. Not because Williams wants to but because he has to if he hopes for an NFL future (not to mention the NFL desperately needs him). But the reality is this: he likely has no future in professional football.
At least, not one that he will recognize. In speaking to a number of team personnel and scouts around the NFL, none could envision a team that would elevate Williams to defensive coordinator status, or anything remotely close to it. They doubted even his friend, Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, could keep Williams in that position. Fisher and Williams have been good friends for two decades.
The problem Fisher would face inretaining Williams is a resounding lack of trust from the locker room despite the fact Williams was already there.
One team executive told the story of how he jokingly brought up Williams' name as future defensive coordinator to one of his team's player leaders. The player said there would be a mutiny if that ever happened. The player wasn't joking. He was also correct.
It's also unlikely few, if any, coaching staffs would trust Williams. There is also the problem of how a team would have to sell to its fan base that it just hired one of the most notorious figures in recent league history who preached injuring players.
What Williams did was, in effect, allegedly push the Saints players towards a bounty system, then, after everyone was busted, he sold those same players out.
"No one outside of Jeff will ever trust him," said one personnel man.
Williamscould get employment in the league office itself but not exactly sure who there would trust him, either.
Clearly, Williams thinks he will be back in football, and perhaps in St. Louis, or he wouldn't be cooperating. But he is effectively a prosecution witness in a league of players that doesn't always trust the prosecution, that is, the NFL itself. After all that has gone down, can even Rams players trust him?
So why is Williams doing all of this? To right a wrong? To save his legacy? Hope there's a chance a team and locker room will forgive him?
Or all of the above?

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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:29:34 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Former Saints assistant Williams seen boarding plane to DC for bounty hearings]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Williams has yet to be reinstated by the NFL. (US Presswire) 



Suspended defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was seen boarding a plane from St. Louis to Washington, DC, to take part in the NFL's bounty hearings.



Related content


Analysis





Michael Freeman Gregg Williams' NFL future cloudy at best





Williams, the ex-Saints coordinator at the center of the Bountygate scandal, had rebuffed requests to take part in the process, but the league has compelled him to do so, with his reinstatement hanging in the balance, sources said. Williams is now with the Rams, but is banned from any interaction with the team. Former Saints employee Mike Cerullo, the whistle blower in this case, is taking part Thursday, sources said.
Not all players involved will be present for the hearings, though they can listen in on conference call. Saints players Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith are facing the Falcons in Atlanta on Thursday night. Free agent Anthony Hargrove is not there either, sources said. Many members of NFL Security and investigators in the case are taking part, though it is unclear if Joe Hummel, former head of NFL Security who left during this investigation, will be present.
These hearings are expected to last into the weekend, and perhaps longer.
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:22:20 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Atlanta airport workers egg Saints ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Recently in the Falcons-Saints rivalry, one New Orleans player pretended to urinate on the Falcons logo, Atlanta receiver Roddy White frequently talked about his hatred for the Saints team and its city (except for the food), and after the Saints victory earlier this month, White said, &ldquo;It's not like they came out here and won a game today. I think we kind of gave it to them.&rdquo;
The two teams clearly don't enjoy the other's company.
And apparently that extends to the airport workers in Atlanta.
Witness the following tweet from backup Chase Daniel -- who traveled with his team Wednesday to Atlanta in preparation for Thursday's game. 

Wow, as we're boarding buses on the Tarmac @ Atlanta airport, we start getting eggs thrown @ us by airport workers! Guess they do hate us!
&mdash; Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) November 29, 2012


Tight end Jimmy Graham also noticed the fowl vandalism.

Bus just got egged after landing in ATL by the ramp workers. Classy! "RISE Up" smh
&mdash; Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) November 29, 2012


So, that's kind of cool, right? A rivalry that extends all the way to the airport tarmac.
But here's hoping the person who actually had to clean the buses afterward wasn't a big Falcons fans. Otherwise, next time, those airport workers should just use toilet paper to roll the plane after it arrives. For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:06:19 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints OC Pete Carmichael says he has not heard from Boston College  ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Saints OC Pete Carmichael dodged the question when asked if he would be interested in the Boston College job.(US Presswire) 



Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said Wednesday he had not had any contact with Boston College amid reports that he was a candidate for the Golden Eagles' head coaching job.
&ldquo;Yesterday I heard it from our PR department [when they] came down and told me about it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I have heard nothing from Boston College and there is not even time to think about it this week. It's a short week, big game for us, so our focus right now is on the Atlanta Falcons.&rdquo;
The Saints (5-6), trying to stay alive in the NFC wildcard race, play in Atlanta (10-1) on Thursday night. Asked if he would be interested in Boston College, Carmichael dodged the question.
&ldquo;Listen, right now I haven't even given it a second thought,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I just heard about it from Doug [Miller] yesterday and it just went in and out because we have the Atlanta Falcons on a short week and that's where our focus is.&rdquo;
Carmichael, 41, was a four-year letterman for Boston College in baseball. He is in his fourth year with the Saints and third as offensive coordinator. The Golden Eagles fired coach Frank Spaziani on Monday after a 2-10 season.
Carmichael said the attention was flattering.
&ldquo;For a program like that, absolutely,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Again, [my] focus right now is on Atlanta.&rdquo;
No official word on Strief: Although OT Zach Strief appears likely to play against Atlanta after missing the last three games with a groin injury, Saints interim coach Joe Vitt was non-committal Wednesday. Strief is listed as questionable on the official injury report, the same status as last week, when he did not play.
&ldquo;I probably feel about the way I've felt all week,&rdquo; Vitt said. &ldquo;He's answered the bell in practice and has looked OK, so we'll wait and see.&rdquo;
If Strief cannot play, New Orleans would be down to two tackles -- starting LT Jermon Bushrod and Will Robinson.
What would happen if one of them got hurt, too?
&ldquo;We have a couple of options but I really don't feel like talking about those right now,&rdquo; Vitt said. &ldquo;That's why we close our practice.&rdquo;
Returning to Atlanta: Saints MLB Curtis Lofton will play his first game in the Georgia Dome not in a Falcons' uniform after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the team.
Lofton handled some pre-game taunting from his ex-teammates well in the first meeting, finishing with five tackle and a deflection in the Saints' 31-27 win Nov. 11.
&ldquo;I've never been in the visitors' locker room,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are a little mixed feelings, but I'll be excited for the game. I don't get nervous. I just want to go out and put my teammates in the best situation.&rdquo;
Lofton said he still owns a home in Atlanta but is trying to sell it, having bought a house in New Orleans near the Saints' facility.
&ldquo;All my stuff is already moved out [of his Atlanta house],&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is my home down here. I've still got good friends there and a lot of relationships that I'll still go and visit and hang out, but this is my home now.&rdquo;
Injury report: Five Saints players are definitely out -- DE Junior Galette (sprained ankle), OT Charles Brown (knee), S Isa Abdul-Quddus (concussion), DT Tom Johnson (back) and WR Courtney Roby (shoulder, ankle).
Strief, CB Corey White (knee) and TE David Thomas (knee) are questionable, while CB Elbert Mack (concussion) is probable. White was limited in practice all week.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:03:56 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints OT Will Robinson has gone from bouncer to key blocker in two weeks]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





 Will Robinson has bounced around the NFL and he's gone from being a bouncer two weeks ago to backup OL for the Saints. (US Presswire) 



After bouncing around the NFL with hardly any playing time since his rookie year in 2009, OLWill Robinson was working as a bouncer before the Saints called him last week.
Robinson was waived by the Jaguars at the end of the preseason, so he returned to his home in Los Angeles and began working from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at a local bar.
&ldquo;That comes with the territory for offensive linemen,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We're always bouncing people.&rdquo;
That life ended, at least temporarily, because New Orleans lost OTZach Strief to a groin injury against Philadelphia and backupCharles Browninjured a knee against Oakland. Robinson, who was on the Saints' roster last year but never played in a game, was the best available candidate to come in and be ready to play immediately.
He got that chance when right tackle No. 3, Bryce Harris, broke a leg in the first half against San Francisco. Four days after practicing for the first time, Harris played in only his second career NFL game and first since 2009, with the Redskins.
&ldquo;There's nothing like coming off the street and playing against one of the top three defenses in the NFL,&rdquo; Robinson said. &ldquo;But that's a challenge you live for. You can't beat that.&rdquo;
He may not play at Atlanta. Strief is listed as questionable, but Robinson said Wednesday Strief was &ldquo;good to go.&rdquo;
Still, as one of only three active tackles on the roster, he will be a play from entering at any time.
&ldquo;If they need me, I'm ready to go,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I'm just excited to be back in football.&rdquo;
Even if his latest stint with the Saints ends soon, he's not dreading a return to life as a bouncer.
&ldquo;People were generally pretty nice,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There were a few guys who needed a little roughing up.&rdquo;



Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.


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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:36:09 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints Game Preview vs. Falcons: Analysis, prediction, TV info]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Saints RB Chris Ivory will need to produce to take pressure off QB Drew Brees in Thursday night's crucial game vs. Atlanta. (US Presswire) 



Saints at Falcons -- Week 13
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta (indoors, FieldTurf)
When: Thursday, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
Spread: Falcons by 3&frac12; 
2012 records: Saints -- 5-6 (1-2 NFC South); Falcons -- 10-1 (2-1 NFC South)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 11, 2012: Saints 31, Falcons 27 in the Superdome; Dec. 26, 2011: Saints 45, Falcons 16 in the Superdome. Series record: Falcons lead 45-41, but the Saints have won 11 of the last 13.
What matters: Running and stopping the run. The Saints aren't totally out of the playoff picture if they lose, but to have a realistic shot, they would have to win their last four, including a tough trip to the New York Giants next Sunday. In other words, this is pretty close to a must-win game, and the path to victory in the Georgia Dome is on the ground. The Saints match up well with the Falcons because Atlanta has a lousy run defense, giving up 4.8 yards per carry. That's tied for third-worst in the NFL. RBChris Ivory kick-started New Orleans' win in Week 10 with a 56-yard TD run, opening up more room for Drew Brees and the Saints receivers to operate. Conversely, the Saints formerly struggling run defense limited Michael Turner to 15 yards on 13 carries, a typical effort from the Falcons' underperforming back. The Falcons ran 18 times and threw 51 times. If the Saints force a similar imbalance Thursday night, they can pull off the sweep.
Who matters: Ivory -- He's a beast when he has room to run, possessing the best combination of speed, moves and power among Saints backs in the open field. Again, Brees and his receivers will do a lot more damage if the Falcons have to worry constantly about the ground game. Since being activated for the first time against Philadelphia, Ivory is averaging a team-best 5.8 yards on 33 carries. That's nothing new. He also led the team with a 5.2 average in 2010. &hellip; TE Jimmy Graham-- He had a career-high 146 receiving yards on seven catches in the first meeting, including two TDs. Because of a lingering ankle problem and a case of the drops, Graham's third year has not been as spectacular as his breakout second season, but he appears poised for a big finish. The Falcons could not cover him in New Orleans and should not fare better in Atlanta.
Key matchups: CBs Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson vs. Atlanta WRs Roddy White and Julius Jones. This is the Falcons' biggest edge. Their tall, talented receiver tandem combined for 11 catches and 189 yards in the first meeting, but Greer made a huge play to save the game, deflecting a fourth-down pass for White in the end zone in the last two minutes. The Saints CBs are going to lose this battle more often than they win it Thursday. Greer simply is not playing as well as he did in his first three years in New Orleans, and Robinson is learning on the job in his first season as a full-times starter. But if they make plays at the right time, the Saints can survive. &hellip; Saints zone scheme vs. TE Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez found holes in the zone to the tune of 122 yards, 11 catches and two TDs in the first meeting. That can't happen again. Roman Harper, who lined up as a hybrid safety/LB in the first meeting, needs to be more aware of him.
Injuries of note: OT Zach Strief is questionable after missing the last three games with a groin injury. The Saints have little depth in the secondary, with Isa Abdul-Quddus (concussion) out and Corey White (knee) questionable.
Inside stuff: All signs point to Strief playing. The Saints have only two other active tackles -- starting LT Jermon Bushrod and Will Robinson. Plus, Robinson said Friday that Strief was &ldquo;good to go&rdquo; and he (Robinson) would &ldquo;play if needed.&rdquo; It's a huge difference. Strief is in his third year as a starter. Robinson, the fourth option at RT, went three years in between his first game (with Washington in 2009) and his second game with New Orleans after Bryce Harris went down with a broken leg last Sunday. Robinson was OK against San Francisco, but the Saints don't want to press their luck.
Connections: Saints MLB Curtis Lofton played for the Falcons from 2008-11 and never missed a game, averaging 133 tackles his final three seasons. &hellip; The Falcons' second-string QB Luke McCown was in training camp with the Saints this year. &hellip; Jones and Saints RB Mark Ingram were teammates at Alabama in 2009 when Ingram won the Heisman Trophy and the Crimson Tide won the national championship.
Stats you should know: The biggest one is the Saints having won 11 of the last 13 in the series. The Falcons are sick of hearing about it and feel like they let the game in New Orleans get away. If the Saints complete the sweep, they will officially be in the Falcons' heads. &hellip; Brees and Matt Ryan combined for 709 passing yards three weeks ago, with Ryan accounting for 411. &hellip; Teams are 2-0 on short weeks this year after playing San Francisco. Green Bay beat Chicago on a Thursday, and Chicago beat Minnesota on a Sunday after a Monday-nighter.
Bulletin board quote: &ldquo;They're like our little brothers. Deep down they know they can't mess with us even when we are having a down year." -- Saints LB Scott Shanle, who was inactive for the first game, to Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports after New Orleans beat Atlanta.
Looking ahead: If the Saints win, they will have some momentum and a long rest before facing Eli Manning and the Giants on Dec. 9. If they lose, the weight of a 5-7 record will make it awfully hard for them to win in New York.
Prediction: Falcons 30, Saints 27
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:28:38 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints Notebook: DE Will Smith recalls Falcons WR Roddy White's putdown]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





DE Will Smith will be looking for Falcons WR Roddy White when the Saints play the Falcons on Thursday.  (US Presswire) 



Atlanta WR Roddy White said the Falcons &ldquo;gave the game&rdquo; to the Saints when they lost 31-27 on Nov. 11 at the Superdome.
New Orleans DE Will Smith said he would remember that quote when the teams face each other Thursday for the second time in a month.
&ldquo;No matter how it turned out, a loss is a loss,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;Roddy has a problem with just saying things without thinking before he says things, so, I mean, he should have thought about that, knowing that we have to play them again.&rdquo;
White had seven catches for 114 yards in the first meeting, but his effort was not enough as the Falcons (10-1) lost for the only time this year.
New Orleans SSRoman Harper said he understands why White would say something like that.
&ldquo;Of course, coming from their side, they're going to feel confident and feel like they made some mistakes here and there and kind of gave the game away,&rdquo; Harper said. &ldquo;But we took advantage of those opportunities, and we made the plays that needed to be made at the end of the game.&rdquo;
FS Malcolm Jenkins laughed about White's statement.
&ldquo;There's always going to be somebody talking trash,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Most times it's Roddy White. And we enjoy it. I think that makes the game fun. It brings emotion to the game. He's Roddy White. You've got to know that's going to come from him.&rdquo;
Vilma, Smith to attend hearing: Never mind what Jonathan Vilma said last week about the timing of the Falcons game preventing him or Smith from attending former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's hearing into their bounty-related suspension appeal Friday morning.
It turns out the duo will fly to Washington after the Thursday night game in Atlanta and will be in the room when former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams speaks. The testimony of Williams and former Saints defensive assistant Mike Cerullo was the primary evidence Tagliabue used in suspending Smith for four games and Vilma for the season, punishments that have been delayed several times. 
&ldquo;We want to make sure what they're saying is what they're really saying, not someone else's words,&rdquo; Smith said.
Smith and Vilma will not attend Cerullo's hearing Thursday.


Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.

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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:55:41 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints place OT Bryce Harris on IR, need Zach Strief to play Thursday ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





 The Saints expect offensive tackle Zach Strief to play on Thursday against the Falcons.  (US Presswire)



The Saints placed rookie offensive tackle Bryce Harris on injured reserve on Tuesday and did not sign a tackle to replace him, an indication they expect Zach Strief will play Thursday against the Falcons after missing the previous three games with a groin injury. Interim coach Joe Vitt said Strief was limited in practice, but the Saints likely would have signed another tackle if they thought Strief would be unavailable to face the Falcons.
The only healthy tackles on the active roster are starting LT Jermon Bushrod and William Robinson, whom the Saints signed last Tuesday. Robinson played the rest of the way against San Francisco on Sunday after Harris broke a bone in his lower right leg during the first half. The Saints allowed five sacks in the second half and will be in a desperate situation if Strief cannot play. Robinson played in one game with the Redskins in 2009 and did not play again until Sunday, spending time with the Seahawks, the Jaguars and the Saints in 2010 and 2011 without getting on the field. Quarterback Drew Brees defended Robinson's performance against San Francisco and praised the offensive line as a whole. &ldquo;It's not five individuals, It's a unit,&rdquo; Brees said. &ldquo;So much of what they do is, it's communication, it's togetherness. They're working together at all times. Just as a unit they all stuck together there.&rdquo; The Saints also activated TE Michael Higgins, who had one catch in the regular season and one catch in the playoffs last year. Backup tight end David Thomas was limited in practice with a knee injury. Injury update: CB Corey White (knee) was limited in practice after missing the previous two games with a knee injury. DE Junior Galette (ankle), DT Tom Johnson (back), OT Charles Brown (knee), safety Isa Abdul-Quddus (concussion) and WR Courtney Roby (shoulder, ankle) did not practice. CB Elbert Mack (concussion) practiced fully.Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:56:39 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Falcons Game Preview vs. Saints: Analysis, prediction, TV info]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Saints at Falcons-- Week 13
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta (turf, indoors)
When: Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Spread: Falcons by 3
Records: Falcons (Overall: 10-1, NFC South: 2-1); Saints (Overall: 5-6, NFC South: 2-1).
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 11, 2012: Saints 31, Falcons 27; Dec. 26, 2011: Saints 45, Falcons 16. Series record: Falcons lead the regular season series 45-41, but the Saints have won the past four meetings, including seven of the last eight.
What matters: The Falcons' magic number for clinching the NFC South title is two. Any combination of Atlanta wins and Tampa Bay losses gives the Falcons the title and guarantees them a spot in the postseason. Should the Falcons win, they'd also need Denver to defeat the Buccaneers on Sunday to clinch. At this point, the division is of little concern. Atlanta is focused on claiming the NFC's No. 1 seed to guarantee itself home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Falcons are battling the 49ers (8-2-1) and the Bears (8-3) for the top seed. On a more emotional note, the Saints are unquestionably the Falcons' biggest rival due to the number of close games they've played and their natural proximity. Just three weeks ago, New Orleans ruined the Falcons' bid for an undefeated season. That memory is still fresh and undeniably still stings.
Who matters: If it wasn't crystal clear how much the Falcons missed WR Julio Jones when he was hampered by an ankle injury prior to Sunday's win over Tampa Bay, then it should be pretty obvious now. Five of Jones' six catches against the Buccaneers went for first downs (the other went for nine yards) and no play was bigger than QB Matt Ryan's 80-yard touchdown pass on a simple fly route to Jones on Atlanta's first possession of the second half. Aside from the obvious benefits, his presence alone alters defensive schemes. The Bucs were willing to test Jones' &ldquo;injured&rdquo; ankle -- he was a game time decision -- with single coverage and he in turn had a career-high 147 yards. The only reason that Jones didn't crack 100 yards three weeks ago against the Saints was because Atlanta's other two top receivers, Tony Gonzalez (122) and Roddy White (114), each cracked the century mark themselves.
Key Matchups: The Saints' secondary is crucial to keeping Falcons receivers at bay. It should come as no surprise that four of the Saints' top five tacklers from their previous meeting were defensive backs. Ryan was essentially forced to throw it 52 times for 408 yards because of the Falcons' pathetic rushing attack. Against Tampa Bay, there was a significant changing of the guard in the Falcons backfield. Regular starter Michael Turner was relegated to 38 percent of the offensive snaps while upstart RB Jacquizz Rodgers was in for 52 percent of Atlanta's plays. Rodgers is a significant upgrade to Turner, who's often tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage. Rodgers showed his versatile potential against the Bucs with 10 rushes for 49 yards and a score but also two catches for 30 yards out of the backfield. It's a new offensive look that puts more pressure on the Saints' leading-tackler LB Curtis Lofton (92). &hellip; Saints QB Drew Brees was given way too much time in the pocket in their last meeting and the Falcons will need to generate more pressure from ends John Abraham and Kroy Biermann along the edges.
Injuries of note: Playing on a short week is never good for a banged up team, but that's the situation facing the Falcons. Defensive tackle Peria Jerry missed Sunday's game vs. Tampa Bay and didn't participate in the team's walkthrough on Monday as he was dealing with an ankle injury. Cornerback Asante Samuel re-aggravated a shoulder injury that's plagued him for two weeks but he played through it and helped defend the Bucs' last-second Hail Mary attempt. He didn't participate in the team's walkthrough, either.
Inside stuff: Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon had six tackles in his return from an ankle injury after missing the Falcons' past three games. He was instrumental in shoring up the team's tackling woes. Atlanta limited Bucs RB Doug Martin to his lowest yards per carry (2.4) of the season and the longest run the Falcons conceded was 10 yards. No one has to remind the Atlanta defenders of Saints' RB Chris Ivory's 56-yard touchdown run, where he broke four tackles en route to the end zone. Weatherspoon could be huge in containing their rush attack.
Connections: Saints LB Lofton was drafted by the Falcons in 2008 but chose to leave Atlanta this past offseason in search of &ldquo;true fans&rdquo; and a team with a chance at a Super Bowl.
Record watch: Gonzalez passed James Lofton for seventh on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list last Sunday. Gonzalez had 62 yards last week to increase his career total to 14,050. Former Colts WR Marvin Harrison is next on the list with 14,580.  
Stat you should know: The Falcons were plus-10 in turnover margin throughout the first three weeks of the season. Since then, Atlanta is minus-seven in turnover margin and hasn't had a positive turnover margin once.
Second stat you should know: Turner's 3-yard touchdown run last weekend gave him six for the season and 57 for his career, tying him with former wideout Terance Mathis for most all-time in Falcons history.
Looking ahead: The Falcons travel to Carolina on Sunday, Dec. 9.
Prediction: Falcons 34, Saints 28For more Falcons coverage, follow Mike Singer @CBSFalcons.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:07:26 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Forget the Chiefs; what's gone wrong with NFL officials?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Some people remember this Thanksgiving for what RG3 did to Dallas. Me? I remember it for what officials did to Detroit ... which is blow a call that shafted the Lions. OK, OK, so Lions coach Jim Schwartz blew it by forgetting the rules and preventing a replay from occurring that would have corrected the error.
I get that. But let's be honest: That doesn't happen if officials get the call right. And they didn't.
But they haven't all season. When the lockout ended, fans welcomed the return of veteran officials, thinking they'd right the wrongs of replacement refs and everyone would live happily ever after. Except everyone hasn't, and I offer this weekend as an example. There wasn't anything as bad as the Detroit game, but there was turmoil elsewhere ... and for good reason.



More on the NFL




2012 NFL Week 12




Judgements:  49ers leaning on defense, not QBs
Freeman: Players need to break silence about Suh
Prisco:  Where will Chiefs find a franchise QB?
La Canfora: Raiders area a complete mess
Brinson: Sorting the Sunday Pile
Grades: Team-by-team | Grading rookies
The week that was ... in tweets
Postseason: Playoff picture | Tiebreakers
Scores, stats, recaps | News, notes | Injuries




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Officials just aren't having a good season.
There were at least four incidents that I witnessed where I thought officials blew the calls, including the game-changing play in Baltimore's 16-13 defeat of San Diego. So I reached out to Mike Pereira, the former NFL director of officiating who now works as a rules specialist for Fox, and asked what he thought -- and here's what he said:
1. The Ray Rice catch-and-run. You've seen the play a zillion times by now. It's fourth-and-29, Baltimore trails by three and the Ravens are down to their last gasp. On the Baltimore sideline, linebacker Terrell Suggs admits he was "thinking we needed a miracle," and it's his lucky day. He gets his wish. Rice catches a short pass over the middle, weaves around and through San Diego defenders and somehow, some way, gains 30 yards for a first down to set up a game-tying field goal. Only he didn't. Not from where I was sitting, he didn't. Replays seemed to show that Rice's knees were down just as the ball crossed the San Diego 35, leaving him short of a first down. Referee Gene Steratore, however, spotted it at the 33-and-a-half, moving it closer to the 34 after watching replays. But he still kept it inside the hash -- a yard beyond where it should have been. San Diego was incensed, and it should've been -- at itself. There's no way there should have been a replay of anything when it's fourth-and-29, but the Chargers were in the giving mood. So they allowed Rice to go 28-and-three-quarters yards ... only officials made it 30. A mistake?
"The thing I always say with progress plays with relation to first downs," said Pereira, "is that unless there's clear evidence of a definite line, it's hard to move the ball. I can make a case for having his knee short of the line, but I can't prove it. I guess I might wonder why they moved the ball when I'm not sure where there's a spot to move it to."
The call took nine minutes to sort out, which Pereira rightly described as "ludicrous." Replays are supposed to be handled within one to two minutes. Granted, there were injuries that occurred on the play (the Chargers' Eric Weddle suffered a concussion when he was hammered by Anquan Boldin) that slowed everything down. But the time it took to sort this out tells me something ... and it tells me officials weren't sure what they were seeing.
"I guess my questions would be: Why did it take so long?" said Pereira, "and why did you move [the ball]?"
When officials first signaled a first down, the crew in charge of the sideline markers moved them 10 yards forward, something critics said affected -- and corrupted -- the later measurement. Not so, said Pereira, because there's a clip attached to the chain that sits on a yard line, and it isn't removed until the first snap of the subsequent series. That tag would've allowed for officials to relocate the chains accurately, which they did. But it's not the placement of the chains that was in error; it was the placement of the ball.
There was also a contention that Boldin clipped Weddle on the play and should've been called for the foul. "No way," said Pereira.
2. Earl Thomas' roughing the passer call. The Seahawks cling to a seven-point lead when Miami drives to the Seattle 7, and Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill takes a snap and rolls right. Under pressure, he throws back to the middle of the end zone ... and finds his receiver. Only it's not Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano; it's the Seahawks' Bobby Wagner with a clutch interception. Only it's not ... and it's not because officials rule that Thomas, who blitzed the pocket from his safety position, hit Tannehill in the head, drawing a roughing-the-passer call, overruling the interception and giving Miami the ball first-and-goal at the 3. One play later, the game was tied. Thomas was incensed, and I can see why. He jumped to block the pass and landed on the quarterback. But he didn't hammer him in the head.
"Tannehill was out of the pocket," said Pereira, "and you have to remember that, when the quarterback leaves the pocket, he does lose certain protections ... but one thing you don't lose is contact to the head. You have to remember what these guys are told, and that's that even if officials think [the infraction] is questionable, they're supposed to call the foul if they think there's contact with the head. Now, is it the worst I've ever seen? No. But with what officials are told, they err on the side of caution ... because that's what they're all supposed to do. If there's contact and it's made to the head, they're supposed to call a foul. So I don't think I'd say the call was poor."
3. Randy Moss and a blatant offensive pass-interference that wasn't called.This wasn't Golden Tate in Seattle ... but it was close. The 49ers were up by seven and driving for a game-clinching touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when Colin Kaepernick dropped back and lobbed a pass to the left corner of the end zone for Moss. It was supposed to be a fade to Moss, with the wide receiver outjumping the Saints' Malcolm Jenkins, only the ball was underthrown ... with Jenkins in perfect position to make the interception. And he would have, if Moss hadn't pulled him to the turf. No call was made, and the Saints were outraged. They should have been. They got jobbed.
"The hardest thing about pass interference is that it's so inconsistently called," said Pereira, "because it's such a tough call to make. It's the hardest call on the field to make. You have all the moving parts of pass interference, and then you add to that the ball's on the move, and you're on the move ... it's unbelievably tough. So, should the one with Moss have been called? I think anyone who watched it agreed it should."
There was another pass-interference penalty in the Chicago-Minnesota game that I thought was blown, too. That was when the Bears' Brandon Marshall and cornerback Antoine Winfield went up for a high Jay Cutler pass in the end zone ... with a flag thrown immediately after contact. Both players cheered the call; only one would be wrong.
It was Winfield, even though replays showed Marshall clearly shoved him to one side before leaping for the ball.
"To me," said Pereira, "you make a judgment decision, and I would've just walked away [without making a call]. Remember, we're so good at making decisions after seeing the play three or four times, but these calls are so hard to make ... so there's going to be some inconsistency. If you're telling me there should've been offensive pass interference, I think I would have just left it alone [without making a call] instead."<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Baltimore Ravens</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Playoffs? Drew Brees remains confident about Saints' chances]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Saints QB Drew Brees is not letting Sunday's loss impact his confidence that New Orleans will make the playoffs. (US Presswire) 



Despite the bitterness of throwing two pick-sixes in a damaging loss to San Francisco on Sunday, Drew Brees left the Superdome with positive rather than negative feelings about the Saints' direction. He believes New Orleans (5-6) still is ready to make a run at the playoffs in the final five weeks.
&ldquo;It's tough because I know we played well enough to win in so many ways and yet, two plays like that can just completely change the outcome of a game, which obviously those did,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was really encouraged walking away from that game. I feel like we can beat that team, should beat that team. But listen, they're really, really good. They're going to be in the hunt just like we want to be in the hunt. We might see them later on.&rdquo; Criticized for abandoning the run too early in the past, the Saints stuck with it against the 49ers and had some good gains in the third quarter after struggling on the ground in the first half against San Francisco. Brees, who who threw 63 times in the Saints' playoff loss to the 49ers last year, had 41 attempts on Sunday. &ldquo;&ldquo;We really didn't abandon the game plan until about mid-fourth quarter,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Then it became, hey we're down two possessions and we've got to score quickly. Prior to that, I felt like we were extremely balanced, did a great job of mixing the run and the pass and really, I felt like put together a lot of good drives. &ldquo;Unfortunately, a lot of the good things are overshadowed by a couple of really catastrophic things that happened.&rdquo; Brees said he knew the Saints controlled their playoff destiny at kickoff of the 49ers game thanks to a series of losses by teams ahead of them earlier in the day. That's no longer true, but they won't need much help if they win their last five. &ldquo;If we take care of our business, we're in,&rdquo; Brees said. &ldquo;That's the way we all feel. We can't win five games in one week, though. We know if we take care of this week, then we'll worry about the next one.&rdquo; Brees admitted it would not be easy to get ready on a short week for Atlanta on Thursday night, but he looked at the positive there, too. &ldquo;The good thing is when you come off a loss like that you just can't get back on the field fast enough,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In this case, we get back on the field about as fast as you can.&rdquo;Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:52:39 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints Report Card: Two killer mistakes by Drew Brees doom New Orleans vs. 49ers]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Saints QB Drew Brees couldn't bring his team back from too many mistakes, including a game-changing interception with 22 seconds left in the first half that the 49ers returned for a touchdown on Sunday.  (US Presswire) 



The Saints were doing everything they needed to beat San Francisco before Drew Brees threw a game-changing interception the 49ers returned for a touchdown with 22 seconds left in the first half.
Suddenly, what they hoped would be a 17-7 lead at the break turned into 14-14, and when Brees threw a second pick-six early in the third quarter, the Saints had virtually no chance. San Francisco is far too good a team to lose when it scores two defensive touchdowns, and the 49ers held on to win 31-21. Offense: D Against almost anyone else, a game where the offense scored only more touchdown than the opposing defense would merit an F, but San Francisco has the best defense in the NFL. Brees led two impressive TD drives &ndash;a 10-play, 79-yarder in the first quarter and an eight-play, 80-yarder in the third quarter--while completing 26 of 41 for 267 yards and three scores.
His 10-yard TD pass to Marques Colston that put the Saints ahead 14-7 was a perfect throw to the back of the end zone. But his mistake right before halftime killed the Saints -- tight end Jimmy Graham was not open and Brees threw it right to LB Ahmad Brooks. The second pick-six came, when he threw too high for Colston in the middle of the field, was more excusable. He was trying to make a play and was slightly off. Once San Francisco got ahead, the New Orleans offense had no shot. The 49ers had no sacks in the first half and five in the second. The Saints managed just 59 yards on 21 carries, no surprise against the 49ers outstanding run defenders. Previous game's grade: B+ Defense: C For the most part, the defense played OK, holding the 49ers to 17 offensive points with the help of a missed field goal and a blocked field goal. San Francisco is the first New Orleans opponent to gain fewer than 400 yards, finishing with 375. Still, the Saints allowed three big drives. A mix-up left Mario Manningham wide open for a 40-yard gain with CB Jabari Greer trailing him as the 49ers cruised 80 yards in four plays for their first TD. A run blitz on third-and-2 left LB Curtis Lofton in a mismatch with TE Delanie Walker, leading to a 46-yard gain on a six-play, 80-yard TD drive to start the second half. And San Francisco converted three third downs, including a third-and-11, on an 85-yard drive that consumed 9:26 before its clinching field goal. The run defense was better than the numbers (31 carries, 144 yards) suggested --Frank Gore's longest run in 19 attempts was 14 yards -- but the Saints missed too many tackles on the 49ers receivers and elusive QB Colin Kaepernick, who was not sacked despite being pressured at times. Previousgame's grade: A- Special Teams: A-
The Saints won the special teams battle. Thomas Morstead had a net of 47.8 yards on five punts and placed two inside the 20. Gunner Rafael Bush made a flying recovery of a muffed punt at the 11, leading to the Saints' second TD. Malcolm Jenkins blocked a field goal in the final minute that could have resulted in a New Orleans touchdown if the deflected ball had taken a better bounce. Travaris Cadet averaged 29.6 yards on five kickoff returns, getting the ball past the 20 every time.Previousgame's grade: A- Coaching: B Down to their third-string right tackle, the Saints were in a precarious situation entering the game against San Francisco's dominant D-line. After worrying too much about the 49ers' pass rush on their first two possessions with quick passes, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael started running his normal offense, with extra help on the right side. The decision worked, but when the Saints had to go to a fourth right tackle after Bryce Harris' leg injury, Carmichael was in an impossible situation. The 49ers' five sacks in the second half were inevitable. The defense appears much more comfortable in Steve Spagnuolo's scheme but simply got beaten on a few plays. This loss was not on the coaches. No one beats San Francisco while giving up two interceptions returns for TDs. No one.Previous game's grade: A
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:58:58 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints prepare for quick turnaround vs. Falcons]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





It was not a good day for Saints QB Drew Brees, who threw two interceptions returned for touchdowns, as well as being sacked five times in Sunday's loss to the 49ers. (US Presswire) 



Playing Atlanta on the road four days after facing the NFL's most physical team will not be easy. But Saints interim coach Joe Vitt and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo are not complaining about the quick turnaround for Thursday night's game on the NFL Network.&ldquo;It's always tough,&rdquo; Vitt said. &ldquo;Every week in the National Football League is physical. Every week in the National Football League, even when you have a six-day turnaround, is a challenge. But both teams are facing the same challenge.&rdquo;Atlanta (10-1) is coming off an emotional 24-23 victory at formerly streaking Tampa Bay. New Orleans (5-6) lost for the first time in four games and only the second time in its last seven games as Drew Brees threw two pick-sixes in a 31-21 loss to San Francisco.&ldquo;We're not practicing today, so we'll go tomorrow (Tuesday, usually a day off for the Saints), and then what should be a fairly heavy practice day is a travel day (on Wednesday),&rdquo; Spagnuolo said. &ldquo;It's part of the league. That's what you do. What you have to do is go win the game and have the two days on the back end of it.&rdquo;History does not support the notion that teams should struggle the week after playing San Francisco's hard-hitting defense. In coach Jim Harbaugh's two-year tenure, opponents are 12-13 the week after playing the 49ers.This season, Green Bay got beat up in a 30-22 season opening loss to San Francisco, then rebounded to handle Chicago 23-10 the following Thursday.Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:06:36 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Monday Musings: Where do the Chiefs find their franchise QB? ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[

I feel bad for the Kansas City Chiefs. As I continually watch their horrible quarterback play, it's likely they will have the first overall pick with few options to fix that position at the top of the draft.

Right now, and the evaluation process is early, there isn't a franchise passer waiting for them in the draft.

The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins landed their franchise passers last spring in Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Barring injury, they won't have to worry about that position for a decade.

The Chiefs? What are their options if they have the first overall pick next spring?
USC's Matt Barkley hasn't played as well as expected. West Virginia's Geno Smith became the chic pick early, but is he a system quarterback? Oklahoma's Landry Jones has put up big numbers, but scouts have cooled on him.

What are the Chiefs to do?

And don't dare say they need to acquire somebody's backup. Haven't they done that already with Matt Cassel? How did that work out?

Somewhere in this draft they have to find a passer. Even if it's in the second round, which the Cincinnati Bengals did with Andy Dalton, who is clearly that team's franchise passer.




More on NFL


Columns





Mike Freeman NFL players must break their silence about Suh's antics 





Clark Judge  Niners' QB swap risky, but defense leaves little to chance




2012 NFL Week 12




Brinson: Sorting the Sunday Pile
Grades: Team-by-team | Grading rookies
The week that was ... in tweets
Postseason: Playoff picture | Tiebreakers
Scores, stats, recaps | News, notes | Injuries




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A couple of intriguing guys in that category are Georgia's Aaron Murray and North Carolina State's Mike Glennon. I like both of them from what I've seen off the TV.

But there's a long way to go in the process. Even so, I doubt a real franchise passer emerges, which makes me feel sorry for the Chiefs every time I see Brady Quinn or Matt Cassel taking snaps.


-- I love how after one start as the supposed guy in San Francisco, against one of the league's worst defenses, the cry around this league is this: Jim Harbaugh made the right decision going to Colin Kaerpernick. Please let it play out. Let's not forget he had 14 points from the defense, and he didn't exactly light it up through the air. His big play was a short pass that Mario Manningham turned into a big play. Did he do some good things? Yes. And I like the kid. But claiming it's the right move after one game is a rush to judgment.

--The Bengals are better off with Andy Dalton than they would be with Carson Palmer for the long run. That played out Sunday in Cincinnati. But it's pretty damn hard to play quarterback from behind all the time. The Raiders defense is horrible. Palmer has to deal with that on a consistent basis.

--When the Colts drafted receiver-return man T.Y. Hilton in the third round last April, some scouts wondered if it wasn't too high for the 5-foot-8 receiver. But Colts general manager Ryan Grigson loved the kid's speed. Now we know why. He can fly. He returned a punt for a touchdown against the Billson Sunday and caught an 8-yard touchdown pass. Speed kills. He has it.

--Still want Charlie Batch to play, Steelers fans? He couldn't even reach Mike Wallace on a deep ball that would have been a big play against the Browns. He didn't lose the game, the turnovers did, but he isn't very good. And age does matter. This is a guy who handed off to Barry Sanders.

--I am not a fan of slow, plodding backs. Michael Turner fits that description to perfection He had 17 yards on 13 carries against Tampa. The Falcons are a fast team that plays on a fast track with a slow back. That makes no sense. It appears the Falcons are moving more toward Jacquizz Rodgers, and that's the right thing to do.

--Falcons corner Asante Samuel takes a lot of crap for not tackling. But he showed some toughness playing through a shoulder injury against the Bucs. He appeared to hurt it again late on the final Hail Mary of the game. Dunta Robinson, the team's other corner, left with a concussion. It will be interesting to see if they can get back for Thursday's game against the Saints.

--The fourth-and-29 play was inexcusable for the Chargers. The angles some of the defenders took were horrible. Ray Rice made them pay for it with a first down, and the Chargers ended up losing in overtime. It also looked like some of the players trailing the play let up when it looked like he would be tackled. Terrible.

--One more note on the play: There is no way he got the first down. The spot was terrible. Why was it? The officials weren't in position to make a proper spot. So essentially, the regular officials cost the Chargers the game. Where is the outrage as with the replacement officials doing it in the Seattle-Green Bay game?

--Chad Henne had a nice first start for the Jaguars. He looked comfortable getting the ball out. The Jaguars receivers made some plays too. They look happy to have him in there, rather than Blaine Gabbert. If Henne plays well the rest of the season, he will be the starter heading into 2013. What's that mean for Gabbert? Time to sit and learn. He's young. He has time.

--If the Bears lose guards Lance Louis and Chris Spencer for any length of time, and it looks like they might, Jay Cutler might want to up his insurance policy. The Bears line is so-so at best when they're in the lineup. Can you imagine it now?

--The hubbub over the Red Flag Rule, now known as the Jim Schwartz rule, is unreal. Why should the league change the rule during the season? How about this: Know the rules, and follow them. Is it a stupid rule? You bet. But coaches know what the rules are, and the officials warn them about it before each game. That one is on Schwartz, and at least he owned up to it.

--Ndamukong Suh: Overrated and dirty. Concentrate more on playing football, kid, rather than being a dirty player. The more you look at his kick to the groin of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub last Thursday, the more I think it was intentional. He landed on his head, and his foot was moving in that direction, but he gave it one last kick to reach the groin. The Texans certainly thought it was intentional.


--Now we know why the Rams were fine with drafting corner Janoris Jenkins, even though he had a laundry list of problems in college. The kid can play. He had two interception returns for a touchdown against the Cardinals. But remember, two weeks ago he was suspended for the 49ers game for violating team rules. Be smart, Janoris. You have a real chance to be a special player.

--So Ray Lewis might be able to play again? Do the Ravens need him? They've been much better on defense without him. Nobody wants to say it, so I will. He wasn't very good when he played this season. There, I said it.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Arizona Cardinals</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:08:31 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sorting the Sunday Pile, Week 12: Is anyone scared of the Falcons?]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Is anyone afraid of the Falcons?  Another close win on Sunday -- this time 24-23 over the Bucs -- Atlanta is tied for the best record in football at 10-1. But is anyone afraid of them? I ask that as someone who actually picked them to win the Super Bowl too.
Because I'm not sure anyone should be. OK, let me rephrase that. Atlanta's a good team and plenty scary. But they're not beating the mess out of opponents like a 10-win November team should be.
They're now an improbable 7-1 in one-score games and haven't been able to really crank up the gas against any inferior opponents. Carolina, Oakland and Arizona (combined 9-23 this year) kept things close against the Falcons, something that shouldn't happen, particularly at home.
Sunday's win over the Buccaneers was similar in terms of their inability to harness their full talent and beat up on a team. Tampa's secondary is terrible and even though Matt Ryan finished with 353 passing yards and only six incompletions, it certainly felt like Atlanta could've taken more shots down the field. Why try and run against a good rush defense when heaving it down the field -- your best trait -- exposes your opponent's biggest weakness?
And here's a better question: why isn't Jacquizz Rodgers getting more run? I get that Michael Turner's been their bellcow and he's the guy who gets all the money, but Rodgers needs to go more often. Rodgers (10 carries for 49 yards) outrushed Turner (13 carries for 17 yards) Sunday and it's quite clear that when he's on the field Atlanta is more dangerous on offense. Turner doesn't have to completely disappear, but if Atlanta wants to be one of those scary teams in the playoffs, flipping the usage for Rodgers and Turner might very well be the answer.
Washington Back in the Wild-Card Race?The NFC wild-card race should be fun to watch. Even after getting hammered on Sunday night, I'd expect the Packers to pick up the first seed there, assuming they can sweep the Vikings. Seattle, with three home games left, is a good bet for the second spot. But how about the Redskins as a sleeper to sneak in?
They have a quarterback in Robert Griffin III who can keep them in any game. They're warming up at the right time, winning two-straight division games out of the bye. They have a decent schedule with the Giants, Ravens, Browns, Eagles and Cowboys on tap. And most importantly, they have tiebreakers: the Skins beat the Vikings and Buccaneers head-to-head.
With Seattle, Tampa Bay, Minnesota and New Orleans all losing on Sunday, things are suddenly kind of sneakily opening up for Washington to make a run. Let's say they win four of their last five and finish 9-7.
Tampa plays at Denver, New Orleans and Atlanta. Anything above 8-8 would be impressive. The Vikings have the Packers twice, the Texans and the Bears. Is 7-9 out of the question? Seattle could lose two games on the road and then at home to San Francisco to finish 9-7 with a 6-6 conference record. Even with a loss to the Giants, closing out with wins over Philly and Dallas would get Washington to 7-5 in the conference.
It's a long shot. I admit as much. But it's worth noting as we prep for the stretch run.
Or good one anyway -- there are a group of teams (Seattle, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Washington, Dallas) bunched up at either 6-5 or 5-6 and prepared to duel it out for the last spot, with Green Bay (7-4) holding a slight advantage.
But look at that list of teams again because they all lost on Sunday. Seattle choked in Miami, Minnesota got hammered by the Bears, Tampa Bay couldn't stop Matt Ryan from marching late and the Saints were overpowered by the 49ers defense. Washington's the only team that made up any ground this week.
Eli-te, AgainOf course, it would be totally irresponsible to get on the Redskins hype train without also pointing out that the Giants have a shot to basically wrap up the NFC East when they head to Washington in Week 13.
Oh yes, and that the Giants team that showed up in New York on Sunday night and whipped the Packers 38-10 sure did look like the Giants team that tends to get insanely hot after Thanksgiving and storm into the playoffs.
When Eli Manning is clicking and they're running the ball efficiently and the defense is disrupting quarterbacks, the Giants are a tough team to beat. They did all those things on Sunday night and now they're a game better at 7-4 than their pace through 12 weeks last season. As the only NFC East team above .500, they don't have a ton of competition in the division at the moment.
Wrapping up the Blaine Gabbert Era Boy, that really got out of hand fast didn't it? Gabbert's got to be done in Jacksonville, what with Chad Henne actually making Jacksonville look competitive the last two weeks. Even if they lose out, Henne's clearly a better option.
This is a sad indictment of Gabbert and perhaps, more importantly, Mike Mularkey. Henne looked horrible in relief against the Colts earlier in the season, but how did Mularkey not figure out that Henne gave them a better shot to win before his hand was forced in Week 11?
It's crazy to think that Jacksonville might already be moving on from their 2011 first-round pick ... but Jacksonville might be moving on from their 2011 first-round pick. Henne's not anyone special, but he's at least making 2012 first-round pick Justin Blackmon look good.
If it's my billions invested in that franchise, I'm going for a full-blown reboot, grabbing a quarterback with upside in the third round (like, you know, Russell Wilson, who the Jaguars passed on in order to take punter Bryan Anger) and rebuilding around other pieces for 2012.
The Niners On the Other Hand ... We're only two games into the Colin Kaepernick Era in San Francisco, and we can't read too much into what he's done, even if he's undefeated. Teams don't have a ton of film on the 49ers new starter, San Francisco stunned the Bears with a great gameplan and New Orleans is bad on offense.
But if the first two games are a barometer for what Kaepernick could do as a starter, the 49ers just became terrifying.
The one thing they've missed is a quarterback who can make their passing game dynamic. And so far, Kaepernick looks like that guy. He can make throws that Alex Smith can't, and Jim Harbaugh will let him make those throws. The 49ers aren't one-dimensional with Kaepernick under center, and Kaepernick's ability to run and throw only serves to make him more dangerous.
Whether it's him or Smith under center down the stretch is probably irrelevant for the 49ers playoff chances. They're going to win that division after today. What's going to be fascinating will be a pair of games in the middle of December: at New England and at Seattle. Those games are back-to-back and they'll test Kaepernick's mettle in two different and extremely difficult sets of circumstances.
In a month we'll have a much better idea of whether or not Harbaugh made the right move benching Smith for Kaepernick (assuming he continues to do so). But right now it's only fair to give Harbaugh the benefit of the doubt in just about anything he does when it comes to coaching. His latest move is looking pretty brilliant in terms of immediate dividends.
Appreciating the Mannings It's pretty easy to think about the NFL and think about the Manning family. Peyton Manning is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and Eli Manning reminded us on Sunday night why counting him out is just dumb.
Father Archie is the third wheel here, but he still managed to throw 125 touchdown passes in his career. And that means, with Eli crossing the 200-TD mark on Sunday night, the Manning family now has a whopping 750 touchdown passes in the NFL.
That's an insane amount -- more than the Panthers, Jaguars and Texans, to name a few, have in their franchise history -- and it's just your latest reminder of how good the Manning family is at slinging the rock around.
And you know what's even crazier about their whole milestone-ish afternoon? On Sunday Eli surpassed CBS Sports own Phil Simms for most touchdown passes by a Giants quarterback, and Peyton surpassed the Broncos own John Elway for second-most wins by a quarterback with 149. And he did it on the same day where he managed to go over 25 touchdown passes and 3,000 yards for the 14th time in his career.
Just a remarkable family.
November Pain "Don't want to spend too much time focusing on the Chiefs because a) they stink and b) I'm writing up the epitaph for their 2012 season. But they're now the first officially eliminated team of 2012 and it's worth noting that they scored all of two touchdowns in November. Like, the whole month!
Lock 'em in for the first overall pick of the draft with the loser of Monday night's game and the Jaguars the only serious competition.
Black Monday? Sunday's spree of college firings was a harsh reminder exactly what time of the year it is. Everyone with the Chiefs should fear for their jobs and it's really really difficult to imagine Norv Turner making it through the year if San Diego keeps this up.
The Bolts have now lost six of their last seven, with their lone win coming against the Chiefs. Sunday's debacle was perhaps the most Norv loss of Norv's tenure, as the Chargers gave up a 4th-and-29 (29!) to Ray Rice and the Ravens and managed to give it up in overtime.
Were they victims of a terrible spot by the officials? Absolutely. But 4th-and-29! That game was over. They're still technically alive in the playoff hunt at 4-7 and five "meh" teams left on the schedule. But they've only beaten Oakland, Kansas City and Tennessee. They're much worse than anyone expects.
GIF O' THE WEEK
It was a disappointing day, GIF-wise. But this shot of tiny Darren Sproles flipping giant Aldon Smith over his back is just pure-tee amazing.

WORTH 1,000 WORDS

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			<category>Arizona Cardinals</category>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:22:51 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Postgame analysis: 49ers 31, Saints 21 ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





QB Colin Kaepernick salutes some fans after the 49ers won in New Orleans. (US Presswire) 



The Saints were good enough to climb out of an 0-4 hole and get back to .500 at 5-5, controlling their own playoff destiny by kickoff against the 49ers on Sunday. They weren't good enough to overcome two pick-6s on consecutive Drew Brees passes, losing 31-21 at the Superdome.San Francisco (8-2-1, 2-0-1 NFC West) scored a touchdown in the final minute of the first half on LB Ahmad Brooks' interception return to tie the score at 14, drove for another TD to start the second half and got another interception return from safety Donte Whitner on Brees' next pass to go ahead 28-14.The Saints (5-6, 1-2 NFC South) had to fight uphill the rest of the way, and the 49ers defense was too tough. San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick followed a brilliant performance in his first career start against Chicago with a solid day in his first road start in the deafening Superdome.San Francisco remained 1&frac12; games behind Atlanta for the best record in the NFC and increased its lead over Seattle in the NFC West to 2&frac12; games.
New Orleans, trying to become only the second team since 2002 to get above .500 after starting 0-4, fell to 5-6 and remained a game out of the final playoff spot.When the game turned: The Saints were ahead 14-7 late in the first half and had a chance to stretch it after a Patrick Robinson interception of Kaepernick. With the ball at the New Orleans 44, Brees never saw Brooks on an in route to TE Jimmy Graham. Brooks stepped in front of the pass and scored on a 50-yard interception return with 22 seconds left. The swing was monumental. The 49ers drove 80 yards on six plays for a TD to start the second half, and Whitner returned Brees' next pass for a 42-yard score on a ball that glanced off wide receiver Marques Colston's hands. A game the Saints had been controlling swung completely in a span of less than five minutes.Highlight moments: No one was catching Brooks after he read Brees' pass to Graham perfectly late in the second quarter. Brees came the closest, but was nowhere near getting to him. &hellip; Whitner's TD return on his interception came after Colston got upended after getting both hands on the ball on a high pass over the middle. Whitner headed toward the 49ers sideline and followed his blockers to the end zone.Record-breaker: Colston set a Saints record for career TDs with his 56th in in the second quarter, catching a 10-yard Brees pass in the back of the end zone. Colston passed former RB Deuce McAllister. He did not get to enjoy it for long, though, taking a nasty fall on his head on the play that ended in San Francisco's second TD interception. He was tested for a concussion but cleared, returning to the game. Top-shelf performances:

49ers OLB Aldon Smith -- 1&frac12; sacks, fastest player in NFL history to get to 30 career sacks
49ers QB Colin Kaepernick -- 16 of 25 for 231 yards, one passing TD and one rushing TD
49ers LB Ahmad Brooks -- 1 &frac12; sacks, 5 tackles, 1 interception return for a TD
49ers TE Delanie Walker -- 3 catches, 81 yards, including a 45-yarder that set up the clinching FG.

What they said:

49ers S Donte Whitner on the 49ers defense -- &ldquo;When you play us, you are going to get hit. That's our identity &ndash;smart, hardnose, physical football.&rdquo; -- 


49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Brooks' interception return for a TD -- &ldquo;It looked like he was shot out of a cannon after he got to the ball.&rdquo;


49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on why he started Kaepernick over Smith -- &ldquo;The injury and the fact that Alex (Smith) had symptoms seven or eight days after (his concussion against St. Louis). I'm not going to put a guy out there who has symptoms like he had.&rdquo;


49ers LB Ahmad Brooks on his interception return for a TD off of Brees -- &ldquo;I was right there. It was kind of like he just threw it right to me.&rdquo;


Saints interim coach Joe Vitt on whether Brooks' interception was the game-turner -- &ldquo;Absolutely not. It's one play at a time, one series at time, one quarter at a time, one half at a time. If we let one play affect us the rest of the game, we're unprofessional.&rdquo;


49ers QB Alex Smith on the decision to start Kaepernick over him -- &ldquo;Obviously I want to play, I want to start. I think I should but it's not my decision. I'm part of this team and it's great to go out and get a win.&rdquo;

Numbers you should know: The Saints held an opponent below 400 yards for the first time this season. The 49ers finished with 375. &hellip; It was the first time the 49ers returned two interceptions for TDs in the same game since 1995. &hellip; The 49ers had five sacks, all in the second half. The Saints had given up four sacks in their previous five games.Injury updates: 49ers WR Kyle Williams (knee) and RB Kendall Hunter (ankle) were injured on the same third quarter play and taken to the locker room on a cart. Neither returned. &hellip; Saints WR Lance Moore left in the fourth quarter after taking a blow to the head but returned on the next series. &hellip; Saints OT Bryce Harris left with a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return, forcing New Orleans to play the rest of the way with William Robinson, whom they picked up Tuesday. Normal starting RT Zach Strief (groin) and normal backup Charles Brown (knee) were inactive.Going forward: The Saints have to turn around and play at the Falcons on Thursday in a game they need desperately. They actually did not lose any ground in the playoff race because the three teams a game ahead of them lost -- Seattle, Tampa Bay and Minnesota. &hellip; San Francisco plays at St. Louis and will look to avenge a stunning tie at home two weeks ago when the 49ers came out flat. Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter@CBSSaints.Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter @CBS49ers and @KyleBonagura.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 2012 21:36:46 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[2012 NFL Grades, Week 12: AFC North race is all but over]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The Steelers still control their destiny when it comes to the playoffs, with a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals in their pocket and a current grip on the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
One small problem: this team's not very good without Ben Roethlisberger and the different avenues to get in the postseason are quickly closing up. The AFC North is essentially done; Baltimore's three games up on both Pittsburgh and Cincy. The Ravens play the Steelers next week and a victory puts them four up with four to play. That's good night, Irene.
Which means, with the Colts holding tight at 7-4, the final playoff spot could end up being a battle between the Steelers and Bengals. Coincidentally, those two teams play on December 23!
It's quite possible Roethlisberger is back by then. If he's not, the Steelers are probably doomed anyway, so it might not matter. If he is, they have three games to tread water between now and then. Let's assume a loss to Baltimore in Week 13 and give the Steelers one of the Cowboys/Chargers games. So unless the Bengals, who are rolling right now, go 1-2 in their next three, it's possible that Roethlisberger's absence could cost the Steelers a playoff berth. It certainly cost them a win on Sunday.


TeamGradeAnalysis



Texans 34, Lions 31



B
It's hard not to be impressed with the Texans playing 10 quarters of football in five days and coming out 2-0. On the other hand, their defense looked pretty bad the last two games and they didn't have much of an answer against the Lions on Thursday. Their offense is starting to look even scarier than normal though as Andre Johnson continues to become a monster.



B-
Tough loss for the Lions at home on Thanksgiving, especially when Jim Schwartz gifted the Texans a touchdown by not understanding NFL rules on challenging plays. But their defense did an OK job and Matthew Stafford looked like the 2011 version of himself. Monster games from both Ryan Broyles and Calvin Johnson.


Redskins 38, Cowboys 31



A
Washington came out gangbusters and set the tone against Dallas, with Robert Griffin III heaving a trio of second-quarter touchdown passes. Dallas got back in this game because of some mistakes, but was it really out of hand early thanks to another monster game from RG3. The Skins are now tied with the Cowboys in the standings.



C-
Dallas nearly made this a game with Tony Romo's impressive run down the stretch, but for the most part, they got dominated. A lot of that should fall on Rob Ryan's unit, that got torched badly at home on Thanksgiving. Dez Bryant's absolutely killed it over the last few weeks, but the Cowboys can't get any sort of run game going without DeMarco Murray and that's a major problem.







Patriots 42, Jets 19



A
Mercy. The Patriots just flat-out manhandled the Jets on Thanksgiving, scoring three second-quarter touchdowns in less than a minute of game time. They added three more in that quarter and this game was never close. Tom Brady was mostly outstanding, Steven Ridley ran the ball and the defense scored too. Just a total bloodbath from New England in this one.



F
My wife suggested a grade of "F" for the Jets, because it stands for "Fumble." And frankly it's hard to disagree with her. New York was a trainwreck, they got blown out on national television at home and made a slew of stupid mistakes that offered the Patriots a chance to turn this game into a blowout early. New England obliged.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Falcons 24, Buccaneers 23



B-
The Falcons just refuse to stop winning close games, but it's hard to have a ton of faith in them coming up against a "hot" team in the playoffs. Julio Jones was incredibly impressive and they're starting to use Jacquizz Rodgers more, which is a smart thing. But the defense and some of Matt Ryan's decisions left a bit to be desired.



C+
Tampa Bay very nearly solidified their stunning shot at the playoffs this year, but their porous pass defense continued to cost them. Josh Freeman can get very hot and very cold at times and late in the game was not a good time to get cold.


Bears 28, Vikings 10



C-
Adrian Peterson had another strong day, but only got 18 carries because the Vikings were down early. Losing 25-3 at halftime isn't the recipe for being able to effectively run the ball. The bigger concern is their defense, which only generated a single sack on Jay Cutler; with the weak Bears offensive line, they have to do better. Is Christian Ponder definitely the future here?



B+
Chicago wasn't perfect offensively, but Michael Bush scored twice and Jay Cutler made some incredibly impressive throws. He really might have the best arm in the NFL. Chicago's defense generated some turnovers and, even though they gave up over 100 yards to Adrian Peterson, did a good job of smothering the Vikings.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Bengals 34, Raiders 10



D-
There's not a whole lot going right in Oakland these days: their blowout loss Sunday only added insult to the injury that is the Carson Palmer trade. Palmer did very little and wasn't nearly as good as Andy Dalton, which is awkward. The Raiders defense let BenJarvus Green-Ellis run for 129 yards on 19 carries. Yikes.



B+
A very balanced day from Cincinnati: BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran well, as did Cedric Peerman. Andy Dalton wasn't great percentage-wise, but he threw three touchdowns. The defense smothered Carson Palmer (four sacks), forced him to fumble and picked him off. Pretty sweet payback for his departure.


Browns 20, Steelers 14



F
So ... Charlie Batch is not the answer. He went 20-for-34 and three picks against the Browns. Not that the running game, which produced 49 total yards and SIX FUMBLES, helped him a whole lot. This team simply needs Ben Roethlisberger back in the worst way.



B
It's unclear how the Browns managed just 20 points when the Steelers fumbled a whopping eight times. But a win is a win for Cleveland and even if it required a third-string quarterback to beat the Steelers, they'll take it. Pretty nice days for Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson against a tough Pittsburgh defense.


Jaguars 24, Titans 19



C
Tennessee's longshot hope of a playoff run took a huge hit, primarily because their defense couldn't do anything to slow down Chad Henne and the Jaguars wideouts. Jacksonville's defense is also bad, which is why it was surprising to see Jake Locker and Chris Johnson not really generate any significant offense for most of the game.



B+
Two weeks into the Chad Henne experiment and things are pretty good ... unless you're Blaine Gabbert anyway. Henne utilized Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon and helped Jacksonville find just the second win of the season. The defense actually produced some turnovers, but nearly let Jake Locker and Co. steal a victory.


Dolphins 24, Seahawks 21



C-
What a brutal loss for the Seahawks. They put themselves in position to win this game and then utterly collapsed late. Their defense can't allow a rookie quarterback with no weapons to march down the field for three scores in the fourth quarter, no matter what time zone they're playing in. Just another strong effort from Russell Wilson. Ho-hum. Stunning that Marshawn Lynch couldn't get going against a previously soft Dolphins rush defense.



C+
This was a very impressive late effort from Miami, who looked dead at several different points. Great job by Ryan Tannehill to move the ball in the fourth quarter and an even better job by the defense to bottle up Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks rushing attack. Maybe they should fire up the sprinklers every single game when they get down to opponents.


Colts 20, Bills 13



C-
C.J. Spiller as a feature back is working out well, but it took Buffalo too long to realize that. And it took them too long to get going on offense, as they managed just six points on two field goals in the first half. Mario Williams did have three sacks though, so that's nice.



B
Huge, huge, huge win for Indianapolis' playoff chances: even if they're probably not a "true" 7-4 team, that's their record and it's all that matters right now. T.Y. Hilton continues to be an absolute impact rookie and the Colts defense took advantage of some shaky quarterback play from Ryan Fitzpatrick to limit what Buffalo could do on offense.


Broncos 17, Chiefs 9



B
Pretty nice day for Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for 85 yards on 20 carries, even if Peyton Manning was sacked twice. But clearly Willis McGahee makes the Broncos offense more dynamic. I guess this is a nice day for the defense, which didn't allow a touchdown? The Chiefs don't exactly create a great litmus test.



D
No one fails to score touchdowns quite like the Kansas City Chiefs, who hasn't scored more than 20 points in a single game since September. Peyton Hillis attempting a pass on third down sums up this season almost too well.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Ravens 16, Chargers 13



C+
What is the deal with the Ravens offense on the road? A superb game from Torrey Smith, who finished with seven catches for 144 yards. The defense did a good job of limiting Philip Rivers and then when they needed to, the Ravens managed to get the necessary yardage to set themselves up for an overtime squeaker.



C-
Was this the final straw for the Norv Turner Era in San Diego? The Chargers did what they needed to in order to win this game, but gave up 28.5 yards to Ray Rice on a 4th-and-29. They got hosed by the refs, but you can't give up that much real estate. Just an unholy collapse for a team already on the brink of being finished.


49ers 31, Saints 21



A
First of all: what a defensive performance. The 49ers were all over Drew Brees, sacking him five times and intercepting him twice, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Secondly, they did it on the road. And thirdly, hope you enjoyed your job while it lasted Alex Smith. This is Colin Kaepernick's show now and the NFL might should be a little bit worried.



C+
When the other team gets 14 points off your turnovers, it's hard to win. The Saints had a real shot to make a move in the NFC playoff race and, mainly because they couldn't do much to stop the 49ers, fell short on Sunday.


Rams 31, Cardinals 17



B+
Heck of a game for Janoris Jenkins, who returned two picks for scores. Even better game for Steven Jackson, who looked like his old self with some fresh legs later in the year. When you score 31 points and Sam Bradford only has to attempt 17 passes, things have gone exactly the way you want them to.



C-
Ryan Lindley throwing 52 times (!) isn't going to be good for anyone, and it wasn't good for Arizona on Sunday. Lindley threw four picks and though Beanie Wells scored twice, the Cardinals weren't in this game after three quarters. The defense tried to provide opportunities, but mostly let Steven Jackson have his way.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Giants 38, Packers 10



F
Josh Sitton probably put it best: the Giants kicked the Packers asses all the way around. Pete Prisco nailed it when he said Aaron Rodgers would get sacked five times, but he also got picked once and fumbled once as well. New York was all over him all game and the Packers didn't generate much offense outside of a 61-yard first quarter bomb to Jordy Nelson. Every time they got a chance to turn the momentum, Green Bay ended up messing it up somehow.



A
Both Andre Brown and Ahmad Bradshaw ran the ball well, though Brown broke his fibula during the game, Tom Coughlin announced. Eli Manning quieted any concerns about his touchdown-less streak and the Giants salvaged November, with a shot to put the NFC East away next week when they head to Washington. The Giants looked like the team Sunday that stormed the playoffs last year.





TeamGradeAnalysis



Panthers 30, Eagles 22



B+
The game certainly didn't mean much in the standings but it was nice to see Cam Newton play like he did for most of his rookie season. By the time it was over, he had thrown two touchdowns and ran for two more. Meanwhile, the oft-maligned defense recovered two third-quarter fumbles and the kickoff coverage team recovered another late in the fourth.



D+
Rookie quarterback Nick Foles wasn't asked to do much. Rookie running back Bryce Brown was -- and he delivered with 178 rushing yards and 2 TDs. Unfortunately, he also had two third-quarter fumbles. That, combined with another inconsistent defensive effort (not to mention a late fourth-quarter fumble by Brandin Boykin) led to Philly's eighth loss of the season.


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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[49ers inactives vs. Saints]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[49ers inactives: FB/DT Will Tukuafu (wrist), QB Scott Tolzien, WR A.J. Jenkins, RB LaMichael James, S Trenton Robinson, OG Joe Looney, NT Ian Williams
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter: @CBS49ers and @KyleBonagura.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:20:46 EST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints inactives vs. 49ers]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[Saints inactives: CB Corey White (left knee), Elbert Mack (concussion), OT Zach Strief(groin), DE Junior Galette (ankle), OT Charles Brown (right knee), DT Tyrunn Walker, LBScott Shanle.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:17:47 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[49ers decision to bench Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick a huge risk]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
The 49ers benching of Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick is a high-risk decision if Smith is healthy enough to play.
Smith is 20-6-1 as the 49ers quarterback under Harbaugh and 9-3 on the road. It's hard to deny that Smith's 35 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions over two years is the kind of football San Francisco wants to play.
Kaepernick has never started a game on the road. Kaepernick could always come off the bench but Smith may be lost for good with this move. With a $7.5 million salary next year I could think of a half dozen teams that would want Smith as an upgrade over their current situation.
Last year in the playoffs Smith threw for 299 yards 3 touchdowns and ran 28 yards for a score in the win over New Orleans. Why would the 49ers surrender that experience for a second-year guy with 49 pass attempts in his career? Look for the Saints to pressure Kaepernick today. A 49er win and Harbaugh is a genius a loss and the team is in a QB controversy.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 2012 11:54:41 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Colin Kaepernick starting at QB for 49ers over Alex Smith as expected]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Over the holidays, we passed along a report that Colin Kaepernick would start at quarterback over Alex Smith for the 49ers against the Saints this week, and Jim Harbaugh's decision wasn't based on Smith's health.
Sunday's game will reaffirm that. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora noted Sunday that the 49ers will "absolutely" go with Kaepernick instead of Smith.
What'll be interesting to see is whether Smith is active: if the 49ers list the former starting quarterback as inactive with a concussion, then Harbaugh has a little wiggle room if Kaepernick struggles.
He shouldn't. The Saints' defense is horrible even if it has improved in terms of generating turnovers the last few weeks.
The decision to go to Kaepernick is a fascinating one if only because it's so bold to "Wally Pipp" Smith after the success he's had in San Francisco.
But there aren't many reasons to question Harbaugh's moves thus far with the 49ers -- they've absolutely turned things around since he took over -- and until this quarterback change causes the 49ers to struggle, there's no reason to question him now.
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, subscribe to our RSS Feed watch Pro Football 360 daily at 3 p.m. ET and NFL newsletter. You can follow Will Brinson on Twitter here: @willbrinson.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 2012 10:59:44 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[49ers Game Preview vs. Saints: Analysis, prediction, TV info]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
49ers at Saints -- Week 12
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La. (indoors, artificial turf)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m ET (Fox)
Spread: 49ers by 1
Records: Saints (5-5, 1-2 NFC South); 49ers (7-2-1, 2-0-1 NFC West)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Jan. 14, 2012: 49ers 36, Saints 32 at Candlestick Park in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs; Sept. 20, 2010 -- Saints 25, 49ers 22 at Candlestick Park.Series record: 49ers lead 46-24-2, including their win last year in the playoffs. San Francisco has a 19-11 advantage at the Superdome but has lost four straight there dating back to 2002.
What matters: San Francisco holds a 1.5 game lead in the NFC West ahead of Seattle and is currently slated to be the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. New Orleans, which started the season 0-4, has won five of the last six and is back in the playoff picture. Based on a developing pattern, the 49ers are in line to play well Sunday. They started the season with two good showings, then took a step back. The same thing happened over the next three games, then again in the three after that. If the pattern holds true, the 49ers should be dialed in for the Saints, who they knocked out of the playoffs last season.
Who matters: Colin Kaepernick. All signs point to Kaepernick being the starting QB on Sunday, but there has been no official word from Harbaugh or the coaching staff. He was brilliant in his first career start Monday when he led the 49ers to a 32-7 win against Chicago and its highly-ranked defense. He was on point with his downfield throws -- so much that TE Vernon Davis likened one throw to one that might have been thrown by Patriots QB Tom Brady. Kaepernick's performance drew strong reviews from guys like Davis, WR Michael Crabtree, Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Unlike Smith, Kaepernick was willing to take chances downfield, and in his only appearance he didn't turn the ball over. All things considered, Kaepernick appears to provide more of a deep dynamic than Smith, who was playing at a high level.
Key matchup: LB Aldon Smith vs. Saints OL. Smith will line up mostly on the right side but also will rush from the left on some plays -- about five to 10 times a game. He came 1.5 sacks shy of the NFL single-game sack record against the Bears when he got to Jason Campbell 5.5 times and is on pace to record more sacks in his first two years than anyone in NFL history. He'll have his work cut out for him this week as Saints QB Drew Brees has only been sacked 16 times despite having thrown the ball 401 times through 10 games.
Injuries of note: Alex Smith was officially listed as questionable due to the concussion he suffered against the Rams on Nov. 11. He passed his final concussion test Friday and would be cleared to play pending any recurrences of concussion symptoms. Harbaugh said there have been no concussion symptoms since Tuesday. CB Tarell Brown (knee), CB Chris Culliver (shoulder), S Dashon Goldson (ribs, calf), LB Tavares Gooden (shin), RB Frank Gore (wrist, ribs), WR Randy Moss (finger), LB Aldon Smith (shoulder), S C.J. Spillman (finger), DT Will Tukuafu (wrist, wrist) and LB Patrick Willis (shoulder) are all listed as probable.
Inside stuff: San Francisco is familiar playing against Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme; he previously served as the coach of St. Louis in the NFC West. &ldquo;You can see some of the fronts and defenses that they use -- [he has] incorporated some of (former Saints DC) Greg Williams' style of defense. But this is much like the St. Louis defense that we saw twice last year, Spagnuolo's defense,&rdquo; Harbaugh said.
Connections: 49ers RB Frank Gore and Saints LB Jonathan Vilma were high school and college (Miami) teammates. &hellip; 49ers DC Vic Fangio was the Saints DC from 1986-94.
Stats you should know: 49ers WR Michael Crabtree ranks tied for first in the NFL with 22 receptions on third down. &hellip; The 49ers have held their opposition to a TD or less in five of the last seven games, while Brees has thrown for a TD in an NFL-record 53 straight games. &hellip; The 49ers ranks No. 1 in the NFL, averaging 165.5 rushing yards per game and their defense ranks No. 1 in the NFL in scoring (13.4 ppg).
Record watch: LB Aldon Smith needs 2.5 sacks in the final six games to set the new NFL record for sacks in a player's first two years. Reggie White holds the record (31).
Looking ahead: The 49ers will head back on the road next week for a rematch with St. Louis before returning home to play the Dolphins on Dec. 9. A trip to New England follows before divisional games with Seattle and Arizona close out the regular-season schedule.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Saints 24
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter@CBS49ersand@KyleBonagura.
Like 49ers Rapid Reports on Facebook<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:56:41 EST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints OT Zach Strief questionable for 49ers game]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief is questionable with a groin injury for Sunday's game against the 49ers.  (US Presswire) 



Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game with San Francisco. Speaking after practice on Friday, he agreed with that assessment.
Strief, who participated on a limited basis Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, said he did not know whether he would be able to play.
&ldquo;Any athletic movement starts with your core, so there's a lot of things that can hurt,&rdquo; Strief said. &ldquo;I'm so close, but that's why I can't give an answer. It's so close either way. In a controlled situation, it's absolutely fine right now, but the fact of the matter is in a game you're not in a controlled environment.&rdquo;
Strief said he has spent plenty of time in practice helping undrafted rookie Bryce Harris, who will start in his place if he can't go. Harris played the end of the first half and the entire second half against Oakland last week after Strief's backup, Charles Brown, sustained a knee injury.
&ldquo;I've tried to do anything and everything I could to pass on the knowledge I have this week,&rdquo; Strief said. &ldquo;Sometimes with guys the concern is you don't want to train the guy that's going to replace you. That's essentially what you're doing, but if you're going to say I'm going to do anything to help the team, that includes helping the guy behind you be a 100 percent.&rdquo;
San Francisco OLB Aldon Smith, who had 5&frac12; sacks against Chicago on Monday night, likely would line up against Harris early and often.
&ldquo;We obviously put together a game plan this week with the thought that we're going to have to help those guys,&rdquo; offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said. &ldquo;Last week (Harris) got thrown into the fire in a two-minute drill, and as the game evolved, he calmed down and helped us.&rdquo;
Debunking the conventional wisdom: Conventional wisdom is New Orleans' defense got strafed by San Francisco in the 49ers' 36-32 win in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs last season.
Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins remembers it differently, and the statistics bear him out. The 49ers scored 17 points early, capitalizing on three turnovers, and 13 points late, getting some big plays. In between, they had a total of six first downs on 11 possessions.
&ldquo;Leaving that game, I thought we played well defensively,&rdquo; said Jenkins, who was burned on a beautiful 49-yard pass from Alex Smith to tight end Vernon Davis for San Francisco's first TD. &ldquo;They made plays at the end of the game to win. They finished better than we did. But for us to even be in that game, the defense made a lot of stops to allow our offense to get back in the game. Overall, I thought our defensive performance was pretty good.&rdquo;
Injury report: The Saints announced Friday that Brown, DE Junior Galette (sprained ankle) and cornerbacks Corey White (left knee) and Elbert Mack (concussion) were out of the San Francisco game. The injuries to the CBs leaves New Orleans with three corners -- starters Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson and reserve Johnny Patrick.
RB Darren Sproles, who practiced all week, is probable. He has missed the last three games with a broken left hand.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:50:15 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[49ers: Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick? It's still a mystery]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





49ers QB Colin Kaepernick was not officially named the starter, but all signs point to that being the case. (US Presswire)



Despite S Donte Whiter's implication on the Dan Patrick Show Friday morning that he was under the impression that Colin Kaepernick would be the 49ers' starting quarterback Sunday against New Orleans, coach Jim Harbaugh stayed mum on the topic later in the day.
&ldquo;We feel like there is no competitive advantage for us to release that information for our organization or our team,&rdquo; said Harbaugh when asked if a starting quarterback had been named.
He acknowledged that keeping the QB information private only provides a small advantage but that he was willing to chase it anyway.
&ldquo;It's just not something we think is an advantage for us to talk about,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You may have your opinions on it. If it's unorthodox, so be it. You can call me names if you want or make sport of me, but that's the way we're going to go about it.&rdquo;
He also shot down the validity of several reports on the quarterback situation; including Sports Illustrated's reported exchanged between Harbaugh and Alex Smith,where Harbaugh reportedly said: "I'm going with Kaepernick. Alex, I'm sorry."
&ldquo;Not factual,&rdquo; Harbaugh said. &ldquo;I know there's probably a lot of reports out there, (49ers public relations director Bob Lange) brought some of them to my attention. Didn't see any that were factual that he showed me, including that one.&rdquo;
Smith passed his final concussion text Friday and will be cleared to play pending any flare-ups with symptoms before the game. Harbaugh said Smith has had no symptoms since Tuesday. He is officially listed as questionable on the team's injury report.
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter@CBS49ersand@KyleBonagura.
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:31:36 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints LB Jonathan Vilma upset with timing of bounty hearings ]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Saints LB Jonathan Vilma wants to be in attendance when his bounty-scandal accusers make the case against him.  (US Presswire) 



Saints LB Jonathan Vilma said Friday he's not happy with the timing of Paul Tabliablue's hearings into the bounty-related suspension appeal.
Like teammate Will Smith, Vilma is OK with Tagliabue ruling on the appeal -- which also involves former Saints Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita -- before the end of the season. His problem is when his accusers, former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former defensive assistant Mike Cerullo, will testify.
Vilma said they had been scheduled to talk next Thursday and Friday morning, conflicting with the Saints' game at Atlanta on Thursday night. Vilma said he wasn't sure which of the two would testify Thursday and which would testify Friday.
&ldquo;I'm disappointed in that because these are the guys that made the case against me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I would love to be there to see them and hear what they have to say. For whatever reason, he (Tagliabue) felt like I don't need to be there.&rdquo;
The statements of Williams and Cerullo were the primary evidence NFL commissioner Roger Goodell used in handing down a season-long suspension to Vilma and a four-game suspension to Smith. After Goodell appointed Tagliabue, his predecessor as NFL commissioner, to hear the appeal, Tagliabue agreed to make Williams and Cerullo appear at the hearings.
The hearing will end Dec. 4, and Tagliabue has said he will make a decision soon afterward. If he upholds the suspensions, Vilma and Smith will miss the final three games of the regular season. Their absence could be a critical blow to the Saints as they try to recover from an 0-4 hole to make the playoffs.
&ldquo;There's always that possibility, but we feel like once Gregg and Cerullo get up on the stand and testify, there's no plausible way we can still be suspended after that,&rdquo; Vilma said. &ldquo;We'll see what happens.&rdquo;
Vilma said it was impractical for either he or Smith to make the Friday morning time. Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:47:00 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints Game Preview vs. 49ers: Analysis, prediction, TV info]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
49ers at Saints -- Week 12Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La. (Indoors, artificial turf)When: Sunday, 4:25 pm. (Fox)Spread: 49ers by 1Records: Saints (5-5, 1-2 NFC South); 49ers (7-2-1, 2-0-1 NFC West)Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Jan. 14, 2012: 49ers 36, Saints 32 at Candlestick Park in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs; Sept. 20, 2010 -- Saints 25, 49ers 22 at Candlestick Park. Series record: 49ers lead 46-24-2, counting the playoff game. The 49ers are 19-11 at the Superdome but have lost four in a row there, last winning on Jan. 6, 2002.What matters:For the Saints, it's getting above .500 while keeping that second-half surge going. Since the NFL went to eight divisions in 2002, only one of 38 teams that started 0-4 has rebounded to get above .500 at any point of the season. None of them have finished better than 8-8. The Saints can improve to 6-5 with a win, and this game is monumentally important as they try to buck history and become the first 0-4 team to make the playoffs since San Diego in 1992. San Francisco has been erratic -- dominant defensively in its seven wins and lousy across the board in its two losses and a tie -- getting hammered 26-3 at home by the New York Giants, falling to Minnesota 24-13 and giving up 458 yards to struggling St. Louis. The Saints barely beat Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and their other victims in their 5-1 stretch (San Diego, Philadelphia, Oakland) have combined to lose 15 of their last 18 games, with the wins against Kansas City (twice) and Jacksonville. Sunday will be the litmus test for the Saints' true form. Win, and they are a serious playoff contender. Lose, and their recent run will be put in perspective.Who matters: Drew Brees-- Although they ran the ball well the past three weeks, the Saints did not face a defense like San Francisco's. The 49ers allow 3.7 yards per carry, the third lowest total in the NFL. The Saints gained well under 100 yards on the ground against the No. 1 and No. 2 rush defenses (Tampa Bay, Denver) and rushed for 37 yards vs. the 49ers in the 2011 playoffs. Brees need to be at his best, sliding away from the pass rush, finding the open receiver and beating the 49ers over the top. The formula worked in the playoffs last year. The Saints lost, but their 32 points were the most the 49ers have given up in the Jim Harbaugh era. &hellip; LBs Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma-- San Francisco QBColin Kaepernick excelled against Chicago on Monday night, but this will be his first road start. If Lofton and Vilma corral RB Frank Gore, Kaepernick will be pressured to produce. The LB duo is meshing well together. Although the stats don't show it, New Orleans is much better vs. the run than earlier in the year.Key matchup:The Saints RT vs. 49ers OLB Aldon Smith. This has the potential to be an epic mismatch. Smith had 5 &frac12; sacks against Chicago last Monday, giving him 29 in his first 26 games (an NFL record). He frequently lines up on the left side of the 49ers line in their 3-4. The Saints will counter either with Zach Strief, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury and has been limited in practice this week, or third-string undrafted rookie Bryce Harris, who was forced into action last Sunday against Oakland when Strief's backup, Charles Brown, left with a knee injury. This one will be a headache for offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and OL coach Aaron Kromer. The Saints can help out with their tight ends, but Jimmy Graham does not block much, leaving David Thomas as the only option. Coming up with an answer for Smith could be the difference between winning and losing.Injuries of note: The Saints will be without nickel back Corey White (left knee), but the key is the health of Strief (questionable) and RB Darren Sproles (broken left hand), who practiced all week.Inside stuff: The obvious angles for this game are overdone. The Saints looking for revenge after last year's heartbreaking divisional playoff loss? It's a different season, and winning would be huge regardless of the recent history. The 49ers taking out their anger about the &ldquo;kill the head&rdquo; locker room speech that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gave before their playoff game last year, the one that ultimately busted BountyGate wide open? Williams is no longer around and coaches say over-the-top stuff all the time. By the opening kickoff, those issues will be window dressing.Connections: 49ers center Jonathan Goodwin played with the Saints from 2006-10. &hellip; Saints LB Jonathan Vilma and 49ers RB Frank Gore were teammates in high school and at the University of Miami. &hellip; 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was the Saints' defensive coordinator from 1986-94.Stats you should know: The Saints have given up more than 400 yards in their first 10 games, extending an NFL record. &hellip; The 49ers have held five opponents to 7 points or fewer. The Bears are the only other NFL team to do that more than twice (3). &hellip; Sproles had a playoff-record 15 catches for 119 yards against San Francisco last year.Record watch: Marques Colston remains tied with Deuce McAllister for the Saints' all-time TD record with 55.Bulletin board quote:"It doesn't really matter who plays. One runs more than the other one, but the offense doesn't change no matter whom the quarterback is. Our key to victory is really stopping the run." -- Saints DE Will Smith on the 49ers QB situation.Looking ahead: The Saints travel to Atlanta for a Thursday night game. It's tough to have a short week after playing the physical 49ers. New Orleans then plays at the New York Giants on Dec. 9. This is one rough three-week stretch.Prediction: Saints 24, 49ers 20Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:26:31 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What to watch for in Week 12]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





Plaxico Burress may be the shot in the arm the Steelers need. (US Presswire) 




Week 12 will end the dream of the playoffs for a number of teams if it hasn't ended already.

The other day I pointed out that the 40 teams with six or more losses over the past three seasons at this point in the season produced one playoff team, the 2009 New York Jets. The 2012 Jets notched their seventh loss on Thanksgiving and are done.

Dallas and Detroit joined the six losses or more teams as well and only a miracle will keep them afloat. Sunday, eight teams are facing unofficial elimination with a loss.

Mark my words. They will play their hearts out just like the Lions did on Thursday, but the reality is just like the desperate teams on Thursday the end is near.




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As for the officiating I hope Sunday goes better than Thursday. It was a shame to see Jim Schwartz throw a challenge flag when he shouldn't and the correct ruling was a touchdown when the whole football world knew it wasn't. Another reason the booth official needs to be the guy that gets it right and not leave a stadium bewildered.

MICHIGAN STATE TO THE RESCUE

Many teams are in trouble with injuries and roster depth being challenged all over the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers are no exception and they turned to two Michigan State alumni to help them out.

Plaxico Burress is a former Steeler and was recruited by the team last year before he signed a one-year deal with the Jets. Pittsburgh told me at the time that they offered him a two-year deal feeling he needed at least a year to get back into football shape. Now they get Burress for the second year of that two-year deal after catching eight touchdowns for the Jets last year.

He will be able to help right away, especially in the red zone. Reports out of Pittsburgh are that his workout the other day was impressive.

As for QB Brian Hoyer, also of Michigan State, there is a lot more risk with him on the field any time soon. Hoyer is a solid prospect and the Steelers are lucky to have him, but he is one injury to Charlie Batch away from having to play this week against division rival Cleveland. The Browns sacked Tony Romo seven times last week and hit him another 10 times. I don't think Batch could withstand that kind of punishment at 37 years old.

TIME TO SOLVE THE ROAD WOES

Right now the Seattle Seahawks would be in the playoffs if they started this weekend, but of course the playoffs are seven weeks away. Seattle is 1-4 on the road and traveling on the longest possible trip in the NFL this weekend when they head to Miami. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has been brilliant at home, where he has led his team to wins over Dallas, Green Bay, New England, Minnesota and the Jets without throwing an interception.

Wilson has eight interceptions and just four touchdown passes on the road and only generates 12 points a road game. The Seahawks are on the road again next week in Chicago, so a win is all important this weekend in Miami. The Dolphins may have good run-defense numbers for the season, but over the last five weeks they are giving up 132 yards a game on the ground and I expect Marshawn Lynch to lead the team to this win or we will be talking about the Bucs, Vikings or even the Saints moving into a playoff spot.

BACKUP QUARTERBACKS

For weeks I have been discussing the concussion protocol as the biggest reason for teams to have the best possible backup quarterbacks money can buy and they should never go into games with just two quarterbacks on the roster. Just ask the Steelers, who are already down to their third.

This week backup quarterbacks are on the field all over the NFL. By the end of the weekend there could be seven or eight backups trying to win games. Last week Chad Henne (Jacksonville), Byron Leftwich (Pittsburgh), Nick Foles (Philadelphia), Jason Campbell (Chicago) all lost and only 49er backup Colin Kaepernick won his game.

What some teams wouldn't do for Kyle Orton, Matt Hasselbeck or even Matt Flynn coming off their bench. Week 12 we are going to see Brady Quinn (Kansas City), Foles (Philadelphia), Ryan Lindley (Arizona), Charlie Batch (Pittsburgh), Henne (Jacksonville) and maybe Jason Campbell (Chicago) and I'm not sure many of them will lead their team to a win.

RAIDERS GOING EAST AGAIN

I have to say whether you are a Raiders fan or not does it seem fair they are once again heading to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. start? The Black and Silver are not done with this trip because they come back in December to play the Carolina Panthers.

Oakland has lost all three games on the East Coast scoring just 53 points (18 per game) and is 2-14 in their last 16 trips. Of course this game has special meaning as Carson Palmer returns to Cincinnati for the first time since he was traded to the Raiders. Palmer is on pace to break the all-time Raider passing yardage for a season, but the team's 3-7 record and a defense that has given up 135 points in the last three games overshadows everything else.

Palmer and company have a big mountain to climb to spoil the Bengals' playoff dreams this week, but keep in mind Cincinnati is 1-3 at home in their last four home games.

CAN LUCK ANSWER?

Two weeks ago it was looking like Andrew Luck was a lock for rookie of the year as he leads his team to a 6-4 record and a playoff contender. In the last two games Robert Griffin III responded with eight touchdown passes, two wins and the Redskins are back in contention.

It is an exciting race and the dark horse is Russell Wilson as he keeps the Seahawks in the playoff race.

Luck is at home Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and he needs a strong performance after the Thanksgiving performance of RG3. Buffalo's defensive front played well last week, but I think Luck will play well and maybe even match the four touchdowns the Redskins QB threw this week.

Keep your eye on south Florida as Wilson tries to add to his 15 touchdown passes. What a great year for rookie quarterbacks!<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Arizona Cardinals</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:06:43 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Week 12 matchups: Vincent Jackson vs. Asante Samuel will be key]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson vs. Falcons CB Asante Samuel: Jackson is a big reason why the Bucs have emerged as a playoff threat. His ability to stretch the field is key to the Tampa Bay offense. Samuel was acquired for this type of battle. Can he handle Jackson in man coverage? It won't be easy.
Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali vs. Broncos LT Ryan Clady: Clady is having a fantastic season. He excels in pass protection and protects Peyton Manning's blind side. Hali is a relentless pass rusher who will be an all-day affair. Put your eyes on this one.
Bears DE Julius Peppers vs. Vikings LT Matt Kalil: It's always fun to see a star pass rusher matched against a rookie left tackle. Kalil has done a nice job this season, but Peppers is a step above most. Peppers has power and speed, which makes it tough to handle him.



More on NFL: Week 12


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Raiders QB Carson Palmer vs. Bengals (his old team): Palmer quit on the Bengals and then was traded. You know his old team would love to pay him back for quitting on them, and he will be amped to show them he isn't done. Problem is, his defense is horrible. So he might be trying to catch up all day.
Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Packers RT T.J. Lang: Lang has moved to the right tackle spot after Bryan Bulaga went down with a season-ending injury. Lang had some trouble against the Lions last week. Pierre-Paul hasn't had the type of year some expected, but coming out of the bye look for him to get it going.
Saints TE Jimmy Graham vs. 49ers safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner: You know the Saints will throw a lot to Graham, who is healthy now after being dinged early in the season. The 49ers' safeties are aggressive in run support, so look for some big-play chances for Graham.
49ers OLB Aldon Smith vs. Saints LT Jermon Bushrod: Smith is on a sack tear, getting 5 1/2 last week against the Bears. Bushrod is a step up in competition from J'Marcus Webb of the Bears. Drew Brees gets the ball out quick, so it will be a challenge for Smith to get to him.
Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs vs. Chargers LT Mike Harris: Harris has had a rough go of it starting for the injured Jared Gaither, and this is a tough challenge. Suggs hasn't been his usual explosive self, but this could be the game where he gets it going as a pass rusher.
Falcons WR Julio Jones and Roddy White vs. Bucs CBs Eric Wright and E.J. Biggers: The Tampa corners have really struggled, which should give Jones and White a lot of big-play chances. Matt Ryan struggled last week, but he should have plenty of chances down the field here.
Seahawks C Max Unger vs. Dolphins NT Paul Soliai: The Dolphins have slipped some in run defense the past few weeks, so expect the Seahawks to come in and try to pound Marshawn Lynch. That means Unger has to get push on Soliai, who can be a force at the point.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>Atlanta Falcons</category>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 2012 11:23:39 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Harbaugh should start Kaepernick]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





 There is no decision. Colin Kaepernick has to start for San Francisco.  (US Presswire) 



A report from SI.com says that San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh will start Colin Kaepernick against New Orleans this week. Another report says Kaepernick will get first team reps.Confusing? It shouldn't be. This should be easiest decision Harbaugh will ever make. Not starting Kaepernick would be coaching malpractice.



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Did you watch Kaepernick dismantle one of the league's best and most opportunistic defenses in that destruction of the Chicago Bears? Did you see the accurate passes? Did you see the aggressive throws, the athleticism, the leadership? Yeah, you did? Well so did Harbaugh and he's clearly, at least, having second thoughts about starting Smith and may even have made the decision to start Kaepernick.
I'm told by one source the 49ers' locker room was the most energized it's been all season after they crushed the Bears and that almost every player on the team wanted Kaepernick to start.
So of courseHarbaugh should start him. Someone shoves some turkey and stuffing in front of your starving face, you eat that dang meal.
The feelings of Alex Smith don't matter. This is the NFL--the No Friends League. Harbaugh wants to win a Super Bowl, not coddle Smith. Not get Christmas cards from him.
Smith is efficient, Kaepernick is explosive. Defenses still show Smith very little respect and first try to stop San Francisco's run offense. They won't be able to do that any longer because of Kaepernick's throwing ability.
Will defenses eventually adapt to Kaepernick? Sure. He'll slow some but then the 49ers will adapt. Should we get this excited over one start? Well, yes, because of the quality of defense Kaepernick crushed.
But for now, starting Kaepernick would bethe right thing to do.
Duh.

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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:19:33 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints Notebook: Playoff loss to 49ers still fresh in players' minds]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





For S Malcolm Jenkins, who gave up the winning TD catch in the 2011 playoffs, the postseason loss to the 49ers still hurts. (US Presswire) 



The Saints have more on their minds than revenge for last year's devastating playoff loss to the 49ers, but they aren't shying away from talking about the pain.
&ldquo;I don't think you really get over it,&rdquo; said safety Malcolm Jenkins, who was covering tight end Vernon Davis when he caught the winning TD pass with nine seconds left. &ldquo;You just move on. We have a new season, so there's a whole new set of opportunities, but that was definitely a tough pill to swallow in the offseason.&rdquo;
The Saints would have played host to the New York Giants, a team they already had beaten 49-24 in the Superdome, for the NFC title if they had survived the last nine seconds at San Francisco.
&ldquo;It's hard to think that we would have lost in the dome,&rdquo; Jenkins said. &ldquo;You win, and you go to the Super Bowl, but that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes.&rdquo;
The Saints, who have won five of six after an 0-4 start, need to win to stay close in the NFC playoff race. They trail Seattle, Tampa Bay and Minnesota by one game for the last spot.
That, to them, is more important than payback for last year.
&ldquo;A lot of people want to talk about statement games and this and that,&rdquo; QB Drew Brees said. The fact is, every week is a statement week. I don't look at this as anything other than the next team on our schedule.&rdquo;
Offensive tackle Zach Strief is looking forward to the rematch just for the competitiveness. He labeled the playoff game against the 49ers one of the all-time best.
&ldquo;It felt like an old school game,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It was physical, it was hard-hitting, it was emotional, it was tough. All of us really loved playing in that game.&rdquo;
Two QBs, no worries: After a terrific performance by 49ers backup QB Colin Kaepernickin place of injured Alex Smith on Monday, the Saints have no idea which quarterback will start for the 49ers on Sunday.
DE Will Smith said he doesn't care.
&ldquo;I don't think we're preparing for two,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It doesn't really matter who plays. They are pretty much similar. One (Kaepernick) runs more than the other one, but the offense doesn't change no matter who the quarterback is. Our key to victory is really stopping the run. They lead the NFL in rushing yards. It's going to be huge for us to stop the run early.&rdquo;
Jenkins agreed.
&ldquo;There's not much difference in their offense,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We'll prepare the same way for both of them.&rdquo;
Vitt's stat of the week: Last week, interim Saints coach Joe Vitt started his Wednesday talk with reporters by saying teams that had given up 55 or more points one week (actually 50) were 5-1 when playing at home the following week since 2005. That was his way of pointing out that no one would overlook Oakland.
This time, he said San Francisco was on pace to break the NFL record for runs of 10 or more yards. His point: stopping the run is paramount.
&ldquo;It all starts with being a physical team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They want to grind it and they want to wear you down.&rdquo;
Injury update/transactions: Vitt said DE Junior Galette (sprained ankle), CB Corey White (left knee) and OT Charles Brown (right knee) did not practice. RB Darren Sproles went through the whole workout and likely will be activated Sunday after sitting out the previous three games with a broken left hand.
The Saints also signed OG Jamarcus Hardrick to replace Harland Gunn, whom the Falcons signed off their practice squad this week.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:12:07 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Saints could be down to third right tackle vs. 49ers DE Aldon Smith]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





The Saints will rely on gimpy Zach Strief (above) or rookie Bryce Harris to stop the 49ers DE Aldon Smith.  (US Presswire) 



The streaking Saints could be down to their third right tackle when they face the 49ers and dominating defensive end Aldon Smith on Sunday.
Normal starter Zach Strief, who has missed the last two games with a groin injury, returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday but said he was not sure he would be ready to play. His backup, Charles Brown, is definitely out after hurting his knee against Oakland last Sunday.
That leaves either a gimpy Strief or undrafted rookie Bryce Harris to face Smith, who has an NFL-record 28.5 sacks in his first 26 games and usually lines up against the right tackle.
&ldquo;They have outstanding pass rushers,&rdquo; Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said. &ldquo;They have great edge pressure, they have strong people in the middle. Our ability to create a firm pocket for Drew [Brees] is going to be critical.&rdquo;
The real test for Strief will come Thursday and Friday in practice.
&ldquo;I'm happy that it feels as good as it does,&rdquo; Strief said. &ldquo;I'm ahead of schedule, but we'll see how it responds after a day of work. I felt good today, but at the same time, you have to wait and see how it responds.&rdquo;
The Saints signed Harris off the Falcons' practice squad in early September. He was inactive for the first eight games and did not play before Brown went down in the last two minutes of the first half Sunday.
&ldquo;He jumped in there last week without a lot of reps and played with some poise,&rdquo; Vitt said. &ldquo;It really helps him that he's playing next to Jahri (Evans). Jahri's a good communicator.&rdquo;
Vitt said the Saints picked up Harris because they liked his athletic ability, his footwork and his base. They weren't expecting him to play, though, and if Strief performs well in practice, he won't have to against the 49ers.
Brees threw 63 passes in New Orleans'divisional playoff loss to San Francisco last year and was sacked three times. Smith had 5 &frac12; sacks alone against Chicago this Monday night.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter@CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:56:26 EST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Saints DE Will Smith expects decision on bounty suspension appeal after Dec. 4]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[





A decision on Saints DE Will Smith's bounty-related suspension appeal is expected soon after Dec. 4.  (US Presswire) 



New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smithon Wednesday confirmed an Associated Press report that former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will rule on the bounty-related suspension appeals involving Smith and Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma soon after Dec. 4.Smith, who was suspended in May for four games, has played the entire season while the suspensions were under appeal. He will be eligible to play at least two more games -- this Sunday against San Francisco and the following Thursday against Atlanta. Tagliabue's self-imposed deadline should fall before game No. 13 on Dec. 9 against the New York Giants.The suspensions have been delayed multiple times. Two days before the season opener against Washington, a three-man appeals panel told NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to clarify his reason for the suspensions and re-issue them.Goodell handed them down again in October, reducing the time penalties for former Saints players Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita, but keeping Smith's and Vilma's the same. The players appealed, and after Goodell appointed Tagliabue to hear the appeal, Hurricane Sandy forced him to postpone the original date for the hearing.Smith said he was okay with the decision being reached before the end of the season.&ldquo;I'm not concerned about it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That's what all parties wanted. I'm on the same page. He's (Tagliabue) got to make a decision eventually. I know everyone wants a fast decision, so after everything is heard and the hearing has taken place and we're caught up to speed with everything, we'll see what happens.&rdquo;Smith also confirmed the AP's report that Tagliabue told the NFL to produce former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former defensive assistant Mike Cerullo at the hearing, which is set to begin Nov. 27 and end Dec. 4. They were the primary witnesses when the NFL handed down its bounty-related suspensions.&ldquo;It's going to be important that Gregg and those guys get a chance to get cross-examined as we were cross-examined,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;It's good to have those guys finally stepping forward and actually talking instead of hiding.&rdquo;Smith has 41 tackles, tied for most by a Saints defensive lineman, and five sacks, second to fellow DE Cam Jordan's six. Wondering from week to week whether he would be allowed to play has had no tangible effect on his performance.&ldquo;You try not to think about it,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;My job is to play football and to help the New Orleans Saints win games and play at a high level. If it means dealing with that as a distraction, I've got to put it on the back burner while I'm playing. Whatever happens, happens.&rdquo;Vilma, who has played in five games and started four since coming back from a knee injury, did not appear while reporters were allowed in the locker room. Interim coach Joe Vitt, who served a six-game suspension at the beginning of the year for his role in the bounty scandal, refused to comment when asked about Tagliabue's timeline.&ldquo;I have no idea what you're talking about,&rdquo; Vitt said. &ldquo;I'm thinking about the San Francisco 49ers right now.&rdquo;Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:25:15 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Video: Drew Brees weighs in on Saints bounty scandal]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[  Drew Brees has been an outspoken defender of his coach and team after the NFL alleged that the Saints players were rewarded for inflicting injury to opposing players. Hear more of Brees interview on the CBS series "Person to Person" at 10 p.m. ET Friday, Nov.23.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his wife Brittany's Brees Dream Foundation will commit $1 million to Superstorm Sandy relief efforts because, as they tell Charlie Rose and Lara Logan on CBS' Person to Person special, "We want to be able to give back what's been given to us." Brees also speaks about the offseason bounty allegations that left coaches suspended and the team reeling. "I think what we're talking about is that there have been a lot of false accusations in regards to what the Saints' 'bounty' was," Brees tells Rose on the show. "I think initially with the NFL's media campaign, it was portrayed in a way that 'Hey, these guys are being paid to go out and intentionally hurt people.' And that was never the case and it's yet to be proven. "Unfortunately, I think the perception has kind of become reality in that regard but I think all that will come out in due time and these guys will be vindicated." Brees has spoken out previously about the NFL's handling of the bounty allegations. Back in June, he sat down with David Letterman. For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to the Pick-6 Podcast on iTunes. You can follow Ryan Wilson on Twitter here: @ryanwilson_07.<br clear="both" style="clear: both;"/>
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			<category>New Orleans Saints</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:46:26 EST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[2013 Super Bowl Odds, Week 12: Thanks for playing, Chiefs and Jaguars]]></title>
			<description><![CDATA[
You know what I'm thankful for? Not having to recreate my odds table below to configure whatever the Jaguars and Chiefs were going to end up at if they stayed on the board. Instead, Bovada.lv has taken their odds down, which means we mark them as OFF.
And you know what? The timing couldn't be more hilarious, as these odds came out on Wednesday -- the same day Blaine Gabbert was placed on injured reserve by the Jaguars and the same day Romeo Crennel announced Brady Quinn would be his starter for Week 12.
Do you see how these things are all related?
At any rate, that's the majority of the exciting odds news on this short week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, everyone!



Team
Week 11 Odds
Week 12 Odds
Trend
Team
Week 11 Odds
Week 12 Odds
Trend


Texans
19-4
5-1

Colts 
66-1
100-1



Patriots
6-1
11-2

Bengals 
150-1
100-1



Broncos 
6-1
11-2

Redskins 
300-1
200-1



49ers 
15-2
13-2

Lions 
200-1
250-1



Packers 
15-2
15-2

Dolphins 
200-1
300-1



Falcons 
9-1
9-1

Bills 
500-1
300-1



Ravens 
12-1
12-1

Jets 
350-1
300-1



Giants 
12-1
14-1

Eagles 
200-1
350-1



Bears 
10-1
15-1

Cardinals 
350-1
700-1



Steelers 
16-1
22-1

Titans 
500-1
500-1



Saints 
30-1
25-1

Raiders 
500-1
750-1



Cowboys 
30-1
28-1

Rams 
500-1
750-1



Seahawks 
33-1
30-1

Browns 
1000-1
1000-1



Buccaneers 
75-1
60-1

Panthers 
1500-1
1500-1



Vikings 
75-1
90-1

Chiefs 
3000-1
OFF



Chargers 
66-1
100-1

Jaguars 
3000-1
OFF



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			<link>http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=dfba83671b4bb75136fd2a5783fe455d</link>
			<pheedo:origLink>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21083237</pheedo:origLink>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21083237</guid>
			<category>Arizona Cardinals</category>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:18:04 EST</pubDate>
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