Two years, two close calls, and two long offseasons pondering ”what if” for the Baltimore Ravens.
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Ravens poised to take next step in crowded AFC (The Associated Press)
Brock Osweiler is used to getting a lot of playing time in the desert. Thursday night would be no exception. However, it may be the last time Osweile…
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Osweiler has key game in familiar setting
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Rookie Brock Osweiler has one last shot at winning the job as Peyton Manning’s backup, and he’s going to get that opportunity in familiar surroundings.
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Rookie gets 1 more shot at Denver’s backup QB job (The Associated Press)
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter 2012 coming off of a disappointing playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. New offensive coordinator Todd Haley will have several weapons at his disposal; Ben Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback. His targets include Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Heath Miller. The offensive line is young and poised to develop into a force to be reckoned with; Maurkice Pouncey anchors a unit that will feature Marcus Gilbert and David DeCastro among others. The running back situation is unclear with injuries to Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman (stay tuned). …
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Pittsburgh Steelers Stadium Guide: Heinz Field (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Mike Wallace’s holdout lasted over a month, but could end up costing him zero actual playing time. Comments from Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley indicate that it’s at least possible that Wallace will be on the field for the Steelers week one game against the Denver Broncos. Via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “You’re talking about a guy who’s a wide receiver, a pass-catcher,” Haley said. “It’s not a running back or someone who has to be in the action of the game. I think it’s feasible he’s ready to go when we start this thing up.” It is feasible, but keep in mind that the Steelers haven’t even seen Wallace in practice yet. He did show up and sign his tender, but NFL rules say he still can’t practice for three days after that. That leaves an awfully short amount of time to get ready for the Broncos, especially in a brand new offense. Ultimately, a lot of this will depend on how well Wallace has stayed in shape while away from the team. Like Haley said, Wallace is a receiver, so it makes things less complicated. They can put him on the field and let him know what route to run, and he can go do it. He may not be at 100% of his capabilities, and he might not be an every down player, but he could contribute.
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Steelers could have Mike Wallace on the field for their first game (Shutdown Corner)
Mid-week mail call: Kurt C. from Seattle wants to know if I think the Chiefs should give up on second-year quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Bill Williamson…
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Mailbag: What’s Ricky Stanzi’s future?
The Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos are one of the most curious stories in the NFL as he we inch toward the regular season. On Wednesday, Mike Gree…
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Podcast: Broncos ‘Two-A-Days’
For a lot of young players in the NFL, it’s probably a huge thrill to tear the plastic off of Madden ‘13, put the game in the console, and then see yourself represented on the screen. It’s probably less of a thrill to put the game in, find yourself, and see that the picture is of someone else. That’s what New York Giants defensive tackle Marcus Thomas experienced. That’s not Marcus Thomas. At least, it’s not the right Marcus Thomas. The right Marcus Thomas looks like this: There used to be another Marcus Thomas in the NFL, a running back out of UTEP who last played for the Broncos in 2009. Marcus Thomas, the current Giant, was also with Denver in 2009. It was an easy mistake for the Madden people, and an honest one, I’m sure, but Giant Marcus Thomas aired his grievances in a series of tweets . Here are a few of them: @MarcusThomas_79 : I been in the nfl going on 6years and y’all still hav another mans face for my pic on madden i hate y’all hate is very strong but I do @MarcusThomas_79 : How y’all gone hav my pic rookie season and then change it to a completely dif person for ds rest of my career @MarcusThomas_79 : dear mr @EAMaddenNFL i com to you humbly sir. Can u please put the right photo of me on the madden it’s been 6years not lol maybe a giggle Fortunately, the complaints found their way to Donny Moore, described in his Twitter bio as the “Madden NFL Live Content Producer and Ratings Czar.” He’s vowed to fix the mistake. @Donny_Moore : @MarcusThomas_79 Sincere apologies Mr. Thomas, we will have this picture removed for next update…It is the UTEP Marcus Thomas. Crisis averted, and now Marcus Thomas’s hate can be replaced with love. @MarcusThomas_79 : Thanks mr madden I love you
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Madden ’13 pictures the wrong Marcus Thomas; right Marcus Thomas gets upset (Shutdown Corner)
James Quintong discuss Tim Tebow’s potential with his new team and his fantasy value for 2012.
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Tim Tebow of New York Jets would thrive in fantasy if given chance to start, still worth late-round pick for the upside
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – During rookie initiations late last week, Lonie Paxton took the shears to fellow long-snapper Aaron Brewer ‘s long blonde locks, leaving him with a military style buzz cut. The unkindest cut came this week when Paxton, a 12-year veteran and three-time Super Bowl champ, was beaten out by Brewer, a 6-foot-5 undrafted rookie, and released by the Denver Broncos. That was a head-turner, even to Brewer. “I was pretty surprised,” Brewer acknowledged Tuesday. “He was in the league for 12 years. You never know when you’re going to get the opportunity. Now I have it and I’ll make the most of it.” Brewer has been perfect on 18 snaps in the preseason and he displayed the hustle and athleticism that allowed him to record 15 special teams tackles at San Diego State, including a-half dozen as a senior last year. That’s one more than Paxton had in three seasons in Denver after former coach Josh McDaniels brought him along from New England in 2009 and signed him to a five-year, $5.53 million deal to replace the popular Mike Leach. By releasing Paxton, the Broncos saved nearly $1.3 million in salary cap space. Paxton was due the veteran’s minimum of $925,000 this season. Brewer will make $390,000. Coach John Fox called Brewer “an exceptional athlete.” Brewer, who was planning to return to school to finish up work on his degree if this gig didn’t work out, knows his coverage skills helped him beat long odds to win the Broncos’ long-snapper job. “It’s a big deal to me. Of course, I want to have a great snap, but I’m an athlete, I like to play football,” Brewer said. “I like to run down and mix things up, so it’s not the most important thing for a long-snapper, but it kind of just adds to it.” Brewer said he appreciated Paxton’s advice over the last few months. He said he also doesn’t hold a grudge for the haircut. He said they put it in ponytails and sent it off to a children’s cancer charity. “I like it now,” Brewer said. “It’s easier to keep up.” Some of Brewer’s teammates razzed him as reporters gathered around him for his first mass interview. Long snappers don’t usually get this kind of attention regardless of whether they’re a rookie or a veteran, unless they miss a big snap that costs their team a victory. “Yeah, exactly,” Brewer said. “I hope I never have to do this again.” Notes : CB Omar Bolden returned from a sprained left knee he hurt Sunday against San Francisco, and LB Keith Brooking practiced for the first time since straining his left hamstring Aug. 13. … LB Mike Mohamed returned from a pulled hamstring and T Tony Hillis (neck) sat out. By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer (© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Rookie Long-Snapper Brewer Surprised He Beat Out Veteran