We are now more than 2 1/2 years into the NFL careers of the players who were drafted in 2007.

If you scroll down the list of first round draftees, several names will jump out at you of players who have already carved out solid beginnings to their careers.

In a few cases, some of the first round draftees from 2007 have proven to be franchise cornerstones worthy of high picks: Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Darrelle Revis, Ted Ginn Jr, to name a few.

In other cases, however, the players drafted in 2007 have proven to be worth far less than what their draft position might suggest. This is no more evident than with respect to the two QBs drafted in the first round in 2007: JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn.

My goodness, what wasted first round picks those two are proving to be.

And amazingly, Russell and Quinn are not alone. Several other QBs were taken in 2007, none of whom have amounted to much of anything. Let’s review the carnage.

First, we have to examine the combined ineptitude of Russell and Quinn. Let’s start with the caveat that both players were drafted by teams that have spent most of the last decade defining the word futility. Any quarterback would have struggled in the situations that Russell and Quinn have been in.

With that said, bad franchises take QBs in the first round specifically so that they can emerge from their futility and become competitive. The Raiders and Browns have stayed the same, if not regressed, since deciding to take these two in the first round.

And it has culminated in this, from Pro Football Talk today, in which MDS breaks down (via Adam Schefter) the possibility of the Browns or Raiders breaking the all-time NFL record for fewest points in a 16-game season (currently held by the 1992 Seattle Seahawks, 140 points):

…both the Cleveland Browns and the Oakland Raiders have a shot at the record this season. Nine games into 2009, the Browns have scored 78 points, putting them on pace to finish with 139 and break the 1992 Seahawks’ record.

And if the Browns don’t break the Seahawks’ record, the Raiders might: Having scored 88 points this season, Oakland is on pace to finish with 156. If Bruce Gradkowski manages the superhuman feat of being a worse quarterback than JaMarcus Russell, maybe the Raiders can come in under 140 as well.

Now, to be fair to Brady Quinn, he has not started the entire season. He was replaced by Derek Anderson after playing only 10 quarters. But that is perhaps even more of an indictment of Quinn’s failures, because we all saw how pathetic Anderson was.

Just take a look at Russell’s and Quinn’s career numbers. (I apologize in advance for not having sickness bags ready for the Browns and Raiders fans who are reading this.)

Brady Quinn:

• 2007 draft position: #22 overall
• Passer rating: 58.0
• Completion Percentage: 52.2%
• TD:INT ratio: 3:7
• Yards per attempt: 5.2
• Total passing yards: 1,071
• Large fines for cheap hits on opposing defenders after INTs: 1

JaMarcus Russell:

• 2007 draft position: #1 overall
• Passer rating: 65.5
• Completion Percentage: 51.6%
• TD:INT ratio: 17:21
• Yards per attempt: 6.0
• Total passing yards: 3,860
• Number of google results when you search “jamarcus russell poor work ethic”: 1,070,000

Thinking back to the 2007 NFL draft, and how big a deal was made about Brady Quinn dropping unexpectedly and being “embarrassed” as the cameras caught the disappointment on his face, it almost makes me laugh. Considering how he’s turned out, he should have been jumping for joy to be picked in the first round and get some guaranteed money; it’s the Browns and their fans who should have winced in agony.

But hindsight is always 20-20, as they say.

Okay, fine. So the two first round QBs of 2007 turned out to be putrid. Surely there must have been a diamond in the rough uncovered later in the draft, right? Well…

Kevin Kolb was taken with the 36th pick. He actually showed some promise this season, sporting an 88.9 QB rating in two starts. Still, he’s only played in 11 games over three seasons and has thrown seven INTs against only four TDs. But we’ll be generous and say the jury is still out on Kolb.

John Beck was taken with the 40th pick by the Miami Dolphins. He has thrown 107 career passes and is now a benchwarmer for the Ravens. Failure.

Drew Stanton was taken with the 43rd pick by the Detroit Lions. All you need to know about Stanton is that he has been so good the Lions took Matthew Stafford with their first pick in the last draft. Failure.

Trent Edwards was taken by the Bills with the 92nd pick. He has actually been the “best” QB from the 2007 draft…which is not saying much. He has at least played in 31 games for the team that drafted him though, and has a respectable (I guess) 78.0 QB rating with a 24:25 TD:INT ratio. I suppose this is not terrible production from a third round pick, but it’s not good for a draft class when this is the high water mark.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Isaiah Stanback with the 103rd pick and then promptly switched him to WR, where he now plays for the Patriots. Go 2007 QB class! Go!

The Bengals drafted Jeff Rowe with the 151st pick. Who? Exactly.

The Ravens drafted Troy Smith with 174th pick. He made such an impression that they drafted Joe Flacco in the very next draft.

The Redskins drafted Jordan Palmer with the 205th pick. He now plays with his brother in Cincinnati and has done about as much in an NFL uniform as Jordan Farmar.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Tyler Thigpen in with the 217th pick in the 7th round. He was later dealt to Kansas City and now is in Miami. He at least put some decent stats for the Chiefs last year. Let’s put it this way, his 76.0 QB rating, 54.8% completion percentage, 2,608 yards, and 18:12 TD:INT ratio in 2008 are better than anything Quinn or Russell have even approached. And Thigpen played for a similarly crappy team.

Apparently 2007 was like some sort of bizarro draft in which QBs were drafted in inverse order of their future production. Am I embellishing a bit? Sure. But not by much.

So, in conclusion, the 2007 QB draft class featured two first round QBs, yet the two most productive players from that class have been a 3rd rounder who has oscillated in and out of the lineup and a 7th rounder who is now a backup with his third team.

In fact, it would not be unreasonable to state that the greatest contribution from the QB class of the 2007 NFL Draft is an iPhone app that tells you the most optimal times to take a wizz during a movie.

Now, I have neither the time nor the inclination to review each position from every draft in an effort to prove my hypothesis true. But I’d be willing to blindly bet $20 right now that there is not another position from a single draft more porous, putrid, and pathetic than the QBs from the 2007 NFL Draft.

If anyone wants to take the challenge, go right ahead. But you’ve got your work cut out for you. (So you probably shouldn’t ask JaMarcus Russell to help. In fact, shh…he’s taking a nap…the Raiders are in a meeting. )

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A couple of things struck me recently regarding how bad things are in 2009 for the Cleveland Browns and their fans.

Anyone who has watched a game this season knows just how bad the team is, but a few things have happened this week that go beyond the offensive offensive numbers (repetition intended) and the record to truly illustrate what a putrid season this has become.

First off, there may be no bigger indictment of the sorry state of the Browns than this: the Detroit Lions, a team that went 0-16 a year ago and has won only one game this year, is a 3.5 point favorite over the Browns this weekend.

But wait…there’s more.

Entering Week 11, which begins the stretch playoff run for any team worth half a crap, the biggest story involving the Cleveland Browns doesn’t even involve anyone on their own team. It revolves around whether a basketball player would make a good football player.

Even more amazing, it’s not just fans talking about it, but Browns players and coaches are addressing the issue as well. (Our friends at Waiting For Next Year also noted just how terrible of a sign this is for the Browns.)

When you’ve scored five touchdowns in 15 games, I guess you can’t really blame these guys for practicing a little bit of escapism. Plus, does anyone really doubt that LeBron James could throw on some pads and cleats tomorrow and become the biggest threat on the Browns’ offense?

Don’t get me wrong: as great as LeBron’s athletic ability is, that is much more of an indictment of the Browns than any faith I have in his football ability.

Cleveland fans should be careful though. They may be jinxing their King by mentioning him in the same sentence as the Browns. Is it a coincidence that on the same day all of this Lebron-on-the-Browns talk escalated that the Cavs lost to the Wizards and LeBron hurt his wrist?

Maybe…maybe not.

But perhaps nothing though sums up the 2009 Cleveland Browns season more than what happened at the end of the Browns-Ravens Monday Night game earlier this week.

The Browns called a timeout before their final play of the game, presumably to try something, anything, in a desperation move to avoid a shutout. On the ensuing play, the Browns’ only productive offensive player – Josh Cribbs – was injured while running around and lateraling the football. He had to be placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

The problem is that it was the Browns fourth timeout of the second half. As we all know, teams only get three timeouts per half. And, of course, the Browns did not score on the play en route to a 16-0 home shutout loss.

The moral of the story? Even when fortune seemingly smiles down upon the Browns and throws them a bone (so to speak), it turns into a complete and utter disaster.

And that, ladies and gentleman, should be the name for the official Browns 2009 Season in Review DVD.

Complete and Utter Disaster.

It is the most apt description possible for a season that continues to just get worse and worse…and worse.

Oh, and if you think I’m just plaintively wallowing in woe-is-me nonsense all by my lonesome, do a quick Google Image search for “browns fans” and then examine the first page. There is nothing but Browns fans looking miserable (except for the strange picture of the lady dressed up as the Browns’ elf).

I guess seasons like this are what you sign up for when you become a Browns fan. But even by the Browns’ lofty standards, what has transpired this year has been pathetic.

Thanks for reading. I’m going to back to doing what Randy Lerner is probably doing right now: daydreaming.

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* – Browns fan photo credit: Tracy Boulian via the The Plain Dealer

Via KCChiefsBlog.com, Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe has been suspended for using performance enhancing drugs.

His suspension will reportedly begin immediately.

The Kansas City Chiefs website has confirmed KCChiefsBlog.com’s report of Bowe’s suspension for PED use.

The Kansas City Star also has this to say about Bowe’s suspension:

Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

League spokesman Corry Rush announced the suspension in an e-mail, and the Chiefs have acknowledged Bowe’s suspension.

I guess this answers the questions I was getting earlier today in our Week 11 start ‘em, sit ‘em post regarding whether Bowe should play this weekend, huh?

For the season, Dwayne Bowe has 33 catches for 466 yards and 4 TDs, which puts him a little bit off pace in relation to his 2007 and 2008 numbers. I guess the “performance enhancing” part didn’t really come to fruition.

Update: Here are a couple of excellent points regarding the suspension of Dwayne Bowe from Pro Football Talk:

The specific substance for which he tested positive isn’t known, and it’s possible that the violation occurred in 2008 or earlier. It’s also possible that Bowe didn’t test positive; some players have been suspended based on evidence of possession of banned substances.

And here is more good news for Browns fans, who have the Chiefs on their schedule later this year: Bowe will miss the next four games and then be back in time to face Cleveland. If you’ve been following the Browns this year, it makes perfect sense that it would work out this way.

Update: Here is more Adam Schefter in a couple of tweets posted a few minutes ago:

From what I gather, Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe was trying to lose weight in training camp and took a diuretic.

Bowe found out about his suspension earlier this month and has decided not to appeal it. He knows those are battles players don’t win.

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* – Dwayne Bowe photo credit: ChiefsTailgate.net

The Browns got their asses handed to them again last night in another embarrassing offensive performance that culminated in a 16-0 shutout.

But nothing the offense did (or didn’t do) could match the collective fear and frustration felt when Josh Cribbs needlessly went down on the last play of the game and then had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

Let’s forget for a moment how asinine it was for the team to run a “hook and ladder” play with the game out of reach and get to the important stuff: this morning’s Josh Cribbs injury update.

The latest Cribbs injury update, according to the Plain-Dealer, is that Cribbs was taken to the hospital immediately after last night’s game and is being evaluated for a concussion.

He was reportedly placed on the stretcher as a precautionary measure, but was said to have been laughing and joking with teammates as he was carted off the field. He was also reportedly experiencing full movement in his extremeties.

I’m not sure there are words for how relieved this news will make Browns fans, his teammates, and the organization.

Not only is Josh Cribbs the only bright and exciting spot for the Cleveland Browns right now, but he is about as high a character guy as there is. For example, this past week it was reported that Cribbs attended the senior night for the son of his former coach at Kent State, who is now deceased. Cribbs accompanied his former coach’s wife as she walked her son out on Senior night.

That’s Joshua Cribbs for you.

So while you never want anyone to get hurt during a sporting event, Cribbs is the kind of guy that you really don’t want to see get hurt. He plays his heart out on every play of every game, regardless of whether the Browns have a chance to win or not, and he embodies everything that we want our athletes to be in terms of providing a positive example for young people to follow.

You’d think that kind of thing would be rewarded by the pathetic organization for which he plays — the same organization that professes it wants to build around “high character” players — but so far Cribbs does not have a new contract. And before you argue and say that he should play out his current deal, consider for a quick second what happened last night.

In the NFL, everything can be taken away from a player in a split second. They have to take care of themselves and their families by using leverage when they have it. The Browns organization will continue on if Josh Cribbs ever gets seriously injuried; his career will not.

I have no problem with Cribbs seeking a new deal, especially when he obviously deserves it and when he says Randy Lerner promised him one.

Anyway, sorry…I didn’t mean to go off on a tangent there. Last night was just a reminder of how important Cribbs is to the Browns and how much he needs to be a centerpiece of the rebuilding project.

I don’t know why he was even on the field in that situation. Actually, I take that back…all it takes is one glance over to the sideline to know exactly why such an idiotic call would be made.

Bud Shaw put it best at the Plain-Dealer website this morning in his article about Josh Cribbs’ injury:

Three seconds left on your half of the field, down 16 points, why do anything except take a knee?

Why the Browns ran a fire drill play that ended with Josh Cribbs carted off the field because his head didn’t swivel fast enough goes into the unanswerable file in an unfathomable season, Eric Mangini’s first and perhaps only here.

That’s not the question being asked around the rest of the country, no doubt. The question being asked around the rest of the country after the Browns 16-0 loss to Baltimore: “Any chance there’s an Antique Roadshow marathon we could watch instead?”

But given the obvious doubts some Browns have about their head coach as voiced by Jamal Lewis last week, the final play of a forgettable game is another log on the three-alarm fire licking at Mangini.

I’d like to, I really would…I’m trying to stay as positive as possible…but I cannot disagree at all.

Also read this update on Josh Cribbs’ injury from Waiting For Next Year, with some quotes from Brady Quinn and Mohammed Massaquoi.

Update: Cribbs has been released from the hospital according to FoxSports.

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* – Josh Cribbs photo credit:Tony Dejak/Associated Press via The Plain-Dealer

For the Green Bay Packers and coach (for now) Mike McCarthy, this is starting to feel like one of those star-crossed seasons that teams and coaches have during which things just seem to go wrong at every turn.

A story in yesterday’s Journal-Sentinel provides yet another example, and honestly doesn’t make a damn bit of sense from the Packers’ perspective.

A longtime Packers employee, Mike Wood, was fired by the Packers because McCarthy claimed that Wood told him not to “lay an egg” a couple of days before the epic Packers-Vikings game at Lambeau. Wood claims that he said nothing of the sort and merely told the coach to have the team ready to “kick some butt.”

I wonder why the hell it even matters, especially in relation to the employment of a loyal, 22-year employee.

Of course, this is the same coach who famously pushed for another longtime Packers employee to leave…but I digress.

Here is an excerpt from the story in all of its absurdity:

Longtime Packers employee Mike Wood fired for alleged comment to Mike McCarthy — (Journal-Sentinel)

Wood said he was sitting in a maintenance cart in a stadium tunnel when McCarthy was talking with members of the grounds crew.

With the season’s most-hyped game only three days away, Wood said he yelled to McCarthy, “Hey coach, let’s get the boys ready to kick some butt this weekend.”

…

Wood said he was told that McCarthy thought he heard him make a comment along the lines of “don’t lay an egg” in the game.

…

Reached for comment, the Packers released a statement: “The organization has standards of conduct that apply to all employees, full-time and part-time, in order to maintain a respectful workplace. Mr. Wood’s supervisors determined he made an inappropriate comment, and he was relieved of his duties.”

If there is not more to the story, like say Wood trafficking Packers’ playbooks to opponents or something, then this is just an asinine move by McCarthy and the Packers.

Florio has a great take on the firing of Mike Wood by the Packers over at PFT that echoes most of what I thought immediately after reading the story. In addition to wondering why McCarthy was even worrying about something like this during such a pivotal week for the franchise, it sounds like it was a snap decision with no due diligence whatsoever:

And here’s the most obvious question the native sons and daughters will be asking:  Why not meet with the guy and hear his side of the story?  Maybe Wood is telling the truth.  Maybe McCarthy, his blood pressure likely sky high as his plan to nudge Favre into retirement was about to explode in his face once and for all, didn’t accurately hear what Wood said.

I think a 22-year veteran of the organization — which, it should be noted, is a hell of a lot longer than McCarthy has been there — deserves to at least face his accuser.

As reported, this story makes McCarthy look like a petty jackass on a power trip. Even if the guy did say “don’t lay an egg,” I don’t see why it would bother McCarthy that much. (This is especially true in hindsight, considering McCarthy and the Packers did lay an egg against the Vikings, and then laid a whole carton of them last week against Tampa Bay.)

Seriously though, if you’re a head coach and you can’t handle someone telling you not to lay an egg, you might want to get into another profession.

Anyway, it’s a good thing I don’t work for the Packers because I’d surely get fired for this:

Get a clue McCarthy. Firing loyal employees for no good reason is not the way to make fans forget about the fact that you’ve turned the Packers into nothing more than a mediocre franchise while Brett Favre has helped to turn your division rival into a juggernaut.

At this point I think it’s safe to say that Mike McCarthy’s tenure with the Packers has been, at best…scrambled.

Update: I didn’t catch this earlier, but Mike McCarthy has responded, and it was actually more than just “Cluck, cluck, cluck,”…although not by much.

As reported by Greg Bedard at the Journal-Sentinel (via 620WTMJ):

Question: Can you talk at all about the story in this morning’s paper?

McCarthy: “Well, really, I haven’t seen the story. I’m not really abreast of what was in the paper, so I don’t really…I’m not in charge of the maintenance department, I can tell you that.

Question: It concerned a comment this maintenance worker supposedly made to you and then a couple days later he got fired.

McCarthy: “Well, I did not fire anybody in the maintenance department, I can tell you that.”

No folks, that’s not a type there in title. Croppy is the intended word.

And the beautiful photoshop work featured in this post is the fruit on our own Ryan Russell’s labor of Browns love, in response to the most colorful and nonsensical figurative part of Jamal Lewis’ pre-practice rant about Eric Mangini earlier today.

Via the OBR:

“If you look at this like it’s a farm, we (the players) are just the crops. We’re just the crops. We’re just the crops. You’ve got to take care of your crops. You’ve got to nurture them. And if you don’t, when it comes harvest time, your crop isn’t going to be any good.”

Full size picture (Eric Mangini included!) after the jump.

Nice work Russell (who you can follow at @ryansrussell).

No position in the NFL is more highly scrutinized, debated, and discussed than the quarterback. It’s impossible to build a consistent winner without one (and people who follow the Cleveland Browns would tell you that it’s impossible to find one period).

After this weekend’s Packers loss to the Bucs, Aaron Rodgers was a popular topic of conversation on Twitter. I made the comment that he has not shown me that he has the “it” that people always talk about when it comes to QBs. Some agreed and some disagreed, but it got me thinking about where Rodgers falls in relation to today’s crop of QBs.

Thus, I set out to rank the quarterbacks currently holding starting NFL gigs, taking into account their current age and skill level, future potential, past accomplishments, and the general confidence level I would have if that player was the QB of my team.

In fact, that last factor was always the tie-breaker as I went through my rankings: who would I rather have starting for my team, with everything else being equal, if my life depending on winning a football game?

I separated the players into distinct tiers as well so you can see where I think dropoffs exist.

The real fun and the main idea of this post is to generate discussion, criticism, and debate in the comment section below. These rankings are just my opinion and I’d love to hear yours.

Let’s do some ranking.

Tier 1: The First Ballot HOF Franchise Anchor Super QBs

1 – Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

1a – Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Do I really need to list out their accomplishments or explain why they are the only two men in this tier? Good, I didn’t think so.

Trying to decide between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning would be like trying to choose between a Heidi Klum or a Minka Kelly screensaver for your computer. You’re going to be happy either way, and while both have their staunch supporters, each side can recognize the greatness of the other.

That Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the two best QBs of the this decade is inarguable.

Here is why I put Peyton Manning ever so slightly ahead of Tom Brady: I don’t think that Peyton’s greatness will go down in history as being linked with any particular coach as Brady’s will be linked with Bill Belichick. Thus, to me, the statement “all else being equal” tips the scales to Manning because we’ve never seen Brady without Belichick nor have we seen Manning with Belichick.

Can you imagine?

Yes, Peyton had some great years with Tony Dungy, but he was drafted by Jim Mora and is continuing his excellence with Jim Caldwell as he moves into the third stage of his career. What both QBs have done with so many transient parts around them has been impressive, but Peyton has dealt with it atop his team’s coaching staff as well.

There really is no wrong answer here, but as we get ready for Colts-Patriots this weekend, I’d love to get a sense of where the majority opinion stands on this issue. Because we are Midwest Sports Fans, I assume that Peyton will win this, but let’s find out anyway.

Tier 2: Impeccable Franchise Anchor QBs

3 – Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

You know that I’m not the biggest Roethlisberger fan, and that I consider him to be something of a tool, but even the biggest Browns fan or Big Ben hater has to give Roethlisberger his due credit now. The guy has won two Super Bowls, he consistently comes up big in important spots, and is reaching a Brady/Manning-like level of being a guy that 11-, 12-win teams are built around on a year-in, year-out basis.

He’s not the prettiest, the most text book, or the most statistically impressive. But if he’s on your sideline, everyone else will believe victory is possible regardless of circumstance. That’s a powerful, proven presence that cannot ignored.

4 – Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

This choice could cause some consternation because Brees has not yet won a Super Bowl, nor played in one, yet there are Super Bowl QBs below him.

Here is how I look at that: Do you think that the Giants would not have won the Super Bowl in 2007 with Brees as their QB? Do you think Philly and their pass-happy offense would have been worse off over the years with Brees instead of McNabb? I don’t.

I just think Brees has had to wait a little longer for his opportunity, which appears as if it might be coming this season. He has proven time and again that he is a true franchise QB, an impeccable leader, and a guy who can rally a team (heck, even a city) when the chips are down.

I still rue the day that the Dolphins passed on him in the draft and when they passed on him after he left San Diego. Give this guy Tom Brady’s career and he just might have three Super Bowls too.

Tier 3: Proven Franchise QBs

A quick note about this section. Each QB in Tier 3 has the potential to be a Tier 2 QB, but for one reason or another has question marks that prevent even their most ardent fans from having 100% confidence in them. Certainly though, these are all guys that you’d be proud and excited about having as the QB of your team right now. At least I would.

5 – Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings

There is obviously a pretty big caveat with this one: he’s got to be healthy. But Brett Favre, right now, is playing the quarterback position as well as anyone in the league. He has 16 TDs with only three INTs against the backdrop of everything else that he has done in his career. Once again, Favre is authoring an amazing story.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Favre can keep it going for 16+ games. He wore down as last season went along, and could very well do the same thing this year. But in the right situation — and let’s be honest, Minnesota is the perfect situation for him right now — Favre is a legit superstar QB even at 40.

Look down the list and tell me you’d feel more comfortable with those other guys leading your team right now than Favre. Yes, they may be less annoying, less wishy-washy, and less self-centered than Favre is…but I just cannot justify putting anyone else above him.

6 – Eli Manning, New York Giants

6a – Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

One thing separates Eli from Donovan McNabb in my mind: he has a Super Bowl title.

That’s it.

Eli has not reached the same statistical benchmarks as McNabb, he does not have as many playoff wins, and he is not as exciting a player. But bring Eli in your locker room and everyone immediately believes a Super Bowl is possible because he’s done it.

I do think, however, that even the strongest Eli supporter still has at least some trepidation regarding Eli’s ability to play at an elite level year-in, year-out. Did he catch lightning in a bottle in 2007? Can he win regardless of his supporting cast? We’re going to find out, as Eli’s career is far from a finished product.

As for McNabb, no matter his accomplishments — and make no mistake, five NFC Title games and a Super Bowl appearance is a terrific resume that is vastly underrated — we cannot say that a locker room full of players would immediately believe they are Super Bowl bound because McNabb walks through the door. It’s just the nature of the beast, and will be that way until he closes the deal in February.

8 – Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals

Like Favre, Warner’s age and proximity to retirement make him hard to place, yet his resume and continued excellence dictate that he has to be ranked pretty high on the list.

Warner proved last year that he is still an elite QB in leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. He didn’t win it, but he certainly played well enough to do so. His defense just couldn’t stop Ben Roethlisberger in the final minutes.

Warner is still capable of 5-INT duds like he threw up two weeks ago, but more often than not he is going to get the ball to right player at the right time. Plus, he’s been in every situation you can possible imagine and immediately commands the respect of any locker room he walks into.

If it weren’t for his age, I’d put him above Eli and Donovan, but they have more years ahead of them to try to match Warner’s accomplishments, plus have a less checkered history of injury.

Tier 4: Franchise QBs with Skins on the Wall

And by skins on the wall I am talking of course about playoff berths.

Fans of the teams these guys play for expect each to move into Tier 2 or Tier 3 by the time their career is over, and they’ve already come close to making the leap. All have the talent to do so, but it remains to be seen if they can take that next step.

For each one of these guys, moving into the next tier will be a function of one thing and one thing only: more playoff success.

9 – Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

I am a huge fan of this guy and came close to putting him in Tier 3. Yes, he makes funny faces and his whole nice-Christian- guy/supreme-trash-talker persona seems a bit incongruous, but this guy wins, and wins often, and is superb in clutch situations when his team counts on him.

Plus, go down the list below him and tell me (other than the aging and oft-injured Matt Hasselbeck) who has proven himself more than Rivers. He’s been in the playoffs every year he’s been a starter, made it to an AFC Championship game, and is another guy that commands the attention and respect of his teammates because they believe he will lead them to victory.

You can take any guy lower than Rivers on this list and I’ll play you head-to-head, with similar supporting casts, and I wouldn’t doubt victory for a second.

10 – Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

There was a time not long ago when Carson Palmer was on the verge of entering the upper-upper echelon of QBs in the NFL. When he led a young, talented Cincinnati team to the playoffs in 2005, everyone thought it was the beginning of a long run of playoff berths for Palmer and the Bengals.

But then the weight of the Bengals’ cursed franchise (or, namely, Kimo Von Oelhoffen) came down on Palmer’s knee. His injury shattered the team’s hopes in 2005 and began a spiral that saw the Bengals plummet to their usual lowly depths and saw Palmer fall off the elite QB radar screen.

Let’s face it, to truly be an elite franchise QB you have to be playing in January and February. Palmer hasn’t been the last few years, but appears poised to do so this year. He’s always had the Aikman-like talent and look about him, but he has been surrounded by chaos. Now he appears to finally have a focused, selfless, defensively competent team around him that is worthy of his talents.

11 – Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Clearly numbers 10 and 11 on this list don’t have many playoff skins on the wall, but they have at least led their teams to the playoffs. Romo has had an ignominious experience in the playoffs, and has become a punchline for the tabloid headlines his personal life has generated, and he is referred to as Mr. November, but there are signs that he finally is starting to harness his potential and “get it.”

We won’t know for sure until December rolls around, at which time Romo must maintain the high level of play he’s had for the past month, but he appears to be maturing on and off the field and finally is the guy in Dallas. This is his team and the decision to jettison Terrell Owens is looking better and better by the week.

12 – Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan has not even completed his second season in the NFL, but he makes this tier for good reasons. He clearly has the talent, he’s already taken more playoff snaps than Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub, and Aaron Rodgers combined, and he has the kind makeup and countenance that suggest he can someday become a Tier 2 or even Tier 1 QB.

Yes, he’s struggled a bit here lately in throwing too many interceptions, but if the playoffs started today he would be there once again. That’s the mark of a franchise QB and Ryan most certainly is that. He just needs more experience, but I don’t doubt that he will make a steady climb up this list in the years to come.

13 – Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks

This is a tough one because Hasselbeck is the one guy in this tier who has actually played in a Super Bowl. He’s also played in more playoff games than Palmer, Romo, and Ryan combined. But when I check my gut feeling, I’d rather have all four of the guys above him with all else being equal.

Hasselbeck has been a very good QB for many years. I also think that he has benefitted from being in a very poor division that has provided him with an easier annual path to playoffs than the guys above him on this list. But the sad truth for Hasselbeck is that he’s now on the downside of his career and will probably be a constant injury risk as he gets older, considering he is already dealing with back problems.

Hasselbeck has had a great career and I don’t want to minimize it by placing him at the bottom of this tier, but power rankings are equal parts looking forward and looking back. The looking forward part just isn’t as rosy of a picture for Hasselbeck anymore.

14 – Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco appears to have a lot of the same qualities as Matt Ryan, and also took his team to the playoffs in his first season. In fact, Flacco even won two playoff games and almost made the Super Bowl as a rookie. So why isn’t he higher on list?

I don’t think that Flacco was asked to do as much as Ryan. Yes, his poise and game management ability were impressive for a rookie, and that’s why he makes this tier in the first place, but I still feel like he has the most to prove of anyone in Tier 4.

Flacco is the one guy in the top 15 of these Power Rankings that has not yet dealt with the pressure of being the focal point of his team. He is becoming the Ravens’ focal point more and more, but Ray Lewis is still the alpha dog in Baltimore. I think Flacco will need to emerge from Ray’s shadow, as he gains more experience and wins, to move up the list.

Tier 5: Talented but Skinless Franchise QBs

The quarterbacks in this tier all have talent and the keys to a franchise, but have yet to take a snap in the playoffs. As with the Tier 4 QBs, fans of the teams these guys lead ultimately expect them to journey up this list, but they have to make the playoffs and win there first.

15 – Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

He is the most talented of the guys in this tier, but has a severe fatal flaw to me: his attitude and body language. This opinion comes from an outsider’s perspective, but I just don’t ever recall seeing a winning QB with the kind of deflated body language and pouty faces that we see from Cutler. I can’t imagine that inspires a lot of confidence, belief, and trust with his teammates.

Yes, he has a cannon. And yes, he has great competitiveness and confidence. But he also throws too many INTs and the Broncos went from a yearly playoff team to a home-in-January team when he took over.

There are just too many questions about Cutler for him to be any higher than this.

16 – Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Rodgers does some good things and has the potential to be a very good QB for a long time. But like Cutler, Rodgers has a fatal flaw that kills his team time and again. In Rodgers’ case it is his propensity to take sacks. He simply has to learn to protect down and distance better or his teams will always be facing an uphill battle.

Rodgers’ other deficiency is that he has not yet shown the ability be a great 4th quarter QB. Until he does, he will never be able to be considered among the elites, no matter what his cumulative stats are at the end of the season.

17 – Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Another really talented player who racks up great stats, but who is defined by his fatal flaw: he can’t stay healthy. He has played in every game this season, which is a major reason why the Texans have a winning record, but he can only be ranked so high until he plays a full 16-game schedule and we get to see him in the playoffs.

Tier 6 – The Grizzled but Inconsistent Veterans

18 – Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

I don’t think Orton was ever quite as bad as he was made out to be during his Chicago tenure, but he certainly is not as good as people are making him out to be through eight games in Denver. And after being exposed a bit the last two weeks, the Orton hype will probably start dying down. He is what he is: a solid but unspectacular QB who protects the ball relatively well but needs great skill players and a great defense to win.

19 – Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers

I’ve always been a Delhomme fan and it was hard to have to leave him out of Tier 4. This is a guy who came within seconds of winning a Super Bowl, a guy who has been to the playoffs a good amount, and a guy who has engineered plenty of 4th quarter comebacks.

But the sad truth is that Delhomme’s solid career is ending with a whimper as he either seems to throw 4-5 INTs in a game or play it conservatively and get only 100-150 yards. Delhomme is no longer the future in Carolina and may not even be the present as soon as next season.

But I’ll tell you this, for what it’s worth: if I needed to win one game, I’d take him over any of the guys ranked lower on this list. He’s got too many skins on the wall not to at least give him that level of respect.

20 – Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs

He burst onto the scene last year as Tom Brady’s replacement but it is hard to know just how much stock to put into his 2008 numbers. A lot of QBs would have succeeded playing with Randy Moss and Wes Welker with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels calling the shots. Cassel is getting his chance now to lead a franchise and is having an okay season below-the-radar in Kansas City. But like any other purported franchise QB, he’s got to have success in the playoffs to move up the list.

21 – David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars

Garrard appeared to be an up-and-comer as recently as 2007. He threw 18 TDs, on 3 INTs, and got a nice new contract from the Jags. But his entire team struggled last year amidst devastating losses on the offensive line. This year, Garrard is playing similarly to last year, which means he is just a pedestrian, average quarterback.

Because of his experience, I like him more than any of the guys lower on this list, but he is not quite what the Jags were hoping for when they signed him to the extension. By all accounts he is a great guy, he is just not a great QB.

22 – Vince Young, Tennessee Titians

Yes, Vince is still a young player, but I think we can safely consider him “grizzled” at this point. He’s won Rookie of the Year, been booed and benched, and now regained his starting job and won two straight starts. He still has a long way to go to become a consistent QB, but the potential is still there.

Of all the guys in this tier, Young is the guy I’d have the least confidence in right now, but he’s also the only guy I could see moving up two or three tiers as his career progresses.

And simply because they have to be ranked somewhere and I don’t want to think of another Tier name…

23 – Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins

It would have been great to see how Campbell’s career would have gone had he been able to stay in one offensive system from year-to-year. With all of the turmoil in Washington, Campbell has never really gotten a fair shot. His inconsistent career is the appropriate manifestation of the constant flux in Washington.

24 – Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams

We can all agree that this guy is toast right?

Tier 7 – The Unknown Youngsters

We don’t really know anything about Mark Sanchez, Chad Henne, Matthew Stafford, or Josh Freeman, except that none of them are as good as Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. I will say that I am not a huge fan of this year’s rookie QBs and would take Chad Henne over any of them. Only time will tell of course, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Tier 8 – JaMarcus and the Rest

JaMarcus Russell, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Trent Edwards, Alex Smith, Shaun Hill, Matt Leinart…all of these guys have been given varying amounts of opportunity and none have seized the opportunity to start (or in the case of Anderson and Russell, to start with any level of effectiveness). I have better things to do than parse through the wreckage at the bottom of this list.

Suffice it to say, these guys all suck until they prove otherwise.

So there you have it. I now step aside and leave the comment section to you. Where do you agree/disagree? Is anyone placed in the wrong tier? Your feedback and opinions are much anticipated and appreciated.

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* – Philip Rivers screaming photo credit: Hugging Harold Reynolds

* – Jay Cutler photo credit: Walking the Sidelines

The Bears defensive problems were yet again exploited today by Arizona and their potent offensive game. Kurt Warner threw for 5 TD passes, which tied a career high for the 38-year old.

The Cardinals came into the game without Anquan Boldin, but that didn’t slow down the team at all. Larry Fitzgerald had nine catches for 123 yds and two touchdowns, while Steve Breaston also tallied a TD catch. It was all Arizona in the first half as Warner had four TDs and Arizona went into the half with a 31-7  lead.

The Bears’ defense looked like a high school defense in the first half as they couldn’t stop the Cardinals’ run or passing game. The Cardinals scored on every drive they had in the first 30 minutes.

It was embarrassing to watch the Bears get manhandled on their own turf, and the fans let them know that by booing after every Arizona TD.

The Bears just don’t seem to improve much week after week, although the offense did perform relatively well, especially in the second half.

An interception thrown by Matt Leinart was returned by Zack Bowman for 39 yards and led to a TD throw form Jay Cutler to Greg Olsen, who had three TD catches in the game. The score was then 34-21 with 9:06 left in the 4th quarter. It seemed like the Bears could pull off a comeback.

The comeback stalled, however, after Cutler threw an interception, although it was not his fault. Culter thought Earl Bennett would continue his route and did not have any more time to hold onto the ball. He threw the ball Bennett’s way but Bennett, instead of continuing his route, stopped and the ball was easily picked off.

That would seal the game in Arizona’s favor.

The Bears wasted a great performance by Cutler, one made all the more impressive by the constant duress he found himself under. He was sacked four times and hit on almost every drive. You could see the frustration on Cutler’s face after his O-line was unable to protect him.

As for the defense, this is not close to the defense that we saw the year the Bears went to the Super Bowl. Something needs to change and fast because it’s looking like the Bears are going to miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

The next few weeks are not in Chicago’s favor. The Bears play the 49ers, Eagles, and the Vikings the next three weeks. Those are some very tough matchups. Unless the Bears change the game plan defensively, which I don’t see them doing, I am betting that they lose at least two out of those three games.

NOTE: Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was ejected very early in the 1st quarter for clearly hitting Card’s offensive tackle Deuce Lutui.

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* – Jay Cutler photo credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo / Tribune via ChicagoBreakingSports.com

Who isn’t excited for the showdown on Sunday night?

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are two franchises that despise one another, which always makes for quality television, as well as a good game too. Yet, let’s not forget the last time these two teams met in December of 2008, which was a complete blowout and hardly a game Cowboys fans want to remember.

Losing to their most hated rival 44-6 on the final weekend of the season clearly was not a happy ending or cherry on top of a topsy-turvy 2008 season. For the Cowboys that game has been erased from their minds and currently the squad focused on the 3-game winning streak that has them at the top of the NFC East standings.

Ever since Tony Romo as been at the helm, the Cowboys are 11-1 in November, which includes a win against the Eagles in Philadelphia in 2007. This game means more for to the ‘Boys than the Eagles, especially with all the hype that surrounded this team last season and the scrutiny they continue to receive on a weekly basis.

Sunday Night Football

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)

• Dallas-Philadelphia Date: Sunday, Nov 8th
• Dallas-Philadelphia Kickoff Time: 8:20 pm
• Dallas-Philadelphia TV Network: NBC
• Dallas-Philadelphia Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
• Dallas-Philadelphia Point Spread: Eagles -3 (as of Saturday morning)
• Dallas-Philadelphia Over-Under: 50.5 (as of Saturday morning)
• Dallas-Philadelphia Spread Pick by Jerod: What a terrific game this should be. Philadelphia has rebounded from their Oakland loss to beat Washington despite playing an uneven game and then beating the Giants in a rout. Dallas, meanwhile, has quietly reasserted itself as a team to be reckoned with. The Cowboys, I believe, have actually been playing more consistent football than Philadelphia, and I think they will be out to avenge to last season’s shellacking at the end of the regular season. I think Dallas has a great chance to win this game outright, and I think they at least cover the three. Cowboys-Eagles free pick: Cowboys +3
• Dallas Sports Fans: Cowboys-Eagles Preview

4th and Short NFL Picks Podcast

Jerod and Myles discuss Week 9 of the 2009 NFL schedule

[Note: All MSF podcasts are available for free at iTunes. Intro and outro music provided by Indy's own Henry French and the Shameless.]

As for the Eagles, their win last week against the New York Giants was clearly a message sent to the entire league of how scary they can be when all cylinders are working.

Having Donovan McNabb behind center, a healthy Brian Westbrook, as well as a great receiving corps featuring DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, and Jeremy Maclin, will certainly make things tough on the Dallas D. Putting pressure on McNabb is something the Cowboys must continue to do, which has been an ongoing theme that occurred against the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks.

However, don’t sleep on this Eagles defense that has sacked their opponents quarterback 23 times, forced 8 fumbles, and has intercepted 14 passes.

This game should clearly live up to the hype, as well as feature some great plays, with both offenses stretching the field. Conversely, we should also see some terrific defense too.

Playing at home with a great home crowd will come in handy for the Eagles, which is why I believe the Eagles should indeed capture this contest, as well as take control of the NFC East. The Cowboys, however, will put up a good fight, with the only two question marks being whether or not Romo and the defense bring their A-game.

If so, then this game belongs to the Cowboys. And I think that’s what we will see.

Dallas-Philadelphia Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 31 – Philadelphia Eagles 26

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* – Tony Romo photo credit: Silent Archimedes

* – Donovan McNabb photo credit: ReceivingMe.com

Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.

Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.

With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.

Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Pulled Pork Stew

Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse

4th and Short NFL Picks Podcast

Jerod and Myles discuss Week 9 of the 2009 NFL schedule

[Note: All MSF podcasts are available for free at iTunes. Intro and outro music provided by Indy's own Henry French and the Shameless.]

——————–

Monday Night Football

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) at Denver Broncos (6-1)

• Steelers-Broncos Date: Monday, Nov 9th
• Steelers-Broncos Kickoff Time: 8:30 pm
• Steelers-Broncos TV Network: ESPN
• Steelers-Broncos Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden
• Steelers-Broncos Point Spread: Steelers -3 (as of Saturday morning)
• Steelers-Broncos Over-Under: 40 (as of Saturday morning)
• Steelers-Broncos Spread Pick by Jerod: Did the glass slipper fall off of Denver last week in Baltimore? Or was it just a one week blip? We will certainly find out Monday night, but I think Denver is good enough to get more respect than being a three point home dog. Pittsburgh has been uneven this year and I think Denver will be able to slow down Big Ben and the passing game. With Rashard Mendenhall’s fumbilitis, I think plenty of opportunities will be there for Denver to get good field position and win a low scoring game. Steelers-Broncos free pick: Broncos +3

Steelers-Broncos MNF Preview and Analysis

While analysts around the league have suggested that last week’s loss against the then .500 Ravens is a “sign of things to come,” Broncos fans need not get wrapped up in such conjecture.

After all, the Ravens could easily be 6-2 if not for a back-breaking missed field goal in the closing moments of their loss to Minnesota, and a Ray Lewis unnecessary roughness penalty (that seemed literally back-breaking) against Ochocinco and the Bungles. Plus, historically, Denver is terrible against the Ravens, for whatever reason.

That being said, the true test for the Broncos will be how they bounce back from the loss against a very dangerous Pittsburgh Steelers team.

Kyle Orton’s performance against the Ravens was typical…for 2008. For 2009 however, it was his worst performance of the year. I think that much of the blame however has to be deferred onto Josh McDaniels who inexplicably refused to take chances down the field.

It has been posited (and I believe rightfully so) that the deep ball is the most deficient part of Orton’s game, and with deep threats like Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, it is reasonable that the Broncos go deep every now and then. Without that “vertical element” to the game, the Ravens were able to effectively jam receivers on the line and jump the short routes. They also were able to consistently keep eight men in the box, and in doing so, completely shut down the Broncos running game.

McDaniels will probably have to try and stretch the field (with a relative amount of success) in order to avoid another offensive meltdown.

The Broncos also have a big injury concern on their hands, as starting Right Tackle Ryan Harris has been ruled out for Monday Night’s game. Harris has done a good job this year, shoring up the line and providing Orton with enough time to get through his progressions.

With Harris out, the Broncos are left with Tyler Polumbus–a former undrafted free agent making his first NFL start. He will be matched up against LaMarr Woodley , who had 18 sacks last year in the regular season and playoffs combined. Yikes. Expect Tight End Tony Scheffler to help out Polumbus, thereby limiting his potential in the passing game.

The Broncos defense has been rock solid, and looked good again last week (with the exception of the 4th quarter). Denver’s biggest weakness is their secondary depth, of which they have practically none — leading to the Friday signing of five-time Pro Bowler, Ty Law.

Meanwhile, now that dandruff-free Troy Polamalu is back to full health, the argument can be made that the defending title holders are still the team to beat. Ben Roethlisberger is enjoying an MVP-caliber season, and Hines Ward keeps crack-blocking and grinning his way to 100 yard games.

There are, however, some causes for concern in Steel City. The first is that Travis Kirschke (who replaced Aaron Smith after his season ending injury) will probably miss the game this week. That means that the Steelers will be starting third-stringer, Nick Easton; but more importantly, that their D-line may struggle to get consistent pressure on Kyle Orton from the strong side.

Perhaps the bigger issue is that Lawrence Timmons has been held out of practice all week, and has now been ruled questionable for Monday Night’s game. Timmons has been a consistent cog in the Steelers 3-4 who has explosive play-making ability. His replacement, Keyaron Fox, has an explosive first name, but not much else.

The other “major injury concerns” for the Steelers are of little consequence.

Willie Parker, whether he is 100% or not, has already been supplanted by the more talented and better pass-blocking, 22 year-old Rashard Mendenhall, and Mewelde Moore is among the best 3rd down backs in the league. Also Ryan Clark’s absence from the game (because of a sickle-cell trait that reacts poorly with the “mile high” atmosphere) will be mitigated by veteran Tyrone Carter, who, despite not provide as many bone-crushing hits, will be just fine.

Steelers-Broncos MNF Prediction

Despite the Steelers injury concerns, I think they are the more talented team–the significantly more talented team. That said, Denver is primed for a rare Monday night game. The team that somewhat lost its Mile High dominance the past few years is still undefeated at home. I lean their way as an underdog.

Steelers-Broncos pick: Broncos +3

If an entire city holds its breath, does everything in that city turn purple?

Will the city ultimately “pass out?” (Which I guess would be manifested in power outages, stalled cares, and the like…)

Will bloggers strain to adequately develop forced metaphors instead of getting right to the point?

Well, we’re going to find out, because the entire city of Indianapolis is about to hold its collective breath while it awaits the results of yet another Bob Sanders visit to see Dr. James Andrews.

The Colts’ D has already been killed by injuries this year and we saw during the team’s Super Bowl run a few years ago just how vital Bob Sanders is to their chances.

Of course, Sanders has only been healthy for a couple of games this year and the Colts have been able to shoot out of the gates with an undefeated record. Don’t be fooled though; this team is not making a deep run in January without its superstar strong safety, especially when you consider the guys they’ve already lost on D.

Peyton Manning is incredible, but probably not that incredible.

So Big MB and the rest of the Circle City waits to exhale.

Update: Uh oh. Looks like Colts fans can exhale, but only so they can begin hyperventilating. According to PFT, Bob Sanders needs elbow surgery and will be out indefinitely.

As we do every Friday, let’s roll through the NFL injury report and assess the carnage from a fantasy perspective.

Cardinals-Bears Injuries

Devin Hester injury update: Hester has missed two straight days of practice because of an ankle malady. As with Boldin, Hester’s participation on Friday will help determine whether he plays on Sunday or not.

Track the reports, especially concerning how Hester moves today. He is a player whose value is built on his speed so any lingering effects of the ankle injury could make him a stronger candidate for your bench than he otherwise might be.

Anquan Boldin injury update: Once again, Anquan Boldin is not practicing due to the sprained ankle that has clearly been affecting his play. He, of course, wants to go on Sunday but some media reports in Arizona have suggested that the Cardinals sit Boldin for a week in hopes of getting him totally healthy. If Boldin cannot practice on Friday, coach Ken Whisenhunt may very well set his star WR, so be vigilant in tracking the injury reports that come out later today and through the weekend.

Steve Breaston injury update: Breaston has been limited in practice all year it seems, but has still be on the field come Sunday. The same should be true this weekend. And if Anquan Boldin can’t go, look for Breaston to have a solid game as Kurt Warner’s #2 option.

Detroit-Seattle Injuries

Calvin Johnson injury update: One of the most frustrating injuries this year has been Calvin Johnson. It’s not just that he’s been injured, it’s been the uncertainty over whether or not he’d play. Johnson was still limited in practice this week, but reportedly “looked good”. This has many people feeling like he’ll go Sunday afternoon. I’d try to have another WR playing in the 4:00 games just in case, but right now it looks better than 50% that Johnson will be out there.

Johnson should also have his QB Matthew Stafford out there. Stafford has been limited in practice this week, but is expect to start on Sunday.

Kevin Smith injury update: Smith has been dealing with a shoulder injury, but he should be good to go on Sunday. And while Maurice Morris and Aaron Brown are eating into his carries a bit, Smith is still the #1 back and the only guy worthy of playing from Detroit’s backfield.

Seattle has no real injuries of note from a fantasy perspective. Matt Hasselbeck is fine and will play, and Seattle will probably roll to an easy victory.

Tennessee-San Francisco Injuries

There are no fantasy relevant injuries as of now.

Cowboys-Eagles Injuries

Dallas has no real injury concerns other than Roy Williams’ bruised ego, but Philly has a long injury list as usual…although most of the people on the list practiced fully on Thursday, including DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

Brian Westbrook injury update: Westbrook has been practicing this week and appears to be recovered enough from his concussion to start on Sunday. It’s Westbrook, so you always want to check things out right before kickoff, but get him in your lineup.

Steelers-Broncos Injuries

Neither team has any fantasy-relevant injuries, which rocks because this is the Monday night game…and nothing is worse that sweating out a questionable player until kickoff Monday night.

Redskins-Falcons Injuries

Washington does not have any fantasy-relevant injuries other than Chris Cooley, who remains sidelined with his broken ankle and will be for a while. In Atlanta, John Abraham has been slowed by a foot injury for all you IDPers out there.

Roddy White injury update: The Falcons’ main injury concern is WR Roddy White, who did not practice on Thursday. There don’t appear to be too many details and his appearance on the injury report was somewhat surprising. White has been great this year and I’d have him in your lineup unless you hear more details that suggest you should do otherwise.

Ravens-Bengals Injuries

Todd Heap has been slowed this week in practice with an ankle injury but should be ready to go on Sunday. That’s really the only injury concern in this game.

Texans-Colts Injuries

The Texans have a long list of guys on their injury report, but there only thing you need to know is that one name is not on there: Andre Johnson. Okay, two names are not on there: Johnson and QB Matt Schaub, who is best friends with the injury report. The Texans’ fantasy stars all appear healthy; now, if we could just get Steve Slaton to hold onto the damn ball…

In Indianapolis, the Colts D’ is — as usual — rocked by injuries. They already lost a starting LB for the season, are built around the brittle Bob Sanders and oft-banged up Dwight Freeney, and have CBs Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson on the injury report with knee problems. Somehow though, this D always seems to come through on Sundays. Considering the matchup, however, I’d try to go elsewhere if possible.

Chiefs-Jaguars Injuries

No major injuries to report here.

Dolphins-Patriots Injuries

None here either, not that you’d know about them anyway considering its Parcells and Belichick. Sammy Morris won’t play for New England, but all of the other fantasy guys are good to go.

Packers-Buccaneers Injuries

Aaron Rodgers has been dealing with sprains in his foot and has sat out practice this week. He should be fine for Sunday and has a nice matchup against Tampa Bay. As for emerging star TE Jermichael Finley, he appears likely to sit out another week.

Donald Driver injury update: The Packers’ all-time leading receiver is dealing with the after-effects of the neck injury he suffered last Sunday. He has not practiced this week, and may not on Friday, but still could end up playing Sunday. I like his chances to play and would have him starting against the porous Bucs.

For the Bucs, Antonio Bryant still has some issues with his knee but is expected to play.

Panthers-Saints Injuries

The only issues in this game are at WR, but with two guys who you shouldn’t really be considering anyway: Muhsin Muhammad (likely out with an MCL sprain) and Lance Moore (status unknown with ankle injury, but has not practiced).

Chargers-Giants injuries

The Chargers have no injuries to speak of, while the Giants are dealing with Ahmad Bradshaw’s injured ankle. It will be a problem all year, but he’s going to keep playing. Take note though: his yard per carry average the last two weeks is 2.7 and 2.3, so the injury is clearly affecting him. He needs to be on your bench. As for Mario Manningham, he is dealing with a shoulder injury that could potentially keep him out of Sunday’s game. Track this one, but take note that it’s an afternoon game and you may want to start someone who is healthier and more of a sure thing to start.

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* – Devin Hester photo credit: drumerdude33 via PhotoBucket

Who knows what will come it, but Browns and Chiefs fans are fed up, pissed off, not taking it anymore, and letting the management of their beloved teams know about it.

Two Browns fans recently announced their plans to lead a protest during the 1st quarter of next week’s Monday nighter between the Browns and Ravens in Cleveland. The plan has received plenty of national pub and even merited a meeting with Browns owner Randy Lerner yesterday.

In Kansas City, fans are petitioning Chiefs GM Scott Pioli to not allow Larry Johnson back on the field.

Their reasoning?

He is close to becoming the franchise’s all-time rushing leader, needing 80 yards to pass Priest Holmes, and they do not believe that Johnson is worthy of sitting atop that esteemed list.

Here is an excerpt from the petition sent by Chiefs fans:

While we are thankful for his service, we feel that Larry has been a black eye on the organization and has no business being mentioned with some of the above names.

During his first few years in Kansas City, Larry Johnson ran through holes created by one of the greatest offensive lines ever put together. He was handed the ball and was asked to follow Tony Richardson, the best fullback to ever don a Chiefs helmet. Because of those early successes, Larry Johnson now sits on the cusp of becoming the all-time leading rusher in Kansas City Chiefs history. Not to discredit anything he has accomplished, but we believe it would be a travesty if Larry were to surpass the great Priest Holmes as the Chiefs all-time leading rusher.

It’s not a hidden fact that Larry hates being in Kansas City. He doesn’t like the organization, he doesn’t like the fans, he doesn’t like the city. He has been more than vocal about how he feels about being a Chief. We’ve waited for years for him to be traded and we don’t believe that there is an offensive line that can open a hole big enough for Larry and the chip on his shoulder to run through.

I don’t often cite what I hear on Mike & Mike in the Morning, frankly because I don’t listen that often and rarely find much of the discussion overly insightful, but I do think that Mike Greenberg made a great point this morning.

He said that while sports leagues are a business, the teams too often treat their fans like sheep rather than consumers, mainly because fans allow it to happen. If more fans viewed themselves as consumers, and voiced their displeasure through both words and actions, teams and leagues would be forced to listen more carefully and act with the fans’ interests and desires more in mind.

At the end of the day, the money that fans spend on tickets, parking, concessions, merchandise, etc., is the lifeblood of professional athletics. Without the constant flow of money from fans, as well as the money that comes from TV contracts (the amount of which is a function of how many fans are watching), sports leagues would not be able to operate as they do now.

I hope that we see more fan bases follow the lead of Browns and Chiefs this year (similar to what Bengals fans did last year with movements like the Who Dey Revolution) and act more like consumers than sheep.

We give our hearts, souls, time, and money supporting these teams. Fans don’t always know what’s right, and team management has to be wise enough not to let the tail wag the dog, but the voice of the fan is important and needs to be heard.

Kudos to Randy Lerner for listening, and hopefully Scott Pioli does the same. They ultimately have to make the decisions, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them being extra cognizant of how those decisions affect the fans.

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* – Larry Johnson photo credit: SpyonVegas.com via The Pitch

Our very own AJ Kaufman emailed me a link last night to Chad’s most recent column on the possibility of the NFL relocating back to LA. As Midwesterners, it’s difficult for us to have a truly informed perspective on this topic.

But luckily, that’s why we have Norman Chad. Excerpt and link after the jump:

Don’t want to witness any relocation — (Norman Chad, Washington Post)

Alas, let me explain to Sports Nation why we in L.A. have little interest in the NFL being here.

For starters, there would be nothing special about NFL Sundays here. In Los Angeles, nobody works — every day is Sunday. New York is the city that never sleeps, L.A. is the city that sleeps in.

And if the NFL returns, it would involve a new venue. Frankly, there are three things L.A. does not need: Another stadium, another Starbucks and another Kardashian sister. We already have the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium and the world’s largest Whole Foods Market, which, I’m told, is the size of four football stadiums. I also believe the Aaron Spelling mansion has a stadium in its backyard, next to the maids’ quarters.

We do not need another stadium.

This new stadium would be built in the City of Industry, a suburb of Los Angeles. (Note: Everything is a suburb of Los Angeles.) The stadium site would put it within reach of 12 million people in a 25-mile radius. Speaking for most of my fellow Angelenos, we would prefer another In-N-Out Burger within reach of 12 million people in a 25-mile radius. Not to mention, to go 25 miles in Los Angeles, you pack a light lunch and a living will.

Do you think anyone wants to find another reason to drive a long distance in L.A.? Heck, I usually hit traffic pulling out of my driveway.

Besides, I don’t think the NFL would allow 75,000 people to walk into a stadium with bottled water.

Read the entire post. As the headline says, it’s greatness.

Just hours after “soul-searching” about the fate of his Cleveland Browns, team owner Randy Lerner put his frustration to action with the removal of Browns General Manager George Kokinis, who was reportedly seen being escorted out of the Browns practice facility in Berea on Monday morning.

The Browns were not saying whether Kokinis resigned or was fired. However, late speculation from various media sources is, Kokinis was dismissed “with cause.”

The beleaguered — and largely absent — Kokinis, hired at the suggestion of Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini, seems to have been made the sacrificial lamb for the Browns 1-7 season, its anemic so-called offense, and the general frustration, malaise, and chaos that has been the Cleveland Browns organization since Mangini took the helm early this year.

As of Tuesday, Cleveland NBC affiliate, WKYC Channel 3 and the Lake County News-Herald have reported that Lerner has been speaking with former Browns GM Ernie Acorsi about the idea of possibly becoming the Browns next general manager with the purpose of grooming former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar for that role.

However, The Plain Dealer is reporting that Acorsi, is in retirement with no desire to go back to work.

Despite the discrepancies, one thing is sure: Kosar is expected to take on a more formal role in the Browns organization and football team he loves.

On Tuesday morning, rabid Browns fans “Dawgpound Mike” and “Mobile Dawg” appeared on the espn Cleveland affiliate WKNR-850AM “Really Big Show” to report they had just met with Lerner about the state of the Browns.

Lerner agreed to meet the two after the fans announced a protest to be staged outside of Cleveland Browns stadium at the Browns next home game on Monday Night Football, Nov. 16, against the Baltimore Ravens. The plan calls for the fans to refrain from taking their seats until after kick-off. This would give the national audience a view of a near empty stadium.

The move is aimed at giving the impression of the disgust Cleveland fans have for the 2009-10 Browns, its management, and organization. The ploy is also intended to embarrass the owner and move him to make the necessary moves to restore the Browns to the great and well-respected organization it once was — prior to the Move to Baltimore in 1995.

“Dawgpound Mike” and “Mobile Dawg” told the local radio show host Tony Rizzo that Lerner met with them for nearly two hours, Tuesday morning; that Lerner listened to their concerns and spoke passionately about the Browns. Lerner did not ask the two “dawgs” to cancel the protest and it is still on.

Randy Lerner also made mention of promising his father, Browns former owner Al Lerner, that he would take over the ownership and turn the Browns into champions, again. Randy Lerner intends to honor his father’s deathbed request.

At Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini’s press conference Tuesday morning, Mangini addressed the Kokinis dismissal — sort of: “George is a friend of mine and … for a variety of reasons things did not work out. Organizationally, (Kokinis’ dismissal) was the best decision in order to move forward.”

With that, Mangini refused to entertain further questions about Kokinis, and began droning on with the same old refrain: “Analyzing film, trying to improve…”

Perhaps Mangini, like Brady Quinn, should put his house up for sale. It takes several months to sell a home in Cleveland.