Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Saints take care of business, easily dispatch hapless Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The record is not as flashy, the offensive numbers not as gaudy and the New Orleans Saints aren't running away from the competition like last year.
The defending Super Bowl champions still like where they sit, however. Of course, everybody seems to gain confidence playing the dreadful Carolina Panthers.
Drew Brees shook off an early interception to throw two touchdown passes and Jabari Greer's interception return gave the defense its first TD of the season as New Orleans routed the Panthers 34-3 on Sunday.
The Saints (6-3) overcame the loss of tight end Jeremy Shockey to a rib injury after his touchdown catch to stay a half-game behind Atlanta in the NFC South. Rookie tight end Jimmy Graham caught his first NFL TD in Shockey's absence and the Saints held Carolina to 195 yards for their second straight win.
"We're used to last year where we ran off 13 in a row. That's hard to do," Brees said. "You know that feeling once you get on a roll and you feel like everything is going to go our way. You just believe it. We want to get back to that feeling again."
Building off an emotional home victory over Pittsburgh a week earlier, the Saints never gave the Panthers (1-7) a chance.
Carolina lost quarterback Matt Moore and running back Jonathan Stewart to first-half injuries, further depleting the league's worst offense. Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen was later benched in favor of rookie Tony Pike.
"Pretty pathetic," said receiver Steve Smith, held without a catch until the final minute. "That would be the only thing I have to say. There are no explanations, no excuses."
Brees overcame his 12th interception to complete 27 of 43 passes for 253 yards. He was replaced by Chase Daniel after Ladell Betts' 1-yard TD run made it 34-3 with 8:12 left.
It ensured the Saints would enter their bye week with as many wins as any team in the NFC.
"I think that this was a game that is really going to give our team the confidence, the know-how and the blueprint to get to where we want to get to," Greer said.
New Orleans got a boost to its banged-up secondary with the return of Greer and Tracy Porter to complete its first season sweep of Carolina since 2001.
The Panthers went 1-15 that season, and this year is looking just as bad.
"I think they tried," coach John Fox said. "I think we're not real good right now -- on offense -- not as a football team."
Moore was 3 of 6 for 13 yards before leaving with an injured throwing shoulder after Sedrick Ellis sacked him in the second quarter. Clausen was no better and Greer returned his poor pass 24 yards to make it 27-3 late in the third quarter.
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The embattled Fox yanked Clausen early in the fourth quarter after he completed 8 of 18 passes for 47 yards. Rookie Pike then made his NFL debut. The sixth-round pick from Cincinnati finished 6 of 12 for 47 yards.
"There probably wasn't much fear of a comeback at that point in the game," Fox said of benching Clausen. "It gave (Pike) valuable time."
By then, the Panthers were down to a skeleton crew and few of their home fans were still in the stands.
Stewart, starting with DeAngelo Williams (foot) missing his second straight game, left in the first quarter with a head injury after gaining 30 yards on five carries.
The Saints won a replay challenge on the play, giving them the ball when it was ruled Stewart fumbled. It set up Brees' 7-yard touchdown pass to Shockey to give New Orleans the lead for good at 7-3.
Shockey, though, injured his ribs on what was his 500th career catch and didn't return. He was sent to the hospital just before halftime.
"We took him just to make sure there was nothing else more serious," coach Sean Payton said. "The X-rays were negative."
The Saints didn't need him, not with the Panthers failing to reach double digits in points for the fourth time in eight games. And even the backups got hurt -- third-string running back Tyrell Sutton left with an ankle injury.
The Saints have had their share of injuries, too, namely to running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. They remained sidelined and the Saints got off to a slow start.
Brees bobbled a snap and rushed a throw that bounced off Robert Meachem's hands and was picked off by Richard Marshall. He returned Brees' 12th interception -- one more than he had all of last season -- 67 yards to set up John Kasay's 20-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
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That was the only offensive success for the Panthers, who finished with 68 yards passing and had two more turnovers to give them 25 on the season.
But with few options, Fox said Moore would start next week at Tampa Bay if he's healthy.
"I think he can operate our offense the best of the quarterbacks," Fox said. "unless we decide to go to the wishbone."
Notes: The Panthers also lost LB Dan Connor (hip) and DE Greg Hardy (head). ... S Darren Sharper (hamstring) and RB Chris Ivory (shoulder) left for the Saints. ... The Panthers several times had no down linemen on obvious passing downs, rushing players from off the line of scrimmage.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
Stafford re-injures right shoulder in overtime loss to Jets
DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford's return to the lineup lasted less than two games.
The Detroit quarterback hurt his right shoulder again late in his team's 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.
With the Lions leading 20-10, Stafford was tackled trying to scramble deep in his own territory and landed on the shoulder. He separated the same shoulder in the season opener and missed the next five games, not returning until last week's win over Washington.
It's not clear how serious this latest injury is.
"He's very sore," coach Jim Schwartz said. "We took enough time with it that we thought that, any re-injury would be a new injury. We'll see where he is with that."
Stafford, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, headed to the sideline with 5:19 to play Sunday and was replaced by Drew Stanton. Stafford threw for two touchdowns and ran for one before hurting himself.
"That was a tough situation because he had green grass in front of him and had his chance to break out of there and run," Schwartz said. "But some of those plays we just need to throw it away. We didn't want to throw incomplete passes in those situations. He ran it."
Backup Shaun Hill has been recovering from a broken arm suffered three weeks ago against the New York Giants, which is why Stanton was pressed into service as the game slipped away.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
Monday, November 8, 2010
Cards' Wells says he'll play despite allergic reaction to meds
Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells told reporters Friday that he will play Sunday against the Vikings in Minnesota.
Wells has been limited in practice all week after an allergic reaction to Orthovisc that was injected as a lubricant intended to ease discomfort in his right knee.
After Wells practiced more Friday than he had all week, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said that as long as there are no swelling problems Saturday, the running back should be able to play Sunday.
The knee swelled up immediately after the injection and had limited Wells in practice Wednesday and Thursday. The second-year pro from Ohio State missed the first two games of the season after injuring the knee in the final preseason game, requiring arthroscopic surgery.
Wells made his first NFL start last Sunday in a 38-35 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For the rest of the Cardinals, linebacker Clark Haggans (groin) is listed as doubtful, while defensive tackle Alan Branch (back), wide receiver Steve Breaston (knee), linebacker Will Davis (groin), wide receiver Early Doucet (groin) and defensive end Kenny Iwebema (shoulder) are all listed as probable.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Colts WR Gonzalez out for season with left knee injury
The Indianapolis Colts announced Saturday that they have placed wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury.
Gonzalez is the 12th Colts player to go on IR this season.
The receiver was Indianapolis's first-round draft pick in 2007, but he has been slowed by a series of injuries the past two seasons. Last year, Gonzalez wound up on injured reserve after spraining ligaments in his right knee in the first quarter of the season opener.
This season, Gonzalez sprained his right ankle in the season opener and didn't return until Monday night's victory over the Houston Texans. That's when he hurt his left knee after apparently being tackled out of bounds.
NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche reported Friday that the league will not fine Texans safety Bernard Pollard for the hit on Gonzalez. No penalty was called on the play.
To fill Gonzalez's roster spot, the Colts promoted running back Andre Brown from the practice squad. The team needed depth at running back with starter Joseph Addai (neck/shoulder) and backup Mike Hart (ankle) injured, leaving 2009 first-round pick Donald Brown as the probable starter in Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Colts announced later Saturday that Addai, Hart, tight end Brody Eldridge (rib), linebacker Clint Session (elbow) and defensive back Justin Tryon (foot) didn't travel with the team to Philadelphia.
Brown, a fourth-round pick last year, was waived by the New York Giants on Sept. 4, then joined the Denver Broncos off waivers. He played in three games and had just two carries for minus-1 yard, then was released Oct. 16. The Colts claimed him off waivers two days later.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Giants WR/KR Reynaud ruled out vs. Seahawks with injury
Another member of the New York Giants won't make the trip to Seattle for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
The team announced Saturday that wide receiver/kick returner Darius Reynaud has been downgraded from questionable to out because of a hamstring injury. Reynaud had said Friday that the injury wouldn't prevent him from playing, according to the Star-Ledger.
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Will Blackmon, who joined the Giants last week, likely will return kicks and punts against the Seahawks. He averaged 11 yards per punt return and 21.1 yards per kick return during four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Reynaud, whom the Giants acquired in a Sept. 3 trade with the Minnesota Vikings, has averaged just 5.9 yards per punt return and 18.4 yards per kick return this season.
Earlier this week, three other Giants -- offensive tackle William Beatty (foot), running back Madison Hedgecock (hamstring) and center Shaun O'Hara (foot) -- also were declared out for the game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Patriots activate Pro Bowl guard Mankins, release two
The New England Patriots announced Saturday that they have activated Logan Mankins for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, and a source told the Boston Herald that the two-time Pro Bowl guard could start.
Mankins, a 2005 first-round draft pick out of Fresno State, reported to the Patriots this week after holding out for the first seven games of the season in search of a better contract. He didn't receive one, so he signed his restricted free-agent tender Tuesday.
Mankins, a Pro Bowl pick in 2007 and 2009, practiced with the Patriots' first-team offensive line all week, the Boston Globe reported. Mankins has started all 80 NFL games in which he has played.
Backup guard Dan Connolly has started in Mankins' place all season.
To make roster room for Mankins, oft-injured cornerback Terrence Wheatley was released. Also, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie was released from the practice squad, a move the Herald reported came at the player's request.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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