Giants linemen scoff at Packers' dirty tactics comments
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The NFC title game finally has an edge to it, a dirty one at that.
The Green Bay Packers (14-3) gave the Giants (12-6) a little extra motivation for the title game Sunday, alleging that New York's blue-collar style sometimes borders on dirty football.
Giants center Shaun O'Hara was singled out by Packers defensive lineman Aaron Kampman for delivering a forearm to the back of his neck late in the fourth quarter of Green Bay's 35-13 win over New York on Sept. 16.
Kampman called the play dirty after the game and vowed O'Hara would not do it again.
When questioned on Thursday about the story that appeared in The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Kampman tried to defuse the situation.
"I think that in my opinion, to talk about things that happened in the past doesn't make a whole lot of sense," Kampman said. "I think it's a waste of energy."
O'Hara used a little humor when confronted about being dirty.
"I try to shower daily and use deodorant, and every once in a while I will even throw in some conditioner," O'Hara said, adding there was no penalty on the play.
O'Hara downplayed the idea that he delivered a blow to Kampman's head, saying the lineman must have tripped.
"Football is about being physical on every level," O'Hara said. "You learn it in Pop Warner. That is why you see a lot of moms worried about their kids going out to play football, because it is a tough sport, it's a man's sport. The physical team wins.
"That is probably the biggest thing that we talk about as offensive linemen, as an offense, as a whole, being physical and the physical team usually wins the game."
Backup center Grey Ruegamer, a former Packer, laughed about the accusation.
"Any D-linemen calling offensive linemen dirty, that's stupid," he said.
Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride blew off the allegations.
"Any accusation of dirty tactics certainly sounds a little bit humorous because it's as far-fetched as I could ever imagine," he said. "They're a hard-working, blue-collar group. They play the game from the beginning of the play until the whistle at the end, but trust me, I don't see any dirty play from any of our guys."
Gilbride, however, doesn't deny his line is aggressive.
Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce noted that the Giants' 77 penalties were among the fewest in the league. They had only three for 28 yards in 21-17 win over Dallas in the NFC semifinal last weekend.
"If you are dirty, they get called or you get fined and I don't think we have guys getting fined every week by the NFL or being sent to the commissioner for disciplinary action," Pierce said. "You can say whatever you want to say about us. It is a physical game. The whistle blows and it blows at the end of the play."
While Packers coach Mike McCarthy saw Kampman being hit watching videotapes of the first game, he refused to comment.
"It was a very emotional game," Packers linebacker Nick Barnett recalled. "They went out and played hard. We played hard. We don't back down from anything and they don't back down from anything. Sometimes you get personal fouls like that."
There were four personal fouls called in the game.
Barnett, who doesn't deny that he sometimes plays past the whistle, said both teams have to be careful how far they go on Sunday.
"I don't do anything like that," Barnett said with a lot of sarcasm. "I'm the cleanest player there is in the league."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Favre tells hometown newspaper he's leaning toward returning
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Remember when Brett Favre teared up on television at the end of last season, leading many to believe he was set on retiring? He came back to play anyway.
So you'll have to forgive Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy if he isn't convinced Favre's comments to his hometown newspaper on Thursday -- indicating that he was leaning toward coming back and playing another season -- amounted to an official decision on his future.
Instead, McCarthy seemed to brush it off as just the latest episode in the Brett Favre retirement speculation saga, an annual rite that has become as much a part of winters in Wisconsin as snow shovels and ice scrapers.
And, by the way, McCarthy has a playoff game against Seattle to coach on Saturday.
"I'm trying not to laugh, but I have not been part of any conversation with Brett on that topic," McCarthy said. "And I think we need to just move on and focus on Seattle, because that's what we are focused on. I'm sure that's what he's focused on."
In a story posted on the Web site of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald on Thursday, Favre said he isn't approaching Saturday's playoff game against Seattle as if it will be his final game in Green Bay. He seemed more optimistic than in years past about returning.
Still, he didn't say anything definitive.
"For the first time in three years, I haven't thought this could be my last game," Favre told the newspaper. "I would like to continue longer."
Favre has taken weeks and even months to make his decision after recent seasons, with Cheeseheads hanging on his every word as his football future hangs in the balance.
Favre's Thursday comments sent premature shock waves across the state -- all the way up to the governor's office, where the political version of a false start was committed.
"Like all Packer fans, I am thrilled that Brett Favre will return to action next year for the green and gold," Gov. Jim Doyle said in a statement. "Brett Favre's tremendous work ethic and willingness to go out and play hard every day represent the true spirit of Wisconsin. I am hopeful that with this announcement behind us, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers can focus on the task at hand: defeating the Seattle Seahawks."
The governor's office later amended the statement to say Doyle was "excited to hear Brett Favre talking about returning to action next year."
While it has been widely assumed Favre would indeed come back to play next season after having one of the best seasons of his career in 2007, the quarterback and his coach have said they would wait until after the season to discuss the issue.
On Thursday, McCarthy said that timeline hadn't changed.
Favre's favorite receiver, Donald Driver, said that while he hasn't discussed the topic with Favre, he expected the three-time MVP to return.
"I think he's going to come back," Driver said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back. He's having a great year, so it'd be great to see him come back if he decides to."
Given the emotion he showed in that interview with NBC immediately after the final game of last season, teammates cautioned that Favre's most recent pronouncement might not be his final answer.
"If the last two years have told us anything, after NBC last year, it's that we really don't know what he's going to do," backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "It's really out of my control. I've learned the last three years that the only things I worry about are in my control. I can't control what he does. I can just control my preparation for Seattle. Until he says 'I'm coming back' or 'I'm retiring,' there's really nothing I can do."
Packers third-string quarterback Craig Nall, a hunting buddy of Favre's, doesn't think Favre has come to a conclusion.
"Honestly, I don't think he knows," Nall said. "You see how it happens every offseason. Is he going to, is he not? He's contemplating. The way he's playing right now, I could envision him playing another two, three years."
McCarthy, meanwhile, didn't seem pleased the retirement issue popped up two days before the team's biggest game of the season. He also didn't seem to realize Favre himself had brought it up.
"I don't know anything about it, and I think it's someone just trying to distract my quarterback," McCarthy said.
Favre is not scheduled to speak to the media before Saturday's game. However, on a conference call with reporters who cover the Seahawks earlier this week, Favre said he still enjoys leading the team, but his injuries are starting to linger.
"I'm not getting any younger," said Favre, 38. "I wake up some days and think I can't even touch my toes. I think about that. I think, well, next year is not going to be like some refreshing, awakening season where all of a sudden you're going to feel great. That's not going to happen.
"I carry some of these things with me that maybe you wouldn't see. I tend to dwell on them, at least internally, more than I used to. I don't write them off as quickly as I used to."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Bears put Vasher on injured reserve
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears put cornerback Nathan Vasher on injured reserve Thursday, ending his season.
Vasher played in four games for the Bears this season, logging one sack, nine tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. He's been hampered by a groin injury.
The Bears also signed wide receiver Brandon Rideau to the active roster.
Rideau entered the NFL with Cleveland as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas in 2005. He spent the preseason with the Bears and made five receptions for 87 yards in two games before suffering an ankle injury.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Raiders consider giving rookie quarterback his first NFL start against Jacksonville
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- Whether Oakland rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell makes his first NFL start Sunday or not, he isn't too concerned about his role against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"Not at all because I continue to prepare as if I'm going to play, no matter if I start or not," Russell said Thursday. "Whatever (Lane Kiffin's) decision is, he's the coach, he's the boss. I'll roll with that."
Earlier this week Kiffin said that Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, would definitely play against the Jaguars but probably wouldn't start. Kiffin later switched gears and told reporters that the team was considering letting Russell, who has made only two brief appearances this season, start in Jacksonville.
But despite growing sentiment in support of the idea from fans, media and players inside Oakland's locker room, the Raiders have yet to finalize their plans.
"Exactly how it will play out, I don't know that," Kiffin said Thursday. "But both guys will play and hopefully JaMarcus will play for an extended amount of time."
Oakland has taken a methodical and careful approach with Russell after its prized first-round draft pick missed all of training camp and the preseason while locked in contract negotiations. He has played in only five series this year, two against Denver and three in last week's 21-14 loss to Indianapolis. Both times, Russell relieved McCown in the second quarter but failed to engineer scoring drives.
Overall, the former LSU star is 6-of-12 for 66 yards with a 66.7 rating.
Given that the Raiders aren't in the playoff hunt and with McCown set to be a free agent in the offseason, several writers and even some Oakland players have suggested the team make Russell its starter for the final two games in anticipation of getting him ready to take the job full time next season.
Kiffin acknowledged the logic in that approach, but reiterated that the Raiders want to keep using Russell in situations where he can excel to protect his confidence. The plan, according to Kiffin, is to either start Russell and let McCown finish or go with McCown as the starter and allow Russell to close out the game against the Jaguars.
"He may end up (starting), maybe this week, maybe next week," Kiffin said. "It's something to be talked about. There are good things about that. There are other things as well, too. Sometimes it's easier to come in after you get a feel for what's going on."
In addition to having Russell come in on his normal day off to work with quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo -- a trend that began in September -- the Raiders have increased Russell's workload in practice. He and McCown took almost equal snaps with Oakland's first-team offense Thursday, leaving Andrew Walter to handle the scout team chores.
Regardless of whether he starts, Sunday's game will mark the first time Russell has played in a road game since entering the NFL.
"You just have to hone in a lot more," Russell said. "You have to be a lot more simple with the smaller things, as far as the snap count. Always focus on the little things when you go away because it's those guys against you. You only have everybody that you travel with against everybody over there. So pay attention to the small details, the plays and stuff, and try to execute as much as you can."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Despite the circumstances, banged-up Cardinals still cling to postseason aspirations
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The term "must win" is tossed around liberally, and often meaninglessly, in sports.
It's a reality now for the beaten, banged-up Arizona Cardinals.
In the mediocre NFC, Arizona's 6-7 record is good enough to keep the Cardinals in contention for the conference's second wild-card berth, but they know that not only do they have to win at New Orleans on Sunday, but also beat Atlanta and St. Louis to wrap up the regular season.
"I don't think there's any other way for us to get to where we want to go unless we win our last three," quarterback Kurt Warner said after Wednesday's practice. "It starts this week. We definitely have to win this game."
Minnesota, at 7-6, is the leader for that final playoff spot, with Arizona, New Orleans, Detroit and Washington all a game back.
The depleted Cardinals are trying to shake off the team's most one-sided loss of the season, 41-21 at Seattle last Sunday.
Arizona lost another starter in the game, tight end Leonard Pope, who dislocated his right ankle. He is the Cardinals' seventh starter out for the season because of injury. Rookie Ben Patrick takes Pope's place, with Troy Bienemann his backup. Arizona also re-signed tight end Tim Euhus.
The 6-foot-8 Pope, in his second NFL season, caught 23 passes for 238 yards and five touchdowns.
"I'm disappointed for Leonard because he made a lot of strides for us this year," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He did some good things, and he was improving as a football player, and that was a position we had questions about all the way back to camp."
Then there is the wounded receiving duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
Boldin sat out Sunday's game with a dislocated toe on his left foot. He did some running before the game but said team doctors held him out. He was back in a protective boot on Wednesday.
Fitzgerald played on Sunday but was noticeably bothered by a strained left groin and was limited in practice.
"I feel all right," said Fitzgerald, who still leads the NFC with receptions, one more than Torry Holt of St. Louis and Jason Witten of Dallas. "I feel better than I felt last week. I wouldn't say I'm at 100 percent but I'm getting better every day."
Limping noticeably between plays, Fitzgerald caught six passes for 79 yards against Seattle.
"That's my job. That's why they hired me here a couple of years ago, to go out there and perform every week," Fitzgerald said. "If I feel I can go out there and be of some use, I'm going to go ahead and try to line up and play."
Refusing to use injuries as an excuse, Whisenhunt instead sees the situation as an opportunity for Bryant Johnson, Jerheme Urban, Sean Morey and Steve Briesten -- all receivers.
"It was never an issue that I made an excuse for. I don't believe in that," he said of the injuries. "We've had guys step up when they've been asked to.
"Bryant Johnson is a perfect example of that. He's been productive for us, and that's how we proceed. We expect these guys have been working hard. This is their chance."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
Despite the circumstances, banged-up Cardinals still cling to postseason aspirations
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The term "must win" is tossed around liberally, and often meaninglessly, in sports.
It's a reality now for the beaten, banged-up Arizona Cardinals.
In the mediocre NFC, Arizona's 6-7 record is good enough to keep the Cardinals in contention for the conference's second wild-card berth, but they know that not only do they have to win at New Orleans on Sunday, but also beat Atlanta and St. Louis to wrap up the regular season.
"I don't think there's any other way for us to get to where we want to go unless we win our last three," quarterback Kurt Warner said after Wednesday's practice. "It starts this week. We definitely have to win this game."
Minnesota, at 7-6, is the leader for that final playoff spot, with Arizona, New Orleans, Detroit and Washington all a game back.
The depleted Cardinals are trying to shake off the team's most one-sided loss of the season, 41-21 at Seattle last Sunday.
Arizona lost another starter in the game, tight end Leonard Pope, who dislocated his right ankle. He is the Cardinals' seventh starter out for the season because of injury. Rookie Ben Patrick takes Pope's place, with Troy Bienemann his backup. Arizona also re-signed tight end Tim Euhus.
The 6-foot-8 Pope, in his second NFL season, caught 23 passes for 238 yards and five touchdowns.
"I'm disappointed for Leonard because he made a lot of strides for us this year," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He did some good things, and he was improving as a football player, and that was a position we had questions about all the way back to camp."
Then there is the wounded receiving duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
Boldin sat out Sunday's game with a dislocated toe on his left foot. He did some running before the game but said team doctors held him out. He was back in a protective boot on Wednesday.
Fitzgerald played on Sunday but was noticeably bothered by a strained left groin and was limited in practice.
"I feel all right," said Fitzgerald, who still leads the NFC with receptions, one more than Torry Holt of St. Louis and Jason Witten of Dallas. "I feel better than I felt last week. I wouldn't say I'm at 100 percent but I'm getting better every day."
Limping noticeably between plays, Fitzgerald caught six passes for 79 yards against Seattle.
"That's my job. That's why they hired me here a couple of years ago, to go out there and perform every week," Fitzgerald said. "If I feel I can go out there and be of some use, I'm going to go ahead and try to line up and play."
Refusing to use injuries as an excuse, Whisenhunt instead sees the situation as an opportunity for Bryant Johnson, Jerheme Urban, Sean Morey and Steve Briesten -- all receivers.
"It was never an issue that I made an excuse for. I don't believe in that," he said of the injuries. "We've had guys step up when they've been asked to.
"Bryant Johnson is a perfect example of that. He's been productive for us, and that's how we proceed. We expect these guys have been working hard. This is their chance."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
Falcons to start QB Redman on Monday
ATLANTA (TICKER) -- Chris Redman will start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons when they host the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
Atlanta coach Bobby Petrino announced the move after practice Thursday. Redman replaces Joey Harrington, who had started 10 of Atlanta's 12 games.
Harrington was replaced by Redman on Sunday with the Falcons trailing St. Louis, 21-3, heading into the fourth quarter. In his most extended action since the 2003 season in Baltimore, Redman went 16-of-24 for 172 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Despite the strong performance, the Falcons (3-9) fell short in the 28-16 loss. However, Petrino said the positive manner in which players responded to Redman on Sunday factored into his decision.
Redman, who played for Louisville in 1999 when Petrino was an assistant there, takes over a position that has been in flux since Michael Vick's untimely departure prior to the season.
Harrington and Byron Leftwich have split time at the position this season and neither has performed particularly well.
Given up on by the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins previously in his six-year NFL career, Harrington has offset seven touchdowns with eight interceptions this season.
Petrino declined to name Redman's backup at this point, but there is speculation that Harrington will be demoted to third-string behind Leftwich.
Copyright 2007 PA SportsTicker. All Rights Reserved
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