Just 15 days.
That?s all the time you have left before the games start meaning something in the standings. Here?s the latest training camp buzz to get you up to speed before this weekend?s games.
Atlanta: +3 at Jacksonville
You could see this coming as soon as offensive line guru Alex Gibbs signed on the dotted line with the Falcons last year.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher filed a formal complaint with the league, claiming Atlanta?s offensive line was using illegal cut blocks during last week?s 24-21 win over Gibbs and the Falcons as 3-point dogs.
"I`ve been around a lot of preseason games and never seen some of the things I saw out of their offensive line," Fisher told The Tennessean. "There are a couple things where player safety was really brought into question, and I want to make sure the league is aware of it."
Of course, that?s not the way the Falcons see it.
"We play within the rules," Atlanta coach Jim Mora told reporters. "Yes, we cut, but we emphasize and teach fair play. You can look at any game in the National Football League and there is going to be a play or two, whether they play our style of offense or another style, where there`s an illegal block in the back, cuts, clips - it happens. We never, ever ask our guys to do anything illegal or to hurt anybody. We`re not out to hurt anybody."
If the league decides disciplinary action is warranted, it will hand down penalties before the end of the week. So stay tuned for all the paper passing, wrist slaps and such.
Chicago: +3 at home to Buffalo
Chicago still insists Chad Hutchinson is going to be its starting quarterback, despite a couple of performances fit for American?s Funniest Home Videos. The guy`s like a three-legged deer in the headlights back there.
But at least he?s on a short leash with Kyle Orton waiting in the wings. Hutchinson will get another start against Buffalo and he?d better make it a good one if he wants to keep his job. Through three preseason games, Orton is 20-of-31 for 335 yards, with a major and a pick, while Hutchinson is 17-for-28 for 178 yards, with two interceptions.
Maybe the worst thing that could happen for Bears backers is if Hutchinson actually gets something done this week and delays the Orton era any longer.
In other news, backup safeties Bobby Gray and Cameron Worrell both suffered season-ending injuries in Chicago?s 24-17 win over the Colts as a 6-point underdog.
Finally, the word out of the Windy City says running back Thomas Jones will start Friday after getting the night off against the Colts. Chicago wants to avoid another costly injury that would give Cedric Benson huge contract negotiating leverage. No, the rook still isn`t in camp. And no, the two sides aren`t on speaking terms right now.
Baltimore: +2 ? at New Orleans
Jamal Lewis may be the guy once Week 1 rolls around, but don?t expect to see much of him until then. The Ravens planned to start Lewis in their 20-14 loss to Philly last week as 3-point faves, but decided against it because Lewis? surgically repaired ankle wasn?t quite ready to go.
"There was tenderness, which was to be expected," coach Brian Billick told the Baltimore Sun. "There was some soreness. We decided collectively, with [trainer] Bill Tessendorf, myself and Jamal, that we should give it one more week."
That said, the team only expected to give him a handful of carries until Week 1 anyway. Lewis sat out Tuesday?s practice and is officially questionable for Saturday?s game. With Lewis on the sidelines, Chester Taylor?s run for 102 yards in three quarters of work so far this preseason.
Kansas City: - 4 ? at home to Seattle
Dick Vermeil?s losing his patience. Watch out, he might start crying.
?We?re not functioning as a unit as efficiently as we did last year in the first two preseason games,? Vermeil said. ?We?re aware of that.
?We need unit work. We need cohesiveness. We need to improve our pass protection. That will help Trent [Green] improve his rhythm and accuracy. He?s got to get sharper than he?s been. He?s got to practice more and play more. Our receivers have to do a better job, our younger guys especially. They get in a game and they break the route short, and that fouls the quarterback up.?
As a result, K.C. starters won?t be getting any more practices off and should play at least two quarters during Saturday?s game.
Tampa Bay: +3 at Miami
Tampa`s using this week`s game to work out the last kinks in its offense.
"It`s definitely exciting to know we`re going to play more," wideout Michael Clayton said, "because you hate when coach comes over to you during the game and acts like he`s sticking a fork in you to tell you you`re done."
Expect Gruden to give the first stringers at least two quarters to work with against the Dolphins before pulling out the fork. Gruden has some other things on his mind, too.
"We have a lot of things we`re looking at on offense," coach Jon Gruden said. "We`ve got a lot of young guys that need to play. There`s a lot of competition. We don`t have proven starters at 11 positions on offense, therefore we`re going to see a lot of guys early in games to see how they compete with the best the competition has to offer."
San Francisco: +3 at home to Tennessee
Tim Rattay won the starting quarterback job over Alex Smith this week. He?s basically the lesser of two evils until Smith is ready for the pros. It?s a good move by the 49ers; throwing Smith into this mess would have done nothing but get him hit. A lot.
"Naturally, Tim showed the upper hand, but the rookie did a very good job for a guy that`s had to come out and learn as much as he can,? coach Mike Nolan told reporters. ?He`s done everything to prove that we were right in our selection and going forward in the future that he`ll just get better and get closer to having that job. But in the meantime, it is Tim`s job and I look for him to perform well and I`m confident he will do well."
Rattay makes his first start of the preseason Saturday and should see some significant playing time to get him up to speed before Week 1.
Arizona: +4 at Oakland
Marcel Shipp just can?t catch, well, a break.
After being bumped down the depth chart by Thomas Jones in 2002, and Emmitt Smith in 2003, and then missing all of last year with a nasty broken leg that, Shipp picked up in camp and is expected to reclaim the starting job now that he?s healthy. Problem is, Dennis Green doesn?t see it that way. Green says Shipp will be his No. 2 back behind rookie slasher J.J. Arrington. Green loves Arrington?s speed and big play upside and is committed to keeping the rook at the top of the depth chart.
"There is always a chip on my shoulder when I`m out there," Shipp said. "I`m playing to be a starter. I`m not playing to be a backup. I`m just out there trying to do what I can and figure out my role on this team and just perfecting it."
Shipp rumbled for 56 yards on just seven carries against the Chiefs, while Arrington has fumbled in both of the club?s preseason games to date.
That?s all the time you have left before the games start meaning something in the standings. Here?s the latest training camp buzz to get you up to speed before this weekend?s games.
Atlanta: +3 at Jacksonville
You could see this coming as soon as offensive line guru Alex Gibbs signed on the dotted line with the Falcons last year.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher filed a formal complaint with the league, claiming Atlanta?s offensive line was using illegal cut blocks during last week?s 24-21 win over Gibbs and the Falcons as 3-point dogs.
"I`ve been around a lot of preseason games and never seen some of the things I saw out of their offensive line," Fisher told The Tennessean. "There are a couple things where player safety was really brought into question, and I want to make sure the league is aware of it."
Of course, that?s not the way the Falcons see it.
"We play within the rules," Atlanta coach Jim Mora told reporters. "Yes, we cut, but we emphasize and teach fair play. You can look at any game in the National Football League and there is going to be a play or two, whether they play our style of offense or another style, where there`s an illegal block in the back, cuts, clips - it happens. We never, ever ask our guys to do anything illegal or to hurt anybody. We`re not out to hurt anybody."
If the league decides disciplinary action is warranted, it will hand down penalties before the end of the week. So stay tuned for all the paper passing, wrist slaps and such.
Chicago: +3 at home to Buffalo
Chicago still insists Chad Hutchinson is going to be its starting quarterback, despite a couple of performances fit for American?s Funniest Home Videos. The guy`s like a three-legged deer in the headlights back there.
But at least he?s on a short leash with Kyle Orton waiting in the wings. Hutchinson will get another start against Buffalo and he?d better make it a good one if he wants to keep his job. Through three preseason games, Orton is 20-of-31 for 335 yards, with a major and a pick, while Hutchinson is 17-for-28 for 178 yards, with two interceptions.
Maybe the worst thing that could happen for Bears backers is if Hutchinson actually gets something done this week and delays the Orton era any longer.
In other news, backup safeties Bobby Gray and Cameron Worrell both suffered season-ending injuries in Chicago?s 24-17 win over the Colts as a 6-point underdog.
Finally, the word out of the Windy City says running back Thomas Jones will start Friday after getting the night off against the Colts. Chicago wants to avoid another costly injury that would give Cedric Benson huge contract negotiating leverage. No, the rook still isn`t in camp. And no, the two sides aren`t on speaking terms right now.
Baltimore: +2 ? at New Orleans
Jamal Lewis may be the guy once Week 1 rolls around, but don?t expect to see much of him until then. The Ravens planned to start Lewis in their 20-14 loss to Philly last week as 3-point faves, but decided against it because Lewis? surgically repaired ankle wasn?t quite ready to go.
"There was tenderness, which was to be expected," coach Brian Billick told the Baltimore Sun. "There was some soreness. We decided collectively, with [trainer] Bill Tessendorf, myself and Jamal, that we should give it one more week."
That said, the team only expected to give him a handful of carries until Week 1 anyway. Lewis sat out Tuesday?s practice and is officially questionable for Saturday?s game. With Lewis on the sidelines, Chester Taylor?s run for 102 yards in three quarters of work so far this preseason.
Kansas City: - 4 ? at home to Seattle
Dick Vermeil?s losing his patience. Watch out, he might start crying.
?We?re not functioning as a unit as efficiently as we did last year in the first two preseason games,? Vermeil said. ?We?re aware of that.
?We need unit work. We need cohesiveness. We need to improve our pass protection. That will help Trent [Green] improve his rhythm and accuracy. He?s got to get sharper than he?s been. He?s got to practice more and play more. Our receivers have to do a better job, our younger guys especially. They get in a game and they break the route short, and that fouls the quarterback up.?
As a result, K.C. starters won?t be getting any more practices off and should play at least two quarters during Saturday?s game.
Tampa Bay: +3 at Miami
Tampa`s using this week`s game to work out the last kinks in its offense.
"It`s definitely exciting to know we`re going to play more," wideout Michael Clayton said, "because you hate when coach comes over to you during the game and acts like he`s sticking a fork in you to tell you you`re done."
Expect Gruden to give the first stringers at least two quarters to work with against the Dolphins before pulling out the fork. Gruden has some other things on his mind, too.
"We have a lot of things we`re looking at on offense," coach Jon Gruden said. "We`ve got a lot of young guys that need to play. There`s a lot of competition. We don`t have proven starters at 11 positions on offense, therefore we`re going to see a lot of guys early in games to see how they compete with the best the competition has to offer."
San Francisco: +3 at home to Tennessee
Tim Rattay won the starting quarterback job over Alex Smith this week. He?s basically the lesser of two evils until Smith is ready for the pros. It?s a good move by the 49ers; throwing Smith into this mess would have done nothing but get him hit. A lot.
"Naturally, Tim showed the upper hand, but the rookie did a very good job for a guy that`s had to come out and learn as much as he can,? coach Mike Nolan told reporters. ?He`s done everything to prove that we were right in our selection and going forward in the future that he`ll just get better and get closer to having that job. But in the meantime, it is Tim`s job and I look for him to perform well and I`m confident he will do well."
Rattay makes his first start of the preseason Saturday and should see some significant playing time to get him up to speed before Week 1.
Arizona: +4 at Oakland
Marcel Shipp just can?t catch, well, a break.
After being bumped down the depth chart by Thomas Jones in 2002, and Emmitt Smith in 2003, and then missing all of last year with a nasty broken leg that, Shipp picked up in camp and is expected to reclaim the starting job now that he?s healthy. Problem is, Dennis Green doesn?t see it that way. Green says Shipp will be his No. 2 back behind rookie slasher J.J. Arrington. Green loves Arrington?s speed and big play upside and is committed to keeping the rook at the top of the depth chart.
"There is always a chip on my shoulder when I`m out there," Shipp said. "I`m playing to be a starter. I`m not playing to be a backup. I`m just out there trying to do what I can and figure out my role on this team and just perfecting it."
Shipp rumbled for 56 yards on just seven carries against the Chiefs, while Arrington has fumbled in both of the club?s preseason games to date.
