The relative absence of Dez Bryant in the Cowboys' last second victory over the Giants in each team's Sunday night opener has been discerned.
The All-Pro wide receiver broke a bone in his foot and will miss four to six weeks of game time following a surgery, according to NFL Media.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed the injury and the operation to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
Bryant left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-26 victory over New York after sustaining the injury and missed the Cowboys' final three possessions. He left the field for the team's locker room in the first quarter of the contest with what coaches told NBC was dehydration.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Cowboys come back, down Giants with seconds left
How Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning could look at themselves in the mirror on Monday morning only they know.
Jason Witten snagged two touchdown receptions to power the Dallas Cowboys past the New York Giants 27-26 on Sunday night. Witten's final, deciding grab came with seven seconds left on the clock.
What happened? Eli Manning decided to throw the ball away on a 3rd-and-Goal with a minute and a half left. It cost the Giants the contest. Manning called the play-action and rolled right. When nothing came open, rather than sit on the turf and let the clock bleed, the two-time Super Bowl champion threw the ball into camera row in the back of the end zone.
Thereby stopping the clock. Which was all Tony Romo needed.
Dallas took over following Josh Brown's kick and, after a pair of gainers to Lance Dunbar for 24 and 16 yards, Jason Witten caught to the Giants 19. Terrance Williams snagged another heading out of bounds with 13 seconds left to set up Witten's go-ahead grab on the goal line.
Witten walked off the field with his fifth-career multiple reception appearance for the Cowboys, and his third against the Giants.
"My fault at the end of the game," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Nobody to blame but me. Decision to throw the ball on third down was not a good decision."
Stat(s) of the night: The Giants matched their entire 2014 season tally for defensive touchdowns in their 2015 season opener. Their offense, however, could use some work. New York had all of 117 yards through three quarters and struggled to estabish anything much on offense during the game. Eli Manning only got over 100 yards passing in the third quarter and didn't register a touchdown.
How did it happen? Through what became a massive regroup for the Cowboys' offense. That rhythm took hold initially on the game's first possession, a 17-play, 79 yard plunder on the part of Tony Romo, but that was hunkered down in the red area by poor throws and penalties. It would be long, indeed, before the Cowboys would sniff paydirt again, and it would come by some controversy: what looked to be an incorrect pass interference call against Giants corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie preceded a touchdown to Gavin Escobar from 2 yards in the third quarter.
DRC returned a fumble for a touchdown and New York corner Trumaine McBride grabbed the remants of a pass for Cowboys catcher Devin Street for what looked to be a touchdown, but was called back following a review. Rashad Jennings rushed for a 10-point New York lead from the remaining yard.
MVP: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. His composure in the deciding minute of the game earned the result for Dallas. He finished 36-of-45 for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 80 percent of his passes on the night, mostly short gainers here and there through what remains of the Giants secondary group, working underneath to tailbacks and ends mostly.
Dare we say he was clutch? We dare. Sunday night's comeback was the 28th of his career since 2006, two more than Peyton Manning.
Jason Witten snagged two touchdown receptions to power the Dallas Cowboys past the New York Giants 27-26 on Sunday night. Witten's final, deciding grab came with seven seconds left on the clock.
What happened? Eli Manning decided to throw the ball away on a 3rd-and-Goal with a minute and a half left. It cost the Giants the contest. Manning called the play-action and rolled right. When nothing came open, rather than sit on the turf and let the clock bleed, the two-time Super Bowl champion threw the ball into camera row in the back of the end zone.
Thereby stopping the clock. Which was all Tony Romo needed.
Dallas took over following Josh Brown's kick and, after a pair of gainers to Lance Dunbar for 24 and 16 yards, Jason Witten caught to the Giants 19. Terrance Williams snagged another heading out of bounds with 13 seconds left to set up Witten's go-ahead grab on the goal line.
Witten walked off the field with his fifth-career multiple reception appearance for the Cowboys, and his third against the Giants.
"My fault at the end of the game," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Nobody to blame but me. Decision to throw the ball on third down was not a good decision."
Stat(s) of the night: The Giants matched their entire 2014 season tally for defensive touchdowns in their 2015 season opener. Their offense, however, could use some work. New York had all of 117 yards through three quarters and struggled to estabish anything much on offense during the game. Eli Manning only got over 100 yards passing in the third quarter and didn't register a touchdown.
How did it happen? Through what became a massive regroup for the Cowboys' offense. That rhythm took hold initially on the game's first possession, a 17-play, 79 yard plunder on the part of Tony Romo, but that was hunkered down in the red area by poor throws and penalties. It would be long, indeed, before the Cowboys would sniff paydirt again, and it would come by some controversy: what looked to be an incorrect pass interference call against Giants corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie preceded a touchdown to Gavin Escobar from 2 yards in the third quarter.
DRC returned a fumble for a touchdown and New York corner Trumaine McBride grabbed the remants of a pass for Cowboys catcher Devin Street for what looked to be a touchdown, but was called back following a review. Rashad Jennings rushed for a 10-point New York lead from the remaining yard.
MVP: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. His composure in the deciding minute of the game earned the result for Dallas. He finished 36-of-45 for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 80 percent of his passes on the night, mostly short gainers here and there through what remains of the Giants secondary group, working underneath to tailbacks and ends mostly.
Dare we say he was clutch? We dare. Sunday night's comeback was the 28th of his career since 2006, two more than Peyton Manning.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Giants leading Cowboys 16-13 through three
He almost did it again.
Odell Beckham nearly snagged another climbling, one-handed catch along the sideline against the Cowboys, but this one fell incomplete. His slant reception to the 20, however, was on the money, and helped set up Josh Brown's 30 yard kick.
Eli Manning engineered the Giants' first drive out of the halftime intermission to establish the rhythm that evaded them entirely in the first two quarters of play on Sunday night.
The Giants lead the Cowboys 16-13 after three quarters in Arlington.
How the Cowboys came away with only the 13 points through three quarters of their opening contest remains a mystery.
Dallas marched over 79 yards in 17 plays to take the game's first advantage, but two consecutive turnovers late in the second quarter would bankrupt their original confidence.
Cole Beasley fumbled into the hands of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who scampered 57 yards, skirting past Romo on the way, for the Giants' first touchdown. Unai Unga collected Romo's next pass for New York and Josh Brown kicked to keep the lead after thirty minutes.
Dallas would respond as Tony Romo connected with Gavin Escobar in the back of the end zone to finally take something away from what otherwise was a productive outing.
Things settled down for the Cowboys on their first possession out of the break. Romo found tailback Joseph Randle on the drive's first four plays, including a 25 yard reception and a toss for Lance Dunbar to convert a 2nd-and-5. Randle carried again into the red zone and a questionable interference penalty against New York's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie put Dallas on the 2-yard line.
Officials claimed the Giants defensive back tugged on Terrance Williams' shoulder, but no replay or series of replays could affirm such a view.
Randle and Darren McFadden traded quarters out of the Cowboys backfield, but Randle was the primary back and the most productive.
Cowboys linebacker Randy Gregory had to be helped off the field after his leg buckled beneath him in a collision near the end of the third quarter.
Odell Beckham nearly snagged another climbling, one-handed catch along the sideline against the Cowboys, but this one fell incomplete. His slant reception to the 20, however, was on the money, and helped set up Josh Brown's 30 yard kick.
Eli Manning engineered the Giants' first drive out of the halftime intermission to establish the rhythm that evaded them entirely in the first two quarters of play on Sunday night.
The Giants lead the Cowboys 16-13 after three quarters in Arlington.
How the Cowboys came away with only the 13 points through three quarters of their opening contest remains a mystery.
Dallas marched over 79 yards in 17 plays to take the game's first advantage, but two consecutive turnovers late in the second quarter would bankrupt their original confidence.
Cole Beasley fumbled into the hands of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who scampered 57 yards, skirting past Romo on the way, for the Giants' first touchdown. Unai Unga collected Romo's next pass for New York and Josh Brown kicked to keep the lead after thirty minutes.
Dallas would respond as Tony Romo connected with Gavin Escobar in the back of the end zone to finally take something away from what otherwise was a productive outing.
Things settled down for the Cowboys on their first possession out of the break. Romo found tailback Joseph Randle on the drive's first four plays, including a 25 yard reception and a toss for Lance Dunbar to convert a 2nd-and-5. Randle carried again into the red zone and a questionable interference penalty against New York's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie put Dallas on the 2-yard line.
Officials claimed the Giants defensive back tugged on Terrance Williams' shoulder, but no replay or series of replays could affirm such a view.
Randle and Darren McFadden traded quarters out of the Cowboys backfield, but Randle was the primary back and the most productive.
Cowboys linebacker Randy Gregory had to be helped off the field after his leg buckled beneath him in a collision near the end of the third quarter.
Turnovers doom Cowboys as Giants lead 13-3
It was supposed to be the Giants no-name defense that allowed all the big plays, not that had them. But the under-appreciated unit is the reason the Giants lead the Cowboys 13-3 at the half on Sunday night.
A pair of back-to-back turnovers derailed the Cowboys' effort to close the first half. Tony Romo looked to mount a drive with under two minutes remaining after connecting with Dez Bryant on an 18 yard gainer, but Cole Beasley would lose hold of the following reception into the hands of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who trotted the other way untouched for a 57 yard fumble recovery.
Romo was intercepted on the following snap, his pass for Jason Witten flailing wide and into the clutches of Uani Unga at the Cowboys 30.
The quick change of fortunes in Arlington didn't preclude Eli Manning from being wobbly from under center, though. His 2nd-and-12 pass for Daniel Fells went very wide and a toss for Preston Parker went into the dirt. Josh Brown kicked from 40 yards to give the Giants a ten-point cushion.
After Josh Brown booted a 50 yard field goal for the Giants with 17 minutes left in the first half, one wondered if they would see the ball again.
The days of the Giants having a pass rush seem to be over. Tony Romo went 8-for-10 on the Cowboys' initial possession, a 79 yard, 17 play march to open the game that ended on Dan Bailey's 21 yard field goal after a series of penalities ended what looked to be a destined touchdown drive.
Three times the Giants tried to turn the ball over on their first drive and with three points they eventually came away.
Rashad Jennings appeared to fumble on his first carry of the season before a review overturned the initial call and Odell Beckham's drop was challenged (and lost) as a fumble. Giants tight end Larry Donnell added to the indecision by having what looked to be a fumbled reception overturned by officials as an incomplete pass, despite coming down with his hands around the football.
Eli Manning is 7-of-15 for 56 yards and Daniel Fells leads all Giants receivers with 22 yards on a pair of catches.
A pair of back-to-back turnovers derailed the Cowboys' effort to close the first half. Tony Romo looked to mount a drive with under two minutes remaining after connecting with Dez Bryant on an 18 yard gainer, but Cole Beasley would lose hold of the following reception into the hands of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who trotted the other way untouched for a 57 yard fumble recovery.
Romo was intercepted on the following snap, his pass for Jason Witten flailing wide and into the clutches of Uani Unga at the Cowboys 30.
The quick change of fortunes in Arlington didn't preclude Eli Manning from being wobbly from under center, though. His 2nd-and-12 pass for Daniel Fells went very wide and a toss for Preston Parker went into the dirt. Josh Brown kicked from 40 yards to give the Giants a ten-point cushion.
After Josh Brown booted a 50 yard field goal for the Giants with 17 minutes left in the first half, one wondered if they would see the ball again.
The days of the Giants having a pass rush seem to be over. Tony Romo went 8-for-10 on the Cowboys' initial possession, a 79 yard, 17 play march to open the game that ended on Dan Bailey's 21 yard field goal after a series of penalities ended what looked to be a destined touchdown drive.
Three times the Giants tried to turn the ball over on their first drive and with three points they eventually came away.
Rashad Jennings appeared to fumble on his first carry of the season before a review overturned the initial call and Odell Beckham's drop was challenged (and lost) as a fumble. Giants tight end Larry Donnell added to the indecision by having what looked to be a fumbled reception overturned by officials as an incomplete pass, despite coming down with his hands around the football.
Eli Manning is 7-of-15 for 56 yards and Daniel Fells leads all Giants receivers with 22 yards on a pair of catches.
Cowboys march on Giants, take 3-0 lead
The Cowboys rushed on 69 percent of their first down plays last season, and with good reason. DeMarco Murray was back there and he eventually led the NFL in yards and touchdowns. With Joseph Randle handling the primary rushes for the Cowboys nowadays, that streak continued.
Randle carried for 28 yards on six carries as Dallas held the ball over ten minutes, culminating in Dan Bailey's 21 yard field goal after a 17-play marathon failed to strike paydirt.
Dallas leads New York 3-0 in the first quarter on Sunday night.
The battle between the Giants defensive front and the Cowboys offensive front was won by the latter party, as one would have expected. Cole Beasley caught into the red zone and Jason Witten inside the 10 to set up the scoring, when it finally came.
It seemed the Cowboys were entirely uninterested in finishing the job when they near the goal line.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie nearly came away with a costly interception in the end zone, battling a pass meant for Terrance Williams, foiling what was a perfect 7-for-7 drive for Tony Romo. A false start pushed a 2nd-and-Goal back five more yards and guard Tyree Smith was called for holding. Dez Bryant was ably covered by Prince Amukamara, and when he couldn't come down with the ball naturally looked for a flag.
It couldn't have been that he just didn't make a good play.
The good news for the Giants was that their unhinged secondary unit got plenty of opportunities to practice their tackling. They certainly can use it.
Brandon Marshall cashes in as Jets lead Browns, 21-10
They say the first possession out of the halftime break is the most important in any football game. It sets the tone for the rest of the contest, and whoever plays the best on that first drive sets themselves up as the favorite to win.
Count the Jets as favorites, who marched 28 yards out of the intermission to take a 21-10 lead over the Browns in the third quarter on Sunday.
Most of it had to do with the duel between Jets receiver Brandon Marshall and Browns cornerback Joe Haden. Marshall, a free agent acquired by New York this offseason, made the catch to set up the eventual score, a sideline play to the Browns 4 over Haden, then climbing the ladder on the corner for the 1 yard touchdown.
New York's scoring drive was set up by Jets cornerback Marcus Williams, who stepped in front of a poor 3rd-and-7 pass from Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Williams replaced starter Antonio Cromartie, who the Jets said will sit out the rest of the game on Sunday after suffering an injury to his knee in the second quarter.
Ryan Fitzpatrick looked sharp on the drive, as he's improved over the course of the game, evading pressure in the pocket and making the accurate throws. Fitzpatrick is 12-of-18 for 162 yards for New York.
Count the Jets as favorites, who marched 28 yards out of the intermission to take a 21-10 lead over the Browns in the third quarter on Sunday.
Most of it had to do with the duel between Jets receiver Brandon Marshall and Browns cornerback Joe Haden. Marshall, a free agent acquired by New York this offseason, made the catch to set up the eventual score, a sideline play to the Browns 4 over Haden, then climbing the ladder on the corner for the 1 yard touchdown.
New York's scoring drive was set up by Jets cornerback Marcus Williams, who stepped in front of a poor 3rd-and-7 pass from Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Williams replaced starter Antonio Cromartie, who the Jets said will sit out the rest of the game on Sunday after suffering an injury to his knee in the second quarter.
Ryan Fitzpatrick looked sharp on the drive, as he's improved over the course of the game, evading pressure in the pocket and making the accurate throws. Fitzpatrick is 12-of-18 for 162 yards for New York.
Jets leading Browns, 14-10, at the half
Ryan Fitzpatrick led two touchdown drives and the Browns lost a quarterback as the Jets lead Cleveland 14-10 at the halftime break on Sunday.
Fitzpatrick went 11-for-17 on 117 yards, capping off the Jets' otherwise-meager first half with a two-minute drive, culminating in a 15 yard touchdown pass for Eric Decker for the lead.
New York's vaunted defense, their sole virtue last season, took some time to establish themselves against the Browns' starting eleven, led initially by Josh McCown. Cleveland marched over 80 yards on their first possession, converting all four of their third-downs before a predictably Cleveland thing inevitably happened.
McCown ventured a touchdown rush on a 3rd-and-Goal play, but fumbled the ball in the end zone after a collision sent him airborne over the goal line. Calvin Pryor supplied the primary hit and Demario Davis picked up the football for the Jets.
That collision would spell the end of McCown's Browns debut, however. Trainers took him to the team's dressing room with an apparent head injury and declared him out for the remainder of the game, opening the door for one John Football.
Manziel, who failed to impress in any fashion during his rookie year in 2014, engineered a 56 yar drive over five plays, the fifth a 54 yard touchdown strike for Travis Benjamin that gave Cleveland their brief advantage. The second-year signal caller was mobile in the pocket as the Jets steadily improved their pressure against the Cleveland pocket.
The Jets will likely be without starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie after he went down with a knee injury on the Jets' third defensive possession. The injury took place away from the ball and didn't come from any contact. After being looked over on the sidelines, team doctors ordered him into the locker room for further evaluations.
Chris Ivory had two tries at a 10 yard touchdown rush, the first called back after an offensive penalty, but the second good after Cleveland left center field open.
Fitzpatrick went 11-for-17 on 117 yards, capping off the Jets' otherwise-meager first half with a two-minute drive, culminating in a 15 yard touchdown pass for Eric Decker for the lead.
New York's vaunted defense, their sole virtue last season, took some time to establish themselves against the Browns' starting eleven, led initially by Josh McCown. Cleveland marched over 80 yards on their first possession, converting all four of their third-downs before a predictably Cleveland thing inevitably happened.
McCown ventured a touchdown rush on a 3rd-and-Goal play, but fumbled the ball in the end zone after a collision sent him airborne over the goal line. Calvin Pryor supplied the primary hit and Demario Davis picked up the football for the Jets.
That collision would spell the end of McCown's Browns debut, however. Trainers took him to the team's dressing room with an apparent head injury and declared him out for the remainder of the game, opening the door for one John Football.
Manziel, who failed to impress in any fashion during his rookie year in 2014, engineered a 56 yar drive over five plays, the fifth a 54 yard touchdown strike for Travis Benjamin that gave Cleveland their brief advantage. The second-year signal caller was mobile in the pocket as the Jets steadily improved their pressure against the Cleveland pocket.
The Jets will likely be without starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie after he went down with a knee injury on the Jets' third defensive possession. The injury took place away from the ball and didn't come from any contact. After being looked over on the sidelines, team doctors ordered him into the locker room for further evaluations.
Chris Ivory had two tries at a 10 yard touchdown rush, the first called back after an offensive penalty, but the second good after Cleveland left center field open.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
LeSean McCoy: DeMarco Murray not among the best
Breaking up is hard to do, but if you're LeSean McCoy, apparently it's impossible.A whole six months has past since the Eagles dealt McCoy to the Bills in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso, nowhere near long enough for the traded to keep taking shots at the traders.
In particular, his own replacement. Speaking with GQ magazine, McCoy took aim at new Eagles starting running back DeMarco Murray.
"I think Murray's good," he said. "But I don't see him as competition as far as the best backs. I like my game a lot."
The fact that McCoy likes anything about himself is hardly breaking news. Not seeing Murray as decent enough competition for him, however, raises the eyebrows. Murray, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, led the NFL with 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, powering the Cowboys to a 12-win campaign and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
McCoy also said Bills head coach Rex Ryan "lets you be a man," leaving wide open the silent implication that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly did not, which are strange words coming from the man who took and held Philadelphia's all-time rushing records under Kelly.
Kelly made the trade because he thought he could get better in his backfield. While that remains to be seen, the different style that Murray brings certainly sets up the possibility. Murray is a straight-ahead, north to south rusher, contrasting heavily with McCoy's style (picked up especially during his last season with the Eagles) of looking for the big play, scampering east to west, often resulting in short or lost yardage on plays.
LeSean McCoy will have his first chance to "be a man" when the Bills open their regular season against the Indianapolis Colts at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday.
Coughlin: Cruz won't practice Wednesday
After learning they'll be without defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul for their season opener on Sunday, the New York Giants learned they may also go without wide receiver Victor Cruz.Cruz was able to start the team's training camp this summer on the active roster following his recovery from a patellar tendon he tore last season at Philadelphia, but it's been a new injury to his calf that has kept him from practice and preseason games over the last several weeks.
Head coach Tom Coughlin said there have been no positive (or negative) changes to Cruz's new condition that will enable him to take the field.
He also reiterated that the remaining concern surrounds his calf only, not his knee.
"The calf is what set him back. Not the knee. For whatever reason these things are very, very hard to get over," Coughlin said, via the New York Daily News.
The healing of this new injury should be the team's first priority, not getting him back onto the field as soon as possible. Eli Manning already has targets in Odell Beckham, Jr., Rueben Randle, and Preston Parker in line for their season opener against the Cowboys on Sunday.
Tom Coughlin says JPP not ready to play
Don't call it a comeback.Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had been reported lately to not be as close to returning to the gridiron as was previously believed, and it looks like those reports are coming true.
Head coach Tom Coughlin said on Wednesday that, while Pierre-Paul is in a good place mentally, he is not ready to take the field and has returned to his native Florida, via the New York Daily News.
The Giants, Coughlin said, will "monitor" his progress while he's there.
One presumes the team will have closer access to him than they had following the July 4th weekend, when Pierre-Paul had to have his right index finger amputated after an accident involving an amateur fireworks display. Team officials tried to see him in the hospital, but went back to New York after spending a week without so much as laying an eye on him.
The geographical distance between player and team may also illustrate a financial distance.
Pierre-Paul is yet to put his name to a $14.8 million franchise tender, a number that will still count against the Giants' salary cap despite the man not being present.
As the 53-man rosters have already been submitted, the Giants can't place him on the Non-Football Injury list and activate him after six games as they could have previously.
Former DE on Todd Bowles: He's freaking perfect
Former All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor's face lights up whenever he thinks about Jets head coach Todd Bowles."He's freaking perfect," the former Redskin, Dolphin, and Jet said on Thursday.
Taylor spent two seasons with Bowles when he was defensive coordinator with Miami, and Taylor said he saw all he had to during that short stint.
"Schematically, forget about it," Taylor told the New York Post. "There's nobody out there that can touch him."
It wasn't just the playbook that impressed Taylor. More so, it was the disciplinary hold he had over his players before they even took the field.
"He's honest, very honest, and he'll tell the players exactly where they are and what they need to do," Taylor said. "He'll have a very focused, disciplined team that won't have a ton of mental errors or penalties. He won't put up with that."
Though the preseason counts just as little for coaches as it does players, Bowles passed his first test with flying colors. When Sheldon Richardson was in high speed pursuit with the cops with a 12-year-old kid in the back seat, he didn't flinch. When quarterback Geno Smith was slugged by his teammate and his face split in half, Bowles acted swiftly and surely, releasing the perp from the premises and keeping a calm face.
That calm demeanor is not something to take at face value, says Jason Taylor.
"Don't mistake the meekness for weakness, put it that way," Taylor said. "He is very chill and laid back it seems, but he is on top of everything."
The most important thing Bowles needs to be on top of is the Cleveland Browns, who the Jets host on Sunday in their regular season opener. His most important test comes when his "chill" translates into results.
Judging by his past, though, Todd Bowles is someone that can be trusted to get the job done, according to one of his former players.
"If Todd's the head coach, I want to play for Todd," Jason Taylor said. "That's the kind of guy he is. I would run through a brick wall for him."
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Eli Manning suddenly has a deadline
Giants quarterback Eli Manning noted on Tuesday that there has been "some talking" between his people and the club regarding a new contract extension.Which is more than can be said for the progress of such talks until this point. And while Manning said he has no certain deadline until which those negotiations can take place, he did make one caveat.
"I'm not a big fan of negotiations going on during the season," he told WFAN. "I'm hoping if this thing is going to get done, it's going to get done very quickly. I would think both sides would want to do it that way and not have these talks continue on."
Apparently, the already rich man is getting picky about when he will be willing to talk to other rich men about making himself richer than he is already.
Manning is entering the final year of his existing contract, and some manner of gibberish has been ongoing between Tom Condon, his agent who wants more money, and Giants co-owner John Mara, who doesn't want to pay too much more money, for most of the offseason.
Nothing has been forthcoming, save words, which are free.
And, despite having apparently said he has no desire to be the NFL's highest paid player, that is precisely what he may become whenever the Giants decide to pay him more.
He'd like that "more" to be in the mail before he throws a gaggle of interceptions to the Cowboys in their regular season opener on Sunday, to not give management any reason to not fork it over.
Derek Carrier finding his way with the Redskins
If there was anything the Washington Redskins needed after their preseason campaign, it was a tight end. Or two.Until then, they had been going down at an alarming rate. After watching starters Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen trot into doctors' offices and come out with frowns and casts, the club went out and fetched Derek Carrier from the 49ers.
An all-round versatile pass catcher and blocker, Carrier can move in and out of different looks easily, setting blocks for Alfred Morris and making an impact as another target for Kirk Cousins. He played in the Redskins' final two preseason games, starting one, snagging a 13 yard reception and recovering a fumble on special teams.
Ahead of his third pro season, he said he's progressing in his new team's system so far.
"It's going really well," he said. "Every game, every practice, every time I go out on the field, I'm just trying to get better. I'm trying to pick up on little things that I might've missed going through the playbook, and just trying to get better all the time."
Suddenly finding himself in a more prominent role than he had in San Francisco, Carrier says he is learning more of the nuances in the Redskins' playbook that he had the opportunity to learn with his former club.
"It's just a little different how we call things here, and some of the footwork -- the techniques are probably the biggest difference," he said. "Executing those at a high level and being able to do that at a fast pace is probably the biggest thing."
Though they also signed Anthony McCoy, Washington will take only two starting tight ends into Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins, Carrier and Jordan Reed.
"We just focus on our part," Carrier said. "With not as many guys, you just have to be on top of everything just in case something were to happen. So just being prepared, being focused is key, and then everything will take care of itself."
Rasheed Bailey shocked his Eagles career is over
Rasheed Bailey was somewhat of a long shot to make a splash at the wide receiver position in Philadelphia. Too much depth and too much talent, even on a squad that uses a lot of players in the rotation.That didn't stop most people in the area from rooting for him to make the cut. A local product, out of Roxborough High and Delaware Valley, Bailey was one of those names everybody in the neighborhood was pulling for.
He finished with 10 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles' preseason.
Then he was cut. It raised an eyebrow. Then he didn't make the practice squad. That raised the other one.
Including Bailey's.
"They loved who I was, what I did, everything about me," Bailey told the Philadelphia Daily News. "That's what's confusing. . . Whatever decision they came up with, it's not up to me. I'm not in the meeting rooms, I don't know what goes on in there. I just know that they liked what I did.
"I was liked by a lot of players. They were as shocked as I was. They would tell me [prior to the final cuts] to relax, that I'm good, that I'd made enough plays."
Not enough in Chip Kelly's eyes, apparently. The Eagles etched two receivers into their 10-man practice squad, Quron Pratt and Freddie Martino. For now, Bailey waits for the next chance to make his way into the NFL.
Bills re-sign Matt Cassel
The Buffalo Bills just couldn't quit Matt Cassel.
The club announced on Tuesday that it would re-sign the quarterback only three days after sending the veteran to the curb.
None of the contractual terms were officially released, but it would be appropriate to assume a pay cut of some sort was in order for Cassel to return to a field that includes E.J. Manuel and declared starter Tyrod Taylor.
Head coach Rex Ryan said during the offseason that it was his plan to keep three quarterbacks on the roster for the coming season. Cassel looked early on like he would lead that tangent, but was steadily outplayed down the stretch and finally unseated by Taylor after his performance against the Steelers in their third exhibition game.
The Bills released tight end Nick O'Leary in a corresponding move days after learning he made the 53 man roster, a list that apparently isn't as binding as he thought.
The club announced on Tuesday that it would re-sign the quarterback only three days after sending the veteran to the curb.
None of the contractual terms were officially released, but it would be appropriate to assume a pay cut of some sort was in order for Cassel to return to a field that includes E.J. Manuel and declared starter Tyrod Taylor.
Head coach Rex Ryan said during the offseason that it was his plan to keep three quarterbacks on the roster for the coming season. Cassel looked early on like he would lead that tangent, but was steadily outplayed down the stretch and finally unseated by Taylor after his performance against the Steelers in their third exhibition game.
The Bills released tight end Nick O'Leary in a corresponding move days after learning he made the 53 man roster, a list that apparently isn't as binding as he thought.
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