Post by TheShadow on Oct 25, 2007 3:43:21 GMT -5
Move to Arizona; mayor to make call
By Associated Press | October 25, 2007
The San Diego Chargers, some of them forced from their homes by the threat of wildfires, worked out yesterday at the Arizona Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz., and awaited word on where and when their next game will be played.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders planned to decide today whether the Chargers will be able to play Houston as scheduled Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
"We're waiting as long as we can to assess the need for a shelter as large as Qualcomm," Fred Sainz, the mayor's spokesman, said.
An estimated 10,000 people were at the Qualcomm evacuation center yesterday.
Chargers president Dean Spanos said about 40 people in the organization - including coach Norv Turner, quarterback Philip Rivers, and linebacker Shawne Merriman - had to evacuate their homes because of the fires rampaging in the San Diego area.
Other sites being considered for the game were Dallas and Houston.
Henry back at practice
Bengals receiver Chris Henry returned to practice with the NFL's permission, allowing him to work back into shape while serving the last two games of his suspension.
Henry played receiver on the scout team, simulating Pittsburgh's offense against Cincinnati's starting defense.
Henry has declined all interview requests since NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the first eight games. The third-year receiver has been charged in four criminal cases and drawn two suspensions from the league for violating its conduct policy. Under previous league policy, a suspended player could attend team meetings and work out at its facility, but couldn't participate in practice. The league gave permission for Henry to practice with two games left in his suspension.
"The commissioner, since this is kind of new territory, is trying to give these guys an opportunity to come back and be around their teammates more," coach Marvin Lewis said.
QB carousel
Midway through the season, making the call as to who is going to start at quarterback is no longer a snap judgment. Throughout the league a number of situations were far from settled:
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub practiced, but is still listed as day to day with a bruised hip. While Schaub participated in a good portion of practice, backup Sage Rosenfels took most of the snaps in team drills.
Carolina coach John Fox said quarterback David Carr will play if he's healthy, but may not start Sunday against Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Carr (sore back) says he's getting healthy and expects to start while 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde insists he's OK as the starter or backup. The Panthers' much-dissected quarterback situation took another twist when Carr practiced without limitations.
Jets coach Eric Mangini said he's sticking with Chad Pennington for Sunday's game against Buffalo, despite the team's 1-6 record and the fans calling for Kellen Clemens. Mangini and the rest of the team refuse to blame Pennington for the disappointing start. "This isn't a Chad Pennington issue," Mangini said. "This is a New York Jets issue. This is all of us needing to do a better job." Meanwhile, linebacker Jonathan Vilma missed practice with a knee injury and underwent tests to determine how long it might keep him sidelined.
David Garrard could be sidelined up to a month with a badly sprained left ankle, leaving inexperienced backup Quinn Gray under center for the Jaguars for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. The Jaguars worked out Doug Johnson, Drew Henson, and Todd Bouman yesterday, but they didn't plan to make a roster move until today. Drew Bledsoe was approached about a tryout but declined to come out of retirement.
The only thing standing between San Francisco's Alex Smith and his old job is coach Mike Nolan, who will wait a little longer before choosing a starter for Sunday's game against New Orleans. Smith took every snap with the 49ers' first-team offense, his first full day of team practice since separating his shoulder Sept. 30.
Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said his broken right index finger is feeling better every day. Still, coach Brad Childress was reluctant to say whether Jackson could play against Philadelphia. If Jackson can't go, Kelly Holcomb will start against the team that traded him in the last week of the preseason.
Tests for Thomas
Middle linebacker Zach Thomas might not make the Dolphins' trip to London because he was in a minor car accident following the team's 49-28 loss to the Patriots Sunday. "There's potential for whiplash and that is what we're looking into," Miami coach Cam Cameron said. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Thomas and his wife were not at fault when they were rear-ended in stop-and-go traffic by a driver wearing Patriots attire. They were unhurt at the time, although Thomas, who missed two consecutive games this season because of a concussion, was tested for the injury yesterday in Pittsburgh. The 0-7 Dolphins plan to leave today for Sunday's game against the New York Giants in London - the first regular-season NFL game outside North America . . . The NFL added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players, designating the money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening, and assisted living . . . The NFL gave approval to allow the Oakland Raiders to sell a 20 percent minority interest in the team to a small group of investors.
By Associated Press | October 25, 2007
The San Diego Chargers, some of them forced from their homes by the threat of wildfires, worked out yesterday at the Arizona Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz., and awaited word on where and when their next game will be played.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders planned to decide today whether the Chargers will be able to play Houston as scheduled Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
"We're waiting as long as we can to assess the need for a shelter as large as Qualcomm," Fred Sainz, the mayor's spokesman, said.
An estimated 10,000 people were at the Qualcomm evacuation center yesterday.
Chargers president Dean Spanos said about 40 people in the organization - including coach Norv Turner, quarterback Philip Rivers, and linebacker Shawne Merriman - had to evacuate their homes because of the fires rampaging in the San Diego area.
Other sites being considered for the game were Dallas and Houston.
Henry back at practice
Bengals receiver Chris Henry returned to practice with the NFL's permission, allowing him to work back into shape while serving the last two games of his suspension.
Henry played receiver on the scout team, simulating Pittsburgh's offense against Cincinnati's starting defense.
Henry has declined all interview requests since NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the first eight games. The third-year receiver has been charged in four criminal cases and drawn two suspensions from the league for violating its conduct policy. Under previous league policy, a suspended player could attend team meetings and work out at its facility, but couldn't participate in practice. The league gave permission for Henry to practice with two games left in his suspension.
"The commissioner, since this is kind of new territory, is trying to give these guys an opportunity to come back and be around their teammates more," coach Marvin Lewis said.
QB carousel
Midway through the season, making the call as to who is going to start at quarterback is no longer a snap judgment. Throughout the league a number of situations were far from settled:
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub practiced, but is still listed as day to day with a bruised hip. While Schaub participated in a good portion of practice, backup Sage Rosenfels took most of the snaps in team drills.
Carolina coach John Fox said quarterback David Carr will play if he's healthy, but may not start Sunday against Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Carr (sore back) says he's getting healthy and expects to start while 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde insists he's OK as the starter or backup. The Panthers' much-dissected quarterback situation took another twist when Carr practiced without limitations.
Jets coach Eric Mangini said he's sticking with Chad Pennington for Sunday's game against Buffalo, despite the team's 1-6 record and the fans calling for Kellen Clemens. Mangini and the rest of the team refuse to blame Pennington for the disappointing start. "This isn't a Chad Pennington issue," Mangini said. "This is a New York Jets issue. This is all of us needing to do a better job." Meanwhile, linebacker Jonathan Vilma missed practice with a knee injury and underwent tests to determine how long it might keep him sidelined.
David Garrard could be sidelined up to a month with a badly sprained left ankle, leaving inexperienced backup Quinn Gray under center for the Jaguars for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. The Jaguars worked out Doug Johnson, Drew Henson, and Todd Bouman yesterday, but they didn't plan to make a roster move until today. Drew Bledsoe was approached about a tryout but declined to come out of retirement.
The only thing standing between San Francisco's Alex Smith and his old job is coach Mike Nolan, who will wait a little longer before choosing a starter for Sunday's game against New Orleans. Smith took every snap with the 49ers' first-team offense, his first full day of team practice since separating his shoulder Sept. 30.
Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said his broken right index finger is feeling better every day. Still, coach Brad Childress was reluctant to say whether Jackson could play against Philadelphia. If Jackson can't go, Kelly Holcomb will start against the team that traded him in the last week of the preseason.
Tests for Thomas
Middle linebacker Zach Thomas might not make the Dolphins' trip to London because he was in a minor car accident following the team's 49-28 loss to the Patriots Sunday. "There's potential for whiplash and that is what we're looking into," Miami coach Cam Cameron said. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Thomas and his wife were not at fault when they were rear-ended in stop-and-go traffic by a driver wearing Patriots attire. They were unhurt at the time, although Thomas, who missed two consecutive games this season because of a concussion, was tested for the injury yesterday in Pittsburgh. The 0-7 Dolphins plan to leave today for Sunday's game against the New York Giants in London - the first regular-season NFL game outside North America . . . The NFL added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players, designating the money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening, and assisted living . . . The NFL gave approval to allow the Oakland Raiders to sell a 20 percent minority interest in the team to a small group of investors.