We mentioned a couple of weeks ago concerns regarding the use of web sites and other media for one-sided, over-the-top criticism of agents, since rivals agents inevitably will use those criticisms as ammunition in the endless quest to land clients.

That said, we’ve got no problem with measured, even-handed criticism when justified by the circumstances. 

And, in the case of the Michael Crabtree contract, some specific criticism of agent Eugene Parker is justified based on the events that transpired earlier today.

We’ve jointly blamed Crabtree and Parker for the holdout about nothing, which resulted in a contract that was roughly similar if not identical to the deal they would have gotten in July.  We haven’t specifically blamed one or the other because it’s still not known whether the player or the agent (or someone else) caused the problem.

Regardless, Parker needed to attend Wednesday’s press conference with Crabtree.  But Parker inexplicably didn’t.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat summed the situation up capably with this entry on his Twitter page:  “Still having
difficult time believing agent Eugene Parker hid out today while
sending his 22-yr-old client to face the barrage of questions.“

Parker has remained silent throughout this entire ordeal.  And he’ll likely remain silent.  Still, we’d love to know why he didn’t face the music along with Crabtree.
 

One of our favorite web sites (insert Artie Lange joke here) is Hulu.com.

Episodes of many television shows can be watched, free of charge and with little or no commercial interruption.  Also available are (and we’re not trying to be comprehensive here) movies, trailers, and lots of other stuff (OK, that part is intended to be comprehensive).

Then there’s PFTV, available right here on Hulu.com.

So you can check out the PFTV clips there, when you’re not checking them out here.

On Tuesday, Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith called out his team, publicly describing the players as at times “soft and bewildered,” and expressing embarrassment regarding their overall performance.

At least one player on the team wasn’t pleased.  And he said so.

Need three guesses as to who it is?  (Hopefully not, given that his surname is in the headline.)

Said linebacker Shawne Merriman, “I don’t know too much of that.  That’s an
opinion of a person, and it’s not needed.  We know that
we have to play better.  We met for an extra hour and a half as a
defense as a whole to discuss what we need to do and things we need to
do to get better.  And we’re going to make adjustments in this locker
room as far as players and our attitudes and getting after people a
little more.  But all that extra [stuff] is not needed at all.”

Merriman seemed to be particularly miffed that the criticism came from someone other than a member of the team, even though the criticism came from the guy who built the team. 

“The only opinions that matter to me are the ones in this locker room.  Anything else, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

Here’s the reality — Merriman is only going to be in that locker room for another 12 regular-season games, plus any playoff teams that the Chargers are able to muster.

If that long.

The Jets traded for receiver Braylon Edwards without signing him to a new contract.  In his first meeting with the New York media as a member of the New York Jets, Edwards said that’s fine by him.

“I don’t want to be a distraction,” Edwards said in comments distributed by the team.  “Right now, all I want to do is play football.  They’ve got a machine moving in the right direction, so to sit here and try to talk about a new contract would be pretty petty.  I’m happy with where I’m at now.  I’m happy with my contract.   It doesn’t bother me.   I really just want to get out there and play football.”

Despite weeks and months of rumors that a trade might be happening, Edwards said that he “had no clue” the deal was coming.

“I got the call from Coach Mangini at 7:45 am [Wednesday],” Edwards said.  “He called when I was on my way to the facility.  He called me and told me to come up and see him when I got in.  I went up there and he told me that the trade had happened.”

Edwards also talked about his off-field image, which took a hit only two days before the trade after he was accused of punching Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James who, based on LeBron’s desciption, sounds like he’d lose an arm-wrestling match to Steve Urkel.

“I do feel like I’m trying to create, not a new image, but I’m trying to just brush it up a little bit in order to be [a] good guy,” Edwards said.  “I’ve done some good things.  I believe there are some other incidents there, so know you have some people who say, ‘Is he this or is he that?’  Some people are still on this side and some people that are still on that side.  That’s what I mean by fresh start.   I can come with all the negativity that’s out there about me and I can come here and perform well on Sundays, on Mondays, practice hard and prove to my teammates and coaches that I’m a good guy and let everything else play its course.  Eventually, I’ll get that good guy tag undoubtedly.”

We’re not sure we would put money on that one, but we wish Edwards the best, if he’s serious about trying.

And a good start would be to resolve the situation in Cleveland with Edward Givens, if the allegation against Edwards is indeed true.

We’ve got an exclusive PFTV segment regarding the best divisions in the NFL, for Sprint NFL Mobile Live subscribers.

We’ve got an exclusive look at the T.O. situation in Buffalo, only for subscribers of Sprint’s NFL Mobile Live.

As the 3-1 Cincinnati Bengals prepare to face on Sunday the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens in a showdown for supremacy in the AFC North, starting running back Cedric Benson didn’t practice with the team on Wednesday, due to a hip injury.

Benson was probable in Week Four against the Browns with a knee injury.  He has rushed for 367 yards in four games on 87 carries, for a 4.4-yard average.

Also missing practice today were linebacker Rashad Jeanty (finger), linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee), and safety Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring).

Defensive tackle Tank Johnson (foot) and defensive tackle Domata Peko (chest)
participated on a limited basis.  Cornerback David Jones (foot) and safety Roy Williams (forearm)
fully participated.

The Ravens practiced without tackle Jared Gaither (neck), linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder), receiver Derrick Mason (neck), and receiver Demetrius Williams (illness).

Cornerback Chris Carr (groin) participated on a limited basis, and the following players fully participated:  linebacker Tavares Gooden (shoulder), defensive Haloti Ngata (back), and safety Ed Reed (knee).

The interest of radio host Rush Limbaugh in purchasing the St. Louis Rams has sparked plenty of debate.

Former NFL lineman Roman Oben, who spent 12 years as a tackle in the NFL, has stated his own position on the matter in an opinion piece for the Washington Post.

In four paragraphs, Oben captures the tone and content of the arguments that will emerge if Limbaugh’s bid gains momentum.

In the end, it will be for Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez to decide whether to sell their stake in the team to Limbaugh and Dave Checketts, owner of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues.  And then it will be for the owners to approve the transaction.  Or not.

Regardless of how it all turns out, we predict a level of volume and rancor that could be pro sports’ equivalent to the health-reform town hall meetings.

And we’ll continue to provide a vehicle here for everyone who wants to voice their own views to do so.

ATLANTA FALCONS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

ATLANTA FALCONS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Antoine Harris (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
K Jason Elam (left hamstring), RB Ovie Mughelli (hamstring)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Practice Report

Wednesday

Practice Not Complete

CINCINNATI BENGALS at BALTIMORE RAVENS

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
T Andre Smith (foot)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Cedric Benson (hip), LB Rashad Jeanty (finger), LB Rey Maualuga (knee), S Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Tank Johnson (foot), DT Domata Peko (chest)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB David Jones (foot), S Roy Williams (forearm)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
T Jared Gaither (neck), LB Jarret Johnson (shoulder), WR Derrick Mason (neck), WR Demetrius Williams (illness)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Chris Carr (groin)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder), DT Haloti Ngata (back), S Ed Reed (knee)

CLEVELAND BROWNS at BUFFALO BILLS

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Mike Adams (groin), K Phil Dawson (right calf), RB Lawrence Vickers (illness)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB David Bowens (knee), CB Coye Francies (calf), G Rex Hadnot (knee), LB D’Qwell Jackson (hamstring), RB Jamal Lewis (hamstring), DT Shaun Rogers (foot), LB Kamerion Wimbley (shoulder), G Floyd Womack (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Kenyon Coleman (groin), CB Gerard Lawson (groin), CB Eric Wright (hand), P Dave Zastudil (right knee)

BUFFALO BILLS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Chris Ellis (not injury related), LB Paul Posluszny (forearm), S Bryan Scott (ankle), S Donte Whitner (thumb)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
T Demetrius Bell (groin), S Jairus Byrd (hip), DT John McCargo (calf)

DALLAS COWBOYS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

DALLAS COWBOYS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Andre Gurode (knee), S Michael Hamlin (wrist), LB Curtis Johnson (hamstring), RB Felix Jones (knee), S Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), WR Roy Williams (ribs)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
T Flozell Adams (shoulder), RB Marion Barber (thigh), LB Jason Williams (ankle)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Wallace Gilberry (head)

HOUSTON TEXANS at ARIZONA CARDINALS

HOUSTON TEXANS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Fred Bennett (not injury related), LB Brian Cushing (illness), S Nick Ferguson (knee), DE Mario Williams (shoulder)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Mike Brisiel (shoulder), S John Busing (groin), G Antoine Caldwell (illness), TE James Casey (knee), TE Anthony Hill (illness), RB Ryan Moats (toe), CB Antwaun Molden (quadricep)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Jacques Reeves (finger)

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Steve Breaston (knee), DT Darnell Dockett (ankle), DE Kenny Iwebema (ankle), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (finger), G Reggie Wells (thumb)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Kurt Warner (right shoulder)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at TENNESSEE TITANS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Dwight Freeney (not injury related), WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee), CB Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), CB Marlin Jackson (knee), T Charlie Johnson (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Bob Sanders (knee)

TENNESSEE TITANS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Colin Allred (shoulder), S Vincent Fuller (forearm), CB Nicholas Harper (ribs), DT Jason Jones (shoulder)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Keith Bulluck (knee), CB Cortland Finnegan (hamstring), LB Stanford Keglar (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Nate Washington (concussion)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
DT Greg Peterson (knee)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Sean Considine (groin), LB Adam Seward (groin), CB Scott Starks (hip), T Tra Thomas (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Clint Ingram (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Derek Landri (wrist)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
LB LeRoy Hill (groin), T Walter Jones (knee), T Sean Locklear (ankle), G Rob Sims (ankle)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Patrick Kerney (groin)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Justin Griffith (knee), QB Matt Hasselbeck (rib), LB Lofa Tatupu (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Josh Wilson (ankle)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at ST. LOUIS RAMS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Practice Report

Wednesday

Practice Not Complete

ST. LOUIS RAMS
Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S James Butler (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Donnie Avery (hamstring), CB Ron Bartell (thigh), QB Marc Bulger (right shoulder), WR Keenan Burton (hamstring), S Craig Dahl (concussion), S Anthony Smith (achilles), T Jason Smith (knee)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at DENVER BRONCOS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Randy Moss (not injury related), RB Fred Taylor (ankle)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
T Nick Kaczur (ankle), LB Jerod Mayo (knee), S James Sanders (shoulder), CB Shawn Springs (knee), WR Wes Welker (knee), DT Vince Wilfork (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder)

DENVER BRONCOS

Practice Report

Wednesday

Practice Not Complete

OAKLAND RAIDERS at NEW YORK GIANTS

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Practice Report

Wednesday

Practice Not Complete

NEW YORK GIANTS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
LB Michael Boley (knee)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Kevin Boss (ankle), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle, foot), DT Chris Canty (calf), LB Bryan Kehl (finger), QB Eli Manning (foot), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), DE Dave Tollefson (illness)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Domenik Hixon (knee), RB Danny Ware (elbow)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday
G Rich Seubert (shoulder), LB Clint Sintim (groin), DE Justin Tuck (shoulder)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at DETROIT LIONS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Andre Frazier (shoulder), G Chris Kemoeatu (ankle), RB Willie Parker (toe), WR Hines Ward (not injury related)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Troy Polamalu (knee)

DETROIT LIONS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
T Gosder Cherilus (shoulder), DT Sammie Lee Hill (ankle), WR Calvin Johnson (thigh), S Kalvin Pearson (quadricep), S Ko Simpson (hamstring), QB Matthew Stafford (knee), DE Dewayne White (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Grady Jackson (knee), LB Ernie Sims (shoulder)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Cliff Avril (hamstring), RB Kevin Smith (shoulder)

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Torrie Cox (ankle), C Jeff Faine (triceps), RB Earnest Graham (hamstring), DE Kyle Moore (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Gaines Adams (ankle), WR Antonio Bryant (knee), WR Michael Clayton (ribs)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Byron Leftwich (hip), RB Derrick Ward (knee)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Todd Herremans (foot)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Kevin Curtis (knee), S Quintin Demps (hamstring), CB Ellis Hobbs (illness), G Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder), T Winston Justice (hamstring), QB Donovan McNabb (rib), CB Dimitri Patterson (hand), RB Brian Westbrook (ankle)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS at CAROLINA PANTHERS

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Anthony Montgomery (knee), P Hunter Smith (left groin)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Cornelius Griffin (elbow)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Mike Goodson (concussion)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Everette Brown (ankle), LB Na’il Diggs (rib), RB Tony Fiammetta (ankle), S Chris Harris (knee), RB Jonathan Stewart (achilles)

Last week, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre landed on the injury report with a foot problem.  (Damned polio.)

This week, Favre’s maladies have tripled. 

He appears on the Week Five Wednesday injury report with a foot, ankle, and knee injury.  Favre was a limited participant in practice due to this trifecta of lower-leg problems.

The Vikings play the Rams on Sunday.

Guard Steve Hutchinson (back) did not practice.  Receiver Darius Reynaud, who missed Monday night’s game with a hamstring injury, also missed practice, but with the designation “not injury related.”  Defensive end Ray Edwards (hamstring) missed practice, too. 

Linebacker Erin Henderson (calf) and cornerback Cedric Griffin (hand) participated on a limited basis.

Back to Favre, the proliferation of injuries could eventually result in a list of bumps and bruises that will mesh with the one we suggested several weeks ago:  “arm, ribs, wrist, hand, finger, ankles, head, shoulder,
knees, toes, back, front, groin, taint, swine flu, polio, lupus.”

On the same day that one situation into which former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders became entangled was resolved (sort of), word now emerges that Deion had a direct role in the ineligibility of Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant.

As John Taylor of CFT points out, Bryant lost his eligibility to play college football because, as the NCAA explains it, he “failed to openly disclose to the NCAA the full details of his interaction with a former NFL player not affiliated with OSU.”

In English, he lied.

As J.T. also points out, Bryant admits that he lied.

Though he still might regain his eligibility, the NCAA doesn’t take kindly to being lied to, even if the liar later admits to the lying.

“The kid panicked, man,” Sanders said, per the New York Times.  “He panicked.  He thought it was
a violation to come over to my house and it isn’t.  He said no, that he
hadn’t been over here, and I said, yeah, he had been over here.  I don’t
lie and he panicked.”

Still, at what point is the NFL going to conduct a full investigation into Deion’s business interests that are, directly or indirectly, creating collateral headaches for the league?  The NFL walks on wafer-thin eggshells when it comes to keeping college coaches happy; this kind of stuff will serve only to make guys like Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy go beserk.

Deion is a league employee, by virtue of his relationship with NFL Network.  In little more than a month, Deion has inadvertently blown the whistle on apparent tampering with 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, and Deion has now compromised the eligibility of Dez Bryant.

So what’s Deion’s angle?  Why is he involved with these kids?  Is he just being friendly?  Is he recruiting participants for his Prime U show?  Or does he have a direct financial interest in steering NFL prospects like Crabtree, Dez Bryant, and Noel Devine to Eugene Parker?

We don’t know the answers to those questions, but the NFL definitely should be asking them.

The Harris Poll is probably run by a large company that does many important things.

But I only hear of it one time a year, when they come out with the poll that says who is “America’s favorite football team.”

And the envelope please . . .

The Dallas Cowboys came in first in the poll for the third straight year, which doesn’t exactly make up for the lack of playoff wins of late.  But it certainly helps Jerry Jones’ bottom line.

The Steelers came in second, followed by the Bears, Colts, and Patriots.  Completing the top ten were the Packers, Eagles, Giants, Titans (!?), and Vikings. 

The poll takers were asked to predict who would win the Super Bowl this year, with the Steelers getting the most votes (19%), followed by the Patriots (17%).

There was no word how many people picked the Redskins.

With every Titans loss, Vince Young gets a little closer to seeing the field again.

But despite Kerry Collins’ struggles last week and our pleas for Jeff Fisher to insert Young into the lineup to help NBC’s ratings this Sunday night, Young will watch a suddenly healthy Colts defense from the sidelines. 

Young wants to play, but made it clear Wednesday he’s going to say all the right things, and doesn’t want to get on the field just because his team’s season is falling apart.

“I am always wanting to play; I can’t do nothing about that,” Young
said to the Nashville Tennessean. “I am just taking care of my responsibilities . . .  My job is to stay in the
game mentally and pay attention.”

Young was reportedly uncomfortable talking about the situation, as you’d expect.

“I am not interested in those questions right now, because that is not
what I am looking for us to do, to lose to get back in the game,”
Young said.

With the Colts and Patriots next on the schedule, Kerry Collins will have to help engineer a big upset to avoid an 0-6 start for last year’s number one seed in the AFC.

When reports of Willie Parker’s turf toe first came out last week, it was surprising how optimistic initial reports were regarding Parker’s chances to not miss any playing time.

That optimism is long gone.

Parker didn’t practice Wednesday, and didn’t sound like someone expecting to play against the Lions.

“I’m a competitor and I want to compete and show the world what I’ve
got but, at the same time, I’ve got to be smart about it. Right now,
I’m not where I need to be,” Parker said.

When Parker returns it will be interesting to see if he gets his starting job back from Rashard Mendenhall.  The second-year player could pile up yards with the Lions and Browns on the docket next.

Safety Troy Polamalu returned to a limited practice Wednesday, but isn’t expected to play until Week Six.

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice Wednesday, saying that his performance was “Okay.”

He was listed as limited on the official injury report, and will let his coaches and medical staff decide his status later in the week. Clearly, his participation is a good sign despite Jim Mora saying Wednesday that Hasselbeck was still in pain earlier this week.

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said Hasselbeck looked out of football shape, but he threw the ball fine.

The news regarding left tackle Walter Jones wasn’t nearly as good, even if it was expected.  The Seahawks are going to re-evaluate Jones after the team’s Week Seven bye, so he’ll miss at least two more weeks.

There are legitimate questions whether Jones will play football again.  Mora said that he has a date in mind where the team will need to decide on Jones’ status for the rest of the year, but that date is flexible.

“We’re talking about a Hall of Famer,” Mora said.  “There’s a lot of factors that go
into it. What’s best for the team, how much respect do you show Walter.
If Walter can get back, how long do we wait for him. . . . It’s a puzzle. And we talk about it every day.”

For the Seahawks, the 2009 season has had a familiar start because of all its injuries.  Seattle faces the Jaguars in Seattle Sunday in a game they need to avoid a 1-4 start.