It's Tuesday.  And Tuesday means . . . new power rankings.

Feel free to peruse them, debate them, and cuss us out for not showing your team enough respect.

What the hell are you gonna do before 10:00 a.m. ET in the East?  Work?

It's Friday, so that means it's time for the PFT 10-pack on SportingNews.com.

So here it is.

Enjoy.

Next Thursday, the annual slate of regular-season games on NFL Network launches with the 49ers facing the Bears.

And you can see it even if you don't have NFL Network.

If you have a Sprint device equipped with Sprint's NFL Mobile Live.

The only wireless pro football application licensed by the NFL streams NFLN on a continuous basis, including the coverage of Thursday Night Football.

So if you don't have NFLN and can't get NFLN, you can get a Sprint phone with NFL Mobile Live.

And you should.

Sprint, as you may know, is the official telecommunications partner of PFT.

The folks who are running the new four-team football league known as the UFL seem to be good, well-meaning people.

But when it comes to basic things like, you know, getting the word out, they come up a little short.

Case in point:  Tonight's debut game is streaming online, and to our knowledge the UFL engaged in no affirmative effort to publicize this fact.

So we'll do it for them.  You can watch it right here.

Let's see what kind of hamsters they have running their servers.

One of the biggest problems we had with former ESPN NFL analyst Sean Salisbury is that he always spoke in absolutes. 

For Sean, there were no maybes or possiblys or likelys.  It was always black and white, with no middle ground.

Case in point:  Prior to Super Bowl XLI, Salisbury said that if Devin Hester of the Bears returns a kick for a touchdown, Chicago will beat Indianapolis.

So Hester did, and the Bears didn't.

His goal, presumably, is to project confidence.  But as a certain American telemarketing philosopher of the early 21st Century has explained it, confidence is the food of the wise man and the liquor of the fool.

Until this morning, we never realized that current ESPN analyst Mark "Stink" Schlereth has a similar habit of staking out with certainty his predictions regarding a sport in which the only uncertainty is that we really don't know how 22 moving parts on the field of play will interact over a 60-minute period.

So here are a couple of "write 'em down and lets see if he's wrong" assertions from Schlereth, via the current SportsCenter loop.

1.  "New England does not lose back-to-back games."

2.  "The Jets are not gonna beat the Tennessee Titans."

In fairness to Schlereth, he's not as over-the-top as Salisbury was.  (Yet.)  But in that quest to create an aura of supreme confidence, Schlereth is exposing himself (but not in that way) to criticism after the fact.

Of course, as long as no one in the audience is inclined to remember what Schlereth said before the games were played, he's in the clear.  But maybe folks should pay more attention to the stream of space-filling commentary and predictions that the 22 former NFL players who are paid by Bristol to analyze NFL action have to offer.  Indeed, there's a decent chance that a lot of them don't know much more than any of the rest of us.

But at least they're confident.

Every week, Rosenthal and I prepare game picks, with several paragraphs of explanation, often including a smartass remark or to.

When we do well in a given week, we publicly pat ourselves on the back.  And when I do better than Rosenthal, I make sure I point it out.

This week, however, I'm a bit conflicted.  Overall, we were a so-so 9-7.  So I was inclined not to mention the Week Two outcome.  But yours truly was 6-2 and Rosenthal was 3-5.  So I figured that I could point out the fact that, despite Gregg's efforts to screw the thing up royally, we still finished above .500 due to my stellar prognostication skills.

This week's picks are right here.

So check it out.  Otherwise you'll miss nuggets like this:  "After two weeks of passing more horizontally than vertically, [Vikings quarterback Brett] Favre will be airing it out, the Metrodome will be a-rockin', and the 49ers will wish they hadn't come a-knockin'."

It's probably fitting that, in the same week Jets coach Rex Ryan gave the NFL a pro wrestling feel, one of the guys with whom Ryan has verbally sparred would like to apply a piledriver to yours truly.

Yep, Miami linebacker Channing Crowder wants to beat me up.

He thinks I called him a douche bag on Friday night.  (I'll leave it to the readers to decide whether I was referring to Crowder or to Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.)

So here's the exchange Crowder had with reporters on Saturday, via Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"Hey, you know this guy from ProFootballTalk.com?" Crowder said.

"You mean Mike Florio?" Berardino said.

"Well, you tell Mike Florio to come to my house and call me a 'douche bag' to my face," Crowder said.  "Just tell him to come to [my housing development] and take two lefts and a right and look for the house with the Dodge Ram out front.  I'll be waiting there for him and he can call me that to my face and we can talk about it."

I'm not as concerned about being beaten up as I am about Florida laws that tend to allow folks to blow gaping holes into the bodies of people who are on their property.  So, for that reason, I won't be visiting Crowder at his home.

But I'd be happy to talk to him about the situation at a neutral site, with cameras present.  Not because I think the cameras would keep him from beating me up, but because the cameras would generate evidence that would be far more persuasive at the civil trial for assault and battery.

Every week, yours truly and Gregg Rosenthal will offer a combined set of game picks for your perusal.

And we'll mention it here, so that you'll click on the link, check out the picks, and maybe submit your own.

If we do well in a given week, we'll mention it here.

Last week, for example, we were 12-4.

When I do a better job with my half than Rosenthal does with his, I'll mention it, too.

Last week, I was 7-1, and Rosenthal was 5-3.

Generally, I pick the games in which an NFC team is the visitor, and Rosenthal takes the games with an AFC team as the road team.

This week, Rosenthal picks against the Steelers, again.

Yeah, this is gonna be easy.
 

One of the most popular in-season features at PFT requires minimal writing on our part, and induces maximum commentary on your part.

It's the weekly PFT power rankings, which will show up on most Wednesday mornings.  (I say "most" because there's a chance I'll forget in some weeks, or possibly lose interest.)

The list is the result of a collaboration between yours truly and Rosenthal.  The procedure goes like this -- Rosenthal sends in a proposed list and then I tweak the thing, in order to advance my own biases and prejudices.

Here's Week One.  Have at it.  My skin is thick.  And my ears seem to be growing.

The standard NFL viewing experience used to consist of a Zenith console in a faux wood cabinet, a bag of chips (poured into a plastic bowl on special occasions), and a can or bottle of a favorite beverage, often with a small percentage of alcohol contained therein and sometimes with a coaster beneath it (but only if the wife was in the room).

Today, the Zenith has been replaced by a flat screen of some sort, preferably with HD, and it's supplemented with various other electronic devices, including Sprint phone and/or a laptop with which PFT may be monitored throughout the day.

But some of you prefer the old-school cathode-ray experience, and thus you wait to surf for the stuff that was missed while trying to balance watching the home team win (or lose) while doing whatever it is that you promised the wife you'd get to on Saturday but didn't because you had money on the Notre Dame-Michigan game and besides it was a long short week at work after Labor Day and you just wanted an afternoon to sit around and do nothing for a change.

Or maybe you just don't have a laptop.

So for those of you whose procrastination on Saturday and/or general aversion to mobile technology prevented you from engaging in any Internet surfing until you were on someone's clock other than your own, here's the best of the stuff that we posted over the weekend.

Adrian Peterson ran like Jim Brown Earl Campbell Eric Dickerson Adrian Peterson.

A couple of good ol' boys could be butting heads (hopefully polio isn't contagious).

Mike Shanahan continues to clean up his resume for 2010.

Jerry Jones took a hit to his wallet (we hope he can still afford the cable bill at Cowboys Stadium).

The Bucs don't like "violence," and they proved it on Sunday. 

We can't wait to hear how DeAngelo Hall responds to the latest guy to criticize him.

Whoever told Jaguars defensive end Reggie Hayward to break a leg before the season opener might be feeling a little creeped out today.

So who said it's the league's responsibility to avoid a lockout?  The answer might surprise you.

Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson has a new line of footwear.

Will Smith and Charles Grant might get a pass.

The Hochuli Rule makes an early appearance.

Storm's coming!

The man known as "Fart Box" might have broken the new anti-Twitter rule (along with "wind").

Delhomme, French for turnover.

The Pats are treating Laurence Maroney like a fargin' icehole.

Richard Seymour wants to be a Raiders player only slightly more than Lane Kiffin wants to be the Raiders coach.

The Bucs and the Chiefs could be filming a remake of Brewster's Millions.

Santonio Holmes has a new NFL jersey.

Peter King could be getting closer to changing his name to Peter Jeter. 

Somehow, we got them finished.

All of the 2009 preseason power rankings are posted, with each team getting its own write up.

The full list appears below.  Click the link to read what we have to say about the team you love -- or the one(s) you hate.

And thanks to Gregg Rosenthal and Tom Curran for jumping in and taking on a big role in getting these done.  They both did a great job, balancing out my tendency to mail it in.

1. Pittsbugh Steelers

2. New England Patriots

3. San Diego Chargers

4. New York Giants
 
5. Tennessee Titans

6. Indianapolis Colts

7. Minnesota Vikings

8. Baltimore Ravens

9. Philadelphia Eagles

10. Green Bay Packers

11. Dallas Cowboys

12. New Orleans Saints

13. Atlanta Falcons

14. Chicago Bears

15. Carolina Panthers

16. Arizona Cardinals

17. Miami Dolphins

18. Houston Texans

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

20. Cincinnati Bengals

21. Buffalo Bills

22. Washington Redskins

23. New York Jets

24. Seattle Seahawks

25. San Francisco 49ers

26. Denver Broncos

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Cleveland Browns

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Oakland Raiders

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Detroit Lions

Ever since prosecutors in San Diego decided not to pursue criminal charges against Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman for allegedly battering and falsely imprisoning Tila Tequila Nguyen on September 6, we've checked in from time to time on Nguyen's Twitter page.

Predictably, she has been sounding off repeatedly about the decision, "retweeting" messages from many of her followers that either support her or bash Merriman.

But Nguyen is adding plenty of her own words, apparently not realizing that each tweet is something that Merriman's lawyers possibly will use against her if she files a civil suit and if the case goes to trial.

Here's one that should help Merriman's legal team make Nguyen come off as incredibly unsympathetic:  "Actually @MechanicalDummy & @shawnemerriman should ass rape each other.  They are both little pussy bitches.  I would B ashamed 2 be their mom."

(The Mechanical Dummy link goes to the Twitter page of a person named "Breezy."  We've never heard of "Breezy," but at least 33,917 others have.)

That's just one of the more recent tweets from her.  She's currently in the middle of an all-out tirade, which will give Merriman's lawyers even more ammo as they prepare to defend him at trial.   

And she apparently senses that her stream of tweets could come back to haunt her.  At one point in the past couple of hours, she said that she'll be deleting her Twitter account in a "couple more weeks."

Unless it's an Ochocinco-style stunt, the only reason to delete the account (which inexplicably has nearly 250,000 followers, though we think the number has dropped recently, likely due to the excessive and rampant tweeting about Merriman) would be to try to cover up the things she has said over the past several days -- things that will make it much harder for her to prevail in a civil suit against Merriman.

Initially, we planned to make the No. 2 team the No. 1 team for our Preseason Power Rankings, and the No. 1 team No. 2.

But since we're wrapping these up after Tedy Bruschi retired and after Richard Seymour was traded to the Raiders and after the Steelers took care of the Titans in the regular-season opener, we've changed it on the fly.

The Patriots are No. 2, and the Steelers are No. 1.

For New England, the key is the return of Tom Brady.  Without him, they won eleven games but didn't win a playoff berth.  With him, they will look a lot like they did in 2007, at least on offense.

Especially with Fred Taylor and Joey Galloway joining the team.

The defense has gotten younger lately, but not necessarily better.  The looming contract issue with Vince Wilfork could become a distraction, especially since someone will need to step into a major leadership vacuum with the departures of Bruschi, Seymour, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Vrabel.

For the Steelers, they hold the Lombardi Trophy and they have nearly everyone back. 

The only flaw is the offensive line, and its inability to open running lanes or, possibly, to keep quarterback Ben Roethlisberger healthy.

It's a big flaw.  Sure, it didn't keep them from winning Super Bowl XLIII.  But one blown block could impose a real injury on Roethlisberger, and then it would be difficult to get back to the top of the conference.

Key player:  Brady for the Patriots, Roehtlisberger for the Steelers.  If both can stay healthy, the AFC title game will come down to a rematch of the 2004 edition of the conference title tilt.

Rookie to watch:  Brian Hoyer for the Patriots, Mike Wallace for the Steelers.  A year after a guy with three years in the system was able to step in once Brady's knee blew out, the Pats are backing up Brady with an undrafted rookie.  Wallace already looks better than Limas Sweed, and Wallace could see plenty of passes with defenses focusing on stopping Santonio Holmes and not getting knocked out by Hines Ward.

Best veteran acquisitions:  Joey Galloway for the Pats, Stefan Logan for the Steelers.  Galloway, a Darrell Green-style ageless wonder who'll turn 38 this year, has nailed down a  starting receiver role.  And with Randy Moss and Wes Welker running patterns, Galloway will draw favorable matchups -- and he'll catch plenty of passes.  The Steelers simply don't sign many/any veterans.  This year, a Canadian import will have a big impact in the special teams.

PFT's Power Rankings

1. Pittsbugh Steelers
2. New England Patriots
3. San Diego Chargers
4. New York Giants
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Green Bay Packers
11. Dallas Cowboys
12. New Orleans Saints
13. Atlanta Falcons
14. Chicago Bears
15. Carolina Panthers
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Miami Dolphins
18. Houston Texans
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
20. Cincinnati Bengals
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Washington Redskins
23. New York Jets
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. San Francisco 49ers
26. Denver Broncos
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Cleveland Browns
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. Oakland Raiders
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Detroit Lions

And if it weren't for Twitter and F-List reality TV "friends" the San Diego Chargers might be even higher than this.

It's all lined up for San Diego this season.  A weak AFC West in which they can roll up wins and tune up their game with an eye to the playoffs.  Philip Rivers, young enough to be at a high point athletically and with enough experience to know how to lead and produce. LaDainian Tomlinson with tread left on his tires and Darren Sproles to spell him.  Underrated wideouts.  Very good offensive line.  Playmakers on defense.  Indy might be down, the Steelers are just Ben Roethlisberger and a great defense, the Patriots aren't the wagon they were in 2007.

But will enough of the Chargers realize that this could be it.  It doesn't always line up like this.  And instead of tweeting about how focused and motivated you are for the season, which Shawne Merriman does daily, it's more than time to actually take the craft seriously.

Because that's what the organizations and lead players in New England, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh do.

There won't be a shortage of folks ready to line up and point out Norv Turner's resume shortcomings.  But, having spoken with him more than once this offseason, I'm not seeing the passive, overmatched, better-as-a-coordinator guy everyone says Turner is.  Maybe he's changed.  Maybe he never was like that.  Doesn't really matter.  The simple fact is, if this team doesn't go 12-4 or better and make it to at least the AFC Championship game, it's a disappointment.

Key player: Rivers.  This is not a team looking for a playoff berth.  It's a team that has a right to believe it can win the Super Bowl.  And, ultimately, it's going to fall to Rivers to either save San Diego's season or avoid making the mistakes in a massive game that will kill it.

Rookie to watch:  Larry English.  If he proves to be what A.J. Smith and Co. think he'll be, the defensive end/outside linebacker will make it possible for San Diego to not only let Shawne Merriman go but pack his bags and drive him and his Lights Out dance to the airport if he needs a ride.

Best veteran acquisition:  Kevin Burnett.  Try "only veteran acquisition."  Burnett, an inside linebacker, couldn't get on the field with the Cowboys.  We'll see what kind of impact he can make with an even better defense.  

Key game: Week Four at Pittsburgh.  After the season-opening throttling the Chargers give the Raiders on Monday night, the Bolts have a couple of tough home games against the Ravens and Dolphins.  Then, it's off to the 'Burgh where San Diego can stake a claim for AFC supremacy.

PFT's Power Rankings

3. San Diego Chargers
4. New York Giants
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Green Bay Packers
11. Dallas Cowboys
12. New Orleans Saints
13. Atlanta Falcons
14. Chicago Bears
15. Carolina Panthers
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Miami Dolphins
18. Houston Texans
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
20. Cincinnati Bengals
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Washington Redskins
23. New York Jets
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. San Francisco 49ers
26. Denver Broncos
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Cleveland Browns
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. Oakland Raiders
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Detroit Lions

Remember, these rankings aren't a prediction as to where a team will finish.  Instead, they represent only an opinion about where they currently are.

Entering the season, the New York Giants are at No. 4.  By the end of the season, their status could be far different.

They occupy a lofty perch because of the fumes of that unlikely Super Bowl XLII championship, and they had the best record in the NFC last season.

But they've yet to find a way to overcome the loss of Plaxico Burress.  Until they do, it'll be difficult to climb the ladder again.

And that huge contract paid to quarterback Eli Manning could look like a huge mistake.

The defense will continue to be stout, especially with defensive end Osi Umenyiora back and linebacker Antonio Pierce not headed for the same fate as Burress.

Still, the passing game is a major concern.  Absent a huge rookie year from Hakeem Nicks, the Giants will be very hard pressed to return to the Super Bowl.  Or to the playoffs.

Key player:  Manning.  The true measure of a franchise quarterback is whether he can put up franchise quarterback numbers without top-shelf pass-catchers.  The problem for Manning is that, even when he had Burress, the numbers didn't cry out "franchise quarterback."

Rookies to watch:  Nicks and Ramses Barden.  The tall and lean Barden could replace Plaxio's presence in the red zone.  Nicks could partially fill Plaxico's shoes elsewhere on the field.

Best veteran acquisition:  Chris Canty.  He has been dogged by injuries, but he's finally healthy and could help boost a defensive line that already wreaks havoc on opposing offenses.

Key game:  Week Two, at Dallas.  Spoiling the opening of the new football cathedral in North Texas could propel the Giants on a six-game winning streak that would be in doubt only when heading to Philly on November 1.

PFT's Power Rankings:

PFT's Power Rankings:

4. New York Giants
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Green Bay Packers
11. Dallas Cowboys
12. New Orleans Saints
13. Atlanta Falcons
14. Chicago Bears
15. Carolina Panthers
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Miami Dolphins
18. Houston Texans
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
20. Cincinnati Bengals
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Washington Redskins
23. New York Jets
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. San Francisco 49ers
26. Denver Broncos
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Cleveland Browns
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. Oakland Raiders
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Detroit Lions

A video has emerged of a 1984 Monday Night Football interview featuring a young Cris Collinsworth, sporting what appears to be the remnants of a home perm.

Links to the clip now appear at places like With Leather, Deadspin, and The Big Lead. 

To his credit, Collinsworth isn't running from his past.  He has issued a statement regarding the situation.  It came without a request for comment; we're told that he wanted to address the situation affirmatively and proactively. 

"As a family man I am extremely embarrassed by an interview I did when I was in my early twenties about dating," Collinsworth said.  "My comments were insulting, immature, and foolishly intended as a joke.  They do not reflect how I lived my life then . . . or now.  I was asked to do something humorous about dating, and it has been a major embarrassment to me since the day I said it.  I apologize to anyone who has ever had the misfortune to see it now or a quarter-century ago."

(We assume that the apology is sufficiently broad to cover the fact that he subjected us to the remnants of his home perm.  If so, apology accepted.)

And we hope that most people realized from the get-go that Collinsworth was being facetious, since the monologue had that "chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear and when I do it's usually something unusual" vibe from Bill Murray in Stripes.

Still, kudos to Cris for taking the initiative now that, somehow, the video has surfaced.

Are we fully objective on this one?  Probably not.  For starters, we sort of enjoy being part of the NBC family now, so our human nature is going to kick in as it relates to other members of the NBC family.  Also, we ran into Cris the morning after the Hall of Fame game, and he was incredibly gracious to my wife and my son, who would have his first official middle school football practice that night and who received meaningful and enthusiastic encouragement from Cris about the sport.

So let's take the video for what it is -- a 25-year-old clip from a guy who was 25 years old at the time and who, like most 25-year-olds will do from time to time, said something that he thought would be perceived as funny (and might have been indeed been regarded as humorous at the time), but two-and-a-half decades later it isn't.

And I can't really say much about the apparent remnants of a home perm.  In 1984, I had a mullet.  With a rat tail.

DALLAS COWBOYS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

DALLAS COWBOYS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Michael Hamlin (wrist), LB Curtis Johnson (hamstring), LB Jason Williams (ankle)

Thursday CB Michael Hamlin (wrist), LB Curtis Johnson (hamstring), LB Jason Williams (ankle)

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB E.J. Biggers (shoulder), TE John Gilmore (ankle), LB Adam Hayward (ankle)

Thursday CB E.J. Biggers (shoulder), TE John Gilmore (ankle), LB Adam Hayward (ankle), DE Kyle Moore (groin)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday WR Antonio Bryant (knee), WR Michael Clayton (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Antonio Bryant (knee), WR Michael Clayton (hamstring)

DENVER BRONCOS at CINCINNATI BENGALS

DENVER BRONCOS

Practice Report

Thursday

Practice Not Complete

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Josh Barrett (shoulder), DT Le Kevin Smith (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Jabar Gaffney (finger), G Chris Kuper (ankle), RB Knowshon Moreno (knee), QB Kyle Orton (right finger), QB Chris Simms (ankle)

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday CB David Jones (foot), T Andre Smith (foot)

Thursday CB David Jones (foot), T Andre Smith (foot)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Thursday WR Chris Henry (thigh)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday G Scott Kooistra (knee), S Roy Williams (thigh) Thursday G Scott Kooistra (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday QB Carson Palmer (ankle)

Thursday QB Carson Palmer (ankle), S Roy Williams (thigh)

DETROIT LIONS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

DETROIT LIONS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday QB Drew Stanton (knee)

Thursday DT Grady Jackson (knee), G Stephen Peterman (ankle), QB Drew Stanton (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Phillip Buchanon (neck), K Jason Hanson (right knee), DE Jason Hunter (ribs), DT Grady Jackson (knee), WR Dennis Northcutt (hand), G Stephen Peterman (ankle)

Thursday CB Phillip Buchanon (neck), WR Yamon Figurs (finger), K Jason Hanson (right knee), DE Jason Hunter (ribs), WR Dennis Northcutt (hand)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday TE Casey Fitzsimmons (knee), CB Anthony Henry (shoulder)

Thursday TE Casey Fitzsimmons (knee), CB Anthony Henry (shoulder)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday T Jammal Brown (hernia), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot), RB Pierre Thomas (knee)

Thursday T Jammal Brown (hernia), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot), RB Pierre Thomas (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Usama Young (shoulder)

Thursday S Usama Young (shoulder)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday TE Zach Miller (knee), T Tra Thomas (back)

Thursday TE Zach Miller (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday DT Derek Landri (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday T Tra Thomas (back)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Bob Sanders (knee), TE Tom Santi (ankle), CB Jamie Silva (abdomen)

Thursday CB Tim Jennings (not injury related), DT Fili Moala (knee), S Bob Sanders (knee), TE Tom Santi (ankle), CB Jamie Silva (abdomen)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at BALTIMORE RAVENS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday RB Jackie Battle (illness), QB Matt Cassel (knee), CB Brandon Flowers (shoulder)

Thursday QB Matt Cassel (knee), WR Terrance Copper (hamstring), CB Brandon Flowers (shoulder)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday RB Jackie Battle (illness)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday TE L.J. Smith (hamstring)

Thursday TE L.J. Smith (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (foot), LB Dannell Ellerbe (knee), DE Haloti Ngata (knee)

Thursday DE Haloti Ngata (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (foot), LB Dannell Ellerbe (knee)

MIAMI DOLPHINS at ATLANTA FALCONS

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Thursday T Andrew Gardner (not injury related)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Vontae Davis (knee)

Thursday CB Vontae Davis (knee)

ATLANTA FALCONS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S William Moore (hamstring)

Thursday S William Moore (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday DE John Abraham (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday DE Chauncey Davis (foot), LB Tony Gilbert (hamstring), C Todd McClure (calf), RB Jerious Norwood (knee)

Thursday DE John Abraham (knee), DE Chauncey Davis (foot), LB Tony Gilbert (hamstring), C Todd McClure (calf), RB Jerious Norwood (knee)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CLEVELAND BROWNS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday LB Erin Henderson (calf)

Thursday LB Erin Henderson (calf)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring), TE Jim Kleinsasser (hand)

Thursday WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring), TE Jim Kleinsasser (hand)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday G Rex Hadnot (knee)

Thursday G Rex Hadnot (knee)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday RB Cedric Peerman (thigh)

Thursday RB Cedric Peerman (thigh)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday LB David Bowens (knee), RB Jerome Harrison (knee), DT Shaun Rogers (foot), CB Eric Wright (knee)

Thursday LB David Bowens (knee), RB Jerome Harrison (knee), DT Shaun Rogers (foot), CB Eric Wright (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday LB Alex Hall (shoulder), TE Steve Heiden (knee)

Thursday LB Alex Hall (shoulder), TE Steve Heiden (knee)

NEW YORK JETS at HOUSTON TEXANS

NEW YORK JETS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday DE Mike Devito (hamstring)

Thursday DE Mike Devito (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday QB Kellen Clemens (right elbow), RB Shonn Greene (ribs), LB Bryan Thomas (ankle), WR Wallace Wright (knee)

Thursday QB Kellen Clemens (right elbow), RB Shonn Greene (ribs), LB Bryan Thomas (ankle), WR Wallace Wright (knee)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Kevin Walter (hamstring), CB Eugene Wilson (knee)

Thursday WR Kevin Walter (hamstring), CB Eugene Wilson (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Jacques Reeves (fibula), DT Deljuan Robinson (calf), QB Matt Schaub (ankle)

Thursday CB Jacques Reeves (fibula), DT Deljuan Robinson (calf), QB Matt Schaub (ankle)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at CAROLINA PANTHERS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday G Todd Herremans (foot), LB Joe Mays (shoulder)

Thursday G Todd Herremans (foot), LB Joe Mays (shoulder)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Thursday T Shawn Andrews (back)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Kevin Curtis (knee), T King Dunlap (elbow), LB Moise Fokou (shoulder), DE Darren Howard (groin), T Winston Justice (shoulder), CB Dimitri Patterson (ankle), DT Mike Patterson (ankle), RB Leonard Weaver (knee), LB Tracy White (rib)

Thursday C Nick Cole (knee), WR Kevin Curtis (knee), T King Dunlap (elbow), LB Moise Fokou (shoulder), DE Darren Howard (groin), T Winston Justice (shoulder), CB Dimitri Patterson (ankle), DT Mike Patterson (ankle), RB Leonard Weaver (knee), RB Brian Westbrook (knee), LB Tracy White (rib)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Thursday S Chris Harris (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Chris Harris (knee)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Practice Report

Thursday

Practice Not Complete

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday LB Ahmad Brooks (knee), WR Brandon Jones (shoulder)

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Early Doucet (ribs), WR Sean Morey (ribs), QB Brian St. Pierre (back)

Thursday WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring), WR Early Doucet (ribs), WR Sean Morey (ribs), QB Brian St. Pierre (back)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Steve Breaston (knee), S Matt Ware (shoulder)

Thursday WR Steve Breaston (knee), S Matt Ware (shoulder)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS at NEW YORK GIANTS

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Carlos Rogers (calf), T Mike Williams (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday CB Carlos Rogers (calf), T Mike Williams (ankle)

NEW YORK GIANTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring), T Adam Koets (ankle), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), LB Clint Sintim (groin)

Thursday CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring), T Adam Koets (ankle), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), LB Clint Sintim (groin)

ST. LOUIS RAMS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Craig Dahl (hamstring), LB Larry Grant (knee), T John Greco (wrist)

Thursday S Craig Dahl (hamstring), T John Greco (wrist)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday QB Marc Bulger (right finger), RB Sam Gado (ribs), RB Mike Karney (ankle), DE Leonard Little (knee)

Thursday QB Marc Bulger (right finger), LB Larry Grant (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday RB Sam Gado (ribs), RB Mike Karney (ankle), DE Leonard Little (knee)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Practice Report

Thursday

Practice Not Complete

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday T Walter Jones (knee), C Chris Spencer (quadricep)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Deion Branch (hamstring), CB Travis Fisher (hamstring), DE Derek Walker (hamstring), S C.J. Wallace (rib)

CHICAGO BEARS at GREEN BAY PACKERS on Sunday night

CHICAGO BEARS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday DT Israel Idonije (hamstring)

Thursday WR Devin Aromashodu (quadricep)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Charles Tillman (back)

Thursday DT Israel Idonije (hamstring), CB Charles Tillman (back)

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Will Blackmon (quadricep), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle), DT B.J. Raji (ankle)

Thursday CB Will Blackmon (quadricep), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday DT B.J. Raji (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday QB Matt Flynn (right shoulder), S Aaron Rouse (hamstring)

Thursday QB Matt Flynn (right shoulder), S Aaron Rouse (hamstring) 

BUFFALO BILLS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS on Monday night

BUFFALO BILLS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Thursday TE Derek Fine (hamstring), CB Drayton Florence (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Thursday DT Spencer Johnson (thigh)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Thursday WR Matt Slater (elbow)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday C Dan Connolly (back), WR Julian Edelman (ankle), RB Sammy Morris (finger), DT Myron Pryor (calf), CB Shawn Springs (knee), WR Wes Welker (knee), CB Terrence Wheatley (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Thursday QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), S Bret Lockett (chest), TE Benjamin Watson (hamstring)

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at OAKLAND RAIDERS on Monday night

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Practice Report

Thursday

Practice Not Complete

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Practice Report

Thursday

Practice Not Complete

Don't forget to open your laptops and pull up NBC's Sunday Night Football Extra tonight not only for a multi-camera HD game broadcast with DVR controls but also for a live chat hosted by yours truly.

Click here at the appropriate time.

Rosenthal and Curran will be minding the store.  And since I've locked the liquor cabinet, we won't have to worry about Curran allegedly choking Rosenthal if he tries to leave the place drunk.

When the regular season begins tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET or thereabouts, I'll be vacating these premises for the high-rent territory provided by NBC's Sunday Night Football Extra.

(Rosenthal will continue to mind the store in my absence.)

I'll be doing a live chat/blog/whatever for the online-only production, which features multiple alternative camera angles in improved HD quality, with DVR-style controls.

So, basically, when you visit NBC's Sunday Night Football Extra, you'll realize that there are things far more interesting than what I and the members of PFT Planet have to say.  But during a commercial or halftime or something you should pop in on the chat, and post a question or a comment.

TENNESSEE TITANS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS on Thursday night

TENNESSEE TITANS

Status Report

QUESTIONABLE TE Jared Cook (ankle), CB Ryan Mouton (ankle), WR Nate Washington (hamstring)

PROBABLE P Craig Hentrich (back)

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Tuesday TE Jared Cook (ankle)

Wednesday TE Jared Cook (ankle)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday TE Jared Cook (ankle), WR Nate Washington (hamstring)

Tuesday WR Nate Washington (hamstring)

Wednesday WR Nate Washington (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday P Craig Hentrich (back), CB Ryan Mouton (ankle)

Tuesday P Craig Hentrich (back), CB Ryan Mouton (ankle)

Wednesday P Craig Hentrich (back), CB Ryan Mouton (ankle)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Status Report

DOUBTFUL LB Lawrence Timmons (ankle)

PROBABLE QB Dennis Dixon (right shoulder)

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday LB Lawrence Timmons (ankle)

Tuesday LB Lawrence Timmons (ankle)

Wednesday LB Lawrence Timmons (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday QB Dennis Dixon (right shoulder)

Tuesday QB Dennis Dixon (right shoulder)

Wednesday QB Dennis Dixon (right shoulder)

DALLAS COWBOYS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

DALLAS COWBOYS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Michael Hamlin (wrist), LB Curtis Johnson (hamstring), LB Jason Williams (ankle)

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB E.J. Biggers (shoulder), TE John Gilmore (ankle), LB Adam Hayward (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday WR Antonio Bryant (knee), WR Michael Clayton (hamstring)

DENVER BRONCOS at CINCINNATI BENGALS

DENVER BRONCOS Practice Report

Wednesday

Practice Not Complete

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY) Wednesday CB David Jones (foot), T Andre Smith (foot)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday G Scott Kooistra (knee), S Roy Williams (thigh)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

 QB Carson Palmer (ankle)

DETROIT LIONS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

DETROIT LIONS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday QB Drew Stanton (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday CB Phillip Buchanon (neck), K Jason Hanson (right knee), DE Jason Hunter (ribs), DT Grady Jackson (knee), WR Dennis Northcutt (hand), G Stephen Peterman (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday TE Casey Fitzsimmons (knee), CB Anthony Henry (shoulder)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday T Jammal Brown (hernia), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot), RB Pierre Thomas (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Usama Young (shoulder)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday TE Zach Miller (knee), T Tra Thomas (back)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday S Bob Sanders (knee), TE Tom Santi (ankle), CB Jamie Silva (abdomen)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at BALTIMORE RAVENS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday RB Jackie Battle (illness), QB Matt Cassel (knee), CB Brandon Flowers (shoulder)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday TE L.J. Smith (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (foot), LB Dannell Ellerbe (knee), DE Haloti Ngata (knee)

MIAMI DOLPHINS at ATLANTA FALCONS

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Practice Report

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB Vontae Davis (knee)

ATLANTA FALCONS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday S William Moore (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday DE John Abraham (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday DE Chauncey Davis (foot), LB Tony Gilbert (hamstring), C Todd McClure (calf), RB Jerious Norwood (knee)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CLEVELAND BROWNS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday LB Erin Henderson (calf)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring), TE Jim Kleinsasser (hand)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY) Wednesday G Rex Hadnot (knee)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday RB Cedric Peerman (thigh)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday LB David Bowens (knee), RB Jerome Harrison (knee), DT Shaun Rogers (foot), CB Eric Wright (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday LB Alex Hall (shoulder), TE Steve Heiden (knee)

NEW YORK JETS at HOUSTON TEXANS

NEW YORK JETS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday DE Mike Devito (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday QB Kellen Clemens (right elbow), RB Shonn Greene (ribs), LB Bryan Thomas (ankle), WR Wallace Wright (knee)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Kevin Walter (hamstring), CB Eugene Wilson (knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB Jacques Reeves (fibula), DT Deljuan Robinson (calf), QB Matt Schaub (ankle)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at CAROLINA PANTHERS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY) Wednesday G Todd Herremans (foot), LB Joe Mays (shoulder)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Kevin Curtis (knee), T King Dunlap (elbow), LB Moise Fokou (shoulder), DE Darren Howard (groin), T Winston Justice (shoulder), CB Dimitri Patterson (ankle), DT Mike Patterson (ankle), RB Leonard Weaver (knee), LB Tracy White (rib)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Chris Harris (shin)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Practice Report

Wednesday Practice Not Complete

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Early Doucet (ribs), WR Sean Morey (ribs), QB Brian St. Pierre (back)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Steve Breaston (knee), S Matt Ware (shoulder)

ST. LOUIS RAMS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday S Craig Dahl (hamstring), LB Larry Grant (knee), T John Greco (hand)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday QB Marc Bulger (right finger), RB Sam Gado (ribs), RB Mike Karney (ankle), DE Leonard Little (knee)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY) Wednesday T Walter Jones (knee), C Chris Spencer (quadricep)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday WR Deion Branch (hamstring), CB Travis Fisher (hamstring), DE Derek Walker (hamstring), S C.J. Wallace (rib)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS at NEW YORK GIANTS

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB Carlos Rogers (calf), T Mike Williams (ankle)

NEW YORK GIANTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring), T Adam Koets (ankle), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), LB Clint Sintim (groin)

CHICAGO BEARS at GREEN BAY PACKERS on Sunday night

CHICAGO BEARS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday DT Israel Idonije (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB Charles Tillman (back)

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE Wednesday CB Will Blackmon (quadricep), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle), DT B.J. Raji (ankle)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE Wednesday QB Matt Flynn (right shoulder), S Aaron Rouse (hamstring)