Posted by Evan Silva on February 8, 2010 3:30 PM ET
In a Monday interview with WGFX in Tennessee, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook spoke on a number of topics, ranging from his 2009 concussions to quarterback Donovan McNabb's possible exit from Philadelphia.
There is no doubt, according to Westbrook, that McNabb will be the Birds' starter in 2010.
"If you look at this football team with Donovan and without Donovan I think you would be hard-pressed to say that there was a better quarterback in the league than Donovan McNabb for the Philadelphia Eagles."
Westbrook also confirmed that he was not recovered from his October 25 concussion when he returned to game action three weeks later, despite passing "all the tests." Westbrook was concussed again in his first game back.
"What happened to me was that I was not completely healed from the first concussion," he said. "Even though I waited that long amount of time and passed all the tests I still wasn't completely healed...and it came back just like that. After that I had to sit out another five or six weeks just for me to be completely sure that I was 100 percent OK."
Westbrook touched on concerns about his future playing career, but didn't give any hard answers about whether he's considered retiring.
On January 18, WIP radio's Howard Eskin reported there is "
almost no chance" that Westbrook will play for the Eagles again.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 7, 2010 7:21 PM ET
Saints cornerback Jabari Greer left Super Bowl XLIV in the second quarter with a leg injury.
Greer appeared to be injured during Pierre Garcon's 19-yard touchdown play.
According to CBS sideline reporter Solomon Wilcots, Greer is refusing treatment from the Saints' medical staff. We have no idea why.
Greer is New Orleans' best cover corner, so his loss for any period of time is major. Peyton Manning will go right after Greer's backup, rookie Malcolm Jenkins.
Meanwhile, the Saints were putting together a promising drive on their third possession until Dwight Freeney motored around Jermon Bushrod for a sack of Drew Brees. Freeney brought down the Saints' quarterback with one arm. Freeney is mostly playing in obvious pass-rushing situations.
One play later, Garrett Hartley nailed the 46-yard field goal try.
Colts 10, Saints 3.
UPDATE: Greer has returned to the game.
Posted by Mike Florio on February 7, 2010 4:54 PM ET
As the NFL looks for ways to reduce the number of concussions at every level of football, Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a Sunday appearance on CBS's Face the Nation that he would not rule out a ban on the three-point stance, according to the Associated Press.
The traditional starting position for offensive and defensive linemen allows them to blast into each other, often with their helmets colliding. A two-point stance would allow players to start the process of blocking and shedding blocks with their heads in a higher position.
The league has demonstrated over the past few months an unprecedented commitment to reducing the number and severity of head injuries. The effort began not long after a House Committee made it clear to the NFL that, if the league doesn't address the problem, Congress will do it instead.
PFT Planet, feel free to let us know how much you like (or, more likely, despise) this possibility.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 7, 2010 4:36 PM ET
NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports that Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney (ankle) will play Sunday against the Saints.
Colts president Bill Polian leaked the news to La Canfora.
However, Gregg Rosenthal reports live from Sun Life Stadium that Freeney is not on the field for warmups yet. Roughly half of the Colts' roster is.
Each team's inactives for Super Bowl XLIV will be posted shortly.
UPDATE: Freeney is officially active and starting for the Colts. The inactives for Indianapolis are TE Colin Cloherty, OT Michael Toudouze, DL John Gill, G/C Mike Pollack, DE Ervin Baldwin, WR Sam Giguere, K Adam Vinatieri, and DT Fili Moala.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 7, 2010 2:16 PM ET
A CBS reporter, the name of whom we can't recall, said during Sunday's Super Bowl pre-game coverage that Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney was spotted earlier in the day walking without a limp.
Freeney has a torn ligament in his ankle. The injury was among the
biggest stories of Media Day. He will not be 100 percent against New Orleans.
The CBS reporter, however, said that Freeney seemed to take pleasure in all the attention he got during the week.
Freeney is likely to be active for the game. How productive he'll be remains to be seen, but there appears to be a growing chance that he will start.
Posted by Josh Alper on February 6, 2010 1:55 PM ET
The status of Dwight Freeney's injured ankle
was trending upward as the week came to an end and it sounds the Colts defensive end is going to play in Super Bowl XLIV.
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that Freeney will test the ankle during pregame warmups and, barring a setback, will be in the lineup when the Colts face the Saints. It's not known how much Freeney would be able to play, but it seems a safe bet that he'll be rushing Drew Brees on obvious passing downs.
Schefter calls Freeney a football version of Willis Reed, the Knicks center revered for taking the court in Game Seven of the 1970 NBA Finals with a torn muscle in his thigh. Reed didn't play much against the Lakers that night, but hit his first two shots and was credited with inspiring his team's eventual victory.
The situations are a bit different, especially since everyone has more or less expected Freeney would play, but a big play or two from Freeney could have a similar motivational effect.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 5, 2010 4:54 PM ET
The Saints have listed a whopping 19 players as probable for Super Bowl XLIV.
The lone player listed as questionable is fourth-string RB Lynell Hamilton, who has an ankle injury and missed another practice on Friday. It doesn't look like he's going to play, but New Orleans has plenty of depth at his position.
Hamilton also contributes on special teams, though the Saints have been using starters to cover kicks in the postseason. His absence shouldn't hurt much in that area.
Nickel corner Randall Gay (foot, illness) was held out of practice Friday, but is expected to be well by Sunday. The probable tag means the Saints consider Gay "virtually certain" to be available for normal duties.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 5, 2010 4:19 PM ET
Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will enter Super Bowl Sunday having not participated in anything remotely football-oriented since the AFC Championship game.
Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers (foot) did return to practice, albeit on a limited basis.
Colts receiver Reggie Wayne left practice early with an "aggravated knee injury," according to pool reporter Peter King of
Sports Illustrated. The injury isn't nearly as severe as it sounds, though. King writes that he does "
not see it as a big story."
Wayne is listed as probable and should be fine for the game. Powers may contribute in some sub-packages. Freeney figures to be limited at best.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 5, 2010 3:30 PM ET
Appearing on the NFL Network's Super Bowl set Friday, Ravens safety Ed Reed revealed that the nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder is getting worse.
Reed has played through the neck/shoulder problem for multiple seasons. He was also nagged by ankle, groin, and hip injuries down the stretch in 2009.
The six-time Pro Bowler has
hinted strongly at retirement since the end of the year. He plans to receive more opinions on the injuries before making a decision.
Reed is only 31. He turns 32 on September 11th.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 5, 2010 2:41 PM ET
Brandon Jacobs revealed Friday that his knee injury that eventually led to January arthroscopic surgery
was suffered in Week One of the regular season.
Looking back, Jacobs wishes he would've had the knee repaired immediately.
"[In hindsight] I would've got it done in Week One, missed four or five weeks and came back and played," Jacobs said. "As the year went on I thought it was going to get better, it was going to get better, it was going to get better. But when i figured out it wasn't going to get better, it was too late. So I just kept going."
Jacobs was one of the game's most dominant power backs in 2008, averaging 5.0 yards per carry with 15 touchdowns. In 2009, his yards-per-attempt average plummeted to 3.7 and he had just five rushing scores.
Jacobs says he's learned something from the experience.
"Not to play hurt," he said. "If something happens to you, no matter what it is, go and get it taken care of. Because things aren't going to get better."
Jacobs should regain at least some of his old explosiveness after the knee scope. He turns 28 this offseason and has averaged just 156 carries per year since entering the league. Jacobs shouldn't be hitting the decline phase of his career just yet.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 5, 2010 11:51 AM ET
While a report surfaced Friday morning that Colts starting cornerback Jerraud Powers had surgery to repair an "
internal fixation" in his left foot three weeks ago, defensive end Dwight Freeney's status has obviously been the top injury-related story of Super Bowl week.
On Friday, Colts coach Jim Caldwell sounded upbeat about Freeney's availability for the big game.
Caldwell believes that Powers will play against New Orleans, though he may be limited in the game with Jacob Lacey continuing to start.
Freeney, according to Mike Lombardi of the
National Football Post, will only play on
obvious passing downs if active. The Colts will probably use Raheem Brock at weak-side end on early downs with Robert Mathis staying on the left. When Freeney enters, Mathis will stay on the strong side and Brock will move inside to tackle.
In other words, Brock will have to step up big time as an every-down lineman.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 5, 2010 11:12 AM ET
Bears receiver Devin Hester, who aims to get heavily involved in the team's 2010 return game after taking a backseat in '09, says he played hurt throughout last season.
Hester missed three of Chicago's final four games with calf and ankle injuries.
"My quickness wasn't there," he added. "I couldn't push off."
Still managing 57 receptions for 757 yards and three touchdowns, Hester was better in the full-time receiver role than a lot of observers predicted.
New offensive coordinator Mike Martz indicated that he envisions Hester as a potential slot receiver when assessing the Bears' receiver corps.
"
Boy they've got some speed," Martz said. "And that really is kind of a diamond to me. When you look at that group, they can be a real strength of this football team. With [Devin] Aromashodu and [Johnny] Knox is a real diamond to me, and Hester, what he can do whether he's outside or in the slot, the matchups on these guys are extreme."
The slot receiver in Martz's offense is an every-down player and just as likely a candidate to lead the team in receptions as either of the outside wideouts.
Hester will have to show improved durability to excel in the role. He'll be going over the middle a lot more often. Hester's role in the return game remains up in the air.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 4, 2010 7:38 PM ET
The Colts had a notable addition to
Thursday's injury report: starting right guard Ryan Lilja missed the workout with a back injury.
DE Dwight Freeney (ankle) and CB Jerraud Powers (foot) were also absent again, though that was expected.
At this point, Powers has little chance of playing extensively in the Super Bowl, even if he is active. Freeney will probably be ready for no more than obvious passing downs.
Lilja's status is uncertain.
UPDATE: Peter King of SI.com reports that Colts coach Jim Caldwell seemed "
unconcerned" about Lilja missing the practice. Look like he should play.
Posted by Evan Silva on February 4, 2010 6:51 PM ET
According to pool reporter John Czarnecki of FOX Sports, the Saints scaled back Thursday's practice by 20 minutes and worked mostly in shorts and shells as opposed to pads.
TE Jeremy Shockey (knee, toe) did practice, though the extent of his participation is unknown. He was likely limited, as usual.
The Saints are healthier than the Colts heading to Sunday. Hamilton, a fourth-stringer, is New Orleans' only player whose status is in doubt. Two Indianapolis starters are questionable.
Posted by Mike Florio on February 4, 2010 12:03 PM ET
The most-watched joint in Miami since the last Cheech & Chong tour continues to heal. And the swollen ankle of Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is, the player said on Thursday, "starting to look more like an ankle now."
And that's encourating news for the Colts, whose defense will have a much different dynamic if Freeney can't play at his normal level.
Freeney also told the media that he "probably" will test the ankle at practice on Friday. He avoided talking about the manner in which he'll be used on Sunday, but at one point he said that "miracles do happen."
That means one thing -- he'll play, but the Colts aren't expecting much out of him.