| The Indianapolis Colts’ first practice in South Florida followed the script.Injured defensive end Dwight Freeney wasn’t on the field. Injured cornerback Jerraud Powers was on the sideline, and four-time league MVP Peyton Manning looked like his old self Wednesday.Manning completed all nine passes and threw for a touchdown against the scout team’s nickel defense, his first practice at the Miami Dolphins’ facility since the Colts reached the Super Bowl three years ago.
None of it, including the Colts’ decision to go without pads, was a surprise. “We’ve played 22 games this year,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “I want them to be nice and hungry come Sunday. If they needs pads this time of year …” Freeney, the All-Pro defensive end, has a torn ligament in his right ankle and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against New Orleans. Powers, a rookie, has a left foot injury. Both were expected to sit out Wednesday. Indy listed 19 players on its injury report. Freeney and Powers were the only players who sat out. Caldwell wouldn’t predict whether Freeney would play Sunday, though he was more optimistic about Powers. “Not certain yet,” Caldwell said. “But I can tell you this, he’s moving in the right direction.” The Colts installed most of the game plan while at home last week. op 2010 pro bowl jerseys and 2010 Super Bowl jerseys from wholesale nfl jerseys store |
| Jets’ Rex Ryan won’t get additional fine from NFLNew York Jets coach Rex Ryan will not be fined by the NFL for making an obscene gesture at a mixed martial arts event last weekend.League spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed to The Associated Press in an e-mail Wednesday that Ryan would not face additional discipline by the NFL after the Jets fined him $50,000 on Tuesday.
The coach was caught on a cell phone camera flipping his middle finger at a fan during the MMA competition in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday night. The image of Ryan quickly spread across the Internet and made its way onto the back pages of New York tabloids. Ryan apologized the next day in a statement, calling his actions “stupid and inappropriate.” General manager Mike Tannenbaum had said the organization was disappointed that Ryan “showed extremely poor judgment” and would address the matter internally. The league looked into the incident to determine if Ryan violated its personal conduct policy, but was satisfied with the discipline handed down by the Jets. Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making an obscene gesture to fans in November, but that was during an NFL game. Ryan led the Jets to the AFC championship game in Indianapolis in his first year as an NFL head coach, and made headlines throughout the season with his confident statements. He had a playful feud with Miami linebacker Channing Crowder, saying he had walked over tougher guys than him while going to fights. That made Ryan a likely target of booing fans during a TV interview at the MMA event that featured former NFL running back Herschel Walker at the Bank Atlantic Center, the Florida Panthers’ home arena. “I want to just tell everybody in Miami, ‘Hey, we’re coming to beat you twice next year,”’ Ryan said while fans booed during the ringside interview. The Dolphins beat the Jets in both meetings this season. shop 2010 pro bowl jerseys and 2010 Super Bowl jerseys from wholesale nfl jerseys store |
Saints Win Super Bowl, says Madden NFLMadden NFL popped into headlines today, predicting a sunny Super Bowl win for the New Orleans Saints, and eight months of winter for the Indianapolis Colts.Every year, Electronic Arts runs a Super Bowl simulation within their video game, Madden NFL. And five out of the last six years, the game’s results have predicted the Super Bowl winner correctly. The simulation’s only miss was the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII victory over the Patriots, and even Nostra
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Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay hopes to sign Peyton Manning to a contract extension when the season ends, a move that could make the four-time MVP the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Manning’s contract is set to expire after the 2010 season, but Irsay doesn’t want to wait. “With one year to go, even having the franchise tag and all that sort of thing, we’d like to get something done, sooner than later,” Irsay said. “So once the season ends, we’re going to be talking about that and hopefully getting something done before next season begins. It’s something that’s going to get done, so honestly, those aren’t the ones you worry about.” First order of business for Manning and the Colts: Trying to beat New Orleans on Sunday for their second Super Bowl title in four years. A new deal could keep Manning in Indianapolis for the rest of his career, something Irsay would like to do. The 34-year-old Manning has won a record number of MVPs, one Super Bowl MVP and is one of four quarterbacks to throw for more than 50,000 yards. He is third all-time in career TD passes with 366, trailing only Brett Favre (497) and Dan Marino (420). He has started 209 consecutive games including the playoffs. Manning signed a $98 million deal in 2004. His brother, Eli, has since signed a six-year, $97 million contract, giving him a higher per-year average than his brother. Irsay said it’s likely Manning will regain the status he once held as the league’s highest-paid quarterback. “I really don’t see that having a bearing on that. I really don’t,” Irsay said. “Ideally, you know, if it’s possible, I’d like to get something done.” shop 2010 pro bowl jerseys and 2010 Super Bowl jerseys from wholesale nfl jerseys store |
| In its new role as a warmup to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl became a series of wind sprints.Long gains were the rule and hard hitting was the exception as the AFC beat the NFC 41-34 on Sunday night.Light showers fell for much of the game, stirring memories of a rainy Super Bowl in Miami three years ago. But uniforms remained mostly spotless, with more pushing and shoving than tackling.“It’s different. It was like 7 on 7,” NFC linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “Everybody came out here trying not to get hurt and give the fans a good show”Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans threw for 189 yards and two AFC scores, and was chosen the most valuable player.“It’s a game you watch growing up as a kid and wonder if you could ever be in,” Schaub said. “To actually be a part of it is incredible.”
Aaron Rodgers also threw two touchdown passes, and NFC teammate DeSean Jackson had two scoring catches. From the standpoint of ticket sales, this year’s new venue and slot on the league calendar was a success. The crowd of 70,697 was the largest for a Pro Bowl since 1959 in Los Angeles. Spectators included Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and other Pro Bowl players from the Super Bowl teams. Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will face Brees and the New Orleans Saints on the same field next Sunday in the biggest game of the season. The NFL sought to transform the Pro Bowl into a bigger game by playing it before the Super Bowl for the first time. In a one-year experiment, the league also moved the game from Honolulu, its home since 1980. The stadium was half empty by the third quarter, perhaps partly because of the rain and temperatures in the 60s. It was sunny and 82 in Honolulu at game time. Did the weather dampen the players’ enthusiasm for Miami? “It’s beautiful. It’s paradise,” NFC receiver Steve Smith said. “Too bad it’s not Hawaii.” Eager to host more big events, the Dolphins have proposed adding a roof that would cover fans as part of stadium improvements that could cost $250 million or more. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the upgrades are needed if South Florida is to remain competitive in bidding for future Super Bowls. Nearly 40 percent of the players originally selected for the game didn’t play. One of the AFC replacements, David Garrard, threw for 183 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown to Vincent Jackson. “It’s so awesome,” Garrard said. “One of my goals coming into the game was to just be relevant and show all the people who said, `What is he doing in there? The Pro Bowl has dropped off a few pegs,’ that I do belong.” Vincent Jackson made seven catches for 122 yards. Chad Ochocinco had a 40-yard reception but didn’t do any kicking after practicing placements and punts for the AFC during the week. “That’s OK. It was fun anyway,” Ochocinco said. DeSean Jackson scored on a 7-yard pass from Rodgers and a 58-yard pass from Donovan McNabb, his regular quarterback with the Eagles. “I’m just out here having a great time,” Jackson said. “And at the same time I’m trying to put out a little effort.” There were plenty of other big plays. Joshua Cribbs caught a punt at the goal line and returned it 65 yards. A penalty negated LaMarr Woodley’s 64-interception return for a touchdown. “I slowed up to get a little camera time,” Woodley said. The AFC totaled 517 yards and the NFC 470. Both teams threw for more than 400 yards. Redskins linebacker London Fletcher, a 12-year veteran playing in his first Pro Bowl, found the AFC’s offensive approach exhausting. “They came out with a bunch of screens and had us running around,” Fletcher said. But there were no complaints from Fletcher’s teammate on defense, first-time Pro Bowler Justin Smith of the 49ers. “The pace is nice,” Smith said. “You don’t have to worry about working too hard.” The game will return to Honolulu in 2011 and 2012, but the league hasn’t decided whether to hold those games before or after the Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl site for 2013 and beyond hasn’t been determined. shop 2010 pro bowl jerseys and 2010 Super Bowl jerseys from wholesale nfl jerseys store |
| Freeney, Powers continue to miss Colts practice Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney and starting cornerback Jerraud Powers are both listed as questionable for next week’s Super Bowl after missing a third straight practice Friday.
Freeney has a sprained right ankle. Powers missed Sunday’s AFC championship game with an injured left foot. But the Colts remain hopeful both will play against New Orleans. The only other player who missed Friday’s practice was running back Donald Brown. He’s listed as questionable with a foot injury. Safeties Antoine Bethea (back) and Melvin Bullitt (knee), receiver Austin Collie (foot) and backup tight end Jacob Tamme (ankle) were all limited in practice. Brown and Bullitt were both listed as questionable. Bethea, Collie and Tamme are probable. shop 2010 pro bowl jerseys and 2010 Super Bowl jerseys from wholesale nfl jerseys store |
Comments from Saints aren’t riling up Colts - XLIV SUPER BOWLThe Colts are trying to keep their mouths shut.On Friday, Indianapolis players and coaches downplayed the significance of comments made earlier this week by Saints defensive coordinator GreggWilliams.Williams, familiar with the Colts from his days in Jacksonville, told a Tennessee radio station on Tuesday that New Orleans would try to have some“remember-me shots” for quarterback Peyton Manning in next week’s Super Bowl.“We hear it all the time,” left guard Ryan Lilja said Friday. “The teams in our division go out and draft guys for that reason. You hear rumors aboutbounties and that kind of stuff, so it’s nothing new.”The Colts (16-2) say it will not change how they play.Indianapolis led the league this season in fewest sacks allowed (13), and for the fourth time in six years. Manning was sacked twice in each of the Colts’playoff victories, against Baltimore and the New York Jets, two of the league’s best defenses.As Minnesota’s Brett Favre found out last week, sacks are not the only measuring stick of success. Favre, a three-time MVP, repeatedly took big shots fromthe Saints—some drew penalties, others drew complaints that there should have been flags.Clearly, though, it took a toll on Favre, who threw two interceptions.The difference with Indy: Manning often frustrates defenders by getting rid of the ball fast and is usually able to avoid big hits. Apparently, Williams wantshis players to knock down Manning any time they get close.“You know this guy (Manning) has a great clock in his head. The big thing is he throws the ball so early that we are going to have to do a good job of findingways to get to him,” Williams told radio station WGFX. “When we do get to him, we are going to make sure to have a couple of remember-me shots on himwhen we get there.”Manning was not available to reporters Friday, after Williams’ remarks gained national attention, and Colts coach Jim Caldwell said the Saints are welcometo use any motivational tools they deem necessary.But no offensive line likes hearing that about their quarterback, and the Colts are not immune, though left tackle Charlie Johnson believes the Colts’response will come next week.“We’ll let our game speak for ourselves,” he said.shop 2010 pro bowl jerseys and 2010 Super Bowl jerseys from wholesale nfl jerseys store |
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Saints beat Vikings in OT, reach 1st Super Bowlcoming to buy 2010 Pro Bowl NFL Jerseys, 2010 Super Bowl NFL Jerseys, Women NFL Jerseys, Cheap NFL Jerseys on NFL Jerseys Outlet Store. □□A 40-yard field goal in overtime by a little-known kicker could become as famous as jambalaya in these parts.The New Orleans Saints, a team with no home and an uncertain future five years ago, are heading for their first Super Bowl. By battering Brett Favre and beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 Sunday, they set off celebrations on Bourbon Street that locals never could have imagined in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.“This is for everybody in this city,” said coach Sean Payton, the architect of the Saints’ turnaround. “This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans.”□□And it came courtesy of Garrett Hartley and the Aints—who surely ain’t the Aints anymore.□□“In reality, we had to lean on each other in order to survive and in order to get where we are now,” quarterback Drew Brees said. “The city is on its way to recovery, and in a lot of ways has come back better than ever. We’ve used the strength and resiliency of our fans to go out and play every Sunday and play with the confidence that we can do it, that we can achieve everything we’ve set out to achieve.”□□Favre threw away Minnesota’s best chance to win, tossing an interception deep in New Orleans territory in the closing seconds of regulation. Then the Saints won the coin toss and ended it on Hartley’s kick 4:45 into OT.□□“Just helping my team get to Miami,” he said. “Just doing my part.”□□A team of nomads after Katrina ravaged its city and the Superdome, overcame a slew of mistakes in the biggest game the Big Easy has ever seen.□□Forget the paper bag masks and that long history of losing that started in 1967. Moments after Hartley’s kick, they were toasting their hometown winners in the French Quarter and making plans for South Florida.□□The Saints (15-3) will meet Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (16-2) in the Super Bowl in two weeks in Miami. The Colts opened as 4-point favorites.□□“Brett prepared us, but now we’ve got another challenge in Peyton,” safety Darren Sharper said.□□And in the Superdome, once a squalid refuge after Katrina, they boogied in the aisles as confetti covered the field.□□“It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for for a long time and obviously we’re not done yet,” said Brees, Payton’s hand-picked QB for the Saints’ renaissance.□□It’s the first time the top seeds in each conference made the big game since the 1993 season.□□There were nine fumbles and two interceptions, and the biggest mistake belonged to Favre. Flushed from the pocket in the final minute, he seemed to have room to run to set up a field goal. But hampered by a left leg injured in the third quarter, he threw cross-field and was intercepted by Tracy Porter at the 22.□□That finished off Minnesota’s chance for its first Super Bowl trip in 33 years—and opportunity to win it for the first time after four defeats. The Vikings have lost five straight NFC title games.□□“I’ve felt better,” said Favre, who looked every bit his 40 years. “It was a physical game. A lot of hits. You win that and you sure feel a lot better.”□□New Orleans won the coin toss, Brees guided it to the Minnesota 22 after converting a fourth-and-1 on Pierre Thomas’ leap over the line, and Hartley— suspended at the start of the season for using a banned stimulant—split the uprights.□□“It was as loud as I have ever heard it in the dome,” Brees added. “It feels so good to know we have given our fans an NFC championship. We have another championship to go after in two weeks.”□□It was anything but easy for the Saints, in only their second conference championship game; they lost at Chicago three years ago.□□They had to withstand yet one more comeback by Favre, who returned to the NFL with the Vikings (13-5) after another brief retirement. He was alternately spectacular and pedestrian Sunday, finally betrayed by his gambling style and, perhaps, an aging body.□□Porter’s pick sent it into overtime, the third time an NFC title game has needed extra time and the second in three seasons. Two years ago, Favre’s interception in OT set up a field goal that sent the Giants past the Packers and into the Super Bowl.□□The Saints can only hope they have the same happy ending as New York did back then.□□“Yeah,” said Reggie Bush, who scored a touchdown. “One more step.”□□The seesaw game saw All-Pro Adrian Peterson score three touchdowns for Minnesota and Saints running back Pierre Thomas get two. The Vikings handily won the possession and yardage battles—Peterson rushed for 122 yards and Minnesota gained 475 overall. But the Vikings were undone by five turnovers, including three fumbles.□□“We really gave those guys the game,” said Peterson, who peeked at the rousing celebrations on the Superdome floor. “Too many turnovers. It’s eating me up inside.”□□The seemingly indestructible Favre was hurt on one of those turnovers, on a combination hit by Bobby McCray and Remi Ayodele while throwing his first interception. And, despite being the closest Viking to the ball, he was helpless in the scramble to recover Percy Harvin’s fumble that seemingly turned the game in New Orleans’ favor early in the fourth period.□□The Saints took over at the 7 and, on third down, Bush caught Brees’ rollout pass by the right pylon. He was ruled out at the 1, but Payton sprinted almost to the goal line to throw the red flag.□□The challenge was upheld, and the dome rocked like never before—until Hartley’s winning field goal.□□But Favre has been in enough hostile environs to be able to shrug at such challenges. He hit tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for 16 yards, Peterson ripped off a 20-yard run, and a pass interference against Porter set up Peterson’s tying 2-yard rush with 4:58 to go.□□“I would have loved to represent the NFC,” said Favre, who grew up in Mississippi a Saints fan. “But, as I told Sean throughout the year when we talked, if it’s not us, I hope it’s you guys.”□□NOTES: The crowd of 71,276 was the largest in the Superdome for a Saints game. … Favre finished 28 of 46 for 310 yards. Brees went 17 of 31 for 197 yards and three TDs. … With New Orleans having the only possession of overtime, it could spark more protests about the NFL’s sudden-death overtime system. ◇◇coming to buy 2010 Pro Bowl NFL Jerseys, 2010 Super Bowl NFL Jerseys, Women NFL Jerseys, Cheap NFL Jerseys on NFL Jerseys Outlet Store.
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3 key Vikings that is Kevin Williams, Edwards, Harvin site out practiceJust three days away from the NFC title game, the Minnesota Vikings‘ injury situation isn’t looking any better.Defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards missed their second straight practice on Thursday because of knee trouble.Receiver and kick returner Percy Harvin also was not present. After practicing on Wednesday, he got another migraine headache, a problem that has plagued him all season.Harvin missed a game against Cincinnati in December because of the headaches and visited the Mayo Clinic to address the recurring issue. While Harvin has been headache-free for more than a month, coach Brad Childress said it was unrealistic to think that the problem had been solved.“I think it’s just a matter of trying to slow the onsets,” Childress said. “For a while he had them pretty often. This is the first time one’s raised up (in a while). We expect him to be OK.” >>>>shopping hot selling nfl jerseys here.The Vikings sure could use him on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Associated Press’ offensive rookie of the year is a key part of the Vikings’ offensive game plan with his ability to lineup in the backfield as a running back and out wide as a receiver.“We’re trying to put Percy in as many places as we can,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “We want to make sure we don’t have him just lined up in one spot where you can take him away. … It’s important to get the ball in his hands, sometimes to throw it (to him) and sometimes the easiest way is just to hand the ball to him.”Edwards had three sacks and five quarterback hurries in last weekend’s win over Dallas and Williams is a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the league’s best defensive tackles. Williams is a force against the run and also provides pressure on the quarterback up the middle.If the Vikings are going slow down the league’s highest scoring offense in New Orleans, Williams and Edwards figure to play a big part in it.“They are vital cogs to our success on defense,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “So we need the both of them. You’d like to have them at 100 percent. Not sure if that will be the case. But just their presence will make a difference.”Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield said his injured right foot is feeling “a lot better” from when he first returned from a six-game absence on Dec. 13 against the Bengals.Winfield said he still expects to spend most of his time against the Saints’ high-flying offense on Sunday lined up as the nickelback in the slot. The Vikings made that adjustment—and move nickelback Benny Sapp outside—when Winfield returned to reduce the stress on his foot as we worked his way back.>>>>>>shopping women nfl jerseys here.For the first time on Thursday, Winfield acknowledged his foot was fractured, and not sprained, against Baltimore on Oct. 18.“Once I fractured my foot, I really couldn’t condition, really couldn’t lift (weights) with my lower body,” Winfield said. “The last couple weeks, I feel myself getting my strength back and getting close to 100 percent.”Coming to buy brand-new Cheap NFL Jerseys, Youth NFL Jerseys and Throwback NFL Jerseys on Wholesale NFL Jerseys store. |
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