Early news and notes.
2006
Dolphins-Buccaneers
Bet the NFL now at -107 juice! Check out the latest odds
at CanBet.
KRT Wire
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is
expected to play longer in Saturday’s Dolphins preseason game at
defensive end Jason Taylor should see his first action of the preseason. That
seems uncomplicated, in part, because Dolphins coach Nick Saban
on Thursday clarified his philosophy for using his starters in the preseason. “We
play the guys a certain amount of plays in the first game, and we usually build
on that,” Saban said. “And we will build on that
against
to some degree. Starters will play a little bit longer. “So if they played 12
to 15 plays last time, they’ll play a third more plays this time. It’s not
etched in stone, but they’ll get a little more work.” Saban
then said that players who participated in six to eight plays last week would
play about 12 to 14 this week. Saban said he was not
referring to any specific players, but Culpepper took part in six plays against
opener. Saban makes the ultimate decision about
whether players play and how much. He apparently has made that decision about
Taylor and receiver Marty Booker, who also missed the preseason opener because
of a calf strain. “There’s a few guys,” Saban said, “that
have been practicing that didn’t play in the last game that will play in this
game as long as they continue to make progress and don’t have any setbacks
between now and then.” Linebacker Zach Thomas, like most starters, will see his
playing time increase this weekend.
News-Press
The No. 1 weakness on the NFL’s reigning No. 1 defense
belongs to the last line of defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost safety
Dexter Jackson to the Cincinnati Bengals via free agency, which means Will
Allen, a third-year pro with just eight NFL starts to his credit, will be
starting alongside five-year veteran Jermaine
Phillips. Behind them on the depth chart: four players who combine for just
eight years of pro experience and one start.
Panthers-Jaguars Bet now through BetUs!
Check out the latest odds
at Betus
The Jaguars will spend more time watching their own
players in Saturday night’s exhibition against
than worrying about the Panthers’ schemes. “If you and I played checkers right
now, I’d want to win,” Jags Coach Jack Del Rio said. “That’s why you play—to
win—but we also have to evaluate.”
Charlotte Observer
Panthers coach John
Fox said the team would stick to its normal schedule for allotting
playing time in the second exhibition, at Jacksonville on Saturday. The
starters will play “roughly the first half,” Fox said Thursday. “We plan on
getting somewhere near halftime with our regulars, and then next week it will
be roughly the first three quarters, and the last week it will probably be a
series to a quarter.”
Falcons-Packers Bet the NFL now at -107 juice! Check out the latest odds
at CanBet.
Packers.com
Mike McCarthy wants to get that edge back, and even though
it’s only a preseason game, for the first-year head coach the process starts
Saturday night against the Atlanta Falcons. “For our football team, I think it’s
critical that we get off on the right foot of creating that Lambeau advantage,”
McCarthy said. “Home-field advantage is obviously critical in the National
Football League.” For this first home preseason game, McCarthy said he plans to
play the starters about two quarters.
Much like
will attack the Packers’ young interior on the offensive line with an
experienced defensive front. The Falcons’ line includes three Pro Bowlers in
tackle Rod Coleman and ends Patrick Kerney and John
Abraham.
Scout.com
Head coach Mike McCarthy said today that the Green Bay
Packers will focus on running the ball more efficiently Saturday night in the
57th annual Midwest Shrine game at Lambeau Field against the Atlanta
Falcons. The Packers struggled last Saturday against
Diego
Bay
zone-blocking.
Vikings-Steelers Bet
now through BetUs! Check out the latest odds
at Betus
Associated Press
The Vikings may not have to be ready for Roethlisberger,
who played only one series against
and may not get even that Saturday. On Wednesday, he sprained the right thumb
he initially hurt late last season, so it seems unlikely he would play. Charlie
Batch, the backup who won both of his starts when Roethlisberger injured a knee
last season, will start if Roethlisberger can’t go. Cowher hopes to give his
starters a quarter’s worth of playing time to sharpen them up. The Vikings’
starters might play into the second quarter, though their fans are eager to get
a second look before that at Jackson, the fast, deceptive rookie from
Brad Johnson’s play wasn’t a disappointment – he was 5-of-6 for 32 yards while
running the Vikings’ West Coast-type offense –
got the home crowd going by going 7-of-13 for 60 yards and scrambling for 36
yards while playing slightly more than one quarter. The Vikings may not have to
be ready for Roethlisberger, who played only one series against
and may not get even that Saturday. On Wednesday, he sprained the right thumb
he initially hurt late last season, so it seems unlikely he would play. Charlie
Batch, the backup who won both of his starts when Roethlisberger injured a knee
last season, will start if Roethlisberger can’t go. Cowher hopes to give his
starters a quarter’s worth of playing time to sharpen them up. The Vikings’
starters might play into the second quarter, though their fans are eager to get
a second look before that at Jackson, the fast, deceptive rookie from
Brad Johnson’s play wasn’t a disappointment – he was 5-of-6 for 32 yards while
running the Vikings’ West Coast-type offense –
got the home crowd going by going 7-of-13 for 60 yards and scrambling for 36
yards while playing slightly more than one quarter.
Pioneer Press
Childress said Brad Johnson and the starters would play a
quarter and a half against the Steelers and that the Vikings’ fourth
quarterback, J.T. O’Sullivan, would not play.
quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a sprained ligament in his right thumb and
is questionable for the game against the Vikings.
Texans-Rams Bet the
NFL now at -107 juice! Check out the latest odds at CanBet.
Saturday night’s preseason game against the Houston Texans
at the Edward Jones Dome is a sellout.
Jets-Redskins Bet now
through BetUs! Check out the latest odds
at Betus
Star-Ledger
Jets quarterback Chad Pennington missed practice yesterday
because of a “family illness” and his status for tomorrow night’s preseason
game at
If Pennington is unavailable, former Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey may
get the start. Ramsey spent four seasons with the Redskins before the Jets
acquired him for a sixth-round pick in March. Jets coach Eric Mangini said he has been and will stay in constant contact
with Pennington and is unsure if he’ll play against the Redskins.