Shrink`s advice key to Colts cover?
By Andrew Folkes
Sun, Nov 6, 2005

In a recent interview with the Indianapolis Star, sports psychologist Chris Carr had some advice for the Colts as they try to break their infamous losing streak against the New England Patriots. Forget past results. --football gambling--

"From a performance standpoint, those past games in Foxboro should be totally irrelevant to Monday night,” he said. “If you`re telling me you`re in a slump, that means you`re using a description of past performance… as an excuse for your next failure." --football gambling--

There’s no word on whether or not the Colts got the message, but both sportsbooks and bettors seem to be heeding his advice. Although New England’s won the last six encounters and denied Indy a payday in nine straight meetings, oddsmakers opened the line with the Colts as 3-point favorites and they’ve since been wagered up to –4. --football gambling--

The line makes sense considering the Colts have five paydays and are undefeated through their first seven games of the season, while the Patriots are struggling through an injury-plagued campaign. But when a matchup has been as one-sided as this one, is it really a good idea to just toss the history book? --football gambling--

“You always have to put some stock in past results,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “As an athlete, you always know who you’ve struggled against and you know who can beat you. It’s something that gets in your head after a while.” --football gambling--

Indy’s losing streak to New England appears to have taken its toll on Indy’s collective psychic, particularly in Peyton Manning’s case. The Colts quarterback thew a pair of interceptions in his last two games against New England, and led his offense to just a single field goal in last year’s divisional playoff after throwing 49 majors during the season. The Colts also lost two fumbles in that game, committed 44 yards worth of penalties and allowed the Pats a 15:26 edge in time of possession. --football gambling--

They should be able to put that out of their minds come game time, but it probably won’t take much to dredge up the bad memories. “If the Pats get some early breaks going their way, then you start thinking, ‘Well, maybe we really can’t beat these guys,’ ” Leonard says. “You can prepare yourself all you want, but if the Pats manage to establish, say, a double-digit lead by halftime, it’s going to be very difficult for [Indianapolis] to recover from that.” --football gambling--
Considering how easily the Colts have cruised through the first seven weeks of the schedule and how battered New England is, the Patriots have perhaps never looked so vulnerable to their AFC rivals. That puts additional pressure on Indianapolis to leave Gillette Stadium with a victory, but it’s not the only team that’ll be feeling the heat in Foxboro Monday night. --football gambling--

“I don’t think the Patriots can just write this game off,” explains Leonard. “They’re 4-3 right now and if they lose they risk missing the playoffs. And it looks like the Colts are going to have home-field advantage in the playoffs. If they can go into New England [Monday night] and beat the Patriots and then get them at home in the playoffs, that gives them a significant edge.” Tonight’s total is set at 48. --football gambling--

Share your thoughts on this article in the Covers posting forum.--football gambling--

Smith making a case for MVP

Brad Thomas
PantherInsider.com

David Terrell, Koren Robinson, Rod Gardner, Santana Moss and Freddie Mitchell. All five of these wide receivers were drafted in the first round of the 2001 draft, and none of the five are on the team that drafted them just four years ago. The 74th pick in the 2001 draft, Smith has eclipsed every single WR in his draft class. Sure, Chad Johnson likes to talk about himself and Santana Moss has gotten recent pub, but no WR in the NFL is as explosive and as dominant as Steve Smith is right now. -NFL Football-

If he were in a big market like New York, everyone would be talking about him, and everyone would know the things he’s done. The fact that he plays in Charlotte, one of the forgotten markets in the country, means his accolades are largely ignored or glossed-over by the national media. -NFL Football-

Some stats about Smith you might not be familiar with: Smith is the only player since the NFL adopted the 16 game schedule in ’78 to amass 1,900 combined net yards in each of his first three seasons, compiling a team-record 1,994 yards in 2001 and 1,909 yards in 2002. Smith and KC's Priest Holmes are the only two players in the NFL with 1,900 or more combined net yards in each season from '01-03. His 5,803 combined net yards led all non-running backs in the NFL from '01-03. Smith currently leads the NFL in receiving yards (797), receptions (50) and touchdowns (8). Remember, Smith missed nearly the entire 2004 season with a broken leg. -NFL Football-

"He's good and we try to feed it to him when we can," Panthers QB Jake Delhomme said after their latest win over the Vikings. "They wanted to stack the box a good bit. They'd bring eight down and have one on one opportunities and he made the most of it. He's a great player and he does well when the ball is in his hands. He enjoys playing and competing in practice. That is just Smitty and I'm glad he's on our side. He's fun to throw to. He makes things happen. He not only helps put points on the board and move the ball, but if they have to start tending to him and getting two guys on him, that can open up other guys and open up the running game." -NFL Football-

You’d think Smith would be all over Sports Center and be the subject of paparazzi-like media coverage like other premiere stars in the NFL. -NFL Football-


He’s not, and Smith likes it that way. He repeatedly declines opportunities to appear on National TV and Radio shows. He says he’s not about the talking, he lets his actions on the field do the talking for him. -NFL Football-

"When I went back home I talked to my junior college," Smith said. "Seeing those guys put it in more perspective of how fortunate I am. I'm having fun being out here. I enjoy playing, but I keep stressing that last year put things in perspective. I felt like football was my whole life. When it was taken away from me, I felt the Lord was teaching me a lesson to not put all my eggs in one basket. I do a lot more at home and in the community. That is why I'm enjoying playing. When I'm football, I'm football. When I'm at home, I'm a dad and that is it." -NFL Football-

That’s not to say Smith has gone soft. During the Panthers 38-13 thrashing of the Vikings last Sunday, Smith admitted he jawed back against Minnesota CB Fred Smoot, who Smith said started out with personal attacks before the game. Smith responded by torching Smoot on the field, setting a Panthers record with 201 yards on 11 receptions and 1 touchdown. Although Smith only scored 1 touchdown, the rest of the Panthers 31 points were directly related to those 201 receiving yards he amassed. -NFL Football-

"When someone bangs on your door, I'm not going to hide in the corner and say, "Nobody is here."," said Smith. "I'll open it and I'm ready for the challenge." -NFL Football-

The Panthers are 5-2, with a four-game winning streak heading into next week’s game against Tampa Bay. If the Bucs don’t double Smith or at least game-plan for him, he’ll burn them for a big game. If they decide to take away Smith by doubling and game-planning for him, other players will step-up and take advantage of Smith being the focus of their efforts. -NFL Football-

That is the definition of an MVP. -NFL Football-


Story URL: http://panthers.scout.com/2/459891.html

Copyright © 2005 Scout.com and PantherInsider.com

Cowher accepts the blame for Maddox mistakes, benching Bettis
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports WriterOctober 18, 2005
-- NFL --
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- According to Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, the blame starts with him. -- NFL --
While quarterback Tommy Maddox wasn't willing to accept much responsibility for a 23-17 overtime loss Sunday to Jacksonville, Cowher spent an unusual amount of time at his weekly news conference Tuesday doing exactly that. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Cowher second-guessed himself for not pulling the error-prone Maddox and inserting No. 3 quarterback Charlie Batch, and also said he should have played running back Jerome Bettis more during the second half. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Normally, Cowher quickly shifts the focus of his news conference to the next opponent -- one reason why he holds his media sessions Tuesday, not on Monday like most NFL coaches. But it was obvious he wasn't happy with his team's play or his own coaching against Jacksonville.
-- NFL --
``It was probably one of the most frustrating losses I've experienced in my 14 years here,'' Cowher said. ``When you walk away from that game, as all coaches do, you sit back and you reflect. A lot of the decisions that were made and the choices that you had, ultimately you are responsible for all of it. -- NFL --
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``Certainly I accept that responsibility, and I am responsible.''
In contrast to Cowher's remarks, Maddox blamed the wind, the booing fans and, in so many words, his own teammates.-- NFL --
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Making his first meaningful start in 13 months, Maddox was intercepted three times and fumbled once, with two turnovers in overtime. The game ended when cornerback Rashean Mathis intercepted a poorly thrown pass and returned it for a game-winning touchdown.
-- NFL --
Afterward, Maddox seemed bothered more by the booing than his own play, saying the jeering wasn't deserved because ``I've got a track record here.'' -- NFL --
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What Maddox isn't likely to have anytime soon is playing time. Batch is expected to be the backup Sunday at Cincinnati when Ben Roethlisberger returns after sitting out against the Jaguars with a hyperextended left knee. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Roethlisberger lobbied Cowher from midweek to let him play, but Cowher didn't want to risk playing him only six days after he avoided what could have been a season-ending knee injury. However, it turns out Maddox may have played not only with a calf injury but with an injured shoulder.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
Cowher was clearly irritated he didn't know about the injury until Monday, and seemed so agitated with Maddox's performance he wouldn't disclose which shoulder was injured. -- NFL --
``Nobody was made aware of anything during the course of the game,'' Cowher said.
-- NFL --
The only touchdown Maddox generated -- other than for the Jaguars -- came on a 65-yard drive in the second quarter in which all but 21 yards came on Jacksonville penalties.
-- NFL --
Still, Cowher chose to stay with the former starter, partly because Batch has thrown only eight passes in four seasons. -- NFL --
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``Two of the first three series did end in interceptions, but I did feel as though he settled down,'' Cowher said of Maddox. ``As the game went on, he did a good job with the no-huddle aspect of it.'' -- NFL --
Cowher also stayed with Willie Parker at running back, rather than switching to Bettis as he did during a 24-22 victory in San Diego the previous Monday.-- NFL --

Parker was ineffective in the second half, gaining only 37 yards on 15 carries and finishing with 21 carries for 55 yards. Bettis had 4 yards on four carries, all in the first half.
-- NFL --
``Unfortunately, we did not have Jerome in the game, and I wish we would've gotten him into the game in the second half,'' Cowher said. ``That's a decision I am responsible for, and I'm not going to dwell on it any more.'' -- NFL --

The Steelers aren't certain whether Pro Bowl receiver Hines Ward (hamstring) will play Sunday after sitting out a game for the first time in his eight-year career.
-- NFL --
He is listed as questionable, as are left guard Alan Faneca (toe), defensive end Aaron Smith (back), wide receivers Cedrick Wilson (wrist) and Antwaan Randle El (foot) and Maddox. Cornerback Deshea Townsend (hamstring) is doubtful.-- NFL --

Broncos hang on, 21-19, against Redskins

DENVER (Oct. 9, 2005) -- The offense wasn't moving. Denver was facing overtime in the icy, bitter rain. Linebacker Ian Gold stuck his hand out, knocked down a pass, and with that, the Broncos showed that Washington isn't the only team that can find odd and ugly ways to win the close ones. - NFL Football -

Gold knocked away Mark Brunell 's 2-point conversion pass with 1:09 left to help Denver hang on to a 21-19 victory and keep the Redskins from adding yet another fantastic finish to their charmed season. - NFL Football -

"Later in the season, you don't remember how they came, you only remember it's a win," said Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, held to 92 yards passing in the driving rain.

The problems that plagued Plummer, however, didn't bother Brunell.

He went 30 for 53 for 322 yards and drove the Redskins 94 yards for the touchdown -- an 11-yard pass to Chris Cooley -- that pulled Washington (3-1) within two.

On the conversion try, Brunell spotted David Patten open in the back of the end zone for a moment, but Gold came over and batted down the pass to prevent a possible overtime.

"You saw what his speed and athleticism will do," Broncos linebacker Al Wilson said. "It was a hell of a play."

The Redskins won their first three games by a total of six points, including a grinding 20-17 overtime win last week that came only after Seattle kicker Josh Brown hit the upright on the last play of regulation. This time, though -- no great finish. - NFL Football -

"This one is going to hurt, it's supposed to hurt," Brunell said.

While Gold's big play saved the game, Tatum Bell made the difference for Denver (4-1) the rest of the time, rushing for 127 yards and two long scores to help the Broncos to a 21-10 lead.

In the first quarter, Bell took a toss on fourth-and-1 and faked out Phillip Daniels en route to a 34-yard score. That stood as Bell's longest career run until the third quarter, when he burst through the Washington defense on a sweep for a 55-yard touchdown to put the Broncos ahead by 11. - NFL Football -

"I just have to keep working," said Bell, demoted behind Mike Anderson in training camp this year. "I don't want to just be a 'one-game wonder.' I want to be the starter."

The Broncos won their fourth straight despite missing Champ Bailey, who sat out his second straight game with a sore hamstring. It put a damper on what was supposed to be the first meeting between him and Clinton Portis since the Redskins and Broncos pulled off a blockbuster trade and swapped the two stars before last season. - NFL Football -

Portis, a flamboyant and temperamental playmaker during his two years in Denver, ran for 103 yards on 20 carries for the Redskins and was booed pretty much every time he touched the ball.

"My fans don't boo me in Washington and that's the only fans I look for to cheer for me," he said.

Cheers or boos, there was no denying Portis wasn't nearly as big a factor as Bell.

The Broncos acquired Bell last year with a second-round pick Washington threw in to complete the Bailey-Portis trade, and Bell finally cashed in on the potential he showed signs of during his injury-plagued rookie season. - NFL Football -

His big plays were needed.

Denver gained only 257 yards and managed 11 first downs. Plummer went 10 for 25, a sloppy showing that wasn't nearly as efficient as he'd been in Denver's last two wins.

He was as happy as anyone that the defense held at the end.

"We'd been standing there a long time," Plummer said. "It would have been hard to get back out there as an offense and get back ready for overtime."

Brunell, meanwhile, looked at home in the rain. In the end, though, the Redskins had a number of missed opportunities to bemoan in such a close game. - NFL Football -

A false-start penalty nullified what would have been a 54-yard field goal by Nick Novak -- a good kick given the conditions -- at the end of the first half. In the third quarter, Washington moved into field goal range again, but Trevor Pryce got a hand on Novak's kick.

Washington also had a safety taken away courtesy of the famous "tuck rule." Plummer lost the ball near his goal line and recovered in the end zone where he was tackled, but officials overruled the play, saying Plummer's arm had been moving forward when the ball slipped from his grasp, making it an incomplete pass. - NFL Football -

"We had enough mistakes to actually go out and lose this game," Portis said. "We hurt ourselves."

Notes: Denver improved to 4-1 or better for the seventh time in Mike Shanahan's 11 seasons with the Broncos. ... Washington's lost fumble was the only turnover of the game and the Redskins' turnover ratio fell to minus-5. - NFL Football -

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

Players tied to indicted doctor face tests
NFL.com wire reports

Some of the NFL players linked to a South Carolina doctor indicted on federal charges for giving them steroids will be subject to as many as 24 random drug tests each year, The Washington Post reported. - NFL Football -

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue told the paper that the league concluded an investigation into reports about prescriptions written by James M. Shortt, who was charged last week with 29 counts of distributing steroids and human growth hormones, as well as a conspiracy charge.

The players involved, most of them reportedly current or former members of the Carolina Panthers, will be subject to up to two dozen random steroids tests annually, the newspaper reported.

"Every player who was part of the investigation who's still in the league is being tested up to 24 times a year, which is the most important element of putting an end to this," Tagliabue told the newspaper. "That's why we have not had repeat offenders. That's as important or more important than the discipline. It's testing people up to 24 times a year on a random basis."

The Washington Post, citing an anonymous source, said the league's report indicated that less than 10 players during a four-year period used banned substances given to them by Shortt.

A CBS News report in March identified center Jeff Mitchell, tackle Todd Steussie and punter Todd Sauerbrun as having filled steroid prescriptions written by Shortt. Several other former Panthers were also named as Shortt's patients in subsequent media reports.

Of the players identified in the initial CBS report, only Mitchell, the Panthers' starting center, remains with the team. Steussie is with Tampa Bay and Sauerbrun was traded to Denver. None of the players linked to Shortt were suspended or fined. - NFL Football -

Both Tagliabue and NFL Players Association head Gene Upshaw declined to identify the players who will be subjected to the frequent testing, but The Post, citing an NFL source, said only Mitchell, Steussie and Sauerbrun were affected. - NFL Football -

"There's no fear that there's a wider problem," Upshaw told The Post. "The report has been completed. We will be, at some point, giving it to Congress. We're satisfied with the results of it."

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

Saints WR Horn visits refugees at Astrodome
NFL.com wire reports

HOUSTON (Sept. 3, 2005) -- Three-year-old Aaron Carter timidly hoisted a small football skyward to Saints receiver Joe Horn, who reached down and gave the boy a hug before signing.

The boy's grandmother, Jeanne Carter, says seeing Aaron happy made her smile for the first time all week. For thousands of Hurricane Katrina refugees inside the Astrodome, meeting Horn was a much-needed morale boost. - NFL Football -

"Anybody can throw money around at these people, but they need love," said Horn, who spent three hours signing autographs, holding babies and playing games with children. "They need to be able to feel me. So when I leave, I hope they feel a little better."

Horn made good on a promise after the Saints' last preseason game Sept. 1 by driving to Houston to spend time with refugees. - NFL Football -

Longtime Saints fan DeShawn Brown could barely contain himself when he saw Horn.

"This is big," Brown bellowed. "Our mail didn't come out here, and Joe Horn came out here. He's the truth."

Horn worked his way through lines of cots and people lining the Astrodome floor as women shrieked in delight and everyone from small children to the elderly lined up to greet him.

"We're going to bounce back," he yelled to the crowd. "Things will get better."

People milling on the Astrodome floor and those sitting in the stands alike hollered their thanks to Horn and kids dashed toward him clasping any paper they could find for autographs. Others had him sign miniature Bibles distributed to survivors. - NFL Football -

"Joe Horn came to see us when no one else would," one person said. "It's good to see somebody from home," yelled another from high above.

Bridget Bailey, who came to the Astrodome with 18 relatives after being rescued by helicopter, showed Horn digital pictures of her flooded home.

"Horn came to show us love, baby," she said. "It means so much to see him here and know that he cares."

A middle-aged man pushed through the crowd and approached Horn with a picture of his missing wife. He asked Horn to hold the photograph while he snapped a picture of the player and said he was confident he would find her. - NFL Football -

One young man came up crying and relayed a story about watching several members of his family die. Horn said he almost broke down but composed himself when he looked around and saw the smiling faces of several children gathered around him.

Horn held babies, kissing them on their cheeks and making them giggle. He sat down on cots and talked to the elderly. He tossed a football to a young boy and played a board game with another.

"Right now money doesn't matter," said Horn, who has sent more than $15,000 to friends and associates affected by the flood. "Who you are or where you're from doesn't matter. Getting to come out here and give a child a hug or give someone a hug who knows that their house and everything that they have is gone is what's important."

He spoke through an interpreter with Darron Gavrel, 14, who is deaf. He told him to stay positive and shared with the teen-ager that he has an aunt and uncle who are deaf. Gavrel's eyes grew wide and he smiled, revealing a toothy grin. - NFL Football -

It was a softer side to the man who made headlines two years ago when he was fined $30,000 for pulling a cell phone out the goal post padding after a touchdown and making a call in the end zone.

Many people asked him about the future of the Saints and how the season would go. The team has moved its headquarters to San Antonio. - NFL Football -

"I don't care about all that," he said. "We're going to be where they want us to be anyway."

On the drive to the Astrodome, Horn was quiet and upset.

When asked if football mattered right now he answered, "Hell, no."

He was different after his visit, smiling and laughing, and had even changed his tune on football.

"I thought football would be irrelevant, but it's not," he said. "They want us to roll. They want us to play, so now I'm more spirited to do that."

He felt like he got as much of a boost from the visit as he gave to the people.

"At first my spirits was down," he said. "I didn't want to catch any footballs. I didn't want to run any routes. Now, I'm going back full steam ahead telling the fellows, 'Let's go. That's what everybody wants.' " - NFL Football -

While he was in California watching the footage of New Orleans, he said he felt helpless and sickened and could barely eat. He knew then he had to reach out to the people of the city.

"I feel much better now because I see where their heart is," he said. "They're about helping themselves and helping each other. They just appreciate that I came through just to say, 'You're going to be all right.' "

He said preparing for the Saints' opener Sept. 11 at Carolina will be tough, but he'll do it for all the fans he met. - NFL Football -

"I'm going to get a grasp of myself because the fans here, they still want us to win," he said. "That's what they have to hold on to. That's why I came. I wanted to come and feel their heart. Now I can feel more comfortable about taking a flight to Carolina and trying to win a football game for these fans.

Copyright 2005, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

Nuggets of tradition

Terry Foster / The Detroit News

College fans hang onto special moments like precious jewels.

Spartans fans can detail every play of every victory over the rival Wolverines. We remember Central Michigan's twice-as-nice victories over Michigan State, Bo vs. Woody, national title runs in Ann Arbor and East Lansing, and the 60-minute-and-one-second game that sparked new hostility between U-M and MSU fans in 2001.

New traditions began Thursday and continue tonight when Indiana becomes the first Big Ten team to venture into Kelley-Shorts Stadium, capping three days of celebration by Central Michigan fans.

This weekend, nearly 250,000 fans will pack campuses across the state to root for their favorite teams and become part of the pageantry of collegefootball.

Nationwide, an estimated 33 million fans will attend games.

Football fans never lose ties with their schools.

Despite working 36 years at Michigan, Schembechler still attends events at Miami (Ohio), where he got his start.

Central Michigan athletic director Herb Deromedi, who is retiring, still bleeds maize and blue despite spending five decades at CMU asfootball coach and athletic director.

"I bet you will see Herb at a lot more live Michigan games now," Schembechler said.

How many times have you stepped into someone's office and seen the distinctive Notre Dame gold or Texas burnt orange plastered on the walls?

How about Gary Prudian, who moved from Warren to Los Angeles to attend law school at Southern California? He can get tickets to any home game at USC, which is going for a third straight national title. Yet, every Saturday he slips on his No. 12 Ricky Powers uniform and mingles with other Michigan fans at the Gotham City bar to watch the Wolverines.

What would it take for a fan to stop rooting for his chosen team?

"Ahhhhhhhhh, it would probably take them dropping football," said Nitz, who lives outside Grand Rapids. "Even if they hire a coach I do not like, I would never stop being a fan."