On The Couch: Week 3

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Manning had those deep ins to Burress all day last year in Seattle and went to the well again into triple coverage and got picked. See it, Eli, before you throw it.

A fade is not a good call on fourth and two, Minnesota.

A huge drop by Williamson really did in the Vikings. It would have set them up for an easy tying field goal.

Lee Evans stepped up big in garbage time.

Rex Grossman really passed maybe his first big test as a QB with that TD drive near the end after the critical mistake. Win or lose, and let's see how the Vikings and Brad Johnson respond.

I swear I was thinking last week that the pop-op onsides kick is over and teams should kick it really slow and dare the defense to touch it with everyone ready to blast him. Your goal should be to kick the ball 10 yards and one inch. The Bills just did that, basically.

Obviously, Houshmandzadeh is back. Kevan Barlow limped off, but Cedric Houston came in, not Leon Washington, for the TD.

All the teams that ran the ball down the opponents throat are going to lose: Steelers, Jaguars, Bills. I love when this happens. Teams that pass the ball down the opponents throat never lose the game they're doing it unless the opponent is doing it, too.

Dierdorf says that the Colts miss Edgerrin James because "he was such a powerful goal-line runner." Of course, James was always among the worst in the NFL at converting short-yardage and goal-line carries.

Manning is mad at the crowd, which is booing after a second non-call on pass interfernence on Marvin Harrison in or near the end zone.

These games turn around so fast in the NFL. Within one minute, real time: muffed punt leads to short Carson Palmer TD, McGahee can't get it in from in close again and the Bills try a stupid option play with the QB, who gets sacked on third down, Antoine Winfield retuns a pick for a TD in a game where the Vikings can't muster any consistent offense, turning a 9-6 deficit to a 13-9 lead.

Levi Jones limping off for the Bengals is really bad news for Carson Palmer and the Bengals, who now have a rookie at LT.

I stand corrected. Losman looks Evans' way on interceptions.

Roethlisberger does not look good at all, which should not surprise given his summer.

Clinton Portis doesn't have to worry about T.J. Duckett taking away goal-line carries if Duckett is inactive every week, which he's been twice because he doesn't play special teams. Of course, this makes you wonder why the Redskins traded for Duckett in the first place.

Simms just said the Steelers had four or five runs in their playbook this week so they could practice those plays and not have to think about them. This is such a huge point and something I noted last week when Jim Fassel said the Ravens liked a play so much they ran it two and maybe three times. These coaches are too hard-working for their own good. They thicken the playbook but don't understand how thinking during athletic is very often counterproductive. It has to be second nature.

Brunell now 21-for-21, which helps your QB rating.

The holding call in the back out of the backfield on third and 20 (Jonathan Vilma) really bugs me.

Well, Willie Parker is clearly the short-yardage back in Pittsburgh after the fourth-and-1 score.

Jets S Kerry Rhodes has caused three fumbles on sacks now in the last three-plus quarters of football. The last one resulted in a TD. He's going to Hawaii because that's just one of the many things he does very well.

Wind is really a factor in Pittsburgh, as it was last week in Denver. It's very odd for weather to play a role in September. Chris Henry just got blasted by Ryan Clark on a ball that shouldn't have been thrown by Palmer.

That was a bad time for the Jaguars to go three and out.

I'd go get the Jets Leon Washington if I was in a really deep league. I always like those Florida State guys because they only recruit the best. The key is Washington being on the field on third down and getting 10 carries as a change-of-pace back. I think that's the Jets near-term plan.

Dallas Clark could have called a fair catch on the TD reception.

Dierdorf just talked about the Colts rushing yards (10 at halftime) as being the key to this game. "I'm not sure the Colts can just throw the ball on every play." Beats running for one yard! The Colts have to soften teams up with the passing game, spread the field, bu they're short at receiver now with Stokley out. The Colts just scored on an 80-yard drive where they had two rushing yards as I'm writing.

Also officially be very worried about Ronnie Brown and Lee Evans (who Losman isn't even looking to).

Officially (at least at this moment): The Dolphins stink, the Jets are feisty, the Texans are the worst team in football, Mark Brunell is safe as starting QB, the Steelers championship defense is in trouble.l

Sharper just dropped an easy TD on a pick that should-have-been by Grossman, who doesn't look sharpe in the glimpses I'm catching.

Okay, that third-down catch and run out of crosstown traffic was so amazing by Jones-Drew that even I almost want to say it was Sanders-esque.

Maurice Jones-Drew. I feel like saying I told you so. But don't get too excited with the Barry Sanders comparisons. No one is Barry Sanders.

Carson Palmer says he still feels rusty and "very unathletic," according to Simms. He says he's not able to get his feet right when throwing.

Roethlisberger made a really bad decision in the end zone, throwing a pick that took sure points off the board in a game Pittsburgh is dominating. Houshmandzadeh just got hurt again, limping off the field.

The Jaguars are disrupting the timing of the Colts passing game. You can tell if an offensive is in synch and if the playcalling is good by how many times the QB throws to his first read. If he's looking off repeatedly, you have problems. No first-read passes yet for Manning today.

I like the way the the Vikings are attacking the Bears with their passing game. Williamson is impressive, even though he just fumbled (pending review). Supposedly wasn't conclusive. Whatever.

The Colts have scored first in 27 of the last 33 games, including today.

This game is going just the way the Jaguars drew it up. Peyton is chopping his steps after he settles into the pocket, always an indicator that he's too hyper and not sharp. He'll have to settle down.

The interception on the opening drive is bad news for Chris Simms, with Jon Gruden chomping at the bit, seemingly, to scapegoat him for the team's offensive ills.

J.P. Losman just showed how you beat the blitz with the quick hitter to Roscoe Parrish that went the distance versus the Jets.

I think Fred Taylor is going to have a big game today.

Oh, have Bengals-Steelers recording on the other tuner. But this is a week you need that great NFL Shortcuts package.

Keeping my notes here again because I type far faster than I write and I can't really read my own writing. However, I may fade again by 4 p.m. Ferris may take over then, if he's back from the sports bar.

On the big screen, Jaguars vs. Colts. The antenna televisions have Bears-Vikings and Jets-Bills (my local game, plus I always watch the Jets).

This is a really good slate of games, though a little top heavy.

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On The Couch: Week 2

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Oh, one more thing. The time has come to get Joseph Addai. And DeAngelo Williams, too. Don't move a mountain. But be willing to move a small hill.

Okay, ran out of steam in the p.m., as I'm fighting an illness. So, we're doing the 4 p.m. games all at once. But first, the Giants left me speechless. There are more flags with this team than any Giants fan cares to admit right now. New York can't protect the QB and can't stop the pass. Still, they win. Somehow. I don't want to be an Eagle walking around Philly tonight. Watch out for the flying Cheeze Whiz. In fact, pray it is only Cheez Whiz.

Michael Turner is the latest RB to audtion in "Searching for L.J.," which is playing in the dreams and ruminations of every fantasy owner in a deep league nationwide. 138 yards on 13 carries is pretty sweet. I have to catch the deatails. The Titans stink, clearly. But, if the unthinkable ever happened to L.T., well.... We don't even want to think about that.

Antonio Bryant is exciting me even with the Diva act he pulled at halftime. All the receivers are in their own little world. They think about themselves a lot. But they have to because a receiver without a ball is like a singer without a song. Now, I drafted Bryant everywhere, so I'm questioning my objectivity. I'm trying really hard not to get too excited. But it's hard. Remember, he had a 52-yard TD called back last week. Alex Smith has grown up, like Eli last year.

Not impressed by the Cardinals and Kurt Warner. Tough spot. Wasn't necessarily looking for the win. But expected the offense to put some scare into the Seattle defense and they never did.

The Jets did great blitzing Brady, like I thought they would. But they waited too long to do it. New England had the kind of late drive on the road that you expect from a great team. Would have liked to see more consistency from Chad. But he did enough to prove that we can't yet rule out a return all the way back to his fabulous 2002 form. Jerricho Cotchery is a nice little player who is built like a running back and runs like one after the catch.

Is anyone really eating the fried macaroni and cheese we're seeing in all those commercials? If you are, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Larry Johnson stepped up today and proved he's a great player. Don't talk to me about the first-quarter fumble, as he was fighting for yards after being put in an impossible position by Herm on 3rd and 5. Tatum Bell can't be an everydown back? Why does Mike Shanahan seem so sure of this? He did well in that role with a separated shoulder in 2004.

Brad Smith is running a gadget play this week. But Belichick knows that, right?

Herm runs it again on third and five by the goal line? He can't blame it on "communications problems" again, can he? (L.J. fumbled.)

Delhomme careless with the ball again on an OT blitz and this time he loses it and doesn't recover. If they call this a tuck play, I'll barf. That was not a pass! Let's see if reason prevails? Nope. Tuck. What a joke.

I like Brian Baldinger. I've talked to him once for about an hour. But he said something stupid just now, that the Panthers, who won the OT toss, should have kicked off. Here's why that's dumb. The receiving team has a better chance to win in a vacuum. There is no win indoors. Once you get to your minus 30, you have no field position edge. And what happens if the guy runs the kickoff back 50 yards?

Julius Peppers is having a game that looks like a video game cheat. He's just making it look so easy on every snap, just pummeling Brad Johnson.

Jake Delhomme has a little Brett Favre in him. And I mean that in a bad way. Tossing the ball away to avoid the sack in such an awkward way that it was ruled a fumble in the final two minutes of a tie game? He's lucky his lineman recovered. But, silly.

Knew Ryan Longwell was going to throw for a TD this week. Seriously, if you start a kicker and he throws a TD pass, you should win your game. Automatic. And I'm not saying that because I own Longwell, I swear.

The Texans coaches think rookie TE Owen Daniels can be a very productive player, we're told after he just scores. They're going to be throwing a lot.

Not impressed by anything the Ravens have done this year. Sorry. And stop dancing, Ray Lewis, against the backup QB on the worst team in football.

Giants pass defense: Back to the drawing board, boys.

Kitna 17-for-19 against the Bears? For 180+ yards and no picks? That's impressive even considering the score.

Manning (and when I say "Manning," I mean Peyton) is going to tell us to turn to another game like in the commercial, right? I keep waiting for it. He had a TD pass called back, too.

Lee Evans should have had a 50-yard TD. He was interfered with. But the bad news is that Losman's pass was underthrown enough to make interferring possible.

The Giants are really getting their asses kicked. They and their fans were too satsified with the Colts game. It was a home loss. Not good. And on the heels of that playoff embarassment? Maybe the worst game the Giants have ever played? There's no urgency on this team and there should be.

Sometimes it seems like Daunte Culpepper is playing with a blindfold. What was he looking at on that pick at the end of the first half? How is Miami losing this game? I guess one question answers the other.

The Falcons are playing a college offense. And it's working. They're doing that Texas shotgun. If the defensive end stays wide, Vick hands off to Dunn who has a hole you can drive a truck through. If he crashes down, Vick fakes it and comes around and gets the wide open lane around end. You beat this by hitting the QB on every play no matter what (he his faking as if he still has the ball when he doesn't). Ignore Dunn, kill the QB.

Reggie Wayne dropped an easy TD pass. Addai fumbled on the goal line. This game should be 28-0.

Well, there's another TD to the right by Vick. Just when I was getting excited about a stat.

Another easy TD for Stallworth. It wasn't so much a blown coverage as a terrible attempt to chuck him at the line of scrimmage. Credit Stallworth.

Chad Johnson has taken Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man to heart with that ridiculous blond mowhawk.

Okay, Chris Simms had another pass deflected on the line. What's his problem with this? Too many three-step, timing drops?

Wali Lundy's fumble is bad news if you have Lundy shares.

Giants in the shotgun on first down. You have to love that if you're an Eli Manning owner.

Mike Vick's TD pass to Crumpler last week was his first to the right side of the field since at least 2004; none last year. If you can't throw to your right as a QB, I think you have some problems.

Matt Schobel dropped an easy TD pass but then the Eagles got a break on a non-interception call that could have gone either way. Nope it doesn't, as Westbrook scoots around right end. He's a great player, much better in real life than in fantasy. But he's not built for extensive NFL duty.

Joseph Addai on the board. Nice speed on the catch and run.

Why do announcers always say stuff like, "The Texans only chance today is to run the ball!" Right, maybe they can score 17 points and win a slugfest. Please.

Blown coverage on the Toomer TD. Someone thought they were in zone, the other thought they were in man. Oops.

Palmer is on the board to Kelly Washington, of all people. Washington has some nice size and speed but can't stay healthy.

After the turnover, Manning runs on first, runs on second (for crap, of course) then throws a TD. Peyton, pass to set up the run!

Rudi Johnson runs with much more elusiveness between the tackles than I though he ever would. He's go some hops.

David Carr sacked on the first play. No one cares about your running game, boys. Second play, fumbled snap. Nice start for Carr. Maybe he just stinks.

I like the delay on satellite vs. over the air. I feel like I'm looking back in time.

The Jets have put me in the position now where I'll actually be upset if they get waxed this afternoon. I needed an emotional break from this team. Not a divorce, just a separation. But now I'm racing back into their arms.

They give fantasy picks right now when they're doing the game roundups on Fox? Crazy. Are any of these guys even in leagues? Do they play at all? Just tell us who you think is going to be the game's dominant player and why and we'll figure out the rest.

We're going most recent comment on top as opposed to on the bottom. So, this is reverse order. John Abraham is out. Abraham only plays when he's 100 percent, as the Falcons will find out. Okay, he'll go when he's 95 percent, too. But that's a rarity in the NFL.

This NFL Game Mix is so cool. And being able to get the stats through your TV DVR? Amazing. I need a bigger TV though.

So, I have Game Mix on one tuner. Recording Bills-Dolphins off the regular CBS feed. Have Giants-Eagles on a TV with rabbit ears. And have Texans-Colts ready on the previous channel button. Of course, this is all subject to change. But the only other game that interests me, that I don't think I have a good feel for pre-kickoff, is Panthers-Vikings.

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On The Couch: NFL Week 1

Jeremy Shockey is badly limping after every play. He does this every game, no? And there's a TD catch one play after he hobbled off the field. Is Jeremy a drama queen?

John Madden: "It's always started with the running game with the Colts." Huh? Didn't Peyton Manning throw 50 TD passes a couple of years ago? Madden used to be cool but the game has passed him by. Passing offense and defense wins games and champioships. Period.

Dungy says Addai is 40/60 splitting carries with Dominic Rhodes, who just got into the endzone. I figured Addai would get all short-yardage and goal-line action. Still, I like Addai long-term in '06. He finished off one run really nicely and showed nice hands and awareness on a circle route, not your typical RB dumpoff.

The over/under on Jerious Norwood caries is 150 and I'm going over because the Falcons are going to run Dunn into the ground. They're treating him like they treat Vick; they don't care if either gets hurt because the backups excite (Schaub for Vick).

Mike Bell owners, don't fret. When your guy is out there on fourth and one from the minus-31 in the second quarter and converts, he has the coach's trust.

Chad Pennington, welcome back. It's funny with Culpepper and Pennington. Daunte was viewed as a guy to get becasue he's looking good. But he'll never run the way he did again and that was a big part of his real and fantasy game. What did Chad lose? Arm strength? He never had that to begin with. Heck, I'll root for both to recover, but Pennington, as he's showing, was as good a bad bet to get back to peak form as Daunte.

Vince Young in the QB rotation is smart. Players have to play. Give him a package and let him master it in practice each week. It almost worked against the Jets. I still maintain Young will be great. It cracks me up that Merrill Hoge trashes him after praising "Sick Vick" for years. We KNOW Vick can't throw the football.

Phil Simms says the three-step drop has been mastered by the defenses, who understand how to disrupt the timing and get their arms up to tip a lot of passes. Maybe he's defending his son. I have to check into tipped passes stats. Then, I have to get a life.

Jake Plummer, the one-night stand in Denver.

Tatum Bell's fumble is ominous and won't be forgotten by Shanny, who always looks for a reason to cut Tatum's PT.

Willis McGahee says he's healthy for the first time since his knee surgery and really looks like he can fly now. Very quick on a pass vs. New England, where he split the secondary.

Jim Haslett has 68 blitzes in the game plan versus the Broncos? Context would be nice. But this sounds like an awful lot. I think every one of them is working.

Chiefs first red zone possession of 2006 (the Herm Edwards Era): a run on third and five. Stuffed. Boo!!!!!

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Weekly Fantasy Touts: September 4 - 10

By Michael Salfino

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Jon Garland, P, White Sox: Gets two starts and don't be scared by the first one, at Fenway, where homers are way down this year and the Red Sox will likely be fielding a spring training lineup (no Ramirez or Ortiz).

Delmon Young, OF, Devil Rays: Okay, he threw a bat at an ump. Put it behind you like Tampa Bay has and get this power-hitting speed demon in your lineup immediately.

Bench 'em

Justin Duchscherer, P, A's: He earned some cheap saves for savvy owners, but Huston Street will be immediately returned to the closer's role when he is activated, which will likely be this week.

Manny Ramirez, OF, Red Sox: His knee tendinitis could sideline him a day, a week or the rest of the season. Suspicion from those in the know in Beantown is that the volatile Ramirez is tired of playing this year with the Red Sox no longer playing meaningful games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Put 'em in

Dave Bush, P, Brewers: Has dominated hitters all year, peripherally, with about 3.5 Ks for every walk. Gets two starts this week at home, Dodgers and Astros.

J.D. Drew, OF, Dodgers: Gets an extra game this week and is now batting cleanup for the Dodgers. Maybe the multi-homer game at Arizona will end his year-long power outage.

Bench 'em

Arthur Lee Rhodes, P, Phillies: Tom Gordon appears set to return this week as Phillies closer, moving Rhodes back into a middle-relief role.

Tom Glavine, P, Mets: Gets one start this week in his return back from numbness in his pitching arm. The Mets will baby him with an eye toward October. Glavine has been very shaky since before the all-star break.

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