IDP Notes

CB Brian Williams is opening eyes in Minnesota. He began the season filling in for Ken Irvin, the projected started who was out with an injury, and has since solidified his starting role while prompting The Sporting News to call him the Vikings best tackler. He was also on SI's list of rising stars. He leads the team with seven passes defended, including a spectacular play this past weekend on a ball intended for Terrell Owens.

Broncos DT Daryl Gardener has missed the first four games of the season with a wrist injury that he suffered in a bar fight. He was supposed to make his debut on Monday night during their week three slaughter of the Raiders, but that was pushed back and it's not known when we'll see him on the field. The Broncos have been playing very well defensively and adding a player of Gardener's level to the middle will only make them stronger.

During the two games that the Eagles have been without secondary starters Brian Dawkins and Bobby Taylor, they've given up 551 passing yards and four passing touchdowns without recording an interception (loss to New England, win over Buffalo).

Eagles DE Brandon Whiting, who's been out since suffering a hamstring injury in the season opener, will return to practice this week and may play this weekend. S Brian Dawkins, out since suffering a foot injury in the same game, is not expected to practice or play.

S Matt Stevens' starting job at free safety in Houston is safe, for now, but they plan on working in recently signed Marlon McCree (released by Jacksonville). In the two games since adding McCree, Stevens has picked up 13 tackles (10 solo) and an interception.

After playing mainly in third down situations last week, his first action of the year, Texans DE Gary Walker returned to the starting lineup and picked up three tackles (2 solo). He has missed the first two games of the year with a shoulder injury.

Through all of their injuries on defense, the Philadelphia Eagles lead the league allowing 57.7 rushing yards per game. They are next to last in pass defense (257.3).

Vikings S Brian Russell has four interceptions on the year, one in each game.

Bills CB Nate Clements is off to a hot start with three interceptions through four games. The next pick that he returns for a touchdown will tie Buffalo's record for both career INT for TD and all-time returns for TD.

The Dolphins have a new defensive formation that they're calling their ''Tiger'' package, which has DE Jason Taylor playing middle linebacker. Against Buffalo during week three, they used this formation twice and forced two incomplete passes.

Dolphins defensive end Adewale Ogunleye was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week during week three for his seven tackle, two sack performance against the Bills. It was his first sacks of the season.

Rams rookie linebacker Scott Shanle has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. A reserve, he's been battling injuries, inactive week 3 and listed as OUT week 4, and is eligible to return during week 8.

How far has Packers S Marques Anderson fallen? As a rookie last year, he stepped in when Antuan Edwards went down with injury and looked like one of the bright young playmakers in the league. Supposed to battle with Edwards for the starting job this year, it never materialized and he now finds himself out of the dime package (6 DBs).

WR Plaxico Burress v. CB Samari Rolle: best friends off the field, ex-division foes on it. Over the last two seasons (3 games), Burress had picked up 18 receptions, 306 yards and one touchdown while being defended by his shadow (Rolle). On Sunday, Rolle held Burress to just four catches for 64 yards (1-11 in the first half).

During week three, Jets DE Bryan Thomas filled in for the injured John Abraham on about 30 plays, picking up three solo tackles and a sack. During wek four, with Abraham still hobbled by a hamstring injury, the Jets switched it up a bit and had DT Chester McGlockton play end while Shaun Ellis took Abraham's spot. Limited primarily to third down duty, Abraham was able to pick up four solo tackles and a half sack, while Ellis continued to shine with four solos and one sack. The move did not help McGlockton, who was a non-factor in the boxscore.

With the Patriots hurting at linebacker, they will switch back to the 4-3 defense. This should allow rookie DL Ty Warren to see the field more, but it didn't show during week four with just one pass defended (no tackles) to his credit. During the previous three weeks, he had played sparingly and picked up three tackles.

Panthers LB Dan Morgan was listed as probable most of last week, but was downgraded to questionable during the weekend and ended up landing on the inactive list for the game. He has now missed 15 of 35 games during his 2+ years in the league. Will Witherspoon, the starting weakside linebacker, slides into the middle when Morgan is out while Brian Allen stepped into Witherspoon's spot.

Bruce Smith has broken the NFL career sack record, or, at least he's been paid for doing so. Still 2.5 sacks short of Reggie White, the Redskins renegotiated his contract which included paying him a $750,000 bonus for breaking the record and a $1,000,000 bonus if the Redskins make the playoffs. The move was made on Washington's part to free up cap space next year, while compensating Smith for being a full-time player (which he was not expected to be when he signed the original contract).

Cardinals rookie DE Calvin Pace showed nice pass rush potential during the preseason, picking up three sacks, but he has yet to show anything now that the games are real. Through four games, he's provided little pressure on the quarterback, posting 11 tackles (9 solo) without a sack.

Raiders LB Bill Romanowski missed the first game of his 16 year career on Sunday, still suffering from a week three concussion. He had played in 243 straight games, starting 131 consecutive, but is now said to be contemplating retirement. Travian Smith, the primary backup linebacker in Oakland, will step into the starting lineup while Romanowski is out.

Titans linebacker Peter Sirmon left Sundays game on a stretcher and was hospitalized for precautionary reasons. Since released, he'll be out from 2-4 weeks with two broken bones in his back. I find it amazing to see "broken bones in back" and "out 2-4 weeks" being mentioned together. Even more amazing was the possibility that Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper almost played this past weekend, just one week after suffering a similar injury. Second year linebacker Rocky Boiman will likely fill in while Sirmon is out.

Broncos S Lee Flowers and Falcons LB Keith Newman have been reinstated after serving a four game suspensions. Newman may start with weekend because of injuries to fellow linebackers Will Overstreet and Sam Rogers.

The Cowboys have signed DE Greg Ellis to a seven year contract extension that includes a $4.2 million signing bonus. He was in the final year of his original contract and set to become a free agent at the end of this season.

The Panthers have signed DT Kris Jenkins to a five year contract extension worth $31 million, including $9.175 million in bonus money. The starting defensive line in Carolina is now signed through 2007.

Depending on this week of practice, there is a chance that Buccaneers LB Shelton Quarles will see the field this weekend. He's missed the first three games of the year after suffering a broken arm during the last week of preseason.

Dolphins LB Junior Seau spent his bye weekend in a hospital, apparently suffering from a staph infection. He'll be fine.

Denver DL Trevor Pryce is on top of his game right now, prompting head coach Mike Shanahan to call it the best three game stretch that he's seen by a defensive lineman during his time in the NFL. Unfortunately, that hasn't shown up in the boxscore, where Pryce has just eight tackles (6 solo) and 1.5 sacks through four games.

When the Rams return from their week five bye, Jason Sehorn, out since July with a broken foot, will likely be their starting free safety. This will allow Aeneas Williams to return to his cornerback spot, pushing Jerametrius Butler into a nickel back role. It's good to see the Rams are starting to get healthy in their secondary, although they've faired well to this point. Through four games, they rank #11 in pass defense, allowing 193.5 yards per game.

The Jets are close to making a change at linebacker, working in youngsters Victor Hobson and Kenyatta Wright while cutting back the playing time of unproductive veterans Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones.