IDP Notes

After increasing DT Daryl Gardener's suspension two more games last week (originally slated to just miss week 12 for conduct detrimental to the team), Denver HC Mike Shanahan hinted that the team made a mistake when they they signed Gardener and gave him a $5 million signing bonus. "Any time you sign a contract, there is an obligation to perform and prepare at a certain level to live up to the standards of the organization"' Shanahan said. "That has not been met." "Well, there's no question that when you sign a guy for $5 million and all of a sudden the guy doesn't play, then it's not a good decision," said Shanahan.

The NFL has suspended Cardinals LB Raynoch Thompson four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Thompson is done for the year, losing around $300-400 thousand to the suspension.

The NFL has fined Buccaneers S Dwight Smith $5,000 for excessive celebration during Tampa Bay's week 12 game against the Giants. Smith will likely make the move to cornerback after the team lost Tim Wansley (who replaced the injured Brian Kelly) for the year with a hamstring injury. Jermaine Phillips will take Smith's spot at free-safety.

The Raiders have placed S Rod Woodson on the injured reserve, ending his season. He had been playing all year on a bum knee, not practicing at all, but could not continue as he'll require surgery to replace a knee ligament. He's the 11th Oakland Raider this year to be placed on the IR. DE Trace Armstrong, who made the list a week earlier with a shoulder injury, will likely retire at the end of this year. Surgery to his elbow and right/left shoulders will push his career total to 17 procedures. Like Armstrong, Woodson is also 38 years old and has hinted at retirement if he's unable to come back at 100% next year. Said Woodson, "I'm not going to play like this again."

With S Derrick Gibson inactive with a neck injury, and Rod Woodson gone for the year, the Raiders turned to rookie first round pick CB Nnamdi Asomugha as their starting free safety. The Raiders lost their week 13 matchup with Denver as Asomugha and Anthony Dorsett (who started at strong safety) combined for three solo tackles.

More Raiders news you say? DT John Parrella, who hasn't played since week five, may not play again this season. He saw a specialist who recommended rest and rehab for his injured groin, not surgery, so there's a slight chance he could make it back. Because of that, Oakland has kept him off of the IR.

The Dolphins have placed backup CB Jamar Fletcher on the injured reserve after he suffered a broken arm during the Thanksgiving Day game. CB Jimmy Wyrick, waived by Detroit a couple of weeks ago, has been signed to take his spot.

Texans DE Gary Walker has been placed on the injured reserve because of an inflamed big toe. He saw action in just four games this year, picking up eight solo tackles without a sack, after starting all 32 games during the 01-02 seasons. Houston has also placed backup S Ramon Walker on the injured reserve with a torn knee ligament.

The Chargers have placed DE Raylee Johnson on the IR because a foot injury that he suffered during week 10. Playing in just five games this year because of an early knee and the recent foot injury, he still ranks third on the team with four sacks.

Giants CB Will Allen is out for the season after spraining his foot during week 13. With backup Frank Walker already starting for Will Peterson (injured reserve), the Giants will turn to Ralph Brown (who's been out himself with a dislocated shoulder). Former second round pick Ike Charlton would be next in line should Brown not be able to go.

Steelers CB Chad Scott will likely miss the remainder of the year after tearing a tendon in his hand. DeWayne Washington, a starter when the season opened who lost his job to DeShea Townsend, will return to the starting lineup in Scott's place.

The Cowboys have cut CB Derek Ross, a starter in nine games last year as a rookie who posted 53 solo tackles and five interceptions. A knee injury forced him to miss the seasons first five games and he's been serving as the nickel back since his return. On Thanksgiving Day, Ross fumbled two kicks in Dallas' loss to Miami and his general disregard for team rules/functions was too much for HC Bill Parcell's to take.

After giving up 319 passing yards and four TDs to Baltimore QB Anthony Wright during week 12, Seattle DC Ray Rhodes was contemplating shaking up his secondary. The starters remained the same during week 13, but the result was much different. Cleveland QB Kelly Holcomb was held to just 186 yards without a TD pass. 44-41 OT loss to the Ravens, 34-7 victory over the Browns. A shake-up is still on the way, but the team is in the process of deciding who will start across from Marcus Trufant, Shawn Springs or Ken Lucas.

This just in. Jets DE Bryan Thomas likes to take showers. "I get in there, get some action going," said DE Bryan Thomas. "I'm able to take a shower after the game. I don't like the games where you play one play and don't have to take a shower, you just throw your clothes right on and go. It's good to be out there and able to contribute." Thomas has been starting in place of John Anraham, who's been nursing a groin injury for the past five games.

Week 12 Player of the Week honors went to Vikings CB Brian Williams in the NFC and Dolphins DE Jason Taylor in the AFC. Williams picked up three interceptions and a touchdown in Minnesota's win over Detroit while Taylor posted his first multiple sack game of the year (two) in helping the Dolphins beat Washington.

Prior to this past weekends game, Patriots CB Ty Law had picked up four interceptions against Colts QB Peyton Manning, returning two for touchdowns. On Sunday, CB Tyrone Poole got the only pick off of Manning as he threw for 278 yards with four scores, but the Patriots still won 38-34.

Steelers SS Mike Logan, an unrestricted free agent at seasons end, is being eased out of the passing-down defenses in favor of FS Chris Hope. Pittsburgh is also taking a look at rookie first round pick S Troy Polamalu in favor of Logan, who will likely not be back in '04.

During his first game back from suspension, week 12, Jets DT Josh Evans was on the field for 19 plays. HC Herman Edwards said that he would be worked in more during week 13, and it showed as he picked up three solo tackles with a half sack.

Who is the Eagles backup kicker? Middle linebacker Mark Simoneau is, and the Eagles say that are comfortable should anything force Simoneau to kick an extra point or field goal. It just so happens that Akers suffered a back injury during week 13 (considered minor).

During their week 12 matchup against the Eagles, both Saints DEs Darren Howard and Charles Grant were each credited with 1.5 sacks. The Elias Sports Bureau has since given the split sack to Howard alone, which made it three sacks in his first two games since returning from a broken wrist.

Browns DT Gerard Warren was ejected from this past weekends game against Seattle following a "head slap". Deacon Jones would be proud.

Titans starting MLB Rocky Calmus broke his right leg during Monday nights game against the Jets. Brad Kassell replaced him and will likely take his place in the starting lineup.

Look for Vikings rookie LB E.J.Henderson to see an increase in playing time over starter Greg Biekert. The 34 year old Biekert has started to slow down and is on pace for his lowest tackle output (64 solos) since he became a full-time starter with the Raiders in 1994.

Rams DT Brian Young has played well filling in while Damione Lewis nursed an ankle injury (inactive weeks 9-12), so well that St.Louis plans on keeping him in the starting lineup even though Lewis is back on the field.

Record breaker. No, not Bruce Smith, who's still tied with Reggie White for the all-time career lead. How about Colts DE Dwight Freeney, who picked up his 10th sack of the season on Sunday and 23rd in his two year career. He is fifth all-time among pass-rushers in their first two seasons. Reaching #3 is possible with four games remaining, as he needs three sacks to match JeVon Kearse's 26, but it's unlikely that he'll catch Derrick Thomas or Reggie White who have 30 and 31, respectively.

Deltha O'Neal, WR-DEN. Though he's caught just two passes for four yards in the two games since he's been converted to a wide receiver, Mike Shanahan has called him a natural at the position. Wasn't that what they called him as a Pro Bowl cornerback?

Rams DE Leonard Little missed four weeks (9-12) with a torn pectoral. So what did he do in his first game back, against the Vikings on Sunday? Little picked up a sack for each game that he missed, four total, and forced two fumbles for good measure. Sort of like the "tree in the woods" saying...If you force Daunte Culpepper to fumble, does it actually count in the stats?

Going into Monday nights game against the Jets, the Tennessee Titans were on pace to set an NFL record by averaging allowing just 20.1 carries per game. The 30 carries posted by the Jets (24 by Curtis Martin) raised that to 20.9...not a record.

The matchup to watch this weekend is New England v. Miami, with the subplot of S Rodney Harrison v. TE Randy McMichael. After their first matchup, during week seven, McMichael accused Harrison of taking a cheap shot (imagine that). "He took a cheap shot. He clubbed me in the back of my head. But that's him. That's his game." Harrison's response? "We're going to try to rip his head off." And that comes from a future NFL official.