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Essential News Coaches HC Dick LaBeau (Cin) was fired. The Bengals brought in Tom Coughlin for an interview this week. HC Dave Campo (Dal) was fired. Bill Parcels has named the new Dallas head coach. HC Tom Coughlin (Jac) was fired. HC Mike Holmgren (Sea) will remain with the Seahawks as their head coach, but will not be the GM. No General Manager has been selected yet. Quarterbacks QB Jim Miller (Chi) will have surgery on his shoulder and will not be able to participate in off-season workouts (which occur in February). QB Tim Couch (Cle) is out for the playoffs with a broken fibula. Kelly Holcomb will start for the team. QB Brett Favre (GB) is expected to play this weekend despite his ankle and knee injuries. QB Trent Green (KC) is due an $8 million roster bonus in March. Some have worried that Green will be released, but look for the team and Green to work out a new contract before the incentive is due. QB Tom Brady (NE) finished the season with a slight separation in his shoulder. He will not need surgery and expects to be fully healthy by training camp. QB Rich Gannon (Oak) has been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. Brett Favre finished second. QB Donovan McNabb (Phi) practiced on Thursday and Friday and he looks as if he will start next week for the Eagles. The Eagles have not officially named a starter for next week's game, but most assume if McNabb can play he will start. QB Brad Johnson (TB) took a majority of the 1st team snaps on Wednesday and was named the starter for the team's first playoff game (which is in the 2nd round). QB Steve McNair (Ten) took snaps with the first unit on Thursday for about an hour. He also practiced on Frday taking half of the snaps. He is expected to start as usual next week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Running Backs RB Bob Christian (Atl) will miss the entire playoffs after being placed on the injured reserve list. RB TJ Duckett (Atl) had a good day of practice on Wednesday, and it looks like his knee is better. He will play this weekend. RB Tony Fisher (GB) is uncertain for the opening round of the playoffs. RB Tiki Barber (NYG) left practice on Friday after his back tightened up. The team commented that the injury is not considered serious and Tiki will start as expected this weekend. RB Jerome Bettis, Amos Zereoue, and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (Pit) will all see action in the playoffs. A starter has not yet been named. Bettis is expected to play with a brace on his knee. RB Kevan Barlow (SF) is expected to play this weekend despite missing practice early in the week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Wide Receivers WR Shawn Jefferson (Atl) practiced this week, but the team is not sure how much (if at all) they'll use him this weekend. Brian Finneran and Trevor Gaylor are expected to start. WR Donald Driver (GB) was able to practice on Thursday, but he did not show Coach Mike Sherman enough to be a definite for this weekend's game. Today, Driver also revealed that his shoulder (officially described as bruised and strained) was partially dislocated in last Sunday's game (it popped out of socket when Driver hit the ground and then back as he turned over). The team will evaluate Driver's shoulder over the next 24 hours and determine whether he's capable of playing on Saturday. If Driver can not play, Robert Ferguson will start in his place. WR Robert Ferguson (GB) practiced on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's session. As mentioned above, Ferguson will start if Driver can not go. WR Qadry Ismail (Ind) was placed on IR this week ending his season. Reggie Wayne will start opposite of Marvin Harrison. Troy Walters will be the #3 WR. WR Ron Dixon (NYG) practiced on Friday with the first unit for the majority of plays and is expected to start this week opposite of Amani Toomer. WR Todd Pinkston (Phi) practiced on Friday, but is not 100%. He is expected to play next week provided he continues to progress without setbacks. WR Terrell Owens (SF) practiced on Wednesday and Thursday. He will start as expected this week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Tight Ends TE Roland Williams (Oak) has a partially torn ACL, a torn MCL, and torn ligaments in his big toe, but he still expects to play next week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Place Kickers None. Cheatsheets These reflect the latest tweaks as of Friday Night, January 3rd Quarterbacks: 1. Chad Pennington - NYJ (vs Ind) 2. Michael Vick - Atl (at GB) 3. Jeff Garcia - SF (vs NYG) 4. Brett Favre (P) - GB (vs Atl) 5. Peyton Manning - Ind (at NYJ) 6. Kerry Collins - NYG (at SF) 7. Tommy Maddox - Pit (vs Cle) 8. Kelly Holcomb - Cle (at Pit) Running Backs: 1. Ahman Green - GB (vs Atl) 2. Curtis Martin - NYJ (vs Ind) 3. Tiki Barber - NYG (at SF) 4. Warrick Dunn - Atl (at GB) 5. Edgerrin James - Ind (at NYJ) 6. William Green - Cle (at Pit) 7. Jerome Bettis (P) - Pit (vs Cle) 8. Garrison Hearst - SF (vs NYG) 9. Amos Zereoue - Pit (vs Cle) 10. Kevan Barlow (P) - SF (vs NYG) 11. Jamel White - Cle (at Pit) 12. James Mungro - Ind (at NYJ) 13. Ron Dayne - NYG (at SF) 14. Tony Fisher (P) - GB (vs Atl) 15. Richie Anderson - NYJ (vs Ind) 16. TJ Duckett - Atl (at GB) 17. Lamont Jordan - NYJ (vs Ind) 18. William Henderson - GB (vs Atl) 19. Charles Stackhouse - NYG (at SF) Tight Ends: 1. Jeremy Shockey - NYG (at SF) 2. Bubba Franks - GB (vs Atl) 3. Anthony Becht - NYJ (vs Ind) 4. Eric Johnson - SF (vs NYG) 5. Marcus Pollard - Ind (at NYJ) 6. Alge Crumpler - Atl (at GB) 7. Mark Campbell - Cle (at Pit) 8. Tyrone Davis - GB (vs Atl) 9. Dan Campbell - NYG (at SF) 10. Jerame Tuman - Pit (vs Cle) 11. Reggie Kelly - Atl (at GB) 12. Steve Heiden - Cle (at Pit) Wide Receivers: 1. Marvin Harrison - Ind (at NYJ) 2. Terrell Owens (P) - SF (vs NYG) 3. Laveranues Coles - NYJ (vs Ind) 4. Amani Toomer - NYG (at SF) 5. Hines Ward - Pit (vs Cle) 6. Plaxico Burress - Pit (vs Cle) 7. Donald Driver (Q) - GB (vs Atl) 8. Wayne Chrebet - NYJ (vs Ind) 9. Brian Finneran - Atl (at GB) 10. Terry Glenn - GB (vs Atl) 11. Kevin Johnson - Cle (at Pit) 12. Quincy Morgan - Cle (at Pit) 13. Reggie Wayne - Ind (at NYJ) 14. Tai Streets - SF (vs NYG) 15. Trevor Gaylor - Atl (at GB) 16. Dennis Northcutt - Cle (at Pit) 17. Antwaan Randle El - Pit (vs Cle) 18. Santana Moss - NYJ (vs Ind) 19. Ron Dixon (Q) - NYG (at SF) 20. Shawn Jefferson (Q) - Atl (at GB) 21. JJ Stokes - SF (vs NYG) 22. Robert Ferguson (P) - GB (vs Atl) 23. Javon Walker - GB (vs Atl) 24. Andre Davis - Cle (at Pit) 25. Troy Walters - Ind (at NYJ) 26. Terance Mathis - Pit (vs Cle) Team Defenses: 1. Pittsburgh Steelers - Pit (vs Cle) 2. Green Bay Packers - GB (vs Atl) 3. New York Jets - NYJ (vs Ind) 4. San Francisco 49ers - SF (vs NYG) 5. New York Giants - NYG (at SF) 6. Atlanta Falcons - Atl (at GB) 7. Indianapolis Colts - Ind (at NYJ) 8. Cleveland Browns - Cle (at Pit) Place Kickers: 1. Ryan Longwell - GB (vs Atl) 2. Jeff Reed - Pit (vs Cle) 3. John Hall - NYJ (vs Ind) 4. Jeff Chandler - SF (vs NYG) 5. Mike Vanderjagt - Ind (at NYJ) 6. Matt Bryant - NYG (at SF) 7. Jay Feely - Atl (at GB) 8. Phil Dawson - Cle (at Pit) |