Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:13:48 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Football :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/football istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-could-suffer-due-to-arizonas-leisurely-week/86681/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Brett Favre and Kurt Warner are older players playing a young man's game. On Sunday, they'll try to get back on track — against each other as starting quarterbacks — coming off disappointing performances in Week 3. "When you've been in this league for a long time, it's kind of like a badge of courage to say, 'I'm still playing, I'm still being able to accomplish things, even at this stage,'" Warner said this week. Favre's ankle, which he sprained against the Chargers on Monday in a... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-smell-the-blood-in-water-against-patriots/85733/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The Brett Favre era in New York began in earnest last week. So did the Matt Cassel era in New England. With one hit from Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, Brady's season was over as he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Favre, however, opened the possibility of a new AFC East champion with a strong debut in the win over the Miami Dolphins. Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, however, says hang on. "I think the New England Patriots have... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/sec-pecking-order-to-be-determined-this-weekend/86218/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST College football remains a sport that relies on beauty pageant-style judging to rank its teams and decide which ones get to contest its championship. Though the Bowl Championship Series has injected a measure of objectivity into the process through the use of computer polls, it is the human votes that still carry the most weight. It can be hard to take the polls seriously when they continue to churn out results such as Ohio State (who struggled with Ohio and were destroyed by USC) ahead of Penn... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-jets-end-talks-with-company-with-nazi-past/85769/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:50:51 EST NEWARK, N.J. — The New York Giants and New York Jets have canceled negotiations with a German insurance company that once had ties to the Nazis. Allianz had been looking to buy naming rights to the new stadium being built in northern New Jersey. The move was criticized by Jewish groups and Holocaust survivors. The company says it has atoned for its past history and should not be judged by its World War II record. A statement from The New Meadowlands Stadium company said they are no longer in... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/all-signs-point-to-a-giant-romp-in-st-louis/85734/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST In weighing strengths against weaknesses, there's no better place to start in this week's Giants-Rams game than in the trenches. The Giants boast one of the five best offensive lines in the NFL — and though it might not feature a star within it, it's one of the more consistent, cohesive groups you'll find. Right guard Chris Snee often is mentioned as the most talented member, but right tackle Kareem McKenzie was dominant in the season opener. The Rams have the name value — Adam Carriker and... DOUG FARRAR http://www.nysun.com/sports/week-2-around-the-nfl/85732/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season featured an unbelievable string of injuries. From Tom Brady's torn ACL and MCL to Shawne Merriman's torn PCL and LCL, the league's injury report was all-encompassing. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost both starting guards, and at one point this week, the Seattle Seahawks had a total of two receivers left on their roster. It could be argued that the losses of Brady and Merriman deny the NFL its single most dynamic offensive and defensive players, but teams all over are... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/nfl-players-association-finds-itself-at/85175/ Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The NFL season begins tonight, and there is no talk of labor strife or negotiations between the owners and players — even though the owners want a new collective bargaining agreement. There are three years still to go before the owners could lock out the players, or the players can strike. But this much is known: The players are in no rush to fill their association's post of executive director, which was left open after the death of Gene Upshaw. The players are now in season, and there will not... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/saints-to-kick-off-at-new-orleans-superdome/85030/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:18:49 EST NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints are returning to the Superdome for their NFL season-opener Sunday. Forced to flee to Indianapolis ahead of Hurricane Gustav, the Saints will be able to open their season as scheduled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said today. The person declined to be identified because an official announcement had not been made. The Louisiana Superdome was not used as a refuge during Gustav as it was during Katrina three... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/what-weve-learned-in-the-first-four-weeks/86843/ Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST With four weekends of NFL action in the books, here's our quarterly report on the best and worst of the 2008 season so far. Best player so far: Jay Cutler, quarterback, Denver Broncos Cutler was once known mostly as the "other" quarterback in the draft that produced Vince Young and Matt Leinart. Now Young and Leinart are stuck on the bench, and all Cutler has done is complete 65% of his passes, for 1,275 yards and nine touchdowns. The 25-year-old Cutler isn't just a star of the future; he's a... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/big-12-outshines-sec-in-chaotic-weekend/86773/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST If this weekend's carnage at the top of the college football polls bore a familiar look, it should: It was vintage 2007. Last year's was a season marked by uncertainty, when no poll position was safe. Upsets became so common that Ohio State lost its final home contest — and still made the Bowl Championship Series title game. LSU lost its final regular-season game, its second loss of the season, and still won the national championship. This season appears headed for more chaos after a weekend in... ALLEN BARRA http://www.nysun.com/sports/bills-and-titans-signal-power-shift-in-the-nfc/86774/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The Tennessee Titans vs. the Buffalo Bills — or maybe the Baltimore Ravens — for the AFC title? At the beginning of the season, it was assumed by nearly all prognosticators — and rightly so, I think — that the AFC had the three best teams in the NFL, the Giants' colossal upset win in the Super Bowl notwithstanding. As it turns out, New England's defense is probably too old to win for them even if Tom Brady hadn't been injured. The Indianapolis Colts, with what looked like a clear path to the... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-unleash-favre-and-he-lights-up-scoreboard/86775/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST If the Jets get to the playoffs this year, they'll look back at yesterday's win over the Arizona Cardinals as the game when the Brett Favre of old was unleashed, and their season was turned around. Favre at times appeared to be hobbled by an injured ankle, but he nonetheless started his 257th consecutive regular-season game. And after three weeks of looking too tentative and cautious, in his fourth game as a Jet Favre unleashed a flurry of long bombs and showed off his trademark strong arm in a... DENNIS WASZAK Jr. http://www.nysun.com/sports/favre-throws-6-tds-as-jets-fly-over-arizona/86728/ Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:48:18 EST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets' defense rattled and roughed up Kurt Warner in the second quarter, and Brett Favre took care of the rest. Favre threw a career-high and Jets-record six touchdown passes, including three to Laveranues Coles, and New York took advantage of a series of mistakes by Arizona in a big second quarter before holding on to beat the Cardinals 56-35 today. Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin was carted off the field after a scary helmet-to-helmet collision with... DOUG FARRAR http://www.nysun.com/sports/week-4-around-the-nfl/86707/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:09:48 EST Six teams get byes this week, including both Super Bowl XLII entrants. However, there are some intriguing story lines among the remaining teams. The AFC's best squads (Buffalo, Tennessee, Denver) all line up against what should be fairly easy opponents. The NFC's biggest surprise, the Carolina Panthers, have a strong divisional matchup, and the Dallas Cowboys will look to gain a stronghold in the NFC East and firmly establish themselves as the league's best. Atlanta at Carolina The Panthers... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/penn-state-faces-first-real-test-this-weekend/86708/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:12:37 EST The Southeastern Conference, with three teams in the Associated Press top five and five in the top 15, has been the talk of the early college football season. Once again, the nation's biggest game this weekend will be an SEC contest, as Alabama visits Georgia. But other leagues are prepared to grab a share of the spotlight, starting with the Big Ten. The misnamed conference begins league play tomorrow with a pair of important games, including the first real test for its 11th team, Penn State... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/much-maligned-lions-president-matt-millen-is-sent/86597/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Matt Millen insisted he would stick with the tough job of turning the Detroit Lions into a winner instead of returning to the broadcast booth to make easy money. So the Lions got rid of him. Finally. The Lions fired Millen seven-plus years after the acclaimed TV analyst and Super Bowl-winning linebacker took over as team president for one of the NFL's mediocre franchises and made it the worst. "I have relieved Matt Millen of his duties effective immediately," Lions owner... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/favre-uncertain-if-injury-will-limit-him/86598/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Brett Favre was uncertain yesterday how limited he'll be by a sore ankle during practices this week. The 38-year-old Favre, who has started an NFL record for quarterbacks 256 straight regular-season games, rolled the ankle in the third quarter of the Jets' 48-29 loss at San Diego on Monday night. New York hosts Arizona on Sunday. "He's going to go out and work, and I anticipate him playing on Sunday," coach Eric Mangini said, echoing his comments from a day earlier. Favre gingerly stretched at... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/coughlin-sends-message-with-burress-suspension/86600/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The Giants sent a strong message to Plaxico Burress yesterday, suspending their star wide receiver for two weeks after he missed work on Monday and Tuesday and didn't return phone calls from team officials. Burress will be banished from the team's facility until October 6, the day after the Giants host the Seattle Seahawks. This week is the Giants' bye, so the two-week suspension will force Burress to miss only one game. Giants coach Tom Coughlin has often clashed with Burress, for reasons... TOM CANAVAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-suspend-plaxio-burress-for-one-game/86514/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:42:20 EST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress was suspended for one game by the New York Giants today for an undisclosed violation of team rules. General manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin informed Burress of the suspension this morning before the team held a bye-week practice. The suspension takes effect immediately, meaning Burress will miss the Giants (3-0) game against the Seattle Seahawks on October 5. Burress was not immediately available for comment. His agent, Drew... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/at-ugly-1-2-jets-must-rethink-their-flight-plan/86499/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Before the season, Jets fans looked at the first three games on the schedule and figured the team could start 1-2 and still be in good shape. After all, with the New England Patriots coming to town in Week 2 and a trip to San Diego to play the Chargers in Week 3, the Jets had to play both of the participants in last year's AFC Championship Game. There's no shame in losing to those teams. But now the first three games have been played and the Jets are, in fact, 1-2, and all of a sudden a 1-2... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/manning-may-make-fewest-mistakes-of-any-qb/86376/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Tom Coughlin has always hated mental errors. From his early days coaching at Boston College to his tenure at the helm of the Jacksonville Jaguars and now, as the head coach of the Giants, the one thing that has always aroused his anger was having players who committed turnovers, missed assignments and generally made mistakes. Who ever thought that would make Eli Manning the perfect quarterback for Coughlin? For much of Manning's NFL career he's faced criticism that he wasn't consistent enough... BERNIE WILSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-falter-to-san-diegos-onslaught-48-29/86408/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:49:33 EST SAN DIEGO — Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and the rest of the San Diego Chargers simply left no doubt. Frustrated by two gut-wrenching losses, the Chargers raced past nemesis Brett Favre and the New York Jets for a 48-29 victory tonight in a wild game befitting two original AFL teams. Rivers threw three touchdown passes, Tomlinson scored his first two TDs of the season and San Diego finally got back at Favre after all these years. They sacked him four times and intercepted him twice... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/in-the-sec-drama-comes-courtesy-of-lsu/86333/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Whatever one thinks of the SEC's place atop the college football landscape, there is little doubt the league — and particularly LSU — has the market cornered on drama. Such was the case Saturday night as LSU and Auburn engaged in the kind of back-and-forth struggle that will be remembered for many years. It's also the kind of game LSU has made a habit of playing, and winning, the last few years. This game had everything a fan could want: great defense, huge hits, spectacular plays, risky calls... ALLEN BARRA http://www.nysun.com/sports/ignore-pittsburghs-fans-steelers-can-pass/86332/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger should sue his offensive line for lack of support — and while he's at it, he should file a class action suit against their fans. Pittsburgh fans want to win — they want to win playing "Steelers football," which means strength and running with the pass held back as a secondary weapon. That's how they think they won all their Super Bowls back in the 1970s under head coach Chuck Noll, with the Steel Curtain holding the opposition to under 17 points and Franco Harris... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/despite-struggles-giants-show-winning-touch/86335/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It wasn't easy and it wasn't pretty, but the Giants' 26–23 overtime victory over the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday was a hard-fought win that has the defending champions looking very much like a team that can get back to the Super Bowl. In fact, it was a win that answered the two biggest questions facing the Giants heading into the season: Can their passing offense make up for the absence of the traded tight end Jeremy Shockey? And can their passing defense make up for the absence of the retired... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/san-diegos-frustrations-could-overwhelm-jets/86336/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST If the Jets lost to the Patriots by nine at home in Week 2, and the Patriots lost at home by 25 on Sunday, what does it say about the state of the AFC East? Tonight, that topic will be the least of the Jets' concerns as they face a San Diego Chargers team that is 0–2 and angry — at itself and referee Ed Hochuli — for its poor start. The Jets come into the game with questions of their own, most centering around the team's play-calling in the Patriots loss, specifically with three consecutive... TOM CANAVAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-sneak-past-cincinnati-in-overtime-26-23/86266/ Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:45:50 EST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants are off to their best start since 2000, and a late play that was not reviewed in overtime may have helped. John Carney kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:39 left in the extra session and the Super Bowl champions overcame a strong effort by the winless Cincinnati Bengals for a 26-23 victory today. The play that set up the winning kick was a 31-yard pass to Amani Toomer from Eli Manning down the left sideline. Did Toomer get both feet in bounds?... DOUG FARRAR http://www.nysun.com/sports/week-3-around-the-nfl/86219/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It takes a while to see the truth behind a season, but a few questions will be answered early, even after just two weeks. Teams like the Chiefs and Rams are what we thought they were, while the Colts and Jaguars have to fight through weakened offensive lines to maintain residence at the top. The Raiders are still full of drama, the Vikings still don't have a quarterback, and the Lions still can't see the forest for the trees. And in the regular season, at least, the Patriots always seem to win... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-wont-take-the-0-2-bengals-lightly/86220/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Beware the caged tiger, or in this case the caged Bengals. That's the message that Tom Coughlin is giving to his 2-0 Giants, winners both times in convincing fashion, for this week's 0-2 opponent. The Bengals have looked listless in their two losses, especially in Sunday's wind-addled 24-7 loss to the Titans and their replacement quarterback Kerry Collins. And for once, it's the Bengals' offense that is getting the most heat, having made a league-low 19 first downs, 17 points, and 369 total... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-special-teams-have-been-far-from-special/86019/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Late in the third quarter of their loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, the Jets trailed 13-3 and faced a fourth down at their own 25-yard line. They had to punt, and they needed a good one. They didn't get it. Ben Graham sent the kick just 38 yards, and New England's Kevin Faulk returned it 24 yards. That set up the Patriots in good field position, and after a short drive the Patriots kicked a field goal and increased their lead to 16-3. At first glance, Graham's short punt, the Jets'... ALLEN BARRA http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-share-division-with-nfcs-two-best-teams/86020/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Since the NFL can't make the Giants give back their Super Bowl rings, it's probably safe to disclose a little secret that is known only to everyone who had a television set last season: The Giants really weren't the best team in the league last year, or even the best team in their own conference. The Dallas Cowboys were, and if it hadn't been for injuries and bad luck, the Philadelphia Eagles probably would have been. Last year, the Cowboys whipped the Giants solidly, twice, by a total of 21... CALEB PEIFFER http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-should-be-careful-with-lincecums-workload/86021/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Last Saturday night in San Diego, Tim Lincecum, the best pitcher in the National League this season, threw a complete-game shutout against the Padres. It was a magnificent performance — the 24-year-old gave up just four hits, none of them for extra bases, while walking three and striking out 12. Lincecum lowered his league-leading ERA down to 2.43 with this gem, and raised his major league-leading strikeout total to 237. But was the first career complete game for the second-year righty worth... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/which-of-the-surprising-0-2-teams-will-rebound/85923/ Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Forget last year's champion Giants for a minute. Ten NFL teams find themselves at 0-2 after Week 2, and history tells us that no more than two of them are likely to make the postseason. Yes, the Giants started 0-2 last season and won the Super Bowl. But since the playoff format expanded to 12 teams in 1990, only 19 teams have started 0-2 and made the playoffs. And in any given season since 1990, no more than two teams starting 0-2 have gone to the playoffs in that same year. We don't concern... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/buckeyes-cant-put-it-together-when-on-big-stage/85832/ Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST If Ohio State can find any solace in a 35-3 humiliation at the hands of USC Saturday night, it is this: Jim Tressel's club won't have to worry about being a national punch line in a third-straight Bowl Championship Series title game. That's because there will be no third-straight BCS title-game appearance, not after being thoroughly dominated in every phase of the game against Southern Cal. For those keeping score, this is the tally of Ohio State's shame: 114-41, that being the combined score... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/even-not-playing-their-best-giants-dismantle-rams/85833/ Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Even when they look like they're sleepwalking through much of the game, the Giants are good enough to win by four touchdowns. The Giants didn't always look good during their 41-13 win over the Rams in St. Louis yesterday, but they showed off a balanced, turnover-free offense and a stout defense, and they generally looked like they've picked up in September pretty much where they left off at the Super Bowl in February. And that was on a day when they didn't really pull away until the fourth... ALLEN BARRA http://www.nysun.com/sports/colts-get-outplayed-but-peyton-manning-finds-a-way/85835/ Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Vince Lombardi once observed that the only real flaw in football was that it overemphasized the importance of one position: quarterback. Lombardi should have seen the Colts defeat the Vikings 18-15 in Minneapolis yesterday. So should you, if you have any doubts as to who is the best quarterback in the NFL. Minnesota whipped Indianapolis at 21 of 22 positions — 22 out of 23 if you want to count placekicker, but don't get me started on special teams. They outrushed the Colts by the mind-boggling... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/brady-or-not-patriots-prove-they-are-team-to-beat/85836/ Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST As expected, the New England Patriots' offense struggled with Matt Cassel playing in place of the injured Tom Brady. But the Jets' offense struggled even more, Cassel played a better game than Brett Favre, and the Patriots left the Meadowlands with a 19-10 win. Cassel was making his first start since he led Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles, and the Jets' defense was expected to take an aggressive approach that would rattle him and force him to make mistakes. Instead, they were surprisingly... R.B. FALLSTROM http://www.nysun.com/sports/sacks-and-tds-aid-giants-blowout-against-rams/85780/ Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:12:09 EST ST. LOUIS — A 97-yard drive put the New York offense in gear. Another stifling effort from a big-play defense led by Justin Tuck made much of the scoring window dressing in the Giants' 12th straight away victory, including their Super Bowl victory last February. Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes and the Giants sacked Marc Bulger six times while limiting the St. Louis Rams to a fluke touchdown in a 41-13 victory today. The Rams (0-2) came up with another dud in their home opener, which... DENNIS WASZAK Jr. http://www.nysun.com/sports/favre-jets-fail-to-stop-brady-less-patriots/85783/ Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:04:34 EST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Life without Tom Brady might not be so bad for New England after all. Matt Cassel was efficient running the offense in his first NFL start, taking over for the injured quarterback and leading the Patriots over Brett Favre and the New York Jets 19-10 on today. Cassel, who hadn't started at any level since his senior year of high school, was 16-of-23 for 165 yards, Sammy Morris ran for a touchdown and Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals. The Jets and Patriots... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/other-games-to-watch-this-weekend/85731/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Ohio State-USC gets top billing Saturday, but there's are plenty of other matchups worth keeping an eye on, including these three: No. 13 Kansas (2-0) at No. 19 South Florida (2-0) Friday, 8 p.m., ESPN2 Kansas faces its most challenging nonconference game in a visit to South Florida, where the Bulls could stamp themselves as the class of the Big East with a win. That opportunity is there for South Florida because West Virginia has already suffered an upset loss, Rutgers and Pitt do not look... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/wells-injury-makes-osus-task-even-more-daunting/85735/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST College football's early story line has been dominated by the sport's have-nots, including East Carolina of Conference USA, which has notched a pair of upsets over ranked Bowl Championship Series conference teams. This will change Saturday night, though, when no. 5 Ohio State — most likely without its best offensive player, tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells — visits top-ranked USC in the season's first battle between mega-programs. No. 5 Ohio State (2-0) at No. 1 USC (1-0) Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-have-good-shot-to-start-6-0/85624/ Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Counting the postseason, the Giants' current five-game winning streak is the longest in the NFL. With the way their upcoming schedule plays out, they could easily have a 10-game winning streak by late October. NFL players and coaches always insist that they take the schedule one game at a time and that they never look beyond the current opponent. But the rest of us are free to look ahead. And looking at the Giants' schedule for the first two months of the season, it's clear that the NFL gave... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-jets-have-bright-futures-in-the-secondary/85526/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST In the fourth quarter of Thursday's game against the Redskins, Giants rookie safety Kenny Phillips tackled Washington wide receiver Santana Moss for a 4-yard gain on third-and-17, keeping him in bounds, keeping the clock running, and all but ending the Redskins' last chance at a comeback. In the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Jets rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery deflected two straight passes in the end zone from Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington, ending a... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/merriman-pulls-plug-on-season-will-have-surgery/85528/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST SAN DIEGO — Star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman pulled the plug on his 2008 season yesterday when he told the San Diego Chargers he'll have surgery on the two torn ligaments in his left knee. The loss of Merriman, whose hard hits earned him the nickname "Lights Out," is a big one for a team that has Super Bowl expectations. Merriman's decision came two days after he barely resembled the player who had an NFL-high 39 1/2 sacks in the past three seasons and played in three straight Pro Bowls... ALLEN BARRA http://www.nysun.com/sports/warner-is-the-nfls-most-underrated-quarteback/85438/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Some time before the end of the season — my guess is that it will be around Week 4, when the Arizona Cardinals come to the Meadowlands — the Jets and their fans are going to ask the question, "Wouldn't we have been better off trying to get Kurt Warner?" Indeed, they would have. So would more than half of the teams in the NFL. Warner is one of the best passers in pro football history and, even though it's later in his career, one of the best in the game today. He's better than Matt Hasselbeck or... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/bradys-season-is-officially-over/85439/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady will miss the entire NFL season with a left knee injury that will require surgery, leaving the New England Patriots without one of the game's great quarterbacks, their Super Bowl hopes severely damaged. The 2007 NFL Most Valuable Player will be placed on injured reserve, the Patriots said yesterday, one day after his knee was injured in the first quarter of a 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. A statement issued before coach Bill Belichick's news conference... JIMMY GOLEN http://www.nysun.com/sports/opening-day-injury-ends-season-for-tom-brady/85385/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 15:41:41 EST FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is out for the season with a left knee injury that will require surgery. The 2007 NFL Most Valuable Player will be placed on injured reserve, the Patriots said today, one day after his knee was injured in the first quarter of a 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. A statement issued before coach Bill Belichick's news conference said Brady will have surgery, ending his 128-game starting streak, the third longest for a... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/brady-injury-sends-ripples-throughout-nfl/85337/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The NFL season changed dramatically yesterday when the New England Patriots appeared to suffer the most serious setback imaginable: Quarterback Tom Brady is expected to miss the rest of the year after a serious knee injury on the NFL's opening Sunday. Although the full extent of Brady's injury won't be known until an MRI exam is conducted, reports last night indicated that he had sustained significant ligament damage and wouldn't be able to play again this season. The absence of Brady would... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/pirates-early-favorites-to-crash-bcs-party/85341/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Tropical Storm Hanna was supposed to turn Saturday's West Virginia-East Carolina game into a quagmire. Instead, clear skies appeared over Greenville, N.C., but the Mountaineers got hit by Hurricane Holtz — as in Skip Holtz, suddenly the coach of the hottest program in college football. Holtz, the son of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, is in his fourth season at East Carolina. With 16 starters back, the Pirates were expected to contend for the Conference USA title, but few expected them to... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/pennington-nearly-spoils-favres-solid-debut/85343/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Brett Favre's 443rd touchdown pass — and his first as a Jet — was a sight to behold. Favre used a textbook-perfect play-action fake to draw the Miami Dolphins' defense toward him, and then he launched a rocket to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery for a 56-yard score. That pass in the first quarter of yesterday's game at Miami gave Favre's tenure with the Jets a nearly perfect beginning. Favre's second touchdown pass as a Jet was a hideous thing, a desperate heave that hung in the air forever...