Hali still franchised

Looks like we have #21 Draft slot. Lets go pioli.

The Football Scientist K.C. Joyner has dubbed Jammer, along with the Chiefs' Brandon Flowers, one of the NFL's premier shutdown corners this season, ahead Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Steve Johnson's 8/158/1 breakout in Week 7 was a nice story, but the Bills' RWR will square off with Chiefs shutdown LCB Brandon Flowers in this one. Johnson's ability to create space in the red zone with crisp route running makes him a decent bet to score, but Lee Evans has a better matchup against RCB Brandon Carr.

I don't think it's going to get better vs the chiefs awesome coverage team.

The Texans’ normally dynamic special teams unit has struggled on kickoff returns this season. With running back Steve Slaton as the primary kick returner, the team’s longest kick return has been 33 yards. The Texans are averaging 19.0 yards per return, which ranks 29th in the league.

"I’m not happy with kick returns," Kubiak said. "It’s been very poor. Are we going to change returners or anything? No. We need to block better. We need to return better. We all need to do something better, but it hasn’t been good enough. It has hurt us."

Expect Denver to scour the waiver wire for help at outside linebacker, but there is little available. Also, safety Brian Dawkins is out for the next 2-3 weeks. Dawkins is Denver’s leader and the loss will also hurt the team.

Expect Denver to scour the waiver wire for help at outside linebacker, but there is little available. Also, safety Brian Dawkins is out for the next 2-3 weeks. Dawkins is Denver’s leader and the loss will also hurt the team.

Indy never Punted.

I was just looking at the stats and saw that McCluster had 0 attempts for Punt Return. Good Game, well played. Getting Better.

ESPN starting to believe

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. looks at the top-10 pass rushers in the NFL. He ranks Kansas City’s Tamba Hali No. 9. San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips was unranked despite having four sacks against Arizona and being second in the NFL with six sacks.

Merriman may be traded or cut

Maybe this is why Pioli didn't draft a NT this year. Between him, Cody, and Cam Thomas, they don't appear very strong. Great job by pioli not drafting just to fill a position.

The Cardinals will reportedly deactivate rookie NT Dan Williams for Week 4 because the first-round pick is overweight.
It's another blow to a struggling Arizona run defense. Williams has played extremely well off the bench in his opportunities behind starter Bryan Robinson. Gabe Watson will likely be active Sunday against the Chargers.

The Chargers have issues.

They have the worst special teams in football by far, necessitating roster churning. They have a healthy Pro Bowler that is not allowed to play. They are on their 47th long snapper and now they have a host of other injured players taking up roster spots.

Outside linebacker Larry English underwent surgery on his foot Tuesday, the team announced. He's expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Fellow outside 'backer Shawne Merriman only played three snaps Sunday because of injuries to his calf and Achilles.

Oh, and guard Louis Vasquez will miss a least two games with a MCL sprain, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego-Union Tribune.

Perhaps the biggest cause for optimism for the 1-2 Chargers is their schedule: San Diego faces Arizona, Oakland, and St. Louis over the next three weeks.

The other corner drafted out of BAMA (1st RD) that played opposite Arenas

Romo, in completing 23 of 30 passes for 284 yards, exposed Houston’s flaws at cornerback. First-round rookie Kareem Jackson struggles early in coverage. If it’s zone, Jackson’s not always sure how long to carry the receiver. If it’s man, he doesn’t always deliver an effective jam (no rhyme intended).

2. Chiefs - For all of the hand-wringing over the distribution of carries, this backfield boasts two of the top-10 rushers in the NFL after three weeks. Though he's received just 11.3 carries per game, Jamaal Charles is seventh in the league with 238 rushing yards at an astounding 7.0 yards per tote. Thomas Jones, carrying the ball six more times per game, falls 17 yards shy of Charles' total.

One of my first posts of the day mentioned that Chargers running back Ryan Mathews was iffy to play in Week Three.

For one of my last posts of the day -- hold the applause -- I can tell you that Ryan Mathews won't play in Seattle. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune has the news, describing how Mathews had a protective boot on for part of Thursday.

Acee notes that the Chargers are rather short on contributing rookies. Mathews will be out Sunday, while fourth-round safety Darrell Stuckey and fifth-round defensive tackle Cam Thomas have been inactive the last two weeks. (They were San Diego's third and fourth picks.)

Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith routinely put together outstanding draft classes in the middle of the decade, but his track record has been spottier the last few years.

I think Haley's conditioning is helping

Kansas City has permitted seven second-half points in 2010 and is one of four clubs that hasn’t allowed a score in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs have allowed opponents to convert just 28.6% (8 of 28) of their third down opportunities, a figure that is tied for sixth in the NFL.

Tailgate Party Wanted

1. Coming From NY for San Fran Game, 1st trip to Arrowhead
2. Looking to meet up with some APers and share some BBQ
3. Willing to compensate
4. didn't know how else to post this
5. See you at the game. -

2.7 is now 0.4 If you've watched any of the Redskins' first two games, it's become abundantly clear that Clinton Ports and Larry Johnson simply have very little left in the tank. Portis has averaged 3.1 YPC on 31 totes, while Johnson has averaged 0.4 YPC on five carries.

AFC Leaders---Who would have thought?

1. Kansas City 2-0 (beat perennial winner San Diego)
2. Miami 2-0
3. Pittsburgh 2-0
4. Houston 2-0 (Beat perennial Indy)
5. Gotta Love The NFL -

I know it's early but Ginn probably out for Week 3

Rookie WR Demaryius Thomas (foot) thinks he's still at least a couple weeks away from being able to play.
Thomas is slated to get his foot checked out by a specialist this week in hopes of getting clearance to play, but it sounds like he's not optimistic. It's likely the talented rookie's chance at making an impact won't come until later on this season.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune predicts that Shawne Merriman (Achilles) will not play on Monday Night Football.
Merriman, who only could do individual drills Wednesday, is likely to go through pre-game warmups before Chargers-Chiefs, with a determination made by the coaching staff based on how he looks. Merriman's status does not impact the Chargers' fantasy defense. He has four sacks since 2008.

Significant Losses?

too early for NT draft talk

Pats ILB-Special teamer released

alphonso smith of denver to detroit

SOUNDS LIKE BATTLE SHOULD MAKE 53==== HALEY: "I think he was a guy that would have been easy to ignore because we had at least three guys that looked like they were going to be in the mix one way or another. Then we had some other guys competition to get into the mix and Jackie Battle through consistently doing what our entire team needs to do which is get a little better every day, take advantage of opportunities when you are in the situation you can do that and he has done that. And because he has continued to get better on special teams, he is in the mix."

Another Donkey Down