The injury news continues to get worse for the Green Bay Packers.
Tight end Jermichael Finley, expected to miss at least three weeks with a right knee injury, is now likely out for the season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed source.
According to the newspaper, doctors discovered they could repair Finley's meniscus, rather then remove it, meaning a better long-term prognosis for the tight end but a longer recovery period in the short term. Finley's recovery period reportedly is now 8 to 10 weeks.
The 23-year-old Finley has 21 receptions for 301 yards and one touchdown this season.
Finley is among many injured Packers, headlined by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a concussion in Green Bay's Week 5 loss at Washington. Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday "it's possible" Rodgers miss miss Sunday's game against the Dolphins but will definitely miss some practice time.
In addition, linebacker Nick Barnett might miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury, linebacker Clay Matthews has a left hamstring strain, defensive lineman Ryan Pickett has an ankle sprain, tight end Donald Lee has a chest sprain and safety Derrick Martin was placed on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday with a knee sprain.
Matthews' injury was not as severe as the one that caused him to miss most of training camp and the preseason. Lee might be out a few weeks.
Meanwhile, veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher has a shoulder injury and was inactive against Washington.
Green Bay has already lost starting running back Ryan Grant to a season-ending ankle injury, starting safety Morgan Burnett to a torn ACL and backup defensive lineman Justin Harrell to a knee injury.
Cornerback Al Harris (knee) and safety Atari Bigby (ankle) might return to practice for the first time next week, although it's not clear whether either will be able to play right away.
Coach Wade Phillips' job is not in jeopardy after the Dallas Cowboys' 1-3 start, according to the franchise's top two executives.
Team executive vice president Stephen Jones told the NFL Network at the owners meetings in Chicago that Phillips' job was "absolutely" safe. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones reiterated that statement.
"I think in our organization everybody is taking responsibility, not just Wade," Stephen Jones said. "He does. He takes responsibility. The coaching staff takes responsibility. The players take it. We all take it. We're a team, we're an organization, and when we fall short we accept it as a team."
Phillips' job security has been a hot-button issue since the Cowboys missed the playoffs in 2008. Jerry Jones backed Phillips throughout the Cowboys' December downfall that year, but Jones wasn't as firm in his support last season. The Cowboys didn't commit to keeping Phillips until after the season, which came with it Dallas' second division title in three seasons and the franchise's first playoff win in 12 years.
Phillips, whose previous contract expired after last season, signed a new two-year deal in January. Jerry Jones made it clear during the news conference to announce the contract that the pressure to win remained in place for Phillips.
Breaking news, analysis, report cards, predictions ... everything you need to know about the Dallas Cowboys' matchups can be found right here. Cowboys Center
Jerry Jones has repeatedly expressed confidence this season in Phillips, who has a 35-20 record during his four-season tenure in Dallas. The Cowboys have never fired a coach in the middle of the season and are not considering making Phillips the first.
But Jerry Jones, who was not available in the postgame locker room for the first time in more than a year after Sunday's home loss to the Tennessee Titans, stressed the need for the Cowboys to have an extreme sense of urgency.
"We're running out of time, even though it's early in the season," he told the NFL Network. "If we're gonna go, we've got to go now and go hard."
Firing Wade in the middle of the season makes no sense anyway. If they did fire him then Jason Garrett would be the head coach and hes also part of the problem.
I have no doubt that Wade is gone at the end of the season unless they somehow pull it together and go very deep in the playoffs.
Restricted free agents Vincent Jackson and Logan Mankins both will report this season to their respective teams, the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, upon recommendation from the National Football Players Association, according to several sources.
Under this scenario, Jackson will report to the Chargers by Oct. 31 and Mankins will report to the Patriots by Nov. 16 to earn an accrued season and secure unrestricted free agency in 2011.
Jackson's reporting deadline is earlier because the Chargers elected to place him on roster exempt, meaning Jackson must sit out three unpaid games before he is eligible to receive the necessary six paid games to earn his sixth accrued season.
Neither Jackson nor Mankins could be reached for comment. Their agents, Neil Schwartz (Jackson) and Frank Bauer (Mankins), declined comment.
Jackson and Mankins were among the players caught in significant changes because of an uncapped year that moved unrestricted free agency from four years to six years. Jackson and Mankins became part of a large class of restricted free agents when their contracts expired after their fifth season (2009). Both declined to sign their restricted free agent contract tenders, a requirement before players can report to their teams.
Here's the rest of the article....mostly legal stuff:
In a related development, NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen recently sought clarification on the reporting dates because the NFL constitution has a by-law that states clubs have an option not reinstate a player who reports after Tuesday's trade deadline. That created a potential conflict with the labor agreement, which states that a player who has not signed a contract by the Tuesday following the 10th week of the regular season would be ineligible to play that year.
Jeffrey Kessler, chief outside legal counsel for the NFLPA, confirmed that he was asked by the union to clarify the potential conflict.
"The issue arose, we had a discussion and the league quickly agreed that the CBA supersedes the constitution on any potential conflicting provision," Kessler said.
"Yes, that's correct," confirmed NFL spokesman Greg Aiello via email. "In the CBA, a restricted free agent has the right to accept his tender and report to the club any time up until the Tuesday after week 10 (Nov. 16, 4 p.m. ET) of the regular season, whether or not the club requests or agrees to his reporting."
Berthelsen asked Kessler to get a clarification because the league constitution that governs its 32 member clubs addresses the status of specific absent players in by-law 17-13: "All players in categories of Reserve/Retired, Reserve/Did Not Report, and Reserve/Veteran Free Agent asked to Re-Sign will continue to be prohibited from being reinstated in the last 30 days of the regular season. Additionally, no player in such category shall be reinstated between the trade deadline of the applicable season and the normal 30-day deadline unless the club initiates the reinstatement request and the commissioner approves it."
The union wanted pre-emptive clarification in case one of the clubs attempted to use the constitutional by-law to prohibit Jackson and Mankins from reporting because it did not want to have file a grievance to a Special Master, creating further delay.
Kessler would not confirm that the union has recommended Jackson and Mankins report in time to get their sixth accrued season in the event there is no labor agreement. That would allow teams to impose the restricted contract tenders on them in 2011, per the current CBA.
The same sources strongly reaffirmed Jackson and Mankins will follow the NFLPA's recommendation and report to the Chargers and Patriots by their respective deadlines to ensure unrestricted free agency in 2011.
Jackson would miss his unpaid games of Oct. 31 (vs. Tennessee), Nov. 7 (at Houston) and Nov. 22 (vs. Broncos) because of his roster-exempt status before he can be paid for the final six games, starting Nov. 28 (at Indianapolis). The Chargers have a bye in week 10.
Mankins would have to report by the final deadline of Nov. 16, making him eligible to be paid and play in the final seven games because the Patriots had their bye in week five. The Patriots opted not to place him roster exempt, as the Chargers did with Jackson.
Both players can be traded by Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline if they are willing to sign their contract tenders. Jackson would have to sit out the first three games with his new team under his roster-exempt status before being eligible to play.
Jackson was able to serve a three-game suspension to begin the season for violation of the personal conduct policy after being convicted of a second DUI even though he is not under contract.
The Chargers receiver, a Pro Bowl selection in 2009, is not facing an automatic year suspension under the substance abuse policy -- the next alcohol or drug violation under a specific disciplinary scale, would cost Jackson four game checks. Jackson is being tested randomly several times per month under the policy.
By Jackson and Mankins earning a sixth accrued season, the only way the Chargers and Patriots can restrict their free agency in 2011 would be to place a franchise tag on them next February at a considerably higher guaranteed value than the restricted contract tenders. A transition tag also would be available for the Chargers and Patriots instead of the franchise tag, but the teams would not receive any draft pick compensation and would only have right of first refusal on any contract the players signed with another team.
Julius Jones is fast in the open field but he goes down too easy after contact. Sean Payton knows him from the Dallas days together so maybe he'll get something out of him.
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The injury news continues to get worse for the Green Bay Packers.
Tight end Jermichael Finley, expected to miss at least three weeks with a right knee injury, is now likely out for the season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed source.
According to the newspaper, doctors discovered they could repair Finley's meniscus, rather then remove it, meaning a better long-term prognosis for the tight end but a longer recovery period in the short term. Finley's recovery period reportedly is now 8 to 10 weeks.
The 23-year-old Finley has 21 receptions for 301 yards and one touchdown this season.
Finley is among many injured Packers, headlined by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a concussion in Green Bay's Week 5 loss at Washington. Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday "it's possible" Rodgers miss miss Sunday's game against the Dolphins but will definitely miss some practice time.
In addition, linebacker Nick Barnett might miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury, linebacker Clay Matthews has a left hamstring strain, defensive lineman Ryan Pickett has an ankle sprain, tight end Donald Lee has a chest sprain and safety Derrick Martin was placed on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday with a knee sprain.
Matthews' injury was not as severe as the one that caused him to miss most of training camp and the preseason. Lee might be out a few weeks.
Meanwhile, veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher has a shoulder injury and was inactive against Washington.
Green Bay has already lost starting running back Ryan Grant to a season-ending ankle injury, starting safety Morgan Burnett to a torn ACL and backup defensive lineman Justin Harrell to a knee injury.
Cornerback Al Harris (knee) and safety Atari Bigby (ankle) might return to practice for the first time next week, although it's not clear whether either will be able to play right away.
Coach Wade Phillips' job is not in jeopardy after the Dallas Cowboys' 1-3 start, according to the franchise's top two executives.
Team executive vice president Stephen Jones told the NFL Network at the owners meetings in Chicago that Phillips' job was "absolutely" safe. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones reiterated that statement.
"I think in our organization everybody is taking responsibility, not just Wade," Stephen Jones said. "He does. He takes responsibility. The coaching staff takes responsibility. The players take it. We all take it. We're a team, we're an organization, and when we fall short we accept it as a team."
Phillips' job security has been a hot-button issue since the Cowboys missed the playoffs in 2008. Jerry Jones backed Phillips throughout the Cowboys' December downfall that year, but Jones wasn't as firm in his support last season. The Cowboys didn't commit to keeping Phillips until after the season, which came with it Dallas' second division title in three seasons and the franchise's first playoff win in 12 years.
Phillips, whose previous contract expired after last season, signed a new two-year deal in January. Jerry Jones made it clear during the news conference to announce the contract that the pressure to win remained in place for Phillips.
Breaking news, analysis, report cards, predictions ... everything you need to know about the Dallas Cowboys' matchups can be found right here. Cowboys Center
Jerry Jones has repeatedly expressed confidence this season in Phillips, who has a 35-20 record during his four-season tenure in Dallas. The Cowboys have never fired a coach in the middle of the season and are not considering making Phillips the first.
But Jerry Jones, who was not available in the postgame locker room for the first time in more than a year after Sunday's home loss to the Tennessee Titans, stressed the need for the Cowboys to have an extreme sense of urgency.
"We're running out of time, even though it's early in the season," he told the NFL Network. "If we're gonna go, we've got to go now and go hard."
I have no doubt that Wade is gone at the end of the season unless they somehow pull it together and go very deep in the playoffs.
Under this scenario, Jackson will report to the Chargers by Oct. 31 and Mankins will report to the Patriots by Nov. 16 to earn an accrued season and secure unrestricted free agency in 2011.
Jackson's reporting deadline is earlier because the Chargers elected to place him on roster exempt, meaning Jackson must sit out three unpaid games before he is eligible to receive the necessary six paid games to earn his sixth accrued season.
Neither Jackson nor Mankins could be reached for comment. Their agents, Neil Schwartz (Jackson) and Frank Bauer (Mankins), declined comment.
Jackson and Mankins were among the players caught in significant changes because of an uncapped year that moved unrestricted free agency from four years to six years. Jackson and Mankins became part of a large class of restricted free agents when their contracts expired after their fifth season (2009). Both declined to sign their restricted free agent contract tenders, a requirement before players can report to their teams.
In a related development, NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen recently sought clarification on the reporting dates because the NFL constitution has a by-law that states clubs have an option not reinstate a player who reports after Tuesday's trade deadline. That created a potential conflict with the labor agreement, which states that a player who has not signed a contract by the Tuesday following the 10th week of the regular season would be ineligible to play that year.
Jeffrey Kessler, chief outside legal counsel for the NFLPA, confirmed that he was asked by the union to clarify the potential conflict.
"The issue arose, we had a discussion and the league quickly agreed that the CBA supersedes the constitution on any potential conflicting provision," Kessler said.
"Yes, that's correct," confirmed NFL spokesman Greg Aiello via email. "In the CBA, a restricted free agent has the right to accept his tender and report to the club any time up until the Tuesday after week 10 (Nov. 16, 4 p.m. ET) of the regular season, whether or not the club requests or agrees to his reporting."
Berthelsen asked Kessler to get a clarification because the league constitution that governs its 32 member clubs addresses the status of specific absent players in by-law 17-13: "All players in categories of Reserve/Retired, Reserve/Did Not Report, and Reserve/Veteran Free Agent asked to Re-Sign will continue to be prohibited from being reinstated in the last 30 days of the regular season. Additionally, no player in such category shall be reinstated between the trade deadline of the applicable season and the normal 30-day deadline unless the club initiates the reinstatement request and the commissioner approves it."
The union wanted pre-emptive clarification in case one of the clubs attempted to use the constitutional by-law to prohibit Jackson and Mankins from reporting because it did not want to have file a grievance to a Special Master, creating further delay.
Kessler would not confirm that the union has recommended Jackson and Mankins report in time to get their sixth accrued season in the event there is no labor agreement. That would allow teams to impose the restricted contract tenders on them in 2011, per the current CBA.
The same sources strongly reaffirmed Jackson and Mankins will follow the NFLPA's recommendation and report to the Chargers and Patriots by their respective deadlines to ensure unrestricted free agency in 2011.
Jackson would miss his unpaid games of Oct. 31 (vs. Tennessee), Nov. 7 (at Houston) and Nov. 22 (vs. Broncos) because of his roster-exempt status before he can be paid for the final six games, starting Nov. 28 (at Indianapolis). The Chargers have a bye in week 10.
Mankins would have to report by the final deadline of Nov. 16, making him eligible to be paid and play in the final seven games because the Patriots had their bye in week five. The Patriots opted not to place him roster exempt, as the Chargers did with Jackson.
Both players can be traded by Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline if they are willing to sign their contract tenders. Jackson would have to sit out the first three games with his new team under his roster-exempt status before being eligible to play.
Jackson was able to serve a three-game suspension to begin the season for violation of the personal conduct policy after being convicted of a second DUI even though he is not under contract.
The Chargers receiver, a Pro Bowl selection in 2009, is not facing an automatic year suspension under the substance abuse policy -- the next alcohol or drug violation under a specific disciplinary scale, would cost Jackson four game checks. Jackson is being tested randomly several times per month under the policy.
By Jackson and Mankins earning a sixth accrued season, the only way the Chargers and Patriots can restrict their free agency in 2011 would be to place a franchise tag on them next February at a considerably higher guaranteed value than the restricted contract tenders. A transition tag also would be available for the Chargers and Patriots instead of the franchise tag, but the teams would not receive any draft pick compensation and would only have right of first refusal on any contract the players signed with another team.