OCR Text |
Show DAILY C6 Saturday, December 29, 2007 HERALD NFL One last Giant obstacle for the Patriots' perfect season Arthur Staple THE ASSOCIATED EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. the -- The game begins tonight a bit after 6 p.m. (MT) The g will stop right around then, at least for a few hours. Tom Coughlin and his team have been subjected to a week of debate rarely seen around the Giants, or even the NFL. No one has gone back and forth over what the Cowboys should do against the Redskins on Sunday and there's a playoff spot on the line in that one. No, this sort of debate is usually reserved for Ivy Leaguers in striped ties and blazers. Or maybe Socrates and a few guys in togas. This has become existential. How hard do you play? Why try to beat a Patriots team that 15 other teams couldn't touch? Why not plan ahead for a meaningful playoff game against Tampa Bay in a week? The airwaves have been clogged with opinions on Coughlin and his team all week. Too bad it's been unanimous inside the Giants' locker room, from the coach on down. "I was hoping he would go all out," linebacker Kawika Mitchell said. "I'm with (Coughlin). I never had the mind-se- t we weren't going to play. It never entered my "I don't think there's going single-seaso- n record of 557, Tom Brady needs two hand-wringin- mind." the into Giants Stadium and one-line- r. The mere fact that no one take what they want, as they've done 15 times before. in the Giants' locker room has suggested that the team They need six points to set PRESS J r A. .V touchdown passes for a new record of 50 and Randy Moss needs two touchdown catches to tie the record of 23, So there is a challenge even beyond deciding who plays and for how long. Once Coughlin has the 45 players in uniform, what happens if they're being blown out and starting to get a little demoralized? "Whether you win or lose isn't going to make a huge difference," Eli Manning said, "but you still want to go out there and play well. You're playing against the best." Two keys to the Giants' offense, wide receiver Plaxico Burress and running back Brandon Jacobs, have ankle injuries and would have presumably been limited or not available. But both have practiced this week and both are likely k to play. Burress' limited practices were his first consecutive days of work since the opening week of the season. The Giants would love to be the team that puts the first notch in the Pats' loss column, especially now that the game is on every network except PBS. "It'll be like the State of the Union address," said Belichick, that master of back-to-bac- . MICHAEL New England Patriots' Randy Moss,' right, tosses the ball beside DWYER Associated Press teammate Donte' Stallworth during practice on Wednesday to be a situation where we're going to get pulled or just let them go for the record," Osi Umenyiora said. "We're go- - That discounts the option ing to play the whole thing and we're playing to win. that the 15-- 0 Patriots offer: You don't just go into a game That Bill Belichick and his crew may just come right and give it to someone." do like their playoff opponent and start easing into preparations for the postseason Tampa Bay's Jon Gruden rested his starters in the second half Sunday and made no bones about where his focus lies may be the biggest endorsement of Coughlin yet. The next game is the biggest in Coughlin's world. Maybe if today's opponent the Giants would were consider easing off , but that's one thing no one needs to debate. At least there's one. "The objective for Week 17 is no different than it was for Week 3 or Week 4," Coughlin said. "Our objective is to win." Coughlin even got some support from a most unlikely corner of the media world. "As someone who looks at the team, who looks at where they're going, my thought is of course you don't play (the key players). Your guys are too beat up. They need a break," Tiki Barber said on his Sirius satellite radio show this week. "(But if I were playing) I know for a fact that I would have wanted to go out and have 150 yards. Give me the ball 30 times. It's not an opportunity for me to take a day off because then all of a sudden, you lose your edge." ; Denver Broncos' Rod Smith needs another hip surgery, his career could be over Arnie Stapleton ing out on so much. "It wasnt really about gifts. It was about being around them," 1 he said. "Their lives are changing The ENGLEWOOD, Colo. so much because they're getting dogged determination that older, and I've got to be a part of helped transform Rod Smit h mm that. I've missed a lot of tilings. from an unknown and undrafted wide receiver out of M issouri My son had his first high school football (season) as a freshman Southern into a Pro Bowler and this year, and I didn't see not one a twotime Super Bowl champion game. And that's very important might ult imately spell the end of his career. to me. I got the tape, but that's The Denver Bronnot the same thing. i cos cocaptain revealed Friday "And my daughter is about to that his surgically repaired left get out of high school and thinkhip hurts more than ever and ing about going to college. Those that a specialist in Los Angeles things are important. Those will resurface or replace the joint decisions are coming up in their life, and I need to be a part of it, inJanuary. "It has not healed," said Smith, as well Whether football works out or not, I need to be a part of who's been out all seasoa "It's FILEAssociated Press those not healing at all. things." Wide receiver Rod Smith (80) of the Denver Broncos catches a Smith holds franchise records "Honestly, I dont even like for career receptions (849), touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in this walking on it," he said "It's that bad right now to me, and it's a 2005 file photo. receiving yards (11,389), touchmatter of the hip socket has been down catches (68), touchdowns d for a while. That's (71) and games (31). He After undergoing microfracleads all undrafted players in ev(difficult), especially trying to play mornings and realized the hip ture surgery in February, he wasn't healing. pro football on it. And, honestly, ery major receiving category. I think I did for a while without revealed he had played in agonizHe spent this season as a "My mentality is what kept sideline spectator in sweats, knowing it was probably doing ing pain all of last season and had me here this bng, being able to more damage to it than good" been unable to get a good night's withstand pain and play hurt," he talking technique and sharing ' Mficin' lip replacement advice with his teammates, but said "But when you get injured, ; sleep for nearly a year. 1; almosl i t'l l he said it pained him to watch, The hip was such a mess it's a different thing. And that m';an he's .. '" torn labium, frayed cartilage, same tenacity that helped me the Broncos ) slide to their caught 1" "I .il .h a you play bone spurs, floating fragments first losing season since 1999 stay in the league this long is this K;iiiM'..i'. It in as you can and that his surgeon at the Stead-ma- n despite a talented team that probably going to be the same if I've playiil my last football fancied itself a contender back Hawkins Clinic in Vail, thing that takes me out of the in camp. Colo., couldn't believe he had game, 1 did that," Smith said league." "And so I'm OK with that." "I've always been this way: While stressing he hasn't played on it at alL if we're going to get our butt decided to have the hip replaceSmith rehabbed all summer Smith, who has more catches, touchdown receptions and reand hoped to return for the last ment, Smith sounded very much kicked, then I want to get mine like a man who's pondering kicked too," Smith said "But ceiving yards than any undrafted half of this seasoa But after trust me, I'm definitely taking retirement. He said he realized player in NFL history, first felt working his way up to running while spending Christmas with routes in October, he said he pain in the hip in 2004 but said my lumps either way, on the sideline or out there." his children that he's been miss couldn't get out of bed most nothing. THE ASSOCIATED , PRESS - , f ! hi AM?) j"'' 12-ya- bone-on-bo- 100-yar- ' (6-9- Official fined for inappropriate contact with players GREEN BAY, Wis. The NFL has fined official Jim Quirk one game check for inappropriate physical contact with players, including Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett. The fine totals $8,150, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday. The decision came after Quirk grabbed Barnett by the neck and threw him to the ground while breaking up a scuffle during the Packers' loss at Chicago on Sunday. "It made my day the minute they began to address it," Barnett's agent, Chuck Price said Friday. Price had threatened to file a formal grievance on Barnett's behalf against Quirk, who was the umpire on the officiating crew that worked Sunday's game. Friday, Price said he would not pursue further action. "Nick was very satisfied with that," Price said. "The whole point (of considering a grievance) was for (the league) to move on it, and that it was addressed. They acted on it quickly. It was good enough : forus." Packers coach Mike McCar-- NFL NOTEBOOK thy had called Quirk's actions "totally unprofessional." Ray Anderson, NFL executive vice president of football operations, issued the fine to Quirk, who can appeal it to commissioner Roger GoodelL Goodell called Barnett and McCarthy on Thursday, then met Quirk in the league's New York office Friday. ESPN.com first reported the punishment. The fine also covers a similar incident involving Quirk and Atlanta running back Jason Snelling on a kickoff return in a Dec. 16 game against Tampa Bay. Neither Barnett nor McCarthy was available for comment Friday afternoon. Dungy says Colts' Harrison likely to play against Titans INDIANAPOLIS Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison will likely start Sunday night against the Titans after practicing a second day in a return from a left knee injury that has sidelined him most of the Mathis (knees), defensive season. tackle Quinn Pitcock (groin), cornerback Keiwan Ratlif f (hamstring), and tight end Ben Though Harrison was listed as questionable on the Colts' injury report after Friday's workout, coach Tony Dungy had said before the session that he expected Harrison to start. He would not commit to a number of plays for the eight-tim- e Pro Bowler. "But he'll start the game and we'll see how it goes," he said before the practice. Harrison, who has not played since Oct. 22 at Jacksonville, went through a full workout Thursday and was able to take part in Friday's practice with no apparent problems. Earlier this week, Dungy had said that if Harrison played, he might keep quarterback Peyton Manning in the game longer to work on their timing. The only players ruled out of the Tennessee game are defensive tackle Raheem Brock (rib) and offensive tackle Ryan Diem (knee). Listed as questionable besides Harrison are safety Antoine Bethea (knee), wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (foot), Tim Jennings (concussion), defensive end Robert Utecht (shoulder). , Owens, Newman among 4 Cowboys starters inactive for finale at Washington Wide IRVING, Texas receiver Terrell Owens and cornerback Terence Newman were among four Dallas starters declared inactive Friday for the Cowboys' regular.-seaso- n finale at Washingtoa Backup safety Patrick Wat-kin- s (ankle) will also sit out Sunday for Cowboys, who have clinched home-fiel- d advantage in the NFC playoffs. Wide receiver Terry Glenn, whose has missed every game this season with a right knee injury, was listed as probable. Center Andre Gurode (knee) and nose tackle Jay Ratlif f (knee) are inactive along with Owens (ankle) and Newman (knee). Owens has not practiced this week as Dallas wants to rest his sprained ankle before its first playoff game. RLEAssociated Press Indianpolis Colts' Bob Sanders raises the Lombardi Trophy after the Colts' 7 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on February 4. 29-1- Colts make Sanders NFL's highest paid with $37.5 million deal Michael Marot But his impact cannot be measured solely in numbers. Sanders has played closer INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob to the line of scrimmage this Sanders' big hits have finally .season to help solidify the run defense and has emerged as paid off in a big way. Pro Bowler the heart of the defense with The two-tim- e Pro Bowl defensive contract three-tim- e agreed to a five-yeend Dwight Freeney out since extension Friday, a deal that will keep him with the IndiaFreeney will miss the rest of the season afnapolis Colts through 2012 and makes him one of the ter having foot surgery. safeties. How good has Sanders' league's highest-pai- d been? The deal is worth $37.5 million and includes $20 mil"When you think of a delion in guarantees, a person fensive player of the year, familiar with the negotiations you usually think about someone who really is a dominant told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity player, who makes big plays because the deal had not yet and is a game changer. You been announced. don't usually think of it being Sanders' average salary of a secondary guy," coach Tony $7.5 million under the extenDungy said Monday. "Ocsion is nearly $1 million more casionally it is, but you think than what Pittsburgh's Troy of guys like Lawrence Taylor Polamalu got in his new deal and Mike Singletary. Bob has in July, and the guaranteed definitely been a for us." money is more than what Ed Reed got when he signed an Sanders is the newest in a extension with the Ravens in long line of well-pai- d Colts. Two-tim- e June 2006. league MVP Colts spokesman Craig Kel-le- y Peyton Manning signed a said the team would not $98 million contract in March confirm the deal. 2004, and perennial Pro Bowl Sanders' contract was to receiver Marvin Harrison got a $66 million deal nine months expire after this season. Last year, when Sanders later. Two-tim- e Pro Bowl remissed 12 regular-seasoceiver Reggie Wayne agreed to a $39 million contract in games, the Colts allowed a 5.3 yards per car- 2006, and in July, league-worFreeney was rewarded with a ry. When he returned in the the highest playoffs, the Colts made a dra- $72 million deal matic turnaround and wound annual average of any NFL defender. up as Super Bowl champs. This year, with SandNow Sanders is in the club, too. ers missing just one game because of injury, the Colts The move also helps Indiadefense ranks No. 1 in the napolis on another front. Dallas Clark, yet another league against the pass and has allowed a more respectkey component in the Colts' g able 3.9 yards per carry. offense, also is scheduled to become a free Sanders, one of the leading candidates for defensive agent after the season. Clark, d a player of the year, has been pick in 2003 and a college and pro teammate of the biggest reason for the Sanders, has already set changes. He's the Colts' -leading tackier (123), has season franchise records 2 12 quarterback sacks, two this year for receptions (57) and touchdown receptions interceptions and forced one fumble. (11) by a tight end. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . game-chang- n st six-yea- r, high-scorin- first-roun- second- single-- |