When the Miami Dolphins take the field this Christmas weekend against the underachieving Houston Texans, they would do well to seek the ghosts of contests past as the parsimonious stingy Scrooges in Houston have managed to squeak past Miami in each of the last three seasons.

The most recent ghost of contest pasts leads us down the haunting chamber of last year’s game where the Texans Matt Schaub slithered into the end zone with three seconds left to give Houston a 29-28 victory. Schaub played as though the Dolphins secondary was manned by oversized Tiny Tims, throwing for 379 yards. Texans star receiver Andre Johnson torched Miami for 178 of those yards. 

Miami’s effort was highlighted by a strong performance from Chad Pennington, who was 19 for 25 and two touchdowns, and the surprise performance of Patrick Cobbs, who had 130 plus receiving yards.

The Dolphins also won the turnover battle, 4-1, against Houston. But as the ghosts of contests past will quickly point out to Miami fans, the Dolphins have won the turnover battle in each of the last three contests and still lost. In 2008, plus three, 2007 plus one, and 2006 plus two.

A second ghost of contests past will remind Dolphins that during the 2007 game, won by Houston 22-19, that Texans kicker Kris Brown kicked three field goals over 50 yards, including a monumental 57 yarder to win the game.  The game also marked the demise of Dolphins quarterback Trent Green, who suffered a concussion attempting to block the Texans Travis Johnson. It was the beginning of the end for Green, and added one more pie in the face for a Dolphin team destined for 1-15.

Our third ghost of contests past takes us to the 2006 contest, also won by Houston, 17-15. This was the Nick Saban version of the contest, where Daunte Culpepper played the role of Bob Crachit, throwing for 249 yards, but failing to convert a two pointer to tie the game, David Carr threw for 230 yards and the leading rusher was Ron Dayne with 59 yards.

Yes, Ron Dayne.

How time flies.

For all their Scrooginess on defense, the Dolphins still lost, and later, when everything fell apart, Coach Saban apparently eschewed Jacob Marley’s warning about being obsessed with money. He left too.

Our three ghosts, then, have given us sufficient warning: Matt Schaub has thrown for 673 yards in the past two contests against Miami. Oddly enough, he has only one touchdown. Kris Brown has kicked six field goals in the past two contests against Miami. He couldn’t kick a 42 yarder to tie Indianapolis indoors on November 8th of this season, but he has slaughtered the Dolphins. Andre Johnson leads the league in receiving yards with 1433, and will line up against one of two rookie corners, Shaun Smith or Vontae Davis.

The Dolphins can win the turnover battle and still lose the game.

There is no Owen Daniels to contend with, who had 96 yards in the 2007 game, and 70 last year.

The game is likely to be close as a three point gap is the largest in the past three seasons.

Both teams have an outside shot at a wildcard spot.

And finally, as the ghost of last week’s game will say: Can Chad Henne avoid a costly mistake on an ill-advised play that will all but certainly end the Dolphin’s season?

Read more Miami Dolphins news on BleacherReport.com

This was an ugly game but it was just what the Giants needed. After some close, tense games a laugher like this was very welcome.

I feel like I should start with the ridiculous fake field goal, but I don’t know what I can say that hasn’t already been said. 

If you haven’t seen the play, simply type “Worst Play Ever Redskins” into Google.  I’m sure you’ll find the play.  Or just go here :

I think my favorite thing about the play is that, even after they showed the Giants the formation and the Giants called time out, they did it again.  And then Hunter the punter, who is about to get destroyed by three Giants, hurls the ball towards the only receiver that decided to run towards the end zone. 

Unfortunately, that one receiver was being quadruple covered.  The only thing that could have made the play better would be if Bruce Johnson, who ended up with the gift interception, was able to return it for a touchdown. 

Still, it’s a play we’ll be seeing forever, as long as there are blooper reels (right next to Leon Lett).

Hakeem Nicks showed off his great after the catch skills on a nice 45 yard catch and run.  He had two catches for 66 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury.  I felt like Nicks was on his way to a rookie of the week-type performance, an award for which he was nominated last week but lost out to Redskins DE Brian Orakpo.

I keep getting excited about how good this receiving corps is going to be.  Call me crazy, but I think the potential is there for this to develop into one of the top receiving groups in the league. 

Steve Smith is already having a Pro Bowl-type season, Mario Manningham has shown flashes of brilliance in what has been a very good first full season and Hakeem Nicks is just dripping with talent.  They are each different types of receivers and they complement each other well. 

It doesn’t hurt that they are all under 25.

Throw in 25-year-old tight end Kevin Boss and 25-year-old fourth receiver Domenik Hixon, and you have a very deep group of receivers. 

And then there’s WR Ramses Barden and TE Travis Beckum (six receptions, 39 yards this year)—a couple of third round draft picks that could also factor into this team’s passing game in the future. 

All in all, the only thing that will stop this team from having a great passing offense going forward is conservative play calling.

Steve Smith had five receptions, and is now only 10 away from becoming the first receiver in Giants’ history to catch 100 passes. 

Smith is having a great season, but it’s kind of amazing that a team that has been around for so long has never had a player catch 100 passes.  I guess this is just another example of how the Giants, and the NFL in general, are becoming more of a pass-first team.

Welcome back defense. 

Who knows if you are here to stay, but for one night at least, it was great to have you back.  I actually felt bad for Jason Campbell for most of this game, especially since we need him healthy for his big game against the Cowboys on Sunday Night.

Is it just me, or does David Carr look really awkward when he throws?

The game ball goes to the entire defense.  As lame as that is, it’s just impossible to pick one guy. 

Osi Umenyiora, Barry Cofield, Jonathan Goff, Justin Tuck and Fred Robbins all had sacks.  Chase Blackburn, Bruce Johnson and Terrell Thomas all had interceptions (Thomas returned his for an easy TD). 

There were six tackles for negative yards and 12 QB hits.  It was a great overall performance—the kind we’ve been waiting for from this defense all season long.

Offensive game ball goes to Eli Manning, who has raised his play considerably since the Thanksgiving debacle. He went 19 for 26 with 268 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Over the last two games, He has completed 72 percent of his passes, thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions.  For the year, he has a career-high 26 touchdowns, a completion percentage of 61.2 and a QB rating of 96.

Read more New York Giants news on BleacherReport.com

Silence is Golden

The old teacher in David Carradine’s classic TV series Kung Fu, whose name was Master Po, was fond of saying things like “Grasshopper, the pathway you have chosen is chosen for you. For in the matter you speak of, destiny, there is no such thing as chance.” Or, “grasshopper, when one seeks escape, one never finds escape, for the trap is in the seeking.”

Words of wisdom? Perhaps.  But, let us consider for a moment the pathway chosen by Ricky Williams, the infamous running back of the Miami Dolphins, and an integral member of the Dolphin’s brainwave wildcat offense; Williams, whose checkered past has more twists, more ups and downs than a stadium size Snakes and Ladders game board.

In 2004, after winning a rushing title for the Dolphins in 2002 with an exceptional 1853 yards, and 1352 rushing yards the following year, the dreadlocked, soft-spoken Williams tests positive for marijuana for the third time, thus setting in motion a destiny well beyond the familiar for most NFL players and their fans. To wit: two days before training camp, he retires from football rather than face the ignominy of an imminent suspension.  The timing of his retirement sends Head Coach Dave Wannstadt over the deep end, (literally). Williams goes abroad. He travels. He is seen living in a tent in Australia , spending $7 a day. He goes to California and studies ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine. He learns yoga, and expresses a desire to become a yoga master.  Bill O’Reilly slams Williams on “The Factor,” calling him the “poster boy for the pot movement.”

2005. Williams returns to football. Wannstadt is now toast in Miami, and Nick Saban is in. Saban  hires Scott Linehan to run the offense.  Williams serves a  four game suspension, but under Master  Scott Linehan’s offensive system, rushes for 743 yards, 6 TDs, and a 4.4 yards per carry average. (Ah, grasshopper, he who walks the straight path discovers he has not forgotten how to run.) Nobody votes for Williams as the Comeback Player of the Year.

2006. Williams violates the NFL’s drug policy for the fourth time. He is rumoured to have been in India. The substance he allegedly used was related to his “herbal” therapy. Bill O’Reilly slams Williams on “The Factor.” Williams seeks refuge in Canada, playing in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts.  Williams is ripped by Joe Theismann, who calls him an “addict,” and who disdains the move by the Argos for signing him. Williams hurts himself in a game in Regina, Saskatchewan, breaking a bone in his forearm.  In eleven games, Williams rushes for 526 yards on 109 carries playing in Canada. Canadian Football League fans actually think Williams average performance for the Argonauts is evidence that the CFL is as good as the NFL.  A new rule in the Canadian Football League comes into effect that suspended or banned NFL players will no longer be permitted to play in the CFL.

2007. Williams applies for reinstatement. He practices yoga. He sees a shrink. Miami Dolphins Head Coach Cam Cameron says of Williams “past behavior is indicative of future behavior.” Translation: don’t bother coming back.  Then, the Miami Dolphins lose their first twelve games, and appear headed for an 0-16 season. Cam Cameron changes his tune. “The situation has changed,” he said. (Ah, grasshopper, what is pride without humility?)

Williams returns on a Monday night game in Pittsburg. Heinz Field is a mud bowl. Williams fumbles. Lawrence Timmons steps on his chest. Williams writhes on the field.  He has torn chest muscles. He is placed on IR. There is more yoga on the horizon. The Steelers win the lowest scoring game in Monday night history, 3-0.

2008. Williams signs a contract renewal with the Miami Dolphins. Nobody knows what to expect. The next drug test failure could be minutes or light years away. Bill Parcells likes what he sees. Williams signs an extension through 2009. Williams works hard. He spells Ronnie Brown. They become friends. Williams rushes for 659 yards, a 4.1 YPC average, 4 TDs. He catches 29 passes for 219 more yards. He is featured in the Dolphins wildcat offense, which is the brainchild of QB coach David Lee.

Since Williams reinstatement toward the end of 2007, since the night when he returned to the NFL after four violations of a banned substance, the night that Lawrence Timmons stepped on his chest, Williams has been clean. Now, through thirteen games of the 2009 season, Williams silence off the field has been accompanied by thunder on the field. He is currently 10^th in the league in rushing, 25 yards short of 1000.

He has ten touchdowns and averaged just under five yards per carry.

At 32, Williams has put Ladainian Tomlinson to shame. Since Ronnie Brown went down with a season ending injury, he has been the Dolphins most poignant attacker, supplanting the nascent trickery of the wildcat formation with power running. He has apparently turned the final corner of his career and is heading to the homestretch: at the end of next season, he will allegedly retire.

For diehard Miami Dolphin fans, the shibboleth this year has been silence. Master Po might say, “silence is golden.” But as Caine himself, played by the late David Carradine might respond, apropos of Williams, “I may be silent, but don’t mistake me for a wall.”

Read more Miami Dolphins news on BleacherReport.com

The three biggest football questions in Seattle over the past week have been: (1) Who is going to replace Tim Ruskell as the Seahawks’ general manager, (2) is UW junior quarterback Jake Locker going to turn pro, and (3) will the Seahawks’ new GM draft Locker in the first round if he does turn pro?

Of course, all of the Seattle SeaDawgs (those hybrid Seahawk/Husky fans) want the Hawks to draft Locker. Others want them to pick Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford or Notre Dame junior Jimmy Clausen.

Then there’s Texas senior Colt McCoy and everyone’s Florida dreamboat, Tim Tebow.

There is much debate about which quarterback is the best, but it doesn’t really matter: The Seahawks shouldn’t be looking for a QB in the first round.

More than a few fools want to replace Hasselbeck, which makes no sense at all. Why in the world would the Seahawks get rid of their franchise quarterback and kill any chance at all of making the playoffs for at least the next two or three years? How asinine would that be?

Seriously, it’s hard to fathom just how football stupid someone has to be to suggest that the Hawks would be better off with some unproven rookie punk instead of a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who arguably was the MVP of the NFL in 2005 and still has plenty of football left.

Those shortsighted fans actually think it’s Hasselbeck’s fault that the offense has struggled this season, and they argue that he gets hurt too much and should be replaced with a younger quarterback.

The reality is: The offense stinks because the offensive line is horrible and because new coordinator Greg Knapp has not dialed up the right plays consistently enough.

Hasselbeck has almost no time to throw most of the time, and the lack of a running game makes his job even harder.

As for the injury question, the reality is: Hasselbeck is a remarkably tough quarterback who has always played through all manner of pain. In 2001, he hobbled his way through a bad first season in Seattle with a pulled groin and separated shoulder, among other ailments.

In 2005 and 2006, he played with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. In 2006, he missed four games with a sprained knee after a borderline cheap shot.

Over the years, he also has played with bruised thighs and ribs, broken fingers, a sore arm, a banged-up elbow and a strained oblique, among other injuries.

Last year, a herniated disk in his back forced him to miss nine games, and there was admittedly some concern about whether he could come back this year, simply because it was a mysterious and potentially serious problem.

But he has proven his back is fine, and he has played most of this season with broken ribs and a sore throwing shoulder (caused, of course, by the incredibly poor blocking).

Hasselbeck is a tough SOB, and the Seahawks have done him a disservice by not protecting him properly the past couple of years. (That, more than anything, is the main reason Ruskell was fired, because it is the main reason Seattle has not won.)

Put a decent line in front of him again, and you’ll see the Hasselbeck who went to three Pro Bowls from 2003 to 2007 (and would have gone to a fourth in 2004 if his receivers hadn’t dropped a zillion passes).

Hasselbeck is signed through next year, when he will be 35. He should be good for 3-4 years beyond that, and the Hawks should sign him to an extension after this season and not worry about finding a replacement. (If they want a new quarterback, they can find a backup who can actually win a game when called upon. Seneca Wallace obviously is not that guy.)

As for that silly first-round QB idea, Seahawks fans should know that drafting a quarterback in the first round is a crapshoot. Just look back at the franchise’s three first-round busts from the Ken Behring years (Kelly Stouffer in 1988, Dan McGwire in 1991, Rick Mirer in 1993).

Hawks fans also should know that it is quite possible to find a quarterback without spending a first-round pick.

The three best passers in franchise history came out of nowhere: Jim Zorn was picked up off waivers in the franchise’s inaugural year, Dave Krieg was an undrafted free agent who led the team to the playoffs four times in the 1980s and Hasselbeck was a former sixth-round pick acquired in a trade with Green Bay in 2001.

If that isn’t argument enough against picking a quarterback in the first round, remember this: Half of all first-round quarterbacks fail. And this year’s class is overrated across the board.

Locker might have the best potential of them all, but he’s just learning how to throw the ball accurately. He needs to either play a senior year of college or sit for a couple of years in the NFL.

To throw him in right away, especially behind a bad line, would be asking for him to get hurt and/or fail so badly that he would lose confidence and be destroyed the way Tim Couch and David Carr were.

As for the others, Clausen is probably the best passing quarterback, but his leadership ability is questionable. Can you trust him to run an NFL team? Bradford has a bad shoulder, which will hurt his draft position and make him a question mark until he proves otherwise.

Tebow still doesn’t know how to throw; he is a running college quarterback who appears destined to fail in the NFL (or else become an erratic, poor-passing QB on the order of Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper and Vince Young). The jury is out on McCoy, who is incredibly inconsistent and might fail in a pro system, too.

None of those quarterbacks should be drafted in the top half of the first round, and you could argue that not one of them is first-round worthy at all. Of course, that won’t stop multiple teams from taking them in the first round.

Just don’t expect the Seahawks to do it. They already have a quarterback.

Read more Seattle Seahawks news on BleacherReport.com

It is official: the Raider Nation is the most dysfunctional team and fan base in the NFL.

Even with our lowly three wins we are worse off than the Browns, Redskins, Chiefs, Lions, Buccaneers and the Rams.

Despite the fact that all those teams have worse records than the Raiders they haven’t reached the point the Raiders have. Its so bad in Raider-Nation fans took it upon themselves to start and sign a petition against Al Davis called http://messagetoal.com/ .

They currently have a billboard (seen above) on I-880 less than a mile from the Oakland Alameda Coliseum, 30,000+ signatures and thousands in donations. The petition reads:

We kindly ask for Mr. Allen Davis to remove himself as general manager of the Oakland Raiders Organization.

We ask for a new General Manager to be hired with previous experience and success in the NFL.

We ask for a new, Super Bowl Caliber Head Coach/Director of Football Operations to be hired replacing Tom Cable. Suggestions include Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden; or any other coach with similar credentials.

We ask the Owner and new regime to give the new Coach substantial power in hiring Assistants, installing football philosophies and most roster decisions.

It is very apparent that change needs to happen in Oakland, and Al Davis is ultimately the only one who can bring such change to the Raiders. And its not just the fans who have been trying to get this across to Al.

The players have also made comments to try and get the message across:

Justin Fargas and much of the offensive line have made comments criticizing the offensive playcalling for not sticking to the run and/or giving up on it too early.

Sam Williams, the Raiders current starting strong-side linebacker, openly said that Tom Cable is a joke to half the locker room and everyone outside the Raiders organization.

Nnamdi Asomugha, the Raiders best defender (best player period), has been criticizing the defensive playcalling all year and recently went in-depth about how the defense is too simple.

Jeff Garcia, former Raider backup QB, commented that the Raiders were putting too much responsibility on Russell and that too many players were just there to collect checks.

It has all been said, but is Al Davis even listening and does he care?

So based on the players’ and fans’ comments, here are 10 things Al Davis needs to do to change the Raiders.

1. The first thing the Raiders need to do is listen to Rich Gannon who said, “The only thing left to do is to blow up the building and start over from scratch.”

Screw that continuity bullshit, time to start over.

2. Then Al Davis needs to hire a GM, or atleast a Co-GM to help him with decision making.

Al Davis has a definite eye for player talent; otherwise no way he could have picked up Trevor Scott and Chaz Schilens in the sixth and seventh rounds. But as of late, his eye for NFL coaches has been less than spectacular. Al Davis needs to find someone to help him bring quality coaches.

3. The offensive play-calling is horrible. Why? because the Raiders do not even have an offensive coordinator on the payroll.

This needs to be fixed and the Raiders must hire a qualified play-caller, rather than allow Tom Cable to hold two full time jobs (head coach and offensive coordinator), neither of which he is very good at.

4. Sorry Cable fans, but if the Sam Williams comment holds any water, Cable has to go. A head coach needs all his players behind him and if half the team already thinks he is a joke, then he is a lost cause. Tom Cable must go.

The Raiders need to find a head coach with former success at the NFL level. Unlike Tom Cable who is new to being a head coach at the NFL level and was a horrible college head coach.

5. Was Nnamdi calling out the defensive coaching staff or Al Davis who is known for meddling with the defense and his basic press-man-coverage with a four-man rush? Either way something needs to change here.

Either the Raiders need to find a coaching staff who will call a more diverse defense or the current staff needs to mix it up without interference from Al Davis.

6. Pick up a real nose tackle. Just because you play Gerrard Warren at nose tackle doesn’t mean he is a real nose tackle. In fact the Raiders haven’t had a real nose tackle since Ted Washington in 2005.

This glaring hole has been ignored by the Raiders for years. Now is the time to finally address the biggest weakness in the defense.

7. Find players who want to win. Jeff Garcia said we have too many players just collecting paychecks. And Gary Russell said the Raiders have more talent the the Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The only difference between the Raiders and Steelers are the Steelers have players who would put their bodies on the line every play.

The Raiders need to cut everyone who is just here to collect checks and find more players like: Justin Fargas, Tyvon Branch, Trevor Scott, and Gary Russell.

8. Bring in a veteran QB to compete for the starting job. This season Garcia was brought in solely as a mentor and that didn’t work out too well. The Raiders need to bring in a capable QB who can compete for the starting job and truly wants it.

One who can mentor Russell from the field not the sideline. Viable QBs who are currently on a contract year include:Jason Campbell, David Carr, Daunte Culpepper, Tarvaris Jackson, Kyle Orton, Chad Pennington, and Troy Smith.

9. Fix the O-line. Mario Henderson and Robert Gallery are good. Samson Satele is…Ehh. And Cooper Carlisle Cornell Green are horrible. The right side of the line is a constant source of penalties (holding from Carlisle and false starts from Green) and QB pressure.

Something needs to be done to shore up the right side of the line: Either through free agency, a trade, the draft, or players already on the roster like Erik Pears, Langston Walker, or Khalif Barnes.

10. Bring in a veteran receiver to help mentor the receivers and teach them how to get open in the NFL and hold onto the ball. Sure our receivers are young fast and have tremendous potential but the flat out can’t catch.

Viable WRs on a contract year include: Steve Breaston, Isaac Bruce, Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Marshall, Mushin Muhammad, and Terrell Owens.

Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com

Jake Delhomme is out as QB this week with a hand injury, but this latest ailment is merely a formality for what was inevitably to come. Even without the injury, it’s unclear whether or not his shoddy performance in New York was going to allow him to retain the starting position.

Coming in to replace Delhomme as the signal-caller is Matt Moore. The 25-year-old third year QB is getting another chance at the starting spot after finishing out the 2007 season as the first-stringer in place of the struggling David Carr and Vinny Testaverde.

Although undrafted and seemingly overlooked by nearly every scout ranking institution, Moore led a successful career in high school and college, competing with the likes of Matt Leinart and Trent Edwards in the PAC-10.

Moore attended high school at William S. Hart in Newhall, California.  He was a two-year letterman on the football field, once as a QB and the other as a DB. He also excelled on the school’s baseball team as a third baseman. 

Moore proved to be a true athlete as a senior, leading his team to a 13-0 record playing both sides of the ball.  He was named first team all-state, first team All-CIF Southern Section team, and FarWest Offensive Player of the Year by SuperPrep.

At the culmination of his senior year, he was a nationally top-rated QB, ranked No. 8 by Scout.com and No. 11 by Rivals.com, a site that also had current Buffalo Bill’s QB Trent Edwards as the No. 2 QB entering college.   

Moore opted to play football rather than baseball in college and eventually chose to play as a Bruin at UCLA. He was initially redshirted as a freshman, but injuries to the first-team QBs forced him to start in the season opener against Stanford. Moore led his team to a victory over the Cards against the sixth rated pass defense in the PAC-10. 

Despite his exemplary performance during his debut, Moore only started four of the eight games he played in as a freshman.  He struggled his sophomore year and left UCLA the following year to attend the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. 

Although he hadn’t played baseball since high school, the Los Angeles Angels were impressed by the footage they saw and drafted him in the 22nd round of the 2004 MLB draft. Once again, Moore forewent his future in baseball and returned to school in order to play football.

The 2005 season found him at Oregon State University under the tutelage of coach Mike Riley. He flourished in the school’s West Coast offense but in week 10, Moore fell to a knee injury. 

In the ten games that he did play, Moore finished with 2,711 yards, the ninth highest in OSU history. His 271.1 yards per game finished second only to USC’s Matt Leinart.

His senior year at Oregan State was, by far, his most successful. He finished with 3,022 yards, 18 TDs and 7 INTs. His four TDs in the Beaver’s victory over Missori in the Sun Bowl set a passing record. His last touchdown came on a 55-yard drive with only 22 seconds left, wrapping up a victory that truly showcased Moore’s leadership ability on the field.

As impressive as his final year in college was, experts again overlooked Moore.  He went undrafted in the 2007 draft, one that featured JaMarcus Russel, Brady Quinn, and Trent Edwards, all players that have since been considered flops on the professional level.

Moore was eventually picked up by the Dallas Cowboys but despite a solid preformance in the preseason, he was waived and the Carolina Panthers snagged him instead.

He was placed third on the depth chart under the seemingly formidable QB team of Jake Delhomme and David Carr.  However, early in the year, Jake was injured for the year, later undergoing Tommy John surgery, forcing Carr to take the role as the starter. In the fifth game of the season, Carr went down with a back injury in the first quarter and Moore was given his first chance to play in an NFL regular season game. 

His first completion was a 43-yard strike to Keary Colbert but, once again, he was benched when Carr returned to the game at the end of the first half. Injuries continued to plague Carr so the Panthers looked to veteran Vinny Testaverde to revive their offense.

After successive unimpressive performances by both Carr and Testaverde, Carolina gave Moore another crack at the job in week 15 and he responded with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks. 

He ended the season as the starter, finishing with 564 total passing yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. His performance landed him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month award for December. 

This week, Matt Moore is going to get another chance to show his ability against Tampa Bay, ironically the last team he went up against in 2007. He’ll be taking snaps behind a newly-adjusted offensive line but his quick feet and ability to throw “over” the line of scrimmage should allow him to escape the pressure from a slow Bucaneer’s d-line.

While Carolina will most likely lean on their dependable rushing attack, minor injuries to both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should give Moore the chance to exercise his passing attack. Fox will keep him on a tight leash, but I expect he will have success against a struggling Tampa Bay secondary.

Moore will undoubtedly look uncomfortable at first, but if he can overcome his nerves, I believe he will dominate in a game that Carolina needs to win. If he has a consistent performance in this week’s game, I don’t know how the Panthers can bench him again.

This is the chance he has been waiting for and, quite frankly, it’s well-deserved. Moore has been underrated throughout his entire career and this is his opportunity to showcase his athleticism. 

He has had three years to develop his technique and improve his decision-making. I’m not convinced he is ready to carry a struggling team on his shoulders, but the options in Carolina are running thin.

The end of his contract is approaching at the end of the year and I think it would be a terrible mistake for Carolina to let him go. The only mentionable QBs slated to become Free Agents next year are Kyle Orton (who is sure to be resigned by Denver), Jason Campbell, Daunte Culpepper, and Chad Pennington, who is expected to retire after undergoing a third shoulder surgery on his throwing arm. 

Without a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, it’s unclear as to whether or not the Panthers will be able to acquire a rookie QB who will be ready to start in the 2010 season. Moore is not only a viable option, he’s the only one we have.

A.J. Feeley is a perennial backup, having played for a slew of teams and impressed none. An inevitable new coach next year may be the catalyst for a house cleaning party, but I hope for Panther fan’s sake that Moore returns and as the starter, no less.

Read more Carolina Panthers news on BleacherReport.com

I don’t think it is a stretch to say that this season has been a disappointment for the Houston Texans and their fans.

Before the season started, pundits were picking the Texans as a sleeper team to emerge as a playoff contender.  The team had improved in terms of talent and on-field production and was coming off back to back 8-8 seasons.  The offense was loaded and dynamic and the defense, led by first time coordinator Frank Bush, promised to be aggressive and hard hitting.

After all the hype, excitement and fanfare, the Texans came out and got thoroughly destroyed by the New York Jets in the season opener.  It wasn’t just that the Texans lost, it’s that they lost the physical challenge and were beaten up at Reliant Stadium by a team with a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach. 

I know it’s painful, and I don’t want to go into a game by game rehashing, but the Texans have been in a position to tie or win every other game this season. 

Kris Brown missed potentially game tying field goals against the Colts and Titans on back to back weeks.  Chris Brown, brought in for his supposed talents on the goal line, was unable to score to tie games late against Jacksonville and Arizona. 

In short, these Browns cost the Texans a chance to tie four games.  Granted, these games would only have been tied, but winning even one of these four games would put the Texans at 6-5 and not 5-6. 

Winning even one of those games is the difference between realistically being in the playoff hunt at 6-5 and only mathematically in the playoff hunt at 5-6.  In short, even one of those games would have been monumentous.  Sliding from 5-3 to 5-6 has taken the air out of this season.

What is the problem facing the team?

Is it the offense?  Led by Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub and Steve Slaton, the offense remains strong.  Even without stand out tight end Owen Daniels, the Texans have been able to move the ball and put points on the board.  The running game hasn’t been great, but has been effective at times.  Look at the first half of the home game against the Colts: the team was able to run the ball and put up points.

Is the offensive line perfect?  No, but it is solid.  Tackles Duane Brown and Eric Winston have played well.  Schaub is facing less pressure in the pocket this season than in seasons past. 

Of course, losing both starting guards hurts, but this is the NFL.  Every team has injuries.  Teams must move on.  Chris White and Kasey Studdard have been adequate replacements for life-long Texan Chester Pitts and Mike Brisiel. 

In my opinion, center Chris Myers is not big enough or strong enough to hold up against elite interior defensive linemen, but so are most centers.  There are only a few players in the league who can matchup with monsters such as Shaun Rogers or Kris Jenkins. 

On the other side of the ball, the defense has at times played very well.  Linebackers Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing have been great.  Cushing should be on the short list of Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates.  He makes an impactful play every week and his physical and aggressive style is contagious. 

On the line, Mario Williams has not played as well as he did in 2008 and 2007, but his shoulder injury must be worse than either he, or the team is disclosing.  He has still played the run well and has been the team’s best defensive linemen.

Free agent Antonio Smith might have more personal fouls (3) than sacks (2) on the season, but he hasn’t been the only big name player to disappoint on the line. 

The light has yet to come on for Amobi Okoye.  He may never develop into the elite pass rusher the team hoped for, but he can still turn into an effective and useful defensive tackle.  He has shown flashes this season of turning the corner, but must become more consistent.

In the secondary, Bernard Pollard has turned into a top performer.  His big hits are only part of the story.  He has actually played well in coverage in recent games.  Granted, he’s not at his best when forced to cover elite slot receivers, but he’s in the lineup for thunderous hits and intimidation in the middle of the field.

Eugene Wilson was solid before his season-ending injury.  Rookie Glover Quin has been solid, as has Jacques Reeves.  Even Brice McCain has played well in limited action.

The only disappointing player in the secondary has been former Pro Bowl cornerback Dunta Robinson.  Once famous for bone-crushing hits and blanket coverage, Robinson is now known for wildly flailing at runners as they fly past him and largely ineffective coverage. 

If it’s not the talent, it must be the coaching, right?  In my opinion, a team that is skittish, unable to finish, draws numerous penalties and makes stupid mistakes is a team that lacks leadership from the head coach.  If it were up to me, Gary Kubiak would finish the season and then pack his bags. 

Firing him now would only lead the team to play out the string and wouldn’t solve anything.  However, replacing Kubiak with an established and experienced head coach can help put the Texans over the top.

As fellow writer Robert Vega has written, Kubiak does deserve a special place in the hearts of Texan fans for driving the team out of the mediocrity of the David Carr years.  Yet his inability to make the Texans anything more than average will, in my opinion, lead to his downfall as the head coach of the Texans.

Fans are still very passionate about the Texans.  In those early years, fans knew that the Texans weren’t going to compete for the playoffs right away.  We were just happy to have a hometown team to root for.  We threw our support behind the team even more with the glorious Sunday Night Football upset of the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s a good sign that the fans are upset.  It shows they care and expect more than just showing up from the Texans.  It’s time for the Texans to be about more than “wait till next year.”

If it’s not the offense, if it’s not the defense, if it’s not the special teams and if it’s not the coach, what are we left with in the end?  A team that teases and tantalizes but does not deliver in the end.  In short, another season of disappointment.

Where does the team go in the future?  First, as I’ve said numerous times, a top flight coach must be hired.  Owen Daniels and Demeco Ryans must be signed to long term deals.  Ryans is seemingly re-energized playing alongside Cushing and Daniels’ absence has been felt despite rookie James Casey’s emergence and potential.

A big time corner also must be added to the mix.  Dunta Robinson may be an emotional leader of the team, but his inability to play at an even average level is hurting the team.

Bernard Pollard should be locked up in a long term deal.  He’s been an incredible find for the Texans.  A free safety who can play exceptional pass defense is desperately needed, as Eugene Wilson is coming off season-ending injury and has lost a step and John Busing is really more of a special teams player. 

The interior of the offensive line and defense line must be improved, as well.  A massive defensive tackle to play alongside Mario and Okoye must be signed or drafted.  A mauling run blocking guard or two is also required. 

It’s disheartening to say that the Texans are still loaded with unlocked potential and have the talent to be a playoff-caliber team.  It’s clear more good players are on the team now than in other seasons.  The Texans are no longer an expansion team.  There are more good players on this team than bad.

Learning how to finish must be an offseason assignment for the entire team.  I don’t know if that can be taught by a new head coach, but it’s certainly not being taught by the current head coach. 

The most disappointing and angering feature of the Texans is that inability to finish.  If they simply weren’t good enough to be competitive, it would be one thing.  But to lose close games to good team, and even to beat good teams on the road, shows me that the Texans are close.  Disappointingly close.

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The man in the picture above this article is one of the top 15 QBs in the NFL.

The man in the picture is also well known for throwing interceptions, as all QBs do.

However, he is being unfairly blamed for everything wrong with the Chicago Bears. And as a fan who had to sit through, to name just a few: Cade McNown, Steve Stenstrom, Henry Burris, Rick Mirer, Steve Walsh, etc, that doesn’t sit right with me.

When Jerry Angelo made the trade that brought Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears, a season or two after the greatest sports quote ever was contributed to the world by Dennis Green, there was jubilation from SOME Bears fans. Others would rather have had the first round picks and Kyle Orton.

This is ridiculous on so many levels. This team has been known for its defense throughout the Super Bowl era. And it’s never gotten us anything. Matter of fact, the one Bears Super Bowl-winning defense was complimented on the other side by an amazing running back, an above-average QB and for that time, good blocking WR’s, as well as an excellent offensive line led by Jimbo Covert.

When it comes to the NFL, I subscribe to this theory that I will bold just to show how much I believe in it:  You cannot win without at least a top-13 offensive line. Look at every Super Bowl winner. When the Colts defeated said Bears, Peyton Manning was protected by Tarik Glenn and Ryan Diem at the tackles, Rick DeMulling and I believe Jake Scott, and Jeff Saturday.

Those are two pretty damn good tackles, well, Diem is, Glenn has since retired. DeMulling was let go in free agency and Saturday is the uncompromising heart and soul of the line. In anoher example, notice that as soon as Willie Roaf and Will Shields retired, and John Welbourn got bad, the Chiefs dropped into the dregs of the NFL, where before they had always been near the middle, and spent more years above than below.

Oakland staked their No. 2 overall on getting a franchise tackle from Iowa named Robert Gallery. Gallery is now a guard because he couldn’t handle the pressures, and Oakland still sucks. And I’m a Raiders fan, trust me, it angers me to say it, especially since Madden 06 is convinced they’re an elite franchise and they win 10 games every year.

Also, when Miami took LT Jake Long first overall, I was taken by a stat that was reported many times during pre-draft coverage: Long was not called for a holding penalty his last two or three years at Michigan. Dolphins win 11 games in his rookie season. Funny how that works.

Which brings me to the Sunday night telecast. Al Michaels has won awards, but the way he opened the show I sure don’t see how. Because he lost much credibility when he called Cutler the savior. That annoyed me to no end, because that’s not what he was. He was not, nor ever was intended to be, the savior of this Chicago Bears team.

Joe Montana could be the QB and this team would be 4-5. Greg Olson is soft, Matt Forte couldn’t hit a hole belonging to a porn star, and this offensive line couldn’t block me and three of my cousins running at full speed.

And worse, this offensive line has future hall of famer Orlando Pace and he’s one of the worst offenders. If Antwan Odom wasn’t out for the rest of the season before that Bengals game, he might have put Cutler in the hospital. 

This is NOT to say Cutler should be absolved of all blame. I’m not saying that at all, because of his 18 interceptions, about nine of them are entirely his fault, and the jury’s still out on two of them, including the one to end the Eagles game. But it’s really hard for Cutler to have any faith in his receivers when they DON’T CATCH THE BALL.

Look at the end of the Eagles game. And I’m not taking anything from the Eagles, they played an excellent game. But Cutler went to Greg Olson in triple coverage. Stupid? Yes, but why was Olson standing in one place? Ball’s tipped up in the air, and one of the Eagles runs into an almost standing still Greg Olson, and the game’s over.

The Bears are not a good team. Weren’t before they got Cutler. And the defense took a hit with the loss of Urlacher and Nathan Vasher basically being a less mobile version of Thomas Smith. There’s a name from the past, Bears fans.

So if you’re going to blame anyone, Jay Cutler should not be first on your list. Ron Turner, Lovie Smith and the offensive line should shoulder a lot more blame than Cutler.

Before I explain why they should take more blame in ascending order…

Kyle Orton has Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Daniel Graham (or is it Ben Watson, they’re always interchangeable in my mind) I could look like a Pro Bowler with that crew and the excellent Ryan Clady. And I couldn’t throw a spiral for a million dollars.

Kyle Orton is not a great QB. He’s a system QB. San Diego is reminding Denver that THEY are the class of the AFC West (which isn’t saying much) and Marshall and Knowshon Moreno had a bit of a difference of opinion on the sideline yestersday.

Jay Cutler, on the other hand, has a soft Greg Olson, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, who nobody heard of before this year, and an offensive line that right now is varying degrees of fat, old and bad. I’ll say it again: You cannot win without a good to great offensive line. You will not win. I guarantee it.

Starting with the Offensive Line. Orlando Pace, Frank Omiele, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza/Josh Beekman, and Chris Williams. Reading off those names, you have: A hall of famer, a low draft pick who made his name through toughness, a center who is the leader of the team, a self-made scrapper and brawler who is always hurt with bad knees, a young kid who will probably be the center once Kreutz leaves, and…a first-round pick.

The NFL is the toughest league for a first-round pick to succeed, bar none. But the Chicago Bears have had it tougher than any other team in the NFL when it comes to drafting in the first round. The aformentioned Cade McNown. Curtis Enis. And of course, my favorite, Michgan WR David Terrell, who had much talent, no sense in how to utilize it, and was quickly out of the NFL, as even the Patriots had no use for him. 

One could say Houston is just as tough, as David Carr was their first pick ever. Carr had all the tools to succeed…but what got him? If you say lack of talent, the sound you just heard was a buzzer followed immediately by the Price is Right tuba. Carr was immensely talented. But he was sacked over 200 times as the QB of the Houston Texans.

The offensive linemen of the Houston Texans from that period, especially Chester Pitts, should all be ashamed of themselves for that disgusting performance. Hell, they should hang a plaque outside Reliant Stadium. “Here lies the tattered remains of David Carr’s career. In Memoriam.”

Getting back to this story, the play of the offensive line this season has been inexcusable. But, people keep overlooking that to jump on Cutler. THAT is also inexcusable. Cutler is constantly under pressure, and Matt Forte usually gets buried after a yard or so. How anyone can ignore that is just stunning.

So we come to Ron Turner.

Turner as offensive coordinator is a mistake. The offense he built was designed for someone with moderate arm strength. Someone like Kyle Orton. Jay Cutler is not Kyle Orton. He’s demonstrably better. Screen passes work only with, let’s say, Hester. Runs over guard work if your guards are any good.

If your guards are, let’s name two good ones at random if I can, Alan Faneca/Steve Hutchinson and Mike Wahle/Marco Rivera (had to consult my memory bank for the Madden 06 ratings) then it works.

If your guards are below average, you’re going to get buried. Watch the next game, which I believe is against the Vikings. When Forte attempts to run over guard, Pat Williams is going to eat him like the shark got Robert Shaw in Jaws. And for a “317″-pound man, it won’t matter which guard, Williams will be there waiting.

Turner’s stubborness prevents the team from throwing anything different at opposing defenses, and when that happens, Cutler gets murdered. Can Turner be rehabilitated? Of course, but will he?

So, Lovie Smith.

I defended Smith. I think he’s a good head coach. But in the end, it all comes down to him. In the end, he is the one responsible for the play of the team. I said in my last article the Browns have quit on Eric Mangini, maybe the Bears quit on Lovie Smith as well.

You see it in their body language. Cutler and Hester are angry when they come off the field after a three and out. The defense mostly looks beaten before the ball is even snapped.

I have no idea what Peanut Tillman is doing, but he can’t expected to be Champ Bailey. Zack Bowman is…well, I really can’t tell. Releasing the always hurt Mike Brown seems to have had the wrong effect on the secondary, because the team’s been hit by waves of injuries in what seems like a husband having sympathy pains for his wife.

But a smart coach adjusts to unforeseen circumstances and plans for changes, good or bad. A smart coach only gambles when he’s sure he’ll succeed. The fake punt in week one against Green Bay was a prime example of bad gambles, especially in Lambeau Field.

So every time you hear Bears fans attempt to blame Cutler for things beyond his control (below-average receivers, an offensive line that’s out there collecting a paycheck, catastrophic injuries, and horrendous coaching) and not give him credit for what he does that’s good.

And unless you’re as dumb as Al Michaels, you’d do well to keep Dennis Green’s oft-copied, never-topped statement about this team in your mind for the 2009 season, and possibly the 2010 one as well:

“The BEARS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!”

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Bud Adams sucks.

Ever since moving Houston’s Oilers to Tennessee, that stick has gotten shoved further and further up Adams’ exit-only.

From his tirade moments of giving the entire city of Houston the finger to his more recent antics that resulted in an NFL fine, Adams is just an angry and confused individual.

It’s time to seek therapy, Mr. Adams.

On Monday night, Nov. 23, Adams’ Titans invade Reliant Stadium for a showdown with the Houston Texans.

As a side note, I must admit that I continued to support Tennessee’s “Oilers” when Adams first moved the team (and up until Houston finally got their Texans in 2002). I supported the Titans during those transition years solely because it was not a “team” decision to leave Houston; it was Adam’s chokehold on the city choice and his alone.

But those days are long behind me now, and for years (ever since David Carr and the Texans first took down the hated Dallas Cowboys in their inaugural game) I’ve been saying that Houston is playoff-bound.

Turns out, I may finally be right.

The Texans are having an impressive season thus far and will roll into Monday night’s clash with the Titans with a 5-4 record.

Look for Houston’s win tally to hit six come closing time at Reliant on Monday night…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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In a nutshell, I have no idea why some fans in the Houston area cheer for the Tennessee Titans.  It makes no sense to me and it even kind of annoys me.  But, if we left it at that, this would be a really short and worthless article. 

(Photo caption: Bud Adams, Titans owner and Public Enemy Number One in Houston even ahead of Albert Pujols.)

Let’s jump right into a little history, shall we?  Bud Adams founded and owned the Houston Oilers.  The Oilers played in the Houston Astrodome.  There were some good years and some bad years for the Oilers in Houston.  Some winning seasons and some AFL championships in the 1960s. 

In the 1990s, the Oilers were a good team that couldn’t quite get over the hump.  There were some good times and bad times; the Run and Shoot,  Warren Moon,  Buddy Ryan slugging Kein Gilbride on the sideline.  I don’t want to bring up the Buffalo Bills epic comeback for those of you who were Oilers fans back then.

But, in 1995, Adams announced he wanted a new stadium in Houston and threatened to leave if he didn’t get a publicly funded facility.  Well, the city of Houston refused to be held hostage and didn’t build ole Bud a stadium.  So, Adams, making good on his ransom ultimatum, announced he was leaving for Tennessee after the 1996 season.

The 1996 season saw the Oilers play well and finish 8-8.  But, after announcing the team was leaving Texas, Houstonians stopped caring. The cavernous Astrodome was mostly empty as fans did not support the lame duck team. 

Can you blame those fans?  Would you go watch a team that just announced it was leaving for Memphis of all places?

We all know the history of the team now known as the Titans, they left Houston for Tennessee. 

It’s like a girlfriend breaking up with a lawyer and immediately starting to date a guy who is on the watch list for buying too many bottles of cough syrup at the drug store. 

Leaving Houston to end up in Tennessee? 

This isn’t meant to be a slight to Tennessee (well, maybe a little), but let’s be honest here; Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States.  Adams’ move was a straight money grab and he showed no loyalty to the city. This move continues to baffle my mind.

But, that does not baffle me quite as much as the Houstonians who still support the Titans.  I won’t name any names, but a few years ago, I was lucky enough to watch a Titans game from a suite at Reliant Stadium with some friends.  One of my best friends was openly rooting for the Titans.  It still to this day makes no sense and this was many seasons ago.

Hello, Houstonians, the Titans left Houston for another city.  Why are you still supporting them?  Do you hope free agents who defect to another team play well?  Do you hope the girlfriend who dumped you for some loser wins the lottery?  Where is your sense of civic pride?  I just don’t get it.

Well, a lot of Longhorns play for the Titans.  Yeah, I’ve heard some of you say that.  Vince Young, Bo Scaife, Mike Griffin, and Ahmard Hall play for the Titans.  The fact that those are former Texas standouts may be reason to continue cheering for them on an individual basis, but not for their team especially when that team betrayed Houston.

Where was this UT pride when Corey Redding and Shawn Rogers played for the Lions?  Or when Derek Johnson and Priest Holmes played for the Chiefs?  There are 43 Longhorns currently in the NFL, where is the love for those teams?  You can’t have it both ways.

Let’s explore some of this Vince Young phenomenon.

Disclaimer:  I’m a huge Texas fan and my memory of Vince Young scampering for the winning score against USC is one of my best sports memories of all time.  The best sporting event I ever attended was the 2005 Rose Bowl when VY ran all over USC.  I still watch my Rose Bowl DVD and youtube highlights.  In short, I think Vince Young is the best college player I’ve ever seen.

When he wasn’t drafted by the Texans back in 2006, many Texans’ fans and Houstonians in general were shocked.  The team didn’t take Reggie Bush or Vince Young and took a young defensive end from NC State.  Well, in the end, it’s clear Houston made the right pick and we don’t need to debate this.

But, some of you are still convinced Vince Young is the second coming of Joe Montana combined with hyper-athletism. 

Let’s face reality, however.  Young’s career passer rating is 70.1  Sure, he’s won some games and has even been to the playoffs,  but don’t you think the Titans defense then and Chris Johnson now are the reason the Titans were good?  I sure do and I know I’m not alone.

I understand it would have been a great story for Young to star in his hometown after leading UT to a BCS Championship,  but he’s not on the Texans nor is he a great quarterback.  He’s Trent Dilfer with legs and let’s face reality;  Young is a Titan (for now) and not a Texan.

Well, some of you say, the Texans never gave us anything to cheer for before the past few seasons.  David Carr is a bum and  the defense couldn’t stop a high school team.  So many draft picks were wasted,but those aren’t reasons to give up on your hometown team. (Granted, that glove wearing ninny David Carr truly is a bum.) 

But, where is the fun in rooting for only the best teams?  Is that what fandom is all about?  I don’t think so.  You pick a team and you stick with them. Look how happy Saints fans have been recently.  They’ve had one of the worst histories in pro sports, but they’re on top of the world now. That’s real fandom.

Look, this is America and we’re lucky enough to be able to live wherever we want and to do whatever we want.  If you want to live in Houston and root for the Titans, go ahead.  But don’t do it twice a year.  Don’t root for the Titans only when they play the Texans.  For those of you in the vocal minority who root for the Titans twice a year: pick a team and stick with them because your lack of loyalty is making us real fans sick.

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