I didn't see last week's Ben Roethlisberger interview in full (mostly because I don't like smarmy douchecanoes), but this site asks a startlingly good question: How come no one said peep when Ben Roethlisberger admitted he contemplated giving up football while he was suspended, yet Vince Young got blasted from all corners of the Earth when he said the same thing? You throw that point on top of this quip and I've just found a new weekly must-read:
The Big Ben and Steelers supporters will state that there wasn't enough evidence to go to trial. Two things I will say to that, 1) Grow up 2) Pacman Jones wasn't charged either but you were probably the same people running him out of the league.
Jason Jones is still so viciously underrated largely because he hasn't stayed healthy enough to develop a track record you can point to. Jones has another shoulder injury he's dealing with now, but it's not a repeat of the one that cost him almost all of last year (he appeared in 7 games, but was only really playing at full throttle in 2 or 3 of them). Jones has been adamant that this one isn't nearly as bad and won't slow him down on Sunday, but it's definately something to watch. Best case scenario is that he keeps blowing up the middle of the line and chasing QBs towards Ball and Babin until he can rest up over the bye week in 10 days.
The Titans haven't had a problem with illegal hits in the secondary or helmet-to-helmet penalties/fines, yet they're taking the new rules handed down by the league very seriously. Having watched this coaching staff and these players though, they'll be fine just doing what they have been doing.
Jump!
David Boclair previews the Titans vs. Eagles with a bullet list of tid-bits, including this gem:
• [The Titans] have outscored the opposition by at least 12 points in every quarter this season. The biggest difference is in the first, where it is 20 points (33-13).
Chris Johnson has never faced the Eagles defense before, but more importantly, they've never seen CJ's speed in person. While that sounds nice in a newspaper headline, it didn't really work against the Broncos or Giants, did it?
More Alterraun Verner love:
The Titans rank 28th in Defensive DVOA against #1 receivers, eighth against #2 receivers, and they're the best defense in the NFL against other receivers who aren't tight ends or running backs. If you want the name of a sleeper reason why, and a player to watch for the rest of the season, check out rookie cornerback Alterraun Verner. The fourth-round pick out of UCLA already has two interceptions and has deflected seven passes -- he's consistently around the ball.
David Weinberg of PressOfAtlanticCity.com catches up with Myron Rolle to find out how he's dealing with being on the Titans' practice squad. Per usual, he has some great answers.
Don Banks gives his early picks for the year-end awards, and doesn't see a Titan worth considering.
Philly.com breaks down this week's game. You have to be one hell of a homer to pick the Eagles' defensive line over the Titans'... just saying.
Eagles special teams coach Bobby April discusses Marc Mariani being a complete pimp.
Despite being smart enough to pick us over the Eagles, Peter King must have written this sentence while wearing a drool bib and taking a break from his coloring book:
... even if Vince Young has to give way to Kerry Collins. In fact, after watching the Monday-nighter, that might be better for Tennessee.
If you hear an ambulance go by anywhere in America, it's probably a good bet that it's headed for the Colts facility given what they've seen over the past few days.
Have a great weekend, and be sure to follow me on Twitter at @AugustWest_MCM