Vince Young apologizes to Jeff Fisher by text, coach says
Jeff Fisher says quarterback Vince Young has apologized to him by text message, though that’s probably not the best move since the Tennessee Titans coach says talking face to face is a “man thing.”
Fisher said Wednesday after practice that reporters could draw their own conclusions on whether he would have preferred an apology from Young in person. The coach wouldn’t discuss what the text said except that Young apologized via a text sent Tuesday.
But the coach also didn’t text his quarterback in response.
“I’m not a real big text guy,” Fisher said. “I’m not really into this new-age stuff. I don’t twit or tweet. But I think face to face is a man thing, OK?”
The quarterback had a heated exchange with Fisher in the locker room after Sunday’s overtime loss to Washington, and Fisher told Young not to attend a team meeting Monday. Tennessee put Young on injured reserve Tuesday because he needs season-ending surgery on his right thumb.
Fisher said he will meet with Young at some point. Asked if hearing from his quarterback by text does some good to a relationship that has seemed beyond repair, Fisher said he didn’t think so.
“Someone could’ve grabbed his phone and texted,” Fisher said.
Fisher told Houston reporters on a conference call earlier Wednesday that Young is welcome to show up at practices if he wants. Fisher said he’s also busy focusing on his Titans (5-5) visiting the Houston Texans (4-6) on Sunday with his team just a game out of first in the AFC South.
Brady questionable for Thursday
Tom Brady was listed as questionable for the New England Patriots’ game on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions after missing a walk-through practice Wednesday.
Brady also sat out Tuesday’s only full workout of the week with a foot injury after participating on a limited basis in a walk-through on Monday. A questionable listing means a player has a 50-50 chance of playing in a game.
Brady also was listed with a shoulder injury, as he has been every week in recent seasons.
The quarterback took one day off from practice during the weeks leading to the team’s previous two games. Both times, however, he was listed as probable. Brady played well in both games, victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis, and showed no signs of being hurt. He walked without a limp in the locker room Tuesday.
Redskins put Portis on injured reserve
Clinton Portis’ season has come to an early end for the second year in a row.
Coach Mike Shanahan said that the Washington Redskins running back will be put on injured reserve with a torn muscle in the lower abdomen.
The new injury is just above the area of the torn left groin that caused Portis to miss five games. Portis returned from the groin injury for Sunday’s game against Tennessee but lasted only five carries before getting hurt again.
Portis will have surgery and require at least two months of rehabilitation, ending his season with a career-low 227 yards in 54 carries, with two touchdowns.
In another roster move, the Redskins signed offensive lineman Jacob Bender to the practice squad.
Saints coach optimistic Bush will play Thursday
New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton says he’s optimistic Reggie Bush will be able to finally come back from his broken right leg at Dallas on Thanksgiving.
Bush, who has missed eight games since breaking his right fibula, is listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis this week. Payton says it was tough to gauge whether Bush is 100% because the Saints did not practice at full speed this week, opting instead for light workouts and walk-throughs during the shortened week.
Giants name Jacobs starter at running back
Brandon Jacobs is once again the New York Giants’ No. 1 running back.
Frustrated with Ahmad Bradshaw’s inability to hold the ball, Coach Tom Coughlin demoted Bradshaw and gave Jacobs the starting job for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Although Bradshaw is fifth in the league in rushing with 867 yards, he has six fumbles and has lost five. The last one came in Sunday night’s 27-17 loss to Philadelphia.
Favre would like a smaller playbook
| Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre says he thinks NFL coaches make the game too complicated. He said it’s easier to run the offense when players can focus on a smaller sample of plays that they’re good at and keep working on those.”Every playbook across this league is way too thick,” Favre said. “You never practice it all. How can you become consistent if you’re running a different play every week out of a different formation with a different motion with different guys?”The Vikings have had to shuffle constantly at wide receiver, which has clearly hindered their progress. Favre, though, insinuated that former coach Brad Childress over-complicated the offense without directly naming him in his diatribe against what he called an over-coached sport.”You think those guys crack that book, go through all 500 pages? Come on,” Favre said. “You could hide a couple hundred dollar bills in there.” Vikings interim Coach Leslie Frazier says he welcomes Favre’s input “wholeheartedly.”Titans’ offensive coordinator has cancerTennessee offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger has been diagnosed with cancer and is expected to start chemotherapy treatment almost immediately.Coach Jeff Fisher announced that Heimerdinger has been very sick the past three weeks but learned the diagnosis Wednesday morning. Heimerdinger wasn’t at practice.Fisher declined to specify what type of cancer Heimerdinger has but asked for prayers for both the coach and his family.Etc.With Colt McCoy out with a high left ankle sprain, Jake Delhomme, who has been inactive for eight games because of a similar injury, will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday…. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel says he has been fined $40,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New York Giants wide receiver Derek Hagan that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty…. Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson says the NFL has fined him $5,000 for his playful touchdown celebration after the first of his three scores during a win over the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend…. The Bengals signed rookie safety Jeromy Miles from their practice squad in time for Thursday night’s game with the New York Jets…. The Eagles put cornerback Ellis Hobbs on injured reserve, ending his season, and signed cornerback Brandon Hughes off the Giants’ practice squad…. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall didn’t practice because of a hamstring injury, raising questions as to whether he’ll play Sunday at Oakland…. Buffalo Bills cornerback Terrence McGee left practice because of a knee injury, and it’s uncertain if he’ll play against Pittsburgh this weekend…. New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery will miss his second straight game as he recovers from a groin injury…. The New York Giants have been awarded receiver Devin Thomas on waivers from the Carolina Panthers and put fullback Madison Hedgecock on injured reserve. |
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