NFL ROUNDUP News and notes
Ravens: Rookie quarterback Troy Smith will make his first start Sunday when Baltimore visits the Seattle Seahawks. With Kyle Boller missing his second consecutive day of practice due to lingering effects from a concussion, including headaches and sensitivity to light, Ravens coach Brian Billick confirmed Thursday Smith will take his place. “With Kyle, it would be problematic for him on Sunday, so, hopefully, he will be available to back up,” Billick said. “Missing two days of practice would make it tough. We’re certainly not going to put him at risk.” Billick acknowledged that Smith, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State, may also the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to Boller’s injury. “Concussions are very unpredictable,” Billick said. Smith will be the third quarterback to start for the Ravens this season. Steve McNair started six of the first nine games, but struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 3. Smith rushed for a touchdown in his NFL debut against Indianapolis on Dec. 9, and directed a game-tying drive in regulation in a 22-16 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. “He’s a very strong personality,” Billick said. “If things get ugly with him, he’ll be all right through whatever happens. He’s a very strong-willed young man.” If Boller is unavailable to be the backup, then the Ravens would likely promote undrafted rookie Cullen Finnerty from the practice squad. Wide receiver Mark Clayton is a potential emergency option.
Dolphins: A week ago, Wayne Huizenga seemed poised to sell his beloved Miami Dolphins and abandon his long quest for a Super Bowl title. Scratch those plans. Huizenga brought in Bill Parcells instead, giving him the task of restoring Miami’s lost luster. Miami signed Parcells to a four-year contract Thursday as executive vice president of football operations, a fancy title meaning he’ll oversee “anything that has to do with football, directly or indirectly,” said Huizenga, the Dolphins’ owner. Simply put: Parcells is in charge. “He’s got the ultimate responsibility,” Huizenga said. The two-time Super Bowl champion coach will report directly to Huizenga, whose affinity for big-name help now has led him to a 66-year-old former coach of four NFL clubs who owns a home in South Florida and now has a job there, too. “I’m honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga,” Parcells said. “He shares my same commitment to winning, and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team’s fortunes.” That will be a massive undertaking — much like when Parcells went to the Giants, the Jets, the Patriots and the Cowboys. His coaching plan helped turn those teams around. Miami hopes Parcells can do the same thing from the front office. “He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League,” Huizenga said. “And his football acumen will help put the Miami Dolphins franchise back among the elite of the NFL.”
Titans: The NFL rejected an appeal by the players’ union Thursday on behalf of suspended Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell turned down Jones’ request for leniency Nov. 6. The NFL Players’ Association appealed that ruling as excessive and had a hearing by telephone Dec. 14. But Jones must serve the final two games of his seasonlong suspension. “Commissioner Goodell notified Adam Jones today that his suspension for the 2007 season will not be modified,” the league said in a statement. “Once the Titans have concluded their 2007 season, Jones may begin limited activities at the club’s facility and, assuming no further problems, will be eligible to participate fully in Tennessee’s off-season workout program.”
Saints: Running back Reggie Bush sat out practice Thursday, but coach Sean Payton is not ready to rule Bush out for Sunday’s crucial home game against Philadelphia. “We backed off him some today,” Payton said of Bush, who practiced to a limited extent on Wednesday. The Saints discovered on Dec. 6 that Bush had a partial posterior cruciate ligament tear that would not require surgery, but would likely require about a month of rehabilitation. Bush, however, returned to practice this week, ahead of schedule after sitting out only two games. The Saints (7-7) risk being eliminated from playoff contention if they fall to the Eagles and Minnesota beats Washington. Also out on Thursday was tight end Eric Johnson, who missed last weekend’s game with a pulled right groin. Like Bush, Johnson participated in some portions of Wednesday’s practice before resting the following day. “Part of the plan was getting a good day’s work on Wednesday and then to see where we we’re at today,” Payton said. “In both of their cases ... it’s too early to say. We’ll see how they’re doing tomorrow [Friday].”
Raiders: Whether Oakland rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell makes his first NFL start Sunday or not, he isn’t too concerned about his role against the Jacksonville Jaguars. “Not at all because I continue to prepare as if I’m going to play, no matter if I start or not,” Russell said Thursday. “Whatever [Lane Kiffin’s] decision is, he’s the coach, he’s the boss. I’ll roll with that.” Earlier this week Kiffin said that Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, would definitely play against the Jaguars but probably wouldn’t start. Kiffin later switched gears and told reporters that the team was considering letting Russell, who has made only two brief appearances this season, start in Jacksonville. But despite growing sentiment in support of the idea from fans, media and players inside Oakland’s locker room, the Raiders have yet to finalize their plans. “Exactly how it will play out, I don’t know that,” Kiffin said Thursday. “But both guys will play and hopefully JaMarcus will play for an extended amount of time.” Oakland has taken a methodical and careful approach with Russell after its prized first-round draft pick missed all of training camp and the preseason while locked in contract negotiations. He has played in only five series this year, two against Denver and three in last week’s 21-14 loss to Indianapolis. Both times, Russell relieved McCown in the second quarter but failed to engineer scoring drives. Overall, the former LSU star is 6-of-12 for 66 yards with a 66.7 rating.
Associated Press