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Both the NFL opener and Peyton Manning were a little tardy.

It was well worth the wait.

Manning and the Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes to get the season started because of a lightning storm.

After three punts to start things off, Manning threw a record-tying seven touchdown passes, something no one had done in 44 years, in directing Denver to a 49-27 victory over Super Bowl champion Baltimore on Thursday night in a much-anticipated rematch against the team that ended the Broncos’ playoff run in January.

Manning connected with his most prized addition, Wes Welker, and former college basketball player Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas for two TDs each in piling up the most points scored on the Ravens in their 18-year history.

“I don’t like excuses but I do think that lightning delay did slow us down,” Manning said. “You guys have seen teams break it down: you come up for the team prayer, you put your hands in and you say, ‘Broncos on 3,’ and you go out to the field. “We did it three times tonight,” Manning said. “We did it, went back and sat down for 10 minutes and came back up again. ‘Broncos on 3,’ now sit down for another 10 minutes. I know they had to deal with it, too, but it took us a while to get started.”

Wearing an orange-and-grey glove like the one he wore on that icy January night the last time these teams met, Manning took a while to get warmed up against a defence that had to replace seven Super Bowl starters.

He ditched the glove when the rain stopped — and then was unstoppable.

“Peyton had an amazing night,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “Peyton’s had a lot of amazing nights.”

Not like this, though.

Manning is the sixth QB in NFL history to throw seven TD passes in a game and the first since Joe Kapp for Minnesota against Baltimore on Sept. 28, 1969.

The others read like a Who’s Who of passers who defied the 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust days long before the NFL became so pass-happy: Sid Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda and Y.A. Tittle.

Tom Brady never did it. Nor Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Steve Young or Terry Bradshaw. Or, for that matter, No. 7 himself, John Elway, who had his binoculars trained on the action from his perch in the luxury seats.

“I felt like we had to keep scoring because Baltimore can score at any time,” said Manning, who was 27 of 42 for 462 yards with no interceptions for an off-the-charts quarterback rating of 141.1.

“He’s phenomenal. To continue to come out every year and put that kind of performance on for us, it’s amazing,” Julius Thomas said.

All part of a thorough thrashing of the team that put a harsh end to what had looked like a Super Bowl-bound 2012 in Denver. The rematch came nearly eight months after Baltimore beat Denver 38-35 in double overtime on an icy January night in the same stadium.

The hero on that night was Jacoby Jones, who caught a 70-yard TD pass over Rahim Moore with 31 seconds left to tie it in regulation. This time, his night was cut short when he went back to field a punt in the first half and teammate Brynden Trawick plowed into him, sending him to the sideline with a sprained right knee.

“That’s an experience problem, he’s an inexperienced guy,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

When the teams finally took the field after the long delay, it was clear how much had changed.

Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil moved from Denver to Baltimore as part of a bizarre, fax-infused contract squabble. Receiver Brandon Stokley also switched sides. The Broncos lost their best defender, Von Miller, to a drug suspension while Baltimore had to rebuild its “D” after losing emotional leaders Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.

The Ravens suffered another loss of sorts when they were forced to play the season’s traditional opener on the road because of a conflict with the Orioles in Baltimore. The NFL hung a Flacco banner above Denver’s stadium, but he hardly felt at home.

Armed with a new six-year, $120.6 million contract, he matched the Broncos score for score in the first half and went into the locker room up 17-14 but had to play catch-up after falling behind 35-17 early in the third quarter. His final numbers: 34 of 62 for 362 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.

“It was a pretty good game for a while and it got away from us,” Flacco said.

It was such a runaway, the Broncos were throwing away touchdowns by the end. Linebacker Danny Trevathan fumbled his pick-6 just shy of the goal line, pulling a Leon Lett imitation by celebrating too soon and the ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback instead of a touchdown.

No worries.

Denver was ahead 42-17 at that point.

“It was just a young mistake,” Trevathan said. “It was kind of selfish. I’m going to take full responsibility. I’m going to grow from it.”

Manning’s seventh TD pass was a blitz-beater that Demaryius Thomas caught in the left flat and raced up the seam for a 78-yard score that capped Manning’s big night.

“It didn’t seem like that many,” Welker said. “You’re just sitting there like, ‘That was seven?’ Because he’s so nonchalant about it.”

Flacco could only marvel at Manning’s seven TDs.

“That’s a sweet way to start a season,” Flacco said. “You get ahead throwing that many touchdowns. I mean, shoot, he’s almost halfway to 20 already.”

Demaryius Thomas finished with five receptions for 161 yards, Julius Thomas had five catches for 110 yards and Welker led the way with nine grabs for 67 yards.

Welker is the first receiver to catch TD passes from both Brady and Manning.

He has said he can’t compare the two pre-eminent QBs, saying that’s like choosing between Michaelangelo and Picasso.

This night was certainly a masterpiece for Manning.

The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson ran 78 yards for a touchdown on his first carry of the season and finished with 93 rushing yards and 3 scores. He was outdone, though, by his Lions counterpart Reggie Bush, who, in his Detroit debut, had 21 carries for 90 yards and four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Anquan Boldin had 13 receptions for 208 yards against the Packers in a spectacular debut for the 49ers.

The Saints’ Marques Colston made a diving, 25-yard catch in the second quarter against the Falcons that tied the game at 10-10. It was the 533rd reception of his career, which set a franchise record.

Defensive end Cameron Wake had two and a half sacks, and Dimitri Patterson had two interceptions in a dominating defensive performance by the Dolphins. In all, Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden threw three interceptions and was sacked six times.

Injury Report

The Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles left in the third quarter against the Jaguars with a quadriceps injury. He returned for two carries before calling it a day in the fourth. Jacksonville’s Blaine Gabbert cut the back of his right hand on a defender’s face mask in the closing minutes and needed 15 stitches. ... Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey injured his right knee in the first quarter against the Titans, and linebacker Larry Foote ruptured his biceps in the fourth. Both players are probably out for the season. ... Panthers guard Garry Williams left in the first quarter against the Seahawks with a left knee injury. Coach Ron Rivera said, “It doesn’t look good.” ... Rams offensive tackle Rodger Saffold was sidelined with a probable knee injury against the Cardinals but returned later in the first half.

Monday’s Matchups

Eagles at Redskins

7:10 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

Line: Redskins by 4

N.F.L. teams have a tendency to reuse failed coaches rather than turn to someone new. The Eagles bucked that trend by handing the team to Chip Kelly in the hope that the lightning-quick offense he employed in college translates to the N.F.L. With Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, Kelly has the speed to make his offense work, but time will tell if the system is a gimmick best left back at Oregon.

The Redskins, under Mike Shanahan, are a more known quantity and should have no problem against Philadelphia provided that quarterback Robert Griffin III’s knee is close to 100 percent.

Pick: Redskins

Texans at Chargers

10:20 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

Line: Texans by 4

The Texans have their eyes on the Super Bowl, so rushing Arian Foster and Ed Reed back from injury in Week 1 hardly seems necessary. It is not as if Houston needs their help against a lackluster Chargers team that fell apart last season. Employing a new offense, in part designed to take pressure off the frequently sacked Philip Rivers, San Diego has the talent to improve drastically on last season’s 7-9 record. But the Texans, a force on offense and on defense, should beat the Chargers for the first time in franchise history.


www-nytimes-com/2013/09/09/sports/football/days-best-in-the-nfl-html?_r=0

The NFL downgraded referee Bill Leavy, whose crew gave the San Francisco 49ers two third-down plays in the first half of their victory over the Green Bay Packers, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

NFL officials are judged and graded every week, and are often downgraded for issues. In the end, egregious mistakes can draw fines or cost officials assignments in the playoffs or Super Bowl. After a third-and-6 play at the Green Bay 10-yard line in the second quarter, Colin Kaepernick was hit out of bounds by Clay Matthews. The Green Bay linebacker drew a personal foul penalty, but so did 49ers tackle Joe Staley for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Staley, however, should not have received a personal foul on the play, the source told ESPN.

Because both penalties came after the play ended with Kaepernick stepping out of bounds without gaining a first down, it should have become fourth down. The league said Sunday the penalties were dead-ball fouls and the ball should have been spotted at the Packers' 6, making it fourth-and-2.

However, game officials gave the 49ers another third-and-6 play, and they scored a touchdown on Kaepernick's 10-yard pass to Anquan Boldin. The touchdown gave the 49ers a 14-7 lead with 8:57 remaining. At that point, according to ESPN Stats & Information's win-probability calculator, the 49ers had a 76.6 percent chance to win.

If the correct ruling had been applied, assuming the 49ers attempted and made a field goal on fourth down to give them a 10-7 lead, their win probability would have been 64.5 percent, a difference of 12.1 percent. San Francisco won 34-28.

"The down should have counted," Leavy said after the game. "The penalties were both dead ball, and they should have offset at the spot where the runner went out of bounds. And it would have been fourth down."

The rule in question states:

"Dead ball fouls by both teams are offset at the succeeding spot, and the down counts, and any disqualified player or players must be removed ..."

When asked if he was aware of the mistake, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said, "Yes. I mean, I'm aware of it now.

"Hey, that's part of the game. The ball doesn't always bounce your way."


NFL downgrades San Francisco 49ers-Green Bay Packers ref Bill Leavy - ESPN

The NFL sent a loud message to Ndamukong Suh about his extracurricular activities on the field. NFL Media's Albert Breer reported that NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks notified Suh on Tuesday that the defensive tackle has been fined $100,000 for his unnecessary roughness penalty in the Detroit Lions' 34-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Suh will appeal the fine, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, per a source who has been in touch with the defensive tackle.

The $100,000 fine is the largest financial penalty (not counting lost suspension money) for an on-field violation in NFL history.

Suh was flagged for a personal foul Sunday after he blindsided Vikings center John Sullivan with a hit to the knees. Sullivan, who underwent microfracture knee surgery in the offseason, avoided serious injury on the play, but he said Monday there needs to be "consequences when guys don't respect the careers of other players."

Rapoport reported Monday that Suh was likely to receive a "heavy" fine for the hit. Accusations of dirty play have followed Suh his entire career. He's been fined five times in his first three seasons, mostly for illegal hits on quarterbacks. His most infamous play came on Thanksgiving in 2011, when he was fined and suspended for stomping Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith.

That incident isn't to be confused with the incident that occurred last Thanksgiving, when Suh was fined $30,000 for kicking Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin.

The dollar amount of his latest fine is a clear indication that the league has run out of patience with Suh. Further misbehavior almost certainly will lead to another ban.


Ndamukong Suh fined $100K by NFL for illegal block - NFL-com

The Philadelphia Eagles’ heavily hyped offense did not disappoint in Chip Kelly’s N.F.L. coaching debut Monday night. The Eagles ran 30 plays in the first quarter and 53 in the first half, operating at a dizzying pace against an overmatched Washington Redskins defense in a 33-27 victory. The Eagles had 21 first downs in the first half, using an even faster tempo than the lightning-quick, hurry-up offense the team showed in the preseason. Kelly took his foot off the gas pedal in the second half, but he won over a lot of Eagles fans, and skeptics, in just 30 minutes. The Eagles shredded the Redskins on the ground, rushing 49 times for 263 yards. In the 14 years under Andy Reid, the most carries Philadelphia had in a game was 46, in a Week 1 blowout against Dallas in 2000. On Monday, LeSean McCoy rushed 31 times for 184 yards and a touchdown, and looked every bit as good as those numbers. But Philadelphia’s success on the ground was particularly notable in light of how the rest of the league fared in Week 1.

The passing game has dominated headlines for the past few years; teams have been throwing more effectively and more frequently than ever. But there was an underreported side story: in each of the last two seasons, the average N.F.L. carry was for 4.3 yards, the only two times the league average had been so high. So as passing records were being set each week, rushing efficiency was also peaking.

But in Week 1, before Monday night, N.F.L. offenses were overmatched in the running game. Miami, San Francisco and Seattle all won, but the Dolphins’ Lamar Miller rushed 10 times for 3 yards; the 49ers’ Frank Gore had 21 carries for 44 yards; and the Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch gained just 43 yards on 17 rush attempts. Perhaps it is not surprising that the plodding BenJarvus Green-Ellis had 14 carries for 25 yards for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Chicago Bears, but the explosive C. J. Spiller had just 41 yards on 17 carries for the Buffalo Bills against the New England Patriots.

In Pittsburgh, neither the Steelers nor the Tennessee Titans could run the ball: combined, their five running backs rushed for 137 yards on 51 carries, producing an average gain of 2.7 yards. At MetLife Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Doug Martin and the Jets’ Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory combined for 46 carries and averaged 2.4 yards a carry.

On Sunday, only two players cracked the 100-yard mark: the second-string Patriots running back Shane Vereen (101) and Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (112). This was the first time in 20 years that fewer than four running backs cracked the century barrier in Week 1. More surprising, the league average before Monday night was an abysmal 3.4 yards a carry. Apparently, the N.F.L needed a college coach to put the running game in vogue again.

The Belichick Test

On Sunday, the Patriots defeated Buffalo and the rookie quarterback E J Manuel, 23-21. On Thursday night, the rookie Geno Smith and the Jets travel to New England with the hope of pulling off an upset. Rookie quarterbacks are now 4-11 in games against Bill Belichick’s Patriots, with one of those wins coming from the last Jets rookie to start against New England: Mark Sanchez. The Jets are a 13-point underdog in Week 2. With the exception of a meaningless Week 17 New England game against Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans in 2006, no team with a rookie quarterback has been favored to beat Belichick’s Patriots. At 13 points, the Jets are the largest underdog of any of the rookie-led teams.

For his career, Belichick is 18-9 as a coach or defensive coordinator against rookie quarterbacks.

Boldin Connection

A decade ago, Anquan Boldin gained a stunning 200 receiving yards in his first game with the Arizona Cardinals. On Sunday, Boldin topped that feat, with 208 yards, in his first game for the 49ers: he is now responsible for half of the four 200-yard receiving games in Week 1 of an N.F.L. season since 1970. The 49ers traded a sixth-round pick to Baltimore to acquire Boldin in March, as the Ravens were planning to cut him to clear $6 million in salary-cap space. It was only one game, but Boldin was as valuable as any nonquarterback in the first week of the season.

Boldin helped his new quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, have the first 400-passing-yard game of his young career in a 34-28 win over Green Bay. Kaepernick did not hit the 300-yard mark until Super Bowl XLVII in February, but he had his best passing game against a Packers secondary that was missing safety Morgan Burnett and cornerback Casey Hayward. Kaepernick posted a 129.4 passer rating on 39 passes, the highest rating on so many passes since Peyton Manning — three days earlier. From 2008 to 2012, only four quarterbacks hit those thresholds in a game.

Predictive Power of Week 1

Everything is magnified in Week 1, including losses, especially in Tom Coughlin’s world. Since 1990, just 25 percent of all teams that lost in Week 1 made the playoffs. But that is a bit deceiving. Among all playoff teams since 1990, 68 percent of them won in the opener. That is the same winning percentage those teams had in the rest of the regular season. In other words, good teams lose games from time to time, but there is nothing special about losing in Week 1. For trivia buffs: the week that playoff teams are least likely to lose is Week 3; playoff teams have had a 73.3 winning percentage in those weeks.



www-nytimes-com/2013/09/11/sports/football/eagles-kelly-shows-the-nfl-how-to-run-html?_r=0

Mark Sanchez has said all the right things publicly since he injured his right shoulder during Week 3 of the preseason. But there's no doubt the New York Jets quarterback is unhappy with how things transpired over the last few weeks.

"Make no mistake. He's frustrated with the Jets. And he has good reason," NFL Media columnist Mike Silver said Thursday on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access Kickoff."

Silver added: "They put him in a bad situation when he had won the job. No one stood up and owned it the way Sanchez would have after throwing an interception. And then they downplayed the severity of the injury, I believe, because it made them look terrible." In a conversation with NFL Media's Rich Eisen, Sanchez made it clear that he plans to rehab his shoulder and try to play again this season for New York. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Sanchez plans to throw by the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Sanchez also plans to seek another opinion on his shoulder. At this point, Sanchez is not planning to have surgery on his shoulder. Surgery would require a four-to-six-month recovery, according to Rapoport.

This is a situation that bears watching over the next couple of weeks. Sanchez might prove he's healthy enough to play again, but it's questionable if the Jets will want the distraction. Especially if rookie Geno Smith is playing well.



Mark Sanchez frustrated with New York Jets - NFL-com

Week one of the 2013 NFL season is in the books. Overall the NFL handed out over $300,000 in fines for illegal and violent hits. The NFL really put its foot down in the name of player safety after the first week of the season. In total, 20 players were fined for excessive hits. No one was hit harder than Lions’ defensive end Ndamukong Suh. The notoriously dirty player was docked $100,000 for his hit on Vikings’ center John Sullivan. The next biggest fine was awarded to Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson. He was taken to the bank for $30,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Jets’ tight end Jeff Cumberland. In third place was Redskins cornerback De’Angelo Hall. The NFL fined him $20,000 for a horse collar tackle on Desean Jackson out of bounds. Coming in a close fourth was Frank Alexander of the Carolina Panthers. He got $15,750 for a personal foul penalty that also got him ejected him from the game. You get the idea. The NFL and fines go together like butter and toast. When Roger Goodell has a point to make, he is not subtle. Unfortunately, it’s starting to affect the entertainment value of the game. The NFL may have handed out a record amount of money in fines, but players like Goldson and Suh are on contracts where they can afford it. Most defenders can’t afford it. As a result players are either afraid to tackle, or simply don’t know how to tackle anymore. It showed last Sunday. For example, the 49ers missed seven tackles against the Packers. Last season San Francisco averaged 3.5 missed tackles a game. The NFL is giving offenses an advantage in a game that it supposed to be played on even footing. How do defensive coordinators game plan when their players can’t hit a wide receiver or running back without fear of getting fined? A lot of people will say it comes down to proper technique. It’s a valid argument. Then again, players like Dashon Goldson take pride in proper technique. The NFL’s fines for excessive hits are getting out of hand. What the league is trying to do is admirable, and fines like Suh’s and Hall’s are well deserved. A number of fines aren’t deserved though, the league simply trying to make a point. If the league makes too much of a point people will just stop watching. No one wants the NFL to turn into the excruciatingly high scoring Arena Football League.
Read more at NFL Fines Eclipse $300,000 For Week One

1. Cleveland Browns rookie Barkevious Mingo (bruised lung) will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Ravens. He's probable. Mingo has no set snap number and will be available for special teams. Browns defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin (calf) is doubtful.

2. Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (foot) is out once again. The New York Giants threw the ball for a ton of yardage in Dallas, and could do the same this Sunday in New Jersey.

3. The Giants list cornerback Prince Amukamara (concussion) and safety Antrel Rolle (groin) as questionable, but coach Tom Coughlin indicated that both will play.

4. Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Julio Jones (knee) and Roddy White (ankle) are listed as questionable, but after being limited in practice, they are fully expected to play against the St. Louis Rams. Falcons coach Mike Smith confirmed White will play. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (knee), cornerback Asante Samuel (thigh), offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee) and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (knee) are questionable, too.

5. Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (probable, quad) told NFL Media's Desmond Purnell that he will play this week against the Dallas Cowboys. Asked to estimate what percent health he will play at, Charles said: "I'm ready to play percent."

6. Rams defensive end Chris Long (hip) barely practiced this week. He's questionable. He hasn't missed a game in his six-year career.

7. Houston Texans safety Ed Reed is questionable to play against the Tennessee Titans. He's a game-time decision because of his hip injury, but his practice work ramped up this week. It sounds like Reed has a decent chance to play.

8. Kicker news! Washington Redskins kicker Kai Forbath is questionable for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a groin injury. The Redskins signed John Potter on Saturday as insurance, per WTEM-AM, though no decision has been made regarding Forbath' status. Potter was in training camp with the team.

9. Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (thigh) is questionable to play versus the Browns, although The Baltimore Sun indicated that Pierce should play. Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher (ankle) is probable after getting hurt in Week 1.

10. Packers tight end Jermichael Finley's toe injury isn't such a big concern after all. He's probable. Guard Josh Sitton is questionable with a back injury. Safety Morgan Burnett (hamstring, questionable) has a good chance to make his season debut.

11. Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley (shoulder) is questionable. He's expected to play in Arizona after returning to practice.

12. Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen (hip) didn't practice again Friday. He was downgraded to doubtful Saturday for the Week 2 game against the Miami Dolphins. Colts linebacker Pat Angerer will return from a concussion.

13. Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Cliff Avril (hamstring) is "ready to go" to make his team debut against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner (hamstring) is doubtful. Defensive end Chris Clemons (knee) is questionable. He's trying to return from a torn ACL.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Carl Nicks (toe) is questionable this week versus the Saints. His conditioning is the main concern after missing a month of practice.

15. The Saints knew they'd be without defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley because of his calf injury. But key defenders Akiem Hicks (knee), Patrick Robinson (foot), Roman Harper (knee) and Jabari Greer (back) also are questionable.

16. Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald is questionable with a hamstring injury that popped up during the week. He's a game-time decision, although we'd be surprised if he didn't play against the Lions. Fitzgerald was limited in practice throughout the week.

17. Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd (foot) is doubtful. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore (wrist) and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (hand) will miss Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

18. Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer (knee) is expected to return to the lineup, albeit on limited snaps. He's questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.



What you need to know about the Week 2 injury report - NFL-com

Pete Carroll pumped his fist for a raging home crowd and national television audience to see. The coach had just won a successful challenge in the middle of the fourth quarter. The score was 29-3. The Seattle Seahawks didn't just beat their rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. They humiliated them.

San Francisco's three running backs rushed 11 times for 13 yards. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman erased Anquan Boldin; San Francisco's big pickup only had one catch for seven yards. Colin Kaepernick had the worst game of his career with four turnovers and only 127 yards passing.

Seattle's offense was similarly stymied in the first half, but bounced back with two 80-yard drives after halftime. Russell Wilson completed only eight passes (in 19 attempts), and the Seahawks were mostly sloppy on offense. Yet the Seahawks won going away.

Seattle has outscored the 49ers 71-16 over their last two meetings. For most of 2012, Seattle was the hunter in the division. They were the upstarts trying to catch up to the 49ers. San Francisco went further in the playoffs last year, but Seattle is now the hunted. They are the favorites. The 49ers are supposed to be the physical team in the division, yet Seattle manhandled them up front on Sunday night. On a night when the Seahawks' "12th man" reportedly set a Guinness World Record for loudest stadium at CenturyLink Field, it is increasingly hard to imagine Seattle losing at home. This is a team that entered the season as the NFC favorites and only looks better after two weeks. Bruce Irvin, Chris Clemons, Brandon Browner and Percy Harvin haven't even played yet for this team.

If the 49ers can't win in Seattle, who can?



Seattle Seahawks bash San Francisco 49ers at home - NFL-com

As a redshirt sophomore three years removed from his high school graduation, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is eligible for the NFL draft at the conclusion of the 2013 season. After winning the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt freshman – becoming the first in Football Bowl Subdivision history to do so – and excelling in Saturday’s loss to No. 1 Alabama, Manziel could choose to forego his final two years of eligibility after this season and enter the draft while his stock is at its highest point.

If he does leave Texas A&M after this season, Manziel would immediately become one of the more popular – and perhaps most divisive – prospects in the 2014 draft. He’d also join a fairly crowded quarterback class headlined by Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Clemson’s Tajh Boyd and Alabama’s AJ McCarron, among others.

“I think the rise in popularity of dual-threat quarterbacks certainly aids his projection to the NFL,” said Rob Rang, an NFL draft expert for CBSSports-com. “What also helps is that he does appear to have a stronger arm than a year ago, and that was the number one physical concern I had about him. It wasn’t his height. It was that I saw him rely on his mobility and touch rather than velocity to complete passes.

“So I certainly think he’s demonstrating he has the skill set to compete. The big concern is the leadership qualities that NFL teams require at that position.

“Hopefully, as the season goes on he’ll continue to make strides in that way. When he is pinned in the pocket, so to speak, can he still be successful? I think that he is improving in that way, but after only a couple of games this season there are still improvements to be made.”

Detractors point toward Manziel’s lack of prototypical size and Texas A&M’s untraditional offensive system, one that has bolstered quarterbacking numbers for other prospects in the recent past. But as with other high-profile draft picks, such as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, a franchise that selects Manziel would likely tailor its offensive system to match his dual-threat abilities.

According to Prediction Machine, which uses a complex set of algorithms to calculate statistical inputs for rookies, Manziel would have a noteworthy rookie season despite two factors: one, his lack of prototypical experience, since he’s only a redshirt sophomore; and two, the fact he’s played only in a system unlike any currently used on the NFL level.

If a 16-game starter “for a totally average team,” Prediction Machine projects Manziel to complete 57.9% of his attempts for 3,338.6 yards and 22.6 touchdowns against 19.3 interceptions. As a runner, Prediction Machine forecasts Manziel to add 494.5 yards on 95.1 carries on the ground.

How his skill set translates to the NFL might depend on team needs, not Manziel’s own ability. For example, a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has long utilized a traditional, ball-control offense, might view Manziel as a poor fit for its scheme. On the other hand, the new-look Philadelphia Eagles, as coached by Chip Kelly, would view Manziel’s tendencies as a perfect match for its offensive system – as Kelly would know, because he recruited Manziel as a quarterback while the coach at Oregon.

“I don’t know that there are any quarterbacks anymore that teams are willing to completely cater their offense to, unless he has shown that he can also be successful in more traditional offenses,” Rang said.

“I think the biggest concern is that teams are going to have to really do their diligence to get to know Johnny as a young man. Because I think that he does have some steps he must make to be a successful starting quarterback in terms of just improving on the football field. At the same time, I don’t necessarily know that he has the maturity to handle being a backup. If all eyes aren’t on him at all times, then is he going to get himself into even more trouble? That’s the concern teams might have.”

***

If a 16-game starter “for a totally average team,” here’s how Prediction Machine projects Manziel’s rookie season: “Presently, among college quarterbacks as NFL prospects, we would rank Johnny Manziel behind AJ McCarron, Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota and Aaron Murray,” Prediction Machine says in its evaluation. The forecast gives Manziel “a similar grade to Brett Hundley, Tajh Boyd and David Fales,” and ranks the sophomore “firmly ahead of other prospects including Stephen Morris, Derek Carr, Zach Mettenberger, Keith Price, Logan Thomas, James Franklin and Bryn Renner.”

How his skill set translates to the NFL might depend on team needs, not Manziel’s own ability. For example, a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has long utilized a traditional, ball-control offense, might view Manziel as a poor fit for its scheme. On the other hand, the new-look Philadelphia Eagles, as coached by Chip Kelly, would view Manziel’s tendencies as a perfect match for its offensive system – as Kelly would know, since he once recruited Manziel as a quarterback while the coach at Oregon.



Predicting what Johnny Manziel

Super Bowl fans can prepare to pay double for the best seats. The NFL expects the most expensive tickets for its championship game will be about $2,600 each for 9,000 premium seats for the Feb. 2 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

That's more than twice the $1,250 cost for similar tickets at last season's Super Bowl in New Orleans.

"We are looking to close the gap between the face value of the ticket and its true value as reflected on the secondary market," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tuesday. "The uniqueness of the Super Bowl in the New York/New Jersey is also driving unprecedented demand and buzz."

The next tier of seats is expected to go for $1,500 compared to $950 in New Orleans. About 40 percent of general admission seats will be under $1,000, McCarthy said.

The capacity of MetLife Stadium is 82,000, but it will be trimmed by about 5,000 seats to make room for media, cameras and security. The priciest seats will have access to indoor restaurants, where fans can warm up during the outdoor game.

The lowest-priced ticket fell from $650 last year to $500. Some 30,000 fans entered a lottery that closed in June, and 1,000 winners - double from 500 - will be notified this fall.

In an attempt to ensure those fans don't resell tickets above face value, the NFL for the first time will require ticket holders to go to a gate to pick up those tickets as they enter the stadium. They won't be allowed to return to the parking lot, McCarthy said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the increase in ticket prices.


NFL jacking up prices on Super Bowl tickets

Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard said his reputation might have played into the $42,000 fine he received from the NFL for a hit on Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson last Sunday.

Pollard wasn't penalized on the play. He said he would appeal the fine. Meanwhile, Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson was fined the same amount for what appeared to be a targeted helmet-to-helmet shot on Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright. Jackson was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Pollard has been fined several times throughout his career. Asked if his reputation played a part in the most recent fine, the eighth-year pro said: "I guess, I don't know. I was surprised, but at the same time, guys around the locker room kind of warned me about the person that I am and the history that I have."

Johnson suffered a concussion and did not finish the game. Wright, who finished the game, was held out of practice on Wednesday after telling coaches he had a headache.

Pollard said that if he had hit Johnson the way Jackson hit Wright, "it would be really bad," estimating that he would have either been suspended or given a six-figure fine.

Pollard appeared to turn his helmet away from Johnson, hitting the Texans wide receiver first with his shoulder.

"They said I did everything right," Pollard said of the NFL. "But he was a defenseless receiver, I guess. The bad part of it is, for us as players, for the fans, for the coaches, for the refs, there's a lot of gray area. So they don't know what to call and what not to call. There's no call and now you come back and fine me $42,000 for ... a play that was legal."

The league is making it harder and harder to play defense, Pollard said.

"Flag football, that's what they want. For us as players, it stinks. Our intent is to play football, to protect the field behind us. Nobody's intention was to hurt (Johnson). Nobody wanted a concussion. We hope he's OK," he said.

"But like I said, if you don't want us to play defense, don't call us defense. Take us off the field. Just let them go against air. Let's see what that does to the ratings."



Titans' Bernard Pollard unloads on NFL after $42K fine

If you take away all of the on-field violence and off-the-field scandal that dominates the headlines on a weekly basis, the National Football League really is a pretty family-friendly organization.

So it only makes sense that an upstanding venture like the NFL would be suing a recording artist for $1.5 million over a middle finger she flashed on TV 18 months ago, on the basis that it showed “flagrant disregard for the values that form the cornerstone of the NFL brand.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the NFL filed a $1.5 million suit against M.I.A. on March 13, 2012, about a month after she infamously flipped the bird during her halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI: According to the filing, the Sri Lankan rapper breached her contract and tarnished the NFL’s reputation with her vulgar act.

Now I know what you’re saying: “March 2012? That’s a long time ago.” And you make a fair point. But the reason this is just making the rounds now is because M.I.A.’s lawyer has finally gone public with the news in an effort to garner public support in favor of his client.

"She is going to go public with an explanation of how ridiculous it was for the NFL and its fans to devote such furor to this incident, while ignoring the genocide occurring in her home country and several other countries, topics she frequently speaks to," her attorney, Howard King, told THR. King also said he’s decided to not let the lawsuit live in secrecy because he wants to highlight the NFL’s hypocrisy in filing the suit in the first place.

"Of course, the NFL's claimed reputation for wholesomeness is hilarious," King told the site, "in light of the weekly felonies committed by its stars, the bounties placed by coaches on opposing players, the homophobic and racist comments uttered by its players, the complete disregard for the health of players and the premature deaths that have resulted from same, and the raping of public entities ready to sacrifice public funds to attract teams."

According to THR, M.I.A.'s contract stated that she "acknowledge the great value of the goodwill associated with the NFL and the tremendous public respect and reputation for wholesomeness enjoyed by the NFL."

I’ll stop there, but King would like to kindly ask you to keep on going. "We encourage people to submit their examples of how the actions of the NFL, its stars, coaches, advertisers, broadcasters, team doctors and owners have damaged or destroyed any vestiges of any reputation for wholesomeness ever enjoyed by the NFL,” the attorney told THR.

“These submissions, which we plan to use to bolster M.I.A's defense, will help balance the playing field, as they very well could eliminate the burden of undertaking a formal survey of the history of unwholesome behavior."

The attorney says submissions can be made to the M.I.A defense team via email to [email]NFL@khpblaw-com[/email].

I can’t say for sure whether M.I.A. and her middle finger will get off scot-free in the courtroom, but she’s almost sure to claim victory in the court of public opinion as her case with the NFL drags on.



NFL's $1.5 million lawsuit vs. rapper MIA over middle finger during Super Bowl XLVI halftime show is hypocrisy - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

New details from the NFL's $765 million proposed concussion settlement reveal that the first players diagnosed with football-related brain damage would be shut out of the deal. And with the number of confirmed brain damage cases growing, some players and attorneys told "Outside the Lines" they fear there isn't enough money to cover all eligible players diagnosed with such injuries.

Former players report widespread confusion over who will qualify for compensation and how the money will be distributed. Details described to "Outside the Lines" by sources familiar with the settlement -- along with new statistics on the incidence of football-related brain damage -- underscore the concerns voiced by some players and lawyers:

• The proposed settlement disqualifies most players who died before 2006, even if they were diagnosed with football-related brain damage. That would shut out the relatives of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who died in 2002 and was later diagnosed with the first case of football-related brain damage. Webster's protracted battle with the NFL raised public awareness and helped ignite the NFL's concussion crisis.

A source familiar with the negotiations said the NFL sought to include only death claims that fell within the statute of limitations -- two years in most states. That would have cut out many players who died before 2009 and 2010. As part of the negotiations, representatives of the players fought to extend the provision back to 2006 to include more players in the settlement, although some players would still be excluded.

• Although the NFL will pay for a separate fund to compensate attorneys, some lawyers will be paid directly by players receiving compensation for their injuries. That would contradict assurances that little or none of the settlement money would be used to cover legal fees and raises the possibility that some lawyers will receive multiple paydays.

• Based on information from the NFL Players Association and researchers at Boston University, there already are more than 300 cases of former players who would qualify in the highest compensation categories. Payments for those cases alone raise questions about whether $675 million allocated to severely impaired players will be enough.

"It is a very valid concern," said Jason Luckasevic, a Pittsburgh attorney who filed the first concussion-related lawsuit against the NFL in 2011 and represents about 500 former players. "It would appear as though there are not enough funds for those that are injured."

Christopher Seeger, a lead co-counsel and one of the select lawyers privy to the terms of the closely held agreement, said the settlement will cover all eligible players.



Older players may be cut from NFL settlement; concerns growing about whether enough money exists - ESPN

It was on display for the entire nation to see. One of the biggest continued injustices in the NFL.

With eight minutes left in the first quarter of the Seahawks’ victory over the 49ers, Seattle ran a toss sweep to the left with Marshawn Lynch for two yards. On the interior, 49ers third-year nose tackle Ian Williams, playing on the right shoulder of center Max Unger, started to flow to his right to defend the run. Out of Williams’ view, Seahawks right guard J.R. Sweezy dove at Williams’ left knee and continued to roll in his legs. Williams’ left ankle was broken, and he needed season-ending surgery.

Giants defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, a 10-year veteran who also played with the Packers and Eagles, was watching the game at home. And he, once again, became enraged.

“I think just think it’s messed up,” Jenkins told TheMMQB.com. “You’ve got a guy out there busting his butt trying to play and do stuff the way he’s told. You’re in the NFL, if you’re an offensive lineman and you can’t block someone, then you shouldn’t be in the NFL. Why do you need to cut somebody from the side or take a shot like that? And when people are getting hurt and it’s their livelihoods that are in jeopardy just because someone wants to take an easy block … I don’t think that’s right. It’s out of hand and out of control. I don’t understand why those type of things are ignored while we go with everything else to protect other players.”

Every other position on the field seems to be enjoying increased protection under the rules—don’t even think about breathing on a quarterback while he’s in the act of throwing or just after—except for defensive linemen. The Williams injury comes about a month after Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams (no relation) was chasing a play, watching the ball, when 49ers guard Joe Looney put his helmet right on the knee of Williams. Luckily Williams avoided a major injury. He called the block “dirty.” In the NFL rulebook, it was called legal.

Might as well declare it open season on NFL defensive linemen. “Yeah, it does feel like that,” Jenkins said. “I try to tell people we’re not allowed to hit the quarterbacks low when it’s our job to tackle the quarterbacks. So we have to try to bring this person down, but if he’s in the pocket there you can’t hit him low. Whereas as offensive linemen, it’s not their job to try to tackle us, but they can hit us low or do whatever.”

The NFL looked into eliminating low in-line blocks in the offseason, but decided against it. The league said a players panel and coaches deemed a rule wasn’t needed.

“We did put a proposal in with respect to peel back inside the tackle box because we saw some plays that we really thought should be eliminated,” said Falcons president Rick McKay, the competition committee chairman. “We brought active and retired players in and talked low blocks from start to finish. They were all very consistent, ‘We can play the block. We can feel it coming. It’s not a concern.’ We went through it from start to finish with them because we had put out in the survey the idea that the chop block was under consideration and I think the players and the coaches—defensive line and offensive line coaches—convinced us otherwise.

“Low blocks and cut blocking has always been a necessity based on size. It is that ability to equalize. Whether it’s the big man on the little man in space, or whether it’s the little man on the big man when he is in close quarters. That has always been a method that’s been used.”

But does that need to continue? It’s hard to think of a reason why low blocks head up—like a running back taking out a blitzing linebacker—can’t continue, while blocks from the side are eliminated. That would also likely cut down on injuries to offensive linemen that come as a result of other linemen falling on the backs of legs in the tackle box. All injuries put a player’s career in danger. Fortunately, Ian Williams worked himself from an undrafted free agent to earn a two-year extension this offseason. Can you imagine if this injury happened while he was still working for the minimum? Still, Williams is far from set for life with his three-year, $3.76 million contract. What most don’t understand is that lower body injuries put a lineman’s career at risk—more than any other type of injury.

“If you have no lower body, you can’t even play,” said Jenkins, an undrafted player himself who has been nicked up from time to time and saw his play suffer. “You have a 300-plus pound guy in front of you. You have to take on one, two guys at a time. If you don’t have a base, if you’re not able to have that strength to hold up the line, then you’re no good. They’ll just find someone else.”

If the NFL can put provisions in to protect a quarterback from even being tackled low, there’s no reason why similar protections can’t be afforded to defensive linemen. It’s time to make blocks legal only from above the knee on up. The NFL should be in the business of protecting the livelihood of all its players, not just those that put up fantasy statistics.

As Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski nears a return after offseason back surgery, I hope he’s getting good advice. He is one of the league’s best players and, if healthy, he could go down as the best all-around tight end to play the game. Gronkowski is that good. He is still just 24 years old, with most of his career in front of him. But after two surgeries in four years, his back is a ticking time bomb if not fully healed. It’s why several teams took him off the draft board in 2010—even before the second procedure. I’m always leery about the medical decisions made on a player’s return to action, and that’s not specific to the Patriots. There’s too much conflict of interest. The team wants the player back (the Patriots are in desperate need of even viable targets), and a player always wants to play—especially someone like Gronkowski—so there aren’t many checks and balances. Already from G

Chicago's defence forced five turnovers and scored twice, and the Bears beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 40-23 on Sunday night to remain unbeaten.

Major Wright returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Julius Peppers picked up Ben Roethlisberger's fumble and raced 42 yards for a score in the fourth quarter as the Bears (3-0) held off a late rally.

Roethlisberger completed 26 of 41 passes for 406 yards, and threw two touchdowns to Antonio Brown, but the Steelers fell to 0-3 for the first time since 1986 thanks to an avalanche of mistakes.

Jay Cutler passed for 159 yards and threw a 17-yard touchdown strike to Earl Bennett with just under 6 minutes remaining to give the Bears breathing room after the Steelers trimmed a 21-point deficit to four.
Bengals 34, Packers 30

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Terence Newman returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown with 3:47 left, rallying the Cincinnati Bengals to a 34-30 victory over the Green Bay Packers in a game that came down to who made the final flub.

Each team had four turnovers, leading to wild momentum swings. The last one came on a goofy play.

The Packers (1-2) went on fourth-and-1 from the Cincinnati 30. Rookie Johnathan Franklin fumbled at the line and safety Reggie Nelson picked it up and started running.

Aaron Rodgers stripped the ball from Nelson, but Newman scooped it up and went the final 58 yards.

Cincinnati (2-1) clinched it by batting down Rodgers' fourth-down pass at its 20-yard line with 1:21 left.
Panthers 38, Giants 0

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, and Carolina's defence sacked Eli Manning seven times as the Panthers handed Tom Coughlin his worst defeat as coach of the New York Giants, 38-0 Sunday.

It was the largest margin of victory in Panthers history, and might help save coach Ron Rivera's job following a 0-2 start.

The Panthers allowed Newton to run out of the read option, which helped open up an offence that had been mostly stagnant in losses to Seattle and Buffalo.

Newton had 223 yards passing and threw two touchdowns passes to Brandon LaFell and one to Ted Ginn Jr. He ran for 45 yards and his first TD of the season.

The Giants are in trouble: Of the 161 teams that have started the season 0-3 since 1978, only five made the NFL playoffs.
Colts 27, 49ers 7

SAN FRANCISCO — Andrew Luck threw for 164 yards and ran for a 6-yard touchdown while facing college coach Jim Harbaugh for the first time, and the Indianapolis Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-7 win Sunday.

Trent Richardson scored a 1-yard touchdown on his first carry in his Colts debut after being acquired on Wednesday from the Browns. He was drafted two spots behind top pick Luck at No. 3 last year.

Ahmad Bradshaw added a 1-yard TD run in the final minutes, and Adam Vinatieri kicked a pair of field goals before missing a 51-yarder early in the fourth.

It was Colin Kaepernick's first home loss at Candlestick Park as a starter.

There were few bright spots for Kaepernick as San Francisco struggled to establish a passing game with tight end Vernon Davis sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Seahawks 45, Jaguars 17

SEATTLE — Russell Wilson matched his career high with four touchdown passes — two each to Sidney Rice and Zach Miller — and the Seattle Seahawks dominated as expected in a 45-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Seattle improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2006, beginning a stretch of four straight games against the AFC South. And none will likely be easier than overwhelming the Jaguars.

Wilson connected with Miller twice in the first 16 minutes on TDs of 1 and 4 yards. He hit Rice for an 11-yard TD late in the first half and found him again on a 23-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.

Wilson checked out with 3:54 left in the third quarter and finished 14 of 21 for 202 yards. The four TD passes matched his performance last December against San Francisco.
Jets 27, Bills 20

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 69-yarder to Santonio Holmes in the fourth quarter, and the New York Jets overcame a team-record 20 penalties to hang on and beat the Buffalo Bills 27-20 in an ugly game Sunday.

Smith slightly outplayed EJ Manuel in a matchup of the first two quarterbacks selected in the NFL draft in April. But this one was tough to watch at times with the barrage of penalties. The Jets (2-1) rolled up 168 yards in penalty yardage, and nearly gave it away against the Bills (1-2).

Capping a drive kept alive by four straight penalties on the Jets, Manuel connected with Scott Chandler for a 33-yard touchdown, then hit Stevie Johnson for a 2-point conversion to tie it at 20 with 10:39 left in the game.

Bilal Powell ran for a career-high 149 yards for the Jets.
Dolphins 27, Falcons 23

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ryan Tannehill lobbed a 1-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Dion Sims with 38 seconds left Sunday, and the unbeaten Miami Dolphins rallied past the Atlanta Falcons 27-23.

The score capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive after Atlanta's Matt Bryant missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with 4:46 left. Jimmy Wilson intercepted Matt Ryan to seal the victory.

Miami quickly fell behind 10-0 and trailed much of the game, but improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2002. The Falcons fell to 1-2.

Tannehill led the comeback and finished 24 for 35 for 236 yards and two scores. He overcame five sacks and two turnovers.

Cowboys 31, Rams 7

ARLINGTON, Texas — DeMarco Murray rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown, Tony Romo threw for three scores and the Dallas Cowboys beat the St. Louis Rams 31-7 Sunday.

Murray's first 100-yard game in more than a year came against the team he torched for a franchise-record 253 yards as a rookie two years ago. He went 14 yards on Dallas' first offensive play, then 36 more to start the second drive as the Cowboys went ahe

Wembley chiefs say they would love the chance to host American football's Super Bowl in London.

The stadium is staging two NFL games this season, Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday September 29 and Jacksonville Jaguars v San Francisco 49ers on October 27.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has previously floated the idea of playing the Super Bowl outside of the USA and if they do, Wembley will be bidding to host the NFL's annual climax.

Wembley managing director Roger Maslin said: 'Absolutely - if they are bringing it anywhere in the world we would want it here at Wembley.

'If you spoke to Roger Goodell at the moment he would say it would be still be staying in the US but they are a very progressive organisation so in the long, long, long term they might consider it, but it's a hell of a call.'

Super Bowl host venues have been decided upt to 2017, so the earliest possible year it could held in London would be 2018.

Minnesota and Pittsburgh will arrive in London this week looking for their first win in 2013 after a miserable start to the season which has seen both team fall to 0-3.

Read more: Wembley keen on hosting NFL's Super Bowl | Mail Online
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Rapper M.I.A. is firing back at the NFL's demands for $1.5 million after she threw up her middle finger during her Super Bowl XLVI half-time show performance with Madonna in 2012.

The "Paper Planes" singer took to YouTube on Monday to call out the league for ensnaring her in what she called a "completely ridiculous" legal battle that she said made her a scapegoat for "figuring out the goalposts on what is offensive in America."

M.I.A. was performing "Give Me All Your Luvin'" when she gave the audience and cameras the finger, the Associated Press reported. Despite a tape delay, NBC's censors were unable to block the image from reaching more than 100 million viewers.

In the YouTube video, the 38-year-old British-Sri Lankan performer said the troupe of Indianapolis high school cheerleaders Madonna recruited to dance behind the duo was more provocative than her decision to extend her middle finger.

"If you look at them, they're wearing cheerleader outfits -- hips thrust in the air, legs wide open in this very sexually provocative position," she said. "Is my finger more offensive, or is an underage black girl with her legs wide open more offensive to the family audience?" she asked. "It's a massive waste of time, a massive waste of money."

In a private arbitration, the NFL is seeking $1.5 million from M.I.A. for breaching her performance contract and tarnishing the league's reputation with the unsightly gesture, according to court documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

The arbitration began in March 2012.

The league makes the case that M.I.A.'s middle finger was "in flagrant disregard for the values that form the cornerstone of the NFL brand and the Super Bowl," the court filing said.

M.I.A. also should have known that the NFL would face consequences for her behavior, given the criticism that erupted after Janet Jackson's so-called wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, the league said.

While the league never penalized Jackson over what came to be known as "Nipplegate," the Federal Communications Commission fined CBS $550,000 for her indecent exposure. The fine was dismissed by a federal appeals court in 2011, the New York Times reported.

"They want me on my knees to say sorry so they can slap me on the wrist and basically say it's okay for me to promote being sexually exploited as a female than to display female empowerment through being punk rock," M.I.A. said in the video. "That is what it boils down to, and I'm being sued for it."

M.I.A.'s attorney, Howard King, said he and his client "didn't chose this fight."

"The NFL's claimed reputation for wholesomeness is hilarious, in light of the weekly felonies committed by its stars, the bounties placed by coaches on opposing players, the homophobic and racist comments uttered by its players, the complete disregard for the health of players and the premature deaths that have resulted from same, and the raping of public entities ready to sacrifice public funds to attract teams," King said in a statement to ABC News.

"If the NFL were really concerned about wholesomeness over income, their desire for retribution, they could re-allocate the resources devoted to attempting to crush M.I.A. to more important issues," he added.

While King said he hoped to reach a settlement with the NFL, no agreement was reached. Now, the league is seeking a trial.

A spokesman for the NFL declined to comment to ABC News. A spokeswoman for Proskauer Rose LLP, the firm representing the NFL, also declined to comment to ABC News.



M.I.A. Fires Back at NFL Over Super Bowl Middle Finger Incident - ABC News

During the offseason, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made waves when he discussed the possibility of placing a team permanently in London. Many fans had questions, including: Who would want to play there? What owner would want to relocate? How could the NFL fairly assemble a schedule that included travel to and from London?

But there are stumbling blocks beyond those. Here's a look at the legal issues that could complicate such a move.
Tax laws

Tax laws are vastly different in the U.K. -- so different, in fact, that some athletes have refused to compete within its borders.

First, salary, appearance fees and prize money earned while competing in the U.K. are taxed at a rate of up to 45 percent. The highest rate in the U.S. currently is 39.6 percent. Additionally, U.S. tax law only allows for a foreign tax credit at the U.S. tax rate, meaning a player wouldn't be able to get a credit for up to 5.4 percent of the tax he paid to the U.K. if he were at the maximum rates for both countries.

Athletes competing in the U.K. are also taxed on global endorsement income (as they are in the U.S.). The amount is determined by dividing the number of days the athlete spends training and competing in the U.K. annually by the total number of days he trained and competed around the world. That percentage is then multiplied by the athlete's total global endorsement income to determine the amount subject to taxation. Again, the athlete might not be able to take a U.S. tax credit for the full amount, given the difference in tax rates.

Currently, NFL players who participate in a game in London have their game checks subject to U.K. taxation. However, they generally spend less than a week in the U.K., and the portion of their endorsement income that becomes subject to taxation is minimal.

But a player for a London NFL team would find the tax burden to be far greater. He might play several preseason games and up to eight regular-season games in the country and spend far more of his training and practice time overseas, increasing the portion of both his salary and endorsement income subject to taxation. Would the higher 50 percent tax rate they would incur discourage free agents from signing with the London team?

The U.K. Treasury has granted tax exemptions for athletes in the past. For example, those competing in the London Olympics and the 2011 and 2013 Champions League finals at Wembley were granted exemptions. In addition, the 2013 Olympic Anniversary Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games have earned exemptions. However, exemptions are not always granted. The Treasury has previously rejected an exemption for players competing in the ATP World Tour finals.

Financial Times reports the British parliament might consider legislation during its next session that would allow for the fast-tracking of exemptions. There seems to be a growing push in the U.K. to adjust these laws as necessary to attract sports events and athletes to the country, so there's certainly room for some adjustments to be made if lawmakers believe an NFL franchise in the U.K. is to the country's benefit.......Read More: NFL team in London raises legal issues - ESPN

Quarterbacks are putting up gargantuan numbers. Yardage totals are rolling up like pennies on a gas pump. Defenses are scrambling to patch holes.

And power running backs are all but forgotten.

What used to be a cornerstone to building a strong offensive attack, the ability to grind out a few hard yards, is almost an afterthought in today's NFL. "We have gone almost totally away from the power running attack," said longtime NFL personnel man Bill Polian, now an ESPN analyst. "That old play where you'd take the big fullback and lead up on the linebacker, double-team the nose tackle and blast away, that's not quite as prevalent anymore."

Through the first three weeks of the season, the NFL has been even more of a quarterback's league, with all but three teams — the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers— passing more than they run. And some teams pass a lot more. The Cleveland Browns have thrown on 77% of their snaps, the St. Louis Rams on 74%, and the New York Giants and Washington Redskins on 72%.

The touchdown numbers only underscore the emphasis on passing, with more than two-thirds of the touchdowns (155 of 222) by air. That's 30.2% of touchdowns scored on runs, down from 37.6% four years ago.

Although conventional wisdom says that teams will begin running the ball more when the weather gets colder and wetter, the numbers indicate the league-wide run-pass ratio stays relatively steady throughout the season.

There are exceptions, of course. The Seahawks pound the ball with Marshawn Lynch. Indianapolis traded for Trent Richardson with that very strategy in mind, and he scored a one-yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers the first time he touched the ball for his new team. And no one runs harder than the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, who last season came within nine yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's season rushing record.

But those backs who take the ball and jackhammer their way into the heart of a defense have become increasingly rare, as are those offensive lines that impose their will on defensive fronts.

"The old Bill Parcells power running attack, there are very few attacks like that left in the league," said Polian, referring to the Hall of Fame coach who led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories.

"What we now have is a zone-running game, best epitomized by [the Houston Texans], where you have a daisy chain of blockers, with the offensive linemen reaching up to the linebackers, not trying to move people with power but trying to create space with quickness. And then the running back weaving where the hole in the defense occurs."

It used to be that teams looked to establish the run to set up the pass. That doesn't seem as essential anymore. Teams with accurate quarterbacks are able to pass from the start, and their no-huddle, hurry-up offenses quickly have defenses gasping.

"I would have loved to play in some of these offenses today," said former San Francisco running back Roger Craig, who in 1986 became the first NFL player to run and receive for at least 1,000 yards in the same season. "I was doing a 21st century system back in the 1980s. Now everybody is doing it."

Rules changes have played a big part too. The emphasis in recent years on protecting "defenseless" players — frequently receivers running across the middle — has contributed to the uptick in passing yardage.

"I really believe that the rules are set up for these offenses to thrive passing the football," said former All-Pro safety John Lynch, now a Fox analyst.

Lynch said receivers now "have this halo … where 'Hey, these guys can't hit me. They're going to get fined.' And as a result, that fear factor that was once there is not there."

The fear factor now rests with the defenses, and the numbers reflect that. Two years ago, Green Bay surrendered 6,585 yards, most in Packers history. Last season, the New Orleans Saints gave up 7,042, most in NFL history. And this season, Washington already has given up 1,464, the most by any team through the first three games of a season.

The hottest quarterback in the NFL is Denver's Peyton Manning. He has 12 touchdowns, no interceptions and an astronomical passer rating of 134.7, and looks accurate enough to squeeze a pass through a mail slot.

Has it hampered the Broncos at all that they have yet to have a 100-yard rusher, something that was once a benchmark indicator? They are averaging 42.2 points a game.

"Peyton, his deal's always been balance," Manning's father, Archie, said after his son threw seven touchdown passes in a rout of Baltimore. "He likes to call plays at the line and make choices, but I've never seen him pass-happy. He'll take what they give him. But he likes to have a running game — and he needs a running game. At age 37, you've got to have a running game."

That said, as they continue to rack up the sky miles, Manning and others are proving that the future of the NFL is up in the air.



NFL teams are passing over the running back - latimes-com