Ick's Corner

Here is your weekly look inside the NFL.. I’m going to have to start out in Cleveland this week.

Cleveland was a 10-6 team that barely missed the playoff last year, but find themselves starting the season 0-3.  Once golden boy Derek Anderson is loosing his luster at a blistering rate this year, and is now on the hot seat. The Browns decided to sign Anderson to a 3 year $24 Million dollar deal last year after his stellar performance. Remember the Browns also have former Notre Dame QB  Brady Quinn on the bench, itching to get his chance to start for his childhood favorite Browns. Well Brady, you might just get your wish, because we are starting to see a quarterback coversy in Cleveland!

Gadget plays are always fun to see, they also sometimes mark a teams desperation to score. In the above video Boise State pulls out the old “Statue OF Liberty” play to successfully convert a 2 point conversion upsetting Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Which leads me down south to Florida.

The Miami Dolphins not only upset the New England Patriots, but they embarrassed them. Not only on the score board, but they embarrassed their defense scoring on the same gadget play 3 times in one game. Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown lined up as the QB, while Chad Pennington lined up as a WR. This should have been the first sign to the defense that a gadget play was coming. The old saying fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, seemed to be fitting while watching the highlights from this game.

Moving right along to New Orleans,

Recent addition Jeremy Shockey is expected to miss 3-6 weeks after undergoing hernia surgery. Now I won’t go as far as to say this is as big a loss to the Saints as Marques Colston was, but this can’t help matters. The Saint’s had no trouble putting points on the board in their loss at Denver this weekend, but honestly that’s not saying much. The Denver defense has given up some 1500 yard total offense in their last 2 games. With the recent play of the 49ers, this week will should be a test for this Saints offense.

Moving right along to the city with the worse fans in sports,

Brian Westbrook is now listed day to day after suffering what the Eagles are calling ankle strain. The Steelers/Eagles game was one the crew had to watch, and I gotta tell you, when Westbrook when down it look worse then a ankle strain. With the Eagles already missing two WR due to injury, the possible loss of Westbrook even for one game is a big one. As Jaws pointed out on Monday Night Football, Westbrook has to be accounted for each and every play because he is such a versatile back. If Steeler fans were hoping for a gassed Eagles defense coming off of the Monday Night shootout in Dallas, they would soon learn that’s exactly what it was, a hope. The Eagles defense held the Steelers to just 6 points, and sacked Big Ben 7 times.

Now we head up to the soon to be frozen tundra,

The Packers take a big hit in their secondary after Sundays nights loss to the Cowboys. Al Harris is most likely done for the season after he tore his spleen. Chris Simms suffered a ruptured spleen at the hands of Bushwacks beloved Panthers in 2006 and was out the rest of the 06 season. No offense to Buc’s fans, but was that really that big of a loss??

Moving right along to the Black Hole,

It was reported yesterday morning that Lane Kiffin would be fired as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. I don’t know if its a good or bad thing that he is still on the payroll Tuesday morning! Kiffin is the head coach but is left out of all coaches meetings, and basically is treated like he is not even there most days. The Raiders find themselves 1-2 to start the season, despite all the free agent shopping spree they went on in the offseason. When Javon Walker and Ashley Leslie (both Bronco rejects) are your top receivers, man you know you got problems. I really feel for JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden, not because of their financial situations obviously, but because they got drafted to such a dysfunctional organization.

Heading out to the west coast,

Hey Packer fans, don’t worry Favre looked like Favre last night. Favre was slinging it around, on his way to two costly interceptions. What the hell was I thinking picking the Jets over the Chargers at home. I mean sure Favre is usually Mr. Monday Night Football, but man he looked lost last night. Rivers and Thomlinson looked great, the San Deigo defense was smothering even with the loss of Merriman. The Jets can’t expect to win many games turning the ball over 4 times. I wonder if Brett is thinking, man I’m to old for this sh*t, and why the hell did I come back??

Your last second or overtime wins of the week..

New York Giants over the Bengals

Tampa Bay Bucs over da Bears

Jacksonville over Colts