Random Notes from Sunday's Games

Cowboys SS Roy Williams was in the game long enough to give up a deep touchdown to Donnie Avery, then broke his arm again, allowing Steven Jackson to go off for 150 yards on the ground. Suddenly, the Cowboys' defense looks like a good matchup for opposing offenses. Hell, the whole team looks like a good matchup for now. Its only taken Wade Phillips 1 1/2 seasons to blow up everything that Bill Parcells left in Dallas.

The good Roy Williams got only one target this week. It will just take some time to work him in, but expect his workload to gradually increase over the next few weeks.

Ronnie Brown got 13 carries against the Ravens, while Ricky Williams only had 3, the first game where Ronnie had significantly more than Ricky. Ricky will get more carries when the Dolphins face teams that aren't as good against the run, but he clearly #2 to Ronnie at this point.

Brodie Croyle couldn't quite last a half in his first start back from a shoulder injury, and now will be out for the season with a knee. If I was QB that disaster in KC, I probably wouldn't want to hang around very long either. Damon Haurd must feel the same way, because he went out with a thumb a few quarters later. Enter Tyler Thigpen. If Thigpen has to start any more games this season, Dwayne Bowe and Tony "I'm happy to be a Chief" Gonzalez would be crippled, and the rest of their recievers would be even more worthless (is that even possible?).

Maybe Peyton Manning had another secret surgery this week. He and the Colts offense looked out of sorts again. To date, they have really only played one game where they looked good the entire four quarters (last week against the Ravens).

As I write this, for some reason Brett Favre is needing a last-minute drive to come back against the Raiders. Of course, the announcers can't give enough superlatives to Favre - WHY IS HE LOSING TO THE RAIDERS?

This last-second time-out thing on field goals is not only bush league, it's not working for teams. The last two weeks, teams (Cardinals and Raiders) have called those ridiculous time-outs on long last-second field goals that missed, only to see the re-try force overtime. Thanks for leaving this as your NFL legacy, Mike Shanahan.

Surprisingly enough, Jeremy Shockey is still as asshole. After bitching his way off the Giants, he now is blaming the Saints for mis-handling his groin injury. Appearently, according to Shockey, they have mis-diagnosed it since training camp. If he has to miss next week's game, Drew Brees loses yet another weapon to go along with Reggie Bush. The beneficiaries would be Marques Colsten (yes, he was back, but held catchless - but not dropless) and Lance Moore. Brees has shown he can throw for 300 yards with Gomer Pyle at WR, so don't discount him too much.