Bob Glauber's NFL hot reads
Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans watches from the sidelines during the second half of a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. (Aug. 23, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
A 2,000-yard repeat for Johnson?
Titans running back Chris Johnson rushed for a career-high 2,006 yards last year, and believes he can do even better this year.
But if history has any say, Johnson can expect a drop-off. After all, every running back who has rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a single season suffered a drop-off the following year.
Here are the 2,000-yard rushers and how they did the year after.
Eric Dickerson, 2,105 yards, 1984. In 1985, he rushed for 1,234 yards.
Jamal Lewis, 2,066 yards, 2003. In 2004, he rushed for 1,006.
Barry Sanders, 2053 yards, 1997. In 1998, he rushed for 1,491.
Terrell Davis, Broncos, 2008 yards, 1998. In 1999, he rushed for 211.
(injured in fourth game).
O.J. Simpson, Bills, 2003 yards, 1973. In 1974, he rushed for 1,125.
Parcells on the way out again
It was with little fanfare - just a three-sentence statement on their website Tuesday - that the Dolphins announced Bill Parcells, the most powerful football man in the organization, was accepting a lesser role as a consultant.
General manager Jeff Ireland now maintains final say over all personnel matters.
Strange.
With more than a year left on his four-year, $16-million contract, an air of mystery now surrounds the enigmatic Parcells, the former Giants and Jets coach.
But the move also continues a trend that is worth considering when trying to read the tea leaves with this latest decision.
Consider: Parcells has now worked for five NFL teams - the Giants, Patriots, Jets, Cowboys and Dolphins. Four of those teams had ownership changes during Parcells' tenure, and all four times, Parcells either left the team or changed his role.
Only the Cowboys, for whom he coached from 2003-06, did not have an ownership change, and he parted amicably with Jerry Jones.
Cause and effect with the four other teams? Sure seems that way.
Haynesworth still has support
Despite continuing problems with coach Mike Shanahan, Redskins disgruntled defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth seems to have support in the team's locker room, particularly from quarterback Donovan McNabb.
"Albert is one of our brothers in the locker room," McNabb said. "He's practicing with us. Albert is going to play. He's going to be a guy we're all cheering for to get to the quarterback because I've been there. Albert sacked me last year and that wasn't fun. I want somebody else to feel that pain. I think people have to realize that everybody in this building, we support one another."
Even so, there's no guarantee Shanahan won't part ways with Haynesworth. There is continued interest from his former team, the Titans, and a trade would not be a shock. In fact, Shanahan would be better off dealing Haynesworth if he the situation won't work itself out.
Good omen for Browns?
Since returning to Cleveland as an expansion team in 1999, opening day hasn't been very kind to the Browns. They're a miserable 1-10 in season openers. All 11 games have been played at home.
But perhaps the tide will turn this year; after all, for the first time since coming back to Cleveland, the Browns will be on the road, Tampa, to open the season. Not only that, but new Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme had
a 9-2 record as a starter against the Bucs during his days as the Panthers' quarterback.
