Glauber's Hot Reads: Can Favre keep playing?
favre Credit: Getty
Is this it for Favre?
It's one thing to know that Brett Favre missed a day of practice during the week after complaining about tendinitis in his right elbow. But the 41-year-old quarterback raised the anxiety meter in Minnesota even higher when he essentially opened the door for coach Brad Childress to rest him at some point if the problem doesn't go away.
"I don't want to play just to play," said Favre, who was seen holding his elbow several times during the Vikings' 29-20 loss to the Jets last Monday night.
In all likelihood, Favre will make the final call here, and Childress no doubt will keep him in the lineup as long as the quarterback can function at close to his normal strength. But it's reasonable to assume that Favre's record streak of 289 straight regular-season starts and 313 including playoffs - which began in 1992 - soon might be in danger.
Favre has been fighting tendinitis for several weeks and doesn't know if it will flare up again during games. He's listed as questionable for today's home game against the Cowboys, and it's a stretch to see him sitting this one out. But later this season, Childress might have little choice but to give backup Tarvaris Jackson a shot if Favre's condition worsens.
Favre's off-field woes continue, too. He'll meet with the NFL on Tuesday to discuss reports he sent inappropriate text messages and photos to former Jets game-day host Jenn Sterger in 2008. Commissioner Roger Goodell could suspend Favre if he is deemed to have violated the league's personal-conduct policy.
Woodhead impresses in New England
When the Patriots signed Danny Woodhead a few days before their Sept. 19 game against the Jets, the move was seen as a way for New England coach Bill Belichick to get additional information on his AFC East rival and little else.
But Woodhead actually has contributed to the Patriots' offense, especially since third-down back Kevin Faulk suffered a season-ending knee injury. Woodhead has gained 78 yards on 12 carries and has scored one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown. He also is a special-teams ace on kick coverage.
"So he's really played on all four downs, and that's kind of what we projected him as," Belichick said. "With Kevin out, that's giving him some opportunities as a third-down back. But again, he's played on all four downs; he's played on first down, second down and he's played on fourth down. He had a big block for us on [Brandon] Tate's kickoff return last week in Miami right there on the sideline on [Jason] Allen. He's done a good job in the opportunities he's had."
Making the Cowboys pay
When he was courted by the Cowboys in the weeks leading up to the 1998 draft, wide receiver Randy Moss figured it was a lock that he'd be taken by Dallas in the first round. But the Cowboys wound up taking defensive end Greg Ellis with the eighth overall pick, passing over Moss because of character concerns.
Ever since, Moss has made the Cowboys pay.
"I always forgive,'' he said, "but I never forget."
Especially when he faces the Cowboys.
Moss is 7-0 against Dallas and has 11 touchdown receptions. His average of 21 yards per catch is the highest of any opponent he has faced.
Romeo, oh Romeo
Credit new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel with helping to turn around a chronically underachieving defense in Kansas City. The former Browns coach, a long-time assistant under Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, has done wonders in the Chiefs' 3-1 start.
Consider: The Browns have held all their opponents - including the high-powered Colts - to fewer than 20 points. They rank third in scoring defense with an average of 14.3 points per game. They rank sixth in run defense, holding three teams to fewer than 100 rushing yards. And former first-round picks Tamba Hali (4½ sacks) and Derrick Johnson (a team-leading 34 tackles) are playing better than at any other time in their careers.
DeSean getting frustrated
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has been thrown to 36 times this season - more than any other target on the team - but has only 18 catches to show for it. The problem is particularly noticeable when Kevin Kolb is the quarterback; in the nine quarters in which Kolb has been under center, Jackson has only four catches for 37 yards.
Looks as if Jackson will have to put up with the situation a while longer, because Kolb is expected to get the start when the 3-2 Eagles host the 4-1 Falcons. Former Falcons star Michael Vick still is nursing a rib injury, although he has shown marked improvement this week.
