Patroits’ Hobbs sets return record
Ellis Hobbs was 25 yards from the end zone during his record-breaking kickoff return when he peeked at the video screen on the Meadowlands scoreboard.
“I’m not going to lie. I looked up,” the New England returner said with a big grin. “When you know you’re out of danger and guys behind you are blocking, there’s nothing wrong with a little showtime.”
Hobbs set an NFL record by taking the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown Sunday in the Patriots’ 38-14 victory over the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J.
The play also tied the record for the longest in NFL history, matching the 108-yard missed field goal returns by Chicago’s Devin Hester last season against the Giants, and the Bears’ Nathan Vasher the previous season against San Francisco.
“I didn’t even think about kneeling that ball,” Hobbs said. “We’re taking them all out.
Moss looks like the old Moss
Even Randy Moss didn’t know if he’d ever be Randy Moss again.
After missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury, all Moss did in his debut for the Patriots was catch nine passes for 183 yards, including a 51-yard TD. Only twice in his career did he have more yards: 190 as a rookie in 1998 for Minnesota in Green Bay, a performance that’s still regarded as his best, and 204 a year later in Chicago.
Moss had no idea what to expect.
“I don’t think I was ever more anxious or more nervous before a game,” he confessed afterward. “I knew I had good teammates and a great quarterback and I just wanted to go out and see what I had and give my all.”
Redskins lose starting tackle
Washington Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen could be out for the year after breaking his right ankle in the second quarter of Sunday’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins at Landover, Md.
“It was pretty serious,” coach Joe Gibbs said. “We are just going to have to wait and see what the doctor says.”
Jansen was hurt when he was sandwiched between defensive end Matt Roth and linebacker Zach Thomas, who rolled onto Jansen’s legs while sacking Jason Campbell. Jansen immediately yanked off his helmet and grabbed his face in agony as his teammates quickly surrounded him.
Rams’ Pace suffers another injury
St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace will undergo an MRI today after injuring his right shoulder in a 27-13 season-opening loss to Carolina in St. Louis.
His teammates were bracing themselves for another extended period without the seven-time Pro Bowler.
“We played a lot without him last year,” quarterback Marc Bulger said. “So, unfortunately we have some experience with it. Hopefully it’s not major.”
The injury happened when Pace was pass-blocking with 1:45 left in the second quarter. It wasn’t immediately clear what happened but there was not severe contact when Pace blocked the Panthers’ Julius Peppers.