NFL notes: St. Louis Rams rise in AP power rankings; Pats, Pack, Broncos 1-2-3
Rams rise in AP power rankings; Pats, Pack, Broncos 1-2-3
The St. Louis Rams will get a better idea of how strong they really are in the AP Pro32 power rankings this weekend, when they visit the unbeaten Green Bay Packers.
The Rams made the biggest jump in the latest power rankings, improving nine spots to No. 10 in voting by the 12 media members who regularly cover the NFL. St. Louis is 2-2 after handing Arizona its first loss of the season.
“With victories over Seattle and Arizona already this season, the future is now for the young Rams,” voter Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News said.
The New England Patriots, Packers and Denver Broncos remained 1-2-3 for the fourth week in a row, while the Atlanta Falcons moved up two spots to fourth.
The Patriots had seven first-place votes and 379 points; the Packers five first-place votes and 377 points; and the Broncos 352 points. The Falcons, after their win over Houston, moved ahead of Cincinnati and Carolina. The top six teams are unbeaten.
Under new coach Dan Quinn, Atlanta is one of the big surprises through the first quarter of the season.
“Raise your hand if you Atlanta at 4-0,” ESPN analyst Herm Edwards said.
Added Newsday’s Bob Glauber: “Say hello to running back Devonta Freeman, who scored three touchdowns and made it six scores in the last two weeks.”
The Jets (3-1) advanced five places to No. 9 after a win over Miami in London, while the Kansas City Chiefs fell seven spots to 20th after a loss to Cincinnati.
“Defense, running, and (Brandon) Marshall,” NBC Sports’ Tony Dungy said in summing up the Jets.
Tampa Bay (1-3) replaced Chicago at No. 32, with the Bears rising from last to 26th after their first win of the season. San Francisco is 31st.
“Bucs find another way to lose,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said of Tampa Bay’s 37-23 loss to the Panthers.
The Patriots (3-0) had a bye, and play at Dallas on Sunday.
“Admit it Rex, these guys are pretty darned good,” the Tampa Tribune’s Ira Kaufman said of the Patriots.
As for the Cowboys (2-2), still playing without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, Foxsports.com’s Alex Marvez said, “Unless quarterback Brandon Weeden can summon his inner Danny White, it’s not going to be pretty Sunday against New England.”
The Packers and Broncos also won Sunday, Green Bay topping the 49ers and the Broncos edging the Minnesota Vikings.
“There’s more to the Packers than just Aaron Rodgers,” Gosselin said. “Green Bay’s defense has 13 sacks over the last two weeks.”
And it appears the Broncos are more than just Peyton Manning.
“Defense has playmakers everywhere you look,” Czarnecki said.
New Vikings stadium to include 500 works of art
When the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium opens next year, it will have an art collection that might be the envy of some museums.
U.S. Bank Stadium will feature about 500 artworks, including roughly 200 commissioned paintings, sculptures, digital and installation pieces, plus 300 photos.
The Vikings and the family of the team’s owner, Zygi Wilf, are paying for all of the art, which is expected to cost “several million” said Tanya Dreesen, a team vice president.
“This is a privately funded collection,” Dreesen said. “We are excited to make everybody aware that we are paying these artists. It’s putting artists to work, quite frankly, and their work will be displayed in public areas and our clubs and suites.”
The collection’s pieces were created by 34 Minnesota artists, from nationally known talent to recent art school graduates. They even include ceramic art by former Vikings star Carl Eller.
“I’m really excited about it and was very happy to be selected,” said Eller, a Hall of Fame defensive end who turned to ceramics as a hobby and shows his creations at art fairs, according to the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1GuuOvX ).
The artists were picked from more than 1,100 applicants by Sports & The Arts, a California-based company specializing in stadium projects. All projects will be new designs specific to the stadium.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of submissions, and they’re very good artists, so I think the Vikings’ stadium will top everything we’ve done before,” said Camille Speca, a SATA partner. The company’s previous clients include Yankee Stadium in New York City, the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium and the Marlins’ ballpark in Miami.
Hardy returns from 4-game suspension, says focus on football
Greg Hardy has returned from a four-game suspension over his role in a domestic violence case, and the Dallas defensive end is making it clear that his focus is on football.
Meeting with reporters Tuesday for the first time since signing with the Cowboys as a free agent in March, Hardy answered almost every question about the episode in North Carolina last year with a reference to football.
Even when asked if he planned to get involved with any charities associated with domestic violence, Hardy said, “I feel the best way to win a game is stick to the game plan.”
If Hardy plays for the Cowboys (2-2) on Sunday against Super Bowl champion New England (3-0), it will be his first game since last year’s season opener with Carolina.
Vikings trade LB Hodges to 49ers for rookie, draft pick
The Minnesota Vikings have traded linebacker Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers for rookie center Nick Easton and a sixth-round draft pick.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman announced the deal Tuesday.
Hodges, a backup outside linebacker in Minnesota’s 4-3 scheme his first two seasons, was the starter this season at middle linebacker in the base defense. Rookie Eric Kendricks replaced him in the nickel package, though. Kendricks has developed enough that the Vikings considered Hodges expendable at a position of depth.
The Vikings traded a sixth-round pick for guard Jeremiah Sirles, so they got one back.
Easton was acquired by the 49ers in a deal with the Baltimore Ravens last month. He was undrafted out of Harvard.
Around the league Luck again does limited work in Indianapolis’ practice
Colts coach Chuck Pagano said quarterback Andrew Luck threw some passes at Tuesday’s practice and that he “looked good.”
Luck increased his workload, but it remains uncertain if he’ll play Thursday at Houston.
Luck was listed as a limited participant – as he has been since the middle of last week. Luck continues to recover from an injured right shoulder that forced him to miss his first NFL game Sunday.
But the Colts also had a new wrinkle Tuesday.
Matt Hasselbeck, Indy’s starter Sunday against Jacksonville, did not practice because he was sick. Pagano said with Hasselbeck out, Luck took most of the snaps and practice squad quarterback Alex Tanney took the rest.
Falcons place Hester on short-term IR; out until Dec. 6
The Atlanta Falcons placed wide receiver and return specialist Devin Hester on injured reserve-designated to return with a turf toe injury on Tuesday.
Hester will be eligible to return at Tampa Bay on Dec. 6.
Hester, who earned his fourth Pro Bowl berth in 2014, has not played this season because of the injury. He set a NFL record with 20 returns for touchdowns with his 62-yard punt return against the Buccaneers last season, his first with Atlanta. He also had 38 catches for 504 yards and two touchdowns.
The Falcons hoped to avoid making the move with Hester, but he had renewed discomfort when trying to run.
“We have been trying to treat his toe injury the best we could, and he has been doing everything in his power to get back on the field, but at this point we think this is the best plan of action,” coach Dan Quinn said in a statement.
“We are confident this time will let Devin get healthy and be a big contributor to this team once he is back on the field.”
Eric Weems has been Atlanta’s primary return specialist. The emergence of receiver Leonard Hankerson as a complement to Julio Jones has helped to negate the loss of Hester on offense. Running back Devonta Freeman also has been an effective receiver out of the backfield.
The Falcons also signed safety Charles Godfrey and tight end Tony Moeaki and released tight end Mickey Shuler on Tuesday.
Godfrey played with the Falcons and Carolina last season. Moeaki signed with Atlanta in the offseason, but was cut before the season. Shuler was on the roster for only one week.
Bills GM says running back Williams sustained concussion
The Buffalo Bills’ depth at running back could be further depleted after tests revealed rookie Karlos Williams sustained a concussion.
General manager Doug Whaley revealed Williams’ injury Tuesday during his radio show on Buffalo’s WGR-AM. Whaley says tests showed the concussion on Monday, a day after Williams complained of not feeling well following a 21-10 loss to the New York Giants.
Williams is following the NFL’s concussion protocol, and must pass a series of tests before being cleared to play. Buffalo (2-2) plays at Tennessee (1-2) on Sunday.
Williams was hurt after making his first start filling in for LeSean McCoy, who is out indefinitely because of a hamstring injury.
The Bills have only two other running backs on their roster, Boobie Dixon and Cierre Wood, plus fullback Jerome Felton.
Bills sign RB Herron to address injury-depleted backfield
The Buffalo Bills have signed free agent running back Dan Herron to address their injury-depleted backfield.
The signing was announced Tuesday after Herron was one of several running backs who worked out for the Bills at their facility.
Buffalo is suddenly short on running backs after general manager Doug Whaley announced rookie Karlos Williams’ status is uncertain after test revealed he sustained a concussion.
Williams was hurt in a 24-10 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday while making his first career start in place of LeSean McCoy, who’s out indefinitely with a left hamstring injury.
Herron spent the previous two seasons in Indianapolis, where he had 389 yards rushing and a touchdown in 25 games, including three starts.
Buffalo (2-2) plays at Tennessee (1-2) on Sunday.
Kicker Connor Barth re-joins struggling Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed kicker Connor Barth for a third stint with the team.
Barth’s signing was announced Tuesday, one day after rookie Kyle Brindza was released after going 2 for 7 on field-goal attempts with two missed extra points the past two games.
Barth is an eighth-year pro who’s made 85.3 percent of his field-goal tries (116 of 136). He’s converted all 149 of his extra-point attempts.
Barth spent five seasons with the Bucs before being released during the 2014 preseason. He spent time with Denver last year and briefly returned to Tampa Bay after an August release by the Broncos.
Receiver Donteea Dye and defensive end Howard Jones were promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
Defensive end T.J. Fatinikun was placed on injured reserve, tackle Martin Wallace was released from the practice squad and tackle Reid Fragel and defensive end Josh Shirley were signed to the practice squad.
Rookie Boswell latest to get a chance kicking for Steelers
Rookie Chris Boswell hopes to put an end to the kicking carousel in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers signed the 24-year-old over the weekend after veteran Josh Scobee missed a pair of field goals in a 23-20 overtime loss to Baltimore last Thursday.
Boswell is Pittsburgh’s fourth kicker in two months. Shaun Suisham and Garrett Hartley were hurt during the preseason and Scobee made just 6 of 10 field goals and missed an extra point in a shaky month after arriving in a trade with Jacksonville.
Boswell spent time with Houston and the New York Giants during each of the last two training camps but was unable to beat the incumbents in either case. Boswell will make his regular season debut next Monday when the Steelers (2-2) travel to San Diego (2-2).