Cowboys rookie linebacker Bruce Carter on first practice: “I feel 110 percent”

Top five Butkus Award Finalist.

Set the record for a North Carolina linebacker with a power clean of 374 and a vertical jump of 40.5 inches – all-world talent.

Benches 440 pounds, squats 605 pounds and was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.39 – workout warrior, immensely blessed with God-given ability.

ESPN Mel Kiper Jr’s No. 1 ranked senior outside linebacker prospect for ’11 NFL Draft – injuries were the only reason he was available for the ‘Boys on the second day of the draft.

The skills, gifts, and “look” are all present when look at Cowboys’ second-round rookie linebacker Bruce Carter.

Recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered during his senior season at Chapel Hill, Carter was finally able to practice Wednesday for the first time as a Cowboy.

“I was ready to get out there,” the UNC product said.

Placed on the non-football injury list, Carter was unable to participate in football activities the first six weeks of the regular season. But on Wednesday, he was back out on the field working with the special teams units.

Carter went on to say, “I feel 110 percent.”

In one game against Rutgers during his senior season, Carter tallied seven tackles, a 55-yard interception return and a blocked punt.

It’s clearly evident the former Tar Heel standout can play, now it’s just a matter of getting an opportunity.

“I know all the plays,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting out there and doing it on the field.”

Needless to say, if he was fully healthy heading into the draft, Carter would’ve been a first-round lock.

With that said, the Cowboys are fortunate he fell to them at pick No. 40 in Round two, and now they’re hoping his “110 percent” can translate to Sundays.

View the original article here

Terrelle Pryor Returns to Practice With Raiders

With his suspension now complete, Pryor finally got the chance Wednesday to practice once again with his new Oakland Raiders teammates.

"He's very talented," coach Hue Jackson said. "I thought he did some good things but we'll continue this week to do that, to get him back in the mix with his teammates so that I can see him a little bit more and evaluate that talent and see where I can put it."

Pryor was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the supplemental draft Aug. 22 and signed a four-year contract with the team three days later.

Pryor had to serve the suspension when he was allowed to participate in the supplemental draft. Pryor left Ohio State instead of serving a five-game ban after being involved in a cash-for-memorablia scandal that has put the Buckeyes under NCAA investigation.

Pryor declined to talk to the media but his teammates said he's glad to be back in the fold.

"I think he's just excited to be back on the practice field," starting quarterback Jason Campbell said. "Having to sit out for five weeks and, obviously, not receive a paycheck for five weeks, I know kind of stings, too. But I think he's obviously excited about being out there with his teammates and getting to learn football and getting to learn our offense and grow together."

Pryor is an impressive physical specimen, measuring 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds and being clocked at 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.

Pryor is coming off his best season statistically at Ohio State, throwing for 2,772 yards and 27 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He ran for 754 yards and four TDs and helped the Buckeyes win the Sugar Bowl.

Pryor played mostly on the scout team Wednesday as Campbell and backup Kyle Boller are entrenched ahead of him on the depth chart. Pryor will get some time working with the Raiders offense as well.

He took part in three practices during preseason but has only been allowed to attend meetings and do individual drills on his own since the end of the exhibition season.

Jackson said Pryor had been very attentive in the meetings, took notes and asked lots of questions.

"Just like you'd like for a young quarterback to be," he said. "He spent a lot of time out here preparing himself and getting ready. I could not be a part of this. Our coaching staff could not be a part of it but the young man, I can tell, he did a lot of work prior to today. It shows that he's gotten better."

Campbell described Pryor as mostly quiet in those meetings but not afraid to speak up if he felt it was needed.

"He'll come up with suggestions. He'll write it on the board — 'I think we should do this on this play,'" Campbell said. "So I said, 'What are you, our consultant now?'"

The Raiders have a one-week exemption before Pryor counts on the 53-man roster.

Notes: The Raiders had only 10 men on the field for Michael Huff's game-ending interception against Houston, with S Jerome Boyd mistakenly running off the field. Mike Mitchell said he and fellow S Tyvon Branch were the only players who realized it. "But we couldn't do anything. We had to play it out, and we didn't want to be too crazy because then they would realize it," Mitchell said. ... Starting MLB Rolando McClain did not practice because of an ankle injury and was limping during the open media window. ... CB Chris Johnson, who missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice on a limited basis. ... RB Rock Cartwright (calf), CB Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring), TE Richard Gordon (hand), FB Marcel Reece (ankle) and DE Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder) all missed practice.

View the original article here

Texans’ Foster misses practice; Tate might start

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Houston Texans

nfl.use('nfl-video', function (Y) { var video = new Y.NFL.Video.Player({ srcNode: "#video-player-09000d5d8226475a", contentId: "09000d5d8226475a", related: "home", adSetting: "2", dartURL: "http://ad.doubleclick.net/pfadx/nfl.special/blog/home;s1=blog;s2=home;slot=inpage;nfl=ad;tile=3;sz=640x360;ord=?", playerName: "blog_large_embedded", render: true, size: "large", uniqid: "09000d5d8226475a"});});

Here we go again in Houston.

It looks like Arian Foster fantasy owners will be on alert this week to see if the running back is available for Sunday’s game at New Orleans. Ben Tate has already proven that he’s a worthy replacement for Foster and is quickly moving up the ranks as a fantasy commodity. After he was forced out of last week’s game after aggravating his injured hamstring, Foster shouldn’t be counted on for big production this week, even if he does play.

Considering that Foster earned the starting job last season because of injuries to others, it’s not unreasonable to think the same thing could happen to him.

- Marcas Grant

Posted in: Fantasy  

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

View the original article here

Broncos to Stick With Orton; Despite missing practice with a sore arm

The Broncos may have more reason for a starting quarterback controversy, as starter Kyle Orton didn’t practice on Wednesday due to a “sore arm.” Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post reported that Orton says his arm is fine, that he’s just “sore” after 13 games of a long season, but the Broncos appear to be treading lightly with their starter.

Orton, who exited the loss in Arizona with sore ribs that almost caused him to leave the game, did not throw a pass during the open period of today’s practice. Rookie Tim Tebow appeared poised to take more of the work in practice. Orton also did little during the team’s stretching period, beyond some light jogging. Orton was receiving treatment on his ribs today.

Interim coach Eric Studesville re-affirmed earlier today that Orton would be his starter Sunday. He said Orton, who took a heavy shot in the ribs late in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, wasn’t anymore injured than many other players.

Tim Tebow remains a QB in waiting for a team going nowhere.

View the original article here

Packers QB Rodgers Won’t Practice All Week; Status Not Known for Sunday Night

It looks more and more like the Packers will go into their critical Sunday night game without QB Aaron Rodgers. At least if having to practice to play is in anyway involved.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says that coach Mike McCarthy said that it’s very doubtful Rodgers will practice this week and that a decisioin on his status won’t be made until Saturday.

McCarthy said that Dr. John Gray said it was out of the question for Rodgers to practice on Wednesday and Thursday and that his chances for Friday are “slim to none.” He said he would not let the importance of the game affect his decision on whether to play Rodgers.

Backup Matt Flynn will get all of the practice reps in team drills this week and will go through an intense week of preparation so that he is fully prepared to play. Practice squad quarterback Graham Harrell may be signed to the 53-man roster, but a decision would not be made until Saturday.

In addition to not being able to practice, Rodgers will not be allowed to attend meetings or go through film study until cleared by the doctor. He did neither on Wednesday.

McCarthy said he had not talked to Rodgers Wednesday, but spoke with him extensively earlier this week.

View the original article here

Cards RB Wells returns to practice, not your lineup

Published: November 17th, 2010 | | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Beanie Wells

Cardinals RB Beanie Wells returned to practice on Wednesday and said he felt pretty good (via the team’s official site). Well why shouldn’t he, it’s not like he worked on Sunday or anything.

Wells has been a candidate for “the list” for quite some time as he has never seemed to live up to his potential. And hell, that even goes back to his days at Ohio State.

Wells could be in store for a heavy workload against the Chiefs, but you never know with the Cardinals. One thing we do know is that you cannot trust Wells at this point, and we need to see one good start from him before he can be considered for your fantasy lineup.

Tweet your fantasy questions to @nflfantasy. Your Tweet might end up on the air on NFL.com Fantasy LIVE.

Posted in: Fantasy  

View the original article here