David Starts to Redeem Himself

Through blunder after blunder through his 22-game career with the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Jason David stood up and took the heat.

He’s tried to be as gracious as possible considering he’s been the defense’s main punching bag for the past couple of seasons. David even took his demotion from the starting lineup in stride, becoming a solid contributor on special teams.

But when No. 42 runs on the field to try to cover a wide receiver, fans typically cringe and quarterbacks typically attack.

During Sunday’s 34-3 win over the Oakland Raiders in the Louisiana Superdome, David gave fans a reason to root for No. 42. He played one of his most solid games since being with the Saints and made the type of plays Saints coach Sean Payton and Co. were hoping to see from him in the previous 21 games.

David racked up two tackles and deflected two passes during his extended playing time in the Saints’ nickel package. Yet it was David’s interception of the Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell in the third quarter that directly aided in start of the Saints’ blowout.

“Jason David’s interception to set up the touchdown a few plays later put us up all of a sudden three scores,” Payton said. “That’s a significant play in the game.”

David said the business of playing in the NFL is all about putting bad performances him and making up for it the next time. The scrappy 5-foot-8, 180-pound cornerback can revel in his Sunday performance.

“I’m just working hard, man,” David said. “I always kept faith in what I can do and things that I’m capable of doing. I never really gave up being that I wasn’t the starter this year and I was only playing special teams.

“It was a little more than about four years when I had to make a start as a rookie in Oakland and I got an interception for a touchdown. This league is all about making the best of your opportunities and (Sunday) I got an opportunity to plays some nickel and play some corner and it worked out (Sunday). I was just going out there to try and make a play.”

David could have gone diva for a minute and patted himself on the back for his interception and solid play. But for David, it still goes back to being a team-first guy much like his teammates have done when defending David through his struggles.

“Most importantly, it means a lot to the defense just being able to turnover the ball and make a play for our team,” David said. “Regardless if it was me or another player, it was big for our team as a whole. But for me personally, it felt good. I haven’t had much playing time this year. I just practice hard each day and try to work on my craft and try to get better.”

David probably won’t see the type of playing time like he has the past couple of weeks once veteran Aaron Glenn returns from a sprained ankle ligament. He probably won’t crack the starting lineup again unless injuries force him in the game.

None of that will stop David from looking to improve, though, and Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction.

“Each day at practice, you can ask the coaches, I try to practice as hard as I can,” David said. “I stay afterwards and do the little things just to get better. The thing that I always do is work hard and try to get better. Even last year when fans and the media were on me for not playing as well as I could, and that’s true, but I was still trying to get better last year. It’s same thing for me this year.”

Many Happy Returns

When the Carolina Panthers signed Mark Jones one week before the regular season opener to return punts, many viewed him as a stopgap until Ryne Robinson was healthy enough to return.

And perhaps that was true at the time.

But with Robinson unable to return from a knee injury and out for the year, the job now belongs to Jones full-time.

And that’s not such a bad thing.

Through five games, Jones has averaged a very respectable 10.2 yards per punt return, which ranks 12th in the NFL and is yard-and-a-half better than Robinson’s average last season.

Outside of one blunder against San Diego where he misread a punt and let it hit him in the back of the leg – nearly resulting in a turnover – Jones has looked extremely reliable. On kicks inside the 10, he’s disguised catching the ball well, resulting in a few touchbacks — the sign of smart, veteran returner.

The best thing about Jones, 27, is he seems to look better with each passing week as he becomes more comfortable with the players blocking for him.

He’s coming off his best game last week against Kansas City, returning five punts for 68 yards. As a bonus, he played some wide receiver after D.J. Hackett went down and caught his first NFL pass, a pretty 19-yard reception on third-and-17 to help move the chains.

“He’s done a tremendous job,” coach John Fox said. “He’s come in and he’s learned quickly. Being a guy who is going to get a jersey on Sundays because of his return ability, we’ve had to rely on him some at receiver, too. And you saw that last week. He found the soft spot in the zone, a pretty aware play, and he made a nice grab. So he’s been a pleasant surprise.”

As Fox pointed out, returning punts in the NFL is more complicated than just catching the ball and running with it.

“There are a lot of little things,” Fox said. “Sometimes it doesn’t look like it, but there are plays on returns. There are things to pick up. And he’s a sharp guy who hasn’t struggled at all.”

Jones’ story is all the more amazing considering he tore his left patella tendon last October while playing for Tampa Bay.

It was horrible timing considering he was due to become an unrestricted free agent after the ’07 season. With concerns over his knee, the Bucs didn’t re-sign him.

He signed with San Diego in June but failed to earn a roster spot, losing out to one of the league’s top returners in Darren Sproles.

The Panthers saw enough from Jones in the preseason to take a flier on him with Robinson down.

“Is it better than my other knee? No, it’s not,” Jones said of his recovery. “It is good enough to where I can do everything I did last year. The strength is not there, but as far as me thinking and being hesitant, I don’t have that anymore. Apprehension, none of that, is there.”

This is a special week for Jones, who spent his first four seasons in Tampa Bay after coming into the league as a seventh-round draft pick from Tennessee in 2004.

“I’m not going to worry who’s in the stands watching me and who’s up in the offices watching me,” Jones said. “They made their decision and I have to live with that…. I knew how I was going to turn out, but they didn’t know. They had to make moves and better their team. They made those moves and I can’t do anything about that.”

Dockery Gets Big INT

An hour after cornerback Kevin Dockery plucked a pass by Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck from the afternoon air at Giants Stadium, the ball remained tucked under Dockery’s right arm.

Dockery had good reason to keep the ball there. His interception, his first since 2006, was the first by a Giants defensive back this season.

So far this season, the defense had played well enough for the Giants to go undefeated, but the only interception belonged to Justin Tuck, a 6-foot-5, 274-pound defensive end who rumbled 41 yards for a touchdown.

Of course, the defensive backs know this, and if they managed to forget, Tuck surely reminded them.

“It has been the goal,” Dockery said. “We’ve been getting our hands on a lot of balls. We just have to catch them. We came into the game thinking, ‘This is the week we’re going to get some turnovers.’ ”

Dockery’s came midway through the third quarter, with the Seahawks at the Giants’ 40-yard line, facing a third-and-5. Hasselbeck dropped back and, under heavy pressure, forced a wobbly pass into double coverage. Dockery said Hasselbeck never saw him.

“He couldn’t set his feet,” Dockery said. “The defensive line did a good job of pressuring him. It made him get rid of the ball before he had to.”

Hasselbeck said: “Just a really stupid play. Just very frustrated, tried to do something, and it was really stupid.”

The real show came next. Dockery danced and shimmied up the sideline like a matador bobbing and weaving around 11 bulls. He cut toward the left sideline and slipped a tackle. He cut back inside and slipped another. It looked like a Keystone Kops routine.

Dockery’s first thought? Touchdown. He gained 44 yards on the return, and while he did not score, he gave the Giants field position that led to another field goal and a 37-6 advantage.

The last time these teams played, in 2006, Hasselbeck and the Seahawks’ healthy passing game cruised to a 42-30 win in Seattle.

The Giants watched that loss on tape this week, and on Sunday, courtesy of Dockery and Company, Hasselbeck recorded a 46.7 passer rating.

Afterward, Dockery pulled on a diamond watch and platinum bracelet at his locker before making his way toward the exit. When he left, the ball from that interception was still tucked under his arm.

Vonnie Holliday says ‘Believe’

Vonnie Holliday had to get something off his chest after Sunday’s 17-10 win over the Chargers, and Dolphins fans and critics need to hear it because it personifies this teams attitude since training camp.

What you’ll read in this blog is Holliday’s open plea for the Dolphins to regain South Florida’s respect, and support.

“Not many people believed in us. You heard the questions last week. Big bad San Diego’s coming in with that high powered offense. You didn’t think we can get it done. The guys pounded their chest, bowed up, and re-established home field. That’s what we’re trying to do. It was real big for us.

“They talked about blacking out the TV game in South Florida for the first time in a long time. Not even last year during 1-15 did they black a game out here. A lot of things were accomplished today, but this is just another step. We’re proud about what we did [Sunday], but it’s just another step. [Twelve] more games, and I’m so excited.

“We’re certainly getting [swagger]. The ball is starting to roll. We’re starting to get that momentum. Coming back home and winning a big game after the bye [week] is huge for us.

“Let’s get this understood, no Tom Brady, that’s how they looked at that [New England] win. There was no Tom Brady, no [Laurence] Maroney. These guys are still jokes. People are going to look at [the San Diego] game right here and say the same thing.

“There are still plenty of nonbelievers out there. We’re still going to have to fight for respect and we know that. We’re in an uphill climb. We’ve taken that road and we’re just going to take it one game at a time. We didn’t win but one game last year, and here we are at 2-2.

“To the fans that were actually here, actually came out and supported us, believed in us, we appreciate it. It means so much. It was loud in there and that effected them some. On the goal line [fourth-and-1 stop] they flinched a little bit and showed their hand and we were able to make a big play down there.”

For that play, that noise, your support, Holliday, a team captain, thanks you on behalf of the Dolphins.

Now, what do you have to say to the team that has once again brought you joy on Sundays, and a pleasant hangover on Monday morning.

We beat them down when they fail. I know I do. Wouldn’t it be nice to say something positive when they succeed?

Let me be the first to start. Ikechuku Ndukwe, Congrats on turning it around. You are showing some promise as a starting right guard. Keep pushing.

Now it’s your turn.

Deuces.

Source: Sun Sentinel

Related: Dean of the defense: Holliday welcomes his role as leader and mentor

Steelers Sign Russell to Active Roster

The Steelers filled two open roster spots today by signing veteran running backs Najeh Davenport and Gary Russell to one-year contracts. Financial terms of the deals were not released.

Russell, a second-year player who originally made the Steelers roster in 2007 as an undrafted rookie free agent, was with the team for the first two games of the 2008 season before being released Sept. 20. He was added to the Steelers practice squad on Sept. 21 before being promoted today to the active roster.

Russell gained 21 yards on seven carries for the Steelers during his rookie season, but was not active on game day for the team’s first two games in 2008.

Kickin’ Back with Mack

Cornerback Elbert Mack is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet, until he gets immersed in a heated game of pool with Aqib Talib. And you have to respect a man who can wear a pair of sky blue and pink basketball shoes.

What’s the biggest difference between Tampa and your hometown of Wichita?

The weather is a lot different. We have a dry heat up in Kansas. You have a whole bunch of humidity here. You sweat so much down here. Other than that, it’s about the same. I just can’t see my mom every day. And definitely more palm trees and more water.

What is this about you assigning nicknames to your teammates? Do they know about it, and what’s the funniest one?

Oh, they know. I’d say the funniest one right now is (safety) Jermaine Phillips. I nicknamed him C-7. That’s one of our defenses where he’s on the backside and he comes down into the box. You ever noticed how when linebackers are in the box they have that linebacker stance? If you watch Flip walk around the building, why does he always look like he’s getting ready to tackle somebody? He’s got his shoulders slumped over and everything. I told him, “Hey, you don’t always have to look like you’re in the box, man.”

Have you had an embarrassing or eye-opening NFL moment yet?

Actually, my first embarrassing moment was the (personal foul) against Matt Ryan. What was embarrassing about it was being on the (screen crawl) on ESPN. I got all these calls and texts from people asking me, “Man, what are you doing down there?”

Here’s one of my weekly questions: What’s on your iPod?

Mostly R&B. I like Lil’ Wayne, too. A lot of people probably think it’s bad music, but if you really listen to his words, you can relate that stuff to a lot of things in life. I really like to listen to that before games.

What Web site do you visit most?

I’m on Facebook and Myspace. I try to stay in touch with a lot of people. That’s a good way to stay in touch with people who I either don’t want to have my number or something like that. But really, I’m on sneakerhead.com a lot. That’s my thing. Any kind of shoe you can think of. But, for the most part, I have a lot of (Nike) Air Force 1s. All day.

You must have all the different styles and designs. How many we talking about?

I don’t even know. Probably 30 or 40 pairs.

Have you worn them all? And what’s the pair that is the most bizarre and hard to match?

I think so. I’ve probably worn them all once or twice, at least. As for the ones I have trouble matching, I’d say it’s a pair that’s like sky blue and pink. And they have some flower designs on them, too. It’s a man’s shoe. I don’t know. I just liked the design on it at the time. And I had a shirt to match it. I try to wear them, but I can’t. I don’t have anything to match.

You’re not a big guy, which makes it amazing you play this game. Do people believe you when you say you’re an NFL player?

A lot of people don’t believe me. Even if I was a superstar in this league, I probably could walk into Wal-Mart and people still wouldn’t know it was me. Like Kevin Carter, if he walks in Wal-Mart, you know it’s Kevin Carter. Me, they probably think I’m a Bucs fan wearing a Bucs T-shirt. It’s a good thing.

What’s some of the crazy stuff you’ve heard?

The craziest thing I’ve heard is when I first got to Troy. I was in the financial aid office trying to get my aid together. I told one of the ladies who worked there that I played football. The first thing she asked me was if I was a kicker. Why do I have to be a kicker just because I’m small?

I hear you and Aqib Talib roll together. What kind of trouble are you guys getting into these days?

Me and Talib play a lot of pool. He bought a pool table for his house, and we could play for hours and hours. Now, never mind that neither one of us can really play. That’s the thing. We act like we can.

Aqib looks like he talks a lot of smack. True or false?

All day. He’s just like I am. With both of us in a room together, it’s just crazy.

St Petersburg Times

Month Later: Poteat Back in Green

A reporter asked Hank Poteat in the Jets locker room late this morning if he feels as if he’s a kind of “hired gun.” Poteat said he didn’t see it that way.

Another possible description would be journeyman. But perhaps the best way to capture the veteran defensive back is that he’s a survivor and sometimes a thriver.

Poteat is back for his third tour of duty (or is it his fourth?) with the Jets as of today. Asked if his role will be changing much from what he was doing at training camp before he became a final cut, he chuckled.

“I don’t know. We’ll see when I go out there and practice,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure.”

This summer Poteat was working with the Jets corners as usual, even seeing action at safety along with David Barrett as head coach Eric Mangini, coordinator Bob Sutton and secondary coach Jerome Henderson continued to seek position flexibility. After posting the first two interceptions of his career last season, he came up with another in the preseason opener at Cleveland.

Full Story: NewYorkJets.com

Seahawks Rise Above Adversity

In April, 252 players were selected in the NFL draft, and none of them was named Michael Bumpus. But as he’s done much of his football career, the former Washington State University star persevered and now is gaining notice as a wide receiver and punt

Patience is certainly not one of Michael Bumpus’s virtues.

When the University of Southern California informed him that they planned on redshirting him as a freshman, Bumpus gave the football powerhouse a thanks-but-no-thanks and headed off to Washington State University.

When 32 teams passed on him in the April NFL draft, Bumpus shrugged his shoulders and set out to play as a rookie.

And when the Seattle Seahawks gave him his first significant action at wide receiver last Sunday, Bumpus didn’t wait very long to reward them with a touchdown.

“Things can happen so fast, which I’ve learned,” he said. “You’ve got to keep working hard and be ready.”

As an NFL player, Bumpus has come a long way since that dark day earlier this month when he got his first pink slip. Bumpus was sitting in Seattle teammate Bobby Engram’s Qwest Field suite, proudly sporting a throwback Drew Bledsoe jersey and watching his WSU Cougars get pounded by Oklahoma State, when he got the dreaded call.

“It was an unrecognized 425 number, so I knew what the call was. I was like, ‘Here we go,’” he said. “Sure enough, I got cut, and then I was on the practice squad the next day having to start all over again.”

That was three weeks ago, and since that date Bumpus has been added to the active roster, given punt-return duties, settled in as the injury-riddled team’s slot receiver and caught his first touchdown pass.

It’s been quite a ride for Bumpus as of late.

“I’m just grateful,” Bumpus said on Sunday, clutching the ball he caught a couple hours earlier for his first career touchdown reception. “It’s been like a fairytale. From an undrafted free agent to getting to play in the second and third games, I couldn’t ask for more. This is the happiest I’ve been since I graduated from high school.”

When Bumpus graduated from Culver City High School in 2004, the ballyhooed receiver was on his way to play at USC. He signed with the Trojans, but Bumpus said that he backed out after the school recruited Dwayne Jarrett and told Bumpus that he would have to redshirt.

“I wanted to play, and the rest of the schools (in the Pac-10) were going to let me play, so I went to go play,” said Bumpus, who ended up at WSU.

By the time he finished his four years in Pullman, Bumpus was WSU’s all-time leader in receptions (195) and punt return yards (801). He caught a team-best 70 passes as a senior, earning honorable mention all-conference honors.

In April, 252 players were selected in the NFL draft. None was named Michael Bumpus.

“I knew what to expect,” Bumpus said of draft weekend. “There was a chance I would be drafted late, but I knew what was going on. My agent was honest with me. I knew what to expect, and I told my family.”

While Jarrett and other USC wideouts like Mike Williams and Steve Smith went on to become first-day picks, Bumpus had to try to make an NFL roster the hard way. But he said he doesn’t regret his decision to back out of his initial letter of intent.

“When it comes to the media (attention) and being drafted, I might’ve had a better chance if I had gone down there,” he said about USC. “But I don’t regret going to Wazzu at all. I love Wazzu. To this day, I still walk around proud, even though we’ve gotten whooped.

“… I might’ve had some (national championship) rings right now, but I don’t have any rings. But it’s all good. Maybe I’ll get a Super Bowl ring one day.”

The state of Washington has been pretty good to Bumpus, who has caught four passes and returned seven punts since being added to the active roster. Injuries at the position forced him into action earlier than expected, and Bumpus responded.

“He’s done a nice job with it, for a guy that wasn’t even on our roster to start the season,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said after Sunday’s win over St. Louis. “He has come in and played well. He made some nice tough catches. He is still learning as he goes, but I think he has been a pleasant surprise.”

All Bumpus needed was the opportunity.

“It happened at the expense of other good people, which is bad,” he said. “But you just have to go out and take advantage of your opportunity.”

Engram and Deion Branch are expected back from injuries after this weekend’s bye, while recent addition Koren Robinson is also expected to start contributing in the near future. Bumpus could continue returning punts, but his snaps at receiver are probably a thing of the past.

When he got the chance, Bumpus certainly made the most of it.

“When I signed with the practice squad, I felt I would have an opportunity somewhere,” Bumpus said. “But I had no idea it would happen so fast.”

Source: HeraldNet

Eugene Wilson Smashed by Mack Truck

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed rookie OL James Lee off waivers Sunday night, it meant they had to make room for him on their 53-man roster.

The first place they looked to trim was with the group of nine defensive backs, where the debate was between veteran Eugene Wilson, with the experience of two Super Bowl titles in New England, and rookie Elbert Mack, an undrafted free agent from Troy.

Goodbye Wilson. Hello Mack.

“Against all odds,” Mack said after practice Monday. “I’m amped up.”

Mack led NCAA Div. I-A with eight interceptions in 2007, including one returned for a touchdown. He played opposite Leodis McKelvin, whom the Buffalo Bills selected in the first round (11th overall) in April.

“The more you watched Troy, the more you said, ‘Who’s this other guy?’ ” Coach Jon Gruden said. “And he had a great camp for us.”

Darn good exhibition season, too. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Mack had some big hits and an interception during the four games. He’ll figure prominently on special teams, starting with Sunday’s season opener at New Orleans.

Wilson, the sixth-year pro, signed as a free agent in March. He didn’t do much to distinguish himself in the preseason and got caught up in a numbers crunch at a position that featured starters Ronde Barber and Phillip Buchanon, plus rookie first-round draft pick Aqib Talib.

Chiefs add Micah Rucker to Practice Squad

Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Wednesday that the club has added WR Micah Rucker to its practice squad. As per Chiefs policy, no other terms of the agreement were made available.

Rucker (6-5, 219) originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Pittsburgh in 2008. He attended training camp with the Steelers, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. Rucker spent the first week of the 2008 season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.

The Bonita Springs, Florida native started 24 games at Eastern Illinois after transferring from Minnesota. He was a two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference performer, finishing his collegiate career with 108 receptions for 1,819 yards (16.8 avg.) and 21 TDs. He prepped at Estero High School in Estero, Florida.

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