Franco Harris loses job for comments supporting Joe Paterno

Franco Harris' comments in support of his former college coach, Joe Paterno, have cost him his job.

The former Pittsburgh Steeler running back is the latest person to lose his job in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal, as The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, Pa., announced Tuesday it was suspending its business relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee who played with the Nittany Lions from 1969 to 1971 under recently fired coach Paterno.

Harris, along with fellow former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier, was hired by The Meadows in September to help with various outreach activities, charitable events and public appearances.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

The Meadows issued this statement Tuesday night: "In light of the recent developments with Franco Harris regarding Joe Paterno’s dismissal, Franco and The Meadows have mutually decided to put their business relationship on hold at this time, while these matters are looked into further."

Paterno and university President Graham Spanier were fired Nov. 9 by Penn State's board of trustees as part of the fallout from the Sandusky scandal. Harris blasted the school for its treatment of the legendary coach.

”I feel that the board made a bad decision in letting Joe Paterno go,” Harris said. "I'm very disappointed in their decision. I thought they showed no courage, not to back someone who really needed it at the time. They were saying the football program under Joe was at fault.

”They really wouldn't give a reason. They're linking the football program to the scandal and, possibly, the cover-up. That's very disturbing to me.... I think there should be no connection to the football program, only in the case that it happened at the football building with an ex-coach. I'm still trying to find out who gave him access to the building, who signed that contract.”

Harris also is one of several high-profile athletes listed as an honorary director of The Second Mile charity, which was founded by Sandusky. Others include Cal Ripken Jr., Arnold Palmer and Andy Reid.

RELATED:

Jerry Sandusky tells Bob Costas: 'I am innocent' [Video]

Bill Dwyre: Penn State scandal can't be swept under a rug

Penn State's Mike McQueary says he told police of alleged rape

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Joe Paterno and Franco Harris in 2006. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

With Matt Schaub injured, Matt Leinart is a starting QB again

Just when the Houston Texans were looking like one of the teams to beat in the AFC, quarterback Matt Schaub suffers a foot injury that will keep him out indefinitely. Now is the time for Matt Leinart to prove, once and for all, that he can be a successful starting quarterback in the NFL.

“It’s a huge opportunity for me,” said Leinart, a former Heisman trophy winner at USC who has served as Schaub's backup the last two seasons. “I’m really bummed for Matt. We’ve become very close the last year and this year. He’s the leader of this football team and he’s done a great job in the 4 to 5 years he’s been here to get us to this point.... But he knows and everyone knows in this profession that things happen and the next guy has to step up."

Leinart has had his chances before, and it hasn't worked out so well. He was drafted 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2006 and started 11 of the 12 games he played that year, throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in leading the team to a 4-7 record in those games.

He started the first five games of the following season -- throwing two touchdowns and four interceptions but leading the Cardinals to a 3-2 record -- before breaking his collarbone. Leinart never regained his starting job from veteran Kurt Warner, who led the team to its only Super Bowl appearance.

When Warner retired before the 2010 season, it appeared Leinart would reclaim his starting spot -- instead, he was cut just before the start of the season and landed with the Texans. Leinart initially agreed to join the Seattle Seahawks before this season, but opted to re-sign with Houston when he discovered he would have to compete with two other quarterbacks for the Seahawks starting job.

Now he's a starter again with the Texans, who are 7-3 and have a two-game lead in the AFC South.

“That's what I've wanted for a long time, and that's what I've worked hard for every day and prepared for every day,” Leinart said. “It's a great opportunity. I'm just excited about the chance.”

Head Coach Gary Kubiak says he has plenty of confidence in his new starter.

“He's played in big football games in this league, he's played in big football games in college,” Kubiak said. “Matt's been around it. The key is the whole team rallying around him and playing well as a team. Matt doesn't have to go win a game, the team has to go win a game. We'll rally around him and get him ready to go.”

ALSO:

NFL Week 10 two-minute drill

Which will happen first: Packers lose or Colts win? [Poll]

David Nelson scores for Bills, gives ball to Cowboys cheerleader

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Matt Leinart. Credit: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press

Which will happen first: Packers lose or Colts win? [Poll]

After watching Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers destroy the Minnesota Vikings, 45-7, on Monday night, it's hard to imagine these guys ever losing again. They're 9-0 this year and 15-0 since their last loss, to the New England Patriots on Dec. 19 last year.

But the Packers are still seven wins away from joining the 2007 Patriots as the only teams in NFL history with 16-0 seasons -- and many of their opponents should put up a bit more of a fight than the hapless Vikings, including five teams with winning records and six that will likely be fighting for playoff spots.

After hosting the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) next week, Green Bay visits the Detroit Lions (6-3) for a Thanksgiving meeting between NFC North rivals. Then on Dec. 4 comes a road game against the New York Giants (6-3) -- the team that gave those 2007 Patriots everything they could handle in the final game of the regular season and then prevented them from going 19-0 by winning Super Bowl XLII.

That is followed by games against a pair of AFC West contenders -- home versus the Oakland Raiders (5-4) on Dec. 11 and visiting the Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) on Dec. 18. The Packers finish off the season with home games against division rivals, the Chicago Bears (6-3) on Dec. 25 and the Lions on Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts (0-10) are trying to avoid joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only 0-16 teams in league history. Two of their best chances for a victory come the next time they take the field -- Nov. 27 hosting the Carolina Panthers (2-7) -- and in the last game of the season -- Jan. 1 at the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6).

In between, the Colts have dates at the Patriots (6-3) on Dec. 4, at the Baltimore Ravens (6-3, including losses to the Jaguars and the 3-6 Seattle Seahawks) on Dec. 11, home against the Tennessee Titans (5-4) on Dec. 18 and home against the Houston Texans (7-3, but may be without starting quarterback Matt Schaub) on Dec. 22.

Writers from around Tribune Co. will discuss which will happen first, the Packers lose or the Colts win. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and join the discussion by voting in the poll and leaving a comment.

RELATED:

Frank Gore injury doesn't appear to be serious

David Nelson scores for Bills, gives ball to Cowboys cheerleader

Patriots' Rob Ninkovich, 49ers' David Akers get career upgrades

Left photo: Indianapolis quarterback Curtis Painter. Credit: Sam Riche / MCT

Right photo: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Credit: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

David Nelson scores for Bills, gives ball to Cowboys cheerleader

David Nelson did his best to avoid an awkward situation on Sunday.

After catching a three-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to put the Buffalo Bills on the scoreboard, 21-7, Nelson first celebrated with his teammates in the end zone, then went to the sideline and handed the ball to his girlfriend -- who happens to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

"It was a special moment to share with her," Nelson said of Kelsi Reich, who is in her fourth season as a Cowboys cheerleader. "I didn't want it to be awkward."

Nelson's gesture thrilled Reich, who tweeted after the 44-7 Cowboys win: "What a special day today was! I feel so blessed & so proud of @DavidNelson86! Thanks for my game ball, I wont let go of it :) happiest girl!"

Some of Nelson's Twitter followers approve of the move as well, calling it "classy" and "adorable."

But Nelson also is receiving his share of backlash, with tweets such as "you embarassed Buffalo and its fans by celebrating down 21-7 w that ... skit ... act like you care about the game!" and "You can showboat when ur up 30 points, not down 2 td's on the road."

Nelson, who is from Wichita Falls, Texas, (about two hours from Cowboys Stadium) has been pretty low-key with his responses to the haters, saying things such as "I respectfully disagree" and "check the game film. I played my tail off. I wanted that win more than anything."

But just in case that didn't shut them up, he also retweeted this photo of beaming Reich holding the game ball, which she captioned "Happiest girl in the world! :)"

Need he say more?

ALSO:

NFL Week 10 two-minute drill

Packers looks to exploit parity gap with Vikings

49ers, Steelers and Saints seize the moment in NFL's Week 10

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Left photo: David Nelson celebrates his touchdown with Bills teammate Fred Jackson. Credit: Jim Cowsert / Associated Press

Rigth photo: David Nelson gives the football to Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Kelsi Reich. Credit: Max Faulkner / Fort Worth Star-Telegram / Associated Press

Road will get easier for Tom Brady, Patriots

The rich get richer in the NFL, and in this case that means the path to the postseason will only get easier for the New England Patriots after their 37-16 victory against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night.

As NBC pointed out, the Patriots have the league's easiest schedule down the stretch and will face only one team that currently has a winning record: playing host to Buffalo (5-4) in a season finale.

The rest of New England's schedule is as follows: Kansas City (4-5), at Philadelphia (3-6), Indianapolis (0-10), at Washington (3-6), at Denver (4-5), and Miami (2-7).

In their methodically merciless style, the Patriots took over first place in the AFC East on Sunday night, snapping the Jets' three-game winning streak and handing them their first home loss.

It was the first victory in three games for New England, which was coming off consecutive losses to Pittsburgh and the New York Giants. The Patriots haven't lost three in a row in 148 games -- spanning from 2002 until now -- the fourth-longest such streak in NFL history.

 

-- Sam Farmer

Tim Tebow leads Denver Broncos to another win — somehow

Tim Tebow, the much-maligned young quarterback of the Denver Broncos, has done it again. He led his team to its third victory in four games.

Although he completed only two of eight passes, including a 56-yard touchdown strike to Eric Decker in the fourth quarter, Tebow put Denver in the thick of the AFC West race with a 17-10 victory over the division-rival Chiefs in Kansas City.

Denver is now 4-5, tied with the Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, one game behind the Oakland Raiders (5-4), who lead the AFC West.

"I'm not trying to send a message," Tebow said. "I'm just trying to be a football player. We can improve from what we did today and get better."

Tebow, who rushed for 44 yards and a score, managed to lead the Broncos to victory despite the loss of their top two running backs to injury. Willis McGahee was forced out by a hamstring injury in Denver's first offensive series, and Knowshon Moreno came out later in the first quarter with a knee injury. Their departures left journeyman Lance Ball to carry 30 times for 96 yards.

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel completed 13 of 28 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown as Kansas City managed only 258 yards of total offense.

ALSO:

In the NFL, 50 (yards) is the new 40

Patriots' Aaron Hernandez fits into tight spot

DeSean Jackson is benched for Eagles' game against Cardinals

— Dan Loumena

Photo: Denver quarterback Tim Tebow scores on a seven-yard run against Kansas City on Sunday. Credit: Peter Aiken / Getty Images

Man stabbed after Raiders win

Police say a 25-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen during a fight in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot after the Oakland Raiders' victory over the San Diego Chargers on Thursday evening.

The injury does not appear to be life-threatening, according to San Diego police officer David Stafford.

Stafford said the fight between two men does not seem to be centered on sports rivalry. He added that the victim was not cooperative with police and that there isn't yet a description of the suspect.

This is the second violent crime that has taken place this season after a Raiders game. On Aug. 20, two men were shot in the Candlestick Park parking lot after an exhibition against San Francisco.

MORE:

Raiders defeat Chargers

Union decertification could mean no season

NBA lockout: Should the players union decertify?

--Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Qualcomm Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee / U.S. Presswire.

NFL Network starts with Raiders, Chargers and new announcing team

After receiving many bad reviews last year for its three-man booth of Bob Papa, Matt Millen and Joe Theismann, the NFL Network has revamped its announcing team and Thursday night when it kicks off its season with Carson Palmer and the Raiders against the struggling San Diego Chargers and their befuddled quarterback Phillip Rivers, the listening audience might be pleased.

Mike Mayock, who has received positive responses from his work announcing Notre Dame football, has been respected for years for his work with NFL draft coverage, and will be the NFL Network analyst this year.

Brad Nessler is one of those guys doing analysis where you hear him, might not recognize his voice initially, then come to discover that it's Nessler and that you don't recognize him because he is even-toned, mistake-free and knowledgeable. He will be the play-by-play voice on the NFL Network broadcasts.

Mayock said the two, who hadn't worked together before, did some practice games in the studio and found their rhythm almost immediately.

The last time Mayock worked with Nessler, Mayock was a sideline reporter but he says, honestly, that Nessler has always been one of his favorite analysts. "The big thing for us the first night," Mayock said, "is to just not make mistakes. And we both agree, it's the game that's important. Not us."

That philosophy seemed missing last year when Thursday broadcasts often seemed to be debates between Theismann and Millen.

Despite Oakland's loss last week, Mayock thinks Palmer and his strong arm and ability to throw 15-20 yard passes with consistency will ultimately keep the Raiders in the thick of a playoff race in the AFC West that is in no way predictable. Mayock is less cheery about Rivers, who he says "is not playing well."

When Rivers fumbled the snap two weeks ago, Mayock said, "that's one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen, mind-boggling even."

Though Nessler's voice is more familiar to college fans, he has served as lead announcer on the back end of Monday Night Football doubleheaders in 2006 and 2010 and was the radio play-by-play voice for the Falcons from 1982-88 and for the Vikings in 1999.

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: NFL Network’s new Thursday Night Football announcing team of Mike Mayock (analyst) and Brad Nessler (play-by-play). Credit: Shandon Melvin / NFL.

 

 

 

 

Sam Farmer on the decline of Philip Rivers [video]

 

 

Times NFL columnist Sam Farmer talks about the importance of the Raiders-Chargers game, and the story behind uneven quarterback play throughout the NFL. Among Sam's comments:

--Why the Raiders-Chargers game is so pivotal in deciding who wins the AFC West.

--His thoughts on the decline of Philip Rivers.

--How injuries have made Rivers' job harder.

--The up-and-down season of Joe Flacco.

--Tony Romo's journey from goat to hero to goat to hero.

--Whether the shortened preseason has had an impact on quarterbacks.

ALSO:

For one week, some NFL quarterbacks catch a break

Giants have bridge to cross with trip to San Francisco

--Houston Mitchell

 

 

 

Albert Haynesworth done in New England; is Chad Ochocinco next?

The New England Patriots grabbed a lot of headlines before the start of the NFL season, trading for Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco on the same day. Both are high-profile players, but some wondered just what they could contribute to the perennial playoff contenders.

Turns out, not too much. At least for Haynesworth, who was cut Tuesday. Ochocinco has been a nonfactor, but at least he's still a member of the team.

The Haynesworth experiment ended after just half a season, during which the defensive lineman had just three tackles and no sacks in six games. His last play with the team came Sunday when he was blocked out of the way on a 10-yard touchdown run by New York Giants' Brandon Jacobs.

"I'll just say this on the Albert situation: I thought that both he and myself -- speaking for the  staff -- we really tried to make it work," Coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday. "He had a few physical limitations to overcome when he got here, but I thought he really tried to do what we asked him to do. We tried to work with him. In the end, it just didn't work out. I think the best thing we could do was just move on."

No idea whether Ochocinco is on the chopping block or not, but he doesn't seem to be much use to the team at this point. He hasn't had a catch in the last three games and has just nine receptions for 136 yards and no touchdowns all year.

He was targeted five times by quarterback Tom Brady against the Giants, and all five passes fell incomplete. Still, it might be a positive sign of sorts for the veteran receiver -- at least Brady acknowledged his existence. Only one pass came Ochocinco's way in the previous two games combined.

Overall, it seems pretty safe to say that those who considered the acquisitions of Haynesworth and Ochocinco to be rather pointless were right. Except for all the headlines those trades garnered -- maybe that was the point in the first place.

ALSO:

For one week, some NFL quarterbacks catch a break

Giants have bridge to cross with trip to San Francisco

-- Chuck Schilken

Left photo: Albert Haynesworth. Credit: Stew Milne / Associated Press

Right photo: Chad Ochocinco. Credit: Don Wright / Associated Press

Did Tim Tebow save his job Sunday?

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow had a terrific game Sunday in a 38-24 victory at Oakland -- and his timing couldn't have been better. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported before the game that the Broncos were considering benching Tebow if he continued to regress, possibly replacing him with Brady Quinn.

That speculation won't get much traction this week, after Tebow ran for 117 yards in 12 carries and threw for two touchdowns, keeping his team in the thick of the AFC West race.

The Raiders, meanwhile, are groping for defensive answers and need to patch a lot of holes in a short time; they play at San Diego on Thursday.

"You have to do your job," Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour said after Sunday's loss. "The things that happened out there today ... it's Football 101."

The Broncos ran for 298 yards, 230 in the second half.

"I'm shocked," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. "Ain't no way I thought that team could put 38 points on us with that quarterback. This hurt more than Buffalo."

ALSO:

Giants top the Patriots, and that's just one flashback

Q&A: Jerry Jones takes risks and reaps the rewards

Gerharts go the extra mile to watch sons play football

-- Sam Farmer

Photo: Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow escapes pressure from Raiders defensive tackle John Henderson during the second quarter Sunday in Oakland. Credit: D. Ross Cameron / McClatchy-Tribune

Peyton Hillis injured again during Browns practice on Friday

Peyton Hillis has re-injured the left hamstring that has kept him out of the Cleveland Browns' last two games.

In just his second day back in practice since last week, the star running back pulled up after a running play on Friday, throwing the ball and his helmet in frustration before being taken back to the team's facility by a trainer.

The development appears to put an end the Browns' hopes that Hillis would be ready to play Sunday at Houston. Coach Pat Shurmur is expected to have an update after Friday's practice.

Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns, both career highs, in his first year with the Browns in 2010. But the fourth-year pro has not had a successful follow-up season. He missed an additional game because of strep throat and has sniffed 100 yards only once this year (94 yards against the woeful Colts in Week 2).

He also has been involved in a contract disagreement with the team and this week was criticized for missing a Halloween event for the Boys & Girls Club that he was supposed to attend. He later apologized for not attending the event, saying there had been a miscommunication between him and his management.

Friday's development might be the most frustrating of all for Hillis, who made it through practice Thursday with no problem and had expressed optimism for being able to play Sunday.

ALSO:

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow: yea and nay

LaDainian Tomlinson says Philip Rivers looks distracted

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Peyton Hillis sits on the bench in street clothes as his team faces the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 23. Credit: Amy Sancetta / Associated Press

LaDainian Tomlinson says Philip Rivers looks distracted

Former San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who now plays for the New York Jets, says Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers looks "distracted."

“I’ve always said this; ‘It’s hard to be ‘the guy,’” Tomlinson said. “When they say this is your team, it’s hard to be the guy, because you get all the questions about what’s wrong and what’s right.”

Tomlinson and Rivers were teammates on the Chargers from 2004 to 2009.

When told of the comments, Rivers had this to say to the San Diego Union-Tribune:

“I don’t feel that burden, nor has it had anything to do with the struggles. People say, ‘It’s your team.’ I never bought into that."

Rivers has thrown more interceptions, 11, than touchdown passes, seven, this season, but the Chargers are still tied for first place in the AFC West with a 4-3 record.

ALSO:

Packers, Chargers at opposite ends of emotional spectrum

Several NFL players have made surprising impacts on offense

--Houston Mitchell

Photo: Philip Rivers during Sunday's game against Kansas City. Credit: Charlie Riedel / Associated Press.

Bubba Smith memorabilia up for auction

Bubba Smith fans will have a chance to own some memorabilia connected with the late football star. Have you ever wanted to own a Bronko Nagurski Legends Award? How about an NFL Pro Bowl Golden Helmet? Those two items, and much more, will be part of the Bubba Smith estate online auction now through Tuesday.

Sam Heller, a publicist for Nate D. Sanders Auctions, said Wednesday that the Nagurski award has an estimated value of $3,000 to $5,000.

"The auction house met twice with Bubba before he died," Heller said. "He was looking to auction off his memorabilia."

The auction ends at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Smith was the first overall pick by the Baltimore Colts in the 1967 draft, but is probably best known for his beer commercials and "Police Academy" movies.

He died Aug. 3. An autopsy found phentermine, a weight-loss drug, in his system.

ALSO:

Full coverage of Dodgers sale

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Bubba Smith, right, with Tim Kazurinsky in "Police Academy 3". Credit: Warner Bros.

 

 

Is Matt Forte the best offensive player in the NFL? [Poll]

Matt Forte has been named the NFL's midseason offensive player of the year by Sports Illustrated's Peter King. The Chicago Bears running back is having a monster season, but is he really the best offensive player in the league?

Apparently even King doesn't think so. He named Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as his overall MVP and said he was "fudging a bit here" in naming Forte his top offensive player because Rodgers "is so clearly ahead of the rest."

Kind of an odd move, but it's true that Rodgers and Forte both are having seasons worth acknowledging. Rodgers has completed 71.5% of his passes to the tune of 2,372 yards and 20 touchdowns with only three interceptions. And Forte has been a workhorse for the Bears (4-3). He has 672 yards (5.4 per carry) and two touchdowns rushing and 419 yards and one touchdown receiving.

Of course, there are plenty of other candidates out there as well. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a two-time MVP, is having a typical season, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has passed for more yards than anyone (2,746) and Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton is generating a lot of excitement.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson already has 11 touchdown catches, but Carolina's Steve Smith, New England's Wes Welker and Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace are also having big years. And its hard to leave Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson out of the discussion.

Who do you think the best offensive player has been so far this season? Vote in the poll (yes, you are allowed to vote for Rodgers in this poll), and leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

ALSO:

Packers, Chargers at opposite ends of emotional spectrum

Several NFL players have made surprising impacts on offense

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Matt Forte. Credit: Gary Hershorn / Reuters

Carson Palmer talks to Shannon Sharpe for CBS

Former USC quarterback Carson Palmer will be featured on the CBS show "The NFL Today" on Sunday and will be interviewed by Shannon Sharpe.

Palmer is getting ready for his second game as a quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, who play the Denver Broncos in a game that will feature two former star college quarterbacks who are trying to silence critics (Tim Tebow, remember him?).

The show begins at 9 a.m. PDT.

After spending eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Palmer said he would retire rather than play for the team this year and Palmer stayed retired until Oct. 18, when he was traded to the Raiders. After only five days with the Raiders, he made his debut in the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs and had three passes intercepted.

But Oakland did not have a game in Week 8 and now Palmer has had two weeks to get ready for what is expected to be his first Raiders start Sunday. The Raiders are 4-3 and tied with Kansas City and San Diego for the AFC West division lead. 

-- Diane Pucin

T.J. Houshmandzadeh joins Cincinnati Bengals reunion in Oakland

T.J. Houshmandzadeh's signing with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday further cemented the team's transformation into Bengals West, reuniting the former Cincinnati wide receiver with quarterback Carson Palmer and Coach Hue Jackson.

The question is: Why on earth would any NFL team want to become the Bengals?

Houshmandzadeh played with Cincinnati from 2001 to 2008, then with the Seattle Seahawks in 2009 and Baltimore Ravens in 2010. Palmer was the Bengals' quarterback five of those years (although he was injured most of 2008) and Jackson was receivers coach for three.

And the truth is, the Bengals actually had a relative amount of success -- though "success" is definitely a relative term when speaking of the Bengals -- during the three seasons the trio's paths crossed, from 2004 to 2006.

The Bengals did not have a losing season during that span. OK, they went 8-8 two of those years, but in 2005 they went 11-5 (their best record since 1988) and won the AFC North. If Palmer hadn't suffered a season-ending knee injury on the second play of their wild-card playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who knows what might have happened?

Plus, we're comparing them to the Raiders, a team that hasn't sniffed the playoffs, let alone had a winning season, in a decade. Jackson needed a quarterback after an injury to starter Jason Campbell a couple weeks ago, so he went out and got Palmer.

Palmer apparently needed another target, so the team signed Houshmandzadeh, who had 241 catches for 3,015 yards and 20 touchdowns in his three seasons with Jackson and had a career year with Palmer as his quarterback in 2007 (112 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns).

Sounds like an experiment worth trying for the Raiders.

ALSO:

Packers, Chargers at opposite ends of emotional spectrum

Several NFL players have made surprising impacts on offense

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2006. Credit: David Maxwell / Getty Images

Could the 49ers clinch before Thanksgiving?

The San Francisco 49ers haven't been to the NFL playoffs since 2002, but they could be ending that drought this season in record time.

Yes, the 49ers could actually clinch the NFC West before Thanksgiving.

Mike Sando of ESPN.com has crunched the numbers and determined that San Francisco, which has the league's second-best record at 6-1, would win the division no matter what with six victories in its final nine games. Winning six would put the 49ers at 12-4, whereas the best second-place Seattle can do is 11-5.

Sando suggested a scenario by which the 49ers could win by Week 11, or Nov. 20, by getting to nine victories while their division opponents could finish the season with no more than eight. For that to unfold, the following would have to happen:

San Francisco (6-1) -- The 49ers win at Washington, then at home against the New York Giants and Arizona.

Seattle (2-5) -- The Seahawks lose at Dallas, at home against Baltimore, and at St. Louis.

Arizona (1-6) -- The Cardinals beat St. Louis, then lose at Philadelphia and San Francisco.

St. Louis (1-6) -- The Rams lose at Arizona and Cleveland, and beat the Seahawks at home.

MORE:

49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh is a guy who shakes things up

Several players have made surprising impacts on offense

Life at the bottom of NFL has its moments -- mostly bad ones

-- Sam Farmer

Photo: Running back Frank Gore is surrounded by 49ers linemen after scoring in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns. Credit: Nhat V. Meyer / McClatchy-Tribune

Philadelphia Eagles are playing their way back into contention

The dream still may be alive for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dubbed a "Dream Team" by backup quarterback Vince Young before the season, the Eagles got off to a disastrous 1-4 start. But back-to-back wins, including a particularly impressive 34-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, appear to have the Eagles right back in the NFC playoff hunt as midseason  approaches.

It might be tough to catch the NFC East-leading New York Giants, who have a two-game lead and who already won in Philadelphia earlier this season (the rematch in New York is Nov. 20). And one of the NFC wild-card spots appears to be the Detroit Lions' to lose.

But after that there's a huge mess of teams at 4-3 and 3-4 with an eye on that last bid, and the Eagles are right there in the mix. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and company showed a national television audience how good the Eagles can be Sunday night against the Cowboys.

Vick completed 21 of 28 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Eagles to points on their first six possessions. McCoy had a career-best 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Plus, the Eagles' early season losses don't seem as bad as they did at the time. The San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills are surprise contenders this season and the Atlanta Falcons seem to have righted the ship after a slow start of their own.

There's a lot of work left to be done -- especially with tough matchups with the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and New York Jets looming -- but at least the Eagles are giving their fans a little something to dream about again.

ALSO:

NFL Week 8 two-minute drill

Kansas City to give strong test to San Diego's weak side

Tim Tebow gets 'Tebowed' after sack by Lions' Stephen Tulloch

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Michael Vick eludes a tackle by Demarcus Ware. Credit: Michael Bryant / Philadelphia Inquirer / MCT

Tim Tebow is a fan of Tebowing

Tim Tebow loves Tebowing.

No, that's not the name of his dog or a new model airplane. It's the name for a pose he struck after beating the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Tebow, overcome with glee, fell to one knee and prayed.

A verb was born.

A few young Broncos fans mimicked his stance and created a website, tebowing.com, to display their photos. It went viral.

Tebow's reaction? Hallelujah!

On Thursday, he Tweeted: "#Tebowing - to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different. Love it!"

He even selected a favorite photo. It's of a little boy "tebowing" while receiving chemotherapy. He tweeted: "Praying for you and God bless you big man!"

One of the founders of this craze, Jared Kleinstein, who works for an online real estate website and is in his 20s, said the idea for "tebowing.com" stemmed from his desire to honor the quarterback.

"We obviously all went through the same emotions that the entire city did on Sunday," Kleinstein said. "We were chanting Tebow to start the game, scared for 55 minutes, and then we had the most exhilarating five minutes of our lives.

"We were cheering, jumping up and down. I looked up at the screen and noticed everyone on the sidelines doing the same thing, and Tebow had quickly kneeled. And so, as we walked out of the bar, I said, 'You know what? Let's pay tribute and pull a Tebow and start Tebowing.' So we kneeled for a photo and thought it would be fun and posted it Facebook. A couple people started liking it and that was how Tebowing was born." 

ALSO:

'Tebowing' becomes a new phenomenon

Would you want Terrell Owens on your NFL team? [Poll]

Jaguars' Blaine Gabbert does just enough against Ravens

 -- Melissa Rohlin

 Photo: Some adherents demonstrate Tebowing at a high school football game Colorado. Credit: Aaron Ontiveroz / Associated Press