Running Back

Start’em

Peyton Hillis will have a great Sunday this week against the Bengals, who aren’t very good against the run and didn’t really improve much this offseason. Hillis is the best weapon the Browns have once again this year, he will get his touches whether it’s rushing or receiving and he will find the endzone.

Beanie Wells is the best option in the backfield for the Cardinals against the Carolina Panthers, who had the 23^rd worst run defense in the league last year. After the injury to rookie Ryan Williams, the carries won’t be going to anyone else, at least until Chester Taylor gets comfortable with the offense.

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Tarvaris Jackson has obviously improved since Brett Favre joined the Minnesota Vikings. Jackson may get a chance to start for the Vikes again, according to the Associated Press. Favre may be unavailable for the team’s next game. Jackson wants to make the most of this new opportunity.

“I’ve been working hard throughout this whole process, and I’ll continue to work hard,” said Jackson, suddenly the subject of interviews again with Brett Favre’s status uncertain for Sunday’s game at New England. “Now it’s about continuing to go out there and make plays.”

Jackson believes he has improved a lot since Brett joined, being somewhat mentored by the 41-year-old future Hall-of-Famer.

“Oh, yeah,” Jackson said Monday after Minnesota revealed Favre has two fractures in his left ankle that could keep him on the sideline for the first time since 1992. “I feel like I’ve improved a lot in the last year-and-a-half watching Brett. I feel like I’ve come a long way, probably the farthest I’ve come from year to year, even though I didn’t play a whole lot.”

Jackson said he can read coverages better and hit receivers better on passing patterns. He also knows how to release the ball quicker.

“I’m not Brett, and I understand that and a lot of the stuff that he sees I probably won’t see,” Jackson said. “But I’m a different player. I can move around a little bit more. Good things will come my way. I know I’m not going to go out there and operate the same way he’s going to operate, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him. I’m not going to try to be him. I learned a lot from him that will help me play and be better.”

Jackson is showing heart and confidence, but his hopes can’t go all that high. Favre may still want to continue his 315-game-playing streak, along with his iron will.

“Brett, he’s a warrior, so I’d be real surprised if he don’t play,” Jackson said, “but I’m going to be ready to play if my number is called.”

Jackson started out in two games in the 2006 season. Entering 2007, he was named starter. Jackson performed a okay at best, but never could even crack the 250-yard passing mark. He only threw for nine touchdowns. In 2008, Jackson struggled and was benched in the favor of Gus Frerotte. He would later come back, as he went on fire. But he then struggled again in a playoff game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Then Favre came in.

Now Jackson has another chance to prove himself. Jackson will become a free agent next year, and many teams could be targeting him as their next starting quarterback. However, Jackson doesn’t want to prove himself for next year and worry about next year. He is only worried about right now for the Vikes.

“I’m not looking forward to next year right now. Just try to do our best right now. Just try to win a Super Bowl this year,” said Jackson, whose career record in 20 starts including one postseason game is 10-10.

We never know, Jackson could blossom now. He has been doing excellent in practice, according to reports.

“Hopefully it translates to the field, but this is the best I ever felt,” Jackson said.

Many players in the locker room have Jackson’s back.

“We’ve got nothing but utmost confidence in him,” defensive tackle Kevin Williams said.

Dante Hall’s Jersey in the Hall of Fame

After Dante Hall had four interceptions against Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, Hall tied an NFL record. Hall will be having his jersey that he played with heading to Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hall is the 19th player in NFL history to have four interceptions. The last player to do such a performance was Deltha O’Neal in 2001.

Hall is very humbled and honored about this latest news.

This was Hall’s first time he had more than two interceptions, and he felt so good about it.

“I never had anybody crazy enough to keep throwing it at me that many times,” Hall said. “To come out of that game with four was an amazing feeling.”

Tony Romo Won’t Need Surgery, Out Six-to-Eight Weeks

A scan on Tony Romo revealed that the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback won’t need surgery, however, he will be out for the next possible six-to-eight weeks.

Romo may not be available for the whole entire season anymore. It is possible to see Jon Kitna leading the Cowboys to contention, which would lay off rest for Romo to prepare for next season.

“He’s going to be sad for awhile,” Wade Phillips said. “But then you’ve got to pick it up and go.”

Romo suffered the injury against the New York Giants last night, getting hit hard by Giants’ linebacker Michael Boley. He left the game in the second quarter.

“When he hit the ground, I heard he let out a little scream,” Boley said. “So I knew something was up. But I didn’t think he was going to lay down. I thought it was just a normal hit.”

Romo laid on the ground for a while after the hit.

“I tried lifting my shoulder and it hurt like heck, but I was like, ‘OK, it will just keep getting better,’” said Romo, who suffered the same injury to his right shoulder when he was a teenager. “The adrenaline of the game will allow me to [play], it’s my left shoulder, I don’t need to use it too much. I will figure out a way what I can handle when I’m out there, but that was before I knew it was broken.”

Oh well, it’s nothing new…the Patriots won, the Jags couldn’t get the job done. Now, it’s for some real football!

The Colts play the Chargers today at 1PM EST on CBS. If you remember, the Colts had half of their starters out during the last meeting and fell to about 23 points behind at Halftime. Manning threw a personal record 6 INTs to the Bolts and completely took him out of the game. Today, we find our boys are back in Blue. We should be at near strength besides a few sprints to shake off the rust and dust and cobwebs in Marvin‘s knees. Also, it looks like the Chargers may be without one of their best shallow threats and run blockers, TE Antonio Gates, but as of a couple of hours prior to kickoff he is listed as Probable. Cross your fingers!