Koma-Inu

Players and club officials switch teams so regularly these days it's not uncommon to line up against a familiar face any given week during a 16-game NFL season. Or see an old friend on the sideline before kickoff and say hello. When the favored San Francisco 49ers open the season at NFC West rival Seattle on Sunday, it will be a little different.

How concerned are the 49ers about the noise level inside Seattle’s Qwest Field? On Wednesday, they pumped artificial crowd noise through huge speakers. A lot of teams do that before road games in loud venues. But the 49ers were even blasting noise during their morning walk-through.

Of course, most of the 49ers are quite familiar with the Seahawks’ home-field advantage and know how loud Seattle’s so-called “12th Man” can get. But two key 49ers are not familiar. First-round draft picks Anthony Davis, at right tackle, and Mike Iupati, at left guard, will start Sunday, and Mike Singletary acknowledged they have no idea what’s in store.

“I think for our young guys, the two young guys, we need to get them all the noise that we can feed them, and that’s not even enough, but as much…

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.

NFL Power Poll: Packers' expectations soar, but Jets still No. 1 Green Bay is the smallest market in the NFL, but no team has created more buzz over the past month. Although last season's 7-1 finish has played a part, the attention is largely based on the unstoppable preseason performance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense. The players have accepted the high expectations without letting the hype get to them. "I don't see a problem with it," tight end Jermichael Finley said.

The San Francisco 49ers bounced Nate Davis on Monday to make room for another quarterback, Troy Smith, who they…

David Buehler's first milestone in his conversion from the Dallas Cowboys' kickoff specialist to all-around kicker was regularly making field goals under the simulated pressure of practice. Still, it was just practice. Then Buehler showed he could make field goals in games, nailing 10 of 11 attempts in the preseason, including a 51-yarder and a game-winner as time expired.

A defamation lawsuit against Roger Clemens should be thrown out because the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was merely trying to defend himself against his former personal trainer’s doping allegations, Clemens’ lawyers argued.

It all starts now for the Cowboys and their quest for the ultimate prize—not just going to the Super Bowl but winning the Super Bowl in their home stadium.

“Our fans deserve that,” team owner Jerry Jones said. “But it’s a goal, it’s an inspiration and it’s one that would be a dream.”

Jones’ dream has undoubtedly put pressure on his team and coach as the Cowboys open the regular season at the Redskins on Sunday.

Everything will be judged on whether they are playing Super Bowl caliber football.

It will be that way from the outset.

So one year after getting the so-called gorilla off his back for winning his first playoff game as a coach, Wade Phillips is now carrying King Kong.

Phillips said it’s just part of the job.

But a very large…

Three story lines Debuts in D.C.: The Redskins will unveil their latest big offseason acquisitions Sunday. These two are bigger than most, given Mike Shanahan´s and Donovan McNabb´s resumes. Their arrivals have boosted the players´ confidence higher than at any time in the Dan Snyder era in Washington. How healthy are the Cowboys? Dallas had a bad preseason. It looked nothing like a serious contender. Injuries had to play a part. Right tackle Marc Colombo (knee) and wide receiver Dez Bryant (ankle) should be ready for the opener; left guard Kyle Kosier (knee)…

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.

The Buccaneers’ regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium will not be televised locally because the game is not a sellout. It’s the first time in 13 years that Bucs fans have experienced a blackout.

But at least the organization is no longer in the dark.

Coach Raheem Morris has returned the identity to the Bucs after taking over the defensive play-calling duties with six games remaining in the 2009 season.

Morris’ version of the Tampa 2, or the Tampa 2.0 as Ronde Barber has dubbed it, includes more blitzing and an array of different coverages. But it’s still built to prevent quick scores, and opponents will have to earn their way this season.

By controlling the defense, Morris has regained more control of his team…

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.

The Detroit Lions will open the season closing in on a piece of history they already hold, something they…

NFL Power Poll: Packers' expectations soar, but Jets still No. 1 Green Bay is the smallest market in the NFL, but no team has created more buzz over the past month. Although last season's 7-1 finish has played a part, the attention is largely based on the unstoppable preseason performance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense. The players have accepted the high expectations without letting the hype get to them. "I don't see a problem with it," tight end Jermichael Finley said.

The Carolina Panthers weren't fooling around when they started their youth movement. It's produced the NFL's youngest team. According to STATS LLC, Carolina's average age of 25 years, 233 days is the most youthful in the league based on Wednesday's 53-man rosters. It comes after the Panthers shed numerous veterans — and payroll — in the offseason.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith on Wednesday said he won't seek payback against New York Giants defensive back Michael Johnson when the two meet Sunday. Smith suffered a broken left arm in 2009's Week 16 after a hit by Johnson. During training camp, Smith told SI.com he would be "going after" Johnson in the season opener. Johnson responded by dissing Smith. Now, Smith is backing off his pledge and expressing regret for it.

When asked about Carolina's offensive woes on Wednesday, DeAngelo Williams responded with a question of his own. "In the preseason?" Williams asked. "You're talking about the preseason?" Yes, the preseason. The Panthers did go the entire preseason without scoring an offensive touchdown — the first NFL team in at least 14 years to do that.

For a guy with three strikes against him, defensive end Wallace Gilberry is making quite a splash in Kansas City. First, he bears the stigma of coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Guys drafted in the first round have to prove they can't play. Undrafted free agents must prove they can. Second, he was brought in for a 4-3 defense, and now the Chiefs have installed a 3-4.

Entering their third NFL season, Detroit Lions offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus and running back Kevin Smith can't remember winning on the road. It's understandable. Both were still in college the last time it happened. Detroit has lost 20 straight games on the road, the fourth-longest losing skid in league history.

For the past nine months, the New York Giants have talked about playing defense like the Giants of old. The style was simple, brute force. No one outmuscled the Giants. No one ran on them. New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and his unit will see how far they have come on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers open the season against the Giants in the $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium.

Former New York Jets wide receiver David Clowney appears to be on the verge of either joining the Kansas City…

For a guy with three strikes against him, defensive end Wallace Gilberry is making quite a splash in Kansas City. First, he bears the stigma of coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Guys drafted in the first round have to prove they can't play. Undrafted free agents must prove they can. Second, he was brought in for a 4-3 defense, and now the Chiefs have installed a 3-4.

As the start of the NFL regular season draws near, at least 11 teams could be facing TV blackouts in their home markets, USA Today reports. NFL rules require games be blacked out in the home market if they are not sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff. The league, according to the newspaper, had 22 games blacked out last year, a five-year high. Five teams, all of which had losing records, were part of the blackouts last season: Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and the St.

There are the head coaches who are building for the future who sometimes never see the future because they forgot one important factor in retaining their jobs—they must win. That creates a predicament when chopping the roster to the league limit of 53 players, what’s more important—players who can contribute now, or developmental players who are a year or two or maybe more away from carrying their own weight?

Todd Haley wants both. Todd Haley knows he needs both. Starting with the team’s Monday night opener against the San Diego Chargers, Todd Haley has to have both for his continued employment as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here’s Haley on the idea of the players must produce now:

“What I’ve been telling these guys from day one, and that…

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.

The Cincinnati Bengals tried out former New York Jets fullback Jason Davis this week, but didn't sign him.

Kevin Kolb will make his debut Sunday as the Eagles’ new starting quarterback. But right now, there are more questions about the players who will be lining up in front of him than there are about Kolb.

The Eagles shipped their struggling right guard, Stacy Andrews, to Seattle for a seventh-round pick over the weekend. Nick Cole, who started 10 games at right guard in place of Andrews last season and did a serviceable job, will start Sunday’s season-opener against the Green Bay Packers.

A bigger concern is at center where Jamaal Jackson returns just eight months removed from ACL surgery. He didn’t start practicing until mid-August and didn’t play in any of the Eagles’ preseason games.

Even head coach Andy Reid admitted Wednesday that he doesn’t know what to expect…

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.

NFL Power Poll: Packers' expectations soar, but Jets still No. 1 Green Bay is the smallest market in the NFL, but no team has created more buzz over the past month. Although last season's 7-1 finish has played a part, the attention is largely based on the unstoppable preseason performance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense. The players have accepted the high expectations without letting the hype get to them. "I don't see a problem with it," tight end Jermichael Finley said.

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

It took eight questions on the topic of Bill Parcells before Tony Sparano finally snapped.

The Dolphins coach didn’t raise his voice Wednesday afternoon, but he was clearly irritated at the line of questioning regarding the franchise’s football czar and his Tuesday announcement that he would slide into a “daily consultant” role.

Third-year general manager Jeff Ireland has assumed full control of the team’s football operations.

“It’s not important,” Sparano said when quizzed on when he first heard of Parcells’ plans. “We got a game against Buffalo this week, fellas. You guys want to talk about the game against Buffalo or not?”

All this was brought about by a three-sentence statement released the day before by the Dolphins.

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.

NFL Power Poll: Packers' expectations soar, but Jets still No. 1 Green Bay is the smallest market in the NFL, but no team has created more buzz over the past month. Although last season's 7-1 finish has played a part, the attention is largely based on the unstoppable preseason performance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense. The players have accepted the high expectations without letting the hype get to them. "I don't see a problem with it," tight end Jermichael Finley said.

It took a few short months for Bills rookie running back C.J. Spiller to win the starting job and elevate expectations around town that Buffalo's anemic offense just might have a semblance of a spark. The one thing Spiller's careful of is to remind everyone that he can't do it alone. "It's going to take a team effort to get to where we want to go, and I'm just glad to be a…

The Carolina Panthers weren't fooling around when they started their youth movement. It's produced the NFL's youngest team. According to STATS LLC, Carolina's average age of 25 years, 233 days is the most youthful in the league based on Wednesday's 53-man rosters. It comes after the Panthers shed numerous veterans — and payroll — in the offseason.

When asked about Carolina's offensive woes on Wednesday, DeAngelo Williams responded with a question of his own. "In the preseason?" Williams asked. "You're talking about the preseason?" Yes, the preseason. The Panthers did go the entire preseason without scoring an offensive touchdown — the first NFL team in at least 14 years to do that.

There are many potential storylines on which to focus from the Vikings’ heart-breaking loss to the Saints in the NFC title game as the teams get set for a rematch to open the season on Thursday night at the Superdome.

In its 31-28 overtime defeat to the eventual Super Bowl champions, Minnesota accumulated 475 yards of total offense. This included 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson.

The only issue was that Peterson fumbled twice, and could have been charged with a third that resulted in a key turnover late in the first half, as the Vikings finished with three lost fumbles and two interceptions.

Then there was the 12-men in the huddle penalty late in the fourth quarter as the Vikings were driving with hopes of taking the…

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson believes he's still the No. 1 running back in the NFL — ahead of record-setting Tennessee Titans rusher Chris Johnson. Peterson said in a radio interview with Dan Patrick that he respects Johnson and that he once encouraged Johnson to believe he could be the best. In Peterson's mind, though, Johnson hasn't surpassed him. "I play this game to be the best player, and that doesn't change my mindset at all," Peterson told Patrick.

The Saints' first Super Bowl title was so big in New Orleans that Mardi Gras, a revered local institution dating back well more than a century, became popularly known as, "Lombardi Gras." New Orleans' momentous victory over the Indianapolis Colts occurred in the middle of the city's parade season, so the Saints' celebratory ride through town with the Vince Lombardi…

The Saints are boasting about being rougher this season as they look to repeat, a rarity in the NFL.

There's no signed contract extension just yet for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, but the Boston…

New England Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Randy Moss did not practice Wednesday for the New England Patriots. The team said the wide receiver was suffering from an illness. A day earlier, Moss told reporters he didn't feel wanted in Foxborough. Moss is entering the final year of his contract and negotiations for a new pact are going slowly. "When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted," Moss told reporters. I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling…

With the season opener on the horizon for the New England Patriots, most of the talk in Foxborough these days has to do with contracts and dollar amounts, not the Cincinnati Bengals or their dangerous wide receivers.

Anything related to Tom Brady takes precedence in New England, so it’s only fitting the news of his seemingly impending contract extension has dominated the airwaves this week with Sunday’s opener against the Bengals on tap.

Likewise, wide receiver Randy Moss has expressed his unhappiness with his contract situation, suggesting he feels “not wanted” because the Patriots haven’t offered him a long-term deal.

The first domino appears to be falling in the aftermath of Tuesday’s report that Brady and the Patriots are close to agreeing on a three-year, $58…

The Saints are boasting about being rougher this season as they look to repeat, a rarity in the NFL.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens auditioned two free agent defensive linemen this week, taking a look…

The Steelers may look like a desperate team when they open the season as underdogs at home to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out the first four games, and No. 2 quarterback Byron Leftwich injured and out at least for the next two, they will try to pull out all the stops with Dennis Dixon making his second start in three seasons.

In Dixon’s first start at Baltimore last November, coach Mike Tomlin put constraints on him. They had no real backup then—signing Tyler Palko only that week—and they could not afford to have Dixon get hurt. So they told him not to run unless he absolutely had to.

It will be a different case Sunday against the Falcons.

Thursday marks the kickoff of the 2010 NFL season, and along with it, a renewed interest in fantasy leagues and video games that let Monday-morning quarterbacks feel as if they're part of the action. The perennial champ of the genre, Electronic Arts Inc.'s "Madden," has already made its debut this year as a free Facebook application.

The Saints are boasting about being rougher this season as they look to repeat, a rarity in the NFL.

The ’09 postseason participants are heavy favorites to win their divisions and get back to the playoffs.