Passing the Torch

For those who missed out, Brown asked Peterson in an interview if he thought LT was overrated. Then, AP made a remark about LT not being a great downhill runner, which really seemed to strike a nerve with the normally jovial Tomlinson. LT’s response would have one think he was going to come out on Monday Night Football and show the world that, according to his self-proclamation, he was the best running back in the NFL. Monday Night Football arrives. Peterson is sitting atop the NFL rushing ranks with 180 yards and three touchdowns on the week. The Raiders defense stopped LT with 100 yards less than Peterson gained in the second half of Sunday’s game and even though the Chargers beat the Raiders for the 12th straight time, the win was secured by Darren Sproles, not LT. LT was the best and his place in the Hall of Fame should be a no brainer, but his era maybe over for this once great player. It’s hard to feel bad for him, but he is not as strong and as fast as he once was.

Week 1 Bust

Raiders rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey doesn't get all the fuss over his total lack of stats after one NFL start. Sure, he dropped the first two throws his way and caught nothing Monday night against the Chargers. Yes, his coach said afterward he looked like a "real nervous uptight young man, a lot of big eyes." As far as Heyward-Bey is concerned, he wasn't nervous one bit, and he didn't play half bad. "Did some good things, did some bad things," Heyward-Bey said. "Pretty good grade but could be better. For the first game, it was solid." Heyward-Bey is the "X" receiver, so he's got the "backside of things." His elite speed is supposed to pull a safety over in double coverage to make the field easier to see for quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Just by being out there, Heyward-Bey said, it makes a difference for others. That's what he said people outside the building aren't seeing. "I'm just sitting back doing my job," Heyward-Bey said. "That's my job in this offense. That's what I do." Teams don't pay $23.5 million in guaranteed money for a decoy. The Raiders need him to be a scoring threat who runs precise routes and catches every ball within reach. In short, do what fourth-round rookie Louis Murphy did in his first NFL start. He is just trying to avoid the fact that he did not produce because he is not under all this pressure. Honestly he already has the edge over Crabtree because he is not playing. As of week one both of them look overrated.

Fix Your Act

Jake Delhomme knows that he had a bad game and he noticed it while watching film and said he plans to correct it. “You can’t let a negative thought or what not creep into your mind, like, `Oh gosh, something bad’s going to happen,’ because if you think that, something will happen,” Delhomme said Wednesday. “That’s just the game. The game’s a roller coaster, up and down. If you do something good, hey, alright, got to move on. “To say I did that great on Sunday, probably not. I think I let things hang with me and that wasn’t me. They didn’t hang with me in the playoff game, I know that. I think Sunday I kind of let it get to me a little bit, and that was something that was very different for me. I think you are always looking at yourself and thinking what can I do better?” Basically, Delhomme needs to have a shorter memory. “You can’t worry about making a mistake,” he said. “You’ve just got to go out and play. That’s something I’ve always been able to do, and I didn’t do it well on Sunday. How do you fix it? Well, it will be fixed, I promise you. It will be fixed. I’ll be back to me.” I am sure all you Panthers fan are hoping that he turns it around. But fans are not the only one who does not appreciate him. In a segment Steve Smith was wearing a microphone and a bizarre exchange unfolded between Smith and Jake Delhomme. Delhomme, whose confidence clearly is shattered, apologizes to Smith while the duo are sitting on the bench. Says Smith: "I never really liked you as a quarterback. But as a person . . . I love you as a person." Smith was probably kidding in this case but if he is losing faith in Delhomme no one would blame him.

Crabtree Saga

Michael Smith and Todd McShay discuss Michael Crabtree on ESPN:

Jets Fined

The NFL has assessed $125,000 in fines to the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini for violating the league’s rules on injury reporting with former quarterback Brett Favre last season. Tthe Jets were fined $75,000, and Mangini and Jets president Mike Tannenbaum were fined $25,000 apiece.

Here's the statement:

The NFL has assessed $125,000 in fines for violations of the league’s injury reporting policy by the New York Jets last season. During the final month of the 2008 regular season, the Jets did not disclose as required an injury that the club had identified to the throwing arm of starting quarterback Brett Favre. NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson fined the Jets $75,000, Jets Executive Vice President Mike Tannenbaum $25,000, and former head coach Eric Mangini $25,000.

Jags in Tebow Lottery

Weaver told The Associated Press this week that drafting Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who grew up in Jacksonville and has top-ranked Florida seeking its third national championship in four seasons, is something he will consider next year.Think LeBron James in Cleveland. Weaver pointed to Tebow's popularity, marketability and leadership skills as reasons he would be a perfect fit in Jacksonville. Weaver also believes there's no doubt Tebow will play quarterback at the next level.Weaver insists he's committed to Jacksonville and sees signs that things will turn around. And I would say the same if I was him. Especially after David Garrard was called out for not making the throws he needed to make.

Bron on the Show with Stewart

Why?

After Michael Jordan called him out in his Hall of Fame speech, former Utah player Bryon Russell had a terse response today. "I'll play his a-- right now," he told Yahoo Sports. “This is a call-out for him to come play me. He can come out here in his private jet and come play. He’s got millions of dollars. He can pay for the jet. He can meet me at the Recreation Center in Calabasas. “We can have Mark Jackson do the commentating. We can have Mitch Richmond do the officiating. We can put it on TV and see if Michael’s still got it.” In his speech, Jordan credited Russell for inspiring his second comeback. Jordan saw Russell, then a rookie, practicing one day and Rusell told him: "Why’d you quit? You know I could guard you. If I ever see you in a pair of shorts…" Jordan then said in his speech: “When I did come back in 1995 and we played Utah in ’96, I’m at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me. I said, ‘You remember the [comments] you made in 1994 about, ‘I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, I would love to play against you? Well, you’re about to get your chance. ” Jordan hit his famous Finals-winning shot in 1998 over Russell. End of story.

Not Fair You Say

Stephen Jackson was fined $25,000 for "public statements detrimental to the NBA," the league announced on Tuesday. On Aug. 28, Jackson said that he would like to be traded to Cleveland, New York or one of the Texas teams. Warriors coach Don Nelson said on Monday that Jackson is still his captain. "I've talked to him," Nelson said. "I don't anticipate any problems." Less than a year ago, Jackson signed a three-year extension worth $28 million. But the league said in its statement: "Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly" and cited the case of Ron Artest who was fined in the 2005-06 season for requesting a trade from the Pacers through the media. But if that is the case, why did not Kobe or any bigger players get fined? I mean I do not have a problem but it shows that even the league is like life, everybody is not treated the same.

Career Backup

Josh Johnson the No. 2 quarterback behind Byron Leftwich on Sunday. It was a curious decision to say the least given the presence of first-round pick Josh Freeman, the man the franchise has proclaimed its future. Why, then, was Johnson the choice to enter the game in the event something happens to Leftwich? Coach Raheem Morris said it was because the club is starting to groom Johnson for what it deems his long-term role as the Bucs' No. 2 quarterback. Morris, who honestly seemed to mean this as a compliment, said Sunday, "I talked about him being my Jason Garrett, my career backup. . . You’re talking about preparing a guy who you think can be your long-term backup. You might as well put him in a game right now. That makes (him) prepare a little differently."It was Morris' way of saying Johnson is an asset for the team. Garrett, now a Cowboys assistant, was the consummate backup and made a good living doing so. But we're pretty sure Johnson has loftier goals. Still, when told by reporters on Monday of Morris' characterization, Johnson laughed out loud but did not take offense. For what it's worth, Johnson is probably absorbing more during meetings and practices -- even as an observer -- because he knows he's just a heartbeat away. So, in that sense, perhaps he is growing as a player.