Freeney, Powers active for Colts

From Section 252, Row 3 in Joe Roby/Pro Player/Dolphin/Land Shark/Sun Life Stadium…

 

The pre-game inactive list was just released, and Colts DE Dwight Freeney and CB Jerraud Powers ARE NOT on it. That doesn’t mean they’ll start Super Bowl XLIV, but it does mean the team believes they will be able to play some kind of role.

 

Freeney has not practiced since suffering a third-degree sprain and torn ligament in his right ankle against the Jets. Powers missed that game with a foot injury, and only began to get in some work late in the week.

 

The best bet is Freeney will give it a go, but likely be limited to obvious passing situations. Watch early how well he’s able to push off that right foot, and if he’s able to use any of his dangerous spin moves. We haven’t seen him on the field yet, but he’s expected to have the ankle heavily wrapped, limiting movement.

 

If Freeney is limited or determines the ankle just isn’t strong enough, veteran Raheem Brock is expected to start on the left side, with Robert Mathis moving to the right. Mathis and Freeney regular swap during most games, and Mathis has extensive experience going back to college on the right side, so Saints first-year starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod is hardly in the clear even if Freeney is on the bench.

 

The Colts need Powers on the field. Fellow rookie Jacob Lacey is better prepared for the nickel role – remember he was burned for an 80-yard touchdown by Braylon Edwards when he got caught looking into the backfield against the Jets. If Lacey starts, Powers will likely play the nickel role.

 

--Derek Harper

Redskins waste no time ditching Zorn

There are no official records kept for this sort of thing, but the Redskins barely waited 12 hours after their regular-season finale to kick coach Jim Zorn to the door.

 

The official announcement came at 7:41 a.m. ET Monday morning. The Redskins didn’t finish their game Sunday until after 7 p.m., and then had to travel cross-country. Which means Zorn barely had time to get his feet on the ground before owner Daniel Snyder made the announcement everyone has anticipated for month.

 

Mike Shanahan has already emerged as the clubhouse leader to take over the team. But GM Bruce Allen isn’t putting all of his eggs in one basket in case Shanahan pursues lucrative offers from other teams.

Lions RB Smith "got it bad" (6:03)

   There are a few hints when a coach knows a player has suffered a major injury.

   He won’t talk about it, or worse, talks about the value of his replacement. But Lions coach Jim Schwartz came up with a new one Monday when he said running back Kevin Smith “got it bad.”

   He was referring to the knee injury Smith suffered on Sunday. What we do know is Smith is done for the season. What we don’t know is exactly how severe the injury is.

   "I don't want to speak for doctors until they go in and they can analyze all those different things, because I've seen situations where it's been worse than expected or even better than expected,” said Schwartz. “But it'll be a season-ending injury for him. Where it goes from there will depend on what happens when the doctors get in there and really see what's at stake and all. But I think anybody who saw it knows it's a severe knee injury."

 

Bucs already targeting Nebraska's Suh? (5:52)

   Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik already has his eyes on Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

   Either Tampa Bay or St. Louis figures to have the first overall pick, and Dominik expects Suh to be at the top of many draft boards.

   "The only thing that worries me is living up to the hype," Dominik said. "If he gets six sacks as a rookie playing defensive tackle, someone's going to call him a bust because of the high expectations. How's he going to handle that?"

 

 

Gradkowski doubtful for Raiders' next game (4:19)

   Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski has injuries to both knees that are expected to sideline him Sunday, although coach Tom Cable said on Monday that he wouldn’t know Gradkowski’s status until midweek.

   Even if he somehow managed to play, Gradkowski would lose some effectiveness because his mobility was key behind the Raiders’ crumbling offensive line. Oakland gave up eight sacks against Washington – two were absorbed by Gradkowski and six more by JaMarcus Russell in the second half.

   In an interesting twist, Cable didn’t commit to Russell after the Redskins game should Gradkowski not be able to play, saying only that he would do “what’s best for this team.”

   Time for Charlie Frye to dust off the old chicken wing and get in some game action?

 

With Finneran down, Falcons need Booker to stand up (4:17)

   The Falcons lost wide receiver Brian Finneran for the season to a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that isn’t expected to require surgery. In his place, the team will look to Marty Booker to produce behind Roddy White and Michael Jenkins.

   --The Sports Xchange

 

Sanchez will practice, but status still uncertain (2:44)

   Jets coach Rex Ryan said rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez will return to practice this week, although he’s still not sure who will start against Atlanta on Sunday. Kellen Clemens started against Tampa Bay in Week 14 with Sanchez sidelined by a sprained posterior collateral ligament in his right knee.