CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Houston junior LT SirVincent Rogers will miss the rest of the season after tearing knee ligaments in the first quarter of Saturday's 34-25 victory over Oklahoma State.....

The excitement at Rutgers, where the 4-0 Scarlet Knights are ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 1976, was tempered slightly with news that veteran WR Shawn Tucker will be out indefinitely after breaking his ankle against Howard on Saturday. Tucker, a fifth-year senior caught 32 passes for 484 yards and a touchdown last season and six catches for 88 yards this fall.....

Southern California junior WR Dwayne Jarrett, a potential top 10-15 pick at the 2007 draft if he opts to leave school early this winter, will miss two to four weeks with a sprained shoulder.....

SUNDAY WEEK 2

Parcells said this week he is committed to Bledsoe as the starter and is backing the 14-year veteran, but his endorsement was less than emphatic. Though he said Bledsoe will start tonight in Dallas' home opener against the Redskins, he wouldn't commit beyond that.....

Charles Rogers' Dolphins workout was unimpressive. . . . Kelly Campbell's agent said the Dolphins indicated they would consider re-signing him, but his injury settlement prohibits that until five or six games remain.....

The rumor going around in SoCal is Al Davis has sold 15 percent of the team to an L.A. businessman, and the Raiders will return there. But who knows what to believe, other than that the Raiders are 0-1 with 15 games remaining.....


The Bergen Record is reporting that the New York Giants are replacing Joel Goldberg as the team’s director of counseling services after the current season. Goldberg became a draft legend because of the 400-question personality test he developed and which the Giants gave to all prospect in order to evaluate their personalities as pro prospects. The Giants will reportedly use another personality profiling service for the 2007 NFL Draft.




CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Stanford FB Nick Frank has a cervical spine condition that will force him to retire from football.....

Louisville junior QB Brian Brohm, another potential top 5 pick for this year’s draft if he were to opt to leave school early, strained ligaments in his throwing hand in the third quarter of the Cardinals' huge 31-78 win over Miami. Preliminary reports have Brohm, who is coming off an ACL injury suffered late last season, indicate that Brohm will be out 4 to 6 weeks.....


Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn, ostensibly the consensus #1 prospect for the 2007 draft, lost a few chinks in the armor on Saturday after a less than sterling performance as the Irish were trampled 47-21 by Michigan in South Bend. Quinn did throw for 232 yards and 3 scores, but completed only 24 of 48 passes and had three passes picked off, one of which was returned for a TD and a second returned inside the Notre Dame 5-yard line. Quinn also lost a fumble which was returned for a second score.....

Chiefs have called Tennessee inquiring about Volek

Nashville City Paper: "Both the San Diego Chargers, this Sunday’s opponent, and the Kansas City Chiefs have called Tennessee inquiring about Volek, who has fallen to No. 3 on the Titans’ depth chart behind starter Kerry Collins and rookie Vince Young......

Terry Porter stock is droping faster and faster... The asking price originally was a pair of first-round picks -- clearly Al Davis wasn't prepared to move his unhappy receiver. But latest reports say he's yours for a No. 1. Maybe less.....

New Orleans has released DE Michael Haynes, a first-round pick by Chicago in 2003; the Saints signed Haynes off waivers after the Bears released him prior to the start of the season.....




CFB NEWS AND NOTES

An NCAA review committee has upheld the denial of freshman eligibility to Mississippi freshman DT Jerrell Powe. The 6-3, 330-pound Powe was one of the top rated prep players in the country in 2004, but failed to meet academic requirements at Ole Miss last fall and enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia instead. Powe recommitted to Mississippi this winter but was denied eligibility last month by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Powe, who is not eligible for the NFL draft until 2008, could return to high school to complete requirements for college eligibility, an option available to students with learning disabilities, or enroll at a junior college.....

Bush and his family appear to have accepted improper benefits from prospective agents while at USC

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=Au8yb1WIWjpEaxtFXApB6Xc5nYcB?slug=ys-bushprobe&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

NEED TO SAY HI! TO THE JOCK 98.7

When Titans No. 3 quarterback Billy Volek travels to San Diego this weekend, he might be tempted to check out the real estate. Volek said the Chargers are one of the teams who contacted the Titans after he asked to be traded last month.....

The 49ers are not believed to have interest in trading for disgruntled Raiders receiver Jerry Porter....

Quincy Morgan, who finished eighth in the NFL last season by averaging 25.3 yards on kickoff returns for Pittsburgh, has drawn strong interest from the Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. 'We're probably going to Denver,' said Brian Overstreet, Morgan's agent.....

The Dolphins entertained wide receiver Charles Rogers for a workout Tuesday but didn't offer the ex-Lion a contract.

Former Dolphins OL Wade Smith worked out for the Jets yesterday and may be signed as early as today.....


CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Steve Spurrier selected experience over youth Thursday night, choosing senior Syvelle Newton to start at quarterback over freshman Chris Smelley. Newton takes over for Blake Mitchell, who was arrested on simple assault and suspended from the team Wednesday.....

Miami left tackle Reggie Youngblood will not play against No. 12 Louisville on Saturday because of an ankle injury. Youngblood, who will not travel with the team to Louisville, sprained his ankle in Miami's season-opening loss to Florida State, but was hopeful of recovering in time for the Hurricanes' game the Cardinals. Freshman Jason Fox could start at left tackle; sophomore Chris Rutledge got the start there last weekend in Miami's 51-10 win over Florida A&M.....

Injured defensive tackle Justin Harrell will start and be a captain in his final game at Tennessee, coach Phillip Fulmer said Thursday. The No. 13 Volunteers host seventh-ranked Florida on Saturday. Harrell surprised his coach and teammates on Wednesday by putting off season-ending surgery to play against the Gators.

Harrell was ruled out for the season after he ruptured a tendon in his left biceps in last week's game against Air Force. Doctors said he could not make the injury worse, but he will require surgery next week.

CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Tennessee DT Justin Harrell, one of the top senior DTs in the country, will play against Florida this Saturday after all. Harrell had been reported out for the season with a torn bicpes muscle, however, he has decided to play against the Gators and will delay his surgery until next week. Doctors have reportedly told Harrell that playing one more game wouldn’t do any further damage, as long as he could tolerate the pain. Because Harrell has already used his redshirt year he would have to apply to the NCAA for a medical hardship season; otherwise his college career would be over.....


Stanford WR Mark Bradford, a three-year starter who rates as a solid second-tier prospect for the NFL, is expected to miss the rest of the season after tearing ligaments in his right foot. Bradford, who has 118 career receptions for 1,789 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career, sustained the injury on Stanford's second offensive play in Saturday’s stunning loss to San Jose State. Bradford could consider the possibility of a medical redshirt if he is unable to return this season.....
Indiana have suspended sophomore WR James Hardy for two games as a result of personal off-field issues. The current suspension was not related to Hardy's spring arrest in Fort Wayne on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a crime. The 6-7 Hardy caught 67 passes, including 10 for TDs last fall.....

Utah State WR/KR Tony Pennyman was kicked off the team earlier this week after he was arrested for an altercation with his girlfriend. This was Perryman’s third off-field incident in the past couple of years. Pennyman averaged 29 yards per KO return last fall; he also caught 63 passes.....


Texas CB Tarell Brown, a solid second-tier type prospect for the 2007 draft, has been reinstated for Saturday's game against Rice after not playing last weekend in the Longhorns big lost to Ohio State. Brown was suspended after he and a teammate were charges with posession of marijuana and a weapons charge. The misdemeanor marijuana charges against Brown were dropped late last week, but the weapons possession charge still stands.

Pittsburgh has signed former Green Bay RB Najeh Davenport. To make room on the roster the Steelers released undrafted rookie free agent RB Patrick Cobbs, who was acquired from New England last week for a conditional draft pick. At this time, its not clear what happens to that pick.....

JUST HOURS AWAY

CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Texas CB Tarell Brown, a solid second-tier prospect for the 2007 draft, will not play in Saturday’s big game with Ohio State after he was arrested and charged early Monday with misdemeanor drug and weapon charges.....

Star Louisville RB Michael Bush, ne of the top 2-3 RB prospects for the 2007 draft, will mis the rest of the season after breaking his right leg in the third quarter of the Cardinals' 59-28 victory over Kentucky last night. Before being injured, the 250-pound Bush had run for 124 yards and three TDs. Bush had thought seriously about entering the 2006 draft where he would have been one of the first backs off the board, but opted to return to school for his senior season. He is expected to undergo surgery later this morning. Bush, though, will have the opportunity to redshirt and return for another season if he chooses. If there was a positive for the Cardinals in the win it was the healthy return of junior QB Brian Brohm. Brohm, playing his first game since suffering a devastating knee injury last November, threw for 254 yards and a touchdown, in the process showing no ill effects from nine months of grueling rehab......

4 DAYS TILL KICKOFF

Undrafted rookie Marcus Vick was among 21 players who were released or had their contracts terminated by the Miami Dolphins, who kept journeyman Cliff Russell as a fifth receiver instead.....

The New Orleans Saints decided to go with youth on the offensive line, placing veteran guard Jermane Mayberry on injured reserve for the 2006 season....


The San Diego Chargers ' inexperienced quarterback corps was trimmed to two when rookie Brett Elliott was among the 21 players cut in order to set the 53-man roster.....


CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Clemson LB Anthony Waters, a top prospect for the 2007 draft, was carried off the field with a sprained left knee late in the third quarter of the Tigers 54-6 romp over Florida Atlantic yesterday. Waters was to undergo an MRI later today' MRI were expected to be known Sunday, however, team officials fear that Waters, Linebacker Anthony Waters, who considered skipping his senior year for the NFL draft last winter, may have torn an ACL which would end his season. And because he has already used his redshirt year, Waters would have to appeal to the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility because of medical hardship to return to the Tigers next fall.....


There were some huge performances during the opening weekend of the college football season. The best story though may have been the return to action of Nebraska TE Matt Herian. Herian was an emerging star at the position but hadn’t played since fracturing his left leg late in the 2004 campaign, a career-threatening injury which required two surgeries and two years of rehab to repair. Herian was back on the field yesterday in Nebraska’s 49-10 win over Louisiana Tech where he had 3 receptions for 61 yards and a TD.

5 DAYS TILL KICKOFF

New England’s self-imposed deadline to trade disgruntled WR Deion Branch came and went Friday afternoon without any deals, however, sources indicate that the Patriots are still trying to jettison their #1 WR who has been holding out since the start of training camp. The Patriots gave Branch permission to try an d arrange a trade for himself last week and reportedly has received six-year contract offers from both the New York Jets and Seattle. Both offers were reportedly in the $36-39M range, with $13 million worth of guaranteed money. The problem is that neither team has yet offered the Patriots what they’d like in compensation. The Jets, for example, are believed to have offered a second round pick at the 2007 draft, however, New England reportedly wants at least a first rounder plus a middle rounder or a veteran player. Meanwhile, just to spice things up, the NFL Players Association filed a grievance on behalf of Branch alleging that the Patriots reneged on the agreement to trade Branch.....

While the Branch situation in New England will be the headliner this weekend, there are a number of other veterans around the NFL that could be moved or released as teams get down to their 53-man opening day rosters later today. Its not clear, for example, what Tennessee will do with long-time back QB Billy Volek now that the Titans have acquired veteran Kerry Collins to tutor Vince Young, the 3rd player selected overall at the 2006 draft. Meanwhile, Buffalo QB Kelly Holcombe could be available with J.P. Losman installed as the Bills’ starter, while Denver backup Bradlee Van Pelt, who has been displaced as the Broncos’ #2 QB by Jay Cutler, has already been told he will formally released later today. Going the other way, both Indianapolis and the New York Giants could be in the market for a proven backup QB for their respective Manning. A number of veteran RBs also could be available today including Tennessee’s Travis Henry, Duce Staley of Pittsburgh, either of William Green or Lee Suggs of Cleveland, and possibly Ron Dayne of Denver. Teams that could be in the market for at least a quality backup RB include Houston and Miami. There is also an interesting situation developing in Detroit where the Lions are expected to trade or release WR Charles Rogers, one of three WRs the team has selected in the draft’s opening round since 2002; indeed, there are no guarantees that the Lions will keep WR Mike Williams, their #1 pick in 2005, although it appears the former USC will get another year in Detroit. Philadelphia could make either or both of veteran receivers Darien McCants and Jabbar Gaffney available, On the other side of the ball, veteran San Diego LB Donnie Edwards could be had for a 3rd round pick.....


The New York Jets have acquired DE Bobby Hamilton from Oakland for an undisclosed draft pick.....

New England has acquired an undisclosed 2007 pick from Pittsburgh in exchange for undrafted rookie free agent RB. Meanwhile, DE/OLB Jeremy Mincey, a 6th round pick by the New England this past April, was one of ten players released by the Patriots.....


They are breathing a little easier in Arizona where an MRI revealed no structural damage to the non-throwing shoulder of QB Matt Leinart; Leinart sprained the shoulder in last night's pre-season loss to Denver.....


CFB NEWS AND NOTES

Miami WR Ryan Moore has been suspended indefinitely for violation of an unspecified team policy. Moore, a second-tier prospect for the 2007 draft, was suspended from the Hurricanes’ Peach Bowl appearance last season and then was suspended again for the first two games of this year because of previous violations of team rules.....


Prized Mississippi recruit Jerrell Powe, one of the top young DTs in college football, will not play be eligible to play for the Mississippi football team this season after again being denied eligibility by the NCAA Clearinghouse. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Powe originally signed with Ole Miss in 2005, but failed to meet academic requirements and enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy. He again committed to Ole Miss in February. Powe, who will not be eligible for the NFL draft until 2008, is expected to take the junior college route, although nothing has reportedly been finalized to date.....

Marshall WR Hiram Moore was suspended for Saturday's season opener at West Virginia following his arrest on drunken driving and other misdemeanor charges over the weekend. Moore, a second-tier prospect for the 2007 draft who had 53 receptions last fall, was charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, obstructing a police officer and driving on a suspended license.....

Former Oklahoma QB Rhett Bomar, a sophomore with three years of eligibility, has enrolled at Division I-AA Sam Houston State where he will be eligible immediately to play this fall if he gets clearance from the NCAA. Bomar and a teammate were kicked off the Oklahoma team this month for violating NCAA work rules by accepting payment for more work than they performed at a car dealership.....

Colorado State junior RB Kyle Bell, a top prospect for either the 2007 or 2008 drafts, will miss the entire season after tearing an ACL in practice. The 225-pound Bell rushed for 1,288 yards last season and scored 10 TDs.....


They are holding their collective breaths at Texas Tech while the school appeals an NCAA decision which denied a waiver to restore the academic eligibility of WR Jarrett Hicks, a top second-tier prospect for the 2006 draft. The 6-3, 210-pound Hicks led the Big 12 in catches per game last season when he posted 65 receptions.....