Alabama Football: Tide Players In The NFL
By Nick Jones
Dec 16, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) catches a touchdown pass in front of New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster (23) in the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Report: Julio Jones reaches milestone in Atlanta’s victory over Giants (video)
"The performance gave the Atlanta wide receiver 69 catches for 1,071 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Last year as a rookie, Jones caught 54 passes for 959 yards and eight TDs."
Mark Barron’s rookie struggles will come into focus against Drew Brees
"Early in the season, Barron looked like a stud. Through six games, he averaged seven tackles and one pass defensed per game. Since then, he’s managed just four tackles per game and just two pass defenses in eight games. I don’t generally like using tackle totals to evaluate a player, but in this case they concur with the picture we see on the field: a player who appears to have hit the rookie wall, for whom the game appears to be moving just a little bit too fast."
Buffalo Bills’ Marcell Dareus On Aftermath Of Brother’s Murder
"“I’ve just got back into my own now,” Dareus told Kryk. “Since (Week 10), I told the coaches and I told the players – there’s no nonsense to me now. I’m gonna play my butt off. I’m not going to be distracted. I was really distracted before that. I had a lot of fan support, which I appreciated. But at the same time, (Simeon) still wasn’t here. He was my youngest brother. I was real close to him.”"
Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Deaderick Can Replace Chandler Jones’ Production, But Not His Versatility
"Cunningham isn’t as strong at the line as Jones, and can be stood up and pushed back more easily. This would typically seem like a terrible idea, but it may be smart for the team to start using a bigger defensive lineman, like Brandon Deaderick, in on first and second down, or even to showcase more 3-4 alignments with Jones out."
Dont’a Hightower, Aaron Hernandez inactive, Logan Mankins returns to lineup
"Hightower said he was in “no pain” Friday, so his inactive status is surprising. He also said he’d be a game-time decision, and Bill Belichick had a one-way conversation with him on the practice field a few minutes later."
For Better Or Worse, Trent Richardson Sets Browns Rookie Rushing Touchdowns Record
"Just when you thought the Cleveland Browns’ season couldn’t get any worse, their decent rookie running back Trent Richardson sets a new record for rushing touchdowns by a rookie with his tenth of the season, erasing Cleveland legend Jim Brown from the record books."
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has season-high rushing game in loss to New York Giants
"Ingram hasn’t been part of the team’s turnover plague this season, with no fumbles in 111 attempts. But he’s struggled to find yards and has yet to hit the century mark in an NFL game, something that came easily to him during his playing days at Alabama."
Bengals Dre Kirkpatrick Out Against The Eagles
"Though he was listed as a full participate during Monday’s walkthrough, Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick didn’t practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, dealing with the remnants of a concussion that he suffered two weeks ago."