One of the turning points of last Sunday's Steelers-Saints game was the hand injury suffered by Ben Roethlisberger. The Pittsburgh quarterback smacked his throwing hand against the arm of Saints defender Curtis Lofton. The injury appeared to affect Big Ben the rest of the game and played a role in the Steelers dropping one of their last remaining home games.
Ben Roethlisberger’s wrist isn’t broken, Trent Richardson looking to leap into Dawg Pound and other NFL news
Meanwhile, Ryan Clark indicates that 2014 will be his last season.
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However, a report from Pro Football Talk says that both a source with knowledge of the situation and Roethlisberger himself relayed that nothing was broken and the quarterback is ready to go for next weekend's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Furthermore, the quarterback contends that the injury did not affect him during the game.
While there’s no reason at this point to believe a serious injury occurred, it’s difficult to accept that Roethlisberger wasn’t affected by hitting his hand on Lofton’s arm. He finished with his second worst completion percentage (55.2) of the season and threw as many interceptions as touchdowns.
Trent Richardson seeks to re-enter the Cleveland's Dawg Pound
In 2012, the Cleveland Browns made the bold decision to trade up from the No. 4 overall draft pick to No. 3 to secure Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Richardson, the team believed, was the best prospect at his position to enter the professional ranks since Adrian Peterson. Richardson arrived in Cleveland with hype comparable to that of Andrew Luck in Indianapolis or Robert Griffin III in Washington.
Unfortunately for the Browns, Richardson never came close to realizing his potential. He fell short of 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie and averaged a pedestrian 3.6 yards per carry. His numbers dipped further the following year, prompting then-general manager Mike Lombardi to ship Richardson to the Colts for a future first-round pick.
As one might expect, the running back is looking forward to playing his former team. However, he isn’t trying to show up the fans, according to an ESPN report.
“I get in the end zone, get a touchdown, I’m going to jump in the Dawg Pound,” Richardson stated. “I know I have some true fans out there and I know they still love me.”
Perhaps some Browns fans do still love Richardson, but they're probably happy to have Indianapolis' first rounder instead. That pick, originally No. 26 overall, was used to trade up for Johnny Manziel, the presumed quarterback of the future in Cleveland.
2014 will be Ryan Clark's final season
Ryan Clark has enjoyed a long, fruitful career in the NFL. After a few years hopping around the NFC East, he found a long-term home in Pittsburgh, where he became a starting safety for a Steelers team that went to multiple Super Bowls. Clark remained there until this season, when he joined Washington as a free agent. According to ESPN 980, 2014 will be his final one in the NFL.
Certainly, part of the reason Clark is planning to retire pertains to his age. At 35, he has lost multiple steps and can’t compete at the same level he did during his Pittsburgh heyday. But another influential factor is Clark’s position with ESPN. He’s been a frequent contributor to several ESPN programs over the past few years and appears to have a full-time gig waiting for him upon retirement. After 13 seasons in the NFL, a posh broadcasting position is a nice way to ease into the next chapter of his life.
Alshon Jeffery questionable for Week 14
The Chicago Bears have struggled to repeat last year's success on offense. Part of the cause is the inconstant play of the offensive line that too easily gives up pressure. Quarterback Jay Cutler is on pace to throw the most interceptions in a season since his first in Chicago. But an understated factor in the Bears offensive shortcomings has been the nagging injuries to wideout Alshon Jeffery. As of Wednesday, he's questionable for the team's Week 14 tilt with the Dallas Cowboys, according to Pro Football Talk.
Though he leads the team in receiving yards, Jeffery's production has dropped considerably from 2013 due to injuries. He hurt his hamstring in the team's first game of the season, and it's caused him issues since. The difference is most noticeable on deep routes where Jeffery previously terrorized secondaries. That same hamstring might keep him out Thursday night against Dallas. If he can't go, the Bears will still have Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett at their disposal, but without Jeffery, the offense loses a vital dimension.
No time for panic says Chiefs' Alex Smith
Just a few weeks ago, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled off an upset over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks and moved within a game of the division-leading Denver Broncos. Running back Jamaal Charles looked entirely recovered from head and knee injures that cost him several games in October, and the team appeared destined for the postseason.
Since then, however, the Chiefs have dropped two games to AFC West opponents, including a surprising loss to the previously winless Oakland Raiders. The offense has dropped off, scoring 20 points or less in both matchups. As a result, the San Diego Chargers have jumped them in the standings, and it's fair to wonder whether Kansas City can recover.
Quarterback Alex Smith recognizes the gravity of the situation, telling USA Today that there’s “no time to panic.” He expressed confidence that the team would resolve its protection issues on offense and he’ll do a better job of getting rid of the ball faster. Smith had best be right, because the Chiefs play three teams with winning records over the final four weeks of the season.
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