Thread: FRI BEAR NEWS- Url, harris, angelo,wright,williams,briggs,

BBAO: Jahvid Best plans to play Sunday

October, 1, 2010 Oct 1
7:15
AM ET


By Kevin Seifert


We're Black and Blue All Over:

If it's up to him, Detroit Lions tailback Jahvid Best will play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Best has a grade 2 turf toe injury and missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but he told reporters that he plans to practice Friday and that "it's looking like I'll be ready to go this week."

Sometimes rookies are slow to understand the NFL mantra about keeping game-day availability a secret, so I'm not sure if Best spoke out of turn or doesn't realize that ultimately the team's medical staff will have to clear him first. But as we discussed Thursday, Best's open-field running ability is a key antidote to the deep zone defenses the Lions have faced this season.

We'll update you on his status Friday afternoon.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Rookie Lions safety Amari Spievey is expected to get some significant playing time moving forward, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.

• The Lions waived rookie safety Randy Phillips and signed veteran Dante Wesley. The Detroit Free Press reports the Lions hope to sign Phillips back to their practice squad.

• Chicago Bears left tackle Chris Williams won't play Sunday night against the New York Giants, reports Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Williams has a significant hamstring injury.

• The Bears have played Cover 2 defense on 77 percent of opponents' dropbacks, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. It's another example of how they have reverted to their Tampa 2 roots under defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.

• Green Bay Packers receiver James Jones on his late-game fumble Monday night at Soldier Field, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "I felt bad. I felt like I let my teammates down. I felt like I wanted to cry. I [was] the first one jumping in there [because] I just wanted to let them know that I'm not taking this lightly. It hurt me as much as it hurt them, if not more, that I let that ball go. But you go through ups and downs in your career, and you just have to go out there this weekend and make the most of your chances."

• The Packers probably won't have linebacker Brandon Chillar (shoulder) for Sunday's game, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. A.J. Hawk and perhaps Desmond Bishop will replace him in nickel packages.

• Packers tight end Jermichael Finley hasn't forgotten a wicked hit he received last season from Lions safety Louis Delmas, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

• According to Mike Spofford of Packers.com, the Lions have started 11 different quarterbacks during their current 19-game losing streak in the state of Wisconsin. Shaun Hill would be the 12th on Sunday.

• The Minnesota Vikings enter their bye as a team built around defense and the running game, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

Bill Parcells defends Tom Coughlin

October, 1, 2010 Oct 1
10:13
AM ET


By Matt Mosley


Former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells will be one of 30 people inducted into the club's new Ring of Honor on Sunday. During a conference call with New York writers Thursday, Parcells was asked about all the heat coach Tom Coughlin's taking over his team's 1-2 start.

"You're asking the wrong guy because I'm a big Tom Coughlin fan," Parcells said of his former assistant coach per ESPNNewYork.com. "I know what kind of coach he is. Nobody has to tell me. And I'm not interested in what the naysayers or other people say about him. I think he's a good man. He's proved to be a sound coach over the years. He's taken the team to a championship. Hey, we all come on rough times once in a while. But I have every confidence in Tom."

The 69-year-old Parcells has another year left with the Miami Dolphins, but he's not dreaming of retirement. Fireside chats don't really interest the man.

"I am not a sit-around-the-fireplace guy," said Parcells. " I don't know. I am not certain about it. We will see what happens when the time comes. I know I want to do something even if it is not day-to-day or something like that. I know I want to do something. I don't like sitting around. I like to get up and go do something. We will figure it out when the time comes."

I can't imagine Parcells coaching again at this point but he'd probably be interested in another consulting gig. Would Jerry Jones consider hiring Parcells in that capacity? It's unlikely.

Originally Posted by dabears54

"I guess the only thing I can do is not hit him square in the face with my helmet," Zombo said Wednesday of his critical penalty.

fixed that for him...