Sports Betting Hot News

QUARTERBACKS

The St. Louis Rams broke their two-game losing streak in Week
13, but in the process they lost QB Marc Bulger (shoulder)
indefinitely with a bruised right shoulder. Bulger was replaced
in Week 13 by QB Chris Chandler and the veteran was able to lead
them to victory. Chandler will get the starting nod in Week 14,
which will be his first start since November 2003 with the
Chicago Bears. The team also brought back QB Jamie Martin to
serve as depth at the position while Bulger is out.

San Francisco 49ers QB Tim Rattay (foot) continued his hard luck
season as he suffered a partially torn plantar fascia and will
not play in Week 14. With Rattay unable to go second-year QB Ken
Dorsey will make his fourth start of the season. Rattay is
expected to miss at least two games.

The woebegone Tennessee Titans continue to stumble en route to
what could be their worst season since relocating from Houston
prior to the 1997 season. QB Steve McNair (sternum) missed his
fourth game of the season last week and his status for Week 14
is officially listed as questionable. QB Billy Volek (back)
would be in line for his fifth start of the season if McNair is
forced to watch from the sidelines once again. Volek is not 100
percent either, as he suffered through tightness in his back
before and during the team’s Week 13 contest.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sensation QB Ben Roethlisberger
(quad) missed practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, with a minor quad
injury. He is expected to return to practice Thursday, Dec. 9,
and is listed as probable for Week 14.

Miami Dolphins QB A.J. Feeley (finger/pectoral) continues to be
hampered by lingering injuries which led to him missing practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8. He is still listed as probable and expected
to start during Week 14.

Cleveland Browns QB Jeff Garcia (shoulder) missed a portion of
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, but is listed as probable for Week
14. However, interim head coach Terry Robiskie announced that QB
Luke McCown would make his second consecutive start in Week 14.
QB Kelly Holcomb (ribs) remains questionable and is not
expected to play this Sunday.

The Rest of the Field…

Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme (thumb) did not practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8. However, he is listed as probable for Week 14
and expected to play… Kansas City Chiefs QB Trent Green
(ribs) continues to be bothered by sore ribs, but is expected to
start in Week 14… Houston Texans QB David Carr (neck)
practiced Wednesday, Dec. 8, and reported only minor discomfort
in his neck, which was hurt on a first-quarter hit during Week
13… Chicago Bears QB Craig Krenzel (ankle) was placed on
Injured Reserve, officially ending his season… Arizona
Cardinals QB John Navarre (finger) suffered a fractured ring
finger, which will likely keep him out for at least two games.
QB Josh McCown will be back in the starting lineup during Week 14.

RUNNING BACKS

Kansas City Chiefs RB Priest Holmes (knee) will miss the
remainder of the season. The Chiefs placed him on season-ending
Injured Reserve Thursday, Dec. 9, officially bringing an end to
his 2004 campaign and ending speculation that he may try to
return at some point this year. RB Derrick Blaylock (neck)
suffered a mild neck strain during the team’s Week 13 victory
and is expected to start. However, RB Larry Johnson should
continue to see a significant role as the team attempts to
evaluate him and possibly showcase him for future deals. The two
will be asked to carry the load the rest of the way.

The St. Louis Rams running back situation is becoming
complicated. In Week 13 RB Marshall Faulk (knee) was in uniform,
but was only available for emergencies. Faulk practiced
Wednesday, Dec. 8, and is listed as probable for Week 14. RB
Steven Jackson (knee) started in Faulk’s place last week, but he
suffered a bruised right knee. He did not practice Wednesday,
Dec. 8, and had to have fluid drained from his knee to reduce
swelling. The team is hopeful Jackson can practice sometime this
week and be available to play in Week 14. Arlen Harris would
get the starting nod if neither Faulk or Jackson are capable of
playing and the team signed RB Aveion Cason as further depth at
the position.

Baltimore Ravens RB Jamal Lewis (ankle) returned to practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, but he did not participate fully and only ran
at half speed. Lewis is listed as questionable for Week 14 and
could need another week before returning. If Lewis can’t make
the start, RB Chester Taylor would make his third straight start.

Tennessee Titans RB Chris Brown (turf toe) is not expected to
practice this week after aggravating his turf toe injury. He is
listed as questionable and if he can’t start veteran RB Antowain
Smith would make his third start in the last four weeks.

New England Patriots RB Corey Dillon (thigh) missed a portion of
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, although it was primarily for
precautionary reasons. Dillon was hurt in the first half of the
team’s Week 13 victory over the Cleveland Browns, but he is
probable for Week 14 and expected to start against his former
team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

The disappointing season of San Francisco 49ers RB Kevan Barlow
(concussion) took another turn for the worse as he did not
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and will not play in Week 14 due to
a concussion. RB Maurice Hicks will make his first NFL start.

Arizona Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith (toe) did not practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, and will likely miss his second consecutive
game in Week 14. Smith will likely be replaced in the starting
lineup once again by rookie RB Larry Croom.

Denver Broncos RB Reuben Droughns (hand) is currently hampered
by a myriad of injuries to his hand, neck and thigh, which means
that rookie RB Tatum Bell is expected to see some additional
work in the coming weeks. Droughns is expected to start in Week
14, but look for Bell to get in the neighborhood of 10 touches
during the game.

The Rest of the Field…

Cleveland Browns RB Lee Suggs (toe) did not practice Wednesday,
Dec. 8, and is listed as questionable for Week 14. Suggs has
missed the team’s last two games due to the injury… Miami
Dolphins RB Sammy Morris (ribs) will miss his third consecutive
game in Week 14 due to a rib injury, leaving RB Travis Minor as
the likely starter once again… Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Michael
Pittman (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, but
is listed as probable for Sunday and is expected to play…
Oakland Raiders RB Tyrone Wheatley (knee/hamstring) did not
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and is expected to miss the team’s
Week 14 game. RBs Amos Zereoue, Justin Fargas and Zack Crockett
are expected to fill the void again this weekend.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Minnesota Vikings WR Randy Moss (hamstring) is not on the team’s
official injury report and, after looking sluggish in the
team’s loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 13, reportedly looked
more explosive in practice Wednesday, Dec. 8. Moss will start
this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Plaxico Burress (hamstring) did not
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and he is listed as questionable for
Week 14. Burress has missed the team’s last two games with the
injury. If he can’t go, WR Antwan Randle-El would make his third
straight start.

New York Giants WRs Amani Toomer (hamstring) and Jamaar Taylor
(quad) both missed practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and are
officially listed as questionable for Week 14. If either one
can’t go this week look for an expanded role from WRs Willie
Ponder and/or David Tyree.

Seattle Seahawks WR Jerry Rice (quad) was injured in practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, and did not finish practice. His condition is
expected to be updated Thursday, Dec. 9, and his status for
Week 14 is unknown. WR Darrell Jackson (illness) also missed
practice, but is expected to play this week.

The Rest of the Field…

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith (hand) did not practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, but is listed as probable and is expected to
play this week… Detroit Lions WR Az-Zahir Hakim (finger)
fractured his finger in Week 13, but he was able to practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, and is expected to play in Week 14…
Baltimore Ravens WR Travis Taylor (back) was limited in practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, but is expected to play in Week 14…
Washington Redskins WR Laveranues Coles (toe) missed practice
Wednesday, Dec. 8, but is expected to start in Week 14… The
Oakland Raiders have placed WR Ronald Curry (Achilles’) on
Injured Reserve, officially ending his 2004 season.

TIGHT ENDS

Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (ankle) is expected to play the
entire game in Week 14 after being limited to 25 snaps in his
Week 13 return. Heap had missed the previous nine games due to
injury.

Indianapolis Colts TE Dallas Clark (calf), who missed the team’s
Week 13 game, did not practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and is not
expected to play in Week 14.

The Buffalo Bills have a problem at the tight end position as TE
Mark Campbell (knee) was placed on Injured Reserve with a knee
injury, which officially ends his season, and TE Tim Euhus
(knee) is also expected to be lost for the season. With two
severe injuries at the position, TE Ryan Neufeld gets the start
this week.

The Rest of the Field…

New England Patriots TE Daniel Graham (ribs) missed a portion of
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and is listed as questionable for
Week 14… Chicago Bears TE Desmond Clark (ribs/shoulder) missed
practice Wednesday, Dec. 8, and he is officially listed as
questionable for Week 14.

PLACE KICKERS

Indianapolis Colts PK Mike Vanderjagt (groin) practiced
Wednesday, Dec. 8, and is expected to play in Week 14. The team
signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers PK Martin Gramatica, but that
was to handle kickoff duties.