AFC South: Desmond Bishop
NFL Twindex: Cleveland WR takes crown
Tom Cammett/Getty ImagesMohamed Massaquoi tops this week's Twindex.It was a good week for pictures from NFLers on Twitter.
We had tourist shots of Larry Fitzgerald at the Lincoln Memorial and at The White House, a picture of Antonio Garay driving a Hello Kitty car, a shot of a receipt showing off just how much Michael Huff’s dad spent for groceries on his son’s credit card and a freeze frame of Josh Scobee’s locker on TV.
We at the NFL Twindex are in favor of all sharing. We seek insight into football lives, and do our best to weed through a lot of junk to find it.
If you see good humor, good explanations or yes, good pictures from an NFL player or coach or mascot or anyone on Twitter, please make sure we see it by calling our attention to it. Twindex headquarters can be found at @ESPN_AFCSouth and @PaulKuharsky.
To our new edition.
1. MOHAMED MASSAQUOI
Receiver | Cleveland Browns ... Last Poll: NR 
@MoMass11 -- "Random fact: aside from watching current weeks opponent, I always study G.Jennings, Fitzgerald & A.Johnson last game for tips & technique." I love the behind the scenes homework info. Also life info on a guy from Charlotte living in Cleveland."Asked cashier how her day was goin, she responds 'u must be from the south, ppl here normally dont speak unless they have a ?'."
2. CHRIS KLUWE
Punter | Minnesota Vikings ... Last Poll: 5 
@ChrisWarcraft -- Leader of the quality pictures. Gave us this whiteboard shot of one "translation" of the league's memo on faking injuries. And this gem came out of passing out tickets: "I just ticketed a police car at Mall of America. Hope he has a sense of humor. #itsfunnywhenimtheonedoingit" Also offered intelligent commentary in the midst of lots of talk about Troy Davis.
3. RAHEEM BROCK
Defensive end | Seattle Seahawks ... Last Poll: NR 
@RaheemBrock -- Made his plead regarding a potential fine for a hit on Ben Roethlisberger:"Dear commissioner goodell, please don't fine me for hitting Ben!It was not intentional!I was tripped by his O'line! Sorry!!! [elaborate smiley face that does not reproduce in ESPN.com's system]" Then tweeted a link to a story with a photo he intends to be part of his defense of a $15,000 fine.
4. FABIAN WASHINGTON
Cornerback | Free Agent ... Last Poll: NR 
@FABEWASH31 -- "Back shoulder fade is the hardest route in football to cover" I suspected as much, but it's nice to hear from someone who's done it."If you notice there's no mentions of Troy Davis on my timeline because I don't speak on things I know nothing about" Wish we could say the same of all football player tweets."Play Lotto don't play me you might win lmao" Can you suggest any numbers?
5. DESMOND BISHOP
Linebacker | Green Bay Packers ... Last Poll: NR 
@DesBishop55 -- Plenty of NFL players read plenty of stuff. Still this is a surprise: "My official book club is starting soon.. 1st book on list is... James Patterson: kill me if u can" Who else is in the club? Know one elements of a pro athlete's life we don't consider often? Shopping limitations: "Random tweet: I hate shopping!! Mainly because stores discriminate, they never carry size 14 shoes.. Ha"
NFL Twindex: Colts trio shares top slot
Getty ImagesThese three Colts take the top spot this week: Jacob Tamme, Pat McAfee and Robert Mathis.Call me indecisive. Call me a homer.
During a week when Peyton Manning and the Colts have dominated the blog, I don't like that three Indianapolis guys happened to be among the best tweeters and had to go atop the new edition of the NFL Twindex, believe me.
I can't worry as much about indecision or perceived homerism as I need to stay true to the game here: sorting through a week's worth of NFL tweets and rating the best. A chance to judge!
So the Colts have extreme representation here. Next week it may be your team. Next week it may be you.
Please point out any tweet of note. We're following 1,066 accounts, it's hard to see everything. Find me at @ESPN_AFCSouth and @PaulKuharsky.
1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Last Poll: NRCouldn't put three in five spots, couldn't leave one off. A) @JacobTamme (tight end) "People with 'good hands' have great eyes. They see the point of the football and they keep their eyes focused on it. #FootballTweet" B) @RobertMathis98 (defensive end) "ESPN asked this question: 'How many games can he miss b4 we're eliminated from playoff contention?' #CanWeAtLeastPlay1stb4 u count us out?? C) @PatMcAfeeShow (punter)"First Tuesday off..and it just hit me while I was looking for someone to get lunch with..All my riders aren't on our team anymore. Damn haha"
2. TOM CRABTREE
Tight End | Green Bay Packers ... Last Poll: 2 
@TCrabtree83 -- Best commentary out of a lot of commentary on the Terrapins new uniforms: "Cool thing about Maryland's unis: It looks like a different team is playing Miami each quarter." And "In the QBs defense there, he couldn't decide if he should throw it to the painted end zone, or the guy that looks like the painted end zone." Also some good stuff on trying to compliment his wife's cooking.
3. RYAN CLARK
Safety | Pittsburgh Steelers ... Last Poll: 5 
@RealRClark25 -- "I just set myself back an hour. Why would I eat so much? Oh yeah when you plan on having a few car wrecks on Sunday better have some padding" and "Btw! I love the way that the NFL comes out to say HE would have suspended Tressel after Indy already suspended him. SURE!!!!?????" The NFL is he, get it?
4. SEAN SMITH
Cornerback | Miami Dolphins ... Last Poll: NR 
@SEANSmith4 -- I like how he works in concepts like #WHYHATEwednesday: "Try replacing #hate with #DisLike in your sentence, sounds better." And I thought this a gem that I will repeat: "When you hurt someone an apology only requires forgiveness, it does not install amnesia in the person's head......."
5. LARON LANDRY
Safety | Washington Redskins ... Last Poll: NR 
@MrLandry80 -- He quickly deleted the tweet that got him here, so hat tip to @RickMaese. Landry showed us what rehab frustration can feel like with this: "Uuhhh oo it ain't my fault...blame the genius circus staff for the rush. wouldve been there 2wks ago. Im sry but saga cont" His hamstring injury could keep him out of the opener. I seek candor and applaud it. Though in this instance it probably wasn't wise. But own it man, don't think you can erase it.
Newsflash: Colts nearly win in preseason!
With Kerry Collins on the roster and poised to take over as the primary backup to Peyton Manning, Curtis Painter fared much better working with the Colts’ offense.
In a 24-21 loss to Green Bay at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday night, the Packers utilized one defensive element Manning typically helps Indianapolis avoid: the blitz.
Manning is masterful at making teams pay when they subtract from coverage to add to the rush. But Green Bay rolled out a steady stream of blitzes, many of which featured cornerback Charles Woodson, with no fear of such repercussions from Painter.
AP Photo/Michael ConroyWithout Peyton Manning, the Packers blitzed again and again on Curtis Painter.Desmond Bishop got flagged for roughing on one blitz, and Painter threw a ball away when Woodson looped between left tackle Anthony Castonzo and left guard Joe Reitz untouched. Another time, the quarterback made a nice throw to Reggie Wayne, who had a favorable matchup as Woodson came untouched.
No. 2 running back Donald Brown actually did reasonably well in blitz pickups, I thought, managing to keep himself between rushers and the quarterback on a couple of occasions. Still that rusher frequently contributed to a closing pocket.
The right side of the starting line, guard Ryan Diem and tackle Jeffrey Linkenbach, struggled with Clay Matthews, whose speed was more than they could handle.
Not every team is equipped to blitz the way the Packers are. But if it’s Collins instead of Manning on Sept. 11 in Houston, odds are the Texans will blitz more often and with less fear. And the Colts and Collins will have to be prepared to handle it.
Some other thoughts on what was nearly a rare Colts preseason win:
- While Painter was better, it took a blown coverage that left Wayne wide open for a 57-yard touchdown to get him going. His second touchdown pass, to Chris Brooks, was very nice. Earlier Painter suffered because of a drop by Wayne and another by Pierre Garcon.
- Ernie Sims was active in a lot of first-half action, his first since he signed with the Colts. Tommie Harris played for the second time, and made some plays with a sack and a tipped pass.
- Jermichael Finley's touchdown catch on Pat Angerer was great. Angerer was tight but not turned. There aren’t many linebackers who could make a play against that.
- According to CBS, Robert Mathis injured his hamstring in the first quarter hamstring and did not return. His counterpart at end, Dwight Freeney, made things very difficult on Green Bay tackle Chad Clifton, bulling over him a few times before using the patented spin move.
- Diem, who false started too much last season at right guard, got called for one. An injury forced him from the game for a time, but he returned to action. Mike Pollak stepped in briefly. Jeff Saturday was the lone offensive lineman who didn’t play into the third quarter, as Pollak replaced him. Then the second-team offensive line was, left to right, Michael Toudouze, Kyle DeVan, Jamey Richard, Mike Tepper and Ben Ijalana. Richard was flagged for holding but it was declined.
- I expect good things out of rookie running back Delone Carter, mostly because I very much like the idea of Carter. This team needs a short-yardage goal-line back. He was hardly working against front line defenders, I understand. But he not only got a tough yard -- converting a third-and-1 when there was nothing there -- but he had a couple of nice longer runs. A lost fumble was overturned by challenge, and a wide run with a spin move suggested he can be more than just a between-the-tackles pounder. He did look lost in one pass-protection situation.
- Defensive back Chip Vaughn was waved off the field by Jim Caldwell after back-to-back penalties. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty worth 15 yards and a taunting penalty worth 11 yards, the Colts gave up a touchdown and a two-point conversion, lost an onside kick and saw Green Bay move to a game-winning field goal. Vaughn will not have a good weekend. And the Colts just about refuse to win in the preseason.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
