ESPN NFL

I was a baseball beat writer many ages ago and, recently, I was reminded of a story that applies to a rare occurrence we saw last weekend in the NFC North.

In a late 1990s game, then-Baltimore Orioles left fielder B.J. Surhoff came to bat with the bases loaded. He was facing a young, hard-throwing relief pitcher whose name I have long since forgotten. The pitcher couldn't throw strikes and quickly fell behind. Facing a full count, the pitcher was one ball away from walking in a run.

Everyone in the ballpark figured the next pitch would be a fastball, a pitcher's best chance for throwing a strike or getting contact or somehow avoiding a walk. Surhoff was sitting dead red, as the seamheads like to call it, and almost fell down while swinging early on an improbable change-up.

Furious, Surhoff stormed into the Orioles dugout. As then-manager Ray Miller told us later, Surhoff yelled to the pitcher: "Learn how to play the game!"

Yes, sometimes ignorance beats veteran smarts. That's pretty much what happened on the interception Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw in the second quarter of last Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

Trust me. I'm not trying to be a Rodgers apologist in this instance. He does in fact make mistakes, but in this case, the interception occurred mostly because Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn -- who had just re-signed with the team earlier in the week -- was out of position relative to the coverage.

Some of you might have seen ESPN analyst Eric Mangini break down the play earlier this week on "NFL Live." Rodgers confirmed Mangini's analysis during his ESPN 540 radio show this week.

Upon arriving at the line of scrimmage, Rodgers identified the Giants in a classic Tampa 2 defense with Blackburn as the middle linebacker. That meant Blackburn would have responsibility for the deep middle of the field. Given the Packers' play call, Blackburn would have responsibility for Packers receiver Randall Cobb, who was running a post route down the middle of the field.

Rodgers couldn't see Blackburn as he backpedaled from center, but said he "figured" Blackburn would chase Cobb downfield. Receiver Greg Jennings was the next read, and based on how the Packers' play call matched up to the Giants' defense, Jennings would be open.

But Blackburn was either thinking along with Rodgers, and risking a deep completion to Cobb if he was wrong, or just wasn't quick enough to get into position. Instead of following Cobb downfield, Blackburn stopped and undercut Jennings. That's why he was in position to make what appeared to be an easy interception.

Rodgers ultimately took the blame for making the throw, his fifth interception in 408 attempts this season. He called it a "deadly quarterback sin" to make a "semi-blind throw."

As amateur observers, we all wonder sometimes how a veteran quarterback can throw the ball directly into an opponent's hands. In this instance, at least, we know why -- with big hat tips to Mangini and Rodgers.

So it looks like Cleveland coach Eric Mangini has come to his senses. Mangini told reporters in Cleveland that he regretted any suggestion that Detroit players faked injuries last Sunday in order to slow down his vaunted and high-powered no-huddle offense.

Here are stories from the Associated Press and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Will this be enough to spare Mangini from winning our Homer of the Week award, as many of you are insisting?

Stay tuned.

For once, can we all join together as a division and request that Cleveland coach Eric Mangini, uh, keep our names out of his mouth?

Mangini spent part of his Monday news conference suggesting that several of Detroit’s defensive players faked injuries to force a stoppage in play Sunday and slow down his vaunted no-huddle offense. According to this report from Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Mangini implied it was a strategic decision from Lions coach Jim Schwartz.

I admit I haven’t finished watching the video of the game, but the official gamebook notes four occasions when a Lions defensive player suffered an injury that was classified with a “probable” return. No matter how glaring, however, Mangini should be embarrassed to have brought up the issue. He should be more concerned about how his team lost a 24-3 first-quarter lead and committed a dumb penalty on what should have been the final play of the game.

Here’s the simple truth: FAKING INJURIES IS NOT AGAINST NFL RULES. So even if the Lions did employ that strategy, which nothing short of an overt admission could ever prove, Mangini’s complaint represents nothing but sour grapes.

It’s true that the NFL would prefer teams not make a habit of this strategy. But here’s all it says about the issue in the NFL rule book:

The Rules Committee deprecates feigning injuries, with subsequent withdrawal, to obtain a timeout without penalty. Coaches are urged to cooperate in discouraging this practice.

(Don’t worry. I had to look up “deprecate” in the dictionary. It’s not what you think. It means “disapproves.”)

In this instance, all Mangini has to go by is the circumstantial evidence of “a lot” of injuries while the Browns were on offense, as he put it Monday. Has he looked at the Lions’ weekly injury report this year? If anything, circumstantial evidence should side with the Lions. They’re always getting hurt.

If the Lions were intentionally flopping Sunday, it didn’t help much. The Browns finished with 37 points and 439 total yards. Schwartz termed the accusation “out of bounds” while speaking with Detroit reporters and I agree.

Mangini is the last coach who should accuse another of massaging common NFL practices.

Green Bay’s weekly turnover on the offensive line has been a regular focus of this blog, and it looks like there is at least a possibility of another change this week against San Francisco.

Center Scott Wells reported concussion symptoms this week and was held out of practice Thursday. With center Jason Spitz already on injured reserve, the Packers would be left with undrafted rookie Evan Dietrich-Smith against the 49ers. Coach Mike McCarthy said he hopes Wells will be able to practice Friday but that his status was “up in the air,” according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.

By my count, that would make the seventh different combination of starters in 10 games for the Packers. Some of that has been injury-related, but none of it has been positive for creating efficient and cohesive play.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Opposing offenses are turning their protection toward Packers cornerback Charles Woodson because of his frequent blitzes, write Greg A. Bedard and Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers replaced quarterback Brian Brohm on the practice squad with former Central Washington starter Mike Reilly. Here is some background from Pete Dougherty the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Minnesota coach Brad Childress’ contract extension will kick in immediately and supersede his previous deal, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Could the Vikings lose a coordinator or two after the season? Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks into it.
• Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo: “I’m not alarmed.” Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times has more.
• Interesting statistic for Bears fans: Philadelphia is 0-7 all-time on Sunday night, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears could be without tight end Desmond Clark (neck) on Sunday night, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
• Detroit will be blacked out Sunday for the third time in five home games, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• The Lions’ dropped passes have been “contagious,” coach Jim Schwartz said. Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press explores the issue.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News traces the similar career paths of Schwartz and Cleveland coach Eric Mangini.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Sorry for the late arrival of this post. Several earlier versions are floating somewhere in cyberspace thanks to some external database issues. So let's just get straight to the roundup:

• Green Bay knows it can’t allow quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get knocked around every week like he did Sunday night against Chicago, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• With safety Atari Bigby out at least four weeks, the Packers will turn to Aaron Rouse and newly-acquired Derrick Martin. Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at the team’s depth at the position.
• Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen hasn’t forgotten a low block from Detroit right tackle Gosder Cherilus during one of the team’s matchups last season, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. Allen suffered a sprained knee on the play and joked (I think) that his knee still clicks as a result.
• Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards thought Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford got “happy feet” in the pocket last week against New Orleans, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chicago has promoted cornerback Zack Bowman into the starting lineup in place of Nate Vasher, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Chicago coach Lovie Smith: “Right now, it’s easy to dogpile us. ...” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times has the story.
• Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner joined Smith in defending Cutler’s reaction to Sunday’s loss at Lambeau Field, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
• Detroit kicker Jason Hanson is getting close to 100 percent after preseason knee surgery, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions have a 1 p.m. deadline Thursday to sell out Ford Field for Sunday’s game against Minnesota but could apply for an extension, writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.

	Matthew Emmons/US Presswire
	Adrian Peterson ran through the Cleveland defense for 180 yards in Sunday's win.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

CLEVELAND -- If you were surprised, you shouldn’t have been. If you were disappointed, you haven’t been paying attention. If you thought the arrival of quarterback Brett Favre would usher in a dramatic new dynamic in Minnesota’s offense, well, you should join the Optimists Club.

Week 1 Coverage • Wojciechowski: Favre rusty, trusty • Isaacson: Bears can't close deal • Greenberg: Cutler not ready • Sando: 49ers serving notice • Mosley: Giants' D buys offense time • Walker: Browns have long way to go • Yasinskas: Bucs' DBs 'plastered' • Seifert: Peterson definitely The Man • Kuharsky: Colts exploit Jags' youth

What we saw at Browns Stadium was what a realist should expect: An offense that plans on elite play from its star running back. Minnesota was trailing Cleveland 13-10 midway before Adrian Peterson put on one of the greatest shows of his career. After receiving an IV at halftime, Peterson exploded for 155 second-half yards -- capped by a 64-yard touchdown run in which he broke five tackles.

Peterson carried the Vikings to 24 consecutive points to blow open the game, and that’s why the Vikings left Cleveland with a 34-20 victory over a bad Browns team. The Vikings have without question upgraded at quarterback, but there has been nothing this summer to suggest they would change their scheme, emphasis or focus. Peterson will remain the centerpiece -- with good reason, I might add -- and the Vikings won’t ask much of their passing game if they don’t have to.

Favre threw 21 passes Sunday, targeting a running back or a tight end on almost 60 percent of them. Only four of his passes traveled more than 5 yards in the air, according to video tracking from ESPN Stats & Information. In the end, Favre and Peterson both agreed that Cleveland’s defense did exactly what teams have been doing to the Vikings for years. And that’s because the Vikings did the same thing they’ve been doing for years.

“Most of their blitzes were run blitzes,” Favre said. “I know [Browns coach Eric Mangini] and I know he came in, no secret, we have to stop Adrian Peterson. Why would he come in and say, ‘We’re going to come in and stop Brett Favre or Sidney Rice or Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin? We have to stop Adrian Peterson first.’”

There has been some thought that Favre would provide enough balance to pull extra defenders away from the line of scrimmage. But, Peterson said, “I didn’t necessarily see that today. ... Guys were crowding the line of scrimmage, bringing different looks. We knew what was in store. But it’s really not about what those guys do. It’s about what we do.”

Indeed, Peterson ultimately overwhelmed a defense geared solely to stop him. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Peterson averaged 17.8 yards per carry in the second half when the Browns brought at least eight defenders into the box. Vikings coaches made one significant adjustment, expanding their run-play formations, and Peterson took care of the rest. (He gained 148 second-half yards in formations other than a two-back set, according to video tracking.)

Peterson Rushing vs. Browns   1st half 2nd half Yards 25 155 Yards per att 2.8 9.7 TD 1 2 First Downs 2 8 Source: ESPN Stats & Information

“They had some success stopping him early at times,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “But you just keep feeding that guy the ball, and eventually he’s going to break one. Having him takes the pressure off. You saw the run. The guy is phenomenal.”

Just as important as the 64-yard scoring run was the way Peterson came out of the gate after halftime. He’d gained only 25 yards in the first half, feeling lightheaded on a seasonable 70-degree day in Cleveland. Vikings athletic trainers gave him an IV at halftime.

(Someone check and see what was in that bag. Couldn’t have just been saline solution.)

Reinvigorated by whatever means, Peterson ran for 5 yards on the first play of the third quarter. He went for 6 yards on the next and then ended the drive with a 1-yard scoring dive on third-and-1. On the Vikings’ next drive, Peterson amassed another 36 yards before Favre hit Harvin for a 6-yard touchdown pass.

Favre converted a key pass on each drive, and afterward said his 21-yard pass to Harvin was “the type of play we have to make.” But sitting here in the stadium, it seemed evident the Vikings were feeding off Peterson’s energy first and foremost. To me, the pass to Harvin was an illustration of how Minnesota will ask Favre to execute what they do -- but not to add another layer to their offense. What the Vikings do is simple: Hand the ball to Peterson and throw mid-range timing passes, especially while Berrian (zero receptions) works on his chemistry with Favre.

Based on Week 1, at least, we can say that Favre is a complementary player for the first time in his career. The Vikings have more offensive weapons than they’ve ever had under coach Brad Childress, thanks to the addition of Harvin and the return of Rice, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to morph away from their core beliefs.

They’re still going to be the team that’s more likely to throw a shovel pass on a third down in the red zone, as they did -- unsuccessfully -- prior to Ryan Longwell’s 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. They’re going to be the team that teases you with a new formation -- Harvin and Peterson opposite each other in a shotgun formation -- and use it only twice. (The plays combined for 28 yards.)

And without fail, they’re going to continue to pound Peterson no matter how he fares in the early going. To put his 180-yard game into perspective, consider that it ranks as the fourth-best output in his 31-game career. It was the seventh time he's gained at least 150 yards over that span.

“We know what we have,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said. “We have an elite player. He’s a team player that works hard every day and gives you 100 percent of his effort. Every time he touches the ball, he’s running with a purpose: That’s to get as many yards as you can and to punish someone. I’m just glad he’s on my team.”

Not that it should be any surprise.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Cross-referencing Minnesota's 2009 schedule with Brett Favre's career performance produces this bit of projection: Favre will lead the Vikings to at least 11 victories this season.

Favre has a 70.2 career winning percentage against the Vikings' 16 opponents this season, including a combined 45-19 record against NFC North rivals Chicago and Detroit. That represents a notable uptick from Favre's overall 62.8 career winning percentage against all NFL teams, and gives the Vikings a little more reason to believe he will be the final piece in the puzzle of developing a Super Bowl contender.

	Joe Robbins/Getty Images
	The Vikings hope Brett Favre is the final piece to making a deep playoff run.

Favre might be past the days of routinely racking up 300-yard games. But the Vikings want him to win games, not put up gaudy stats in their run-first offense. So while we have the time, let's look at the Vikings' schedule through our patented FavreLens:

Sept. 13 at Cleveland

Favre record: 2-2
Comment: Favre played for Browns coach Eric Mangini last season in New York. Who will have more insight into the other's tendencies?

Sept. 20 at Detroit

Favre record: 23-9
Comment: Favre has lost to the Lions only three times this decade. That's right, he's 13-3 against them since the start of the 2000 season.

Sept. 27 vs. San Francisco

Favre Signs With Vikings ANALYSIS/FEATURES • Favre signs with Vikings • No camp? No problem • Favre vs. Vikings' schedule • Reaction from Green Bay • Pasquarelli: Nothing's for certain • NFL Nation on Favre's return • Fantasy: Risk vs. reward • Sifting through the buildup • Favre's top 10 moments • Vote: Favre's impact on Vikings VIDEO • Carter rips handling of situation • Gruden, Jaws break down move • Mortensen on Favre's return • Schefter analysis

Favre record: 7-1 (Corrected from an earlier version.)

Comment: This doesn't include a 4-1 postseason record against the 49ers. For you non-math majors, that's 11 wins in 13 starts.

Oct. 5 vs. Green Bay (Mon.)

Favre record: 0-0
Comment: The big question in both matchups with the Packers this season: Even at 40, can Favre keep his emotions in check and play the kind of efficient game the Vikings need from him?

Oct. 11 at St. Louis

Favre record: 8-3
Comment: New Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo loves to blitz. That's why you sign a veteran quarterback: to handle pressure calmly. Favre has taken risks in his career, but he doesn't often panic.

Oct. 18 vs. Baltimore

Favre record: 2-1
Comment: This figures to be a physical, grind-it-out game -- and just the kind of game in which having Favre could give the Vikings an extra dimension. The Ravens' defense will be taking a risk if it focuses solely on tailback Adrian Peterson.

Oct. 25 at Pittsburgh

Favre record: 2-2
Comment: See Ravens entry. The threat of Favre's downfield accuracy will limit the Steelers' ability to stack the line of scrimmage. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe could put up big numbers in this kind of game.

Nov. 1 at Green Bay

Favre record: 0-0
Comment: What a scene this will be, on multiple levels. You wonder if the ensuing emotion from the Packers and their fans won't ultimately trump the surge Favre will feel.

Nov. 15 vs. Detroit

Favre record: 23-9
Comment: You remember that Favre is 13-3 against the Lions this decade? He has NEVER lost a home game to them. And, while we're at it: The Lions haven't won at the Metrodome since 1997.

Nov. 22 vs. Seattle

Favre record: 3-3
Comment: This is how long Favre has been around: His first understudy, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, will have turned 34 when this game is played.

Nov. 29 vs. Chicago

Favre record: 22-10
Comment: The first of two matchups between rivals who took different paths to upgrading their quarterback positions. The late nature of this game begs the question: How full will Favre's tank be at this point?

Dec. 6 at Arizona

Favre record: 4-1
Comment: For once, Kurt Warner won't be the oldest quarterback on the field. This could be a final matchup between two of this era's best quarterbacks.

Dec. 13 vs. Cincinnati

Favre record: 3-1
Comment: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was drafted in 2003 -- right about the time Favre started planning his retirement.

Dec. 20 at Carolina

Favre record: 6-3
Comment: The first of two late-season, outdoor night games that don't bode well for a quarterback who hasn't played well in cold weather for several years.

Dec. 28 at Chicago (Mon.)

Favre record: 22-10
Comment: Only God knows how cold it will be for a late-December "Monday Night Football" game at Soldier Field. Regardless of the stakes, Favre can't be looking forward to this one.

Jan. 3 vs. New York Giants

Favre record: 4-2
Comment: Another tough opponent, but at least this game will be indoors if the Vikings need it to secure a playoff spot.