Hi Folks,
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As always, we check in right before game time with  our opinionated guru 
buddy Bob Harris from the TFL Report.? For more info  on subscribing check 
out: http://www.tflreport.com/flashupdate.cfm?? Enjoy!
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Joe
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BLEDSOE NOW APPEARS  READY TO START VS. CHIEFS...
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.Written By TFL Report Editor Bob  Harris | Posted Saturday December 2,  2000 
@ 18:10 PT
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According to reports out of Foxboro, New England  Patriots quarterback Drew 
Bledsoe took his regular  turn at practice for the second day in a row Friday 
and all  indications are the veteran signal caller will start and play as  
usual against the Chiefs Monday night. 

Of course, that hardly means Bledsoe is  100 percent healthy; he's anything 
but. And whether it's jammed,  bruised, sprained, fractured, broken or just 
plain old sore, the  real problem is trying to figure out just how badly the 
thumb on his  throwing hand is injured and how much it affects his ability 
to  throw the ball. 

Not surprisingly, head coach Bill  Belichick says Bledsoe is no worse off 
than he's been the  previous three weeks. 

"This is the 13th week of the season.  There will be a lot of players out 
there on both teams who will be  less than 100 percent, and (Chiefs 
quarterback  Elvis) Grbac is one of them," said  Belichick. "Same thing with 
our quarterback. That's football in the  13th week of the season." 

Bledsoe came out of the chute strong in  Detroit on Thanksgiving day, but 
regressed as the game progressed,  throwing two crucial fourth-quarter 
interceptions that kept the team  from mounting a realistic comeback... And 
even though Bledsoe  continues to insist the thumb isn't affecting his 
throws, you'd be  hard-pressed to find any evidence backing that contention. 

The bottom line here says a lack quality  depth at the key offensive skill 
positions around him make it very  difficult to rely on Bledsoe for 
consistent production... 

Other items of interest... 

Michael Felger of  the Boston Herald noted earlier this week that with  the 
weather sure to be an issue and Bledsoe at less-than-full speed,  coaches 
would love come out and run the ball on the Chiefs. The  question is whether 
injury-prone J.R. Redmond will  be up to the task. If not, look for Belichick 
to spread the load  between Redmond and fellow rookie Patrick Pass.  

Reserve tight end Chris  Eitzmann (ribs) was placed on injured reserve for 
the  season, leaving the Pats with one roster spot to fill... Starting  wide 
out Troy Brown (leg) was the only player not  to fully participate at 
practice and his availability is likely to  be determined by a dreaded game 
day decision.  


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MITCHELL REMAINS ON  TRACK TO RETURN AS BENGALS' STARTER...
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.Written By TFL Report Editor Bob  Harris | Posted Saturday December 2,  2000 
@ 08:15 PT
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Cincinnati Enquirer reporter  Tom Groeschen wrote this morning that Bengals 
head coach  Dick LeBeau characterized Scott Mitchell as  "probable" to start 
at quarterback when his team takes on the Cardinals  tomorrow. 

Mitchell missed last week's game against Pittsburgh  because of a sprained 
left knee. This week, his mobility was better as he took  60 percent of the 
practice snaps and Akili Smith took 40  percent. 

&I think probable's a good word,8 LeBeau said. &We're  gonna see how Scott's 
knee responds, but he looks better every day.8 

Mitchell took the majority of snaps at Friday's  practice. 

&I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to  go,8 he said. 

LeBeau said Mitchell probably won't need a Sunday  morning test, as he did 
last week before the Pittsburgh game. 

&I don't think that will be necessary, unless some  complications develop 
between today's workout and Sunday,8 LeBeau said. 

According to those who follow the team closely, the  Bengals would like to 
use the team's remaining games to evaluate Mitchell before  attempting to 
re-sign to the veteran signal caller to compete with third-year  man-to-be 
Smith for the starting QB job next season. 

Team president Mike Brown made the  statements after watching Mitchell 
participate in his first practice in 10 days  Thursday... 

Other items of interest... 

Brown's continuous and vehement denials haven't  stopped the speculation 
regarding his future role with the team...  SportsLine.com jumped on the 
bandwagon this week when the  reported that the man I like to call the 
"Neanderthal GM" is thinking seriously  about reducing his own role and 
bringing in a "football man," along the lines of  former Steeler director of 
football operations and current ESPN  NFL maven Tom Donahoe, to handle the 
day-to-day front office  duties... 

Brown's response to another report stating that a  handful of "close friend" 
had advised him to step down and let somebody else  handle the team's 
football operations was classic: 

"I don't have five friends," he stated flatly...  

And finally... Rookie wide out Peter  Warrick said his skipping a 
team-mandated eye appointment last Tuesday  was an oversight. But if he skips 
another one it will cost him. 

Team officials set up the checkup because they  believe Warrick needs contact 
lenses. Receivers coach Steve  Mooshagian felt strongly enough about it to 
levy a $600 fine if Warrick  goes AWOL again...


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GROH UPBEAT AS MARTIN  CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS...
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.Written By TFL Report Editor Bob  Harris | Posted Saturday December 2,  2000 
@ 05:50 PT
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ESPN's John Clayton reported last night  that New York Jets halfback Curtis 
Martin took all  of his regular snaps Friday and should be fine for Sunday's 
game  against the Colts. 

Martin still has a bruised gluteus  maximus, but he's in better shape than 
last week. The fact that he  opened the week listed a probable rather than 
starting out as  questionable like last week has to be a good sign. 

And if you asked me, head coach  Al Groh seemed to be quite a bit more upbeat 
this  week, at one point responding to a reporters request that he assess  
Martin's current condition by saying, "Fine, fine..." 

That's about as in-depth, detailed and  upbeat reply I've heard him utter 
this season. 

But seriously folks... The soreness in  Martin's booty could linger, but it 
won't keep the former Patriot  out of the lineup... And with Bernie Parmalee  
emerging as a legitimate threat in a relief role, the Jets seem to  be 
capable of getting the job done. 

Also of interest this morning... 

Rookie tight end Anthony  Becht now has a neck injury to go along with the 
sore knee  that's bothered him the last two weeks. However, the youngtster 
is  expected to start and play as usual at this point... Fellow rookie  
Laveranues Coles will miss his second straight game  with a knee sprain and 
his absence has clearly left a void in the  team's vertical passing game the 
last two weeks... On a more postive  note, Coles was able to get some light 
work in during practice late  this week and could return at or near full 
speed sometime next  week... In the meantime, Windrell Hayes will  continue 
to come off the bench as the number-three man until Coles  return... 

Former Steeler wide out Malcolm  Johnson is becoming part of the Jets system 
as expected,  Groh said. The newcomer's biggest challenge is simply learning 
how  the Jets operate. 

"He's getting more comfortable with the  plays and the words," Groh said. 
"Every team has a different  language and you have to adjust to that. He 
seems to be a quick  student, he just needs to get through all the 
lessons..." 

And finally... While the Jets obviouly  have some kind of plan in mind for 
implementing Leon  Johnson, it's too early to tell when he might be able to  
follow through on such a plan. 

"We saw some of the skills that made him  a good player in the past," Groh 
said of Johnson's first workout  with the team on Wednesday. "But you also 
saw that he started  training camp (Wednesday)." 

After blowing out his left knee in the  Jets' season opener last year, 
Johnson is eager to work his way back  into the mix... 

"Some guys take two days to get ready in  training camp," Groh said. "Some 
guys take 10 days or two weeks.  That's where we are with Leon." 

"I'm feeling good," Johnson said. "It's  just real good to be back out there. 
That's really all I'm concerned  with right now." 

The Jets would love for him to return to  form quickly so he can resume 
kick-return duties soon and relieve  Dedric Ward, who has not been 
impressive...  




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BIAKABUTUKA OUT; HOOVER  TO START VS. RAMS...
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.Written By TFL Report Editor Bob  Harris | Posted Friday December 1, 2000  @ 
20:15 PT
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According to reports out of Carolina tonight, the  Panthers will hit the 
field this Sunday without Tim  Biakabutuka, who is struggling to overcome a 
painful turf  toe injury, for the third week in a row... According to  ESPN 
NFL insider John Clayton, the  Panthers deactivated the former first-round 
draft pick because they  didn't want to ruin his chances of playing the final 
three weeks of  the season. 

Brad Hoover, an  undrafted rookie from Western Carolina, will continue to 
line up as  the starting halfback. 

His 117-yard, one-TD performance in  Monday night's win over the Packers 
added exponentially to the  sudden celebrity status Hoover attained after his 
first game as the  starter. 

"This whole thing has just been crazy,"  he said. "I've never gotten this 
much attention before and I'm still  trying to figure out how to handle it." 

Count St. Louis signal caller  Kurt Warner among Hoover's fans... 

"I always like that stuff, it's always  good to see guys that were never 
given much of a chance to come in  and really make a name and do well for 
themselves," the former Arena  League star noted... 

Heck, Biakabutuka even admitted to mixed  emotions as he stood on the 
sidelines watching fans respond to  Hoover in a way they've never responded 
to him. However, the former  University of Michigan star also realizes just 
how hard Hoover has  worked -- in almost total obscurity -- prior to getting 
this break,  all of which made it hard not to be happy for his teammate. 

But Biakabutuka also found himself just a  little bit worried after teammate 
Michael Bates  told him the story of fella named Wally Pipp, who  played 
first base for the New York Yankees. Or at least he did until  the day this 
new kid named Lou Gehrig came along  and filled in for him... 

"I don't want to be Wally Pipp,"  Biakabutuka said earnestly. 

Other items of interest... 

Wide receiver Donald  Hayes, who missed Monday night's game with a groin 
injury,  is expected to return to the starting lineup this week. 

Veteran fullback William  Floyd will also spend another week on the inactive 
list;  Chris Hetherington will continue to start in his  place...
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