Friday NFL buzz: Joe Flacco responds to Ray Lewis' comments
Check back throughout the day for all the latest quick-hit news:
Flacco responds to Lewis
Joe Flacco and Ray Lewis one a Super Bowl together to cap the 2012 season and Lewis' career.
That didn't stop Lewis from questioning Flacco's passion for the game in an interview Thursday on FS1.
"It's a little surprising coming from Ray," said Flacco, often referred to as Joe Cool for his calm demeanor on and off the field. "But it's been something I've dealt with probably back before high school. It's just part of my personality. When things are going good, it's questioned as if it's a good thing. When things aren't going as well as you might like them to be, it's always a question as to whether my personality is that of one that fits what an NFL quarterback should be. It's not anything I'm not used to. But it is a little bit different coming from Ray."
Flacco's first-place Ravens face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Quinn suffered from dehydration
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn says he was dehydrated when he spent a night in the hospital earlier this week.
Quinn returned to practice Friday with the Rams (4-5).
The veteran pass-rusher hasn’t decided whether he’ll try to play against the Miami Dolphins (5-4) on Sunday.
Quinn sounded fairly nonchalant when recalling his trip to the hospital Monday, shortly after the Rams returned to California from a road victory over the New York Jets.
Quinn says he has never experienced similar problems with dehydration. He plans to drink more water off the field.
— The Associated Press
Good, bad news for Chiefs
The Chiefs again will be without top wide receiver Jeremy Maclin when they play Tampa Bay on Sunday, though it’s increasingly likely linebacker Justin Houston will make his season debut.
Maclin was listed out on Friday’s final injury report with a groin strain. He hurt it in practice a few weeks ago, tweaked it against Jacksonville and was inactive last Sunday at Carolina.
Houston has not played after surgery in February to repair the ACL in his left knee. The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher has been practicing for several weeks, though, and coach Andy Reid indicated Friday that he could be active against the Buccaneers.
— The Associated Press
RG3 nearing return?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III will practice next week and it remains possible he’ll play again this season.
Griffin has been sidelined with a broken bone in his left shoulder since in the season opener at Philadelphia. He was cleared for non-contact drills this week, and coach Hue Jackson said Friday that the 26-year-old will return to practice in a larger capacity next week.
“There is another procedure that he needs to go through medically to see for sure if he is totally OK, if the bone is healed totally properly,” Jackson said as the winless Browns concluded a week of practice before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. “But he will have the opportunity to start practicing next week and go out there with his teammates and perform and do what he can do.”
Once Griffin returns to practice, the Browns can activate him from injured reserve to the active roster at any point during a 21-day period.
— The Associated Press
Eagles extend magician Dorenbos
The Philadelphia Eagles extended the contract of long snapper Jon Dorenbos, who joins special teams ace Chris Maragos with a new deal. Both contracts are through the 2019 season.
Dorenbos, 36, is the Eagles’ longest-tenured player, joining the team in 2006. He’s third on the Eagles’ all-time list for consecutive games played.
“It makes me sleep at night having a long snapper with Jon’s experience, knowing that operation will be around the next few years,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said.
Added Eagles executive vice president for football operations Howie Roseman: “Jon Dornebos has been a pillar for the Philadelphia Eagles for the last 11 years, on and off the field. He bleeds Eagles green.”
Dorenbos, of course, gained national attention over the summer through his magic tricks as a finalist on the NBC show America’s Got Talent.
— Martin Frank writes for The (Delaware) News Journal, part of the Paste BN NETWORK
Clay Matthews ready?
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews said his hamstring feels good after a week of practice and hopes to play Sunday in Washington. He is officially listed as questionable.
Of course, he’s been here before. Matthews said he had a chance to play against the Atlanta Falcons last month. He thought he might play against the Indianapolis Colts one week later, but his hamstring had a setback while rehabbing two days before the game.
“It was just part of the rehab process which I was doing,” Matthews said. “Obviously I was out there Thursday at practice, but continuing the movements and making sure everything was ready, and unfortunately we had a setback. Just doing a little too much, I guess.
“But I feel good about where I’m at right now. It’s unfortunate. You don’t ever want to miss any games in this league, but like I said, I feel good. I feel healthy, and I plan on being out there, barring any setbacks.”
Matthews has missed the Packers' last three games.
— Ryan Wood writes for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, part of the Paste BN NETWORK
Smith returns to Jags after tragedy
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith has returned to the team following his brother’s death.
Smith attended Friday meetings and was expected to take part in the team’s walkthrough later in the day.
Smith’s brother was shot and killed in their hometown of Valdosta, Georgia, on Sunday. Smith went home Monday and missed two days of practice and meetings. Adding to his emotional week, Smith’s girlfriend gave birth to their son on Wednesday.
— The Associated Press
Gronk sits again
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the team's final practice of the week Friday while recovering from a punctured lung suffered in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
He did not travel with the team for Sunday's road game against the San Francisco 49ers and won't play. Wideout Chris Hogan is also out.
Falcons lose a weapon
Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery. He finishes the year with 22 catches for 210 yards and three TDs.
Expect rookie Austin Hooper's role to continue growing in Tamme's absence.
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