| NFL in Focus: Packers' Grant seizes his chance
Ryan Grant must be a big reader of novels of redemption. His career reads just like one of them.
The Nyack-raised tailback wrote his latest chapter last Monday for Green Bay, the team he was sent to by the Giants for a sixth-round pick after the former 2005 practice-squad player survived the final cut.
Things hadn't gone particularly swimmingly for Grant. His fourth-quarter fumble nearly cost the 6-1 Packers the Minnesota game on Sept. 30. He spent the next two games and the bye week in coach Mike McCarthy's doghouse, and went into the Denver game with just six carries for 27 yards.
Funny thing about football, though. Sometimes a nick here, a sprain there forces a coach to kick that dog right into the middle of the fray. So when DeShawn Wynn went down in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, McCarthy called on Grant.
And Grant responded. He rushed 22 times for 104 yards, 16 yards more than the entire Broncos ground game.
Now he'll start this week against Kansas City.
Just goes to show you, opportunity comes in all manner, even when a guy is down. But he'd better be ready to accept that second chance when it does come.
"Ryan put his foot down and it was one cut north and south, the way it's supposed to be done," McCarthy said after the game.
That makes two second chances Grant has capitalized on in the last few months. The first involved how he got to Green Bay in the first place.
Grant ran up a storm in Giants training camp and finished the preseason with 90 yards on 18 carries after missing the 2006 season. Reportedly out partying that spring, he fell on a glass and took a chunk out of his left forearm. The coaches told him to stick around, though, placing him on the non-football injury list with the promise that he'd get a good look the following year.
That doesn't happen to borderline players, but even some of the good ones blow those types of second chances. Grant didn't, though. Thought to be only in the mix in a crowded depth chart, he survived the final cut and joined a tailback group that already included Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Reuben Droughns and Ahmad Bradshaw.
"He was a good player as well," Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. "You wish you had that kind of problem at all your positions."
He was a full-fledged Giant. Finally. And then a couple of hours passed, and just like that he turned into a Packer. Jerry Reese had traded him for a sixth-round pick.
Now he's part of a surprise team, with the promise of at least one more start to help balance out an offensive attack that once relied solely on the arm of 37-year-old Brett Favre. Not that that's always a bad thing. But because of Grant's efforts, the 19-13 overtime win marked the first time the Packers had an even split of rushes to passes - 27 each.
The game, as usual, did come down to Favre's arm. Though Grant helped out greatly with seven rushes for 53 yards on a 98-yard field-goal drive in the second quarter, Favre's 82-yard touchdown heave to Greg Jennings on the first play of OT is what people will remember.
Really, Grant is the only one who needs to remember his work.
It's his novel.
"I stayed focused," Grant said. "I stayed on course. I wanted to win. I was willing to do whatever they wanted me to do, if that meant special teams or whatever."
Around the NFC/Ernie Palladino
Tony Romo's bucks: That six-year, $67.5 million contract extension Tony Romo signed last week had his old coach offering some unsolicited advice. And it wasn't about being a little more discreet with Britney Spears. "Now Tony has two things to be careful with, the football and his money," said Bill Parcells, who brought Tony Romo into the national spotlight last year. "Both are equally hard to take care of, and there's always someone out there trying to strip you of them. I hope he hangs on tight. The circus never stays in town forever."
Sound advice: Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith had a couple of stern words for second-rounder Dwayne Jarrett as Jarrett spoke with reporters. Once thought to be starting material from the get-go, the USC star has appeared in only one game this season, with one catch for 6 yards. But Smith had a solution.
"Instead of talking to the media, why don't you go watch some film?" Smith said with a glare. "Seriously!"
Kidder Kitna: In the "Seemed like a good idea at the time" department, Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna wore a costume to a Halloween party that made him appear to be naked, lampooning Lions assistant coach Joe Cullen. Cullen was arrested and suspended for two games in 2006 for going through a Wendy's drive-thru wearing only an alcohol-induced smile. The get-up, which included Kitna's wife dressed as a Wendy's server, sparked a stream of criticism in the Detroit media, but Kitna said he meant no harm. "People who understand an NFL locker room understand that when guys do things, we joke with each other a lot," Kitna said. "Would I have done it last year? No. It would have been too close to when the situation happened." Maybe a nice ghost costume next year, OK Jon?
Smith leading: The 49ers have lost five straight games, but third-year quarterback Alex Smith appeared to emerge as a mature leader in the way he took control of a recent players-only meeting. "This is the first time I've really seen it," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "I hope I look back on it and say, 'This is when Alex started to do it.' "
Around the AFC/Andrew Gross
Beckoning: The winless Dolphins are in no danger of losing this today since they're on a bye week. But when they resume their season next week against the Bills, they may have their third starting quarterback of the season. Rookie John Beck could get the nod over Cleo Lemon, who stepped in when Trent Green was lost for the season with a concussion. "You're always looking for ways to get better," Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said. "The quarterback position is no different." The 0-8 Dolphins are off to the worst start in club history.
Cup runneth over: The Bengals expect to have both Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson available today at Buffalo. Johnson has missed four games with a hamstring injury and Watson, after gaining a career-high 130 yards against the Jets, suffered a concussion after running for 88 yards last week against the Steelers. "It's always a good thing when you're not sure which running back you want to play," Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said.
No love lost: The Steelers (5-2) hold a one-game edge over the Ravens in the AFC North heading into tomorrow night's game. But even if both teams were winless the game would still have a Hatfield-McCoy vibe. "The feeling's mutual," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. "They don't like us and we don't like them. There's no need to hide it. They know it and we know it." The Ravens swept Pittsburgh last season, holding the Steelers to one touchdown in the two games.
Hurting: As if an 82-yard touchdown bomb by the Packers' Brett Favre was enough to classify the Broncos' week as a bad one, it got worse. Rookie defensive end Jarvis Moss broke his right shin in practice Thursday and will miss the rest of the season, and the team announced wide receiver Rod Smith's injured hip isn't healing quick enough so he won't be activated this season. Now that's a bad week.
Not enough: Texans general manager Rick Smith was not satisfied with the $15,000 fine the NFL levied on Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Matt Schaub. Houston's quarterback will miss today's game against the Raiders with a concussion. "Is that equitable?" Smith said. "The punishment doesn't appear to fit the crime when all factors are considered."
Extra points/Ernie Palladino
De-fense! The Titans are 5-2, no thanks to the offense. Vince Young was 6 of 14 for 42 yards in last week's 13-9 win over the Raiders, which by the way was not played in soggy London, where Eli Manning produced all of 59 yards passing. That has been the story of the season for the Titans, too, as the passing offense ranks 29th in the league. "It's just us," Young said. "As an offense, we have to get it together. We're tired of having to see the defense win games for us."
Farewell: John Baker died at age 72 last week. Who was he? Well, he played 11 years in the NFL with the Rams, Steelers, and Lions. But he is best remembered as the Steelers' defensive lineman who, in 1964, made possible that famous picture of a kneeling, bloodied Y.A. Tittle in the end zone following his vicious hit. Baker went into law enforcement after his career, and was elected Wake County (N.C.) sheriff in 1978.
Nice rebound: The Chargers have come back nicely from a 1-3 start to go 4-3. Yet, even they realize they've built that resurgence against Denver, Oakland and Houston - combined record, 11-19. Now they play four of their next six on the road, including their last losing opponent in that stretch, 2-5 Minnesota, today. "You've got to look at all three of the teams we've beat," fullback Lorenzo Neal said. "They're not the cream of the NFL."
Did you know?
The Patriots are the only NFL team to score on their first drive in every game this season, and they are outscoring opponents 79-7 in the first quarter.
Quote of the week
"Probably maybe go to a fantasy camp or something like that. Downside would probably be - I think - kind." - Vikings coach Brad Childress, on 38-year-old Jeff George expressing an interest in making a comeback with the team
Who's hot
Jared Allen: The Chiefs' defensive end, after missing the first two games this season, has 16 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble the past three games.
Who's not
Vince Young: The Titans' second-year quarterback returned to action with a weak 6-of-14 performance for 42 yards in a 13-9 win over the Raiders.
Power rankings/Andrew Gross
1. Colts (7-0) - Hosting game of the season
2. Patriots (8-0) - Not likely to run up score this week
3. Cowboys (6-1) - Six-year, $67.5M extension for Tony Romo
4. Packers (6-1) - Nyack's Grant now top runner
5. Jaguars (5-2) - Joined by ex-Falcon NT Jackson
6. Steelers (5-2) - Will unveil all-time team
7. Giants (6-2) - On some well-earned R and R
8. Chargers (4-3) - Finally playing to potential
9. Titans (5-2) - Offense sluggish despite W's
10. Ravens (4-3) - Still sticking with McNair
11. Lions (5-2) - Shocking Halloween suit for Kitna
12. Chiefs (4-3) - Defense driving success
13. Panthers (4-3) - Carr healthy, Testaverde not
14. Browns (4-3) - Big Ted Washington on IR
15. Broncos (3-4) - Favre deals OT bummer
16. Seahawks (4-3) - Holmgren threatens changes
17. Redskins (4-3) - Jets perfect tonic after rout
18. Saints (3-4) - Bush has legal woes
19. Buccaneers (4-4) - Graybeards Garcia, Galloway producing
20. Eagles (3-4) - Reid again dealing with home issues
21. Bills (3-4) - J.P. Losman regains starting spot
22. Cardinals (3-4) - Edge nears 11,000 yards
23. Texans (3-5) - Hoping for a Sage performance
24. Bears (3-5) - GM Angelo defends Benson
25. Bengals (2-5) - Rudi back in backfield
26. 49ers (2-5) - Nedney fined for one-finger salute
27. Vikings (2-5) - Childress disses George
28. Raiders (2-5) - Sign ex-Jet Tim Dwight
29. Falcons (1-6) - Harrington gets another shot
30. Jets (1-7) - It's Clemens' time
31. Rams (0-8) - Jackson just can't stay healthy
32. Dolphins (0-8) - New RB Gado won't turn tide
[More at www.thejournalnews.com]
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