Posted by Andy Benoit

Last Sunday in Atlanta, the 49ers suffered about as tough a loss as a team can suffer. Consequently, head coach Mike Singletary was in no mood to shake hands with Falcons head coach Mike Smith after the game. So, he didn’t.

Wednesday, Singletary apologized. "It was poor sportsmanship on my behalf," he said. "That's all it was."

Matt Barrow of the Sacramento Bee asked the coach if he was “in a daze” after the game (those of you who saw Singletary’s postgame behavior know that Barrow’s question, while perhaps harshly worded, wasn’t unfair).

"I don't know if any of you guys ever get ticked," Singletary said. "I'd be the first to tell my kids, 'That's wrong.' I should've gone over and shook his hand. ... "I chose not to for a number of reasons. But nothing else was on my mind. But I was disappointed and that was a very honest feeling after the game."

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Coming into today, all Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez needed was 29 yards to become the first TE in history to reach the 12,000 receiving yard mark. He got that late in the second quarter of today’s game vs. San Francisco when he caught a nine-yard pass from Atlanta QB Matt Ryan across the middle of the field.

It goes without saying that Gonzalez is one of the best tight ends ever. And he continues to play at such a high level, even as he’s participating in his 14th season. Maybe he’s lost a step – after all, he missed last season’s Pro Bowl for the first time in 10 years – but the 34-year-old is still one of the top-three TEs in the league right now.

He’s No. 5 on the active career receiving yards leader – the closest TE is San Diego’s Antonio Gates with 6,465. Gonzalez also is No. 18 on the all-time receiving yards list and is rapidly closing in on No. 17 Charlie Joiner (12,146).

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Lions at Packers

Good news for Lions fans. RB Jahvid Best (turf toe) practiced Friday and is expected to start.

Detroit WR Nate Burleson, meanwhile, planned to make the flight to Green Bay, but he’s listed as doubtful. That means the Packers can focus even more of their attention on Calvin Johnson. MLB DeAndre Levy finally made his season debut last week, but then he injured his ankle. He’s questionable.

QB Matthew Stafford is out, but it’s looking like he could return for Week 5.

Most of the Packers questionable and doubtful players are backups, so that shouldn’t affect Green Bay all that much. And while DE Cullen Jenkins, who has been making noise about a new contract this week, is probable, there’s a slight chance he won’t play with a broken hand. If that happens, the Packers might have a problem on the right side of their defensive line (Backup Mike Neal is also questionable).

49ers at Falcons

Three important keys for Atlanta are questionable. Rookie LB Sean Weatherspoon had to leave last Sunday’s game because he was cramping. But he’s also been nursing an ankle injury, and he didn’t practice at all this week. Meanwhile, S Erik Coleman, who’s missed the past two weeks with a strained MCL, has improved and could play.

WR Michael Jenkins has begun taking more reps in practice, and if he can play, that likely will help the team’s running game because of Jenkins’ blocking abilities. Considering he’s been out since early training camp, the team likely won’t rush him back.

San Francisco WR Ted Ginn Jr. hasn’t played since spraining his MCL in Week 2, and it doesn’t look like he’ll participate this week either, considering he’s listed as doubtful. Assuming he doesn’t play, Dominique Zeigler will see even more reps. The good news about that – according to reports, QB Alex Smith trusts Zeigler more than he does Michael Crabtree.

Panthers at Saints

One of the key cogs of the Saints defense, Roman Harper, is questionable with a hamstring injury. But after not practicing Wednesday or Thursday, Harper was limited Friday. Pierre Thomas is also questionable, and perhaps in a clue of what his availability is for Sunday, the team added DeShawn Wynn to the active roster today. Without Reggie Bush, though, the Saints would seem to be in desperate need of Thomas – especially since the team is ranked last in the league in rushing.

And of course, notice who isn’t on the injury report. QB Drew Brees, who apparently is battling knee problems, will play Sunday and was not included on the report.

Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen has to be somewhat relieved that two of his starting offensive guards, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Travelle Wharton, are probable. RT Jeff Otah, though, still is out with a knee injury.

Seahawks at Rams

The second-most important player on the Rams squad, RB Steven Jackson, is questionable because of a groin injury. He didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and was very limited Friday. One of the Rams most important players on defense, S O.J. Atogwe, also is questionable after missing the second half of last week’s game with a thigh injury. He’ll be a gametime decision.

If both of those guys can’t play – and that is a real possibility – the Rams, it goes without saying, could be in big, big trouble.

The big news for Seattle is that rookie LT Russell Okung – who hasn’t played since the preseason because of a high ankle sprain – is probable to play. Assuming Okung plays (coach Pete Carroll downplayed that possibility a bit this week, but come on, he’s got to play, right?), QB Matt Hasselbeck should feel a little more comfortable. After all, Tyler Polumbus had been manning the LT spot in Okung’s absence.

After missing all of the second half last Sunday, because of a shoulder injury, WR Mike Williams is probable. CB Marcus Trufant, whose absence was sorely missed in the second half of last week’s game when San Diego QB Philip Rivers ripped apart the secondary when Trufant had to leave with an ankle injury, is questionable.

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Posted by Will Brinson

There's nothing better than scaring the crap out of someone will a well placed joke/stunt/shenanigan. If that happens to be caught on film while the person is a sideline reporter and the person doing the scaring happens to be wearing a creepy serial killer mask, well, all the better.

In the video below Coy Wire and Roddy White conspire to freak out Niki Noto, Falcons sideline reporter by leaving the interview spot and then coming back in while wearing a terrifying mask. It's superb really.

Although as Chris Chase notes at Shutdown Corner , if this was the Jets we were talking about, it would not be nearly as funny. In fact, it would automatically require an investigation, possibly a censure, and certainly a late night phone call to Rex Ryan.

Posted by Andy Benoit


Chad Ochocinco is sorry for the sex-line flap (even though he has nothing to apologize for since he wasn’t at fault). This is at least the second time we’ve mentioned this story about Ocho’s cereal, and it’s probably the fifth or sixth time you’ve heard about it. This begs the question…could the mistake have been a clever publicity stunt? (Think about it: would we be talking about the cereal without the sex-line controversy?)

The Redskins couldn’t practice Thursday because it was raining. Seriously.

Football wasn’t the only thing Braylon Edwards was thinking about last Sunday.

Eagles second-year running back LeSean McCoy is getting some well-deserved props for his improvements in pass-blocking. (By the way, that was three hyphens in one sentence!)

John Madden remembering George Blanda.

Our own Will Brinson continues to sit by the window, staring off blankly as he thinks about the bum ankle of his beloved Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons linebacker missed practice again on Thursday.

Titans running back Javon Ringer wouldn’t mind getting more action behind Chris Johnson. Jeff Fisher has hinted a few times this week that the second-year man will get a heavier load. (Ringer has 13 carries on the season.)

Normally, homemade music videos don’t make it anywhere on CBSSports.com (except maybe the message boards). But this Redskins hip-hop video is an exception. (Notice the notice editing on the superhero bit about 30 seconds or so in.) Oh, also, my editor pointed out that, thanks to a quick few seconds of iffy content, we need to add a NSFW warning. Or, maybe it is suitable…depends on your view of animal behavior. We'll say nsfw (lowercase)."

Sean Payton thinks John Fox would be the top free agent available next year if the head coach doesn’t stay in Carolina.

Is this the most unforeseen NFC Offensive Player of the Month recipient of all-time?

Packers rookie linebacker Frank Zombo (what a name, by the way), was fined $7,500 for his hit Monday night on Jay Cutler. (Going by Shaun Smith’s fine…for just $2,500 more, Zombo could have nailed Cutler where it really counts.)

For some reason, Dwayne Jarrett thought now would be a good time to reveal that his agent approached the Panthers about trading the receiver during the offseason.

Ray Rice is a go for Sunday.


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Posted by Will Brinson

Got a link for the Hot Routes? Holler at us on Twitter (@CBSSportsNFL) .

• The Falcons are rocking their throwback jerseys on Sunday as they welcome Mike Singletary and the winless San Francisco 49ers to Atlanta; personally, I think they look pretty dope. But I haven't seen them up close, so I can't be positive. Neither, according to Mike Florio , has DeAngelo Hall. You see, the Falcons are sending the jerseys to all of their former Pro Bowlers as a "thank you" and whatnot -- Florio reports that Hall is the only guy who won't get a jersey, because he had some not-so-choice comments for the organization after he left. However, Rick Maese of the Washington Post now reports that Hall will get a jersey; apparently there was a big debate as to whether or not the team should spite Hall like that

• Scott Pioli explains how he came to have a mancrush on Tony Moeaki, who he saw coming out of Iowa thanks to his friendship with Kirk Ferentz.

• Doug Farrar at Shutdown Corner breaks down the pleasant surprise that has been Sam Bradford's play for the St. Louis Rams; Doug talks to Seahawk defenders (like Lofa Tatupu) in preparation of their game against Bradford this weekend. They are also impressed and surprised.

• Mike Lombardi said on NFL Network Wednesday that he believes the Bills will eventually "pull the pin" on a trading Marshawn Lynch

• Dwayne Jarrett said at Panthers practice that his agent Drew Rosenhaus discussed his release and/or trade with the Panthers this offseason, but said "they don't want to let me go because they still feel like I can help out the team." That noise you hear is every single Panthers fan shaking their heads collectively.

• Donovan McNabb's parents won't be coming to the game on Sunday. Presumably, they, unlike McNabb, understand what people who live in Philadelphia are all about. That is, of course, "booing."

• Mike Tanier does his always excellent "Walkthrough" at Football Outsiders , helping to determine who is "For Real."

• Oddly enough, it wasn't Joe Flacco or Anquan Boldin who got the highest offensive grade from Cam Cameron after Week 3's explosion against the Browns -- it was Le'Ron McClain.

• D. Orlando Ledbetter has video proof that the members of the Falcons' like going for it on 4th down because they think it instills confidence in the offense.

• Pals Phil Rivers and Adrian Wilson go head-to-head (kind of) this weekend when the Cardinals visit the Chargers; they're old buddies from their NC State (represent!) playing days. But don't expect either one of them to take it easy on their friend .

Posted by Will Brinson

Doug Gottlieb (who, by the way, is a really nice dude and was fantastic enough to do a podcast with myself and MDS in the middle of filming SportsCenter segments right as March Madness started two years ago) had Jim Mora, Jr., on the radio today (he was filling in for Colin Cowherd) and asked him about -- duh -- Michael Vick, who Mora coached in Atlanta.

Gottlieb was curious if Mora thought that Vick really "bought in" to everything while he was in Atlanta (specifically becoming a pocket passer) and if it could have made the Falcons better (and saved Mora's job) and things got a little bit heated. Eventually, Mora asked Gottlieb "Dude, is this your first interview?" Gottlieb also asked Mora how people in Philly "should feel" about Donovan McNabb and, well, Mora didn't like that either. Good times!

Posted by Andy Benoit

After Tony Romo said the Cowboys needed to get the running game going, Marion Barber had 17 carries for a hard-fought 55 yards against the Texans. Felix Jones showed most of the usual speed and quickness that he, for whatever reason, hadn’t displayed the first two weeks. Jnes gained 43 yards on seven carries.

The 49ers managed just 43 yards on the ground against a Chiefs defense that ranked 31st against the run last season. (Granted, it is a much-improved Chiefs defense. But still…)

Frank Gore didn’t get going on the ground, but he amassed yards on nine catches. Michael Crabtree, however, has just six catches for 81 yards…on the season.

3 sacks for Chiefs underrated, over-energized OLB Tamba Hali. The fifth-year pro also recorded two tackles for a loss.

The Lions were 3/12 on third down against the Vikings. But the Vikings were 3/11 on third down against the Lions. Fun game.

The Patriots ripped off 200 yards rushing against the Bills. Forty two of those yards game from ex-Jet Danny Woodhead. Ninety eight came from BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is fast become a favorite of the coaching staff.

Rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez had another strong outing, leading the Patriots with six catches for 65 yards. He also set a tight end team record for longest run: 13 yards. (Eat your heart out Ben Coates…or whoever had the record to begin with.)

Great day for tight ends in New Orleans. Jeremy Shockey had eight catches for 78 yards and a score (most of the catches were of the usual manhood-validating variety that Shockey has mastered). Tony Gonzalez, not to be outdone, had eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Counting assists, every Saints linebacker posted double digit tackles against the Falcons.

Chris Johnson had 125 yards against the Giants, but it took him 32 carries to get it. He looked exhausted by the second quarter.

23:28 = Panthers time of possession against the Bengals. 23:28 might also equal Carson Palmer’s 40 time. Of course, with a cannon arm, Palmer doesn’t need to run. But does Palmer still have cannon arm? He was 19/37 for 195 yards, his second straight game under 200 yards passing. There are whispers that Palmer still doesn’t look like his pre-elbow surgery self.

Ryan Torain led the Redskins with 46 yards on seven carries. Remember the name – this guy will probably wind up being the team’s top rusher in the second half of the season.

David Garrard somehow threw 31 incompletion on 30 pass attempts. Just kidding. But seriously, Garrard was bad. 13/30 for 105 yards and a pick.

Michael Vick ran the ball only four times against the Jags (30 yards and a touchdown).

After Sunday’s game, 10 of DeSean Jackson’s 18 career touchdowns have been 50 yards or longer.

The Chargers had five turnovers and gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns at Seattle. That’s what it takes to nullify a career-high 455 yards passing from Philip Rivers.

LaDainian Tomlinson has taken over as the No. 1 running back for the Jets. He had 15 carries against the Dolphins, five more than Shonn Greene had. Tomlinson managed a hearty 70 yards on the night.


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