It’s never too short to play good football

As the shortest man wearing the smallest Cleveland Browns jersey, running back Jerome Harrison, at 5-foot-9, has proved to people that it is never too short to play football well.

Having been told too small to play football for as long as he can remember, Harrison is now considered being Cleveland’s best running back.

“I’ve heard that all my life,” he said, “and I’ve been scoring touchdowns my whole life. Opinions and thoughts don’t define me. Just put in the tape and watch me. Then you can make your opinion.”

Harrison has rushed for 434 yards on 73 carries the past two weeks, out-of-the-blue performances that brought into question why the Browns, whose 32nd-ranked offense has struggled most of the season, didn’t try to use the shifty four-year veteran more earlier in the season.

He also broke Hall of Famer Jim Brown’s single-game record by running 34 times for 286 yards two weeks ago while playing against the Kansas City Chiefs. Last week while playing against the Oakland Raiders, he ran 39 times for 148 yards to set another club record, which one more than Lee Suggs’ record and two more than Brown’s.

Giants RB Brandon will not play against Vikings because of surgery

The New York Giants running back Brandon Jacob will not be available in his Giants jersey for this Sunday’s season-ending game against the Minnesota Vikings, as an injury to his right knee requires him to have surgery.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin on Wednesday announced that Jacobs will have arthroscopic surgery next week. The coach said Jacobs has had problems with the knee at times this season, but a recent examination showed he needed surgery.

To be replaced by Ahmad Bradshaw, Jacob had been leading the Giants in rushing for the past two seasons. Having an inconsistent year, he totally rushed for 835 yards on 224 carries, with yards per rush slipping more than a yard to 3.7 yards a carry.

2010 Pro Bowlers of NFC team-Defense

In Miami on Jan. 31, the players listed below from different teams will be wearing the same version of NFL jerseys as teammates of the NFC team in the 2010 Pro Bowl game.

The Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will be the starting end with Panthers Julius Peppers and Eagles Trent Cole will be the backup. Another Vikings will be starter at interior lineman: Kevin Williams. The other starter will be Cardinals lineman Darnell Dockett and Cowboys Jay Ratliff will be the backup.

Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware and Bears linebacker Lance Briggs will start at linebacker and Redskins Brian Orakpo will backup them. Other defensive players are: 49ers’ Patrick Willis and Saints Jonathan Vilma to be inside/middle linebackers, Raiders Charles Woodson, Eagles Asante Samuel and Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to be the cornerbacks, Saints Darren Sharper and Packers Nick Collins to be free safeties and Cardinals Adrian Wilson to be the strong safety.

Specialists are Eagles kicker David Akers and kick returner DeSean Jackson, 49ers punter Andy Lee and Vikings special teamer Heath Farwell.

Eagles center Jackson tore knee ligament, ending season on IR

During last Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles center Jamaal Jackson unfortunately tore a knee ligament, an injury that ended his 2009 season just a few days before the finale.

The game against the Broncos was the 71st he has started in Eagles jersey. The center had been the Eagles’ only offensive player to play every snap until he got hurt in the first half of last Sunday’s game. Losing him means to lose the team’s anchor.

Jackson had an MRI exam on Monday that revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It’s an injury that sometimes takes a full year for recovery, so he may not be ready for the start of next season. Right guard Nick Cole thus became the Eagles’ starting center, and second-year pro Mike McGlynn will be the backup. The starting job at right guard may be taken by Stacy Andrews.

Vikings WR Harvin seemed fine enough to play against Bears

The Minnesota Vikings Coach Brad Childress said Wednesday that rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin recently had a “good” visit with specialists at the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a visit that is part of the team’s plan to manage Harvin’s migraine headaches.

The problem kept Harvin out of one game and limited him to one practice last week. He had only one catch for 10 yards and two kickoff returns for a total of 31 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Vikings’ third loss of the season.

According to Childress, the bulging discs Harvin revealed he has in his neck were nothing to worry about that they are not herniated, and he is confident that Hardin will be able to wear back his Vikings jersey to practice fully this week and hopefully to play this Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Galloway joined Steelers to replace WR Sweed

After placing wide receiver Limas Sweed on injured reserve Monday because of a non-football related illness, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed receiver Joey Galloway to the roster as the replacement to Limas.

Galloway was cut by New England earlier this season after catching seven passes for 67 yards. The former Ohio State receiver has 689 catches for a 15.6 average during since putting on NFL jersey to become a professional football player in 1995, but he hasn’t had a TD catch since making six for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007.

The Steelers also signed long snapper Jared Retkofsky to replace Greg Warren, who injured a right knee during last Sunday’s in over the Green Bay Packers. Retkofsky was also with the Steelers for the final two months last season as the replacement to Warren after the latter tore a knee ligament.

Brohm will start at QB for Bills against Falcons

Second-year quarterback Brian Brohm is expected to make his first start since putting on NFL jersey when Buffalo travels to Atlanta on Sunday, because ankle injuries will keep starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and backup Trent Edwards out for this week.

As Edwards isn’t expected to play again this season because of a high ankle sprain, Brohm is likely to get more chance to start in case Fitzpatrick is injured.

Brohm was signed off the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad last month, and has not even taken a snap in practice with the Bills. His work has been limited to reps with the scout team.

Interim coach Perry Fewell had said Brohm didn’t know the offense well enough to run it effectively. But with the team officially out of the playoffs, some in the organization believe it is time to see what Brohm, a 2008 second-round pick, can do.

As CB Terrence McGee has been placed on season-ending injury reserve because of a shoulder injury, Reggie Corner will start at cornerback, with Ashton Youboty being the nickel corner.

NFL will encourage players to donate brains to BU for research

The NFL is partnering with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league’s stance on concussions and the League is planning to encourage players who are wearing or used to wear NFL jerseys to agree to donate their brains to the Boston University Center for brain research.

The research was held by the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which has said it found links between repeated head trauma and brain damage in boxers, football players and, most recently, a former NHL player. And according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the League also is committed to giving $1 million or more to the center.

There have been already three current NFL players who agreed to donate their brains for the research. They are wide receiver Sean Morey from the Arizona Cardinals; Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

Eagles RB Westbrook and WR Maclin will not play against 49ers

The Philadelphia Eagles will play this Sunday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers without running back Brian Westbrook and rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who have been ruled out because of injuries.

Westbrook has not played in his Eagles jersey for the last four games and six of the last seven with a concussion. He practiced on the scout team this week, but the two-time Pro Bowler has not been medically cleared to play in a game, especially under the new NFL rules about players’ return after suffering head injuries. His playing status for next game will be decided after undergoing another test next week.

Maclin left Sunday’s win over the New York Giants with a torn plantar fascia, tissue at the bottom of his left foot. He will be replaced by Reggie Brown, who may share the load with veteran Kevin Curtis. And according to Eagles Coach Andy Reid, Maclin “has made a lot of progress” and may return for the Dec. 27 matchup with the Denver Broncos.

Patriots QB Brady practiced Thursday

For this week, the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did not wait until Friday to practice again with his teammates. He made it one day earlier and practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, making it more likely that he will still start this Sunday’s game against Buffalo Bills.

The quarterback had limited participation in Thursday’s session after sitting out Wednesday’s workout while nursing rib and right finger problems, as well as tire tiredness caused by less than enough sleep for he had to take care of his baby boy who came to the world last week. Brady also was listed with a right shoulder injury, as he has been every week.

Brady has started every game this season, including last Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Carolina Panthers after he sat out practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

But it still remains uncertain whether starting defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren would put on their Patriots jerseys for Sunday’s game. Both missed their second straight practice, Wilfork with a foot injury and Warren with an ankle injury, after being hurt during the game against the Panthers.

Titans QB Young was not ready to practice yet

The Tennessee Titans Vince Young wants to play Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, although his right hamstring injury still keeps him out of team’s practices.

Young didn’t practice Wednesday, but appeared in sweat shirt, instead of his Titans jersey, and watched his teammates working out with the hood over his head most of the time. A quick healer, Young said he feels much better than when he strained the back of his right leg in last weekend’s 47-7 win over the St. Louis Rams, and he would likely play Sunday’s game as it is a crucial game for the Titans (6-7) to keep their faint playoff hopes alive for another week.

Young has led the Titans to win six of the last seven games, including a five game streak, since he took over Kerry Collins as a starter of the 0-6 Titans. The fourth-year quarterback is 4-0 at home this season where he has completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 854 yards with four touchdowns and only one interception for a 107.3 passer rating.

Not practicing last Friday after aggravating his right knee the day before, he still played very well during last week’s win before he pulled up at the end of a 44-yard run that was the longest of his career. Having completed 6-of-8 for 132 yards with one touchdown pass, he left the field the Titans leading 14-0, a solid foundation for the 47-7 win.

Vikings backup LB Henderson received four-game suspension from NFL

The Minnesota Vikings backup linebacker Erin Henderson is not allowed to play for the team’s final three regular-season games and first playoff game as the league has suspended him for four games because the player violated the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

The suspension happened just ten days after Henderson’s elder brother, E.J. Henderson broke his left leg and was sidelined indefinitely. The NFL does not specify the substances for which players test positive.

Thus Erin ended the 2009 season with only playing two games in Vikings jersey. Signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008, Erin has played primarily on special teams and had two special teams tackles against during last Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

E.J. Henderson’s injury and Erin Henderson’s suspension left the Vikings few linebackers to play for the final games. Thus the team signed J Leman from the practice squad on Tuesday to take Erin Henderson’s place in the linebacking corps, and signed cornerback DeAndre Wright to the practice squad.

Jets QB Sanchez to practice Sunday to test injured knee

Remaining uncertain what rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez’ playing status will be for this weekend’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan said he would have the quarterback practice Wednesday to see how well his injured knee can work.

“It may take a couple of days to figure this out,” Ryan said. “You know me, I’m not a guy who’s going to string it along and have no decision and not say anything about it. Clearly, if Mark is going to be playing, I want him to get the majority of the snaps, just like I would if Kellen (Clemens) is going to be playing.”

The No.6 Jets jersey did not appear during Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kellen Clemens started at quarterback as the replacement to Sanchez, who was rehabilitating the sprained posterior collateral ligament in his right knee at the Jets’ facility.

As Clemens led the Jets to a 26-3 win over the Buccaneers, Ryan is hoping to split the snaps with the first-team offense between Clemens and Sanchez, if the latter is fine enough to play this weekend’s game.

Saints won 13th straight game by beating Falcons 26-23

Along with the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints kept their clean streak of winning games. The Saints went closer to a perfect season with another tight win: a 26-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Quarterback Drew Brees, linebacker Jonathan Vilma and kicker Garrett Hartley were among the main contributors. Brees was 31 for 40 and threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, Vilma came up with two huge defensive plays when Falcons rallied from 14 points down, and Hartley made a 38-yard field goal with a 4:42 remaining.

Anyway the Falcons did not play a bad game, but they did not have two of its biggest stars: quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner, who have been out for second game because of injuries. If both starters would have put on their Falcons jerseys to play the game, the result might have been different.

Reid to be Eagles Coach for another three years

The Philadelphia Eagles signed a three-year contract extension with current Coach Andy Reid, thus the coach will stay with the team through 2013 and may finally bring the Eagles to win their first Super Bowl.

The Eagles have plenty of reasons to keep Reid with them. Being considered a laughingstock in the NFL a decade ago, the Eagles entered the first season under Reid 3-13 and finished it 5-11. For the next season, they went 11-5 and made the playoffs five straight years. They also managed to appear in Super Bowl following the 2004 season, although losing the game to the New England Patriots by 24-21. Besides, he had Donovan McNabb put on Eagles jersey as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, which turned to be a crucial piece in the rebuilding process.

As the winningest coach in team history, Reid still draws criticism from fans because he has not managed to help the team win a Super Bowl. But I believe as long as he keeps improving the team, he will make it soon or later.

After surgery, Vikings LB Henderson unsure when to return

The Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson had a successful surgery for broken left leg on Monday, but the team’s Coach Brad Childress is still not ready to tell whether or when the star linebacker would put on his Vikings jersey again to play with the team.

Henderson fractured his femur while trying to tackle Tim Hightower late in the fourth quarter -- his leg twisting violently as he went down. Being taken off the field on a motorized cart after doctors spent several minutes attending to the star linebacker; Henderson was driven to the locker room and stayed at a Phoenix-area hospital while his teammates went home after Sunday’s 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

If Henderson could not play again for the rest of season, it would be the second straight year that his season was cut short with injury. He played only four games in 2008 season before undergoing a surgery on his left foot and did not return for the remaining games.

Lions keep silent on QB Stafford’s playing status

Since rookie quarterback Matt Stafford left the Detroit Lions game against the Cincinnati Bengals with aggravation of his separated non-throwing shoulder, Coach Jim Schwartz has been silent on whether the quarterback would be available for this Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

He just did what he usually did with Lions’ injury information.

“I’ve got a pretty good idea of his status, but I don’t feel any need to tell Baltimore that information,” Schwartz said. “They play Monday night this week, so they are already facing a short week and the difficulties that brings. I’d rather not help their game-planning process by letting them know which quarterback we expect to play.”

But we can just guess that it is very unlikely Stafford will wear back his Lions jersey and play. Originally injuring the shoulder at the end of the 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago, Stafford had had little time to take care of it. He returned to field after briefly resting the shoulder and threw a winning touchdown, and only four days later he played still in Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay Packers. I guess the throw in the 23-13 loss to the Bengals should be the last straw and the shoulder is protesting for its own health. It needs rest, and Stafford needs even more to heal the injury.

Lower-revenue teams will have lower supplemental revenue-sharing from league

As the 2010 season will not have a salary cap, the NFL decided to cut a $100 million annual supplemental revenue-sharing program, which usually subsidizes teams with low revenues.

After being told the decision, the NFL Players Association decided to challenge the league’s move this week, as the union officials believe the owners can’t terminate the program without the union’s approval. The union is worrying that some teams will not spend competitively because there is no minimum for spending under a non-salary cap system.

The program the league plans to terminate involves the top 15 revenue teams placing funds into a pool from which many of the lower income clubs can draw. It does not include television monies or box office revenues. By so far, nine unidentified franchises have qualified to receive the funds this year.

Packers LB Thompson was hospitalized with neck injury

As we always know, playing football is sometimes dangerous. It caused injuries. Having a concussion may not so serious as it may not affect your life until long later, but injuring neck is something that may take one’s life shortly. Knowing that now, let’s pray for the Green Bay Packers linebacker Jeremy Thompson, who is now in hospital for suffering a neck injury during practice.

According to Packers Coach Mike McCarthy, Thompson got injured on neck near the end of Friday’s practice and remained conscious after the neck stinger. His words perhaps are worthy trust as the coach stayed with Thompson while the linebacker was being loaded into an ambulance.

Thompson is in his second year of wearing pro NFL jersey since being picked by the Packers in the fourth round of 2008. He has spent most time in Green Bay’s special team and missed the team’s first two preseason games with a stinger to a shoulder.

Jay Cutler does not expect apology from Urlacher

The Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s bearing criticism from teammate just explains well why Cutler jersey is still among the top 10 best selling player jerseys. Instead of getting angry, or at least unhappy, the quarterback said receiver Brian Urlacher did not need to apologize for critical remarks on the quarterback.

Urlacher questioned the Bears' direction while wondering why they went from emphasizing the run to the pass during an interview last weekend. And such questioning remarks caused a lot to guess he might be unhappy with Cutler’s existence in Chicago.

While bringing the Pro Bowl quarterback from the Denver Broncos gave the Bears quite a lot of hopes in avoiding missing the playoffs for the third year, Cutler has not performed as they expected. The quarterback now leads the NFL with 20 interceptions and the Bears have lost four straight games and six of the last seven games, during which Cutler threw totally 15 interceptions.

Cutler knows he should be blamed for the losses and interceptions, so he understands Urlacher’s frustration with the team’s performance, and said there is no need for the linebacker to apologize.

"You can't take anything personal in this game, especially whenever we're losing," Cutler said. "I'm going to get a lot of blame. I'm aware of that. A lot of it should come my way. I'm understanding of that. I know Brian's frustrated. I'm frustrated. There's not much we can do."

Delhomme may finally be sidelined with broken finger

For those who have been hoping for a new starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, they may be satisfied to know that Jake Delhomme may finally have to give up his starting job, after throwing a career-high 18 interceptions in 11 games.

During Wednesday’s practice, the Panthers worked out in indoor facility because of heavy rain, and Delhomme was not among them. The quarterback practicing with the first team was Matt Moore, and Delhomme, although still wearing his Panthers jersey, only needed to take care of his throwing hand, which was wrapped with index and middle fingers being taped together.

Despite playing the worst season of his career, Delhomme managed to keep his starting job as Coach John Fox insisted. Although the quarterback tried to hide his hand and would not rule himself out Sunday, all signs showed that Moore will start for the first time since 2007.

Worst Browns could be even worse: another defensive player on IR

Ranking one of the worst team in the league of the season, the Cleveland Browns seem to have little to improve. After losing the sixth consecutive game since Week 5, the Browns lose another key player in their defense for the season: nose tackle Shaun Rogers was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.

Sustaining a season-ending lower leg injury in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Rogers joined linebackers D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton to be the third defensive player in Bears jersey placed on IR. Both Jackson and Barton were starters at their position before sustaining season-ending injuries. Oops, what else can we expect from the Browns for the remaining season as there is only five weeks left before the end?

Rogers, a three-time Pro Bowler, has recorded 36 tackles with two sacks, two blocked extra points and one blocked field goal. Losing the 6-foot-4, 350-pound run stuffer, the Browns will have one less defensive player to present threat to opponents if they have ever presented some.