NFL: NEWS
NFL: Cardinals
Ravens' Birk named Payton NFL Man of Year Award winner (Yahoo! Sports)
Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk was named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Saturday night. The award, which recognizes a player's off-the-field community service and playing excellence, was handed out as part of NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards TV special that aired...
Cardinals Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
It took five years of trying, but the Cardinals defense finally played the way Ken Whisenhunt envisioned. Now it's up to Whisenhunt to fix an offense that's been the main reason the team finished out of the playoffs for the past two seasons.
The defense showed great improvement under Ray Horton, the third defensive coordinator Whisenhunt hired in his five years in Arizona. The Cardinals led the league in third-down percentage and were second in red zone defense.
That unit must concentrate on giving up fewer big plays, but by the end of the season, it was forming into a dominating group.
The offense, meanwhile, hasn't produced since Kurt Warner retired at the end of the 2009 season.
Capsule look at Hall of Fame finalists (The Canadian Press)
A capsule look at the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Cardinals' Fitzgerald plans to meet with Peyton Manning (Yahoo! Sports)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is looking to connect with Peyton Manning. The two plan on having dinner this week in Indianapolis, according to Tom James of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Fitzgerald hopes to recruit Manning should the quarterback get released by the...
Mega-deal for Megatron? (The National Football Post)
The Detroit Lions have serious salary cap problems heading into the 2012 season. The team is already using...
NFL: Saints
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers wins MVP award (PA SportsTicker)
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
New Orleans Saints T Willie Roaf Elected to Hall of Fame: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Willie Roaf in the Hall of Fame After going more than 40 years without any of its players being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Willie Roaf became the second New Orleans Saints player in three years selected to receive the NFL's highest honor.
Rodgers, Brees, Jim Harbaugh win AP awards (PA SportsTicker)
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
Saints QB Brees wins Offensive Player of Year (AP)
Drew Brees' record-setting season has earned the New Orleans quarterback the 2011 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Brees shattered Dan Marino's 27-year-old mark by passing for 5,476 yards, and his 468 completions broke Peyton Manning's 2010 record of 450. Brees finished the season completing 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 NFL record (70.6).
Butler, Dawson, Doleman, Kennedy, Martin and Roaf make the 2012 Hall of Fame cut (Yahoo! Sports)
The 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame cast has been announced, and the six named to the game's greatest honor this year were Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin and Willie Roaf. It's a very interesting … Continue reading →
NFL: Steelers
Smarter Stats: Super Bowl Edition — New England’s offense vs. New York’s defense (Yahoo! Sports)
Of course, the big story surrounding New England's offense is the health of tight end Rob Gronkowski. He's been practicing on a limited basis, but if Gronk can't go at full speed, it's a problem -- he was targeted 15 … Continue reading →
Martin, 4 linemen make Hall of Fame (PA SportsTicker)
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
Panthers QB Newton wins Offensive Rookie of Year (PA SportsTicker)
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
Butler, Dawson, Doleman, Kennedy, Martin and Roaf make the 2012 Hall of Fame cut (Yahoo! Sports)
The 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame cast has been announced, and the six named to the game's greatest honor this year were Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin and Willie Roaf. It's a very interesting … Continue reading →
Steelers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
It's tough to call a 12-4 record a disappointment, but Pittsburgh is one of the few places you can do so. The Steelers fought through major injuries throughout their lineup to compile that mark, barely failing to win the AFC North Division and a No. 1 or 2 playoff seed.
Then came the debacle in Denver in the first playoff game when, heavily favored, the Steelers were upset by Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
One drive cost them the No. 1 seed in the AFC—a 92-yarder by Baltimore in Heinz Field on Nov. 6 that ended in a Ravens touchdown with eight seconds left and a 23-20 loss for the Steelers.
In reality, though, this was not a strong Pittsburgh team, and it beat only one tough opponent, the Patriots.