Orangemen weigh-in at the NFL Combine

Here are the measurements for the Syracuse Orangemen at the NFL Combine:

Ryan Nassib - Height: 6-2, Weight: 227, Hand Size: 10.18 inches (2nd largest hands of any QB)
Alec Lemon - Height: 6-1, Weight: 202, Arm Length: 31.18 inches, Hand Size: 8.48 inches
Justin Pugh - Height: 6-4, Weight: 307, Arm Length: 32.08 inches
Shamarko Thomas - Yet to weigh in.

Week 13 NFL Recap

     As the NFL season gets closer to the end many players nurse injuries or get worn down. Then there are others that seem to get better and better. The Baltimore Ravens' Arthur Jones has been that guy. Over the past two weeks he has recorded 3 sacks and multiple quarterback hits. Here is what Jones and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Pittsburgh 23 Baltimore 20
-Defensive end Arthur Jones recorded 4 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 quarterback hits for the Ravens. His teammate Jameel McClain 5 tackles, including 2 for loss in the defeat.

Indianapolis 35 Detroit 33
-Andrew Luck brought the Colts back in the 4th quarter to take the victory. Delone Carter played and did not record a carry. Dwight Freeney got the start and did not record a tackle.

Kansas City 27 Carolina 21
-The Chiefs won an emotional game after the shocking events of the past week. The Panthers' linebacker Doug Hogue was inactive.

New England 23 Miami 16
-Chandler Jones was out again with an injury for the Patriots. Safety Steve Gregory started for New England  , but did not record a tackle.

Denver 31 Tampa Bay 23
-Receiver Mike Williams had another great day for the Buccaneers. He had 6 catches for 93 yards, including a 5 yard touchdown reception from Josh Freeman.

-Running back Curtis Brinkley was released by the Chargers on Thursday.

Week 12 Recap

   Arthur Jones had a great day on Sunday. Jones recorded his first two sacks of the year. He was able to put Phillip Rivers on his back multiple times in a hard fought Ravens victory. Here is what Jones and the rest of the Syracuse Pros this week.

Baltimore 16 San Diego 13
-Arthur Jones had a great day with 5 tackles and 2 sacks. His teammate Jameel McClain had 7 tackles. Running back Curtis Brinkley was inactive for the Chargers.

New England 49 New York Jets 19
-Safety Steve Gregory also had a monster day for the Patriots. He returned a fumble for a touchdown, forced another fumble, and intercepted a pass. He ended the day with 5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. Chandler Jones was inactive with an injury.

Indianapolis 20 Buffalo 13
-Dwight Freeney did not record a tackle, but was credited with a quarterback hit. Delone Carter did not have a carry, but he did have one special teams tackle.

Atlanta 24 Tampa Bay 23
-Receiver Mike Williams had 3 catches for 28 yards. He also threw one pass that was completed for a 28 yard gain.

Carolina 30 Philadelphia 22
-Doug Hogue was active for the Panthers and played on special teams.

Week 11 Recap

     Injuries may have slowed the start to Delone Carter's season. Slowly but surely he has been getting back into the Colts' stocked running back rotation. Early in the first quarter, Carter took a hand off from Andrew Luck and went behind the left guard for a touchdown. He ended the day with 2 carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. Here is what Carter and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

New England 59 Indianapolis 24
-Delone Carter scored a touchdown and Dwight Freeney had one tackle, which was for loss. For the Patriots, Steve Gregory had 3 tackles and a pass defensed. Chandler Jones started, but did not record a tackle.

Baltimore 13 Pittsburgh 10
-In what was an incredible defense battle, two Syracuse alumni had great games for the Ravens. Arthur Jones had 4 tackles for his defensive end spot and Jameel McClain ended the day with 9 tackles.

Denver 30 San Diego 23
-Curtis Brinkley entered the game for the Chargers, but did not have a carry.

 Tampa Bay 27 Carolina 21
-Tampa Bay came back in dramatic fashion to take the victory. Mike Williams had 3 catches for 29 yards for the Bucs. Doug Hogue played on special teams for the Panthers, but did not record a tackle.

Smith Has Solid First Season in Canada

     If this year was a movie it would be, "Mr. Smith Goes To Saskatchewan." Early this year Smith decided to sign with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders. Throughout the year he became a bigger threat at wide receiver for the Riders. Smith is even up for the TSN play of the year on an incredible catch he made against Edmonton. He even helped Saskatchewan reach the playoffs this season. Here is a look at some of the highlights of Smith's season.

     Smith is on the ballot for TSN's Play of the Year for 2012. He made an incredible catch against Edmonton on a pass that bounced off a foot, then off a defender and then into his hands for a huge gain. Arguably his best game of the season was against Edmonton as well. In a week 16 loss Smith ended up with 6 catches for 98 yards.

     Smith played an important role in the playoffs against Calgary. He made two clutch catches to move the chains for the Roughriders. He was an essential part of their scoring drives. He ended the day with 4 catches for 81 yards, including a 40-yard reception.

     Taj Smith ended the season third among the Riders' receivers. He had 47 catches for 690 yards and 2 touchdowns. He proved to all the people in Canada that he is a very solid football player and through covering him I can now spell Saskatchewan.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 10 Recap

     Jameel McClain had a huge day in the Ravens' blowout win against the Raiders. McClain was all over the field in the victory. He ended up with 10 tackles. Here is what he and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Baltimore 55 Oakland 20
-Jameel McClain had 10 tackles for the Ravens. Arthur Jones started at defensive end and recorded two tackles.

Indianapolis 27 Jacksonville 10
-Dwight Freeney started for the Colts, but did not record a tackle. Delone Carter had 2 carries for 7 yards.

Denver 36 Carolina 14
-Doug Hogue recorded a tackle on special teams for the Panthers.

New England 37 Buffalo 31
-Steve Gregory returned from injury and recorded 5 tackles for the Patriots. Chandler Jones recorded one tackle.

Tampa Bay 34 San Diego 24
-Mike Williams had 2 catches for 64 yards including a 54-yard catch for the Buccaneers. Curtis Brinkley was active for the Chargers, but did not have a carry.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 8 Recap

 In week 8 a couple of Syracuse Pros shined. Mike Williams caught another touchdown pass this week. He has now caught touchdowns in 4 of the first 7 games. Here is what Williams and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Tampa Bay 36 Minnesota 17
-Mike Williams had another great day with 6 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. He now has 4 touchdowns this season, surpassing last year's total of 3.

Chicago 23 Carolina 22
-Doug Hogue made his debut with the Panthers and had a good one. He was able to make two tackles on special teams for Carolina.

Cleveland 7 San Diego 6
-Curtis Brinkley was inactive for the Chargers.

New England 45 St. Louis 7
-Chandler Jones had another sack for the Patriots, bringing his season total to 6. He also had two tackles. Safety Steve Gregory was inactive.

Indianapolis 19 Tennessee 13
-Delone Carter may have only had 2 carries for 8 yards in the game, but he made them count. Late in the fourth quarter Carter blasted into the end zone to tie the game for the Colts. It was his first touchdown of the year.

Toronto 31 Saskatchewan 26 (CFL)
-Receiver Taj Smith led the Roughriders in receiving again with 7 catches for 99 yards, but it was not enough as Toronto held onto win.

News and Notes
-Quinn Ojinakka was released by the Rams
-Arthur Jones and Jameel McClain along with the rest of the Ravens enjoyed a bye week.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 7 Recap

Week 7 was a good week for Delone Carter. He was slowed by injuries earlier in the season and this week he finally got significant playing time. He had 11 carries on Sunday. This is what Carter and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Indianapolis 17 Cleveland 13
-Delone Carter saw substantial playing time this week and helped the Colts control the clock. He had 11 carries for 41 yards. Dwight Freeney had 1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 quarterback hit.

Houston 43 Baltimore 13
-In the blowout loss Arthur Jones also had some significant playing time. He ended the day with 6 tackles. Jameel McClain had 4 tackles.

Green Bay 30 St. Louis 20
-Guard Quinn Ojinnaka did not start this week, but did have some action on the field in the loss.

New Orleans 35 Tampa Bay 28
-Receiver Mike Williams had 4 catches for 36 yards in the loss for Tampa Bay.

New England 29 New York Jets 26
-Chandler Jones was blocked very well this week as teams are beginning to account for him on every play. He was only able to make 4 tackles this week. Safety Steve Gregory was inactive with an injury.

Montreal 34 Saskatchewan 28
-Receiver Taj Smith continued his great play as the Roughriders nearly had a great comeback late in the game. Smith was the leading receiver for the Roughriders with 4 catches for 52 yards.

-Note: Doug Hogue was released by Detroit and picked up by Carolina. The Panthers were the first team that had the opportunity to claim him.

-Curtis Brinkley and the Chargers had a bye this week.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 6

     Mike Williams had a big week against the Chiefs this week. He had a 62-yard touchdown catch from Josh Freeman in the first quarter to put the Bucs up 7-0. He ended the day with 4 catches for 113 yards. Here is what the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Tampa Bay 38 Kansas City 10
-Receiver Mike Williams had a huge day with 4 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in the rout of the Chiefs.

Baltimore 31 Dallas 29
-Jameel McClain had 8 tackles and Arthur Jones had one tackle as the Ravens squeaked by with a victory.

New York Jets 35 Indianapolis 9
-Delone Carter saw his first carries of the year this week. He had 4 carries for 13 yards. Dwight Freeney had one tackle in the loss.

Detroit 26 Philadelphia 23
-The Lions kicked a field goal in overtime to win the game. Linebacker Doug Hogue played for the Lions, but did not record a tackle.

Seattle 24 New England 23
-Chandler Jones continued his great play. He was all over Russell Wilson all day, including forcing a fumble. He ended the day with 9 tackles and 2 sacks. Safety Steve Gregory was out with an injury.

Denver 35 San Diego 24
Running back Curtis Brinkley was back in action this week, but did not have a carry.

Miami 17 St. Louis 14
-Quinn Ojinnaka started at left guard for the Rams.

Smith Shows Big Play Ability In Roughriders' Win

     Some players just flat out have a knack for big plays. One of the Syracuse Pros that we follow shows that big play ability just about every week. Taj Smith has had a fine season for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders. He has had catches of 56 yards and 74 yards this year. His 14.7 yards per catch is one of the best on the team. He has 30 catches for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns up to this point in the season. His big play ability set the Roughriders on fire in yesterday's game.

     After the Riders kicked a field goal, they forced the Toronto Argonauts to punt. The Riders took the field for their second possession and that is where Smith came in. Quarterback Darian Durant hit Smith in stride on the sideline for a 56-yard catch. This left the ball at the Argonauts' 3 yard line. Backup quarterback Drew Willy later scored on the possession to make the score 10-0. The Riders never let up winning 36-10. Smith ended the game with 4 catches for 79 yards.

     The Roughriders have a 3-game winning streak, which brings their record to 8-6 on the season. They face Edmonton this Saturday.

   

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 5 Recap

      It is now week 5 of the NFL season and injuries are starting to mount. Patriots safety and Syracuse alum Steve Gregory was inactive this week with an injury he sustained in last week's game. Other Syracuse alumni who did not see action were Curtis Brinkley (Chargers-inactive), Mike Williams (Buccaneers-bye), and Doug Hogue (Lions-Bye). Here is what the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Baltimore 9 Kansas City 6
-The Ravens defense had one of its most stout performances of the year. Jameel McClain had 7 tackles, including 2 for loss for the Ravens. Arthur Jones had his best game of the year with 3 tackles and he also forced a fumble.

Indianapolis 30 Green Bay 27
-Dwight Freeney returned from injury and had 2 tackles. He also had a nice sack of Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Delone Carter also returned to action, but did not record a carry.

St. Louis 17 Arizona 3
-Quinn Ojinnaka started at guard again for the Rams and made some key blocks to help the Rams win an important division game.

New England 31 Denver 21
-Chandler Jones had a busy day for the Patriots. He made just one tackle, but had 2 hits on the quarterback and even had a pass defensed in the victory.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 4 Recap

    In week 4 of the NFL season the New England Patriots were able to redeem themselves. After falling behind Buffalo at the beginning of the third quarter, New England went on a tear and destroyed the Bills 52-28. Chandler Jones had another fine game. Here is what Jones and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

New England 52 Buffalo 28
-Chandler Jones had 5 tackles and 1 sack bringing his sack total to 3 for the season. Steve Gregory added 4 tackles for the Patriots.

Baltimore 23 Cleveland 16
- Jameel McClain had 5 tackles and Arthur Jones added 1 tackle in a fine defensive effort by the Ravens.

Minnesota 20 Detroit 13
-Doug Hogue played on special teams for the Lions, but did not make a tackle.

San Diego 37 Kansas City 20
-In a game the Chargers dominated, running back Curtis Brinkley was inactive.

St. Louis 19 Seattle 13
-Quinn Ojinnaka started at guard for the third straight game in the Rams' win.

Washington 24 Tampa Bay 22
-Mike Williams had 4 catches for 115 yards in the loss. Williams caught a 65-yard bomb from Josh Freeman in the game

The Indianapolis Colts had a bye. (Dwight Freeney and Delone Carter)

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 3

     Week 3 of the regular season has passed and we wanted to take a minute to feature one of the former Syracuse players making noise in the Canadian Football League. Taj Smith's final year in Syracuse was a fine one. In the 2007 season he had 44 catches for 822 yards and 5 touchdowns. He now finds himself in the Canadian Football League playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Here is what Taj Smith and the rest of  the Syracuse Pros in the NFL did this week:

Saskatchewan 30 Calgary 25
-Quarterback Darian Durant found Taj Smith for a beautiful 30-yard touchdown strike in what was a huge 3rd quarter for the Roughriders. Smith ended the game with 3 catches for 55 yards.

Dallas 16 Tampa Bay 10
-In a game dominated by the defenses, wide receiver Mike Williams had 2 catches for 33 yards.

Jacksonville 22 Indianapolis 17
Blaine Gabbert threw an 80 yard touchdown strike to give the Jags the win. For the Colts, Dwight Freeney (injury) and Delone Carter (coach's decision) were both inactive.

Tennessee 44 Detroit 41
-An impressive offensive output by both teams, but the Titans had just a bit more. Linebacker Doug Hogue played for the Lions, but did not record a tackle.

Atlanta 27 San Diego 3
-Atlanta dominated the undefeated Chargers. Running back Curtis Brinkley had his playing time cut down with the return of Ryan Matthews. Brinkley ended the day with 1 carry for 5 yards and 2 catches for 12 yards.

Chicago 23 St. Louis 6
-Quinn Ojinnaka started his second game at guard for the Rams.

Baltimore 31 New England 30
In a matchup of the Jones' brothers, the Ravens were able to squeeze by with a one-point victory. Chandler Jones ended the day with 2 tackles for the Patriots. Brother Arthur Jones played for the Ravens, but did not record a tackle. Jameel McClain had 2 tackles for the Ravens. Steve Gregory had 4 tackles for New England. Gregory also recorded an interception of Joe Flacco and returned it 36 yards to give the Patriots great field position.

NFL Season Week 2: Tuesday Tidbits

     Week 2 of the NFL season was a productive one for former Syracuse players. Players like Curtis Brinkley and Mike Williams made significant contributions to their teams. Here is your team by team recap of the week:

San Diego 38 Tennessee 10
-Curtis Brinkley touched the ball 22 times in the victory. He ran the ball 18 times for 43 yards and caught 4 passes for 23 yards.

New York Giants 41 Tampa Bay 34
-Receiver Mike Williams made 3 catches for 59 yards. The Bucs wideout made one of the best grabs of the year on a 41 yard bomb from Josh Freeman for a score. Williams dropped one pass in crunchtime that would have put the Bucs in the red zone. The play was initially ruled a catch and after further review it was determined incomplete.

Indianapolis 23 Minnesota 20
-Dwight Freeney was out with a high ankle sprain and Delone Carter was inactive for the second straight week.

Arizona 20 New England 18
-In what may have been the upset of the week the Cardinals pulled out a big win in Foxboro. It was not for a lack of effort by Chandler Jones though. Jones had another exceptional game for the Patriots forcing a fumble and ending the day with 5 tackles. Steve Gregory started at safety and recorded 5 tackles.

Philadelphia 24 Baltimore 23
-The Ravens had a chance to win, but the Eagles' defense held strong in the final minutes to take the win. The Baltimore defense played well, including Jameel McClain who had 5 tackles. Arthur Jones played, but did not record a tackle. Jones was involved in a pregame scuffle with DeSean Jackson after Jackson got in the face of a teammate.

St. Louis 31 Washington 28
-RG III could not propel the Redskins to a victory again this week. Quinn Ojinnaka was brought back by the Rams after being cut just before the regular season. He started at guard for the Rams.

San Francisco 27 Detroit 19
-Doug Hogue made a great special teams tackle for the Lions, but it was not enough as Detroit took the loss. Hogue ended the game with 2 tackles.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 1 Regular Season Recap

     It is that sweet time of year again. The regular season has begun. Now through week 17 we will have a Tuesday Tidbits, recapping the week's action with all of the Syracuse alumni in the NFL.

Chicago 41 Indianapolis 21
-Dwight Freeney began his season at linebacker in the new look Colts' defense. He was injured early on and did not record a tackle. His MRI did not show any major injury to his ankle and he should be back next week. Delone Carter was inactive with an injury.

Detroit 27 St. Louis 23
-Doug Hogue began his regular season after a great preseason for the Lions. He played on special teams, but did not record a tackle.

New England 34 Tennessee 13
-Chandler Jones had a great game. He stripped Jake Locker in the second quarter and his teammate picked the fumble up resulting in a touchdown. He ended up with 5 tackles and 1 sack. Steve Gregory started at safety for the Patriots and recorded 2 tackles.

Tampa Bay 16 Carolina 10
-Mike Williams caught a 6 yard pass from Josh Freeman for a touchdown early in the first half. He ended the game with 2 catches for 12 yards for the Buccaneers.

Baltimore 44 Cincinnati 13
-Jameel McClain started for the Ravens and had 2 tackles along with a pass defensed. Arthur Jones played very well on the rotating Ravens defensive line and had 4 tackles in the impressive victory.

San Diego 22 Oakland 14
-Curtis Brinkley had a solid debut at running back for the Chargers. He split time with Ronnie Brown in the backfield. He ended up with 10 carries for 12 yards and caught 3 passes for 28 yards.

Check back each Tuesday as we recap the week in action for all of your favorite 'Cuse alumni.

Chandler Jones Earns High Praise In Regular Season Debut

     Bill Belichick hoped his rookies would make an impact immediately for his defense. Little did he know they would team up on week 1 and provide a spark. Early in the second quarter Jake Locker dropped back to pass and Chandler Jones was coming right at him. Jones stripped the ball as he was bringing down Locker and fellow rookie Dont'a Hightower scooped up the ball. Hightower then returned the fumble six yards for a touchdown and put the Patriots up 14-3 in a game they eventually won 34-13.
     When Jones was asked about the play he said, "I did an outside move, beat (Roos) on the outside move and capitalized on what they gave me." Jones was looking to keep it simple in his first NFL start. "My thing was to get out there and execute my job, that was my main goal, to go out there and do what I was told to do. That's what I tried to do every play." He ended the game with 5 tackles and 1 sack.
     Bill Belichick was happy with his defense making big plays all day and had this to say about Chandler Jones' play. "We had Chandler Jones with the strip sack and fumble recovery so that was a huge play in the game."
     Belichick also had this to offer about his two rookies today. "I think both players have recently done a good job of that. They're both smart. They've worked hard. And they've both been out there, they've both gotten a lot of reps on the field. So that's always a good way to learn, to experience it, go through it, make a mistake, correct it, and go out there and do it again and get it right. There is a lot to be said for that, and those guys -- really, a lot of our young players -- have had the opportunity to do that. That's been positive."
He ended saying, "Those two guys, they've done a good job there."
     Chandler Jones and the Patriots are back in action next Sunday against the Cardinals.

10 Former Orange Ready For NFL Season

     Then there were 10. That is the number of players Syracuse has on NFL rosters this season. Here is our yearly preview on each player in the league.

Steve Gregory, Safety, New England Patriots
-Gregory was brought in to provide a boost to the Patriots underwhelming defense. He intercepted a pass this preseason and is poised to make an impact. Expect him to put up solid numbers in his first year in New England.

Chandler Jones, Defensive End, New England Patriots
-Jones has been predicted by several media persons to be the defensive rookie of the year. The first-round pick will start at end in the revamped Patriots defense. Expect him to come close to double digit sacks.

Jameel McClain, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
-McClain re-signed with the Ravens after becoming a free agent in the offseason. He had his best season as a pro a year ago. Expect him to be even better this year. Don't be surprised if he finds himself in the Pro Bowl.

Arthur Jones, Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens
-Chandler's big brother should start for Baltimore this year. He played sparingly for the Ravens last year. Expect him to become a solid addition to the perennially great Ravens' defense.

 Dwight Freeney, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
-No, that is not a typo. Freeney is becoming a linebacker in the new look 3-4 Colts defense. He will be a pass rushing linebacker the majority of the time. Expect him to come near double digit sacks.

Delone Carter, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
-Carter played well in his rookie season, but fell out of favor with coaches after he had a fumbling problem. Carter was injured early in preseason. He should get a few carries in Indy, but playing time may be hard to come by.

Curtis Brinkley, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
-Brinkley had a solid year in a backup role last season. He will retain that role and should provide a good spark to the Chargers' offense.

Doug Hogue, Linebacker, Detroit Lions
-Hogue had a very impressive preseason where he was third in tackles in the NFL. Hogue will play on special teams and will play if any of the Detroit linebackers go down with injury.

Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-Williams had a mediocre year after a great rookie season in Tampa. New addition Vincent Jackson should draw plenty of coverage off of Williams. Do not be surprised if Williams puts up Pro Bowl worthy numbers this year.

Quinn Ojinnaka, Guard, St. Louis Rams
-Ojinnaka played for the Colts last year and did not play much. He signed as a free agent with St. Louis and earned a starting job in camp.

Other former Syracuse players that are on IR: Will Allen, Andrew Tiller, Ryan Durand
Suspended: Tanard Jackson
Exempt: Tony Fiammetta

15 Former Orange Survive First Round Of Cuts

     The first round of NFL cuts took place this past weekend. 15 former Syracuse Orange players made it past the first cut. Unfortunately others were not so lucky. Here is a quick rundown of players currently on NFL rosters.
-Steve Gregory, Safety, New England Patriots
     Gregory has had a solid preseason and looks to be the starting safety for the New England Patriots.
-Chandler Jones, Defensive End, New England Patriots
     Jones achieved his first NFL sack against Tampa Bay and figures to have many more. He will start for the Patriots and is mentioned among the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
-Kevyn Scott, Defensive Back, Miami Dolphins
     Scott is an undrafted free agent trying to make the team. He was considered a long shot by many, but a solid camp has kept him on the roster thus far.
-Dorian Graham, Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens
     Graham, also an undrafted free agent, has been a solid surprise for Baltimore. He has played sparingly, but well for the Ravens. His unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.2 seconds excited several teams.
-Arthur Jones, Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens
     Jones has overcome injuries in camp and figures to be the starter come opening day.
-Jameel McClain, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
     McClain re-signed with the Ravens after becoming a free agent in the offseason. He will start for Baltimore and do not be surprised to see him in the Pro Bowl this season.
-Delone Carter, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
     Carter has overcome a rib injury and figures to get a decent amount of playing time for the Colts. He is attempting to become the backup for starter Donald Brown.
-Dwight Freeney, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
     Freeney is in his first season as linebacker for the Colts after the team switched to a 3-4 defense. He will start and looks to continue being the sackmaster in the AFC.
-Ryan Durand, Guard, Tennessee Titans
     Durand has spent bits and pieces of the last couple seasons with the Titans. This year he hopes to make it on the roster full-time as a reserve lineman.
-Curtis Brinkley, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
     Brinkley had a very good first preseason game against the Packers, scoring a touchdown. Since he has played sparingly, but nonetheless figures to get plenty of playing time out of the backfield in San Diego.
-Tanard Jackson, Safety, Washington Redskins
     Jackson spent his whole career up until this season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He signed as a reserve in Washington, but a solid preseason so far could be cause for a starting job for Jackson.
-Phillip Thomas, Defensive Back, Philadelphia Eagles
     Thomas is another undrafted free agent looking to make a team. He had an excellent game last week and with another fine performance in game 4 could find himself with a roster spot.
-Doug Hogue, Linebacker, Detroit Lions
      Hogue was used little last season in Detroit. This season he has made a case for more playing time. He has had 16 tackles so far in the preseason.
-Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
     Williams will be the starter this year for the Bucs. Newly signed Vincent Jackson should draw plenty of coverage away from him and offer him a chance to become a superstar.
-Quinn Ojinnaka, Offensive Line, St. Louis Rams
     Ojinnaka has started each of the 3 games for the Rams and will most likely be the starter on opening day.
     The following players were released by their respective teams: Derrell Smith-Texans, Mike Holmes-Jaguars, Aaron Weaver-Chiefs, Antwon Bailey-Redskins, Olindo Mare-Panthers, and Micheal Hay-Rams.
     The following were placed on IR or Exempt lists: Tony Fiammetta-Patriots, Andrew Tiller-Saints, Will Allen-Patriots.

NFL Weekend Preseason Preview: Syracuse Style

      Preseason continues to roll along with most teams playing their third game. Playing time is usually tough to come by for some reserves in week 3. Most teams will play their starters for the majority of the game. Here is a quick look at where the former Syracuse players will be this week:

Jacksonville vs. Baltimore 7:30PM Thursday

-Mike Holmes looks to see his first action of the preseason at cornerback for the Jaguars. Arthur Jones and Jameel McClain are expected to start for the Ravens. Dorian Graham will continue to get opportunities at wide receiver for Baltimore. 

Arizona vs. Tennessee 8PM Thursday

-Guard Ryan Durand will continue to fight for a roster spot for the Titans. 

Philadelphia vs. Cleveland 7:30PM Friday

-Defensive back Phillip Thomas should continue to see time on special teams and possibly on defense for the Eagles. 

Atlanta vs. Miami 7:30PM Friday

-Cornerback Kevyn Scott should continue to see some playing time as he fights to make the Dolphins roster.

New England vs. Tampa Bay 7:30PM Friday

-Chandler Jones and Steve Gregory are expected to start for the Patriots. Cornerback Will Allen will try to continue his impressive preseason as he fights to become the Patriots nickle corner. Wide receiver Mike Williams should start for the Buccaneers. Williams only catch last week was for a touchdown. 

Seattle vs. Kansas City 8PM Friday

-Wide receiver Aaron Weaver will look to see some playing time after not playing in last week's game. 

San Diego vs. Minnesota 8PM Friday

-Chargers running back Curtis Brinkley will continue to get time as the backup running back. 

Indianapolis vs. Washington 4PM Saturday

-Running back Antwon Bailey looks to redeem himself after fumbling last week for the Redskins. He will look to continue to see some carries. Safety Tanard Jackson should see more time at safety for Washington. Linebacker Dwight Freeney should start for the Colts. Delone Carter may play after sitting out last week with an injury. 

Detroit vs. Oakland 7PM Saturday

-Linebacker Doug Hogue leads the Lions with 15 tackles this preseason. Look for him to continue to shine for Detroit. 

St. Louis vs. Dallas 8PM Saturday

-Guard Quinn Ojinnaka will start for the Rams. 

Houston vs. New Orleans 8PM Saturday

-Fullback Derrell Smith will see time on special teams and at fullback for the Texans. 

Carolina vs. New York Jets 8PM Sunday

-Kicker Olindo Mare will continue his battle for the job against Justin Medlock. He should continue to see half of the kicking workload. 

Donte Greene Agrees To Sign With Brooklyn Nets

   
     According to Marc J. Spears former Syracuse forward Donte Greene has agreed in principle to sign a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Greene played the last four seasons with the Sacramento Kings. Last season he average 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 53 games.
     Greene played one season at Syracuse, but it was a spectacular season. The 6'11" forward averaged 17.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He entered the NBA draft in 2008 and was drafted 28th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.

      Playing time could be tough to come by in Brooklyn. With the recent acquisition of Joe Johnson and the resigning of Gerald Wallace, the small forward position is stacked for the Nets. The Nets kickoff their preseason on October 13th against the Philadelphia 76ers.