NFL news: Around the league in 32 plays
By Ben Almquist
The Cowboys have long been a hated team in the NFL, but the saga surrounding Greg Hardy makes a lot of it warranted. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys: Things may be unraveling in Dallas. On the sideline of last week’s loss to the Giants, star players Dez Bryant and Greg Hardy got into a heated verbal altercation. Even worse is how the Cowboys are handling this. Hardy was reportedly late for practices last week, but will not receive any kind of punishment. In fact, owner Jerry Jones took up for Hardy after the game. Even worse, the Cowboys are supposedly talking about an extension for Hardy.
Detroit Lions: The Lions have started making some big changes. The team fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, and promoted quarterback coach Jim Bob Cooter. The change comes after the Lions offense simply hasn’t been able to get anything going, even somehow managing to marginalize Calvin Johnson (seriously, check out Megatron’s numbers compared to Jeremy Maclin).
Chiefs’ take
: A couple of reasons to be interested in this. First, the Chiefs face off against the Lions this week. While I think Detroit made the right move, I doubt it pays off early. A new offensive system takes time to learn. Second, if Jim Bob Cooter’s name sounds familiar (and I don’t know how it couldn’t), that’s because he spent time as a quality control coach for the Chiefs in 2012.
Well, you can’t say Ryan Mallett didn’t bring a definitive end to the QB competition in Houston. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans: Things couldn’t be any worse in Houston right now. The weekend started off with backup quarterback Ryan Mallet missing the team flight to Miami. While he claims it was due to traffic, it reeks of a poor attitude and seems quite the coincidence that it comes right after being benched when you consider what happened the last time he was named the backup. To make matters worse, the Texans lost running back Arian Foster for the year. On top of all of this, there are issues in the front office that range from head coach Bill O’Brien being overruled by general manager Rick Smith on cutting Mallet…who then apparently bowed out to pressure when that news broke, owner Bob McNair apparently ready to move on from Arian Foster, and both O’Brien and Smith now being on the hot seat.
- Chiefs’ take: Suddenly things don’t look quite so bad in KC, now do they?
Indianapolis Colts: Yet another team that is falling apart, the Colts leadership is quickly turning against one another with both head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson now on the hot seat. To add to the fire, questionable draft pick Phillip Dorsett will be out for at least a month with a leg fracture.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have cut former Chiefs linebacker James Michael Johnson.
Chiefs’ take
: Despite starting much of the season for the Chiefs last year, it appears that most teams view JMJ as a quick injury replacement rather than a potential starter.
Next: The Chiefs do the right thing