Shutdown Corner - NFL

Andre Caldwell(notes), Kick Returner, Cincinnati Bengals. Andre Caldwell has made some big catches for the Bengals this season, but I'm afraid that yesterday's boner trumps them all. Raiders special-teamer Brandon Myers(notes) poked the ball away from him and recovered it. Sebastian Janikowski(notes) came on, buried the winning field goal, and that was that. Of course, if you're the Bengals, there's no reason you should be in a close game with the Raiders to begin with, but being good is new to the Bengals, too. They'll get the hang of it.

Hank Poteat(notes), Cornerback, Cleveland Browns. When Matthew Stafford(notes) scrambled out of the pocket before his desperation heave into the endzone yesterday, Hank Poteat thought, "Hey, I better not let Calvin Johnson(notes) catch this." That part was good. But Hank Poteat also thought, "If the quarterback leaves the pocket, it's okay for me to run around and indiscriminately tackle wide receivers at my own whim. Wheee!" Unfortunately, this rule exists only in Hank Poteat's head. He shoved Calvin Johnson out of the back of the endzone, got flagged for it, and Stafford made the Browns pay.

Chris Simms(notes), Quarterback, Denver Broncos. Kyle Orton's(notes) ankle wasn't healthy enough for football activity yesterday, so the Broncos started Chris Simms. By halftime, Josh McDaniels decided that a one-legged Kyle Orton was a better option than Chris Simms. The Broncos still got pounded, but Simms was bad enough for McDaniels to decide that it was worth risking the long-term health of his starting quarterback. I never understood why McDaniels didn't go back to Simms when it was clear that the game was decided, though.

Mark Sanchez(notes), Quarterback, New York Jets. The up-and-down season continues for the rookie quarterback, with yesterday being his second worst game of the season. Sanchez completely Jamarcus'd out against the Patriots, going 8-of-21, with four interceptions and just one touchdown. When it was all said and done, his quarterback rating in the game was 64 points lower than it was in his first outing against the Patriots.

Brandon Gibson(notes), WR, St. Louis Rams. Gibson dropped a pass in the endzone that would've given the Rams a chance to tie the Cardinals and force overtime. Here's a related stat for you: Tied for the lead this week in times targeted were Wes Welker(notes) and Brandon Gibson, both with 17. Welker had 15 catches. Gibson had five. I'm sure Marc Bulger(notes) shares a lot of the blame on that, but it's still an awful, awful percentage.

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  1. me me me
    1. Posted by me me me Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:38 pm EST

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    even when jemarcus doesn't play, he still gets a little bit of loving in this section...and i like that a lot
  2. macario.caddigan
    2. Posted by macario.caddigan Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:46 pm EST

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    I remember suggesting using "JaMarcus" as an adjective in one of your Monday Night Live Blogs. I'm sure I'm not the only one to have suggested that, and I'm sure you thought of it long ago (It's certainly not very original), but I'll still take a bit of perhaps unwarranted pride at that. I helped a world-famous blogger come up with an insulting phrase to the biggest QB bust since Ryan Leaf. Something I'll tell my grandkids about.
    Hank Poteat was just playing to the level the Browns always strive to play to. That isn't very high, unfortunately.
  3. Joe
    3. Posted by Joe Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:49 pm EST

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    hey...Hank Poteat just made up a new rule...I like it...then all you would have to do is shove everyone out of bounds and last one standing in bounds wins. yeah right
  4. The Unsilent Majority
    4. Posted by The Unsilent Majority Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:51 pm EST

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    "When it was all said and done, his quarterback rating in the game was 64 points lower than it was in his first outing against the Patriots."
    Sanchez only had a 65 QB Rating in their first meeting?
  5. brian b
    5. Posted by brian b Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:52 pm EST

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    Sanchez is a bust
  6. Anrkist
    6. Posted by Anrkist Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:54 pm EST

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    No Roy Williams?
  7. brian b
    7. Posted by brian b Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:04 pm EST

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    The order of busts. leaf, sanchez, russell, smith.
  8. drusalan
    8. Posted by drusalan Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:04 pm EST

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    You are today and everydays least valuable player MJD.
  9. YGM
    9. Posted by YGM Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:29 pm EST

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    i could catch better than gibson. GO PATS!!!
  10. James C
    10. Posted by James C Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:31 pm EST

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    I can stop watching my beloved Bronies as they acored enough points to take them to the end of the season.
  11. Sports are just a game calm down
    11. Posted by Sports are just a game calm down Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:31 pm EST

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    "completely Jamarcus'd out" lolz
  12. macario.caddigan
    12. Posted by macario.caddigan Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:31 pm EST

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    I think it's far too early to call Sanchez a bust. Maybe if he's still playing with such hit-and-miss tendencies in two or three seasons the discussion is move valid, but for now, it's just a shaky rookie season, as rookie seasons tend to be. Can't argue on Leaf and JaMarcus, and Smith seems like he isn't capable of shedding his title of bust, either.
  13. Sports are just a game calm down
    13. Posted by Sports are just a game calm down Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:32 pm EST

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    #9 drusalan
    I concur!
  14. YGM
    14. Posted by YGM Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:33 pm EST

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    and brian b, mr. alex smith is actually kickn @$$ on the niners now. GO PATS!!!
  15. alldayjay
    15. Posted by alldayjay Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:00 pm EST

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    The broncos should have went to their 3rd string quarterback. He looked really good in preseason, and at least has the gumption to try to make a play!
  16. ncdolfan13
    16. Posted by ncdolfan13 Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:21 pm EST

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    The Dolphins can learn from this! If they want Ted Ginn to catch 5 balls, target him 17 times! Brilliant!
  17. Eddy
    17. Posted by Eddy Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:43 pm EST

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    Remove Sanchez from the list.They should replace him with his teammate Darrelle Revis. He has been doing good lately.
  18. Free Candy
    18. Posted by Free Candy Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:26 pm EST

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    I would add the entire Steelers Special Teams to this list.
  19. brian b
    19. Posted by brian b Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:01 pm EST

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    Sanchez is an official bust. I don't think Russel has had a five turnover game let alone two in one year. That's Ryan Leafesque.
  20. brian b
    20. Posted by brian b Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:04 pm EST

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    Smith isn't kicking ass but he is doing a lot better. Sometimes a little bench goes along way. Look at Vince Young.
  21. john@...
    21. Posted by john@... Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:04 pm EST

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    Why isn't Suisham on this list?
  22. ©
    22. Posted by © Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:26 pm EST

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    "but I'm afraid that yesterday's boner trumps them all." I didn't know you got that watching football dude.
  23. codydog1959
    23. Posted by codydog1959 Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:31 am EST

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    Sanchez a bust after 10 games? How many great QB's had a great rookie year? Very very few of them. It's hard to call Russell a bust in such a bad organization, but he's getting close. And the fade to Gibson was not dropped. It was an underthrown pass and the defender got a hand on it. Before you start dissing people nationally, MJD, you should look at some tape.
  24. mattscarpenter
    24. Posted by mattscarpenter Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 am EST

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    I think Sanchez needed another year in college. It does however look like Stafford might be the genuine article. My list of QB busts: Ryan Leaf, Jeff George, Rick Mirer, Dan McGwire, Akili Smith, Jamarcus(who cares about the spelling), every Detroit QB this decade befroe Stafford, etc.
  25. brian b
    25. Posted by brian b Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:59 am EST

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    Sanchez is a bust. I don't even think Ryan Leaf had 5 turnovers in one game twice in one year.

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