Rookies running wild An NFL-record 10 rookie running backs have had at least one 100-yard rushing game this season. Bears second-round draft pick Matt Forte leads the way with three of the 14 100-yard games, including a season-high 132 yards in a 27-3 victory over the Rams on Sunday.
Superfreak is happy again Asked about Matt Cassel's second consecutive 400-yard passing game in New England's 48-28 victory at Miami, Patriots receiver Randy Moss said, "He's playing some hellified ball." Cassel said he had no idea he had joined Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, Phil Simms and Billy Volek as the only players with consecutive 400-yard passing games. "That's a pretty cool stat," he said. By the way, Cassel's two 400-yard passing games gives him one more than a man named [Tom] Brady.
Sparano has hands full with Porter Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter leads the NFL in sacks with 14 1/2 and pain-in-the-rump moments for Miami rookie head coach Tony Sparano. Having run his mouth nonstop all season, Porter took his bad behavior to a new level on the field Sunday. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct on consecutive plays late in the fourth quarter. Sparano tried to pull Porter from the game, but Porter ordered his replacement, Charlie Anderson, back to the sideline. Sparano should bench him for one game. With a trip to St. Louis on Sunday, now is the perfect time to do it.
McNabb's days numbered Speculation has begun in Philadelphia that quarterback Donovan McNabb is playing his final games for the Eagles and will be jettisoned after the season. McNabb was benched at halftime of Sunday's game against Baltimore. He had turned the ball over three times and had a passer rating of 13.2, but the Eagles trailed only 10-7 in a game they went on to lose 36-7 with Kevin Kolb finishing the game at QB. Eagles coach Andy Reid named McNabb the starter for Thursday's game against Arizona. Reid pointed to McNabb's six turnovers in the past two weeks as the reason he sat him for the second half. "Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward in a positive way, and Donovan will do that," Reid said. "I expect him to go out and play his heart out. I think I know Donovan McNabb better than anybody in this room. Six turnovers, that's not him. That's not his game. That's not any part of his game." Asked if McNabb would finish the season as the starter, Reid said, "As I sit here right now, he's my starting quarterback." When asked about being benched, McNabb, who turns 32 today, said, "My first reaction was, 'Wow.'"
