Atlanta Falcons 11/02/2007 7:58 AMThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports in a few tumultuous months, the Atlanta Falcons have gone from a franchise that claimed to have 90,000 fans on a season-ticket waiting list to a franchise that won't be allowed to televise this week's game because of insufficient ticket demand. The Falcons said Thursday that their game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Georgia Dome on Sunday will be blacked out on Atlanta television because it did not sell out 72 hours in advance as required by the NFL's television policy. The game will be the Falcons' first in six years to be blacked out, and it is the latest indication of the jarring hit that the team's business has taken in the aftermath of the QB Michael Vick dogfighting scandal.Read more
Denver Broncos 11/02/2007 7:54 AMThe Denver Post reports DE Jarvis Moss is young, and it can be assumed the bulk of his football playing days are ahead of him. The severe right ankle and leg injury he suffered during practice Thursday will sideline the Broncos' rookie defensive end only for the rest of this season. WR Rod Smith is 37, so he might not be so lucky. The Broncos' all-time leading receiver is confronting the probability his playing career is over.Read more
Denver Broncos 11/02/2007 7:53 AMThe Denver Post reports a decision on RB Travis Henry's future continues to be pushed back. An NFL spokesman confirmed Henry's league appeal is set to be heard Nov. 16 in New York, but like the previous assigned date, it could be moved back again. His appeal for a possible suspension for a positive drug test previously had been set for Monday. The current appeal date is scheduled three days before Denver hosts Tennessee, the team Henry played for before signing with Denver as a free agent. Henry's future with the Broncos might not be decided until weeks after the NFL hearing date. Henry, 28, has rushed for 549 yards on 119 carries this season, his first with the Broncos. He signed a five-year deal in April with $12 million in bonuses.Read more
Cincinnati Bengals 11/02/2007 7:51 AMThe Dayton Daily News reports QB Carson Palmer will settle for the new Chad Johnson â the suddenly subdued, mellow, quiet, reserved wide receiver. But the Bengals quarterback prefers throwing to the old Chad Johnson â the animated, intense, flamboyant, dancing, pass-catching machine. Johnson's split personality will be on display at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday when the Bengals face the Buffalo Bills. "I like the louder Chad â the more confident (player), talking trash in people's ears about different things," Palmer said. "But it's hard to be like that 24/7. "It's hard to have that much energy, especially when you're depressed about the way the season's going. It's hard to come in fired up when you're not 7-0 or 8-0 like some of the teams in this league."Read more
