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Paul Domowitch: Rosenhaus may be deal breaker for DeSean Jackson
Paul Domowitch: Rosenhaus may be deal breaker for DeSean Jackson
** To Ram-tough Rams cornerback Ron Bartell, who hasn't missed a game this season despite being hobbled by a painful thigh injury for the last 2 months. Considering that his team is 1-7, considering that he's fairly secure after signing a 4-year, $28 million contract extension during the offseason, the natural thing for him to do would be to take a few weeks off and let his thigh heal. Not Bartell.
"I felt like this team needs me, just like we need everybody," he said. "I felt like I was good enough to play, despite the leg. But I have to play better. I chose to play and try to fight through it. I have to play better regardless of how it feels. I'm expected to play at a certain level and I haven't been playing at that level."
Bartell's "you gotta play hurt" attitude is admirable, particularly when you look at another NFL cornerback, perpetually-injured ex-Eagle Lito Sheppard, who has missed five of the last six games for the Jets with the very same injury as Bartell.
Thumbs down
** To the NFL Players Association who felt the need this week to e-mail a statement to reporters from executive director DeMaurice Smith extending his condolences to the families of the victims of the Fort Hood incident. What happened in Texas was a tragedy, but we really don't need to hear from the NFL's union chief on this. Football-related issues, yes. Mass murders, no.
Ever since Smith was elected the NFLPA's executive director last March, he has acted more like a politician running for office than a guy who's supposed to be trying to get a new labor deal done. His release-happy PR people have had him weigh in on a number of nonfootball-related issues, with the only apparent purpose being to get his name in the news. Any day now, I'm expecting the union to issue a statement from Smith on Josh Duhamel allegedly cheating on Fergie.
DOMO'S RANKINGS
1. Colts (8-0)
2. Saints (8-0)
3. Vikings (7-1)
4. Patriots (6-2)
5. Steelers (6-2)
6. Bengals (6-2)
7. Broncos (6-2
8. Falcons (5-3)
9. Chargers (5-3
10. Cowboys (6-2)
