Green Out 2 More Weeks - At Least!

Kansas City quarterback Trent Green says the severe concussion that left him unconscious on Sept. 10 will keep him sidelined at least two more weeks.

Speaking with Kansas City reporters for the first time since the head-snapping hit in the season opener, the two-time Pro Bowler said that he's feeling much better and finally able to drive a car. He may even join the Chiefs on the sideline for their game against San Francisco.

"It's just a day-to-day, week-to-week thing. That is what the doctor told me my last visit last week, to not expect anything other than that," he said.

Terrell Owens Denied That He Attempted Suicide

UPDATE: The AP reports that Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens denied a police report Wednesday that he attempted suicide, saying he became groggy after mixing painkillers with supplements.

As if to prove he's doing fine, Owens went from the hospital to catching passes from quarterback Drew Bledsoe within two hours, then proclaimed himself "very capable of going out there and playing on Sunday" -- despite whatever happened Tuesday night and a broken right hand.

Owens said the confusion likely stemmed from an empty bottle of pain medication found by his publicist, who was with him at the time and called 911. He said the rest of the pills were in a drawer.

"I was non-responsive when she made that call," Owens said. "She made the call out of her judgment for my well-being."

Appearing in a news conference at team headquarters a few hours after leaving a hospital for what a police report described as "a drug overdose," Owens wore workout gear and no bandage on his right hand. The star receiver smiled and seemed more amused than peeved at the latest ruckus surrounding him.

Police Report Terrell Owens Attempted Suicide

The AP is reporting that Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide by overdosing on pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after fire rescue personnel arrived.

A Dallas police report released Wednesday morning said Owens told rescue workers "that he was depressed." The report was first released by WFAA-TV.

The rescue worker "noticed that (his) prescription pain medication was empty and observed (Owens) putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

The worker attempted to pry them out with her fingers, then was told by Owens that before this incident he'd taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied. The worker then asked Owens "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time (he) stated, "Yes."

Seahawks' Alexander Out with Broken Foot

League MVP Shaun Alexander has a broken left foot and will be lost to the Seattle Seahawks for at least two weeks.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that a bone scan revealed Alexander sustained a "small crack" and "displaced fracture" on a non-weight-bearing bone in his foot sometime during the Seahawks 42-30 win over the New York Giants on Sunday.

Holmgren said last season's NFL rushing leader was on crutches inside team headquarters Monday.

"You lose the MVP for a while, it's a hit," Holmgren said. "Let's face it, he's the MVP. We're not going to sugarcoat it."

Denver Status

Broncos inactives include:

• RB Cedric Cobbs (ankle)
• DE Courtney Brown (knee)

New England Status

Patriots inactives include:

• WR Chad Jackson
• OT Nick Kaczur (shoulder)

Also, QB Tom Brady (right shoulder) will start while WR Doug Gabriel (hamstring) is active and expected to play.

Droughns & Stallworth Inactive

Browns RB Reuben Droughns (shoulder) and Eagles WR Donte' Stallworth (hamstring) will both be inactive today. Of course if you were a StatLeader member and checked The Final Countdown, you would have known that half an hour ago.

What Are You Missing?

Below is an example of what our members have already seen on The Final Countdown. Join today and you could be seeing our team-by-team pregame player status reports too.

Carolina Status - Smith to Start

WR Steve Smith (hamstring) will start today for Carolina. RB Nick Goings (thigh) and WR Drew Carter (finger) are active and expected to play.

Panthers inactives include:

• MLB Dan Morgan (concussion)
• SS Shaun Williams (foot)
• C Justin Hartwig (thigh)

Week 3 Final Countdown is Now Active

Last minute player status for members is now available on The Final Countdown. Just click on the link above.

Fantasy Football Injury Status

Shaun Alexander will start for the Seahawks on Sunday against the New York Giants despite a sore left foot. The league MVP practiced for the first time this week on Friday. Coach Mike Holmgren then fulfilled Alexander's promise to play from the day before.

Carolina Panthers All-Pro receiver Steve Smith practiced for the second straight day Friday as he recovers from a strained right hamstring. "He looked good," said coach John Fox, who indicated it will be a game-time decision if Smith plays Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Laveranues Coles was limited again in practice Friday because of an unspecified calf injury, and remained questionable for the New York Jets' game at Buffalo on Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could be without starting receiver Matt Jones at Indianapolis. Jones, who has 11 catches for a team-high 144 yards, missed a second consecutive day of practice Thursday and remained questionable for the AFC South matchup.

Additional Saturday updates are currently posted on The Final Countdown. Remember, for the last minute lineup issues, including the status of "game-time decisions" - visit StatLeader's "The Final Countdown" all day Sunday!

Also, a reminder that the Week 3 projections are currently available on the member side.

Week 3 Injury Report

The Early Week 3 injury report is now posted on The Final Countdown located on the member side.

Broken Hand Puts Terrell Owners Out 2-4 Weeks

IRVING, Texas - Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens suffered a broken bone in his right hand Sunday early in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Washington Redskins, just two weeks after announcing he had fully recovered from an injured hamstring he suffered in training camp.

Owens broke the fourth metacarpal, according to team doctors, the long bone on the back of his hand that leads into the ring finger. He is expected to undergo surgery either Monday or Tuesday, with doctors expected to place pins and a plate in his hand to help facilitate the healing. He likely will be out two to four weeks.

"I feel like I'm a quick healer, and it starts tomorrow," Owens said after the game. "Once we have the surgery, the healing process starts."

The fractured bone might have been a reason Owens had a couple of drops and couldn't hold on to what appeared to be an eight-yard touchdown grab on the Cowboys' first series of the game when Washington nickel safety Mike Rumph was able to pry the ball out at the last second.

Owens even admitted the injury may have led to that incompletion.

The Cowboys have a Week 3 bye - and with the Eagles upcoming in Week 5, you can bet T.O. will be doing his best to be ready.

Branch Signs Six-year Deal with Seahawks

Deion Branch, WR signed a reported six-year $39 million dollar contract with the Seattle Seahawks. The deal came one day after the New England Patriots traded the disgruntled wide receiver.

Branch has been on a 45 day hold out - missing the entire pre-season and the first regular season game.

Branch will receive $13 million in a bonus and other guarantees, according to a person in the league close to the negotiations who requested anonymity because the terms had not yet been announced. About $23 million is due to Branch over the first three years of the deal.

Chiefs QB Green Out Indefinitely with Concussion

NFL.COM reports that Trent Green sustained a "very, very severe concussion" when his head was slammed into the ground by Cincinnati's Robert Geathers and will be hospitalized at least until Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs said.

"He's feeling much better," Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. "But he has a very kind-sized headache. Hopefully he'll be able to go home tomorrow."

The two-time Pro bowl quarterback will be listed as questionable this week at Denver. Peterson said he didn't know when Green might return.

The Final Countdow Continues

Player status reports for the afternoon games are now being posted on the member side.

Bucs Release WR Boston

NFL.COM reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released receiver David Boston and promoted tackle Scott Jackson from the practice squad to the active roster to address a lack of depth on the offensive line.

Boston is attempting a comeback after missing most of the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins because of knee injuries. The one-time Pro Bowl performer signed with the Bucs in May, impressed coach Jon Gruden during offseason workouts and training camp and was one of seven receivers who survived final cuts a week ago.

Reminder: Final Countdown Today

Just a reminder to our members that today's edition of The Final Countdown will begin a noon eastern and continuee through the start of the late game tonight.

The Final Countdown provides you with the latest player status including any inactives of not. To get there just click on the link above or to the right.

Steelers' Defense Saves the Day

Despite Willie Parker's 115 yards rushing, TE Heath Miller's 101 yards receiving and Batch's first three-TD game - it took the tenacious Pittsburgh defense to keep Daunte Culpepper and the Miami Dolphins from handing the defending Super Bowl Champion's a loss.

Miami, down 21-17 at the time, had a chance to come back. But quarterback Daunte Culpepper was intercepted on consecutive series, with linebacker Joey Porter scoring on a 42-yard return with about three minutes left.

Fantasy Football StatLeaders of the Game:

1. Charlie Batch, QB - Steelers: 209 passing yards, 3 passing TDs
2. Ronnie Brown, RB - Miami: 2 rushing TDs
3. Willie Parker, RB - Steelers: 115 rushing yards
4. Heath Miller, TE - Steelers: 101 receiving yards, 1 TD

Final Countdown Is Active

The Final Countdown is now active for tonight's Steelers - Dolphins game. Members, you can access the Final Countdown by clicking on the link above.

Final Countdown Starts Tonight

One of the services we provide to our members is a pre-game update on player status. We do this starting one hour prior to the start of virtually every NFL game, be they early Sunday, late Sunday, Monday night, or, yes even Thursday.

Join us tonight on "The Final Countdown" starting at 7:30 PM Eastern (4:30 at the beach, dudes) for the latest player information on the Steelers-Dolphins game.

Just clicl on "the Final Countdown" link at the top of the page. See you there.

Fantasy Football Injury Update

Is your fantasy football season already at risk? Sometimes it feels that way once the injury report gets issued!

Fantasy Football Injury Update:

Steve Smith, WR - Panthers: Tweaked hamstring has the Panthers' best wide receiver questionable for their opener against Atlanta.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB - Steelers: Out for Week 1.

Terrell Owens, WR - Cowboys: Looks like T.O. managed to turn a phantom hamstring into more pre-season rest - looks like he is ready to go!

Adam Vinatieri, PK - Colts: Looks like the Colts may start to get a return on that 12 million dollar contract!

The StatLeader Secret

Members over the past two seasons have received our game specific weekly point projections. +/- ranges, and an our ever increasing amount of statistical data to help them in their leagues.

Add to this our members-only pre-game reports on "The Final Countdown" and you have a nifty 17 week deal (not to mention the draft package).

For 2006, however, members will be receiving a special bonus. What's in this bonus? Well, that's the StatLeader secret. Check over on the member side shortly to see what it is.

And the Countdown Begins

Preseason is over and we are finally ready for Week 1. Some player information of note:

• As Mister2 noted yesterday, "Big" Ben will miss the Steelers opener with Charlie Batch filling in. Also, Hines Ward is expected to start.

• Also out for this week is Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens.

• Bears RB Cedrick Benson will be sidelined with Thomas Jones getting the start in his place.

• Wali Lundy will start at RB for Houston

• "Fragile" Fred Taylor looks to be a go for week 1.
  

Players you shouldn't have on your roster:

• Domanick Davis
• Greg Jones
• Najeh Davenport
• Ron Dayne
• Adrian McPherson
• Lee Suggs
• Zach Hilton
• Charles Rogers

By the way 2, nice draft yesterday. Too bad it won't help you in week 1 :p

Roethlisberger Has Emergency Appendectomy

The NFL is reporting that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had emergency surgery after becoming ill shortly after practice.

"The surgery went well," Cowher said. "He is obviously going to be out this week and we will go week to week from there." The appendectomy was Roethlisberger's second surgery in 2-1/2 months and third surgery in 10 months.

The 2007 season will begin without the Steelers starting QB and potentially their star WR - as Hines Ward is still listed as questionable due to a pulled hamstring. Charlie Batch (2-0 in a fill-in roll last season) will start at QB this week.

Davis on IR, Perry on PUP

Worst fears for those who have already drafted, Texans RB Domanick Davis has been placed on the IR. If you need to pick up a starting RB, consider Wali Lundy who will now take over that role for Houston.

Also,

Bengals RB Chris Perry has been placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list.

The Broncos released RB Ron Dayne and WR Darius Watts.

Detroit has dumped oft injured WR Charles Rogers.

Cleveland released WR Frisman Jackson. Also, note that with RB William Green on the IR and RB Lee Suggs released, it looks like Jerome Harrison will be backing up Reuben Droughns at RB.