MVN: Most Valuable Network

Roy Williams has more to be thankful for than most in the NFL. A month ago, before he was traded to Dallas, he was stuck in the purgatory known as Detroit. On Thanksgiving, Williams' former team, the 0-12 Lions, was shellacked by the Titans 47-10. His current team, the 8-4 Cowboys, remains in playoff contention after a 34-9 trouncing of the Seahawks.

 

Jim Haslett's bank account will be $20,000 lighter for cussing during a disputed play. Fined for cussing, are you kidding me? Cussing is a part of football, from Pop Warner all the way through to the NFL. The league claimed Haslett was cussing at an official; Haslett claimed he wasn't cussing the official, that he simply yelled, "get off the @#$%^&* ball." 

 

The league also fined Patriots T Matt Light and Dolphins LB Channing Crowder $15,000 each for fighting. I'm surprised they received equal punishment since Light seemed to be the one out of line. He was the one throwing the punches and Crowder was on the receiving end. Light is lucky he wasn't suspended.

 

Browns owner Randy Lerner said he'll wait until January before making a decision on the status of coach Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage. It doesn't bode well for either of them that Lerner believes the 4-7 Browns have the talent to win.

 

 

After conflicting reports and several medical opinions, Brady Quinn is going on the Browns injured reserve list. Coach Romeo Crennel has really mishandled the quarterback controversy in Cleveland. He benched former starter Derek Anderson in favor of Quinn, then yanked Quinn last week to insert Anderson. On Sunday, Crennel said he didn't know who his future starter would be, and on Monday, he said it would be Quinn. So what does he say to Anderson now? "I have all the confidence in the world in you" or "You're the best I've got left, so just go out there and do the best you can"? 

 

The circus continues. Crennel has now named Quinn as the starting quarterback for 2009. That's quite a bit premature for several reasons, especially since Crennel is on the hot seat and may not be coaching the Browns next year.

 

Matt Cassell is going to be a rich man next spring. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent but there is talk of the Patriots franchising him, which could cost them $14 million for just one year, which would hamper the Pats elsewhere. The Boston Herald's Ron Borges has a good take on the situation.

 

Michael Vick entered a guilty plea as part of a plea-bargain agreement, clearing the way for his attempt to return to the NFL after his release from prison next year. Vick is still under contract to the Falcons, whose owner, Arthur Blank, doesn't want him back. Vick must hope that commissioner Roger Goodell will approve his reinstatement request and then hope the Falcons will trade or release him.

 

 

The Saints are hoping Reggie Bush will be able to play in this week's crucial division matchup with Tampa Bay. Bush, who has missed four games with a torn meniscus, watched his teammates put 51 big ones on the scoreboard Monday night. The 6-5 Saints are still in the thick of the NFC South race.

 

Redskins MLB London Fletcher may not play against the Giants on Sunday, if coach Jim Zorn's concerns are warranted. Fletcher and DE Andre Carter both are questionable with foot injuries.

 

The Giants practiced without Plaxico Burress, Fred Robbins, Ahmad Bradshaw and Justin Tuck on Thursday. Tuck is likely to play on Sunday, as is Brandon Jacobs, who returned to practice.

 

Willie Parker returned to practice for the Steelers and hopes to play this week against the Patriots. Scott Brown reports that Parker did not appear to be limited in practice.

 

Bob Sanders will probably not play against the Browns this week. The Colts defense is completely different without Sanders on the field. The difference looks like night and day, and will make the job easier for Cleveland's offense.

 

Dolphins left tackle Jake Long may miss the Rams game this week with an ankle injury. If Long is able to play, it will provide an interesting matchup of the first overall pick in this year's draft (Long) against the second overall pick, Rams DE Chris Long.

 

Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday doesn't know when he'll play again. He did say, however, that his strained calf muscle wouldn't keep him out of action if the Colts make the playoffs.

 

Bears CB Nathan Vasher will be out indefinitely with a broken hand. He also re-injured his thumb, which was just surgically repaired last month.

 

Philadelphia right guard Max Jean-Gilles is through for the year. Jean-Gilles, who was carted off the field Thursday night with a broken ankle, has been filling in for Shawn Andrews, who's recuperating from back surgery.

 

Houston is putting oft-injured RB Ahman Green on injured reserve, probably putting an end to his career as well.