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YOUR weekly roundup of all things NFL, including a kicker who was forced to practise while dodging trombones, trumpets and drums.

Adrian Ballantyne
7 min read
September 10, 2014 - 11:15AM
News Corp Australia

THE long wait for the start of the NFL season is finally over and without getting too Rumsfeldian we have known knowns, unknowns and known unknowns.

We know kickers will never, ever get any respect. We know LeSean McCoy is one tight tipper. We wonder if Tony Romo could be the most overpaid person in world sport and we don’t know who is going to stop the Seahawks from going back-to-back.

HEY, I’M TRYING TO PLAY FOOTBALL HERE!

Some of the best video footage of the week came not from some insane in-game highlight, but from a half-time warm-up.

Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano wanted to test his leg on the field during the long break at his team’s season opener against Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers’ marching band had other ideas.

The band simply refused to move or alter its routine to allow Gano to kick, leaving him with no option but to practise among the trombones, trumpets and drums.

Hard to imagine Peyton Manning having to deal with that.

WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.

ROMO THROWS PICKS APLENTY

Over in Dallas, Romo was at his fan-frustrating worst at home against San Francisco, picking out 49ers players with more success than his own team.

The man worth about $115 million over six years threw for just one touchdown but launched three interceptions in his team’s 17-28 loss, and has again generated plenty of discussion about the wisdom of signing the perennially underperforming quarterback to a long-term deal, when there are plenty of better options around, such as you, or your pet sloth, or one of Romo’s own linebackers.

SEAHAWKS LOOKING BEASTLY

The Seahawks proved they’ll take some beating and might even have managed to become better in the off-season, thumping Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay 36-16 off the back of two Russell Wilson touchdown passes and a pair of rushing touchdowns for the unstoppable Marshawn Lynch.

The Seahawks had options all over the field and are the clear favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl, with TAB installing them at $5, ahead of Denver at $6 and San Francisco at $8.

ALL HAIL MEGATRON

And in the final game of the weekend, it took Calvin Johnson all of about 10 minutes to remind everyone why he’s the most unstoppable force in the NFL.

The Detroit receiver, nicknamed “Megatron”, blew by the hapless Giants defence twice in the first quarter on his way to a pair of touchdowns and 164 yards, and if Matt Stafford’s quarterback form continues, we could be in for one hell of a ride this season.

Johnson’s performance won plenty of praise from lofty places.

Click here for a full wrap of all of this week’s games

AUSSIES IN ACTION — A WING AND A PRAYER

Melbourne born punter Brad Wing get his first ever NFL start, he had a game for the ages and played a major part in the Steelers’ last-gasp victory.

“It’s been a pretty exciting time and were pretty happy with the win, but we’ve got a short week this week so we’ve got to move on to the next one, but its been good,” Wing said in the aftermath of the victory.

The 23-year-old said the Steelers’ coaches were pleased with his performance, particularly a crucial long punt for a touchback late in the final quarter.

“Try and block everything out, you know it was big moment in the game but you’ve got try and put all that aside and just really focus in on the technique of it all.

“We had a couple of different situationals (sic) where the coaches require different things and they were happy at the end of the day so it was a good first outing.”

HORNSEY PUTS HIS HAND UP

NFL hopeful Tom Hornsey might have missed out on an NFL contract after being released by Dallas after only a couple of weeks in August, but he hasn’t given up on his NFL dream.

On Tuesday Hornsey posted the video below to Instagram, showcasing his prodigious boot and again staking his claim for a spot on a professional roster.

ROCCA RUMOURS RIFE

Speaking of Rocca, the Aussie veteran was whispered about as a potential late call-up to replace Arizona punter Dave Zastudil, after the Cardinals starter was ruled out with injury.

Unfortunately the 40-year-old former AFL player was overlooked in favour of former Pittsburgh punter Drew Butler, who played his first game for the Cardinals in his first NFL appearance since 2012.

MCCOY’S HOT TIP GOES COLD

LeSean McCoy’s receipt at a restaurant where he left a 20c tip.
LeSean McCoy’s receipt at a restaurant where he left a 20c tip.

LeSean McCoy might regret the day he ever messed with the waiters at Philadelphia burger joint PYT.

The Eagles running back was named and shamed for leaving a 20c tip on a $61.56 bill at the restaurant, which posted a photo of his receipt on social media.

In the restaurant’s post on Facebook, its manager shared their side of the exchange.

“He and his group, from the moment they sat down, were verbally abusive to our staff in the most insulting ways,” he said.

“After Mr McCoy and his group left I looked over and saw their server, my friend, with his head bowed down and with a very confused look on his face. I took the receipt out of his hand and I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so callous. Mr McCoy had left a .03% That’s twenty cents on a tab of over $60. Two dimes from an insulting multi-millionaire.”

RICE BANISHED FROM VIDEO GAME

EA Sports acted almost as quickly as the Baltimore Ravens in giving Ray Rice the flick after footage emerged of him knocking out his wife in a lift.

The video games giant, which owns the Madden NFL juggernaut, said Rice would be cut from the latest version of the game — Madden NFL 15 — before the weekend.

Gamers will be unable to find Rice on the Ravens’ roster or free agent lists.

PUNTER GIVEN KARATE KID TREATMENT

NFL punter Spencer Lanning might have second thoughts the next time he tries to tackle someone.

Lanning, punting for the Cleveland Browns, was faced with every punter’s worst nightmare against the Pittsburgh Steelers: actually having to make a defensive play when his team failed to stop the opposition’s punt returner.

And it will probably be the last time he ever gives his teammates a chop-out, after he wound up copping a fly-kick to the face from Steelers punt returner Antonio Brown.

Brown tried to hurdle the diminutive kicker, but when Lanning remained in his path he laid the boots in.

Lanning walked away from the play uninjured, and in a small consolation Brown was handed a penalty for unnecessary roughness for the move.

Lanning later made light of the incident on his Twitter account.

And Brown maintained his intention wasn’t to hurt the little punter.

NFL FANTASY WATCH

Matt Ryan threw for a monstrous 448 yards against New Orleans.
Matt Ryan threw for a monstrous 448 yards against New Orleans.

STARS ON THE RISE

Matt Ryan, quarterback, Atlanta — The signal-caller for the ‘Dirty Birds’ stamped an early claim for comeback player of the year with a finger-licking 448 yards and a trio of TDs against New Orleans. The Falcons are finally healthy, and with a plethora of receiving options ‘Matty Ice’ looks primed to deliver weekly fantasy feasts, including the top score of 31.42 in the NFL’s own competition in week one.

Le'Veon Bell chops his way through the Cleveland defence.
Le'Veon Bell chops his way through the Cleveland defence.

Le’Veon Bell, running back, Pittsburgh — Bell emerged from the smoke of his marijuana possession arrest in blazing fashion, lighting up the Browns’ defence for almost 200 total yards and 25.7 fantasy points. With the Steelers Offensive Line on the improve, the second-year running has risen even higher in the rankings going into week two.

Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Minnesota — The hype appears legitimate for the second-year Viking, who showed off his versatility with explosive rushing padding his stats to 18.8 fantasy points, despite being limited to just 26 receiving yards. If it’s late in your matchup and you need one big play to snatch victory, there are few better.

Knowshon Moreno, running back, Miami — So much for being a product of the Broncos’ system in 2013. Knowshon showed up the Patriots to the tune of 134 yards, a score and 19.4 fantasy points after running with decisiveness in Miami’s new offence and setting up the Dolphins’ upset in South Beach.

WAIVER WATCH

Wide receiver was a breakout performer in week one.
Wide receiver was a breakout performer in week one.

Allen Hurns, wide receiver, Jacksonville — Props to anyone who selected the almost unknown Hurns. The Jacksonville wide receiver turned in a huge 23 points in his NFL debut, catching four passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half against Philadelhia. While he can back that up remains to be seen, but the young Jag could be well worth an early flyer.

Ahmad Bradshaw, running back, Indianapolis — Just eight touches in the Colts’ opening game, but the former Giant translated that into an ultra-efficient 85 yards and 8.5 fantasy points. All that stands between Bradshaw and the starting role is the cement-legged three yards per carry that Trent Richardson is providing.

Jake Locker could be a great pick-up for fantasy coaches.
Jake Locker could be a great pick-up for fantasy coaches.

Jake Locker, quarterback, Tennessee — While Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Robert Griffin III frustrated fans and fantasy enthusiasts alike, the Hurt Locker looked healthy spreading the ball around the Tennessee receiving corps for 20.04 points. Oh, and he gets to play the not-so-vaunted Dallas defence in Week 2.

Justin Forsett, running back, Baltimore — Known more as a change of pace runner than lead dog, but the career journeyman looks be the man to tow the load in Baltimore after Ray Rice was cut, and Bernard Pierce fumbled away his opportunity at the starting running back gig for the Ravens. Forsett finished with 14.4 points for his 70 rushing yards and one touchdown.

VINCE LOMBARDI QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi is carried off the field after winning Super Bowl II.
Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi is carried off the field after winning Super Bowl II.

Each week we’ll plumb the archives for words of wisdom from inspirational quote machine and five-time NFL championship winning coach, the late Vince Lombardi.

Arizona might have tapped into this one at half-time of their unlikely come-from-behind victory over San Diego.

“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That’s real glory. That’s the essence of it.”

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