Five To Follow - NFL News

Five To Follow
By Tim Sullivan
Posted: 4:00 am PDT 2006-09-10

Here are the NFL's top five newsmakers and storylines this week:

1. STEVE FOLEY: The optimistic Chargers, all set to open the Philip Rivers Era, hardly needed a distraction, not to mention such a disturbing distraction, as this linebacker getting shot by an off-duty police officer in a bizarre scenario outside his home.

But that's what Coach Marty Schottenheimer's crew is facing this week as Foley recovers. He was placed on the non-football injured reserve list, which means he will miss the year and forfeit a $1.65 million payday.

Life goes on, fortunately, for both Foley and the Chargers and it's now time for San Diego -- facing a season win total of 9.5 on WagerWeb.com -- to focus on the Raiders, who they face on Monday night (the Chargers are -3 on WagerWeb.com).

You can't help but think they'll have their fallen teammate on their minds come kickoff time.

2. LADELL BETTS: This backup running back complained loudly to the D.C. media when the Redskins acquired T.J. Duckett last month from the Falcons. Fearing it would cut into his playing time, Betts and his career 1,271 yards sounded off.

It appears to have paid off. Coach Joe Gibbs said this week that Betts would play against the Vikings (Washington is -4 on WagerWeb.com) on Sunday and would start if Clinton Portis (partially dislocated shoulder) isn't ready, as expected. Of course, if Gibbs is that high on Betts, we have to wonder why Duckett is in Washington to begin with. But we digress.

3. ADAM VINATIERI: The Colts kicker, hampered by an ankle injury, added some drama to the much-publicized season opener vs. the Giants (Indianapolis is -3 on WagerWeb.com) at the Meadowlands when he practiced this week with a brace on his non-kicking foot. But the highly sought-after free-agent signee -- who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots -- quickly put all Indy fans at ease when he told reporters, "We'll be ready to go for the weekend."

Hey, if nothing else, Vinatieri gave us a chance to break free from the Manning Family Reunion storylines, if only for a day.

4. BEN ROETHLISBERGER: The Super Bowl-winning QB capped off one of the more bizarre summers you'll see from an NFL player by having his appendix removed just in time to miss Week 1. However, Big Ben is doing just fine, thank you, and the Steelers -- facing a season win total of 10 on WagerWeb.com -- will soon look back on the whole situation and laugh.

In the end, the biggest loser, other than the actual appendix of course, was NBC, which had to re-enter the NFL television spectrum with Charlie Batch front and center.

5. RON DAYNE: Houston fans, your demands were answered after all. No more complaints. You wanted a Heisman Trophy winner at running back, you got one. So what if his name is Dayne and not Bush, right?

In all seriousness, Dayne, signed this week after being released by the Broncos, fills a void for the Texans -- who are facing a season win total of 5.5 on WagerWeb.com -- and has a good grasp of Coach Gary Kubiak's offense, as the two worked together in Denver.

It doesn't mean it's going to work, but the possibility exists.

"It's probably the best situation I could have been in," Dayne said.

Keep in mind; it might be the only situation he could have been in.

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