Will Win Over Bucs Precede Hawks Playoff Start?

Football Betting Lines

12/29/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks are playoff-bound, despite struggling down the stretch with three straight losses.

The Seahawks backed into a division title last week, thanks to a loss the 49ers, but still have a chance to enter the postseason on a good note when they visit the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the regular-season finale at Raymond James Stadium on New Year's Eve.

Seattle, which will host a Wild Card playoff game against the runner-up in the NFC East, has just two wins in its last six games and dropped a 20-17 contest to the San Diego Chargers last Sunday at Qwest Field. Chargers wideout Vincent Jackson burned the Seattle secondary for a 37-yard touchdown with 29 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.

Seahawks running back and reigning NFL MVP Shaun Alexander played well with 140 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, but quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was not as hot, ending 17-of-37 for 189 yards and a pair of interceptions. The two offensive stars need to step up this week to deliver a measure of confidence to reigning NFC Champions.

Meanwhile, the season couldn't end any sooner for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite stopping a four-game losing streak with a 22-7 victory at Cleveland last Sunday, the Bucs only have two wins over their last nine games.

Kicker Matt Bryant had three field goals and veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown to help end Tampa Bay's second four-game losing streak this season last week. They opened the year at 0-4.

If the Bucs, who earned their first road win of 2006, lose on Sunday it will be their worst season since the 1991 squad finished with a dismal 3-13 mark.

On a brighter note, the team signed quarterback Chris Simms to a contract extension earlier in the week. Simms, who has missed the majority of the season after rupturing his spleen in a Week 3 loss to Carolina, would have been an unrestricted free agent after the season.

SERIES HISTORY

The Seahawks have won five of the six all-time meetings with Tampa Bay, including a 10-6 road triumph when the teams last did battle, in Week 2 of the 2004 season. The Buccaneers scored their only victory in the series in the previous meeting, a 16-3 road victory in 1999. The Seahawks are 3-0 at Tampa Bay all-time.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren is 13-4 against Tampa Bay all-time, going 12-3 (including postseason) while with Green Bay from 1992 through 1998. A 21-7 victory in a 1997 NFC Divisional Playoff is part of the makeup of that record. The Buccaneers' Jon Gruden is 5-4 against Seattle, including 5-3 while head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001. Holmgren leads the personal series with Gruden, 4-3.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE VS. BUCCANEERS DEFENSE

Hasselbeck (2,226 yards, 17 TDs, 15 INTs) is coming off two rough games in which he has thrown four interceptions against only one touchdown pass. The righty hasn't passed for more than 243 yards in any of his past six games, and is at the head of a Seattle air attack now ranked just 20th in the NFL this season. The Seattle receiving corps has hampered of late by the absence of Darrell Jackson (63 catches, 956 yards, 10 TDs), who has missed the last two games with a hyperextended toe injury and is questionable against Tampa Bay. Deion Branch (50 catches, 687 yards, 4 TDs) has 50 or more receiving yards in each of his last three games, including a 61-yard, five-reception performance last week against San Diego. D.J. Hackett (41 catches, 547 yards, 3 TDs) has emerged over the last three weeks with 228 yards and a touchdown over that stretch. Bobby Engram (22 catches, 263 yards, TD) returned to action against San Francisco after missing nine games with a thyroid disorder, and recorded four catches for 65 yards against the Chargers last week. Tight end Jerramy Stevens (18 catches, 177 yards, 4 TDs) has three TD catches over his past seven games, and is part of an offensive line which allowed a season-high six sacks on Sunday against the Chargers and has surrendered 14 over its last five games.

Bucs defensive ends Dewayne White and Greg Spires provide the rush off the edges, and will be in hot pursuit of Hasselbeck on Sunday. Spires (46 tackles, 4 sacks) had four tackles and a pair of sacks last week, while White (36 tackles, 5 sacks) posted three stops and deflected a pass. The two will seek to pressure Hasselbeck one week after Tampa Bay's 18th-ranked passing defense allowed just 86 through the air and posted four interceptions in Cleveland. Safety Jermaine Phillips (96 tackles, sack, 2 INTs) had a great game against Cleveland with a pair of INTs and three tipped passes. Corner Phillip Buchanon logged a pick and two passes defensed last, and will assist fellow CB Ronde Barber (95 tackles, 3 INTs), who is tied for the team lead in interceptions

Had Alexander (804 yards, 6 TDs) not missed six games earlier this season due to a foot problem, he would have already posted his sixth consecutive 1,000- yard rushing season. Instead, Alexander is 196 yards shy of reaching that goal, and will be hard-pressed to meet it against a Tampa Bay team that is 17th against the rush this season. Alexander has four touchdown runs in his last four games, and ran all over San Diego's strong run-stopping defense for 140 yards and two TDs on 31 touches last week. The big back, who is one of four players in NFL history to average more than a touchdown per game, has eclipsed the 100-yard mark just twice this season. Seattle owns a 29-6 record when he hits the century mark, and has won 14 of the last 15 games during that span. In his last matchup versus Tampa Bay on September 19, 2004, Alexander was held to 45 yards on 17 carries in a 10-6 win.

Alexander will have to be willing to plow through the likes of Tampa interior linemen Chris Hovan (45 tackles, 2 sacks), Ellis Wyms (27 tackles, 5 sacks) and Jovan Haye (14 tackles) this Sunday. Hovan is the leader in the middle of a line which hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook recorded 101 yards back in Week 7. The Bucs' linebackers will be busy on Sunday, especially future Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks. Brooks, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champ, had seven tackles, a pass defensed, and an interception he returned 21 yards for a touchdown last week. Brooks (110 tackles, 3 INTs) leads the Bucs in tackles, and was a big reason why Cleveland racked up just 187 yards of total offense. He has an interception in each of his last two meetings with Seattle. The 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year will be aided by MLB Shelton Quarles (96 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks) and OLB Ryan Nece (60 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks).

BUCCANEERS OFFENSE VS. SEAHAWKS DEFENSE

Tim Rattay (563 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) will make his second start of the season against the Seahawks. Rattay took over for rookie Bruce Gradkowski in a Week 15 loss to Chicago, throwing for three touchdowns and an interception in that overtime defeat. He earned his first win as a Buccaneer in last Sunday's win over Cleveland, throwing for 212 yards and an interception on 16-of-26 passing in what ranked as his first-ever road win as a starter. Leading receiver Joey Galloway (54 catches, 939 yards, 6 TDs) had two catches for 34 yards against the Browns, one week after burning the Bears for 107 yards and a score on three receptions. Galloway is in search of the fifth 1,000-yard season, and second straight. Ike Hilliard (33 catches, 335 yards 2 TDs) has stepped up in the absence of injured WR Michael Clayton (knee), and led the Bucs with 67 yards on four catches in the win over Cleveland. Galloway, Hilliard and tight end Alex Smith (35 catches, 250 yards, 3 TDs) will challenge Seattle's 15th- ranked passing defense. Tampa Bay's offensive line allowed three sacks last week, and will have to give Rattay more time this week against a hungry Seattle defense.

With a new quarterback under center for the Bucs, the Seahawks will surely bring the heat. Defensive ends Grant Wistrom (36 tackles, 4 sacks) and Bryce Fisher (46 tackles, 4 sacks) will be mainly responsible for providing the rush off the edges, after the two combined for six stops against San Diego last Sunday. Wistrom had two sacks in the last meeting with Tampa Bay. The Seattle secondary was burned in the last minute against San Diego, but played well for the majority of the game and had the NFL's highest-scoring offense on the ropes until Vincent Jackson's late TD. Cornerbacks Marcus Trufant (66 tackles, INT) and Kelly Herndon (66 tackles, INT) shut down the San Diego passing attack for almost four quarters, but Trufant went down with an ankle injury and was replaced by Kelly Jennings (35 tackles, INT). Trufant is doubtful for this week, meaning Jennings will make his first NFL start. The corners, along with safeties Ken Hamlin and Jordan Babineaux, should have an easier task this Sunday against a thin receiving corps. Hamlin (93 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INTs) is second on the team in tackles.

Bucs running back Cadillac Williams (798 yards, TD) missed the win over Cleveland with a foot injury, and is questionable against Seattle. Before going down with the problem, Williams only had two 100-yard rushing games on the year, and hasn't scored a touchdown since a Week 3 loss against Carolina. Tampa Bay is 29th in the NFL in rushing, and will have to rely on backup RB Michael Pittman again if Williams is unable to perform. Pittman (172 yards, TD) logged a solid performance against the Browns with 86 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Pittman, who can also hurt defenses out of the backfield, had no more than three attempts in a game until carrying the offensive load last Sunday. Bruising fullback Mike Alstott (167 yards, 3 TDs) had fallen off the radar before being injected into the scheme against Cleveland. Alstott, who is battling neck problems, posted 56 yards on 22 touches last week. The team is a perfect 7-0 when the big back reaches the century mark, though he hasn't done so since 2002.

If the Seattle front line of defense plays on Sunday the way it did against the Chargers, head coach Mike Holmgren will have something to smile about. Seattle prevented Chargers running back and probable NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson from scoring a touchdown for the first time in more than two months (8 games), though the perennial Pro Bowler did manage 123 yards on 22 carries. The Seahawks are 21st against the rush this season, surrendering 127.9 yards a game. Seattle DTs Rocky Bernard (33 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks) and Chartric Darby (35 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks) are the main run-stoppers up front. If either Williams or Pittman busts through the front line of defense, the Seahawks have a talented group of linebackers ready for the challenge. Leading tackler and MLB Lofa Tatupu (115 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, INT) matched a season-high with 12 tackles against the Chargers and posted his first solo sack of the year. The Pro Bowl linebacker will join teammate and OLB Julian Peterson in Hawaii this coming February. Peterson (83 tackles, 9 sacks, INT) leads the Seahawks with a career-high nine sacks, and had four stops last Sunday. Peterson, though, has not recorded a sack in three straight games. OLB Leroy Hill (87 tackles, 2 sacks) is the third member of Seattle's trio of linebackers. Hill made four stops versus the Chargers and is third on the Seahawks in tackles.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Though their playoff position won't change no matter what happens on Sunday, the Seahawks shouldn't be a candidate to rest their starters in preparation for the postseason. Seattle needs a win to boost its flagging confidence, which means the likes of Hasselbeck and Alexander should play deep into this contest. Look for the Hawks to come out determined to enter January with a win, and to make some big plays late against a Tampa team that has been rejuvenated with Rattay in the lineup.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Seahawks 28, Buccaneers 24

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

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