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NFL PICKS & NFL FREE PICKS
NFL PICKS- (covers.com) week 11 opening line report .
Welcome to Week 11 of the NFL season where the Texans and Cardinals are favored, the Colts opened as a pick, and we’ve reached our first 50 on a total.
That 50 is on the Bengals-Saints over/under, which makes sense given the Bengals finally appear to have their offense back but have surrendered an average of 34.6 points their last three games. The total already was climbing Monday morning with a 51 spotted at CRIS.
As for Cincinnati being able to cover +3 ½ against New Orleans, I couldn’t tell you. I’m not a psychologist. I just know the Bengals are not high on my list when it comes to teams battling through adversity.
Houston is favored for the first time this season. Laying less than a field goal against the Bills, the Texans actually may be worth investing in. In their last four games, the Texans have defeated the Jaguars twice and nearly upset the Giants.
“Based on their last four games, the Texans should be favored by seven,” says professional bettor Dave Malinsky.
Arizona laying two points to Detroit is another story.
“I had them -2 or -2 ½,” says Cesar Robaina, an oddsmaker for Caliente sportsbooks. “It’s Detroit on the road. The Lions looked like they had life, but then played awful at home against San Francisco, a club that has shown nothing on the road.
“The Cardinals had that flat spot against the Raiders, but they have played good teams lately. Obviously they are a mystery, but they’re healthier with (Larry) Fitzgerald.”
Don’t know about you, but I won’t give points with a Cardinals team that hasn’t won since opening week and clearly hasn’t recovered from that devastating Monday Night home loss to the Bears four weeks ago.
Some of the books posting opening lines on Sunday night put out an Indianapolis-Dallas pick `em despite the Colts being 9-0. The line currently is Indy -1.
The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas was one place that opened the Colts -1.
“As long as the Colts are undefeated, I’m going to favor them,” says Steve Ferrero, a sportsbook supervisor and oddsmaker at the Palms. “Dallas has had steady public support. I think that’s why you didn’t see them (the Colts) favored (at some books right away).”
Ferrero says the Colts aren’t as big a public team as some may think pointing out last week’s game against the Patriots when it was New England who drew most of the money instead of Indianapolis.
“Everyone was on New England,” Ferrero says. “It has been four weeks in a row and bettors have been all over Dallas at our place. Every week the move comes on Dallas. It’s been steady.”
Some believe the Colts are due for a loss after beating Tennessee by one point and last week edging Buffalo by one point with both victories at home. Dallas, on the other hand, looked impressive steamrolling the Cardinals on the road.
Dallas has outscored its opponents by 76 points yet are just one game above .500. The Colts have outscored their foes by 60 points.
Pinnacle was the rare sportsbook that opened the Cowboys -1.
“The early action mainly has been on Indy,” says Simon Noble, bet shop manager for Pinnacle. “A few large bets on Dallas have come in, but there are seven times as many bets on the Colts.”
Bookmakers may have opened Baltimore short against Atlanta, putting out the Ravens at -3 or -3 ½. The line currently is up to -4.
“Heavy early volume has been on Baltimore,” says Noble, whose company opened Baltimore a field goal favorite. “We’ve received some sharp action, which drove the line up to 4 before seeing any buyback on the visiting Falcons. At 4, there has been balanced two-way action.”
Even though the Jets upset the Patriots to run their record to 5-4, which seems beyond belief considering their talent level, they are still 6 ½-point home underdogs to the Bears.
The line might have opened Chicago -4 ½ if the Bears didn’t have such a strong second half in the Sunday night game against the Giants. Pinnacle opened Chicago -5, which in hindsight seems too low.
“We started receiving heavier volume wagers on Chicago as the line hit 5 ½ and 6, which pushed it to the current price of 6 ½,” Noble said. “PinnacleSports.com has received nearly four bets on the Bears for every one on the Jets.”
NFL PICKS : (associated press): injuries have broncos shuffing lineup.
Injuries forced Mike Shanahan to shuffle his defense. Inefficiency drove him to make changes on offense, too.
Denver Broncos linebacker Ian Gold (hamstring) and defensive ends Ebenezer Ekuban (thigh) and Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring) sat out the Broncos` 17-13 ATS loss at Oakland on Sunday.
Shanahan, however, replaced three healthy players on offense: running back Mike Bell with Damien Nash; tight end Tony Scheffler with Nate Jackson; and right tackle George Foster with Adam Meadows.
``As a coach, you have to go with your gut,`` Shanahan said Monday. ``You can`t go with who is the starter, or who has been the starter. You have to go based on how a guy practices and what you think is best for your football team.
``If that`s a message, the message is we`re going to play the best players.``
Most NFL teams adhere to the philosophy that jobs are won and lost in August, not November.
During the season, they`re too busy installing the game plan and preparing for their next opponent to hold what are essentially open tryouts.
Not Shanahan.
``We`re going to evaluate guys on a day-by-day basis, how they do in practice, how they do in games,`` Shanahan said. ``Sometimes practice weighs (as heavily) as game day.``
The offense, however, struggled with all the new faces and with tailback Tatum Bell returning to the lineup after apparently fibbing to Shanahan about how much better his two big sprained toes felt.
``I`m kind of disappointed in myself that I played Tatum Bell as much as I did,`` Shanahan offered in a rare public admission of regret. ``Even though he says he`s healthy, I don`t think he`s as healthy as he says he is. I saw that in the game.``
Jake Plummer tossed three interceptions and the Broncos gained just 63 yards on the ground, 37 by Bell. Nash, the fourth tailback to get his shot in Denver`s revolving door in the backfield, ran four times for 14 yards and recovered his own fumble near the Raiders` goal line.
``Those things happen. I`m just very happy he was able to recover it,`` Shanahan said. ``It did help his cause.``
Shanahan said his grounded ground game isn`t entirely the running backs` fault, either.
The offensive line features two new tackles - Erick Pears took over on the left side last month when Matt Lepsis went down with a knee injury.
``We have one new tackle in there, really. One we made by choice,`` Shanahan said. ``I`m certainly not giving up on George Foster, because he`s one of the most talented players I`ve been around. We`ve just got to get him playing at a little higher level. And if he does that, he`ll be right in the mix.``
Nash got his chance in the backfield after Mike Bell followed his fantastic performance against the Colts - 136 yards and two TDs on 15 carries - by gaining just 28 yards on 17 carries at Pittsburgh a week later.
``I wanted to see what Damien can do, because he looked good in practice and he did play a preseason game where he looked very good,`` Shanahan said. ``I thought we needed a guy who was healthy, a guy that was kind of biting at the bit a little bit to get his opportunity and see what he could do going into the second half of the season.``
Shanahan promoted Nash and defensive tackle Antwon Burton from the practice squad Saturday. Burton filled in along with recently-acquired Kenny Peterson on the depleted defensive line.
The most surprising switch was that of Scheffler, a rookie who had started to come around lately.
``He probably has Pro Bowl ability,`` Shanahan said. ``He`s a rookie. There`s a learning curve there. ... We made a decision this week with the way Nate practiced, we`d give him the opportunity to show what he could do.``
When the Broncos went the first month and a half without scoring 20 points in a game, Shanahan blamed all the fresh faces on offense. With a constant rotation of backups getting their shot, that cohesion is still not there.
``But this is not the end of the season,`` Shanahan said. ``We want to play our best football hopefully in the second half. We`ve still got a bunch of games to go and a lot of talent. We have to have some guys pick up their games to get where we need to get.``
Some of them need to do better in practice just to get that chance.
FREE NFL PICKS. (associated press): stars set to return for seahawks.
Shaun Alexander`s doctors have reversed field. So now the league MVP can begin to prove that he can be the same again.
Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be right behind him.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that both of his injured stars may play on Sunday at San Francisco, pending tests in practice this week.
Oddsmakers have yet to set a line for this contest.
Doctors have cleared Alexander to fully practice Wednesday for the first time in eight weeks - even though the broken bone in his left foot, which has sidelined him for six games, may not be fully healed. That had been the previous criterion for Alexander`s return.
If Alexander comes through practices this week as pain free as he`s been for the last three, idle weeks, the 2005 league rushing leader will play for the Seahawks (6-3) against the 49ers (4-5).
MRI results were due late Monday night. But Holmgren said that because Alexander has no pain, doctors are going to let him test the foot on the field Wednesday no matter what the pictures show.
``The diagnostics of the injury doesn`t compute with what the player is saying,`` Holmgren said.
The coach also said Hasselbeck will likely practice Friday to see if he can also return from a sprained knee ligament. Hasselbeck has missed the last three games since Minnesota`s E.J. Henderson rolled into the quarterback`s right leg following an incomplete pass.
Monday, a players` off day, Hasselbeck was on the practice field running change-of-direction drills in cleats for the first time since the injury. Holmgren said Hasselbeck had ``some limitations - but it`s only Monday.``
``He has a chance to play this week,`` Holmgren said. ``I can`t say for sure ... if he can`t move (better by Friday), then I`m not going to stick him back there.``
Seattle is 3-3 since Alexander broke his foot Sept. 24 against the New York Giants and 2-1 since Hasselbeck went down. The Seahawks` last-second win against the Rams on Sunday gave the Seahawks a two-game lead over St. Louis and San Francisco in the NFC West.
But Holmgren said that relatively comfortable standing is not a factor in determining when the team should bring back its two biggest stars.
``When they are ready, they are going to play,`` Holmgren said. ``It has nothing to do with where we are in the division, or whatever.``
FREE NFL PICKS- (associated press) falcons suffer another injury on defense.
The Atlanta Falcons lost another starter on defense. Patrick Kerney will likely be out an ``extended`` period after he hurt his chest in a loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Kerney, who has started 105 games in a row, was undergoing an MRI exam Monday to determine the extent of damage to his right pectoral muscle. His loss is another blow to a defensive line that`s had the other end, three-time Pro Bowler John Abraham, for only two games this season.
Abraham, who went down with a groin injury in Week 1 and then needed abdominal surgery, is expected to miss at least two more weeks. The Falcons (5-4) played Sunday without two other defensive starters: cornerback Jason Webster and linebacker Ed Hartwell.
Kerney was injured with about five minutes left in the second quarter of a 17-13 loss to the Browns. He didn`t get up right away after joining with a group of players to make the tackle on tight end Steve Heiden, who caught an 8-yard pass.
It was clear the injury was serious when Kerney, one of the team`s most durable players, didn`t return to the sideline for the second half.
Webster is expected to miss at least a month after tearing his groin in practice last week. Hartwell is still slowed by knee problems, having struggled to recover from arthroscopic surgery on both during the preseason.
Kerney leads the team with five sacks. His injury means the Falcons will likely start rookie Paul Carrington, an undrafted free agent, in this Sunday`s game at Baltimore.
NFL PICKS- (associated press): week 11 injury report.
Tennessee receiver David Givens tore a left knee ligament on a freak play Sunday when he planted his leg and will miss the rest of this season.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that Givens tore the anterior cruciate ligament.
Givens had to be carted off the field after being hurt on the Titans` second play of the fourth quarter of Sunday`s 27-26 loss to Baltimore. Travis Henry ran for 7 yards off right tackle, and Givens had stopped and planted his left leg to start blocking when he went down.
Fisher said Givens will have surgery once the swelling eases.
``He just came off the thumb injury, worked very hard, and now we`ve lost him for the season,`` Fisher said.
Givens signed a five-year contract worth $24 million, with an $8 million bonus, in March. He had an ankle injury in minicamps, a virus, then a hamstring injury. He broke his left thumb on Oct. 1 and tore a tendon that needed a pin inserted.
He had only eight catches for 104 yards this season.
Cornerback Reynaldo Hill and defensive tackle Robaire Smith each sprained ankles. Defensive end Travis LaBoy had a concussion that will be monitored this week.
Vikings
Backup linebacker and special teams contributor Jason Glenn will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Glenn got hurt in Sunday`s game against Green Bay. An MRI test revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Also critical was another injury to fullback Tony Richardson, who played against the Packers with a broken thumb and then sustained a fracture in his forearm. He won`t need surgery and has his arm in a splint, but it`s not clear whether he`ll play this week at Miami.
``We`ll just see what his comfort level is like,`` Childress said.
Reserve tight end Jeff Dugan would replace Richardson in most offensive sets.
Linebacker Napoleon Harris (wrist), who has missed the last two games, and receiver Marcus Robinson (lower back), who has been out for the last three games, are expected to return this week, coach Brad Childress said.
Dolphins
Guard Jeno James is expected to miss at least one game with a knee problem, the latest blow to an injury-plagued offensive line.
James suffered cartilage damage to his right knee in Sunday`s victory over Kansas City. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same knee Oct. 24, but returned without missing any games.
``This is a new injury,`` coach Nick Saban said Monday. ``He may be out for a couple of weeks.``
Kendyl Jacox will replace James, who started each of the first nine games at left guard. Injuries have forced the Dolphins to use four starters at right guard.
Running back Ronnie Brown may miss some practice time this week because of a groin injury he aggravated Sunday.
Bills
Add starting guard Chris Villarrial and reserve tight end Ryan Neufeld to the Bills` growing list of injured players.
Villarrial aggravated a right ankle injury during the first half against Indianapolis and did not return. It`s the same ankle Villarrial hurt in Week 4, which forced him to miss the next game.
Neufeld injured his left foot in the third quarter. The blocking tight end who also doubles on special teams was spotted Monday walking on crutches, with his left foot in a protective boot.
Buffalo is already missing running back Willis McGahee, out indefinitely with three broken ribs, and No. 3 receiver Josh Reed (bruised kidney).
Patriots
New England right guard Billy Yates is out for the season with a broken leg, which could force the Patriots to start a third-stringer at that position.
Yates had started the last three games in place of Stephen Neal, who has an injured shoulder and missed Sunday`s 17-14 loss to the Jets.
Yates, who was hurt in the third quarter, played three games for Miami as a rookie in 2003 and spent most of the last two seasons and the first five games of this season on New England`s practice squad.
FREE NFL PICKS (associated press) eagles coach hands over play calling duties.
The most debated handoff this season for the Philadelphia Eagles occurred during the bye week.
Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook weren`t involved in this exchange. Instead, coach Andy Reid relinquished play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.
While similar moves are common in the NFL, it`s quite a reversal for the stubborn Reid. Though Rod Dowhower and Brad Childress occasionally called plays when they worked under Reid, this was the first time he admitted giving it up completely - for one game at least.
Mornhinweg, according to Reid, called every play in Philadelphia`s 27-3 ATS victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday. The offense responded with an efficient performance featuring more runs than passes for the first time this season. The Eagles also scored early, putting 10 points on the board in the first quarter. During their recent three-game losing streak, the offense scored a total of three points in the first half.
``I have a lot of confidence in Marty and the things he does,`` Reid said Monday. ``He has a good track record.``
Oddsmakers have the Eagles listed as 13-point favorites this week against Tennessee. The total is set at 42 1/2.
Mornhinweg joined the Eagles as an assistant head coach in 2003 after spending two seasons as the head coach in Detroit. He previously was the offensive coordinator in San Francisco from 1997-2000. When Childress left to become coach in Minnesota after last season, Mornhinweg took his spot as offensive coordinator. Reid said he and Mornhinweg split the play calling over the first eight games.
But Reid decided to give Mornhinweg full control after a 13-6 home loss to Jacksonville dropped the struggling Eagles to 4-4 going into a bye. Reid kept his play chart in his hands against the Redskins, but rarely brought it up from his side. He spent more time walking the sideline and interacting with players than focusing on the chart.
``I had an opportunity to feel both sides of the thing,`` Reid said. ``When Marty is calling, it does give you a little bit more opportunity to move around and check things out.``
Vikings
Backup linebacker and special teams contributor Jason Glenn will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Glenn got hurt in Sunday`s game against Green Bay. An MRI test revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Also critical was another injury to fullback Tony Richardson, who played against the Packers with a broken thumb and then sustained a fracture in his forearm. He won`t need surgery and has his arm in a splint, but it`s not clear whether he`ll play this week at Miami.
``We`ll just see what his comfort level is like,`` Childress said.
Reserve tight end Jeff Dugan would replace Richardson in most offensive sets.
Linebacker Napoleon Harris (wrist), who has missed the last two games, and receiver Marcus Robinson (lower back), who has been out for the last three games, are expected to return this week, coach Brad Childress said.
Dolphins
Guard Jeno James is expected to miss at least one game with a knee problem, the latest blow to an injury-plagued offensive line.
James suffered cartilage damage to his right knee in Sunday`s victory over Kansas City. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same knee Oct. 24, but returned without missing any games.
``This is a new injury,`` coach Nick Saban said Monday. ``He may be out for a couple of weeks.``
Kendyl Jacox will replace James, who started each of the first nine games at left guard. Injuries have forced the Dolphins to use four starters at right guard.
Running back Ronnie Brown may miss some practice time this week because of a groin injury he aggravated Sunday.
Bills
Add starting guard Chris Villarrial and reserve tight end Ryan Neufeld to the Bills` growing list of injured players.
Villarrial aggravated a right ankle injury during the first half against Indianapolis and did not return. It`s the same ankle Villarrial hurt in Week 4, which forced him to miss the next game.
Neufeld injured his left foot in the third quarter. The blocking tight end who also doubles on special teams was spotted Monday walking on crutches, with his left foot in a protective boot.
Buffalo is already missing running back Willis McGahee, out indefinitely with three broken ribs, and No. 3 receiver Josh Reed (bruised kidney).
FREE NFL PICKS - (associated press): chiefs tight end gonzalez out with shoulder sprain.
Tight end Tony Gonzalez is the latest Kansas City Chiefs all-star sidelined.
The seven-time Pro Bowler sprained his left shoulder in the closing minutes of Sunday`s 13-10 loss at Miami. More will be known with test results on Tuesday, but he will definitely miss Sunday`s game against Oakland.
Oddsmakers have listed the Chiefs as 10-point favorites and the total is set at 36 1/2.
Injuries to key starters are mounting for Kansas City (5-4). Also out for at least one more week are Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters and starting right tackle Kevin Sampson. Still questionable are two defensive regulars who were unable to play at Miami, linebacker Derrick Johnson and safety Greg Wesley.
Quarterback Trent Green, in the meantime, could be cleared to begin fulltime practice this week for the first time since he sustained a severe concussion in the opener on Sept. 10.
``They`re going to get the tests tomorrow. They`ll read his evaluation tomorrow and they`ll let him know if they`ll let him start participating in team stuff,`` Edwards said.
If Green does get cleared to play, it will force a decision whether he or Damon Huard will start.
But no matter who the quarterback is, the Chiefs would be weakened significantly if they have to go any length of time without Gonzalez. He will likely be replaced by backup Jason Dunn, an accomplished blocker whose receiving skills hardly compare.
Gonzalez had averaged more than 100 yards receiving and almost 17 yards per catch in the three previous games, victories over San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis that kept the Chiefs in the playoff hunt.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder caught six balls for 84 yards at Miami and was keying a second-half rally when he was injured while fighting through a double-team to make sure Huard`s pass was not intercepted.
The Chiefs` career leader in touchdown passes and yards from scrimmage, Gonzalez trails only Shannon Sharpe all-time for receptions by a tight end.
``He`s getting more tests today and we`ll find out tomorrow or the next day the extent of how long he`ll be out. This weekend, he`s definitely out,`` Edwards said.
``It is a shame, a guy like that, he`s having a terrific year for you and has been a staple in the last month and really getting involved in the offense. We`re going to have to find another way now. He`s going to be missed this week, obviously. But we`ve just got to find a way to get the ball, when we decide to pass, to other players.``
If Green gets the go-ahead, might he start Sunday in place of Huard, who has gone 5-3 in his absence and played well in holding the offense together?
``We`ll see where he`s at,`` Edwards said. ``I can`t answer that until I know the extent of what he`s going to participate in and how he`s feeling in practice. He hasn`t done anything live yet, so we`ll just kind of see.``
At this point, it`s not possible to know how effective Green, a two-time Pro Bowler, might be after such a long layoff.
``You can`t answer it. You can answer it in practice as to how he looks in practice,`` Edwards said. ``But until he actually goes in a game, no one`s going to know.``
The coach repeated what he said last week, that a decision on Huard or Green was not one he had to make yet.
``Whenever (Green) has a chance to play again, you anticipate for him to play well. But he`s going to be a little rusty. You know that.``
Huard had perhaps his worst game at Miami, but understandably so. The makeshift offensive line, with Chris Bober starting for Waters and Kyle Turley in for Sampson, was dominated. He was sacked three times and hit the ground on at least four other plays while connecting on 15 of 38 passes for 201 yards.
The Chiefs did not make a first down until late in the second quarter.
``We`re sledding a little bit differently right now,`` Edwards said. ``I think you look at it, and some young guys are going to have to go in and play. And some backup veterans that we`ve had around here are going to have to go play. That`s just part of the process of football. You know injuries occur. Hopefully, none of them are season-ending.``
Edwards said Gonzalez was feeling sore, but still defiant.
``He was telling me today he could play on third down.``
FREE NFL PICKS- (associated press): texans quarterback injured in loss.
The Houston Texans might struggle against the rest of the league, but they sure match up well against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
David Carr threw for 167 yards and ran for 48 more before leaving the game with a shoulder injury, and the Texans defeated the Jaguars 13-10 on Sunday and snapped a 12-game road losing streak as 10-point underdogs. The teams also played under the total which was set at 37.
The Texans (3-6) upset their AFC South rivals for the second time in four weeks and won on the road for the first time since December 2004. Houston`s last road victory also came at Jacksonville, a 21-0 shocker that essentially knocked the Jaguars out of playoff contention.
This one was considerably closer, but still somewhat surprising.
David Garrard, starting his third consecutive game in place of Byron Leftwich, threw four interceptions. Two of them came after Matt Jones bobbled perfect passes.
Still, the Jaguars had a chance at the end. Garrard completed a 38-yard pass to Cortez Hankton with about two minutes remaining, but the play was nullified by Reggie Williams` offensive pass interference penalty.
Jacksonville was forced to punt, and the Texans ran out the clock after Samkon Gado converted a fourth-and-1 play in Houston territory with 1:40 to play.
The Texans improved to 6-4 overall against the Jaguars (5-4). They have 15 wins against the rest of the league.
Sage Rosenfels played most of the fourth quarter after Carr bruised his left shoulder on the second play of the period. Carr injured his shoulder after a 14-yard completion to Owen Daniel. He was knocked to the ground by Clint Ingram after he released the ball.
Carr did enough early to put the Texans ahead.
He directed a 70-yard drive to start the game and had two key runs. Wali Lundy scored from 1 yard, then Houston took advantage of Garrard`s first turnover to make it 10-0. DeMeco Ryans pressured Garrard and forced a floater over the middle. Morlon Greenwood picked it off, setting up Kris Brown`s 25-yard field goal.
Brown could have given Houston a little more cushion, but hooked a 30-yarder in the second quarter and hit the right upright from 52 yards in the third.
The Jaguars couldn`t make the misses hurt.
Jones let two passes slip through his hands and both ended up as interceptions. And Garrard threw his fourth pick after moving the Jags to the 23-yard line. His pass across the middle was intended for Ernest Wilford, but was thrown behind him and into the hands of Dunta Robinson.
Wilford dropped two other balls, one for a first down and one deep down the middle that could have been a touchdown.
Making matters worse for the Jaguars, left tackle Khalif Barnes was benched following his arrest on drunk driving charges. Barnes was driving faster than 100 mph and failed two breathalyzer tests early Saturday, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff`s Office report. He spent several hours in the Duval County jail before being released on $500 bond.
The Jaguars confirmed the arrest and said coach Jack Del Rio would address it after the game. Barnes was inactive and replaced in the starting lineup by Dennis Norman, who has never played an NFL game at tackle.
NFL FREE PICKS- (covers.com) top 10 nfl money teams ats as of 11/14/2006.
1 IND
2 CHI
3 SD
4 NO
5 NYJ
6 STL
7 BAL
8 NE
9 NYG
10 ATL
NFL FREE PICKS- (espn.com) : moss unhappy again in oakland.
Do people work best when they're happy, or should professionalism be motivation enough? Oakland Raiders team captain Randy Moss and coach Art Shell seem to have different viewpoints.
Moss, asked Monday about dropping more passes than usual this season, said perhaps his lack of happiness has affected his play.
"Maybe because I'm unhappy, and I'm not too much excited about what's going on, so my concentration and focus level tends to go down when I'm in a bad mood," Moss said. "So all I can say is if you put me in a good situation and make me happy, man, you get good results."
Moss made the comments after appearing at a news conference announcing the establishment of a college football award in his honor -- the Randy Moss Award, to be given to the top return specialist in Division I-A.
Shell, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman during the Raiders' salad days in the 1970s, disagreed when Moss' comments were relayed to him at his weekly news conference.
"Is that what he said? Well, then that's a problem he has. I don't have that problem," Shell said. "You hate to hear that. You hate to see that."
"You're paid to play a game you've played for many years and that you love and once you hit the field, you compete," Shell said. "That's the way Art Shell sees it."
Moss leads the woeful Raiders with 33 catches for 455 yards and three touchdowns -- but that's well below his earlier career standards. In 109 games with the Minnesota Vikings, Moss caught two or fewer passes 11 times; he's had two or fewer catches in eight of 25 games as a Raider.
Is Moss the same player he was in Minnesota?
"Given the opportunity to be myself and to make plays, a nine-year vet knowing that, no, I might not be able to do the things I used to do back in the day ... if you give me some help I'll show you something," he said.
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