Projo Pats Blog

The Raiders and the 49ers are neighbors not only geographically speaking, they are two of the most poorly run franchises of the past decade. You can't blame their struggles on young head coaches Tom Cable (Oakland) or Mike Singletary (San Francisco), but the news coming out of those men's respective camps can't be too encouraging for the future directions of the franchises.

Most egregious is the case of Cable, who is declining to comment on a report on AOL's FanHouse blog that he punched defensive assistant Randy Hanson in the jaw during an altercation Aug. 5 at the Napa Valley Marriott. The unnamed sources quoted in the report indicated that it was a sucker punch, and that Hanson had suffered a fractured jaw. Hanson's had some problems in the past, clashing with former head coach Lane Kiffin and drawing a five game suspension as a result. Kiffin later said that Hanson had some "personal issues going on." Of course, the same could be said of Kiffin, and apparently of Cable, and you'd have to say anyone who would want to get near this crazy organization.

And then there is Singletary. He's a guy I loved as a kid playing middle linebacker in those rock-solid Chicago Bears defenses. Last year he brought a semblance of stability and toughness to the 49ers after taking over the team in midseason. But you have to question his judgment in employing a practice technique known as "The Nutcracker." In "The Nutcracker," two players line up one-on-one and try to plow over one another. Because there's not enough of a threat of these players getting injured in conventional drills and preseason games. Singletary has said that the drill is conducted in a "fool-proof" way that is designed to minimize risk -- except that it has already caused two injuries this season. The first "Nutcracker" victim was guard David Baas, who sustained a foot injury on Aug. 4 and has not practiced since. The second victim is a much bigger name: Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis, who says the ankle injury that has kept him out of practice for two weeks (so far) probably resulted from a "Nutcracker" session with running back Michael Robinson.

The exciting thing is that the Raiders and the 49ers practice against each other for two days this week leading up to an exhibition game on Saturday. There's no telling what will happen, but it probably won't be pretty.

-Great finish to last night's Giants-Panthers game, as players you will probably never hear from again fought down the stretch as if they were in some postseason game that someone forgot to sell tickets for. In the closing moments of regulation, Carolina drove 88 yards in five plays -- a fourth-string quarterback named Hunter Cantwell rushing for 21 yards and passing for 67 -- for a touchdown and then a game-tying two-point conversion. With less than a minute left, the Giants went three downns and out and punted, and Carolina had the ball with 10 seconds left. But Cantwell had the ball knocked out of his hand as he prepared to throw a pass. It popped into the air and into the arms of the Giants' Tommie Hill, who ran into the end zone for the game-winning points as time expired. Miracle at the Meadowlands Part II?

-ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last night that wide receiver Marvin Harrison, a free agent who turned down an offer to stay with Indianapolis, would like to play for someone this season.

-Schefter also reported that disgruntled Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall yesterday reiterated a trade request to head coach Josh McDaniels.

-Brian Westbrook made a full return to Eagles practice.

 Tags  Football Today Mike Singletary Tom Cable

---