What about Bob? Glauber's NFL Blog

Five things you need to know about the NFL right here, right now:

1. The knee injury suffered by Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was a sprained MCL, which is actually good news. It means he can wear a brace and be ready for the regular season opener.

2. The shoulder injury suffered by Bengals receiver Chad Johnson was a sprain, which is also good news. He should be ready for the regular season opener, too.

3. Good news for Black N Gold and BBiB! Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is just about ready to return to practice.

4. Tom Brady's foot is bothering him, which is why he didn't travel to Tampa for last night's preseason game against the Bucs.

5. Wonder if Chicago Norm agrees that Kyle Orton should be the guy in Chicago over Rex Grossman.

As Best continues to bask in the glow of his dominating the breakup of the Mike & the Mad Dog show, we bring you the five things you need to know about the NFL right now:

1. It has not been an easy summer for 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. And not just because the former No. 1 overall pick is struggling to win the starting job. He confided to reporters that his closest friend committed suicide on Sunday.
Our deepest condolences to all who knew him.

2. John Lynch still wants to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. But not before getting one more shot at the NFL. He'll get that shot in New England with a Super Bowl contender.

3. Tony Dungy says quarterback Peyton Manning, who has missed 25 training camp practices after undergoing knee surgery, is on schedule in his rehab.The Colts remain optimistic that Manning will be ready for the season opener.

4. Kurt Warner is expected to get the start in the Cardinals' second exhibition game. But he's not the starter. Whatever that means. (Actually, it means that head coach Ken Whisenhunt wants Warner to get some reps with the first team in case presumptive starter Matt Leinart has some issues.)

5. When I visited Eagles' training camp a couple weeks ago, the team was very high on rookie receiver DeSean Jackson, a projected first-rounder who fell to the second. Jackson did nothing in last night's preseason opener to dissuade the Eagles from their enthusiasm. (Sorry, the use of the word "dissuade" is akin to Browning Nagle using the word "paradigm" in a Baumbach column. I guess I feel the need to keep up with the former qb's vocabulary.)

The five things you need to know right now about the NFL:

1. Joe Horn is willing to do just about anything to bust out of Atlanta. He promises to behave if he gets to a new team. Then again, he promised to behave when the Saints gave him the heave-ho and he landed in Atlanta. Oh, well. We can truly understand why some people feel zero pity for players who make a lot of money playing a game and moaning like this.

2. Jay Feely might not be unemployed for long. The Chiefs are taking a look at the former Giants and Dolphins kicker, who did a little too much talking for his own good in Miami. In Kansas City, he'd be working for a coach who loves to chat.

3. Cardinals cornerback Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie was scraped off the field yesterday with an ankle injury.

4. Maybe Brett Favre should be happy he's in New York than Tampa. After all, the Bucs top receiver, Joey Galloway, is nursing yet another injury. This time, it's a groin. Galloway is also coming off shoulder surgery and might not play in the preseason. The only Jets' receiver hurting is Laveranues Coles, but it's bruised feelings over Chad Pennington's trade. Favre is trying to massage Coles' feelings, though, so things will eventually work out.

5. Cornerback Asante Samuel is back in uniform ... for now. He's battled hamstring problems since shortly after signing a huge free agent deal with the Iggles.

Five things you need to know about the NFL right now:

Cam Cameron, we hardly knew you. Early favorite to succeed him: Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano.

Jim Caldwell gets a look-see in Atlanta. Peyton Manning gives his blessing.

Herm Edwards will have a new offensive coordinator. Where have we heard that before?

Marvin Harrison might play. No, really, he might play. Seriously.

Marvin Lewis will be hiring his third defensive coordinator in Cincy. Former Jets D-coordinator Donnie Henderson or former Giants D-coordinator Tim Lewis might be next in line.

Five things you need to know right now about the NFL:

1. Simeon Rice must really stink. He was released for the second time this season. That's pretty grim news for one of the NFL's all-time leading sack specialists.

2. The season's over for Pats linebacker Roosevelt Colvin. It's just beginning for Troy Brown.

3. Ricky Williams' comeback lasted exactly six plays. Is there anyone out there who thinks this guy will ever play again?

4. Is Bobby Petrino going back to the colleges? Falcons don't think so.

5. Memo to Steelers fans: Troy Polamalu and Santonio Holmes might play this week.

Bonus entry: The Steelers are considering the installation of a synthetic playing surface in the wake of Monday night's quagmire. What's to consider? How can they not put down a rug? That field was unplayable the other night.

Five things you need to know about the NFL right now:

1. Jevon Kearse is on the bench in Philly. Next stop: waiver wire.

2. Larry Johnson vows to return this season from a foot injury.

3. Alex Smith is hurting, but he stinks, too. Take your pick as to why he's being replaced for now by Trent Dilfer.

4. Now it's Steve Smith who's missing practice in Carolina. He's got a shin injury.

5. One more reason it looks like 10-0 for the Patriots: Marshawn Lynch likely won't play for the Bills on Sunday because of an ankle injury.

1. ESPN is reporting that Ricky Williams has been reinstated. The Dolphins will now have two weeks to decide to activate him or release him. Any thoughts out there? Should Williams stay or go?

2. Have current and former Cowboys players used steroids? A Plano, Texas trainer says he supplied the goods. The Cowboys deny it.

3. Forget about Dwight Freeney for the rest of the year. Are the Colts' chances gone, too?

4. The light has still not come on for Alex Smith.

5. Is John Beck ready to start for the Dolphins?

Five things you need to know:

1. The Colts have some big-time injury issues. First Marvin Harrison. Now, Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark.

2. Terrell Owens, the biggest newsmaker in the history of pro sports - mostly for all the wrong reasons - has been fined 10 grand for waving a towel.

3. Why do we get the feeling Zach Thomas might never play football again? We hope we're wrong.

4. If you want to talk trash, then follow the lead of Steelers linebacker James Farrior. He tells Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. to keep his head on a swivel in Sunday's game.

5. The news is getting better about Larry Johnson. Or so the Chiefs are saying.

We interrupt our Imus fact-finding mission for today's version of the five things you need to know about the NFL:

Why Vikings receiver Troy Williamson is our mensch of the week. He gave up a week's pay to attend his grandmother's funeral.

Why Donovan McNabb is right for saying he's not the only one at fault for the Eagles' problems ... and why he's wrong, too. Why's he wrong? Because when you're the quarterback and you make over 100 mil, you suck it up and just say, "Put it on me."

I think Don Shula checked our blog post below, because he now says there would be no asterisk on an unbeaten season for the Patriots. Evidently, Shula, a former NFL cornerback, still knows how to backpedal.

David Garrard might be back sooner rather than later for the Jags.

Further proof that Bengals receiver Chris Henry is still a nincompoop.