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• Ware ahead of the pack: Unlike on offense, where New England quarterback Tom Brady has been the league's most outstanding player, no individual seems to have a vise grip yet on defensive player of the year honors.
Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images
DeMarcus Ware is closing in on 30 career sacks in less than three seasons.
But one player gaining a lot of momentum, fueled by his strong season and the success of his team as well, is Dallas third-year linebacker DeMarcus Ware. The former first-round draft choice (2005), has been the most dominant front seven player on the Dallas defense and has really flourished in the 3-4 style designed by coach Wade Phillips.
Ware was an excellent player under Bill Parcells, too, but the Phillips' version of the 3-4 front is a more attack-style scheme, and that's perfect for Ware, who relies on a rare combination of quickness and size.
There aren't many hybrid-type defenders in the league, including Shawne Merriman of San Diego, having the kind of season that Ware is enjoying. He has 10 sacks and two forced fumbles, but also 66 tackles, and has shown a knack for doing all the little things well, like containing running plays and turning them inside.
And Ware has, in recent weeks, demonstrated that he can turn and drop into coverage as well. Against the Packers last week, he made a play 15 yards downfield, knocking the ball away from a Green Bay receiver. Certainly there are a lot of players whose names belong in the debate right now for defensive player of the year. But Ware might be the player in the wide and varied field of contenders who stands out the most at this point.
• Harrison, Glenn share recovery track: It appears that the Colts and Cowboys are taking similar stances with the recoveries of veteran wide receivers <A href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3514">Marvin Harrison and Terry Glenn from knee injuries. The aim of each team: Try to get the wideouts back on the field for a game or two before the playoffs but, at all costs, ensure they are ready for the postseason.
Colts officials, and coach Tony Dungy, sure hinted strongly last week that, with a two-game lead in the division now, Harrison might not play until the postseason. The eight-time Pro Bowl performer has appeared in only one game since being injured on Sept. 30.
Glenn, who hasn't played all season for the Cowboys after two knee surgeries in the offseason, has picked up the pace a bit in his running, but isn't close to returning yet.
Punts:... . Since the Oct. 14 loss to New England, the lone blemish on his team's record, Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens has been on a tear. Over the six games since that defeat, Owens has 44 catches for 796 yards and 10 touchdowns. Owens had at least one scoring grab in each of the six games and, obviously, the Cowboys won all six outings ... . The Bears have become the third team in four years to conclude that safety Adam Archuleta can't cover anyone, and that his best role anymore is as a special teams player. Of course, he makes way too much to play only on kickoff and punt coverage teams, so he could be gone at the end of the season. Another defensive back who might not be around in 2008 is nickel cornerback Ricky Manning, signed as a restricted free agent in 2006, but not getting much playing time in recent weeks ...
Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images
DeMarcus Ware is closing in on 30 career sacks in less than three seasons.
But one player gaining a lot of momentum, fueled by his strong season and the success of his team as well, is Dallas third-year linebacker DeMarcus Ware. The former first-round draft choice (2005), has been the most dominant front seven player on the Dallas defense and has really flourished in the 3-4 style designed by coach Wade Phillips.
Ware was an excellent player under Bill Parcells, too, but the Phillips' version of the 3-4 front is a more attack-style scheme, and that's perfect for Ware, who relies on a rare combination of quickness and size.
There aren't many hybrid-type defenders in the league, including Shawne Merriman of San Diego, having the kind of season that Ware is enjoying. He has 10 sacks and two forced fumbles, but also 66 tackles, and has shown a knack for doing all the little things well, like containing running plays and turning them inside.
And Ware has, in recent weeks, demonstrated that he can turn and drop into coverage as well. Against the Packers last week, he made a play 15 yards downfield, knocking the ball away from a Green Bay receiver. Certainly there are a lot of players whose names belong in the debate right now for defensive player of the year. But Ware might be the player in the wide and varied field of contenders who stands out the most at this point.
• Harrison, Glenn share recovery track: It appears that the Colts and Cowboys are taking similar stances with the recoveries of veteran wide receivers <A href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3514">Marvin Harrison and Terry Glenn from knee injuries. The aim of each team: Try to get the wideouts back on the field for a game or two before the playoffs but, at all costs, ensure they are ready for the postseason.
Colts officials, and coach Tony Dungy, sure hinted strongly last week that, with a two-game lead in the division now, Harrison might not play until the postseason. The eight-time Pro Bowl performer has appeared in only one game since being injured on Sept. 30.
Glenn, who hasn't played all season for the Cowboys after two knee surgeries in the offseason, has picked up the pace a bit in his running, but isn't close to returning yet.
Punts:... . Since the Oct. 14 loss to New England, the lone blemish on his team's record, Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens has been on a tear. Over the six games since that defeat, Owens has 44 catches for 796 yards and 10 touchdowns. Owens had at least one scoring grab in each of the six games and, obviously, the Cowboys won all six outings ... . The Bears have become the third team in four years to conclude that safety Adam Archuleta can't cover anyone, and that his best role anymore is as a special teams player. Of course, he makes way too much to play only on kickoff and punt coverage teams, so he could be gone at the end of the season. Another defensive back who might not be around in 2008 is nickel cornerback Ricky Manning, signed as a restricted free agent in 2006, but not getting much playing time in recent weeks ...
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