Ronnie Brown - 5 TDs

Ronnie Brown rushed for 4 TDs and passed for another today against the Patriots. He also rushed for 113 yards.

In 2007, he rushed for 32 and 33 yards in games 1 and 2. He then went off for 4 weeks straight rushing for over 100 yards each week and scoring 6 TDs in those 4 games before getting hurt the following week.

In 2008 so far, he rushed for 32 and 33 yards in weeks 1 and 2. Game 3 he goes off for 113 yards and 5 TDs.

Coincidence?

Joey Porter at it again?

Porter doesn't learn from his own mistakes. Remember last year after starting 0-3, Porter said this "...Write it how you want to write it: we will win on Sunday.''

How did that work out? Raiders 35, Dolphins 17

"I just know he's not a Tom Brady," Porter said. "So if it's not Tom Brady, it shouldn't be that hard." (insert your own joke here)

Yet Porter said "It'll be good to go out there and get our first victory."

"You treat him like you treat a backup," Porter said. "How do you prepare for a backup? He don't get that many snaps, right? So you throw the kitchen sink at him. That's what we're going to do."

"He's a guy we'll prepare for, but that was his first start since high school," Porter said. "So you can take all the reps you want to. This is a totally different game, a totally different league. He's only had one start in the NFL. Take that for what it's worth. He won it, but if you compare him to Brady, there's no comparison.

Yes Joey, Cassel has only started 1 game in his career and won 1 game. The Dolphins have played 18 games since Porter has been in Miami and won 1 game.

LJ - "Not mad at the world"

Larry Johnson's mother Christine says that LJ is "not mad at the world" but rather "misunderstood".

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a reporter or a banker or a football player, everyone is a human being, too, and has a private side. I don’t think anyone would like to have to live in a fishbowl, but that’s what it’s like being a football player. I know I wouldn’t want people peering inside my window all the time, but that’s what they have to go through.”

I can understand what Larry Johnson's mother says. I would expect every parent to stand up for their child just as I would for mine.

But the scrutiny is part and parcel of the profession as it is for some other professions (actor, musician, politician, etc.). Every player should weigh whether they are willing to accept that along with the fame, fortune and ability to play a game they love for a living. If not, they are not forced to play football. Retire and you'll see how quickly people lose interest in your private life.

It's not any different than someone who took a security job in Iraq to earn extra money but had to be away from their family and exposed to the risks to their life.

Shawne Merriman done for season

Shawne Merriman decided to play football against the wishes of 4 separate recommendations from doctors. While he should be able to do whatever he wants with his own body, many viewed it as a mistake.

Well, Merriman has changed his mind.

"Shawne informed me he did not feel right [on the field] and thought it best to shut it down," said Chargers general manager A.J. Smith. "The road to winning the AFC West just got more difficult, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Shawne is a great player and an inspirational leader. He will be missed. We wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery."

I think it's better to change course of action if he believes it would be a mistake to play. Some times a person will stick to a decision because the commitment made or word given even when it's a mistake. I believe it's better to be safe than sorry.