B West Resting up for G-Men

Birds running back Brian Westbrook did not practice Wednesday and might be limited for the rest of the week.  Westbrook is nursing a badly sprained right ankle and swollen left knee, said Wednesday that he probably won’t practice much this week.  Instead he will prepare for the Eagles’ divisional-round playoff game against NFC East rival, the New York Giants with an intensive regimen of weightlifting, stretching and running in a pool.

Westbrook said he will start against the Giants on Sunday, but only after taking a round of anti-inflammatory medication on Saturday night and Sunday morning to get the pain and swelling to a tolerable level.  Look for B West to torch the G-Men as he usually does.
GO BIRDS!

NFC East Sunday Night Game was Biggest Ever

The NFC East divisional matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants this past Sunday drew the most viewers ever for a Sunday Night Football game.

The Cowboys’ 20-8 win Sunday on NBC attracted 23.1 million viewers, the network said Tuesday.

The game earned a 13.7 rating and 21 share to make it the 3rd highest rated Sunday Night Football game ever.

Jacobs Out Against Cowboys

The New York Giants have ruled out halfback Brandon Jacobs for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jacobs has not practiced all week because of his knee injury, which has been bothering him for about a month. He will be replaced in the starting lineup by Derrick Ward.

Mark Ingram the Fugitive

An arrest warrant has been issued for former New York Giants star Mark Ingram after he failed to report to federal prison to begin serving nearly eight years for bank fraud and money laundering

Ingram pleaded guilty in November 2005 and was ordered to surrender to a prison in Ashland, Kentucky last Friday, but he never showed.  A spokesman said Ingram was still on the lam as of Wednesday.

Giants’ LB Pierce to Testify

Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce will cooperate with police and testify before a Manhattan grand jury about how teammate Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself at a nightclub last weekend.  Pierce’s testimony could enable him to avoid charges of hiding Burress’ Glock pistol after the shooting.

Burress has been suspended by the Giants for conduct detrimental to the team and faces charges of illegal weapons possession.

Giants WR Steve Smith Robbed at Gunpoint

New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith was robbed at gunpoint in the early hours of Nov. 25 after arriving home, according to Clifton, N.J., police.

Smith had just returned to his townhouse in a chauffer-driven car when he was approached from behind by man who held a gun to Smith’s head. The man left the scene and is still being sought.  It was unclear if Smith’s driver was at the townhouse during the hold-up.

Burress Rejoins G Men

Plaxico Burress arrived at the Meadowlands on Tuesday, facing the possibility that his career with the Giants could be over and he could land in jail after accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a nightclub.

The New York Giants wide receiver drove himself to the stadium one day after he was charged with illegal gun possession. Burress was required to report to practice on Tuesday because he is on the active roster and injured.

Plax Charged with Two Felonies

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was charged with two counts of felony possession of a weapon in the second degree Monday and released on a $100,000 bond.

Burress, who accidentally shot himself Friday night in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub, did not enter a plea, though his attorney said Burress planned to plead not guilty.

A grand jury will hear evidence and make a decision on whether Burress will be indicted. Illegal possession of a firearm carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 3½ years.  Burress could face up to seven years in prison if convicted on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

According to ESPN.com:

A more detailed timeline of the evening also emerged. Police said Pierce, Burress and running back Derrick Ward arrived at the club with two other people around 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Burress had been allowed to bypass security, even though they knew he was armed, according to a law enforcement official who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The club is said to be fully cooperating in the investigation.

Around 12:05 a.m., as Burress was being escorted to a VIP area with a drink in one hand, he somehow ended up fumbling his gun and it discharged, hitting his thigh. Pierce was with him when that occurred, police said.

Sean Taylor Inducted into Redskins’ Ring of Fame

Announced one last time as the “starting free safety” for the Redskins, Sean Taylor was inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame before Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

With his mother, father, girlfriend and daughter huddled under umbrellas near the center of the field, Taylor’s name was unveiled on the upper-level facade of FedEx Field.

Running back Clinton Portis, Taylor’s close friend, then ran onto the field carrying a large burgundy flag with a gold No. 21.  The Giants won the game 23-7 in a muddy and rainy affair.

NFC East Round Up

With starting running back Brandon Jacobs out with a knee injury, the Giants took to the air to win their sixth in a row.  Manning threw for three touchdowns in his return to the scene of his Super Bowl MVP performance and the New York Giants beat Arizona 37-29 to snap the Cardinals’ seven-game home winning streak.

Manning completed 26 of 33 for 240 yards with no interceptions as the Giants moved to 10-1, tied for the best record in the NFL.

Terrell Owens broke out with seven catches for 213 yards and the Dallas defense played great when it had to, helping the Cowboys beat the San Francisco 49ers 35-22 Sunday.  Tony Romo was 23-of-39 for 341 yards and three touchdowns in his second game playing with a splint protecting a broken pinkie on his passing hand.

Dallas (7-4) has won consecutive games for the first time since starting 3-0. With Seattle coming to Texas Stadium on Thursday, the Cowboys could distance themselves even more from their recent 2-4 rut and could go steaming into December in prime position for a wild-card playoff berth.

Clinton Portis gained 143 yards on 29 carries, including key runs late that helped preserve the Redskins’ first victory in almost a month, 20-17 over the Seattle Seahawks.  It ended a two-game losing streak for Washington (7-4), which hosts the division-leading New York Giants (10-1) on Sunday.