There is always all sorts of news about injuries in the sports news, but there is a particularly large amount today that directly affects betting decisions through the weekend:
Charlie Manuel: This isn’t directly an injury, but the Phillies’ manager lost his 87 year old mother today. He is staying to manage the game against the Dodgers. Manuel is very well liked by hos players, so I expect this to be a boost to the team. They will be playing for him. It’s also not that likely that he will be too distracted to be at his best – his mother had had a heart attack earlier in the week and wasn’t doing well, but he still managed a heck of a game in game one. I don’t know which team you like in this one, but I think that this is a check mark to put in Philadelphia’s column.
Carson Palmer: Cincinnati’s QB is out of action again on Sunday, and Ivy Leaguer Ryan Fitzpatrick will again get the start.This is a step down in QB quality, and that would be a real problem if Palmer and the offense had been clicking. They aren’t, so it’s not nearly as scary. Or at least it’s not in my mind. The public doesn’t agree – the line on this one has shifted by a full field goal today.
Brian Westbrook: The stud Eagles’ running back will be kept out of the game on Sunday thanks to the rib injury he suffered last week. Guard Shawn Andrews and receiver Reggie Brown are out. Of the three, Westbrook is obviously the biggest hit. The line is going nowhere on this one, so the public and the oddsmakers had already assumed this one was going to happen. As a Niners’ fan I’m not unhappy about this one.
Pacman Jones: Stupidity isn’t an injury, but this one still needs to be looked at. Jones lost his mind and did what he does best – drink and brawl. There was no charges laid, and the Cowboys have done what they would have been expected to do – turned a blind eye and let him keep playing. They really have no choice. Terence Newman is out, so Pacman is desperately needed to help contain the Arizona vertical game.
Kellen Winslow: This guy can’t get a break. The talented but injury-prone tight end is in the hospital being treated for an undisclosed illness. There is no word on whether he will be out of the hospital in time for the Monday night game against the Giants. I’m not sure it matters much, though. His absence would be a big hole, but I don’t think many people were giving him much of a chance anyway, regardless of whether he was there or not.
Matt Hasselbeck: The Seattle QB has not been cleared to play Sunday against Green Bay, and it seems increasingly likely that he won’t. That means that the starting duties will fall to Charlie Frye. The former answer in Cleveland gets another chance. That’s not very inspiring, but then again neither are the Hawks regardless of who is under center. The line moved from -3 to -1 on the Seahawks early in the week, but has stayed there since.
