Sooners in the NFL: Week Five

NORMAN, Okla. Recap the most recent NFL action and read about former Sooners' performances on the Sunday stage in this week's report.

SoonerSports.com will provide regular updates on former OU football players who are now representing the crimson and cream in the pros. This weekly feature will recur throughout the season, updating each Monday.

Sooners in the NFL

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Monday night's matchup pits the Tennessee Titans (1-3) against the Green Bay Packers (1-3) at the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field.

The storyline for the game is about quarterbacks. Green Bay's Brett Favre and Tennessee's Steve McNair are coming back from injuries that threaten their chances to play in tonight's game.

Favre suffered a concussion in last week's game versus the Giants. McNair bruised his sternum two games ago against Jacksonville and was limited to an emergency role last week. Both teams, however, expect them to start. Favre has started an NFL record 193 regular-season games at quarterback.

The Titans and the Packers are each hoping to end three-game losing skids.

Three former Sooners may play in the Monday night game. They are Green Bay's Torrance Marshall (1999-2000) and Tennessee's Andre Woolfolk (1999-2002) and Rocky Calmus (1998-2001). Calmus, who sat out last week, is listed as questionable after a back injury has limited his playing time this season.

The weather forecast for kickoff in Green Bay, Wisc., is mostly clear at 52 degrees with a slight wind.

Sunday Night Fight

The Ravens' special teams rallied for the win against the Washington Redskins on Sunday night.

Ed Reed forced a Mark Brunell fumble that he returned 22 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and B.J. Sams fooled the Redskins' defense, faking a lateral to Deion Sanders, on a punt return he took 78 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Ravens won 17-10.

Kelly Gregg (1995-98), in his second start since recovering from minor knee surgery, anchored the Ravens' defensive line, collecting three tackles.

Gregg's return came in last week's Monday night game. Gregg showed no rust, leading the defensive line with six tackles.

Lions Swallow Falcons

Detroit beat Atlanta 17-10, handing the Falcons their first loss of the season.

Three former Sooners start for the Detroit Lions tight end Stephen Alexander (1994-97), linebacker Teddy Lehman (2000-03) and right tackle Stockar McDougle (1998-99). Each contributed tremendously in the victory.

Lehman led the Lions with nine tackles and Alexander caught two passes for a total of 15 yards. Lehman has 24 tackles this season. Alexander has nine receptions for 58 yards.

Tampa's Time Travel

It seems likes years since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, or won any game for that matter. It took a bit of history itself to record a tally in the win column.

The sons of Super Bowl quarterbacks Phil Simms and Bob Griese captained the Bucs to their first victory this season. Chris Simms started his first-career game as an NFL quarterback and was sharp until an arm injury in the first quarter took him out of the game. Brian Griese filled in and led the team to a 20-17 victory, completing 16 of 19 passes for 194 yards in the process.

Former Sooner Corey Ivy (1995-97) made one tackle while serving his usual role on Tampa's special teams.

If you connections to the win in “Big D”, Bob Griese provided color analysis for the ABC telecast of Saturday's 12-0 OU victory and Simms, a former Longhorns quarterback, is probably in bed with an ice pack like he was about this time in 2002 and 2001, and 2000.

Cotton Bowl Hangover

Cowboys Roy Williams and Eddie George watched from the Sooner sideline Saturday as Adrian Peterson ran over the burnt orange for his best game of the year.

While they didn't win, they emulated the Sooners well. George rushed for 75 yards, his best game of the year and Williams (1999-2001) made five tackles, deflected a pass and recorded one quarterback hurry.

Dallas lost to the New York Giants 26-10.

Moore News

The San Francisco 49ers won their first game of the year as Tim Rattay set the franchise record for most completions by one quarterback.

The 49ers scored 16 points in the last five minutes to beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-28.

Former OU linebacker Brandon Moore (1997-2001) made two tackles while filling in for an injured Dwight Smith. Moore may see more playing time in the future as outer linebacker Julian Peterson was lost for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.

Debonair Defender

Peyton Manning passed for three touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders 35-14.

Former Sooner Travian Smith led the silver and black with nine tackles, including one for loss. He has 38 in 2004.

On Vacation

Chicago Bears defensive tackle and former Sooner Tommie Harris (2001-03) spent his bye week visiting his old team at the Red River Shootout in Dallas. Harris watched from the sideline as the Sooners defeated the Texas Longhorns for the fifth-consecutive time.

Kansas City Chiefs William Bartee (1998-99) and Jimmy Wilkerson (2000-02) also rested during their week five bye.

Harris and the Bears next play host to the Washington Redskins. The Chiefs travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars next Sunday.

Injury Bugged

New York Jets cornerback Derrick Strait (2000-03) tweaked an ankle in practice on Oct. 7 and sat out Sunday's 16-14 win over the Buffalo Bills. Strait, listed as questionable, should be back in the lineup next week.

Denver Broncos running back Quentin Griffin (1999-2002) was also inactive for week five with an ankle injury. Griffin's replacement, Reuben Droughns, rushed for 193 yards and caught a touchdown pass in a come-from-behind win against the Carolina Panthers.

Former OU tight end Trent Smith (1999-2002) was placed on the injured reserve list by the Baltimore Ravens Aug. 31 and will miss his second consecutive season after, again, breaking his leg in a preseason game. Smith broke the leg in the Ravens' first preseason game versus the Atlanta Falcons.

New York Giants' and former OU defensive tackle Martin Chase (1994-97) was also placed on the IR with a knee injury and will sit out the 2004 season.

Injury Report	Injury	Return
William Bartee (Chiefs)	Neck	Doubtful
Rocky Calmus (Titans)	Back	Questionable
Martin Chase (Giants)	Knee	Out for Season
Quentin Griffin (Broncos)	Ankle	Questionable
Trent Smith (Ravens)	Leg	Out for Season
Derrick Strait (Jets)	Ankle	Questionable

For the Record

Of the 19 former Sooners currently on NFL rosters, 14 played in the Stoops era (1999-present).
Of those Sooners, 12 played in the 2000 National Championship game at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla.
NFL teams with former Oklahoma players on their rosters went 7-2 in week five with two head-to-head matchups (not counting Monday night's contest between Tennessee and Green Bay). NFL teams with former Sooners are 28-28 on the season with eight head-to-head games played.
Former OU running back Renaldo Works (2000-03) is listed on the Houston Texans practice squad roster.

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