Matt Cassel to Start

The Vikings backup QB Matt Cassel will start for Minnesota against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Cassel will start over Christian Ponder, who suffered a rib injury in Week 3.

Ponder, the third-year starter in Minnesota, revealed he hurt his ribs during the Vikings' loss to Cleveland last Sunday.

Ponder did not participate Friday, in London, where his Vikings will play the NFL's seventh game in England.

Going into the game, the Vikings and their opponents, the Steelers, are both 0-3.

Quick Stats:

• Cassel signed a two-year contract this off-season.
• Cassel started 62 games during his nine-year career (New England, Kansas City, Minnesota).
• Cassel went to the Pro Bowl in 2010 - after throwing 27 touchdowns.

Anthony Spencer May Be Done In Dallas

Dallas Cowboys DE Anthony Spencer is done for the year. Anthony Spencer may also be done in Dallas forever. 

Spencer signed on a one-year franchise contract, so once this season is over, he'll be a free agent.

On a positive note, Spencer's backup George Selvie has proven that he's capable of manning the defensive end spot; however, in the grand scheme of things, Dallas still needs more depth.

Full article: Cowboys Make Roster Changes

Bucs Bench Josh Freeman

The Bucs have moved on from their franchise QB Josh Freeman.

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay made the decision to bench their five-year QB and to start rookie Mike Glennon this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Tampa Bay is now looking to trade Freeman before the trade deadline, which is October 29.

With the chips in their corner, the Bucs will not look to rush this trade - as an organization, the Bucs will wait out the month to see if another team suffers an injury, which may put them right in the middle of a bidding where - right where they'd like to be.

Most likely the Bucs would receive a conditional late round pick, and if another team suffers an injury to their QB or another team in the league needs a quarterback, the Bucs will have the opportunity to capitalize on their situation.

Quick Stats:

• Freeman was the 17th overall pick during the 2009 draft

• Freeman is 24-35 as a starter in Tampa Bay

• Tampa Bay has lost eight of their last nine games with Freeman

• Over the last six games Freeman threw four touchdowns and 12 interceptions

Although Freeman was victimized by receivers dropping passes and he played better in Sunday's 23-3 loss to the Patriots, the Bucs did not feel he was going to be consistent in the future under coach Greg Schiano.

The Bucs believe QB Mike Glennon will be a better game manager - and with RB Doug Martin as the second-leading rusher in the NFL, plus their improving defense, Tampa Bay's season is definitely not over.

Manning Breaks Brady's Record

Denver's Peyton Manning now holds the record for touchdowns over the first three games in a season.

With his 13 yard pass to TE Julius Thomas, Manning surpassed Tom Brady's passing touchdown record for the first three games of a season, during a Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders.

Stats

• Manning completed his record-setting pass to Thomas with 3:46 remaining in the first half
• Manning finished the first half 21 of 24 for 263 yards
• WR Eric Decker caught a two-yard touchdown during the first quarter
• WR Wes Welker caught a 12-yard TD pass early in the second
• Denver is now 3-0 after wins over the Raiders (37-21); Giants (41-23); Ravens (27-49)
• Denver has scored 127 points through the first three weeks of the season
• QB Tom Brady set his record during the 2011 season, breaking a long -time record set in 1965 by QB Charley Johnson of the St. Louis Cardinals
• The 1st player to throw 10 or more touchdown passes during the first three games after the AFL-NFL merger was Dan Marino with the Dolphins
• Marino and Brady are still the only two players to hit this mark twice
• Manning's three-touchdown performance now puts him on pace for 64 touchdown passes in 2013, which would be 14 more than Brady's record during the 2007 season

'Tanking for Teddy' - the trade of Trent Richardson

Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater is expected to be the first pick in the 2014 draft - is Cleveland evoking the "Suck for Luck' campaign, which is how Indianapolis was able to sign Andrew Luck, by trading their best offensive player to Indianapolis?

Now that Cleveland traded their third overall pick from two drafts ago, Trent Richardson, who is now in Indianapolis himself, in exchange for Indianapolis' first pick during the 2014 draft - should we dub this season the 'Tanking for Teddy' season?

Expected to be the first quarterback picked during the 2014 draft, Louisville junior quarterback Teddy Bridgewater seems to be a safe bet in rebuilding a team, as well as giving a team the opportunity to win in the future.

The pick Cleveland received in the trade should be in the 20's, which also gives them an opportunity to get a a player to help aid Bridgewaters' transition into the NFL.

Redskins name change: Ultimately, it's Dan Snyder's decision

"If one person's offended, we have to listen," Goodell said, "And ultimately, it is Dan [Snyder]'s decision. But it is something that I want all of us to go out and make sure we're listening to our fans, listening to people who have a different view, and making sure that we continue to do what's right to make sure that team represents the strong tradition that it has for so many years."

Full article: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23597771/goodell-on-redskins-name-change-ultimately-its-dan-snyders-decision

49ers Anthony Dixon: 'preparing for these She-Hawks'

Two of the best teams, the Seahawks and 49ers, play Sunday night, the winner will have the advantage of not only being undefeated, but will be undefeated...and remain the #1 ranked team in the NFC Western Division.

It is also thought by many that one of these teams will be the representative for the NFC in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Read more: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23607869/ers-anthony-dixon-tweets-hes-preparing-for-these-shehawks

Suh: 'I don't change'

"I think it's just, player safety is the league's concern," Suh said. "You've got to only respect it, and that's one of the reasons I spoke to Sullivan as we walked into the halftime, and he understood where I was coming from. No hard feelings and same thing if he cut me so forth, so on, no hard feelings and go from there."

Read more: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000242763/article/ndamukong-suh-on-100k-nfl-fine-i-dont-change

Suggs guarantees his team will meet Broncos again in playoffs.

Quarterback Joe Flacco threw two interceptions. TE Dallas Clark dropped a sure touchdown. The secondary's coverage was suspect and they tackled terribly.

Manning faced blown coverage on at least two of his touchdown throws. A punt was blocked to set up another quick score...

Full story: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/ravens/2013/09/06/baltimore-ravens-terrell-suggs-guarantees-rematch-denver-broncos/2774781/