Posts tagged NajehDavenport at FanHouse

Last week, the Steelers released Najeh Davenport, a 245-pound running back who was signed to replace the ineffective Duce Staley in 2006. Staley was signed two years earlier to take over for the soon-to-be-retiring Jerome Bettis (he's from Detroit, you know). The common theme among the three backs? They were all big, plodding bruisers who could move the pile and excelled in short-yardage situations.

But as Pittsburgh heads into 2008, Gary Russell is the "heaviest" runner of those destined for the final 53, and he weighs 215 pounds (according to NFL.com). Rookie Rashard Mendenhall is 210, and Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore are listed at 209. But it's Moore, signed this offseason to a three-year, $4.95 million deal, who could be the key component to the new-fangled running game.

Not so much for his ability to actually run the ball, but because of his many other talents.

Typically, when the Steelers release a player, the process goes something like this: head coach Mike Tomlin explains that "it's a numbers game," and thanks the player for their hard work, commitment, etc.; player cleans out his locker and turns in his playbook; player immediately calls his agent; player signs with the Pittsburgh West within 48 hours.

Which is why recently unemployed running back Najeh Davenport probably wasn't too concerned about finding another gig. He told Sirius NFL Radio earlier this week that he would target the Cardinals and Lions as potential new employers, but he might want to think about casting a wider net during the job search.

"Cardinals GM Rod Graves said via text message this morning that the Cardinals have no interest."

So that's that. A running game that ranked 26th in the league last season has no need for a back who was eighth in value per play and 18th in total value. And Davenport's also a willing blocker and a good receiver. Interesting.

Actually, it's more complicated than that -- according to Rotoworld:

Najeh said he'd target the Lions and Cardinals as suitors, but his off-field past will work against him. The Cards also aren't in position to sign players other than their rookies. It's too bad, because this could've been a nice fit.

There's still Detroit, a team in need of a veteran running back who doesn't stink, and then there's Chicago: a team in need of a running back, period (although second-rounder Matt Forte has, roughly, a 10 million percent chance to be an improvement over Cedric Benson).

The Steelers have decided to drop the Dookie.

Najeh Davenport, the team's second-leading rusher last season, has been released, NFL.com's Adam Schefter is reporting.

Schefter and Pro Football Talk had previously reported that the Steelers were shopping to trade Davenport, but not surprisingly, no team was willing to send even a conditional draft pick to Pittsburgh for a backup tailback. Right now, Ron Dayne, Shaun Alexander, Kevin Jones and Travis Henry are all available as free agents, so it would have made no sense for someone to spend a pick on Davenport--who the Steelers picked up when the Packers waived him two years ago. Nothing Davenport has done in the past two years has really removed him from being that guy who's not that far from being waived at any point. The reality if that running backs, especially backup backs, don't have much job security.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't act as if finishing fourth in the AFC bothered them in the least. That could turn out to be a curious decision after their B team failed to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The game leaves them hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars, the same team that smacked them in the mouth at Heinz Field a few weeks ago.

Things went wrong for Pittsburgh right from the get go. Willie Reid, subbing for injured returner Allan Rossum, coughed up the opening kickoff and set up a Musa Smith touchdown run. With Charlie Batch offering the defense little worry, the Ravens keyed on Najeh Davenport and slowed the offense down to a crawl for most of the first half. Batch was intercepted once and his biggest play came courtesy of a pass interference on Corey Ivy. The Ravens led 20-7 at the half and appeared to be in charge of the game.

They appeared to be pulling a Billick, as its come to be known this season, by losing that control late. Batch found Santonio Holmes and Cedrick Wilson for touchdowns to cut the margin to six but when David Pittman picked him off for the second time late in the fourth, a return date with the Jags was in place.

To get you ready for week 17, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Pittsburgh Steelers/Baltimore Ravens preview.

2007 Records:

Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-5 (AFC North Champions, hosting game Wild Card Weekend)
Baltimore Ravens: 4-11 (Last in AFC North)

Last Week:

Steelers 41, Rams 24
Seahawks 27, Ravens 6

When the Steelers have the ball: The Steelers have nothing to play for this week which is a good thing. They are mighty banged up on offense and will take the free week to rest Ben Roethlisberger and get Najeh Davenport fully integrated as the starting tailback. Marvel Smith won't be at left tackle, Hines Ward probably won't play that much and anyone else of import will likely be shackled to the bench before the game is settled. Even without so many of their stars, the Steelers should be able to score points. The Ravens won't have Chris McAlister or Samari Rolle and will probably not push ailing players like Ray Lewis, Kelly Gregg or Terrell Suggs too hard in a meaningless game. That should mean plenty of opportunities for Davenport and Charlie Batch.

The best thing about NFL Network is that its on-air talent doesn't feel the need to toe the NFL company line. Rich Eisen, in particular, doesn't let the fact that he's working for the league's own network prevent him from cracking jokes at the expense of the league, its coaches or its players.

For example, while narrating the highlights of Sunday's Patriots-Steelers game, Eisen said this when Ben Roethlisberger hit Najeh Davenport with a touchdown pass: "And he plops one in to Najeh Davenport in the end zone." (Eisen's comment comes about 1:45 into the video at NFL.com.)

That was, of course, a reference to the fact that Davenport once broke into a woman's home and defecated in her hamper. Is it highbrow? No. Is it funny? Yes. Kudos to you, Rich Eisen.

Hat tip: Real Clear Sports.

Najeh Davenport should be ready to go on Sunday, which means that the Steelers decided not to sign Verron Haynes. The Steelers are also on their second explanation of how Davenport showed up on Sunday with a mysterious injury.

At his weekly press conference, coach Mike Tomlin said Davenport hurt himself while working on an elliptical machine. It was one of those explanations that no one was buying. Today's version of an explanation is that that caused swelling in his foot.

The day two explanation is definitely more plausible than the elliptical machine. It also may end rumors that Davenport was involved in a bar brawl, something that was brought up in Ed Bouchette's chat on Tuesday. While a brawl would be terrible timing for Davenport, who's facing domestic violence charges in Cleveland, there's one problem with the rumor--while broken fists, black eyes and various other head injuries are par for the course, it's hard to come out of a bar brawl with your one injury being an inflamed foot. That doesn't mean it couldn't have happened, but it does seem improbable.

Marvel Smith, Santonio Holmes and Troy Polamalu all practiced on Wednesday, so the Steelers should be fully healthy on Sunday, unless they have a surprise scratch for the third straight week.

The bye week came with some good timing for Najeh Davenport, as the Steelers running back had time to head over to Cleveland to plead not guilty to his four misdemeanor charges resulting from a fight with the mother of one of his children a couple of weeks ago.

Davenport is saying he'll fight the charges and has the ability to prove that he was actually the victim instead of the aggressor.

"He did not assault her. The police that responded on scene took photographs – he wound up being scratched on his face which drew blood," Patrick D'Angelo, Davenport's attorney, said.

Davenport won't have to be back into court until Nov. 20. With the season already nearly halfway over, it now would take only one more continuance to ensure that Davenport will be able to push this case into the offseason and avoid any punishment (if he's found guilty) until next year.

We're a ways away from finding out if Davenport is guilty or just the victim of unjust charges, but the result of the case is pretty important to the Steelers. Davenport is proving he's much more comfortable in his second year as a Steeler. He's proven to be a very solid backup to Willie Parker and a great guy for blitz pickup as a third-down back.

Steelers running back Najeh Davenport and the mother of his son both called 911 after their dispute last week over whether or not the boy would visit Davenport. This local news video includes both 911 calls:

Davenport certainly sounds more calm and relaxed, for what that's worth, although it's hard to give the benefit of the doubt to a guy who has previously defecated in an unsuspecting woman's laundry basket.

Davenport was charged with domestic violence in connection with the incident.

Via Ballhype and With Leather.

Although Steelers running back Najeh Davenport said this week that he planned to press charges against the mother of his child, it is Davenport who has been charged with domestic violence, endangering children and unlawful restraint, Fox 8 in Cleveland is reporting.

The charges stem from an incident last week involving Davenport and a Cleveland woman who is the mother of his 5-year-old. The dispute arose from a custody dispute between Davenport and the woman. Cleveland Police received three 911 calls in a 17-minute span, but they didn't arrest anyone because they weren't able to determine who was the aggressor in the dispute.

If convicted Davenport could face more than a year in jail. He could also be suspended under the NFL's personal conduct policy. Davenport is perhaps best known for entering a woman's dorm room and defecating in a laundry basket in 2002.