Player Notes

Tom Brady^P (NE - QB)

Nov 22 - QB Tom Brady has thrown for 300 yards or more in five straight games,

Nov 18 - QB Tom Brady recorded his fourth consecutive 300-yard game Sunday night in Indianapolis, a career-best for the two-time Super Bowl MVP. The NFL record for consecutive 300-yard games is six, shared by Steve Young (1998), Kurt Warner (2000) and Rich Gannon (2002).

Ryan Grant (GB - RB)

Nov 22 - RB Ryan Grant contributed to the big day by the Packers offense, which produced a season-high 484 yards, with 129 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. It was Grant's second 100-yard game this season.

Steve Slaton (Hou - RB)

Nov 21 - RB Steve Slaton will start against Tennessee on Sunday, according to the Houston Chronicle. Ryan Moats started the team's last game.

Nov 18 - RB Steve Slaton had 24 carries for 100 yards in the Texans' 13-12 victory over the Titans at Reliant Stadium last season.

Nov 17 - Slaton continues to work on fumble-prevention during team practices, the Texans' official site reports. After fumbling eight times and losing five of them, Slaton was replaced as the starting running back by Ryan Moats.

Recommendation: He was still used as a third down back in their last game against Indianapolis, but the team ideally wants him as its lead back. In practices, teammates routinely rip at the ball both during and after the play to make sure Slaton is keeping the ball secure. "For us to play well in the next seven weeks, Steve will have to be a big part of that. I know I'm counting on him, and I know his teammates are, too," said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. In a related note coming out of Tuesday's practice, the Texans gave a larger share of practice reps to rookie practice-squad back Arian Foster. Clearly, Houston's running back position remains one in flux, and it wouldn't surprise us to see Slaton become the lead back once again.

Randy Moss (NE - WR)

Nov 19 - Moss, whose absence from practice Wednesday was termed "not injury related," was removed from the Patriots' practice participation/injury report Thursday, ESPN.com reports.

Recommendation: There's a chance that Moss may show up as "probable" Friday, but we fully expect him to be good to go Sunday against the Jets.

Nov 18 - WR Randy Moss reached 100 yards for the fifth time this season when he caught nine passes for 179 yards against the Colts. Moss' personal record for 100-yard games in a season is nine, which he set in 2007. The NFL record is 11, set by Michael Irvin in 1995.

Nov 18 - Moss (undisclosed reason) was not at practice Wednesday, the Boston Herald reports.

Recommendation: Until we hear otherwise, we'll operate under the assumption that is a maintenance day for either Moss' shoulder or some other minor ailment.

Bernard Berrian^Q (Min - WR)

Nov 19 - WR Bernard Berrian was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a hamstring injury.

Nov 18 - WR Bernard Berrian was limited in practice because of a hamstring injury.

Nov 18 - Berrian (hamstring) was limited in practice on Wednesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Recommendation: He was able to play last week despite the ailment and didn't appear to have a setback, so this is probably minor. Still, continued hamstring problems haven't helped a diminishing role in the offense.

Lee Evans (Buf - WR)

Nov 18 - Evans will have Ryan Fitzpatrick as his quarterback Sunday against Jacksonville instead of Trent Edwards.

Recommendation: Evans seems to have a better rapport with Fitzpatrick, as Fitz takes more shots downfield than Edwards. In the three games where Fitzpatrick quarterbacked the majority of the game, Evans has gone 11/172/2, and in the six games Edwards has started and finished, he's gone 16/209/3. The biggest problem for Evans is that the team's offensive line is lousy, so they're not giving him enough time to get open downfield.

Greg Olsen (Chi - TE)

Nov 22 - TE Greg Olsen caught six passes for 42 yards Sunday but was targeted 12 times by an inaccurate Jay Cutler.

Mason Crosby (GB - K)

Nov 18 - PK kicker Mason Crosby's ongoing struggle from long range on field goals has been a head scratcher. The strong-legged Crosby has connected on 15 of 20 attempts this season, but all five misses are from 49 yards and beyond. He is 1-of-5 from 50-plus yards, including four straight misses, after going 6-for-11 from that range his first two years in the league. "We haven't hit the 50-yarders like we would like. There is no question about that," head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. McCarthy, though, didn't come down on Crosby as he did two days earlier in sending a pointed message to inconsistent punter Jeremy Kapinos, who appears to be on a short lease with a paltry net average of 33 yards. "There are a number of factors that play into trying those (long) field goals, but I still have confidence," McCarthy said. "I think I have illustrated that by the opportunities that have been given to Mason. I think he is fully capable of making those kicks. I wouldn't put him in the position if I didn't think he could be successful."