NFL roundup: Meriweather says he must hit low
Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather and Carolina Panthers safety Mike Mitchell, both of whom have received punishment for their hits this season, lashed out with some provocative comments on Monday.
Meriweather, back from a one-game suspension for illegal hits, acknowledged he must change his style a bit.
"To be honest, man, you've just got to go low now. You've got to end people's careers, you know?" Meriweather said, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "You've got to tear people's ACLs and mess up people's knees now. You can't hit them high no more. You've just got to go low."
He also had a comment for Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who suggested Meriweather should be kicked out of the league.
"He feels like, you know, I need to be kicked out of the league," Meriweather said. "I feel like, people who beat their girlfriends should be kicked out of the league too."
Several years ago, Marshall's former girlfriend filed suit against Marshall, accusing him of abusing her.
Mitchell, who was fined $7,875 for taunting on a play in which St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 20, claimed he is being targeted for fines, ESPN.com reported.
"Roger being Roger, I guess," Mitchell said, according to the report. "To be honest, I think there is a little bit of a targeting system they have out. I think I'm one of the guys they'd been looking for, but I'm OK with that."
When asked where the fines went, Mitchell looked into a television camera and said, "Right in Roger's pocket. Right in his pocket. On camera, right in his pocket is where it's going."
--- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is expected to be sidelined for up to a month after re-injuring his left hamstring in Sunday's 15-7 loss to the New York Giants.
That leaves rookie Matt Barkley and Nick Foles as candidates to start this week's game at Oakland against the Raiders (3-4). But Foles still has not been cleared after suffering a concussion two weeks ago.
---Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak announced that Case Keenum will start at quarterback Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Matt Schaub was inactive for the game against the Chiefs because of an ankle injury, but he is considered healthy now.
---Cleveland Browns coach Rob Chudzinski announced that Jason Campbell will start at quarterback this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
---Browns wide receiver and punt returner Travis Benjamin will undergo surgery for a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
---Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday and is expected to be out 3-4 weeks, ESPN reported. Besides the knee injury, Maualuga also sustained a concussion.
---Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey was served a subpoena related to the Aaron Hernandez investigation less than an hour after the Dolphins' loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Multiple media outlets reported that police are focusing on several transactions that involve Pouncey and Hernandez.
---Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller pleaded guilty to speeding and driving under restraint after arriving at Arapahoe County (Colo.) Court two hours late on Monday, according to the Denver Post.
---Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim denied an ESPN report that wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald could be traded.
Keim responded on Arizona Sports radio 620 Monday, saying, "I have not had one conversation regarding a trade with Larry Fitzgerald. We have every intent to have Larry Fitzgerald retire as a Cardinal. Period."
---The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed wide receiver Mike Williams on injured reserve. Williams has been bothered by a hamstring injury, which caused him to miss one game earlier this season.
---Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller has a high ankle sprain but might play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Also, linebacker Manny Lawson may return after missing Sunday's game with a hamstring injury.
---Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said he is undecided on who will start at quarterback this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, but it will not be Matt Cassel.
Frazier said the starter will either be recently-acquired Josh Freeman or Christian Ponder, who started Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
---The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Bernard Scott, the team announced.
---The Chicago Bears signed quarterback Jordan Palmer to the active roster to provide depth with Jay Cutler out at least four weeks with a groin injury.
The team also signed linebacker Larry Grant to the active roster.
---Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver issued an apology on Monday for an obscene gesture directed at an official during Sunday's victory against Pittsburgh.
Tarver directed a middle-finger gesture at officials after a personal foul was called on cornerback Mike Jenkins for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell.
---New England Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer was scheduled to have season-ending surgery on Monday to repair a broken leg, multiple media outlets reported.
