The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/430118
84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS dits expect him to have to wait a few years before finally being inducted due to his short NFL career (11 seasons) by Hall stan- dards. Recent enshrines Cris Carter and Andre Reed played 15 and 16 seasons, respectively, while Bruce logged 16 profes- sional seasons. "A legitimate argument could be made that Holt was the league's best and most consistent receiver from 2000 to 2005," ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner wrote earlier this year. "There is a logjam of wide receiv- ers forming and the line is only going to get longer in the coming years. Cris Carter and Andre Reed going in on consecutive ballots is a good sign for Holt, but he's still prob- ably going to have to wait awhile before his time comes. "At some point, Holt will probably get the call to join his Greatest Show brethren but like Bruce will probably have to have a little patience." ■ NFL Player Updates Through Dec. 7 • David Amerson (Played at NC State from 2010‑12), CB, Washington Redskins: Started all 12 games he has appeared in and posted 46 tackles, one tackle for loss and four passes broken up for the 3‑10 Redskins. • Audie Cole (2008‑11), LB, Minnesota Vikings: Has played in every game and posted 10 stops for the 6‑7 Vikings. • Jerricho Cotchery (2000‑03), WR, Carolina Panthers: Ranks third on the 4‑8‑1 Panthers with 35 catches for 462 yards. • Mike Glennon (2011‑12), QB, Tampa Bay Buc ‑ caneers: Has returned to a backup role after he started five times and appeared in six games for the 2‑11 Bucs … Completed 57.6 percent of his throws for 1,417 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions for a team‑best passer rating of 83.3. • T.J. Graham (2008‑11), WR, New York Jets: Has hauled in two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in nine appearances for the 2‑11 Jets. • Steven Hauschka (2007), K, Seattle Seahawks: Tied for second in the NFL with 28 made field goals, and ranks fourth in points scored (116) and seventh in field goal percentage (.903) for the 9‑4 Seahawks … His 58‑yarder is tied for the longest in the NFL this year. • Nate Irving (2007‑11), LB, Denver Broncos: Was placed on injured reserve in mid‑November by the 10‑3 Broncos … Started all eight games he played in, and tallied 46 total stops, six tackles for loss, one sack and a safety. • Dontae Johnson (2010‑13), CB, San Francisco 49ers: Has played in every game for the 7‑6 49ers and posted 18 tackles with four passes defended, including a pick‑six interception. • Markus Kuhn (2007‑11), DT, New York Giants: Has started once and seen time in 11 games for the 4‑9 Giants … Has compiled 13 tackles and returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown. • Ted Larsen (2006‑09), OL, Arizona Cardinals: Has opened every contest as the starting left guard for the 10‑3 Cardinals. • Manny Lawson (2002‑05), DE, Buffalo Bills: Has ap ‑ peared in 13 games for the 7‑6 Bills as a reserve, and totaled 18 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, a pair of passes broken up and his first professional touchdown, which came when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. • Terrell Manning (2009‑11), LB, New York Gi‑ ants: Has spent time with the Bengals, Bears and Giants … Played in four games, but did not record any statistics and was placed on injured reserve Dec. 2. • Philip Rivers (2000‑03), QB, San Diego Char‑ gers: Has completed 68.5 percent of his throws for 3,407 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a passer rating of 100.6 … Ranks third in the league in completion percentage, fifth in passer rating, tied for seventh in touchdown throws and ninth in passing yards. • J.R. Sweezy (2009‑11), OG, Seattle Seahawks: Has started every game at right guard for the 9‑4 Seahawks. • Stephen Tulloch (2003‑05), LB, Detroit Lions: Tore his ACL in week three and was placed on injured reserve … Finished the year with 20 tackles and two sacks in three starts. • Mario Williams (2003‑05), DE, Buffalo Bills: Has started every game for the 7‑6 Bills and is tied for sixth in the NFL with 12 sacks … Also has posted 33 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, one pass broken up and one forced fumble. • C.J. Wilson (2009‑12), CB, Tampa Bay Bucca ‑ neers: Currently a member of the 2‑11 Bucs' practice squad. • Russell Wilson (2008‑10), QB, Seattle Se‑ ahawks: Through 13 starts for the 9‑4 Seahawks, he has completed 63.4 percent of his throws for 2,729 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 95.2 … Has also rushed for 727 yards and five scores … Ranks 15th overall in the league and leads all quarterbacks in ground production … Also checks in at 11th in passer rating, 15th in completion percentage and tied for 15th in touchdown throws. • Earl Wolff (2009‑12), S, Philadelphia Eagles: Landed on injured reserve in mid‑November … Ap ‑ peared in seven games with one start, and logged seven tackles and one pass broken up. • Willie Young (2006‑09), DE, Chicago Bears: Has started six times and played in every game for the 5‑8 Bears … He is tied for 15th in the NFL with 8.5 sacks … Has also logged 38 total stops, 11 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, a blocked field goal and a pair of passes broken up. ■ NBA Player Updates Through Dec. 7 • J.J. Hickson (Played at NC State in 2008), C/F, Denver Nuggets: Averaging 7.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12 games with one start for the 9‑11 Nuggets … Is shooting 41.0 percent from the floor. • T.J. Warren (2013‑14), F, Phoenix Suns: Played in eight games off the bench for the 12‑9 Suns … Averaging 4.0 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest … Is shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from three‑point land. ■ • "Rivers is in the midst of yet another incredible stretch in one of the more un‑ derappreciated careers in NFL history. In a league studded with star quarterbacks young and old, you rarely hear No. 17 mentioned on any lists with [New England's Tom] Brady, [Denver's Peyton] Manning, [Indianapolis' Andrew] Luck, [New Orleans' Drew] Brees or [Green Bay's Aaron] Rodgers. "And yet here we are, in Rivers' 10th season as a pro, and he's having perhaps his best one yet. The numbers tell one story. Rivers is in the top 10 in passing yards, completion percentage, quarterback rating and touchdown passes. Fine. But his ability to win games when they matter is something else. … Rivers is 29‑3 in the final four games of a season, the best of all time." — FOX Sports' Peter Schrager on why San Diego Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers deserves MVP consideration • "It's a team sport and nobody can do it alone regardless of the outcome. We all work hard and we all have a lot of work to do, and we're just going to keep pushing. We just feel like we need to win. Everything else doesn't really matter." — Buffalo Bills' defensive end Mario Williams after being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for his outstanding November, when he led the AFC with 6.5 sacks; he leads a defense that ranks first in the NFL in sacks and is trying to break an NFL-worst playoff drought of 15 years (BuffaloBills.com) ■ Quotable ■ BY THE NUMBERS .869 Is the career field goal percentage of Seattle Seahawks kicker STEVEN HAUSCHKA, which ranks third in NFL history. 3 Straight years that Mario Williams has posted double‑digit sacks, doing so for the first time in his career. He has recorded 35.5 sacks and started all 45 games since signing with the Bills as a free agent. 2,211 Rushing yards recorded by the Seattle Seahawks through week 14, which leads the NFL. That effort has been greatly aided by Pack alums Russell Wilson (727 yards) and starting right guard J.R. Sweezy. PHOTO COURTESY SEATTLE SEAHWAKS