Matt Cassel (QB, New England)

Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans) is still a human highlight reel, but also still not an every down back. He returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown with ridiculous speed -- and a taunting wave. On offense he ran 10 times for 28 yards and made 7 receptions for 63 yards. The Saints lost to Washington, 29-24.

LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) split carries with Chris Johnson, but touched the rock 18 time for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Lawrence Jackson (DE, Seattle) had a big day. The rookie made 5 tackles, but, most impressively, had two sacks in a 33-30 overtime loss to San Francisco.

Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh) overcame hamstring trouble to make 4 tackles and an interception in a 10-6 victory over Clevelend.

Keith Rivers (LB, Cincinnati) made 8 tackles in the loss to Tennessee.

Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati) doesn't seem his old self. After a lousy game last week, he was only 16-of-27 for 134 yards and 2 interceptions in a 24-7 loss to Tennessee. He also injured his ankle in the second half.

Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland) have 97 yards in week one and was holding off rookie Darren McFadden pretty well. Then he pulled his groing in the second quarter this week against Kansas City and McFadden had a great day. Before leaving, Fargas had 43 yards on 9 touches in a 23-8 victory.

Lofa Tatupu (LB, Seattle) made 5 tackles in the loss to the Niners.

Steve Smith (WR, NY Giants) made catches of 11 and 8 yards, as well as a tackle after a turnover. New York won 41-13 over St. Louis.

Matt Leinart (QB, Arizona) saw mop-up duty in a 31-10 victory over Miami. He completed a 15 yard pass on 2 attempts. Kurt Warner seems to have the job on lock for now.

Fred Davis (TE, Washington) saw the first pro action of his career and made a 6 yard catch in the victory over New Orleans.

Frostee Rucker (DE, Cincinnati) made 5 tackles in the loss to the Titans.

Sedrick Ellis (DT, New Orleans) made 4 tackles in the loss to Washington.

Brian Kelly (CB, Detroit) had three tackles in a 48-25 loss to Green Bay.

Willie McGinest (LB, Cleveland) made one tackle in the loss to Pittsburgh.

LaJuan Ramsey (DE, Indianapolis) had a tackle in an 18-15 win over Minnesota.

Also played: Sammy Knight (S, NY Giants).

Monday Night Football: Mike Patterson (DT, Philadelphia) will be playing against Dallas.

-- Adam Rose
Photo by Rich Kane / US Presswire

Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans)

Matt Cassel (QB, New England) may have become the hottest commodity in fantasy football this weekend when Tom Brady went down. But will he actually become the long-range starter? For more on his performance, click here.

Matt Leinart (QB, Arizona) didn't see any action against the 49ers. Crazy thought ... he will probably be a backup in week two, but his former backup (Cassel) could be leading the defending AFC champion.

Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati) was also upstaged by his former backup (again, Cassel). Still dealing with a broken nose, he was just 10-of-25 for 99 yards and an interception. He also picked up 15 yards on 3 carries. The Bengals lost to Baltimore, 17-10.

Keith Rivers (LB, Cincinnati) made a big impact in his first game as a pro, recording 10 tackles (9 solo) in the loss to the Ravens.

Frostee Rucker (DT, Cincinnati) had six tackles and forced a fumble.

Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh) had a good game despite being hampered with a hamstring problem. He made three tackles and nabbed an interception in a 38-17 victory over Houston.

LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) ran 15 times for 40 yards and a touchdown, but seems to be losing the starting job to rookie Chris Johnson.

Lofa Tatupu (LB, Seattle) made 8 tackles in a 34-10 loss to Buffalo.

Dwayne Jarrett (WR, Carolina) had catches of 25 and 11 yards in a 26-24 win over San Diego.

Steve Smith (WR, New York Giants) made grabs of 8 and 7 yards in Thursday's 16-7 win over Washington.

Willie McGinest (LB, Cleveland) had three tackles in a 28-10 loss to Dallas.

Sedrick Ellis (DT, New Orleans) made a pair of tackles in the win over Tampa Bay.

Lawrence Jackson (DE, Seattle) made two tackles in the loss to the Bills..

Mike Patterson (DT, Philadelphia) had a pair of tackles in a 38-3 shelling of St. Louis.

Shaun Cody (DT, Detroit) made two tackles in a 34-21 loss to Atlanta.

Monday Night Football: With a pair of games tonight, John David Booty (QB, Minnesota), Keary Colbert (WR, Denver), and Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland) could all see some playing time.

-- Adam Rose
Photo: Crystal LoGiudice-US PRESSWIRE

And so was the Saints offense, which Reggie Bush aided with 163 total yards, including a 42 yard romp for a touchdown. Sedrick Ellis and the Saints D-Line now under Ed Orgeron also looked great.

Other USC notables were Keith Rivers with 9 tackles in his debut with the Cincinnati Bengals.

And coming of an injury, Pro Bowl Safety Troy Polamalu had his first interception in nearly 2 years.

Dwayne Jarrett caught a couple passes (36 yards) for the revived Carolina Panthers who beat San Diego on the road in dramatic fashion.

And in spelling injured Tom Brady, Matt Cassel was 13 of 18 for 152 and a TD -- leading the New England Patriots to a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. (Rumors are rampant that Tom Brady tore an ACL and Cassel will be the Pats QB the rest of the year.) Certainly we wish Tom Brady well, but it would be cool to see a guy that never took a snap as a starting QB at USC be prolific in one of most dominant offenses in the NFL.

For Cushing, playing a full season in 2008 is vital because he wants to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft. Some mock drafts list him as a potential first-rounder, if he can stay healthy.

"That would be helpful, because he has been banged up," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "This year will have something to say about his status if he missed a number of games."

Cushing said missing nearly 33 percent of two seasons is impossible to ignore, so he knows the NFL will inquire about it.

"I'm sure the NFL will ask, they're always looking for things," he said. "But I'm in my best shape and playing my best football ever right now. Mentally, I've never been close

to what I am now."

 

Durability is key in the NFL so Cushing needs to keep on playing his heart out and not get bit by the injury bug.

While he toyed with leaving for the NFL after last season his coming back for his senior season will go a long way to building his stock up with NFL scouts of course the key will be to stay healthy.

Although Cushing missed four games last season, he said he considered coming out early but spoke to Carroll and former USC linebacker Keith Rivers, who returned for his senior season and increased his stock.

"I knew it was the best thing to come back," Cushing said.

The temptation was there for Cushing, who earned All-American honors despite recording just 25 tackles. Some of his hits are so memorable, however, he probably gets more mileage out of his tackles than most players, except maybe middle linebacker Rey Maualuga. Cushing's potential always intrigued NFL teams, and he admitted even in April he wondered about his status.

"After watching the draft, I asked a lot of questions where I stood," Cushing said. "I wondered what teams thought of me. Next year, who knows what position they will want me to play?

It would have been weird not to have Cushing around this season when you consider that he and Rey have been practically joined at the hip since the arrived at USC. It definitely would not have felt right.

Cushing overcame a lot coming all the way from NJ. I was fortunate enough to see him play as senior. He was cocky and brash then but I could see why it was hasrd not to be. He was heading to USC a school who had just won a BCS title and who had put together one of the best defenses in nation and probably one of the most explosive offenses in the history of college football. Cush had his moments of being home hick but he quickly got into the groove in L.A. and when he has been on the field he has had some great moments.

He has turned into a leader and there is a good chance that he could be named co-team captain this week. That would be a good move as his vocal demeanor will go a long way to to setting the tone on defense.

He has been fun to watch while he has been here at USC, but it is not over yet and this season is for all the marbles.

Rivers

Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Keith Rivers will finally join the team Wednesday after 10 days and 12 missed practices. He signed a six-year deal with the team late Tuesday night.

Coming from USC and being tutored by position coach and former NFL linebacker Ken Norton Jr., Rivers joined Cincinnati as one of the most NFL-ready players in the draft this year.

Now is his chance to prove it.

Rivers was a lock to start at outside linebacker leading up to his holdout but fell behind significantly. The good news is if Rivers proves to be a quick study -- as advertised -- he still has a chance to be a starter in Week 1.

Rivers was a standout in spring workouts. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer liked what he saw from his prized rookie from the first practice.

For now, Brandon Johnson is the starter and likely will take that mantel into the first preseason game. But eventually Rivers' talent and status as the No. 9 overall pick will be too much to keep him out of the starting lineup.

Wanted to let everyone know in the Yard that I signed my contract tonight about 10:00 and then got checked into the dorms at Georgetown College. I am very excited and I am anxious to get back out onto the field and start working with my teammates. It's been tough waiting around for this to happen, but it is part of football now, it's part of the process. I'm just glad it's done. Now it's time for me to do what I can do to become the best player I can be. I did send [Bengals linebackers] Coach [Jeff] FitzGerald a text to let him know that I signed and that I'd be there ready to go in the morning. He sent me a note back and said congratulations, time to get started and get caught up. Time to prepare and do what I got drafted to do. I sent a text to [USC linebackers] Coach [Ken] Norton [Jr.] too - I needed to let him know.

Thanks to Kirk for the tip!

-AR

Photo by Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Here is your one-stop shopping for news around the AFC North:

• A source told ESPN.com that, as of Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals and rookie Keith Rivers remain "far apart" in contract negotiations.

Morning take: Although the distance can change at any moment, this is still a hard one to figure out. Part of me says there's no reason Rivers shouldn't have a deal in place, while another part of me says the Bengals are historically one of the NFL's most tight-pocketed teams. So, let's reserve judgment for now.

• John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes this could be the last chance for backup Steelers receiver Willie Reid.

Morning take: The drafting of receiver Limas Sweed in the second round says it all the from the Steelers' perspective. If this doesn't light a fire under Reid, nothing will.

• Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun reports Ravens starting tight end Todd Heap hurt his calf and sat out of Sunday afternoon's practice.

Morning take: I'm running out of words to describe the Ravens' injuries. See the 20 previous "Morning Takes" for more insight.

• Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer believes Braylon Edwards is a perfect fit for the Cleveland Browns' offense.

Morning take: To go even further, Edwards and quarterback Derek Anderson are tailor-made for each other as two home-run hitters. Seeing the pair hook up again Friday in a game-like scenario for the first time this year brought flashbacks to Edwards' 16-touchdown season in 2007.

Historical Perspective: USC has sent 446 players to the League via the draft. 42 have been picked in the 7 years since Pete Carroll arrived, including 11 in the first round.

No Rush: For four USC draft picks, an extra year in school may have rewarded them with a big payday. Gary Klein explains in Sunday's LA Times.

No Hype: An interesting forum post found that 10 first rounders in this draft were given two stars or fewer coming out of high school (by at least one of the top recruiting services).

The Trojans:

• Sedrick Ellis (DT) - New Orleans - 1st round, 7th pick
  • Times-Picayne's blog story
  • The Saints traded up to get Ellis
• Keith Rivers (OLB) - Cincinnati - 1st round, 9th pick
  • Enquirer article
  • Enquirer video interview
• Sam Baker (OT) - Atlanta - 1st round, 21st pick
  • Journal Constitution article
  • The Falcons traded up to get protection for new quarterback Matt Ryan
• Lawrence Jackson (DE) - Seattle - 1st round, 28th pick
  • Post-Intelligencer article
  • The Seahawks actually traded down from 25th
• Chilo Rachal (OG) - San Francisco - 2nd round, 8th pick (39th overall)
  • Chronicle article
  • Transcript of Chilo's conference call
  • Local reaction is that the 49ers had a boring draft
• Fred Davis (TE) - Washington - 2nd round, 17th pick (48th overall)
  • Post article
  • The Redskins got two receivers as well as pass-catching Davis
• Terrell Thomas (CB) - New York Giants - 2nd round, 32nd pick (63rd overall)
  • Post blurb (seriously, this was the best coverage we could find in the New York press)
• John David Booty (QB) - Minnesota - 5th round, 2nd pick (137th overall)
  • Star Tribune article
  • LA Times article
  • Booty slipped lower than some though he might, but the Vikings traded up in the 5th round and now it's a great match.
• Thomas Williams (OLB) - Jacksonville - 5th round, 20th pick (155th overall)
  • Times-Union article
• Chauncey Washington (RB) - Jacksonville - 7th round, 6th pick (213th overall)
  • Times-Union article

USC had a phenomenal draft. Nearly 13% of picks drafted in the first round were USC Trojans. USC owned 11% of picks through the end of the second round. USC had 10 draft picks overall, the most out of any school, including four in the first round (also the most out of any school). Here's the draft breakdown by Trojan player.

Sedrick Ellis - 1st round, 7th pick to the New Orleans, Saints.
Keith Rivers - 1st round, 9th pick, to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sam Baker - 1st round, 21st pick - to the Atlanta Falcons
Lawrence Jackson - 1st round, 28th pick - Seattle Seahawks

Chilo Rachal - 2nd round, 8th pick - San Francisco, 49ers
Fred Davis - 2nd round, 17th pick - to the Washington Redskins
Terrell Thomas - New York Giants - 2nd round, 32nd pick (63rd overall)

John David Booty - 5th round, 2nd pick - Minnesota Vikings
Thomas Williams - 5th round, 20th pick - Jacksonville Jaguars

Chauncey Washington - 7th round, 6th pick Jacksonville Jaguars

Soon to be top-draft pick, USC LB Keith Rivers wants to talk about his finals, graduating with degree in Public Policy, USC pro-day, his upcoming trips to different NFL teams. And he wants to share it all with you. Yes, following the lead of fellow Trojan LB Thomas Williams, Rivers has started his own blog on Yardbarker. Although not as prolific a writer as Williams, Rivers has posted a couple snippets of his life along with a few videos. Definitely worth checking out.

And if you want a real heart to heart, check out Williams blog...which is more like a diary. The guy really gets into it. Who knows, maybe Williams will be the next NFL athlete/author, like Denver Broncos' kicker Jason Elam who wrote thriller Monday Night Jihad. You never know.