DG149

The NFL 2012 season in review is the focus of dread gallery #149. I was hoping to do more than one DG on the NFL (you may remember I somehow did six in one week last year); but I'm out of time; so I'm going to try to stuff all the best photos I saved from last season plus some other extras into one giant post. Same as with college football, I wasn't able to visit anywhere near as many websites as I wanted to; so no doubt I missed out on a whole bunch of great shots. But I saved a lot of great shots too; hopefully you will enjoy them. Only about 50 or so of the NFL's players with dreads will be featured; so you might be seeing some of the players I like over and over. I'm not going to check the game situation for each photo as thoroughly as I normally do, because I just didn't have enough time to. So here we go with NFL '12 in the house of dread.
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1. After playing three seasons in college at Alabama (where Coach Saban stifles dreads), rookie RB Trent Richardson finally gets a chance to unleash his dreads as he takes the field for his 1st NFL game on Sept. 9 at Cleveland. Richardson had a tough opener, rushing for only 39 yards on 19 carries in the Browns' 17-16 loss to the Eagles. 

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2. After being knocked off his feet by S Malcolm Jenkins, Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams is wrapped up and taken down by LB Junior Galette at the Saints' 16-yard line after a gain of 1 during 3rd quarter in Week 2. Williams rushed for 69 yards and 1 TD in Panthers' 35-27 home win, their only win in the first 2 months of the season.
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3. On 3rd and 1 Buccaneers CB E.J. Biggers sacks QB Matt Ryan and forces him to fumble with 11:23 remaining in 4th quarter at Tampa during Week 12. Bucs recovered at the ATL 36 but went three-and-out and settled for a FG to increase their lead to 23-17. Falcons came back to win 24-23, dropping Bucs to 6-5 and starting them on a 5-game losing streak. Biggers, who unfortunately keep his dreads reduced all the time, finished the season with 1 INT and 6 PBU.
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4. Raiders LB Philip Wheeler puts a hit on QB Matt Cassel too late to get his 2nd sack of the game but forces an incomplete pass early in 4th quarter at Kansas City in Week 8. Wheeler finished with a season high 11 tackles (11-0) in the Raiders' 26-16 win. Arguably with the longest dreads in the league, Wheeler was a bright spot in the Raiders' dismal 4-12 season. After 4 seasons as a part-time player with the Colts, Philip started all 16 games in his first and only season with the Raiders, finishing with 109 tackles (78-31), 3 sacks, 6 PBU, 2 FF, and 1 FR.  
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5. With S George Wilson beaten on the play, Bills rookie CB Stephon Gilmore drops off the man he was covering and breaks up the pass intended for TE Rob Gronkowski on 1st and goal early in 4th quarter in Week 4. But Patriots got the TD on the next play. Gilmore finished the game with 7 tackles (5-2) and a season high 4 PBU. With Bills leading 21-7 midway through 3rd quarter and poised to get a victory that would give them a 2-game lead over New England in the AFC East, Patriots suddenly exploded, going on a 28-0 run in less than 13 minutes and going on to whip the Bills 52-28. Even though he had only 1 INT, Stephon had 15 PBU in an excellent rookie season. If you're serious about football in addition to dreads, and if you have the time, there's an outstanding analysis of Gilmore's season (link below) done by a blog called "Pre-Snap Reads" that details exactly how excellent he was in 2012.

http://presnapreads.com/2013/06/04/stephon-gilmore-an-elite-cornerback-lost-in-the-failings-of-the-buffalo-bills/
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6. Midway through 4th quarter in Week 17, with his teammates unable to stop Cowboys WR Dwayne Harris on a punt return, P Sav Rocca takes matters into his own hands, grabbing Harris by both the facemask and the dreads and flinging him out of bounds, although this was more a dreads/horsecollar combo instead of just a straight yanking on Harris' hair. Rocca was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty added on to Harris' 39-yard return. Three plays later Cowboys scored a TD to pull within 3, but Redskins held on to win 28-18 and clinch the NFC East title. There were a couple other hair-pulling incidents that I'm aware of but don't have pictures for. In Week 10 Saints RB Chris Ivory was so infuriated after Falcons DE Ray Edwards grabbed his dreads while tackling him that he tried to kick Edwards. Nearly starting a brawl was the last straw for Edwards during his disappointing season and a half in Atlanta - he was cut two days later. And the next week Browns WR Josh Cribbs was lucky he wasn't seriously injured when Cowboys TE John Phillips yanked him down from behind (story and slo-mo replay on link below) in the open field to put a painful end to his punt return - a play on which the officials had the common sense to call a penalty even if it really wasn't one.

http://theboysareback.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/the-dreaded-hair-collar-dallas-cowboys-tight-end-john-phillips-penalized-15-yards-collaring-clevelands-horse/
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7. On the last play of the game at Seattle in Week 3 and with the Packers leading by 5, S M.D. Jennings reaches above everyone to intercept a jump ball into the end zone (left photo); but after Jennings comes down with the ball, WR Golden Tate reaches in and tries to steal it from him (right photo). One replacement official signals touchdown; while the other, not sure what to do, just waves his arms to signal to stop the clock. It was a fitting end to the horrifying three-week ordeal that everyone had to endure while the NFL locked out their real officials. The TD stood, giving Seahawks an undeserved 14-12 victory. Something tells me that if this game were played in Green Bay, I don't think it would have been called a TD. With the replacement refs getting worse, not better, as each week passed, the utter confusion caused by this play was enough to convince the league it was time to let the real refs go back to work.
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PICKS
A look at some interceptions by players with dreads.
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8. On the first play after Packers punted early in 4th quarter in Week 2, CB Tramon Williams, after deflecting the ball to himself, comes down with the INT (left photo) of a deep pass intended for WR Brandon Marshall, and returns it 38 yards (right photo) to the 26-yard line. Packers scored a TD on the next play to increase their lead to 23-3. It was Williams' 2nd and last INT of the both game and the season. He also finished the season with 14 PBU .....
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9. ..... Later in 4th quarter, rookie S Jerron McMillian, after dropping an INT earlier in the game, manages to hang onto this one on a pass intended WR Earl Bennett with 3 minutes to go. Packers' D intercepted QB Jay Cutler 4 times (what's new?) and held Bears to 168 total yards in an 23-10 victory. This was McMillian's only pick of the season. He also had 27 tackles (15-12), 4 PBU, and 1 FR.
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10. Browns S Usama Young dives to get his 3rd and final INT of the season, picking off an errant Peyton Manning pass intended for RB Knowshon Moreno with 14 seconds to play in 1st half at Denver in Week 16, keeping Broncos lead at 14-3. Broncos went on to win 32-14. The 3 INT were a career high for Young, who also finished 2012 with 53 tackles (37-16), 1.5 sacks, 4 PBU, and 1 FR.
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11. Veteran S Brandon Meriweather missed 15 games due to two different knee injuries, but in the one game he played he got this INT during 1st quarter in Week 11. He also had 7 tackles (3-4), 1 TFL, and 1 PBU in Washington's easy 31-6 home victory over Philadelphia.
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12. Patriots QB Tom Brady had thrown 179 consecutive passes since last throwing an INT in Week 2 when CB Richard Sherman ended the streak with this pick of a pass intended for WR Deion Branch at the Seahawks 20-yard line during 3rd quarter in Week 6. As you may recall, Sherman let Brady know about it too after the game. Richard finished the season tied for 2nd in the league with 8 INT - one behind .....
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13 ..... Bears CB Tim Jennings, shown here picking off a pass intended for Texans WR Keshawn Martin (who had slipped on the notorious Soldier Field turf) late in 1st quarter in Week 10, the first of two INT he had on back-to-back possessions in the Bears' 13-6 loss. After never intercepting more than 2 passes in any of his first 6 NFL seasons, Jennings picked off a league-leading 9 in 2012, and also had 12 PBU.
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SIXES
A few TD scored by players with dreads.
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14. RB Jacquizz Rodgers scores on an 8-yard catch and run, completing an 80-yard opening drive to give Falcons an early 7-0 lead at San Diego in Week 3. Rodgers had 67 total yards on 15 touches in Atlanta's easy 27-3 win. 
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15. Trent Richardson gives Browns a 7-0 lead over Chargers with a 26-yard run during 1st quarter in Week 8. It was the only TD of the game in Cleveland's 7-6 victory. Trent finished tied for the league lead in TD by players with dreads with 12.
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16. Trent Richardson was not the only Browns rookie to score last season. WR Travis Benjamin scores his 1st NFL TD in Week 3, toasting fellow rookie Stephon Gilmore on a post-corner route for a 22-yard reception to pull Browns within 17-14 of Bills late in 3rd quarter. But Bills went on to win 24-14.
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17. Trying to atone for his 2 lost fumbles earlier in 1st half, RB Jamaal Charles finishes off a highlight reel 37-yard TD, barely getting the ball into the end zone before being shoved out of bounds by S Atari Bigby, cutting Chargers lead to 20-6 with 5:09 remaining until halftime at Kansas City in Week 4. Bigby finished the game with 5 tackles (4-1). Charles gained 115 total yards; but his fumbles were two of 6 turnovers by Chiefs in their 37-20 loss to San Diego.
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18. On 1st down with 1:27 to go in 4th quarter in Week 6 at Seattle, WR Sidney Rice, who is not all that fast, gets wide open deep behind Patriots' secondary and makes a 46-yard reception for the game-winning TD. Rice finished with 3 catches for 81 yards as Seahawks scored 2 TD in the final 8 minutes to come back from a 23-10 deficit and defeat New England 24-23.
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19. Cowboys 2nd year WR Dwayne Harris scores his 1st NFL TD, taking a punt return 78 yards to the house, breaking a 17-17 tie early in 4th quarter at Philadelphia in Week 10. Cowboys went on to win 38-23. Dwayne finished 2nd in the NFL in punt returns with a 16.1 average on 22 returns.
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PICK SIXES
A few interceptions returned for TD
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20. As Panthers S Charles Godfrey returns an INT 9 yards for a TD to tie the game at 7 during Week 2 at Charlotte, DE Charles Johnson taunts Saints QB Drew Brees without saying a word. It was the 1st career TD for Godfrey, a 5-year veteran. He also had a season high 11 tackles (6-5) in Panthers' 35-27 victory. Godfrey finished the season with 69 tackles (44-25), 2 INT (the other one also against Brees in Week 17), 4 PBU, and 1 FR.
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21. On 3rd and 6 with Raiders in FG range in a tie game in Week 6, CB Asante Samuel begins his return after picking off a pass (left photo) and takes it all the way down the Falcons' sideline (right photo) 79 yards to the house to give Falcons the lead with 2:40 remaining in game. It was the 10th career pick 6 (including playoffs) for Samuel. Raiders came back to tie the game with :40 to go, but Falcons kicked a FG with :01 on the clock to win 23-20 and improve to 6-0. Still going strong after 10 seasons in the league, Asante finished 2012 with 5 INT and 14 PBU.
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22. With Browns trailing by 6 in Week 4 at Baltimore, WR Travis Benjamin thinks he going to catch this pass and convert a 3rd and 5; but no, CB Cary Williams jumps the route, gets the INT, and cruises 63 yards to increase Ravens lead to 23-10; and they held on to win 23-16. Continuing a pattern that began when he was in college at the U, Benjamin had more passes intended for him intercepted last season (at least 4) than he had TD catches.
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23. Seahawks S Earl Thomas, who I ranked as the best defensive player with dreads in the NFL for the 2nd straight year on my dreaded dozen list, takes an INT return 57 yards to the house for his 1st career pick 6, giving Seahawks a 47-17 lead midway through 3rd quarter at Toronto in Week 15. Thomas also had 5 tackles (3-2) with 1 TFL in a 50-17 win over Bills. 
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24. Tim Jennings prances into the end zone at the end of a 25-yard INT return, turning a 19-14 Carolina lead into a 20-19 Bears lead midway through 4th quarter at Chicago in Week 8. It was his 2nd INT of the game and 1st career TD. Despite being dominated in total yards 416-210, Bears kicked a FG on the final play of the game to defeat Panthers 23-22. 
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For the whole season 46 different players with dreads combined to score 154 TD during the regular season (14 more than in 2011) and 41 different players with dreads combined for 86 INT (up 7 from 2011). Here are the complete lists of all TD and INT:

TD (154)

• 12 - Marshawn Lynch (SEA), Trent Richardson (CLEV)
• 9 - Mikel Leshoure (DET)
• 8 - Torrey Smith (BAL)
• 7 - Denarius Moore (OAK), Sidney Rice (SEA), Roddy White (ATL), DeAngelo Williams (CAR)
• 6 - Jamaal Charles (KC), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (CIN), Chris Johnson (TEN)
• 5 - Brandon Lloyd (NE), Andre Roberts (ARIZ)
• 4 - Larry Fitzgerald (ARIZ), Steven Jackson (STL), Janoris Jenkins (STL)
• 3 - Joique Bell (DET), Travis Benjamin (CLEV), Kevin Ogletree (*)(DAL), Charles Tillman (CHI)
• 2 - Brandon Bolden (NE), Anthony Dixon (SF), DuJuan Harris (GB), Dwayne Harris (DAL), Chris Ivory (NO), Jacquizz Rodgers (ATL), Richard Sherman (SEA)
• 1 - Jonathan Babineaux (ATL), Cedric Benson (GB), Nate Burleson (DET), Antonio Cromartie (NYJ), Charles Godfrey (CAR), Dont'a Hightower (NE), M.D. Jennings (GB), Rashad Johnson (ARIZ), Adam Jones (CIN), Deji Karim (IND), Keshawn Martin (HOU), Dexter McCluster (KC), Joe McKnight (NYJ), Dezman Moses (GB), Asante Samuel (ATL), Donte' Stallworth (NE), Earl Thomas (SEA), Greg Toler (ARIZ)

(*) - Ogletree scored 4 TD, but one came after he cut off his dreads.

Most TD by one team: 22 by SEA
No TD by anyone for BUF, DEN, JAC, MIA, MIN, NYG, PHIL, PIT, SD, TB, and WASH
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INT (86)

• 9 - Tim Jennings (CHI)
• 8 - Richard Sherman (SEA)
• 5 - Asante Samuel (ATL)
• 4 - Michael Griffin (TEN), Janoris Jenkins (STL)
• 3 - Antonio Cromartie (NYJ), Dashon Goldson (SF), Reggie Nelson (CIN), Earl Thomas (SEA), Charles Tillman (CHI), Usama Young (CLEV)
• 2 - Morgan Burnett (GB), William Gay (ARIZ), Charles Godfrey (CAR), Rashad Johnson (ARIZ), Ellis Lankster (NYJ), Greg Toler (ARIZ), Erik Walden (GB), Tramon Williams (GB)
• 1 - Jonathan Babineaux (ATL), Mark Barron (TB), E.J. Biggers (TB), David Bruton (DEN), Marquice Cole (NE), Louis Delmas (DET), Tim Dobbins (HOU), Stephon Gilmore (BUF), DeJon Gomes (WASH), Jonte Green (DET), M.D. Jennings (GB), Michael Johnson (CIN), Jacob Lacey (DET), Dwight Lowery (JAC), Richard Marshall (MIA), Danny McCray (DAL), Jerron McMillian (GB), Brandon Meriweather (WASH), Dunta Robinson (ATL), Pat Sims (CIN), Lardarius Webb (BAL), Kyle Wilson (NYJ)

Most INT by one team: 12 by CHI
No INT by anyone for IND, KC, MIN, NO, NYG, OAK, PHIL, PIT, and SD
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PLAYOFF TD: 9 - DuJuan Harris 2, Marshawn Lynch 2, Torrey Smith 2, Anthony Dixon 1, Brandon Lloyd 1, Roddy White 1
PLAYOFF INT: 3 - Earl Thomas 2, Dannell Ellerbe (BAL) 1
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CELEBRATIONS
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25. Texans rookie WR Keshawn Martin celebrates his 1st career TD with WR Kevin Walter in Week 11. The 9-yard reception (video on link below) gave Texans an early 7-0 lead over Jaguars and was the 1st TD by a player with dreads for Texans in 6 years.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000096369/Martin-9-yard-TD-catch
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26. Titans RB Chris Johnson celebrates with CB Alterraun Verner after a stop by Titans' D on 4th and 2 with 26 seconds to play clinched a 35-34 road win over Buffalo in Week 11. CJ had a season high 195 yards rushing and 2 TD in the victory.
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27. Travis Benjamin celebrates his 1st career TD (see photo 16) with Trent Richardson in Week 3 at Cleveland. The two rookies combined for 15 TD, making Browns the AFC leader in TD by players with dreads.
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28. With dreads just long enough to start becoming visible, DT Jonathan Babineaux celebrates next to ex-dread DT Corey Peters after intercepting a short pass by Drew Brees with 3:29 remaining in the game at Atlanta in Week 13. Falcons' D picked off Brees 5 times and ended his streak of 54 consecutive games with at least 1 TD pass in a satisfying 23-13 victory over Saints that avenged a loss in New Orleans 3 weeks earlier.
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29. WR Dwayne Harris gets up on his tippy toes to do his favorite celebration after his 1st career TD catch, a 16-yarder from QB Tony Romo, brings Cowboys to within 31-24 of Saints with 3:35 remaining in 4th quarter in Week 16. Cowboys would score again with 15 seconds to go to send game into overtime, but Saints won 34-31.
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30. Ravens WR Torrey Smith hangs on the goal post after attempting to dunk the ball over it as his 6-yard TD reception gives Ravens a 7-0 lead over Giants midway through 1st quarter in Week 16. After catching a total of 5 passes for 68 yards in the previous 3 games (all losses), Torrey caught 5 for 88 yards as Ravens rolled to a 33-14 home victory.
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31. Torrey Smith holds up two fingers after scoring his 2nd TD of the game, beating CB Champ Bailey for the second time on a 32-yard reception that tied the 2nd round playoff game at 21 with 36 seconds to go until halftime at Denver on Jan. 12. Smith finished with 3 catches for 98 yards in Ravens' miraculous 38-35 victory over Broncos in double OT.
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32. LB Dannell Ellerbe celebrates just after the end of the game (left photo) and a little later during the confetti shower after Ravens' thrilling 34-31 victory over 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. Ellerbe had a team-leading 9 tackles (6-3) with 1 TFL in the game. A free agent after the season because the Ravens couldn't afford to keep him, Dannell will be taking his talents to South Beach for the 2013 season.
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DREAD STARS
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33. Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch carries the ball against Vikings during Week 9 at Seattle. Lynch rushed for 124 yards and 1 TD and caught 2 passes for 26 yards in a 30-20 victory. It was one of the 10 times Marshawn made the dread stars list last season - the most among all players.
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34. Here's Bears CB Charles Tillman doing what he does best - using his patented ball punch to force Packers TE Jermichael Finley to fumble during 2nd half in Week 2. It was the 1st of 10 FF by Tillman last season. Although he did not make the dread stars list for this game, he finished tied with Richard Sherman for the most appearances on the dread stars list by a defensive player with 3.
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35. Dread star with a heavy heart. Torrey Smith gets a hug from a Ravens' staff member (left photo) after his 25-yard TD catch during 2nd quarter and from LB Ray Lewis (right photo) after the game during Week 3. Remarkably Torrey was in uniform and on the field playing less than 24 hours after his younger brother was killed in a motorcycle accident. Smith had another big TD catch in 4th quarter and finished with 6 catches for 127 yards in a huge 31-30 home victory over New England. Here are the details in an article from CNN: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/24/ravens-torrey-smith-has-inspiring-game-hours-after-brothers-death/
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29 players made a total of 83 appearances on the dread stars list during the 2012 regular season. Here are the 10 players with the most appearances.

• 10 TIMES - Marshawn Lynch (SEA) (plus one more in the playoffs)
• 8 TIMES - Jamaal Charles (KC), Chris Johnson (TEN)
• 7 TIMES - Roddy White (ATL) (plus one more in the playoffs)
• 6 TIMES - Trent Richardson (CLEV)
• 5 TIMES - BenJarvus Green-Ellis (CIN)
• 3 TIMES - Steven Jackson (STL), Richard Sherman (SEA), Torrey Smith (BAL) (plus one more in the playoffs), Charles Tillman (CHI), DeAngelo Williams (CAR) 

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HOUSE OF DREAD

The most TD by players with dreads in any one game were 4, and that happened in three different games .....
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36. Lions rookie RB Mikel Leshoure scores one of his three 2nd-quarter TD in Week 9 at Jacksonville. The three were on runs of 7, 1, and 8 yards. Lions RB Joique Bell had a 10-yard TD run in 4th quarter as Lions defeated Jaguars 31-14.
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37. In Week 14 at Cleveland Travis Benjamin breaks into the clear and takes a punt return 93 yards to the house to give Browns a 10-7 lead over Kansas City on the first play of 2nd quarter. It was the longest punt return in Browns history. The other 3 TD by players with dreads in Cleveland's 30-7 victory were a pair of 1-yard runs by Trent Richardson, and an 80-yard run by Jamaal Charles on the first play from scrimmage.
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38. Also in Week 14, at Seattle, Richard Sherman easily intercepts an ill-advised pass by Cardinals QB John Skelton intendeed for WR Larry Fitzgerald at the 19-yard line .....
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39. ..... Fitzgerald dives at Sherman's legs but fails to stop him, and Sherman .....
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40. ..... takes it to the house for his 1st career TD, increasing Seahawks lead to 24-0 in 2nd quarter. Here is a video of the pick 6: http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/videos/Highlight-Sherman-pick-six/72be85ad-27d8-4b31-8475-ba6a7e979c64
The Seahawks routed the Cardinals 58-0, with the other three TD by players with dreads all scored by Marshawn Lynch - on runs of 20, 4, and 33 yards.
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HEAD DREAD
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41. Rams rookie CB Janoris Jenkins intercepts a pass intended for Cardinals RB LaRod Stephens-Howling and takes it 36 yards to the house for his 1st NFL TD, tying the game at 7 on the first play of 2nd quarter in Week 12. Jenkins had another key pick 6 in the game to nab player of the week honors for Week 12.
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42. Richard Sherman gets his 1st career sack and forces Jets QB Mark Sanchez to fumble in the process on a 1st down play early in 4th quarter in Week 10. The Seahawks recovered, ending a drive that had reached the Seattle 32-yard line. Sherman also had an INT with the Jets in the red zone during 2nd quarter with the game tied. The two big plays were enough to make Sherman the head dread for the week.The same blog that did that analysis on Stephon Gilmore also did a review of Sherman's entire season - just to see if Richard's as good as he says he is. If you have the time, you can read it by clicking this link: http://presnapreads.com/2013/05/16/richard-sherman-the-numbers-the-tape-the-verdict/
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43. Playing with a cast covering a broken thumb, Dannell Ellerbe is able to hold on for a key INT during 4th quarter of Ravens' 28-13 road victory over Patriots in the AFC championship game on Jan. 20. He also had 5 tackles (2-3) in the game. He wasn't spectacular, but Ellerbe was solid in all 4 playoff victories and earned the head dread for the postseason.
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Here is the list of all the head dreads (players of the week) for 2012.

• WEEK 1 - Kevin Ogletree (DAL) - 8 receptions for 114 yards, 2 TD in 24-17 road W over NYG
• WEEK 2 - Marshawn Lynch (SEA) - 26 carries for 122 yards, 1 TD in 27-7 home W over DAL
• WEEK 3 - Jamaal Charles (KC) - AFC offensive player of the week - 33 carries for 233 yards, 6 receptions for 55 yards, 1 TD in 27-24 road W in OT over NO
• WEEK 4 - Roddy White (ATL) - 8 receptions for 169 yards, 2 TD in 30-28 home W over CAR
• WEEK 5 - Jamaal Charles (KC) - 30 carries for 140 yards, 2 receptions for 21 yards in 9-6 home L to BAL
• WEEK 6 - Chris Johnson (TEN) - 19 carries for 91 yards, 4 receptions for 23 yards in  26-23 home W over PIT
• WEEK 7 - Chris Johnson (TEN) - AFC offensive player of the week - 18 carries for 195 yards, 2 TD in 35-34 road W over BUF
• WEEK 8 - Trent Richardson (CLEV) - 24 carries for 122 yards, 1 reception for 12 yards, 1 TD in 7-6 home W over SD
• WEEK 9 - Marshawn Lynch (SEA) - 26 carries for 124 yards, 2 receptions for 26 yards in 30-20 home W over MIN
• WEEK 10 - Richard Sherman (SEA) - NFC defensive player of the week - 3 tackles (2-1), 1 sack and FF, 1 INT, 2 PBU in 28-7 home W over NYJ
• WEEK 11 - Roddy White (ATL) - 8 receptions for 123 yards in 23-19 home W over ARIZ
• WEEK 12 - Janoris Jenkins (STL) - 2 INT returned for 2 TD (36 and 39 yards) in 31-17 road W over ARIZ
• WEEK 13 - Jamaal Charles (KC) - 27 carries for 127 yards, 4 receptions for 11 yards in 27-21 home W over CAR
• WEEK 14 - Marshawn Lynch (SEA) - 11 carries for 128 yards, 3 TD in 58-0 home W over ARIZ
• WEEK 15 - DeAngelo Williams (CAR) - 22 carries for 93 yards, 2 receptions for 51 yards, 1 TD in 31-7 road W over SD
• WEEK 16 - Roddy White (ATL) - 8 receptions for 153 yards, 2 TD in 31-18 road W over DET
• WEEK 17 - DeAngelo Williams (CAR) - 21 carries for 210 yards, 2 TD in 44-38 road W over NO
• PLAYOFFS - Dannell Ellerbe (BAL) - 32 tackles (25-7), 2 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU in victories vs. IND, at DEN, at NE, and vs. SF

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HELMETS OFF
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44. Bengals RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis loses his helmet on a tackle for a 3-yard loss by LB Bradie James during 2nd quarter of 1st round playoff game at Houston. Green-Ellis rushed for 63 yards on 11 carries in a 19-13 loss as Bengals were eliminated by Texans for 2nd year in a row. After playing 4 seasons in New England without fumbling at all, Green-Ellis fumbled for the first 3 times in his career in his first season in a Bengals uniform. But he had a good (not great) season, finishing tied for 12th in the league with a career high 1,094 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and 6 TD.
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45. LB Dannell Ellerbe puts a stop to a 14-yard punt return by WR Josh Cribbs by ramming his shoulder into Cribbs' head during 1st quarter at Baltimore in Week 4 .....
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46. ..... knocking both the ball and Cribbs' helmet loose. Ravens recovered the fumble and went on to win 23-16. Cribbs suffered a concussion but was back on the field in Week 5. After signing as a free agent with the Raiders during the offseason, Joshua was recently released by the Raiders, making him a free agent again.
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47. Four days after his emotional game against the Patriots - and two days before his brother's funeral - Torrey Smith is consoled by Browns S Usama Young after the Ravens' 23-16 victory on Thursday night . Torrey had another strong game, with 6 catches for 97 yards and 1 TD. Young finished with 4 tackles (3-1) and 1 sack. 
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48. Jamaal Charles is down and has to leave the game after being tackled for a 1-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage at Tampa in Week 6. But he was OK and was back in during the Chiefs' next possession and ended up with 40 yards rushing on 12 carries. Chiefs had one of their worst performances of the season, being drubbed by the Buccaneers 38-10.
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49. WR Dexter McCluster gives away his gloves to fans after facing the Panthers in Week 13, after Chiefs' only home victory of the season, 27-21 to end an 8-game losing streak. McCluster finished the season with 52 catches for a career high 452 yards but has scored just 5 TD in his three seasons with the team. His contract is up after the 2013 season, so he needs to start playing better if he wants to extend his career beyond this season.  
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50. No helmet? No problem. With 49ers leading Patriots 38-31 in Week 15, DE Ray McDonald, despite having his helmet knocked off by OT Sebastian Vollmer, sacks Tom Brady at the NE 45-yard for a loss of 5 with 5:25 remaining in 4th quarter. Patriots punted 2 plays later, and 49ers went on to win 41-34. After recording a career high 5.5 sacks in 2011, McDonald had just 2.5 sacks last season.
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51. Lions S Louis Delmas gives a halfhearted wave to the fans as he walks off after a 26-24 home loss to Bears in the last game of the season. Lions failed to build on their playoff appearance in 2011, dropping back to a very disappointing 4-12 last season and finishing the season on a 5-game losing streak. Recovering from a knee injury, Delmas missed the first 8 games of the season and finished with 38 tackles (28-10), 3 TFL, 1 INT, and 1 PBU.
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52. CB Dunta Robinson can't hide his disappointment as the Falcons' season comes to an end - one victory short of the Super Bowl. Playing his 9th season in the league and knowing the team likely wasn't going to bring him back for 2013, Dunta knows this was his best chance for a ring. But Falcons, hosting the NFC championship game for the first time in their history, blew a 17-0 lead and fell to 49ers 28-24. Robinson finished last season with 80 tackles (67-13), 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 7 PBU, and 1 FF. He'll be playing this season for another one of my favorite teams, wearing jersey #21 for the Chiefs.
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EX-DREAD
Take a good last look at these dreads, because you will not be seeing them anymore.
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53. WR Golden Tate leaps above CB Kyle Wilson on a 38-yard TD reception during 1st quarter of Jets' 28-7 loss to Seahawks in Week 10. I had high hopes for Wilson's dreads when he first came into the league in 2010; but then he started reducing them in 2011, and now they're gone altogether.
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54. With Seahawks up 51-0 over Cardinals in 4th quarter in Week 14, they had no business throwing the ball, and S Rashad Johnson takes out his frustration by hammering WR Sidney Rice on an 18-yard reception on 3rd and 20. An unnecessary roughness penalty was called, even though it was a clean hit. Don't worry about Sidney's dreads - there still among the best in the league. But Johnson unfortunately decided to cut his off during the offseason.
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55. Seahawks rookie DE Bruce Irvin sacks QB Robert Griffin III during 4th quarter of Seahawks' 24-14 1st-round playoff road victory over Washington on Jan. 6. Irvin, a surprise 1st round draft pick, finished 2012 in 2nd place in sacks among players with dreads with 8 (Bengals DE Michael Johnson, another ex-dread, led with 11.5). I've probably complained more about Irvin than anyone else for having his dreads reduced the last couple of years (because they're so awesome when he lets them hang loose); but I won't have the chance to complain anymore - because he cut them off during the offseason. 
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56. Texans WR Keshawn Martin is tackled at the 16-yard line by Jaguars LB (and his former teammate in college at Michigan State) Greg Jones after an 18-yard return of the opening kickoff at Houston in Week 11. Jaguars had two players named Greg Jones with dreads in 2012 but will have none this season. FB Greg Jones is now with the Texans, where he and Martin still have their dreads. But the Greg Jones pictured here, the LB, has cut his dreads off.
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57. Seahawks S Earl Thomas watches practice alongside Seahawks OT Russell Okung one day before playing in the Pro Bowl. It would be his last game with dreads. Earl surprised everyone when he showed up at training camp without dreads, because he still had them during minicamp in June. Thomas was not the only player to make my dreaded dozen list and the ex-dread list .......
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58. ..... "Man, these dreads are just getting too long," Torrey Smith must be thinking to himself as he holds out one of them after practice on Jan. 26, one day before getting on the plane to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. I'm not going to lie. Of all the players on this year's ex-dread list, seeing Torrey's name there by far is the most disappointing. But he's been hinting at getting them cut the last couple of seasons, and sadly he finally decided to say goodbye to them: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Late-For-Work-429-Torrey-Smith-Cut-His-Dreads-Photos/3771e49d-f9fb-45b3-b2df-61f3e66778d0
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ALL RASHEAN ALL THE TIME
Rashean Mathis is probably in the top 5 of my all-time favorite NFL players ever. But it was painful to watch him in 2012. Coming off ACL knee surgery late in 2011, his 10th season in the league was his worst. But at least his dreads had their usual spectacular showing.
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59. CB Rashean Mathis lets the dreads fly as he comes onto the field after being introduced for what would be his last home opener in a Jaguars' uniform in Week 2. You might recognize the photo on the right as one of the photos I use on my template background.
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60. Mathis returns an INT on the Colts' first possession of the day in Week 3 at Indianapolis ..... But no, the only reason he got the INT was that he interfered with WR Austin Collie, and a penalty was called. Sorry Rashean, earlier in your career, when you were good, you could get away with something like that; but not anymore. Mathis finished with 3 tackles (3-0) and 1 legal PBU, and the Jaguars' defeated the Colts on an 80-yard TD reception by WR Cecil Shorts with 45 seconds remaining in the game.
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61. Mathis has had his share of embarrassing performances during his career (what DB hasn't?), but his game in Week 4 was just about his worst of them all, as he was utterly abused by Bengals star WR A.J. Green. Here Rashean, trying to stay with Green, can't turn around to locate the ball, and Green makes the 42-yard catch at the 1-yard line on the first play after the 2-minute warning before halftime. Bengals scored two plays later to up their lead to 17-7 ......
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62. Beaten again here on the 3rd play of 3rd quarter, Rashean can't even make a play on the ball as Green hauls in a pass for a 30-yard gain to the Jaguars' 30-yard line. That drive ended 6 plays later with a BenJarvus Green-Ellis fumble at the 1-yard line. Then in 4th quarter (and I'll spare you the photo) Green beat Mathis by a couple of steps for an 18-yard TD catch that gave Bengals a 24-10 lead on their way to a 27-10 victory. Said A.J., after finishing the game with 6 catches for 117 yards, "I thought I wasn't going to see as much man-to-man coverage, but I did. We took advantage of it." That's what he said to the press. But what he really meant was, "I was LMAO out there. They must be out of their minds, trying to cover me one-on-one with that washed-up has been. Damn, I could have had 200 yards if they had thrown it to me more."
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63. Rashean Mathis makes the tackle after a 15-yard reception by TE Kellen Davis during 1st quarter in Week 5. Mathis had a season high 7 tackles (7-0) and 1 PBU in another bad performance as Bears rolled to a 41-3 victory. 
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64. Rashean wasn't completely useless last season. He did have 5 PBU, including this one intended for Titans WR Nate Washington on 2nd and 14 during 3rd quarter in Week 12. But there were no INT. For the first time in his career, he went an entire season without an INT. He finishes his time in Jacksonville as the Jaguars' all-time leader in INT with 30, 3 of which were pick sixes (4 if you include the one he had in the playoffs). In 2013 look for Rashean in a #39 Detroit Lions jersey. The Lions, desperate for DBs, signed Mathis near the end of the preseason, and he made the team, even intercepting a pass in one of the games. Supposedly he's healthier now than he was last season, and that's going to allow him to play better. I certainly hope so, because I don't want see him him keep embarrassing himself.
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NOTHIN' BUT DREADS
Let's wrap up DG149 with some action shots featuring only players with dreads.
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65. Marshawn Lynch eludes Cowboys S Danny McCray during 2nd half as he gains some of his 122 yards rushing in Seahawks' 27-7 home victory in Week 2. I know he actually eluded McCray because McCray had 0 tackles in the game. McCray, mostly a special teams player in his first two seasons, was in the starting lineup for 10 games last season and finished with 71 tackles (50-21), 1 TFL, 1 INT, and 1 PBU.
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66. Packers RB Alex Green makes Cardinals CB William Gay miss in the open field during Week 9 at Green Bay. Green rushed for 53 yards on 11 carries in Packers' 31-17 victory. After missing most of his rookie season after tearing his ACL, Alex admittedly was not 100% recovered last season, even though he led Packers in rushing with 464 yards. In his first and only season with Cardinals Gay had 57 tackles (45-12), 1 sack, 1 INT, and 5 PBU. Look for these two on the same field again this season in Week 6 when the Jets (Green) host the Steelers (Gay, no longer with dreads).
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67. Dannell Ellerbe makes one of his 11 tackles (6-5), on a 7-yard reception by Raiders WR Denarius Moore midway through 2nd quarter of Ravens' 55-20 blowout victory at Baltimore in Week 10. Moore had 4 catches for 90 yards and a TD in the game and finished 2012 with 51 receptions for 741 yards and 7 TD (he had 5 TD catches as a rookie in 2011). 
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68. Texans WR Keshawn Martin is taken down by Patriots CB Marquice Cole after a 5-yard punt return during 1st quarter of New England's 41-28 2nd-round home playoff victory on Jan. 13. Martin caught only 10 passes for 85 yards in his rookie season but was a standout punt returner, finishing 5th in the NFL with a 12.1 average on 22 returns. Cole, also a special teams ace, had 17 tackles (15-2), 1 INT, and 2 PBU in his first season with the Patriots after playing 3 seasons with the Jets. 
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69. Falcons veteran LB Mike Peterson trips up Dwayne Harris during 1st quarter at Atlanta in Week 9, otherwise Harris would have gained even more than the 33 yards he got on the return. While Harris' career is ascending, 2012 might have been the last of Peterson after 14 seasons in the league.
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70. Saints RB Chris Ivory puts an exclamation point on one of the best plays of the season, stiff-arming Dunta Robinson away and going the final 15 yards of his 56-yard TD run untouched during Week 10 at New Orleans. The TD cut Atlanta's lead to 10-7 midway through 1st quarter and changed the momentum of the game. Saints went on to win 31-27, dealing Falcons their 1st defeat of the season. Here's a video of the play: http://www.neworleanssaints.com/media-center/videos/Chris-Ivory-56-Yard-TD/19b80815-5429-472c-98e2-331e3e252ee5
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71. Philip Wheeler reaches to stop Jacquizz Rodgers after a 5-yard reception during Week 6 at Atlanta. Wheeler had 10 tackles (8-2), but Raiders lost to Falcons 23-20.
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72. On 3rd and 6 on the third play from scrimmage at Cincinnati in Week 14, Dwayne Harris makes the catch and gets away from CB Adam Jones, turning a short pass into a 21-yard gain. The drive ended 9 plays later with a FG. Harris finished the afternoon with 3 catches for 33 yards. Jones had 7 tackles (6-1).
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73. Broncos CB Omar Bolden moves in to make the tackle after a reception by Browns WR Travis Benjamin during 4th quarter of Broncos' 34-12 home win in Week 16. Bolden had 13 tackles (12-1) and 1 PBU as a reserve in his rookie season and is still looking for his 1st NFL INT. Benjamin had a promising rookie season with 18 catches for 298 yards and 2 TD, including a 69-yarder against Washington in Week 15. I've been hearing that Travis is much improved over last season; so hopefully we'll see these great dreads on the field and in the end zone more often in 2013.   
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74. Stephon Gilmore has a close-up view of a great catch by Sidney Rice on 3rd and goal from the 5-yard line early in 4th quarter at Toronto in Week 15. The officials ruled this a TD catch by Rice; but a replay review confirmed that he only had one foot inbounds, so Seahawks had to settle for a FG on the next play. Gilmore finished with 1 tackle (1-0) in the game - a TD-saving tackle of Rice in 1st half. Rice had 4 catches for 76 yards in Seahawks' easy 50-17 victory. For the season Sidney finished with 50 catches for 748 yards (15.0) and 7 TD, plus 5 catches for 87 yards in 2 playoff games. 
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75. Back to Cincinnati in Week 14 for my favorite picture of the season. On 3rd and 10 during final minute of 1st half Tony Romo throws deep to Dwayne Harris, but Reggie Nelson outleaps Harris and gets the INT at the 14-yard line. It was the 2nd of his 3 INT on the season ......
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76. ..... Nelson gets up and tries to return the INT but is ruled down by contact, and the half ended on the next play. Reggie has really come along nicely after being shown the door by the Jaguars at the end of the 2009 season. His last two seasons have been downright solid. In 2012 he finished with 85 tackles (56-29), 1 sack, 3 INT, 6 PBU, and 2 FF. He's now up to 16 career INT in 6 seasons. Hopefully his best is yet to come.