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DE Cliff Avril @cliffavril (Seahawks) - Avril has 4 straights games with at least half a sack, picking up another on Sunday. He's sitting at 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles in nine games.
QB Drew Brees @drewbrees (Saints) - The Saints blew out the Cowboys 48-17 with Brees going 34-41 for 392 yards and four touchdowns. Brees is locked in as the likely #2 in the NFL MVP race, but Peyton Manning is somehow putting up even better numbers.
However the biggest splash he's making this week involves his comments on Johnny Manziel because the #1 sports story every week should be about a 20-year-old college student.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>High praise from an expert RT <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL_CFB">@NFL_CFB</a> Drew Brees on Manziel's NFL potential: "He's got all the playmaking ability to be a great player."</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/statuses/400374142655926272">November 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
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C Nick Hardwick @hardwina (Chargers) - Hardwick has been getting some midseason All-Pro talk and looks to be poised to make his second Pro Bowl appearance. The Chargers went for 131 yards on the ground in their loss to the Broncos, but Philip Rivers was sacked four times (including once by Shaun Phillips). Hardwick missed some time in the second half with a stinger, but on a brighter note welcomed a new baby boy, Teddy Hardwick yesterday.
TE Dustin Keller @DUSTINKELLER81 (Dolphins) - Injured Reserve
OT Dennis Kelly @DennisKelly67 (Eagles) - Kelly was inactive again this weekend.
OLB Ryan Kerrigan @RyanKerrigan91 (Redskins) - Kerrigan's gone sackless in the past two games, but had four tackles and a pass deflection in the Redskins loss at Minnesota Thursday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Cruising tailgates, ran into our NFL star alum Ryan Kerrigan. Really nice guy, great rep of our university <a href="http://t.co/ShuAFkdOUV">pic.twitter.com/ShuAFkdOUV</a></p>— Mitch Daniels (@purduemitch) <a href="https://twitter.com/purduemitch/statuses/399546821430628352">November 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
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I can grow a better mustache than Kerrigan though, so that's cool.
LB Mike Neal @mneal96 (Packers) - Neal's been banged up, but did make three tackles Sunday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I think he's banged up. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/jadamsky">@jadamsky</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/TCHeadCheese">@TCHeadCheese</a> Dave what are your thoughts on the play of Mike Neal today?Seemed to not make many plays</p>— Dave Sinykin (@TCHeadCheese) <a href="https://twitter.com/TCHeadCheese/statuses/399755351953641472">November 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Neal was also the victim of a late game LeSean McCoy juke, but he wasn't the only Packer victim.
DE Rob Ninkovich (Patriots) - Ninkovich had a bye week, but Pro Football Focus has a pretty high opinion of him so far this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/PFF">@PFF</a> grades out Patriots' Rob Ninkovich as the league's No. 1 DE playing in a 4-3 scheme who has played on at least 75% of defensive snaps.</p>— Ben Volk (@NFLBen) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLBen/statuses/399337994101862400">November 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
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G Uche Nwaneri @Chuckwu77 (Jaguars) - The Jaguars got their first win of the season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Jaguars&src=hash">#Jaguars</a> G Uche Nwaneri on 1st win: "It was kind of like middle finger to all the people who want talk about the Jaguars not winning."</p>— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNdirocco/statuses/399672244890521600">November 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
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QB Kyle Orton (Cowboys) - The Cowboys got trounced, and although Orton didn't see the field, after the game Jason Garrett admitted that Orton should have gotten some late play.
T Michael Otto @amishwizard66 (Titans) - Otto got the start again at right tackle this week.
QB Curtis Painter (Giants) - The Giants have reeled off three straight victories and as a result Painter hasn't seen the field.
DE Shaun Phillips @ShaunPhillips95 (Broncos) - As mentioned above, Phillips registered a sack against his former team, bringing his season total to 7.5 sacks, good for 11th in the NFL.
DB Bernard Pollard @Crushboy31 (Titans) - Bernard Pollard got the Marcus Pollard treatment on his way to six tackles in the Titans' loss to the Jags.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>That's six times now that this CBS broadcaster has called Bernard Pollard "Marcus Pollard." Marcus has been out of the league since '08</p>— Cody Wayne Dowler (@CodyWDowler) <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyWDowler/statuses/399622658712535040">November 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Pollard was also fined $10,000 for a hit on Kellon Clemons in the Titans' previous game, the third fine he's picked up this year.
HB Kory Sheets @Sheets24K (Saskatchewan Roughriders) - Sheets had a long 61-yard touchdown catch in the CFL West Division semifinal, a play which you can watch below:
Kory Sheets 61 yard reception - November 10, 2013 (via cflfootballfan)
Sheets had 17 carries for 68 yards in the victory. The Roughriders will play in the West Division final on Sunda.y.
DT Kawann Short @kk_mr93 (Panthers) - Short has been overshadowed a bit by fellow rookie Star Lotulelei at times but has been holding his own.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Lotulelei&src=hash">#Lotulelei</a> was also graded as the 11th best DT in the league so far. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Kawann&src=hash">#Kawann</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Short&src=hash">#Short</a> is 23rd. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF">@PFF</a></p>— Carolina Panthers (@PanthersReader) <a href="https://twitter.com/PanthersReader/statuses/400036569538506752">November 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Short didn't make an appearance in Sunday's box score.
DE Anthony Spencer (Cowboys) - Injured Reserve