State making a statement
Local talent impacting NFL throughout the league

By Berry Tramel

Published: September 10, 2007

Oklahoma questions and Oklahoma answers from the first Sunday of the NFL season:

Were we right about Adrian Peterson?

Darn straight. He can't catch the football, and he'll be a bust, be a bust, be a bust in the Hall of Fame.

Peterson's only catch Sunday for the Vikings was a hot-potato juggle that so transfixed the Falcons, by the time Peterson turned sticky-fingered, he was on his way to a 60-yard touchdown play.

Peterson ran for 103 yards on 19 carries. All in all, a fabulous debut for a career that figures to climax in Canton, Ohio, in about 15 years. Book your rooms now.

Can Wes Welker and Randy Moss co-exist with the New Englands?

Welker is all that's right about football and Moss is all that's wrong with it, but the Patriots didn't combust Sunday. They beat the Jetropolitans 38-14, and Tom Brady found enough footballs for both of his new pass catchers.

Moss caught nine passes for 183 yards; Welker caught six for 61 yards and New England's first TD of the season.

Was Tatum Bell merely a Denver creation?

Apparently not. Bell ran for 87 yards on 15 carries, including a 14-yard TD run, in Detroit's 36-21 victory at Oakland. Many an OSU or OU running back has excelled in Motor City. Why not Bell, too?

Does Vernand Morency need to hurry back into the Packer lineup?

Well, it's always a good idea, but it's not like Green Bay is going gangbusters without him.

Morency came into the season atop the Green Bay depth chart but found himself in the doghouse with a knee injury and was inactive for the opener Sunday against Philadelphia.

The Packers won 16-13, but with little help from the running game. Rookie Brandon Jackson rushed 15 times for 40 yards in Morency's stead. That will make the ‘Pack think twice about a permanent change.

How did the monster defensive linemen — Jamal Williams, Tommie Harris and Kevin Williams — do?

Well, at the risk of being drafted into the coaches union, we'd better wait to see the film. But let's put it this way. None of them played for a defense that got butchered.

Jamal Williams' Chargers gave up three points to Chicago.

Harris' Bears gave up 14 points to the mighty Chargers at San Diego.

And Kevin Williams' Vikes gave up three points to Atlanta.

Is Brandon Jones going to have a breakout year?

I don't see how. Not playing with Vince Young.

The Tennessee Titans flanker from OU caught one pass for six yards, which is standard with Saint Vince, who completed 11 of 18 passes for 78 yards, meager numbers in the NFL. But the Titans won, 13-10 at Jacksonville. Give Young this. He wins.

Is Josh Brown the best kicker in Oklahoma history?

Well, Don Chandler's career was impressive, but Brown is ridiculous good. He kicked two more field goals for Seattle, from 28 and 46 yards, in a 20-6 victory over Tampa Bay. The pride of Foyil goes march

ing on.

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