POSTED 4:55 p.m. EST, November 15, 2005

 

PFT TEN-PACK:  WEEK TEN

 

Wow.  It seems to go faster every year.  Here we are, ten weeks in, all byes taken, seven games to go.

 

Wanna know why the NFL is so much more compelling than baseball?  The next seven weeks of pro football are the equivalent of the final seven days of the entire MLB season.

 

For now, our five-and-five regarding the one week that just was.

 

First, as always, the five game-related takes:

 

1.  Mewelde Tempts Fate.

 

That record-setting day of touchdown returns by the Vikings nearly was derailed by the guy who was running in the last of the three scores.

 

There have been several examples over the years of a player prematurely pulling up and/or hotdogging as the end zone comes into focus.  Most notably, former Cowboys defensive end offered up some low-hanging fruit to Bills wideout Don Beebe during garbage time in Super Bowl XXVII.

 

On Sunday, Vikings running back Mewelde Moore nearly added his name to the list as he eased in for six during a 71-yard punt return.  Moore slowed down and stretched out his arms as a defender closed in quickly.

 

The ball was perched on the top of his left forearm, just begging to be knocked through the end zone for a Giants touchback. 

 

If the field was five yards longer, Moore probably would have seen the pig go flying away -- and the Vikes likely would be standing at 3-6 right now.

 

So Moore got lucky, in more ways that one.  He didn't get hit from behind and, by all appearances, he has been subject to no public scrutiny for not finishing the run hard.

 

Well, until now:

 

                              Dear Mewelde,

 

                             Wake the f--k up. 

 

                             Sincerely,

 

                             Your Friends at PFT

 

2.  What the Hell?  Use Randle El.

 

Their starter is still hobbling on a surgically repaired meniscus.  His backup has a busted hand.  The third-stringer has less confidence than George Costanza after he burned up the picture of "Man Hands" with the hair dryer. 

 

There's a road game coming up against a down-but-dangerous division foe, and the Steelers face a tough decision.  Do they push Ben Roethlisberger back into the starting lineup prematurely?  Or do they go with Tommy Maddox, who has looked flat-out awful in two relief performances this year?

 

We'll toss out a third option for consideration -- Antwaan Randle El. 

 

Sure, he's also a starting receiver, but Quincy Morgan has done surprisingly well in the offense.  With Mr. El, the Steelers can run the ball repeatedly, throw in a few option plays, and let 'Twaan and the rest of the guys have some fun with a few passes.  The way wee see it, such a move would energize the team . . . and we don't think that they'll have any worse chance of winning than if Maddox takes the snaps.

 

The best bet, obviously, is to put Big Ben back in.  Undoubtedly, he wants to play.  But with some key games coming up in late November and early December, the smart thing to do is to give Roethlisberger another week to heal his knee.

 

Randle El proved on Sunday night that he's got the rocket to throw it deep, hitting Hines Ward with a 51-yard touchdown pass off of an end around.  And the former Indiana quarterback surely has the legs to make things happen on the ground.

 

Remember that this is a franchise that structured winning game plans for Kordell Stewart, whose progression of reads consisted of, while rolling out, looking at one guy short and one guy deep and then taking off with the ball if both were covered. 

 

Why not dust one of the old playbooks off now and let Randle El give it a shot?  Hell, dress him out in No. 10, just for grins.  If nothing else, it would make a potentially unwatchable game a lot more intriguing.

 

3.  Madden Effect Fuels Bucs?

 

We found it somewhat ironic to hear John Madden explaining on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown that head coaches, when down by one after scoring a touchdown late, should go for the tie.

 

After all, it's Madden's fault (in our view) that Gruden went for two.

 

Bear with us on this.  Gruden has three young sons.  Surely, the boys have an Xbox or a PS2.  Surely, they play a little Madden, the only NFL-licensed video game currently available on any gaming platform.  And, surely, Papa Jon plays a little Madden with Greg, Peter, and/or Bobby from time to time.

 

Anyone who has played a little Madden (or, in our case, more than a little Madden) knows that a human opponent inevitably jumps a guy offsides during a PAT try, which inevitably forces consideration of the question of whether to go for two from the one.

 

The speed with which Gruden decided to go for the deuce after the 'Skins jumped across early (according to the zebras) and blocked the kick that would have made the score 35-35 makes us think that Gruden had given plenty of advance thought to that specific scenario -- and we'd bet that Gruden got his idea not from studying game film, but from spending quality time with his kids.

 

Even if Gruden got his motivation elsewhere, he might want to use the Madden effect as his justification when guys like Derrick, Ronde', and Booger want to know why the head coach didn't trust their ability to stop the 'Skins in overtime.

 

Then again, those 35 points that Washington scored in regulation might be all the explanation that the Tampa defense needs for Gruden's decision to lay it all on the line.

 

4.  An Asterisk For Vasher.

 

Before Sunday, the longest play in NFL history -- a 107-yard return of a missed field goal by Ravens corner Chris McAlister -- was sprung by a devastating block by Ray Lewis.

 

The record-breaker from Sunday's Bears-49ers game, which extended the mark by one yard, also was aided by a key block.

 

An illegal block.

 

At least three of them.

 

That's right, three.  The replays of the return show three occasions during which a 49ers player gets hit in the back by a Bear, all in the final few seconds of the run.

 

Of course, none of the national sock puppets have bothered to point this out, since recognizing flagrant violations of the rules takes away from their ability to pant breathlessly about the greatest . . . play . . . ever.

 

Part of the problem was that, on field goal attempts, two of the seven zebras (the field judge and back judge) are parked under the goal posts in order to assess whether the try is good.  That leaves five officials to cover the rest of the field, with none of them loitering on the other side of the 50 in the event that the play ends up going the other way.

 

In this case, replays show one of the officials (the head linesman or the line judge) running down the sideline.  But let's face it -- these guys are typically, well, old and (with the exception of Ed Hercules) in less-than-NFL-player game shape.  The guy who ended up lagging behind this specific play most likely wasn't able to discern the details of the series of efforts to tackle Nathan Vasher -- or the various efforts to thwart the same.  Instead, our guess is that the dude was primarily thinking, "Oh sh-t, oh sh-t, oh sh-t, oh sh-t!" as he tried desperately to get in position to determine whether Vasher might step out of bounds.

 

Here's our suggestion.  On field goal attempts, the side judge acts as a second umpire.  Why not park him instead, say, 40 yards from the spot of the kick and give him the specific duties of watching for any improprieties if/when the action comes his way?  Based on the failure of the Men in Black and White to spot multiple illegal blocks on Sunday, a change of some sort clearly is needed.

 

5.  Vikes To Host Bears In January 1 Playoff Game.

 

Kudos to the reader who has opened our eyes to the reality that, given the current NFC North standings and the remaining the schedule, the New Year's Day showdown in the Metrodome between the Vikings and the Bears most likely will determine the champion of the NFC North. 

 

The Bears are 6-3, and the Vikings are 4-5.  The Bears are 1-0 against the Vikings, 3-0 in the division; Minny is 2-1.  If Chicago loses one of their upcoming home-and-home matches against the Packers and the Vikes win at Lambeau on Monday night and at Detroit on December 4, Minnesota will own the second-level tiebreaker. 

 

The schedule down the stretch generally favors the Vikings, who play at Green Bay, Cleveland, at Detroit, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and at Baltimore.  Meanwhile, Chicago hosts Carolina and Atlanta, travels to Pittsburgh and Tampa, and faces Brett Favre for likely the final two times in his career.

 

So if, as we predict, there's only one game or less separating the Vikes and Bears come New Year's Day, the winner moves on -- and the loser goes home.

 

Of course, the victory may be a hollow one.  Even if the NFC North champ can hold serve at home in round one, an ass-whupping awaits in Carolina or Seattle the following weekend.

 

Now for five non-game takes:

 

1.  Just Call Dennis Leary Already.

 

For two weeks in a row now, ABC has launched the Monday night broadcast with a high-energy, hard-edged monologue.  On November 7, Dennis Quaid talked frenetically about the "hump" that Peyton Manning was trying to get over.  We mentioned in last week's Ten Pack that the material would have been perfect for a guy like Dennis Leary or Lewis Black.

 

Last night, there was a rare James Woods sighting during the MNF intro.  But as he rambled on about the looming battle between the 'Boys and the Birds, it seemed like Woods was playing the part of Dennis Leary.

 

Well, an older, puffier Dennis Leary with a slightly worse complexion, but Leary nonetheless.

 

Guys -- we like the idea of warming up the audience with an actor who delivers a powerful message, but don't use someone other than Dennis Leary for a job that is tailor made for him.  Give Leary the job every week.  He'll bring the unfiltered Camels, and you can play the tune from The Asshole Song in the background. 

 

Trust us, it'll go a lot farther toward getting folks ready for some football than that incredibly worn out Hank Williams, Jr. routine.

 

2.  George Halas Rolls In His Grave.

 

We know that teams are looking for ways to sell more jerseys.  One way to accomplish the goal is to give the fans a greater selection.

 

As a result, many teams now have their home shirt, their road shirt, and a "special" third jersey.

 

But, folks, when the team's color scheme isn't conducive to a third jersey that, you know, doesn't look like crap, the temptation to design a new item for the Christmas catalog should be resisted.

 

Exhibit A?  The horrendous orange shirts worn by the Chicago Bears on Sunday.  The looked more like bear hunters that Bears players, and we can only image what Papa Bear would have to say about all of this.

 

 

The Bears' official colors are blue, white, and orange.  Still, orange shouldn't be the primary color of the third jersey simply because blue and white already were taken.

 

Generally speaking, orange shirts aren't advisable for NFL teams.  Wearing orange likely has the same psychological effect as staring at a pink locker room.

 

So, please, we urge every NFL team inclined to wear shirts that are primarily orange or yellow or lavender or any other color that would fall into the category we'll call "fruity" to think twice.

 

And then burn the damn shirts. 

 

3.  Jimmy Is A Week Late.

 

On the bright side, Jimmy Kimmel's Monday night bit from a kindergarten classroom was refreshing because it didn't take place from his normal studio before an audience composed of semi-conscious street people. 

 

But the decision to tape the 60-second segment in a kindergarten classroom while Jimmy explained to the kids the T.O. saga felt like yet another third-rate production from the local middle school.

 

And the kid in the suit and tie saying "next question" again and again was more than a tad stale, given that it had been six days of news cycles since Drew Rosenhaus first chirped America's newest catch phrase.

 

The bigger problem is that the whole exercise felt stale, and one of the pitfalls of the collaborative creative process is that someone needs to be willing to stand up and say, "Will this still feel timely come Monday night?"

 

It didn't, and it only reinforces our view that the Kimmel segment is an extremely unfunny train wreck that has virtually destroyed our memory of the great work he did on FOX's pregame show before taking a late-night job that far exceeded the limits of his talent.

 

4.  Our Weekly Michael Irvin Complaint.

 

It seems like Michael Irvin's latest pet project is to finagle a new contract for Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.

 

But isn't Irvin the same guy who said that Brett Favre should keep his nose out of another guy's money? 

 

Alexander is happy in Seattle, and wants to return in 2006.  His play this year is as strong as it ever has been, and he's quietly becoming one of the best tailbacks of this era.  So what is the Playmaker trying to prove by stirring up discontent?

 

Cynical folks might think that Irvin is trying to throw another Cowboy competitor off of its game, just as he arguably did by stoking the T.O. fire.

 

Even if Irvin's motives aren't malicious, he needs to take a broader view of the business of football.  The market for 28-year-old running backs has gotten soft of late, and teams generally are reluctant to break the bank on a guy who is at any given moment one hit away from having no further value to the franchise. 

 

Alexander is under contract for 2005 and the team has promised not to restrict him in any way come March 2006.  The market, then, will help to determine his pay. 

 

Sure, the Seahawks are taking a risk that Alexander might pull a Jamal Lewis if he doesn't get a new deal.  The difference, though, is that (unlike Lewis) Alexander doesn't believe that the team ever promised him a long-term contract.

 

Indeed, the Seahawks' bigger fear is that Alexander could go soft after he gets paid.  Big Show and company like the fact that Shaun is playing hard this year, and the team is willing to accept the fact that, if he continues to excel, it might cost more to bring him back.

 

The other reality here is that a guy actually is only worth what someone will pay him.  If no other team makes a jaw-dropping offer, then Alexander simply isn't worth that kind of money.

 

Remember this -- NFL contracts aren't lifetime achievement awards.  The bonus and salary and other terms are based on perceived potential for the future, not on what a guy has already done.

 

So butt out, Mike.  Alexander is happy, and the 'Hawks are happy.  They're all grown-ups and they know what they're doing.  The last thing they need is some dude in a flashy suit trying to mess things up from his bully pulpit.         

 

5.  Our Weekly Irvin Complaint, Part II.

 

Okay, it didn't happen on television so it arguably exceeds the scope of our Ten Pack.  But whenever the Playmaker is involved, we're interested.

 

In a Monday appearance with Dan Patrick on ESPN Radio, Irvin said that the Jon Grudens and Dick Vermeils of the world can afford to take late-game risks because they've already won Super Bowl rings, and that a guy like Minnesota coach Mike Tice could never get away with such a move.

 

Though no one would ever describe us as Meathead apologists, we've got to give the guy credit on those few occasions when he has earned it.

 

In December 2002, the Vikings were the first team to punch in a two-point conversion from one-point down with less than two minutes to play since the two-pointer graduated from the college game in 1994. 

 

The coach at the time was none other than Michael J. Tice.

 

The Bears had tried it in 1997 against the Packers and the Jags tried it in 1995 against the Bucs.  Both were unsuccessful.     

 

So nice work, Playmaker.  If you're going to be an NFL "analyst" you need to do some homework before you start popping off. 

 

POSTED 8:13 a.m. EST, November 15, 2005

 

GIANTS GROW WEARY OF SOUP NAZI

 

Word out of New York is that more than a few members of the Giants are getting fed up with coach Tom Coughlin's Chicken Little routine regarding every play that doesn't go the G-men's way.

 

They also think that his post-game, locker-room rant following Sunday's loss to the Vikings went on for far too long.

 

"Every play is life and death," said one source.  "Players are getting too tight with all that bullsh-t."

 

Some point to guys like Pats coach Bill Belichick, who never engages in wild gesticulations on the sidelines when things don't go his way.

 

Then there's a Soup Nazi, who was stomping and storming and waving his arms and generally acting like an idiot throughout Sunday's game.

 

On Monday, Coughlin tried to put everything in perspective, reminding the media (and possibly himself) that the Giants would at worst be in a tie for first place after Monday night's game. 

 

"We do have an opportunity in the next seven games to determine our own fate," Coughlin said.  "And I don't know that you can ask for anything more in this business."

 

The problem is that Coughlin routinely asks for too much, by expecting constant perfection.  Over the course of a long season, it's the kind of thing that mentally wears on young guys who have enough to worry about without fearing that one false move will trigger yet another eruption from the sidelines.

 

PIOLI RULE EXPECTED TO PASS

 

Based on our discussions with multiple industry sources, and given the absence of any coordinated opposition from the folks who'll be impacted by the measure, it appears that the so-called Pioli Rule will pass when voted on at a meeting this week of league owners.

 

Some don't even expect the vote to be close, despite the fact that the rule died when it was presented for consideration earlier this year.  "Owners believe they have been paying too much [money] to some of these guys and assistants and this is a way of protecting their own clubs," said one industry source.

 

The rule would permit each team to designate one member of the personnel department as off limits, unless and until his contract expires.  As we see it, the measure won't completely eliminate the bidding war for qualified guys.  Instead, it will merely shrink the pool of candidates for jobs entailing so-called "final say" authority.

 

Moreover, the rule likely will prompt the Scott Piolis and Tom Heckerts of the world to negotiate shorter-term contracts.

 

Moving forward, key front-office jobs will be filled in the same manner that coaching vacancies are filled.  The candidates will be guys whose contracts have expired -- or who have been fired.

 

The difference, however, is that there's no pool of potential G.M.'s at the NCAA level, which could make it harder for teams to find suitable candidates.

 

As a result, even though the rule restricts the mobility of up-and-comers, it could end up providing an extra layer of security for those already in place.  When it's time, for example, for Bills owner Ralph Wilson to consider whether to poop-can G.M. Tom Donahoe, Wilson necessarily must consider his alternatives for the job.  If most or all of Wilson's potential targets are designated as off limits, it could be a factor in Wilson's decision-making process.

 

So just as the free agency rules spawned all sorts of unintended consequences, such as the premature release of a player who wants to stay in a given city, owners should consider all of the potential permutations of the Pioli rule before blindly voting on it.  For now, we have a feeling that this seemingly short-sighted move aimed at protecting the owners of the two most recent Super Bowl teams could causes more problems than it solves, over the long haul.

 

TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

 

Former Ravens TE Shannon Sharpe says that QB Kyle Boller "plays just good enough to get him cut and [the coach] fired."

 

Jets coach Herm Edwards says he's not interested in replacing Dick Vermeil in Kansas City (but does anyone expect Edwards to say anything else publicly, especially when Vermeil has yet to walk?).

 

The Jets are sticking with Brooks Bollinger at quarterback.

 

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs thinks there was indisputable visual evidence that Bucs FB Mike Alstott was down before the ball crossed the plane on the game-winning two-pointer.

 

Mooch says that Jeff Garcia is the No. 1 quarterback in Detroit, and that Joey Harrington will start only until Garcia is healthy enough to play.

 

The Meathead has a torn MCL, which won't require surgery.

 

The Steelers might nudge Big Ben back into the lineup on Sunday, even though he's still limping after surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

 

Needing to gain four games over seven weeks against the Seahawks, the Rams realize that their best chance at the postseason comes courtesy of a wild-card berth.

 

Jets WR Wayne Chrebet is expected to announce his retirement soon.

 

Jags coach Jack Del Rio has been forced to do some butt-smooching of WR Jimmy Smith, given the emergence of Ernest Wilford and Moonshine Jones.

 

Fins TE Randy McMichael is waiting for the NFL to issue punishment as a result of his guilty plea after his latest altercation with his wife.  (How about the league gets him pregnant and then beats the sh-t out of him?)

 

Giants QB Eli Manning forced himself to watch video of Sunday's four-pick performance against the Vikings.  (It could have been worse, Eli -- you could have been watching home movies featuring big brother Peyton's squared-off cranium.)

 

Pats C Dan Koppen could be headed to IR.

 

We know that the Pittsburgh media tends to shake the pom-poms for the home team, but we can't imagine anyone saying with a straight face that the current backup plan at quarterback is "reliable."

 

Redskins DE Phillip Daniels fears that his teammates might have become too complacent against the Bucs after the scoreboard showed the Giants had lost.

 

Browns WR Antonio Bryant is yapping about the Steelers' secondary (we can only imagine what he'd be saying if Cleveland had actually won the game -- and if Bryant hadn't been lit up by one of them).

 

POSTED 9:29 p.m. EST, November 14, 2005

 

BEARS 'FESS UP TO FISTICUFFS

 

A week after Bears offensive tackle Fred Miller claimed that he broke his jaw in a fall at his home, the team has admitted that the injury actually was the result of a fight with center Olin Kreutz.

 

Miller missed Sunday's game against the 49ers due to the injury, and is expected to miss this week's contest against the Panthers.

 

"Things got out of hand," Kreutz said.  "Something happened and it just got out of hand."

 

Man, we'd love to know what it is that happened.  Did Miller merely ask the Pro Bowl center whether "Olin Kreutz" is the name of a person or Hitler's favorite dessert?  Or was someone try to grab a little wiener schnitzel in the shower room?  (Editor's note:  We're not suggesting that either of these guys would be partial to a little wiener schnitzel.  We just wanted to make a cheap joke -- and to use the term "wiener schnitzel.")

 

Regardless of the origin of the fight, the fact that these two teammates scrapped and then lied about it is troubling, and it makes us even more convinced that any NFL player is lying if he tries to blame a mysterious injury on tripping over the dog or slipping on the asphalt or falling off of the commode (unless it's a nose tackle).

 

Coach Lovie Smith says that neither player will be suspended, but fines are anticipated. 

 

REEBOK "CONSULTANT" CONSULTING WITH BUSH

 

As the line between sports and big business blurs to the point that the whole thing looks like a snot smear on a kid's shirt sleeve, Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal reports that Reebok consultant Mike Ornstein is working with USC tailback Reggie Bush on his choice of an NFL agent.

 

Bush was a paid intern last summer for Ornstein's company, which represents guys like Marcus Allen and Tony Gonzalez in marketing and broadcasting matters.  Bush's cousin, FOX analyst JC Pearson, also is giving his two cents regarding the search for an agent.

 

Ornstein is Reebok's primary contact with its NFL endorsers.  So we've got a funny feeling that the guy who ultimately advises Bush on his first NFL contract also will nudge Reggie gently toward Reebok and away from Nike.

 

And Ornstein has made no bones about the fact that he'd like to handle Bush's marketing opportunities, which means that agents who are willing to give up that piece of the action will have a better chance at getting Ornstein's seal of approval as to the football contract.

 

The sad part here is that the kid doesn't realize that Ornstein has a direct financial interest in ensuring that the kid signs with an agent who'll respect Ornstein's self-interests -- or that the kid doesn't care.

 

Based on what we've been hearing, the front-runners to be Bush's agents are Mitch Frankel and Gary Wichard.  Regardless of whether it's Frankel or Bush or Sammy Slapdick, our guess is that Ornstein will be handling the marketing . . . and that Reggie will be Reebok's answer to Nike's Mike Vick.  

 

MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

 

Web traffic tracking tool Alexa.com says that the Panthers web site saw the biggest increase in visits last week with an 880 percent jump (and it had nothing at all to do with the team's six-game winning streak).

 

Panthers coach John Fox apologized to Jets coach Herm Edwards for 20 minutes regarding comments by Carolina CB Ken Lucas suggesting that the New Yorkers "quit" during Sunday's 30-3 loss (sheesh, Foxy -- it ain't like Lucas questioned anyone's manhood or anything).

 

Ricky Williams Jr. will miss about a month after getting his knee bent the wrong way on Sunday.

 

Giants DT William Joseph will miss four weeks with a dislocated elbow.

 

POSTED 4:25 p.m. EST, November 14, 2004

 

JOHNSON HIRES KEELS

 

Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has hired agent Alvin Keels to assume his representation, a league source tells us.

 

Johnson recently parted ways with Marvin Demoff, who negotiated the rookie deal signed by the 2003 first-rounder from Penn State.

 

Since Johnson's deal doesn't expire for several more years, and since Demoff will continue to earn the fee on the original contract, it fairly can be assumed that Keels' marching orders are to get Johnson a new agreement.  There already are rumblings of a 2006 training camp holdout by Johnson, if he doesn't get a new contract. 

 

With the market for free agent running backs getting soft of late, in comparison to the salaries paid to players at other positions, young tailbacks are starting to realize that they need to cash in while they're on the south side of 25 -- and before they suffer any serious injuries as a result of the game-in, game-out pounding that goes along with being an every-down tailback in the NFL.

 

Johnson received only (only?) $3.762 million in guaranteed money on his rookie deal, and the contract pays him a total of $5 million over the first three seasons.  He surely is angling for a contract in the neighborhood of $25 million over five years, which would be similar to the package Keels negotiated earlier this year for another one of his other clients, LaMont Jordan of the Raiders.

 

The bigger question is whether the Chiefs will agree to re-do Johnson's contract prematurely.  Some teams take a hard line in such matters, others don't.  The looming arbitration of T.O.'s grievance against the Eagles could give players and teams plenty of guidance as to the potential consequences of a contract impasse, and our guess is that the outcome of the November 18 hearing will have an impact, in one form or another, on the manner in which players with years left on their deals handle moving forward the delicate process of asking for more money.

 

POSTED 11:57 a.m. EST, November 14, 2005

 

BOULWARE DIDN'T SIGN A ONE-YEAR DEAL

 

As part of our ten-plus hours of Sunday research that resulted in the formulation of a comprehensive list of all restricted and unrestricted free agents for 2006, we noticed that Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware is under contract with the team through 2009.

 

The information made no sense to us, since his arrangement with the Ravens widely was reported as a one-year, $2 million deal.  Boulware accepted the contract in Baltimore after turning down a $4 million offer from the team before it released him -- and after trolling the open market for weeks before realizing that no one else was going to pay him serious money.

 

In reality, Boulware signed with the Ravens a five-year, $10.4 million contract, which paid him a $1.3 million signing bonus and provides for salaries of $700,000 in 2005, $2.1 million in 2006, $2.2 million in 2007, $2.3 million in 2008, and $2.5 million in 2009.

 

At a time when plenty of injury-riddled players sign hyped-up long-term contracts that are, in reality, one-year deals (see Ian Gold in 2004 and Ty Law in 2005), Boulware and his agents curiously opted to tout this long-term contract as only a one-year thing.

 

It's possible that Boulware wanted other teams to realize that he will be available in 2006.  It's also possible that Boulware's agents didn't want to further magnify their failure to gauge the market before turning down $4 million for only one season by trumpeting that the best they could do for him, even with a phony, trumped-up deal, was $10 million over five.

 

In theory, then, the Ravens could throw a wrench into Boulware's plans to hit the open market by deciding to keep him in 2006 at a $2.1 million base salary.  Don't count on that happening. however.  A league source has told us that the Ravens undoubtedly won't want to bring Boulware back for another season.

 

"He hasn't done anything," the source said.  "His career is over.  He's not tough.  He's a poor worker.  The fire is out." 

 

And the lesson to be learned here, once again, is that the media reports regarding the terms and duration of a player contract often are off the mark, especially when the information regarding the deal is coming straight from folks who often have an interest in making the agreement look like something other than it really is.

 

POSTED 9:09 a.m. EST, November 14, 2005

 

VERMEIL GETTING READY TO VAMOOSE?

 

With a humbling 14-3 loss at Buffalo capping a bad week for Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil, there is mounting speculation among observers of the franchise that Vermeil could resign before the end of the 2005 season.

 

The notion that he'll pack it in, at the latest, following the current campaign is almost a foregone conclusion.

 

We're hearing that Vermeil is furious regarding the fact that he was out of the loop as to the medical condition of running back Priest Holmes.  Also, word is that the team's decision to place Holmes on IR came without Vermeil's knowledge or approval. 

 

We continue to hear that Holmes won't return in 2006 if Vermeil if the head coach.  Indeed, Holmes and Vermeil haven't even spoken, we're told, since Holmes left the team.  Even if Holmes comes back, his understudy, Larry Johnson, might not show up for training camp absent a new contract.

 

The key factor in Vermeil's decision-making regarding the timing of his decision is whether the players continue to mentally and emotionally detach from him.  Vermeil's decision to go for the win late against the Raiders last Sunday was, in our estimation, a last-ditch effort to keep the team from giving up on him.  An ugly loss in Buffalo suggests that any positive feelings flowing from that win were short-lived.

 

If the Chiefs blow it on Sunday night against the 1-8 Texans, Vermeil could be boo-hooing at a press conference later that week, and handing the team over to offensive coordinator Al Saunders.

 

BILLICK DONE

 

The same league source who told us last week that the future of Ravens coach Brian Billick is tied directly to the performance of quarterback Kyle Boller now tells us that, barring a miracle, Billick is history in Baltimore.

 

The team, by all appearances, quit on Billick in the second half of Sunday's embarrassing 30-3 loss at Jacksonville, which isn't a good sign for a guy who is still riding on the long-since-dispersed fumes of a Lombardi won with a roster that someone else built.

 

And although we're impressed with some of the things we're learning about Billick via John Feinstein's new book, which is the result of a year of full access to the team, Billick is likely far too controversial and, Super Bowl win notwithstanding, far too unaccomplished to get another head coaching job as soon as 2006, if ever.

 

Hell, we think he'll have trouble landing somewhere as an offensive coordinator next year, given the poor performance of the Ravens offense in his seven seasons as a head coach.  In the end, he might have to take a head job at the NCAA level or a position coach gig with another NFL team, if he wants to stay in the game in 2006.

 

We've heard Tony Kornheiser speculate that Billick hopes to be the next John Madden, and our guess is that, with no jobs available that Billick will deem worthy of him, he'll give broadcasting a shot as he pockets Steve Bisciotti's buyout.

 

In this regard, let's hope that Brian the Brain has forgotten everything he learned from his mentor, Bill Walsh, who was beyond dreadful as a color analyst in the 1990s.

 

SOME PLAYERS GETTING BIG MARKETING GUARANTEES

 

At a time when we continue to hear that at least one high-profile agent continues to funnel money to certain players at Georgia and Tennessee, we're also learning that some agents are blowing out the curve regarding so-called "marketing guarantees."

 

Although NFLPA regulations prohibit agents from "[p]roviding or offering money or any other thing of value to any player or prospective player to induce or encourage that player to utilize his/her services," some agents routinely promise players that a minimum amount of endorsement money will be earned -- and that if the agents fall short of the minimum amount the rest of the money will come out of the agents' pockets.

 

We're told that the three players who are generating the biggest marketing guarantees this year are USC quarterback Matt Leinart, USC running back Reggie Bush, and Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams.

 

Even if these marketing guarantees don't violate the letter of the NFLPA regulations, they can in some circumstances violate the spirit of the notion that agents should not be permitted to induce players to make selections based on the money that will change hands.  For some guys, like Leinart, a million-dollar marketing guarantee might not be unrealistic.  For some slappy out of Tuskegee, however, a $150,000 marketing guarantee smells like a cash-based inducement to sign.

 

Then again, Mr. Slapola who figures to be a practice squad tackling dummy shouldn't generate that kind of a guarantee, right?  Wrong.  In the past, we've heard of of guys getting six-figure marketing guarantees when, in the end, they're not even drafted.

 

From the agents' perspective, the problem is that the players are recruited at a time when the draft is months away.  The national and/or local media might be hyping a guy now as a potential first-day pick, but a guy's status won't be known until after the postseason all-star games, the Scouting Combine, the Pro Day workouts, and all the other stuff that gets done before the 32 teams put their draft boards together.

 

Regardless of whether a player who receives a marketing guarantee will earn the money or whether the promise creates a windfall, the mere act of promising the player a certain amount of income that, if not met, will come out of the agent's pocket is a practice that the NFLPA should banish.  As a practical matter, it's no different than giving a guy a bag full of cash. 

 

Either device is an inducement to sign based on the desire of the player to get paid, and allowing this kind of stuff to go on will do nothing to clean up the poor perception of NFL agents among the general public.

 

MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

 

There was a pretty good pocket passer in the Georgia Dome on Sunday, after all.

 

Pats RB Corey Dillon injured a calf on the first play of Sunday's game at Miami.

 

Pats WR Troy Brown played some defense on Sunday for the first time this year.

 

At 1-8, the Texans are all alone in the race for the second franchise quarterback in franchise history.

 

So much for Eli's upside.

 

Who in the hell is Samkon Gado?

 

The Broncos keep winning, despite trying to give games away in the fourth quarter.

 

With Charlie Batch suffering a broken finger on Sunday night and Big Ben still rehabbing a bum knee, QB Tommy Maddox might be the starter for the Steelers in Baltimore next week.

 

Jets RB Curtis Martin fumbled for the first time in more than two seasons.

 

The Jags get back to 30 points after a 59-game hiatus.

 

Mooch won't commit on a starting quarterback for next week at Dallas.

 

Zygi gets jiggy.

 

Vikings RB Mewelde Moore (wrist) didn't take a single offensive snap, even though he returned a punt for a touchdown.

 

Jets RT Jason Fabini is done for the year with a torn pectoral muscle.

 

The Packers are discussing bringing back RB Dorsey Levens (next on the list are John Brockington and Paul Hornung).

 

The Ravens haven't scored a touchdown in nearly three full games.

 

Broncos WR Rod Smith has set the franchise career touchdown record with 66.

 

WR Hines Ward is the all-time leading pass-catcher in Steelers history.

 

Deion gives Moonshine a thumb's up.

 

Colts owner Jim Irsay thinks that RB Edgerrin James will still be in Indy come 2006.

 

We're not the only ones who think that the Playmaker's media career is tarnishing his on-field legacy.

 

POSTED 11:34 a.m. EST; UPDATED 12:46 p.m. EST, November 13, 2005

 

KRAFT, LURIE HAVE SOMETHING UP THEIR SLEEVES?

 

At a time when there are plenty of issues among NFL owners that can be used as fodder for deal-making, we've got a funny feeling that Pats owner Bob Kraft and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie have done some arm-twisting and/or promise-making in order to get enough votes to push the so-called "Pioli Rule" (a/k/a "Heckert Rule") into law.

 

John Czarnecki of FOXSports.com reports that owners will vote on the matter at a meeting this week.  It was, at one point, the only item on the agenda apart from the ongoing discussions regarding revenue sharing.

 

Kraft has tried in the past to get this thing passed, to no avail.  But given that Pats V.P. of Player Personnel Scott Pioli and Eagles V.P. of Player Personnel Tom Heckert will be hot commodities for G.M. jobs after the 2005 season, Kraft and Lurie need to get the rule enacted now, or it becomes potentially irrelevant to them. 

 

Both Pioli and Heckert have signed new contracts within the past year, but since neither have "final say" authority over personnel, both can leave for a job that gives them ultimate control over the composition of the roster.  Heckert already has been mentioned as a candidate for the G.M. job in Minnesota.

 

The question that the other owners need to ask themselves is whether they're willing to give up the ability to hire another guy's top personnel exec without "final say" in order to lock up their own top personnel execs without "final say."  The only owners who might oppose this, then, are the guys who hope to hire a Pioli or a Heckert this year.  In other cities where there are no immediate plans to make a change at the top, there's no reason not to vote for a rule that essentially gives them all greater control over their employees.

 

Another argument that Kraft and Lurie surely are floating is that the rule will give all owners a tool for holding down salaries paid to key front-office execs by removing their leverage.  Pioli and Heckert, for example, each could try to pull a Charlie Weis this year, using the interest in their services elsewhere to squeeze more money out of their current bosses' pockets.

 

If the rule passes, they're off limits -- so there's no leverage.

 

Technically, the "Pioli rule" permits every team to restrict the movement of one personnel executive, regardless of whether the person has "final say."  So even if, as Czarnecki points out, the rule only will affect a handful of high-end personnel guys who don't have final say, the rule will enable teams moving forward to strip final say from their General Managers without having to worry about them leaving for another job in which they would have it.

 

Besides, we're not so sure that we agree with Czarnecki's assessment that the current number of teams having personnel execs without final say is limited to the Pats, Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, and Dolphins.  Other teams where the ultimate authority of the personnel chief over the roster is vague at best include the Jets, the Bengals, the Steelers, the Jaguars, the Redskins, the Vikings, the Panthers, the Saints, the Bucs, the Cardinals, the Rams, and the 49ers.

 

That's 17 teams -- which is only seven short of the number necessary to push the rule through.

 

This rule could result, over the long haul, in a proliferation of coaches with ultimate roster authority, since it no longer will be necessary to give the G.M. "final say" in order to hold him in place.  Alternatively, owners could hold back final say for themselves, and they then will be able to keep their coaches and General Managers in place without fear of losing either of them to another team or, perhaps more importantly, having to pay them more money in order to get them to quit listening to offers.

 

The owners already have that degree of authority over the coaches, and we think that Kraft and Lurie might be able to persuade another 22 power-hungry and money-obsessed members of the Billionaire Boys Club to go along with them on this one.

 

The only way that the move will be blocked is if all of the personnel execs who are affected by this now (or who could be affected by it in their next jobs when they aren't offered final say) rise up and make it known that they want their bosses to reject it.  If that happens, there likely would be more than enough "no" votes to beat this thing back.

 

And perhaps that's why Kraft and Lurie have managed to keep this thing under the radar screen until the eve of the owner's meetings.  With word of it hitting the streets only days before the meeting, there simply might not be enough time for the G.M.'s and personnel execs to put together a strategy for blocking a rule that, as a practical matter, diminishes the power of all of them. 

 

SUNDAY ONE-LINERS

 

Kevin Seifert of The Minneapolis Star Tribune raises a good question regarding the apparent disparity between the punishment of T.O. and the Love Boat crew.

 

With T.O. gone, Giants WR Plaxico Burress is the resident high-end pass-catcher with a low-end reputation.

 

Jets CB David Barrett will miss Sunday's game with an eye injury.

 

Giants DE Michael Strahan is playing for the Duke.

 

Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer suggests that Joe Pesci star as Drew Rosenhaus in the film version of the T.O. saga.

 

["Next f--kin' question, you worthless piece of sh-t."]

 

Hey, Jason Whitlock, it's okay to say that you learned of Larry Johnson's decision to fire agent Marvin Demoff on this here site.

 

The Titans could have cap problems again in 2006.

 

POSTED 10:35 a.m. EST, November 13, 2005

 

T.O. WOULD BE SUBJECT TO WAIVER SYSTEM

 

There's a misconception out there regarding the status of Terrell Owens, if arbitrator Richard Bloch finds that the Eagles must give T.O. access to to the team while deactivated, and the Eagles then opt to release him instead.

 

Some folks believe that, because T.O. is a vested veteran (i.e., he has at least four credited seasons), he will not be subject to the waiver system.  This is true -- but only between February 1 and the trading deadline.

 

Per Article XXII, Section 1(a) of the CBA, a vested veteran released after the trading deadline is subject to the waiver system.  The most recent example of this phenomenon occurred in 2002, when the Redskins released the rights to Deion Sanders so that Sanders could sign with the Raiders.  The problem, however, was that the Chargers claimed him on waivers.

 

If the player is claimed, and if he has a "no-trade" clause in his contract, he can declare himself an unrestricted free agent after the season.  If (as in T.O.'s case) there is no "no-trade" clause and the contract covers at least more than one additional season, the player may declare himself an unrestricted free agent after the next season.

 

Owens' contract requires payment of $7.5 million in roster and option boni in March 2006.  The fact that he can bail out after 2006 guarantees that whoever might claim him in 2005 would not exercise the option for 2006.

 

Bottom line -- if Owens is released by the Eagles, he must clear waivers before he can pick and choose his next destination.  And this means that a team who wants to block him from landing with a Super Bowl contender (or a team that merely wants to become one) could make a claim. 

 

POSTED 9:48 p.m. EST, November 12, 2005

 

PFT MIDSEASON AWARDS

 

With a full nine weeks gone and only eight to go, we decided to make like all of the other mainstream media outlets and throw out for consideration our thoughts at the the best -- and the worst -- of the first half of the 2005 season. 

 

And, as usual, we overdid it.

 

(Editor's note:  The list is subject to change, based on whether we receiving convincing arguments from readers in support of a tweaking.)

 

First, the AFC . . . .

 

Best quarterback:  Peyton Manning, Colts.

 

Worst quarterback:  Gus Frerotte, Dolphins.

 

Best running back:  LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers.

 

Worst running back:  Jamal Lewis, Ravens.

 

Fullbacks:  Don't know, don't care.

 

Best receiver:  Chad Johnson, Bengals.

 

Worst receiver:  Reggie Williams, Jaguars. 

 

Best tight end:  Antonio Gates, Chargers.

 

Worst tight end:  Doug Jolley, Jets.

 

Best offensive tackles:  Willie Anderson, Bengals; Matt Lepsis, Broncos.

 

Worst offensive tackles:   Chester Pitts, Texans; Todd Wade, Texans.

 

Guards:  See fullbacks.

 

Best center:  Tom Nalen, Broncos.

 

Worst center:  Anyone who isn't Tom Nalen.

 

Best defensive ends:  Dwight Freeney, Colts; Derrick Burgess, Raiders.

 

Worst defensive ends:  Marcellus Wiley, Jaguars; Courtney Brown, Broncos.

 

Best linebackers:  Cato Junes, Colts; Jonathan Vilma, Jets; Andra Davis, Browns.

 

Worst linebackers:  Jason Babin, Texans; Kendrell Bell, Chiefs; Peter Boulware, Ravens.

 

Best cornerbacks:  Deltha O'Neal, Bengals; Ty Law, Jets.

 

Worst cornerbacks:  Every guy who has played corner for the Pats with the exception of Asante Samuel; Pacman Jones, Titans.

 

Best safeties:  John Lynch, Broncos; Troy Polamalu, Steelers.

 

Worst safeties:  Every guy who has played safety for the Pats with the exception of Rodney Harrison.

 

Best punter:  Donnie Jones, Dolphins.

 

Worst punter:  Chris Gardocki, Steelers.

 

Best kicker:  Rian Lindell, Bills.

 

Worst kicker:  Mike Nugent, Jets.

 

Best coach:  Marvin Lewis, Bengals.

 

Worst coach:  Dom Capers, Texans.

 

Best executive:  Mike Brown, Bengals.

 

Worst executive:  Floyd Reese, Titans.

 

Best veteran acquisition:  Randy Moss, Raiders.

 

Worst veteran acquisition:  Duane Starks, Patriots.

 

Offensive rookie of the year:  Heath Miller, Steelers.

 

Defensive rookie of the year:  Odell Thurman, Bengals.

 

Draft-day bust, offense:  Mike Nugent, Jets.

 

Draft-day bust, defense:  Pacman Jones, Titans.

 

MVP:  Peyton Manning, Colts.

 

Golden Turd:  Reggie Williams, Jaguars. 

 

Now for the NFC . . . .

 

Best overall quarterback:  Eli Manning, Giants.

 

Best running quaterback:  Michael Vick, Falcons.

 

Worst overall quarterback:  Aaron Brooks, Saints.

 

Worst passing quarterback:  Michael Vick, Falcons.

 

Best running back:  Shaun Alexander, Seahawks.

 

Worst running back:  Kevin Jones, Lions.

 

Best receiver:  Steve Smith, Panthers.

 

Worst receiver:  Terrell Owens, Eagles.

 

Best tight end:  Alge Crumpler, Falcons.

 

Worst tight end:  Anthony Becht, Buccaneers.

 

Best offensive tackles:  Walter Jones, Seahawks; Jon Jansen, Redskins.

 

Worst offensive tackles:  Alex Barron, Rams; Kenyatta Walker, Buccaneers.

 

Best center:  LeCharles Bentley, Saints.

 

Worst center:  Cory Withrow, Vikings.

 

Best defensive ends:  Bryan Young, 49ers; Michael Strahan, Giants.

 

Worst defensive ends:  Simeon Rice, Buccaneers; Calvin Pace, Cardinals.

 

Best defensive tackles:  Rod Coleman, Falcons; Tommie Harris, Bears.

 

Worst defensive tackles:  Grady Jackson, Packers; Johnathan Sullivan, Saints.

 

Best linebackers:  Brian Urlacher, Bears; Karlos Dansby, Cardinals; LaVar Arrington, Redskins.

 

Worst linebackers:  Chris Claiborne, Rams; Warrick Holdman, Redskins; Napoleon Harris, Vikings.

 

Best cornerbacks:  Chris Gamble, Panthers; DeAngelo Hall, Falcons.

 

Worst cornerbacks:  Fred Smoot, Vikings; Will Allen, Giants.

 

Best safeties:  Sean Taylor, Redskins; Roy Williams, Cowboys.

 

Worst safeties:  Every safety on the Packers roster.

 

Best punter:  Jeff Feagles, Giants.

 

Worst punter:  Bryan Barker, Rams.

 

Best kicker:  Neil Rackers, Cardinals.

 

Worst kicker:  Doug Brien, Bears; Paul Edinger, Vikings.

 

Best coach:  Tom Coughlin, Giants.

 

Worst coach:  Mike Sherman, Packers.

 

Best executive:  Ernie Accorsi, Giants.

 

Worst executive:  Matt Millen, Lions.

 

Best veteran acquisition:  Plaxico Burress, Giants.

 

Worst veteran acquisition:  Fred Smoot, Vikings.

 

Offensive rookie of the year:  Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers.

 

Defensive rookie of the year:  DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys.

 

Draft-day bust, offense:  Cedric Benson, Bears; J.J. Arrington, Cardinals.

 

Draft-day bust, defense:  Erasmus James, Vikings.

 

MVP:  Steve Smith, Panthers.

 

Golden Turd:  Terrell Owens, Eagles. 

 

POSTED 2:20 p.m. EST, November 12, 2005

 

SATURDAY ONE-LINERS

 

Jets WR Justin McCareins is dealing with a bunch of injuries.

 

Another Packers tailback heads to IR.

 

Steelers RB Willie Parker participated in practice Friday night, but likely won't play on Sunday.

 

Redskins S Sean Taylor likely will miss Sunday's game with an ankle injury.

 

Bucs RB Cadillac Williams is getting his conditioning back.

 

The efforts of Texans coach Dom "Rat Hat" Capers to clean out the practice gallery has claimed Rodger Carr, who had attended his son's practices since David was in the third grade.

 

DT Vince Wilfork says that the season starts now for the Pats.

 

New England DT Richard Seymour is ready to return after missing six week with a strained MCL.

 

Six of the Raiders' 29 sellouts since returning to Oakland in 1996 have come against the Broncos.

 

RB Dee Brown is backing up Larry Johnson less than a week after re-joining the team.

 

Rams DE Leonard Little is returning to the field on Sunday, nearly a month after his brother was killed.

 

Ravens LB Terrell Suggs (thigh) has missed practice for three straight days and likely will not play at Jacksonville.

 

From the "Goofy Sh-t That Folks In England Will Bet Money On" file,  the Bills have won every coin toss this year.  

 

Jets CB Ty Law could earn a 2006 contract if he can shut down Steve Smith.

 

Bills Parcells' brother, Donald, has died at age 62.

 

Although the Giants have owned the Vikes of late, QB Brad Johnson is 3-1 at Giants Stadium.

 

Despite a sprained wrist, Vikings RB Mewelde Moore will be ready to start on Sunday.

 

Dolphins DE Jason Taylor says that he would not welcome T.O. to Miami:  "It's a shame, it's a joke, it's a travesty, it's a lot of things," Taylor said. "T.O. and his goofball agent have ruined it and have really made things really sour. The whole thing was handled very poorly and it has made not only T.O. look bad, but the whole organization up there, and I think in a lot of peoples' eyes athletes in general."

 

POSTED 10:10 a.m. EST, November 12, 2005

 

ELI HAS BIGGER UPSIDE THAN PEYTON?

 

Folks around the league are starting to believe that Giants quarterback Eli Manning is indeed the real deal -- and that he could end up being better than big brother Peyton.

 

The reason for the potential gap between the two is that, while Peyton often gets too emotionally involved in games, Eli has the demeanor, as one personnel exec told us, of a "robot."

 

The term doesn't exactly smack us as a compliment, but in today's NFL, with the coaching staff hoping to control the quarterback as much as possible, it's considered a good thing for guys to avoid the highs and lows that come with playing in a pro football game.

 

Peyton tends to get frustrated when he falls behind.  Eli, the thinking goes, is always the same.  Some folks point to the thrashing the Giants took in San Diego as proof positive of Eli's potential.  Despite being mercilessly booed and falling behind 21-3 with more than nine minutes remaining in the first half, Eli pulled the Giants back into the game before halftime.

 

Yeah, the Chargers ended up spanking the Giants in the second half, but the point is that a guy like Peyton would have likely crumbled mentally in the face of that early 21-3 hole.

 

As a result, look for talk to continue regarding the possibility of a Manning v. Manning Super Bowl, which also would be the first postseason match between the Colts and Giants since 1959, in a rematch of the the game that put the NFL on the map in 1958.

 

T.O. COULD WIN, AFTER ALL

 

On Thursday, we outlined the various arguments of the NFLPA in T.O.'s looming grievance, and we offered our takes regarding the viability of those contentions under the CBA.  But after considering the information set forth by Chris Mortensen on Thursday afternoon regarding arbitrator Richard Bloch and after talking to some of our colleagues in the legal community, we think that Owens' case might be a bit stronger than we previously realized.

 

As to his attempt to eliminate and/or reduce the four-game suspension, the absence in the CBA of any specific rules for determining the penalties for detrimental conduct should, in theory, make this a matter of team discretion, with uniformity in penalties imposed by the team being the only requirement.  If, as in this case, the facts are unprecedented for a given team, the CBA seems to authorize the maximum penalty.

 

But Bloch's history, as outlined by Mortensen, of tinkering with such penalties without, by all appearances, relying upon notions of uniformity within a given team makes us think that Bloch could merely substitute his own judgment for the business judgment of the team, if Bloch so desires.

 

The fact that Bloch's decision is not subject to an appeal of any kind essentially gives him the authority to do whatever he wants.  This could end up cutting either way, since we think that Bloch likely will realize that Owens' behavior was part of a calculated plan to force his way out of town, once he knew that he wouldn't get a re-worked contract.  If Bloch sees it this way, the four-game suspension might stick.

 

Owens' better argument could be that, if the team is going to deactivate him, the team should still permit him to attend practices, work out at the facilities, and attend games.  As we explained on Thursday, Article XXXIII, Section 3 of the CBA says that  "Inactive List players will receive the same benefits and protections as Active List players."  Even though the CBA defines "benefits" as "benefits paid" to players, the CBA is still not as clear as it could be regarding whether a team may elect to pay a player and at the same time bar him from the premises.  

 

Though some states recognize the notion that, as long as an employee is receiving his or her regular salary, there is no "adverse employment action," there's a fundamental difference between Wendy from Wal-Mart getting paid to not punch a cash register for two months and a professional athlete being prevented from using the equipment and services available to him as he tries to keep his body in tip-top condition.

 

That's why, after further review, we think that Bloch is likely to require the Eagles to give him full access to the team, even if the team chooses not to play him. 

 

Is Owens' desire to be with the team genuine?  No.  Why else, as our buddy Howard Balzer pointed out to us on Saturday, would Owens have headed to Atlanta hours after Drew Rosenhaus declared that T.O. wants to return to practice immediately?

 

Even so, if Owens is given the right to return to the team, the team will then have to decide whether to keep him -- or whether to let him go.

 

But if Owens is released and if he lands elsewhere this season, T.O. will get an unwarranted windfall, since he'll be entitled to the rest of his salary as termination pay -- and he'll then get paid by his new team for the same games.

 

And that's why there's a chance (if the parties are willing to talk to each other) for a compromise without a ruling from the arbitrator.  The Eagles, for example, could offer to release Owens right now in exchange for a waiver by Owens of his rights to any further compensation (and possibly a partial refund by Owens of his signing bonus, given that $1.725 million of his original signing bonus is riding on whether the suspension is upheld).

 

If T.O. is released (either as a result of a settlement to his grievance or because the arbitrator orders that as long as he's on the roster he has the right to go to work), the question then becomes whether anyone would make a waiver claim on his contract.  Any team who does so would need to have enough cap room to absorb the prorated value of T.O.'s $3.25 million salary -- and would have to be willing to welcome him to the team.

 

And the teams who would think about doing it fall into two categories:  (1) teams who think Owens can make them better this year; and (2) teams who want to keep him away from teams that he could make better this year.

 

For example, the Raiders might be inclined to grab Owens in order to keep him from being signed by the Broncos, just as the Chargers made a claim on Deion Sanders three years ago in order to prevent him from joining the Raiders for the Super Bowl run. 

 

Or maybe the Saints, who would keep the Panthers or Falcons from adding him -- and maybe sell some more tickets to their games if T.O. is on the field.

 

Then there's the Vikings, who are desperate to vindicate a lost season by making it to the playoffs.  If Koren Robinson gets a second chance there after drinking his career away, Minny surely would be interested in a guy who used his mouth for something other than inserting al-kee-hol into it.

 

And don't forget about the 49ers.  Just as Marty Schottenheimer's decision to put in a claim for Sanders was likely fueled in part by Deion's decision to force his way out of D.C. once Marty became the coach there, the Niners could decide to squat on Owens because he then would, as a practical matter, refuse to report -- and get no pay.  (The Ravens could fall into this "claim him to prove a point" category as well, given his refusal to report to Baltimore after they traded for him a year ago.)

 

If Owens clears waivers, someone will sign him.  And the contract will be slanted heavily toward protecting the team, in the event that he merely continues his turd tour in a new city.

 

But if he ends up in a place where he wants to be, special terms won't be necessary, at least for this season.  He will be even more motivated and driven than he was in 2004, and he could be the right ingredient to push an elite team to the top of the mountain.

 

Some league observers fear that an arbitration ruling resulting in T.O. gaining his freedom might send a Kinsellaesque message to players unhappy with their contracts: "If you bitch enough, you'll get released."  But the real message might be to the 32 teams, who already have the ability (as Chris Mortensen explained on Thursday) to add terms to player contracts like the "Loyalty Clause." 

 

We'd use a provision like this, which would have given the Eagles an air-tight case regarding the five-game deactivation:  "Player grants to Club the ability, at its sole discretion, to make decisions regarding the extent to which Player's services will be utilized during games, practices, and other Club activities.  Player also grants to Club the ability, at its sole discretion, to place Player on the Inactive List and to instruct Player, as part of Player's duties as an employee on the Inactive List, not to participate in any Club functions, including practices or games, and to refrain from visiting Club facilities and property."

 

The bottom line here is that there is much uncertainty regarding the upcoming grievance hearing because both the CBA and the contract between the Eagles and Owens contain multiple gaps that, frankly, the lawyers should have foreseen.

 

POSTED 10:54 p.m. EST, November 11, 2005; UPDATED 7:37 a.m. EST, November 12, 2005

 

COACHING CAROUSEL COULD WHIRL THIS YEAR

The 2006 offseason could bring about an extremely unusual set of circumstances.  Unlike a game of musical chairs, in which there aren't enough spots to squat when the tunes stop, there very likely won't be enough asses for the armchairs when it's time to hire NFL coaches in January.

The potential candidates for what could be up to 13 vacancies come from four sources -- current NFL assistant coaches, college coaches, current NFL head coaches, and guys who used to be NFL head coaches but who currently aren't doing much of anything.

First, let's review the potential vacancies, based on the info we currently have compiled.  We're not saying that these job will be open, just that they might be available.  Chances are that more than have of them will.

In the AFC, the Bills, Jets, Ravens, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Chiefs, and Raiders.  In the NFC, the Lions, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Rams, and Seahawks.

Now, let's consider the current crop of NFL assistants, in no particulate order.

Brad Childress, offensive coordinator, Eagles:  As NFL assistants go, Childress has been deemed the queen of the prom.  Surprisingly, the Eagles' struggles on offense have yet to diminish his chances, and there recently has been buzz linking him to the Vikings.  He also could be a candidate to take over the Packers job.

Russ Grimm, offensive line coach, Steelers:  Grimm has been in the running for past NFL head-coaching gigs, despite the fact that he hasn't been a coordinator.  He was linked to the Pitt job, too, but there were rumors that he never actually got a degree.  He could be attractive to the Lions or the Chiefs.

Tim Lewis, defensive coordinator, Giants:  Lewis has been interviewed several times for past vacancies, in large part due to the fact that he enables teams to comply with the so-called "Rooney Rule."  Though still not considered a serious candidate to take the next step, Lewis could land in the college ranks next year -- especially since the relationship between Lewis and the Soup Nazi has soured this season.

Greg Knapp, offensive coordinator, Falcons:  Knapp rarely is mentioned as a candidate for a top job, even though he's the guy drawing up the "O's" in Atlanta.  The Falcons have developed a stellar attack, with a strong running game and an adequate passing game.  Though many league insiders criticize the Falcons for trying to force their running quarterback into a passer, Knapp isn't necessarily the guy who got the bright idea that Mike Vick could be the next Dan Marino.     

Ken Whisenhunt, offensive coordinator, Steelers:  The candidacy of Russ Grimm for head-coaching jobs might be an implicit acknowledgement that Grimm has had a big hand in the success of the Pittsburgh offense, Whisenhunt's name gets plenty of play, even though he's only been in the position for less than two seasons.

Scott Linehan, offensive coordinator, Dolphins:  Linehan has been looking pretty good this year, not because the Fins are lighting the lamp on a regular basis but because Linehan's former team, the Vikings, isn't.  Then again, the Vikes' struggles might have had something to do with the absence of Randy Moss, and our guess is that Linehan will need to show that he can turn the Dolphins offense into a consistent producer before he takes the next step.  His chances would be diminished if, as we've heard, Fins coach Nick Saban dumps him due in large part to the decision to put the offense in the hands of Gus Frerotte.

Gregg Williams, defensive coordinator, Redskins:  Williams, who coached the Bills for three years, is well-liked by the Redskins.  But there are concerns in some circles that he is too reluctant to depart from his system in order to fit the talents of his players (and this could explain why LaVar Arrington is suddenly back on the field).  Also, our guess is that it's going to take at least a playoff berth by the Redskins in order to get owners and General Managers to fuhgetabout Double-G's dreadful tenure in Buffalo.

Al Saunders, offensive coordinator, Chiefs:  Saunders could replace Dick Vermeil, if he retires.  There's also a chance that Saunders could end up as the head coach of the Rams.

John Hufnagel, offensive coordinator, Giants:  With the G-men becoming one of the top teams in the NFC and the offensive attack getting a lot better a lot faster than anyone thought, Hufnagel eventually will end up getting consideration, possibly as soon as this year.

Jim Bates, defensive coordinator, Packers:  Bates earned acclaim as the interim head coach of the Dolphins in 2004, winning the loyalty of players and inadvertently sparking a ruckus when Nick Saban was hired in December.  This year, Bates has done a pretty good job with a Packers defense that is light on talent and hamstrung by a crappy offense. 

Mike Trgovac, defensive coordinator, Panthers:  But for a rash of decimating injuries in 2004, the Panthers could be working on their third straight Super Bowl appearance.  If they keep winning games this year, Trgovac's name could bubble up the list.  If anyone knows how to pronounce it.

Gary Kubiak, offensive coordinator, Broncos:  For years, Kubiak has deflected opportunities to step out from the shadow of Coach Teflon and take over a team of his own.  But with the Texans job coming open and Kubiak having roots in Houston, now could be the time for him to fly.   

Ed Donatell, defensive coordinator, Falcons:  It'll take at least another year or so until his name is no longer immediately associated with the phrase "4th-and-26."

Joe Vitt, interim head coach/linebackers coach, Rams:  Vitt hardly passes the eyeball test, but the Rams have been winning since Mike Martz stepped aside for health reasons.  He could have a shot at keeping the job in St. Louis, especially if he shows that he can get along with (i.e., smooch the caboose of) guys like Jay Zygmunt, John Shaw, and Samir "Hassan Chop!" Sulemain.

Jim Johnson, defensive coordinator, Eagles:  Johnson deserves serious consideration based on his performance, but the sad reality is that NFL teams don't like to start new eras with guys who are getting ready to ride off into the sunset. 

Donnie Henderson, defensive coordinator, Jets:  Henderson was on the short list entering the season, but the poor performance of the Jets has scaled back his chances.  Still, he'll get interviews due to his race, and there's a chance that, in a year with too many spots and not enough warm bodies, someone will give him a chance.  We're just not sure that he deserves it yet.

Sean Payton, offensive coordinator, Cowboys:  Conventional wisdom is that Payton is being groomed to take over the Cowboys when the Tuna retires.  Coach Parcells pumped him up a bit this year by giving him the play-calling duties, even though the word is that Parcells still has final say over what actually makes it into Drew Bledsoe's headset.  The challenge will be for Payton to make folks forget that Giants coach Jim Fassel tried to pin on Payton the past struggles of the New York offense.

Jim Fassel, offensive coordinator, Ravens:  Fassel wants back in, but it ain't gonna happen.  Period.

Larry Coyer, defensive coordinator, Broncos:  It's amazing that a guy who nearly was fired at the outset of the season after his game-planning and play-calling sparked an internal mutiny could find himself on this list.  He won't be a head coach in 2006, but he could get an interview or two. 

Jerry Gray, defensive coordinator, Bills:  Gray has gotten some sniffs in the past, but owners have a short memory.  If the Bills can't get to the postseason, he won't be a serious candidate.

Chuck Bresnahan, defensive coordinator, Bengals:  Sure, he works for a defense-oriented head coach.  But that didn't keep Romeo Crennel from getting hired.  The reality?  The Bengals need to win for another season before their coordinators start getting snatched up.

Bob Bratkowski, offensive coordinator, Bengals:  Bratkowski actually has a better shot than Bresnahan, since Marvin Lewis isn't an offensive guy.  Still, 2007 will be Bratkowski's best bet, if the team keeps winning in 2006.

Tom Moore, offensive coordinator, Colts:  See Jim Johnson.

Monte Kiffin, defensive coordinator, Buccaneers:  See Tom Moore.

Ron Meeks, defensive coordinator, Colts:  Sure, Indy finally has a "D" to go with the "O," but Tony Dungy will get most of the credit.  Don't believe us?Then why hasn't Monte Kiffin ever been a truly serious candidate for a head coaching gig?  Meeks' skin color will, as a practical matter, get him some interviews.  The deeper the Colts play into January, the less likely that someone will wait for a guy whose resume is still a little light.

Mike Singletary, linebackers coach, 49ers:  The Hall-of-Famer is generating plenty of buzz, and could end up running a team as soon as 2006, despite never having served as a coordinator.  It'd be very interesting to see how Bears fans would react if Singletary ends up patrolling the sidelines with one of Chicago's NFC North rivals, each of whom could be looking for a new coach.

Cam Cameron, offensive coordinator, Chargers:  Though rarely mentioned as a serious candidate, Cameron can't be ignored forever, given the performance of the San Diego offense.  He might be trying to position himself to take over for Marty Schottenheimer, who turned 62 this season.

Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator, Chargers:  He is, in our view, Dom Capers as of next year and beyond.

Next, the college coaches:

Pete Carroll, USC:  Carroll claims he's not interested in returning to the NFL.  As he must.  Otherwise, potential new Trojans end up becoming Bruins or Irish or Beavers or Huskies or Banana Slugs.  We've heard that he's watching the situations in Minnesota, Green Bay, and New Orleans (i.e., possible future L.A. franchise) very carefully.  We're hoping that he ends up with the Vikings; based on his Halloween prank that involved a fake suicide of running back LenDale White, we'd love to see what Carroll would cook up in the land of the Love Boat.

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa:  Some regard Ferentz as the top college candidate, even though some early losses have reduced the perception of the Hawkeyes as a high-end program.  Our guess?  His next set of pink locker rooms could be across from a room full of purple ones.

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame:  He'll continue to get calls, but he's not going anywhere in 2006.  The next time the Giants job comes open, however, we think he'll at least listen.

Mack Brown, Texas:  We've heard rumors linking him to the Saints, if they move to San Antonio.  But his biggest strength in the college game is his ability to recruit, and we think he'd be another Spurrier at the next level. 

Mike Shula, Alabama:  He'll be on the list, given his pedigree and his performance.  For now, he'll likely parlay the interest into a raise at his current job, and he won't get serious about the NFL until the Tampa or Miami jobs open up again.

Jeff Tedford, Cal:  If we owned a team, this is the first guy we'd call.  After all, if Tedford consistently can make average quarterbacks into guys who are drafted higher than they should be (Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, David Carr, Kyle Boller, Aaron Rodgers), imagine what he could do with an NFL-caliber quarterback.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma:  Stoops was once the belle of the ball, but he waited to long to look for a way out of Norman.

Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia:  No other NCAA head coach has done as much with second-flight talent over the past few years.  Now that he has a flock of first-tier freshman and sophomores leading WVU to its first BCS berth, his name will start getting mentioned for bigger things.  Don't be surprised if someone offers him a shot at becoming an offensive coordinator at the next level, a la former Louisville coach Scott Linehan.  

Next, the potential retreads:

Dom Capers:  It's two and out for Capers.  His best bet will be to land somewhere as a defensive coordinator.  Maybe he pulls an Al Groh and goes to college.

Mike Tice:  The Meathead will be lucky to land somewhere as an O-line coach, if fired in Minny.  We wouldn't be surprised to see him get another chance, courtesy of another mental giant like Matt Millen.

Mike Sherman:  He'll be sent back to offensive coordinator purgatory for at least a couple of years.  His inability to communicate with his staff, however, could keep him from ever getting another shot.

Jim Haslett:  Haz is making chicken salad out of "chicken sh-t" calls and other very bad circumstances.  He will have another job in 2006, either in Houston or St. Louis or Buffalo or Detroit. 

Norv Turner:  Back to the offensive coordinator position, again.

Brian Billick:  He might be too abrasive to land somewhere else as a head coach in 2006.  Maybe the Raiders give him a shot, or possibly the Vikings.

Mike Mularkey:  If he's not back in Buffalo, he won't be a head coach in 2006, if ever again.

Herm Edwards:  We've heard that he wants to land in Kansas City, if he leaves New York.

Jack Del Rio:  Back to the defensive coordinator job, if he loses his current gig.

Steve Mariucci:  Green Bay or bust.  Another possibility is a return to the college game -- possibly at USC, if Pete Carroll leaves.

Mike Martz:  If an owner/G.M. realize that Martz has constantly been dogged by a dyfunctional front office, he'll get another shot.  Maybe in Kansas City, maybe in Baltimore.  He'll need to prove that he's fully healthy.

Finally, the guys who used to be head coaches, who currently aren't:

Butch Davis:  The train wreck he caused in Cleveland is still too fresh.  He'll be back at the college level in 2006.

Art Shell:  Shell, former coach of the Raiders and a current league office employee, has served as the last-ditch "Rooney Rule" candidate in the past, and that's about all he'll be in 2006.

Jim Mora, Sr.:  One of the most underrated coaches over the past 25 years, Mora could be given serious consideration, given the lack of quality candidates.

Dan Reeves:  As one league insider told us, "Too much golf not enough desire."

Marv Levy:  He has wanted back in but age is an issue.

Mike Ditka:  Only if ESPN convinces an NFL team to do a reality show with another former Bear as the head coach.

POSTED 8:52 a.m. EST; UPDATED 11:08 a.m. EST, November 11, 2005

 

EDWARDS WANTS OUT OF NEW YORK?

 

We've heard from multiple source who believe that Jets coach Herm Edwards wants out of New York after five seasons on the job, and that he's interested in the potential vacancy in Kansas City.

 

Edwards, obviously, would deny such desires smack in the middle of an NFL season.  But with the Jets falling apart this year and heads potentially poised to roll in light of the bungling of Chad Pennington's injury, Edwards surely has thought about the future -- and it's not beyond the realm of reason to conclude that Edwards might want to jump before he gets pushed.

 

The Jets are 41-41 in Edwards' tenure (including the postseason), and the team has made the playoffs in three of his first four seasons.  There have been constant rumors of tension between Edwards and G.M. Terry Bradway. 

 

FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

 

Paola Boivin of The Arizona Republic almost makes us feel sorry for T.O. (almost). 

 

Browns coach Romeo Crennel is thinking of ways to get his team properly motivated to take on the Steelers (we suggest a video of someone in a Myron Cope disguise shouting, "Yoi!  You're all gay!").

 

The father of Broncos WR Todd DeVoe was shot and killed in Florida.

 

Browns RB Lee Suggs says he's ready to play on Sunday.

 

Panthers WR Steve Smith doesn't want to talk about T.O. (but our guess is that Smith would love to sucker punch him in the film room).

 

Triple Word Score Wilf is a big fan of L.T. (which might finally explain why Wilf bought a team that would be a perfect fit for Taylor's latest video game venture).

 

How big of a fan is he?  Zagnut once followed Taylor to the men's room to ask for an autograph; Taylor likely said, "Hey Groucho -- why don't I just spell it on you pants leg in piss-colored ink?"

 

The guy who was signed to replace Plaxico is getting frustrated.

 

Steelers RB Duce Staley gets the start on Sunday, since both Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker are injured.

 

POSTED 10:39 p.m. EST, November 10, 2005

 

LARRY JOHNSON LOOKING FOR NEW DEAL?

 

With Chiefs running back Priest Holmes done for the year, his former understudy could be getting ready to make a play for a new deal.

 

We're told that 2003 first-rounder Larry Johnson has parted ways with agent Marvin Demoff, which in many cases is a harbinger of an effort by the player to get a new contract.

 

Johnson is in the third year of his rookie deal.  He will be a free agent, at the earliest, in 2008.

 

And even as most management-side NFL insiders were turned off by the performance of agent Drew Rosenhaus at Monday's press conference with T.O., folks around the league recognize that some players will be drawn to Rosenhaus, given his reputation as an uncompromising, high-energy advocate for his clients.

 

Along these same lines, we're told that Dolphins cornerback Sam Madison recently has fired agent Gene Burrough, and has hired Rosenhaus.  Though we're not aware of the specific timing of the move, it most likely occurred prior to Monday's events.

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THURSDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

 

Lions QB Joey Harrington will start on Sunday.

 

Steve Courson is the latest former Steeler to die too young (joining Mike Webster, Justin Strelzyck, Terry Long, David Little, Joe Gilliam).

 

The NFL is getting closer to putting a team back in L.A.

 

Sunday's Broncos-Raiders will be broadcast in Navajo (not to be confused with the Slapaho, a tribe to which too many NFL players unfortunately belong).

 

The Dolphins report no injuries; the Pats report 19.

 

Ravens LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed are out, again.

 

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger rode an exercise bike and threw some soft passes on Wednesday.

 

Colts S Mike Doss likely will miss Sunday's game against the Texans with a shoulder injury.

 

The Giants welcome their horn-headed biatches to the Meadowlands on Sunday.

 

Rams QB Marc Bulger (shoulder) will return to action on Sunday against the Seahawks.

 

The Pats have placed CB Duane Starks on IR.

 

POSTED 7:44 p.m. EST; LAST UPDATED 8:14 p.m. EST, November 10, 2005

 

EAGLES TOOK NOTES ON T.O.

 

Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reports that the Eagles have been keeping track of the various misbehaviors of receiver Terrell Owens, and that the list of offenses will be used by the team in defending against Owens' grievance.

 

The list, per Mortsensen, is as follows:

 

------------------------------------

• He did not participate in a team autograph session in training camp.

• He told coach Andy Reid, his boss, to shut up and showed further disrespect by saying that his last name wasn't Reid, that he wasn't one of Reid's children.

• He told offensive coordinator Brad Childress not to speak to him unless Owens spoke to him first.

• He said he will not give his full effort.

• He parked his car in a coach's designated spot.

• He parked his vehicle in a handicapped spot on another occasion.

• He was late to a mandatory offensive meeting.

• He failed to comply with team rules pertaining to travel attire.

• He publicly criticized the organization as "classless" and publicly criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb.

• He engaged in a fight with Hugh Douglas at the team facility.

 

------------------------------------

 

Mortensen explores the role of arbitrator Richard Bloch in resolving grievances.  Bloch has a history of knocking down penalties, which could benefit T.O.

 

But we also think that Bloch, like most arbitrators, will try to determine based on the evidence whether his own innate sense of justice and equity requires the penalty to be reduced or scuttled, and then he'll work backward under the language of the CBA to justify his intended result.

 

So the best bet for the Eagles will be to hammer the point that Owens, by all appearances, turned turdish after he realized that the team wasn't going to renegotiate his contract.  Indeed, when Owens reported for training camp, he promised that he won't be "happy."   The argument, then, is that Owens' subsequent conduct wasn't simply "T.O. being T.O.," but a conscious effort by the player to make life miserable for team management.

 

And the best bet for Owens will be to gulp down a case of Kaopectate before testifying, in the hopes that it also is effective at treating diarrhea of the verbal kind.

 

VERMEIL READS OUR STUFF?

 

Most of our readers probably wouldn't believe the extent to which folks with real NFL jobs frequent this site.  Falcons coach Jim Mora is a confessed PFT aficionado (when he's not tripping on ammonia), and we know of plenty of players and agents and front-office types who check us out every day.

 

Another name that we might be able to add to the list is Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil. 

 

We've mentioned in several recent reports that players in Kansas City are griping about the duration and the intensity of Vermeil's practices.  On Wednesday, we mentioned these concerns twice in connection with items regarding running back Priest Holmes.

 

Coincidentally, Vermeil called Cowboys coach Bill Parcells on Wednesday night and asked the Tuna about his practice habits.

 

How do we know this?  Because the Tuna said so during his Thursday press conference.

 

"We talked a little bit about, 'What are you doing in practice right now? . . . . Have you cut back anything?'" Parcells said.

 

The questions weren't posed by Parcells to Vermeil, but vice-versa.

 

Interesting, to say the least.

 

PORTIS PUNKED FOR 20 LARGE

 

The NFL fined Redskins running back Clinton Portis $20,000 for multiple uniform violations on Sunday night, including socks and shoes that differed from his teammates and an unapproved eye shield.

 

Safety Sean Taylor was fined $5,000 for wearing non-conforming socks.

 

Ironically, the fine imposed on Portis matches the amount of money for which he was sued last year by Ifeanyi Ohalete, who gave Portis jersey No. 26 when Ports was traded to D.C. in exchange for two payments of $20,000.  Portis refused to make the second payment, and the case was settled for $18,000 days before the trial was set to start.

 

The fines came several weeks after the league looked the other way when Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer refused to wear the "Futbol Americano" decal, which supposedly was mandatory.

 

POSTED 3:38 p.m. EST; UPDATED 5:16 p.m. EST, November 10, 2005

 

BILLICK'S FATE TIED TO BOLLER

 

Although we'd previously written off Ravens coach Brian Billick in Baltimore, a league source tells us that nothing has been decided, and that the final decision will depend in large part upon the performance of the team over the second half of the season, and upon the performance of quarterback Kyle Boller.

 

"The next eight weeks with Boller at [quarterback] will basically seal [Billick's] fate," said the source, explaining that if Boller plays well and the team finishes strong, Billick stays.  If Boller plays poorly, Billick is out. 

 

Even if Billick returns for an eighth season, look for the Ravens to hire some new assistant coaches.  One guy who might not be back is offensive coordinator Jim Fassel, who has clashed with Billick at times and who quietly has been trying to set himself up for the head coaching job.  

 

ASSISTANT COACHES GETTING CRUSHED

 

The NFL Players Association quietly has been providing support (and money) to the NFL Coaches Association, a group that has been working on behalf of pro football coaches without formal union status, since few assistant coach with higher aspirations would ever vote for or support a union.  

 

To date, the primary focus of the Coaches Association has been to attempt to obtain better pension rights for the assistant coaches.  But league insiders tell us that the Coaches Association also should be attempting to address a much more compelling problem regarding the manner in which assistant coaches currently are treated.

 

The assistant coaches are being grossly overworked, we hear, with 15-plus hour days, seven days per week becoming the norm in some cities.  

 

And the problem, we're told, is getting worse instead of better.

 

Plenty of head coaches are "grinders," but that's their prerogative, and it goes with the seven-figure territory that they occupy.  

 

We're not suggesting that the assistant coaches are destitute.  But most make a fraction of what the head coach earns, and yet they all are expected to adhere to the head coach's work ethic.

 

It's hard to feel sorry for these guys, since this is the life that they have chosen.  But to the extent that there is a quasi-union in place aimed at providing them with a collective voice, we think that the group should be less worried about securing retirement benefits and more concerned about improving their quality of life while they are working.  

 

NADER STICKS HIS NOSE IN T.O. MESS

 

Former Presidential candidate and long-time consumer advocate Ralph Nader has dipped his toe into the T.O. morass via a letter to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

 

Nader argues that no player should be punished for his words.

"There is no question that Terrell Owens' comments have been boorish and unwarranted," Nader writes.  "However, the comments were just that -- comments.

"It should be the policy of the Eagles and the National Football League, as well as other sports teams and leagues, that players not be punished merely for what they say."

 

(Editor's note:  We'll be right back, after we head to church and light a candle and thank God and every Angel and Saint that this moron isn't the President of the United States.)

 

Hey, kids.  When the coach tells you that you've been demoted to the third string, just tell him to "f--k off."  It's okay.  Uncle Ralphie thinks that our rich tradition of free speech permits you to do it, without consequence.

 

Look, it would be different if Owens were blowing the whistle on something like a coach scalping Super Bowl tickets or a doctor letting guys play hurt or players flying hookers to town for a sex cruise.  That kind of "speech" serves a greater good, and should be protected.  But in this case Owens used his words as a vehicle for intentionally and deliberately sticking his finger in the team's eye after the team told him that the team expected him to honor his contract.

 

That's really the root of this mess.  Owens wanted more money than he had contractually agreed to be paid.  When the team said "tough titty," Owens decided to become a pain in the booty.  And while he didn't slop strawberry sauce all over Norm Van Brocklin's uniform or drag the George Halas Trophy around the Nova Care parking lot or run around the Linc wearing nothing but a dark brown body suit, he was using his words as a way to get what he wanted.

 

His message was, "You can shut me up by paying me, or you can shut me up by letting me go."

 

So his "conduct" was his premeditated verbal assault on the team and on its leader, Donovan McNabb, aimed at getting money for T.O. that under his contract he didn't deserve.  The "conduct" surely was detrimental to the team, whether the "conduct" was a kick to McNabb's hernia-infested groin or a torrent of antagonistic comments.

 

You see, Ralph, words aren't always intended to express ideas.  They often are the vehicle for causing chaos.  When athletes behave in this manner, they always should be punished -- and anyone who disagrees with this reality either has never played a team sport or has had his head bashed in so hard while doing so that one eye looks to the West, and the other to the East. 

 

POSTED 9:35 a.m. EST, November 10, 2005

UNION'S T.O. ARGUMENTS OFF BASE

The NFL Players Association says that it plans an aggressive attack against the actions taken by the Eagles as to receiver Terrell Owens. 

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the union will advance three arguments at the November 18 hearing.  First, the NFLPA will contend that the four-game unpaid suspension is excessive.  Second, the NFLPA will argue that the five-game deactivation following the four-game suspension violates the disciplinary procedures set forth in the CBA.  Third, the union will claim that the one-game suspension imposed for the Redskins game makes the punishment complete, and that no further sanction is permitted.

Let's take a look at each of these claims, setting aside for now the quasi-journalist hat and donning the cap of a practicing lawyer who deals with issues of this nature virtually every day.

1.  The Four-Game Suspension.

Article VIII, Section 1 of the CBA permits a maximum fine of one week's salary and/or a suspension not to exceed four weeks, without pay, for conduct detrimental to the team.  (The maximum sanction, then, isn't a four-game suspension but a four-game suspension and a one-game fine.)

The union primarily plans to argue that Owens' punishment is more severe than the penalties imposed by other teams in other circumstances.

"This isn't necessarily about one player and one team," NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen told The Inquirer.

"Wrong!" the Eagles should shout in response.  Section 3 of Article VIII plainly states:  "Discipline will be imposed uniformly within a Club on all players for the same offense; however, the Club may specify the events which create an escalation of the discipline, provided the formula for escalation is uniform in its application."  (Emphasis added.)  This means, in English, that what another team does or doesn't do under similar circumstances is completely and totally irrelevant.

Sure, it would be helpful if the Eagles had promulgated internal rules stating that publicly dissing the quarterback and generally acting like a butthole is punishable by a four-week suspension.  But the real question is whether the Eagles have been uniform in their imposition of discipline.  The challenge for the union and T.O., then, will be to prove that other Eagles players engaged in similar behavior without similar consequence.

Good luck with that. 

Our guess is that the union will nevertheless point to other players on other Clubs in support of the notion that the conduct of T.O. wasn't sufficiently detrimental to the Eagles to merit a four-game suspension -- or that it wasn't detrimental conduct at all.  But since the CBA does not attempt to codify the specific levels of punishment or the behaviors that will trigger action, the matter is left to the discretion of the Club, and the only requirement for the Club is to be uniform in its imposition of discipline for conduct detrimental to the team.

This means, in English, that the union doesn't have a leg to stand on.

As to the potential argument that the conduct wasn't detrimental, we can sum up the technical legal response in one word.

Please.

Not detrimental?  Look no farther than Paragraph 2 of Owens' contract with the team, which states:  "He agrees to give his best efforts and loyalty to the Club, and to conduct himself on and off the field with appropriate recognition of the fact that the success of professional football depends largely on public respect for and approval of those associated with the game."

Game, set, suspension.

2.  The Five-Game Deactivation.

All due respect, the union's argument that a five-game deactivation constitutes "punishment" simply makes no sense. 

Article XXXIII of the CBA expressly contemplates that there will be 53 players under contract, and that 45 of them will be active for any given game.  This means that eight of the players, at any given time and for any reason, will be inactive.

The CBA contains no mechanism for challenging a decision to deactivate a player, and sets forth no rules for making this decision.  Thus, the decision falls within the discretion of the team, and it should not be subject to second-guessing.

With that said, the union might be able to argue that Owens should be permitted to attend practices and to work out at the facility.  Article XXXIII, Section 3 states that "Inactive List players will receive the same benefits and protections as Active List players."  The question is whether the phrase "benefits and protections" refers only to issues like salary and pension rights, or whether the "benefits" include access to the team and the facilities.

The problem with this argument is that the term "benefits" is defined by Article I, Section 3 as the "specific benefits paid to players."  (Emphasis added.)  Thus, the Eagles should argue that, if Owens is getting his game checks during the period of deactivation, he is getting his "benefits."       

The union also argues in this regard that the deactivation prevents Owens from "earning any additional incentives" or from proving to other teams that "he's worthy of playing for them next year."  But couldn't every player on the inactive list raise this same argument? 

The Eagles have decided that, notwithstanding T.O.'s objective ability, the team will perform better as a unit without him on the field or in the locker room.  Nothing in the CBA prevents a team from making that decision.

As to the argument that Owens can't earn any additional incentives, the only additional incentive in his contract is a $250,000 payment for being elected to the Pro Bowl squad.  Again, if one player can challenge a team's decision to make him inactive on the basis that it would keep him from making it onto the Pro Bowl roster, then every player could make that argument.

Bottom line -- it looks like the union's attack on the decision to deactivate will fail.  Badly.

3.  The "Double Penalty" Argument.

This contention is based on the notion that by suspending Owens for the game against the Redskins, the penalty was imposed and nothing more could be done to him. 

It's a real stretch.

On Saturday, the team announced that Owens was suspended "indefinitely."  The Eagles never said it was a one-game suspension followed by a three-game suspension.  It was and is, in the end, a four-game suspension, and the union should worry about losing credibility in the eyes of the arbitrator by arguing otherwise.

Really, both of the final two points raised by the union don't hold much water, in our view.  We believe that the NFLPA is simply aiming as high as possible in the hopes that recovery of the four game checks will then seem like an acceptable middle ground to the arbitrator. 

The union also might be going as far as it is in order to avoid any possible argument by Owens that the union didn't do enough to help him.

But, as we see it, no one can help him now.  He clearly engaged in conduct detrimental to the interests of the Club -- why else would the Club be so adamant about not utilizing the services of one of the best players in the league?  And if the arbitrator applies the CBA as written, and if there's no evidence of other current or former Eagles engaging in similar behavior with no punishment, Owens should lose his grievance.

POSTED 7:51 a.m. EST, November 10, 2005

MOOCH ON THE MOVE? 

 

POSTED 6:49 p.m. EST, November 9, 2005

 

DREW TO FEEL FALLOUT FROM T.O. SAGA?

 

As league insiders openly question whether the performance of agent Drew Rosenhaus at Tuesday's press conference will cause him to lose one or more of his 90-some clients, we've already caught wind of tangible evidence of a backlash.  Per a league source, Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown has said that he plans to personally ensure that no draft-eligible player from his alma mater of South Carolina ever choose Rosenhaus as his agent.

 

The far bigger problem for Rosenhaus, as some league insiders see it, is the potential harm that T.O. could inflict if Owens and Rosenhaus part ways -- and if T.O. then comes clean as to the manner in which the relationship began.

 

As NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen advised us on Wednesday, "Any communication initiated by an agent to a player concerning his NFL contract, etc. violates the Regulations if the player is under contract to another agent and the rep agreement is on file with the NFLPA."

 

We're not saying that Rosenhaus improperly engaged in recruiting of Owens while he was represented by David Joseph.  The reality, however, is that this kind of stuff happens, and that it never is brought to light because the player involved typically has no incentive to blow the whistle.  Unless the player is willing to come clean, the NFLPA has no way to show that tampering occurred.

 

In this case, and given the unique (to say the least) composition of T.O.'s personality, we could envision Owens blowing the whistle on Rosenhaus if, as many suspect, Rosenhaus actively pursued him as a client.

 

Indeed, it could be T.O.'s only remaining strategy for salvaging his football career.  We can picture it now.  Owens calls another press conference in his front yard, but this time he's there without Rosenhaus -- and this time he speaks not from a prepared text, but from the heart.

 

"Good afternoon," T.O. might say.  "Thanks for coming.  I need to talk today about something that has been bothering me for a long time.  After the Super Bowl, my former agent, David Joseph, raised with the Philadelphia Eagles the possibility of renegotiating my contract.  The team was not interested.  Naturally, I was frustrated.  My teammate at the time, Hugh Douglas, told me that if anyone could get me a new contract, it would be his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

 

"The next thing I knew, Drew was calling me.  Every day.  He told me that I had nothing to lose.  He told me that I would only owe him a fee if I got a new contract, and he told me that he would take only one percent of my raise as his fee. 

 

"I was intrigued by this.  Who wouldn't be?  So I agreed to fire David Joseph and hire Drew Rosenhaus.  Drew then told me that he would pressure the Eagles into giving me a new contract by taking our case to the media.  At first I wasn't sure whether that was a good idea, but Drew is very persistent.  He kept telling me how much the team was disrespecting me and taking advantage of me.  At some point, I took his words to heart, and it caused me to change my feelings about the organization. 

 

"For that, I am very sorry.  I have no excuse.  I should have been stronger, and I should have told Drew that we needed to take a different approach.  My mistake became clear to me at the last press conference, when Drew tried to blame everyone else for the consequences of his advice, and of my actions.  The things I said were wrong.  The things I did were wrong.  I have destroyed my relationships with many people, and I know that I can never repair the damage.  My only hope at this point is that I will have an opportunity to try."

 

And maybe it's the fear of T.O. talking in such candid terms that made Rosenhaus come off as so damn nervous and jittery during Tuesday's appearance.  Maybe, in other words, Rosenhaus seemed like a guy with his livelihood on the line because he knows that, as a practical matter, it is.

 

Owens understands that Rosenhaus currently holds T.O.'s career in his hands.  What Owens might not realize is that he, in turn, currently has plenty of control over the career of his agent.

 

And Drew's biggest fear at this point could be that T.O. just might figure it all out.

 

POSTED 5:36 p.m. EST, November 9, 2005

 

EAGLES STILL HAVE 6.7 MILLION IN CAP ROOM

 

Profootballtalk.com has learned that, even after extending the contracts of running back Brian Westbrook and kicker David Akers, the Eagles still have $6.753 million in remaining 2005 cap room.

 

Westbrook's deal increased his cap number for 2005 by only $1.2 million, by virtue of a $6 million signing bonus.  The remainder of his supposedly "guaranteed" money -- a $3 million option bonus -- comes due in 2006.

 

Amazingly, the Eagles didn't increase Westbrook's 2005 salary of $1.43 million, even though the deal was done on the eve of the deadline for bumping up base salary without triggering cap charges in future years.  The contract that Westbrook signed could have been inked as late as December 31, with the same cap consequences.

 

Under the new contract, Westbrook will earn salaries of $550,000 in 2006, $2 million in 2007, $3 million in 2008, $3.5 million in 2009, and $4 million in 2010.

 

Akers cap number increased by $1.5 million.

 

As a result, the prior cap bulge of more than $9.4 million has dropped by $2.7 million, still leaving the team with $6.7 million in excess.

 

HOLMES NOT RETIRING . . . IF VERMEIL DOES

 

With multiple media sources now reporting that Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will not play again this season, we hear that Holmes decided to defer any talk of retirement pending further developments.

 

Specifically, Holmes might not retire if head coach Dick Vermeil does.

 

The problem, as we've explained multiple times over the past few days and confirmed this afternoon, is that folks in the locker room believe that Vermeil is working the team too hard.  Sure, Holmes has had 1,521 touches since coming to Kansas City -- but that's all the more reason not to bang him up in practice.

 

So by not walking away from the game right now, Holmes will hang onto that $10.1 million in bonus money he got two years ago.  He also receives his full salary of $2.415 million.  

POSTED 2:49 p.m. EST, November 9, 2005

 

SMOOT OUT 4-6 WEEKS

 

KFAN in Minneapolis reports that Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot will miss 4-6 weeks with a small fracture in his collarbone.

 

Smoot's absence comes a day after the team released cornerback Ken Irvin.  Brian Williams will step into the starting lineup, and Ralph Brown becomes the nickel back.

 

Smoot has been boycotting the media ever since he was named (erroneously, he contends) in media reports as the guy who rented the infamous Love Boats.

 

POSTED 1:11 p.m. EST, November 9, 2005

 

STORM BREWING BETWEEN HOLMES, CHIEFS?

 

With rumors and reports now rampant regarding the future of Chiefs running back Priest Holmes, we've confirmed that there is indeed a very real question as to whether Holmes will ever play again, even as the team dismisses the notion that Priest might be done.

 

Based on what we're hearing, we also think that the situation could get very ugly, very quickly.

 

The organization believes that there's nothing wrong with Holmes' back, and that his absence traces to a head injury suffered at San Diego.  Still, the specialist Holmes saw on Friday isn't a neurologist, but a back and neck guy.  

 

Despite what the team is saying, we hear that Holmes is telling teammates that he won't play again this year, and we're also told that the organization quietly is preparing for life without him.

 

If Holmes retires, look for the team to try to recover a big chunk of the $10.1 signing/option bonus he received in connection with a 2003 contract extension, which ties him to the Chiefs through 2009.  His better course of action, in our view, would be to obtain medical certification regarding his inability to play if, as reported, he has a lump on his spine that could lead to serious injury.  

 

Things will get interesting, of course, if the Chiefs' doctors say he's fit play and Holmes' own physicians conclude otherwise.  

 

And there's a twist that could make the situation even more problematic for all parties.  Holmes, we hear, blames his current health condition on coach Dick Vermeil's relentless approach to practices, which is burning Holmes out.

 

So, in the end, Holmes could walk away not because of any health concern, but simply because he's had enough of Dickie Ball.

 

Stay tuned.

 

POSTED 10:50 a.m. EST, November 9, 2005

 

ALL PARTIES ARE TO BLAME IN T.O. FIASCO

 

We've watched the press conference.  We've had time to ponder what we saw and heard.  And now we're ready to dish out the blame to all of the folks involved in the Terrell Owens debacle.

 

And all of the folks involved in it deserve blame.

 

Culprit No. 1:  David Joseph.

 

Joseph is the guy who screwed up T.O.'s shot at unrestricted free agency in 2004 by failing to properly trigger a clause in Owens' contract with the 49ers.  If he properly submits the paperwork to win Owens' freedom, T.O. has no basis whatsoever to complain that the contract he signed with the Eagles was worth less money than it could have been, if he truly had been on the open market.

 

Culprit No. 2:  The 49ers.

 

After Joseph blew the deadline for getting T.O. out of San Fran, the 49ers should have excused the technicality.  They knew that Owens was going to leave, and the Niners should have just let him walk at that point, without trying to trade him for a low-round pick and/or a washed-up player.

 

Culprit No. 3:  T.O. (Part I).

 

If Owens wasn't such a jerk during his final years in San Fran, the team might have been more inclined to forgive Joseph's error.

 

Culprit No. 4:  The League Office.

 

The league office should have realized that the 49ers' failure to allow Owens to become a free agent was going to result in a big mess, and the Commish should have leaned on Sgt. York/Dr. Dork to let T.O. go.

 

Culprit No. 5:  The Ravens.

 

We haven't yet made it to the portion of John Feinstein's book chronicling the Ravens' experiences in 2004, but we still can't figure out why Brian Billick and/or Ozzie Newsome would have wanted to bring a guy like Owens to town absent a clear indication from T.O. that he's ready and willing to embrace an offense with a young, unproven quarterback.  

 

And it was the trade that the Ravens worked out with the Niners -- without Owens' approval -- that brought the legal issues regarding Owens' status to a head.  If the thing hadn't blown up, the eventual trade of Owens to the Eagles might not have occurred at a time when it seemed clear that T.O. was on the verge of winning his freedom through the grievance process.

 

Culprit No. 6:  The NFLPA.

 

Though there have been plenty of reports that the union advised Owens not to sign the contract with the Eagles at a time when it appeared that Owens was poised to win his grievance and become an unrestricted free agent, the fact is that the union failed to persuade him.  Yeah, he's a big boy and he can make his own decisions.  But we'd like to think that one of the 20-plus folks getting paid more than $100,000 per year in the union offices would be able to lay out for Owens the reality that, if he waits a little longer, he'll put himself in position to make a lot more money.  It's not a very difficult concept to grasp.

 

Culprit No. 7:  The Eagles (Part I).

 

Sure, Jeff Lurie and Joe Banner have done a great job managing the cap.  But counting beans and making guys happy are two different things, and the trick for every team is to make a player conclude that he got a good deal even if the front office secretly believes that it got the better end of the bargain.

 

Why is it that when agents crow about the terms of a contract, routinely overstating the money, the team remains silent?  Because the team wants the player to think he got a good deal.  Guys who think they got good deals are more likely to focus on football and not on bitching about the fact that they didn't get good deals.

 

By pushing the back end of Owens' $16 million in bonus money into 2006, with no guarantee that he'll ever get the money, the Eagles set the stage for an eventual conclusion by T.O. that he really didn't get a good deal.

 

Culprit No. 8:  Roy Williams.

 

We know we're stretching here, but work with us.

 

If Williams hadn't horse-collared Owens in December 2004, Owens might not have realized that the team can choose not to pay him the $7.5 million in bonus money come March 2006 if,he doesn't return to a high level of play after, say, getting his leg broken by a horse-collar tackle. 

 

Culprit No. 9:  The Eagles (Part II).

 

Despite all of the talk of secret waivers and doctor's orders, the Eagles should have known that, by not placing Owens on injured reserve after he broke his leg, the organization was setting the stage for a miraculous return by T.O. in the postseason.

 

And just as Owens gambled with his long-term health by pushing through rehab and playing before he was fully healed, the Eagles gambled by letting him do it.  The Eagles wanted to win the Super Bowl, and the gamble almost paid off, for both sides.

 

The Eagles' decision to keep T.O. on the active roster and to allow him to play (and play well) in the Super Bowl transformed Owens into a heroic figure, in Philly and beyond.  He was regarded as the best receiver in the game and (albeit briefly) as the ultimate team player.  

 

The team surely recognized this potential outcome when he wasn't placed on IR.  And when the facts played out as they did, that's when the team should have stepped in and taken care of him financially.  Sure, they weren't required to do it.  But neither was Owens required to bust his ass and take a chance by playing less than two months after an injury that plenty of other guys would have justifiably relied upon as a ticket out of the fire for the remainder of the season.

 

We're not suggesting that the Eagles should have given him a truck full of money.  We're just saying that the organization should have been, after the Super Bowl, sensitive to the entire set of circumstances and pushed the money around just enough to keep him believing that he'd gotten a good deal.

 

Based on his performance of a year ago, the Eagles surely got one. 

 

Culprit No. 10:  Drew Rosenhaus (Part II).

 

We've heard various rumors regarding the genesis of the relationship between Rosenhaus and T.O., which in less than a year has prompted Drew to declare publicly that he has developed a case of platonic (we think) man-love for Owens.  Plenty of agents believe that the ever-relentless Rosenhaus actively recruits players who are represented by other agents.  There are rumblings that Rosenhaus client Hugh Douglas helped deliver Owens to Rosenhaus, which would be ironic to say the least in light of subsequent events.

 

Regardless of how the relationship came to be, Rosenhaus undoubtedly promised Owens that he'd get a new contract, despite the fact that six years remained on the deal that  T.O. signed in March 2004.  

 

And in Drew's apparent zeal to use his representation of Owens as a gateway to luring even more clients, Rosenhaus erred badly by taking the issue to the media.  He forced the Eagles against the wall, and the matter quickly became from the team's perspective not an analysis of whether it made sense to tweak T.O.'s contract but a test of the organization's will.

 

In contrast, consider the manner in which Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper sought an adjustment to his contract.  Neither Culpepper nor agent Mason Ashe said a word about the matter publicly, and their strategy eventually resulted in a technically undeserved windfall for a guy who already had signed a deal tying him to the team for many years into the future.

 

So the Eagles never got the chance to take a step back and look at the situation from a broader perspective.  If Rosenhaus had handled the situation differently, the Eagles might have responded more favorably.

 

But that, of course, would have prevented Drew from getting his face and voice on ESPN as a free advertisement to all of those other players out there who might be looking for a new agent.

 

Culprit No. 11:  The Eagles (Part III).

 

Even though Rosenhaus initially handled the situation poorly, team president Joe Banner shouldn't have slammed the door on Drew's dingleberry when Rosenhaus arrived in Philly for what turned out to be a very short meeting regarding Owens' deal.

 

Yeah, Drew backed Banner into a corner.  But Banner should have thought this thing through more thoroughly before kicking Drew in the derriere.  

 

Does Owens make us better?  Absolutely.  

 

Do we have the cap room to give this guy his $7.5 million in bonus money this year instead of next year?  Yes.

 

Can we push some of the salary from the out years of the deal into 2006 and 2007, when the salary cap will be a lot higher anyway?  Sure.

 

But instead of engaging in analysis, Banner apparently concluded that he needed to be a tough guy.  So he told Drew that T.O. would get nothing and like it, and the game was on.

 

Culprit No. 12:  T.O.  (Part II). 

 

Owens never, ever, ever should have opened his mouth after Banner politely told Rosenhaus to get the hell out of his office.  At a bare minimum, T.O. should have zipped his lip regarding quarterback Donovan McNabb.

 

This situation wasn't personal until Owens made it that way.  And once Owens declared that he wasn't the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl, we knew that the thing was not going to end well for anyone.

 

Culprit No. 13:  Drew Rosenhaus (Part III).  

 

If Drew advised Owens to publicly throw McNabb under the bus, then Drew is just plain stupid.  If Owens did it on his own, then Drew should have told him, one time and one time only, that if he ever does it again, Rosenhaus would no longer be his agent.

 

It's a conversation that lawyers and agents have with clients all the time.  If the client fails to conduct himself in a manner that the lawyer or agent advises, then the lawyer or agent will spend his or her time working for clients who will.

 

Culprit No. 14:  ESPN.

 

We know, we know.  The Boys in Bristol never took an active role in this mess.  Still, they fueled it by giving Owens and Rosenhaus air time, pretty much whenever they wanted it.  

 

Really, did anyone in an editorial capacity ever ask at any time the question of whether further on-air discussions with T.O. or D.R. were newsworthy?  

 

So there was ESPN, whenever Owens or Rosenhaus wanted to talk.  Part of the reason here is that Drew has ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli at the top of his call list whenever one of the 90-plus Rosenhos out there signs a new contract or otherwise is in a position to make news.  Thus, some of the folks at ESPN now believe that Drew needs to be appeased when he asks for a favor.

 

Sure, Owens said stupid things.  Sure, Rosenhaus foolishly believes that any publicity is good publicity.  But someone within the network should have stood up at some point and said, "Why in the hell are we continuing to give these guys a microphone simply because they've asked for one?"

 

Does anyone think that boy wonder Graham Bensinger scored that Thursday sit-down with Owens because Bensinger diligently dogged Drew to give him the access?  It's far more likely that T.O. actively was looking for an outlet in the wake of the locker-room fight with Hugh Douglas, and Rosenhaus thought that Owens couldn't be duped into saying something stupid by a 19-year-old interviewer who would merely be happy to add Owens' name to his list of interviewees.

 

Oops.

 

Culprit No. 15:  Hugh Douglas.

 

Regardless of whether he was acting on his own or was nudged by the front office, Douglas never should have confronted Owens in front of other players regarding the question of whether T.O. was "faking" an injury.  After news of Owens' ankle injury initially broke last week, there some was confusion as to when and if the injury actually occurred.  But it then became fairly clear that he had indeed injured his ankle -- even coach Andy Reid acknowledged that it was legit.

 

And even if T.O. was lollygagging, the way to deal with the problem isn't to send in a goon from the bench to check Owens into the boards.

 

Culprit No. 16:  Michael Irvin.

 

A reader has suggested that Irvin was constantly prodding Owens in a backward effort to help Irvin's beloved Cowboys.  Given that T.O. is now out for the year, the possible strategy was effective.  Our guess, however, is that Irvin is the kind of guy who secretly prefers that the organization with which he played never again reaches the heights it enjoyed under his stewardship, thereby expanding his importance and further cultivating his legend.

 

Still, Irvin had no business getting personally involved in this.  Given the audacity of his remarks on the air, we can only imagine the "advice" that the Playmaker was feeding to T.O. behind the scenes, a la Paula Abdul and the dude she was doinking (allegedly) from American Idol.  

 

Culprit No. 17:  Terrell Owens (Part III).

 

True apologies, as many other folks already has observed, are not read from a prepared text written by someone else.  T.O. had multiple chances to get it right and save his ass, and he just plain blew it.

 

Culprit No. 18:  Drew Rosenhaus (Part III).

 

His performance at the Tuesday press conference was, frankly, one of the worst we'd ever seen.  He was too loud, too squinty, too flashy, too over-the-top, too everything that turns normal people off.  

 

Unfortunately for Rosenhaus, he has gotten his wish.  He currently has the highest profile of any agent in all of sport.

 

And everyone thinks he's a buffoon. 

 

So that's the full story, as we see it.  And we'll say nothing more about it.

 

At least until noon.  

 

POSTED 8:38 a.m. EST, November 9, 2005

 

RUMORS RAGE REGARDING PRIEST

 

There continues to be a high degree of rumor, innuendo, and speculation regarding the future of Chiefs running back Priest Holmes.  The team, however, continues to be tight-lipped regarding the situation.

 

"You know as much as I do," Vermeil said on Tuesday, according to The Kansas City Star.  "I don't have any information.  In fact, sometimes I get upset that I don't have more information."

 

The buzz is that Holmes has a lump of some sort on his spine that is pushing him toward walking away for, at a minimum, the rest of the year.  The worst-case scenario is retirement.

 

If that happens, the decision to select Larry Johnson in the first-round of the 2003 draft suddenly becomes a stroke of genius.  At the time, G.M. Carl Peterson was hedging against the possibility that lingering leg injuries and/or a then-existing contract squabble would limit Holmes' availability.

 

Johnson initially was deemed a bust, with Vermeil saying a year ago that it was time for the former Nittany Lion to take off the diaper.  

 

Though Vermeil took plenty of heat for it at the time, the tactic worked.  Late in 2004, Johnson came to life.  He has been improving ever since.

 

In the wake of his game-winning plunge against the Raiders, L.J. is now a budding star -- possibly just in the nick of time. 

 

MARTZ IN MIX FOR CHIEFS GIG

 

Priest Holmes might not be the only guy to retire in K.C.  It has long been thought that this will be Dick Vermeil's final season as a head coach, and the Chiefs (we hear) are starting to eyeball possible replacements.

 

The in-house favorite is offensive coordinator Al Saunders.  But Saunders, it seems, already has caught the attention of the Rams.  He could land in St. Louis not long after John Shaw and company officially part ways with Mike Martz.

 

And at that point Martz would be on the list of potential candidates to replace Vermeil -- just as he did nearly six years ago with the Rams.

 

Other guys who could get consideration for the vacancy, if Vermeil vamooses, are Jeff Fisher of the Titans, Herm Edwards of the Jets, Jim Haslett of the Saints, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, and Pete Carroll of USC.  

 

A dark horse in this race is Bill Cowher of the Steelers.  He is tight with King Carl, and his name has been quietly mentioned over the past couple of years as the potential successor to Vermeil.  

 

But Coach Chin basically has a lifetime pass in Pittsburgh, and it'd be hard for him to walk away from that security and continuity unless there's something going on behind the scenes that is making him pine for a change of scenery.   

 

We speculated when Cowher received an extension after a 6-10 season that the Rooneys realized the long-time field boss might soon ask out in order to take the Chiefs job, and that they would then accept his resignation with slightly more genuine reluctance than Scooter Libby's received.

 

Since then, however, the Chin Man has led the team to 21 wins in 24 regular-season games.  So we've got a feeling that the Steelers won't be as inclined to let Cowher walk after 2005 as they might have been if he'd asked for a release from his contract a couple of years ago.

 

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