POSTED 9:25 p.m. EST, February 19, 2006

 

WILLIAMS REPORT CONFIRMED

 

Jason Cole of The Miami Herald confirms that Dolphins running back Ricky Williams has failed another drug test.

 

He faces a suspension of at least one year.

 

Team spokesman Harvey Greene declined comment.

 

''Because of the confidential nature of the league's substance abuse policy, we can't comment on any aspect of that program,'' Greene told Cole.

 

Williams stayed clean for all of the 2005 season.  Recent reports indicated that the Broncos were interested in trading for him.  With his 2006 season in jeopardy, Williams would be 30 if he returns to action in 2007.

 

Williams is under contract for two more years with the Dolphins, at base salaries of $545,000 and $670,000. 

 

POSTED 9:15 p.m. EST, February 19, 2006

 

WILLIAMS FAILS DRUG TEST?

 

WSVN-TV in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale apparently is reporting that a Denver television station is reporting that Dolphins running back Ricky Williams has failed another drug test.

 

A reader sent us a link to the clip.  It appears to be legit, but we can find no specific information regarding this report on any news-related Internet sites.

 

Here's another clip, citing a "rock-solid source" for the report.

 

If Williams has indeed tested positive, he'll face a one-year unpaid suspension by the league.  Also, he still owes the Dolphins more than $8 million under an arbitration award that was entered against him when he abruptly retired prior to the 2004 season.

 

IF UNION DECERTIFIES, AGENTS ON HONOR SYSTEM

 

One of the tactics that the NFLPA plans to implement if the current CBA expires without an extension is decertification of the union.  Decertification will prevent the owners from locking out the players after the 2007 season, and decertification also will allow the players to challenge any free agency system imposed by the 32 teams owners as a violation of antitrust law.

 

But decertification raises an interesting question regarding the agents who work on behalf of players.  Since the NFLPA regulates the agents, the disappearance of the NFLPA would permit agents to work without restrictions.  They could, for example, charge any amount that they choose for their services.  Likewise, there would be no limitation of any kind on who could act as an agent, permitting players to retain anyone they desire to handle their contracts with their NFL teams.

 

NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen believes that, if the union decertifies, most agents would abide by the terms of a "voluntary system."

 

"When we decertified in 1989 we had a voluntary system," Berthelsen told us by e-mail on Sunday afternoon, "and nearly all of the agents participated.  I would expect the same to happen in 2008."

 

The world of NFL agents is much different in 2006 than it was in 1989, however.  After seeing their maximum fees gradually reduced over the years, some agents might choose to ask for a greater fee than the current limit of three percent.  Other agents who were suspended and/or deactivated (due to, for example, not having negotiated a contract within a three-year period) could return to action.

 

Agents also could offer money or other things of value to college recruits and their family members without fear of getting caught by the NFLPA.  Likewise, agents can try to lure clients away from other agents absent the prospect of facing an NFLPA grievance, which can result in NFLPA-imposed discipline.

 

Then again, agents whose clients are pilfered by other agents would be able to pursue claims in a court of law for theories such as tortious interference with business relations.  Though there would be no penalty imposed by the NFLPA regarding the allegedly offending agent's ability to represent other players, the agent would be subject to a jury verdict, which could include an award of punitive damages.

 

Finally, agents would be permitted to sue players who stiff them for their fees.  Under the current system, agents must file arbitration claims against the players and then domesticate the award in the player's state of residence.  Absent the player-friendly rules of the NFLPA, an agent who doesn't get paid by a player can file suit, for example, in his home state and serve the papers on the player whenever he happens to be inside the state's borders.

 

POSTED 10:42 a.m. EST, February 19, 2006

 

UPSHAW CONTINUES TO SOUND THE ALARM

 

Mark Maske of The Washington Post reports that NFLPA chief Gene Upshaw is increasingly pessimistic regarding the prospects of working out a new labor deal before Upshaw's artificial deadline of the end of the present week.

 

And we don't buy it.

 

There's no reason for Upshaw to insist upon a deal by the end of the week, since free agency doesn't open until March 3 and the uncapped year under the current CBA doesn't kick in for at least another twelve months.  The fact that Upshaw would even speak in such immediate terms regarding the deadline for a new deal that supposedly is so far from being done tells us that, in reality, a deal is closer than anyone realizes -- and that any remaining sticking points reasonably can be worked out by the end of the week.

 

Indeed, we've heard that significant progress has been made of late.  And for good reason.  Although the uncapped year has been at the back end of every version of the CBA since 1993 in order to create an incentive to get a new deal done sooner rather than later, both the league and the union are realizing that the looming uncapped year will create a mess for free agency in the season before the cap disappears.

 

We're still not sure, frankly, that the players fully understand what they'll be facing in 2006 without a new CBA.  But the teams understand the problem, and the union likely appreciates the reality that, if a deal isn't done and if guys start getting bad deals because of the constraints of the final capped year, plenty of pissed-off players will be filling up Gene's voice mail box with choice comments and assorted obscenities.

 

In the end, we think the thing will get worked out.  If not by the end of the week, then before free agency starts.

 

As Vikings center Matt Birk told us a week ago, "I'm sure they'll get together on it.  Everyone is making enough money.  I think that [NFLPA Executive Director] Gene Upshaw is yelling fire before there's smoke by already talking about disbanding the union.  I think you've got a lot of egos going on, but players are making a lot of money, owners are making a lot of money, and the league is as strong as it's ever been.  Why would they screw everything up?"

 

Great point, Matt.  And we trust that Upshaw and the league are smart enough to realize that.

 

A.J. HAS SOME 'SPLAININ' TO DO

 

As Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune observes, there is a growing likelihood that Chargers quarterback Drew Brees will hit the open market as of March 3 and sign with another team, leaving the Chargers with no compensation.

 

Said G.M. A.J. Smith regarding this possibility on Saturday, "I think, looking at it, [the team would say] 'Well, it didn't work out.'"

 

It's quite a different tune for Smith, who justified in advance the decision to slap the franchise tag on Brees a year ago by saying:

 

"I can't tell Dean Spanos we have an unrestricted quarterback who's playing great and he's leaving.  It's not sound football."

 

Now, Smith will soon have a man-to-man with Spanos to explain why Brees very likely will walk out the door.  (And we have a feeling that A.J. won't be mentioning his past comment.)

 

There are various reasons to which Smith can point, however, if Spanos reminds A.J. of his prior statement.  Brees' performance slipped a bit in 2005.  The team didn't make the playoffs under Brees.  Philip Rivers has spent two years on the bench.  And Brees is recovering from a shoulder injury that could turn into a Chad Pennington thing.

 

But the biggest impediment is the fact that there's no effective way for the Chargers to handcuff Drew without owing him nearly $10 million in 2006.  Last year, he signed the franchise tender (guaranteeing more than $8 million on wage), and no one else made any effort to trade for him.  This time around, CBA niceties prevent the team from applying the transition tender, which but for language in Article XX, Section 14 of the agreement between the league and the union would have permitted the team to try to trade him without having to pay him $9.7 million if no deal could get done.

 

That's why the team re-signed A.J. Feeley last week through 2007.  Feeley will be the backup to new starter Philip Rivers in 2006.

 

And Brees undoubtedly will be gone.

 

TEAM STARRY NIGHT STARTS THE SPIN CYCLE

 

As Texas quarterback Vince Young draws increased criticism for his "maybe I will . . . maybe I won't" approach to throwing at the scouting combine, his handlers are now trying to paint the picture that Vince isn't the kind of guy to walk away from a challenge.

 

And we can see right through it.

 

The latest addition to Team Starry Night, longtime NFL assistant coach Jerry Rhome, heaps praise on Young for his recent decision to throw the ball in (drum roll, please) windy conditions.

 

"I asked Vince if he wanted to throw with the wind," Rhome said, "but he said he wanted to throw against the wind, because he wanted to make it as tough as possible.

 

"This was a bad time to work out, but he accepted the challenge and toughed it out.  That impressed me."

 

Wow.  We're blown away.  Really.

 

And we'd be even more impressed if he "accepted the challenge" to work out under far better conditions in the RCA Dome with folks who might or might not write his name on an index card on April 29 watching every move he makes. 

 

That's really the issue.  Young chooses not to lay it on the line against Jay Cutler.  In our book, that gives Cutler an automatic edge over Young.

 

SUNDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

 

NFL teams will pay $70,000 each to participate in the scouting combine.

 

The Tommy Maddox era will soon end in Pittsburgh.  (If the Super Bowl parade drew 250,000, the "Maddox is getting the hell out of town" celebration should draw a half million.)

 

Bucs G.M. Bruce Allen on the 26 hours of combine coverage that will be aired on the NFL Network:  "Would I rather watch that than some of the college basketball I see on TV . . . . yes I would."

 

Only seven Division II players are invited to the combine.

 

The Raiders need to decide whether to pay QB Kerry Collins $2.5 million in March.

 

The Broncos are clearing out cap room (likely in preparation for the arrival of T.O.).

 

The Texans are expected to make a run at LT Matt Lepsis if he doesn't work out a new deal with the Broncos.