POSTED 8:55 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

SAINTS LOOKED INTO TRADING FOR LORD FAVRE

In December, we tried to start a rumor that Lord Favre would finish his career in New Orleans.  With the Saints, to be precise.

Apparently, someone was listening in New Orleans.  With the Saints, to be precise.

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reports that, earlier in the offseason, the Saints engaged in exploratory talks with the Packers about the possibility of acquiring Favre via a trade.  The discussions, however, went nowhere.

In early March, the Saints signed quarterback Drew Brees, necessarily bringing an end to any possible swap.

POSTED 8:41 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

RAMS TAB WROTEN DESPITE CHARACTER ISSUES

So much for character counting. 

The St. Louis Rams, plagued over the past few years by a smattering of turdish defensive linemen, selected in the third round of the 2006 draft LSU defensive tackle Claude Wroten.

Wroten and Missouri State kicker Jon Scifres both tested positive at the February combine.  In January, Wroten was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.  The charges later were dropped.

During his junior season at LSU, Wroten tested positive for marijuana.

Maybe the guy will stay clean and be a steal.  But players with documented marijuana issues (e.g., Ricky Williams, Onterrio Smith) sometimes don't change their stripes.  And given that the organization has wrestled with Leonard Little's multiple DUI incidents and gross underachievement of guys like Jimmy Kennedy, Ryan Pickett, and Damione Lewis, Wroten presented too big of a risk for the Rams to take.

POSTED 8:32 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

MOSS DUMPS DITRAPANO

We interrupt our coverage of the draft to talk about a guy who slid down the board eight years ago.

Raiders receiver Randy Moss, who fell to the Vikings at No. 21 in 1998, has parted ways with agent Dante' di Trapano, according to multiple sources.

NFLPA records indicate that Moss has switched his official representation from di Trapano to partner Tim DiPiero.

Last month, di Trapano was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife and three other persons.  Grossly conflicts accounts emerged.  Di Trapano later was arrested for failing to appear at a court hearing in connection with the charges, and earlier this month his West Virginia home was searched by federal authorities. 

Moss said he'd stand by di Trapano after word of the arrest broke.  "Virtually everyone has a loved one, a family member or close friend, who finds himself or herself in trouble and needs help," Moss said.  "You've got to support a friend who needs help and so I'm sticking by my friend and I'll support him and his family as he gets help battling his problem."

POSTED 6:32 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

ACCORSI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT, SORT OF

In an on-air interview with Chris Berman of ESPN, Giants G.M. Ernie Accorsi said that the 2006 draft will "probably" be his last.

Accorsi has been contemplating retirement for the past few years.  There were rampant rumors that he planned to pack it in after the 2003 season, but that he decided to stick around in order to help clean up the mess that arose in the last year of the Jim Fassel regime.

The veteran NFL personnel man also has served as G.M. of the Baltimore Colts and the Cleveland Browns.  He's a former sportswriter who worked in the athletic departments at St. Joseph's University and Penn State before joining the NFL.

POSTED 6:18 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 6:24 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

LEINART'S LAST SEASON COST NEARLY $40 MILLION

It's a question we've received from multiple readers while covering every pick from one through 40 in the 2006 draft.

How much did that ballroom dancing class cost USC quarterback Matt Leinart?

If he'd come out in 2005, Matt would have been in line for a deal worth $24 million in guaranteed money alone.  As the tenth overall pick a year later, he'll get less.  A lot less.

The No. 10 selection in 2005, former Trojan teammate Mike Williams, received a signing bonus of $1 million, a roster bonus of $1.265 million, an option bonus $6.235 million guaranteed by future base salaries, and $2 million in guaranteed base salaries after the execution of the option bonus. 

That's $10.5 million in guaranteed money.  The difference?  $13.5 million.

And that's just the guaranteed money.  As the No. 1 overall pick, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had plenty more in readily attainable incentives jammed into the deal -- a lot more than the No. 10 selection a year later would get.  Smith's total package was worth $54 million over six years.  The package that Mike Williams received had a maximum value over five years of $13.5 million.

Sure, Leinart will get more than Williams because it's a new year and Matt's a quarterback.  But the difference, in the end, will still be in the neighborhood of $40 million.

Wow.  $40 million bucks.  All because Leinart wanted to be young, have fun, and drink Pepsi for one more year.

And shame on the folks around Matt who didn't urge him to get the hell out of school when his stock could be no higher.

Shame also on coach Pete Carroll.  Even if Matt decided to return on his own with no input from Carroll, the head coach should have had a heart-to-heart with the 2004 Heisman winner, urging him to strike while the iron is hot.

At the end of the day, the $40 million that forever has been lost came out of Leinart's pocket -- and we hope that at some point Matt figures it out.

LENDALE LANDS IN TENNESSEE

Undeterred by a bad pro day workout, a torn hamstring, and rumors of a positive drug result, the Tennessee Titans pounced on USC running back LenDale White in the second round of the draft.

White at one point was regarded as a guy who was on the fringes of the top ten, White fell all the way to No. 45.

For the Titans, the move is a good one on the surface.  But it brings yet another guy of questionable character onto a roster that already has a few too many of them.

UPDATED CONTINUOUSLY, April 29, 2006

(Editor's note:  Thanks to Tech Guy Sean for holding down the fort through the first 11 picks while yours truly coached Florio Jr.'s baseball team.)

WELCOME TO PFT's COVERAGE OF THE 2006 NFL DRAFT

1. Houston Texans: Mario Williams, DE, N.C. State

No surprises here.  (At least no more surprises.)

2. New Orleans Saints:  Reggie Bush, RB, USC

We still don't rule out a trade with the Jets or Packers for D'Brick or D'Hawk, but it's looking like the Saints are happy to keep Bush.

With Deuce McAllister and Michael Bennett already on the roster, this team is stacked at running back.

3. Tennesee Titans:  Vince Young, QB, Texas

Floyd Reese wins again.  Titans will continue to lose . . . .

4. New York Jets:  D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia

Todd McShay was full of McSh-t, after all.

5. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Hawk, LB, THE Ohio State Place Where Guys Go To Play Football

NFC North gets another stud linebacker in the mold of Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Ray Nitschke, Brian Urlacher, and E.J. Henderson.  (Just kidding about the last one.)

6. San Francisco 49ers:  Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland

Stud tight end could pump up a bad offense.

7. Oakland Raiders: Michael Huff, S, Texas

Oakland seemingly ignores their need at play-caller to draft a play-maker on the other side of the ball. 

8. Buffalo Bills: Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State

Bills address one of many areas of need.  (Too bad they can't draft an owner or G.M.)

9. Detroit Lions:  Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State

We're shocked that coach Rod Marinelli passed on a wide body who could be another Warren Sapp, especially with Dan Wilkinson thinking about retiring.

10. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Leinart, QB, USC

Wow.  Scary offense in 'Zona.  Assuming Leinart can stay alive long enough to get rid of the ball, given the absence of, you know, competent blockers.

Meanwhile, a league insider tells us that Leinart's former agent, Leigh Steinberg, must feel like a guy who got whisked off of the Titanic right before it hit the iceberg.  So much for Condon's supposed promise that Matt would go by No. 3.

Meanwhile . . . .

Yoko Warner consoles Kurt after the Cards draft Matt Leinart.

11.  Denver Broncos (from Rams):  Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos.

Coach Kevlar puts a short leash on Jake, and Broncos give up the 15th overall pick and a high third (68th overall) to make it happen.

12:  Baltimore Ravens (from Browns):  Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Haloti Ngata.)

Ray-Ray gets a big-butt to help cover up his deteriorating game.  Amazingly, two rivals franchises do some business via a flip-flop.

13.  Cleveland Browns (from Ravens):  Kamerion Wimbley, DE, Florida State.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Kamerion Wimbley.)

Browns liked this guy a lot.  Can play outside linebacker in the 3-4 and rush the passer.  Hard.

14.  Philadelphia Eagles:  Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State. 

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Brodrick Bunkley.)

Rumor was that Eagles were thinking of a trade up to get the big guy from Florida State.  As it turns out, he has fallen to them.

15.  St. Louis Rams (from Broncos via Falcons): Tye Hill, CB, Clemson.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Tye Hill or a trade down to get Tye Hill at a lower spot.)

Kudos to the team with an offensive-minded head coach to pay attention to the other side of the ball.

16.  Miami Dolphins:  Jason Allen, DB, Tennessee 

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Winston Justice, OT, USC -- or a trade out of the spot.)

We can't get 'em all right.  Allen could become a superstar under the tutelage of Nick Saban, whose subspecialty is the defensive backfield.

Meanwhile, Leigh Steinberg is having a good day as the other guy who fired him before the draft, Winston Justice, continues to fall.

17.  Minnesota Vikings:  Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Manny Lawson, LB, N.C. State.)

Right church, wrong pew.  We're only hoping that the Vikes weren't unduly influenced by the proximity of Greenway's home state (South Dakota) or the state in which he went to college.

18.  Dallas Cowboys:  Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Winston Justice, OT, USC.) 

Wow.  Feels like a reach. 

19.  San Diego Chargers:  Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State.)

Oh well.  We're in a slump.

This pick has A.J. Smith's fingerprints all over it, since coach Marty Schottenheimer surely wants to win now.  Cromartie hasn't played since January 2005, due to a knee injury.

20.  Kansas City Chiefs:  Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Santonio Holmes WR, Ohio State.)

17 reps on the 255-pound bench.  4.86 in the 40.  Reach.

21.  New England Patriots:  Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota. 

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State.)

Pats making plans for life after Corey Dillon.

22.  San Francisco 49ers:  Manny Lawson, LB/DE, N.C. State.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina.)

While in the hell hasn't the Wolfpack been dominant with Lawson and Mario Williams as bookends?

23.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma. 

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Winston Justice, OT, USC.)

Wow.  Will Winston Justice ever be picked?  More importantly, will we ever get another pick right?

24.  Cincinnati Bengals:  Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech.)

We went with Williams over Joseph because we figured Marvin Lewis wouldn't be scared off by Williams' character questions.  But it appears that even Marvin is now paying some mind to a guy's turd potential.

25.  Pittsburgh Steelers (trade with Giants):  Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State.

(PFT pre-projection:  Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State.) 

Right guy, wrong team.  We'll take what we can get.

Great move for the Steelers, addressing the hole created by the departure of Antwaan Randle El.  The decision to jump up to get Holmes takes the Steelers out of the running for former Olympic skiier Jeremy Bloom.

Steelers sent the last pick in rounds one, three, and fourth to New York for the ability to jump up seven spots.

26.  Buffalo Bills (trade via Bears):  John McCargo, DT, N.C. State. 

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Winston Justice, OT, USC.)

Huge reach.  What the hell are the Bills thinking?

Bears get completely out of round one, landing a second-rounder and a third-rounder

Meanwhile, N.C. State ends up with three first-rounder defensive linemen.

27.   Carolina Panthers:  DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno St.) 

28.  Jacksonville Jaguars:  Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA.

(No projection -- we had no idea.)

Memo to the Jags:  You've got plenty of pass-catchers, but only one ball.

29.  New York Jets:  Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno St.)

Kevin who?

30.  Indianapolis Colts:  Joseph Addai, RB, LSU.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Joseph Addai, RB, LSU, or a trade down.)

Finally, we get another one right.  Colts try to fill a huge need.  Maybe they have.

31.  Seattle Seahawks:  Kelly Jennings, CB, Miami.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno St. or Darnell Bing, S, USC.)

The "U" almost gets shut out of round one, and the 'Hawks suddenly might have no interest in free-agent Ty Law.

32.  New York Giants:  Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Chad Jackson, WR, Florida.)

What the hell is the Soup Nazi thinking? 

33.  Houston Texans:  DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Winston Justice, OT, USC.)

Defensive enema continues for Texans.  What about the O-line?

34.  Browns (trade from Saints): D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Maryland.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  LenDale White, RB, USC.)

The run on ACC defenders continues.  More than one out of three picks -- 12 of 34 -- have been defensive players from the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Saints get Jeff Faine and the No. 43 pick.

35.  Washington Redskins (trade from Jets):  Rocky McIntosh, LB, Miami.

(PFT pre-pick projection:  Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa.)

It's now 13 of 35 picks spent on ACC defensive players.    'Skins give up too much to make the trade, including second-round pick in 2007, a second-rounder in 2006, and a sixth-rounder in 2006..

36.  New England Patriots (trade from Packers):  Chad Jackson, WR, Florida. 

Guy who was projected at one point to go at No. 14 to the Eagles slides 22 spots.  Pats get in front of Broncos, who likely would have pounced.  Both teams were in the running for Packers wideout Javon Walker.   

37.  Atlanta Falcons (from Packers via Broncos via 49ers):  Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech.

By trading out of No. 36 and allowing the Pats to get receiver Chad Jackson, the Pack then got a second-rounder from Denver for receiver Javon Walker.

The real question is whether the Broncos are locking up Walker for the long-term.  Otherwise, they spent a second-round pick for a one-year rental.

Pack promptly send the pick to Atlanta, who drafted a d-back with serious character questions -- who'll play alongside another former Hokie corner who's a bit of a turd in his own right.

(We're done with the projections because, you know, we pretty much suck at it.)

38.  Oakland Raiders:  Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP.     

39.  Philadelphia Eagles (from Titans):  Winston Justice, OT, USC.

40:  Detroit Lions:  Daniel Bullocks, S, Nebraska.

POSTED 11:49 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006, by TechGuySean

SAINTS AND JETS TALKING

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio is now reporting that New York and New Orleans are discussing a deal for the 2nd overall pick.   No information as to what the parameters may be regarding a trade but we'll stay on top of this as the Draft starts moving into gear.

POSTED 10:52 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006, by TechGuySean

ALMOST DRAFT TIME

Let me take a moment out of our coverage of the NFL Draft to welcome you to ProFootballTalk.com's coverage of the 2006 Draft and remind you to visit our sponsor Sprint while you're here.

I'll be updating as frequently as I get news and information in and will be in contact with Mike and Dante until they can get back.  So sit back, relax and try not to doze off while sitting there for 14 minutes and 59 seconds as you wait for whoever is on the clock to make their pick.

TEXANS STALLING?

Current speculation around the league is that Houston will sit on the first pick for almost the full 15-minute time limit allotted to them in order to throw a bone to both the snore leader ESPN and the NFL Network as they begin broadcasting at 12:00am EDT today and give them more time to show commercials.

In addition to that, the general consensus we're hearing is that the Saints will take almost a quarter hour themselves as they field all sorts of calls in an effort to get the best value for a trade if they decide to hold off on trading Reggie Bush.

If all of this goes down as expected we might not hear Reggie Bush's name called until close to 1:00 p.m. EDT today.

POSTED 9:59 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006 - by TechGuySean

EAGLES EYEING A MOVE BACK TO THE TOP TEN?

Multiple sources have mentioned to us that the Philadelphia Eagles are looking at trading back into the top ten in order to swoop down on Florida State DT Broderick Bunkley.

Mentioned as possible trade partners are the Raiders (who hold the 7th pick,) the Bills (one pick behind Oakland at 8th overall,) and possibly the Lions (9th overall who may want to add more first round wideout busts to the roster with a later pick.)

POSTED 8:51 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

SAINTS TAKING BUSH?

ESPN reports that the Saints presently plan to select USC tailback with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2006 draft.

But Sal Paolantonio of ESPN correctly acknowledges that the Saints might be putting that word out in order to maximize the trade market for the pick.  Indeed, if the other teams in range to get Bush don't believe that the Saints will take him, there's no reason to give up anything to get him.

Seven years ago, the Saints gave up their entire slate of draft picks, along with a first-rounder and a third-rounder in 2000, in order to get Ricky Williams, whose NFL career arguably came to an end just a couple of days ago.  Now, the Saints hold the rights to a guy who likely has greater potential than Ricky ever possessed.

But, of course, the Saints already have Deuce McAllister on the roster.  McAllister fell to the Saints in 2001, even though Williams was still on the roster.  Still, the Saints jumped at the chance to phase Ricky out.

Now the question is whether the Saints take Bush despite having McAllister.  Given that the Saints selected McAllister two years after coughing up so much to get Williams, we think that it's a no-brainer. 

Take Bush.

(By the way, McAllister is represented by Ben Dogra, who also represents Mario Williams.  Could there be an awkward conversation or two in Ben and Deucie's future if the deal Dogra negotiated with the Texans makes McAllister the odd man out in New Orleans?  Dogra did absolutely nothing wrong by getting Williams signed by Houston -- but there's no guarantee McAllister will see it that way.)

Of course, it might cost a lot of money for the Saints to sign Bush, and as owner Tom Benson observed in 2005, those are indeed "real dollars."  In an effort to erase the diss dealt out by the Texans, Bush might try to get as much or more than Mario Williams received at No. 1, with or without a new agent. 

Another possibility here for the Saints is to pull an Eli Manning, drafting Bush and then swinging a trade after further picks unfold.

Speaking of Eli, we heard last night the agent Joel Segal was considering taking the position that Bush won't play in New Orleans.  If that's what Segal and Bush ultimately opt to do, there could be all sorts of new intrigue once Saturday gets rolling.

POSTED 8:23 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

NEW ERA DEMAND LETTER RAISES QUESTIONS

Based on a new report from Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, we've got some questions and concerns as to whether the efforts of New Era Sports & Entertainment to obtain a settlement from Reggie Bush and his family earlier this year truly represented legitimate, standard practice in the negotiation of civil claims prior to the filing of a lawsuit.  Robinson has obtained a copy of a February 13 letter from Watkins to lawyer David Cornwell, in which Watkins demands payment of $3.2 million. 

Here's the full text, as copied from the Yahoo! site:

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

Dear David,

I apologize for the delay in following up to our previous meeting. Our position has changed in that we now wish to mend our relationship with Mr. Bush and seek to develop a new business relationship with him. We still hope that we can maintain a relationship with him and have a future business relationship with him. Please discuss this with your client and advise if he desires the same.

If this is also desirable to him, we will in a good faith effort to resolve prior business dealings agree to settle the matter for $3.2 million. This amount does include 3 million in lost capital but does not include over $100,000.00 in cash disbursements to your clients. We would also be amendable to entering into a confidentiality agreement at your request.

Please advise if it is your intention to involve the University in these settlement negotiations. We would not object to their participation as we understand their wanting to be involved due to the fact this matter was ongoing during their championship season of 2004 as well as the entire season of 2005, and any lawsuit filed might have an adverse effect on them.

Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated, because if a civil filing is necessary we do not wish to needlessly delay it.

Sincerely,
Brian E. Watkins and Associates

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

Watkins contends that such communications are commonplace among lawyers for folks embroiled in legal disputes that have yet to spill over into a court of law, and Watkins claims that that no threat was ever made to reveal "embarrassing personal details" regarding the Bush family.

"That letter is a professional lawyer letter that we do all day every day," Watkins said. "If you grab any lawyer's file and look inside, it looks and sounds like this.  This is not [extortion].  That word is such a strong word.  You know what is key about that letter?  [It states] I want to mend our relationship."

But in the next breath after stating that Watkins wants to mend the relationship, Watkins asks for $3.2 million.  The two concepts simply don't mesh.  Given the time frame, mending the relationship and "develop[ing] a new business relationship" surely meant the Bush would have hired New Era to do his marketing work, and possibly David Caravantes to handle Bush's NFL contract.  But it makes no sense that Bush would hire New Era and pay New Era $3.2 million, since the claim for the $3.2 million arose from the decision not to hire New Era. 

In other words, hiring New Era should have made it all okay.

So why did Watkins ask to have it both ways?  Possibly, Cornwell already had uttered the "E" word (and a few "F" words) in the prior dealings between the lawyers, which prompted Watkins to inject some "we want to work with you" language into the discourse that would permit him to say after the thing blew up that it's not extortion.  Obviously, Bush wasn't going to change his mind and hire New Era once the pemmican hit the food processor.

The other curious issue here is the suggestion by Watkins that USC be included in the settlement discussions.  There has been no claim that the university violated any legal duties or obligations to New Era, so why would the Trojans pay a dime?

Easy -- to keep it all quiet.

As Watkins wrote, "We would not object to their participation as we understand their wanting to be involved due to the fact this matter was ongoing during their championship season of 2004 as well as the entire season of 2005, and any lawsuit filed might have an adverse effect on them."

In our opinion, Watkins never, ever should have mentioned the possibility of USC making a payment at any time during the process, because it arguably creates the appearance that the issue wasn't just about collecting on the financial losses suffered by Michaels and New Era, but that it was also about getting Bush, his family, and the USC football program to quietly cough up a huge chunk of hush money in order to avoid the storm of media and other scrutiny that ultimately hit.

This doesn't mean that we think Bush or his family were clean.  Instead, it's becoming increasingly clear that both sides have some dirt under their fingernails in this one.

And that calls to mind a scene from one of the final episodes of Seinfeld, in which Elaine and David Puddy are seeking guidance from a priest as to whether Elaine would be going to hell.  Once the priest learns that Elaine and David have been engaged in all sorts of pre-marital relations, the priest offered an easy answer.

"You're both going to hell."

POSTED 7:43 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

STRIKE THREE FOR LENDALE

The Los Angeles Daily News reports that former USC running back tested positive during an NFL-administered drug test, citing multiple unnamed sources.

"(The NFL) ain't worried about it," White said on Friday. "The issue's been addressed."

Although the Daily News cites several sources who claim that the positive test occurred at the February scouting combine, White's name wasn't on the list that was circulated to teams on or about April 21.  The only two players listed on that, um, list were LSU defensive tackle Claude Wroten and Missouri State kicker Jon Scifres.

Indeed, information regarding the positive results at the combine typically isn't disseminated the day before the draft.

"If it's out, it's got to be a combine test," a source with knowledge of NFL drug testing told the Daily News.  "Some teams also give their own tests but those are at individual workouts and no one releases those."

Regardless of when the sample was collected, White is officially scuh-rewed.

White showed up for his pro day on April 2 and engaged in no activities beyond the 225-pound bench, in which he threw up an abysmal 15 reps. 

Strike one.

He later disclosed that he has a torn hamstring, as diagnosed by a chiropractor.  Though it was suggested in some media reports that White would get confirmation from a medical doctor with a specialty regarding hamstring injuries, confirmation never came.

Strike two.

Positive drug test?

Caught looking.  Strike three.

The only question now is whether White takes his medicine like a man -- or whether he throws the bat at someone.

POSTED 2:26 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

SEARCHING FOR TOM BRADY

One of the things we'll forever hear in connection with the NFL draft is that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a sure-fire Hall of Famer only six years in to his NFL career, was a sixth-round draft pick.

As a result, everyone is always looking for the next guy like Brady or Brad Johnson (ninth round, 1992) or Matt Hasselbeck (sixth round, 1998) or Kurt Warner (undrafted, 1994).

Though we're not suggesting that either of the two signal-callers mentioned below will ever play in or win a Super Bowl (or three of them), there's a buzz about them for the second-day of the 2006 draft, even if most if not all of the draftniks have failed to notice them.

So keep your ears and eyes open for David Koral and Stacy Tutt.

Koral was the backup to Drew Olson at UCLA.  Tutt was the starter with the Richmond Spiders.

Multiple teams are interested in both guys.  Two are looking to possibly throw a low-round pick on Koral, and several teams (e.g., Eagles, Giants, Saints) have an interest in Tutt.

We had a chance to eyeball some film on Koral.  He has a very quick release, but a sort of awkward, semi-sidearm delivery.  It's not a full-blown Uncle Rico, but it's just a noticeably different throwing motion.

But Brett Favre has a noticeably different throwing motion, too -- and it's worked out pretty well for him.

As to Tutt, we don't know much more than that there's buzz.  He is also being considered as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back and special teams performer because of his athleticism.

Again, we're not saying that either of these guys will develop into successful pro quarterbacks.  Or that they'll even be drafted.  But teams are paying attention to them, despite the fact that the goobers who study the draft eight rounds deep haven't figured out that both of these quarterbacks will at a minimum be signed to free-agent contracts.

POSTED 1:32 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

ANOTHER LINK BETWEEN CARAVANTES AND NEW ERA

In denying any connection to running back Reggie Bush, agent David Caravantes seems to suggest that he likewise has had no formal relationship with New Era Sports & Entertainment, the sports marketing firm that at one point tried to arrange for Caravantes to handle Bush's football contract.

"I have had no involvement with Reggie Bush," Caravents told the Associated Press on Friday.  "The truth will come out. . . . [New Era] recruited me."

One angle that has yet to be fully explored is whether New Era and Caravantes got together as to other athletes, notwithstanding their inability to finalize any arrangements with Bush.  As we reported on Sunday, both New Era and Caravantes were identified in reference to South Carolina offensive tackle Jabari Levey on a web page regarding the Gamecocks' 2005 pro day workout.

Here's another link.

A reader points out to us that the official web site of 49ers receiver Marcus Maxwell contains on the "links" page a gateway to the New Era web site.

According to NFLPA records, Maxwell is represented by Caravantes.

POSTED 1:04 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

BUSH PROBE SWITCHES TO ORNSTEIN

Jason Cole of the Miami Herald, who wrote one of the initial stories linking USC tailback Reggie Bush to possible NCAA violations, now reports that the activities of marketing rep Mike Ornstein might have jeopardized Bush's eligibility for the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Per Cole, Ornstein asked a New Jersey memorabilia dealer by e-mail for a $500,000 payment days before Bush and the Trojans played Texas in the national championship game on January 4.

Ornstein told Cole that Ornstein's efforts are standard practice by marketing agents preparing presentations for prospective clients.

"That's pretty standard practice in the agent business," Ornstein told Cole.  "Basically, you have to have to be able to show a prospective client like Reggie Bush, 'Hey, if you sign with me, this is what I can bring to the table for you.'  I can show you a spread sheet back at my office where I did this with seven or eight companies.'

''All of that was based on only if I got him as a client,'' Ornstein said.  "It was only going to be if and when I signed him.  No deal was ever consummated until Reggie signed with me after the season."

Still, Ornstein's activities could be viewed by the NCAA as evidence that Bush and Ornstein had a verbal arrangement before Bush had played his final college game.

Indeed, the text of the December 29 e-mail suggests that Ornstein might have been working on Bush's behalf:  "Bob, I am in the office today, At this time I am going to have to start looking at other deals for Reggie, I believe in this program, But like a NFL team that will be giving Reggie a 30 million bonus up front, because they believe in his future, you guys are not willing to take that chance.  If you believe in your program and the ability to get it done, you need to take a little risk.  That risk is 500,000.  Let me know.  Orny.''

In our view, it's one thing to line up potential partners whom the marketing rep can bring to the table in an effort to get the gig.  It's quite another thing to actually hit a company up for cold, hard cash.  Though it's possible that Ornstein was merely beating the bushes before having a deal with Reggie, reasonable minds could conclude otherwise.

And the e-mail was sent on December 29 even though we raised ten days earlier the question of whether Bush's relationship with Ornstein had jeopardized Reggie's eligibility for the Rose Bowl.

As we wrote at the time:  "The problem isn't whether Bush already has decided to enter the NFL draft, but whether Ornstein already is acting as his 'agent' for any reason relating to Bush's eventual professional career.   Indeed, it was the decision to sign with an agent after the initial Maurice Clarett court ruling that eventually kept receiver Mike Williams from returning to USC.   If, then, Bush already has done the same thing, Bush arguably should not be permitted to play against Texas in the Rose Bowl."

POSTED 12:17 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

TEXANS PLANNING TO TRADE BACK INTO ROUND ONE?

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reports that the Houston Texans might try to trade back into round one in order to draft a running back. 

Indeed, Schefter explains that the surest sign of the Texans' sudden interest in defensive end Mario Williams came when the Texans ordered up film on other high-profile running backs in the draft late in the day on Thursday.

Even if the Texans don't trade back into round one, they'll likely have a shot at a guy like DeAngelo Williams or Joseph Addai.

The biggest irony would be a decision by the Texans to draft LenDale White, Reggie Bush's backfield mate at USC.

POSTED 12:00 a.m. EDT, April 29, 2006

D-BACKS RISING IN ROUND ONE

We'll admit that maybe, just maybe, we've got USC safety Darnell Bing rated a little higher on our final mock draft than he'll actually go.  But 12 hours before the draft commences we're hearing that Bing has busted into round one, and that a team like the Raiders might try to trade back into the bottom of the round in order to get him.

Another riser is Fresno State corner Richard Marshall, who could leap frog guys like Jonathan Joseph and Jimmy Williams by the time the picks are called out.

We're also hearing that Texas defensive back Michael Huff could nudge a little higher in round one.  Currently projected at No. 9 to the Lions, Huff could sneak up a couple of spots, depending on how the other dominoes fall.