POSTED 11:19 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

CLANCY SIGNS FOR THREE YEARS, $5.2 MILLION

A league source tells us that the contract between the Saints and defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy is for three years, and is worth $5.2 million.

Clancy will receive $1.5 million in the first year of the deal, via salary and bonus money.  The payout matches the salary he would have earned in 2007 with the Cardinals.  In 2008, he's due to receive a base salary of $1.6 million and a workout bonus of $250,000.  The base salary in year three is $1.8 million, with a $150,000 workout bonus.

Under the deal with the Cardinals, he would have earned $4.6 million over the next three seasons. 

The Saints were Clancy's first stop on a four-team tour.  He liked what he saw and opted to sign on the dotted line.

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POSTED 10:29 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

POINDEXTER PLAYS THE RACE CARD

Surry County, Virginia prosecutor Gerald Poindexter is providing even more justification for the decision of the feds to take over the Mike Vick dog-fighting investigation.  Instead of shutting his mouth and getting on with his life, Poindexter is complaining about the fact that someone has finally begun to develop the evidence in the case.

Before going any further, we need to explain something.  We want to see Vick prosecuted and convicted if -- and only if -- he is factually guilty of aiding, abetting, and/or engaging in illegal dog fighting, and any related offenses such as gambling and tax evasion.  Based on the failure of Vick to say anything at all in response to piece after piece of damning evidence, it's hard not to conclude that he's factually guilty of, at a minimum, dog fighting.

For example, when ESPN made its late arrival to the party with a bombshell from an informant whose face was hidden and voice concealed, Vick didn't immediately release a statement denying that he ever was at a dog fight, and Vick didn't demand a retraction from ESPN for this serious accusation.

In a court of law, it's irrelevant.  In the court of public opinion, it points to factual guilt.

And as we learned in law school, there's a big difference between factual guilt and legal guilt.  A guy might have "done it," but in the eyes of the law he's not factually guilty until a jury returns a verdict based on the inherently difficult standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Case in point -- O.J. Simpson.  He was factually guilty, but ultimately found to be legally innocent.

We'd been concerned for weeks that the apparent factual guilt of Mike Vick would never result in a finding of legal guilt (or even in an effort to prove legal guilt via a trial) because Poindexter, a part-time prosecutor, didn't want to be snowed under by a dream team that would have made his life miserable for the next 20 months.  We dismissed the notion that Poindexter was giving Vick a pass based on their shared race.  Though e-mail after e-mail from readers suggested that Poindexter was dragging his feet for that reason, we continued to adhere to the notion that Poindexter simply didn't want to take on the Herculean task of convicting a man rich enough to buy a horde of lawyers who can crap reasonable doubt on a Saturday afternoon.

Tonight, we're not so sure.  Poindexter is openly suggesting that the federal takeover of the investigation was motivated by race.  And his Uncle Leo style resort to this presumption suggests that Poindexter perhaps was and is motivated by such matters in his own mind.

"There's a larger thing here, and it has nothing to do with any breach of protocol," Poindexter said after the investigation was wrested from him.  "There's something awful going on here.  I don't know if it's racial.  I don't know what it is."

Poindexter had more to say: 

POSTED 6:34 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

FEDS SEARCHING FOR DOG CARCASSES, BLOOD

Patrick Terpstra of WVEC-TV reports that federal authorities searching Mike Vick's Surry County, Virginia property are looking for dog carcasses, more dog-fighting equipment, and blood.

The search warrant was issued on Thursday by a federal magistrate judge in Richmond.

All things considered, this is a horrible development for Vick.  It means that the federal government is fully engaged in the process, and that Mike can expect to be contacted soon to provide his side of the story. 

If he chooses to talk, he should also tell the truth.  If he thinks he can pull a fast one on the feds, he should chat with Martha Stewart or Scooter Libby.

Alternatively, Vick could invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.  In the court of public opinion, however, that's the equivalent of admitting guilt.  (Then again, his weeks of silence in the face of damning evidence have already taken care of that one.)

If Vick faces federal charges, he won't be in front of a jury plucked from rural Surry County.  The jurors will come from a much broader swath of countryside.

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POSTED 6:26 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

MARCO GETS WHACKED

Hmmm.  On Wednesday, Cowboys guard Marco Rivera speaks out (scroll down) against NFLPA executive director Geno Upsharrino.  On Thursday, Rivera gets cut.

Could there be a cause-and-effect thing going on here?

Consider these facts:  Upsharrino is represented by Tom Condon of CAA.  The Cowboys' starting quarterback and running back are represented by Ken Kremer of CAA.  The Cowboys' starting quarterback has one year remaining on his contract, and negotiations on an extension are looming.

Are we suggesting that Condon or Kremer let it be known that a swift conversion of Rivera from active to inactive player would be remembered with fondness at the bargaining table?  No. 

We'll just call it a coincidence.  A hell of a coincidence.

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POSTED 6:02 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

POINDEXTER GETS PUNTED

In yet another stunning development from a roller coaster investigation that has featured contradictory public statements from the part-time prosecuting attorney, federal authorities are searching Vick's Surry County, Virginia property.

Oh, and prosecutor Gerald Poindexter is off the case.  Finally.

The search comes only a week or so after Poindexter and Sheriff Harold Brown put the kibosh (whatever in the hell a kibosh is) on a search warrant issued on May 25 by a Surry County magistrate.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the feds have taken control of the investigation.

Said Poindexter:  "Mike Vick, is he the target?  Who else would be?  I never imagined such interest."

So why are the feds on the case?  "Obviously if the feds come in, the jurisdictional basis is some sort of interstate violation," Poindexter said.  "We don't know what it is -- the training of dogs, gambling racketeering, whatever they want to call it."

Poindexter was advised at 3:15 p.m. EDT that federal agents and state police were at the property.  Poindexter was told that a search was proceeding pursuant to a "sealed" warrant obtained by federal authorities.

We have previously argued that Poindexter should be removed from the case.  Though some have argued that he should not be criticized for moving deliberately, his wishy-washy public remarks coupled with the perception of foot-dragging were creating the impression of incompetence at best, corruption at worst.

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POSTED 2:19 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

MARCO RIVERA UNHAPPY WITH GENE UPSHAW by Michael David Smith

It hasn't been a good week for NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw.  When he's not threatening to break the neck of a fellow Hall of Famer, he's being told that members of Congress have some questions they'd like him to answer.

And now an active player is speaking against him.  Cowboys guard Marco Rivera tells Matt Mosley of ESPN.com's Hashmarks blog that he's upset with Upshaw for failing to do more for retired players.

"Retired veterans were left out in the cold," Rivera told Mosley. "You go back to guys like [Johnny] Unitas, and those are the guys that put professional football on the map. They laid out everything for the gigantic contracts that we have today."

Per Mosley, Rivera said Upshaw's comments about Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure have Rivera thinking it's time for the players to replace Upshaw as the head of their union.  And Rivera says he knows he's not the only player who feels that way.

"I've come across a lot of players who are unhappy with our current union situation," Rivera said.

If a lot of players are unhappy, though, it's hard to understand why more of them aren't saying so. Upshaw, after all, works for them. But so far only two active players, Rivera and Vikings center Matt Birk, have questioned Upshaw's leadership publicly.

And Rivera might not have any say in union matters for much longer.  Although he started all 16 games in Dallas last season, there's a good chance that Rivera, who is 35 and has a history of back problems, will retire before the 2007 season.  If he does, the NFL players' union would lose a member with two important qualities:  The ability to think independently and the willingness to speak publicly.

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POSTED 12:49 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

BAD NEWS, LENDALE: CHRIS BROWN COULD RETURN TO TITANS by Michael David Smith

It's been well established that the Tennessee Titans aren't very happy with running back LenDale White. A second-round pick last year, White has been criticized for everything from his weight to his work ethic to his failure to inform the team of his whereabouts to his penchant for having his saliva end up on teammates during practice.

But there's one person who might be happy with White: Running back Chris Brown. After spending his first four seasons in the league with the Titans, Brown's contract expired this off-season, and he didn't seem likely to return. However, as White has given the Titans' brass more reasons to doubt that he's their long-term answer at running back, Brown now looks likely to re-sign with Tennessee.

Per Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean, Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt said he'd like to have Brown back. "We have two talented young players, but if you can get an experienced guy like Chris to be in the mix, it would be a good thing for us. Plus their styles are a little bit different,'' Reinfeldt said.

Reinfeldt and Brown's agent, Wynn Silberman, aren't ready to draw up a deal just yet, but the mere fact that Brown could return -- and the fact that the Titans spent a second-round pick on running back Chris Henry of Arizona -- says a lot about what the Titans think of White. When Tennessee drafted White in the second round of the 2006 draft, he looked like he'd be the future of the team's running game, just as first-round pick Vince Young would be the future of the passing game.

Instead, White has the team looking elsewhere.

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POSTED 11:34 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:59 a.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

WHAT IF GENE UPSHAW WAS ITALIAN?

We were talking with a high-level NFL source earlier on Thursday about the whole Gene Upshaw-Joe DeLamielleure spat, and the source raised an excellent point that we previously hadn't considered.

What if Upshaw, who recently said that he would break Joe D.'s neck, was Italian?

Think about it.  An Italian-American union boss threatens to crack the cervical spine of a former union member who has the gall to exercise his First Amendment rights.  What kind of firestorm in the media would this have triggered?

With all that said, we still think that the words that came out of Upshaw's mouth regarding Joe D. could become the long-time union leader's Don Imus moment.  Plenty of active players think that Upshaw's conduct was unbecoming of the position he holds, and it might make more of them inclined to start asking tough questions and commenting publicly on the situation.

And we think that more folks in the "real" media should be sounding off on this with the same zeal that we would have witnessed if the NFLPA executive director's name was Gene Upsharrino.

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THURSDAY LATE MORNING ONE-LINERS

49ers DE Melvin Oliver will miss the season after tearing an ACL in "non-contact drills" (wink, wink, fart) this week.

Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander says that his foot is fine.

Seattle WR Nate Burleson is a full-blooded Canadian.  (We've never once heard him say "eh".)

Raiders QB Andrew Walter will be recovering for the next few weeks from arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Broncos S Sam Brandon (knee) still isn't ready to hit the field.

Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt is happy that so many players have decided to attend "voluntary" practices.

Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell is looking pretty good so far.

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POSTED 7:00 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:03 a.m. EDT, June 7, 2007

CONGRESS ENTERS DISPUTE BETWEEN NFLPA, RETIRED PLAYERS

The Washington Post reports that the U.S. Congress will hold a hearing later this month regarding one of the primary sources of friction between the NFL Players Association and retired NFL players.

Specifically, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law will examine on June 26 the procedures for players to attempt to recover disability benefits.

"The NFL is a billion-dollar industry and yet the players who built the league are too often left to fend for themselves," said Committee Chairperson Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.) in a Wednesday night statement.  "The subcommittee has seen recent reports that the benefit plan offered to retired players may be stacked against players who need serious medical care."

Both NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have been invited to attend the hearing.  To date, neither man has agreed to attend.

Others who have been invited include Mike Ditka, Harry Carson, and Curt Marsh, whose right foot and ankle were amputated in 1994, which he claims was the result of football injuries.

The problem in this regard seems to be that the powers-that-be might be setting the bar too high for proof that a former player is genuinely disabled based on things that happened on the football field.  With Congress sniffing around, the message is that the parties responsible for this system can fix it on their own, or risk that Congress will fix it for them.

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FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR MARINO SUCCESSOR CONTINUES

Since Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season, the team has burned plenty of draft picks in an effort to replace him.

Now, in 2007, the Fins have sent a fifth-rounder, which could move to a fourth-rounder, for Trent Green.

But it could be the second-round pick that the team used in April to obtain former BYU quarterback John Beck that could bring this cycle to an end.  Once Beck ascends to the job after the Green era concludes, he could hold the job for more than a year or two, which would allow the Dolphins to use their draft picks on something other than finding the next quarterback who, in the end, couldn't get it done.

The irony here is that, when Marino was playing, the team's defense generally wasn't good enough to propel the team to the highest levels of success.  After Marino left, the defense became dominant.  And now that the pendulum on offense could be swinging back the other way, we've got a feeling that the defense will gradually begin to slide backward. 

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ARREST COUNTER SETS NEW RECORD

In case you haven't noticed, our "Days Without An Arrest" counter has made it all the way to 17.  And that's a new record, folks.

So how high can it go?  With OTA sessions winding down over the next couple of weeks, players will be left to their own devices for 4-6 weeks until training camp opens.  With more than 80 guys on each roster right now, that's more than 2,500 guys who have to stay clean for 40 days and 40 nights.

In other words, we'll be back to zero before too long.

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THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

QB Daunte Culpepper likely will be out of Miami before the weekend.

Pats CB Ellis Hobbs, on the lesson he has learned from the passing of DE Marquise Hill:  "There's no reason you can't have fun and enjoy yourself, but do it the right way.  If you’re in the water, put on a vest or something like that.  If you do ride motorcycles, put a helmet on.  Be safe.  There's no reason you have to feel like you're in the Indy 500 when you're driving your Lamborghini or Ferrari or whatever.  You can enjoy all those things, but do it in a cautious way.  Understand, you're not invincible."

Jags coach Jack Del Rio loves Fat Albert like water.

The Jaguars might soon use the rule that would allow the RFA tender of DE Bobby McCray to be cut from $1.85 million to $480,000.

Mike Vick is eyeballing some new property in Surry County, which apparently would be used for the legal killing of certain animals.

Though CB Shawn Springs has finally shown up at Redskins workouts, he has yet to practice.

Eagles QB Kelly Holcomb realizes that he's facing long odds to make the team.

The Eagles have released WR/KR Bethel Johnson, but he could return when he is able to pass a physical.

Pats WR Randy Moss says he doesn't plan on changing.

Patriots S Brandon Meriweather has missed a couple of days of practice with a hamstring injury.

The agent for Pats CB Asante Samuel says that the Jets have not been in contact with him.

LB Junior Seau is happy to be back with the Pats.

Gil Brandt has some strong opinions about Pats WR Wes Welker.  (We can't help but wonder who Brandt swiped those thoughts from.)

New England WR Kelley Washington could be laying the foundation to be one of the odd men out.

The Lions' final OTA session will be conducted at a local high school, and made open to the public.

A "foul wind" followed Jags QB Lester Ricard in college.  (He apparently was on an all-burrito diet.)

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POSTED 10:46 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:33 p.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

CULPEPPER TRADE STILL POSSIBLE?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that there's a 50-50 chance that the Dolphins will strike a trade for quarterback Daunte Culpepper, and that the Fins currently are talking with three possible suitors.

Schefter also reports that Culpepper is willing to reduce his $5.5 million base salary in order to make a trade happen.

This news conflicts with Culpepper's Wednesday morning e-mail message from Culpepper himself, during which he declared that he doesn't want to be traded.  All he has to do to keep a swap from happening is to refuse to lower his base salary.

And wouldn't he be better off as a free agent?  That way, he could leverage any and all interested teams against each other in an effort to get the best deal.

If, of course, he had an agent.  For more than a year, Culpepper has been representing himself.

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SEVERAL TEAMS NOT KEEN ON 'PEPPER

Though the identity of the teams interested in quarterback Daunte Culpepper isn't known, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that several squads have indicated that they aren't interested in acquiring his services.

The Bears, Vikings, Falcons, Giants, and Raiders are in the "no, thanks" club.

NFL personnel execs have speculated that the Jaguars, Pats, Rams, and Lions could be interested.

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SOME REAL COMPETITION FOR MADDEN?

EA Sports locked up the exclusive NFL video game license just as Sega was putting together a game that, in time, could have been superior to the Madden series.  The immediate concern was that the ensuing dearth of competition would cause the Madden game to stagnate.

And, frankly, it has.  The Madden offerings for Xbox 360, for example, have been disappointing. 

But now there's a new entry.  Courtesy of Darren Rovell of CNBC.com, by way of the folks at Deadspin.com, we've learned about All-Pro Football 2K8 from 2K Sports.  It will feature more than 240 former NFL players, including Barry Sanders, John Elway, Jerry Rice, Dan Marino, John Unitas, Mike Singletary, and Walter Payton.

On the other hand, the game also has O.J. Simpson.

Recognizable names from other eras add a mild dose of intrigue.  But without NFL trademarks and logos, will anyone want to play?  We think it all comes down to the how good the game is.  If the product is superior to Madden, it will sell.

It won't outsell Madden, by any means.  But plenty of folks will buy both of them, if/when they realize that the non-NFL game is better.

Are we rooting for the new product to take off?  Yes, if for no reason other than that it could force EA to make Madden better.

Then again, now that we've discovered Guitar Hero, we might never buy another football game.  Ever.

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Says Pats WR Randy Moss:  "I still love to play the game."  (When, of course, I want to play the game.)

A bunch of NFL players will get some education in radio and TV.

Former Syracuse QB Perry Patterson lasted a whole day with the Eagles.

Former NFL QB Mike McMahon, whose condo was once burglarized, now has had his Escalade stolen.

Saints first-round WR Robert Meachem is out 4-6 weeks after surgery to repair his meniscus.

Dolphins exec George Paton is reportedly heading to Minnesota.

To whoever robbed the mother of Marquise Hill during his funeral we say, "See you in Hell."  (We don't hope to actually see you there.  Unless we're not there ourselves and one of the channels on the satellite dish with an unobstructed view in pretty much every direction features a reality show originating from the Ironic Punishments room.)

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POSTED 10:37 p.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

THURMAN CHARGES A MONEY GRAB?

A league source tells us that the pool of persons who were allegedly roughed up over the weekend in Georgia by Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman has grown to four -- and that they are willing to drop all charges and put the matter behind them.

In exchange for a payment in the amount of $250,000.  Each.

Per the source, the Thurman camp politely (or otherwise) declined.  The quartet then threatened to take the thing to the media, to which the Thurman camp responded by providing the phone number to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Indeed, the charges already have hit the press.  Thus, the threat to go public is, at this point, sort of meaningless.

Due to the fact that the alleged victims waited until the next day to call the cops, a hearing will be held on Friday to determine whether an arrest warrant will be issued for Thurman.

Thurman is currently serving a one-year suspension for violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.  He could face separate discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy based on the outcome of the situation in Georgia.

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POSTED 4:39 p.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

INFORMANTS SAY VICK ATTENDED DOG FIGHTS

Surry County, Virginia Sheriff Harold Brown says that people who have come forward in connection with the Mike Vick dog-fighting investigation say that Vick attended dog fights.

Brown also said that Vick will be charged if investigators can find evidence backing those claims.

Gee.  What might such evidence be?

HEY GUYS -- HOW ABOUT THE 66 CANINES AND THE DOG-FIGHTING PARAPHERNALIA FOUND ON THE PROPERTY THAT VICK OWNS?

This really is getting ridiculous.  Vick owned real estate in Virginia.  On that property, evidence of dog fighting was found.  Neighbors and other locals say that Vick was frequently there.  Vick claims he never goes there, presumably to cover up his knowledge of and involvement in the activities.  As item after item of incriminating evidence has been reported by the "real" media, Vick has uttered not a peep.  Under what warped notion of common sense does this not point directly to, at a minimum, charging the guy with a crime?

And now there are people who say that they have seen Vick at dog fights.  What evidence do the authorities need to back up these claims?  There are ways to check out the story in order to ensure that the cops aren't dealing with a John Mark Karr nut job who merely wants attention.  Where do these people claim that the fights occurred?  When did they happen?  Where was Vick at the time?  Surely, his deal with AirTran resulted in some type of a paper trail as to his travel habits.  (The AirTran records might also come in handy with respect to the whole "I never go to Surry County" thing.)      

But if the Sheriff or the prosecutor won't accept what these witnesses are willing to say without photographic or video evidence of them standing next to Vick at the edge of the dog-fighting pit, why not just close the case right now?  It would save all of us who have been following the case a lot of time and trouble.

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POSTED 2:04 p.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

CHRIS PERRY: ODD MAN OUT IN CINCINNATI? by Michael David Smith

Two years ago, Bengals running back Chris Perry looked like the perfect fit to be the change-of-pace back for starter Rudi Johnson.  He logged 61 carries for 279 yards as Johnson's backup in 2005 and, although he hadn't earned the starting job, he appeared to justify the 2004 first-round pick the Bengals spent on him.

But Perry had knee and ankle surgery after the 2005 season, started the 2006 season on the physically unable to perform list, and broke his leg in November.  Perry got just 10 carries last year, and Kenny Watson became the Bengals' No. 2 option at running back.

Now Perry is expected to go back on the PUP list to start the 2007 season, and as Kevin Goheen writes in the Cincinnati Post, the Bengals are counting on second-round pick Kenny Irons to do what Perry hasn't:  Spell Johnson and stay healthy. Quarterback Carson Palmer says of Irons, "[H]e's fast, he's quick, he's explosive -- he's all of the things you want to see."  [Editor's note:  And he's not on parole.]

Palmer isn't the only one singing Irons' praises. Overall, the comments out of Cincinnati make it clear that the Bengals didn't draft Irons to have him sit on the bench. And as Ryan Wilson notes at the FanHouse, Irons will be the out-of-the-backfield pass-catching threat, while Johnson will be the between-the-tackles mauler.

That doesn't leave much of a place for Perry.  After just 73 carries, 337 yards, and zero touchdowns, the Bengals' 2004 first-round pick is looking like the odd man out.

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POSTED 11:29 a.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

GOODELL'S PRAISE DOESN'T SPEAK WELL FOR UPSHAW by Michael David Smith

If the CEO of General Motors had nothing but praise for the president of the United Auto Workers, that would not be a sign that the head of the UAW was working as an aggressive advocate on behalf of his members.  To be effective, union leaders often have to be adversarial.

So when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praises NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw, as he did in Charlotte yesterday, he's really doing Upshaw no favors.

"I don't think there's anybody I know who has done more for the retired players and players in general than Gene Upshaw," Goodell said Tuesday, as reported by Charles Chandler of the Charlotte Observer.  "I think he's done a tremendous amount for them."

But if Goodell supports everything Upshaw has done for the retired players, isn't that a sign that Upshaw hasn't done enough?  If you were a member of the union, wouldn't you prefer to read that Goodell thinks Upshaw is too demanding?

In less than a year as commissioner, Goodell has done great work cleaning up the NFL's image and cementing its status as America's most popular sports league.  But he hasn't done much about the many retired players living with serious health problems from their playing days.  Maybe he would have if he had a more aggressive union pushing him.

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POSTED 10:32 a.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

TERRELL SUGGS WANTS AN EXTENSION by Michael David Smith

Ravens defensive end Terrell Suggs is entering the final season of the contract he signed as the 10th pick of the 2003 NFL draft, and while he says he's focused on the coming season, he's also clearly focused on the big payday he has coming to him as a Top 10 pick who lived up to his potential.

Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome says he's negotiating an extension with Suggs' agent, and Suggs sounds like a man who would rather get a deal done now to stay in Baltimore than test the free agent waters (or, more likely, get the franchise tag) next spring.  

"I'm a Baltimore guy," Suggs tells Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun.  "I love playing in this city and for this organization.  I really don't think about free agency.  When [the extension] gets done, it gets done."

If Suggs plays at the same level in 2007 as he has in his first four seasons and then hits the open market, he'll fetch a bigger contract than his former teammate, linebacker Adalius Thomas, got from the Patriots this off-season.  Suggs is only 24 years old and already has 40 career sacks.  General Managers salivate at the mere thought of locking up a player that young and that accomplished to a long-term deal.

And that's why there's approximately zero chance of Suggs actually hitting the open market.  Newsome will try to get Suggs locked up long before the 2008 free-agency period begins, but if they don't have a deal in place, the Ravens will do with Suggs what they didn't do with Thomas, and give him the franchise tag.

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POSTED 9:27 a.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

CULPEPPER DOESN'T WANT TO BE TRADED

Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald reports that the Miami Dolphins have informed quarterback Daunte Culpepper that he no longer is in the team's plans, and that the franchise will attempt to trade him.

The report confirms Adam Schefter's Tuesday night tidbit that Culpepper is indeed "one and done" in Miami.

But there's a catch.  Culpepper doesn't want to be traded.  

"'They would like to trade me in order to 'get something for me,'" Culpepper said in a Wednesday morning e-mail, which at least was sent to the Herald and might have gone to other members of the South Florida media.  "However, it is my position that I have already been down that road and I am not interested in being traded.

"They have told me throughout the off-season that I am under contract to the Dolphins.  Therefore, it will be up to them to either keep me under contract or release me.  In the meantime, I will continue to work out at the facility with the team and prepare myself for training camp, wherever it may be.''

Culpepper is due to make a salary of $5.5 million in 2007; thus, any trade would require a willingness on his part to accept less money.  Since he has said he doesn't wish to be traded (and given that he still acts as his own agent), Culpepper's desire not to be dealt means that he most likely won't be -- unless someone is willing to buy his contract as it currently is written, with future salaries of $6 million in 2008, $6 million in 2009, $7 million in 2010, $8 million in 2011, $9 million in 2012, and $10 million in 2013.

We'd be shocked if anyone would be willing to take on that type of a deal for a player whose career is clearly at a crossroads.

The more likely reality is that the Fins will cut Culpepper, soon.  He was cleared to return to practice on Tuesday, which means that, if he's cut, the team will be able to argue that it's not on the hook for $250,000 in 2007 salary due to the lingering effects of last season's knee problems.  The downside is that, if he re-injures his knee, the Fins could be looking at an injury settlement of up to $5.5 million.

With a full-squad minicamp scheduled for the weekend, the wisest move would be to cut him before he sets foot (or knee) on the practice field. 

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POSTED 7:46 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 8:08 a.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

JETS SNIFFING AROUND SAMUEL?

Albert Breer of the MetroWest Daily News reports that the New York Jets could be plotting a late-offseason run at Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel.

Samuel, a free agent whose movement is limited by the franchise tag, is free to talk to any other team, and he also can sign an offer sheet with any other team.  But if the Pats opt not to match the offer sheet, New England would be entitled to two first-round draft picks as compensation.

Breer also reports that the Pats plan to hold firm to their rights in this regard, and won't accept a trade offer for something less than two first-round picks.

Several teams reportedly have expressed an interest in matching Samuel's asking price, which is in the range of Nate Clements' eight-year, $80 million deal.  In reality, however, the Clements contract is a seven-year, $64 million contract, due to a phony final season.

But if the Jets are truly interested in Samuel, why have they waited so long to get serious about it?  They moved up to get cornerback Darrelle Revis in the draft, which would seem to reduce any pre-draft interest that they might have had in Samuel.

Our take?  On the heels of Samuel's recent proclamation that he plans to sit out the first ten games of the 2007 regular season, the Jets are looking to push even deeper the wedge that currently exists between the Pats and their franchise player, in the hopes that he'll follow through on his threat.  If the Jets bring him in for a visit under the guise of talking about a possible offer sheet now, nothing will prevent the Jets from saying whatever they need to say in order to persuade Samuel to report to the Patriots on the last possible date in 2007, with a wink-nod understanding that the Jets will make a move for him in 2008.

As a practical matter, if the Pats can't sign Samuel to a long-term deal, either Samuel or cornerback Randall Gay will be on the open market next March (since the Pats, like every team, have only one franchise tag to use), and the Jets would then be guaranteed of getting a clear shot at one of them. 

But Samuel is clearly the better of the two, and the cost to the Patriots of franchising him in 2008 would be $9.348 million.  And that tells us that Samuel has six more regular-season games in New England, and that he'll be free to walk (possibly to the Jets) after the season.

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WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

QB Trent Green still has to pass a physical before the trade sending him to Miami becomes official.  (The way this thing has gone, we wouldn't be shocked if he flunks it.)

Our condolences to the family and friends of Ann Litt; the 54-year-old Redskins nutritionist died suddenly this week.

Redskins RB Clinton Portis is recovering from tendonitis in his knee.

Troy Aikman thinks that his problems with migraines have no connection to his ten concussions (of course, he reached that conclusion using a brain that has . . . suffered . . . ten . . . concussions).

Maybe Texans coach (and former Coach Kevlar lieutenant) Gary Kubiak should just give WR/KR Jerome Mathis a lie detector test the next time he gets hurt.

Pats QB Tom Brady doesn't want to talk about the adventures of "Little Tommy."

The teammates of Pats CB Asante Samuel aren't saying much in his favor.

The Packers might be buying out the contract of would-have-been president John Jones.

Former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil thinks that QB Trent Green has two more good years in him.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson has dropped a pass. 

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POSTED 7:07 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 7:26 a.m. EDT, June 6, 2007

PUSH COMING TO OUST UPSHAW?

After more than two decades of keeping a hammerlock on his position as executive director of the NFL Players Association, Gene Upshaw might finally be facing a threat to his tenure.

Key word:  "might."

A league source tells us that a group of older players are currently contemplating the possibility of trying to get Upshaw removed.  They believe that Upshaw makes "way too much money," and that his recent reference to breaking the neck of Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure was "totally out of line."

It would be a tough battle, in our view.  Upshaw is deeply entrenched in the position, and he has been able consistently to set the agenda with the players who are in management positions.  We've heard him on the radio, and he is a very persuasive speaker. 

Any players who are inclined to take on this challenge need to get themselves sufficiently educated on the issues, and they need a very smart member (someone who went to, say, Harvard) to be the face and voice of the cause.

That someone could be Vikings center Matt Birk.  Last year, the Pro Bowler teed off on Upshaw in an unprecedented attack from an active player.

"Don't put this in the paper . . . no, wait, go ahead and put it in," Birk told Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in early 2006.  "Gene Upshaw is a piece of [expletive].  Too many guys in the league just accept whatever Gene says.  I don't know why no one has called this guy out."

At a time when Upshaw was rattling the sword about an uncapped year if a new CBA wasn't reached, Birk recognized that the grass wouldn't be greener without a salary cap, since (for example) the years of service necessary to become an unrestricted free agent would have moved from four to six.

POSTED 10:50 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

THURMAN IS STILL A BENGAL

We've seen some creative strategies over the past few months from teams who want to disown players who have gotten in trouble with the law.  The Saints tried to pretend that they'd cut practice-squad linebacker E.J. Kuale long before he was busted on weapons and drug charges.  The Steelers cut linebacker Richard Seigler after they found out that a warrant had been issued for his arrest on charges that he's a pimp, but before the warrant was actually served.

The Bengals are now attempting to try out a new approach, in light of the accusations directed at linebacker Odell Thurman.  Faced with the possibility that a warrant for his arrest will be issued following a Friday hearing regarding an alleged assault, the Bengals are already taking the position that Thurman isn't really on the team.

"His situation is controlled by the league, he's not officially on our roster," team spokesman Jack Brennan told the AP.  "Since his possible reinstatement is in the league's hands, we would defer any comment to the league."

Oh, but he is.  He's not on the active roster.  But the Bengals still hold his rights as a member of the team's reserve/suspended list.  If/when he's reinstated following a minimum banishment of one year for violation of the substance-abuse policy, he'll be back on the team.

So he's no less of a Bengal that Ricky Williams is a Dolphin, Pacman Jones is a Titan, and Tank Johnson is a Bear.

If the Bengals wanted to wash their hands of Thurman, they should have done so.  Sure, it might have been a violation of the CBA, but it was a violation of the CBA to cut linebacker A.J. Nicholson after he was arrested last month.  That didn't stop them from doing it.

Thus, until the team washes its hands of Thurman, Thurman is a member of the team. 

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POSTED 9:57 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

CULPEPPER TAKES THE HIGH ROAD

Greg Bedard of the Palm Beach Post reports that, on the same day that the Dolphins finally reeled in quarterback Trent Green from the Chiefs, incumbent veteran Daunte Culpepper has finally received clearance to return to the practice field.

And despite reports that Culpepper would ask to be released, Culpepper has finally figured out that there's a thing known as "the high road."

"I am preparing to practice tommorrow [sic] unless you know something that I don’t know,” said Culpepper.  "My position on Trent is that the Dolphins should get the best players that they can and let them compete for the starting job."

The reality here could be that Culpepper realizes there's no need to clamor for his walking papers since it's pretty much a given that he'll either be traded or cut.  So if he's going to be trying to get another team to take a chance on him, he needs to avoid coming off like a boob -- like he did in 2006 as he was trying to get out of Minnesota.

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POSTED 9:52 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

DELAMIELLEURE WANTS TO GET GENE FIRED

In a Tuesday interview with our good friend Brad Riter of WGR in Buffalo, Bills Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure elaborated on his animosity toward NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw.

The full interview can be heard right here.

"I wake up every day trying to get Gene Upshaw fired," DeLamielleure said while explaining his dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the NFLPA.

Joe D. (it's a helluvalot easier than spelling his last name) also addresses Upshaw's recent comment that he's "going to break his . . . damn neck."

"When a union guy who's the head of a multi-billion-dollar union threatens to break your neck. . . .  I'm not afraid of Gene Upshaw, but he has a means to do it if he wants to," Joe D. said.  "So the rest of my life when I don't answer a phone or my cell phone's out, my wife's gotta worry."

For the record, Joe D. isn't pointing a finger at the league, since the owners are giving 60 percent of the gross revenues to the players.  His beef is with a union that fails to take sufficient care of the players from days gone by with the huge chunk of money that is now being paid to the players.

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HOW TO GET MORE MONEY TO THOSE WHO MADE THE GAME GREAT

So what can be done to help take better care of the players who helped propel the NFL to the heights of popularity it now enjoys?

Here's a thought:  Install a rookie wage scale that gets rid of the unwarranted windfalls given to the unproven players (and their agents), reduce the salary cap accordingly, and use the extra money to better fund pension benefits, health care expenses, and disability benefits.

But it'll never happen, because the union will never try to do it.  Why?  Because a handful of agents who pull the union's strings want to get their perpetual three percent pieces of those rookie megadeals.

So the rookies who have never taken a snap in the NFL will continue to be eligible for those $50 million contracts, the agents will be able to get their cuts, and Upshaw will continue to make more than $4 million per year in salary.

Oh, and NFLPA president Troy Vincent won't rock the boat on this one because he has his eyeballs on the chair (and the pay scale) that Upshaw currently occupies.

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POSTED 9:28 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

PORTIS FINALLY APOLOGIZES, WE THINK

Though it took a couple of weeks, Redskins running back Clinton Portis finally has offered up a "real" apology for his comments from last month suggesting that dog fighting shouldn't be a crime.

"When I made those comments I didn't understand the seriousness behind it," Portis said on Tuesday, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post.  "I didn't know it would affect that many people and didn't think what I said was that offense [sic].  But after doing some research and seeing how serious people take this, I shouldn't have made the comments.  Hopefully it will die down and people will understand that at that time I had no idea the love people have for animals and I didn't consider it when I made those comments."

We accept the explanation, but we've read the comments a few times now, and at no point does Portis ever say he's sorry.

Hey, Clinton, who's doing your P.R. work now?  Pacman Jones?

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POSTED 9:20 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

CLANCY, BROWN CUT LOOSE

A day after we reported that the Cardinals had given a "take a pay cut or move on (and move out)" ultimatum to defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy and offensive lineman Milford Brown, the team dumped both players.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Tuesday that he met with the players on Monday to ask them to reduce their pay.  They both declined.

"I didn't want it to come down to a situation in training camp where we had to make a decision about these guys based on the money," Whisenhunt said.  "Also, if they didn't want to restructure, I wanted to give them the opportunity to get on somewhere else.  They decided they didn't want to restructure, so I respect them.

"We're doing some things differently offensively and defensively.  Out of respect to Kendrick and Milford, I didn't want it to come down to a situation at the last cut and have to make a decision at that point."

Though it all sounds rather magnanimous (thanks, Tiki) of Whisenhunt, there's also that little thing about not having enough cap room to sign all of the team's draft picks, and needing to unload salaries in order to get the rookie deals done.

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POSTED 9:09 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

GREEN DEAL FINALLY GETS DONE

Multiple media outlets (as far as we can tell, Jay Glazer of FOX had it first, but we could be wr-wr-wr-incorrect) are reporting that the Chiefs finally have traded quarterback Trent Green to the Dolphins.

The deal got done for a fifth-round pick that could upgrade to a fourth-rounder based on playing time.

So it is that almost one year to the day on which the Titans traded Steve McNair to the Ravens for a fourth-rounder, the Chiefs and Fins finally resolved their protracted impasse.

Per Glazer (and possibly others), the Chiefs told the Dolphins that today was the last day to get it done.  And thus done it got.

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ONE AND DONE FOR DAUNTE

We reported on Monday that, if/when Trent Green lands in Miami, quarterback Daunte Culpepper will ask to be released.

Before it comes to that, the Fins apparently will try to trade the guy for whom they gave up a second-rounder in 2006.  Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, the Dolphins were peeved that news of the Green deal leaked, because the Fins were trying to unload Culpepper.  (Surely, guys, there are more interesting ways to waste your time.)

Schefter also reports that, regardless of how it comes down, Culpepper won't be back with the Dolphins this season.

So where will he land?  Schefter floats the possibility of Culpepper going to Atlanta.  (Psssst, Adam, you might want to retract that one, or Len Pasquarelli's head might explode. . . .  On second thought, don't take it back.)

We think that the Jags should make a play for Culpepper, but we have a feeling that V.P. of player personnel Shack Harris won't go for it.  Another possibility?  The Patriots, who could use a proven backup in the event that Tom Brady gets hurt during a year in which the deck is otherwise stacked for a Super Bowl run.

Other teams that could give 'Pepper a sniff include the Redskins, Bears, Rams, Seahawks, Ravens, Steelers, Colts, Broncos, and Raiders.

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POSTED 4:46 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

BENTLEY OPTS AGAINST SURGERY, FOR NOW 

Browns center LeCharles Bentley has decided not to undergo yet another surgery on a patellar tendon that popped last summer and thereafter hosted a staph infection.

The move is good news (sort of) for the Browns, since surgery would have knocked Bentley out for all of the 2007 season.  The procedure tentatively had been set for this week.  

"We've indicated since the fall this was a pivotal week," G.M. Phil Savage said.  "I can report there's nothing scheduled for yesterday, today, or this week.  He's opted at this point not to have another surgery and he's going to continue to rehab.

"Without reading too much into it, it's a positive sign there's a thought process that he's healing to a point where he can at least think about [returning to football]."

Still, surgery could ultimately become necessary.  The team is expecting another update within the next three or four weeks.

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POSTED 4:20 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 4:38 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

MORA DIDN'T LIKE HERNDON

We mentioned in a Tuesday Morning One-Liner that cornerback Kelly Herndon wasn't released pursuant to the post-June 1 designation, which allows the cap hit to be divided over two cap years.  Herndon was cut on the last possible day that a player can be released with absorption of the full cap charge in the current cap year.  And this has caused us to wonder why the Seahawks didn't release him earlier.

Per a league source, the Seahawks waited so long because the team was hoping that new defensive backs coach Jim Mora would reconsider his position regarding Herndon.  As it turns out, Mora simply didn't like him.  As of June 1, Mora hadn't changed his mind.

So the team pulled the trigger, took their cap medicine now, and moved on.  (Or moved out.)

Meanwhile, look for Herndon to land somewhere else pretty quickly.  Though 30 years old, he has only five years of NFL wear and tear.  He'll be particularly attractive to other NFC West teams who might want to pick his brain about the Seahawks' playbook and other top-secret stuff.

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THURMAN ARREST MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

The failure of the two men who claim that Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman and his brother beat them up and thereafter pointed guns at them to make an immediate report to authorities could make it very hard for Thurman and his brother to face charges.

Though there's no legal requirement that police be called immediately when someone is beaten up or put on the wrong end of a pistol, the failure to get police on the scene promptly to investigate the situation and determine whether charges should be pursued will provide plenty of ammunition for the defense lawyers in their quest to conjure reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors.

Since the charges came the next day, the case initially will hinge on a hearing that essentially amounts to a swearing contest between the accusers and those who are friendly to them, and the accused and those who are friendly to them.  The mere fact that the accusers waited will make it harder to persuade a jury that Thurman and his brother are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The key will be the presence of any truly neutral, unbiased witnesses.  Even then, the ultimate question that needs to be asked is whether the testimony supporting the notion that an assault occurred is enough to overcome any reasonable doubt arising from the testimony that it didn't happen. 

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POSTED 1:09 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

THURMAN REPORT CONFIRMED

As we explained on Monday, the folks at WithLeather.com took a big risk by going with unsubstantiated reports of a ruckus involving Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman.

As it turns out, the reports were on the money.

WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reports that Thurman is facing accusations of assault in Georgia, based on complaints made against Thurman and his brother by "a couple of men."

The accusers claim that Thurman and his brother punched them at a party, and thereafter returned with guns drawn.

A hearing will be held on Friday to determine whether an arrest warrant is issued.  We've got our fingers crossed, since we'd rather not see the "days without an arrest" meter hit 20.

With all that said, being "right" in the end doesn't mean that going with the report wasn't risky to the point of reckless, given the potential for a defamation suit.  If the overriding goal is to keep a quasi-media business viable over the long haul, getting it other than "right" on a subject like this only once can be fatal.

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POSTED 10:11 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 12:15 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

POINDEXTER CONTINUES TO SPEAK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF HIS MOUTH

Surry County, Virginia prosecutor Gerald Poindexter continues to inspire zero confidence regarding his handling of the investigation regarding evidence of possible dog-fighting found at Mike Vick's property in late April.

According to the New York Daily News, Poindexter said on Monday that he still has no evidence linking Vick to the activities that were (or were not) occurring on the land he owned (or still owns).

"Evidence is a gun, sworn testimony, an affidavit," Poindexter said.  "I don't have any evidence.  I don't have any investigative reports, none whatsoever.  That doesn't mean that the leading investigator in this case is not working vigorously."

Actually, Mr. Poindexter, evidence is the cache of dog-fighting paraphernalia that was found on the property that Vick owned.  Evidence also is the bloody carpet and blood spatters that ordinarily wouldn't result from a legitimate dog-breeding operation.

Furthermore, evidence is the stuff that the search warrant for dog carcasses buried on the land might reveal, if the warrant hadn't been killed by Poindexter -- or if it were re-drafted by Poindexter to resolve his supposed concerns regarding the language of the document.

And yet despite a string of contradictory statements that he has made and circumstances suggesting he's not pursuing the case as diligently as he could or should, Poindexter believes that all is well.  "We are going to do the best we can," Poindexter said. "I am not afraid of convicting Michael Vick or anybody else that might have been involved in dogfighting in Surry County."

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DID STOLEN ITEMS POSSIBLY HAVE VALUE TO THE CASE?

The only development regarding the Mike Vick dog-fighting investigation on Monday was news that his house had been burglarized at some point between May 7 and May 18, and Poindexter's predictable claim that various items stolen from the house have no relevance to the investigation.

But how can anyone be sure?  Apart from what might have been lurking in the bottom of that wet/dry vacuum cleaner, what if the house also was scoured by the "burglars" for any video or photographic evidence that wasn't found when investigators recovered the dogs and the equipment from the buildings in the back of the property?   What if the theft of the three plasma televisions and the couch was merely cover for a more sinister goal?

Instead of presuming that the theft was merely "feuding over the spoils," shouldn't Poindexter be tracking down all of the persons who lived in that house to confirm that it was only about claiming property and not about covering tracks?

In our view, the only hope that any semblance of justice will be done in this case is if Poindexter is relieved of responsibility for this investigation right now.  With each passing day, it'll be harder and harder to repair the damage that his thumb-twiddling is causing.

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MAGIC DEMAND ISN'T UNREASONABLE

So we're listening to our new-old friend Colin Cowherd, and he's arguing against the Orlando Magic's request that "former" coach Billy Donovan agree not to take another job in the NBA for the next five years in exchange for letting him out of his paper-still-warm-from-the-printer contract.

Cowherd claims that he doesn't like the idea of someone telling a guy where he can't work.  In the next breath, however, Cowherd argues that the team should force Donovan to serve out the full term of his five-year deal, which is a far more extreme imposition on his overall exercise of liberty.

But if the Magic have concluded (wisely) that they don't want Donovan because he doesn't want to be there, it's a no-brainer to ask that he commit to refrain from taking a job coaching another NBA team during the five years that he would have been coaching the Magic.

It's a fair request, in our view.  If Donovan is turning tail because he wants to stay in Gainesville, then he should stay there.  At least for the five years he would have worked for Orlando.

If Donovan balks, it suggests that his decision had less to do with staying in Gainesville over the long haul and more to do with not coaching the Magic.  And this means that Donovan would still want to be able to keep his options open to jump for another NBA job that might become available in the next half of a decade. 

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TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Former Colts QB Jack Trudeau now faces a felony charge of obstruction for refusing to give up a list of the kids who were at a party at which he allegedly served booze.

Pats CB Asante Samuel didn't attend the wake or the funeral for DE Marquise Hill.

Bears DT Tank Johnson isn't expected to appeal his eight-game suspension, which will be cut to six if he continues to behave himself.

'Skins CB Shawn Springs has finally shown up for OTA workouts, and will practice on Tuesday.

The Redskins have yet to commence negotiations with TE Chris Cooley.

Former Redskins OL Ray Brown won't return as a kinda-sorta assistant coach.

Pats LB Tedy Bruschi's wrist is fully recovered.

Pats WR Randy Moss is busting his butt, for now.

Broncos DT Sam Adams is half a hamburger away from being the heaviest player in team history.

Cowboys OT Flozell Adams will miss this week's OTA sessions after undergoing "minor surgery" on his right knee.

The Cowboys and Broncos will practice together on August 15 and 16, before meeting in an exhibition game on August 18.

Says Surry County resident Winston Jones regarding Mike Vick:  "He's dirty.  He's dirty as hell, but don't lock another black man up.  He did it, but he's a young man and grew up in the 'hood.  Y'all clean him up and help him out."

Giants CB R.W. McQuarters has gotten his first haircut since his rookie year, and as a result he is wearing a helmet that is two sizes smaller.

RB Verron Haynes has re-signed with the Steelers.

Five players and counting have tried their hand at center in Pittsburgh.

Texans TE Mark Bruener has finally gotten his college degree.

Lions G Damien Woody has lost 31 pounds and plans to be a starter in 2007.

After throwing a golf ball farther than the drives offered up by two of his teammates, Pats QB Tom Brady cranked out a 307-yard effort on Monday.

With CB Kelly Herndon gone, CB Kelly Jennings has taken over as a starting corner in Seattle.

Seahawks C Chris Spencer (shoulder) took part in some individual drills on Monday.

The Seahawks did not designate CB Kelly Herndon as a post-June 1 cut, which means that the full cap acceleration will hit the cap in 2007.

Ravens LB Dan Cody could be facing his third knee surgery since being drafted in 2005.

We get a little love from the Arizona Republic.

Bears TE Greg Olsen is looking good in his reps with the first team.

On Monday, Chris Harris of the Bears worked ahead of Adam Archuleta at strong safety.

Giants LB Antonio Pierce has some strong words for folks who fight dogs.

49ers coach Mike Nolan will be allowed to wear a suit and tie twice this year, but he is still trying to get permission to do it all the time.

The Niners have excused G Larry Allen from three weeks of voluntary OTA workouts.

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POSTED 7:26 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 7:45 a.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

HALL OF FAMER FEARING A MEADOWLANDS FUNERAL?

Hall of Fame Bills guard Joe DeLamielleure and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw are escalating their public war of words, and DeLamielleure is raising the specter of guys like Jimmy Hoffa in reference to the possible lengths to which Upshaw might go to quiet his critics.

Then again, Upshaw walked right into it with recent comments suggesting that he'd like to inflict serious physical harm on DeLamielleure.

In an item that appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News on June 1, Upshaw had this to say regarding DeLamiellure: