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RUMOR MILL ARCHIVES
By Profootballtalk Editor
Mike Florio
POSTED 9:00 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 9:40 a.m.
EDT, June 30, 2003
FAVRE
WAS "DEAD SET" ON '02 RETIREMENT
Packers
quarterback Brett Favre recently said that, at this time last
year, he was "dead set" on retiring after the 2002
season.
According
to the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun-Herald, Favre says that he changed his
mind at the conclusion of the season, which ended with a
stunning home playoff loss to the Falcons.
"In
some ways, I have thought about retirement," he said.
"I know I can play three more years, but I don't now if
that's what I want.
"My
wife, Deanna, and I talk about retirement and she tells me to
walk away when I am ready. I think retirement will be a
lot like the off-season for me. In the off-season, I don't
like to travel: I would rather stay home in Hattiesburg
and cut my grass."
Favre
says that he wouldn't mind getting into coaching after his
playing days end. "After so long, we are all
has-beens. Coaching and helping kids would be nice when
I've become a has-been."
COWBOYS SAFETY INJURED IN SHOOTOUT
Dallas Cowboys safety Keith Davis, 24, was injured in a shootout
outside a Dallas-area topless bar.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Davis
was struck in the right hip and left hand. The
injuries, however, weren't serious, and Davis was treated and
released.
A worker at the club also was shot twice in the incident.
Davis's availability for training camp is unclear, as is the
penalty that will be visited upon him by coach Bill Parcells,
who has told players to stay out of trouble -- and away from
strip clubs.
Davis
bounced back and forth between the practice squad and the active
roster in 2002. Our guess is that the Tuna will bounce his
ass right out of Texas within the next month.
MONDAY ONE-LINERS
Jags QB Byron Leftwich sounds like a guy who plans to get on the
field sooner
rather than later.
Rams QB Kurt Warner blames
the team's 0-5 start in 2002 on high expectations resulting
from the team's loss to the Pats in Super Bowl XXXVI.
From
the ever-popular "no sh-t, Sherlock" file, Bucs DT
Anthony Booger McFarland admits that the dueling efforts of
himself and Warren Sapp to land long-term contract extensions
"could
be awkward."
Giants
TE Jeremy Shockey says he was motivated in 2002 by fear
of failure (and we thought he was only afraid of
soap-dropping shower partners).
POSTED 9:35 a.m. EDT, June 28, 2003
INTEREST IN HOLLINGS UNCERTAIN
A league source tells us that it's presently unclear as to
whether any NFL team will be burning a 2004 draft pick early, by
selecting Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings in the July 10
supplemental draft.
Per the source, Hollings generally is regarded as a very good
athlete who may or may not have the instincts to play running
back in the NFL. He played the position at Tech for only
four games before tearing up his knee.
Sure, he was leading the nation in rushing average at the time,
but two of those games came against early-season cannon fodder
like
UConn and Vanderbilt.
There are other potential problems. Because Hollings
declared himself eligible for the supplemental draft only
recently, teams won't have the same kind of opportunity to poke
and prod his knee as they would've had if Hollings were part of
the "normal" draft pool. As it stands, any team who wants
to take a look at Hollings must send a delegation to Atlanta.
Also, word is that Hollings isn't ready to run the 40, which has
prompted some folks within league circles to question whether
Hollings has been sufficiently diligent in his rehab efforts
and/or in his workout habits.
Finally, the fact that Hollings managed to flunk out of a
cash-driven collegiate educational system that found a way to
churn out the likes of Dexter Manley suggests that, when it
comes to the books, Hollings is even more worthless than the
typical athlete-student.
These facts likely indicate that teams won't be inclined to take
a flyer on Hollings. Every April a fresh crop of running
back prospects hits the market, and NFL teams always have a full
and fair chance to investigate the potential draft picks before
pulling the trigger.
Still, we wonder whether a team with a clear need in 2003 for an
extra tailback might throw a seventh-rounder at Hollings.
The Bucs, for example, are facing the loss of Michael Pittman to
the Mean Machine -- and they're likely to get a supplemental
pick or two in 2004 based on the departure of Dexter Jackson and
Al Singleton.
So why not use the current seventh rounder on Hollings?
The problem, of course, is that if the Bucs send a couple of
guys to Atlanta to check out Hollings, someone else might become
interested in drafting him. And as the buzz grows, more
and more teams might think about burning a low-round pick on
Hollings.
We expect, then, to hear nothing at all about a team being
specifically interested in Hollings. And, in the end, we
peg his chance at being taken after round five at 50-50, at
best.
KORDELL "LOOKS LOST"
One of our Chicago moles has confirmed for us that folks high
within the Bears' organization are beginning to recognize that
the acquisition of quarterback Kordell Stewart was a mistake.
Very recently, a senior member of the front office was overheard
conceding that Kordell "looks lost" on the practice field.
In contrast, rookie Rex Grossman quietly is impressing the
coaching staff and the front office. Word is that, next to
Kordell, Rex looks like a seasoned vet.
The thinking is that Grossman could end up giving Kordell a run
for the starting job in 2003.
POSTED 4:12 p.m. EDT, June 27, 2003
EVANS RESPONDS TO INDEFINITE SUSPENSION
In response to his "lifetime" ban for multiple
violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, Jets defensive
tackle Josh Evans has issued the following statement, which the
folks at Impact Sports have sent to us.
"I
cannot believe I am in this situation again my appeal has failed
even though I passed a lie detector test confirming that I never
smoked or used marijuana," Evans said. "I have
embraced the NFL Program for Substances of Abuse, followed its
guidelines precisely and have become a better person for it.
"I would never jeopardize my family and compromise the
integrity of the Jets organization, my teammates and its fans by
violating the Program. Everybody will ultimately believe
what they want, but to accept punishment for something I did not
do is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to
endure."
Though his agents can't comment on the specifics of the positive
result, all signs point to a failure to submit to a test, not an
actual positive test. Alas, a failure to test is given the
same treatment under the substance abuse policy as a
positive.
As a result, Evans has been suspended indefinitely by the
league. He already has missed a full year, while he was
with the Titans.
POSTED 8:12 a.m. EDT, June 27, 2003
BULGER'S BOOTY: $375,000
Rams quarterback Marc Bulger
finally has
received his financial reward for helping the Rams rebound
from a pitiful 0-5 start in 2003.
And for his unexpectedly stellar efforts, Bulger will get a
whopping $375,000 salary for the entire 2003 season.
Though Bulger hired agent Tom Condon several months back in
anticipation of a larger payday, Marc was caught in one of the
cruel realities of the collective bargaining agreement -- his
options as an exclusive rights free agent were to accept
$375,000, or to not play at all.
Bulger will be a restricted free agent after the 2003 season.
But unless he hits the field again this year, interest in Bulger
could be faded by 2004.
Then again, it's not out of the question that Bulger will play.
Rams coach Mike Martz at one point threw the quarterback job up
for grabs entering 2003, but he later backed off of that
statement, handing the job back to two-time MVP Kurt Warner.
Warner looked like a shell of his former self in 2002, and
unless he steps it up dramatically this season, Bulger could be
the guy.
GUERRERO HIRE DRAWS CRITICISM
We've been pondering for the past couple of days the wisdom of
ABC's decision to hire Lisa Guerrero as Monday Night Football's
new sideline reporter.
At first, we shrugged our shoulders at the move. After
all, it wasn't the first time that the boys at MNF have added to
the sideline mix a member of the fairer sex who wasn't "KKK"
(i.e., Kremer, Kolber, Kohn) ugly. (We know it's "Cohn,"
but "KKC" didn't sound as good.)
But when we saw MNF producer Fred Gaudelli's explanation for the
decision to hire Guerrero in Thursday's USA Today, our opinion
changed. Dramatically.
Said Gaudelli, "[S]ince
40% of our Monday Night Football audience is women, our
preference was to select a woman."
Apart from the fact that Gaudelli's admission gives the man who
got rejected for the gig all he would need for a viable claim of
reverse gender discrimination, Gaudelli's straight-faced
suggestion that the Guerrero hire wasn't for the 60 percent of
the audience who'd be ogling her makes the whole thing, in our
view, a joke.
Of course Guerrero was hired because Gaudelli and others believe
that the men will like to look at her. And the fact that
Gaudelli feels compelled to justify the move by saying that
it was for the women who watch the show suggests to us that,
deep down, Gaudelli recognizes that the decision to go with
Guerrero cheapens and demeans ABC's broadcasts of the greatest
game in the world.
We're not alone in our views. Per the New York Times,
MSNBC's Keith Olbermann suggested that Al Michaels and John
Madden "resign
in protest" over the Guerrero hire.
Gaudelli's response: "Keith Olbermann's history speaks for
itself. Any opinion rendered by him is the opinion of a
troubled man."
C'mon, Fred. Everyone knows that Keith is a childish
malcontent. But stupid and unskilled he isn't, and
Olbermann is hitting the nail squarely on the head here.
The sideline reporting job should be reserved for a real
journalist, not for an aspiring actress who didn't make it so
she searched for any way she could to get herself on camera.
FRIDAY ONE-LINERS
Contract discussions between the Rams and WR Torry Holt
have gone nowhere since May.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher has received
a six-year
contract extension, less than a year after being dissed by
owner Bud Adams following a 1-4 start.
Raiders owner Al Davis
has taken the stand in the team's trial du jour -- this
time, they're suing Oakland for alleged false promises of
sellouts.
The Falcons are giving
Georgia Tech RB Tony Hollings a physical on Friday, and the
tailback-heavy Dirty Birds have promised to share the
information on Hollings surgically-repaired ACL with other
teams. (Hmmm.)
Former Steelers LB John Fiala
opted for retirement over a contract with the Texans; Fiala
spent only six seasons in the NFL.
Lions backup QB Mike McMahon
still hopes to be a starting quarterback, win a Super Bowl,
and make the Pro Bowl.
Chargers scout Mike McCarthy
will run with the bulls next month in Pamplona, Spain.
POSTED 1:12 a.m. EDT, June 26, 2003
KORDELL CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS
We know, we know. It's been nearly a week since the
Kordell-Jauron caption contest ended. But with nearly 300
entries to sift through, it's taken time to whittle the field
down to a list of finalists.
The top ten are listed below. Honorable mention goes out
to the many entries suggesting that Jauron is attempting to
perform the Vulcan nerve pinch on Kordell.
We likewise received many entries based on coach Jauron's first
name. Some were funny as hell, but we're trying hard to
keep our PG-13 rating.

No. 10: "If I would have seen
this hand growing out of his back, I may have thought twice
about signing him."
No. 10 (tie): "Kordell, I'm
just so excited about you coming to Chicago, but what is the
deal with the giant neck bumps?"
No. 9: "I dub thee the
Sleestack King of Chicago."
No. 8: "We can rebuild him.
We can make him bigger, stronger, and faster.
Unfortunately, he's still dumb as a brick."
No. 7: Kordell sprouts a
third hand to battle fumblitis.
No. 6: "I know my coach is
behind me. I'd like to get the whole team behind me too."
No. 5: "Ever been to a
Turkish prison, Kordell?"
No. 4: "I would've sworn
Brian Griese was white."
No. 3: "I sure hope this is
only dandruff."
No. 2: "Gentlemen, please
welcome Mr. Charlie Batch."
AND THE WINNER:
"Doug Flutie waves to the crowd after being named the Bears
starting quarterback."
POSTED
9:30 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 9:55 a.m. EDT, June 25, 2003
STEELERS
EXTEND SMITH
In
yet another development that likely was met by the regular
readers of this here site with a "ho" and a
"hum," the Steelers officially have signed offensive
tackle Marvel Smith to a five-year,
$25.5 million contract extension, including a $6 million
signing bonus.
The
fact that the Steelers were working on an extension for Smith
was first reported in this space on June 13. At that time,
the Steelers had offered Smith $22 million over five years, with
$5 million up front. Smith wanted $32 million, with $8
million to $10 million paid now.
As
the final numbers indicate, both sides moved toward the middle.
Even though the final number was closer to the Steelers' initial
position than to Marvel's, the fact that Smith never has played
left tackle in the NFL likely helped the team squeezed Smith
south of the midpoint.
The
package doesn't differ significantly from the five-year, $30
million deal that former left tackle Wayne Gandy signed in New
Orleans. Sure, Smith is younger. But he's
nevertheless unproven at the position -- and he has a history of
flirtations with a Mexican girl named Mary Jane.
O'DONNELL
PULLED A GADSDEN
Folks
around the league are questioning Neil O'Donnell's decision to
wait around for the Titans to re-sign him, given that he'll now
receive only
$1.51 million in salary over the next two seasons in
Tennessee (plus a $90,000 bonus).
O'Donnell
had a lot more cash on the table shortly after the Titans dumped
him in February in order to avoiding paying him a $250,000
roster bonus. The Vikings pursued him aggressively, and
the Dolphins and Saints also joined the pursuit before O'Donnell
decided to wait for the Titans to create enough cap room to
bring him back.
As
one league insider told us, "O'Donnell has never been known
to be a risk taker, and that's one of the reasons why, in
reality, he always has been a backup caliber player, even when
he played in Pittsburgh."
In
our view, O'Donnell should've gotten the best possible deal
while there was a market for his services. In the end, he
had no leverage when he negotiated his new deal with the Titans.
And
the final numbers prove it.
Heck,
he would've been better off waiting for the inevitable injury
bug to take someone out during training camp and/or the
preseason.
And
please don't give us that post hoc spin baloney about O'Donnell
always wanting to stay with the Titans program. For anyone
who is still earning an NFL paycheck at age 37, the best move is
to get the most money possible -- 'cause it won't be long before
Neil is 9-to-5-ing like the rest of us.
McCASKEYS
LOOKING TO CASH OUT?
One
of our Chitown moles tells us folks within the Bears'
organization believe that the 12-year,
$30 million sponsorship agreement with a Financial
Institution for Which We'll Do No Free Advertising is part of
the McCaskey family's overall plan to reap as much money as
possible from the franchise before selling the team in
approximately three years.
As
we reported on April 9 in the wake of the passing of Ed McCaskey,
the next generation of George Halas's progeny aren't inclined to
keep the team that Papa Bear founded all those years ago.
Word
is that the coming sale of the team is making G.M. Jerry Angelo
even more determined to get rid of coach Dick Jauron ASAFP, so
that Angelo then will have at least two seasons with a coach of
his choosing to show that he truly is capable of running an NFL
team into something other than the cold, hard ground.
Though we're told that Angelo doesn't expect to be a part of the
post-McCaskey Bears, he'll need to land somewhere, and he'll be
hoping that his new job won't be a step back.
BOOGER
HOPES TO PICK A NEW DEAL
While
Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp has chosen to voice his
displeasure with the lack of a new contract privately, linemate
Anthony "Booger" McFarland is taking his own quest for
the coin public.
According
to the Tampa Tribune, McFarland wants to have a contract
extension in place before
reporting to training camp next month.
"I'd
like to get this behind me before we go to Orlando,'' McFarland
said Tuesday. "I think we can work things out in the
next few weeks."
The
sound bite from Booger's agent, Karl Bernard, was more ominous.
"We have to determine if the contract offered by the Bucs
is enough . . . for Anthony to forego potential free agency.
For Anthony, it's important to get this done before camp.
Having this uncertainty loom over your head as you begin
practicing to defend a championship is something Anthony would
like to avoid.''
The
Bucs likely can't afford to keep both Sapp and McFarland, and
speculation throughout the league is that the Bucs ultimately
will not retain Sapp -- unless he drops his contract demands
significantly.
POSTED
9:10 a.m. EDT, June 24, 2003
NFL
EUROPE TO GO ON PERMANENT VACATION
A
league source tells us that NFL owners are virtually certain to
scuttle NFL Europe at their next round of meetings in September.
The
European version of the game was launched in 1991 as the
"World League of American Football," with teams on
both sides of the Atlantic. The initial television
broadcasts included gimmicks such as the "helmet cam."
In
time, the league was pared down to a handful of Europe-only
teams, and it primarily became a tool for increasing interest in
the game of pro football in an area where a different kind of
football has been, and likely always will be, the dominant
sport.
More
recently, NFL owners have begun to question the wisdom of a
developmental league with inherently high operating costs -- and
stagnant-to-shrinking revenues.
Several
months back, we proposed a true developmental league, which
would operate in a manner similar to the baseball farm system,
placing franchises in cities with no NFL or major college
presence and playing games during the traditional football
months.
With
more NFL owners picking up Arena League teams, however, we
suspect that there would be some opposition to an NFL farm
system, since that would render the AFL even more irrelevant.
Regardless, NFL coaches are always looking for ways to put
younger players into game situations, in order to speed their
adaptation to the pro game.
And
the best way to do it is through a minor league system that
gives players who otherwise would be parked on the practice
squad live reps on a 100-yard field without badminton nets at
the back of each end zone.
TEAMS
STALLING NEGOTIATIONS?
There's
mounting dissatisfaction among players and agents regarding the
perception that teams are waiting longer and longer each year to
sign their draft picks.
As
one league source told us, "Whether it's a negotiating
tactic or just plain laziness, it's getting more and more
frustrating trying to get some of these deals done."
In
the later rounds of the draft, players are slotted based on the
prior year's position. "Most of these deals can be
done by a guy with a lobotomy," one source said.
So
why the delay? One possibility is that the rookie doesn't
count against the team's roster limit until he is signed.
Thus, whenever a rookie inks a deal, the team has to cut loose
someone else. By pushing back the date on which the rookie
is signed, the team gets to have more warm bodies during
offseason workouts.
Still,
the players want to get their signing bonuses, especially since
most (if not all) of them already are essentially at work,
learning the schemes and participating in practice without pads.
Though
the NFLPA generally has done nothing while the word
"voluntary" has evaporated from the new practice of
subjecting players to 10-plus weeks of offseason drills, the
union probably should take a look at the question of whether
some teams are unfairly slowing down the rookie signing process
in order to keep more guys around for these March-to-June
practice sessions.
WHY
L.A.?
One
of our readers raised an excellent question on Monday.
"Why
does the NFL want to return to L.A.?"
On
the surface, the answer seems easy. The networks are
taking a bath on the current TV deal (which was negotiated while
companies actually had money to spend on advertising), and the
NFL has declined to give the networks any relief. Thus, in
order to keep/preserve the billions that the league is receiving
when the contracts expire after the 2005 season, the NFL needs
to have at least one team in the nation's No. 2 market.
But
here's the catch -- if there's a local team, SoCal butts have to
be in all of the seats before the home games will make it to the
local airwaves.
The
L.A. Times recently reported that NFL games in 2002 drew a
9.5 rating in Los Angeles -- higher than the combined
ratings generated by the Lakers (6.0), the Dodgers (3.3), and
the Kings (1.1). Heck, the NFL ratings in L.A. were higher
even than the NFL ratings in New York (9.3).
Apparently,
the NFL is banking on its ability to place in Los Angeles a team
and a stadium that will draw consistent sellouts -- and on the
fact that the presence of a local team to root for will make the
current 9.5 ratings go even higher.
As
we see it, however, it's by no means a sure thing. The 9.5
rating likely is due to the fact that the local Fox and CBS
affiliates are putting the best games on the air. If the
home team sucks, the interest likely won't be there.
POSTED
8:57 a.m. EDT, LAST UPDATED 5:20 p.m. EDT, June 23, 2003
SHANNY
ON THIN ICE?
A
league source tells us that a somewhat unexpected name should be
added to this year's version of the NFL hot seat dance card.
Per
the source, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen could part ways with coach
Mike Shanahan after this season if the team doesn't advance deep
into the playoffs. Shanahan is entering the sixth season
of a seven-year
deal that was signed prior to the 1998 season.
The
Broncos generally have underachieved since winning back-to-back
Super Bowls in 1998 and 1999. Still, Shanahan's job
security never had been seriously questioned.
But
now the word is that lots of pressure rests on Shanny to get the
team back to a position of prominence in the AFC.
To
make it there, Shanahan will need a solid performance from new
quarterback Jake Plummer. General scuttlebutt around the
league, however, is that Plummer hasn't looked like the star
that Shanny needs to be in the Broncos' offseason minicamps.
And as we reported not long after Plummer signed, there are real
concerns regarding Plummer's ability to fit within Shanahan's
highly structured scheme, since Jake has enjoyed most of his
success in college and in the NFL when he freelances.
SAPP
PISSED AT BRAD DEAL
A
league source tells us that Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp is
pissed at the team for its decision to extend the contract of
quarterback Brad Johnson before addressing Sapp's deal, which
expires after the coming season.
Though
an argument could be made that Johnson's extension, which
creates some cap room for other signings, had to happen before
Sapp could get re-signed, Warren doesn't see it that way.
Instead, word is that he feels further disrespected by the team,
which has ignored his contract status throughout the offseason,
while at the same time dishing out big-dollar deals to Johnson
and Simeon Rice.
As
we see it, the Bucs need to do something about Sapp before
training camp. He still has loads of influence in the
locker room, and if he's disgruntled, his attitude likely will
infect other players.
So
if we were the Bucs, we'd trade him -- having no Sapp on the
team is much better than having an angry one.
NFL
SQUEEZING INDY ABOUT IRSAY?
Word
around the league is that the NFL might be using the Colts'
continued presence in Indianapolis as leverage to secure
favorable treatment of owner Jim Irsay, who is mired
in an ongoing prescription drug controversy.
If
it's occurring, it's not surprising. The N.F.L. is known
to have a touch of the O.C.D. when it comes to the league's
image, and any owner would expect the league to help shield
him/her from public embarrassment and/or criminal sanction, if
there was a way to pull it off.
And,
in the Colts, the league has the ultimate leverage.
The
logic is simple. The league needs to put a team in L.A. in
order to keep its network cash cow nestled snug in the barn.
The Colts are one of the candidates to mollify the folks at Fox,
CBS, and ABC. If the locals provide sufficient funding for
an appropriate new venue for the team -- and if they look
the other way regarding any potential violations of the law that
Irsay might have committed -- the Colts would stay put.
The
problem, of course, is that the feds have been involved in the
investigation, and they're probably less likely to exercise
their discretion in a manner that benefits Irsay in order to
likewise benefit Indianapolis.
Still,
Indy might be able to keep the Colts via a lower financial
investment. If keeping Irsay out of hot water really is
important to the NFL (and we're convinced that it is), then the
NFL and the Colts should be willing to stick around for a lower
cash investment by the locals than otherwise would have been
required.
MONDAY
ONE-LINERS
The
Patriots have signed RB Mike
Cloud to a one-year deal.
The
Steelers have signed former Cardinals/Texans DT Jabari
Issa, who just finished a season in NFL Europe.
Bucs
coach Jon Gruden has scored more
than $1 million in business deals since the team won Super
Bowl XXXVII.
Could
it be irritable bowel syndrome? Packers RB Najeh "Dookie"
Davenport recently spent a week in L.A. working on his first
feature film, Blood Money.
The
Falcons spent Monday morning with 7-on-7
and 11-on-11 work in the red zone
QUOTE
OF THE DAY
From
former Bears and new Bucs QB Jim Miller: "I loved
Chicago and [coach] Dick Jauron, but the organization didn't
think I could come back from this [arm injury] in time.
Obviously, they have the right to do that, but now
I have the opportunity to stick it up their [expletive]."
POSTED
7:15 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2003
WEEKEND
ONE-LINERS
The
sale of the Dodgers to Malcolm Glazer could be derailed as
baseball owners are getting
"a little leery" about the Glazer family's lack of
baseball credentials (hey, Steinbrenner -- Glazer's got no
football credentials either, but that didn't stop the Bucs from
winning the Big Prize).
Saints
G.M. Mickey Loomis says he
has no regrets about his bush-league (but fun to read)
response to OT Kyle Turley in a recent SI.com article; Howard
Balzer made a good point in the current USA Today Sportsweekly
-- if the 'Aints think Kyle is such a Tur[d]ley, why'd they at
one point offer him an $8 million bonus to sign an extension?
Rams
partial
season-ticket packages go on sale Monday via the Internet.
Former
Titans LB Randall Godfrey visits
the Seahawks on Monday.
For
the first time in 26 years, the Pats
won't be holding training camp at Bryant College in
Smithfield, Rhode Island.
From
the "very troubling images" file, Bills G.M. Tom
Donahoe says that the AFC East teams are so closely matched that
you can "throw
a blanket" over all four of them.
Bucs
coach Jon Gruden sidestepped questions regarding whether the
team will be released RB Michael Pittman, explaining that "[w]e
are still gathering facts." (Hey, Jon-Boy, how
many "facts" are there to gather? The guy played
rock-scissors-paper with the car carrying his 2-year-old.
Dump his worthless ass.)
The
Colts have released
two undrafted free agents: RB Montrell Lowe and C
Rodney Michael.
Former
Broncos DB Mike Harden is heading back to jail after violating
the rules of a halfway house.
Falcons
QB Mike Vick is poised to sign a new contract with Nike worth
"tens
of millions."
Former
Buccaneers WR Reidel Anthony is back
in Tampa (but not with the Bucs) after a stint with the
CFL's Edmonton Eskimos went south.
Packers
DE Joe Johnson has pleaded
not guilty to marijuana possession charges; a pretrial
hearing is set for July 17.
Got
an extra $60,000 in disposable income? If so, you can be
the proud owner of "The
Receiver," a statue marking Green Bay as the birthplace
of the forward pass in the NFL.
Bucs
RB Thomas Jones is sticking
with his story that he broke his hand last year while
answering the phone.
The
Saints bogarted
AFL RB Will Pettis from the Cowboys pursuant to a 10-day
recallable waiver rule, which prevents NFL teams that own Arena
franchises from cherry-picking the best players on the JV squad.
Georgia
Tech RB Tony
Hollings is trying to gain entry to the NFL supplemental
draft, which by the way is now conducted by e-mail.
Only
three players remain on the Falcons roster from the 1998 NFC
championship team.
Jacksonville
has come up with a novel
approach for recruiting more than 8,000 volunteers to work
at hotels, cruise ships, and other events in connection with
hosting of the 2005 Super Bowl; they're charging potential
volunteers $49.95 for the opportunity to be considered.
The
Packers have signed NFL Europe RB Adam
Tate.
POSTED
10:55 a.m. EDT, June 20, 2003
NFLPA
CAUTIONS AGAINST FOUR-YEAR DEALS
A
league source tells us that the NFL Players Association has
issued a memo to agents regarding the potential problems that
arise if players selected after the second round agree to
four-year deals, instead of the standard three-year contract.
As
we previously have reported, teams are hoping to use four-year
contracts for mid-to-low-round picks in order to avoid what
we'll call the "Laveraneus Coles Conundrum."
After
the three-year deal expires, the player becomes a restricted
free agent. To retain the right to match any offers and
the right to compensation if he leaves, the team must make a
tender offer.
The
challenge for most teams is the level of the tender. The
"low" tender (which was $605,000 in 2003) guarantees
only a pick in the round in which the player originally was
selected. The "medium" tender (approximately
$1.3 million) guarantees a first-round selection as
compensation. The "high" tender (roughly $1.8
million) results in a first-rounder and a third-rounder.
Earlier
this year, the Jets tendered Coles at the first-round level.
The Redskins swiped him with a $35-million contract.
Redskins owner Dan Snyderbrenner has said that, if the Jets had
given Coles the highest tender, the Redskins would not have
tried to sign him.
So
now teams want to avoid the potential embarrassment altogether,
by locking the player up through his fourth year of league
service.
But
the NFLPA has warned agents that a player who signs a contract
with a fourth-year salary equal to the $460,000 minimum could
lose more than $300,000, since the estimated 2006 low tender is
$762,126.
The
challenge for the agent is to obtain sufficient additional
compensation for the player (via, for example, the signing
bonus) in order to account for the potential difference between
the tender offer and the fourth year salary. The problem,
in our view, is that most rookies could be bought off with an
additional signing bonus that doesn't properly reflect the value
of the opportunity that they are sacrificing.
If,
for example, Laveraneus Coles had taken an extra $80,000 three
years back in exchange for adding a fourth-year to his rookie
deal, he wouldn't have cashed a $13 million bonus check from the
Redskins in March.
With
that said, most of the deals reported to date have a length of
only three years. The only exception of note is Broncos
receiver Adrian Madise, a fifth-rounder who signed a five-year
deal.
GADSDEN
GETS ANOTHER CHANCE
The
Miami Herald reports that Dolphins receiver Oronde Gadsden likely
will sign a one-year contract with the team on Friday.
The
Herald reports that the Fins were "about to pull"
their offer. As we reported on Thursday, the offer was in
fact pulled -- and we suspect that Gadsden's agent, Michael
Todd, asked the Fins to re-characterize their actions as an
"almost" in order to allow Oronde to save a little
face.
Gadsden
rejects a long-term offer in September that would have paid him
$750,000 to sign. He likewise walked from a three-year
package in Minnesota worth nearly $3 million.
Instead,
he wanted a three-year, $4.5 million deal, with $1.7 million to
sign.
Now,
Gadsden is instead getting peanuts -- and he has only himself
(and his agent) to blame.
FRIDAY
ONE-LINERS
The
Jags
were impressed with former Titans LB Randall Godfrey, who'll
visit the Packers and Seahawks next week.
The
Redskins will spend more
than $86 million on salaries and bonuses in 2003.
Bucs
RB Michael Pittman was arraigned Thursday on two
counts of aggravated assault.
Bucs
coach Jon Gruden is the new
pitchman for the Florida citrus industry (which makes sense,
given his perpetual lemon-sucking scowl).
Wanna
be the next Ben "He's Giving Him the Business" Dreith?
The NFL is holding an
officials clinic in Pittsburgh.
The
Jaguars released S Ainsley
Battles and four others on Thursday.
Pats
offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is interested
in the head-coaching job at the University of Washington.
The
Lions expect WR Az Hakim (dislocated hip) to be ready
for contact by training camp.
41-year-old
K Kevin Butler, out of the NFL for six years, is trying
to make a comeback.
The
Bears promised LB Brian Urlacher that his brother, Casey, would
get an "extended
look" with the team -- and he got one; after two weeks
at a level where he didn't belong, the Bears said "see ya"
to C.U.
The
legal mess between current
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and former Broncos owner Edgar
Kaiser is heading toward a trial.
The
Jags have signed veteran OL Sammy
Williams to a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
The
Bears signed RB Brock
Forsey, a sixth-round draft choice, to a three-year deal.
The
Seahawks have signed Nebraska K Josh
Brown, a seventh-rounder.
The
Chargers signed FB Andrew
Pinnock, a seventh-rounder from South Carolina.
The
Bills signed OL Ben
Sobieski, a fifth-round pick.
QUOTE
OF THE DAY
From
Redskins coach Steve Spurrier, on the propensity of football
coaches to see the the Gatorade jug as half-full:
"Every coach thinks they have a better team at this time of
the year. No
one says, 'We think we're worse.'"
POSTED
9:55 a.m. EDT, June 19, 2003
BEARS
FEAR KORDELL IMPLOSION
Apparently
in response to a growing torrent of reports regarding the
physical and mental struggles of quarterback Kordell Stewart,
coach Dick Jauron is making like a certain former President when
it comes to describing Stewart's progress, in order to prevent
him from lapsing into a funk from which he might never emerge.
("It
depends on what the meaning of the word 'sucks' is . . .
.")
Jauron,
presumably with a straight face, told the team's official web
site that Kordell "understands
our offense. He's got a good grasp of it. He's
really in tune with what we're trying to do."
And
if the term "really in tune" means "has no
freaking clue," we agree.
Jauron's
comments conflict sharply with reports that we've been running
for the past month or so regarding Stewart's inability to grasp
the complex offense created by John Shoop -- and the Bears'
failure to dumb it down to Crayola-and-Play-Doh proportions.
Even
Len Pastabelli, who apparently was in a ziti-induced stupor over
the past several weeks as to this specific story, recently has
reported on Kordell's confusion.
So
why the bearing of false witness from Jauron?
Per
a league source, the Bears don't want to look stoopid for
signing Kordell (too late for that) and they're concerned that
all the negative talk will prevent Stewart from playing well
when the season starts.
In
our view, the bigger concern should be the fans. Because
once Kordell sends a comatose duck over the head of Marty
Booker, and into the hands of Darren Sharper, the Superfans will
be hurling plenty of boos (and Kielbasa) in Stewart's direction.
GADSDEN
OFFER PULLED
A
league source tells us that the Miami Dolphins have yanked their
one-year, $530,000 contract offer to receiver Oronde Gadsden
The
move leaves the veteran receiver with (um, let's see) zero
prospects for 2003.
Gadsden
previously flirted with the Vikings and the Patriots as he
waited for someone/anyone to offer him something/anything close
to the multi-year package he rejected from Miami in September,
which included a $750,000 signing bonus.
As
we've previously reported, Gadsden was embarrassed by his
failure to cash in when he had the chance, and he desperately
was hoping for something more.
We
wouldn't be surprised to see Gadsden's name resurface in
Minnesota. The Vikes recently were spurned by Matthew
Hatchette, and they have a clear need at the receiver position.
Former Viking Cris Carter endorsed Gadsden a few months back,
but talks broke down when Gadsden and his agent, Michael Todd,
continued to hold out for the one that got away.
Now,
with no leverage at all, Gadsden likely will take a one-year
deal in a situation that gives him the best chance to get in
line for a bigger contract next season.
And
what better way to do it than by drawing single coverage across
from Randy Moss?
POSTED 7:45 a.m. EDT, June 18, 2003
WEDNESDAY ONE-LINERS
The probation violation hearing for Bucs RB
Michael Pittman
has been moved from today to July 2.
Texans exec
Steve Patterson, who was the Houston Rockets G.M. for five years, will
become the new president of the Portland Bail Razers.
Texans CB Aaron Glenn
made it back to practice Tuesday afternoon following treatment for a
spider bite.
Even if WR Oronde Gadsden re-signs with the Dolphins,
he might have trouble making the team.
The Falcons have been running plays with
RB Warrick Dunn and RB T.J. Duckett in the backfield at the same time.
Jags DE Tony Brackens had surgery
to remove his appendix.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher
called out OT Brad Hopkins for his spotty attendance in the team's
offseason workouts; Fisher previously has made similar remarks regarding
RB Eddie George, CB Samari Rolle, and DE Jevon Kearse.
Jags QB David Garrard and CB Fernando Bryant
returned to practice after missing last week's passing camp with
injuries.
Former S
Henry Jones is working with the Falcons as an assistant to DB coach
Emmitt Thomas.
WR Matthew Hatchette
will sign with the Jaguars instead of the Vikings.
Titans LB Randall Godfrey
still could be released, in order to give the team some much-needed
cap room.
The Eagles signed NFL Europe CB
Daryon
Brutley to a two-year contract.
It's looking more likely that the NFL
will be back in L.A. within four years.
POSTED 9:48 p.m. EDT, June 17, 2003
DICK LIKES KORDELL (AND VICE-VERSA)
Okay, folks. We couldn't resist this one. We copied the AP
photo of Bears quarterback Kordell Stewart and coach Dick Jauron from
ESPN.com's NFL page, and we invite you to supply the caption. The
entry that we deem to be the best gets a free copy of Quarterback of the
Future (and second prize is two of them).
So e-mail your ideas to us.
Contest ends Friday.

TUESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS
Titans DE Jevon Kearse
ran outside for the
first time since getting a bone graft in his foot in February.
The Packers waived QB Zak Kustok,
getting them down to only (only?) five signal-callers on the roster.
The 49ers signed
CB
Antuan Simmons and waived DE Kai Ellis and C Ty Wise.
NFL.com has the training
camp schedules for every team.
The Bucs have re-signed
P Tom Tupa and WR
Reggie Barlow.
More than 80 Hall of Famers will be in Canton for induction
festivities this year, the 40th Anniversary of the HOF.
The Jets have waived OL David
Viger.
POSTED 8:56 a.m. EDT, June 17, 2003
NEUHEISEL HAS NO SHOT IN SEATTLE
We're always up for a juicy rumor involving a reduction and/or an
elimination of Mike Holmgren's authority in Seattle. However, we're
informed that the latest potential Holmgren replacement rumor that's
making the rounds in some NFL circles has absolutely no merit.
With University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel soon to be out, there's
scattered speculation that he could replace Holmgren as Seahawks coach, if
the 'Hawks don't take it to the next level in 2003. Our sources tell
us, however, that Neuheisel never would be seriously considered for the
gig, if it for some reason comes open.
Word is that Neuheisel is fishing for anything he can get at this point,
but that Neuheisel has zero respect among NFL and NCAA decision-makers.
Neuheisel's only shot would be to latch on as a position coach in the NFL,
and to work his way up. As the Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently
reported, however, Neuheisel presently lacks the contacts or the
reputation to nail down such a position.
Neuheisel didn't help himself with his interview-that-didn't-happen in San
Fran earlier this year. Per the P-I, the 'Niners knew after only
five minutes that Neuheisel doesn't understand the NFL game.
CLARIFYING KEIM'S ROLE
The recent announcement that the Cardinals' scouting staff has been
reorganized threw some water on our recent story that scout Steve Keim has
been given the reins of the department.
The team announced late last week a pyramid structure, with George Boone
serving as nationwide scouting supervisor. On the next level down,
Keim will be responsible for the East and Jim Carmody will oversee the
West. Keim and Carmody, in turn, will oversee five scouts who are
assigned to specific regions of the country.
Word is, however, that Keim wasn't promoted all the way to the top of the
department because G.M. Rod Graves felt compelled to defer to Boone, who
is more senior to Keim. Still, we're hearing that Keim is "the guy"
in the Arizona scouting department, notwithstanding the Cardinals' recent
announcement that he's technically one rung from the top of the ladder.
MORE ON WASHINGTON
We mentioned at the bottom of Monday's story regarding our e-mail exchange
with (we think) Ted Washington's mother that we also have heard (we think)
from Ted's agent, Angelo Wright.
Though we asked for (but haven't received) further information from
Wright, the agent (if it's him) agrees with Ted's mom (if it's her) that
Ted did not meet last week with the Bears to request his release.
"If Mr. Washington did want out," the person whom we think is Wright said,
"[y]ou and everyone else would know."
The person whom we think is Wright also said that Washington would be
pursued by the Falcons, Chargers, Bengals, Titans, Jets, Seahawks, Ravens,
and Cowboys, if Ted eventually is dumped by the Bears.
As we reported on Saturday, the Bears are reluctant to cut Washington
loose unless/until it's clear that the Vikings and/or the Packers have no
spot for him.
TAYLOR SHOULD SHUT UP
Browns linebacker Ben Taylor recently said that this year's
scrape-and-paste version of the team's linebacking corps actually could be
better than the former group of Dwayne Rudd, Earl Holmes, and Darren
Hambrick.
One NFL player suggests that Taylor "should keep his mouth shut until he
gets playing time as something more than a slap d-ck mop-up guy."
TUESDAY ONE-LINERS
WR J.J. Stokes
signed a one-year deal with the Jags; he'll get $150,000 to sign,
$665,000 in salary, and up to $300,000 in incentives.
Before signing Stokes, the Jags
canceled the planned workout of WR Oronde Gadsden, and they told
Antonio Freeman they weren't interested.
K Owen
Pochman is now a Pack-man; Green Bay claimed him off of waivers from
the Giants, and he could serve as the team's kickoff specialist.
The
only sure thing on the Texans' offensive line is proven veteran Steve
McKinney at center.
The NFL reportedly knew about Colts owner Jim Irsay's
issues with prescription medications as early as 1995.
The Broncos have signed WR
Adrian Madise, a fifth-round pick, to a rare five-year deal, which
could be worth as much as $2.655 million.
The new
NFL network on DirecTV is scheduled to launch in late October or early
November.
San Diego City Council will meet on Tuesday
to discuss possible offers for the Chargers on a new stadium.
Texans CB Aaron Glenn was held out of minicamp practices due to swelling
in his leg
caused by a spider bite.
The Texans have signed free-agent LB
Antonio Rodriguez, who played most recently for Barcelona of NFL
Europe.
The Jags are now
$3.5 million under the salary cap, but they plan to make no additional
free-agent acquisitions.
Titans G.M. Floyd Reese
hopes to re-sign very soon three free agents -- QB Neil O'Donnell, C
Gennaro DiNapoli, and P Craig Hentrich.
Seahawks strength coach
Bill
Gillespie once could bench press 500 pounds -- 37 times.
The Ravens
won't open contract negotiations with their draft picks until after
the Fourth of July holiday.
Falcons WR LaTarence Dunbar, a sixth-round pick, signed a
three-year deal worth about $950,000.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From former Tennessee-Chattanooga football coach Donnie Kirkpatrick, who
once revoked the scholarship of Chargers' second-round draft pick, CB
Drayton Florence, based on charges of aggravated assault and consorting
with underage girls: "He
never killed anybody or anything like that." (Kirkpatrick should
get that one trademarked -- it'd be a great line for the tombstones of
many former pro athletes.)
POSTED 7:55 a.m. EDT, June 16, 2003
SAINTS WERE STUPID TO RESPOND TO TURLEY
Reaction has been pouring in from various league insiders regarding the
decision of Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis and coach Jim Haslett to engage
former tackle Kyle Turley in a tit-for-tat insult exchange, which resulted
in a
feature article on SI.com that was
quoted extensively in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
One league source opined that the decision of Loomis and Haslett to
respond to Turley via e-mails sent to SI.com writer Michael Silver "makes
them look like a couple of amateurs."
(By the way, Mike, nice glasses. We wouldn't recommend
wearing those around Garrison Hearst or Jeremy Shockey.)
Another insider was more pointed in his criticism -- "They'd better get
their quotes in now, because if the Saints choke like they did the past
two years Loomis and Haslett will be out after this season."
The decision of disgruntled players to call out their former team is
nothing new. But other coaches, such as Dave Wannstedt and Bill
Cowher, typically bite their tongues when faced with such attacks.
Loomis and Haslett, in our opinion, should have done the same thing.
Then again, the Turley story made for interesting reading -- maybe we like
it when coaches and G.M.'s decide to rumble verbally with former players.
Here's a sample of the exchange.
Said Turley, regarding Loomis: "Two
guys, [former G.M.] Randy Mueller and [coach] Jim Haslett, were coming up
on the end of their contracts, and Mr. Benson wasn't going to pay both of
them, because that's not how he works. So he fired Randy Mueller,
and he had a very, very valuable in-house candidate to replace him in
Charles Bailey, who knows football. With all the racial things going on
right now, and the push to hire minorities, which I agree with, how could
this guy get passed over in favor of a guy like [Mickey] Loomis?"
Responded Loomis: "To be honest
with you, I don't really give a damn about Kyle Turley. He's the
Rams' problem now."
Said Turley: Loomis "knows nothing
about football. The guy spent 14 years in a back room, and now all
of a sudden he's a GM? He has no clue about a 40-yard dash, a pass
set, a tackle or a throw."
Responded Loomis: "Kyle believes he
can coach and manage the team better than the head coach and GM, but in
reality he has trouble managing himself," Loomis added, via electronic
mail to Silver. "We determined that he was a cancer on our team and we
simply got rid of him. It was a unanimous decision of our coaches,
personnel department and administration."
Said Turley, regarding Haslett: "A
lot of players stood up for Jim Haslett when he was negotiating his
contract. We told management, 'We're not gonna sign here until he
gets taken care of, because we want him to be the coach.' But when
it came time for him to stand up for the players who had his back, he
stayed out of it. His answer was, 'I don't get involved with
contract negotiations.' But that's weak.
Responded Haslett: "They tell me
that 10 percent of the population is miserable and unhappy all the time
and Kyle definitely falls in that 10 percent. Following last season,
and after meeting with the entire team one-on-one, the vast majority of
our players wanted to see him gone."
WASHINGTON RESPONDS (WE THINK)
Speaking of e-mail exchanges, we received several messages on Sunday from
a person who claims to be close to Bears defensive tackle Ted Washington.
Based on the AOL screen name of the sender of the messages, our guess is
that the writer is Washington's mother. (And if our guess on this
point is wrong, we invite Ted, his agent, or his mom to set us straight.)
By way of background, we reported on Saturday that Washington requested to
be released from the Bears in a meeting that occurred last Wednesday.
We also reported that the Bears are reluctant to let him go right now,
because management is concerned that the Vikings or the Packers would sign
him promptly.
Here's the first message we received:
the story by mike flori[o] is a
complete lie about a meeting that never took place. i hope a retraction
is coming or there will be a lawsuit. you should let the bears do there
own dirty work instead of joining their smear campaign. ask the bears how
they almost caused ted washington t[o] loose [sic] his foot.
In response, we asked the writer to let us
know who he/she is and why he/she knows that our story is incorrect.
The reply, in part:
who i am is someone very close to ted.
i prefer to remain in the background. i don't know that you can respect
that, regardless i know the meeting never took place, i know ted never
made those statements, i know i am one of the people closest to him
encouraging him to request a retraction or sue. i don't read reports on
any support for him from the bears, i only see where the bears are doing
everything in their power to minimize his impact. if lies are what you
choose to print i can't stop you, but this time ted's camp is going to
fight back.
It's the first time we've ever been accused (and likely the last) of being
shills for the Bears. But even if the boys in Chitown had somehow
planted the "Ted Wants Out" story on our site, we're having a real hard
time figuring out how Washington would have any legal recourse.
If the e-mails we received threatening litigation are indeed from a source
close to Washington, it's clear that the former Pro Bowler does
want of Chitown. So even if his communication of that sentiment to
the Bears didn't occur in the format of a traditional sit-down, the import
of the story is true -- Ted and his family are angry with the Bears, and
they know (or at least sense) that he'll be released in the short term.
The story might not be over. On Monday morning, we found in our
inbox an e-mail message, which apparently is from his agent, Angelo
Wright. Stay tuned.
MONDAY ONE-LINERS
WR
Oronde Gadsden is visiting the Jaguars on Monday.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Bob Smizik thinks TE Mark Bruener
should take the proposed pay cut from $2,050,000 to $750,000 (and we
agree).
The newly-renovated Soldier Field
is
drawing boos -- and, again, we agree. (The photo below is from
the New York Times.)
WR Matthew Hatchette, who might have reignited his career with a stint in
NFL Europe, says that
seven teams are interested in him (and we assume that at least one of
them is a member of the NFL).
QB Brian Griese will get
his
first taste of the Dolphins offense in a minicamp that opens on
Monday.
POSTED 7:48 a.m. EDT, June 15, 2003
ANGELO TRIES TO CLEAR AIR ON GRIESE
Faced with mounting speculation that quarterback Kordell Stewart is
flummoxed by offensive coordinator John Shoop's protractor-and-compass
offense, Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo apparently is attempting to clarify his
recent flirtation with quarterback Brian Griese.
Per Don Pierson of the Chicago Tribune,
Angelo says he merely "listened" to Griese's agent, Ralph Cindrich,
when Cindrich was looking for leverage in his discussions with the
Dolphins.
Pierson accepts Angelo's version without scrutiny of any kind, explaining
that Griese would have provided a "younger version of Chris Chandler" as
the veteran backup.
Sorry, guys, but we know better.
The Bears actually were interested in prying Griese from the Broncos in
early March, but the Broncos wouldn't take the pre-June 1 cap hit unless
they could snare real value in return for their deposed starter (they
wanted a second-rounder). And when talks with Kordell stalled, the
Bears considered waiting for Griese to become available after June 1.
This tells us that Angelo considers Griese and Kordell to have roughly
equivalent talent, which means that Griese most likely would have been
competing with Stewart, if he'd signed.
Also, we hear that Angelo did more than "listen" to Cindrich. When
Angelo learned that Griese could be had for $1 million to sign, $530,000
in year one, and a big number in year two, the Bears actually made an
offer to Cindrich.
The other interesting point about Pierson's non-critical piece on the
Griese affair is that the Tribune largely (if not completely) has ignored
the connection between the interest in Griese and the status of Stewart.
Just about a year ago, we called out the Philadelphia Inquirer for its
all-too-cozy relationship with the Eagles; we now suspect that someone at
the Trib is playing pin-the-nose-on-the-butt with the Bears.
SUNDAY ONE-LINERS
The Packers' income was up last year by
more than
$21 million.
The Bucs got their
Super Bowl rings at a black-tie event on Saturday night, which was
attended even by former Bucs Dexter Jackson (Cardinals) and Al Singleton
(Cowboys), and soon-to-be former Buc Michael Pittman (if he takes a ride
in his Hummer -- up the river).
QB Drew Bledsoe
has big expectations for the 2003 Bills: "We’ve got the players
to be a playoff team and that’s what we expect. Anything less than a good,
solid playoff berth would be a great disappointment."
The Browns are trying to
restructure the contract of DE Courtney Brown, who has a $7.9 million
cap number for 2003.
Approximately 45,000 fans showed up for
Tampa Bay's annual
Fan-Fest, which included visits with players, a peek at the Lombardi,
and interactive games (no word as to whether fans got to play "Bash the
Bitch's Benz").
Vikings LB Chris Claiborne is happy to be in Minnesota, and he's
motivated to make plays.
Pats CB Tyrone Poole
sacrificed $125,000 for the ability to work out at home this offseason,
and he's confident that coach Bill Belichick will be pleased with the
results.
Bears LB Brian Urlacher's new contract includes the
use of a luxury suite by his family for all of his nine coming years
with the team (we wonder whether Urlacher's agent took into account the
potential tax consequences).
Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch
plans on playing at some point in 2003, and he'd prefer that it occur
as the No. 1 man on the depth chart.
POSTED 9:05 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 10:20 a.m. EDT,
June 14, 2003
WASHINGTON WANTS OUT
We reported
not long ago that the Chicago Bears are leaning toward keeping defensive
tackle Keith Traylor (for now) and releasing his partner, Ted Washington.
It appears
that Ted is trying to force the issue.
Word is that
Washington met with team management on Wednesday to request his release.
However, the Bears are reluctant to let him go, because the Bears believe
that the Vikings and/or the Packers are waiting to scoop him up.
Washington
joined the Bears prior to the 2001 season, after stints with the 49ers and
Bills. He was dominant in his first year in Chitown, but injury
knocked him out of nearly all of the 2002 season.
CANDID THOUGHTS ON AKILI
As
quarterback Akili Smith heads to Green Bay (per
the Great Gazoo), not everyone around the league is convinced that he
was a bust based solely upon the fact that he cut his teeth in football
purgatory.
In a recent
piece authored by our good, close friend Len Pasquarelli (whom we discuss
in more detail below), Akili is quoted as saying,
"If there is one thing the
[Cincinnati] experience taught me, it's that this is a process."
In direct response, one league insider said,
"If there is one thing that
the Cincinnati experience taught the team, it's that he sucks."
CARDS GET VALUE FOR JONES
Faced with
the looming possibility of releasing running back Thomas Jones, the
seventh overall pick in the 2000 draft, the Arizona Cardinals pulled off
the blind-squirrel-and-acorn routine, thanks to the gross misconduct of
former Cards running back Michael Pittman.
The Cardinals
snared second-year
receiver Marquise Walker from Tampa in exchange for Jones.
Walker was a
third-round pick from Michigan in 2002, and he didn't play at all as a
rookie.
Predictably,
the Bucs downplay the loss of Walker.
"Marquise
was caught in a situation where playing time would have been limited,"
said G.M. Rich McKay. "Therefore, this trade will give him a chance
to go and compete for more playing time."
But Walker, the first
draft choice of the Gruden era, represents something that the Bucs don't
have at the receiver position -- yo |