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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 -- youth.
Keyshawn Johnson will
be 31 when the season opens. At any given moment, Meshawn is a wild
hair away from retirement, especially since he's gotten his long-coveted
Ring.
Likewise, Keenan
McCardell is 33, Karl Williams is 32, and Joe Jurevicius is 28.
Maybe the Bucs saw
something in Walker they didn't like. Or maybe they assume that
they'll find other young receivers on the open market. Regardless,
giving up Walker was a fairly stiff price to pay for a grossly
underachieving running back (who couldn't beat out Pittman when both were
in 'Zona), and it tells us that the Bucs definitely are planning for life
without Pittman in 2003.
Jones will cost the
Bucs $535,000 in salary, and
the Cards took a $1.43 million cap charge for the final year of Jones'
prorated signing bonus. Walker, who will earn $300,000 this season
in salary, will cost the Bucs roughly $150,000 this year and $150,000
against the cap, based on the signing bonus of approximately $450,000 that
he received when he signed a three-year deal in 2002.
HIPAA
IMPACT STILL UNCLEAR
Nearly two months
after new regulations took effect under the federal law called "HIPAA,"
the
NFL still hasn't implemented a specific plan for dealing with broad
restrictions on the dissemination of information regarding the health of
players.
According to
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, an Atlanta sports hernia specialist has
declined comment regarding the condition of Falcons DL Travis Hall and LB
Sam Rogers, citing the HIPAA law. Falcons trainer Ron Medlin
likewise refused to talk about the health of either player.
Under the
law, the players can talk freely about their own health conditions.
Team officials and doctors, however, are restricted.
With that
said, we haven't previously noticed any reduction in the normal flow of
information regarding the injuries suffered by players during offseason
workouts in May and June.
And this
raises interesting issues. How did word get out that Panthers
receiver Kevin Dyson tore his Achilles' tendon? Or what about Giants
receiver Ron Dixon recently had arthroscopic surgery?
Interesting
stuff, to be sure. But until the Falcons clammed up on Hall and
Rogers, the entire news media (yours truly included) had been ignoring the
manner in which the NFL has (or, as the case may be, hasn't) been
respecting the new privacy requirements.
TIP SHEET DOUBLE-STANDARD
Okay, apart
from the fact that P. Belly blew it with his report that Akili Smith would
sign with the Saints (Len's erroneous commentary on Smith's destination
conveniently has been vacuumed off of the current Tip Sheet), we've got
multiple bones to pick this week with a guy who knows a thing or two about
cleaning meat off of them.
First, the
guy has a habit of ripping this here site in a way that only close
followers would notice. (He'd never, of course, mention us by name,
since that would require acknowledging our existence.)
In his
current tip sheet, Len takes issue with our recent reports regarding
possible candidates to replace Charlotte player personnel guru Jack
Bushofsky, who's retiring son.
"Geez," write Pastabelli, "it's been at least two
weeks since the rumor mill churned out a name -- former San
Francisco and Cleveland personnel chief Dwight Clark and current Packers
pro personnel director Reggie McKenzie were the two most popular ones --
alleged to be taking over as the Carolina Panthers' new personnel
director. That might be, unless several folks in the Carolina front
office are fibbing to ESPN.com, because there never were any plans to
replace Jack Bushofsky, the longtime personnel man who is retiring at the
end of this month."
This direct
shot at us is as incomplete as it is naive. We also added Dan
Rooney, Jr. to the mix for the Carolina gig in a recent follow-up to our
original story (and, truth be told, Sportsline.com narrowly beat us to the
punch in linking Dwight Clark to the job).
Moreover, why
in the world does Pastabelli think that the folks he's talking to in the
Carolina front office actually know the intentions of owner Jerry
Richardson, or that Richardson has actually made any decisions? The
story is far from over, even if the fat man has stopped singing.
Second, if
Len is going to take shots at our content, can't play dumb about the rest
of our stuff. As usual, his current tip sheet contains multiple
items that already have appeared in this space (e.g., World League,
Brian Griese/Kordell Stewart, Mike Brown). But if, as his attack on
our Carolina story suggests, he clicks on our links, he's on notice of our
original content, and he should give us attribution -- as we always do
when we're discussing a story that someone else broke.
Finally, we
noticed that Len's nose is right back in the rectal crevice of Redskins
owner Dan Snyderbrenner after a rare diss in last week's piece regarding
the departure of Joe Mendes. Len has two separate booty-smoochers
this time around, so we figure that he's working his way back onto the
"preferred" list when it comes to the doling out of inside info in D.C.
SATURDAY ONE-LINERS
QB Akili
Smith chose
the Pack over the Saints in part because the Packers were willing to
give him only a one-year deal; the Saints wanted two.
Raiders CB
Charles Woodson is
entering
the final year of his contract, and he'd like to have a new deal in
place before the season starts.
Neuheisel to
the NFL? The Seattle Post-Intelligencer says that the former
Washington coach
lacks
the contacts or the reputation to land a gig in the premier pro
version of the sport.
The St. Louis
Post-Dispatch picks up bits and pieces of an interesting piece on SI.com,
in which
OT Kyle Turley rips the Saints -- and the Saints rip back.
Raiders
training camp will last
only 23
days this year; in past seasons, camp stretched 28 days or more.
The 49ers
signed
CB Fred Weary and DE Dwight Johnson to one-year deals.
Raiders DT
Dana Stubblefield was impressed by owner
Al Davis's eye for detail -- during a conversation with Davis, the
owner mentioned Stubblefield's habit of lining up with his left hand on
the ground.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Steelers
P Josh Miller, who addresses rumors that he had a "pretty good blow up"
last season with coach Bill Cowher: "It wasn't a pretty good blow
up.
It was a really good blow up. That rumor sold me short a little
bit. It was huge. . . . I'm lucky to be here."
POSTED 8:12 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 10:15 a.m. EDT, June
13, 2003
BROWN TALKS BREAK DOWN
On the same day that published reports indicated a new agreement between
the Bears and safety Mike Brown was close, one of our Chicago moles tells
us that negotiations broke down on Thursday night.
The sticking point is the signing bonus and the length of the deal.
The Bears are offering a six-year deal with a $5 million bonus, and Brown
wants a five-year deal with $7 million up front.
As a result, a contract likely won't be finalized soon. In fact,
it's possible that the Bears will open training camp without a new deal
for the man who became their top contract priority after linebacker Brian
Urlacher got paid.
STEELERS TRYING TO EXTEND MARVEL
A league source tells us that the Pittsburgh Steelers quietly are working
on a long-term contract extension for left tackle Marvel Smith, who's
taking over this year for Wayne Gandy.
Per the source, the Steelers have offered Smith a five-year package with
$5 million to sign, as part of a total package worth $22 million.
Smith has rejected this figure, however, demanding instead a signing bonus
in the range of $8 million to $10 million and a total deal of $32 million
over five years.
Of course, for that kind of coin the Steelers could've kept Gandy.
The Saints signed Gandy in March for $30 million over six years, with a $5
million bonus.
Sure, Smith is seven years younger than Gandy. But it's a big
investment to make in a guy who was
busted
a year ago on marijuana charges, and who tested positive for the
substance while in college.
NO TEARS SHED FOR TOMMY
There's a surprising lack of compassion among the players in Pittsburgh
regarding the current contract situation of starting quarterback Tommy
Maddox.
Per a league source, many of the Steelers players think that Maddox sealed
his own fate when signing a long-term deal while still a backup.
"It's not the team's fault [Maddox] signed a four-year contract," said one
player. "He chose to do it. He needs to prove himself another
year."
Around the league, the reaction is similar. Several front-office
types question why Maddox's agent, Vann McElroy, didn't insist on a
contract that would have been voided based on playing-time, or that
included significant playing-time incentives.
McElroy said earlier this week that it was his understanding that Maddox
would be paid like a starter if he became the starter. But if that
concept isn't built into the contract via voidable years or appropriate
incentives, there's no way to force the team to change the deal -- unless
and until the team chooses to do so.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that backup Charlie Batch
is
still gunning for the starting gig. "Right now," Batch said
Thursday, "[Maddox is] the guy, and I have to actually try to get him out
of there.
"You can't rotate the quarterback position; you're either the guy or
you're not. I'm hungry because I want to be in there. He's
hungry because he hasn't been there for a long time over the course of his
career. We're both trying to get into that situation."
Through it all, coach Bill Cowher calls the Maddox contract a "dead
issue." Okay, Bill -- keep saying that. Someone, somewhere
eventually might believe it.
KORDELL KONFUSION KONFIRMED
One of our Chitown readers forwarded to us on Thursday
a link from the
Chicago Daily Herald, which confirms our recent reports that quarterback Kordell Stewart doesn't understand the Bears offense, that the Bears have
yet to dumb it down for their new signal-caller, and that the recent
pursuit of Brian Griese was a direct result of Kordell's struggles.
John Shoop's "Dump-and-Chase" offense is giving Kordell fits, according to
Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald, and the team is looking for ways to get
Kordell out of the closet.
(Did we say "closet"? We meant to say "pocket.")
"That's why the Griese thing happened," a Bears source told Rozner.
"They're worried. I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Chandler wins the
job."
Per the Herald, former Bears quarterback Jim Miller said earlier this week
that Shoop's offense is one of the most wordy and confusing schemes in the
league, and that Shoop is stubborn when it comes to changing it.
We've confirmed this sentiment through our Chicago sources -- the Shoop
offense is verbose, and the team has yet to adapt the system to Kordell's
unique strengths and limitations.
PITTMAN FACES TWO CHANCES AT JAIL
On Thursday, Bucs running back Michael Pittman was
indicted by a grand
jury on two felony charges resulting from his Hummer hoe-down with his
wife's Mercedes nearly three weeks ago.
For Pittman, this development means that he's facing two separate chances
at prison time.
Next week, a judge in Arizona will decide whether Pittman's probation
should be revoked due to his recent conduct. This specific legal
proceeding will occur without a jury -- and without the common standard of
"proof beyond a reasonable doubt." Instead, the judge merely needs
to find by a "preponderance of the evidence" (i.e., 51-49) that Pittman
engaged in unlawful conduct while on probation.
The next day, Pittman will be arraigned on the new charges, which would
lead to a jury trial, barring a plea deal.
The indictment means that there's enough evidence to proceed with the
recent assault charges, even though Pittman's wife, Melissa, recently
opted to drop the matter after, in our opinion, she realized that there's
a causal link between her husband's potential incarceration and her
ability to continue to make the payments on her Benz.
In his defense, Pittman released a statement saying that he "looks forward
to being able to tell my side of the story."
So do we, Mike. So do we.
FRIDAY ONE-LINERS
QB Akili Smith has
offers from the Jets, Packers, and Saints, and he plans to make a
decision by Monday.
The Packers have
signed two
draft picks: OT Brennan Curtin, a sixth-rounder from Notre Dame,
and WR/KR DeAndre Rubin, a seventh-rounder from South Florida.
The Steelers have asked TE Mark Bruener to
take a big pay cut in order to stay with the team.
The Steelers have made
little progress in contract talks with first-round draft pick Troy
Polamalu.
We don't understand why Steelers LB
John Fiala was shocked when he was released by the Steelers; when your
team keeps guys like Clark Haggans, signs guys like Clint Kriewaldt, and
drafts guys like Alonzo Jackson, most 29-year-old reserve linebackers
would see the writing on the wall.
Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens got
five days in jail for probation violation; he could get even more time
later this month when he's sentenced on a reckless driving charge.
Giants WR Ron Dixon had
arthroscopic surgery on his knee, due to an injury suffered during
offseason workouts.
The Browns' salary-cap status
could prevent them from signing WR Dennis Northcutt to a contract
extension.
The Eagles got a chance on Thursday to
set foot
on their new field.
The Bucs are talking to the Cards about a trade for RB Thomas Jones, but
no deal is
imminent.
The Colts are believed to be
less than $500,000 under the salary cap, which means that they need to
create some space in order to sign their draft picks.
The Colts are
"talking" to QB Peyton Manning's agent about an extension.
Eagles president Joe Banner says that RB Duce Staley and CB Bobby Taylor
will report for training camp.
Titans S Lance Shulters has
identified the guy who carjacked him on Monday.
Here's the next step in the evolution of pro football into a
52-week-per-year job -- Cards QB Jeff Blake is organizing
"players only"
workouts for the weeks between official offseason practice and
training camp.
The Giants have
signed two draft picks -- WR David Tyree and G David Diehl.
16-year veteran LB
Hardy Nickerson is retiring; one of his dreams is to become an
attorney (FYI to Hardy -- when you make a good point in court, it's not
yet acceptable to strike the "crab" pose).
The Ravens want DE Terrell Suggs to
lose at least 7 pounds before training camp opens.
Miami's NBC affiliate runs a weekly feature on the Dolphins; the only
catch is that the
Fins
have the right to review and edit each installment (hey, NBC guys --
we never went to journalism school . . . and apparently you didn't,
either).
POSTED 7:50 a.m. EDT, June 12, 2003
STEELERS WON'T GIVE MADDOX A RAISE
A day after we reported that the agent for Steelers quarterback Tommy
Maddox plans to press for a new contract if the team gets off to a strong
start in 2003, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers will
not re-do his contract until after the upcoming season.
On Wednesday, a "disappointed" Maddox described his status as "unusual."
Maddox will earn $650,000 in salary in 2003, while his understudy, Charlie
Batch, will make a cool million.
"I don't know if it's ever happened before in the NFL," Maddox said on
Wednesday.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has
a more expansive quote from Maddox on this issue: "I guarantee
you it's probably the first time in NFL history that it's happened . . . I
would be lying if I said it's not disappointing. It's a hard
situation."
Maddox says that team president Dan Rooney promised a new contract in
2004, and Maddox is trying hard to view his bank account as half-full.
"I just keep saying that all that I've been through and all the things
I've had to go through, I'm still -- over everything -- excited about the
opportunity to be the starting quarterback of the Steelers," Maddox said,
according to the Post-Gazette. "So, I try real hard not to let any of that
interfere with it, and just realize that I'm in a fortunate situation and
go out there and try to capitalize on it."
Still, Maddox can't ignore the offseason contract given to the guy he ran
out of town, Kordell Stewart. "Sometimes it bothers you to see guys
that you've outplayed in the past year signing deals with other teams and
getting rewarded for that," Maddox said.
Maddox's agent, Vann McElroy, was more blunt. "He did this deal with
an appreciation in mind, knowing that it was a backup deal," McElroy said.
"It was understood it was a backup deal, and if he became the guy they
would come in and take care of it. That was reiterated at the end of
the season to both Tommy and myself."
Despite the talk, Maddox won't take any action. Per the
Tribune-Review, Maddox said, "Everything under the sun has been brought
up, from holding out, to not being at minicamp, from not going to camp,
from walking out after camp. But that's just not me.
"I've worked way too hard to get back to this point to walk
out now. I've been away from the game for three years and
knew how much I missed it. I'd drive myself and my family
crazy if I tried to do something like that and I don't want to
do that."
With the average salary for NFL starting quarterbacks in excess of $5
million, Maddox's situation suggests to us that the Steelers still aren't
convinced that he's the long-term answer at the quarterback position.
Alternatively, the Steelers could still be feeling the sting of giving
Stewart a huge contract before he was a proven performer.
Indeed, the Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers want to see Maddox play
one more season before giving him a "big contract."
Ironically, the Steelers took the same position last year with Stewart.
At the time, Kordell was openly politicking for an extension, but the team
wanted to see if he could parlay his 2001 Pro Bowl season into another
strong performance in 2002. When Kordell got benched in favor of
Maddox during game three, Stewart's tenure was officially over.
Now, Maddox could be in the same position. If he stumbles in 2003,
look for Batch to get a chance to actually earn his million bucks -- and
then next year Batch could be occupying the "wait-and-see" seat.
THURSDAY ONE-LINERS
Bears S Mike Brown says that
a new contract with the Bears is "close."
The Miami Herald reports that WR
Oronde Gadsen will re-sign soon with the Dolphins.
Though the quarterback competition in Baltimore is wide open,
Chris Redman will be taking the snaps with the first unit when
training camp opens on July 27.
The Packers tried out
WR J.J.
Stokes and WR Willie Jackson on Wednesday.
WR J.J. Stokes
will visit the Jags on Thursday.
Redskins DE Bruce Smith will
have a chance to compete with newcomer Regan Upshaw for a starting
job.
The Jags have determined that CB Fernando Bryant
does not have a hernia.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes expects aging veteran John
Randle to get
more than 40 snaps per game.
The Eagles wrap up two straight weeks of workouts on Thursday, and there
was no
appearance by RB Duce Staley or CB Bobby Taylor.
The Tampa Tribune makes a good point regarding the decision of Melissa
Pittman not to press charges --
the couple's
babysitter also was in the car that got rammed by Michael Pittman, and
her name also appears on the criminal complaint.
Rookie Derrick Dockery
could start at guard for the Redskins this season.
The Bengals claimed S
Rogers Beckett off of waivers from the Chargers.
Jags coach Jack Del Rio says that DE Hugh Douglas
will be an every-down player, despite injury problems that plagued him
late in the 2002 season.
The Packers have
not
yet made a contract offer to QB Akili Smith, but they still are
talking with his agent.
Jonathan Ogden's brother, Marques, is
trying to win a spot on the offensive line with the Jaguars as a
sixth-round draft choice.
Steelers G Kendall Simmons had a "loose
body" removed from his elbow on Wednesday.
The Jags were pursuing C
Jerry Fontenot, who reportedly has agreed to
stay with the Saints.
Falcons QB Mike Vick claims he's "relieved"
to be focusing on football instead of the slew of big money TV commercials
he was filming while his teammates were toiling in the weight room.
The Steelers new playing surface, which sounds a lot like
Dante's hair weave, is nearing completion.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Packers coach Mike Sherman, regarding the shape of 340-pound DT Gilbert
Brown: "I
don't think he's doing any Speedo commercials." (Brown, a free
agent, apparently will get another chance to make the team in Green Bay.)
POSTED 8:13 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2003
AKILI ARRIVAL BAD NEWS FOR VINNY
A league source tells us that, despite the public pronouncements by the
New York Jets regarding the fact that the addition of quarterback Akili
Smith will not affect the status of Vinny Testaverde, the arrival of Akili
is the beginning of the end for Vinny in New York.
Ironically, Testaverde's agent suggested toward the end of the 2002 season
that Vinny wanted out, given that he lost his starting job to Chad
Pennington. But the Jets made it clear that Vinny would be sticking
around.
But with Smith on the roster (if he chooses the Jets over the Packers,
Seahawks, and Saints), the source says that Testaverde's tenure in New
York will be over, as early as the final 2003 preseason roster cuts.
Smith, who visited the Jets on Monday and Tuesday, will
work out
for the Packers on Wednesday.
MADDOX STILL MIFFED
Though Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox is saying nothing publicly about
a contract that will pay him a paltry $650,000 this season as the team's
starter, a league source tells us that Maddox privately remains
disappointed in the team's decision not to upgrade his salary --
especially after backup Charlie Batch's annual salary got bumped to $1
million.
Word is that, if the Steelers start strong this year, Maddox's agent will
begin to campaign for a raise via selected media leaks.
In our view, Maddox should be more concerned about his job security than
his salary. Batch already has said that he plans to challenge Tommy
for the starting gig, and the disparity in their respective paychecks
gives Batch extra respect in the locker room, which could go a long way
toward enabling Batch to make the leap to No. 1 in his second year with
the team -- just like Maddox did in 2002.
CERRATO SEIZES CONTROL
Word around the league is that the Redskins' decision not to sign a
director of college scouting flows directly from the fact that new V.P. of
Football Operations Vinny Cerrato is firmly in charge of the team (with,
of course, the occasional -- i.e., daily -- input from Dan Snyderbrenner).
Per a league source, the objective is to limit any outside influence over
Cerrato's ability to run the show in D.C.
And all should be peaceful and harmonious at Redskins Park -- unless and
until the team doesn't make the playoffs in 2003, which could get the
revolving door to the front office moving again.
LOW-ROUND ROOKIE DEALS NOT UP BY MUCH
Though a flurry of low-round draft picks already have signed contracts, a
league source tells us that the signing bonus amounts are relatively flat,
in comparison to the signing bonuses paid in 2002.
To date, the deals signed by 2003 draft picks in rounds six and seven
contain signing bonuses that are only 0.5 percent to 3 percent higher than
the bonuses paid to players taken in the same spots in 2002.
PITTMAN'S WIFE WON'T PRESS CHARGES
The wife of Bucs running back Michael Pittman has decided
not to press charges against her hubby for the May 24 bumper car
incident near their Phoenix home, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
"Melissa has made the determination that she does not want to proceed with
the criminal charges, at all," said her lawyer, Ed Brennan. "She
hopes the state will drop the charges so that she and Michael can move
on."
Translation -- if the charges stick, Melissa Pittman's NFL gravy train
slams into the wall with even more force than Mike's Hummer crashed into
her Benz.
Of course, Mrs. Pittman might not be able to make the problems go away
merely by standing by her man (and his money). Pittman already was
on probation, and he faces a probation revocation hearing on June 18 --
and the decision to send Pittman to jail would be made not by a jury based
on "proof beyond a reasonable doubt," but by a Judge based on the much
lower standard of "preponderance of the evidence."
According to the Tampa Tribune, if the Bucs cut Pittman, they'll take a
$700,000 cap hit in
2003, and a $700,000 cap hit in 2004. Thus, if he's behind bars
come training camp, the decision to punt on Pittman becomes a no-brainer.
In our view, Pittman's only chance of getting out of this one would be to
tell the judge that he mistook his wife for Joumana Kidd.
WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Steelers G Kendall Simmons will
miss up to six weeks due to surgery on his left elbow.
Steelers WR/RB/QB/KR/PR Antwaan Randle El
wants to do even more in his sophomore season.
With QB David Garrard still out of practice with a hamstring injury,
rookie Byron Leftwich is
picking up his reps.
Steelers WR Plaxico Burress says that WR Lee Mays is the
most improved player on the team, and that Mays will be the No. 4
receiver.
Lions WR Charles Rogers was
bothered
by a hamstring injury during the final days of Lions voluntary
workouts.
The efforts of Bucs owner Malcom Glazer to buy the Dodgers has
hit a major snag; the financing arrangement necessary to satisfy MLB
regs doesn't satisfy the NFL, and vice-versa.
Jags DT Reggie McGrew, a former first-round pick in San Fran,
has been a bystander during much of the team's workouts, but he's not
injured.
Eagles WR Todd Pinkston
can void
his contract and become a free agent in 2004, if he catches 55 passes
in 2003.
The Chiefs
released P Noel Prefontaine on Tuesday, narrowing the competition to
Jason Baker and Leo Araguz.
With the Broncos moving training camp to their headquarters,
players will be permitted to sleep at home -- as long as they're in
every day by 6:30 a.m.;
"You only get one chance to make a mistake,"
coach Mike Shanahan said. "If you are late, then you're staying in the
hotel full time."
There's yet
another candidate for the kick return duties in Green Bay -- former
Arena Leaguer Antonio Chatman.
Eagles rookie DE
Jerome
McDougle wants to be NFL defensive player of the year (not eventually,
but this year).
RB Ahman Green and WR Javon Walker
picked up
minor injuries at Packers minicamp practices on Tuesday.
Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens
pleaded guilty to reckless driving on Tuesday, which nevertheless
could cost him up to $300,000 under his contract -- and which
could result in jail time.
Looking to scare off crows, rodents, and other random critters? If
so, post this handsome shot of Packers DE
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in your front window.
[Green Bay Press-Gazette photo]
Broncos CB
Willie Middlebrooks has missed two practices after pulling a hamstring
on Friday.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Titans S Lance Shulters, on his key-drop-and-sprint when faced with a
carjacking on Monday: ''He just pulled the gun out and cocked it
back, that's what made me run. If you're going to rob somebody,
you're going to stick them up.
But you cock it back, nah, you're trying to shoot somebody then."
POSTED 10:00 p.m. EDT, June 10, 2003
TUESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS
Broncos DT Daryl Gardener
returned to practice Tuesday after having fluid drained from his knee.
The Bills have signed WR
Sam Aiken, a
fourth-round draft pick from North Carolina.
S Chad Cota has
retired in lieu of signing with the Bills.
With S Kwamie Lassiter in the fold, 2000 second-round draft choice
Rogers Beckett got the axe in San Diego.
Contract discussions between the Bears and S Mike Brown are
on hold
for now.
The Browns have signed TE
Aaron Shea to a three-year deal, and OL
Shaun O'Hara to a one-year contract.
The 49ers worked out
CB Fred Weary on Monday, and they took a look at
S
James Boyd and TE Syii Tucker on Tuesday.
The Bears have cut
CB Travis Coleman and DT Curry Dawson.
The Cowboys have signed RB
Will Pettis,
who starred for the AFL's Dallas Desperadoes -- a team that is also owned
by Jerry Jones.
Tempers flared at Ravens practice on Tuesday, prompting LB Ray Lewis to
tell his teammates after practice to "[s]ave
that crap for our opponents."
Vikings WR Nick Davis
will miss up to three months after suffering a tear in his shoulder.
Former Vikings and Lions WR
Anthony Carter was arrested for hitting his wife in the face, throwing
her to the ground repeatedly, and pointing a gun at her head.
Titans S Lance Shulters was
carjacked at gunpoint recently.
Eric Green and E.J. Junior will work as
intern coaches at Vikings training camp.
Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo says that the Bears
might
try to sign some of their low-round draft choices to four-year deals;
as we've previously reported, teams are considering this approach as a
method for avoiding the restricted free agent tender conundrum.
The Falcons are thin at fullback, so TEs Alge Crumpler and Brian Kozlowski
have been getting work at H-back/fullback.
Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper is donating
$500,000 over the next decade to a group that promotes adoption of
African-American children; it sounds like a lot of coin, but it's less
than one-half of one percent of the money he'll earn during that same
period -- and it's probably tax-deductible.
POSTED 7:53 a.m. EDT, June 10, 2003
PITTMAN KEEPING A LOW PROFILE
A league source tells us that Bucs RB Michael Pittman has become quiet and
withdrawn during his time with the team following his arrest on felony
charges for playing bumper cars with his wife.
The isolating thing is a change for Pittman, who used to be fairly
outgoing and involved with his teammates.
The source says that Pittman now leaves the facility as soon as his work
is done.
BETTIS STILL NO SURE THING
Though running back Jerome Bettis survived the June 1 cuts in Pittsburgh,
there's still no guarantee that he'll be on the roster when the season
opens in September.
Per a league source, there's still no consensus with the coaching staff
and the front office regarding Bettis's fate.
As we've previously reported, the team is taking a wait-and-see approach
with Bettis, and the final decision likely won't be made until they get a
chance to study his performance in training camp and/or the preseason.
If the Steelers decide not to keep Bettis, there will be other options.
As we reported last week, the Bucs are interested in the Bus.
IRVIN MOVING TO FULLBACK?
For Lions halfback Sedrick Irvin has gotten new life in Miami -- and he
also might get a new position.
According to a league source, the Dolphins might be moving Irvin to
fullback, where he'd serve as a backup to Rob Konrad.
The Dolphins apparently are disappointed with the progress of current No.
2 fullback Deon Dyer.
TUESDAY ONE-LINERS
The Jaguars have contacted
three free-agent receivers -- J.J. Stokes, Antonio Freeman, and Oronde
Gadsden.
The Steelers are committed to keeping LB Kendrell Bell
on
the field for every defensive snap, in every package they use.
Jags RB Fred Taylor has recovered a
significant chunk of the $5 million with which imprisoned agent Tank
Black absconded.
Jags WR Donald Hayes practiced on Monday
after missing more than a month with a knee injury.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher
remains noncommittal regarding the fate of TE Mark Bruener.
Jags QB David Garrard will
miss the rest of the team's current passing camp due to a hamstring
injury suffered last week.
Redskins WR
Justin Skaggs will have surgery to correct a knee injured in NFL
Europe.
RB Duce Staley and CB Bobby Taylor
still
haven't reported for ongoing voluntary workouts in Philly, which are
now into their second week; Taylor's agent, Jason Medlock, says he hasn't
heard from Eagles prez Joe Banner since the two spoke "briefly
and acrimoniously" on June 2.
Adalius Thomas and Marques Douglas are
competing for the right defensive end spot in Baltimore, which
previously was held by Michael McCrary.
QB Akili Smith
continues his visit with the Jets on Tuesday, before heading to Green
Bay.
Packers seventh-round CB
Chris
Johnson is the candidate du jour to return kicks in John "Mini-Me"
Bonamego's return unit.
WR J.J. Stokes is
leery about joining the Broncos, since he'd likely be No. 4 on the
depth chart, behind Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, and Ashley Lelie.
Steelers first-rounder Troy Polamalu has been
sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury.
From the "get used to it" file: Broncos DT
Daryl Gardener missed practice Monday with a knee injury.
Seahawks WR Koren Robinson
missed practice on Monday with a knuckle fracture that he suffered
last Thursday.
The Redskins
will
not hire a director of college scouting (hey, when you have only 2-3
draft picks per year, who needs one?)
Colts DB Rich Coady has
shed the red jersey, which was protecting his injured shoulder from
contact in offseason workouts.
From the "no sh-t, Sherlock" file: Jason Cole of the Miami Herald
reports that the Dolphins
won't pursue QB Akili Smith after signing QB Brian Griese.
The Bears signed sixth-round draft pick, LB
Joe Odom, to a three-year contract.
WR Darrell Jackson and DT John Randle
currently are absent from the Seahawks' voluntary drills.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
As the Patriots prepare to host their annual charity golf tournament, left
tackle Matt Light contributes to the marketing effort by saying, "Golf
is for girls."
POSTED 10:21 p.m. EDT, June 9, 2003
MONDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS
The Chargers have signed S
Kwamie Lassiter to a three-year deal.
Brian Griese has made
it official -- he's following in his dad's footsteps as a quarterback
for the Miami Dolphins.
Weather permitting, the Bills are
opening their final OTA session of the offseason to the public on
Friday.
The Dolphins have signed LB Corey
Jenkins, a sixth-round draft pick from South Carolina; Jenkins was a
first-round draft choice of the Red Sox after high school.
The Browns open a
three-day, six-practice minicamp on Tuesday, before adjourning until
the opening of training camp.
The Ravens have signed LS
Mike Solwold, formerly of the Bucs.
Colts.com has a photo of RB Edgerrin James sporting his
old college jersey number
5 at minicamp.
The Texans
wrap up voluntary workouts this week, before a final mandatory
minicamp next week.
The Chiefs begin their
final week of offseason work on Tuesday.
Falcons.com has a flock of
Monday practice notes from "throwing camp."
POSTED 6:35 a.m. EDT, June 9, 2003
JETS MEETING WITH AKILI
The New York Daily News reports that free-agent quarterback Akili Smith
will meet with the Jets on Monday.
The Jets' interest in Smith is curious at best, given the presence of Chad
Pennington and Vinny Testaverde on the roster.
Even though 2003 could be Testaverde's last season in New York, it's hard
to imagine Smith accepting another year at the bottom of the depth chart.
Though the Daily News mentions only that the Packers are also interested
in Smith, published reports from last week indicated that the Seahawks and
Saints also are interested in Smith.
MONDAY ONE-LINERS
The Steelers are
installing new nickel and dime defenses, which specifically include
Kendrell Bell, James Farrior, and Casey Hampton.
Texans DB
Patrick
Dennis has been charged with assault, based on allegations that he
choked a woman on Saturday night.
POSTED 10:12 a.m. EDT, June 8, 2003
BEARS REALLY WERE INTERESTED IN GRIESE
Okay, we know that we reported in this space on Saturday that the Bears
and the Packers weren't genuinely interested in quarterback Brian Griese,
and that the whole thing was a ruse intended to put some pressure on the
Dolphins, who ultimately signed the former Broncos quarterback to a
two-year deal.
But we're never afraid to embrace the possibility that we could've been
wr-wr-wr-wr-wrong.
In response to our Saturday report, a league source told us that the Bears
had a real interest in Griese, which arose when they realized that he
could be signed for $1 million up front and play-time incentives.
But why, you might ask, would the Bears want Griese, when they already
have Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler, and 2003 first-rounder Rex Grossman?
Per the source, Stewart is turning out to be unable to grasp (surprise,
surprise) the Bears offense.
So, apparently, when the Bears didn't get Griese, they privately spread
the word that they really weren't interested, in order to keep under wraps
their serious concerns regarding Kordell.
Really, why would the Bears have risked doing even more damage to
Kordell's fragile psyche by phonying-up interest in Griese, merely as a
favor to agent Ralph Cindrich? Kordell's already miffed at the
team's decision to draft Grossman; the addition of Griese likely would
have prompted Kordell to have a full-blown hissy fit.
So, now, the best way for the Bears to deal with the whole issue is to act
like signing Griese never was a serious consideration.
But, as it turns out, it was.
SUNDAY ONE-LINERS
Packers WR Robert Ferguson
could be
taking the early lead in the race to start opposite Donald Driver.
Bucs owner Malcolm "Monty Burns with a Bad Beard" Glazer is
finalizing his
agreement to buy the Dodgers; to avoid running afoul of NFL
cross-ownership rules, one of Glazer's apple-fell-in-the-next-orchard sons
(or a parakeet) will be the technical owner of the Dodgers.
Veteran CB Tyrone Poole says that the
task of figuring out Pats coach Bill Belichick's defensive playbook
makes it "almost like being a rookie all over again."
Saints director of player personnel Rick Mueller has been working for
five weeks without a new contract.
With no real free-agent options available to replace RB Michael Pittman
(if they decide to dump him), it looks like the Bucs would rely on FB
Mike Alstott to carry the ball.
The Bengals open up a
mandatory
minicamp on Monday; though rookie CG Dennis Weathersby has been
cleared to work out following an April 20 shooting, he won't
participate in drills.
It's the 40th anniversary of
George
Plimpton's training camp experience with the Lions, and the Detroit
News talks to former MLB Mike Lucci regarding the players' role in the
filming of the 1968 movie based on Plimpton's book, "Paper Lion."
From the "get the f--k out of here" file, Super Bowl XVII MVP
John Riggins has a new gig, as an actor on the CBS soap opera,
"Guiding Light."
The Bills
passed on 49ers WR J.J. Stokes, because they determined he wouldn't be
an upgrade to the position.
For some good insight into what makes Cowboys coach Bill Parcells tick,
check out this piece from the Dallas Morning News.
POSTED 9:15 a.m. EDT, June 7, 2003
NO ONE ELSE WANTED GRIESE
A league source tells us that the supposed interest of the Packers and
Bears in quarterback Brian Griese was merely a ploy by Griese's agent,
Ralph Cindrich, to squeeze a little more money out of the Dolphins.
Though both teams actually showed interest in Griese, the source says that
there never was a legitimate desire by either of them to outbid the Fins
for Griese's services.
As we hear it, the Bears even called Kordell Stewart's agent, Leigh
Steinberg, to ensure that Stewart wouldn't get his nose out of joint once
word broke that Griese could be coming to Chicago.
The source tells us that Cinrich also approached the Vikings about Griese,
but the Vikes opted not to place any pressure on $100 million starter
Daunte Culpepper.
In the end, Griese got a two-year deal that will either be extended or
terminated after 2003. So why didn't they sign a one-year deal only?
With a two-year contract, Griese's $1 million bonus gets spread over two
seasons, counting for $500,000 against the 2003 cap and $500,000 against
2004.
BANNER RESPONDS TO REID STORY
Eagles president Joe Banner has gone on the record to dispute our Thursday
report regarding speculation around the league that Banner could be
looking to nudge coach/G.M. Andy Reid out of the organization, if the team
underachieves in 2003.
Calling the rumors "far fetched," Banner told us on Friday that "Andy Reid
and I have the best relationship of any two people in our respective
positions in the entire NFL. Anybody who has worked with us knows
that and anybody who is friends with us around the league knows that."
We don't have any reason to question Banner's word on this, but it doesn't
change the fact that folks in league circles are watching the Banner/Reid
relationship very carefully as the 2003 season approaches.
HAS LEN'S D.C. WELL RUN DRY?
We were surprised that news of Joe Mendes' departure from the Redskins
front office wasn't broken by ESPN.com's Len Pastabelli, given that Len
has been getting plenty of D.C. stories of late while (not coincidentally)
Len had been showering praise on team owner Dan Snyder whenever and
wherever he could.
But P-belly has suddenly turned critical of Snyder.
"From the outset," Len writes in his current Tip
Sheet, "the second tenure of Mendes and Cerrato with the Redskins seemed
doomed, and probably
an
ill-advised combination set in place by ownership."
So if his source has been Snyder and/or Vinny Cerrato, we figure that they
won't be saying much to Lenny.
Then again, it's possible that Len's source was Mendes himself.
Either way, don't look for Len to be breaking much Redskin front-office
news in the near future.
SATURDAY ONE-LINERS
The Redskins formally have announced that
they will move training camp to the team's facilities at Redskins
Park.
Packers TE
Tyrone Davis is overweight (again), but coach Mike Sherman isn't ready
to give up on him.
The Texans have signed seventh-rounder
Charles Pearce, a long-snapper from Texas A&M, to a three-year deal.
Pats coach Bill Belichick talked last week with S
Victor Green about a possible return.
Remember the name
Tony Romo; in a crowded Dallas pool of crappy quarterbacks, don't be
surprised if the former Division I-AA standout floats to the top.
Pats CB Ty Law
bristled at questions regarding the possibility that he'll be asked to
take a pay cut.
The Packers are trying out
experimental footballs with laces made out of football leather; the
goal is to improve the quarterback's grip.
The Cardinals are close to signing fifth-rounder
Kenny King,
a defensive tackle from Alabama.
The Dolphins are close to signing LB
Korey
Jenkins, a fifth-round draft choice from South Carolina.
The Cardinals
don't like the offers they're getting for RB Thomas Jones, but even
they aren't stupid enough to cut him loose when they could get something
in return for him (or are they?).
POSTED 8:35 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 9:28 a.m. EDT, June
6, 2003
RAMS THINK WILKINS TURNED THEM IN
Publicly, the St. Louis Rams are taking the position that the loss of
their final week of offseason voluntary workouts was not the result of an
anonymous player complaint to the league.
"No player turned us in," said offensive
tackle Kyle Turley. "I've talked to [NFLPA executive director] Gene
Upshaw. It was not a player."
Privately, word is that the Rams suspect receiver Terrence Wilkins of
blowing the whistle. Per a league source, Wilkins has not been
participating much in the offseason program, and the veteran pass-catcher
generally is behaving like a guy who wants to get cut.
Wilkins probably hasn't been released yet due to the status of Torry Holt.
If Wilkins is gone, Holt suddenly would have more leverage in the efforts
to score a big-money deal. Though Wilkins has not yet threatened a
holdout, the Rams need to have Wilkins available for training camp in the
event that the Holt situation deteriorates.
Still, odds are that Wilkins eventually will be cut loose. He was a
major disappointment in 2002, primarily because he couldn't figure out the
Rams' complex playbook.
Regarding Turley's statement that the penalty wasn't the result of a
player tip, it's important to remember that the information came from
NFLPA chief Gene Upshaw. Upshaw's group relies on future players
being willing to come forward with reports of rules violations and other
team misconduct; Upshaw gains nothing for his group by blowing the cover
of the guys who already have blown the whistle.
Also, a league source has confirmed for us that the Rams are unfazed by
the loss of a week's worth of offseason practice time. The team didn't
plan to use that week for on-field activities, anyway. The
Post-Dispatch reports that the net loss to the Rams is that the
veterans won't be able to spend the week in the team's weight room.
ANGELO, TERRELL FEUD CONTINUES
Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo has ongoing squabbles not only with his head
coach, Dick Jauron, but also with receiver David Terrell.
Per one of our Chicago moles, Angelo and Terrell have had some tense
exchanges of late, ever since Angelo suggested that rookie receiver Justin
Gage of Missouri could press Terrell for playing time at the No. 3 spot.
Terrell responded brusquely after the draft,
saying that if Angelo isn't "happy with Dave Terrell and what I bring to
the organization, he knows what to do.''
Angelo apparently does know what to do. Word is that he plans to
lobby for more reps for Gage into training camp.
According to our source, Angelo believes that Terrell is all talk, and
little results.
Stay tuned.
FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
The Packers are interested in QB
Brian Griese.
Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said that the team has contacted QB
Akili Smith, even though the team reportedly has
increased its offer to Griese.
WR Terrell Owens' agents says that, despite recent to ESPN's Jim "I
Compensating For My Annoying Voice By Talking Even Louder" Rome that T.O.
thinks he's underpaid,
Owens doesn't have any beef with his contract.
Redskins MLB Jeremiah Trotter is
back at practice after popping the wishbone in his knee on
Thanksgiving Day.
Vikings DT Chris Hovan has a
Brett Favre
jersey hanging in his locker to provide motivation for the season
opener at Lambeau.
Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey is
only at 75 percent after hernia surgery.
Jags reserve QB David Garrard likely will miss the start of a four-day
passing camp next week after
injuring his leg at practice on Wednesday.
The wife of Bucs RB Michael Pittman has
hired a divorce lawyer.
Lions RB
Luke
Staley has missed practice since Monday with a hamstring injury.
The Broncos got a scare when Pro Bowl DE Trevor Pryce
fell to the ground screaming; as it turns out, Pryce merely got popped
in the meatballs.
The Bengals have signed rookie DT
Langston Moore to a three-year deal.
The Redskins
fired
director of college scouting John Nay, and V.P. of player personnel
will begin interviewing candidates for the gig next week.
Browns coach Butch Davis hints that Tim Couch has the inside track to
keeping the starting quarterback job.
Patriots first-rounder Ty Warren, a defensive tackle,
lined up at defensive end with the second unit at practice on
Thursday.
RB Mike Cloud is participating in Patriots camp on a tryout basis, but
he'll be forced to sit out four games if he signs, due to a violation
of the league's substance-abuse policy.
Even without a home team to follow, TV ratings in L.A. are
higher for the NFL than for any other sport.
Deion Sanders
visited with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells after practice; we expect
Sanders eventually to cherry-pick a Super Bowl contender in November or
December, now that he's an unrestricted free agent.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For what it's worth, we read Thursday's USA Today feature on Jason Kidd's
wife, Joumana, and we've concluded that Bob Ryan should've gotten a
promotion, not a suspension.
POSTED 11:15 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2003
THURSDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS
As first reported in this space, the Bears are
taking
a chance on FB Casey Urlacher, brother of MLB Brian.
As also first reported in this space, Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo has
acknowledged that
S Mike
Brown is the next target for an extension.
The Bills have signed
veteran S Chad Cota, who spent 2002 with the Rams.
Former San Fran WR J.J. Stokes
will meet with the Broncos on Friday.
Ravens DE Terrell Suggs
missed his second straight day of practice with back spasms.
The Colts have dumped QB
Jim Druckenmiller, in favor of Arena League product Jim Kubiak.
The Rams
have lost a week of offseason workouts, due to a violation of the
rules relating to the amount of time that players can spend at the team
facility.
The Chargers have added former Cowboys OL
Solomon Page.
The Cowboys
released three on Thursday, including LG Ross Tucker, who started the
final seven games of 2002.
Panthers coach John Fox says
no
visits are scheduled with receivers to replace Kevin Dyson, who tore
an Achilles' on Wednesday.
The Texans have signed seventh-round S
Curry Burns, of Louisville, to a three-year deal.
Redskins DE Bruce Smith was
acquitted of DUI on Wednesday.
Bucs RB Michael Pittman has been
charged with two
felonies in the wake of last weekend's bumper-car incident near his
Phoenix home.
The Jets have signed Arena League K
Clay Rush.
POSTED 8:55 a.m. EDT, June 5, 2003
BANNER LOOKING TO BOOT REID?
There's mounting speculation in league circles that Eagles president Joe
Banner could try to pull a Modrak on coach/G.M. Andy Reid if the Birds
don't soar past the NFC title game in 2003.
Though we've heard nothing directly from Philly to substantiate this
possibility, league insiders carefully are watching the relationship
between Banner and Reid as training camp approaches.
Some are attaching much significance to the fact that Banner has remained
conspicuously quiet in connection with the string of adversities that the
Eagles have faced this offseason, pointing most recently to the
contract-fueled absences from voluntary workouts of running back Duce
Staley and cornerback Bobby Taylor.
It's a common theme that we've noticed over the past couple of years.
When all goes well, the cap-and-contracts guys thump their chests.
When the toilet bowl starts to rumble, however, the guys who don't make
the football decisions crawl under the closest sheet of Teflon and wait
for the dust to settle.
In the end, the Joe Banners of the NFL world typically will still have a
gig. The Andy Reids won't.
And the past experiences of Tom Modrak and Ray Rhodes make the present
situation in Philly even more intriguing. Banner is close enough to
the owner to know when traces of dissatisfaction start to emerge -- and
Banner likewise is smart enough to run for cover at the first hint that
heads could be rollin'.
Of course, it's hardly a one-way street. We've previously heard that
Donovan McNabb's candid remarks regarding free-agent departures occurred
at Reid's behest, presumably in an effort to focus attention on the fact
that Banner had a fairly significant role in the fact that several Eagles
flew the coop since March 1.
So brace yourself for a possible explosion in Philly, if the Eagles
sputter this year. Though Banner has been able to survive past
purges, we expect Reid to fight hard for his turf.
TRAYLOR IN, TED OUT IN CHITOWN?
Though it once appeared that defensive tackle Keith Traylor would be
released by the Bears, we're now hearing that Ted Washington could be the
one who draws the short, fat straw.
Per one of our Chicago moles, word is that G.M. Jerry Angelo is
disappointed by Washington's weight and health. In contrast, coach
Dick Jauron remains high on Traylor.
It nevertheless is possible that both Traylor and Washington will go.
Traylor's fate ultimately could be tied to the status of Bryan Robinson.
If/when Robinson's expected four-game suspension expires, Robinson could
be moved inside -- and Traylor could be out like Richard Chamberlain (or
insert the name of any football player who comes to mind . . . not that
there's anything wrong with that).
FINS LOOKING ELSEWHERE?
As contract discussions with quarterback Brian Griese turn nasty, don't be
surprised to see the Dolphins look elsewhere for a No. 2 guy.
At the top of a very short list of quarterback prospects is former Bengal
Akili Smith, who is drawing interest from the Packers and the Saints.
We're hearing that the Dolphins also might jump into the pursuit for the
1999 top-five bust.
In the end, we still expect Griese to land in Miami. His agent,
Ralph Cindrich, is having trouble getting more money out of the Fins
because everyone knows that Griese wants to be in Miami, and that Griese
has no other options south of Toronto.
Sure, other teams might be interested in taking a flyer on Griese, but no
one is going to give him the deal that Miami is offering: An
incentive-laden package with a high second-year salary, which virtually
ensures that Griese will get a chance to hit the market in 2004 -- before
June 1, when most of the spots already are filled.
Griese also could opt to wait for the virtually inevitable snap, crackle,
and/or pop of an ACL during training camp, which could create for Brian an
opportunity that, as of now, doesn't exist.
We still think that Griese eventually will tell Cindrich to get the deal
done in Miami. Ralph already made a nice fee off of Brian when he
signed a big-money deal in Denver, so at some point the agent should just
let the client decide where he wants to play, and to determine what he's
willing to get paid.
POSTED 9:45 p.m. EDT, June 4, 2003
WEDNESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS
Though the
Great Gazoo report that Bears LB Brian Urlacher will receive a $13
million bonus, ChicagoBears.com says
the bonus is about $16 million (Fred and Barney's pal also reports
that the total value of the deal is as much as $58 million, which based on
our info is about $15 million light).
Panthers WR Kevin
Dyson is the first victim of 2003 offseason workouts -- he has a torn
Achilles' and likely will miss the season (Michael Todd might get paid after all).
Browns RB
James Jackson has signed a one-year extension, which will keep him in
Cleveland.
The Packers have signed Oregon State
DT James Lee,
the team's fifth-round pick in April.
The Raiders have signed veteran CB
Paul Miranda.
POSTED 2:47 p.m. EDT, June 4, 2003
BRIAN'S SONG: NINE YEARS, $72 MILLION-PLUS
On April 23, we reported that the Bears were working on a contract
extension with Brian Urlacher.
Little more than a month later, the deal is done.
Per sources close to the action, Urlacher's new nine-year deal averages $8
million to $10 million per season.
As part of the deal, the Bears have agreed to give Brian's brother, Casey,
an "extended look." Casey Urlacher is a former Division III fullback
who was not drafted in April.
And for the "you heard it here first" file -- next up on the Bears'
contract extension "to do" list is safety Mike Brown. Word is,
however, that they expect the negotiations to be more challenging.
POSTED 8:50 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 9:35 a.m. EDT, June
4, 2003
KEIM ON THE RISE IN PHOENIX
Word around the league is that Steve Keim could be on the fast track to
front-office success in Arizona, or elsewhere.
Keim, a mere pup at 30, recently was named director of college scouting
with the Cardinals. He's considered to be a rising star in the NFL
ranks, and the Cards gave him the promotion after other teams showed
interest in whisking him out of the desert.
So keep an eye on Keim. He'll be around for a while -- and in time
he'll likely be running a team somewhere.
EVANS LIKELY FAILED TO SUBMIT TO A TEST
After talking with some of our league insiders regarding the coming
indefinite suspension of Jets defensive tackle Josh Evans, the consensus
is that Evans likely failed to submit to an unannounced test.
As a repeat offender (Evans most recently had been suspended for a full
year), Evans was subject to 2-3 random tests per week. Though the
NFL has somewhat softened its rules in this regard, it's still a rigorous
program, and there is little margin for error on the player's part.
And under the NFL's drug-testing policies, a failure to test is equivalent
to a positive.
This scenario makes even more sense in light of Evans' unequivocal denial
that he has resorted to his suck-and-inhale-and-hold-it-in ways.
Sure, he hasn't smoked marijuana recently. But if you don't show up
at the appointed time for target practice into a plastic cup, it's the
same outcome.
Another telling factor here is that Evans' agent has not come out strongly
in support of his client. Typically, the agent will raise a ruckus
when the client is clean. Taking a stand, in contrast, when the
client is at fault serves only to damage the agent's credibility.
Finally, our discussions with league insiders have served only to
strengthen our belief that the Jets knew of the coming suspension before
striking a trade with the Bears for the No. 4 pick in the draft.
The initial notification of a positive test comes from the league office,
and it is sent by letter to the team's G.M. and to the player only.
The player then has 30 days to file an appeal.
And during that 30 days, the likelihood of a leak is very, very small,
since all parties are bound by a stringent requirement of confidentiality.
With only a handful of people aware of the issue, it'd be easy for the
league to identify the person responsible for yapping.
But after the appeal is filed, the circle of knowledge expands. And
our guess is that the appeal was filed at some point in mid-May, which
means that the Jets found out about the test at some point in mid-April.
Of course, none of this would be an issue if these guys would treat their
bodies like the cash-creating machines that they are.
WEDNESDAY ONE-LINERS
As reported first in this space, the delay in the signing of Brian Griese
by the Dolphins comes down to
the
agent's quest for coin.
If DT Josh Evans loses his appeal,
he loses the $3 million bonus he picked up on March 1.
The Packers
are interested in QB Akili Smith, and the interest is mutual.
The Giants
released K Owen Pochman, leaving Matt Bryant and Mike Hollis as the
current candidates for the kicking chores.
Vikings owner Red McCombs says that
he's not presently focused on selling the team (which is a good thing
since no one is presently focused on buying it).
The Redskins
will pay Joe Mendes the balance of his contract, which would have run
through 2003.
The Chiefs saved
$3 million in cap room by dumping CB Ray Crockett.
The Jags have
confirmed their interest in WR J.J. Stokes.
WR Matthew Hatchette
likely will
rejoin the Vikings in an effort to resurrect a career that essentially
died when he left the team.
The Bucs are
supporting beleaguered RB Michael Pittman (translation -- they got no
other options).
CB Champ Bailey
isn't
looking to make a proposal to extend his contract, which expires after
the season, but he'd listen to the Redskins, if they want to talk.
Vikings DL Willie Howard
won't be
able to return from a serious leg injury he suffered in December 2001.
Jags TE Kyle Brady hopes that his participation in voluntary workouts
will earn him a reprieve from fines imposed when he missed the
mandatory camp.
The Eagles signed seventh-round pick
Norman
LeJeune, a safety from LSU, to a three-year deal with a $30,000 bonus.
Former Cowboys G.M. Tex Schramm will become the
12th member of the Ring of Honor on October 12.
POSTED 9:03 p.m. EDT, UPDATED 9:33 p.m. EDT, June
3, 2003
MENDES OUT, VINNY UP IN D.C.
The Washington Post reports that Redskins V.P. of football operations
Joe Mendes is leaving the team (again), by mutual agreement.
Director of player personnel Vinny Cerrato will assume Mendes' title.
Mendes generally was viewed as the conservative voice in the Snyderbrenner
brain trust, with Cerrato falling more in line with Snyder's
free-spending, cap-busting ways.
Though the move is far from a shocker, Mendes and owner Dan Snyder met not
long ago to discuss his status, and they emerged with an understanding
that Mendes would finish the 2003 season with the team before moving on.
We wonder whether the move was influenced by the recent death of Daniel
Snyder's father, Gerald. As we've previously reported, Snyder's
father (and mother) were big supporters of Cerrato, and we suspect that
the younger Snyder's decision to accelerate the move was influenced in
some way by his father's passing.
It also makes us wonder whether Snyder will be even more impulsive moving
forward -- especially without Mendes there to talk him back from the
ledge.
TUESDAY EVENING ONE-LINERS
The Browns have signed
RB Jamel White to
a four-year deal.
The next Oronde? The Fins have signed Arena League veteran WR
Chris Jackson,
28, to a two-year deal.
The Bucs have signed well-traveled RB
Terry Kirby to a
one-year deal.
The Bills have signed former Raiders WR
James Jett.
The Broncos have added QB
Danny Kanell. (Who's next, Todd Marinovich?)
The Chargers have named Fran Foley
director of pro scouting.
The Packers have signed OT Marcus
Spriggs.
POSTED 8:58 a.m. EDT, June 3, 2003
ROONEY TO TOBACCO ROW?
A league source tells us that the coming player personnel vacancy in
Carolina ultimately could be filled by a member of the family that has
been synonymous with Pittsburgh football for the past 70 years.
Per the source, Dan Rooney, Jr. quietly is being mentioned as a candidate
for the position. Others who have been linked to the position
include Dwight Clark and Reggie McKenzie.
Dan Rooney, Jr. is the son of current team president Dan and the grandson
of team founder Art Rooney. Dan, Jr. already lives in Carolina,
where he works for the family bidness as a college scout.
If Rooney makes the move, it wouldn't be a prodigal son thing. He'd
merely be honing his skills and building his own legacy as he
prepares to work with his brother Art, II when their time comes to take
over the operation in Pittsburgh.
GIBBS PULLING THE STRINGS IN ATLANTA?
We're hearing that, if the Falcons underachieve in 2003, former Redskins
coach and current Atlanta consultant Joe Gibbs will have a very high
degree of influence over the hiring of a coach and a G.M.
The new coach likely would be Dennis Green. Gibbs has been a
long-time fan of Green, who coached Gibbs' son at Stanford in the early
1990s. With Green's former agent, Ray Anderson, serving as a top
exec in the Atlanta front office, all signs will be pointing to Denny.
But Green likely won't be both coach and G.M. On the personnel side,
look for Gibbs to test the waters with Texans G.M. Charley Casserly
(who'll most likely decline). In the end, Gibbs might go with Bears
director of pro personnel Bobby DePaul, who was an assistant coach with
Gibbs in D.C. from 1989 to 1992.
CINDRICH SLOWING DOWN GRIESE SIGNING?
With the Dolphins and quarterback Brian Griese ready and willing to get
together, why hasn't anything happened?
A league source tells us that Griese's agent, Ralph Cindrich, is moving
deliberately, in the hopes of getting a better financial package from the
Fins -- or in the hopes of churning up some/any interest for Griese
elsewhere.
The problem, as we hear it, is that the Fins aren't desperate to sign
Griese. As a result, delay and/or competition won't prompt them to
spew money out of their blowholes.
Likewise, it's clear that Griese wants to go to Miami, so in our view it's
just a matter of time before Griese tells Cindrich to get the deal done.
POSTED 9:42 p.m. EDT, June 2, 2003
BUCS INTERESTED IN THE BUS?
In the wake of running back Michael Pittman's arrest for playing "Pin the
Benz with the Hummer," we're hearing that the Bucs are desperately
searching for tailbacks -- and that they're interested in Jerome Bettis,
among others.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher has been non-committal regarding Bettis's
future in the 'Burgh, suggesting that he'll make the 2003 roster, but
stopping short of guaranteeing Bettis the starting spot in the Opening Day
lineup.
At one point, the thinking was that Bettis could get dumped after June 1.
Now, it's not out of the question for the Steelers to dangle the Bus for a
possible trade, especially if the Bucs are looking to park Pittman.
Really, the Bucs have no alternative to Pittman. They made a lowball
offer to Emmitt Smith, and they never had a chance to draft Willis McGahee.
With only Thomas Jones and Ron Dayne potentially available, we wouldn't be
shocked to see the Bucs send a mid-rounder to Pittsburgh.
One issue to keep in mind here -- Bettis has asthma and he traditionally
struggles in the Florida heat. This could make things difficult for
Bettis in those September games at Ray Jay.
REID PISSED AT TAYLOR NO-SHOW
A league source tells us that Eagles veteran cornerback Bobby Taylor
skipped the opening sessions of a voluntary passing camp, which left coach
Andy Reid fuming (despite his efforts to publicly ho-hum Taylor's decision
to stay away.
Per the source, Taylor is skipping the camp at the behest of his
newly-hired agents, Jason Medlock and Vincent Taylor, who are committed to
scoring a deal for Taylor that places him among the highest-paid defensive
backs.
Taylor currently ranks ninth among corners, with a 2003 base salary of
$3.75 million. His contract will expire after the coming season, and
it's been widely speculated that the Eagles will not keep both Taylor and
teammate Troy Vincent.
It's a risky move, to be sure. With second-year man Lito Sheppard
having an opportunity in Taylor's absence to show that he can step into
the starting lineup, the Eagles could decide to dump Taylor now, avoiding
his 2003 salary with no extra cap hit.
On the open market, Taylor likely would be hard pressed to get $3.75
million in pay for 2003.
In our view, Taylor should invest his 2003 salary well, and he should hope
that someone will be ready to pay him half of that in 2004, when he'll be
30.
POSTED 10:12 a.m. EDT, June 3, 2003
TUESDAY ONE-LINERS
No. 3 overall pick
Andre Johnson has fired agent Jeff Moorad; our guess is that the
former 'Cane will be hiring Drew Rosenhaus (but for now it's just a
guess).
Giants RB Ron Dayne reported for
a three-day voluntary minicamp, but coach Jim Fassel nevertheless
called him out for missing prior voluntary sessions.
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells says that
he's not interested in QB Brian Griese.
S Lee Flowers
has signed a one-year deal with the Broncos, thanks to the cap room
created by the release of Brian Griese.
Giants C Dusty Ziegler
failed a physical on Monday, and was released.
Bucs RB Michael Pittman
reported for
voluntary workouts in Tampa, despite his recent felony charges.
The Steelers apparently are taking a
wait-and-see approach with TE Mark Bruener, whose release would create
more than $2 million in 2003 cap room.
Here's a shocker -- Packers DE Joe Johnson claims that the marijuana he
recently was charged with possessing
wasn't his.
The Packers are
close to
signing OT Marcus Spriggs.
The Steelers have signed veteran O-lineman
Calvin Collins.
Despite staying away from prior offseason work, TE Kyle Brady
reported for a four-day voluntary camp in Jacksonville, uncertain as
to whether he'll be given a "pay-cut-or-else" ultimatum.
The Jags won't have to account for WR
R. Jay Soward under the 2003 cap, since he's still on the
"reserve/suspended" list.
Lions WR Scotty Anderson, who was rumored to be the "devout coward" about
whom CEO Matt Millen complained last season on Mike Ditka's radio show, is
back at
practice after getting stabbed in the shoulder on May 26.
Ravens DB Gary Baxter
looked good in his first practice at safety; Corey Fuller will get
reps there soon with an eye toward one of them making the move for the
2003 season.
POSTED 9:00 a.m. EDT, UPDATED 9:10 a.m. EDT, June
2, 2003
DID JETS KNOW ABOUT EVANS?
With the revelation that Jets defensive tackle Josh "Smokey-Smokey" Evans
could get the Dale Carter treatment from the NFL in the very near future,
an obvious queston arises -- did the Jets know this was coming when they
moved up to the four hole to nab Kentucky lineman Dewayne Robertson?
Though some within the New York media
generally have dismissed the possibility that the Jets had knowledge
of the positive pee test prior to the April 26 draft, the selection of
Robertson with the fourth overall pick makes much more sense in hindsight,
given the likelihood that Evans will be gone, permanently.
The Jets used their own pick in the first round plus the 13th overall
selection from D.C. to swing a deal with the Bears, allowing the Jets to
climb all the way up to No. 4. At the time, the thinking was that
the Jets were hoping to get in position to land an elite receiver, but the
consensus was that both of them (Charles Rogers and Andre Johnson) would
be gone in the top three.
When they signed Evans a year ago, we shouted from the rooftops the fact
that the J-E-T-S were overpaying for yet another T-U-R-D. Even with
Robertson in their back pocket, the impending suspension of Evans
represents the most recent fumble in a horrendous offseason in Gotham,
which prompted one league insider to ask us, "When do they start playing,
'Send in the Clowns'?"
At this point, no one knows when the positive test occurred, or when the
Jets specifically found out the results. It's obvious the Jets
didn't know when they exercised a $3 million option bonus on March 1.
Our guess is that, at some point between March 1 and April 25, the Jets
got the news.
NHLPA NOT INTERESTED IN SALARY CAP
With their labor contract set to expire after the 2003-04 season, we're
hearing from our NHL media contacts (yours truly represented Ivan Hlinka
in his legal do-si-do with the Pens last year) that the NHL players
association isn't interested in a NFL-style salary cap.
NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow apparently believes that the NFL's
system hurts the players, because their contracts are not guaranteed.
In the NHL, players under the age of 26 get 33 percent of their remaining
contract value if released, and players over 26 get 67 percent.
Still, NHL players aren't eligible for unrestricted free agency until age
31. With most players breaking in at age 18-20, it's a long, long
time to wait in order to get a shot at the open market.
In our view, the NHLPA shouldn't write off the NFL's approach merely
because the base salaries aren't guaranteed. At a minimum, the NHLPA
should explore a hybrid system that, for example, allows a contract to be
bought out under the current formula without a cap hit.
And did we mention that the NFL currently has the best thing going in pro
sports, and that the NHL's television ratings are hovering somewhere
between Sesame Street and Sanford and Son? Maybe the NHL needs some
more competitive balance (i.e., someone other than the Devils and/or Red
Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals) and maybe the best way to get there is to
create the same anyone-can-win-it-all feeling that permeates the new NFL.
The best way to do it is through a hard salary cap.
PITTMAN GOING UP THE RIVER?
The Tampa newspapers report that Bucs back Michael Pittman faces six
felony charges after
ramming with his Hummer the Mercedes carrying his wife and his
two-year-old son.
Pittman and his wife had been arguing about whether Pittman could take the
boy to a three-day optional camp this week.
The incident occurred on Saturday, near Pittman's home in Phoenix.
His wife, their son, and their babysitter, who all were in the car, were
not injured.
It's not Pittman's first brush with the law. In 2001, he served five
days after fighting with current Browns safety Earl Little, who was with
Pittman's wife at a time when the couple was estranged. Pittman also
received a one-game suspension for the incident. Pittman also was
arrested twice on domestic violence charges in 1997.
Pittman, whose wife recently gave birth to the couple's second child
("Little Joe Horn" Pittman?), faces another suspension for this incident,
and it could prompt the Bucs to cut him loose altogether. With guys
like Thomas Jones and Ron Dayne available for a low-round pick, don't be
surprised if the Bucs make a move.
MONDAY ONE-LINERS
The Bengals
will
release QB Akili Smith on Monday, who sums up his time in Cincy as
"hell."
QB Brian Griese
will get his walking papers on Monday, and he'll walk straight to
Miami (unless he falls down over his dog, his own feet, and/or a parade of
pink elephants).
QB Eric Crouch likely will need to be able to show that
he can also
return kicks, if he wants a roster spot in Green Bay.
The Packers recently have tried out
several
forgotten veterans, including OT Solomon Page, OL Marcus Spriggs, TE
Pete Mitchell, and RB Lamar Smith.
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