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POSTED 11:51 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:58 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

CORNRICH CONNECTION PAYS OFF FOR GRANTHAM?

A league source tells us that the contract extension signed by Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham with the Cleveland Browns will pay him $1 million per year.

That's not a bad chunk of change for a guy who works under a head coach who is a defensive specialist, and who presides over a generally crappy defense.

The move also is causing raised eyebrows among league insiders because Grantham is represented by Neil Cornrich, who also happens to represent Browns General Manager Phil Savage. So, to the extent that Savage was the person in charge of the deal, an agent was negotiating with one of his clients about another client. So Cornrich had a duty to get the best possible deal for one of his clients -- even if it meant creating the perception that his other client got raked over the coals.

So, in other words, it's another example of the kind of conflict of interest that the NFL needs to eliminate.

LARON GETS SHOT IN LA DONG

From the "Okay, Now We've Really Heard Everything" file, Redskins first-round rookie LaRon Landry missed the first day of a full squad minicamp because he recently was shot by a paintball. In the groin.

On the bright side, he can now sing like Mariah Carey.

The injury happened after coach Joe Gibbs ended OTA workouts prematurely on Wednesday. Some of the players decided to play paintball.

"I didn't know paintball was that dangerous," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "I hope it wasn't friendly fire."

POSTED 7:19 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

RAIDERS GET KNUCKLES RAPPED FOR OFFSEASON CONTACT

Finally, the NFL Players Association has taken action against one of the league's 32 teams for violating the rules regarding offseason workouts.

And, ironically, the franchise on the wrong end of the ruling is the same team for which NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw once played.

Per a league source, the Oakland Raiders have been disciplined for violating the prohibition against offseason contact found in Article XXXV of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. According to the source, the problem arose from the intensity and tempo of the team's offseason practices.

But the penalty is minimal. Since all so-called Organized Training Activities have been completed in Oakland, the team will lose only one week of player workout time. Specifically, players will be prohibited from lifting weights or conducting any conditioning work at the club's facility during the week of June 18. Players otherwise would have been allowed to spend up to four days at the facility.

Despite language in the CBA indicating that coaches can be fined for violations of the offseason workout rules, we're told that no fine will be imposed on first-year coach Lane Kiffin.

It's unclear whether the issue arose because of a player complaint or because the NFLPA decided to act on its own. If a player complains, the union must investigate; the NFLPA otherwise has discretion as to whether an inquiry may be launched.

We're told that the process began with a letter from the union requesting video of certain practices. On Friday, the ruling was issued.

Moving forward, the question is whether this was an isolated incident, or whether the NFLPA will begin to do something about blatant violations of the no-contact rules. Just this week, there was clear evidence in the media that the Seahawks have been engaging in bump-and-run pass defense during offseason workouts. (The bump-and-run technique is listed in the CBA as one of the banned practices.) Also, Browns rookie tackle Joe Thomas said that the contact during offseason workouts in Cleveland has been more intense than the in-season practices with pads that he attended at Wisconsin. On Thursday, the Giants placed fullback Jim Finn on injured reserve after suffering a torn labrum while delivering a block during a practice in which there should have been no blocking.

As a matter of basic fairness, then, the union should start investigations in any city where there is reason to believe that the rules have been violated. We've got a feeling, quite frankly, that violations likely have occurred in every city.

POSTED 4:14 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:19 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

NO CHARGES FOR HENRY

WLWT-TV reports that Bengals receiver Chris Henry will not be charged with assault arising from allegations made earlier this week by a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old witness.

The alleged victim and his family reportedly have stopped cooperating with police. Also, two other suspects have been identified in the assault.

Florence, Kentucky police told the station that Henry is no longer considered a suspect. Teammate Reggie McNeal likewise has been exonerated.

Henry currently is on probation resulting from two prior incidents. An arrest likely would have sparked efforts to revoke probation and put him in jail.

He also has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. It is believed that any further incidents from Henry will result in his banishment from the league.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS

The Steelers have fired the team doctor who was linked to HGH. (Offensive line coach Larry Zierlein sent us an e-mail about it.)

Lord Favre has a sore shoulder.

Packers WR Robert Ferguson is practicing at all of the receiver positions: X, Y, and Z (not to be confused with the initials of W, T, and F, which usually are uttered whenever Ferguson drops a pass).

Fins QB Daunte Culpepper got rear-ended. (If you're expecting a smart-ass remark, it ain't happening. But feel free to insert your own. . . . Remark, that is.)

Rams WR Torry Holt is on schedule after offseason knee surgery.

The Colts are talking to DE Dwight Freeney about a long-term extension; after July 15, he can only sign a one-year deal.

Jets G Pete Kendall wants to be traded or released.

RB Chris Brown will sign with the Bears or the Titans.

Five people have inquired about the gig of president of the Packers; four of them currently work in pro football.

Giants DE Michael Strahan says that he's the best at what he does. (If that's the case, there's no way he's happy about making only $4 million this year.)

POSTED 4:02 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

TITANS LOOKING INTERNALLY, EXTERNALLY TO REPLACE SNEAD

A league source tells us that the pool of finalists to replace former Titans director of player personnel Rich Snead is down to five. Two are from outside the organization, and three come from within.

The external candidates are John Schneider of the Packers and 49ers scout Trent Baalke (Bartokomous). The in-house guys are National Coordinator of College Scouting C.O. Brocato, Director of Pro Personnel Lake Dawson, and Director of College Scouting Mike Ackerley.

There also are rumblings that Baalke has withdrawn his name from consideration.

Snead left after his contract was not renewed. He accepted a position with the Raiders, presumably as the replacement for Mike Lombardi.

In the end, Snead might not be the only front-office guy who needs to be replaced. Rumors persist that G.M. Mike Reinfeldt is a potential candidate to become the next president of the Packers. It's unclear whether Reinfeldt could make the move to Green Bay without the consent of the Titans. If, however, the president of the Packers has the authority to hire and fire the G.M. there, it could be enough to constitute the kind of vertical front-office move that cannot be blocked, regardless of the number of years remaining on Reinfeldt's contract.

POSTED 10:33 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 12:09 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

WINSLOW MAKES AGENT CHANGE

Multiple league sources have informed us that Browns tight end Kellen Winslow has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus. Winslow previously was represented by Carl and Kevin Poston.

Carl Poston was summarily suspended by the NFLPA in 2006 due to alleged delays in the resolution of Poston's appeal of a two-year suspension resulting from his admitted failure to read the final draft of a new contract for then-Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington. The contract allegedly was supposed to pay two separate $6.5 million roster bonuses in 2006, and Poston claimed that the team pulled one of the roster bonuses from the last version of the deal. He said that he didn't notice the omission because he didn't read the contract. A league source tells us that the hearing on the original suspension will be conducted in September.

It's unclear whether Winslow made the change because of Carl Poston's status, or whether there were other factors. We've previously pointed out that Winslow's rookie deal contained a multi-million-dollar bonus tied to minimum playing time, but that it applied to his rookie season only. Most contracts of this nature allow for the payment to be triggered by reaching the 35-percent threshold in any year of the deal. Because Winslow broke a leg while playing special teams in 2004 and did not qualify for the payment, it was forever lost.

The hiring of Rosenhaus could be a sign that Winslow wants a new contract. However, it was only a year ago that the Browns and Winslow resolved the unfortunate "vroom-vroom, smash" incident by taking back some bonus money, adding a year to the deal, and giving him the opportunity to earn back the lost bonus money via incentives.

He currently is signed through 2010, and is due to earn a salary of $2 million in 2007. Rosenhaus will be eligible for no fee unless and until a new contract is negotiated.

But Winslow has bigger issues than his contract. He is recovering from microfracture surgery, and there are indications that he will be limited at the start of training camp. Still, he played well in 2006 and, if his knee allows him to play, he likely will continue to perform at a high level.

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER NEW SPRINT PHONE

It's never hard for us to come up with something to share with PFT Planet regarding our official telecommunications sponsors, Sprint and Nextel, because there's always something good to talk about.

Last week, we took a closer look at the UpStage, a two-sided phone/music player combination that could end up being better than a certain product that won't even be on the market for two weeks, and that likely will be hard to come by until, coincidentally, the Christmas shopping season.

This time around, there's a new phone that combines the best of the Sprint services with the Nextel walkie-talkie features. It's the Motorola Deluxe ic902, and it has full access to Sprint TV, the Sprint Music Store, and the rest of the Power Vision network. Meanwhile, the ic902 also offers Nextel's Direct Talk, Group Connect, and Direct Send features.

A full description of the capabilities of the ic902 can be seen right here. Put simply, it's the perfect combination of the push-to-talk concept and all of the entertainment capabilities available exclusively to Sprint customers.

So if you don't have a Sprint phone, consider the ic902. Or the UpStage. Or one of the other in a broad range of devices that can be purchased by clicking the links on this page.

You know the drill. Sprint supports us. We provide free content. Everyone has a mobile phone. Thus, if you like the content on this site, you can support us by supporting Sprint.

POSTED 9:22 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 9:52 a.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

VILMA FUMBLES FOR A MULLIGAN

Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma has tried to clarify (i.e., make go away) his recent remarks comparing dog fighting to horse racing.

Said Vilma on Thursday: "I was definitely not comparing the two, dog fighting to horse racing."

Said Vilma on Wednesday: "Of course, dog fighting is much more extreme, but you can equate it to horse racing."

We agree, Jon. You weren't comparing dog fighting to horse racing. You were equating it to horse racing. Thanks for the clearing that up.

FEDS WISELY AREN'T SHARING INFO WITH POINDEXTER

There has been an eerie silence for the past week or so regarding the Mike Vick dog-fighting investigation. A big part of the reason, in our view, is that the federal authorities are smart enough to realize that nothing positive flows from talking to the media about the inner workings of the case.

So it should surprise no one that the first update in the past several days comes not from the feds, but from Surry County, Virginia prosecutor Gerald Poindexter, who has shown no restraint when it comes to talking to the media (often out of both sides of his mouth) regarding the investigation.

Per the Virginian-Pilot, Poindexter says that the federal officials have recently been in touch with him. But Poindexter said that the feds didn't say whether they had found dead dogs on the property during a June 7 search.

"I don't know if they found the carcasses or not," Poindexter said. "They didn't tell me."

Why would they? So that Poindexter could call a press conference to announce it?

Frankly, we're surprised that the feds are having any contact with Poindexter. Our guess is that their goal is to keep an eye on his "work" without telling him anything about the federal investigation that he then could blab to the press.

As to the investigation being conducted by Surry County authorities, Sheriff Harold Brown says that he still has three or four persons to interview.

The fact that the flow of information has died down doesn't mean that the case is languishing. If anything, this period fairly could be characterized as the calm before the coming storm.

RETURN OF THE PODCAST

Back by popular demand (if "popular" is broad enough to cover three e-mails in six months), it's the PFT Podcast.

We've resurrected the thing after a temporary (if "temporary" is broad enough to mean six months) hiatus, and we've got big plans for this technology that we've neglected (i.e., completely ignored) since the end of the 2006 season.

First, the PFT Podcast will be the new platform for our "E-Mails We Like" feature. Instead of updating the "E-Mails We Like" thing once every couple of weeks, we'll do a short PFT Podcast every couple of days focusing on our favorite e-mails, and (at times) offering up our responses.

Also, we'll be doing some of the traditional Podcasts in our more traditional format, with the Poobah and Michael David Smith debating the issues of the day.

Where's Dante, you ask? We're not sure. It's quite possible that he was finally shot and killed by one of the many random strangers he routinely insulted at the grocery store, the mall, in restaurants, and/or in church.

Finally, we plan to bring back the Fantasy Podcast when the season begins, hopefully with Gregg Rosenthal of Rotoworld.com, our new fantasy partner. Rotoworld.com is exclusively powering our Fantasy Mill, which features real-time news updates and player information. It should be a regular stop for everyone who visits the Rumor Mill.

So let us know what you think of the new Podcast, and keep the e-mails coming.

And if you see Dante, try not to shoot him if/when he tells you to "move your fat ass" in the communion line.

POSTED 10:49 p.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

FOR CONCUSSIONS, THREE APPEARS TO BE THE MAGIC NUMBER by Mike Florio and Larry Mazza

One of the concepts that will be discussed at the June 19 concussion summit in Chicago is the clearer-than-ever link between multiple concussions and chronic changes in the brain that can cause depression and other problems for former athletes.

And the magic number, one leading expert in the field believes, is three.

On June 13, Dr. Julian Bailes, the Chair of the West Virginia University Department of Neurosurgery, explained to us new findings linking multiple concussions to significant changes in the brain. Dr. Bailes, the only physician from a non-NFL city who has been invited by the NFL to provide expertise regarding the issue of traumatic brain injuries, explained that autopsies performed on former pro football players like Steelers center Mike Webster revealed apparently normal brain tissue. After applying a certain type of test, however, changes that could cause serious cognitive problems were discovered.

Three concussions is the threshold, Dr. Bailes explained, for problems like depression and dementia after retirement from the game. "They've got really strive to not get that third concussion, because based on our data, which is the only thing out there, that's where the threshold is."

Per one of the studies in which Dr. Bailes was involved, it was found that a player who has sustained three or more concussions is five times more likely to have "MCI," or mild cognitive impairment. Thirty percent of all persons who develop MCI are later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Per another study, three or more concussions resulted in a triple incidence of depression.

Dr. Bailes will be sharing his opinions and findings at the meeting in Chicago. "I want to make a contribution. Hopefully, I will still be optimistic when I leave [Chicago] on Tuesday night.

"For the first time, the new Commissioner has invited outside experts to meet with the committee," Dr. Bailes said. "Under Commissioner [Paul] Tagliabue it was rather closed. So what our reception is going to be in Chicago, I'm not certain. I hope they have the best motives. But this is troubling, troubling evidence. And there's more to come."

As to the notion that the NFL might eventually conduct its own study of retired players in order to show that there is no long-term consequence of concussions, Dr. Bailes said, "Well, I hope they do, and I hope they prove us wrong for the sake of the sport. But I'm not optimistic that real research will do that. . . . If they do their own study, it's going to take them two to three years to do it, another year to get published. Who suffers in the interim if we're right?"

A big part of the problem is the common failure of players and teams to acknowledge that a concussion has occurred. "There's a lot of concussions that go unrecognized," Dr. Bailes said. "Players don't quite still understand. If you're seeing stars, if you don't quite feel right, if your memory's a little off or if you're confused about your assignment, that can be a concussion. Only five to ten percent of the athletes who get a concussion get knocked out, so 90 to 95 percent of the time they're walking around talking. So I think education [is important], and that will trickle down to the 1.3 million playing high school football."

Dr. Bailes also advocates a more conservative game day approach, along with a strong effort to ensure that a player doesn't get that third concussion.

Better helmets aren't the answer. "Helmets cannot prevent this," Dr. Bailes said. "They can mitigate it some. . . . This is what we call an acceleration/deceleration injury. The brain floats in a bath of cerebral spinal fluid. It has about a centimeter or a centimeter-and-a-half of play. And so it's going to continue to go forward. It doesn't matter if there's a lot of padding. It's going at a certain speed and it suddenly stops."

And regardless of any changes to the equipment or the rules, the reality is that "as the cliche goes, players are getting bigger, stronger, and faster," Dr. Bailes said, "as that occurs, there's just going to be higher velocity injuries."

It remains to be seen where this all leads. But if the NFL ultimately agrees that players can't afford to have a third concussion, there could eventually be rules changes aimed at reducing head impacts.

Though we've heard nothing specific in this regard, we could envision an elimination of all low blocks and tackles, which would limit the number of times that a player might be kicked or kneed in the head. A more radical possibility would be the elimination of the three-point stance, which would take out of the game the collisions between helmets that occur as the linemen strike each other.

Regardless of the specific changes that are imposed, some type of change will be necessary if/when the NFL accepts as valid the findings of folks like Dr. Bailes.

POSTED 5:35 p.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

FINE PRINT SHOWS UPSHAW MADE MORE THAN $6.6 MILLION

Earlier this month, we reported that the NFLPA's federal LM-2 filing reveals a salary to executive director Gene Upshaw of more than $4.2 million for the year ending February 28, 2007.

Thanks to a tipster who studied the thing more carefully than we (or is it us?), it appears that Upshaw's total compensation for the year ending February 28, 2007 exceeded $6.6 million.

The extra $2.4 million appears in one of the notes to the report, at the bottom of the LM-2 document. The relevant excerpt is as follows:

"During the year ended February 28, 2007, the NFLPA and Players Inc entered into a new employment contracts [sic] with the Executive Director and Chairman, respectively, that employs him for the period of January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010. The employment agreements stipulate bonuses of $3,600,000 and $2,400,000 from the NFLPA to the Executive Director and from Players Inc to the Grantor Trust, respectively, described below during the year ended February 28, 2007. The bonus amount paid during the year ended February 28, 2007 from the NFLPA is included in Schedule 11, Column (D). The employment contract with Players Inc established a Grantor Trust, which will be funded on an annual basis with the Players Inc salary and bonus amounts. The Grantor Trust assets are included in investments on Schedule 5 and the liability is included in deferred compensation on Schedule 10, Other Liabilities."

In English, this means that a separate payment of $2.4 million has been paid into a trust for Upshaw, and that the trust will be funded by bonuses and salaries from Players Inc. Upshaw's salary from Players Inc isn't revealed in the NFLPA's LM-2.

Hey, we never fault a guy for getting paid. But $6.6 million per year?

We've got a new suggestion for how the NFLPA can take better care of the former players. Cut the total compensation of the executive director to $1 million a year and give the other $5.6 million to those who need it a lot more than Upshaw.

POSTED 4:04 p.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

FALSE RUMORS CIRCULATE OF WESTBROOK CRASH

Several readers have advised us of rampant rumors that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook has badly injured his leg in a motorcycle accident.

Fear not, Eagles fans. A league source tells us that there was no accident, and that Westbrook is fine.

It's amazing how quickly these things can spread (e.g., Terry Bradshaw is dead) in this age of instantaneous digital information. This time around, we're glad that we checked with someone who knows what's happening before we posted the rumor.

Then again, this is a rumor mill. . . .

POSTED 1:58 p.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

DAUNTE SAYS "I AM FINE"

Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper has informed the Associated Press via e-mail that he sustained no serious injuries in a Wednesday night auto accident.

"I am fine," he said. "The real problem is that the guy damaged my 1975 convertible Caprice Classic."

Culpepper suffered a bruise to the top of his left hand, and precautionary X-rays were negative. He throws a football with his right hand.

POSTED 12:31 p.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

CULPEPPER INJURES HAND IN CAR CRASH

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper suffered a hand injury in a Wednesday night automobile accident. The crash occurred on the Sawgrass Expressway, and it involved two vehicles. Both cars rolled off of the road.

Culpepper complained of a hand injury to paramedics. It's not known whether he injured his left hand or his right hand. More details are expected to become available later in the day.

The Dolphins have been trying to trade Culpepper, but the quarterback has asked to be released. The NFL Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf earlier this week, due to the refusal of the Dolphins to allow him to participate in team drills during a recent minicamp.

If the hand injury prevents Culpepper from playing football, the team can cut him with no financial obligation or the team could put him on the non-football injury/illness list, and pay him nothing.

POSTED 11:07 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 11:54 a.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

JAGS JETTISON DARIUS

The Jacksonville Jaguars have released veteran safety Donovin Darius, according to the team's official web site.

The Syracuse product was the team's first-round draft choice (25th overall) in 1998, and he has spent his entire career with the Jaguars. The latter years of his tenure were marred by contract squabbles and franchise tags and, at one point, a media campaign by Darius to get the Vikings or the Dolphins to trade for him.

Darius had been under contract through 2008, at base salaries of $3.5 million and $4 million, respectively, over the next two seasons. The extra cap money could come in handy, if/when the Jags try to add quarterback Daunte Culpepper to the team.

Darius had not participated in offseason workouts while he was rehabilitating a broken leg suffered during the 2006 season.

Recently, Darius was appointed to a committee of veteran players who have been consulting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Darius likely will continue in that role -- if he can find a landing spot.

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Jags QB Byron Leftwich isn't intimidated by the possible arrival of Daunte Culpepper: "I plan on playing every snap. I'm not a bum. I can play."

Pacman's lawyer is mad enough to bite someone.

Giants WR Plaxico Burress thinks he'll be a better player this year after ankle surgery.

Maybe we shouldn't care about the financial problems of former football players.

Redskins G Randy Thomas underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday; he is expected to be ready for training camp.

Hall of Famers like Paul Hornung and Deacon Jones plan to use the annual induction ceremony in Canton as a way to get the word out for their former NFL brethren.

Steelers veterans are removing the sticks from their asses.

Fins DE Jason Taylor is heading to London next week to help promote the regular-season game that will be played there.

Though he'll be attending a mandatory minicamp, Jets G Pete Kendall still might be a training-camp holdout.

Former Giants LT Luke Petitgout needs to move on. (Or, you know.)

Pats first-rounder Brandon Meriweather is still nursing a hamstring injury. (Doctors think it'll be 6-8 weeks until he can stomp on someone's head.)

A decision as to whether Lions DL Shaun Rogers should be charged for sexual assault won't be made soon.

We didn't know that Rams CB Tye Hill used to play for the Browns.

Rumors of Tom Donahoe joining the Rams are apparently untrue.

POSTED 9:44 a.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

POLICE THINK HENRY ACCUSERS ARE TELLING THE TRUTH

The latest situation involving Bengals receiver Chris Henry and the laws that govern an otherwise free society is getting weirder all the time.

In the wake of Wednesday's story that two yutes accused Henry and teammate Reggie McNeal of assaulting one of them on Friday night, reports emerged suggesting that the allegations were false.

But it now appears that police believe that claims to be anything but false.

Per WCPO-TV, Florence, Kentucky police think that the 16-year-old who was assaulted and his 18-year-old witness are telling the truth.

Henry and McNeal claim that they were in a different part of the city at the time, but it's not yet known whether they admit that they were together.

The investigation is ongoing. If Henry is prosecuted for assault, he likely will face revocation of probation on a Kentucky charge of giving alcohol to a minor and on a Florida weapons charge.

Oh, and his NFL career likely hangs in the balance on this one. He has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season based on past transgressions, and if he screws up again he could be banished permanently from the league.

POSTED 8:55 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:30 a.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

KALU WEIGHS IN ON RETIRED PLAYERS

In a Tuesday appearance on SportsRadio 610 in Houston, Texans defensive end N.D. Kalu shared his views regarding the current controversy between retired players and the NFL Players Association.

Kalu says that more needs to be done to help the players who paved the way for today's six-figure and seven-figure salaries.

He also suggested that he would be willing to give up $10,000 per year in salary to help the former players, and that other players should be asked to do the same in the hopes of creating a fund that would take care of former players who need help. (Hey, if the requisite amount is $10,000, Mike Vick already has cut the check.)

Kalu also made the possible mistake of calling out NFLPA leadership for not pushing something like this to its members.

"It's a shame, and it's actually scary, because I'm gonna be one of these former players," Kalu said. "But I feel with a billion-dollar industry the guys in the '50s, '60s who made it for guys like myself to make the money we make now, you have to take care of them.

"I've never been a big-money guy, but I'll even take a pay cut if it means putting some money to a fund to take care of these guys who made it possible for us to make six, seven digits a year. I just think it's a shame that you got guys who played in the NFL 10, 12 years and they can barely walk or they're suffering depression and they don't have the billion-dollar industry they helped build help them. . . ."

So would other players be willing to give up some money, too?

"I couldn't imagine guys on my teams that I played with, played for who wouldn't. If every player just put $10,000 into a fund I'm sure that would help immensely, and I don't think guys would shy away from doing that . . . . It's a shame that [NFLPA president] Troy Vincent or [NFLPA executive director] Gene Upshaw didn't come to the table and suggest such a thing."

(Uh-oh. Somebody's gonna get his neck broken.)

Kalu's point is a good one. Plenty of guys might be willing to kick in some cash, but someone has to take a position of leadership on the issue before a fund for retired players can ever be created. Such leadership should come, in our view, from the leadership of the union. If it doesn't, someone from the rank-and-file should show some leadership and seek out a change in the leadership. Of the leadership.

POSTED 7:19 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:20 a.m. EDT, June 14, 2007

MORTON TESTS POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS

The Los Angeles Times reports that a pee sample given by former NFL receiver Johnnie Morton on the day before he got the poop knocked out of him in an MMA fight tested positive for steroids.

Per the report, the levels of the steroid epitestosterone in Morton's system was 10 times higher than the average person.

If Morton doesn't explain his actions by June 19, he faces a revocation of his license, which would be effective in 61 U.S. athletic commissions. Currently, he faces a one-year suspension for the positive result.

Morton also refused to supply a urine sample after the fight, and his $100,000 purse has been withheld.

The Times also points out that, if Morton were to get a spot on an NFL roster in the future, he most likely would be subject to "reasonable cause" testing on a frequent basis. Of course, there's no reasonable cause to believe that any NFL team would be interested in Morton, especially after this latest career development.

OUR DAILY (HOURLY) EXAMPLE OF OFFSEASON CONTACT

We somehow missed this one, which was buried in the bottom of a Wednesday item from Patrick McManamon of the Akron Beacon Journal.

After a minicamp fight between first-round rookie offensive lineman Joe Thomas and sixth-round defensive end Chase Pittman, which presumably resulted from tensions escalated by the players banging on each other in the trenches, Thomas was told that contact in offseason workouts is supposedly verboten.

Said Thomas, laughing: "I think we hit more probably now than we did with pads at Wisconsin during the season."

At a time when retired players are rising up because of the cumulative effects of a career of football contact, none of the current players are complaining about additional contact (without the benefit of padding) to which they are not supposed to be subjected.

So why do we have a feeling that, 10 years from now, some of the retired players from today who currently are saying nothing about these blatant violations of the CBA will be pointing to contact during the offseason as one of the causes of their chronic physical infirmities?

HOW ABOUT STRIKE FUND REBATES?

We've previously argued that the NFLPA could funnel more money to retired players by instituting a rookie wage scale that removes from incoming (and unproven) players the kind of multi-million-dollar windfalls that they might never earn. Guys like Ryan Leaf and Akili Smith and Courtney Brown and Peter Warrick and David Terrell and the list goes on and on reel in truckloads of cash without ever playing a down, and then don't do nearly enough to deserve it.

But since we recognize that the agents who feed off of the fees generated by these lottery prizes will never allow them to go away, another strategy is needed.

One league source has suggested that the strike fund, which supposedly is up to $50 million or more and constantly growing, should start paying rebates to retired players, as current players pay their fair share into the money that will be available in the event of a work stoppage.

We agree. That money was put in place in past years to protect the guys who are playing football if/when there's a strike. But there's something fundamentally unfair about players from past years financing the lifestyles of future players who might someday end up in a fight with the owners over the distribution of the billions of dollars that are being generated, if those future players aren't likewise committed to helping out the guys who built up the strike fund.

As to how the fund can be finagled to help former players, we'll leave the details to folks far smarter than us. But we suspect that there's an easy way to give some of that strike money back to retired players while replacing the cash with contributions from players who would be far more likely to use it than the guys who don't, you know, play anymore.

Really, how big does the strike fund have to be? There's suspicion that NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw would like to grow the thing to nine figures, and then use its size as partial justification for his own eight-figure golden parachute.

It makes far more sense, in our view, to find a way to use the pool of money aimed at protecting future players from the possibility of financial hard times to help out past players who currently are experiencing such tribulations.

POSTED 10:29 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

RETIRED PLAYERS' POSTER BOY HAS ANOTHER WART

The folks who are hoping to compel the NFL Players Association to take better care of retired players have wrapped their arms around former NFL lineman Brian DeMarco, a 35-year-old man who allegedly is financially destitute, and who walks with a cane.

The NFLPA recently explained that it has been providing financial assistance to DeMarco, and ESPN reported that former teammates have questioned whether DeMarco really needs a cane.

There's another problem with using DeMarco as the face of the cause: His face could be on a wanted poster.

A law enforcement source in Ohio has tipped us off to the existence of a warrant for DeMarco's arrest. The warrant was issued in September 2006, after DeMarco failed to appear at a contempt hearing in connection with child support obligations.

The online court docket for the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas shows that DeMarco's current address is in Austin, Texas. DeMarco has been identified in recent media reports as a resident of Austin, Texas.

The docket can be viewed at this address, after inserting case number 01NU059151.

POSTED 9:04 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

KENDALL FIXIN' TO PULL A FANECA

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Jets offensive lineman Pete Kendall plans to go postal on Thursday when he reports for a mandatory minicamp.

The scene will be reminiscent of comments last month from Steelers guard Alan Faneca, who launched into an emotional tirade regarding the team's failure to give him a bunch of money with one year left on his deal.

Kendall is unhappy that the Jets won't give him a raise, especially since a year ago Kendall agreed to cut his 2007 salary by $3.3 million. The problem is that Kendall had a strong performance in 2006, and the free-agent market went even more bonkos in March 2007.

Kendall surely is trying to force a trade or a release. But the Jets can hold firm if they so choose. Kendall is signed through 2009.

POSTED 8:34 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

GARRARD ADMITS CULPEPPER TALK

On Tuesday, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported that the Jaguars recently brought in backup quarterback David Garrard to tell him that any interest the team has in Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper isn't a reflection on the team's attitude toward Garrard.

On Wednesday, Garrard admitted it.

"I was told [by Jaguars management] we have to bring him in to look at him," Garrard said after practice on Wednesday. "He has a good relationship with [Jaguars assistant head coach] Mike Tice from their days together in Minnesota. If I'm the owner and I can get somebody cheap like that, it'd be dumb [not to consider it].

"The Jaguars said it's not anything directed at me or toward my performance. If [Culpepper] can get back to his Pro Bowl level, that's a top-five quarterback in this league."

Still, Garrard recognizes that the arrival of Culpepper could have an adverse impact on Garrard's career in Jacksonville.

"If my [practice] snaps are diminished, then I have to make business moves myself," said Garrard. "It not like if I was released, I just wither away."

We doubt that Garrard would be released. At a minimum, we think that the Jags could pick up a sixth-rounder or a seventh-rounder by sending Garrard to a team that needs a backup with playing experience.

Culpepper is still under contract to the Dolphins, who are trying to trade him. Culpepper has asked to be released.

POSTED 8:19 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

VILMA ALMOST PULLS A PORTIS

In a Wednesday appearance on WFAN in New York, Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma shared his thoughts about the rash of off-field problems in the NFL.

Initially, Vilma blamed the media (and, specifically, the Internet) for blowing the Pacman Jones situation "out of proportion" and essentially forcing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to come down hard on him.

Yeah, Jon. It's all our fault. We threw the $81,000 in the air at the strip club in Vegas. We bit the cop's hand in Georgia. We waved a gun around with our game jersey on. We gave alcohol to a minor.

Then, Vilma shared his views regarding the Mike Vick woof-woof situation.

Asked about his personal feelings regarding dog fighting, Vilma said: "I never looked at it one way or another. . . . Of course, dog fighting is much more extreme, but you can equate it to horse racing. You have animal activists that don't condone horse racing. They feel that the horses are being tested brutally or whatever the situation is. For me, I'm not an animal activist and it's to each his own."

Which sounds a lot like Vilma doesn't have a problem with horse racing. Or dog fighting.

With all that said, Vilma recognizes that Vick needs to take responsibility for the things that were happening at his house in Virginia, regardless of whether he was directly involved.

POSTED 7:33 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

NOLAN GETS TO WEAR SUITS FOR HOME GAMES

The National Football League and Reebok have relented; 49ers coach Mike Nolan will be permitted to wear a suit and tie for each of the team's eight regular-season home games in 2007.

Nolan wanted to wear the suit every week, but offered the home-games-only option as a compromise.

"Commissioner [Roger] Goodell took a harder look at it and he supported the issue," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, according to Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat . "In recognition of Nolan's desire to salute and honor his father, we expanded [the policy] to meet his request."

Nolan's father, Dick, wore a coat and tie when coaching in the NFL.

Last year, Nolan was allowed to wear a suit for two games. Jags coach Jack Del Rio did so, too. With the rule being expanded, it remains to be seen whether Del Rio makes the same request.

And, ultimately, we're hoping to see a starched collar and a navy blue tie peeking out from the top of the neck of Bill Belichick's hoodie.

POSTED 7:20 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

FINN FELLED BY NON-CONTACT DRILL

We know, we know. A bunch of you are sick of hearing us talk about the extent to which teams are ignoring the rules against contact drills during offseason workouts.

But until the rules are changed to permit contact, we'll continue to point out the fact that the union that is supposed to be policing these practices is doing nothing.

Also, the thing about rules is that, if some of the rules are ignored, it's hard to know which rules are really important.

Today, Giants fullback Jim Finn might think that the rule against contact during offseason practices is fairly important. Finn, you see, is done for the season after suffering a torn labrum due to delivering a block during a non-contact OTA practice session.

As of Wednesday, Finn has been placed on injured reserve, which ends very prematurely his last shot at convincing the team to stick with him beyond 2007.

Of course, the fact that the Giants now don't have a veteran fullback for 2007 might be punishment enough for the transgression. But that won't help Finn, who faces a long rehab, a season with no football, and an uncertain future in the NFL.

POSTED 6:46 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:06 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

CONDON SHOULD QUIT DISABILITY BOARD

League and media sources with whom we have spoken agree -- agent Tom Condon should resign his position as one of the six members of the committee that makes rulings as to whether former players are entitled to disability benefits.

A recent item in the Chicago Tribune identified Condon as one of the three representatives from the ranks for former players. But because Condon currently makes his living representing guys who will all eventually be former players, Condon has no business being in position to make determinations as to the question of whether any player (regardless of whether the guy was represented by Condon or one of his partners) should receive benefits.

This isn't an effort to pick a fight with Condon; we think that no agent should be serving on the committee. But Condon specifically should not be a part of it, given that he is also the agent for NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw. With Upshaw and the NFLPA under increasing criticism for the plight of former players whose claims for disability benefits are being denied, Condon's future decisions potentially will be affected by his desire to help Upshaw continue to reel in his $4.2 million salary, of which Condon presumably receives a piece.

And because, as we understand it, Condon doesn't get paid to serve on the committee, he's not losing anything by giving it up. So we hope that he'll do the right thing and resign from the position. At a time when foes of the union are looking (albeit clumsily) for ammunition, it would be wise for Condon to step aside from a conflict of interest that eventually will be raised as part of the attack on Upshaw.

GRIDIRON GREATS RESPOND TO NFLPA ATTACK

The group of former players who are leading the charge to improve the fate of the guys who helped lay the foundation for the current success that the NFL is enjoying has responded to recent claims from the NFLPA regarding money paid to Brian DeMarco, the 35-year-old retired player who is financially destitute and walks with a cane.

In a press release, Hall of Famer Mike Ditka sounded off regarding the NFLPA's position that it has given DeMarco $10,000 in financial assistance: "This is a joke. If they think that $10,000 over the last seven years is meeting this kid's needs, the problems at the NFLPA are worse than we ever imagined. Have you seen this kid? He can't walk, he can't hold a telephone, he can't shave his own face. He certainly cannot work and support his family. I don’t call $10,000 meeting Brian DeMarco's needs. This is about disability. This is about taking responsibility for what happened to this kid while playing the game. This is about doing the right thing."

Added DeMarco: "We need to refocus everyone's attention on the issue at hand. I came to Chicago to raise awareness of what the Gridiron Greats are doing, to kick-off their fundraising drive, and to express my frustration about my attempts to gain disability benefits from the NFLPA. Our press conference was not intended to take issue with the Player's Assistance Trust. . . . But the P.A.T. is only a band-aid. The real issue is disability and the problem is far greater than random bills being paid. I am a broken man who has been dealing with a broken system that needs to be fixed."

With all that said, we continue to have concerns as to whether DeMarco is the right guy to be in a front-and-center position in connection with this otherwise worthy cause. We've talked to several league insiders who believe that the cane DeMarco is using is an embellishment at best, and that he has more responsibility for any financial problems he is experiencing than DeMarco or Ditka will acknowledge.

Our advice to the Gridiron Greats? Get yourself a P.R. expert who can get the message out clearly and concisely. Despite any substantive flaws that the NFLPA might have, Gene Upshaw is very effective at communicating his positions in a manner that seems reasonable to the objective observer. In contrast, Ditka comes off primarily as a grumpy old man who doesn't fully grasp the issues.

In our view, any effort to effect real change won't be successful until the Gridiron Greats develop a strong media strategy that relies on something more than a guy who might not need a cane and a former coach/player who not long ago was pimping boner pills.

POSTED 2:57 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

NO DNA EVIDENCE LINKING PACMAN TO BITE by Michael David Smith

One of the many accusations against Titans cornerback Pacman Jones took a hit today when it was revealed that Jones' DNA was not found on the sock of a Minxx strip club employee whom Jones was accused of biting on the ankle.

The Nashville Tennessean cites "a person familiar with the developments" in reporting today that officials visited Jones in Atlanta to get a saliva sample, and that Jones' DNA did not match the DNA from the strip club employee's sock.

Michael Huyghue, Jones' agent, also told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that there's no DNA match.

Still, Las Vegas Police have requested that the district attorney file criminal charges against Jones for his part in a fight at the strip club during NBA All-Star weekend in February. Shortly after the fight inside the club, three people were shot outside the club. Jones is not accused of the shooting.

Multiple media reports have said the district attorney and the police will meet to discuss the case against Jones today, although Jones is not expected to be charged today. Mortensen quoted a source close to Jones saying this would "actually be the third time the police take this thing to the DA. He's rejected them twice."

POSTED 2:28 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

CHRIS HENRY NOT OUT OF THE WOODS by Michael David Smith

Early this morning, it looked like Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was on the verge of having his eight-game suspension made even longer when the television station WCPO reported that Henry is under investigation for assault of a 16-year-old boy. But then it looked like Henry was in the clear, as another station, WLWT, said that the accusation is unfounded.

But despite that second report, Henry might not want to break out the champagne just yet. WLWT has updated its report, and although the station is not backing away from the unnamed source who said the accusation was unfounded, the station also reports that Florence Police Capt. Linny Cloyd said police have not reached any conclusions and the case remains under investigation.

The Bengals' web site says Henry was at the team's voluntary practice session this morning. It's not clear whether the "league source" cited by WLWT, who said police found that the Henry claims were unfounded, had any contact with Henry at the Bengals' team facility.

If Henry really was falsely accused, it would be the second time this offseason: Last month a prosecutor said he had failed a drug test, but it turned out that he hadn't.

POSTED 2:02 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

BEARS STILL STICKING BY GROSSMAN by Michael David Smith

With competent quarterback play, the Chicago Bears could have beaten the Indianapolis Colts and won the Super Bowl four months ago. But the Bears didn't have a competent quarterback. They had Rex Grossman.

It's a testament to the talent on the rest of the roster (and to the lack of talent in the rest of the NFC) that the Bears even got to the Super Bowl with Grossman under center. And it's surprising how little talk there is in Chicago about the Bears replacing Grossman. The Bears have made no effort to trade for a veteran quarterback, sign a free agent, or draft a potential successor to Grossman, and all the signals out of Chicago suggest that the coaching staff has complete confidence in Grossman and no interest in replacing him with backups Brian Griese or Kyle Orton.

The latest signal comes from the Bears' official web site, where senior writer Larry Mayer gives this answer to a fan question about Grossman's work in minicamp:

"Rex Grossman has looked very sharp the past few weeks in OTA practices," Mayer writes. "I thought Tuesday was one of his best days. He threw the ball with accuracy and authority and made good decisions. He especially impressed me in leading the offense to a touchdown against the first-team defense in a two-minute drill."

The team's official web site isn't the best place to go for a candid assessment of Grossman's performance. But it is the best place to go to find out what the team wants its fans to think of Grossman. And when the team is telling the fans how sharp Grossman looks, that means the fans had better be ready for another year with Grossman at the helm. Maybe this year he'll actually look sharp when he's facing a real, live pass rush, but Bears fans shouldn't hold their breath.

POSTED 12:04 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

McCRAY TO SIGN TENDER

A league source tells us that Jaguars defensive end Bobby McCray will sign on Wednesday his restricted free agent tender.

Since he was tendered at the first-round level, McCray will make $1.85 million in base salary in 2007. Unlike the franchise tender, however, the amount is not guaranteed.

McCray's window of opportunity for signing with another team closed on April 21. Any team that signed him to an offer sheet would have been required to pony up a first-round draft pick as compensation, if the Jags had opted not to match the deal.

By rule, the Jags could have significantly reduced the tender after June 15. The Dolphins employed such a tactic several years ago with defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

McCray will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March 2008. Unless, of course, the Jags apply the franchise tag to him.

POSTED 11:56 a.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

HENRY DODGES ANOTHER BULLET

A few weeks back, a prosecutor in Kenton County, Kentucky announced that Bengals receiver Chris Henry had failed a court-ordered drug test.

The only catch? He hadn't.

This time around, a 16-year-old boy claimed that Henry and teammate Reggie McNeal assaulted him on Friday night in Florence, Kentucky.

It now appears that the claim is false.

WLWT-TV, citing an unnamed source, says that the accusation is unfounded. So, unless the unnamed source is named Marvin Lewis, it looks like Henry won't be facing any further trouble.

But these two situations highlight the trouble with players making themselves into targets.

POSTED 10:00 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:19 a.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

SEAHAWKS CLEARLY VIOLATING "NO CONTACT" RULES

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has provided arguably the most obvious proof this year of a team violating the offseason ban on contact in OTAs and minicamps.

The best evidence? The title of the article: "Seahawks work on bump-and-run in minicamp."

The problem? Article XXXV, Section 5(a) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement specifically lists "bump-and-run" as a prohibited activity during non-contact offseason workouts.

Why is bump-and-run a no-no? The "bump" part is, by definition, contact. Consider the first two paragraphs from Farnsworth's item:

"Marcus Trufant used his right forearm to jostle D.J. Hackett as he broke off the line of scrimmage, disrupting Hackett's route and depriving quarterback Matt Hasselbeck of his primary receiver.

"A few plays later, Pete Hunter missed his jam on Deion Branch, allowing Branch to run past him and take a deep pass from Seneca Wallace."

Though none of the players are complaining, it's clearly a banned technique in the offseason. But the union is, to our knowledge, doing nothing to put it to an end -- even though the Seahawks apparently have spent most if not all of the offseason working on it.

And that's the real problem with the NFLPA's failure to zealously enforce the offseason workout rules. It would have been better for the union to offer to allow contact, and then to ask for something else from the owners. Something that would have been meaningful.

As it stands, the union has negotiated for its members a protection that the union largely ignores. It's no different than getting for the players 60 percent of the gross football revenues and then not complaining when the owners only cough up 55.

WINSLOW WILL BE LIMITED AT START OF CAMP

Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, who is still recovering from offseason microfracture surgery in the knee that was mangled two years ago in a motorcycle accident, most likely will be limited when training camp opens, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Winslow previously said that he'd be available to fully participate in this week's minicamp. As it turns out, he won't be practicing at all.

If he can't practice at the start of training camp, he'll likely land on the "Physically Unable to Perform" list. This allows the team to use his roster spot on another player, until Winslow is ready to go.

We reported several months back that the Browns aren't counting on Winslow to make much of a contribution in 2007, given the recovery from the microfracture surgery. Winslow repeatedly played in 2006 despite being questionable almost every week due to his knee.

WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Our buddy Jerry McDonald looks at contact during non-contact practices in Raiders camp.

Jets OL Pete Kendall is expected to show up for a mandatory minicamp that opens on Thursday, despite his extreme displeasure with his contract.

Four quarterbacks are sharing the snaps in Cleveland.

The Texans are hoping to get more out of their defensive line.

The Eagles are expecting a big season from DE Darren Howard.

From the "Not That There's Anything Wrong With It" file, the Soup Nazi says that he doesn't want WR Amani Toomer "to be in any bumping and grinding."

New Giants OL Zach Piller could bump (and grind) Rich Seubert out of the starting lineup.

Andy McCollum appears poised to push Brett Romberg for the starting center job in St. Louis.

Former Rams starters Joe Klopfenstein (gesundheit) and Victor Adeyanju (ditto) have slid to the second team.

The Colts are considering a reunion with RB James Mungro.

The Jags canceled Tuesday's OTA practice due to rain. (What are they practicing? Baseball?)

35-year-old TE Marcus Pollard will likely be the starter in Seattle.

Says Hall of Famer Jim Brown regarding Browns RB Jamal Lewis: "The [expletive] will run over you." (Since when is "ex-con" a bad word?)

Bills LB John DiGiorgio could be taking the spot vacated by London Fletcher Baker Robbins Oppenheim and Taft.

POSTED 8:47 a.m. EDT, June 13, 2007

CHRIS HENRY TO THE RESCUE?

As the "days without an arrest" counter continues to creep toward 25, relief could be on the way from one of our old friends.

Bengals receiver Chris Henry.

Per media reports, Henry currently is under investigation for assault of a 16-year-old boy. Henry, teammate Reggie McNeal, and others allegedly beat the juvenile to the point that he needed hospital care.

(Coincidentally, Henry and McNeal were passengers in an SUV driven by linebacker Odell Thurman last year, when Thurman was pulled over for DUI. Thurman claimed he was driving because, of the three, he was the closest to sober. Henry corroborated Thurman's explanation by puking out of the window of the vehicle.)

"It's very obvious," Captain Linny Cloyd of the Florence, Kentucky police department told WCPO-TV. "I've seen the young man. There's no doubt he was assaulted. At this point we're still trying to figure out who is who -– where they were."

The boy claims that he and an 18-year-old friend were walking along Wetherington Boulevard on Friday night at 11:00 p.m., when a black Navigator or Escalade pulled up beside them. A white male jumped out and began beating the 16-year-old.

"From that, the victim tells us another gentleman got out of the vehicle . . . and in their attempt to get away, was shoved to the ground by this African American gentleman," said Cloyd.

Henry and McNeal deny knowing the boy or being in the area at the time of the assault.

Unless there's evidence that Henry and the boy already knew each other, or that Henry was doing something really stupid like wearing his Bengals jersey at the time, this one could be hard to prove without some serious investigative work. Then again, it's not just the 16-year-old's word against that of Henry, McNeal, and whoever might have been with them; the boy had a friend who was there. If the pair tell a convincing story, it might be enough to get the police to act.

And if it turns out that Henry was involved, we won't be surprised. As we've said before, the fact that Henry couldn't stay out of trouble when he had a job will make it even harder for him to keep himself clean during his eight-game suspension for multiple violations of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy.

Finally, don't forget that Henry currently is on probation for gun charges in Orlando (where he was wearing his Bengals jersey at the time) and in Kentucky for pleading guilty to giving alcohol to a minor. So while the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt would apply to any new charges filed, a much lower standard will apply if he faces revocation of his probation. In Kentucky alone, that could mean 88 days in jail.

POSTED 11:21 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:57 p.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

JAGS BRACE GARRARD FOR POSSIBLE CULPEPPER ACQUISITION

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars recently called backup quarterback David Garrard into the team's offices to explain that any interest that they might be showing in Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper is not a reflection on Garrard's abilities.

So what is it then? An acknowledgement that the Jags plan to have four quarterbacks on the roster this year? A proclamation that Garrard will be the starter if Byron Leftwich leaves after 2007 as a free agent?

Actually, we see the Jaguars' interest in Culpepper as a no-confidence vote in the top three quarterbacks on the team, since each of them has had a chance to show that he can be "they guy," but none has delivered.

If Culpepper comes to Jacksonville, we think that the team would entertain trade offers for Garrard, Byron Leftwich, and Quinn Gray. It'd be hard to deal Leftwich after spending most of the offseason praising him, so we think either Garrard or Gray would be available for a second-day draft pick.

DARWIN LIKELY WILL EVOLVE BACK INTO AN EAGLE

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Bills defensive tackle Darwin Walker is likely to revert back to the Eagles as of August 5, the deadline for Walker reporting to the Bills.

Walker wants more money on his current contract, and the Bills want him to show up before they'll consider giving him a raise. Under the deal that in part sent linebacker Takeo Spikes to the Eagles, Philly will send a sixth-round pick to Buffalo and reclaim Walker if Walker doesn't show in Buffalo by August 5.

Whether that means that the Eagles will re-embrace him remains to be seen.

As to the Bills, the most they're willing to do is chop off the last of two years remaining on Walker's contract, which would make him eligible for free agency in March 2008.

TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

The Packers have a couple of guys who have had some weed issues.

The Panthers have five quarterbacks on the roster.

49ers WR Ashley Lelie hasn't been able to make it through practice due to a leg injury.

Niners fans plan to wear suits to the team's home opener.

Formal charges in Las Vegas against Pacman Jones could still be coming.

The Ditka-Duerson feud is escalating.

The Bears have a pair of Ayanbadejos. (Does that beat a pair of aces?)

Former NFL QB Doug Flutie bought a $2.1 million home in Florida.

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald says that Daunte Culpepper is getting a raw deal.

Man, that lawyer they interviewed for this item on Mike Vick sure sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

LB Jessie Armstead will do a sign-and-retire with the Giants on Wednesday.

Panthers DT Jordan Carstens is fighting a nasty kidney disease.

POSTED 5:21 p.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

SIMMS IS STRUGGLING WITH HIS THROWING

In an interview with PewterReport.com, Bucs quarterback Chris Simms explains that the emergency splenectomy he underwent last September has made it difficult for him to learn how to throw a football again.

Simms was unable to throw at all until December, and it has taken him time to get back his ability to do so effectively.

"I am 100 percent healthy," Simms said, "but I'm not where I want to be from a throwing standpoint. It's not that I feel so bad throwing the football right now, but I have to get my body used to it. You always hear a lot about quarterbacks and timing, and for whatever reason that seems to be taking me more time to get back than anything else. . . .

"It's frustrating. It really is, and on a lot of levels, because not only was my abdomen tight from the injury and surgery, but my arm was tight as well because I hadn't thrown a football in so long."

So what's the problem?

"I think I probably developed some bad habits at first because I was trying to protect my stomach when I was throwing," Simms said. "Right now I’m really more or less trying to get rid of those bad habits so I can get back into my good ones. You know, just throw the ball the way I know how."

So maybe that's why coach Jon Gruden recently declared that newcomer Jeff Garcia is the clubhouse leader in the race to be the starter. It's not that Garcia is blowing anyone way -- it's that Simms simply isn't ready.

POSTED 4:17 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 4:52 p.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

NEXT UP? FROSTEE AND J. PEEZY

With Titans cornerback Pacman Jones caving on the appeal of the one-year suspension imposed against him in April by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the next guys who'll likely spend some time on Park Avenue for violation of the league's Personal Conduct Policyare Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker and Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter.

Rucker pleaded guilty on May 4 to misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and vandalism. Porter pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery charges on May 30. Our guess is that both will end up getting suspended for one game.

And Goodell's new approach is working. It has been a whopping 22 days since a player has been arrested. Though Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers might break the string soon, the thing was sputtering not long ago in its efforts to crack two digits.

As to Jones, the decision to drop the appeal seems odd, given that there was no way that the punishment could end up being any worse -- and that there was a report from Adam Schefter of NFL Network that Goodell might shrink the penalty a bit if Jones wiggles out of pending criminal charges in Georgia. All of the effort was done; it was merely a matter of Goodell issuing his ruling.

So we agree with the assessment of our own MDS that Jones is trying to curry favor with the Commish. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised to learn that the league asked him to back off in exchange for future considerations.

Still, it would have been better for Jones to come to this conclusion a couple of months ago. He wasted a lot of time and effort (and money, of his own) in putting together the presentation based on the argument that he has received disproportionate treatment in comparison to guys who have been arrested over the past seven years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE PLATES IN BIG BEN'S FACE

It's hard to believe that a full year has passed since Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drove his head into a Chrysler New Yorker. (Nod to ESPN's NFL Live for reminding us of it.) Roethlisberger was seriously injured, and underwent surgery to place multiple titanium plates in his face.

The event marred a protracted celebration in the Steel City following the franchise's long-awaited "One for the Thumb," and set the stage for a disappointing season in Pittsburgh.

But the younger-than-he-seems Roethlisberger still has only three full seasons in the NFL, and Ben still has plenty of years left. As long as he leaves the motorcycle at home -- or brings the motorcycle helmet with him.

GIL BRANDT COMES CLEAN, KIND OF

NFL.com's Gil Brandt finally has admitted (technically, "clarified") that he "failed to properly attribute" (technically, "failed to attribute at all") information he had borrowed (technically, "lifted") from the Pro Football Prospectus 2006, published by our friends at FootballOutsiders.com.

Brandt gives no reason for the delay in acknowledging that which was obvious to most folks with reasonable intelligence and/or common sense. And he doesn't address at all the fact that he initially denied knowledge of the research to Gregg Easterbrook of ESPN.com's Page 2.

Now, Brandt is singing a different song. "I listed the number of college starts for several current and former NFL quarterbacks to illustrate the point. While these numbers are public domain, I had actually seen this information in another source and failed to properly attribute that source."

Though we're not in favor of anyone getting fired (except that bastard who used to scarf up all of the Dolly Madison chocolate pies from the machine in the break room), how does Brandt not get run out the door for what amounts to plagiarism chased by a bald-faced lie?

Looking at this a bit more broadly, why would Brandt even use that information without attribution? And why did he think no one would connect the dots -- especially since the career at the Boston Globe of Ron Borges was derailed by something like this earlier in the year?

Look, Brandt has a long history of service to the NFL. But certain infractions seem to require certain action, even if the guy who committed the violation has been around the business longer than we've been on the planet.

POSTED 3:22 p.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

ANDRE RISON FACES BANKRUPTCY OVER CHILD SUPPORT by Michael David Smith

Former NFL receiver Andre Rison is facing a court-ordered Chapter 11 bankruptcy to pay more than $105,000 in back child support and other claims, the Associated Press reports.

The 40-year-old Rison was a 1989 first-round draft pick who played 12 years for the Colts, Falcons, Browns, Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs, and Raiders and made five Pro Bowls, but his personal life usually overshadowed his on-field success. He is probably best known for having his mansion torched by his then-girlfriend, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the musical group TLC.

The AP reports that a bankruptcy court petition shows that Rison owes child support, attorney fees, and court administrative costs. His ex-wife, Tonja Rison, is listed as one of the creditors, with a claim for more than $58,000 in child support. An Atlanta law office is claiming $46,000 in unpaid legal fees for seeking child support from Rison for two children by a girlfriend. Even the Genesee County friend of the court is getting in on the action, requesting $400 in administrative fees.

Rison made several million dollars in his NFL career, including a $5 million signing bonus from the Browns in 1995. Neither Rison nor his attorney have commented publicly on the bankruptcy order.

POSTED 1:09 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:38 p.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

PACMAN JONES DROPS APPEAL, WILL SERVE SUSPENSION by Michael David Smith

The agent for Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones said today that Jones will drop his appeal and serve the one-year suspension imposed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his repeated off-field misconduct.

Agent Michael Huyghue released the following statement from Jones to the Nashville City Paper:

"Last week I asked for an opportunity to speak privately with Commissioner Goodell. I met with him earlier today to tell him about the steps I have taken to change my life since being suspended from the National Football League.

"I accept the discipline that has been imposed on me, and I told the Commissioner today that I am withdrawing my appeal. I understand my responsibilities to my teammates, the Tennessee Titans, and our fans, and I am committed to turning my life around and being a positive member of the NFL going forward."

It sounds as though Jones' decision to drop his appeal is an attempt to curry favor with Goodell, who has already said he would consider reducing Jones' suspension to 10 games if Jones shows that he is taking positive steps with his life. Perhaps Jones calculated that an appeal was unlikely to be successful and that dropping the appeal would convince Goodell that he was taking responsibility for his actions.

POSTED 12:45 p.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

WILL ODELL THURMAN GET ANOTHER CHANCE? by Michael David Smith

For a brief time last week, it looked like Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman was in trouble again. Two men initially claimed Thurman had committed acts of criminal trespass, aggravated assault and pointing a gun, but then they quickly withdrew their complaint.

If those allegations had held up, it probably would have been the final nail in Thurman's coffin, as far as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was concerned. Thurman was already serving a one-year suspension, and if we've learned anything about Goodell since he became Commissioner, it's that he's not going to put up with players who continually make the league look bad with their off-field behavior.

But now that Thurman is in the clear as far as those allegations are concerned, he's looking to get back into the league. And Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Thurman has applied for reinstatement.

Schefter reports that the league usually takes four to six weeks to decide whether to reinstate a player, and that the soonest Thurman could come off suspension is July 11. That means Thurman and the Bengals should know before training camp whether he'll be part of the team in 2007.

Even if the league lets Thurman back in for training camp, though, that doesn't mean he'll make the Bengals' roster in September. Although Thurman had a very good rookie year in 2005, he hasn't played football in a year and a half, and during his long layoff, he has presumably had higher priorities than staying in shape, like dealing with drunk driving charges in February.

That means Thurman is no sure thing to be wearing an NFL uniform in three months. But given the raw talent Thurman showed as a rookie before his personal problems got the better of him, it's hard to imagine that some NFL team won't give him a second chance -- as long as Goodell allows it.

POSTED 11:47 a.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

APPARENTLY USA TODAY FORGOT THE NFL EXISTS by Michael David Smith

The NFL is by far America's most popular sports league, and it has been for at least the last quarter-century. So you'd think that when USA Today decided (as part of the paper's own 25th anniversary) to list the Top 25 sports moments of the last 25 years, the NFL would be heavily represented.

Well, it isn't. USA Today's Top 25 list includes not a single story that is directly related to the NFL, and only one (the O.J. Simpson murder trial) that is even tangentially related to the NFL.

Lists like this should never be taken too seriously, but this list is particularly ridiculous. It includes nine entries from Major League Baseball, including four of the top six. The biggest story in sports in the last 25 years, according to USA Today? The Boston Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series.

USA Today could have listed the way the NFL has changed the television landscape, with huge rights contracts, the establishment of the satellite television Sunday Ticket package, or the emergence of NFL Network. It could have mentioned the way the NFL took the lead in putting the sports world aside after 9/11, or the death of former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman. It could have mentioned teams moving from city to city, the owners hiring replacement players when the union went on strike, the NFL's emergence as the victor in a struggle with the USFL, or, if it wanted something on the field, the dynasties in San Francisco, Dallas, and New England.

The paper mentioned none of those things. But at least it found room for the 1999 Women's World Cup.

POSTED 8:43 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:34 a.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

DEMARCO IS THE WRONG POSTER BOY

The name Brian DeMarco recently has surfaced as one of the former NFL players whose on-field injuries have left him disabled and destitute. The folks targeting the NFLPA and executive director Gene Upshaw needed a compelling poster boy to give life to the cause, especially since none of the current NFL players are going to stand up and ask tough questions. And DeMarco seemed on the surface to be as good of a candidate as anyone.

The problem, however, is that a scratch or two at the surface reveals some potential flaws.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the NFLPA produced on Monday night checks reflecting contributions of almost $10,000 that have been made to DeMarco over the past 12 months for rent, utilities, and child support.

Earlier in the day, DeMarco claimed at a press conference that the union has turned its back on him during his time of financial need. (Hey, if anyone out there wants to turn their backs on us in similar fashion, we'll be glad to, you know, cash the checks.)

Mortensen also reports that a union employee wired to DeMarco $300 as recently as this weekend. The money came out of the employee's own pocket. Also, the union claims that it set up a job for DeMarco in Austin, Texas, but that he didn't show up for work.

Said NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw: "We can't let them manipulate the media anymore. On dire need alone, we made $1.2 million worth of payments to 147 former players last year and paid another $1 million to 140 guys the year before. And we're glad to do it. We don't talk about it. That's what we do."

Also, a former teammate of DeMarco's suggests that the former Jaguar is jaking it. "[H]e's walking with a cane in front of cameras," the ex-Jaguar told Mortensen. "Last time we saw him -- and it was in the past two weeks -- he didn't need a cane. He has some physical problems, yes, but there are other things going on there."

Look, we're not saying that any of this means that real changes aren't needed. But if the folks looking to effect change are going to rely upon apparent bunko artists to make the case, it will be hard to generate any real sympathy.

TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

A forensic veterinarian from the Atlanta area is assisting the ongoing state-level investigation into dog fighting at Mike Vick's Virginia property.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo wants to have a new contract in place by the start of the regular season.

Here's more on the DeMarco mess.

Eagles OT William Thomas practiced for the first time since having offseason knee surgery.

Apparently, Pats WR Randy Moss didn't wanna play last week.

Should Cowboys DE Greg Ellis shut up?

Redskins QB Casey Bramlet is having success in NFL Europa, as the five other guys competing for roster spots at the position are working out with the "real" team.

For Texans coach Gary Kubiak, there's no better way to save a seat back in Denver than by giving Kevlar Jr. a job.

Titans first-rounder Michael Griffin likely will remain at cornerback despite the arrival of Kelly Herndon.

Titans G.M. Mike Reinfeldt says that former director of player personnel Rich Snead won't be replaced in the immediate future.

Rams coach Scott Linehan says that his team will be ready to play a game after this week's minicamp. (Hey, no one asked him if the team would be ready to actually win it.)

Seahawks WR Deion Branch missed OTAs last week because he was on his honeymoon. (Wasn't he on a honeymoon all of last season?)

At 32, Ravens LB Ray Lewis is talking like a guy who thinks he can get himself one more big contract. (So, basically, he sounds the same as he has for the last three years.)

Should anyone cry tears for Fins QB Daunte Culpepper?

Bears DT Tommie Harris and CB Charles Tillman have been cleared to participate in team drills.

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has established a board of advisers. (Their first piece of advice to Wilf? "Change your first name to 'Joe.'")

The Cards will open training camp with the same starting lineup that rounded out offseason practices.

POSTED 6:33 a.m. EDT, June 12, 2007

NFLPA TAKING INCONSISTENT POSITIONS ON VOLUNTARY WORKOUTS

A day after reporting that the NFL Players Association will file a grievance on behalf of Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was prevented from participating in team drills during a weekend minicamp, Jason Cole of Yahoo! (we prefer Woo-hoo!) Sports reports that the union is concerned about a new trend in rookie contracts.

NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen tells Cole that the union is concerned about terms in contracts requiring players to participate in voluntary offseason workouts in order to qualify for escalators at the ends of their deals.

With the 2006 amendments to the Collective Bargaining Agreement allowing teams to lock up rookies drafted after round one to maximum deals of four years in duration, more teams are inserting escalators in the final season that give the player the ability to bump his salary from the fourth-year minimum to the low restricted free agent tender.

"It's something we're seeing more of this year," Berthelsen said. "It started to come up last year with smaller amounts of base compensation attached to it. Now the amounts are getting larger, and it's our belief that this is another situation where teams are trying to take away money that players have already earned."

We don't see it that way, frankly. If the teams are allowed to attach conditions to the escalators, and if one of the conditions is participation in the offseason program, then the condition must be satisfied in order to achieve the escalators.

And don't forget that the players are voluntarily signing these contracts, with the advice of their agents.

With that said, it might be wise for the teams to draft these escalator clauses to make it more clear that participating in offseason workouts is one of the things that must be done to earn the money. Based on Cole's report, it appears that a player can earn a certain level of fourth-year escalator in one year of the deal, and then jeopardize a big chunk of it by not choosing to partake in voluntary workouts in the following years.

The irony of the NFLPA's interest in this new contract clause is that the NFLPA is otherwise doing nothing to address the prevalent problem of teams treating these workouts as mandatory by, for example, requiring players who can't attend to be excused. Titans coach Jeff Fisher recently pulled this one with running back LenWhale White, who was called out by Fisher for missing a day of voluntary practice without an excuse. White, as it turned out, was spending time with an ailing family member.

Then there's the issue of the NFLPA sitting on its hands, thumbs pointing north, in the face of ever-increasing evidence of contact occurring in supposedly non-contact offseason drills.

Finally, we detect a certain amount of irony regarding the union's complaints about the new trend in rookie contracts and the union's stance regarding the decision of the Dolphins to bar Culpepper from team drills.

So make up your mind, union. If you're not going to stand up in defense of players who are being cajoled into showing up for voluntary drills, and who are thereafter allowed to bang on each other without pads, you shouldn't be complaining about contractual provisions to which players and their agents are voluntarily agreeing -- especially when you're publicly conceding that the best way for a player to discharge his independent contractual duty to stay in excellent physical condition and be ready for the coming season is to practice with the other players on the team.

POSTED 10:23 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:29 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

CONCUSSION SUMMIT COULD SPARK REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES

We're picking up some initial indications that next week's NFL concussion summit in Chicago could ultimately trigger changes to the sport that could border on revolutionary.

Stay tuned as the week unfolds for more information.

Though the NFL arguably has been insensitive in the past to the realities of head injuries, Commissioner Roger Goodell seems to be championing a new approach that makes player safety a primary focal point.

If so, it's just another reason to conclude that the NFL made a great choice last year when picking Goodell. And, in a roundabout way, it's another reason to delay Paul Tagliabue's enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. Though Tags was a very good leader of the sport, there were some key issues on which he was a little on the lax side.

In contrast, Goodell isn't afraid to take on the tough problems with an eye toward making the game better. The mere fact that he's willing to do so means that it already is.

PACMAN DECISION COMING THIS WEEK?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could be issuing his decision on the appeal of Titans cornerback Pacman Jones' suspension later this week.

Schefter also reports that the ruling could reduce Jones' suspension if a pending case in Georgia is resolved in his favor. Currently, Jones faces a one-season suspension that could be reduced to 10 games based on the resolution of charges in Georgia and Las Vegas.

We think that Goodell is trying to create the appearance that the appeal process works, even though he's the guy who made the initial decision that is being reviewed. By him. Such an outcome might decrease criticism of the procedure and, more importantly, it could help the NFL Players Association avoid claims that it breached its duty of fair representation to Jones.

Throwing a bone to the NFLPA is a good idea right now, because Goodell could soon be hoping for the union to not complain too loudly if Goodell suspends Falcons quarterback Mike Vick absent a conclusion to dog-fighting charges that might be filed against him before the start of the 2007 season.

And, in the end, it's unlikely that Goodell's apparent mercy will make a difference. Based on information reported in the media, it might be a tall order for Jones to wiggle out from misdemeanor and felony obstruction charges arising from an allegation that he bit a police officer on the hand.

WELCOME TO THE NEW PFT FANTASY MILL

We're extremely happy to announce the latest PFT partnership. Starting now, our Fantasy Mill has been resurrected, and it will now be powered exclusively by Rotoworld.com.

The folks at Rotoworld have been good to us for a long time, and we're very pleased to be doing business with them. We encourage you to visit the Fantasy Mill on a regular basis for all of the latest news and nuggets from the perspective of the ever-expanding world of fantasy football.

Got feedback about the new Fantasy Mill? Let us know.

MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Former NFL RB Jamel White likes the fact that the coaches in the CFL don't yell and scream. (We'll see if he feels the same way when the game checks start showing up in his mail box.)

Colts LT Tarik Glenn thinks he'll get big money after the 2007 season.

A reporter was tossed from an NCAA baseball game for live-blogging in the press box. (He was also making real-time updates to a web site.)

When our guy MDS isn't pitch-hitting for the Poobah, he's getting his FanHouse on; in a Monday night entry he writes about the potential scuttling of NFL Europa.

Here's a first look at video of the Madden competitor.

The Niners have signed DL Sam Rayburn.

Former Colts DB Dexter Reid is still in trouble.

The Bills have signed seventh-round DE C.J. Ah You!

Bills DT Darwin Walker didn't show for the first day of a mandatory minicamp.

POSTED 6:52 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

JAGS HOT FOR 'PEPPER

A league source tells us that, as widely rumored, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a strong interest in quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Per the source, assistant head coach Mike "Meathead" Tice is pushing Culpepper hard. One guy that Tice doesn't need to persuade is head coach Jack Del Rio, who isn't fond of current starter Byron Leftwich (notwithstanding comments from Del Rio suggesting a contrary sentiment).

The problem is that V.P. of player personnel Shack Harris is torn. He likes both Culpepper and Leftwich.

Still, Harris needs to be thinking about the future. Leftwich is under contract through 2007, as is Quinn Gray. David Garrard, who likely would be the odd man out if Culpepper is acquired, is signed through 2008.

The other wild card here is Del Rio's job security. Does adding Culpepper give Del Rio another year if the team tanks in 2007? Does the presence of Culpepper give Tice a shot at being the next coach of the team if Del Rio is fired?

The bottom line here is that, if Culpepper is healthy, he's better than Leftwich, Garrard, or Gray. But no one knows how healthy Culpepper really is.

POSTED 5:49 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 6:31 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

BUSH NOT HOSTING POKER TOURNEY

A source with knowledge of the situation tells us that, contrary to the plain language of an invitation that is being circulated regarding a celebrity poker tournament at the Playboy Mansion, Saints running back Reggie Bush is not one of the hosts of the charity event.

The Bush camp's version is that the folks who printed up the invitations incorrectly identified Bush as one of the hosts.

Of course, this raises the question of what the invitation was supposed to say about Bush's role in the event. Even if he's not one of the hosts, NFL rules generally ban player involvement with gambling.

We're trying to get more information on this. Stay tuned.

WHY IN THE HELL DOES ESPN CARE ABOUT THE SOPRANOS?

We came straight home from a day of law work in Morgantown, and we've noticed plenty of talk on ESPN about the final episode of HBO's The Sopranos.

Um, who gives a crap? Did ESPN say anything about the last episode of Seinfeld? Everybody Loves Raymond? Both of those shows had as much or more of a connection with sports than The Sopranos; George Costanza worked for the Yankees and Ray Barone was a sportswriter at Newsday.

We don't get it. They're even going to talk about it on the 6:00 p.m. EDT SportsCenter.

Maybe we'd understand it if ESPN's parent company, Disney, owned HBO. Then again, maybe the real purpose of the focus on the show's last episode is to remind viewers that there's one less reason moving forward to watch HBO, which means that folks should instead spend their time on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, and any other television properties owned by the folks at Disney.

A GREAT DAY FROM MDS

We need to pause for a second or two and heap a large "thank you" on Michael David Smith, the Poobah's pinch hitter who capably rowed the boat for most of the day on Monday.

In fact, based on e-mails from readers who raved about Smith's work, he might be doing too well.

Here are a couple of quick takes on the seven stories posted on Monday by MDS.

First, we agree with his assessment that former Notre Dame receiver Jeff Samardzija could end up in the NFL before too long. As a pitcher, a guy can either bring it or he can't. Though plenty of ball-throwers over the years have suddenly lost their mojo like Steve Blass, it's rare that the switch flips from "off" to "on." If the guy can't post a win in "A" ball, how can he ever develop into a threat four levels up?

If Samardzija decides to make the switch to pro football, the fact that he was not drafted means that he can sign with any team.

Second, the whole Comcast-NFL squable is all about money. If NFL Network is part of the basic package on Comcast (or any other cable system), NFLN gets a fee for every single household that has basic Comcast service. If NFLN is relegated to a higher tier, no money will come from all of those households containing viewers who don't enjoy pro football enough to shell out the extra money for the extra channels.

So if the NFL can mobilize enough of the folks who want access to NFLN without having to pay extra for it, Comcast might be persuaded to push the network back onto the basic package, so that the league can make a lot more money due to the fact that the channel is being pumped to a bunch of folks who'll never watch it.

POSTED 4:21 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

DONOVAN MCNABB RETURNS TO PRACTICE by Michael David Smith

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb practiced today for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury in November 2006, suggesting that his rehab is progressing ahead of schedule.

Reuben Frank of PhillyBurbs.com reports that McNabb took 12 to 15 snaps with the first-team offense, that he looked good, made all his throws, was praised by the coaching staff, and at one point even tucked the ball under his arm and ran. He stayed on the practice field for only 20 minutes before heading back inside for treatment, but that's 20 more minutes of practice than anyone thought McNabb would have at this point.

"It felt great to get back out there on the field with all of the guys," McNabb said in a statement released by the Eagles. "It's just part of the rehab process and hopefully good things will continue to come. It is important to continue to monitor my progress, but also be smart about the whole situation."

McNabb will continue to participate for the next three days of the Eagles' minicamp, which has perfect attendance, even though it is, by rule, voluntary. [Editor's note: So is breathing.]

In its account of the practice, the Associated Press helpfully points out that McNabb "participated in non-contact drills." As if fans need to be told that a quarterback on the practice field for the first time since suffering a serious injury was held out of contact. (Actually, given the way some NFL teams flout the no-contact rules at minicamps, maybe it was necessary to specify that the drills in which McNabb participated did not involve contact.)

WILL JEFF SAMARDZIJA RETURN TO FOOTBALL? by Michael David Smith

If Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija had decided to enter the 2007 NFL draft, he probably would have been a first-round pick. He's 6-foot-6, a good athlete, has good hands, and was one of college football's best receivers at running after the catch and turning short passes into long gains.

But Samardzija decided he'd rather be a pitcher than a wide receiver, and he signed a $10 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. That was expected to be the end of Samardzija's career on the gridiron, but if the early returns on his baseball career are any indication, he might just change his mind.

Samardzija is currently 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA while playing Class A ball. This is a football site, so let's translate for people who don't know much about baseball: He stinks, and baseball writers aren't impressed with what they've seen.

Of course, he's only a few months out of college. Just because he stinks as a pitcher now doesn't mean he won't be a Major Leaguer some day. But there might come a time when Samardzija decides that he made the wrong decision when he picked baseball over football.

If he does, there would be interest from NFL teams, but nowhere near as much as there would have been if he had gone directly to the NFL from college. By the time Drew Henson decided he was done being a third baseman and interested in being an NFL quarterback, most of the interest in him had dried up. Samardzija might find the same is true in his situation.

POSTED 2:19 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

JOE DELAMIELLEURE: "SCREW UPSHAW" by Michael David Smith

Hall of Fame offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure didn't hold back on Monday when discussing NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw, the man who recently suggested he would like to do bodily harm to DeLamielleure.

"He threatened to break my neck," DeLamielleure said at a press conference in Chicago. "I say that he stunk as a union leader for 20 years. Screw Upshaw. He stuck it to us for 20-some years."

The comments came at a news conference organized by the Gridiron Greats organization and held at Mike Ditka's restaurant in downtown Chicago. The event was intended to launch a fundraising campaign for the organization, but it also served as an opportunity for DeLamielleure and Ditka to strike back at Upshaw and Dave Duerson. A former Bears player and a current member of the disability benefits committee, Duerson recently said that, when Ditka was the Bears' coach, he urged players to keep playing even if they were injured.

The Chicago Tribune quoted Ditka saying Duerson's charges are "an out and out, outrageous lie."

Former offensive lineman Brian DeMarco also spoke at the event. At just 35 years old, DeMarco says he is severely disabled as a result of injuries sustained in football. "My right leg is completely numb. I have extreme nerve pain in my arms," DeMarco said. "I have lost my grip . . . my ability to hold my kids." DeMarco needed two people to assist him in walking a few feet from his seat at the press conference to the podium.

POSTED 12:51 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

DETROIT POLICE SEX CRIMES UNIT INVESTIGATING SHAUN ROGERS by Michael David Smith

Fred Girard of the Detroit News is reporting that Lions defensive lineman Shaun Rogers is under investigation by the sex crimes unit of the Detroit police department for an incident that allegedly occurred at a local strip club, and could be charged as early as Tuesday.

"The Detroit Police Department presented us with a request for a warrant this morning," Girard quotes assistant Wayne County prosecutor Maria Miller as saying on Monday. "It concerns an incident that occurred at a Detroit strip club on June 8, at approximately 1 a.m. We're reviewing that request, but I don't expect there will be a decision today. First we have to interview witnesses and review the evidence."

Per Girard, a police officer said a 20-year-old dancer made a report that Rogers burst into the women's dressing room at the club, inebriated and carrying a pistol in his waistband. The woman said Rogers fondled her sexually.

Girard's report is an update of the story surrounding Rogers that was first reported by Terry Foster of the Detroit News. Oddly, Foster's initial report has been pulled from his blog on the paper's web site.

POSTED 12:01 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

DOLPHINS OVERPAYING FOR TRENT GREEN? by Michael David Smith

When quarterback Trent Green was traded from the Chiefs to the Dolphins last week, it was widely reported that Green had agreed to restructure his contract as part of the trade.

But Peter King of Sports Illustrated has the specific numbers in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, and it's hard not to agree with King's assessment that the deal is "maybe a little too fair for a 36-year-old guy who ended last year on such shaky ground with the Chiefs."

Per King, Green will make $6 million this year, and the incentives could go up to $2.45 million more if the Dolphins go far into the playoffs and Green plays at least 75 percent of the snaps.

If Green actually plays most of the season and leads the Dolphins from last place in 2006 to deep into the playoffs in 2007, he's worth every penny of the $8.45 million he'd earn. But the $6 million base salary is awfully high for a graying veteran (who recently has dyed all the gray out of his hair) whose productivity declined sharply last year. It's hard not to think the Dolphins are paying way too much.

And yet, as King notes, Green will still cost the Dolphins less money than Daunte Culpepper would have. Nick Saban's decision to trade a second-round pick for an injured quarterback with a costly contract last year left the new regime in Miami with little option but to find a replacement this year, even if that replacement is quite costly himself.

POSTED 10:51 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

NFL NETWORK TARGETING COMCAST SUBSCRIBERS by Michael David Smith

Last month a New York Supreme Court ruling gave Comcast the go-ahead to move NFL Network from its digital tier to its sports tier, meaning any Comcast subscribers who want NFL Network will have to pay $4.95 a month extra.

The NFL is fighting back, and not just in court. An "e-mail blast" to Comcast subscribers is urging them either to call Comcast and demand it put NFL Network on basic cable, or call one of the satellite companies that offers NFL Network as part of the standard subscriber package.

It's hard to say how effective such a campaign will be, and it's also hard to understand why the NFL has to go to such lengths.

First of all, the NFL dominates American television. The league's partnerships with Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN and DirecTV bring in billions of dollars a year, regular season games easily win their time slots in the ratings race, and the Super Bowl is always the most-watched program of the year by a huge margin. Secondly, NFL Network puts out a great product. The occasional Bryant Gumbel burp aside, NFL Network is must-see TV for football fans, with the kind of news and analysis that isn't available anywhere else.

When the NFL puts out the country's most popular television product, and its own network does great work providing that product to viewers, why do Comcast and other cable companies need to be cajoled into carrying it? It's an odd policy for Comcast, and one that its NFL fan subscribers shouldn't put up with.

POSTED 9:19 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

DON'T PAINT VICK AS A VICTIM by Michael David Smith

William C. Rhoden of the New York Times is one of the intellectuals of the sports media world, a columnist whose ponderous style gives him an air of authority, whether the content of his columns is worthy or not.

Rhoden's column today (which is available only to Times subscribers) is certainly not worthy. Despite acknowledging in his first sentence that Michael Vick might have been involved in dog fighting (even Vick's media defenders aren't saying they think he's innocent) Rhoden spends the rest of the column lambasting the federal government for its involvement in the case, saying the feds are treating Vick unfairly and targeting him because of his celebrity.

And then Rhoden proceeds to supply evidence that runs counter to his thesis. He notes that the feds were not interested in helping local prosecutor Gerald Poindexter in a dog fighting investigation a few years ago:

"A man named Benjamin Butts was suspected of running a dog fighting operation. Dogs and training equipment were found on the property, and Poindexter authorized a search of Butts's property," Rhoden writes. "The Butts case was dismissed by a judge who said the search had violated his rights."

Rhoden sees the feds' lack of interest in the Butts case as evidence that they're only interested in Vick because he's a celebrity. But he fails to note another explanation: The feds could think they have no choice but to get involved this time because the local authorities botched a previous dog fighting investigation.

Is it possible that federal authorities want to take down a big-name defendant like Vick? Sure. But the feds wouldn't have gotten that opportunity if mounds of evidence related to dog fighting hadn't been found on Vick's property. Rhoden is wrong to portray Vick as a victim of anything other than his own actions.

POSTED 8:15 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

SHAUN ROGERS IN HOT WATER?

Lions tackle Shaun Rogers is the latest candidate to break our "days without an arrest" streak at 21 and counting.

According to Terry Foster of the Detroit News, Rogers was interviewed by police on Saturday at Ford Field in connection with allegations that he carried a gun and touched a stripper at a Detroit club called "The Player's Den."

A warrant will be presented to prosecutors on Monday.

Foster says that Rogers didn't wave his gun, but made it known that he was packing heat. Foster also says that he is aware of additional details that, if true, could bring Rogers' career with the Lions to an end, and that also could result in jail time.

Finally, Foster explains that there is a concern within the police department that Rogers and his lawyer will "pay off" the stripper.

And that's where Pacman Jones really screwed up in February. Instead of tossing the full $81,000 into the air, he should have held back $40,000 of it to buy everyone's silence after the fact.

POSTED 8:02 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2007

NFLPA WILL FILE CULPEPPER GRIEVANCE

Jason Cole of Yahoo! (Yippee!) Sports reports that the National Football League Players Association will be filing a grievance on behalf of Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

"This is similar to the Steve McNair case last year where Tennessee wouldn't let him come to work out at the team facility because they were afraid they were going to be responsible for his salary if he got hurt," Berthelsen said. "We filed a grievance over that and we prevailed, which helped ultimately force the trade of McNair to Baltimore."

The difference here, superficially, is that the Fins are allowing Culpepper to work out at the team facility. But, as of Friday, June 8, they will not allow him to participate in team drills.

In contrast, the Chiefs allowed quarterback Trent Green to fully participate in minicamp practices, even though it was obvious that the Chiefs were planning to ship Green to the Dolphins once the two teams agreed on a price -- and even though a serious injury to Green could have put the Chiefs on the hook for $7.2 million in base salary.

Berthelesen thinks that the Chiefs handled the situation the correct way.

"Under the provisions of the standard player contract, players are compelled to stay in excellent physical condition and be ready for the season," Berthelsen said. "How do you do that? By practicing with the other players on the team. If the team will not allow him to practice because they don't want to be liable for his contract, the team should release him. They can't keep exclusive rights to you just because they think you're worth a draft pick."

Offseason workouts are winding down; the Fins have only three more OTA sessions remaining -- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. Thus, the best-case scenario for Culpepper would be to have the situation resolved in his favor before training camp opens, since this would prevent the team from holding Culpepper out of team drills once they put on the pads.

Given that this issue will likely come up in the future, and since we generally think that it is fundamentally unfair for a team to hold a player's rights while at the same time refusing to allow him to participate fully and completely in practice with his teammates, we think that the NFLPA should press for a broader solution. Specifically, we believe that the union should ask for a rule that makes the base salary of any vested veteran who was on the roster at the end of the prior season subject to the termination pay rule of the CBA if the vested veteran is on the team as of May 1.

This "poop or get off the pot" provision will allow the player to focus on getting ready for the coming season as a member of his current team, or to have enough time to find a new team. And if his current team doesn't cut the player by May 1, the player will be entitled to receive his full base salary if he is cut thereafter.

MONDAY EARLY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Will Pacman Jones be the odd man out in the Titans' secondary?

The Lions apparently won't be making a run at Daunte Culpepper.

When it comes to dog fighting, L.T. sure sounds a lot like Clinton Portis with a dash of tact.

Why should the 'Skins have burned a first-round pick on a defensive lineman when they got Alex Buzbee for free?

Only five of the Rams' 13 defensive linemen have more than one year of NFL experience.

Texans owner Bob McNair says that the Texans will be competing for a playoff spot this year. (And then October will begin.)

Bucs RB Kenneth Darby could be nudging Michael Pittman out of the role of third-down back.

Bucs RB Cadillac Williams has been working out without shoes. (If we weren't headquartered in West Virginia, we'd make an Alabama joke right now.)

Is Chad Scott in line to be a starting cornerback in New England?

Fins coach Cam Cameron has a dorsal fin in his pocket for WR Derek Hagan.

David Neal of the Miami Herald makes a great argument as to why the Fins should move on (or move out).

Is it a good thing or a bad thing for Fins coach Cam Cameron to compare WR/KR Ted Ginn to Desmond Howard?

Fins LB Joey Porter missed Sunday's minicamp practice due to back spasms.

Speaking of Porter, we wonder whether WR Chad Johnson will follow up his victory over a horse by racing Joey's dogs.

The Rocky Mountain News says that Broncos CB Domonique Foxworth writes an "entertaining" blog for DenverBroncos.com. (And if by "entertaining" the News means "doesn't take long to read because there's not much there," we agree.)

Cowboys WR T.O. was uncharacteristically quiet while attending Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Here's a more realistic look at the dangers of playing football after concussions.

The Raiders have added George Streeter to the pro personnel department.

POSTED 7:52 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:29 p.m. EDT, June 10, 2007

ANOTHER POTENTIAL CONDON CONFLICT OF INTEREST

We've mentioned multiple times in this space the various relationships of Tom Condon. He is, above all else, one of the most famous and successful player agents, specializing in quarterbacks and other high-profile players.

But he also represents NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw, and we have long believed that Condon's desire to be able to continue to haul in three percent of those huge contracts given to the first fifteen or so players taken annually in the draft is in part responsible for Upshaw's failure to suggest to the rank-and-file a real rookie wage scale that would prevent kids who have never played a down in the NFL from getting upwards of $30 million in guaranteed money.

And at a time when Upshaw is being criticized for the lengths to which former NFL players must go to obtain disability benefits, we've realized that one of the six people responsible for determining who does and who doesn't get disability payments is (you guessed it) Tom Condon.

One of Condon's fiduciary duties is to represent the interests of Upshaw. How can Condon be an effective advocate on behalf of Upshaw at a time when Upshaw is being criticized for not doing enough to help disabled players when one of Condon's other fiduciary duties is to the trust fund that assesses whether players should get disability payments?

For example, Condon might be inclined to help Upshaw beat the heat he's currently facing by arguing in favor of disability payments that otherwise would not be warranted. Even if Condon can explain with a straight face that he is capable of setting the two aside, the goal should be to ferret out not only impropriety but also the appearance of it.

To the extent that Congress is inclined to take a look-see at the operations of the disability system or the manner in which the union operates, we think that the first issue that needs to be addressed is the manner in which agents like Condon can serve multiple masters with no system in place to police the question of whether conflicts of interest exist and, if so, whether steps should be taken to bring such conflicts to an end.

The broader problem in this regard is that agents can represent players and coaches and front-office personnel, often creating situations that would be funny if not so clearly wrong in which an agent is negotiating with one of his clients regarding a contract for one of his other clients.

The attitude of some agents in this regard is that, as long as the rules permit agents to wear various conflicting hats, the agents will do so. And that tells us that the rules need to be changed.

If the union or the NFL won't do it, then Congress should do it for them.

DUERSON TAKES ON DITKA

We know about the aforementioned Tom Condon conflict of interest because Condon's name was mentioned in a Chicago Tribune item regarding comments of another member of the disability benefit committee, former Bears defensive back Dave Duerson.

Duerson finds the criticism of the process from Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka to be "funny," in light of Ditka's alleged behavior as a head coach.

"Mike was not one who gave a damn about the players or their injuries when he was coaching," Duerson told the Tribune. "He was very disrespectful of guys who got hurt and now he's trying to champion for a couple of guys. The fact of the matter is he's way off base and he's late in the game."

Ah, nothing like a good, old-fashioned ad hominem attack. Under Duerson's logic, Ditka's current compassion regarding the plight of players who were hurt while playing pro football should be ignored because Ditka wasn't boo-hooing when the players he coached were getting hurt.

If anything, Duerson's attack on Ditka makes his case even stronger. If Ditka didn't give a damn about player injuries when he was an NFL head coach, does anyone think that Ditka was the only guy who behaved that way? Or is it more likely that every NFL head coach has a "suck it up" and "walk it off" attitude when it comes to getting his best players on the field?

And that disregard for a player's overall health during his playing career makes it even more imperative that the league and the union help players who, after their careers end, have health problems arising in part from the fact that they didn't allow their bodies to heal before jumping back into the fray.

So thanks, Dave, for helping prove in a roundabout way Da Coach's point.

SUNDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Meet former NFL player Brian DeMarco, who is struggling . . . at age 35.

Former Bears LB Wilber Marshall is another guy who has had to fight to get financial assistance.

Cowboys S Roy Williams and LB DeMarcus Ware could become superstars in Wade Phillips' defensive scheme.

If our given name were "Vernon", we'd prefer to be called Duke, too.

Former Vikings S Orlando Thomas is dying from ALS.

Could the Vikings eventually regret trading QB Daunte Culpepper?

Seth McKinney is penciled in as the starter at right guard in Cleveland.

The Ravens are out of the hunt for Daunte Culpepper.

Chargers WR Eric Parker takes the blame for the team's premature playoff exit in 2006.

Chargers third-rounder Anthony Waters is still working his way back from an ACL tear at Clemson last season.

Fins QB Trent Green is still working out the kinks.

LB Zach Thomas and DE Jason Taylor have been staying out of team drills in order to stay healthy.

Former Bucs TE/LS Adam Johnson will be featured in a reality dating show. (The show would be a lot more interesting if they used Bucs TE Jerramy Stevens.)

Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez will be on a reality show with Oprah. (The show would be a lot more interesting if they used Bucs TE Jerramy Stevens.)

Did the NFL ask the Houston Chronicle to pull an item criticizing the new video rules for non-NFL web sites?

The NFL is sending out a bunch of e-mails to encourage Comast customers to complain about the move of NFLN to a higher service tier.

Former Broncos LB Al Wilson is waiting for medical clearance to continue his career.

Bills DT Darwin Walker is prepared to boycott a mandatory minicamp that opens on Monday.

POSTED 7:09 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:33 p.m. EDT, June 2007

NFLPA IN A QUANDARY ON VICK

A league source tells us that the NFL Players Association quietly is wrestling with the question of whether, and to what extent, it should be prepared to support Falcons quarterback Mike Vick, if/when the state and federal investigations regarding dog fighting on his Virginia property result in the filing of charges against him.

Per the source, the thinking in league circles is that the union will find a way to provide some superficial support for Vick, but without pushing the issue too aggressively.

In fact, some league insiders believe that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's recent words of support for embattled (perhaps) NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw were aimed at part in ensuring that the union will not go bonkos if/when Goodell acts against Vick.

WVEC COMES CLEAN ON DOG CARCASS REPORT

The folks at WVEC-TV in Virginia have posted on the station's web site an explanation of Friday's erroneous report that, per ESPN Radio, nearly three dozen dog carcasses were found during a Thursday search by federal authorities of Mike Vick's Surry County, Virginia property.

Says WVEC: "Friday, WVEC.com reported information about dog remains allegedly found at the Vick property. We attributed the information to ESPN Radio. That information was not reported by ESPN and cannot be confirmed by WVEC. We regret the error."

With that said, there are indications that dog remains were indeed found on the property. Video shot by WVEC-TV showed workers donning breathing masks despite 90-degree temperatures, and some of our readers believe that faint images of dog carcasses can be seen in the video in question.

POSTED 7:37 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:19 a.m. EDT, June 10, 2007

DISPUTE ARISES AMONG NFL CONCUSSION DOCS

Despite a history of being on the same page (albeit one that might not reflect reality) when it comes to the handling of players who have had their jelly jarred during pro football games, a curious dispute has emerged among authors of a 2005 study regarding when a player should return to the field after suffering a concussion.

According to the New York Times, two of the five authors of the NFL-financed report claim that commentary suggesting that "it might be safe" for high school players to return in the same game was wrong.

Specifically, Dr. Henry Feuer of the Indiana University Medical Center and Dr. Cynthia Arfken of Wayne State University, told the Times that this conclusion was inappropriate, and that their research regarding professional players should not be applied to high school and college players.

Dr. Arfken also claims the language was added without her knowledge. She admits that she did not read in detail the final proof of the article, which contained the passage regarding younger players, but she believes that such a significant change should have been pointed out to her. (We tend to agree.)

The paper concluded that the NFL's practice of allowing roughly half of all players who suffer concussions to return to the field in the same game was safe, and suggested that high school and college medical personnel "keep an open mind" about utilizing a similar practice.

Instead, Dr. Feuer and Dr. Arfken now explain that they believe that the "less-developed brain tissue" of younger players is more susceptible to short-term and long-term damage than the brains of adults. High school and college players also receive less medical attention than NFL athletes.

Thus, Dr. Feuer said that he would "eliminate" the sentence in question. "It's been shown that [younger players] don't seem to recover as fast. Period."

Obviously, the two principal authors of the study, Dr. David Viano of Wayne State and Dr. Ira Casson of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, are defending the statement, arguing among other things that the paper shouldn't have been used as a guideline for actual behavior relevant to high school players. (Naivete is a wonderful thing.)

Here's our take. We believe that a major part of the NFL's overall strategy regarding the concussion problem is to take the position that the player, exercising his own free will in what is supposedly a free country, chooses to play with a bruised brain. Such a desire falls squarely within the whole football culture of "sucking it up" and "walking it off."

So where does that culture develop? Not in the NFL. Pro football players are the product of years of "sucking it up" and "walking it off." If at every lower level of the sport players are allowed to re-enter games after their little birdie named Ronnie tells them that they got knocked the f--k out, it's a no-brainer (groan) for the players to want to get back onto the field after getting their bell rung when they're actually getting paid to do so.

If doctors and (more importantly) coaches at the high school level treated even mild brain injuries with the concern and alarm that they justify, players would realize during their formative years that there are limits to the whole concept that playing hurt is an indicator of toughness and a builder of character.

And if our suspicions in this regard are true, then there truly is a sinister component to the league's handling of concussions, which likely reflects the desperate reality that yanking guys based on unavoidable trauma to the inner workings of the human head is directly at odds with the notion that the show must go on.

CULPEPPER HAS PERMISSION TO TALK TO OTHER TEAMS

We were surprised this morning upon reading Saturday comments from Dolphins coach Cam Cameron in a routine e-mail sent out by the team's P.R. staff regarding quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Buried within an array of quotes was an indication that Culpepper now has permission to speak with other teams.

"He's welcome to talk to any team," Cameron said. "He is a player-agent."

But, at the same time, we're hearing that the Fins believe that teams have been tampering with Culpepper. If the team has given him permission to speak with other teams, what gives?

Our best interpretation? The Fins believe that discussions occurred before they gave him permission to do so. And now that he has permission, it might be even easier to prove tampering, since it's likely that Culpepper would have talked after getting permission to at least one of the teams to which he might have been speaking before getting permission.

MDS GETS THE KEYS AGAIN ON MONDAY

The Poobah has a full day of law stuff on June 11. So, after posting the early Monday offering, we'll be turning the thing over for the rest of the day to Michael David Smith.

MDS is a contributor to FootballOutsiders.com and AOL's FanHouse. He has been pinch hitting here for the past few months, and he's been doing a great job.

So stop by throughout the day on Monday to see what MDS has to say.

POSTED 11:01 p.m. EDT, June 9, 2007

FINS SUSPECT TAMPERING WITH CULPEPPER

A league source tells us that the Miami Dolphins are suspicious that one or more teams have been engaged in direct communications with quarterback Daunte Culpepper. And since Culpepper acts as his own agent, it should be easy for the Dolphins to prove it.

Tampering is a way of life in the NFL. Every February, teams talk to the agents of players who won't technically become free agents until March. Every summer, the agents of players who are faced with a "take a pay cut or move on (and move out)" ultimatum will "gauge the market" in order to decide whether the player would get more money elsewhere if he stands firm.

But agents talk to team officials for a variety of reasons. And that makes it hard to prove that any specific conversation involved a player about whom they should not be talking. If, for example, Daunte Culpepper were represented by Tom Condon, there would be no way to prove that Tom Condon was talking to, for example, Rams coach Scott Linehan about what St. Louis would pay to Culpepper if/when he lands on the open market. Condon could be talking to Linehan about any of the players he represents who are currently members of the team, or merely engaging in relationship maintenance.

In Culpepper's case, phone records showing conversations between Culpepper and any person employed by any team other than the Dolphins would be the proverbial smoking gun in a tampering case.

And based on Culpepper's refusal to restructure his current contract in order to facilitate a trade and his demand for a release, we're very suspicious that he has gotten this strategy from a team that has a wink-nod deal in place to sign him when he is finally released. If that team can help Culpepper force his release, that team won't have to give up a draft pick.

"Daunte," the team might have said, "just hold firm and refuse to re-do your deal. You'll eventually be cut, and we'll sign you after it happens."

Memo to any team that has been talking to Culpepper: It might be a good idea to commence puckering.

FINS WON'T CUT CULPEPPER UNTIL LATE JULY, AT THE EARLIEST

For the reasons set forth above, we're told that the Dolphins will not release Daunte Culpepper until late July, at the earliest.

Culpepper's value to his new team will be diminished if he doesn't get a chance to join it until training camp already has begun. Since the Fins think that one or more teams are responsible for Culpepper's current refusal to restructure his contract to facilitate a trade, the Fins plan to play hardball on this one.

Meanwhile, Culpepper is attempting to increase the pressure by asking the NFLPA to intervene on his behalf. Culpepper disclosed this request in a printed press release that he distributed to the media on Saturday, in which he said that his "dream" of playing for the Dolphins had become a "nightmare."

But there's really nothing that the NFLPA can do. The Fins have not barred Culpepper from the practice facility, and there's no requirement that the team include any player in the team portion of practice drills.

POSTED 10:08 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:19 p.m. EDT, June 9, 2007

HERNDON WILL SIGN WITH TITANS ON MONDAY

A league source tells us that free-agent cornerback Kelly Herndon will sign with the Tennessee Titans on Monday. The deal is expected to be for three years.

Herndon was cut earlier this week by the Seahawks. We heard that the move occurred because new defensive backs coach Jim Mora didn't care much for Herndon. The powers-that-be hoped that Mora would warm up to Herndon. He didn't.

Herndon has drawn interest from several teams. The Titans have a pressing need at the position, given the one-year suspension of cornerback Pacman Jones. Tennessee signed former Colts cornerback Nick Harper via free agency, but Harper has spent most of his career in the Tampa 2 defense, which does not require the corners to spend a lot of time covering receivers down the field.

MAN BEATS HORSE

Bengals receiver Chad Johnson defeated a horse on Saturday in a race.

Here's the video of the event. Johnson wore silks in team colors, with number 85 on the back and, of course, "Ocho Cinco" for a nameplate.

We'd like to see the pair square off next in the Wonderlic. Because Johnson has proven that he isn't very smart. Training camp starts in less than two months. Why in the hell would Johnson risk a blown hamstring for a publicity stunt? And why would coach Marvin Lewis let him?

Johnson said that the race will be the first step in his side career of engaging in sports stunts for charity.

"Floyd Merriweather, you're next," Johnson said. "I want to fight you. I'd like to take Kobe and LeBron one-on-one. Jeff Gordon, we can take a couple laps." (And we could give a couple craps.)

Chad, stick to what you do best. Save the freak shows for the days after your football career ends. If you keep doing this other stuff, that day could come sooner than it otherwise would.

POSTED 12:30 p.m. EDT, June 9, 2007

SHOCKEY GETTING TESTY

Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey rarely volunteers to participate in voluntary offseason workouts. And that's fine; it's his prerogative. Unless and until the Giants have another tight end of roughly equivalent skill who spends more time from April through June getting better acquainted with 100-year-old sandpaper dull quarterback Eli Manning, Shockey's starting job won't be at risk.

But if Shockey doesn't want to come around, he should be a man about it. Instead, he's whining about the fact that folks have raised questions about whether his absence reflects on his commitment to the team.

On Friday, Shockey called such criticism "a slap in the face," according to the New York Daily News.

"If you don't like me because I don't work out here or you think I'm not doing this to help the team, so be it," Shockey said. "I [work out in Miami] because it's on natural surfaces, it's not below 40 degrees, and I work with college kids that really want to make it to the next level, [instead of] the people in this locker room that have to be here to receive a $25,000 bonus or something."

Shockey reasons that, if former G.M. Ernie Accorsi believed that offseason workouts were important, he "would've put in my contract a bonus for coming here 50% of the time or 100%."

Maybe Accorsi's genius in this regard was the absence of such a bonus. Shockey comes off as an asshole in many of his relatively infrequent media sound bites. We can only imagine how big of a pain in the butt he is when on the field or in the locker room.

"I'm not out drinking every night, going out every night," Shockey said. "If I do, I guarantee I'm working out the next day. People questioning my character really hurts because I play hurt and I'm going to continue to play like that. I want to win a championship, [but] no matter what I do it's not good enough for people up in this area."

Hey, Jeremy. Quit bitching. If you're not going to participate in voluntary workouts, people are going to notice it, and they are going to say something. Crying about it won't change it. If anything, it will only let them know that the criticism is getting to you.

POSTED 7:00 a.m. EDT, June 9, 2007

VICK HAD "DOG YARD" IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Falcons quarterback Mike Vick had a "dog yard" in South Carolina, and that a former South Carolina prosecutor assumed that the animals were "fighting dogs."

William Frick was the lead prosecutor in the David Ray Tant dog fighting case. Tant pleaded guilty, and he was sentenced to 40 years in jail.

Coincidentally, a South Carolina prison inmate recently contacted officials in Surry County, Virginia regarding Vick's involvement in dog fighting. Could the guy in question be Tant?

"I really don't know if they dealt with each other," Frick told the AJC.

POSTED 6:37 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 6:49 a.m. EDT, June 9, 2007

GRUDEN GA-GA FOR GARCIA

Bucs coach Jon Gruden declared at a Tampa Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday that Jeff Garcia is in line to be the team's starting quarterback in 2007.

"Right now, Jeff Garcia is clearly the leader in the clubhouse," Gruden said.

He added: "We have a veteran quarterback now that we think can upgrade us in an area we need to improve."

But the door is still ajar for the former starter who lost the job only because he lost his spleen. "That's not to say Chris Simms won’t make things interesting at training camp," Gruden said.

The Buccaneers currently have seven (seven!?!) quarterbacks on the roster, including Jake Plummer, who has said that he is retired.

ANOTHER OFFSEASON SMOKING GUN

For the past few weeks, readers have been forwarding to us pictures and articles suggesting that impermissible contact is occurring during offseason practices. Some of the photos and reports are subject to interpretation, so we've decided to present in this space only the clearest examples of violations of the clear no-contact rules that apply to OTA workouts and mandatory minicamps.

Here's the latest, per Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger: "According to someone familiar with FB Jim Finn's shoulder injury, the seven-year veteran was injured late last month in one of the team's first OTA workouts. The person said Finn delivered a block and immediately felt a pop in his shoulder."

Generally speaking, there should be no blocking during offseason workouts with the kind of force that would pop a shoulder. (Arguably, there should be no blocking at all.)

But this kind of thing will continue. The players aren't complaining, and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw apparently is too busy counting his money and/or threatening to break necks to instruct one of the other union employees making more than six figures per year to actually, you know, enforce player rights.

POSTED 6:22 a.m. EDT, June 9, 2007

WVEC DROPS CLAIM THAT 30-PLUS DOG CARCASSES WERE FOUND

Several readers have pointed out to us that WVEC-TV has dropped without explanation from its web site a statement that ESPN Radio has reported that nearly three dozen dead dogs were found on the property owned by Mike Vick in Surry County, Virginia.

Attention, WVEC: You can't just make a claim like that, drop it, and make no mention as to why you've done so.

We suspect that the error resulted from WVEC's interpretation of an interview of ESPN's Kelly Naqi during Friday's Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio. Naqi said that the suspicion was that up to 37 dogs were buried on the property. She never said that 37 dogs have been actually found there.

With that said, it's our understanding that WAVY-TV's Mary Kay Mallonee said during a Friday afternoon appearance with Rick Ballou on 1010 XL in Jacksonville that dog carcasses were found on the property, and that investigators were happy with the outcome of the search.

POSTED 9:37 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:27 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

BUSH VIOLATING NFL GAMBLING POLICY?

A league source told us on Thursday night that he recently received an invitation to a celebrity poker tournament at the Playboy mansion. The event is hosted by Baron Davis, Paul Pierce, Shannon Sharpe, and Reggie Bush.

The problem? Bush's association with the event is an apparent violation of league rules regarding gambling.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us by e-mail on Friday that NFL rules prohibit the hosting of a celebrity poker tournament, even if (as in this case) it's all for charity.

Under Article XI of the CBA, such activities would potentially be subject to discipline from the Commissioner as conduct detrimental to public confidence in the game of professional football. Alternatively, Bush could be disciplined pursuant to paragraph 15 of the Standard Player Contract, which states:

"Player recognizes the detriment to the League and professional football that would result from impairment of public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of NFL games or the integrity and good character of NFL players. Player therefore acknowledges his awareness that if he accepts a bribe or agrees to throw or fix an NFL game; fails to promptly report a bribe offer or an attempt to throw or fix an NFL game; bets on an NFL game; knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity; uses or provides other players with stimulants or other drugs for the purpose of attempting to enhance on-field performance; or is guilty of any other form of conduct reasonably judged by the League Commissioner to be detrimental to the League or professional football, the Commissioner will have the right, but only after giving Player the opportunity for a hearing at which he may be represented by counsel of his choice, to fine Player in a reasonable amount; to suspend Player for a period certain or indefinitely; and/or to terminate this contract."

We assume that Bush can avoid any scrutiny by simply removing his name from the event. And we don't really fault him for this one, since it's not his job to understand the nuances of NFL rules and regulations. That job falls to his agent and/or marketing rep.

In this specific case, someone apparently screwed up.

FRIDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Geno Upsharrino says his comment about breaking Joe D.'s neck wasn't a threat (apparently, it was a promise).

Eagles LB Takeo Spikes has concerns about the lie detector test that was imposed on Broncos WR David Kircus.

Cowboys DE Greg Ellis can't get released. (Maybe he should just publicly criticize Gene Upshaw.)

G Zach Piller has signed with the Giants.

The Giants kicked DT Sir Henry Anderson in Mr. Ballsack.

Seahawks OL Floyd Womack has had arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

Dolphins DT Vonnie Holliday is trying to backtrack on criticism of the team for drafting Ted Ginn instead of Brady Quinn.

The Redskins have finally gotten CB Jerametrius Butler.

The Ravens are happy that LT Jonathan Ogden hasn't called it quits yet.

CB Kelly Herndon is making the rounds.

POSTED 6:19 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

VICK'S COUSIN CLAIMS DOGS WERE PLANTED?

Several readers have advised us that Mike Vick's cousin, Davon Boddie, was interviewed by WAVY-TV on Thursday.

We've finally watched the full interview.

What. A. Joke.

Boddie generally wouldn't comment on issues of dogs and dog fighting at the house in Virginia owned by Vick and at which Boddie lived. And at one point Boddie seems to suggest that the 66 live dogs were planted by investigators whom he claims were in the woods near the property within a few days prior to the original search that yielded evidence of a dog-fighting operation.

"I got a little French poodle, man," he said. "That's all I know."

On several occasions, Boddie claimed that it's all a "conspiracy." He also said that Vick never comes to the property, despite prior media accounts that neighbors and others saw him there from time to time.

Why in the hell is this guy saying anything? Answering questions regarding some topics but saying "no comment" on anything relating to dogs or dog fighting does nothing to prompt anyone to believe that Vick isn't factually guilty of dog fighting.

POSTED 4:57 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:15 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

MORE THAN 30 DOG CARCASSES FOUND ON VICK PROPERTY

ESPN Radio, by way of WVEC-TV, reports that nearly three dozen dog carcasses were found on property owned by Falcons quarterback Mike Vick in Surry County, Virginia during a Thursday search by federal authorities.

Also, Patrick Terpstra of WVEC reports that Surry County prosecutor Gerald Poindexter will continue with his own investigation into the case as the federal investigation proceeds.

Poindexter has toned down his remarks regarding the federal involvement in the case, which as of Thursday night contained some fairly inflammatory rhetoric. On Friday, Poindexter said merely that it was a "breach of protocol" for the feds to search the land without giving Poindexter advance notice.

We're also told that WAVY-TV reporter Mary Kay Mallonee said on Friday afternoon during Rick Ballou's show on 1010 XL in Jacksonville that dog carcasses were indeed found on the property, and that federal investigators were happy with the results of the search.

All things considered, it's not a good outcome for Mr. Vick. The feds will come after him 100 times more aggressively than a part-time prosecutor in a rural county with 7,000 residents ever would or could, and the feds won't let go until the verdict and been entered and all appeals have been exhausted.

VICK CANCELS FOOTBALL CAMP

Falcons quarterback Mike Vick has canceled a football camp that he had planned to conduct from June 30 through July 3 in Newport News, Virginia.

The cancellation is due to "scheduling issues."

Yeah, as in Mr. Vick won't be "scheduling" any trips to Virginia while the "issues" regarding those three-dozen dead dogs and other evidence suggesting that dog fighting was occurring on his property are still pending.

Several weeks ago, our own Taco Bill lampooned the Vick dog-fighting fiasco with a classic PFT Pic of the Day:

"Dog fighting? Man, I'm just teaching them to play football."

POSTED 4:27 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

THURMAN CHARGES WERE DROPPED WITH NO PAYMENT

We suggested earlier in the day that the abandonment of charges against Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman might have been the result of a small payment of cash or other valuables to the accusers. Though some might find such arrangements to be distasteful at best and inappropriate at worst, it's not uncommon for a civil settlement to be used to resolve criminal charges.

But a league source tells us that these charges were dropped with no payment of any kind coming from Thurman.

Per the source, the charges were dropped because work done in advance of the hearing that had been scheduled for Friday revealed hopelessly conflicting versions of the events.

It doesn't mean that Thurman didn't rough someone up last weekend. It means that the guys who accused him of wrongdoing apparently decided that they weren't going to be able to persuade a magistrate to issue an arrest warrant.

POSTED 3:38 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

FALCONS ADDRESS VICK SITUATION

Several readers and media members have sent to us a copy of a letter than Falcons owner Arthur Blank and G.M. Rich McKay sent on Friday to the franchise's season ticket holders.

The letter appears to be an exercise in damage control due to the ever-unfolding Mike Vick dog-fighting investigation.

The full text of it appears below. . . .

June 8, 2007

To Our Season Ticket Holders:

This off-season has certainly presented a lot of challenges to us, and we realize it has been difficult for our fans. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to let you know where we are as an organization.

Any time a player in our league – and especially a Falcons player – shows up in a negative light for any act, it is disappointing to us. While unsubstantiated to date, the current public situation concerning Michael Vick puts us in a particularly difficult spot because of the daily attention it is receiving in the media, and our inability to respond because we don't yet have all the facts with which to deal.

We hope you understand it would be inappropriate and premature to make any definitive statements or take any action until we know the facts. Therefore, we are awaiting the outcome of the investigation just as you are. For the benefit of our fans, the Falcons and Michael, we hope there will be a quick and clear resolution to this matter so we all can move forward.

In the meantime, we want you to realize there are many examples of our organization impacting our community in a very positive manner.

We have a large number of players on our football team who go above and beyond in giving back to our community. For example, this off-season Tight End Alge Crumpler was one of four NFL players who spent 12 days on a USO tour to U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Defensive Tackle Rod Coleman, through his foundation, gave metro Atlanta teenagers a head start on their adult careers by sending them to a Youth Business Camp. Linebacker Keith Brooking continued his efforts to serve foster children through a golf tournament fundraiser and an upcoming Tailgate Kick-Off fundraising event. Veteran Fullback, and first-year Falcon, Ovie Mughelli is in the process of adding Atlanta as a site for his Ovie Mughelli Project, which seeks to improve the quality of life for underprivileged children through summer football camps and educational programs. And, 2004 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient, Running Back Warrick Dunn has touched the lives of 69 single parents and a collective 181 children, helping them to become first-time homeowners by making down payments on new fully-furnished homes. Finally, a good number of our players are participants throughout the year in activities funded by the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, which to date has provided more than $10 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the state of Georgia.

These are just a few examples of our community commitment. We cite these examples not in any way to diminish any concerns you might have right now, but to encourage you to keep a perspective on the collective efforts of our players and our club.

Be assured we are intensely focused on preparing for the 2007 season. We are very encouraged by Head Coach Bobby Petrino's efforts in putting together an exciting team and schemes to make us highly competitive on the field. There is no doubt that Bobby’s expectations for our team are clear with our players, and their dedication is evident in the mini-camps and other practices that have taken place to date. The attendance and dedication of our players – including Michael – this off-season has been outstanding. We fully expect that to translate to a very successful 2007 campaign.

Over the last five years, we have worked very hard to build a winning team and a respected franchise for our fans and the Atlanta community. You have responded in a positive manner, and we thank you for your support and loyalty. We respectfully ask for your understanding as we work through our current situation.

Sincerely,

Arthur Blank Rich McKay
Owner & CEO President & General Manager

POSTED 3:08 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

HAS TIDE TURNED REGARDING TERMINATION OF TURDS?

Not long ago, it was widely assumed in league circles that teams could not cut players for engaging in illegal or otherwise inappropriate off-field conduct. The thinking was that the Collective Bargaining Agreement permitted a team, at most, to suspend a player for four games without pay for four games for conduct detrimental to the team. Any stiffer penalties were believed to be reserved to the Commissioner, who has the ability under Article XI of the CBA to fine and/or suspend players who engage in conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football.

A couple of weeks back, a reader pointed out to us some language in the Standard Player Contract that seems to suggest that a team can cut a player for being, generally speaking, a turd. And, like most good ideas we get from our readers, we ignored it.

A few days later, one of our few real friends in the "real" media pointed out to us an item in the Cincinnati Post that addresses the tension between Article XI of the CBA and Paragraph 11 of the Standard Player Contract, which states that the deal may be terminated "if Player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club."

Finally, we've had the occasion to explore the issue, and here's our take.

We think that a team's options for dealing with a player who has committed some type of off-field indiscretion include suspending the player for up to four games without pay or cutting him. Either sanction would be subject to challenge pursuant to the CBA's non-injury grievance procedure. Ultimately, an arbitrator would have to decide whether the Club's judgment as to the issue of adverse effect or reflection was reasonable and, presumably, whether the Club has imposed consistent discipline in the past for similar offenses. An arbitrator would have the ability to overturn the decision, and award the player the salary and other compensation he would have earned but for the termination.

The union seems to acknowledge that such an approach is permissible. As NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis told the Post, "If that's what it says in the CBA, [teams] can use that element. The rule gives them the right to do that."

(Possible translation: "If you keep giving us our 60 percent, we don't care what you do.")

Maybe that's why the union hasn't filed grievances following the terminations over the past few months of Saints linebacker E.J. Kuale, Jaguars cornerback Ahmad Carroll, Steelers linebacker Richard Seigler, and/or Bengals linebacker A.J. Nicholson, all of whom were cut in conjunction with arrests.

Then again, it's unknown whether any of these players were advised upon termination that the move was the result of personal conduct that adversely affected or reflected on the teams in question.

Even if the formal notices of termination did not state that the decisions were made because the players engaged in such behavior, there's a real question as to whether the union would even want to take up the fight on behalf of players who have engaged in alleged criminal behavior. As one league source told us on Thursday, the current climate for pursuing such grievances is far from ideal, given that the media, the fans, and many players are fed up with the ongoing string of player arrests.

And the union's experience with quarterback Quincy Carter could be influencing its failure to take up the cause for other players. In 2004, the Cowboys cut Carter (who at the time was the team's starting quarterback) on the heels of a report that he had failed a drug test. The union filed a grievance, and it was pending for more than two years. Cowboys director of public relations Rich Dalrymple tells us that, several months ago, a ruling was entered in favor of the team, based on the argument that the decision was based on issues relating to performance.

Our advice to teams who intend to cut players in the future who have been accused of doing something that they shouldn't have done? When filling out the notice of termination, check the boxes that apply to personal conduct and to performance. If the Cowboys were able to prove that a decision early in training camp to cut a starting quarterback who had led the team to the playoffs during the prior season was legitimately based on performance, we can't imagine any player showing that a termination decision wasn't performance-related -- absent a public admission from the team.

POSTED 1:35 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

NO DEAL YET FOR DAUNTE?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the exit of quarterback Daunte Culpepper from the Dolphins' practice field had nothing to do with his status, and that he currently is a member of the team.

Schefter also says that Culpepper wasn't taken off the field by the team, and that Culpepper won't be released this weekend or "anytime soon," but that he could be traded at any moment.

Stay tuned.

POSTED 1:17 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:29 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

RAMS SHIP KENNEDY TO BRONCOS

A league source tells us that the St. Louis Rams have sent underachieving defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy to the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round draft pick.

Kennedy was the twelfth overall pick in the 2003 draft, but has never done much of anything in St. Louis. In four seasons, he has 90 career tackles and four career sacks.

In Denver, he becomes the latest defensive line reclamation experiment for Coach Kevlar. Earlier this year, the Broncos struck a deal with the Dolphins for defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, but Wilkinson never reported for his physical and the trade was scuttled.

POSTED 12:09 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

FINS SECURITY ESCORTS CULPEPPER FROM PRACTICE FIELD

Greg Bedard of the Palm Beach Post reports that Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper has been escorted off of the practice field during a team minicamp by Stu Weinstein, the team's security chief. (We once hung out with Stu.)

Culpepper has been working out on the side. His sudden departure, with an escort, suggests that he either has been released or traded.

The other possibility is that the team has decided not to risk exposing Culpepper to injury, since if Culpepper were to suffer a serious injury the team would be on the hook for his full $5.5 million salary. Last year, the Titans locked quarterback Steve McNair out of the facility for that very reason.

Weeks later, McNair won a grievance regarding the matter. But, in the interim, the Titans didn't have to worry about Steve popping an Achilles' tendon. So it was in hindsight a smart move.

Stay tuned. Meanwhile, we encourage Dolphins fans (and non-Dolphins fans looking for an insomnia cure) to check out Bedard's live blog of the minicamp practice.

(Alex Marvez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is on the scene, too. We point that out to avoid be accused of playing favorites.)

POSTED 12:00 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

"I HOPE I NEVER SEE THIS PLACE AGAIN"

The Associated Press reports that an unidentified man who was assisting with Thursday's investigation of Mike Vick's property in Surry County, Virginia said while exiting the premises: "I hope I never see this place again."

The comment came at the end of a day of digging and, apparently, evidence removal from the property. But the AP says that all that was removed was a cardboard box and a large piece of plywood. To the extent that dog carcasses were found on the property, it's unclear to us whether the feds would actually take possession of the rotting remains, or whether the animal corpses would be photographed and officers would prepare a report of the number and type of animals that were found.

Let's face it, if the back end of Vick's property contained a makeshift canine cemetery, there's really no reason to do autopsies on the animals. Especially if any of the bodies reveal gaping holes from bullets fired into them after losing a dog fight.

Still, it's impossible to know what the person meant when proclaiming, "I hope I never see this place again." It could have been a statement of frustration due to the absence of any incriminating evidence. Or it could have been a comment on the gruesome nature of the discoveries that might have been made there.

POSTED 7:38 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 8:44 a.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

THURMAN COMPLAINT WITHDRAWN

Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that assault charges against Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday, a day before a scheduled hearing on whether a warrant for Thurman's arrest would be issued.

As a result, the hearing will not proceed, and Thurman will not be charged.

It's unknown, however, whether any type of settlement was reached between Thurman and his accusers. Based on information we obtained on Wednesday suggesting that there were four alleged victims who wanted $250,000 each, it's unlikely that a deal was worked out in that ballpark.

It's possible that the accusers opted to merely take what they could get, and that Thurman realized that coughing up a little money now was far better than paying even more money on legal fees -- and having this thing hang over his head at a time when he's already on suspension from the NFL.

MASKS USED AT VICK DIG SITE

Remember the scene in Goodfellas where Liotta and Pesci and DeNiro had to dig up the body of Billy Batts and move it to a new spot because a condo or something was going to be built on the land where Batts' body originally had been planted?

Liotta's character was throwing up all over himself due to the odor, while Pesci's character was cracking wise about different types of food.

We thought of that scene while watching video on WVEC-TV of federal investigators digging a hole on Mike Vick's property in Surry County, Virginia.

Though we didn't see any arms or legs (or wings) in the dirt, the tail end of the video shows one of the investigators fitting his face with a paper mouth/nose mask.

So why would someone want to wear a mask over his breathing holes on a 90-degree June day, unless the shovels had uncovered something that stinks pretty bad? Something like, say, a rotting dog carcass.

Unless, of course, that's the spot where Liotta and the guys finally put Billy Batts.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JUNE 29

A much-hyped phone/music player combination is coming out later this month. And even though the product will be available on June 29, we figure that the supplies will intentionally be limited at first, if for no reason other than to create a greater desire for folks to try to get that which they can't have.

But why wait until June 29 (at the earliest) for something else when you can get the UpStage from Sprint right now?

The UpStage is a two-sided device, with a phone on one side and a music player on the reverse.

In a June 7 review posted on NetworkWorld.com, Reviews Editor Keith Shaw writes that "the UpStage has many (if not more) of the features that iPhone claims to support." He also describes the idea of a single device with a phone on one side and a digital music player on the other as "[b]rilliant."

So don't wait. Get an UpStage now, not that other thing later.

By the way, Sprint and Nextel are the official telecommunications sponsors of ProFootballTalk.com. Thus, we encourage every true member of PFT Planet get a Sprint or Nextel phone, preferably by purchasing it through the ads on this site.

UPDATE: Unsolicited praise for the UpStage has come from a reader (who isn't employed by Sprint or Nextel, or Samsung): "It's awesome. The pix on your site don't do it justice. Graphics are clean and sharp. Functionality is sound. Interface with my PC is intuitive. It's slimmer than my wife’s razr. Great combination of music player, phone, and camera. I bought it last night and had it fully loaded with music in an hour. Next step: adding Redskin highlights. [Editor's note: Good luck finding any since January 1992.]

POSTED 7:04 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 7:28 a.m. EDT, June 8, 2007

CULPEPPER DEMANDS RELEASE

Immediately after news broke that quarterback Trent Green was being traded to the Dolphins, quarterback Daunte Culpepper (who still serves as his own agent and thus still has a fool for a client) took the high road, expressing a desire to compete for the starting job and saying nothing about wanting out.

As we read the tea leaves at the time, we think that Culpepper knew there was a very good chance he'd be dumped, and thus he wanted to appear to be the bigger man in all of this.

The next morning, however, the Fins told Culpepper that he no longer fit into the plans, and that the team was trying to trade him. Initially, Culpepper said that he did not wish to be traded, and that he wanted to either remain on the team or be released.

He now has asked the team to cut him. Now.

"I feel it is necessary to obtain a release rather than seek a trade so that I would not bring the excess baggage of my present contract to a new team,'' Culpepper said in his latest media e-mail (for some reason, we're not on the distribution list). "I feel like my next team should have the opportunity to get to know me as a man and a player before they make any long-term commitment.''

Frankly, Culpepper's position makes no sense. He can avoid bringing the "excess baggage" of his current contract to a new team by renegotiating the deal in conjunction with the trade discussions. It's what Trent Green's agent did several months ago when the possibility of Green being traded to Miami from Kansas City was first discussed. The Fins didn't want to pay Green a $7.2 million salary in 2007; thus, an agreement was reached on a reduced salary.

And if someone wants to trade for Culpepper without a reduced deal, he should be thrilled. Why? Because it means that someone is actually willing to pay him a salary of $5.5 million in 2007. Does he think he'd get $5.5 million on the open market until he proves that he is truly healthy?

Culpepper also says that he fully intends to participate in the team's minicamp that opens on Friday, if he is not released before then. This means that, if he re-injures his knee or suffers some other serious injury, the Fins could end up on the hook for the $5.5 million salary.

A TRADE IS STILL POSSIBLE?

Despite an unwillingness by quarterback Daunte Culpepper to be traded and a salary of $5.5 million that would be owed to him in 2007, teams apparently are willing to consider taking a chance on Culpepper.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the powers-that-be in Jacksonville met on Thursday to discuss the possibility of pursuing Culpepper. Through an intermediary, Culpepper let it be known that he'd like to play for the Jags. Schefter notes that, in 1999, Jags V.P. of player personnel Shack Harris was lobbying for his team at the time, the Ravens, to draft Culpepper.

So with Harris and former Vikings coach Mike Tice (who spent seven years with Culpepper in Minnesota) in Jacksonville, there's at least talk of bringing him aboard.

But if Culpepper comes, who goes? Byron Leftwich has been re-embraced as the starter, even as he enters the last year of his contract. Quinn Gray signed a one-year restricted free agent tender. The odd man out, then, could be David Garrard.

Not long ago, there were folks in the organization arguing that Garrard should be the starter. But he never fully capitalized on his chances to play when Leftwich was out due to injury (or due to a benching that was called an injury).

Garrard is signed through 2008 at salaries of $1.1 million this year and $1.25 million next year.

Schefter also says that the Ravens could try to trade for Culpepper, and that the Rams would be interested in him only if he is released.

DID THE NICKTATOR RUIN CULPEPPER?

In early 2006, the Dolphins were trying to decide between whether to sign free-agent quarterback Drew Brees, or whether to trade for quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

In the end, the decision was made to take a chance on Culpepper and his blown-up knee instead of Brees and his blown-up shoulder.

Doh.

Many league observers believed that the Fins thereafter rushed Culpepper back to the field too quickly, possibly to justify the latest draft pick that was coughed up in the futile search to find the next Dan Marino. Culpepper now concedes for the first time that the team was too impatient in this regard.

''I must say the impatience the organization displayed in both encouraging me to rush back on the field last year and then rushing me out the door this year is disappointing," Culpepper wrote in his Thursday media e-mail briefing.

But knowing what we now know that we know, was the decision to nudge Culpepper back to the field so quickly motivated by getting an immediate return on the investment, or by the fact that coach Nick Saban knew that 2006 might be his final act in the NFL?

The answer to the question lies in precisely when the Nicktator decided that the NFL wasn't his cup of tea, and when he first hatched the possible plan of fleeing for the college game after the 2006 season.

If Saban's desire to take his shot from the start of 2006 with Culpepper was the result, directly or indirectly, of Saban's realization that he very likely might not be around in 2007 to reap the potential benefits of a fully healthy Culpepper, then Saban should receive even more criticism than he already has experienced.

If Culpepper had been given more time to get himself healthy, he might be in a lot better position now to make a huge contribution on the field this year, for someone. As it now stands, Culpepper has to scratch and claw for even a chance to show what he can do. Beyond 2007, there's a chance that he might never find a place where he gets the chance to become the guy that he might have still been if Saban and the Fins hadn't rushed him back to the field.

In short, it's possible that Saban's desire to make a big splash in 2006 before retreating to football without a salary cap has thrown Culpepper's career into a ditch from which he might never fully emerge.

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