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Breaking NFL News  |
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POSTED 8:26 p.m. EDT, June 23, 2005
SAINTS SITTING ON AZ DEAL?
A league source tells us that, as of Thursday morning, the New Orleans Saints had not submitted receiver Az-Zahir Hakim's new contract to the league office for approval.
In theory, Hakim could bolt from the Bayou -- as he did in K.C. -- if another bidder comes up with more money.
Given that Hakim reneged on his Chiefs' deal, it's odd to us that the Saints haven't moved more quickly to ensure that Az is locked up.
Then again, there isn't much the Saints do these days that we understand.
MORTON'S SAN FRAN DEAL SIMILAR TO K.C. OFFER?
We're told that receiver Johnnie Morton's new contract in San Fran includes a $150,000 signing bonus, salaries at or slightly above the veteran minimum, and incentives.
A league source tell us that, despite our report that the Chiefs were offering Morton only the league minimum, the last offer made in Kansas City was comparable to the offer he accepted in San Fran.
But the folks in K.C., we hear, aren't surprised by Morton's decision to leave and have no hard feelings. Morton had told some members of the organization that he wanted to end his career in California, and none are shocked that he landed with the Niners.
THE FINS AND THE FURIOUS
Looking to kill some time in the handful of weeks between the close of OTA's and the opening of training camp?
How 'bout a little drinking and drag racing?
Dolphins safety Quintin Williams opted for that combination on Thursday. He was arrested after being clocked at 111 miles per hour, and he subsequently blew 0.087 on the breathalzyer -- 0.007 on the wrong side of the Florida legal limit.
Riding in Williams' car was Miami teammate Travares Tillman, another safety.
"This is not the kind of behavior we expect from our players relative to the choices and decisions they make," Dolphins coach Nick Saban said. "They not only need to respect the law, but also to respect others in terms of their safety and how it reflects on the members of this team, the organization and our fans."
But the Nicktator shouldn't be surprised by this one. As one league source told us, "When you sign turds, they act like turds."
THURSDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
Titans P Craig Hentrich underwent emergency surgery to remove a ruptured appendix.
Jacksonville signed P Eddie Johnson and released P David Brader (given Johnson's inability to catch and hold the football during his rookie season in Minnesota, we recommend against any of his new teammates inviting him over for fondue).
The 'Skins have added CB Artrell Hawkins.
Midway's new offering "Blitz: The League" is making up for EA Sports' hammerlock on the NFL license by, among other things, naming one of its quarterbacks "Mexico."
[Press "L" for turbo, "B" to jump, and "R" for another dose of Valtrex.]
The Fins open training camp on July 25 -- one year to the day after word broke of Ricky Williams' retirement (which permits Williams to return a not face a one-year suspension for retiring to avoid further drug testing).
With 1,023 new seats, the seats at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium now can hold 70,107 asses.
Raiders QB Kerry Collins has an afro pick in his pocket for WR Randy Moss.
The Bengals are close to signing seventh-round DL Jonathan Fanene.
POSTED 7:47 a.m. EDT, June 23, 2005
SOME GIANTS RALLYING 'ROUND COUGHLIN
Though participation by several of the team's higher-profile players in offseason workouts was sporadic at best, word out of New York is that many of the guys who busted their butts through the involuntary voluntary stages of Camp Coughlin are now firm believers in the head coach's famously hard-nosed approach to the game of football.
"He wants to f--king win, man. What's wrong with that?" said one source.
And as more and more members of the team buy in to Coughlin's approach, there very well could be a shift in the leadership roles within the locker room, since some of the guys who weren't regularly involved in the program are now being perceived as me-first guys.
The feeling, we're told, is that players like Michael Strahan and Jeremy Shockey and others need to worry less about their own stats and their own selves, and more about the team.
Another guy who might have trouble blending is receiver Plaxico Burress. The free-agent pickup from Pittsburgh was at a mandatory minicamp, but was rarely around for so-called OTA's and, we hear, had trouble remembering the plays when he was in attendance.
"How in the f--k can you know the offense when you're never around?" queried the source.
As we see it, the job in the early stages of training camp will be for Coughlin to get the guys with the Kool-Aid I.V. to influence the rest of the roster to fall in line -- regardless of they're Pro Bowls or street free agents.
If it can happen, these Giants could jell sooner than most people think.
BUCS QUIETLY TOLERATING RICE'S MOUTH, MONEY
Last season, Tampa defensive end Simeon Rice sounded off about a lack of discipline under coach Jon Gruden, attributing the 2002 Super Bowl win in large part to the lingering influence of former head coach Tony Dungy.
Gruden responded at the time with a mealy-mouthed, "He said what he said, but Simeon doesn't speak for the whole team, OK?"
Less than a year later, Rice is still running his yap publicly, at a time when his $10.7 million cap number likely is making the team regret the big-money extension he received following the team's championship season.
But the team continues to put up with both the money, and the mouth.
In reference to his eight-figure cap value, Rice says, "It's supposed to be -- don't get twisted, it's supposed to be high. I came here and I took a big pay cut. I came here on nothing. I came here just out of respect, and I still haven't gotten the respect I truly deserve, but I got the respect of money and I can walk away and say that's cool."
Meanwhile, the Bucs have been trying repeatedly to reduce Rice's cap hit through negotiations, to no avail.
"We have a few contracts that have been signed that we had to live with and hope we get some outstanding performances out of the players," G.M. Bruce Allen said.
By the way, Rice is hoping to churn out an outstanding performance this year. Just like former teammate Warren Sapp several years back, Rice wants to break the all-time sack record, which currently stands at 21.5 plus 1.0 prison shower room love scenes between Mike Strahan and Brett Favre.
Still, Rice recognizes that, given his contract, this could be his last year in Tampa. "It's a revolving door is what it is. The beauty of it is that my greatness doesn't depend on what helmet I wear.
"I'm going to be great wherever I can be great, whether it's here, back in Arizona or in San Diego."
In our opinion, the Bucs have allowed themselves to get caught up in the Randy Moss trap when it comes to their handling of Rice. Like the pre-February 2005 Vikings and their former game-breaking receiver, Tampa Bay seems to be committed to the notion that Rice is indispensable to the team, and that as a result they need to put up with his words and attitudes.
The problem is that, as the Vikings eventually realized, Rice's recklessly disruptive, self-centered approach is keeping the rest of the roster from being as good as it can be. Though, for example, we agree with Rice's message from last season regarding the absence of discipline in Tampa, those words should have been articulated behind closed doors, not in the media.
Roughly six months later, Rice remains unrepentant. "It wasn't a mistake, my ad- libbing was still thought out. If I can't speak the truth, I might as well not speak. In the role that I'm cast in the NFL, I'm not a great good guy. I'm a better bad guy, and I can live with that."
Unfortunately for the true fans of the Bucs, the organization has opted to live with it, too.
THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Jags receivers coach Steve Walters hints that 2004 first-rounder Reggie Williams is still struggling: "What I'd like for him is to be more consistent catching the ball,'' Walters said.
As to this year's first-round pick in Jacksonville, WR Matt Jones, the man with the chronically sprained vulva has had no problems over the past month.
Tom Curran of The Providence Journal points out that the addition of RB/KR Chad Morton by the Pats could create some intense competition in the return game, given the presence of Bethel Johnson and Tim Dwight.
April and May were good months for the folks who make theWhizzinator, bad months for two of the guys who have (allegedly) used one.
Bucs coach Jon Gruden, in the hopes of correcting the team's 7-9 home record over the past two seasons, moved Wednesday's morning practice into Raymond James Stadium: "[I]t's just more realistic that way,'' said Gruden. (If Gruden wants realism, maybe he should scrimmage the Panthers at RJS, too, so that the Bucs can realistically get their asses kicked.)
It's even money as to whether Jags QB Fat Albert spends the bulk of his time off before training camp with a female, or with a pile of cheeseburgers.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bucs coach Jon Gruden took the team bowling in order to improve team chemistry; "Last year we had some guys who didn't like the positions they were playing or whatever it may be. But I think we have a collective vibe right now that's a strong one."
Bears coach Lovie Smith thinks that players shouldn't carry guns (thanks, Lovie, for the civics lesson).
The Jags want to see if CB Ty Law is ready to chop some wood; "If he's healthy, we're interested,'' coach Jack Del Rio said.
CB R.W. McQuarters officially has signed his Lions contract, which is believed to be worth $1.6 million for one season.
Former Titans S Lance Schulters will visit the Dolphins on Thursday.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher in 90 percent deaf in one ear (and on Sundays this fall, he'll wish he was 100 percent blind in both eyes).
From the "Not Even We Could Make Up Something This Freakin' Bizarre" file, the Wisconsin Legislature has fast-tracked an obscure bill regarding the correction of errors on a marriage license, at the apparent behest Packers DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
The Rams, in an effort to put asses in the seats without requiring the purchase of a full-blown season ticket, will allow fans to buy tickets to four games (one of which, of course, is an exhibition contest).
The Eagles sold out all available single-game tickets in less than 15 minutes on Thursday.
POSTED 7:39 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:57 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2005
JAGS ENTER FRAY FOR WRIGHT
Add one more team to the list of franchises interested in USC defensive tackle Manuel Wright, who'll be eligible for selection in the NFL supplemental draft on July 14.
Wright, we're told, will visit the Jags on Wednesday and Thursday before heading to Miami for a Friday visit. Wright also has visited the Eagles and the Bengals.
As we've previously reported, the Dolphins plan to select Wright in the supplemental draft.
And of the teams interested in Wright, the Fins will have dibs -- if they pull the trigger in the same round as the Eagles, Jags, and/or Bengals. Although the process is based on a weighted lottery (with the worst team from a year ago getting 32 balls in the hopper, the next worst team getting 31, and so on), the draft order is split between teams with six or fewer wins from the prior season -- and all other teams.
So the Fins will be lumped together with the Browns, the Titans, the Raiders, the Giants, the Redskins, the Cowboys, the Lions, the Bears, the Bucs, the Cardinals, and the 49ers. In any given round, then, there's no way that Miami will fall below Philly, Cincy, or Jacksonville.
Still, there's definitely a poker-table aspect to this venture. Each round lasts ten total minutes, and the franchises exercise their picks -- if any -- via e-mail during the same ten-minute period. After the e-mails are submitted, the league office determines whether two or more teams have selected the same guy, and the league office then awards the player to the highest team in the lottery rankings.
Thus, teams who claim to be interested in Wright could be bluffing in order to prompt another team to burn a high-round 2006 draft pick. And teams who haven't expressed an interest might be keeping quiet in the hopes of pouncing at the right time.
Because many believe Wright to be a third-rounder or a fourth-rounder, our guess is that someone will put in a claim for him in round two. It would be a shock, frankly, if a team burns a 2006 first-round pick on Wright. However, we don't rule out a first-round move by a team projected to be picking low in round one next year.
The team that picks Wright will get extra money added to their 2005 rookie pool for the purposes of signing him. Nevertheless, the team will be required to fit all 2005 draft picks -- and all other players -- under the current cap year.
(Editor's note: Thanks to Steve Alic of the NFL league office for sharing with us the details regarding the supplemental draft procedures.)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
We're starting to like this Mike Nugent kid, even if he is just a punk-ass kicker.
CB Ty Law works out for the Jags on Thursday.
Ravens QB Kyle Boller's mug will be on the cover of The Sporting News.
But we'd still prefer to see this one on the magazine rack. . . .
In Jacksonville, 63 of 88 guys on the roster had perfect attendance in the team's offseason conditioning program.
RB Tiki Barber and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres are homies.
The Cards have signed NFL Europe LB Greg Carothers.
Our guess is that Ricky Williams Jr. will be unsigned when the Bears report for training camp: "I haven't gone through it before so it's hard to say how important it is to be [in camp] on time."
The Chargers have signed sixth-round OL Wes Sims.
POSTED 8:26 a.m. EDT, June 22, 2005
GANDY, SAINTS AT ODDS
Saints left tackle Wayne Gandy claims that the team has asked him to take a pay cut.
The Saints say that they haven't asked Gandy to take a pay cut.
It's just another day, it seems, in the life of one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the NFL.
Gandy's agent, Neil Schwartz, claims that the team wants Gandy to reduce his $5.25 million salary for 2005, due to alleged "non-productivity."
"I don't know where this came from," Schwartz said, according to The New Orleans Times-Picayune. "Wayne graded out at 90 to 95 percent in every game but one this year, and he graded at 89 percent in the other. I've got the grade cards to prove it. You tell me where the guy lacked productivity. This non-productivity claim is fiction. I think it's from the Wizard of Oz."
G.M. Mickey Loomis denies that anyone has asked Gandy to reduce his pay. "I haven't done that. I don't know where that story came from."
Bottom line -- someone is either lying or stupid. Or both.
Objectively speaking, the Saints have a clear reason to be looking for ways to reduce the cap numbers of players with multiple years left on their contracts. The team is only $1.5 million under the 2005 salary cap with a rookie pool of $3.6 million. Also, running back Deuce McCallister wants a big-money long-term deal, and cornerbacks Mike McKenzie and Fahkir Brown are looking for new contracts.
Besides, why would Gandy's camp be claiming that the Saints are trying to squeeze him to take a haircut if it isn't true? The only possible explanation would be that Gandy is attempting to provoke a release so that he could sign somewhere else. But who else is gonna pay $5.25 million for a 34-year-old left tackle at this stage of the offseason -- especially when Ross Verba is still looking for that $35 million contract he demanded in Cleveland?
Our guess is that the Saints aren't being truthful about this one, in the hopes of avoiding the perception locally that the notoriously cheap Tom Benson is looking to keep money in his pocket at a time when Looziana officials are scrambling to come up with a $15 million subsidy payment due to the team in roughly three weeks.
EAGLES DENY CONVERSATION WITH ROSENHAUS
In response to a recent claim by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents receiver Terrell Owens, that Rosenhaus recently spoke to Eagles coach Andy Reid by phone, the team insists that there is no "dialogue" between Reid and Rosenhaus.
Said Rosenhaus: "I called Andy and talked to him. I mention this because I think people have the sense that I don't have a professional dialogue with him. It's not like he and I don't have a dialogue."
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles were "deeply irritated" by the characterization of a phone call that Rosenhaus recently made to Reid.
"Drew called Andy on his cell," a team official said. "Andy didn't realize it was Drew and he answered the phone.
"There's no discussion, there's no change, there's no dialogue," the official said.
The Eagles have refused to engage in any discussions aimed at restructuring the seven-year contract of T.O., which was signed in March 2004.
WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Redskins S Sean Taylor gave a voluntary statement to prosecutors on Tuesday in the hopes that charges against him will be dropped; he claimed that he didn't have a gun at the time he allegedly pointed one at two men (but couldn't anyone charged with a gun crime merely claim he didn't have a gun, especially where there's no allegation that the gun was fired?).
The judge has dismissed one of two felony charges against Ravens LB Terrell Suggs; the dismissed charge carried a mandatory prison sentence.
Tampa has excused OT Todd Steussie from an ongoing mandatory minicamp; Steussie is expected to be released soon.
Bob Smizik of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes a great look at the decision of Myron Cope to call it quits as color commentator for Steelers' radio broadcasts.
Ricky is back in South Florida.
The Chiefs are bringing in a four-pack of potential toaster pastries.
Bucs OT Kenyatta Walker is still with the team, despite persistent rumors that he's getting the boot.
Titans LT Brad Hopkins has slimmed down to 279 pounds, which for an offensive linemen is downright Flockhartish (whatever happened to that underfed platypus, anyway?).
Tampa CB Ronde Barber isn't happy with his contract, but doesn't plan to engage in a holdout.
The Eagles have dumped CB Domonique Dunbar, signed last month as a rookie free agent.
Jags coach Jack Del Rio is looking for a few good homers in the Jacksonville media.
["Oh, no! I gotta root for a team with a coach who's dumber than me?"]
The Pats signed RB/KR Chad Morton to a one-year, $600,000 contract, with up to $600,000 more available in incentives.
Tampa coach Jon Gruden is getting even more paranoid as he tries to rebuild the roster for the second time in his tenure.
The Titans have moved QB Marcus Randall to defensive back, leaving them with five quarterbacks on the roster.
The Seahawks have signed seventh-round OL Doug Nienhuis.
The Chiefs have a tomahawk in their pockets for P Dusty Colquitt.
Newly-signed WR Johnnie Morton thinks that the Niners are ready to get back to winning more than a handful of football games per year: "They're going to turn it around," Morton said. "Just walking around that building today, and talking to people, you can feel the positive energy. It's in the air. They feel that it's time to do things the right way.''
The Bucs have no idea who their kicker will be.
Before QB Craig Krenzel takes any more shots at the Bears, he should consider the fact that his quarterback rating in 2004 was 52.5, which is 1.2 points lower than the quarterback rating of the Medicine Woman.
The doctor of a Nebraka man who dropped 573 pounds following gastric bypass surgery says that the patient has "lost two NFL offensive linemen" (and they both have a shot at starting at tackle for the Texans).
POSTED 7:02 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 7:58 p.m. EDT, June 21, 2005
MORGAN FEELING "SENSE OF URGENCY"
Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan, whose contract expires after this season, feels a "sense of urgency" to get an extension completed. "Obviously we've talked several times and exchanged some proposals, but we're not close to getting a deal done at this point," said agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to The Charlotte Observer. "There is a sense of urgency at this point; anytime a player is entering the last year of his contract, there is a sense of urgency," Rosenhaus added. "You try to get a deal done before training camp, because once that starts, the player's tendency is to focus more on football. So this is definitely a very important time because you don't want to miss that window of opportunity." Possible transation -- if Morgan doesn't get paid soon, he might shut down talks until after the 2005 season. And, at that point, Morgan might look to move on. "Dan very much wants to stay with the Panthers; that's one of the goals," Rosenhaus said. "But I've seen a lot of great players decide to move on once they get into free agency; I've represented a number of them, players like Jevon Kearse and Warren Sapp." The Observer reports that Rosenhaus is looking for a contract worth an average of $3 million to $4 million a year. Morgan will make a total of $919,000 in salary and a workout bonus this year.
Though Rosenhaus has been lambasted in many circles for his involvement in high-profile holdouts, no one has mentioned the "H" word in connection with Morgan.
And we doubt that any of the media outlets who have ripped Rosenhaus will acknowledge that, in this case, his high-profile client isn't staying away from the team in order to leverage a new deal.
One intriguing twist in this regard is that Morgan recently switched to Rosenhaus from Tom Condon of IMG. Like many of the agents whose players have made the move to Rosenhaus, we hear that Condon is pissed at the development. Unlike those other agents, Condon has the juice with the NFLPA to prompt the union to take action, by virtue of his representation of Executive Director Gene Upshaw.
In Drew's defense (and Rosenhaus hardly needs us -- or anyone -- to be his advocate), he's smart enough to know that Condon has the connections to make charges of tortious interference stick. Thus, our guess is that Rosenhaus said or did nothing that would give credence to any argument that he improperly recruited Morgan while he was under contract with Condon.
MORTON LANDS IN NOCAL
As recently suggested in this here space, receiver Johnnie Morton has joined the San Francisco 49ers.
Morton, a former first-round pick from USC who still resides in Southern California, signed a two-year deal with San Fran. Terms are not yet available.
Morton spent eight seasons with the Lions and three with the Chiefs. He was released earlier this month after declining the team's offer of a one-year deal for the veteran minimum.
Morton likely will press Arnaz Battle and Brandon Lloyd for a spot in the starting lineup. Morton already has been added to the team's depth chart in the spot behind Lloyd.
TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
The Bears have inked second-round WR Mark Bradley to a five-year deal; he's the first 2005 draft pick selected in the first three rounds to come to terms.
Yoi, and bon voyage -- legendary Steelers broadcaster is retiring after 35 years on the team's radio broadcasts.
Chiefs S Eric Crouch was fired (before he could quit . . . again).
The Browns have told QB Doug Johnson that he'll be the primary backup to starter Trent Dilfer.
The Browns dropped a half-dozen turds on Monday.
WR Az Hakim has officially joined the Saints (we think).
The Bengals have dumped LB Khalid Abdullah and DT Terrance Martin.
Bob DiCesare of The Buffalo News questions whether LT Mike Gandy will get it done for the Bills.
Redskins S Andre Lott has a hairline fracture below his knee, but he's expected to be ready for training camp.
The Dolphins have signed DT Reggie Rhodes, possibly in an effort to get other teams to think they won't select Manuel Wright in the supplemental draft.
The Pack have agreed to terms with sixth-round DE Michael Montgomery.
Bengals QB Craig Krenzel takes a shot or two at the Bears, who released him last week after burning a fifth-round choice on the former Buckeye in 2004.
Just how patriotic is it for the Patriots to offer a web site translation into the language of choice for the last significant bastion of communism?
The Jags open training camp on July 29 (and WR Moonshine Jones will be injured by July 30).
POSTED 6:10 a.m. EDT, June 21, 2005
TAYLOR CHARGES MIGHT BE DROPPED
David Elfin of The Washington Times reports that prosecutors in Florida might drop felony weapons and battery charges against Redskins safety Sean Taylor.
Taylor allegedly pulled a gun on two guys he suspected of stealing his all-terrain vehicles, and Taylor allegedly punched one of the men after leaving and returning to the scene. A man with Taylor allegedly went after the suspected ATV thieves with a baseball bat.
"I don't think that the state will continue with the charges against Sean," said defense lawyer Edward Carhart said. "The state's attorney told me that his mind was open. I hope to present some evidence to him before Friday that will demonstrate that Sean is the victim in this case. I'm convinced that Sean's story is true. I've talked to witnesses. I'm pretty convinced that there was no gun or baseball bat in Sean's car."
Okay, so we don't expect the mouthpiece getting paid big coin per hour to publicly declare that he thinks Taylor did it. But if Carhart can persuade prosecutors that he'll be able to inject plenty of reasonable doubt into the case, the prosecutors might decide to walk away from a high-profile case that very well could end up in an acquittal.
So, in the end, whether Taylor did it is irrelevant. Whether the prosecution thinks that they can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt is the real issue, and it's possible that the persons on whom Taylor allegedly pulled a gun are even bigger thugs and/or turds that Taylor, which will make it very hard for the prosecution to persuade the jury to accept their versions of the events.
Nunyo Demasio of The Washington Post reports that prosecutor Mike Grieco won't make a final decision on whether to proceed until after the standard pre-filing conference with Carhart and Taylor.
Taylor is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Drew Rosenhaus departed temporarily from his no-comment policy regarding T.O. by stating that the agent recently has spoken with Eagles coach Andy Reid: "I mention this because I think people have the sense that I don't have a professional dialogue with him. It's not like he and I don't have a dialogue."
Titans CB Pacman Jones shrugs at the NFL's renewed enforcement of the no-touchy rule.
The Bucs could have five new starters on the offensive line in 2005 (and with five more new starters on offense, the team just might have a chance to improve).
Are you a former high-profile player who's feeling more forgotten and/or unwanted than James J. Braddock? Be patient -- the Redskins eventually will be calling.
The Bucs have poop-canned senior director of business administration Mike Newquist, who had been with the organization since 1997.
Titans S Donnie Nickey hardly sounded apologetic for a helmet-to-helmet hit that left rookie WR Courtney Robey feeling a little woozy: "I am just trying to make a play. I am tired of some people saying, 'Just let them catch the ball if they are in the air.' Well, if you do that so many times . . . ."
From the "Guess The Gruden Expletive" file, the Tampa coach had this to say about the mindset of the 23,000 who attended the team's Fan Fest earlier this month: "They're mad as [bleep] about last year." (Did they bleep "hell"? Surely they didn't bleep "hell" . . . . )
Sprint reportedly is on the verge of signing a long-term sponsorship deal with the NFL.
Vikes owner Triple Word Score Wilf now wants to bring a Major League Soccer team to the Twin Cities (and any of the guys on the squad would be instant candidates to take over kicking duties for the local NFL team).
Looziana officials are scrambling to make a promised $15 million subsidy payment to Saints owner Tom Benson by July 15 (and we'd give it all to him in pennies, like Kramer buying calzones at Paesano's).
Sean Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, suggests that the 'Skins were willing to prop up the rookie contract that got Taylor's former agents fired: "I had discussions with the Redskins immediately before the offseason about augmenting Sean's deal, and the Redskins were willing to make some concessions. So we have an issue with the contract. Sean's deal is very substandard."
Deposed Niners media guy Kirk Reynolds is a finalist for the "Rozelle Award," which is distributed each year by the Pro Footbal Writers of America to the top P.R. staff in the league.
Jody Foldesy of The Washington Times takes a compelling look Redskins strength and conditioning coach John Hastings, 40, who suffered from liver disease for 30 years before getting a new liver in May 2004.
POSTED 7:45 p.m. EDT, June 20, 2005
THE REAL DEAL ON HAKIM
We've heard from multiple league sources more details regarding the events that resulted in Az Hakim's short-term stay in K.C., and we think that we've finally pieced together the relevant events.
First, we're told that Hakim did in fact sign a contract, which was submitted to the NFL Management Council for approval. The deal was intended to take advantage of the salary cap exception that allows veterans to be paid a set minimum with a reduced cap charge, but there were one or more problematic terms.
So when the deal was rejected by the Management Council, Hakim hit the road for New Orleans.
Second, a source close to the action tells us that, although Hakim was at Chiefs practice last Wednesday, he didn't actually participate. Thus, the team apparently will be subject to no league scrutiny for this incident.
With all that said, the Chiefs still come out of this with a little pemmican on their faces. They never should announced that Hakim had verbally agreed to a contract, and they shouldn't have had him at practice -- standing around or otherwise -- until Az's package was approved.
MONDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS
The Bengals have claimed QB Craig Krenzel off of waivers from the Bears.
The Chargers will try to place their efforts to finagle a new stadium on the ballot in 2006.
Rookies David Pollack and Odell Thurman have nailed down two of the three starting linebacker positions in Cincy.
From the "Reason Du Jour Why This Team Pretty Much Sucks Every Year" file, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis places way too much of a burden on rookies to ensure that they get signed in time for training camp: "Their job is to get signed, because they can't participate in training camp until they get signed. It's their job to push forward our people and their representation to get their contracts finished."
The NFL Network will air 55 preseason games in 25 days.
There's a feeling in the Bengals' locker room of "playoffs or bust" (or, in the case of the Bungles, "playoffs or . . . the same result that we've all grown accustomed to for the past 15 years").
The Browns have added QB Doug Johnson.
Bengals RB Chris Perry, a first-rounder in 2004, says he hasn't heard the whispers that he's a bust (in that case, he's both a bust and legally deaf).
The Bills have a chicken wing in their pockets for WR Roscoe Parrish.
From the "No Sh-t, Norm Chow" file, the Titans won't carry six quarterbacks into camp.
On Broncos.com, you can "Ask Cindy Galloway A Question!" (Question No. 1: Who the hell is Cindy Galloway?)
The Packers have signed seventh-round G William Whitticker.
The Ravens have signed OT Dante Ellington, who tips the scales at 354 pounds.
POSTED 6:05 a.m. EDT, June 20, 2005
KING CARL CRITICIZED FOR HAKIM MOVE
Though we're still waiting for more information as to whether the Chiefs' decision to allow receiver Az Hakim to practice last Wednesday when he had not yet signed a contract will draw scrutiny from the NFL, several league insiders are sounding off about the situation.
And they're pointing a finger directly at G.M. Carl Peterson.
"How in the f--k do u let a guy practice who doesn't have a contract?" said one league source. "And why announce a verbal thing? Get it done. Have the thing signed."
Another league source offered this opinion: "Carl Peterson does not give a sh-t about league rules. He is the biggest cry baby in the world when another team does something wrong but he is always screwing [up] something."
Apparently, however, the Chiefs and King Carl have learned their lesson. Receiver Freddie Mitchell's one-year deal won't be delivered to the league until Monday. As a result, he was present at Sunday's final session of the offseason merely as a spectator.
As to Hakim, the decision to allow him to practice without having a contract signed is a violation of league rules -- unless the activities occurred on a tryout basis with prior league approval.
MONDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Chiefs CB Julian Battle is out for the year with a torn Achilles' tendon, and the team is now scrambling for a cornerback who can get burned on a weekly basis by the opponents' No. 2 receiver.
The Washington Post takes a look at the efforts of Redskins coach Joe Gibbs to bring his outdated offensive attack in tune with the times.
The Washington Times takes a look at the team's options for replacing middle linebacker Antonio Pierce.
Redskins LB LaVar Arrington recently began a running program, and has yet to experience any swelling in his chronically injured right knee.
Speedy Redskins KR Antonio Brown could be in line for some snaps on offense.
Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is still a supporter of embattled S Sean Taylor: "He is the best athlete I've ever coached at any level and it's not even close. Ability alone doesn't make you a great player. He's a good teammate, too -- when he's here. He just needs to be here." (Without any guns or other weapons, that is.)
Steelers long snapper Mike Schneck protects his football-spinning meat hooks in the offseason; "My wife put something down the garbage disposal a couple months ago and she wanted me to go down there and get it. I said, I'm not putting my hands down the garbage disposal." (Does he also wear oven mitts in public, a la hand model George Costanza?)
The Bengals are hoping that the development of QB Carson Palmer will finally lead the team to its first postseason appearance in the era of supposed parity.
Dolphins DT Tim Bowens isn't ruling out a possible return to the NFL in 2006.
Redskins CB Shawn Springs describes the medallion purchased by CB Fred Smoot after he received his signing bonus from the Vikings: "The state of Mississippi, in gold," Springs said. "I told him he looks like Austin Powers."
The Packers had gross revenues of $200 million in 2004, and net revenues of $25.4 million.
POSTED 1:07 p.m. EDT, June 19, 2005
CHIEFS IN HOT WATER OVER HAKIM?
Stranger than the fact that receiver Az Hakim spurned the Chiefs in favor of the Saints is the fact that Hakim actually practiced with Kansas City on Wednesday.
Although the quotes and quips flowing from Hakim's presence for the Chiefs' final involuntary voluntary session of the offseason clearly indicated that Hakim was now a member of the team, he hadn't actually signed a contract yet.
So what was he doing on the practice field?
Per a league source, a player who is not under contract cannot practice with the team. The only exception applies where the player participates on a tryout basis, with league approval.
We're presently trying to find out whether the Chiefs intended Hakim's presence on Wednesday to be only a "tryout," and whether they had indeed secured advance approval from the league. If not, the folks in the league office might be interested in having a little powwow with Dickie V. and company.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have replaced Hakim with former Eagles receiver Freddie Mitchell.
Freddie Mitchell? Please.
"I think anytime you get a fresh start, it’s good and he’ll start fresh,” Vermeil said.
Okay, coach. Under that logic, why not sign Koren Robinson?
Vermeil then suggested that Mitchell's problems in Philly traced only to his relationship with one person, presumably quarterback Donovan McNabb. "He really only had problems in Philadelphia with one guy, not the team," Vermeil said. "That happens from time to time. [Eagles coach] Andy Reid assured me he’s a good guy, and we thought he was a good guy when he came out and he'll fit in nicely." We don't see Mitchell fitting in anywhere. His pre-Super Bowl comments made it obvious to everyone that he possesses a dangerous mixture of arrogance, ignorance, and self-absorption.
Everyone, that is, except the Chiefs.
HEAP NOT WORTH THE COIN?
In the handful of days since the Ravens announced the signing of tight end Todd Heap to a lucrative long-term deal, several league sources have opined that although Heap is a solid player, his history of injuries and his lack of high-end performance on a consistent basis don't justify that kind of investment.
"He seems to have a low pain threshold," said one league source. "He's always nicked."
The bigger problem, as we see it, is that the Ravens might have invested too much in a position that hasn't been a focal point for the offense. Even if new offensive coordinator Jim Fassel plans to make Heap the go-to guy, there are too many players on the roster who want to get paid, and who arguably deserve far bigger pieces of cap pie than Heap.
And with Jamal Lewis and Ed Reed and Ray Lewis all angling for new big-money deals, the Ravens could be setting themselves up for another tour of cap purgatory.
DEMASIO SAYS HE'S NOT TRYING TO HELP THE 'SKINS
On Friday, we questioned whether Nunyo Demasio of The Washington Post was throwing a bone to the 'Skins by writing that former scout Trent Baalke was responsible for the background check performed on confirmed turd Sean Taylor -- and by kinda-sorta implying that Baalke was dumped by the team for his role in the selection of Taylor.
As we reported, Baalke conducted the background check . . . and he had recommended that the team refrain from taking Taylor with the fifth overall pick in the draft.
We heard from Demasio Friday night. He said in an e-mail that his reference to Baalke's role in the Taylor background check was indeed a "throwaway line," which was not intended to suggest or imply that the team was blaming Baalke for the Taylor mess.
Demasio told us that he initially thought that Baalke's departure might have been related to Taylor. But Demasio later learned that Baalke wanted out, and that Baalke had a connection with the 49ers, for whom he now works.
In fact, Demasio says that a couple of officials within the Redskins organization were unhappy with his reference to Baalke's role in the Taylor investigation, which in Demasio's opinion proves that he wasn't trying to get in the team's good graces.
We'll accept Demasio's version of the events. Thus, it looks like the 'Skins weren't trying to pin the Taylor fiasco on Baalke -- and that The Post isn't trying to repair its relationship with the team by carrying its water.
POSTED 9:44 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:58 a.m. EDT, June 18, 2005
FINS HAVE FOUND THEIR MR. WRIGHT
A league source tells us that the Miami Dolphins fully intend to select USC defensive tackle Manuel Wright in the July 14 supplemental draft.
Wright, who played sparingly during his time in SoCal, has drawn interest from Miami, Philly, and Cincinnati.
Wright is six-foot-five and weighs 320 pounds. He has scored a 17 on the Wonderlic test, and he works out for scouts on July 8.
The Dolphins arguably have the greatest need at Wright's position, especially for the future. Tim Bowens is done, Larry Chester is a half-step behind him, and Keith Traylor are Jeff Zgonina are 35. Other defensive tackles on the roster are Dario Romero, rookie seventh-rounder Kevin Vickerson, Josh Shaw, and rookie free agent Orrin Thompson.
Free-agent acquisition Kevin Carter arguably could move inside, since he played the position in Tennessee. But the plan for now is for Carter to stay at defensive end.
The real question here is how high the Fins are willing to go in order to ensure that Manuel will labor in South Florida. Most view him as a third-round or fourth-round prospect. The supplemental draft, however, uses a goofy lottery-based procedure, which has certain elements of a smoke-filled poker game in the back room at Fat Tony's.
Like Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings a year ago, for whom the Texans burned a No. 2 in order to beat out the Cowboys, our guess is that the Fins might have to use a second-round pick in order to trump interested teams. Still, we'd be shocked to see Miami -- or anyone -- take Wright in round one, sinc | |||||||
